Wagon Train (TV Series)

The Kitty Pryer Story (1963)

Bradford Dillman: Miles Brisbane

Quotes 

• Miles Brisbane : They can only hang you once. Horse stealing is a worse offence tham wife beating. How do you like that for justice?

• Miles Brisbane : I was only trying to show my profound respect for any minion of the law.

• Miles Brisbane : If you are who I think you are, the years have been unkind to you too.

• Victor Harp : Victor Harp, Harvard Class of '59.

  Miles Brisbane : You've got no class.

  Victor Harp : My, my lovely wife, Martha, told me you were living here and your circumstances

  [in jail] 

  Miles Brisbane : Martha. That's a woman's name that rings no bells.

  Victor Harp : Martha is the woman I traded Harvard '59 for. Martha de Bruin, I believe she's from the same snob hill your family dropped you off.

  Miles Brisbane : Oh, my disintegration is still social news. I'm unpleasantly surprised.

  Victor Harp : Let's go somewhere and talk. This isn't my favourite club.

  Miles Brisbane : What evil reason do you have for paying my dues?

• Miles Brisbane : And tell the wahines to go down to the beach. I'll be along when the sun isn't so hot.

  Victor Harp : He doesn't know what he's talking about.

  Miles Brisbane : What hope is there for society that doesn't appreciate the art of the hula, the freedom of space on an outrigger, the beauty of uninhibited wahines.

• Miles Brisbane : No, no, I was disbarred as part of my disgrace to the human race so I'm leaving it.

• Miles Brisbane : What's the penalty for being an agnostic?

  Christopher Hale : Like I said, Mr Brisbane, we hold to the Law. that's what I get paid to do.

  Miles Brisbane : Among other things.

• Kitty Pryer : What kind of man are you?

  Miles Brisbane : I'm just a hired hand. Like you

  [she slaps him with a hard whack across his face] 

  Miles Brisbane : I'd sure hate to put a gun in your hands.

• Sanders : I'm sure sorry for you, Mr Brisbane. What a thing to happen. Where's Hale?

  Miles Brisbane : You're sorry for me? What's happened?

  Sanders : Look, I gotta get Chris Hale. Don't make me the one to tell you.

  Miles Brisbane : Tell me what?

  Sanders : Your wife shot a hole as big as your fist in Mr Harp.

• Miles Brisbane : Tell me, when you were a little girl, didn't your Mummy and Daddy ever tell you what happens to little girls that play with fire?

• Kitty Pryer : That woman's a Salem witch.

  Miles Brisbane : Very well put. You have the whole picture of Martha's society. You can say anything as long as you don't quite tell the truthand wear a smile.

  Kitty Pryer : Poor Victor, how he must suffer.

  Miles Brisbane : Now wait. That Salem witch rides a golden broom. That shiny dust that she sprinkles on him kills a lot of the pain.

• Miles Brisbane : Well, where did you think you could run to? They'd find you. You've got a chance with the wagon train. As much chance as you do in this country with some dirty uncivilised Indian.

  Kitty Pryer : That uncivilised Indian only tried to help me.

  Miles Brisbane : Sure, sure, just like the civilised law and justice you'll get back there.

  Kitty Pryer : You a bounty hunter.

  Miles Brisbane : Mm, mm.

  Kitty Pryer : For money.

  Miles Brisbane : Mm, mm.

  Kitty Pryer : You sell me? You know what you are?

  Miles Brisbane : Yes, but you murdered him, Honey, not me.

• Miles Brisbane : [after turning the knife back on the Indian]  You kill one man, you get hung. Another, you get a medal.

• Miles Brisbane : You're my last ticket left. I'm taking you in alive.

  Kitty Pryer : Try.

  Miles Brisbane : What did you say?

  Kitty Pryer : I said, try. Let's go.

  Miles Brisbane : No, no, not yet. We'll wait until the sun gets low. A day without water. Oh no, we're not taking any chances.

• Miles Brisbane : There's a Chinese proverb: Going to the Law is like losing a cow for the sake of a cat.

• Kitty Pryer : So this is your island.

  Miles Brisbane : Kitty, I didn't figure it this way for you.

• Miles Brisbane : She's nothing you stomp on and forget.

• Miles Brisbane : You pay for everything you get or do in this life.

  Kitty Pryer : And mistakes?

  Miles Brisbane : Ten times over for mistakes.

  Kitty Pryer : Nothing off for admitting you're wrong?

  Miles Brisbane : Nothing.

  Kitty Pryer : For being sorry?

  Miles Brisbane : Nothing.

  Kitty Pryer : Nothing. Nothing? Not even if something's happened and you're not the same person?

  Miles Brisbane : Not even if someone cares.

  Kitty Pryer : No way to start over?

  Miles Brisbane : Some mistakes kick you out of the human race.

  Kitty Pryer : Miles.

  Miles Brisbane : Kitty. Two people alone on a prairie don't count. Dream and wake up. Nothing.

  Kitty Pryer : I hope you find your island.

• Miles Brisbane : The sun fills your world with light. You bathe in its warmth. And then suddenly a cloud comes between you. What was light is suddenly black. What gave you life now gives off the chill of death. You had to fight for the sun again. You tried to destroy the cloud.

• Miles Brisbane : I'd probably do anything but kill. I's do that too if I wasn't a confirmed coward.

  Victor Harp : Yes, I know your breed.

  Miles Brisbane : How could ya?

  Victor Harp : I wouldn't trust most men with what I'm asking you to do. They just don't have your brand of honour.