They Came to Cordura Page #3

Like myself?

Sir, you still haven't told me | exactly what kind of detail this is.

I will, in time.

Have the men prepare to march.

All right, prepare to march.

Stow it with your stuff.

Major, you know how long | we ain't had no smokes?

I know.

Well, you tell her that we don't like it.

You tell her that she taunts us | much more...

...someone will light them cigarettes | and stuff them down her throat.

Sergeant, you carry a tune very well.

Do you know any Mexican songs?

Mount up.

Major.

What will happen to me | after we get to Cordura?

I turn you over to the provost marshal. | After that...

I haven't crossed the border in eight | years, not since my father died.

I'll be frank with you.

I had a lot of bad publicity before | I came down here and my family did.

Most of it deserved.

Even though the case against | me falls of its own weight...

...the newspapers will hang me.

I don't know what a major's pay | amounts to, but I doubt if it's enough.

Would you be interested in $1000?

That wasn't a good idea.

I promised myself I wouldn't beg...

...but I am.

I'll stay with you as long | as you want me to.

As long as I know you'll let me go...

...before we get back to the States.

- No. | - Why not?

Because I wouldn't like | the company I'd be in.

You stupid, military...

Lieutenant!

Who gave you orders to fire?

She's trying to escape. | She's a military prisoner, major.

Or ain't she?

"My sister, she works in a laundry"

"My father k" ee"ps guzzling the gin"

"My mother, she tak" e"s in the washing"

"Oh, Lord, how the money rolls in"

They've been asking me | questions, sir.

- Like what? | - Like what I was doing here.

- What did you tell them? | - I didn't tell them anything.

They took it mighty odd, though.

Looking at me like the meeting | people did when I used to recite...

...like they couldn't be comfortable | with me around.

Send Renziehausen over.

The major wants to see you.

Your full name is | Wilbur James Renziehausen?

Yes, sir.

- Where are you from? | - A farm near Alice, Wisconsin.

Why did you join the Army?

Looking for adventure.

Came out West to be a cowboy, | prospect for gold...

...fight Indians, anything.

The only trouble was | I couldn't ride or rope...

...the gold was all gone...

...now every Indian I met | was selling blankets or beads...

...but I did see the cavalry drill | at Fort Sam, so I joined right up.

Before you vaulted over the gate, | wasn't there another man...

...from Company C killed | trying the same thing?

Yes, sir, that was Corporal Brown.

You saw that happen, | but you went over anyway.

What made you do it?

- Try to remember. | - Well, major, I can't.

We had to get through the gate, | and somebody had to open it.

I was the nearest.

- And you weren't afraid? | - No, sir.

No, sir. I wasn't afraid. Not me.

I wasn't afraid during the whole fight. | Honest, major.

Are you sure?

Then how do you explain this?

Your chin strap | is bitten clean through.

You must have been very | hungry or very scared.

There's no harm to admit it.

Everyone's that way in battle.

Still, you went over the gate.

Can't you tell me why? | Try to remember.

That'll be all, Renziehausen.

Yes, sir.

Yes, lieutenant?

Sir, as an officer...

...I have a right to know | the purpose of this detail.

I think you have too.

You're a very brave man, lieutenant.

You know my assignment | on this campaign?

I've heard about it.

I'm recommending you | for the Medal of Honor.

The Medal of Honor?

I think you should know that | I'm recommending all the others.

That's the purpose of this detail...

...to return to base until Congress | approves the medal for all of you.

All of us?

You mean four men in one fight?

Why, that's impossible.

Well, that's for me to decide.

The Medal of Honor.

It must seem strange...

...to have the highest honour so early.

Whatever you do in combat for the | rest of your life will be an anticlimax.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir, it will.

Lieutenant...

...only you and Hetherington | know about this.

I want you to keep it quiet.

I didn't tell you before, lieutenant...

...because I want true answers | from all of you.

If you tell a man he's a hero, | then he thinks of himself as one...

...and then you've lost it. | You've lost the true reason.

Do you understand, lieutenant?

I have a chance here...

...a chance that few men | have ever had...

...to put my hand | on the bare heart of heroism...

...to hear answers | to one of the great questions...

...man has ever asked about himself.

What is courage?

- What is it that...? | - Give me that bottle back.

Give it back!

Give it!

Hand back that bottle, sergeant.

What's wrong with me and the boys | having a little of this? Spoils of war.

If she tries to escape...

...you have my permission | to do anything to stop her.

Beyond that, what she has or does | is none of our business.

So hand it over.

Whose side are you on, major?

Me and the boys ain't had | a drink or a smoke...

...since we crossed the border | five weeks ago.

Just whose side are you on anyway?

I'm commanding this detail...

...and I intend to take her to base | according to my orders.

If all of you knew why you | were detached from regiment...

...and what's gonna happen, | you'd stop acting like squaws...

...and soldier the rest of the way.

Now, hand back that bottle, sergeant.

This may be the most unusual detail...

...the Army has ever assembled | for any purpose.

I've already told Lt. Fowler | and Pvt. Hetherington...

...l'm recommending all of you | for the Medal of Honor.

Now you all know.

Between here and Cordura | I will talk to each one of you...

...and after that I'll write the citations.

It is not only my duty to write | the citations for you...

...I consider it a high privilege.

This medal means, | among other things...

...that for a few minutes Hetherington | at Guerrero and the rest of you...

...at the ranch at Ojos Azules | did more than duty required.

For a few minutes | you acted and lived...

...yes, you lived beyond | what is normally understood...

...to be the limit of human conduct.

That'll be all.

Lieutenant, have the men clean | their weapons before they turn in.

Palomito?

Palomito.

Excuse me, Major Thorn. | Not very ladylike, I know.

Not ladylike.

And a senator's daughter | should be ladylike.

Ever hear of my father?

A United States senator.

Very important man.

Very rich man.

Convicted of selling Indian lands...

...in 1908.

Big scandal.

Big man. Big scandal.

You're not making notes | in your book, major.

No citation for me?

I've lived beyond the limits | of human conduct.

Haven't I, Palomito?

Been married three times.

My last husband shot a man | who was in love with me.

Happened in a hotel room | in Norfolk, Virginia.

Big scandal. Big man's daughter.

Big scandal.

They gave him custody | of my two children.

Now the bird is my child.

- And the bottle. | - And the bottle.

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