In a small Southern town, Archie Lee Meighan, a struggling cotton gin owner, is married to Baby Doll, a naïve and childlike young woman. Their marriage hinges on an unusual agreement: Archie must wait until Baby Doll's 20th birthday before consummating their marriage. As tensions rise in their household, Archie becomes increasingly frustrated with the living arrangement and the dilapidated state of their home. His financial woes are further compounded by the success of a rival cotton gin owner, Silva Vacarro.

Desperate to maintain his business and assert his dominance, Archie burns down Silva's gin, believing it will eliminate his competition. However, Silva suspects Archie and seeks to expose him. To do so, he visits Archie’s home under the pretense of having his own cotton ginned. Through calculated manipulation and seduction, Silva aims to draw out a confession from Archie while deepening the rifts within Archie and Baby Doll's fragile relationship. Tensions and emotions escalate as each character grapples with desire, power, and retribution, leading to an unpredictable climax.