Drugstore Cowboy 1989

A superstitious man named Bob and his wife, Diane, have become deeply entangled in the world of drugs, indulging in substances like dilaudid, morphine, and cocaine. Their addiction leads them to collaborate with another couple in robbing various pharmacies to sustain their habit. However, their activities draw the attention of a persistent police officer who gets too close for comfort. Fearing imminent capture, they quickly decide to abandon their current setup and relocate their operations to another town.

Tragedy strikes when one member of their group succumbs to an overdose. In a frantic attempt to dispose of the body discreetly, they attempt to transport it from their hotel room to their car, all while a sheriff’s convention is taking place at the same hotel. Even amidst the chaos, they evade the authorities and manage to move the body without getting caught. But this harrowing incident leads Bob to reflect on the superstitions he had previously dismissed; he becomes convinced that his beliefs were somehow responsible for the disaster and opts to enroll in a methadone program.

Now distancing himself from Diane and the rest of their crew, Bob initially appears to be doing well as he adjusts to his new job and recovery regimen. However, his newfound stability is shattered when he encounters a former junkie from earlier in the story. This individual, alongside an accomplice, confronts Bob in his apartment, seeking to score drugs. When Bob informs them of his clean status and lack of supplies, they violently attack him, culminating in a tragic shooting.

As Bob is carted away in an ambulance, his last haunting words echo the tragic irony of his situation: > “The irony was fcking brilliant. The chickensht cops were giving me an escort to the fattest pharmacy in town… I was still alive. I bet he’ll keep me alive.”