Original subtitles

Says here, children of all ages, available for immediate adoption.

Mostly American -born orphans. Mostly.

Let me read you this.

Lacking in guidance and education.

Sounds like a sorry bunk. You got it.

But most of them ain't even orphans.

City's back east overflowing, so they ship them out to us. Well, what are we

supposed to do with them?

Put them back on the train.

We ought to take a look at them.

I'm the Reverend Timothy Johnson. I believe you're looking for me.

Hello, children.

Where'd they come from?

From the New York Children's Mission. Are these some of the orphans that come

on the train? Yes.

I've signed on as volunteers.

You asked for them.

That's right.

And I'm going to be taking care of them until they can be placed into proper

homes. Why, that's very kind of you, Reverend.

I'm going to write a little piece on them for the Gazette.

What's your name, sweetheart?

Jennifer. You can turn us around, drive them right back to where they come from.

Lauren, they come all the way from New York.

Last thing we need is a bunch of vagrants, pickpockets, and thieves

us.

They're children.

They probably come from the jails, most of them, or else they find them

wandering the streets like dogs.

Lauren's right.

We don't want nobody else with calf dogs.

These children have been entrusted to me, and I say they stay.

I say we send them back.

It ain't up to you, Lauren.

These children aren't going anywhere until we find good homes for them.

Seems they've been neglected, haven't they?

Yes, I see some signs of malnutrition.

Apparently the conditions were less than sanitary.

Well, we've got three cases of scurvy, two of anemia, and I'm afraid this feels

like it might be rickets.

No.

My brother don't like nobody messing with his leg. What happened to him?

He got it crushed while he was in living coal on the docks. He worked on the

docks?

That's quite a cough you've got there, young man.

You'll need some medicine.

They're all going to need baths and some clean clothes.

I'm going to give them all a dose of cod liver oil, some iron and some quinine

pills.

What they really need is sunshine and some proper food.

Eggs, meat, and fresh vegetables.

Where do you intend for them to stay?

I plan on converting the church.

There are no proper cooking or washing facilities, not to mention suitable

I'll make do.

No, they've been on that train for over a month.

What they need is a hot meal and see what a real home is like.

Please don't cry, dear. Please.

Settle down.

We usually play ball outside.

Helene, help me with dinner.

What are we going to make? How about chicken? I don't want to have chickens

all these people. What about the beans?

delicious. We did our best.

That's the nice thing about you.

No matter how much you give, there's always more where that came from. Why,

thank you, Reverend.

Thank you for helping with the children.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Me too.

Sure I do.

It's just I'm pretty tired and all.

You never used to be too tired for me.

It's just not a good night, Hank.

I'll make it a good night.

Hank.

No. It's just... I ain't feeling very well.

My data coins seem to recollect you're not feeling well at all. It's three

times I've been wanting to be with you.

I think it's my stomach.

I think it's your memory.

Don't forget that.

Give me that towel.

Hurry, I had it first.

No, you didn't. I just set it down for a second. Well, it's mine now. Hey, you

two. What are you yelling about? I can't get any sleep in there.

Well, try sleeping inside on the floor with a pack of kids tossing and snoring.

Children, what's going on?

Don't have any clean clothes anyway.

You gave all ours to the orphans to wear.

I'm going to get you to sleep.

Me too.

They can't sleep in the house because of all those kids.

Look, why don't I go inside and make us all a nice breakfast? We're already out

of milk and bacon.

Look, I know it's crowded and we keep running out of things, but don't worry,

it's only temporary.

The Reverend and I are going to take the children to the church today and

interview some families and find them homes.

Just have some patience. That's all I'm asking.

Thank you all for coming.

I think you all know these are the orphans from the New York Children's

They're all in need of and deserve good homes.

So all interested parties, please step forward.

Slim pickings, if you ask me.

They got a clean bill of health?

I've examined them all, and the ones with ailments are being properly

Well, which one's got ailments? We don't want no sick child.

She looks healthy.

She prefers not to be separated from her brother. I don't want two of them. I

got enough mouths to feed already.

Besides, he's a cripple. Can't get any work out of him.

What are you doing?

Checking her teeth.

And her hair.

The lice.

Could be us up there.

It was.

You any good at housework?

Cooking or sewing?

Suppose we could train her.

Sounds like you're looking for a servant, not a daughter.

Has she been baptized?

Don't matter to me if she ain't been baptized.

How old are you?

Fifteen.

Hank, I don't even want to inquire as to your intentions.

Intending on adopting her.

Absolutely not.

Dr. Mike, I hate to say this, but none of these orphans are going to get

if you keep going like this. But this is disrespectful and humiliating. It's

wrong. I agree.

Every time I've felt something like this, we've got a slave auction.

You've got to stop this.

I don't like it either, Grace, but the folks in New York wrote me that this is

the way it's done.

Well, there has to be a better way.

Excuse me.

I would like to specify that this is not a cattle auction.

These children need homes.

Loving homes.

They need to be taken in as part of the family.

I'm gone.

Won't you consider sharing your love with him?

What are you going to do now, Ma?

I'm not quite sure.

Don't you worry.

We'll find a way.

Until then.

Where are they going to stay?

We'll take the phone with us.

Give me a wagon.

I tell you, I ain't interested in these wicked

little waifs.

I don't even like children.

If you ask me, I'd rather raise piglets.

Much cleaner, less noise, and after they're grown, you can eat them.

I'm sure they're nice children. They look so sweet.

Especially the little girls.

And I'd love to eat them.

But I've already raised three children of my own, and I don't want to start all

over again.

I'm sorry, Michaela.

A white child?

Not even in Boston, Dr. Mack.

Trouble something like that would cause.

Well, it ain't fair to us, and it sure as heck ain't fair to the child.

But, Dad, we just got married, and we'd like to wait a while, then start our own

family.

Oh, I'd love to take one, but I got my nephew Louis.

What kind of human being won't take in an orphan?

Poor children have been going from town to town.

How terrible it must have been for them not to be chosen to be the last ones.

Everyone has an excuse.

Not easy raising a child.

It wasn't easy for me either taking on Charlotte's children.

But when I was called upon, I did it.

What about you, son?

Why don't you take one?

You know the kind of life I lead.

It's not meant for a child.

Well, a reverend would take one, wouldn't you, reverend?

Take them all.

Well, you may have to.

Time just ain't warming up to them, and it's about time you realize that and

stop trying to save everything.

Someone has to do it.

Why does it always have to be you?

Morning. Hey.

Something I can do for you, Reverend?

Yes.

Yes, I'd like a shave.

All right.

Who is it?

Who's who? The woman.

I beg your pardon.

I've been in this business 17 years, and I can tell you no man ever shaves his

beard unless it's for a woman.

No, I just thought it'd be a nice change, that's all.

Uh -huh.

Wouldn't be that big old redhead over at the feed store, would it? No, I think

that Quigley girl is kind of sweet on you. Did you ever see the way she looks

you, all moony -eyed and shirt?

It's really not what you think, gentlemen.

I haven't had time for socializing. What, with the orphans in town?

Dr. Mike and I have been so busy.

Dr. Mike.

I'll get another.

Don't crammy me.

I'll never be the same.

And I can't find my favorite ball.

Think what if I stole it and Jennifer borrowed one of my dresses without even

asking. Nick almost burned down the bar in smoking. I believe some tolerance is

in order. What do you mean?

Well, put yourself in their shoes.

Do you realize how fortunate you are, how many things you have?

These children have nothing.

No home, no toys, no grandmother to give them.

The least you could do is to be more understanding.

All right, Ma.

We'll share.

Except I want my ball back.

Wait for me here.

What can I do for you, little lady?

You're the man from yesterday.

That's right.

Sorry about what happened.

So am I.

What I had was a pretty fair proposition for you.

That's what I came to talk to you about.

I see.

So, uh, you're interested in coming to work for me?

You know what kind of work I'm talking about.

Entertaining.

What do you know about entertaining?

I know enough.

All right.

How much is the pay?

After what you bring in.

Get food, roof over your head.

Sunday's off.

Sounds fair.

Of course, if you want, you could always wait around for Michaela to scrounge up

some folks for you.

When can I start?

Back tonight.

Dr. Knight?

Something's different about you.

I don't know what it is, but... Oh, my goodness! Your beard, you shaved it off.

I thought it'd be a nice change.

Oh, well, yeah,

it's very attractive.

If that's the proper thing to say to a member of the clergy.

I don't think God would mind.

Come on, children.

Are you ready? We're about to leave.

We're not going.

We got chores.

We got chores to leave.

Don't feel like it.

Well, you love swimming.

Not today, Dr. Mike.

Very well.

See you later. Bye.

What's he doing?

Making horseshoes.

Horses have shoes?

Take their feet.

One of my friends back in New York never even had no shoes.

Where are you from?

Yeah.

Miss it? No.

It's hard when you're not like everybody else, ain't it?

When you're different.

People look at you and that's all they see is the difference.

They don't know, do they?

No, they don't know.

Can I see that?

Keep it. You see, it brings you good luck.

I want you to fix her up.

Get her a nice dress, some makeup.

Make her look real pretty.

Sure, Hank.

Wish I could say I was glad to see you here, but I ain't.

Truth is, I wish you hadn't come back.

Why? I don't think you know what goes on here.

Well, I know it's a job.

And I need a job. I gotta look after my brother.

He's a cripple.

Well, it ain't just a job.

It's a life.

Not a bad life.

Is that what he told you?

He did, didn't he?

Well... It ain't him who's living it.

Oh, I know that there ain't no one else out there who wants me.

And Hank does.

Yeah.

And he'll have you, too.

Because you'll belong to him.

Do you know what that means?

Yes.

I didn't when I first came here.

But I do. Now.

And I just wish that there had been somebody there to tell me that all.

So, evening, everybody.

Where's Dr. Mike?

She went to Reverend and them kids, and she ain't come home yet.

All she cares about anymore are the orphans.

She don't even want to be here with us.

She's always busy.

I don't even think she likes us anymore.

She likes those kids better.

Brian. It's true, Matthew.

Yeah, we'd rather live with you.

Can we stay with you and Ingrid after you get married?

Come on, children, get inside.

Thank you,

Reverend.

Please, call me Timothy.

It was a wonderful day.

Yes, it was.

The children really enjoyed themselves.

You're very good with them.

Not as good as you.

You are awful special.

I always thought so, but now... Now I know so.

And I was thinking, these children are so deserving.

And I find myself wishing that there was a way that they could have a real home.

With a real family.

And I think there may be a way.

How?

Marry me.

I beg your pardon?

I know, it's... Sudden, but we do make a good team.

Yes, well, but I... I would be a good husband to you, Michaela.

I would take care of your children and these children, too.

I don't know what to say.

Then don't say anything.

Just think about it.

Here, let me just... Don't look at me.

I just want to clean it.

Does it ever hurt?

Sometimes. Even the part that's not there.

Well, that's quite common, actually.

They call it phantom pain.

Even the doctors don't understand why that happens.

But it's normal.

It'll fade with time.

Dr. Mikey, we need to talk.

Matthew, will you wait outside, please?

Sorry, I forgot how busy you were.

Guess I should have made an appointment.

I'll be right back.

Matthew?

Tried to catch you this morning.

Left earlier than I did. I had work to do.

You always have work to do.

My work is very important to me.

And last night, was that what you called working?

What are you talking about?

I saw you with the Reverend.

I'm not quite sure what you're referring to.

You kissed him.

What are you doing kissing him?

I don't see that this is any of your business.

What are you doing, spying on me? It's my business when my brother and sister

want to come live with me when I get married because they feel like you don't

want them anymore.

What?

They feel like you put everybody else ahead of them.

Did they say that?

You think I'd make that up?

They trusted you.

We all trusted you.

I just heard some rather disturbing news from your brother.

You don't want to live with me anymore, is that true?

Seems like maybe you don't want us anymore.

You're always busy.

I'm merely trying to help you often.

I didn't mean for you to feel like this. Why would you?

I feel sorry for them. They have no one.

No one has to take them in.

Is that why you took us in?

Because you had to?

Because you felt sorry for us? Of course not.

But it wasn't because you loved us.

I learned to love you.

You learned to love us?

Come on.

Where are you going?

We're walking.

You mean that when your mother... You couldn't exactly say no.

Well, I never thought about having children.

Well, now you'll take any old orphan.

Well, maybe I'm not enough.

Maybe you need a mother and a father. That's not what you used to think.

Well, maybe I was wrong.

Everyone knows I'm not getting any younger, and... Well, I thought I might

until the right man came along.

Maybe he's been under my nose the whole time.

After all, it would make perfect sense.

What makes perfect sense?

The reverend's asked me to marry him.

He's a good man, a stable man, and... Well, the best thing about it is we can

adopt all the orphans and be one big happy family.

Where are you

going,

Myra?

Madea.

Well, I'm losing money here.

Maybe we're going to have to consider working longer hours.

If that's what you want.

Of course, that new girl will take up some of the slack.

I don't know if there's going to be a new girl, Hank.

You haven't talked her out of it now, have you?

No, of course not. Well, what is it?

Feeling a little jealous?

Feeling like she might just take your place?

No, I ain't that.

See, if she does come to work here, maybe I wouldn't need you no more.

What are you talking about?

Maybe I'd just tear up that contract of yours.

You mean that?

Myra. Horace, I just heard some news you ain't gonna believe.

What, honey?

Kate's gonna let me have my contract.

Oh, that's wonderful!

Wait a minute.

That ain't just because he's a nice fella.

No, it ain't.

He wants that young girl Jennifer to work for him.

The orphan girl?

She's taking my place.

Well, the thing is, she wants to do it.

Myra, we've waited all this time.

It's just so far you can go to save a person.

If she wants to do it, who are we to say anything?

Decisions up to her, I suppose.

I suppose so.

I love you, Mom.

I know you do.

What are you doing in here?

Nothing.

What are you looking at?

Nothing.

What do you think you're going to buy in here?

Nothing. What about a dictionary? Maybe you'll learn a couple of new words.

Why don't you just go bother somebody else, all right?

What do you got there?

Nothing. Nothing?

Don't look like nothing to me. You look like something.

Something you didn't pay for. Come back here! Come back here, you little dick!

Told your mother they was little criminals.

What happened?

Mr. Bray don't like the orphans.

Have you seen about them, Brian?

I don't know.

Guess I have to like them if they're going to be my brothers and sisters.

Brothers and sisters?

Mom's going to marry the reverend and adopt him.

It says here that Dr.

Mike and the reverend are engaged.

Engaged? Don't say that. Let me see. You can't read.

Give it to me.

I met Kayla and the preacher.

Who would have figured?

Not me.

On the other hand, it makes perfect sense.

What's going on?

Dr. Mike's engaged.

Well, no.

Then you're not marrying him.

Well, he's asked me, yes, and I am considering it.

Have you considered what this will mean to other people in your life?

Like who?

Like your own kids. They think they're losing you.

They'll be gaining a father.

And a dozen brothers and sisters.

Well, a lot of people have large families.

Those kids have problems. You can't just bandage them and fix them. You can't

save the world. I can try. Someone has to take responsibility.

First, it was that cowboy's baby. Then Hank's son.

Now these orphans.

I'm just wondering, what's missing in you that you've got to fill it up with

everybody else? There is nothing missing in me.

Is that what the Reverend tells you?

Well, at least he's willing to take in homeless children.

Do you love them?

How dare you ask me that?

who have told me that you're not ready to love anyone, you who comes and goes

he pleases, you who never so much has offered any kind of commitment to me and

my children.

Do you love them?

I am very fond of the Reverend.

And he's made me a proposal that no one, including you, has cared to do.

And I don't take that lightly.

Marriage is all you want.

I found the right man.

Well, you little son of a gun. Let me save you the trouble.

I'll give them to you for free.

You mean it? Sure.

The only catch is, you gotta smoke them.

Now.

Right here.

Juan, you like them so much, smoke it.

What if I don't want to?

Ain't you manning them?

Sure am.

Go on, you'll like them so much. Smoke another one, too.

Where'd you learn how to smoke?

Jail.

What were you in jail for?

Stealing.

Dorothy Jennings.

Oh, Michaela.

Whatever possessed you to print such a story without checking with me? I did

check with you. You said it was true.

Why did he ask me? But I didn't say that I said yes.

But you didn't say you said no.

What are you doing to this poor child?

This poor child stole from me. I don't care what he did. He should not be

smoking.

Don't you worry.

That boy will never smoke again.

It'll help palm your stomach.

I'm looking for Josh.

Someday you're going to appreciate being different, being special.

When you're young, it feels good to fit in, so I made this for you.

Help you stand on your own two feet.

What's he gonna do? He's gonna walk.

Brother, huh?

I can't believe you don't need crutches no more.

But I need you.

Stick with him.

Find him a real home.

Too late. I already got a contract with Hank.

No, not anymore.

I'll take care of that.

Hank, what are you doing?

I brought that for you.

Hank, I got something to tell you.

You know that girl?

She ain't coming back.

That contract?

No.

I'm staying on extra in her place.

I know why you're doing this.

Why?

Must be because you got feelings for me.

No, Hank, that ain't it.

I just don't want her to go through what I did.

What do you mean?

Remember how you said I belonged to you?

Well, you're wrong.

I love horror.

I might work for you, but I belong to him.

He ain't any kind of man.

Not like me.

What kind of man makes his woman spend the night with other men?

It's different, Myra.

It's business.

I went to all this trouble to show you.

You don't know what love is.

Michaela. We were just celebrating.

And Grace was kind enough to cook for us. Reverend.

I need to talk with you.

What is it?

We're wrong with what we're trying to do.

I can't marry you.

Flattered as I am by your offer, it would be for the wrong reason.

But I have grown to love you.

But I don't love you.

Maybe in time. No.

The children.

Without you, I don't know if... You can't take them all yourself.

Well, maybe one of them.

Well, which one would you choose?

It's too late for that.

We can't save those children.

The best we can do is to make them stronger, help them to help themselves.

I didn't realize it until I saw that boy with his new leg.

They'll have to be told.

We'll tell them together.

Children.

Children.

Dr. Quinn and I would just like to say what a joy it's been to have had you

here.

And we wish with all our hearts that... We wish with all our hearts that we

could have found home for you.

But for some reason it just wasn't meant to be.

I'll telegraph the Reverend Wilkes in Pueblo.

He'll take good care of you.

You're all very special.

And I know that wherever you settle, the families who take you in will be the

truly fortunate ones.

I owe you all an apology.

You were right about everything you said.

I was terrified when Charlotte asked me to take you.

I tried to talk her out of it. I said I didn't know the first thing about

raising children.

But it was more than that.

You're a stranger.

I've always been so absorbed in my books and my schooling, I've never made

friends easily.

I didn't know how to get to know you.

How to love you.

But it happened.

And now you've turned into the best thing in my life.

We're sorry for the way we acted about the orphans.

They're just like us. Thank them all.

You can stay.

We can make it work.

They'll be moving on.

I would have loved to give them more, but... The truth is, they needed more

I could give.

And what I have, I want to give to you.

We're still learning about being a family.

What about the Reverend?

He understands.

Now, tomorrow, I thought we might all go on a picnic.

Do some fishing.

What about the clinic?

I thought I'd take the day off.

But we got chores.

I don't think it would hurt to miss chores for one day.

Do you feel it?

Yeah. I think it'll hurt a bit.