01x13 - Looking Forward

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Little Men". Aired: November 7, 1998 – December 17, 1999.*
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Based on Louisa May Alcott's book "Little Men", the sequel to "Little Women", this show chronicles the heroic struggles of Jo Bhaer as she attempts to manage Plumfield, a boarding school for boys in Concord, Massachusetts.
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01x13 - Looking Forward

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- [Nick]: I need you boys to take this

to the blacksmith's shop.

- Sure.

- Hey!

- Make sure he replaces the bit!

- We will!

- I don't believe it.

Amy's still getting mail

from that group that Aunt March belonged to.

Organization of Know-it-all Women.

The Organization of American Women.

- Never heard of 'em.

- It's just as well.

A bunch of high society snobs whose primary purpose

is throwing tea parties for each other.

Aunt March just loved it.

- Why are they sending Amy's mail to Plumfield?

- Because she's told them that she lives there.

She's applied for a membership you see,

she feels that her prospects are better

if she's living at Aunt March's house.

Tradition, you see.

- Wow!

Look at all this stuff!

- Never seen any of this in here before.

- Yeah, it looks Indian.

- This place gives me the creeps.

- Boo!!

- Can I help you?

- S-Sorry about the mask...

- You need something?

- Yeah. We came to drop this off for Mr. Voss.

Needs to be fixed.

- He's not here.

- What happened to him?

- Moved. I work here now.

Anything else?

- N-no. Nah, that's it.

- I can't believe you broke it.

- I didn't mean to, Tommy.

- You see the look on his face?

Thought he was gonna k*ll ya.

If I were you, I'd stay as far away from that guy as possible.

- Ugh! Mr. Voss isn't there anymore.

- Ughh...

- There's an Indian working there now.

- You mean, Mr. Owens.

- Owens? You know him?

- Uh-huh. Mrs. Jo and I met him the other day.

He bought the shop from Mr. Voss.

- Oh, are you talking about Mr. Owens?

- Yeah. I never met a real Indian before.

I seen a couple back in Boston, never actually talked to one.

- Well, now you have.

He seems like a very nice man.

- Why doesn't he have an Indian name?

- Well, I'm sure he does, Tommy.

He probably took the name Owens

when he started living among white people.

- Why would an Indian wanna live among white people?

- Might not've been a choice.

- Either they integrate into white society,

or they're moved to the reservations.

- That don't seem right.

- It's not.

- But I suppose it'd be easier for him to just...

dress in white clothes, and take a white name?

- Well, if a white person lived among the Indians,

he'd probably dress like them and take an Indian name as well.

- There. All done.

Now, go take it off, I'll hem it up for you.

- Thank you very much, Aunt Meg.

- Oh, another new dress?

- A girl can never have too many dresses.

- I'm glad you're here.

You received another letter from that women's group.

- So quickly? It's only been weeks.

- Oh well, maybe they should add Efficiency

to their motto of Patriotism, Tradition and Charity.

- Don't make fun.

The Organization of American Women

is a very prestigious society.

They don't just accept anyone, Jo.

Great Aunt March was a member for years.

I think it's only right that one of us continue in the tradition.

- What does it say?

- Oh! I can't believe it!

- What? Have you been accepted?

- Well no, not yet, but they've accepted my invitation.

- Invitation?

- I thought it would be a nice idea

to hold the interview over dinner.

That way it's much less formal.

- Oh.

- Oh, they're sending Mrs. Stanfield.

You remember her, don't you?

- Yes, of course. We met her with Great Aunt March.

She had horrible perfume.

What did you call her, Jo?

- Stenchfield.

Does that mean you'll be bringing her here to Plumfield?

- Well, yes.

Since this is where I live.

- Why do you always do this?

- Do what? - Did ever it occur to you

that it might be inconvenient for us

to have a party here at Plumfield?

- Well, it's not a party.

- It's just one guest, Jo.

- How inconvenient can that be?

- That's not the point. You should've asked.

- You really should have.

- Well, I'm terribly sorry.

I would have if I thought it would be such an issue.

Surely you're not saying she can't come?

- Oh, no, I'm sure she's not saying that.

Are you, Jo?

- Alright.

- Wonderful!

This will give me the chance to do some sprucing up in here.

As my way of thanking you

for allowing me to do this.

- [Tommy]: He was huge.

He had the meanest look on his face I ever seen.

He grabbed Dan by the hair...

and pinned him against the wall!

He was reachin' for his tomahawk,

he was gonna scalp him.

- He didn't have a tomahawk.

- Yeah he did.

I saw it. It was about a foot long

and there was dried blood all over it.

- Tommy!

There was no tomahawk.

He just wanted to know what we were doin'.

- Yeah, then Dan went and broke his mask,

right in front of him. - [Nat]: Bet he was mad.

- I'm surprised he didn't just k*ll ya right there.

- [Emil]: I hear they t*rture people to death

when they're mad at 'em.

- He can't t*rture us, cuz we ain't goin' back.

- We gotta go back.

Nick said to pick up the bridle

today after school.

- I ain't goin' back there.

- Well, me neither.

- Well, I'll just go myself.

No big deal.

- Well hey, it's, it's your funeral.

- What do you want?

- I came to get the bridle.

- It's not ready yet.

Is there something else you need?

- I, I just wanted to say...

that I'm sorry about the other day.

And I shoulda asked you if I could see the mask.

- Yes. You should have.

- What's that?

- It's tobacco.

I read that if you give it to an Indian...

it shows him respect.

- Put the glue on here,

just enough to hold the wood together.

Don't get it on the paint!

Now hold it together for a few minutes so the glue can set.

- So what tribe are you from?

- Lakota.

You would know us as Sioux.

- Oh yeah, I read about them.

I'm tryin' to read up on Indians in books...

- Books are written by white men. You won't get much there.

- Why don't ya dress like an Indian?

- I was raised by my people in Indian territory until I was .

Then I was sent east to a white school for Indians.

I learned white ways there.

I made that mask while I was there.

- But don't you miss Indian life?

- I am still Lakota.

I have not lost the traditions I learned as a child.

Who I am dwells inside me, not around me.

- But don't ya miss livin' out in nature?

Huntin' your meals, makin' your home with your own hands?

I think that'd be a great way to live.

But, don't know if I'd last too long though.

Wouldn't know what to do.

- Your father would teach you.

Indian children are taught at a very young age how to survive.

It is one of our traditions,

passed down through the generations...

just as I'm sure your family's traditions

are passed down to you.

- [Jo]: You were certainly gone a long time.

Tommy suggested sending a search party.

So, what did you talk about?

- Ah, all kinds of stuff.

About his growing up in a tribe, and huntin', fishin'.

- It sounds like a fascinating afternoon.

- Yeah. It was.

He kept talking about his family.

And all these traditions.

And I don't really have any.

I don't know anything about my family, and where I came from.

- Do you remember your parents?

- No, not really.

They d*ed when I was so young.

I sorta remember a woman,

I don't know if she was my ma or not.

And I remember livin' with a bunch a boys when I was little.

It must've been an orphanage or something.

- Listen, I'll send telegrams

to all of the orphanages in Boston tomorrow.

Someone will certainly remember you.

They'll be able to tell us about your parents.

- Well, ya think?

- I'm sure of it.

I promise you, we're gonna find out about your family.

Meg!

Have you seen Dan?

- No, I haven't.

Now, before you go inside, I need to talk to you...

- That looks like Amy's settee from her parlor.

- Yes well, that's what I need to talk to you about.

Now before you get angry, you have to remember that Amy--

Jo!

Jo...!

- Over there, by the wall,

but not too close to the door.

- What's going on in here?

- Jo!...

You're home early.

- What are you doing?

- Oh, Jo, I had the most wonderful idea!

Well, you know that portrait I've been working on?

Of Laurie, Bess and myself?

Well, I'm gonna finish it before dinner Saturday night.

It'll look just lovely hanging over the fireplace.

- Where are they going with my table?

- Oh, to my house.

I'm bringing mine in for the dinner. It's Louis XVI.

- That would look lovely in here, don't you think, Jo?

- Amy, you never said anything about redecorating.

- I said I was going to spruce things up.

- You're moving furniture, Amy!

- Only pieces!

Oh, by the way, I was wondering if the children

could spend the evening in the schoolroom?

- Why can't they stay upstairs in their rooms?

- It would just be easier if they were out of the way,

and then I don't have to worry about them getting out.

- Getting out! - Oh, you know what I mean.

- Amy, don't you think you're getting a little carried away?

- Well, all of the women in this organization

were born into wealthy families. Well, they're all Society.

If I have to compete with that, well then,

everything has to be perfect.

- If they won't accept you for who you are,

I don't know why you'd want to be a part

of this stupid organization, anyway.

- It's not stupid!

Well, not to me.

When we were growing up,

I always wanted to go to those fancy parties

and be a member of Society.

I hated being poor.

People used to look down on us like they felt sorry for us.

Maybe that never bothered the of you, but it bothered me.

I should've known you wouldn't understand,

I just thought maybe you'd want to help me.

- Alright, they can stay in the schoolroom.

- Thank you.

- It'll be over by Sunday.

- Here you are.

I have some wonderful news.

This is from the orphanage that you lived at

when you were younger.

- It is?

My name is Madison?

- Isn't it wonderful?

Apparently, a police officer brought you to them

when you were about .

- What? It says here that I ran away.

- That's not surprising.

- We have to find this police officer.

- I've already sent the telegram.

I'm just glad that the orphanage still had his name.

I told you we'd find out about your family.

I don't know why we didn't do it sooner.

- Daniel Madison.

- Keep your hand steady.

Otherwise, the arrow'll miss its target.

- I'm trying. It's hard.

- You'll get used to it.

Whenever you're ready.

- Yeah, it's good.

- Squirrel meat is tough to chew,

but it provides basic nourishment.

- Ah, wish I had got that deer.

- You will, Dan. This is your first time.

You can be proud of getting anything at all,

even if it was only squirrel.

- Ah, I got a telegram from an orphanage.

My last name's Madison.

- That's wonderful.

And perhaps they'll know something

about your other relatives as well.

Some of them must still be living.

- Yeah.

- I'm sure they'll be proud to have you

as a member of their family.

- Well, as long as I don't have to hunt for their food.

- Ha! Ha! You would've made a fine Indian.

- Is something wrong?

- I got a telegram from the officer

who brought Dan to the orphanage.

He says he found Dan roaming in the streets.

And that he only knew his first name,

but he needed a last name to be admitted into the orphanage.

So the officer used the name of the street

that Dan was found on:

Madison.

Nick, he's gonna be heartbroken.

- Maybe there's somewhere else you could look.

- I don't think so.

The officer told me that they searched for months

to find his family.

And they couldn't find anyone.

He was the only link that I had to Dan's past.

This whole thing was my idea.

You know I never should've promised him in the first place.

Now he knows he'll never have a family.

When at least before, he could dream about it.

- Mrs. Jo! Nick! Look what Mr. Owens gave me.

It's to carry arrows in.

- Oh well, that was very nice of him.

- Yeah, it was his when he was a kid.

- Um, I'm afraid I have some bad news.

I got a telegram from the officer

who brought you to the orphanage.

I'm sorry.

- That's alright, Mrs. Jo.

At least I know for sure.

- Stay in the schoolroom?

- It'll just be for a few hours, while my sister's guest is here.

- And why did she put this table in here like this?

I hardly have enough room to put the food down.

- Yeah, it sure looks strange in here.

- Well, I think it looks lovely.

- You would. It looks like your house.

- And that sister of yours still hasn't told me

what she wants me to cook for dinner tonight.

- Oh, Asia, I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you,

she's bringing her own chef.

Uh, André something or another...

- Her own chef?

- Oh, yes. He's an excellent cook. He's from Paris.

- Oh, I see. My cooking is not good enough for her anymore.

- You could... you can supervise!

- I see, hmh!

- Listen everyone.

This is very important to my sister,

which makes it important to me.

So please, cooperate.

After all...

accepting life's little inconveniences gracefully

is the Plumfield way.

- It is?

- It is now.

- Madison was the name of the street.

I lost a family that I never had to begin with.

- I'm sorry, Dan.

I too, lost a family.

When I was not much older than you, both my parents d*ed.

I felt lost, like you.

I needed guidance.

So I chose to take my Vision Quest early.

- Your what?

- Vision Quest. It's a ritual common among many tribes.

For the Lakota, it's a rite of passage into adulthood.

We go out into the most desolate place we can find,

without food or water,

and wait.

- For what?

- For the spirits to speak to us.

- Do they?

What do they say?

- Whatever needs to be heard.

- You want to sleep outside in the cold,

for days, without eating?

- Yeah. I asked Mr. Owens if I could do it,

and he, he said yeah, as long as you agree.

Mrs. Jo, I've gone longer without eatin'.

- Yeah, you didn't have a choice back then.

I don't know why you'd wanna do it now.

- To see a vision.

And then, Mr. Owens said he'd adopt me into his tribe.

If I complete it.

- If...?

Ah, I don't know Dan.

This sounds awfully dangerous.

Wait until you're a little older--

- Because I have to do it now.

I'll be careful. I promise.

- It's freezing out there.

- He said I could bring a blanket.

- A blanket?

A blanket will hardly keep you warm in this kind of weather.

- Mrs. Jo, I'll be part of a tribe.

Part of a tradition.

Please.

- You'll have to let me think about it.

- Alright.

- [Mr. Owens]: Yes, it is very dangerous.

- And he has to be out there all alone?

- I will escort him to the spot I've selected,

and return days later to escort him back.

- So, for days he's completely alone!?

- Yes.

Mrs. Bhaer, a Vision Quest is not

for the weak of spirit or body.

But I've watched this boy. He is neither.

Dan is lost.

He's seeking something that neither you nor I can give him.

A foundation.

I believe the Vision Quest

will help him discover this foundation,

which will then help him find his path in life.

I have faith in him.

- Be sure to keep it around you at all times.

- [Whispering]: I'm so sorry, Jo.

I tried to reason with her.

- It's alright. She is very talented though, isn't she?

It's a beautiful painting.

- Except we all look like members of the Royal family.

- A little more to the left, Laurie.

That's it, perfect!

- Miss Jo, they've even brought their own pans.

What am I supposed to do with everything?

- Asia, please be patient.

- I got the chicken!

- Oh, I'll take that! That's for me.

Thank you very much.

Your gloves? Put your gloves on please.

Um, everybody alright?

Who needs a hand with something?

- Jo!

- Oh, I need my violin.

- Hurry up.

- Go!

- She'll be here any second.

- I know, I know. They're almost out.

My coat! Has anybody seen my coat?

- You gotta put 'em closer to the fire

or they never gonna cook.

- Thank you, mam'zelle,

but this is how it is prepared where I come from.

- And what are you cooking anyway?

It just looks like chicken and dumplings to me.

- I assure you it is nothing like chicken and dumplings.

It is duck.

And if you do not mind, I prefer to work alone.

- Well, so do I.

- We've gotta stay away from the window, otherwise we'll be seen.

- [Emil]: Alright, so what are we supposed to do?

- Well, you could do some homework.

- On a Saturday?

- Hey, look at all this stuff.

- Where'd it all come from?

They're like costumes or something.

- They are. They were mine and my sisters,

when we were little girls.

We used to spend hours in the attic,

telling stories and putting on plays.

- What's this?

- [Jo]: Well, that's my family.

- Who drew it?

- Amy did.

That's my father,

and my mother,

there's Meg and Amy,

that's my other sister Beth,

and that is me.

- [Nan]: That's you?

- Mm-hmm.

Well, let's take a look.

- [Whispering]: Stop it.

- [Whispering]: I'm sorry,

it's her perfume! My eyes are watering.

- Mrs. Stanfield, I can't tell you how happy we are

to have you with us.

- It's my pleasure, Mrs. Laurence.

Actually, we were thrilled to receive your application.

We've been unrepresented in Concord

since your dear Aunt passed away.

She was one of our finest members.

- Well, she always spoke very highly of your organization.

She always hoped that I might become a member one day.

- Well, I must say, you've done a remarkable job

of maintaining this lovely old home.

I'd like a tour of the rest of it.

- No!

I mean, you must be exhausted from your trip.

Why don't you just make yourself comfortable

and I'll check on dinner.

- Jo!

Well, is she here yet?

- Can't you smell her?

Alright, ready?

- Hmm.

- Jo, Meg!

What a, what a pleasant surprise.

Uh, Mrs. Stanfield, allow me to present my wife's sisters:

Jo Bhaer and Meg Brooke.

- Actually, we've met once before Mrs. Stench--

Stanfield, when, um, I was a little girl.

But you probably don't remember.

- Oh yes, of course. It's a pleasure to see you again.

- I see you've met my sisters.

- Yes. It's unfortunate that your parents

couldn't be here this evening.

I'm sorry to hear that your father was taken ill.

- Ill?

I wasn't aware--

- Oh! Well, it's nothing, really.

In fact, he's already on the mend.

- Yes. Actually, I just saw him today.

He's almost back to his old self, Amy.

- Well, I hope the of you will be able

to join us for dinner.

- Of course they will.

Why don't we all sit down?

My daughter Bess is on her way to join us,

and the soup's just about ready to be served.

- Ah yes, Mrs. Stanfield.

- What are you doing here?

- Well, we assumed we were invited.

- Well, you assumed wrong.

- Well, if you don't want us here then we can just--

- No, it's too late now.

Just don't ruin this for me.

Please.

- [Mrs Stanfield]: Tradition,

Patriotism and Charity

are more than mere words to the Organization.

They are the cornerstones on which our lives are built.

- I can assure you that my family

shares in the same ideals.

They're an integral part of our daily lives.

- Especially charity.

In fact, Amy and Laurie just founded

a library for a local school.

- How very generous of you!

- Oh, yes. Father and mother are constantly doing

generous things like that.

- The March family has a longstanding tradition

of helping those less fortunate.

- That's right.

We've always been helping out wherever we can.

Remember the Hummels?

- Oh, yes.

They were a family here in town, very poor.

One winter they all got sick at the same time.

Our mother decided that

we should all go out and help with their farm.

- Do you remember?

The barn had not been mucked out in over a week.

So there we were, the sisters and Marmee,

up to our knees, we were shoveling for hours.

- [Laurie]: I remember that!

You carried that smell with you for a week...

... to town, to church!

- I thought we'd never get it out of our hair.

- We didn't always associate so directly with the poor.

- These birds aren't gonna cook,

not unless you put 'em closer to the fire.

- Are you questioning my culinary abilities?

- No. I'm just saying you're not cooking these birds right.

- Keep your hands off my dinner.

- Give--

- Gimme!

You listen here, Mr. Paris France,

I promised Miss Jo that this dinner was gonna be perfect.

And I'm gonna make sure it is. Now give me this bird!

- Careful! I promise...

Let go of the bird!

[ Pots, pans crash ]

- What was that sound?

- Oh, that's our chef.

He always makes a lot of noise when he cooks.

- He's from France.

- So, you were telling me about your education.

- Yes, well, I was tutored, privately of course.

But it soon became clear

that my tutor's skills were rather limited.

Fortunately, Great Aunt March

recognized my talent for painting,

so she took me to Europe to study with the masters.

- It sounds as though she had a profound influence on your life.

- Oh yes, she did.

She took me in hand and guided me into a world

that would've remained hidden had I stayed here at home.

In fact, everything that I am today, I owe to her.

- So what you're saying is that Aunt March

had a greater influence on you than our own mother and father?

- I can't imagine what could be taking dinner so long.

- What is that?

- Duck.

- Good heavens.

- Mr. Owens.

- I'm looking for Dan.

- Mr. Owens, you're supposed to meet me in the schoolroom.

- Nice costume.

- Yours too.

- [Nan]: Ewww!!

Who's wearing that awful perfume?

- Well, she's gone.

And she's taken with her any chance

of me ever getting accepted into the Organization.

I asked you not to ruin this evening, and what do you--

- Amy!

If anyone is to blame

for ruining this evening, it's you.

- Me! - Yes.

Do you have any idea what you were saying?

Were you listening to yourself?

- I wasn't the one who kept bringing up how poor we were.

And that story about mucking out the barn.

I've never felt so humiliated in my entire life.

- Neither have I.

I'm just glad Marmee and father weren't at this table

to hear you shame our family like that.

They would be so disappointed in you.

I know I am.

- [Jo]: Promise me that you'll be careful.

- I promise.

- He'll be alright.

- I hope so.

- I don't know why I bothered to hang it.

She didn't even notice it.

- Actually...

I like your older work better anyway.

- Where did you find this?

- The kids found it in one of our old trunks.

Do you remember the night you drew this?

- Christmas Eve.

We were so poor.

We didn't even have any presents.

I'll never forget how miserable we were.

- Miserable?

That's not what I see.

- From here, you go alone.

Then wait.

The spirits will speak to you when you are ready to hear them.

- Miss Jo?

You been up all night?

- I can't sleep.

- Again?

That's been nights in a row now.

You can't keep this up.

- I keep thinking about him.

Where he is, what he's doing right now.

Tonight's his last night.

It'll be the worst for him.

- I'll keep the water hot.

[ Forest bird twittering ]

[ Shivering ]

- C'mon!

It's been days!

Speak to me.

I'm listening.

[ Crow cawing ]

- Did the spirits speak to you?

- Yeah.

- Awful cold to be outside.

- They're late.

- I'm sure he's fine.

- He's not fine.

I took away his hope.

He had to do something as drastic as this to get it back.

Amy hasn't spoken to me in days.

I just wanted to help them.

- [Nat]: Hey everybody! Dan's back!

- [Tommy]: Dan's back!

Hey c'mon, Dan's back!

- How are you? Are you hurt?

- They spoke to me, Mrs. Jo.

- They?

- The spirits.

When I was walking back this morning.

I got this...

I, I don't know, this feeling,

that I should look down at my tracks.

I suddenly realized

I been walking in the wrong direction.

I, I been looking backwards.

and spent too much time worryin' about what's behind me

instead of looking forward.

I gotta make my own traditions,

create my own history, so that my kids

and my grandkids can follow in my traditions.

Thank you,

for letting me do this, Mrs. Jo.

And, will you come to the ceremony tonight?

- Of course I will.

- Mr. Owens is gonna gimme a Lakota name

and adopt me into his tribe.

- I wouldn't miss it for the world.

- And everybody can come! Nick, you too.

- Hmm, oh, my old writing cap.

I'd wondered where that had gone.

- I'm so glad we kept all of this.

Oh, look!

The Pickwick Papers.

[ Both laugh ]

A recipe from Beth.

[ Sighs ]

So many memories.

- Oh, look!

Do you remember this? From our plays?

- Roderigo, the villain.

Amy hated us for making her play that part.

- Yes, well, she never did like being in our plays, did she?

- That's because you always made me play the boy.

I can't believe you kept all these things.

- But there are so many memories here.

Good ones.

- There are.

Ever since you gave this to me,

I've been thinking

about the night that I drew it.

Remembering how happy we were,

even though times were so difficult.

It was because... that was the night

that father finally came home from the w*r.

Our whole family was together again.

And that was the best present that I could've ever asked for.

I am proud to be a part of this family,

and I am so truly sorry

for the way that I have treated you.

I only hope that there is some way I can make it up to you.

- Actually, there is.

- Anything.

- We need a Roderigo.

Perfect.

- Alright, here he is.

[ Both laughing ]

- So that all may know that you are my brother,

you may wear a stripe of red paint on your forehead...

and cheek.

And from this day on,

I will call you

Looking Forward.

That's it.

- Oh...

Okay.

- Except for this.

My gift to you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Well,

let's eat, everyone.

- [Nan]: Congratulations, Dan.

- [Tommy]: That's the mask you broke.

- [Nan]: Oh, beautiful mask.

- [Emil]: Let's get something to eat.

- Looks like you were wrong.

Seems to me you helped him just fine.

- He's right, you know.

You helped Dan find his future.

And Amy find her past.

- We have a pretty wonderful family, don't we?
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