True Grit

Little Frank, you take care of your mom.

I will.

- You're not travelling very heavy, Tom. - I got all I need.

You should be taking the train, Frank. Fort Smith is too long a ride.

On Judy, 70 miles will be just a pleasant outing.

Yarnell, I know you'll take good care of the place for me.

You and my Mattie.

- Where is Mattie? - I'm in here, Papa.

Well, little bookkeeper, you got my wherewithal ready?

- Of course. - How much are you allowing?

There's right around...

...$150 cash money.

You better hand me my good luck gold pieces, too.

Buying Texas mustang ponies,

you're gonna need more luck than they put in at the mint.

You'll come around to my plan.

I intend to buy as many ponies as I can swing.

We'll breed them for deer hunting.

I don't think much of Texas ponies. They're small and chicken-brained.

I'd say small and tough.

Just right for keeping up with dogs through the brush.

- You want my advice, papa? - I always do.

- Buy the ponies cheap. - I expect to.

This Colonel Stonehill, he's got to get rid of them before winter sets in.

Papa, that gun's old-fashioned.

Why don't you buy a new one in Fort Smith?

It served me well at Chickamauga. It's got a long way to go yet.

Goodbye, Papa.

Tom Chaney, now there's trash for you.

He should have stayed here and looked after the place, it's his job.

After all, papa took him in when he was starving

and gave him a house to live in.

Come, Mattie, it's only an old tool shed.

You can still throw a cat through the south wall.

It's got a good roof.

- This game's crooked. - What do you mean?

You've been dealing me seconds!

Goddamn crooks! You've been stacking the decks!

Aw, come on, Tom.

We got our business done, we want to make an early start for home.

I don't think it's happening here.

Them card sharks is cheatin' me. I wanna get my money back.

Not full of whisky and with a gun, that's no way.

A gun'll say a whole lot quick.

You work for me, I won't allow you to get in trouble.

- Give me your gun. - I'll give you one end of it.

Give me that gun. Give me your gun.

All aboard!

Can you tell me where the undertaker is?

Around the corner from the courthouse, ma'am.

Thank you.

Can't understand all these people being here.

Man on the train told me everybody comin' here from every place.

I'd like to know why.

They're hanging three men today at the courthouse.

We better go and see about papa.

I'll get you!

Man out rustling up business for himself, looks like.

Seems like we have us a lot of time to waste before we see anybody much.

I can tell what you want, Yarnell. You want to go to that hanging.

'Fraid I can't. Your mama said to keep an eye on you.

Well, I'll go along. Don't worry, I won't tell mama.

Who wants peanuts?! Fresh!

Hot tamales!

That man up there on the porch...

That's Judge Parker. He watches all the hangings.

- He says it's his sense of duty. - Who knows what's in a man's heart?

Hangman's a Yankee.

They say he won't spring the trap on a boy that wore the blue.

No, I'm here. I'll see it all.

My goodness.

That's not a faint-hearted judge.

Chaney would get his due before such a judge.

Is that the man?

That is my father.

If you would like to kiss him, it will be all right.

No.

Put the lid on it.

I'm Mattie Ross of near Dardanelle in Yell County,

and this is my friend, Yarnell Poindexter, he works on our place.

Yes, ma'am. State your business.

My father was killed in Fort Smith by a coward named Tom Chaney.

I'm here to find out what you're doing about the murder.

Well, we do know this much: his name's Chambers, he's now in Indian territory,

we think he was with Lucky Ned Pepper robbing a mail hack

Tuesday down on the Poteau River,

he's a medium-height man with a black mark on his cheek.

That's a description of Tom Chaney, there's no Chambers to it.

He got that black mark when a man fired a pistol in his face

and the powder got under the skin.

Why aren't you out looking for him?

I have no authority in the Indian Nation.

He's now the business of the US marshal.

Who's the best marshal they have?

Bill Waters is the best tracker.

The meanest one is Rooster Cogburn, a pitiless man, double tough,

fear don't enter into his thinking. I'd have to say L.T. Quinn

is the straightest, he brings his prisoners in alive.

Where would I find this Rooster?

He'll be at the federal court this afternoon.

His bringing in a load of prisoners from the territory.

- Is Chaney one of them? - I don't know, that's federal business.

Your father's gun, you'll...

...want to take it home, I expect.

His saddle is at Colonel Stonehill's stock barn

and the rest of his things are at the Monarch Boarding House.

I won't rest until Tom Chaney's barking in hell.

Yarnell...

...you stay with Papa.

When you get him home, you put him in a better coffin,

and you bury him in Mason's apron.

Your mama ain't gonna like you not coming home with me.

Mama knows I can take care of myself.

And tell her not to sign anything until I get back.

People will take it wrong that I leave this to you, Yarnell,

but I got Papa's business to attend to.

Now, you tell Mama that I'm staying at the Monarch Boarding House

and I'm gonna stop over and see if Tom Chaney's one of the prisoners.

And then I'll see this Rooster Cogburn.

All right, get outta the way! Back up!

Back up!

Stand up!

Come on out!

Move along!

Are those the prisoners from the Indian territory?

Yes, ma'am.

Do you know if any one of them is Tom Chaney?

Cogburn ain't turned in his list yet.

- Which marshal is Rooster Cogburn? - The big fella with the eye patch.

Come on!

All right, take it away!

- Mr. Cogburn! - Wait! You come back here!

Mr. Cogburn! Mr. Cogburn!

I said you come back here!

All right, come on up.

If Mr. Cogburn thinks I'm gonna be put off by a locked door,

he does not know me! I will be here when it opens.

When it opens, you're gonna be mighty hungry.

Best time for you to nail Rooster would be tomorrow.

He's due to testify before Judge Parker in the Wharton case.

Thank you very much. I appreciate your kindness.

Have some more dumplings, dear?

At the rate of 25 cents per meal, I might just as well.

I was hoping you were enjoying the dumplings.

They're all right. I can't see 25 cents in a little flour and grease.

- You're late, Mr. La Boof. - The French is "La Boeuf,"

I call it "La Beef".

Mr. La Boeuf came in this evening.

Your spurs, please.

My poor chairs are scratched enough already.

A right fancy rig, sir.

Watch out for the chicken and dumplings.

- They'll hurt your eyes. - How's that?

They'll hurt your eyes looking for the chicken!

You squirrel-headed bastard!

Howdy. What's your name?

I'd like to go to bed now. But first I'd like to see my father's traps.

I'll take a guess and say your name is Mattie Ross.

- This Mr. La Boeuf is a handsome man. - He needs a bath and a shave.

He hails from Texas.

Judge he's right proud of his cowlick.

How do you suppose he guessed my name?

He's a good guesser, I guess!

We're short of rooms on account of the hanging.

But you'll sleep in here with Grandma Turner.

Now, don't you worry about Grandma Turner, she's used to doubling up.

I take it my rent will be half, then?

This is your father's traps. The watch and the knife are inside.

The man Chaney stole his money and his horse.

What is your opinion of a federal marshal called Rooster Cogburn?

Rooster Cogburn! Lord, I've heard some terrible things about him!

He loves to pull a cork, I know that!

His Honour, Judge Parker! All rise!

I'll have a peppermint to settle my stomach.

Yes, sir. Right, sir.

The United States Court of the western district,

having criminal jurisdiction in the Indian territory, is now in session.

Is that Judge Parker, the hanging judge?

Yeah. He's a tough customer. There's no appeal from his court

except to the President of the United States!

Call Deputy Marshal Cogburn.

Mr. Reuben J. Cogburn will take the stand.

Sworn this morning, you're still sworn. Take the stand.

Defence will cross-examine.

Mr. Cogburn, you testified for the prosecution this morning.

Now, in order to refresh our memories, allow me to summarise what you said.

According to your story...

...C. C. Wharton grabbed a shotgun and killed Marshal Potter.

Then he turned the gun on you, you say, and you shot him.

Then you say the father swung his axe, and you shot him, too.

The defendant here tried to run, you say, and you also shot him.

Just winged him, or he wouldn't be here to pay up.

The old man and C.C. hit the ground dead.

How long have you been a deputy marshal, Mr. Cogburn?

Four years, come March.

How many men have you shot in that time?

- The prosecution objects! - Overruled!

How many men have you shot since you became a marshal, Mr. Cogburn?

- I never shot nobody I didn't have to! - That was not the question. How many?

Shot or killed?