The body of Melquiades Estrada is found in a shallow grave in the desert where it was hastily buried after his murder. Making no attempt to solve the crime, the local authorities rapidly transfer the corpse to a pauper's grave in the cemetery. Pete Perkins, a ranch foreman and Melquiades' best friend, takes it upon himself to track down the murderer. A beacon of humanity in this remote part of Texas, Pete forces the killer to transport Melquiades to his own personal Eldorado in Mexico, and so offers his friend a memorable journey to his third burial.