The Reward

Svenson spots his friend Frank Bryant in a car with a woman at the chaos scene of his plane crash. When he later discovers Bryant's face on a $50,000 reward poster, Svenson sees an opportunity to cover the damages from his accident and earn money. He approaches Captain Carbajal and proposes they pursue Bryant together, agreeing to split the bounty between them.

The crash and water tower collapse create the chaotic backdrop that brings both Svenson and Bryant to the same location at the same time.

After joining the posse to pursue Bryant, Lopez learns about the substantial $50,000 reward and becomes greedy. He calculates that the capture was achieved through his own efforts and demands a percentage of the loot for his involvement. This demand creates tension within the group and threatens the unity of the pursuit.

Lopez's early willingness to lead the posse masks his true motivation for personal gain.

Joaquin makes the surprising decision to aid Bryant and Sylvia in escaping from the pursuing group, choosing loyalty to the fugitives over his role in the posse. His motivation appears to stem from a change of heart or a sense that capturing Bryant for money is dishonorable. He trusts Bryant and Sylvia to slip away from the law's grasp.

Joaquin's involvement in the posse from the beginning gives him the position to later betray the group.

When Joaquin helps Bryant and Sylvia attempt to escape, Lopez reacts with cold calculation and ruthless efficiency. He shoots and kills both Bryant and Joaquin, eliminating the fugitives and eliminating his former comrade who betrayed the posse. This act removes any pretense of honor among the pursuers and demonstrates how greed has corrupted the mission.

Lopez's earlier demand for a larger reward share foreshadows his willingness to commit violent acts for money.

After the deaths of Bryant and Joaquin, Luis makes a desperate attempt to round up the posse's remaining horses. His effort proves fatal, and he dies during the attempt. His death marks another turning point that breaks up the group and further diminishes the chances of completing the pursuit.

Luis's dream of becoming a bullfighter and his youthful optimism make his death particularly tragic and unexpected.

Captain Carbajal, the local lawman leading the pursuit alongside Svenson, falls seriously ill with malaria. The disease weakens him severely and diminishes his ability to lead the mission. His illness causes the pursuit to lose momentum and leaves the remaining group in disarray.

The harsh desert environment takes its toll on all the characters, with the disease adding another layer of struggle.

With the posse fractured, Bryant and Joaquin dead, Luis dead, and Carbajal incapacitated by malaria, Svenson and Sylvia are left with few options. They must trek back toward town on foot, facing a long and uncertain journey through the harsh desert landscape. The initial goal of capturing Bryant and claiming the reward has completely fallen apart.

The title "The Reward" becomes ironic as the pursuit ends in failure and loss rather than fortune.

The pursuit collapses through a cascade of events: Lopez's greed creates internal conflict, Joaquin betrays the posse to help Bryant escape, Lopez kills both Bryant and Joaquin, Luis dies while trying to round up horses, and Carbajal falls ill with malaria. Each death and setback removes members and momentum until only Svenson and Sylvia remain, forced to abandon the mission and simply try to survive.

The film establishes early that the harsh desert environment will be the true enemy of all who seek the reward.

The woman with Bryant is Sylvia, played by Yvette Mimieux. She is Bryant's companion throughout the story, remaining with him during the pursuit. After Bryant is killed, Sylvia continues alongside Svenson as they attempt to return to town on foot, making her one of the few surviving characters.

Svenson's observation of Bryant with Sylvia at the crash site directly sets the plot in motion.