Cimarron Strip (TV Series)

Journey to a Hanging (1967)

John Saxon: Screamer

Quotes 

• [the sound of Marshal Crown's pistol cocking behind him ends Screamer's drunken binge] 

  The Screamer : Howdy, Marshal. Do you want to play?

  Marshal Jim Crown : The game's over, Screamer.

  The Screamer : Then you may as well shoot me and put me out of my misery.

  Marshal Jim Crown : I'm going to do worse than that. I'm going to improve your character.

• The Screamer : I can night track! I got eyes like a cat. I can track day or night, across slate or granite, moon or inside your hat. You better count me in!

  Marshal Jim Crown : You?

  The Screamer : Who else you got?

  MacGregor : Me!

  The Screamer : You couldn't track a cockroach through a puddle of beer.

• Marshal Jim Crown : [to Rocky, who is lying on his back in a jail cell, smoking a cigar]  Well, I've got ya. And I'm gonna put your name on a pine box when the judge gets through with ya. Unless you tell me who bossed that bank job.

  Rocky : You'll get nothing from me.

  The Screamer : You'll get something from me, though, Crown.

  Marshal Jim Crown : [to Screamer]  If you're lucky, maybe Rocky will read you a bedtime story.

• The Screamer : Now, Marshal, you ain't told me the charge, eh? What's the charge?

  Marshal Jim Crown : Stampedin' chickens on the Sabbath.

• The Screamer : You ever face me man to man, you're gonna be black, blue and bloody red all over.

• The Screamer : Screamer, you ain't never gonna amount to anythin' in this world...

  [shoots Coffin from behind, saving Crown] 

• Marshal Jim Crown : [Inspects Rocky's body, then makes his way over to Screamer, who is sitting nervously in his cell]  I bet you were asleep all the time.

  The Screamer : Yeah, it's what I was. I know I gone 'n dreamed, too.

  Marshal Jim Crown : Didn't see a thing?

  The Screamer : P-prettiest girls all dancin' round.

  Marshal Jim Crown : Recognised nobody?

  The Screamer : Yeah, one. Little filly used to twirl back in the harvest eve. Hair as wild as a mustang's tail.

• Marshal Jim Crown : What do you need all that money for, anyway? You been gettin' along all right?

  The Screamer : [dazed from his leg injury]  Uh, none o' yer business.

  Marshal Jim Crown : I guess maybe you're right.

  [Screamer feels like he should tell Crown] 

  The Screamer : I... I need that m... I want... I want... that mon...

  Marshal Jim Crown : A ranch?

  The Screamer : Huh? Nooo, not barbed wire...

  Marshal Jim Crown : A saddle shop?

  The Screamer : No-o-o... I wanna become respectable. I wanna buy a nice... little saloon... with big mirrors on the wall an' nice pictures. An'... shiny brass cuspidors and curtains.

  [He wistfully laughs a little to himself] 

  The Screamer : I wanna stand by the door and... g'z out scores to my buddies when they come in, and... wear a striped silk shirt and... pearl gray derby... have a... gold watch, and... diamond stick pin in cufflinks... big red ruby ring for my... little finger...

  [Screamer faints] 

  Marshal Jim Crown : And patent leather slippers.

• The Screamer : [to himself]  You blockhead! You had $10,000 served up to you like a birthday cake and you shoot like a blind bedbug!

• [Crown tends to an injured MacGregor by a boulder near Coffin's hideout. Screamer rushes in] 

  The Screamer : Hey, what are we hangin' round for? Let's get after 'im!

  Marshal Jim Crown : I told you to wait for my signal.

  The Screamer : I couldn't help myself. I had a clear shot at him.

  [Screamer notices Crown's expression, realizes his mistake and turns away, nervously] 

  Marshal Jim Crown : At who?

  The Screamer : Well, how would I know? One of those owl-hooters.

  [pause] 

  The Screamer : He spotted me. It was either me or him.