Original subtitles

Dear lord, I... I don't really know how to put this into words.

You've blessed me in a lot of ways,

but I ain't never found it easy to tell you what's in my heart.

Maybe the best I can do is to thank you for my Alice and my Andrew

and for the best crop I ever brought in.

I don't know if you really know

how much that crop means to me, lord, you not being a farmer and all...

Jonathan!

I'm sorry. Uh...

Supper's getting cold, lord. Uh...

I really do mean it. Amen.

Land's sakes,

you'd think you'd never had a crop before!

Well, I ain't never had one like this before.

I can't wait to get that crop to market.

Can I go with you, pa?

I don't see why not, son.

And as soon as we get back,

we're going to start clearing that upper field,

and next year, we're going to double our crop.

Jonathan, where are you going to put it?

The cribs in the barn are full.

Well, we'll just make enough money off this crop

that we'll build us a new barn.

We're expanding, Mrs. Garvey... Expanding!

Well, then you'll need your nourishment.

Eat your supper while it's hot.

Yes, ma'am.

You want some more stew?

No. When I said I was expanding,

I didn't mean around the middle.

Hey, pa, can we have some popcorn tonight?

Well, sure.

Fetch in some more wood.

I'll pop it for you, ma.

I'll trade you. I'll pop the corn. You do the dishes.

Yes, ma'am.

Pa! Pa, come quick!

God!

The barn's gone! Wet down the house!

Andy, get the bucket!

Hyah! Get up!

On the roof... Quick!

Hyah!

Hyah! Get on out of here!

Hyah! Hyah!

Aah!

Aah!

Aah!

Oh, my god!

Jonathan!

Aah!

Aah!

All my big plans...

I'm going into town.

Nels, put another sack of flour on my order.

Hey, Jonathan!

Look at me. I'm buying out the mercantile.

That bumper crop of corn really has paid off.

I just got back from lambert's.

Sold another load there.

Going to take another shipment into mankato on Friday.

That price is really holding up.

When are you going to ship yours out?

I ain't got nothing to ship.

What?

My barn burned last night.

Oh, dear god. How did it happen?

I... I don't know. It just happened.

I'm sorry.

I been... I been talking to hanson.

I was... I was hoping there might be some work,

but he ain't getting started for another 3 or 4 months.

Look, if there's anything I can do, I...

No. Thank you, Charles. I...

Got some work piling up. I'll...

See you.

Alice: Things are bound to pick up, Jonathan.

We ain't even got enough left

to put a decent meal on the table.

I saved up almost 50 cents, pa.

Andrew, don't you have homework to do?

Yes, ma'am.

Best get it done, then.

All right.

I don't remember it being this hot this time of year before.

Jonathan, like always, there's a bright side to everything,

even being out of work.

Yeah? I'd like to hear about it.

Well, you been talking about how you planned

to clear the field in the north section.

I need a paying job, woman.

I don't know what I'd do for seed after I got it cleared.

I know, but...

Guess you'd be less ashamed of your worthless husband

if folks saw him out doing a mule's work.

Jonathan, that's not true.

You said you planned to clear the field.

I said a lot of things before the fire.

Th-that don't mean nothing now.

Maybe we could get a loan of some seed.

Charles had a good crop this year.

I ain't no beggar, and I ain't gonna

go out asking for charity!

Will you stop talking about charity?

That's what it is, and I won't have it!

Charles.

Oh, I'm sorry. I can't sleep.

I thought I'd heat up some milk.

You're not still thinking about Jonathan, are you?

I can't help it.

Bragging to him like that about how well I'm doing

when he's lost everything.

Well, you didn't know.

I know how he feels...

Plowing and planting and praying for the right weather, and then...

Maybe you should go see him tomorrow.

I will.

Go on back to sleep.

I'll come to bed as soon as I get some milk.

Ah!

That must really hurt, huh, pa?

Can't let it get infected.

I know.

Let me get that arm wrapped.

I still think you ought to let me take you over

to doc baker, let him have a look at you.

No. That's out.

Still think you ought to let me.

Doctoring costs money,

and I ain't gonna owe nobody else.

Come on. You know doc baker wouldn't...

Charles, I ain't takin' charity.

Besides, I ain't so stowed up

that I can't start working around here anyhow.

I'm gonna start putting that barn back together.

I still got me a little credit over the mercantile.

I'm gonna go in and get me some nails.

Don't you think the barn ought to wait?

What?

It's just that we won't be needing the barn for a while,

and I think what little credit we got,

we ought to save for foodstuff.

Is that some kind of remark?

What?

You got to remind me in front of company

that I can't put food on this table?

I've never done that, and I wasn't now.

I'm still the provider in this family, woman,

and I got to do it my way!

Andrew, it's time for school.

I'll walk along with you.

You shouldn't have had to see that, Charles.

Don't worry about it.

Those things happen.

I don't blame Alice for thinking less of me.

Come on, Jonathan. She doesn't think less of you.

Yes, she does.

I can see it in her eyes, and...

Hear it in her voice.

Hey, look, I told you I was going to take

that other load of corn into mankato on Friday.

You could use the work, and I could use the help.

What kind of help?

Just help, that's all.

Charles, I appreciate your friendship,

and I appreciate your concern,

but I ain't no fool.

It only takes one man to drive a wagon.

Got me some errands to run in town.

See you.

Jonathan, I was just at the post office.

You expecting a letter?

No. I was just coming to tell you my good news.

You know Mrs. Whipple at the post office?

Well, she's just filling in

till they can get somebody permanent.

What are you trying to tell me?

I'm trying to tell you that I can have the job.

Jonathan?

Figuring on starting supporting me now, huh?

Oh! Not you... us.

Just to help out.

Jonathan, we're a family.

We... we should think of ourselves as one.

You ain't taking no job.

It's just temporary.

I said you ain't taking no job, and that's final.

Caroline, Laura, come on in.

I hope you're not busy.

No, not at all.

Well, I hate to say it, but you know,

men will never learn to shop.

Charles went to the mercantile yesterday,

and he bought so much stuff it's just all going to spoil,

and I'll never be able to use it before...

Caroline, close friends should never try

to lie to one another.

I can use. Thank you.

There's some tea.

I'll put the water on.

You doing arithmetic?

Yup.

Need some help?

Yes.

Where's Jonathan?

He's not back from town yet.

I don't know what's keeping him.

Jonathan: Hey, give me a little help with this door!

Jonathan!

Take them nails.

Excuse me, young uns.

Caroline.

What in the world?

That's for you.

Candy!

Now, you share it with Laura.

This is for you.

Oh, Jonathan!

Oh... it's beautiful!

You said you'd been needing one.

But how did you get the money?

I sold the team.

You what?

It was worth half of what I got

just to see the look on Mrs. Oleson's face when I paid the entire bill

and I bought all this besides.

You sold the team?

But how could you?

How could you do such a foolish thing?

Those horses represent the only sure way

of getting back on your feet again!

Jonathan, what's in your mind?

Providing.

Providing for the needs of my family.

Whatever else is in my mind?

But I told you I can work.

I ain't taking charity from my wife.

Oh, you fool. It's not charity.

Don't call me that!

I worked as hard as I can, and maybe I failed,

but I ain't gonna be called names for that,

and I ain't gonna be looked down on anymore!

I'm through, Alice!

Through!

I got the last of the corn all stacked.

Think it'll all fit in the wagon?

Just barely. May have to put a few ears in my pocket.

Hey, half-pint!

You feed those horses yet?

Oh. I'll do it now.

Pa?

Yeah?

Is Mr. Garvey really going to mankato with you Friday?

Yeah. I'm afraid he is.

For good?

Well, that's what he says.

Why do people get divorced?

I don't know, darling.

Different reasons, I guess.

To be honest, I don't think

we even know anybody who's ever gotten divorced.

I wish we still didn't.

It just doesn't seem right, those two breaking up.

I know.

Just feel like we ought to do something.

Well, Jonathan won't hear another word

from me on the subject.

I'm thinking of Alice.

I'm going to go talk to her.

I can't just let her sit there and let this happen!

What are you going to say to her?

I don't know...

Yet.

You sure you won't mind being alone tonight, ma?

Course I mind,

but you want to see as much of your father as you can

if he's leaving on Friday.

Maybe he'll decide to stay soon as he sees how nice

that old cabin's going to look.

Maybe he will.

You really want him to stay, don't you?

What I want don't seem to make much difference.

Now you go on.

You keep scrubbing on that wood,

you're going to have it worn plumb out.

Nobody's lived in this place for a long time.

I want it to look nice.

I... I know, but, uh, I'll be leaving in a couple of days.

It's for when you come back.

Andy, uh, I...

Oh, pa, I'm afraid I'm never going to see you again!

Now, you know that ain't true.

I... I'll be coming to see you, and...

As soon as I get settled,

why, you'll be coming to stay with me for nice, long spells.

You mean that? I can?

Course I do.

Promise?

Double promise.

Alice: I expect things won't be so awful bad.

I mean, with me working at the post office,

at least Andrew and I won't be starving.

And... it gives me something to put my mind on beside...

You love Jonathan an awful lot, don't you?

Yes.

Always will, I expect.

Do you think he loves you?

I know he does.

It seems such a waste.

I know it is, Caroline, but what can anybody do?

Well, something.

What?

I don't know.

You'd want Jonathan to come back, wouldn't you?

Oh, of course.

Have you told him that?

No, of course not. He knows how I feel.

Well, you'd be more sure of that if you told him.

Oh, honestly, Caroline, I don't understand you!

I mean, how could you even think I could do such a thing?

When you love somebody,

it's worth putting your pride behind you.

It's more than pride.

Is it?

Yes. I never did a single thing

to break up this marriage.

It was Jonathan's doing from the start,

and when he walked out, that was his doing, too!

So you're right, and he's wrong.

Yes.

Well, I hope being right is enough for you,

because you're sure paying a high price for it...

And so is Andrew.

This ain't like a real good-bye, son.

I'll be coming back in a couple of weeks to see that circuit judge.

Can't I wait until after Mr. Ingalls comes?

No. That would make you late for school.

There ain't no sense in that.

Son, I'm... I'm glad you wanted to stay with me these last few days.

Pa, won't you change your mind?

Let's not go getting upset, now.

We talked all that out, remember?

Yes, sir.

Off to school now. Go on.

Bye, pa.

Bye, son.

Whoa!

Jonathan!

Morning, Charles.

Morning.

You're traveling kind of light, aren't you?

I'm going to leave the rest of my stuff here.

I figure it'll be safe.

You could store it in my barn, if you want.

No. Anybody that needs to borrow what little I got

is worse off than me and welcome to it.

Alice: Jonathan.

Charles, I... I don't mean to be holding you up, but I...

No. It's all right. We're not in any rush.

Can I speak to you in private?

I don't see why.

We've said everything there is to say.

I'm not going to beg you, Jonathan.

Woman, do you think this is easy for me?

Well, just leave it be.

Well, I'm going to say what I came to say,

and if it has to be in front of Charles, so be it.

Jonathan garvey, I'm your wife, and I love you.

Doesn't that count for anything?

Course it does, but I...

Don't you love me at all?

Alice...

Do you?

You know I do.

Then why are you doing this?

I want you to come home with me and Andrew.

Now, tell the truth. Don't you want that, too?

More than anything, I guess.

Then why are you leaving?

Well...

I... I guess if you're willing to give up that job...

I didn't say anything about giving up my job.

I...

Jonathan, we're a family.

We need that job.

Not by my rules, we don't.

Your rules?

Is that why you're willing to break up the family...

Because of your rules?

A man who don't have a say in his own house

ain't even a man.

Now, you give up that job, and I'll be coming home.

Can't you understand?

It's your choice.

I won't give it up.

I won't!

You... you think I'm wrong, don't you?

Wouldn't really matter what I thought.

I think I'm asking a pretty fair price, Silas.

Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain't.

Leastwise, we won't know that until we count them.

Count them? You mean you want to count the whole load?

Every single ear, Mr. Ingalls.

Good old Silas.

Jonathan, looks like I'm going to be here for a while.

You probably want to get yourself settled, huh?

I ain't in no hurry.

I do want to say good-bye to you

before you head back, though.

Listen, I... I'm kind of thirsty.

I think I'll go down to the saloon.

Why don't you come down when you finish up?

All right, I'll see you then.

All right, Silas. Let's get at it.

Well, I'll limit my bet

to what Mr. Garvey has in front of him...

$4.00.

Drop.

I think you're bluffing, Mr. Sloan.

Man: Fold.

3 aces.

I got two pair.

Oh. I'm sorry.

Hold it.

One of them two pairs just happens to be aces,

and I ain't never seen a deck with 5 aces in it.

You calling me a cheater?

Somebody is.

Man: Meaning me, I suppose.

Maybe all of you!

Fight! Fight!

Hurry up. Get in here! It's a good one!

Come on! Leave him alone!

Who are you?

A friend.

I was doing real good.

If that game would have been honest,

I'd have made me some money.

You're lucky you got out with your life.

This losing's getting to be a habit, Charles.

Can't let you start your new life broke.

A couple of dollars. No argument.

No.

Come on, take it. I got to be getting home.

Charles, I... I been thinking.

The fact that me and Alice can't get along,

that don't mean that she ain't a good woman.

I'm glad you see that.

I do see that, and I just can't walk away

and leave her with nothing.

She's got the house and the land.

That ain't enough.

You know that field, the upper field...

The one I was going to clear?

It's good soil, and it'll make good farmland.

I'm going to clear it for her.

That'll make the property worth more, and...

Well, instead of just sitting here

and waiting for that circuit judge, I could be working.

What do you think?

I think we ought to start home.

Andrew, you've got to eat something.

I'm just not very hungry.

I can't get used to the idea he's gone.

Well, we're just going to have to.

If you're done, you best get to your chores.

Yes, ma'am.

Pa!

Andrew: Pa!

Pa!

You've come back!

You've come back!

This ain't exactly what it looks like.

Jonathan?

I ain't changed my mind.

I... I just couldn't leave you with all that work undone.

I come back to clear the upper field.

I got chores to do.

Just how much do you plan to put that child through?

Alice, I... I...

Whatever your reason is for coming back, you've got the right.

This is your house and your land every bit as much as it is mine,

but I want you know that once that judge gets here,

it's all over between us,

for all time to come.

Are you falling asleep?

No.

What are you doing?

I don't know.

Like dreaming, I guess.

I was just thinking I could open my eyes

and everything that happened

would just be a dream.

Ma and pa would be

back together again, and...

Why did all this happen, anyways?

I don't know, Andy.

Nobody knows.

Even my ma and pa don't know.

One day everything's good and loving,

and then all of a sudden,

it's all over,

and nobody knows why.

At least when kids fight,

they know what it's about.

They get it over with and make up.

I think god did things backwards.

Kids should get married and have parents.

Mm-hmm.

That's the trouble with having a little extra money.

I end up spending the whole night

standing here like a statue while you fit me with

new clothes I don't need in the first place.

Hush now. If I left this up to you,

you'd go to church in your long Johns.

Be worth it just to see the look on Mrs. Oleson's face.

Ha ha ha ha!

Caroline: You know, I believe you'd do it.

I'm finished now.

Oh, good. Thank you, my dear.

Oh, that's beautiful.

Glad to see you got some material for a new dress for yourself.

This happens to be for another shirt for you.

For me?

Yes. It's a very good piece of goods.

Well, not for me, it isn't.

You're not going to catch me walking around with that on.

Land's sakes, why not?

Come on, Caroline. I mean,

that's pretty sissy-looking material there.

It is not.

It is too. I'm not going to wear that.

Well... Just shows what I get

for trying to find something really nice for you.

Stop it!

What in the world?

Laura, what's the matter?

I don't want you fighting.

Baby, we weren't fighting.

You were!

Darling, we were just having a disagreement.

No, you weren't. You were fighting

just like Mr. and Mrs. Garvey,

and now they're getting divorced

and won't even talk to each other.

Oh, Laura!

Honey.

Hey, hey, hey. Come on.

Come on, honey. You don't think your ma and I would...

I can't help it.

It just sounded like...

Well, look, you have disagreements with your sisters, don't you?

Yeah.

And sometimes when you have those disagreements,

you end up getting your own way, don't you?

Yeah.

It's just the same with ma and me, that's all.

I mean, if your ma kept it up long enough,

I'd end up giving in.

Matter of fact, to prove my point, I will give in.

Caroline, you go ahead and you make the new shirt.

Oh, Charles...

But I'm not going to wear it, anyway.

Oh!

Ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Uh, I thought you'd be down at the post office.

I only work half a day wednesdays.

Well, that's good.

It gives you a chance to catch up on a woman's work.

Must be kind of hard working all day

and having to come home and do this.

It was never easy.

Didn't say it was.

You didn't have to.

Didn't have to what?

Never mind.

Upper field will be cleared pretty quick.

That's nice.

Going to make this property worth a lot more.

I'm sure it will.

Hard work, though... dragging them stumps around.

I'm sure it is.

Man's work. Real man's work.

Glad there's something I can do that you can't.

If I was clearing the field,

I'd use the team we used to have.

Amazing how much you cleared in so short a time.

Yeah.

Going to be a fine piece of farmland.

As soon as I start working,

I'm going to send you some money,

and you can replace them horses I sold.

Jonathan, you're leaving everything behind.

There's no need to send money besides.

No. It's right and proper.

Whatever you say.

Been making good time.

Got a couple more of them scrub trees,

and I'll be through, maybe even today.

Good.

The stage brought a letter from judge picker today.

He'll be here tomorrow at noon.

Judge working on Saturday, huh?

We're supposed to meet at the schoolhouse.

I'll be there.

Uh, we needed two witnesses.

I hope you don't mind, but I asked the Ingalls.

No, I... If it's all right with them, it's fine with me.

Well, do you need anything?

Need anything?

From the house.

No, I... Don't guess that I do.

Well, then, I won't hold you up.

Sit down. Sit down.

Who are the Garveys?

We are, your honor.

I am judge picker.

You are the witnesses?

Yes, sir.

Judge: Name?

Ingalls.

One "I" or two?

Two. Charles and Caroline.

And who might this be?

Our son Andrew.

Judge: "Son, Andrew."

Now, then, I will assume that, as usual,

there are questions of property and other financial matters

which are not yet settled between you.

I will state categorically

that unless they are settled here and now in my presence

and to the satisfaction of all parties,

you will need to engage separate attorneys

and go fight it out in Minneapolis.

Is that clear?

Yes, your honor.

That's a very expensive proposition,

so I suggest you consider it when either or both of you

are tempted to succumb to unreasonableness.

You don't have to worry about that, your honor.

We ain't unreasonable people.

Somebody must be. You're getting divorced.

Your honor, I can promise you there's no problem

concerning money or property.

Is that so?

I'll go along with whatever

my husband thinks is fair.

Most unusual.

Is there anything that is not resolved between you?

Alice: Yes. One thing.

Judge: And that is?

The custody of our son.

Alice, I ain't never said...

Jonathan, he wants to live with you.

That's plumb crazy.

I've agreed so long as you remain in walnut grove.

You know I can't do that.

Sure you can, pa.

You saw how nice

I fixed up the cabin for you,

and you need somebody to look after you.

I can do it.

Honest, I can.

I know you did a fine job

with that cabin, son,

but what about your ma?

I can visit her anytime I want.

It'll be the next best thing

to still being a family.

Even if you hate each other,

that still doesn't mean I don't love both of you.

I don't hate your ma, boy.

Then... why are you getting a divorce?

Ask your mother.

Why, ma?

Oh...

Tell him it's because I'm a failure.

I... I'm useless.

A man can't provide for his family,

he ain't got no right to be husband.

I never said that.

I never even hinted that I see you that way.

Did too.

When?

Lots of times.

When?

You telling me I didn't hear

those accusing things you said to me?

No, I'm not. I believe you heard them.

I just never said them.

I think you block out my voice

and put in a voice from your own head!

That's really great. Now you're telling me I'm crazy.

There, you see? I never said you're crazy.

You just said I said you were crazy.

I didn't.

You did too!

I said you said!

I said that you never hear what I say!

Well, I'm hearing you now.

Then what did I say?

You said I'm crazy.

Charles: Ha ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Charles, I don't see nothing funny.

I'm sorry. Ha ha ha!

You better tell me why you're laughing.

Ha ha ha!

He says...

He says that she says that...

She didn't say you were crazy.

You said you were crazy.

Well, what did she say?

I don't know what she said.

Ha ha ha ha!

What did you say?

Oh, Jonathan!

I want you all to try to be very calm.

I would only like to know,

are we or are we not getting a divorce?

Well, I don't know. Are you?

Mr. Garvey, I'm going to concur with the general consensus.

Your wife did not tell you you're crazy...

But I am.

I'm telling all of you... You're crazy!

Can we go home now, pa?

I don't see why not.

Come on.

Just a minute.

Uh, Charles.

Charles!

Can we get you and your family to join us for dinner tonight?

Ha ha ha!

We'd love to.

I'll... I'll bring a casserole.

No need.

We're going to eat high off the hog

if I can get my wife to spend some of her post office money.

I'll see you.

Charles: We'll see you.

Oh!

Oh! Ha ha!

That was the most amazing thing.

What did you say?

That was the most amazing thing.

You didn't say that.

You said I was crazy.

Oh, Charles!