Clint Eastwood is Arizona deputy Walt Coogan, sent to New York city to escort a prisoner home. But the prisoner is not ready to be transferred back to Arizona and so Coogan cuts a few corners. However, this helps the prisoner escape and, after Coogan clashes with the Sherrif McElroy (Lee J. Cobb), he is ordered back to Arizona. But Coogan does not want to give up his pursuit of the prisoner and takes the matter into his own hands.