The Westerner (TV Series)

The Painting (1960)

Brian Keith: Dave Blassingame

Quotes 

• [Dave admires Burgundy's portrait of a nude woman] 

  Dave Blassingame : That's a woman!

  Burgundy Smith : She is a woman all right, and that's just it. Her pleasant poetry turned shrill. She cried for marriage.

  Dave Blassingame : Well, what's the matter with that?

  Burgundy Smith : Ah, no. Oh, for the small span of an evening, maybe two, even a week, a woman's cool hand... she's delicious, the breath of life. A woman nameless is a respite from the hard travail of life. A woman new, sloe-eyed, silent, temporary. My raison-dete is my grail. It's my sweetest vessel. It's everything. But, Dave, a woman permanent, as a helpmate, as a life-long companion... oh, no, Dave, a woman as a wife - a downright catastrophe. Naw, I had too much of a good thing. Ah, me.

• [Dave, Burgundy and the painting are surrounded by a posse] 

  Dave Blassingame : Well, you done it again, Smith. You fixed the Blassingame wagon

  Burgundy Smith : We go out together, Dave. That's a comfort!

  Dave Blassingame : [unconvinced]  Surrre.

• Posse rider : Hey you down there! You want to parley?

  Dave Blassingame : Yes. Yes that's just what we want to do! You come on in!

  Burgundy Smith : Traitor!

  Dave Blassingame : They can perforate your hide, Smith, not mine! I'm just here for the ride and three hundred dollars, that's all.

  Burgundy Smith : Blassingame, you're a coward.

  Dave Blassingame : Yup!

  Burgundy Smith : You've got the guts of a lop-eared field mouse.

  Dave Blassingame : No, I ain't and you best make your peace, Smith, and make it now!

• Dave Blassingame : Smith, I hate to do this, but I got to hand it to you. That was the most deep-dyed in the wool, fancy-gaited, copper-plated job of fast-talkin' I've ever heard in all my born days. You had me wishin' I was you. Matter of fact, you even had me believin' it!

  Burgundy Smith : You can believe it, Dave boy, believe it. Ain't she a darb, though.

  Dave Blassingame : Oh, yeah, she's all you said and even more.

  Burgundy Smith : Yeah!

  Dave Blassingame : Now, you ain't really going to marry her, are you?

  Burgundy Smith : Yes I will, Dave. Yes I will.

  Dave Blassingame : Aw, Burgundy...

  Burgundy Smith : That is the most woman since Eve bit the apple. I love her!

  Dave Blassingame : Well, sure, fine, but marriage... that's-that's for always.

  Burgundy Smith : Yep. Through the years.

  Dave Blassingame : Smith, a woman is for an evening, maybe two...

  Burgundy Smith : Eternity!

  Dave Blassingame : Oh, come on, Smith. A woman temporary - that's the cry, ain't it?

  Burgundy Smith : Yesss.

  Dave Blassingame : Why sure, that's what you told me.

  Burgundy Smith : Yeah, I did, didn't I?

  Dave Blassingame : Sure, Smith, think of it. Marriage - marriage, that's somethin' that's permanent! That means a velvet noose around your neck. It means a wife... a wife! That'll flatten ya.

  Burgundy Smith : Well, I-I just wasn't thinking.

  Dave Blassingame : A catastophe. A catastrophe!

  Burgundy Smith : Well, thank you, Blassingame. I-I just got carried away. She must have just pushed me out of my head.

  Dave Blassingame : Remember, small doses like you said.

  Burgundy Smith : Yeah, yeah.

  [Dave turns away and Burgundy slugs him with his pistol butt] 

  Burgundy Smith : Right, Dave Boy, right. I could have lost a fortune.