The Searchers (1956)

Jeffrey Hunter: Martin Pawley

Photos 

26 more photos

Quotes 

• Martin : I hope you die!

  Ethan : That'll be the day.

• Ethan : Our turnin' back don't mean nothin', not in the long run. She's alive, she's safe... for a while. They'll keep her to raise her as one of their own till, until she's of an age to...

  Martin : Don't you think there's a chance we still might find her?

  Ethan : Injun will chase a thing till he thinks he's chased it enough. Then he quits. Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there's such a thing as a critter that'll just keep comin' on. So we'll find 'em in the end, I promise you. We'll find 'em. Just as sure as the turnin' of the earth.

• Laurie Jorgensen : [Martin is preparing to join a raid against the Indians and rescue Debbie]  You're not goin', not this time.

  Martin : Are you crazy?

  Laurie Jorgensen : It's too late. She's a woman grown now.

  Martin : But I gotta go, Laurie, I gotta fetch her home.

  Laurie Jorgensen : Fetch what home? The leavings of a Comanche buck, sold time and again to the highest bidder, with savage brats of her own?

  Martin : Laurie, shut your mouth.

  Laurie Jorgensen : Do you know what Ethan will do if he has a chance? He'll put a bullet in her brain.

  [pause] 

  Laurie Jorgensen : I tell you, Martha would want him to.

  Martin : Only if I'm dead.

• Ethan : We did all right.

  Martin : We? Why you just staked me out there like a piece of bait. You built up the fire. You fixed it so I could get my brains blowed out! What if you'd missed?

  Ethan : It never occurred to me.

• Martin : You know, Laurie, I was just thinking that maybe it's about time you and me started going steady, huh?

  Laurie Jorgensen : Why, Martin Pawley, you and me been going steady since we was three years old!

  Martin : We have?

  Laurie Jorgensen : 'Bout time you found out about it.

• Martin : [speaking to Debbie for the first time in five years]  Debbie, Debbie, Debbie, don't you remember? I'm Martin, I'm Martin, your brother, remember? Debbie, remember back.

  Martin : [pause]  Do you remember how I used to let you ride my horse? And tell you stories? Oh, don't you remember me, Debbie?

  Debbie Edwards : I remember, from always. At first I prayed to you: "Come and get me, take me home." You didn't come.

  Martin : But I've come now, Debbie.

  Debbie Edwards : These are my people. Go. Go, Martin, please!

• Laurie Jorgensen : Ethan rode on an hour ago. Now Martin I don't know what you can do about finding Debbie that he can't. He'll find her now, Martin. Honest he will.

  Martin : That's what I'm afraid Of Laurie, him finding her. Oh I've seen his eyes at the very word "Comanche". I've seen him take his knife and - - Never mind. He's a man that can go crazy wild and I intend to be there to stop him in case he does.

• Ethan : A fella could mistake you for a half-breed.

  Martin : Not quite, I'm eighth Cherokee, the rest is Welsh and English. Least that's what they tell me.

• Martin : Well, why don't you say it? We're beat, and you know it.

  Ethan : Nope. Our turnin' back don't mean nothin'. Not in the long run. If she's alive, she's safe. For a while, they'll keep her to raise as one of their own until... she's of an age to...

  Martin : Do you think maybe there's a chance we still might find her?

  Ethan : An Indian will chase a thing till he thinks he's chased it enough. Then he quits. Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there's such a thing as a critter who'll just keep coming on. So we'll find 'em in the end I promise you. We'll find 'em. Just as sure as the... turnin' of the earth.

• Ethan Edwards : You remember that scalp string on Scar's lance? Long and wavy?

  Martin Pawley : Yeah, I saw it, and don't try to tell me it was Aunt Martha's or Lucy's.

  Ethan Edwards : It was your mother's.

• Ethan : [tucking Martin in]  Comfortable?

  Martin : Ethan, are you all right?

  Ethan : Well, I'm just saying goodnight to you.

  Martin : Well, goodnight!

• Martin Pawley : If we go chargin' in there, they'll kill her and you know it.

  Ethan Edwards : That's what I'm countin' on.

• Martin Pawley : What do you mean you don't have any blood kin? Debbie's your blood kin.

  Ethan Edwards : Not any more she ain't.

• Brad : There's only one way you can stop me from looking for Lucy, mister, and that's kill me!

  Martin : That's the way I feel, Uncle Ethan

  [Edwards glares at him] 

  Martin : Ethan... Sir.

  Ethan : Alright, but I'm giving the orders here. I'm giving the orders and you'll follow 'em, or we're splitting up right here and now!

  Martin : Well, sure, Ethan. Just one reason were here, ain't it, is to find Debbie and Lucy?

  Ethan : If they're still alive.

• Ethan Edwards : What's she followin' us for?

  Martin Pawley : Oh, you go on back now. Go on. Look, I changed my mind. You can keep your blanket. Look, you don't understand. I don't want it.

  Ethan Edwards : You don't understand, you chunkhead. You didn't buy any blanket, you bought her. You got yourself a wife, sonny.

  [laughs]