Plot summary

Set in modern-day San Fernando Valley, California, the film begins with rebellious teenager Tobe (Wood) going for a walk with her younger brother, Lonnie (Culkin). The next day, Tobe goes to the beach with friends and when they stop for gasoline they're assisted by Harlan (Norton). Tobe invites much-older Harlan to the beach. He accepts, and while at the beach they share a passionate kiss. Afterwards, Tobe goes to his house and engages in sexual activities with Harlan. She returns home, where her angry father elbows a hole in her door.

Tobe continues to see Harlan. Her father's rage increases, and he manages to shatter her bedroom window. The romantically involved couple ride a horse that supposedly belongs to one of Harlan's friends named "Charlie." Upon returning, Charlie (Bruce Dern) claims he's never met Harlan and that the horse was stolen. The couple are held in police custody until Wade comes to pick up Tobe. She tells Harlan that they should no longer see each other. Harlan, however, is persistent. He takes out Lonnie to shoot guns without Wade's permission and is confronted by Lonnie's father, who is armed threatening Harlan to leave his children alone.

Harlan is evicted from his apartment after shooting at his reflection in in a mirror, creating a Wild West style "shoot-out" scene. It is unclear whether he's mentally stable. He breaks into, presumably, his father or foster father's house, who is revealed to be a Hasidic Jew. He leaves the letter he's been narrating throughout the movie after taking multiple Menorahs, and the contents of a box, in a closet, inscribed with his name. He breaks into Tobe's house and packs a bag so they can run away. When Tobe tells Harlan she doesn't want to leave her family, he shoots her.

When Tobe's father returns home to find Tobe alone on her bed, barely alive. He suspects Harlan, who has failed an attempt at calling 911 and run away. Wade rushes his wounded daughter to the hospital, where she's attached to a breathing machine and remains in a coma. Harlan, who is covered in Tobe's blood, then shoots himself in the side to conceal Tobe's blood and also make it look like it was Wade who had shot Tobe and then shot at him. He finds Lonnie and talks him into going away. He convinces Lonnie that it was really Wade who shot Tobe, and that Harlan was wounded while trying to stop him. Tobe regains consciousness at the hospital and Wade realizes that Lonnie has been taken by Harlan. He pursues them. At night while Harlan and Lonnie are by a fire, Wade, Charlie and a detective named Sheridan arrive. Harlan shoots Charlie before riding off with Lonnie.
   They stumble upon a Western motion picture set where a movie shoot has just begun. Wade and Sheridan arrive with two more cops. A shootout ensues in which Harlan kills Sheridan and the cops. Harlan and Lonnie escape to a housing development under construction, where another shootout follows. Wade shoots Harlan to death to the horror of Lonnie.

Tobe and Lonnie (presumably a month or so later) are driven by Wade to a place where Tobe and Harlan had a pleasant day. Tobe is holding a box that contains her lover's ashes. Her brother asks her what they should say about him. She replies, "Don't say anything, just think it," and scatters the ashes.

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Further Information

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