brushy bill's story begins with the remaining regulators having gone their separate ways. billy has become part of a new gang with "arkansas" dave rudabaugh (slater) and pat garrett (petersen). the new mexico governor has issued warrants for the arrests of those involved in the lincoln county wars, including billy, doc scurlock (sutherland), and jose chavez y chavez (phillips), who are dragged into town and imprisoned to await hanging.