Last Night at the Alamo

On the eve of the bar's demolition, regulars gather at the Alamo to reminisce about better days and debate what the future holds. Ichabod arrives with his long-suffering girlfriend Mary, displaying his abusive, volatile attitude toward her. Claude shows up, angry after being kicked out of his own house, while Cowboy Regan returns after a days-long absence, bringing a heavy mood and a plan for saving the place.

Cowboy announces his motive: he wants to save the Alamo by leveraging a connection to a former college roommate who is now a powerful politician in Austin. He hammers out the idea of tapping political influence to delay or block the demolition. The moment sets a hopeful but fragile tone for the night.

As afternoon shifts into evening, several regulars leave for home or for the nearby B&B, a rival, upscale bar that Cowboys loathes. The exodus underscores the shifting crowd and the pressure the Alamo is under. The B&B is framed as a symbol of change and separation.

Cowboy regales the room with lived-in tales about quitting his job and chasing a dream of acting in the movies. His bravado and humor keep the mood buoyant even as the bar's future looms. The anecdotes illustrate the fragile line between pride and desperation in the room.

Cowboy participates in a tequila-drinking contest, displaying his hard-drinking bravado. He uses the moment to inject energy into the room and to connect with his friends. He also gives Ichabod money to take Mary to a nearby motel and offers Claude a spare place to stay for the night.

Ichabod and Mary set out for a motel, but their plan is fragile and the night has already revealed Ichabod's volatility. The couple's attempt to salvage the night is imperiled by Ichabod's behavior. This moment foreshadows the later fallout between them.

Late in the evening, Cowboy's friend finally calls back but admits that nothing can be done to save the Alamo. The bad news dampens the mood and highlights the intractability of the bar's fate. The staff and regulars acknowledge the end is near.

Inflamed by drinks and disappointment, Cowboy gets into a barroom brawl with Steve, a former high-school bully. The barman ejects them and the bar closes a half-hour early. The moment crystallizes the bar's decline into a memory.

Cowboy and Claude step outside as the neon lights of the Alamo fade. Claude offers to drive Cowboy home, and they share a quiet, somber moment about the end of the hangout and the redneck way of life.

Back outside the Alamo, the motel incident lingers in memory as Ichabod and Mary argue again while the night air carries their tension. The tension from the motel night bleeds into the final hours of the gathering.

Mary finally breaks up with Ichabod and drives away in his pickup truck while he runs after her on foot. A few Alamo regulars laugh and cheer at the spectacle, marking the night’s bitter end with dark humor.

With the last lights gone and the doors shut, the regulars reflect on the closure of their hangout. The Alamo's memory lingers as the night fades, signaling the end of more than just a bar.