Parker is a young boy growing up in Arizona shortly after the Vietnam War. His parents met before the war. When his father was drafted, he promised to come back and marry Parker’s mother. Parker’s father kept the promise, but the war changed him, and their marriage fell apart within a few years of having Parker. They separated and fought over who would get custody of Parker. One night, Parker’s father appears in his window and asks him to come with him. They drive into the outskirts of the city, in a cabin where his father doesn’t allow Parker to go outside. Parker’s father brings many women to the house and he drinks a lot. One woman, Zelda, makes conversation with Parker after having sex with his father. Zelda is a prostitute. She tells Parker to follow her, and she drives him to a motel. She presents Parker to her boyfriend, Lizard, who becomes enraged that Zelda’s showing him the right kid. Zelda stuffs Parker in the closet, but Lizard hits Zelda and pulls Parker out, ready to kill him. Parker drives a stick into Lizard’s eye and escapes, finally earning his freedom.