A Small Town in Texas (1976) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Duke frames Poke because he witnessed the assassination of congressman-elect Jesus Mendez. When Duke recovered the envelope from the trash after killing the assassin, he found it empty and concluded that Poke must have taken its contents, the $25,000. Duke uses his power as sheriff to issue an arrest warrant for marijuana possession, turning the legal system against Poke to silence him and recover the money.

Foreshadowing: Duke warns Poke upon his return that he will be kept on a tight leash, hinting at the sheriff's intention to control Poke's movements.

• duke calley
• sheriff
• frame
• arrest warrant
• money

The envelope contained $25,000 in cash. Duke retrieved it from the trash can after killing the assassin who shot Congressman-elect Jesus Mendez. When he later found the envelope empty, he assumed Poke had taken the money during the chaos of the assassination.

• envelope
• money
• 25 thousand
• assassination
• mendez

Duke kills the assassin to silence him and cover up the conspiracy. The shooter was a man in a police uniform, suggesting the assassination was a coordinated effort involving corrupt law enforcement. By killing the assassin, Duke ensures the truth about who ordered the hit never surfaces.

Foreshadowing: Duke is assigned to guard Mendez, giving him direct access to the congressman and the perfect opportunity to eliminate the assassin.

• assassin
• duke calley
• mendez
• cover up
• silencing

Duke uses his affair with Mary Lee as another tool to control Poke. By sleeping with Poke's girlfriend and warning him away from her, Duke demonstrates his power over every aspect of Poke's life. This manipulation keeps Poke distracted and emotionally vulnerable while Duke pursues his larger scheme.

Foreshadowing: Duke warns Poke not to pursue any connection to Kevin, revealing his personal entanglements with Mary Lee.

• duke
• mary lee
• affair
• control
• manipulation

When Deputy Lenny arrives at Boogie's garage to arrest Poke, Boogie stalls him to let Poke escape on a motorcycle. This triggers a high-speed chase during which two deputies are killed, likely from the pursuit itself or clashes with Poke. Duke then leverages these deaths to paint Poke as a dangerous fugitive wanted for murder.

• deputies
• murder suspect
• chase
• arrest
• duke calley

Boogie is beaten to death by Duke Calley himself. After Poke escapes, Duke goes after his friends to find Poke's location. Boogie collapses at Cloetus's door the next morning, naming Duke as his attacker before dying. Duke wanted to force Boogie to reveal where Poke was hiding.

Foreshadowing: Duke has already demonstrated his willingness to use violence and intimidation against anyone connected to Poke.

• boogie
• duke calley
• death
• attack
• junkyard

Poke, Mary Lee, and Kevin flee in a stolen police car during a chase. They drive into a pond, where the car gets stuck. Poke is captured there while trying to escape. While being transported to the police station, Poke tells Deputy Lenny about Duke's role in the Mendez assassination, triggering the events that lead to Duke beating him and the subsequent escape.

• pond
• capture
• chase
• stolen car
• escape

C.J. Crane, the political boss who arranged Mendez's assassination, tells Duke his career will be finished unless he retrieves the missing $25,000. The money is evidence of the conspiracy, Duke killed the assassin on Crane's orders to keep the political cover-up intact. If the money surfaces, it could expose the entire operation.

Foreshadowing: Crane assigns Duke to guard Mendez at the barbecue, showing their prior collaboration.

• c.j. crane
• duke
• money
• political boss
• pressure

Bull Parker, a former bootlegger and friend, drives the customized truck that allows Poke, Mary Lee, and Kevin to bypass roadblock checkpoints. During the chaotic chase, Bull is killed when he falls from the truck while urging Poke to keep going. His sacrifice allows Poke to continue the escape attempt.

• bull parker
• death
• truck
• escape
• sacrifice

During the climactic mountain road chase, Duke corners Poke and tries to force his vehicle off a cliff. In the struggle, Duke's car careens off the edge and crashes to its death. With the sheriff dead, the immediate threat to Poke's family is eliminated, allowing Poke to return to town to clear his name.

• duke calley
• death
• chase
• mountain road
• final confrontation

With Duke dead, Poke is no longer hunted by the corrupt sheriff who framed him. He decides to return to town to clear his name and secure a future for his family. The wrongful imprisonment, the assassination cover-up, and the frame job all need to be exposed now that the primary antagonist is eliminated.

• poke
• return
• clear name
• future
• family