Watch Hounddog

Lewellen is a young girl being raised in the deep South by her Grannie. The religiously strict woman provides Lewellen with a stable home. Her father has an alcohol problem, but loves her very much. Ellen is her father's girlfriend, and she promises to save Lewellen even if the relationship ends with her father. Ellen turns out to be Lewellen's aunt from her mother's side of the family.

Lewellen spends her summer playing with Buddy. She swims in the pond, and runs around in the woods. Lewellen is excited when she finds out Elvis Presley is coming to town. She hopes to see him when he comes to her town, as one of the stops on his tour. Her father gives her Elvis Presley records in order to prove his love for her.

Lewellen is trapped by the fact that she must tend to her father after he suffers an accident that leaves him mentally handicapped. When Ellen leaves life is bleak for the little girl. The thought of Elvis coming is the only thing that keeps Lewellen from being overwhelmed with despair. Buddy plots with the Wooden's Boy to get Lewellen to dance naked while singing in order to procure an Elvis ticket. She agrees, even though she doesn't quite understand why they want her to do such an act. The Wooden's boy rapes her, and leaves her lying in the rain.

The rape causes Lewellen to fall physically ill. Her Grannie worries abut her feverish fits, and hallucinations of snakes attacking her. Lewellen's friend Charles encourages her to recover. He nurses her, and tries to get her to sing again. She eventually comes out of her despair, and sings the song "Hound Dog". Ellen returns for her as she promised, and takes Lewellen away from her miserable existence. Lewellen tells her infantile father goodbye before she leaves with her aunt. She rides away with the promise of a new life.