They Came to Cordura Page #4

Palomito.

Mustn't wake his children.

Heroes.

Heroes.

Mustn't wake his children.

His sleeping...

...snoring...

...dirty...

...lecherous children.

All right, who did this?

Of all the stupid, | senseless acts of pure savagery.

Speak up, who did it?

Speak up!

Lieutenant, have the men | get ready to pull out.

- They haven't had their breakfast, sir. | - They'll go without it.

There'll be no breaks today. | Push them hard.

Detail, halt.

I got so much pain, major. | Sir, I can't ride.

I got a boil.

I don't want to complain, but...

All right, get off your horse.

- I'll take a look. | - Detail, dismount.

Bring those horses up and form | a screen between us and the woman.

Drop your breeches.

Hetherington, watch the woman.

He sure looks the same all over, | don't he, major.

Sergeant, get some wood | and start a small fire.

You know, I haven't seen anything | like that since we left Columbus.

I'd like to have your tequila bottle. | I need to draw a boil.

Who killed my bird, major? | Chawk or Trubee?

I don't know.

I wouldn't give them my sweat | if they were dying of thirst.

- The boil is badly infected. | - The answer is no.

If you don't give me the bottle, | I'll have to take it.

You gonna draw it, major?

Lt'll be very painful.

It'll hurt like sin.

Turn him over on his stomach | and keep his breeches down.

I'd like a word with you, sir.

I've been deliberating | since last night...

...on the total effect of the Medal | of Honor upon my career.

And I'm very grateful to you, | sir, but I've decided...

...to stand on my privileges | as an officer...

...by requesting my case be removed | from consideration.

Why?

Well, there's an old service | maxim, sir...

...that I'm sure you're well aware of.

Career officers should make | themselves as inconspicuous...

...as possible, | particularly junior officers.

- I wasn't aware of it. | - Well, it's true, sir.

Too outstanding an exploit too early | in one's career would make one...

...a marked man, a sure victim | of the jealousy of one's superiors.

Request refused.

May I know why, sir?

I don't know of any precedent that | allows a man to refuse a decoration.

I grant that, major, | but between officers...

...and gentlemen, could there not be | an arrangement by which the citation...

...my citation, | would never reach channels?

Absolutely not.

- But, sir... | - Request refused.

Now lie still, hero. | This ain't gonna hurt a bit.

Bandage him up, lieutenant.

I brought your tequila back.

That didn't hurt a bit.

I'm hit!

My ear, my ear. | They shot off my ear!

You led us in here, major. | Do you think you can lead us out?

- When are we pulling out, sir? | - I don't know.

Well, in my opinion, the best time | would be around midnight.

We could walk our horses | to the mouth of the canyon...

...mount on signal, | pour it on and ride through.

In the best tradition of the cavalry.

We have darkness and the element | of surprise in our favour.

- I don't see any other choice. | - Well, I do.

- Yes? | - Waiting.

Waiting to see | what they propose to do.

We can't wait. | We'll soon run out of food.

We'll eat horse.

We're down to one-half | canteens of water.

It might rain.

And if they attack?

I think we can fight them off.

They won't attack.

All he has to do is wait | until you run out of food and water.

And then?

What'll they do to you?

Nothing. | He was my guest, remember?

Why did I have to be the one?

At the ranch they were shooting at me, | I didn't even get a scratch.

Major, I gotta have a look at myself.

Lady. Lady, have you got a mirror?

I look pretty awful, don't I?

Now, that's all right, boy.

Sergeant of mine in the Philippines | once lost an ear.

When he got back to the States, | they made him a rubber one...

...and it looked so lifelike | you couldn't tell the difference.

Besides, people never notice.

Yes, they will.

Lady. Lady, would you look at a fella | who had his ear shot off?

Of course I would.

All they'll notice is what's | around your neck.

- Did you ever see the Medal of Honor? | - No, sir.

It's the most beautiful decoration of all, | as it should be.

I'd trade an ear for one any time. | Two, in fact.

Excuse me, sir, | but I'd rather have the ear.

Relieve Hetherington.

- When are we pulling out, major? | - I've meant to ask you, sergeant...

...you been feeling up | to snuff lately?

How come we ain't pulling out | of here?

I have a few questions for you, | sergeant.

Just one I'm asking you, major.

When you started | for the roof of the ranch...

...on your own hook, | were you thinking of the troop?

Did you see they were in trouble | and feel you had to do something?

I figured I'd make that roof | and kill me a couple.

And you'll get the Medal of Honor | for that.

Have you thought about the medal, | sergeant? What it means?

Sure. I can use the extra | 2 bucks a month.

- When's that start, major? | - As soon as Congress approves it.

I guess we're finished, sergeant.

You've been asking me plenty and | writing it down in that book of yours.

I ask you something | and you don't answer. Why?

I said we're finished, sergeant.

- Major? | - What is it you want?

I'm a pretty sick man, major.

No matter what the medics say. | Short-winded. One leg is stiff.

Rheumatism.

- Yes? | - I've been in the cavalry a long time.

I'd retire, but half a corporal's pay | ain't enough. You know that.

- What is it you want? | - Sir, when we get to base...

...l'd think it mighty kind of you | to transfer me to the quartermaster.

Maybe driving one of them trucks.

When a man's put in a long stretch | of faithful duty...

...he's entitled to consideration.

I'm a little too old for combat, major.

Let the young fight, | and save them boys...

...who've already served | their country.

- Take you out of combat? | - Yeah.

How can you tell me | you're too old and feeble to fight...

...when you fought as you did at Ojos? | Tell me that.

Listen to me, Trubee...

...l'll think it over.

But you have to tell me | what made you charge that corral.

I want to know what you felt | and what you thought...

...before you left the troop | and started out alone.

I don't know, major. I don't know.

Try to remember, Trubee.

A and D troops were pinned down | by crossfire.

Somebody had to get to that corral...

...and cause enough damage | so the troops could get through.

Yes, I seen them Mexicans there.

So you lit out on your own to save | the men of those troops.

- Isn't that right? | - Yes, sir.

You knew you might not make it, | but you had to try.

It was a... | It was a conscious act of self-sacrifice.

- Isn't that right? | - Yes, sir, major.

You put that in writing | and I'll swear to it.

- You'll swear to it? | - Indeed I will, major. Indeed I will.

You lied, damn you.

If there's one piece of truth | in your insect soul, I want it.

You lied, didn't you? | It isn't true, is it?

If you say so, it is. | If you say it ain't, it ain't.

I know my place. | I've been busted three times.

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