 Fort Lurlemy! Barring 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. Um, how long would you say you've known him Patrick? I had that proud on I guess, eight ten years now. Of course I ain't had the privilege of serving with him since the war. I still don't see why you just don't go right up to him and make yourself known. Well, I wouldn't intrude on the Captain that way, Drury. He's a busy man, tracking engines, planning battles. Besides, just because I recollect him so well don't mean he'd remember me. But he's a kindly man. All the time will come, the just right time. I'll acknowledge myself to Captain Lee Quince. I'll bet you he'll be proud knowing you asked special to serve under him again. Maybe surprised even. Of course I only been with the company a week now, but it seems to me the men hold him right high in their thought. I ain't been here long myself, but it's not a man I know wouldn't lay down his life for Captain Quince, if need be. Well now that's nice. I declare that's real nice. Captain, have you ever talked much about the war, any of his experiences? Well, like I say, I ain't been here long myself. But the men say he's not much for talk about anything. Never was. Even when he was younger, when most men talk free, he was more for action than words. Yeah. Funny, ain't it? How you can sense such much good feeling in a man without him talking much? That's a funny thing, all right. I like to draw duty with the Captain. I sure do. I always have a feeling that no matter what, he's been thinking ahead, planning for us. I feel safe riding with the Captain. Of course it's hard to tell what a man's thinking if you don't make his thoughts known. It don't matter to me much what he's thinking. So long as he's acting good. Yeah, that's a big thing. Our man acts. There sure is different country out here. Different kind of fighting country, too. And how you mean? We fought closer in the war. Like there'd be a stream here, you see? Yeah. Say it was a kind of clearing, you know. And on one side the ribs would be cowering in the trees. We'd be standing firm on the other side. Now sooner or later somebody's got to make a move for that water. For horses and for their selves. I tell you, you get thirsty. You get so you care more about water than living. Anybody's living. Mostly, we're lucky out here. Seems like there's more cricks. A man's got a right to a drink when he's dry. More than dry, your insides get to feeling like sand, dust. Like though it's gonna crumble. Patchen? What's the matter with you, Patchen? You say something, Dury? Ask if something was wrong. Wrong, boy? No, no. Nothing's wrong. I just get a thirst sometime. You talked yourself dry. It ain't hot. We got plenty of water. There's a stream not 50 yards from you. I know that. I know. You were saying about the fight and being different in the war. Yeah, yeah. Like I said, we fought closer. Man to man sometimes. A man to dismount, fix his saber to his carbine. Such a bloody slash in the way you never saw. I ain't seen nothing like that in the West. Out here seems like you do more chasing than anything else. We've been tracking engines. How long? Two days now? I ain't drawn my sights on one. Have you drew it? That ain't saying they ain't here. Somewhere's. Captain Grinch must think they're around. Well, you know I'm not saying that. While there ain't a man or a monkey come less near to criticize than a captain's judgment. Well, you're forgetting, boy. I know better than any of you what a great man he is. Looks like they're campsite ahead, Mr. Cybert's. Must have made camp here last night. Yes, sir. We've been just about a day behind them all the way, haven't we, Captain? Man, it looks like we're gonna stay that way. I'll say one thing for them. They pick good campsites. Captain, it's the end of the fourth day. If we could catch them in four days, fine. If not, report back to Fort Laramy. Those are the orders, Mr. Cybert's. It seems like a waste somehow. All is riding, only to turn back. One thing. We don't lose many men this way. That's true, Captain. They won't be the first who slipped off the reservation, got away with it. Sergeant, we'll make camp ahead a bit quicker. Yes, sir. I guess we lost him, sir. A zoo? We never had him to lose, Sergeant. No, sir. How to clear, Captain. I'm real sorry about that. I don't know, Hamden. I... You better get on with your job, trooper. Patchen's the name. That's if you don't remember. I remember. I kept hoping I'd bump into you, Captain, sir. Sure enough, I did. You've been with B Company long? Just a week. I was heading up this big engine chasing operation. I didn't see any engines myself, but the men keep telling me they must be somewhere around. Captain, Prince wouldn't be out chasing it. We're moving back to Fort Laramie starting tomorrow. When we get there, I'll see you get a transfer to another company. Now, I'm sorry to hear you say that, Captain. I've been looking forward to this reunion longer than I can tell. Tell the truth, I thought you'd hold a higher rank by now, like Custer and Mackenzie are generals. And you're their equal. I can swear to that. I've been telling them... You got a job to do, trooper. Better get on with it. Is that an order, Captain, sir? That's an order. Yes, sir. Well, I thought maybe you'd want to know. It didn't just happen, my being in your company. I asked for this duty special. An icon of us being such old friends. I guess you remembered them all right, Captain. When was that, Drury? Patching, sir. He was worried, to fear you might not remember who he was. That's all? I told him. I knew you'd recollect. You're just not the kind of man to forget a friend. He's been talking to you a lot, Drury? I'll put it this way, sir. I know you a lot better since meeting up with Patching. I wonder. I feel I do. The rest of the men, they feel like I do. We wasn't surprised to hear it exactly, but we sure didn't know you map campaigns for General Sheridan. General Cook, too. And all them acts of bravery when you led the charge... Trooper. Yes, sir? You've got duty with the mess sergeant, right? That's right, sir. Move out. Yes, sir. What is it, Gors? The camp's most bedded down, Captain. The pickets are out. Who's on picket duty? It's our last night out, sir. Corporal Jenkins used the rest of the patrol. Who are they, Gors? Well, sir, he put vickers and kelp up by the bayon. Over the west, he's got Stevens and Holt. Then over south, Biel and Patching. I told Corporal Jenkins, no picket duty for Patching, and I meant it. No picket duty for Patching? That's an order. Yes, sir. You mind if I say something, sir? I mind if anybody says something, Mr. Cybertz. I just want to ask you why. I wouldn't bother asking, Mr. Cybertz. It's about the men, Captain. I have the right to speak out about the men. You've got the right. They're tired, sir. They've ridden four days out, three days back. We've been moving like someone was chasing us. Only no one is. Any other observations, Mr. Cybertz? Yes, sir. Everyone stood his turn at picket duty. Everyone but Patching. You're getting awful close to asking why again, Mr. Cybertz. I'm sure you have a reason, Captain. I hope it's a good one, because the men don't understand. I think we've got a morale problem. We won't have it long. We'll be back at the fort tomorrow. Captain, if you'd like to... Good night, Mr. Cybertz. Is that all you have to say, Captain? It's clear. I'm asking for Patching's transfer. But you won't say why. If you're talking about those forms you fill out, Major, put down for the good of Company Morale. I'm interested in Company Morale. I've watched, I've listened to Lieutenant Cybertz, I've talked to Sergeant Gorse. Now I'm going to ask you, Captain. It's personal. We haven't got room for personal quarrels, Lee. This is so little like you. I don't even believe it. Nobody who knows you believes it. You don't let these things happen. Are we going to talk about that transfer? No, we're going to talk about morale. I suppose I transfer this man. What good would that do? You've got a company out there. They're going to be here, whether Patching's transferred or not. They've watched this man get to you. As nearly as I can tell, he's been killing you with kindness. That's what he's trying to do. Why? Why? He hates my guts. Goes way back. No picket duty for Patching. Why? I like my camp safe when I'm in hostile territory, Major. It'll be a lot of trouble to get his army record clear back to the war, but I'll go to that trouble, Lee, if you don't tell me. Saved his life once. He's never forgiven me. That's an odd thing to say. It's the truth. I saved a lousy, gutless life. He knows it is. He lives with it. He served under you? I served under him. Patching was an officer? Captain Joseph Patching. New York Cavalry. Before I knew you, Major, remember the little wars? I was on one side of his stream, them on the other. And both of you needing the water in between? Yeah, I remember. We had five days and nights we sat there looking across at him, waiting, just waiting. We had a little water. We could have held out. The men were doing fine. He ordered a charge? He didn't order anything. We just split wide open crazy. Took off after that stream before anyone knew what hit. The men thought it was a charge, him being in command. You lost half a company. You hate his guts, too, don't you? I, every good man's got fear in him. I don't mind honest fear. I hate a coward, Major. You were commissioned on the field, Lee. Was it there? You can't forget that, either. Surely he was relieved of his command. Major Daggett, sir. Sergeant Gors. Corporal of the Guard reports two deserts, sir. It's patching and dreary. Pick your men, Sergeant. Stand out around the house. Check the barn. Yes, sir. Old Vickers, cover the barn. You, Bill. Cup, the corral. Stevens and Fredericks. You, Stuart, you come with me. Afternoon to you, mister. They trample that young wheat, the army of Lomi. We didn't come here to trample your crop. We're looking for deserters. New kind of grain. Supposed to be special for the high plains. I put a lot of money in that grain. I wanted to come up. Two men, one just turned 20, the other older, my age or better. I thought the army was for fighting Indians. Give that up, didn't they? You need men to fight Indians, mister. Don't look at me. I got enough trouble trying to prove up land like this. Didn't intend to write off I meant to stay with horses. Thought I could raise them. Enough grazing land. Well, the Indians run the horses off. They get them grown strong in the grass. About that time, here they come, Indians. You don't keep horses now? A couple. They're not extra. I'm going to have to look in your house, mister. Well, I suppose you're not. How many did you say you was looking for? Two. A few soldiers along, looking for two men. There's some kind of penalty for hiding soldiers who take a notion to run. The army don't take kindly to it, mister. Couldn't shoot a body, though, could you? Seen them. You don't see many folks out this way. You and your soldiers are more nice seen in months. How long since you've been in Laramie Village? A long time. I stay pretty close here. You wouldn't find them here. Thought you'd want to see for yourself, though. Captain, I'm missing a shed but a barn. Do you prefer a cavalry saddle, mister? I'm going to have to find that out. Ain't used to it yet. Did it help if we knew which way they headed when they left? To tell you the truth. It's hard for me to think they were here at all. Ah, let's go, Gors. Captain, his boots. Sure, he's wearing cavalry boots, owns a cavalry saddle. But he hasn't seen anyone. This tramp led young wheat outside the army of Bill. You going up to the house at all, Captain? Talk to him? Talking to him didn't do any good. Kind of a sniveling one. Kept wanting to know why the Captain himself didn't come to him. Asked the questions. He took a real personal like. Captain himself's about through talking. I come up against any more crawly settlers, Gors. I'm apt to start breaking a few necks. I feel a little mean myself. Three plates of warm grub sitting on his table. Him all alone in the house. He never heard of two deserters. We'll find him. Men want too awful bad for you, Captain. There'd be some comfort. There'd be some comfort, Gors. I sure feel bad about Drury. He was going to make a good trooper. Yeah, I know. If we were patching it'd be out here into the stream. It gets an awful thirst sometimes. Let's check that barn again. Yes, sir. It's only about two hours a daylight left. I hate to give him a night's start in this country. We're not going to. Oh, Captain. You are the Captain. Speak your mind, Mr. We're busy. I'd like to talk to you alone. I'll check the barn, sir. Can I talk? I've been sitting up in the house trying to remember. I ain't sure, but it seems to me I read somewhere as once that there was a reward for turning in deserters. Now, did I just dream that? There's a $20 reward, Mr. Only $20? $20. Ain't very much, is it? I don't suppose you're prepared to go any higher. I'm not prepared to go that high, Mr. But the Army figures it's worth $20. $20 a piece? That's it. Eight men looking for two men. And the total price on their heads is $40. Ain't no bargain, Captain. It sure isn't. Total pay for the eight men looking is $4 a day. $0.50 a piece. Is that all? And the price isn't just for their heads, Mr. We'd have to insist on the rest of them, too. Get in here, Captain. He was in the loft. He called down to me, then he come down himself. Patching up there, too, boy? No, sir. No, sir, you run. I don't know how far. I don't know how long ago. Captain, I don't know nothing. You stay with him, Gorse. I'm gonna find Patchen. Yes, sir. No, Captain, don't you leave yet. You hear me out. Will you please? Captain Gorse will hear you out. Patchen's got everything, Captain. He's got himself every kind of gun you ever saw. He isn't mine. All we could buy is steel. He's gonna be waiting for you, Captain. I hope he is. You got to know my shame. It don't seem now. It could have happened to me. It worked on me so slow. I didn't even know it was happening. But I know now. I feel all the ugliest shame of it. Talking's not much good now, Drury. I ain't talking to save myself, Captain. I know that ain't right. I know it can't be. I'm talking to understand. And for you to know, I'm crawling with the shame of it. The crawling's uglier than the shame, boy. I'm alone, Patchen. Come on down, Patchen. You got plenty water? Where's my pistol? You're never gonna last without water, Patchen. I got two canteens. You could hit me if you tried good. You got a reason for not killing me, Patchen? That last was my right. The buffalo gun off the setter blow you clean away. You wouldn't even leave no spot, Quince. Come on down. Slow, Captain. Just you and me. Maybe my shots will get a little closer to you from time to time. We'll keep it slow a while. I want you to die a long time, Quince. Five days and five nights of dying. Remember, Quince? I remember. You want me to die all right. A long time of dying. But you aren't the man to kill me, Patchen. Don't take a brave man to come after you, Patchen. Just take some man. I could hate you dead. You hate yourself, Patchen. Wouldn't feel good killing me. You'd still have yourself. What are you coming to do? Kill me. Please. Please don't kill me. I'm not going to kill you, Patchen. Wouldn't feel good. Killing a coward. Or get up. Fort Laramie is produced and directed by Norman McDonnell and stars Raymond Burr as Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry with Vic Peron as Sergeant Gorse. The script was specially written for Fort Laramie by Kathleen Height with sound patterns by Bill James and Ray Kemper, musical supervision by Amarigo Marino. Featured in the cast were Sam Edwards, Paul Duboff, James Nussar and Herb Vigran. Jack Moyles is Major Daggett and Harry Bartell is Lieutenant Cybertz. Detention. Dismiss. Next week, another transcribed story of the Northwest Frontier and the troopers who fought under Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. Each year, new automobiles come equipped with new and better devices for safety and comfort. But there's one device for comfort and safety that you'll have to manufacture for yourself, no matter how advanced our technology becomes. And that device is a smile. A sense of humor and a friendly attitude toward other drivers on the highway is sure to earn courtesy and consideration in return. And courtesy and consideration are big safety factors on the highway. Check the gas, the oil and make sure you've brought along your smile.