- [examining the Baldwins' rundown inheritance]
- Fran Baldwin: It isn't quite what we expected.
- Hugo Stillwell: I thought not. The only improvement is this shack your father built - if you can call it "an improvement'.
- Fran Baldwin: Improvement?
- Hugo Stillwell: Yes, the Homestead Law says improvements have to made if a claim is to be kept - and they must be made within a time period.
- Fran Baldwin: I see.
- Hugo Stillwell: Well, as you can observe, none have been made here. This place doesn't even have any water.
- Fran Baldwin: Is a well an improvement?
- Jack Byrd: Leland, we weren't meant to be batchelors, but with your cookin', we ain't gonna live long enough to be anything else.
- Hugo Stillwell: Old Man Baldwin's kin came to claim his property.
- Jack Byrd: So what?
- Hugo Stillwell: I want that place for myself, that's so what!
- LeLand Byrd: Now that don't sound quite legal, you bein' the executor of the estate and all.
- Jack Byrd: What are you plannin', cousin? You want that claim to expire you can take it over for free?
- Hugo Stillwell: Jack, I assure you this whole thing will be handled by the book - nice and legal.
- Jack Byrd: But they got the claim by the book - *nice and legal*.