The Homesman

In 1854, Mary Bee Cuddy, a 31-year-old teacher from New York, relocates to the Midwest in search of better opportunities. She settles in Loup, Nebraska Territory, where she owns land and is financially stable but struggles with loneliness and depression.

Feeling the weight of her isolation, Cuddy invites her neighbor, Bob Giffen, to dinner and proposes marriage. However, he declines, calling her plain-looking and too commanding, leaving her feelings of rejection to deepen.

As winter sets in, signs of prairie madness begin to affect three local women. Arabella Sours, Gro Svendsen, and Theoline Belknap each face tragic events that push them further into despair, highlighting the hardships of frontier life.

The situation worsens as Theoline ends her own child's life after a poor harvest. Their distraught husbands enlist Reverend Dowd to take the women to the Lady's Aid Society Methodist Church in Hebron, Iowa, which aids the mentally ill.

When Theoline's husband refuses to help transport the women, Cuddy steps up and draws the short straw to accompany them. This marks a pivotal moment where she takes on more responsibility amid growing tension.

As Cuddy prepares for the journey, she encounters George Briggs, a claim jumper punished by being left hanging. She helps him in exchange for his assistance, skeptical of his sincerity and reliability throughout their expedition.

During their journey, they face danger from hostile Pawnee tribes. To prevent conflict, Briggs gives up Cuddy's horse but the situation escalates when Arabella is kidnapped, prompting an urgent rescue operation.

In a dramatic turn, Arabella kills her abductor during the rescue, showcasing both her desperation and bravery. This incident underscores the perils the group faces as they traverse through the dangerous territory.

After encountering a desecrated grave of a young girl, Cuddy feels compelled to restore it despite Briggs' insistence to keep moving. This choice leads her to fall behind the group, illustrating her strong moral compass amidst chaos.

After another exhausting night, Cuddy suggests marriage to Briggs, who dismisses her offer. In a tragic twist, she ultimately takes her own life, leaving Briggs devastated and attributing her death to the three women’s struggles.

Upon finding Cuddy dead, Briggs feels a mix of grief and anger towards the women, blaming their emotional turmoil for Cuddy's death. He lays her to rest, grappling with the weight of his decisions and feelings.

After taking Cuddy's hidden stash of $300, Briggs decides to abandon the women, even as they attempt to follow him on foot. The tragedy deepens with Arabella almost drowning during their pursuit.

When the group arrives at an abandoned hotel, they are refused service by Aloysius Duffy, who fears the tarnished reputation from their arrival. Briggs confronts Duffy, leading to a standoff and eventual violent retribution.

In an act of vengeance against the hotel owner, Briggs stealthily returns to set the establishment on fire, ensuring that Duffy and his guests perish within. He takes valuable supplies for himself and the women.

Finally arriving in Hebron, Briggs brings the women to Altha Carter's care and informs her of Cuddy's death while withholding the tragic details. Stricken with guilt over his earlier rejection of Cuddy, he crafts a grave marker for her.