A woman tragically loses her life in a remote field in Texas, located near two oil rigs. New York journalist Ben Manalowitz receives a shocking phone call from a stranger named Ty Shaw, who informs him that one of his fleeting romantic encounters, Abilene "Abby" Shaw (played by Analeigh Tipton), has died from an apparent drug overdose. Though Ben struggles to recall Abby, Ty reveals that she spoke of him often during her life.
Ben is convinced that his casual relationships are merely stepping stones in his quest for the perfect life partner. With a multitude of theories about love, commitment, and the subjective nature of time, Ben channels his thoughts into a podcast. However, his producer Eloise pushes him to transform these ideas into a compelling narrative, as audiences prefer stories over mere concepts.
At Ty's insistence, Ben undertakes the trip to West Texas, which is a considerable five-hour journey from Abilene, to attend Abby's funeral. There, he encounters her family: Ty, along with their mother Sharon, and her siblings, including the aspiring filmmaker Paris Shaw and the fame-seeking Kansas City Shaw, among others. It soon dawns on Ben that he held more significance in Abby's life than he had ever acknowledged.
As the plot thickens, Ty confides in Ben his suspicions that Abby may have been murdered, emphasizing that she was never involved with drugs—contrary to what others believe. Ty insists they must uncover the truth behind her death, explaining the local culture where law enforcement is often bypassed. He expresses that as the two men of Abby’s life, they owe her a quest for justice.
Contributing to this narrative, Ben collaborates with Eloise on a new story stemming from personal grief and societal denial. He aims to delve into contemporary American pain, how myths and conspiracy theories are created when people cannot cope with loss, and the pervasive loss of identity in the process.
Remaining in Texas for an extended period, Ben begins documenting the family's accounts regarding Abby's demise. During lunch, it becomes evident that the entire family believes she was murdered. Ben reassures them of his ability to connect seemingly unrelated clues into a cohesive story, pledging to unravel the mystery of Abby’s death.
Ben's investigation leads him to meet Tyler’s friend Crawl, who sheds light on the oil field parties and mentions a notorious spot known as "the Afterparty." It’s a grim area rumored to have seen numerous bodies over the years. Together with Ty, they begin to suspect Sancholo, a local drug dealer who had a long-standing obsession with Abby.
Further investigation reveals that Abby aspired to be a singer and had been collaborating with a local producer for her music. In this context, Ben meets Quentin Sellers, an unusual record producer who, like Ben, is a transient in Texas. Quentin gifts Ben a USB drive containing recordings of Abby's performances, providing insight into the creative frustrations found within Texas culture.
Determined to confront Sancholo, Ben learns about his whereabouts during the night of Abby's death. The dealer denies any involvement, asserting Abby would never use drugs, and confirms that she was found 2.5 miles away from the party in the dreaded Afterparty zone. This revelation causes Ben to reconsider the possibility of foul play.
The local Sheriff, Jimenez, informs Ben of the complexities surrounding the case, noting that jurisdiction overlaps create investigative challenges. After spending time with the Shaw family at a rodeo, Ben's vehicle is suddenly blown up.
In a critical turning point, Eloise informs Ben that his story about Abby is complete, seemingly signaling it as his best work yet, and that he should return to New York. Meanwhile, new discoveries about Abby surface, including a detail that shocks Ben about her past addiction. Tension simmers between Ben and Ty; Ty's rage escalates as he rejects Ben's hesitance to confront the truth regarding Abby's fate.
After an exhausting emotional confrontation, Ben finally admits his more intimate connection with Abby, resulting in physical conflict with Ty, who storms off. Entering a moment of deep self-reflection, Ben records his struggles with failure and the darker complexities of the grief he’s uncovering.
That night, in Abby's room, detailed memories surface as Mason explains a coded message Abby shared with him. This revelation allows Ben to access Abby's locked phone, uncovering a troubling contact named "Ben." This connection updates their family’s understanding, shedding light on how Abby was alone and abandoned in her final moments.
Guided by danger yet driven by revelations, Ben takes a pistol from Ty and heads to a clandestine party in the oil fields. Only to learn, it was fans from the rodeo who obliterated his car as retaliation for his loyalty to rival sports.
At the party, Ben locates Ty and Quentin, who ushers him into a private tent, leading to pivotal moments where Ben witnesses dark dealings involving drugs. Here, Ben secures a confession from Quentin, revealing his role in Abby's tragic fate and his cold-hearted awareness that police investigations would lead nowhere due to jurisdictional overlaps.
In a gripping finale, Ben records Quentin’s confession but ultimately decides to silence him permanently, using Ty's firearm. Returning to the Shaw household, he reconciles with Ty and Sharon, choosing to erase all traces of his recordings, ensuring that the truth of their shared experience remains solely within them.
