If... Dog... Rabbit (1999) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A former prisoner tries to escape his family's criminal legacy, but violence and betrayal repeatedly pull him back into crime.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Fragile New Beginning

Johnnie leaves prison and takes a gas station job in an effort to start over. A family invitation gradually exposes the criminal history he shares with his relatives.

Key Events

• Johnnie Leaves Prison — Johnnie Cooper leaves prison after serving time for armed robbery and seeks a new life. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Prison release area
• Gas Station Job — Johnnie begins working at a gas station while attempting to rebuild his life. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Gas station
• Release Notification — The parole officer informs Johnnie's father about his release and suspects family involvement in the robbery. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Parole office
• Family Barbecue Invitation — Johnnie receives a call and is invited home for a family barbecue, with Judy among the visitors. Characters: Johnnie Cooper, Judy Location: Johnnie's workplace

Violence Returns

A confrontation with Johnnie's father revives old resentment about the previous robbery. A failed robbery attempt at a bar ends with Johnnie accidentally killing a dealer.

Key Events

• The Heist Family Secret — The story reveals that Johnnie, his brother, and their father participated in the robbery. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Family home
• Abandoned During Robbery — Johnnie learns that his father left him behind for the police during their previous robbery. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Family home
• Barroom Robbery Attempt — A robbery attempt against drug dealers triggers a violent fight in which Johnnie intervenes. Characters: Johnnie Cooper, Judy Location: Bar
• Fatal Intervention — Johnnie accidentally kills one of the dealers while intervening, then leaves with his companions. Characters: Johnnie Cooper, Judy Location: Bar

Flight Across The Border

The parole investigation forces Johnnie and his brother into hiding. They travel to Tijuana and use factory work as cover while preparing another robbery.

Key Events

• Parole Investigation — The parole officer questions Johnnie at work about the previous night's violence. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Gas station
• Board Attack — Fearing arrest, Johnnie's brother strikes the parole officer with a wooden board. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Gas station
• Emergency Hospital Decision — Johnnie takes the injured parole officer to a hospital before going on the run. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Hospital
• Escape to Tijuana — Johnnie flees with his brother and takes work at a tortilla factory in Tijuana. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Road to Tijuana

Warnings And Betrayals

Judy arrives with proof that the parole officer survived, but the dealers identify her and abduct her. Johnnie's father and others join the increasingly dangerous bullring scheme.

Key Events

• Factory Hideout — Johnnie works for several weeks at a tortilla factory while hiding from the authorities. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Tortilla factory
• Bullring Heist Scheme — Johnnie and his accomplices plan to rob a bullring to finance their escape from Tijuana. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Tortilla factory
• Judy Warns Johnnie — Judy arrives in Tijuana and tells Johnnie that the injured parole officer is still alive. Characters: Johnnie Cooper, Judy Location: Tijuana
• Judy Is Kidnapped — The dealers recognize Johnnie and Judy, abduct Judy, and demand information about the planned robbery. Characters: Johnnie Cooper, Judy Location: Tortilla factory area
• Family Joins The Scheme — Johnnie's father and the factory owner discover the plan and decide to participate. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Tijuana

The Bullring Bloodbath

The robbery proceeds while Judy escapes and tries to reach Johnnie's group. The resulting gunfight kills Judy and several others, and Johnnie is abandoned by his father before arrest.

Key Events

• Family Joins The Scheme — Johnnie's father and the factory owner discover the plan and decide to participate. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Tijuana
• Judy Escapes Captivity — After being tortured for information, Judy escapes and races to warn Johnnie's brother. Characters: Johnnie Cooper, Judy Location: Kidnappers' hideout
• Bullring Cash Robbery — Johnnie and an accomplice rob the bullring cashiers while the getaway car is prepared. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Bullring
• Bullring Shootout — Judy reaches the bullring, but the dealers arrive and a shootout kills Judy, Johnnie's brother, the accomplice, and several dealers. Characters: Johnnie Cooper, Judy Location: Bullring exit
• Father Abandons Johnnie — Johnnie reaches the beach with the money, but his father escapes by speedboat and leaves him to the police. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Beach
• Childhood Theft Lesson — A final flashback shows young Johnnie explaining the art of theft to his younger brother. Characters: Johnnie Cooper Location: Flashback setting

Story Breakdown

• Prisoner Rebuilds Life — Johnnie seeks ordinary work and a clean beginning after prison.
  • Release From Prison — Johnnie leaves prison after serving time for armed robbery.
  • Gas Station Work — He takes a gas station job and attempts to remain within the law.
• Family Crime Resurfaces — A family gathering exposes the shared robbery history and unresolved betrayal.
  • Heist Family Secret — Johnnie, his brother, and their father were involved in the earlier robbery.
  • Father's Abandonment — Johnnie confronts his father for leaving him behind during the previous crime.
• Bar Violence Escalates — An attempted robbery produces the killing that makes Johnnie a target.
  • Dealer Robbery Attempt — Johnnie's brother tries to rob drug dealers at a bar.
  • Accidental Killing — Johnnie intervenes and accidentally kills one of the dealers.
• Flight To Tijuana — The injured parole officer and the threat of arrest force Johnnie into hiding.
  • Parole Investigation — The parole officer questions Johnnie about the violent incident.
  • Factory Hideout — Johnnie works at a tortilla factory while hiding across the border.
• Judy Enters Danger — Judy tries to warn Johnnie but becomes a hostage in the dealers' retaliation.
  • Survival Warning — Judy tells Johnnie that the injured parole officer is alive.
  • Kidnapping And Escape — The dealers abduct Judy, torture her for information, and she eventually escapes.
• Bullring Betrayal — The planned robbery ends in a massacre and repeats the earlier pattern of family abandonment.
  • Cashier Robbery — Johnnie and an accomplice rob the bullring cashiers.
  • Shootout And Arrest — A gunfight kills Judy and others, while Johnnie is left behind for the police.

Directed by

Matthew Modine

Key Cast

• Matthew Modine — Johnnie Cooper
• John Hurt — Sean Cooper
• Lisa Marie — Judy
• Bruce Dern — McGurdy
• David Keith — Parole Officer Gilmore