Sergeants 3

---

Indians!

Get Sergeant Boswell.

That's all there is.

The line's gone dead, Sergeant.

White Eagle, sir.

- Hello, Chief.

- Hello.

- They explained the situation?

- Yes, Colonel, but it is not possible.

Well, even though

the message was garbled,

we're almost certain

the word "Indian" was included.

- Isn't that correct, Boswell?

- Yes, sir.

But, Colonel, there are no Sioux

in direction of Medicine Bend

and no Sioux on warpath.

- You're positive?

- Yes, Colonel.

- Boswell.

- Yes, sir?

Find Sergeants Merry, Deal and Barrett.

I want them at once.

Sir, they're off duty, sir.

Well, Sergeant.

Sir, they're in Claymore, sir,

and you know what that means, sir.

- Find them, Boswell.

- Yes, sir!

(MEN LAUGHING AND CHATTERING)

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

WOMAN:
Well, hi, soldier boy.

(WOMEN CONTINUE LAUGHING)

Why don't you dance?

I'd rather hear him play!

Dance, boy!

- Come on, play!

- Dance!

(ALL LAUGHING)

Come on, play!

ALL:
Play!

Gentlemen, now, I can either play

or I can dance, but I can't...

MAN:
Oh, yeah, you can.

You can play and dance.

- Dance!

- Play!

- Come on! Come on!

- Play!

(ALL CLAMORING)

(ALL LAUGHING)

Hey. Hey!

What's all this bugle playing,

dancing and shooting?

Haul it down, will you?

Who's gonna stop us?

(ALL MURMURING)

You're gonna stop us?

No, he is.

(GROANS)

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

(SCREAMING)

Oh, no.

(SCREAMING)

Ah!

There they are.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

Sergeant Merry, report to the Colonel!

At once!

Where did you get that big white mule?

Mr. Purdy gave it to me.

He also gave me this trumpet,

which I've been playing

since I was knee high.

- Who is Mr. Purdy?

- He was my master.

He freed me after the war. He said to me,

"Jonah..." That's my name, Jonah.

He said, "Jonah, I'm ruined, so you take

Cephie and that blasted horn and you get.

"You're a free man now." So, I get.

- Who is Cephie?

- This here is Cephie.

That's not her real name.

Her real name is Bucephalus,

but that's too hard to say.

- Where you heading?

- With you.

With us? It's impossible, son.

- MIKE:
You better go on back.

- Go back where?

I ain't got no home, Sergeant.

I'm just drifting.

But I'm looking for a home, though.

I'm afraid there's no home for you

where we're going.

Well, I've been around animals all my life,

horses and mules.

Couldn't I work around the fort

for my keep?

I don't think we're taking on any help.

Sergeant Mike,

I could play the trumpet for you

when you fellows are feeling low.

Or I could join up.

Why, I sure would like to be a soldier

dressed in pretty blue uniforms,

like you fellows.

Let him come.

- Sure, Mike, why not?

- Come on.

I didn't write the regulations.

It can't be done.

I'm sorry. Come on, get up then.

It's a thing I'll not tolerate.

Do you understand? I will not tolerate it.

You men are sworn to protect the

property of the people of this community.

Not break it up, not smash it up.

Is that clear?

Yes, sir.

Well, you'll pay for it. Down to every

last dime, you will pay for it.

All the glasses, the mirror,

the furniture, everything.

- Boswell?

- Yes, Colonel.

You will tell the owner of the Antler bar

to present his claim to the paymaster,

who will make the proper deductions

from the vouchers of Sergeant Merry,

Deal and Barrett.

Yes, sir.

Sir...

You have something to say for yourself,

Sergeant Merry?

Yes, sir, I mean, that is...

Well, the buffalo hunters

busted up half the place,

and they should pay their share.

- Are you arguing with me, Sergeant?

- No, sir.

Let me remind you

of what I've already said.

You did listen, didn't you?

Oh, yes, sir.

They're citizens and you're soldiers!

Or supposed to be.

Yes, Sergeant?

- Nothing, sir.

- Very well.

Now, let's just say that I happen

to need you men at the moment.

You know, merely paying for this

is not going to settle the matter.

We'll discuss further punishment later.

You know, maybe I should teach you men

the value of those stripes

by taking them away from you.

- Sergeant Merry.

- Sir.

You will assemble a detail

and proceed at once to Medicine Bend.

Telegraph line is out there

under very mysterious circumstances.

We received what our telegrapher

believes to be a distress call

when the line went dead.

You are to investigate the situation

and report back to me as soon as possible.

- That'll be all.

- Yes, sir.

You go along with them, Wilson,

and see that they get started.

Yes, sir.

(MEN SHOUTING ORDERS)

Aaron Redhut, Jasper Mullino,

Blue Pigeon.

- John Tippy.

- Sir!

Red Eagle. Caleb Iron-Mountain.

Aaron Redhut. Red Eagle.

- Caleb.

- Yes, Sergeant.

Where'd that big white mule come from?

What big white mule, Sergeant?

That big white mule.

Easy now. Easy now.

Let me put this on you.

Now that you're all straightened out,

doesn't that feel good?

He give you that saddle?

- Well, Sergeant...

- He's a very good man

with the mules and horses,

Sergeant, very good.

- And he could use a helper.

- That's right.

All right, okay.

But remember, son, you're a civilian.

You're not part of the military, you got it?

Yes, sir. Yes, Sergeant Mike.

Column of twos.

Halt.

I pick up rider who follow us, Sergeant.

- Who is he?

- Well, he... I...

So, you wouldn't listen?

Listen to what, Sergeant Mike?

I told you this is no place for civilians.

This is an army detail.

Well...

There are so many horses to take care of.

And I can carry water, too.

You better go back. Go on back to the fort.

It's against regulations,

so go on back to the fort.

He don't understand. I'll explain.

Yeah, you do that, Sergeant.

Is Caleb following back there

with a rear guard?

Yes, Sergeant Chip.

All right, you go back there

and stay out of sight.

- But Sergeant Mike said...

- Just stay out of sight.

- Well, what do you make of it?

- I don't know.

CHIP:
Nice quiet town.

- Let's have a look.

- Let's go, baby.

- Corporal Ellis.

- Yes, Sergeant.

Get the horses into the corrals,

leave them saddled.

Jones, post your men on that side!

(MULE BRAYING)

So you made him understand, huh?

- Still with that detail there.

- Still with the detail.

Anything happens to him,

I'm gonna see you get court-martialed.

Let's take a look around.

- Your posting, sentries.

- Outside the town, Sergeant!

Ellis.

You seen any Indians?

- How do you figure this?

- I don't.

- Go get those horses some water.

- All right.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

Who are you?

Psst.

Ask him who he is.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

He says he's from the far west,

beyond the mountains. Two moons.

That's 2,000 miles.

He's crazy.

- What have we got here?

- I don't know. No arms, nothing.

Look at those markings on his vest.

Never saw Indians like this before.

Watanka!

MEN:
Watanka! Watanka!

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(MEN RESPONDING

IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Watanka!

MEN:
(SCREAMING) Watanka!

Ambush!

(GUNSHOTS)

What took you so long?

(INDIANS SCREAMING)

The Fourth of July.

Get out of there, Jonah.

It's no time to dig holes.

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