All language subtitles for Beau.Geste.1966.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG(1)

No sign from the men
on the walls.

Take the scouts.

The men at the walls,
they're dead, sir.

Dead? All of them?

Not one man alive.

Then who fired those shots?

Column!

Halt!

Squads number 1 and 2,
secure the fort.

Squads 3 and 4,
extinguish fire.

Get those buckets full of water.

Get those fires
out on that wall.

On the double!
Get moving! Move!

Man

There's a man alive over here.

Sergeant!

Can he talk?

Well, he's still weak
from the loss of that arm,

but he's been stronger
every day.

I'm sorry to impose this on you,

but it is time
I completed my report.

I only have to know
your version of what happened.

What happened.
What happened. What happened.

My name is Dagineau.

Sergeant Major Dagineau.

You have been given over
to my tender care.

It's my job

to make you fit
to die for France.

Until then, you are nothing.

A line of zeros

with no past
and damn little future.

We ask no questions.

We don't have to.
We know what you are.

The scum of the earth,

liars, thieves, drunkards,

pimps, perverts and killers

flushed out of all the sewers
of Europe.

Here's a zero
with a look of a butcher.

- I was a German officer.
- Same thing.

Hmm. A lover.

- And a Frenchman?
- I am Belgian.

And a liar.

Sergeant major, is this the time
to register a complaint?

By all means.

You know, sergeant,

I am assigned
to infantry by mistake.

I am Cossack, a horse soldier.

One more word
and you'll be a gelding.

Ah, Boldini.

- So you've reenlisted.
- Yes, my sergeant major.

Things get too hot
outside the desert?

Suppose you tell us
what kind of a zero you are.

I'm a professional soldier.

You are a lying, thieving,
murdering, alcoholic pig.

And now and then
we get a question mark.

A glory hunter,

a fanatic

or a coward here
to prove he's a man?

Which kind are you?

I'm sorry. Would you mind
going over the list again?

A man of the cloth
or a man of letters?

I am sorry, sergeant. I seem
to have lost your meaning again.

It seems we have a letter writer
in our company.

This one is addressed to me.

He didn't sign it,

but he announces himself
as one of the new recruits.

"Never mind my name," he says.

"Names count for nothing
in the legion.

I joined for many reasons,

but first among them is this.

I come to kill you."

"You, Dagineau,

through your ambition
and your madness

have been responsible
for the deaths of many men.

For this, you will die.

Always remember,

your executioner
will stand before you,

beside you and behind you

in the ranks of your own men.

You will die with a bullet
in your back during a battle

when one misdirected shot
will not be noticed.

I tell you this
to give you time

to think of it
until it happens."

I treat this letter
with the contempt it deserves.

But for one thing,

I want the man who wrote it.

So I leave it to you,
all of you,

to ferret out this rat

and deliver him to me.

And I know
you'll do this thing

because until it's done,

I will deal with each of you
as if I were dealing with him.

Nothing in hell
could be less pleasant...

I promise you.

Company, dismissed!

I find that drinking
leads to thinking

and thinking leads to drinking.

And idleness leads to vice.

Join me, Dagineau, for once.

Thank you, no, lieutenant.
I'm on duty.

Yes. 24 hours a day, Dagineau.

Ah, well.

About...

these new men,

it seems hardly fair
to hold them all responsible

for the ravings
of one unknown fanatic.

That's up to them, sir.

And I promise you
in that company,

he won't remain unknown.

Not for long.

He's an educated man,
I'm sure of that,

from the wording of his letter.

You're a fool, Dagineau.

Any illiterate louse
can buy an educated man

to compose a letter.

You're more clever
than I am, sir.

That's why you command
while I only follow orders.

No, I command
because I'm born to command.

I come from a long line
of commanding officers.

You follow orders
because you were born a soldier.

I do my best, sir.

You're the kind of soldier
I can't do without.

Thank you, sir.

But you're the kind of man

I can do without.

So don't ever give me a choice,
sergeant major.

That's all.

It occurs to me
one of us could simplify matters

by confessing now.

Come, come,
if we're to be comrades,

let's have no secrets
from one another.

You look the type to shoot
a man in the back.

Me, Cossack?

But he practically accused
this fellow.

Say what you will, I'll keep
my eye on the Italian.

In that case,
Frenchman, we'll be inseparable.

What better basis
for camaraderie

than mutual distrust?

You are the one
who has been here before.

You are the one
who knows this Dagineau.

True, regrettably.

So you are the one
most apt to want him dead.

True again.

But there you see
is proof of my innocence.

How so?

Having served
as a legionnaire,

heroically, of course,

I know better than any of you
the four cardinal sins

a legionnaire must never commit.

One, never defy a sergeant.

Two, never desert.

Three, never commit suicide.

And four,
never kill a legionnaire...

especially a sergeant major.

Again, Graves! Lunge! Thrust!

No good! Do it again!

Fall out! Fall in!

Keep moving! Do it again!

Hit the dirt! On your feet!

Do it again!
Don't stop! Don't think!

Dig it deep!
Do it! Once again!

You, Graves, keep moving!

Fall in! Fall out!

Left! Right! Left! Right!

Heads up! Shoulders back!

Double time!

Once again!

Hit the dirt!
On your feet! Don't talk!

Don't stop! Don't think!

Do it again!
Again, you scum!

Again! Again! Again! Again!

- Fouchet.
- I hear you, my friend.

I have no intention
of opening my eyes.

Ah, it's cool in here.

Cool and dark.

There is champagne
in buckets of ice.

Every night,
women and violins.

Do you suppose there's room
in there for us?

Get up!

My apologies, sergeant major.

I-- I closed my eyes
against the sun.

I-- I found myself dreaming.

I know, but you'll learn.

A legionnaire must never dream.

To stay alive,
you'll stay alert,

awake or asleep,
eyes open or closed,

or even when your back
is turned.

Graves, Boldini, Vallejo,

you wanted to join
the Frenchman?

It can be arranged.

On my command, you'll march...

and continue to march

until I give the command
to halt.

But, sergeant major,
if we should fail to hear--

Don't.

Attention!

Here we have an object lesson

in blind obedience...

for the darkness
holds no terror

for the legionnaire
who follows orders.

Detail, forward.

Hut! Left! Right! Left! Right!

Left. Right. Left. Right.

- He could call it an accident.
- Shut up, Boldini, and listen.

Left. Right.
Left. Right. Left. Right.

Left. Right. Left. Right.
Left. Right. Left. Right.

Left. Right. Left.

Pick up your feet.

Left. Right. Left.

Left. Left.

To the rear. Halt!

Pick up your feet!

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Left. Right flank!

March!

Left. Left. Left. Right. Left.

Right. Left. Right. Left. Right.

Stay here. To the rear. March!

Left. Left. Right. Left.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Left. Right.

Don't move.

To the left. March!

Left. Left. Right. Left.

Right. Left. Right. Left.

Right. Left. Right. Left.

Right. Left. Left.

Left. Left.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Detail, halt!

Remove the blindfold.

In the legion, Graves,

one must be prepared
for the unexpected.

Mm-hmm.

You, butcher boy...

step out.

I want you to lunge at me
and thrust hard.

Now.

I said now.

In Silesia, sergeant major,
I instructed bayonet and saber.

Oh. You're concerned for me?

Field Marshal Krauss

will demonstrate
Prussian superiority in arms.

Now, butcher boy, thrust.

Ah!

Alright, field marshal,
back in line.

You.

Ready, Graves?

Or maybe you think the pen
is mightier than the sword.

- Ready, sergeant major.
- Alright.

- Thrust.
- Ha!

You were told to thrust!

In the legion, sergeant major,

one must be prepared
for the unexpected.

Attention!

At ease.

Congratulations, sergeant major.

Your men show real promise.

Thank you, sir.

Yes. Well, carry on.

At ease, please.
It's quite informal.

Take it.
It's boring to drink alone.

I'll agree with that.

Yes. So many vices
become boring.

Makes one think
of the monotony of hell.

Hell.

You must make an effort
to understand

Sergeant Major Dagineau.

Why?

You know, he wasn't
always the sergeant major.

He graduated an officer
out of Sancerre.

And in his first major action,
his men deserted him.

They broke and ran
from enemy fire.

And as a result, Dagineau
was broken to the ranks...

from which he has
pulled himself up.

But he will never forget those
enlisted men who failed him.

God... pity the man
that stands in his way again.

Why tell me this?

I saw the look
in your eye today.

You were ready to attack him.

I resisted the impulse.

Continue to resist.

Understand me.

I don't approve of Dagineau.
Brutality repels me.

And so I take the trouble
to warn you as...

one gentleman to another.

And what makes you think
I'm a gentleman?

I know your reason
for being here.

- No one knows that.
- No one but myself.

Of course,
the papers I read...

Here it comes six months late,
but I do read them.

In last week's paper,
plus six months,

there was a story.

Seems a man
had killed himself,

an American,

and he left a note

confessing
to the embezzlement of...

several thousand dollars
entrusted to...

his firm.

- What's that to me?
- Oh, wait.

The irony of it.

It seems another man...

his partner,

who had confessed
to the same crime

some months before

and disappeared.

There were...

pictures of both men
along with the story.

I see.

It seems
that the two partners...

were in love
with the same woman.

She married one of them.

The man who later
committed the crime.

When the other man
discovered the crime, he...

he took the blame
and vanished.

Do you wonder where?

- Doesn't matter.
- No.

Not now,

that the gallant gesture
has gone for nothing.

The guilty man
is stabbed by his own hand.

The innocent one
is in exile

by his own choosing.

And the lady in question
is a widow now...

and very much alone.

How long do you think
she'll remain that way?

Five years,
'cause that's how long

you're gonna be in the legion

if you survive.

I'll survive.

Not if you cross with Dagineau.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Your given name is Beau.

It is.

Well, last names
mean nothing here,

but don't you think
Graves is a bit foreboding?

Couldn't you have thought
of something more suitable?

How about, uh...

Geste?

For the empty
but beautiful gesture.

Yeah.

We'll call you that.

Beau Geste.

* Bom bom bom bom bom *

Observe.

Here.
A bottle for my friend.

And don't accept his money,
you understand?

Not one centime.
This man is my guest.

Thanks, Boldini,
but I was paid today too.

No, no, permit me, please.

The privilege to repay
in some small part

my everlasting debt.

- You don't owe me anything.
- But of course, I do.

We all do
because you stand between

Dagineau and the rest of us.

Between the devil
and the damned.

Not by choice.

No, and two weeks ago,

when you pulled his teeth
with your bayonet,

what was that?
An accident?

Please.

You can trust me.
We're simpatico.

I personally hate him so much,
it kept me alive for five years.

Out of the legion I drifted.

I had nothing to sustain me,
no reason for being,

so I came back.

Once more,
I hate him actively.

I'm alive again.

This is a private conversation.

That is the point.

You should not talk to this one,

except in front of witnesses.

You mean to imply
that he can't be trusted?

He digs for garbage.
He picks your brain for secrets.

Secrets?

When the wine is in,
the truth comes out,

eh, bullfighter?

He complains of his wound

where the horn caught him
when he was gored.

The moment of truth,
eh, Vallejo?

- When you lost your guts.
- Shut up, Boldini.

Or shall we speak
of Antoinette?

Antoinette?

No one needs to dig
for your secret, Frenchman.

Every night in your sleep,

you strangle
that foolish woman again.

Will you close your mouth
or will I?

Let him go, Vallejo!

Vallejo, you know the punishment
for fighting.

That's enough, Boldini.

Now Kerjacki doesn't drink
or sleep.

Tell us, why do you lie awake
all night whispering in Latin?

- Stop.
- And you a Pole.

Stop.

Stop!

Forgive me, Father Kerjacki,
for I have sinned.

Secrets.

To a man of perception,
you're all transparent.

Here is the only man
who merits my respect

because he respects himself.

I need some air.

I'm sorry.

I offended your modesty.
But it's true.

We all look to you
for our example.

- Do I exaggerate?
- It's true.

You have as many friends
as Dagineau has enemies.

But this is one
you're better off without.

Now look, I appreciate
all this... friendship,

but don't make me
something I'm not.

I have no quarrel with Dagineau.

Well, if what you say is true,
there's no hope for us

because whoever wrote that
letter was either lying

or bluffing.

Six weeks already

and he hasn't killed
Dagineau yet.

You forget. The plan was
to kill him during a battle.

There has been no battle.

Then I'll tell him now
to his face,

whichever face it is,
revise your schedule

or Dagineau will finish us off
before the Arabs do.

And I'll tell you this.

I'd hate to go
into a battle without him.

It's true.
We need the bastard.

Whatever else he is,
he is a soldier, a Cossack.

Yes, and what a pity.

Because he'll never
let us up for air if...

Wait.

It's simple.

We kill someone
we don't need as much.

A sacrifice to Dagineau.

Ah, the scapegoat.

Yes. We pick out
one worthless man.

We slit his throat
and tell the sergeant

he confessed before he died.

- Brilliant, Boldini.
- Who can we spare?

- Someone really worthless.
- Boldini!

No.

No.

Now wait.

No.

No.

No! No!

Stop! He's had enough.

Release him!

Get to my quarters.

You think
you've suffered up until now?

For this, you'll learn
the meaning of the word,

I promise you.

What did you do
to provoke them?

Nothing, my sergeant major.

The truth.

I know you, Boldini.

You'd steal a hot stove
if you could lift it.

Now you got burned this time,
is that it?

No, please, my sergeant major.

They resent me
for my loyalty to you,

my vigilance in searching out
the author of that letter.

The others protect him.

- Graves?
- Yes.

- You have proof?
- In time.

There must be proof...

and it must be the truth.

Yes.

To secure the proof,
that will be my sacred mission.

Or failing that...

discover his weakness.

Every man has one.

If I break him...

I break them all.

Discover his weakness,
Boldini...

and you'll be my corporal.

Sergeant major...

you spoil me rotten.

If I could spare the pack
of you from duty,

you'd all take a turn
at the whipping post

for last night's incident.

But the Tuaregs have attacked
Fort Zinderneuf.

We may need
your worthless hides.

Until now,

you've all suffered
for the deeds of one man.

Now one man can suffer
for all of you.

I don't care which one.

You pick him out
for yourselves.

Only Boldini is exempt.

You have two minutes
to make your choice.

Fall out!

That swine.

What man would name another
to take his punishment?

The theory is not
that one suffers for all,

but that all suffer for one.

- Suppose we draw straws?
- No time for that now.

And no need.

It's me he wants.
If not now, the next time.

Sergeant major...

it's settled.

Release him.

Fall out!

I suppose you realize you made
him twice his size today.

Someone had to answer
for the incident last night.

He volunteered.

So you finally
made an example of him.

An example for the other men
to follow.

They could do worse.

Would that mean
you abandon your attack?

No, sir,

but I never underestimate
an enemy.

John?

Take it easy, Beau.
It's alright.

We're together now.

Oh, for God's sake.

How did you get here?

Well, I'm simple.
No mind of my own.

Where my big brother goes,
I follow.

Now relax, Beau.

Let me take care of you
for a change.

Where are the other men?

Off on a 30-mile march
in that boiling sun.

But I knew you'd think of
some way to stay in the shade.

And you shouldn't be here.

If they come back
and find you--

They'll just have
to get used to that.

I just checked in
at the reservation desk.

Took a five-year lease
on that bunk right next to you.

- You didn't enlist?
- Why not?

They take you,
they take anyone.

You idiot.

Stupid.

No, no, feebleminded.

You didn't tell him
you're my brother?

What? Enlisted on my own name.

No, that's not playing the game.

It's plain old Johnson now.

By the way, what's yours?

Well, the lieutenant
calls me Geste.

Beau Geste.

It's a private joke.

Not to me.

You know, uh,
that Sutton killed himself?

Mm-hmm.

How did Isabelle take it?

It might have been easier
if you'd been there.

Speaking of idiots...

Uh, Beau, uh...

she said if I should find you,
uh, to give you this.

When we were kids,
you always wanted it.

It's her father's.

When I'd been especially nice,

she used to let me
listen to it.

Well, maybe she thinks
you've been especially nice.

I'd forgotten
how pretty she was.

I'm remembering
how beautiful she is.

Write to her. Tell her that.

- I can't.
- Tell her something.

Beau, she knows the mistake
she made. She'll wait--

No.

For five years,
I can't promise anything.

Not even to stay alive.

How did you find me?

How often
when we were kids

did we both threaten to run off
and join the Foreign Legion?

But I knew
you'd be stupid enough to do it.

I've been to a dozen outposts,

bribed a dozen
incorruptible officials.

Now tell me.

What have you done
to deserve all this?

Johnny, listen to me

and listen carefully.

You've got to stay away from me.

You can't even know me,
at least for a while.

There's a sergeant here.

His name is Dagineau.

If he ever finds out
you're my brother...

Well, he can't, that's all.

His brother.

One who loves him well enough
to follow him even here.

Blood of the same blood,
my sergeant major.

Have I given you
what you wanted?

The weakness, yes.

And do I get
what you promised?

I keep my word,

even to a jellyfish.

Yes, Boldini.
You'll be my corporal.

Attention to orders!

This battalion has been
divided for the purpose

of strengthening our defenses
on the frontier.

One half
under Lieutenant De Ruse.

We'll bivouac tonight
at Hoggard,

then continue across the desert

and will relieve

the garrison troops
at Fort Zinderneuf.

Zinderneuf. I'll go to hell
to get away from here.

That's the trade
we are making.

Detail!

Carry on!

- You, Johnson.
- Yes, sergeant?

There's been no time
to train you.

But that's your misfortune

because we can't leave
a man behind.

You'll have to keep up
with the others.

- I'll keep up.
- Well, good.

You're in condition then.

- I think so.
- Do you?

Well, let's find out.

Hit me.

Here. As hard as you can.

I'd rather not--

That's an order!

Hit me and don't hold back.

Not bad for a civilian.

But not good enough
for the legion!

We'll have to toughen up
that belly!

Meanwhile, you'll march
with us, four behind,

and you die where you'll fall.

I promise you.

That I take it was the, uh,
official word of welcome.

So now we know.

The road to hell
isn't all downhill.

Or paved with good intentions.

Who was it that told me
about the gay

glamorous life
of a legionnaire?

I hope his feet
are killing him.

I don't believe we've met.

We speaking now?

The sergeant's beginning
to wonder why we don't.

Delighted.
The name is Johnson.

That's high enough!

Working party!

Fall in behind the wall!

The prayer for the dead,
eh, Kerjacki?

Tell me.

How do you reconcile
killing with prayer?

How do you not?

Hmm.

Bang.

It's not the same.

It's not quite the way
we imagined it.

Playing soldiers.

Oh, we played heroes, John.

- That's a very different game.
- Hmm.

And we died so well.

Oh.

Remember the funeral you gave me
when I was, uh, seven?

- Funeral?
- Yeah.

Well, if you've forgotten,
I damn well haven't.

- I still bear the scars.
- Oh!

Where the seat of my pants
caught fire.

The Viking funeral.

Of all my funerals,
my very favorite.

The burning ship

heading out to sea
with all its sails set.

And the dead Viking in it.

With his sword and his shield
by his side.

And the watchdog
at his feet.

Don't forget the watchdog.
That's most important.

Oh, I remember.

I was so taken
with that funeral,

you promised to give me one
just like it. Remember?

Absolutely guaranteed.

Come to think of it,
it's a very good sign.

- It is?
- Well...

We can't dig up
a ship out here,

much less a sea
to sink it in.

Which means

neither one of us can die
for at least five years.

I promise you.

You two.

Since you don't need sleep,
stand guard.

One there and one there.

Ah.

The centurion
come to help carry the cross.

Beg your pardon, sir?

Forgive me.
I was just thinking that...

it must have been on such
a night that Christ was born

and in such country
that He was crucified.

Some things
don't seem to change.

Not in any obvious way,
but they do change.

The dry rot sets in.

And this too will pass away.

To the walls!

Fix bayonets!

Fix bayonets!

Fix bayonets!

Ceasefire. Ceasefire!

Ceasefire!

Our military escort
is still with us.

Try to look
at the bright side.

At least we know
where three of them are.

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!
Get up there! Hyah!

I'm gonna leave you here,
do you understand?

They're waiting for you
up on the ridge.

Here, look, you see?

It's amazing how long
they can keep your nerves alive

with no flesh on them.

About this Dagineau,
I wonder who his mother was.

If it hadn't been for her,

none of us would get
to Fort Zinderneuf alive.

March or die!

And all you have to think about
is one foot at a time.

And I'll tell you which one.

And the left foot and the right!

And the left and the right!

And the left and the right!

Left, right! Left, right!

Left, right!
Left, right! Left, right!

Left, right! Left, right!

Guards, bugler!

Hold 'em!

Halt!

Sergeant major.

Sir.

Bring me my horse.

- Sir, I don't think that--
- Don't think!

I've come to take command here.

By God, I'm not doing it
on my belly.

Now bring me my horse.

Yes, sir.

There's the difference, Johnny,

between playing soldier
and being one.

Stand free, sergeant major.

Attention!

Yes, men,

we have come to replace
our legionnaires.

We, too, are legionnaires!

Forward!

March!

One foot, march in time.

Two squad! In a line!

Right, forward.

Company, halt!

Right face!

Lieutenant De Ruse

arriving with replacements, sir.

These... are my orders.

These orders direct me
to lead all garrison troops

back to Sidi Bel Abbes at once

and turn over command
of the post to you.

Damn it, De Ruse,

your men are more in need
of relief than mine.

I...

request permission
to assume command.

Command is yours, lieutenant.

Thank you, sir.

- Sergeant major.
- Sir!

The wounded will be removed
to quarters.

Post sentries.

- Fall out the others.
- Yes, sir.

Stay with him.

I know what your men
have been through,

but get them back on duty
as fast as you can.

And for their own sake,
sergeant major,

don't be too easy.

- I'll try to be firm, sir.
- Carry on then.

Forward march!

Who is this one for?

De Ruse probably.

He's not dead yet.

Dagineau believes
in being prepared.

That would make
four dead this week.

Five.

Five?

Oh, yes.
Counting the cook.

That ought to be deep enough
even for Dagineau.

Now that's not a bad idea.

Too shallow.

You, finish up

and put your back into it.

I've had my eye on you.
You're a born slacker.

I've been meaning to ask.

Why did you join the legion?

That's the one question
no legionnaire

ever asks another.

When your commanding officer
asks a question,

you'll answer.

When he does, I probably will.

I command here.

Answer me, you scum.

Answer me.

Answer me.

So you couldn't wait
until my back was turned.

Good, because it won't be
a bullet you'll get from me,

but you'll beg for one
before you die.

I promise you.

"Therefore, for the crime
of assault against a person

of a superior officer,

beginning this date,
said punishment

will be given between
the hours of sunup and sundown

and repeated each day

at the discretion
of the commanding officer

by order
of Sergeant Major Dagineau,

acting commandant,

Fort Zinderneuf."

Proceed.

For God's sake, Fouchet,
what are they doing to him?

It is better not to know.

I'll kill Dagineau, I swear it.

No, that has been decided.

If he lives, your brother
will have that pleasure.

- My brother?
- Yes, we know.

- How?
- Boldini.

- Then Dagineau knew it too.
- Of course.

So it's done.
Every man agrees.

Dagineau dies tonight.

We only waited to give you
the honor of leading us

and driving the first bayonet
into his belly.

We mutiny and then?

We cross the desert
to Morocco to freedom.

- And the Tuaregs?
- We are a fighting unit.

None of us could make it alone.
Together we'll get through.

What about De Ruse?

We'd have to kill him too.

- We take him with us.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It'd be kinder to kill him here.

No, my friends, it's no good.

Not while
there's a chance for De Ruse.

But you'll be dead before he is.
Have you forgotten?

Tomorrow you'll be buried again
and the next day and the next.

You'll be dead,
De Ruse will die

and they'll kill Dagineau
in any case.

But we're asking you
to join us.

You will cross the desert
with us, my friend,

even if we have to carry you,
yeah?

- Yeah, yeah.
- Quiet!

I've come to warn you.
Dagineau knows about the mutiny.

- You swine, you!
- He guessed!

He-- he forced me to tell,

but I-- I'm loyal to you.

So I come to tell you
that I told him.

Wait. Let him talk.

We said we'd kill him
if he told.

And he'll kill me
for telling you.

You won't feel it
as much the second time.

He's prepared for you.

He's armed himself.

That settles it.
Are you with us?

No.

And you?

Not without him.

Alright,
turn off the lights.

Now!

Halt!

Stand or die!

Drop your weapons!

Get him now!

He'll kill them all.

Haven't you had enough?

Crawl on your bellies, you dogs!
Crawl to me!

One of us can make it
to the wall before he sees us.

Wait!

Now, you pig, you will do
for bayonet practice.

Give me.

Beg my pardon, Dagineau.

Man

Let him down! Let him down!

Who else is fit to command?

Yeah.

Alright.

To the walls!

Spread out!

Ceasefire! Ceasefire!

Ceasefire!

We're alive.

Next time I do
some damned fool thing,

maybe you'll have sense enough
to stay out of it.

I can't think of any place
I'd rather be.

Alright, pig sticker!

Up in the tower.

Up, field marshal.

From there, you can plan
your march to Morocco.

Now they know our strength!

So we'll call up
our reinforcements!

From now on,
the bullets won't bother him!

Alright,
put 'em to their posts.

Get them up!

I said now.

Put them up.

Drag those mutinous dogs up here
and put them at their posts.

They'll serve the legion
better dead than they did alive.

Still holding at 1000 meters.
No advance.

Now we're expected to tremble
in our boots for an hour or so.

Hmm?

Clockwise from here.

Every third man goes below
to be fed.

You have 15 minutes

beginning now!

Bon appetit.

Go on ahead. I'll join you.

And what is more important
than breakfast, huh?

De Ruse.

Ah, it's you.

I've been meaning
to send for you.

Here.

No, no, closer.

Beau,

the men, they listen to you.

Dagineau, you must tell them
that he's in command.

They'll follow orders, sir.

But you must put a stop
to this insanity.

You can put it right somehow.

It's my fault,

not Dagineau's.

I wrote that letter.

- You?
- Yes.

As a man,
he was everything I despised.

But as a... soldier,

he made me despise myself.

Advancing now very slowly.

Alright, move it!

When I wrote it,
I'd been drinking.

I'd hoped to put
some fear into him,

some weakness,
some... humanity.

But it only made things
worse for all of you.

And it only made him stronger.

I doubt that it changed anything
in him or any of us.

Beau, put an end to differences.

Forget the past.
What is done is done.

- The thing is--
- It's forgotten, sir.

The thing is, damn it,

we are legionnaires.

We stand together!

Nothing else m-- mat-- matter.

I understand, sir.

Get to your post!

More ammunition!

There's no use.
This is the end of it.

Now!

- Ceasefire!
- Ceasefire!

- Ceasefire!
- Ceasefire!

Man

God, we-- we stopped 'em.

We never could have done it
without me.

And Dagineau.

I almost forgive him at times.

Your turn
in the tower.

As I said, almost.

What's the dream
this time, Fouchet?

What did De Ruse say
before he died?

He said you're in command.

It occurs to me...

you could have saved me
some time and trouble

by not stopping Krauss
with that bayonet.

I didn't wanna do you
any favors.

You know, I've been thinking

it's beginning to look
possible after all.

What is?

Our Viking funeral.

In that?

No.

But our ship's
going down in flames...

and we're adrift...

in a sea of sand.

Don't bury us yet, Johnny.

We're alive.

Alright, big brother.

Come to think of it,
something's missing.

A very important item,
the watchdog.

No Viking funeral complete
without it.

What's he looking for?
A miracle?

Relief could come today.

Relief?

How? You haven't sent word.

It doesn't have to be sent.

There are many tribes out there,
not all are enemies.

They watch, they listen.
They pass the word.

Be optimistic!

You may still survive
to face a firing squad!

Here they come!

Along the wall.
Keep moving along the wall.

Along the wall.

Fix bayonets!

Fix bayonets!

Why? Why did they stop?

Well... your wax museum
is nearly finished.

My gallery of heroes.

Heroes?

Is that what being dead does
for the scum of the earth?

Yes.

It was all over.

Then they fell back. Why?

It wasn't the three of us.
I told you.

Relief is on the way.

- Not a sign of life.
- Still, it's coming.

They know it.
The word is out.

I promise you.

You'll see them first up there.

I'll go.

He'll go!

I gave an order.

I'll go.

About that letter...

I'm satisfied
that whoever wrote it

is already dead.

Let me take him.

You put your hands on him
and I'll kill you!

No sign from the men
on the walls.

They've come back?

It's the relief column.

Then why'd you fire?

To give us some time
to ourselves.

You may find this hard
to understand.

Those men...

died as traitors.

But they would've been heroes
if there'd been no mutiny.

The legion needs heroes.

So... there was no mutiny.

Depending on which of us
is left to tell the story.

Then you do understand.

The men at the walls,
they're dead, sir.

There, Johnny.
There's your watchdog.

I'm sorry.
Perhaps you didn't hear me.

I said it's time we had your
version of what happened here.

Lieutenant De Ruse died

as a result of wounds
received in action.

The fort was attacked
by Tuareg tribesmen

and was defended...

heroically...

to the last man...

under the command
of Sergeant Major Dagineau.

It's what we hoped,

expected to hear.

In the best traditions
of the legion.

But now we've been ordered
to abandon Fort Zinderneuf.

The high command has decided

it isn't worth the cost
of holding it.

As soon as you can travel,
you'll be going back with us.

I sincerely hope
you have something...

or someone to go back to.

I do, sir.