A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process.
A simple stagecoach trip is complicated by the fact that Geronimo is on the warpath in the area. The passengers on the coach include a drunken doctor, two women, a bank manager who has taken off with his client's money, and the famous Ringo Kid, among others.—Andrew Hyatt <[email protected]>
The American West, late-1800s. A stage coach sets off across the untamed wilderness carrying a mixed assortment of characters: an infamous outlaw, a drunk doctor, a prostitute, a whiskey salesman, the wife of an Army officer, a gambler, a bank manager, the local Marshall and the driver. Animosities and petty differences, and unexpected friendships, surface. Their fortunes take a turn for the worse when they learn that an Apache raiding party, lead by Geronimo, is in their vicinity.—grantss
In 1880, a motley assortment of interesting strangers boards the Overland stagecoach from Tonto in Arizona, heading to Lordsburg in New Mexico. Among the passengers are the always inebriated frontier doctor, "Doc" Boone, Dallas, the ill-reputed dance-hall girl, Hatfield, the professional gambler, Mrs Lucy Mallory, the wife of a cavalry officer, the whiskey salesman, Mr Peacock, the absconding banker, Mr Gatewood, Marshall Wilcox, and his escaped prisoner, the Ringo Kid. Inevitably, however, as the coach and six dashes through the vast plains and Geronimo's Apache-infested land, only the mighty U. S. Cavalry can save the day.—Nick Riganas
It's the late nineteenth century in the Arizona Territory. The Overland Stagecoach is making its regular run from Tonto to Lordsburg via Dry Fork, Apache Wells and Lee's Ferry. In addition to Buck the driver, the passengers are: Lucy Mallory of Virginia who has made it this far to meet up with her cavalry husband Captain Richard Mallory in Dry Fork where he's stationed, she who is hiding something about herself; southern gambler Hatfield, whose intentions in taking the coach may or may not be honorable to match his gambling; Samuel Peacock, who despite looking more like a priest is really a whiskey drummer from Kansas City, Kansas; and Dallas, Tonto's "lady of pleasure", and Doc Josiah Boone, despite truly being a physician is known more for being a drunkard, both of who are being driven out of town by the local puritanicals. When Buck looks for a guard for the trip, Marshal Curly Wilcox volunteers upon hearing that the Ringo Kid has escaped from prison in order to avenge his imprisonment by the Plummer brothers, led by Luke Plummer, they now in Lordsburg ridding anyone who has any association with Ringo. Curly hopes to apprehend Ringo in Lordsburg before any bloodshed occurs. One late pickup by the coach is of married Henry Gatewood, the local banker who is hiding the fact of embezzling $50,000 of the bank's money, the reason for his haste and belligerence hindering their trip. Two things happen early in their trip: they encounter Ringo who Curly takes into custody; and the cavalry informs them that Geronimo of the Apache nation is on the warpath, the cavalry who will do whatever they can for protection, with their first order however to defeat Geronimo. Under these parameters, the stage travels at its own risk. As this disparate group continues on their journey as far as they make it with the inherent dangers, they may find that their confines and situations will lead to a more humanistic dealing with each other than if they were in general society.—Huggo
In June 1880, a group of strangers boards the stagecoach from Tonto, Arizona Territory, to Lordsburg, New Mexico. Among them are Dallas, a prostitute driven out of town by the "Law and Order League"; the alcoholic Doc Boone; pregnant Lucy Mallory, who is travelling to join her cavalry officer husband; and whiskey salesman Samuel Peacock.
Buck, the stage driver, looks for his shotgun guard, and Marshal Curley Wilcox tells him that the guard is off searching for the Ringo Kid. Ringo has broken out of prison after hearing that his father and brother were murdered by Luke Plummer. Buck tells Curley that Ringo is heading for Lordsburg. Knowing that Ringo has vowed vengeance, Curley decides to ride the stage as guard.
As the stagecoach sets out, U.S. Cavalry Lieutenant Blanchard announces that Geronimo and his Apaches are on the warpath, and that the small cavalry troop will provide an escort to Dry Fork. Upon seeing her distress, gambler and Southern gentleman Hatfield offers his protection to Mrs. Mallory and climbs aboard. At the edge of town Henry Gatewood, a banker absconding with embezzled money, flags down the stage and joins the passengers.
Further along the road, the stage comes across the Ringo Kid, stranded when his horse went lame. Though Curley and Ringo are friends, Curley takes Ringo into custody and crowds him into the coach. When they reach Dry Fork, they learn the expected cavalry detachment has gone on to Apache Wells. Buck wants to turn back, but most of the party votes to proceed. The group is taken aback when Ringo invites Dallas to sit at the main table for lunch. As they are eating Hatfield reveals that he served in the Confederate Army under the command of Mrs. Mallory's father in Virginia.
At Apache Wells, Mrs. Mallory learns that her husband had been wounded in battle with the Apaches. When she faints and goes into labor, Doc Boone sobers up and delivers the baby with Dallas assisting. Later that night, Ringo asks Dallas to marry him and live on a ranch he owns in Mexico. Afraid to reveal her past, she does not answer immediately. The next morning, she accepts, but does not want to leave Mrs. Mallory and the new baby, so she tells Ringo to go on alone to his ranch, where she will meet him later. As Ringo is escaping, he sees smoke signals heralding an Apache attack and returns to custody.
The stage reaches Lee's Ferry, which the Apaches have destroyed. Curley uncuffs Ringo to help lash logs to the stagecoach and float it across the river. Just when they think the danger has passed, Apaches attack. A long chase follows, where some of the party are injured fighting off their pursuers. Just as they run out of ammunition and Hatfield is getting ready to save Mrs. Mallory from capture by killing her with his last bullet, he himself is mortally wounded. The 6th U.S. Cavalry rides to the rescue.
At Lordsburg Gatewood the banker is arrested by the local sheriff and Mrs. Mallory learns that her husband's wound is not serious. She thanks Dallas, who gives Mrs. Mallory her shawl. Dallas then begs Ringo not to confront the Plummers, but he is determined to settle matters. As they walk through town, he sees the brothel to which she is returning. Luke Plummer, who is playing poker in one of the saloons, hears of Ringo's arrival and gets his brothers to join him in a gunfight to kill Ringo.
Ringo survives the three-against-one shootout that follows, then surrenders to Curley, expecting to go back to prison. As Ringo boards a wagon, Curley invites Dallas to ride with them to the edge of town; but when she does so Curley and Doc stampede the horses, letting Ringo ride off with Dallas to his ranch across the border.
