Bayou

Martin Davis travels from the North to New Orleans to compete for the design of a new civic auditorium, facing a local rival. He begins to assess the opportunity and form a plan for securing the contract.

During a visit to a Cajun country carnival, Martin meets Marie, a seventeen-year-old girl who works as a crabber to support her father. Their first connection hints at a budding romance.

Marie has money stolen from her and Martin helps recover it, earning her trust. This act marks Martin's growing involvement in her life.

Seeing Marie as his guide to the carnival, Martin asks her to lead him through the events. She agrees to help him, deepening their bond.

Martin and Ulysses compete in a pirogue race to impress the local building commissioner. Ulysses cuts in front and wins, fueled by resentment toward Martin's interest in Marie.

Despite Marie being underage, Martin falls in love with her and arranges to stay longer in the area to pursue her. He commits more time here and faces pressure from the people who resent his presence.

Ulysses threatens to harm Marie unless Herbert removes Martin from the area. The threat heightens tension within the bayou community and raises the stakes for Martin and Marie.

To impress the local building commissioner, Martin's contractor friend Jim Tallant enters him in another pirogue race. Martin trains for this public contest and hopes to prove himself.

At a shivaree celebrating an old man’s marriage, Marie performs a folk dance while Ulysses delivers a gyrating display and challenges Martin to a fight. Martin declines and walks away, preferring to avoid violence.

A powerful hurricane crashes through the bayou, destroying homes and livelihoods. Martin and Marie seek shelter in an unoccupied house as the storm rages around them.

Amid the hurricane, Martin asks Marie to marry him and she accepts. Their impulse to formalize their bond becomes the quiet center of the storm.

Herbert goes berserk and is killed by a falling tree during the hurricane, shocking Marie and the community. At his funeral, Ulysses taunts Martin, provoking a brutal confrontation.

Martin defeats Ulysses in their brutal fight at the funeral, proving his commitment to Marie. The bully is vanquished as the storm's aftermath begins.

With the bayou behind them, Martin and Marie leave to begin a new life together in the North. The couple chooses a future away from the danger and hardship of the bayou.