Do you think the plot could work with... (SPOILER ALERT)
How about the sex being consensual instead of rape? Here's how it could go...
Lewellen wants the ticket so much that there is no need for the guy to rape her. She willingly has sex with him to get the tickets, then shrugs it off. However, her boyfriend, after seeing that thing happening in front of his eyes, is put off and breaks up with her, so he decides to give the ticket to the rich girl. That makes Lewellen sick of sadness. The rest of the movie is the same.
Do you think the plot would be more interesting that way?