Former Texas Rangers and long-time ranching partners Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call meet their old friend Jake, and decide to strike out from their south Texas base and drive a cattle herd to Montana.
McCrae and Wood's cattle drive faces deadly situations. Sheriff July Johnson heads to Texas, and former prostitute Lorena is abandoned by Jake and kidnapped by the psychotic Blue Duck.
Gus and July save Lorena from Blue Duck, but at a deadly cost. Jake runs with a bad crowd and pays the price. July accepts that his wife has left him and stays on at Clara's with his newborn son.
The cattle drive reaches Nebraska, where Gus and Clara reunite. Drought and Indian attacks take their toll as the drive reaches Montana, and Gus is wounded. Call honors his best friend's request.
Documentary tracing the development and production of the mini-series "Lonesome Dove" (1989).
Back in Texas, Capt. Call organizes a mustang drive to Montana. He hires Gideon, a former Texas Ranger, to head the drive. Newt falls into trouble and is rescued by a crusty rancher named Dunnegan.
