Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983): Season 8, Episode 12 - No Beast So Fierce - full transcript

James' promising friendship with a young stuttering boy named Gideon Hale is jeopardized when he mocks the boy behind his back. When a devastated Gideon runs away, Caroline assists the boys' parents in a frantic search for the young boy, while Charles and a remorseful James go on a delivery run to Sleepy Eye. A feral wolf that Charles meets along the way will play a key role in this story.

[CHILDREN YELLING]

COME ON, WILLIE!
COME ON!

Girl: COME ON,
WILLIE! HIT IT!

Girl: COME ON,
WILLIE! HIT IT!

OH, WILLIE!

WILLIE,
YOU'RE TERRIBLE.

JAMES.

Boy: COME ON, JAMES.
JUST ONE.

COME ON!

[CHEERING]

GO, JAMES! GO!



[BELL RINGING]

Man: THAT WAS
SOME HIT, SON.

YOU HIT IT
ALMOST A MILE.

OH, THANKS.

YOU JUST
STARTING TODAY?

NOT BAD, SON.
YOU'RE PRETTY FAST.

NEW BOY IN TOWN.
MY SON GIDEON.

I'M BRADEN HALE.

JAMES COOPER.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU.

COME ON.
WE'RE GONNA BE LATE.

BEST TO GO ON, NOW.

YOU DON'T WANT THE TEACHER
TO MARK YOU TARDY.

James: DON'T WORRY
ABOUT THE TEACHER.

SHE'S MY SISTER,
AND SHE'S
REALLY NICE.



GO ON, SON.

JOAN LARSON?

YOU'VE JUST BEEN
MARKED LATE.

I'M ALREADY
AT THE Ms.

WELL, I BROUGHT YOU
A NEW STUDENT.

I GUESS WE'RE BOTH TARDY.
HIS NAME'S HALE--H.

[STUDENTS LAUGH]

DO YOU HAVE A FIRST NAME,
MR. HALE?

SURE, IT'S--

JAMES.

I'M SURE HE CAN
SPEAK FOR HIMSELF.

WELL?

I-I-I-I-IT'S G-G-GIDEON,
M-MA'AM.

[STUDENTS LAUGHING]

THAT'S ENOUGH.
I SAID, THAT'S ENOUGH!

GIDEON, WAIT!

I'LL GET HIM.

HEY, DON'T TAKE IT
SO HARD.

THEY'RE JUST
BEING STUPID.

[STUTTERING]
NO MATTER WHERE I GO,

IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME.

PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF ME.

WELL, I'M NOT MAKING FUN
OF YOU, AM I?

NO.

WELL, ALL RIGHT, THEN.

LOOK, YOU GOT TO
SHOW THEM THAT
YOU DON'T CARE.

THEN THEY WON'T DO IT.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY.

I JUST CAN'T.

SURE YOU CAN.

I WAS KIND OF SCARED, TOO,
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE.

I THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD
LIKE ME 'CAUSE I WAS NEW.

BUT NOW ALL THE KIDS
LIKE ME A LOT.

SO IF I'M YOUR FRIEND
AND I DON'T MAKE FUN OF YOU,

THEY WON'T EITHER.

HOW ABOUT BEING MY FRIEND?

I LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

COME ON,
LET'S GO BACK INSIDE.

Albert: "THE WINGS
OF A BAT HAVE NO QUILLS.

"THEY ARE ONLY THIN PIECES
OF SKIN STRETCHED UPON
A FRAMEWORK OF BONES.

BESIDES THIS,
IT MAY BE SAID THAT
WHILE HE IS A QUADU--"

James: IS IT OK
IF HE SITS NEXT TO ME?

Laura: OF COURSE.

ALBERT,
YOU MAY CONTINUE.

Albert: "KNOWN ONLY
AS A QUADRUPED,

"HE CAN RISE UP INTO
THE AIR AND FLY FROM PLACE
TO PLACE LIKE A BIRD.

"THERE IS A FUNNY FABLE
ABOUT THE BAT FOUNDED UPON

THIS DOUBLE CHARACTER
OF BEAST AND BIRD."

VERY GOOD, ALBERT.

WILLIE, YOU MAY CONTINUE.

"AN OWL WAS ONCE
P-P-P-PROWLING ABOUT
W-W-WHEN HE--"

WILLIE!

IN THE CORNER.

JAMES, YOU MAY CONTINUE.

"SO HE CAUGHT HIM
IN HIS CLAWS AND WAS
ABOUT TO DEVOUR HIM.

"UPON THIS THE BAT BEGAN
TO SQUEAL TERRIBLY.

AND HE SAID TO THE OWL,
PRAY, WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME
FOR THAT YOU USE ME THUS?"

YOU'VE ALMOST GOT ENOUGH
TO FILL A HOUSE.

WELL, WE COULD USE
THE EXTRA MONEY, I'D SAY.

WELL, THESE ARE
GOING TO BRING MORE
THAN A FEW DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW, MRS. FOSTER
TOLD ME HER AUNT

PAID A FORTUNE
FOR CHAIRS LIKE THESE.

WHERE DOES SHE LIVE?

BOSTON.

WELL, THAT FIGURES.

BIG CITIES ARE ALWAYS
THE BEST MARKETS.

FOLKS THERE CAN'T
HANG A PICTURE,

LET ALONE
BUILD FURNITURE.

MINNEAPOLIS
IS NO BOSTON,

BUT I STILL THINK
I'LL GET A GOOD PRICE.

WHEN WILL YOU
BE READY TO LEAVE?

OH, A FEW DAYS.

I'M NOT LOOKING
FORWARD TO IT,
I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

WHY?

'CAUSE YOU WON'T
BE WITH ME, THAT'S WHY.

I WAS HOPING
YOU'D SAY THAT.

JAMES?

YEAH?

[STUTTERING]
I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING MY FRIEND.

THAT'S OK, GIDEON.
I WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND.

I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

BYE-BYE.

Willie: HEY, JAMES.

H-H-HOW'S YOUR
N-N-N-EW F-F-FRIEND?

Albert: COME ON, JAMES.
THAT'S NOT FUNNY, WILLIE.

WELL, THEN HOW COME
EVERYBODY'S LAUGHING?

I KNOW IT'S
AWFUL, ALBERT,
BUT IT IS FUNNY.

IT ISN'T,
EITHER.

OH, YEAH?
WELL, I DARE YOU
NOT TO LAUGH.

YEAH, OK.
I'M NOT LAUGHING.

M-M-M-M-MY NAME'S
G-G-GIDEON.

[LAUGHING]

OK, YOU WIN.
MAYBE IT IS F-F-FUNNY.

GIDEON...

Almanzo: I HEARD WE GOT
A NEW FAMILY IN TOWN.

Charles: MM-HMM.
THE HALES.

THEY GOT A LITTLE BOY
ABOUT CASSANDRA'S AGE.

Laura: UH-HUH.
HE STARTED SCHOOL
TODAY.

Carrie: AND HE SITS
NEXT TO JAMES.

Caroline: OH?
WHAT'S HIS NAME?

GIDEON.

WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH HIM?

I DON'T KNOW. HE
HARDLY TOUCHED HIS FOOD.

HE TALKS FUNNY.
WHO?

GIDEON.

HE STAMMERS.
HONESTLY, CHILDREN

CAN BE SO CRUEL
SOMETIMES.

I WAS VERY PROUD
OF JAMES, THOUGH.

HE WAS VERY KIND
TO GIDEON TODAY.

WELL, THERE WAS
A LITTLE PROBLEM
AFTER SCHOOL.

WHAT KIND OF A PROBLEM?

YOUR BROTHER TOLD ME

WHAT HAPPENED
AFTER SCHOOL WITH GIDEON.

PA, I JUST FEEL AWFUL.

HE HEARD IT ALL.

DID YOU TRY
TALKING TO HIM?

I COULDN'T.
HE JUST RAN OFF.

BUT THE WORST PART OF
IT IS THAT I ASKED
HIM TO BE MY FRIEND.

HOW COULD I
HAVE LET IT ALL HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST FEEL AWFUL.

THEN APOLOGIZE TO HIM.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
IF THAT WILL WORK.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA KNOW
IF YOU DON'T TRY, SON.

THAT'S TRUE.

MAKE SURE YOU DO IT
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

AND RIGHT NOW,
I WANT YOU TO
COME INSIDE

'CAUSE YOUR FRIED
CHICKEN'S GETTING COLD.

COME ON.

OH, I THOUGHT
YOU WERE GIDEON.

OH, WHERE IS HE?

WE DON'T KNOW.
HE NEVER CAME HOME
AFTER SCHOOL YESTERDAY.

HE DIDN'T?

NO.

JAMES,
YOU SEEN GIDEON?

NO, SIR.
I JUST CAME BY
TO TALK TO HIM.

I'VE BEEN UP
ALL NIGHT SEARCHING.

BRADEN, WHERE ON EARTH
COULD HE BE?

I DON'T KNOW WHERE,
BUT WE BOTH KNOW WHY.

THEY MADE FUN OF HIM,
DIDN'T THEY?

DIDN'T THEY?
THE WAY GIDEON TALKS?

THAT'S WHY WE LEFT
REDWOOD FALLS.

HE RAN AWAY THERE, TOO.
DIDN'T FIND HIM FOR DAYS.

WHY ARE CHILDREN
SO CRUEL? WHY?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

NEITHER DO I.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS
MY SON'S WANDERING AROUND
IN STRANGE COUNTRY,

HURT AND ASHAMED
OF SOMETHING THAT
HE CAN'T HELP.

LET ME HAVE SOME COFFEE.
I'LL START OUT AGAIN.

SIR?

CAN I HELP YOU LOOK?

THANK YOU, SON.
I'D BE MUCH OBLIGED.

IT'S A SHAME THE OTHER
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
AIN'T LIKE YOU.

YES, SIR.

I'LL START LOOKING
RIGHT NOW.

GIDEON!

GIDEON!

GIDEON!

GIDEON!

GIDEON!

GIDEON,
PLEASE ANSWER ME!

GIDEON!

GIDEON!

GIDEON!

GIDEON!

HI, DARLING.

HI, PA.
ANY LUCK?

WELL, WE GOT
HALF THE TOWN LOOKING.

JAMES HAS ALREADY
MISSED TWO DAYS OF SCHOOL.

I KNOW, BUT HE
JUST CAN'T HELP HIMSELF.

HE FEELS AS THOUGH
HE'S RESPONSIBLE.

HALF-PINT, LET ME
ASK YOU A QUESTION.

IF HE MISSES A FEW
MORE DAYS, WILL IT HURT
HIS GRADES VERY MUCH?

NO. BUT DON'T
TELL HIM THAT. WHY?

IT'S JUST
SOMETHING I'VE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT.

I HAVEN'T MADE
UP MY MIND YET.

TELL ALMANZO
HELLO FOR ME.

I WILL.

BYE, HONEY.

BYE, PA.

THERE.

TIME FOR BED,
LITTLE ONE.

CAN I TELL
HER A STORY?

NOT LIKE THE LAST ONE.
SHE HAD NIGHTMARES FOR A WEEK.

I'LL TELL HER
A NICE ONE.

I WANT TO HEAR
A STORY.

Caroline: ALL RIGHT,
GO AHEAD.

MAYBE HE'D COME DOWN
FOR A GAME OF CHECKERS.

I DOUBT IT.
HE WAS FEELING
SO LOW.

I'M GOING TO MINNEAPOLIS
IN THE MORNING.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO
COME ALONG WITH ME?

ME?

MM-HMM. I ALREADY
CHECKED WITH LAURA.

SHE SAID
IT WAS FINE.

PA, I CAN'T LEAVE
UNTIL GIDEON'S FOUND.

JAMES, IT SEEMS TO ME,
IF GIDEON WASN'T
DELIBERATELY HIDING,

HE'D HAVE BEEN
FOUND BY NOW.

YOU THINK SO?

SURE I DO.

HE'S RUN AWAY
FROM HOME BEFORE
AND COME BACK.

COME ON. I WANT YOU
TO COME ALONG WITH ME.
I LIKE YOUR COMPANY.

I'D LIKE TO.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

GET SOME SLEEP.
WE'RE LEAVING EARLY
IN THE MORNING.

I LOVE YOU.

PA?

YEAH?

THANKS.

GET SOME SLEEP.

THERE YOU GO, BUCK.

WE'RE ALL SET TO GO.

YOU'LL BE NEEDING THIS.

MM! AT LEAST WE CAN
START THE TRIP WITH
SOME OF YOUR COOKING.

WELL, MAKE IT LAST.

MINNEAPOLIS ISN'T JUST
OVER THE HILL.

YEAH, WE WILL.
GOOD-BYE, DARLING.

MA, IF GIDEON
GETS BACK,

MAKE SURE HE
KNOWS THAT I WANT
TO TALK TO HIM.

FORGET ABOUT GIDEON.
NOW, JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME.

HERE WE GO, SON.

BYE, MA.

Charles: HYAH!
COME ON, BUCK.

HAVE A GOOD TRIP!

FEELING BETTER?

YEAH. THANKS FOR
ASKING ME ALONG.

HEY, COME ON.
IT WASN'T FOR
YOUR BENEFIT.

IT'S FOR MINE.
GETS AWFUL LONELY

OUT HERE ON THE TRAIL.
I LIKE THE COMPANY.

THAT'S NOT TRUE
AND YOU KNOW IT.

YOU THOUGHT IT'D BE
GOOD FOR ME TO COME
ALONG, DIDN'T YOU?

YEAH. BUT IT GETS
LONESOME ON THE TRAIL, TOO.

WE'LL MAKE CAMP
IN A COUPLE HOURS.

MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE TIME TO
TAKE A LITTLE SWIM, HUH?

YEAH!

[GROWLING]

HEY, MY BOY,
HOW WAS THE WATER?

OH, I NEVER
WANTED TO COME OUT.

YOU'RE A BRAVER MAN
THAN I AM.

I WENT DOWN TO PUT WATER
IN THE COFFEE POT,

AND MY FINGERS
TURNED BLUE.

MM! THIS IS GOOD.

WHAT'S FOR SUPPER?

BEEF STEW.

DON'T GET THAT
LOOK ON YOUR FACE.

YOUR MA MADE IT.
I'M JUST HEATING IT UP.

OH, PRAISE THE LORD.

VERY FUNNY. GO DRY OFF.
GET YOUR CLOTHES ON.
IT'S ABOUT READY.

THIS IS...

THIS IS
REALLY NICE.

MM-HMM.
PEACEFUL OUT HERE.

THERE'S MORE STEW
IF YOU WANT IT.

I FEEL LIKE I COULD
EAT THE WHOLE POT.

OH, NO, YOU DON'T.
HALF OF IT'S MINE.

[RUSTLING]

WHAT'S THAT?

WHAT'S WHAT?

LISTEN.

IT'S COMING FROM
THOSE BUSHES OVER THERE.

WHAT DO YOU
SUPPOSE IT IS?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S JUST A DOG.

IT LOOKS
PART WOLF TO ME.

DON'T SHOOT HIM.

I'M NOT. I'M JUST
GONNA BE FRIENDLY
AS LONG AS HE IS.

WELL, MAYBE
HE'S JUST HUNGRY.

CAN I GIVE HIM
SOME OF MY STEW?

[DOG GROWLING]

ALL RIGHT, BUT DON'T
GET TOO NEAR HIM.

I DON'T LIKE THE SOUND
OF THAT GROWL.

JUST GO PUT
THE PLATE DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S
FAR ENOUGH.
PUT IT THERE.

COME ON BACK.

YOU WERE RIGHT.
HE WAS JUST HUNGRY.

HE SURE IS
AN UGLY CUSS.

I'LL GET HIM
SOME MORE STEW.

[DOG GROWLING]

EASY, BOY.

EASY, BOY.
I'M NOT GONNA HURT YOU.

NOT TOO FRIENDLY,
IS HE?

I THINK HE'S JUST SCARED.

CARRIE, I NEED YOU
TO LOOK AFTER GRACE
FOR ME TODAY.

I'M GONNA SPEND SOME
TIME LOOKING FOR GIDEON.

OK.

ALBERT, YOU'LL EXPLAIN
TO LAURA.

AND GIVE THIS NOTE
TO HESTER SUE.

TELL HER I WILL TRY
TO GET THERE IN TIME

TO HELP HER
WITH THE LUNCH CROWD.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

WELL, NOBODY'S CHECKED
OUT THE OLD TAYLOR PLACE.

I'M GONNA LOOK OUT THERE.

-GOOD LUCK.
-THANKS.

JAMES, YOU MAKE SURE
YOU GET THAT FIRE
GOOD AND OUT.

I WILL, PA.

HEY, PA, LOOK.

I THINK HE WANTS
TO MAKE FRIENDS.

I WOULDN'T BE TOO SURE.
I THINK HE'S JUST HUNGRY.

I THINK IT'S OK.
HONEST.

SON, DON'T GET
SO CLOSE TO HIM, NOW.

THAT'S A WILD ANIMAL.

HE DOES WANT
TO MAKE FRIENDS.

SEE?

James: IT'S OK, BOY,
I WON'T HURT YOU.

LOOK AT THIS, PA.
DO YOU WANT TO
COME SAY HELLO?

NOT REALLY. I ALREADY KNOW
HIS OPINION OF ME.

BESIDES,
WE GOT TO GET GOING.

COME ON, NOW.

OH, YOU HEARD HIM, BOY.
I GOT TO GO.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

[WHINING]

[BARK]

HEY, PA, LOOK.

I'LL BE DARNED.

WELL, HE'LL TIRE OUT
SOON ENOUGH.

YEAH, I GUESS.

YOU REALLY LIKE
THAT DOG, DON'T YOU?

YOU BET.

KIND OF GIVES ME
THE CREEPS.

THERE'S SOMETHING
ABOUT HIM...

IT'S LIKE HE'S ALL ALONE.

HE JUST WANTS A FRIEND.

KIND OF LIKE GIDEON.

[RATTLING]

GIDEON?

I'M CAROLINE INGALLS,
JAMES' MOTHER.

I'M--GIDEON!

I JUST WANT TO TALK
TO YOU!

GIDEON!

[STOMPS FOOT]

YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE RIGHT, PA.

HE IS GONE.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T
SURPRISE ME MUCH.

HE'S A WILD ANIMAL.
HE WOULDN'T TAKE
MUCH TO CITY LIFE.

TO BE HONEST WITH
YOU, I DON'T TAKE
MUCH TO IT EITHER.

Charles: WELL,
HERE WE ARE.

WHOA!

WHY DON'T YOU GET
THAT CANVAS OFF FOR ME?

I'LL GO TELL SVEN
WE'RE HERE.

SURE.

[SHOUTING]
HELLO, SVEN!

CHARLES!

HOW ARE YOU?

OH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOU'RE HERE SOONER
THAN I EXPECTED.

WELL, I STARTED WORK
AS SOON AS I GOT YOUR LETTER.

A GOOD CRAFTSMAN
LIKE YOU SHOULD
NOT BE WASTED.

SO, HOW LONG
HAS IT BEEN?
TWO YEARS?

MORE LIKE 3.

AND THE FAMILY?

OH, EVERYBODY'S WELL.
MY TWO OLDER GIRLS
ARE MARRIED NOW.

HOUSE MUST BE GETTING
MIGHTY QUIET.

NO, NO. WE'VE GOT
TWO OTHER CHILDREN
IN THE HOUSE.

I GOT THE BOY OUTSIDE.
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET
HIM. NAME'S JAMES.

Charles: JAMES,
COME HERE, SON.

I WANT YOU TO MEET
AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE.

JAMES, I'D LIKE
YOU TO MEET
SVEN JOHANSEN.

A PLEASURE
TO MEET YOU, SIR.

SUCH A HANDSOME BOY.

[BARKING AND SNARLING]

EASY, BOY!

OH, EASY!
JOSEPH!

NO HARM DONE.

AT LEAST
YOUR DOG IS LOYAL.

IT'S NOT
EVEN OUR DOG.

IT'S JUST SOME WILD ANIMAL
THAT'S TAKEN A FANCY TO JAMES.

"FANCY" IS
PUTTING IT MILDLY.

WELL, LET US
TAKE A LOOK.

THINK I'LL HAVE
A SPECIAL SALE.

YOU BETTER COUNT IT.

THANK YOU, SVEN.

JA, THAT IS WHAT I DO.

I PUT UP A SIGN
WITH BIG LETTERS:

"GENUINE INGALLS
HAND-CRAFTED FURNITURE."

IT WILL MAKE ME
A LOT OF MONEY, CHARLES.

I HOPE
I PAY YOU ENOUGH.

SVEN, YOU'VE PAID ME
MORE THAN ENOUGH.

WE'LL GET OURSELVES
A HOTEL ROOM TONIGHT, SON.

HOW ABOUT
THAT ONE WE SAW

RIGHT INTO TOWN?
LOOKED REAL NICE.

THAT'S A LITTLE
TOO EXPENSIVE, I THINK.

IF YOU DON'T MIND
A LITTLE NOISE,

THERE ARE ROOMS
OVER THE SALOON.
CHEAP, BUT CLEAN.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

TWO BLOCKS OVER
ON THE RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, SVEN.

GIVE MY LOVE
TO YOUR FAMILY.

I SURE WILL.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

CAN I HELP YOU?

YEAH, A BOX OF .44-'40s.

[CROWD TALKING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

TWO WHISKEYS.

MAY NEED
A ROOM LATER.

TAKE YOUR PICK.
THEY'RE ALL EMPTY,
EXCEPT NUMBER 6.

LEAVE THE BOTTLE.

JUST LEAVE IT.

WHAT'S THIS FOR?
WE AIN'T STAYING.

IT'S EARLY.

WE'LL DRINK A WHILE

AND LET THE PLACE
GET NOISIER.

LET'S GO.

[DOG GROWLING]

WHAT WAS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

[DOG GROWLING]

WHAT HAPPENED?

I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK SOMEBODY TRIED
TO BREAK IN OUR ROOM.

A BIG DOG JUST
CHASED THEM OUT
THE FRONT DOOR.

UGLIEST ANIMAL
I EVER SAW.

YOU GUYS
WERE LUCKY.

I CAN'T FIGURE
THAT DOG OUT.

I CAN'T EITHER.

COME ON. LET'S TRY
TO GET SOME SLEEP.

HI, MA.

NO LUCK, HUH?

NO. LAURA LET US
OUT AT LUNCH,

AND THE WHOLE SCHOOL
SEARCHED FOR 4 HOURS.

WELL, I'M GONNA LOOK
OUT BY PINE LAKE
ON MY WAY HOME,

IF THOSE PEOPLE
OUT THERE EVER
FINISH EATING.

YOU WANT ME TO FINISH
THE DISHES FOR YOU?

I'D REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.

SURE.

I SHOULD GET HOME BY...
ABOUT 6:00.

LET'S SEE...HAVE CARRIE
PEEL THE POTATOES--

AND I'LL HAVE
THE STOVE GOING.

THANKS. BYE.

BYE.

UNH!

[STUTTERING]
LET ME GO!

NOT UNTIL WE TALK.

I'M NOT GOING BACK.

GIDEON,
I HAVE SOMETHING
TO SAY TO YOU,

AND YOU'RE GONNA
LISTEN TO ME,
UNDERSTAND?

I BROUGHT YOU
THIS APPLE.

WELL, AREN'T YOU HUNGRY?

LOOK, I'LL LET YOU GO,

AND I'LL GIVE YOU
THIS APPLE,

BUT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN
TO ME FOR THE TIME
IT TAKES YOU TO EAT IT.

ALL RIGHT?

JUST THAT LONG.

YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN?

WHOA!

THIS IS QUITE A SHELTER
YOU'RE BUILDING HERE.

GIDEON, JAMES FEELS
JUST TERRIBLE ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED.

HE'S AWFULLY WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.

SO ARE YOUR FOLKS.

DON'T YOU THINK YOU
OUGHT TO GO HOME NOW

SO THEY'LL KNOW
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT?

THEY LIED TO ME.

WHO?

JAMES?

MAMA AND PAPA.

THEY SAID IT WOULD BE
DIFFERENT HERE,

BUT IT'S NOT.

EVERYONE LAUGHS AT ME.

I'M NOT LAUGHING AT YOU.

YOU WILL.

GIDEON, I KNOW
YOU'VE BEEN HURT...

AND DISAPPOINTED.

I CAN'T PROMISE YOU

THAT NO ONE'S
EVER GOING TO LAUGH
AT YOU AGAIN.

SOME PEOPLE
ARE CRUEL...

OR THOUGHTLESS.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO
STAND UP TO THEM.

YOUR PA CAN'T
ALWAYS BE THERE

TO MAKE SURE
THEY DON'T
LAUGH AT YOU.

NEITHER CAN YOUR MA
OR ANYBODY.

YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
WHO CAN MAKE THEM STOP.

GUESS MY TIME'S
UP, HUH?

WELL...

I'M GOING
BACK TO TOWN.

I HOPE YOU'LL COME
WITH ME, BUT...

IT'S UP TO YOU.

MRS. INGALLS?

I'D LIKE TO GO BACK.

I'M JUST GOING HOME.

I'M NOT
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME
TO DECIDE ABOUT SCHOOL.

LET'S JUST GET YOU HOME.

IT'S NICE SLEEPING
UNDER THIS TREE.

I FEEL LIKE
AN INDIAN CHIEF

SMOKING
HIS PEACE PIPE.

BE GLAD TO GET
HOME TOMORROW?

I WOULD IF I KNEW FOR SURE
THAT GIDEON WAS BACK.

WELL,
I WOULDN'T WORRY.

I THINK THE ODDS
FAVOR IT.

I SURE HOPE SO.

[RUSTLING]

[LAUGHS]
OH, NO.

HA HA! I CAN'T GET OVER
THAT UGLY CUSS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
A DOG LIKE HIM.

PA, SUPPOSE HE FOLLOWS US
ALL THE WAY HOME.

THERE'S NO PLACE
FOR A DOG LIKE THAT
AT OUR HOUSE, SON.

HE'D PROBABLY
KILL BANDIT.

I'D BE WORRIED
TO DEATH ABOUT
YOUR MA AND SISTERS.

NO, THAT'S
A ONE-MAN DOG.

YEAH, I KNOW.
BUT IT'S JUST THAT
HE LIKES ME SO MUCH.

I KNOW. THAT'S
WHY YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO BE THE ONE

TO SHOO HIM OFF
FIRST THING
IN THE MORNING.

YES, SIR.

PA, I TAUGHT HIM
HIS FIRST TRICK.

I TOLD YOU
TO SHOO THAT DOG OFF
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

I WILL.

WHEN ARE YOU
GOING TO DO IT?

AFTER BREAKFAST.
HONEST.

ALL RIGHT.
AFTER BREAKFAST.

CAN I SHOW YOU
THE TRICK?

YEAH, GO ON.
SHOW ME THE TRICK.

ALL RIGHT, BOY.
ALL RIGHT, BOY.
GO GET IT.

GO GET IT, BOY.
GO GET IT.

[LAUGHING]

COME ON, BOY.

HOW'D YOU LIKE THAT?

OH, VERY GOOD.
YOU'RE STILL GONNA
SHOO HIM OFF THIS MORNING.

COME ON, BOY.
COME ON. IT'S OK.

[GROWLING]

I GOT A FEELING
HE DOESN'T LIKE ME.

[BARKING]

[GUNSHOT]

[DOG WHINING]

IS HE HURT BAD?

EASY.

I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
HE'S BLEEDING PRETTY GOOD.

WE CAN'T JUST
LEAVE HIM HERE.

WE GOT TO
TAKE CARE OF HIM.

YEAH, WE OWE HIM
THAT MUCH.

WE'LL LET DOC BAKER
TAKE A LOOK AT HIM.

COME ON.
LET'S GET HIM HOME.

HI, PA!

Charles:
HELLO, DARLING,
ALBERT.

HOW ARE YOU?

HOW WAS THE TRIP?

I THINK WE'D
COUNT IT A SUCCESS.
DID YOU MISS US?

WHAT A QUESTION!

DID YOU GET US
ANYTHING, PA?

SURE, HE DID.
I BET IT'S IN THE BACK!

[BARKING]

Charles: CASSANDRA,
DON'T GET TOO CLOSE!

[DOG GROWLING]

[WHINING]

CHARLES,
WHAT IN THE WORLD...

THE DOG IS
JAMES' FRIEND.

HE SAVED OUR LIFE.

CHARLES...

I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT IT
WHEN WE GO INSIDE.

GIDEON. DID HE--

HE CAME BACK.

Charles: NOW,
WHAT DID I TELL YOU?

I HAVE TO GO
TALK TO HIM.

ALL RIGHT, SON.
YOU GO AHEAD.

Charles: JAMES!

REMEMBER WHAT
DOC BAKER SAID.

DOG CAN RUN,
HE CAN TAKE CARE
OF HIMSELF.

I WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE
YOU COME HOME WITHOUT HIM.

YES, SIR.

LET'S GO INSIDE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MRS. HALE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

IS GIDEON HOME?

NOT TO YOU
HE ISN'T.

Mr. Hale: YOU'RE NOT
WELCOME HERE, JAMES.

GIDEON TOLD US
WHAT YOU DONE.

I KNOW HOW
YOU MUST FEEL,

BUT IF I COULD JUST
TALK TO HIM...

GIDEON, I CAME
TO APOLOGIZE.

Mr. Hale: SAYING YOU'RE SORRY
CAN'T MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU DID.

PLEASE, CAN'T YOU--

MY SON DON'T NEED
TO GO TO SCHOOL
WITH THE LIKES OF YOU.

HE CAN LEARN
WHAT HE NEEDS TO AT HOME.

NOW, YOU...
YOU JUST GO ON WITH YOU.

LEAVE US BE.

James: I JUST
WANTED YOU TO KNOW
HOW SORRY I AM.

IT WAS DUMB
AND MEAN, TOO.

I MEANT IT WHEN
I SAID I WANTED
TO BE YOUR FRIEND.

BUT IT'S
TOO LATE NOW.

COME ON, BOY.

I SAID, COME ON.

GIDEON,
DON'T GO NEAR HIM.

HE LIKES YOU.

MR. HALE,
BE CAREFUL.

HE LIKES
ALL OF YOU.

SURE WISH I COULD
HAVE A DOG LIKE THIS.

DO YOU REALLY?

Gideon: SURE DO.

WELL,
HE'S NOT MY DOG.

HE'S NOT
ANYBODY'S DOG.

YOU CAN HAVE HIM
IF HE WANTS TO STAY.

REALLY?

PA, CAN I?

I GUESS WE COULD
USE A GOOD WATCHDOG.

James: OH, HE'S
REALLY GOOD AT THAT.

IS IT ALL RIGHT, DEAR?

IF GIDEON WANTS HIM.

THANKS, PA, MA...

JAMES.

WELL, I GUESS
I BETTER GO ON HOME.

JAMES?

YEAH?

YOU WANT TO
GO FISHING?

SURE! BUT I'LL
HAVE TO RUN HOME
AND GET MY POLE.

I'VE GOT TWO.
CAN WE GO, MA?

IF GIDEON WANTS
TO GIVE YOU
A SECOND CHANCE,

I GUESS
WE CAN, TOO.

I'LL GO GET THE POLES.

YOU HAVE FUN, SON.

I WILL, PA.

HOW'D HE GET
ALL SCRATCHED UP?

James: WELL, IT'S
KIND OF A LONG STORY.

SEE, THERE WAS
THIS BEAR...

BEAR?!

THAT'S RIGHT.