- Rowdy Yates: On a trail drive, each and every man has his chore. The eye of the drive is the scout, riding out in front to test the trail and find water and bed ground. Others are stationed around the herd, hazing it when it moves and soothing it when it's bedded down. A very important man is the master of the chuck wagon, because he's not only got to be a good trail cook, but a jack of all trades as well. The man who holds the whole kit and kaboodle together is the trail boss. There's one man in the outfit whoses got no chores of his own, gotta be ready and willin' to take over anyone else's. Yeah, that's me - ramrod of this outfit, Rowdy Yates.
- Rowdy Yates: Ma'am, that stage with the mail was due yesterday.
- Lena Biggs: Don't you get your hopes all raised up, Sonny. Just tell yourself it's due in some time this month and you won't be disappointed.
- Rowdy Yates: We don't make more than two mail stops on a trail drive. Letters are all a man has to remind him there's more than steers and drovers in this world.
- Lena Biggs: I been running this office since my man died five years ago, and I ain't yet got to see that stage in on time.
- Rowdy Yates: Boss said to wait so I'll wait. Hey, let me tote that thing for you, Ma'am. You'll go straining yourself.
- Lena Biggs: [She stands there holding the barrel] You wouldn't want to Indian wrestle, would you, Boy?
- Rowdy Yates: Oh, no. No. Thanks for asking.
- Lena Biggs: Why don't you go get yourself some breakfast, Sonny. You make me nervous loafing around looking like a hang-dog.
- [She wanders off carrying the barrel. Rowdy attempts to lift another barrel but can barely move it. He rubs his stomach deciding that breakfast is the better alternative]
- Ella Cowley: I'd hate to see you get in any deeper. I think we ought to settle up now.
- Rowdy Yates: Settle up?
- Ella Cowley: I already carried you over $300. That's not counting the stake I gave you to begin with.
- Rowdy Yates: $300? Phew. Look, when I get to Sedalia, I got a salary plus a bonus. I could send you...
- Ella Cowley: I'm not in the business of staking trail trash.
- Rowdy Yates: Trail trash? I guess you don't mean it, being a lady and all.
- Luisa Esquivel Y Hadley: The horse is merely a highly-strung Mustang.
- Albert Hadley: Yes, there's depressing list of casualties to testify to that.
- Rowdy Yates: Who was that?
- Goyo: Just the witch woman. She would not find the holiday complete without taking the hot blood of a rooster.
- Rowdy Yates: There's gonna be all kinds of fun around here tomorrow.
- Albert Hadley: Someday I'll kill you, Luisa.
- Luisa Esquivel Y Hadley: [She laughs] For that you need passion, Alberto.
- Goyo: I found him poisoning the minds of the stupid ones against you.
- Luisa Esquivel Y Hadley: Is that true, Tovar? Answer me.
- Tovar: You have the word of Goyo. I have nothing to say.
- Luisa Esquivel Y Hadley: How many more think as you?
- Tovar: I will tell you that in a week that has no Friday.
- Luisa Esquivel Y Hadley: You are fools. For 20 years, we, the Esquivels, have given you a place to work, a place to eat and a place to sleep. And now you throw it all away. And why? Because Tovar speaks to you. He speaks to you about another peon just like yourselves, Juarezfrom Mexico . Who promises you what? Beautiful words, equality and freedom. You don't know what that means! It means to you that when you are ill and when you are old and when the sun is burning your crop year after year, that is nobody but nobody to help you. You think that Juarez and Tomar will help you. NEVER! They are too busy talking. About equality and freedom. I cannot let you do it! i will not let you do change your ways that were good ways! They were the ways of your father and his father!
- Albert Hadley: Can I get you a drink?
- Rowdy Yates: Ah, no. I, ah, had one this morning and it cost me $300.