Little House on the Prairie Season 1 quotes

Charles

[about Albert] I just keep wondering where I went wrong. A man couldn't have asked for a better son than him.

It's hard to say. He just got caught in a bad crowd.

Charles

But it all happened so fast. Granted, I worked late every night, and I didn't spend the time with him that I should have.

Oh, now, don't be blaming yourself for working hard. The boy should have understood that. You've got no reason to feel guilt. You know what I think? I think we go about raising kids all wrong. The minute they get old enough to work, then the father ought to just quit and go off and lay in a hammock somewhere! Right? Let the kids take over. The man's done his share.

[to Charles] If I were to drop the charges against your boy, what would you do? You can't just let it go on like this.

Charles

To be honest, I don't know.

You've got to get the boy out of the environment that he's in now.

Charles

But how?

I think that if I were you, I'd take him back home to your little town.

Charles

Oh, I wish I could, but I can't. I can't pull up stakes now. My wife has a job here. The children have their schooling, their new friends.

Do you have any family there?

Charles

Yeah. I have my daughter and her husband.

Maybe he could live with them.

Charles

Without us?

Mr. Ingalls, if things remain as they are, he's going to be living away from home, anyway, in a workhouse.

Charles

[as his eyes fill up with tears] I know you're right, but away from the family. Maybe I can talk to my wife. Does that mean that you'll drop the charges?

[smiles] Yes. We could go on down to the station house right now if you want. You won't get a good night's sleep after having a cup of my coffee, anyway.

Charles

[to Charles] Your mother and I had a talk.

Albert

Oh?

Charles

And we decided that it would be best for you if you were out of the city, so I'm going to take you back to Walnut Grove.

Albert

I don't want to go back. I have friends here. I like it here.

Charles

Albert, what you want and what's going to be are two entirely different things.

Albert

I'm not going.

Charles

You'll do what I say.

Albert

And if I don't?

Charles

If you don't, then I'll ask Mr. Gibson to change his mind and press charges against you.

Albert

You would do that?

Charles

I've have to do that. I'm not going to sit back and watch you destroy your life, and your mother's, and mine. I'm not going to do that. You're not the only one in this family. You're hurting all of us and I'm not going to let it happen anymore.

[about naming the baby] It was so much easier when we were sure it was gonna be a girl.

Almanzo

Yeah, and the only problem is, I can't think of a boy's name similar to Elizabeth.

All right, Baby Wilder. Time to greet the morning! [reaches into the baby's crib and stops cold) Baby? [long pause, backs away] Manly? MANLY!

Almanzo

Beth, what is it?

There's something wrong. There's something wrong with the baby! Oh, God!

Jenny

[walks in as Laura backs away in shock) Aunt Laura, what's wrong? Aunt Laura?

Almanzo

[tries to wake the baby up, long silence] Dear God. He's dead. Our baby's dead.

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.

Nels

[to Harriet] You deliberately snubbed Doc Baker.

Harriet

Oh, did I?

Nels

Yes! He's a fine man, and he's a--

Harriet

He's a quack! That's what he is!

Nels

He's a friend of mine! And as long as he is, you will be civil to him.

Harriet

Oh, is that so?

Nels

Yes, that's so. And please keep your totally irresponsible opinions of him to yourself.

Harriet

Irresponsible?!?!?

Nels

Yes!

Harriet

That man should thank his stars that he is walking around free, and not behind bars where he belongs. Why, he as much as murdered Laura's child!

Nels

That's not true!

Harriet

It is true! And Laura herself believes it!

Nels

Laura is a disturbed person! A person in her condition has got to have somebody to blame. Time will bring her around, but you have no reason to--

Harriet

You listen to me, Nels Oleson and you listen with both of your ears! The town has turned against Doc Baker.

Nels

With no small thanks to you, I'm sure.

Harriet

Because he's incompetent, that's why! Can't you get it through your head? I will never, and our children will never go into his office ever again because if we do, that's irresponsible! [storms out]

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.

Willie

Mother? I have something to say to you, and I'm only going to say it once, so I want you to pay attention.

Harriet

Willie, there's nothing that you have to say--

Willie

Mother, I'm talking! You're listening! You've been complaining to me and to Father, and to anyone else in Walnut Grove that'll listen to you that Rachel is ruining my life. Now, I've kept quiet about it because I thought you'd realize how wrong you are, but I'm not going to keep quiet about it any longer. If anyone is ruining my chances for a happy life around here, you are!

Harriet

Me?!

Willie

Yes, you! Rachel is my best chance for a happy life, and I don't ever want to hear you say another unkind word about her. Now, we are going to open up the restaurant, and you can stay here until you accept the fact that Rachel and I are getting married, because that's exactly what we are gonna do!

Harriet

Oh, fine, fine! Fine, go ahead! Marry her, marry her! What do I care? I won't be there, I promise you that!

Willie

Fine! That's your decision. Oh, and by the way, Mr. Edwards is going to be my best man! [he and Rachel leave]

Harriet

Oh, there, you see? Do you see what that-that wench has done to him?

Nels

[smiles] Astonishing.

Nels

[about Rachel and Willie's wedding] Brings back memories, doesn't it, Harriet? Remember how upset my mother was? She didn't want me to quit college and get married. I believe she said that it would ruin my life. But she was wrong. Marrying you was the smartest thing I ever did.

Harriet

Do you really mean that?

Nels

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing.

Willie

[about not going to college and marrying Rachel] You don't think I'm doing the right thing, do you?

Nels

Son, if it feels right to you, then it's right. You've got to live your own life, not your mother's or mine.

Willie

You mean that?

Nels

Of course I mean it. And congratulations. You've picked yourself a fine young lady.

Willie

I know.

Nancy

You're Mr. Montague, the famous writer!

That is correct.

Nancy

Then you know how I must feel. Pouring your entire soul into your writing and then having somebody tell you it's no good.

I have never had that experience.

[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.