In Mexico, a young man searching for Carmen shoots and kills her mother, a flamenco dancer, when she refuses to give Carmen up. Carmen decides to flee across the border. In Texas, Aidan, an unemployed Marine veteran living with his sister, is persuaded to join a militia border patrol and is paired with his friend Mike. The two find a truck in which Carmen is hiding with another woman, several children and two men. To Aidan's horror, Mike shoots and kills the two men, and then pursues Carmen when she tries to run. Aidan helps the woman and children escape and kills Mike to protect Carmen. Carmen and Aidan flee in Mike's car. The pair overpower a pair of police officers who have tracked them to a motel and hail a taxi driver, Angel, who agrees to take them to Los Angeles. On the way, they stop at a surreal carnival, where they part ways with Angel and join Pablo. Pablo propositions Carmen but she turns him down, saying she prefers Aidan. Aidan reveals that he understands Spanish. Pablo takes them to a club in Los Angeles owned by Carmen's family friend Masilda, who takes them in. Aidan intends to leave Carmen at the club but changes his mind when they are startled by police and instead stays with her. Aidan calls his sister, who confirms the authorities are looking for him. He tells her he is not coming home. Masilda encourages Carmen to dance, while Aidan tries to work out their next move. The pair are haunted by visions, including Carmen's mother and a mysterious figure dressed in sequins. Aidan becomes concerned that the authorities have tracked them to the club and wants to move on, but they have no money. He tries to persuade Carmen to stay at the club where she is safe, but she refuses to be left behind. While she performs a dance at the club, Aidan takes part in an underground
bare-knuckle boxing match with a large prize pot, recommended by a former comrade of his. After finishing dancing, Carmen goes to the fight and arrives in time to see Aidan win, but she is followed by police, who raid the fight. The pair initially evade the police, but Aidan is shot while escaping, and collapses. The pair dance together in a fantasy sequence in the desert before Aidan walks off. Later, Carmen walks on a beach, alone. ==Cast==