Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

Billie Burke: Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Lucy jumps off her horse, ties it up on the rail, and enters the store where Mrs. Fosgate and Mrs. Hackett are] 

  Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate : Lucy Dabney! Riding astride! When will your father realize that you are a grown-up young lady?

  Mrs. Nellie Hackett : Yes!

  Lucy Dabney : [laughs]  Papa says as long as I say my prayers and behave myself with the young lieutenants, he doesn't care if I ride like Lady Godiva!

• [Rutledge enters the court room under guard and presents himself to the President of the Court-Martial] 

  1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge : First Sergeant Braxton Rutledge, C Troop, Ninth United States Cavalry.

  [the spectators erupt into bedlam. Sitting in the front seats, the officers' wives, especially Mrs. Fosgate, have been chattering constantly, and a crowd of men at the back begin shouting that Rutledge should be hanged, and so forth. Fosgate bangs his gavel repeatedly] 

  Lt. Tom Cantrell : Mr. President!

  Col. Otis Fosgate - president of the court-martial : Order!

  Lt. Tom Cantrell : Mr. President! I request this court room be cleared of all spectators. This is not a public show. A soldier's on trial for his life before this court; and, furthermore, by the very nature of the charges alone, this is certainly no place for ladies.

  [the ladies, especially Mrs. Fosgate, don't like that, and they begin chattering and protesting again] 

  Col. Otis Fosgate - president of the court-martial : Request granted.

  [He glares at his wife] 

  Col. Otis Fosgate - president of the court-martial : Dickinson, clear this court room of everyone not directly connected with this case!

  [the crowd, mostly women in hats, resentfully rise and start exiting. Mary Beecher remains in her seat, looking disgruntled] 

  Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate : Otis! Otis, tell this person you don't mean *me*.

  [Dickinson takes her by the shoulder to escort her out] 

  Col. Otis Fosgate - president of the court-martial : Out, Cordelia! Captain Dickinson, escort Mrs. Fosgate and her friends to the door.

  Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate : Otis Fosgate, wait till I get you home!

  [Fosgate clears his throat and glances at the other Court Martial men, who are grinning at him]