Episode Summary
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GUEST STAR
Bill McLennanMr. Walsh
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Dean Butler
Almanzo James Wilder (co-star prior to season 7)
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Melissa Gilbert
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls/Wilder
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Jason Bateman
James Cooper/Ingalls (1981 - 1982)
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Kevin Hagen
Dr. Hiram Baker
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Matthew Laborteaux
Albert Quinn Ingalls (1978 -1982)
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Missy Francis
Cassandra Cooper/Ingalls (1981 - 1982)
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (5)
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Watch carefully the scene where Almanzo, already stricken with diptheria, rushes outside during a hailstorm. Laura follows behind, trying to pull him back into the house. He was supposed to be extremely weak, but he really manages to push a pregnant Laura back very roughly, possibly even backhanding her. When he collapses and she bends over him, she has blood running down her front teeth. It's very brief, but clearly visible. I guess we're supposed to believe that Almanzo had actually struck his pregnant wife in the face.
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In this episode (as well as "A Wiser Heart," which aired earlier this season), the audience really gets to see more of the type of relationship that Laura and Eliza Jane had in real life. On the TV series, the two of them were close for the most part, but in episodes like this, Eliza Jane is rude, disrespectful, and not always kind to Laura, which is exactly how she was in real life.
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This episode marks the first time that we see Charles Ingalls hold one of his grandchildren--Rose, who is his third grandchild. Remember that Mary miscarried her first son, and then her second infant son was killed in a Season 6 fire, and we never saw Charles actually hold and enjoy him.
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Laura gives birth in this episode after announcing her pregnancy last season. She is the only character on the show who ever had a baby and went through the actual nine month pregnancy on the show. With Charles Jr and Grace Ingalls, and Laura's second child Baby Wilder, they were all born within one episode, and Mary's two pregnancies took their full course within just a few episodes.
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The real Rose Wilder was born on December 5, 1886, which doesn't match up with the warm season in which she was born in this episode. However, in Season 9's A Child With No Name, it was mentioned that Rose was born in the winter, so it seems the writers of the series couldn't make up their minds!
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QUOTES (7)
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Old Man: You were a million miles away. Charles: Yeah, I guess I was. I was just thinking. Old Man: Yeah. When young folks stare off into space, they call it thinking. When old folks do it, they call it senile! I've got a bushel of children, and they all think I'm senile.
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Laura: You don't need a wheelchair! You could only walk if you tried! Almanzo: We've been all through this. You don't know what it's like. Laura: And you don't know what it's like for me to watch my husband just give up! I think you want to be a cripple. Almanzo: What kind of thing is that to say? Laura: The truth, that's what! Almanzo: Beth, you know that I have tried. Laura: Oh, yes. Just long enough to give up. Doc Baker gave you exercises, and you won't even do them! Almanzo: They don't work! Can't you understand that? Laura: No, I don't! I don't understand anything about you anymore!
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Charles: (trying to take out a loan for Laura and Almanzo) All right, they need about three months to get back on their feet. If a loan could be paid up to date and paid three months in advance, how much would that take? Mr. Anderson: Well, let's see..... (does the calculations) Close to a hundred dollars. Charles: That much? Mr. Anderson: I'm afraid so. Charles: What will it take for the bank to loan me that much? Mr. Anderson: A lien on your house. But I wouldn't advise it, Charles. Times are hard. You could be placing your entire family in jeopardy. Charles: Part of my family already is. I can't let my kids lose their house.
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Charles: I wish there was another way, but there just isn't. Caroline: But the railroad. It's so dangerous! Charles: That's why they pay so much. Caroline: You'll have to miss the birth? Charles: I'm afraid so. But at least my grandchild will have a roof over his head. Caroline: Charles, I want you to promise me that you won't stay on that job one day longer than you have to. Charles: Caroline, I'm gonna be all right. Caroline: Not one day longer. Charles: I promise. I told the children I'm going on a great adventure. If they see you taking it like this...... Caroline: (voice breaks) If I lost you, I don't think I could go on. Charles: Oh, don't say that. (hugs her) I'm coming back to you. I love you.
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Laura: (in bed with Almanzo) I know we've had a hard time choosing a name, but I have the perfect one if it's a girl. Cassandra brought me a rose today, and I just thought, "That's it. Rose Wilder." It's perfect. What do you think? Almanzo? (turns around, Almanzo is sound asleep, she smiles) Rose Wilder it is.
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Laura: It's so warm upstairs. Do you mind if I sleep down here tonight? Almanzo: You really want to lie next to a cripple? Laura: I want to lie next to my husband! Almanzo: He doesn't exist anymore.
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Eliza Jane: How's Laura? Caroline: (turning to Almanzo) She's fine, and so is your new baby daughter! Meet Rose Wilder! Isn't she beautiful? Almanzo: Good thing it's a girl. A man can't very well play ball with his son when he's a cripple!
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NOTES (4)
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The real Rose Wilder married Claire Gillette Lane on March 24, 1909, when she was 22 years old. The two divorced in 1918 because they "grew apart," but some say that Lane was an abusive husband.
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Featured characters: Laura and Almonzo
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Dean Butler was credited as a guest in this two-parter, as the story revolves around his character's illness.
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This was a 90 minute episode.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.
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Two Cousin Olivers
05/21/121
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whos dead? whos alive?
04/02/1239
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season nine
03/15/1218
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Walnut Grove mysteriously re-appears after the last farewell?
03/11/123
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Funniest episodes/lines
03/10/123
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