This is the story of a U.S. census taker who is assigned to assess population in a remote mountain community. The census taker becomes trapped in this prison-like town full of "golden rules" (that no one ever breaks) that doesn't allow its population to drop below or exceed exactly 436 citizens, a number in accordance with "God's Law." He eventually learns that NO ONE is ever allowed to leave Rockwell Falls and that the town citizens will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo. After fending off a lobotomy and pretending to go along with the program, the U.S. census taker eventually escapes, taking a little girl with him. The two are later killed in a car crash just as they cross the county line yet the thrilling story of Rockwell Falls lives on.