Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Garrett accepts the role of Sheriff of Lincoln County and must pursue Billy the Kid as part of his official duty, despite their prior friendship. The community demands Billy's exile, and Garrett is compelled by law and political pressure to bring him in. However, the film shows his internal conflict about this obligation throughout the chase.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening scene in 1909, where Garrett is killed by his own men, hints at the moral compromise and betrayal that defines his character arc.

• pat garrett
• billy the kid
• sheriff
• loyalty
• betrayal

When Garrett finds Billy with his girlfriend in Fort Sumner, he has the opportunity to arrest him but chooses to shoot him instead. This moment represents the culmination of Garrett's personal vendetta and the overwhelming pressure from the Santa Fe Ring, who offered rewards for Billy's capture. The quiet, almost intimate confrontation shows Garrett making a deliberate choice to end their conflict violently rather than face the complexity of bringing Billy to justice.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Garrett refuses the Santa Fe Ring's upfront bribe, stating he will succeed not because of rewards but because another cattle war must not ignite, a statement that reveals his deeper motivations.

• fort sumner
• arrest
• shooting
• confrontation

Alias is a mysterious drifter played by Bob Dylan who appears at Old Fort Sumner when three strangers attempt to kill Billy. He assists Billy in defeating the attackers, demonstrating lethal skills of his own, then disappears. The character remains enigmatic, he represents the unpredictable allies Billy attracts and the network of sympathizers who support outlaws in the Old West.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Billy has many sympathizers and friends who help him evade capture, making Alias one of several unexpected allies.

• alias
• bob dylan
• fort sumner
• ambush

Governor Wallace introduces Garrett to the Santa Fe Ring, a group of influential cattle barons who offer upfront bribes for capturing Billy. Garrett refuses the money, declaring he will succeed as long as another cattle war does not ignite. This shows Garrett positioning himself as a legitimate lawman rather than a bought operative, though the film later reveals his moral compromises.

Foreshadowing: This early statement about avoiding another cattle war establishes Garrett's stated motivation, even as the narrative questions his true reasons for pursuing Billy.

• santa fe ring
• governor wallace
• bribe
• cattle war

While imprisoned and tormented by Deputy Bob Olinger, Billy discovers a hidden gun in the outhouse. He seizes his opportunity when Deputy Bell enters, shooting Bell in the back and killing Olinger. He famously quips "Keep the change, Bob" before escaping. The escape demonstrates Billy's resourcefulness and quick thinking under pressure.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Olinger's cruelty toward Billy, building tension until Billy is pushed to desperate action.

• lincoln county jail
• escape
• bob olinger
• gun

Garrett teams up with Sheriff Colin Baker to track down Billy, relying on Baker's knowledge of the territory. During a confrontation with Billy's old accomplices, Baker is mortally wounded. Katy Jurado witnesses his death, illustrating the human cost of the pursuit and the danger facing those who help Garrett.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Garrett works with various lawmen throughout his hunt, showing the rotating cast of allies who face deadly risks.

• colin baker
• sheriff
• katy jurado
• death

The film begins in 1909 with Garrett being ambushed and killed by his own men, including John W. Poe, before flashing back to 1881. This structure establishes fatalism and moral irony, we know from the start that both Garrett and Billy will die violently. It also frames their 1881 conflict within a tragedy already concluded, emphasizing themes of betrayal and the cyclical nature of violence in the Old West.

Foreshadowing: The entire narrative unfolds with the weight of this foreknowledge, making Garrett's pursuit of Billy even more poignant.

• 1909
• death
• flashback
• fatalism
• ambush

After Billy's death, Garrett rides away from Fort Sumner as townsfolk mourn the outlaw. A young boy throws stones at Garrett, an act that symbolizes the town's contempt and the moral judgment Garrett faces for killing someone many considered a folk hero. It represents the lasting stigma Garrett carries, the townspeople see him as a betrayer who killed a legendary figure rather than a hero who brought justice.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Billy is portrayed sympathetically despite his crimes, building toward this moment of public judgment against Garrett.

• boy
• stones
• fort sumner
• judgment
• legacy

The film depicts Billy as charming, resourceful, and carefree, spending his days shooting chickens for fun rather than committing serious crimes. He is tormented in jail and aided by mysterious allies. This sympathetic portrayal emphasizes the tragic dimension of his death and highlights the film's theme of mythologizing outlaws. Billy becomes less a criminal than a symbol of freedom and resistance against encroaching civilization.

Foreshadowing: From his first appearance carefree with friends, the film establishes Billy as a charismatic figure rather than a hardened criminal.

• outlaw
• sympathy
• mythology
• friendship

When Garrett learns from John Chisum that Billy has been rustling cattle, Billy flees toward Mexico. At the Horrell Trading Post, Billy encounters Alamosa Bill, a potential rival or bounty hunter. The two have a showdown, with Billy claiming victory once again. This scene reinforces Billy's reputation as a skilled gunfighter and his ability to escape virtually any threat.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Garrett receives information about Billy's cattle rustling from John Chisum, which drives the hunt toward Mexico.

• alamosa bill
• horrell trading post
• showdown
• cattle rustling