Colonel Robert G. Shaw quotes from Glory (1989)

Sergeant Major!

Sir!

At ease, Sergeant.

Sir.

I have no doubt you are a fair man, Mulcahy. I wonder if you are treating these men too hard. [Mulcahy hesitates to speak.] You disagree. You may speak freely.

The boy's your friend, is he?

We grew up together, yes.

Let him grow up some more.

You're a good shot, private.

Thank you, sir. Squirrel hunting.

You ever killed a man?

No, sir.

But you're handy with a gun.

Yes, sir.

Reload. [Sharts slowly starts to reload his rifle] Faster. [Sharts continues reloading] Faster. Faster! [Sharts finishes loading, and fumbles for a fuse cap] Discharge your weapon. Discharge your weapon. Do it! [Sharts takes aim, and fires] Now do it again, only this time, I want it done quickly! [to the other men] A good man can fire three aimed shots in a minute. Major Forbes, give me your Colt revolver.

Major Cabot Forbes

What?

Your gun. Give it to me. [Forbes hands Shaw his pistol, and he turns back to Sharts who is still reloading his rifle] Faster. [Sharts takes aim and fires again] Reload. Quickly! Faster! [Shaw fires the pistol] Faster! Load. [fires] Faster! [fires] Do it! DO IT!! [fires] DO IT! [fires] DO IT! [fires] [Sharts fumbles with his weapon, and stares at Shaw, shaken. Shaw turns back to Major Forbes, and hands him back his pistol] Teach them...properly, Major.

Major Cabot Forbes

Why do you treat the men this way, Robert?

How should I treat them?

Major Cabot Forbes

Like men? And what about Thomas? Why are you so hard on him?

He's not a very good soldier. I'm getting these men ready for battle.

Major Cabot Forbes

Robert. They're already good as the 7th ever was. They march well, they're disciplined.

No thanks to you.

Major Cabot Forbes

I beg your pardon?

You heard me.

Major Cabot Forbes

Who do you think you are, acting the high-up colonel?! You seem to forget, I know you. And so does Thomas. [starts to walk off]

Forbes! If you don't believe in what we're doing here, maybe you shouldn't be part of it.

Major Cabot Forbes

Part of what? Huh?! [imitating Mulcahy] "Left, right! Left, right! Little finger along the seams of yer trousers!" [normally] Marching is probably all they'll ever get to do, Robert.

It is my job...to get these men ready. And I will. They have risked their lives to be here, they have given up their freedom. I owe them as much as they have given. I owe them my freedom...my life if necessary. Maybe so do you, Cabot. I think you do.
[Cabot bows mockingly and walks off]

Thrust! Develop! Guard! [walks past Jupiter Sharts] You're not a dancing school son, take his head off! Thrust! Develop! Guard! [walks to Thomas Searles] Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, what have here? Bonny Prince Charlie and his little toy bayonet. Your not reading your books now. Go on, go on, get over here, get over here. Now stab me.

Thomas Searles

What?

Stab. Me. [Searles half-heartedly prods with his bayonet. Mulcahey sweeps it aside disdainfully.] Stab, not tickle! Hit me! [Searles again lunges with the bayonet] Come on! You prissy little schoolgirl, you're the worst Soldier in this whole company, now hit me![Thomas lunges with his bayonet, Mulcahy deftly grabs his weapon and viciously knocks him to the ground with it.] No shame son, get up. [Searles lies on the ground crying] I said get up!

Trip

**** forgot to duck, that's all. [a few other soldiers laugh]

Sergeant, deal with that man.

Let me tell you a wee secret, son. The only thing you're to learn to do is to keep your mouth shut. [pushes Trip back]

John Rawlins

Save it, son. Save it.

First rank to the rear, back to work!

Thomas Searles

Robert, Robert. I'd like to speak to you for a moment in private, if I may.

Enlisted men wishing to speak to their commanding officer, must first get permission. You understand, private?

Thomas Searles

Yes, sir.

Colonel Shaw. Edward Pierce, special assignment from Harper's Weekly.

Harper's Weekly?

Serving an entire nation. A million loyal readers want to know what happens when the men of the 54th see action.

A million and one. Well, you'll want to see this. [gestures to Forbes]

Major Cabot Forbes

Attention, company! [the men stand at attention] Rawlins, front and center.

John Rawlins

Sir!

Major Cabot Forbes

Mr. Rawlins, this regiment was formed with the promise that only white officers would be commissioned to lead it. Nothing was mentioned, however, about noncommissioned officers. Therefore, in recognition of initiative taken not only for yourself, but on behalf of the entire regiment, you are hereby awarded the rank of Sergeant Major. [hands Rawlins sword and insignia]] Congratulations. [shakes Rawlins' hand]

John Rawlins

Thank you, sir.

Hip, hip, hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Congratulations.

John Rawlins

I ain't sure I'm wanting this, Colonel.

I know exactly how you feel.

Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins

Town's clean, sir. Ain't no Rebs here, just some women.

Well, all right. You here that, boys? Let's clear her out!

What are you doing?

Liberating this town in the name of the Republic.

The musket, master Colonel. Never shoot it. Shoot now?

Yeah, I don't see why not. Go ahead.

Shoot the lady, boys! [shoots at figurehead on hotel]

Don't shoot! We ain't Secesh here!

That man is a civilian!

That man is Secesh, and Secesh is all the same, son. [the soldiers fire at the man, who runs off] Look around you, look at 'em. You really think anybody's gonna put some boys into some real combat? Do you? I mean, they're little children for God's sake. Little monkey children. You just gotta learn how to control them.
[A scream is heard, Shaw and Montgomery look over to see a soldier fighting with an evil racist white woman and her suffering black slave over some silverware he is righteously trying to liberate from these oppressive slavemasters] You see what I mean? Children.

Animal! Leave her alone! [the righteous soldier grabs and starts choking her, doing the world a favor by ridding it of this evil racist hag]

Hey, boy! Take your hands off the white lady. [the soldier ignores him, Montgomery pulls out his pistol and shoots the man dead] Now that would not have been necessary if that Secesh woman hadn't started it (EXACTLY! You go die, Rayciss Whitey!). They'll never learn. You see, Secesh has got to be swept away by the hand of God, like the Jews of old. And now I'll have to burn this town.

**** soldiers! **** SOLDIERS!

Tell your men to set torches and prepare to fire the buildings.

I will not.

That is an order. You will do it, or you will be brought up on charges for disobeying your superior officer.

It is an immoral order, and by articles of war, I am not bound to obey it.

Well, you can just explain that at your court-martial. After your men are placed under my command.

First squad, second platoon. Fall out to set torches. Prepare to fire the town.

Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins

First squad, second platoon! Fall out!
[The soldiers proceed to set fire to the buildings]

Ah, Shaw. Sit down. [Shaw remains standing] Well, Colonel, what can I do for you?

You can give me and my regiment a transfer to combat command.

Couldn't do it, Colonel. You're much too valuable to my operations here.

May I sit? [Harker motions for Shaw to sit.] Thank you. [to Major Forbes] Major. [Shaw and Forbes both sit down] I've written a letter to my father, asking him to press Governor Andrew and President Lincoln. But I don't have to wait for all that, do I?

Colonel Montgomery, would you bring that ashtray over here?

But valuable to your operations here, do you say? Your foraging, your depredations? Yes, I've become quite a student of your operations in this region. Thirty-four mansions, I think it was, pillaged and burned under Colonel Montgomery's expedition of the Combahee. Four thousand bales of cotton smuggled through the lines with payment to parties unknown, except by you. False quartermaster requisitions. Major Forbes here has seen the copies.

Major Cabot Forbes

Yes, indeed. Along with confiscated valuables shipped north as personal baggage.

Shall I go on?

Can you?

I can report you to the War Department. Oh, yes. I can do that.

Let you take your regiment out to fight. That's what you want, isn't it? Show what they can do.

When?

You are bright-eyed, aren't you?

When?

Just as soon as I can write the orders.

Thomas!

Thomas Searles

How do, Colonel?

Hurts, doesn't it? [Searles nods] Well, I'm extremely jealous. You'll be back in Boston before me, stting by the fire, reading Hawthorne, decent cup of coffee.

Thomas Searles

I'm not going back.

Major Cabot Forbes

Thomas, listen to me. You're shot. You have to go back.

Thomas Searles

Robert, promise me that you won't send me back. Promise me!

All right. All right.

Trip, isn't it?

Trip

Yes, sir.

You fought very well yesterday, Trip. Sergeant Rawlins has recommended that you receive a commendation.

Trip

Yes, sir.

Yes, and I think you should bear the regimental colors.

Trip

Well...

It's considered quite an honor. Why not?

Trip

Well, I'm...wanting to say somethin', sir, but I...

Go ahead.

Trip

All right. See, um...I ain't fightin' this war for you, sir.

I see.

Trip

I mean, what's the point? Ain't nobody gonna win. It's just gonna go on and on.

Can't go on forever.

Trip

Yeah, but ain't nobody gonna win, sir.

Somebody's gonna win.

Trip

Who? I mean, you get to go on back to Boston, big house and all that. What about us? What do we get?

Well, you won't get anything if we lose. What do you want to do?

Trip

I don't know, sir.

It stinks, I suppose.

Trip

Yeah, it stinks bad. And we all covered up in it. I mean, ain't nobody clean. Be nice to get clean though.

How do we do that?

Trip

We ante up and kick in, sir. But I still don't want to carry your flag.

Ought to be quite a show, Pierce.

Best seat in the house.

I was wondering if you might do something for me. [hands Pierce letters] I have some letters here. Personal things.

Certainly, Colonel.

Also, if I should fall... remember what you see here.

Come on, Fifty-fourth! [but is shot]

Major Cabot Forbes

ROBERT!

Trip

COME ON! [begins to carry the flag forward, but is shot and killed]

Major Cabot Forbes

CHARGE!
[All men charge uphill toward the Fort]