Fresno

In 1581, conquistadors exploring California named a valley 'Fresno' after the bitter taste of its grapes. This origin story ties Fresno to wine, wealth, and later battles over water and land, echoing through the film's present-day feud.

Foreman Juan is tasked with delivering the prototype raisins to the patent office in Sacramento, but Cane's men ambush the shipment and destroy it. Torch saves Juan and accompanies him back to the Kensington ranch, where Torch is hired as a ranch-hand.

Torch begins digging into the Kensingtons' affairs, stirring suspicions in Charlotte about Yancey's death. His investigations threaten to expose long-held secrets and fuel the family's internecine tensions.

Cane strikes a deal with Mr. Acme to dump toxic waste into Duke Lake, aiming to control the main water source for the ranches. The plan sets in motion a broader conspiracy intertwining business interests with environmental danger.

Suspecting that the maid overheard something, Cane sends Bobbi Jo Bobb to Bakersfield to keep her out of the loop. The move increases mistrust and foreshadows personal cost tied to the scheme.

That night, Billy Joe shoots the radio in a fit of rage; the bullet ricochets and kills Ethel Duke. Billy Joe is arrested and charged with murder, launching a high-profile case with public defender Desiree DeMornay assigned.

Kevin finds dead fish floating in Duke Lake and discovers a leaking Acme drum at the river bottom. He confronts Mr. Acme, whose henchmen order him silenced, but they inadvertently blow up Acme's truck instead.

Juan confronts Charlotte and demands a raise, but she retaliates by cutting his wages in half. The employer-employee conflict heightens tensions on the ranch and fuels the broader power struggle.

Cane learns of Tyler's bid for the water rights and outbids him, tightening Cane's grip on the crucial Duke Lake resource. The bidding war raises the stakes for all players and escalates the feud.

That night, Charlotte goes to Earl's to seduce him in a bid to influence the water-right deal, but her plan is disrupted when Candy Cane appears from Earl's bathroom, complicating the scheme. The personal entanglements deepen the conflict over control of the land and water.

Cane pressures Mr. Acme to pay more, while Charlotte arrives at the bank and withdraws money to help bail Kevin, disrupting Cane's financial leverage. The financial maneuvering tightens the knot of the conspiracy.

Tiffany meets Torch at a Fresno restaurant and asks for help in finding her real parents, adding a deeply personal strand to Torch's investigative journey. The encounter broadens the film's emotional landscape beyond corporate power struggles.

In jail, Kevin and Billy Joe deduce that Cane is behind the entire conspiracy. Bobbi Jo arrives and learns of Talon's attempt to seduce her husband, prompting her to reject him.

Earl phones the bank and learns Cane's check is worthless because Charlotte withdrew funds, tying Cane's leverage to a fragile financial hold. The story also notes that Duke Lake water rights cannot transfer until the reading of Ethel Duke's will at 2 p.m. tomorrow, creating a deadline for the power struggle.