El Boy (Bernal) is a street kid who lives with his alcoholic aunt Chenta (Beristain), dreaming of one chance to run away and reach his long-lost friend Mauricio (Bichir) in the border town of Tijuana. Mauricio returns and tries to convince El Boy to assist him with a kidnapping, but the trust between them is rapidly replaced by lies and betrayal. After committing a crime, El Boy will be sent to Tijuana, leaving Mauricio free to take control of his entire life.