The Grasshopper

Christine Adams, a cheerful 19-year-old from British Columbia, travels to Los Angeles to be with her fiancé who works at a bank. When the relationship doesn't work out, she moves to Las Vegas to seek a fresh start.

She finds work as a showgirl in Las Vegas and meets Tommy Marcott, an African-American former pro football player who has an executive position at the casino, though in truth he is used as a celebrity greeter. A connection grows between them, setting the stage for romance.

Christine and Tommy fall in love and marry. Tommy then delivers a brutal beating to a wealthy casino patron who had assaulted Christine, prompting the couple to discuss revenge and flee Las Vegas.

In Los Angeles, Tommy struggles to secure a steady job and their marriage strains under the stress. Tragically, he is shot dead on a basketball court, an act that appears to be revenge for the earlier assault.

After the funeral, Christine's grief drives her to illicit drugs, and she has a painful reaction. She returns to Las Vegas and works as a VIP party girl to support herself.

While working as a VIP party girl, Christine is approached by Richard Morgan, a wealthy client who persuades her to return to Los Angeles to be his mistress. She agrees to the arrangement, beginning a new, precarious phase of her life.

Christine grows fond of Richard but soon becomes bored, beginning a romantic relationship with Jay Rigney, who she had previously known platonically. Their affair pulls her into new schemes and dreams.

Richard asks Christine to marry him, wanting her to spend all her time with him. Jay convinces Christine that they can keep their ranch dream alive if she becomes a prostitute and he acts as her pimp, so she ends her relationship with Richard.

Jay persuades Christine that prostitution is the only way to fund their future, with Jay acting as her pimp. She cedes further control of her life to Jay as their scheme continues.

One night Christine returns to the apartment she shares with Jay to find he has left her and absconded with their money. The betrayal leaves her in a deeper bind as she tries to regroup.

Christine goes to the airport where Richard's private plane is kept and, after sharing a marijuana joint and promising more fun, persuades airfield worker Elroy to take her up in a skywriting plane. As they fly, Elroy writes the message FUCK IT across the sky for onlookers to read.

Police arrest Christine and Elroy after they land. During booking, she is asked her age and she says she is twenty-two.