- While Mary fights a life-threatening infection and the hospital bills mount, Charles puts himself and a railroad tunneling team in danger by volunteering to complete a dangerous blasting job in unsafe conditions to earn the cash bonus he so desperately needs.—shepherd1138
- The episode picks up immediately after the events of To Live with Fear: Part I, which ended with Pa and Mr. Edwards leaving Walnut Grove in search of work with the railroad to pay for Mary's hospital bill after being injured by a horse.
At the first railroad camp they encounter, the pair are informed that the help wanted poster Charles found at the Rochester train depot is five months old, and there is no work available. Charles is devastated, and begs for work, at least enough to pay for the two to seek work elsewhere. The foreman explains there's just nothing he can do, but says there may be work ten miles down the road, but he can't guarantee that. Charles and Isaiah head down the road, desperate.
Back at the hospital, Mr. Benson is putting pressure on Caroline: Mary's bills are mounting, and they've not heard from Charles for several days. Caroline explains Charles gave him his word, and his word is good, he just needs to be patient. Caroline is just as desperate as Charles, and a sympathetic nurse tells her that Caroline can find a job in the hospitals laundry, which Ma gratefully accepts.
Meanwhile, Charles and Isaiah have completed the next leg of their journey, and discover that the work ten miles down the road is at a mine, blasting a tunnel in a mountain for the quickly approaching rail line. Upon arriving, the foreman of the project, Mr. Harris, is sternly berating Mr. Wing, for slowing down the tunnel work. It seems Mr. Wing and his team, all Chinese immigrants, have been forced to mine at too quick of a pace, and an accident has recently occurred. It's at this time Mr. Harris' boss Mr. Franklin shows up, dismayed at the lack of progress, and tells him "end of steel", that is, the railroad track construction, is just nine miles back and getting closer all the time. Mr. Harris explains his powder-man, the person responsible for loading the dynamite in the tunnel, is refusing to load at the unsafe and reckless amount he is requiring. Mr. Franklin gives Mr. Harris no choice: replace the powder-man with someone willing to do what it takes. Charles, overhearing the exchange, speaks up, saying he and Isaiah are a team of powder-men seeking work. Mr. Franklin instructs him to hire Charles and Isaiah, then leaves. Mr. Harris knows Charles was not telling the truth about his powder-man skills, but gives Charles and Isaiah the opportunity to prove themselves. Charles demonstrates he's up to the task, and the two get the job.
Back at the hospital, Caroline is doing well at the laundry, and her kindly boss Sarah tells her that she can set up a cot in the laundry room, so that she can save money by not paying for a hotel room.
At the mine, Mr. Wing asks for a few minutes of the new powder-men's time. Charles is reluctant, but agrees. Mr. Wing takes them to a tent, where a man lays dying. Mr. Wing explains the previous powder-man was reckless in their dynamiting, and a roof collapse brought about the injuries that will eventually kill the man in the tent. Charles is unmoved by Mr. Wing's appeal for safety and reason, and explains he has a sick daughter in the hospital, and that he's going to do whatever it takes to earn the money for her care. Mr. Harris approaches Charles, and offers Charles and Isaiah hazard pay. If Charles can maintain the dangerous pace, he'll receive one-third more pay.
At the hospital, Caroline reads to Mary a letter that Pa sent. Mary is inconsolable, and shares with Ma she's afraid she's not getting better, and is afraid that she'll die before Pa returns. Ma is shocked to hear those words coming from Mary, and scolds her for thinking that way.
Mr. Franklin visits the mine again, and is pleased that Isaiah and Charles are mining the tunnel at the rate of four feet per day, and tells Mr. Harris so. But, Mr. Franklin believes that the aggressive pair could do even more, so he bypasses Mr. Harris and asks Charles directly if the duo could mine five feet a day. Mr. Franklin offers to double the hazard pay if this goal can be met. Isaiah says it's not possible, but the lure of extra money causes him to speak over his friend, and Charles guarantees they can meet the new quota of five feet per day, despite Edwards complaints the loads they're currently using are rattling the mountain.
That night, Charles is mining by lantern light. He knows the team of Chinese miners are purposely not meeting the target for fear of a mine collapse. Mr. Edwards finds Charles in the mine, and hands Charles a telegram. Mary has gotten her strength back, and she's going to have her second operation. In light of the good news, Isaiah recommends his friend get some sleep, but a single-minded Charles is determined Mary get the best care and continues drilling rock into the night.
The next morning, Mr. Wing and his crew walk off of the job, to Charles and Mr. Harris dismay. It seems the injured worker from earlier has finally died, and a funeral is being held. Mr. Wing blames himself for not speaking up to the unsafe practices of the previous powder-man. Charles is unmoved by the news, and continues to work despite the ongoing funeral, and Mr. Edwards is aghast at his friends behavior, calling it un-Christian to be working during another man's funeral. Charles ignores Isaiah's protests, and tell him to refill the lanterns. Isaiah refuses, and heads off in the direction of the funeral, but not before Charles can grab him to pull him back. Isaiah is enraged, spins, and punches Charles in the jaw. Isaiah informs Charles he doesn't recognize him any more, and that he's going to the funeral, and after that he's packing his things and returning to Walnut Grove. Charles explains the altercation to Mr. Harris as a simple difference of opinions, and goes back to dynamiting during the funeral.
Charles and Mr. Harris enter the tunnel after the most recent explosion, and a terrifying rumble is heard. The mine collapses, and the pair are trapped inside. Isaiah leads the way into the remains of the tunnel, and tries to encourage the Chinese team to start digging the pair out. Isaiah is desperate, but the Chinese miners are reluctant to help Charles and Mr. Harris, as it is these men that were forcing them to mine at an unsafe rate. Isaiah's pleas fall on deaf ears.
Charles and Mr. Harris have survived the collapse, but are trapped, and the air in their pocket is beginning to run out. Mr. Wing tells Mr. Edwards that they've already buried one man that day, and that's enough. The Chinese miners enter the tunnel and begin the process of digging out the collapsed rubble.
The air in the collapsed mine pocket is running out, Charles and Mr. Harris are having difficulty breathing and the light from their lantern is dimming, as are their hopes of surviving. Mr. Harris confesses to Charles he understands why Charles was pushing forward at the rate he was, but that he himself was only pushing ahead at an unsafe speed because he was worried over being fired due to his age and the idea he couldn't get the job done.
Back at the hospital, Mary's fever has spiked and the surgeon Dr. Mays says she must be operated on immediately. Caroline is left alone in her despair, when Dr. Mays comes out of surgery and says Mary is resting comfortably back in her room, the surgery was a success.
At the collapsed mine, Charles is praying to God, for the safety of Mary and his family. The lantern has all but gone out, when Charles hears the approaching sounds of shifting rock. Mr. Edwards and the Chinese miners have reached Charles and Mr. Harris in time. Everyone exits the tunnel, relieved that no one else need be buried that day. Just as everyone exits the tunnel, Mr. Franklin arrives to see no one working. Mr. Harris punches Mr. Franklin in the jaw, and Mr. Franklin fires Mr. Harris and promotes Mr. Wing to the role of foreman. Mr. Wing refuses, and states he'll quit if Mr. Harris is fired. Charles and Isaiah threaten to do the same. Mr. Harris realizes he has power over his boss, Mr. Franklin: if the entire team quit, Mr. Franklin will be the only one left when the railroad brass come looking to place blame, as everyone else be be gone. Mr. Franklin would be fired, and unable to find employment with any railroad in the future, Mr. Harris gleefully explains.
Mr. Harris offers Mr. Franklin the opportunity to make things right. He will step aside and allow Mr. Wing to assume the job of foreman, the Chinese workers will remain and repair the tunnel and continue with the mine, and Charles and Isaiah will continue their work as powder-men on one condition: the work will be done responsibly and at a safe pace.
The task completed, Charles returns to Rochester while Mr. Edwards returns to Walnut Grove. Charles panics when Mary isn't in her bed, but a nurse gently informs him that she and Caroline have gone for a walk in the garden. Caroline and Mary round a hall corner and Charles embraces Mary. She will now be fine, and the family will be reunited and made whole again in Walnut Grove.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content