LaBoeuf Quotes in True Grit (2010)

LaBoeuf: As I understand it, Chaney... or Chelmsford, as he called himshelf in Texas... shot the senator's dog. When the senator remonstrated, Chelmsford shot him as well. You could argue that the shooting of the dog was merely an instance of malum prohibitum, but the shooting of a senator is indubitably an instance of malum in se.

Rooster Cogburn: Malla-men what?

Mattie Ross: Malum in se. The distinction is between an act that is wrong in itself, and an act that is wrong only according to our laws and mores. It is Latin.

Rooster Cogburn: I am struck that LaBoeuf is shot, trampled, and nearly severs his tongue, and not only does not cease to talk, but spills the banks of English!

Rooster Cogburn: [after missing a shot on a bottle he threw up in the air] The chinaman is running them cheap shells on me again.

LaBoeuf: I thought you were going to say the sun was in your eyes. That is to say, your EYE.

LaBoeuf: You give out very little sugar with your pronouncements. While I sat there watchin' I gave some thought to stealin' a kiss... though you are very young, and sick... and unattractive to boot. But now I have a mind to give you five or six good licks with my belt.

Mattie Ross: One would be just as unpleasant as the other

LaBoeuf: I've just come from Yell County.

Mattie Ross: We have no rodeo clowns in Yell County.

LaBoeuf: A saucy line will not get you far with me.

LaBoeuf: You are getting ready to show your ignorance now, Cogburn. I don't mind a little personal chaffing but I won't hear anything against the Ranger troop from a man like you.L

Rooster Cogburn: How long have you boys been mounted on sheep down there?

LaBoeuf: My Appaloosa will be galloping when that big American stud of yours is winded and collapsed. Now make another joke about it. You are only trying to put on a show for this girl Mattie with what you must think is a keen tongue.

Rooster Cogburn: This is like women talking.

LaBoeuf: Yes, that is the way! Make me out foolish in this girl's eyes.

Rooster Cogburn: I think she has got you pretty well figured.

LaBoeuf: I am not accustomed to so large a fire. In Texas, we'll make do with a fire of little more than twigs... buffalo chips. Heat the night's ration of beans. And it is Ranger policy never to make your camp in the same place as your cook fire. Very imprudent to make your presence known in unsettled country.

Mattie Ross: [LaBoeuf is whipping her] Are you going to let him do this, Marshal?

Rooster Cogburn: [watches for a moment] No, I don't believe I will. Put your switch away, LaBoeuf.

LaBoeuf: I aim to finish what I started!

Rooster Cogburn: It'll be the biggest mistake you ever made, you Texas brush-popper.

[aims gun at LaBoeuf]

Rooster Cogburn: That Chinamen is running them cheap shells on me again.

LaBoeuf: I thought you gonna say the sun was in your eyes. That is to say, your Eye!

Rooster Cogburn: [after singing for a long time] That was "Johnny in the Low Ground." There are very few fiddle tunes I have not heard. Once heard they are locked in my mind forever. It is a sadness to me that I have sausage fingers that cannot crowd onto a fretboard... Little fat girls at a cotillion. "Soldier's Joy"!

[sings more]

LaBoeuf: [to Mattie] I don't believe he slept.

Mattie Ross: [anxiously watching four men riding to kill Rooster Cogburn] Shoot them, Mr. Laboeuf!

LaBoeuf: [aiming his rifle] Too far. Movin' too fast.

Rooster Cogburn: [watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me.

LaBoeuf: Well, then we might just not get along.

Rooster Cogburn: Damn that Texan - when you need him, he's dead.

LaBoeuf: I ain't dead yet, you bushwhacker. Hang on.

[LeBoeuf is spanking Mattie]

Mattie Ross: Are you gonna let him do this?

Rooster Cogburn: I don't believe I will. Drop that switch, LaBoeuf. Put it down, I said. You're enjoying it too much.

LaBoeuf: You'll find I go ahead with what I start.

Rooster Cogburn: [Rooster draws and cocks his pistol] You do and it'll be the biggest mistake YOU ever made, you Texas brush-popper!

[LaBoeuf sits down for supper at the Monarch Boarding House]

Monarch boarder: Watch out for the chicken and dumplings. They'll hurt your eyes.

LaBoeuf: How's that?

Monarch boarder: They'll hurt your eyes lookin' for the chicken.

[he and other boarders laugh]

LaBoeuf: You squirrel-headed bastard!

LaBoeuf: A little earlier I gave some thought to stealin' a kiss from you, although you are very young... and you're unattractive to boot. But now I'm of a mind to give you five or six good licks with my belt.

Mattie Ross: Well, one would be as unpleasant as the other.

LaBoeuf: What are you doing?

Rooster Cogburn: Lookin' for sign.

LaBoeuf: You couldn't see it if you saw it.

[at McAlester's, Boots and Rooster are discussing the dead men; LaBoeuf walks up]

Capt. Boots Finch: So this is the man shot Ned Pepper's horse from under him.

Rooster Cogburn: Yeah! This is the famous horse killer from El Paso. He believes in puttin' everybody afoot. Says there'll be less mischief that way.

LaBoeuf: Fewer horses - fewer horse thieves.

[Mattie is frustrated with Rooster possibly throwing in with LaBoeuf]

Mattie Ross: Give me my $25 back. Hand it over!

Rooster Cogburn: I spent it.

Mattie Ross: You sorry piece of trash!

Rooster Cogburn: I'll get it for you. I'll send it to you.

Mattie Ross: Aw, that's a big story. If you think you can cheat me, you're mistaken. You've not heard the last of Mattie Ross. You may well hear from my lawyer, Daggett.

[leaves]

Rooster Cogburn: [to LaBoeuf] Lawyer Daggett? Who's lawyer Daggett?

LaBoeuf: I wouldn't worry about him. I'd worry about our business at hand.

[Rooster and LaBoeuf are on the ferry; Mattie comes over to get on board]

LaBoeuf: You're not gettin' on this ferry.

Mattie Ross: This is open to the public. I paid my ten cents for horse and rider.

LaBoeuf: Red, take this girl into town to the sheriff. She's a runaway. There's also a $50 reward.

Mattie Ross: That's a big story!

LaBoeuf: Ask the marshal.

Rooster Cogburn: Oh, she's a runaway, all right. Bound to be paper on her.

Mattie Ross: They're in this story together. Now, I've got business across the river and if you interfere with me you may land up in court which you don't want to be. I've got a good lawyer in J. Noble Daggett.

[Rooster nods to Red; Red pulls her off the ferry]

Rooster Cogburn: [to LaBoeuf] Lawyer Daggett again.

LaBoeuf: She draws him like a gun.

[at the camp, Mattie tastes the water]

Mattie Ross: That tastes like iron.

LaBoeuf: You're lucky to be where water's so handy. I've seen the time I've drank out of a filthy hoofprint - and was glad to get it.

Rooster Cogburn: If ever I meet one of you Texas waddies who ain't drunk water from a hoofprint, I think I'll... I'll shake their hand or buy 'em a Daniel Webster cigar.

[points to LaBoeuf's shaggy horse]

Rooster Cogburn: How long you boys down there been mounted on sheep?

[Rooster, LaBoeuf and Mattie are taking the bodies back to McAlester's]

Rooster Cogburn: [to LaBoeuf] What outfit were you with during the war?

LaBoeuf: Shreveport, with Kirby Smith.

Rooster Cogburn: Oh, I mean what side were you on?

LaBoeuf: I served with General Kirby Smith.

[Rooster starts to laugh]

LaBoeuf: And I don't have to hang my head when I say it either. Go ahead and make another joke about it. You want to make me look foolish in the girl's eyes anyway.

Rooster Cogburn: You don't need me for that.

LaBoeuf: I don't like the way you make conversation.

Rooster Cogburn: And I don't like your conversation about Captain Quantrill?

LaBoeuf: *Captain*? Captain of what? Bunch of thieves?

Rooster Cogburn: Young fella, if you're looking for trouble, I'll accommodate you. Otherwise, leave it alone.

LaBoeuf: I wouldn't count too much on bein' able to shade somebody I didn't know, fella.

Rooster Cogburn: [laughs] I ain't never seen nobody from Texas I couldn't shade.

Mattie Ross: I will not bandy words with a drunkard.

LaBoeuf: That's real smart. You've done nothing when you've bested a fool.

Capt. Boots Finch: So this is the man that shot Ned Pepper's horse from under him.

Rooster Cogburn: Yeah, this is the famous horse killer from El Paso! He believes in putting everybody afoot. Says there will be less mischief that way.

LaBoeuf: Fewer horses, fewer horse thieves.