Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Michael Landon | ... | Charles Ingalls | |
Karen Grassle | ... | Caroline Ingalls | |
Melissa Gilbert | ... | Laura Ingalls Wilder | |
Rachel Lindsay Greenbush | ... | Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush) | |
Sidney Greenbush | ... | Carrie Ingalls (as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush) | |
Katherine MacGregor | ... | Harriet Oleson | |
Richard Bull | ... | Nels Oleson | |
Dean Butler | ... | Almanzo James Wilder | |
Jonathan Gilbert | ... | Willie Oleson | |
Allison Balson | ... | Nancy Oleson | |
Jason Bateman | ... | James Cooper Ingalls | |
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Melissa Francis | ... | Cassandra Cooper Ingalls (as Missy Francis) |
Kevin Hagen | ... | Dr. Hiram Baker | |
Matthew Labyorteaux | ... | Albert Quinn Ingalls (as Matthew Laborteaux) | |
John Miranda | ... | Farmer #1 |
A pregnant Laura has a tough time caring for the Wilder farm when Almanzo and Charles are away on a delivery trip to Arizona; a drought and her duties at school doesn't help matters. Later, Laura has a heart-to-heart talk with Willie about responsibility and being a role model. Willie takes the discussion seriously, organizing the classmates to help manage the Wilder farm when Laura falls ill with heatstroke. Written by Brian Rathjen <briguy_52732@yahoo.com>
Another one of my favorites, probably because it featured Laura and Almanzo. They are a pretty awesome couple for sure!
Laura has to say goodbye to Almanzo for two months while he helps Charles deliver some freight to Arizona. They had just planted trees for an orchard when he left, and it was summer (though the kids were in school) and she was pregnant (and has been for the last year, it seems). In this episode, Laura stated that she had just been in Arizona, but I believe she was there during the previous summer, even though it was at the beginning of this season and she was not showing any signs of being pregnant. I'm wondering if perhaps these episodes are supposed to be in exact chronological order.
Anyways, Laura feels that she needs to water the trees. Unfortunately, the well runs dry and she has to carry water all the way from the river. She becomes sick, exhausted, and hot! Laura ends up having a heart stroke.
Another sub-plot in this story is Willie's growing up. He is quickly becoming a young man that Nels can be proud of. This episode is really a turning point for Willie.