Captain Joseph J. Blockera (Christian Bale), whose character has been hardened by war and violence, is assigned to escort a Cheyenne war chief and his family on their journey back to their tribal lands in Montana. Even though Blocker is tired of the violent life he has lived in throughout his life, this task will be quite difficult for him; because the chief he accompanied became one of his greatest enemies over the years and took the lives of many of his friends. However, the chief has suffered his share of losses at least as much as Blocker. Setting out from dangerous lands and heading towards the wild but impressive west, the convoy will encounter many difficulties on this way. As the difficulties mount, Blocker will be forced to confront his own bigotry as he follows orders, while his journey also includes a suicidal widow (Rosamund Pike) who witnessed her family being murdered in a raid.