Original subtitles

Laura: All right, everybody.

Now, I've written the word "pen pal" on the blackboard.

Does anybody know what it means?

Laura: Willie. Willie: It's a friend that lives in a pen like a pig.

Willie.

I thought it was funny.

I didn't.

Now, does anyone know the proper meaning?

Heather.

It's someone you write to, and they write back.

Correct. It's usually someone

that lives far away that you don't see.

It gives you a chance to learn

about different people and different places.

Now, these boxes on my desk contain letters

from schoolchildren in Minneapolis.

One contains letters from the younger children,

and one contains some for the older students.

Now, I thought it would make your writing assignment

a little more fun if you had a new friend to write to.

Now, I'll check the papers for punctuation and spelling.

Laura: How does that sound?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Good. Carrie, you pass out the letters to the younger students.

Heather, you pass out the other ones.

Now, you each pick a letter.

It'll contain an introduction from your new pen pal.

Now, these letters have been graded by their teacher,

so I expect you to do your best work.

After all, in a way, you'll be

representing walnut grove.

All right, you may open your letters now

and read them.

Girl, voice-over: "Dear new friend,

"my name is Leslie barton.

"I am 13 years old,

"and I attend Harley school in Minneapolis."

Charles, what's a murder of crows?

Oh, it means a whole bunch...

Covey of quail or a flock of sheep.

Land sakes,

why would somebody call it a murder?

Probably a farmer after they ruined his corn crop.

I'm ready for bed.

All right, you sleep tight.

Pa, will you tell me a story?

Well, I thought since you were sleeping up in the loft, you were too big to hear stories.

No, I'm not, honestly.

I'm still little.

All right, I'll tell you a short one.

Thanks, pa.

Carrie: Don't make it any shorter than the one you told baby grace.

Charles: Hey, don't be telling your pa how long to make the stories, now.

Just get in bed.

About time you were getting to bed, too, son.

Oh, just give me a little more time, pa.

I have to finish this letter.

All right. Now, what will it be?

How about "giant the bear"?

- What, "giant" again? - Yeah, I love him.

All right, "giant" it is.

Once upon a time,

there was a little, tiny bear named giant.

He was only one inch tall,

but he was the strongest bear in the world.

Carrie: And the nicest, too.

Ah, that, he is.

And he lived on my shoulder under my hair,

where people couldn't see him because he was shy.

Who's telling this story, anyway?

Carrie: You are.

All right, then.

One morning, Carrie was sitting on pa's wagon

waiting for him to come out and drive her to school.

Charles: Giant was just half-awake,

he was sitting on her shoulder underneath her hair,

when all of a sudden, along came a Bumblebee

and stung one of the horses.

Well, boom! The minute that happened,

the horses were off and running,

and nobody was at the reins.

Well, Carrie started yelling, "pa, help me! Help me, pa!"

But by the time pa ran out of the house,

it was too late, and the wagon was roaring up the road.

Carrie: What did giant do?

Well, I'm getting to that part.

Carrie: Giant heard Carrie yelling like that.

He peeked out to see what was going on.

Well, the minute he saw what was happening,

he knew what he had to do, and quick as a flash,

he jumped off her shoulder onto the wagon seat,

and then he jumped off onto the horse,

and he grabbed that big, old horse by the ears,

and he started to pull.

Well, that horse didn't know what was going on,

but he knew darn right well that something

was going to pull his ears off if he didn't stop,

so, sure enough, he slowed down and came to a stop.

Quick as a wink, giant jumped off the horse, onto the wagon seat,

and hopped back up onto her shoulder

and hid underneath her hair so her pa wouldn't see him.

Carrie: Because Carrie promised giant

she wouldn't tell anybody about him.

Charles: That's right.

I hope I'll stay little

so you'll always tell me a story, pa.

Well, I'll always tell you a story as long as you want to hear one,

and as long as you go to sleep right after I finish.

Have a good dream.

You might as well turn your light out.

You're not going to get any work done

staring off into space like that.

Oh, I just thought of something to write about.

Give me a few more minutes, pa.

All right, 10 minutes, and then you're in bed.

- Okay. - Good night.

Good night.

Class, I'm going to finish reading your letters

over the lunch hour.

We'll discuss them after.

Laura: You may go to lunch for an hour, now.

Albert could you stay here for a moment, please?

Could you stand up?

You may sit down.

I was just checking to see if you'd grown overnight.

Apparently, from the first line in your letter,

you are 6 feet, 1 inch tall.

- I can explain... - And you're the fastest

and tallest and most popular boy in walnut grove.

- If you'll just let me... - And obviously the bravest,

as only yesterday you saved your sister's life

by leaping onto the back of a runaway horse,

and you practically tore his ears off

trying to get him to stop?

Now, will you just listen for a minute

and stop sounding like a sister?

Go ahead.

All right.

I mean, this girl writes to me,

and I can tell she's real popular.

She even says so.

She's a good student and a great dancer.

Well, I mean, what was I supposed to write to her about,

that I caught catfish yesterday?

I mean, who wants to read stuff that's dull?

How do you know she'd find it dull?

I think it's dull.

It's got to sound dull to her.

Albert: Besides, who is it hurting?

I mean, it's just like pa telling US stories

when we were little.

Would you have liked it if he would've sat on the edge of your bed

and say, "once upon a time, I plowed the field all day,

"and I got smelly, and I bathed in the creek,

"ate my supper, and went to bed"?

No, but this isn't a fairy tale. It's a letter.

And I still say, who is it hurting?

How's my spelling?

Perfect.

And my punctuation?

Excellent.

I thought that's what the whole assignment was about.

Would you like me to read this out loud

in front of the whole class?

No. Would you like it if someone read your mail

and you didn't want them to?

All right.

Go and have some lunch.

Photographer: Oh, that looks beautiful.

This will only take a minute now.

There we are.

Photographer: Now, hold very still.

All right now. Smile.

Well, that was fine, my dear.

We'll have these pictures for you tomorrow.

Thank you.

Photographer: Just take me a minute to pack this up.

The mail came. There's a letter for you from walnut grove.

Let me see it.

It's from a boy there.

I didn't write much that would interest a boy.

Oh, mother, he's over 6 feet tall.

How old is he?

He's just my age.

Good heavens, he must be related to Paul bunyan.

I have to answer the letter right away.

Mrs. Barton: Your French tutor is coming in 15 minutes.

Give her a cup of tea. I shan't be more than half an hour.

The pictures will be ready tomorrow,

so I can send one with the letter.

Well, what's the young man's name?

Albert. Albert Ingalls, and he sounds wonderful.

Shall I just bill you, Mrs. Barton?

Yes, thank you.

- Good day. - Good day.

- Mildred. - Yes, ma'am.

Would you serve tea and cakes

on the terrace at 3:00?

Yes, ma'am. For how many?

Just miss laroche and myself.

My daughter is a bit busy letter-writing, it seems.

Leslie, voice-over: "Dear Albert,

"I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to receive your letter.

"I have never written to a young gentleman before,

"and, quite honestly, I felt my first letter

"would be read by a girl and, therefore, was written

"with a girl in mind.

"I am very pleased that it did not put you off.

"We have much more in common than you know.

"I, too, am very tall and very athletic.

"I captain the basketball team at our school

"and play lawn tennis with some of the best."

Captain of the team.

Captain of the team.

Willie!

Can I borrow your football?

I promised some of the kids we'd play.

Well, let me play, too.

You wouldn't want to.

It's Timmy and some of the other little fellows.

What do you want to play with them for?

Well, I'm not really playing,

just sort of coaching them, to be nice.

But you said they're all a pain.

I know, but you know what the good book says...

"be kind to your fellow man."

I don't think it meant little kids.

Come on, let me borrow it.

I'll bring it back in the morning.

All right, but don't forget.

I won't. Thanks, Willie.

- Okay, let's go. - You promised to play with US an hour afterwards.

I promise. I promise. Now come on.

All righty, boys.

Now, hold your breath

and don't move.

Everybody hold still.

That's it, boys.

All right. Are we going to play, now?

Yeah, just let me pay Mr. Mcginnis.

All right.

Here's your 25 cents, sir.

- Thanks. - Yeah, thank you, Albert.

Hey, I didn't know the team was so small.

Mr. Mcginnis: Ain't there any bigger boys over at school who want to play?

Um... afraid not.

But they'll surprise you. They're quick, really.

I'll pick up my picture tomorrow.

- Yeah, all right. - Thanks.

Albert: All right, team, let's get to practice.

Land sakes, they better be quick.

If anybody catches them, they'll get killed.

"Dear Leslie,

"I received your letter and photograph yesterday,

"and, quite honestly,

"I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.

"I hope you do not think I'm too forward in saying that,

"but I feel I must be honest with you.

"I'm enclosing the only photograph of myself that I have.

"It is our team photograph.

"I am the captain.

"I'm the tall fellow in the center

"holding the football."

Carrie: Albert.

What is it, Carrie? I'm trying to write a letter.

I can't sleep

because I got a splinter in my finger.

Here, let me see it.

It's right there.

I don't really see it.

Why don't you tell ma about it?

Because she uses a needle

and burns it over a candle,

and it scares me.

Well, it is sticking out a little bit.

I'll see if I can get it.

Here, hold still.

There it is.

You got it, and it didn't even hurt.

Thanks.

I'll have this light turned down in a little bit.

"I hope you can write to me about your plans for the future.

"My main interest is medicine,

"as I intend to be a doctor someday.

"I had an interesting case this evening.

"My sister's hand was pierced by a large piece of wood.

"It was very difficult and very painful."

Dr. Marx: Do you feel it now?

Leslie: Yes. Dr. Marx: Mm-hmm.

Dr. Marx: And now? Leslie: Yes.

Dr. Marx: Leslie, I'm going to jab you a little harder this time.

It may hurt a bit right here.

That hurt! That really hurt!

I'm sorry.

There won't be any more, uh...

Poking at you today.

I seem to be getting more feeling each time.

Seems to be.

Nurse, would you ask Mrs. Barton to come in, please?

Leslie, you can wait in my outer office.

Certainly.

Thank you, doctor.

Leslie: He really hurt me this time, mother,

the feeling is getting stronger.

Mrs. Barton: That's wonderful, dear. I'll just be a minute.

Sit down, Mrs. Barton.

Mrs. Barton,

it's been over two years since the accident.

Doctor, there's the most wonderful improvement...

Dr. Marx: No, no, no, please!

This time, let me finish.

I have allowed you to keep this...

This hope alive in your daughter.

Once a month,

for over two years,

we go through this same ritual.

This... this...

Mrs. Barton,

it is not fair to you, it's not fair to your daughter, it's not fair to me.

I'm a doctor.

I can only do what is medically possible.

I'm just a human being.

I cannot perform a miracle.

That's what your daughter needs.

Dr. Marx: I beg you.

I beg you to be honest with her.

Be honest with her so that...

So that she can be honest with herself...

And go on with her life.

We won't be needing an appointment next month.

Thank you, doctor.

I was beginning to worry, mother.

It's late.

I lost track of time.

Were you shopping?

No, I went to church.

Oh.

I'm almost finished with my letter.

I think it's the longest one I've ever written.

Every time I think I'm about finished,

I find something else I want to say.

Have you written anything about your accident?

Leslie: No.

Don't you think you should?

I don't know.

I really haven't thought about it.

Besides, there's so many other things I want to write about.

Like what?

Leslie: Just things.

Like the things you wrote in your last letter?

I, uh...

I saw it on your desk.

I know I shouldn't have looked at it,

but I did.

I wish you hadn't.

I know.

Captain of the basketball team?

Dancing in the school ballet?

Well, I did those things,

- you did. - And I'll do them again.

I'm getting better all the time,

- and by the time I see Dr. Marx... - no.

You won't be seeing Dr. Marx next month.

Why not?

Why not, mother?

We've got to stop pretending,

both of US.

You're not getting better.

I am.

The feeling, it was stronger than ever today.

Mrs. Barton: You want to feel something, but you don't.

- I do! - You don't!

I've known it from the beginning,

Dr. Marx has known it from the beginning,

and so have you.

In the name of god, stop pretending.

There are so many things you can do

with your life.

So many things.

Mrs. Barton: But you won't do them

if you keep waiting for a miracle to happen.

Just live your life as it is.

Don't keep waiting for it to be as it was.

"I have begun rehearsals for "swan lake."

"The dancing is exhausting, but I'm enjoying it.

"It's a shame we live so far apart,

"as I would love to have you see when I perform."

I know it sounds strange, mother,

but I love Albert.

Leslie: And I think in a way, he loves me.

I can be honest with myself and I will be,

but I can't be honest with him.

I need him to love me,

even if it only is pretending.

Do you understand?

Yes.

I'll come to bed soon, I want to finish my letter.

Your, uh...

Aunt linwood wrote and asked if we could come

to St. Louis for the holidays.

I thought it might be fun for a few months.

It would be, I'm sure.

Well, I'll...

I'll call her.

Good night, dear.

"Is not frisk a fine, grateful fellow?

"And does he not deserve a share

"of Harry's breakfast,

"whether he begs for it or not?

"And little Harry will remember from the events of this day

"that kindness, even though shown to a dog,

"will always be rewarded,

"and that ill nature and bad temper

"are connected with nothing but pain and disgrace ."

That was very good, Timmy.

Now, class, I'd like you all to read silently for a while.

Albert, I want to talk to you outside.

I know what you're going to say, and I'm sorry.

Well, "sorry" is not good enough.

Now, you don't like me to talk to you

like a sister, so I'm not going to.

I'm talking to you as a teacher.

You've been daydreaming in class,

you're late almost once a week,

and I'm not going to let you get away with it because I'm your sister.

I know, and I'm not asking for any favors.

If you want to punish me, punish me.

I not going to punish you.

I just want to know why.

You haven't even been doing your letter-writing assignments.

Yes, I have.

Well, then why haven't you handed them in?

Because I mailed them.

I can't grade them until I've looked at them.

I know.

Well, then why haven't you turned them in?

Because they're personal.

How personal can they be?

You haven't even met the girl.

I love her.

Albert, that's the silliest thing I've ever heard.

Maybe to you, but not to me,

so, don't make fun of me!

You mean that.

Yes, I do.

I don't understand any more than you do.

It's like that "cyrano de bergerac"

where the girl falls in love with the letter.

With me, it's even worse.

I fell in love with a picture, too.

I don't know why I'm telling you all this.

How's a teacher supposed to understand?

Well, I'm your sister, too, remember?

Yeah.

All right.

Now, I'm going to expect a separate writing assignment

for you to make up for the letters,

and if you're late one more time,

I'm just going to have to send you home.

All right?

All right.

Back inside.

Thanks.

Pass me some more bread, son.

- Here you go, pa. - Thank you.

Carrie: Albert was late for school today.

You always have to tell, don't you?

Carrie: Well, you were.

Well, you do plenty of bad stuff.

Albert: I don't tell on you. Carrie: I do not.

And I suppose you didn't keep calling Timmy a poo-poo today.

Charles: All right, that's enough.

Albert: Well, she's such a tattletale.

Why were you late for school?

Oh...

He was reading a letter, that's why.

Albert: Will you be quiet?

Carrie, that's enough. I'm talking to your brother.

Yes, sir.

Right, now, why were you late?

I was reading a letter, but I talked to Laura

and everything is all right.

I hope you're not taking advantage

because Laura is your sister.

No, ma'am. I won't be late again.

See to it that you're not.

Caroline: Some more coffee?

No, must get out to the barn, finish that cabinet.

Promised the barishes I'd have it done

before I left for Minneapolis.

Caroline: I wish someone else could go for a change.

I wish I could, too, but it's expected.

Caroline: I'll keep the coffee hot.

Thank you, darling.

When's pa going?

Caroline: Oh, next week. He'll just be gone a few days.

I'm finished. May I be excused?

Yes. Do you have homework?

Albert: Yes, ma'am. I just want to ask pa something.

All right, then right to the books?

I'll be right in.

Need any help, pa?

Hmm? No, son. Thank you. I'm almost done.

Bet it sure must be interesting going to a grange meeting.

Sometimes.

Sometimes it's downright dull.

There's a lot of long-winded farmers.

I suppose.

I'd sure like to go sometime, though.

Maybe you will someday.

How about next week?

Next week?

You got a few problems, there.

First, you're in school, secondly, you're too young,

and thirdly, it costs money to go.

Well, school is no problem.

It'd be a project.

I'd write a report to the class.

Kids do it all the time.

And I must be old enough.

You say I have to do the work of a man,

and I do, don't I?

That, you do. You got me, there.

That still leaves thirdly, and there's nothing we can do about it.

No, sir.

You best get on to bed, now.

Yes, sir.

You would take me if it didn't

cost you anything, wouldn't you, pa?

You bet I would, son.

Good night.

Good night.

Conductor: I tell you, Charles, I don't know where it's going to end.

More and more passengers every day.

Charles: Nothing wrong with business being good.

Conductor: I suppose, but I'd rather be hauling straight freight.

See that, did you?

What's that?

It's another one trying to hop a freight.

As if I didn't have enough troubles

without chasing bums off my trains.

All right, I got you. Come along.

Conductor: Another young one, kids from bad homes.

Fathers beat them, they run off to the city

to try to start over.

I feel sorry for you, lad,

but railroad policy says I got to turn you over

to the station officer.

Conductor: It's the parents of the children who should be punished,

not the young ones.

Harlan, what's going to happen to the boy?

Oh, they'll keep him locked up,

try to find his parents,

if his father's not lying somewhere

in a gutter with a jug in his hand.

Yeah, well, I doubt that.

I mean, maybe the boy has got another reason for going to Minneapolis.

I wanted to be with my pa.

There, you see?

He left home without me.

Conductor: I ask you, Charles, what kind of a man

would do that to a son?

I don't know.

Harlan, if I buy the boy a ticket,

would you let it pass?

Conductor: Certainly. Charles: How much?

Well, for a youngin, half-fare, dollar even.

There you go.

Come along, boy.

May god bless you, Charles.

- Pa, I can expl... - Not now.

I'm too angry to talk to you.

And don't call me pa.

How did you get to the train station?

On the stagecoach.

Albert, I was on the stagecoach.

I didn't say in it, I said on it.

Got on the back of it.

So, you snuck a ride on the stage?

Yes, sir.

Pa, I'm sorry, but I just had to go.

I had to.

Don't tell me that the grange means so much to you.

I don't care about the grange meeting.

Well, then what is it?

I'm in love.

You're what?

Pa, I've been writing to this girl,

and she's been writing to me.

And I don't know how it happened,

but I fell in love.

I mean, I think about her all the time,

and then I got to feeling guilty about what I did.

What do you mean, "what you did"?

Albert: I lied to her.

In my letters, trying to make myself look more important and such,

and now she's going away.

I just got to see her.

I have to be honest with her

and see if she'll like me just for me.

Couldn't you have just come to me and told me this?

I was too embarrassed, I guess.

I felt funny telling you I loved somebody...

A girl, I mean.

Oh.

You ever feel this way with your pa?

My pa didn't even know I was in love till he saw me

walking down the aisle in my wedding clothes.

Albert: I don't feel so bad, then.

Well, you should.

Sneaking on the stage, trying to sneak on the train.

Couldn't you just have written her a letter and told her everything?

Well, I couldn't, not in a letter.

There's just some things you have to face up to.

Like they say, "look them in the eye."

All right, I understand a little bit better, now.

I don't think it's right, but I understand it.

Thanks.

First thing we'll do when we get to Minneapolis is wire your ma.

She's going to be worried to death about you.

I left a note for her at Nellie's,

said I'd be with you.

I thought you didn't believe in letters,

thought everything had to be eye to eye.

Well, I guess not everything.

Can I call you pa again?

Yeah.

But not in front of the conductor.

Well, this is it.

All right, I'll wait for you out here.

No more than 15 minutes, though.

I got to be in that first session.

- Yes, sir. - Good luck.

Yes?

Oh, Mrs. Barton?

That's correct.

I'm Albert,

Albert Ingalls.

I've been writing to your daughter.

Oh, yes, of course.

Well, won't you come in?

Please, sit down.

I'm sorry I didn't recognize you from your picture.

It's all right.

You were probably expecting someone larger.

No, it's just that, from your letters...

I mean, what my daughter has told me, I...

I know, that's one of the reasons why I'm here.

I had to see her and be honest.

Well, Leslie won't be back until 4:00.

Oh, well, I can come back.

I have to go to the grange meeting with my pa.

Well, perhaps you better call first,

just to be sure.

Now, I'll just jot down the number.

Albert: I bet she's doing real well in the ballet.

In the ballet?

Albert: Yeah, doing that "swan lake."

We don't get that kind of dancing in walnut grove.

I'd sure like to see it while I'm here.

Well, I think you better talk to Leslie about that.

Here you are.

Thank you.

I'll see you to the door.

As I said, any time after 4:00.

I'd be much obliged if you didn't say anything

about me till I got to see her.

Certainly.

Thank you, ma'am.

- Good-bye. - Good-bye.

It'll be the boy again.

I can't keep telling him you're not back yet.

- Tell him I'm asleep. - Leslie!

Tell him I'm exhausted from the ballet

and that we're leaving for St. Louis early in the morning.

Tell him I'll write him from there.

In the name of god, tell him!

Hello.

Yes, Albert.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry.

Uh, Leslie is so exhausted from the ballet,

she came in late and fell right off to sleep.

Mrs. Barton: Yes, I know,

but we're going to St. Louis in the morning.

No, no, no, I... I understand,

but we're leaving very early.

Well, perhaps another time.

I know it's a long way.

Mrs. Barton: But look, Leslie will write to you

as soon as she gets to St. Louis.

Of course I will.

Yes. Good-bye.

What did he say?

He said to have a nice trip.

He'll miss you.

I'll finish packing.

What? Is she not home yet?

Yeah, she's home.

Her ma said she was tired and went to bed.

Oh, well, you'll see her in the morning.

They're leaving for St. Louis.

Too early for visitors.

She'll write me.

I'm sorry, son.

Her ma told her how little I was, that's what.

She said she wouldn't, but she did.

I bet they had a good, old laugh over it, too.

Oh, come on, now. You don't know that.

Oh, pa, of course I do.

She could have seen me otherwise.

I came all this way just to be honest with her.

Well, I learned my lesson.

I hate her, now.

Oh, come on. You don't hate her, and you know it.

I do, too!

I've got a good mind to go over there and tell her so,

so high and mighty,

living in a big house,

dancing in a ballet.

She thinks she's really something.

She don't mean beans to me, and I hate her.

I know how you feel.

No, you don't.

I wrote things to her,

oh, not any made-up things,

but true things about how I felt about her,

and she doesn't even see me.

I mean, what kind of person just doesn't love you

just because you're not as tall as you said you were?

I don't know.

I don't know what I'm crying about, anyway.

She's not so much,

her and her ballet.

I bet she would look funny at a barn dance

hopping around on her toes.

I bet she would.

Albert: Bet she can't even square-dance.

Probably not.

Folks shouldn't hurt people like that,

and I want to tell her so.

Can we go over there in the morning before the train?

I thought you said she wouldn't see you.

I'll wait till she comes out.

It will make me feel better, pa.

All right.

Thanks.

I'll go wash up, now.

Okay.

Albert, it's a quarter after.

15 minutes, we're going to have to go,

or we'll miss the train.

Yeah.

That must be their coach.

Yeah, here they come.

This won't take but a minute.

Pa...

Pa, that's her.

That's Leslie.

That's why.

That's why she didn't want to see me.

I'll be right back.

Leslie.

Albert.

Just stopped by on my way to the train.

I'm glad I got to see you, though.

I sure was mad at you last night.

I'm sorry.

No, it's all right.

Taught me a good lesson.

From now on, I'm going to be honest about myself.

Albert: It taught me something else, too,

and that's that some folks love different from others.

I mean, I'm not blaming you about not caring about me

after you found out I wasn't the big hero of walnut grove.

It's not your fault you didn't care enough about me in the first place,

but I still love you,

and I would, no matter what

because that's what really loving is.

If you still want to write to me, I'd sure like it.

You don't have to say you love me if you don't.

Just be honest.

Have a good trip.

I love you, Leslie barton.

Albert!

That letter you've been asking about?

- It came. - Thank you, Ms. Foster.

Ms. Foster: You're welcome.

Carrie, you go ahead.

You better not be late.

I won't be. Go on.

Leslie, voice-over: "My dearest Albert,

"this is the longest letter I have ever written

"because there are so many things I must tell you.

"You asked me to be honest with you,

"and I will be from now on.

"Let me start with...

"I miss you,

"and I love you, Albert Ingalls."