The Hi-Lo Country

Pete Calder sets out in the morning, driving with the intention to kill someone. The drive prompts him to reflect on the choices that led him to this point, hinting at a long and troubling history. The present moment is framed as a prelude to flashbacks that reveal his tangled past.

As a youth in Hi-Lo, Pete befriends Big Boy Matson, a charismatic cowboy. They volunteer for World War II together; while Big Boy goes to war, Pete returns early and is offered a job by Jim Ed Love but declines. Pete also becomes entangled with Mona Birk and Josepha O'Neil, setting up a web of love and loyalty that will haunt them all.

Big Boy returns home to a town reshaped by Jim Ed Love, who employs half the town. Pete and Big Boy team up with Hoover Young to raise cattle the cowboy way, stubbornly pursuing their traditional ranching ethos. The postwar years test their friendship as economic realities set in.

Tensions flare as Big Boy rejects being bought out by Jim Ed Love. Peaceful years give way to trouble when Big Boy begins an affair with Mona, complicating Pete's loyalties. Pete wrestles with his own growing jealousy while trying to stay true to his friendships.

Pete suppresses his love for Mona and redirects his energy toward Josepha, yet he remains preoccupied by Mona's involvement with Big Boy. His obsession grows as he spends more time around Mona, all while maintaining a messy web of relationships. The emotional tension begins to erode his sense of self.

Josepha confronts Pete about his role in the affair and home-wrecking. Pete admits his jealousy over Big Boy's relationship with Mona, and Josepha leaves, leaving Pete dejected. His unease deepens as he grapples with honesty and the consequences for those he cares about.

Pete confronts Mona and asks her to end the affair for the sake of Big Boy's reputation and their fragile circle. Mona counters that she knows his infatuation and that ending it won't erase his feelings. The tension between truth and desire continues to simmer.

At a town dance, Les shoots at Big Boy after spotting him with Mona, but a crowd member knocks the gun away and Big Boy beats him. Mona then follows Big Boy outside and kisses him, intensifying the love triangle. The evening exposes the volatility of their relationships.

Big Boy, Mona, Pete, and Josepha spend the rest of the night together and visit a Mexican witch named Meesa. Pete takes Mona outside and sleeps with her while Big Boy, drunk, doesn't notice. Josepha brings Mona back inside and warns Pete to tell Big Boy what happened.

Pete reflects on having lost the fear of death, signaling a shift in his psyche as the night ends. The contemplation cements his sense that danger will follow him wherever he goes. This moment foreshadows the violent turn the tale has taken.

Big Boy's younger brother, Little Boy, kills him in a brawl born of humiliation and rage. The act devastates the family and reshapes the town's power dynamics. The tragedy sets the stage for Pete's continuing moral conflict.

Pete sits in his car outside the church, holding Big Boy's memorial as the community mourns. Mrs. Matson urges him to spare Little Boy, saying she always knew violence would end Big Boy's life. Her insight reframes Pete's sense of duty and mercy.

Pete tells Little Boy he will honor Mrs. Matson's wish to spare him but warns he will kill him if Little Boy slanders Big Boy. He then walks away with Mona, who is pregnant, as she reveals she told Big Boy about their affair. They decide to head to California, with a hint of reuniting with Josepha.