Original subtitles

[SLAM]

HA HA!

NO, SVEN.

JUST PICKING IT UP, MA'AM.

THAT'S THE THIRD TIME YOU'VE DROPPED IT.

NOW I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST LEAVE IT THERE.

IT CAN'T FALL ANY FARTHER.

[CHILDREN LAUGHING]

CHILDREN?

YOU HAVE WORK TO DO.

I'M GOING TO WRITE TOMORROW'S ARITHMETIC ASSIGNMENT ON THE BOARD FOR ALL GRADES.

YOU'LL HAVE TIME TO COPY IT BEFORE YOU'RE DISMISSED.

[THUMP]

MISS BEADLE IS A GOOD TEACHER.

BUT MY NELLIE AND WILLIE TELL ME THAT SHE'S NOT A VERY GOOD DISCIPLINARIAN.

NOW, WHEN THE HARVEST IS OVER,

AND THE OLDER BOYS COME TO SCHOOL,

SHE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO COPE.

SHE DID A GOOD JOB LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.

WELL, NOT WITH THIS CROP OF BOYS.

SHALL WE GO?

HEY.

[WHOOSH]

GOOD GRIEF!

[KIDS SHOUTING]

STOP! NOW!

NOW, YOU BE QUIET, ALL OF YOU!

NOW, GET BACK TO YOU PLACE! GO ON!

YES, SIR.

GET BACK!

YES, SIR.

NOW, SIT!

MISS BEADLE?

ARE YOU HURT?

NO, I'M FINE.

I'M JUST FINE.

AND I WAS RIGHT. YOU'LL HAVE TO ADMIT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS A SCHOOLROOM

OR BATTLEFIELD.

I'M SORRY.

IT WAS MY FAULT.

WHAT?

I THREW AN ERASER.

I REALLY AM SORRY.

YOU MAY TAKE YOUR SEAT, LAURA.

YES, MA'AM.

MR. HANSON, MRS. OLESON, I CAN ONLY ADD MY APOLOGY TO LAURA'S.

CHILDREN, UH, SCHOOL IS DISMISSED.

A VERITABLE RIOT IN OUR SCHOOLROOM.

TSK TSK TSK.

TWO BOYS WRESTLING IS NOT A RIOT,

BUT IT IS NOT GOOD SCHOOLROOM BEHAVIOR, EITHER.

WELL, I THINK THAT THE WHOLE MATTER

SHOULD GO BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD,

AND I BELIEVE THAT OBVIOUSLY

AN EMERGENCY MEETING SHOULD BE CALLED.

WE WILL COME TO THAT.

UH, MISS BEADLE, THE WHOLE SCHOOL BOARD

HAS TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON,

AND YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CAN TELL THEM.

UH, WOULD YOU COME TO THE MEETING TONIGHT?

OF COURSE.

THANK YOU.

UNTIL THEN, MISS BEADLE.

COME ALONG, MR. HANSON.

[DOOR CLOSES]

THERE'S NOTHING PERSONAL ABOUT ANY OF THIS, MISS BEADLE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR PUPILS AND THE TEACHER.

UH, THIS, UM...

EXPLOSION THAT, UH, HAPPENED IN THE CLASSROOM TODAY...

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT CAUSED IT?

I DIDN'T SEE IT START.

I GUESS IT WAS... SOMETHING TRIGGERED A SUDDEN FLARE OF ANGER.

DO YOU THINK IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN?

I DON'T KNOW.

THEN IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

WHY, YES, A FEW TIMES.

SOME OF THE OLDER BOYS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE.

OH, MY, THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

I'VE TRIED TALKING TO THEIR PARENTS ABOUT IT.

THEY SHOW NO INTEREST.

WHEN THE OLDER BOYS ACT UP,

THE YOUNGER ONES FOLLOW SUIT,

AND THEN THEY GET THE ATTENTION THAT THEY WANT.

Harriet: MISS BEADLE, YOU ARE BEING PAID

TO HAVE STRICT DISCIPLINE IN THIS SCHOOLROOM.

MRS. OLESON, I'M BEING PAID TO TEACH.

OH? WELL, THEN YOU CAN'T VERY WELL DO THAT,

CAN YOU, IF THERE'S A RIOT GOING ON IN HERE.

AND HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT DISCIPLINING A BOY

WHO OUTWEIGHS YOU BY 50 POUNDS

AND IS A HEAD TALLER THAN YOU ARE?

THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM.

IT IS YOURS, AND DON'T YOU FORGET

THAT THE BIGGER BOYS WILL SOON BE COMING IN HERE

WHEN THE HARVEST IS OVER.

MRS. OLESON, PLEASE.

MISS BEADLE,

WHEN THE BIGGER BOYS COME IN FROM THE FIELDS,

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO CONTROL THEM?

WELL, I'LL TRY MY BEST.

OH, BUT YOU DO HAVE SOME DOUBTS.

YES. YES. I DO.

WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY, MISS BEADLE,

AND FOR COMING IN TONIGHT.

I'M GOING TO BE GRADING PAPERS UNTIL QUITE LATE.

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR DECISION THIS EVENING.

[DOOR OPENS]

[SIGHS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

HMM.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

MR. INGALLS. COME IN.

THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?

NO. NO, THANK YOU.

I TAKE IT THEY'VE MADE THEIR DECISION.

YEAH. THEY...

THEY DECIDED THAT A MALE TEACHER

WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO COPE WITH THE OLDER BOYS.

I SEE.

I KNOW IT'S VERY LITTLE CONSOLATION,

BUT THE VOTE WASN'T UNANIMOUS.

I'M SORRY.

I KNOW.

YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, I'M RELIEVED.

I WAS DREADING HARVEST TIME.

ALL THOSE BOYS COMING BACK TO SCHOOL...MEN.

PERHAPS IF I HAD BEEN A BETTER TEACHER...

YOU'RE A FINE TEACHER.

YOU CAN'T BLAME YOURSELF.

WELL, THAT'S THE TROUBLE WITH BEING A TEACHER.

THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN THE SCHOOLROOM TO BLAME.

MY CHILDREN PAINTED ME THIS CARD LAST CHRISTMAS.

ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL?

"WE LOVE YOU, MISS BEADLE."

AND THEY ALL SIGNED IT.

"WE LOVE YOU, MISS BEADLE."

BOARD WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD STAY ON

UNTIL THE NEW TEACHER ARRIVES.

OF COURSE.

MR. INGALLS, I'D APPRECIATE IT

IF YOU WOULDN'T MENTION IT TO THE CHILDREN

UNTIL AFTER THE NEW TEACHER ARRIVES.

I UNDERSTAND.

WELL, I'D BETTER BE GOING.

MR. INGALLS.

YEAH?

LAURA...

LAURA'S DOING MUCH BETTER IN HER FRACTIONS,

BUT I THINK SHE NEEDS TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER ON THEM.

I'LL SEE THAT SHE DOES.

MY PA TOLD MY MA, AND I HEARD THEM.

WE'RE GETTING A MAN TEACHER.

Sven: WHAT'S WRONG WITH MISS BEADLE?

IS SHE SICK OR SOMETHING?

NO, SHE'S NOT SICK.

Mary: THEN WHY ARE WE GETTING A NEW TEACHER?

WHY DO YOU THINK? IT'S LAURA INGALLS' FAULT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE, NELLIE OLESON.

IF IT'S ANYBODY'S FAULT, IT'S WILLIE'S.

HE STARTED IT.

DID NOT! DID NOT!

YOU DID TOO!

Nellie: IT'S LAURA'S FAULT.

YOU SAY THAT AGAIN, AND I'LL SLAP YOUR FACE!

YOU TRY IT, I'LL PULL YOUR HAIR OUT BY THE ROOTS.

GIRLS, THAT'S ENOUGH!

NOW, YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES OF RECESS LEFT.

I SUGGEST YOU USE IT FOR PLAYING AND NOT FIGHTING.

YES, MA'AM. LET'S GO.

IS NELLIE RIGHT?

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A NEW TEACHER?

YES, LAURA. TOMORROW'S MY LAST DAY.

PA MUST HAVE KNOWN.

I ASKED HIM NOT TO SAY ANYTHING FOR MY SAKE.

IT WAS MY FAULT.

I THREW THAT ERASER.

NO, DARLING. IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT.

WHOEVER HE IS, HE WON'T BE AS GOOD AS TEACHER AS YOU, MISS BEADLE.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WONDER WHAT THE NEW TEACHER WILL BE LIKE.

REAL MEAN, PROBABLY.

WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THEY WANT A NEW TEACHER,

SOMEONE BIG AND MEAN TO SCARE THE OLDER BOYS.

HE'D HAVE TO BE AWFUL BIG TO SCARE HERMAN.

WHO'S HERMAN?

HERMAN STONE,

JUST MOVED INTO THE OLD HARRISON FARM.

I SAW HIM THE OTHER DAY.

HE'S TALL ENOUGH TO LOOK DOWN AT THE TOP OF A SILO.

WELL, HE BETTER NOT PICK ON ME, OR I'LL KICK HIM.

YOU JUST STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.

YOU HEARD WHAT MA SAID TONIGHT--

DO YOUR BEST AND TRY TO HELP THE NEW TEACHER ALL YOU CAN.

I WILL. GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING?

WHAT?

I'LL BET THAT NELLIE OLESON BRINGS THE NEW TEACHER AN APPLE.

HEE HEE! YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

MAYBE HE'LL HATE APPLES.

HA HA HA! HA HA HA!

YEAH. HO HO HO!

GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.

HA HA HA! HA HA HA!

HA HA HA! HA HA HA!

SHOULD BE ANY MINUTE.

I SURE HOPE IT COMES BEFORE THE BELL RINGS.

HERE IT COMES.

HERE IT COMES.

BYE!

BYE, MISS BEADLE! HURRY BACK!

BYE!

[BELL RINGING]

GOOD MORNING.

[CHILDREN TALKING]

SILENCE!

GOOD.

MY NAME IS MR. APPLEWOOD. IT'S WRITTEN ON THE BOARD.

AS YOU ALL KNOW BY NOW,

MISS BEADLE IS NO LONGER YOUR TEACHER.

I AM.

FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD,

THIS CLASSROOM WILL BE RUN BY ME.

IS THAT CLEAR?

GOOD.

SO THAT THERE IS NO MISTAKE IN THE FUTURE,

THERE WILL BE CERTAIN NEW RULES WHICH YOU WILL ALL ABIDE BY...

WITHOUT DEVIATION.

THOSE RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS.

YOU WILL SPEAK ONLY WHEN SPOKEN TO.

NO ONE IS TO LEAVE HIS SEAT WITHOUT PERMISSION.

THERE WILL BE NO WHISPERING, NO WRITING OF NOTES.

ANY ASSIGNMENT OR TEST PAPER HANDED IN WITH AN ERASURE ON IT WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE.

EVERY ASSIGNMENT WILL HAVE THE STUDENT'S NAME AND GRADE

CLEARLY WRITTEN IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER.

IF THAT IS NOT EXACT,

THAT STUDENT WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

ANY STUDENT CAUGHT CHEATING WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE...

AND WILL HAVE NO RECESS OR LUNCH HOUR FOR ONE WEEK.

IS EVERYONE CLEAR SO FAR?

GOOD.

GOOD.

GOOD.

I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE HAS BEEN A, UM...

DISCIPLINARY PROBLEM IN THIS CLASSROOM.

[CHILDREN GIGGLING]

LET ME ASSURE YOU...

THAT...IS NO LONGER TRUE.

NOW, I THINK I'VE MADE MYSELF CLEAR.

LET'S SEE HOW WELL YOU UNDERSTAND.

AS YOUR FIRST LESSON FOR TODAY,

YOU WILL WRITE DOWN THE RULES I HAVE JUST GIVEN YOU.

NOW!

LAURA INGALLS?

YES, SIR?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE UNDER YOUR HAND?

JUST A PIECE OF PAPER.

PIECE OF PAPER, HUH?

BRING IT TO ME.

NOW.

DID I TELL YOU TO STOP STUDYING?!

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND.

[SMACK]

[SMACK]

FOR BEING TARDY...

FOR WRITING AND PASSING NOTES.

BUT I DIDN'T.

OH, IT JUST GOT THERE ON YOUR DESK BY MAGIC, IS THAT IT?

WELL, NO, SIR.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

SINCE YOU LIKE TO WRITE,

YOU'RE GOING TO DO A LOT OF IT.

SCHOOL IS DISMISSED,

EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO STILL HAVE WORK ON THE BLACKBOARD.

AND I WAS SO BUSY WRITING,

THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STUDY MY SPELLING,

AND IT JUST MEANT I HAD TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL AND WRITE.

JUST WASN'T FAIR.

THIS LONG DMSION SURE IS HARD.

YEAH, NOW WAIT A MINUTE, HALF-PINT.

YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED TELLING ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM AT SCHOOL.

NOW, DID YOU TO EXPLAIN TO MR. APPLEWOOD THAT IT WASN'T YOUR NOTE?

I TRIED TO.

HE WOULDN'T LISTEN, PA.

NOW, IN MY EXPERIENCE,

TEACHERS ALWAYS TRY TO BE VERY FAIR.

YOUR MOTHER'S RIGHT, HALF-PINT.

WHEN MR. APPLEWOOD FINDS OUT WHAT A GOOD STUDENT YOU ARE,

THINGS WILL BE A LOT BETTER.

I SURE HOPE IT'S SOON.

ALL THAT WRITING'S GETTING ME BEHIND.

29 INTO 114...

SUPERB.

I AM TRULY GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALLOW ME

TO SHARE MY SUPPERS WITH YOU.

IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO.

WELL, IT'S OUR PLEASURE.

I ALWAYS FEEL THAT THE ONLY THING HARDER TO FIND IN WALNUT GROVE THAN GOOD FOOD

IS INTELLIGENT TALK.

HMM.

ORDINARILY, MR. APPLEWOOD,

I DON'T LIKE TO CARRY TALES--

THEN DON'T.

Willie: MAY I BE EXCUSED?

NO, WILLIE.

NELS, I FEEL THAT WE OWE IT TO MR. APPLEWOOD.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

LAURA INGALLS IS A LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER.

HARRIET, I THINK YOU'RE EXAGGERATING.

I AM ONLY STATING A SIMPLE TRUTH.

WELL, I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND HER TO BE

VERY PLEASANT AND WELL-BEHAVED.

WELL, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND WHEN SHE'S BEEN UP TO HER TRICKS!

ISN'T THAT SO, CHILDREN?

YES'M. MAY I BE EXCUSED?

NO!

SHE DOES WHISPER A LOT.

SHE WAS KIND OF MISS BEADLE'S PET.

AHH. WELL, I THANK YOU ALL.

FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED.

Sven: GEE, UH, I'M SURE SORRY ABOUT PASSING THAT NOTE YESTERDAY.

YOU'RE SORRY?

I GOT PUNISHED.

WELL, I TALKED TO THE OTHER GUYS, AND, UH,

WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU GET EVEN WITH THAT OLD CRAB APPLEWOOD.

PLEASE DON'T.

BUT WE WANT TO.

IF YOU'RE MY FRIEND, YOU WON'T DO ANYTHING.

I AM YOUR FRIEND. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HELP.

NO. I'M IN TROUBLE ENOUGH.

TIME'S UP.

WILLIE OLESON, WILL YOU COLLECT THE PAPERS?

HERMAN!

COME UP HERE!

YOU ARE AN HOUR LATE. YOU MISSED YOUR HISTORY EXAMINATION.

YEAH.

KINGS AND BATTLES DON'T MEAN NOTHING.

NOT IF YOU KNOW HOW TO PLANT AND PLOW,

HOW MUCH THEY'RE PAYING FOR CORN.

AHH... A KNOW-IT-ALL, HUH?

WELL, I THINK I CAN TEACH YOU

TO BE ON TIME FOR SCHOOL.

PUT OUT YOUR HAND.

[LAUGHTER]

GET BACK TO WORK, ALL OF YOU!

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND.

[SMACK]

[SMACK]

TEACH YOU TO COME LATE.

TAUGHT ME YOU CAN'T HIT HARD ENOUGH TO TICKLE.

[SNICKERING]

GO BACK TO YOUR SEAT.

SURE.

REASON I WAS LATE,

ONE OF OUR COWS WAS BIRTHING.

LAURA INGALLS,

SINCE YOU DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO OCCUPY YOUR MIND,

I WILL GIVE YOU SOME MORE WORK.

[CHILDREN SHOUTING]

WHOA!

HEY, YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH. YEAH, I'M ALL RIGHT.

HAVE SOME.

THANKS, HERMAN.

Mary: HI, SVEN.

BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU.

I'VE BEEN RIGHT HERE.

THAT CRAB APPLE.

HERMAN JUST LAUGHED AT HIM.

THAT'S WHY HE'S BEEN PICKING ON YOU.

HE'S GOING TO BE SORRY, TOO.

PLEASE, SVEN. NO TRICKS.

AFTER WHAT HE DONE TO YOU?

HE'S BEEN NICE TO ME TODAY.

NICE? HE GAVE YOU A FLUNK ON YOUR HOMEWORK, DIDN'T HE?

FOR HIM, THAT'S NICE.

I GOTTA GO.

I'M GOING TO STUDY MY SPELLING.

[DOOR OPENS, CHILDREN CLAMORING]

HEY, MAN, WE'LL GO OVER THERE TOMORROW...

OR AFTER SCHOOL TODAY.

SURE, WHY NOT?

ALL STUDENTS, PAPER AND PENCILS.

[CHILDREN LAUGHING]

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, AND YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY?

WELL, I DON'T!

LAURA INGALLS, COME HERE.

YOU'RE EXPELLED. GO HOME.

MR. APPLEWOOD, PLEASE--

NOW!

HALF-PINT, WHAT'S THE MATTER?

HEY.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE.

NOW, COME ON. WHAT'S THE MATTER?

HE EXPELLED ME, PA. HE SENT ME HOME.

WELL, WHY DID HE EXPEL YOU?

HE SAID THAT I PUT...

INK ALL OVER HIS PAPERS.

BUT I DIDN'T, PA. HONEST, I DIDN'T.

ALL RIGHT, NOW.

NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

I BELIEVE YOU.

NOW, DON'T YOU WORRY. IT'S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

YOU JUST GO WASH UP.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

Caroline: SHE GOT OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT

FROM THE MOMENT MR. APPLEWOOD CAME INTO THE SCHOOL.

I KNOW. I'LL TALK TO HIM IN THE MORNING.

OF COURSE, SHE'S NOT THE STUDENT MARY IS,

BUT SHE DOES TRY HARD.

I KNOW SHE DOES.

MARY DOES SAY THAT HE'S UNFAIR.

WELL, MARY WOULD SAY THAT

ABOUT ANYBODY THAT HURT LAURA.

YES, BUT I KNOW SHE DIDN'T POUR INK IN HIS SATCHEL.

I KNOW THAT,

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS

THAT I'M GOING TO TELL HIM

IN THE MORNING.

CHARLES, YOU HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LOSE YOUR TEMPER.

NOW, IF YOU DO, YOU COULD MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE FOR LAURA.

I'LL BE VERY NICE TO HIM...

IN THE MORNING.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

EVERYBODY'S BEEN FINE HERE?

HOW'S YOUR READING GOING?

Girl: FINE.

WILL YOU EXCUSE ME?

AND WILL YOU COME VISIT ME?

MISS BEADLE.

OH, MR. INGALLS, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WHEN DID YOU GET BACK?

YESTERDAY.

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

IT WAS FUN, BUT AM I GLAD TO BE BACK.

WE MISSED YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, THAT'S NICE TO KNOW.

HOW'S SCHOOL?

ALL RIGHT.

JUST ALL RIGHT?

LAURA, I KNOW YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH FRACTIONS.

NOW, IF YOU NEED SOME HELP, YOU COME SEE ME, OK?

OK. YOU, TOO, MARY.

WE WILL, MISS BEADLE.

THANKS. THANKS.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HOME. MAYBE YOU CAN HAVE SUPPER WITH US THIS WEEK.

OH, I'D LOVE THAT.

I'LL TELL CAROLINE.

GOOD. GIVE HER MY BEST, WILL YOU?

I CERTAINLY WILL. BYE-BYE.

GOOD- BYE, MISS BEADLE.

BYE, MISS BEADLE.

BYE.

RUINED. TOTALLY RUINED.

YOUR DAUGHTER DIDN'T LIKE THE MARK I GAVE HER.

SHE WAS ALONE IN THIS ROOM.

ONE PLUS ONE, MR. INGALLS.

OF COURSE, THERE ARE TWO DOORS TO THE SCHOOL.

WERE YOU IN A POSITION TO WATCH BOTH OF THEM ALL THE TIME?

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT?

JUST THAT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING

THAT YOU WERE OUT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

YES. YES, I WAS.

WELL, THEN IT IS POSSIBLE

SOMEONE COULD HAVE COME IN THE BACK DOOR...

BEFORE LAURA CAME IN THE SCHOOL.

THIS IS A BARE POSSIBILITY. YES.

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY.

I MEAN, THEY COULD HAVE COME IN, SPILLED THE INK, AND THEN LEFT.

MY DAUGHTER SAID SHE DIDN'T DO IT, AND I BELIEVE HER.

YES, WELL, IN THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR PROOF

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,

LAURA, YOU MAY RETURN TO SCHOOL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND YOU MAY RING THE BELL.

IT'S TIME.

YES, SIR.

I'M NOT SAYING SHE DOESN'T DO A FEW THINGS WRONG,

BUT SHE USUALLY TELLS THE TRUTH.

THANK YOU. I BETTER BE GOING.

[BELL RINGING]

I, UH, MAY HAVE ACTED WITH UNDUE HASTE, MR. INGALLS.

I DO HOPE THIS PUTS MATTERS RIGHT.

IT DOES. THANK YOU.

GOOD. NOW I MUST GET BACK TO MY CHILDREN.

SEE YOU AT HOME, HALF-PINT.

BYE, PA.

[CHILDREN YELLING]

[BELL RINGING]

YUCK!

[WHISPERING] Get out! Get out!

He's coming!

[CHILDREN GIGGLING]

[CHILDREN LAUGHING]

SILENCE!

HERMAN, COME UP HERE!

WHAT FOR?

TO APOLOGIZE FOR DESTROYING MY PROPERTY,

TO CLEAN UP THE MESS YOU'VE MADE,

AND TO BE PUNISHED.

NO. NOT ME.

[OLDER BOYS LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY]

IN THIS CLASSROOM, WHEN THE BELL RINGS, YOU WILL DO AS I SAY.

HERMAN, COME HERE!

NO, SIR.

THEN I WILL COME TO YOU.

HE DIDN'T DO IT.

WELL, LAURA INGALLS.

YOU SAY HERMAN DIDN'T DO IT,

THEN YOU MUST KNOW WHO DID.

YOU SAY HERMAN'S NOT GUILTY. THEN, WHO IS?

QUICKLY. TELL ME.

YOU KNOW WHO DID IT, AND YET YOU REFUSE TO TELL.

THAT MEANS YOU'RE PROTECTING SOMEONE,

AND THAT SOMEONE MUST BE YOURSELF.

YOU DID IT!

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND.

[SLAM]

DUMP ANOTHER BOOK, AND YOU'RE ALL EXPELLED!

AS FOR YOU, YOUNG LADY, HOLD OUT YOUR HAND.

Charles: JUST A MINUTE.

MR. INGALLS, WHAT, UH...

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

MY DAUGHTER FORGOT HER HOMEWORK.

MARY, LAURA, I WANT YOU TO GO HOME.

YOU FIND ME IN AN AWKWARD MOMENT.

I'M HAVING A, UH...

SMALL PROBLEM HERE.

I HEARD YOUR SMALL PROBLEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET.

MR. INGALLS! I'M TALKING TO YOU!

I AM IN COMPLETE CHARGE HERE.

I WILL NOT TOLERATE INTERFERENCE IN MY CLASSROOM.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME,

I'LL BE AVAILABLE AFTER SCHOOL HOURS.

I'LL BE HERE AND SO WILL THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I'LL SEE TO THAT.

HUMPH! EVERY PARENT WITH A PROBLEM CHILD

WANTS TO HIRE A NEW TEACHER.

MR. APPLEWOOD, I THINK THE TEACHER'S THE PROBLEM.

HOW DARE YOU COME INTO--

YOU OWE MY WIFE A THANK YOU.

SHE ASKED ME TO BE NICE TO YOU.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO KEEP ORDER IN A CLASSROOM,

AND THAT IS DISCIPLINE.

AT TIMES, HARSH DISCIPLINE.

SEE, I CAN MAKE THESE CHILDREN TOE THE LINE,

BUT ONLY IF I'M GIVEN A FREE HAND.

I CANNOT DO IT IF PARENTS INTERFERE.

[CHUCKLES]

AND I SAY AGAIN THAT MR. INGALLS HAS LAUNCHED THESE CHARGES AGAINST ME

BECAUSE OF HIS DAUGHTER'S FAILURE.

NOW, I DEEPLY, DEEPLY RESENT THAT.

CHARLES?

Charles: MR. APPLEWOOD, WHY IS MY DAUGHTER FAILING?

MR. INGALLS, I HARDLY THINK THIS IS THE TIME OR PLACE

TO GO INTO YOUR DAUGHTER'S GRADES.

WELL, THERE MUST BE A REASON.

YES, YES. SOME STUDENTS DO NOT DO AS WELL AS OTHERS.

I HAVE A FOLDER HERE THAT I RECEIVED FROM MISS BEADLE.

IT HAS SOME TEST PAPERS AND A PROGRESS REPORT ON MY DAUGHTER.

WOULD YOU LOOK AT IT, PLEASE?

I SEE NO REASON.

I'M ONLY CONCERNED WITH YOUR DAUGHTER'S WORK

SINCE I HAVE BEEN HER TEACHER.

WELL, SO AM I. VERY CONCERNED.

BECAUSE I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

HOW MY LITTLE GIRL COULD GO FROM ABOVE AVERAGE GRADES TO FAILURE.

PERHAPS BECAUSE SHE'S NOT TRYING.

SHE'S NOT TRYING.

LET ME READ SOME OF THE REPORT TO YOU.

"LAURA INGALLS IS A HARDWORKING STUDENT.

"HER WEAKEST SUBJECT IS MATHEMATICS, MAINLY FRACTIONS.

"HOWEVER, LAURA'S IMPROVED GREATLY IN MATHEMATICS

"DUE TO HER EXCEPTIONAL EFFORT.

SHE IS A FINE STUDENT AND A PLEASURE TO HAVE IN MY CLASSROOM."

MUST WE LISTEN TO ALL THIS?

YOU GOT THIS REPORT FROM MISS BEADLE, AM I CORRECT?

THAT'S CORRECT.

OH. WELL, THERE'S YOUR ANSWER.

I'M SURE THAT MISS BEADLE WOULD LIKE

TO HAVE HER TEACHING POSITION RESTORED TO HER,

AND THEREFORE WOULD WRITE ANYTHING ABOUT A STUDENT TO DISCREDIT ME.

I'M AFRAID THAT I TEND TO AGREE WITH MR. APPLEWOOD.

SOMEONE TRYING TO GAIN BACK EMPLOYMENT MIGHT WRITE ANYTHING.

I AGREE WITH YOU, MRS. OLESON.

NELS, DO YOU HAVE THE RESUME MR. APPLEWOOD SENT US?

Nels: YES.

OH. THANK YOU.

THE, UH...THE RESUME.

IT IS IN YOUR HANDWRITING, ISN'T IT?

OF COURSE.

WELL, I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THE GLOWING REPORTS

OF YOUR PAST TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS.

YOU TAUGHT AT A VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS. VERY IMPRESSIVE, INDEED.

WELL, I HARDLY SEE WHAT THAT, UH...

WELL, IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. IT'S JUST VERY LONG.

WHY'D YOU LEAVE YOUR LAST JOB?

I WAS, UM...

NOT SATISFIED WITH, UH...

ASPECTS OF THE JOB.

AND THE JOB BEFORE THAT?

PERSONAL REASONS.

L-I'M NOT ON TRIAL HERE, MR. INGALLS.

OF COURSE NOT, BUT YOU JUST SAID YOURSELF

THAT A MAN WILL WRITE ALMOST ANYTHING IN ORDER TO GAIN A POSITION.

ARE YOU SAYING I MADE FALSE STATEMENTS THERE?

NO, I AM NOT. I'M SAYING WE'RE A SMALL TOWN

AND WE NEEDED A TEACHER

AND WE TOOK YOUR RESUME ON FACE VALUE.

I THINK WE SHOULD SEND FOR YOUR REFERENCES FROM YOUR FORMER EMPLOYERS.

HOW DARE YOU!

L--l CAME TO THIS TOWN BECAUSE I THOUGHT I COULD HELP YOU,

TO GIVE YOU THE--THE-- THE KIND OF TEACHING AND DISCIPLINE YOU NEED,

BUT...INSTEAD OF APPRECIATION,

I GET SUSPICION.

YOU PROMISED ME A FREE HAND

TO TEACH THIS SCHOOL AS I SAW FIT.

NOW, IF THAT HAS CHANGED, I WANT TO KNOW NOW.

MR. APPLEWOOD, CHARLES IS NOT SUGGESTING--

I KNOW WHAT HE'S SUGGESTING!

TO GET REPORTS ON ME!

OVER A CHILD O-ONCE REPRIMANDED!

NO, THAT IS NOT SO!

I HAVE SEEN THE LIKES OF YOU BEFORE.

YOU WANT THE CHILDREN TO TOE THE LINE,

BUT YOU ARE AFRAID TO DISCIPLINE THEM!

THERE MUST BE ORDER! THERE MUST BE ROUTINE!

THERE MUST BE RULES,

AND THOSE RULES MUST APPLY TO ALL STUDENTS!

YOU CANNOT ALTER THOSE RULES.

YOU CANNOT...

YOU CANNOT CHANGE THAT ORDER.

I MUST HAVE ORDER.

MY RESIGNATION WILL BE ON THE DESK IN THE MORNING.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

MR. INGALLS, COME IN.

I KNOW IT'S LATE, BUT I SAW YOUR LIGHT WAS ON.

WE HAD A MEETING AT SCHOOL TODAY, AS YOU KNOW.

YES.

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT,

MR. APPLEWOOD DIDN'T WORK OUT. HE RESIGNED TODAY.

OH.

WE NEED A NEW TEACHER, AND WE'RE HOPING YOU'LL TAKE THE JOB.

SEE, THE BOARD THOUGHT ALL IT WOULD TAKE

IS SOMEBODY WITH A STRONG HAND,

AND THEY KNOW NOW THEY WERE WRONG.

THEY ALL WANT YOU BACK.

AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED, I...

I DON'T BLAME YOU IF YOU SAY NO,

BUT PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT.

I WANT TO COME BACK MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

THOSE ARE MY CHILDREN, AND I LOVE THEM, BUT...

I DON'T THINK I CAN.

MISS BEADLE, NO TEACHER CAN DO IT ALONE.

WE KNOW THAT NOW.

THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP YOU.

OH, IF I COULD ONLY BE SURE OF THAT.

TRY.

YOU TOLD THAT TO LAURA ENOUGH TIMES.

ALL YOU CAN DO IS TRY.

I'LL BE THERE IN THE MORNING.

THANK YOU.

WHAT'D SHE SAY?

SAID SHE'D BE IN SCHOOL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

GOOD.

I WANT YOU TWO TO COME ON IN THE HOUSE.

I WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH YOU.

DID WE DO SOMETHING WRONG, PA?

UH-UH. NO. WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT.

I MADE MISS BEADLE A PROMISE THAT TOMORROW WHEN YOU GO TO SCHOOL,

I WANT YOU TO HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH THE REST OF THE CHILDREN.

[SLAM]

[SLAM]

SORRY, TEACHER.

WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

THANK YOU, HERMAN.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

YES, MA'AM.