| abstract
| - A drifter named Roman Gaines wanders into a tavern where he meets a man named Sean Cooper, who is on his way to the small town of Buffalo Gulch to become the new deputy. However, a band of criminals led by Tango arrive and start causing trouble and Cooper is fatally shot in the mayhem. After the villains ride off into the night, Cooper gives Gaines his badge and tells him to serve justice. Cooper dies and Gaines buries him in a shallow graves, promising to avenge him. He takes on Cooper's identity and heads into Buffalo Gulch. Gaines becomes the deputy of Sheriff Stanton Combs, who tells him not to give Tango and his gang any trouble or else they will descend upon Buffalo Gulch and kill many people. Gaines also meets Combs' daughter Annie, and observes their estranged relationship. He begins trying to romance Annie, but to no avail. One day, a man is dragged into the sheriff's station and throw into a cell. The man continually yells so Gaines confronts him to quieten him. The man introduces himself as Raylan Hawkins, an infamous former lawman who nows floats between towns and dishes out his own harsh brand of justice. Hawkins overhears Gaines talking to Combs about doing something about Tango and explains to Gaines that he is also after Tango, or at least was until he was arrested. Gaines decides to release Hawkins on the condition he stays away from his town, only to later find Hawkins living it up in the tavern. A local bully named Bad Ben comes in and starts intimidating Annie, so Gaines tries to get him to back down. When Bad Ben gets violent, Hawkins steps in and Bad Ben challenges him to a duel. Hawkins calmly accepts, in spite of the people's fears as Bad Ben is a famously good shot. However, Hawkins proves to be a better shot and he kills Bad Ben. Unbeknownst to Hawkins and Gaines, Bad Ben was the brother of Packer, one of Tango's men. When Packer learns of his death, he becomes enraged and kills a young farmhand at a farm the gang are raiding. Tango comes over to see what the commotion is and Packer tells him about Bad Ben. Tango then decides it's time they paid Buffalo Gulch a little visit. At night, the town is celebrating Bad Ben's death in the tavern when Tango's gang arrives and they tear through the town, leaving much destruction in their wake. Gaines hides in the sheriff's station and tries to retrieve some weapons when Combs and Tango enter. Combs berates Tango for attacking without warning or reason; Tango tells him about Packer and Bad Ben and demands to know who killed him. Combs tells Tango about Hawkins before they leave. Realising that they are somehow in league with each other, Gaines runs off to find Hawkins, who has become holed up in the tavern. Packer also arrives and tries to shoot Hawkins, managing to wound him. Before he can finish the job, Gaines shows up and guns him down. Tango kidnaps Annie in retaliation and rides off into the desert. Gaines organizes a party to pursue them and rescue Annie. Among the group are Hawkins and a distraught Combs. They ride out and make camp as night falls. Combs tells Gaines about when Annie was a little girl and how much he loves her. Gaines asks how much and adds that he isn't sure himself before retiring. Over the next few days, the group follow Tango's trail, until Tango arrives on another farm. The gang raid it and set if on fire. The heroes then try to sneak in and rescue Annie, while Combs goes to confront Tango. He tells him that he's been scared of him for too long and it's time to do something about. Tango laughs, until Combs shoots him in the leg. Tango then shoots Combs in the gut, and he dies. The others are found by the rest of Tango's gang and a shootout ensues. Hawkins manages to kill Tango's right hand man, Cryer, by impaling him with a pitchfork. Tango grabs Annie and escapes on a horse. Gaines steals another horse and chases him. He manages to leap from his horse onto Tango's where they fight. Gaines wraps the straps of the saddle around Tango's neck and the villain asks him who he is. Gaines tells him his real name, revealing his true identity to a shocked Annie. He then kicks Tango off the horse and he is dragged behind it, eventually strangling him to death. Gaines tries to explain himself to Annie, who tells him to be quiet and kisses him as the other heroes cheer. The group take Combs' body with them back to Buffalo Gulch, where they are met by cheers. At the edge of town, Hawkins tells Gaines it's time to move on and that he'll see him around. Gaines bids him farewell as Hawkins departs. Annie then takes her father's badge and gives it to Gaines, making him the new sheriff. The final shot of the film is Hawkins riding off into the sunset in search of more adventures.
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