The Man from Colorado

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We ain't licked yet, major.

They'll never lick us.

Artillery prepared for action, sir.

At the command, fire at will.

Take your post.

Do they see the flag, major?

Their colonel can't help seeing it.

Fire.

You sure settled their hash, colonel.

- Burial detail.

- First platoon, fall out.

Hey, the war's over! Throw away

your carbine, soldier!

- Throw it away!

- The war's over!

- War's over!

- Hey, we won. The Rebels quit!

- Johnny. Hi, Johnny.

- Hi, Jericho.

- You okay, kid?

- Don't call me "kid."

All right. I wanted to know

how you made out, kid.

Still wet-nursing the

little brother, sarge?

He ain't too little.

- War's over, colonel.

- When did it happen?

Lee surrendered at

Appomattox this morning.

- So it's finally over.

- Yes, sir. Wonderful news, isn't it?

Wonderful.

I gave the men permission

to celebrate.

They seem to have been

making a pretty good job of it.

Dismount.

Further celebration will be

confined to the tent lines.

Yes, sir.

Lead off!

I killed a hundred men today.

I didn't want to.

I couldn't help myself.

What's wrong with me?

I'm afraid.

Afraid I'm going crazy.

No.

No. It was the war, that's all.

But the war's over now.

I can stop. I'm safe,

God helping me.

Come on in, Del.

Everything under control?

You look like something's

bothering you.

Something is.

Come on, out with it.

Just, what happened

this morning.

A hundred men killed,

with the war over.

I hate it, Del.

Hate it.

Thinking about it makes me sick.

Sick and ashamed.

They could've run up a white flag.

If they wouldn't,

that's not your fault.

Thanks for saying that, Del.

Forget it. Relax.

Well, we made it, didn't we?

Yeah. Sometimes I thought

we wouldn't.

I never had any doubts.

That's why you're the colonel.

Don't talk that way. We've been

a team, a good team, all the way.

We'd better check the sentry lines.

I thought somebody said

the war was over.

We're not out of the Army yet.

Come on.

My feet hurt.

You haven't been riding

on your feet.

When are you gonna get

the ramrod out of your back?

The minute we're out of uniform,

so quick your eyes will pop.

If the captain is ready, move.

Yes, sir, colonel.

Yes, sir.

- Who's in charge of this post?

- Sergeant Howard, sir.

- Take it easy, Owen.

- Sergeant of the guard.

Hi, colonel!

I mean "mister." He's a civilian

same as me. Have a drink.

Put this man under arrest.

McGuire. Judd.

Take his side arm.

Come on, Jericho.

- I wish I didn't have to do that.

- Nothing else you could do.

Jericho's been a good soldier.

If anybody should know better than

to drink on sentry duty, he should.

Meantime, how about you

getting some sleep?

You'd better do the same.

I want to start for home

first thing in the morning.

- The soldiers are coming!

- Here they come!

- Caroline. Caroline!

- Just a minute.

Come on, Caroline.

We don't want to miss anything.

Hello, Doc!

- Proud of your nephew, ain't you?

- You bet I am.

- You never thought he'd be a colonel.

- Oh, yes, he did.

- Do you think he'll take the job?

- Oh, sure he will. I know Devereaux.

Federal judge is a big job,

especially for a man that young.

A man who handles

that bunch in a war...

...can make law-abiding

citizens out of them in peace.

And that's what we want.

The soldiers are coming!

The soldiers are coming!

- Take the men on into Glory Hill.

- You leaving us, colonel?

For the time being, captain.

Just for the time being.

- Hi, colonel, glad to see you back.

- Great work, colonel.

- I want to shake the hand of a hero.

- Oh, welcome home, Del.

- How are you, my boy?

- Fine, uncle. Fine.

- You look it.

- Good to see you.

- Thank you.

- What do you think?

You sure aged since

I saw you last, Owen.

I'll take that as a compliment.

It's a wonderful reception.

You ain't seen nothing, yet.

Wait until the dance.

- Caroline...

- Excuse me, Miss Emmet.

- First dance, Caroline?

- Yes.

That can wait.

Business before pleasure.

- We want some things settled.

- What?

The biggest surprise you ever had.

- Del.

- Hello, Caroline.

- Everything under control at camp?

- Fine, colonel.

It's been a long time.

Three years and two hours

and 20 minutes too long.

Excuse us, while I make

up for lost time.

Certainly.

You look wonderful. Now I know why

I wanted to be a civilian again.

There's so many people around here

I can't hear a word you're saying.

- Evening, captain.

- Evening, Crawford.

I've been waiting for a chance

like this for a long time...

I know what you're going

to say, Del, but don't, not yet.

After all, you've been home

less than three hours.

Two hours and 20

some odd minutes.

I need more time than that.

- Owen kind of got a head start on me?

- That's not it, Del.

It's just that I want to think things out.

I wish you'd understand.

I'm trying to.

- There's one thing you can be sure of.

- I know, Del.

And I'm proud that you

feel that way about me.

It's just that I'm not quite sure

enough about myself. I have to be.

I want you to be. I'll keep asking

you every so often.

Thank you, Del.

- My dance, captain?

- Your dance, colonel.

You boys are missing

a fine time at the dance.

Well, so are you.

I heard they got barbecue pork, roast

beef, fried chicken, and all free too.

I don't want to hear about it.

Plenty of free drinks too.

- I said, I don't want to hear about it.

- Must be lots of pretty girls there too.

Don't matter if you're fat or lean.

They're proud to dance with a soldier.

Yes, sir, laugh and dance

and talk and...

...make a man mighty glad

he's home from the war.

Jericho, shut up. Just shut up now.

I don't know why you

don't walk to Glory Hill...

...and have yourselves a little drink.

We ain't going nowheres

and neither are you.

I don't trust you

as far as I could stick this.

Careful. I ain't even been

court-martialed yet.

- Don't yell.

- Now we're all in trouble.

I said, be quiet.

Now stay there.

- The colonel will have me shot.

- He'll just give you life in jail.

Take me with you, Jericho.

I'm gonna live off the country,

instead of it living off me.

- You want to try that?

- It's that or get court-martialed myself.

All right, come on.

We won't be needing you. Get.

Everybody's so proud

of you, Owen.

Are they?

It's really wonderful to have

you and Del back home again.

The town hasn't been

the same without you.

I suppose you'll open up

your law office again.

There's an office over

Mr. Trumbull's store.

Mrs. Trumbull told me to tell you

about it before you made plans.

You talk too much.

Ladies and gentlemen,

veterans, friends...

...I'm not telling you

any news when I say...

...this is the greatest night

in the history of our great little city.

We welcome and we thank...

...the brave volunteers who kept

the road open to the Union...

...and who saved our Colorado

gold from the invader.

But words are not enough.

Action, that's what we all want.

That's what this man is here for.

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