Rip Torn: Sheriff Hank Pearson

Extreme Prejudice

Sheriff Hank Pearson

Sheriff Hank Pearson: The only time the Border Patrol wins hot pursuit is when they get laid.

Jack Benteen: You know, Hank, the next thing, you're gonna be complaining about the state legislature making women a Ranger. You know that.
Sheriff Hank Pearson: Hell, I don't care, as long as she's six-foot-six, mean as a snake. State legislature. Shit, Jack! Only thing worse than a politician is a child molester.

Sheriff Hank Pearson: You ain't just gonna walk in there, are ya'?
Jack Benteen: Oh, hell, I've known Chub since the third grade. You were just telling me what a nice kid he used to be. I'm just gonna go in there and have a beer with him.
Sheriff Hank Pearson: Shit, sounds reasonable. Just sit down, talk to him about how you shot his brother night before last.

Sheriff Hank Pearson: You and damn Cash, huh? Christ! Look at him today, in that white suit and that Mexican he had dressed up like Pancho Villa's army. He's still damn play-acting like he was still a kid.
Jack Benteen: Well, it's gone past that, Hank.
Sheriff Hank Pearson: Funny, ain't it, how it comes around. Right way's the hardest, wrong way's the easiest. Rule of nature, like water seeks the path of least resistance. So you get crooked rivers, crooked men.
Jack Benteen: I still like him. I'm still trying to count on my friend.
Sheriff Hank Pearson: [chuckles] Smartest crooks always did know how to get to a man inside. Women too, as far as that goes.

Sheriff Hank Pearson: You know, usually you could reason with a drunk, kids on loco weed, or a couple that was fightin'. You could cool 'em down, next day they'd thank you for it. Not now, boy. They get wired, they stay wired. Smack, snort, pill-poppin' dopes. You take them Luke boys, the one who drew on you and his brother Chub. Runnin' with scum. Christ, I used to fish with their dad! They were sweet kids. Not mad dogs, like they turned out to be, tryin' to bite you.