Rio Grande Page #4

"Demand from the Deputy US Marshal

to seize one Travis Tyree

"under warrant issued

by due legal process..."

Mrs York, I believe,

has become interested in the case.

She's written a lawyer in Dallas

to represent him.

Well, if a... Dallas lawyer can't get

a man off a charge of manslaughter...

Who's there?

Hey! Corporal of the guard!

- My horse!

- Yes, sir.

I sacrificed the happiness of your home

once, Kirby, to the needs of war.

Now I'll probably ruin your army career.

I'm gonna issue an order

and give it to you personally.

I want you to cross the Rio Grande,

hit the Apache and burn 'em out.

I'm tired of hit-and-run.

I'm sick of diplomatic hide-and-seek.

Strip the camp of the women

and children. Send them to Fort Bliss.

Be prepared to remain all winter.

All next winter, if necessary.

I've waited a long time for that order, sir,

which, of course, I didn't hear.

Of course you didn't hear it.

If you fail, I assure you,

the members of your court martial

will be the men who rode with us

down to Shenandoah.

I'll hand-pick 'em myself.

Shenandoah.

I wonder what history will say

about Shenandoah.

I can tell you what my wife said about it.

What seems to be

the trouble there, Kirby?

Shenandoah Valley,

a place called Bridesdale,

and Philip H Sheridan.

- How about a cup of coffee?

- Yeah, sure.

You'll find it's stronger.

You look very elegant, sir.

Gentlemen, with the regiment leaving

for a winter campaign in the morning,

and the women and children

being sent to Fort Bliss,

I am sure you have many arduous

and difficult tasks to perform.

Please do not let me

keep you from them.

Thank you for the coffee, Madame.

- You're welcome.

- You're very kind, Mrs York.

Thank you.

You do look very elegant, Kirby.

What I said about

the women and children is true.

You're leaving in the morning

for Fort Bliss.

Jeff is going with you.

He'll be one of the escorts.

- He'll hate it, Kirby. He'll think that...

- He's my son. Our son.

He's too young to...

He'll still hate it, Kirby.

But I'll love you for it.

I cleaned and ironed your uniform.

It's a good job.

I'd like to get my hands

on this white jacket sometime.

That'll cost you four bits,

as they say out here.

Four bits, huh?

$10? I...

Kathleen, that was meant for us.

There's your change, Kirby.

I've been carrying that around

for a long time, hoping someday...

I'll take the flowers now.

Well, I...

Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye?

I never wanna kiss you goodbye,

Kathleen.

Well, here we are, children.

We're all going on the choo-choo.

Come on. There you are.

Ready, Mr Markham? Carry on.

Goodbye, Mrs York.

Upsy-daisy.

Uncle Timmy, you're gonna be

a good boy, aren't you?

Darling, darling.

By your leave, sir.

By your leave, sir.

- You be careful, Trunkett.

- Yes, sir.

Prepare to mount!

Mount!

- I got this from the paymaster.

- That's sweet.

- I'll write you at Fort Bliss.

- Be sure not to forget.

I won't forget.

Wagons and escorts, lead out!

Forward!

- Hey, Travis.

- I thought you'd show up.

Where's your canteen, Sandy?

This one's dry.

We'll have to report you to the sergeant.

Bein' as I'm already on all the reports,

that ain't worryin' me none.

I'm hungry.

Bean?

Nobody ever told the army

they grow beef round here?

Not lately.

We'll be on cold rations for three days.

One of you better tell the lieutenant

that the waterhole I come by

this morning is all muddied up.

- Big Indian signs.

- We'd better get going.

Thank your pappy for his horse.

You thank him.

Back to post.

Tell the colonel what's happened.

Look out, Indian!

Jeff! Jeff! Hand me your gun, boy!

Go ahead, Jeff!

Dr Wilkins.

- Report.

- Four troopers, sir.

They got away with the children.

Trooper York brought the word.

We came as soon as we could.

Those children, Kirby.

We'll get 'em back.

Well done, men.

Forward, trot, yo-ho!

Follow me!

Doctor.

Doctor, sir.

Corporal Bell.

Sorry, son.

- Permission to go forward?

- Stay here.

- It's my wife! Wouldn't you wanna go?

- Yes, I would, but...

If I had a friend, he'd keep me here.

Stay with me, boy.

Pack mule!

Troop, halt!

- Who is that?

- The deserter, Tyree, sir. On your horse.

Arrest him.

You're under arrest, Tyree.

Here!

Any liquor in this village?

Mucha tequila. They were sluggin' it

down copious like when I left.

- Drums, singing?

- Yes, sir.

Vengeance dance.

They'll dance until dawn and then...

- Where are the children held?

- In an old church, sir.

- Is it dark enough for you to get in?

- With two men I pick, sir.

Two men you pick?

I know that you are an excellent judge

of horse flesh, Trooper Tyree.

Proved that when you stole my horse.

But how are you as a judge

of men for a dangerous mission?

I consider myself a good judge

of the men I trust, sir.

That's a good answer.

Call your volunteers.

Sandy! Jeff!

Troopers Boone, York.

Yo.

Take my horse. Good swimmer.

- Get it done, boy.

- Thank you, sir.

Sandy, are you scared?

Me? Yo.

Troop, halt.

Pass the word. Dismount.

Forward by trooper.

Oh, Sandy! I'm sorry.

I thought you were an Indian.

Be quiet, Margaret Mary.

Hi, Jeff.

Thanks very much.

- Honey, where are the children?

- They're over there asleep.

You're gonna have to be brave.

There's gonna be lots of shootin'.

Oh, goody!

You youngsters, be quiet.

I can't figure out which side that kid's on.

Them or ours.

Let's go, Alamo!

Margaret Mary!

What the hell's the matter with you?

Sorry, Sandy.

Bugler. Tell 'em charge.

- First platoon!

- Second platoon!

Follow me!

Shooters, follow me!

The wagon's coming. Get 'em loaded.

Margaret Mary!

All right, men! Once again, follow me!

Once more, men! Hit 'em again!

Pull it out, Jeff.

Go ahead.

- Get it done, Reb.

- Yo.

- Children secure?

- Children secure. Ready to move out.

Son, help me to my horse.

Bugler. Sound recall.

Our boy did well.

The honour detail is formed, sir.

"For gallantry in action

beyond the call of duty,

"on 8th July, in an engagement against

hostile Apache Indians by the US Army

"by virtue of the power vested in me

by the President of the United States,

"I hereby commend the following men:

"Corporal Bell, Trooper Boone,

"Trooper York, Trooper Tyree,

"Navajo Indian scout Son of Many Mules,

"given under my hand this 16th day of..."

Hey, you! Soldier boy!

And Trooper Tyree is given

a seven-day furlough! Yo!

Travis has swiped

your horse now, General.

Whatever else the man is,

he's a good judge of horse flesh.

An excellent judge, sir. Excellent.

Pass and review!

First troop forward! Yo!

Sheridan.

Eyes right!

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