Stone Soup 

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,... See full summary »

Director:

Maury Dexter

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, 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
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

Storyline

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.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the beginning of this episode, Laura (Melissa Gilbert) states "the baby isn't due for another four months". The real Almanzo and Laura Wilder's first child, Rose Wilder, was born on December 5, 1886, which means this episode would have been set in approximately late July/early August of 1886, several years later than dates mentioned in previous episodes. Also, Almanzo and Laura were living in De Smet, South Dakota when Rose was born and not Walnut Grove, Minnesota, where the Ingalls family moved in 1879.

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Goofs

When Laura is out in the field working, she faints and the water falls out the buckets she was carrying on her shoulders, in the next shot there is no water on the ground.

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Quotes

Laura Ingalls Wilder: I have enough to worry about than to worry that my father and husband could be massacred at any minute!

User Reviews

Heat stroke!

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 1982 (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:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1