Season One
Changes
Writer: Carl Binder
Director: Don McBrearty
With the sudden death of her husband Fritz, Jo Bhaer must find a way to keep
their Plumfield School for Boys in operation. Now without it's teacher and a school
caretaker, Plumfield looks to be endangered and parents are beginning to pull their boys
out of school. Then Nick, a merchant marine with a past, shows up and takes on the role of
temporary caretaker. He proves to be a positive influence on the boys and Jo, and reminds
her why Plumfield is needed and gives her the courage to go on without Fritz.
Quarantine
Writer: Eric Tuchman
Director: Rob Malenfant
A mysterious disease attacks the students at Plumfield, which becomes isolated due to a
quarantine order. Jo, Asia, and the students tend to those who have taken ill, while Nick
becomes distant and solemn. When the medicine runs out, the townspeople refuse to approach
the school to deliver more, Nick takes matters into his own hands and obtains more
medicine, though not quite through legal means.
Thanksgiving
Wrtier: Melissa R. Byer & Treena Hancock
Director: Eleanore Lindo
It's Thanksgiving and Jo's sister Amy returns from a trip to Europe with her husband
Laurie and their daughter Bess. It's also time for Nick to leave, having served out his
time in Jo's custody. Nick doesn't want to leave, but is waiting for Jo to ask him to
stay. Meanwhile Bess, who has been coddled all of her life and is quite snooty, clashes
with Nan, who, as the first girl at Plumfield, fits right in with the boys. Jo and Amy
also clash over Laurie's decision to have Bess attend Plumfield. It looks like it will be
quite a tense Thanksgiving at Plumfield.
Tough Choices
Writer: Michael Teversham
Director: Rob Malenfant
An old friend of Dan and Nat's from the streets shows up at Plumfield and charms Jo. Nick
is suspicious of "Jasper" who intimidates Nat and brings out the worst in Dan.
Jasper pressures the boys to leave Plumfield and journey West. When an expensive item is
stolen from a potential wealthy donor to the school, Jo suspects Nick, who in turn
suspects Nat and Jasper's influence over him. Nick devises a way for the truth to be
revealed and to force Jasper out of Plumfield and away from the boys.
Emancipation
Writer: Mark Evan Schwartz
Director: Graeme Lynch
Nat discovers a family of freed slaves squatting in the woods near Plumfield. Jo invites
the family to stay at the school while they adjust to freedom, causing almost everyone to
reveal, either overtly or unintentionally, the various prejudices inherent in all of us.
Christmas Angel
Wrtier: Melissa R. Byer & Treena Hancock
Director: Eleanore Lindo
Nick and the kids find a beaten woman in the woods. Jo faces her first Christmas
without Fritz, and the children work on a pageant to help lift her spirits. Nan also
faces her first Christmas without her mother.
Philanthropy
Writer: D.A. Nathan
Director: Don McCutcheon
When Franz asks the students to perform acts of philanthropy, they start off with
the best of intentions, but the rapidly growing one-upmanship gets out of hand. Meanwhile,
Jo's beloved horse Penny contracts pneumonia after running away from home. With Dan's
help, Nick tries to cure the horse after the veterinarian suggests putting Penny down.
Bluffing
Writer: Eric Tuchman
Director: Rob Malenfant
Desperate to excel at school, Nan steals one of Nat's skillful essays and passes it off as
her own. She discovers that maintaining the charade involves more deceit and moral
dilemmas than she ever imagined. Intrigued by Nick's involvement in a poker game at the
local tavern, Laurie's curiosity escalates into full blown gambling fever which threatens
to tarnish his upright and sensible image, not only in town, but at Plumfield as well.
Coming Attractions
Writers: Melissa R. Byer & Treena Hancock
Director: Don McCutcheon
Edward Trenton, a business friend of Laurie's from Boston, is instantly smitten with Meg
when he hears her perform a solo hymn in church. When Laurie introduces them, it is clear
that Meg is attracted to Edward as well. As Jo sees Meg and Edward getting closer, she
begins to feel awkward around Nick. Dan and Bess are both resentful when Franz pairs them
up on a science project at school. Partners Nan and Nat discover some similarities between
the courting rituals of the animals and the way Dan and Bess treat each other.
Blame
Writer: Carl Binder
Director: Richard J. Lewis
On her way home from town, Jo's carriage overturns when her horse gets spooked by a
gunshot. Jo finds herself in the cabin of a lonely woodsman who attends to her injuries.
While Jo is grateful for his help, there is something about this melancholic stranger that
concerns her. When a storm sets in and Jo does not return from her trip, Nick sets out to
search for her. Left in charge of the kids, Franz struggles to assert his authority.
The Living Years
Writer: Eric Tuchman
Director: Giles Walker
When a stranger approaches Asia in town, both Jo and Nan are surprised to find out that he
is Asia's estranged father. Wanting to reconcile, Samuel arrives at Plumfield to talk to
Asia, but she struggles to overcome her feelings of hurt and abandonment. With Jo's
consent, the owner of the general store hires Nick to repair some damage to his shop. But
when the owner's attractive niece, Charlotte, shows an interest in Nick, Jo becomes less
comfortable with the arrangement.
Father Figure
Writer: Michael Teversham
Director: Don McCutcheon
With the arrival of the much anticipated winter festival, Concord is in a furry
of preparation. With the highlight of the festivities being the father-son cross country
ski race, Nat asks Nick to be his "father." Nick agrees, but the later confesses
to Jo that he cannot ski. Jo offers to teach Nick, which proves to be a lesson in patience
as well as skill. After a bully picks on him, Nat asks Nick to teach him how to fight.
When Nat is injured as a result, Nick is forced to re-evaluate his role and
responsibilities as a father figure at Plumfield.
Looking Forward
Writer: Barbara Covington
Director: Rob Malenfant
Dan befriends an Indian and goes on a vision quest.
Season Two
Civil Disobedience: (201)
Writer: Carl Binder
Director: DonMcCutcheon
A picnic at Plumfield leads to near disaster when Tommy falls while climbing a tree and
breaks his ankle. Though the injury to Tommy's limb is minor, the damage to Jo's
reputation is not. Eli McBride, a local attorney and aspiring politician, launches an
investigation into the incident with the intention of pressuring Jo into selling the
Plumfield school to him. With the help of Harrison Bridger, the new editor of the town
paper, McBride turns public opinion against Jo and her unconventional teaching methods.
Wishing to protect the children from controversy, Jo is about to sell when a sit-in in
front of the school's doors reveals how much her students love and respect her.
Stepping Out: (202)
Writer: Melissa R. Byer & Treena Hancock
Director: Rob Malenfant
Jo wants to go to the annual dance with Nick. Bees is smitten with a college man until he
makes a pass at her.
Dangerous Lessons: (203)
Writer: Barbara Covington
Director: Rob Malenfant
Nat is discovered by a prestigious music teacher. Dan and Nick track an escaped circus
lion.
Opposites Attract: (204)
Writer: Eric Tuchman
Director: Michael Kennedy
Laurie and Amy hit a rough spot in their marriage. Franz meets a girl whose style clashes
with his.
Family Business: (205)
Writer: Guy Mullally
Director: Rob Malenfant
Asia inherits her aunt's restaurant and faces the option to leave. Kids try to block
hiring of a new housekeeper.
Leap Of Faith: (206)
Writer: Carl binder
Director: Don McCutcheon
Jo gets the scare of her life when she is robbed. Isabel tells Franz that she is moving to
Arizona.
Brothers And Sisters (207)
Writer: Eric Tuchman
Director: Don McBrearty
Nick's brother arrives.
The Weaker Sex
Writer: Melissa R. Byer & Treena Hancock
Director: Bruce McDonald
Jo and the women of Plumfield fight for the right
to vote. Nan decides to take up medicine despite
there never having been a woman doctor and Dr.
Pierce's insists she practice nursing.
For Love Or Money (209)
When Nan and Nat find stolen bank money and
hesitate before turning it in, they find themselves
in a bind as Emil has followed them. Nick and Jo
find it uncomfortable discussing their attraction
to each other.
Lantern Man(210)
Writer: Carl Binder
Director: Rob Malenfant
Halloween is coming, and the Lantern Man haunts Plumfield
Three Angry Women
Writer: Melissa R. Byer & Treena Hancock
Director: Bruce Pitman
(no description available, other than the word "Thanksgiving")
The Sign
Writer: Barbara Covington
Director: Don McCutcheon
As Jo's birthday approaches, her mood is more melancholy than joyful. Running Plumfield
without her late husband is proving more taxing than she anticipated, and her youthful
ambition to become a renowned writer is still unrealized. While Jo questions her ability
to run the school effectively, and the professional choices she has made, the planting of
grape seeds in the garden leads the Plumfield children into an unexpected business venture
of their own.
(Second description)Jo questions her ability to run
Plumfield; the children court a businessman named Thomas Welch who is in Concord buying
grapes.
Home For Christmas
Writer: Guy Mullallay
Director: Rob Malenfant
As Christmas approaches, everyone at Plumfield is hoping for
snow, but an unwelcomed storm of a different kiind blows in. While having a drink in a
local tavern, Nick is accosted by a belligerent gambler who claims Nick helped his brother
Ben skip town to avoid paying off a gambling debt. Taking the dispute outside, Nick is
sucker-punched before he can prepare to defend himself and then gives chase to his
adversary. The next morning, Nick is arrested and charges with the murder of his accuser,
who was found dead of a rifle shot. While the residents of Plumfield rise to his defense,
Nick remains strangely silent, and circumstantial evidence begins to mount against him.
