The Power of the Dog (2021)

Benedict Cumberbatch: Phil Burbank

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Phil Burbank : Bronco Henry told me that a man was made by patience in the odds against him.

• George Burbank : Did you write to the old lady?

  Phil Burbank : Yeah, I dropped them both a line.

  George Burbank : Did you say something about Rose?

  Phil Burbank : Rose. Yeah well, you and I know what the old lady would feel if she thought you were getting mixed up with her. She'd likely have a haemorrhage.

  George Burbank : The old lady would feel as one Mrs Burbank would for another Mrs Burbank.

  Phil Burbank : Come again?

  George Burbank : We were married Sunday. She got rid of her property in Beech.

• George Burbank : I just came over to hear to speak about something.

  [pause] 

  Phil Burbank : Come on partner. Open your talker. What is it?

  George Burbank : His Nibs will be joining us for dinner. And the old gent and the old lady.

  Phil Burbank : Well sir, ain't we going into society.

  [both chuckle] 

  Phil Burbank : [on Rose]  She on the "panana" again? Setting your teeth on edge?

  George Burbank : No. I like to hear Rose play.

  Phil Burbank : Well, old timer, what is it? What's in the noodle?

  George Burbank : Well... Phil... I... I just...

  Phil Burbank : Go on, spit it out.

  George Burbank : It's just... about His Nibs, the governor.

  Phil Burbank : Alright.

  George Burbank : And er... it's not so much about His Nibs... but er, his wife, actually. I was thinking, His Nibs probably wouldn't mind so much. But... his missus might.

  Phil Burbank : Might what, for dear Christ's sake?

  George Burbank : Well, it's sort of a hard thing... to say. She might mind if you come to the table without a wash up.

  [Phil is too angry to reply] 

  George Burbank : [leaving]  Yeah.

• Phil Burbank : [amused, to Rose]  You didn't play? Sure did practice a terrible lot. She wouldn't think there was that much difference between a cinema pit and a dinner party.

• [looking at some paper flowers] 

  Phil Burbank : Well, well. Ain't them purrdy? I wonder, what little lady made these?

• Phil Burbank : You got a sore gut?

  George Burbank : No.

  Phil Burbank : It looks it pains you to hit two words together.

• George Burbank : I was looking for you.

  Phil Burbank : Well, you found me.

  George Burbank : Everyone's here. We're just about to eat. They were asking after you.

  Phil Burbank : Really?

  George Burbank : Yes, we're counting on your conversation. I wanted to apologise for what I said...

  Phil Burbank : You two can keep your apologies to yourself, I'm not coming.

  George Burbank : And what will I say? The Old Lady wants to see you, they've both come a long way.

  Phil Burbank : Then you tell them the truth. That I stink and I like it!

• Rose Gordon : Well, brother Phil, we had such a nice trip.

  Phil Burbank : I'm not your brother. You're a cheap schemer.

• George Burbank : What you said about her boy tonight, Phil. It made her cry.

  Phil Burbank : She had her ear to the door?

  George Burbank : She was crying, Phil.

  Phil Burbank : Well, hell. The boy had to snap out of it and get human. Just pointed it out, is all. She should damn well know.

• Phil Burbank : [toasting]  So, to us brothers, Romulus and Remus, and the wolf who raised us. Bronco Henry. El Lupo.

• Peter Gordon : Is something wrong, Phil?

  Phil Burbank : [furious]  Wrong? For Christ's sake. Every goddamn hide is gone! Oh, she really put her foot in it this time!

  Peter Gordon : You think she did it? She sold them?

  Phil Burbank : Bloody tootin'. Or maybe even gave them away.

  Peter Gordon : W-why? Why would she do that, Phil? She knew we needed the hides.

  Phil Burbank : [exploding]  Because she was drunk! Pie eyed, she was smashed! I think you'd know from the books your pa left you, that your ma's got... . uhhh what chamacallit alcoholic personality? It comes under the letter A!

  Peter Gordon : You're not going to say anything to her?

  Phil Burbank : Say anything? I won't say nothin'. But sure as one good hell brother George is going to.

• Jock : How come you don't wear gloves?

  Phil Burbank : How 'bout 'cause they're not needed... . Castrate fifteen hundred head, then nick your thumb on the last.

• George Burbank : Rose isn't well, Phil. She's ill.

  Phil Burbank : Not well? It is high time that bozo and you got next to a few... whatever you call them? Facts! She stashes alcohol all around the place, even drinking in the stinking alley. Look at your face in the mirror! Is it that she could like? Or our money? WAKE! THE HELL UP!

  George Burbank : [calmly]  That's enough, Phil. Well, what is the harm? The hides were only going to be burned.

  Phil Burbank : [with a pained expression]  I needed them. *I* needed them.

  George Burbank : Well, I apologise.

  George Burbank : [walks away] 

  Phil Burbank : They were MINE! I needed them!

• Peter Gordon : Did Bronco Henry teach you to ride, Phil?

  Phil Burbank : Yep. He taught me to use my eyes in ways that other people can't. Take that hill over there. Most people look at it and just see a hill. Where Bronco looked at it, what do you suppose he saw?

  Peter Gordon : A barking dog.

  Phil Burbank : The hell, you just saw that now?

  Peter Gordon : No. When I first came here. See, it looks like a dog with its jaw wide open.

  Phil Burbank : You... you just saw that?

  Peter Gordon : Yeah.

• Peter Gordon : How old were you when you met Bronco Henry?

  Phil Burbank : About the age you are now.

  Peter Gordon : Was he your best friend?

  Phil Burbank : Yeah... he was. He was more than that. Once, he saved my life. We were way off up in the hills shooting elk, and the weather turned mean. Bronco kept me alive by... lying body against body in a bedroll. Fell off to sleep that way.

  Peter Gordon : Naked?

• Phil Burbank : Pete. Hey, Pete. Peter.

  Peter Gordon : You want me, Mr. Burbank?

  Phil Burbank : Well, I don't see any Mr. Burbank here. I'm Phil.

  Peter Gordon : Yes, Mr. Burbank.

  Phil Burbank : I guess it's hard for a young'un like you to call an old fella like me just plain Phil, at first. Now come and take a look at this. Have you done any braiding or plaiting yourself, Pete?

  Peter Gordon : No, I never have, sir.

  Phil Burbank : Peter, we kind of got off on the wrong foot.

  Peter Gordon : Did we, sir?

  Phil Burbank : Forget the Sir stuff. That can happen to people. People who get to be good friends. Well, you know what?

  Peter Gordon : What? What, Phil?

  Phil Burbank : Now, you see? You did it. You called me Phil. I'm gonna finish this rope and give it to you and teach you how to use it. Sort of a lonesome place out here, Pete. Unless you get in the swing of things.

  Peter Gordon : Thank you... Phil.

• Phil Burbank : I didn't get washed up, so I didn't come.

  Old Lady : You didn't wash?

  The Governor : Oh, he's a ranchman, isn't that right? That's honest dirt.

• Phil Burbank : Where is the boy?

• The Governor's Wife : Oh, you're Phil. So, you weren't eaten by a cougar.

  Phil Burbank : Not yet.