Lonesome Dove (1989)

Tommy Lee Jones: Woodrow F. Call

Photos 

Quotes 

• Woodrow Call : [after beating a man nearly to death for hitting Newt he climbs on his horse and looks at the horrified towns people]  I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it.

• Woodrow Call : [Call thinks Gus has died]  Augustus.

  Gus McCrae : [opens his eyes]  By God, Woodrow; it's been one hell of a party.

  [dies] 

• Woodrow Call : You ever get tired o' loafin' I reckon you can get a job waitin' on tables.

  Gus McCrae : Oh, I had a job waitin' tables once. S' on a riverboat. I wasn't no older than Newt, there, but I hadda give it up.

  Newt : How come?

  Gus McCrae : Well I was, too young and pretty and the whores wouldn't let me alone.

• [referring to the Hat Creek Cattle Company sign] 

  Woodrow Call : ...and if that ain't bad enough you got all them Greek words on there, too.

  Gus McCrae : I told you, Woodrow, a long time ago it ain't Greek, it's Latin.

  Woodrow Call : Well what does it say in Latin?

  [Gus blusters some gibberish] 

  Woodrow Call : For all you know it invites people to rob us.

  Gus McCrae : Well the first man comes along that can read Latin is welcome to rob us, far as I'm concerned. I'd like a chance t' shoot at a educated man once in my life.

• Woodrow Call : [after handing the gun to Newt]  It is better to have that and not need it, then to need it and not have it.

• Woodrow Call : Well, Augustus is dead. Died from blood poisonin' from them arrows them Indians shot in him. They cut off one of his legs, but the poison got in the other and he wouldn't let 'em cut it off. Stubborn about it; that's what killed him, bein' stubborn.

• Woodrow Call : [after burying Gus by the stream in Texas]  Well, Gus; there you go. I guess this will teach me to be more careful about what I promise people in the future.

• Woodrow Call : I guess it's our fault we should've shot sooner.

  Gus McCrae : I don't want to start thinking Woodrow of all the things we should have done for this good man.

• Woodrow Call : We come to this place to make money. They wasn't nothin' about fun in the deal.

  Gus McCrae : What are you talkin' about? You don't even like money. You like money even less than you like fun, if that's possible.

• Woodrow Call : [riding in San Antonio]  Things sure have changed since the last time I was here. It's all growed up.

  Gus McCrae : Of course it's growed up, Woodrow. He killed all the Indians and bandits so the bankers could move in.

  Woodrow Call : Only a fool would want the Indians back.

  Gus McCrae : Has it ever occurred to you, Woodrow; that all the work we done was for the bankers? Hell, we killed off everybody made this country interestin'!

• Woodrow Call : [Woodrow walking towards Gus]  I 'spect you been sittin' up all night reading the good book.

• Blue Duck : [Call is looking at Blue Duck in jail]  I hear you brought you stinkin' old friend to watch my hangin'.

  Woodrow Call : He'd have enjoyed it.

  Blue Duck : I should've killed him when I had a chance.

  Woodrow Call : I'd have killed you for it.

  Blue Duck : [laughing]  I stole horses, burned farms, killed men, raped women and stole children all over your territory and until today, you never even got a good look at me! I don't think you would've killed me. Rangers! I 'spect I'll kill a passel of you yet.

• Newt : Captain, can I go with you down to the river next time you go? I believe I'm gettin' old enough.

  Woodrow Call : You get old quick, sittin' out here on the porch, talkin'. Best go on to bed.

  Newt : It's still early, Captain.

  Woodrow Call : You go on to bed now, like I told you to.

  Gus McCrae : Now, why did you do that? Best chance the boy's got at a education is listenin' to me talk.

  Woodrow Call : What kinda education is that?

  Gus McCrae : You think he'll learn more shovelin' horse poop for you?

  Woodrow Call : I shoveled my share of it, it ain't hurt me none.

  Gus McCrae : Well, it's fine with me if that's how you wanna make your fortune.

• Gus McCrae : [Coming upon the sodbusters killed by Dan Suggs]  I'god, a man could get rich in the grave digging business around here. Pea, you ought to get a long shovel.

  Pea Eye Parker : I don't think I'd want to do that.

  Woodrow Call : This is a bad bunch we're after.

  Newt : Gus, Jake wouldn't have nothin' to do with something like this!

  Gus McCrae : Jake's always been a drifter Newt. Any wind can blow him.

• Woodrow Call : How do I know you won't start missin' your wife after about five miles and decide to quit?

  Po Campo : My wife is in hell; where I sent her.