Rynn Jacobs (Jodie Foster) is a smart thirteen-year-old girl who lives in a secluded house that she and her father rent. After a number of locals come calling, they find that Rynn's father is never around. Suspicions are soon raised and members of the community - including the local police officer (Mort Shuman) and the landlord's sleazy son (Martin Sheen) - make it their business to pry into Rynn's affairs. But how far will she go to hide the truth of what she has been up to?