03x18 - The Wisdom of Solomon

[bunniefuu]

Yah!

Ho!

All right, boy, let's have it.

Oh, stop. Don't do
anything. He didn't mean it.

What's this boy's name?

Solomon.

Solomon what?

Solomon henry. He's my son.

Well, he's a thief.

He stole this off
the school steps.

I got a mind to whip him good.

No, please don't. He
didn't know no better.

All right. I'll let
him go this time,

But I'm gonna remember his name.

He steals anything else, and
you've seen the last of emmetsburg

Or any other town around here.

Look what you've done.

Stealing that man's
book. How could you?

I didn't steal it, mama.

I just borrowed it.

I didn't know that we...

Did you ask him?
Did you ask anybody?

Then you stole it.

And you've shamed all of us

Who've come here
for a fresh start.

Oh, solomon.

Why?

What got into you?

I just wanted to look at it.

You just wanted to look at it.

They'd have beat you half
to death back home for that.

I want learnin', mama.

I wanna read.

I wanna go to school like
all them other children.

That's the white
man's school, honey.

You can't go there.

Why?

If we're free, why can't i?

You're free to be what the
white folks want you to be.

Now, they give us this
little piece of land to work,

And that's the whole of it.

Mama's right.

You're gonna get us
nothing but trouble

You don't stay in your place.

I ain't a sl*ve.

Nobody said you was.

If I can only be what the
white folks want me to be,

Then I's a sl*ve as
much as papa was.

Now you listen to me.

We got a chance here
and you ain't gonna spoil it.

You do like I say
and mind your place,

Or you can go.

Now, you make up
your mind right now.

Solomon.

You don't come back here now,

You don't never come back!

I mean that!

I mean it!

I'll get him, mama.

No.

He done made up his mind.

Lord help him.

Here you go, mr. Kramer.

That's crates.

I can count.

Charles, sorry to be so late.

Well, don't be. We
haven't settled up yet.

Here's the bill.

I'll carry these
crates down there.

Mr. Kramer: all
right, . Step inside.

I appreciate the help, dr. Tane.

These crates of medicine
get a little heavier every year.

That's the least I can do
after your generous offer.

Not so generous.

My office is overflowing
with samples.

Seems like there's a new
medicine comes out every minutes.

Any medicine I can get
is greatly appreciated.

I just don't understand
why the government

Doesn't send proper medical
supplies to the reservation.

Why should they?

It's just for indians.

All ready when you are, doc.

Charles, I'd like
you to meet dr. Tane.

Charles ingalls. Doctor.

How do you do? Pleasure.

That'll do it.

I'll be by as soon as I can
for those samples, doctor.

And thank you.

You're welcome, doctor.

Mr. Ingalls.

You take care.

Hey. Hey you!

Gotcha!

Let me go!

Gotcha. Put that
apple down. Hey, hey.

Kramer, come on, take it easy.

He's just a little fella.

A thief's a thief.

I don't weigh 'em in first.

Please don't whip me.

Hey, nobody's gonna whip you,

Are they, mr. Kramer?

Well... See you don't
touch them apples again.

Come with me.

The next time you
want one of these,

You ask for it, all right?

Yes, sir.

All right then. Here.

All right. Go on with you.

Hi, girls!

Hi, pa! Hi, pa!

Glad you're home.
Glad to be home.

[Bell rings]

See you at supper!

Bye, pa!

Bye!

"Yet beautiful and
bright he stood

"As born to rule the storm,

"A creature of heroic blood,

"A proud, though childlike form.

"The flames rolled
on, he would not go,

"Without his father's word,

"That father faint
in death below,

"His voice no longer heard.

"He called aloud,
say, father, say,

"if yet my task is done,

He knew not that..."

Laura.

"Unconscious of his son.

"speak, father,
once again, he cried,

"if I may yet be gone,

"And but the booming
sh*ts replied,

"And fast the flames rolled on.

"Upon his brow

"He felt their breath

"And yanked his waving hair,

"And looked from
that lone post of death

"In still yet

"Great despair.

And shouted but once more..."

Laura ingalls!

Will you please see
me after school?

Yes, ma'am.

All right, class.
Let's continue.

"And shouted but
once more aloud,

my father, must I stay?"

Well, what'd she say?

I have to memorize a mile-long
poem for parents' night.

Well, that's not so bad.

She also gave me a
note to bring home.

That's bad.

I know.

Who are you gonna
give it to, ma or pa?

I don't know.

Well, serves you right,

Making up that story.

I saw a black boy today.

Truly, I did!

A n*gro.

And there aren't any
negroes around here.

There are, 'cause I saw one.

You dropped your note.

Why'd you have to tell me?

Now I won't be able to say

I lost it when miss beadle asks.

You have to bring it home.

I suppose.

I know. I could give it to pa!

I'll wait till he's
in a good mood

And he's got his
pipe after work!

Then maybe I'll talk to
him about the black boy.

I did see a black
boy today, mary.

Then I'll give him the note.

I just hope for your
sake he's in a good mood.

[Sighs]

I brought you your pipe, pa.

Oh, thank you, half-pint.

I filled it, too.

Oh, that's very,
very nice of you.

Thank you. Want some coffee?

Nope. Have plenty. Thank you.

You have a nice day?

Awful.

Oh.

I was unloading some lumber

And mashed my
thumb real bad. See?

Think I'm gonna lose a nail.

That must have made
your day pretty bad, huh?

It couldn't be much worse.

If anything else bad happened,

You'd get pretty
upset, wouldn't you?

Would I ever.

There's not much chance
of that happening, is there?

No, sir.

Better go collect the eggs.

Half-pint.

Yes, sir.

Don't you have
something to show me?

What?

Well, something like a letter.

How'd you know?

Well, pas are supposed to
know everything, aren't they?

In this case, your
sister told me.

She shouldn't have done that.

Just a minute, half-pint.

She did that as a favor to you.

You'd have been in
a lot more trouble

If you didn't show me the note.

Now, come on, let's see it.

Oh, yeah.

"Daydreaming in class,

Gazing out the window..."

A whole bunch of stuff here.

What do you have to say?

Just don't like school
that much, I guess.

Look, half-pint,
there's a lot of things

In this world
that we don't like,

But we have to do 'em.

I mean, I don't
like going to work

And mashing my thumb
when I'm unloading lumber,

But I do it. It's my job.

And your job is to go to
school and get an education.

Things just don't
stick in my head, pa.

Then you have to try harder.

Look, I know it's not
easy, but you can do it.

Just have to work
at it, that's all.

It says something in here
about your learning a poem.

Now, I want you to
do a good job with it,

And learn it.

I will, pa.

Promise?

Promise.

All right. No more notes.

For a little while, anyway.

Go on. Get the eggs.

Wish I had a different job.

All those history dates,

Probably couldn't use 'em
even if I remembered 'em all.

Learning about dead people and
wars and people that k*ll and...

I told them I saw you.

What you doing?

Uh... I'm sucking a egg.

Don't tell nobody.

I was hungry.

Are you a for-real n*gro person?

What you doing?

You are a real one!

As a fact!

I've never seen a real
n*gro person before.

Don't tell your
pa about the egg.

He'll whip me
this time for sure.

You know him?

Kinda.

That's why I followed
you home from school.

I thought I heard
somebody talking in here.

No, no, it's all right. It's all
right. Nobody's gonna hurt you.

He's afraid you're
gonna whip him, pa.

What in the world for?

I sucked one of your eggs.

Oh, I see.

Well, in that case, you'll
probably be wanting a glass of milk.

Half-pint, why don't you
bring him in the house?

Sure, pa.

Come on.

Come on. It's all right.

It's all right. Come on.

Come on. Watch out
for the chickens.

Come on.

Look at that.

Boy, is miss beadle
gonna be sorry

She didn't believe me.

Come on.

Solomon, would you
like some more milk?

No, ma'am. I'm
ready to bust now.

She's never seen a real
n*gro person, neither.

Oh.

Solomon, now that you've
had something to eat,

Maybe we oughta get
down to cases, huh?

How'd you get here?

I jumped on the
back of your wagon.

What for?

How old are you?

I think , sir.

And your family lives
in mankato, right?

They did, sir.

Well, you must have some family.

Not that I know of.

Where are you from?

Mississippi.

I think I was born there.

Then I was in virginia
for some time.

Then...

My folks died.

Since then, I've just been
scuffling around by myself.

Doing what?

Working here and there.

I'm a lot stronger than I look.

I work a -mule team all day

And a cross-cut saw
that's twice my size.

But I ain't done much housework.

But I could pick
up on it real fast.

See? Lookee here, see here?

"For sale...

"Healthy boy, years old,

" Pounds.

Good for house or
field. Very obedient."

That's my daddy.

That's all I know of him.

I was thinking I
could do like he did...

Get bought by some folks.

Maybe like you.

I'd be a right good sl*ve.

Well, solomon, this
paper is dated .

That's a long time ago.

Folks can't sell
themselves anymore.

Who says?

Well, I know walnut grove

Must seem like the
end of the world,

But even we've heard about
the emancipation proclamation.

I heard about it, too.

Well, if you heard what I heard

Then you must know that
when lincoln signed it,

That ended sl*very forever.

I figure a person
belongs to hisself,

And he oughta be
able to sell what's his

Whether lincoln likes it or not.

Caroline: solomon, why
would you want to do that?

To get money for schooling.

You've never been to school?

Aren't no schools.

Not for us.

I wanna learn to
write my name first

And everything
else after that...

Reading and figuring,

And learning

About the whole
world and everything.

And I got a good
ear for it, too.

If you was to buy
me, I wouldn't be much.

You can name the price,

Just so I have enough
for a book or two.

You wouldn't be sorry.

I can work up till
sunup to sundown.

I'll tell you what, solomon.

Why don't you let
me think about it, huh?

Meantime, we'll fix you
up with a place to sleep

Up in the soddy.

You can do some chores
to earn your keep.

Tomorrow, I'll
take you into town,

See about getting you started
in school. How's that sound?

That's fine with me, sir.

Ok, come on. We'll
get you bedded down.

That was a good meal, ma'am.

Thank you, solomon. Good night.

Good night. 'Night, solomon.

Good night, solomon. Good night.

Wait'll they see him at school.

A genuine n*gro person.

Well, there you go, solomon.

You get yourself
a good night's sleep

And I'll see you in
the morning, all right?

Yes, sir.

Sir?

Yeah?

If you're a little short
of cash to buy me right off,

You can always
pay for me on time,

Just so I got enough
for a little bit

A month or something.

Well, thank you
very much, solomon.

I'll, uh...

I'll think about that.

Good night.

Ooh. Hope he's warm
enough out there.

Well, I'm sure he's
warmer up there

Than where he's been
sleeping up till now.

[Caroline sighs]

[Laughs]

He is a funny little guy.

Know what he said to me tonight?

He said if we were in a pinch,
we could buy him on time.

He must have some
family somewhere.

Yeah, I think he does.

I'm not so sure he was
telling the truth about that.

They're gonna be
awful hard to find.

Well, he can't just stay
in that soddy forever.

He's a lot better up there

Than he is wandering
around the countryside.

I'll get him settled
in school tomorrow.

I'll drive into mankato,
ask around about him.

You know, charles, it's funny.

What's that?

We worry so much
about our children,

Look over them,

Protect them.

And here's this little boy
no bigger than a minute,

Doing for himself.

He's a special little guy.

Well, I think I'd
better get some sleep.

I have a feeling I'm
gonna need my rest

To keep up with solomon.

Good night. Sleep well.

Ha ha ha!

What?

He's gonna let
me buy him on time.

He's just so cute.

Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha!

Almost done, son.

I hope so, sir.

Caroline: here are your
britches, solomon.

Hi, sol... It's almost : .

Ha! We'll be right
out. Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Hey! Ha ha ha!

You can come up
now. They're gone.

Come on. Let's dry you off.

There.

What's the matter, you cold?

No, sir. I'm mostly
scared, I guess.

Well, everybody has got
a little first-day jitters

When they're going
to a new school.

Back home, there was big trouble

When teacher had let some
colored children in the school.

Well, don't you
worry about that.

Nothing is gonna happen
like that in walnut grove.

Now you finish drying off
while I hitch up the team.

Charles: here we go, everybody.

Good morning, mrs. Oleson.

Well, good morning, mr. Ingalls.

Who have we here?

Oh, this is solomon henry.

He's gonna be
starting school here.

Oh, really?

Has your family
moved here, solomon?

No, ma'am.

No, solomon's staying with us.

Oh, I see.

Yeah, we'd better get inside.

Don't want to be late
our first day at school.

Mr. Ingalls!

Yeah?

Uh, could I see you
for a moment, please?

Certainly. Why don't
you go on inside?

I'll be right in.

Mr. Ingalls...

Well, I don't want you
to get the wrong idea.

Oh, I'm sure I won't,
mrs. Oleson. What is it?

Well...

Uh...

Well, I want you to know
that it has nothing to do

With the fact that...

Oh, that solomon's a n*gro.

Yes! Uh...

Yes.

I am a member of the
school board, mr. Ingalls,

And I would like to remind you

That no child is allowed
to attend this school

Unless his family
lives in this township.

Oh, I understand
that, mrs. Oleson.

Oh.

Well, but the boy
said that his family

doesn't live here.

Oh, I know what he said,
but he was just saying that

To make things easier on me.

Oh?

Yeah, you see, solomon is
my son by a former marriage.

I know you understand,

But a lot of the people
in this town wouldn't.

Good day.

[Whispering] good grief.

Good grief.

[Gasps]

Good grief! Nels!

I know I should've
given you a little notice,

But solomon came to
us rather unexpectedly.

I understand.

He's never been
to school before,

And it's not gonna be easy.

Well, don't worry. We'll
take it slowly at first.

I want you to know I
think it's wonderful

What you're doing.

There's not many would
take in a boy like that.

I'm not so sure solomon
gave me much choice.

I'd better get to
work. Thank you.

All right. Bye.

Solomon.

Class, I'd like you to
meet our new student.

This is solomon henry.

Hello, solomon.

[Softly] hi, solomon.

Don't you have something to say?

[All softly] hello, solomon.

Solomon, where do you come from?

Virginia and mississippi.

Well, I hope while you're here,

You can tell us all about
your part of the country.

Yes, ma'am.

All right. You may sit down.

All right, class.

It's time to go to work.

Now, last week, I had
you write an essay

About the things
that you like the most.

This week, I thought
it might be fun

If we wrote an essay

About the things that
we dislike the most.

Well, let's see what we
can think of right now.

Yes, carl?

I hate cleaning
the chicken coop.

[Laughs]

Willie? My sister.

You know where to stand.

Laura? Homework.

Now, laura, you
know you can't learn

If you don't do your homework.

Solomon?

Yes, ma'am?

Can you think of
something that you dislike?

Being a n*gg*r.

Morning, mr. Kramer. I
wonder if you could help me.

Quiet, ingalls, I'm counting.

Even.

Now, what was it
you were wanting?

Well, it's about that little black
boy that was here yesterday.

What about him?

Well, had you ever
seen him before?

You know if he
lives around here?

Not that I know of.

His name's solomon henry.
Does that ring a bell?

Nope. What you wanna know for?

I've got him working
out at my place,

And I was trying to find
out if he had any family.

Well, watch he
don't steal you blind.

Yes, sir.

It's past time for
your bed, children.

Oh. Have a nice nap?

Oh. Guess I did fall
asleep. What time is it?

It's about : .

Just a couple of
minutes longer, please.

No, come on. It's
: . Time for bed.

Solomon, I'll walk
you up to the soddy.

I want to stretch
my legs a little bit.

Oh, all right.

Good night.

Good night, solomon.

Night, solomon.

Kiss you when I come back down.

Ok.

I was almost finished.

I can't believe this
is the little girl

Who hates homework.

It's solomon, I guess.

Solomon?

Yeah.

He wants to learn so bad.

He never had the chance before.

Makes me feel
kinda guilty, I guess.

Here I've got a
school and a family.

I don't know.

You mean you just
suddenly realized

There's a lot you
take for granted?

Yeah, I guess so.

Well, everybody takes things
for granted from time to time.

You're no different
than anybody else.

The important thing is

You realized it.

You're doing something about it.

Now, good night.

Ma? Mm-hmm?

I'm glad solomon came to us.

So am i.

Now, there you go, solomon.

Soon as you get your things
off, I want that light out.

No more studying.

You can't learn everything
in one day, all right?

Yes, sir. I'll go right
to bed. I promise.

All right.

Solomon, I was
talking to half-pint.

She, uh...

She told me you said something in
school today. You know what I mean?

I think so, sir.

I didn't mean nothin' bad.

The teacher asked a question,

And I just answered it.

I knew I shouldn't have,

'Cause everybody
got real quiet-like.

Well, why'd you say it?

'Cause it's the truth.

If'n I was white, my pa
would still be alive.

Being a n*gg*r k*lled my pa.

Slaving until he
was an old man at .

You hate something
that k*lled your papa.

I know you do, solomon, but...

Those days are over.

You're gonna
start a new life now.

Ain't nothin' over.

Laws don't change nothin'.

You answer me somethin', sir.

Yeah, if I can.

Would you like
to live to be ?

Sure, I would.

It's not very likely. I
mean, I guess all of us

Like to live to a ripe old age.

Would you rather be
black and live to be ...

Or white and live to be ?

Good night, solomon.

That's very good, nellie.

Uh... Willie.

Bird.

Bird.

B...

U...

R-d?

Not quite.

Um... Solomon.

Bird.

B...

I...

R...

D.

Very good.

Cowboy. Now, that's
one word, solomon.

Cowboy.

K...

O... No, no.

C...

O...

W...

B...

O...

Y.

Hooray!

[Laughing] excellent, solomon.

All right. I think that's
enough for today.

Class is dismissed.

That was just fine, solomon.

Wasn't it, miss beadle?

It certainly was.

I hope you do as well with
your poetry recitation.

"Under the
bludgeonings of chance,

"My head is bloody but unbowed.

"Beyond this place
of wrath and tears,

Looms but the
horror of the shade..."

"Horror of the shade."

That means death,
miss beadle says.

We got a lot of grieving
songs like this poem.

I remember when I could hear
the women crying and singing

Till it got light.

And everything feel
awful low and quiet.

What were they singing about?

Oh, about dying
and being released.

From what?

Hard times.

"Death is the robber,

"But it can't steal me,

"'Cause I've been
called by the man

"From galilee.

"Lord, I never been up,

"And I'll never go down,

'Cause my soul is heaven-bound."

That's the way the words went.

You could hear
'em all night long,

All across the fields,

Just crying and singing.

[Whispering] that boy
may stay with us forever.

[Footsteps outside]

[Door handle rattling]

Be quiet, brother.

I come to get you out of here.

What are you talking about?

I don't care if you made
your mark on a paper.

I'm getting you out.

I didn't make no mark.

You didn't indenture yourself?

No.

Then what you doing
working for that white man?

He feeds me good,
gives me a place to sleep,

And I get to go to
school, jackson.

School? See, lookit.

Learned how to write my
name, jackson, by myself,

And since mr. Ingalls
got me in school,

I can read a little bit, too,

And figure up to near .

Well, we got acres
outside of emmettsburg.

Only me, mama. Supposed
to be you to work it.

Shouldn't have
run away, solomon.

Family and them acres
is all we got in the world.

Mama lays in her bed every
night crying 'cause you gone.

I just want schoolin'.

It's crazy for a black boy
to think about schoolin'

And books and figurin'.

I want to learn to read.

I wanna know things,

More than just corn coming up

Or how to mend a harness.

What good's it
gonna do you, huh?

Busting a field,

Sewing, harvesting.

Ain't none of that any
easier with book learnin'.

Is that all we're
good for, jackson,

Working in the
field day after day?

Ain't nothing' wrong with it.

I know.

And there ain't nothin' wrong

Wanting something else, neither.

You think things gonna get
any better 'cause you can read?

You think anything's
gonna change?

It ain't.

White folks ain't
gonna let it change.

They will.

What you think
you're gonna be, boy?

Some kind of doctor
or lawyer or something?

I can be anything I wanna be.

You wanna be white, boy?

Can't be that.

I can make you come with me.

I just could run away again.

All right.

All right.

Mama made this for you.

She said make sure you wear it.

I'll tell her you're safe,

You got a place to stay.

Charles: hey, solomon,

What you doing out here?

I saw the girls on
the way in to school.

They said you were
gonna catch up.

Yes, sir.

Well, it's a lot
later than you think.

You best jump on the wagon.

I'll take you into town.

I got to go get my books.

All right.

Dr. Baker,

Dr. Tane. How you doing?

Morning, mr. Ingalls.

Whoa.

A doctor?

That black man's a doctor?

That's right. Name's dr. Tane.

Well, I gotta get on to work.

You have a good day at school.

Yes, sir.

I'll be a doctor.

What you doing around here, boy?

I work for mr. Ingalls,

And I go to school, too.

Oh. That a fact?

You're a doctor, ain't ya?

Oh, after a fashion.

Learned what I could from books.

You doctorin' around here?

Who'd I be doctorin'
around here, boy?

Folks get sick, don't they?

White folks here?

You don't think white folks be
letting me doctor 'em, do you?

I'm a reservation doctor, boy.

I do what I can for indians

'Cause ain't no white
doctor's gonna do it.

You got a family
around here, boy?

No, sir.

I gotta get to school.

Hmm.

Darlin', I'm sorry I'm late.

I'll hitch the team and be
right in. Where's solomon?

Oh, he said he didn't
feel like eating.

Is he feeling sick?

No.

The girls said nothing
happened at school.

I'll check on him.

All right.

[Knock on door]

Solomon?

Hey, you all right?

Yes, sir.

How come no supper then?

Just ain't hungry.

You know, solomon,
when people are friends,

They have to share
with each other.

They have to... They have to
be honest with each other.

That's the only way you
can work out a problem.

Ain't no way to work
out this problem.

Well, we can sure try, can't we?

Talked to that dr. Tane today.

He said he couldn't
do his doctoring here.

He said the white
folks wouldn't let him.

Is that the truth?

You just said we gotta
be honest with each other.

Yeah, that's the truth.

See, you gotta understand...

That we different?
That I'm black?

Solomon, there's a lot of
good folks in walnut grove.

But you know, when people
spend their whole lives

Thinking a certain way, it...

It just takes time
for them to change.

And if they don't?

We go to the same
school, learn the same,

But it don't make no difference.

When we done, nothing's changed.

All I'm still good for

Is walking behind a plow.

I walk behind a plow.

That's your choice.
I ain't got a choice.

Don't make no difference
to learn something

If you can't use 'em.

My mama and brother
tried to tell me that.

There's some more of the truth.

I got a family.

My brother came
here to fetch me back.

But I told him no.

I was wrong.

I gotta go back to my mama.

Why didn't you tell
us you had a family?

'Cause I wanted to be with you,

Pretend you were my family.

But it ain't no good pretending.

I best to be going tomorrow.

I'm gonna miss you,
solomon henry.

I've been looking
all over for you.

It's almost time to go to town.

I'm all ready.

The stage doesn't
leave until : .

You could go say good-bye
to miss beadle if you want.

Yeah, I'd like to.

I gotta give back
her slate and primer.

I wish you didn't have to go.

Got to.

Wish I could be
here for your poem,

But I know you'll do good.

Thanks to you.

What's wrong with
people, solomon?

Why can't they change?

Maybe they will someday.

Maybe in a hundred years or so,

Things will be different.

Maybe.

Charles: half-pint!

Solomon! Time to go!

Time to go.

Coming.

Class, one of our
students is leaving us today,

And he'd like to say good-bye.

Uh...

I gotta go back home now.

I got a family,

And I gotta be with 'em.

This is a good school.

You're all... You're
all mighty lucky

To be able to come here.

I expect you to know that.

And I'm thankful for being
allowed to come here...

Thankful especially to laura...

Mary...

And miss beadle.

This is for you, miss beadle.

Bless you too, solomon.

You make that poem sing now.

Bye, solomon.

Thank you, grace.

Solomon, you're all
set. Here's your ticket.

Sure appreciate this
ticket for the stage.

Well, it's the least I can do.

You did a lot of work for me.

Now, you best get aboard, huh?

Get going now.

Go on.