The Runner

Bronson's bike is damaged when an old woman who offers to sell him some gasoline mistakenly fills the tank with weed killer. Old-timer Alex invites Bronson to use his ranch to work on the bike with the hopes that Bronson will repair his Rudge Ulster; a bike that has been garaged since 1946 due to Alex's wife's hatred of motorcycles.

Knowing that Bronson is short on cash, lonely widow Monica offers him a job on her guest ranch. During his stay, Monica's teenage daughter Lori becomes quite enamored with Bronson, and so does her mother.

Bronson ends up in a ghost town whose sole resident is the venerable Hattie Calter, who piques his interest with her tales of surviving the Titanic disaster and her vitality. Hattie has an ongoing quarrel with bandit Abner Hotchman, who seeks a silver vein.

Miguel approaches motorbike riding using the same aggressive methods that he uses to fight bulls in the bullring. Bronson is reluctant when Miguel tries to imbue Bronson with his values and suggests that he use similar methods. In the meantime, Bella and Morgana, two beautiful sisters, compete for the attention of both men.

Bronson travels to Colorado to find an old friend named Bucky O'Neill, a priest with a crisis of conscience. Bucky has fallen for Mary Draper but leaving the priesthood torments his conscience. Mary is tortured as well and blames herself for Bucky's dilemma. Moreover, she also believes she's destined to die giving childbirth. When she refuses medical help, Bronson is forced to make a decision.

Former local hero turned bank robber Clay Turner has been imprisoned for years. When paroled and he returns to his hometown, it seems Turner had made revenge threats to Ed Hemmings for turning him in many years ago; Earl Braden married Turner's ex-girlfriend Charlene Braeden; and Charlene preens herself for Turner's return as if she was his current paramour.

While staying at the home of retired pressman Oliver, Bronson enters a local motorbike race. But when town champ Russ Faber learns this, he becomes obsessed with defeating Bronson.

Bronson arrives in a new town, where he meets and asks Leona Czandowski on a date. However, her brother Darryl's overprotectiveness causes her much dismay. Bronson helps Leona enter a demolition derby that inevitably puts him in a difficult predicament with her brother.

Bronson accepts two percent of a potential oil well that is possibly ready to blow, in lieu of cash for work done for Royce MacLeod. Unfortunately, MacLeod faces foreclosure if he can't beat the target date specified on a promissory note owned by Mac Keller.

Bronson befriends an attractive nurse, Barbara Timmons, who mourns the death of a doctor she worked with. She considers quitting her job because it overtaxes her but is uncertain because she worries about her patients and their future care. Bronson, in awe of Timmons' work as a nurturing caregiver, finds helping her a challenge.

Bronson helps Henry Tate, a reluctant biker in distress, with a loan when his bike breaks down. In order to repay him, Tate brings Bronson to his family's home where he has not visited since he left many, many, years ago but is hesitantly returning in order to attend his mother's funeral. Tate's unexpected homecoming causes tribulation for all.

The arrogant William Lovering is regarded as a great pitcher in a local bush league baseball team. When Bronson takes a job as a ball player, he soon finds he's able to hit the ball off Lovering at will. Bronson tries to prepare Lovering for a try out with major league scout Art Gilroy.

Native American Tony Wade has taken his family into bleak country to perform his Vision Quest in order to reclaim his spirit. Bronson, an old friend of Tony's, locates him and the family and finds them in dire straits. Even though Tony, his wife and son are underfed and malnourished, Tony still demands that Bronson leave. Linda urges Bronson to stay and reveals a secret she has not told Tony.

Bronson is charmed by Sibyl, who fancies herself a witch and is part of a band of occultists led by Hermes. Bronson at first is entertained by her beliefs but later recoils at her lifestyle. Ultimately, Sibyl has to determine the greater meaning of the supernatural, and in the process—life.

Bronson partners with Billy Mulavey in order to compete in a song contest and land a job at a highway honky-tonk. Greedy local DJbJohnny Dell signs songwriter Billy to a restrictive contract, but Billy has running on his mind. Betty, the waitress who loves Billy, and Bronson wonder about Billy's veracity when Mickey Rand claims ownership of the songs written by Billy.

When eccentric artist Juan Longorio paints a naked woman on the side of a barn, it places him and Bronson in trouble with the owner, Sid Casper, and the city locals. Still, more problematic than defacing private property, the painting causes emotional anguish to Sid, deputy sheriff Hud McCarver, and Will Hudson, because they all think the painting is a picture perfect representation of their respective wives.

When Bronson arrives in an Amish community, his tales of the 'outside world' captivate Harold and Dorothy, a young betrothed couple. Seeing how Dorothy looks at Bronson, Harold heads out to see what he has been missing. In the city, Harold meets a model while Dorothy, back in the Amish community, ponders about love and the future.

In Reno, Bronson visits his cousin Eve, who is engaged to marry Len. He gives Eve money for a wedding dress but she impetuously chooses to gamble instead and catches 'the fever'. Eve's absence delays the wedding plans and Len confides his fears to Bronson.

Bronson and Native American Boise Idaho vie for the attention of beautiful Tender Grass by entering a cross-country race. Bronson is initially against the idea, but after goading from Boise Idaho, he decides to prove his courage and impress Tender Grass.

Like Hemingway, and like the character out of his novel The Sun Also Rises, Wilson Ford is a renowned novelist with a 'secret' that motivates him to act with abandon. In order to hone his skills, and to prove his mettle, Ford puts his courage to trial by performing daring, bold, and often outrageous deeds. Against his wife's wishes, Ford cajoles Bronson into a hike that pits the older Ford against a youthful Bronson in a dangerous trek.

Harve Traine, publisher of the 'The Pacific Grove Press', warns the community in a series of editorials about the ecological havoc industrial pollution is causing the local bay and surrounding ocean. Parochial financial concerns who advertise with him, however, cause Harve serious emotional hardship and a potential financial disaster. Bronson and Harve's daughter Petey Traine both believe in the cause of the editorials. Yet, does Harve stick to his editorial guns and face monetary ruin or does he acquiesce to the wishes of his advertisers and lose his daughter's respect?

Bronson takes a trip in the Los Padres National Forest and runs into trouble after his bike falls down an embankment. Deciding to ride out of the forest by following the contour of the terrain, Bronson is imbued with a deep respect for nature and the environment.

Much like the vagabond Bronson, widower Isadore Katz left his business in New York City and took to the road in a camper to experience new realities and meet new people. Bronson helps Isadore when he runs out of gas but later it's Isadore who helps Bronson after his bike needs repairs. In the process, they share the beauty of the terrain and a friendship develops.

Bronson helps uncle Herman and cousin Carl repair and restore an old fishing boat. Carl is passionate about restoring the boat because it reminds him of his late mother. On the other hand, Herman would prefer to sell it. When Beth, Herman's fiancée, demands that he choose between the boat or her, Herman has to make a vital decision.

Gus Samos hires Bronson to work on his yacht. Samos and his daughter Vhea don't communicate well due to their conflicting lifestyles and values. When Vhea leaves to see friends in a Buddhist community, Bronson follows her, leaving both father and daughter questioning his motivations.