A timid accountant named William Blake travels from Cleveland to the frontier town of Machine in search of a promised job, only to find that the position has been taken. Struggling in this harsh and unfamiliar western environment, Blake becomes entangled in a deadly altercation, resulting in the deaths of a young man and his lover. Wounded and on the run, Blake encounters a Native American named Nobody, who believes Blake is the reincarnation of the English poet William Blake. They embark on a journey through the wilderness, with Nobody serving as both guide and protector.

As word of the incident spreads, a posse of bounty hunters led by John Dickinson, the deceased young man's father, is sent to capture Blake. Pursued relentlessly, the relationship between Blake and Nobody deepens as they confront the stark realities of their existence and the violent world around them. Blake undergoes a transformation from a meek accountant to a figure shrouded in myth and legend. Their odyssey takes them through various encounters with outlaws, settlers, and mystical experiences, ultimately leading to an uncertain and introspective path shaped by violence, identity, and fate.