They Came to Cordura Page #2

Line of troopers boot to boot!

Companies, halt!

Left troops, envelop the ranch!

Don't fire your pistols | until the charge strikes.

Officers post!

Seor Arreaga?

Arreaga!

- Draw pistols! | - Draw pistols!

- Trot, ho! | - Trot, ho!

- Charge! | - Charge!

This way! Take cover, this way!

What are we gonna do now, | lieutenant?

- We can't just sit here, sir. | - Cover me!

Okay, boys, I'm shooting one, | two, three, four bandoleers.

And a rifle.

- Here, the last two bandoleers. | - Shoot. You're faded.

Come on, dice now. | You be true to Trubee, dice!

Hey, natural!

Come on, dice. | Right back, little Phoebe. Right back!

Tom.

I've been praying, Tom, and thanking | God for giving me a victory.

A charge. Think of it, Tom.

Maybe the last one for the old cavalry.

How I wish your father | were alive to see it.

Why, this'll make a whole issue | of the "Cavalry Journal," Tom.

They'll cheer it on the floor | of Congress.

Do you realize that I may have my | general's star before the week's out?

Thirty-nine years I've waited for today. | I'm 63, you know.

They'll put me out | to grass in August...

...but God in his goodness has allowed | me to gather the fruits of my years.

Tom...

...I hope you'll take what I have | to say in the proper spirit.

But Congress is apt to be | in a very generous mood...

...and if they just happen to have | a citation of mine to act on...

...well, a victory, a retiring commander, | my star would be pretty well assured.

- I don't follow you, sir. | - I led the charge myself, Tom.

But you were commanding. | Leading the charge is line of duty.

At my age?

At my age, most men have | their second in command do it.

But not me. | I led the charge myself, Tom.

But there's nothing about age | or rank in the citation, sir.

- You won't do it? | - I can't, sir.

Sir, I'm recommending | four men from this regiment.

They are:
Lt. William Fowler, | Sgt. John Chawk...

...Cpl. Milo Trubee and | Pvt. Wilbur Renziehausen.

Four citations.

And you won't even consider | the possibility of mine?

- I didn't think you'd ask me, sir. | - Why not?

I've done as humanly much for you | as one man can do for another.

More than an officer should. Only you | and DeRose and I know how much.

Heaven help you, Tom, if anyone | else ever puts two and two together.

You have the authorization | from Colonel DeRose.

I request that an officer | be detailed to take those men...

...to the rail headed to Cordura. | - Take them yourself!

I can't operate | as awards officer that way.

There may be a fight at Peloncillos.

Take them! They're yours, aren't they?

And you can take | this Geary woman too!

She's under guard. Take her back, | under arrest on my charges:

Aid and comfort to the enemy. | Treason.

Any other damn thing in the book, but | you take her with you! That's an order!

- Yes, sir. | - You're not dismissed, major!

You are an awards officer | because I recommended you for it.

I could have recommended | a court-martial for you.

For cowardice in the face | of the enemy.

I could give you an alternative.

Only one, and you'd crawl | to Washington with my citation.

If I had it to do again, Tom...

...I never would.

You have to live with yourself, yes.

But I have to live with | what I did for you.

Well, it's justice, I suppose.

What I saved you, I cost myself.

But don't misunderstand me. | I didn't do it for your sake...

...but for your father's.

- Are you in charge? | - Yes, I'm Major Thorn.

I have orders to take you to Cordura. | It's about a two-day ride.

It will make it a lot easier | on everybody and yourself...

...if you give me your word | of honour not to try to escape.

Well, what's your decision?

You're the jailer. You decide.

This woman is to be watched | at all times.

Conversation will be kept | to a minimum.

- Take over. | - All right, quickly now!

- Guard detail, mount. | - This is not a guard detail, lieutenant.

"The snak" e"s in the mountains" | "Th"e ee"ls in the sea"

"Was a redheaded woman"

"Made a wreck out of m"e

"And it looks lik" e | "I'm never gonna ceas"e

"My wanderin'"

"If the whisk" e"y don't get you" | "Then a woman must"

"I'd climb me a mountain" | "Sail me a sea"

"Till a redheaded wom..."

What are the charges against me?

He threw the book at you.

Specifically.

Loss of Nationality Act: | Any American knowingly aiding...

...the armed forces of a foreign country | can be deprived of their citizenship.

Major, why don't you let me go?

Admit that my arrest was ordered | by an excited old man...

...who will have forgotten me | in a week.

Who may not have the authority | to arrest a citizen in the first place.

- Maybe. | - Maybe?

The charges against me | would never hold up.

"Aid and comfort to the enemy."

But you did quarter them | knowing the American Cavalry...

...was operating in this area.

For the last five years, | if you lived in this country...

...you quartered anybody | who came along.

Or they quartered themselves. | I've let them all in...

...and rationed them, and thanked God | when they were gone.

And another point, | if there is a Loss of Nationality Act...

...it must apply only in wartime.

- We're not in war with Mexico, are we? | - No.

So Pancho Villa's men | are not the armed forces...

...of another country, are they? | - Not exactly.

Then don't you have to admit, | anyone would have a difficult time...

...taking my citizenship | on grounds like these?

I guess they would.

Then why don't you let me go | and be rid of me?

Halt.

I give you my word, | I won't go back to my ranch...

...until your Colonel Rogers | has cleared out.

Lady, you're definitely much | too logical for a woman.

And now I suggest | we get back into formation.

Also, Ms. Geary, | you'll stay away from the men.

Not much in the line of rations, major.

Your cinch is too tight.

Hardtack and no smokes.

We won't be here long | enough for a fire, sergeant.

Chawk and Trubee are really worked | up about her smoking in front of them.

There's nothing I can | do about it, lieutenant.

I wish they had their tobacco rations. | They've been through a lot.

Excuse me, sir.

I haven't had a chance | to ask you yet...

...what you thought of the fight.

I mean, what was your professional | opinion? As an observer.

Well, I expect we'll get a big | write-up in the "Cavalry Journal."

But as a military operation, conceived | and carried out, it was a farce.

- A farce? | - Exactly.

We all charged in there like | a whole gang of Don Quixotes.

- But we routed them. | - Of course.

But isn't it cavalry tradition to take | chances, to gamble against the odds?

That may be.

No officer ever takes | a command in the battle...

...with only hearsay knowledge | of the terrain and enemy positions.

Not even one still wet behind the ears.

Nevertheless, all the objectives | were taken.

Yes, because the Mexicans | didn't have rapid-fire weapons.

And because a few men, like you, | took the initiative at the right time.

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