Woundedandontherun,notoriousgunmanQuirtEvansJohnWaynegallopsontoafarmownedbyQuakerThomasWorthJohnHalloranandhisfamilyandcollapsesWhenQuirturgentlyinsistsuponsendingatelegram,ThomasandhisdaughterPenelopeGailRusselldrivehimintotownintheirwagonAfterwiringaclaimtothelandrecorder'soffice,QuirtkissesPennyandthenpassesoutIgnoringthedoctor'sadvicetoridthemselvesofthegunman,thecompassionateWorthfamilytendstothedeliriousQuirt,andPennybecomesintriguedbyhisravingsofpastloves
　　Quirtrecoveringunderthecareofthetwowomenfromlefttoright:Rich,Russell,andWayne
　　Dayslater,whenQuirtregainsconsciousness,Pennypatientlyexplainsthefamily'sbeliefinnonviolenceThreeweekslater,LaredoStevensBruceCabotandHondoJeffriesLouisFaustrideintotownlookingforQuirtWhenPenny'syoungerbrotherJohnnyStephenGrantrusheshometoinformQuirtofhisvisitors,QuirtquicklypreparestofleePenny,nowsmittenwithQuirt,offerstorunoffwithhimAtthesoundofapproachinghorses,QuirtgrabshisgunanddiscoversthatithasbeenemptiedTraininghisgunonthedoorway,QuirtcalmlygreetsHondoandLaredoThinkingthatQuirthastheupperhand,LaredoofferstobuyhisclaimWhenQuirtsetsthepriceat$20,000,Laredohandsover$5,000ingoldandchallengeshimtocomeforthebalancewhenheisable–ifhehasthenerve
　　Afterward,Quirtsaddleshishorse,butwhenPennybegshimtostay,hechangeshismindLater,QuirtlearnsthatcantankerousrancherFrederickCarsonPaulHursthasdammedupthestreamthatrunsthroughthevalley,thusdrainingtheWorths'irrigationditchesQuirtintimidatesCarsonintoopeningthedam
　　OneSunday,PennyasksQuirttojointhefamilyforarideBeforetheyleave,MarshalWistfulMcClintockHarryCareycomestoquestionQuirtaboutastagecoachrobberyThefamilyswearsthatQuirtwaswiththematthetimeThemarshalthenasksQuirtwhyheresignedasWyattEarp'sdeputy,soldhisranchandcrossedovertothewrongsideofthelawsoonaftercattlemanWaltEnniswasgunneddowninasaloonbrawlWhenQuirtrefusestoanswer,themarshalleavesPennythenbegsQuirttosteerclearofLaredo,andheacquiescesbecauseofhisloveforher
　　AsQuirtandtheWorthsridetotheQuakergathering,Quirt'serstwhilesidekick,RandyMcCallLeeDixon,tagsalongRandytellsQuirtthatLaredoplanstorustleaherdofcattleandsuggeststhattheythenstealtheherdfromLaredoandlethimtaketheblameMrWorthgivesQuirtaBibleforendingthefeudwithCarsonFearingthathewillneverbeabletoliveuptoPenny'sexpectations,QuirtabruptlyleaveswithRandy
　　QuirtandRandystealtheherdfromtheoriginalrustlersTheythencelebratewithshowgirlsLilaNealJoanBartonandChristineTaylorRosemaryBertrandWhenLila,sensingachangeinheroldflame,teasesQuirtabouthisBible,QuirtbecomesangryandridesbacktotheWorthfarmOverjoyed,Pennythrowsherarmsaroundhim,justasthemarshalarrivestoquestionQuirtabouttherustlingQuirtstatesthatLilacanprovidehimwithanalibiPennyishurtthatQuirtwaswithhisoldflame,whosheheardhimtalkaboutinhisdelirium,thinkingQuirtprefersLila'sfairhairQuirtrealizesthedepthofhisfeelingsforPenny,andtheykisshungrilyinthebarn,whilethecamerafades
　　ThemarshalwarnsQuirtthatheisthewrongmanforPennyQuirtdecidestoproposetoheranywayInsteadofreplying,PennyinvitesQuirttojoinherpickingblackberriesQuirtanswersPenny'squestionsabouthisearlylifeKindlyWaltEnnisraisedhimafterhisparentsweremassacredbyIndiansThenEnniswasmurdered
　　QuirtandPennyareambushedandchasedbyLaredoandHondoontheirwayhomeTheirwagonplungesoveracliffintotheriver,causingPennytodevelopadangerousfeverWhenthedoctorinformsQuirtthatthereisnohopeforher,QuirtstrapsonhispistolandridesintotowntoexactrevengeAfterQuirtleaves,Penny'sfeversuddenlybreaks
　　Intown,QuirtsendsBradleytotellLaredoandHondoheiswaitingfortheminthestreetPennyandherfamilyarriveShegetsQuirttosurrenderhisguntoherAsLaredoandHondodrawtheirguns,MarshalMcClintockshootsthembothQuirtridesoffinthewagonwithPennyThemarshalpicksupQuirt'sdiscardedweaponBradleycommentsthatQuirtmayneedtheweapon,towhichthemarshalsays,"Onlyamanwhocarriesaguneverneedsone"And,thefilmfadestoblack…