The Black Rose (1950)

Tyrone Power: Walter of Gurnie

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Quotes 

• Walter of Gurnie : Oh, how do we find your tent?

  Bayan : Scholar, if any man in my army can't tell you where my tent is, our poetic young bowman can use him as a target.

• Tristram Griffin : I was thinking about going with you.

  Walter of Gurnie : To Cathay?

  Tristram Griffin : Well, where's that?

  Walter of Gurnie : Well, it's a long way from your forest.

  Tristram Griffin : Well, maybe Sarah would like it there.

  Walter of Gurnie : Now, don't talk too lightly about it, Tris,. If we should go to such a place, the chances are all you'll get out of it is that, in the end, you'll be hung by a Mongol instead of a Norman.

  Tristram Griffin : Well, if it comes to that, I'd sooner give the pleasure to somebody I don't know than a Norman I hate.

  Walter of Gurnie : A far land it is then. I guess this is the beginning.

• Walter of Gurnie : [after the battle]  I saw you at the beginning. You and your bowman against those fire tubes.

  Tristram Griffin : They sounded like the anger of God! I think perhaps they were! They're killing every man, woman, and child in the district like harvesters through a field of grain! They pull their heads forward by the hair for the ax. Not one left alive! Like harvesters cutting wheat!

• Bayan : You can refuse to go if you want to. The risk is great enough.

  Walter of Gurnie : No. I'll go, my Lord.

  Bayan : It's settled then.

  [as Walter turns to go] 

  Bayan : Scholar? Maybe I'm a little sorry I thought of this journey for you, but be sure of this: if they kill you, I'll kill 10 of them for every hair on your head... I have a strange feeling I may not see you again... If that's true, I'll miss you, Scholar... I don't miss many men.

  Walter of Gurnie : Well, for your sake, I'll try not to get killed.

• Walter of Gurnie : Well, that's the end of something or the beginning of something, I don't know.

• Tristram Griffin : Now, what heathen...

  Walter of Gurnie : The Crusades have given these people reason enough not to love Christians. Besides, we're not looking for trouble. We're looking for the biggest merchant with the biggest caravan to the farthest places.

  Tristram Griffin : He'll likely be the biggest pirate too.

• Walter of Gurnie : That mighty general is camped right over that hill with his army. We're camped here so that wild crew of his... doesn't get a look at the women we brought with us.

• Walter of Gurnie : Why is she called the Black Rose?

  Lu Chung : That's the name they've given the clove, the most precious of the spices.

• Lu Chung : I have a message for you, from the Black Rose.

  Walter of Gurnie : And who would the Black Rose be?

  Lu Chung : She is the sister of my kindly master.

  Walter of Gurnie : Well, that's fine.

  Lu Chung : She wishes to escape. She say she is going to England and that all Englishmen are gallant and you will be glad to help one of your own blood.

• Walter of Gurnie : Mahmoud, did you steal these things?

  Mahmoud : Mahmoud see, Mahmoud take.

• Walter of Gurnie : Unless you do as I say, I'm gonna send you back to the women's tent.

  Maryam : No. We'll do just as the miracle said - or - or I will tell them I'm here. All they will do to me is send me back with the other women. But they won't be so kind with you, I think. Now I think you will look to see if you think I am beautiful.

  Walter of Gurnie : All right, all right. You're beautiful.

• Walter of Gurnie : Oh, it's not gonna work. What are we gonna do now? I guess the only thing to do is just to sit here and wait for the ax to fall.

• Walter of Gurnie : Well, I'll tell you one thing. I'm sick of lost causes. If he conquers the world, at least we'll be on the winning side for a change.

• Maryam : I hoped you would begin telling me about England. What is it like there? Is it very beautiful?

  Walter of Gurnie : I don't know.

  Maryam : Do you think it's beautiful, Tris?

  Tristram Griffin : Yes, I think it's beautiful. The most beautiful place in the world. It smells good. The forest, the English soil. It's clean. The rain washes it that way, I suppose. It's so clean, it's fragrant with it.

• Walter of Gurnie : What is this place?

  Chinese Minister : It is the Palace of Her Unlimited Magnificence.

• Tristram Griffin : Where are you going?

  Walter of Gurnie : You can't just walk out of here without a plan. I'm gonna find out how to get to China.