Film is structured as a letter to momma from Lilly as Liz, recalling her hard times in Hollywood, but sugarcoating it for ma's sake. In time-honored flashback structure, we get to see the real travails, which start off with a goon handling her with a leash to her neck, calling her his little doggie bitch and otherwise abusing poor Liz. Turns out she has (unbeknownst to mom) become a prostitute to make ends meet, sending $16 a week back home.