09x13 - Sins of the Fathers

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Little House on the Prairie". Aired: September 11, 1974 - March 21, 1983.*
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Based on Laura Ingalls books series revolved around the adventures of the Ingalls family who owned a farm in Walnut Grove during the late 1800s.
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09x13 - Sins of the Fathers

Post by bunniefuu »

You tell me the proprietor
of this hotel is mr. Oleson?

Yes, sir.

Leave my luggage
at the desk.

Tell them I'll
be back shortly.

Thank you, mr. Reed.

Reed: oh, boy...

Where do I rent a rig?

The stables
are across
the way there.

I'll need
a small carriage.

Make sure it's clean.

Sorry, mister. You're
gonna have to walk
over there yourself.

I'm kind of busy.

Be back in less
than 10 minutes.
You can keep the change.

Good afternoon, sir.
What can we do for you?

I understand you're
the proprietor of
the local hotel.

Ah, yes.
I'm harriet oleson.

This is
my husband nels.

We own the restaurant
across the way,

And, of course,
the mercantile...

Well, all the businesses
of any standing
in the community.

I would like a room
with a large bed
and a private bath.

Harriet: yes, well,
hester-sue, the woman
who works for me,

Will be more than happy
to accommodate you.

I'm usually not
accustomed to dealing
with the employees

Of an establishment,
mrs. Oleson.

I'll also need a desk
and a telephone.

Well, I'm sorry.
None of the rooms are
wired for telephones.

Well, perhaps this
will cover the costs
of installation.

Oh, yes,
well, of course.

We would be
more than happy
to accommodate you.

Uh, that's
mister, um...?

Reed, elliott reed.

Reed? Reed, reed...

Elliott reed...

Oh, are you by any chance

Related to
the mankato reeds?

Until this trip, I've
never been in mankato
in my life, mrs. Oleson.

Oh, well...

Now, if you could
just tell me where
john carter lives,

I'll be on my way.

Straight down the road,

About 2 1/2 miles the other
side of the bridge.

Thank you.

Elliott reed--that name
is so familiar to me.

Mrs. Oleson, have
you ever heard of

The "new york
globe telegram"?

Well, yes,
of course, but--

I own it.

You--you--
he--he owns it!

What on earth
do you want with
the john carters?

I'm sarah's father.

A nickel an hour's
a lot of money
for a boy your age.

You sure you're worth it?

Mrs. Mcandrews
thinks I am.

Jason: yeah.
Wait till she's
seen your work.

She's seen my work
plenty of times.

That's why she
upped my wage.

All right.
That's enough.

I don't want to hear
any bickering or jealousy
at the supper table.

Is that clear?

Jason, you've always wanted
to help your father out...

With jeb busy the next
while, now's your chance.

Jason: the pay's
not as good.

[Horse nickers]

That must be almanzo.

I promised him
I'd take a look at his
wagon hitch after supper.

Oh.

It was a great meal.

Thank you.

[Knock on door]

Elliott.

Hello, john.

Daddy.

Jeb, jason...

Say hello
to your
grandfather.

-Hello.
-Hello.

I don't think
they remember me.

Here, boys. A little
get-acquainted present
for each of you.

Aw...

Look at these poles.

They're spinners.

What do
you boys say?

Boys:
thank you.

Now, go out and put
the fear of god
in the local fish.

And for my daughter...

A bottle of
the finest perfume
in all of france.

I don't understand.

What are you doing here?
Where's mama?

And this is for john.

It's only a fur cap,

But I figured you'd
make good use of it.

I hear tell that
minnesota is the coldest
state in the union.

Thank you.
I appreciate it.

Well, why don't
we all sit down?

Jeb, pull up a chair
for your grandfather.

Yes, ma'am.

Well...

You still
haven't answered
my question.

What brings you
all the way
out here?

Can't be
the newspaper
business.

No. I wish it were.

Your mother passed away
last month.

I didn't think a letter
was appropriate.

How did it happen?

Influenza.

Complications set in
almost immediately.

She woke one morning
with a fever,

And by nightfall
she was gone.

Oh, my god.

I kept meaning
to go back
and see her.

I'm sorry, ma.

Excuse me.
I'll be right back.

John: you'll stay to supper?

Oh, yes, I was
counting on it.

It'll give me
a chance to get to
know my grandsons.

Good.

Jason, you want to
set another place?

Jason: yes, pa.

John...

[Crying]

[Knock knock]

Daddy.

I didn't think
you were going to
be free until noon.

For a fellow newspaper
publisher, I am free
at any hour of the day.

Are you feeling
all right?

You don't look as if
you're taking very good
care of yourself.

I didn't sleep
very well
last night.

The news about mama
hit me pretty hard.

I imagine it would.

I'm glad I could afford
to take the time off
to be here.

Me, too.

Well, now, why don't you
give me a grand tour of

The "walnut grove gazette"?

[Stifled chuckle]

I'm afraid
you're looking at it.

This is
the sum and total
of my publishing empire.

Well, I'm surprised that
you have any empire at all.

You know, when you were
a little girl,

You stayed as far away
from my newspaper
as you possibly could.

Maybe too far away.

You could always
come back, you know.

No...

I don't think so.

This is my home now.

Home?

Without a museum...
Or theaters...

Or central park?

Remember?

I know. I miss
all those things...

But I like the open air

And the cornfields
in the springtime...

Cows wandering loose
through the middle of town.

There's something magical
in a place like this.

How do jeb and jason
feel about it?

Oh, to them
it's like heaven
on earth.

You sound
very convincing...

But I've seen
how you live.

I can't actually
believe that you are
very happy here.

Oh, but I am!

I have my family,
my friends,

Even my newspaper.

I saw a copy
of your newspaper
at the hotel this morning.

Don't tell me that
writing stories

About church bazaars
and barn raisings

Is very fulfilling.

That's the way
we live around here.

I'll leave the big
news stories to you.

I don't buy that,
sarah.

If you want to publish
a newspaper, you might
as well publish it right.

Now, what were you
working on when
I walked in here?

Uh...just an article...

About the school
book drive.

Do you want
to read it?

No, and I don't believe

Any of your readers
want to read it either.

When do you go to press?

Uh...the middle
of the week.

Good, that gives us
some time to pull it
out of the fire.

Daughter,
some scrap paper...

I'm going to show you
how a real newspaper
publisher works.

Well...

What do you think?

Looks fine.

What is it?

It's a brake rod.
We're going to use it
to fix doc baker's rig.

How much are you going to
charge him to do that?

Now, why would you
ask me a question
like that?

Just wondering how much
money you make.

Jeb's earning
a nickel an hour,

And grandpa's rich.

Are we rich?

Elliot:
good morning.

Good morning,
elliott.

So jeb's making
a nickel an hour, is he?

Yes, sir.

Wow! A quarter!

Thanks, grandpa!

Go on. Fatten the coffers
at oleson's mercantile.

You shouldn't
have done that.

Just consider it
my contribution to
the local economy.

I was looking
out my window first
thing this morning.

You've been here
since the cr*ck
of dawn.

Yeah, well,
I've got more work
than I can handle.

I've been sending people
over to sleepy eye.

And you're very
diligent, john.

I must confess,
I never said
you were lazy.

How would you
like to make
$40.00 a week?

I'd love it. And how do
I go about doing that?

You know how just
as well as I do.

It's the same pressroom
job I've been offering
you all these years.

You mean the one
I keep turning down.

I want a better life
for sarah and the boys.

And as far as I can see,
you're the only one
holding them back.

Is that what
sarah told you?

No. Sarah's a woman.
She's starry-eyed.

But if you
were to decide to
move to new york,

You could bet
your bottom dollar

She'd pack up
and move there
with you.

I can't afford to bet,

And we both like
living here.

Now, for the first
time in your life,
be reasonable.

I'm offering you
a job a hundred men
would k*ll for.

Well, then I certainly
think one of them
should have it.

-John!
-Elliott, the answer is no!

[Sing-song]
walnut grove!

Man over phone: yes,
I'd like to speak to
linda mcandrews, please.

Oh.

This is her brother.
I'm calling from
st. Louis.

Uh-huh. Just a moment.

[Telephone buzzes]

Hello?

Andy.

I'm fine. How are you?

Oh, guess what.

I haven't had a drink
since I've been here.

No. I don't even keep it
in the house,

Except for a little rum
for my mincemeat pie.

Well, as far as walnut grove
is concerned, uh...

I'm the widow mcandrews.

I want it
to stay that way.

Sarah,
isn't this better?

The article on the scandal
at the commodities market
right at the top,

And just below it,

The piece on the german
immigration problem.

Where's the article
that I wrote

About all the help
the town gave
the simpsons

After their house
b*rned down?

Page 4, lower
left-hand corner.

Oh, I was hoping
that would be
the main story.

My dear sarah,

Last year,
the editor-in-chief
of the london "times"

Came all the way over
from england

To consult with me
about my publishing style.

If my advice
was good enough for him,

It's good enough for you.

Oh, good morning,
mrs. Oleson.

Good morning.

We're awfully busy
right now.

Oh, well, this
will just take a moment.

After our conversation
yesterday evening,
I went right home,

And I wrote this
little article

That I thought
possibly you could use.

[Chuckles]

Possibly.

What is it?

Come here, madam.

Yes?

Where I come from,

We do not
split infinitives!

Oh, uh--uh, well...

It must be just
a little oversight
on my part...

Elliott.

Is it all right if
I call you elliott?

No.

Oh.

You're going to get
sunstroke unless
you sit a spell.

Well, you're paying me
good money, and I can't
very well take a rest

With all that work
I've got to do.

Jeb carter,
it's my money,

And I will spend it
as I see fit.

Come on over here
and talk to me.

What are you
doing home?

Have you seen this?

Daddy--my father
ran it off
this afternoon.

"Whispers,
by harriet oleson."

"Linda mcandrews,
the young widow

"Who recently purchased
the old campbell house

"And who has tried so
hard to endear herself
to the community,

"Is not what
she seems at all.

"For several months now,
she has managed to
hide her true identity

"From the citizens
of walnut grove,

"Attending church
services regularly

"And contributing to
local charities.

"But in truth,
the widow mcandrews
is a divorcee

Trying to escape
her alcoholic past."

Oh, my god.

Oh, that poor woman.

Hi. Mrs. Mcandrews?

I was wondering
if I could take
the morning off

To go fishing
with my grandpa.

That's fine with me.

I'll be back by noon.

Don't bother.
I don't want you
around here anymore.

But your garden's
not nearly ready
for planting--

What's the matter?
Don't you read your
mama's own paper?

I don't want you
setting foot on

My property again,
you hear?

Oh, I think we better
move on. I haven't
had a single bite.

What about jeb?

This is where he was
supposed to meet us.

He's late.

We'll leave his pole
here and he can fish
where he wants.

Here. Fetch me
that tackle box.

Yes, sir.

There he is!

Hey, jeb, guess what.

Grandpa got us
a jar of fish eggs.

It's the best bait
in the world.

Isn't it,
grandpa?

Why did you and mrs. Oleson

Say those things
about mrs. Mcandrews?

All we did was
print the truth.

All you did was hurt
her for no reason.

You've never even met her!

Here. Keep it!

I don't ever
want anything
from you again!

Now, jeb,
you come back here!

I'll not have you
speaking to me that way!

Did you
say something bad
about mrs. Mcandrews

In the newspaper?

I only told
the truth, son.

She's a nice lady.

Well, then maybe you'll
just want to trot along

After your brother.

He doesn't
give me quarters
and fishing poles.

What's the matter
with you?

Nothing.

You sure about that?

I'm glad to hear it.

What was
your grandpa like?

Well, I never knew
my grandfather
on my mother's side,

But grandpa carter was
a great big bear of a man.

He was a blacksmith.

When he was about
your age, he helped
build the erie canal,

And digging up a ton of
earth a day made a man
out of him real fast.

Did he teach you how
to be a blacksmith?

And he taught me how
to be a human being.

Grandpa carter never
shook hands with anybody.

He'd wrap those
arms around you
and pull you up tight. Huh!

The way he looked
and the way he laughed...

Sounds like
you got along
pretty good with him.

Yeah. But he could
rattle windows

When anger got
the best of him.

He always used to say
he liked laughter
a whole lot more

Because anger was
a pretty lonely business.

Guess I'm pretty
lonely right now.

Weren't you supposed
to be out fishing
with elliott?

I hate him, pa.
I wish he never came
here in the first place.

Those are mighty
strong words, son.

Well, look at what he did
to mrs. Mcandrews.
She was my friend,

But now she won't
let me come near her
because of him.

Mrs. Mcandrews is
a good woman,

And I was sorry
your grandpa decided
to print that story.

Well, I don't understand
how ma could let him do
something like that.

Whoa. Your grandfather
tends to run things
the way he sees fit.

Well, when's he going
back to new york?

In time.
But for now, I want you
to remember one thing:

He's your grandfather.

Well, I'll remember it,
but I don't have
to like him.

Whoa.

Good afternoon,
sarah.

Well, hello, daddy.

I want to take you
for a ride.

I want you
to show me
this countryside

You say you love
so much.

Oh, I can't. I--

I have an errand
to run.

Good. I'll take you.
Climb up.

Where are we headed?

To linda mcandrews'
place.

Why would you want
to go there?

I owe her
an apology.

I've waited too long
already.

An apology?

That's absolute
nonsense, girl.

You don't want to apologize
for printing the truth.

Daddy, she was hurt
by that story.

And grover cleveland
was madder than a hornet

Because of a story
I printed in my paper
two weeks ago.

He's been demanding
an apology ever since.

And if
I won't apologize

To the president
of the united states,

I'm certainly not
going to have my daughter

Apologize to
an insignificant
young woman

Who lied her way
into this community.

Now, are you ready
to show me the sights?

[Glass breaking]

Linda: sarah!

Sarah carter,
you come out here!

I want to talk to you!

What's the matter?
You afraid to look me
in the face?

[Laughing]

It looks like I got
you out of bed.

[Laughing]


What a pity.

Oh, linda,
I'm so sorry.

You wanted a town drunk.
Ha ha! Now you got one.

Congratulations,
mrs. Publisher.

Why don't you come
in the house? We'll talk.

You stay away from me!

Mrs. Mcandrews,
please!

Is that you, jeb?

Why don't you tell
your mother about all
my riverboat trips?

I'm sure she could
fill in the blanks

With a real juicy story
for the next edition.

[Giggling]

Damn you.

Damn you. Damn you!

John, I've got
to talk to her.

She's in no condition
to talk to anybody.

Come back to bed.

Sarah?

Hi, laura.

Where's rose?

Jenny's tending her.

Do you have a minute?

Yeah. Got all the time
in the world.

Sit down.

Ahem. I can't seem to
concentrate on anything
but linda mcandrews.

Well, she's the reason
why I'm here.

I didn't want you
to hear about it
from anybody else.

It seems she had
a really rough marriage.

I guess that's why
she started drinking.

Guess the article
in the "gazette"

Didn't help matters
much, did it?

She left town
last night.

She got drunk and
did a lot of damage to
the inside of her house.

It's all my fault.

Nobody's blaming you.

It's my paper,
not my father's.

And it's certainly not
harriet oleson's.

I don't know why
I let that man
do this to me.

[Sniffles]

I feel like...

Such a child
when I'm around him.

Well, if it's
any help to you...

I feel exactly
the same way when
I'm around my father.

My ma told me...

That we probably never
really get over that.

I never had a chance
to get to know charles
very well...

But he seems so...

Loving...and open.

Your father isn't?

Not at all.

He's...he's always
been so...

Important,
so full of himself.

I grew up thinking
that all men were
born like that.

And then I met john.

But daddy never
approved of him.

He tried everything
to keep us apart.

We finally
had to elope.

It took me years
to convince my pa

That almanzo and I
should get married.

Even after
he said yes...

I could tell that
deep down inside...

He wasn't ready
to let go of me yet.

I'm afraid that
daddy will resent john
till the day he dies.

Do you like elliott?

My father?
Of course I do.

But only because
he's your father?

Oh, laura...

Oh, I'm so frightened.

He's my own father.

I've been poisoned
by him.

[Sobbing]

[Knock on door]

Jason, would you get that
for me, please?

Yeah.

Grandpa, come in.

Jason, jeb. Sarah.

Well. I'd almost
given up on seeing
you today.

Well, I had a lot
to attend to.

Perhaps you boys
would like to go
out and play.

Your mother and I have
something to discuss.

Sarah: go ahead.

You can finish
your homework later.

Come on, jason.
We've got chores
to do anyway.

Sarah:
don't go too far.

Supper's going to be
ready in an hour.

I spoke to a mr. Fordwick
at the rutledge boys' school

In west hampton,
long island.

He's expecting
to see jason in a month,

And jeb's enrolled in
the new canaan m*llitary
academy a week later.

And you and john can come
and live with me until you
find a place of your own.

I didn't agree
to any of this.

I trust you mentioned
our little conversation
to your husband.

No.

Then I'm going to have
to speak to him myself.

Daddy, I know what
he's going to say.

[Door opens]

Elliott.

John, I'm glad
you're here.

Maybe you can talk some
sense into my daughter.

Why? What's
going on?

Well, I was trying to
outline the advantages of
moving back to new york:

Excellent schooling
for the children,

Good jobs for both of
you, with a future,

A proper home.

What's wrong
with this home?

John.

No. I'm asking
a question.

What is wrong
with this home?

Well, that's
kind of obvious.

This shack you call
a home isn't fit
for human habitation.

The boys sleep in a loft.
You pump your water
from a well by hand.

I'm glad I didn't let emma
come out here after all.

Mama wanted
to come visit us?

When she heard you were
moving to walnut grove.

But the timing was wrong.
She was in no shape
to travel.

Why didn't
you say something
about this before?

Well, I didn't think
it was important.

I--i thought
she didn't care.

Months and months
went by without
a word

From either of you.

Well, you know
how new york is.

Fast-pace,
everything on the move.

Daddy, how long
was mama sick?

I want to know
the truth.

I had her moved
to a sanatorium in
connecticut a year ago.

Consumption.

She didn't die
of influenza, then?

I could've gone
to her?

No. There was
nothing you could do.

The poor woman was very ill.

I didn't see the need
to burden you.

Didn't see the need?

You sent her all the way
to connecticut,

And then you
deliberately kept me
from her...

At a time when
she needed me most?

You had no right
to do that.

I have every right.
I'm your father.

Well, you're everybody's
father, aren't you?

Mama's, mine, john's,
everybody's.

Everybody has to do
what you say.

Is that the kind
of nonsense

Life in this prairie town
has taught you?

It's taught me
independence.

It's taught me
that I'm not your
little girl anymore.

I'm a grown woman
with a husband
and two children.

You may get your way
with your editors
and your reporters

And even the president
of the united states,

But not with me,
not ever again.

Sarah, I gave you
everything you have--

Everything
you ever asked for--

But I'll cut you off
if I have to stand here

And listen
to any more of this.

I think you
should go now.

Ever since she met you,

She has been rebellious
and intractable.

I didn't approve
of her marrying you,

But she went ahead
and married you anyway.

I didn't approve
of her moving west,

But here she is.

She has rejected
my advice and my offers
of help at every turn.

You don't
give advice, elliott.
You give orders.

She's tired of being
pushed around by you,
and so am i.

Now, you've given her
nothing but grief
ever since you got here.

Now, this may be
a shack,
but it's our shack,

And you're not
welcome in it.

I'll be on
the morning stage.

Are you all right?

I'm good.

I'm fine.

[Knock on door]

Oh, good evening,
mr. Reed.

I have something here
I think might be
of interest to you.

It's my next column
for the "gazette."

Oh, please not tonight,
mrs. Oleson.

Well, it has to do with
the mcandrews woman.

What about her?

Well, you won't
believe this,

But reverend alden actually
went into sleepy eye,

And he found her,
and he convinced her

To move back
to walnut grove.

Can you imagine?

That--that reverend actually
aiding and abetting a--

A woman
of that caliber.

Yes, indeed.

I see you've taken
the poor reverend
to task, too.

Oh, well, "the poor
reverend," as you say,

Is certainly not above
the simple rules of decency.

And neither
on rare occasions is
a newspaper publisher.

And that's why
I'm doing walnut grove

And my daughter
and you the courtesy

Of ripping
this slanderous piece
of garbage to shreds.

-Good heavens--
-good night, mrs. Oleson.

What time's
the stage leave?

About a half-hour.

I guess he'll be
glad to get back
to new york.

Minnesota's not
his favorite place
on this earth.

I don't suppose we'll
ever see him again.

I wouldn't think so.

John...

Please.

I'll hitch up
the team.

[Thunder]

All right, folks,
let's load up.

That storm's
moving in
awful fast.

Daddy, i...

I'm surprised
to see you here.

We just couldn't let
you leave without...

Saying good-bye.

I was afraid we'd
said our good-byes
yesterday.

Yesterday's over
and done with.

We said our piece,
and you said yours.

And I still wish
you were going
back east with me.

I know you want what's
best for us, but i--

No. I don't want it
for you...

But for myself.

When you get older,
you find out that

You're not as strong
and independent as
you think you are.

You look around
and suddenly find
you're all alone.

The top floor of the
"globe telegram"...

Gets to be
a mighty lonely
place at times.

Jason: you're coming
back, aren't you?

I believe you owe me
the next visit.

Can we go
to coney island?

Yes. It'll be
our first stop.

And, jeb...
I'm sorry about
mrs. Mcandrews.

I really hope that
things are going

To be all right
with her.

I do, too.

John, I wish you
the very best.

To be honest
with you,

The only hurt you
ever did me was...

To take my place.

I expect you to take
good care of her.

She's the only
family I have.

Jeb: we're all
your family.

You're our grandpa,
aren't you?

I can't keep
a stage full of
people waiting.

Good-bye, sarah.

I'll write
to you when I get
to new york.

Is that a promise?

Daddy...

I love you.

Sarah...

I love you, too.
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