A Man from the Boulevard des Capucines

Johnny is traveling to Santa Carolina when a band of robbers led by Black Jack stops him. He does not pull his gun and is questioned about why he travels with the book. He reveals it is a World Cinema History book, not a Bible, and the robbers lose interest when they see the blank pages, riding away.

Johnny arrives in Santa Carolina and goes to a local bar where a rowdy brawl erupts. The bar owner Harry makes a living from the chaos, while Johnny befriends Billy and notices a dancer named Diana. When he asks who has a white sheet, Diana reveals she owns one, and Johnny earns a sly, courtly moment with her.

Johnny projects his movie on the white sheet, showing a world where gentlemen tip their hats and say please and thank you. The audience is captivated, and the unruly cowboys begin to change their ways, while Harry’s profits shrink and the local pastor watches Diana fearfully lose ground to Johnny. The screening demonstrates cinema’s power to influence behavior, at least for a night.

Diana grows fond of Johnny as he treats her with genuine courtesy, bringing flowers and kindness. She is swept off her feet and confesses that her heart will always belong to him. The bond between them strengthens as cinema reform begins to touch her life.

Harry intensifies his schemes to undermine Johnny: he burns the film shed, recruits Black Jack to murder Johnny, and even steals the white sheet used for screenings. The town’s fragile cinema experiment faces its severest test as threats loom large.

With danger closing in, Johnny heads away from Santa Carolina to search for a wedding gift for Diana, hoping to strengthen their bond. His departure creates concern among the townsfolk but also underscores his commitment to their future together. The journey signals a shift from romance to a broader mission.

While Johnny is away, Mr. Second, another cinematographer, arrives and brings films filled with violence. The cowboys, unsettled by the new spectacle, slip back into their old, rough behavior, undoing the positive changes sparked by Johnny's screenings. The town again mirrors its rough beginnings rather than a cinematic future.

Johnny travels toward the prairie, gripped by the belief that Diana has chosen the pastor over him. His heart is heavy as he contemplates solitude and the possible end of their romance. The romance is put to the test as he navigates doubt and distance.

On the way, Black Jack—a man who has seen Johnny’s films and changed his ways—and Diana catch up with Johnny. Diana has already captured the pastor and escaped, signaling a shift in loyalties. The trio’s reunion hints at a new alliance built around cinema rather than crime.

Johnny, Diana, and Black Jack decide to travel together to show people the beauty and new worlds cinema can offer. They set their sights beyond Santa Carolina and toward communities that could benefit from cinematic experiences. Their partnership marks a turning point from personal romance to a shared mission.

With a renewed sense of purpose, they move forward as a united trio, determined to spread the magic of cinema to new audiences. The path ahead is uncertain, but their commitment to using film as a transformative force remains strong. The ending signals an ongoing journey rather than a single story closed.

They press on into the horizon, convinced that movies can open doors to unfamiliar worlds and kinder ways of living. Johnny’s belief in Diana's companionship and cinema’s power drives them toward a hopeful future. The tale closes on the premise that storytelling can reshape communities if kept alive on the road.