The Petrified Forest

During the Great Depression, Alan Squier, a failed British writer, wanders into the roadside Black Mesa Diner. He recounts his past—one novel published, years spent in France with his publisher's wife—revealing his disillusionment and restlessness. The diner is staffed by Jason Maple, his daughter Gabrielle, and Gramp, whose stories of the Old West fill the room.

Gabrielle brings out her paintings for the first time and reads a François Villon poem. Alan is instantly smitten, drawn to her art and her dream of moving to Bourges to become an artist. Boze Hertzlinger watches with growing jealousy as their attraction becomes clear.

Boze Hertzlinger, who has pursued Gabrielle, watches the newcomer with increasing resentment. He sees his chances fading as Alan's charm wins Gabrielle's interest. The tension hints at trouble ahead.

Boze mooches a ride from Mr. and Mrs. Chisholm; on the road, Duke Mantee's car, broken down, joins them and drives to the diner. This chance encounter pulls Alan and the staff into a looming hostage crisis.

Duke Mantee and his gang arrive at the diner to meet Doris on their way to Mexico. The hostage situation begins to take shape as the group is gathered inside the diner and the Chisholms' car becomes a central remnant of danger.

Indifferent to the danger, Alan engages Duke in lively conversation and even toasts him as 'the last great apostle of rugged individualism.' Boze seizes a rifle and asserts himself, heightening the tension of the standoff.

During the momentary distraction, Duke shoots Boze in the hand, regaining control of the situation. The hostage crisis becomes more precarious as Duke tightens his grip on his captives.

Duke learns that Doris has been captured and has given away their rendezvous location to the police. Federal agents converge on the diner as the investigation tightens around the hostage situation.

Inspired by Boze's courage, Alan amends a life-insurance policy to name Gabrielle as beneficiary. He hopes the money will enable Gabrielle to move to Bourges and pursue her art, giving purpose to someone else’s future.

In a calculated sacrifice, Alan asks Duke to kill him, arguing it would only matter to Duke if he were hanged later. He blocks Duke's escape by using his own body as a shield, attempting to secure Gabrielle's escape through the insurance money.

Duke shoots Alan, killing him in Gabrielle's arms as the police close in on the diner. Duke slips away briefly but is ultimately pursued by the authorities.

Duke leaves the diner, but is captured by the police, ending the hostage crisis. With Alan dead, Gabrielle realizes she can pursue her dream of moving to Bourges to become an artist, escaping her dead-end life.

In the aftermath, Gabrielle clings to the memory of Alan's sacrifice. She resolves to leave her small town for Bourges, and to pursue her art, free at last from the constraints of her life at the diner.