[It is daytime. PA and LAURA are outside. PA is standing at his workstation, hitting a horseshoe with a metal mallet. LAURA is facing PA, slouched over sitting on a bench.]

PA: I gotta give her a special fitting. I don't get it just right she'll keep throwing that shoe right back at me

LAURA: Could I ask you something?

PA: I don't see why not

LAURA: It's been on my mind for a long time...and when you mentioned about Patty...what makes cripples?

PA: [Looking up at LAURA] Well, accident's mostly

LAURA: Not that kind... I mean like being born crippled. Like Ulga. Her legs don't match. One is shorter than the other.

PA: That doesn't seem fair, does it?

LAURA: No sir it sure doesn't

PA: [Puts down his mallet, walks over to LAURA] I'll tell ya half-pint, I - I don't know if I've got an answer that'll satisfy either one of us [Takes a deep breath, sits down] Some folks just come into the world that way. I don't know why, don't think anybody else does either. I do know that most of them seem to - seem to be born with some extra special gift.

LAURA: Is gumption a gift?

PA: Sure is

LAURA: [Looking down] I'm sure Ulga has gumption

PA: Well from what you've told us she's got a big heart too

LAURA: [With a smile] And a heart is more important than a leg, isn't it?

Pa: [With a smile] A lot more important. [LAURA puts her head on PA's shoulder] You've been thinking a lot about Ulga lately haven't you?

LAURA: She's so nice, Pa. I keep hoping that her leg will get better. I remember the other day, we were walking past Hanson's Mill...and she stepped on this plank...and didn't limp at all!

PA: [Turning to look at LAURA] She what?

LAURA: There was this plank about so thick [Measuring about three inches with her fingers]

PA: Mhm

LAURA: And she stepped on it with her short leg

PA: And she walked the whole length of it?

LAURA: Yes. And when she would step on it with her short leg, she didn't limp at all! [Pause] If there were enough planks scattered around....she'd be able to run and play like the rest of us

PA: [Pause] [Looking off into the distance] Yeah I bet she could [Turns to LAURA, touches the back of her head] Why don't you go back inside and rest your ankle, huh?

LAURA: [Hugging PA] Yes, Pa [LAURA exits]

[PA is left alone on the bench, looking off into the distance]

[The next scene opens with bittersweet violin music. PA is walking down a path towards Ulga's house. He sees Ulga's father working in the yard and heads that way, but is stopped when he notices the front door of the house open.]

PA: Ulga?

ULGA: It's Mr.Ingalls, Grandma!

PA: Mrs. Nordstrom, I'm Charles Ingalls...you might say we're neighbors

MRS. NORDSTROM: [With a smile, she reaches out her hand] Mr. Ingalls

PA: Pleasure

MRS. NORDSTROM: Ulga talks about your Laura

PA: My wife's looking forward to meeting you. She sends her regards. And she wants to meet Ulga, too! [Pats ULGA on the head] I can see your son's pretty busy, but I was hoping to get a chance to talk to the two of you if I might

MRS. NORDSTROM: Yes...will you hold this for me please? [She hands a pile of clothes to ULGA] [PA follows MRS.NORDSTROM to the yard] Yom? This is Mr. Ingalls. He would like to speak to you

PA: Mr. Nordstrom. [MR. NORDSTROM continues to look down, working] I uh- my daughter Laura is made quite a friend in your daughter Ulga [Pause] actually, Ulga's why I'm here. [Pause] This is going to come out a bit awkward but uh, I've got a pretty good horse and - [MR. NORDSTROM looks up at PA and then back down] if I don't fix her shoe just proper she - she comes up lame. That special shoe is the difference between being sound and lame. That got me to thinking - [MR. NORDSTROM looks up] what I'm trying to say is I'd like permission to work on one of Ulga's shoes

MR. NORDSTROM: You've got a miracle in your pocket, huh?

PA: No, no I told you this is going to sound awkward - look I think if I could work her shoe -

MR. NORDSTROM: Ulga was born with a lame leg. [Looking back at the house] We accept that, so does she.

[PA turns to look at the house, MR. NORDSTROM looks back down and continues working]

[The next scene opens with MA and PA sawing a large log with a two person saw]

MA: Could you have done it? Could you have made a shoe that would've helped Ulga?

PA: [Taking a break from sawing] I don't know...she wouldn't be any worse off than she is now...just a stubborn man. We'll just have to forget about it I guess [continues sawing]

[MA and PA hear movement in the woods and stop sawing. The camera zooms in on ULGA and MRS. NORDSTROM walking along the path, holding hands]

PA: [silently, to MA] Mrs. Nordstrom [louder, to MRS.NORDSTROM] Mrs. Nordstrom, I'd like you to meet my wife, Caroline

MRS.NORDSTROM: [With a smile] How do you do?

MA: [With a smile] How do you do?

PA: Mrs. Nordstrom and that's Ulga

ULGA: [With a smile] Hello

MA: [With a smile] Hello, Ulga

Mrs. Nordstrom: [faintly, to PA] Could I talk to you a little?

PA: Certainly

MA: Ulga, why don't you come back to the house with me and say hello to Laura?

ULGA: [Happily] Yes, Maam!

[MA and ULGA exit]

MRS.NORDSTROM: Mr. Ingalls...my son is not like you think. He loves Ulga very much! They were always very close. Only since the death of Ulga's mother...he only wanted to protect Ulga. He even didn't want her to go to school

PA: Your son isn't the easiest person to talk to Mrs. Nordstrom and I guess that does explain some of it

MRS.NORDSTROM: He would like to build a wall around Ulga, [shaking her head] that she cannot be hurt [looking down] but that would be wrong...because she would have no one...when we are gone

PA: Does he know you're here?

MRS.NORDSTROM: No, I will tell him later [handing PA something wrapped in white cloth]

[Bittersweet violin music starts to play as PA unwraps the white cloth. The camera focuses on MRS.NORDSTROM's wide-eyed expression as she looks hopefully into PA's eyes]

MRS.NORDSTROM: You will make a shoe for Ulga

PA: [Smiling] I'll try

[The music becomes more dramatic as the camera focuses on MRS.NORDSTROM's smiling face. PA looks down at Ulga's black leather boots in his hands. The scene dissolves]