There's a movie called The Searchers (1956), directed by John Ford. In one of the scenes there's a dialog between two, who are after the girl, chased by an indian.

- Do you think maybe there's a chance we still might find her?
- Indian will chase that thing till he thinks he's chased it enough. Then he quits.
Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there's such a thing, as a critter who'll just keep coming on.
So we'll find him in the end, I promise you.

I don't understand the third line. What does he mean by "same way he runs"? Like, literally runs, or runs in the other way but... running somewhere?
And, about this critter, who'll just keep coming on. What did he meant by that?
See, I'm a foreigner, and there isn't a decent translation for the movie. I understood it pretty well... till that scene.

Thank you.

Need some help here!

There's a movie called The Searchers (1956), directed by John Ford. In one of the scenes there's a dialog between two, who are after the girl, chased by an indian.

- Do you think maybe there's a chance we still might find her?
- Indian will chase that thing till he thinks he's chased it enough. Then he quits.
Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there's such a thing, as a critter who'll just keep coming on.
So we'll find him in the end, I promise you.

I don't understand the third line. What does he mean by "same way he runs"? Like, literally runs, or runs in the other way but... running somewhere?
And, about this critter, who'll just keep coming on. What did he meant by that?
See, I'm a foreigner, and there isn't a decent translation for the movie. I understood it pretty well... till that scene.

Thank you.

I modified the dialog a bit, to bring it in agreement with quote as written here: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Searchers

"Indian will chase a thing till he thinks he's chased it enough. Then he quits. Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there's such a thing as a critter that'll just keep coming on. So we'll find him in the end, I promise you. We'll find 'em. Just as sure as a turnin' of the earth."

In this movie a man (Ethan) and his nephew (Martin) are chasing after indians who have kidnapped the man's niece. Here Ethan is reassuring Martin that they will eventually catch up with the indians. "Same way when he runs" means that when indians are running to escape from something they eventually quit - and that's when Ethan and Martin will catch up. As for the "critter" - he's saying that there are animals who don't ever give up the chase. Ethan is implying that the two of them are like an animal that chases after prey and never stops - they will be relentless, like the turning of the earth.

This movie has a lot of vernacular in it, so I'm impressed that you're taking the effort to understand it!

Thanks for such an explicit explanation, ebaines!
I only study english and you've been a grand help to me. I really appreciate it.

Film is sure a masterpiece as probably everything that was shooted by John Ford.
Wish I could give you more of these thumbs=)

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Originally Posted by get8p

There's a movie called The Searchers (1956), directed by John Ford. In one of the scenes there's a dialog between two, who are after the girl, chased by an indian.

- Do you think maybe there's a chance we still might find her?
- Indian will chase that thing till he thinks he's chased it enough. Then he quits.
Same way when he runs. Seems like he never learns there's such a thing, as a critter who'll just keep coming on.
So we'll find him in the end, I promise you.

I don't understand the third line. What does he mean by "same way he runs"? Like, literally runs, or runs in the other way but... running somewhere?
And, about this critter, who'll just keep coming on. What did he meant by that?
See, I'm a foreigner, and there isn't a decent translation for the movie. I understood it pretty well... till that scene.

Thank you.

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Same way he runs? He physically runs the same way - until he's run enough.

Critter refers to man, beast, whatever - he's saying the opposing force will just keep coming. Usually it referred to the US Army. Have you read the book?

A foreigner, you say -