Bret Maverick (TV Series)

The Lazy Ace: Part 1 (1981)

Ed Bruce: Tom Guthrie

Quotes 

• Tom Guthrie : Well, there's no law against buying votes. Some of the folks around here need the money more than they need the choice. That's just the way it's done now. Now if you'll excuse me...

  Rodney Catlow : Well, M.L. says you should give longer speeches.

  Tom Guthrie : So she has told me more than once. Speech-making and hand-shaking don't have anything to do with being a good sheriff. When I came to this town, they didn't even have elections. I ran off the Bannavich Gang and they hired me. It was as simple as that. Now a man has to kiss babies... among other things.

• [Mary Lou follows Bret and Tom to the showdown] 

  Bret Maverick : What's she doing out there?

  Tom Guthrie : I made the mistake of telling her she couldn't come.

• Tom Guthrie : For a man who hates violence, you came pretty well heeled.

  Bret Maverick : With Ramsey Bass around, I don't want more of that violence happening to me.

• Tom Guthrie : Besides, if I go ridin' off with him on some lost cause, who's to keep 'em from stuffin' the ballot box with votes for Dowd? I gotta stay in town, M.L., to protect my job.

  Mary Lou Springer, Publisher Sweetwater Territorian : I thought your job was protecting people!