Tequila Sunrise (1988)

Dale “Mac” McKussic is a former drug dealer trying to go straight. His close friend Nick Frescia is a Detective Lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who, in spite of their long-term relationship going back to high school, is duty-bound to bring Mac to justice if he is selling drugs again, as DEA Agent Hal Maguire believes to be the case. Mac is attracted to stylish restaurant owner Jo Ann Vallenari. Nick becomes acquainted with Jo Ann while attempting to learn more about Mac’s activities, in particular his relationship with the Mexican drug kingpin Carlos, whom the DEA agents and Mexican federal police commandante’ Escalante believe is coming to town.

Mac has a legitimate business and is raising a son, trying to distance himself from his former drug smuggling ways. But he tries to help his lawyer sell some cocaine, and feels indebted to his old friend Carlos, who is pressuring Mac to do one last job. Jo Ann succumbs to Nick’s charms and a love affair begins. Nick genuinely cares for Jo Ann, but she becomes angry when Mac accuses her of spying on him on Nick’s behalf. During a meeting at Jo Ann’s restaurant with Maguire and Escalante to discuss Mac and Carlos, Escalante gives Nick a ceremonial pistol as a gesture of good faith. Jo Ann then accuses Nick of using her to gather information on Mac because he often eats at her restaurant, and hired her to cater his son’s birthday party.