After a series of misfortunes, Billy the Kid finds himself forced to confront and kill a gangster in order to save his mother, thus becoming an outlaw. To escape the law, he flees following the advice of an old family friend, Pat Garrett.
However, escape is not enough to prevent him from further conflict and murder, and he is eventually pursued by Pat, who is now the sheriff of Lincoln County. When they meet, Billy promises Pat to give up the criminal life. But when the young man is willing to serve his sentence, the mob turns against him, berating him for his past actions, and so he flees.
Billy sincerely wishes to change, but when he appears unarmed in front of Pat, someone shoots him, ending his tragic story.