The Coward: Fort Laramie (March 25, 1956)

“The Coward” is an episode of Fort Laramie, the old-time radio show, first broadcast March 25, 1956. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Lieutenant Robbie Went arrives at Fort Laramie, assigned to Captain Lee Quince's company. The two are old friends from Virginia, but Went's reputation has preceded him—he was demoted for abandoning his commander and men during an attack at Antelope Meadows, an action that many at the post view as cowardice. As Went struggles with the cold reception and his past, he turns to drinking to cope with his circumstances.

Fort Laramie on the frontier, including the captain's quarters, parade ground, and the settlement near the post.

Characters: Captain Lee Quince, Major (Fort Commander), Lieutenant Robbie Went, Sergeant Gorse, Sergeant Jenkins, Miss St. Cloud, Philip St. Cloud

Listen for: The arrival of Went and the tension between his past actions and his fresh start, as well as hints of how those around him judge his character.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.