Moonee, a precocious little girl, lives in a run-down Florida motel and spends her days inventing adventures with her ragtag playmates, while her single mother, Halley, must take on increasingly dangerous jobs in order to provide for her daughter. Aided by the kindness of their cantankerous motel owner (Willem Dafoe), Moonee and Halley try to make each difficult day a celebration of life and childhood wonder.