Sergeant Rutledge1960

[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] 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]