Land of the Free

Sirens wail in the distance as KARL THALBERG, 45, tall and intimidating, a terminally-ill convicted killer escapes from the Walla Walla Federal Penitentiary so that he can "find peace," and die by his own hand in his beloved Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Two hundred and fifty miles away, CORIN SHELTON, 29, a former drug addict trying to go straight, and her daughter, KASEY, 12, of subtle Latina coloring, wise beyond her years, sneak away to Corinʼs co-worker's cabin in the nearby Cascade foothills to escape Corinʼs abusive relationship. In Spokane, U.S. MARSHAL UEDELL SANDERS, 58, haunted by his beloved wife's death and his inability to ease her pain, sees an escape from his emotional duress in returning Karl to prison. On his journey north to the Cascades, Karl is viciously attacked while stowing away in the back of a truck. Seeing Karlʼs beaten body on the side of the road, Kasey begs Corin to stop and help the injured stranger. Ever fearful, Corin promises to call for help once she arrives at work. Heading west from Spokane, Uedell follows up with HENRY ALDRITT , 80, Groundskeeper of the Warden Cemetery, who reported seeing Karl at his brother Thomasʼ grave a few days before. Henry hands Uedell a worn Polaroid picture of a young Karl and Thomas, left atop Thomas” headstone. “That boy could never hide his love for Thomas,” says Henry. “It's gotta be tough to free a loved one - your only loved one, from their earthly bonds. A petty criminal... sent up for life, for what many consider one of the kindest acts a man can do.” Uedell tracks Karl to Twisp, a small town in the Methow Valley at the eastern foothills of the Cascade mountains, where, unbeknownst to him and SHERIFF DEPUTY ELLIS, 35, an arrogant aggressive asshole, Karl has taken Corin and Kasey hostage for shelter. As the search narrows, Karl and Corin must come to a truce that requires something neither is capable - trust. Though tenuous, their understanding, and Kaseyʼs insistence, allows for their temporary mutual survival. As Karlʼs seizures and tremors increase, Karl fears his illness will debilitate him before he is able to end his life. Unable to get to his beloved Cascade Mountains, Karl leaves Corin and Kasey, and walks into the nearby foothills. A glimpse of Karl's deeply buried kindness peeks through when he realizes the inquisitive Kasey has followed him, and he refrains from killing himself in front of her. Karl escorts Kasey back to the cabin where they see Deputy Ellisʼ patrol car parked outside. Kasey runs for the cabin before Karl can stop her. Fearing betrayal, he turns to leave when he hears a GUNSHOT. Running into the cabin he discovers a beaten and raped Corin reaching for Kasey, who holds the smoking gun. Deputy Ellis - the man Corin's been hiding from, her abuser – lies dead on the cabin floor. Karl and Corin dump the Deputy's body in the Sheriff Patrol Car. As Karl drives away in the cruiser, he directs Kasey to a box in the small cabin where Kasey and her mother will find enough money to fulfill their dream of starting a new life in Seattle. Karl drives slowly out of town to avoid drawing attention to himself. Itʼs Uedell who spots Karl in Deputy Ellisʼ patrol car and gives chase. Karl speeds up a narrow and precarious logging road as far as he can go, then continues on foot heading up a wooded trail to a majestic vista overlooking the Cascade Mountain peaks. His tremors thwart his attempts to load Deputy Ellisʼ revolver. Uedell arrives. He warns Karl to drop the gun. They stare at each other in silence. Karl, his useless hand shaking uncontrollably, slowly raises the revolver. A hint of understanding passes between them. Uedell compassionately helps Karl "find peace", and after retrieving the unloaded weapon, realizes he did for Karl what he was unable to do for his wife.