Pillaging his way to freedom

Silver City, John Sayles' new politically-charged film, opens in theaters Sept. 17.

In the film, Chris Cooper plays a corporate-funded gubernatorial candidate, Dickie Pilager, who garbles his lines at first, but eventually learns to speak on message.

PBS recently broadcast this scene. In the following clip, Pilager talks to Wes Benteen, played by Kris Kristofferson.

WES BENTEEN: Take a good look Dickie, what do you see?

DICKIE PILAGER: Mountains?

WES BENTEEN: I see a big sign that says no Americans allowed.

DICKIE PILAGER: You do?

WES BENTEEN: You look at a map. They got half the west under lock and key.

DICKIE PILAGER: They?

WES BENTEEN: The Bureau of Land Management. Forest Service. National Parks. The State.

DICKIE PILAGER: Right, right.

WES BENTEEN: It's like a treasure chest waiting to be opened. Only there's a 500 pound bureaucrat sitting on it.

DICKIE PILAGER: Well, I'm a small government man.

WES BENTEEN: That's why we chose you, son.

Sayles' previous films include Eight Men Out, City of Hope and Lone Star.