(CRIME/SUSPENSE THRILLER) After their escape plan spirals out control, a small town jail guard looking to finance his father's cancer treatments and the conniving bank manger he helps escape are forced to stay close to home - as the police, two mafia thugs looking to collect the banker's former drug/gambling debts, and a suspecting high-maintenance girlfriend  wanting in on the money closes in on them.

SYNOPSIS:

(crime drama/thriller/noir – northern New Brunswick – mid winter) When his father is taken to the hospital, as he’s pissing blood, GORDIE MUNROE (mid-40s, single) shows up and in private his mother tells him his father has stopped taking his life-saving cancer treatment because it cost five thousand dollars a month, it’s not covered by insurance and it’s eating up their life savings. His father has made up his mind and that’s that.

Not so long after, at night and in the middle of a storm, Gordie sets up his co-worker and best friend JOE ( 28) and helps CURTIS (50s), a former bank manager and now prisoner charged with embezzlement, to escape from the hospital for half one million dollars, so he can pay for the cancer treatments his father can’t afford.

From the start their escape plan quickly spirals out of control - starting with Curtis knocking Joe out and causing a concussion;, followed by their getaway car hitting black ice and smashing into a snow bank, forcing Gordie and Curtis to flee on foot; followed by them not getting out of town before the police road blocks go up. They return to Gordie’s house (he lives alone) where Curtis holds up in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Gordie keeps him cuffed to the bed. The house is a two story, older home that sits at the end of a long driveway and runs adjacent to the frozen river. His smelt shanty is several hundred feet out on the ice.

No sooner after getting Curtis locked away upstairs, Joe arrives at the house , sporting a black eye and bruised and cut scalp where he feel and hit his head on the stairs. Joe confronts Gordie, suspecting he’s the one who helped Curtis escape. Gordie is a convincing lair and Joe leaves unsure of what to think.

The next day, Gordie checks in on Joe and finds him near death after suffering a concussion. Joe dies shortly thereafter, leaving Gordie guilt ridden. But there’s only going forward. No turning back. Adding to Gordie’s problems is still doesn’t have his half of the money and his high-maintenance girlfriend BRENDA (early 30s) who he’s been on the outs with, wants back in the relationship. Brenda has her own problems dealing with her sister’s abusive and alcoholic husband.

When Gordie picks up the money it’s a close call with the police, but he manages to make away undetected with the one million dollars, plus another million Curtis didn’t mention. At the same time TWO LOAN SHARK THUGS from Montreal show up looking to collect Curtis’s gambling and drug debts. Curtis has his own plans and when Gordie is away getting the money, he manages to free himself from being chained to the bed. When Gordie returns with the money, Curtis attacks Gordie. The fight ends in Gordie kills Curtis, adding to Gordie’s ongoing nightmare. He disposes of Curtis’s body down the fishing hole in his smelt shanty. At the same time, Brenda gets rid of her sister’s abusive husband by pouring alcohol down his throat when he’s passed out drunk. That night, at their lowest moments, Gordie and Brenda find solace in each others arms. And just like that - Brenda’s back in the relationship.

Gordie is left holding two million dollars in unmarked bills and the Montreal thugs are closing in on him. Brenda’s figures him out and wants in on the money. He denies his involvement, but Brenda doesn’t give up easy. Gordie confesses to setting up Joe and helping Curtis escape. He also tells her he’s sticking around for Joe’s funeral and after that splitting town. Count Brenda in – they’d be like Bonnie and Clyde.

Gordie gifts his father the one million dollars for his cancer treatments. His father rejects the money but Gordie leaves it with him - to get rid of, or use and enjoy retirement. How Gordie sees it, it’s the bank’s money and the bank has been fucking the little guy over forever so it’s time for the little guy to win for once.

The two Montreal thugs catch up with Gordie when he and Brenda arrive at the church for Joe’s funeral service. Back at Gordie’s house is when their deadly encounter takes place. Last man standing is Brenda. She walks away with the other one million in cash, leaving the two Montreal thugs and Gordie (sadly) dead.

Six months later – Brenda, six months pregnant with Gordie’s baby, is with her sister and eight year old niece at a resort sunshine vacation. Gordie’s father uses the money to pay for his cancer treatment.

SMELT TOWN SHANTY