Original subtitles

[CHARLES WHISTLES]

Charles: JACK!

HERE, BOY.

THAT'S-A-BOY. GOOD, JACK.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE?

OOH, CARRIE, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?

MARY! LAURA! COME TO BREAKFAST.

ALL RIGHT, MA.

LAURA.

HURRY UP! YOU HEARD MA.

DON'T YOU DARE MAKE US LATE FOR SCHOOL--

NOT ON THE VERY FIRST DAY.

I'M NOT GOING.

IT'S A FINE MORNING.

ISN'T IT?

GOOD MORNING, MA.

MARY.

MORNING, PA.

MORNING, MARY. HAVE A GOOD SLEEP?

YEAH.

IS LAURA NEARLY READY?

SHE SAYS SHE'S NOT GOING.

NOW, DON'T WORRY. I'LL SEE TO IT.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, HALF-PINT?

I DON'T WANT TO GO.

IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR ME TO HEAR YOU WITH THOSE COVERS ALL OVER YOUR HEAD.

I DON'T WANT TO GO. I WANT TO STAY HERE.

WELL, I WISH YOU COULD STAY.

YOU KNOW, I MADE A PROMISE TO YOUR MA.

TOLD HER ONCE WE GOT SETTLED, IF WE WERE NEAR A SCHOOL,

YOU AND YOUR SISTER WOULD GO.

BUT YOU NEED ME HERE.

WHO'S GOING TO HELP YOU WITH THE FISH TRAPS?

WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF JACK?

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TIME FOR ALL THAT.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT ME TO BREAK A PROMISE

I MADE TO YOUR MA, WOULD YOU?

NO, PA.

OK.

THAT'S MY GIRL.

NOW, YOU HURRY UP AND GET DRESSED.

BREAKFAST IS GOING TO GET COLD.

TELL YOU SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE SCHOOL.

YES, PA.

LET'S HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT THOSE HANDS.

IT'S FINE. OH, YOURS, TOO, CARRIE,

SPIC AND SPAN.

MA, MY NECK HURTS.

WHAT? MARY SCRATCHED SO HARD,

SHE LIKELY TOOK THE SKIN CLEAN OFF.

YOU'RE BIG ENOUGH TO DO YOUR OWN SCRUBBING,

ONLY YOU WON'T.

I DON'T LIKE BEING BIG.

I WISH I WAS CARRIE.

MA...YOU THINK THEY'LL LIKE US?

WHAT KIND OF A FOOLISH QUESTION IS THAT?

OF COURSE THEY'LL LIKE YOU.

YOU JUST BE FRIENDLY AND MIND YOUR MANNERS.

NOW, LET ME HAVE A BETTER LOOK AT YOU.

TURN AROUND.

YOU GIRLS ARE SPROUTING UP SO FAST.

THERE'S NOTHING LEFT OF THOSE HEMS

FOR ME TO LET DOWN.

WELL, YOU'RE FRESH AND CLEAN,

AND YOU'RE STARTING SCHOOL.

THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING.

MA?

HMM?

HOW LONG IS ALL THIS LEARNING GOING TO TAKE?

[CHUCKLES]

WE START LEARNING WHEN WE'RE BORN, LAURA.

AND IF WE'RE WISE, WE DON'T STOP UNTIL THE LORD CALLS US HOME.

THAT LONG?

COME.

I HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU TWO.

MY SCHOOLBOOKS ARE YOURS NOW.

YOU TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM.

WE WILL, MA.

WELL, TIME TO GET STARTED.

NOW, LAURA, YOU TAKE THE LUNCH PAIL.

REMEMBER TO BRING IT HOME-- AND THE CLOTH.

Laura: I WILL.

WELL, EVERYBODY'S ALL SET FOR SCHOOL.

NOW, NO DAWDLIN'.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE LATE THE FIRST DAY, ALL RIGHT?

BE GOOD GIRLS.

WE WILL, MA.

ON YOUR WAY. HAVE A GOOD TIME.

BYE, MA.

GOOD-BYE, PA.

BYE, CARRIE.

A LOT OF GOOD-BYES FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE HOME FOR SUPPER.

HA HA HA!

HEY, YOU HOLD IT, YOUNG LADY!

WE GET TO HOLD ON TO YOU FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS YET.

THERE THEY GO.

CHARLES, THEY LOOK SO SMALL.

STOP WORRYING.

COME ON, LAURA.

COME ON. YOU'RE GONNA MAKE US LATE.

[CHILDREN PLAYING AND SHOUTING]

Mary: LAURA, COME ON.

KICK IT OVER HERE, QUICK!

GO AHEAD, LAURA.

UH-UH. YOU FIRST.

WHY ME?

'CAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS BRAGGING ABOUT BEING OLDEST.

IT'S YOUR PLACE TO GO FIRST.

WE'LL GO TOGETHER.

FROM THE SOUND OF YOU,

WE FIGURED WE'D COME INTO A FLOCK OF PRAIRIE CHICKENS.

LAURA!

SNIPES YOURSELVES-- LONG-LEGGED SNIPES.

Children: ♪ SNIPES, SNIPES ♪

♪ LONG-LEGGED SNIPES ♪

♪ SNIPES, SNIPES, LONG-LEGGED SNIPES ♪

♪ SNIPES, SNIPES... ♪

YOU STOP BEING MEAN TO THEM, OR I'LL TELL MAMA ON YOU.

GO AHEAD, CHRISTY.

SEE IF I CARE!

COUNTRY GIRLS.

[CHILDREN TALKING]

[TAPPING]

SETTLE DOWN, CHILDREN.

SETTLE DOWN.

Teacher: WON'T YOU COME IN, GIRLS?

YOU MUST BE THE NEW GIRLS FROM PLUM CREEK, AREN'T YOU?

YES, MA'AM.

I'M MISS BEADLE.

I'M MARY INGALLS, MA'AM, AND THAT'S LAURA.

Miss Beadle: I'M VERY PLEASED TO MEET YOU,

AND I'LL PUT YOUR NAME IN THIS REGISTER,

AND THAT WILL MAKE IT OFFICIAL.

WE HAVE OUR OWN BOOKS.

THEY BELONGED TO MA.

OH, I CAN SEE SHE TOOK FINE CARE OF THEM.

NOW, HOW MUCH SCHOOLING HAVE YOU GIRLS HAD?

NONE.

BUT I CAN READ.

[SOFTLY] I CAN'T, BUT I KNOW THE ALPHABET.

I THOUGHT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW.

THANK YOU, LAURA.

AND DON'T YOU WORRY. YOU'LL LEARN FAST.

AND I'LL HELP YOU EVERY SPARE MINUTE I CAN.

THANK YOU.

CHILDREN...

I'D LIKE YOU TO WELCOME 2 NEW STUDENTS.

THIS IS MARY AND LAURA INGALLS.

Children, weakly: HELLO.

NOW, I WOULDN'T CALL THAT MUCH OF A WELCOME.

WE'D LIKE TO HEAR YOU SAY, "GOOD MORNING, MARY..."

Children: GOOD MORNING, MARY.

AND...

Children: GOOD MORNING, LAURA.

THERE'S A NICE PLACE FOR YOU RIGHT UP FRONT.

THAT WAY, YOU CAN SIT TOGETHER AND SHARE YOUR BOOKS.

DID YOU BRING A SLATE?

NO, MA'AM.

WELL, YOU CAN'T LEARN TO WRITE PROPERLY WITHOUT A SLATE.

I'LL LEND YOU MINE.

Nellie: COUNTRY GIRLS.

Miss Beadle: HERE YOU Go.

THANK YOU, MISS BEADLE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

NOW, LAURA, I'D LIKE YOU TO TURN

TO THE FIRST PAGE IN YOUR SPELLER.

LET'S SEE HOW MANY NEW WORDS

YOU CAN TAKE HOME WITH YOU TONIGHT.

YES, MA'AM!

ALL RIGHT, CLASS. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO START WITH SUMS.

[CHILDREN GROAN]

Miss Beadle: WILLIE?

YES, MA'AM?

BY 3s, PLEASE, WILLIE.

MA'AM?

HOW'S HE EVER GONNA GET ALL THOSE NUMBERS OFF AGAIN?

[CHILDREN LAUGH]

SILENCE!

THERE WILL BE SILENCE IN THIS CLASSROOM.

WILLIE, LAURA HAS ASKED A QUESTION.

WILL YOU PLEASE DEMONSTRATE THE ANSWER?

MARY, LOOK.

IT'S CLEAN AS A WHISTLE.

WHAT DID I TELL YOU?

COUNTRY GIRLS.

DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A BLACKBOARD IS.

NELLIE.

Laura: C-A-T, CAT.

MM-HMM.

B-A-T, BAT.

RIGHT.

M-A-T, MAT.

P-A-T, PAT.

GOOD.

I LEARNED THE WHOLE FIRST ROW.

HEY, HOW ABOUT IF I GIVE YOU ONE THAT ISN'T EVEN ON THAT FIRST ROW?

LET ME SEE. WHAT'S A GOOD WORD?

HOW ABOUT RAT?

RAT.

R...A...T, RAT.

PERFECT.

I'D SAY THAT WAS A FINE DAY'S WORK.

IT SEEMS TO ME YOU KIND OF LIKE SCHOOL, HUH?

OH, I DO, PA.

AND YOU SHOULD JUST SEE MISS BEADLE.

SHE'S THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WHOLE WORLD,

AND SHE SMILES ALL THE TIME,

AND SHE SMELLS AS GOOD AS SHE LOOKS.

I CAME RIGHT OUT AND ASKED,

AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WEARS SOMETHING CALLED LEMON VERBENA.

HMM.

SHE'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LADY I EVER SAW...

EXCEPT FOR MA, OF COURSE.

WELL, I MUST SAY SHE MUST BE SOMETHING SPECIAL

TO BE EVEN CLOSE TO YOUR MA.

CHARLES!

Charles: HOW ABOUT YOU, MARY?

DID YOU LIKE SCHOOL TODAY?

THERE'S A REAL NICE GIRL NAMED CHRISTY.

SHE'LL PROBABLY BE MY BEST FRIEND.

GOOD.

ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR YOU LIKE, LAURA?

SOMEONE IN PARTICULAR I DON'T LIKE--

THAT SNIPPY NELLIE OLESON.

LAURA!

YOU KNOW WHAT SHE CALLED US? COUNTRY GIRLS.

WELL, YOU ARE COUNTRY GIRLS.

THERE'S NOTHING BAD ABOUT THAT.

THERE IS THE WAY SHE SAID IT.

"LOOK AT THE COUNTRY GIRLS!"

MADE ME SO MAD, I WANTED TO SMACK HER GOOD.

NOW, JUST A MINUTE. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU TALKING LIKE THAT.

YOU GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN, NOT TO FIGHT.

PART OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO LEARN

IS HOW TO GET ON WITH OTHERS.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL TRY.

NOW, YOUNG LADY, YOU'RE GOING TO DO A LOT MORE THAN JUST TRY.

REMEMBER, LAURA, DO UNTO OTHERS...

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THAT MEANS NO NAME-CALLING,

NO FIGHTING, AND NO TEASING.

UNDERSTOOD?

YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE.

YOU TAKE THAT IN TO OLESON'S STORE TOMORROW

AND BUY YOURSELVES A SLATE.

YOU OUGHT TO HAVE ENOUGH LEFT OVER FOR A PAPER TABLET.

OH, PA, THANK YOU!

Laura: THANK YOU.

THEN YOU'RE NOT MAD AT ME?

WELL, NOT YET, BUT I WILL BE

IF YOU TWO ARE NOT UP IN BED

QUICKER THAN I CAN SAY JACK--

ROBINSON! ROBINSON!

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT'S THE SAME LITTLE GIRL

WE COULD HARDLY GET OUT OF BED THIS MORNING.

I HOPED SHE'D LIKE IT,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW.

OH, SHE'LL BE FINE.

SURE WAS FEISTY ABOUT THAT NELLIE OLESON, WASN'T SHE?

I WONDER WHY.

YOU HAVEN'T MET HER MOTHER.

HAVE YOU? MM-HMM.

Laura: PA?

HAT. H-A-T.

HAT.

B-E-D. BED.

GOOD NIGHT, PA.

GOOD NIGHT, LAURA.

WHAT YOU DOING?

FAT. F-A-T. FAT.

GOOD MORNING.

Girls: GOOD MORNING.

I'LL BE WITH YOU IN A MINUTE, GIRLS.

YOU SURE YOU GOT THE MONEY, MARY?

IT'S IN MY POCKET-- RIGHT WHERE MA PINNED IT.

[DOOR CLOSES]

♪ SNIPES, SNIPES, LONG-LEGGED SNIPES ♪

WILLIE, NELLIE-- YOU TWO GET ON OUT OF HERE NOW.

THIS STORE IS NOT A PLAYHOUSE.

WILLIE, DO YOU HEAR ME? OUT!

WELL, NOW, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?

WE'D LIKE A SLATE, MR. OLESON,

AND A PAPER TABLET FOR SCHOOL, PLEASE.

I'VE GOT JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

THOSE ARE MINE!

GO AHEAD. KEEP IT.

IT'S ALL OURS, ANYWAY.

WE CAN HAVE AS MUCH CANDY AS WE WANT.

HERE WE ARE.

PA SAID THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE BOTH.

AND HE WAS RIGHT,

BUT YOU'LL NEED A SLATE PENCIL,

UNLESS YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE.

NO, SIR, WE DON'T.

WELL, THAT WILL BE ANOTHER PENNY.

I DON'T THINK THE COUNTRY GIRLS HAVE ANOTHER PENNY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, WILLIE?

I'M TELLING YOU TWO FOR THE LAST TIME.

NOW YOU GET ON OUT OF HERE!

WELL, IF YOU WEREN'T PLANNING ON BUYING A PENCIL,

I IMAGINE YOU'RE A LITTLE SHORT.

YOU JUST TAKE IT ALONG WITH YOU ANYHOW,

AND TELL YOUR PA TO PAY ME THE NEXT TIME HE COMES INTO TOWN.

NO, SIR. CASH ON THE BARREL.

PA MAKES THAT A STRICT RULE.

AND IT'S A GOOD ONE,

THOUGH MOST FOLKS FIND IT HARD TO LIVE BY.

WE THANK YOU ANYWAY, MR. OLESON.

YOU'RE WELCOME, GIRLS.

BYE-BYE.

BYE.

THAT NELLIE OLESON'S THE MEANEST GIRL I EVER DID SEE.

I COULD NEVER BE THAT MEAN.

I COULD.

MEANER...

IF MA AND PA WOULD LET ME.

WE DO NEED A SLATE PENCIL, LAURA.

PA GAVE US SO MUCH ALREADY.

WE CAN'T ASK FOR MORE.

NO.

OUR CHRISTMAS PENNIES! WE STILL HAVE THOSE.

I COULD USE MINE TO BUY THE PENCIL, AND WE'D SHARE IT.

AND YOU COULD OWN HALF MY PENNY.

COME ON. WE'LL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL.

THAT'S VERY GOOD, LAURA.

"HOW...

"WOU...

VVOUL..."

THE "L" IS SILENT.

I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING, BUT...

"WOOED."

"HOW..."

"WOULD."

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.

"HOW WOULD...

YE-OO..."

"You"! YEAH.

"HOW WOULD YOU..."

"LICKY"?

NO. "I."

"LIKE."

THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT THE "E"?

WELL, YOU DON'T-- IT'S SILENT.

LIKE THE "L"? THAT'S RIGHT.

OH.

[No AUDIO]

Laura, narrating: IF I HAD A REMEMBRANCE BOOK,

THERE'S ONE THING I'D WANT TO PUT IN IT ABOUT SCHOOL.

MA AND PA WERE RIGHT. IT WAS FUN.

ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL THE DIFFERENT LETTERS

STARTED TURNING INTO WORDS.

BUT LEARNING TO WRITE WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS

I EVER HOPED TO DO.

RECESS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST FUN,

ONLY NELLIE OLESON WOULDN'T EVER LET US PLAY ANYTHING BUT RING AROUND THE ROSY.

CAN'T WE PLAY SOMETHING ELSE?

Children: ♪ RING AROUND THE ROSY... ♪

Laura, narrating: I DIDN'T WANT To,

BUT MA SAID, "DO UNTO OTHERS..."

I COULDN'T HELP WONDERING

WHEN NELLIE'S MA WOULD GET AROUND TO TELLING HER THE SAME THING.

THERE WE ARE, MRS. GRANDY.

DID YOU SAY 60 CENTS?

THAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

GIVE MY BEST TO ELI,

AND TELL HIM NOT TO MAKE HIMSELF SUCH A STRANGER, HMM?

THANK YOU, NELS. I WILL.

GOOD DAY, MRS. GRAN DY.

GOOD DAY, NELS.

GOOD DAY.

HELLO.

OH!

I'M MRS. INGALLS.

HOW DO YOU DO, MRS. INGALLS?

I BELIEVE MY HUSBAND SPOKE WITH YOU.

YES, YES. YES, INDEED.

FRESH EGGS. HE SAID YOU BUY THEM.

YES, WE DO.

Woman: I Do THE BUYING.

MRS. INGALLS, MY WIFE.

HOW DO YOU DO, MRS. OLESON?

WELL, NELLIE'S TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR, UH, GIRLS.

ALL GOOD, I HOPE.

HOW MANY DO WE HAVE HERE?

3 DOZEN.

BROWN?

THESE EGGS ARE BROWN.

THEY DON'T BRING AS MUCH AS WHITE.

7 OF THEM ARE DOUBLE YOLKS.

BROWN EGGS GET 4 CENTS LESS A DOZEN.

ALL RIGHT. 4 CENTS LESS FOR THE BROWN.

AH.

[WHIMPERING]

HEY, JACK. THERE YOU GO. GO ON, BOY.

PRETTY QUIET TONIGHT.

YES. HASN'T BEEN A WORD OUT OF THEM

FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR.

I WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU.

I MET MRS. OLESON TODAY.

OH.

IF NELLIE'S ANYTHING LIKE HER MOTHER,

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY LAURA'S BEEN SO UPSET.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE TOLD ME?

MM-MMM-

SHE TOLD ME BROWN EGGS BRING LESS THAN WHITE.

MUST BE SOMETHING PECULIAR TO MINNESOTA.

I NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.

YOU NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE 'CAUSE IT ISN'T TRUE.

SHE PAID ME 4 CENTS LESS A DOZEN FOR THE BROWN,

AND THEN SHE TURNED AROUND AND SOLD THEM

FOR EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE WHITE.

I WAS BUYING THIS THREAD. I HEARD HER DO IT.

I'LL TALK TO HER HUSBAND. HE'S A FAIR MAN.

NO. IF YOU DO THAT, SHE WON'T BUY ANY EGGS.

WE NEED THE MONEY.

[SIGHS]

I'LL HANDLE IT.

WANT TO FIGHT YOUR OWN BATTLES, HUH?

THIS ONE.

AND, CHARLES, I INTEND TO WIN.

[JACK BARKS]

JUST REMEMBER-- DO UNTO OTHERS...

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

♪ RING AROUND THE ROSY ♪

♪ POCKETFUL OF POSIES ♪

♪ ASHES, ASHES, WE ALL FALL DOWN ♪

COME ON, LAURA. DON'T YOU WANT TO PLAY?

WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO PLAY RING AROUND THE ROSY?

BECAUSE I SAY SO.

♪ RING AROUND THE ROSY ♪

Laura: ♪ UNCLE JOHN IS SICK A-BED ♪

♪ WHAT SHALL WE SEND HIM? ♪

♪ PIECE OF PIE, A PIECE OF CAKE ♪

♪ UNCLE JOHN IS SICK A-BED, WHAT SHALL WE SEND HIM? ♪

LAURA INGALLS, YOU STOP THAT!

♪ APPLE AND DUMPLING ♪

WHAT SHALL WE SEND IT IN?

STOP!

YOU HAVE IT YOUR WAY EVERY SINGLE DAY, NELLIE.

WELL, TODAY, I WANT TO PLAY UNCLE JOHN!

RING AROUND THE ROSY!

UNCLE JOHN!

YOU WANT TO FIGHT, I'LL FIGHT!

YOU WANT TO PLAY, WE'RE PLAYING UNCLE JOHN!

GO ON. GO AHEAD.

SO I DID WHAT YOU SAID I SHOULDN'T.

THAT IS, I DID UNTO NELLIE,

BUT NOT WHAT YOU HAD IN MIND.

I'M SORRY FOR GOING AGAINST YOU.

SEEMS LIKE IT KEPT BUILDING UP INSIDE ME

RIGHT FROM THAT FIRST DAY.

[SIGHS]

WELL, AT LEAST YOU DID ONE THING RIGHT, HALF-PINT.

I DID?

MM-HMM. YOU CAME TO US AND TOLD US ON YOUR OWN.

YOUR MA AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO HEAR IT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK WE OUGHT TO DO ABOUT IT?

WHATEVER YOU THINK'S BEST, PA,

BUT SHE DID START IT.

YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD GOOD REASON FOR WHAT YOU DID.

AND THIS TIME, JUST FOR ONCE,

I'M INCLINED TO AGREE WITH YOU.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS, ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT AGAIN?

NO, PA.

THAT A PROMISE?

PROMISE.

ALL RIGHT. WE WON'T SAY ANY MORE ABOUT IT.

OFF TO BED.

HALF-PINT, DON'T FORGET NOW. YOU MADE A PROMISE.

YOU WON'T DO IT AGAIN.

OH, NO, PA. I WON'T.

I WON'T HAVE TO.

NELLIE'S SCARED OF ME NOW.

CHARLES, YOU WERE MUCH TOO EASY ON HER.

SHE'S NOT THE LEAST BIT SORRY FOR WHAT SHE DID.

YOU HEARD WHAT THE CHILD SAID. IT WAS NELLIE'S FAULT.

THE BIBLE SAYS TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETIMES EASIER SAID THAN DONE,

OR WE'D ALL BE WEARING HALOS INSTEAD OF HOMESPUN.

[PLAYING SLOW TUNE]

YOU'RE AS BAD AS SHE IS.

WELL, AT LEAST SHE COMES BY IT HONESTLY.

MORNING, MRS. INGALLS.

GOOD MORNING, MR. OLESON.

WELL, I EXPECT YOU'RE HERE TO APOLOGIZE

FOR WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT THE SCHOOL.

I'M HERE TO SELL EGGS, MRS. OLESON.

HMM.

I MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED AS MUCH.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, MRS. INGALLS.

YOUR DAUGHTER LAURA IS A TROUBLEMAKER,

AND YOU'D BEST TAKE HER IN HAND.

STARTING FIGHTS IN THE SCHOOLYARD

AND PUSHING OTHER CHILDREN AROUND!

NELLIE APPARENTLY HAS HER OWN VERSION OF THE TRUTH.

IF YOU'D CARE TO QUESTION THE OTHER CHILDREN--

BROWN EGGS ARE STILL 4 CENTS LESS.

YOU DIDN'T BRING ANY BROWN EGGS.

OH, MY HUSBAND SOLD THEM TO THE MEN AT HANSON'S MILL

FOR 3 CENTS MORE THAN YOU PAID ME.

THAT'S GRATITUDE.

NO. THAT'S GOOD BUSINESS.

MAYBE THEY'LL BUY YOUR WHITE EGGS AS WELL.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY HUSBAND SAID THEY'D BE GLAD TO GET THEM.

GOOD DAY, MRS. OLESON.

NOW, MRS. INGALLS...

I'M A VERY BUSY WOMAN,

TOO BUSY TO QUIBBLE OVER PENNIES.

UM, WE'LL BUY YOUR BROWN EGGS,

SAME PRICE AS THE WHITE.

IF IT'S YARD GOODS YOU'RE AFTER, MRS. INGALLS,

YOU'LL FIND THIS IS MORE TO YOUR NEEDS.

THANK YOU, MRS. OLESON.

MM-HMM.

I PREFER THIS.

WON'T WEAR WELL.

COUNTRY FOLK HAVE TO THINK MORE ON THE PRACTICAL.

I'LL TAKE THE BLUE.

IT WILL BE A MISTAKE.

THEN IT WILL BE MY MISTAKE.

I BELIEVE IT'S CUSTOMARY

TO LET THE BUYER DO THE CHOOSING, MRS. OLESON.

THAT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT.

I BEG YOUR PARDON.

I'LL TAKE A DRESS LENGTH, PLEASE.

WELL, IT DOES COME DEAR,

BUT THERE'S NOT A FINER PIECE OF GOODS IN THE STORE.

[DOOR SLAMS]

IT'S GOING TO LOOK RIGHT SMART ON YOU, MRS. INGALLS.

DON'T TOUCH, LAURA! YOU'LL GET IT ALL GRUBBY.

[SIGH] I DON'T KNOW WHAT POSSESSED ME,

SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON MYSELF.

IF MRS. OLESON JUST HADN'T GONE ON SO ABOUT COUNTRY FOLKS,

AS IF ALL WE'RE FIT TO WEAR IS FLOUR SACKS.

I'M GLAD YOU BOUGHT IT.

SO AM I.

Charles: So AM I.

PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A FALL.

I'LL JUST TAKE IT BACK AND SEE IF MR. OLESON

WILL GIVE ME THE MONEY ON IT.

CAROLINE, WHY DO YOU THINK THE GOOD LORD

WENT TO ALL THAT TROUBLE OF MAKING YOU SO PRETTY

IF HE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO HAVE A NEW BLUE DRESS?

YOU'LL BE BEAUTIFUL, MA.

I CAN'T WAIT TILL EVERYONE SEES YOU.

THEY'RE GOING TO THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT A PIECE OF HEAVEN.

IF THEY DON'T THINK THAT ALREADY,

I CAN'T SAY MUCH FOR THEIR JUDGMENT

OR THEIR EYESIGHT.

OH! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU?

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THE LOT OF YOU?

Laura, narrating: MA GATHERED ENOUGH EGGS

TO WALK US INTO TOWN

TWO OR 3 TIMES EVERY WEEK.

SOMETIMES, SHE'D TELL US ABOUT

WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

I TRIED SCRUNCHING HER DOWN IN MY MIND,

SO AS I COULD SEE HER ALL BAREFOOT, PIGTAILS FLYING,

BUT IT NEVER DID WORK.

SHE KEPT RIGHT ON BEING MOM,

WHICH WAS ALL RIGHT,

SINCE WE LOVED HER A WHOLE LOT JUST THE WAY SHE WAS.

ARITHMETIC WAS EASY,

AND I LIKED READING MOST OF ALL,

BUT WRITING--I DIDN'T THINK I'D EVER LEARN

TO PUT DOWN BIG WORDS THE WAY MARY DID,

NOT EVEN WITH MA TO HELP ME.

WAIT UP, MARY!

DON'T TELL TILL I GET THERE!

MA! MA!

Caroline: WHAT'S THE MATTER?

WHERE'S PA?

WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE?

Laura: WE'RE GOING To HAVE A VISITORS' DAY.

PRACTICALLY EVERYBODY IN TOWN WILL BE THERE.

YOU AND MA AND ALL THE PARENTS AND ALL THE KIDS.

YOU GET TO SEE WHERE MARY AND ME SIT.

Mary: WE ALL HAVE To WRITE WHAT THEY CALL AN ESSAY

ABOUT ANYTHING WE WANT AND STAND UP IN FRONT AND READ IT OUT LOUD.

AND YOU COULD WEAR YOUR NEW BLUE DRESS.

YOU BETTER GET STARTED ON THAT, MA.

IT'S THE END OF THIS WEEK.

YOU TWO BETTER GET BUSY ON YOUR ESSAYS RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL. COME ON!

AND WAIT TILL YOU SMELL MISS BEADLE'S LEMON VERBENA!

Laura, narrating: MA AND MARY AND ME

WORKED HARD AND STEADY THAT WHOLE WEEK,

BUT BEFORE WE KNEW IT, TIME WAS UP.

VISITORS' DAY WAS THE NEXT MORNING.

MA'S DRESS WAS PRETTY NEAR DONE,

AND SO WAS MARY'S ESSAY.

Mary: WELL, I'M FINISHED.

KNOW WHAT I WROTE ABOUT?

WHAT, DEAR?

ABOUT PA BUILDING THE LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

AND THE WOLVES AND THE INDIANS

AND HAVING TO MOVE ON

AND HOW WE CAME TO PLUM CREEK.

HOW'S THAT SOUND?

THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

WHAT DID YOU WRITE ABOUT, LAURA?

MINE? MINE'S A SURPRISE.

WELL, THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH.

I'LL TELL YOU, THAT SURPRISE

IS GOING TO COME PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING.

IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR YOU GIRLS TO BE GETTING TO BED.

I KNOW IT'S TIME FOR CARRIE AND ME.

I'LL PUT HER TO SLEEP.

COME ON, LAURA.

IN A MINUTE.

WHAT IS IT, LAURA?

THE ESSAY?

IT'S NOT AN ESSAY-- NOT LIKE MARY'S.

IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE MARY'S.

SHE'S OLDER THAN YOU ARE.

SHE KNOWS MORE WORDS.

I KNOW LOTS OF WORDS, MA.

TROUBLE IS, THEY'RE IN MY HEAD,

AND I CAN'T GET 'EM DOWN ON PAPER

LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

ALL I KNOW HOW TO WRITE IS LITTLE WORDS.

THAT'S ALL YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW.

YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.

I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE IT'S TRUE.

MA...

IF I WAS TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,

COULD YOU KEEP IT SECRET?

IF YOU ASK ME TO, OF COURSE.

I'M SCARED.

I'M SCARED OF GETTING UP IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

I JUST KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO LAUGH AT ME.

DARLING, THEY WON'T LAUGH.

ALL THAT MISS BEADLE ASKS OF YOU

IS THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST.

AND AS LONG AS YOU DO YOUR BEST, LAURA,

WE'LL ALWAYS BE PROUD OF YOU.

BUT THEY LAUGHED BEFORE,

WHEN THEY CALLED US LONG-LEGGED SNIPES.

THAT WAS JUST TEASING,

AND THAT WAS BEFORE THEY KNEW YOU.

BUT WHAT IF THEY DO LAUGH?

THEY WON'T, LAURA.

THEY WON'T.

CAROLINE?

CAROLINE?

YES?

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

EVERYTHING'S FINE, CHARLES.

I'M SORRY IF THE LIGHT DISTURBED YOU.

NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

MUST BE MIDNIGHT. WHY DON'T YOU COME TO BED?

I WILL, SOON AS I'M FINISHED.

GOOD NIGHT.

COME ON, GIRLS! TIME FOR BREAKFAST!

THERE WE GO.

Mary: MORNING, PA!

MORNING, MARY.

SOME MILK? UH.

Laura: MORNING, PA.

GOOD MORNING, SWEETIE.

MMM, YOU LOOK PRETTY THIS MORNING.

MWAH. HI, DARLING.

Caroline: GOOD MORNING!

MA, YOU USED YOUR YARD GOODS

TO MAKE DRESSES FOR US.

AND WHY NOT?

MY BROWN DRESS IS PERFECTLY GOOD.

THERE.

BESIDES, I DON'T HAVE TO GET UP IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE

LIKE YOU DO.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE MINDED WEARING OUR CALICOES.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE MINDED.

WELL, I WOULD HAVE MINDED.

HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ME WAIT

TO SEE HOW THEY LOOK ON YOU?

I'M GOING TO PUT MINE ON RIGHT NOW.

I SURELY DO LOVE YOU, MA.

YOU'RE QUITE A WOMAN, MA.

I WANT A NEW DRESS FOR MY DOLLY.

HA HA HA! YOU'LL GET ONE, SWEETHEART.

Willie: "I HAVE BEEN RIDING HORSES ALL OF MY DAYS.

I LIKE RIDING HORSES MORE THAN I LIKE..."

[CHILDREN GIGGLING]

"MORE THAN I LIKE...

"I LIKE RIDING HORSES.

"MY PA IS GOING TO BUY ME A PONY.

"HE WILL LET ME PICK OUT ANY PONY IN THE TOWN...

TO BUY FOR ME FOR MY BIRTHDAY."

Miss Beadle: THANK YOU, WILLIE.

AND NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM NELLIE OLESON.

"MY HOME.

"MY HOME IS THE BEST HOUSE IN ALL OF WALNUT GROVE.

"WE HAVE CARPETS IN EVERY ROOM-- BOUGHTEN CARPETS.

"WE HAVE 3 SETS OF DISHES:

"ONE FOR EVERY DAY, ONE FOR SUNDAY,

AND ONE FOR WHEN SOMEONE--"

[GIGGLING]

"...FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL AND VERY IMPORTANT COMES TO VISIT,

WHICH WE'VE NEVER EVEN USED YET."

"WE HAVE REAL LACE CURTAINS..."

"AND 6 GENUINE OIL PAINTINGS AND--"

[LAUGHTER]

[LAUGHTER STOPS]

"AND 6 GENUINE OIL PAINTINGS,

"AND I HAVE MY OWN ROOM, AND WILLIE HAS HIS OWN.

"ALL OF OUR FURNITURE IS BOUGHTEN, TOO,

"AND IT COST A WHOLE LOT.

"IF I TOLD YOU HOW MUCH, YOU'D PROBABLY FAINT DEAD AWAY.

"BUT MY PA, OLESON'S MERCANTILE,

"SAYS TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH THINGS COST ISN'T PROPER,

"BUT IT COST DEAR, I CAN TELL YOU THAT,

"AND IT'S THE NICEST FURNITURE OF ANY FURNITURE

IN ANY HOUSE IN WALNUT GROVE."

[APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU, NELLIE.

AND NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM LAURA INGALLS.

"MY MOTHER."

MY SISTER MARY IS GOING TO TELL YOU

HOW PA BROUGHT US WEST AND HOW HARD HE WORKED,

AND I DON'T MEAN TO TAKE ANYTHING FROM HIM

BY TELLING YOU MA WORKED PLENTY HARD HERSELF.

STILL DOES.

SHE COOKS AND SEWS AND CLEANS

AND TAKES CARE OF THE LOT OF US, PA INCLUDED.

I REMEMBER ONCE WHEN I WAS LITTLE,

COMING DOWN WITH THE FEVER.

MA SAT UP NEXT TO ME ALL NIGHT LONG.

I SLEPT SOME, BUT SHE, NEVER.

ANYTIME I'D OPEN MY EYES, SHE'D BE THERE, SMILING,

PUTTING A COLD CLOTH TO MY HEAD.

NOW WITH ME AND MARY SPROUTING UP--

WHICH IS WHAT MA CALLS IT--

IF THERE'S THE LEAST LITTLEST NOISE IN THE NIGHT,

MA WOULD COME CLIMBING UP THE LADDER INTO THE LOFT

TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL RIGHT.

I RECKON THERE'S TIMES SHE GETS BONE-TIRED,

BUT YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT.

HER SMILE'S THE LAST THING I SEE

BEFORE I CLOSE MY EYES AT NIGHT

AND THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SEE IN THE MORNING.

SHE'S BEEN SELLING EGGS TO THE MERCANTILE

AND SAVED ENOUGH TO BUY YARD GOODS TO MAKE HERSELF A NEW DRESS.

THIS MORNING, MARY AND ME FOUND OUT SHE MADE DRESSES FOR THE TWO OF US INSTEAD.

THAT'S BECAUSE SHE LOVES US.

THAT'S THE KIND OF MOTHER MA IS,

AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE HER SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE]

[No AUDIO]

YOU'RE A LUCKY MAN, MR. INGALLS.

WELL, THANK YOU, MR. OLESON.

GUESS THAT'S THE ONE THING IN THIS LIFE

I'M ABSOLUTELY SURE OF.

Mrs. Oleson: NELS!

VERY LUCKY.

MA'AM.

MA, PA, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

DID YOU LIKE MY ESSAY?

I THOUGHT IT WAS LOVELY, MARY.

YOU MADE ME OUT TO BE A BIT OF A HERO,

BUT I GUESS I CAN'T FAULT YOU FOR THAT.

LAURA.

WHAT YOU SAID TODAY WAS BEAUTIFUL,

AND I'LL TREASURE IT AS LONG AS I LIVE,

BUT...

IT WASN'T WHAT YOU HAD WRITTEN DOWN ON THE PAPER, WAS IT?

IT'S WHAT I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN IF I COULD.

I KNOW THAT, DEAR,

BUT IT WASN'T REALLY AN ESSAY, WAS IT?

NO, MA.

I THINK I BETTER GIVE IT TO MISS BEADLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE'LL DO?

THAT'S UP TO MISS BEADLE.

AH, MRS. INGALLS!

YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND MUST BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR GIRLS TODAY.

WE ARE.

AND YOU, YOUNG LADY,

YOU GAVE ONE OF THE FINEST RECITATIONS

IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO HEAR.

LAURA WANTED YOU TO SEE HER PAPER, MISS BEADLE.

OH.

YES.

LAURA'S SPELLING HAS IMPROVED A GREAT DEAL.

HER PENMANSHIP NEEDS A LITTLE IMPROVEMENT.

BUT I THINK WITH A LITTLE MORE HARD WORK,

BY THE TIME THE SCHOOL YEAR'S OUT,

SHE'LL HAVE THAT MASTERED AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MISS BEADLE.

Laura, narrating: MA TOOK MARY'S ESSAY AND MINE, Too.

SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO PUT THEM IN THE SPECIAL BOX

WHERE SHE KEPT THE SCHOOLBOOKS AND HER WEDDING DRESS

AND EVERYTHING SHE LOVED MOST.

MADE US PROUD SHE'D WANT 'EM FOR REMEMBERING.

BUT I KNEW, EVEN WITHOUT THE PAPERS,

THERE WASN'T ONE OF US LIKELY TO FORGET THAT DAY.

NOT EVER.