Episode 811: A Christmas They Never Forgot

"A Christmas They Never Forgot"
Season 8, Episode 11 #172 overall in Series

Original air date	December 21, 1981
Episode Guide
IMDb	A Christmas They Never Forgot
Written by	Don Balluck
Directed by	Michael Landon
Episode Chronology
Previous episode: "Wave of the Future"	Next episode: "No Beast So Fierce"

Plot[]

Adam and Mary return to Walnut Grove for Christmas, and arrive at the Ingalls' just ahead of a fierce blizzard. The Ingalls, along with their friend, Hester Sue, spend the snowy Christmas Eve recalling favorite holiday memories.

Cast[]

Michael Landon: Charles Ingalls
Karen Grassle: Caroline Ingalls
Melissa Sue Anderson: Mary Ingalls Kendall
Melissa Gilbert: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Missy Francis: Cassandra Ingalls
Jason Bateman: James Ingalls
Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh: Grace Ingalls
Dean Butler: Almanzo Wilder
Linwood Boomer: Adam Kendall
Ketty Lester: Hester-Sue Terhune
Matthew Laborteaux: Albert Quinn Ingalls
Victor French: Isaiah Edwards
Newell Alexander: Frederick Holbrook
Oliver Aubrey: Santa Claus
Vernon Barnwell: Boy #1
Rodney Booker: Boy #2
Dago Dimster: Young Royal
Don Dubbins: Master Hayes
Eddy C. Dyer: Mr. Terhune
Helbi Ziroe: Mrs. Terhune
Tom Lester: Mr. Wilder
Maggie Gwinn: Mrs. Wilder
Kathleen McNaughton: Emily
Kathy Pazoff: Young Eliza Jane
Sheri Strahl: Young Caroline
Jerry Supiran: Young Almanzo
Holly Villaire: Charlotte Holbrook
Alene Wilson: Young Hester-Sue
Rebecca Wolfe: Young Alice Wilder

Trivia[]

Last appearances of Melissa Sue Anderson and Linwood Boomer.

Quotes[]

Almanzo (while talking about a Christmas he had as a boy): There were lots of presents on Christmas morning, but none for Royal. I was sure my Pa was right, Santa Claus got mad at old Royal for poking around where he shouldn't have. Royal never said there wasn't a Santa after that. That was about the best Christmas I ever had.

Laura: And when did you stop believing in Santa Claus?

Almanzo: I never have. And you better not go poking around!

Hester Sue (while talking about how her father dressed up as Santa in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve): You know, I never knew that was Papa until years later, after he was gone. And I still have that doll wrapped and put away. It's something I will never give up.

Caroline: I can see why that's a Christmas you'll never forget.

Hester Sue: And so is this one, because I'm with people I love.

[In Hester Sue's flashback]

Young Hester Sue: We ain't never gonna get anything like that.

Mother: Now, how do you know that, missy?

Young Hester Sue: Cuz I know. Cuz Santa Claus is white.

Father: Now, who told you that?

Young Hester Sue: Everybody knows that.

Father: I don't. Why, Santa Claus lives all the way in the North Pole.

Young Hester Sue: Then who was that in the store?

Father: That was just a man pretending. Why, nobody knows what the real Santa looks like.

Young Hester Sue: I do. He's a big jolly man, with a white beard and a white face. That's why we ain't never gonna get nothing good for Christmas!

[In Hester Sue's flashback]

Boy 2: Wishing is all you can do.

Boy 1: How do you know? I've been good!

Boy 2: You think Santa Claus cares if you're good?

Boy 1: Sure he does.

Boy 2: You'll learn when you get older. Santa don't bring nothing like that to black children. It's all for the whites.

Boy 1: How do you know that?

Boy 2: Just look at him! He's a white man! He takes care of his own.

[In Caroline's flashback]

Caroline's Mother: Caroline, darling, I can't stand to see you feeling this way.

Caroline: I miss Pa so bad.

Caroline's Mother: I know. So do I.

Caroline: No you don't! How could you miss Pa?

Caroline's Mother: Caroline...

Caroline: How could you miss him at all, and marry somebody else?

Caroline's Mother: Your stepfather is...

Caroline: Don't call him that! He'll never be my stepfather! I hate him!

Caroline's Mother: Don't say that!

Caroline: I do! I hate him!

Caroline's Mother: The other children don't feel that way.

Caroline: Yes they do! They're just afraid to say it!

Caroline's Mother: That's not true! Frederick is a fine man!

Frederick (walks in from the rain, smiling): I'm absolutely soaked.

(Caroline runs to her room)

Caroline's Mother: Frederick, I'm so sorry.

Frederick: She'll get over it.

Caroline's Mother: I'm not so sure she will.

Charles: You know what? I'm glad we got snowed in. I mean, what more can a man ask for? A beautiful morning, a house full of loved ones and a brand-new scarf.

Caroline: Charles Ingalls! You peeked?

Charles: Well, of course I did. You're always telling me I act like a child.