In a tense hotel room standoff, Dan Evans refuses to abandon his mission to escort the outlaw Ben Wade to the train, despite being offered a way out. He negotiates a future for his family's land and shares a poignant farewell with his son, William, entrusting him with the responsibility of the ranch and acknowledging the man he has become.
WADE: Here it comes...
BUTTERFIELD: Dan. I can’t do it.
WADE: They say discretion is the better part of Valor.
BUTTERFIELD: If you think you have an obligation to me or the railroad, you don’t. I’m releasing you.
WADE: So it’s just you now, Dan. And your boy.
BUTTERFIELD: You have no obligation.
WAD
Create a free account to explore more
Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month
Director's Notes
Explore More
Want expert coaching on this scene?
Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.
Need representation?
Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.
How well does this scene match you?
Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.
Try Headshot AnalyserGo Pro
£6.99/mo
- ✓ Unlimited scene reading
- ✓ PDF downloads
- ✓ Director's Notes
- ✓ Headshot Analyser
- ✓ Cover Letter Generator
- ✓ Practice Mode
- ✓ Agent Connect
- + 1,000+ scenes
More from 3:10 to Yuma
The Weight of a Promise
from 3:10 to Yuma
Trapped in a hotel room, an outlaw attempts to manipulate a desperate rancher and his son into abandoning their mission. The scene explores the moral ambiguity of the outlaw and the idealistic resolve of the young boy who believes there is still good in his captor.
The Unseen Scars
from 3:10 to Yuma
Dan Evans prepares to escort a notorious outlaw to justice while his wife, Alice, pleads with him to reconsider the dangerous mission. Dan reveals the deep-seated desperation and loss of pride driving his decision, explaining that he can no longer endure his family's poverty or the way they look at him.
Similar Scenes
Lester and Angela
from American Beauty
A middle-aged man and his daughter's teenage friend share a tense, intimate moment in a living room. The scene explores themes of obsession, insecurity, and the fear of being ordinary.
The Interview — Frank T.J. Mackey
from Magnolia
A high-stakes interview between a charismatic pick-up artist and a journalist turns cold when she confronts him about his fabricated past and his mother's death. Frank's bravado crumbles into a defensive silence as his carefully constructed persona is dismantled.
Theresa's Desperate Plea
from The Pitt
A mother reveals to a doctor that she intentionally made herself sick to get her son into a hospital setting. She confesses her deep-seated fear that her son is planning a violent act after discovering a list of girls he wants to 'eliminate.'
Act I, Scene 1 — Maureen's Pride
from The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Maureen, a middle-aged woman living in rural Ireland, delivers a fervent and repetitive declaration of her Irish identity and loyalty. The speech masks her deep-seated frustration and the claustrophobia of her isolated life caring for her manipulative mother.
