Gemma Dillard (Winona Ryder) is a 13-year-old country girl who lives with her Grandpa Dillard (Jason Robards) on a farm in the Texas Panhandle. Gemma is visited by her mother who lives in Dallas with an offer to come stay with her in the city. Her mother (Who had Gemma when she was still only a teenager.) is now married with a job as a hair stylist and can provide for her.