All language subtitles for Sergeant.Rutledge.1960.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG

♪ Have you heard about the
soldier in the U.S. Cavalry ♪

♪ Who is built
like Lookout Mountain ♪

♪ taller than a redwood tree? ♪

♪ With his iron fist,
he'll drop an ox ♪

♪ with just one mighty blow ♪

♪ John Henry was a weakling
next to Captain Buffalo ♪

♪ He'll march all night,
and he'll march all day ♪

♪ and he'll wear out
a 20-mule team along the way ♪

♪ Roll the drums,
roll the drums ♪

♪ let the bugles blow ♪

♪ you've never seen a man
the likes of Captain Buffalo ♪

♪ With a hoot and a holler
and a ring-a-dang go ♪

♪ hup, two, three, four ♪

♪ Captain Buffalo ♪

♪ He'll march all night,
and he'll march all day ♪

♪ and he'll wear out
a 20-mule team along the way ♪

♪ Roll the drums,
roll the drums ♪

♪ let the bugles blow ♪

♪ you've never seen a man
the likes of Captain Buffalo ♪

♪ with a hoot and a holler
and a ring-a-dang go ♪

♪ hup, two, three, four ♪

♪ Captain Buffalo,
Captain Buffalo ♪

There's young Cantrell.

He's a day late.

Right.

Ah, Dickinson.
Hold that, will you?

That's my whole case
in there --

evidence, affidavits,
everything.

Try dressing in the front seat
at a gallop.

How do I look?

That's how you look.
Turn around.

I expected you
yesterday.

I know.

Any luck
at the Jorgenson ranch?

No, not yet.

Uh, Hightower,

take the rest of this gear
to adjutants' quarters.

How much time we got?

None. Come on.

All my buttons buttoned?

Yeah.

Officers' wives?

[ Indistinct conversations ]

They're not gonna let
the women sit in on this.

Spicy case like yours?

Try and keep 'em out,
they'd have your scalp.

Trying to make it
into a Roman circus, huh?

Tom, they want to see
a hangin'.

President of the court-martial
is Colonel Otis Fosgate.

I know, I know --
"Old Stone Face."

Tom, I admire you
for defending Rutledge,

but you might as well know,

I think
he's as guilty as hell.

You might as well know,
I don't.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

You put that chair
right there. That's it.

It's going to be like
a box in the opera.

[ Crowd quiets ]

Is Mary Beecher here?

Dickinson:
Not too friendly.

I'm not calling her
as a friend.

I'm calling her
as a witness.

Good luck, Tom.

Mary, I know this is gonna be
an ordeal for you,

but I had to call on you.

Rutledge needs all the help
he can get.

And whose fault is that?

What is done is done.

We're in the hands
of the court now.

But you're defending him.
You -- you of all men.

Well, if you had
some knowledge of the facts --

Man: Ten-hut!

[ Crowd murmurs ]

Silence, silence!

Quiet!

You civilians,
get those hats off!

Put out those cigars!

Sergeant,
see that they do it,

and if they don't,
throw them out!

Yes, sir.

Otis isn't feeling very well
this morning.

He had a little glass
of...wine last night.

[ Gavel bangs ]

I want something understood
right here and now!

This is a court-martial.
It is not a quilting bee.

It's not a quilting bee.

[ Gavel bangs ]

Now, if there is
any further disturbance

or undue chatter,

I am going to
clear this court at once!

Cordelia, your husband's
going to put us out!

Ho ho! He wouldn't dare!
Just let him try!

The court is ready, sir.

Very good, Captain.

Now, I have been told
that counsel for the defense

is not on the post.

Lieutenant Cantrell
is present, sir.

My apologies
if my last-minute arrival

has inconvenienced
the court.

Very good, Cantrell.

Now, is trial-judge advocate
ready to prosecute this case?

Captain Shattuck, sir,
ready for the prosecution.

Oh, yes, yes.

You're the officer sent down

from General Nelson Miles'
headquarters, aren't you?

I see you wear
the 14th-Infantry insignia.

I've been away
from the regiment, sir --

detailed to the Judge Advocate
General's department

for 10 years.

Ah, yes.

Lawyer, eh? Lawyer.

Sent down here to keep a staff
eye on field-soldier justice?

On the contrary, sir --

justice was guaranteed
the accused

when you were detailed
as president of this court.

Heh!

[ Crowd murmurs ]

Now, counsel being ready
and present,

as general court appointed

by departmental
special order 104,

August 8, 1881,
is now in session.

All right, Sergeant,
the accused, Sergeant Rutledge,

will be brought in.

Yes, sir.

[ Crowd murmurs ]

[ Gavel bangs ]

[ Whistle blows ]

First Sergeant
Braxton Rutledge, "C" Troop,

Ninth United States Cavalry.

Hang him!Hang him!
Hang him!Hang him!

Fosgate: Quiet! Quiet!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Order!

Mr. President,

I request this courtroom
be cleared of all spectators.

This is not a public show.

A soldier is on trial
for his life before this court.

And furthermore, by the very
nature of the charges alone,

this is certainly no place
for ladies.

Request granted.

Dickinson,
clear this courtroom

of everybody not directly
connected with this case!

Fosgate: Clear out!

Everybody!

Out!

Otis, Otis, tell this person
you don't mean me!

Out, Cordelia!

Escort Mrs. Fosgate
and her friends to the door.

Oh! Really!

This is the most absurd thing
I've ever heard in my life!

Otis Fosgate,
wait till I get you home

and really tell you
what I think!

[ Clears throat ]

Now, gentlemen,

I want counsel for both sides
to understand

that this court-martial is
being held behind closed doors

with no prejudice
toward the accused.

And solely because of the
scandalous nature of the charges

and to avoid offense
to public decency.

Mulqueen,
read the charge sheet.

Sir, since the court
acknowledges

the unspeakable nature
of the charges,

I would like to suggest

that, out of deference
to the young lady

whose presence is necessary
as a witness,

that the court omit
reading of the charges

and specifications
in detail

and simply cite the accused
as charged

with violation
of the 92nd Article of War

on both counts.

Defense counsel,
any objections?

As long as
the court is aware

of Captain Shattuck's sly
attempt to create prejudice,

no objections.

The accused stands charged
with violation

of the 92nd Article of War
on both counts.

Sergeant Rutledge,
how do you plead?

Guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty
to both charges, sir.

Not guilty?

Lieutenant Cantrell,
is this prisoner's plea

made on advice of counsel?

Yes, sir.
Not guilty on both charges

and not guilty
on all specifications, sir.

Proceed, proceed.

All right,
Captain Shattuck,

call your first witness.

I call Miss Mary Beecher
to the stand.

Sir,
I appeal of the court.

Captain Shattuck
knows very well

Miss Beecher is here
as witness for the defense.

Sir, I know of no rule

which says prosecution
may not call a defense witness,

so long as it does not later
impeach her testimony.

Miss Beecher, please?

Do you swear the evidence
you're about to give

is the truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God, ma'am?

I do.

Thank you, ma'am.

And now, Miss Beecher,
in your own words,

will you kindly acquaint
the court

with all the circumstances

that led up
to your first meeting

with the accused,
Sergeant Rutledge,

and everything
that transpired thereafter?

Well, I -- I was returning
to Arizona

after an absence of 12 years
in the East.

And when I arrived
at Junction City,

I discovered that there were
no longer any passenger trains

running through the Spindle
Station into Fort Linton.

And through the friendship
of a conductor, Mr. Owens,

whom I'd know
since I was a little girl,

I managed to get a ride

in the caboose
of his freight train.

And I was supposed to meet
my father at Spindle Station.

Mr. Owens had sent him
a telegram from Junction City.

And it was on the caboose
of that freight train

that I first met
Lieutenant Cantrell.

[ Train whistle blows ]

[ Speaking Spanish ]

He says
the horses need water.

You hear that, Owens?!

You think I'm deaf?
Deaf and dumb?

You been screamin' for water
louder than them remounts

since we left Junction City.

How long before we get
to Spindle Station, Mr. Owens?

Well,
the way I got it figured,

with the sand on the tracks
and the wind against us,

I'd say...Half hour
at the outside.

About midnight.

You hear that,
Miss Beecher?

In a half hour,
you'll get off at Spindle,

and I'll go on
to Fort Linton.

You sound surprised,
Lieutenant Cantrell.

What I've been trying to say

is that you're
a very attractive, young,

and rather mysterious lady,

and...I'm...A lonely bachelor
in a lonely land.

Now, there's nothing
mysterious about me.

I'm just coming home
after 12 years.

But somehow, it doesn't seem
like coming home at all.

I'd forgotten
what a lonely land

Arizona Territory
really is.

Why did your father
send you back East, Mary?

Was it, uh, school or what?

No, it was a promise
he made to my mother

just before she died.

I hated going.
I loved Arizona then.

And now
I just don't know.

Ah, don't you worry, Mary.

I sent your father that telegram
from Junction City,

like you told me,

and he'll be at Spindle Station
to meet you

and mighty glad
to see you, too.

Why, sure he will.

You know,
Arizona's changed considerably

since Geronimo was taken.

We haven't had
any Apache trouble

in -- oh, I don't know --
two or three years.

[ Whistle blows ]
Spindle Station comin' up.

Oh, you and your
dag-blamed horses, Laredo.

You're runnin' powerful late
already.

If he had his way, Mary,

he'd have me throw you
off the train without stoppin'.

If you're in such a hurry,
fetch out her other bag.

[ Whistle blows ]

Uh, would you like
some more hot coffee?

No, thank you.

That's a pretty long,
cold ride

over there
to Spanish Wells.

I'll have to get used to
these Arizona distances.

Well, now, it's only
about an hour on the train

from Fort Linton to Spindle,

and Spindle
to Spanish Wells --

why, that's just
a short day's ride.

Well, that's still
quite a distance.

Not if there's a welcome
at the end of it.

[ Brakes screech ]

My name's Tom.

Goodbye, Tom.

There'll be a welcome
for you.

Bye, Mary.

Owens: Oh, Nate!
Nate Hedges!

Hey, Nate, wake up, Nate!

Hey, Nate!

Laredo: He's around here
someplace.

Owens: Hey, Nate!

Nate Hedges, wake up!

Hey, Nate!

Oh, Nate!

Ain't nobody here
to meet you, Mary.

I did send that telegram
to your dad, you know.

Don't worry, Mr. Owens.
I'm sure he'll be along soon.

Well, Nate will take care
of you till he comes.

You remember Nate Hedges,
don't you?

Nate Hedges?
Is he still here?

What's the trouble,
Mary?

My father isn't here yet,
and I --

Oh, uh, excuse me
just a minute, Mary.

I think I know --

Nate! Busy, Nate?

[ Wind blows ]

Nate?

Nate?

Busy?

Now, look here, Owens,

I got two carloads of valuable
remounts on that train.

You ain't gonna hold me up

for any more
of that huggin' and kissin'.

Ah, hold your horses,
Laredo!

That's just
what I ain't gonna do!

[ Whistle blows ]

[ Engine chugs ]

Hold it!

Hey, nobody
starts that train but me!

Mary, you're the most
beautiful girl I've ever seen,

and don't forget
I said it to you.

Oh, hush.

Hurry, now.

[ Whistle blows ]

Mr. Hedges?

[ Clock ticking ]

Nate?

Nate?

Mr. Hedges?

Nate?

Nate!

Nate, wake up!

Ahhhhhhh!

[ Gasps ]

Ahhhhh--

Don't scream, Miss.
Don't scream.

[ Whimpers ]

It was as though
he'd sprung up at me

out of the earth.

I couldn't move.
I couldn't scream.

It was like a nightmare.

And that man who sprang at you
from the darkness,

is he here in this court?

Well, yes, but --

Is that man who seized you
so brutally and viciously --

Is he here?

Well, yes,
he's sitting right there,

but that does not
prove it.

Is it that man there,
that colored soldier?

I object!

I withdraw
the word "colored."

I refer to the accused,
Sergeant Rutledge.

Is he the man

who seized you so viciously,
Miss Beecher?

Yes, but --

that is all,
Miss Beecher.

Your witness,
Lieutenant Cantrell.

Sir, gentlemen,
a soldier's life is at stake,

and this man is playing
cheap legal tricks.

I resent that, sir!

[ Gavel bangs ]
That's enough!

I will have no personalities
between counsel.

Proceed, Lieutenant.

Prosecution has stolen
a key defense witness

and ruthlessly cut off
the testimony

at a point highly unfavorable
to the accused.

This is not
the proper time

for Defense Counsel
to argue the case.

He should either cross-examine
or dismiss the witness.

The manual for court-martials
clearly states

the trial-judge advocate
should do his utmost

to present the whole truth

and to oppose every attempt
to suppress the facts

or to distort them!

Now, I ask the court
not to accept the half-truths

that Captain Shattuck
has so slickly presented,

but to insist
on the whole truth

by letting Miss Beecher
go on with her story.

I object, sir.

If this is not
a personal attack on me --

Sit down!

Miss Beecher, tell me,
is there more to your story?

Yes. Yes, there is.

Well, I think I speak for
the other members of this court

when I say
that I'd like to hear it.

Now, Miss Beecher,
as I recall the testimony

before Captain Shattuck
cut you off,

Sergeant Rutledge was pressing
his hand over your mouth.

Now, tell us,
what happened then?

Well, he -- he warned me.

He warned me
not to scream again.

He said,
"Don't scream again, Miss.

Don't scream!"

You don't have to be
afraid of me.

I'm first Sergeant Rutledge,
United States Cavalry.

[ Whimpers ]

Quiet, ma'am.

I ain't gonna hurt you,

but I ain't gonna
let you scream.

Now, you listen to me --

I been blood-trailed
all the way into Spindle

by three Mescaleros.

They jumped me about
a mile back, got my horse.

I killed one. The other two
are out there somewhere.

Do you understand?
Apaches.

[ Coyote howls ]

Now, tell me,
what did you find in there?

He's dead.

The old man,
the stationmaster?

Yes. I put my hand
on his shoulder,

and he --
and he fell to the floor.

I wasn't movin' around
awful fast.

One could have
circled ahead of me, maybe.

While I was in there,
an Apache --

Stop it!

It's where they are now.

How did he fall? Loose?

He was all...limp
and --

Less than one hour dead
in this weather?

I don't know.

My father! My father's
coming here to meet me!

The Apaches --
they'll kill him!

It ain't your father now.
It's you and me.

You're a Western woman.
You can use a gun.

Yes, but --

They'll have
no mercy on you, lady.

They'll have no mercy.

[ Owl hoots ]

Look out!

[ Whimpering ]

Do we have to go in there?

No. You stay here
while I police up the place.

[ Train whistle blows ]

What were you doing
out there?

It's all right.
You can come in now.

[ Clock ticking ]

I took him outside.
The best I could do.

Are you all right?

Yes.

Your father got word
you were coming?

Yes. The conductor telegraphed
him from Junction City.

Name Beecher?
Spanish Well Ranch?

You mean he didn't get it?

Let me see.

May be a file copy.

A line writer could have
taken it out to the ranch.

Dad isn't here.

When you had the lamp out back,
you were reading sign.

What is it?

Apaches --
the ones that jumped us,

they didn't kill
the old man.

You mean it wasn't Apaches?

It was Apaches,
but an earlier party.

The signs out back
show 30 or 40 unshod ponies.

There must have been
an awful big breakout

at San Rosario Reservation.

Our ranch
is on San Rosario Road.

It's a good thing your father
didn't get the message.

No time to be caught
on the roads, Miss.

However...You and I got to
get some rest and food.

I'll see if I can
rustle us up some.

No, let me do it.

No, you stay!

I'm sorry, Miss.

I been a First Sergeant
too long.

What I meant to say is,

rest easy here
till I come back.

[ Wind blows ]

Please continue,
Miss Beecher.

Tell us,
what happened then?

Well, the -- the storm
seemed to grow in violence.

The wind blew stronger
and stronger.

I thought
I heard a coyote howl.

And I was afraid...

Terribly afraid!

[ Wind blows ]

I'm Mary Beecher.

What did you say
your name is?

Rutledge.
Braxton Rutledge.

First Sergeant,
Ninth Cavalry.

I didn't know
they had any colored --

I mean,
are you from Fort Linton?

The Ninth Cavalry
relieved the white garrison

a few years back.

Then you must know
Lieutenant Cantrell.

Yes, I know him.

That Apache cut you
out there.

Why didn't you tell me?

I'm all right.
You get out.

I won't.

The whiskey up there --

You want whiskey?

Up there on the shelf --
give it to me.

That isn't a knife cut.

[ Gasps ]

Gunshot.

Apaches didn't do it.

When did you leave
Fort Linton?

A while back.

Yesterday?

I said a while back.

Look, Sergeant,
I know you've got to sleep,

but suppose
the Apaches come back?

When Apaches kill and run,

chances are
they don't come back.

I'll get you
something to eat.

Please don't go to sleep.
It'll be hot in a minute.

You take yours in there
in the next room.

I'll dish my own up.

You stay where you are.
I'll get yours.

Anyone comes...

You ain't gonna be in here
with me.

What are you talking about?

I'm talkin' about you --

a white woman.

White women only spell trouble
for any of us.

That's nonsense.

We're just two people
trying to stay alive.

Lady, you don't know how hard
I'm tryin' to stay alive.

Sergeant, the telegraph.

Do you know how to work
the telegraph key?

No use. The wire's cut.

[ Wind blows ]

[ Clock chimes four times ]

[ Wind blows, door bangs ]

Well, I --
I suppose I must have slept

sometime during the night.

But I thought that night
would never end.

But at any time that night,

did Sergeant Rutledge
threaten or molest you?

Certainly not.

He never stirred
from his cot.

So, what Captain Shattuck
tried to picture to the court

as a brutal and vicious attack
upon you by Sergeant Rutledge

was, in reality, nothing more
than an effort to prevent you

from betraying your presence
to those two Apache?

Sergeant Rutledge
saved my life.

Thank you.

Any further questions,
Captain Shattuck?

No questions, sir.

You may step down,
Miss Beecher.

Oh, and I trust we haven't
unduly distressed you.

All right, gentlemen,

we've had just about enough
of this legal jockeying.

Let's put first things first

and clearly establish the facts
and the nature of the crimes

with which the accused
has been charged.

Call your next witness,
Captain Shattuck.

I call
Mrs. Colonel Fosgate.

What?

What did you say?

Y-you mean you're calling
my wife as a witness?

Yes, sir.

If you knew you were gonna
have her on that stand,

what did you let me
haul her out of here for?

I call
Mrs. Colonel Fosgate.

All right, Sergeant,
all right!

Mulqueen, the water.

I said the "water."

That footslogger
knew all the time

he was gonna have her
up there.

I'll never be able to --

[ gulps ]

[ Coughs, clears throat ]

[ Sighs ]

Cordelia, you were called here
as a witness!

What are these other ladies
doing here?!

Otis Fosgate, I would not
come here without a chaperon

with all these men.

My goodness, my mother --

Fosgate:
All right, all right!

Ladies, sit down.
And be quiet.

Cordelia, take the chair.

The chair?

Yes, ma'am.

What chair?

This chair here, ma'am.

Oh?

Yes, ma'am.

The chair, ma'am.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God, ma'am?

Is that
the King James version?

Do you swear --

I don't swear on anything
but the King James version.

Cordelia,
a Bible is a Bible.

Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth --

she does.

Carry on, Shattuck.

Do you recognize the subject
of this miniature painting?

It's dear,
little Lucy Dabney.

Lucy Dabney.

Yes.

With the little gold cross
she always wore

around her neck.

I would like to place this
in evidence, sir.

I accept it.

Now, Mrs. Fosgate,
you and your husband

were quartered
on the post at Fort Linton

at the time of the murders,
were you not?

Yes.

And you knew the Post
Commander, Major Dabney,

as well as
his young daughter Lucy?

Oh, yes, very well.

Now, Mrs. Fosgate,

I know that
to a woman of your breeding,

this is painful
beyond words.

But I would like you
to tell the court,

when was the last time
you saw Lucy Dabney alive?

The last time I saw Lucy

was at the settler's store,
Mr. Hubble's.

She came riding up
on her horse,

so young, so lovely.

Hi, Mrs. Fosgate.

Oh. Yes.

Hi.

Hello, Mrs. Hackett.

Darling.

Lucy Dabney,
riding astride.

When will your father
realize

that you're
a grown-up young lady?

Papa says, as long as
I say my prayers

and behave myself
with the young lieutenants,

he doesn't care
if I ride like Lady Godiva.

You're a very beautiful
young girl,

considering you've grown up

without your poor,
dear mother --

a very nice one.

Well, thank you,
Mrs. Fosgate.

Hi, Mr. Hubble.

Say, Brax, you were right
about that horse --

high-stepping action
and sensitive mouth.

Thought you'd like her,
Miss Lucy.

I took her
over 4 1/2 feet yesterday.

4 1/2 feet? You're gonna
get your neck broke, child.

I don't want you
jumpin' no horse

when I'm not around,
do you hear?

Yes.

You watch it.

Chris?

You got
Miss Lucy's order ready?

Sure have, Dad.

Hi, Chris.

Hi, Lucy. 4 1/2 feet!

Well, I did so.

Well...

Four feet anyway.

Heh!

Thank you, Mr. Hubble.

My dear, is it wise

to be so friendly with...

Brax? Brax Rutledge?

Yes.

Well, I've known him
ever since I was so high.

I know, but --

he taught me how to ride.

Here you are, Lucy.

Just like you ordered --
six skeins of white wool.

Say, when are you gonna
knit me a pair of socks?

What about Ellie Jorgenson?

I don't want that redhead
putting burs under my saddle.

Oh, she won't get jealous
over socks.

She's knitting me
a sweater.

You better let me help you
with these packages.

They're pretty heavy
for a little girl like you.

Come on, Chris Hubble!
Oh, honest!

Cordelia: That was the last time
I saw Lucy Dabney...alive.

Now, tell me, Mrs. Fosgate,
in your own words,

when was the last time
you saw Sergeant Rutledge?

Y-you mean...

Shattuck: Yes.

Well, I was, uh,
in my bedroom,

writing a letter
to my daughter Barbara

at Fort Walla Walla,
Washington.

She's, uh, married
to Lieutenant Prichett.

You know --
of, uh, the Prichetts,

of Pritchettsville?

And she's expecting again.

[ Giggles ]

Otis and I couldn't be
more on edge if it was us.

[ Giggles ]

Please, Cordelia,
what about Rutledge?

Rutledge? Rutledge who?

Oh, oh, oh.

Fosgate: The accused,
Sergeant Rutledge.

You said you saw him again
that evening.

Shattuck:
You were in your room --

Yes, I was in my room
writing,

and I heard two shots --
bang, bang.

So I rushed quickly
to the window

and I saw...him.

That --
that gentleman there.

[ Gunshot ]

It was...Sergeant Rutledge.

And I watched him

till he disappeared
into the darkness.

He was headed
straight for East Gate.

If you'd like
my opinion --

Thank you, Mrs. Fosgate.

Your witness,
Lieutenant Cantrell.

The defense
does not challenge

Mrs. Fosgate's
testimony, sir.

If Defense Counsel accepts
Mrs. Fosgate's testimony,

must we go on?

Why don't you
plead your man guilty

and throw him
on the mercy of the court?

That's your privilege.
Care to exercise it?

I do not, sir.

Get on with it,
Cantrell.

That's all, Cordelia.
Goodbye.

Shattuck: One more question
for Mrs. Fosgate on redirect.

Haddock.
Captain Haddock.

I knew a Captain Haddock.

He was the veterinarian
who took care of all the --

my name is "Shattuck,"
ma'am.

Shattuck?

Now, Mrs. Fosgate,
please tell us,

when was the exact time
you saw Sergeant Rutledge

ride past your window?

It was exactly 8:00.

Oh, nonsense, Cordelia.

You haven't known
what time it was

since the day
we were married.

It was exactly 8:00

because the clock
was striking 8:00 --

the little china clock
with the painted flowers

that you stole while your men
were burning Atlanta.

Heh heh!

Thank you, Mrs. Fosgate.

You've been
an excellent witness.

Shattuck -- Haddock --

Captain Haddock --

Captain Fish --
Fish? Was it Fish?

Fish. Captain Fish.

Woman:
You were wonderful.

Thank you, Captain Fish.

[ Women talking indistinctly ]

[ Gavel bangs ]

Ladies, quiet.

Cordelia! Quiet, please!
Ladies, sit down.

[ Sighs ]

Go ahead, Shattuck,
go ahead.

I call the Fort Linton
post surgeon,

Dr. Walter Eckner.

Swear him in, Sergeant.

Sergeant: Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God, sir?

Eckner: I do.

Shattuck, I suppose

you're going to have
the doctor

give us all of the frank
medical details?

I'm afraid
I have no choice, sir.

All right, all right.

Sergeant, escort the ladies
into the orderly room.

Have them wait there.

[ Gasps ]
[ Gasps ][ Gasps ]

Ohh!
After waiting so long?

I don't see
how you can do this.

Do you understand
I'm a surprise witness?

Yes, ma'am, but please,
right through there.

[ Women talking indistinctly ]

[ Grumbles ]

Water.

[ Growls ]

[ Sighs ]

Proceed.

Dr. Eckner...
You were at Fort Linton

the night of the murders,
were you not?

[ German accent ]
As there was no senior officer

on the post,

I ordered the bodies left
as they were

and went to meet
Lieutenant Cantrell

at the station --
the railroad station.

We returned to Major Dabney's
quarters together,

Lieutenant Cantrell and myself.

Glad to see you back, sir,
mighty glad.

This is a terrible thing.

Ladies, this is no place
for any of you.

Please go to your quarters.

Well, Cordelia!

The idea of him
trying to talk like that.

Get rid of the men
you don't need, Skidmore.

Major Dabney, Lieutenant.

Death by a gunshot wound
through the heart --

a service gun.

This...toy
didn't kill him.

Light that lamp.

Yes, sir.

Hmm.

Been fired twice.

Strangled.

[ Speaking German ]

Beaten...

Violated...
And then strangled.

Filthy.

I suppose the Major
surprised him while he was --

Yah, yah, yah. The Major
shoots and wounds him.

You can see the blood here.

Then he kills the Major
and runs.

You see the blood drops
from here to the door.

Why should he, uh, stop

to cover the body
with a serape so carefully?

Oh, a twisted mind, maybe.

Who knows? Mad!

There is an odd mark, also,
here on the throat,

not from strangulation.

More like a cut,
but not a cut.

Hand me that picture,
Doctor.

The little gold cross
she always wore

around her neck --

it's been torn off.

Yah. I remember
Lucy's little cross.

[ Sighs ]

Well, you never can tell
about such a criminal.

Degenerate.

He takes the cross, perhaps,

a symbol of the purity
he has destroyed.

Who's sergeant
of the guards?

Skidmore, sir.

Skidmore, send a runner
for the First Sergeant.

You mean Rutledge, sir?

Yes, I'm gonna need
his help on this.

Rutledge is not here, sir.

What the hell do you mean
he's not here? Where is he?

Speak up!

Sir...I just don't know.

When was the last time
you saw him?

He rode past the guardhouse

lookin' for --
for Major Dabney

shortly before 8:00.

Major Dabney wouldn't be
at the guardhouse.

He'd be right here
in his --

Yes, sir.

You mean
Rutledge was here?

Rutledge?

It couldn't be Rutledge.

[ Bugle plays fanfare ]

Assembly at this hour?
What's the idea, Skidmore?

That's why Rutledge
was looking for Major Dabney.

Apache raiding party loose,
three ranches burned out.

Officers of the guard
must be forming a patrol, sir.

Apaches?

The trouble
come double, sir.

I had both bodies removed
to the post hospital.

An autopsy confirmed
my spot findings --

Major Dabney
shot through the heart,

his daughter Lucy
ravaged and strangled --

the work of a degenerate.

The work of a degenerate,
indeed.

Your witness,
Mr. Cantrell.

Oh, no questions.

What?!What?!
What?!

Wait a minute, Doctor,
wait a minute.

Stay right where you are.

Tom...

That is the second witness
against the accused

that you have failed
to cross-examine.

Now, Tom, as Defense Counsel,
it is your duty --

as Defense Counsel, sir,

I'm only trying
to establish the truth.

I believe that both
Dr. Eckner and Mrs. Fosgate

have told the truth.

Tom, that is entirely
beside the point.

But if you disagree,

I'll be happy to recall
Mrs. Fosgate and --

Step down, Doctor.

All right, Shattuck,
call your next witness.

Come on,
let's not delay here.

I am certain that, by now,
this court is well aware

of the peculiar involvement
of Lieutenant Cantrell.

So I trust that I shall not
again be charged

with employing
cheap legal tricks

when I call as my next witness
Defense Counsel himself,

Lieutenant Cantrell.

Have you any objections,
Cantrell?

No, certainly not, sir.

All right, get up there.
Sergeant, swear him in.

Sergeant:
Do you swear to tell --

I do.

Dr. Eckner has testified

that after hearing
assembly sounded,

you left the scene
of the crimes

for post headquarters.

Will you tell us
what action you took then?

Certainly.

As senior officer present,
I took command of the post

and sent a galloper
to the survey camp

to inform Colonel Fosgate.

You can confirm that, sir?

Fosgate: Of course.

When the Colonel returned
to the post,

I left with the patrol at once
by forced march,

where we arrived
at the Spindle Station

shortly after dawn.

Skidmore, take two men
and cover the rear.

Don't touch that gun,
Lieutenant!

I won't have to.

You're gonna hand me
that rifle, butt end first.

You take me back now,
they'll hang me sure.

Is that a confession?

[ Gunshot ]

Hold him!

[ Handcuffs latch ]

Skidmore...

Why didn't you shoot me...
When you had the chance?

We may yet!

All right, Skidmore,
search him --

hat, boots, socks --

and bring me every single thing
you find on him.

And do you what you can
to fix up that wound.

Mary, are you all right?

He didn't hurt you,
did he?

Of course not.
He saved my life.

Did you have to treat him
like an animal?

He's under arrest

for the murder
of his commanding officer.

I don't believe it!

What about your father?
What happened to him?

I don't know.
He just never got here.

Mary, when I got word
Apaches were in this district

and I left you here alone --

Not alone.
Sergeant Rutledge was here.

And no officer
could have protected a woman

more gallantly.

[ Clock ticking ]

Skidmore,
bring in the prisoner.

Here's everything
we found on Rutledge, sir.

Put it right there.

See what this says.

"I, Colonel Thurston Tillman

"of Rutledge Hall,
Prince Edward County,

"do -- on this 12th day
of April, 1861 --

man-- manu--"

"manumit
and entirely set free

"and forever quit claim
the body and services

of the slave boy
called"...

"Braxton Rutledge."

What did you expect
to find?

I didn't find it.

Rutledge, what happened
here last night?

Why don't you ask
the lady?

Can't you see he's hurt?
Why don't you let him sit?

Thank you, ma'am,
I can stand.

Sit down, Sergeant.

You heard the Lieutenant,
sit down.

Your wound is open again.
Let me see it.

No! Leave me be, miss.

I will not.

Yes, you will,
and if you don't mind,

I'm gonna ask you
to wait outside.

All right, let's have a look
at the wound.

Raise up your arms.

Give us a picture
of what happened.

How many hostiles
were there?

Give it to us, Brax.

We never figured
to find you here.

There were 30 or 40
unshod ponies here last night

before the train came in.

The signs out back show.

They killed
the stationmaster.

Thirty or 40? That really was
a big breakout.

But this wasn't Apaches --

not two small-caliber
bullet wounds.

Did you do it, Rutledge?

I refuse to answer, sir,
respectfully.

Tie him up.

Skidmore, Krump, we're gonna
track these hostiles down

and drive 'em back
to the reservation.

Move in here
so you can see the map.

Three ranches have been
reported burned out.

There's Jorgenson's here,
over here is Williard's,

and here's Edward Haight's.

The Apaches appear to be
moving due west,

so we're going to go
north by west fast

and cut them off

before they can reach
the young lady's home

right here at Spanish Wells.

The young lady goes with us.

Get the terrain clear
in your mind.

Rutledge, with
that many hostiles loose,

I can't spare anyone

to take you back
to Fort Linton.

You're riding with us, too.

One hand free,
like the book says?

You know
what the book says --

one hand free if and when
we make contact with the enemy.

How 'bout that,
Top Soldier?

He ain't sendin' you back.

He's lettin' you ride
with us.

Half-soldier's
still Top Soldier.

No, I ain't.

I'm a prisoner now
in bad trouble.

And I ain't gonna let
this trouble rub off on you.

You're Ninth Cavalrymen.

And like I said
again and again,

the Ninth's record is gonna
speak for us all someday,

and it's gonna
speak clean.

Brax, but all we're saying,
we're your friends.

No, you ain't.
You ain't no more.

You're not gonna risk any part
of this regiment's record

for one man's good.

Now, listen to me, Brax,
and hear me well.

You tell me yourself

you did that awful thing
in Fort Linton,

I wouldn't believe it.

But, Brax,
why did you run away?

Because I walked into somethin'
none of us can fight --

White-woman business.

Now, you heard
the Lieutenant, Skidmore.

You get that terrain
fixed in your head

because the way he talks,
you're gonna need it.

And don't nobody call me
"Top Soldier" no more.

And that's an order!

Take the girl's bags
into the lean-to.

Yes, sir.

Mary, we're gonna try to
get you back to Spanish Wells.

Have you got anything
to ride in?

Yes.

Then please get dressed.

I'm not going anywhere

until I can say goodbye
to Sergeant Rutledge.

Sergeant Rutledge
is riding with us.

Wounded and handcuffed?

That's none of your business,
and from now on,

I'll have no more back talk
from you

in front of my men!

Leclerc,
feed a quick breakfast.

We move out in 40 minutes.

Skidmore, feed the men,
get the horses ready.

We move out in 40 minutes.

I expect you to be ready
in 40 minutes, Miss Beecher.

Sit down, Brax.

When I rode
into Fort Linton last night

and saw what had happened,
I couldn't believe my eyes.

It's against everything
I know about you, Brax.

You believe it now, sir,
don't you?

You ran out, you deserted.

Now you refuse
to make a statement.

What else do you expect me
to believe?

Nothing, sir.

Don't play games
with me, Brax.

I know you too well.

You and I served together
for six years,

and I know there's
no better soldier in a fight.

And I thought
there was no better man.

What does it all
add up to, sir?

What do you think
it adds up to?!

Friendship?

Damn you!

And damn you again!

I'm tryin'
to help you, Brax.

Stay out of it,
Lieutenant.

It'll smudge up
any man who touches it.

You let me decide that.

What about those rib wounds?

Did Dabney fire at you
first?

You can't make self-defense
out of it.

There's still
that dead white girl.

Nobody will believe
I never touched her.

You tell me you didn't,
I'll believe you.

[ Clock ticking ]

Would you repeat that,
Lieutenant?

I said to Rutledge,

"You tell me you didn't,
I'll believe you."

After what you'd seen
at Fort Linton?

I did.

But you were the arresting
officer, weren't you?!

And you had your man in irons
for murder?!

Fosgate:
Well, what did Rutledge say

when you offered
to believe him?

He said,
"Maybe you'll believe me, sir,

but not any court-martial."

Go on with your testimony

from where you told
the prisoner

you'd believe him.

Well, after that,
we watered and fed the troop

and started out north by west

in an attempt
to cut the Apaches off

before we reached Miss --

Miss Beecher's home
at -- at Spanish Wells.

How's the side holding up,
Sergeant?

You know what they say
about us, sir --

we heal fast.

You give me your word
you won't try to escape,

I'll take those irons
off you.

I can't do that, sir,

'cause I ain't goin' back
to stand trial.

Don't you be a fool, Brax.

What if you did get away?
This thing would haunt you.

You forget, sir,

we've been haunted a long time
too much to worry.

Yeah, it was all right

for Mr. Lincoln
to say we were free,

but that ain't so.
Not yet.

Maybe someday, but not yet.

All right, Rutledge.

But you make one move
to get away,

and I'm gonna kill you.

Yes, sir!

But that's just
what you'll have to do.

Group, ha-a-a-lt!

Vultures.

Krump! Moffat!
Over there!

W-what is that, Moffat?

A man staked out,
and he's awful dead.

Dead dead.

Call out, bullhorn.

Dead man -- staked out!

[ Echoing ]
Dead man -- staked out!

My father!

Don't jump at it, Mary.
Take it easy.

Skidmore!

Dead as a rock, sir.

[ Coughs ]

It's a young lad.

Krump...

You ride back
and tell Miss Beecher

it isn't her father.
And keep her away from here!

Yes, sir!

Moffat, you got the stomach
to go through his clothes

for identification,
or do you want me to do it?

Somebody better.

His own mammy
wouldn't recognize him.

[ Coughs ]

What's goin' on, Corporal?

None of your business.
You hush!

Don't be a-frettin', Miss.

Don't be a-frettin'.

[ Sighs ] Stripped clean --
boots, gun belt, hat.

Nothin' left
but torn, shredded pants...

And this tobacco sack.

Well, who is he?
Does anybody know?

I know him, sir.

He was wearin' this same
Kansas City shirt last night

when I was on guard duty.

That's Chris Hubble,
the sutler's son.

Chris Hubble?!

Yes, sir.

Well...What's he doing
way out here?

That's a horse-killing ride.

I heard he'd been sparkin'
the Jorgenson girl, sir.

Maybe when he got news
of the Apache raid

on her father's ranch he --

Moffat, let me look at that.

Here.

Maybe you'd tell me
what you keep lookin' for, sir.

I didn't find what I was
looking for this time, either.

All right, Skidmore,
10 minutes for burial.

I know the ground's hard,

but get him under
as far as you can.

Yes, sir.

Smoke was between us and
the San Rosario reservation.

If this was a sport uprising,

designed to blood the young
braves who had never known war,

the chances are
they would go on

back to the reservation
on their own.

If not -- well, I was there
to drive them back.

A very interesting story,
Lieutenant,

which I don't challenge.

But I would like to call
the court's attention

to one all-important factor
in this testimony, and that is

Lieutenant Cantrell's personal
interest in the accused!

I quote from the manual
for court-martial --

"in case of
personal interest in

"or personal hostility
toward the accused,

defense counsel
should apply to be relieved."

Oh, now, this is a hell
of a time to bring that up,

with the trial half over!

Excuse me, sir,
but Captain Shattuck

is playing ducks and drakes
with this court again.

If he will quote the text
in its entirety,

it begins with the words,

"Defense counsel
is not challengeable."

All right, Lieutenant.

Read the book, Mulqueen.

"Defense counsel
is not chall-enge-able --

challengea--
chall-engea--"

Oh, hand it here!

"Challengeable."

All right.

"Challengeable...It can..."

Well, that's
quite a bit different.

Mulqueen,
this is a Confederate manual!

Read the flyleaf.

I can read right here!
It says --

Read the flyleaf, Colonel.

"This manual is adopted
with no changes from the...

Manual of
the United States Army."

Where'd you get that thing?

If it pleases the court,
I stole it in Atlanta

the night
your men burnt the place,

including the convent.

My specs, sir.

Want it?

No.

Well, Cantrell,
do you wish to withdraw?

I do not, sir.

All right, Shattuck.
Carry on.

That will be all,
Lieutenant.

I call as my next witness
Sergeant Matthew Skidmore.

Skidmore.

Uh, take the stand.

All right, Sergeant.
Swear him in.

Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

I do, I do.

Your name, Sergeant?

Troop Sergeant
Matthew Luke Skidmore.

Troop "C", Ninth
United States Cavalry, sir.

Skidmore,
just how old are you?

Well...sir...
I-I don't rightly know.

You mean you don't even know
your own age?

I was slave-born.

And I saw the first steamboat
come down the Mississippi River.

At least, my mammy said
it was the first,

and she was
holdin' me up to see.

That would make you
at least 70 or more!

What is this
line of questioning?

Skidmore
is a good soldier.

First-rate.

I suppose
you have a reason

for this type
of questioning.

I was merely
trying to establish

the Sergeant's reliability
as a witness.

I withdraw the question.

Skidmore,
the patrol report states

that you pressed on after
seeing the burning ranch house.

I'd like to hear your version
of what happened then.

Well, sir, like you say,
the Lieutenant forced a march

trying to
get the young lady home

and make sure
that the Apaches was headed

back to the reservation.

We sent out gallopers
and flankers,

and we took
all the necessary precautions.

They're sure leavin'
a sloppy, wide-open trail.

And a slow one.

If they're heading back
to the reservation,

they're taking
their own sweet time about it.

Them young warriors get to
showin' off to one another,

anything can happen.

Bugler! Moffat!
Circle off and take the point!

Yo!

Yah!

Keep your eyes open, Skidmore.

Yes, sir.

Rutledge!

Sir!

You got the same hunch
I have, sir.

How about a weapon?

When the time comes.

Just like the book say?

Just like the book say.

[ Bugle plays fanfare ]

[ Gunshots ]

Attention!

Firing on the line!

Plan to dismount!
Dismount!

Forward skirmishes!

[ War cries ]

Ready!

Fire!

You ain't shootin' ducks,
rookie.

Aah!

Come back, Moffat!

Come back!
Moffat! Moffat!

Corporal Moffat, come back!

Pull up, Moffat! Pull up!

Horse runnin' away, sir?

Moffat!

Moffat!

Ha! Come on! Come on!

[ Sighs ]

[ Weakly ]
Canteen, Brax. My canteen.

Can't give you no water,
Moffat, not with that wound.

Th-- then just let me be.

Stop that talk.

I've got to get you
back up to the section.

No good, Sergeant.

Hold onto me.
Let me down easy.

Brax! Brax!

I'm here, Moffat.
I'm right here, Moffat.

My three little girls --
what's gonna happen to them?

Someday, Moffat, they're
gonna be awful proud of you.

Someday -- you're always
talkin' about "someday,"

like it's gonna be
a promised land here on earth.

Brax!

We are fools
to fight the white man's war.

It ain't a white man's war.

We're fighting
to make us proud.

Someday your little girls --
Moffat, do you hear me?

Moffat!

How is he, Rutledge?

Moffat's dead, sir.

Hold it, Rutledge!

Hold it!

No!
No! Sir!

Well, that closes our book,
Miss Beecher!

We buried trooper Moffat.

And then we followed
the Apache trail

toward Crazy Woman River,

which we had to cross
to get the young lady home.

So here it is again --
Lieutenant Cantrell,

with a record as a dead shot
with all weapons

that goes back to
his cadet days on the Hudson,

somehow missed with
a service pistol at 50 yards --

a miss, mind you, that
enabled his prisoner to escape!

That's all, Skidmore.

Skidmore...

One moment, if you please.

Now, Sergeant Skidmore,
you're under oath.

Would you please
tell the court,

in your opinion
as a long-service soldier,

did I deliberately miss
that pistol shot?

Oh, no, sir.

When you took aim,
he was a dead man.

And the second time,
when I tried with the carbine?

Yes, the same,
if the young lady hadn't --

Thank you very much,
Sergeant Skidmore. That's all.

Uphill...moving target...
service pistol --

I might have
missed him myself.

[ Mulqueen snickers ]

Get on with it, Shattuck.

I'm sure this court is aware
that no one can tell us

the rest of the story,
except the accused himself.

But I cannot call him.

Hmm?

Why not?

The accused cannot
be compelled unwillingly

to testify against himself.

But even so, I am quite sure

that Lieutenant Cantrell
does not dare have him testify.

On the contrary, sir.

The accused welcomes
the opportunity to testify.

Will you call him,
Captain Shattuck?

Or shall I?

First sergeant Braxton Rutledge,
Ninth United States Cavalry.

Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

I do.

I'd like you to pick it up

from where
Sergeant Skidmore left it --

where you had
so miraculously escaped

Lieutenant Cantrell's
shots at you.

I rode full gallop
for Crazy Woman River.

I figured if I could reach
upper ford and cross over,

I could follow the water
north to the railroad.

After a couple of hours,

the Apache trail
was still leading me,

like they was
making for the river, too.

And then I came down
over the top of the riverbank,

and there they were,

crossing the river fast,

like they was
really goin' someplace.

[ Neighs ]

Easy, boy.

Easy, boy.

All that land across the river

was part of Mr. Sam Beecher's
ranch, Spanish Wells.

[ War cries, gunshots ]

I knew then the young lady
would never get home --

Not ever.

[ Speaking native language ]

I recognized the old gentleman

from the times
I'd seen him at the fort.

It was Mr. Sam Beecher --

the young lady's father.

What happened then...

I don't like to remember.

I knew the patrol
was coming up behind me,

and there was the Indians
ahead of me.

I had to keep goin'.

I had to cross over the river
if I was going to break free.

I tried to tell myself what
happened to the Ninth Cavalry

wasn't no concern of mine.

I wasn't Top Soldier no more.

Now was my time to ride away --

Ride away north,
where I'd be free.

Lt. Cantrell: Miss Beecher,
to the rear of the column!

To the rear!

[ Bugle plays fanfare ]

Ambush, sir!

All right! Get back!

Sir, like the book say?

Top Soldier back!

Yay!
Yay! Yay!

Stop that yellin'
and start shootin'!

Squeeze 'em triggers!

[ Gunshots ]

[ Coughs ]
Thank you, ma'am.

Easy, rookie.
Easy now, rookie.

Easy, rookie.

[ Gunshots continue ]

[ War cries ]

And that's how it was, sir.

We dug in on our position
for the night,

and did what we could
for the wounded.

Let me get this straight.

What you're asking
this court to believe

is that
with freedom before you,

you deliberately
turned your back on it,

and by a noble disregard
for your own life,

you saved that patrol
from annihilation.

There was nothin' noble
about it.

Of course there was!
It was a brave act. Admit it.

I wasn't thinkin' brave.

Then what were you thinking?
Why did you come back?

I don't know.

You don't know?!

All I know is I kept riding,

and somethin' kept tellin' me
I had to go back.

It was like --

it was like a --

I just ain't got
the words to say it!

Then I'll say it for you.

Bravery is your stock
and trade, Rutledge.

Your whole record shows it.

But murderers and rapists
can be as brave as decent men.

You're trying to trade
your murderer's bravery

for the mercy of this court,
isn't that it?

No, sir,
that is not it at all!

What was it?

Because the Ninth Cavalry
was my home,

my real freedom,
and my self-respect.

And the way
I was desertin' it,

I wasn't nothin' worse
than a swamp-runnin' nigger!

And I ain't that!

Do you hear me?!
I'm a man!

This goading of the witness
is beyond belief!

Shattuck, in the name
of common decency --

Decency?

Stop acting like a child,
Cantrell.

I'm not trying
for a hanging verdict

merely to whitewash this mess.

This man killed your
commanding officer -- admits it.

He's as guilty as hell
and you know it!

The prosecution rests.

If Sergeant Rutledge
hasn't answered

Captain Shattuck's attack
to the court's satisfaction,

I can only say this --

if he had not been my prisoner

during the action
at Crazy Woman River,

I would have cited him

for gallantry above
and beyond the call of duty!

Before the defense
opens its argument,

this court will take
a brief recess.

Sergeant, open those doors!

Air this place out a little!

Yes, sir.

Excellent statement
that Rutledge made --

Shows a fine, loyal feeling
for his regiment.

I served with him myself.

I hate hangings.
Bad for troop morale.

We'll have no more talk
about hanging.

Incidentally, I'm glad
that none of you gentlemen

have mentioned
the color of the man's skin.

Very well put,
Mr. President.

Jacks or better --
size of the pot -- $5.

I'll see your $5,
and, uh...raise you $20.

I pass.

Three cards.

Cards, Mulqueen.

Mulqueen,
are you bluffin' again?

[ Crowd murmurs ]

Ten-hut!

[ Coins jingle ]

[ Coins jingle ]

[ Gavel bangs ]

Order!

You men back there --
get those hats off!

Put out those butts!

All right, Cantrell.
Proceed.

[ Clears throat ]

As my first witness, I re-call
miss Mary Beecher to the stand.

Mary, I want you
to tell the truth.

Now, tell exactly what happened
that night at Crazy Wom--

I intend to tell the truth,
no matter what you ask me.

[ Clears throat ]

Now, Miss Beecher,
would you please tell the court

what happened
after the attack in the river

and we had dug in
for the night?

Well, it had turned
bitterly cold,

and we did all we could
for the wounded

to make them comfortable.

And it was then that...
you took me aside and told me

how Sergeant Rutledge had --

Had seen my father die.

Mary, I don't know
if this will be

any consolation
or comfort to you,

but Rutledge says
that your father died quickly,

nothing like that Hubble boy.

You know, it's strange, Tom.

I can't even remember
my father's face.

All I can remember is --

is just the touch
of his hand on my cheek --

such a rough hand,

but, oh, so gentle.

No, Tom.

I hate this land.

It killed my mother,
and now it killed my father.

I wish I'd never
come back to it!

But, Mary, it's a good land.
It really is.

Maybe not now, but...

Like Rutledge says,
"Someday."

Tom, you're not gonna
take him back now, are you?

For the first time,

I don't really know
what I'm gonna do.

Because you know
they'll hang him if you do.

Tom...

You know
he never touched that girl.

I just have to think about it
a little bit more, Mary.

Just a little bit more.

♪ Said the private
to the sergeant ♪

♪ "Tell me, Sergeant,
if you can ♪

♪ "Did you ever see a mountain ♪

♪ come a-walkin' like a man?" ♪

♪ Said the sergeant
to the private ♪

♪ "You're a rookie,
ain't you, boy? ♪

♪ "or else you'd be
a-recognizin' ♪

♪ Captain Buffalo" ♪

Who's Captain Buffalo?

Oh, he's, uh --

Well, when the plains Indians

first saw the troopers
of the Ninth Cavalry,

it was in the dead of winter,

and they were all wearing
buffalo coats to keep them warm

and buffalo caps,
so they looked like buffalos.

So, the Indians started
calling them buffalo soldiers.

And Captain Buffalo is, uh --
well, he's the ideal soldier --

You know, giant size,
kind of a Paul Bunyan.

I guess they're laying it on
a little thick now for Rutledge

to try to give him confidence
and cheer him up.

What a wonderful way
to do it.

♪ Captain Buffalo ♪

♪ Captain Buffalo ♪

Too bad we couldn't take
old Otoway back

for a real military funeral.

He sure earned
his 50 cents a day yesterday.

Top Soldier, you want to read
burial service for Otoway?

No, sir.

We're gonna do it up right
for him, Krump.

We're gonna wait
for the Lieutenant

to read the words over him.

Feel all right, Skidmore?

I'll make it.

I thank you, miss.

The Lieutenant
will never put those irons

back on you now,
Top Soldier.

That's the truth, Brax.

Like I told you,
when he took 'em off,

he ain't never going to
put 'em on you again.

Yeah. It's more like they'll
recommend the Top Soldier

for the Congressional Medal
of Honor. Ain't that so?

Yeah.
That's right.

He's right, Top Soldier.

General Nelson Miles himself
will come and pin it on you.

General Miles!
That's small fry!

The President himself is gonna
call Brax back to Washington,

just so he can
shake his hand.

Top Soldier will strut into
that big, blessed White House

where Mr. Abraham Lincoln
lives.

Brax, don't you count on
goin' free.

The Lieutenant
is a strong man for duty.

He's got to take you back!

No, Sergeant Skidmore.
He'll never take him back now.

A soldier can't never think
by his heart, ma'am.

He got to think by the book.

It's against both my oath
and my duty to say this to you.

Brax, you got to go.

And you better go now!

Krump:
Lieutenant's comin' back!

When the burial party
is finished,

send them down here.

Yo!

Mary Beecher...

Will you come down here,
please?

Krump! Leclerc!

Mary, I'm sorry to have to
ask you to do this,

but I need a witness.

It's a little gold cross!

But what does it mean?

I'm not sure what it means.

You just remember that you saw
me take it off a dead Apache.

All right.

Bring that jacket
with you, too.

Well, how are you, Sergeant?
You gonna make it?

I'm ready for duty, sir.

How about our rookie here?

How are you feeling
this morning?

He's a brave soldier, sir.

I was brave, but I was
awful scared, too, sir.

Well, you're a good man.

In another 9 or 10 years,
you're gonna make corporal.

Lord's truth, sir?

Lord's truth.

There's a mark on it, sir --
"C. H."

All right, Krump!
You're acting platoon sergeant.

Yes, sir.

We move out for Fort Linton
in 20 minutes!

Rutledge...

Tom, I thought
you said last night --

You cheap, contemptible,
tin-plated, book soldier!

Would you mind
repeating that, Miss Beecher?

I said he was a cheap,
contemptible,

tin-plated, book soldier.

Thank you, Miss Beecher.

You may step down.

Uh, Miss Beecher...

There isn't a man in this court
who didn't know

and deeply respect your father,
Sam Beecher.

Will you please accept

our deepest sympathies
for your loss?

Thank you.

Is there anything more you
would like to tell this court

before you leave the stand?

Yes, there is.

Sergeant Rutledge
saved all our lives.

And in common decency,

Lieutenant Cantrell
at least owes him his!

[ Crowd murmurs ]

[ Gavel bangs ]

[ Crowd quiets ]

Miss Mary Beecher
has identified this cross,

with its broken chain,

as the one I took
from the dead Apache's headband.

And these 27 affidavits
from the commissioned,

enlisted, and civilian personnel
at Fort Linton

have testified
that that cross is the one

that was habitually worn
by Lucy Dabney --

the cross which
our post surgeon, Dr. Eckner,

has testified
was torn from her neck.

That's correct, doctor?

Dr. Eckner: Correct.

Miss Beecher has also identified

this bloodstained
hunting jacket.

Now, I'd like to call
the court's attention

to the initials
that have been burned

into the jacket on the inside --

the initials "C. H."...

Which are the initials of
the sutler's son, Chris Hubble,

whose body we found on the trail
and who is the only person

from whom the Apaches
could have taken that cross!

[ Crowd murmurs ]

Quiet! Quiet!

I'll have order
in this court!

[ Crowd quiets ]

Lieutenant,
if you've rested your case,

proceed with the summation.

Ready with summation, sir.

You've now heard
all the testimony

of both the defense
and prosecution.

And yet neither side has been
able to place before you

a witness
who actually saw the crimes

which the accused,
Sergeant Rutledge,

is alleged to have committed.

Now, Sergeant Rutledge has
told you of his own free will

that he entered
Major Dabney's quarters...

But on urgent duty to inform him
of the Apache raids.

There he found

the naked body
of the Dabney girl, strangled.

Moved by a -- a --
impulse of pity and decency,

he was about to cover that
poor, young body with a serape

when Major Dabney entered.

Dabney, in blind fury and
outrage, opened fire upon him,

wounding him grievously twice.

It was then, and only then,
in defense of his own life,

that he returned the fire,
killing Major Dabney.

The trial judge advocate states
that this is a baldfaced lie,

and charges rape and murder!

And the defense maintains that
this story is the simple truth,

and that
Sergeant Rutledge's action,

in defense of his own life,
is justifiable homicide.

So, we may say that
in circumstantial evidence

this trial is deadlocked...

With the scales of justice
hanging in even balance,

but being capable of tipped
one way or another

by one iota --
just one featherweight

of direct and tangible evidence!

Defense has introduced
that evidence --

this golden cross right here...
And this coat.

And as much as it pains me

in the presence of
the young man's bereaved father,

not even he can tell us
where his son was

that one full hour
before the shots were heard.

So I maintain

that there is only one possible
conclusion to be reached --

that Chris Hubble violated
and murdered Lucy Dabney,

and first Sergeant Rutledge
is innocent of the crimes.

[ Crowd shouts angrily,
gavel bangs ]

Order in this court!

Order!

[ Gavel bangs ]

Quiet, everybody!

Order!

[ Crowd quiets ]

I must deplore,
as I'm sure this court does,

Defense Counsel's
cruel and clumsy attempt

to shift the burden of guilt

to the dead son of this
heartbroken man, Mr. Hubble --

A dead boy,
unable to speak for himself now.

And to attempt to shift it,
mark you,

by the cheap, theatrical device
of this trinket.

He claims proof

that the Dabney girl
wore this cross around her neck.

All he has actually shown
is that she wore a cross.

Most of the women of the
Southwest are God-fearing women,

and a cross around their necks
is not an unusual ornament.

Nor is this cross unique,
unusual,

or in any way, and of itself,
identifiable,

as the contents of this box
will prove to you!

[ Crowd murmurs ]

I defy Defense Counsel
to mix this, the original cross,

with these others, and then
tell this court which is which.

I object!

Objection is not in order!

Captain Shattuck is merely
meeting argument with argument.

Uh, Lieutenant...

Could you identify this cross

if I mixed it
with all these others?

You know I couldn't, sir.

He's even broken
the chain on --

No, I couldn't, sir.

[ Crowd murmurs ]

Proceed, Captain Shattuck.

As for this coat --

despite Mrs. Fosgate's
testimony

that she saw it
at the sutler's store,

it's a fairly common garment
in this district.

And as for the initials "C. H.",
the Apaches might have taken it

from any of those looted,
burned-out ranches.

It might have belonged
to Charlie Haight,

or to the foreman at Williard's,
Clay Hagathorn.

So much
for Lieutenant Cantrell's

"tangible, direct evidence."

I have just
two more points to make,

and then I shall be done.

First, at no time
in these proceedings

has Defense Counsel been able
to convincingly explain

the most damning fact of all --

if Rutledge was not guilty,
why did he run?

Point number two
is a delicate one --

A shadowy thing that in a way

has hung over this court
from the very start.

But I would like to
call the court's attention

to the fact that it was not I
who tried to shift the guilt

to a dead white boy
to save this man!

It was not I who stooped
to use the symbol of the cross

to pin the hateful charge
of rape on a dead white boy

to save this man!

And finally, it was not I

who tried to write
the word "murderer"

on the gravestone
of that innocent white boy

to salvage the life and freedom
of this negro!

I object!

If the color of a man's skin
is to be introduced as evidence

of even argument by this court,

then I say it's this court
that stands on trial

and not that soldier!

Mr. Cantrell...

This court has been
very patient with you,

knowing of your long service
with Sergeant Rutledge.

But I will not tolerate

an attack upon
this court's integrity.

And may I also
point out to the court

that in violation
of all the rules and procedures,

Defense Counsel
is interrupting my argument!

You may not.

Now, the one overriding rule
of this court-martial

or any court-martial

is to seek out truth
and administer justice,

and that is exactly
what we're going to do!

Take your places.

Gentlemen, in my opinion,

this entire case
hangs on this little cross.

Is it or is it not
Lucy Dabney's?

And on this coat --

Sir...

If it's permitted, I think
I could pick out that cross,

even if you mixed it
with the others.

I sold it to Major Dabney
for little Lucy's 12th birthday.

Oh! Oh!
Oh!

There's a little nick
under the crossbar

that she discovered herself.

Why, damn, he's right!

It's right there. See?

I offered to exchange it,
but Lucy said no.

She said that way
she'd always know it as her own.

Sir, I must object.

This is not testimony.

This man
is not even under oath.

But it may be truth and justice,
Captain Shattuck.

Mr. Hubble, will you
take the stand, please?

Do I need to? I --

Come right on up,
Mr. Hubble.

[ Crowd murmurs ]

It's all right, Mr. Hubble.
Sit down, please.

Sergeant, swear in the sutler.

Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

I do.

Captain Shattuck, according
to rules and procedures,

you may question
the witness first.

Shattuck:
No questions, sir.

Lieutenant Cantrell,
your witness.

Mr. Hubble, why did you
tell me at Fort Linton

that you could not identify
Lucy's cross?

I --

[ clears throat ]
It was too soon.

Chris was my son --
my only son.

It's -- it's hard for a man
to admit that...

It's all right.
It's all right.

You take your time.
Collect yourself.

No.

My boy is dead.

The truth
can't hurt him now --

Not anymore.

I wanted to believe
that it was the Sergeant.

Now I can't stand by and see him
hung for something my boy did.

Would you please tell us
how you think it happened?

Well, after he --

after he...did the thing,

he must have torn
the cross off Lucy!

But why?

Why would he do that?

Go on, Mr. Hubble.

Well, like I told you
at Fort Linton,

I was upstairs
when he ran into the house.

Shouted up something
about the Apache raids.

When I came down,
he was gone.

And the coat was gone, too?

The coat?

Yes -- the hunting jacket.
It was gone, too?

Yes, it was.

It was when Colonel Fosgate
was about to call attention

to the coat that you offered
to identify the cross.

What is your first name?

They call you "Chan,"
don't they?

That's right --
short for Chandler.

Chandler Hubble --

"C. H."

Is that Chris' coat,
or is it your coat?

You know,
Chris was not a big man.

Why don't you stand up?
Let's try the coat on.

No, I never said
it wasn't my coat.

Chris just grabbed
the first thing!

Yes, he grabbed
the first thing...

And whatever
was in the pocket.

And that cross was in the pocket
because you put it there!

That's not so!

You had the same opportunity
as Chris.

You knew Lucy was going to
be alone, didn't you?

And now,
to save your own neck,

you're trying to pin
the shame of it

on Chris, your own dead son!

Lies! Lies!

Why? Because you knew
Lucy was alone,

and Lucy trusted you
as everybody trusted you!

You went there,
and strangled and killed her!

Why?!

I had to! I had to!

Cantrell!

Don't you understand?
She -- the way she walked --

the way her body moved --
she drove me crazy!

I had to have her!

I had to! I had to! Oh!

[ Sobbing ] Oh, I had to!

God help me! God help me!

Place that man
under restraint, Doctor.

Why, Mr. Hubble!

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Well, go ahead.

Say it.

Mary, you're the most
beautiful girl I've ever seen.

And don't you forget
I said it to you.

Eyes left!

♪ Have you heard about the
soldier in the U.S. Cavalry ♪

♪ who is built
like Lookout Mountain ♪

♪ taller than a redwood tree? ♪

♪ With his iron fist,
he'll drop an ox ♪

♪ with just one mighty blow ♪

♪ John Henry was a weakling
next to Captain Buffalo ♪

♪ He'll march all night,
and he'll march all day ♪

♪ and he'll wear out
a 20-mule team along the way ♪

♪ With a hoot and a holler
and a ring-a-dang go ♪

-- captions by vitac --
Burbank, Pittsburgh, tampa,
and Washington, D.C.

Captions paid for by
Warner bros. Inc.