After the shootout editor Dameron and Sheriff Behan want the Earps and Doc hung or shot. Behan plans to charge them with murder while Curly Brocius and Johnny Ringo plan a quicker revenge by killing them during the outlaws's funeral.

Earp recalls in court the details of the day when the Clanton gang rides into Tombstone to shoot it out with the Earps and his plans initially to head off a street battle by arresting each one of the gang separately and then the gunfight.

A stagecoach holdup orchestrated by Johnny Ringo and Curly Bill Brocius gives Wyatt Earp the opportunity he's been waiting for--a chance to get the rival factions in the Clanton gang to turn on each other instead of the law.

After the death of Old Man Clanton, Doc Holliday hatches a not-quite-legal scheme involving Wyatt's brothers to help him in his desire to create an internal fight among the Clantons gang members over who takes control of the gang.

Wyatt tries to put a stop to ongoing border skirmishes between the Clanton gang and Mexican bandits. He's worried that if Old Man Clanton is killed, a bloody fight for power will erupt among his sons and subordinates.