Murder in Coweta County (1983 TV Movie)

Johnny Cash: Lamar Potts

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lamar Potts : Hello John. I'm about ready to leave. Thought I'd drop by and see if there's anything you might need?

  John Wallace : Ya mean, like a fancy last meal? No, I wouldn't want you to go hunting fried chicken and strawberry pie today, and then, tomorrow I wind up eating supper at my own house. It ain't gonna happen, they ain't gonna kill me. There'll be a phone call, always has been.

  [pauses] 

  John Wallace : You know, Lamar ... we're a lot alike ... each running his own county, having power over other men ...best feeling in the world! Make ya do anything ... except give it up.

  Lamar Potts : How powerful is the man who can't control himself?

  John Wallace : You're still down on me for my murderin' ways? I've only killed ... four men in my whole life, and each one of 'em had it coming.

  Lamar Potts : Those lives didn't mean anything to you?

  John Wallace : [gives Potts a strange look]  I'm the head of the Kingdom. I was raised for that. My momma always told me, "Do what you have to do! Never let your conscience get in your way."

  Lamar Potts : I'm gonna pray for you, John.

  [shakes John's hand] 

  John Wallace : Good bye, sheriff.

  Lamar Potts : Bye, John.

• J. C. Otwell : But Lamar, John Wallace . . . he just about owns Meriwether County.

  Lamar Potts : This ain't Meriwether.

• Lamar Potts : The first one who touches one of my deputies, I'm gonna kill him.

• J.H. Potts : [after a local store owner refuses to divulge any information on and defends John Wallace]  Seems that John Wallace is a real generous soul.

  Lamar Potts : John Wallace didn't buy any pews or barns... he bought people!

• Lamar Potts : [to the Strickland family]  The first one that touches one of my deputies... I'm gonna kill him. Now I want Tom Strickland... You can bring him out, or I'll go in after him.

  Strickland Cousin : We're all Stricklands... If you want to take him, you're gonna have to take us.

  Lamar Potts : Well that's just fine with me... all you gotta do is stand in my way!

• Lamar Potts : [to the posse crowd in the courtyard]  There's a man who thinks he's above the law. Killed a fella in our county. Thinks he's gonna get away with it. We're gonna see that he don't.

• Lamar Potts : [to John Wallace who is behind bars in jail]  I don't know, John. Looks like the kingdom is beginnin' to crumble.

• Deputy #2 : Sheriff! Elzie just checked in. He thinks he found something!

  Lamar Potts : [to John Wallace who is behind bars in jail]  You remember Elzie Hancock don't you, John? He's the one that got your uncle.

• Informant : Is it true what they said about that five hundred dollars?

  Lamar Potts : It's true.

  Informant : I been wanting to talk to you. First time you've been out here by yourself. I'm the one that called you and gave you Strickland's name.

  Lamar Potts : I appreciate that. But the reward is for Turner's body.

  Informant : You know who I am?

  Lamar Potts : [Nods] 

  Informant : But you wouldn't go tell nobody, would you?

  Lamar Potts : Not if you didn't want, no.

  Informant : Now you understand, if I's seen anywhere near you...

  Lamar Potts : I'll have somebody else deliver the money.

  Informant : Not to me. Not in Meriwether. To my folks, over there, across the line.

  Lamar Potts : You have my word.

  Informant : Well, Wallace burned the body. Throwed it in a liquor still pit and doused it with shine and set it off. Had two colored field hands a-helpin' him. Albert Brooks and a feller named Robert Lee Gates. You could see them flames for miles!

  Lamar Potts : Albert and Robert Lee?

  Informant : They's back there in the fields, a-workin'.

  Lamar Potts : Thank you.

  Informant : Now sheriff, I want you to understand right now - I just put my life in your hands.

• Lamar Potts : [to Hardy Collier who is in bed covered with a blanket]  Don't even breath! Atwell, pull the blanket off of him, real slow.

  [Atwell turns down the blanket, revealing a revolver in each of Sheriff Collier's hands] 

  Lamar Potts : Kind of a warm day to be all covered up, ain't it Sheriff?

  Sheriff Hardy Collier : You ain't hauling me off like no dirt dog criminal! I'm an elected official of this county! I'm a sheriff!

  [Points to his badge] 

  Lamar Potts : You sold that badge! The same badge that I stand behind!