本片是西部动作片,梅尔(约翰库萨克)是一名俄怀俄明州以马匹交易为生的马贩;当富有的牧场主人亨利虐待梅尔的两匹马,并打伤了负责照顾马的鸦族印第安人比利后,亨利和梅尔从此便结下了梁子。 愤怒的梅尔将亨利的作为告上法庭,在几经波折后,最后终于讨回了公道,但却也赔上了自己的性命…
Judge Tolliver:
Myrl Redding didn't fail the law. The law failed Myrl.
Judge Tolliver:
Well, I worry about you and me, Judge Wilkins. I swear to God I do, 'cause if this country gets ruined... it'll be ruined by people *like* you and me. This is a territory of unimportant people; most folks around here...
[laughs softly]
Judge Tolliver:
can't even write their name. You and me... we're the important people. Trouble is, there's not enough of us important people to go around - we're spread thin, so sometimes, important things get ignored or don't get said. Like... take care of the little feller; see to it that he don't get ignored or cheated or insulted; make sure that his dignity does not get trampled on. Now you're feelin' bad right now, and by God, you ought to... seein' as what just happened to a decent man. Myrl Redding did *not* fail the law...the law failed Myrl.