Suzette is in an awful jam. Born deaf and poor in the rough and tumble mill town of Big Pine, she struggles to pay down her daddy's gambling debts by working nights as a cigarette girl at Big Jack Montag's swinging club, The Sweet Hippo. Problem is, Big Jack wants more from Suzette than just her time and half her tips. As time wears on, Suzette's hopes and dreams dwindle and fade. And now, making things worse, she thinks she might be falling in love with the club's star performer, Suitcase Sam! What's a girl to do?