Goodnight for Justice: Queen of Hearts

The film opens with Judge John Goodnight surviving a harrowing bear attack in the wilderness before arriving in a small Wyoming town to preside over a circuit court. Among his cases is a young horse thief who identifies himself as 'Butch' Cassidy, whom Goodnight releases due to a lack of evidence but warns to choose a better path. Meanwhile, a woman named Lucy Truffault is running a sophisticated 'money-making machine' scam on a local businessman, only to be arrested by a Pinkerton detective. Her past catches up with her when Colonel Cyril Knox, a man she previously conned and scarred, confronts her in a saloon. While being transported to Fort Collins, the stagecoach is ambushed by Knox’s hired guns. Goodnight happens upon the scene, kills two of the attackers, and rescues Lucy, who lies about her identity, claiming to be the daughter of a wealthy mining magnate. As Goodnight and Lucy travel together, a romantic tension develops despite Goodnight's growing suspicion that Lucy is not who she claims to be. They are relentlessly pursued by Knox and an Apache tracker. During a tense standoff in the wilderness, Goodnight and Lucy are forced to jump off a high cliff into a river to escape Knox's long-range rifle. They board a passing steamboat, where Lucy reveals her skill as a card shark by cleaning out Goodnight and several other passengers in a poker game. Goodnight eventually discovers Lucy's true identity as a wanted fugitive after finding her wanted poster and realizing she has been lying about her past, including a story about a scar given to her by her father. In the climax, Knox boards the steamboat and takes Lucy hostage, leading to a final confrontation on the deck. Goodnight is shot in the chest by Knox, but his life is miraculously saved by a Pinkerton badge he had tucked in his pocket. Goodnight manages to kill Knox, ending the threat. In the aftermath, Lucy admits she is tired of running and, influenced by Goodnight’s integrity, decides to turn herself in to face justice. The film ends with Goodnight escorting her to the authorities, promising that a clean slate is possible if she pays her debt to society.