Carmen

In Mexico, a young man shoots and kills Carmen's mother after she refuses to reveal Carmen's location. Carmen witnesses the murder, and the trauma pushes her to flee across the border. This violence sets the escape plan in motion and launches the central pursuit of the story.

In Texas, Aidan, an unemployed Marine veteran living with his sister, is persuaded to join a militia border patrol. He is paired with his friend Mike, and the assignment quickly darkens into a dangerous pursuit. The arrangement pulls him into a world of vigilante justice far from his original plan.

The group discovers a truck where Carmen is hiding with another woman, several children, and two men. Tension rises as they try to move without drawing attention. The encounter marks a tipping point, forcing Aidan to confront Carmen's perilous situation.

Mike shoots and kills the two men guarding the truck, signaling a ruthless pursuit. Aidan, torn between duty and protection, helps the woman and children escape and then kills Mike to protect Carmen. Carmen and Aidan escape in Mike's car, beginning a dangerous alliance.

The pair overpower two police officers who have tracked them to a motel. They hail a taxi driver named Angel who agrees to take them to Los Angeles. The journey marks a shift from immediate danger to an uncertain, hopeful escape.

On their journey, they stop at a surreal carnival where they part ways with Angel and meet Pablo. Pablo propositions Carmen, but she declines, saying she prefers Aidan. Aidan also reveals that he understands Spanish, deepening their connection.

Pablo takes them to a club in Los Angeles owned by Masilda, a family friend who offers them shelter. Aidan plans to leave Carmen at the club, but the danger surrounding them makes him stay. Masilda's hospitality provides a temporary home and a sense of safety.

Aidan tells Carmen he plans to leave her at the club to reduce danger, but the mounting police presence makes him reconsider. He stays with Carmen, deciding to face whatever comes next rather than abandon her. The couple continues to be haunted by the pressures of escape and their uncertain future.

Masilda encourages Carmen to dance, while Aidan tries to map their next move. They are haunted by visions, including Carmen's mother and a mysterious sequined figure, which blur the line between memory and reality. The night tightens around them as they search for a way forward.

With limited funds, Aidan agrees to an underground bare-knuckle boxing match to win a prize. A former comrade's counsel points him toward the fight, while Carmen prepares for her next performance. The brutal bout becomes a pivotal moment of risk and escape along their precarious path.

After finishing her dance, Carmen goes to the boxing venue and arrives just as Aidan wins. Police raid the venue, forcing the couple to flee. During the escape, Aidan is shot and collapses, changing the trajectory of their flight.

Following the raid, the pair share a surreal desert dance sequence that tests their relationship and their resolve. The dreamlike moment contrasts with the danger they've faced. The scene ends with a note of ambiguity as they part ways in the desert.

In the film's final image, Carmen walks along a beach alone, carrying the weight of their escape and its consequences. The ending leaves her future open as the screen fades to the horizon.