Sitting With A Legend

[Hondo Duke Lane]

Jen gave me an idea for a new topic that I think would find interesting to discuss. If you had the chance to sit with a character in a John Wayne movie, tell us who that would be and what would be the occasion for that meeting.

That is a tall order, but I want to be a little more specific in this topic. I want you to draw a picture of the scene you'd like to share with of a Duke character and what you might be doing. It might be a dinner/supper, a drink (beer/root beer), sitting around playing cards, maybe fighting with Duke's character, etc. You use your imagination, and tell us the name of the character in your scene. It doesn't have to be a picture that the character is in (example; John T. Chance & Rio Bravo).

I'll get back with you myself. I am deep in thought myself on this topic. I need to think of the scene and character I'd like to be in with Duke.

Cheers B)

Chilibill, I know that you were in Angel & the Bad Man with Duke, but maybe you can tell us about playing a major role in that movie with Quirt Evans as his partner or even his nemesis. ;)

[Hondo Duke Lane]

The scene starts out in a pub in Ireland and has a rowdy crowd of thirsty men who are letting loose from a week of hard work. I come into the pub and ready for a drink when I hear a laughter from a familiar voice. I look over and see Sean Thornton drinking some of the dark beer and have a good ole time with some of the villagers. I go to the bar and get the same. I start to make my way over when someone bumps into me. I spilled my beer all over Thornton, and he turns ready to belt me. But when he see who I am, he turns and says, "Well you ole son of a gun if it isn't Hondo!"

He grabs me and starts to shake my hand, and pat me on the back. His pat just about takes me to the ground, but I stay up not to show him I'm that weak. I make a motion to punching him in the stomach, and we laugh about the good times we had. He then yells to the bar tender and tells him to set us up with some beer, and keep it comin'. We go and take a seat and start talking about good times, and what's going on. We haven't seen one another for a long time, so it's good to catch up. Every once in a while we have to shove someone around to get them out of our way, but we keep talking throughout the night.

What seem to be minutes with each other, turned out to be hours, late hours. When we noticed how late it was, we were the only ones left in the pub. He asks where I'm camping out, and I tell him. So we shoulder to shoulder try to walk down the street to my dwelling, singing and stumbling along until we get there.

As I descend to my room, Thornton takes my hand and shakes it. He tells me, "How good it was to see me again, and not to stay away so long next time. Tell me when you come into town, and I'll get Mary Kate to get some food together for the feast."

"I'll be sure to call you up soon, my good ole friend."

At that he departed and I heard him sing an old Irish tune as he walk down the cobble stone road. What a night to spend with my good friend, Sean Thornton. One I'll remember for a long time.

Cheers B)

[itdo]

Hey Hondo, that's a tough nut to crack cause I never viewed the characters as living people, just as "art products". But if I'm trying to answer you in some way, my choice would be an easy one: to meet the troop of the Momella Game Farm (which, in some way, existed in the group of the technical adviser of the film) would have been marvellous. Everything there seems to be done in fun, everyone looks out for the other fella, and of course they got the scenery and the animals. And in any room of the house there seems to be some Henry Mancini soundtrack.

[A Girl Named Jen]

Here goes! Keep in mind that I often tend to write tongue-in-cheek.

I am a writer for one of the big city papers. I've been put on assignment to write a story about the world of the rodeo. I'll write about the usual stuff - the bulls and broncs and the cowboys and clowns, but I want to go deeper and expose some of the seedy underbelly of the rodeo scene.

I set off for the great wide West. I come to a dusty little town called Dead Man's Fang in between nowhere and nothing. There's a little rodeo taking place that has gathered the curious from all the tiny neighboring communities. I find a seat somewhere near some lean old cowpokes. My pen poised over paper, I begin to take random notes - dusty, hot, smelly, jostling crowd, restless kids, crying babies, bored housewives... My pen trails off when they announce the next rider. His name is Duke Hudkins. There is a round of polite applause and people turn their attention away from their beers and hot dogs long enough to give him a looksee.

At first there isn't much to say. From this distance, he looks like any other big man on a bigger bull. The ride itself is ordinary, a little better and longer than most, perhaps. But as he strides away, I see a gaggle of hooched out honeys descending upon him with their manclaws at full bore. It is this that sets Duke Hudkins apart. Did I forget to mention that he's easy on the female eye? I find myself watching him for the rest of the rodeo, or looking for him amidst the throng of females.

When it's all over, I head around to the other side of the ring. Flashing my press pass, I push my way through the crowd. Mr. Hudkins seems to be largely ignoring the girls, at least for right now; he's talking to a grizzled, jolly looking old cuss - sort of a Buffalo Bill meets Santa Claus type. There are tobacco juice stains in his beard and down the front of his shirt and he hasn't got but three teeth left, but when he smiles he turns on the sun.

I introduce myself and we get to talking. Turns out that Duke Hudkins likes the idea of having his name in the paper and all the scantily clad chicas are spurned in lieu of the girl with the notepad. The three of us head for the nearest honkytonk. The scene is lively and raucous and fun - an old-fashioned band is playing old-fashioned tunes. We drink and dance into the night - play a few rounds of cards, get into a few good-natured scrapes, and in general just have a real time of it.

I wake up when a stray mare nudges me with her gray old muzzle. I'm in a pile of hay in someone's wagon, just off the main street of town. I don't remember how I got there, and I have a bit of a headache, but I'm none the worse for wear otherwise. Duke & Waco are nearby - a pair of dueling chainsaws with their snoring. I laze around a bit and after a while roust them out of their slumber. We head off for breakfast and begin planning the day's adventures.

[Hondo Duke Lane]

Jen, That was great. I like what you said.

I wanted to convey to the rest of you that you don't have to write a book. It can be a description, or a scene in a movie with you in it. I didn't want to leave you with the impression that you have to write a book or short story.

I just wanted to tell you my dreams and it turned out to be a short story.

Cheers B)

[JOHNWAYNEABE]

Wow! this is a little off the topic but If I was to have the opportunity to hang out with John wayne it would on his time off it would be off of Catalina Island on John Fords boat drinking Whisky and not that Whisky and coke crap straight maybe with a water chaser playing cards smoking good cigars and shooting the S$%T with Wayne, Ford and Bond all day and night till the sun was to rise . That would be the ultimate situation to get to know Wayne he could just sit back and be himself and really open up. IF ONLY!! I need a time machine DAMMIT!! ;)

[A Girl Named Jen]

Good point, Hondo. I wrote sort of a novella myself.

JOHNWAYNEABE, I like what you say! Sounds like a good time to me.

[arthurarnell]

Hi Hondo and Jen

Before I give my version can you both answer a question for me

Why the H**l didn't you write the western story.


Anyway I'm riding scout for General Crook and I have to report to Colonel Thursday at Fort Apache. My path takes me though Monument Valley and as I ride I notice the indian smoke signals so I decide to take a detour high up in the hills. As I am climbing on one of the bluffs I see two figures standing by their horses. Training my fieldglasses on them I see that they are members of the U.S Cavalry, I also notice that one is an officer and one a sergeant. Nearing they hear my approach and reach for their pistols but on seeing my outfit they relax. The tall offcer approaches and says
"Hey pilgrim, where are ya bound for?"
I tell him Fort Apache and tell him about the indian signals.
He thanks me and offers me a pull from a small bottle of whiskey.
Sitting on a rock he tells me that he and the sergeant are on their way to speak to Cochise and bring him back across the border from Mexico.
I hand him back the bottle, there is a small amount left which he hands to the seregeant, who finishes the bottle off, handing it back to the officer, we stand up and he wishes me luck, I respond. Looking at the empty bottle he hurls it from the top of the bluff and seconds later there is the sound of breaking glass. We shake hands, the two men mount up and ride south. I watch them go and then mount up and head north.

Regards

Arthur

[A Girl Named Jen]

Very nice, Arthur. Understated and lovely.

I didn't write in the western story because I had been away from the board when it started. When I came back you were well into it and I didn't want to be an intrusion.

Maybe I'll participate in the next one, though. :)

[William T Brooks]

SHOOTOUT AT THE SEDONA BAR AND POOLHALL

Three of us 16- year-old kids had gone north to Sedona to see if we could get into the new John Wayne movie that was going to be filmed there. The Film's name was to be "The Angel and the Outlaw" and then to be renamed "The Angel and the Badman" later. We did get hired on as Extras and handymen to do what ever "John Wayne" the producer of the film wanted to be done. After a hard day's work everyone would gather at the only place in Sedona that had anything to do with entertainment for a few drinks the "Sedona Bar and Poolhall." At this time Sedona was made up of "Three or Four Red Rock Buildings" and a few ranch houses further out of town.

All of the above was true now let's get to the "mostly Fiction" part of the story.

Hondo: You told us not to make a whole book out of this thing so I put up the complete "TALL TALE" of my Dream Time with The Duke up on my Web-Site. It will be at SHOOTOUT Chilibill

[Hondo Duke Lane]

Arthur,

Getting to the western story might take away from your great expertise : . I did write in the first one, but like Jen, I didn't get into this current one because I was away for a time, and when I returned, it would have taken me an hour to read before I could post. But I will get back to it soon. ^_^

Cheers B)

[Hondo Duke Lane]

Now chilibill that was a hoot. I got a kick out of that story. You were something else. I hope you understand that you can post anything you want be it short or long doesn't matter. Just have fun.

I also want to tell Jen that I enjoyed your story as well. You may not know it but I do learn a lot from you from your stories as I know you learn from me.

Have a grand day.

Cheers B)

[Hondo Duke Lane]

Bring this back to the top for others to read. We've had a lot of new posts bringing some olds ones back to the fore front, so I'm just giving some others a chance to respond.

Cheers B)

[smokey]

hi all if i could have a time with duke it would be like this

we would all be out on one of the big stations out west doing the annual round up of the brumbies, and jw would be riding one of the freshly broken brumbies sitting in his western saddle having a rollie and squinting into the distance as we move the stock into the holding yards. there would be dust and flies ( he would learn the aussie salute) and at the end of the day we would all gather at the fire and knock back a few coldies, and tell each other jokes and such.

simply the best

cheers smokey

[arthurarnell]

Hi Smokey brilliant story, I must admit the Australian language never fails to amaze me. Whats the Aussie salute?


Regards

Arthur.

P.S While we're on stories I haven't thanked you for your brilliant part in the Western story it was very enjoyable working with you and I hop to do so again.

Arthur