Forced to surrender his cherished land and home, the grumpy Texas rancher Red Bovie is far from ready to fade away into the dull existence of a trailer park, which is all he can now afford. Instead, he embarks on a road trip with his grandson Gally (the son of his long-estranged son Jimmy) to a place Red whimsically refers to as "Old Mexico." Along their journey, they encounter two hitchhikers, Moon and J.T., who have just stolen over $150,000 in drug money. However, after a dispute over some stolen beer, Red drives off, unaware that he has inadvertently taken their satchel filled with the illicit cash.
As they arrive in Mexico, the tension escalates as they remain targeted by the criminals—drug dealers seeking vengeance, who are themselves being hunted down by the relentless assassin Cholo, eager to reclaim what was taken from him. Amid the festivities of the Mexican Day of the Dead, Red and Gally indulge in the vibrant local culture. Their adventures take a daring turn when they visit a brothel to dance and drink, where they encounter Patty Wafers, a stripper turned nightclub singer whose unfortunate circumstances have made her both resourceful and resilient. Captivated by Red's daring personality, Patty finds herself drawn to him.
Tragedy strikes when Cholo catches up with them, leading to the deaths of J.T. and Moon. In an attempt to evade the dangers lurking around them, Patty strives to help Red and Gally use some of the drug money to discreetly return to the United States. Unfortunately, Cholo intercepts their plans and seizes the cash. The chaos continues as they chase after him, only to discover Panama, another member of the drug cartel who is dissatisfied with Cholo's failures, ultimately taking matters into his own hands.
As romantic feelings blossom between Red and Patty, he begins to turn away from the allure of drug money. Meanwhile, Gally, in an effort to reclaim his own identity following his father's death, becomes determined to chase the money once again. In a climactic confrontation, they manage to overpower Panama and reclaim the cash, leaving him to face the consequences of his actions. With the stolen fortune in hand, Patty proposes that Red join her in her small hometown in northern Mexico. He readily accepts her offer, thrilled by the prospect of living a life of comfort with $150,000, promising a royal existence for both of them.
As the story comes to a close, Gally returns to the U.S., while Red expresses his newfound relationship with Gally by stating he has "found himself a grandson." They part ways amicably, leaving behind a journey full of unexpected twists, discovery, and the promise of a new life ahead.
