Fort Apache Page #8

to return to their reservation.

And tell them if they've not started

by dawn, we will attack. Tell them that.

Bugler...

...sound forward.

Forward.

I don't see them. Not a one.

Well, they're down there, sir,

among the rocks.

- Have you seen them, captain?

- I don't have to. I know.

- How?

- Because if I were Cochise...

...that's where I'd take up position.

And that dust cloud beyond?

It's an Apache trick. Probably squaws

and children dragging mesquite.

Very ingenious, captain.

You make me suspect your Cochise

has studied under Alexander the Great...

...or Bonaparte, at the least.

March your troops.

We'll charge in a column of fours.

Mounted in fours?

That's suicide, colonel.

- I tell you, they're down there.

- York!

Captain York, you're relieved

of command of your troop.

There is no room in this regiment

for a coward.

At your service, sir.

- Bugler, pick up Captain York's gauntlet.

- Yes, sir.

I'm no duelist, captain.

I will decide whether I will answer you

with pistols or a general court-martial.

You will remain on the ridge, in safety,

with the supply train.

Take O'Rourke with you.

Gentlemen, you have your orders.

Are there any other questions?

Captain Collingwood?

No questions, Owen.

Gentlemen, join your troops.

A charge. Mounted in fours.

- They're madmen.

- And I'm to stay with the wagon train.

And take O'Rourke with me.

You'll find Lieutenant O'Rourke

with his troops, sir.

And thank you.

Good luck.

- Good luck, men.

- Thank you, sir.

Lieutenant O'Rourke, follow me.

- But the troops, sir...

- Don't argue.

- Mulcahy, take over.

- Captain York...

Get out of here, you scut, or I'll put you

across my knee and belt the pants off you.

Get out now.

As you were, men.

Good luck be to you.

Wheel the wagons.

Get them on the ridge.

Come on, get the horses

up behind there.

Come on. Get them over there.

Get those teams off.

All right, break out

the picks and shovels.

Come on. Get them over here.

Come on, get them unhooked.

Carry on, boy.

What are you doing, man?

- All right, get them along there.

- Come on.

Let's go.

Get her over.

Come along. We'll get her over there.

Get her over there. Let's go.

Turn it over.

Mickey.

Turn it over. Let's go.

Turn it over.

Get to Fort Grant.

Tell them where we are.

Tell them we may still be alive

if they hurry. Move.

And marry that girl.

Trooper.

Trooper.

Stand by your guns, men.

Stand by your guns.

Flarety, you're in charge.

I'll be back.

We've dug in on the ridge, sir.

Plenty of water and ammunition.

I sent a courier to Fort Grant,

if we can only hold out.

Here, get on my horse.

I'll trouble you for your saber, captain.

My saber?

I must rejoin my command.

The command is wiped out, sir,

and there's nothing we can do about it.

I'm not asking your opinion,

Captain York.

When you command this regiment,

and you probably will, command it.

Your saber, sir.

Any questions, captain?

No questions.

This time you were late, Owen.

You have my apologies.

Sergeant Major O'Rourke,

my apologies, sir.

You can save them, sir,

for our grandchildren.

Hold your fire, men.

Hold your fire.

However, gentlemen, I warn you,

this may be a long campaign.

It may be weeks before you have

any headlines for your newspapers.

If we catch Geronimo,

that will be headline enough.

And more glory for your regiment.

He must have been a great man.

And a great soldier.

No man died more gallantly...

...nor won more honor for his regiment.

Of course, you're familiar with the famous

painting of Thursday's charge, sir.

Yes, I saw it when last in Washington.

That was a magnificent work.

There were massed columns of Apaches

in their war paint and feather bonnets...

...and here was Thursday,

leading his men in that heroic charge.

Correct in every detail.

He's become almost a legend already.

He's the hero

of every schoolboy in America.

But what of the men

who died with him?

- What of Collingworth and...

- Collingwood.

Oh, of course, Collingwood.

That's the ironic part of it.

We always remember the Thursdays,

but the others are forgotten.

You're wrong there.

They aren't forgotten

because they haven't died.

They're living. Right out there.

Collingwood and the rest.

And they'll keep on living

as long as the regiment lives.

Pay is $ 13 a month,

their diet, beans and hay.

Maybe horsemeat

before this campaign is over.

They'll fight over cards or rotgut whiskey

but share the last drop in their canteens.

Faces may change...

...and names...

...but they're there.

They're the regiment.

The regular Army.

Now and 50 years from now.

They're better men

than they used to be.

Thursday did that.

He made it a command

to be proud of.

- The command is formed, sir.

- Thank you, sergeant major.

And now it's time to move.

Questions, gentlemen?

- No.

- Thank you very much, colonel.

Gentlemen, this is my adjutant,

Lieutenant O'Rourke...

...who will take care of you.

- Gentlemen.

Mrs. Michael O'Rourke,

General Thursday's daughter.

- How do you do.

- And the Mrs. O'Rourke.

It's a pleasure, ma'am.

And this is

Michael Thursday York O'Rourke...

...the best man in the regiment.

Aren't you, you scut?

Forward face.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes