Original subtitles

[COLT WHINNIES]

GET THE REST OF THE SUPPLIES LEFT, ANDY.

YES, SIR.

THERE'S SOME JERKY IN THE TOP DRAWER.

OK.

I'M GLAD YOU CAN TAKE THIS LOAD OUT FOR ME, CHARLES.

I'M ALREADY 3 WEEKS BEHIND.

WELL, IF YOU'RE THAT GRATEFUL, HOW COME YOU DON'T PAY ME MORE?

IT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

THESE FOLKS IS PAYING TOP DOLLAR.

NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULDN'T SHARE IN IT, IS THERE?

NO REASON I CAN SEE.

Man: EXCUSE ME.

I'M LOOKING FOR MR. GARVEY.

WELL, YOU FOUND HIM.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

WELL, THE FELLA AT DELIVERY SAID

YOU BOUGHT UP ALL HIS HORSES.

GUESS THAT'S TRUE.

BUSINESS HAS BEEN BETTER THAN I EXPECTED LATELY.

HE ALSO SAYS YOU'RE TAKING SUPPLIES

INTO THE HIRAMSVILLE GOLD FIELDS.

UH, THAT'S RIGHT. MY SON AND I ARE GONNA LEAVE

RIGHT AFTER WE EAT.

I SEE. OH, UH,

MY NAME'S ALVIN COOPER. THIS IS MY WIFE SARAH.

-HOWDY. -HI.

THOSE ARE OUR 2 YOUNG'UNS, CASSANDRA AND JAMES.

HOW ARE YA? I'M CHARLES INGALLS.

VERY PLEASED TO MEET YA.

WE'RE PART OF THAT WAGON TRAIN TO HIRAMSVILLE.

THAT TRAIN WENT THROUGH HERE

MORE THAN 2 WEEKS AGO.

WELL, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, OUR...

OUR MARE DECIDED TO GIVE BIRTH ON THE TRAIL.

[WHINNIES]

Charles: THAT DOES TEND TO SLOW YOU DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

Sarah: WE THOUGHT SHE WAS A MITE PLUMP WHEN WE BOUGHT HER.

Alvin: HEH! YES, SIR. IT CAME BY SURPRISE.

ANYWAYS, WHAT WE'RE NEEDING IS A FRESH HORSE

AND SOMEBODY TO LEAD US TO HIRAMSVILLE.

I'M TOLD SOME OF THAT COUNTRY IS AWFUL ROUGH.

YEAH, YOU HEAR RIGHT.

THIS OLD GIRL OVER HERE

IS NOT GONNA BE GOING ANY FURTHER RIGHT NOW,

BUT, UH, SHE'LL BE FINE IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IF YOU COULD SEE YOUR WAY TO TRADIN' ME A FRESH HORSE,

I'D BE GLAD TO THROW IN THAT COLT.

WELL, UH, I--

WE'D ENJOY THE COMPANY.

WELL, UH, I GUESS WE COULD ADD SOME CASH TO--

NO. NO. THAT'S, UH,

THAT'S MORE THAN FAIR.

UH, I'LL BE GLAD TO DEAL WITH YOU.

FINE, FINE.

THAT'S REAL NICE OF YOU, MR. GARVEY.

UH, LISTEN. I'M NOT MINDING MY MANNERS.

WE'RE JUST GETTING READY TO MAKE SOME BREAKFAST.

WOULD YOU CARE TO JOIN US?

OH, WHY DON'T YOU LET ME TEND TO IT.

WE'VE GOT SOME FRESH EGGS AND A WHOLE SIDE OF BACON.

I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! HEH HEH.

JAMES, CASSANDRA, YOU FETCH 'EM FROM BACK THERE.

YES'M.

HEH HEH. YEAH, UNCLE JED'S A STRANGE OLD COOT.

NOW, ALVIN. [CHARLES CHUCKLES]

OH, I AIN'T BEING CRITICAL.

IT'S THE SIMPLE TRUTH, IS ALL.

UNCLE JED SPENT NEAR ALL HIS LIFE

GOPHERING AROUND IN ONE GOLD OR SILVER MINE AFTER ANOTHER.

Albert: DID HE EVER FIND ANY?

PLENTY OF TIMES. A FEW OF 'EM SOME PRETTY BIG STRIKES, TOO.

HE OUGHT TO BE RICH BY NOW.

HEH! HE OUGHT TO BE, BUT HE AIN'T.

WELL, HOW COME?

OH, HE'D SPEND IT

OR LOSE IT OR GIVE IT AWAY.

IT'S HARD TO TELL WITH UNCLE JED.

IF WE HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR HIS LUCK,

WE WON'T BE SQUANDERING IT.

ARE WE GONNA BE RICH, MA?

WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT RICH.

WE ARE SURE GONNA TRY.

ANYWAYS, WHEN HIS LETTER COME

INVITIN' US TO JOIN HIM, WELL,

WE DIDN'T TAKE NONE TOO SERIOUS...

TILL THE CROP FAILED.

THEN IT HIT ME HOW FARMING

CAN BE JUST AS RISKY AS HUNTING FOR GOLD,

AND THE REWARDS NOT NEAR AS GOOD.

SO, SARAH AND ME TALKED IT OVER,

PACKED UP, AND HERE WE ARE.

ANY MORE EGGS, ANYBODY?

Jonathan: NONE FOR ME, THANK YOU.

Charles: WE OUGHT TO BE HEADING OUT PRETTY SOON.

OK, I'LL JUST CLEAN UP.

NO, NO, NOT NECESSARY.

ANDREW AND I CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT.

NO, IT'LL ONLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES.

CASSANDRA, WILL YOU HAND ME THOSE PLATES?

WELL, YOU'RE ALL SECURE AND READY TO GO.

I HOPE THIS HORSE WORKS OUT FOR YOU.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JONATHAN.

-THANK YOU. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

HERE'S YOUR BILL OF LADING, CHARLES.

ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

YEAH, LISTEN. THAT LOAD FROM MANKATO

WILL BE READY FOR YOU WHEN YOU GET BACK.

I'LL BE READY FOR IT.

HAVE A GOOD TRIP.

-TAKE CARE, NOW. -BYE.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING, FROGS CROAKING]

YEAH, IT SEEMED LIKE THE WORLD WAS ALWAYS GETTING

TOO CROWDED FOR MY PA.

NO SOONER SETTLE ON A PLACE,

THEN HE'D PACK US ALL UP AND WE'D MOVE ON

TO THE BIG WOODS.

I GUESS WE CARRIED ON THAT TRADITION,

BUT WE'RE PRETTY WELL SETTLED NOW.

DID YOU EVER FIGHT ANY INDIANS, MR. INGALLS?

NO, NO. I NEVER FOUGHT ANY.

I HAD SOME THAT WERE GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE, THOUGH.

-HONEST? -MM-HMM.

WHAT WERE THEY LIKE?

PRETTY MUCH LIKE YOU AND ME.

REALLY?

OH, YEAH. OH, THEY DRESS DIFFERENT.

THEIR CUSTOMS ARE DIFFERENT.

THAT'S ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU BOIL IT ALL DOWN.

SURE NOT WHAT I HEARD.

I HEARD THEY'RE ALL MEAN.

WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

FROM STORIES I'VE READ.

Charles: OH, SOME WERE. SOME WEREN'T,

NEVER ANY OF THE ONES THAT I MET, THOUGH.

ALTHOUGH THEY HAD PLENTY OF REASON TO BE MEAN.

THE WHITE MAN NEVER TREATED THEM TOO WELL.

STILL DOESN'T.

HOW COME?

WELL, MOSTLY GREED, I THINK.

Sarah: JAMES?

YOU BEST GET READY FOR BED.

YES'M.

YOU, TOO, SON.

YEAH. I'M TIRED. GOOD NIGHT, PA.

GOOD NIGHT.

NICE BOY.

OH, SO IS YOURS.

YEAH. I'M RIGHT PLEASED WITH MY CHILDREN.

JAMES HAS TAKEN QUITE A SHINE TO YOU.

YEAH? OH, I THOUGHT HE WAS PRETTY MUCH

LIKE THAT WITH EVERYBODY.

WELL...

MAYBE NOT QUITE.

SEE, UH...

WE AIN'T BEEN MANY PLACES. WE, UH,

SPENT NEAR ALL OUR LIVES IN MICHIGAN.

OH, IT'S A NICE PLACE AND ALL,

BUT, UH...

IT'S GETTING KIND OF CROWDED--

LIKE THAT STORY ABOUT YOUR PA.

YEAH, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

HEH.

SEE, TO JAMES, YOU'RE A TRUE PIONEER--

A ROMANTIC FIGURE, YOU MIGHT SAY.

HO HO HO! COME ON.

WELL, DON'T LAUGH NOW. I AM, TOO.

HE LOOKS AT ME THAT WAY.

BUT, IN SOME WAYS,

WELL, BOTH MY CHILDREN LOOK AT GROWNUPS

AS KIND OF HEROES.

GOT EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT,

CAN'T DO NO WRONG.

HEH! HEH! YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD THEM

GO ON ABOUT JONATHAN--

REGULAR GIANT OUT OF A STORYBOOK.

YEAH, WELL, JONATHAN'S SON FEELS THE SAME WAY.

WELL...

WE MIGHT BE SEEKING RICHES IN THE GOLD FIELDS,

BUT, UH...

THAT WOULD BE EXTRA.

WE ALREADY GOT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.

AMEN TO THAT.

SURE IS PRETTY HERE.

PRETTIEST COUNTRY I'VE EVER SEEN.

WELL, DON'T GET TOO USED TO IT.

IT'S ALL GONNA BE DIFFERENT TOMORROW.

WE GOT SOME ROUGH ROAD AHEAD.

I'M KIND OF TIRED. I THINK I'LL TURN IN.

I'LL SIT A SPELL LONGER.

-GOOD NIGHT, THEN. -GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, MA'AM.

GOOD NIGHT.

OHH.

ARE YOU TIRED?

A LITTLE.

ARE YOU AS HAPPY AS I AM?

I THINK MAYBE I AM.

PRETTY STEEP HILL HERE.

CAN'T WAIT TO GET A LOOK AT IT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

HEH HEH.

HEY, ALVIN? IT'S A PRETTY BAD ONE.

SO I SEE.

WELL, LET'S NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES.

I'LL DRIVE MY WAGON DOWN,

THEN COME ON BACK AND DRIVE YOURS.

UH, THANKS, BUT I'LL MANAGE.

-YOU SURE? -YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. SUIT YOURSELF.

BUT TAKE IT SLOW. USE THAT BRAKE A LOT.

DON'T LET THE WAGON PUSH ON THOSE HORSES. COULD SPOOK 'EM.

I'LL BE REAL CAREFUL.

James: OH, BE CAREFUL, PA.

-I WILL, SON. -HERE WE GO.

YOU WALKING OR RIDING?

GIVEN THE CHOICE, I'LL ALWAYS CHOOSE RIDING.

IT SURE IS STEEP.

YEAH, THAT IT IS.

OUR PA'S ALMOST THE BEST WAGON DRIVER AROUND.

I DON'T THINK HE'S AS GOOD AS MR. INGALLS,

BUT HE SURE IS BRAVE.

HEH HEH HEH. I'LL BET HE IS, JAMES.

YOU TWO SIT DOWN, NOW. WE'RE ALMOST AT THE BOTTOM.

YES, SIR.

WHOA!

ALL RIGHT, ALVIN. BRING HER DOWN.

WELL, LET'S GET HER DONE.

YOU BEST SIT DOWN.

COME ON.

EASY.

COME ON. SLOW THAT WAGON DOWN.

EASY!

TONGUE'S BROKE! WE'RE RUNNING LOOSE!

JUMP!

-NO! -I SAID JUMP, SARAH!

-NO! NO! -JUMP!

NO!

NO! NO!

-NO! -JUMP!

-AAH! NO! -COME ON! JUMP!

NO!

-OH, MA! PA! -[SOBBING]

-OH, MY GOD! -JUMP.

[BOTH SCREAM]

-MA! PA! -KEEP 'EM HERE.

OH, GOD! MA! PA! [SOBBING]

MOMMY!

"I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, SAITH THE LORD.

"HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME,

"THOUGH HE WERE DEAD,

"YET SHALL HE LIVE.

"WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME,

SHALL NEVER DIE."

WE'D BEST BE GOING.

WE'LL GIVE HIM A LITTLE MORE TIME.

Man: 320...

32 AND 50 CENTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FOLKS ARE SURE GONNA BE HAPPY TO SEE ALL THIS.

HERE. NEW ORDER FOR YOU.

YEAH, WELL, I CAN'T PROMISE DELIVERY FOR UNDER 2 WEEKS.

TELL YOU WHAT. YOU GET IT HERE IN 10 DAYS,

A $50 BONUS.

50?

GOODS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

AND THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY AROUND.

THINGS ARE THAT GOOD, HUH?

YOU MIGHT SAY FOR SOME.

LISTEN, YOU KNOW A MAN NAMED JED COOPER BY ANY CHANCE?

-OLD JED? -YEAH.

-SURE. -WELL, I'VE GOT SOME BUSINESS WITH HIM.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE I COULD FIND HIM?

UH, HEAD NORTH.

FOLLOW THE RIVER ABOUT 2 MILES.

GOOD ENOUGH. SEE YOU IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS.

A MAN JUST TOLD ME YOUR UNCLE JED IS ABOUT 2 MILES DOWNRIVER.

MR. INGALLS?

YEAH, SON?

WE NEVER MET UNCLE JED.

SUPPOSE HE DON'T WANT US?

WELL, HE INVITED YOU TO COME HERE, DIDN'T HE?

YEAH, BUT IT JUST BEING THE TWO OF US,

HE MIGHT CHANGE HIS MIND.

JAMES, LET'S NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT

UNTIL AFTER WE TALK TO YOUR UNCLE JED, ALL RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

WE'LL BE THERE SOON.

EXCUSE ME.

I'M LOOKING FOR A JED COOPER.

NEXT TENT DOWN.

MAN WITH A WHITE BEARD.

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY. COME ON.

YOU ALL WAIT IN THE WAGON TILL I FIND HIM.

YES, SIR.

MR. COOPER?

YEAH?

YOU'RE JED COOPER?

YEAH, THAT'S ME.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

I'VE GOT JAMES AND CASSANDRA COOPER IN THAT WAGON.

ALVIN'S YOUNG'UNS?

YEAH.

WELL, WHERE'S ALVIN AND SARAH?

I'M AFRAID THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT, SIR.

BAD?

WAGON WENT OFF THE ROAD. THEY WERE BOTH KILLED.

GOOD LORD HAVE MERCY.

GOOD LORD HAVE MERCY!

I WAS ALWAYS TERRIBLE FOND OF ALVIN AND HIS LADY.

WE AIN'T SEEN THAT MUCH OF EACH OTHER,

BUT THEY WAS THE ONLY FAMILY I HAD.

YOU'RE ALL THE FAMILY THAT JAMES AND CASSANDRA HAVE.

I'M TERRIBLE SORRY, CHILDREN.

YOUR MA AND YOUR PA, WELL,

THEY MEANT AN AWFUL LOT TO ME.

WE'RE GLAD TO MEET YOU.

WELL, I'M YOUR PA'S UNCLE,

SO, UH, YOU CAN CALL ME UNCLE JED.

OK, UNCLE JED.

NOW, HOW ABOUT YOU, LITTLE LADY?

SHE'S IN SHOCK--HAS BEEN SINCE THE ACCIDENT.

OH, POOR LITTLE THING.

I, UH, I BROUGHT THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS,

AND BROUGHT THIS.

IT'S WHAT LITTLE MONEY THEY HAD.

IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT IT'LL HELP.

UH, MR. INGALLS,

I'D APPRECIATE A PRIVATE TALK.

CERTAINLY. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU SEE THIS, UH, CLAIM I'M WORKING?

WELL, IT'LL, UH,

IT'LL PROBABLY BE MY LAST.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH MUCH YET,

BUT I GOT A FUNNY FEELING I WILL IN TIME.

[SIGHS] BEING ALONE...

BEING ALONE, IT DON'T WORRY ME TOO MUCH,

UH, TILL LATELY.

'CAUSE I--I, UH,

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS I GOT LEFT.

MY, UH, BONES ARE STARTING TO CREAK.

I GET TIRED TOO EASY, AND ALL THAT.

SO--SO I GOT TO THINKING,

IF ALVIN AND HIS FAMILY WANTED TO COME HERE AND JOIN ME--

WELL, YOU SEE, I LIVE ALONE IN THE WOODS.

I'VE LITTLE MORE THAN A SHANTY.

AND ALVIN AND ME, WELL, WE COULD BUILD A PROPER HOUSE--

PROPER CABIN.

AND, UH, WITH SARAH TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN

AND THE HOUSEHOLD CHORES,

WELL, WE COULD WORK ON OUR CLAIM TOGETHER.

AND EVERYONE WOULD BE A LOT BETTER OFF.

AM I MAKING ANY SENSE?

YEAH, I THINK I GET YOUR MEANING.

[SIGHS] MR. INGALLS,

I CAN BARELY TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

SO, HOW CAN I SEE TO THE NEEDS OF THE YOUNG'UNS BESIDES?

THEY NEED SCHOOLING AND...

OH, IF THERE...

IF THERE WERE ONLY SOME WAY ON GOD'S EARTH.

I KNOW THIS AIN'T YOUR PROBLEM, SON,

BUT WILL YOU TAKE THIS, PLEASE?

AND TRY TO SEE THEY GET A GOOD HOME.

MR. COOPER, IF THERE'S ONE THING THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY'S

GOT PLENTY OF, IT'S ORPHANED CHILDREN.

WELL, COULDN'T YOU JUST PLEASE TRY?

UH, THERE'S AN ORPHANAGE IN SLEEPY EYE.

I SUPPOSE I COULD TAKE 'EM THERE.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

I'LL GIVE THEM THIS AS A DONATION.

[SIGHS] YOU CAN--

YOU CAN SEE WHAT MY POSITION IS, HUH?

YES, SIR.

DON'T BLAME YOURSELF.

IT'S HARD NOT TO.

IF ONLY I HADN'T ASKED ALVIN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[GULPS]

I'LL EXPLAIN THIS BEST I CAN.

YOU SIT OUT HERE AND WAIT. IT WON'T BE TOO LONG.

WELL, THERE'S NO DENYING THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF THEY BOTH FOUND A HOME...

IN TIME.

HOW MUCH TIME?

NO. THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY.

SOMETIMES ONLY A FEW WEEKS.

AND SOMETIMES MONTHS, EVEN YEARS.

I HAVE TO ALSO TELL YOU THIS, SOMETIMES NEVER.

THE OLDER CHILDREN GET, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS

TO PLACE THEM.

I UNDERSTAND.

THEY'LL BE RIGHT HERE IN SLEEPY EYE.

ANDREW AND I COULD VISIT

AND PAY SOME SPECIAL ATTENTION.

AND YOU'RE GONNA BE COMING THROUGH TOWN

QUITE A BIT, CHARLES.

IT WOULDN'T BE LIKE THEY'D JUST BE

WITH TOTAL STRANGERS.

GENTLEMEN, I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS,

THE FACT IS THEY CAN'T STAY HERE.

WHY NOT?

WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE ROOM.

THE ORPHANAGE HAS BEEN FILLED TO CAPACITY

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

WELL, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM?

Man: WELL, THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T

BE OF ASSISTANCE.

I'M SURE THE STATE FACILITY OUTSIDE

MINNEAPOLIS CAN PLACE THEM.

MINNEAPOLIS?

Woman: IT'S A LARGE ORPHANAGE

AND VERY WELL-STAFFED.

Man: NOW, THE TRAIN WILL BE THROUGH HERE TUESDAY MORNING.

I DON'T THINK THERE'LL BE ANY PROBLEM.

AND UNTIL THEN, WELL,

I'M SURE WE CAN SQUEEZE THEM IN SOMEHOW.

THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY.

THEY CAN STAY WITH ME TILL THEN.

WELL, I WAS JUST THINKING,

IF JONATHAN AND I REALLY WORK AT IT,

MAYBE WE COULD FIND A FAMILY HERE IN SLEEPY EYE

THAT COULD ADOPT THEM.

WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME TO TRY, OF COURSE.

BUT WE ARE QUITE SENSITIVE TO NEW AVAILABILITIES.

MR. INGALLS, WOULD YOU MIND IF I MADE A...

A RATHER PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION?

NO. GO RIGHT AHEAD.

WELL, YOUR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY

TO THE COOPER CHILDREN IS HIGHLY COMMENDABLE.

IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T ENCOUNTER OFTEN ENOUGH.

YET IT HAS TO END SOMEWHERE,

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE.

NOW, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE

FOR THE WELFARE OF THESE CHILDREN.

THERE ARE JUST SO MANY LIKE THEM...

SO MANY.

EXCEPT THESE TWO I KNOW.

WELL, THEN UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED

TO CARE FOR THEM YOURSELF...

I CAN'T DO THAT.

THEN LET GO.

FROM HERE ON OUT,

IT'S THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

WELL, WE GOT IT ALL TALKED OUT. AND, UH,

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WON'T HAVE TO BE STAYING HERE AFTER ALL.

YOU MEAN, THEY ALREADY FOUND SOMEONE TO ADOPT US?

NO, NOT EXACTLY.

YOU'RE GONNA BE STAYING WITH ME FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

Charles: BUT WHY DON'T YOU COME ON.

WE'LL--WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT IT ON THE WAY.

WELL, THE LITTLE BOY'S TAKING IT AWFULLY BAD.

THE LITTLE GIRL, UH...

I JUST CAN'T LEAVE THEM RIGHT NOW.

IT'LL--IT'LL JUST BE UNTIL TUESDAY.

I LOVE YOU.

GOOD-BYE, DARLING.

[SIGHS]

CHARLES, IF--

IF THERE WAS A WAY OF WORKING IT OUT, I'D...

TAKE THEM IN MYSELF.

OH, I KNOW THAT. ME, TOO.

[SIGHS] I JUST FEEL SO USELESS.

[EXHALES]

HOW IS HE?

HE'S A LITTLE BETTER.

ALBERT'S TALKING TO HIM,

TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM

AN ORPHANAGE ISN'T ALL THAT BAD.

JONATHAN, I'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I JUST WANT TO TRY ONE MORE THING.

WHY DIDN'T YOU EVER TELL ME

YOU WERE AN ORPHAN?

JUST NEVER CAME UP, I GUESS.

LOOK, BEING IN AN ORPHANAGE, IT'S NOT SO BAD.

BAD ENOUGH.

HEY, LISTEN, THERE--

THERE ARE ALL THESE OTHER KIDS.

AND YOU'LL HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS.

I JUST WISH I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO.

YEAH, I KNOW.

I KNOW.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

LOOK, THERE'S SOME MONEY.

IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE

A BURDEN FOR A WHILE.

-CHARLES-- -AND JONATHAN AND ME,

WE CAN SCRAPE UP MORE WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU LIKE THIS.

HESTER-SUE, I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

I KNOW, BUT THIS IS A BLIND SCHOOL.

THEY WOULDN'T FIT IN. IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT.

WELL, JUST LET 'EM LIVE HERE.

THEY CAN GO TO REGULAR SCHOOL.

HEH HEH...

2 WHITE CHILDREN?

YOU HAVE WHITE STUDENTS HERE.

BLIND STUDENTS, CHARLES.

AND THE BLIND DON'T SEEM TO HAVE

ANY PROBLEMS WITH COLOR.

BUT YOU THINK JAMES AND CASSANDRA WOULD?

NO. WHAT I'M SAYING IS,

FOR THOSE CHILDREN TO LIVE HERE WITH ME...

I WOULD HAVE TO LEGALLY ADOPT THEM.

AND THERE'S NO WAY THE STATE WOULD ALLOW THAT.

YEAH...

I SUPPOSE YOU'RE RIGHT.

CHARLES, YOU KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW

THAT IF I COULD TAKE THOSE CHILDREN, I WOULD.

I KNOW.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

THERE WE GO.

A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP IS WHAT YOU NEED.

MR. INGALLS?

YEAH, SON?

COULDN'T WE...

COULDN'T WE LIVE WITH YOU?

I'M AFRAID NOT.

WHY?

WELL, IF YOU COULD SEE MY HOUSE,

YOU WOULDN'T ASK THAT. IT'S KIND OF SMALL...

WAY TOO SMALL FOR THE FAMILY I GOT.

CASSANDRA AND ME,

WE WOULDN'T TAKE UP MUCH SPACE.

WE'D BE REAL GOOD ABOUT OUR CHORES.

I MEAN, WHEN SHE GETS BETTER.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WISH I COULD SAY YES, BOY.

PLEASE?

I DON'T WANT TO GO ON THAT TRAIN.

I'M SORRY, SON.

NOW, GET SOME SLEEP.

[SIGHS]

[FOOTSTEPS DESCEND LADDER]

YOU WANT SOME COFFEE?

YEAH, THANKS.

THAT BOY...

IT REALLY TEARS YOUR HEART OUT.

I KNOW.

BUT IT'S LIKE MR. CASE SAID,

YOU GOT TO LET HIM GO.

THE STATE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM NOW.

I JUST WISH...

JUST WISH I HAD A BIG HOUSE

AND THE MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

BUT YOU DON'T.

ALL THIS WISHING AIN'T GONNA SOLVE ANYTHING.

YOU GOT TO LET THEM GO, CHARLES.

YOU GOT TO LET THEM GO.

I KNOW.

I'M GOING TO TAKE A WALK.

EXCUSE ME. ARE YOU MR. STEVENS?

THAT I AM. AND I'LL JUST BET

THAT THESE ARE THE COOPER CHILDREN.

YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

WELL, SIR, DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT A THING.

I'LL SEE THAT THEY'RE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

APPRECIATE THAT.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO MINNEAPOLIS?

WE PASSED THROUGH THERE WITH OUR MA AND PA.

OH?

YEAH. THEY'VE ONLY BEEN ORPHANED ABOUT A WEEK.

OH. SORRY.

WELL, UH, WE BEST BE GETTING ABOARD.

MR. STEVENS WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU.

MR. INGALLS?

YES, SON?

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND

ABOUT YOU NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE US IN.

UH, WELL, I HOPE YOU DO.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FAMILY.

BUT YOU TOOK REAL GOOD CARE OF US.

WE THANK YOU.

LOOK, IF YOU...

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, YOU JUST WRITE ME, ALL RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

THERE'S JUST ONE THING.

I'M A LOT BETTER NOW.

AND WE'RE GONNA BE JUST FINE.

I KNOW YOU ARE, JAMES.

GOOD-BYE.

GOOD-BYE, SON.

RIGHT THERE TO YOUR RIGHT, SON.

NOW, I'LL BE BY AND CHECK ON YOU.

OK. THANK YOU.

ARE WE GONNA LEAVE ON TIME?

UH, WE'RE GONNA BE ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATE.

CASSANDRA...

-CASSANDRA... -[SOBBING]

I MEANT WHAT I SAID TO MR. INGALLS.

YOU AND ME...

WE'LL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER.

WE'RE FAMILY...

EVEN IF THERE'S NEVER ANYBODY ELSE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE JUST...

JUST FINE.

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

I'M GLAD THE BOY SAID WHAT HE DID.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR THEM.

LEASTWISE, HE SEEMS DETERMINED TO GET THROUGH IT.

THEN MAYBE HE WILL.

YOU DON'T SOUND VERY HOPEFUL.

LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S A HARD THING.

I OVERHEARD WHAT YOU WERE TELLING HIM ABOUT ORPHANAGES.

YOU DIDN'T MAKE THEM SOUND SO BAD.

I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING TO MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER.

WHAT ABOUT THE ONE IN SLEEPY EYE? I MEAN,

FOLKS RUNNING THAT SEEM DECENT ENOUGH.

CHILDREN SEEM TO BE WELL TREATED.

SURE.

SMALL ONES LIKE THAT CAN BE OK.

THE ONES I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE THE BIG ONES,

LIKE WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

NONE OF THE WORK NEVER SEEMS TO END.

ALWAYS BEING BOSSED AROUND BY PEOPLE

WHO DON'T SEEM TO CARE.

IT'S ALWAYS TOO HOT OR TOO COLD.

ALWAYS FEELING LIKE YOU NEVER GET ENOUGH TO EAT.

HMM, BUT THE WORST IS THE FIGHTING.

WHAT FIGHTING?

THE BIG OVER THE LITTLE.

IT NEVER SEEMS TO LET UP

UNLESS YOU CAN BEAT EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND I COULDN'T BEAT EVERYBODY ELSE,

'CAUSE I WAS TOO LITTLE.

AND I TRIED.

BY THE TIME I RAN AWAY,

I DIDN'T TRUST ANYBODY OR ANYTHING.

AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW I WAS.

ANYWAY, THAT'S--

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM...

LEASTWISE, JAMES.

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]

I'M GOING TO TRY TO STOP THAT TRAIN.

HYAH!

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]

[HISS]

[BRAKES HISSING AND SQUEALING]

YOU STAY HERE.

WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS?

I WANT TO TALK TO THE COOPER CHILDREN.

WELL, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU--YOU JUST PUT 'EM ABOARD.

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THIS IS DOING TO MY SCHEDULE?

IT'LL JUST TAKE A MINUTE.

NOW, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME. I'VE BEEN THINKING--

WHAT IF YOU TWO COME WITH ME TO WALNUT GROVE?

YES! OH, YES!

HEY, NOW, HOLD ON. THIS IS NOT PERMANENT.

YOU JUST STAY WITH US LONG ENOUGH TILL WE CAN FIND YOU A PROPER HOME.

WHAT IF YOU CAN'T?

WELL, THEN I'M GONNA HAVE TO TAKE YOU ON TO THE ORPHANAGE.

BUT AT LEAST IT'S A CHANCE. WHAT DO YOU SAY?

WE'LL GO WITH YOU.

ALL RIGHT. COME ON!

HEY, HOLD ON THERE! WHAT--WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

NOW, JUST A MINUTE. YOU CAN'T DO THAT!

WHY NOT? I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THEM HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ALLOW THAT.

WELL, THAT WAGON OF MINE'S GONNA SIT ON THE TRACKS.

FOR AS LONG AS YOU DON'T ALLOW IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S GONNA DO TO YOUR SCHEDULE?

-WELL, YOU WOULDN'T DARE. -I ALREADY HAVE.

AND HOW LONG YOU WANT TO SPEND ARGUING ABOUT IT?

WELL, ALL RIGHT.

JUST GET THAT THING OFF THE TRACKS.

DADBURN KIDS!

WE'RE ALL SET, ALBERT. CLIMB ABOARD.

THERE YOU GO, DARLING.

GIVE ME THOSE, JAMES.

IN YOU GO, SON.

-PA? -YEAH?

YOU SURE ARE SOMETHING.

SAY THAT AFTER WE FIND THESE TWO A HOME.