The Double Deuce is one tough bar. James Dalton’s (Patrick Swayze) old friend Cody (Jeff Healey) turns out to be the blind lead singer of the house band that plays behind chicken wire for protection from the rowdy patrons. Dalton (Patrick Swayze) has been lured away from his previous job in Memphis by bar owner Frank Tilghman (Kevin Tighe) to clean up the place and teach the staff how to keep it that way. Almost as soon as Dalton arrives he immediately gets crosswise with local bad guy and rich liquor dealer Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara). First Dalton gets injured on the job and is treated by Wesley’s apparently ex-girlfriend, the beautiful Elizabeth "Doc" Clay (Kelly Lynch). Then he falls in love with her and she seems to fall in love with him. When Dalton makes some friends in town, Wesley has his henchmen destroy their homes and businesses. Then Dalton’s old buddy Wade Garrett (Sam Elliott) shows up. Dalton is pleased that his teacher and legendary master bouncer or “cooler” has come to help out. But when Wesley kills Garrett, Dalton really gets mad. And bad things happen when James Dalton gets angry.