14. Yellow

Complete story — includes the ending

In 1918, during World War I, General Calthrob's ( Kirk Douglas ) son, the cowardly Lieutenant Martin Calthrob ( Eric Douglas ) requests a discharge from the army. Martin's father mentions that while he cannot discharge his son, he agrees to transfer him away from the front if he completes a specific mission. Unfortunately, Martin's cowardice prevents him from warning the men under his command that German troops are approaching, and he leaves them all to die while he runs for his life. After the dying Sergeant Ripper ( Lance Henriksen ) exposes Martin's actions and labels him "yellow", Martin is arrested, court-martialed, and sentenced to death by firing squad. The night before Martin's execution, General Calthrob tells his son that he has swapped the bullets with blanks, so that Martin can survive the planned execution and escape to a new life, provided that he faces death with dignity. Also starring Dan Aykroyd as Captain Milligan. Note: This is the only episode of the entire series to run longer than 30 minutes. It is also the first episode featured that was produced as part of the failed Two-Fisted Tales spin-off. Director Robert Zemeckis used this episode to pay homage to Stanley Kubrick 's 1957 film Paths of Glory, which also starred Kirk Douglas and featured some similar themes. Father-and-son actors Kirk and Eric Douglas portray father and son on screen.