Willie Oleson is about to graduate from the Walnut Grove School and Harriett is intent on him getting a college education. However, Willie has a plan of his own: marry his school sweetheart Rachel Brown and then run his family's restaurant together. Furious over the fact that Willie wants to go against her wishes, Harriet almost gets them to call off the wedding by spreading needless gossip.

Charles is making a business trip from his hometown of Burr Oak, Iowa to Minnesota, and since he will be passing through Walnut Grove, he invites Albert to join him. Father and son pay a visit to college-bound Albert's ideal school for becoming a doctor, and although the tuition is high, it appears that Albert has a chance at a full scholarship. Later, while revisiting the hometown in which he grew up, Albert--who loves being back in his beloved childhood town--takes an interest in a beautiful girl named Michelle. Little Jason Carter longs to lock lips with classmate Amy Bryant, and the town faces crop-related financial issues, prompting Charles to offer his help. Through all the good and the bad, it all gets thrown into perspective when Albert, who has been fatigued and having frequent nosebleeds, visits a specialist and receives some absolutely devastating news that can either make or break the Walnut Grove community as it is known.