Hard-up rancher, Dan Evans (Van Heflin) is holding ruthless outlaw Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) at gunpoint waiting for a train to Yuma where the authorities have put up a $200 reward. However, Wade offers him $10,000 to set him free; the bounty will ease his financial difficulties, but Wade's offer will set him up for life. Thus begins a cat-and-mouse wait for the 3:10 train with Evans' wife pleading for him to take the money and save himself and Wade's gang attempting to free him.
