Ward Bond credited as playing...
Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
- Lt. Col. Thursday: This Lt. O'Rourke - are you by chance related?
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Not by chance, sir, by blood. He's my son.
- Lt. Col. Thursday: I see. How did he happen to get into West Point?
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: It happened by presidential appointment, sir
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Are you a former officer, O'Rourke?
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: During the war, I was a major in the 69th New York regiment... The Irish Brigade, sir.
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Still, it's been my impression that presidential appointments were restricted to sons of holders of the Medal of Honor.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: That is my impression, too, sir. Will that be all, sir?
- [the sergeants are watching Lt. O'Rourke attempt to drill new recruits]
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: How's the boy doing, Festus?
- First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy: Aw, he's doin' fine, Michael; but, nevertheless, he's an officer and a gentleman... and that's no job for a gentleman.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Well, then. Come on.
- [he and the sergeants walk over to Lt. O'Rourke]
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Would Lt. O'Rourke please step over to the stables, sir?
- [Philadelphia is visiting in the home of the O'Rourke's - Col. Thursday comes in, displeased]
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Come, Phil.
- 2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke: Col. Thursday, sir, I would like...
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Mr. O'Rourke, I want no words with you at this time.
- 2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke: But, Colonel, sir...
- Lt. Col. Thursday: You heard me, sir. Now get out of here before I say something I may regret.
- RSM Mchael O'Rourke: This is my home, Colonel Owen Thursday. And in my home I will say who is to get out and who is to stay. And I will remind the Colonel that his presence here - uninvited - is contrary to Army regulations... not to mention the code of a well-mannered man!
- 2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke: Dad, please. Col. Thursday, sir, what I've been trying to tell you, sir, is that I love your daughter; and I ask her now, in your presence,
- [turns to Philadelphia]
- 2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke: to be my wife.
- Philadelphia Thursday: Yes, Michael.
- Captain Yorke: A charge! Mounted in fours!
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Why the madman!
- Captain Yorke: And I'm to stay with the wagon train... and take O'Rourke with me.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: You'll find Lt. O'Rourke with his troop, sir. And thank you.
- [Co. Thursday has rejoined his men who are pinned down by the Apaches. RSM O'Rourke hands him a pistol]
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Sergeant-Major O'Rourke... my apologies, sir.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: You can save them, sir, for our grandchildren.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Assuming you found Cochise, would he listen to you? Would he believe you?
- Captain Yorke: Cochise knows me, sir. I've never lied to him. And if you can assure him decent treatment for his people...
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: I'll confess he interests me. These eastern newspapers... I hadn't realized Cochise was so well known.
- Captain Collingwood: Oh, he's known. He's had the laugh on every troop in the southwest, these three years. Six campaigns... out-generaled us, out-fought us, out-run us.
- Captain Yorke: That's just the point, sir. There aren't enough troops in the whole territory to MAKE Cochise come back. But, one man - a man he trusts - might persuade him.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Carbine against his spine might be more persuasive.
- Captain Yorke: Well, I'll go in unarmed, sir. I can't fight my way in. Either walk in or...
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: [to himself] The man who brought Cochise back...
- [to Capt. Yorke]
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: I'm for it, Captain. How many men will you need?
- Captain Yorke: One, sir. Sergeant Beaufort.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: PRIVATE Beaufort, sir!
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Why him?
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: He speaks Spanish - so does Cochise. My Apache has its limits.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Shouldn't you take another officer instead?
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Well, Sergeant Beaufort was...
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: PRIVATE Beaufort, sir!
- Captain Yorke: Private Beaufort was a major in the Confederate army... an aide to Jeb Stuart.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Hmm. I remember "Kaydet" Stuart. He was...
- Captain Collingwood: Quite.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Were you saying something, Captain?
- Captain Collingwood: I said, "Quite," sir.
- Captain Yorke: I'd like to leave at once if the Colonel has no questions.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Hmm? What?
- Captain Yorke: Questions, sir?
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: No. No questions. Proceed, Captain... take your ex-rebel.
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Still, it was my impression that Presidential appointments are restricted to the sons of winners of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: That was my impression, too, sir.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Now boys, you know I'm not a drinking man, but if the Suttler's Store is still open...
- First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy: If it isn't , Michael darlin', I'll kick the door in with me bare fists.
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Captain York, send a wagon and a detail to repair the wires and bring back the bodies.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Yes, sir. Sergeant Major, assemble a platoon from A Troop...
- Lt. Col. Thursday: A platoon? I said a detail, Captain: an officer and four men.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: The apaches may still be around, sir...
- Lt. Col. Thursday: I'm running a command not a debating society, Captain York
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: A detail of four men. I will be in command...
- Lt. Col. Thursday: Mr. O'Rourke will be in command.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Mr. O'Rourke in command. Have them take sixty rounds of carbine ammunition per man...
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: That's a lot of ammunition for men who've been trained to shoot. Thirty will be ample.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: ... thirty will be ample... and eighteen per revolving pistol. You'll call for volunteers.
- RSM O'Rourke: With the colonel's permission, I volunteer.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Permission refused. Carry out your orders, Sergeant Major.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: You'll leave within the quarter hour, Mr. O'Rourke. Questions?
- [RSM O'Rourke has left the office. Lt. O'Rourke salutes Col. Thursday and leaves]
- RSM O'Rourke: [speaking to his son outside] Michael. Michael, you know what's expected of you, now.
- 2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke: Sure, Dad, I know.
- [leaves the building]
- RSM O'Rourke: [to the bugler] Derice, go get Quincannon out of the guardhouse. Wait.
- [to the courier]
- RSM O'Rourke: O'Feeney, go to the stables and find Mulcahy, Shaddock and Johnny Reb. Tell 'em they're volunteerin' for an extra-hazardous mission... above and beyond the call of duty. Tell 'em their regiment is proud of 'em. Now, get goin', the whole of youse.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Have the trumpeter sound officer's call.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Officer's call?
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: How long have you been in the army, O'Rourke?
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: The United States army - fifteen years, sir.
- Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Then you've heard of officer's call. Have it sounded.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: Yes, sir.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: [to the bugler] Sound officer's call.
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: [to bugler] Sound officers' call.
- Bugler: Now?
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: No, next Christmas, you looney!
- RSM Michael O'Rourke: How's the boy doin' Festus?
- First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy: Oh, fine, Michael, but... well... he's an officer and a gentleman, and that's no job for a gentleman.