In 1849, twin sisters fleeing Ireland's famine arrive at New York's seaport. Only one - Nora - is allowed to get on the boat to South Carolina to fulfill her work contract. On her master's vast rice plantation, an enslaved worker - Pearl - befriends her. After one of them commits a crime, the girls flee to Charleston, a dangerous place for runaways. Nora frantically seeks to get back to her twin and Pearl tries to find her mother before heading north. Meanwhile, an old enemy's illegal transatlantic scheme is about to derail the girls' plans.