In this film, set a few years after the events of The Road Warrior, Max's nomadic travels lead him to Bartertown, which, as the name implies, is the methane-fueled hub where anyone can go to exchange something they have for something they need. The town is overseen by Aunty, though it is really run by a dwarf named Master, who gets into a scuffle with Max, where the only resolution anyone will abide by is to battle to the death in a caged arena called 'Thunderdome'. Following his ordeal, Max manages to make his way to a desert oasis full of children awaiting the return of adults, and who see Max as a messianic figure foretold to come to them and save them.