The Petrified Forest

'The Petrified Forest' is set in a remote diner in the Arizona desert, where a disillusioned writer, a drifter, and a gangster end up in a tense standoff. The central conflict revolves around the gangster attempting to evade capture by law enforcement while holding the diner's occupants hostage. The characters experience a clash of ideals, leading to themes of sacrifice and redemption.