About ten minutes into The Shootist Doctor Hostetler (James Stewart) tells aging western gunfighter John Bernard Books (John Wayne) You have a cancer. Knowing that his death will be painful and lingering Books is determined to be shot in the line of duty . In his remaining two months Books settles scores with old enemies including gambler Pulford (Hugh O Brian) and Marshall Thibido (Harry Morgan) and reaches out to new friends (including feisty widow Lauren Bacall and her hero-worshipping son Ron Howard). In the end is shot to death but in so doing he is able to dissuade another from following his blood-stained example. Throughout the film Book s imminent demise is compared with the decline of the west as represented by the automobiles and streetcars that have begun to blight the main street of Wayne s home town. It is unknown if John Wayne was aware that he was dying of cancer when he agreed to film The Shootist; whatever the case the film is a powerful valedictory to a remarkable man and a fabulous career.