Nine-year-old Lewellen, portrayed by Dakota Fanning, is navigating the challenges of life in rural Alabama during the 1950s. With a motherless existence marked by poverty, she resides with her Grammie (Piper Laurie) and struggles in her relationship with her daddy (David Morse), who works on a nearby farm. Despite the somber atmosphere, Lewellen finds joy in her friendship with Buddy, a neighbor boy, and in immersing herself in the music of Elvis Presley, with her favorite song being "Hound Dog," which she eagerly performs for anyone willing to listen.
The turning point in Lewellen's life arrives when her father begins a new relationship with a woman, later revealed to be her late mother’s sister, who has been estranged from Grammie due to her past with Lewellen's father. As Lewellen forges a connection with her aunt, she seeks to run away with her after the aunt suffers abuse at the hands of Lewellen's father. Initially, the aunt is supportive but ultimately decides to leave Lewellen behind, deepening the girl's loneliness.
Brightening her world momentarily, Lewellen learns that Elvis is scheduled to perform in town. However, disaster strikes when her father is accidentally struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, leaving him impaired and unable to provide for the family. Hope of attending the concert quickly fades, until Buddy informs her that the teenage milkman is offering a ticket in exchange for a performance of "Hound Dog." Desperate, Lewellen agrees but tragically falls victim to betrayal and violence, being raped by the milkman instead of receiving her ticket. This distressing scene has sparked considerable controversy, though it is presented in a way that limits its graphic nature.
In the aftermath, Lewellen is consumed by despair from the trauma and betrayal she experiences but finds solace and strength in the words of Charles, a compassionate horse trainer who offers her wisdom about resilience. He advises her that amidst pain, one can strive to find good: > "Gotta always somehow make good outta what can poison you." Inspired by his guidance, Lewellen begins to heal.
One day while walking, she discovers and picks up a puppy, and unexpectedly crosses paths with her aunt again, who has returned to claim Lewellen. The aunt invites Lewellen to move in with her, although both know that securing permission from Grammie and her father is unlikely. However, fate intervenes; as Lewellen observes from a distance, her father and Grammie kill a rattlesnake. Deciding to warn her father about the danger of posthumous strikes, she hesitates and ultimately chooses to walk away. In that moment, she climbs into her aunt's car and departs, leaving behind the troubled life she once knew for a chance at a new beginning.
