The Shepherd of the Hills (1941)

John Wayne: Young Matt Matthews

Photos 

Quotes 

• Young Matt : The bigger the man, the deeper the imprint. And when he's in love, he suffers knowing it's a dead end.

• Young Matt : [Young Matt and Aunt Mollie are quarrelling over the sale of Moaning Meadows to Daniel Howitt]  No stranger is gonna trample on her grave.

  Aunt Mollie Matthews : [hatefully]  Ya can't rest her easy by killin' strangers! Kill him what put the idjit curse on my son! Him, what killed her, not the one who's gonna give ya the money to do it!

  Old Matt Matthews : [head hanging, mutters drunkenly]  Pison talk...

  [Young Matt leaves, Old Matt raises his head and glares at Mollie] 

  Old Matt Matthews : You witch woman, you. You... with your sermon a'hate! Castin' the spell onto all of us! A'drivin' Young Matt to murder!

  Aunt Mollie Matthews : [venomously]  You fool! You blind, drunk fool!

  Old Matt Matthews : [slams his fist on the table and stands shakily]  You're right! You're right... I sat there sayin' to m'self, why don't ya stop 'im? Cause ya cain't! Cause why? Cause ya ain't got the backbone of a fish worm, that's why! And what's more, you're tromped down! Ha, I see'd it, the night she lay dyin' over in her cabin, and alone. Yeah, I told ya I was down to the forks, but I see'd it with m'own eyes! You were full'a the devil's sin! And it was a'stormin'. And little Pete went out to help, and ya followed 'im and drug 'im outta the cabin! And the lightnin' tree felled 'im and took away his senses!

  Aunt Mollie Matthews : [frantically]  Ya lie! Ya lie!

  Old Matt Matthews : Ah, and she looked at ya a'fore she died, didn't she? Didn't she?

  Aunt Mollie Matthews : [fearfully, hand to her mouth]  No!

  Old Matt Matthews : Yes, and anyone that looks on a dyin' body's face'll be the next one to die! So ya put your Satan's sin, and filled Young Matt with it.

  [shakes his head] 

  Old Matt Matthews : Heh... counter the curse by killin' the one that wronged 'er! And all this I know'd and see'd with m'own eyes, and held it inside me. I done it for you, Mollie... cause you're mine.

  [slumps down drunkenly in his chair, Pete moves to his side]