Testament begins in the picture-perfect town of Hamelin, California. It’s a suburban paradise where Carol (Jane Alexander) lives with her three children and husband Tom (William Devane). It’s the kind of place where all the neighbors know each other, where greeting people with anything but a friendly smile and a wave would be unthinkable.
That all vanishes in the blink of an eye. One day, Carol sits at home with her children, listening to the answering machine messages while the kids watch TV. An urgent message appears on screen, claiming the East Coast of America has been besieged by nuclear bombs. A bright light engulfs the house, and nothing will ever be the same again.
