'No, no, no.'
'No! No!'
Well, let's get on down there so you can water these horses.
Before that patrol back there catches up with us
with that stinkin' dead meat.
Let's don't rush it, Hanna.
You know, it just don't look right to me somehow.
It's gettin' on towards noon, and
'there ain't no dinner smoke coming from that chimbley.'
Well, I was just sayin', these horses need water.
And them dead troopers are six feet already.
Won't last till we get back to Fort Canby
I'll tell you that. Come on.
Anybody home?
Tom?
Tom Detweiler?
You know, since that drunken fight we had yesterday
I'm as jumpy as some old deaf virgin.
Hold it there.
Why, it's a little Detweiler girl.
Hello, sis.
You ain't scared of me, are ya?
My golly!
She sure does look scared, alright.
Where's your mamma and your daddy?
'Erschick?'
Lieutenant Porter?
Maybe you and Sergeant Rodermill
better go inside.
We tried to get the little girl to speak
but she just wouldn't say a word.
Then we took a look back in here
and saw what they had done
to her mama and sister.
Tousled both women and killed them.
Shut up, Hanna.
'Stay out of that room in there.'
Lieutenant Porter?
Chances are this little girl
never will speak again.
I seen it happen before, sir.
No men here?
Detweiler and his son?
Yeah, we found both of their bodies
out behind the shack.
Also the tracks of ten hostile ponies.
Well, I'll stay here with two men
to bring the Paymaster through.
You force-march the bodies on to Fort Canby, Sergeant Rodermill.
Yes, sir.
And take the little girl with you.
Yes, sir. I'm all done.
Hanna, you bring the child out to me.
Two married men to dress the women for burial.
You five and Robinson hand over the range
to the man on your left.
- Hanna? - Yes, sir.
Mount up and ride out on point.
Woo-wee, they sure do stink.
'Who goes there?'
Sergeant Rodermill.
Lieutenant Porter's patrol.
Baker?
Baker!
Come on, son. Up here.
Hoo.
Baker, this child's name is Detweiler.
She's suffering from shock and exhaustion.
Come in!
Mr. Gresham, that's Lieutenant Porter's patrol
out there with four men dead.
Who were they?
'Corporal Griesshammer, sir.'
'Troopers Cudlet..'
'...Eames'
'and Gantry.'
Porter stayed at Detweiler's to pick up the Paymaster.
The First Sergeant is outside, sir.
Rodermill!
- Yes, sir. - What happened, Rodermill?
What did Mr. Porter let himself get into?
Is the captain asking me to report
over Lieutenant Porter's head, sir?
You are my First Sergeant, Rodermill.
Now, what did you people walk into?
Well, we didn't, sir. They walked into us.
Always the same old thing, sir.
Departmental standing orders
which forbids us attacking hostiles...
Rodermill.
How did the four men get killed?
Well, sir.
With two days gone..
Coming down south from the paradise..
We saw signs
of 30 mounted Comanches.
Now, as far as I can figure
I driven a few off right
a few off left, hit out
let us pass
and hit us from the rear and running fight
out of nowhere.
Well, outside of being sucked in
were you satisfied with the fight?
Yes, sir.
Pour yourself coffee.
Yes, sir.
Comanches, Rodermill?
Well, the first thing we found was
their open fire pits
fresh horsehide
baked horse bones.
There was plenty of game around.
But you know, Comanches, they'll eat horse meat
no matter what.
'That Detweilwer, sir.'
They found the homesteaders' wife and daughter violated.
And fresh murdered yesterday.
Mr. Gresham, Comanches rape their own
that's their idea of courtship
but they don't generally fancy white women.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir?
Well, were they or were they not Comanches?
Well, it is up a little far north
and west for Comanches, sir.
There's some doubt in your mind then?
Not until it was some doubt in the Captain's mind, sir.
I'm the First Sergeant like you say.
The Garrison Women have got the word, sir.
Mrs. Griesshammer and Gantry's wife.
That's all, Rodermill.
'Yes, sir.'
Take the coffee with you.
Yes, sir.
Gresham, you handle the brave and comforting words
you're the officer on guard.
I'll do the Commanding Officer stint at the..
Funeral services.
Yes, sir.
Gresham?
This should give you a second thought
about your own marriage.
It's a little bit late to take your advice, Captain.
Is Tracey already out here?
It's not my advice, mister. It's a rule of the game.
Bachelors make the best soldiers.
All they have to lose is their loneliness.
Comanches.
"Grant that they may not languish
"in fruitless and unavailing grief
or sorrow as those who have no hope."
Sentry.
Lieutenant Porter with Paymaster's detachment.
'Yes, sir.'
"He leadeth me besides the still waters.
"He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness."
You two help with the Paymaster's detail.
Thank you, McQuade.
Riding the wagon in from Detweilers
eased my arm considerably.
I had to come in on a horse.
I was born here.
The winds just turned.
You can smell the oven bake of the desert.
'Alright, you men, lend a hand here.'
'Get these trunks off here.'
- 'Get 'em off. Get in there.' - Hello, Rodermill.
Well, how long it's gonna take you to remember me?
Well, if I move slow, sir.
Yeah.
Carl McQuade was a CO here and you were his son.
I remember, sir.
How are you? Sergeant?
Well, I ain't gettin' any younger sir.
Well, you were, Senior Corporal then.
Now, that could be.
If I remember right..
You was a little curly haired boy.
'Move out to stable.'
Little old curly headed boy, so were you.
Care to step into headquarters, sir?
Captain Maddocks will be in shortly.
He's reading services at the funeral.
Captain Maddocks?
Yeah, I,
I don't place him.
Must be new since my time here?
In here, maybe.
Captain Maddocks ain't new.
Not since anybody's time.
He's been around this army for quite a spell, sir.
You care to step into headquarters?
Step in, sir.
Sir.
Stand easy, mister.
Well..
Well, I-I haven't seen
a tailored uniform for..
Eight years.
McQuade, sir,
First Lieutenant, Second Cavalry
reporting for duty under arms.
Letter order 179. 19 May, 1870.
Headquarters, department of South New Orleans, Louisiana.
I am aware of your name, mister.
Your orders preceded you
I endorsed them unfavorably.
- Unfavorably, sir? - That's correct.
And you're reporting in here a week ahead of time.
Out here, don't ever jump the gun, mister.
Don't be early.
And don't be late.
Now..
Since you graduated..
You've been on provo duty
and Washington got you promoted, mister
a good 10 years ahead of your time.
I needed an experienced First Lieutenant.
Well, I was born here, sir. I was raised in this country.
You were, were you?
Well, tell me, mister.
What is the usual sign
of the Llano Estacado Comanches?
Say on..
Moccasins, tobacco pouches?
Alright, sir. You've got me.
First crack out of the bag.
I... don't remember.
Well, you tell me when you do remember.
Yes, sir. I will.
But right now I think I can tell you where those.
Detweilers welch Comanches are.
The raiding party that butchered those two women.
Coming in on the Paymaster's wagon, sir, I..
Saw Indian sign leading south-west all the way.
If they're headed for Kayson Wash
it's high ground and it's timber.
But Porter wanted to give me just half a platoons, sir, and...
Mister.
Yes, sir.
Mister.
Now, you get that lovely brothel's
stench of glory out of your nostrils.
On this post a Green Officer
leads nothing and commands nothing!
Until I have hand-tooled
and troop-schooled him myself!
You're aware of what they did to those two women, sir?
Yes, I am, mister.
And I am also aware
that I have one under-strength
troop to control this entire district.
Now, you button up!
Now..
There are three things a man can do to relieve
the boredom of these lonely one troop posts.
He can drink himself into a straight-jacket.
He can get his throat cut chasing squaws.
Or he can dedicate himself to the bleak
monastic life of a soldier
and become a good officer.
I hope you choose the latter.
That's all, mister.
Sir.
I remember the sign of the Llano Estacado Comanche
is the flattened circle of the moon.
Keep trying, mister but don't boil a pot over.
In the meantime, you will attend Troop School
with the enlisted recruits.
And that's all, mister.
Lieutenant McQuade. Trooper Hanna, sir.
Detailed as dog-robber to the lieutenant.
Which set of quarters, Hanna?
Bachelors Quarters Two, sir.
The other half is Lieutenant Gresham's.
- Gresham? - Yes, sir.
Lieutenant Gresham's gettin' married.
And you should see the..
Young lady he's gonna marry, sir.
- Why should I? - Well, honest to God, sir.
I'm telling you just a look at her
she pulls your guts up tight inside.
You get ice cold under the armpits, sir.
And your stomach knots.
I'd say you're at her pretty badly, Hanna.
Well, a man goes crazy out here, sir
all the time thinkin' about women.
Wantin' 'em, rememberin'.
Knock it off, Hanna. She's an officer's lady.
I swept already, lieutenant.
And I'll fetch some water..
And firewood right after recall, sir.
Lieutenant.
Just wait till you see her, sir.
Never mind the firewood, I can't use you.
'Return to troop duty.'
Yes, sir.
Gresham? Join me in a touch?
You got a new neighbor.
Tracey.
I'm glad it shakes you, Curt.
I've known you were coming ever since you orders got here.
It's you who's marrying Gresham.
What could you know about marriage?
You ran from it.
I didn't. I had no choice. I was ordered.
Very convenient, slave driving army.
At least, you could've let me know.
I sent the messenger to your house.
- Didn't he explain? - Nobody came.
It wasn't till weeks later
that I found out you were gone.
Don't Tracey, please.
You didn't even know if I was pregnant.
Well, how could I know anything?
You never answered my letters.
I wouldn't answer them.
Don't you ever knock on doors?
I had no reason to suppose it necessary.
Gresham is my friend.
You put an overtone in that remark.
Most definitely I have.
There's enough trouble out here, McQuade
without stirring up more in the official family.
You and Miss Hamilton will tell Gresham.
Not by any decision of yours.
Or I must tell him.
Yes.
A well brought up young man aren't you, Porter.
Straight out of the book. A gentleman.
Well, if you are, you opened that door and you saw nothing.
Now get out and close it or I'll break
every bone in your body.
I'll meet that threat.
If I were Tom Gresham..
I'd kill you.
Porter's a jackass. He won't breathe a word.
And that's all that worries you?
Don't play women's games with me, Tracey.
Didn't take you too long to forget all about me
but you can't forget me now that I'm here.
Yes, I can.
On the same small post..
You'll marry to Gresham knowing every moment
what we have for each other?
No.
It can't be, you can't go through with it.
You'll tell him, or I will.
Just break a man's heart like that.
Scandalize myself by coming 2000 miles to marry a man
and then not marry him.
'Dear, lovely, selfish Tracey.'
It's an eye opener to a girl when she finds
that her body can trap her decency.
I've hated you for a long time, Curt.
I hate myself even more.
God, go away!
There's no need to take notes on what I'm telling you, McQuade.
It's all in the Standing Orders.
Now as junior officer, you'll start inventory
at the quartermaster store this afternoon.
This is an addition to troop duty.
Now, Rodermill..
Do you want to,
run Lieutenant McQuade down on this,
'inventory business?'
Yes, sir.
Well, sir..
Here at Canby..
We operate on about nothin'.
And each quarter, we gradually get less.
But we keep sending the requisitions in
and keep hopin' and sometimes we're surprised.
What tribes do they call treaty tribes these days?
It's an Indian agency designation.
None really.
Odds and ends of...
' ...half a dozen tribes, who can't go it alone any longer.'
So we feed them.
Hanna, what's that picket rope for?
Squaw line, sir. Today is payday.
'It's what?'
Squaw line. Today is payday, sir.
On payday, sir. We detail our 60 totallers to the guard.
Recall sounds at noon.
We put a sensory on that squaw line there
'to keep the drinking men from getting their throats cut'
'in the Indian camp.'
Works pretty good too.
'Cause round about the third bottle
those squaws get to lookin' mighty pretty.
That is if you're a drinkin' man.
Hanna!
Lieutenant Gresham, you're a senior lieutenant.
May I ask you a question?
Official.
Well, I won't guarantee an answer.
When my orders arrived here
they were endorsed unfavorably.
Why didn't Captain Maddocks want me?
Alright, McQuade.
This is a small army.
It gossips about its own.
The word is out, that you have been
on provo duty in the east
since you got out of the academy.
'Cause General McQuade saw fit
to keep his only son in a safe billet.
My father didn't get his star behind a desk
he got it under Sheridan.
A son is a man's immortality, McQuade.
There can be a lot of the clucking mother hen
in some men's fathers.
There's another word out on you.
That, Yuri's had you ordered out of New York fast
when it got around to him that you were playing around
with the ladies.
- 'Lieutenant Gresham.' - 'Mrs. Scarborough.'
Tracey, my dear.
Mrs. Scarborough, Lieutenant McQuade.
He just reported in for duty.
We do need young men so badly
on this stuffy old post.
- Ms. Scarborough. - Tracey, Lieutenant McQuade.
- My fiance, Miss Hamilton. - Miss Hamilton.
Lieutenant McQuade.
The poor dear girl, she's so much in love with you.
You lucky, lucky man to have her come all these miles.
'Yes, I know.'
It must be hard to get used to this
loneliness and isolation.
Denton, sir. WC, C Troop.
Denton, three months, $15. Total $45.
Mister... you picked up trail
of approximately 30 mounted hostiles.
Yes, sir. At the base of these foothills.
They bled off behind and hit you for four casualties.
In this area, sir.
Marks of ten ponies at the wells?
Yes, sir. Where the Detweilers were killed.
That's a day's ride from Fort Canby.
Question, mister.
Were the Detweiler raiders part of your 30
or an addition to them?
In other words..
Did the Detweiler raiders detach from your 30
or do we have 40 or more hostiles loose in this district?
I can't say, sir.
And because you can't say, I've gotta send Gresham
out on a scout to Kayson Wash.
Circling to the south, sir.
Why to draw us out on aback to Texas' Comanche chase?
That has been tried.
- Sir, I realize what... - That's all, mister.
Drortmander, three month, $15
loss of equipment due to the United States, $32.
Total $13.
Hanna, sir, RL, C Troop.
Hanna, six months, $15, stoppages, loss of equipment
troop punishment, a $104.
'You owe the United States, $14.'
'No payment.'
- 'Recall.' - Whoo-hoo!
Alright.
You pay up your jawbone credit first. Cash.
And it's six piece a bottle while it lasts. Cash.
- Go ahead. - 'Three dollars.'
Let the two quart men in first.
'Two dollars.'
There he goes.
'Take your time, men. You're gonna get drunk.'
Now, any of you damn Yankees
care to fight a well born southern gentleman.
'Watch where you're going!'
- Any trouble? - No trouble, sergeant.
How you doin', son?
Well, I'm doin' fine but, they're not.
Nobody died.
What are you doing out so late?
Don't be frightened.
Come on now.
Is she alright?
She's the little Detweiler girl.
She can't talk anymore. Mrs. Yates took her in.
God, I can't stand this horrible country.
She, she slipped out again?
Here, I'll take her back.
Now, by next coach, she'll have to be sent east.
To an asylum.
Harness 'em up there.
Aren't these the immigrant families?
- Yes, sir. - What's their story?
All the men are too damn mad to talk, sir.
Leavin' their crops and Snake Bend.
Women folk forced the men here for safety when they heard
about what happened to those women at Detweiler's.
What are troopers doing in here before recall?
Detailed to help the settlers, sir.
Alright, sergeant.
Would you hand me some pins, aunty. Thank you.
I wouldn't put it up much higher.
Is Mrs. Scarborough bringing more decoration?
Yes.
How many elegant affairs
you must have known in New York, Tracey.
Well, at least, our hearts are in this.
I'm sure they are, Mrs. Scarborough.
You know, if only we could have known when the circuit minister
would ride through to marry you and Tom.
But then of course, out here we never have been
very sure of anything.
- Well, hello, ladies. - My, Mr. McQuade.
Tell me is there anything the officer of the guard
can do to help?
So nice of you to offer.
- Hello, Lieutenant. - 'Well, hello, Camden.'
Is this a duty call?
Why not?
Or a scouting party?
Tell me, was..
Troop D stationed here as well as Troop C once?
Yes, it was supposed to have been a squadron command
but then it was decided not.
There was no major available.
And Captain Maddocks couldn't be promoted
because there was somethin' way back in his record.
Gertrude, my husband insists
we do not talk about that.
Lieutenant McQuade, aren't you excited about the party?
Yes, and you're doing such a wonderful job.
'You know, my new dress that I'm going to make for the party.'
'Yes.'
'Well, I have the most beautiful gray.'
'It looks like this..'
'What are you going to wear? Have you decided?'
'Well, I-I got a pattern through the mail.'
'And I'm going to try and cut it out.'
Hey, them ain't women
them are kids.
I know that. But they got an older sister.
She's built like a brick court house.
Boy, that Tully.
Sometimes I wish I had saved my money
and bought me a guitar.
Stop singling me out, Curt.
Leave your window open tonight.
I'll head out due south
and follow every trail I cut.
Any special instructions on that, sir?
Well..
Examine all pony droppings, Gresham.'
'That's the best trick they've got in their bag.'
'I want Comanches to make a horse perform'
'on sun dried roots, man chewed leaves'
'and cured fish.'
Now, as for the Apache, well..
You know, he's a past master making his pony tail lies
about where he was yesterday and the day before.
'Is there some thought, sir, that the Apaches'
might have a part in this too?
Unless you raise it, Mr. Porter.
I'm still accepting your say so
that it was Comanches that hit you here
in the running fight and Comanche's that worked
those Detweiler women over.
There was never any doubt in my mind, sir.
Out here you live on doubt, sir.
No further questions.
Unless you have something, sir.
Good luck, Gresham.
Now..
I'm gonna warn the western homesteaders
before Gresham returns.
Mr. McQuade, let's see
what kind of a troop officer you are.
- Set up the courier detail. - Yes, sir.
This arm, sir, will be no drawback, I can...
Porter.
I don't care that about your arm!
Four troopers were killed on your last patrol
and I do care about dead men!
McQuade heads the detail.
Hersh. Spencer.
Erschick.
Drortmander.
Head out for the blacksmith's shop. Race to it.
Denton.
Lead Mike out to the rear corral.
On foot.
Maybe it better lead you out.
- Yeah. - Get out there. Get out.
Get out, get out, get out.
I'm setting up the courier detail to warn the Rim Ranchers.
This is how I want it on men, ammunition
and rations, Sergeant Rodermill.
Yes, sir.
'I'm a little curly headed boy..'
That's the second time I didn't hear that.
Now let's not make a mistake and try for a third.
Maybe the lieutenant will like to look
at the post courier plan.
We have standing orders on this, sir.
Carry out my orders, Rodermill.
Yes, sir.
Hanna, are you stable guard?
- 'Nope.' - You mean, no sir, don't you?
Nope.
After last night..
Was she worth $20 a month out of
your pay, lieutenant? Not to tell Lieutenant Gresham.
- Why you stinkin' back... - Now gently, lieutenant.
Now gently!
Alright, lieutenant.
I'm gonna cut you up into bits
and then we'll talk business.
Mr. McQuade.
I take it for granted that my officers
have physical courage, so I don't condone
their fighting enlisted men to prove it.
By the captain's leave, sir.
There weren't no fight.
One of these doggone horses back here kicked me, sir.
- Get out of this, Hanna. - Yes, sir.
Mr. McQuade..
I take physical courage for granted.
But I don't take it for granted that my young officers
have brains enough except to read post standing orders.
You've passed the word to the first sergeant
for two sections on this courier detail
fourteen-hundred rounds of ammunition
and eight days' rations.
What the hell do you think I command here? A Brigade!
- Sir, I can... - Sir, you, nothing.
The courier plan is in post standing orders
and you should have read it.
One officer, two men
two days only to get up the 12 Rim Ranches.
Get away ammunition only
and a full oat ration.
Yes, sir.
You're relieved the courier detail.
You're in no condition to sit a horse.
Get yourself cleaned up.
Good evening, Drortmander.
Good evening, sir.
- Carry on. - Yes, sir.
I wanted a prisoner to identify that tribe by
and I didn't get one.
And you, mister..
You emptied that gun like a wahoo cowpoke.
Save a couple rounds.
You always need 'em.
One more thing..
As a commanding officer I have the right
to leave the post anytime I want to.
You don't.
So another time, don't be a fool.
I wasn't a fool, sir.
I had the right to leave the post too
the minute you left.
Now, how's that again, mister?
Well, my promotion to first lieutenant
antedates Porter's by six weeks
so with Gresham absent on scout..
I was automatically commanding officer
the minute you left, sir.
So as acting commanding officer
I had the right to the leave the post too
and go after you... sir.
We're both fools.
Damn fools.
Damn it!
- Come in. - You called, sir?
'Step over to the map, mister.'
Porter's three hours gone with the two couriers.
Gresham, tell McQuade what you told me.
He's the only other officer concern.
We crossed trail about four hours south of the post
between 50 and 60 hostiles moving due west.
They moved west, then they didn't go to Kayson Wash.
Well..
Live and learn, hey, mister.
Where did they go then? On your second guess.
Well, sir, two places are possible
for timber and water.
The, upper reaches of Snake Bend
or this area in here.
Tell him, Gresham.
They are in the upper reaches of Snake Bend.
You saw Talking Smoke?
Gresham and I have seen Talking Smoke
south and west on the horizon everyday
since the Paymaster got here.
Well, possibly, sir, a practical exercise like that
might be added to Troop School.
No, mister, that smoke was there on the horizon
for anybody to see, that wanted to see it.
With one under strength troop in this garrison
I don't see any reason for panicking the non-combatants.
I see, sir, if you're gonna cut a man's throat in bed
why frighten him to death in advance by telling him about it?
Gresham, I've gotta use you again.
There's nobody else here I can trust with it.
Tomorrow at dawn..
Take one section out..
Couple of pack horses..
Demonstrate.
Ride like the furies, frighten the spittin' vinegar out of 'em
and turn 'em all south.
Suppose it doesn't work, sir.
Then, mister, I will call on you
for your third guess.
And in the meantime, for the social amenities
you may tell Mrs. Scarborough
that she may have her party tonight.
- That's all. - Yes, sir.
Miss Hamilton, you are very lovely tonight.
Thank you, captain.
So nice of you to arrange for Tom to be here.
Mr. Gresham, thank you very much.
Good evening, Lieutenant McQuade.
Hello, Camden.
Artillery punch, Owen.
- Stiffed with burgundy. - Dear.
This dancing makes me so out of breath.
Gentlemen, gentlemen.
'Charge your glasses, and the ladies' glasses.'
Thank you, Hanna.
Now, then..
To the health and happiness
of the handsomest couple ever to grace Fort Canby.
'Tom Gresham and Tracy Hamilton.'
Here, here.
'May they..'
'May they have long lives'
'and much much happiness.'
Tom, I hope you're both very happy.
Tom.
Tracy?
Well, lieutenant..
Shall we dance?
My pleasure, Camden.
Tell me, why do they call you "Camden?"
After the battle of Camden.
But..
Don't let that frighten you.
It doesn't. Should it?
I haven't decided yet.
We get the next dance, young man.
Do me a favor and give an old lady
a glass of punch, will you?
- Tracy. It's a wonderful party. - Yes, sir.
Tracy, it's just as exciting as I knew it would be.
You're a lovely couple.
Thank you so much.
Would you excuse me please?
Well, of course, dear.
- A little punch? - Good idea.
Yes, why not?
I can't live like this. I'm not this kind.
Now, tell me, Tracy..
That..
He did that without your consent.
You've told me.
Gresham, I don't want you to think she had...
You don't enter into it.
Only Miss Hamilton's reputation.
I'll take her home.
Well, mister..
I find you alone.
With all due respect to your rank, sir
I don't give a damn how you find me.
You don't like the cut of my jib and I'm not exactly
in love with you.
Without knowing me, you endorse my orders unfavorably
so when I put in for reassignment
will you endorse favorably?
Not a chance, mister.
You can break..
But you can't quit.
Damn you!
Blast your stinkin' yellow-bellied army!
May the Lord tear your eyes out!
Wait a minute!
- What is it, man? - Hostiles.
Hundred Indians hacked up my whole family.
Look, I..
Will you rot in hell?
My wife, my kids..
Will you rot in hell?
Hanna?
Hanna, tell Mr. Gresham to report to me in my quarters.
Yes, sir.
- Denton.. - 'Yes, sir.'
- See to him. - Yes, sir.
Don't worry, man.
Well, Tracy, we cut the heart out of him.
I'm so cold inside.
Must be like dying is from the inside out
getting colder and colder.
Godspeed to you, Thomas Gresham.
All your family has really done
in all the years you told me about
is-is to breed a blood stock of..
Casual-gentleman-killers
and I think it's horrible.
But we wear clean shirts..
Whenever we can get the laundry done.
Unless Mr. Gresham turns south
before he got to Snake Bend
I do not understand why you
or one of your couriers didn't cross his trail.
We didn't even see cookfire, sir.
Well, if he turned south before he reach Snake Bend
you couldn't see his cookfires.
There's high ground in between.
Mr. Porter..
You look worn out.
Turn in.
Thank you, sir.
You read Shakespeare, mister?
Do I what?
"Posture a victory always..
"For we are all born with a debt to death.
Pay it today and we don't owe it tomorrow."
Let's find out why Mr. Gresham headed into the dessert.
- Saddle up, mister. - Yes, sir.
No sign of Gresham so far today either.
What's your thought on it? Is he still alive?
Lieutenant McQuade, I have three superstitions.
One is I never call the death turn on a man.
For or against.
Alright, I'll shut up.
But let's get one thing straight right now
I'll take hazing and I'll eat stable gurry
from the troop commander, but I won't take it
from you, top soldier.
Now, McQuade, I'm gonna do you a favor now.
The old man's given it to you no worse than you asked
to every other new joined Lieutenant
whoever worked for him.
Don't take it personal.
He's just poundin' you down a size.
Makin' you pitch your own peg hole
like he does to everybody else, that's all.
No, it's not all.
Captain Maddocks ever served out here under my father?
Did he?
I never heard the captain say, sir.
Why?
It's me personally with Captain Maddocks.
You know, I have a feeling he's paying me off
for my father somehow.
You served under my father at, Chapultepec..
And you know why.
Why he'd stand barefooted on a barbed wire fence
and lash a wildcat to death with a live rattlesnake
but he'll get the job done every time.
Lieutenant McQuade
I'm gonna do you another favor now.
I'm gonna tell you the odd teeth
I never heard that last remark.
I don't like officers much.
And I don't have to.
But I gotta trust 'em.
I don't know what a gentleman is.
But a real one ain't a back biter.
Ain't nothing but this stinkin' job
out here in Captain Maddocks.
It wouldn't be possible for him
to let personalities enter into it.
He's not a young man anymore.
He maybe pettish and finicky
but he ain't vindictive.
Twenty..
Twenty, twenty five unshod ponies, I make it.
It means they've split up.
Oats.
They're feeding the ponies on oats.
Probably Comanche.
And by Gary it is Comanche.
Llano Estacado mark.
Let's push on, find a bivouac area for the night.
This is your bivouac area for the night, sir.
Sergeant, dismount and all settle. Rodermill.
Place on the hill just before full dark.
Then bring all the mounts in close in on a picket rope.
- Cookfire, sir? - Cookfire's out at full dark.
Yes, sir.
Hanna!
Push the men out 400 yards.
Off saddle line the sight of the guide on me.
Lots of squat fire, keep 'em low.
Step up, payday is coming. Dismount!
Lead out.
No sign of Gresham all this day's march either, right?
No, sir.
Thank you.
You saw that trail we crossed a couple hours back, sir?
Eighteen ponies, mister, headed north
crossed our line of march about 10 o'clock this morning.
I made it, 20-25, sir
crossed about dawn.
I was undoubtedly wrong, sir.
You were, sir.
There are oats in that trail, sir.
Well, that's quite right, Mr. McQuade.
You're picking up.
It was a Comanche trail, sir.
Well, now..
Comanche mark, sir.
Flattened circle of the moon.
Llano Estacado mark.
And those oats they're feeding their ponies
must have been second cavalry oats.
Mr. Gresham's oats. Where else will they get oats?
So what's your insinuating I do, mister?
Is to hot tail it north
on that trail, round up that party of 18
beat it out of them what they did to Gresham
and his patrol before they stole his field issue of oats.
- Is that it? - Yes, sir, that's exactly it.
This a very good bivouac area, Mr. McQuade.
And it has a very ripe smell to go with it.
Must be a dead coyote on the rye, sir.
Wind shifted to blow it down.
Oats grow wild, so I've been told, mister.
Wild oats have smaller kernels, narrower.
Issue oats are cultivated..
Fat kernels, short snub husks..
Short tassels.
You make a complete study of the matter
when you have time, mister.
Yes, sir, I will.
And now, you take a deep breath.
Take a deep breath.
Get that smell in your nostrils
and then you tell meone more time
that it's a dead coyote.
'Alright, Mr. McQuade, come on down here.'
Come on!
Take a good look, Mr. McQuade.
You smell the smell, mister.
And it was a dead coyote
and that was a military mistake.
You found oats on the trail
and they were issue oats
and that was a military mistake.
This is not a school room, Mr. McQuade.
Out here when you fail in a subject
you do not go to the blackboard and try again.
And that, Mr. McQuade
that is what our graduation dance looks like out here.
- The Comanches... - You keep you mouth shut!
You and I wade into this mess and find out
what mistakes Mr. Gresham and his men made.
Here!
Yes, sir. Lieutenant Gresham.
Well, mister, you're giving yourself a hard time.
And I'm letting you.
It's in your mind that Gresham let this thing happen
'cause the heart was gone out of him.
That night at the party..
You knew, sir, about Ms. Hamilton and me.
Mister, I'm the troop commander.
I'm paid to know everything.
I have nothing to say, sir.
Well, I do.
I'm a long way from a Bible thumper.
But one thing I do believe..
The sum total of man's experience
with morality as the ten commandments.
We don't try to live by them
we throw away the God-given chance for decency.
We'll never know exactly why Gresham got himself trapped
down here in the desert.
He wouldn't seek death.
But cut to pieces in his emotions
by you and that young lady back there.
He couldn't have the keenness of mind he usually had.
So death caught him out.
And half a troop with him.
And for that, I hate his dead guts!
So you live with that, mister
as long as God pleases you to.
Captain Maddocks, let me go
after that party of 18 and let me get even for...
Violate standing orders for your peace of mind, mister?
Not a chance.
It's your prayer book for burial services, sir.
Thank you, sergeant.
Rodermill, you saw that trail a way back?
- 'Yes, sir.' - Comanches make it?
'A little far west for Comanches, sir.'
They could have, but I won't swear to it.
That's right, sergeant, you play it carefully.
You will swear that was an Apache arrow
in Lieutenant Gresham's throat.
Well, yes, I know an Apache arrow
when I see one, but it's..
A little far north and east for Apaches.
'That's right.'
'But Apaches could've wiped out'
'Gresham and his patrol.'
That's right, sir.
'But I won't swear.'
Or Comanches could've fought
with the Apaches some time in the past
gotten hold of some Apache's arrows
and put one of them in Gresham's throat
so it could've been Comanches.
That's right, sir.
But I won't swear.
Captain Maddocks, do you know which tribe did it?
'Yes.'
'I know.'
And you can swear to that.
He knows, and he swears too.
Reveille, sir?
Not by good two and a half hours.
Rodermill?
Turn to.
- Coffee, sir? - Not this morning, Rodermill.
No coffee, no smoking, no talking.
Saddle up and stand the horse, and let's do it quietly.
- Yes, sir. - Rodermill.
Ask Tully to put this on my horse.
Yes, sir.
And give me one man to remain in this camp.
Yes, sir.
Captain, sir.
Spencer, you remain in this camp.
The wind will shift here just before dawn.
And when it does, you pile all the bush you can find
on those fires and keep 'em blazing.
Yes, sir.
Our men are getting ready, sir.
We'll move out, dismount it and leave 'em.
Yes, sir.
Let's do it quietly.
Tully, tell Mr. McQuade to report to me.
Yes, sir.
He's changed our march direction.
What the hell is he doing?
He earns the difference in our pay, sir.
So I won't ask him.
'Lieutenant.'
'Captain wants to see you, sir.'
Maybe you should ask him, sir.
Yes, sir.
I've changed our march direction, mister.
Yes, sir. You certainly are.
You're giving them our backs.
Be awful easy to take your gun away from you
and put you in field arrest for that remark, mister.
Yes, sir.
Look over there.
'That's the smoke from our old fire.'
'We're having breakfast there right now'
for every savage to believe from miles around, I hope.
That up there is Mesa Roja.
Remember the barrack that's just east of it.
- The one with a stream in it. - That's right.
You've got a scant hour to get there.
Take Rodermill and eight men, and you get there.
Yes, sir, I think I can make it.
Don't think about it. You get there.
Or your bones will bleach white.
When you get there, build a one squad breakfast fire
keep everybody out in the open and active.
You're the bait on my hook, mister.
Wriggle like a live worm.
Wriggle.
Stay alive, son.
Sargent, have the men dismount.
Dismount.
Sargent, have the men gather around.
Gather around.
We're lighting a fire here and off-saddling.
I want a defensive position right there.
And I want a shift position on that ledge.
Lieutenant care to tell us anymore?
Yes, I think we're gonna get hit.
How hard?
I don't know.
But I'm taking it on trust, so you take it on trust from me.
We gonna get hit down here in this hole?
You heard the man.
Men, this is to be a simulated breakfast halt.
Move around, walk, talk, spit, laugh.
Get known in this neighborhood.
But keep those carbines handy.
Sargent, have the men picket the horses over there.
Picket.
- We're sure down the bottom... - Get that fire lit.
Hanna, build a fire.
Fire the man says. Fire he's gonna get.
Sometimes the army's worse than bein' married.
How can you say an awful thing like that?
If they're up there.
They got us cold over open sight.
You're a superstitious man remember.
Don't call the shots on this.
Denton, you glad you took the pledge.
I reckon he is.
Take cover.
How you doin'?
I don't know.
Shift position.
Take to the ledge.
They'll come back. They always do.
And, then, we'll have them down in the hole.
Steady, men.
Hanna.
Thank you for that ballet cat.
It's a little gift from me to you.
What are you looking at?
Well, these Indians sometimes
bring their women with them.
Probably, up there on the ridge.
You're the only man I know who never gets it off his mind.
I quit drinking for you, you old teetotaller.
And, now, you go get yourself dead.
Poor little dog, sure gonna miss you.
Hey, bugler!
'I want sweet music.'
Nobody dies.
Dismount.
When a fast galloper can get back into Fort Canby
before we do, I'll have the dispatch for him
by the time he's ready.
Yes, sir.
Rodermill!
Son.
He always said, "Nobody dies."
Karl..
Rodermill.
McQuade, you did a pretty good job here.
Yes, sir, in time you may do.
You may do.
When did you first know they were Apaches, sir?
Back in Fort Canby.
Comanche's, raiding an Apache country
wouldn't talk on smoke.
Had to be Apaches arguing up a hassle among themselves.
How did you know they were here in the Mesa, sir?
Well, Apaches like to camp high.
Mesa Roja has the highest ground around.
So, I cheated a mite, son.
I looked.
Last night at sundown, when we buried the men
high on the peaks, there was a wisp of smoke.
It takes time, mister.
But you finally do learn to out-think them all.
And there weren't any Comanches.
Just Apaches tryin' to get us
to run off to Texas after ghosts.
In light of departmental standing orders, sir
I won't say anything about this attack.
Attack, Mr. McQuade? What attack?
My point commanded by you here on this stream bank
came under heavy attack by hostiles.
My point did not attack, it defended.
It did not attack nor did I.
Arriving with the main body I merely supported the defense.
I'm extremely sorry for my previous attitude, sir.
Here's your goal, Mr. McQuade.
There used to be an officer out here
who said never apologize, mister.
It's a mark of weakness.
There's a long service captain out here
who found that out the hard way.
He apologized once to his commanding officer
in an attempt to cover up a mistake.
A bad mistake.
You will die or retire as a captain.
The officer who chose
to damage that man's career
might have dealt with him a little more humanly
but he didn't.
But I'll make a soldier out of you, Mr. McQuade.
If you don't break first.
And you may convey my respects
to General McQuade.
The next time you write to your father.
Bring that guy down.
Smarten it!
Dismount and lead out, Mr. McQuade.
Dismount, lead out to stables.
Well, Butterfield stage got through.
Looks like it's gettin' ready to head out to the east again.
Captain Maddocks.
Lieutenant.
Miss Yates.
Thank the good Lord
you're back.
Tracey Hamilton is taking her east
to her aunt in St. Louis.
Goodbye, Laurie.
Take the bags to the coach, please.
Tracey.
I hoped I'd be gone before you got in.
Please don't make me break down.
Tracey, you can't go this way.
This is the way I'm going, Kurt.
The galloper brought us the news
about Tom and the others.
Glad you got out alive.
Tracey, give me a moment.
There isn't any moment, there never can be.
I killed Tom Gresham.
I'm quitting now, before I break.
If I were a man, you'd call me yellow.
Tracey, you'll always be the loveliest girl I ever knew.
Goodbye, Tracey.
Goodbye.
- Goodbye, Mrs. Yates. - Goodbye.
- Mrs. Scarborough. - Goodbye, dear.
- Goodbye, Camden. - Goodbye, Tracey.
Come on, sweetheart.
- Mister? - Yes, sir.
'...everybody start!'
It's not in the book, mister.
But it's one of the hard lessons we learn out here.
What, sir?
Bachelors make the best soldiers.
All they have to lose is their loneliness.
Weren't you ever married, sir?
Yes.
I suppose that was part of it.
Back there when I almost broke.
My wife and..
Three little girls are buried in Fort Latham.
Smallpox, mister.
I must try to get some flowers somehow down to them
the next time one of our patrols puts in.
Captain Maddocks, sir, in my quarters
I have a bottle with just about four drinks left in it.
I'm sorry, I can't offer you more.
I know, sir..
Never apologize, it's a sign of weakness.
Two jewels a piece might just about cut the dust.
Do you care to join me in my quarters?