intertwined with the story of the shuttlesworth family is the sub-plot of dakota barns (milla jovovich), a prostitute who stays in the room next to jake in the run-down hotel, which the warden has booked for him. dakota is being abused by her procurer and companion, sweetness, which jake overhears through the thin walls. throughout the film, jake is seen helping dakota by cleaning her wounds and giving her some of his money to be used for his expenses during his week out of prison. he also develops a romantic relationship with her. dakota is seen in one of the final scenes of the movie taking a greyhound bus away from new york city.