RalphAndersonreturnstohisremoteCaliforniahometownforthefirsttimeinmanyyears.Nowalawyer,hehasbeenestrangedfromhisfather,Lloyd,andbrother,Tippy,eversincebeingsenttoreformschoolasayouthforstealingacar,takingtheblameforhisbrother'scrime. LloydisnowsheriffandTippyhisdeputy.Forcedtorepresentawantedcriminal,Ralphasksthelawtolooktheotherwaywhilealocalairfieldisusedtoenablethemobster,Massonetti,tofleethecountry.AdisgustedLloydagreestohelp,butTippydecidestoarrestMassonettiandcashinonabigreward. Tippy'sbeautifulwifeLindawasoncetheloveofRalph'slifeandregretshislongabsence.SheistiredofTippy'sshiftless,drunkenwaysandLloyd'sdomineeringruleofthefamily. Massonettiarrivesintown,backedbyDavis,histopthug.Tippyandtwodeputies,KargerandEddie,makeanamateurishattempttocaptureMassonetti,onlytogetLloydshotandkilledwhiletryingtostopthem.RalphmanagestogetMassonettibehindbarsatthetownjail. Themobcutsoffphonecommunicationandhighwayaccesstothetown.RalphsuggestsdrivingMassonettitotheauthoritiesinBarstowinthemobster'sownfastcar.Noticingthetensionbetweenthebrothers,Massonettitauntsthembothandoffers$25,000totemptTippyintobetrayingRalphandsettinghimfree. Ontheroad,deputyEddieisambushedandthebrotherslearnthatLindahasbeenabducted.Adealismadetogetherback,butKargeriskilledandthecarisdisabled.Ralphmanagestogetthefourofthemtoagasstation,wheretheownerisfoundshot.Inafightforthegun,RalphiswingedandTippyseriouslywounded. Borrowingaminer'sjeep,RalphdrivesMassonettitoamainhighway,wheretwopolicementakethemintocustody.TheyturnouttobeimpostorswhodriveMassonettitoanairstripwhereDavisiswaitingwithaplane.Aftertheyboard,Ralphdrivesthecarintotheplane,overturningit.HedragsMassonettifromthewreckageandholdshimuntilrealcopsarrive.Bythetimehereturnstothegasstation,LindaiswatchingTippy'slifelessbodycarriedaway.
