The story begins in a mental hospital in Northern California. Mild (Sarah Paulson) is a new nurse in the hospital. This fledgling but capable lady quickly wins the trust of the dean, Dr. Hanover (Jon Jon Briones), which makes the head nurse Becky (Judy Davis), who has worked diligently in the hospital for a lifetime, very jealous. In fact, Mild sneaks into the hospital for her own special purpose. Her brother Edmund (Finn Wittrock) was arrested for murdering several priests and is now being held in this mental hospital, waiting for the hospital to evaluate his mental health. If the hospital proves that he is mentally normal, Edmund will face the death penalty. Mild will certainly not let this happen.