Duncan McKaskel (Tom Conti), his wife Susanna (Kate Capshaw), and their 12-year-old son Tom (Kenny Morrison) are travelling West, hoping to start a new life. They have left a cholera-stricken wagon train and arrive in a small, dilapidated town, where they meet no-good Doc Shabbitt (Matt Clark (actor)) and ask for directions. He suggests they stay in a deserted local building, but McKaskel senses danger and they leave. Shabbit decides to steal two of their horses.