Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983): Season 6, Episode 17 - Silent Promises - full transcript

Laura takes a job tutoring a deaf boy named Daniel, teaching him how to communicate through sign language. Daniel makes more than an academic breakthrough - he develops a huge crush on Laura! Laura doesn't know quite what to do, and makes some mistakes along the way in dealing with her situation.

ALBERT!

ALBERT!

START THE GAME.

COME WITH ME,
ALBERT.

I DON'T WANT TO,
I WANT TO PLAY BALL.

LOOKIT,
FIRECRACKERS.

WE CAN SCARE
OLD MAN DINSWORTH
WITH THEM

WHEN HE COMES
OUT OF THE BANK.

NO, I DON'T
WANT TO.

COME ON,
HE'S AN OLD
GROUCH.

WELL, I KNOW THAT.



BUT HE'S OLD,
AND HE CAN'T HELP IT.

LOOK, MY MOM WENT OUT
TO MRS. FOSTER'S HOUSE
AFTER LUNCH.

SHE LEFT A BIG SUPPLY
OF LICORICE BEHIND
THE COUNTER,

AND IF YOU COME,
I'LL LET YOU HAVE
SOME.

WHAT ARE WE
WAITING FOR?

-WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
-OK.

HEY, JOHN!

KEEP A LOOKOUT
FOR PA.

RIGHT.

LOSE SOMETHING,
WILLIE?

OH, HI, PA.

NO, UM...I JUST WANTED
TO SHOW

ALBERT SOMETHING
IN THE CATALOG.

WELL, IT'S RIGHT
THERE ON THE COUNTER
IN FRONT OF YOU.



OH, THANKS.

AH, SEE THIS
TRAIN SET HERE?

Mr. Oleson:
DON'T GET ANY WILD
IDEAS, WILLIE.

THAT TRAIN SET IS
WAY OVER OUR BUDGET.

Willie:
YES, SIR.

ALBERT, KEEP
YOUR EYES PEELED.

MY MA COULD WALK
IN ANY MINUTE.

RIGHT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT!

SHE'S BACK ALREADY?

NO, LOOK AT THIS.

"A CANINE SANCTUM
FOR YOUR PET'S PERSONAL
HABITATION AND PRIVACY."

YOU SCARED ME
HALF TO DEATH FOR
A DUMB DOGHOUSE?

I THINK IT'S
A GREAT IDEA.

BANDIT'D LOVE IT.

Willie:
AT THAT PRICE,
HE'D BETTER.

I FOUND IT!

YOU KNOW, I'M GOING
TO BUILD ONE OF THESE
MYSELF. BE EASY.

I'M GOING TO GO RIGHT
OVER TO THE MILL

AND SEE IF THEY HAVE
SOME SCRAP LUMBER.

HEY!

YOU DON'T COME WITH
ME, NO LICORICE.

UH, RIGHT, WILLIE.

NO LICORICE.
I WOULDN'T WANT
TO TAKE ANYTHING

WITHOUT ASKING
YOUR FATHER FIRST.

WILLIE?

I--I WAS JUST BRINGING
YOU SOME LICORICE, PA.

WILLIE!

WHOA.

NOW, YOU STAY HERE.

[CHILDREN LAUGHING AND
SHOUTING IN THE DISTANCE]

[CHEERING]

[EXPLOSIONS]

WHOA!

Man: RUNAWAY!
IT'S A RUNAWAY!

DANIEL?
DANIEL!

YOU'D BETTER GET
HIM TO DOC BAKER.

YEAH.

-DOC?
-YOUR SON'S FINE, NATHAN.

-ARE YOU SURE, DOC?
-OH, HE JUST GOT THE
WIND KNOCKED OUT OF HIM.

THANK GOD.

I SHOULD NEVER HAVE
BROUGHT HIM TO TOWN.

HE CAN'T HEAR,
HE CAN'T THINK.

OH, NOW, WAIT
A MINUTE, NATHAN.

I KNOW HE CAN'T HEAR,
BUT AS TO HIS THINKING,

NOW, THAT'S
SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN.

OH, COME ON,
DOC, HE'S LIKE
A HELPLESS BABY.

ALL BABIES
LEARN, THEY JUST
NEED TEACHING.

Dr. Baker: NOW,
DANIEL'S SPECIAL, SO HE
NEEDS SPECIAL TEACHING.

Nathan: DON'T START IN
ON ME ABOUT THAT AGAIN,

I'M JUST A FARMER,
AND I DO THE BEST I CAN.

I'M SURE
YOU DO, NATHAN.

-CAN I TAKE HIM HOME NOW?
-CERTAINLY.

I'LL BRING YOUR RIG
DOWN HERE FOR YOU.

-DR. BAKER.
-HMM?

WHAT KIND OF
TEACHING DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, FIRST HE HAS TO
LEARN TO COMMUNICATE.

NOW, THEY CAN DO THAT
WITH SIGN LANGUAGE--

YOU KNOW, USING THE
HANDS AND THE FINGERS.

WELL, DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO DO THAT?

NO, I DON'T.

BUT I GOT SOME BOOKS
ON IT SOMEWHERE.

Mr. Page: THANKS AGAIN,
LAURA. YOU, TOO, DOC.

YOU BET, NATHAN.

HA!
HERE THEY ARE.

I GOT THEM
A WHILE BACK

HOPING NATHAN WOULD
WORK WITH HIS SON,

BUT HE JUST FELT IT
WAS A WASTE OF TIME.

WELL, YOU THINK MAYBE
I COULD READ THEM?

SURE, HERE, TAKE
THEM WITH YOU.

-THANKS, DOC.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

Laura:
BYE-BYE.

THAT'S QUITE
A PROJECT YOU'VE
GOT THERE, SON.

YES, WAIT TILL
YOU SEE IT.

BANDIT'S GOING
TO LOVE IT.

HE'LL BE ABLE
TO SLEEP BETTER
WHEN IT'S QUIET.

LAND SAKES.

EVERY TIME I THINK
OF LAURA RUNNING

IN FRONT OF THAT
RUNAWAY HORSE...

WHAT WAS I
SUPPOSED
TO DO?

WELL, I'M JUST
GLAD I DIDN'T
SEE IT.

I MUST SAY I FEEL SORRY
FOR THAT POOR BOY.

IT'S A SHAME THEY
CAN'T DO SOMETHING
TO HELP HIM.

WELL, MAYBE
SOMEONE WILL.

I THINK
I'LL GO TO BED.
GOOD NIGHT, PA.

GOOD NIGHT, LOVE.

Laura: GOOD NIGHT, MA.
Caroline: GOOD NIGHT.

Albert: GOOD NIGHT, LAURA.
Laura: NIGHT.

YOU, TOO,
LITTLE ONE.

AND TAKE YOUR
FAMILY WITH YOU,

I'VE BEEN STEPPING
ON DOLLS ALL DAY.

-GOOD NIGHT, MA.
-HMM.

MA?
ANY COOKIES LEFT?

Caroline:
IN THE KITCHEN.

[WHISPERING]
CAROLINE.

YOU KNOW, ALBERT?
YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE POOR DOG CAN'T
SLEEP WITH ALL THIS
RACKET GOING ON HERE.

[LAUGHS]

Laura:
IT WON'T HURT ANYTHING,
MR. PAGE. PLEASE?

[SIGHS]

IT'S KIND OF YOU
TO OFFER, LAURA,

BUT YOU'RE
JUST A CHILD,

AND DOC BAKER SAID
IT'D TAKE SPECIAL
TRAINING FOR HIM.

WELL, I'M A TEACHER.

AT LEAST,
I'M GOING TO BE.

AND I'M WILLING.
YOU GOT SOMEONE
BETTER IN MIND?

IT'S A WASTE OF TIME.

IT'S GOD'S WILL
FOR MY BOY TO BE
THE WAY HE IS.

IT'S MY TIME
I'M WASTING,

AND GOD GAVE US
OUR OWN WILLS.

JUST GIVE ME
A CHANCE, PLEASE?

I STILL SAY YOU'RE
WASTING YOUR TIME,

BUT IF YOU'RE
THAT DETERMINED...

I AM.

WHEN DO YOU
WANT TO START?

TOMORROW MORNING?

[SIGHS]

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MR. PAGE.

[HAMMERING]
Caroline: CHARLES?
Charles: HMM?

Caroline:
WOULD YOU ASK ALBERT TO
HOLD OFF UNTIL TOMORROW?

THIS BABY'S GOT TO
GET SOME SLEEP.

YES, DARLING.

ALBERT?
QUITTING TIME.

Albert:
OK, PA.

AH, LESSON
PLANS?

YEAH, FOR TOMORROW.

PA, IT'S SO
EXCITING.

I HAVE TO STOP
BY THE WILDERS'
IN THE MORNING

AND TELL MISS WILDER
THAT I'VE GOT
MY FIRST STUDENT.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'LL
STOP BY AND TELL
MISS WILDER.

YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU
COULD DO THAT IN
SCHOOL ON MONDAY.

I KNOW.

I WONDER IF ALMANZO'S
GOING TO BE THERE.

I WOULDN'T KNOW.

WELL, WHAT DIFFERENCE
DOES IT MAKE ANYWAY?

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO
GO ALL THE WAY OVER THERE

JUST TO TELL ALMANZO
YOU'RE A GROWN-UP
TEACHER LADY NOW?

WHAT'S THAT FACE FOR?

I LOVE YOU.

GO ON,
WORK ON YOUR LESSON.

OH, LAURA.

LAURA, WHAT
DO YOU THINK?

STARTING TO LOOK
PRETTY GOOD, HUH?

LOOK AT HOW BIG
IT IS INSIDE.

ALBERT, NO DOG
IN HIS RIGHT MIND

IS GOING TO WANT TO
SLEEP IN THAT BOX.

WELL, NOBODY ASKED YOU,
AND IT'S NOT A BOX.

[SNIFFS]
AND HOW COME YOU
SMELL LIKE MA?

NONE OF YOUR BEESWAX!

Albert:
BET YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE ALMANZO.

I'M GOING TO
SEE MISS WILDER.

OH, SURE,
MISS WILDER.

WELL, IT'S TRUE!

Albert:
IT IS NOT!

YOU DON'T CARE
HOW YOU SMELL
FOR MISS WILDER.

I SIT NEXT TO YOU
EVERY DAY IN CLASS,

I KNOW HOW YOU SMELL.

THAT'S DISGUSTING!

IT SURE IS!

AND SO IS YOUR
DUMB DOGHOUSE!

WHY DID I EVER
HAVE TO HAVE A
GIRL FOR A SISTER?

HI.

WELL, ENOUGH WITH
THE FORMALITIES.

HERE WE GO.

GOOD MORNING.

[MUTTERING]
GOOD MORNING, GOOD
MORNING, GOOD MORNING.

UH, OK.

GOOD...

MORNING.

WINDOW.

WINDOW.

COME HERE.

WINDOW.

WINDOW.

YES.

OH, LET'S SEE...

DOOR.

DOOR, DOOR.

DOOR.

DOOR.

Laura:
NO.

NOT WINDOW.

DOOR.

YES, DOOR!

Laura:
GOOD!

UH, CHAIR.

CHAIR.

CHAIR.

CHAIR.

CHAIR.

[SNIFFS]

OH!

PERFUME!

PERFUME.
PERFUME.

PERFUME...

PERFUME.

[SNIFFS]

PERFUME.
[SNIFFS]

PERFUME.
YES, PERFUME.

OK, LET'S SEE
WHAT YOU REMEMBER.

COME ON.

WINDOW.

GOOD!

OK, COME ON.

DOOR.

NO.
DOOR.

NO.

OH, WELL.
NOBODY SAID IT WAS
GOING TO BE EASY.

LAURA SAYS I'M CRAZY,

AND THAT YOU WON'T
LIKE IT.

BUT WE KNOW BETTER,
DON'T WE?

NOT EVEN THE WISH BOOK
HAS A DOGHOUSE LIKE THIS.

ALBERT, MA SAYS
IT'S TIME FOR SUPPER.

Albert:
OK, I'LL BE
RIGHT THERE.

WHO WERE YOU TALKING TO?

NOBODY HERE BUT BANDIT.

BANDIT CAN'T TALK,
HE'S A DOG.

HE TALKS TO ME.

I GOT TO
GO WASH UP.

HELLO?

SAY HELLO!

ALL RIGHT, I WON'T
TALK TO YOU EITHER.

[WHIMPERS]

Laura:
ENJOY.

FEEL.

FUNNY.

HAPPY.

MAD.

SAD.

YOU DID IT.

YOU DID IT!

YOU DID IT!

YOU DID IT!

RAIN.

RAIN.
RAIN.

[THUNDER]
RAIN!

SIT DOWN,
MR. PAGE.

WOULD YOU LIKE
SOME COFFEE?

ALL RIGHT.

COFFEE
FOR FATHER.

HOW DID YOU
DO THAT?

IT'S SIGN
LANGUAGE, LET
ME SHOW YOU.

I...

I CAN'T
SEE WITHOUT
MY GLASSES.

WAIT.

SPECTACLES
FOR FATHER.

SEE?

HE SAW YOU
OPEN THE BOOK.

HE KNOWS I CAN'T
READ WITHOUT THEM.

MR. PAGE,
WHAT DOES IT TAKE
TO CONVINCE YOU?

DON'T YOU WANT HIM
TO UNDERSTAND YOU?

I'VE BEEN LIVING
WITH HIM FOR
15 YEARS, LAURA.

NEXT THING,
YOU'LL TELL ME
HE CAN HEAR.

WELL, IN HIS
OWN WAY, HE CAN.

Laura:
YOU ASK HIM
SOMETHING.

HOW?

WELL, WHAT DO YOU
WANT TO ASK HIM?

TELL HIM TO
SHOW ME HIS
MOTHER'S PICTURE.

OK, YOU DO THIS.

SHOW ME...

SHOW ME...

MOTHER'S...

MOTHER'S...

PICTURE.

PICTURE.

SHOW ME...

MOTHER'S...

PICTURE.

DEAR GOD.

THIS IS ONLY THE
BEGINNING, MR. PAGE.

SOMEDAY, HE'LL EVEN BE
ABLE TO READ AND WRITE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT
TO SAY TO HIM?

I WANT TO TELL
HIM I LOVE HIM.

DO THIS.

I...

I...

LOVE...

LOVE...

YOU.

I...

LOVE...

YOU.

OUR FATHER,
WHO ART IN HEAVEN,

HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

THY KINGDOM COME,

THY WILL BE DONE

ON EARTH AS
IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY
OUR DAILY BREAD,

AND FORGIVE US
OUR TRESPASSES

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE

WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL,

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM

AND THE POWER

AND THE GLORY,

FOREVER.

AMEN.

EVERYBODY, COME OUTSIDE.
HURRY UP.

OH, I'VE GOT
BREAKFAST COOKING.

Albert:
OH, IT'LL JUST
TAKE A SECOND.

HURRY UP, EVERYBODY.
COME ON!

IT'S GOT TO BE THE
GIANT DOGHOUSE.
HERE WE GO.

COME ON.

LET'S GO SEE
BANDIT'S NEW HOUSE.

STAND BACK.

TA-DA!

Laura: ALBERT!
Caroline: IT'S ADORABLE!

Charles:
YEAH, THAT'S A REAL
PROFESSIONAL JOB, SON.

COME ON, BANDIT.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T
WAIT, BOY.

COME ON.

COME ON, BOY.
IN YOU GO.

Albert:
COME ON, BANDIT,
IT'S ALL YOURS NOW.

COME ON.

AWFUL EXCITED
ABOUT IT,
ISN'T HE?

HE'S JUST GOT TO GET
USED TO THE IDEA,
AND THAT'S ALL.

IT'S ALL DONE,
BANDIT, YOU CAN
GO IN NOW.

Caroline: WELL, WHILE
HE'S GETTING USED TO IT,

I'M GOING TO FINISH
GETTING BREAKFAST.

OH, I'LL
BE RIGHT IN.

COME ON, BOY, THIS
IS YOUR NEW HOUSE.

Charles: WE'LL SEE
YOU IN A LITTLE
WHILE, ALBERT.

COME ON, BOY.

IT'S NICE AND BIG, DON'T
YOU WANT TO SEE THE INSIDE?

Albert: COME ON.
COME HERE, BOY.

COME ON, THIS IS
YOUR HOUSE NOW.

COME HERE, BANDIT.

COME SEE THE INSIDE.
COME HERE, BANDIT.

DON'T YOU WANT TO
SEE YOUR NEW HOUSE?

YOUR HOME SWEET HOME?

HERE IT IS, BANDIT.

HERE IT IS, BANDIT.

OK, BANDIT, SEE?

FOLLOW ME, BANDIT.

SEE WHERE I'M GOING?

Albert: NICE AND
WARM IN HERE.

COME ON, BANDIT.

COME HERE, BOY.

Nels: AH,
HELLO, LAURA, GOOD
AFTERNOON, DANIEL.

Laura:
GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE.

WHAT WOULD
YOU LIKE?

THE GUM BALLS ARE
TWO FOR A PENNY,
RIGHT, MRS. OLESON?

HUH?
OH, UM, YES.

TWO FOR A PENNY.

HUH! HOW DID
HE KNOW THAT?

I JUST TOLD HIM.

HIS MONEY'S GOOD,
MRS. OLESON.

UH-HUH.

YOU'RE DOING
A WONDERFUL
JOB, LAURA.

THANK YOU, BUT
DANIEL'S DOING
MOST OF THE WORK.

-UH, HERE.
-WE'D BETTER GET GOING.

GIVE MY BEST
TO YOUR FAMILY.

Laura:
I WILL.

HE SAID,
"SEE YOU LATER."

OH!

UH...

UH! IF THAT ISN'T

THE STRANGEST THING
I HAVE EVER SEEN.

MADE ME NERVOUS
SEEING HIS FINGERS

ALL WIGGLING
AROUND LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT'S
WONDERFUL THAT HE
CAN COMMUNICATE.

WELL, I SAY IT'S
NOT NATURAL.

HEAVENS, IF GOD
HAD WANTED ME TO
TALK WITH MY HANDS,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE
GIVEN ME A MOUTH.

WELL...

EVEN GOD CAN MAKE A MISTAKE.

NOW IT'S TIME
TO STUDY.

WHAT?

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS
YOUR MOTHER'S.

CAREFUL YOU
DON'T LOSE IT.

NO! I COULDN'T.

DANIEL,

SOMEDAY, WHEN
YOU GET MARRIED,

YOU WILL WANT
TO GIVE IT

TO THE GIRL
YOU LOVE.

I LOVE YOU
TOO, BUT--

STOP IT!
STOP IT!

DANIEL?
STUDY.

STUDY, IT'S
IMPORTANT.

Mr. Page:
STUDY.

OH, WELL,
HEY, BETH.

HI.

WHY THE SAD FACE?

COME ON, NOTHING
CAN BE THAT BAD.

WORSE. NOTHING'S
GOING RIGHT.

WELL, SOMETHING
MUST BE GOING RIGHT.

Almanzo:
A CHAINED RING.

HAVEN'T SEEN
THAT BEFORE.

IT'S JUST
FROM A FRIEND.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING
SERIOUS AT YOUR
AGE, ARE YOU?

WHAT IF I AM?

I'M NOT A BABY,
YOU KNOW?

HEY, COME ON.
I'M YOUR FRIEND,
REMEMBER?

I REMEMBER.

Sarah:
READY, MANNY?

HI, SARAH, I'VE
BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW LAURA INGALLS?

OF COURSE.
BEEN TAKING CARE
OF HIM FOR ME?

Almanzo:
ALWAYS DOES.

MY FAVORITE
GIRL, RIGHT?

CHEER UP, YOU HEAR?
THINGS ARE GOING
TO GET BETTER.

I THOUGHT YOU'D
NEVER GET HERE,
I'M STARVED.

[MOUTHS]
I LOVE YOU.

MR. PAGE,
IS HE HOME?

WELL, WON'T
DO ANY GOOD.

MIGHT AS WELL
BURN THOSE BOOKS.

Mr. Page:
WHAT HAPPENED
BETWEEN YOU TWO?

NOTHING I CAN'T FIX.

WELL, HE'S
IN THE PASTURE.

THANKS.

BANDIT, PLEASE.
JUST TRY IT, BANDIT.

NOW, I WORKED HARD
BUILDING THIS HOUSE.

IF YOU TRY IT,
I KNOW YOU'LL LIKE IT.

SEE, THIS IS
ALL FOR YOU.

Charles:
ALBERT.

IT'S ALMOST 10:00.
I TOLD YOU, JUST
A FEW MORE MINUTES.

OH, PLEASE, PA, JUST
A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

I THINK HE'S
GOING TO TRY IT.

ALL RIGHT.
5 MORE MINUTES.

Albert:
OK, THANKS, PA.

OK, NOW WE
HAVE 5 MINUTES,
BANDIT, OK?

OK, NOW, WATCH ME.
I'M GOING TO BE YOU.

I'M BANDIT.
[SOFT BARK, PANTING]

Albert:
LOOK, I'M GOING
TO BE YOU, YES.

SEE? I'M BANDIT.

[PANTING AND BARKING]

SEE? I LIKE THIS.

RUFF! RUFF!

Albert:
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO
SHOW LAURA, AREN'T WE?

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO
SHOW HER YOU CAN DO IT.

NOW, WATCH,
I'M YOU, BANDIT.

[ALBERT PANTING
AND WHIMPERING]

Albert: SEE? I THINK
I LIKE THIS, YEAH.

THIS IS NICE AND WARM
AND COMFORTABLE.

[ALBERT PANTS]

AND I WORKED SO
HARD ON IT, BANDIT.

JUST TRY IT ONCE.

YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT.

ALBERT?

ALBERT.

YEAH, PA?

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING OUT HERE
SO EARLY, SON?

I WAS JUST SHOWING
BANDIT HOW NICE
HIS HOUSE WAS.

WELL, I THOUGHT
YOU DID THAT
LAST NIGHT.

I KNOW.

I KIND OF
FELL ASLEEP.

[LAUGHS]

WHAT, YOU AND
BANDIT SLEPT OUT
HERE ALL NIGHT?

OH, OF COURSE NOT.
JUST ME.

[LAUGHS]

-CHARLES?
-YEAH?

HAVE YOU SEEN
LAURA THIS
MORNING?

NO,
I HAVEN'T.

ALBERT, DID SHE
SAY ANYTHING
TO YOU?

I DON'T THINK
ALBERT'S GOING TO
BE OF MUCH HELP.

I'LL SEE IF
I CAN FIND HER.

ALBERT, COME ON
AND GET SOME
CLOTHES ON.

YES, MA'AM.

YOU UNGRATEFUL DOG.

IT'S NOT SATURDAY,
YOUNG LADY.

YOU OUGHT TO BE
GETTING TO SCHOOL.

I KNOW.

JUST THOUGHT I'D
BE ALONE FOR A WHILE
SO'S I COULD THINK.

PA, I FEEL
SO AWFUL.

DANIEL, HUH?

YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.

I MEAN, IF YOU
LOVED SOMEONE,

REALLY LOVED HIM,

AND YOU JUST KNEW
THAT THAT PERSON

DIDN'T FEEL THE
SAME WAY ABOUT YOU--

WELL, WHAT I MEAN IS,

IF YOU COULDN'T HAVE
THE PERSON THAT YOU LOVED,

WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD
TO MAKE SOMEONE
THAT LOVES YOU HAPPY,

SHARE YOUR LIFE
WITH HIM, HELP HIM?

SHARING YOUR LIFE
WITH SOMEONE IS FINE,

BUT YOU GOT TO
LOVE HIM.

YOU CAN'T PRETEND
TO FEEL SOMETHING
YOU DON'T FEEL.

HOW CAN I
TELL HIM, PA?

HOW CAN I MAKE HIM
UNDERSTAND WITHOUT
HURTING HIM?

I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANY WAY YOU CAN DO IT
WITHOUT HURTING HIM,

BUT IT'LL PASS.

HE'LL GIVE UP HIS STUDIES.
I KNOW HE WILL.

Charles: IF HE DOES,
IT'S HIS OWN FAULT, BECAUSE
HE'S DOING IT OUT OF SPITE.

-BUT, PA, HE'S--
-HE'S DEAF.

THAT'S ALL THE MORE
REASON HE NEEDS HIS
STUDIES, NOT YOUR PITY.

LOOK, IF YOU WANT
TO BE A TEACHER,
YOUNG LADY,

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO BE A LOT TOUGHER
WITH YOUR STUDENTS.

AND A LOT MORE HONEST.

[SIGHS]

WELL, I GUESS I'LL
GO TELL HIM NOW
BEFORE SCHOOL.

I WANT TO GET
IT OVER WITH.

ALL RIGHT.

[SIGHS]

I MADE A MISTAKE.

I SAID THAT I WOULD
WEAR YOUR RING,

BUT IT WAS WRONG.

YOU ARE VERY
SPECIAL TO ME...

BUT I DON'T
LOVE YOU.

I WANTED YOU TO LEARN...

BUT NOT FOR ME.

FOR YOU.

I AM YOUR TEACHER.

NO.

I AM YOUR FRIEND...

BUT ONLY A FRIEND.

DANIEL,

YOU DON'T KNOW
ANY OTHERS BUT ME.

YOU WILL MEET OTHERS.

[FIRMLY]
NO.

I'M SORRY.

DANIEL,
IT'S YOUR LIFE.

YOU WANT TO LEARN,

I'LL TEACH YOU.

IT'S UP TO YOU.

GOOD-BYE, DANIEL.

I HAVE THE TESTS
GRADED HERE.

LAURA, WOULD YOU
HAND THEM OUT?

LAURA?

YES, MA'AM.

I'M NOT SAYING
THE RESULTS WERE BAD,

BUT IF THIS CLASS
RAN THE GOVERNMENT,

Miss Wilder:
WE'D BE IN A
STATE OF ANARCHY.

IS THAT NEAR
MASSACHUSETTS?

WILLY,
THE CORNER.

NOW, SINCE THE ENTIRE
CLASS DID SO POORLY,

I'M GOING TO ALLOW
YOU ALL TO TAKE THE
TEST AGAIN ON FRIDAY.

I HOPE TO SEE
BETTER RESULTS.

CLASS
DISMISSED.

LAURA.

YES, MA'AM?

-ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
-OH, YES, MA'AM, I'M FINE.

YOU SURE?

I'M SURE.

MISS WILDER,

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A STUDENT
FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU?

OH, HOW KIND
OF YOU TO ASK.

BUT NO.

OH.

WELL, SEE YOU TOMORROW.

WILLIE,
CLEAN THE BOARD.

WHY?

WHY?
ANSWER ME.

DO YOU KNOW
WHY SHE LIED?

WELL, I KNOW.

SHE LIED BECAUSE
YOU'RE DEAF...

AND SHE FELT
SORRY FOR YOU...

Mr. Page:
JUST AS I DID.

I KEPT YOU
AWAY FROM FOLKS

SO THAT THEY
WOULDN'T HURT YOU.

WE BOTH MADE A MISTAKE.

AND WE BOTH CORRECTED IT.

Mr. Page:
NOW IT'S UP TO YOU.

ASK HER TO
TEACH YOU AGAIN.

YES.

I'M NOT
TREATING YOU

AS A DEAF
CHILD ANYMORE.

YOU'RE JUST
A CHILD.

YOU'VE GOT A TEACHER,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN.

IT'S THE SAME
AS ANY OTHER CHILD
THAT GOES TO SCHOOL.

Mr. Page:
DANIEL.

SHE SHOWED ME
HOW TO TELL YOU

THAT I LOVE YOU,

AND I DO LOVE YOU.

AND I CAN TREAT YOU

JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CHILD,

THANKS TO HER.

GOD SENT HER TO US, BOY.

DON'T TURN
YOUR BACK IN SPITE.

DON'T TELL ME
THAT YOU LOVE ME.

SHOW ME.

LEARN.

LAURA.

YOU CAN'T
BLAME YOURSELF.

BUT, MA, IF I'D BEEN
A BETTER TEACHER...

OH! THE MISTAKE
YOU MADE HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH TEACHING.

HE WAS DOING SO WELL.

WE'RE ALL
RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR
OWN LIVES, LAURA.

YOU'LL FIND OUT
WHEN YOU START
TEACHING SCHOOL

YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH
TO ALL YOUR STUDENTS,

BUT YOU CAN'T BLAME
YOURSELF FOR THAT.

Charles:
LAURA?

YES, SIR?

Charles:
DANIEL'S HERE.

GO ON, TEACHER,

AND DON'T MAKE THE
SAME MISTAKE TWICE.

-THANKS, MA.
-HMM! HA HA!

GO ON.

I'M SORRY,
TOO.

YES, I'LL BE
YOUR TEACHER.

Laura:
WHEN DO YOU
WANT TO START?

HE SAYS HE WANTS
TO START RIGHT NOW.

WELL, GET GOING,
TEACHER.

AH, THAT CHILD'S
GROWING UP.

OH!

Laura, voice-over:
DANIEL CAME BACK,
AND HE DID LEARN,

AND SO DID I.

I LEARNED THAT A STUDENT
HAS AN OBLIGATION TO HIMSELF

THAT IS AS GREAT
OR GREATER THAN

A TEACHER'S OBLIGATION
TO A STUDENT.