In 1967, Lord Frank Aungier Pakenham (Broadbent), 7th Earl of Longford, is the respected leader of the House of Lords and a tireless worker for prison rehabilitation. He stakes his name and career when he befriends notorious convicted child murderess, Myra Hindley (Morton), and campaigns for her parole (over a 30-year period), believing his fellow Catholic convert is truly redemptive. But few share his belief.