AKA Billy the Kid
Genre: Western / Biography / Drama
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast: Austin Butler, Nicolas Cage, David Strathairn, Joseph Quinn, Luke Grimes, Diego Boneta, Jacob Elordi, Emilia Jones, Lorenza Izzo, Matthew Rhys, Virginia Gardner, Ray McKinnon, Scott Haze, Trace Adkins, Steven Ogg
Plot: 1877. Henry McCarty (Austin Butler) is drinking at a saloon in Bonita, a small village in Arizona Territory. The bartender warns Henry that he just sat down in Windy Cahill's seat. Henry says Windy can sit elsewhere and orders a shot of whiskey. Windy Cahill (Trace Adkins) returns to the bar after a trip to the outhouse and takes offense that Henry has taken his seat at the bar. Cahill taps him on the shoulder to get his attention. Henry orders another shot of whiskey, ignoring the surly regular. Cahill grabs Henry and throws him to the floor. Henry's revolver goes flying out of its holster. Henry crawls after the gun, but Cahill grabs him by the leg and begins punching him. Henry manages to grab a glass bottle and hits Cahill in the face with it. Cahill stumbles back. Henry grabs his revolver and shoots Cahill in the chest. Henry is stunned by the action, having never killed anyone before. Henry scrambles out of the saloon. He hops on a horse and begins riding east, toward New Mexico Territory.
Henry rides through the night to get a good headstart on any lawmen or posses who may come after him for Cahill's death. Just as Henry starts to relax and feel safe, he is knocked off the horse by a group of Apache warriors. Henry pleads with them to leave his scalp alone. The Apaches take his horse and his boots and leave him to be dealt with by the harsh elements of the New Mexico desert. Henry walks many miles over the next couple of days through the desert. His feet blister from the hot ground and his lips are cracked and dry from dehydration. Henry begins to notice a vulture flying overhead. He is about to give up and let the vulture feast on what’s left of him when he sees a stagecoach riding nearby. Henry uses every last bit of his energy to wave down the stagecoach.
When Henry wakes up, he finds himself in the home of cattle rancher John Chisum (Ray McKinnon). His blistered feet have been cleaned by John’s daughter Sallie (Virginia Gardner). John tells Henry to enjoy the nursing while he can, because once he’s healthy again he will be back outside. Henry thanks John and Sallie for their help and tells them that his name is Willam “Billy” Bonney. Once he’s able, “Billy” goes outside and sees the vastness of John’s impressive cattle ranch. Sallie gives Billy a tour around the property. Billy makes mental notes of the valuable horses and cattle on the ranch. Billy feigns being too injured to continue walking, so they go into a barn. Inside the barn, Billy sweet talks Sallie, calling her an angel sent straight from the heavens. Charmed, Sallie kisses Billy. The two then roll in the hay.
Pat Garrett (Nicolas Cage) is with a group of buffalo hunters chasing down a herd in the plains of northern Texas. The hunting group manages to surround one of the buffaloes, which Garrett kills with a shotgun blast to the neck. The hunting party begins stripping the beast of its fur. One man cuts the tongue out of the buffalo, happily proclaiming that he heard some tanneries will pay up to 25 cents for a tongue. Once the buffalo is fully skinned, the party gets ready to go out after more. Garrett proposes that they could still use the meat they are about to leave behind, possibly by selling it to Fort Griffin to feed the soldiers. The rest of the party scoffs at the idea since furs are where the big money is at. As the hunting party rides off, Garrett turns the other direction and rides back to his home and to his young Mexican wife Apolonia (Lorenza Izzo). He tells her that their time in Texas must come to an end. Apolonia seems disappointed as they often move, but stands by her husband's decision. He assures her that he has heard there is money to be made around Fort Sumner in New Mexico Territory.
John Chisum, after seeing the liking his daughter Sallie has taken to "Billy", offers him a job herding his cattle. Billy tries to explain that he doesn't know much about cattle, but Chisum insists that isn't an issue and introduces him to Tom O'Folliard (Joseph Quinn), another cattle herder under Chisum's employ. Tom explains the work to him, stating it is hard but simple work. Billy admits that he is just trying to lie low for a little bit, but that since Chisum has been kind to him, he might as well return the favor by doing some work.
One day, a posse comes by the property led by Jesse Evans (Scott Haze), who announces he is there at the behest of Sheriff Brady to collect a debt that is owed by John Chisum. Chisum and Sallie both try to talk the wild Jesse down, but the intruder sets fire to Chisum's crops before riding off and giving Chisum one more day to settle his debts. Billy rushes over and helps put out the fire. He asks what happened. Sallie tries to explain that the sheriff wants to pay for protection and send a thug over to try to collect. Jesse Evans reports back to Lincoln County Sheriff William J. Brady (Matthew Rhys), informing him that Chisum refused to pay and appears to have hired yet another ranch hand. Brady becomes furious that Chisum would pay money for more labor, but not to pay off his accrued debts. He tells Jesse to make an example of Chisum.
While in bed together, Sallie confesses to Billy that she is worried that Jesse and Sheriff Brady are just going to keep sending more men and causing more damage unless they are stopped. He suggests that maybe he could put together his own posse to keep Jesse and Brady at bay. Sallie thinks the suggestion is sweet, but doesn't think more about it than that. Meanwhile, Pat Garrett and his wife Apolonia make it to Fort Sumner where Garrett is quickly able to find work as a bartender at a rough and tumble saloon in town. Apolonia isn’t impressed by her husband’s new line of work, but he assures her that it will provide a living for the two of them, and hopefully more once she starts popping out all the little Garretts he’s always dreamed of having.
Believing that Sheriff Brady's thugs are going to steal his most valued cattle and horses as payment, John Chisum tasks Billy and Tom with taking nine prime horses deep into his ranch for safekeeping. Chisum tells Billy that if he does a good job he will pretend to not know that Billy has been deflowering his daughter. Billy agrees and he and Tom take the horses deep into the property. When he sees Jesse Evans and his men enter the property, Chisum gets on a horse and goes off to cut them off before they get to the house. Jesse demands payment once again. Chisum refuses. In a split second, Jesse shoots Chisum in the chest with his shotgun, sending Chisum off his horse. Jesse then hops off his horse and follows after Chisum, who has begun crawling away in the dirt and grass. Jesse then shoots Chisum in the back of the head. Having heard the gunshots, Billy and Tom ride their horses back to the house where they find Sallie crying over her father's dead body. When Billy goes over to comfort her, she asks him if he was serious about starting his own posse to go after Jesse and Brady. Billy nods.
Billy and Tom head into town and go to the local saloon where Pat Garrett is tending bar. They order a couple of whiskeys. Billy slams his down and stands up on a table. He asks every man who knew John Chisum to raise their hand. A handful of men follow the instruction. Billy informs them that Chisum was murdered and he aims to form a posse to go after the men responsible. Dave Rudabaugh (Luke Grimes) steps up and says he will ride with them. Pat tries to break up the commotion and get the group to take their business outside of the establishment. Billy downs one more whiskey before obliging. Billy, Tom and Dave all head outside. After they leave a few more men join them, including Jose Chavez (Diego Boneta). Billy brings them all to the Chisum property to describe the events of Jesse Evans killing John Chisum. They decide to call themselves The Regulators.
Unable to locate Jesse Evans, Billy decides that they should go after Sheriff Brady since he was the one really calling the shots. They wait behind an adobe wall near the Sheriff’s station for Brady to come outside. Once he shows his face, Billy and the other Regulators all open fire on Brady, hitting him with a dozen bullets to the chest. Billy comes out from behind the wall and stands over Brady as he is bleeding out in the streets of Lincoln. The sheriff’s deputies come outside to investigate the commotion. When they see Billy, he stares them down, telling them that they could be next if they aren't careful about their next decision. The men take off their badges and leave the area. Billy and the Regulators go back to the Chisum property. Billy tells Sallie that they killed the man who ordered Jesse Evans to kill her father. Sallie kisses Billy, thanking him. He tells her that he can’t stay there since it will be the first place the law will look for him.
New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace (David Strathairn) is informed of the murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady. He suggests that one of the deputies is appointed as interim Sheriff until the next election year. Wallace is then informed that all of the deputies resigned for fear of their lives. Wallace is annoyed by this and plans for an election for county sheriff to happen at once. Wallace travels by stagecoach to Lincoln to oversee things personally. The election is announced without any official nominees. Pat Garrett hears about the opportunity and throws his hat in the ring. With no one running against Garrett, Governor Wallace names him as the new Sheriff of Lincoln County. Wallace tells Garrett that he expects his first act as Sheriff to be the arrest of those who killed his predecessor. Wallace says he will put a $500 bounty on Billy the Kid’s head to help encourage his capture. Garrett informs Wallace that everyone in Lincoln knows that “Billy the Kid” and his Regulators killed Brady, but that most of the town either agrees with the act or are afraid to speak up. Wallace tells him to get the job done or it won’t be his for long. Garrett goes home and tells his now very pregnant wife Apolonia about the new job. She is excited for her husband until he tells her about his first task. She is worried that he’ll end up like Sheriff Brady. He assures her that that won’t happen to him because he isn’t corrupt like Brady was.
Billy and the other Regulators begin to bounce around from small town to small town throughout New Mexico Territory. They are surprised and pleased to find that their actions against Sheriff Brady are received favorably in most small towns with the townsfolk happy to see them stand up against corruption while the local police forces are too afraid to end up like Brady to confront them about anything.
Pat Garrett follows a pattern in sightings of Billy the Kid and the Regulators, predicting that they will be passing through Fort Sumner next. He rounds up a posse that he officially deputizes to serve under him. Garrett and his new deputies hit the trail toward Fort Sumner. Along the way, he orders his men to follow his lead and do exactly as he says if they cross paths with the Regulators. Billy, Chavez, Dave and Tom ride into Fort Sumner, but they find the streets are deserted. Garrett and his deputies open fire on the Regulators from rooftops in town. The Regulators jump off their horses and run for cover, but Tom is shot in the back by a shotgun blast in the process. Billy braves the gunfire to drag his friend to safety, but Tom is dead by the time Billy gets him to cover. Garrett tells his deputies to hold their fire. He comes out from cover and tells Billy that he has informed the nearby Army of their presence and they are on standby to assist in their capture if called upon. Billy, Chavez and Dave surrender to Garrett’s deputies. Garrett informs them that they were wanted dead or alive and will now be brought to the capital city, Santa Fe, to face justice and most likely be hanged to death. Billy, Chavez and Dave are shackled and loaded on a train bound for Santa Fe.
While in his jail cell, Billy writes a letter to Governor Wallace to seek clemency on his charges after he is deemed guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Wallace thinks it is important for the people of Lincoln County to see Billy executed there. He orders Garrett to move Billy back to Lincoln and begin to make arrangements for his hanging. On the stagecoach to Lincoln, Garrett tells Billy that he really isn't so different from himself in his younger years, but that the way he went about things was all wrong and people died because of it. Billy looks Garrett in the eyes and asks how he would have handled things instead. Garrett has no answer and they ride the rest of the way to Lincoln in silence.
Billy is held under guard on the top floor of the town courthouse in Lincoln. Pat Garrett is called away from the courthouse, informed that his pregnant wife Apolonia has just gone into labor. Deputy Bob Olinger (Steven Ogg) is tasked with keeping guard over Billy in Garrett’s absence. Billy asks to be taken to the outhouse, but Olinger at first refuses. Billy gets louder and more annoying in his request until Olinger finally gives in. He takes Billy outside to the outhouse in chains. Billy sings while he is in the outhouse as he tries to break out of the cuffs that are keeping him chained up. Finally giving up, Billy exits the outhouse and is led back up the stairs to his cell. On the walk back up, Billy slips around a corner and slips out of his handcuffs. When Olinger follows him around the corner, Billy beats Olinger with the loose end of the cuffs repeatedly until Olinger is on the floor. Billy then sneaks into Garrett's office and finds a loaded shotgun. Olinger gets back up to his feet and follows Billy into the office, but Billy shoots him in the chest with the shotgun, killing him. Billy runs from the building. After tripping several times due to his leg irons, Billy finds an ax and uses it to free his legs. Billy steals a horse and sings as he rides away from Lincoln.
Garrett sneaks out of the house as Apolonia and his new baby are both sleeping in the morning. After kissing them both on the forehead, Garrett returns to the courthouse in the morning to find Olinger dead and Billy the Kid escaped. Garrett frantically searches the area around the courthouse, but it would appear that Billy the Kid is long gone. Garrett informs Governor Wallace of the situation. Wallace angrily tells Garrett that if he wants a career as a lawman, then he better track down Billy the Kid and bring him to justice. Garrett questions whether hunting down one young man is really worth all the expense and effort expended so far. Wallace refuses to hear more from Garrett and simply orders him to do his job and kill Billy the Kid.
Billy rides back to Fort Sumner where he runs into an old acquaintance, Pete Maxwell (Jacob Elordi). Billy offers to pay Maxwell to hide him on his father's massive ranch outside of town. Maxwell is a bit apprehensive, but Billy persists and Maxwell agrees. Billy and Maxwell ride to the family property where they are greeted by Pete's sister Paulita Maxwell (Emilia Jones). Billy finds himself immediately attracted to Paulita's looks, while she is taken by his roguish charm. The three have dinner where Pete becomes uncomfortable with the attention Billy and Paulita are paying to each other. Pete tries to talk to Billy about where he plans to go. Billy looks around and says that the Maxwell ranch is as good a place as any to be. After dinner, Pete tells Paulita to set Billy up in a guest room. Pete then goes to bed himself. He is awoken in the middle of the night by the sounds of Billy and Paulita having sex in another room.
Billy accompanies Paulita into the town the next morning for groceries. She asks him if he’s afraid to be seen in public given the bounty on his head. Billy laughs and loudly announces that Billy the Kid is in Fort Sumner. He gives Paulita a kiss, telling her that the people of New Mexico Territory like him more than they like the law. Pete is further angered when he sees Paulita and Billy return together from town. Pete pulls Billy aside, angrily telling him that he doesn’t want him around Paulita for the sake of her safety. Billy tries to calmly assure Pete that she is perfectly safe with him, but Billy’s words do not put Pete at ease. Pete then says that safety isn’t the only concern. He also doesn’t like the idea of his only sister gaining a reputation for romancing with a known outlaw.
After another night of listening to Billy and Paulita in the other room, Pete announces in the morning that he must attend to some business in Lincoln and that he should be back in the next day or two. Pete rides to the Lincoln County courthouse. He pulls down the “wanted” poster of Billy the Kid and brings it to Pat Garrett. Pete tells Garrett that he can give him the location of Billy the Kid. Garrett curiously eyes Pete and asks what he wants in return. Pete tells Garrett that he wants his sister to remain safe and unarmed during the capture. Garrett agrees. The next day, Pete Maxwell and Pat Garrett ride together to Fort Sumner.
Pete Maxwell and Pat Garrett wait in Billy's room in darkness. Billy enters the room and can see the shadow of a person. At first he asks if Paulita is in there waiting for him. But when he doesn't hear her answer, Billy begins to worry. Garrett draws his revolver and fires at Billy twice. One bullet hits Billy in the chest just above the heart, while the other goes into the wall behind him. Billy is stunned by the chain of events and begins to drag himself away, leaving a bloody streak through the hallway of the house. Garrett follows after him, patiently waiting for Billy to bleed out and die. Paulita stumbles upon the scene and begins to hit her brother in anger. She berates him for having Billy killed. Pete holds Paulita, squeezing her so that she cannot swing her arms at him. He whispers in her ear that it was for the best.
Feeling unfulfilled by the conclusion of his hunt for Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett rides to Santa Fe and turns in his sheriff badge to Governor Wallace. He tells Wallace that he wasn’t upholding the law by killing Billy, he was acting as nothing but a common assassin. Garrett then asks to collect the bounty, but Wallace refuses to pay him. Garrett trashes Wallace’s office. Wallace threatens to have Garrett arrested. Garrett dares Wallace to try before walking out of the governor’s office. Garrett returns home to Apolonia and their new baby. He tells her that he doesn’t think that a lawman is a good line of work for a family man. Apolonia assures her husband that she doesn’t care what he does for a living as long as he comes home to her at the end of the day.
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