Passage West

In 1864, on the arid westward trail near Salt Lake, six prison escapees led by Pete Black spot a California-bound wagon train and descend on it. Interrupting a child's funeral, Pete and his men demand food, clothing and refuge, and the wagon train's leader, preacher Jacob Karns, complies without question. When the rifle-toting Pete insists that the train depart immediately, however, settler Rose Billings and the dead child's father, Ben Johnson, angrily protest. Fearing for the group's safety, Jacob gives orders to push on and instructs Ben to finish the burial himself and catch up to the train. Later, Pete questions Jacob about the black-clad Rose, whom Jacob is expected to marry, and Jacob reveals that she is mourning her father, a preacher who died just before the train's departure. Soon after, Ben's wife Myra stops her wagon, declaring that Ben cannot catch up without food and water. Pete is unsympathetic, however, and refuses to wait. When Curly, one of his men, gets fresh with Rose, Pete attacks him with his whip. Rose, in turn, grabs the whip and strikes Pete, impressing him with her spunk. The train then resumes its course, and the unrelenting pace demanded by the escapees begins to take its toll on the settlers. Soon, two traders approach from the west and advise the settlers not to cross the upcoming flats. That evening, Ben stumbles into the train's camp and boldy informs Pete that he met up with the traders and told them about the escapees. The next day, the train comes to a fork in the trail, and Pete demands that they cross the flats to save time and subdues Ben when he tries to challenge him with a gun. A dust storm then rages, and settler Emil Ludwig's beloved cow Judy dies. Without Judy's milk, Jacob's brother Michael's baby also dies, leaving Michael's wife Minna in deep shock. As feared, the flats turn to mud during a sudden rainstorm, and Pete instructs everyone to dump their belongings to lighten the wagons. Rose refuses to throw out a chest of her clothes and draws a gun on Pete, but Pete quickly overpowers and kisses her. He then tosses the chest back in her wagon, and when the train finally reaches a river, Rose bathes and changes out of her mourning clothes into a frilly dress. Rose's fresh outfit infuriates the other women, particularly aspiring saloon singer Nellie McBride, who attacks her. Jacob intercedes on Rose's behalf, but quietly criticizes her vanity. Jacob and Pete then become embroiled in a vicious fight, which ends with Pete's defeat. That same night, Curly suggests to Pete that he, Pete and fellow escapee Al steal the train's money. Pete dismisses Curly's idea, but the next morning, the money is discovered missing, and Pete, Al and Curly absent. Soon after, Pete rides into camp with his men and the money, having been shot in the back by Curly. Rose convinces Jacob to remove the bullet and nurse him while the train pushes on. That night, Pete asks Jacob about his past, and Jacob admits that he was once a wild young man. When Jacob observes that because of his reckless youth, he became a compassionate man, Pete grows reflective. The next day, near their final destination, the settlers stop in Angels' Creek, California, to purchase supplies. Despite Jacob's invitation to remain, Pete declares that he and his men are "bad apples" and must leave. Rose assumes that Jacob sent Pete away because of jealousy, and on the pretext of helping Nellie obtain her singing job, goes to the saloon to look for Pete. Nellie, who has forgiven Rose, finds Pete first and begs him to discourage the romance. Though he loves Rose, Pete acts indifferent toward her and calls her a fool. Just then, word comes of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the escapees' prison break. Because the wanted poster includes a description of runaway slave Rainbow, the escapees' black member, Pete decides they cannot hide in town and orders them back to the settlers. Still angry and hurt, Rose objects to the men's return, but Jacob welcomes them. Sometime later, as the settlers are nearing completion on their new town, Pete and his men discover gold while blasting in a cave. Curly and Pete are immediately excited, but Jacob cautions that the town is not ready for overnight wealth. Although Pete sees the wisdom of Jacob's words, Curly is greedy, and he and Pete fight. Soon, all of the escapees are shooting at one another in the cave, and Pete is wounded. After instructing Michael to tell Rose "she's free," Pete grabs a lantern and throws it into a powder keg. As a stunned Rose and Jacob watch outside, an explosion rocks the cave, sealing the entrance.