- A vainglorious sheriff gives Bart five days to track down a supposed stagecoach robber, Cherokee Dan Evans. Evans is innocent, and Bart has to figure out a way to avoid the bounty on his head if he fails.
- Bart is framed for several crimes by crooked Sheriff Hadley and his deputy, who force him to take part in their racket--hunting down and killing innocent men, then claiming they're outlaws and collecting the reward. Bart turns bounty hunter in an effort to expose the corrupt lawmen's scheme and asks for help from several of his friends (all of whom are stars of other contemporary Warner Bros. TV western series, making cameo appearances).—frankfob2@yahoo.com
- Bart is taking a stagecoach across the desert, and McCabe trains a revolver on him. They arrive in the town of Hadley, and in the barber shop Sheriff Hadley is having his haircut, while the shop attendant tend to him and a reporter Copes takes down Hadley's words on one of his "exploits" as a lawman, for Hadley's soon-to-be-published biography. The stagecoach comes in and Hadley goes out to greet it along with his deputies and the reporter.
McCabe greets Hadley and hands over the $50,000 payroll for Three Forks that he's been escorting. Hadley says that they can't escort beyond the county borders, and Deputy Jones leads the town cheer for Hadley as governor. Bart gets out and McCabe tells Hadley that Bart was trying to stow away on the stage. Hadley figures that Bart was trying to steal the payroll, and Bart explains that he had "pressing circumstances" involving his empty billfold
The townspeople laugh, and Hadley tells Bart that they've all been poor before. He invites Bart to go into the nearby saloon, and Bart goes in after recovering his gun from McCabe. Deputy Smith brings out a prisoner--Cherokee Dan Evans-- at Hadley's command, and Hadley declares him guilty of horse thieving and stage robbery, and is sending him to the territorial prison for execution.
Dan blabbers, and Hadley says that Dan is overwhelmed by guilt and can't speak coherently. Bart watches as Smith loads Dan onto the stage, and Jones proclaims Hadley a hero for bringing another "hardened criminal" to his knees. Bart looks on as the townspeople cheer Hadley, and then goes into the saloon. Inside, Bart talks to the bartender, Pender, who gives Bart the food Hadley offered him and complains about his hangover.
Pender explains that Dan had his" trial" in the saloon the night before, and everyone including Pender was drinking heavily. He says that anywhere in town is a "court" when Hadley declares it, and the townspeople love Hadley because they think he brought law and order to the town, and he'll be the next governor. Pender says that the town was kind of sleepy before Hadley took over. Once he became sheriff, he dealt with the newly found crime in the town. Pender warns Bart not to let Copes overhear Bart say anything bad about Hadley. Bart insists that he's just a "simple wayfarer" and doesn't intend to get involved.
Once Pender realizes Bart is a gambler, he asks for some pointers from him. However, he figures they'd both end up in Hadley's book, since there's no gambling allowed in the county. Bart gets directions to the nearest town outside of the country where gambling is allowed.
McCabe comes in and points out that Bart didn't take his hat off when everyone was cheering Hadley. Bart points out that he was too busy contemplating Dan's "justice", and removes Bart's hat. When Bart insults him back, they have a brief fistfight and Bart knocks McCabe out. Pender advises Bart to ride out of the county, and refuses to accept any payment for his horse except future poker lessons.
The stage with the payroll and Dan is heading for the nearby town and county of La Gardenia. Deputy Smith tells his escort that he'll take it the rest of his way himself when they reach the county line. The stage comes to a tree across the road and the driver pulls up. Someone shoots him, and the masked robber tells Smith to drop his gun out the window. The robber rides over and orders Smith and Dan, out, and then has Smith release Dan. Smith does so, and the robber tells him to go. The robber then shoots Smith down, and Dan runs.
Once Dan is gone, the robber removes his mask to reveal that he's Jones. Jones helps up Smith, who is unwounded. Smith complains that Jones made it look too realistic. As Jones grabs the payroll, Bart rides up and Jones hastily pulls up his mask, knocks Smith out, and rides off. Bart sees the masked Jones as he goes, rides over, and checks on Smith and the dead driver.
Hadley is in his carriage with McCabe and Copes, dictating his biography to Copes. Jones rides up and tells Hadley what happened, including how Bart's arrival ruined their set-up. Hadley has Jones ride them to town while Jones hides the payroll.
Bart is removing the downed tree when Hadley and the others arrive in Hadley's carriage. McCabe confirms that Smith is unconscious, the driver Clint is dead, and the payroll is gone. Bart insists that he's innocent despite McCabe's assumptions, and tells Hadley about the masked robber. Hadley asks where the money is, and Bart says that there never was any.
Hadley and McCabe ride Bart into town and take him to the jail, which is richly decorated. Copes tells Bart that Hadley favors the "décor of a hunting lodge", but Bart isn't impressed. Copes says that he's been thinking of a nickname for Bart, "Mangling Maverick", for Hadley's "trophy wall". Photos of all the men that Hadley had captured are posted on the wall.
McCabe and Hartley's photographer, Albert, come in to add Bart to Hadley's photo collection. Hadley poses for a photo with Bart, and then McCabe takes Bart to the cell. Before he's go, Bart points out that Dan is on the loose after supposedly losing Dan. Hadley concedes that Bart has a point, and says that Bart and Dan are apparently working together.
McCabe wants to hang Bart and be done with him, but Hadley tells Bart to bring back Dan to prove his innocence... in five days. Hadley has Copes explains that "Hadley's Hunters", professional bounty hunters, will hunt down Bart if he tries to flee the county. They're down at the saloon, and Copes and Albert that the bounty has already been paid so Hadley won't pay it again and the hunters won't help Bart track down Dan.
Hadley takes Bart to the saloon where the Hunters are gathered. Hadley tells them that he won't pay a reward for Dan the second time, but Bart says he can find him. The sheriff makes it clear that he's offering $1,000 for Bart, dead or alive, if he doesn't return in five days. The Hunters look Bart over, and Hadley gives Bart a pair of handcuffs for Dan.
When Bart goes to Lar Gardenia, he asks the various lawmen visiting town if they've seen Dan. None of them have. Bart finally goes to the saloon and finds Pender playing poker with Copes and losing. One of the Hunters accuses Pender of cheating, and Bart draws his own gun and says that Pender made a mistake. The Hunter collects is his money, and Bart escorts Pender over to the bar. Pender buys the drinks and he admits that he's not very experienced at poker. Bart warns that the five days are up agreement, and the people in Hadley were toasting success on the hunt for Bart. He warns that Bart doesn't have a chance whether he runs or not, and suggests that Bart find Dan.
The bartender comes over and recognizes Dan from Bart's photo. He says that Dan used to "spark" a local Molly Brewster, and gives Bart directions to the farm out of town where she and her husband live. Pender stays for the poker, and Bart heads to the farm. At the Brewster farm, Molly answers the door and tells Bart that she can't help him. Molly's father knows Dan and if upset that Molly is sweet on him when he ordered Dan away. As Bart goes, Molly watches him from the window. She figures Bart was trying to collect a reward on Dan.
Dan waits outside the farm, and that night Molly rides off with food. He follows her to Dan, who is camped out in the mountains. The couple kiss, and Molly warns Dan about Bart right before Bart confronts Dan at gunpoint. Bart explains about how Hadley has set him up to rob the stage, and Dan says that he's innocent and Hadley lifted the payroll and let Dan take the blame. Bart accepts Dan's claim, and Dan says that Hadley has been robbing the payroll for months and then spikes the prisoners' meals with alum so they can't speak up.
Bart returns Dan's gun, and Dan explains that he pointed out that McCabe, Smith, and Jones are outlaws, the Elder Brothers. When word got back to Hadley, he framed Dan. Molly points out the Hunters riding toward them, following Bart's trail, and Dan tells her to head back to her farm while he and Bart will be safe in the mountains. Bart suggests that they turn in the Elder brothers and collect the reward... once they ride into town and get them. He figures that they can use Copes' book on Hadley for evidence. Dan figures that it's better than hiding out forever, borrows Molly's horse, and they kiss before Bart and Dan ride into town.
As the two men ride to town, McCabe spots them from where he's on watch. Dan warns that they still can't shake the Hunters, and Bart has himself and Dan climb a tree while sending their hoses on. The Hunters follow the horses and don't spot the two men in the tree. Once the Hunters pass on, Bart and Dan walk to Hadley.
Pender is closing the saloon, and Bart taps on the window. The bartender finally comes over and Bart tells him that they need help. Pender lets them in and Bart asks where Copes lives. Pender directs him to the hotel where Copes is living, and Pender gives Bart a gun since Bart's gun is locked up from sand. Bart and Dan break into Copes' room, and force him at gunpoint to hand over Hadley's book. Copes gives it to them, and Bart ties him up while Dan finds the entry on the Elders.
As Bart and Dan leave, McCabe is in the hallway outside. He draws his gun and comes after them, and the two men duck out the second-story window and return fire. Smith and Jones run up outside, and Bart and Dan take the roof and make their way across the buildings. Bart tells Dan to get to La Gardena and spread the word about the Elders, while he draws the former outlaws off.
Bart jumps down onto some hay and runs, ducks into the livery. He saddles up a horse, but the Elders come in and Bart hides, then gets the drop on them. McCabe calls what he figures is a bluff, and Bart fires the gun which releases a lot of smoke but not any bullets. Taking advantage of the smoke, Bart jumps the three Elders and knocks them out, McCabe last.
Hadley comes in and holds Bart at gunpoint. However, Dan has run into the Hunters and showed them the book. The Hunters haul Hadley and the Elders away.
Later at the barber shop, Bart is holding court where Hadley used to be. Copes takes down Hadley's words, as he talks about his exploits in the town. Afterward they go to the saloon and the townspeople want to drink. A lot. Pender winces in anticipation of another hangover.
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