The Horse Soldiers Page #7

Scratch them from the duty roster.

Well, you heard the Lieutenant.

You'll be pleased to inform the corps

we shall move at dawn.

Thank you, sir.

(cock crows)

Attention.

Cadet Major Barksdale, you may move

your column forward. And God bless you.

Right shoulder, arms.

Right, face.

Cadets, forward march.

Reverend, my boy Johnny.

He's all I've got left.

First his pa, then his uncles,

his brothers. Now him?

He's all I have left, Reverend.

I'm not going to let him go.

Cadet drummer Buford,

you are relieved of duty.

(boy squealing)

I'd save a little of that for Dunker.

I just lost him.

You lost Dunker, eh?

Well, you lost us a good man.

Blood poisoning. Amputation.

A shock to the heart, I guess.

I wouldn't have had to amputate if he'd...

- If, maybe, perhaps.

What's the matter, medicine man?

- Section hand, I've had you.

Strip your blouse.

I think you're right. Come on.

Orderly. Horses. Bring 'em up.

Johnny.

Johnny Buford.

Johnny.

What are the rules, Colonel?

- Just make up your own.

You said no rules, Colonel.

On your feet, croaker.

Fire Peter.

Fire Paul.

Fire Paul.

Artillery fire, sir. Hidden battery.

Those are nothing but children.

Schoolboys.

Just some kids from the military school.

- But they keep coming.

Sound assembly.

( bugle)

At least that Holy Joe ain't no kid.

(shouted orders)

Halt. Front rank, kneel.

Ready.

- Miss Hunter...

Aim. Fire.

Rear rank, halt.

Kneel.

Ready. Aim. Fire.

What do you want to do?

Set up a field hospital?

Yes, what are you going to do now?

With all due respect,

I'm going to get the hell out of here.

Sound recall.

I told you to take care of this woman.

(explosion)

Colonel, I got me a prisoner.

What do you want me to do with him?

Spank him.

- On the bottom?

Where do you think?

Halt.

- Hold it, Colonel.

Report.

- Rebs. They got the whole road blocked.

How many?

- A full regiment of regulars, sir.

They got two pieces of artillery

and they're digging in along the road.

The only thing to do is fight our way

back to Salt Springs and head east.

Haven't you seen that dust?

- Cavalry. Following us for three hours.

Colonel, the deacon says he knows this

country real good. Don't you, Deacon?

Preaching the gospel, singing the praises

of the Lord hereabouts for years.

It might be a good idea

to start praying right now.

The deacon smuggled runaway slaves

north out of here through the swamp.

With the underground railway.

- Could you smuggle us out south?

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Why, that swamp is full

of quicksand, rattlers...

The Garden of Eden had its sufferance too.

Follow me, brother Colonel, through

the swamps all the way to the river Amite.

Lead kindly, Lord.

All right, get yourself

a couple of fresh horses.

By the right flank, take cover.

Come on.

(shouts)...

...(Marlowe) Come on. Come on.

Move out. Come on, boy.

Come on, boy.

Keep moving. Keep moving. Come on.

Keep moving. Stay awake there, kid.

Keep moving. Pick up your feet.

John, how far do you figure

to Baton Rouge?

Keep alive in there.

You want me to apologise now or later?

- For what?

Keep moving.

- I never thought you could do it.

You know, John, I've given up

all thought of running for Congress.

With this on my record,

by George, I can be Governor.

Keep moving.

- Governor of Michigan.

And you can name your own job.

Railroad commissioner...

Don't start making campaign promises

till we get there. Join your regiment.

Colonel, my duty, medically speaking,

is to inform you...

...that these men may make it

on their hands and knees.

We've been 20 hours without a stop.

We need a rest.

I've got eyes, Kendall.

It's also my duty to inform you

that if we run into a fight...

That is all, Doctor.

Thank you, sir.

Column, halt.

Woodward.

- Yo.

First squad,

scout the other side of the bridge.

First squad, forward, yo.

(hooves clatter on bridge)

I don't know if you've heard.

Your people are about an hour

behind us, coming fast.

I've heard.

We're going on to Baton Rouge.

We'll leave you here.

Your own kind can take care of you.

I'm sure they can.

- Yes.

I...

I'm sorry for the hardship and...

...the humiliation that we've...

that I've caused you.

(gunshots)

Get her out of here.

Recall.

( bugle)

Get her in that cabin.

Come on, Miss Hannah.

Looks like they've got us in a trap.

Knock on it.

Give us some cover.

Captain Woodward, move.

(gunfire continues)

Leave me alone.

I'm all right. Let me alone, would you?

Easy.

Get Colonel Secord right away.

Not that way, the other door.

Report.

- It's alive with rebs. At least two cannons.

They jumped us so quick.

- Infantry?

The wood's full of 'em.

- Join your troop.

Cut his boot off, Sam.

- Nobody's cutting that boot off.

Cut his boot off.

Take a good stiff jolt.

Those are $20 boots, trooper.

Get some water.

- Who, me?

Take A-troop and that reverend,

or whatever he is.

Find a ford someway across that river.

Flank 'em. Take a bugler with you.

Sir, thank you for the opportunity.

John, it's a trap.

They want us to cross that bridge.

It'd be like going through a funnel.

In a position like this, there's nothing

disgraceful about honourable surrender.

Get back to your troop.

Keep 'em under cover.

You mean... you're going on?

- Get out of here.

You're not going far with that bullet in you.

You're taking your own sweet time

about cutting it out of there.

You're not the only wounded man

here, Colonel. Get me my bag.

Now, this is going to hurt a little.

Go on with it, Kendall.

Ooh.

- Keep that leg stretched.

Probe, please.

(Marlowe yelps)

Are you having fun?

You're lucky.

You may not believe it, Colonel,

but I bought you some time.

A couple of hours?

- Maybe more.

Thanks.

First Michigan in position, sir.

- First Illinois in position. We were first.

I'm all right.

Get cracking.

God Almighty. Here he comes.

Mount up.

You heard me, Kirby. Mount up.

You heard the Colonel. Mount up.

Colonel.

The deacon found a place to ford.

The men ought to be in position by now.

Thanks. Cover our rear.

See how much time we've got.

Yes, sir.

Where's your horse?

- Back in the swamp, sir.

Lips dry?

- Yes, sir. But my bugle ain't.

Uncase the colours.

- You heard him.

You know your orders?

- You're not fit. Let me lead this charge.

With a success like this,

I could land in the White House.

We'll probably all land in the...

- (gunfire)

Get back to your regiment.

Bugler, sound charge.

( bugle)

Forwards. Fire Paul.

Company.

You're hurt, sir.

Blow... Trumpet, blow.

They can't give up.

Maybe it's crazy, maybe it's brave.

Don't ask me to explain it. Nobody can.

Come on, we're going to have

a lot of work to do.

Bugler, sound recall.

Got any more?

Come on, give us some more.

How much longer, Sergeant?

Sergeant Major.

Pretty near ready, sir.

- All right, boys. Hurry it up. Lay it in.

Knock on it.

Come on out. Get out of there.

Can those men be moved?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes