Dalton is an expert "cooler" -- a barroom bouncer who can break up fights without getting himself killed in the process. Frank Tilghman, the owner of the Double Deuce in Jasper, Missouri, has hired Dalton away from a bar in Memphis, because Tilghman needs someone who can handle the nightly outbreaks of violence at the Double Deuce, and teach the rest of the Double Deuce's bouncers how to handle it. There's even a cage protecting the bar's band from the customers. The band is led by Dalton's old friend Cody, who is blind. Dalton is injured on his first night on the job and is treated by Elizabeth "Doc" Clay, the local doctor. Dalton and Doc soon fall in love with each other, and this angers Brad Wesley, a crime boss that Doc was once involved with -- and may still be involved with. Wesley is also responsible for a lot of the violence at the Double Deuce, and for some time, Wesley has had the sheriff in his pocket, giving him complete control of the town of Jasper. Wesley is out to get rid of Dalton, who has already made some friends in Jasper -- Dalton has rented a room from a man named Emmet, and has befriended local auto parts store owner Red Webster, and has also befriended Pete Stroudenmire, the owner of Stroudenmire Ford, a local car dealership. Wesley, who wants money from these people, has his henchmen burn down Red's store, run a big foot truck through the showroom of Pete's dealership, and set Emmet's home on fire. Dalton is pleasantly surprised when his mentor and old friend, legendary cooler Wade Garrett, arrives in town and helps him beat up the guys who are vandalizing Tilghman's liquor shipment because Wesley wants to be the one to supply Tilghman's liquor, and take money from Tilghman. A couple of days after Wade's arrival, Wesley has Wade murdered in order to get a point across to Dalton. In retaliation, Dalton storms Wesley's mansion, with every intention of freeing the town from Wesley.