Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983): Season 2, Episode 19 - For My Lady - full transcript

Caroline and the girls can't help but think the worst when Charles begins to behave mysteriously and later lies about the amount of time he has spent doing carpentry work for their lovely, young neighbor, the widow Elizabeth Thurman.

Dishes... all the way
from France.

Just imagine!

Yeah, well, hauling them all the
way from mankato is plenty for me.

I hope she'll let us
see them.

Widow thurmond will be
proud to show them to you.

Why do they
call her widow?

Mrs. Thurmond's awful
young, and pretty, too.

That's just what they call a woman
when they lose their husband.

Matter of respect,
I guess.

I wouldn't want
to be called widow.

Reminds me of spiders.



There you go.

Oh!

Mr. Ingalls. Mary.

Ma'am.

Good afternoon,
Mrs. Thurmond.

I didn't expect you
back from mankato so soon.

Yeah. We got back
this morning.

I saved your order
for last.

I was kind of hoping you'd show
your new set of dishes to Mary,

if you wouldn't mind.

Oh, it would be
my pleasure.

You sure you can
manage that alone, now?

Mr. Burnside will be here
shortly to feed the animals.

Oh, I've got it
fine.



Why don't you and I go in and fix
some lemonade for your father?

I think he'll want some
by the time he's finished.

Thank you. I never saw any
real China from France before.

Well, Mary, to tell you the
truth, neither have I.

Charles:
There you go.

Oh, look at that.

It's even more beautiful
than I expected.

Your husband made an excellent
choice, Mrs. Thurmond.

I've never seen prettier.

Arthur was always
so thoughtful.

Neither of us
had any idea

how things could
change so before...

Well, how about
that lemonade now?

Mary, why don't you take
your father into the parlor

and do the honors...
I'll get some cookies.

Thank you.

Isn't this
the prettiest room, pa?

Yeah. That it is,
sweetheart.

About the finest house
I ever did see.

My goodness. I almost forgot
the ice for the lemonade.

You even have your own icehouse, Mrs.
Thurmond?

Mm-hmm.
It's just a small one.

Arthur built it for me
when he put up the house.

Ma makes
good lemonade.

We don't have
an icehouse.

I just haven't gotten around
to building one yet.

Thank you.

Mr. Ingalls.
Why don't we sit down.

Would you like
a cookie, Mary?

Mmm. That's an awfully
nice dish, too.

Thank you, but I think we've
seen the last of these.

As soon as your father
finishes my China cabinet,

then I'll have a proper
place for the new ones.

It won't be long. I did most of the
hard work before I went to mankato.

Maybe tomorrow.

Wonderful. I can't wait
to show them off.

What will you do
with the old set?

Oh, probably store them

until somebody comes along
who wants to buy them.

Ma sure would
like them.

Mary, mind your manners.

Oh, well, Mr. Ingalls, if you think
your wife would truly like them,

I'd be happy to accept your
work on the cabinet as payment.

You can take them
with you.

Well, I appreciate
that very much...

Oh, could we, pa?

Ma would love them,

and they'd be
so easy to wash.

I promise I'd
do them every night.

They'd only be
going to waste here.

Well, as I said,
I appreciate it,

but dishes like that
must come pretty dear.

To be very honest
with you,

we need the money right now
more than we do the dishes.

I could work extra
for Mrs. Whipple.

That would help some.

Never argue with a man's
practicality, Mary.

Your father's right.

There are lots of things more
important to a family than dishes.

Thank you anyway.

Well, why don't you fix yourself
some lemonade before the ice melts,

and I'll get your father
his money.

Would you like
some more, pa?

Mm. Maybe just
a little more ice.

Sure are
pretty dishes, pa.

Mary, we've talked
enough about the dishes.

Yes, sir.

Hand-painted in France, Mrs.
Thurmond said.

Mm. Sounds beautiful.

Did she say how many
were in the set?

She didn't say, but
it was a big barrel.

Must have been
a lot.

That sounds
terribly expensive.

Charles, do you know
what China like that costs?

Uh, no, dear.
I'm sure I don't know.

Hey, you know,
I got a good idea today.

I thought Edwards and I could pitch
in and build a couple of icehouses.

Charles, we don't need
an icehouse.

The ice was awful good
in the lemonade today.

Laura: We could even
make ice cream.

Sure. You see? Lot of things
we can do with the ice.

Lakes freeze over,
we harvest the ice-

with all the straw
and sawdust we've got,

It'll keep
the whole summer.

Hey, we can even have
icicles in the summertime!

I like icicles.

You do?

Charles: There you go.
What do you say?

Say yes, ma. I think
having our own icehouse

would be the best
thing I can think of,

except maybe a set of China like Mrs.
Thurmond's.

Well, it's a while
before the first freeze.

There's plenty of time
to talk about it.

Well, I better stop talking and
get to work on that cabinet.

Don't work too late.

I won't.

Oh, it's beautiful,
Charles.

It is turning out nice.

But it's not
all finished yet.

Hanson's ordered some
special glass from mankato.

Going to look beautiful
when that's in.

Oh, even
without the glass...

The widow thurmond
is getting a bargain.

I just wish
I was doing it for you.

Well, I don't think our
dishes would do it justice.

Besides, there are a lot
of things we need more.

You know, I always did mean to
get you a better set of dishes.

Oh, Charles,
I didn't mean that.

Right now,
I'd settle for

a little more
time with you.

With the trip
to mankato and all,

it seems like
I hardly ever see you.

It won't be long... as soon as I
get sprague paid off at the bank.

That'll be it,
I promise.

Promise?

Promise.

Well, if you're going to work
some more, will you put this on?

I don't want you
getting sick.

All right. I'll be in
in a little while.

I love you.

Good night.

Good night.

Dishes.

Oh, morning, Mr. Sprague.

Morning, Mr. Ingalls.
You're a day early.

I really wish that
all my customers

were as prompt about
paying their notes.

Well, that's not exactly
why I'm here.

There's no trouble,
is there?

No, no. No trouble.
I've got the money.

I just wanted to talk to
you about something else,

sort of an investment.

In other words, you want
an extension on your note.

No, no. I'm going to pay
the loan off tomorrow.

There's no trouble
at all.

What I was thinking about
was another loan,

just a small one.

About $8.00.

$8.00.

Yeah. It would mean
an awful lot to me,

and I could pay you back
at harvest time.

Hmm. Well, maybe,
but, uh... Of course,

I would have to know the
nature of the investment,

the prospect
of return, and...

It's not that kind of
an investment.

This is more of
a personal thing.

Mr. Ingalls, I've found that money
borrowed for personal reasons

is best done without.

However, if you tell me
it's essential, well...

Well, I really can't say
that it's essential, but...

Well, good. Now you've
made your own decision.

I'm very glad I was able to
help you change your mind.

But, Mr. Sprague, I didn't say
I'd changed my mind.

Oh, but you will. You don't have
to be a banker to see that.

Mr. Ingalls,
a man's good credit

is more important than his
own personal comfort.

You remember that and you'll never
make any mistakes. Good day.

Yeah. I'll see you.

All right.

Oh, it's nice to see glass
in those doors again.

I don't mind
telling you,

I'll be glad when
I get this finished.

If I'd have broken one
of these panes of glass,

it would have taken
5 years off my life.

You sound like Arthur

the day he put
the windows in.

He said if there'd
been one more,

he would rather have
left home than finish.

Well, I don't know a man
that works with wood

that likes
working with glass.

There you go.

Oh, there, now.

Doesn't that
make it all worth it?

I must say, it makes my
woodwork look twice as good.

You're far too modest,
Mr. Ingalls.

Why don't you
have a sandwich

and a nice cold
glass of buttermilk

while I get the rest
of your money?

Thank you.

Mr. Ingalls,
here you are.

Thank you very much.

I was just looking
at your woodwork here.

Oh, isn't it terrible?

Arthur used an expensive European
varnish and it just didn't work.

He redid the rest
of the rooms, but, uh...

He never got to this one.

Well, you know, you could strip that
wood down and put a sealer on it.

Oh, but you're talking
about an awful lot of work.

Tell you what...

I'll redo the woodwork in trade
for your old set of dishes.

Oh, but that doesn't
seem quite fair.

If you don't like the work, you
don't have to make the trade.

No, that's not what I mean. But I know
the amount of effort that it takes.

I think you're
underpricing yourself.

I think it's fair.

A deal?

Oh... a deal.

Thank you.

I'll start tomorrow as soon
as I finish at the mill.

That'll be fine.

You know,
I'd appreciate it

if you didn't say
anything about this.

I'd kind of like
to surprise Caroline.

You're just like Arthur.

Everything had to be
a surprise.

Makes it
twice as much fun.

Don't worry.
I won't mention your secret.

See you tomorrow.
Thank you.

Right. Tomorrow.

Whoa. Whoa.

Caroline, you're going
to get your dishes.

Go on, Jack.
You stay out.

Charles.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't
mean to wake you.

What are you
doing up so early?

I told you, I got a lot of
extra work at the mill.

I wanted to get
an early start.

So you go
without breakfast?

Well, you were sleeping so pretty,
I didn't want to wake you.

And you make
your own lunch?

That's all right.
I'm doing a good job.

And what are you
going to do with this one

that I made you last night?

I told you all that extra
work gives me a big appetite.

I'll take them both
with me.

Try to get
some extra sleep.

Bye-bye.

Hey, Charles,
take it easy.

You're no use to me if
you break your back.

I'd have to hire two
mules to do your job.

I'm just trying to get
through it, that's all.

I was wondering if I could
get off a couple hours early

the next few days.

Another outside job?

Something like that.

Look, if you're having
trouble with sprague,

maybe I can
help you.

No. Everything's fine.

I just need some time,
is all.

Well, you always
get here early,

so I don't care
if you leave early.

I appreciate it.

Ah. It's nothing.

Sprague: Mm-hmm.

5, 10, 11, 12, 13.

Seems to be correct.

And there's your note.

Thank you very much,
Mr. Sprague.

A pleasure doing
business with you.

Oh, no. The pleasure's
all mine, Mr. Ingalls.

You see, most bank customers
don't realize

that a banker likes to see his
customers build up good credit

as well as they do.

That is the secret
to the growth of a bank.

I'll remind you of that
next time I need a loan.

Oh, uh, Mr. Ingalls,

regarding our conversation
of yesterday, uh,

considering the fact
that you've paid off your note,

if you still wish to borrow
the $8.00, well, uh...

No, no. What you gave me
was sound advice.

A man should never borrow
money if he doesn't have to.

Well, I didn't mean
to drive your business away.

No. You didn't. I just don't
need the money anymore.

Thank you.

I don't care what
you say, Laura.

The moon doesn't
have anything to do

with whether fish bite or not.

It does too, Willie. Everyone knows
fish bite better during the full moon.

The fish can't
see the moon,

so how do they know if
they're hungry or not?

Come on, Laura. Willie would
argue with a scarecrow.

Well, I'm not a scarecrow, I'm
right, and I can prove it right now.

I'll bet you
my best aggie.

Ok. I'll go
ask my pa.

Oh, Laura.

Pa! Pa!

Pa! Pa!

Your pa has left
early, Laura.

Well, do you know
where he is?

No. I'm afraid not.
Uh, can I help you?

Yes, sir.
Willie here

doesn't believe that fish bite
better during a full moon.

They have a bet.

Well, I know that the moon has
something to do with the tides,

but I can't say
as I know anything about fish.

There.
I told you.

Pay up,
your best aggie.

Hold your horses,
Willie.

You said you could
prove it right now,

didn't she, Mary?

Willie's right, Laura.
I think you owe him.

But pa isn't here.

Don't make no difference.
You lose.

Here.

Sorry.

That's all right.

I'll only win it
back from him, anyway.

Now, not eating
your supper

isn't going to make you feel any better
about losing your aggie to Willie.

If pa had been at the mill,
I would have won.

Well, you know better than to
gamble anyway, young lady.

I tried to tell
her not to,

but if Mr. Hanson had
known where pa was,

she would have
walked to sleepy eye

to keep from giving
her aggie to Willie.

Well, that's because
I know I'm right

and pa
can tell Willie so.

Your pa has better things to
do than win your bets for you.

There's your father now.

Laura, eat up.

Girls, you start
getting ready for bed.

I'll take care of the dishes.

Charles?

Charles:
Hi, darlin'.

I've got a good stew.

I kept it hot for you.

Oh, thank you.
I'm sorry I'm late.

Got a lot of extra work at
hanson's the next few days.

Figured I might as well
take advantage of it.

You were at
the mill all day?

Uh-huh. This won't
take me long.

I'll be inside
in a minute.

Good night, ma.

Don't study too late.

I won't.

Mary, did Mr. Hanson say he
didn't know where pa was today?

That's what
he said.

Are you sure?

Yeah. Sure. Why?

Oh, no reason.

Good night.

Good night, ma.

Carrie,
come on over here

and take in
some of this kindling for ma.

Ok.

That's a good girl.

Can you get the door
all right?

Oh.

Whoa.

Morning, Mrs. Ingalls.

Good morning, Mr. Burnside.
How's Martha?

Oh, just fine.
Just fine.

I brought these here pickled pears
over that she promised you.

Oh, how nice.

You know, Charles
just loves these.

Now, you be sure
and thank her for us.

Oh, I will.
I certainly will.

I'd appreciate it if you
didn't mention to her

that I've been carrying
them in the wagon

for 3 days.

Oh, I won't.

You know, I must be the
most forgetful man alive.

I meant to drop them off
at the widow thurmond's

for Charles
to bring home.

Widow thurmond's?

Why, sure, since we've both
been working over there

practically
every day.

Why, I thought it
would save me a trip,

but for 3 days I've
just been driving off,

and there his wagon
sits, right over there,

and I just clean forgot
to give him the pears.

Please, you won't mention
it to the wife, I hope.

Oh, no, I won't.

That's good.
That's good.

Well, I've got to be going now.
Bye.

Bye, and thank you!

Where's pa?

I don't see him.

Hanson: Good day,
Mrs. Ingalls.

Hello, Mr. Hanson.
How are you?

Oh, fine, thank you. And
how are you, young lady?

Fine.
That's good.

If you are looking
for Charles,

you have just
missed him.

Oh, no, I wasn't
looking for him.

I was just going to
do some shopping.

Well... if you ask me,

I would have a talk
with that man.

He is taking on
far more work

than any one man
can handle.

Do you know what
he's doing now?

No. What is he doing?

I mean, well, he's
just been so busy,

we haven't had
a chance to talk.

I don't know what
he's doing, either,

but you can bet your boots
it is too much.

He puts in a hard day's
work here at the mill

and he quits early
and he goes

and does another job.

Now, I have known men
as strong as Charles

to burn the candle
too long.

But please,
have a talk with him.

I will.
You can count on it.

Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Hanson.

Bye-bye.
Good-bye.

Good-bye.

Carrie: Bye.

Thurmond: Yes... I think
this one's too plain.

Harriet: Yes. Yes.

Yes. This is beautiful. Yes.
This is the one I'll take.

Oh, my, yes.

Oh, I really kind of wanted
to make this bolt for myself,

but then, of course, it is the most
expensive one we have in the store.

Would you credit that
to my account?

Yes. Uh-huh.

Oh, my. I really
have to get home.

Would you make sure
that Mrs. Whipple

gets that when
she comes in?

She already
has the pattern.

Yes, certainly.
I'll be very happy to.

Oh. Mrs. Ingalls.

Mrs. Oleson.

Widow thurmond.

Mrs. Ingalls,
how nice to see you.

Thank you.

Oh, what
a pretty color.

Yes. Isn't it lovely?

Mary told me about
your lovely new China.

Did she?

Oh, new China!

My, there's nothing I appreciate
more than fine China.

Well, I'll have to have you ladies
over someday soon and show it off.

Oh, well.

Excuse me.
I really must run.

I understand you're very
pleased with Charles' work.

Oh, you mean the cabinet.

It's lovely.
We're really quite lucky

to have someone like Mr. Ingalls
in walnut grove.

I think so.

Well, excuse me.
I have to go.

Oh! Mrs. Thurmond,

don't forget your pastilles.

Oh, Mrs. Thurmond!

Oh, my.

Such an attractive lady,
the widow thurmond.

Such exquisite taste
and...

So refined.

Ah, I must say, she
certainly is a cut above

what one would expect to
find in walnut grove.

She's very nice.

Oh, but it's
such a tragedy,

such a lovely young woman
having to live all alone,

and so well-to-do.

How much is this?

Hmm?

This challis?

Oh, it's rather
expensive,

I'm afraid...
45 cents a yard.

I'll take a yard
and a half, please.

Oh, my, that's rather
extravagant, isn't it?

Now, here, here.

This is a very, very
serviceable piece of goods.

There.

I like this.

Thank you.

All right.

Will you hurry up? We're
never going to get home.

There's no hurry.

There is
if pa gets home

and we haven't
done our chores.

Pa told ma
he'd be late.

He has to go to sleepy eye... for Mr.
Hanson.

Laura.

Huh?

That's pa's wagon in front of Mrs.
Thurmond's.

I wonder what
he's doing out here.

He said he was going
to sleepy eye.

Ah, Mr. Hanson probably
changed his mind is all.

Come on. We'd better
get home.

What do
you say, Jack?

Hi, pa! Hi, girls!

Hi, pa!

They got you
working hard, huh?

Mary: Yeah.

Oh, your pa's home.
Ooh, have to hide mama's blouse.

Oh, that's a good girl, Carrie.
Thank you.

Now, Carrie, remember,

keep a secret
about ma's blouse.

Yes, ma.

Thank you.

Charles, hello!

Charles:
Hi, darlin'.

Well, I'm glad you made
it home before dark.

Will you hurry? Supper's
ready and it's a surprise.

Be right in.

Good.

Mary: Did you
have a good day, pa?

Oh, it's never too good a day when I
got that long trip to sleepy eye.

Mary. Mary.
Are you sleeping?

I'm trying to.

Mary, why do you suppose
pa didn't tell the truth

about where he was
this afternoon?

I don't think that's
any of our business.

It will be if
the widow thurmond

turns out to be like the
wicked widow in "cinderella."

She wasn't a widow. She was
the wicked stepmother.

Well, she didn't have
a husband.

She was so mean, maybe her
husband just ran away from home.

Well, anyway, she tried to steal the
handsome prince away from cinderella.

Well, what's that
got to do with anything?

Well, pa's handsome, and the widow
thurmond doesn't have a husband.

Laura, that's
a wicked thought.

Not if she's really
a wicked widow.

Mrs. Thurmond wouldn't
do anything like that.

Or would she?

Good night.

Good night.

Charles?

Oh, I thought you
were asleep.

How'd you like
the pickled pears?

Oh, they were delicious.
I ate the whole jarful.

They're Mrs. Burnside's.

Well, when you see her, you
be sure to thank her for me.

Mr. Burnside
brought them by today.

Oh, Harold?

Mm-hmm.

When I see him,
I'll thank him.

He works for the widow
thurmond, doesn't he?

Yeah. He did the last time I heard.
Why?

Oh, no reason...

Just that he said he saw
your wagon out there and...

I thought you'd finished
work on the cabinet.

Yeah, I did. I was just delivering
some lumber out for Mr. Hanson.

Widow thurmond's
buying lumber?

Yeah. She's, uh, she's planning on
doing some fixing up on the place.

I guess that means you'll
be working for her again.

Yeah. It's going to take me
quite a while to finish up.

Good. There's some things I need
to order from the mercantile.

Yeah, well, I think you ought to
wait on that for a little while.

Why? You said you'd be
earning the extra money.

Well, I know that, but I'd like
to have the cash in my hand.

You know how I feel
about charging.

All right.

Good night.

Good night.

I found some more!

Look at these, pa.

Hey, those
are nice ones.

They sure are.

You two make mushroom hunting
real easy.

We like it. Besides, you've
been working so hard,

you should have
some help.

Yeah. You've been
working too hard.

Well, it won't be
for much longer.

Going to sleepy eye
again today, pa?

No. After I get done
at the mill,

I'm going to go over and do some
work at the widow thurmond's.

You are?

Mm-hmm.

Hey, there's some nice ones
down by the river.

Enough mushrooms here
to last a whole year.

Mary's doing some work
for the widow thurmond.

Mrs. Whipple
has me sewing a dress for her.

Well,
do a good job on it.

Widow thurmond's
a nice lady.

It's awful hard
to sew for someone

who doesn't have
a very good figure.

It may look like she's
wearing crinolines,

but that's really her
under the skirt.

Well, you just do
the best you can.

I'm sure she's paying Mrs.
Whipple a lot of money.

I wonder if it's as much
as she paid for her teeth.

What?

Well, everyone knows that widows
wear store-boughten teeth,

and they come out
at night.

Well, I don't know
that, young lady,

and I don't think it's a
very nice thing to say.

You could hurt
somebody's feelings.

We got enough mushrooms.
You want a ride to school?

No. We'll walk.

Yeah. We got
plenty of time.

All right.
I got to get going.

See you at supper.

Mary: See you.

I don't think
it worked.

Then we'll just
have to try something else.

Come on. Let's go.

We've got to think
of something.

I'm trying.

I wish we didn't
have to go to school.

Why?

It's too hard
to think in school.

That's silly. You're
supposed to think in school.

That's not
what I mean.

Hey, do you
have to work

at Mrs. Whipple's
after school?

Sure. On that
widow thurmond's dress.

Great. That's just
the excuse we need.

Excuse? For what?

For going to
the widow's web.

Whoa.

Laura: Can you
see anything?

No.

Should we wait?

No. We'd better do it now
before I lose my nerve.

Well, hello,
Mary, Laura.

Mrs. Thurmond, Mrs. Whipple
sent me by to fit the skirt.

Oh, well, I don't
know just now...

Well, I'm going to help her,
so it will only take a minute.

All right.
Come on in.

This way.

Laura, why don't you take the
pins and tack it together

and I'll hold it up.

Isn't it customary
to baste the dress together

before you fit it?

Uh...

This new way's
faster.

It saves making
mistakes later.

Oh.

You don't have
to pull out the stitches.

Laura: The edge
is uneven.

Mary: A little more
over here.

There.

Yeah. Looks
just about right.

Charles: Hi, girls. Uh!

Careful what you're doing with the pins.
Mind you don't stick Mrs. Thurmond.

Oh, she's been doing
quite well so far.

Pa, where'd you
come from?

Well, I just told you,
be careful with the pins.

What are you doing?
I never saw your ma

do a fitting like that.

Uh, I guess
you're right.

It doesn't look like
it's going to work.

I guess
Mrs. Whipple's idea

wasn't such a good
idea after all.

Just have to baste it.

Well, I have a needle and thread.
We could do it right now.

Now, hold on a minute. This
is very expensive material.

I think you better check with Mrs.
Whipple first.

Yes. I appreciate
your efforts, girls,

but I think your
father's right.

Pa...

Hmm?

It's such
a long walk back.

You wouldn't be leaving
now, would you?

No. I'm afraid not.

I've got a few things
to do here first.

I thought you might.

Uh... well, bye,
Mrs. Thurmond.

Bye.
Pa.

Bye-bye.

Pa...

It's way past
your lunchtime.

Aren't you
getting hungry?

Oh, don't you worry
about me.

Mrs. Thurmond
will fix me a nice sandwich.

Oh. Yeah.
I'm sure she will.

Bye.

Charles: Bye.

See you at supper.

"Come into my parlor,"
said the spider to the fly.

What?

Just thinking
about widows,

black widows.

Pa was wrong.
They are alike.

They invite their prey into their
parlor, and before they know it,

they're trapped.

Just like pa.

Mrs. Oleson?

Uh-huh?

Would you put these on Mrs.
Thurmond's account for me, please?

Oh. My. Are you working
for Mrs. Thurmond now?

Mm-hmm.

Oh, well, I thought
Mr. Burnside was over there.

Oh, he still is. I'm just
refinishing some woodwork for her.

Oh. Well, that's strange.

She was in here yesterday

and she didn't mention
anything to me

about you working
for her.

No. I asked her
not to tell.

I don't want Caroline to hear
about it for a little while.

I see.

It's got to do with a little
surprise I've got for her.

Ah. Heh heh.

Well, don't you worry,
Mr. Ingalls.

I certainly won't
mention it to anyone.

I appreciate that.
Good day.

Good day.

Nels! Nels!

He's coming, ma!

Ma, you look beautiful.

You're going to take
pa's breath away.

Well, we'll see.
She sure is.

Especially
if you use this.

Oh, Laura, thank you,

but I hate to use
your lemon verbena.

Go ahead. Use a lot.

Flowers don't look
half as pretty

if they don't
smell good.

Hi, everybody.

Girls: Hi, pa.

Hi. Did you all
have a nice day?

Girls: Yeah.

Mmm. That supper
does smell good.

Thank you. It'll be ready
in just a minute.

Good. Take some soap down to the
creek and wash up. Pretty dirty.

I don't think
he really saw you, ma.

Oh, well,
it doesn't matter.

Your pa's
been real busy.

It's just a blouse.

It's foolish to wear it
to serve in, anyway.

What are
you thinking about?

I was just thinking about how sad
ma looked at supper tonight.

Yeah. She hardly
said anything.

Maybe pa was
too tired to notice.

Didn't look tired
to me.

Not to me either.

If I was ma, I'd go...

Shh! They're
right downstairs.

If I was ma, I'd go right
over to that Mrs. Thurmond's

and punch her
in the stomach.

Ma couldn't do that.

Why not? I bet you if it was
reversed, pa would do it.

He'd punch anybody that tried
to work their wiles on ma.

Well,
that's different.

Why?

Because pa's a man.

So?

So it's different. Men are
supposed to fight for women.

What are women
supposed to do?

Well, I don't know,

but men and women
are just different.

I know
they're different.

I've seen
our mare birthing.

But men and women
both have stomachs,

and I think ma should punch Mrs.
Thurmond's.

Charles: What's that talking
up there?

We're just saying
good night, pa.

Next thing I want to hear
from you two is good morning.

Yes, sir.

Good night.

Good night.

I swear, those two,
the minute they go to bed,

they turn into chatterboxes.

I think
I'm going to turn in.

I've got
a hard day tomorrow.

How much is Mrs. Thurmond
paying you for all that work?

Well, I'm not sure.

You didn't set a price?

No, I didn't.

It's not that kind of job.

It's kind of a hard job to
figure on until it's done.

But don't you worry.
She's a fair person.

I'm sure she is.

Hey, you coming to bed?

As soon
as I'm finished.

All right.

Sure was a good supper
you cooked tonight.

Thank you.

That's a pretty new blouse
you had on today, too.

Oh. Mrs. Ingalls.

Hello, Mrs. Oleson.

Oh, my, my.
I bet your hens

have been working overtime
again, haven't they?

Well, we haven't had too
much need for eggs lately.

Charles is up and gone
before breakfast.

Yes. I imagine that he has
a very rigorous schedule.

Well, they've been very busy
at the mill.

Oh... is that what
he told you?

What do you mean
by that?

Oh. Oh, believe me,
Mrs. Ingalls,

I don't want to be
the one to tell you,

but, well, since we're such
good friends, I must tell you.

Please, Mrs. Oleson...

Mrs. Ingalls, I don't know.
It upsets me so.

I don't know, why is it
that the wife

is always
the last one to know?

I do.
I know everything.

Did you know that Mrs. Thurmond
did not tell you the truth,

nor...
Nor did your husband?

I know already.

Oh, my dear...

My dear, you don't know
the half of it.

Now, I have been
asking around...

Purely out of consideration
for you, you understand...

And I understand
that your husband

has been seen
coming and going

from the widow thurmond's
home every day for a week.

Now, if I were you...

Well, you're
not me, Harriet!

What?

In the first place,
it's none of your business.

Mrs.-.

In the second place,
I know already.

Thirdly, I trust Charles
completely.

Oh, it looks just beautiful,
Mr. Ingalls.

I'm glad you like it. Let's hope
Caroline likes these dishes

as much as you like
the woodwork.

Oh,
I'm sure she will.

While you're loading
that on the wagon,

I'll fix us
something to drink.

Sounds good.

Caroline!

Girls, take Carrie
outside, will you?

I want to speak
to your father.

Yes, ma. Come on, Carrie.

Hi, girls. Hey, darlin'.
Didn't you hear me calling you?

I heard you, Charles.

Well, come on outside.
I want to show you something.

First I have something
I want to tell you.

It can wait.
This is more important.

Charles, it can't be
more important.

Well, I'm telling you, it's more important.
Now, come on outside.

Just come on.
We can talk about

whatever you want to
talk about in a minute.

There.

Charles, what is it?

Well, go on, look.
Look inside.

Open it up.

It's just
Mrs. Thurmond's old China.

I did a lot of wood
refinishing to pay for it.

I hope you like it.

It's beautiful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm glad
you like it.

I do.

Hey, you know...

I had to tell an awful lot
of white lies

to keep this secret.

I hope you don't mind.

I don't.

Well, what was it you wanted to
talk to me about in the house?

Talk to you about?

You said you wanted to talk
to me about something.

Oh, it's nothing.

Really, it's nothing.

I love you.

Oh...

I love you.

Laura, voice-over: We used the new
dishes at supper that evening

and every supper after that.

That's because ma said special
dishes aren't for special times,

they're for special people,

and a family all together
is the most special of all.