The Petrified Forest

The Maples - father Jason Maple, his romantic minded daughter Gabrielle Maple, and Jason's excitement seeking but stingy father - own and operate a gas station and diner in the isolated desert outpost of Black Mesa, Arizona on the outskirts of the petrified forest. Gabrielle's mother left them years earlier to return to her hometown of Bourges, France, where she and Jason met when he was stationed there during the war. Gabrielle eventually wants to live in Bourges to be an artist. One stormy day, a wanted killer named Duke Mantee and his gang who are on the run, stop by the diner and eventually take those in the diner and anyone who stops by hostage. Besides Gabrielle and Gramp Maple, the hostages include their football playing pump jockey and Gabrielle's wannabe boyfriend Boze Hertzlinger, a wealthy couple named the Chisholms and their black chauffeur Joseph, and a former writer now penniless wanderer named Alan Squier. In Alan's short time at the diner, his stories about his life, his work and his travels make Gabrielle fall in love with him, and he eventually with her much to Boze's chagrin. Her wanderlust only increases because of Alan. During the hostage situation, all the players involved get to know each other a little better, which makes Mrs. Chisholm offer a piece of advice based on her own life, and Alan come up with a solution for Gabrielle's ultimate happiness in what looks to be an impossible life situation.