An ambitious young woman in 1916 Oklahoma dreams of a career.  And builds an oil empire.  

SYNOPSIS:

Ambitious JESSICA McCAREY longs to elude the life of young pioneer women in 1916 Oklahoma. An obstinate tomboy, Jessie is more comfortable hunting or roughhousing with her six brothers than doing “woman’s work.” Her plan for an exciting escape develops when she discovers how the wildcatters gamble for their fortunes over in the Osage, (former Indian Territory in Osage County).

Enlisting the reluctant collaboration of her oldest brother Ben, they gradually persuade an Indian friend to lease his land to them to engage in oil drilling near Bigsprings, an exciting but rough Oklahoma boomtown. The means of gaining the blessing of their binging Irish father, (who’s financially neglecting their horse ranch), is eliciting an exciting narration by Gus of the desperate Oklahoma land rush he gambled in years earlier.

Jessie is absolutely crazy about each of her rowdy brothers: Benjamin, Thomas, Stephen, the twins Joshua and Jason, and youngest: her golden-haired angel, Matthew. However, her feelings for them vacillate between adoration and aggravation, as her dreams are frequently underrated and misunderstood by her male siblings. And she exasperates them as they watch her difficult journey in a tough male environment, at a time when gender roles were clearly defined.

The McCarey siblings settle into hard, roughneck work and soon bring in the first of many gushers. Through persistence, ethics and insightful guidance, McCarey Oil Company flourishes, while Jessie’s personal life teeter-totters. The McCarey family is naturally anxious for her to settle down in marriage. But they fear no one will corral her passionate heart when Daniel Morgan, her handsome beau and a rich banker’s son, breaks off their relationship in a heated quarrel. Enter Jake Trenton: a flier from the east who will surprisingly support and encourage Jessie’s fierce ambition. A romantic meeting at a dance and they soon become enrapt with each other’s zeal for life, similar work ethic and principles. They marry; build a comfortable rustic home awash in the rugged beauty of the Oklahoma prairie, and life seems picture-perfect. As her family’s business prospers, Jake struggles to build an air-route delivery business. Rare love and commitment to each other initially sustains throughout success and struggles. Their brief, passionate union, however, culminates in heart-rending tragedy when she loses her beloved father, soon after - their premature son, and Jake also dies in a fiery plane crash.

To heal herself over the devastating loss of her loved ones, Jessie hurls herself into the only thing she understands: work. As other members of the McCarey family become involved in their own ventures, Jessie and Ben valiantly struggle together for the survival of the family’s fortune through a depression and two world wars. Jessie’s life is completely engrossed in the business.

Fast-forward to 1960. When she loses her ally and steadfast business partner, beloved brother Ben, the fate of Jessie’s position in their company is at stake. The board of directors of McCarey Oil Company must meet to select a new CEO, but appear unwilling to turn the reins to a woman. An interview with a women’s movement leader and a news reporter surprisingly clarifies her instincts. Now Jessie summons all her talents and tight-knit family to confront the gender roles and prejudices of the time. Expecting Jessie to vie for the Chairman’s position, she catches the board members off-guard by a last-minute twist. After the board meeting, against the backdrop of a long, brilliant Oklahoma sunset, Jessie finally realizes that another important man needs her attention. Roger Clayton, the childhood friend who worked by her side through life, has waited long enough. The saga ends with her surprising humorous, seductive proposal to Roger.