Original subtitles

How're you doing, nels?

Charles, as wet you are, you must be freezing.

No, it's not too bad.

The kitchen's nice and warm if you want to dry out.

The way business is... One or two customers a day...

It seems a waste of fuel to try to keep the store heated.

I appreciate it, but I'm going right back in it.

I just came in to pay my bill.

Always glad to hear that.

Well, let's see.

That'll be $4.00 and a quarter.

All right. And I need a can of baking soda and some pipe tobacco.

We're all out of baking soda.

We have the tobacco, though.

All right. That'll be fine.

It'll be the worst rains in the history of the state.

Did get a little lucky, though. I did a wagon repair job for martindale.

Martindale?

He's leaving, too, huh?

He's already gone.

He was in here a couple of days ago

asking for credit I couldn't give him.

Everything going out, nothing coming in, I just can't do it.

So he leaves in the middle of the night,

and I got $106 on the books.

And he's the 14th one so far.

Well, I can't blame him, though.

Fields are seas of mud.

There's no way he could've gotten a crop this year.

No way any of us can, nels.

See you.

Isaiah!

Hey, Charles!

Grace: Isaiah, come on in out of the rain!

Be right there. Hey, Charles.

Welcome home.

Has it been like this ever since I left?

Oh, no. Some days it's been worse.

Ain't just here. The whole state's afloat.

It's a wonder we got through.

Oh, it's so good to have you back!

It's good to be back, darling. How are the kids?

- Just fine. - How's your family?

They're fine...

Just wondering when we're going to start building the ark.

Boy, I tell you, it's hard times everywhere.

I seen 20 men standing in line for the same job.

You did have a job in mankato, didn't you?

It was a nothing job.

Boss's son-in-law come back, took it away from me.

But I got some plans now. I tell you what...

Why don't you bring your family over for supper tonight, and we'll talk about it.

Love to. We'll be over.

If this keeps up, we'll swim our way over.

- See you tonight. - Ok.

Ch-Charles?

You really should get out of those wet clothes.

I will as soon as I put the wagon cover on.

Must you? Today?

We're going to go over to Edwards' place tonight. Isaiah's back.

I thought he had a job in mankato.

Not anymore.

Charles, I know that you're worried,

but this rain will stop.

I mean, it's got to stop.

Caroline, I said that two months ago

when there was still time to plow and plant.

Well, we won't go hungry.

The root cellar is full,

and we've got ham and bacon and... and salt pork.

There is food.

We got enough for two or 3 months.

The grain bin's almost empty, and we're almost out of hay.

Did you speak to Isaiah about...

Going away to look for work?

He said there's hard times everywhere... men waiting in line for jobs.

I don't know what to do.

Isaiah's got some kind of a plan. We'll talk to him about it tonight.

I'll get this wagon cover on, and I'll be in.

Grace: Well, Isaiah, it looks to me

as though you didn't eat at all while you were gone.

Sure I did...

Shadow soup, rabbit track stew.

On paydays, I'd buy some stew meat

and bones and gristle...

Cook it up out back of the stable.

I'd look up, there'd be 6 or 7 men

squatting there, grinning like coyotes.

Carl: Did you feed them?

Son, when you're outnumbered like that,

it's kind of hard to say no.

Charles: You said you had some kind of a plan in mind.

After what I seen... men scrounging, sleeping in doorways,

begging for work, food, or both...

Grace: Isaiah, not just yet.

Children, your fathers have some talking to do,

so you go into Carl's room and play.

- Yes, ma'am. - I'd rather stay and listen.

You do as you're told. You go with your sister and your guests.

Like I was saying, we got to...

If we can't farm, we got to figure out a way to make some money.

Can't make it living around here,

so I say we take a real chance.

I run across this here deadwood paper. Here, take a look at that.

There, down in the corner.

- What, "gold news"? - Yeah.

Isaiah, you're not thinking of going on a gold rush!

Oh, we're just talking, you know.

Well, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll just get at the dishes.

I'll help.

Placer gold, huh?

It says, "nuggets the size of peas in great quantity."

At least it's a chance.

Better than sitting around here watching the water rise.

What have we got to lose?

If we don't hit it, we come back here, we're in the same boat.

If we do hit it, we're living high on the hog.

Charles: They're only talking here about the people that hit it rich.

Doesn't say anything about all the folks that didn't even find color.

Just think about it, huh?

All right, I'll think about it.

Let's have some more coffee.

I thought you were coming right to bed.

I was just reading the newspaper again.

You must know it by heart by now.

Yeah.

It figures Edwards would come up with a scheme like that.

Gold. You know what the odds are

of somebody finding any of it?

No.

Probably... About 1,000 to one.

You'd have to be crazy to make a 400-mile trip with odds like that.

If it's so crazy,

why are you staying up half the night reading about it?

I just can't sleep, that confounded rain coming down that way.

Well, I hope they have a good school wherever we settle.

The girls are doing so well, I'd hate for them to get behind.

What are you talking about?

Charles Ingalls, if you think I'm going to put up

with having you underfoot around here for the next 6 months,

you've got another thing coming.

Look, you know... you know we're talking about a 400-mile trip.

We came further than that to get here.

We took a chance then.

We can take a chance now.

You know you're dying to go. Why don't you come out with it?

All right. Now, we both know it's a crazy scheme, right?

It's a crazy scheme, but if I stay here, there is nothing I can do.

I mean, there's nothing in the world that makes a man feel so bad

as knowing there's just nothing he can do.

Couldn't sleep. Had to come over.

Grace said all right. We're going!

Yes!

We're going, too.

Wah-hoo!

Here you go.

That's the last of it.

We're all set.

Caroline: All right.

Nels, I want to thank you very much.

It's my pleasure, Charles.

Now, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on the house for you.

I really appreciate that. Well, we're on our way.

Write if you hit it rich.

I'll do that.

Good luck. God go with you.

I'll pray he is. Come on!

Everybody up!

Hey, Edwards!

Hey, Edwards, get yourself out here! It quit raining!

Ha! Praise be!

Charles: Dear lord, thank you this day for our food...

And for your blue sky.

Help us and guide us, o lord,

as we start a new life.

We try our best to follow the path you've made for us.

Wherever it leads,

we pray you'll always be with us.

- Amen. - Amen.

Isaiah, what kind of place is this?

Now, grace, there's nothing wrong with folks having a little fun.

You call this a little fun?!

Man: Whoo!

Oh!

No, I guess not. Guess they're not really having fun.

Oh, Charles, have we come all this way for this?

Don't you worry, darling. The claims are way out of town.

Whoa.

Isaiah and I will get right over to the claims office,

and we'll be on our way.

Grace and I have to pick some things up at the store.

All right. We'll hurry.

Mary, Laura... Look after the little ones,

and don't get out of the wagon.

That goes for you, too, Carl.

Aw, mom, I want to look around.

You just do as I say, young man.

Yes, ma'am.

Hey, Sonny...

Whatcha doin'?

Gee whiz!

I'm almost completely out of flour.

Me, too, and Isaiah says if I make my coffee any weaker,

he's going to throw in some axle grease just for color.

Grace...

Oh, my goodness!

Oh, I never saw such prices in my whole life.

Maybe there's some kind of mistake.

Good afternoon, ladies. Can I help you?

We need some flour, some sugar, and some coffee.

Well, good. You came to the right place.

Grady Jennings, at your service.

As you can see, I got the fullest stocks in deadwood right here.

Yeah, but these prices!

I mean, $15 for 50 pounds of flour?

Uh, that's 30 pounds, ma'am...

And chances are, all this is going to be gone by tomorrow evening,

soon as the grubstakers get word I got in a shipment.

Ohh!

Now, believe me,

you're not going to find a lower price anywhere in this town...

If you can find the goods at all.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Hasn't been a trace of color found north of the fork here.

Truth is, the claims on the west fork

haven't paid better than bread and beans.

Real pay dirt seems to lie in this section.

Wait a minute. Are you telling us

there ain't any decent claims left?

No. Nobody can do that.

Just that a lot of people got here before you.

I guess so. According to your markings and hen-scratchings there,

there ain't a decent claim within 20 miles of a strike.

That's gold country, Mr. Edwards.

Once there's news of a strike, the rush is on.

Course, you could always buy a claim.

For how much?

Well, depends. 300, 500...

I've seen poor gravel sell for over 1,000.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Ingalls...

There is a place west of here, about 50 miles.

Newton's the place. Looks good.

Been no big strikes there yet, but people who've worked it

tell me they've found some color.

You might try that.

Much obliged.

Next! Who's next? Step up.

Well, what do you think?

I don't think we have much choice.

We've come this far. Another 50 miles shouldn't make any difference.

That's my feelings exactly.

Wait a minute, Charles.

Hey, come on!

Wait. I got an idea here.

Well, if the idea takes you in there, I think it's a bad idea.

Listen here. I got this little bit of money here.

I could take it in there and double it up.

Wouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

It wouldn't take you more than 10 minutes to lose it.

Let's at least go in and look around.

You go ahead. I'll tell grace where you are.

She'll be happy to hear about it.

No! Hold it! Hold it! Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all.

You don't have to worry about being near this town.

Isn't a claim left... leastwise, any we can afford.

Fellow put us onto a place about 50 miles west of here.

I don't care how far it is, just so long as it's away from here.

We'll camp outside of town tonight,

get an early start in the morning.

Get everything you needed at the store?

We didn't get anything.

Why not?

$15 for 30 pounds of flour.

That's a good reason why not.

Isaiah?

Huh.

Charles.

Hmm?

Charles.

What?

It's Isaiah. He's gone.

What?

It's after midnight, and Isaiah's gone.

I don't know where he's gone.

I think I've got a pretty good idea, grace.

Don't you worry. I'll find him.

Get aboard, gamblers! We're giving it away.

Somebody wins, every spin.

Well, bet, gentlemen. You can't win if you don't bet.

Give me a lucky number, Dolly.

Well, I'd stick with 6, darby. Ha ha ha!

6.

All right, gamblers, hang on to your hats.

Here we go... Round and round.

Come on, 6!

That's the lucky number... 6.

Come on, 6! 6 is coming up. There it is.

That's it. Number 6 is a-coming.

6 is coming. There it is!

Oh, and star wins the money!

Balderdash!

I thought you'd hit it that time, darby.

Well, you been hitting all around it.

You know, lady luck just hates a coward.

She is going to smile on you this time for sure!

Aw, lady luck ain't going to smile on me.

Lady luck don't care nothing about older people.

Dolly: Bets, gentlemen.

Isaiah: Don't be so grumpy there. You'll hurt your face.

Your luck's about run out.

I got an announcement to make.

Anybody wants any revenge, now's the time.

This here's going to be my last hand. Come on, deal up.

Ante up, fellas.

There you go.

King bets 50.

A very sound bet. 50. Deal.

Oh, 4. 3 and 10.

The king will bet another 40.

Of course it will. There you are.

Possible straight.

That's your king.

Make it 40. Play poker.

Aw, let's make it 50.

Deal!

Pair of sixes.

Sixes.

I got a pair of sixes there.

Those sixes are going to bet $50 into the kitty.

All right. I'll bet the 50, and I'll raise you... 50 more.

You probably have another king in the hole, don't you? If you do, I'm going to cry.

But I'll call you, all the same.

I got a king.

He had the other king.

I got 3 sixes. Isn't that sad?

Like I said, that's my last hand.

I'd best be getting back. I want to thank you for some very nice gambling.

I did it!

We made some money... Only for grace!

I believe I did! I believe I took it all!

Dolly: Get your bets down, gamblers. Get your bets down.

You cannot win if you do not bet. Step right up here.

Black beard, checkered shirt?

Didn't see anybody like that...

Not since I come to work.

Can I get you something?

Yeah. Some fresh air.

Isaiah: Ohh...

Edwards!

Edwards.

Well, Charles...

Ooh... I should've taken your advice

and stayed out of that place.

Doing real good, though. Best run of luck I ever had.

Yeah, till the roof fell in.

Roof? There was 5 of them.

Probably back in there right now.

Now, just hold on. The 5 of them are still in there.

Let me take you back to camp. We'll fix you up.

All right.

Get up.

Ohh...

Come on.

How'd you know I was gone?

Grace.

I think I'd rather fight them 5 again than face up to her.

I'll change that bandage tomorrow.

Thank you. That'll be fine.

Charles: We'll see you in the morning.

Ok.

I said I was sorry.

Won't do it again. I promise.

Did you hear me? I said I promise.

You've promised before.

It was different this time. I didn't do this for fun.

I did this so we could get some flour or some bacon.

That's just an excuse, and you know it.

You'll never change.

What did you marry me for in the first place, if you want me to change?

I mean, why didn't you just up and marry somebody

who was already the way you want me to be?

Because I fell in love with you, that's why.

Oh, go to sleep!

Yes, my dear.

It looks like we got company, huh?

Charles: Whoa!

Hello, friend.

How are you?

What's the matter with your wheel?

Well, nothing a little grease wouldn't fix.

I meant to get me some in deadwood, but it just slipped my mind.

Ah, is a no-good place. Thieves and robbers...

They charge you 3 times for everything.

They pick your pockets. Where are you headed?

We're going to a place called Newton.

So are we. You can drive along with us, if you like.

We'd like to very much. Thank you.

My name's Griffin. Ben Griffin.

Over there's my family.

Charles: Ma'am.

Howdy.

These are the delanos.

How are you? Ingalls.

Edwards here.

My wife Maria and my son Sam.

American, like uncle Sam!

Oh, you're such nice families!

Charles: Thank you very much, ma'am.

More food!

Oh, si, si. Sam...

- Ok, mama. - Si, si.

You can eat with us while Ben and me fix the wheel, huh?

Caroline: No, we couldn't impose.

Oh, it's no impose. We enjoy.

Ben: I think you better, mister.

Mrs. Delano's a good hand with the victuals,

and I was a wheelwright back home... best in 4 counties.

All right, we'll take you up on it. Thank you very much.

We go to work, huh?

What a blessing.

I wasn't sure we were going to make it on that wheel.

The blessing is meeting people like those.

I know what you mean. I better give them a hand.

Whoa! Last stop... Newton!

Everybody out.

Welcome!

Welcome to Newton.

Thank you.

It is a joy to see family folk arrive.

It's a joy to see a reverend.

The tent is our church with services every sunday and Wednesday evenings.

That is good news.

Join us and meet your new neighbors.

I expect you're prospecting.

That's right, reverend.

I understand some folks around here found some pretty good color.

A few have found enough gold to pay for their food.

Mr. Sanders, the storekeeper,

will tell you who found what and where.

Thank you very much. It's a real pleasure to be here.

We won't be long.

This is a splendid day.

We have enough children now for a sunday school.

Charles: Wait till Caroline and grace hear about this...

Prices no higher than walnut grove.

Isaiah: It's two cents cheaper.

Restores your belief in humanity, don't it?

That gravel bar he was asking about... That what we're hunting for?

That's what it says in the book. Gold comes down from the hills,

settles in the sand on those gravel bars.

That sounds good to me!

All aboard!

Isaiah: Look at the difference in the prices.

Got all the information we need, reverend. Thank you.

Girls, jump on in.

Well, our next stop is shadow creek.

Wherever that is.

It's about 5 miles out of town.

You know I got that book on mining.

There are two chapters on placer mining.

This shadow creek sounds something like the country they had in the book.

Sure hope the book's right.

Reverend, we'll see you at service.

Yes, indeed, and good luck.

Say a little prayer for us.

I doubt if the good lord spends much time helping us look for gold,

but I will say a prayer for your health... And happiness.

That'll be just fine, reverend. Thank you. We'll see you.

Yah! Giddap! Yah! Yah! Yah!

Well, this ought to be a spot.

How do you know that this is the right spot?

A claim can only be so big and still be legal.

Got to make this one the same size we made the other 3.

Don't seem fair Laura and me can't have a claim.

Nothing we can do about it.

You got to be 21. Only adults can have a claim.

Don't you worry. There'll be plenty of work to do around here.

Why don't you go on and get some more stones

and finish this marker up for me?

Yes, sir.

Let me have that bottle, Mary.

Yes, sir. I wrote out the paper.

"This claim belongs to Mrs. Grace Edwards." And I put down the date.

Oh, good. Put it in there.

What happens if you strike gold on Mrs. Edwards' claim?

I guess I'll have to fess up I married her for her money.

Married her for her money! She'll love that...

Hey, can't wait to get started. Can you?

Sure can't.

Griffin and delano settled in above us.

Won't be long before these mountains are filled with folks.

Not if we don't find color.

Then I won't mind being crowded.

Come on. Got a lot of work to do

if we're going to start tomorrow.

You two make sure you make that marker

just as big as the other ones.

Laura: Yes, sir.

I still don't think it's fair.

What?

Just because we're not grownups, we can't have a claim of our own.

Yeah. It's just like going to school

and washing behind your ears.

You have to be old before you can decide for yourself.

The way you got these things put together,

you figure we're going to eat off them.

It's just what we'll be doing if we strike color.

If we don't, I wonder how these things are going to taste with gravy on them?

Mr. Delano: Hello!

Mr. Ingalls and Mr. Edwards!

Hey, Mr. Delano!

Mr. Griffin, how're you doing?

You strike gold already?

No. We struck venison.

Is enough for everybody.

Hey, I think maybe we celebrate, huh?

Caroline: Mr. Delano, you must let us do the fixing this time.

No, no. That's all right.

My mama, she don't mind.

Grace: But we do.

If we're going to be neighbors,

it's got to be share and share alike.

Don't argue with them. No way to win.

All right. Hey...

Tonight I bring the concertina.

We have food, we have vino,

and we have musica!

Got to be doing something wrong.

There ain't nothing but dirt.

I'm doing it just the way you're supposed to.

There's no gold there, that's for sure.

That's probably because people are getting it

off the top of the mountain before it can get down here.

How you doing, pa?

Well, I haven't found any gold yet,

but I'm starting to get down to some of that black sand.

Isaiah: Charles, can you give me a hand with this thing?

The blasted thing's stuck.

All right, be right there.

Keep rocking that for me, sugar.

Well, we're never going to get rich.

You got to be patient.

If gold was so easy to find,

it wouldn't be worth nothing.

Pa says kids aren't supposed to be patient. It's not natural.

Let me try.

It's a waste of time. Let's go downstream a ways. Come on.

You're not supposed to look for gold except on your own claim.

We'll only go a little ways away. Come on.

All right.

Thought you said just a little ways.

We've come this far. We might as well keep going.

- Wish it would rain. - Why?

Then there'd be a rainbow. There's gold at the end of the rainbow.

That's dumb.

It is not. I read it in a book. It says that there's gold...

Never mind. I'll try right here.

Carl, look!

Are they what I think they are?

I don't know. What do you think they are?

Mines. Gold mines. Come on!

Hey, you know we're not supposed to be on anybody else's claim.

Can't you see these places are old? Nobody's here.

Don't go in there. It could cave in on you.

It won't.

Well, I'm going back.

Suit yourself.

Laura!

What is it?

Look... Across the creek.

I told you. Somebody does live there.

They do not. Can't you see that place is falling apart?

Hey, we could use it like a playhouse.

We could fix it up. Come on!

Laura, wait up!

Are you sure nobody lives here?

Sure, I'm sure. Watch.

Hello! See, nobody lives here. Come on.

Hey, lookee there.

Somebody must live here.

Won't hurt to take a few. There's plenty.

I suppose.

Raaagh!

Wait!

No, come on!

No! You shouldn't scare people like that!

What's wrong with you?

What's so funny?

Come on. We better go. He's loony.

Wait.

What are you laughing at?

Ha ha ha! Can't you see what's funny, you little tadpole?

Can't you see? I got my apple back!

Now...

If you were to say please,

I'd give you both an apple.

You promise you won't do anything?

Not do what?

You know... Go, "aaagh!"

I promise... I won't.

Come on.

Remember, you promised.

Thank you.

Thank you, mis... Mister...

Zachariah.

And who might you be...

Besides apple thieves?

This is Carl, and I'm Laura.

We're camping down the creek a ways. We're here to get rich!

Yeah. Our pas are going to find gold.

It's started again.

What?

The fever.

The gold fever.

Zachariah: I've seen it before.

You see those old mines over there?

They were dug out 20 years ago.

20 years ago.

Laura: Did folks find gold?

Some.

Just enough to change folks.

Enough to make them think they needed more and more

and more... Until more wasn't enough...

Until all the gold on god's earth wasn't enough.

Now... now it's beginning again...

The greed and the hate...

The sorrow.

Laura: But these folks are different.

These are good people.

They'll change!

But you don't even know them.

They'll change...

God forgive them.

They'll change.

The apples are always here.

Mary: Laura! Carl!

Laura, come quick!

Laura!

Laura: What is it?

Come on. You'll see. Wait till you see!

Come on!

Laura: Pa, what is it? What is it?

It's gold, half-pint!

All right!

We hit it!

Seen happier looks on a tombstone.

Yeah.

Your samples... Your report.

Thank you.

This is the first one of these I've ever read.

It'd help me if I knew how to read it.

It's simple enough. Nuggets run 98% pure.

What's this zero mean right here?

Estimated value per ton of ore.

No way for me to tell unless I know

how much ore you handled to get that sample.

Could be a shovelful... Could be a month's diggings.

Two men, 3 hours work.

Then you got a good one... Long as it lasts.

Ha ha ha!

That'll be $2.00.

If you're short, you can let me have it in dust.

How much is all this worth?

126. Less my dues, 124.

Gold country for sure!

Yah-hoo!

He hit it! He hit it!

Yah ha ha!

He's rich! He strike it rich!

He's rich! He strike!

Where is this place?

Ben: Quiet! Quiet!

Quiet, men. You'll get the whole town out there.

It's all right. We got our claim.

We should share the good fortune, huh?

Man: Here he comes now!

Second man: Where's the claim?

East of shadow creek!

Did you tell your pa supper was ready?

Yes, ma.

I told my pa, too. He said they'd be right in.

That was over an hour ago.

It's more than that. The stew's just about boiled dry.

Charles: Sorry we're late.

We had to clean the rocker boxes and wash up.

Took a little bit longer than I thought.

We took more than we thought, too.

Took more. We got about 3 times what we brought

to the assayer's office this morning.

Good heavens!

Oh, my! You must be starved.

Now go sit yourselves down.

Oh, yeah. Being rich, I worked myself up an appetite.

Hey, lookit. Here they come.

Sure didn't take them long.

It's like the preacher said.

The place is going to come alive again.

You know, with all these strangers around here,

we better find us a good place to hide that gold.

Oh, don't be silly, Isaiah.

This isn't like that awful place deadwood, thank heavens.

Maybe not, but strangers are strangers, all the same.

I think Isaiah's right.

Maybe we ought to find ourselves a good place.

It wasn't like this in walnut grove.

Of course, I didn't have nothing to hide there

except my jug of...

How's your coffee?

Mine's fine. Thank you.

Mr. Delano: Charles! Edwards!

Delano.

Aah!

Delano, what's the matter? What's wrong?

Wrong? Is no wrong. Everything, she's right!

Ha ha ha! I hit it! I hit it!

Oh, wonderful! Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Oh! Congratulations!

Look at the size of them!

Big ones, little ones, all kinds. Ha ha ha!

I want to stay and celebrate,

but I'm so excited, I got to go!

I just come by to say hello.

I want to tell my friends.

The sooner I get the gold,

the sooner I get my farm in California,

and then I make the vino!

You see, I make more vino, you get plenty.

You get plenty of vino!

Hee-yah!

Mama Mia!

Ha ha ha!

I'd say we had one happy neighbor.

Yeah! Ha ha ha!

Come on. Let's go eat supper.

Dadburnit.

What's wrong?

Mr. Delano found gold.

What's wrong with that? He's a nice man.

I know that.

It's just that everybody gets a chance to find gold

except the kids.

You have to be 21 to file a claim.

I know.

Hey, wait a minute.

Zachariah has a big claim.

He's been living there forever.

So what?

So he's kind of old.

Maybe he needs some help.

We could work for him for just a little share.

He kind of scares me.

Well, you don't have to come if you don't want.

I can't let you go alone. You're just a girl.

Laura: Mr. Zachariah!

Are you home?

Hello there!

Hi, Mr. Zachariah!

Ha ha ha!

You tadpoles hankering for some more apples, are you?

No, sir, but thank you.

We're here to talk business.

Business, is it? What kind?

Well, I don't know if you heard or not,

but folks are finding an awful lot of gold in the creek.

I don't have to hear it.

People have been moving up and down the crick all day long.

Well, we were thinking that maybe if you needed some help...

I mean, no offense, but you being up in your years and all.

Help doing what?

Panning.

For the gold.

Can't do that.

Laura: But if folks found gold just around the bend,

there's bound to be some right here.

There could be a fortune right there in the creek.

You could have everything you ever wanted.

Everything I ever wanted is beneath the crick.

You come with me.

- He's getting scary again. - I know.

Come along.

There.

I don't see anything.

In the middle. The rock in the middle.

Look close.

"Lorraine."

All I ever wanted.

All I ever needed.

My wife.

My beautiful, gentle woman.

How she loved the coolness of the crick.

We came here in the summer.

Blistering hot it was.

While I worked the mine...

She would sit on the bank here and...

Let the cool water rush over her feet.

I dug those... All by myself.

First one, then another, and another.

Hmm.

"We have enough," she would tell me.

"We don't need more gold."

But I... Wanted to give her so many things,

so many treasures.

So many.

She died that winter...

So quickly.

Like a cold wind gusting from the north.

She just...

Kissed my cheek, and...

Closed her eyes.

But I had my gold...

Enough to buy anything.

Almost anything.

She rests there now...

On a bed of gold.

I have no use for it.

It was all just for her.

So you see, everything I ever wanted is right here,

and here it must remain forever.

Ahem.

You want some more coffee?

No, no. I've had plenty.

I just can't get over how much gold delano's come up with today.

Must be 10 times what Edwards and I found.

Well, we're not doing so badly.

Oh, I'm not complaining. I'm happy for the man.

I don't think Mr. Griffin feels the same way.

Well, you know, he hardly said two words tonight.

He's just disappointed.

He'll hit it.

Just take us a little longer, that's all.

How long?

What?

Just how much longer do you think we'll be here?

Well, it's hard to say. It depends on how we do, you know?

Until we get enough.

Sometimes I wonder if people know when they have enough.

Oh, you're thinking about the story the old hermit told Laura today.

Yes.

Well, I wouldn't take that as the gospel.

I mean, even Laura said he was a strange one.

Him saying he buried all that gold.

Bet he never found any in the first place.

I suppose you're right.

We will be out of here by winter.

Yeah, I think we will.

But you're not positive.

Look, Caroline, I'm doing the best that I can.

I have a chance now.

I'm never going to get this chance again.

I'm... tired.

I'm going to turn in. You coming?

In a little while.

Good night.

Hey, lookit.

Lookit what?

They're wearing guns.

Grace: That'll do, Carl.

Just saying what I saw.

All right, but there are other things

you can be talking about.

On the porch. They're wearing guns, too.

Caroline: Laura, that's enough.

Man: You ain't going no place till you pay me.

Caroline: Morning, reverend.

I don't owe you nothing.

Reverend: Ladies! Children! It's so nice to see you again.

A lot of new people are moving in.

I'm not too sure they're all churchgoers.

I've heard that bull for the last time out of you!

Fortunately, they do respect this area.

You won't be bothered here.

Caroline: We're not worried.

Grace: Well, I'm going to get my shopping done.

Carl, you and Alicia stay here.

Reverend, I wanted to talk to you.

That's the main reason we're here.

Then come in. Come in and bring the children.

You children will be seated here.

I have a surprise for you.

Peppermint sticks.

One for each of you while Mrs. Ingalls and I have a talk.

Laura: Thank you.

This front bench should do nicely.

Now... what can I do for you?

I already told you how glad we were

to find a church and a man of god here.

Yes.

Well, we have another need...

A school.

With our children and the Edwards

and the delanos and the griffins,

there are enough children to start a school.

There must be others.

I used to teach before I was married.

Pupils and a teacher.

Now all you need is a place.

This tent. Of course.

I need it only on sundays and Wednesday evenings.

You may use it the rest of the time.

Thank you.

There's no telling how long we'll be here.

I was so afraid of the children falling behind in their studies.

Of course. I understand.

Now a church and a school.

It's really starting to seem like a town now.

A noisy town, but a town.

Why don't you make the announcement about the school

at services on sunday?

All right. And thank you again.

My pleasure.

Come along, children.

Laura: Thank you for the candy, reverend Phillips.

You're welcome, child.

Caroline: That didn't take long.

Grace: I could hardly get anything.

A sack of flour and a few potatoes, and I was all out of money.

Oh, no.

The prices are about 5 times what they were a week ago.

Well, we have good news.

The reverend will let us use the tent for a school.

Carl: I knew it. School.

Now, Carl...

But, ma, we don't want to go to school.

Mary: I wouldn't mind.

Laura: You would say that.

Caroline: Laura.

Charles? Better hurry. You'll be late for church.

We'll be right there.

Say, you got any luck?

Not so that you'd notice it.

Me neither.

Made about a dozen boxes.

Didn't find enough to buy a can of beans.

Don't suppose we run ourselves out of pay dirt, do you?

I don't think so.

I mean, we ought to start cross passing the claims a little bit,

find that black sand.

That's where we found our nuggets before.

And we start over here, work our way down to the gravel.

Caroline: Charles?

Coming!

We'll get started as soon as we get back.

Right.

And the lord said blessed is he who remembers the lord's day and keeps it holy.

For that reason, I thank all of you who are here this morning.

Even though we are few in number,

where two gather in his name,

they are blessed in the lord's work.

And speaking of the lord's work,

before I give the benediction,

I think Mrs. Ingalls has an announcement she'd like to make.

Mrs. Ingalls.

Thank you, reverend Phillips.

Well, I just want you all to know that we're opening school here tomorrow.

All the children are welcome.

Thank you.

I make the announcement, too.

Today the reverend, he, uh, no make a collection.

I think that's, uh, maybe because he's young and a little shy.

I know some of you is not so lucky yet,

but those of us who is,

I... I think we should make up for all.

So, uh, I start with nuggets...

And I pass the basket,

with the reverend's permission.

Thank you, Mr. Delano.

Thank you all.

Shall we sing?

Rock of ages, cleft for me!

Let me hide myself in thee

let the water and the blood

from thy wounded side which flowed

be of sin the double cure

save from wrath and make me pure

rock of ages, cleft for me!

Let me hide myself in thee

Laura: Come on, Jack!

Hey, Edwards, you about ready?

Just about.

Charles, you're not going to work on the lord's day.

The sooner we get rich, the sooner the reverend will have his church.

It's almost like doing the lord's work, isn't it?

Delano's.

Children, stay here!

Give me a hand with him.

Delano: Sam?

My son.

They want the gold...

But I no tell them where it is.

You take the gold and the mama

and go to California, huh?

We'll all go, papa.

You'll be with us.

No. You... You promise, huh?

The grape.

You make the vino.

You be happy, huh?

Hey...

Baciome.

My papa.

I'll stay here and help Mrs. Delano get ready to leave.

You and the girls get back and start packing.

I'll be there as soon as I can.

Oh, Charles.

We're going home?

No, I'm... I'm going to rent you a place in town.

You'll be safe there. You'll have a proper place to live.

I'll be along as soon as I can.

All right.

Now, Mr. Ingalls, you'll note there are no broken windows.

You can't say that for most places in town,

and this fireplace draws real nice.

How much is it?

$100.

$100? We don't want it for a year. We just want it for...

A month.

Last place in town.

I been renting it out $5.00 a head just for sleeping overnight.

All right. We'll take it.

That kind of money, you ought to have red velvet curtains.

If we're lucky, it will just be a couple of days' work.

That's what I was thinking, Mr. Ingalls.

So I'll need two months in advance.

I'm sure your families will be comfy and cozy here.

Now if there's anything I can do,

all you have to do is just call.

Not sure I want to do that until I know what the price tag is.

You know, Mr. Ingalls, the price I had to ask was kind of high.

Don't tell me you're having pangs of conscience.

Well, I was just thinking, might be better all around

if I was to buy out your claims.

Save you trouble.

Thank you very much, but we're staying.

Your decision.

Well, I better start unloading.

I'll help you.

Charles?

Are you sure about this?

Caroline, we buried a man today.

That makes me sure.

I don't want you or the girls near shadow creek.

No, I mean about selling the claim.

I got to unload.

Now, children, until we get the supplies we need,

we're going to have to share.

If you have a slate, and the person next to you doesn't...

Mrs. Ingalls, I can't hear you.

I want you all to share your slates with each other.

Everyone will share.

We're going to start with sums just to see how far along we are.

Um, Janie, can you tell me what this adds up to?

I know. 43.

Laura, I asked Janie.

43.

And if I change this number...

Children, back in your seats!

Get back in your seats right now!

You heard me! Get back in your seats!

The thing about working for yourself,

ain't nobody around to tell you to take a rest.

We still got a lot of time till noon.

How you fellas doing?

We're fine, thank you.

Well, I wasn't asking about your health.

You finding any color?

No, no, we haven't. We just got started.

Oh, well, that's surprising.

I heard folks was doing pretty well along here.

We all can't be lucky, can we?

Maybe you don't know what to look for.

Let me just check that rocker box of yours.

It's no need.

We know what we're doing.

No need to point a shotgun at me, friend.

I'm just trying to be neighborly.

Well, I don't know you, so you ain't my friend.

Why don't you go visiting somewhere else?

If you move that hand one more inch,

folks are going to be panning for you just to find enough to Bury.

Good-bye.

You best keep that shotgun around, huh?

Yeah. Reckon we ought to load it, too.

Ha ha ha!

Got some stew warming.

Edwards: Thanks all the same. I'm too tired to chew.

See you in the morning.

Charles: I'm not very hungry, either.

I'll take some coffee.

All right.

Here.

Oh, thank you.

Ah, it's good.

How was school today?

All right.

I suppose the children learned something

between the gunshots and the shouting.

How was your day?

Fine. We're back in the black sand again.

We should hit it good pretty soon.

You know, hungry or not,

you really should put something in your stomach.

All right.

I was hoping that you'd be home in time to eat with the children.

That's right, Janie.

All you have to do is remember to carry your number.

Thank you, Mrs. Ingalls.

That's right.

Well, good morning, ma'am.

Caroline: We're having school in here.

Oh, I know that. I guess I'm late.

Would you please leave?

Now wait a minute, teacher.

I come for some learning.

You can teach me some stuff,

and maybe I could teach you a little bit, too.

I want you to get out of here now.

Aw, come on. Be nice.

Mr. Griffin: Mrs. Ingalls?

Oh, Mr. Griffin.

I hope I'm not bothering you.

Not at all.

I just came for Janie. We're pulling out today.

Oh, I'm sorry things didn't work out better for you.

Oh, no, no, ma'am. Everything's fine.

I hit it big. That's why we're leaving.

Look here. I just came from the assayer's office.

It's as rich as he's seen.

Let me see.

Janie: Oh, papa! Are we rich?

We sure are, darling.

I'm so happy for you.

Thank you, Mrs. Ingalls.

Get your things, honey. Let's go.

Where you get this?

Shadow creek.

You didn't get this out of no crick.

You asked me, mister. I told you.

That there is quartz gold out of a mine.

Come on. You're pulling out.

Where'd you mine this stuff?

You didn't pan for this. It's mined.

You won't say nothing. The assayer will.

Come on, Janie. Hurry up.

You weren't mining, Mr. Griffin.

You were panning like my pa.

We best be going. Good-bye, Mrs. Ingalls.

Good-bye.

Mr. Griffin...

You didn't go near Mr. Zachariah's, did you?

My wife's waiting. Good-bye.

He did, ma.

I know he did.

Laura!

Carl, you know where Mr. Zachariah's is?

Yes, ma'am.

Run and tell my husband what happened,

- tell him Laura's gone there. - Yes, ma'am!

Mr. Zachariah?

Stay away.

You told them.

You told them about the gold.

I didn't mean it.

I didn't think that they would do anything like that.

You didn't think they would ever do a thing like this?

You wouldn't listen to me.

The people change.

All I could give my Lorraine is a place to sleep.

To be at peace.

Now... she doesn't even have that.

Thrown on the bank of a river...

Like a piece of driftwood.

Now...

There's nothing I can do.

I took everything from her.

And I can't give her anything.

But, Mr. Zachariah, we can.

Get out.

Get out and leave us be.

Get out. Get out!

Get out!

Half pint?

Aw, honey. Shh.

Aw, it's all right. It's going to be all right.

Shh.

Pa?

Mr. Griffin...

I really shouldn't have told.

No, it's not your fault. You didn't know.

I thought Mr. Griffin was a good man.

I didn't think that...

Oh, pa.

I know. Come on.

You can't blame yourself.

She's with him, pa.

He's holding her.

We can't leave him like that.

All right, now. I'll go to him.

I'll see what I can do.

I'll go with you.

No, no. You go to your ma. I want her to know you're all right.

You do what I tell you, all right?

I don't know how late I'll be.

You tell ma if I'm too late, I'll meet her in church.

Yes, sir.

It's not your fault.

I love you.

I love you, too.

You go on now.

Pa?

Ask him to please forgive me.

I will.

Dear god.

Zachariah!

Feet have trod

with its crystal tide forever

flowing by the throne of god?

Yes, we'll gather at the river

the beautiful, the beautiful river

gather with the saints at the river

that flows by the throne of god

come. Sit, Mr. Ingalls.

The service is just beginning.

Let us bow our heads for a moment of silent prayer.

Is he all right?

He, uh, decided to go away.

He told me to tell you that he wasn't angry anymore.

Reverend Phillips: Amen.

Amen.

I know that when I stand up here and speak,

some of you say to yourselves,

"how does he know how I feel about god or about my life?"

A lot of people feel that a minister is different,

but I have my hopes and my dreams just like all of you.

That's why from time to time, I'd like to have a member of your congregation speak

to tell us how he or she feels about god.

Mrs. Ingalls has told me that her husband has often spoken in their church,

and I'd like to ask him to share some of his feelings with us tonight.

Would you, Charles?

Thank you, reverend.

I'm, uh, not accustomed to speaking in front of a congregation as large as this

or in a town as noisy as this, for that matter.

Now, the reverend asked us tonight to say a silent prayer,

and I know it's not proper to ask folks about their prayers,

but seeing as I'm not a regular preacher,

I guess I can get away with it.

Because I'd really like to know how many of you

closed your eyes, bowed your heads tonight,

and asked the good lord to...

Help you strike it rich.

Whoever did, just raise their hand.

Come on. If we're going to be anything while we're in church,

I think we ought to be honest.

I know I did it when I came here.

Surely I'm not the only one.

That's more like it.

You know, before I came here,

I never dreamed about asking god for wealth.

Happiness, yes, and good health for my family,

strength of spirit, but not wealth.

Well, when you come to a place like this, you change.

Some folks more than others, but you change.

And you see the people around you change, too.

You see folks thinking more and more about the wealth of gold

and less and less about the real wealth...

Your loved ones...

Your friends...

And even your god.

So when I bowed my head tonight, I didn't ask for gold.

I asked god to give me the strength to forget about it,

to turn my back on it...

And to let me take my family home.

And standing up here tonight...

Speaking to you, he's given me that strength.

And we are going home.

God be with all of you.

Amen.

Whoa.

Good day to you, neighbor.

Charles: Good day.

Say, are we anywhere near Newton?

You just go straight ahead until you get to those hills.

Another couple of hours.

Are they having any luck there?

You mean are they finding any color. Yes, ma'am, they are.

Hey, I told you.

Say, we're hoping to strike it rich.

You been panning?

Yeah, we have.

Did you hit it big?

Yeah.

Well, maybe it's our turn.

Just a couple of hours, you say?

That's right.

Thank you, neighbor.

Thank you.

Good luck to you.

Thanks. Hyah.

Maybe we should have told them what's ahead.

You really think they would have changed their mind?