Counting Bullets

Enter.

Sir, General Bascomb wants to see you.

Finally, he has a mission for me?

Tell him I'll be in his office within five minutes.

He wants you to meet him in the stockade.

The stockade?

Sir, Lieutenant Lowe reporting as ordered.

At ease, Lieutenant.

Soldier, would you give us the room, please.

Yes, sir.

I'm sending out a patrol and I want you to command it.

Finally, I get to go after Geronimo.

Thank you, sir.

Don't get too excited.

This patrol has nothing to do with Geronimo.

This is an escort detail for some nuns.

Nuns?

Yes, yes, they went out to the Dragoons

to speak to the savages,

and they haven't returned.

The priest asked me to look into it.

So you are to locate them and escort them back.

But, sir, I should be after Geronimo,

not babysitting some nuns.

Oh, yes, Sister Sarah McLean,

and Sister Greta Gasson of San Francisco.

You know, nearly every soldier

in this command is already out.

All I'm left with are old men and misfits.

And you, you're my only officer left.

Sir, I just don't see how

escorting civilians is an army matter.

Does West Point teach soldiers

to follow the commands of their superiors,

or to question them?

Sorry, sir, it's just that.

I'll put together a roster of the men

that I'd like to have on the patrol.

You will take Sergeant Major,

I mean, Sergeant Whitlock with you.

Whitlock?

But sir, I'm about to court martial that heathen.

Yes, I know

What he did last night is inexcusable.

Yes, I, I, I did hear about that.

He's nothing but a lousy drunk.

He is also a good and experienced soldier.

You'll need him with you.

The court martial is just gonna have to wait.

He's been stripped down to Sergeant.

That will have to do for now.

Besides it'll give him time to dry out.

How many men will be on the patrol?

Six, including your scout.

Six?

I'm holding your platoon in reserve to guard the fort.

Can I at least select the remainder of the men, sir?

You may select two.

I'm letting Whitlock select one.

But, sir...

Whitlock knows his men.

He'll select a good one.

Yes, sir.

You mentioned a scout.

Who will that be?

Jefferson.

Jefferson, he's nothing but an opportunist, sir.

He knows his business and was a good soldier.

Once a soldier, always a soldier.

A soldier of fortune.

I'm sorry, what was that?

Nothing, sir.

When do we leave?

First light tomorrow.

Yes, sir, will that be all?

Just one more thing.

I know this detail might seem beneath you,

but we all started somewhere.

Handle this escort detail,

and there will be bigger assignments.

Yes, sir.

Dismissed.

What is it?

Mr. Jefferson, there's a soldier

over at the saloon looking for you.

What does he want?

He says the general out at the post

wants to see you.

Tell him I'll be right down.

All right.

I have to be going.

Don't forget to pay me what you owe me.

Thanks for a great night.

The pleasure's all mine.

I like the sound of that.

That's a down payment, honey, for when I come back.

Hey, Sergeant Whitlock, time to wake up!

It's time to wake up, Sergeant!

Sergeant, don't you mean Sergeant Major?

You were Sergeant Major yesterday.

Today you're just Sergeant.

Well.

God.

What did I do to lose my stripes?

From what I heard, you had a hell of a time last night.

I remember

at the sutlers drinking with Mumford.

I don't recall much else.

Maybe you want to talk to Lieutenant Lowe.

You're going out on patrol with him.

Lieutenant Lowe, what patrol?

You're a legend.

Give me something to drink.

Tastes like a cat shit in my mouth.

Oh, I thought I locked that cat out last night.

Sergeant Major, Sergeant Whitlock.

General Bascomb wants to see you on the double.

Let him out.

Faster, push it, you can do it, come on!

Come on, you can beat him!

Come on, you can do this, come on!

I got money riding on this, man, let's go!

Ah, come on, that's the best you can do?

Come on, Smith, push it, man!

Faster, let's go, come on!

I'm losing money here, come on!

Get those arms moving, push it!

Ah, Smith!

Dang it!

Smith.

Trooper McAlister.

Whoa!

Sir, yes, sir.

You are aware that gambling is against regulations.

Sir, I just...

I don't want to hear more excuses, soldier.

Yes, sir.

It appears you've won again.

Yes, sir.

Good work, soldier.

Thank you, sir.

Pick up your winnings and meet me in my quarters.

We're going on patrol.

Yes, sir, you can count on me.

Smith, what am I going to do with you?

I'll teach you how to be a soldier one way or the other.

Get your gear ready.

I'm taking you on patrol.

Yes, sir, sorry, sir.

Hey, Sergeant Major.

What'd he say?

He said I oughta make you shave.

Oh, come on.

About last night.

You're gonna get thrown back in the stockade.

He didn't say anything about last night.

Yeah, probably at some point.

Right now we have a mission.

We, meaning you and me?

Thank God, I ain't killed a savage in near on to two weeks.

Yeah, well, this ain't that kind of mission.

I don't much care what we're doing.

Just get me outside this damn fence.

I could use a break from Lowe too.

He's commanding the patrol.

I reckon that oughta be entertaining.

When do we leave?

First light tomorrow.

Um, okay, I gotta go.

What the?

Sergeant Whitlock.

Mumford.

Good morning, sir.

I assume you have spoken to the General,

and are aware of our detail.

Yes, sir.

What is your impression of Mr. Jefferson?

I think he's a self-serving snake.

Not interested in anything other than making a buck.

Well, we seem to agree on at least one thing.

Yes, sir.

I can make a guess

at who you've chosen to go along.

Trooper Mumford, sir.

Mumford, of course.

He's more than capable, sir.

If you haven't selected your men yet...

I am more than capable of selecting my own men, Sergeant.

I have been here long enough

to make an analysis of the troops.

Yes, sir.

I'd like for you to see to the mounts and supplies.

Yes, sir, I'm thinking five days worth of rations.

Do you agree?

Yes, five days is what I was thinking.

Meet me in my quarters after mess,

and we'll go over possible routes for the patrol.

Yes, sir, I'll also have Mumford bring his shotgun along,

so we can forage for game if needed.

Very good.