Nzinga is running from a skirmish between her father's capitalist breakaway group and the communists supporting the Angolan government. As it ends, she checks for danger but only finds herself and her radio in a Coca Cola can that has been gifted to her by an American soldier.

Officer Burgos of the communist government faction is examining the scene of the skirmish. He finds the radio and shoots it, assuming it is a landmine. When he sees it still works, he sets himself up nearby, waiting in case its owner to return.

Nzinga is back at the base camp that her father runs, as it is being packed up. They can't stay now that the government forces are so close to them. Tee Baptiste, an American commando there to train and bring American goods, appears and gives Nzinga a hug. When putting the new case of makeup he brought for her into her bag, she realizes she lost her radio. Later that night, while her parents argue over what to do with the camp after an attack so close, Nzinga decides to go back for the radio. Burgos sees her approach and lets her take the radio, leading him back to the capitalist camp.

While the camp is still being dismantled, Burgos watches. There isn't much left, but he has called in his team. He almost called in an ambush team on the SUV he saw Nzinga enter and get driven away in, but something about her innocence made him pause. Just as the last bits are packed, he shoots a flare gun and his team shoots everyone still there, women and children too.

Nzinga is planting mines along their exit path with Tee, who tells her he's retiring from the army to spend more time with his wife and child back home. Nzinga is sad knowing that her dream of going home with Tee and being his adopted daughter will never be true. After planting the last mine, they hear the explosions from the campsite which her parents are still clearing. A week later, she is on a plane to America into the foster care system.

Later, Burgos argues with an Angolan commander who wants to raze a village because the head gave food to the capitalists. The commander won't listen, but in the argument he walks on one of the mines Nzinga had buried. In his dying moments, Burgos remembers seeing Nzinga enter the car with Baptiste.