At the gallop, ho!
Fort Laramie
Fort Laramie, starring 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.
And I see this.
If you just squeeze the trigger and hold steady on your target, your wrist won't fly around so.
I'm not a cavalry lieutenant. I'm just his wife.
Oh, I know.
Oh my. I didn't know anyone else was watching.
Captain Quince.
As you were, Lieutenant.
Thank you, sir. This is my wife, Hester.
This is Captain Quince, huh?
Ma'am.
How do you do, Captain?
Hester don't, uh, she don't take to a pistol, but I'm learning her all I can.
It's slow going.
Teaching, Blade. Teaching, not learning.
I was at school, ma'am, back home, Captain.
And I must say, Blade doesn't take to words any better than I take to a pistol.
Well, then you're both teaching, not learning.
But that's just it. Just it.
I try to tell her maybe she's got more need for a pistol out here for when, for when words don't matter.
Well, I just don't see the need, Captain.
That's too bad. Seeing it or not, there's need.
Now, you mean to tell me that your wife knows about pistols and rifles and riding horses and all kinds of menfolk Karen's on?
I should have warned you, Captain. My hat, she riles easy.
Well, I'm not rile, Blade Stark. I'm asking, that's all.
If I had a wife, ma'am, she'd know all I know about living out here.
And pistols and rifles and riding are part of the living.
And I try to tell her, Captain. I do try.
Well, I declare, I am not stupid.
But everything you say, it's not womanly.
It's not womanly country.
Meaning womenfolk don't belong out here?
Well, it depends on the womenfolk, ma'am.
I'd say you have to want to belong.
Afternoon to you.
Afternoon, Captain.
Well, I'm like the...
He might have said I'm alone.
Yes, only one time.
He said look at the car.
Not by the main, ma'am. You just can't get nowhere from the horse hanging on to his mane anyway.
I've got to hang on to something.
Well, but...
You just don't ride side saddle, Sergeant.
Now, that's a fact.
Oh, you looking for me, Captain?
Oh, just passing by, Sergeant.
Afternoon, Miss Meade.
Good afternoon, Captain.
I guess I'm quite a spectacle, aren't I?
Oh, you look fine, ma'am.
I'd like to believe that.
I don't know who's getting the worst of it.
The horse or me or Sergeant Gorse.
Seems to me you're all bearing up well.
The Captain's a sight better teaching womenfolk to ride than I am, Mrs. Meade.
I tell you the truth, I'm no hand at this side saddle business.
I got business with the Major myself, or I'd sure...
Or you'd sure think of some other reason to be moving out, wouldn't you, Captain?
Well, yes, ma'am. I guess I would.
I don't blame you, either of you.
And, Sergeant, if you can find some unsuspecting trooper
and pass this duty on to him, you have my leave.
And I won't be the least bit offended.
Oh, no, ma'am. Thanks just the same.
You understand, it ain't you, Mrs. Meade.
You're just as willing as can be. It's just...
It's just my petticoats. That's what it is.
Well, now, ma'am...
I guess the Major will wonder what's become of me.
Now I've embarrassed you.
Oh, help me down, Captain,
before I break the post morale completely.
Yes, ma'am.
Thank you, Captain.
Don't mention it.
You dropped something there, ma'am.
Not a petticoat, I hope.
This, uh...
This pistol, Mrs. Meade.
Oh, thank you, Captain.
You always carry it?
Well, Jim had scalped me if I didn't.
He should.
I know. And I'm a good shot, too.
Mrs. Meade, have you met up with Mrs. Stocker yet?
Mrs. Stocker? Oh, Blade Stocker's wife.
Does she know her?
Well, just to speak to at the Southerners,
I don't really know her.
She and the Lieutenant moved on to the post just last week.
If you ever do get to know her,
you might show her you carry a pistol
and tell her why.
She doesn't know why?
Blade's doing his best, but she don't see the need.
I'll make it a point, Captain, but I can't understand Blade.
He was at Fort Phil Carney with us.
Under Fetimen?
I thought she was there, too, but maybe not, though,
because the women at Carney saw the need.
Fast.
You want any of these boxes open, Mrs. Stocker?
Oh, now, don't you bother with that, Lieutenant Cybert.
Just moving them in for me is a big help.
Glad to do it.
Ah, I declare, you think they give a body time
to move into their quarters.
Here it is, less than a week,
and Blade's already drawn Officer of the Day.
That's the Army for you, Mrs. Stocker.
You draw the duty, you do it, that's all.
Now, you're not going to start lecturing me, too,
Lieutenant Cybert.
Sorry, ma'am, I didn't mean it to sound that way.
Oh, don't mind me.
Blade says I rile easy, and I guess I do.
But he's all so new to me,
and folks from Captain Quinn's Up and Down
have been mighty free with their advice.
Well, they're just trying to help.
Well, I'm sure of that, but there's help,
and help, if you know what I mean.
Yes, ma'am.
Now you, Lieutenant Cybert,
helping me move my books and belongings in,
I can appreciate that more.
Books, huh? No wonder those boxes are so heavy.
Mm-hmm, my school books.
I taught the grades back home before I married Blade.
Teaching was my whole life, till him.
I tell you, I couldn't leave my books behind me.
I just couldn't.
I can understand that.
You can?
Yes, ma'am.
I brought a lot of books out myself from West Point.
I attended the Military Academy.
My goodness, a real West Pointer.
I declare.
Mrs. Stock, are there any more boxes of yours
out there on the wagon?
Well, not exactly.
I mean, not on the wagon.
But there are more boxes somewhere.
Can you forgive me, Lieutenant Cybert?
They're clear down at the post office.
Now, I know you don't have the time to go all out.
I'll be glad to, ma'am.
I'll be more than grateful.
I'll make the nicest cherry tarts, Lieutenant.
I'll see you get some soon.
I'd like that, ma'am.
That won't be long.
Anybody home?
Oh, well, yes.
Come in, won't you?
Oh, Miss Meade, two doors down.
I've seen you at the Suttlers, haven't I?
Yes.
Oh, I'm Hestocker.
I know.
Is it all right to sit on one of these boxes?
Well, I'm afraid they're all I have to offer right now.
I feel like I know you.
Weren't you at Fort Carney with Blade?
No, we'd just been married a month.
I've never been anywhere with Blade, but here.
Oh?
Well, my husband knew Blade better than I did,
but there's sort of a link between anyone who served there.
And what about Fort Carney?
It's up on the old Bozeman Trail.
It's closed now.
That's all Indian territory since the treaty, but I...
You must be mistaken about Blade, Mrs. Meade.
He's never mentioned Fort Carney to me.
But I'm sure he was there.
There were five companies of infantry.
Oh, your husband's an infantry officer?
Uh-huh.
Well, that explains it then.
You must be wrong about Blade.
He's in the cavalry.
There was a company of cavalry, too, under Captain Fetterman.
Well, it's not important, of course.
But I know Blade would have told me.
Of course, I'm sure he would.
And as you say, it's not important.
Well, can I help you with anything?
No, thanks kindly.
Oh, my goodness, I almost forgot.
I brought you a little present.
Well, aren't you nice?
I have a practical turn of mind.
It's something no army wife should be without.
What?
Well, these are... are cartridges.
Well, I just assumed yours was a.38 like mine.
Well, I don't know.
You know about firearms?
A woman has to, out here.
Well, I don't understand.
A big post like Fort Laramie,
with all these men here to protect us.
But the men aren't always here, Mrs. Tucker.
My husband and most of the infantry are out now.
These are the facts of the West.
Many of the Indians are hostile,
and the fate of white women in their hands...
Well, it's best to know how to defend yourself.
You've had to defend yourself?
Many times.
At Kearney, the women held the fort in one Indian raid
with less than a dozen men to help.
Were any of the women killed?
Some.
And some carried off by the Sioux.
Dying's easier.
I'm a schoolteacher, Mrs. Mead.
I want to make my way out here teaching the young
that you don't have to kill to get along.
I think schools are more important than guns.
We can use the schools, Mrs. Tucker,
and there's not a woman out here
who won't want to help you get them.
But till you do, you have to live.
I guess I can defend myself if I have to.
It isn't always a case of defending yourself.
Sometimes a woman has to make a choice, a quick choice.
Of living or dying?
Of living or enduring.
Mrs. Tucker, don't you know what happens to a woman
if a hostile carries her off?
I think maybe that would be something for Blade
to tell me, Mrs. Mead.
Yes.
Yes, you're right.
And when he tells you that,
maybe he'll tell you what the pistol is for.
Really.
Can I talk to you a minute, Captain?
Sure.
What's on your mind?
Well, Captain, maybe just off the side here.
It's kind of personal, sir.
All right.
Would you be willing to do some talking for me, Captain?
I just can't seem to get that job done with Hess
using firearms and all of me.
You sure you're trying hard at it?
I don't know what that means. I'm trying.
I've been trying, Captain. There's a lot I told her.
And a lot of times.
A lot you haven't told her.
Well, it looks like a big fort, Laramie.
I just swore I wouldn't know anyone here from the old days.
Sure didn't reckon to run into Mrs. Mead again.
She told you, huh?
It's a secret you were at Fort Kearney?
Well, no, not that.
Well, they're just hard words to say to Hess, Captain.
It all happened kind of quick,
like our marrying and moving out here.
I know Mrs. Mead didn't aim to,
but she sure didn't do me no good bringing up Kearney to Hess.
Mrs. Mead didn't get very far with your wife,
and I can't talk to her about Fort Kearney. I wasn't there.
But we've only been married a month.
We don't even know each other right good yet.
Now, how are you going to say to a brand new bride
that she ain't the first?
I mean, you was married before.
I don't know that.
But you're the one to tell her if she's told.
Blade, what's the matter with you?
There's a lot, I guess.
First you say, will I talk to your wife
about her need for a pistol?
Then you drag Fort Kearney into it.
Now you're talking about you were married before.
Well, don't you see, Captain, they're all the same thing in a way.
It don't come easy to give Hess a pistol
and tell her to use it on herself
if it looks like she's going to get took by Indians.
Captain, I've done it before,
at Kearney.
And that wife had to use that pistol on herself.
I didn't know that, Blade.
I don't think Mrs. Mead knew it either.
I'm sorry.
No, no, Captain.
I'm sorry is no matter.
It's not your fault.
Captain, can't you see,
I've done it once.
And it don't set well the second time.
I think just might could go hard with a man.
You ever said it all out this way before, Blade?
No, sir, not out loud.
You might feel some better now it's said.
I reckon I might.
Blige to you for listening anyways, Captain.
Blade.
Sir?
You'll want to say something to her tonight.
Tonight?
We're moving out tomorrow.
Still you.
Now why can't I do that?
Oh, Mrs. Mead.
Do what?
Mouth like that.
I'll bet you wear fewer petticoats than I do.
Might be, I do.
Sergeant Gorse says you ride beautifully.
I know some about horses.
Well, I'm learning.
Mind if I ride with you this morning?
Oh, I'm going quite away.
That is, I have some business to tend to.
All right.
I just thought with Blade gone a week now,
you might be wanting some company.
I hope you're carrying your pistol.
I'm carrying it.
That's good.
Well, have a nice ride.
I expect to, Mrs. Mead.
I'm going over to the Indian agency.
Talk to the agent about setting up a school.
You're not riding to the agency alone.
Now don't start telling me the agency Indians are hostiles.
Blade told me different.
But it's 10 miles from Fort Laramie,
and you don't know what you'll run into between here and there.
I reckon I can take care of myself.
After all, Mrs. Mead, I'm carrying the pistol.
Not that I'll have a minute's need for it.
I guess you could do with the water.
More of a ride than I thought.
Oh, no.
Miss Dockherr? Miss Dockherr, are you all right?
I'm fine.
But for you coming on me this way,
do you know how near I came to firing on you?
I've been trying to get with an earshot of you all the way from the fort.
This is a very stupid thing, riding off alone this way.
I might have shot you.
Seems to me you're the stupid one.
I suppose I am, but you've got to realize the dangers out here, Miss Dockherr.
At least with the two of us, we're protection to...
Wait.
Wait over there.
That brush near the trees.
Something big.
How can you tell? I don't see anything.
It moves big.
Timber wolf, maybe a wildcat.
I hope not. I hope that's all it is.
You're just trying to frighten me.
Hold your pistol steady toward that big tree, and be quiet.
No! It's an Indian.
You're not afraid, Hiss.
Pick up your pistol and show him you're not afraid.
I can't. I...
Don't let him. Don't...
Stop. Stop where you are.
We're not afraid of you.
If you have something to say, say it and go away.
You understand this pistol?
Go on. Go away.
Leave us alone or I'll fire.
You understand?
What's he going to do?
One more step and I'll fire.
Is he dead?
Did you...
Did you kill him?
He's dead.
He'll kill me.
But I'll never kill you.
No, he wouldn't, Hiss.
Not for a long time.
Let's go home.
Hiss, go home.
You reckon she's hurt somehow, Captain?
I don't see how.
You want I should go with you?
I'd be proud to.
I'll do it, of course.
It's my place.
Yes, sir.
I sure feel mighty bad for her.
Yeah.
Her being so new here,
not taking to the life easy.
I might just look in on her tomorrow,
lay in the hand maybe.
Yeah. Yeah, you do that, Gorse.
Well, good night, Captain.
Good night, Gorse.
Miss Stalker.
Why, Captain Queens,
you're about the last person I expected to see.
Is Blade with you?
Can I come in, ma'am?
Yes, please.
I'm sorry, Captain.
I'm sorry.
Is Blade with you?
Can I come in, ma'am?
Of course you can. Please come in.
I don't know where my manners are.
I guess it was seeing you,
and if it was anyone,
I thought it would be Blade.
You want to sit down, Miss Stalker?
You've come about Blade, haven't you?
Something's happened to Blade.
He's dead?
Sometimes it's better hearing it right out.
You want to sit down now, ma'am?
Yes. Yes, I think I do.
Would you like a drink of something,
or do you want to hear about it?
I want to hear.
It happened quick, Miss Stalker,
and if it's got to happen, it's best quick.
He didn't know? He didn't suffer?
Oh, ma'am, one shot, clean, that did it.
I don't know what it'd mean,
but Blade would want it just that way.
I guess he would.
Captain, we didn't even know each other yet.
There hasn't been time.
Yeah, he said that too.
One night before he left,
he kept trying to tell me something.
He'd try, and then he'd fret a while,
and then he'd try again.
Finally, he just threw that blame pistol on the dresser,
and he said to me,
take it, Hiss Honey,
and know how much I love you.
That's the last words he said to me.
I think he was trying to tell me something, Captain.
I think he told you something, ma'am.
Know how much I love you.
Oh, Blade.
Blade Honey.
Miss Stalker, if I can do anything...
You can go.
Leave me be now.
I want it that way for now.
You'll be all right alone?
I got to find that out for myself, Captain.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm... I'm right sorry, Miss Stalker.
Captain.
Yes?
You brought him back, did you?
Back to the fort?
We brought him back.
I'm glad.
I'm glad, Miss Stalker.
Captain. Captain Quint.
Oh, morning, Sergeant.
How about her, Captain? Miss Stalker?
What about her?
She's gone.
Gone? Where? How?
I went over there right after Reveley,
like I played last night.
I couldn't raise her, so I figured she was sleepin' heavy.
On the way back, the corporal of the guard told me
some woman rode through the main gate not ten minutes ago.
Why didn't he stop her?
Well, he didn't know her,
or what's happened to her or anything.
Captain Quincy knew one thing.
She was carrying a pistol like she knew what to do with it.
You said ten minutes?
Yes, sir.
You gonna find her, Captain?
Ma'am?
I was too scared to fire it before.
You all right, ma'am?
I'm all right.
I aimed to use it, Captain, turn it on myself.
I was too scared to do that, too.
No need for that.
No matter. I couldn't do it.
It's a pretty morning.
Got no right to be, but it's pretty.
It's new. It's a beginning.
That's always pretty.
We were beginning, Blade and me.
And I was beginning on my own
to get a feel like I belonged out here.
But you're right, Captain.
It's not womanly country.
It still depends on the woman.
I'm a school mom.
Teaching was my life till Blade.
I reckon it's my life again now.
You still got a life, or don't you see the need?
Need?
Schools. We can use them out here on the post and the agency.
Someone has to start them.
Someone has to want to.
Someone who could do some learning
while they were teaching.
I might fit the bill, Captain.
I got a lot of learning ahead of me.
The musical supervision by Amerigo Marino.
Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel as Lieutenant Sybert
with Gene Bates, Lynn Allen and Lawrence Dobkin.
Company, attention!
Dismiss!
Next week, another transcribed story of the Northwest Frontier
and the troopers who fought under Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry.
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Music