Norma and Arthur Lewis are a financially struggling couple living in 1976 in Richmond, Virginia. One day, they receive a strange package containing a wooden box with a button on it and a note from a mysterious man named Arlington Steward (played by Frank Langella). Steward visits them and informs them that if they push the button, they will receive $1 million, but someone they don’t know will die. They have 24 hours to decide.
Despite initial reluctance, Norma and Arthur ultimately decide to push the button, driven by their financial troubles and the allure of the money. Soon after, they receive the promised $1 million in cash, but they also begin to experience strange occurrences and encounters with Steward.
As the consequences of their decision begin to unfold, Norma becomes increasingly disturbed by their actions and the moral implications of trading a stranger’s life for wealth. She confronts Steward, demanding to know who the person was that died because of their choice. Steward cryptically reveals that the person was a stranger, but Norma remains haunted by the guilt and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Arthur begins to unravel the mystery surrounding Steward and the true nature of the box. He discovers that Steward is not human but rather an emissary of a mysterious organization testing humanity’s capacity for sacrifice and moral judgment.
In a climactic confrontation, Norma and Arthur are forced to confront the consequences of their decision when Steward presents them with a new choice: push the button again and save their son’s life, or refuse and face the consequences. Norma ultimately sacrifices herself to save her son, pushing the button and ending her own life.
In the aftermath, Arthur is left to grapple with the devastating loss of his wife and the consequences of their decision. He confronts Steward one final time, demanding answers, but Steward remains enigmatic, leaving Arthur to ponder the true nature of morality and the consequences of his actions. The film ends with Arthur reflecting on the weight of his choices and the haunting legacy of the box.