Bill Elliott: Wild Bill Elliott

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Wild Bill Elliott : [narrating]  This is my story, but in a larger sense, it's the story of the West and of Trail City, towards which I was riding that day in June. My name is Elliott - to which some of my friends have added "Wild Bill".

• Red : [pointing a gun at Wild Bill]  You shot Jim Best last month and Jim was a friend of mine.

  Wild Bill Elliott : He was also a liar and a thief.

  Red : [cocking his pistol]  I said I'd get even with you, Elliott, and I'm going to.

  Wild Bill Elliott : I'm a peaceable man, mister, but somehow or other I always manage to take care of myself.

  [Wild Bill swats Red's gun away and shoots the pistol from his sidekick's hand] 

• Valley Keene : Mr. Elliott, I'm not accustomed to men walking out on me.

  Wild Bill Elliott : Now look here, Miss, ah, Miss...

  Valley Keene : My name is Valley Keene. You can make up for your impoliteness by dancing with me.

  Wild Bill Elliott : Yes'm, I could - except I'm the impolitest man in this territory and besides, I have something else to do right now.

• [discussing what to do about Timmy, an orphan Bill found lost on his ranch] 

  Wild Bill Elliott : What Timmy needs is a real home... a mother.

  Cannonball : Well, what about me?

• [Valley and her horse jump over a picnic table, scattering Wild Bill and his friends] 

  Valley Keene : Told you I like grown-up games best.

  Wild Bill Elliott : Have you got that marshal's badge on you, Mr. Phillips?

  Mr. Phillips : I sure have!

  [Phillips pins the badge on Bill's shirt] 

  Wild Bill Elliott : Young woman, you are under arrest.

  Valley Keene : Under arrest! What are you talking about?

  Wild Bill Elliott : Get down off that horse.

  Valley Keene : I will not.

  [Bill grabs Valley and drags her off her horse's back] 

  Mr. Phillips : [pulling handcuffs from his pocket]  Can you use these?

  Wild Bill Elliott : Yes. Thanks, Mr. Phillips - put them right on her.

  Mr. Phillips : There your are.

  Valley Keene : You big ape! What are you going to do?

  Wild Bill Elliott : I'm going to put you where you won't bother me anymore.

  Valley Keene : But you can't! .

  Wild Bill Elliott : Oh, yes I can! I like to play grown-up games myself.

• Valley Keene : Please don't put me in there, Mr. Elliott. I was just trying to-to...

  Wild Bill Elliott : To what?

  Valley Keene : Well, when you wouldn't dance with me and when a big handsome man won't even look at you...

  [Bill shoves Valley into a jail cell] 

  Valley Keene : Bill! Bill! Mr. Elliott!

  Wild Bill Elliott : Well, what do you want this time?

  Valley Keene : There's a mouse in here.

  Wild Bill Elliott : Ask him if he can dance.

• [discussing Timmy's future] 

  Wild Bill Elliott : You know, Cannonball, that's the thing that's worrisome. What can we give him?

  Cannonball : Respectability, that's what.

• [after Bill rejects Red's offer of a bribe, the outlaw knocks the marshal down and races away] 

  Cannonball : By gosh, I'm goin' with you.

  Wild Bill Elliott : They didn't ask you to stick your neck out - you've got responsibilities. Besides, you're a mother now.

• [last lines] 

  Wild Bill Elliott : [narrating]  As I said, this is my story, but in a larger sense, it's the story of the West and Trail City and every time I stand here watching people go peaceably about their business, I think what a good country this is to live in, what a big country it is and how we're lucky we are if we can have some part, small as it may be, in keeping it free.