Run of the Arrow (1957)

Frank Warner: Banjo Playing Singer

Quotes 

• Banjo Playing Singer : Well, he went and done it. Gen. Lee got right down on his hands and knees and begged President Johnson for pardon. If it's good enough for my brethren, then I reckon it's good enough for me.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : He never begged.

  Banjo Playing Singer : He never begged? I wish you was right.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : What makes you so sure.

  Banjo Playing Singer : Well, when I went back to town to get that bullet, I heard it official. That he swallowed his pride and begged.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : What bullet?

  Banjo Playing Singer : Why that bullet you had cut out of that Yankee Lieutenant you shot the last day of the war.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : How did you get it?

  Banjo Playing Singer : Your ma give it to us.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Why?

  Banjo Playing Singer : Well... Look at that.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : That ain't the bullet, that's a brand new one.

  Banjo Playing Singer : Ah but the head. It's been fix to shoot again. And there's writing on it.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Writing? What kind of writing?

  Banjo Playing Singer : Well, it says ah... Private O'Meara 6th Virginian Volunteer who shot this last bullet... in War... and missed! Ha-ha!

  [long laugh] 

  Banjo Playing Singer : It's a little token... a little token from us... to you.

  [Hands the bullet to O'Meara] 

• Banjo Playing Singer : But the best news... the best news was when your ma said that you come home... in one piece.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : The best news I got was when Lincoln was dead. What's the matter mama?

  Mrs. O'Meara : A man shows respect even if it's for a dead damn Yankee president!

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Have you lost your reason? That baboon was shot too late.

  Mrs. O'Meara : The bullet which killed him converted Trust into the north.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : You talk like you sick in the head.

  Mrs. O'Meara : well he said he was going to take us back in the Union didn't he?

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Who cares about the Union?

  Mrs. O'Meara : Lots of us do son. I know it seems a darn right shame we have to take a oath of alligence to the United states to become Americans again.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Lee is begging in the mud now that is fine fitting way to take us back in the union, ain't it?

  Mrs. O'Meara : Well, no man is feeding without some hatred.

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : And I hate mama... I hate... I don't understand ya ma. Pa was killed at Chicamorgan. Jeff had his head cut off at Fredricksburg. Eli... Elia laid with his belly in his hands bleeding to death in the wheat-fields of Gettysburg. mama I know, I'd seen them. I seen them skin and blood and I buried them. I buried them mama! You didn't! What am I suppose to say now to the Yankees?... Welcome home sir... I love you Yankees!... How did ya... how did you expect me to come home?

  Mrs. O'Meara : I expected you to come home a man with honor!

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : A man with honor? You expected me to come home with honor? What's the matter with you ma? What's the matter with all of ya?

  [starts yelling out loud] 

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : They came here and tore our land mama! The chased us when we had no legs! They stuffed their mouths with our food when we were starving to death! Where's your pride? what's happened to all of ya?

  [crying] 

  Mrs. O'Meara : The same what happened to some of us who had to take a licking and not cry over it! You don't have to fight for the cause no more!

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Mama, I don't have to do anything... I don't have to do anything. i am a rebel cause I want to be not cause I have to be!

  Mrs. O'Meara : Wherever you go... there's going to be Yankees and you got to learn to live with them!

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Well maybe but not the place I'll be.

  Mrs. O'Meara : What place?

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : The West! The far west!

  Mrs. O'Meara : You mean where the savages live?

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : Savages or no at least they have more pride than us!

  Mrs. O'Meara : There's no hiding place for what ails you son. We are all under one flag now!

  Pvt. O'Meara, 6th Virginia Volunteers Sharpshooter : I wanna tell you something mother... I'll hang... I'll hang before I recognized that flag!

  Mrs. O'Meara : Maybe a broken neck is the best answer for what ails ya!