01x07 - Philanthropy

[bunniefuu]

- Pick her hooves well, Nat.

She has a way of collecting a lot of stone and dirt.

- Yup.

Mrs. Jo? - Mm-hmm.

- You think I could ride her one day?

- Oh, of course you can, Nat.

[ whinny ]

You know, I was about your age when I learned to ride her.

She'’s got a lot of spirit...

but she'’s also very gentle.

Aren'’t you, Penny, hmm?

- [Nick]: Okay Dan, you get those...

- Yes, that'’s my girl!

What'’s going on?

- Got some books for our library.

- We don'’t have a library.

- We do now.

- "Call me..."

- "Ishmael."

Isn'’t this great, Aunt Jo?

Shakespeare, Milton, history books...

- Well, it'’s wonderful, but where did they all come from?

- My father gave them to us.

- "Dear Jo, during my last visit to Plumfield,"

"I took notice of the fact that your school'’s library,"

"or lack thereof, could use some augmenting."

"So please accept these books as a gift to the Plumfield school,"

"for the further enrichment and enlightenment"

"of its outstanding students."

- Your father'’s quite a philanthropist.

- What'’s a philanthropist?

- Well, there'’s a dictionary, Nan. Why don'’t you look it up?

- Laurie has been so good to this school.

- There must be over books here.

- Well, if you ask me, I think we already had enough books.

- You can never have too many books, Dan.

- Oh, here it is...

"Someone who shows a deep concern for mankind,"

"especially as shown by acts of benevolence."

Benevolence?

- It'’s in there.

- Oh, Franz.

- I think this is the finest gift we'’ve ever received!

- Well, we better get started buildin'’ some new bookshelves.

- Nick! Coyote got in the paddock, spooked Penny!

[ whinny ]

- Please, Penny, calm down!

- Penny!

- A coyote was sniffin'’ around the chicken coop!

I scared it away, but it ran through the corral!

[ whinny ] - Penny!

- [Nick]: Nat, look out!

- Penny, whoa! Penny!

- [Nat]: No Penny, please!

- Penny!

- [Nat]: No Penny! No!

Penny, come back!

- Hey Nat, you all right?

- I'’ll saddle up and go after her.

- I'’m going with you.

Where could she have gone?

- It'’s gonna be dark soon,

we should start headin'’ back.

Penny knows the way home.

She'’ll probably make her own way back.

- Well, she did the last few times she got lost, so...

- Well, there you go. Probably already there waitin'’ for us.

Let'’s go, come on.

[ door opens, closes ]

Still no sign of her.

- It'’s pretty cold out tonight.

- She'’s a tough horse, Jo. She'’ll be all right.

- That she is.

She'’s been through quite a few scrapes.

- You'’ve had her a long time.

- I found her when I was .

- Found her?

- She was stuck in a bog.

It was so deep, I didn'’t think we'’d ever get her out.

She was just a little thing, a yearling.

There we were... Meg, Beth and myself,

pushing and tugging, getting absolutely filthy,

while little Amy stood on dry ground

laughing about the whole mess.

But we finally got her out.

We searched all over Concord for her owner,

but no one claimed her.

So my father said that I could keep her.

So I brought her home and I...

washed her coat and I brushed her down.

And she was the most brilliant color copper I had ever seen.

Just like a brand new penny.

- I'’ll go back out at first light, keep lookin'’.

- Thank you.

- Hey, Bess, I'’ve got a book for you.

- [span tts:fontStyle="italic"]Frankenstein.[/span] Very funny, Emil.

- All right, I think we should all send Mr. Laurence

a note of thanks for his wonderful books.

- Okay, sure. - Yeah. - Good idea.

- I just thought of the perfect assignment to give you.

Philanthropy. Nan looked it up...

It means, having a love of mankind

demonstrated by acts of benevolence.

Kindness.

For your next assignment, I'’d like each one of you

to perform an act of benevolence

and then give a speech to the class about it.

- You mean, do something nice for someone?

- That'’s right.

Be thoughtful, be creative,

but most of all, be generous.

And afterwards, I think you'’ll be pleasantly surprised

by how good it'’ll make you feel.

- It'’s a stupid assignment.

- You know, I kinda like it.

- Yeah, you would.

- What do we have to do, give a present to someone?

- No, Isaac...

You don'’t necessarily have to give a gift to anyone.

You just have to do something nice.

- I'’m planning on giving a vocal recital.

I'’m gonna sing a Schubert leider for everyone.

- It'’s benevolence, Bess... not t*rture.

- Hey Nan, maybe I'’ll give you my jackknife,

if you give me your pet mouse.

- You have a pet mouse?

- It'’s not about trading things, Tommy.

It'’s like Franz said, you know,

kindness and generosity.

- I have an idea.

Let'’s make this more interesting,

the person who does the nicest thing,

the others do his or her chores for the next week.

- That'’s a great idea.

- I don'’t know... - Wait a minute.

Who'’s gonna judge this little contest of yours?

- Well, Franz is gonna grade the papers,

so the highest grade wins.

- Sounds good to me.

- Me too.

- I suppose so.

- Why not?

- Dan, have you seen Nick?

- I, uh... think he'’s still out lookin'’ for Penny.

He'’s gonna find her, Miss Jo.

I know he will.

- I see you'’ve already started on the bookshelves.

- Yeah. I figured I'’d get a jump on it.

- Well, have you found any books that interest you yet?

- Uh... no, not really.

I'’m... not much of a reader.

- Well, I'’ll bet I could find a book that would interest you.

- Yeah, probably could.

But you know me, I'’d rather be outside doin'’ stuff,

instead of sittin'’ inside reading a book.

- Well, I can understand that.

I mean, there are a lot of wonderful things

to experience out there.

- Yeah.

- I find that when I read a book,

it opens my eyes to things that I may not have noticed before.

And that makes me appreciate the world

outside my window all the more.

[ whinny ]

- It'’s Penny.

You found her! Where was she?

- You'’re not gonna believe this...

she was stuck in the mud, just past Walden Pond.

- Oh, ha-ha! You'’re always getting yourself into trouble,

aren'’t you, Penny!

- Hey, Nick, what happened to her legs?

- Ah, must of banged '’em when she was runnin'’ off.

I'’ll clean and wrap '’em.

Keep an eye on '’em, make sure they don'’t get infected.

- I'’ll help you.

- But aside from being cold and exhausted,

I think she'’s all right.

[ whinny ] - Aahh...

- Thank you, Nick.

- Hello, Tommy.

- Hey, Mrs. Jo.

I made you some tea.

- You made me some tea?

- Yeah. Although Asia helped me clean up

the first cup after I spilled it.

- Oh, I see. Thank you.

- Probably got a little cold

walking over here from the house.

I went real slow.

- You did? Good.

- And I put some sugar in it, too.

- Oh... Well, that was nice of you, Tommy.

- Yeah, that'’s real generous, ain'’t it?

- Yes... yes, it is.

- Well, guess I'’ll go now.

- All right. Good night, sweetheart.

- Good night, Mrs. Jo.

- All right, that'’ll do it for tonight.

- Should I bring some fresh hay down from the loft?

- No, she'’s got enough.

- Well, is there anything else I can do for you?

- Nope, that'’s it.

- Well, are you hungry? I could make you something to eat.

- Uh... no, Emil. I'’m fine, thanks.

- How is she?

- Glad to be back in a warm barn, you can be sure of that.

- Yeah, she'’ll be back to normal in no time.

- I found it. - What?

- That book I thought you'’d like.

[span tts:fontStyle="italic"], Leagues Under the Sea[/span] by Jules Verne.

It was published last year, it'’s very popular.

Nick, have you heard of it?

- No.

- Oh, I have. A friend of my uncle'’s read it.

It'’s about this submarine, that goes around attacking ships.

- A what?

- A submarine. It'’s like a boat that goes under water.

It even gets att*cked by a sea monster.

- A sea monster?

- It'’s quite a story, Dan. Full of adventure.

- Can I read it, too? - Of course, Emil.

Nick, maybe you'’d like to read it as well?

I'’m sure a good sea story would interest you.

- Ah, I wish I could, but I can'’t.

- Come on, Nick.

Surely you can spare some time in the evening

to read with the boys.

- Nah, that'’s not what I'’m talkin'’ about.

When I say I can'’t, I mean, I can'’t read.

- Y-you, you can'’t read?

- Nope.

- Not at all?

- Not a lick.

- Well, then, how do you write your name?

- I don'’t.

Guys, come on... I grew up on a farm,

went to sea when I was .

Schoolin'’ just wasn'’t a part of my life.

- Well, now that you'’re working at a school,

maybe you can make it part of your life

and learn how to read now.

- No, thanks.

Never had a need for it growin'’ up,

don'’t really see a need for it now.

- [Isaac]: He can'’t read at all?

- Not a word. He can'’t even write his own name.

- Hey, Mrs. Jo, did you know Nick can'’t read?

- Yes... I did.

- Well, I can'’t imagine going through life

being unable to read.

- I know, think about it,

walking down the street, can'’t even read the signs.

I wonder how he gets around?

- [Isaac]: Yeah, it must be hard.

- Somethin'’ wrong?

- No...

Nothing'’s wrong, Nick.

- I think we all need to remember how fortunate we are.

For some people growing up, education is not an option.

- She'’s right.

People like Nick had it pretty tough their whole life...

Growing up poor, losin'’ their folks when they were just kids.

He had to do everything on his own.

If you ask me, he'’s done a pretty good job of it.

He'’s been around the world...

seen places that most of you only read about

in some stupid book.

- Who wants breakfast?

I made porridge for everyone.

It'’s my gift to you.

[ whinny ]

- Hi, girl.

She looks good.

- Cuts are healin'’ nicely.

Don'’t think we have to worry about infection.

- Good.

- But she'’s still shiverin'’.

Have to keep her covered to make sure she'’s outta the draft.

- And keep her out of the mud.

[ neigh ]

[ whinny ]

About the children earlier...

- I know what they were talkin'’ about. I heard em'’.

- They didn'’t mean any harm by it.

- It'’s no big deal.

- Listen, Nick, have you ever given any thought

to learning how to read?

- Why?

- Why?

Because reading is such a valuable tool in life,

it'’s an essential tool.

- It can'’t be that essential, I haven'’t needed it.

- Well, maybe not,

but your life could be that much better with it.

Nick, reading provides us with the means to be able

to reach beyond ourselves and our circumstances,

therefore giving us new opportunities.

- I'’ve had plenty of opportunities in my life.

- You don'’t understand-

- No, I don'’t. I don'’t know why you gotta go

making somethin'’ outta this when I already told you,

it'’s no big deal.

- But I promise you, if you learn how to read,

you will be thrilled with the new world that opens up to you.

Your life will be the richer for it.

- So what, I gotta sit up in the classroom with the kids?

- No. I'’ll give you private lessons.

No one else has to know, unless you want them to.

Nick, you don'’t seem like the type of person

that would turn his back on a challenge.

Who knows, maybe this could be your next big adventure?

- Oh, if it means that much to you.

- All right then. Bye, sweet thing.

- All right class, we'’ll begin this morning with arithmetic.

Please take out your pencils and your paper

and copy down these problems.

- So, have you done anything generous yet?

- I'’m still trying to figure out what to do.

- I made Mrs. Jo some tea.

- So? That'’s easy.

- Hey, what about my porridge?

I worked all morning on it.

- And I almost choked.

That stuff was awful.

- Well, what have you done?

- Yeah.

- I helped Nick with Penny.

- Hey, you woulda done that anyway.

- He'’s right, Emil.

You gotta think of somethin'’ better than that.

- And you'’re gonna have to do better than that porridge.

- Excuse me...

You have problems to copy down.

- So... teach me.

- Oh! Nick, you can'’t start off with this.

It'’s much too difficult.

We'’ll start with this chart to learn the alphabet,

and then we'’ll move on to this reading primer

to learn small words and sentence construction.

It'’ll be fun, you'’ll see.

Okay, this is an A.

- What'’s that say?

- "The Pretty Kitty."

"The pretty kitty is soft."

"The pretty kitty likes to play."

"I love the pretty kitty."

- I don'’t think this is gonna work.

- Nick, come on. You have to start off simple.

- "The Pretty Kitty?"

- I'’m sorry, it was designed for young children.

Look, we won'’t use the primer, how'’s that?

Now please... just sit back down, sit back down.

All right, watch this...

This, is an N.

As in... navigate. Okay?

This is an I

Iceberg.

C...

Uh... cannon.

And this last one... is a K.

As in kettle.

Kitty.

No, but look! Look...

When you put these letters together...

that spells Nick.

- Huh?

Nick.

- That'’s your first word.

- Mrs. Jo! I just went to check on Penny and she sounds strange.

She'’s coughin'’ and wheezin'’.

- I better ride for the vet.

- The lungs are filling.

This animal has pneumonia.

Exposure to the cold air outside overnight

is no doubt what brought it on.

It can present itself very quickly.

What'’s critical now is to make certain

the horse is well cared for,

which will require your assistance.

- Anything, Doctor.

- You'’ll need to mix up

several doses of Sweet Spirit of Niter.

Mix half an ounce of this in a pint of cold water,

and feed it to the horse times a day...

Morning, noon and night, until the animal seems stronger.

You'’ll also need to thoroughly rub down the legs.

- Rub down the legs?

- Rubbing increases the circulation.

You should also apply a mustard plaster over the lungs.

If the horse responds to the treatment,

the disease should run its course

anywhere from to days.

Keep the animal warm and away from any drafts.

We don'’t want this developing into pleurisy.

- What'’s that?

- A much more serious condition.

Let me know if anything changes.

- [Nick]: We will.

- Thank you, Dr. Cassidy.

- You'’re still up?

- I couldn'’t sleep.

- How'’s she doin'’?

- Well, I just reapplied the mustard plaster,

but her breathing is still rough.

- You should try to get some sleep.

- It'’s okay. I don'’t mind being out here.

It reminds me of the first night I brought her home.

I spent the whole night in the barn,

carving her name in the wood above her stall.

I ended up falling asleep in the hay.

- She'’s worse. I'’ll get the vet.

- It'’s pleurisy.

I'’m afraid there'’s nothing to be done.

The horse should be put down.

It'’s the only humane thing to do.

If you'’d like, I can take the animal and we'’ll-

- No!

We'’ll do it.

- I'’m terribly sorry.

- My sweet Penny...

You'’re always getting yourself into trouble, aren'’t you?

You'’ve been such a good friend to me.

I'’ll miss you so much.

Goodbye, girl.

Take her, before the children wake.

- [Dan]: Hey, Nat, can you teach me anything

from that fly book you'’re reading?

- [Nat]: I can cover the whole world of...

- Nick, what happened?

- I went to check on Penny, and she was gone.

- She got worse overnight,

nothing could be done.

I'’m sorry, boys.

- Mrs. Jo...

we just want you to know that we'’re really sorry about Penny.

- If there'’s anything we can do for you, just let us know.

- Thank you... all of you.

Penny was very dear to me, and I'’ll miss her very much.

But I think the best thing for me

is to try and get things back to normal.

How'’s the supply in the loft?

- Ah... we could use more, as usual.

I'’ll try to get into town later and get some.

- I was hoping that maybe later this afternoon

we could do another reading lesson.

- Uh... today'’s not a good day, got a lot of stuff to do.

- All right then, maybe tomorrow?

- Sure.

- Okay, after breakfast?

- All right.

- She'’s teachin'’ you how to read?

- Yup.

Figure it'’s time for me to find out what all the fuss is about.

- Yeah, well, you'’re not missin'’ much, believe me.

It seems like the more words you learn,

the more confusing it gets.

And some of it just doesn'’t make any sense.

Like um... the K in Kn*fe.

- K?

- Yeah. It usually has a hard sound,

like in um... kid or kite.

- Or kitty.

- Right.

So anyway, the K in Kn*fe, is silent.

- Silent?

- Yeah, you don'’t pronounce it,

it'’s like it'’s not even there.

But you better make sure you put it there when you spell it.

- It don'’t make any sense.

- Exactly.

- So, what'’re you so worried about?

- The assignment'’s due the day after tomorrow.

I wanna make sure my generous act is the best.

- Nan'’s goin'’ into town tomorrow.

Said there'’s lots of generous things to do there.

- Hmm, maybe I'’ll go into town too.

- [Nat]: What'’re you gonna do?

- [Emil]: I don'’t know, I'’ll think of something.

But it'’ll definitely be more generous

than anything Nan can come up with.

- [Isaac]: You gonna go to town, Nat?

- Dan, what are you doin'’ here?

- Um...

Penny?

Penny!

- Easy, Dan! She'’s still real sick.

- But I...

- I was gonna...

but then I got to thinkin'’ maybe the vet

was givin'’ up on her too quick.

And I know how much she means to Mrs. Jo.

- So... what'’re you gonna do?

- I got permission from the farmer here,

to leave her in the stable for the time bein'’.

I worked with some army vets in the w*r,

saw horses with conditions like this

come back from the brink of death.

Penny'’s tough...

figured she might come back too.

- Mrs. Jo'’s gonna be so happy-

- No! You don'’t tell Mrs. Jo nothin'’.

There'’s still a very strong chance this horse won'’t survive.

I don'’t want Mrs. Jo getting her hopes up.

- Yeah, I'’ll keep quiet.

Can I help you, Nick?

- Sure. Rub down her legs while I mix some medicine.

- Right.

- Thank you so kindly. Will you take--

- Oh, I couldn'’t take that, Ma'’am.

- Are you sure?

- It was my pleasure. - Oh, thank you.

- Oh...

- Can I help you, Ma'’am?

- Why thank you, young man.

- Can I assist you to your buggy?

- Wait a minute, I was gonna help her!

- I got here first!

- Gimme that box!

- No! She gave it to me! Didn'’t you?

- Well, yes, actually--

- No fair, Nan! Get your own lady!

- I saw her first!

- I got to her first!

- Oh thank you, young man.

- [Nan]: Hey!

You can'’t do this, Emil!

- I got her fair and square!

- No you didn'’t! She'’s mine!

- Gimme that!

- My groceries!

- Look out!

- Aahhh!!

- I'’m almost ready here with the mustard.

- Still breathin'’ real hard.

I can see it in her flanks.

I tried to make her cough, but she won'’t.

- What'’s that mean?

- Don'’t wanna move her chest, it hurts too much.

- Well, do you want me to mix together

some more pain medicine?

- Yeah.

I was hopin'’ to see some improvement today,

but she'’s still getting'’ worse.

- Nick...

Where'’ve you been?

- Uh... I had some things to do in town.

- Oh, well, I missed you this morning.

I thought we were gonna have a reading lesson.

- Right.... sorry.

- Well, perhaps we can do it tomorrow then.

- I don'’t think so.

I'’m gonna be busy again...

- Oh...

Nick, if you don'’t want to do this then just tell me.

- No, I do. It'’s just--

- Because this really isn'’t very important to me,

I'’m just doing this for you.

- I know. It'’s just...

now'’s not a good time.

- I see.

Well... if you want to give up then that'’s fine with me, I--

- I'’m not giving up!

- Really? Because it sure seems that way to me!

[ sighs ]

- Fine! I'’m givin'’ up! Is that what you wanna hear?

- Well, at least you'’re admitting it,

instead of hiding behind excuses.

- Don'’t you ever get tired of bein'’ so high and mighty?

Always gotta prove you'’re right.

Always gotta show everyone just how smart you are!

- This isn'’t about me!

Nick, I'’m doing this for you!

- No, you'’re tryin'’ to make me into something you want me to be!

- I'’m not trying to make you into anything!

I'’m simply offering you the chance to better yourself!

- Well, I like myself just fine.

- Really! Well then, fine! Don'’t change... don'’t learn.

If you don'’t feel the need to improve your life,

then just keep doing what you'’ve been doing!

I guarantee you, you will always be the same!

- Franz?

have you seen Nick?

- He left a little while ago.

- Where did he go? - He wouldn'’t tell me.

He just said he had some things to do.

Dan went with him.

- Dan?

But it'’s a school day?

- I know.

- What if Penny'’s worse this mornin'’, Nick?

- Probably best to put her down.

- Yeah, well... I'’m sure Mrs. Jo

would appreciate everything you'’re doin'’.

Oh, yeah, how'’s the readin'’ goin'’?

- It'’s not.

It ain'’t for me.

Ahh... I don'’t know, maybe I shouldn'’t

be workin'’ at Plumfield.

Not too good for the school'’s image, you know.

- Are you still thinkin'’ of going back to the sea someday?

- Yeah, someday.

- You said you were when you first went to sea?

- Yeah... just a kid.

- I'’m almost .

- Dan, you get your schoolin'’ finished

before you go boardin'’ any ships.

- But you didn'’t.

I mean...

I like Plumfield and all...

just lately, I'’ve been doing a lotta thinkin'’.

I mean, all you really need from life

is experience you pick up along the way, right?

Isn'’t that the way it'’s been with you?

- I was in town late yesterday...

And I ran into Edna Gerson...

who normally is the kindest,

sweetest little old lady in town.

But yesterday she was furious.

It seems she was accosted by children

fitting the description of students at this school.

They said they were trying to help her,

but in the process, they ruined her groceries

and nearly got her run over by a carriage.

Take a good look at this word.

Nowhere in its definition does it mention

the words selfishness, or personal gain.

It is not about competition, or one-upmanship,

but that is exactly what you have made it about!

- I hope one day,

you will understand the true meaning of the word.

'’Cause you sure don'’t understand it now.

- Whole chest is fillin'’ now.

Gettin'’ worse.

- Isn'’t there anything we can do?

- I don'’t know.

Saw an army vet once stick a tube

in a horse'’s chest to drain fluid.

He said he'’d seen it work a few times.

But the time I saw him do it...

it didn'’t.

- Yeah, well, maybe we should at least try that.

Maybe Dr. Cassidy knows how to do it?

- Better hurry then... she don'’t got much time.

[ knocking ]

- Yes?

- Is Dr. Cassidy here, Ma'’am? It'’s urgent.

- No, I'’m afraid he went to Boston for the week.

- Ma'’am, we need to know about a procedure

to help drain a horse'’s chest.

Does the Doctor have any books or anything we can look through?

- Come in...

- [reading with difficulty]: "It is also possible"

"although rarely successful and therefore not recommended,"

"to puncture near the bottom of the chest"

"with a... small trocar... and... cannula,"

"and let the fluid out of the chest."

It gives instructions how to do it.

- Trocar and cannula?

- In the case, I'’ll get them for you.

- They'’re still not back?

- No.

- I'’m sure there'’s a good reason for their absence.

- It'’s not so much that they'’re gone that worries me...

it'’s whether or not they'’re coming back.

- It says you can drain as many as buckets of fluid.

- All right, I'’m ready.

- "Make the puncture at the bottom of the chest..."

"between... the eighth and the ninth rib."

That'’s okay, Penny...

"If the procedure is successful..."

"improvement can be expected within... to days..."

"However... a complete recovery

will take about a month."

- We'’ll have to keep our fingers crossed then.

- Yeah...

Well, it'’s a good thing Dr. Cassidy had this book, huh?

- Good thing you were here to read it.

- Dan?

Where were you?

- I was, uh...

with Nick.

- You were supposed to be in school.

- I know... it'’s just that...

Nick needed my help.

- With what?

- Some things... in town.

- In town?

I was in town today, I didn'’t see you there.

- Well... we made a lot of stops...

and we'’ve been moving around a lot.

- Where is Nick?

Dan...

Please...

do not lie to me. Where is Nick?

- Mrs. Jo, I...

I can'’t...

- Why not?

- Please...

- All right then, off to bed with you.

We'’ll discuss this in the morning.

- [Nat]: Nick'’s back!

[ whinny ]

- Penny?

Penny!

Penny!

Penny! Penny... Oh, sweet girl.

What happened?! You took her away and I thought that--

- Told you she was a tough horse.

Just figured she needed a little more time.

She'’s still pretty weak, but she'’s definitely on the mend.

Oh! Don'’t wanna forget...

Got something for you...

- Hah! Did you make this yourself?

- Nah! Dan helped with the letters.

I'’ll put it up... above her stall.

- Thank you.

[ whinny ]

- Now you understand.

- "Immediately,"

"one of those... long t- tent..."

- Tentacles...

- Oh, tentacles... Thanks, Nat.

"Uh... tentacles came sliding through the opening..."

"like a serpent..."

"while others... flailed about overhead."

"With one blow from his axe,"

"Captain Nemo cut through the..."

"the formidable tentacle..."

"which slithered, squirming down steps."

- Good night, Penny.

Good night, girl.

[ whinny ]

Sweet dreams.