Fort Laramie: Boredom

That's not gonna happen! breaks for the new powder magazine build.

Oh, no, no, no, sorry, didn't mean before we're working that Adobe all day yesterday. Another month, you ought to be finished. I didn't join this army to make mud bricks. You refusing an order, Suzy?

Put your shoes on, Plover. Let's get going. Now, the rest of you men will finish cleaning this barracks and fall out in 10 minutes. I suppose you're taking them buffalo hunting, sorry. Each man will go to supply and get a picker shovel.

We're building a road today. We're building a road. That's enough. I said 10 minutes. You line up smiling and happy or I'll work you all night. Got your shoes on, Plover? Well sure. What I need shoes for.

I've got my hands and knees most of the time. Ain't it a shame men like us doing that kind of work. Yeah. I'm ready, Serti. Let's go. 10-minute soldiers and don't forget them shovels. Oh, no!

Ha ha ha ha! I reckon any outfits got to do sometime in Garrison, Soothey. We've been in Garrison three months. It's gotten me talking to myself. Well, least wise we ain't getting shot at by no wild engine.

What's the cavalry fur if it ain't to get shot at? And to do a little shooting itself. All the engines around here is peaceful. Least wise there has been last few months. Huh. Reservation engines.

Lem's shine or be ashamed of themselves. Sitting around watching the women do the work, waiting to be fed by the government. Where's the gumption anyway? Well, good thing they is, piece of what I think.

Damn, engine's going to care. It makes a bad for everybody. They going to care and get us out of the garrison. Well, they ain't going, so you just might as well face up to them.

I could make them go sober. Oh, now I stopped that talk. I told you how I could make them go. Now look here, Soothey, I ain't even gonna listen to you. What, you could be shot for just what you're thinking.

Nobody never knew. You know you're crazy. Being stuck here in a fort so long as, you're crazy. Your mouth's getting awful big. Oh, no, don't get on the prod. Look here, I'll tell you what.

Tonight's you and me going to sneak off the post and we'll go into town and have us a drink of that guy. You're like, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, That little braid.

Hmm. How about that, say? Never you mind, Elle Braid, and you called me crazy. Oh, I didn't mean nothing. I ain't crazy, and I'll prove it to you. You put that knife away, Suzy. You got a knife?

Get it out. No. Get it out, I said. I'm going to cut you over. I'll do it. All right, that's how you want it. That's my knife. Now you cut me, Suzy. Come on now cut me. I'll lay your whole face open soldier.

Hold it you man. You can't a cybersch. You don't mean nothing to me. Cap quiz with him so do you. Watch your face! Oh rip your belly open you try that again. Stop that man. Put those knives away.

It's a fair fight you got no rights done. Do as I say so do you cut me I'll put mine away. I can't quit less than he does. Alright Suzy. You too Plover. I know you're on edge been in garrison so long but that's part of soldiering.

And so is keeping your temper. I put those knives away before we all get in trouble. Well, there's mine. Oh, it's you here to Captain Silti. There's mine. You men on detail? Making mud pies again, Captain.

Then get to it. If there's any more fighting, you'll go to the guardhouse. Is that clear? Yes, sir. Move out. This men are crazy enough to have stuck you, Captain. Getting between them, that way.

One of them might have stuck me, Mr. Saibot. It's not both of them. They need action, Captain. They're soldiers, not laborers. Yeah, they're even forgetting to think like soldiers. There's going to be more trouble like this, Mr. Sybitz.

A lot more. Captain Quince will report in a serum. At ease, Captain. How's B Company getting along? Major Daggard, I guess B Company's getting along about the way you'd expect. Like those two men of yours last week who were going at each other with knives.

And I didn't know you'd heard about that, Major. I heard about it. I also heard how you failed to punish him. With all due respect sir, it's my company. And you know I never interfere on a company level.

I'd transfer out of here if you did. I'm sure you would. It isn't easy, is it Lee? Much more of this I'll be looking for a good fight myself. Enforced inactivity, the bane of the cavalry.

That and the salt pork diet. Two more of my men came down with scurvy today major. That's what I wanted to see you about Lee. Uh-huh. How'd you like to go on a buffalo hunt?

Buffalo hunt? I thought we couldn't go. I know, I know. General orders are to avoid antagonizing the Indians by hunting buffalo in their territory. And we're sitting right in the middle of their territory. Twenty-two cases of scurvy are enough.

Higher orders are to hold Ford Laramie with a full complement of calorie. Captain Quince, you think you can bring in some fresh meat without starting a new Indian war? I can try, sir. I'm dependent on you.

Yes, sir. You'll take 15 men, two wagons, and six mules. You'll leave one half hour after a revelry tomorrow morning. You'll return Saturday by sundown without fail. Exactly one week from today. Any questions? No, sir.

I hope you'll see fit to include those two men, Soothey and Plover in your party. I intend to, sir, as skinners. and move out. Hey, shootie.

How you feeling? Not so good, Clover. I'm bleeding again. Well, most of the fort. See the man? There's standing right waiting on us. That's what the captain said. Saturday by sundown, we made it. Yeah, some of us made it.

Eight of us, eight out of 15. Seven men killed. We done all right. That's so. Hey, lookie, there's Roger Daggot. He's waiting till you see him. No. I can't see some good, Clover. My head hurts bad.

Everything's kinda swimming. Ain't gonna pass out now, are ya? The way you got me roped onto this saddle wouldn't matter none if it did pass out. The other boy's hurt worse than you. I ain't complaining.

Then jump ahead there, he patched out. Got him tied belly down, crossed his saddle. And I reckon he's dead. We're here, suit, and we're back. I can't see nothing but the fort. Oh, my head hurts off.

Control, huh? I promise her you'll remain with the wounded. They'll stay mounted. Sergeant Gorse, you can decamp from the garrison to help these men down, get them to the hospital. Rest of your stable, the horses.

Control dismissed. Miss retirement. Yes, sir. Did you take my horse to the stable for me? Certainly, Captain. I had better report to the major there. Yes, sir. If you'd care to come by my quarters later, I'll find us a drink.

Thank you, sir. Captain Gwynne's reporting soon. You're not hurtly. No, sir. What? What happened? Cheyenne, over 100 brave cities. Dawn two days ago. I had a guard posted, but they rode right over them. Seven troopers killed in battle.

Another died in the saddle about noon today. Waggons, mules, loss. I sent a scout looking for you. Never found this. What is it, Major? Shine, jump the reservation? Yeah. Nobody knows why. They slipped out in the middle of the night and disappeared.

I can't figure it. Big Wolf's been as peaceful a chief as I've known. Big Wolf's young son died a couple of weeks ago. Maybe that got him started. I think they go right out to the reservation tomorrow.

Take a look around. What for? No particular reason majoring. Just curious. Captain, I don't think them Cheyenne left a single thing out here. Yeah, they sure script the place, gores. I guess when you ain't got much, you don't leave nothing behind the talk.

Uh-huh. Captain, all them folds over there with a burying platform on them. Oh, what about them? They're all new, Captain. I mean, they're empty. There's no corpses laying on them. Can't be new. I must have taken their dead with them, Sergeant.

I don't understand it. And I ain't like them. Why would they do that? They were in quite a hurry. What do you mean? Look at that grave over there. It's half torn down. He is.

Kind of spooky out here, ain't it? Eh? I will stop in town on the way back, Sergeant. Now you're making this detailed worthwhile, Captain. Yeah, I got some business at the post office. Post office?

But I'll meet you at the saloon when I'm through. I'll be there, Captain. You can depend on me. Make much money, but... Soldiers are honorable professionals. Better than being a thief, innit? I, uh, I hope I'm not intruding, Sergeant Gores.

Captain? Uh, Captain Quince, this here is, Elle Brayton. How do you do, Elle? Please to meet you, Captain. Aren't you, Sit down? Oh, thanks. I've been trying to explain to Ella that soldiers are just as good as civilians.

I never said they weren't, Sergeant. Sergeant Gores has been in the cavalry 20 years, Ella. He's still trying to figure out why. I think you're right, Captain. It's all he talks about. Now that ain't so.

I mean, when you're being a gentleman, Sergeant. Oh. You know what he did a couple of weeks ago, Captain? Now, Ella, what did he do, Ella? Well, he... Nah... Nah, I'm too much of a lady to say it.

Thank goodness for that, anyhow. Well, of course, gets out of line just to whack him with a bottle. He's the only kind of language he understands sometimes. Oh, I got something better to whack him with, Captain.

It's carved from solid bone. What? Yeah, I got it in this sack. Brought it in the shoulder of the bar key. Now, what in the world is that, Ella? Let me see that. It's an Indian souvenir of some kind.

Where'd you get this, Ella? A kid at the fort gave it to me. He found it somewhere, I guess. Who gave it to you? His name is Sufi. Sufi. Well, what's wrong, Caten? This is a Cheyenne Todomela.

I'm going to have to keep it. Oh, you know, that's mine. You could have bought it. Sorry, Ella. You'll have to find another souvenir. This one's caused enough trouble. Modern Captain Quince.

Then in Maythor I want to see Private Soothein. Where's his bed? Uh, at the far end, Captain. There, where Sergeant Gorsuch is. Thank you. Captain? Goers. Hello, Soothein. Oh, Captain Quince. How are you, sir?

How are you feeling, Soothein? Oh, pretty good, Captain. Except for my head aching all the time. You'll get over it. I better. I can't stand it this way, sir. Wish they'd killed me if I got a go on like this soothe You seen this before I Don't know captain. What is it? You know what it is. Where'd you get it? I?

Can't help you captain. I'm sorry. Maybe later sometime. Look here, soothe. You know, I won't take an answer like that What is it? Sergeant? Step over here a minute, sir. All right I see. Oh, that's urgent.

It takes four times. Well, Sufi, I won't bother you anymore. I know all I need to anyway. I don't know what you're talking about, Kevin. I ought to hate you, Sufi. But I only feel sorry for you.

What you've done, I'm going to try to set right. But whether I can or not, But whether I can or not, you're going to have to live with it the rest of your life. I think I'm speaking for a lot of good men who died because of you.

Sergeant? Yes, sir? Meet you at the main gate in half an hour. Have our horses saddled and packed with two days rations. Move out. I find this hard to believe, Captain. Major Daggett. I... I've always tried to think of...

Every trooper in my company is a real soldier. Somehow it makes me feel less of one myself when I find out about a man like Private Sufi. I can understand that Captain Quincy. I sympathize with you.

Yes, sir. But what do you propose to do about it? There's nothing short of suicide. I can't allow that. I'm meeting Sergeant Gores at the main gate in a few minutes, Major. I'm volunteering for this mission.

He goes with me. He'll have to volunteer too. Big Wolf and his Cheyenne are a mission for the entire second cavalry captain, not for two men only. It was me, those Cheyenne warriors hit Major.

It was my men I watched die. This mission belongs to be company. To me. Not to the second cavalry. It put in a terrible responsibility on me, Captain Quench. As a volunteer? I don't see how, Major.

Alright, go ahead. Thank you, sir. Molly. Is it? I'll give you a one order. You had a return to Fort Laramie within two weeks. Well, I'll fail. More coffee, gors. I can sure use it.

It's hot. I can see that. Thanks, Captain. Ah, this is better than Garrison and its Argent. Oh, it sure is. Lights full of stars. We had a good dinner at pork and chickpeas. Coffee's hot.

There's plenty of it. Got a big fire going here. Lots of wood. There's nothing wrong with this, Captain. Except for one little thing, maybe. What's that, Sergeant? Oh, it's hardly worth mentioning. Oh, go ahead, speak up.

Well, from all the sign we've seen today, I'd guess we're smacking the middle of about four Cheyenne war parties. Yeah, I think you're right, Sergeant. Of course, I don't know for sure, but with this bonfire we got going, I got a sneaky idea that engines just might catch on to our being here sooner or later.

Hey, man. Sorry you came along, Sergeant. I volunteered. Interested in mission, you said. Yeah. I also said we might get killed, didn't I? You didn't say how? I don't know how, Sergeant. I bet I could tell you.

Not interested. We get killed. This mission will be a failure. Yeah, I'll say I hadn't thought of that. Now that'd be a dog on shame, wouldn't it, Captain? It would. I can just see all them generals back in Washington sitting around a big, shiny table saying that darn fool, Captain, that darn fool,

Sergeant couldn't accomplish a simple little omission. What's the cavalry coming to you? That's what they'll be saying. Ah, throw some wood on the fire, Gores. Here are closest. Sure. Captain Quainz. Yeah? They're here. All right, it's...

Step back to the fire. Real slow. If they can see anything at all, they can see we ain't armed. They wouldn't show themselves this close if they didn't know that. They'd come in in, Captain.

Stand steady, Sergeant. No sudden movements. Is it sure some fine way for the cavalry to go engine hunting? We found them, didn't we? What happens now? That's not entirely up to us, Sergeant. Easy now.

Sure. Zilahol Dinai. He alo Dijilo. Dijish Lain ya. He is a huwa vio anjo. What's he saying? He says he'll take us to Big Wolf, all right? He says the chief wouldn't want to miss the torture before they kill us.

You wake yours who could do any sleeping to tie it up like this. It'll be dawn soon. I Just ain't looking forward to it today. Yeah This will get out of this teepee, you know this is the first time I was ever inside one. I Ain't missed a thing. I don't know a teepee can be pretty nice when you got a fire going and a buffalo robe to wrap up in

Maybe some antelope steak for breakfast and jug of spring water Maybe a woman to do all the work. Your spoiled gorse, rotten spoiled. You need the frontier life, did it, Captain? I can tell you that.

Never should have left home. For each naive, our liar. He says they're ready for a sergeant. Oh, he was a yarva. What was that? Big Wolf hasn't returned. They've decided not to wait for him.

That was our only chance. I could have talked to Big Wolf. Not these other warriors, not even worth trying. Ishla'i honey. He's gonna cut us loose. Why not? With a half hundred braves out there, we ain't going no place.

It can tie a man up off a tire. I ain't even sure I can walk. Aye, lea, ajol. All right. Let's go, Sergeant. Cheers. Sergeant, what is it? Big Wolf. He's back. Thank you, Kevin, for that.

Oh, it's a chance, at least. There he is. Say he looks like a chief dooley. Yeah, he does. Captain Quince. Hello, big wolf. My people are ready for your death. I know. We allowed ourselves to be captured, big wolf.

This I do not understand. I wanted to see you. I wanted to bring you something. White soldier has brought shame and dishonor to my people and to me. You're speaking of your son's grave. White soldier come at night, left my son's body on ground.

Yes. And he stole this from your son's grave. The totem of my clan. The white soldier did this to dishonor you, big wolf. Cheyenne, recover honor in war, and by killing you. Let me say something first, big wolf.

It was neither of us did this thing. It was a soldier who was weak and foolish and bad. This soldier has dishonored me, as well as you. We do not want war with your people.

Who is... soldier? His name's Sufi. Give him to me. No, I can't do that. Then you must die. You have already killed eight soldiers, big wolf. Soon many soldiers will come. More soldiers than you have braves.

Give me Sufi. So you can punish him? He must be punished. He must die. Big wolf, when you wake in the morning and step outside your lodge, what do you see? Tell me. I see the sun on the land, morning shadows, bright mountains.

And if you could not see all this, it would not be good. The white soldier, Suthi, has already been punished, Big Wolf. By you. It is not enough. No, not by me. By your warriors in the fight.

He is blind, Big Wolf. Blind? Blind for the rest of his life. His punishment will never stop. You are brave men to come here with the totem. There must be no war between our people.

The thing is done. Seven of my warriors died in fight. It is enough. We ride back in peace? Yes. Then we've won, Big Wolf. We've both won. Port Laramie is produced and directed by Norman Mcdonald Then stars Raymond Burr as Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry, with Vic Perron as Sergeant Gorse.

The script was specially written for Fort Laramie by John Meston, with sound patterns by Bill James and Ray Kemper, musical supervision by Amarego Moreno, featured in the cast where Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell, Jack Moyles, Jack Crucion, Howard Culver and Vivi Janis.

Company tension! Dismiss! week. Another transcribed story of the Northwest Frontier and the troopers who fought under Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. The time to fight heart disease is now, before another victim is hurt. Obviously, heart researchers may not find the cures and preventatives to all heart ailments the moment you contribute to the heart fun. But the sooner you do your part, the closer they'll come to answering

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