 Raymond Burr as Captain Lee Quince, specially transcribed tales of the dark and tragic ground of the wild frontier, the saga of fighting men who rode the rim of empire, and the dramatic story of Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. I'd rather take these orders than give them, Captain. Black hills, the black hills, the powder, the big horn, the Yellowstone, Montana territory. Cover's a lot of ground. Yeah. You want these orders, you say? I sure do. They're your orders. Why don't you take them? You might be gone two weeks. You might be gone two months. Now, I'm going to stay here, set up the parley. These are your orders, Lee. Well, see, in their mind, maybe you'll tell me what they are. Sitting bull. Sitting bull? I mean it. You're giving me the army from the Department of the Platte to go after him? I'm giving you a patrol and a slip of paper. This isn't an engagement, Captain. I want you to deliver an invitation to Sitting Bull to parley with us. Give me a lot of territory to find him in, Major. And I can give you about six scout reports. Each one definitely establishing Sitting Bull's camp at six different locations, from the black hills to the Yellowstone. Now, I saw Pete Hazen's last report on him. I'm the bell force here in the black hills. That was six months ago. That's the latest report we have. Well, I can start there. I might pick up some fresh word on the way. When you want me to leave. As soon as you can pick up a troll and outfit it, I remember you're heading north, planning anything from heat to snow. Yeah. When do you plan the parley, Major? We'd like to hold it before winter sets in. If he set up a winter camp, he won't move till spring. If he won't, we'll hold it in the spring. He might not move then. He isn't much to hold meetings with white men. And we're hoping he'll come. Yeah. Well, the finding him comes first. I'll get started, Major. Oh, uh, Lee. Yes, sir? You've, uh, you've seen him? Once. You talked to him? I listened to him. I didn't understand a word he said. But when he got through, I knew what he meant. I understand he doesn't speak English. He doesn't have to. He speaks, and you listen, and you watch him, and you understand. I've never seen him. I've heard the story that he's a complete savage, that he hates white men. He's brilliant, that he's stupid, that he's revered, that he's hated. Just like to see for myself. When you see him, Major, you'll find out one thing in a hurry. Yeah? He hates white men. Corporal, that remount station's still ahead? Better be, Harrison. I'm counting on it. Thought we'd make camp there. We'll start tomorrow with fresh horses. Cratton and Doolin, their mounts took the brunt of it when them boulders shook loose a while back. The men hurt, Corporal? Shook up, that's all, Lieutenant Cybridge. Well, tell them the remount station is just a couple of miles away. I'd like to make it. They'll make it, sir. Yeah, yeah. Two more miles, Captain. That'll make 25 miles for us today. Not bad. I thought it was pretty good, sir, considering that landslide held us up some. We can average 25 miles a day. We'll be at. But we can't, Mr. Cybridge. Another day we'll be heading into the Black Hills proper. We'll be lucky to make 18 a day through them. Yes, sir. Heart going sometimes. Mostly, it's slow. I guess the Sue could slow us down some, too. I guess they could, Mr. Cybridge. That landslide, Captain. It could have been started by Indians. Could have been. You think it was? No. It's Indian country, sir. Your idea is they shove some boulders at us to discourage us, Mr. Cybridge? Well, I've done it before. But they didn't try to make it stick. Or a dozen men. The slide did hold us up, stopped us for the best part of an hour. If there were Indians, Lieutenant, they'd have taken advantage of it. We were sitting ducks. Yes, sir. I guess we were. Well, it was an idea anyway. Lieutenant, before you came to B Company, we had a first Lieutenant who'd been through part of the war. Never said much. I'd give him an order. He'd follow it to the letter. I could count on that. He'd follow it to the letter. Yes, sir. He never asked questions. He never had theories. I understand, Captain. He wasn't much good to me, Mr. Cybridge. Yes, sir, Captain. Name Dunset. What'd you say? Your name, is it Dunset? Oh, oh, yeah. I guess it is. I don't hear it off enough anymore to be sure. Kind of quiet running a remount station, is it? Mm-hmm. Scout down in, nest her sometimes. This ain't exactly the Oregon Trail, you know. You staying along, Captain? Till morning. Your horses look good. They are. Have any trouble hanging on to them? You mean Indian raids? They gone on a style? Well, you just might put it that way, Captain. I'm high in the time when I couldn't keep a horse here with four broke legs. They'd want them off that fast. But lately now I get to know them just like brothers. Brothers, huh? Well, I say brothers. I don't know why. Never had any brothers. About Indian raids. I tell you the truth, I'd welcome one ever so often. A man needs more than horses, you know. Of course, up to a year ago, Lattie was with me. That helped some. Lattie? Yeah, Lattie Dunset, my wife. Oh. Just about a year ago now. A fellow came riding up one day and said he meant to do some mining. Though I swear he didn't have so much as a pick with him, as I could tell. He stayed a few days, and I was busy with the horses, you know. When he rode off, darned if he didn't take Lattie with him. Well, maybe you're better off with horses. Oh, yeah. Lattie wasn't much of a talker. Is it be Lance Crick along here? Yep, Lance Crick it is. I thought I'd follow it to Beaver Crick and cut up to the Belfors from there. Makes a nice pretty trip. Pretty country. Well, besides the scenery, is it that the quickest route into the Black Hills? I don't know a quicker one. We count 12 men, Captain. That's all there is. Well, you ain't going after him with 12 men. I say anything about going after someone? Well, army don't come traipsing through here getting fresh horses just for the ride. The way it comes to me, though, you'll need a sight more than 12 men. More than 1,200. Well, we're not starting any wars, Duncey. Not you, maybe. But you take a white man leading hostile Indians and you're apt to have a war. And no 12 troopers is allowed. White man leading what, Indians? The Sioux. Now, don't tell me you ain't never heard telly him. Man, I don't never see nobody and I heard of him. Well, Si and I haven't. Suppose you tell me what you've heard and where you've heard it. Well, last time was from Coy. You're going to Beaver Crickway. You'll run right by Coy's place. He's tall, great and tall. And he's got a beard that's long. You know, long and flowing. Is that Coy you're talking about? No, no. The white leader, the Sioux. And they say when he talks, it's like thunder. And his eyes is flesh enlightening. Duncey, do you know what I think? Well, how'd I know that? I think you've been with horses too long. Take him down to Beaver Crick, Mr. Sabbaths. I want to talk to the settler. Looks like he's packing up, Captain. Oh, that by the barn. Yeah. Yeah, it does. Take care of things. Yes, sir. Moving time for you, mister? Half noon, Captain. Something running you off your land, mister? Yeah, just a few days. Taking load of grain up to Indian Agency. Wasn't counting on no military escort, though. You need what? Not as a no, huh? I had a talk with Duncey at the remount station on Lance Crick. You get a word in. You know him pretty well? See him maybe twice a year. Don't dare go off in there. Poor old coup d'etre used to people. Talks a fool head off. Don't make a lot of sense. He's got a story to tell about a new white leader of the Sioux. That's what's brought you up here. Duncey says you told him about the white man. What did he say I said about him? That he's tall, has a long flowing beard, talks like thunder, eyes that flash lightning. Thunder and lightning? Well, well, that part is pure, Duncey, Captain. Sure didn't mention thunder and lightning. What about the rest of it, mister? Oh, that's gospel. He's tall. Tall as you. There's no doubt about the beard, all right? Of course you hear all kinds of things. Sometimes you're put to wondering what to believe. Now, I've heard he's got as high as 1,000 lodges. Some say more. 1,000 lodges? Figuring three men to a lodge, this man's got a Sioux following of 3,000 braves. I'm just telling you what I was told to make him. Duncey added the thunder and lightning. What did you add, mister? Well, now, King's word of lodges, I told you that. Hey, but the man himself, or what it looks like, that much I know. I know because I've seen him. When? Well, guess it's all four or five months ago now. Wrote up Malaine, watered his mule right there at Beaver Crick. Same as your men are doing. And this giant of a man with a flowing beard told you he'd come to lead the Sioux against the white man? He said as much, Captain. The Sioux need a new leader. Now, those were his words. I come to give him a new leader. That's what he said. The plane is anything. You ready to go to the agency as soon as you load the grain? It'll take me no time at all. I'll give you a hand and a military escort. Well, I think I've managed to quiet him. We don't get much army through here since the treaty. Your agency isn't used to cavalry patrols? Passing by, stopping for water, sure. They saw you setting up camp, made him edgy. Considering we're on a peace mission, we seem to be doing a job of making a lot of people edgy. It's the time, Miss Captain. Hey, look up there. The Black Hills. Last son of the day on them. It's beautiful. I look at them all day. The morning sun on them, the bright sun of midday, and now when they're given up to the night. They're always beautiful. But somewhere in those hills, something quiet is building up. I don't know what it is, but a feel-it. And the agency Indians feel it. Someday, I got a notion the whole West is going to feel it. You got mostly Sue here in the agency? Mostly. The Black Hills are par sapid to them, sacred. It's the home of the Sue Deities, maybe. Maybe that's the feeling. Whatever it is, I'm losing Indians to it every day. Winter coming on, that's the time most Indians head for agencies. Always before, yeah. But not this year. Just the opposite. I don't know. I left Fort Laramie four days ago to find Sit and Bull and invite him to pow wow with us. In every place I stop, no one wants to talk about Sit and Bull. All I hear is that the Sue have a new white leader. That's all I hear, Captain, but you never saw him. No? But I never saw Sit and Bull. That doesn't mean he doesn't exist. You figure you've lost how many Indians so far? Not over 20. I look around at days end. Everyone's accounted for him. By morning, two are gone, maybe three, maybe just one. And no one ever knows where they've gone, of course. I'm supposing you're reporting this to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Sure. Like I'm also reporting, there's fewer and fewer Indian raids. Less hostility, less trouble. Now, what do you think they're going to pay most attention to? 20 Indians going off an agency or four or five months of uninterrupted peace? Why do you suppose they sent this patrol up here? This whole area is so peaceful right now, they want to make it official. Want to smoke the pipe with Sit and Bull and tell the rest of the country the Indian wars are over. I don't envy you, Captain. Riding into the Black Hills just now. Thanks. You could send back for more troops. My orders are clear. I'm still looking for Sit and Bull. You don't believe the talk? They're about the white leader. I don't believe it when I see him. Patch of smoke ahead, Captain. Coming out of that line of hills to the west. First one you've seen, Mr. Simons? No, sir, it isn't. This one seems larger than the others. Sigma fires. Sue, we're just letting their people know we're here, marking our course for them. We're flying a white flag. They've honored it so far. Yes, sir. Those signal fires aren't bothering me near so much as that cloud forming ahead. We're going to get some weather before long. Bad weather. You're more worried about a storm than Sit and Bull? I know where the storm is, Mr. Cybert. Well, Sit and Bull might be nearer. He might. Signal fires are a warning to someone. I hope it's Sit and Bull. If it is, we can deliver our message and get out before we get bogged down by the storm. I guess I don't understand, sir. We may be attacked, Mr. Cybert, where in an unceded Indian country it can happen any time. But Sit and Bull isn't likely to attack a patrol flying truth flag. You know, you don't often hear him described as a man of honor. Does Sue think he is, Lieutenant? Yes, but, well, you've met him, sir. You must have an idea what kind of a man he is. I have an idea, Mr. Cybert. Hey, Captain Quitzer. Now, what does it look like up ahead at Harrison? The storm's heading our way, all right, Captain. But straight ahead over the rise, there's a valley set ablaze, sir. Can't see the smoke. It looks like part of the storm cloud near, Captain. You can take my word for it. It's burning away for fair. Rest the patrol, Mr. Cybert. Go right ahead with Corporal Harrison. Yes, sir. Come on, Corporal. Then right up into the ravines, Harrison. They've been marking our course all the way in with signal fires. Might be they set a good one like this to tell us we ain't right welcoming their country. And it might be they set it to cover their movement away from the valley. Only from up here, we should be able to spot them. I ain't seen an engine yet, Captain. We better find some cover for the patrol. Can't make it across a blazing valley. And we can't ride the long way around in this kind of storm. This ain't a bad campsite, sir. Them granite ledges making an overhang the way they do. Of course, I don't know how near we are at a water. Is there enough for you? Yes, sir. It sure is. Signal the patrol to move up, Harrison. I'm going to ride along this rim and find a spot for the horse. Yes, sir. You checked the pickets yet this morning, Corporal? Changed the duty at dawn, sir. Any of them drowned during the night? If they're dead, they didn't mention it to me. Are you still trying to figure out where we are, Captain? Yeah, I'd kind of like to know. Funny. You look at a map like that. Makes everything look real simple. Left the agency on the bell force, moved along it and to the west of a little powder. West again to the powder. Is a river in that valley below, Harrison? If there is, it was on fire yesterday. Now, let's take a look. Ah, golly, there is a river, Captain. Must be the tongue. This is new country to me. You sure couldn't see no river for the blaze down there yesterday. If it is the tongue, we're in Montana Territory, Corporal. Don't look much different. It's beginning to. Yes, sir. It sure is. Captain, coming up the trail, Indians. How many, Lieutenant? Six, eight. That's all I make got, Captain. Pass the word, hold fire, Corporal. Yes, sir. Hold your fire, man. Hold your fire. Don't seem to fear us, sir. Riding up from that charred valley as big as you please. It's their valley, Mr. Sammonds. Well, yes, it is. Might be they're just riding up to reminders of that. Look young, Captain. Very small camp. How many white soldier? 12. 12. That's right. 12. 12 is how many white soldier? You are six braves. Six brave? We are twice your number. Two white soldiers to one brave. Now understand. Why here? We have a letter. The white chiefs want to powwow a sitting bull. To smoke the pipe, to talk peace. Letter say that? Letter says that. I take. Captain, it's all right, Mr. Sammonds. This commander. Fort Larmy, filming terror. You see? I read. You take back. Thank you. You read well. I read well. Speak well? You speak very well. You white man, me red man. That's right. Color of skin not matter to leader. Who is your leader? Leaders say all men are brother. Now we go. What was that all about, Captain? I don't know, Mr. Zabertz. But I bet if we follow him, we'll find out. They slickered us, Captain. We ain't seen a sign of them in a full day now. Not Indians, Harrison. Patrol, halt. You can't see your eyes in things. It had comfort me some to know you saw him, too, Captain. Giant of a white man with a flowing beard who rides a white mule. He's the new white leader of the suit? I'll let you know when I get back. Heard about you, Captain. I've heard about you. I didn't really believe it. Your patrol is flying truce flags. You've got a letter for a sitting bull. I don't have to tell you anything, do I? Red Bear was very proud of his knowledge. The young Sue Brave? He told me he met a white brother who was armed who did not shoot. You're not armed either. I'm armed. You mean the Sue up in the ridge? No, they're just interested. So am I. I hear you've got anything from a thousand lodges up. I wish I had, Captain. You can ride up and count them. On my best day, I've got 30 Braves. It's a beginning. It depends on what you're beginning. A small beginning? Not nearly as big as your invitation to a sitting bull to smoke the pipe. You know where he is? The last I heard, his camp was on the Yellowstone River. You said you were armed. I am. A Bible? A Bible. I'm Father Farrell. I'm a Jesuit priest. You're preaching to the Sue? Teaching, I hope. Reading, writing, little farming. All men are brothers. The color of the skin don't matter. Red Bear's learning faster than most. You've cut out a big job for yourself, Father. No, I'm not alone. I'm a Jesuit, but there are Methodists out here, too. Presbyterians. You helped Captain with Red Bear. He seemed to respect you to know he could trust you. Maybe that's the way it begins. With one red man and one white man trusting each other. Yeah. And like you said, Father, a small beginning. But it's a beginning. Fort Laramie is produced and directed by Norman MacDonald and stars Raymond Burr as Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. The script was specially written for Fort Laramie by Kathleen Hite, with sound patterns by Bill James and Ray Kemper, musical supervision by Amarigo Moreno. Featured in the cast were Jess Kirkpatrick, Jack Krushan, Howard Culver, Lawrence Dobkin, and John Daener. Sam Edwards is Corporal Harrison. Jack Moyles is Major Daggett. And Harry Bartell is Lieutenant Cybertz. Company tension. Dismiss. Next week, another transcribed story of the Northwest Frontier and the troopers who fought under Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. Every time a foot goes down on the accelerator of an automobile, somebody is taking life into his hands. And life, anybody's life, is something to be handled with care. If you're out on the highway, drive at the speed that best meets the traffic conditions you find. Obey the road signs and give your attention to traffic signals, too. Be sure the lane is clear for passing when you want to get around. And don't take a chance on the other fellow making room for you. In fact, don't take a chance. Remember, you can't save time by losing lives.