 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 roared the rim of empire, and the dramatic story of Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. Junkers, baron, crowbar, knock. Stand there easy before I take an ocean to stand you with a club. You're just a natural born horse, when ain't you, Yates? Yeah, horses. All right, do a squatch horse in the barracks and turn off his blast of stable duty. Horses still land. Having to join up in the cavalry anyhow. Of course you ride, there a place. That's what they told me. Sure you ride. Time man gets to babing up his horse. He's too old-fired, tired to walk. Well, maybe you just ain't doing it right. Curring him the way the sardines said now, ain't I? Curring him right down the ground and then clean up their hoods. All right, stand still there. Miser, clean up their hoods. Ain't nobody taking care of my feet in this army. Why, there's no call for it, Yates. You ride every place. Yeah, sure. Sure I ride, then I ride back. And I got the callus just to prove it. You know, if I was, hey, look over there at Joby. Joby Turler? Yeah. Oh, he's just talking to his horse again. Well, he's all the time doing that. He must be about half horse himself. Oh, Joby's all right. Hey, Joby, what are you telling her? The one about the ancient princess and the corporal? I'm sorry, Yates. I guess I wasn't listening. Well, then how about loaning me a jar of tobacco? I can't. I'm clean out. You sure got out mighty fast. I've seen you with a plug of red mule in your hand. Well, that ain't mine. What I mean is it ain't for me. And who is it for? Well, it's for the mayor. It's Bell's. Why? She's used to it, Yates. She always gets a char after her morning feed. And I only just got enough to last her and fill payday. A horse. Getting her daily char pretty as it please me going without. Well, you know, it's good for her, Yates. She keeps her cleaned out real good. Besides, I'm going without, too. I got none for myself. Just what kind of man are you, Joby? Doing more for a horse than you do for the human race? I'm sorry, Yates. It's no wonder you ain't got a friend in the company. I don't need no friends. Only time I got them is when they want some tobacco. Keep your tobacco. Save her for that jughead of yours. Lay off of me, Yates. Hey, what you going to do when they shoot her, Joby? What? First time old Doc gets a good look at her. That's what's going to happen. You've been long overdue for a remount, Joby. Ain't no vet going to take Belle. Me and her staying together. He already got his eye on her. If she was trotting lame yesterday, I pray I'd see her myself. Shut up, Yates. You hear? You shut your mouth. Killing anybody tries to take her. Who eats you right now? Engines here, you're talking that way. They're all going to find most of Kennedy. Come on, Yates. Let's go water the mounds. Hey, what if Captain Quintz tells you to get rid of her, Joby? You're going to kill him, too. He's not going to tell me. Now, old Doc, he only makes a report. It's Captain puts out the list. Hey, Joby, what you going to do if Captain Quintz puts you on a remount order? Yates, we... Yates, there ain't nobody going to take Belle away. Hey, it's a routine patrol, and in a way it's not. Hand me that map there behind you, Sergeant. Yes, sir. This one, Captain? Yeah. Yeah, roll it out there on the table. That's good. Let's see now. Sure a lot of empty spaces on it. We're going right in here. Broken planes, can't you? We'll move northwest out of Laramie as far as the Great Bow Bend, then do west till we pick up the east fork of the plot, wherever that is. Nobody's got around to mapping it yet. We taking a surveyor, Captain? No, not this time. All right, we'll follow the plot south to about here, then swing back in. The route will depend on what we find. Well, at least we won't find trouble. Not a tribe within miles of there. No, not now. I don't follow you, Captain. Dove Clan is getting restless. They could be fixing to break treaty. They do Fort Fetterman, can't hold them. They'll come right through the broken planes to join up with Limp and Fox and his Cheyenne and the Black Hills. We might be campaigning in that country before the summer's over, Gorse. Yes, sir. This is reconnaissance, waterholes, nature of the terrain, so on. I'm taking Lieutenant Cybert, you, Corporal Gitman, and whatever troopers you've picked. I've got the list right here, Captain. Good. We'll move out at dawn. I'm figuring about six days. You can't do it, sir. You just can't do it. You come to attention, soldier. Just what are you doing in the orderly room, soldier? Private Joe Beterler, I want to talk to the Captain. How long have you been in the Army, Terly? Sergeant is my third hitch. Has anybody ever told you how to request an audience with a commanding officer? Permission of the first, Sergeant. All right. Then why did you come bustin' in here this way? Well, there wasn't time, Sergeant. I got to talk to the Captain right away. I just got to... Sergeant. Yes, sir. Sergeant, is Private Terler requesting an audience? It sort of seems that way, sir. And it's granted. How do you, soldier? Yes, sir. Hmm, Terler. Second platoon, around ten years service, all in cavalry. That's right, sir. I've always wondered about that first name of yours, Joe B. Well, that's scriptural, Captain. It's really Job. I see. Well, uh, what was it you had to see me about, Terler? Yes, sir. The remount order, sir. The list just been posted. I'm on it, Captain. That's all? Well, you just can't do with me and her. We've been together since I first come with the second. And Belle, she ain't just another mount. She's a lot more than that. Well, she's to me. I mean... Oh, wait a minute. Am I to take it your horse has just been cashier? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Belle is shinin'. She's on the order, sir. Have you got that vets report, handy sergeant? Here you are, sir. Belle is shinin', chestnut mare, stally four, breeder, port rally, remount service, fold in. You know how old that horse is, Terler? Well, she ain't old at all, sir. She's eleven. Well, but some horses is different from others, Captain. You ought to see her on the march. She's friskier in a young coat. The report says she was lame on parade this week. Oh, that wasn't nothing but a stone, Bruce, Captain Quince. Yes, sir, a little rock worked up in the frog. I took it right out. She's as good as ever, sir. There ain't nothing wrong with her legs. No, sir, not at all. Well, she's eleven years old. But, Captain, you can't send her away. All right, Terler. Understand I'm not promising anything. But I'll take her off the order for the present. And I'll consider the matter further. Thank you, Captain. It's all, Terler. Oh, yes, sir. I had him on that list to go with us, Captain. No, no, thank you. But if he's going to... How does he get along with the other men, Sergeant? He keeps to himself. Mostly he does his job all right. I see. May I say something, Captain? Go ahead. I know how you feel, sir, but you got to do it. That horse is eleven years old. She's showing lame. What's there to consider? Nothing much. Just how to go about cutting out a man's heart without hurting him too bad. In every place there is to be... What do you want to know about it? How'd you get over there? Twenty maybe. More in some parts. It's what I think. What's what you figured? We done gone and taken wrong turn back there somewhere. We are in Africa, Crell. Last night in camp he was billiaking about the cold. And there you are. Freezes you to death at night. Burns you up in the daytime. Boy can't puzzle me out what the government wants with a country like this. Well, ain't you heard the news, Yates? What news? The devil's getting overcrowded. He's aiming to put in an annex out here. That's old. Well, he can... Here comes Captain. Captain? Yeah? What is it? Well, sir, me and Crell was just saying, Captain. Is it your mighty poor country to fight over? Oh, you think so? And it ain't the friendliest place we've been, sir. Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, soldier. For the next few years you got a home in the army. Yes, sir. What is it, Mr. Cybert? We got some trouble at the rear of the column, sir. Patrol? Yes, sir. What kind of trouble, Mr. Cybert? Private Turner's mount's starting to show lame, Captain. I see. Nothing, sir. It may be at their stone bruise again. Well, let's take a look. Oh, easy, girl. She was favoring that left foreleg, Captain. Yeah, I see. It's hot, fevered. And it's starting to fill. It's a pulled tendon, Captain. There's no question about it. Well, Captain, sir, it ain't so bad. I can wrap that. No, I agree with Sergeant Gorse. It's a tendon, no doubt of it. Now, Mr. Cybert. Yes, sir. How do we stand? Well, uh, steady on the pace, sir. We're an hour and a half from tonight's bibwag, an hour and a half from sundown. I see. Corporal? Yes, sir. Corporal, you were out in the point earlier. What's around us here? Mostly open, a little rolling, a few cutbacks. General falls to the south with the water course there to the west. Yeah, how far? Oh, about 20 minutes, sir. 30 maybe with a lame horse. Water and forage? Yes, sir, plenty. No steady flow, but a lot of pools. There's a high bank on the far side and a heavy sweetgrass all along the stream bed. Thank you, Corporal. That's all. Yes, sir. Mr. Cybert, we'll bear west and bibwag at the water course. Right, sir. All right, Sergeant. Move them at a walk. Yes, sir. See, I can plaster that leg with mud tonight, Captain. She'll be all right in the morning. Well, we'll see. I'm sorry, sir. So am I, soldier. At the walk! If I join you, Captain. Oh, sit down, Mr. Cybert. It's a fine night, isn't it, sir? Yeah. A lot as perfect as they come. Cool, peaceful, clear as a bell. It's funny when you think about it. What is it? Well, the way things work out. This country we're in, five days now we haven't seen another soul. If chances are, the next time we come through, we'll have to fight our way. Maybe not. Sue may stand by there, treaty. I hope so. So do I, Mr. Cybert, for all our sakes. I know what you mean, sir. I didn't when I first came out from the point. We all start green, Mr. Cybert. I suppose. Big pardon, Captain. Yes, Sergeant? Sir, what are we going to do about that horse at Turleys? Well, you know what we're going to do, Gors. When, sir? I, uh... I figured the first thing in the morning we'll shift the loads and give him one of the pack horses. Does he know you're aiming to destroy her? No, he ought to. He's had ten years in the cavalry. Well, I don't think he does, sir. Huh? He's had her down there at the end of the pool ever since we unsaddled. Putting mud on her leg, walking her, standing her in the water. He keeps talking to her, Captain. What is it you're trying to tell me, Gors? In the morning, sir. Before we shoot that horse, we better take Joby's rifle and sidearm. All right, Gors. I'll talk to him. I guess I've been putting it off all evening. End it. They're up there along the edge of the bluff. Sergeant, form the men. Right, sir. Deploy a scum assured by cover digging. Fire at will. Stand by for the moment, Cybert. Yes, sir. Corporal! Yes, sir. Get those horses under cover. Up against the bank, under that overhang. Right, sir. Check the men's positions, Mr. Cybert. Have them lay their fire along the edge of that bluff. It's the only target they'll have. Yes, sir. And put two men at the north end of the pool. It's brushy. They could slip in on us. Right, sir. You think they're so? What's the difference? They're shooting at us. Carry on, Mr. Cybert. Put in your dawn, Yates. Another half hour, it will be. That's when they're going to hit us, too. Right after dawn. That's how they always do. Yeah, that's what I've heard. Yeah, they're waiting up there right now, all along the edge of that bank. Just waiting for dawn. And we're going to get it good. What do you figure the captain's going to do, Yates? What do you think he can do? They got us pinned down good, and they know it. And so does he. And now they just wait... I've seen that flash trail. You know, I could get me one right there if the captain let us fire back. Yeah. Since we've got to save ammunition. But first, we ain't going to give us time to use it up. Them's the orders. Well, you know I had me a belly full of orders in this army? Huh. How far from now you might have a belly full of bullets. You know where I'm going to put my first shot when they hit us. Right in the back of Joby Turler's head. Yeah. Always knew you was brave. Well, it's him got us in this fix. Him and that crow bait horse ahead. Well, it'll be the captain who gets us out. If anybody does. I wonder what him and the sergeant's doing over there. Well, I know what I'd be doing. If I had anything to do with it, I'd be getting myself blind drunk. Let's see his face, Gorse. Yes, sir. Black circle painted there on his forehead. They're on the warpath, all right. Yeah. Yellow bars across the cheeks, white dot on the chin, red line over the bridge of the nose. You know, Dove Clan, at least we know who we're up against. Well, it's always nice to know, sir. Yeah. Let's get back to cover. It's almost light enough they can see us. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yeah? What is it, Turler? Captain, I heard the men talking. They're saying... they're saying I'm to blame for all this. Who's your commanding officer, Turler? Huh? Well, you are, sir. Who'd he get your orders from? From you, Captain. Who ordered you to camp here last night? Well, you did. Then who's to blame? Well, yes, but... Forget it, Turler. We've got a fight coming up. Yes, sir. Been praying in my mind all night. Yeah, I know. Come on, Gorse. All right, hold it here. I figured about 20 of them. No more than 25. They wouldn't even try to stand against Captain if we was up there on the flat. Yeah, but we're not. We've no way of getting there. They got us pinned down tight. A mounted charge? Well, we'd have to mount in the open. Maybe three or four of us would get in the saddle. The way we stand, it's only a matter of time, sir. How much time at that? As long as they hold the top of that bank... They got another one of our horses. No, if that was... Here, stay down, Turler! Hey, get back the cover! Crazy fool. Let him go, sir. We need every man we've got. Stay here, Sergeant. I'm going after him. Watch yourself, sir. The shotters. The shotters have got no call to do that. Oh, she's as much army as we are. No reason for them shooting our horses. Here, Joby. You can borrow my pistol. The pistol, sir? What for? I didn't figure you'd want to use your own. I can't. I can't, sir. She's in pain, Joby. No! Some things a man's got no choice about in this world. Now, if you don't, then I'll have to. All right, Captain. Here you are. Yeah. Thank you, sir. Now, Belle... Belle. Joby? Yeah, I know, sir. He didn't have no call to do that. I'll... I'll take my pistol now, Joby. They didn't gain nothing by that. They didn't gain nothing at all. Joby. Dirty killer. Here, come here. Joby, come back here. Joby! All right, Captain. Oh, Joby, he's out of his mind. He's going straight up the slope. He can't keep missing him, sir. No, they're not. He's been hit twice already. Captain, they're up in the open, all along the skyline. He's got them worried. Yeah, have the men give him some cover, Sergeant. Right, sir. Eskirmishers! Fire! Mr. Saivitz! Yes, sir. Haven't laid their fire along the ridge. They've got targets on the skyline now. Right, sir. Lay up. Captain, what's keeping him on his feet, sir? A heart, Sergeant. Crazy or not, that's a man up there. Look, Captain, they're going to break. They're leaving the ridge. Yeah, you're right. Come on, Gorse. He's still on his feet, and he's right at the ridge. What is it, sir? What's happening? That stunt was just insane enough to panic him, Mr. Saivitz. They must think it's a trick. They're breaking. Pulling back from the ridge. We got a chance now. We're going up. I never understand it, sir. Understand what, Mr. Saivitz? How he did it. Thirteen bullet wounds, and he still got all the way to the top. Well, I guess something takes hold of a man at times like that. But of all the least likely people. My old meek little Joby Terler. Meek or not, everybody's got at least one thing he'll live for. Or die for. You'll have to admit, sir, it's usually something more than just a horse. How would you feel, Mr. Saivitz, if the one and only friend you'd ever had in this world was lying helpless at your feet? The only thing that you could do for him was to put a bullet in his brain. Fort Laramie is produced and directed by Norman MacDonald and stars Raymond Burr as Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry, with Vic Perron as Sergeant Gorse. The script was specially written for Fort Laramie by Les Crutchfield with sound patterns by Bill James and Ray Kemper, musical supervision by Amarigo Marino. Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel, Lawrence Dobkin, Jack Krushen, Tim Graham and Barney Phillips. Company, tension, dismiss. Next week, another transcribed story of the Northwest Frontier and the troopers who fought under Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. You're not branded as a careless driver only because you zoom at 60 along a crowded highway or because you fail to hit a stoplight or stop sign. You're a bad driver, a careless driver, when your car is standing stock still at the curb, if it's parked in a no parking zone, if it's too close to a fire hydrant or if it's double parked. Are you a reckless driver even when your car is standing still? Remember it's kid stuff to try to get away with something.