Laura, a young deaf girl, has never been taught to communicate and believes that her own stupidity has earned her tortuous beatings from her father. Enter caseworker Pam Willis, a former victim of abuse herself. Pam vows to provide stability in Laura's life. When social worker Ned and Pam learn that the district attorney's office will not prosecute Laura's father for his brutal assaults, it becomes crucial that Laura to learn to communicate well enough to demand justice for herself.