A young Coriolanus Snow, long before he becomes Panem's feared dictator, is assigned to mentor a tribute from District 12 during the early days of the Hunger Games. Struggling with his family's diminished status and desperate to win a prestigious scholarship, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to his charge, a bold and resourceful girl named Lucy Gray Baird. Their complicated relationship forces Snow to confront questions about power, survival, and his own moral character, ultimately setting him on the path towards the ruthless ruler he will one day become.