The Sugarland Express

In May 1969, Clovis Poplin finds himself serving a one-year prison sentence for petty larceny at the TDC Pre-Release Facility. This marks a significant period in his life as he grapples with the consequences of his past actions.

In February 1973, Clovis' wife, Lou Jean, is released from prison. Eager to reunite with her husband, she arrives with a desperate plan that changes the course of both their lives.

Upon her release, Lou Jean concocts a reckless scheme to break Clovis out of prison. The urgency stems from the loss of their child to foster parents, making Lou Jean determined to act swiftly and decisively.

Lou Jean cleverly disguises herself by wearing Clovis' clothes to bypass security and visit him. Successfully pretending to be friends of fellow inmate Hubie Nocker, they manage to sneak out of the facility.

After escaping, Clovis and Lou Jean hitch a ride with Hubie's elderly parents, but their journey is slow as they drive less than 25 miles per hour. This escape is abruptly halted when they are stopped by rookie Officer Maxwell Slide.

Feeling cornered after receiving a warning citation from Officer Slide, Clovis and Lou Jean steal the elderly couple's 1956 Buick Roadmaster. This moment marks the shift from desperation to criminality in their escape.

In a moment of desperation, Lou Jean pretends to be injured which leads to the kidnapping of Officer Slide at gunpoint. Thanks to Slide's inexperience, Clovis and Lou Jean manage to force him into reluctant cooperation.

As the crisis escalates, Captain Tanner is pulled away from a court hearing in Houston to manage the unfolding events. He is drawn into the moral dilemma of sympathizing with the Poplins while fulfilling his duties as a police officer.

Local radio broadcasts reveal the backgrounds of Clovis and Lou Jean, highlighting their struggles. Clovis, from Crowley, and Lou Jean, an unemployed beautician from Sayers, face mounting scrutiny as their desperate situation unfolds.

The couple takes refuge at a used car lot near an old drive-in movie theater. There, they handcuff Officer Slide in the backseat while they hide in an RV, showing the lengths they will go to evade capture.

In a bid to convince Lou Jean to surrender, Captain Tanner brings her father into the equation via police radio. However, his presence only amplifies Lou Jean's feelings of abandonment and fuels her paranoia.

The next day, chaos erupts when an unpredictable trio of armed individuals confronts Lou Jean and Clovis. This encounter leads to heightened tensions with law enforcement, complicating their already precarious situation.

In a tragic twist, Clovis is wounded during a confrontation with police. His injury marks a pivotal moment in the couple's escape attempt, amplifying the dramatic stakes as they try to flee.

After Clovis' tragic death, Lou Jean is taken into custody. The culmination of their desperate choices ends in heartbreak as she is charged for their reckless actions.

Lou Jean serves a 15-month sentence out of a 5-year term following her arrest. Despite the tragic end, she retains the possibility of regaining custody of her child, highlighting themes of love and the dire consequences of their decisions.