Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster), a Mexican-American deputy sheriff, is forced to kill an accused murderer by ruthless land baron, Frank Tanner. When he discovers that the accused left behind a pregnant girlfriend, he asks around town for money to support her, and is severely beaten and left for dead by Tanner's posse. After his recovery, Valdez prepares for vengeance, sending the simple message to Tanner that 'Valdez is coming'.