Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Peter Coyote, Amy Locane, Wade Andrew Williams, Miguel Sandoval, and Roma Maffia.
In a dramatic opening, what should be a simple exchange of drugs for money at an abandoned cattle ranch erupts into a bloodbath in which all of the participants are gunned down.
Luckless small town deputies, Booth Parker and Earl Whitney, come across the site of the massacre while looking for a lost dog on desolate Route 9. Upon investigating the scene they discover over $1,000,000 in the trunk of one of the cars, a van full of drugs, and not a living witness in sight. The temptation of this windfall proves too much for either deputy to resist. Earl, who we already know to have a gambling problem, convinces his partner, Booth, that they should keep the cash. Booth reluctantly agrees on the condition that they keep it hidden until they can safely leave town without raising suspicion. Each of the men has his own idea of how he will spend his new fortune. Earl dreams of living the life of a high roller in Las Vegas while Booth plans to use his share to run away with his lover, Sally, who happens to be the Sheriff's wife.
After removing the money, the deputies torch the car and radio back to headquarters to report their discovery of the carnage, drugs and burned vehicle. Only after they have made the call do they realize that, Denning, one of the men lying on the ground, although too weak to speak, is not dead and has overheard their entire plot. The deputies are overcome with panic and Earl tries to suffocate the only witness. Paramedics arrive before Earl can finish off the dying man. Fortunately for Booth and Earl, Denning's life can not be saved and he dies before uttering a word about what he heard... or so they think.
Feeling relieved and convinced that they have covered all their tracks, Booth and Earl bury the money with plans of digging it up after the investigation is over. However, the next day, their confidence is shaken when they learn that Denning was a Federal Agent operating undercover.
The twists of bad luck continue for Booth and Earl as the unassuming, but clever DEA investigator, Ellen Martin, probes more deeply into the case. Booth and Earl's desperation and growing paranoia create a mutual distrust between the two partners which eventually threatens to destroy them and their dreams of a life of luxury.
