Awesome / Rio Bravo

• The whole premise. There’s plenty of good people willing to help Sheriff Chance, but Burdette has a crew of professional killers. Chance is conscientious of his duty as sheriff, cares about his friends and neighbors, and doesn’t want anyone in the line of fire who is not up to the challenge. He’s perfectly willing to die to avoid getting anyone killed unnecessarily, and his deputies are fine going along with it. Some folks, like Carlos the hotel owner, still assist in any way they can, even as Chance refuses to allow them to get involved in the violence.
• Recovering alcoholic Dude redeeming himself in a saloon full of Burdette's hired goons by suddenly shooting the man who killed Pat Wheeler, hiding up in the loft.
• Another, understated one for Dude later in the movie. He's on the verge of falling off the wagon, when he hears the De Guello playing in the saloon next door. He realizes how serious the situation has become, and how much he is needed. So he pours his shot of whiskey back in the bottle, without spilling a single drop.
• "That's Stumpy! the man I left behind!"
  • Carlos even shows up for a rescue.
  Carlos: I brought you more shells, you might need them.
• Chance says that if there's any rescue attempt, Nathan Burdette's brother will be killed on the spot.
  Nathan: That would be murder!
  Chance: Sure...but we'd all be dead by then anyway.