James Bowie Quotes in Comanche Territory (1950)

[Dan'l has been shot]

James Bowie: I'll get it out as quick as I can.

Dan'l Seeger: There's no hurry, son. Only don't throw it away. I like to save lead folks take out of me. I got nearly three pounds of it.

James Bowie: So this is the mighty Quisima who sat on the council of the white man in Washington. This is Quisima who gave one hand in friendship to his white brothers while the other hand held a knife. This is Quisima whose words is shifting as the wind, whose tongue twists like a river of many branches. this is Quisima, breaker of treaties. Today, the Comanche is held in honor and respect like the mountain that never yields, or the sun that never changes. Tomorrow he will be driven off like a dog that wanders close to a campfire to take his place among men.

Dan'l Seeger: You'll find this mighty interesting, Jim. Them bucks out there come galloping by and see how close they can come to us with their arrows and then they try again ten paces further on... and so on.

James Bowie: It's that "so on" that bothers me.

Katie Howard: All right, mister, draw! I said, draw!

James Bowie: Sorry, ma'am. Back in Louisiana, when we meet any pretty ladies, we make love to them, we kiss them, spank 'em on occasion... but we never go around shootin' 'em.

Dan'l Seeger: She sure is a pretty girl.

James Bowie: She sure is.

Dan'l Seeger: Too bad she's always wearing buckskin and keeping her figure covered.

James Bowie: At your age, Dan'l, you shouldn't be lookin'.

Dan'l Seeger: At my age, there ain't much else to do!

William Travis: We could try to get you out with an escort. If you're captured, perhaps given your condition, mercy would be extended.

James Bowie: I don't deserve mercy. I do deserve a drink. You got anything stronger than water?

[He smiles]

William Travis: I don't drink, Jim, you know that. I gamble, go to whores, run off on wives... but drinking, I draw the line.

James Bowie: You know, if you live five more years, you might just be a great man.

William Travis: I think I will probably have to settle for what I am now.

William Travis: Their response?

James Bowie: Shit!

[throws down the note from Santa Ana]

James Bowie: Surrender at discretion... Buck.

William Travis: Perhaps, Colonel, they'll only execute the officers.

Crockett: I think we all just got promoted.

William Travis: Colonel, I became a little heated with you in front of your men. It was ill-advised and not terribly professional.

James Bowie: Don't worry about it. Most of my men didn't even understand the words you were using.

William Travis: Colonel Bowie, I understand that you plan to remove the cannon from this fort and take them to General Houston. I advise you not to do it; they are needed here.

James Bowie: Where did you hear that, Buck?

William Travis: Men tend to talk when they drink; your men tend to drink.

James Bowie: I will do as I have been commanded; as for what that is, I will discuss it further with Col. Jamison.

William Travis: Col. Jamison has left the fort on personal business; he left me in command.

James Bowie: Whooee, that is a rapid rise, Billy. We better break out the long pants.

David Crockett: That knife fight you got into, sand bar in Natchez. It was the one that got you written up. That all true?

James Bowie: You believe everything you read now?

David Crockett: I didn't read it, I heard it. And the way I heard it he put a swordcane and two shots in you.

James Bowie: I don't remember.

David Crockett: Figure ol' Sam will be here pretty soon. When he gets here we'll have a good ol' time.

James Bowie: It was there shots. Sword came through my lung and went through my hand, and then I cut his heart out. Those ain't bears out there. Do you understand that... Davy?

William Travis: In a few days, all of Texas will know of our situation.

James Bowie: Tell me, Buck, in Alabama, precisely how many is "a few"?

James Bowie: Sometimes... it's just the way you say things, Travis. That's all. I swear to God.

James Bowie: [about Crockett's coonskin cap] What happened to your cap? Crawl away?

Davy Crockett: No, I only wear it when it's extra cold. The truth is, I only started wearing that thing... because of that fella in that play they did about me. People expect things.