- Jules Vincent: You think you're the law in a red coat, huh? To me you're just a man who come to get me killed.
- Jules Vincent: You don't mind about the weather, huh?
- Constable Pedley: To tell you the truth, I never could do anything about it.
- Constable Pedley: Remember this, I could have dumped you anywhere and written in that little book of mine that you think is so funny that you made a break for it and got away. Then I'd have to become a man like you. Or was it an animal you said you were? Before I turn into that, I'll let this country take me.
- Jules Vincent: Tell me, you're part Chippewa, are you not? What are you doing here...
- Indian Girl: In a place like this?
- Jules Vincent: Yes.
- Indian Girl: I wonder myself. I thought maybe - you see I wanted to sing. Now it's just a job. One has to eat, that's all.
- Jules Vincent: It's not enough.
- Indian Girl: Why isn't it?
- Jules Vincent: Because you're not happy.
- Indian Girl: And how can you tell this?
- Jules Vincent: Oh, the way you sing, the way you act.
- Indian Girl: Well, if I'm not happy, at least I'm working.
- Jules Vincent: No, no work is is good that does not make you happy.
- Jules Vincent: You try to take me in, bébé, and the same will happen with you as with him. I'll bury you, too.
- Constable Pedley: You should have buried Brody.
- Jules Vincent: I killed him. If I hadn't killed him, he'd have gotten me killed and the girl with me. I kill only to live, bébé. I kill what attacks me, man or animal.
- [last lines]
- Jules Vincent: [just before departing, Jules and the Indian Girl stop and give their kitten to Pedley] We got something for you. New generation, huh?
- Constable Pedley: What am I gonna to do with this?
- Jules Vincent: Well, build a house around it. Hey, by the way... did you really shoot to kill me?
- Constable Pedley: Sure I did.
- [smiles]
- Constable Pedley: Sometimes I miss, that's all.
- Jules Vincent: [grins and pats Pedley on the shoulder] Ah, ha ha!
- [Jules and the Indian Girl start to walk away]
- Constable Pedley: Hey, what's its name?
- Jules Vincent: Hey, you name it.
- Constable Pedley: [looks at the meowing kitten] Hey, Bébé!
- Constable Pedley: Why didn't you let them kill me?
- Jules Vincent: Don't worry, bébé. That's a job I'm keeping especially for myself.
- Jules Vincent: Think I wanted to kill that man? You think I'd like that?
- Constable Pedley: It isn't my job, Jules.
- Jules Vincent: I just asked.
- Constable Pedley: It isn't my job what a man is. It's what he does.
- Callahan: Well, what'll it be for you?
- Constable Pedley: Information.
- Callahan: That's one thing I don't sell.
- Constable Pedley: I'm not buying it.
- Callahan: I don't give it away, either.
- Jules Vincent: Yeah, a fellow once said that sleep was the little death. With you, it might be the big one, huh? You follow me?
- [laughs]
- Jules Vincent: [as they've reached the town and Jules is trying to shake Pedley out of his stupor, yelling] You wanna go in like this? You want people to talk about it the rest of their lives - how the mouse brought back the cat?
- Constable Pedley: I don't like to take you in. It's like taking a bear or a deer to the zoo. But, the law has to be - even if sometimes gets the wrong animal in the trap. You can change it; but, you can't break it.
- Jules Vincent: I just - bent it a little.
- Constable Pedley: Only it broke.
- Jules Vincent: [at night at the camp fire with Pedley, out of coffee, Jules pours hot water into a cup] Hot water. You know, I can take anything this country can throw at me, but I got to have coffee. Like that Greek guy, I got my Achilles heel, too. Coffee.
- Father Simon: It'll be a bad winter. One of the worst.
- Jules Vincent: Well, I've seen the best, Father, I wouldn't like to miss the worst!
- Bartender: Look, friend, I can talk about anything - anything you'd like.
- Jules Vincent: Like? I like that girl, over there.
- Jules Vincent: Don't make it more than it is.
- Indian Girl: I know what it is. It's your life!
- Jules Vincent: Listen, for a man or a mole or a bird, everyday is life and death.
- Jules Vincent: Hey bébé, what do you think about when you cannot sleep?
- Constable Pedley: Sleep.
- Jules Vincent: Do you ever think about death?
- Jules Vincent: That's right, bébé, you put it all down. But, in the end, I'll write the last word in your little book.
- Constable Pedley: Where's Jules Vincent?
- Callahan: Where's a fox? Where's a timber wolf? Now, how would I know where he is?
- Constable Pedley: He's your friend.
- Callahan: Well, so is God.
- Constable Pedley: Survival's the thing. You said it yourself, Jules, just staying alive.
- Jules Vincent: You think I couldn't throw it away?
- Constable Pedley: Life? You're too full of it. Someone would have to kill it out of you.
- Jules Vincent: I come here to get drunk and - -
- [looks at the Indian Girl up and down]
- Jules Vincent: to talk.
- Indian Girl: Are you drunk now?
- Jules Vincent: No. Not yet. When I am drunk I got back to my trap lines. You see, a man should do what he does the best. If I were to go after gold, I would just be another fool. But, in my own life, I am the best. And gold can buy many things; but, it cannot buy that.
- Indian Girl: You are the best one?
- Jules Vincent: Sure. I am the best trapper in the north country.
- Indian Girl: You are sure you are not drunk yet?
- Constable Pedley: You can go to Jules Vincent's cabin. There's food there and when the weather clears, you can hunt.
- Sloan: How far is it?
- Constable Pedley: You can get there.
- Ruger: Say, aren't you Jules Vincent?
- Jules Vincent: Yeah.
- Ruger: You think we can make it?
- Jules Vincent: You can try.
- Ruger: You don't sound very sure.
- Jules Vincent: I don't know how good a man you are, friend. I could make it.