The Mercenary

During a circus performance on the northern border, Kowalski spots the show's lead rodeo clown and realizes it is Paco Roman. He reflects on their past as revolutionaries fighting against the Mexican government, contrasting his mercenary greed with their earlier ideals. The moment foreshadows a clash between old loyalties and present ambitions.

Paco begins as a peon in Elias Garcia's silver mine and stages a bold rebellion against his boss and his brothers. He humiliates them, and though he is soon captured, his friends save him from execution. This backstory establishes Paco's willingness to challenge authority and his willingness to fight for change.

Kowalski makes a deal with Elias Garcia and his brother to transport their silver safely across the border. The arrangement foreshadows the problematic alliance that will entangle him with Paco's revolution. It also puts Kowalski on the radar of Curly and the Garcia faction.

Curly learns what Kowalski is hired to do and hunts down the Garcia brothers. He kills the two men, eliminating their leverage and escalating the conflict. This act sets in motion Kowalski's entry into the mine affair and the rivalries that follow.

Kowalski arrives at the mine expecting to meet the Garcias, only to meet Paco and his revolutionaries instead. Colonel Garcia's troops attack, and Kowalski uses his Hotchkiss M1914 to turn the tide and drive the attackers away. The alliance between a mercenary and a rebel is born in combat.

Kowalski departs after the initial skirmish but is ambushed by Curly. Paco's group arrives and kills Curly's men, and Curly is stripped of his clothes and released, vowing revenge. Paco then hires Kowalski to teach him how to lead a revolution.

The revolutionaries travel from town to town, robbing the army of money, weapons, and horses. They release Columba, who joins the group and gradually earns respect. Columba initially resents Paco's violent methods and Kowalski's central role, but the two leaders grow to mutual trust.

Paco stays in a town to protect its people, while Kowalski argues they cannot match the army's strength and leaves again. The group returns to Kowalski, who doubles his fee and negotiates another deal to keep the operation going. The dynamic shifts as Paco begins to assert leadership.

The revolutionaries finally take over a town by defeating a full regiment. Paco imprisons Kowalski, confiscates his money, and marries Columba. The victory comes at a cost, straining their alliance and revealing Kowalski's fragile position.

Colonel Garcia's army attacks while Curly lurks in the wings. Paco realizes he cannot manage the siege alone and frees Kowalski, only to be captured himself. Columba frees Paco, and they escape with the troupe before Curly can close in.

In the present timeline, six months after Paco's betrayal, Curly captures Paco after a circus show. Kowalski outfits them for a fair duel and aims their rifles at Curly's men, while spectators watch. After Paco kills Curly, Kowalski takes him prisoner and they head to the 51 Regiment HQ to claim the reward, where Columba pretends to betray Paco by revealing their location.

Columba executes her plan by holding Garcia at gunpoint while the circus troupe creates a diversion. Paco and Kowalski use two machine guns to wipe out most of Garcia's troops and escape with Columba and the performers. The group then splits up, with Columba and the troupe spreading Paco's return while Paco plans to lie low and Kowalski proposes a new pairing.

As the two friends part ways, Colonel Garcia and four soldiers prepare to ambush Paco. Kowalski shoots them from a hillside, cutting down the ambush party. He closes with a farewell shout, urging Paco to keep dreaming but with his eyes open.