Coyote vs. Acme

In 1992, in a world where cartoon characters co-exist amongst humans, Acme Corporation scientist Dr. Lorre leaks a message to an unknown contact before being captured and imprisoned inside an Acme portable hole. Thirty years later, Wile E. Coyote, tired of failing to catch the Road Runner, sees a television ad for Avery, Jones & Maltese, a personal injury law firm in Albuquerque specializing in cartoon violence cases involving Acme products. Wile E. meets with the senior partner Kevin Avery, looking to sue Acme for the various defective devices used in chasing the Road Runner. While Kevin's niece and intern Paige is eager to take Acme to court, Kevin prefers to settle to avoid a risky trial. However, Wile E. rejects the settlement offered by Acme's lawyer Buddy Crane, forcing a trial. The firm tries to subpoena the Road Runner to testify, but he evades them. Meanwhile, Acme CEO Foghorn Leghorn warns Buddy to prevent the trial from revealing any corporate secrets. After a poor first trial session, Kevin receives a tip from an anonymous whistleblower to meet with former Acme employee Daffy Duck, who conveys the warning Lorre sent him in 1992 about "Project Sisyphus". Kevin admits to Wile E. that he tries to settle all cases due to having lost multiple trials early in his career, but Wile E. encourages Kevin to believe he can beat Acme the same way Wile E. believes he will catch the Road Runner. Though this inspires Kevin, he soon discovers Wile E.'s motive for the lawsuit is to capture the Road Runner in court. Acme attempts to catch the Road Runner, believing he will testify against Wile E. given their past, but the Road Runner evades them. Meanwhile, Paige learns from Lorre's wife Granny that, before his disappearance, Lorre did product development for Acme, who now force their pet Tweety to serve as Acme's mercenary. The team discovers the whistleblower is Bugs Bunny, who reveals Project Sisyphus is a product testing program formerly headed by Dr. Lorre, using cartoon violence to improve Acme's products for humans. When the program drove its test subjects insane, Lorre tried to object, but was silenced, and Acme pivoted to testing in the wild on unsuspecting clients like Wile E. Off Bugs' suggestion, Kevin tries to get Project Sisyphus on the record by questioning Acme's Head of PR Tasmanian Devil on the stand, but Acme's legal team sabotage him and the judge dismisses the case. However, Kevin reveals the conspiracy to the press, prompting the government to call a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. Wile E. only agrees to join when Kevin claims the Road Runner will be there. The night before the hearing, Kevin admits the truth after being badgered about it and berates Wile E. for his obsession with the Road Runner, prompting Wile E. to storm out. While wandering the streets, Wile E. narrowly evades Tweety's attempt to kill him. Kevin tries to rescue him, but gets knocked out and separated when Wile E. abandons him once again, still offended. Kevin rejects a last bribe attempt by Buddy and gives an impassioned speech at the hearing, admiring Wile E.'s determination despite repeated failures. Wile E. arrives, having overheard, and reconciles with Kevin. Kevin gets Foghorn to publicly admit to Project Sisyphus, but Foghorn argues that cartoon characters, like Wile E., are not important enough for anyone to care if they are harmed. However, the Road Runner arrives and testifies to the harm Acme products have caused Wile E. over the years and further explains as Wile E.'s friend that he cares for and misses him, moving Wile E. to spare him. Senator Elmer Fudd declines to pursue federal charges due to Wile E. being the sole plaintiff. As Buddy and Foghorn gloat, Wile E. activates the trap he had set for the Road Runner, caging and humiliating the Acme team. Back in Albuquerque, the firm is inundated with cartoon characters also seeking to sue Acme for damages. Further leaks from Bugs launch a federal investigation that exposes the full extent of Project Sisyphus and leads to the arrests of Foghorn and Buddy. Dr. Lorre is freed and reunites with Granny and Tweety. Wile E. bids goodbye to Kevin and Paige, who is now a partner at the firm, before reuniting with the Road Runner and resuming their chase.

Plot from Coyote vs. AcmeCC BY-SA 4.0