In the year 1930, the small Texan town of Jericho, situated 50 miles from the Mexican border, becomes a battleground for two rival crime syndicates: the Italian mob, led by [Fredo Strozzi](https://slug: ned-eisenberg), and the Irish mob, headed by [Mr. Doyle](https://slug: david-patrick-kelly). These gangs are fiercely competing for control over the highly profitable smuggling operations along the border. Meanwhile, law enforcement appears to be ineffective and has given up on restoring order. In fact, the current Sheriff, [Ed Galt](https://slug: bruce-dern), seems to be capitalizing on the chaos for his own interests.
Enter John Smith ([Bruce Willis](https://slug: bruce-willis)), a self-proclaimed loner with a distinct lack of morality. His arrival in Jericho is anything but subtle, as a mere glance at [Doyle's girl](https://slug: karina-lombard) Felina immediately attracts trouble. [Finn](https://slug: patrick-kilpatrick), Doyle's aggressive henchman, confronts Smith for his wandering eyes, shattering his car's windshield and cutting its tires in an act of intimidation. Smith's visit to Sheriff Galt and his mute lackey, Bob, yields no assistance; Galt merely implies that Smith should arm himself.
As Smith steps into a practically deserted saloon, he meets [Joe Monday](https://slug: william-sanderson), the bartender, and requests a whiskey. It's then that he retrieves a collection of firearms from his bag and strides back to confront Finn at the Irish headquarters. After a brief exchange, Smith draws his gun first and dispatches Finn with deadly accuracy, sending a wave of fear rippling through the other gang members.
Soon after, Strozzi extends an invitation for Smith to join his ranks, offering him a place to stay at an Italian-controlled hotel along with complimentary meals. During his time there, he encounters Strozzi's alluring girlfriend, [Lucy](https://slug: alexandra-powers), and learns of the gang's most formidable enforcer, [Hickey](https://slug: christopher-walken). Things take a turn at a meal where [Giorgio](https://slug: michael-imperioli), Strozzi's irritable cousin, expresses a clear disdain for Smith, leading to Smith's growing discontent with Strozzi’s leadership.
That night, after a moment of intimacy with the prostitute [Wanda](https://slug: leslie-mann), Smith discovers a hit was ordered on him by the Irish. However, he's able to take out both assassins, realizing that Wanda had set him up. He knocks her out and learns of her blackmail situation before leaving her to the Sheriff’s justice.
In a desperate scheme, Smith meets Strozzi in the desolate desert at a roadside diner, where discussions about a hit on Doyle's upcoming shipment from Mexico take place. Smith approaches the Mexican commander, Ramirez, and successfully convinces him to betray Doyle's men, resulting in a massacre of the Irish gang.
Smith later bails Wanda out of jail and gives her a ticket to escape the town. He then tips Sheriff Galt about the impending heist and seeks illicit information from Lucy, culminating in their romantic entanglement. However, Doyle soon tries to recruit Smith to assassinate Strozzi, mistakenly believing Smith's discomfort as a negative response. Playing both sides, Smith ultimately decides to leave Strozzi's gang, leading to a confrontation between him and Strozzi that culminates in tense self-defense.
Smith discreetly waits for Hickey's arrival while juggling loyalties, even feeding false information to Giorgio, which leads him to Mexico's danger. Meanwhile, Smith continues to form an alliance with Felina. Soon, tensions peak, and unexpected alliances crumble as Captain Pickett from the Texas Rangers issues a warning that allows only one gang to survive and demands Smith’s departure from Jericho.
As chaos reigns, a violent showdown unfolds between the gangs, resulting in betrayals and bloodshed. Smith finds himself once again in dangerous territory, facing off against Hickey and Doyle, as well as facilitating Joe's rescue amid the clashing factions.
Eventually, a fierce confrontation leads to a wave of gunfire, concluding with a tragic reveal as Smith defeats his enemies to escape alive. He confidently takes Doyle's cross before departing, setting off on his next journey, leaving the townsfolk to deal with the aftermath of the violence he inadvertently ignited.
