MovieChat Forums > The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) Discussion > "I had to come back." But why?

"I had to come back." But why?

posted 8 years ago by GuyOnTheLeft
11 replies | jump to latest

?

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Bounty hunters need to make a living even if dying ain't much of a living...

Yup. As was discussed in another thread, the reason he had to come back was set up very well in the previous scene between Fletcher and Terrell ("come out of a war, no other way to make a living.") Very good direction by Eastwood.

I call woo woo on you,

[–] ck1-5 8 years ago

He just couldn't let the possibility of being the one to bring in the great Josey Wales go, although he should have...sort of like in the swamp, when Abe said that he "always wanted to face down one of these BIG TIME GUNFIGHTERS!". Abe should have listened to his buddy's advice: "Shoot 'im now, Abe!".

[–] BenjiCarver 8 years ago

Shut up Lige.

I call woo woo on you,

[–] ck1-5 8 years ago

The only winner there was the third guy that Lige was yelling to about catching "the Josey Wales", who stayed in the brush until the shooting was over with, and then high-tailed it.

[–] star_in_the_zenith_79 8 years ago

He must have been desperate. That money did him no good trying to take a guy he could not beat. I guess maybe he thought he might get lucky and Josey's pistol misfire or something.

[–] Godfrey2 8 years ago

He had to come back because he couldn't stand not trying to be "The One" who caught/shot Josie Wales. "Maybe just this once I can be faster than him."

[–] NutMustardx 8 years ago

He came back because he couldn't live with himself not knowing if he could have taken down wales. Only way to find out is to go for it...the bounty hunter did the right thing and the noble thing, and he didn't try to shoot wales in the back. He met him face to face and only one man walks away. Give the guy credit. He had some balls.

[–] nahuil 8 years ago

Besides the other good reasons, I would add pride. Seems to me that he couldn't face the shame of walking away.

[–] Darren (1124) 7 months ago

It's explained in the novel the film is based on, "Gone to Texas."

After the bounty hunter says "I had to come back," and Josey replies "I know," the novel reads:

"He knew, once a pistolman was broken, he was walking dead; the nerve gone and reputation shattered. He wouldn't last past the story of his breaking, which would always go ahead of him wherever he went."

[–] PaladinNJ (20310) 5 months ago

Money.