All language subtitles for Little House on the Prairie - 9x03 - Welcome to Olesonville

Howdy, Jess.

Elsie,
how have you been?

Just fine, Mr. Mccary,
and yourself?

Able to set up
and take nourishment.

How about your pa?

Haven't you been able to
pry him out of that chair yet?

Afraid not.

I don't know what it is,
Mr. Mccary, he's fit enough.

He just don't seem to have
any will for living anymore.

I get awful
worried sometimes.

Let me work on him. See
if I can't budge him a little.

Appreciate it.

Cooled off some,
hasn't it?

Some, I reckon.

Thought I'd take
a walk into town.

How about
joining me?

What for?

What for doesn't matter.
It's the doing that counts.

Getting out in the sun,
bending your legs,

meeting some folk in town
and passing the time of day,

that's what for.

You go on. I got
no reason to go.

When did you get
so old, Jess?

What day?
What time.

Now, tell me,
because when that day comes for me,

I want to know so I can
stay in bed that morning

and not let it
happen.

You got people worried about you,
friend.

Elsie over there is afraid you're
going to waste away in that chair.

And maddy
sutherland...

What about
maddy sutherland?

Why don't
you tell me?

It wasn't so long
ago the two of you

had a regular romance
going. What happened?

We got too old
for romance.

Bosh!

I'll be on my way.

Just talking to you
makes me feel old.

You are old.

Same as me!

Difference is,
I know it.

Well, I'll be.

Lem, if the day ever comes
when I beat you at checkers,

I'm going to die
a happy man.

No use wishing your
life away, nels.

Come on.
Set them up.

Nels oleson,
what do you think you're doing?

I think I'm playing checkers.
What do you think I'm doing?

I think you'd better
close the store.

We've got lot
of work to do.

Well, Lem,
I'll take a rematch one of these days.

Kind of early
to be closing.

Yeah, but we've got work to
do over at the hanson house.

It's been sitting empty
ever since Lars died,

and we're afraid it's
just going to fall down

if it doesn't get some
attention pretty soon.

Nels, will
you hurry up?

I left the mops and
pails in the storeroom.

Yes, dear.

You made plans for the Lars
hanson house yet, Harriet?

Yes, Mr. Mccary,
I have.

I'm going
to sell it.

Township is
growing rapidly,

people are
beginning to settle in.

So I'm quite sure that we'll
make a very handsome profit.

Hi, Mr. Mccary.

Oh, how are you,
Willie? And Nancy...

Willie and Nancy, come now,
hurry up. Box up the supplies.

Mr. Mccary,
we are closed.

So you'll have to find somewhere
else to fritter away the afternoon.

Well, have a pleasant day yourself,
Harriet.

Yes.

Rather rude,
Harriet.

Well!

Somebody had
to get rid of him.

If I hadn't,
he would've stood here all day yapping.

That's the trouble
with these old people.

They never
buy anything.

They just want to stand around and talk,
talk, talk, talk!

Well, he's
not so bad.

I enjoy
his stories.

All right, everybody,
pick up the boxes.

Let's get into
the wagon. Hurry up.

Come on.
Come on, Nancy.

Won't you be old
some day mother?

Well, yes, darling,
but I intend to age gracefully.

Ah!

I finished all
the windows, mother.

Oh, well, fine, dear.

Go on upstairs now and
start washing the woodworking.

Mother, I'm tired.

My hands are all wrinkled,
and my shoulders ache.

Oh, well,
I know, dear,

but we all have to
do our share.

Now, you never can tell.

If we get a very handsome
price for this house,

there might just be a little
reward in it for you.

- A reward?
- Mm-hmm.

I'll be glad to wash
the woodwork, mother.

Yes, I thought so.

Aah!

Good heavens!

This place is
falling down around US.

Well,
I got the kitchen pump working.

Nels, look, all these old
papers I found under this step.

Must be where Lars
kept his valuables.

Certainly nothing
valuable here.

There's an old
insurance policy

that expired
years ago.

Maddy... maddy...
Maddy sutherland.

Lem! How good
to see you.

It's been a while,
maddie.

Don't see enough of your
pretty face around town no more.

I don't get out
so much anymore, Lem.

If it wasn't for coming
to see doc baker,

I'd probably never
get to town at all.

You ain't ailing,
are you, maddy?

Maddy: Oh, no,
nothing serious.

Just the usual aches and
complaints of old age, I guess.

It's a shame, maddy,
the way old friends drift apart

and lose touch
over the years.

Seems like the only time we see
each other is at somebody's funeral.

It is a shame, Lem.

But it's a fact
of living.

We just seem to wind down
as the years fly past US.

I have reason to think
that Jess moffet

still has a soft spot for you,
maddy.

Jess knows
where I live.

I wouldn't turn him
away if he came calling.

But I don't think
that's going happen.

This stuff.

Why couldn't it have been
something worthwhile?

This is
a "walnut grove bond."

A walnut grove bond?

What's that?

"Walnut grove bond.
Paid to the bearer...

"10% annually of...

"Paid to the bearer...

10%..."

Paid to the bearer
10% annually?

50...

51, 52...

It looks
legal enough.

"Payable to bearer at 10%,
compounded annually."

Why, this bond
is dated 1835!

That's 52 years.

I suppose you've figured
out its current value.

Oh, yes,
indeed, I have,

with the kind
help of etta plum.

Now, may I direct
your attention

to this figure
in this column?

$14,000?

Well, reverend Alden,
if you'll notice,

it's a trifle more.

Laura: Mrs. Oleson.

The most money in the
town treasury at any one time

is just a few
hundred dollars.

Oh, now, don't jump
to any conclusions.

Understand me.

Why, I have no intentions
of cashing in this bond.

That's
a relief.

Well,
it certainly is.

We'd have to raise taxes
sky high for a dozen years

to come up to
money like that.

Reverend Alden!

Surely you don't think that I
would do anything so loathsome

as to try to
bankrupt this town?

No, I don't think you would,
Harriet.

Well, of course not!

Then why,
Mrs. Oleson,

did you call this
emergency meeting?

Well, Mrs. Wilder, I called this
meeting because I thought it's important

that the town council be
made aware of this bond.

After all, this
is a legal instrument

representing
a very large debt

owed by this community.

And?

And...

Since I am, in effect,

the benefactor of the town

to the tune
of over $14,000...

Well, I feel that there
are certain courtesies

that should be extended
to my family and me.

- Courtesies?
- Mm-hmm.

What sort of courtesies did
you have in mind, Harriet?

Well, simple
things, really.

Things that won't cost
this town one red cent.

We're waiting,
Mrs. Oleson.

Yes, Harriet, please,
don't keep US in suspense any longer.

Well, for example...

The main street out here.

I think it would be
nice if it had a name.

"Harriet oleson boulevard."

Harriet:
And it would also be nice

if the courtesy were
extended to my daughter,

if she were invited to be the
soloist in the church on sundays.

Oh! Yes...

Harriet: And there's
just one more little thing.

I can't believe the
gall of that woman.

She's done some mean and
underhanded things before,

but this
is the worst!

You want to let
US in on it?

Harriet oleson,

she found this bond after she
bought the Lars hanson state.

Well, now
it's hers.

And the town owes
her over $14,000!

14,000?

Can you pay her?

No, but that's
not the problem.

She's not asking
for the money.

She's going to use the bond
to run the town to suit her...

Changing things, getting favors
for the members of her family.

- Can she do that?
- She's doing it!

But you haven't
heard the best.

It is my duty to
inform you both

that we no longer live in
the town of walnut grove.

We don't?

Where then?

And it is with profound
humility in our hearts

that we accept
this great honor.

So graciously bestowed
upon our family

by the warm and generous
citizens of this community.

We are certain
that olesonville

will stand proud

on the maps of Minnesota
for generations to come.

Thank you.

Oh, thank
you so much.

Oh!

I want you to know I had
nothing to do with this.

Yes, you did.
We all did

for letting her
get away with it.

Harriet: Nels!

That is going to take
some getting used to.

Olesonville!

I don't think I
can get used to it.

Changing the name of a town is
like changing its very character.

Can help you with something there,
Mr. Mccary?

Yes, sir.

You can let me
have this old sign.

Well, you're
welcome to it.

What are you going to do, haul it off
somewhere and start your own town?

Nah, Lars hanson and me and
some others already done that

50-some-odd years ago.

We named it walnut grove.

I just can't bear to see
my best friend's name

wind up in a scrap heap.

Laura: Mr. Mccary.

Would you like US to
give you a ride home?

That sign's awful heavy,
and you live so far out of town.

I'm obliged,
Mrs. Wilder.

Here, let me get this
for you, Mr. Mccary.

- Well, thank you.
- Sure.

Come on, Jenny,
let's go.

Sakes! How can
anybody get any sleep

with racket like
that going on?

What? What is it?
What, Harriet?

What are you
screaming at?

Well, can't
you hear it?

There's a wagon going
by, making a racket

loud enough
to wake the dead!

All I can hear is
your mouth working.

There ought to be
a law against that.

There certainly
should be.

Harriet: Oh,
I'm talking about the noise.

There should
be an ordinance

prohibiting wagons
in town after 10 P.M.!

Harriet, it's still
a free country.

The town council is
never going to approve

of an ordinance
like that.

Why don't you just get
to bed and go to sleep?

Oh, shut up!

That's the trouble
with this town.

Everything has to be voted
on and approved by the council.

No wonder nothing
gets done around here.

What this town
needs is...

A mayor.

Of course!

The town's
plenty big now.

A mayor's exactly
what we need.

Someone who can run
the town properly.

Let's see...

It should be
someone with...

Someone with
business experience.

And, uh...

Leadership ability.

And name recognition.

Well, she's
done it again.

Of course, why should
I be surprised?

I mean, it's only logical that
she tries something like this.

Beth, would you
calm down, please?

Calm down? How am I
supposed to calm down

when Harriet oleson
is trying to run my life

and everybody
else's around here?

What's she done
this time?

Well, she proposed that the
town council meeting and I passed

a measure calling
for a mayoral election.

Well,
it might not be such a bad idea.

What do you have against
the town having a mayor?

Well,
nothing at all.

Except,
guess who the first candidate was to file?

Nels oleson.

Well, I think nels
would be a good mayor.

Almanzo,
open your eyes!

Now, we all know that
if nels is elected,

the true mayor
will be Harriet.

And what kind of town
would this be then?

Beth,
you're getting yourself all head up

about something that
hasn't even happened yet.

Now,
maybe someone else is going to be elected.

Well, that's
our only hope.

And that's why I want
you to run against nels.

Me?

Well, why not? I mean,
you're honest, you're hard-working,

you're highly
respected...

Because I'm a farmer,
not a politician!

I don't know the first
thing about mayoring!

- Well, you could learn!
- No, no, thank you, but no, thanks.

You can put the whole
notion right out of your head,

Mrs. Councilwoman.

The only place that I'm
running is in my fields,

behind my plow.

Just don't seem like a horse
race with only one horse running.

Can't argue with that.

Why don't you
run, John?

- Me?
- Yes.

No. Don't have the time,

what with dividing
my hours up

between here
and the place.

I reckon.

Now, myself,
I'd vote for almanzo Wilder,

only he's
not running.

Laura said she
talked herself blue.

But almanzo won't
even consider the job.

Yeah,
I think that boy'd make a fine mayor.

I agree,
but if he's not so inclined,

it's not much use
in hounding him in.

Maybe he's inclined,

but just don't
know it yet.

Hey, Edwards, you
heard the news?

No, I reckon not.

Almanzo Wilder is thinking
on running for mayor.

You don't tell me.

Make for a mighty interesting
election if he did, wouldn't it?

Would for a fact.

It might open up some
eyeballs around here.

Yeah, but keep it under your hat,
will you?

He's hasn't made the
announcement official yet.

I wouldn't want to be the
one to steal his thunder.

Oh, don't worry
about a thing.

I'll be quiet
as a church mouse,

won't tell a soul.

Mr. Henson,
Mr. Henson,

boy, if I've got
news for you.

Now, they've got to be kept in
the strictest confidence, now.

See, it
ain't out yet.

But almanzo's decided
to run for mayor.

Almanzo Wilder?

That's right. Mr. Edwards
was just over here,

and he said not
to tell anybody yet.

So,
please keep it a secret. But...

Almanzo Wilder?

- I think that's wonderful.
- Isn't that great?

Yes,
he's young. He knows what this town needs.

Is that so?

That's right.

And I figure that almanzo would
make a pretty good darn mayor.

He's a young
man, but...

Ahem, just wanted a few groceries,
Mrs. Oleson,

- here's my list.
- Uh-huh.

Well, Mr. Wilder,
I certainly hope that we will be able

to maintain your
good will as a customer

after the election.

My good will? Sure,
I don't see why not.

Well, you know
how passions

sometimes do get heated
up during a campaign,

and people tend to say
things that they later regret.

I guess so.

So far, this is about the tamest
campaign I ever heard tale of.

Can't expect too many fireworks
with only one man running.

One man?

But I thought there
were two. I mean...

I had heard that you had
decided to run as well.

Ha ha ha! Oh, no,
ma'am. You heard wrong.

I'm not about
to run.

Oh!
Ha ha ha!

Oh, well, almanzo,
my dear boy.

It must have just been
a nasty old rumor.

It must've been.

I've been intending to
vote for nels all along.

Oh! Well, then...

How would you like to wear
one of the campaign badges

that shows that this is your favorite
candidate that you're supporting?

- I'd be glad to.
- All right.

Actually,
you know,

you're probably doing the
town a very great service

by not running.

- A service?
- Uh-huh. Yes.

Well, I mean...

You have any number
of friends in the area,

and I feel quite certain
than many of them,

if not most of them,
would come out and feel a certain duty

to vote for you,

out of a certain loyalty,
you understand.

And heavens knows if enough of
them did come out and did vote for you,

it's even conceivable that you
might possibly win the election.

And then,
just think where the town would be then.

They'd have a mayor
that they didn't really want.

Are you saying that no one
would want me for mayor?

Almanzo...

You're a very
nice young man,

but think now.

Would it be,
let's say... Dignified...

To have a dirt
farmer for a mayor?

Are you saying
it wouldn't?

Well, to be
perfectly honest, no.

I mean, heavens knows we
have to have our dirt farmers,

and there's nothing absolutely
wrong with being one.

Now, that's the first thing
you've said right, Mrs. Oleson.

There is nothing wrong
with being a farmer.

As a matter of fact,
there's nothing wrong I can see

with a mayor being
a farmer, either.

- Well, I suppose...
- In fact...

It seems to me
that a dirt farmer

might be the best man
to represent this town,

considering most of the people
around here are dirt farmers!

Well, I'm...

Thank you, Mrs. Oleson,
for helping me to see

what my wife's been
trying to tell me all along.

I think maybe I am
the best man for the job,

and I'm going to run.

Oh!

Oh, good grief.

Almanzo: I must have
looked like a fool,

carrying on about how
proud I am to be a dirt farmer.

You should
be proud.

Well, I am.
That's not the point.

The point is that I jumped
feet-first into an election

I got no business
being in.

I think you made
the right decision.

Miss plum says that government

is everyone's
responsibility.

Well, then let
miss plum run.

Almanzo.

Do you consider
me intelligent?

That's a silly
question.

Do you think I'm
a responsible citizen

who's concerned about
her town and its people?

Beth, you're leading
up to something.

Well,

if you really believe
that I'm all those things,

then you've got to respect
my choice of candidates.

You really mean
that, don't you?

Mr. Mccary.
Come in.

Evening.

Mrs. Wilder,
Jenny.

I hope I'm not disturbing
you coming so late.

Oh, not at all. You're welcome anytime,
Mr. Mccary.

Thank you.

I saw in the gazette you're
running for mayor, almanzo.

I wonder if you could
use a campaign manager.

Well, if I'm going to
run, then I sure could.

I'd like to apply
for the job.

Mr. Mccary,
you're hired.

Oh, I'm telling you, bill,

this boy's head is a
drumful of ideas for the town.

Is that so,
almanzo?

Yes, sir.

And for
instance?

Uh, well,
sir...

I sure think we could use better
roads leading in and out of town.

Better roads? Wouldn't
we have to raise taxes to...

Taxes! Oh, don't mention
taxes in front of my boy here, bill.

He'll just have to wrestle
you to the ground for it.

No, what I
think almanzo...

Let me stop
you, Lem.

I think it's only fair to tell
you that I'm leaning strongly

toward nels oleson
in this election.

But bill,
you ain't give the boy a chance to...

I know almanzo, Lem. I know he's a honest,
hard-working boy

with good intentions.

Bill: But nels
is a businessman.

And maybe that's who we
need to run this town.

Besides, with Harriet hanging
that bond over our heads,

I don't see that we've
got much of a choice.

That's the whole thing in a nutshell,
ain't it, bill?

You're scared of Harriet,
and what she might do.

Well, have it
your way, Lem, but...

I've got work to do.
Excuse me.

I don't know, Lem.

Now, you remember when
you sold me those pine logs,

- yeah.
- Right, and I let you have the stacks.

Did I give you a wrong deal
when I told you about that?

- No.
- All right, now, this boy is young.

Lem:
He has it all.

Nels not so much. Nels is an
older man who's been around...

I'm going to tell you, he'll get in
there and make this town go boom!

Well, I'm going to have
to think about this, Lem.

Of course you are.

But I don't doubt to forget
what I was telling you.

Lem: Almanzo there,
he's exactly what this town needs,

because he represents
what most of the people are...

Hard-working
dirt farmers.

He's a responsible
family man,

the kind who care about the
neighbors and the community.

And he's young enough
to be open to new ideas.

George Maddox, an
old friend of mine,

lives just down
the road here.

It shouldn't take
much to win his vote.

What will I have to do,
build him a new barn?

Mr. Mccary,
I can't do this anymore. I quit.

It's all wrong for me.
I'm just not a politician.

But you're a quick learner.
You'll get the hang of it.

No,
sir. And this time I mean it.

I should have stuck with
my original instincts

and stayed out
of politics.

But instead I let folks talk me
into things I don't want to do.

I don't know
the issues.

I'm scared out of my wits my
wits to talk in front of crowds,

and you're the one
that's got all the answers.

You do the talking
while I do all the chores.

Now, what kind of
mayor would I make?

Not a very good
one, I expect.

Folks don't do their best
at jobs they don't like.

We're in the
neighborhood,

I haven't seen George
Maddox for quite a spell.

You mind
if we drop by?

Of course not.

Only no more
campaigning.

George!

George Maddox,
get your ornery hide out here.

You got yourself
some company.

What's the matter...
You go deef?

It's Lem mccary,
George!

George?

George?

Mr. Mccary?

What is it?

It's George.

Looks like he's been
dead a long time.

No telling how long he
laid there sick and suffered,

only nobody knew,
because nobody cared enough

to even look
into him.

What is
happening to US?

We're dying
off one by one,

and nobody seems
to care or even notice.

You'd think
we old people

would at least care
about each other.

Don't even seem to
have that no more.

Let's go,
Mr. Mccary.

We've done
all we can.

No, sir.

I haven't done
all I can.

And by heaven,

I'm going to
do something!

Harriet oleson,

I have a proposition for you.

A proposition?

Now, since your candidate has
dropped out of the race, Mr. Mccary,

that is hardly a basis
for any deal-making.

Well,
this has nothing to do with politics.

I just want
your permission

to hold a social in the
old Lars hanson house

for the elderly
of this community.

Absolutely not!

Why not?

Because that house
is up for sale.

And I'm certainly not going
to have a lot of old people

running around,
shedding their hair,

and dropping their
teeth all over my rugs.

We'd be
outside mostly.

Even so, I just
come from up there,

and it's a shambles.

But when me and my friends
go in there and spruce it up,

that is, fix
what needs fixing,

paint it,
Polish it,

you're going to have
a house that shines

like a brand new dime.

Besides,
need I mention the political benefits?

Uh, benefits?

Oh, old folks have the vote,
too, you know?

I'm thinking the
good will you'd create

if you open the
house for a social.

Of course, everybody knows
you have the election all sewed up,

but a gesture like
this would probably

turn the election into
a doggone landslide.

A landslide?

Yes, ma'am!

Oh. Well.

All right,
Mr. Mccary.

I tell you what.

I'll go you
one even better.

Suppose that we have
the social event

on the afternoon
of the election,

and everyone
will be invited.

And that way,
it can double

as a kind of
a victory celebration

for the new mayor.

Won't that
be fun?

And food and
refreshments

will be courtesy
of the olesons.

Mrs. Oleson.

You are
a gracious lady.

Oh?

There.
Ain't that pretty?

Well, that looks real good there,
Floyd.

I brought that up
on my own garden.

It's called an
American beauty.

Lem.

Do you think these curtains
will be all right in the parlor?

It's an old pair
I had at home.

I always liked them.
They'll be fine.

It'll be just like old times,
won't it?

A party in
Lars's house.

Just like old times.

Do you think
Jess will come?

I wouldn't get my hopes up,
Maggie.

I invited him.

Even tried to get him to
come over here this morning

and help out,
but you know Jess.

No.

I don't think
I do anymore.

Willie:
Mr. Mccary!

Willie, what
is all this?

We thought you
could use some help.

Ha! You bet we can!

All right,
spread out, now.

Find something
needing doing and do it.

Miss plum,

I can't think of nothing
to say but thanks.

Don't thank me.
It was Willie's idea.

Oh.

We've been studying
community responsibility in school,

and the children have taken such
an interest in it you wouldn't believe it.

The children.

US grown-ups could
take lessons from them.

Looks as though you've managed
a pretty good turnout, yourself.

Could've hoped
for a lot more,

but it's hard
for someone

to get out without
a little... Help.

Miss plum,
tomorrow's election day.

And a lot of folks would like
to vote but can't get into town.

Now, maybe you
and the children

could do some of
US a big service.

Harriet:
And another thing, nels...

Oh, for heaven's sakes.

Evening,
Mrs. Oleson.

I just stopped by to
bring your house keys.

Hello, Lem,
come on in.

I'll set up the
checker board.

- Well...
- Another time, nels.

I also want
you to know

that Lars' house is
pretty as a picture.

You're going to be real
proud tomorrow afternoon

at the
victory party.

You might even
find a buyer for it.

Oh, well,
I can hardly wait.

I don't want to keep
you folks up all night.

See you at the debate.

Uh-huh.

Debate?

Harriet:
What debate?

Oh, my, haven't
you heard?

No.

Lem: Well, I sort of rustled
up interest in a little debate

tomorrow before
the election.

Figured the voters
had a right to hear

their choice for mayor
one last time before voting!

Oh, for heaven's
sakes, Mr. Mccary.

Have you forgotten
already?

Almanzo Wilder
dropped out of the race,

and nels is
the only candidate.

Uh-oh. Reckon it
plumb slipped my mind.

Well,
you know how forgetful US old folks can be.

Yes, ma'am.
I forgot to tell you.

I decided to
run for mayor.

Night, nels,
Mrs. Oleson.

Did you hear
what he said?

Good morning,
Mr. Moffet,

I'm Jenny Wilder.
This is Tim Spence.

What are you
doing here?

Who are those
people in the wagon?

It's
election day.

We're taking
folks to town

who can't get
there on their own.

We've got
one for you.

Nah, why don't you give
my seat to somebody else?

I ain't going
nowhere.

Don't you want to vote,
Mr. Moffet?

The right to vote
is a privilege

men long ago gave
their lives for.

Well, I didn't
ask them to.

I've got to
reason to vote.

Get on out of here!

Is there
room for me?

- Yes, ma'am.
- I'll just get my hat.

I heard Mr. Maddox
was a friend of yours.

I never met him.

But I'm sorry
he died.

Mr. Mccary said he died
the worse kind of death.

Loneliness.

I'm ready.

We better hurry.

We've got to get back to
olesonville before the debate.

Olesonville?
Where's that?

That's the new name
of walnut grove.

There's been a lot
of changes lately.

We're trying to get
those changes changed.

So, naturally, we
agreed to the debate

just to humor
the old soul.

He probably won't get more than,
I don't know, two vo...

Vo...

Dr. Baker,
are you going to allow

this mockery of
justice to continue?

Why, this Lem
mccary here,

what he's doing is something
akin to stuffing the ballot box!

- Well, Harriet.
- What?

What you're seeing is the
Democratic process at work.

Oh, piddle-paddle!

Ladies...

Ladies, gents,

if you'll keep it down,
the debate is up here.

It's not out there.

And it's time we have these
candidates square off.

Well,
are there going to be bare knuckles, doc?

All right.
In this corner,

we have civic leader,
businessman,

and proprietor
of the mercanteel,

nels oleson!

And in this corner...

5 foot 9 1/2, 150 pounds
of rip-roaring dynamite!

Well said, Mr. Edwards.
Mr. Lem mccary!

Doc baker: Now, we flipped
a coin a moment ago,

and the winner was Lem,

so he gets to make
the opening speech.

Well, you all know me.

I've been living here
longer than most.

I first come here
52 years ago

along with a handful
of other folks

with the notion
of building a town.

There was Lars hanson,
Jess moffet,

George Maddox, les sutherland
and his wife maddy,

few others,
most of them gone now.

So, you'll only have
my word for it

when I tell you how
hard we worked,

sunup to sundown,
day in and day out.

And you never
heard complaint,

because we believed
in what we was doing.

Off a hard winter that first
year, killed a lot of US,

and the town near
died right then.

But it didn't.

And those still living
stayed and just kept going.

It was 2, maybe 3 years

before we thought to
give the town a name.

Most of US wanted
to call it hansonville

for Lars hanson.

But, oh, he wouldn't
think of it.

So it was Jess mo...

It was Jess moffet

who thought to call
it walnut grove

because of that nice stand of
walnuts up there on the Ridge.

You see, Lars didn't
think it right

for a town to be
named for one person,

because a town ain't
just one person.

It's a whole lot
of folks that are living

and working together.

And that's the same reason

why a town can't be
owned by one person,

because then it wouldn't
be a town anymore.

It'd be a company
with one boss

and a lot of hired help.

Way back in
those early years,

we had high hopes
for this town.

Oh, we weren't looking
for it to be a big city

with 4-story buildings
and cobblestone streets.

Our only hope was that it
would be a decent place to live,

a place where one neighbor
cared about another,

and where brotherly love was
more than just two words.

But lately, I ain't
seen a lot of evidence

that it's turned
out that way.

So if I'm elected,

I'm going to see what I
can do about fixing it!

Ladies and gents!

Come on over here!

I have the news
you've been waiting for.

We have ourselves a mayor!

With all
votes counted,

nels oleson,

64 votes.

Lem mccary,

67 votes.

Lem! Lem,
come on up here!

Come on, Lem.
Come on up here.

I guess you know that means
Harriet is going to call her bond due.

What bond's that?

An old town bond.

It used to belong
to Lars hanson.

Harriet
has it now,

and she's going to
bankrupt this town.

Congratulations,
Lem.

Awful close,
nels.

Yes, congratulations,
mayor mccary.

- Thank you, ma'am.
- Mm-hmm.

Now,
as your first official act in office,

you can just make
good on my bond.

Now, not just so
fast, Mrs. Oleson.

What?

If you take a real good
look at that bond you own,

you'll find a number
two printed on the top.

I know because at
home I got the same thing,

only it says
"number one" on it.

What?

Jess: That means the town's got
to pay me off before it does you.

Anybody getting any money
around here is going to be me.

Mayor, can you manage
a dollar a year?

Jess, we honor
your demand.

Oh, for
heaven's sakes!

And don't forget the
party at Lars' house.

Everybody's invited,

compliments
to the olesons.

Everybody,
get your partners for a round dance.

Caller: ♪ a ring, a ring,
a pretty little ring ♪

♪ Jump right up and
when you come down ♪

♪ Swing that pretty gal
'round and 'round ♪

♪ 'Round and 'round
with the old Chuck wagon ♪

♪ A hind wheel broke
and the axle's draggin' ♪

Want to take a whirl?

I thought you'd
never ask.

Caller:
Honor your partner.

Honor your corner.

You swing your girl,
I'll swing mine.

♪ All join hands
and circle down south ♪

♪ And let a little
sunshine in your mouth ♪

♪ Circle up the ring
a country mile ♪

♪ lady in the lead
go injun style ♪

♪ 'Round and 'round
with the old Chuck wagon ♪

♪ A hind wheel broke
and the axle's draggin' ♪

♪ A horseshoe ring

♪ ladies on the inside,
gents on the out ♪

♪ ladies on the inside
gents to the right ♪

♪ ladies to the right
and gents go left... ♪