Deep Valley

Libby first spots the convicts working along the road that skirts the California coast. She watches them from a distance, curious and cautious, and she becomes drawn to Burnette in particular. This encounter sets up the dangerous fascination that drives much of the plot.

The convicts reach Libby's isolated farm and ask for water from the family well. They initially refuse the offer, but Mr. Saul decides to give them water for free anyway. The act reveals the Sauls' stubborn generosity and foreshadows escalating tension.

The foreman taunts Burnette until he finally punches him in anger. The altercation exposes the volatile dynamics within the group. This moment foreshadows trouble for Libby and her family as the story presses on.

Engineer Barker is invited to dinner at the Saul farm. He explains Burnette’s likely fate, telling Libby that Burnette could be sent back to San Quentin after the assault. Libby listens, imagining a future entwined with Burnette.

Barker asks Libby to dance, but she is too shy to accept. In response, Mr. Saul slaps Libby, underscoring the family's rigid expectations. The moment pushes Libby toward a life beyond the farm's constraints.

That very night Libby leaves the farm with her dog and hides in a nearby cabin. Her departure marks a turning point as her parents briefly begin to communicate after years of silence. The house feels emptier without Libby’s presence.

During a heavy rainstorm, Burnette escapes from a prison transport and seeks Libby out. He tells Libby why he was imprisoned and asks for her help to get away. They form a dangerous bond in the rain-soaked setting.

Libby and Burnette plan to elope to San Francisco, but Libby must return to the farm for clothes. On the way back, she discovers her parents have reconciled and are unaware of Burnette's presence. A posse has already begun tracking Burnette.

That night Burnette follows Libby to the farm and is hidden in the barn. The couple falls in love under the cover of darkness while the danger of discovery looms nearby. The moment deepens their bond as the stakes rise.

Libby intercepts Barker when he goes out to fetch a tire pump, preventing Burnette from being discovered. The act cements their connection while drawing them further into the lidless danger. The risk of exposure grows with every move.

Mrs. Saul grows suspicious of Libby’s strange behavior and confronts the couple. The truth about Burnette's presence threatens to fracture the fragile family balance. Tension peaks at the farm as loyalties collide.

Burnette and Libby decide to run away, but Mr. Saul and Barker arrive to stop them. Burnette knocks Barker down and drives off in the truck, leaving Libby behind. The posse closes in as the pursuit intensifies.

The posse closes in and Burnette is shot. He dies in Libby's arms, extinguishing the couple's hopes of a swift escape. Libby is left to grieve as the man she loves dies just before they could start anew.

In the aftermath, Libby and Barker begin a new life together. Libby has chosen a path away from the farm's legacy and its power dynamics. The ending positions her as a woman who makes her own decisions about her future.