LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: CIRCUS MAN (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas about a loving family trying to make a life for themselves on the American frontier in the late 1800s.
The Ingalls are awoken in the middle of the night by the arrival of Irishman William O'Hara, the operator of a one-man travelling circus wagon. He claims he was merely shooting at a bobcat which was on the Ingalls property. Charles allows him to hitch his mules and spend the night. The next morning, Laura and Mary get curious and peek at O'Hara's wagon. He shows them his animals: a talking raven and a chimpanzee which O'Hara claims is actually a gorilla. O'Hara also demonstrates some feats of prestidigitation for Charles and Caroline. That night, Charles goes out to investigate a great commotion coming from O'Hara's wagon. O'Hara, slumped against the side of the wagon, claims that a thief tried to rob him and that he has broken a few of his ribs. He claims that he thief was after his store of medicinal powders, which he claims have miraculous healing abilities. He demonstrates by ingesting some of it himself, claiming that it will heal his broken ribs in about a day. Laura and Mary are entranced by this, but Charles and Caroline are not so easily fooled.
Laura tells Hanson about O'Hara's powders when Hanson complains of a chronic headache that won't go away. Hanson seeks out O'Hara and takes some of his powder. It apparently works, but Dr. Baker tries to convince him that the "cure" is merely psychosomatic. Hanson doesn't listen, and Dr. Baker becomes concerned that news of O'Hara's "miracle" cure will spread, making O'Hara a profit and endangering the lives of sick townsfolk. O'Hara gives some of his powder to Mrs. Oleson to ease some pains in her abdomen. Soon thereafter, Mrs. Oleson contracts appendicitis and refuses an appendectomy from Dr. Baker, asking only for O'Hara's powders. Dr. Baker confronts O'Hara and asks him to tell Mrs. Oleson that his powder is worthless. He visits a very ill Mrs. Oleson; he doesn't disavow her of the curative properties of her powders but manages to convince her to undergo the operation anyway. Dr. Baker is able to save Mrs. Oleson's life, but laments that he was close to losing her.
Charles speaks to O'Hara on behalf of Dr. Baker, who has determined that his powder is nothing more than sugar, baking powder, and carbonation elements. O'Hara admits that the powder's only effects are imagined by its users, but Charles points out that this is dangerous and asks him to leave town. O'Hara agrees to depart before the following morning, as he cannot bring himself to say goodbye to the children. The next morning, O'Hara is gone and Charles attempts to explain to Laura and Mary that circus folk are "unpredictable." He sends them into town and they bring their dog Jack with them. While Laura and Mary are in the Oleson's store, Jack spies a cat and runs out into the street to chase it, only to get himself run over by a wagon. Jack is brought home, and it is uncertain whether he will survive. Laura wishes that O'Hara was there to heal Jack, but Charles tries to explain to her that O'Hara was a charlatan. However, Charles goes out and brings O'Hara back home in order to put Laura at ease. O'Hara tries to hold off on giving Jack his powder, but does so at Laura's insistence.
Everyone waits long into the night before finally Jack stirs and regains consciousness, seemingly healed. Laura is overjoyed and asks O'Hara to stay in town permanently so that he can continue to cure everyone's ailments. Finally O'Hara reveals that his powders have no curative properties, and that everything about him, including his name and accent, are nothing more than a deception. Laura is saddened by this revelation; O'Hara explains that he spread his deceptions in order to make him seem special to those he would meet on the road. O'Hara prepares to leave and Charles thanks him for telling the truth. He says that O'Hara is welcome in their house if he should ever return, and this seems to give O'Hara some comfort. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: February 5, 1975 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:45:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:74901
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature - Adaptations; Families; Frontier and pioneer life - U S
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1974-1982
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael Landon … Executive Producer
- John Hawkins … Producer
- Kent McCray … Associate Producer
- Victor French … Director
- Blanche Hanalis … Developed by
- Ward Hawkins … Writer
- Preston Wood … Writer
- Laura Ingalls Wilder … Based on the "Little House" series of books by
- David Rose … Music by
- Michael Landon … Cast, Charles Ingalls
- Karen Grassle … Cast, Caroline Ingalls
- Melissa Gilbert … Cast, Laura Ingalls
- Melissa Sue Anderson … Cast, Mary Ingalls
- Lindsay Greenbush … Cast, Carrie Ingalls
- Sidney Greenbush … Cast, Carrie Ingalls
- Richard Bull … Cast, Mr. Oleson
- Kevin Hagen … Cast, Dr. Baker
- Katherine MacGregor … Cast, Mrs. Oleson
- Karl Swenson … Cast, Hanson
- Red Buttons … Cast, William O'Hara