Purgatory

Blackjack Britton and Cavin Guthrie rob a bank in Refuge. In the ensuing gunfight, Dolly Sloan is shot and dies in the arms of Cavin's nephew Sonny. The outlaws flee as a posse closes in, setting up a desperate chase.

The gang escapes the pursuing posse by forcing their way through a brutal dust storm and slipping into a tunnel that leads into a lush, green valley. The storm roils the landscape as the tunnel shields them from pursuit. The valley offers a hidden refuge from the town's watchful eyes.

The town of Refuge greets the gang with a strangely calm hospitality. The residents do not carry guns or swear, and they flock to the church whenever the bell tolls, adding to the town's puzzling atmosphere. The welcome feels more enigmatic than friendly.

Sonny grows curious about Refuge and befriends a woman named Rose, who carefully deflects his questions. Their conversations hint at deeper truths about the town and its mysterious inhabitants. Sonny senses there is more behind the surface civility than he can see.

As one gang member lunges toward the church door, he is struck by lightning. His body is then carried away by a Native American guardian who watches the gates to a mist-filled property beyond Refuge. The supernatural ambiance deepens the town's mystery.

While talking to Doc Holliday, Sonny realizes that Refuge is populated by former infamous gunfighters who deny their identities. He prompts Lamb, a gardener, to admit who he truly is, only to be interrupted by unfolding trouble.

Blackjack's men tear up Lamb's garden in a fit of anger. Lamb, in a rage, beats one of the attackers to death with a shovel and is led away by the Gatekeeper. The incident underscores the town's hidden rules and the consequences of truth-telling.

Sonny shares what he learned with Doc Holliday, prompting the sheriff to tell the gang to saddle up and leave Refuge. The tension escalates as the outlaws consider their next move. The town braces for further disruption.

Blackjack orders all his men to assemble in the saloon, while Sonny is expelled. From overheard conversations, Cavin reveals plans to rob the town again, and to rape Rose, heightening the danger facing Refuge.

In the church, Sonny begs the townspeople to defend themselves. They reveal that Refuge is a form of Purgatory, where resisting the temptations of their former lives for ten years grants entry to Heaven. The revelation reframes every choice they face.

The townspeople hesitate, and Sonny leaves the church only to be attacked by Blackjack and Cavin, who beat him unconscious. The assault signals the looming, decisive confrontation between the residents and the gang.

The next morning, Sonny straps on his guns as church bells summon the townspeople. Hickok, Holliday, Jesse James, and Billy the Kid join Sonny, choosing to stand and die to defend Rose. A brutal shootout erupts as the outlaws press their attack.

The gunfight ends with the outlaws slaughtered; Cavin mortally wounds Sonny before Sonny kills Cavin in return. Sonny, though fatally wounded, experiences no pain, and Wild Bill Hickok welcomes him to Refuge as the battle closes.

The Gatekeeper carries Cavin and Blackjack beyond the misty gates to the edge of a fiery pit, with Hickok and the others following. The stagecoach then arrives, and the driver proclaims that those who sacrificed their future have earned a place in Heaven. Sonny asks to stay with Rose, and Hickok hands him the sheriff’s badge before the coach departs toward the light.