Wagon Train (TV Series)

The Fort Pierce Story (1963)

John Doucette: Col. Wayne Lathrop

Photos 

Quotes 

• Col. Wayne Lathrop : Two men dead and four wounded.

  Capt. Paul Winters : Yes, Sir.

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : They're whittling us down. Now, no hope for reinforcements.

  Capt. Paul Winters : Washington rejected your appeal?

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : Emphatically. Rather than increase the strength of Fort Pierce garrison at this time, it is recommended that the commander of that post narrow the scope of his activities and limit himself to a defensive strategy.

• Col. Wayne Lathrop : Loveliness is fragile, don't destroy it by keeping it where it can't survive.

• Col. Wayne Lathrop : And if you're not successful, if you have to live out the rest of your life feeling thwarted and unsatisfied, who're you going to blame, Paul? In these moments when your sense of failure is unbearable, who're you going to hate for cheating you out of your destiny?

• Col. Wayne Lathrop : Paul, I know she's ill. She's been ill, she'll continue to be ill as long as she stays here.

  Capt. Paul Winters : I tried to explain to you, Sir.

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : I understand how you feel but feelings don't alter facts. Fact number one: Life here is disturbing to your wife. And number two: Her presence in the Fort conflicts with the maintenance of military discipline. Considered from any angle, the situation is an unhealthy one.

• Col. Wayne Lathrop : One exception destroys the principle.

  Christopher Hale : By all means, preserve the principle, no matter what the cost in human lives.

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : Mr Hale, I truly regret you putting this on a personal basis.

  Christopher Hale : Well, it's the only basis from which I can operate, Colonel. Unlike you, I ultimately have to answer to myself for what I do.

• Col. Wayne Lathrop : Your anger is unbecoming, sir.

  Christopher Hale : Well, it's honest and it's justified.

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : Whatever your opinion, I am a soldier and a soldier takes orders.

• Nancy Winters : Nancy's busy work. I don't have enough to do. It's very bad. I have to keep busy. I read. I read everything. I sew, embroider, mottos like God Bless Our Home, Haste Makes Waste. I found some new ones, better ones. Think I'll do them for you, Colonel. They're from a book. Ever heard of the Rubicon?

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : No, I haven't.

  Nancy Winters : Oh, you should. Oh, you're beautiful. Beautiful. A book of verse. Underneath the bough, a jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou beside me, singing in the wilderness. Though beside me in the wilderness, huh, that's where we are, Paul. In the wilderness!

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : Captain.

• Capt. Paul Winters : I always wanted to think I was dedicated not just to an organisation or a tradition, but to the service of the people who rely on me and me like me to protect them.

  Col. Wayne Lathrop : You're over-simplifying.

  Capt. Paul Winters : Colonel, if a soldier denies himself all personal feelings, such as love for his wife, won't he, oneday, be unable to feel at all? Won't he dedicated to rules, regulations, and orders instead of people? Be like a priest who argues theology but never brings comfort to a troubled soul, or a doctor who is too busywith theory to ease the pain of the sick and injured?