This unusual Western from director Anthony Harvey tells the story of restless Eastern tenderfoot Pike (Martin Sheen), who finds purpose in life after moving to the badlands of New Mexico and learning to become a successful trapper from grizzled veteran Henry (Harvey Keitel). Pike engages in a war of wills with Kiowa warrior White Bull (Sam Waterston) over a superbly fast stallion, and their fight becomes an allegory for the settlement of the West.