Punk in Love

Raped by her step-father, Sarah and her boyfriend Spike run away to Portland to escape him. They attempt to pressure Sarah's step-uncle for money by showing him photos of his drug dealing, but the plan backfires and he becomes violent. Sarah escapes and recalls a secret stash of money she found three years earlier, which becomes a thread they chase.

They settle in a motel after fleeing. Spike finds a band audition ad in the newspaper, and the couple sees a possible path to starting anew through music. The discovery gives them a glimmer of hope amid their perilous journey.

On the way to the audition, a fight erupts between them. Sarah is left waiting in the rain on the roadside while a cab offers help, thinking it is safer to go home. The ride leads to a deserted area under a bridge, where the cab driver assaults Sarah.

Spike sneaks into Sarah's hospital room to see her after the assault. A nurse blocks him, but he insists she is his girlfriend and sits by her bedside, comforting her as she sleeps. He waits through the night for a moment of closeness, hoping she will recover emotionally.

Police arrive with Sarah's step-dad among them, arresting Spike for statutory rape while Sarah's parents look on. The case moves toward a courtroom confrontation as the authorities weigh the charges and the impact on everyone involved.

The jury gives him one last chance to plead guilty; Spike attacks Sarah's step-dad during the proceedings. Despite the intensity, he is deemed not guilty and is sent to jail for a year. The outcome compounds the couple's already heavy burden.

Back at the family home, Sarah's step-dad continues to torment her. She confronts him and shoots him in front of her mother, ending his abuse and taking control of her own safety.

With the threat removed, Sarah and Spike steal the step-dad's car and drive toward Portland, seeking a fresh start. They push ahead on the road, moving toward a future together.

They arrive in Portland and splurge briefly on a night at a fancy hotel. In a moment of fragile happiness, they marry, hoping this bond will anchor them through ongoing danger and uncertainty.

Money soon runs out and their attempts to raise funds fail. The couple resolves to keep moving, setting their sights on California as a new destination to start over.

They find shelter in an abandoned motel. Sarah's mom visits Spike's mom, and the two families exchange a few words, hinting at uneasy alliances formed in the pressure of their shared flight.

Sarah's mom and her ex-step-uncle locate their whereabouts and begin a slow, stubborn chase. They literally move at a snail's pace, but the distance shortens as the danger of capture grows nearer.

They sprint toward the bridge, with authorities and family closing in. Spike tells Sarah he loves her, and they raise their hands in surrender, choosing to face whatever comes next together.

Spike is shot in the chest by Sarah's ex-step-uncle while protecting her. Sarah's mom is left stunned by the display of love and violence. In despair, Sarah walks to the edge of the bridge and jumps, ending their flight in tragedy.