Lancer - Chase a Wild Horse Dialog

Wes- Hold up, Johnny. Man, I'm wore out. I gotta rest.
Johnny- Later.
Wes- I work any more and I'm gonna rest in my coffin. I swear Johnny now we keep this up we're gonna be too tired tonight to hit that town. You listenin', Johnny?
Johnny- Yeah, Wes. Yeah, I'm listenin'
Wes- We been goin' at it hard the last two hours.
Johnny- I know.
Wes- Then how come, what's the blasted rush, huh?
Johnny- To get done early.
Wes- I must be missin' somethin' somewhere.
Johnny- Look the only way to beat the system around here is to get ahead of it, now is that right? Is that right Wes?
Wes- Yeah.
Johnny- The only way to do that then is to work fast.
Wes- So where's the sense? The town ain't gonna start jumpin' until tonight. And we just bust our backs to get done early. And for what? What do we do?
Johnny- Anything. Just anything. Long as it don't have a deadline.
Wes- Man, they really broke you to the plow. Now you just think of all them things out there you'll never see. You'll never again go ridin' over a hill without knowin' what's on the other side. You sold it all out for a row of post holes.

Murdoch- Johnny!
Wes- Ouch, oh boy, you gonna get it now. He left you with a row of post holes and here you show up with a bunch of wild horses!
Johnny- I think he'll understand.
Wes- Yeah

Murdoch- That's not good enough, Johnny. You had a job of work to do here and you didn't do it.
Johnny- I told you I'd do it tomorrow."
Murdoch- This is a cattle ranch we're not in the business of catching and selling wild horses.
Johnny- Well, we could be. Now I caught that horse and I want to break him, you mind?
Murdoch- You can do that on your own time."
Johnny- When's my own time?"
Murdoch- When you've done your days work the same as everyone else. Just because you're my son doesn't mean you don't carry your own weight around here.

Johnny- What do you keep looking at me for? You saw what happened. He drew on me. What'd you expect me to do?
Murdoch walks away, not answering.
Johnny- What's the matter, isn't that good enough?"
Murdoch- Scott's still waiting for you to help him with that surveying job. Maybe you better go join him.
Johnny- I asked you a question. If it's about that fence I told you I'd finish it tomorrow morning didn't I? Look, there's only a small section left. If it makes you happy I'll go finish it right now.
Murdoch- Now is too late. About 50 head of cattle strayed through that . . . that little hole in that section you didn't finish. What's left of them is now at the bottom of the south gully. That's what your time off cost.
Johnny- How was I to know that was gonna happen?
Murdoch- Maybe you never will know. Maybe it takes twenty years of just living with this kind of land. Maybe it's not for you Johnny.
Johnny- Look all right, I . . . I'm sorry about the cattle you lost!"
Murdoch- We lost. . . Johnny. Not you, we! And all the responsibilities that go with it.
Johnny- I'd do fine. I'd just do fine if you wouldn't push so hard.
Murdoch- I wish I had a chance to break you in easily but I don't. You've got to make up your mind who you are and where you belong and if it's not going to be here I want to know it now.

Johnny- I got a lot of places to go before they box me in.

Scott- Well, what do you plan to do?
Murdoch- After the strays are taken care of, we go over to the East Mesa for surveying, and
there's that wooden footbridge that was washed out last winter.
Scott- You know what I mean. About Johnny.
Murdoch- He made his decision.
Scott- Now, the way I heard it he got some help.
Murdoch- Anyway the matter is closed. It's not open for further discussion.
Scott- You don't give at all, do you? All pride, and Johnny's cut from the same mold. Not one inch of give.
Murdoch- You want me to go after him? Beg him into coming back here?
Scott- Is that so bad?
Murdoch- And how long do you think it would last? If he's willing to let go that easily, if nothing here has gotten through to him, if he hasn't learned anything. If what he's running to out there is so important, then let it happen. Let it happen now.

Johnny- You came a long way for nothing', brother.
Scott- Then you won't mind if I sit down for a while.
Johnny- No, go right ahead.
Scott- Yes, sir. I see what you mean. This is really a great life.
Johnny- This place does really good at night.
Scott- Oh, I bet it does." SL moves glass over and picks up bottle of whiskey.
Johnny- You get those cattle back yet?
Scott- No, it'll take a couple of days.
Johnny- So, what'd the old man do, let you off for good behavior?
Scott- He didn't send me.
Johnny- Oh, yeah before I forget you know that small creek on the south side? You know where it narrows there? Well, there's undergrowth been pilin' up. It's gonna dam up on you if you don't clear it. I guess it'd take you about. . . .about a week.
Scott- It'd take us a lot less time if you were there to help us. Never mind, I know. Forget it. You've got everything you want right here.
Johnny- No, Scott. I got it other places.
Scott- Hey, it's a funny thing. I was just riding through town, I never expected to find you here. I mean with all that talk about freedom, it's a funny thing to find you all jammed in between these four walls.
Johnny- Well, Wes and I we're gonna take off tonight.
Wes looks at JL smiling, SL takes a drink: "Just, uh . . . just takin' off.
Johnny- Yeah.
Scott- Got any plans? I said have you. . . .
Johnny- Yeah, I heard you.... Yeah, we're gonna head south. There's a range war brewin' and uh . . . well, we heard they were hirin' guns.
Scott- Just gonna kill time. Amongst other things.
Johnny- That's right.
Scott- You'll be dead before you're thirty.
Johnny- That comes to us all, don't it brother?
Scott- But when you go you won't even leave a small ripple.
Johnny- That it, brother? I mean, ah . . . the sermon's over, ain't it?"
Scott- It's the only good thing that's ever happened to you in your whole life and your going to get up and walk away from it. And all for nothing. But I guess that's all you got going for you from now on.
Scott- It was nice to have met you, brother. Good luck.

Wes- Don't let him bother you Johnny.
Johnny- Wes, would you mind leavin' me alone for a little while?

Teresa- Wait! It's Johnny!
Murdoch- We've got to keep him away from here.
Johnny- Murdoch!
Murdoch- How did you get in here?
Johnny- I heard a shot I came around the side.
Murdoch- Who told you to come back?
Johnny- I wanted to talk to you.
Murdoch- I thought you did all you're talking when you left. Now get out of here.
Johnny- Where is everybody?
Murdoch- Out making up for all the work you refused to do, I suppose.
Johnny- Something's wrong.
Murdoch- The only thing wrong around here has always been you. So, get out while you still can.
Johnny- Teresa?
Murdoch- I thought I made myself clear, but in case I didn't, listen and listen hard. I don't need you, now or ever. Now, get off my land!
Johnny- All right!

Johnny- Look it's my responsibility. I have a right to handle it in my own way.

Murdoch- You know a man's life can be laid out like a row of post holes. Sometimes maybe that's not all good. Maybe there's a time when a man has to listen to the sound of a far away train whistle. Kind of break the pattern. Maybe there's even a time when the most important thing in the world is to go out after a wild horse.
Johnny- Up by Black Mesa?
Murdoch- About forty, as near as I can figure. No telling' how long they'll be there. You know how a wild horse will move on.
Johnny- Yeah, a wild horse can really move fast, once he's got a mind to.