A Cure for Johnny Rain - Recap

Bret is taking the stagecoach to Apocalypse after losing his bankroll. His fellow passenger, a tinhorn named Sam, offers Bret a game of Blackjack. Just as they start, a masked robber stops the stagecoach and orders everyone out. He has Bret and Sam toss their guns into a thistle bush and then takes the gold and rides off. The driver notes that the same man has robbed him three times before. Bret gets into the coach first, confirms that Sam’s deck is shaved, and switches cards, and promptly wins the next hand.



The stagecoach pulls into Apocalypse and the driver tells Mayor Hadley and the townspeople that he was robbed. While the driver goes to tell the sheriff what happened, a young man, Johnny Rain, comes over and talks to Bret about what happened. Johnny notes that according to the stories, the robber never takes anything from passengers or hurts anyone, but Bret isn’t impressed. Bret goes to the local saloon and joins a game, but Sam comes over, slips some marked cards onto him, and accuses him of cheating. Before the players can go after Bret, Johnny comes over and says that he saw Sam palm the cards. Sam backs down and leaves.



Once Sam leaves, Bret offers Johnny money for his help. The boy refuses but is glad to take a drink with Bret. However, he takes it badly and explains that he drinks because he promised his girlfriend Millie that he would. Johnny explains that Millie’s father beat her when he was sober, so she wants Johnny to drink. He then points Millie out to Bret: she works as a saloon girl. Millie comes over and Johnny introduces her. Once she leaves, Johnny wipes his mouth with a bandana and Bret notices that it looks like the one that the robber wore. He pays for a round of drinks for Johnny and leaves on the stage.



Mayor Hadley is on the stage and explains that the governor has summoned him to explain why he hasn’t caught the robber. Hadley admits that he has no idea who the thief is, and adamantly denies that it could be a local citizen. The robber calls them over again and demands Bret’s wallet. Bret calls him by name and then pulls off the bandana. Johnny knocks him out but appears to have no idea who Bret is.

When Bret wakes up, he goes back to town with Hadley, who tells the townspeople that Johnny is leading a double-life. The mayor tells Sheriff Billy to form a posse, but the sheriff warns that Johnny is so nice that no one will ride out after him. Johnny walks in and offers to join the posse. They arrest him and explain what happened, but Johnny insists that he doesn’t know where the gold is and doesn’t remember anything. However, he also doesn’t remember what he did after he left the saloon. When they find the bandana on him, Hadley tells the sheriff to hang Johnny, but the sheriff resigns rather than hang such a lovable person. The deputy resigns as well and Johnny locks himself up, promising not to run away.



At the saloon, Hadley commiserates with Bret and admits that he can’t think of anyone in town who would hang Johnny. Bret suggests that they try to get the gold back and offers to help in return for 50% of what he recovers. They negotiate to 25% and Bret reluctantly agrees to be deputized. As Hadley goes, he warns Bret that if he doesn’t find the gold, it’ll be his duty to hang Johnny.

Sam meets with Millie, who tells him that she hasn’t been able to find the gold that Johnny stole. He wonders if she has real feelings for Johnny but Millie insists that she doesn’t.

Bret goes to see Johnny and release him. They go to the saloon where everyone applauds Johnny. As the bartender serves Johnny a drink, he says that Millie is out on date, much to Johnny’s surprise. After taking several drinks, Johnny remembers everything he did as a robber and apologizes to Bret for hurting him. Bret realizes that Johnny is a blackout drunk and literally becomes a different person.



The next morning, Bret brings breakfast for a hungover Johnny. Bret offers him another drink so he can find the stolen loot, but Johnny insists that he has to quit drinking. They go outside to take a ride, but Bret goes to the grocery store to buy some tonic. Millie walks by and sees Johnny, but she spots Bret and leaves before Johnny can tell her that he’s going to stop drinking. Bret brings over the tonic, which contains alcohol, and makes sure that Johnny drinks plenty of it. Millie goes to the same store and confirms that the tonic is 80% alcohol. Meanwhile, Johnny changes personalities again and Bret rides off with him.

As the two men ride through the countryside in the wagon, Sam and Millie follow them. Johnny directs Bret toward an old gold mine that he staked out and takes another drink. When they arrive, Johnny moves a fake tree blocking the road to the mine. After they put it back and ride on, Sam and Millie go by, unaware of the hidden road. In the mine, Johnny can’t remember what he was going to do with the gold and readily agrees to give it back to the townspeople. Outside, Johnny sobers up and Bret tells him to head for Mexico so that he doesn’t end up drinking again and hanging for robbery. Johnny agrees but asks for the rest of the tonic so he can make the trip. Bret rides off with the gold and Johnny takes another drink.



Bret rides past the fake tree blocking the mine road and heads for Apocalypse. Meanwhile, Sam and Millie realize that they’ve lost Bret and figure out how they were tricked.

A drunken Johnny ambushes Bret and takes his badge, and leaves him to walk back to town. As he rides off, Johnny says that he has a lot of stashing to do. When he arrives at the mine, he finds Millie waiting for him. She asks why he has the gold and Johnny says that they can finally go to Mexico. Once Millie confirms that Johnny has all the gold on the wagon, the armed Sam steps out and Millie explains that Sam is her husband. Johnny attacks him and gets the upper hand, but Millie shoots the boy. The couple quickly leave in the loaded wagon.



Bret walks back to the mine and finds the wounded Johnny unconscious on the ground. He explains what happened to his friend and is shocked that Millie betrayed him. Bret confirms that Johnny is sober and points out that he remembers everything, meaning that that he’s a whole man due to the shock of finding out the truth about Millie. Johnny knows a shortcut and says they can take Millie’s abandoned wagon and cut them off at the pass.

Millie and Sam soon come to their wagon, blocking the road ahead. When they try to turn around, Johnny and Bret call out that they’re surrounded. Sam grabs Millie and uses her as a hostage, but Bret figures that it’s a bluff. Johnny is too noble to put Millie at risk and aims the gun at Bret, but Bret easily disarms him and tells Sam to go ahead and shoot Millie. Before he can or can’t, Millie grabs the gun and shoots him, and Bret captures her.

Johnny tries to take her into town and Millie admits that she’s impressed with this new side of her. He insists that he’d do the same for any woman, and Millie falls, claiming she sprained her ankle. As Johnny picks her up, Millie kisses him and after a second he kisses her back. All Johnny will do is promise to speak up for her at the trial, and Millie walks off on her own to the wagon. She offers him a drink for old time’s sake but he refuses, insisting that nothing will pass his lips again except water... and the tonic.



Bret returns to the mine with the gold and Hadley and his men ware waiting. Bret insists that Johnny helped recover the loot. Johnny and Millie ride up and Johnny gives the sheriff’s badge back to Bret. He admits that it’s become like a part of him and Bret suggests that Hadley make Johnny the sheriff. Hadley agrees and he and the others start moving the gold. Meanwhile, Johnny talks privately to Bret and asks if a sheriff has to arrest any criminal no matter how close they are to him. Bret assures him that a sheriff has to fulfill his sworn duty... and Johnny draws his gun and takes Bret’s. He then arrests all of them for transporting stolen goods.

In town, everyone sits in jail and Bret points out that this time, Johnny has only forgotten who stole the gold in the first place. Hadley admits that the law recognizes possession, not intentions, and they were caught red-handed. They wonder if they should just walk out but Bret assures them that Johnny will soon sober up and forget why he arrested them. When Johnny wakes up, he’s surprised to discover that he’s wearing a sheriff’s badge and has $45,000 in gold sitting on his desk. He tells everyone goodnight and goes back to sleep.



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