She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Page #4

Four years out here and still acting

like a wet-eared cadet on the Hudson.

- What is this all about, Mr. Cohill?

- I decline to answer. Respectfully.

Mr. Cohill, it is

a bitter thing indeed...

...to learn an officer

who's had nine years' experience...

...the officer to whom I'm yielding

command of the troop in two days...

...should have so little grasp

of leadership...

...as to allow himself to be chivvied

into a go at fisticuffs...

...while taps still sounds

over a brave man's grave.

- God help this troop when I'm gone.

- Sir, it...

You're at attention, Mr. Pennell!

You get back to the troop area.

Mr. Cohill, have the men build

their squad fires higher.

Make the fullest show

of bedding down for the night.

Then we're sneaking out.

Heading for the river, going back.

- Sorry, Ross.

- I'm sorry, Flint.

I saw our friend, Mr. Rynders.

Right smart trading going on.

Mr. Rynders? All right.

Pass the word to Mr. Pennell forward.

Follow me.

Mr. Rynders, Indian agent!

- He said $50 is too much.

- Too much?

Tell him I know he's got the money

in the paymaster's box.

I know he killed Major Cheadle.

Tell him it's $50 or no rifle!

- Sergeant.

- It's cocked, sir.

No, your knife.

Join me in a chaw of tobacco?

No, sir. I don't chaw

and I don't play cards.

Chawing tobacco is a nasty habit.

It's been known

to turn a man's stomach.

I'll take a chaw if you please, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Let's go.

- Still figuring on resigning, mister?

- No, sir.

Pass the word.

Officers and sergeants forward.

Officers and sergeants forward!

Sergeant Tyree?

Find me a trail to the river.

Right, sir!

- We'll leave a guard under an officer.

- It's a privilege...

Mr. Pennell, your offer to

volunteer will go on your record.

If you still wish to make a record.

Mr. Cohill, you're in command.

Take two squads, cover our crossing.

Deny the hostiles use of this ford.

- First squad! Second squad!

- Second has too many old married men.

First squad! Fifth squad!

Wheel out and form on the right!

- Can you swim, Dickey, me boy?

- No.

Well, I'm the best swimmer

in the world.

Once I swam the English Channel

with an anvil on me chest.

You know, I've got two jars

of jams and plums...

...on my pantry shelf.

They're waiting to be eaten

by a girl like you.

Tell her about the boats.

Request permission to stay

behind with the guard.

Refused. Mr. Cohill, start the troop

across. I'll pick defense positions.

One pack animal to the rear!

Get back in that wagon, Quayne.

Bugler, sound officer's call

for Captain Brittles!

I'll be back, men. I'll be back,

I promise you. Good luck!

- Adjust your saddles and equipment!

- Adjust your saddles and equipment!

Pass that on, will you?

It's time for me to take me medicine.

It tastes horrible!

Three parties of them, Mr. Cohill.

But this is the only crossing

in 20 miles.

You gotta buy me some time.

You gotta buy me a long day.

- Then we'll do it, sir.

- And I know you will, Flint.

Flint? It took you nine years to call

me that. It was worth waiting for.

We'll get you out of here, son.

We'll get you out of this pocket

by noon tomorrow. Prepare to mount!

Move!

Flint, wait.

Haul off and kiss her back, blast you!

We haven't got all day!

All right, Miss Dandridge,

if you please.

Get mounted!

- I guess that's how it is, Ross.

- I understand.

Forward! Forward! Yo-ho!

It's my duty to report,

mission failure.

It was our fault!

You did everything...

I've never worn a coat of whitewash

yet, Abby. I won't start now.

Failed at Sudro's. Failed to keep

Rynder's rifles from the tribes.

Failed at everything.

I leave the Army a failure.

- You're running yourself...

- Hasn't she told you?

I left Cohill with two squads

in the Paradise.

A sound military move.

I'd like to rest the troop

for three hours and start back.

I'll have Cohill out

of that pocket by tomorrow.

No, Nathan,

troop can't leave till dawn.

Dawn? Troop ought to pull

out of here before midnight!

I agree, Nathan, if you were leading

it. But Pennell will need daylight.

Pennell? That babe in the wood?

Fording a river against a swarm

of hostiles with Winchesters?

Aren't you forgetting

that you retire tomorrow?

Tomorrow's all I need, Mac.

Look, 40 years a good soldier.

I can't leave Cohill

facing those devils.

It's no one-day mission.

They'll be out all winter.

Then I'll volunteer as a civilian

scout, an interpreter. Anything.

- I thought you were fond of Cohill.

- Fond of him?

Every time he gave an order,

men would look at you.

They'd wonder if he were doing the

right thing. You wanna ruin the boy?

I know, Mac, but...

Pennell's got to learn to cross

a river under fire. So did we.

Cohill's got to run his chances.

We ran them, Nathan.

That's what we get paid for.

Yeah, I guess you're right, Mac.

I guess you're right.

With your permission,

I'll quit the post tomorrow.

- Permission granted, captain.

- Where will you go, Nathan?

Oh, West, I guess, Abby.

California, new settlements.

Old soldiers, Miss Dandridge.

Someday, you'll learn

how they hate to give up.

Captain of a troop one day,

every man's face turned towards you.

Lieutenants jump when I growl.

Now, tomorrow I'll be glad...

...if the blacksmith asks me

to shoe a horse.

Blast you if you start sniffling!

As for you, young lady...

I'm not crying.

I'd like to stand up and cheer.

Time, sir.

And it's a black day for the army.

Did you sleep well, sir?

No.

I didn't sleep at all.

Clean up the quarters after I'm gone.

Sell all this stuff and

put the money in the troop fund.

Give Mrs. Allshard my extra saddle.

It'll be easier on her disposition.

And the oil, sir?

Oil? Oh, yes.

The water bottle.

How did it ever get there, sir?

- Now, how do you suppose?

- How long have you known?

Since the second battle

of Bull Run, thickhead.

And you've been deceiving me

all these years.

Well, there's that!

I'd say my retirement was an occasion

for a drink. Help yourself.

No, I'd take no pleasure in it.

But if it's an order,

here's to your health.

Fourteen days left for me

and I'll be wearing one of them too.

It's the only one I ever owned.

I was in jeans and barefoot...

...when I left my daddy's farm

to join the Army.

Well, sergeant...

I haven't had a drink since that day,

but I'll have one to your retirement.

- No, sir, I'll do the honors for you.

- Thank you.

Half a minute,

till I get your blouse.

What?

- The men will like it, sir.

- Oh, yeah. Last time.

I'll review the troops

alone this morning.

Break in that suit of store clothes

for me, will you?

- The suit?

- Yeah, try it on!

See how it looks.

- C Troop present and accounted for.

- Thank you, sir.

Men...

...I won't be going out with you.

I won't be here when you return.

Wish I could.

But I know your performance...

...under your new commander...

...will make me proud of you...

...as I've always been proud of you.

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