Shoot the Sun Down

In the late 1870s, four travelers push into the desert north of Texas, three days ride from Santa Fe. Each person is driven by a different objective: the Captain seeks Montezuma's gold, the Scalphunter wants wealth, the English girl craves freedom from her indenture, and Rainbow carries a hardened past. They face the perils of hostile tribes and lingering Mexican soldiers as they press on.

The Scalphunter explains his buffalo hide trade and reveals a plan to profit from Montezuma's gold. He moves with a band that includes a captured Native tribe along the deadly Viaje de la Muerte. Tensions rise as greed begins to color every decision and threaten the fragile balance of the group.

The Captain forges ahead with the search for Montezuma's gold, knowing that Native tribes and Mexican soldiers pose mortal risks. He wagers the lives of his crew on reaching the treasure. The dynamic with Scalphunter darkens as both men prioritize gold over others' safety.

The English girl longs to leave her indenture and head for New Orleans, seeking help from the Captain or Rainbow to escape. She negotiates for passage and hatches a plan to break free from servitude. The desert atmosphere intensifies the pressure of her decision and the risks involved.

Rainbow, a former Confederate deserter, joins the expedition with a scarred past and a pragmatic outlook. He becomes a key figure in navigating the treacherous terrain and the power struggle over the gold. His loyalty is tested as the group moves closer to their deadly prize.

Sensing competition over the gold, the Scalphunter and Captain form a fragile alliance, even as they secretly decide that Rainbow must be eliminated by tying him to rocks to endure the heat. Their greed eclipses their former rivalries and threatens everyone tied to the quest. The desert watches as their plan unfolds.

Following the grim plan, the Captain and Scalphunter back out on the Girl's freedom agreement and leave her behind. The group splits into competing factions once more, while the Girl remains under threat from their me-first priorities. The desert amplifies the moral cost of their choices.

An elder of the tribe frees Rainbow from captivity and begs him to save the tribe's family and people from the Scalphunter. Rainbow accepts the burden, recognizing a chance for redemption through protecting the vulnerable. The elder reframes the mission from greed to survival and kinship.

Rainbow races across the desert to reach the freed tribe and the Girl, determined to break the Scalphunter and Captain's hold. He fights to secure their freedom and pivot the expedition toward a safer outcome. The pursuit unfolds under a blistering sun as dunes stretch to the horizon.

A massive golden wheel, Montezuma's treasure, is wheeled across the brutal desert, symbolizing greed made portable. The carrying of such a prize becomes a perilous test of endurance, drawing all factions toward a singular, dangerous prize. The journey toward the wheel intensifies the stakes for everyone involved.

A contingent of Spanish soldiers appears, threatening to confiscate the gold and stake their own claim on the prize. A firefight erupts, drawing in both sides and leaving heavy casualties in the scorching heat. The clash turns the pursuit into a chaotic, devastating confrontation.

The shootout concludes with disastrous losses for both sides, and the fate of Montezuma's wheel remains uncertain. Survivors reckon with the choices that brought them here, including Rainbow's vow to protect the tribe and the Girl. The desert scene ends on a note of ambiguity, with futures unsettled and lives forever changed.