Paper Moon 1973

In the sweltering summer of 1932, a somber atmosphere hangs over the gravesite where Essie May Loggins has finally found her eternal rest. Among the mourners are two women who knew the deceased and Addie (Tatum O’Neal), a bright-eyed 9-year-old whose life is forever entwined with that of her mother’s. As the funeral service draws to a close, Moses Pray (Ryan O’Neal) arrives late to the proceedings, his dashing good looks and suave demeanor a stark contrast to the somber mood. It becomes clear that Essie May was a woman who lived life on her own terms, and Moses was just one of many men who shared in her affections.

As the mourners begin to disperse, it’s evident that Addie is the focal point of their conversations. The women notice a striking resemblance between Moses and Addie, and speculation runs rampant about the possibility that Moses could be her father. Moses is quick to deny any paternity claims, but the women persist in probing him for answers. With his own secrets at risk of being exposed, Moses is forced to reevaluate his plans when they learn he’s headed in the direction of Missouri.

Convinced by the women to deliver Addie to her aunt and uncle in St. Joseph, Moses grudgingly agrees, seeing an opportunity to spin a new tale in the process. As a con man extraordinaire, Moses has a knack for sniffing out vulnerabilities and exploiting them for personal gain. He uses his knowledge of Essie May’s exploits to blackmail a local businessman, taking Addie along for the ride as he extracts $200 from the unwitting victim.

However, Addie is no naive pawn in Moses’ game. She overhears their conversation and refuses to be used without getting something in return - specifically, her fair share of the spoils. Moses is taken aback by Addie’s sharp instincts, fearing that she might uncover his true intentions and blow his cover. He reluctantly agrees to get her $200 back, aware that any further manipulation could backfire spectacularly.

After sending a telegram to Addie’s relatives announcing her delay, Moses takes Addie under his wing as he sets out to recover the ill-gotten gains. The stage is set for a thrilling adventure, one where the lines between right and wrong are blurred, and the true extent of Addie’s cunning is only just beginning to reveal itself.

As Addie discovers the true nature of Moses’ (Moze) entrepreneurial endeavors, she uncovers a scheme that involves posing as a Bible salesman. With an eagle eye, she peruses the obituary section of the local newspaper, tracks down the widows of recently deceased men, and convinces them that their husbands had ordered Bibles with personalized inscriptions. Meanwhile, while Moze is occupied charming Pearl, Addie finds herself in possession of incriminating evidence - a cigar box containing materials used to print her name on the inside of one such Bible. Touched by the thought of her deceased husband’s intended gift, Pearl hands over the payment for the Bible, and Addie’s suspicions about Moze’s character are finally confirmed.

Moze is less than thrilled at having Addie tag along on his travels, but she consistently proves herself to be a shrewd and resourceful partner. As they navigate their way through various cons, Addie reveals herself to be wise beyond her years, with a keen understanding of human nature and a natural talent for salesmanship. Despite Moze’s initial reluctance, he begins to appreciate Addie’s value as an asset in their joint venture. When they encounter a widow who is being taken advantage of by Moze’s unscrupulous methods, Addie intervenes, charming the lawman into leaving them be and even managing to increase the price of the Bible on the spot.

As their partnership grows, so too do their profits. Moze teaches Addie the art of salesmanship, showing her how to sweet-talk shopkeepers out of cash, and Addie’s natural charm proves to be a winning combination. Despite occasional disagreements over the ethics of their endeavors, Addie comes to understand that she is an integral part of Moze’s operation - and vice versa. Together, they form an unstoppable team, navigating the complexities of their world with a mixture of wit, guile, and undeniable chemistry.

As Moze and Addie venture into a nomadic carnival, their lives take an unexpected detour. Amidst the vibrant colors and pulsating rhythms, Moze’s eyes land on Trixie Delight (Madeline Kahn), a captivating “harem girl” whose sizzling stage presence hints at a tantalizing proposition. When Trixie joins them, along with her loyal maid Imogene (P.J. Johnson), Addie’s ire is piqued by the sudden disruption to their tranquil routine. The boisterous and provocative Trixie proves to be a polar opposite of Addie’s reserved nature, causing tension to simmer beneath the surface.

Despite initial reluctance, Addie engages in a forthright conversation with Trixie, who candidly reveals her tendency to lose men quickly. In a surprising display of pragmatism, Addie appears to accept this reality, only for Trixie’s insatiable appetite for luxury to jeopardize their finances. The discovery of their depleted savings in Moze’s new, extravagant car purchase serves as the proverbial straw, prompting Addie to concoct a scheme to bring about Trixie’s downfall.

With Imogene as her unwitting accomplice, Addie masterminds a plan to ensnare Trixie in a compromising situation with the hotel desk clerk. As fate would have it, their ruse succeeds, and Moze finds Trixie entwined with the clerk. In the aftermath of this revelation, Moze promptly collects Addie and abandons Trixie, leaving the once-reckless harem girl to face the consequences of her own actions.

As the hotel’s humble facade gave way to the darkness of night, Addie and Moze seized upon a clever opportunity. While lodged in the rural retreat, Addie chanced upon a clandestine bootlegger conducting his illicit trade with calculated precision. His customers would discreetly approach him, only for him to retrieve the contraband from a small, unassuming shed tucked away behind the hotel’s main building. The shrewd duo, ever on the lookout for ways to increase their profits, hatched a plan to infiltrate the shed and pilfer some of the liquor, then sell it back to the bootlegger at a tidy markup. Their scheme proved successful, but unbeknownst to them, they had piqued the interest of a man lurking in the shadows nearby. As they departed the hotel in their automobile, they found themselves being pursued by a determined sheriff who ultimately took them into custody.

During their incarceration at the sheriff’s station, Moze and Addie were subjected to relentless questioning, though the authorities couldn’t quite pin anything on them. Addie had cleverly stashed the telltale earnings from their escapade within her hat, rendering any incriminating evidence all but impossible to find. The sheriff, determined to keep them locked up until he could gather sufficient proof to convict them, was thwarted when Addie suddenly concocted a plan. She relieved the authorities of their car keys and urged Moze to make a daring escape. Together, they hastened outside, evading capture as they made a hasty getaway.

The sheriff and his deputies were hot on their heels, but Moze and Addie managed to outwit them by crossing into Missouri, where the lawman’s jurisdiction ceased to exist. Recognizing that their automobile would only serve as a beacon drawing unwanted attention, Moze spotted a dilapidated old truck parked outside a ramshackle farmhouse. He roused the residents of the humble abode, spinning a tale of necessity and offering to swap vehicles for their broken-down truck. The men, however, remained skeptical, pointing out that the new car would be of little use to them due to its inability to haul any meaningful cargo.

Moze, undeterred, proposed a wrestling match to settle the dispute. The farmhands, unable to resist the challenge, dispatched their best ‘wrassler’, Leroy (Randy Quaid), to take on Moze. Despite being at a disadvantage, Moze employed underhanded tactics and emerged victorious, securing the right to claim the beat-up truck as his own.

With their new transportation secured, Addie and Moze found themselves in Missouri, where the question of Addie’s original destination - her aunt and uncle’s residence - arose. Moze suggested that this was no longer a necessary consideration, proposing instead that they operate as equal partners in their illicit endeavors. Both were enamored with this arrangement, having grown fond of each other’s company and realizing that separation would be an unwelcome consequence.

As Moze meticulously orchestrates a lucrative scheme involving a well-heeled gentleman, he informs Addie that this impending payday will finally provide them with the financial freedom to escape the con artist’s life forever. With Addie scheduled to follow later, Moze sets out to meet their mark, but his plan is foiled by Sheriff Johnson from Kansas and his deputies; while they cannot legally detain Moze for his past crimes in their jurisdiction, they are driven by a thirst for revenge and relentlessly pursue him, ultimately pummeling him into submission. Addie’s alarm is piqued when Moze fails to materialize, and she eventually discovers him battered and bruised, lying helpless in a stairwell.

Moze’s encounter with violence sparks a sudden change of heart regarding his decision to include Addie in their precarious lifestyle; he decides to take her to live with her aunt and uncle after all. Despite his protestations that Addie won’t cry about parting ways, she is visibly underwhelmed by the prospect of settling into this new domestic situation. Moze’s arrival at the rural homestead introduces Addie to her aunt (Rose-Mary Rumbley), a flighty and effervescent woman who treats Addie like the youthful innocent she is, further alienating her from her environment.

Meanwhile, Moze embarks on an uphill journey in his trusty but temperamental truck, which eventually breaks down, leaving him stranded. His spirits are low, not only due to the mechanical failure but also his lingering sadness over Addie’s departure. As he gazes up at his rearview mirror, he spots her running towards him from a distance. Although he’s relieved to see her, Moze maintains a stern countenance and growls, “I told you, I don’t want you riding with me no more.” Initially wounded by his words, Addie regains her composure and retorts, “You still owe me $200,” leaving Moze flustered. As the truck begins to drift away from them, Addie lets out a desperate warning cry, prompting both of them to scramble aboard and set off towards their next destination.