Domino Kid

When a black-clad stranger rides into a deserted Mexican town, the anxious cantina owner warns him to stay off the streets because a gunfight is to take place that afternoon between a gunslinger named Domino and a man named Trancas. Responding that he is Domino, the stranger watches as Trancas gallops into town, guns ablaze. After shooting the man off his horse, Domino tosses the cantina owner money to pay for a funeral and rides off. Soon after, in the town of Pradera, Texas, Sheriff Travers receives word of the killing. Travers tells Wade Harrington, a newcomer who has come to town to manage a land investment company, the story of Domino: Domino, whose real name is Cort Garand, is the rightful heir to the Double Six Ranch. At the start of the Civil War, Domino left to fight for the Confederacy, and soon after, his father was killed by five renegades. Since the end of the war, Domino has sought revenge on those killers, four of whom were identified by Juan Cortez, a boyhood friend of Domino, who worked at the Double Six. Somewhere on the prairie, meanwhile, Domino is approached by Bill Dragger, an employee of Ed Sandlin, one of the killers. When Dragger tells Domino that Sandlin wants to "square things with him," Domino insists that Dragger take him to his boss at once. In town, Sandlin, now a prosperous saloon owner, asks Domino to call off his vendetta and offers to help him find Sam Beal, the cold-blooded murderer who led the others on the raid of the Double Six. As Sandlin turns to pick up a shot glass, he draws his gun but Domino shoots first and kills him. Later that night, Domino arrives at Beal's sumptuous ranch. After throwing down a domino, the brand of the Double Six, Domino accuses Beal of using the chaos of war as a cover to conduct his lawless raids. When Beal pulls his gun, a gunfight ensues in which Domino is wounded and Beal killed. Alerted by the sound of gunfire, Beal's men pursue Domino into the hills. Some time later, at the Pradera stage office, Harrington asks the pretty manager, Barbara Ellison, to accompany him as he rides to discuss some loans with the neighboring ranchers. As they near the Double Six, Barbara, Domino's former sweetheart, recalls playing there as a girl. When Harrington mentions that he is thinking of buying the property, Barbara replies that Domino would never sell it. Harrington then informs Barbara that Domino is dead. As Harrington rides off to talk with some loan applicants, Barbara enters the ranch house and looks around with mixed emotions of love and loss. When she turns around, she sees Domino standing in the doorway and runs into his arms. After Domino explains that a sheepherder nursed him back to health, Barbara asks if the killing is finally over. When Domino replies that he has one last man to go, Barbara warns that some in the town think that he has killing in his blood. Upset by Barbara's words, Domino rides into town and goes to the Cantina La Rosita, where Juan plays the guitar. After the sheriff joins Domino at his table, Domino asks if he knows anything about the fifth man, prompting the sheriff to advise him to "quit while he's ahead." Hoping to rebuild the Double Six, Domino approaches Harrington about a loan. Harrington, who wants Barbara for himself, turns down the loan but offers to buy Domino out if he will leave town for good. Domino rejects Harrington's offer, and later, while riding the range with Juan, sees Harrington's men damming the creek that supplies water to the Double Six. When Domino protests that his cattle will die without water, the men tell him to complain to Harrington. Hurrying back to town, Domino threatens Harrington and demands that he dismantle the dam. When they learn that Domino has tried to intimidate Harrington, the sheriff warns Domino against using violence, and Barbara tries to reason with him, arguing that Harrington is a good man who brought progress and prosperity to the valley. Later at the cantina, when Lafe Prentiss, a drunken stranger in town, strikes the cantina's fiery owner, Rosita, with a switch, she knocks him unconscious and asks Juan to drag his body out into the street. There, Juan is accosted by Lafe's friends who take him into the barn and tie him to a rafter. The now-conscious Lafe then lashes Juan across the head with a chain. Just then, Domino appears, grabs the chain from Lafe's hands, and after smashing him in the face with it, pulls his gun and orders the thugs to leave. After they are gone, Juan says he recognized the fifth man and will reveal his identity if Domino will promise to end his fight with Harrington. When Domino angrily accuses Juan of concealing information, Juan tells him that Lafe is the man for whom he is looking. After Juan comments that Domino has become bloodthirsty and should let the law bring Lafe to justice, Domino realizes that Juan is right. As Domino walks out onto the street, Harrington, armed with a rifle, challenges him. When Lafe and his thugs begin shooting at Domino, Harrington fires his rifle in Domino's defense. Critically wounded and barely conscious, Domino crawls into the street, takes aim and kills Lafe, then collapses. When Juan states that Domino had given up his quest for vengeance, Harrington agrees and testifies that Domino could easily have killed him. After the doctor pronounces that Domino will live, Barbara takes the now redeemed Domino home to care for him.