1995
Sheriff Sam Deeds investigates human remains identified as corrupt former sheriff Charley Wade, who disappeared decades ago, uncovering the complex history of his legendary father, Buddy Deeds, and the community's racial tensions. As Sam delves deeper, he reconnects with high school sweetheart Pilar Cruz, a history teacher whose family is also entangled in the town's past secrets. Sam learns that his father, Buddy, murdered Charley Wade, with Hollis Pogue and Otis Payne helping cover it up, believing Wade deserved his fate, forcing Sam and Pilar to confront uncomfortable truths about their parents. Ultimately, Sam and Pilar decide to move forward with their relationship, accepting the complexities of their shared history and the imperfect nature of their families.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Sheriff Sam Deeds returns to his hometown after uncovering a long-buried skeleton, forcing him to confront past relationships and corruption.
Open full beat sheetSam Deeds is listed as Sheriff of Rio County. 40-year-old, quietly competent, moody, son of Buddy Deeds. In the parsed data, Sam Deeds is connected to 17 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
17 scenes / 10 dialogue linesPilar Cruz is listed as Teacher. Late 30s, intelligent, history teacher, mother of Amado and Paloma. In the parsed data, Pilar Cruz is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesHollis Pogue is listed as Mayor, former Deputy. 60s, former deputy under Buddy Deeds. In the parsed data, Hollis Pogue is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 4.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesOtis Payne is listed as Club owner. Early 60s, influential figure in the Black community. In the parsed data, Otis Payne is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 21.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCliff Potts is listed as Army Sergeant. Career Army man, treasure hunter. In the parsed data, Cliff Potts is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesMikey Hogan is listed as Army Sergeant. Career Army man, treasure hunter. In the parsed data, Mikey Hogan is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 1.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMercedes Cruz is listed as Cafe owner. Pilar's mother, stern, hardworking. In the parsed data, Mercedes Cruz is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDelmore Payne is listed as Army Colonel. Direct, by-the-book, son of Otis Payne. In the parsed data, Delmore Payne is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 22.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCharley Wade is listed as Former corrupt Sheriff. Big, mean, redneck, known for bribery and violence. In the parsed data, Charley Wade is connected to 1 scene, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 7.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesAmado Cruz is listed as Student. 15-year-old son of Pilar, rebellious. In the parsed data, Amado Cruz is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 15.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBuddy Deeds is listed as Former Sheriff. Legendary, forceful, complex, deceased father of Sam. In the parsed data, Buddy Deeds is connected to 2 text mentions.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesSergeants Cliff and Mikey discover a skeleton while metal detecting.
Cliff Potts, Mikey HoganSheriff Sam Deeds arrives at the scene to investigate the remains.
Sam Deeds, Cliff Potts, Mikey HoganPilar meets with a parent while dealing with her son's absence.
Pilar CruzSam listens to Hollis recount the history of Buddy Deeds and Charley Wade.
Sam Deeds, Hollis Pogue, Mercedes CruzAthena is questioned by Cliff and Priscilla about her involvement in a fight involving Private Graves.
Cliff Potts, Mikey Hogan, Pilar CruzSam interviews Minnie Bledsoe about her late husband and the former Sheriff Wade.
Sam DeedsFlashback to a confrontation between Sheriff Wade and young Otis Payne.
Charley Wade, Hollis Pogue, Otis Payne, Mercedes CruzSam and Pilar discuss their past and the reasons for Sam's return, leading to a memory of their youth.
Sam Deeds, Pilar CruzSergeant Worth orders Private Athena to report for a drug test.
Ray Hernandez brings Shadow in; Sam reviews old case files.
Sam DeedsMercedes pours a drink and hears intruders outside.
Mercedes CruzSam encounters Zack Pollard while reflecting on his father.
Sam DeedsSam researches old records and talks to Pete Zayas.
Sam DeedsSam talks to Ray Hernandez about the upcoming election.
Sam DeedsPilar and Amado argue about his future.
Pilar Cruz, Amado CruzSam visits Chucho Montoya in Mexico to ask about Eladio Cruz.
Sam DeedsSam visits Wesley Birdsong to learn more about Buddy Deeds.
Sam DeedsSam and Pilar meet and dance.
Sam Deeds, Pilar CruzSam and Pilar spend the night together.
Sam Deeds, Pilar CruzSam confronts Hollis about the murder of Charley Wade.
Sam Deeds, Hollis PogueChet visits Otis Payne to learn about his heritage.
Otis PayneDel interrogates Private Athena Johnson about her drug test and her attitude toward the Army.
Delmore Payne, char_12A car full of day workers crosses the border.
Sam visits his ex-wife Bunny Kincaid.
Sam DeedsSam searches through his old belongings in the garage.
Sam DeedsDel visits Otis's house and speaks with Carolyn.
Delmore Payne, Otis PayneSam confronts Otis and Hollis about the night Buddy killed Charley Wade.
Sam Deeds, Otis Payne, Hollis PogueSam and Pilar discuss their past and future.
Sam Deeds, Pilar CruzI think somewhere between Roderick Bledsoe's club and his house, Wade ran into Buddy Deeds. I think Buddy put a bullet in him, waited for him to die, threw him in the trunk of the Sheriff's car and drove him out by the Army post, I think he buried him under four feet of sand and never looked back.
He was part of the Seminole Nation, got pushed down into the Everglades in pioneer days. African people who run off from the slaveholders hooked up with them, married up, had children.
If you grew up to he anywhere near as good a man as your father was, I would be happy! I would be thrilled.
Charley Wade was one of your old-fashioned bribe-or-bullets kind of Sheriffs.
Private Johnson, are you unhappy in the Army?
You ever know a fella named Eladio Cruz?
No telling yet if there's been a crime.
So why did you come back here, Sam?
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.