David Gale (Spacey), a professor at the University of Texas and an ardent anti-death penalty activist, sits on death row, having been convicted of rape and murder of a fellow activist (Linney). A persistent investigative journalist Bitsey Bloom (Winslet) gains access to Gale for an exclusive interview before he is put to death, and learns there is much more to the story than meets the eye.

Gale provides Bloom with information that may lead to more than just his innocence. As Bloom investigates the leads, she begins to believe they really did arrest the wrong man -- but can she actually prove it before Gale's date with destiny arrives?