24 Hours In Nowhere

Determined to retrieve Rossi’s bike, Gus decides to visit Bo at his trailer. To offer a reasonable trade, he scours his room for valuables. He finds a few broken action figures, his beloved thesaurus, and a dated SAT prep book. Discouraged, Gus fishes in his pocket and produces an antique pocket watch, which is mysteriously marked with “W.D.A.” Though the watch once belonged to his great-grandfather, Gus decides to offer it as a last resort.

Briefly, Gus wonders if he might tutor Bo in SAT prep or complete his homework at no charge. However, Bo’s disinterest in academics—reflecting Nowhere’s historically low graduation rate—ultimately discourages Gus, and he dips into his meager savings instead. Armed with his family watch and $7 in cash, Gus sneaks out and heads toward Bo’s trailer.

On the way, Gus walks through downtown Nowhere: He passes by a gas station, a market, a motorcycle shop, and two feuding bars, named “Cal’s” and “Better Than Cal’s,” respectively. Walking by Nowhere’s two schools, Gus worries about the academic year ahead.

Gus reaches Bo’s trailer and knocks on the metal door. When Bo appears, Gus offers to buy back Rossi’s bike. Laughing, Bo rejects Gus’s $7 and mocks his attempt at a bargain. As a last resort, Gus fumbles in his pocket for his great-grandfather’s watch. When he produces it, however, Bo smacks his hand, and the watch falls between the porch slats. Realizing that Gus’s cause is hopeless, Bo teasingly suggests that Gus battle rattlesnakes and coyotes. Gus, however, remains determined, and he encourages Bo to name his price. For Rossi’s bike, Bo begs the impossible: a piece of gold from Dead Frenchman Mine.

Surprised at Bo’s brazenness, Gus recounts the mine’s dark history. As Gus tells it, around 70 years prior, a Frenchman named William Dufort stole gold from his Mexican partner, José Navarro. A firefight ensued, and both men were wounded. William survived, however, and fled to the mine. José, mortally wounded, reported the incident to law enforcement. The sheriff tracked William to the mine, but William, anticipating the ambush, detonated a series of explosives. The mine collapsed, and both William and the sheriff were killed. Since then, a legend has emerged, and multiple thrill-seeking locals have tried to recover William’s horde of gold. Gus remembers that two bar patrons attempted to explore the mine, only to perish in a cave in. The incident attracted nationwide media coverage, propelling Nowhere into brief significance.

As he considers this history, Gus weighs Bo’s proposition. He argues that the gold legend is unfounded, but Bo stands firm. Ultimately, Gus agrees to brave the mine and retrieve a suitable piece of gold.

Suddenly, their negotiations are interrupted by Jack, Bo’s older brother. Bo’s mother is deceased and their father is incarcerated, so Jack exercises a brutal authority. Gus anxiously recalls Jack’s fearsome reputation. Gus and Bo shake hands, and Bo hurries inside to his brother.

Once alone, Gus crawls under the porch and searches for the watch. To his surprise, a rattlesnake lurks amid the debris. Acting quickly, Gus seizes the watch and escapes. The watch is mostly unharmed, with only slight damage to its back casing. Watch in hand, Gus flees.

Gus recalls a conversation with his fifth-grade teacher: Recognizing Gus’s intelligence, she urged him to prepare for the SAT. Gus, without any honors programs or meaningful extracurriculars, has taken her advice to heart. After years of studying, he considers himself especially intelligent. Nevertheless, he accepts that his plan to go to the mine is ill-advised, and he briefly doubts that the risk is worthwhile. Thinking of Rossi, however, Gus decides to proceed with his adventure.

As Gus drifts back toward town, he passes other abandoned mines, though none are as dangerous as Dead Frenchman. Eventually, he wanders toward Racetrack Basin, a dry lakebed that local enthusiasts have converted into a dirt-bike track. Almost every teenager in Nowhere races, except Gus, and he often struggles with a sense of inferiority. He settles on a small hill so that he can watch the races below. He remembers that tomorrow is the final race of the summer and that the champion will be awarded a new dirt bike and admission to a high-profile dirt-bike camp called Breaker Bradley’s. Gus is convinced that Rossi will win—but only if she’s reunited with Loretta.

Eventually, Gus continues to the Nowhere Market and Ostrich Farm, a small, understocked grocery store owned by Mayor Handsome. Handsome has immigrated from Eastern Europe, and his affinity for Nowhere mystifies Gus. Most people, Gus explains, are trapped in Nowhere, hindered by poverty and poor education.

With Mayor Handsome’s help, Gus shops for tools. He ultimately settles on a hammer and chisel. While browsing the snack selection, Gus bumps into Jessie Navarro. Gus recounts that he and Jessie were best friends until Jessie grew close with other Mexican American students. Gus drifted away from Jessie, instead befriending a fellow loner named Louis.

After greeting Gus, Jessie asks Mayor Handsome for school supplies. Jessie’s father is a first-grade teacher, and he often replaces school supplies out of his own pocket. Touched by the Navarros’ generosity, Handsome donates a few items for free. Gus, too, admits that he admires Jessie’s parents.

Gus and Jessie carry on a tense conversation. However, despite this awkwardness, Gus confesses his plan to infiltrate the mine. Jessie urges Gus to reconsider, and he wonders if a dirt bike is worth the risk. After leaving the store, Jessie rides away on his bike. Gus, watching him leave, resolves to proceed, despite Jessie’s warnings.

Back at home, Gus gathers the necessary tools, including an old flashlight and a pickle jar filled with water. As he roots around his room, someone emerges from the closet, startling him: It’s Matthew, Bo’s sidekick, ready to accompany Gus into the mine. According to Matthew, Bo has asked him to make sure that Gus follows through.

Gus wonders why Matthew hangs out with Bo and remembers Matthew’s softer side: One year, on Valentine’s Day, Matthew handed out cheesy cards to his classmates. Though the other students mocked Matthew, forcing him to tears, Gus quickly drew his own card to give in return. Matthew, touched, accepted it gladly.

Realizing that Matthew is unprepared, Gus provides him with a jar of water. With water, snacks, and tools packed in Gus’s backpack, the duo sneaks out through the window and sets off.

Under the light of a full moon, Gus and Matthew make their way to the mine. Gus explains that his great-grandfather was bitten and killed by a rattlesnake, which taught Gus to be cautious of such hazards.

Gus and Matthew reach the cave entrance. Peering into the darkness, Gus suggests that Matthew stay behind, worried that he might injure himself. Matthew, however, repeats Bo’s orders and joins Gus in the cave.

Gus and Matthew walk through the hot, pitch-black cave, shining their flashlight for guidance. Matthew remembers that a ghost-hunting team had once visited Dead Frenchman and recorded their experience for television. Matthew argues that they captured compelling evidence, but Gus remains skeptical.

Eventually, after exploring a different corridor, Gus and Matthew reach a dead end. Gus takes out his hammer and chisel and slowly taps along the wall. He moves gently, worried that he might trigger a cave in. Suddenly, voices startle the duo, and Matthew immediately assumes that they are ghosts.