Major Dundee Page #4

---

It is Christmas Eve,

the year of our Lord, 1864...

and there is a deep and reverent sense of

peace and tranquillity in the camp tonight.

Mr. Potts and Riago, the Apache...

indulge in a high-spirited,

brotherly bout of wrestling.

At stake is Mr. Potts' gold railroad watch...

and the Apache's shotgun

with the silver inlaid stock.

It is a friendly contest.

Come on, Injun, get up.

There he is over there, go get him!

- That one brought him.

- Get up!

I think he's going to take you, Samuel.

You know why?

Because the artillery's betting on you.

Do you know Lt. Graham's bet $5 on you?

Artillery and a lieutenant, to boot.

Did you ever hear of an artilleryman

winning a bet, or a girl...

or a war when there was cavalry about?

- Who bet against me?

- Me.

- Just one, Major. He wants to talk.

- Bring him in.

He says he's a good Apache,

and he's peaceful...

and for nobody to shoot at him.

- Is he a Chiricahua?

- He surely is.

Why would an old man like that

be raiding with Charriba?

He says, why not? It's their land, all of it.

Now he'd like a little soft food

as his teeth are no longer with us.

Why did he quit?

Charriba kicked him out.

He says he's too old,

much too old to fight anymore.

Ask him why I should believe him.

Well?

He says Charriba's camp is across the river.

He'll lead us there. They'll be asleep.

Does he expect me to believe that?

Let him lead us into an ambush?

He says his heart is true, Major...

and he brings proof.

What kind of proof, Mr. Potts?

The children.

He's brought the children.

Pretty good.

Go on, sing up.

Soup's on.

Here's one for you, shorty.

Come on, buck, get around here

where you can eat.

- Can I have seconds?

- Get in here.

- Don't we get any?

- Watch out, don't spill it.

Don't look to me like them gut-eaters

has been feeding them very good.

- Did you ever see a fat Apache?

- I ain't yet.

This is good.

You're going back now that you've got

what you came for, Major?

Everything points to that old man

talking straight.

Potts is half convinced.

I'm more than half.

Did it ever occur to you

that Charriba gave us what we wanted...

because he intends to take it back again?

It's occurred to me.

I want two of your best men

to help Sgt. Gomez take the children home.

We'll still outnumber you, Amos.

You surely will, Ben.

Now go do as you're told.

Yes, sir.

But only until the Apache is taken

or destroyed.

Sgt. Gomez headed back to safety

with the three Rostes boys...

Sgt. Gomez headed back to safety

with the three Rostes boys...

while we followed the old Apache

toward Sierra Charriba.

Lieutenant,

take 12 men across as skirmishers.

First 12 men, follow me.

- Sergeant Chillum, take them through.

- Yes, sir.

Get them back to the far side of the river!

Back to the river!

- Try and regroup on the far bank!

- Hadley, run them out!

Keep moving, Lieutenant Graham,

there's nobody left to shoot at out here.

Merry Christmas.

He was making a doll for his girl child.

Riago!

How did they know?

They're Apache.

Just what in hell is he?

I'm a tame Apache.

A camp dog.

Christian Indian.

Charriba is Apache.

Sam, you take this camp dog

and go find me Charriba.

That's what you pay us for, Amos.

- Wiley, did you get hit?

- No, sir.

One of them damn mules kicked me.

Fourteen men killed, sir. Thirteen wounded.

Four critically.

and 60% of livestock either killed or stolen.

- Damn it to bloody Confederate hell!

- What?

- Sorry.

- He's all right, Doctor.

He'll live forever

and have a hundred children.

But if time and battle prove

that you have a weakness...

for being shot in that vicinity,

I'd wear an iron board inside my pants.

You tell him go easy with that, Major,

or I'll shoot you right between the eyes.

You patrolled this whole area with Grant

in '47, didn't you?

Yes. The tequila was excellent.

How far would you say we are

from the nearest food and shelter?

About a week's march. Maybe less.

There's a pretty village, and rather friendly.

If you're really serious

about replenishing our supplies...

there's a well-stocked garrison

I could recommend just about here.

But we'd probably have to tangle

with some French Lancers.

That's one thing I plan to avoid.

Major, we can't follow the Apache.

I'm not letting go of that Injun.

- Boy!

- Sir!

Pass the word to the command

we move out in the morning.

And bring me a bottle

of that medicinal brandy.

There is no more brandy, sir,

except at the bottom of the river.

Now this time, Lieutenant, try and hold still.

Prepare to move out in the morning.

We left a lot at the bottom of the river.

We ask thee, Lord, to take these soldiers

who have fallen in thy service.

Amen.

We got whipped, Major.

Burying your dead is not going to change it.

January 9, 1865.

Sgt. Gomez and the troopers returned today.

The Rostes boys are well and safe.

This made us feel better, but not for long.

He's not running anymore.

He's waiting.

Let's move. Mount up!

January 10.

Two more died last night.

I'm afraid all the wounded will perish

unless we rest.

I wonder whether any of us will ever return.

The war of rebellion and Fort Benlin

seem very far away.

The village is occupied.

The blockhouse, there are 10, 15 men.

Regulars, I think. I don't know.

Their garrison is about six hours away...

and about 300 Lancers,

Legionnaires, or maybe less.

We'll move on the village at sunup.

Dismount! Prepare to fight on foot!

- Horses to the rear.

- Get those horses!

- Point blank range.

- Fuse timing zero.

Unload.

Locked, loaded and primed,

and ready for firing.

- Stand by.

- Standing by, sir.

Boy, whistle me a tune.

Will you show the colours, sir?

No, Lieutenant,

we will not show the colours.

All right, Sam, make it short

and to the point.

Hey, get out here!

Compliments, Major Amos Dundee,

irregular United States Cavalry.

You have five minutes to surrender

your arms and stores...

- or he's going to cut loose.

- He would not dare.

This is an act of aggression

against a friendly power...

- an outrageous breach of international law.

- Sonny...

the Major ain't no lawyer.

You've now got four minutes.

Sergeant, I want to talk to the mayor.

- There seems to be no end to it.

- What did you say?

We've been attacked by Apaches,

by local bandits...

by freebooters from Texas,

then liberated by the French...

and now United States Cavalry.

Unfortunately, you came too late.

We have nothing to give you.

No food, no guns, no women.

That is what you want, isn't it?

That's why you come here

without flying your country's brave flag.

Are you speaking for these people?

You're not Mexican, are you?

My husband was the doctor of this village.

But he was also the doctor for the Juaristas.

He died there, where they did.

I've paid for my place here.

Well, I'm sorry for that, ma'am,

but we've come a long way.

I need fresh horses and food.

My men are hungry.

They are no more hungry than this village.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote