Dreamland

In the 1930s, Eugene Evans resides with his family in a small Texas town suffering from severe drought and dust storms. When he was just five years old, his father abandoned the family, leaving Eugene and his younger sister, Phoebe, to navigate their challenging environment.

Eugene spends much of his time with his friend Joseph, engaging in petty thefts and stealing dime novels. Together, they often escape their harsh realities by fantasizing about lives filled with excitement and adventure, yearning for something beyond the town.

During a town meeting, the sheriff reveals a wanted poster for a bank robber named Allison Wells, who is linked to a murder and has a bounty of $10,000 on her head. This announcement piques the curiosity of Eugene and Joseph, who decide to pursue the dangerous outlaw.

Eugene unexpectedly encounters Allison in a barn where she is hiding, injured and armed with a revolver. He recognizes her from the wanted poster and strikes a deal with her: he will tend to her wounds if she shares the story behind her actions.

Allison reveals to Eugene the tragic details of her bank heist, explaining how an innocent girl was killed by the police's reckless gunfire. As she narrates her escape and the injuries she sustained during the encounter, Eugene begins to sympathize with her situation.

Eugene's younger sister, Phoebe, catches him spying on Allison and becomes curious about his secret. She initially dismisses his claim of 'dead dogs' in the barn, only to be frightened by the ominous scene of bloody rags when she ventures inside.

Eugene and Allison escape to a local watering hole for a brief carefree outing, where they go swimming together. Their moment of freedom is cut short when they narrowly avoid being caught by the property owner, leading to a hurried retreat back to the barn.

At a local dance, Eugene overhears George discussing evidence against Allison. Frustrated by the lies he's been told, Eugene sneaks into the police evidence room and uncovers photographs that reveal Allison's accomplice, Perry, had been involved in the deadly robbery.

After discovering a piece of fabric belonging to Allison, George confronts Eugene about his involvement in the evidence room incident. Their argument escalates when George expresses the potential consequences their family might face due to Eugene's actions.

In a desperate bid for freedom, Eugene and Allison steal away from town in the family truck. Allison's rejection of Eugene's love stings as she plans to continue on her own journey, while Eugene expresses his desire to find his father in Mexico.

Faced with financial desperation, Eugene and Allison execute a bank heist where Eugene holds hostages as Allison robs the tellers. The heist takes a lethal turn when Eugene shoots a man who threatens Allison, marking their plunge into a life of crime.

As they drive to escape their unlawful actions, Eugene decides to take a moment and steps away into the woods. After a heartfelt exchange with Allison about their wrongdoings, the couple grapples with the reality of their choices and their future together.

Just as Eugene and Allison attempt to escape to safety, George and his posse catch up to them. In a final moment of chaos, George shoots Allison as she lays dying, prompting Eugene to respond with violence as he fires at George in desperation.

With chaos unfolding around them, Eugene makes a frantic escape, driving away with his sister Phoebe hidden in the truck. Their escape from the life they knew is bittersweet, as Phoebe recounts that Eugene would never return to the family again.

The aftermath of Eugene's decisions leaves a profound impact on his family. Phoebe reflects on the events that transpired, realizing how their lives changed forever with Eugene’s choices, and the haunting nature of their lost family connection.