Major Dundee Page #6

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with some children and Linda.

They had all fled the village.

The Major wasted no time

trying O. W. Hadley for desertion.

Boys, by doggies, I want you to know

what kind of company we've been keeping.

He just plain clean shot a hole in me.

And he would have let me bleed to death...

if it hadn't been for that woman over there

come along and bandaged up my leg.

Now, you know I ain't no deserter.

I just went into that village to court

a little senorita and say hello to her folks.

I was fixing to come back. I was.

You all know I always stay close

to my big brother.

- Ain't that right, Arthur?

- That's right.

And you ain't gonna let them shoot your kin

for no deserter, are you, Arthur?

You gonna do something about it,

ain't you?

Sergeant, I don't want to look up at him.

Captain.

You know me.

I've been over the hill before.

But I always come back, didn't I?

And you whipped me for it

and I deserved it.

But you never killed me none.

Now you ain't gonna hand me over

to no bluebelly...

just because I had a hankering

for a woman?

She's a sweet little thing, Captain.

She's pretty and polite and a lady.

She surely is.

And that grub is for her kinfolks.

You remember her, Captain?

I was dancing with her and I introduced you

to her. You remember her, don't you?

I remember.

Sergeant Chillum, would you say it was

common knowledge in this camp that...

that village had been burned,

people scattered?

Well, I know that, Major, sir...

but I just figured I'd sit there

and wait till they come back.

- Lieutenant.

- Yes, sir.

How much food and ammunition

would you say was taken?

Enough for three men for a week, sir.

Look, Major, forget about the book.

The men of this command risked their lives

for those supplies.

It may have slipped your mind,

but he also risked his life.

Trooper...

you're gonna be shot.

Hadley!

Major, hand him over to us.

I'll deal with him.

I'm not going to let you kill him.

You used to be a soldier.

Do you know what you're saying?

I'm saying if you kill that boy

that's the beginning of it and not the end.

You're wearing out, Ben.

You were a rock once,

now you're crumbling like old chalk.

Lieutenant, select a firing squad by lot.

- Exclude the Confederates.

- Yes, sir.

I said we will serve in this command

and we will serve!

But only until we have caught the Apache.

And then, Major...

I am going to kill you.

Are you, Ben?

Yes.

Yes, Amos.

You gonna let them shoot me, Captain?

I'm obliged to, son.

You should have remembered

you belong to the Major and not to me.

I'm sorry.

That's it, boys, by doggies...

let's pitch in and get it over with.

Hell, Major, you're just doing

what you got to do...

but damn your soul for it,

and God bless Robert E. Lee.

We are a command divided against itself,

and I fear nothing will ever heal this breach.

Even some of our own people

are bitter against the Major.

But he bears the burden of command

and I do not feel fit to judge him.

I'm not one of your soldiers.

I could not bear to be with all those men,

in the midst of all that hatred.

- May I walk with you?

- Not afraid of the tiger?

Are you the tiger

that prowls these mountains?

No, I'm not afraid, Major.

- Oh, it's lovely here.

- I don't spoil it?

No.

What happened today was terrible.

We all died a little with that boy.

But perhaps you, most of all.

Why are you with me?

I've seen too much dying...

and I wanted so desperately to feel alive...

for both of us to feel alive.

It troubles you a great deal, doesn't it,

how the men feel about you?

I'm concerned with how they fight,

not how they feel about me.

But why is this so important, this fighting?

There are other things.

Men can understand fighting.

I guess maybe they need it sometimes.

The truth is, it's easy.

Forget about your problems,

responsibilities...

just let someone feed you,

tell you what to do.

But whom do you answer to?

If you go to Durango you'll have to go

into hiding, won't you?

It will be difficult, but not impossible.

Did you ever think

about living in the United States?

I don't think about that, Major.

Get it out.

I can't. It's too deep.

It's too close to the artery.

They have to take you

to the doctor in Durango.

I'm staying with the command.

You get me some whiskey and bandages.

Go on.

Sergeant, get a stretcher for the Major.

You're getting leave, Major.

And it's time you did.

In fact,

you ought to give up soldiering altogether.

You were trapped at the river.

Ambushed like a shavetail.

You caused a boy's death

and you've split your own command.

And now how do you explain

being outside your own picket lines?

What are you doing, Major, easing

your conscience in the arms of a woman?

A woman, if I might say so,

of rather doubtful virtue.

Just what the bloody hell are you

doing here in the first place, Amos?

There are so many French soldiers

in Durango.

We won't show the colours.

- I can't speak the language.

- But you understand.

Major.

It is close, very close.

If you're thinking

of cutting that leg off, Doctor, don't.

I am only concerned

to stop the loss of blood.

Though much of it is alcohol.

You should be able to walk

in seven days and ride in twelve.

I'll walk in two and ride in one more.

Mr. Potts, you and Sgt. Gomez

can rejoin the command now.

I can get to the river camp by myself.

And I'm perfectly capable

of following your trail from there.

Well, you'd better stay

off those streets, Amos.

You make an unlikely-looking Mexican.

No, it's no use.

They're on to me, those Frenchman.

Just waiting for me to run,

lead them back to the command.

I see our French friends are still waiting.

The tequila. Did you bring the tequila?

I asked for something to drink.

This isn't enough to spit.

No.

Sure, it gets better every day.

Be able to dance on it soon.

You don't believe me?

I'll show you. Come on.

Miss Covington, I believe I have

the honour of this next quadrille.

You wait and see.

This army doesn't dance...

doesn't march, doesn't fight.

Except on this last battlefield.

We're joining the Juaristas at Guaymas.

I came here to reassure myself

that you were still alive.

I'm alive.

Yes, I see.

You should be careful.

The French police is already suspicious

of this place.

Wait.

If I ever do get out of here...

The war won't last forever.

It will for you, Major.

No, the war will not last forever.

"Awake! For Morning in the Bowl of Night

"Has cast the Stone

that puts the Stars to Flight"

- What are you doing here?

- I've come to rescue you.

We spent all night looking for you.

- Why?

- So I can kill you myself.

Makes sense.

Well, there goes our little watchdog.

Shall we go, Major?

I drink, Ben. Did you know that?

That is the secret of my great success.

I drink.

But I don't drink enough.

Why don't you drink, Lieutenant Tyreen?

Don't you ever have any doubts

about who you are?

I've been three men already, Amos.

That's enough for one lifetime.

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