Original subtitles

[CHILDREN CHATTERING]

WILLIE AND I ARE GOING TO BE VERY RICH

BECAUSE WE GET 10 CENTS FOR EVERY "A"

AND A NICKEL FOR EVERY "B."

AND I GOT ALL Bs.

THAT'S 25 CENTS, BUT I'M GOING TO GET EVEN MORE

BECAUSE I GOT THE BEST GRADES IN THE WHOLE SCHOOL.

MY PA SAYS THAT GRADES AREN'T EVERYTHING, NELLIE.

IT'S THE LEARNING THAT COUNTS.

EVEN EGGS GET GRADED.

MARY, CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING?

NO, MA'AM. I JUST HAVE TO FINISH COPYING MY NOTES FOR TOMORROW'S TEST.

AH, YES. IT'S TOO BAD WE ONLY HAVE ONE HISTORY TEXT.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO COPY SO MUCH MATERIAL.

YES, MA'AM.

MARY, I'M SORRY I COULDN'T GIVE YOU BETTER GRADES THIS TIME,

BUT YOUR WORK JUST WASN'T UP TO ITS USUAL HIGH STANDARD.

YES, MA'AM.

I'LL TRY HARDER.

THERE'S STILL 6 WEEKS LEFT TO THE SEMESTER

AND THE HISTORY COMPETITION.

IF YOU DO WELL IN THAT, I'LL TAKE THAT

INTO CONSIDERATION IN YOUR FINAL GRADE.

THANK YOU, MISS BEADLE.

MARY, IF YOU NEED EXTRA HELP,

PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK.

YOU KNOW I'M AVAILABLE.

PA SAYS, IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING RIGHT THE FIRST TIME,

YOU HAVE TO TRY AGAIN.

MAYBE I JUST HAVEN'T TRIED HARD ENOUGH.

GOOD-BYE, MISS BEADLE.

GOOD-BYE, MARY.

WHAT TOOK SO LONG, MARY?

TRYING TO GET MISS BEADLE TO RAISE YOUR GRADES?

WHAT'D SHE GIVE YOU?

I GOT TWO Bs AND 3 As.

YOU'D GET ANOTHER "A," NELLIE, IF THEY GAVE A GRADE FOR BEING NASTY.

COME ON, MARY. WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO HER.

MARY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT A DUMB, OLD REPORT CARD.

I BET PA'D STILL LOVE US IF NEITHER ONE OF US EVER GOT AN "A."

NELLIE IS RIGHT. I DID AWFUL.

CAROLINE, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN

THE BEST MINCEMEAT PIE YOU EVER MADE.

THANK YOU, CHARLES.

SURE MAKES A HARD DAY'S WORK A LOT EASIER.

SURE DOESN'T MAKE THESE FORKS EASIER TO CLEAN.

WELL, YOU ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

HMM. MATTER OF FACT, I THINK I HAVE ONE LEFT.

WASN'T THIS REPORT CARD DAY?

YES, IT WAS.

I DIDN'T GET A REPORT CARD.

WELL, YOU WILL, CARRIE, AS SOON AS YOU START SCHOOL.

Mary: YOU GO FIRST, LAURA. I'LL FINISH UP.

ALRIGHTY.

WELL, YOU DON'T LOOK TOO WORRIED. MUST BE PRETTY GOOD.

ARITHMETIC... GEOGRAPHY...

HEY, IMPROVED YOUR READING GRADE.

CAN'T TAKE MUCH CREDIT FOR THAT-- ALL REVIEW WORDS.

MARY DOES A LOT HARDER WORDS THAN ME.

WELL, OF COURSE SHE DOES. MARY'S OLDER.

YOU CAN ALWAYS BE PROUD WHEN YOU MOVE A GRADE UP LIKE THAT.

YOU CAN BE PROUD IF YOU TRY HARD,

EVEN IF YOUR GRADES DON'T SHOW IT, CAN'T YOU, PA?

OF COURSE YOU CAN.

GOOD NIGHT, PA.

MM. GOOD NIGHT, SWEETHEART.

GOOD NIGHT, MA.

GOOD NIGHT, LAURA. SLEEP TIGHT.

Carrie: GOOD NIGHT.

YOU HAVE YOUR CARD THERE, MARY?

WELL, HOW DID MY STUDENT DO THIS TIME?

NOT VERY WELL.

AW, IT CAN'T BE THAT BAD.

LET'S SEE...

OK...

WELL, OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

YOUR WORK'S A LOT HARDER NOW THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STUDY A LITTLE BIT MORE

TO BRING THOSE GRADES BACK UP TO WHERE THEY WERE.

YOU'RE NOT MAD AT ME?

OF COURSE NOT. I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TRY HARDER, THAT'S ALL.

I WILL, PA, I PROMISE.

I WILL TRY.

I KNOW YOU WILL.

GO ON, GET SOME SLEEP.

GOOD NIGHT, MA.

GOOD NIGHT, MARY.

GOOD NIGHT, CARRIE. SLEEP WELL.

I'D WANTED TO TALK TO YOU BEFORE YOU SAW MARY'S REPORT.

WHY? DID YOU THINK I WAS GOING TO STOMP AND RAISE CAIN

AND EVERYTHING?

NO. I WAS JUST CONCERNED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR IT.

SHE'S ALWAYS DONE SO WELL,

AND SHE'S REALLY BEEN WORKING HARDER THAN EVER.

AH, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

SHE'S A SMART STUDENT-- TAKES AFTER HER MOTHER.

OH, CHARLES,

YOU KNOW I'M NO SMARTER THAN YOU ARE.

I SUPPOSE YOU'RE RIGHT. I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO PICK YOU OUT, WASN'T I?

HEY, SLEEPY-EYES, COME ON. TIME FOR BED.

GIVE ME A KISS.

COME HERE. COME HERE.

[CHUCKLES]

YOU SLEEP GOOD, OK?

GOOD NIGHT, PA.

GOOD NIGHT, DARLING. SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.

"BY THE END OF MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION,

"THE FEDERALIST PARTY HAD PRACTICALLY DISAPPEARED.

MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION ITSELF WAS CALLED THE ERA OF GOOD FEELING..."

OH...

AHH...

YOUR SIDE OF THE BED DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. I CAN'T SLEEP.

YOU DON'T SLEEP ON EITHER SIDE. YOU JUST TALK.

YOU KNOW MA DOESN'T WANT US TO KEEP THE LAMP ON.

LAURA, I HAVE A TEST TOMORROW. I HAVE TO STUDY.

PA SAYS STUDY DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD UNLESS YOU GET SOME SLEEP.

WELL, I CAN'T STUDY WITH YOU TWISTING ALL THE TIME, ANYWAY.

LET'S SWITCH BACK.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING, MARY?

WHAT?

THIS SIDE OF THE BED DOESN'T FEEL ANY DIFFERENT.

GOOD NIGHT, LAURA.

GOOD NIGHT.

[ROOSTER CROWS]

[JACK BARKING]

[CHARLES CHUCKLING]

HOW YOU DOING, JACK, HUH?

[ROOSTER CROWS]

[ARF ARF]

[ARF ARF]

HI.

HI, HALF-PINT.

HI, PA.

WHERE'S YOUR SISTER?

MARY'S NOT SPEAKING TO ME THIS MORNING.

GOT OUT OF BED ON THE WRONG SIDE, HUH?

NO. WE SWITCHED BACK TO OUR REGULAR SIDES.

Charles: MARY?

COME ON. YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

HEY, IT'S LATE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN BED?

AT THIS RATE, YOU'RE NOT GOING

TO BE AT SCHOOL IN TIME FOR RECESS.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE GOING TODAY, PA.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

MY HEAD HURTS.

WELL, YOU DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY FEVER.

MAYBE YOU JUST NEED SOME BREAKFAST.

HONEST, PA. I DON'T FEEL VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. YOU STAY IN BED AND REST.

YOUR MA WILL FIX YOU SOMETHING TO EAT WHEN YOU FEEL HUNGRY.

THANKS, PA.

I THINK THESE DOUBLE-YOLKS MERIT AN EXTRA, OH,

ONE PENNY A DOZEN, MRS. INGALLS.

OH, THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY NICE, MRS. OLESON.

OF COURSE, I ALWAYS FEEL THAT MERIT DESERVES A REWARD.

THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A POLICY IN OUR HOUSEHOLD

EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING, EVEN WITH THE CHILDREN.

YES, LAURA TOLD ME.

I'VE NEVER BELIEVED IN PAYING CHILDREN FOR GRADES.

GRADES ARE A REWARD IN THEMSELVES.

IT MUST BE WORKING.

WILLIE GOT VERY GOOD GRADES,

AND NELLIE [CHUCKLES]--

NELLIE GOT THE BEST GRADES IN THE SCHOOL.

HOW'S, UH, HOW DID YOUR MARY DO THIS TIME?

WE'RE PROUD OF OUR CHILDREN

NO MATTER WHAT THEIR GRADES ARE.

THE GIRLS DO A LOT OF WORK AROUND THE FARM.

THAT'S PART OF LEARNING, TOO.

OH, I SUPPOSE.

OF COURSE, I BELIEVE

THAT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT THE TRUE SCHOLAR

HAVE THAT TIME TO DEVELOP THE MIND,

AND THE, UM, THE ANNUAL HISTORY AWARD IS COMING UP.

NOW, DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, HMM?

I SUPPOSE SO...

IF YOU NEED IT.

JUST CREDIT THE EGGS TO MY ACCOUNT.

THANK YOU. GOOD DAY, MRS. OLESON.

MISS BEADLE?

MRS. INGALLS, HOW GOOD TO SEE YOU. PLEASE COME IN.

I HOPE I'M NOT INTERRUPTING YOUR WORK.

OH, NO, NOT AT ALL. PLEASE SIT DOWN.

THANK YOU.

LAURA TOLD ME MARY WASN'T FEELING WELL.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT.

WELL, SHE'S NOT SERIOUSLY ILL, IS SHE?

OH, NO, NO, NOTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S ABOUT HER WORK.

MRS. INGALLS, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

I WISH I HAD A CLASSROOM FULL OF STUDENTS

THAT TRIED AS HARD AS MARY DOES.

THEN WHAT'S THE MATTER?

SHE'S ALWAYS DONE SO WELL, AND NOW...

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I DON'T KNOW.

SHE SEEMS TO APPLY HERSELF, BUT...

WELL, SHE JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO COVER

HALF THE MATERIAL SHE USED TO.

I WAS WONDERING IF SHE HAD SOMETHING ELSE ON HER MIND.

YOU MEAN LIKE A BOYFRIEND.

I WISH IT WERE THAT. I THINK I COULD HANDLE IT.

I'M SURE YOU COULD.

[SIGHS]

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES...

A STUDENT CAN BE DOING VERY WELL,

AND THEN WE REACH THE MORE COMPLICATED MATERIAL,

AND...THEY SEEM TO FLOUNDER.

YOU MEAN YOU THINK MARY ISN'T SMART ENOUGH TO DO THE ADVANCED WORK.

NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

I JUST MEANT THAT THERE COMES A POINT

WHEN SOME STUDENTS HAVE TO GO AT A SLOWER PACE THAN OTHERS.

I'VE SEEN STUDENTS PUT BACK A GRADE AND DO VERY WELL.

THAT WOULD BREAK MARY'S HEART.

BELIEVE ME, I KNOW THAT.

THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING TO HER,

BUT I THINK SHE'S BEGUN TO REALIZE IT HERSELF.

SHE HASN'T SAID A THING AT HOME.

DID SHE TELL YOU WE HAD A HISTORY EXAM TODAY?

SO THAT'S WHY SHE DIDN'T WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL TODAY.

ON HER LAST EXAM, SHE DIDN'T COMPLETE HALF OF HER PAPER.

I COULDN'T GIVE HER A PASSING GRADE.

OH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

WELL, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WORK HARDER.

THANK YOU, MISS BEADLE.

MRS. INGALLS, I'LL HELP MARY ANY WAY I CAN.

I KNOW YOU WILL. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD-BYE.

GOOD-BYE.

[DOOR CLOSES]

CHARLES...

MM-HMM?

ARE YOU AWAKE?

NO. I'M SOUND ASLEEP.

I WENT TO SEE MISS BEADLE TODAY.

YEAH. WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT IT WHILE YOU GO TO SLEEP?

CHARLES, MARY IS HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE.

WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE?

SHE JUST ISN'T ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE WORK.

WELL, SHE'S GOT THE BEST TEACHER IN MINNESOTA RIGHT HERE IN THE HOUSE.

CERTAINLY BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU--

I TRIED TO HELP HER TONIGHT.

MISS BEADLE IS RIGHT. SHE DOESN'T KNOW HALF THE MATERIAL.

ALL CHILDREN HAVE TROUBLE

WITH THEIR STUDIES FROM TIME TO TIME.

CHARLES, MARY MAY HAVE TO BE KEPT BACK A YEAR.

MISS BEADLE SAID SHE'S GOING TO BE LEFT DOWN?

SHE MAY NOT HAVE ANY CHOICE.

OH, THAT'S NOT LIKE MARY.

I BET IT'S A BOY.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT,

BUT MISS BEADLE SAYS THERE'S NO SIGN OF THAT.

MARY WORKS HARD. SHE JUST ISN'T ABLE TO DO WELL.

WELL, WE'LL TALK TO HER TOMORROW,

SEE IF WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. GET SOME SLEEP.

GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.

Miss Beadle: CLASS,

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ENTERED IN THE HISTORY COMPETITION,

I'VE LISTED SEVERAL DATES HERE ON THE BOARD FOR REVIEW.

NOW, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE FIRST DATE...

AND GIVE ME ITS SIGNIFICANCE?

NELLIE?

1588. THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.

IT MARKED THE BEGINNING

OF ENGLAND'S POWER OVER THE SEAS.

VERY GOOD, NELLIE.

NOW, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE SECOND DATE?

WILLIE?

IN 1492, COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ANYBODY KNOWS THAT ONE.

HE ALWAYS TAKES THE EASY ONES.

LAURA?

SHH.

ALL RIGHT, WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS ONE?

NOW, I KNOW YOU KNOW IT. IT WAS ON YOUR LAST ASSIGNMENT.

MARY?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY THIS ONE?

I--I'M SORRY, MISS BEADLE.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

NELLIE?

1607. THE FOUNDING OF JAMESTOWN,

THE FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN NORTH AMERICA,

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.

THAT'S RIGHT, NELLIE.

MISS BEADLE SAYS

I'LL GET EXTRA CREDIT FOR MY HISTORY RECITATIONS.

THAT'S VERY NICE, NELLIE.

MY MOTHER SAYS HISTORY'S THE MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

THAT'S WHY I 'M GOING TO WIN THE HISTORY AWARD.

I KNOW SHE'LL GIVE ME SOMETHING NICE.

CHRISTY WANTS TO PLAY TWO-CAT. WE NEED ONE MORE.

I CAN'T.

I HAVE TO FINISH MY CHORES EARLY SO I CAN STUDY.

YES, YOU'D BETTER STUDY. YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOING WELL AT ALL.

BE QUIET, NELLIE. MY SISTER'S SMARTER THAN YOU ANY OLD TIME.

WELL, I DON'T MISS EASY QUESTIONS

WHEN MISS BEADLE CALLS ON ME.

PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR AND BERRIES?

OH, ALL RIGHT.

YAY'. MARY'S GOING TO PLAY'.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE HALF-PINT?

I THOUGHT IT WAS MARY'S TURN TO RAKE UP.

WELL, SHE'S GOT A LOT OF HOMEWORK.

BESIDES, I PROMISED.

OH, KIND OF TRADING OFF, HUH?

NO, SHE GOT HURT PLAYING TWO-CAT TODAY,

AND IT WAS KINDA MY FAULT.

WELL, DID YOU TELL HER YOU'RE SORRY?

YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE THOUGHT I MEANT IT.

WELL, I THINK YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH WORK

TO SHOW HER YOU MEANT IT. BESIDES,

IT'S GETTING CHILLY OUT HERE.

THANKS, PA.

AHH.

I GUESS YOU KNOW THAT RAKING THE STALLS ISN'T MY FAVORITE.

I HAD THAT FEELING. NOW, WHY DON'T YOU GO ON IN THE HOUSE?

TELL YOUR MA I'LL BE IN IN A MINUTE.

OKEY-DOKE.

HEY, SWEETHEART. WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING UP?

YOU SAID YOU HAD 15 MINUTES OF HOMEWORK. THAT WAS AN HOUR AGO.

THESE PROBLEMS ARE JUST TAKING LONGER THAN I THOUGHT.

I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO WAKE YOU.

NEVER MIND THAT. YOU OUGHT TO BE IN BED.

PLEASE, PA. I JUST HAVE TO FINISH THIS TIME.

LOOK, MARY, I KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO YOU,

BUT THERE'S SUCH A THING AS STUDYING TOO HARD.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ACCUSED OF IT MYSELF,

BUT IF YOU WORK TOO LONG, YOU GET TOO TIRED.

YOU'LL END UP SITTING LOOKING AT THOSE PROBLEMS ALL NIGHT

AND NEVER FINDING THE ANSWERS.

IT'S JUST THIS ONE PROBLEM.

I CAN SOLVE IT IN A MINUTE. I KNOW I CAN.

YEAH, MISS BEADLE WILL HAVE A SLEEPYHEAD IN SCHOOL TOMORROW.

HERE, LET ME SEE IT.

I'M NOT AS GOOD AT ARITHMETIC AS YOUR MA,

BUT I CAN USUALLY FIND THE ANSWER.

THERE YOU GO.

YOU JUST GOT TWO NUMBERS REVERSED, THAT'S ALL.

THERE. SEE?

OH, YES. I SEE IT NOW.

BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE IT FROM THE CHAIR, COULD YOU?

I--I SAW IT JUST FINE, PA.

THEN WHY DID YOU COME OVER HERE TO READ IT?

I SAW THEM, PA.

GO STAND OVER BY YOUR CHAIR.

WHAT NUMBERS DID I WRITE ON THE SLATE?

I...

I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T SEE THEM, PA. I CAN'T SEE THEM'.

PA, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO MANKATO?

IT TAKES ABOUT 3 DAYS. IT'S A NICE TIME OF YEAR TO MAKE THE TRIP, THOUGH.

WHY COULDN'T DR. BAKER JUST ORDER ME A PAIR OF GLASSES?

MRS. WHIPPLE GOT HER SEWING GLASSES OUT OF THE CATALOG.

WELL, I WOULDN'T WANT TO TRY TO CHANGE MRS. WHIPPLE'S WAYS,

BUT IF A PERSON'S GOING TO GET GLASSES,

THEY OUGHT TO HAVE THEIR EYES EXAMINED, ESPECIALLY A YOUNG PERSON.

DOES IT HURT?

NO. THIS DR. BURKE'S GOT ALL THE NEWEST EQUIPMENT.

DR. BAKER SAYS HE'S ABOUT THE BEST EYE DOCTOR IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

IT'S GOING TO COST AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY, ISN'T IT?

DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT.

BUT I KNOW HOW HARD YOU AND MA WORK,

AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE NEED.

WELL, NONE IS AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR EYESIGHT.

DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT IT. WE'LL MANAGE. HYAH'.

HMM. RIGHT.

MM-HMM. ALL RIGHT, MARY.

NOW, IF YOU'LL LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD...

GOOD.

EXCELLENT.

OK, MARY, YOU CAN RELAX NOW.

DR. BURKE, AM I GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT?

MARY, TO ME, A BEAUTIFUL EYE IS A HEALTHY EYE,

AND YOU HAVE TWO OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EYES I'VE EVER SEEN.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, MARY. IF YOU'LL HAVE A SEAT OUTSIDE,

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR FATHER.

MR. INGALLS?

THANK YOU.

HAVE A SEAT, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

MR. INGALLS, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW

MARY HAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HER EYES

A SIMPLE PAIR OF GLASSES WON'T CORRECT.

I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. SHE'S BEEN HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE.

WELL, IT'S MAINLY FROM EYE STRAIN--

TIRED EYE MUSCLES FROM GOING WITHOUT HELP SO LONG.

WHAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

SHE DIDN'T TELL US.

WELL, SAME REASON PEOPLE DON'T COME TO ME

TILL THEY'RE IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

FEAR, SOMETIMES.

MANY TIMES, POOR EYESIGHT COMES ON SO GRADUALLY,

THEY JUST DON'T REALIZE THEIR EYES ARE BAD,

ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN.

HOW DID SHE MANAGE FOR SO LONG?

OH, LITTLE TRICKS-- SQUINTING WHEN THE EYES ARE TIRED.

EVER SEE HER PUSH BACK ON THE SIDES OF THE EYES LIKE THIS?

SHE PROBABLY DID. I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

MM-HMM. WELL, WITH THE AMOUNT OF SCHOOLWORK SHE HAS,

THE TRICKS STOPPED WORKING, THAT'S ALL.

YOU'D THINK HER MA OR I WOULD HAVE NOTICED.

NO, NOT SO.

BEEN MY EXPERIENCE, PARENTS ARE THE LAST ONES TO NOTICE.

MAYBE ONE DAY, THEY'LL HAVE SENSE ENOUGH

TO EXAMINE KIDS WHEN THEY START SCHOOL,

AND WE CAN AVOID THE PROBLEM.

WELL, IF YOU'LL GET YOUR DAUGHTER,

WE'LL SHOW HER A WHOLE NEW WORLD.

MARY...

YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE YOU'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER.

I CAN SEE IT, PA.

I CAN READ IT ALL.

I BET IF I HAD THAT SLATE, YOU COULD READ IT NOW.

I COULD READ ANYTHING.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR YOUR GLASSES ALL THE TIME--

FOR A MONTH, ANYWAY--

UNTIL THE EYE MUSCLES HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO REGAIN THEIR STRENGTH.

I WILL, DR. BURKE. YOU CAN COUNT ON IT.

NO CHEATING, NOW. REMEMBER.

LATER ON, YOU CAN USE THEM JUST FOR YOUR SCHOOLWORK, OK?

OK.

THANK YOU, PA.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

MY PLEASURE.

EVERYTHING LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL, PA'.

EVERYTHING'S JUST BEAUTIFUL'.

THAT IT IS, SWEETHEART.

PA, LOOK'.

LOOK AT THEM GO'.

I NEVER SAW SO MANY BIRDS.

I GOT A FEELING THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE YOU NEVER SAW BEFORE.

ME, TOO, PA.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE SO DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE MY GLASSES.

WELL, I JUST LOVE YOU.

HYAH'.

MA'. MA'.

PA'S BACK'. PA'S BACK'.

Charles: WHOA.

WELCOME HOME, PA'.

MARY'. I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU HOME SO SOON.

WELL, YOU CAN CREDIT A COUPLE OF HUNGRY INGALLS FOR THAT.

HI, LOVEY.

OH, MARY, YOUR GLASSES ARE SO ATTRACTIVE.

THANKS, MA.

THEY MAKE YOU LOOK SMART LIKE MISS BEADLE.

THAT THEY DO.

YOU GIRLS HURRY IN THE HOUSE

AND GET WASHED UP FOR SUPPER. I'M STARVING.

YES, PA.

THEY SURE ARE PRETTY.

SHOULD HAVE SEEN HER ON THE WAY HOME.

IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS LOOKING AT THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

OH, I'M SO HAPPY FOR HER. SHE IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, ISN'T SHE?

DOCTOR SAID SHE'D SEE TWICE AS WELL WITH THOSE GLASSES.

TWICE AS WELL?

OF COURSE, I COULDN'T HANDLE THAT.

YOU'RE FAR TOO PRETTY TO ME JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

I'LL UNHITCH THE TEAM.

OH, CHARLES.

COME ON, WILLIE. WE'LL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL.

Willie: I'M COMING.

MORNING, NELLIE.

WELL, LOOK AT MISS FOUR-EYES.

♪ MARY HAS FOUR EYES, FOUR EYES ♪

YOU BE QUIET, WILLIE.

WELL, MARY HAS FOUR EYES--

TWO REAL ONES AND TWO GLASS ONES.

FOUR-EYES.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO BLACK ONES.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, LAURA. NEVER MIND.

MY MOTHER SAID YOUR PA TOOK YOU TO MANKATO TO GET GLASSES,

BUT I NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D HAVE THE NERVE TO WEAR THEM.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NELLIE?

OH, NOTHING. JUST I WOULD NEVER WEAR THE UGLY THINGS.

MISS BEADLE WEARS GLASSES, AND SHE'S NOT UGLY.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE A HUSBAND, EITHER,

AND MARY'S GOING TO BE AN OLD SPINSTER JUST LIKE MISS BEADLE

BECAUSE NO ONE EVER MARRIES A FOUR-EYES.

WELL, NO ONE WILL EVER MARRY YOU BECAUSE YOU SAY SUCH NASTY THINGS.

COME ON, LAURA. LET'S GO INSIDE.

NYAH'. NYAH'.

QUEEN ISABELLA FURNISHED MONEY

FOR COLUMBUS TO DISCOVER THE NEW WORLD.

VERY GOOD, NELLIE.

MY MOTHER SAYS QUEEN ISABELLA'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN COLUMBUS.

WELL, I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, NELLIE.

UH, MARY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE NEXT ONE?

YES, MA'AM.

[CLASS CHANTING "FOUR-EYES"]

CLASS'.

NOW, I THINK THAT WILL BE ENOUGH OF THAT.

MARY, I HOPE YOU FIND YOUR GLASSES TO BE

AS MUCH OF A COMFORT AS I DO MY OWN.

YES, MA'AM.

NOW, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE NEXT ONE?

MAGELLAN, FERDINAND.

THE FIRST EXPLORER TO...CIRCUM...

CIRCUMNAVIGATE.

THE FIRST MAN TO SAIL ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT'S VERY GOOD.

YOU SEEM TO HAVE CAUGHT UP ON YOUR STUDIES.

YES, MA'AM.

I READ A LOT ON THE WAY BACK FROM MANKATO.

I HOPE THIS MEANS THAT YOU'LL TAKE PART IN THE HISTORY COMPETITION.

THANK YOU, MISS BEADLE.

WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT, YOU ALL MIGHT DO WELL

TO REVIEW THE DATES YOU WERE GIVEN LAST SEMESTER.

YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE MATERIAL WE'VE COVERED.

NOW, USE THE NEXT FEW MINUTES BEFORE RECESS FOR A STUDY PERIOD.

MARY. MARY, IT'S GETTING LATE.

DO YOU HAVE MUCH MORE TO DO?

I JUST NEED A COUPLE MORE MINUTES. THEN I'LL BE FINISHED.

GOOD. NOW, I SAW MISS BEADLE IN TOWN TODAY.

SHE SAYS YOUR WORK HAS IMPROVED

A GREAT DEAL IN THE PAST FEW DAYS

SINCE YOU GOT YOUR GLASSES.

I'VE JUST ABOUT CAUGHT UP.

THAT'S GOOD.

YOUR PA AND I ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.

MA? MM-HMM?

IF MY SCHOOLWORK HADN'T GOTTEN BETTER WITH MY GLASSES,

WOULD YOU AND PA BE ASHAMED OF ME?

[LAUGHS] NO.

WE LOVE YOU.

BUT YOU ARE A FINE STUDENT,

AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A FINE TEACHER...

JUST LIKE MISS BEADLE.

OH, LISTEN TO ME.

HERE I AM, CHATTERING LIKE A MAGPIE,

KEEPING YOU FROM YOUR WORK.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, MA.

YOU FINISH THAT LITTLE BIT, AND THEN OFF TO BED.

YES, MA. ALL RIGHT.

JUST LIKE MISS BEADLE.

HERE SHE COMES. QUICK, HIDE THEM.

WE'RE PLAYING A NEW GAME CALLED "GUESS WHO."

GUESS WHO?

YES. WE ALL DO AN IMITATION OF SOMEONE WE KNOW

AND HAVE TO GUESS WHO IT IS. WILLIE'S TURN.

GUESS WHO I AM. FOUR-EYES.

NYAH, NYAH.

♪ MARY HAS FOUR EYES ♪

♪ MARY'S GOT FOUR EYES ♪

♪ NYAH, NYAH, NYAH, NYAH ♪

WILLIE'. WILLIE, I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL MY SISTER NAMES'.

HI, PA'.

HI, HALF-PINT.

CAN I MEET JENNIFER FOR FISHING AND DO MY CHORES AFTER?

YOU GOT ANY HOMEWORK?

NO.

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. BUT DON'T BE TOO LONG.

I WON'T'.

WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT, AS IF I DIDN'T KNOW?

SOMETIMES I THINK I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FISHERMAN INSTEAD OF A FARMER.

HI, MARY.

HI.

MARY?

IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG?

MARY, WHY AREN'T YOU WEARING YOUR GLASSES?

I--I LOST THEM.

YOU LOST THEM?

WHERE?

IN THE SCHOOLYARD, I GUESS.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WEARING THEM.

I'M SORRY, PA. I TOOK THEM OFF AT RECESS.

I WAS AFRAID I'D BREAK THEM.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO LOSE THEM.

WHERE DID YOU PUT THEM?

IN MY POCKET.

WHEN I STARTED INSIDE, THEY WERE GONE.

I LOOKED EVERYWHERE.

IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NOW.

YOU LOOK AGAIN FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

YES, SIR, I WILL.

AND ASK THE REST OF THE CHILDREN AND MISS BEADLE.

YES, PA.

I--I'D BETTER GO DO MY HOMEWORK.

Mary: PA?

I'M SORRY.

SO AM I.

IT'LL BE HARVEST TIME BEFORE I CAN GET ANOTHER PAIR OF GLASSES.

PA?

HI, MARY.

DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE HEADING OFF

TO SCHOOL THIS EARLY.

MA GOT US OUT EARLY TO LOOK FOR THE GLASSES.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

PA, IF I DON'T FIND MY GLASSES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ME ANOTHER PAIR.

WHAT KIND OF THING IS THAT TO SAY?

I DON'T DESERVE ANOTHER PAIR.

I LOST THEM. IT WAS MY FAULT.

EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES, MARY.

YOU TOLD ME NOT TO TAKE THEM OFF, AND I DID.

I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ANOTHER PAIR.

I'LL THINK ABOUT IT, ALL RIGHT?

WHY DON'T YOU HURRY UP? MAYBE YOU'LL FIND THEM.

YES, SIR.

MARY?

LOTS OF PEOPLE WEAR GLASSES.

EVEN MISS BEADLE WEARS THEM.

YEAH, I KNOW. I BETTER HURRY UP.

"IN 1846,

"THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE WAS DISCOVERED.

"THE PORTUGUESE SEEMED LIKELY TO BE THE ONES WHO WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION,

HO W SHA LL WE REA CH THE INDIES?"

THANK YOU, CHRISTY.

MARY, WOULD YOU TAKE THE NEXT PASSAGE, PLEASE?

Nellie: FOUR-EYES IS GOING TO READ FOR US.

NELLIE'.

WHICH PASSAGE, MISS BEADLE?

THE THIRD ONE.

I'M SORRY, MARY. WE WON'T HAVE TIME TO HAVE YOU READ.

IT'S LUNCHTIME.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ENTERING THE HISTORY COMPETITION,

I MUST HAVE YOUR NAME ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER.

I'LL HAVE THE QUESTIONS ON THE BOARD WHEN YOU RETURN FROM LUNCH.

ALL RIGHT, YOU MAY GO.

LAURA?

YES, MISS BEADLE?

LAURA, DO YOU KNOW WHY MARY HASN'T SIGNED UP

FOR THE HISTORY COMPETITION?

SHE HAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING.

SHE DOESN'T THINK SHE DOES, NOT SINCE SHE LOST HER GLASSES.

OH. I WONDERED WHY SHE WASN'T WEARING THEM.

I GUESS IT'LL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE PA CAN AFFORD ANOTHER PAIR.

YES, I UNDERSTAND. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL.

YES, MA'AM.

BOY'. YOU OUGHT TO SEE ALL THOSE QUESTIONS

SHE'S PUTTING ON THE BOARD.

NOBODY'S EVER GOING TO FINISH ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.

I WILL, BECAUSE MOTHER'S BEEN ASKING ME QUESTIONS EVERY NIGHT,

AND I HAVEN'T MISSED ONE IN EVER SO LONG.

WELL, MAYBE SHE JUST DIDN'T ASK YOU THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, NELLIE.

MY MOTHER'S THE BEST TEACHER IN WALNUT GROVE,

AND SHE'S GOING TO GIVE ME A DOLLAR

WHEN I WIN THE HISTORY AWARD AND PROVE IT.

I SURE WISH YOU HADN'T LOST THOSE GLASSES.

THEN YOU COULD BEAT HER. YOU'D BEAT HER REAL GOOD.

I DON'T CARE. IT DOESN'T MATTER. I'M GETTING OFF.

[CHILDREN LAUGHING AND SHOUTING]

[HORSE AND WAGON APPROACHING]

WHOA.

HELLO, BLUE EYES.

GOOD--GOOD MORNING.

MY GOODNESS.

WALNUT GROVE CERTAINLY HAS MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF BEAUTIFUL LADIES.

THANK YOU.

UM, YOU WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME

WHERE I MIGHT FIND YOUR SCHOOLTEACHER?

MISS BEADLE?

MM-HMM.

YES. SHE'S INSIDE.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THERE YOU GO, BLUE EYES.

THANK YOU.

MARY'.

OH, MISS BLUE EYES.

I--I JUST CAME IN TO PUT MY FLOWER IN SOME WATER.

I SEE YOU'VE MET MR. STACEY.

WELL, NOT FORMALLY.

MARY INGALLS, THIS IS JOHN STACEY.

MR. STACEY'S A LAWYER FROM OVER IN SPRINGFIELD.

WHAT SHE ISN'T TELLING YOU IS, I'M HER BEAU,

AND SHE'S VERY LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T MEET YOU FIRST, BLUE EYES.

Miss Beadle: OH, JOHN.

I'M PLEASED TO MEET YOU.

IT'S MY PLEASURE, MARY.

EVA, DON'T KEEP ANYONE AFTER SCHOOL TODAY,

BECAUSE I'LL BE WAITING.

ALL RIGHT, JOHN.

[DOOR CLOSES]

MARY, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE.

I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE WAS HERE.

IS HE REALLY YOUR BEAU?

I THINK HE'S NICE.

SO DO I.

MISS BEADLE?

HMM?

IS IT TOO LATE FOR ME TO TAKE THE HISTORY EXAM?

OF COURSE NOT.

WE STILL HAVE 5 MINUTES BEFORE WE BEGIN.

THANK YOU, MISS BEADLE'.

MAYBE I CAN KEEP MY FLOWER WITH YOURS.

THANK YOU, MISS BEADLE.

Laura: PA'.

PA?

DOWN HERE, HALF-PINT.

WHAT YOU DOING?

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HER, PA. SHE WAS GREAT.

MARY WON THE HISTORY AWARD'.

WHAT? SHE WON IT?

YEAH. NELLIE'S SO MAD.

MARY ANSWERED EVERYTHING'.

WELL, WHERE IS SHE?

SHE'S COMING. I RAN AHEAD.

I GOT TO TELL MA'.

HEY, SCHOLAR'.

LET ME SEE THAT CERTIFICATE.

THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

YOU DON'T LOOK TOO HAPPY FOR SOMEBODY WHO JUST WON AN AWARD.

I DIDN'T LOSE THEM, PA.

I HID THEM IN AN OLD LOG...

SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WEAR THEM.

NELLIE KEPT CALLING ME FOUR-EYES.

I'M SORRY I LIED.

I KIND OF THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AH, COME HERE.

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT TO LIE.

THAT OLD SAYING ISN'T TRUE, IS IT, ABOUT STICKS AND STONES?

NAMES DO HURT.

THEY SURE DO.

I KNOW THEY DO.

BUT YOU GOT THE CERTIFICATE.

SO NO MORE TEARS, ALL RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE IT HOME AND SHOW YOUR MA.

YOU KEEP GOING THE WAY YOU ARE,

YOU'RE GOING TO BE AS GOOD A TEACHER AS MISS BEADLE.

THAT'S RIGHT, PA.

JUST LIKE MISS BEADLE.

COME ON.