The Rifleman (TV Series)

The Indian (1959)

Michael Ansara: Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart

Photos 

Quotes 

• U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Has not an Indian eyes, hands, organs, senses, affections, fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a white man? If you prick him, does he not bleed? If you tickle him, does he not laugh? And if you wrong him, will he not avenge?

• U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Hostay, the whites are strong as the mountain grizzly. But their laws are wise and just. And I say to you that, for a while, the Apache and all the tribes must endure the bear hug of the whites so that our grandchildren and theirs might live under these good laws as brothers. It is for this only that I have come to take the young man, Eskimimzin.

  Chief Hostay : That is the truth, Buckhart?

  U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : I too am Chiricahua. It is the truth, Hostay.

• Chief Hostay : Eskimimzin, my son... You go to die for the Apache Nation. It is a great honor to make such a sacrifice.

  U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : He will have a fair trial.

  Chief Hostay : It is understood.

  U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Then why did you say sacrifice?

• U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Hostay, the law I speak of does not seek to punish the Indian because he is an Indian.

• Lusas McCain : Buckhart, look at me. It stands to reason you were appointed out here to work with your own people. Something like this couldn't have been figured in advance. Why don't you just send back for... some other federal marshal?

  U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : My assignment is to bring in the man who started the fire.

• U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Practical? There was a Roman philosopher who once said no harm could come to a man who is doing his duty.

  Lusas McCain : And you and I have seen many men die doing their duty.

  U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Which takes away most from a man, Lucas? Death or cowardice?

• Lusas McCain : Now look, I'm not just thinking of you. North Fork's my boy's home. I don't want it turning into a lynch town.

  U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Maybe you're giving me too much credit and the town not enough.

• Lusas McCain : You're just too blame proud.

  U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart : Just like you, huh, Lucas?