Bell: You know Charlie Walser? Has the place east of Sanderson?...Well you know how they used to slaughter beeves; hit 'em with a maul right here to stun 'em...

(Indicates between his own eyes. )

...and then truss 'em up and slit their throats? Well here Charlie has one trussed up and all set to drain him and the beef comes to. It starts thrashing around, six hundred pounds of very pissed-off livestock if you'll pardon me...Charlie grabs his gun there to shoot the damn thing in the head but what with the swingin and twistin it's a glance-shot and ricochets around and comes back hits Charlie in the shoulder. You go see Charlie, he still can't reach up with his right hand for his hat... Point bein, even in the contest between man and cow the issue is not certain.

(He takes a sip of coffee, leaving room for Carla Jean to argue if inclined. She does not. Sheriff Bell hands a card across. )

...When Llewelyn calls, just tell him I can make him safe.

(She takes the card. Sheriff Bell sips. )

...Course, they slaughter beeves different now. Use a air gun. Shoots out a nut, about this far into the brain
...
(He holds thumb and forefinger a couple inches apart.)

...Sucks back in. Animal never knows what hit him.

(Another beat. Carla Jean stares at him.)

Carla Jean: Why you telling me that, Sheriff?

Bell: I don't know. My mind wanders.

-- No Country for Old Men, Joel & Ethan Coen, 2007