AsthefilmopensonanOklahomafarmduringthedepression,twosimultaneousvisitorsliterallyhittheWagoneerhome:aruinousduststormandaconvertiblecrazilydrivenbyRed,themissus'brother.Aroguishcountry-westernmusician,hehasjustbeeninvitedtoauditionfortheGrandOleOpry,hischanceofalifetimetobecomeasuccess.However,thisiswaybackinNashville,Redclearlydrivesterribly,andhe'sbrokeandsickwithtuberculosistoboot.Whit,14,seeinghisownchanceofalifetimetoavoid"growinguptobeacottonpickerallmylife,"begsMatolethimgowithUncleRedasdriverandprotege.Thusbeginsapicaresquejourneybothhilariousandpoignant.