Amos Slade quotes from The Fox and the Hound (1981)

Dinky

Good work, Boomer. We've got him this time. Shh! I think he's in there.

Big Mama

Whew! Am I glad I found you boys. There's no time to lose. I need your help. Now come on. Come on.

Dinky

Let's go, Boomer. Come on.

Boomer

Yeah, but... Oh, shucks. Oh, poor little guy.

Big Mama

Don't you worry now. We're going to find someone to look after you.

Dinky

Hmm. Hmm. Hey, I think I got an idea. [Boomer chuckles] OK, Boomer, now you know what to do.

Boomer

Yeah, leave it to me. Leave it to me.

Widow Tweed

Who is it? Well, I was sure I heard someone knocking. [gasps] Oh, dear! My laundry! Oh, here! Stop it! Oh, you pesky birds! Will you come back here? Oh, stop! Well, I wonder what got into those birds. Well, bless my soul! Why, it's a baby fox. Oh. Hello, little fella. I wonder where its mother is. Come on, now. I'm not going to harm you. Now, now. Oh, isn't that? Oh, my, my. You're a feisty little rascal, aren't you? There, there, now. Calm down. No, I just can't leave you out here all alone. Oh, isn't he darling? Now, not so fast. Now, now, not so fast. Oh, my. You're such a little toddler. Say, that's what I'm going to call you. Tod. You know, Tod, I'm not going to be so lonesome anymore.

Amos Slade

I got a surprise for you, Chief, old boy. Now, now, now, take it easy. Well, how's this for a hunting dog? He's just a little runt now, but he'll grow. You may as well get used to him, Chief. He's for you to look after from now on.

Widow Tweed

Tod, stop pesterin' Abigail. [to Abigail] Abigail, you're going to have to be patient with Tod. He's one of the family now. Oh, of course. [as she is milking Abigail] Now I know. I declare, I never will get my chores done. [to Tod] Oh, mercy! Tod?! Tod, stop it! Abigail! Abigail! Oh, no! There goes my milk! OH, NO! [to Abigail] Easy, easy, Abigail. Steady, old girl. Steady. There, there. Tod, you come here. I said come here! Just look what you've done. Now, don't try to butter me up. Oh, Tod, I just can't stay angry with you. You little imp. Now run along and play. Go on. And try to stay out of mischief.

Hey, it's Dinky and Boomer. Maybe they wanna play.

Dinky

Is this it, Boomer?

Boomer

Sure, Dinky. This is the place. I never forget a tree. I never forget a tree.

Dinky

He won't get away this time. Hold it, Boomer. I think I hear something.

Widow Tweed

Tod! [Amos shoots his gun, but misses Tod] Amos Slade, you trigger-happy lunatic! Give me that gun! [takes Amos' gun and angrily shoots the radiator of Amos' truck, which hisses]

Amos Slade

My radiator! Why, you blasted female. I'll... I'll...

Widow Tweed

Hold it right there!

Amos Slade

Watch it! That thing's loaded!

Widow Tweed

Now it ain't loaded! [tosses the empty gun back to Amos, who throws it into his truck]

Amos Slade

Dagnabbit, woman! Your thieving fox was after my chickens!

Widow Tweed

Rubbish and poppycock! I don't believe it. He wouldn't hurt a thing.

Amos Slade

You calling me a liar, you muddleheaded female? I saw it happen!

Widow Tweed

Amos Slade, that temper of yours is going to get you into a lot of trouble someday.

Amos Slade

Temper? Temper, woman? You ain't seen my temper! [throws his hat to the ground and stomps on it] If I ever catch that fox on my property again, I'll blast him! And next time, I won't miss!

Widow Tweed

Poor little tyke. It's a shame I have to keep him cooped up. Tod, stop looking at me like that. It's not my fault, you know. You caused a lot of trouble yesterday. Oh, now what are they up to? Why, it looks like Amos is going on a hunting trip. A long one, from the looks of it. Hmm. Well, good riddance!

Amos Slade

Doggone meddling female, shooting up my radiator! Dad blame it. [kicks his truck in the front] Get going! [his truck finally works right] There. Well, that's more like it. Keep running, old girl. Well, Copper, me and old Chief are gonna teach you all about hunting. Yes, sir. It's about time too. Attaboy. Yeah, you're gonna like tracking down those varmints for me.

Chief

Uh-uh. Get in the back, half-pint. You gotta earn your right to sit up front.

Amos Slade

Well, boys, we're getting out of here till next spring.

Big Mama

Tod, honey, what are you doing over here?

Gee, I just wanted to say goodbye to Copper, but I'm too late.

Big Mama

Well, what did you plan to do if you ran into old Chief?

Ah, Chief. I can outfox that dumb old dog anytime.

Big Mama

Tod, now hold it just one minute. Didn't you learn anything yesterday? Now you listen good, because it's either education or elimination. Now if you're so foxy and old Chief's so dumb, then why does that hound get the fox on the run? 'Cause he's got the hunter, and the hunter's got the gun. Ka-bam! Elimination. Lack of education. If you pal around with that Copper hound, you'll wind up hanging on the wall. Keep your nose to the wind and you'll keep your skin 'cause you won't be home when the hunter comes to call.

Oh, Big Mama, I know Copper would never track me down. Why, old Copper, he's my best friend.

Big Mama

Your best friend. Now, Copper's gonna do what he's been told. Supposed to chase the little old fox into the old foxhole, then along comes the hunter with a buckshot load.

Boomer

Ka-ka-ka-bam!

Big Mama

Elimination.

Dinky

Lack of education.

Big Mama

You better believe it, Tod. Yes, sirree!

You mean Copper is gonna be my enemy?

Dinky

Hey! Kid, you better step over here and take a good look.

Why, that's awful. Those poor things.

Big Mama

I'm sorry, Tod. Honey, Copper's gonna come back a trained hunting dog. A real killer.

Oh, no, not my friend Copper. He won't ever change.

Big Mama

I hope you're right, Tod.

And we'll keep on being friends forever, won't we, Big Mama?

Big Mama

Darling, forever is a long, long time, and time has a way of changing things.

Amos Slade

Aw, come on, Chief. Just 'cause you're not sitting up front, that ain't no reason to be a sorehead. Shucks, if it weren't for you, Copper'd never have turned into a good hunting dog. Yes, sirree. Now I got me the best two dogs there is. Right, Copper? Isn't he something, Chief?

Look, Big Mama! Copper's back! Boy, has he grown big.

Big Mama

Uh-huh. And look at that big pile of skins he helped track down.

I know, Big Mama. He's a hunting dog now.

Big Mama

You're right. And you're a fox.

Ah, that won't make any difference. Copper's gonna be glad to see me.

Big Mama

Well, honey, just don't get your hopes too high.

Look, don't worry. I'll be careful. I'll go tonight when Chief and the hunter are asleep.

Boy, it's great to be back home, isn't it, Chief? Aw, come on, Chief. You aren't still sore, are you? Hey, hey, come on. Let's scuffle. We ain't scuffled in a long time. Come on, Chief! Let's have some fun!

Chief

Oh, lay off, Copper, you overgrown pup. Oh, let go! Dagnabbit! Let go, I say!

Oh, OK, OK.

Chief

You know, that was your trouble on the hunt.

Aw, come on, old-timer. You treat me like a pup, you know that? Why, I think I done real good tracking down them varmints for you.

Chief

Smelling and tracking ain't enough. You gotta think nasty.

OK, OK, I know. I know.

Copper. Hey, Copper. It's me, Tod.

I thought that was you, Tod. I heard you coming. Boy, you've really grown.

You have too, Copper. I saw you coming back with Chief and the hunter.

It's great to see you, Tod. [looks back at Chief, who is trying to sleep] But, you know, you shouldn't be over here. You're gonna get us both into a lot of trouble.

Hey, look, I just wanted to see you. We're still friends, aren't we?

Tod, those days are over. I'm a hunting dog now. You'd better get out of here before old Chief wakes up.

Oh, Chief. He doesn't worry me.

Tod, I'm serious. You're fair game as far as he's concerned. [Chief awakens and barks at Tod. Copper gasps. Amos opens the door as Tod runs]

Amos Slade

IT'S THAT FOX AGAIN!

Widow Tweed

Oh, no! No! They're after Tod!

Amos Slade

After him, boys! Go get him! Copper! Copper! Copper!

Tod, I don't wanna see you get killed.

Amos Slade

Track him down, boy!

I'll let you go this one time.

Amos Slade

Don't lose him! There they are! Old Chief's got him on the run! [a train suddenly approaches] Jump, Chief! Jump! [Chief jumps and breaks his leg]

Chief! Chief? Oh, no! No! Tod, if it's the last thing I do, I'll get you for this!

Widow Tweed

Tod! Tod? Tod! Oh, Tod! Thank heaven you're safe.

Oh, poor Chief. I'm so sorry Chief, I'm so sorry, And it's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Tod go.

Dinky

Big Mama! Wake up! Wake up! There's trouble!

Widow Tweed

Tod, what is it? [Amos bangs on the door] What on Earth?

Amos Slade

Widow, get out here!

Widow Tweed

Why, Amos?! What are you...?

Amos Slade

Where is he? *Where* is he?! I know he's in there.

Widow Tweed

Now just a minute. You can't come barging onto my property, Amos Slade! [slams the door]

Amos Slade

That fox of yours almost killed Chief, and I'm gonna get him! [Tweed latches the door] You can't keep him locked up forever!

Hold it, sonny! Back off! Consarn it! Where do you think you're going?

Oh, excuse me, I was just trying to...

You barge in on somebody's house like you own it. Tarryhooting around them woods, waking up folks in the middle of the night.

I honestly didn't know anybody lived here, and I...

Well, you know it now. Now get off my property! Go on! Beat it!

I've been watching you, sir. You can stay with me if you want to.

That's very nice of you.

Come with me.

Amos Slade

She dropped that fox off at the game preserve. We'll get him. We'll get him.

Chief

Well, now, if you gotta have a busted leg, this is the way to do it. Good food, soft pillow, warm stove. Sure beats sleeping in that barrel. Well, now, here comes visitors to see the invalid. How do you like that? They didn't even ask how I'm feeling.

Amos Slade

Chief, get back in there before I break your other leg. Copper, Copper, look it here. Now, when that fox comes traipsing along, suspecting nothing...

Big Mama

Tod? Tod? Oh, boy. These old wings ain't what they used to be. Big Mama, you better lose a few pounds. Uh-oh, there he is. Tod! Tod!

Oh, hi, Big Mama.

Big Mama

Oh, it's you, Vixey.

Hey, what brings you way out here?

Big Mama

I'm looking for a fox named Tod. He's new here in the forest.

Oh, new? Well, what does he look like?

Big Mama

Oh, he's young. About your age. And handsome.

Handsome? Oh, say. Gee, he sure sounds nice. I'm not doing anything. I'll help you find him.

Big Mama

Come on. He's gotta be around here somewhere.

Wham? What happened? Where am I?

So, it's you again, hmm? You barged in on me last night, and now you...

I didn't mean to.

Just look at the mess you made. Dagnabbit, you clumsy bonehead!

I'm sorry. It was an accident.

Excuses, excuses.

Mr. Digger, sir? It was so too an accident.

You keep out of this, you walking pincushion.

You shouldn't be so grumpy to someone who's new in the neighborhood.

A stranger, eh? Why don't you go back where you came from?

Wham?

Well, go on. Get going. Git!

Tod?

Amos Slade

C'mon, Copper. Get outta away. [Copper stands his ground. Amos keeps his gun aimed at Tod. With a sigh, he lowers his gun] Well, come on, boy. Let's go home.