In Eureka Springs, Arkansas, wealthy television evangelists Reverend Ray Porter and his wife, Darla, host their live satellite television program, “The Tower of Bethlehem,” from local station, KTB. Jesse Wilkes arrives in Eureka Springs to visit his girl friend, Claire. After welcoming Jesse to her farmhouse, Claire suggests they get married soon and become farmers together. Just then, Claire’s cousins, Arnold Limpet and Big Joe Becker, arrive after being released from prison. When Claire asks why they are visiting, Jesse tells her that he plans to break into the Tower of Bethlehem studio during the show, and steal the $50,000 that Porter swindled from Claire’s grandmother before her death. Arriving at the station, they meet their accomplice, studio employee Rickey Marcell, who guides them to the Accounting and Financial rooms. With handguns and rifles aimed at the money counters, Jesse, Big Joe, Arnold, Claire, and Rickey grab $300,000 worth of cash and jewelry. As Rickey opens the back safe, a silent alarm is triggered at the local police station. After insisting that Sheriff “Rascal” LaBeaux needs to be contacted about the robbery, Officer Eddie Depaul arrives at the studio parking lot as Rickey gets into the getaway van. Rickey shoots at Depaul, but misses. As the officers focus on Rickey, Jesse leads Claire and her cousins through the studio to find another way of escape. Finding an unguarded door, Jesse, Claire, Arnold, and Big Joe run onto the set where Porter and Darla are doing their program. Seeing the audience, Jesse takes the program hostage live on the air. Arnold goes to the control booth, and orders technicians Lee and “Stonewall” Jack Myer to keep the cameras rolling. Stonewall readily agrees, as he knows the board of the Tower of Bethlehem ministry takes viewers’ money and lavishes it on themselves. At the police station, Sheriff LaBeaux arrives from a duck-hunting outing, and is updated on the televised hostage situation. Calling the Porters’ onstage telephone, LaBeaux tells Jesse he will continue watching the program if Jesse frees all hostages. However, Jesse hangs up on the sheriff. Claire implores Jesse to listen to LaBeaux and not get in more trouble. LaBeaux calls again and reasons with Jesse that he cannot watch all those people. Liking LaBeaux for keeping his promise of watching the program, Jesse lets the audience members and the women manning the pledge telephones go. Relieved, LaBeaux goes to KTB to get more information on Jesse and his accomplices. As he arrives, news reporters have set up outside, interviewing witnesses and reporting false leads about terrorists. From the makeshift command center in the studio lobby, LaBeaux again calls Jesse, asking him to free more people. After agreeing to let the band and male choral singers go free, Jesse addresses a camera and accuses the Porters of keeping donations for their personal benefit. To placate his followers, Porter places himself in front of a different camera and assures his viewers that he and Darla are doing righteous work. As the televised hostage situation continues, patrons at a local bar become furious with Jesse for hijacking their favorite television show. Forming a vigilante group, they organize themselves to invade the studio. Meanwhile, Jim Bob Collins, a major benefactor and member of the Tower of Bethlehem, arrives with the state Governor. Upset by the program’s takeover, Jim Bob orders the Governor to send in the National Guard, reminding him that it was money from him and his associates that put the Governor in office. The Governor assures Jim Bob he will order LaBeaux to take Jesse and the others by force. On stage, Porter and Darla become annoyed with one another and argue. Seeing the couple bickering, Claire urges a cameraman to zoom in. From the control booth, Stonewall turns up the volume up as Porter states the stolen money from The Tower of Bethlehem was small change compared to what they will make again from their followers’ continuing donations. Realizing his remarks have been broadcast, Porter reiterates to his audience that he and Darla are doing the Lord’s work. During Porter’s speech, Stonewall edits the feed by distorting Ray’s voice and making his head float. Later, the National Guard arrives and awaits the Governor’s directions, but LaBeaux threatens them to stay out of his way as he continues to safely take Jesse into custody. Inside, Jesse instructs Claire to tell viewers how Porter stole her grandmother’s $50,000 insurance policy. However, Porter insists that the policy was willingly signed over to him and the Tower of Bethlehem. He then turns to Jesse and tells him he should marry Claire and honor the sanctity of marriage. However, one of the choir angels, Christy Lynn, announces on air that she and Porter have had an affair. Looking into the camera, Porter states that he, too, is human, and has sinned. Upset over his betrayal, Darla slaps him. In response, Porter tells Darla she is a bad singer. Big Joe, smitten with Darla, asks her to sing a song he wrote about his respect for police officers. As Darla and Big Joe sing, law enforcement officers watch the performance on television, enjoying the tune. As Big Joe and Darla perform, Jesse and Claire plan to escape. Elsewhere, Jim Bob goes to see G. W. Wraith, a leader in The Tower of Bethlehem, and learns that the entire country is watching Jesse’s standoff. Embarrassed by the ordeal, Wraith tells Jim Bob to order the Governor to blow up the studio. As the National Guard prepares to attack, Jesse tells viewers that sending money to any television preacher will not bring peace to their souls. After his speech, Claire suggests they should give themselves up. Instead, Jesse asks Claire to marry him. Finding a wedding gown in the studio, Claire and Jesse ask Porter to conduct the ceremony. Suddenly, LaBeaux arrives. Empathizing with Jesse and his cause, LaBeaux tells everyone the Governor has ordered the National Guard to blow up the station. However, Jesse and Claire want to continue with the wedding. After Porter pronounces them husband and wife, the local bar vigilantes break into the studio through the back door, firing rifles and missiles. Believing the shots are coming from Jesse and Claire, a National Guard tank fires on the building, as the Governor calls for a backup helicopter with a bomb. During the commotion, LaBeaux leads Big Joe, Darla, Arnold, and the angel choir to safety, while Stonewall records Jesse and Claire escaping with a handheld camera. However, Claire’s dress gets caught, and as Jesse tries to free her, they are both shot in the chest and fall to the ground. Just then, the Governor’s helicopter arrives and bombs the studio. In the morning, the injured Arnold and Big Joe are arrested, but officers assure Big Joe they will take care of him after hearing his song. Porter sits in an ambulance as news cameras swarm Darla to hear her hostage story. Reporters also approach Stonewall about his incredible footage of Jesse and Claire’s deaths. While speaking to reporters, Stonewall glances at LaBeaux and nods toward a nearby hill. Through a pair of binoculars, LaBeaux sees Jesse and Claire running into the woods. Realizing they faked their deaths, LaBeaux happily lets them go. Jesse hands Claire $50,000 and promises to become a farmer with her. Overjoyed, Claire kisses her new husband.