Mattie Ross I won't rest until Tom Chaney is barking in Hell.
Played by Kim Darby 
True Grit (1969) · 51 quotes
True Grit (1969) · 51 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in True Grit (1969): in 13 of its 51 quotes
Most scenes with: "Rooster" Cogburn (2)
If in four months I could not find Tom Chaney, with a mark on his face like banished Cain, I would not advise others how to do so.
More lines from Mattie Ross
9 quotes Mattie Ross Mattie Ross If I smelled as bad as you I wouldn't live near people.
Mattie Ross I also notice that the men of Texas gouge their mounts with great brutal spurs and cultivate their hair like lettuce!
Mattie Ross I want Tom Chaney hanged for killing my father! It's little to me how many dogs and senators he's killed in Texas.
Mattie Ross Those horses can't outrun Little Blackie! They're loaded down with fat men and iron!
Mattie Ross I'm going! And it's not because you say I can't, and it's not because you say I can. I paid good cash money to be here, and I'm on my own business! Now, we'll have no more talk about it.
Mattie Ross My name is Mattie Ross, of Near Dardanelle in Yell County. My family owns property, and I don't know why I'm being treated like this!
Mattie Ross Rooster Cogburn is no good friend of mine! He led us straight into your hands, and now he has left me with a gang of cut-throats! Is that what they call "grit" in Fort Smith? We call it something else in Yell County.
Mattie Ross Papa's marker is not what was ordered. I will make that wool-hatted fool of a stone man change it.
Scenes with Mattie Ross
3 scenes Mattie [drinking water from river near camp]
That tastes like iron!
You're lucky to be where water's so handy. I've seen the time I've drank out of a filthy hoofprint and I was glad to get it.
If ever I meet one of you Texas waddies who ain't drunk from a hoofprint, I think I'll… I'll shake their hand, or buy them a Daniel Webster cigar! [he looks over La Boeuf's horse] How long you boys down there been mounted on sheep?
Go ahead and have your little joke. But I'll tell you one thing: that little fella there will still be running when that big American stud of yours is winded and collapsed.
Ha — sheep! Heh, heh…
Mattie I'm here to take you back to Fort Smith and hang you!
Chaney And I think I will not go. Now how do you like that?
Mattie Well, there's a posse of officers up the hill who'll force you to go!
Chaney How many officers?
Mattie I'd say right around fifty — and they mean business! So you just walk up that hill right in front of me.
Chaney I believe I'll oblige those officers to come after me.
Mattie If you refuse to go with me, I'll have to shoot you.
Chaney Is that so? Well, you better **** your piece. [Mattie pulls back the lever on the revolver to load it. She doesn't pull it all the way.] All the way back, until it locks!
Mattie [**** revolver properly]
I know how to do it. Now you mean to say that you won't go with me on your own free will?
Chaney You just got it the other way around, now you will follow me!
Chaney [Mattie pulls the trigger as a response and shoots Chaney in the ribcage. The recoil knocks her back and she falls down, while Chaney falls down onto the sand on the river as well.]
I didn't think you'd do it!
Mattie I'm down here! I got Chaney!
Chaney I just didn't think you'd do it! One of my short ribs is broke!
Mattie You killed my father when he was trying to help you! You're just a piece of trash! You also killed a senator in Texas when he was sitting on a porch swing!
Chaney Everything happens to me and now I'm shot by a child!
Mattie I'll shoot you again if you don't get up!
Mattie [In a scuffle with Chaney, Mattie falls into a rattlesnake pit.]
Help me! Please help me! I'm in the pit! There's a snake down here, and skeletons!
Chaney [leaning head over edge of pit]
I warrant there'll be another one before long — a little, spindly one! How do you like it?
Mattie [sobbing hysterically]
Oh, help me, help me… please, HELP ME!
Chaney You say you don't like it?
