Missionary Man

A stranger named Ryder arrives in a small Texas town to attend the funeral of his friend J.J. He spends the day reading the Bible and drinking tequila, signaling a stoic, conflicted mood. He speaks with J.J.'s sister Nancy, who explains that J.J. drowned in a river, a death that weighs on the community.

John Reno meets Ryder and asserts his grip on the town. He orders Murphy to keep a close watch on Ryder, establishing the antagonist's leverage over the local power structure. The encounter foreshadows the trouble Ryder will face as he stays in town.

Sheriff Acoma, an alcoholic with a weary air, tells Ryder that he should leave town. The warning underscores the town's fraught power dynamics and the danger posed by Reno's operation. Ryder remains unfazed, signaling a potential confrontation to come.

Ryder steps in when Reno's thugs beat a local drug user named Billy. He delivers a decisive beating to the attackers, sending them fleeing. The clash demonstrates Ryder's willingness to challenge Reno directly.

White Deer talks with Kiowa about J.J.'s death and the possibility that he was killed for knowing something about Reno. Kiowa suspects that some tribal council members may be aligned with Reno. The conversation deepens the town's sense of danger and betrayal.

Chief Dan notes that Assistant Chief Lance has proposed a state-of-the-art casino. The council weighs the potential jobs and revenue against the negatives. J.J. had suggested an alternative plan promising skilled jobs and training without many of the downsides, widening the dispute.

Kiowa and Junior visit a grocery store where a clerk claims J.J. bought a case of beer on the day of his death. Kiowa knows J.J. never drank, hinting at a cover-up and Reno's involvement. The moment deepens the town's suspicions of foul play.

Reno's men rough up Kiowa's younger brother Junior and threaten Kiowa to relay a message to Nancy. Ryder arrives, defeats the gang, and takes Kiowa and Junior to their home. That evening, Ryder is invited for dinner, and Junior reveals he plans to leave town when he turns 18, while Kiowa shares that J.J. cared for her.

Billy witnesses a drug deal between Reno and some Mexican men. Reno orders his men to kill the Mexican participants and tells Murphy to find Billy and kill him. The violence in the town escalates as Reno tightens his grip.

Lance remarks that Reno's methods are attracting too much attention, revealing the ongoing power struggle. He had previously told Reno that removing J.J. would secure casino approval, tying political maneuvering to the violence. The tension between authority figures and Reno intensifies.

Ryder and White Deer locate Kiowa and Junior at a safe place, while Billy is found with a gunshot wound to the arm. Reno's men arrive and Ryder fires back, destroying their vehicles and creating space for the family to regroup. The confrontation reinforces Ryder's role as protector in a town being torn apart by Reno.

Reno attempts to recruit Ryder to work for him, but Ryder refuses the corrupt proposition. A tense exchange follows, and Ryder ends up in a confrontation near Reno's bar where shots are exchanged. The standoff cements the clash between Ryder and Reno as a personal vendetta.

Jarfe leads a biker gang into town and assaults the hotel Ryder is staying in, killing a pair of deputies and injuring others. Jarfe had previously shot Ryder, intensifying their feud. The raid plunges the town into chaos and signals the height of Reno's violent influence.

Ryder confronts and kills Jarfe, ending the biker threat. Sheriff Acoma then locates Reno with his remaining henchmen, Murphy and Gomez, and kills Murphy and Gomez before knocking Reno to the floor. Reno is locked up, and Ryder decides to leave town, believing justice has shifted away from Reno's control.