The Patriot (2000)

Jason Isaacs: Col. William Tavington

Photos 

Quotes 

• Colonel William Tavington : Kill me before the war is over, will you? It appears that you are not the better man.

  Benjamin Martin : You're right. My sons were better men.

• Benjamin Martin : Before this war is over, I'm going to kill you.

  Colonel William Tavington : Why wait?

• [to Benjamin Martin, after killing his son Thomas] 

  Colonel William Tavington : Stupid boy.

• Colonel William Tavington : You know, it's an ugly business doing one's duty... but just occasionally it's a real pleasure.

• Capt. Wilkins : [after they have locked the townspeople in the church]  Ready to fire the town on your order, sir.

  Colonel William Tavington : [laughs]  The town? Burn the church.

• Benjamin Martin : He cannot be held as a spy.

  Colonel William Tavington : Oh, we're not going to hold him. We're going to hang him.

• Colonel William Tavington : Quite impressive for a farmer with a pitchfork, wouldn't you say?

• Colonel William Tavington : [Tavington's searching for Martin]  ... I wish to know his whereabouts. So, anyone who comes forward may be forgiven their treason.

  [silence] 

  Colonel William Tavington : Very well, you had your chance.

  [turns about to leave] 

  Hardwick : Wait!

  [Hardwick tells Tavington everything] 

  Colonel William Tavington : Thank you very much. Shut the doors!

  Hardwick : But you said... we'd be forgiven!

  Colonel William Tavington : And indeed you may! But that's between you and God.

• Colonel William Tavington : Would you like a lesson, sir, in the rules of war? Or perhaps your children would?

• Colonel William Tavington : Let it be known if you harbor the enemy you will lose your home.

• Colonel William Tavington : Tell me, Captain Wilkins, where do your loyalties lie?

  Capt. Wilkins : To king and country, sir.

  Colonel William Tavington : And why should I trust a man who'd betray his neighbors?

  Capt. Wilkins : Those neighbors of mine who stand against England deserve to die a traitor's death.

  Colonel William Tavington : We'll see.

• Colonel William Tavington : [after reading the dispatching note]  Who carried this?

  [pause] 

  Colonel William Tavington : Hmm?

  [Tavington looks up; Gabrielle looks away as Benjamin turns his head towards him, looking worried] 

  Colonel William Tavington : [yells]  WHO CARRIED THIS?

  Gabriel Edward Martin : [emerges from in front of the house]  I did, Sir!

  [he walks towards Tavington] 

  Gabriel Edward Martin : I was wounded and these people gave me care. They have nothing to do with the dispatchers.

  [Benjamin walks up behind Gabriel] 

  Colonel William Tavington : [Tavington nods and gives the note to one his men]  Take this one to Camden. He is a spy; hang him, put his body on display...

  Benjamin Martin : [as Tavington's men move to grab Gabriel, Martin quickly intervenes]  He's a dispatch rider and that's a marked case!

  Colonel William Tavington : [ignores Benjamin]  Destroy the livestock. Set fire to the house and barns.

  Benjamin Martin : No! Colonel, he's a uniformed dispatcher, he's a carrying a marked case. He cannot be held as a spy...

  Colonel William Tavington : [smirks]  Oh no, we're not going to hold him. We're going to hang him!

  Benjamin Martin : [as Gabriel is grabbed again]  Colonel!

  Gabriel Edward Martin : [whispers]  Father!

  Colonel William Tavington : Oh, I see. He's your son...

  [pause] 

  Colonel William Tavington : Then perhaps you should have told him the rules of loyalty.

• Lord General Cornwallis : [referring to a replacement formal coat]  It's horse blanket.

  Colonel William Tavington : Oh, I don't know, my Lord. It's really... quite nice.

  General O'Hara : Very nice, my Lord.

  Lord General Cornwallis : Very well, it's nice horse blanket.

• Redcoat Lieutenant : Sir, what of the rebel wounded?

  Colonel William Tavington : Kill them.