Randolph Scott Quotes

Ride the High Country

Reflections on Past Mistakes and Redemption

Steve Judd Would it surprise you to know that I was once a law-breaker?

Gil Westrum Well! Bless my stars.

Steve Judd About the age of that boy back there; skinny as a snake and just about as mean. Ran around with the Hole-in-the-Wall bunch; gun-happy, looking for trouble -- or a pretty ankle. Had the world by the tail, so to speak. Then one night Paul Staniford picked me up. He was Sheriff of Madera County then. There'd been a fight, and I was drunk; sicker than a damn dog. Well sir, he dried me out in jail, then we went out back and he proceeded to kick the bitter hell right out of me.

Gil Westrum That took some doin'.

Steve Judd Not much. You see, he was right and I was wrong. That makes a difference.

Gil Westrum Who says so?

Steve Judd Nobody; that's something you just know. Anyhow, when I was able to walk again, I realized I'd learned a lesson: the value of self-respect.

Gil Westrum What's that worth on the open market?

Steve Judd Nothing to some people; but a great deal to me. But I lost it. These last years, the only work I was able to get was in places like Kate's back there... bartender, stick man, bouncer, what have you. Not much to brag on. Now, I'm gettin back a little respect for myself. I intend to keep it, with the help of you and that boy back there. Good to be workin again, Gil.

Gil Westrum Yeah. Partner, you know what's on the back of a poor man when he dies? The clothes of pride. And they're not a bit warmer to him dead than they were when he was alive. Is that all you want, Steve?

[Pause; Pause]

Steve Judd All I want is to enter my house justified.

[Considers]

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Ride the High Country

Trust and Betrayal Among Partners

Gil Westrum Yeah.

Steve Judd Those boys just made me a lot of money. They put em all in one spot. I don't want them to see this. I'll go it alone.

[Sinks down a little, holding his mid-section; Sees Heck and Elsa approaching; Gil waves them away]

Gil Westrum Don't worry about anything. I'll take care of it, just like you would've.

Steve Judd Hell, I know that. I always did... You just forgot it for awhile, that's all. So long, partner.

[Gil nods]

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Ride the High Country

A Prayer for Gratitude and Understanding

Joshua Knudsen Heavenly Father, we thank thee for the food on this table. Teach thy children to be grateful for thy goodness; to walk in thy path, that they may not suffer thy wrath and thy vengeance. Bless us, O Lord, and these, our guests; and forgive them the mercenary desires which brought them here. Amen.

[Pause]

Gil Westrum I thank you for entering a plea in our behalf, Mr. Knudsen; but what's this about mercenary desires?

Joshua Knudsen You're on your way to Coarsegold, ain't you?

Gil Westrum Yes.

Joshua Knudsen Well, them that travel there do so for one reason only: to traffic in gold! Which, to possess, is to live in fear; to desire, to live in sorrow.

Steve Judd But we're not trafficking, sir; merely transporting.

Joshua Knudsen It says in the Book: gold is a stumbling block to them that sacrifice to it, and every fool shall be taken therewith.

Steve Judd A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather than silver or gold – Proverbs, chapter 22.

Joshua Knudsen Into the land of trouble and anguish come the old lions, and they shall carry their riches on the shoulders of young asses, to a people that shall not profit them – Isaiah, chapter 30, verse 6. That mining town is a sinkhole of depravity; a place of shame and sin.

Elsa Knudsen According to my father, every place outside this farm is a place of sin.

Joshua Knudsen That'll do.

Elsa Knudsen You don't have to preach at everybody!

Joshua Knudsen That will do!

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Ride the High Country

Confrontation Among Companions in the Wilderness

Gil Westrum Partner, what do you think?

Steve Judd Let's meet em head-on. Halfway, just like always.

Gil Westrum My sentiments, exactly. You Hammonds!

[Shouting]

Elder Hammond What do you want, old man?

Gil Westrum Two old men against all three of you boys...

Steve Judd And if them odds ain't enough for you damned dry-gulchin', Southern trash... we'll send out the girl!

Elder Hammond We're comin'. You hear me, Henry?

Billy Hammond Ain't you got no sense of family honor?

[Exits, followed by Elder.]

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Ride the High Country

Friendship and Betrayal in Unpaid Promises

Steve Judd It all pointed this way. All that talk about old Doc Franklin... grateful citizens... what we've got coming but never got paid...

Gil Westrum It's the truth; isn't it, Steve?

Steve Judd I knew in my bones what you were aiming for, but I wouldn't believe it. I kept telling myself you were a good man; you were my friend.

Gil Westrum This is bank money, not yours.

Steve Judd And what they don't know won't hurt em? Not them. Only me! Take off your gun belt an toss it over here.

[To Heck]

Gil Westrum What are you going to do?

Steve Judd You always fancied yourself faster than me. Go ahead, draw. Draw, you damn tinhorn! That was your second mistake tonight and the last chance you'll ever get from me. I'm gonna put you behind bars, Gil.

[After a tense moment, Gil unbuckles his gun belt, tosses it to Judd.]

Gil Westrum You'll play hell gettin it done.

Steve Judd Move!

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Ride the High Country

Generational Perspectives on Youth and Responsibility

Steve Judd That boy you trained personally shows a substantial lack of judgment.

Gil Westrum Kind of showing your age, aren't you? Interfering with a young man's love life?

Steve Judd Well, I'm not paying him ten dollars a day to go moonin after some girl whose old man's about to hind-end im with a load of buckshot.

Gil Westrum Know who she reminds me of?

Steve Judd No.

Gil Westrum Sara Truesdale.

Steve Judd Well, there's no resemblance at all.

Gil Westrum Oh, maybe not in the features, but the way she smiles. Has the same look in her eyes when you're talking to er. The kind of look that makes you feel you've said something really important. You and Sara always looked so right together. Course, I can't say I blame her for not marrying you. Forgettin the lousy money we made, what woman wants to sit around waitin for her husband to be brought home with his head shot off?

Gil Westrum I guess losing Sara's what you might call a hazard of our profession. That rancher she married - uh, Stacey, is it? Hear he's doing fine up in Idaho. Got a big ranch there. Raises blooded horses. Children too, I hear.

Gil Westrum That right, Steve?

Steve Judd Yep, that's right.

Gil Westrum Three grandchildren. Think she's happy, Steve?

Steve Judd If my sleeping bothers you... don't you bother to let me know.

[Deliberately gathers his bedding]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Supernatural

The Perception of Danger in Sanity

Grant Wilson Tell me, doctor, was she really crazy?

Dr. Carl Houston Grant, I believe she was quite sane but undoubtedly one of the most dangerous women in criminal history,

Grant Wilson Well, she's not dangerous any more.

Dr. Carl Houston No, she may be more dangerous now than when they had her locked in a cell.

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Ride the High Country

Consequences of Actions in Folsom Prison

Gil Westrum Ever hear of Folsom Prison? Well, it's solid rock. And during the years we spend there, we're going to discuss the events of these past few minutes at great length. And by the time you get out, you won't like them any better than I do now – which isn't one hell of a lot.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Ride the High Country

Desire for Adventure Over Financial Gain

Gil Westrum Been considering your problem. Think I can solve half of it; perhaps the whole thing. I know a fellow who's got an overwhelmin hankering for a little old time activity.

Steve Judd It seems to me a man d have to be pretty hard up to wanna risk his life for ten dollars a day.

Heck Longtree Ten dollars a day?!!

[Whistles]

Gil Westrum Not hard up, just fed up. Out-shootin the rubes for nickels and dimes... takes all the free drinks I can get to put me to sleep at night. My partner feels the same way. Don'tcha?

[Taps Heck's arm twice before getting his attention]

Steve Judd I don't think I'd want to hire a boy.

Heck Longtree Boy? Whadda you mean, a boy?

Steve Judd Can't have too much behind him.

Gil Westrum That's where you're wrong. He's been dogging after me for better than three years.

Heck Longtree What about that race?

[In the background, we see said race's runner-up, Hank, listening intently.]

Steve Judd At that distance, no horse in the world can beat a camel.

Heck Longtree You calling me a cheat?

[Stands, kicks aside chair, and backs up slowly]

Hank Well, if he don't, I will.

[Fight ensues.]

Ride the High Country

A Discussion on Boot Craftsmanship and Design

Gil Westrum Dandy pair of boots you got here.

Steve Judd Juan Fernandez made these for me in San Antone -- made them special. Had a hell of a time convincing him to put that hole in. Fine craftsman, Juan; but he never understood the principle of ventilation.

Gil Westrum I remember Juan; always felt the boot should cover the foot.

Steve Judd Short-sighted.

Ride the High Country

The Value of Risk and Experience

Steve Judd What more could a man expect? I got to thinkin about that one time. Well, sir, I keep records; when I became a lawman, the world lost a first-class bookkeeper. So, jus ta pass the time one day, I sort of calculated what it was worth gettin shot. I figured it about a hundred dollars a shot.

Gil Westrum You'd ve earned quite a sum by now.

Steve Judd Gettin hit, I figure that's worth anywhere from a thousand on up.

Gil Westrum That's three thousand I know you got coming.

Steve Judd Four brings it up to date. Then tally up all those fights, and bush-whackings, n cold camps... that time in Lincoln County -- five weeks in the hospital, six months out of work. You add em all up, an I'd figure I was owed about all the gold we could carry out of these mountains... Somethin to dream about.

Gil Westrum Sure is...

Ride the High Country

Betting on Uncertainty in a Fast-Paced Game

Steve Judd Uh, Mister; could ah make a tayun-cent bet?

[Approaches Westrum – aka The Oregon Kid – with head lowered and broad-brimmed hat pulled down]

Gil Westrum A whole dime? You're a plunger, sir!

Steve Judd Well, sir, you see... I ain't so altogether sure I could hit a movin target without buckshot. Uh... I used to be fair to middlin with a scattergun, but that was when the bird wasn't too fur away... or, or, or.... flyin too fast. With them plates, ah just don't see how you manage.

Gil Westrum Well, I'll be damned!

Steve Judd How are ya, Gil?

Gil Westrum No great complaints. How long's it been? Lordy, I'd hate to say.

Steve Judd Quite some time.

Gil Westrum Where ya been all these years?

Steve Judd Uhhh, here and there. Quite a little enterprise you got.

Gil Westrum Well, Steve, it's easier than punching cows. And it pays off with free drinks every time I walk into a saloon -- Would it surprise you to know The Oregon Kid is the envy of every small-minded ribbon clerk and shirttail towhead from here to Pocatello?

Steve Judd Why not, with all these single-handed exploits? Tell me, Gil, who was the Omaha Gang'? I don't seem ta recollect them fellas. Flagstaff, Monterey, Hondo... I remember we worked them places. But Dodge City and Wichita? Did you ever run with the Earp boys, Gil?

Gil Westrum Ya gotta allow for a little exaggeration; that's part of playin this game.

Steve Judd It's not much of a game; a blind man couldn't miss, usin buckshot.

Ride the High Country

The Value of Gold and Morality

Gil Westrum Like the fella said, gold is where you find it.

Steve Judd If it's not yours, don't covet it!

[Walks away with horses.]

Gil Westrum Don't worry, boy; the Lord's bounty may not be for sale, but the Devil's is – if you can pay the price.

Memorable Quotes from Randolph Scott