Seventeen-year-old Novalee Nation, played by Natalie Portman, is seven months into her pregnancy when she embarks on a journey from Tennessee to California with her unreliable boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens. Their road trip leads them to Sequoyah, Oklahoma, where Novalee requests Willy to make a stop at a Wal-Mart, intending to freshen up and replace her worn-out shoes that have fallen out of their dilapidated car. However, as she reaches for her change during checkout, the total of $5.55 triggers a deep-seated panic within her — the number 5 has haunted her throughout her life. At age five, her mother abandoned her for a baseball umpire, and while working as a waitress, she endured a violent incident that resulted in 55 stitches on her arm. This overwhelming fear drives her to bolt outside, only to discover that Willy has abandoned her without a second thought.
What follows is an unexpected afternoon for Novalee, who finds herself exploring the aisles of Wal-Mart. Here, she encounters Sister Husband, a kind-hearted local played by Stockard Channing, who mistakenly believes Novalee to be her long-lost relative Ruth Ann. In a sweet gesture, Sister Husband presents her with a buckeye tree and a welcome basket. Moreover, Novalee meets Moses Whitecotton, portrayed by Keith David, a talented photographer who soon becomes her mentor. As night falls, Novalee feels ill and rushes to the restroom, but upon her return, she discovers that the store has closed for the night, leaving her trapped inside.
Determined to survive unnoticed, Novalee adapts to living within the confines of Wal-Mart. During a visit to the local library, she befriends Forney Hull, played by James Frain, who is caring for his alcoholic sister while working at the library. Forney, an aspiring history teacher, faces his own challenges, having left college to support his sister. As Novalee struggles to clarify her identity to Sister Husband, she finds warmth and acceptance in Sister's home—sharing cornbread and buttermilk while planting her new buckeye tree in the yard.
As fate would have it, while Novalee is nestled in the safety of Wal-Mart during a thunderstorm, her labor begins unexpectedly. In a dramatic twist, she finds herself delivering her baby in Aisle 5, where Forney heroically comes to her aid just in time. Following the birth, confusion again arises as Novalee wakes up in a hospital, unexpectedly becoming a local sensation for her Wal-Mart delivery. Lexie Coop, her nurse, shares her story, having named her children after snacks, which adds both humor and depth to Novalee's storytelling.
In the midst of her chaotic new life with the arrival of her baby, Novalee’s estranged mother makes a sudden appearance, only to rob her of her hopes by taking the money she was planning to use for their future together. Left homeless and vulnerable, Novalee gratefully accepts an invitation from Sister Husband to reside at her home, where love and support is in abundance despite every challenge.
As the years progress, Novalee's and Willy Jack's lives diverge dramatically—Willy finds himself entangled in a series of misfortunes, including imprisonment and struggles with his musical aspirations, while Novalee blossoms into a talented photographer. Devastation strikes when a tornado claims Sister Husband’s life, reminding Novalee of the fragility of life. Upon discovering that she is the beneficiary of Sister's estate, Novalee uses her inheritance to create a new home on the very grounds that once belonged to Sister.
Novalee encounters further turmoil when she learns of Lexie’s traumatic experience, yet in true resilient spirit, she extends her newly established home to Lexie and her children. The bonds of friendship deepen as they navigate through struggles, reconnecting their lives while healing wounds of the past.
Amidst this tapestry of lives intertwined, Novalee's unresolved feelings for Forney resurface when tragedy strikes and they cross paths again. Their relationship becomes complicated as he grapples with his love for her while dealing with the loss of his sister. The passage of time brings reflections and realizations as Novalee entertains the idea of building a future with Forney.
On Americus's fifth birthday, Novalee's apprehensions surface once more as she grapples with her past and the meaning of the number five—unlucky in her eyes—triggering memories of all the hardships encountered during that pivotal age. When she learns of Willy's misadventures, including a terrible accident that results in him serving time for his reckless lifestyle, she contemplates the lies that have shaped her narrative.
In an emotional confrontation at the hospital, Novalee learns truths that illuminate the struggles of lies, redemption, and the paths we choose. Her journey culminates as she reunites with Forney, finally confessing her true feelings, leading them both back to Oklahoma to solidify their commitment to each other in an unexpected yet heartfelt wedding at Wal-Mart—a place that has symbolized both loss and newfound hope throughout her extraordinary journey.
