Wagon Train (TV Series)

The Sam Elder Story (1961)

Walter Coy: Ben Allen

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Quotes 

• Ben Allen : I'm warning you, Perks. You so much as look at her again, I'll take a bullwhip to you.

  Sgt. Perks : With all due respect, Sir. I wouldn't advise that. I'm sorry this had to happen, Millie, real sorry.

• Ben Allen : Around here Mr Hawks makes the decisions. Who are you to change them?

  Sam Elder : I'm in charge of these men and I intend to see my orders are enforced.

  Ben Allen : How? By putting guns in the hands of youngsters?

  Sam Elder : The rifle is not loaded.

  Ben Allen : [He scoffs]  That makes about as much sense as everything else you've done since you joined this train.

• Ben Allen : Men like Elder never do anything without a reason. Whatever his is, I aim to find out.

• Ben Allen : He was young. He liked the feel of the poplin uniform next to his skin. He was what you would call disciplined. He followed orders like they were gospel because they came from men like you. And what did it get him, shallow grave in the Virginia Hills. So don't you tell me anything about orders. Orders is what took him from me. Orders from tin gods like you.

• Ben Allen : Oh, no, Captain or whatever you call yourself. Those are just a lot of highfalutin words for what men like you really want. Power. Authority. Blind Obedience to Will even if it's wrong.

  Sam Elder : Yes, we make mistakes. I don't deny that. But the good officer, the good soldier, never asks another man to do something he wouldn't do himself. And when we give orders it's not because we worship ourselves but because it's the most expedient way to get the job done.

• Ben Allen : They weren't men to you, Elder. They were just names on a roster. YOu don't even remember one of them.

• Ben Allen : Your word? I suppose that's what your Captain Elder learned you. Teaching you to do anything you want and then lie your way out of it by giving your word.

• Ben Allen : You can take the gun out of my hand but you can't take the words out of mouth.

• Ben Allen : A man loses his only son. He's entitled to know more than a black-edged telegramme from the War Department. He's got a right to know how it happened. Why? He's got a right to know who's responsible.