Original subtitles

Mike, I don't get a day off very often.

I don't want to spend it sitting around with you sulking!

No one asked you to.

You going to spend the rest of your life in that chair?

Looks like it, doesn't it?

Wasn't my idea to wind up like this.

But it's your idea to stay there.

Mike, you can do better, I know you can!

Why don't you get off my back?

JOHN-BOY: In the spring of 1942, the war that engulfed

the world beyond Walton's Mountain,

touched our family in many ways.

It was a time of farewells and reunions,

shortages and news of battles

in places with exotic names like Bataan,

Corregidor, Wake Island and Midway.

It was a time when my family was to come face to face

with the cruelty of war, as well as the courage

it inspired to overcome its aftermath.

It was also a time when Americans everywhere united

to contribute to the war effort in any way they could.

(PIANO PLAYING)

(SINGING) Winter, autumn and spring

And were there more than 24 hours a day

They'd be spent in sweet content dreaming away

When skies are gray, when skies are blue

Morning, noon and night time, too

All we do the whole day through

Is dream of, scheme of, dream of you!

What, no applause?

Wait till we put our bags down.

It's getting better, Jason.

Getting better? Why, that was just about perfect!

Yeah, Corabeth's working with us on the dance part.

She's also running the store by herself

and wants you back there in a hurry.

You can't go now, Ike, we still got to practice some.

What for? It's perfect.

Well, how about it, Jase, we ready for that USO audition?

Well, I think we ought to learn a couple more numbers first.

Then next time they come looking for talent, we'll be ready.

Is the USO that desperate?

Gee, thanks, Mary Ellen.

There's a lot of demand now

for musicians and specialty acts.

That's why the USO comes to the Conservatory.

If they like us, we'll be doing camp shows,

war bond rallies, might even get on the radio.

Working defense contracts isn't the only way we can do our part.

I mean, keeping up morale is very important.

I think it's a good idea, Ben. I really do.

Make sure you're ready to perform for an audience.

It's different than working in your living room.

Don't worry about that.

My grandfather was "Snake Oil" Johnnie McMann.

He toured all over the country. My mom as in the act, too.

I mean, I've got show biz in my blood. Watch this.

(PHONE RINGING)

Tell Corabeth that I'm on my way!

Okay.

(PHONE RINGING)

He's on his way. Bye-bye, Ike.

(LAUGHING)

Ben, that could've been for me.

Then he'll call back.

Any mail for me, Mary Ellen?

No.

There's a letter from John-Boy.

Isn't that nice?

"Dear family,

"we are getting organized as fast as possible.

"A weekly edition of Stars and Stripes[I] will soon appear.

"We operate out of three rented rooms

"in the London Times[I] building off the Thames Embankment.

"If you don't hear from me for a while, please don't worry.

"I may be sent to other locales on assignments."

I'm used to thinking of him in London,

now I'll never know where he is.

Probably can't tell you 'cause of censorship regulations.

"Continue to write. I eagerly look for letters from home.

"All my love to all of you. John-Boy."

Wait a minute, there's a PS here.

"I am worried about Mike Paxton.

"We were very close when he was my roommate at college.

"Six months ago he wrote me

"that he was in the Merchant Marines,

"and that his ship had been torpedoed in the North Atlantic.

"He had been wounded in the action and was being treated

"at the naval hospital near Richmond.

"I have not heard from him since,

"though I have written him several times.

"Will somebody please go to see him

"or check with the hospital concerning his whereabouts?

"I would appreciate this very much.

"Mike was a good friend and he loved you all. Thanks."

That's funny, him being so close and not getting in touch.

OLIVIA: I hope he's alright.

-We ought to go see him. -He sure was a neat guy.

Handsome, too. I couldn't take my eyes off of him

when John-Boy brought him home for weekends.

I'd like to see him again.

Do you have a crush on him?

Is he really tall, with broad shoulders?

No, you were just short and skinny.

-Why don't we all see him? -I think that's a good idea.

No, hold on. We all can't go rushing in on him.

I know a doctor who's stationed at that hospital.

-I could find out about Mike. -That's a good idea, Mary Ellen.

Mary Ellen! That you?

Well, J.D., what are you doing here?

Oh, I come by every week or so

to bring the boys cigarettes, books, radios and the like.

You know what they say, nothing's too good

for our boys in the service.

Well, that's very generous of you.

Oh, it's good public relations for Pickett Metal Products.

Besides, the whole thing's what they call a write-off.

Good for the war effort and good for business, too!

Erin says you manage to combine business and patriotism well.

You nursing here now?

No, I came to visit a friend of John-Boy's.

Oh, well, just let me know his name,

I'll see that he gets anything he needs next time.

-I'll do that. -Nothing too good for our boys!

See you later, Mary Ellen.

Bye-bye.

Thanks for filling me in, Doctor. I'll see what I can do.

Mike?

Mike, it's Mary Ellen.

John-Boy wrote us you were here.

Mary Ellen?

It's been a long time.

I asked John-Boy not to tell your family that I was here.

Well, he got worried because he hasn't heard from you.

I wish you hadn't come.

Dr. Sanders is an old friend of mine. I know all about you.

Oh, is that right?

He says you're ready to leave.

Says you've responded very well to therapy

over the last six months, and you ought to get out of here.

Well, I like it fine just where I am.

I was sorry to hear that your mother died, Mike.

Yeah, it's been a great year.

-Do you hear from your father? -From time to time.

He's on a destroyer out in the Pacific. Career Navy, you know?

I'm sure he'd like to hear from you.

(MIKE EXHALES)

No point distracting him, he's got a war to fight.

So do you.

Go home to your husband, Mary Ellen.

Curt was killed at Pearl Harbor.

Damn it!

Stupid war!

It just isn't fair!

At least you came back, Mike.

Alright, Mary Ellen, what do you want me to do?

I want you to try it on the outside again.

I go to pieces out there.

I feel like they're all staring at me,

and I know what they're thinking.

You'd rather sit here being a vegetable?

I don't like being on exhibition.

I know a place where you wouldn't be.

Try it for two weeks.

Just don't give up.

(PIANO PLAYING)

If that's an assignment, it doesn't look

like you're studying Mr. Beethoven.

It's a new arrangement.

Hope you're not taking too much time off from regular studies.

No, as a matter of fact, Professor Collier wants me

to do as much of this as I can.

Popular music?

Trying to get me in a band unit in the Army after graduation.

You'll be using your special talents, just like John-Boy.

Right.

They're trying to organize units to play for ceremonies,

and even entertain troops in the battle zones.

We'd also be trained as stretcher bearers

and medics in case of combat action.

I see.

If I can shape Ben and Ike into an act the USO can use,

it might make a good impression.

That will be quite a challenge.

(CAR APPROACHING)

JASON: Mary Ellen's back.

There's somebody out there with her.

I can't face them right now, Mary Ellen.

I'm tired out from the trip.

You'll be staying in the shed,

so you'll have all the rest and privacy you need.

Are you sure your family's gonna want me around?

Well, we'll soon find out.

Got a surprise for you. Old friend of ours.

Is that Mike in there?

-Mike! -Hey, Mike.

Good to see you, Son!

Set another place for supper, Mama, we've got company.

Is it Mike?

Mike, it's so nice to see you again.

-Hey, Mike. -Come on out of there, son.

I'm glad Mary Ellen found you.

Clear the way, folks. Here comes the Paxton Special.

Here you go, Mike.

I can't do it, Mary Ellen.

I've tired Mike with all the talking

I've been doing on the way, I promised

he could rest before you did the same.

Let me get him settled in the shed,

we can do our visiting later?

-Can we help? -No.

You just come on in when you feel like it, alright?

Good to have you here, Son.

See you later, Mike.

You get some rest now.

According to the doctor, when Mike's ship was torpedoed,

he caught some metal fragments in the lumbar region.

At first they weren't sure how serious it was.

That's when he wrote to John-Boy.

Well, it sure is serious now.

The doctors say there's some abdominal and pelvic function.

But he'll never walk again.

Except with the help of braces and crutches.

Too bad he's given up.

Well, he didn't at first.

He took a lot of therapy and worked his upper body,

then he gave up and sat around and stared out the window.

I'm surprised the doctor let you bring him here.

Well, it was his idea. I know I should have called first,

but I was afraid if I took the time, he'd change his mind.

It's a heavy responsibility.

We'd feel terrible if something else happened to him.

There was no place for him to start over.

He and John-Boy were real close.

Stay!

Stay!

Well, I just hope we can convince him of that.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Come in.

Might as well make yourself comfortable.

Want me to unpack this for you?

No. I mean, no, thanks.

There's no point bringing all that stuff in, Mary Ellen.

I'm not staying.

Well, you're staying at least tonight

'cause I'm not driving back to Richmond.

Coming in for supper?

No. No, I'm not hungry.

I'll get the rest of his bags, Mary Ellen.

Thanks, Ben.

Have everything you need here to make yourself comfortable.

You might as well use it.

The towels are over here.

How's it going?

Well, he doesn't want to stay, but Mary Ellen's working on him.

I just wish he wasn't stuck in that shed, so far away from us.

Well, maybe he likes his privacy.

And there are a lot of steps.

Maybe I could build some ramps.

That's a good idea, but I thought he didn't want to stay.

You know how Mary Ellen is.

-Why don't you give me a hand? -Sure.

Hey, Joe, what do you know?

Hey, I just got back from a Broadway show.

Mr. Godsey, if you would concentrate on store business

instead of show business,

perhaps our cash register would balance for a change.

Corabeth, I wish you wouldn't bring up

anything as mundane as money.

Isn't that what you said when you opened your dancing school?

No need to remind me of that painful endeavor.

I just brought over Jason's arrangements

on this new song for our act, Ike.

-In The Mood. - Hey, that's a good one!

Yeah, it shouldn't be hard making simple steps

out of this one, Corabeth, like...

(SINGING) Sister What-ya-call-'em What you doin' tonight?

My dear Ben, the dance should not be so obvious.

We must find more subtle ways to put across our song.

Although, I doubt that Mr. Godsey would be able

to execute much more than a slow time step.

Why don't you two look this one over,

and we'll get some rehearsing tomorrow?

I gotta get home for supper.

Hey!

In the mood, that's it, I got it In the mood

Everybody, in the mood

I can't believe it.

Erin and Elizabeth, you were just...

Well, go on and say it. We were just kids.

It was several years ago.

You'd hardly give me the time of day then.

Yeah, now it's the other way around.

Erin's working in the personnel department

at the J.D. Pickett Plant.

J.D. Pickett? I know him.

Yeah, he comes to the Navy Hospital.

Yeah, and makes a big show of it.

Guess he means well, though.

Hit him up for a job. He needs people he can depend on.

Who's going to hire me, Erin? Didn't they tell you?

The government keeps trying to get defense plants

to hire handicapped workers. It wouldn't hurt to try.

(SIGHS)

I'm tired, Mary Ellen.

We're glad you're here, Mike.

ELIZABETH: See you later.

Aren't you getting tired of feeling sorry for yourself?

(DOOR OPENING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

You sure this is gonna work, Ben?

Absolutely. It's just the thing he needs.

It won't get done if you keep on talking.

-Mama's not going to like that. -What do you mean?

She told me to tell you supper's ready,

but Ben keeps telling me to shut up.

He hardly touched his food.

I think it's a losing battle.

Maybe we should go out there,

and let him know we want him to stay.

Jim-Bob's out there now. Jim-Bob gets talking

about the Air Corps, he'll be there all night.

(HORN HONKING)

He took Mike his car horn, in case he wants to call us.

We'll be able to hear him, that's for sure.

I took it off my car.

Well, thanks, Jim-Bob, but I don't think I'm gonna need it.

You think the war will last till next year, when I'm 18?

-You gonna enlist? -I'm joining the Air Corps.

I'd be in now, if it weren't for Mama and Daddy.

Yeah.

Yeah, I felt the same way about the Merchant Marine.

I was even prepared to die at sea, I think.

But I never considered the possibility,

though, that I'd come home a cripple.

I mean, you either lived or died

or you got a flesh wound, like in the movies.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Come in.

Mike was just telling me how he always wanted to go to sea.

How did you get wounded, Mike?

JOHN: Jim-Bob, I think it's time for you to go to bed.

No, that's alright, I don't mind talking about it.

I was on a freighter in the North Atlantic,

we were headed for Iceland. We had naval forces there

even before Pearl Harbor was attacked, you know.

And a German sub put two torpedoes amidships.

I was wounded in the explosions.

Next thing I knew I was in the water.

I thought my legs were numb from the cold.

They weren't.

Only eight of us were saved.

And you were one of them, Mike. There must be a reason.

You've got a lot to live for, son.

That's what everyone keeps telling me.

We really hope you'll stay with us.

Come on, Jim-Bob.

Good night, Mike. See you tomorrow.

Anything we can do for you before we turn in, son?

Oh, no, but thanks.

Mary Ellen's got me fixed up with everything I need

and then some. And now I've got this.

-Good night. -Good night.

Sir.

You've all been really wonderful.

It's not your fault that I can't make it.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Mike, you up yet?

Yes, Mary Ellen, all ready to go.

Would you like a little breakfast?

I guess so.

-Bring it on in. -Why don't you come and get it?

-What? -I said, come and get it!

-Somebody should help him. -Oh, no.

(LAUGHING)

You made it look easy.

MARY ELLEN: You're ready for your breakfast now.

Mrs. Walton...

Grandma, that's the best breakfast

I've had since the last time I was here.

I think you're really special.

I mean, well, you know...

No, I know.

That's what's kept me going all these years, Mike.

Two best cooks in the world.

Glad you're here, Mike, I might never have heard that otherwise.

Thanks to Ben, I'm here.

I don't have to worry about you wheeling

down the road while I'm at work.

No, not today, Mary Ellen.

I couldn't leave now, after you've all been so thoughtful.

I'm not saying I could stay two whole weeks, though.

We'll be disappointed if you don't.

I'll think about it, okay?

-You plan on writing John-Boy? -That's a good idea.

Here.

That's an order, fella! Get to work!

(MARY ELLEN LAUGHS)

Looks like I've got a job.

Don't go too fast for me now, Grandma.

That needs a wipe, son.

You through over there Mike, got work in the mill.

Got a list of things you and Ben keep forgetting

to do around the house.

Daddy's got dibs on him, Mama.

Looks like you have to stay two weeks, Mike,

just to get all your chores done.

Looks like it, doesn't it?

Don't you guys have anything to do?

Well, I was going to help you, but I can't work that fast.

Ben and me have to deliver this when it's loaded.

You better get a good rest.

I can help Olivia inside then.

You seem to be pretty handy with tools.

You learn to do a lot of things at sea.

Most of our boys are good at fixing things.

During the hard times, they had to help Grandpa and John

repair almost everything we had.

And then repair the repairs.

They'll make good husbands for some lucky girls.

I hope so.

I guess this war is going to postpone

their settling down for a while.

Is there a girl, Mike?

There was.

She doesn't know where I am.

I'll never forget what Mary Ellen went through

waiting for news of Curt.

If you love this girl, you should let her know.

No.

The man she loves doesn't exist anymore.

He went down with his ship.

Don't you think she's the one to decide that?

What can I offer her?

What's my life going to be like from now on?

What you make of it.

I can't give her a child.

You can give her you.

That seems like a pretty fine gift.

She just might feel the same.

-Maybe I'll write her. -I hope so.

But not before you finish doing this,

and a few other little things that Grandma and I

have got lined up for you.

(DOOR CREAKING)

If I had a motor now, I could go cross country!

Maybe I could put one on the undercarriage.

Not now, Jim-Bob, I want to take John Curtis for a ride.

Elizabeth, you think he'll go?

There's only one way to find out.

Hi, you want to go for a nice ride?

Here we go!

MIKE: Whee!

ELIZABETH: Your own bicycle, John Curtis.

(MIKE LAUGHING)

Our heavenly Father, we thank you for this food on the table,

and for the labor of those who provided it,

and for those who prepared it.

I thank you for a week spent with good friends.

Bless them all. Always. Amen.

ALL: Amen.

OLIVIA: Thank you, Mike.

You're not having second thoughts

about staying another week?

Stay.

Stay.

Looks like I don't have any choice.

Well, you can't leave yet,

Ike and me haven't even done the new song for you.

Come on, Ben, you want to chase him away?

John Curtis would be very upset if

Uncle Mike weren't around for his rides.

I still want you to take an application over to Mr. Pickett.

We're losing a supervisor in the shipping department.

You could do that job easily, Mike.

You did well at the mill, Mike.

I'm not sure I want you to work at Pickett's.

Wouldn't get anything done around here.

Mama hasn't asked me to fix anything for two or three days.

I appreciate what you're all trying to do.

You've been very kind to find things that I can do,

in my own way, at my own pace.

I can tell you now,

it's faster than the Pickett plant.

That's why they need you.

You've had to make a lot of decisions this week.

Don't want to push you into something you're not sure of.

-Up to him. -That's right, Ma.

Why don't we all do less talking around here, and more eating?

-Pass down that cheese. -BEN: This is good, Mama.

Ben is so nervous tonight for rehearsal,

I hate to think what he'll be like for the USO audition.

I get stage fright reciting a poem in front of my class.

Ike will get him through it.

He was born backstage in a trunk.

Yeah, but sometimes I think the lid fell on his head.

(CORABETH CLEARING THROAT)

Ladies and gentlemen, for their next number,

Godsey and Walton will do a song and dance number.

A quaint little ditty called In The Mood.[I]

(PIANO PLAYING)

(SINGING) Sister What-ya-call-'em What you doin' tonight?

Hope you're in the mood because I'm feeling just right

How about a corner with a table for two?

Where the music's mellow in some gay rendezvous

There's no chance romancin' with a blue attitude

You've got to do some dancin' to get in the mood

In the mood, that's it, I've got it

In the mood, your ear will spot it

In the mood, oh, what a hot hit

Be alive and get the jive You've got to learn now

Sister What-ya-call-'em That's a timely idea

Something swing-a-dilla would be good to my ear

Everybody must agree the dancin' has charms

When you got the certain one you love in your arms

Steppin' out with you will be a sweet interlude

A builder-up with that will put me in the mood

You alright, Mike?

(SIGHS)

I'm sorry, Erin.

I didn't mean to walk out on Ike and Ben like that.

I didn't mean that either. "Walk out."

They'll understand.

You know, when John-Boy and I were in college

we did a routine just like that for a student talent show.

We didn't win first prize either, I can tell you.

Mike, you were doing a job for them,

for all of us, when you got hurt.

So, now maybe you should let them dance for you.

Let others who couldn't do what you did

help you out in other ways.

(PIANO PLAYING)

You don't mind touching me, Erin?

Should I?

(PIANO PLAYING)

Darned if I know.

Come on, let's get me back inside before they finish.

In the mood

In the mood

In the mood

We're muggin'

We're huggin'

We're muggin' and we're huggin' And we're in the mood now

It sure doesn't look to me like this place

is fixed up for people in wheelchairs.

No reason it can't be.

Come on, men, let's get this truck loaded.

You're wasting time here! Don't you know there's a war on?

Why, howdy, Jason!

Hi, J.D.

How you doing?

You finally decided to come work for me, huh?

Oh, not yet, J.D.

I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. J.D., this is Mike Paxton.

Pleased to meet you.

We already met at the Naval Hospital in Richmond.

I just got out of there.

I believe I do remember, yes.

Of course I'm proud of all our service men,

but especially you boys who've suffered in this terrible war.

I remember you saying that if any of us needed anything,

we should just come to you.

Well, just name it, son.

We're waiting for Erin.

She's processing my application through personnel.

I'm applying for a job, Mr. Pickett.

Oh, I'm afraid there's been some mistake.

We don't have any positions open just now.

J.D., I've been looking for you.

I have Mike's approved application here.

I was just telling Mr. Paxton

that we, unfortunately, have no positions available just now.

But we're losing a supervisor in the shipping department, J.D.

Mike has all the necessary qualifications,

and he's a good, steady man.

Our whole family will vouch for that.

Well, it just wouldn't work, that's all! Not in a wheelchair.

Why, you couldn't even get in the place.

There's a ramp out in back.

My insurance wouldn't cover it, Erin, you should know that.

I couldn't guarantee your safety

in an accident or fire, Mr. Paxton.

There are stairs all over the building.

Not in the shipping room.

I thought you were interested in helping wounded veterans.

Well, I am, I am.

But as they say, business is business.

Now, look, son, you've done your part.

Why don't you go on home and let us do ours?

We're all proud of you for trying.

You're not even giving me a chance to try.

At least let me show you.

Alright, son, then you listen.

On the day you can drive up here in a car, get out of it,

and walk up here to these steps,

go on up to the office door here,

turn and walk up these steps,

well, then I'll be ready to talk to you about a job.

I'm a busy man. Bye, Jason.

Erin, we've got work to do.

Come on, now, let's get it moving here!

I'm sorry, Mike, I had no idea.

It's about what I expected.

I've got to go.

Thanks anyway, Erin.

Leave it to J.D. to do something like this.

I think when he sees "USA,"

the middle letter is a dollar sign.

Didn't eat much dinner, Mike.

I guess I lost my appetite.

I wish I could tell you

what happened at Pickett's this morning

didn't mean much, but I know it hit you awful hard.

I just don't know if all the struggle is worth it.

I could just go on to some veterans hospital

and let them take care of me.

You know, during the Depression,

we had some pretty hard times around here.

I didn't know if I could keep the family together.

But we kept working at it and somehow we got through.

Point is, you have to keep working at it.

Yeah, but you had a family to work for.

What makes you think you haven't?

Sure could use a good hand at the mill this afternoon.

Hey, Mike, guess what?

Jason just called to tell me the USO officers

are going to be coming to audition Ike and me tonight!

Hey, that's great. You guys will do just fine.

I don't know, I'm already getting the butterflies.

I'd really like you there for luck tonight.

We can really use you. How about coming?

Oh, well, no, you don't need me.

The heck I don't.

John-Boy, he'd always be there if I needed him,

whether it was for school or any other problems I had.

I mean, a big brother is...

It would mean a lot to me if you're there tonight.

Okay, Ben, if you say so.

Thanks, Mike, I appreciate it.

(IKE WHISTLING)

Where's my cane? Oh, no, I forgot my cane.

Take it easy, Ben, it's right there on the pool table.

Oh, boy, Ike, I don't think I can do it.

Sure you will. As soon as you see those bright lights

you'll come on like gangbusters!

Oh, Mr. Godsey, you really are a trouper!

Those officers from the USO are out there,

they're ready for the audition. All set?

When you say the word, we'll knock them dead!

Okay, Corabeth, you do the intro.

Break a leg, guys.

Break a leg? What's he talking about?

That's show business talk for good luck.

Let's go, partner.

Yeah.

Forget it, Ben. Corabeth, lead on!

Oh, dear, I do hope everything goes alright.

Now, Benjamin, breathe deeply.

And follow me.

(HUMMING)

Ladies and gentlemen,

Walton's Mountain, the garden spot of Virginia,

is pleased to present

the new team of Godsey and Walton.

(PIANO PLAYING)

Or otherwise known as Ike and Ben!

(PIANO PLAYING)

(CLEARING THROAT)

Gentlemen, we...

We seem to have some slight technical difficulty backstage.

I'm sure it will be soon corrected if you'll just relax.

We'll have it fixed in just a moment.

In the meantime, vamp till ready, maestro!

Ike.

Ike, you've got to listen to me.

Those guys out there, they're just like any of us.

One of them is from Centerville, the other's from Big Springs.

Population of both is under 100.

Yeah?

Yeah, they're small-town guys, just like us.

Alright, you guys get out there and knock 'em dead.

Hit it, Jason.

(SINGING) I'll never say "never again" again[I]

'Cause here I am in love again

Head over heels in love again with you

I'll never say "never kiss you" again

'Cause here I'm kissing you again

That's just the thing I said I'd never do

I walked away and said goodbye

I was hasty, wasn't I?

I missed you so, I thought I'd die

But it's all over now Throw my hat in the sky

Never say "never again" again

'Cause here I am in love again

Head over heels in love again with the same

sweet you

(LAUGHING)

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Come in.

You know that second piece of cake

Grandma said you couldn't have?

She found out what you did for Ben and Ike,

now she wants you to have it.

Oh, great!

Grandma's something special, isn't she?

Grandpa always said she had an eye for handsome men like him.

Speaking of something special, I haven't seen this before.

Just a girl I used to know.

She doesn't know where I am, so I decided to write.

I'm sure she'll be glad to hear from you.

We'll see.

At least now I'm not afraid to find out.

Mike, I still don't believe you

can climb the stairs over at Pickett's. Come on, show me!

What if I could climb 'em?

I still could never drive a car there.

You're doing just fine. How do the braces feel?

Heavy as the dickens!

Well, you seem to be doing pretty good on those crutches.

Yeah, they're not bad

for hitting loudmouth nurses with, too.

You've got to catch me first.

(MARY ELLEN LAUGHING)

Ike and Jim-Bob have been up to something. Come on.

Hi, Mary Ellen. Hello, Mike!

Hey, Mike, Jim-Bob has got a great surprise for you.

-Show him. -I just got the idea.

Ike got the materials to make it work.

I can't thank you enough for what you did last night.

Oh, come on, Ike, you could've done it.

I don't know, not without you, I don't think. Go on, show him!

You ever seen pictures of that convertible

that President Roosevelt drives?

He can operate everything by hand.

Now my car works that way.

It's already got a handbrake on it.

Pull this lever here to push down the clutch,

put her into gear, use the hand throttle

on the steering post, let the clutch out, and away you go.

I told you, he's a bona fide genius.

I didn't believe him when he told me, but here it is.

All you gotta do is drive to the Pickett plant,

and then you can get yourself a store-bought rig.

Come on, Mike, give it a try.

Grandma says, "Try,

"and do."

(HONKING)

(HONKING)

(CAR DOOR CLOSING)

Now, son, I never dreamed you'd take me up on this.

I came for that job we talked about, Mr. Pickett.

I told you, I can't hire you.

ERIN: But he drove here in a car.

Alright, he did that, but climbing up a few steps

don't prove nothing.

It did the other day, J.D., and you're the one that said it.

Well, nobody's gonna force me to hire an invalid.

I think Mike came to see how good your word is.

I think folks around here might be interested in that, too.

It wouldn't cost much to put ramps here, J.D.

Mike's a good, steady, dependable worker.

He's proven it to us.

Ah, look, son, I'll give you a letter of recommendation,

the best I know how to write.

I don't want a letter, I came for a job.

-Come on, Mike, you can do it. -We're with you, Mike.

(ALL CHATTERING)

Congratulations, Mike.

We're real proud of you.

BEN: When does he begin?

JOHN-BOY: Mike Paxton, and thousands

of other handicapped Americans, proved their skill

and reliability in defense industries

throughout the nation during those war years.

For my family, the reunion with Mike

was an inspiration in a time of doubt and fear.

For Godsey and Walton, it was the first

of many appearances at hospitals,

camp shows and war bond rallies,

until Ben eventually went into the service.

ELIZABETH: Seems funny not to have Mike here.

ERIN: It's easier to live closer to the plant.

ELIZABETH: Did he get jobs for his ward friends?

ERIN: Best workers we've got, and they all live with Mike.

ELIZABETH: I don't care. I miss him and that crazy horn.

(HORN BLARING)

JIM-BOB: I just happen to be polishing it.

BEN: Turn out the lights, will you?

ALL: Good night, Jim-Bob!

(HORN HONKING)