I'll Be Waving as You Drive Away: Part I 

Long hours studying by candlelight for the state teacher's exam results in tired, blurry eyes for Mary Ingalls, prompting a routine visit to the eye doctor; but when Charles is told that ... See full summary »

Director:

William F. Claxton

Writers:

Blanche Hanalis (developed for television by), Laura Ingalls Wilder (based upon the series of books "Little House" by)

Stars:

Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Michael Landon	...	Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle	...	Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Gilbert	...	Laura Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson	...	Mary Ingalls
Rachel Lindsay Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Sidney Greenbush	...	Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush)
Dabbs Greer	...	Reverend Robert Alden
Kevin Hagen	...	Dr. Hiram Baker
Katherine MacGregor	...	Harriet Oleson
Karl Swenson	...	Lars Hanson
Ford Rainey	...	Dr. Burke
Merlin Olsen	...	Jonathan Garvey
Robert Kenneally	...	Seth Barton (as Rob Kenneally)
Alison Arngrim	...	Nellie Oleson
Jonathan Gilbert	...	Willie Oleson

Storyline

Long hours studying by candlelight for the state teacher's exam results in tired, blurry eyes for Mary Ingalls, prompting a routine visit to the eye doctor; but when Charles is told that Mary's worsening sight is just the beginning of a much more serious problem, the concerned father can't bring himself to tell his beloved daughter that she will, most certainly, soon be completely blind.

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Plot Keywords:

eyeglasses | sibling rivalry | scarlet fever | optometry | optometrist | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real Mary Amelia Ingalls (1865-1928) lost her sight due to viral meningoencephalitis and not scarlet fever as once thought. She did attend a school for the blind for seven years in Iowa, then lived with her parents until their deaths. She then lived with her sister, Grace Pearl Ingalls Dow and then with her sister, Caroline Celestia "Carrie" Ingalls Swanzey until Mary's death from complications from a stroke and pneumonia. Mary helped support the family by making fly nets for horses. She never married.

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Goofs

In part 2 Mary wore her coat but in part 1 when she got into the wagon she didn't have have her coat with her.

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Quotes

Charles Ingalls: I wanted to talk to you. See, your Mother and I have been hoping and... praying, but it was the scarlet fever and it weakened the nerves in your eyes.
Mary Ingalls Kendall: It'll get better, won't it, Pa? My eyes will be alright again.
Charles Ingalls: The doctor thinks that it'll get worse
Mary Ingalls Kendall: Pa?
Charles Ingalls: He uh... He feels that... your gradually going to lose your sight.
Mary Ingalls Kendall: Blind? I'm gonna be... blind?

User Reviews

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1978 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ed Friendly Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

49 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1