Original subtitles

♪♪

Watkins.

Sarge?

Ten minutes rest, then we'll be cutting south.

Right.

Uh, just a second, Corporal.

We're to patrol as far as Baker's Wells, as I understand it.

Well, that's across the flat, Sergeant Major, right out there.

We're still here.

Corporal Watkins.

Do you see any hostiles?

Any other signs of trouble?

Nope.

We've done our duty, Sergeant Major.

Are orders are to Baker's Wells.

Baker's Well's, Corporal.

I know Captain Bragg wanted you to familiarize yourself with the territory,

but do you have to do it on my time?

Yes, I suppose you do.

All right!

Ho!

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

That's Baker's Well, Sergeant Major.

Oh, that's just some Indian cowboys.

Maybe you don't know it,

but the Indians here in the outlet are allowed to raise their own cattle.

Just so long as they are their own.

A new man always has a fire in his breeches.

He'll straighten out soon enough.

I'll see to it.

Rest.

You can light up.

All right, men...

What are you doing there?

No hablo ingles.

I thought you said they were Indians.

Sure.

Him?

He's a half-breed, Mexican-Apache.

There are no Apache tribes in the outlet, Sergeant.

That much I do know.

Look, Sergeant.

If you'll just tell me what it is you're looking for,

I might just possibly be able to help you.

I may not be experienced in this kind of duty, Sergeant,

but even I can tell that this iron could not make that brand.

Sergeant, those Indians have nothing.

They're church mice, scratching to stay alive.

Now what's a few measly head?

The ranchers have thousands.

The morality of the situation is not the army's concern.

The army's here to maintain law and order.

We are not stinking policemen.

We're soldiers.

We're fighting men.

For the moment, then, small as it may be,

this is our war.

♪♪

Alert the men, cut 'em off!

Come on, men!

Come on!

♪♪

What happened, sir?

We're just breaking in the new man.

- Get our mounts, will you? - What about the Indians?

- We going after them? - We'll never find them.

Sergeant.

You give up easy.

We'd never catch them now, we'd just wear out our horses.

Well, there's one thing you better learn, Sergeant Major.

Out here, never get in the line of fire.

Yes, I know.

It's the only excuse for shooting a man in the back.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Company dismissed.

Whoa, I want to see the quarter mast late this afternoon.

Yes, sir.

You're here sooner than I expected, Marshal.

Two of the ranchers left only an hour ago.

Don't see any scars.

Slight deafness.

Most voices a shade less than shattering when he's angry.

Stolic's not quite so loud.

Well, I suppose we both told him the same thing.

Depends on what you told him.

I said I'd check all the Indian villages in the outlet,

make inquiries, send out extra fire.

Five Indians who were rustling?

Oh, a few head.

Over the past month, that adds up to over 100.

At $30 a head...

that's a big chunk of cash.

Those cattlemen start another Indian war for that kind of money.

It isn't any of the tribes around here.

They might steal a head or two for food, but not 100.

That's big business.

- Then who's doing it? - I don't know, but we better find out.

You only warned, Miller, but I made a deal with him.

What deal?

The ranchers are gonna hold off 'til the end of the week,

if I come up with the rustlers.

And if you don't?

Then that brushfire is gonna spread

and we're gonna be right in the middle of it.

♪♪

♪♪

Don't stand to attention, anybody.

I'm only a sergeant.

The handsomest, bravest sergeant

in the whole of the US cavalry,

but a sergeant nevertheless,

noncommissioned by oversight of the US Congress.

Out of my way.

I much reach the lady fair for whom I have fought bloody battles

with Indians and foreign mercenaries

and several wars dating clear back to the Revolution.

Clay.

- Clay Tyce. - The very same.

Wounded, I am.

Half-dead, but I plucked out the arrow from my heart

and I plugged up the holes with mud

and dragged myself on my all fours back here

to gaze once more upon that face,

the soft beauty.

The golden flashing smile that

heals the wounds but breaks the heart with tenderness.

Help!

Hang on for a man in deep distress!

Mmm!

How does he get away with it?

Get away with what?

He's A-W-O-L, you know.

What's A-W-O-L?

Absent without official leave.

Oh, Francis, Clay's too much of a soldier to do something like that.

Oh, come on.

You don't see any other soldier in town except maybe on a Saturday night.

He's in here at least a couple of times a week.

I will say, for a man that's looking for trouble,

he sure does do it with a flourish.

Well, you should do 'em all, Marshal.

Taking a chance on 'em throwing any one of 'em,

condition they're in.

I'll be riding out first thing in the morning.

No trouble, I'll have 'em ready for you.

All right, Smitty, thank you.

Marshal.

I'm Sergeant Major Chambers.

Captain Bragg asked me to come in

and report to you about some Indians I saw

when I was out on the patrol this morning.

Were they running cattle?

No, they're branding.

What'd you do with them?

- Nothing. - Nothing?

- They got away from us. - They got away from you?

Well, thanks.

Just a minute, Marshal.

There's something else the captain thought you should know.

Well, what's that?

They weren't all Indians.

One of 'em was a half-breed.

Mexican-Apache.

A Comanchero.

That's what the captain suggested.

Are you new out here, Sergeant Major?

I reported two weeks ago.

A Comanchero is an outlaw, the worst kind.

Those Indians, were they Apaches, too?

That's something I couldn't say, Marshal.

Captain said he'd try to find out.

But the Comanchero was their leader?

He seemed to be.

So I led my men quietly, along the bluff,

following the dread sound of the war drum.

War drums.

♪♪

There they were.

200 brave.

War paint, screaming threats.

And me with a patrol of only ten men.

What would you have done?

Ten men against 200?

I'd have gotten myself 200 soldiers.

Huh, from where?

Same place you got the 200 Indians.

Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

Uh, no thanks.

Sergeant Tyce is out on the patrol and I have to join him.

Well, thank the captain for the information.

- Of course, sir. - Good night.

So the chief gave the signal for the attack.

We fought...

long, hard.

The odds incredible.

♪♪

But we won.

And I, the lone survivor,

tell you that there will be no Indian attack.

You may all sleep peacefully in your beds.

A real hero, you're a real hero.

Beer's on me.

♪♪

- The greatest Indian fighter... - I'll have another!

Get some more beers.

Boy, that's what I tell ya, I guy can fight Indians...

Quiet, quiet.

This is Sergeant Chambers.

Master Sergeant, if you will.

He's the new sergeant major at the fort.

They wouldn't trust the position with a sly old dog like me,

so they got a new man.

Sergeant Tyce.

You were sent out on patrol.

That's right.

What are you doing here?

Visiting.

Man: Have a few beers.

Where's your troop?

On patrol, of course.

Without you?

Corporal Watkins is a very competent man.

Man: Sure, Watkins'll do the job.

- Man: Let him have... - Man: He'll get those Indians.

Your orders were for Sergeant Tyce, not Corporal Watkins.

Sergeant Major, sir,

that patrol was sent to scout the territory and didn't come back.

A scouting mission for hostiles.

Outlaws, rustlers.

And a few measly Indians.

Come on, Chambers.

Sergeant Tyce, you will return with me to the fort, immediately.

♪♪

Now, Sergeant...

I think you're taking this a bit too serious.

You're under arrest.

- Man: Oh, no, come on. - All: No!

Man: Come on, let him have a few beers.

I am not.

Are you resisting arrest?

I don't know.

But I'll find out.

Dulcey, am I resisting arrest?

Now, Clay, you must be careful.

Let's go, Sergeant, right now.

I don't think so.

Well, that proved what I've always said.

There's nothing harder than a master sergeant's head.

All right, Sergeant.

Put that bottle down in double-time right into my cell.

Aw, come on, Marshal, this is a matter between him and me.

It is an army problem.

That's exactly where I want to keep it.

He usually sticks with us about half the route,

then he turns the patrol over to me.

You didn't think this was irregular?

They said he was training me, sir,

to handle the troop, when I made sergeant.

There's nothing humorous about a court of inquiry!

And you never reported these training exercises, Corporal?

Didn't you realize you were culpable?

- Sir. - Guilty!

Of knowing of a breach of regulations and not reporting it.

- Dismissed. - Yes, sir.

We knew that we were supposed to be out there

looking for Indian rustlers,

but, well, Sergeant Tyce, he thought it was a lot of...

Well...

Well, sir...

Go on, Bains.

You know how he is, sir.

Yes, I know how he is.

The life of the barracks.

Very popular with his men.

But he's also accused of dereliction of duty,

of deserting his patrol.

I'll beg your pardon, sir, it was a very easy patrol.

It was quiet.

- There wasn't any trouble. - There is now.

Dismissed.

Sergeant Chambers was trying to arrest him.

Did Sergeant Chambers threaten him?

Well, no, sir, but Sergeant Tyce just lost his head.

He just wasn't thinking.

Obviously not.

Not for a long time.

Thank you, Mr. Wilde.

I don't understand why you asked me here, Captain.

There's really nothing I can tell you.

We won't keep you but a moment, Ms. Coopersmith.

Please understand, this is not a formerly convened court martial,

simply a preliminary hearing to see if there's a basis for a trial.

Yes, sir.

Two nights ago,

on the 14th of October,

Sergeant Tyce came into your establishment

known as the Wayfarer's Inn.

- Is that correct? - Yes, sir, he did.

Why bother this poor girl, sir?

You ought to know how many times I left my patrol

and went to the Wayfarer's Inn?

It was a total of eight...

oh, nine times.

Thank you, Sergeant.

You're welcome, sir.

Shut your mouth, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Ms. Coopersmith, do you agree?

Eight or nine times?

When he was supposed to be out on patrols?

I... I can't say, I didn't keep count.

Thank you, Ms. Coopersmith.

I don't know what you're trying to do here, but...

But Sergeant Tyce is a very fine man.

He's...

He's thoughtful and kind and...

And a very good soldier, if you want my opinion.

I'm afraid it will be the opinion of the army that counts, Ms. Coopersmith.

Unless you have anything else to add, you're excused.

Man: The inquiry is hereby adjourned.

Dulcey, you angel,

you'd take on a whole army for me, wouldn't you?

Clay, what are they gonna do to you?

A court martial.

I might lose a stripe or two

and maybe a month or two in the guardhouse.

That'd be the worst of all.

A month or two without seeing you.

Chambers: Guard?

I know it's hard for you to understand

and more difficult for your prisoner, but you are on guard.

Get these men to the stockade.

Outside and fall in.

Sergeant Major...

maybe Sergeant Tyce just needed a leave.

Maybe he was filled up with too much soldiering.

I'm sure he'll never do it again.

Perhaps not, miss.

Let's go, Dulcey.

I promise you, if he ever comes into my inn again

when he's not supposed to, I'll send him right back.

That would be very nice, miss, I'm sure.

Will he really have to spend a whole month in the guardhouse?

That's for the court martial to decide.

Thank you very much for your cooperation, miss.

Come on, Dulcey.

I don't see what you're so upset about.

It doesn't bother Tyce.

The guardhouse is probably his second home.

♪♪

Evening, Marshal.

Things are slow tonight.

What's the reason?

I tried to talk him out of it but he had to have it his own way.

My own way, he says.

Five definitely for supper,

not to mention the customers off the street!

And they were here.

You'd like to know that I was master of the kitchen tonight.

Well, Dulcey had it all prepared before she left

and all you had to do was heat it up.

Aye, and I did.

Yeah, with hot sauce and hot peppers

and a dozen other things I can't even name.

Only to make it a little more individual, lad.

It's a Wayfarer special.

And they all walked out.

I tried my best to talk them out of lawsuits.

I don't know.

What's wrong with Dulcey?

Oh, it was that inquiry at the fort.

It got her all upset

and when she came in, she just went upstairs.

Well, someone had to step into the breach.

Aye.

I'll keep supper for you, Jim.

Yeah, well, you do that, Mac.

You lock it up good so it won't escape.

Eat!

Dulcey: Yes?

Jim.

I saw the light under your door.

I couldn't sleep.

Is something bothering you?

- The fort this morning. - Yeah?

They said they put him in the guardhouse.

Well, he's lucky if that's all he got.

He broke regulations.

Chambers was absolutely right to arrest him.

Clay didn't mean any harm.

No.

He just broke a bottle over the man's head.

Well, Jim, you've told me over and over again

that this is a rough country and I...

Dulcey...

I'm talking about ordinary drunks and barroom brawls.

But these men are soldiers.

Noncommissioned officers in the United States Cavalry

and they're supposed to act different.

Jim, don't patronize me.

I know about the army, I know about its regulations

and it's all very well and good for ordinary troopers.

But Clay, he's different.

Yeah.

But maybe that's his trouble.

Sweet dreams, biscuit.

♪♪

Come in.

♪♪

At ease, Tyce.

Thank you, sir.

Good evening, Sergeant Major.

Hello, Tyce.

Tyce, up 'til now, you have an excellent record.

Thank you, sir.

You fought your share of the battles.

Acquitted yourself well.

You even have a number of accommodations to be proud of.

How long have you been soldiering?

A little over 20 years, sir.

I joined when I was underage.

I've been looking into your case.

More than leaving your patrol, there's a whole list of bench rules.

Well, now, sir, the way I see it,

it's different than the way it was before.

We used to have a real job to do out here and we did it.

Now...

Well, we're garrison soldiers.

Now, I don't object to mounting the guard and inspecting the guard,

parade and reviews and formations,

but a patrol to find some poor Indians?

Well, it seemed a little silly, sir.

And because you don't like an order, you ignore it?

- Not exactly, Sergeant. - Yes, Tyce.

Exactly.

Your offense calls for a general court martial.

A general, sir?

But it's not like it was cowardice in battle or something like that.

Deserting your patrol?

Attacking a noncommissioned officer?

Chambers: Articles of war.

58 and 65.

We didn't used to go so much by the book, sir.

We still don't.

If I went by it, you'd lose your stripes,

spend six months in the stockade

and you'd be discharged dishonorably.

But you said we still don't go by the book, sir.

I'm gonna give you a choice.

Sergeant Chambers says he'll drop his charge completely.

You'll get a clean record and an honorable discharge.

I'd be out.

You'll be out either way, Sergeant.

But, sir, I've been in the army all my life.

It's the only thing I know.

What are you trying to do to me?

Nothing.

It's out of his hands.

But you just said he could drop the charges.

If you take the discharge.

Look, Captain...

I'll soldier for you like you never saw soldiering before.

If you're not punished, there's no man in this fort

who will respect an order anymore.

It's hard enough now.

A transfer to another post, sir?

Something, sir?

When?

Immediately.

♪♪

Tyce.

I'm sorry.

Sergeant.

You're just starting to be sorry.

♪♪

- Good morning, Captain. - Good morning, Marshal.

I got a wire from the sheriff at Desposum.

Out in the deep and showing up in the panhandle.

Brought in by a Comanchero.

100 head, altered brands.

How can he be sure?

A good cow town sheriff can spot 'em in a minute.

You sure you're not reaching, Crown?

Trying to tie this up to the Apaches?

Well, it's enough to help me stall those ranchers.

You're still gonna have to give them proof sooner or later.

I'll handle them if you can keep up those extra patrols.

Chasing fugitive Indians is the only job left to us.

Well, I got another one for you.

Help me figure out how five Indians can keep ducking 100 troopers.

♪♪

Branding fire?

Yeah.

And it's damp underneath.

Rained yesterday.

No, the fire's older than that.

Well...

Looks like our rustlers are long gone.

They probably left the territory.

I wouldn't put any money on that.

The picking is is too good around here.

Yeah.

Judging by all these branding fires around here, I'd say you're right.

Well, it's a pretty safe place, and hidden.

Is this where they do all that brand altering?

Looks that way, doesn't it?

That's funny.

You wouldn't think they'd stay in one place.

Unless they were pretty sure that nobody'd bust in on them.

Army patrol might.

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

A little music to soothe the savage breast, eh?

Coffee?

Piece of pie?

Anything?

The stripes back on my arm.

Don't worry your pretty little head about me.

I'm just not used to retirement yet.

Well, men ought to have some work.

I had work.

I was a soldier.

Well, you'll have to find something else, then.

Dulcey, don't mother me.

I'm sorry, I was only trying to help.

I know.

Well, I thought about it.

Running cattle.

Maybe a job in a store someplace.

None of it works.

Ever since I was a little shaver,

trooper,

that's all I ever dreamed of.

That's all I ever wanted in life.

Bugles and the sound of a drum.

Stand tall and be counted as a man.

I'm just not fit for anything else.

What time is it?

Almost 4:00.

Where are you going?

Out.

Out where?

Well...

For a little walk in the sunshine.

Oh.

I trust you'll report to Marshal Crown how well I live up to my duties.

MacGregor, what are we going to do about Clay Tyce?

Hmm?

I didn't know we were supposed to do anything about him.

He's been acting so peculiar, not himself at all.

His jokes have an undertone of bitterness and he's...

He's been so...

very quiet.

The trouble with women is they try to raise a man

all the way from infancy to the grave.

And the trouble with girls is...

they grow up to be women.

Wouldn't be necessary if men ever grew up.

Well, you can stop fretting about Mr. Tyce.

From what I've seen of him, he can well look after himself.

When?

¿Quién sabe?

- Morning. - Morning.

You quitting?

You did, I hear it this morning.

What good are you to me now, amigo?

Morning.

You owe me.

Sí.

You want me to pay you here in front of el sargento?

Tomorrow night.

Baker's Wells.

It's lovely in the moonlight.

Dismount, Sergeant Major.

There's no need for a good horse to catch a stray bullet.

This isn't gonna help things, Tyce.

Get down!

You can't fight all of us.

I don't think I'll have to.

They may not be my men anymore,

but I don't think they're really yours yet.

I'm not gonna fight you.

Understand that.

If you kill me, it'll be murder.

What you did to me was murder.

This is only a killing.

All right, all right, there'll be no gunplay here!

Just stay out of this, Mac!

You'll get yourself hurt.

Now, interfering with the peace office is a serious business.

We'll talk about it later!

♪♪

After you, Sergeant Major.

I said I wasn't gonna fight you, Tyce.

And I mean it.

Column of twos.

Clay!

Get away!

Is that the kind of satisfaction you want?

To shoot a man when he won't fight back?

Dulcey.

Oh, Dulcey, I...

Forward, ho!

Dulcey, my love.

You're a clear, sweet chime in a battle of discord.

I pray I shall always be able to hear you in time.

♪♪

♪♪

Ah, Jim.

If you thought I was asleep on duty, I weren't.

Just resting your eyes, right?

Aye, it's been a hard day, and you?

No luck, I take it.

No, that Comanchero has dropped right out of sight

and I don't believe it.

You need more men on the search.

I've got the army patrols out.

But what I need is an experienced tracker.

- Well, how about Tyce? - Tyce?

Well, he's unemployed now, as you well know, just hanging around.

Here, in the inn?

He checked in this morning.

Living the high life, I must say.

He boarded for the house at midday then twice again before supper.

He does pretty well on a sergeant's pay, doesn't he?

Aye.

♪♪

♪♪

Tyce, are you crazy?

Don't worry about the sentry.

Well, now, this is a miserable place for soldiering, isn't it?

Good old Tyce.

First time I've heard of anybody breaking into a jail.

How long you gonna stay?

As long as it takes to get you out.

If you want to come.

What are you in here for, Watkins?

For not turning you in.

Well, now, that's against the regulations, isn't it?

Chambers no doubt informed you.

He preferred the charges.

Bains, it was Chambers that put you here, wasn't it?

Nobody else but.

- Private? - His Majesty.

- Jackson? - Chambers.

He does it with regulations, hearing, court martial.

Well, who's for beating him on his own ground?

- How? - Come with me and I'll show you.

Sure, just walk out.

No, ride!

I've got horses just outside the wall.

Well, then what?

They'll catch us, we'll be back in and this time for added days.

Where's your sense of adventure, man?

Think of the fun you will have had.

You'll pay Chambers back for everything.

♪♪

That's worth another 30 days.

- 60. - Let's go!

♪♪

♪♪

Ahh...

♪ Ride hard and keep your powder dry ♪

♪ Your sabers sharp your banners high ♪

♪ Your leather polished 'til it glows ♪

♪ Your men all neatly stacked in rows ♪

♪ But beware the man who wears the stripes ♪

♪ Upon his arm for all to see ♪

♪ He'll make you curse the day you're born ♪

♪ And call it ♪

♪ Military form ♪♪

Good morning, my sweet, and a very good morning to you.

Hey, what happened to you?

Well, I'm simply enjoying a new day

and feeling very good to be alive.

What's come over you?

Where did you go last night?

Out in the plains to howl at the moon

with other coyotes like myself.

Did you know that a bit of howling cleanses a man's soul?

- Nonsense... - No, it's true.

The louder, the cleaner.

Where's breakfast?

I'll get it started if you light the stove.

I accept the terms of my employer.

Clay Tyce, former sergeant.

Now a scholar.

Ah, good morning, Marshal.

How's the arresting business these days?

Slow.

Well, be patient, there's always somebody for a cell.

I've got one heated and ready.

But do you have a tenant in mind?

A Comanchero with a big taste for beef,

and room for anyone helping him, too.

Well, good hunting.

Tyce.

You gonna stay in Cimarron long?

Maybe.

I've just been employed by Dulcey.

Any old stove should do it.

- Any old stove. - Over here!

Any old stove.

♪ Ride hard and keep your powder dry ♪

♪ Your saber... ♪♪

♪♪

Two squads from A troop

and one squad from B troop are dispatched, sir.

The prisoners cannot get very far.

They have horses, but no rations.

The guards saw no one?

No, sir, he was seized from behind,

knocked unconscious and gagged.

They couldn't have done that from inside the guardhouse.

I think it was Tyce, sir.

- Was he seen? - No, sir.

Then how do you know?

He's getting his revenge on me, sir, I feel it.

Come now, Sergeant Major.

If he wanted revenge, he'd sooner shoot you.

He almost did, sir, yesterday.

What do you mean?

I'd rather not say, sir, it's personal.

♪♪

♪ Beware the man who wears the stripes ♪

♪ Upon his arm for all to see ♪

♪ He'll make you curse the day you're born ♪

♪ And call it military form ♪♪

Ah, Sergeant Chambers.

Welcome to the Wayfarer's Inn.

Well, you've had a long, hot, dusty ride.

Can I offer you a drop of something to drink?

Allow me.

To the army.

Where are they?

Ms. Coopersmith is off to the general store

to do whatever it is that women do in general stores.

MacGregor is off playing deputy with the marshal.

- I mean the men. - The men?

Watkins, Riley, Bains and Jackson.

Ah, Sergeant, I thought you rode all this way to visit me.

Where are those men?

I know you got them out of the guardhouse.

I'm sorry I didn't get to know you better

back when we were soldiering together.

I want those men, Tyce.

A scorching hot patrol.

A shared sip of water from a canteen.

That's when you learn.

You took those men to get me here.

I'm here and I'm waiting.

Waiting!

Now there's another old army custom.

Remember all the waiting a man must do.

Waiting for inspection, waiting for furlough.

- Waiting for payday. - Sergeant.

Ah, the men.

Well, if you insist.

This way, Sergeant Major.

Well, come on, you said you wanted the men.

They're over here.

Man: I'm in.

Let's see.

All right, you men, outside.

Well, now.

Look who's here.

It's our own Sergeant Major Chambers.

Yeah!

That makes a full house.

Welcome, Sergeant.

Any orders, Sergeant Major?

♪♪

♪♪

Got him.

For all the good you're doing, you might as well have stayed home.

My sentiments exactly.

The three of us could have stayed home.

And old Jim is sadly underestimating those beggars,

expecting them to come back here.

No sign of 'em, Jim.

They went down the other side of the rise,

all five of them.

Well, three against five.

- The odds are with us. - They've split up.

The Apaches went south, with ten head of cattle.

Mac, you ride over to the fort,

- tell Captain Bragg to pick 'em up. - Right.

- What about the Comanchero? - He stopped to make camp.

Make camp?!

He must feel mighty secured.

Or else he's waiting for somebody.

♪♪

Eh, Sargento.

Su dinero.

400 dolares.

Not bad, eh, soldado?

Not bad at all, amigo.

Now you just keep on singing.

Come in, come in, Dulcey, dear.

Did you bolt the door?

Yes.

Why?

Well, I'm having an important business meeting here.

I don't want to be disturbed.

My customers?

I turned them away.

I'm renting the whole inn for tonight.

It's sort of a private party.

Where's Fabrizio?

Your bartender?

I gave him the night off.

Now, Clay, I don't mind if you have fun, but I'm...

Who are those men?

Comrades in arms, at least they used to be.

Please, no nonsense.

I want to know what's going on.

An inquiry.

An inquiry in the interest of justice.

You're invited to watch if you care to.

And if I don't?

Then you may enjoy the comfort of a cell 'til it's over.

- Clay! - Join us, Dulcey, love.

I can guarantee you a most enjoyable time.

Would you like a drink?

- Corporal Watkins, if you'll oblige. - Right.

As you all know,

we have a special guest of honor with us here this evening.

- He's most anxious to see you. - To see you.

In fact, he's been asking for you.

The witness and the accused, Sergeant Major Chambers!

Chambers!

- Got a chair here for you, Sergeant. - Sit down.

Look, he's got his hands tied.

- I told you, Sergeant. - He looks...

Clay, what do you hope to gain from this?

My self-respect.

♪♪

♪♪

This is a man we all know.

A soldier with a book

where his mind ought to be.

A book where his heart ought to be.

In fact, there isn't much about him that isn't a book.

That's right, Chambers.

Now let's see you flap your covers.

Well, we're going to open that book

and read it.

Chapter one.

- Where were you born? - Were you born?

Or was you just issued by the quarter master?

With US Army stamped on your heart?

What heart?

And what army is he in, anyway?

He's been fighting us.

Ooh, have you been fighting the US army?

- Then you're the enemy. - Well, sure he's the enemy.

Enemy, enemy!

An enemy of the United States army.

Did you ever think about it that way, Chambers, did you?

- I know my duty. - His duty.

Does his duty call for him to betray his own men?

Strut around like a cock in the walk, haze them?

Spying out on what they do.

They're always spying.

My duty is to maintain discipline.

Discipline.

Well, what is this discipline?

What does it mean?

- It means obeying orders. - No.

Back east, it means spick and span,

dress parade and playing tin soldier for important visitors.

- Attention! - Right face!

- A-right hunch! - Squad halt!

Out here, it's keeping control of a new territory,

finding lost settlers on their way out to the new land,

keeping the Indians happy

and making sure the civilians don't massacre each other.

And we do it, don't we?

- Right, we do it all the time. - We do it!

Chapter two.

The joy of Sergeant Chambers.

Or find me a soldier and I'll show you a man behind bars.

- In the guardhouse! - Policing the grounds.

Extra duty!

Does this give you joy?

- Does it? - No.

Well, your name's on the report when a man's turned in.

Have to sign it.

You're the man who whispers in the captain's ears when the case is heard.

I have to testify.

And you're the man who goes snooping around

to see if you can catch the men in their criminal activity.

They're breaking regulations.

Riley.

Not walking my post properly.

Rifle set wrong on my shoulder.

Two days in the stockade!

Bains.

Late coming home from a Saturday night pass.

Three days in stockade.

Watkins.

Refusing to report a friend, 30 days.

Jackson.

Eating while on guard duty.

Ten days.

What crimes are these to be reported and punished?

- The book says... - The book!

You're the one who reads the book.

You're the one who uses the book,

you make the choices, you judge your own men.

Who made you God?

I don't have to answer you.

I am not on trial.

That is exactly what you are, on trial.

And so far it sounds to me as if you are as guilty as sin.

What does the jury think?

- Yeah, guilty! - Guilty!

- Guilty as sin! - And the sentence?

- You men have no right... - We have every right!

We are the victims.

What will it be?

- Tar and feathers. - And flog him.

- 30 days on bread and water. - And hard labor.

Or hanging.

♪♪

♪♪

Ah, good, good.

All nice and snug.

Clay.

I can't believe this is you.

Well, it's not.

Clay Tyce was a sergeant of cavalry.

I'm Mr. Tyce, sergeant of nothing at all.

He did that.

Now he pays for it.

Without a chance to defend himself?

- Well, he had his chance. - Oh, no.

You want a trial? Have a trial.

You presented your case, now let him present his.

What case?

You judged him just as he judged you,

hearing only one side.

If you do that you're no better than he is.

Maybe she's got a point, Tyce.

What did you bring them here for?

To try him or to hang him?

All right, the defense.

Go on, Chambers, defend.

I have nothing to defend.

I ask permission to act as his counsel.

Dulcey.

Dulcey, it's not that kind of a trial.

- You were the prosecutor. - That's true, you spoke.

- Let her speak for him. - Yeah, let her.

All right.

This court appoints you his defender.

Go on, defend, but make it quick.

I want to speak with him first.

Sergeant?

Oh, let her.

What could it hurt?

We'll keep a close watch.

I thank you, miss.

I don't know how we're gonna change their minds,

but, uh, thank you for the delay, anyhow.

We can't change their minds.

They've been drinking, they're filled with hate.

I don't like you very much myself, Sergeant,

but I won't see you hang.

- I want you to get out of here. - How?

I'll loosen the rope.

When you see it clear, duck out that side door.

- And get shot? - You won't be.

Tyce has a gun.

The bullets, Sergeant, will have to pass through me.

Did you see his eyes when he saw that rope?

And the way he began to sweat.

Now go.

I'll stand in front of you all the way.

Um, I can't do that, miss.

What do you mean, you can't?

If I run, they'll never take an order from me again.

They're going to hang you, don't you understand that?

Do you expect to issue orders from your grave?

Until I'm dead, I'm still their sergeant major.

You're a fool.

That may be, miss.

I don't expect you to understand.

Do you?

Really?

Well, that's the beauty of it, miss.

I don't have to understand anything

other than following orders and seeing that they're carried out.

That's the way the army wants it.

- Is that how you want it? - That has nothing to do with it.

Of course I don't wanna die like this.

Well, then.

But I can't change myself for them.

I'm Army.

It's the only life I know.

It's the only faith I have.

Can you understand this, miss?

That's what Clay said...

almost exactly.

His life, the army.

Of course.

He's a soldier, too, in his own way.

Clay: Dulcey...

how much of a defense can he have?

- Sergeant, please. - No, miss.

They're my men and I have to face 'em.

It must be a great comfort

to be so sure that you're doing the right thing all the time.

Hey, hey, here they come.

Hey, he's loose!

She did that.

You don't need that.

I gave him his chance to run.

He wouldn't take it.

Brave enough to take your medicine, are you?

As a matter of fact, he is.

Then let's get on with the medicine.

No.

Let's get on with the defense.

Dulcey, my love, this wouldn't be a trick, would it?

Just the truth.

You talk about the book,

army regulations.

Of course Sergeant Major Chambers used them.

He has nothing else.

- Isn't that right, Sergeant? - I have to use them.

How did you become a sergeant major?

Good record, service.

How long?

Almost 30 years.

Did you ever fight?

Yes, I fought.

In a war?

Killing, shooting?

That kind of glory,

if that's what you want to call it, only comes to a few.

For the rest, it's marching, riding,

moving, waiting.

You're not answering my question.

As best I can, miss.

Where were you when the battles were fought?

Where I was assigned.

And where was that?

At general headquarters most of the time.

Far behind the lines!

Doing bookwork!

That's the only soldiering he knows, that book!

Without it, what would he do?

For that matter, what would any of you do?

All right.

You've let the little lady have her fun.

She can tell the marshal she tried to save him.

Now let's get on with the hanging.

No, the verdict.

How do you find?

Before you vote, remember this.

If you found me in the street with a bullet through my heart

and the life bleeding out of me,

you would track down the murderer and try him and hang him for it.

Well, I'm dead.

And there's the man who killed me.

♪♪

Well?

Guilty.

♪♪

Guilty.

Let him swing.

♪♪

Hang him.- ♪♪

Tie him up.

- Yeah, let's go! - Let's go!

Oh, Clay, stop it, you don't know what you're doing!

Yes, I do.

He's going to crawl.

He'll break and plead and scream.

And then we'll hang him.

All right, hung jury time...

- Get him up here. - You'll remember those three days.

Not gonna waste any time.

Oh, it's nice, sir.

It's a good fit for you, move the head.

Just a little speech.

Sarge, you look fine.

Beautiful for a hanging.

Sergeant Chambers, do you want to live?

Yes.

Beg.

- Come on, Sarge, bend a little bit. - Pour your heart out!

Come on, Sarge, a little something for us.

Isn't hanging me enough?

No.

- Ain't he funny? - Get on with it.

You hang me, someone will hang you.

We'll both be dead, but the books will balance.

A rope around his neck and still he goes by the book.

- Even Steven. - Oh, Sergeant, bend a little.

I didn't write it.

Someone smarter than me did that.

Smarter than you.

There are rules.

It all evens out.

Finish it off, Sergeant.

♪♪

♪♪

Sarge, now that's enough.

- Tyce, what are you doing? - Sergeant!

Ease off, Sergeant.

Jim.

You all look like you're redecorating the place.

I liked it the way it was.

Good evening, men.

Nice to have you in town.

Stay out of this, Marshal.

You're interfering with something that doesn't concern you.

Here, in my own backyard?

Sergeant Chambers was tried and convicted.

- For what? - The crimes as charged.

Crimes?

Well, the way I hear it,

the only crime he's ever committed was riding hard herd on you boys.

Is that so bad?

You all skipped out of the guardhouse tonight

and the captain's a might upset about it.

What's a guardhouse without prisoners?

Now, Chambers, he put you there.

Is that his crime?

Bains.

The captain said that you overstayed your pass.

Now, you knew where you'd wind up, didn't you?

Yeah, I suppose so.

But you took the chance.

You stacked ten days in the guardhouse

against an extra drink because you thought it was worth it.

Now, you made your choice.

Sure.

And Watkins.

You got 30 days for not turning in a friend.

Now, what did you expect? A medal?

No.

You all act like you've never been in the guardhouse before,

like a bunch of raw recruits

who never even thought that there was such a thing.

But you do know.

You've been there before and you're gonna be there again.

And somebody has to put you there.

Are you gonna hang the next man who does as well?

The army sure would run out of sergeants.

That's right.

Y'all broke out of the guardhouse

and you knew you'd be caught,

but the fun was worth it, wasn't it?

Sure.

It was.

There's nothing like a good hazing.

Now, I'd say that all you boys were here for fun,

all of you except ex-Sergeant Tyce,

who was here for murder.

♪♪

He wanted you to do it for him.

All of you.

♪♪

You must be getting a little uncomfortable up there, Sergeant.

Thank you, Corporal.

♪♪

- Jackson, get my gear. - Yes, Sergeant Major.

Outside and fall in.

Go on, move it!

What are you doing?

Where are you going?

Back to the guardhouse.

You heard Sergeant Chambers.

The men wouldn't have gone through with it.

But he would have.

Yes, I know.

Sergeant.

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

What I said about you being far behind the lines?

I didn't really mean that.

It was the only thing I could think of to help you.

Well, I appreciate that, miss,

and you may have been right.

Marshal, thank you.

Dulcey.

Is my supper ready?

Uh, I haven't had a chance to think of it.

Well, do you mind starting it, please?

- All right, in a minute. - Now.

- Jim... - Dulcey.

Clear infraction, are you?

Just in case.

Francis.

Put him in the cell.

Right.

Hey, get going.

And get the other one ready, too.

For me?

For a rustler.

Worse.

A trooper who took a payout from rustlers,

to keep his patrol clear any time they were in operation.

He told you that?

His English was good enough for that.

That honorable discharge, Tyce,

you should have taken it and cleared out of town fast.

You could have lived very nicely

on your reputation and your medals.

Now you got nothing.

Nothing at all.

You can undo that gun belt now.

You're wrong, you know, Marshal.

Whatever happens to me now...

I'll always have my ribbons.

And my memories.

Jim!

♪♪

Dulcey, get back there!

This is no cheap little rustler, Marshal.

This is Tyce.

Sergeant Tyce.

Troop B of the Fifth.

The finest troop in the whole of the US cavalry!

♪♪

♪♪

I don't understand what happened.

Why did he change?

He didn't change, Dulcey.

He never was the man you thought he was.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪