SOUTH OF HEAVEN, WEST OF HELL

A Synopsis
By Dwight Yoakam

In the Old West during the 1800's, Sheriff VALENTINE MATHERS and his deputy CLETE MONROE watch over the small town of Los Trados on Christmas Eve. All remains peaceful until a group of outlaws roll into town - the HENRY GANG led by LELAND and his oldest son TAYLOR. The family promises no problems to Val who was raised by the Henry family. However, the family breaks their word and attempts to rob the town bank. During the robbery, Clete dies from gunshot wounds and Val gets run over by the Henry's getaway wagon.

9 Months Later

Val has now turned in his sheriff badge and just wanders the West with his sidekick, U.S. CHRISTMAS. In a saloon, NOGALES, a member of the Henry gang, kills a group of people who claimed he was cheating at cards and he quickly gets thrown behind bars. The Henry gang shows up and breaks Nogales out of jail. At a small settlement in the middle of nowhere, U.S. and Val deliver horses to the owner of to Wild West Show, PAWNEE BILL, whereupon they meet BRIGADIER SMALLS who has brought ADALYNE to see her uncle and her deaf and blind niece MARGARET.

While on a hot air balloon ride, Val and Adalyne talk of running away together to San Francisco. In this moment of confession, Val tells the story of why he left the Henry Gang. Leland in a fit of jealousy over his neighbor's land set fire to their house and burning the entire family. Later in the Dunfries Hotel, the Henry Gang shows up and tries to rape Adalyne and Margaret, but she fights back injuring many and even killing a few. In the scuffle, she gets shot, but does not die. When Val comes back and sees what has happened, he takes off to bring the Henry Gang back and stand trial for their crimes. At the farm, as Val tries to convince the family to come with him quickly, Taylor kills Leland over an argument and one of the family members knocks Val out. SISSY, the only woman in the family, frees Val as she professes her love for him, but her youngest brother, THE KID, kills her when he sees what takes place. Coming from a hill above the farm, U.S. charges the farm helping Val kill the entire family except for Taylor who attempts an escape on horseback. Val, seeing him ride away, catches up with Taylor and puts a stick of dynamite in his saddlebag. As he rides off the cliff, the stick of dynamite explodes sending Taylor into a million pieces. In the end, Val and U.S. ride off into the sunset on their way to meet up with Adalyne.