Fort Apache Page #6

Good day, sir.

What about these Winchesters, sir?

The pins are bent. Sergeant Mulcahy,

straighten them with this.

You heard what he said.

Destroy it.

Destroy it, he says.

Well, boys...

...we've a man's work ahead of us

this day.

Unlock the door.

- Michael...

- Prisoners, outside.

Michael.

Private Mulcahy.

Private Shattuck.

Private Quincannon.

And Private Beaufort.

I'm ashamed of you, the whole of youse.

You're a disgrace to your regiment.

If there was a regulation for it,

I'd make you take the tippler's oath.

Michael.

Volunteers for the manure pile.

Left face.

Take them out of here.

Hup. Hup.

Hup. Hup. Hup.

All together men. Hup.

- There was Sergeant John McAfferty...

- Oh, shut up.

Hup, hup, hup.

Hup, hup, hup.

Hup, hup, hup.

Hup, hup.

Assuming you found Cochise...

...would he listen to you,

would he believe you?

Cochise knows me, sir.

I've never lied to him.

And if you can assure him

decent treatment for his people...

I'll confess he interests me.

And these Eastern newspapers...

I hadn't realized Cochise

was so well-known.

Oh, he's known.

He's had the laugh on every troop in

the Southwest these three years.

Six campaigns, he's outgeneraled us,

outfought us, and outrun us.

That's just the point, sir.

There aren't enough troops in the whole

territory to make Cochise come back.

But one man, a man he trusts,

might persuade him.

A carbine against his spine

might be more persuasive.

Well, I'll go in unarmed, sir.

I can't fight my way in.

We either walk in or...

A man who brought Cochise back...

I'm for it, captain.

How many men will you need?

One, sir. Sergeant Beaufort.

- Private Beaufort, sir.

- Why him?

He speaks Spanish, so does Cochise.

My Apache has its limits.

Shouldn't you take another officer instead?

- Sergeant Beaufort was a...

- Private Beaufort, sir.

Private Beaufort was a major

in the Confederate Army.

An aid to Jeb Stuart.

I remember Cadet Stuart.

- Quite.

- He was...

Were you saying something, captain?

I said "quite," sir.

I'd like to leave at once,

if the colonel has no questions.

- What?

- Questions, sir?

No, no questions.

Proceed, captain. Take your ex-rebel.

- Thank you.

- That is all.

- Ready, Sergeant Beaufort?

- Yes, sir.

- Anything is preferable to shoveling...

- That's what I thought.

Well, here we go.

Private Mulcahy.

My compliments, sir.

Officers pet.

Officer's pet, that's what he is.

How's your hangover?

Sir, you're the nicest Yankee

I've ever known.

Well, let's go.

Quincannon, if that's you,

you can wait till payday. I'm not gonna...

Having dinner?

Well, yes, I will have a cup of tea.

And if you urge me,

I may even take a piece of pie.

Good evening, lieutenant.

I haven't been seeing much of you lately.

Please don't stand.

- Phil... Miss Thursday, I...

- I had hoped you might call.

You did leave your card, didn't you?

This is your card, isn't it?

Isn't it proper,

Sergeant Major O'Rourke...

...for an officer to call

after leaving his card?

It would be, except that...

The colonel has forbidden me

to address you, Miss Thursday.

But you are addressing me,

aren't you, lieutenant?

And if... If a young man hasn't enough...

Enough gumption to address

a young woman who...

Who, even if her father

is a colonel, well...

I don't think he's as brave

as I think he is.

- Do you, Mrs. O'Rourke?

- No, I don't.

Ma'am, your father is

Michael's commanding officer.

His orders will be obeyed.

Miss Thursday,

I'm afraid you'd best leave us.

Michael O'Rourke.

Sit down, dear.

And you sit down yourself.

And you, have you nothing to say?

Or have you learned your manners

from this big bull of a man?

There's much I'd say,

if I could get a word in edgewise.

Miss Thurs...

Miss Thursday...

...if I had any thought that it really mattered

to you whether I spoke to you or not...

But I couldn't believe you felt

the same way about me.

And what way was that, lieutenant?

Well, I...

Miss Thursday, if you'll just step outside.

The colonel. He come.

He very angry.

He know she here.

Come, Philadelphia.

I'm here to bring you home.

I'm not ready to leave, Father.

I've been invited to dinner.

Won't you stay, colonel?

Thank you, Mrs. O'Rourke.

Another time, perhaps.

Well, at least allow me

to take your hat.

I beg your pardon. Come, Phil.

Colonel Thursday, sir, I would...

Mr. O'Rourke, I want no words

with you at this time.

- But, colonel, sir...

- You heard me, sir.

Now, get out of here

before I say something I may regret.

This is my home, Colonel Owen Thursday.

And in my home I will say

who is to get out and who is to stay.

And I will remind the colonel

that his presence here, uninvited...

...is contrary to Army regulations...

...not to mention the code

of a well-mannered man.

Dad, please.

Colonel Thursday, sir,

what I've been trying to tell you, sir...

...is that I love your daughter.

And I ask her now,

in your presence, to be my wife.

Yes, Michael.

I see.

- Philadelphia, I ask you to reconsider.

- No, Father.

I tell you, this is not

a proper or suitable marriage for you.

I can't believe that.

Sergeant Major O'Rourke,

you will pardon me for speaking bluntly.

But as a noncommissioned officer,

you are aware of the barrier...

...between your class and mine.

- I am, sir.

But Michael's an officer.

Not that it makes any difference.

It makes a difference in the Army, Phil.

The sergeant major knows that,

and his son should know it.

The Army, sir, is not the whole world.

No, but it's your world,

and your mother's world and my world.

I'm not as young as I once was.

With your permission,

I'll put in for retirement.

That won't be necessary, sergeant major.

Nor need you, mister,

give up your profession.

My daughter is not of legal age.

She cannot marry without my consent.

I'll be of age in two years.

Sergeant major, I beg your pardon for

entering your quarters without invitation.

Mr. O'Rourke, your pardon for my words.

Come, Phil.

I'm not a child, and I love Michael.

I'll arrange at once

for your return to the East.

You'll have two years

to forget each other.

Mrs. O'Rourke...

...my respects, ma'am.

- Ready?

- Ready.

Put the beer right back there on the table.

One at each end.

Come on, step lively, step lively.

Krausmeyr, one sour note out of you

tonight and back you go shoeing horses.

The same goes for you, Derice.

Now you've got your stripes back.

I'll expect you to be on your best behavior

and set a good example for the men.

Oh, don't worry, Michael, me darling.

We'll be the models of decorum.

Now, where's the punch?

- Mulcahy, I...

- Michael.

Mulcahy, you'll not be spiking

the refreshments this year like you did last.

Oh, just one bottle.

- No, sir...

- Michael.

Go on, the whole of youse.

- Good evening, O'Rourke.

- Good evening, doctor.

And Mrs. O'Rourke.

- It's a fine night for a dance.

Clear and dry. - Yes, sir.

- Which reminds me.

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