re: Al Swearengen Quotes Compendium

A few I love:

quote:

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How does Hearst hope to defeat me? Allied as I am with the imbecile, the contemptible, and the promiscuous fricking insane.

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And my all time favorite, a dialogue between Swearengen and newspaper editor A.W. Merrick (Jeffrey Jones), after Merrick’s presses have been destroyed by local toughs upset by Merrick’s publication of a notice that existing gold claims might be thrown out if Deadwood is annexed to the U.S. Swearengen’s final line is a kind of mini-soliloquy that sums up his character perfectly:

Al: (Sits, lets out a sigh) Why ain’t you up and running again?
Merrick: I’m in despair. The physical damage is repairable, but the psychic wound may be permanent.
Al: (After a pause.) You ever been beaten, Merrick?
Merrick: (Rolls his eyes) Once, when I thought I had the smallpox, Doc Cochran slapped me in the face –
(Al slaps him.)
Merrick: Ah! (He stares at Al, touching his cheek — he leans forward) Stop it, Al.
Al: Are you dead?
Merrick: Well, (touches cheek) I’m in pain, but no, I’m obviously not dead.
Al: And obviously you didn’t fricking die when the Doc slapped you.
Merrick: No.
Al: So including last night, that’s three fricking damage incidents that didn’t kill you. Pain or damage don’t end the world, or despair, or frickin’ beatings. The world ends when you’re dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man — and give some back.