Cry for Me, Billy

Cry for Me, Billy

Year: 1972

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: William A. Graham

Western

Drifter falls in love with Native American girl, with tragic results.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Cry for Me, Billy (1972)

Trace every key event in Cry for Me, Billy (1972) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Billy helps Apache prisoners with water

Billy offers water to a group of Apache prisoners under the care of a racist US Army sergeant. His act of kindness contrasts with the hostility around him, showing the strain between mercy and violence on the frontier. The moment sets Billy's conscience against the brutality surrounding him.

daytime Apache camp/outpost
2

Billy discusses a distant job with a friend

After the encounter, Billy talks with a friend about taking a job far from the frontier. He hopes to leave violence behind and start anew. The conversation foreshadows an escape from the gunslinger life.

evening outpost bar
3

Discovery of massacre and Flower's survival

While away from the outpost, Billy learns that most of the Apache were killed and that one girl, Flower, survives. Flower has been kept as a prisoner by the soldiers but managed to endure. The brutality of the scene steels Billy's resolve to act.

afternoon massacre site / wilderness
4

Billy follows the soldiers to find Flower

Billy tracks the troop movements to locate Flower and discovers she escaped on her own. He resolves to protect her as they begin to travel together. The pursuit marks the start of an uneasy alliance.

late afternoon trail from outpost
5

Flower joins Billy; trust grows

Billy and Flower traverse the wilderness together, relying on each other for survival. They gradually earn trust as they share the hardship of the journey. Their companionship sets the stage for a deeper bond.

evening wilderness
6

Ambush at the cabin; Billy defends them

They encounter a cabin owner and his son who try to ambush them to seize goods or sex with Flower. Billy repels the attempt with a shotgun and keeps them at bay, forcing the men to retreat. The incident shows Billy's readiness to fight when protection is at stake.

night cabin in the wilderness
7

They continue with Billy's horse and find a wild horse

The pair presses on with only Billy's horse, surviving on the move. They discover a wild horse and Billy manages to domesticate it, symbolizing a new life ahead. The act strengthens their journey and independence.

night wilderness
8

Billy and Flower fall in love

In the quiet moments of travel, Billy and Flower grow closer and fall in love. They share a tender connection that offers hope amid danger. The bond deepens as they navigate the trials of the frontier.

night wilderness
9

Sergeant's pursuit and assault on Flower

The Sergeant and his men catch up after being alerted by the cabin owners. They beat Billy, tie him to a trunk, and steal their remaining horse. Flower is subjected to a horrifying assault as part of the soldiers' abuse.

night trail near cabin
10

Flower frees Billy but kills herself

Flower frees Billy from his bindings, but after a moment away from him she takes her own life. Billy mourns the loss and buries her in the wilderness. The tragedy hardens his resolve for vengeance.

night near the trail
11

Billy seeks vengeance; ambushes the soldiers

Driven by grief, Billy tracks the soldiers and ambushes them in the middle of the night. He kills the soldiers who harmed Flower and ends their threat. The act marks a single-minded pursuit of retribution.

night wilderness trail
12

Return to town; plan to accept a new life

With the path of vengeance taken, Billy returns to town intending to accept the job his friend offered. He yearns to leave behind the gunslinger life and start anew elsewhere. The decision signals a possible exit from violence, if only temporarily.

dusk town
13

An attempt to depart meets a brutal end

As Billy attempts to leave, the cabin owners shoot him, ending his bid to abandon the frontier. The act underscores the town's deadly ties to the violence they've lived with. The story closes with the sense that Billy's fate is sealed by the cycle of violence.

departure town outskirts / exit road
14

Final credits hint at heaven for Billy and Flower

In the final credits, imagery and the song suggest that Billy and Flower might be together in heaven. The film leaves their fate as a hopeful, if ambiguous, afterlife beyond violence. The closing note contrasts the brutality of their journey with a peaceful possible reunion.

afterlife heaven

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:08

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Cry for Me, Billy Summary

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Cry for Me, Billy Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Cry for Me, Billy

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