The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Tim Blake Nelson: Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs")
Photos
Quotes
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : There's just gotta be a place up ahead where men ain't low-down and poker's played fair. If there weren't, what are all the songs about? I'll see y'all there. And we can sing together and shake our heads over all the meanness in the used-to-be.
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Don't let my white duds and pleasant demeanor fool ya. I, too, have been known to violate the statutes of man... and not a few of the laws of the Almighty!
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Sir, it seems that you're are a no better a judge of human beings than you are a specimen of one. Just on a brief inventory I'd say you could use yourself a shave and a better disposition. And lastly, if you don't my mind me aspersing your friends... a better class of drinking buddies.
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [Buster blows off the fingers of the right hand of Curly Joe's brother, who screams and clumsily tries to draw with his left] Whoa! Looks like when they made this fella, they forgot to put in the quit. Five fingers at a bullet a piece...
[turns to the camera, grinning]
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : I ain't got but the one bullet left. Sure hope I don't miss!
[turning his back to Curly Joe's brother, he points the gun backwards and studies his target on a hand mirror]
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Let me see here. His heart would be on the left, but in the mirror it'd be on the right... of course, we is both facing the same way and the gun is upside down, so... Yeah, best not play it too fancy.
[he shoots and Curly Joe's brother collapses to the ground, dead]
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Cause for reflection!
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [singing] Surly Joe, the gambler, he will gamble nevermore, his days of stud and hold'em they are done. It was long about last April, he stepped into this saloon, but he never really took to anyone! Surly Joe, Surly Joe! Oh, wherever he's damned and now, I don't know! He was slick but I was slicker, he was quick, but I was quicker, and the table stopped his ticker, Surly Joe! Surly Joe, Surly Joe! Won't be missed by anyone, will Surly Joe! Humankind he frowned upon, but not now, his face is gone! Guess your frowning days are over, oh Surly Joe! Surly Joe, Surly Joe! A cedilla on the "c" of Curly Joe! He was mean in days of yore, now they're moppin up the floor oh Surly Joe! Surly Joe, Surly Joe! Where the rest his face has got to, we don't know! He was never any fun, now his grumpy race has run, kisser blown to kingdom come oh Surly Joe!
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : I'd like me a splash of whiskey to wash the trail dust off my gullet and keep my singing voice in fettle.
Cantina Bartender (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Whiskey's illegal. This is a dry country.
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [points to the other customers] Well, what are they drinking?
Cantina Bartender (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : ...whiskey. They's outlaws.
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [after killing Curly Joe by kicking a table and making him shoot himself with his own gun] I'm not a devious man by nature... but when you're unarmed, your tactics might gonna be downright Archimedean.
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [checks his hat after being shot and finds a bullet entry hole on the front and a bloody exit hole on the back] Well... that ain't good.
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Misanthrope? I don't hate my fellow man, even when he's tiresome and surly and tries to cheat at poker. I figure that's just a human material, and him that finds in it cause for anger and dismay is just a fool for expecting better.
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [after gunning down everyone in the cantina Buster notices a survivor crawling on the floor] It appears the vitals of this lucky son-of-a-gun remain unpunctured. Sloppy shootin' on my part.
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [ruefully] Another young fella with something to prove. I gotta set myself up in the undertaking business. Stop doing all the skill work so another man can profit. But then, do I want to wear a black suit?
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [as he sees a survivor of the cantina shootout crawling outside, wounded] The coup-de-grâce I'll leave to the wolves and Gila monsters!
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[first lines]
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [atop his horse in bright white duds] A song never fails to ease my mind out here in the West, where the distances are great and the scenery monotonous. Additionally, my pleasing baritone seems to inspirit ol' Dan here and keep him in good heart during the day's measure of hoof clops. Ain't that right, Dan?
[his horse neighs]
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Maybe some of y'all have heard of me. Buster Scruggs, known to some as the San Saba Songbird. I got other handles, nicknames, appellations, and cognomens. But this one here I don't consider to be even halfway earned.
[unrolls his WANTED poster]
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : "Misanthrope"? I don't hate my fellow man, even when he's tiresome and surly and tries to cheat at poker. I figure that's just a human material, and him that finds in it cause for anger and dismay is just a fool for expecting better. Ain't that right, Dan?
[his horse neighs heartily]
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : I got to set myself up, in the undertaking business. Stop doing all the skill work, so another man can profit. But, then, do I want to wear a black suit?
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Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Well don't let my white duds and pleasant demeanor fool ya. I too have been known the violate the statutes of man... and not a few of the laws of the Almighty.
Cantina Bad Man (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : You ain't no outlaw, and we don't drink with tinhorns.
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : Sir? It seems that you are no better a judge of human beings than you are a specimen of one. Just on a brief inventory, I'd say that you could use yourself a shave and a brighter disposition. And lastly, if you don't mind me aspersing your friends, a better class of drinking buddy.
Cantina Bad Man (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [stands up from the table, tucks vest behind the grip of his pistol] Your shooting iron work?
Buster Scruggs (segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs") : [abruptly shoots the lout in the head] Appears to do, yes.