Diz(JoelCourtney)isarecklessteenagedrifterlivinglifeontherun.Abandonedbyhisparentsasachild,helooksoutforhimselfanddoesn'taccepthandouts.Hetakeswhateverhewantsandruns.Jadedanddeterminedtoanswertonoone,Dizlivesalifemarkedbythieveryandabandonment.ThingschangeforDizwhenhefloatsintoasmalltownontheSnakeRiver.ThereheisconfrontedbyanunflappableoldmannamedMartyandfallsforMarty'sguardedgranddaughter,Selah.WhenDizrobsalocaldrug-dealingcrazy,hebecomestheownerofagiantpileofcashandthetargetoftwoviciouskillers.Withmoremoneythanheknowswhattodowith,andcriminalsathisheels,Dizputsthepeoplehe'slearnedtocareaboutindanger,stilltryingtowinSelah.Butsomethingscan'tbestolenorbought.TheRiverThiefisafilmaboutguilt,self-sacrifice,andacceptinglifeasagift.
故事说的是一对在杂耍剧院表演的贫穷夫妇，男的生性嫉妒；女的却又偏怀野心，经常梦想着一天能出人头地。一次有位富商邀请该女子去拍电影，实质上想暗中勾引她；丈夫得知后妒火顿生，便痛斥富商的淫亵，扬言要杀掉富商解气。谁知就在他尚未动手之际，富商却已遭人暗杀，丈夫由此惹上官司。这对落难鸳鸯又该如何脱身？
