Thunder Alley

Richie spends his days helping his father with the cotton crop on their Arizona farm, keeping busy with hard work and simple routines. The farm life shapes his character and sets up the contrast with his dream of playing guitar.

While running an errand in town, Lorraine, Donnie's girlfriend, tells him that Donnie's band is auditioning to play at a local club. She hints that Richie could be a natural fit for the guitar role, stirring his interest.

Richie goes to The Palace to hear Donnie's band and notes they’ve just added a new guitar player. The club owner offers them two audition nights the following week to prove themselves.

That night, Richie and Donnie go to The Palace to check out Surgical Steel, the club’s headlining act. He meets Beth, and the two enjoy the evening together until Beth’s intoxicated father loudly interrupts them at goodnight.

The next week, the new guitarist is found passed out in the bathroom just before a show. Despite objections from the band’s singer, Richie agrees to sit in, as The Fatman and a manager named Weasel eye a longer run for the group.

The band goes on a short tour of out-of-town clubs and the crowds respond positively. The Fatman decides to keep supporting them, and they begin performing at the Palace more regularly under Weasel’s management.

As Richie grows closer to Beth, Donnie starts using drugs, arriving late to performances and playing off-key. The tension strains friendships within the band and threatens their progress.

Richie confronts Donnie about his drug use, and Donnie promises it will stop. Soon after, he dies from an overdose, and Richie learns that the Fatman may have been supplying the drugs that led to the tragedy.

Shocked by Donnie's death, Richie confronts the Fatman and smashes the Fatman’s car with a hammer. The act marks the end of his involvement with the Fatman’s world and deepens his isolation.

With an important concert in reach and promoters in attendance, Richie withdraws from playing and isolates himself at home. The rest of the band pleads, but he remains determined not to perform.

Butch and Wolf arrive at the venue and begin playing in hopes of drawing Richie back onto the stage. Their efforts revive a spark of possibility as the crowd starts to gather.

A guitar is heard again, and Richie finally agrees to rejoin. The band performs a song dedicated to Donnie before Skip rejoins for the final number, drawing cheers from the crowd.