Fort Apache (1948)
Ward Bond: Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
Photos
Quotes
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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?
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[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?
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[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.
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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.
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[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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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RSM Michael O'Rourke : [to bugler] Sound officers' call.
Bugler : Now?
RSM Michael O'Rourke : No, next Christmas, you looney!
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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.
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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.