Life in Winoka these past few months has been quite an experience, but not always a good one. Big changes were looming on the horizon, to be triggered like a domino effect. It all started when kindly vagrant Toby Noe won the local sweepstakes. A grand prize of $5,000. This will sure make some very good folks happy, as well as some folks who don't deserve to be; Meanwhile at school, Alice has taken up a collection for fireworks to properly celebrate he 4th. Sadly, they came up empty. Fireworks hadn't been permitted in Winoka because, according to Albert, it was bad for business. Nobody would visit the gambling dens because they would be home with their families. Well, they would have fireworks this year regardless, so Laura, Albert and Andrew are sent to collect donations, and while hanging a flier outside one of Standish's gambling dens, the old man comes out to give them trouble, and a snide remark from Laura sends him over to hound Charles and Caroline, who have little choice but to endure it. Seeing this makes Laura lose respect for her father, for which she is chastised dearly by her mother. That will serve the little brat right for thinking she's holier than thou. Seriously, Standish is a horrible old man, but Laura was out of line and she could very well have gotten her parents fired. That evening, Toby comes into the hotel to flaunt his good fortune to Mr. Standish, who instantly tries to get buddy-buddy with him, and even invites him to play poker. Run, Toby! At least the school would be getting fire works. Good ol' Toby bought them $100 worth. To keep Standish distracted, Toby visited him the day before Independence Day to make him think he was going to do some gambling, only that old miser actually got him playing. Well, sir, after a few hands, Toby sunk like a stone. Jonathan tried to intervene, but the result cost him his job. This was just the push he needed to make his final decision: he and his family were going home. Such talk got Nels thinking as well, but Harriett paid it no mind as she continued to get paid in big tips.
Even Caroline began pondering the prospect of going back to Walnut Grove, even though it was a dead town, but Charles decided against it, mainly because it would be unfair to Mary, taking her away from the school. She could stay here, but no, Charles doesn't want his family spread out all over. Yep, it's only about what Charles wants. What a scrub. Meanwhile, Standish succeeded in bleeding Toby dry, even taking the fireworks he bought! But Nels Oleson got smashed, told Standish where to stick it, and quit. He was determined to go home, even if it meant leaving Harriett and the kids. Still in a drunken state, Nels sat down to gamble his severance pay; Mary came by to have a heartfelt talk with her Pa, letting him know it was okay to leave her behind. She was grown up now, and love held no boundaries. Everybody has to do what's right for them; as Nels turned his severance into a lump sum, Standish's brat son Jeb discovered the fireworks in the upstairs storeroom, so naturally he thought it would be a smart idea to light one, and the result was one big, spectacular fireworks show that Winoka ever had. Standish's gambling den was blown out as the miser watched on in disbelief. With perfect timing, Charles handed in his resignation and decreed they would join the Garveys in going home to Walnut Grove.
Well done! Great episode from start to finish. Not only good writing, directing and acting from Michael Landon, but Leon Charles was terrific as that nasty Standish, and Ray Bolger stole the show as Toby. What a great character. It was also nice to see Nels stand up to a bully and get himself drunk. Compliments to Richard Bull; Standish is probably the nastiest character in the show's history (well maybe except for that bastard who tried to drown the puppies in "Remember Me"), and I'm sure glad poetic justice prevails in the end when he literally sees his empire go up in smoke. Well, next time we join the Ingallses, Garveys and Olesons as they head home to the Grove. Lord only knows what big changes await them there.
Even Caroline began pondering the prospect of going back to Walnut Grove, even though it was a dead town, but Charles decided against it, mainly because it would be unfair to Mary, taking her away from the school. She could stay here, but no, Charles doesn't want his family spread out all over. Yep, it's only about what Charles wants. What a scrub. Meanwhile, Standish succeeded in bleeding Toby dry, even taking the fireworks he bought! But Nels Oleson got smashed, told Standish where to stick it, and quit. He was determined to go home, even if it meant leaving Harriett and the kids. Still in a drunken state, Nels sat down to gamble his severance pay; Mary came by to have a heartfelt talk with her Pa, letting him know it was okay to leave her behind. She was grown up now, and love held no boundaries. Everybody has to do what's right for them; as Nels turned his severance into a lump sum, Standish's brat son Jeb discovered the fireworks in the upstairs storeroom, so naturally he thought it would be a smart idea to light one, and the result was one big, spectacular fireworks show that Winoka ever had. Standish's gambling den was blown out as the miser watched on in disbelief. With perfect timing, Charles handed in his resignation and decreed they would join the Garveys in going home to Walnut Grove.
Well done! Great episode from start to finish. Not only good writing, directing and acting from Michael Landon, but Leon Charles was terrific as that nasty Standish, and Ray Bolger stole the show as Toby. What a great character. It was also nice to see Nels stand up to a bully and get himself drunk. Compliments to Richard Bull; Standish is probably the nastiest character in the show's history (well maybe except for that bastard who tried to drown the puppies in "Remember Me"), and I'm sure glad poetic justice prevails in the end when he literally sees his empire go up in smoke. Well, next time we join the Ingallses, Garveys and Olesons as they head home to the Grove. Lord only knows what big changes await them there.
