Paper Moon

In the early 1930s, a small funeral gathering takes place at the gravesite of Essie May Loggins. Among the mourners is her 9-year-old daughter, Addie, who is visibly upset over her mother's passing.

Moses Pray, a charming young man with a questionable past, arrives fashionably late to the funeral. His presence raises eyebrows as attendees speculate about a possible resemblance between Moses and Addie, hinting at his potential role as her father, which he swiftly denies.

After some persuasion from the other attendees, Moses reluctantly agrees to drive Addie to her relatives in St. Joseph, Missouri. This marks the beginning of an unexpected partnership between the con artist and the clever young girl.

Seeing an opportunity, Moses blackmails a local man who knows about Essie's past affairs. Under the pretense that the man might be Addie's father, Moses extracts $200, which he plans to use for his own benefit, including buying a new car.

Addie overhears Moses' shady deal and, recognizing her rightful share, demands the $200 from him. Impressed by her boldness, Moses reluctantly agrees to repay her, acknowledging her as a valuable ally in his schemes.

As they travel together, Addie learns about Moses' scams, particularly his role as a Bible salesman. Moses tricks widows into believing that their deceased husbands had pre-ordered personalized Bibles, such as with a woman named Pearl, demonstrating their con artistry.

When a lawman stops them, Addie steps in to charm the officer, cleverly saving Moses from being caught. Her quick thinking also raises the price of the Bible, proving that her wit is as sharp as Moses' scams.

Moses becomes romantically involved with Trixie Delight, a showgirl from a traveling carnival. Although Addie feels jealous and sidelined by this new relationship, a heart-to-heart conversation with Trixie helps her understand the situation better.

Heartbroken over their dwindling savings, which are squandered on a new car, Addie decides to take revenge on Trixie. With the help of Trixie's maid, Imogene, they devise a scandal that ultimately leads to Trixie's downfall.

Moses and Addie's criminal exploits escalate when they attempt to steal liquor from a local bootlegger. However, their luck turns sour as they are caught by the sheriff, leading to a risky escape.

After their crime, Addie devises a daring escape plan to evade the sheriff. They quickly flee across the border into Missouri, solidifying their bond as partners in crime.

Moses and Addie hear about a potential big score involving a wealthy gentleman. As they dream of riches, the past unexpectedly catches up with them due to the vengeful Kansas sheriff.

The Kansas sheriff brutally assaults Moses as he tries to lay low. With Addie witnessing the harsh reality of their criminal lifestyle, the severity of their situation becomes all too clear.

Concerned for Addie's safety, Moses takes her to her aunt's home, but she is not pleased with her new living situation. Their separation weighs heavily on both of them, marking a moment of uncertainty.

In a surprising twist, Addie runs towards Moses, who cannot hide his joy despite trying to appear indifferent. They quickly resume their partnership, and Addie reminds him of the $200 he owes her, hinting at more escapades to come.