“The punishment for desertion is death by the firing squad. But I'm...” – Sergeant Markoff, Beau Geste ... Movie Quotes Database

The punishment for desertion is death by the firing squad. But I'm going to be merciful. You can escape again...I insist that you escape!...[To the scouts] Drive them out where you found them. And keep them away from the oasis. [Turning back with a scowl toward the legionnaires] Any more of you want to desert? If you do, you can go now. I won't stop you. Later, you may wish you'd taken my offer, I promise you.

More from Beau Geste

Sergeant Markoff Keep shooting, you scum! You'll get a chance yet to die with your boots on! Sergeant Markoff Everybody does his duty - and soon enough. Dead or alive. We'll make those Arabs think we got a thousand men. The rest of the bullets you stop won't hurt as much as that first one. Sergeant Markoff Look at them. They come when I want them, and they go when I don't need them anymore. They're beaten, but they've put down a mutiny for me. They've given me the Legion of Honor, and they've made me an officer!