RalphAndersonreturnstohisremoteCaliforniahometownforthefirsttimeinmanyyears.Nowalawyer,hehasbeenestrangedfromhisfather,Lloyd,andbrother,Tippy,eversincebeingsenttoreformschoolasayouthforstealingacar,takingtheblameforhisbrother'scrime.LloydisnowsheriffandTippyhisdeputy.Forcedtorepresentawantedcriminal,Ralphasksthelawtolooktheotherwaywhilealocalairfieldisusedtoenablethemobster,Massonetti,tofleethecountry.AdisgustedLloydagreestohelp,butTippydecidestoarrestMassonettiandcashinonabigreward.Tippy'sbeautifulwifeLindawasoncetheloveofRalph'slifeandregretshislongabsence.SheistiredofTippy'sshiftless,drunkenwaysandLloyd'sdomineeringruleofthefamily.Massonettiarrivesintown,backedbyDavis,histopthug.Tippyandtwodeputies,KargerandEddie,makeanamateurishattempttocaptureMassonetti,onlytogetLloydshotandkilledwhiletryingtostopthem.RalphmanagestogetMassonettibehindbarsatthetownjail.Themobcutsoffphonecommunicationandhighwayaccesstothetown.RalphsuggestsdrivingMassonettitotheauthoritiesinBarstowinthemobster'sownfastcar.Noticingthetensionbetweenthebrothers,Massonettitauntsthembothandoffers$25,000totemptTippyintobetrayingRalphandsettinghimfree.Ontheroad,deputyEddieisambushedandthebrotherslearnthatLindahasbeenabducted.Adealismadetogetherback,butKargeriskilledandthecarisdisabled.Ralphmanagestogetthefourofthemtoagasstation,wheretheownerisfoundshot.Inafightforthegun,RalphiswingedandTippyseriouslywounded.Borrowingaminer'sjeep,RalphdrivesMassonettitoamainhighway,wheretwopolicementakethemintocustody.TheyturnouttobeimpostorswhodriveMassonettitoanairstripwhereDavisiswaitingwithaplane.Aftertheyboard,Ralphdrivesthecarintotheplane,overturningit.HedragsMassonettifromthewreckageandholdshimuntilrealcopsarrive.Bythetimehereturnstothegasstation,LindaiswatchingTippy'slifelessbodycarriedaway.