Crossroads

A 17-year-old Eugene Martone studies Juilliard and becomes obsessed with the blues, especially the legend of Robert Johnson and the idea of selling one’s soul at the crossroads. He learns about a missing Johnson tune rumored to be lost to the world. This fascination launches his quest to uncover the truth behind the blues.

Eugene tracks down Willie Brown, Johnson's longtime associate, who is incarcerated in a nearby minimum-security hospital. Willie initially denies being Brown, then admits his identity after hearing Eugene play blues. He hints that he knows the missing tune but refuses to share until he’s free.

Willie reveals he will share the missing tune only if Eugene helps him escape and takes him to Mississippi to settle unfinished business. Eugene agrees, driven by the chance to test his skills and prove himself. The plan sets them on a dangerous trek toward the Deep South.

Willie often exaggerates that he has money for bus tickets, pushing Eugene into real hardship. With only forty dollars between them, they end up hitchhiking and walking through Memphis toward Mississippi. The journey reveals Willie's improvisational crimes and Eugene's growing resilience.

Eugene sells his last valuables to buy a Fender Telecaster and a portable Pignose amp after Willie critiques his old guitar. He learns to use a slide, and Willie starts teaching him the essentials of blues technique. The new gear marks a turning point in their musical journey.

They crash an impromptu jam at a jook joint where Eugene showcases his talent and earns the nickname 'Lightning Boy'. Willie warns him not to joke about selling your soul, underscoring the seriousness of the myth. The scene immerses them in the living blues tradition.

They meet Frances, a 17-year-old on the run from an abusive stepfather, who travels with them for a time. She and Eugene form a fragile romance, giving Eugene a deeper stake in the blues. Frances eventually leaves to continue her own journey.

Willie confesses there is no real missing Johnson song, undermining Eugene’s original premise. He also cautions that Eugene has learned more from the blues than from any particular tune. The betrayal becomes a catalyst for Eugene’s self-discovery.

The trio reaches a desolate Mississippi crossroads where Willie’s deal with the Devil—Scratch and Legba—is revealed. The Devil insists the contract is still valid, setting a perilous challenge. The tension shifts from myth to a literal test of musical prowess.

The Devil offers a contest at a concert: if Eugene can beat the designated guitarist, Willie’s soul will be freed; if Eugene loses, his own soul is at stake. Willie protests but ultimately supports the gamble. The stakes raise the tension to a breaking point.

Eugene and the ringer trade blazing guitar licks in a dramatic duel while transport magic brings them to the hall. Jack Butler, a famed guitarist who traded his soul, performs as the opponent. Eugene safeguards his edge with a mojo bag and his slide.

Eugene uses a blend of technique and instinct to outplay Butler; the opponent collapses in defeat. The Devil tears up Willie’s contract, freeing the bluesman's soul. The power of music triumphs over damnation.

With Willie’s soul restored and their mission complete, they return to Mississippi and plan to continue to Chicago to take the music further. Willie tells Eugene they’ll part ways after Chicago so the young guitarist can grow on his own. The journey signifies a passing of the torch to the next generation of blues players.