Lawman (TV Series)

The Deputy (1958)

John Russell: Marshal Dan Troop

Quotes 

• Marshal Dan Troop : What do you want with all this?

  Deputy Johnny McKay : I wasn't cut out to be a rancher, Marshal. Now the way I figure it, nowadays, a fella's got about two ways he can go in order to amount to anything - the way Billy the Kid took... and your way.

  Marshal Dan Troop : Well, it's not a bad life... if you don't mind strapping one of these on every day and not knowing whether you're going to have to use it or somebody's going to use it on you. 'Course, it's not much of a social life, either. You don't get invited to parties and such. People just naturally shy away from a paid gunman, badge or not. About the only time you really become popular is when some drunk cowboy starts shooting things up. Now that's one party you're invited to. The way things go, the chances are pretty much against any lawman blowing out forty candles on his birthday cake but, all in all, it's not a bad life - providing you can take it.

• [first lines] 

  Marshal Dan Troop : How far to town?

  Deputy Johnny McKay : Just over the next rise.

  Marshal Dan Troop : Was there something you wanted?

  Deputy Johnny McKay : Just lookin'.

• Walt Hawks : Dan Troop... Say, you're not the same Dan Troop that made himself such a reputation down in Kansas, uh, ten - twelve years back?

  Marshal Dan Troop : I've been in Kansas.

  Walt Hawks : And you need a man to back you up? Big famous gun like you?

  Marshal Dan Troop : That's what it says.

  Walt Hawks : One thing bothers me.

  Marshal Dan Troop : Yeah?

  Walt Hawks : Who's going to back your deputy up?

• Marshal Dan Troop : Seeing as I'm new here, you're all entitled to one mistake. You just had yours.

• Walt Hawks : Don't you know who I am?

  Marshal Dan Troop : Yep. I never walked into a town yet where I didn't have to lick somebody who thought he was real tough. You're him.

• Dru L. Lemp : You're a stubborn man, aren't you marshal? You're bound to stay here no matter what, isn't that right?

  Marshal Dan Troop : If it weren't here, it'd be someplace else like it.

• Dru L. Lemp : I don't suppose I'll ever understand.

  Marshal Dan Troop : Understand what?

  Dru L. Lemp : Why a man would take on a job like this when he hasn't got a chance. What keeps you going?

  Marshal Dan Troop : Maybe because I knew someone a long time ago that got killed in a town like this by a stray bullet in a pointless gunfight.

  Dru L. Lemp : It must have been somebody very special.

  Marshal Dan Troop : She was.