A coming-of-age story about a shy, young boy sent by his irresponsible mother to spend the summer with his wealthy, eccentric uncles in Texas.

Hub: Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in.
Hood 1: Hey, who do you think you are, huh?
Garth: Just a dumb kid, Hub. Don't kill him.
Hub: [to Garth] Right.
[Grabs Hood 1 by the throat]
Hub: I'm Hub McCann. I've fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, KILLED MANY MEN and loved only one woman with a passion a FLEA like you could never begin to understand. That's who I am. NOW, GO HOME, BOY!
Adult Walter: [reading his uncles' will] The kid gets it all. Just plant us in the damn garden, next to the stupid lion.
Walter: You bought a used lion?
Garth: The Sheik *knew* that he would sure die now, without even the right to beg for mercy... But Hub just said "Twice I have held your life in my hands. And twice I have given it back to you. The next time..."
Young Hub: Your life is mine!
[Hub and Garth are getting ready to shoot at a traveling salesman]
Walter: Why not see what he's sellin'?
Hub: What the hell for?
Walter: Well what's the good of having all that money if you're never gonna spend it?
Garth: Could be the kid has a point.
Hub: Well. We'll see what the man's sellin'. THEN we'll shoot him.
Garth: Good plan.
Sheriff: Best I can figure, they were trying to fly through that barn, upside down.
Garth: Look, we don't know nothing about children, so if you need something...
Hub: [interrupts] -find it yourself. Better yet: learn to do with out.
[last lines]
Sheik's Great Grandson: So, these two men from your grandfather's stories, they really lived?
Adult Walter: [wistfully] Yeah, they really lived...
Hub: [to Stan] You're lucky the lion got to you before *we* did.
[first lines]
Adult Walter: [answering the phone] Hello?
Sheriff: Walter?
Adult Walter: Yes.
Sheriff: This is Sheriff Brady. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. It's about your uncles.
Hub: What do ya want me to do? Die of old age?
Hub: WE'RE OLD, DAMNIT! LEAVE US ALONE!
Garth: The last thing we need is some little sissy boy hanging around all summer
Stan: It's up to you, kid. We can be friends, or we can be enemies. What's it gonna be?
Walter: [looks down, thinking, then looks up] Defend yourself!
Stan: What?
Walter: If I'm gonna live here, there's gonna be some conditions
Hub: conditions?
Walter: No more dangerous stuff. No more fighting teenagers. No airplanes. More vegetables, less meat
Walter: Is it okay if I go inside and watch television?
Garth: Ain't got one.
Walter: No television?
Garth: Hey! You, in the crate! Get your lion butt outta there!
Walter: What's wrong with him?
Garth: Well, a man's body may grow old, but inside his spirit can still be as young and as restless as ever.
Garth: And him - in his day, he had more spirit than twenty men.
Hub: You know what I don't like 'bout houseguests?
[slams fist on table]
Hub: Dinner table Chit-Chat Chit-Chat
Garth: [after Walter leaves] Salesman should be by in about three, four hours.
Hub: Whoop-de-do.
Sheik's Grandson: [looking at a large yacht in a small pond] I see they spent my grandfather's gold well.
Adult Walter: [laughing] Well, there was this one travelling salesman...
Helen: You take him to the orphanage right this minute
Hub: Whether we take him to the orphanage or tie him up and throw him in the lake, that's OUR business, not yours
Mae: Show 'em your friendly, Honey! Let 'em sniff your hand
Walter: So, you two were away for 40 years... Where'd you go?
Walter: I've been to the orphan home before. I don't wanna go back.
Walter: What happened to her?
Garth: Looks like her heart gave out in all the excitement. She was plenty old, you know.
Walter: Look, I think she's smiling.
Garth: I guess she died happy.
Hub: She died with her boots on, that's the main thing.
Garth: Protecting her cub.
Walter: She was a real lion, wasn't she, there at the end? A real jungle lion. A real Africa lion.
Walter: Has he hit YOU yet?
Mae: MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!
Hub: We're fix'in to die anytime, so if we kick off in the middle of the night, you're on your own
Walter: Those stories about Africa... They're true aren't they?