The Makah whaler, Quanah, using his late father's old boat, ventures into the morning mist in search of the gray whale migration. Quanah believes that taking a whale, will validate his Indian identity, connect him with his great grandfather, and create solidarity between coastal tribes. According to an 1855 treaty, the Makah's have the right to take a whale. Quanah gathers a crew from various tribes and insists on taking the whale the traditional way, without the use of firearms. They practice in secret.
Arrested for their success, the Indians need a good lawyer. Young and beautiful Alana, newly arrived from New York where she practiced environmental law, is a assigned to try their case. Although she loves whales, she does her best to win and succeeds. In the process, she learns a lot about the treaties involving the Makahs as well as much of their traditions and beliefs. She also learns all she can about Orcas or Killer Whales, as she suspects they might be involved in her grandfather's disappearance years earlier. Or maybe, she thinks, it is the sea monster the Makah's call Wasgo. She asks Quanah to help her test her theory, and thus becomes
the girl in the deadfall
.