Dead Man's Cross

Kelly Grissom (33) is an outlaw on the run from a bank job gone wrong. He has been separated from his gang and is now making his way solo through the Black Hills of Dakota Territory. Suffering from nightmares of a specific incident during the failed heist, he is mentally broken and borderline suicidal. Whilst travelling he comes across a small cabin and stops to enquire about supplies, but upon entering discovers the bodies of a brutally murdered family. Knowing there is nothing to be done he stocks up with what food they have with the intention of leaving quickly. However a photograph of the family shows a young daughter, Elizabeth Robards (12) not amongst the massacre. Kelly suspects she has been kidnapped and so heads off to find her. As he leaves he is spotted by Samuel (60) a hermit passing through. As Kelly follows the trail of whoever killed the Robards family, his presence at the cabin has been reported to local Marshal, Emmett Reynard (50) and he is accused of being responsible for the family’s murder. Emmett forms a posse and sets out to find Kelly and bring him to justice. Meanwhile Kelly’s old gang, led by the ruthless Clayton Reese (40) are still reeling from the chaotic robbery, losing several of their group in the process due to the law showing up sooner than expected. One of the members Seamus O’Grady (33) believes Kelly betrayed them, informing the authorities, hence his absence from their camp. Clayton wants revenge and so gathers his remaining men to hunt down Kelly and kill him. Kelly learns that Elizabeth was kidnapped by a gang known as the Graves family by speaking to one of their members he knows very well, Harrison (28). He is invited to their camp where he frees Elizabeth and kills all of the outlaws. He then discovers that they were hired to kill the Robards family by Railroad Tycoon Barrett Dennehy (50). Dennehy wishes to build a railroad through the land the Robards’ property is on, but they were unwilling to sell. Kelly intends to take Elizabeth to an orphanage, where he grew up, run by Sister Kathleen (60). However along the way Kelly suffers from injuries taken from the shootout with Graves and his gang and collapses off his horse. He is taken in by a Native American tribe and meets their chief Hotah (60) who offers him food and shelter, but whilst there are attacked by the cavalry. After fending off the soldiers Hotah explains he knows who Kelly is and wants him to help rob an army munitions train so he can better protect his tribe. Kelly is reluctant, but is willing to help. However during the robbery Kelly realises he is continuing on a path he wants to leave and upon returning to the camp leaves with Elizabeth. Elizabeth questions Kelly why an outlaw would rescue her. Kelly explains that during the bank robbery he accidentally shot a young boy and it made him question the path he’s on. He decided he no longer wanted the outlaw life and wished to do good in the world in the hope he can find forgiveness for taking the life of a boy. By saving her, he can rebalance the scales. Clayton and his men are soon on Kelly’s trail and question an old friend of Kelly’s, Ned Jessop (60) who after torturing him and threatening his wife, Maria (30) tells them that Kelly did stop by and is trying to rescue a girl and will take her to the old orphanage. Clayton is confused by Kelly’s motives, but set off with his gang to ambush him on the road to the orphanage. Emmett and his posse are not far behind and see the carnage left by Clayton’s men including the murdered Ned and Maria. Kelly is on the road to the orphanage with Elizabeth, but they are ambushed by Clayton’s gang. He claims he didn’t betray them, but they refuse to believe him. In his attempt to escape he is caught and prepared for execution, by his once friends. He manages to kill Clayton’s remaining members, but is shot himself. Clayton then takes Elizabeth to Barrett, who has posted a reward for her safe return to him as she knows the truth of his orders to kill her family. Fortunately Kelly survives the gunshot and chases after Clayton. After Clayton turns over Elizabeth to the Railroad Tycoon he is confronted by Kelly. They quick draw, but Kelly is too quick for the gang leader. He then enters the house to rescue Elizabeth from Barrett. A fight breaks out between the two men, of which Kelly gets the upper hand. Barrett pleads for mercy claiming he never wanted the Robards family dead, just frightened so they would sell their land. Kelly grants him mercy no wanting more blood on his hands, but when Barrett tries to attack Kelly, Elizabeth shoots him. Before they can leave the house they find themselves surrounded by Emmett and his posse. Kelly knows he will never leave the house alive and so surrenders himself on the condition that Emmett get Elizabeth to the orphanage. As Kelly is arrested, Emmett takes Elizabeth to the orphanage handing her over to Sister Kathleen who promises to take care of her. Elizabeth explains to Kathleen that Kelly saved her and doesn’t deserve to be hung. The next day Kathleen attends the execution of Kelly and after listening to his remorseful words on the gallows promises him that God forgives all. Kathleen takes custody of Kelly’s body and has him buried in a cemetery near the orphanage so Elizabeth can visit him.