Original subtitles

Charles: I got the wagon all loaded.

Well, you come sign the receipt

and I reckon you fellows are all set to play Santa claus.

Edwards: The sooner the better. Got a lot of Santa claus' work to do before nightfall.

The receipt's right here.

Charles: Thank you.

Ah. Looks like we might have a white Christmas after all.

Oh, yeah? How far off is it?

International falls.

Got a message to hold up all trains going north.

Well, it could be that Santa's reindeer got the track blocked.

Heh heh heh heh!

Maybe. Snow's still a long way off, though.

We won't know how soon it'll reach us

till I hear from thief river falls.

And when you hear from them, wish them a merry Christmas for me.

It must be pretty lonely Manning a station like that.

Sure will, and a merry Christmas to you.

Happy new year to you.

Yeah.

Charles: Whoa!

Jim: Morning, Charles, Isaiah.

Charles: Morning, Jim. Edwards: Don't you know you ain't supposed to call

Santa's helpers by their first name? Ha ha ha!

Then the rifle came, huh?

It sure did. The boy's not around, is he?

No, little Joey left early with his ma

for that soiree the ladies leagues are holding.

He's got to get himself a rabbit with that.

He ain't no son of Jim bowers if he can't.

Edwards: Ha ha! I don't remember you taking home nothing from the Turkey shoot.

Well, my windage was off.

Besides, I don't recall you taking home any prizes.

Well, like you said, the wind was blowing kinda hard.

Yeah, it's blowing pretty good now.

Charles: Merry Christmas, Jim. - Merry Christmas to you, and many thanks.

Come on, Joey!

We'll be late!

Your pa wouldn't leave a rifle on the window

if somebody already bought it, would he?

Nah. My pa says nobody's gonna buy that gun, anyways.

How come?

Because it's twice as cheap in the catalog.

The catalog. He could have ordered it from the catalog!

Come on, we'll be late!

Lottie, I swear.

Now, I think you would work right through the calling of Gabriel's horn.

All the other ladies are already gathering over at the olesons'.

I just have this one batch of figures to go over.

There's $17 I just can't account for.

Well, now, if it's missing, you...

You still got till new year's to find it.

Now, if you'll let go,

it'll only take me a minute to find it.

Uh-huh.

Now, Christmas is a time for hugging,

not for book work.

Ted Mcginnis,

I think you're beyond saving.

Mm-hmm.

If it were left up to you,

these books would be nothing but hen scratching.

Mm-hmm.

I'll see you at home.

Ah.

I'll pick up Henry after school.

All right.

Charles: Hey, Mcginnis, open up!

Well, look who's here.

We got something for you.

This playing Santa claus is getting an awful lot like work.

Well, I got a little Christmas cheer I keep

for just such occasions.

Oh, I think Edwards remembers that from last year.

You fellows don't know how much I appreciate this.

This is liable to get me through my hard day's work.

Hey, what do you got in that box, anyway?

Well, now, this is a genuine foot-pedal sewing machine.

I had to shoo lottie away from the books.

I couldn't have her find out I've been slipping out money to pay for this thing.

Why don't you slip out some more

and get me another jug of this here whiskey?

Hey, come on, Edwards. That's enough.

We got some work to do. We've got to put

two rocking horses together, they'll wind up with two heads.

Yeah, so will I.

Well, merry Christmas, Mcginnis.

- Yeah, same to you. Charles: See you in church.

Mcginnis: Sure will.

- Whoo! That wind's getting cold! - Yeah.

A fellow in Springfield said we might get some snow.

Sure hope so. Wouldn't seem like Christmas without it.

- Know what you mean. See ya. - See ya.

Mrs. Oleson: Ah, Christmas. My favorite season.

Mrs. Oleson: I'm so glad that I suggested to the reverend Alden

that we have a town Christmas party this year.

I thought reverend Alden said that Betty suggested it.

Ah, well. Perhaps she did,

Mrs. Oleson: But I did intend to suggest it.

The children are going to love it.

I can't wait until school is over

so we can get into the church and start decorating.

Presents in the morning and a party in the afternoon?

It's going to be like having Christmas twice.

Of course, my main problem is going to be

to keep Isaiah out of the presents tonight.

Oh, Caroline, isn't your husband going to deliver the sermon

in the absence of reverend Alden?

- Yes. - Oh!

I'm sure that will be very quaint.

I am shocked, however,

that reverend Alden decided not to spend Christmas service here.

Well, after all, he was with us last year,

and he does have two congregations to care for.

Well, I know, my dear, but after all,

we do contribute more money than sleepy eye.

It is better to give than to receive.

Mrs. Oleson: Ah, nonsense.

Oh, my! It's trying to snow.

There, Christopher. I think that should do it.

All right, for those of you who are working on your calendars,

be sure that you have the months in the proper order.

I'll check them before you paste them together.

I'm ready, Ms. Beadle.

Oh.

You had one month a little early, Laura.

It's Laura's birthday month.

Well, it doesn't hurt to remind certain people a little early.

Let's see, you need the paste.

Who's got the paste?

- Carl? - I gave it to Willie.

- Willie? - Yes, ma'am?

Have you been eating the paste again?

No, ma'am.

Did you finish your calendar?

Yes, ma'am.

Then go stand in the corner.

Here you go, Laura.

Thank you, Ms. Beadle.

Oh, Mary, your Christmas candle is beautiful.

Thank you. I hope ma likes it.

I did matchsticks, too.

Oh, I'm sure she'll love it.

Hey, look! It's snowing!

- Wow! - Ooh!

Wow!

Isn't it beautiful?

Maybe we can make a snowman.

I'll hit you with a snowball.

Well, I don't think there's going to be enough snow for that, Laura.

But there might be enough to give me an excuse

to let you all go home early today.

All: Yay!

But not until you finish the presents for your folks.

Now, everybody get back to your desks.

Willie.

Yes, ma'am.

Heh, that looks store-bought, if I do say so myself.

Yeah, it does look good. Hey, won't you check the wagon?

I think we got some tenpennies out there to help the glue

hold those rockers.

Hey, Charles, come here. Look at this!

That fellow in Springfield was right.

Looks like we are gonna have a white Christmas.

I know a pack of kids that are going to be happy about this.

They'd probably be a lot happier if we went in town and picked them up.

What do you say? As soon as we put the rockers on,

we put the wagon cover up, bring them home in style.

Good. It'll give me a chance to stop by Mcginnis',

wish him a merry Christmas again.

Ha ha ha!

- Where's your other mitten? - I don't know.

Carrie.

There it is.

Ok, come on.

Ms. Beadle: All right, children, all right.

May I have your attention, please?

Children, sit down.

The first thing I'd like to do is tell Carrie how happy we are

that she could visit us on Christmas Eve.

Thank you, Ms. Beadle.

Ms. Beadle: You're welcome, Carrie.

Now, does everyone have their presents?

Kids: Yes, Ms. Beadle.

What about me?

Well, Willie, I thought since you and Nellie lived the closest,

you wouldn't mind staying and helping me clean the blackboards.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Kids: Merry Christmas, Ms. Beadle.

Ms. Beadle: See you all at the Christmas party tomorrow.

Class is dismissed.

- Merry Christmas! Mary: Merry Christmas!

Carrie: My scarf is coming loose!

Carrie: I'm awful cold.

Mary: I know you're cold, Carrie. Everyone is.

Come on, now, just try to keep your scarf over your mouth.

Carrie: My feet are cold!

Laura: Everybody's feet are cold.

It doesn't do any good to yell about it.

It'll be real warm when we get home,

and tonight Santa's gonna come.

Just take my hand and hold Mary's, too.

We'll go twice as fast.

Mary: Carl, we're going to take the shortcut from here!

Carrie's getting awful cold!

Carl: Yeah, so is Alicia!

I may as well cut across Walker's place. It's faster.

Merry Christmas!

Mary: Merry Christmas!

Did I ever tell you about the time

I was trapping beaver and a blow like this come up, back in '73?

Any worse than this, I don't want to hear about it.

If this keeps up, we're going to sleep in town tonight.

Merry Christmas.

No use both of us freezing out here.

Why don't you go on inside, get warm?

Like the man said, I believe I will.

Ooh!

One good thing about it...

Be able to stop in and see Mcginnis

and wish him a merry Christmas again.

Not that I need it.

Oh, it's turning into a real blizzard.

Oh, thank goodness the children aren't out in all this.

I can't remember ever seeing a storm blow up this quickly.

Woman: It's so cold!

Woman 2: We would have had trouble finding the church. Isn't this ridiculous?

Ms. Beadle.

Where are the children?

I sent them home early.

Willie: All but Nellie and me.

Willie: We had to stay and wash the blackboards.

When did they leave?

Quite a while ago.

They finished their work, they...

They were so excited about Christmas.

Ms. Beadle: There were only flurries when they left.

I'm sure most of them had time to get home.

My Henry couldn't have gotten home,

not in this weather.

Nor my Joey!

I didn't realize.

Charles: Oh! Ms. Beadle, I hope you want some company.

You're going to be running a hotel tonight.

Where are the children?

All of the children, all but Nellie and Willie,

left early.

Why, you mean they're out in this?

How early did they leave?

About a half an hour ago.

We'll organize all the men in town.

Some of the fathers must be out looking for the children now.

You women stay here. The way this storm's building up,

we'll be looking for you in an hour.

He's right.

Mr. Edwards, you'll need warmer clothing.

Nels has some in the storeroom.

Oh, thank you, Mrs. Oleson.

Oh!

Caroline: Get those other shutters!

Mary: We have to hurry. It's getting dark.

Laura: I am hurrying!

I'm helping Carrie.

Mary: Watch out that she doesn't lose her mittens.

Laura: Wait! I dropped my present.

Mary: That's too bad, but we have to keep moving.

I mean it. We have to hurry!

Laura: All right, but you'll have to help me say how I lost it.

Edwards and I'll head south. I know the trail the kids take.

And then we'll swing to the east.

All right, and hanson and I will head out the west road.

The rest can take the north section.

Better put this on. You're not going to get very far out there

- without a warmer coat. - No, I'm all right, nels.

Well, it's freezing out there!

I said I'm fine. Now come on, let's get started.

You got more kerosene?

Nels: No, I'm afraid not, Lars.

The shipment was due in today.

Lars: Well, then we've got to take it easy with the lanterns

because what daylight we've got will soon be gone.

I'll need blankets, nels, all you've got, and some Brandy.

I've got 3 kids over at the schoolhouse

and they're darn near frozen.

- Whose kids? - Harris girls

and little Tommy Spencer.

I found them huddled by the road on my way in.

Well, that's 3 we don't have to worry about.

Let's go.

- Mcginnis? - He's inside.

Mcginnis?

Yeah?

You seen Joey?

Why, yeah, he and Henry stopped

at the feed and grain on the way home.

Didn't you see him on the way in?

Not a sign of him.

I had to leave the team in a drift.

I was hoping they'd be at the school.

Hanson and I are heading out that way now.

Why don't you come along?

- Hanson, will you hurry up? - Hanson: Yeah, yeah.

Where are you going?

- Coming with you. - Huh?

Your children are all in the school.

Well, you haven't got any children out there either, you old goat.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, Alicia. Come on.

I can't!

- All right, I'll help. - Carl, I'm scared!

Put your arms around my neck.

- It's cold! - Hang on now.

Alicia: It's so cold.

Dr. Baker.

Dr. Baker: This is all of it.

Mrs. Oleson: Oh, is the storm still holding?

Dr. Baker: I'm afraid so.

All right, son.

This'll warm you up.

Drink it down.

Come on, drink it down, all of it.

Here, you let me handle this.

Isaiah's cured more chills

than anyone else in walnut grove.

Thank you.

May I have your attention, ladies?

I want you to listen to me and remember what I say.

Dr. Baker: The men have already started their search party,

and they well know what they're doing.

Now, that means we're going to have children in here...

A lot of them...

And what we do for them in the first few moments will be critical.

Are you talking about frostbite, doctor?

Yes.

It's very important that you all know what to do, immediately.

I won't be able to handle them all.

So listen to what I have to say very carefully.

Charles: Mary!

Laura!

Edwards: Alicia! Charles: Mary! Laura!

Edwards: Carl!

Laura: If my feet weren't so numb, I wouldn't keep slipping.

Mary: Are you all right?

Carrie: I'm scared.

Mary: I know. Just hold on tight, Carrie.

We'll make it.

Laura: It's getting colder!

Mary: I know. Come on.

Laura: Not so fast!

Mary: Laura, we have to hurry!

She's having an awful lot of pain in her feet.

Dr. Baker says that's a sure sign the circulation's coming back.

I'll see if he has anything.

Dr. Baker, the Harris girl is hurting very bad.

Have you got anything to help her?

Laudanum, but only half a teaspoon, Caroline.

I'm afraid we'll be needing more.

Ms. Beadle?

It wasn't your fault.

Oh, Willie!

Thank you.

Just have a sip, now.

Oh, you're going to feel so much better.

Lottie! Lottie, it's Henry!

Lottie: Oh! Oh, thank god!

My baby!

Here.

My baby! Ohh!

Lottie: My baby!

My baby.

Is he all right?

It's all right.

He's going to be all right.

Henry?

Joey. W... where's Joey?

Betty: He was with you.

Tracks.

H... he went looking for rabbit t... tracks.

Joey?

Laura: Why are we stopping?

Mary: I have to see where we are.

Laura: Mary, this is that old rail fence.

Mary: I know what fence it is.

Laura: That means we're nowhere near home.

Mary: Come on, let's go. This way.

Laura: But our house is that way.

Mary: We're going this way. Just help me with your sister

and stay near the fence.

Help her, Laura.

Laura: I am.

Joey! They got to be here some place.

Yeah.

Joey!

Henry!

Henry! Henry!

Henry!

Bowers?

Yeah?

Joey. Joey, boy!

I got to get him back to the doctor.

He'll know what to do.

Bowers, wait a minute.

Let me go! I got to get him back!

Mary: I think I see something. Come on!

Laura: Mary! Mary, wait!

Mary: What's the matter?

Laura: Carrie can't go anymore.

Mary: Yes, she can.

Mary: Come on, Carrie. Shelter's just ahead.

Laura: Shelter? Mary: The Linderman farm.

The fence leads right to it.

Laura: Mary, that old farm burned down a long time ago.

Mary: There's a shed.

I remember there's an old shed.

Can't be far.

Laura: We'll never find it in this snow.

- We'll find it. Carrie: I'm scared!

Mary: Come on, Carrie, hang on tight.

They've been gone a long time.

It's gonna be pitch black out there before long.

They could be on their way back by now.

I had the strangest feeling when Henry came in.

I watched lottie hold him...

And I was angry.

I was angry because it wasn't me holding my children.

Oh, I know it's wrong for me to feel that way,

but I just couldn't help it.

My god, Caroline.

Where are they?

They'll be back.

They will.

Dr. Baker: I'll take him. Betty: Jim!

Betty: Oh!

Joey! Jim! Jim!

I'm... I'm all right.

Go with the boy.

Where's my husband?

They said he was with you.

I... he was, Mrs. Mcginnis,

but he went on looking for Henry.

But Henry is here.

Mary: There it is! Come on!

Laura: We'll get over where it's out of the wind, warmer.

Try to block the wind.

You did it.

My feet are burning!

Help me get Carrie's shoes off.

Edwards: We've come too far.

We're almost to the old Linderman place.

We should head east.

All right.

Wait!

Edwards: What is it?

It's Laura's!

They did come this far.

Let's go.

Henry!

Good lord, boy, where are you?

Isaiah!

Over there! Look!

- Go! - Let's go!

Mary: Pa! Oh, pa!

Laura: Pa!

Charles: Thank god you're all right.

Oh, my babies.

Thank god.

Where's Carl and Alicia?

We don't know.

Charles: Didn't they walk home from school with you?

Mary: Part of the way, then they took the shortcut

and we went around the hill to stay in the shelter of the trees.

Can't stay in this shed. That wind's going to turn it

into kindling in a couple of minutes.

We'll get you back to the school.

Edwards: Charles? Charles!

My two are still out there.

I mean, it's a long way back to school.

I can get them back without you.

Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Charles: All right, now.

I want you to hold on to my coat.

Make sure you don't get separated.

Laura: All right, pa. Mary: Yes, pa.

Dorothy!

Oh, my children! God bless you!

Nels! Are you all right?

Just f... fine.

How many are still missing?

Oh, the Ingalls girls and Edwards' children.

We'll rest a while and...

And then... then we'll go out again.

No, nels, you can't!

Why, the kerosene's almost gone,

the temperature's still dropping...

He can't hear you.

What?

He... he is asleep.

Total exhaustion.

He... he will sleep for hours.

Carl!

Alicia!

Carl!

Come on.

I said, come on!

There's nothing we can do now.

I can't just sit here and wait.

We have to.

No.

I'm going out there. I have to find them!

Caroline: Grace. - No, I have to.

- Grace, listen to me. - Let me go, Caroline!

Listen! Grace!

Grace: I have to go!

Grace: - Grace! Grace!

Let me go!

Let me go. They're my babies!

Let me go!

Make room over there.

Isaiah.

Where is he?

After we found the girls, he...

He went on looking for Carl and Alicia.

How are my girls?

The girls are fine. Let me take a look at you.

I need to get back out there.

You can't.

I have to.

We've got 5 minutes worth of kerosene and two lamps.

You can't get across the street

in this blizzard without a lantern.

We'll have to wait until tomorrow morning.

I'll get you some Brandy.

Doc.

I found Mcginnis.

Isaiah and the children will be here any minute.

He spent his whole life in the mountains.

Why, this is just another little snowfall for him.

You wait and see.

He'll be here, he will be.

Just as soon as he can.

Lottie: No!

Lottie: Oh, god, no!

Edwards: Alicia! Carl!

Carl!

It's over.

The storm's over! Everybody up!

Come on! Move!

Edwards and his family are still out there.

Edwards: Anybody home in there?

Well, what are you all doing?

Isaiah!

Grace: Ha ha ha!

Isaiah!

Oh, Isaiah!

You know, I got to be the luckiest man that ever drew a breath.

How many men you know got a son that give an eskimo lessons

in how to build a snow house?

Oh, thank god you're all right!

Edwards: Of course we're all right! Of course...

The kids here are going to... Going to have a bit of a hangover.

Edwards: I'm glad the reverend ain't here. I'd be getting myself a sermon for sure!

Edwards: Hey, doc, you got anything for frozen tongue?

"And it came to pass in those days,

"that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus,

"that all the world should be taxed.

"And all went to be taxed,

"every one into his own city.

"And Joseph also went up from galilee,

"out of the city of nazareth, into judea,

"into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,

"to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife

"being great with child.

"And so it was while they were there,

"the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

"And she brought forth her firstborn son,

"and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

"and laid him in a manger,

"because there was no room for them in the inn.

"And there were in the same country Shepherds abiding in the field,

"keeping watch over their flock by night.

"And, lo, the angel of the lord came upon them,

"and the glory of the lord shone around about them.

"And they were sore afraid.

"And the angel said unto them,

"fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

"which shall be to all people.

"For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior,

which is, Christ the lord."