To survive a cross-country road trip, a pampered bi-racial celebrity chef and her militant afro-centric niece must battle a racist sheriff who doles out justice at the end of a rope, and fight their way out of a sundown town. In Beaumont, the law is clear, "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on You Here.” 

SYNOPSIS:

Sundown is a 98-page dramatic thriller. Set in the modern era against a cross-country road trip, we explore racism from the perspective of two black women who must defeat a racist sheriff, survive the night, and fight their way out of a sundown town.

The major beats of Sundown take place one night on the road, up ending nostalgic thoughts about the great American road trip being a source of unfettered freedom to show what driving while black really means when one wrong turn can cost you your life.

We begin in a field in the rural town of Beaumont. To the observer, Beaumont could be any small town you drive right past without giving a second thought to what would happen if you took an accidental detour.

JONAS MITCHEL, a black man on his way to somewhere else, knows what can happen. Right now, in that field, he’s being held down. A noose dangles in front of his face.

In what seems like another world, HARTELY TAYLOR, a well-known, bi-racial, pampered celebrity chef and her Afro-centric, militant niece ZU are preparing for a road trip, relocating from New York to Los Angeles.

Hartley and Zu have a spirited relationship. Hartley, comfortable in her celebrity tower is removed from the day-to-day struggles of black Americans. Zu, a recent college graduate, is steeped in the fight for justice and equality.

Hartley and Zu don’t shy away from the uncomfortable conversations. The tension between them and their dynamic highlights an ongoing debate about expectations and responsibility when it comes to raising the black community up.

A routine stop for gas at a remote convenience store ignites a series of events which bring Hartley and Zu face to face with the danger of being black in America.

At the gas pump Hartley is verbally assaulted by JOHNNY, a short-tempered sheriff’s deputy. Meanwhile, inside, Zu is harassed by BOB the store manager.

The tension in the convenience store comes to a head when Zu is accused of stealing a bag of candy at the end of a shotgun.

Hartley’s celebrity status stops the situation from escalating. Much like Oprah in Switzerland, once the people in the convenience store realize she’s a celebrity, a national treasure, they are less eager to murder her and Zu and more eager to catch up on celebrity gossip.

Having escaped the convenience store, Hartley is eager to get to L.A. and put the incident behind them. The weather takes a turn for the worst. Torrential rain pours down.

Jonas, bloody and battered, stumbles out into the road. Hartley swerves to miss him. Zu insists they help Jonas. Against her better judgement Hartley helps Zu get Jonas in the car.

The rain has washed the road out. Hartley takes the detour to Beaumont, a sleepy town left behind in time protected by Sheriff HAL HASTINGS, a racist law man who doles out justice at the end of a rope.

To save their lives, Hartley, Zu and Jonas must battle Hastings and the towns people to the death because in Beaumont the law is clear, we don’t let the sun go down on you here.

Sundown earned a 7 on The Black List and was Number 6 on The Capital Fund Hot 100.