Set in a small, economically-depressed town in North Carolina, the film follows a group of children during their summer break. Among them is George Richardson, a quiet boy with a protective helmet he must wear due to a fragile skull condition. Nasia, a young girl recently separated from her boyfriend Buddy, narrates as she reflects on life and the events to come. The children, though faced with poverty and broken homes, find diversion and a sense of freedom in their rural surroundings. They explore abandoned homes, interact with eccentric locals, and confront the harsh realities that lurk beneath the surface of their community.

A poignant incident involving Buddy sets the group on an unforeseen path, intensifying the complexities of their youthful relationships. As Nasia gravitates towards George, viewing him as a stronger and more thoughtful companion than her ex-boyfriend, the dynamics within the group begin to shift. The children are forced to navigate the muddy waters of growing up, their loyalties and morals tested by the weight of consequence and the inevitability of change. Throughout, the film captures the languid pace of summer and the bittersweet pangs of adolescence with a quiet, observational style that emphasizes the inner lives of its young protagonists.