Face to Face (1967)
Gian Maria Volontè: Professore Brett Fletcher, Professor Brad Fletcher
Photos
Quotes
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Professor Brad Fletcher : In pain? Eh. You must know that torture's important, Wallace. It lifts the morale of the torturer. Didn't they teach you that at the university? You were... trapped by your... higher education. It leaves its own smell on you, I know it too well.
Wallace : I know you do. And I can't imagine how a man of your background could...
Professor Brad Fletcher : On the contrary, what's surprising is that a man like me could remain all those years watching life as a spectator, before he discovered the force that was in him. But... d'you have any idea what can be accomplished here if you're a man of intelligence? Where men who are morons have succeeded in usurping the power the power in the land?
Wallace : Yes. He'd be certainly in a position to improve things... but not a weak man like Brad Fletcher. You change your spots. You're civilized among civilized people, violent among the violent. You're quite ready to adapt to any new background like a parasite!
[Fletcher wipes Wallace's brow]
Professor Brad Fletcher : Pity you didn't pay attention at school, Wallace. The philosophy of violence, you recall it? One violent soul is just an outlaw... a hundred a gang, but... they're an army at a hundred thousand. That is the point. Beyond the confines that limit the outlaw as an individual criminal, violence by masses of men is... called history! Hm... I must say that... I'm glad I've been able to speak with an equal, who understands me. Those others are only able to understand the simplest things... such as the fact that a spy pays the penalty.
[Fletcher has one of his thugs hand him a gun, pulls back the hammer and puts the barrel to Wallace's neck]
Professor Brad Fletcher : Reasons of state, Wallace. You studied history, so you know what I mean. Not out of hate... but with compassion.
[He shoots Wallace point-blank]
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Charley Siringo : [confronts Fletcher and Bennet] Beauregard Bennet! Brad Fletcher! Throw down your arms! I arrest you... in the name of the law.
Professor Brad Fletcher : [Fletcher shoots Siringo, wounding him. Bennet throws down his rifle and one of his gunbelts] What are you doing? You crazy?
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : I'm doing what I think is right.
Professor Brad Fletcher : "Right"! What does that mean? How do you know what's right? Was it right for Siringo to kill the sheriff just to get into your gang? Maybe you think the vigilantes were right. Answer me! Is that it? Listen, Beau - there's only one kind of right in the world. The kind you make for yourself if you're big enough and strong enough! And we're both strong, Beau. You and I together, we can recruit the best men in the West! Bennet's Raiders, a hundred times stronger than before! I have some wonderful plans. There's no other kind of right, can't you understand that?
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : [punches Fletcher] There is, damn you, there is! There is! Know where? Right here in my heart! Go away and leave me, Brad. There's nothing more you can do.
Professor Brad Fletcher : No. There's still one thing I can do...
[looks at Siringo]
Professor Brad Fletcher : And I should have done it long before.
[Fletcher readies his rifle and prepares to kill Siringo. Suddenly, a shot rings out - Bennet has shot Fletcher with his revolver]
Professor Brad Fletcher : But... Beau, what made you do it?
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : It was what I had to do.
Professor Brad Fletcher : [staggers away] I had many ideas... so many... so many plans, Beau... great... great...
[Fletcher staggers behind a dune, and dies]
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[first lines]
Professor Brad Fletcher : I've an announcement to make, and I find it... very painful. I'm unable to... continue this history course. But as you perhaps know, it's not a matter of my own volition. However, the study of history can be suspended... and resumed at any point. Because, though all men must die in time, other men will make history live. And each man can choose his own part in history. We've been forced to choose: when the war between the States declared that we were either Union loyalists or Confederate rebels. You are twenty years old. You will have to choose many times between just and unjust, truth and untruth. And always, the answer is only to be found... within you. And if this small bit of knowledge can help you in the future, then I am truly privileged. For my part in history... will not have been useless. The class is dismissed. Thank you.
[students leave]
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [as Wallace is being tortured] You know, Wallace, I'm sure you're a university man. I mean, before you joined the Pinkertons, of course. Same Eastern college as Charley Siringo. Hm?
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [on Zachary Shawn's vigilantes] If there aren't too many, we can stop them here.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : There are too many of them. I saw them when I was taking a short-cut. Must be at least fifty men.
Professor Brad Fletcher : We'll stop them! You just stick with me, we'll do it! We've got to.
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Professor Brad Fletcher : I'm... I'm afraid you could hardly have made a worse choice of hostage. I'm terribly ill... it's the lungs, you know.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Yeah? But the sheriff's men didn't know.
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [watching Bennet doing target practice] Excellent shot.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Urh, no. Only I'm still too slow.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Too slow? I'd say you were a pretty fast draw.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : There's plenty of space on Boot Hill for pretty fast draws. Ever since I was ten, I spent two hours every day, practising to be fastest.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Since you were ten, hm? Your life would've been... very different if you'd devoted all that time to books. If you used it to train your brain to think, instead of practising to draw... a pistol.
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [holding Bennet's revolver] There's no doubt that holding it gives one a curious... sense of power. It... seems so natural, as though it had... become part of me.
[shoots a tree]
Professor Brad Fletcher : Look Beau, I hit it. I aimed at it, and I hit it!
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Good.
Professor Brad Fletcher : It was easy.
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Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : [noticing a rabbit] There goes our dinner. Get it!
[Fletcher hesitates]
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Look.
[shoots the rabbit]
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : What's the matter? Didn't you ever eat rabbit back East? Hm?
Professor Brad Fletcher : Yes, of course. Although... we have someone else to do the killing for us, so we don't think about it. Besides, out here in the West, it's difficult to distinguish the instinct for survival... er, from the lust to acquire power.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Huh. Why do you wanna worry about things like that?
Professor Brad Fletcher : It's impossible for me to stop thinking. For example, we have plenty of provisions. Therefore, you could easily have spared that rabbit.
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [Bennet and Fletcher are watching Siringo approaching their hideout] What are you gonna do? Do you know him?
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : [cocks his revolver] No... and I don't want him to know me.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Are you crazy? Put that away! It's not like shooting a rabbit. I'll get rid of him.
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[Fletcher and Bennet have just partaken in a mock duel, where Fletcher proves to be a faster draw than Bennet]
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : If I hadn't unloaded that gun...
Professor Brad Fletcher : No, you still would have been faster, Beau. As you've always been.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Who knows? You're learning fast, Brad. All right - Zach won't mind. We'll do your bank job first. Your bank job, since you're so keen on it.
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [planning a bank robbery] The best time of day to hit the bank is in the early afternoon, because it will have just reopened, and practically no-one will be around. It's too hot at that hour. Everyone will still be at home, taking a siesta. That's one Spanish custom that still survives in these parts. Even the sheriff will be asleep. Naturally, we'll all drift into town, one by one. Aaron will first go to the barbershop. Then, he'll wander over to the post office, which is right next to the bank - because he will have tied up his horse there earlier, when he rode into town. At that point, Jason will arrive, and leave his horse next to Aaron. Both of you will wait right there in front of the post office, so you'll be close enough to move fast when the time comes. At this point, Maximilian will ride into town, dressed like the Southern gentleman he is. Naturally, he'll arouse no suspicion when he walks into the bank, looking like the well-heeled rancher who is accustomed to having the red carpet rolled out for him. Beau is going to cover our getaway. But since there's more chance of his being recognized than any of us, you'll have to be completely disguised. Let's say - as a Mexican. However, it shouldn't be necessary for Beau to lift a finger. I don't anticipate any gunplay. Because if there are any townspeople around when we leave the bank, they're going to be distracted by a hay-wagon that's suddenly caught fire. The plan seems foolproof to me...
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[Vance is beating Maria for cheating on him with another man]
Vance : Who was it? I want his name! Tell me, or I'll kill you! Who was it? Tell me his name!
Maria : No...!
Vance : [violently shakes her] WHO WAS IT?
Professor Brad Fletcher : It was I.
[Vance turns to Fletcher]
Professor Brad Fletcher : [nervously] Let's be adult about this...
[Vance smacks Fletcher across the face]
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [holding a bundle of notes] Mr. Carr, this represents all of our life's savings.
Maria : Every penny we have in the world.
Professor Brad Fletcher : I trust your safe is really burglar-proof?
Mr. Carr - Bank Clerk : This model is the newest type: tempered steel, three inches thick. It's the best we can get.
[unlocks the safe door]
Mr. Carr - Bank Clerk : Well, take a look...
Professor Brad Fletcher : [pulls out a gun] Take a look at this!
Maximilian de Winton : [pulls out his gun as Vance and Jason enter] Hold it, mister. You may have guessed - this is a hold-up.
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University Dean : My dear Professor Fletcher. Miss Wilkins and I look forward to your return.
Professor Brad Fletcher : I hope you're not disappointed.
University Dean : Come now, Fletcher! You're not as sick as all that. Tomorrow, you'll be far away from this horrible climate. You'll feel differently. I feel certain your lungs will improve as soon as you put your foot in, erm, Texas, and you'll come back to Boston completely recovered.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Yes, sir, no doubt.
University Dean : You talk as though you don't care. And I must say, given your intelligence, you could have gone far - a lot farther than you have.
Professor Brad Fletcher : But I'm not complaining.
University Dean : That's just the trouble; you have no ambition. In this country, there are no limits for the man who is willing to fight, fight! You've never struggled against the position fate has put you in. But that's what you must do now, more than ever.
[checks his watch]
University Dean : Well... I'm late for class. Have a good trip!
Professor Brad Fletcher : Goodbye, Dean.
[the Dean leaves]
Professor Brad Fletcher : Well, Miss Wilkins... he's probably right about me, you know.
Elizabeth Wilkins : Well, I don't believe him, Professor.
Professor Brad Fletcher : That's good of you, Elizabeth.
[Wilkins leaves]
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [referring to the smiling deputy in the hotel lobby] That man who was smiling - who was he?
Sally - Hotel Maid : Oh... just someone who smiles. We're pretty friendly people here in Purgatory City. We prefer someone who smiles, especially if he's carrying a gun.
[watches as Bennet rides into town]
Sally - Hotel Maid : But when a fella... who looks like the spittin' image of Beauregard Bennet rides into town, carrying a gun, and not smilin'... then we begin to worry.
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Sally - Hotel Maid : [discussing Bennet's attempts to rid Purgatory City of the Taylor Gang] "I want y'all out of town within the hour. And if you're not, I'll come and get you one by one". Those were his very words. What a man!
Professor Brad Fletcher : Yes, and I never expected this. It shows nobility of character. But, er, where are the others?
Sally - Hotel Maid : There aren't any.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Hm? What's that? He's alone?
Sally - Hotel Maid : Yeah.
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Maximilian de Winton : [watching Rusty Rogers joining in the dance] Old Rusty. A ghost out of the past.
Professor Brad Fletcher : If I've been able to breathe a little new life into him, it means I'm still alive.
Maximilian de Winton : In that case, you'll have plenty o' work here. All of us in Puerto del Fuego are ghosts of the past. Buffalo hunters where there's no longer any buffalo. Cowboys where there's no cow. Prospectors where there's no gold. The dregs of the old romantic Frontier, who were not able to accept the coming of the Telegraph, the railroads, or reality for that matter.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Well, I've never seen anyone more real, happy, alive and free than these men.
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Professor Brad Fletcher : [approaches Bennet while he waits for Taylor's Gang] Hello.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Thought you'd left by now.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Not yet. My train doesn't pull out for at least a couple more hours. I'm just killing time. Anyway, if they see... there are two of us, they'll think twice.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Mm-hm. No thanks. If any shooting starts, you'll be right in my way. Professor, you know what you should do? You should keep out of this, understand? Go and get your train. You better go back home right now, Brad.
[Fletcher tries to shake Bennet's hand, but he doesn't return it]
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Rusty Rogers : [to Aaron] Talkin' 'bout me in town? How much reward are they offering for me now? Hm?
Aaron Chase : C'mon, Rusty. What do you mean, "reward"? Who do you think's looking for you after 30 years?
Rusty Rogers : You mean they've forgotten? Why, the whole West knew who Rusty Rogers was!
Professor Brad Fletcher : You said Rusty Rogers? Is that you?
Rusty Rogers : Yeah. You mean you heard of me, stranger?
Professor Brad Fletcher : But, surely you're joking. Why, you're a legend! Your name is so famous, I didn't really believe you existed! I thought you'd been invented as a symbol of the Wild West, a figment of the public imagination! Why, er, composers have written whole ballads around you! Er, well, as for your reward, it's gone on up until now - you're worth five thousand dollars! No, I'm wrong... it's gone on up to ten thousand!
[claps]
Rusty Rogers : Is that true? You mean it? Thank you. I sure do thank you, Mister! Yippee!
[Rogers joins in the dance]
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[Fletcher and Bennet ride to the de Winton Plantation]
Belle de Winton : Beauregard! Beau... but I've been so worried about you.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Howdy, Belle.
[Belle gestures to Bennet to kiss her hand, which he refuses to her disappointment. Fletcher returns her gesture instead]
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : This is Brad Fletcher.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Madame.
Belle de Winton : Where are the others?
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : They'll get here. Where's your brother?
Belle de Winton : He's out after a runaway slave. Ah, dear Mr. Fletcher's from the North. You looked worried hearing me say the word "slave". I suppose you'd prefer the word "servant". But a word doesn't change anything. Nobody'll ever make us change, even this... Lincoln. Our emancipator. You'll pardon, Mr. Fletcher, even if you are a Yankee - because you came here with our Beauregard. And you're a gentleman, too.
[Fletcher is flattered]
Belle de Winton : You're blushing!
Professor Brad Fletcher : [nervously, to Bennet] But, I...
Belle de Winton : We're happy to have you as a guest here... in the ancestral mansion of the de Wintons.
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Belle de Winton : I know this isn't very exciting for you, talking with me here all evening, but... there's something I really have to show you. Something very dear to me.
[produces a yellow scarf]
Professor Brad Fletcher : It's a Confederate Cavalry scarf.
Belle de Winton : That's right. I gave it to my fiancée... before he left for Gettysburg.
Professor Brad Fletcher : Gettysburg. You have my sympathy.
Belle de Winton : It was the only time I've been in love. That once.
Professor Brad Fletcher : To have been in love once is something to be thankful for... not everyone is that fortunate.
Belle de Winton : This is the only memento I have now.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : [groans, then pokes his head through a curtain] Belle... listen, old girl. Don't begin that old story again. You know it only makes you sad, and then I have to work so hard to cheer you up.
Belle de Winton : Mr. Bennet! Would you please leave this room? Yours is next door.
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : As usual, no? With the connecting door. What's wrong? Oh, I get it!
[laughs, knowing that Belle is trying to hide her previous affair with him from Fletcher]
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : You don't want him to know! It'd make a bad impression, eh? But you don't have to worry, Belle. Brad is a gentleman. Aren't you, Brad?
Professor Brad Fletcher : I suppose I must be. So far. But, er... I think I'm learning.
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Leading Citizen of Puerto del Fuego : What happened, Brad?
Professor Brad Fletcher : [trying to shake Maria's blood from off his hand] Siringo sold us out. He was a spy in the pay of the police. But we pulled it off anyway.
Leading Citizen of Puerto del Fuego : What about all the others?
Professor Brad Fletcher : Ask Beauregard!
Cattle Annie : What are you tryin' to say?
Professor Brad Fletcher : Beau wasn't able... or wasn't willing... to stop some Mexican from giving the alarm. Our men were trapped and outnumbered...!
Cattle Annie : That's a lie! Beau wouldn't do that, I know better. If things went wrong, you're to blame, Brad! You're the one that convinced him to do the job...
Professor Brad Fletcher : [hold up the moneybag] AND I WAS RIGHT! Here's the loot! What other proof do you want? Don't say I made an error! You can be sure I didn't lose my head. The bullets were whistling all around... yet they didn't touch me. My plan succeeded because it was a perfect one! But the men weren't... and they failed you! However, men... can be replaced.
Leading Citizen of Puerto del Fuego : What are you drivin' at?
Professor Brad Fletcher : I guess you all think that's a lot of money, don't you? Millions! But I tell you... it's nothing compared to what I'll get you. I'm calling for men who are fighters, who are ready for anything! But, above all else... *who'll obey!*
Leading Citizen of Puerto del Fuego : Hold it. This is no place to recruit outlaws, Brad! That's our rule, and it's gonna be respected!
Professor Brad Fletcher : But certainly not by me.
[men begin to walk towards Fletcher in support of him]
Leading Citizen of Puerto del Fuego : Stop! The rest of us here are free men! Anyone can find refuge with us, but he's gonna have to respect our rules. This man's plannin' something that means bad trouble for all of us! So, if any of you reckon to join him, you'll have to leave Puerto del Fuego!
Professor Brad Fletcher : [pulls a wad of notes from the moneybag] MONEY! For whoever shuts him up!
[a man smacks the interloper with the butt of his rifle]
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Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Aim for the side, where the chain joins the manacle.
Professor Brad Fletcher : [holding Bennet's revolver] Yes, but... how do you fire it?
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Pull back the hammer! Haven't you ever fired a gun?
Professor Brad Fletcher : [points to the hammer while pulling it back] This thing? Could be dangerous, couldn't it?
[accidentally fires, narrowly missing Bennet's head]
Solomon 'Beauregard' Bennet : Yes, Professor, it could. And remember, it's loaded... and it shoots when you pull the trigger.
