Savannah Smiles

Savannah, a neglected six-year-old, lives in Salt Lake City while her wealthy businessman father campaigns for a U.S. Senate seat. Her mother and father are absorbed in politics, leaving her craving attention and companionship. This loneliness plants the seed for her dramatic plan to run away.

She packs her belongings and writes a note to her parents outlining her plan to run away. The act shows her determination to seek attention and a sense of belonging. The note foreshadows the conflict that will arise once it's discovered.

Aunt arrives to take Savannah to a planned trip to the park. Savannah slips her suitcase into the car unnoticed, signaling the start of her escape. The scene marks the first step of a perilous journey.

At the park, Savannah slips away and hides in the back seat of a car belonging to two escaped convicts, Alvie Gibbs and Boots McGaffee. The convicts realize a runaway child is now part of their plan and must decide what to do next. A tense dynamic forms as danger and responsibility collide.

Savannah's father finds her note but, fearing political fallout, burns it and orders the maid not to tell anyone. The cover-up keeps the truth hidden from the public and complicates the family's relationship with Savannah. The decision triggers the convicts’ dilemma about whether to return her.

Alvie and Boots reluctantly take Savannah with them, hoping to keep her safe while avoiding capture. They learn that a $100,000 reward has been posted for her safe return, complicating their dilemma and tempting them with a possible payoff. The reward heightens the stakes of their already precarious escape.

As they travel together, the convicts grow attached to Savannah, and she begins to receive the attention and affection she has been missing. Her presence softens their rough edges and gives them a glimpse of family and responsibility. The dynamic shifts from crime to caretaking as trust builds.

During a quiet moment, Alvie confesses that he himself was a runaway who left an abusive family behind. Savannah learns that there can be a life beyond neglect, giving her hope for her own future. The revelation deepens their bond and offers a model of resilience.

They decide to return Savannah to her parents with help from the family priest, planning to do right by her. However, Savannah becomes separated and lost in the Uinta Mountains, creating a new danger and testing everyone's resolve. The mountains become a crucible for their courage and loyalty.

The convicts undertake a dangerous search for Savannah, forgoing any chance to escape in order to protect her. Their selfless pursuit marks a moral turning point in their relationship with her. The effort demonstrates that they have chosen responsibility over freedom.

They eventually return Savannah to her parents and drive away as a family, with Boots expressing concern about whether anyone will tell Savannah they were 'bad guys.' Alvie assures him it won't matter to her. The ending underscores the lasting impact of love and the idea that true belonging matters more than notoriety.

The film closes with a flashback showing a younger Alvie catching up to a pickup truck while his cousins greet him, symbolizing the family he never had. This memory provides context for his protective choices and longing for belonging. It ties the present events to a deeper yearning for kinship.