The opening scenes are a narrated flashback of the thirty plus killings by sheriff-turned-gunfighter John Bernard "J.B." Books. Now an older man, Books arrives in Carson City, Nevada. Almost immediately he gets into a dangerous confrontation with local Jay Cobb, but his teenaged assistant Gillom Rogers defuses the situation by scoffing that Books looks worn out. Books goes to "Doc" Hostetler, who knows Books from treating his wounds 15 years before. He confirms Books has terminal cancer, and has only weeks to live. Books is prescribed laudanum, but told that eventually nothing will relieve the pain. Hostetler obliquely suggests that Books may want to consider suicide.