A long time ago in Texas, there was a wanted man, named Dorsey Dunn, sitting alone in a dark jail cell awaiting the hangman's noose, when he was visited by a tall dark stranger. The stranger sat with the man for most of the night over the course of several days, simply discussing life and chosen paths. On the night before Dorsey was to be hanged, the stranger visited one last time, this time with an offer... a new life with a clean slate, in exchange for his soul. With contract in hand and the deal done, the stranger told Dorsey to sleep well. And sleep well he did. When Dorsey woke, he found himself in a comfortable bed with a pistol and badge on a nightstand by his head. The badge read Texas County Sheriff. He made his way to the office to see an unknown man with lifeless eyes set to be hanged that morning in his place. This would be the way it was for Dorsey for the next 40 years... always seeing horror and evil men do, all of them with lifeless eyes that could easily have been his.
On the eve of his 66th birthday, he was visited by the stranger yet again, who had come to collect his soul. Dorsey, reluctant to give up his soul after a tortured life and bearing witness to the cruelty of society, pleaded for another chance at redemption. The stranger agreed to free him of his contract if he could turn the soul of his brother's son, Val. Val, a young musician who wanted to be great, was willing to sign his soul in exchange for the ability to play like the greats of his day.