AsthefilmopensonanOklahomafarmduringthedepression,twosimultaneousvisitorsliterallyhittheWagoneerhomearuinousduststormandaconvertiblecrazilydrivenbyRed,themissus'brother.Aroguishcountry-westernmusician,hehasjustbeeninvitedtoauditionfortheGrandOleOpry,hischanceofalifetimetobecomeasuccess.However,thisiswaybackinNashville,Redclearlydrivesterribly,andhe'sbrokeandsickwithtuberculosistoboot.Whit,14,seeinghisownchanceofalifetimetoavoidgrowinguptobeacottonpickerallmylife,begsMatolethimgowithUncleRedasdriverandprotege.Thusbeginsapicaresquejourneybothhilariousandpoignant.
