Raymie Nightingale

Beverly slaps Louisiana on each cheek, reviving her. Louisiana immediately asks about a person named Marsha Jean and asks whether the “country home” has come. Louisiana, an angelic-looking orphan, introduces herself and explains her reason for taking baton-twirling lessons: She wants to win the contest prize money ($1,975) to save herself from the country home and to get Archie, her missing cat, back from the “Very Friendly Animal Center.” After Louisiana announces that she is entering the Little Miss Central Florida contest, Beverly pulls out a knife, slashes the air, and exclaims that she is going to sabotage the contest. Raymie’s heart sinks as she realizes they are all there for the same reason, two to try and win and one to sabotage the contest. Beverly is committed to sabotaging the contest because her controlling mother, a former beauty queen, enters Beverly into every possible Little Miss contest even though she knows Beverly hates them.

Ida Nee cancels the lesson in frustration. Louisiana’s tiny grandmother, whom she lives with, arrives in a rundown station wagon to pick up Louisiana, rushing so that Marsha Jean doesn’t find or follow them. While Beverly and Raymie wait to be picked up, they try and guess Louisiana’s story.