The Big Country (1958)
Gregory Peck: James McKay
Photos
Quotes
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Patricia Terrill : [discussing McKay's "cowardice"] Don't you care what people think of you?
James McKay : I'm not responsible for what people think, Pat, only for what I am.
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James McKay : [attempting to ride "Old Thunder"] Any advice?
Ramón Guiteras : Yes! Don't do it.
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Patricia Terrill : Well, even when you rode Old Thunder, everybody knew it. Ramon knew it. Julie knew it. But me? Not a word. Why? You know how much it meant to me... with everybody laughing at me. And don't tell me they weren't. But you wouldn't do it for me. Why not? Why not for me?
James McKay : There's some things a man has to prove to himself alone... not to anyone else.
Patricia Terrill : Not even to the woman he loves.
James McKay : Least of all her... if she loves him.
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James McKay : Tell me Leech, what did we prove?
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[Leetch tries to impress Patricia by picking a fight with McKay]
James McKay : If it's a fight you want, you've picked the right time for it, haven't you?
Steve Leech : Yeah, I'm offering you a fight. Or ain't that a nice word back east?
James McKay : You're gambling, Leech. You're gambling that if we fight, you can beat me. And you're gambling that if you beat me, Miss Terrill will admire you for it.
Steve Leech : Out here, we leave a lady's name out of an argument.
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Rufus Hannassey : [examining McKay's dueling pistols] These guns loaded?
James McKay : All but the caps. They haven't been fired for a long time - the vents will have to be cleared out. I'll do it for you, if you like.
Rufus Hannassey : Teach your grandmother to suck eggs! I've been handling guns like this, flintlock and caplock, since before you were born.
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James McKay : I'm not going to go on living in the middle of a civil war.
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Steve Leech : I don't know that I would wear that hat too long around here, Mr. McKay.
James McKay : Oh, why not?
Steve Leech : Oh, one of these wild cowboys might take it into their head to shoot it off ya.
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James McKay : I was just about finished if it's okay with you.
