Rooster [Ned Pepper, Mexican Bob, and the Parmalee brothers meet Rooster Cogburn blocking the road.]
Where's the girl, Ned?
She was in wonderful health when last I saw her. I can't answer for her now.
Rooster You'll answer for her now! Where is she?
[from far off, in outlaw camp]
Rooster, make a run for it! I've got Mattie! Chaney too!
Well, Rooster, will you give us the road? I have business elsewhere.
Rooster Farrell, you and your brother stand clear. I've got no interest in you today. Stand clear and you won't get hurt.
H Harold
****-a-doodle-doo! [other outlaws laugh]
What's your intention, Rooster? You think one on four is a dog-fall?
Rooster I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned, or see you hanged at Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?
I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!
Rooster Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!
"Rooster" Cogburn Mr. Rat, I have a writ here that says you are to stop eating Chen Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now, It's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of same! [to Mattie] See? He doesn't pay any attention to me. [shoots the rat] You can't serve papers on a rat, baby sister. You either kill him or let him be.
A Attorney
[Marshal Cogburn is cross-examined by a defense attorney]
How many men have you shot since you became a marshal, Mr. Cogburn?
Rooster I never shot nobody I didn't have to.
A Attorney
That was not the question. How many?
Rooster Uh, shot, or killed?
A Attorney
Oh, let us restrict it to killed, so that we may have a manageable figure!
Rooster Well, twelve to fifteen, stopping men in flight and defending myself.
A Attorney
Twelve to fifteen? So many that you cannot keep an accurate count! I have examined the record, Mr. Cogburn. A much more accurate figure is available. Come now — how many?
Rooster Counting them two Whartons… twenty-three.
A Attorney
Twenty-three men in four years. That makes about six men a year!
Rooster It's a dangerous business.
Moon [Moon & Emmett Quincy were arrested in previous scene; Moon was shot in the leg during their capture]
Oh, my leg hurts!
Rooster I'll bet it do, sonny-boy. Now you just sit right still so it don't bleed so much.
...
Quincy I don't know any Ned Pepper. What's he look like?
Rooster Short, feisty fella. He's got a messed-up lower lip. I shot him in it.
Quincy In the lip? What was you aiming at?
Rooster His upper lip.
Rooster What we want to do is get them inside that dugout. I'll shoot the last man through the door, and then we'll have 'em over a barrel!
You'll shoot them without a call?
Rooster Well, it'll give 'em to know our intentions is serious! [La Boeuf & Mattie give him disapproving glares] Aw, well, I'll holler down after I shoot and see if any of 'em want to be taken alive — but when they won't, we'll shoot 'em as they come out the door.
[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.
Rooster 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.
Rooster Ha — sheep! Heh, heh…
Rooster [Rooster brings four dead outlaws to Indian Police outpost.]
Boots, I got Hayes and some youngster outside, along with Moon and Quincy. I want you to bury 'em.
Boots They're dead?
Rooster Well, I wouldn't want you to bury 'em if they wasn't!
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?
Well, there's a posse of officers up the hill who'll force you to go!
Chaney How many officers?
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.
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!
[**** 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!
Rooster [From the top of the hill]
Sis! Where are you!
I'm down here! I got Chaney!
Chaney I just didn't think you'd do it! One of my short ribs is broke!
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!
I'll shoot you again if you don't get up!
