Keys to Tulsa

Richter Boudreau is a perpetual loser and a mediocre movie reviewer who is about to be fired for missing deadlines. He lives in a dilapidated farmhouse in Tulsa and has just had his electricity cut off, which ruins his awkward blind date with Trudy. He supplements his income by using and selling drugs behind the scenes, dragging him deeper into financial peril.

His sour widowed mother Cynthia leverages her connections to secure him a job as a movie reviewer at a local newspaper. The gig gives him a sliver of legitimacy, even as he remains unreliable and anxious about meeting deadlines. The arrangement underscores how much he relies on family favors to stay afloat.

Richter is in debt to Ronnie Stover, a violent drug dealer who moves in with threats and demands. Ronnie is married to Vicky, a woman Richter still loves, and this tangled triangle foreshadows trouble. The debt drags Richter deeper into illegal schemes.

Vicky is the sister of Keith, a misogynistic alcoholic whose wealth cannot quell his loneliness and rage. Richter's lingering feelings for Vicky complicate his already fragile life. The family dynamics create a volatile backdrop for the coming blackmail plot.

Cherry, an exotic dancer from Chicago, begins buying drugs from Ronnie and becomes romantically involved with Richter. The relationship adds pressure as Richter navigates romance, debt, and his risky associates. Cherry's presence pulls Richter deeper into the drug and blackmail web.

Cherry tells Richter that Bedford Shaw murdered her friend in a motel room and that she took photographs as proof. The claim gives Richter knowledge that could be used for leverage or exposure, and it raises the stakes for any scheme involving Bedford Shaw. The revelation hints at broader corruption behind the social elite in the story.

Ronnie plans to blackmail Bedford Shaw, using the alleged murder evidence and Cherry's photos. He tries to rope Richter into the scheme by exploiting his newspaper connections. The plan marks Richter's first real brush with criminal manipulation.

Ronnie assigns Richter to hold a mysterious black pouch, making him an unwilling courier in the operation. He also leverages Richter's access to press networks to reach Bedford Shaw. The arrangement tethers Richter to dangerous players and raises the risk of exposure.

Richter wants no part of the scheme, but his resistance falters as money and notoriety tempt him. The balance between self-preservation and thrill of danger begins to tilt in Ronnie's favor. The web tightens around him with each reluctant step.

Keith uncovers that Richter has been sleeping with Vicky, inflaming his anger and heightening the personal danger for Richter. The discovery complicates loyalties and could spark violent fallout. The fragile social networks around Richter start to crack.

With Keith aware of Richter's infidelity and Ronnie pressing the blackmail, Richter finds himself cornered between debts, family conflict, and criminal schemes. He realizes he's in over his head and must navigate a treacherous path to avoid a fall from grace. The stakes escalate quickly as the lines between crime and personal life blur.

The plan tightens around Richter as the blackmail plot advances and Ronnie's threats grow more ominous. Keith's rage contributes to a volatile atmosphere, and Richter's options narrow to risky choices with severe consequences. The story pushes Richter toward an uncertain, potentially dangerous outcome.