Earl Kinsella is the town drunk in the otherwise bucolic Southern burg of Bluebell, Alabama. He is also the father of Wade Kinsella, the town bad boy -- at least initially. Earl is more or less supported by his son Wade, who provides him with money for food and clothing, as well as his other son Jesse, who lives out of town. Despite his deficiencies as a father and member of decent society, Earl cares a great deal about his boys.