十三岁的女孩琳（朱迪·福斯特 Jodie Foster 饰）单独居住在靠海的一座小屋里，她的父亲已弃世，母亲离家出走。疼爱他的父亲帮她预付了三年的房租，直到她可以自谋生存，她必要做的就是守住父亲已逝的奥秘以保住居住权。但这对于一个小女孩来说一点也不易，为了隐匿闲人怀疑，她始终独来独往，学着天衣无缝地措置大小事务。与世无争的她还要面临…

An ambitious lawyer kills her gardener by mistake, fearing her chances with the law and the impact this will have on her career at a prestigious firm, she turns to her best friend to help her get rid of the body.