Set in 1970s Texas, CELLMATES tells the story of hardened Ku Klux Klansman, Leroy Lowe (Tom Sizemore), who has risen through the ranks to be crowned 'Grand Dragon' of the local Klan chapter. Unfortunately for him, the government has started cracking down on the organization's activities and it isn't long before Leroy is sent to the Low Lee Tuna Prison Work Farm to serve time... harvesting potatoes. Worlds quickly collide when farm owner Warden Merville (Stacy Keach) forces Leroy to share a prison cell with eccentric Mexican field laborer Emilio (Hector Jimenez) as part of his penitence. None too happy with the arrangement, Leroy sets out to make things very difficult for Emilio in the cramped quarters, but Emilio's chatty disposition slowly chips away at Leroy's gruff exterior. When an unlikely friendship develops, Leroy comes to realize how his ignorant past has distorted his view of the world, and what he must now do to make things right.