Nineteenth century Wyoming: the wild West.
Mild-mannered Tom Healy has a two-wagon theater troupe hounded by creditors because Angela, his leading lady and the object of his affection, constantly buys clothes.
In Cheyenne, they meet with applause, so they hope to stay awhile: the theater owner likes Angela, and she keeps him on a string.
She's also the object of the attentions of Mabry, a gunslinger who's owed money by the richest man in Bonanza.