Smalltown Louisiana sheriff, Darl (Billy Bob Thornton), must put aside his own personal prejudices when he must investigate the murder of a transgendered lingerie model found in the swamp. He is spurred on, however, by the possibility of losing his job when the Mayor nominates another candidate for his position. Darl teams up with the victims wife, Scarlett (Patricia Arquette), a stripper who provides his ticket into a strange, sexual underworld, where they soon find themselves in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. This unusual thriller features a first rate cast, which also includes Sela Ward and William Devane.