Doc Baker quotes from Little House on the Prairie

Caroline

[to Doc Baker about Mary] I don't know what to do anymore. She says she's a burden to us and she hates it. I tell her it isn't true, but it just doesn't do any good.

This might sound harsh, Caroline, but I think you're trying to do too much. She has to learn to do for herself, if she's to have any kind of life.

Charles

But she can't do for herself, Doc. We have to take care of her.

Do too much and she'll retreat to bed, and she'll stay there. I haven't been trained in caring for the blind, and neither have you. She needs the help of people who have.

Charles

Well, where do we find those people?

There's schools for the blind. The nearest and one of the best is in Burton, Iowa.

Caroline

That's so far away! No, she needs her family.

Caroline, she's living in fear and resentment. With the proper help and training, she'll be a different person.

Charles

The doctor's right, Caroline. Can you contact them for us?

Certainly. Believe me, Caroline, it's what's best for Mary.

Albert, why don't you wait outside for a minute?

Albert

Doc Baker, I want to know what's wrong with Sylvia. I was her beau until her Pa got mad and told her she couldn't see me anymore.

You were? For how long?

Albert

I don't know, a few months. Why?

She's with child.

Albert

What?

She's with child, son. Have you and her ever--?

Albert

No. No.....no! I never.....I nev--oh, God! [runs out]

Albert! He's not lying, Doc.

I believe him.

[to Charles] What you're asking for is a miracle.

Charles

I've spent my whole life believing in God's word. Why shouldn't I ask for a miracle?

Jenny

[about Matthew] Well, Doctor? What's wrong with him?

I think Matthew's suffering from morphinism. It's a condition that affects normal behavior due to the extended use of morphine. I saw quite a bit of it after the war.

Well, how would he have gotten that way?

My guess is that McQueen has been using his elixir to keep the boy sedated.

I'm sorry, Doc, I don't see the connection.

Isaiah, that elixir that McQueen is peddling probably has a morphine base. I'd have to test it to be sure. Anyway, all he had to do was give the boy large doses of the elixir and he was able to control his moods.

You mean, that's why the boy was acting crazy?

Exactly. When he wants the boy to go wild, all he has to do is withhold the solution, just long enough for the boy's need to bring on the violence.

Jenny

How could anybody do that to a boy?

Oh, Jenny. That and worse may have been done to him. I examined Matthew's throat. At some point in his life, he swallowed some lye, and that's why he can't speak. I hope to God it wasn't done deliberately.

Doc Baker, I will not have you present at the burial of our child.

Almanzo

Beth, please.

No! Not when our son is dead because of him.

Laura!

Just go away. You're not wanted here.

Laura, we have a chance to cure Rose, but I want you to know the seriousness of this illness. There is no known medicine. We can only do what I know to do. Can you accept that?

I'll have to. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, nothing will change the way I feel about what happened to my baby boy. Nothing.

[pauses] So be it. My only concern now is to cure Rose.

Caroline

[about the baby] He's still not gaining.

Well, he's not gaining, but he's not losing. Just holding his own. I think we'll try putting him on regular milk. I believe that'll do the trick.

Caroline

But his appetite is good.

Well, there might be something wrong with your milk, Caroline. It's just a difference in body chemistry. That's what they call it.

Caroline

It's never happened before.....

Oh, now, don't start worrying. Everybody starts worrying when they don't have a fat baby.

Caroline

Oh, I'm not worried, just so long as you say everything's all right.

Everything's fine.