How the West Was Won Quotes

Mike King: Why did you bring those bodies here?

Jethro Stuart: They're railroaders. I thought somebody in the railroad might be interested.

Mike King: I'm the railroad and I'm not interested!

Zeb Rawlings: Mike King don't own the railroad!

Jethro Stuart: Oh? I don't think he knows that.

Cleve Van Valen: From the first moment I saw you I've known that I couldn't live without you.

Lilith Prescott: Well... I'd hate to be the cause of your death, Mr. Van Valen.

[first lines]

Narrator: [as the camera pans over the Rocky Mountains] This land has a name today, and is marked on maps. But, the names and the marks and the maps all had to be won, won from nature and from primitive man.

Zeb Rawlings: Do you remember the story Pa used to tell us about fightin' that grizzly bear?

Jeremiah Rawlings: Yeah.

Zeb Rawlings: And I asked him, I said, 'Now, why'd you get in such a fix? Do you like fightin' grizzlies?' He said, 'Well, not 'specially. I just wanted to go somewhere and the bear was there first.' I guess I just wanna go somewhere, too.

Narrator: The west was won by its pioneers, settlers, adventurers is long gone now. Yet it is theirs forever, for they left tracks in history that will never be eroded by wind or rain - never plowed under by tractors, never buried in compost of events. Out of the hard simplicity of their lives, out of their vitality, of their hopes and sorrows grew legends of courage and pride to inspire their children and their children's children. From soil enriched by their blood, out of their fever to explore and be, came lakes where once there were burning deserts - came the goods of the earth; mine and wheat fields, orchards and great lumber mills. All the sinews of a growing country. Out of their rude settlements, their trading posts came cities to rank among the great ones of the world. All the heritage of a people free to dream, free to act, free to mold their own destiny.

[final narrative from the film "How The West Was Won"1962 - narrated by Spencer Tracy]

Dora Hawkins: [after stabbing Linus Rawlings] Well, he see'd the varmint, Pa.

Col. Jeb Hawkins: Well done, daughter.

Dora Hawkins: I ain't so sure. It was hard muscle and I could feel the blade just kinda skitter along his ribs.

Col. Jeb Hawkins: Oh, you just need more practice, that's all. It's a pity you ain't got the knack your ma had, Lord rest her soul.

Parson Alec Harvey: The laddie's health the reason you're heading west?

Zebulon Prescott: Partly, only partly. Mostly our trouble east was rocks. I had me a farm where some years I'd raise a hundred bushels of rocks to the acre.

Rebecca Prescott: Now, Zebulon, you hadn't oughta lie to the man like that.

Zebulon Prescott: Wife, I'm a god fearin soul and I tell the truth as I see it. Now I never used a plow, I'd blast out the furrows with gunpowder. And then one morning, I hauled the bucket up from out of the well and so help me the bucket was full of rocks. Rocks! I just stood there, right still, tryin' not to blaspheme, and I said to myself, "You've got a son that's ailin, you've got a twenty year old daughter what won't take to herself a husband, there she sits over there, moonin as usual, and you've got another daughter who just don't seem quite right in the head". Lilith! Now, I remind you sir, I'm still standin' there, holding a bucket full of rocks, and starin into a bleak old age. So I made me a vow right then and there, I said, "If I can find a man with five hundred dollars, who likes rocks, then there's going to be another fool ownin this farm. Well sir, the Lord provided such a man, and here I am.

Rebecca Prescott: He ain't told you one word of truth, Mr. Harvey. We had the best farm in the township.

Zebulon Prescott: Yeah, Rockville Township it was. Stone County.

Linus Rawlings: Thank ya, ma'am. That's right tasty.

Rebecca Prescott: You've only ate four plates, I was beginning to think you didn't like it.

Linus Rawlings: No, well, it don't pay to eat too much on an empty stomach, ma'am.

Zeb Rawlings: Boys, get back from there! Look down there son. Do you know how deep that shaft is?

Prescott Rawlings: Huh uh.

Zeb Rawlings: That's a thousand feet deep. Do you know how deep a thousand feet is? Well, if you had two hundred brothers all standing on your shoulders, you wouldn't be able to see over the top.

Prescott Rawlings: I'd be squooshed.

Roger Morgan: Well, ain't that what I been doin'? Invitin' you? Invitin' you to share my life, Miss Prescott.

Lilith Prescott: I'm sorry, Mr. Morgan.

Roger Morgan: It's somethin' else, ain't it? Must be something else naggin' at ya. Well, I don't aim to let it stop me, Miss Prescott. You can count on that.

Agatha Clegg: What'd he want?

Lilith Prescott: Children.

Agatha Clegg: Children? Well, I'll be... Why didn't he come shoppin' at the right store?

Lilith Prescott: I've got two things no one can ever take from me: This...

[pointing to a picture of her husband]

Lilith Prescott: ...and my land in Arizona.

Roger Morgan: Wet or dry, you're the handsomest woman I ever did see. Spirit and a fine sturdy body. It's a noble combination, Miss Prescott. Why, for you, child bearin' would come as easy as rollin' off a log.

Lilith Prescott: Well, I... think I'd rather roll off a log, Mr. Morgan.

Linus Rawlings: [Linus walks up to find Eve's made a bed using his blanket and green leaves] I ain't had a soft bed like that since last time I come east. Why'd you do it?

Eve Prescott: Ain't polite to ask a girl why she done something for a man.

Linus Rawlings: No, well, I reckon my manners ain't much at that. Anyway, I sure thank you. Goodnight ma'am.

Eve Prescott: [Standing close, facing each other, prolonged silence] Are them injun girls pretty?

Linus Rawlings: Well now I reckon that all depends on just how long a man has gone without seeing one.

Eve Prescott: How long's it been since you've seen a white girl?

Linus Rawlings: I ain't quite sure why you ask that.

Eve Prescott: How pretty do I look to ya?

Eve Prescott: Well, ma'am, aint you just being a little bit forward?

Eve Prescott: Well, you're headed up river and I'm headed down. There's no time to get these questions answered.

Eve Prescott: [after pulling apart form a long kiss and embrace] Glory be.

Linus Rawlings: Ma'am, it seems like you've been kissed before.

Eve Prescott: I never been kissed permanent before.

Linus Rawlings: By golly you sure use surprising words. I never heard permanent mixed up with a thing like a kiss before.

Dora Hawkins: It's right over here.

[Walking through dark cave. Linus carrying moonshine jug, lit torch, looking around. Dora sidles up to him]

Dora Hawkins: You know any sweet talking gals in Pittsburgh?

Linus Rawlings: No. No. Nary a one... yet.

Dora Hawkins: Papa and I are hoping to vacation there.

Linus Rawlings: I'll be at the Duquesne House if it ain't burnt down.

[Wraps his jug carrying arm around her shoulders. Pulls her face to face tight]

Linus Rawlings: Hey there, now, you... you pretty girl you sure you got a varment in here?