Fort Apache (1948)

Pedro Armendáriz: Sgt. Beaufort

Photos 

Quotes 

• [the four soldiers who've come to escort Lt. O'Rourke to the fort have been invited to have a drink by Col. Thursday] 

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : Four bottles of cool beer, Ma.

  First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy : And I'll have the same... with a whiskey chaser.

• [Col. Thursday is meeting with Cochise - Beaufort translates from Cochise's spanish into english] 

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : He says, "The Apaches are a great race," sir. "They've never been conquered. But it is not well for a nation to be always at war. The young men die... the women sing sad songs... and the old ones are hungry in the winter. And so I led my people from the hills. And then came this man.

  [indicating Meacham] 

  Lt. Col. Thursday : [Cochise speaks more - Beaufort pauses]  What did he say?

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : Well, sir, a free translation would be that "Meacham's a yellow-bellied polecat of dubious antecedents and conjectural progeny." Cochise's words, of course, sir - not mine.

  Lt. Col. Thursday : [looks at Meacham]  That's a matter of opinion.

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : [Cochise continues - Beaufort translates]  "He is worse than war. He not only killed the men, but the women and the children and the old ones. We looked to the Great White Father for protection. He gave us slow death. We will not return to your reservation while that man

  [indicating Meacham] 

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : is there or anyone like him. Send him away and we will speak of peace. If you do not send him away, there will be war. And for each one of us that you kill, ten white men will die!

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Are you threatening us?

  Captain Yorke : Don't interrupt, sir, it's an insult.

  Lt. Col. Thursday : I'll not sit here and be threatened. Beaufort... no preliminary nonsense with him... no ceremonial phrasing. Straight from the shoulder as I tell you, do you hear me? They're recalcitrant swine and they must feel it.

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : He's only speaking the truth, sir.

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Is there anyone in this regiment that understands an order when it's given?

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : What does the Colonel wish me to say, sir?

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Tell them I find them without honor.

  [Beaufort translates the words to Cochise] 

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Tell them they're not talking to me, but to the United States government. Tell them that government orders them to return to their reservation. And tell them that if they have not started by dawn, we will attack. Tell 'em that!

  [Col. Thursday turns and walks away - Cochise and his group walk away] 

• Ft. Apache sentry : Halt! Who goes there?

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : The new commanding officer.

  Ft. Apache sentry : Holy Moses!

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : No, the new commanding officer.

• [Beaufort is addressing a group of new recruits] 

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : Gentlemen, this is a horse. You will observe it has no saddle. The reason it has no saddle is because it'll be easier for you to stay on without the saddle. Now, before we progress... did any of you gentlemen have the honor of serving with the Southern arms during the late War Between The States?

  Recruit : Yes, sir. I had the pride, sir, of serving with Bedford Forrest.

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : I am proud to shake your hand.

  Recruit : Thank you, sir.

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : I hope you have the pleasure of buying me a drink on your next payday.

  Recruit : An honor, sir.

  Sgt. Johnny Beaufort : You are now an acting corporal.

  First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy : Just a minute!

  Sgt. Quincannon : Aw, let him have one.