Little House on the Prairie – S01E03 – News of the World – Transcript

Little House on the Prairie (2026)
Season 1 – Episode 3
Episode title: News of the World
Original release date: July 9, 2026

Plot: As the house on the prairie approaches completion, a troubling encounter makes the family reconsider their decision to settle in Independence.

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Transcript

Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.

[birds chirping]

[Mary, Laura] ♪ ‘Twas down in the meadows ♪

♪ The violets were blowing ♪

♪ And the springtime grass Was fresh and green ♪

Do you think Mr. Edwards would have had time to deliver a letter before he left?

Who are you writing letters to?

No one.

[mosquitoes buzzing]

[slaps wrist]

Ow.

[Laura giggles]

Ma says it’s because I’m sweet, and you’re too salty for mosquitoes to bother with.

I’d rather be salty than mosquito food.

We’re not supposed to go this far.

All these bushes are loaded.

And if we bring back enough berries for Ma to dry, we’ll have pie all winter.

You should stop eating them, then.

[women speaking Osage indistinctly]

[inquisitive music playing]

Hi! Hello! I’m Laura.

Stop.

[women speaking Osage]

I wanted to meet them.

Ma’s gonna be mad.

[Mary sighs]

[Mary] Laura!

[both grunting]

[door clicks into place]

[uplifting music playing]

I hope my house will look half as nice.

It will.

Thank you, Mr. Scott.

Who knows how long it would’ve taken to finish it without your kindness.

Get back to work on yours tomorrow.

Looking forward to it.

Mr. Ingalls. Ma’am.

[chuckles] Aw.

[laughs]

Charles, we’re not newlyweds. We’ve been sleeping inside for weeks.

It’s the principle of the thing.

[chuckles]

[joyful music playing]

[Charles] It’s not bad, right?

It’s perfect.

[joyful music continues]

[Mary and Laura giggling]

The china shepherdess. [giggles]

That means we’re home.

Yes. Now we’re home.

Safe and sound.

[Mary giggles]

[Mary, Laura] ♪ The fox went out On a chilly night ♪

♪ He prayed to the Moon To give him light ♪

♪ For a many a mile to go that night Before he reached the town-o ♪

♪ Town-o, town-o ♪

♪ Many a mile to go that night Before he reached the town-o ♪

[clapping]

[Mary laughs]

Is it a present?

What?

The surprise in town.

It’s the post office. The new post office is the surprise.

It’s not a surprise if you already know about it.

Pa said there was a surprise.

Did I say something about a surprise?

[unsettling music playing]

[horses nicker and whinny]

Everything’s fine.

[music ends]

[brass band playing]

[indistinct chatter]

[man] Want a cookie? Here you go.

[horses neighing]

[Eli] Ah.

Well done, Mr. Ingalls.

Thank you.

Well done.

Beautiful work.

Thanks.

Great stuff.

Ah, Jacob.

[Laura] Pa, did you draw this?

I just might’ve.

You’re full of surprises.

Aren’t I? [chuckles]

[chuckles]

Mr. Ingalls.

These must be your girls.

Nice to see you, Miss Aubert. This is Caroline, my wife.

Our daughters, Mary and Laura.

Pleased to meet you all.

[chatter continues]

I didn’t know ladies could wear trousers.

Well, most people don’t consider me to be much of a lady.

Caroline.

Let’s get you a spot up front for Eli’s speech.

And let’s get your girls a cookie before mine gobble them all up.

[mouths]

If you see Edwards, will you give him my best?

[Eli] Gather round, folks. Gather round.

[band stops playing]

The post office is the lifeblood of the American West.

Part of what gives us our strength, so far from everything we’ve ever known, is the knowledge that our families can send word.

This post office will be a beacon!

It will bring the wider world to Independence.

Next up, more settlers, more prosperity, and maybe even a railroad line.

[crowd murmurs excitedly]

The Independence post office is now open!

[crowd claps and cheers]

[bell ringing]

[brass band playing]

[excited chatter]

[music stops]

[indistinct chatter]

[woman] Very exciting.

Laura and Mary, a letter from Grandma to both of you.

Careful.

Caroline, a letter from Eliza.

For me, mortgage payments from Mr. Gustafson.

You’re gonna ruin it.

Laura.

Mary gets to read it first, seeing as you took the liberty of tearing it open like a baby goat.

Those two are gonna snip and snap at each other until we find them some other children to play with.

[gentle music playing]

What is it?

Bad.

Gustafson says my father’s been holed up in the house, not accepting visitors.

Making Peter work the farm all alone.

He hasn’t even been to church.

It’s the grief. He’ll come through it in time.

I was hoping he would write.

I shouldn’t have.

Charles…

It wasn’t your fault.

Your father knows that. He’s just not willing to admit it yet.

He’s stubborn, like his son.

[chuckles]

Sit in the shade.

We got a pocketful of cash and a long list of supplies to buy.

Don’t forget the slate and pencil.

I won’t.

And not too much candy.

[horses snuffling]

[indistinct chatter continues]

Sorry.

I can help you read it if you want.

I don’t need any help.

Fine.

Your ma’s reading and resting, so we’re gonna do the shopping.

Know what that means?

[both] Treats!

Go ahead. Stay close.

[sheep bleating]

Did you get a cookie?

I already ate mine.

Me too. I love frosting.

I saw some Osage girls down by the creek. They were picking blackberries.

How do you say hi in Osage so I can say hi next time?

[speaking Osage]

You should come see the kittens again. They’re getting all fluffy.

Mama said I had to give one away. Then she forgot.

[both laugh]

[storekeeper] And this.

Thank you.

Now that we’re settled, Ma says that we have to start lessons.

And she won’t forget.

You’re going to school? Where?

Nowhere.

Just at home.

Ma was a teacher before she married Pa.

You don’t like school?

I just think there are better things to do, like hunting and fishing and collecting rocks and playing with Jack.

Back in Wisconsin, at least there was recess with other kids.

Now it’s just gonna be me and Mary and spelling words and poems in that dumb old grammar book.

I love poems.

And I’ve always wanted to go to school in St. Paul where Mama and Father went.

You should come do school with us.

Really?

School would be so much better with you and not just Mary.

[footsteps approaching]

You ready to go?

[Good Eagle] Could I take lessons with Laura?

Mrs. Ingalls is a real teacher, and she’s teaching them at home.

We’ll have to ask your mother.

[William chuckles]

[horses neighing]

[Emily clears throat]

Good afternoon, Dr. Tann. Got your order right here.

Ah, thank you.

I am curious about some of the items on that shelf.

[Emily] Oh.

[chuckling] Okay.

Wow. The bird skeleton in particular.

[gentle music playing]

It’s not exactly the kind of thing you expect to find in a general store.

[Emily laughs]

Told my sister she’d be scaring off business with that kinda nonsense.

I doubt it’ll sell, but I couldn’t resist. I’ve always been interested in anatomy.

The sciences, in general, I mean.

Yeah.

News from home?

Oh, uh…

No. This is, uh, word of an intermittent fever outbreak in Oswego.

We’ll need some quinine if it makes its way out here.

How’s your stock?

I’ll have to check, but anything I have is yours for the taking.

I’ll keep that in mind.

[gasps]

[music swells]

[music fades]

Thinking about spring planting?

Hm.

Corn, potatoes…

Peas do well out here. Squash, greens of all kinds, rosemary.

And the flowers, it’s… They’re like something out of a dream.

Caroline’s kitchen gardens are a thing of beauty.

Everyone says so.

[Emily] I’ll get going on your order.

[Charles] Thank you.

[indistinct chatter]

[gentle music playing]

Treats.

[chuckles]

You’ll share with your sister?

I’ll share.

Hi, Caleb.

I… I was wondering if you got the letter I sent?

Mr. Edwards was supposed to deliver it.

Well?

[exhales]

I don’t wanna talk to a boy with no manners anyway.

Mary.

That’s not how we talk to people.

Let’s go find your ma.

[music fades]

[Eliza] Dearest Caroline, I can’t bear to think of you so far from home on such a foolish adventure.

If you have any sense at all, you’ll bring the girls back to Wisconsin and have the baby here.

[footsteps approaching]

What’s the word from home?

Eliza sends her love.

She does?

Doesn’t sound like her.

[horse whinnies]

Everything all right?

Just the heat of the day.

Let’s get you home, then. Let’s go.

[gentle music playing]

What did he do to make you so mad?

You can have it. I’m not hungry.

[driving-whip lashing]

[horse neighs]

[horse neighs]

[Jack barking]

[music fades]

[Charles sighs]

It’s so early.

Mr. Scott and I wanna finish his house by week’s end.

I could come help.

I could sand corners or hold nails.

And I could teach Mr. Scott more songs. He hardly knows any good ones.

But you have lessons.

I hate being inside all day when the prairie is right out here.

What am I ever going to need in a book?

Books help you know about the whole wide world.

Not just Wisconsin.

Not just the prairie.

All kinds of places.

All kinds of people.

Could you take me to meet the Osage, then?

We could ride out to the camp and say hello.

[chuckles softly]

Ma says they’re leaving soon, and I don’t wanna miss my chance.

[birds chirping]

We’ll see.

[reading slowly] “Long lines of cliff”

“Breaking have left a cha…”

Chasm.

Mary, please.

You know who loves poems?

Good Eagle.

So you’ve mentioned.

I’d probably learn a lot faster if she were here.

Because she would help me, unlike Mary, who only makes fun.

Someone as slow as you would try anyone’s P-ATIENCE.

That spells patience, in case you didn’t know.

That’s water all over your dress, in case you didn’t know.

[Caroline] That’s enough. If you’re uninterested in lessons, you can get interested in chores. Laura, go to the creek and get some water.

Mary, sweep the floors.

You swept them this morning.

Sweep them again.

She likes going down to the river.

It’s not even a punishment.

[inhales deeply]

[sighs angrily]

[door creaks]

Hey.

What has gotten into you?

I’m tired of having to share everything with her.

Candy, lessons, letters, and a bed.

Why can’t I have anything of my own?

Oh…

Once your brother is born, there’ll be a lot more sharing to do.

I suggest you make peace with it.

[melancholy music playing]

Yes, Ma.

[sighs]

[Eliza] If you have any sense at all, you’ll bring the girls back to Wisconsin and have the baby here.

I’ll send money for tickets just as soon as I have it.

Peter isn’t ready to forgive Charles yet, but you and the girls will be welcomed with open arms.

[sighs]

[music fades]

Got a letter from my cousin yesterday.

He came out west with me to build this place, but our grandfather didn’t approve, so he bent like a reed and went running back to Boston.

But not you.

I wanted to see what it’d be like to do something on my own.

Find a new home, new way to be, new people, new skies, new girls.

[chuckles softly]

[birds chirping]

[Adam] I couldn’t bear to pin it at the hotel.

Me neither.

Anyway, my family hasn’t cut me off yet. [sighs]

[chuckles]

What do you know about Lacey Aubert?

I know your grandfather wouldn’t approve.

I guess he wouldn’t.

She’s awfully pretty though.

Scott. Ingalls.

Hello.

[Adam] Mr. James. What brings you out?

I heard Mr. Ingalls was helping you with the house, so I thought I’d ride out.

[horse snorting]

I’m, uh, actually here to talk to you about a community project I’d like your help with.

Another postcard?

A church.

I’ve been promising Jemma for ages, but I hadn’t found a draftsman or a carpenter I trusted until you came along.

Are you interested in giving our community a boost?

Now, I’d provide the materials, of course, and the volunteers.

I’d be honored.

[Eli chuckles]

Good man. Good man.

[chuckles heartily]

[mosquitoes buzzing]

[chuckling] These cursed little vipers are everywhere.

[Adam] Does this mean we’re finally getting a land office?

I mean, post office here and a church on the way.

[horse nickers]

This place is special.

I came here to scout for the railroad, and I tell ya…

[inhales]

…I fell in love.

I bought the land for the town of Independence from the Osage myself.

And that purchase taught me everything I need to know about the Osage.

Which is?

They’re a reasonable people.

They like trade, and they have the good sense to hear the sweet sounds of progress coming west.

So they will sell to the government?

You know as well as I do that molasses would beat the US government in a footrace.

[chuckles]

But they’ll make the Osage a fair offer for the rest of this land, and the Osage will sell, just like they sold to me.

And once they do, you’ll each have a claim on this land you’re proving up.

I was beginning to worry about what to tell Caroline if things weren’t settled soon.

Give it a month or two, and all will be as right as rain.

Have faith, Mr. Ingalls.

Have faith.

[tender music playing]

[Laura] Look, Jack! They took the flowers!

[music fades]

Everyone likes gumdrops, right?

[Jack whines]

Come on, Jack!

[Jack barks]

[Jack growling and barking]

[unsettling music playing]

[Jack continues growling]

[Jack barking]

[Jack whimpers]

He likes you.

[in Osage] Hello.

[in English] My friend Good Eagle taught me that.

Do you know Good Eagle?

[Jack whimpers]

I’m Laura.

[whispers] No.

[chuckles softly]

Would you like some cornbread?

Laura.

It’s okay, Ma.

I’ll get it.

[Jack whimpering]

[in Osage] One of those was for me.

[in English] I could make coffee or tea.

Take whatever you want and go.

Mm.

[in Osage] You’re being greedy.

She said take whatever we want.

I doubt she meant all their food.

These people moved into our land, built a house with our trees, offered us jam made from our blackberries.

You call it greedy.

I call it fair.

[Jack whimpering]

[in English] Jack, don’t beg.

[in Osage] We have a story about dogs, how they help us be the best version of ourselves.

[in English] Jack’s a good dog, a good friend.

[in Osage] That’s enough. Let’s go.

[Caroline gasps]

[in English] That’s Ma’s.

You can’t take her doll.

Let them go.

[ominous music playing]

[Mary sobs]

Everything’s fine.

[exhales shakily]

Everything’s fine.

[birds chirping]

Hey, Caroline!

You’ll never guess what’s finally coming to town and who’s gonna build it.

[music fades]

Caroline?

Caroline?

[knocking on door]

What’s wrong? What happened?

Two Osage men came into the house.

They took all of our food and your tobacco and Ma’s china doll.

Are you all right?

They didn’t hurt us.

Laura?

I’m fine.

[Charles sighs]

[wind blowing]

[melancholy music playing]

Okay.

She was the last thing my father ever gave me.

Eliza said she would break on the way here.

But she made it.

A miracle.

It was like Father was right there with us, keeping her safe… keeping me safe.

And now she’s gone.

I’m sorry.

This house was supposed to keep us safe.

It will.

You said they were leaving.

It won’t happen again. I promise.

How can you promise that?

I’ll talk to Mitchell.

What’s he gonna do about it?

I will find a way to fix this.

[bee buzzing]

[music fades]

[dishes thud on table]

Are you gonna tell me what Father Schoenmakers wrote

Or are you gonna read that thing over and over again like one of those terrible dime novels you love?

She…

He wants to introduce me to the new Indian agent, Isaac Gibson.

Why?

Some kind of translating job.

He also said a spot opened up for Good Eagle if we still wanna send her.

I think it would be a good idea for her to go to school with other children, make some friends other than her cousins.

I don’t want her away from home right now. I want her close.

I want her safe.

She asked if she could study with the Ingalls girls.

Down the road, maybe one or two days a week.

Absolutely not. Who knows what kind of nonsense they’d teach her.

[chuckles]

[in Osage] I bring gifts.

[White Sun] Usually you just bring an empty stomach.

Not this time, sister.

You don’t like coffee.

That’s why I brought it to you.

[laughs]

[sniffing]

[in English] Myron and I were having some fun with the settlers on the ridge.

What settlers?

Woman and a couple of kids.

One of ’em said she knew Good Eagle.

[melancholy music playing]

What were you thinking?

I was thinking there’s a post office opening up in town, which means those settlers are gonna keep coming.

What do you care? You don’t like the settlers either.

No, but I have the good sense not to harass a woman at home with her children.

Nothing happened.

[White Sun] No, but it could have. What if she had a weapon?

What if her husband had come home? You could have ended up dead!

And for what?

Foolishness!

It was Myron’s idea.

Of course it was.

I thought…

Good Eagle might like this.

That’s not yours to give.

[loud banging on door]

Come on in.

[horse whinnies]

[door opens]

Caroline?

[sobs]

Poor dear. What happened?

[music grows tense]

Ugh.

And in your own home.

It’s too much.

They didn’t hurt us.

It’s all well and good to have compassion, young lady, but there are limits.

I’ve seen things no human being should ever have to witness.

Back in Minnesota, the Dakota War…

Caroline, you were close enough. You know how it was.

Once you’ve lived through a massacre…

What’s a massacre?

Never mind.

[music turns ominous]

Girls, go outside.

Sit on the front steps with Jack. Close the door behind you.

[Caroline sighs]

You too, Mary.

I’m old enough to listen.

Go outside with your sister.

Mary?

[music fades]

Where are you going?

Don’t follow me.

They came in my house and took everything. My wife and daughters were all alone.

And if that’s not a threat, I’m not sure what is.

Some of the young men, they… like to collect a kind of rent from the settlers.

Rent?

They feel we’re owed.

Do you feel that way too?

They’re frustrated.

They’re angry.

They’ve lost a way of life. They’ve lost a sense of purpose.

I understand that loss.

[tense music playing]

I can’t have strangers walking into my house uninvited.

I think they’d say the same thing.

Is there a way… that I could pay this rent in advance?

I don’t think that’s really the point.

This morning, Eli James made it sound like the land deal was over but the shouting–

Eli James.

Now you’re making it seem like I’ll never be able to call my home my own.

I’d be careful what I believed from a railroad man.

The fact is this is still Osage land.

The railroad made a deal, Congress scuttled it, and now everything’s back in play.

So there’s no deal coming.

Believe me, we all want this settled just as much as you do.

If the government makes an offer, we’ll decide if we can live with it, if we wanna live with it.

But until then, we’re all in limbo.

I promised my wife she’d be safe.

She’s as safe as any of us are.

We can tell her those two men won’t come to her house again.

[music fades]

[birds singing]

[footsteps approaching]

[Caleb] Hi, Mary.

[tender music playing]

I didn’t mean to run away the other day.

I’m… I’m just not good with words. I…

I… I think about what I wanna say, and… I don’t really know how to say it, so it’s kinda just easier not to say anything at all.

[Mary inhales nervously]

[Caleb] I’m glad you wrote me though.

I wrote you back, actually.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Oh, no, no. You don’t have to read it right now.

I’m sorry I was rude yesterday.

I didn’t mind.

Uh, I guess I’ll run these packages up to the house, then.

No. It… it’s okay. I can take them.

[softly] Okay.

I’d just rather have something for myself.

A friend.

I mean, if you wanna be friends?

Yeah. Yeah, I do.

[tender music continues]

[music fades]

[footsteps approaching]

What’s on your mind?

The other day, I saw some Osage girls at the creek… so I left them some flowers.

And then I went back, and I left them some gumdrops as a present.

I see.

But then those men came into the house… and they took the doll… and all our food.

And now Mrs. James says there’s going to be a massacre.

[tender music playing]

There’s not gonna be any massacre.

None of this is your fault.

Your ma and Mrs. James… they worry because bad things happened a long time ago, when you were too little to remember.

The war?

[Charles] Yes.

But this is a different place with different people.

I didn’t mean to upset Ma.

I just wanted to make friends.

You have a curious heart.

An open heart. It’s a good thing.

Just remember to be careful with it.

[music fades]

[chopping continues]

[gentle music playing]

[breathes deeply]

I got the coffee too, but the rest we’ll have to replace.

This is their land, isn’t it?

The Osages’.

[scoffs softly]

Jemma told me all about it. I assume you’ve known for quite some time.

I didn’t wanna worry you.

I’m not a child.

I deserve to know where we stand out here, what our life is going to look like.

I wanted to protect you.

By dragging us out to a place that isn’t even open for settlement?

I didn’t know that at the time.

But you know it now!

And you said nothing!

You kept me in the dark.

The government is going to buy the land.

When?

I don’t know! Nobody knows!

We have to have faith. We have to believe.

[Caroline] I don’t know how much longer I can do that, Charles.

I don’t know how much longer I can believe.

We didn’t have a choice. We stayed because we couldn’t go back.

Maybe you can’t go back.

What’s that supposed to mean?

Caroline, what does that mean?

[door opens]

Stop it! Stop fighting!

[Mary breathing shakily]

[breathing heavily]

[Caroline] Mary!

[Laura] Mary?

Mary?

[Laura] Mary?

[Charles] Mary, sweetheart?

Oh, she’s… she’s burning up.

[Caroline sobs]

Mary… Mary…

[music intensifies]

[music fades]

[closing theme music playing]

[music ends]