Film Quotes by William Boyd

John Martindale: I was tryin' to dig this well when they came.
Hopalong Cassidy: [grabbing a handful of soil and smelling it] You have any trouble diggin' this stuff?
John Martindale: Always! Black gumbo keeps oozin' into the hole.
Hopalong Cassidy: This is why Trimble wants your ranch and all the other land in the valley.
California Carlson: You mean that smelly stuff?
Jimmy Rogers: What's it good for?
Hopalong Cassidy: [laughs] There's a young fellah in the East can tell yuh. He's on his way to bein' the richest man in the world on account of it. His name is Rockefeller... John D!

Johnny Nelson: I guess I've been about the biggest fool in the world.
Hopalong Cassidy: You're not the first, nor the last.

California Carlson: I reckon you think I'm plumb loco, huh?
Hopalong Cassidy: Certainly not. Why, there's nothin' loco about a man tryin' to get a burro to raise his hands.

California Carlson: You know, Hoppy, sometimes I wish I was a cow.
Hopalong Cassidy: Why?
California Carlson: Well, they always seem to be standin' knee deep in somethin' tuh eat.
[he laughs]
Hopalong Cassidy: [playing dumb] I don't get it.
California Carlson: [after doing a take] You don't get it?
Hopalong Cassidy: [Hoppy laughs heartily]

California Carson: Where yuh goin', Hoppy?
Hopalong Cassidy: Whatta you care?
[angrily]
Hopalong Cassidy: The Ranger Service! Forty dollars a month and free taps when you die! It's all yours! You can have it!... And this Captain Jennings we're supposed to respect! I'd have gotten a better deal from any sidewinding half-breed in the country!
Ranger Captain Jennings: [suddenly appearing] Kind of sneaky, isn't it, talking about a man when his back is turned!
Hopalong Cassidy: Well, your back isn't turned now!
[he slaps Jennings across the face]
Ranger Captain Jennings: We'll just make that suspension permanent.
[he takes Hoppy's badge]
Hopalong Cassidy: That's all right with me!
[he leaves]

Bill Holbrook: Mary Ellen, look out there across the desert. As far as you can see, way off there in the distance... you see those big lonesome pinnacles? When I was a little boy, I used to lie out there evenings, watching the shadows pass over 'em. I used to imagine they were all sorts of things... dragons fighting... giants lying there sleeping... and great big monsters that might come down after it got dark and get me.
Mary Ellen Cameron: [giggle] I know. I used to think that way, too.
Bill Holbrook: You got over it, though.
Mary Ellen Cameron: Over it? Sure! As soon as I knew what they really was - just big rocks.
Bill Holbrook: But before that, you were a little bit afraid of them, weren't you?
Mary Ellen Cameron: Yes, I was.
Bill Holbrook: Well, it's just like that with folks. A way off in the distance of your mind there's a terrible man called Cash Holbrook. To you, he's been one of those awful monsters you used to imagine. But I've been up close to him - in the daylight - and to me, he's been a kind man... and mighty good.

Hopalong Cassidy: [referring to imposter Kit Moyer] I got a feeling that boy isn't in this alone.
Jimmy Rogers: You mean someone else is pulling the strings?
Hopalong Cassidy: My hunch seems to run that way. At least we're not tipping our hand just yet.
California Carlson: And what's our next move, Hoppy? I'm just itchin' fer action.
Hopalong Cassidy: Ease down, you old fire-eater. If I'm not far wrong, you'll get plenty of action and soon.

Hopalong Cassidy: But, it's a funny thing. All big killers have ways of getting out of jail doors.
Superintendent: They don't have any luck getting out of the cemetary gate once they're planted.
Hopalong Cassidy: I guess that's the best place to put 'em.

Hopalong Cassidy: Hold onto this land. Never sell Texas short. You know, what's under the ground might some day be more important to America than what's above it.

Hopalong Cassidy: There's no braver man than a scared one when he's cornered.