Original subtitles

[Church bell rings]

[Indistinct chatter]

Thank you, reverend Alden, for a beautiful service.

Thank you, Mrs. Craig.

Woman: Good-bye, reverend Alden.

Bye-bye.

Is there something I could do for you?

Well, I was wondering, um--

yes?

Well, I was wondering if, uh--

Charles: You ready, Mrs. Craig?

Oh, my ride.

Well, I have to go, now, reverend.

-Here we are. -Oh, thank you.

Will you all come in for coffee and milk?

I just made my special chocolate cake.

Oh, we'd love to, Anna, but we've already promised the Garveys.

Oh.

Oh, well.

Charles: Here we go. Watch your step.

Anna: Thank you.

There you are.

Thank you.

Couldn't you come in for just a little while?

I've got some new slides

for my stereopticon of the Grand Canyon.

We'd love to. Maybe some other time.

We really have to get on to the Garveys'.

Next Sunday, maybe?

Next Sunday for sure, and thank you.

Thank you.

And don't forget, children.

You're welcome to stop by

for milk and cookies any time.

Don't worry. We will, Mrs. Craig.

Good-bye.

Charles: Have a nice day.

Caroline: Good-bye.

Good of you to drop by, reverend.

Can't get around much, anymore.

Don't see no one excepting you

from week to week.

With the wife gone...

The kids off and away, lord knows where...

All my old friends dead,

I got no one.

Sometimes seems

maybe I'd be better off if I was dead myself.

Now, you don't mean that, Jeremy.

Don't I?

Oh, you don't know what it's like to be old and alone, reverend,

to have no one--

no wife, no kids...

No one who really cares whether you live or die.

I care.

And I think I do know.

No.

No, you don't, reverend.

You couldn't.

You got all your congregations,

all them there people loving you

and inviting you into their houses all the time.

I like to think they care for me just as I care for them.

But it's not quite like that. It--

Jeremy.

You need to think on the positive side.

You've had a good, full life.

God's going to call you to your reward

in his own good time.

Meantime, I'm here to help.

Well...

Thanks a lot, reverend.

Well, would you read to me something out of the good book?

Anything in particular you'd like to hear?

Oh...

"Luke" 10:27.

It was Maggie's favorite.

"Thou shalt love the lord thy god...

Both: "With all thy heart, and with all thy soul,

and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind."

[Voice of Jeremy] "You don't know what it's like to be

"old and alone, reverend,

"to have no one--

"no wife, no kids."

Hester-sue: All right, children.

Out of that musty old classroom

and into some nice, fresh air.

Here we go.

Be careful. Come on.

I thought, with so many children

and so much to do,

you could use a pair of extra hands.

And we certainly could.

And an extra pair of eyes.

I'm afraid Hester Sue's doing so much,

she's wearing herself out.

I could help with the cooking.

Parker always said I was the best cook

west of the Mississippi.

Oh, there must be a hundred other things I could do.

Well, there are, Mrs. Craig.

Uh, unfortunately, we really can't afford to pay you.

[Gasps]

Oh, I don't want money.

I'm volunteering.

Mrs. Craig: Actually, you'd be doing me a favor,

giving me something to do, something worthwhile.

Well, what do you say, Mary?

Extra help for free.

Now, that we can afford.

Mrs. Craig, you're hired,

and thank you very much.

Oh, thank you.

Caroline: I hope you're not working too hard at the blind school, Anna.

Don't worry, Caroline. I love it.

Well, just as long as you don't overdo it.

I won't.

Would you like to spend the day with us?

Come on. Why don't you have supper with us?

Oh, I'd love to, but, uh...

I've already made plans.

I'm going to stay in town and visit.

Charles: Well, some other time.

Oh, yes.

Thank you.

-Have a nice day. -Thank you.

Reverend.

Why, Mrs. Craig.

Would you like to take supper with me at my house?

Yes, I would.

You would?

I'd love to.

Well, then, perhaps you'd like to ride out, now,

and look at my stereopticon slides.

I've got some new ones of the Grand Canyon.

Do you know I've always wanted to see the Grand Canyon?

Let me get my hat.

Mrs. Craig, I don't know when I've enjoyed a meal more.

It was absolutely delicious, from soup to nut cake.

Oh, I'm so glad you liked it, reverend.

I more than liked it. I savored every bite.

Well, perhaps we'd be more comfortable in the living room.

Whatever you say.

Excuse me.

Would you care for a cigar, reverend?

They're the same brand Parker used to smoke-- Perla de Cuba.

I bought them special for you.

Thank you. I'd love one.

Oh, um, reverend...

Speaking of love,

I was thinking about your sermon today.

Well, I'm happy to hear that, Mrs. Craig.

You know, sometimes I worry

that my sermons go in one ear and out the other.

Oh, no, reverend.

I always take your sermons to heart.

-Thank you. -Particularly today's.

You mind if I ask you a question?

Of course not.

Who is my neighbor?

Even as the lawyer asked the lord in "Luke" 10:29.

No, your neighbor is really every one of your fellow men and women.

Well, I--I have a confession to make, if I may, reverend.

Well, of course. That's what a minister's for.

Well, I...

I love a particular neighbor very much.

I see.

It's you.

[Chuckles]

That's...

That's very Christian of you, Mrs. Craig.

Um...I, of course, care about you

in that pure, platonic, rational affection

between two of god's creatures.

Oh, no, reverend.

It's not platonic, and it's not rational.

It's a love that surpasseth all understanding.

Oh, dear.

Um, the way the lord loves,

as you might say-- spiritual and sublime.

Reverend Alden, I love you

the way a woman loves a man.

If you'll excuse me, Mrs. Craig, um, it's getting late,

and I--I have to be going.

I want to thank you for everything.

I'm glad you're back.

What is it?

It's old Jeremy Tyler.

Doc's with him now. He said it won't be long.

-Could you drive me? -Sure thing.

[Cart approaching]

You'd better go right in.

Jeremy.

Reverend...

Too late for praying?

Never too late for prayers.

Oh.

Well, if I ain't got a place

waiting for me up there,

I'm afraid there ain't nothing much we can do about it now.

You've got a place, Jeremy.

You've been a good friend to me, reverend.

A mighty good friend.

Is there anything I can do?

You've done it all already just by being here.

Must be nothing worse than dying alone.

Is there anybody you want me to notify?

Told you,

ain't nobody.

Nobody... Excepting you.

Promise you won't leave me till I...

Of course I'll stay.

Bury me up yonder on the hill out back...

This old hunk of rock I've called a farm.

It's taken my sweat.

Might as well take my bones, too.

[Laughs]

Give me your hand, reverend.

It will help the going.

God, seeing we're such good friends,

just might give me a boost upstairs.

Weak are we all, and dying.

Give us peace...

Strength for our battle while it lasts...

And rest to close it that final day when our work is over.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

There you are, Anna--corned beef and cabbage a la Ingalls.

I'm sure it's delicious, but such a big portion.

Well, I try to take care of my friends.

Oh, thank you--

Mrs. Oleson: Mrs. Ingalls!

There are other customers waiting for service, you know.

Excuse me, Anna.

Mrs. Simon Legree calls.

[Bell rings]

Reverend Alden!

My goodness, what are you doing here?

Not that you're not welcome, of course, but it's only Friday.

I decided to come in a little earlier.

Oleson: Oh, well, you're just in the Nick of time

to have our famous Oleson corned beef and cabbage.

As a matter of fact, you can have

a special place right here at my own table.

No, thank you. I'm not hungry.

Oh, all right.

Mrs. Craig.

Why, reverend Alden, of all people.

May I join you?

Of course.

I wanted to apologize for taking such a rude departure last week.

That was very rude of me.

Oh, no. Not at all, reverend.

It was getting late.

Well, to be honest, it wasn't the hour.

It was what you said to me.

Never before in my life

has anyone told me what you did,

except my parents, of course,

and I didn't know what to do.

I ran away like a silly schoolboy.

Oh, no, reverend. It was all my fault.

I don't know what came over me.

I acted like a brazen hussy.

Oh, no. N--

now, you could never be that.

You know, actually, I--I liked your straightforwardness.

Oh.

It's a quality I very much admire in a person.

I've made arrangements for another minister

to take over the rest of my circuit for a few weeks

so I can stay in walnut grove.

Well, that's nice.

I thought we could get to know each other a little better

if that's agreeable with you, Mrs. Craig.

Oh, that would be very agreeable, Robert.

You know, it's been so long since I heard my first name,

I'd almost forgot it.

[Laughter]

They are holding hands!

-Who? -"Who"!

Reverend Alden and that widow Craig woman.

I think that's wonderful.

[Exasperated sigh]

Well, I think it's disgraceful.

[Ducks quacking]

[Laughs]

-Oh! -Uh-oh!

[Laughter]

I ate too much supper.

Charles, can I ask your advice about something?

That's a switch. I'm usually the one coming to you for advice.

Well, in this case, I think you have more expertise than I.

I can't imagine what that'd be.

Well, it concerns a relationship

between men and women...

Precisely between a man and a woman.

Well, to pinpoint it, it's actually about marriage.

Marriage? Reverend, nobody gets to be an expert on marriage, believe me.

I'll give you any help I can, though.

Charles, I don't know whether you realize it or not, but...

Most people don't consider a preacher to be a man.

To most everybody, I'm a white collar and black suit.

"Preacher's weeds," I call it.

But I'm a man, Charles, with all the flesh and blood

and spiritual needs of a man...

And all the doubts and the uncertainty.

No, the only time I feel needed

is an hour or two on Sunday

and at births and marriages and deaths and--

Charles, I need to be needed on a regular basis,

not just fall into the cracks

between other people's joys and sorrows.

Moving about from town to town--

I am so tired of spending lonely nights in cold, empty rooms,

and listening only to my breathing.

What would you think if I married Anna Craig?

I think that would be flat-out wonderful.

You do?

Well, you bet I do.

Did you pop the question to her?

No. But I'm going to.

When?

Soon as I get up the courage.

[Laughs] Come on in the house.

I don't know anything about marriage, but I can help you with courage.

[Laughter]

Wait till Caroline hears.

-Oh, don't tell her. -Well, why not?

[Charles laughs]

Here you are-- your change.

Thank you.

[Bell rings]

Oh, my. Good morning, reverend Alden.

Good morning.

I'm so glad you stopped by.

I was going to invite you to dine with us this evening.

Oh, thank you, Harriet, but I already have an engagement.

An engagement?

-Yes. -Ah.

I would like to look at some rings.

Some rings?

Yes.

What kind of rings?

Oh, just plain ones.

Plain rings?

H--how plain?

Gold.

Plain gold rings.

Is there an echo in here, Mrs. Oleson?

I'm afraid we don't have any plain gold rings, reverend.

Yes, we do, Harriet.

We got a stock in last week. Don't you remember?

Oh, yes. I'd forgotten.

Come on, reverend. I'll show them to you.

Thank you, Nels.

As a matter of fact, we have a very nice selection.

I warn you, Mrs. Craig,

that unless you give up this obscene relationship

with the reverend Alden,

well, you'll suffer the dire consequences.

Mrs. Oleson, we haven't done anything wrong.

-Robert is-- -Robert?

Yes. He's always been the very model of a Christian gentleman.

A-ha! Can you prove that?

I don't understand.

How can you prove something that never happened?

That is your story.

Now, unless you stop seeing him,

I will see to it that he is dismissed

as the preacher of our church.

[Gasps]

Yes.

And don't forget, I have the deciding vote.

Well, we'll go elsewhere.

There is nowhere else that you can go,

not if I inform his superiors

of his immoral conduct with you.

I tell you, we've done nothing wrong.

Oh, Mrs. Craig, if you love him as you profess,

then you will give him up.

Otherwise, you will destroy him.

You will ruin his entire life.

Ugh!

Reverend: Anna!

Anna!

Anna, did I misunderstand?

I thought I was going to pick you up at your house.

No. I had to get away to think.

There's something I want to ask you.

The sooner I do it, the better.

Reverend, before you say anything,

I--I can't see you anymore.

[Chuckles]

You're joking.

I was never more serious.

Why?

Anna, I thought you cared.

I do.

Well, that is, I like you as a friend.

I realized today it would be unfair,

unkind to raise false hopes on your part,

especially since I always intend to remain true

to my husband's memory.

And then, too, we might be giving scandal to others

with our close association.

What are you talking about?

What scandal?

Anna, I came here to ask you--

reverend, I think you better go now.

I would rather be alone.

You can't mean that.

I do.

Good-bye, reverend.

[Thunder]

Why?

Why did--

Dear god--

[loud thunder]

I am a man who--

I am a man--

[thunder]

The text that I have chosen for today

is from the book of "job."

Chapter 3, verses one and 3:

"After that..."

"Job opened his mouth and cursed his day."

"Job spoke, and he said,

"let the day perish in which I was born,

"and the night in which it was said a man child is conceived."

Now, we may ask...

How the lord could allow Satan

to visit such terrible trials

on a man such as job.

Because did not the lord himself describe job

as a perfect and upright man...

Who feared god in his youth?

[All gasp]

He's burning up with fever.

Let's get him to the hotel.

I'm all right.

You just let the doc take a look at you.

Mother, how is he?

Oh, well, he's not very well, I'm afraid.

Where do you think you're going?

To reverend Alden.

Well, there are no visitors allowed,

and certainly not you, and not in his room.

What's his room number?

7.

Oh!

Mrs. Oleson, if you don't move out of the way,

I will hit you with this tray.

Hmph!

Oh.

It's not supposed to taste good, but it might help your cough.

Aren't you going to say "I told you so"?

What's the use?

But now that I got your attention,

maybe you'll follow my instructions.

Bed rest and plenty of wholesome nourishment.

Anna: May I come in?

Doc: Of course, Mrs. Craig.

I brought some hot broth.

Mmm. Just what the doctor ordered.

How is he?

Oh, he's mostly run down taking care of everybody but hisself.

He needs watching.

I'll take care of that and him.

Baker: I'd appreciate it.

I should look in on the Gordon baby-- 6 weeks premature,

but a fighter.

Any instructions?

Well, that cough syrup is needed

and, uh, two of these pills

every two hours.

Now, you be good.

Good afternoon, Mrs. Oleson.

Mrs. Craig, I'd like to see you, please.

Oh, you've got a lot of nerve!

Ugh!

Why did you come?

Someone has to look after you.

You do care, don't you, Anna?

Just be quiet and open your mouth.

Yes, ma'am.

Good morning, Mrs. Oleson.

Isn't it a beautiful...Day?

You're still here.

Of course I am.

For how long?

As long as you need me, Robert.

That could be a very, very long time.

What was it Robert Browning said?

"Grow old along with me..."

"The best is yet to be."

[Knock on door]

Mrs. Oleson: Good morn--

oh, my!

Oh! Oh, for heaven's sakes!

[Laughing]

God may have mercy on him, but I won't.

Mother, what's wrong?

Oh, well, they spent the entire night

together in his room.

I caught them making love. Oh!

Oh, well, now I have the proof that I need,

and I will teach them a lesson that they will never forget.

What are you going to do?

I am going to send a telegram

to the general synod of the church.

[Ducks quacking]

Are we having trouble, Robert?

No more than usual.

Long as I've been giving sermons, they still don't come easy.

Well, I must say, you'd never know it.

Your sermons are always wonderful.

I think you're a little bit prejudiced,

but I thank you all the same.

You haven't touched your food.

Are you sure you feel all right?

All right?

I feel wonderful.

So do I, Robert.

I can't believe we're really going to be married.

-Believe it. -No second thoughts?

Second thoughts, third thoughts--

they're all about you.

Maybe that's why I can't concentrate on tomorrow's sermon.

[Both chuckling]

What is it?

Well, lord knows I've been to enough weddings,

but I've always been on the other side of the pulpit.

Always a preacher and never a bridegroom,

and in just a few days now, we're going to be

looking up to Charles Ingalls

as he pronounces us man and wife and says--

"what god hath joined together,

"let no man put asunder."

Wrong.

"You may kiss the bride."

Alden: ♪ blessed assurance ♪

♪ Jesus is mine ♪

♪ oh, what a foretaste ♪

♪ of glory divine ♪

♪ heir of salvation ♪

♪ purchase of god ♪

Robert.

Dean Harmon, is that you?

None other.

Russell.

How are you?

I wasn't expecting you.

[Sighs] I know.

What brings you so far west?

A, uh, Mrs. Oleson.

Or more precisely, this telegraph

which she sent to the general synod.

You can't believe that scandalous garbage.

No. Of course not, but I had to come

to protect not only you but the church, as well.

Mrs. Craig is a very fine woman.

I was ill. She nursed me.

It's as simple as that.

Have you spoken to Mrs. Oleson?

No, no.

No, I wanted to talk to you first,

make sure that you were the same Robert Alden I knew.

I haven't changed, Russell.

Neither have my principles or my beliefs.

That's all I wanted to know.

But you also ought to know that I asked

Mrs. Craig to marry me, and she said yes.

May I offer my congratulations?

Thank you, Russell.

Now...

I know that Mrs. Oleson's charges are ridiculous,

but if her allegations are aired publicly,

I'm sure you're aware that the resulting scandal

could be most unfortunate.

That's the tragedy of accusations like this.

They get the headlines, and the truth gets a footnote or nothing.

You could lose your church.

You realize that?

Now, I know it's most important to you,

to your congregation,

and to the church as a whole that doesn't happen.

If I can't convince Mrs. Oleson

to drop her charges,

it may come down to a choice...

A choice that you will have to make, Robert...

Between your church and Mrs. Craig.

I love this church.

I love these people.

But if it comes to it, I'll choose Anna.

I understand.

When I was younger, I once--

well...

All right.

I shall see what I can do with this Mrs. Oleson.

Perhaps you can have both...

The best of both worlds.

Thank you, Russell.

Willie, get out of--

well, hello there, young fellow.

I'm Dean Russell Harmon.

Nels Oleson.

Uh, what can I do for you, reverend?

Well, I'd like to see Mrs. Oleson.

As a matter of fact, she's expecting you.

Well, speak of the devil, here she is.

Dear, this is, uh, reverend Harmon. My wife.

-Mr. Oleson. -Be with you in a moment, ladies.

Uh, don't--don't let me keep you from your customers, Mr. Oleson.

Your wife and I just have a little church business to discuss.

Oh, I see. Yes. Well, thank you.

Uh, my buggy is just outside.

Perhaps we could take a little ride and discuss it alone.

Nice meeting you, Mr. Oleson.

Oh, thank you. Likewise.

It's been a long time, Harriet.

Yes, it has, Russell.

23 years come June 15th--

the day that you broke our engagement.

[Sighs]

If I'd known it was you, I would have sent someone in my stead.

Still afraid to face realities, Russell?

I thought I was facing reality, then, Harriet.

As I told you at the time, I--I believed

that I could not serve two masters, as it were--

marriage and the ministry.

I remember.

You said you'd decided that you were already wed,

to the church,

that your duties would be all-consuming,

and that it would be unfair to me to go ahead with the marriage.

[Sighs]

Did you think that it was fair to humiliate me so?

Of course not.

It was grossly unfair.

It was cruel,

but I didn't mean it to be that.

[Sighs]

As the day of our marriage approached,

I--I had terrible doubts and fears.

It wasn't a question of my not loving you, Harriet,

but the question in my mind was,

could I--could I devote myself to you and to god?

The question was, did I love you or god more?

I thought--

I thought that I was doing what was best for both of us.

I hope it was for you, Harriet.

I've met your husband.

He seems to be a very fine man.

I'm very proud of my family.

You should be.

Did, uh,

did you ever marry?

No.

No?

No.

So...

The question, then, is

how to deal with the matter of the reverend Alden,

and the reality of his relationship with Mrs. Craig.

Now, I've known Robert Alden for 26 years, Harriet.

He taught me theology in the seminary.

I've never known a finer minister or a better man.

You must know that.

He's been your minister and your friend for years.

You must know in your heart

that Robert Alden is not capable

of conduct that is anything but the most honorable.

Oh, well, surely, Russell,

you must know that even a just man can fall.

Yes, but not Robert Alden, not in the way you suggest.

Don't punish him for my mistakes, Harriet.

Why should he be forced, especially by you,

to make the same mistakes I did

when he has a chance for happiness with the woman he loves?

Don't deny him that.

This time it's your decision, Harriet.

Reverend Alden,

um...I’d--I'd like to ask you to forgive me.

Oleson: I know that I was wrong.

I didn't understand myself why,

but, uh, Dean Harmon helped me to see.

Reverend Alden, please forgive me.

[Sobbing]

Russell, it's a miracle.

Well, don't look so surprised.

If a minister doesn't believe in miracles, who will?

Harmon: For as much as Robert and Anna

have consented together in holy wedlock

and have witnessed the same before god and this company,

I pronounce that they are man and wife.

What god hath joined together,

let no man put asunder.

You may kiss the bride.

[Cheering]

Harriet, what's the matter?

Oh, I don't know.

It's just sentiment, I guess.