High Plains Drifter (1973)

Clint Eastwood: The Stranger

Photos

Quotes

• Sarah Belding : Be careful. You're a man who makes people afraid, and that's dangerous.

  The Stranger : It's what people know about themselves inside that makes 'em afraid.

• [last scene: the stranger is on his way out of town. He stops at the cemetary, where Mordecai is chiseling a gravestone]

  Mordecai : I'm just about done here.

  [pause]

  Mordecai : I never did know your name...

  The Stranger : Yes, you do.

  [Mordecai stares at the stranger, confused]

  The Stranger : Take care.

  Mordecai : [salutes] Yes, sir, captain!

  [the Stranger rides away. The camera pans back to reveal the writing on the gravestone: "MARSHAL JIM DUNCAN - REST IN PEACE" ]

• The Stranger : Your feet ma'am are almost as big as your mouth.

• Bill Borders : Maybe you think you're fast enough to keep up with us, huh?

  The Stranger : A lot faster than you'll ever live to be.

• Lewis Belding : I got 18 people in my hotel! Where are they gonna go?

  The Stranger : Out.

• The Stranger : Wonder what took her so long to get mad?

  Mordecai : Because maybe you didn't go back for more?

• Preacher : See here, you can't turn all these people out into the night. It is inhuman, brother. Inhuman!

  The Stranger : I'm not your brother.

  Preacher : We are all brothers in the eyes of God.

  The Stranger : All these people, are they your sisters and brothers?

  Preacher : They most certainly are.

  The Stranger : ...Then you won't mind if they come over and stay at your place, will ya?

• The Stranger : You know you're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking up your ass.

• Sheriff Dan Shaw : Well, I been needin' to talk with you; now's as good a time as any.

  The Stranger : What about?

  Sheriff Dan Shaw : Billy Borders.

  The Stranger : Don't know the man.

  Sheriff Dan Shaw : Well, you missed your chance; you shot him yesterday.

• [first lines]

  The Stranger : Beer... and a bottle.

  Lutie Naylor : Ain't much good, but it's all there is.

  [brings drinks]

  Lutie Naylor : You want anything else?

  The Stranger : Just a peaceful hour to drink it in.

• The Stranger : I want every man in the regiment to have one of these nice rifles here.

  Gunsmith : What regiment?

  The Stranger : City of Lago Volunteers.

  Gunsmith : Never heard of it.

  The Stranger : Well you ought to, you're in it. So are you, you, and all of you out there. I want everyone out in the street in 10 minutes for drill.

• Sheriff Dan Shaw : [after the Stranger blows up the hotel and shoots four men] What the hell happened?

  The Stranger : Somebody left the door open and the wrong dogs came home.

• The Stranger : I'd love to oblige you. But a man's got to get his rest sometime.

  Sarah Belding : Oblige me?

  The Stranger : But I tell you what, if you'd come back in about half hour, I'll see what I can do, all right?

• The Stranger : I like chicken, fried.

• Mordecai : What about after we do it?

  The Stranger : Hmm?

  Mordecai : What do we do then?

  The Stranger : Then you live with it.

• The Stranger : The only problem you've got Sheriff is a short supply of guts.

• Mordacai : What did you say your name was again?

  The Stranger : I didn't.

  Mordecai : No. I guess you didn't at that, did you?

• The Stranger : [drinking] To your feet, Ma'am. They're not as big as your mouth.

• Lutie Naylor : [the stranger has bought a round for the house] Let's see, one round for the house plus the smoke; that comes to about eight dollars and fifty cents.

  Sheriff Dan Shaw : [chuckling] There's no charge Lutie; you were at the meeting, anything he wants.

  Lutie Naylor : I didn't know that mean free whiskey!

  Sheriff Dan Shaw : Everybody's got to put something in the kitty.

  The Stranger : [Reaches over a takes off Shaw's badge and pins it on Mordecai] 'Bout time this town had a new sheriff.

  Mordacai : I'm the new sheriff!

  [looks around the saloon]

  Mordacai : I'm the new sheriff!

  Mayor Jason Hobart : [laughing] I'm sorry, Dan; but you should have seen the look on your face when he took off your badge and pinned it on the runt.

  Mordacai : I'm not a runt anymore; I'm the new sheriff!

  The Stranger : [reaches over and takes off the mayor's hat and puts it on Mordecai] And the mayor. Any objections?

  Mayor Jason Hobart : Uh, no.

• The Stranger : Well, right now I don't feel too agreeable.

• Sarah Belding : I knew you were cruel, but I didn't know how far you could go.

  The Stranger : Well, you still don't.

• The Stranger : What makes you think I care?

• The Stranger : My room ready?

  Sarah Belding : Two connecting rooms. The best in the hotel. One for entertaining your many new friends in town, and one for sleeping - if your conscience lets you sleep.

  The Stranger : Oh, I sleep just fine, ma'am.

  Sarah Belding : Is that so?

  The Stranger : You care to see for yourself?

  Sarah Belding : [glares at him and walks away]

• Mordecai : All right, everybody grab a brush and start in!

  Mayor Jason Hobart : You mean you want the whole place painted?

  The Stranger : Everything.

  Preacher : You can't possibly mean the church, too?

  The Stranger : I mean *especially* the church.