Charles and Almanzo have decided to go into business together. They were going to start a freight delivery service for themselves since Jonathan Garvey was too busy to service Walnut Grove anymore, so in addition to cutting the lumber and tending to grain, Charles and Almanzo would now have to deliver it. The in-laws debated on which road to Sleepy Eye was the shortest and they were so sure, they decided to place a wager on who would arrive first. If Charles lost, Caroline would have to fix them a great big supper. If Almanzo loses, Laura would have to cook... somehow I don't think they checked with their wives before making this bargain. Why not just bet each others' wives? Anyway, in the event of a tie and they both lose, the men would have to cook. Fair enough. But what Almanzo didn't know was that Charles was planning on taking a short cut clear across the prairie and might very well get lost. Caroline and Laura have a good laugh about that. Almanzo, meanwhile, met with a steep hill. He almost to the top when his horses suddenly gave up and could go no further. Deciding to unload his heavy wagon, he figured the team could make the hill, then he could turn on around and collect his freight. Yeah, good luck with that, Manly. While he was running around in circles, a wagon containing the Choate family, who were down on their luck and poverty stricken, rode up and spotted the boxes and barrels. They assume it's a gift from God and start loading up.
Meanwhile, Charles came upon an elderly hitchhiker named Kavendish. The old man wasn't really going anywhere, so he gladly accompanied Charles to Sleepy Eye, though he was none too impressed with the shortcut. Especially when they ran into a river that wasn't on the map. Kavendish advised him to turn back, but naturally the Ingalls patriarch was so blinded by his own foolish pride and his determination to beat his son in-law to Sleepy Eye that he refused to listen. So they attempted to ford the river, but as expected the wagon got stuck. Charles decided it would be wise to lighten the load, Kavendish offering little to no help. So while the old stick-in-the-mud was stuck in the mud, Almanzo raced off after the thieves that stole his goods. He followed their tracks to a dilapidated farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Almanzo burst in there ready to raise Cain, until he met the Choate family and saw how they lived. He felt for them and accepted their invitation to join them for their feast. Now let's check back with Charles: he and Kavendish finally got out of the water and proceeded further down the road until they came to a wire fence and a 'No Trespassing' sign. End of the road? Not if Charles Ingalls has anything to say about it. He attempted to cut the wire when the property owner and his rifle stopped him. It was here that Kavendish bailed. Alone, Charles had no choice but to turn around and get back on the road. Finally, he made it to Sleepy Eye to deliver his goods to Jonathan. As for Almanzo, nobody had seen him. Figuring he'd gotten the upper hand regardless, Charles decided to claim he'd gotten to Sleepy Eye hours earlier so when Almanzo finally showed up, Charles acted like a total jerk about it and made him buy dinner for them and Mary that night. They went to the most expensive joint in town as Charles sat back and prepared to order enough food for an army when who should come to their table but Kavendish, having gotten a job as a waiter. He let it slip about Charles' so-called shortcut, so as a result, the shoe was on the other foot and it was Almanzo that ordered out the whole restaurant. After that wild dinner, Charles made Almanzo account for all the food and supplies he gave to the Choate family. Now the two would have to cook dinner when they got home, right? Nope, Charles decided they should lie to their wives and say they got there on time. That could have worked had Jonathan not called Caroline earlier that day asking where the guys were. So it looks like Almanzo and Charles will be working the kitchen that night. Hilarity will ensue. Th-th-th-That's all, Folks!
This one was pretty funny. Watching Charles and Almanzo, extremely overconfident and full of male pride, think they know exactly where they're going, but constantly get derailed. It's classic. Michael Landon and Dean Butler were hilarious, as was Eddie Quillan, a Little House frequent player. This episode kept you guessing up until the end. You weren't sure just who was going to make it first or if they were even going to make it at all. Almanzo did a good deed along the way and Charles, well, he had good intentions. So if you want to see a clash of the generations in a road trip buddy comedy, The In-Laws is for you. It was fun watching the two of them look so foolish in their attempts to outdo one another, only to both be outdone in the end. Start to finish, you can't take your eyes off it. Don Balluck and Bill Claxton turned in a winner.
Meanwhile, Charles came upon an elderly hitchhiker named Kavendish. The old man wasn't really going anywhere, so he gladly accompanied Charles to Sleepy Eye, though he was none too impressed with the shortcut. Especially when they ran into a river that wasn't on the map. Kavendish advised him to turn back, but naturally the Ingalls patriarch was so blinded by his own foolish pride and his determination to beat his son in-law to Sleepy Eye that he refused to listen. So they attempted to ford the river, but as expected the wagon got stuck. Charles decided it would be wise to lighten the load, Kavendish offering little to no help. So while the old stick-in-the-mud was stuck in the mud, Almanzo raced off after the thieves that stole his goods. He followed their tracks to a dilapidated farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Almanzo burst in there ready to raise Cain, until he met the Choate family and saw how they lived. He felt for them and accepted their invitation to join them for their feast. Now let's check back with Charles: he and Kavendish finally got out of the water and proceeded further down the road until they came to a wire fence and a 'No Trespassing' sign. End of the road? Not if Charles Ingalls has anything to say about it. He attempted to cut the wire when the property owner and his rifle stopped him. It was here that Kavendish bailed. Alone, Charles had no choice but to turn around and get back on the road. Finally, he made it to Sleepy Eye to deliver his goods to Jonathan. As for Almanzo, nobody had seen him. Figuring he'd gotten the upper hand regardless, Charles decided to claim he'd gotten to Sleepy Eye hours earlier so when Almanzo finally showed up, Charles acted like a total jerk about it and made him buy dinner for them and Mary that night. They went to the most expensive joint in town as Charles sat back and prepared to order enough food for an army when who should come to their table but Kavendish, having gotten a job as a waiter. He let it slip about Charles' so-called shortcut, so as a result, the shoe was on the other foot and it was Almanzo that ordered out the whole restaurant. After that wild dinner, Charles made Almanzo account for all the food and supplies he gave to the Choate family. Now the two would have to cook dinner when they got home, right? Nope, Charles decided they should lie to their wives and say they got there on time. That could have worked had Jonathan not called Caroline earlier that day asking where the guys were. So it looks like Almanzo and Charles will be working the kitchen that night. Hilarity will ensue. Th-th-th-That's all, Folks!
This one was pretty funny. Watching Charles and Almanzo, extremely overconfident and full of male pride, think they know exactly where they're going, but constantly get derailed. It's classic. Michael Landon and Dean Butler were hilarious, as was Eddie Quillan, a Little House frequent player. This episode kept you guessing up until the end. You weren't sure just who was going to make it first or if they were even going to make it at all. Almanzo did a good deed along the way and Charles, well, he had good intentions. So if you want to see a clash of the generations in a road trip buddy comedy, The In-Laws is for you. It was fun watching the two of them look so foolish in their attempts to outdo one another, only to both be outdone in the end. Start to finish, you can't take your eyes off it. Don Balluck and Bill Claxton turned in a winner.
