History Recap / LittleHouseOnThePrairieS3E8TheBullyBoys

The bullies are the notorious Gallendar family, brothers George, Sam and Bubba. The three don't quite seem to fit in – indeed, not much is known about their past, except that they haven't found a place they can settle in, so everyone decides to go out of their way to welcome them. Mr. Hanson and Nels each extend them a generous line of credit, on the promise that once a bank draft arrives they'll pay their tab. Meanwhile, Bubba is enrolled in school; it's at a time when many of the older boys are working in the fields at harvest.

George and Sam, meanwhile, begin to run up bills at both the Mercantile and Hanson's Mill, and there's no sign of the bank draft. Meanwhile, the two older Gallendars learn that one of Hanson's customers is waiting for a load of lumber so, out of the "kindness" of their hearts, they sell it to him at a discounted rate. Lumber they don't even legally ''own'', mind you.

Eventually, the town airs their grievances to the Reverend Alden, but he's talked with the Gallendars and they've told him their sob story – their mother had recently died after a serious illness, and the Gallendars are just down on their luck. Alden buys the story lock, stock and barrel and suggests to the town to "turn the other cheek."

One afternoon, Sam and George – whom Charles is already getting really frustrated with – meet Caroline as she's on the way into town. They get fresh with her and corner her, and Caroline tries to fight her way out of things, but Sam and George like feisty, fighting women. Caroline is able to get away but her dress is torn. Sam and Bubba snicker as Caroline runs off. Charles comes home and sees Caroline's disheveled look and demands to know what happened. An angry Charles goes to the Gallendars to beat them up, but they scoff at him, describing Caroline as "handsome" and "soft." Those nearly homophobic words (usually, the term "handsome" is used in reference to men) really sets off Charles, and he initially gets the upper hand, but is soon overpowered and beaten into bloody unconsciousness. Mr. Edwards eventually finds a battered Charles, with three broken ribs, a broken arm and a hairline skull fracture.

Reverend Alden visits Charles, but Charles is not exactly in a good mood. He – and several of the others – finally vent everything about the Gallendars. Alden finally decides to confront the Gallendars about the accusations, and when he visits their home, he finds only the young Bubba, who reveals that their mother did not die: she ran off with a drummer. The Reverend also concludes that there was never any bank draft and that he was totally wrong about the Gallendars … they aren't "misunderstood," but rather just three thugs that need to be dealt with severely.

As the defeated Gallendars are escorted out of town by the men – indeed, they never do return – the women of the congregation sings, "Onward Christian Soldiers."

* AlphaStrike: The final action the town of Walnut Grove takes against the Gallenders is for every single able-bodied man to march the trio out of town ''immediately''. Talk about guts!
* AttemptedRape: George and Sam Gallendar make their move on Caroline. She is able to get away. WordOfGod is that they also tried to make a move on Miss Beadle, doing so when she tried to rat out the teenaged Bubba.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Mrs. Oleson is pushed to the limit when the Gallendars refuse to pay their tab at the Mercantile (they offer excuses) and learns that (at least) Caroline was nearly attacked by the two older brothers.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Charles receives one (off-screen) at the hands of the adult Gallendars. To his credit, he was handing Sam his ass until the bigger, stronger George got back into the fight.

* PracticallyDifferentGenerations: The Gallendar brothers consists of George and Sam, who are clearly adults, and Bubba, who's somewhere around Mary and Nellie's age. One would mistake Bubba for being George and Sam's ''nephew'' rather than their brother.

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: The residents of Walnut Grove are already annoyed with the Gallendars, but what really gets them fired up and serious about taking action is the implication that they almost attacked Caroline.
* UngratefulBastard: The Gallendars, in spades. The townspeople took Reverend Alden's suggestion to be generous and make them feel welcome to heart, and they repaid them by bullying their way. They get a load of lumber at Hanson's Mill under the promise to pay him once their bank draft comes, but sell it to one of Hanson's costumers specifically to screw him up, make excuses to not pay their tab at the Olesons' Mercantile when Nels extends them a generous line of credit and even break an item on purpose, then tell him to put it on their bill.

* YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry: What the Gallendars learn the hard way when Reverend Alden calls them out at church on Sunday. When Sam tries to storm the pulpit after realizing the sermon is about him and the trouble he and his brothers have caused, Alden quickly puts his arm in a chicken wing while the men of the congregation restrain George (as a visibly-bruised Bubba looks on, clearly too scared to try anything), and very angrily tells him that he and his family had better leave Walnut Grove now and never return … or else. Even when Sam says that he and his brothers will "be out of here by nightfall", it's not good enough for the preacher, who demands they leave town immediately and only take the items they initially brought with them.

* YouLookFamiliar: Geoffrey Lewis (Sam) would make a return appearance in season 9's "The Older Brothers" as another villain (albeit far more bumbling and comical in nature), Cole Younger, marking the only instance of a ''Little House'' guest star playing two different titular characters.

* BullyingADragon: Willie's making fun of Bubba's name and gets pushed off his chair. Even if Bubba weren't a nasty bully, provoking a much bigger boy wasn't the smartest idea.
* TheDogBitesBack: After weeks of being tormented, intimidated and even physically assaulted by Bubba, the kids from the school stand up to him after seeing Mary and Laura holding their own against the much bigger boy, and realizing that he can't bully them all at once, beat the living soul out of him.

* WouldHitAGirl: Bubba [[WouldHurtAChild brutally beans a small girl]] during a game at recess, and later slaps Mary … and even later, Laura.

* TheDogBitesBack: After weeks of being tormented, intimidated and even physically assaulted by Bubba, the kids from the school stand up to him after seeing Mary and Laura holding their own against the much bigger boy and realizing that he can't bully them all at once and beat the living soul out of him.

* UngratefulBastard: The Gallendars, in spades. The townspeople took Reverend Alden's suggestion to be generous and make them feel welcome to heart, and they repaid them by bullying their way. They get a load of lumber at Hanson's Mill under the promise to pay him once their bank draft comes out but sell it out to one of Hanson's costumers specifically to screw him up, make excuses to not pay their tab at the Olesons' Mercantile when Nels extends them a generous line of credit and even break an item on purpose and tell him to put it on their bill.

Bubba quickly asserts himself as a troublemaker … big time. He's rude in class, and at recess, when he wants his turn and wants it now, he throws a ball way too hard, knocking over a little girl – '''''A LITTLE GIRL!!!''''' – and sends sprawling. Bubba laughs, and this draws the attention of both Mary and Nellie. Nellie thinks Bubba's kind of cute and, so she can get her way in town and at school, she decides to befriend him. Mary, meanwhile, is rightfully aghast and calls out Bubba. Bubba licks his chops and smacks her hard in the face, blackening her eye.

* PracticallyDifferentGenerations: The Gallendar brothers consists George and Sam, who are clearly adults, and Bubba, who's somewhere around Mary and Nellie's age. One would mistake Bubba for being George and Sam's nephew rather than their brother.