OR What Murdoch Might have Said
(But didn't, since he has so few lines in each episode)
Now of course, we all love Murdoch, but I did read somewhere that
Mr. Duggan was not happy with his role on the show, so decided he was "fair game".
The Homecoming (aka The High Riders)
Upon laying eyes on his two adult sons, together for the first time (awkward moment),
ML's first word to them is: "Drink?"
What he was thinking: "And it's not because I feel like celebrating."
and/or "And I must have been drunk when I came up with this idea."
When he's talking to Teresa, ML says "I ought to get myself a dog. They don't answer back."
What he was thinking: "But they still get all the good scenes."
When Johnny is shot off of his horse, ML stops Scott from dashing out after him, by saying:
"There's no use. I'd like to know what that boy was doing."
What he was thinking: "I know what he's not doing. He's not getting a share of this ranch."
When Johnny starts moving, ML says to Scott: "Look at your brother", prompting Scott to go out after him.
What he was thinking: "D--n, I'm going to have to give him one-third of the ranch after all."
In Chase a Wild Horse
When Murdoch gives Johnny his watch, what he says is: "Its old, but its still a good time piece.
Keep it. I . . . Uh . . . ."
JL: "What?"
ML: "Nothing."
What he was thinking: "Why should I say anything? You don't have a shirt on. No one's listening to me."
When Johnny is late coming back to help Scott with the surveying, Scott offers to do the work by himself.
What ML says is "Scott, stop trying to cover for him".
What he was thinking: "If you really want to cover for him, then go get him a shirt----not a pink one either, something bland and boring. Give him one of yours."
In The Escape
What ML says to Teresa when he first learns that Scott is missing: "Don't worry about Scott, he's a big boy, he can take care of himself."
What he was thinking: And if you believe that, then I have a herd of cattle to sell you, because I don't ever have time to do any ranching around here."
What ML says to Teresa about Scott: "No, Teresa, no son of mine could do a thing like that--that's one thing I'm still sure of in this life."
What he was thinking: "Of course, Teresa, as you well know, Scott and I have only recently become acquainted. He may very well be a traitor--or worse. Much worse. If he is, well, there's one thing I'm sure of --I'm kicking him the hell off of this ranch. Make that two things--I'm sure that I need a drink."
In Legacy
In a flashback sequence in Boston with Scott's grandfather, Harlan Garrett,
ML asks "Have you told Scott about me?"
What he was thinking: "I really hope not. Because, as you can see, I don't have a present. Just my luck that I finally show up here and it turns out to be his birthday."
When Scott enters the room with his grandfather to announce that he's leaving,
ML prompts him with "What is it son?"
What he was thinking: "Come on, hurry up, out with it, so we can get to my next flashback."
When ML is talking to Johnny, the ex-gunfighter, about his encounter with the Degan boys' father,
what he says is "There are some things in this world a man tries to forget, Johnny--killing a man's one of them."
What he was thinking: " So, tell me, son, how you sleep at night?"
When Scott is about to leave, ML says to him: "You know son, if you ever . . ."
What he was thinking: "Want to come back, well, you can just forget it."
Closing scene: What ML says in response to Jelly's comparison of Harlan Garrett to a hard drought:
"Even a hard drought can do some good, Jelly, --makes us appreciate what we sometimes take for granted."
What he was thinking: "It also makes us thirsty, Jelly, how about a drink?"
In The Buscaderos
After Murdoch pays his taxes in town, what he says is "I need a drink."
What he was thinking: "I need a drink."
After Drago and company shoot up the town, Jelly tells Murdoch:" Boss there's more.
They're out at the ranch. They took Scott prisoner."
Murdoch says nothing.
What he was thinking: "Scott? "
When he and Jelly undertake their mission to the ranch, Scott tells his father,
"It's a Mexican standoff, Murdoch. Take it from me, Johnny Madrid."
Again, Murdoch says nothing.
What he was thinking: "D--n that Jelly. He told me the blond one was Scott."
Back in town, discussing using the tax money to meet Drago's ransom demand, Jelly asks Murdoch:
"What about Scott, what if its true they think he's Johnny and their number one has a grudge against him?"
Murdoch says nothing.
What he was thinking: "Oh, right, Scott. He's the one I keep forgetting about."
Planning to deliver the ransom himself, Murdoch says "Lancer takes care of its own." Johnny enters and asks "Takes care of its own what?"
As Johnny poses in the doorway, Murdoch says nothing.
What he was thinking: "Heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!"
No, really:
What he was thinking: "Well, here's . . . . the other one. Finally decided to show up. Well, Jelly, it looks like our work in this episode is done. Let's go have a drink."
SBC
2003
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