In June 2013, 25-year-old school counselor Riley MacPherson returns to her family home in New Bern, North Carolina, to settle her late father Frank’s estate. On her way to New Bern, she stops at the Pollocksville post office to ask about mail for a “Fred Marcus” that has been forwarded to her. The clerk explains that they have a PO box in that name and shows Riley paperwork that seems to be in her father’s handwriting. Riley accepts the envelope that is the only piece of mail in the PO box, but she instructs the clerk to close the box because she does not see how it can possibly belong to her father.

At the family’s Victorian home, Riley thinks about her father’s death, her recent breakup, and her estranged brother, Danny, a veteran, who has PTSD. She is overwhelmed thinking about disposing of her father’s extensive collections. She finds an old violin case containing an ID tag for her sister Lisa, a reminder of the family’s distant past.

That evening, Riley brings groceries to Danny’s trailer in the woods. He remains emotionally distant, and a visible shotgun heightens her worry about the brother to whom she was once so close. He refuses her offer of their father’s car and house, wanting only the land his trailer sits on. He resists her plea to help clear out the house but agrees to think about it.

Back at the house, Riley opens the envelope from the PO box and finds a postcard addressed to Fred Marcus from a band called Jasha Trace. Regretting opening it, she throws it away.

The next morning, attorney Suzanne Compton reviews the will with Riley. The estate is split between Riley and a trust for Danny, with Riley as trustee. Suzanne reveals a life insurance policy listing their father Frank’s previously unknown service with the US Marshals.

The will leaves Frank’s pipe collection to Tom Kyle, a tenant at the family’s RV park, and a baby grand piano and $10,000 to Jeannie Lyons, a friend of Riley’s late mother, Deb. Riley is surprised by both bequests, as she did not know her father was close to either Tom or Jeannie. Suzanne cautions Riley against digging too deeply into her father’s personal effects, suggesting that, in her experience, this can lead to uncomfortable revelations about the deceased.

That evening, Riley brings Danny to the house for dinner and gives him a prepaid phone, hoping he will use it to stay in touch with her while she is in town. When Danny hears about their father’s bequests, he is also surprised.

Danny says he hates the house and what it represents, mentioning recurring nightmares about his childhood there. When Riley questions him, he hints at having suffered psychological abuse. He tells her to hire someone to help her clear out the house, as he cannot stand being in the house any longer.

When Riley mentions Lisa, Danny erupts, hurling a beer bottle that shatters a glass cabinet before storming out. Riley drives him back to his trailer and gives him cash from his trust.

The next day at Mac’s RV Park, Riley tries to visit her father’s RV but finds it locked. She then goes to inform Tom Kyle about his inheritance. Tom seems ungrateful for the bequest, as if he had been expecting something more from Frank’s will. Tom’s wife, Verniece, warmly tells Riley her mother once said Riley was adopted, which inspired the Kyles to adopt their own son. Riley is shocked and refutes the claim. Later, Riley finds her father’s checkbook and discovers steady $500 monthly payments to Tom Kyle.

Riley meets Jeannie Lyons at her real estate office. Jeannie reveals that she and Frank had a secret romantic relationship for years after Riley’s mother died. She recalls Riley’s mother as vibrant when young, a contrast to the woman Riley remembers.

Jeannie expresses displeasure with her inheritance and questions why Frank gave valuable pipes to Tom Kyle, whom she claims Frank disliked. She offers to help with an estate sale and mentions a box of old family photos in Frank’s closet.

Back at the house, Riley finds the box, which contains two VHS tapes of Lisa’s violin performances and photos of Lisa with a boy named Matty. She also uncovers a framed studio portrait of Lisa, Danny, and herself as a baby.

The photo triggers a memory from when Riley was seven: Her parents told her Lisa died by suicide at 17 due to depression. Riley places the framed photo on her nightstand.

The next day, Riley goes to check on Danny and meets Harry Washington, a local police officer and Danny’s friend, who says Danny is okay. She finds Danny and offers him their father’s RV, but he refuses.

Danny dismisses the family photo. He is furious about what he sees as their parents’ obsession with Lisa and says their parents became hollow after Lisa’s death. Riley admits she feels alone, and Danny agrees to spend time with her, on the condition they avoid the past.

Having located her father’s keys, Riley goes to Mac’s RV Park and enters Frank’s RV. She finds items that don’t fit her father’s tastes: bluegrass CDs, a concert ad for Jasha Trace, and a drawing by unknown children. There is also a photograph of two unknown children playing on a merry-go-round. She takes a VHS player and leaves.

Riley stops to offer the Kyles her father’s RV. Verniece again insists Riley was adopted. Riley confronts Tom about the monthly payments and the adoption claim. Tom grows defensive and tells her to stay away.

That evening, Riley watches the VHS tapes. The first shows seven-year-old Lisa performing brilliantly on the violin, moving Riley to tears. The second records the 1987 Rome Music Festival, where teenage Lisa plays Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.

Riley notices Lisa stands apart from her peers, spending time with her friend Matty instead. Riley sees how closely Lisa observes the conductor, her teacher Steven Davis. Overwhelmed by grief, Riley stops the tape, wondering what led to Lisa’s depression and death.

The next day, Jeannie and her daughter Christine arrive to inventory for an estate sale. Jeannie says Frank once covered up an affair for Tom while both men were US Marshals and dismisses the adoption rumor. Later, Riley catches Jeannie trying to remove a box from Frank’s bedroom.

Riley confronts her, opens the box, and finds newspaper clippings about Lisa’s death. Beneath the top article, a headline reveals Lisa was an accused murderer, shocking Riley.

That evening, Riley presses Jeannie for answers. Jeannie reveals the truth: At the time of her disappearance, Lisa was on trial for murdering her violin teacher, Steven Davis. The family invented the depression story and moved to New Bern to shield Riley and Danny from the scandal.

Riley reads that Lisa used her father’s service revolver after Davis sent a disparaging letter to Juilliard, where Lisa had applied for admission. Jeannie explains Frank and Deb dismissed Danny’s childhood memories of the shooting, likely causing his trauma. Alone, Riley reads a copy of Lisa’s suicide note.

The next morning, Riley brings the articles to Danny. After reading them, he grabs his shotgun and strides into the trees. Riley follows. In a clearing, he shares fragmented memories of gunshots and blood that their parents had dismissed.

He insists he won’t harm himself but is furious at the lies. When Riley tries to counsel him, Danny explodes, saying his soul, not his mind, is what suffers. He storms off.

Later, Riley researches Steven Davis online and finds a blog by his widow, Sondra Lynn Davis, who recounts her version of the murder and calls Lisa unstable. Sondra notes that authorities never recovered Lisa’s body.

Sondra believes Lisa faked her death and is still alive. She offers a standing $25,000 reward for information leading to Lisa.

The next morning, Jeannie and Christine return to organize the estate sale. Appraisers estimate Frank’s pipe collection at about $17,000 and flag Lisa’s violin as valuable. As movers remove the baby grand piano, Riley feels the loss.

Riley asserts control over the house as the teams work. Christine expresses sympathy for what Riley has learned.

The next morning at Suzanne Compton’s office, Riley meets Tom Kyle to sign over the pipe collection. Tom is alternately hostile and conciliatory, hinting that he and his wife will have nowhere to go once Riley sells the RV park. As Tom heads to his truck, he calls out to Riley, making a cryptic remark suggesting that Lisa’s life did not actually end in death by suicide. He drives off, leaving Riley stunned.