“Unfinished Business” quotes from Criminal Minds

[about Matthew] I don't understand. What is he--

It's called sign language. He can't talk no other way.

But there was nothing wrong when he was a child. He was already beginning to talk.

Seems somebody at the workhouse wanted to teach Matthew a lesson, so they forced lye down his throat.

If I had a remembrance book, I would surely write down about the day we came to Plum Creek.

I'm looking out at the congregation today, and I must say that I'm distressed. I see many familiar faces, but the absence of several others. I see many women here without their husbands. If one of those people had experienced a loss this week, then I'm sure I would have heard about it. Now, we're all sinners, some to a lesser degree than others, but still sinners. It is only by attending Church and asking for God's forgiveness that we can be cleansed of those sins. Think upon that for a minute.

Nellie

[to Laura and Mary] Country Girls!

Ma always says to "turn the other cheek." I just wondered when Nellie Oleson's mother would get around to telling her the same thing.

Bye, Ma. Bye, Pa. Bye, Carrie. [hugs them all and leaves for school]

Charles

[to Caroline] That's an awful lot of good-byes for someone who's going to be home for supper.

[as she recites her essay] "My Mother." My sister Mary is going to tell you how Pa brought us west, and how hard he worked. And I don't mean to take anything from him by telling you that Ma worked plenty hard herself. Still does. She cooks, and cleans, and sews, and cares of the lot of us, Pa included. I remembered once when I was little, coming down with the fever. Ma stayed up beside me all night long. I slept some, but she, never. Anytime I'd open my eyes, she'd be there, smiling, holding a cold cloth to my head. Now, with Mary and me "sprouting up," which is what Ma calls it, if there's ever the least littlest noise in the night, Ma would come climbing up the ladder, into the the loft, to make sure we're all right. I reckon there's times when she gets bone tired, but you'd never know it. Her smile is the last thing I see before I close my eyes and the first thing I want to see in the morning. Ma's been selling eggs to the mercantile, and she saved enough money to buy some yard goods for a new dress. This morning, Mary and me found out she made dresses for the two of us instead. That's because she loves us. That's the kind of mother Ma is, and that's why we love her so much.

Charles

[to Caroline after the hail storm] The wheat's gone, but it's nothing to be solemn about. I guess you might say we're right back where we started. I mean, it's just one harvest. Now, what's one harvest in a man's life, huh? It's nothing. [hugs Caroline]

Caroline

[to Charles] And boots for you! The first nickel we spend goes on boots.

Charles

Well, what's the matter with these? They were just starting to get comfortable on me.

Caroline

I was afraid that one morning, you'll pull them up and they'd slide clear up to your knees!

Charles

What did you girls learn in Sunday School today?

Mary

Susan Zigler passed a note to Freddy Hopkins and it made Amanda Butterfield jealous!

Charles

I meant about religion.

Caroline

Mr. Edwards! What a wonderful surprise!

Yeah, well, you know me, like a bad penny, always showing up.

[to Caroline] You tell me something, ma'am. Tell me why God let my wife and daughter die. Well, I'll be gone before you get back from Church tomorrow. I hate good-byes, so it's better all around if I'm just gone.

Caroline

Mr. Edwards, do you understand what you're doing? You're punishing God! And if you go on punishing him for what happened in the past, you're not going to have any room for the future. I'd feel so sorry if you did that.