Little One is the story of a 6 year old girl named Vuyelwa who is left for dead in a field near a township in Johannesburg. She is found by a middle aged woman named Pauline who rushes her to the hospital. After saving her life, it comes to light that the little girl has been raped and her face badly beaten. To help her cope with the shame and disfigurement, Pauline makes her a mask to cover her face.
While Vuyelwa is in the hospital, no one comes forward to claim her and the police are left with an unsolved mystery on their hands. Pauline becomes actively involved in the case and visits the little girl daily, despite her husband Jaco’s protests. A strong bond is formed between Pauline and the child, which leads Pualine to try and adopt her.