The Nevadan

The US Marshal Barclay arranges the escape of outlaw Tom Tanner to set up a pursuit for the stolen gold. He hopes to use Tanner’s lead to locate the fortune and recover it. The plan hinges on Tanner unknowingly guiding them toward a map stored in a bank’s safe deposit box.

On the road, Tanner realizes he is being followed and ambushes Barclay, forcing them to swap clothes and head to the bank with the map. Barclay then reveals that he is himself a fugitive and suggests they work together to recover the gold’s location. Their alliance is fragile, built on mutual need rather than trust.

The pair are stopped by two brothers who demand the map. Barclay disarms the brothers and takes their horses, gaining a tactical advantage and complicating their dynamic. Tanner watches the maneuver with wary approval.

Barclay tells Tanner he is a fugitive as well and proposes working together to locate the gold. The two agree to cooperate, though suspicion persists as they ride on. This marks the start of a risky alliance.

During the night, Tanner rides on without Barclay, leaving the sleeping marshal behind. The rift tests their fragile partnership and raises the stakes of their mission. They must decide whether to trust each other again.

The next day, Barclay stops at Karen Galt’s ranch and trades his lame horse for a fresh mount. He continues toward Twin Forks, while Karen’s presence hints at a potential ally or obstacle in their quest. The meeting plants seeds for future conflicts.

In Twin Forks, Edward Galt questions Barclay about the missing gold. Barclay denies knowledge, and Galt orders his henchmen to beat him, intensifying the suspicion and danger around the fugitives. The confrontation raises the stakes for every decision to come.

Later that night, Tanner kills an intruder in his room, and Galt uses the incident to present him as a cold-blooded killer. The incident leads to Tanner’s jail sentence and increases the odds of a jailbreak with Barclay’s help.

Barclay assists Tanner in breaking out of jail after they agree to share the gold. They ride toward the old Galt ranch, where the map and gold are believed to be hidden. The escape cements their uneasy partnership.

At the hideout, Barclay takes Karen aside and reveals that he is a U.S. Marshal. Her reaction blends surprise with caution as she weighs the risk of helping him. The revelation adds a new layer of complexity to their plan.

Galt recognizes the escape horses as belonging to his ranch, confirming contact with the fugitives. He questions Karen about them, and she reveals Barclay’s secret to him, unaware that her father is also pursuing the gold. The personal tensions intensify the pursuit.

Karen overhears Galt plotting with his men and rides to warn Barclay, giving them a precious head start. They push toward the old mine shaft where the gold is hidden as danger closes in. The warning sets up the climactic confrontation.

At the old mine shaft, a fierce gunfight erupts as Galt and his men close in. Galt and his henchmen are killed, while Barclay explains Tanner was allowed to escape so the gold could be retrieved. The mine cave-ins trap the moment and decide the fate of the pursued fortune.

In the chaotic aftermath, Barclay subdues Tanner and takes him back to jail to settle the score. The revelation of the orchestrated escape and the gold’s fate closes the immediate chase. The final power balance leaves room for future consequences.

Karen understands Barclay will likely return to her after the danger passes. She clings to hope that their complicated relationship can endure beyond the pursuit and chaos. The ending hints at a possible reconciliation beyond the chase.