Oklahoma Blues

Four gunmen ambush the stagecoach carrying Walton and Sheriff Oldring. One assailant slugs Oldring with a revolver, injuring him and scattering the passengers. The attack foreshadows growing lawlessness as Rainbow's End approaches.

Upon arriving in Rainbow's End, Walton tells Judge Emerson that the town's holdup and general lawlessness disqualify it as county seat. He notes the locals have raised over $40,000 to build a courthouse, but money can't fix the chaos. The moment underscores the stakes for the town's future.

Cannonball warns the townsfolk that a notorious outlaw named The Melody Kid is coming to Rainbow's End. He reveals that The Melody Kid is actually his friend Jimmy Wakely, a law-abiding cowboy, but pretends the outlaw persona will boost his own reputation. The town braces for trouble while curious loyalties form.

Jimmy tangles with gunman Slip Drago inside Judy Joyce's restaurant, showing his quick draw and resolve. The confrontation tests his disguise as The Melody Kid and exposes him to the town's growing tensions. Later, he visits his old friend Oldring to check on his health and plans.

The ailing Sheriff Oldring begins packing to depart Rainbow's End after his failed efforts to capture the gang. Unbeknownst to him, Beasley the undertaker is the gang's leader and is maneuvering to have Yuba Junction named the county seat for his own gain. The pieces of a larger conspiracy start to come into focus.

Following Slip Drago's report of the earlier encounter, Beasley's gang goes after Jimmy. He and Cannonball drive them off and manage to kill two of the attackers, forcing the rest to retreat. The confrontation escalates the town's peril and tightens the duo's resolve.

Walton argues that Rainbow's End could still contend for county seat if lawlessness is eliminated. Judge Emerson suggests hiring The Melody Kid to clean up the town, and Jimmy agrees to take the job to help the town while Oldring recovers. He also insists Judy keep her cafe, preferring 'home cooking'.

Just as he is about to take the town's funds to Capital City, Beasley has Jimmy arrested on murder and robbery charges by a phony sheriff. The setup aims to remove Jimmy from the money-handling process and cement Beasley's control over Rainbow's End. The trap foreshadows the peril Jimmy faces from both the gang and corrupt officials.

With Cannonball's help, Jimmy escapes custody, trusting no one enough to stay in place. He then seizes the town funds at gunpoint from Beasley and Emerson, determining to deliver them himself. Just as this takes place, Drago and his brother ride up, threatening a new holdup.

The Dragos pursue Jimmy and capture him, forcing him to reveal nothing about the money. He manages to conceal the cash under his saddle, keeping it safe against the gang's demands. The town's fate hangs in the balance as the chase intensifies.

Oldring informs Emerson and Beasley that Cannonball invented the Melody Kid as an undercover ploy to infiltrate the gang. He also asserts that Jimmy probably took the money straight to Walton for safekeeping, complicating everyone's suspicions. The truth tightens the web of deception surrounding Rainbow's End.

Emerson phones to confirm the delivery of the town funds and learns that Jimmy has not delivered the cash. The misdirection fuels distrust among the town leaders and the would-be saviors of Rainbow's End. The lack of closure adds pressure to resolve the standoff.

Cannonball and Oldring tail the fake sheriff to Jimmy's location and open fire in a shootout. They rescue Jimmy and capture Beasley and his gang, breaking the back of the conspiracy. The town breathes easier as order starts to be restored.

After the confrontation, Jimmy declines to settle in Rainbow's End and prepares to take the funds to the commissioner as planned. Emerson and Judy plead for him to stay, but he and Cannonball decide to resume their wandering together. The film ends with a sense of frontier freedom and uncertainty.