Benjamin Trane Quotes in Vera Cruz (1954)

[first lines]

Benjamin Trane: Howdy. You an American?

Joe Erin: You interested in me or the horses?

Benjamin Trane: [looking to buy a horse] How much?

Joe Erin: $100... gold!

Benjamin Trane: That's mighty hard.

Joe Erin: So's walkin'!

Joe Erin: Next time you draw near me, better say what you're aimin' to shoot at.

Benjamin Trane: If I have the time, I will.

Marquis Henri de Labordere: [referring to Ben's stolen wallet] It is useless to look for it now, monsieur. In Mexico today chase a thief, and he disappears in a puff of smoke.

Joe Erin: It's only cowhide, Ben. Max'll buy yuh another.

Benjamin Trane: It wasn't the wallet. It's the sentiment. I had $12 in it.

General Ramírez: Money! Is that worth risking you life for?

Benjamin Trane: It comes closer than anything i know.

General Ramírez: A man's got to have more than that. He needs something to believe in.

Benjamin Trane: I got that, too.

[Trane points to his rifle]

Joe Erin: Hey, you saved my bacon back there.

Benjamin Trane: Sorry I was so slow gettin' to yuh.

Joe Erin: You'd a been a little slower, you'd a stood to be a lot richer.

Benjamin Trane: Maybe I didn't think o' that.

Joe Erin: Too bad, You never know. Ace Hannah ran a gamblin' joint back in Laredo. Shot my old man in a stud game while I was still a kid. He felt so bad he gave me a home.

Benjamin Trane: What does that got to do with savin' your life?

Joe Erin: Ace used to say you don't take any chances you don't have to. Don't trust nobody you don't have to trust, and don't do no favors you don't have to do. Ace lived long enough to know he was right. He lived thirty seconds after I shot 'em.

[after Ben reacts to the revelation]

Joe Erin: You know somethin'? That's the first time I ever told anybody the story of my life.

Benjamin Trane: Thanks.

Benjamin Trane: [after shooting his horse] His leg was broke.

Joe Erin: Three-legged horse'll bring a price down here.

Benjamin Trane: He was sufferin'.

Joe Erin: Soft spot, hinh?

Benjamin Trane: Only for horses.

Capt. Danette: [sarcastically, after watching Joe drink] Careful. Some of the wine is getting in your mouth.

Benjamin Trane: Do you got a soft spot for an innocent man?

Joe Erin: No such thing as an innocent man!

Benjamin Trane: You just can't do enough for me, can yuh, Joe?

Joe Erin: Why not? You're the first friend I ever had.

Emperor Maximillian: You see, there's the Countess who'll occupy the coach. She's decided that she must see Paris again, and we... indulge her every whim. The Marquis's gravely concerned that she reach the ship in Vera Cruz safely.

Benjamin Trane: She will if the price is right.

Emperor Maximillian: I suppose when one deals with men of action, one just expect action. Does 25,000 in gold sound reasonable?

Benjamin Trane: A pretty figure but only half as pretty as the figure we're escorting to Vera Cruz.

Emperor Maximillian: I gather that double would increase your sense of responsibility.

Benjamin Trane: It would double it.

Emperor Maximillian: 50,000 it is then!

Capt. Danette: [to Joe Erin] Your acquaintance with etiquette amazes me, monsieur. l had no idea you know which hand to use.

Benjamin Trane: [to Joe Erin] When l was no higher than a hound dog's tail on point,l had a little tin soldier, about so high. And one day l lost him... and l cried. My mother said "Stop bawlin'. Someday that soldier's bound to show up." And she was right.

[to Capt. Danette]

Benjamin Trane: You're back.