Road Agents begins as a pair of outlaws prepares to rob a stagecoach. Donning masks and brandishing six-guns, the bad guys relieve the passengers of their valuables and also make off with a box full of payroll money. As the sheriff organizes a posse, the bandits are seen dividing their loot. The greedier of the two crooks beats up his partner and absconds with their ill-gotten gains. The other bandit, thirsting for revenge, joins the sheriff's posse to track down his former chum.
Wrongfully convicted rancher Jack Bowen (Neal Hart), imprisoned through the machinations of Dick Thompson (William Quinn), escapes from prison just as the warden (Charles Wellesley) is about to pardon him. Caught after rescuing the warden’s daughter, Betty (Barbara Kent) from her runaway carriage, Bowen is released despite the escape attempt and moves to Calgary to compete in the Stampede. Thompson tries to have Bowen killed during the competition but failing that takes Betty as a hostage and flees. Bowen, Betty’s father and others give chase.
Hank Wilson, a good-natured cow puncher, loves a rancher's daughter, and finally musters up courage enough to make known his love. She looks upon the matter as a joke, and coquettishly furnishes him considerable annoyance.
Dad, a likable old pioneer character, lived among the foot hills of the western mining region, on a ranch with his two daughters, Rose and Madge. As sort of a side issue he had been doing a little prospecting, and about the time the story starts, we see him carrying some of his quartz to Andy Thomas, a young assayer located in a nearby village.
Hazel Clark, belle of the Diamond "S" Ranch, is fascinated by Cactus Jake, a bold, dashing, reckless cowboy. Good-natured Bill, another cowpuncher, is really in love with Hazel.
Rose Blake, daughter of the ranch foreman, is in love with Tom, the cook, and her father disapproves of the match. Blake finally discharges Tom, and the boys become disgusted when they try to prepare their own meals. Disguised as a young lady, Tom arrives at the ranch, where he is engaged by Blake as a cook.
When Ruth returns to the Bar "G" ranch after acquiring eastern polish, she chides the boys for chewing tobacco, cussing and smoking cigarettes. When Tom, the foreman, orders the boys out on the range to round up cattle they are pleased, for they are anxious to be away from Ruth's constant admonitions.
Vicky Weathers arrives home at the B-O Ranch, after a long sojourn in the east. Her father sends Tom and Sid, two cowboys, to the train to meet her. Both boys fall in love with the beautiful girl. Each demands that the other stay in town while Vicky is driven home. Both become fierce rivals in the game of love and en route home each insists on doing his individual share in driving the horses, which very nearly precipitates a runaway.
The First Story is the first film in a trilogy of "westerns." Here the central idea is Power in its various forms, especially as seen overland in the quintessential American West: the big rigs on I 90 and the freight trains crossing Wyoming. It is the contrast of these machines to the broad landscape and animal life that digs at this mythological space and questions what other meanings might be created.
When Dexter tells his roommate Oswald the story of how he was challenged to a duel by a pompous wedding planner, they set out to prepare with the help of their friend Anne and must decide which is more important: life or pride?