Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983): Season 2, Episode 22 - Going Home - full transcript

Oh... what is it?

I don't know.
Whatever it is,

it's sure got
the stock worked up.

I'll take a look.

Caroline!

What is it?

Take Carrie
up to the sod house!

Mary: Pa, what's wrong?

Charles: Tornado.
Into the sod house.

Come on. Hurry!

Caroline:
Laura, go on! Move!



Charles: Hurry up!
I'll take the baby.

Charles: I got to turn
the animals out of the barn.

Come on! Come on!

Go on! Hyah! Hyah!
Hyah! Hyah!

Go on! Go!

Jack!

Darn fool cow.

She thought her baby
would be safe in here.

Darn fool cow.

See to the house.

I'm going to check
the crop.

It's gone.

The whole field's gone.

Keep working, girls.



I see you found
the horses.

Yeah.

Why?

In the name
of heaven, why?

I went out

and I looked at
that field today...

You saw the way
it was...

I mean, corn higher
than your head.

I thought for once,

just once, everything
was going to make good.

Why?

I don't know.

I ne... I never try
to hurt anybody.

I try to live
my life

the way I thought
he'd want me to.

Why does he...

Have to punish me?

Oh, Charles,
god isn't punishing you.

Well, then,
what is it, then?

Testing our strength?

We'll know in time.

Oh, no.
No more time.

I'm just not strong
anymore. I'm tired.

If he's telling me
anything,

he's telling me
to go home...

Back to the big woods.

Back to where
I was born.

I'm just tired.

I have to go
to town.

Well, it's about time
you showed up.

I been slaving away here
all morning.

Going to keep banker's
hours now, are you?

Mr. Hanson here?

Yeah. He's inside.

Mr. Hanson?

Hey Charles, we've got
to get the Benson order

out in a hurry.

You and Edwards
go to work on that.

Look, a tornado
came down

on my place
last night.

Is the family all right?

Yeah. Yeah,
they're all right.

I didn't think
to go by your place.

I heard some twisters were
up down east of here, but...

Well, how bad is it?

I have some damage
to my house

and barn.

Lost some chickens
and a calf...

And my crop.

How much of it?

All of it.

Start all over again...

And it won't be
the first time.

Yeah, well, not...
Not this time.

I'm going home.

Now, come on, Charles.
You don't mean that.

This is your home.

You got friends here.
We'll help you.

Not this time.
I made up my mind.

Lars, I'd appreciate it
if you'd spread the word.

You know a lot of the
farmers around here.

Let them know my place
is up for sale.

Got about $80
in the land.

I'd like to try to get that
much out of it if I could.

Charles,
there's no hurry.

Give yourself some time.

I appreciate what... what

you're trying
to do, but, uh...

I think it's best

if I leave here
as soon as I can.

It'll take a few days
to fix up my wagon.

Whatever you say.

Well, I appreciate it.

I-I got to get home now.

Edwards: Now,
wait a minute Charles.

Let me come along
with you. Huh?

I can... I can give you
a hand with...

Have you heard
what I just said?

Yeah, I heard what you said.

All right, then try
to understand.

I lost my crop.

I can't make it
here anymore.

I can't keep
telling myself

that next year it's
going to get better.

Look, I know
how you feel...

You don't know
how I feel.

You're my friend, but you
don't know how I feel.

You still got
your crop.

Have you finished
your supper already?

I wasn't hungry.

That doesn't
sound like you.

Just too sad
to eat, I guess.

Just because you're sad,

that's no reason
to starve yourself.

You didn't eat, either.

Well, I guess
I didn't.

Please, pa.
Please let us stay here.

Half-pint, we can't.

I tried. I want you
to know that.

But we can do it, pa.
I know we can.

I'm bigger now,

and I can work
like Mary does.

You've even said yourself

that when this family
pulls together,

we can do anything.

Please, pa, just try.

Half-pint, I can't.

I want you
to understand.

I do.

I do understand.

If we'd tried...

We could have
done it together...

But you quit trying.

Well, Laura Ingalls.

You're an early bird
this morning.

I wanted to talk to you.

Certainly, child.

My folks won't be
coming to church today.

Pa wanted to stay home
and work on the wagon

so we could leave as soon
as the place was sold.

Yes. Mrs. Whipple told
me what happened

when I arrived
last night.

Laura,
why don't we sit down?

Ma wanted pa to come
to church today,

but he wouldn't.

I don't think it was
because of the wagon.

Why, then?

I know this sounds
bad, but...

I think he's angry
at god.

Why do you say that?

Your father's

always been
a god-fearing man.

I know that, and he
still is, but...

I don't think he thinks
god likes him anymore

because of what happened.

I see.

What do you think?

Well, I know pa wouldn't do
anything to make god angry...

Not on purpose.

No, I'm sure
he wouldn't.

But what I've
been thinking is

that god has so many
people to look after

that he just must have
gotten pa mixed up

with somebody else...

Somebody he was mad at.

That's possible,
I suppose.

Well, you know,
you hear folks say,

"why did it happen
to him?

He was
a good person."

But, Laura,
you know...

God does not protect

all good people
from misfortune.

But what
he does provide

is the strength
to see

his people through
those hard times.

Oh.

I don't think pa has
any more strength.

For the first time
the other night,

he looked old.

Then we have to get him
some more strength,

don't we?

Yes, sir, but how?

Well, we're
in a good place

to get started.

Why don't you and I
ask the lord together...

Each of us silently,
in our own way?

Good morning.

Good morning. Is this
the Ingalls place?

Yes, it is.
I'm Mrs. Ingalls.

Well, it's a pleasure,
young lady.

I'm Matthew Simms,
and this is my wife Anna.

How do you do?

I'm sorry to disturb you
on the lord's day,

but we heard that
your farm was for sale.

Yes, it is.

Uh, you... you..

You'll have to speak
to my husband.

He's in the barn.

Oh.

Caroline: Charles?

Yeah?

Some people here
to see you.

Charles, this is
Mr. and Mrs. Simms.

They're interested
in the property.

How do you do?

We met a friend
of yours... a Mr. Hanson.

Oh, yes. Lars.

We were looking for
a place to buy,

and he mentioned
your farm.

Is it up for sale?

Yes, it is. Uh,
we're going to move

back to Wisconsin.
That was my home.

Well, now,
this is a coincidence.

You're going home,
and we're returning home.

You see, this was
our first farm...

Many years ago,
of course.

You can imagine
our surprise

when we found out
it was for sale.

We had a tornado
when we were living here.

Remember, mama?

I'll never
forget it.

Blew my whole crop
clear to mankato.

Didn't hurt
the sod house, though.

Your house and barn
didn't fare quite as well.

No. No, we, uh, we lost

some of the windows,
part of the roof.

Like you always
say, Anna,

the more you have,
the more you have to lose.

Well, let's take
a good look around, shall we?

You stay and talk
to Mrs. Ingalls, mama.

Right this way.

Would you like
some tea?

Oh, thank you.

Some things
never change.

There's great
security in a tree.

It stands there

for generation
after generation,

whispering
at the wind,

sharing all its
strength with the earth

and all its beauty
with us.

Oh, I have missed
this place.

Well... well,

enough foolishness
by an old man.

I will meet your price
on one condition.

And that is?

Well, there's
repair work to be done.

Much as I hate
to admit it,

at my age, I'll need
a helping hand

with the roof
and the windows.

It shouldn't take long.

I'd be happy
to help you, Mr. Simms,

but I don't have
any materials.

I'll supply
what's needed.

It'll be here
tomorrow.

When the work
is completed,

we'll sign
the papers. Deal?

A deal.

Good. Well,
we'd better get started.

I'll get Anna settled
in the hotel

and see
to the supplies.

Carl: Hey!

I thought we'd see you
in church yesterday.

Is it true?
Are you still leaving?

Laura: Yeah.

Alicia: I wish you could
come live with us.

So do I.

How soon
will you be leaving?

I don't know
for sure.

End of the week,
probably.

Let's not go
to school today.

Let's go somewhere.

I don't know.

Please?

"When we two parted,

"in silence and tears,

"half broken-hearted,

to sever for years."

Go on. It's beautiful.

I guess I
just don't feel

much like
reading today.

But you
love lord Byron.

I like lord Byron.

I love you.

I wish
you'd say something.

I don't know what
to say.

Well... do you feel
anything about me?

Yes.

Is it like
what I said?

I think so.
I can't be sure.

They say there's only
one way to tell.

How's that?

Well...

It's...

To kiss.

I've never done that.

Me, neither,

but you'll be
going away,

and we'll
never know.

I'm afraid to.

Me, too.

But I think you're
supposed to be.

We have to try.

Mary, I'm sorry!

I love you, John junior!

Anna, not so hard!

Serves you right!

Working like you were
a young scamp again...

Now, mama, I was just
trying to do my share.

Besides, working
on that place...

Well... well,
it makes me feel

kind of
young again.

40 years.
Hard to believe

we settled there
40 years ago.

Remember?

Of course I do.

Ha ha ha!

I carried you
over the threshold

into that
little sod house.

I'll never forget
the look on your face.

How did you see my face?
It was so dark in there.

It's like
a dream come true.

Dream come true,

our having that
place back again

after all
those years.

It'll be just the
way it was for us

40 years ago...

Like a honeymoon,
mama.

Ha ha!

I love you.

I think you'd better
forget about carrying me

across the threshold
this time.

I'm afraid
you're right.

Yes, I know.

Laura,
are you awake?

Yes.

Thanks for not
telling about

my not going
to school today.

That's all right.

If I told you
something,

would you keep
it a secret?

Sure.

I mean
a real secret.

You can't even tell
ma or pa.

Cross my heart.

Well, when I was with
John junior today...

We...

We kissed
each other.

What?!

Shh!

You kissed each other?

That's right.

On the mouth?

Of course.

Yucky!

It was not yucky.
It was...

It was...

Well,
I can't explain it.

I know how to.

Yucky!

I knew I shouldn't
have told you.

Forget I ever said
anything. Good night.

Good night.

Laura?

Yeah?

He told me
he loved me.

He did?

Uh-huh.

And I told him
I loved him.

You didn't.

I did too.

You promised not
to say anything.

I won't, but you'd
better not, either,

or else pa will tan
John junior's hide for sure.

I know.

Good night.

Good night.

I still think it's yucky.

Yuck!

I have to see you alone.

I have to go home
right after school.

Tonight I'll sneak over
to your place.

You can't. We're
having the Simms

over for dinner.

It's important. Please.

I'll wait up in the barn.

I'll try.

Say for sure.

For sure.

Matthew: That was
beautiful, Charles,

just beautiful.

I could sit and listen

to the sweet sound
of a violin forever.

Go on.
Pick another tune.

Let's let Laura
choose this time.

Charles: Half-pint,
what'll it be?

I can't think of one, pa.

I'd best be
getting to bed.

Ma, may I be
excused a minute?

Certainly.

Mary?

Yes, pa?

Don't you want
to take a lantern?

No, thank you.

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid we're not very
good company tonight.

Excuse me.
I'll just be a minute.

Please. Let me.

Sometimes it's
easier to tell

your troubles
to a stranger.

Please?

All right.

You've said your
prayers already?

I didn't say them
tonight.

Why not?

It's too late now.

I'm afraid I don't
know what you mean.

It's too late now.
You're here.

It's going to be your
house,

and we're going
to have to go away.

Oh. I see.

Maybe pa's right.

About what?

About god
not liking him.

Your pa
didn't say that...

Did he?

No, but I think
he thinks it.

Maybe god's mad
at the whole family.

No.

Well, I think so.

I prayed real hard that god
would give pa strength.

When I came home
from church,

you were here,
and we're moving away.

Now, just hold on
a minute, young lady.

One thing doesn't have
to do with the other.

What do you mean?

Well, you just said
you prayed to the lord

to give your father
strength,

but that
can't really be true.

What you were
really praying for

was that you
could live here

and not have to
go away.

So, you see,

that praying wasn't
really for your pa.

It was for yourself.

Well?

Am I right?

Yes, sir, you're right.

You know,
god doesn't mind

your asking him
for things.

He may not always
give them to you,

but he doesn't mind
your asking.

But what does bother him
is when you pretend

it's for
someone else

when it's
really for you.

Do you understand
what I mean now?

Huh?

Yes, sir, I do.

Well, I'd better
let you go to sleep.

If you do decide

to talk to god
in the near future,

you might just
straighten that out

with him.

I will.

Mr. Simms?

Yes?

I'm sorry.

For not liking me?

How do you know?

Well, it isn't
too hard

for an old fox
like me

to figure that out.

You see, I came here

to buy your house
a stranger,

and so, in a way,
an enemy.

I don't feel that way now.

I'm glad.

Always give a stranger
a chance, child,

because if you don't,

they'll remain
a stranger.

Good night.

Good night, Mr. Simms.

We're ready, ma.

You girls go on
and start walking.

I'll catch up with you.

All right, ma.

We're going over
to the Edwards' place now.

Why don't you
come, too?

Ah, the Simms will be
here bright and early

tomorrow morning
before church.

I've got a few things
I want to get done

before we sign
the papers.

All right.

Have a good time.

Tell Isaiah I'll
see him in church.

I will.

It's our last day here,
old boy.

Guess we'd better not
waste it.

Grace:
Oh, Caroline!

Caroline:
I hope we're not too early.

Oh, no. Not at all.
Tea's waiting.

I brought you
some fresh bread.

Oh, thank you.

Mary: I'll be in
in a minute, ma.

All right.

Mary...

I thought
about it a lot...

And there's only
one thing we can do.

What?

Get married.

What?

That's right.

If your pa's
set on leaving,

he'll just have
to leave without you.

That was a dumb thing
to say, wasn't it?

We're too young, and they
wouldn't let us anyway.

I've been thinking
about it for days,

but I didn't know how dumb
it was till I said it.

It wasn't dumb.

Grace: John,
bring in some wood!

We'll never see
each other again.

We don't know that.

If it's meant to be
that we see each other,

then we will.

Warm enough?

Mmm. Yeah.

It's a clear night.

Hmm.

What?

Oh, I was just thinking about
when we first moved here.

I told you what
a friendly town this was,

and the first person
you met was Mrs. Oleson.

You didn't take any guff
from her, though. Huh?

Right from the start,
you stood up to her.

Made me proud.

Well, her bark is
worse than her bite.

I'm not so sure her husband
would agree with that.

Did you see the
little good-bye card

that the girls made
for miss beadle?

Yeah.

Well, they'll miss
that school.

I never thought
I'd see the day

half-pint would miss
going to school.

They've grown up
a lot here.

Yeah.

What's happened to me?

Why have I done it?

Done what?

Let you down,
let the children down.

I just quit
on this place.

Now I've sold it,
and it's too late.

You know, I just
realized something.

I made the decision

to sell this place
all by myself.

I never even asked you.

So concerned
about myself.

You'd been through a lot.

We'd been
through a lot.

We had.

I never even
asked you.

I just gave up.

My own little girl
told me that,

and I wouldn't
listen to her.

It's still not too late.

Oh, sure, it's too late.
I made the deal.

I can't get out
of it now.

It'll be Matthew's
farm tomorrow.

Well, I know that, but...

But we could start over
here in walnut grove.

Wha... in a one-room
sod house?

But at least we'd be
here, where we belong.

Oh, we can do it.

I don't know.

Well, I do!

I do know.

And if you'd have come
to the womenfolk

in this family
in the first place,

we could have
told you then.

No complaints
about a dirt floor?

No complaints.

Oh!

No complaints.

Oh, let's go tell
the girls!

Why, it's the middle
of the night!

Well, they can sleep
anytime!

Well, let's go.

Laura! Mary! Carrie!

Can't sleep?

No.

Not your stomach
again?

No, mama. Probably just
excited about tomorrow.

Well...

You'd better get
some sleep.

You're right.

What's wrong
with me, mama?

Tomorrow my dream
is coming true...

And I'm not happy.

It's them, isn't it?

The Ingalls.

They're making the same
mistake we made 40 years ago.

Well, we learn
by our mistakes.

I know. I know.
But the children...

Oh, that Laura.

She's quite a little girl.

Mary's quite
a young lady, too.

Well...

What's done is...

Done.

We'd best get some sleep.

We've got a big day
tomorrow.

You know, Matthew...

I'd be happy
living anywhere

as long
as we're together.

Good night.

Good night, mama.

Good morning.

Matthew:
Good morning, Charles.

Got all the papers in the
house for you to sign.

Uh, I've got to ask
a favor of you, though.

My wife and I
talked it over,

and we decided
to stay in walnut grove.

It's... it's going to take me
a few days to find a place.

Well...

Charles:
I promise you,

It'll only be
for a few days.

I don't know quite how
to tell you this, Charles,

but I'm afraid I won't
be able to make the deal.

What?

Well, Anna and I have been
giving it a lot of thought,

and we decided that it
would be too much for me

to try to run
this farm by myself.

We're sorry,
Mr. Ingalls.

Well, ma'am,
please don't be sorry.

I-I mean, like I told you,

we... we talked it over
and decided to stay here.

You sure make me feel
a lot better.

You know, it seems we both
made wrong decisions.

It seems like we did.

Look, the only thing is,

the materials... everything
you bought...

I don't know when I'll be
able to pay you for them.

Now, now, now,
you never mind about that.

It's all my fault.

When you can see
your way clear,

why, a little extra
donation to the church

would more
than make us even.

You sure?

Anna and I were married
in that church.

I think we owe
a little extra for that.

Well, I'll see to it.

Please, won't you...
Won't you come in the house?

Well, we'd like to,

but we've got a very
long way to travel today.

Give our best to
your wife and family.

I will.

And god bless you both.

Thank you.
Good-bye, Charles.

Good-bye.
Have a good trip.

Matthew: Hey, hey.
Get up, there.

Caroline!

Are you sorry, mama?

Don't you listen,
old man?

I told you I'd be
happy anywhere

as long as we're
together.