The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Gene Hackman: Herod

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Quotes 

• John Herod : Mr. Hanlon, I wanted to ask you about Indian Wells. Did that fight really take place?

  Ace Hanlon : It sure did.

  John Herod : And it's true that you gunned down four men?

  Ace Hanlon : Two with my left hand. Two with my right hand. You see, the truth is that I am just as good with either.

  John Herod : You must be the fastest gun in the west... That, or the biggest liar.

  Ace Hanlon : It's a pity you weren't there to find out.

  John Herod : [laughter]  Oh, but I was, Ace. You see, I was the one that really killed the Terrence brothers, and I doubt if a lying little chickenshit like you was even in the same state.

• John Herod : I was married to a beautiful woman. She was unfaithful.

  Ellen : Where is she now?

  John Herod : I told you, she was unfaithful.

• John Herod : Like I always say - put a fox in the henhouse and you'll have chicken for dinner every time.

• John Herod : All I hear from you, you spineless cowards, is how poor you are; how you can't afford my taxes. Yet somehow, you managed to find the money to hire a gunfighter to kill me. If ya got so much money, I'm just gonna have to take some more. Because clearly some of you haven't got the message! This is my town! I run everything! If you live to see the dawn, it's because I allow it! I decide who lives and who dies!

• John Herod : You must be the fastest gun in the west. That or the biggest liar!

• John Herod : You're not fast enough for me!

  Ellen : Today I am.

• John Herod : I said, are you still fast?

  Cort : Faster than you.

• John Herod : I could give you more money than you could ever spend.

  Ellen : I wouldn't feel like I'd earned it.

  John Herod : [Knowingly]  Oh yes, you would.

• John Herod : Like I always say - put a fox in the henhouse and you'll have chicken for dinner every time.

• Cantrell : Why did you call me up here?

  John Herod : Well, I wanted to ask you one simple question. Who brought you here to fight me?

  Cantrell : [laughing]  Mr. Herod. I'm just a gentleman adventurer, moseying into town for the challenge of a gunfight.

  John Herod : I thought Ace Hanlon was the hired gun. I was so sure of it. But he was just a buffoon. You're not.

  Cantrell : My name's Clay Cantrell, and I'm a shootist. I've killed 17 men. Killing is purely a business proposition for me. Doesn't give me any pleasure. My employer's confidential. Now... do we have business together today?

  John Herod : As soon as the rain stops, I'm gonna make an example of you.

• Ellen : [after Herod accepts the Kid's challenge]  You would fight your own son? I'm gonna kill you if I have to ride all the way to Hell to do it.

  John Herod : Do you have some particular problem with me?

  Ellen : I'll let you know.

• John Herod : Your gunfighter's dead. Old news.

• John Herod : The rules say you have to accept every challenge. You got a problem with that, scuttle your butt out of town.

• John Herod : You must be the fastest gun in the west. That or the biggest liar!

• John Herod : I'm confused. All I hear from you, you spineless cowards, is how poor you are; how you can't afford my taxes, my protection. Yet somehow, you managed to find the money to hire a professional gunfighter to kill me. Where's all this money coming from? What am I to think... If ya got so much to spare, I'm just gonna have to take some more off you. Because clearly you haven't got the message! This is my town! If you live to see the dawn, it's because I allow it! I'm in charge of everything! I decide who lives or who dies! Your gunfighter's dead. Old news.

• John Herod : So, why'd you come here tonight?

  Ellen : You invited me.

  John Herod : You could have turned me down.

  Ellen : I wanted to see what kind of man you are.

  John Herod : What kind of man am I?

  John Herod : The kind people hate.

  Ellen : I'm not trying to be popular. The people in this town, they, uh... they need me. I bring a sense of, uh... order to their lives. Not law, order.

  Ellen : Like hanging a preacher in the saloon?

  John Herod : He's no preacher. He's a fraud. If a man is a killer, then that's what he is. There's no dishonor. But don't let that same man suddenly tell me that's not in his blood anymore. That's worse than a liar.

• John Herod : How do you feel after surviving your first day?

  Ellen : Same as yesterday.

  John Herod : No. Your eyes are shining. You passed a test. You feel alive.

  Ellen : I guess it doesn't excite me as much as it does you.

  John Herod : You think I do this contest because it's fun? Look at this town. It's full of people who'd kill you for your bootlaces. At least this way, I get to face my enemies. They can't sneak up and shoot me in the back. And of course, I always win.

  Ellen : Maybe one day your luck will run out.

  John Herod : I don't win because I'm lucky.

• Cort : [forced to kill Ellen in their duel]  You're gonna burn for this, Herod, you son of a bitch.

  [Herod's henchmen restrain him] 

  Cort : This what you wanted all along? Why don't you come and get some?

  Ratsy : [getting headbutted]  Ow! My nose! Son of a bitch!

  John Herod : Of course we'll fight. But the rules say tomorrow. I'll even let you name the time.

  Cort : Dawn.

• John Herod : [threatening to hang Cort]  I want you in that contest.

  Cort : No.

  John Herod : [shooting at the chair on which Cort stands]  Think about it.

  [taking two more shots] 

  John Herod : Last chance. Yes or no?

  Cort : Go to hell.

  [as Herod chambers another round, the chair begins to crack, ready to break] 

  Ellen : Sign me up.

  Horace : No women in quick-draw. It's against the rules.

  John Herod : There's no rule against ladies. It's just that women can't shoot for shit.

  [laughing with the other patrons] 

  John Herod : Adios, reverend.

  [he shoots the chair one last time, and as Cort begins to hang, Ellen frees him by shooting the beam around which the noose is threaded] 

  John Herod : [impressed]  Put 'em both in the contest.

• John Herod : When's the last time you held a gun, Cort?

  Cort : You know when.

  John Herod : Heh. Yes.

  Kid : Here. I got offered $120 for this Colt. You wanna try it out?

  [he tosses it to Cort, who spins it around on his fingers] 

  John Herod : You got $120, Cort?

  Cort : I don't have any money. The Lord provides me with everything I need.

  John Herod : [Cort returns the pistol]  Mm. We're just wasting this boy's time, then, aren't we? I'll tell you what, I'll be a good Samaritan. What's the cheapest gun you got? Not in the case. I mean the cheapest piece of worthless crap you got in the whole miserable store.

  Kid : All right.

  [taking out a cheap-looking pistol] 

  Kid : Five bucks.

  John Herod : Sold.

  [the Kid starts to load ammo into the chambers] 

  John Herod : What are you doing there? No. The preacher here's got the Lord on his side. He only needs one bullet. Just one. Otherwise, he might be tempted to shoot his way out of town.

  Kid : That gun shoots straight. I wouldn't sell it if it didn't.

  Cort : It's okay, Kid. I won't draw.

  John Herod : Sure you will. I know you, Cort. When it comes down to it, you'll pull the trigger.

• Horace : Round two! Four fights today, featuring the eight remaining contestants. The winner is the contestant left standing.

  John Herod : Left alive.

  Horace : [the crowd gasps]  Left alive! From now on, we fight to the death.

  Cort : Well, well, well. What a surprise, John. You changing the rules.

  John Herod : Any problem with that?

  Cantrell : Well... I was planning to kill you anyway.

• John Herod : Hello, Cort. I was beginning to worry you wouldn't make it in time. It's been a while. I hear you have a mission down in Hermosillo. Is that right? You own a little piece of heaven? Sunshine and cactus flowers and you and the orphan children praying for salvation.

  Ratsy : We burned that mission down, Mr. Herod, just like you said.

  John Herod : All that work, Cort... all those years of hard work... destroyed for no reason. It must make you angry. You used to be fast. Are you still fast?

  [getting no answer] 

  John Herod : Don't I get an answer? Have you taken a vow of silence?

• Ellen : You're pretty fast. Hope I don't have to fight you.

  Cort : You have a choice to be here. I don't.

  Ellen : He made you do it.

  Cort : I was the only one who pulled the trigger.

  Ellen : Well, this ain't much of a town for a preacher.

  Cort : I wasn't always a preacher.

  John Herod : [overhearing them]  Cort was an outlaw, like us. Weren't you? In fact, he used to ride with me. Of course, that's all changed now. He's a man of peace. Wouldn't hurt a fly.

  [as he puts his arm around her, she removes it in disgust] 

  John Herod : Easy. There was a time when, uh, you couldn't tell us apart.

  Ellen : [as Herod leaves]  Is that true?

  [getting no answer] 

  Ellen : Is that true?

  Cort : Yes.

  Ellen : I should have let you die.

• John Herod : [shouting]  This is my town! If you live to see the dawn, it's because I allow it. I'm in charge of everything! I decide who lives or who dies!