Original subtitles

( music playing )

( knock on door)

It's open.

Afternoon, Albert.

Oh, hi, Pa. What are you doing home so early?

Mr. Caldwell gave me the rest of the day off.

I guess he figured I might wanna come home to celebrate.

- Celebrate? - Mm-hmm.

My boy, you are looking at the new purchasing agent

for J.R. Bennett and Company.

- Aw, Pa, that's great, congratulations. - (laughs)

Hey, listen, that is not all.

They're gonna send me back to Minnesota

on a business trip for one month.

- For a month? - Yeah.

Yeah, I feel kind of bad about being away from you for that long.

I tell you, I worked so hard to get this promotion.

I just have to keep at it, you know?

How'd you like to go with me?

- How would I like it, are you serious? - How would you like it?

But if you're gonna be gone for a month,

- Mom might-- - I've already talked to your ma,

she was the one who suggested you go with me.

- Really? - Really.

Now, listen, we can spend some time with that University

you're gonna attend, look around, see what it's like.

And then go on and spend some time at the Walnut Grove.

What do you say?

- Well, when do we leave? - End of the week soon enough?

Oh, Pa, thank you.

All right Isaiah, it's now or never.

Yeah, I know, I know.

All right, then.

- Let's get him out. - All right.

All right.

( men chattering, shouting )

( cheering )

- Come on! - Come on, come on!

( excited chattering )

Here comes one.

Woman: Come on, Willie. You can do it!

( cheering )

Whoo!

Now, now!

- Hurry up, Jason! - Come on, now, come on bring it in.

Man: Bring it in, bring it in!

Come on, bring it in! Slide, Willie, slide!

Slide!

He's safe.

Safel!?! Safe?

How can you call him safe.

He was out from me to you.

Now, now Isaiah,

this was a-- a close decision.

But, the Good Lord helped me make the right decision.

Well, that's wonderful, but the Good Lord

wasn't leading by two runs, we were.

- Isaiah! - Beautiful slide, Willie,

- a beautiful slide. - This is Sunday.

Let not question divine guidance.

Let's go everybody. Time to eat.

( mouths words ) Thank you.

Isaiah, I dropped the ball.

( sighs) Oh, if this hadda been Saturday,

Willie would have been out.

Oh, John, your team was pretty lucky today.

( chuckles) I don't know about that.

Willie gave Isaiah's snake ball a pretty good lick.

That was not my snake ball, but you can bet your boots

it will be next time.

Isaiah, are you telling me your team wants a rematch?

Sure, why not?

And I guarantee you things are gonna be different too.

Well, well gentlemen, it sounds to me

like we have the basis for a possible wager here.

Now you're talking there, Monty.

You put up the money and I'll put up my snake ball.

Snake ball. (laughs)

That's Mr. Montague,

and I hardly call your snake ball

a sound investment.

- ( laughing ) - ( Isaiah imitates laughter)

We'll talk about this later.

( chattering )

- That snake ball-- - Yeah, snake ball?

Kinda slithers up to the--

Man: Oh, Rematch it is.

Man #2: You get it in the plate, Isaiah?

- We'll brave a rematch? - Isaiah: Yep.

Well, let me start.

Ahem.

Dear, Lord, we thank You for this food that You've given us,

for this beautiful day, so that we enjoy

the fellowship of our good friends.

And we would also humbly ask

Your guiding hand to lead us and our neighbors

through these most difficult times.

These things we ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

All: Amen.

I was talking to Brad Sutherland after services today.

Did you know he was going to sell off his place?

- Oh, no. - Mm.

I knew things were getting tough for him,

but Brad had his grain crop.

Isaiah and me are all set to mill for him.

Yeah, it wouldn't have been much, but it'd been enough to keep him going.

That's what he thought, too,

but, well, he had an agreement with Zach Taylor

to sell their crops together.

But then Zach went ahead and sold his on his own.

So Brad was forced to sell at Zach Taylor's prices right?

Yeah, exactly.

Taylor has three times the property Brad has.

Why didn't he just wait for Brad to harvest?

That's what he wanted to know.

But, when he went out see him,

Zach chased him off his property.

I heard Mr. Olson say Bobby Sutherland's moving away.

So?

So it makes me feel bad.

All my friends are moving away.

And now I'm wondering, if we have to move away, too.

( bells ringing )

Here are the records you requested, Mr. Hall.

Thank you, Mrs. McGinnis.

Pardon me.

( bells continue ringing )

So, you want to be a doctor, Albert?

- Yes, sir. - Uh-huh.

It's going to take a lot of hard work.

Oh, I know that, sir, but that's my goal.

I hope to be able to go back home one day

and become my town's doctor.

Well, from what I see in this file,

you take that goal very seriously.

Mr. Ingalls, you have a very bright young man here.

You should be proud.

Thank you, sir. I am very proud.

Albert. You got that nosebleed again, son.

- Oh, no, not again. - Yeah.

Excuse me Mr. Hall, I'll go take care of this.

You want me to go with you?

- No I'll be fine. - All right.

Hall: The water closet is down the hall and to the right.

Thank you.

That's the second one he's had,

It must be the dry air. I'm sorry.

Oh, don't be sorry, I understand.

Now then Mr. Ingalls,

here's the complete breakdown of the tuition fees,

plus the book and laboratory costs.

Is there something wrong?

Well, to be perfectly honest with you, Mr. Hall,

the cost are just a lot more than I thought they were gonna be.

Mr. Ingalls...

the study of medicine is not an inexpensive endeavor.

But please remember, the investment you make today

will be more than returned once Albert becomes a doctor.

Uh, do you mind?

Oh, no, no. Go right ahead.

This may sound strange to you, Mr. Hall,

but Albert wants to become a doctor so he can help people.

He opens his practice in Walnut Grove,

more then likely his fees are gonna be paid in chickens

and bushels of apples.

Well, the university

has a number of philanthropic scholarships at its disposal.

It is possible with Albert's fine scholastic record

that he could qualify for a partial

if not complete scholarship grant.

Well, that'd be wonderful, if you think he can do it.

Well, when the scholarship committee convenes next week,

I shall give them my strongest recommendation.

Albert is a fine student,

and I think he'll make a very fine doctor.

His mother and I feel the same way about it.

Oh, here are some papers you'll need to fill out.

Perhaps I'd better go over them with you.

For some reason, the admissions office

makes forms that are only...

understandable by those with a master's degree.

I appreciate everything you're doing.

Well, and I appreciate a young man like Albert

wanting to help the people he grew up with.

Well, where do we start?

Excuse me, could you tell me...

- Over there. - Thank you.

- Hey, how's your nose? - Oh, it's fine,

What you find out from Mr. Hall?

Well, first thing I found out is your tuition

is gonna cost about twice as much as we thought it was going to.

Well, I could drop some classes, Pa. That'd help.

Maybe get a job, maybe I just been away--

Albert, relax. Mr. Hall told me

you had a good chance of getting a scholarship

that'll help pay for most of it.

Pa, are you serious?

Darn right I'm serious, and I'm hungry, too.

Come on, I'll tell you about it on the way.

- Scholarship, can you believe it? - Uh-huh.

- You think I have a chance? - Hey, you're an Ingalls,

of course you've got a chance.

( children chattering )

- Howdy, Jason. - Hi.

( chattering continues )

I lost my job today, Etta.

Mr. Newson is gonna have to cut back

to two days a week, so he had to let me go.

Oh, Vance.

At this rate, I'll still be

trying to build us a house when I'm 80.

But I'm still teaching.

I mean, it may not pay much,

but at least it's steady.

No.

Etta, when you said you'd marry me,

I promised to build you a house and that's what I'm gonna do.

We'll just have to postpone the wedding.

I'm sorry.

Vance...

I don't need you to build me a house.

I'd be just has happy living in a tent.

As long as we're together,

that's what really matters.

I'll tell you what.

I'm gonna talk to Mr. Anderson over at the bank.

Maybe he can loan me the money.

Jason, what are you doing?

Quiet, Jeb, just go away.

Jason, what are you looking at?

I am watching Mr. Reed give Miss Plum a kiss

so I'll know how to do it right when I try it on Amy Bryant.

Amy: Jason Carter,

I wouldn't kiss you if you were the last boy on Earth.

( screams )

You see what you've done?

I haven't done anything.

You did, too You messed everything up.

You heard her, she wouldn't kiss me

if I was the last boy on Earth.

You believe that?

You think she was lying?

Of course she was.

- Yeah. - Sure.

All you gotta do now

is wait for all the rest of us to die.

Thanks a lot, Jeb.

Stage is coming!

- (laughs ) Isaiah, how you doing? - Charles.

Oh, excuse me. I mean Mr. Ingalls, sir.

- Welcome to Walnut Grove. - What are you talking about?

Oh, Laura told me about your new job,

just want you to feel at home.

I feel quite at home with out all that, thanks.

Ah, there's my granddaughter.

- Hi, Grandpa. - How you doing?

- Hi, Jenny. - Hi.

- Look at-- - Albert: Pa.

Yeah?

Here, come on, the road was a little rough.

Feeling a bit queasy.

You gonna be all right?

Yeah, I think I need some fresh air is all.

Pa?

- Oh, welcome home. - Hi, darling.

I just got off the phone with Ma. Aunt Wu had twins.

- ( laughs ) You're kidding! - A boy and a girl.

Your uncle's gonna be in shock.

- Hi, Laura. - Hi, big brother.

How do you feel?

Well, right now I'm a little tired.

Well, I tell you what. Why don't we go back to the house

- and you can rest while I make supper? - That sounds very good to us.

First it was the wheat, then it was the barley.

Charles, the prices on all the crops have dropped to practically nothing.

All the famers, well, they're bitter and angry.

It's just hard to believe things got so bad so quickly.

If it wasn't for that lumber contract with the Army,

the mill would be closed down, too.

Mr. Ingalls...

I have made a thumbnail assessment,

of the financial, dilemma

which has befallen this town.

And it is quite clear

that the primary shippers have chosen to purchase goods

from areas closer to the railroads.

As, I've told everyone,

Walnut Grove simply cannot compete

and expect to survive.

Pa, with your new job, maybe you could do something.

I don't know, darling,

At least not until I get to talk to that shipper over in Redwood Falls.

I'll tell you Charles, anything you can do would be appreciated.

I'l do what I can, you know that.

Albert...

Laura tells me that you have decided to study medicine.

Yes, sir, that's right.

Well, it is a commendable endeavor,

and I wish you all the best.

Well, thank you, I am sure I'll need it.

Of course, first I have to get the scholarship.

Yeah, we outta know in about to weeks.

I told them to contact us here.

Seems like Laura's teaching must have done some good after all.

Isaiah: Tell you, what you gotta do, Albert,

Soon as you learn all that doctoring stuff,

you gotta get back here to Walnut Grove,

so Doc Baker can go fishing with me all the time.

- (all laugh) - I'll tell you, Mr. Edwards,

when that happens, it will be a dream come true.

I propose a toast

to the future Dr. Ingalls:

may the medical challenge be easily attained.

All: Hear, hear.

- Jeb, can I ask you something? - Sure.

Have you ever kissed a girl?

Yeah, lots of times.

- ( moos) - Listen...

I'm not talking about the good-bye kind of kiss, Jeb.

I mean the real thing.

You know, the "I like you" kind.

If you're gonna but it like that,

Then I guess I've only kissed two.

Well, did they like it?

I think one of them did.

- But not the other one. - How come?

Woman: Jeb? Jason?

If you want breakfast, you'd better hurry.

- Coming, Ma. - Jason: Wait a minute,

didn't the other girl like you kissing her?

I don't know.

Come on, Jason, or the eggs will get cold.

This is more important than eggs.

We're talkin' kissin'.

Jason, will you just forget about it?

Amy Bryant already told you she ain't gonna kiss you.

Well so what? I'll kiss someone else.

I don't care who it is.

Dag burn it, I'll be an old man before I get any kissing.

( Mr. Montague chanting )

Mr. Montague.

I'm sorry to disturb you,

but I just wanted to tell you--

Montague: Then don't!

- ( humming ) - Well, I just wanted to tell you

- that breakfast is ready. - ( humming continues )

Today is the 12th.

Must I remind you of the significance of that date?

- Oh, your fast. I'm sorry I forgot. - ( chanting continues )

It's too late. ( chanting )

Well, I'm afraid Mr. Montague has started his fast,

so he won't be joining us for a little while.

What-- what's that's that noise?

- That's Mr. Montague, - ( chanting continues )

He has a few unusual habits.

Unusual?

I call it downright strange.

- Now Mr. Edwards, you be nice. - Well, I am being nice.

Charles, don't you think it's a little peculiar,

for a man to get up every morning,

stand on his head in a corner, and howl like a coyote?

Just offhand I'd say that was odd.

(all laugh)

I went to wake up Albert, but he's fast asleep.

He didn't get much sleep on the train,

and that stagecoach ride was pretty hard on him.

Well, I'll just let him sleep as long as he wants, then.

Charles, if you want to stop and see Nels before we go,

- We better get moving. - All right.

Get your books, Jenny.

- Good day. - You, too.

Hey, Charles, you think you'd be back by Sunday?

- Sure, why? - Well we got this here baseball game

after the services, I thought maybe you could play on my team,

- Albert could play for John Carter. - Hey, sounds like fun.

- We'll be there. Give me a kiss. - I'm gonna walk you out.

All right. Hey, we'll see you in a couple of days.

Have a good trip.

( humming, chanting continues )

( Montague yelps, continues humming )

I'm gonna set some traps around here.

( muttering )

( imitates humming )

14-- no, 15 cans of peaches.

Well, that's it.

Let's see how we did last month.

Charles: Morning, Nels.

Charles!

- Hey, how are you? - (laughs)

- Good to see you. - Oh, it's good to see you.

- You look very well yourself. - Why, thank you.

Laura told me that you and Albert were coming.

Oh, Charles, Rachel.

- Rachel, this is Charles Ingalls. - Ma'am.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ingalls.

Willie's told me so much about you and Albert,

I feel like I know you both already.

Well, thank you.

I must say, Willie married himself a very lovely bride.

If you'll both excuse me,

I'll go help Willie open the restaurant.

All right.

Pleasure to meet you.

It's hard to believe Willie married.

- Yeah it sure is. - Well, where's the missus?

Oh, on her way to St. Louis. She left two days ago.

We have some land down there

and Harriet went down to see if she could sell it.

We're pretty much down to empty pockets.

You and everybody else in town.

Charles! The stage is coming.

Well, I am heading over to Redwood Falls.

Gonna meet Otis Wagner, he does a lot of shipping for our company.

You wouldn't know him, would you?

Yeah, I know Otis. Shrewd businessman.

But he is honest.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Maybe we could get some business going around here.

- Oh, Lord, I hope so. - I'll see you on Sunday.

You bet.

- ( knock on door) - Come in.

Well, I'm glad to see you finally woke up.

I didn't realize I slept so late.

What time is it?

It's almost noon.

You look kind of pale, are you feeling all right?

I feel so tired.

I guess it's all the excitement from the trip

and getting to visit the university, is all.

Well how about some breakfast?

Or I should say lunch.

No, I am really not very hungry Laura.

Tired,

not hungry.

What's city life done to you, boy?

(laughs) I don't know.

Well, I'll you what,

I'm gonna go down stairs, and pack us a nice picnic lunch.

I think a little fresh country air is exactly what you need.

- I'd like that. - Good. You come down when your ready.

Okay.

( rhythmic pounding )

Oh, well, thank you Jason.

It will keep the growls away until I can get back to the mill.

Mr. Edwards?

You probably know quite a bit

about kissing girls, don't you?

Kissing?

Hey, ain't you kind of young to be thinking about a thing like that?

Oh...

I wasn't asking for me, it's...

for my friend.

He's older, but kind of shy.

Oh, oh, yeah.

Well, it's pretty much up the individual but,

mostly, you just pucker up and smack them on the lips.

You keep your eyes open or closed?

Well, the ladies, they like to close their eyes, see.

But I keep mine open.

Why?

Mainly cause my aim ain't too good, see.

You don't want to wind up kissing them on the nose.

(laughs) Especially if they got a cold.

Yeah, that makes sense, all right.

Pucker up, smack them on the lips, eyes open.

I got it. Thanks.

( both laugh )

I loved coming here when we were kids.

It's still so peaceful.

Yeah, well, nothing's changed.

- Fish still aren't biting. - (laughs)

Do you-- you remember when we told Willie

that we had a family secret for catching fish?

- You remember? - Do I?

You remember he spent the entire summer

trying to figure out what that secret was?

And he was so mad when he found out

- that it was just cheese. - It was just cheese!

( laughing )

- Gosh, it was fun growing up here. - Oh, yeah.

Sometimes I wish I was still a little girl.

Laura, are you happy here?

I mean now that you're married and you have Rose.

Yeah, I am very happy.

If I had it my way,

I'd stay here the rest of my life.

Me, too.

I'm going to school to become a doctor, but I wanna come back here.

This is where life seems the best.

Not in the city, where no one has time for one another.

Will the future Dr. Ingalls

be giving my family a discount?

Oh, of course.

You can pay me one chicken, instead of two.

( both laugh )

Oh, no, this always seems to happen at the wrong time.

Here.

You get these often?

Well, it seems like every darn day, lately.

( sighs)

I used to get them when I was little.

I guess it's just a phase that all kids go though.

Kids?

I'm about to start medical school.

Well, then, physician.

Heal thyself.

I'm gonna go catch a fish.

Okay.

As you can see, Mr. Ingalls,

everything is shipped right on schedule.

I've been doing business with Bennett and Company

for over five years.

I'd like to think we have a good relationship.

Well, it goes without saying, Mr. Wagner,

you're probably the most reliable of all our shippers.

Why, thank you.

I do try to run a smooth operation here.

Mr. Wagner, I'm...

curious as to why your agents

stopped buying from the farmers around Walnut Grove.

- May I call you Charles? - Certainly.

Charles, ever since the railroad put in its new spur line,

we've had our business practically double.

I mean, take your company.

You can see for yourself

the amount of goods we ship just to you.

I know that, but you're shipping

the same things those farmers raise.

Yes...

and I have to say that the quality's much better

than I'm buying now,

but the problem is that the farms around Walnut Grove

are just too small.

From the amount of goods I need to fill my customer's orders,

I have to deal with the large farms who can deliver.

I guess that's what people call progress.

I'm afraid it is.

Well, I better be going.

It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Wagner.

- Please call me Otis. - All right, Otis.

I'm gonna be leaving for Walnut Grove in the morning.

- I'll see you on my next visit. - Very well.

- Have a good trip. - I sure will, thank you.

- Time's up. - ( students groan )

Pass your test to the center.

Now then, I'd like to remind you all

that our annual field trip will be at the end of the month.

Please make sure you've selected a subject

for your nature projects by then.

Yes, what is it, Nancy?

Miss Plum, I just want to know if the whole class

has to make that silly climb up to Harper's Bluff again.

Yes, I think it's a tradition that everyone looks forward to.

- Well, not me. - ( students groan )

- Boy: Nancy... - Yes, Amy.

Ma'am, I wasn't here last year,

and what's Nancy talking about?

Well, Amy, each year at the end of the fieldtrip,

We all climb up to the top of Harper's Bluff.

And you take along a keepsake

to put in the strongbox that's buried there.

- But what for? - That's what I keep asking.

You see, Amy, it all started about 10 years ago

when a group of children found some old Indian artifacts up there.

They thought it would be a good idea to leave something of their own.

You know, something for those who come later to remember them by.

Oh, I think that's a wonderful idea.

Well, so do we.

And that's why were gonna climb up there again.

- Right, children? - All: Right.

All right, children. It's time for lunch.

All: Yeah!

Hi, how you doing?

- Girl: Hi. - Hi.

- Girl #2: Hi, Albert! - Yeah, how you doing?

Boy: Let's play a little baseball, then?

- Albert: Okay, after lunch. - Boy: Okay.

- Albert? - Hi, Miss Plum.

- How are you? - I'm fine, just fine.

I just wanted to come by and say hello to everybody.

Well, I'm glad you did.

It's good to see you.

Hello, Albert.

Hi.

Michelle--

Michelle Pierson.

Uh-huh, the one and only.

The last time I saw you...

Probably wearing dirty overalls

cutting down wheat alongside my two brothers, right?

( chuckles) Right.

Miss Plum, Nancy took the ball again

and stuffed it down her dress.

Now we can't use it.

I'm coming.

Will you be visiting a while, Albert?

Yes Ma'am, my pa and I will be here for about a month.

Oh, good. I look forward to seeing him, too.

Well, if you'll excuse me,

my favorite student needs some attention.

- Well, how you been? - How's life in the city?

( chuckles)

All right.

I'll answer first. I'm fine.

Now it's your turn.

Oh, it's not bad.

But I'd much rather be living here.

How's that?

Just fine.

You really have changed.

Oh, gosh, I didn't realize I looked so bad.

Oh no, that's not what I meant.

I meant you really look nice.

You know, your dress and all that.

Oh, thank you.

I guess I just figured it was time to start being a girl.

And since I'll be going to college, I'd better look like I belong there.

You mean you'll be going to the university?

Uh-huh, I want to be a teacher,

so I've been helping Miss Plum here a few days a week.

- You know, just get the feel of things. - Oh, that's nice.

You know, I'll be starting at the university myself.

I want to become a doctor.

Oh, a doctor!

Albert, that's wonderful.

Oh, my gosh, maybe we'll be seeing--

I mean...

I'll probably see you there once in a while.

Yeah, I'm sure you will.

Well, I'd better go.

It sure was nice to see you again, Michelle.

Yeah.

It was nice to see you, too, Albert.

Michelle, I'm going to the picnic

and baseball game on Sunday after church.

If you're not busy would you like to go?

Why, yes.

Yes, I'd like that very much.

Well, great.

I'll see you on Sunday, then.

Yeah, see you on Sunday.

( knock on door)

- Yes, who is it? - Otis, it's me, Charles Ingalls.

Charles, come in. I thought you'd left for Walnut Grove.

No, I don't leave til the morning.

Could I talk to you for a minute?

Why certainly, come in, sit down.

I just made some fresh coffee.

- Would you like a cup? - Yeah, that sounds good, thank you.

- How do you take it? - Just black.

I was hoping you'd still be here.

Oh, yes, I usually am.

In fact, my wife is threatening

to move my bed in here.

Otis, let me tell you why I'm here.

I was thinking about what you were saying this afternoon

about not being about to buy from the farms around Walnut Grove

because they're so small.

That can't be helped, Charles.

As itis I kept on buying from them long after the other shippers stopped.

I know that, Otis, I found out, and I appreciate it.

But, let me ask you this.

What if I could get those farmers to work together, form a co-op?

Could you buy their goods then?

This is something I've thought about myself.

But as far as I can see it, it won't work.

Why not? You already told me you preferred their products

to anybody else's.

Yes, I know, but the price I'd have to pay your people

in order for them to make a profit would just be unrealistic.

Why, they can't compete with the larger outlets.

They buy their seed in quantity.

They use the most modern machinery.

What do you, just write them off?

I mean they work their whole lives for these farms.

Look suppose I can-- suppose I can sell you those goods

for the same price you're paying now delivered here.

But you don't realize what you're saying, Charles.

Your people would be working for,

at the very most, just a few pennies.

What do they have now? They have nothing.

Come on, Otis. Try it.

What do you say?

All right, I'll buy their goods.

But you have to guarantee

that Bennett and Company supports this deal 100%.

I guarantee it.

Well, I hope you can make it work.

And so do I.

I'll be in touch with you.

( shouting, cheering )

Yeah!

( cheering )

I must say, they're really taking this game very seriously.

You're telling me, it's all I've heard about the last two weeks.

Well, you know what they say, "Boys will be boys."

(all laugh)

They're losing.

Man: Come on, Isaiah!

( spectators cheering )

(laughs) Not bad.

Out.

- I got it, bud. - lgotit.

Watch the ball! Shoot, move it!

(grunts)

- Will you get off of me? - ( shouting )

Come on, John, pitch it here.

( indistinct shouting )

( spectators cheering )

( laughing )

( spectators cheering )

Reverend: Safe.

- Good hit, Jason. - It's all right, Jason, go.

Man: All right, let's go.

( men bantering )

Man: Let's go, then.

( bantering continues )

Batter up!

Albert, we got two man on. Give it a ride, it's up to you.

- Boy: Go get him, Albert, - Girl: Come on, Albert.

Boy: Come on, get a hit!

( children cheering )

- Man: Get him out. - Man #2: He doesn't have anything.

( chattering continues )

- Oh! - All right.

Strike one.

Man #3: Come on, Albert, bring us home.

- Man #4: Don't worry about it. - ( shouting, bantering )

All right, Albert. Here it comes.

Reverend: All right, strike two!

( men shouting, voices overlapping )

Man: Strike two!

Man #3: Have some peace with it, Albert.

All right Albert, look out, the old snake ball's ready to bite.

( bat cracks )

- ( shouting ) - Big hit.

Way to hit 'em, Albert!

Come on, Bobby!

- Go! - Come on, Albert.

( spectators cheering )

(grunts)

He's out.

- Oh, come on. - What do you mean?

( arguing continues )

- We did it! - (laughing )

(arguing )

- Wait a minute, wait a minute. - How many fingers do I have?

- Man: Look at that! - Boy: Something's wrong with Albert.

Albert?

Hey, Al, what's up, what's wrong?

How do you feel now, Albert?

Kind of numb.

You've had this before, blacking out, I mean?

No.

He has been having some nose bleeds,

and he's been feeling kind of tired lately.

How often has he had them?

Charles: Let's see, he had one on the train,

another one when were at the university.

When we were at the pond the other day,

he had one, too. It was kind of bad.

Isaiah: He had one at the mill yesterday.

Charles, I think you outta take him to the hospital in Mankato.

Mankato? What do you think's wrong, Doc?

I'm not sure. But they're much better equipped

to diagnose Albert's problem better then I am.

I'd only be guessing.

Oh, it's just a couple of nose bleeds. I don't need a hospital.

Well, Albert, it wouldn't hurt for them to take a look at you.

Dr. Hauser's the chief of staff over there

and he's an old colleague of mine.

I'll call him, set things up for you.

Appreciate it. We're ready to leave anytime.

Charles, I'll drive you, have the wagon ready in no time.

Thank you.

Pa, do we have to go? I mean, all this fuss over some nose bleeds.

Heck, boy, you just do what the doc tells you.

When you become a doctor, you won't have the patients

ignoring your advice, do you?

No, sir.

( music playing )

( thunder crashing )

- Here are the last two, Doctor. - Oh.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

( rain pattering )

Dr. Hauser, were you able to find out what's wrong with Albert?

Yes, yes, we were.

Why don't we all sit down?

Mr. Ingalls...

Albert is a very sick young man.

I'm afraid he has a blood disorder which is--

well, it's causing him to lose strength.

I see.

How long?

How long will the treatments take

before you can get him back on his feet?

Mr. Ingalls, I am sorry, but...

well, there is no treatment.

Albert's not going to get any better.

Only worse.

Wait a minute, Doc, you're telling us Albert can't be helped?

Yes, that's right.

I-l don't understand. I mean...

he was fine up until yesterday.

He's been a little bit tired and all.

Mr. Ingalls...

you see, Albert has had this problem for a long, long time.

Well, we're just now beginning to see the signs

because, uh, he's getting progressively worse.

Wait-- wait it minute, uh...

Wait a minute, see...

this blood disorder you're talking about, uh...

I don't know if I told you, but Albert had, uh--

he had a problem with morphine a little while back.

And I think that--

that this is probably just a aftermath of that.

Dr. Hauser: I don't think so.

I've seen this disease in infants

as well as adults.

What do you mean you've seen it before?

You're suppose to be a doctor.

You know what it is. Do something about it!

Mr. Ingalls, I've told you--

I don't care what you told me.

You're a doctor.

You went to school to learn how to save lives. Save my son.

I can't.

I can't.

(crying)

How long does my son have?

It could be any time.

There will be days when he's fine, full of life.

And then he'll weaken again.

That's usually a sign that the end is near.

Have you told him?

No.

Can I-- uh...

- Can I go see him now? - Certainly.

Mr. Ingalls...

would it be easier if I told him?

Easy for who?

- ( rain pattering ) - ( thunder rumbling )

Did you reach them?

I couldn't get a hold of Caroline.

I told Bob.

Been asleep ever since you left.

Albert: I'm not asleep.

( thunder crashes )

Can I get you anything?

Little glass of water.

My mouth's real dry.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Hey, I talked to Laura. She and Almanzo

are making plans to come see you

before I take you home.

( thunder crashes )

Pa, I've been thinking.

I wanna go home.

But I don't want to go home to Burr Oak.

I wanna go home to Walnut Grove.

Walnut Grove?

But you--

- you outta be home with the family. - Pa.

Just hear me out.

I'm trying to think of what I'd like to do

with the time I've got left.

You know...

seeing some of the places I've read about.

Even going to sea.

But my mind keeps going back to Walnut Grove.

- What about your ma? - I've been thinking about that to.

I've been thinking about Ma and my brothers and my sisters.

Pa?

I don't want them to watch me die.

That's all they'd be doing,

watching it happen.

They wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

I mean, it's better for them.

Albert.

Believe me, they'd want you to be with them.

But I don't want them to be.

I don't have much time left.

I wanna spend it doing as many things as I can.

Things I used to do when I was a kid.

I know it sounds selfish.

But it's my last chance.

Albert, I under-- I understand how you feel.

Pa, you don't understand how I feel.

No one understands how I feel but me.

I know you try to.

But you don't know.

I'm gonna die, Pa.

Don't you think it should be my right

to say what I want to do with the rest of my life?

Yeah.

Yeah.

- But how do I tell your ma? - I'll tell her.

I'll call her in the morning.

Take me back to where I grew up, Pa.

I became Albert Ingalls there.

Remember?

Yeah.

Take me back.

Let me go back there. I'll stay their forever.

Please, Pa.

Okay?

Okay.

( sobbing )

( sobbing )

I got worried when I woke up and didn't see you.

( sniffles )

I found these today... ( sniffles )

...when I was packing for the trip.

Albert and I made them for each other a long time ago.

( sighs) I remember we were...

11 or 12

and we wanted to start a club.

And it was me and Albert

and Willie...

and another boy named Andrew Garvey.

( voice breaking ) And...

we made these leather badges for each other.

And each one of us cut our fingers.

Not much, just enough to get some blood.

And then we put our fingers together.

And became blood brothers.

(laughs) All expect Willie.

Soon as he saw the blood, he fainted.

That sounds like Willie.

Oh.

It seems like yesterday.

Beth, why don't you come back to bed, huh?

I'll heat up some milk. It'll help you sleep.

No.

I'd just like to sit here by myself, if that's all right.

Sure.

I love you.

( sobbing )

( horse whickers )

Personal profiles seem to be the most popular,

so I thought we should put the one about your pa

right next to the announcement for the town meeting.

You know, to remind people to be sure and come.

That's a good idea.

Um, we cant forget Jenny Gallaher's new baby.

I promised her we'd put an announcement in, too.

Oh, of course. I'll add it onto the back page.

Laura...

I can finish this is you want.

( soft laugh) No, thanks.

( sighs) It helps keeping busy.

You know I keep thinking this is all just a dream.

And I'm just gonna wake up and...

I know.

Jeb and Jason haven't really known Albert that long,

but it didn't make it any easier to tell them.

You know I think children can understand when someone old is dying.

But to see someone like Albert...

Aunt Laura, Aunt Laura, Mr. Edwards' wagon is coming up the road.

Mr. Carter's out front. He drove me home.

Aunt Laura?

What will I say?

I don't know what to say.

( wagon approaching )

Let's go.

( birds chirping )

Come on, now. Be strong.

Be strong, you promise me.

There you go. Easy.

How have you been, Mr. Carter?

- Just fine. - Yeah.

How about yourself?

Well, I have had some better days.

Well, big sister.

I'm home to stay, if you'll have me.

( sobbing )

It's all right.

Go ahead and cry.

You've gotta promise me, after today

no more tears around me, all right?

Okay?

I promise.

Well, I'm gonna go and get some sleep.

Our Mr. Edwards must have hit every rut between here and Mankato.

Here now, don't go blaming me.

I didn't start driving till we were more than halfway home.

Mr. Carter.

Mr. Edwards has agreed to give our team a rematch.

What do you say?

I'll do it, snake ball and all.

Come on.

Can't believe it.

Now the boy wants to play baseball.

He just wants us to treat him like nothing happened.

And that's what we're gonna do.

That's what we're gonna do.

( parishioners chattering )

( horse whickers )

( chattering continues )

Charles: Now, listen to me!

Now, listen to me for one minute. Just hear me out.

Believe me, it'll work.

It'll work. All we have to do is combine our labor.

Everybody contributes, everybody benefits.

And we take one man's team, we put it with another farmer's unused plow,

the same with the seed.

Some of you need a little bit, some of you need a lot.

We buy it collectively. We save money.

For the first time, you're gotta be competitive with the big oulffits.

Mr. Ingalls?

Everything you've said seems to make sense.

But what about a profit?

How much is everybody gonna be able to make?

Well, I'm afraid not a lot in the beginning.

At least not until we can get a guaranteed contract

from the shipper in Redwood Falls.

- ( crowd moans ) - Man: It's a start, it's a start.

- Mr. Ingalls! Mr. Ingalls. - Man: It's a start!

I read in here in the bulletin about your new job

and your plan to help us.

Now, what some of us would like to know is,

what's in all of this for you?

( murmuring, chattering )

- Charles: Excuse mel! - Man #3: Sit down!

Wait, hold it!

Excuse me, I don't think we've met.

Name's Taylor, Zach Taylor.

All right, Mr. Taylor, would you believe me if I told you

absolutely nothing, not one red cent?

Can't say as I would.

See, I wasn't around this country

back when you were such a vital part of this community.

- ( crowd clamoring ) - All right now, hold on.

Charles here is trying to help us.

Of course we all know you don't need any help,

so why don't you just leave?

Isaiah, that's not what he said.

Man #4: Um, Mr. Ingalls?

I remember you as being a good man.

Now if indeed you are here trying to help,

why can't you just pay each of us

who have the crops a fair price and let it go at that?

Because it's not my money to pay.

Look, I'm just trying to show all of you

how to get back on your feet until things get better.

That's all I can do.

I still say he's with them,

- the city buyers. - Crowd: Right!

Making the price so low that you're going to steal a profit.

- ( crowd clamoring ) - Zach: Yes, he is!

Man #5: It will not work!

What is wrong with you people?

What's happened to all of you?

Just who are you to ask that kind of question?

My name's Albert Ingalls.

The man who's trying to help you is my father.

Well that don't make you something special.

Go on back to the big city with your old man.

We don't need no kid not grown telling us what for.

Come back in 10 years when you're a man.

- ( crowd laughing ) - That's enough, Zachary.

( crowd murmuring )

Quiet! Quiet a minute, I say!

Zach Taylor, that boy that just walked out of here

is more of a man than you will ever be.

And he cares a hell of a lot more about this town.

Because he remembers it when it was a town,

full of friends and neighbors

who really cared about each other.

Who were willing to work together,

no matter how tough it got.

You told him to come back here when he's a man.

Well, you see. He can't do that...

'cause he's dying.

But he came back here

because of all the places in the world,

this place, this town,

is where he'd wanna spend his last days.

And you all think you've got it tough.

I'm just sorry he saw what happened to this town.

Edwards...

I'd like to take part in Charles' plan.

- Man: Yes! - Good for you, Zachary!

- All right. - Let's take a vote!

All right, all in favor?

All: Aye! Aye!

All opposed?

All right, by God, we got us a town again.

( laughing, chattering )

( scraping )

(slurps)

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Morning?

I dare say, it's past noon.

- tis? - Mm.

I wanted to go back out and help with the farm.

Why didn't somebody wake me up?

Well, I asked Pa not to.

I didn't think you needed to be in that hot sun.

Hey, it's really not that bad.

I enjoy working and talking with everybody.

Albert, you've got to get some rest.

Why is it that you have to be doing something

all the time?

If both of you will excuse me,

I have to have to get these chapters on the afternoon stage.

Mr. Montague, would you mind

giving me a ride to town?

Montague: Why, no, not at all.

I'll bring the buggy round to the front.

Laura, the things I wanna do

I can't put off until tomorrow.

Pa understands that.

I just wish you could.

- ( door closes ) - ( sighs)

Albert.

( birds chirping )

- Wheat, barley, and corn. - Mm-hmm.

All right, that's all of them.

Thanks, Jenny.

All right, class, everyone back to your seats.

- Albert. - Hi.

I hope I'm not disturbing anything.

Miss Plum: No, not at all.

Good to see you.

We just finished making plans for our field trip.

Oh, really? That's nice.

Oh, does the class still make the climb up to the keepsake tree?

Oh, yes. In fact, we just finished making our keepsake.

Class. Does anyone want to tell Albert

what we decided to put in the strongbox this year?

- Amy? - Well, we all thought since the town

was starting the new community farm, it might be nice

if the keepsake were some seeds from each of the crops.

Oh, well, yeah, that is very nice.

- Miss Plum? - Yes, Nancy?

Could I ask Albert a question?

(laughs) Sure.

Certainly.

What's it like knowing you're gonna die?

Nancy!

Nancy, I don't think that's any of your business.

Oh, it's all right, Miss Plum.

I don't mind talking about it.

Uh...

well...

well, at first, I-- I was scared.

And angry.

But, you know, once I started to think about my life,

I found that I'd made myself some really wonderful memories.

You know, things I had done.

All the good times, all the good friends.

You know the best thing about it all...

is that they all took place right here.

And that's why I came back.

Because there's no better place on God's Earth.

Just don't waste the time you have on it.

All of you.

Just go out, you have a good time.

Make yourself lots of good friends.

You see, that way...

because, see, that way,

when it's your time to look back and find your memories,

you'll see that you won't be scared or angry either.

( crickets chirping )

That was a real fine supper, Michelle.

Your ma sure can cook.

I'm sorry I couldn't eat much.

Oh, that's all right.

but she doesn't get all the credit.

I made the dessert.

( chuckles) Well, it was really good.

The sky sure is pretty tonight, isn't it?

Yeah, it sure is.

Albert, um...

you know, I had a dream about you and I.

You had a dream about us?

Yeah.

It was just a silly dream.

Well, come on, tell me about it.

No, you'll just laugh and think I'm really silly.

Michelle, I promise I won't.

Cross my heart and hope to die.

Why do you joke about it?

Why not?

Oh, hey, now, come on, tell me about your dream.

Well...

we were sitting out here, just like now,

and I said how beautiful the sky was.

Then, you turned my head

and I saw you smiling at me.

Then you took my hands

and you pulled me close to you.

And you kissed me.

(laughs) See, I--

I told you it was stupid.

Just go ahead and laugh, if you want to.

Michelle, I'm not gonna laugh.

Especially not at you.

I don't know how to say all this,

but I've been doing some dreaming about you, too.

And the thing is, I haven't got much time

to do everything just proper.

You know, the courting kind of stuff.

So...

Albert.

I'm so glad you came back to Walnut Grove.

I am, too.

( door opens )

Albert, that you?

Yeah, Pa.

Sorry I'm so late.

That's all right.

It's your sister that was upset.

She got mad at me for letting you out alone.

- ( chuckles) - I wasn't alone.

Have yourself a good time over at Michelle's?

Oh, yeah, sure did.

What'd you two do?

Well, we just sat on her porch.

Just talkin'.

And, you know, things like that.

Sounds like you made yourself another nice memory.

Yeah, I sure did.

It's been the best one yet.

( chuckles)

Hey, wait a minute.

A letter came for us today.

Thought you might want to take a look at it.

"Therefore, we proudly award you

a four-year academic scholarship

to the University of Minnesota school of Medicine."

I made it.

I made it.

Darn right, you did.

You know something?

I really think I would have made a fine doctor.

I know you would.

I wanna tell you something.

You've been the greatest son a man can ever have, I'll tell you.

You weren't a bad Pa yourself.

I can't believe you're going along with this.

Laura, he's going on a field trip.

It's no different than anything else he's been doing.

Yeah, well, I guess it's all right, then.

I mean, if Albert wants to play baseball, then it's fine.

If it's working on the farm,

or going to Michelle's house till all hours of the night,

everyone just smiles and wishes him well.

These are the things he wants to do, you know that.

Pa, you've seen him, he looks so weak.

He needs to get some rest.

Why?

I guess it doesn't matter what I have to say.

I mean if it's climbing up to the keepsake tree Albert wants to do,

then he's going to go right ahead and do it.

All right, what is it you'd want me to do?

I want you tell him that he cannot climb up that mountain.

Laura, Albert is gonna die.

I know that. Why are you telling me that?

Then let him spend the time he has left

doing what he wants to do.

If you had it your way, he'd spend the rest of his life in bed.

Well, why not? It's better than watching him drain himself.

Better for him or better for you?

Come on, Laura, let me hear you say it.

"My brother is gonna die."

- No. - Come on, no more pretending.

Say it. "My brother is going to die."

Let me hear it.

I can't.

- (gasps) - You can.

- ( voice breaking) No, I can't. - Now, come on and say it.

- No. - "My brother is going to die."

- Come on, say it. - No.

Say it.

- I I-- - Say it!

I can't!

( stammering, sobbing ) My-- my-- my--

my brother's going--

he's-- he's gonna die.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God,

( sobbing ) Oh.

Oh my God, he's gonna die.

( sobbing )

( children chattering )

Here you go.

Doesn't seem to be stopping, Mr. Ingalls.

Yeah, I know. Hold this against it, son.

I think we oughta get you back home, eh?

Oh, no, Pa. It'll stop.

Just give it time.

Whoa.

I'm glad you came.

- Are you all right? - Mm-hmm.

See, Pa, I told you it'd stop.

Now, you're not here just to worry, are you?

No, and I brought you these.

Oh, my gosh, Laura, where'd you ever find them?

They were in one of my trunks.

Do you remember when we made those?

Do I? Are you kidding?

I remember when Willy,

he fainted because we all cut our fingers.

( both laugh )

I thought you might like to put them up

in the strongbox at the keepsake tree.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Albert! We're going up the hill now!

Miss Plum asks that you lead the way

and put our keepsake in the strongbox.

Oh, you bet I will.

Now, you sure you can make it, son?

Yeah, I think I can, Pa.

I know he can.

Because I'm gonna be with you all the way to the top.

Are you serious?

Oh, we did it once a long time ago.

We're going to do it again today.

You're not the only one reliving old memories, Albert Ingalls.

- ( laughs ) Okay. - Come on.

Michelle: Come on, children, let's get going.

- Boy #1: Let's go, come on. - Boy #2: Come on!

( birds chirping )

Well, they reached the halfway point.

How's Albert doing?

Looks to be doing all right.

( breathing heavily )

Laura...

I think I'd better rest a while.

That's fine with me, Albert.

Take all the time you need.

I don't remember it being this hard to climb.

Yeah, but that was before you became

an old married woman.

Very funny.

( both laugh )

Boy: Come on!

( children shouting )

Are we gonna let those young'uns catch up to us?

Not if we can help it.

Let's go.

- They're moving again. - ( horse whickers )

(grunts)

That boy of yours sure is something.

He sure is.

(grunts)

( breathing heavily )

( breathing heavily )

Go on, Albert.

Go on.

( groans)

Go on.

Isaiah: He made it!

He made it!

( laughing )

They made it.

( birds chirping )

( blows)

( smooches )

Phew.

( sniffles )

( music playing )