Small town Sheriff Darl Hardwick (Billy Bob Thornton) is called in to investigate the mysterious and brutal murder of a transsexual. The case ominously has no leads so Hardwick must dig deep into the investigation if he is to solve the case. He soon discovers that the individual’s death may be linked to the scandal of high ranking city official and that a cover up of the murder may be planned. While the Sheriff himself is quite intolerant of homosexuality, he pursues the case and alienates most of his peers. His only means for cracking the case may lie in certain individuals from his past with whom he has abstained from contacting.