Original subtitles

- Hey, how's it feel to be graduating? - It feels okay.

Corabeth said that he might be able to be valedictorian.

- Is that true? - I'm not surprised.

Why didn't you tell us?

I'm proud of you, Jim-Bob. That's a real honor.

I told her I didn't want it. All I have to do is fail this science exam.

You're going overseas, aren't you? That's why they gave you the pass.

Yeah. We're shipping out tomorrow night.

(SOBBING) Oh, Ben.

MAN O VER RADI O: Closer now, more

antiaircraft fire inboard towards the shore.

The smoke hangs in the air.

You can see a fiery glow along the French coast where our troops are landing.

My God, it's here. We've invaded France.

J O HN-B O Y: Sometimes it seemed as if we ha d alwa ys been at war.

The quiet of our lives on Walton's Mountain was interrupted daily

by hea dlines and bulletins that took us to far off deserts,

and island outposts with impossible names.

O ur da ys swung between hope and despair, but somehow

we went forward, meeting the demands of life in a troubled world,

proving at home what the war was proving on every front.

That a crisis can make lea ders of the most ordinary of men.

- I see it, but I don't believe it. - Let me guess, a costume party.

I'm having my picture taken for graduation,

and I only need to look good from the waist up.

Jim-Bob, I don't think the world is ready for you.

My graduation was so romantic. The girls wore long white dresses

and we all carried red roses.

Well, I had a made-over dress for mine, but it was still

one of the most wonderful days of my life.

Figures out of all the graduations in this family,

mine would come in the middle of a war.

It doesn't help that you've had four substitute teachers this semester either.

There's a new one coming today.

I hardly know anybody in my graduating class.

Most of the people I grew up with have moved off the mountain.

Some new ones have moved in.

- Yeah, like Roland Piper. - He calls Jim-Bob "cornpone."

Worst of all, nobody will be here to see me graduate. Mama's gone,

John-Boy's back in the Army, Ben's at Camp Perry.

We'll be there, Son. Just think of it as a Victory graduation.

Sure.

- Hurry up, Elizabeth. We'll be late. - Don't wait for Elizabeth, Serena.

She's walking to school with Drew Cutler.

That's why she's taking forever to get ready.

- Wonder who the new teacher will be? - Probably someone awful.

Corabeth, you got new glasses.

They're for planning lessons and grading papers, the slightest magnification only.

Oh, I don't like to tell you this, but they make you look a little older.

Precisely the point. When one has a tendency to look younger than one's age,

sometimes one does not receive the proper respect one deserves.

Corabeth, don't you think you're taking this all too seriously?

I mean, you haven't any teacher training

and the only reason the board hired you is they couldn't get anybody else.

A situation I intend to remedy this summer at Boatwright College.

- You're not going into school teaching? - My mother was an educator, you know.

Your mother ran a boarding house. And she taught piano on the side.

Many is the time I have been relieved that she did not live to see

what it is that I have become, the cash and carry queen of a country store.

Corabeth, you don't want to leave here. Deep in your heart you love it.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Well, you love being right here in the crossroads of our community.

One smelly bus a day does not a crossroads make.

Well, you have to admit that you like it

when our friends and neighbors drop by for a chat.

The size and shape of Zuleika Dunbar's gallstones

is hardly a matter of all-consuming interest.

But, however, to shape young minds, to quench the thirst for knowledge.

Corabeth, teaching is not a breeze.

I mean, some of those kids, I mean, they're holy terrors.

The key is discipline, firmness.

And I intend to establish my authority immediately.

You won't last out the week.

Oh, it simply makes good common sense, Mr. Godsey.

A husband and wife should never, I repeat, never work together.

It is a miracle to me that our relationship has survived at all.

In the future, you will thank me for this decision.

All right, go. See if I care. One can get along just fine on one's own.

How do you do? I am your new teacher.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

Now, some of you may know me

as the assistant proprietress of Godsey's Mercantile.

A position for which I am sadly overqualified.

(ALL LAUGHING)

However, from now on, I am Mrs. Godsey,

and I will be with you till the end of the term.

Young man.

Your gum.

Oh, I don't think you'd like my gum, ma'am, but I've got a fresh stick here.

(ALL LAUGHING)

- What is your name? - Roland Piper, ma'am.

Well, we have certain rules in this school, Mr. Piper. No whispering,

no note-passing and no gum-chewing.

(SWALLOWS)

(ALL LAUGHING)

And no laughing. Now, you are not here to enjoy yourselves,

you are here to feed your minds. It is a serious business.

Now, I understand that there have been no formal plans made for the graduation.

This is a situation which must be remedied immediately.

Time is of the essence.

Now, what we need is something memorable,

something uplifting.

A theme. We need a theme.

Where I went to school before, there were over 300 kids in the graduating class.

It hardly seems worth it with just six of us.

I just want to get my diploma and get out of here.

- Yeah. - That will be quite enough.

'Cause when school's over, I'm going to start having myself a good time,

and I'm never going to stop until I get drafted!

ALL: Yeah!

(ALL SHOUTING)

Silence! Silence! Now, this classroom will come to order.

Here is the photographer.

You may set up your equipment in a corner of the cloakroom.

The seniors are dismissed to freshen up for the photos.

- Hello, Daddy. - John-Boy!

- What are you doing home? - I got furlough. Ten days.

Good to see you, Son. How have you been?

All right. You writing a novel or what?

I don't do too bad on that old typewriter of yours, do I?

I'd say about six words a minute. Is it anything I can help you with?

No, it's just a note to Matt Sarver

explaining why I can't get his order to him on time.

- Nonfiction, huh? - Little fiction thrown in.

So, is the Army keeping you busy writing in the Stars and Stripes?

Daddy, I asked to be reassigned to overseas duty.

John-Boy, don't you think you've done your share?

No, as soon as my papers come through I'll be leaving.

- That's why I came home, to tell you. - Oh, Son.

You know, I don't do much mill work anymore,

now that Ben's gone to the Seabees.

I kind of miss hearing the sound of this machinery,

the sawdust and the smell of new cut wood.

Nothing stays the same.

JOHN: Pa would say it's like the woods.

I look at John Curtis and I believe it. He's nothing but a seedling now.

Pretty soon he'll take up as much room as a yellow pine.

I guess if it's something you got to do, Son,

you might as well go ahead and do it.

Sometimes, I wish I could keep time from passing.

Yeah, that's a sure sign you're getting older.

There, 40 times. You can count.

- "Spitball" should be one word. - Do I have to do it over?

Will you promise to behave in the future?

It says so right there. "I will not throw spit balls."

Very well, but if you cause any more trouble,

I will keep you in after school the entire month of June.

Corabeth's gonna be a lot tougher than that last substitute we had.

You just thought you could get away with more 'cause you knew her.

- What are you doing? - Cleaning out my desk.

- Is that a ham sandwich? - Yeah, but you wouldn't want it.

It's been there since October.

Jim-Bob, I have just made the most astonishing discovery.

While averaging the grades of the graduates,

I find that you are in a very good position to be class valedictorian.

What?

CORABETH: Your grades have improved enormously

in the last two years. Although, I dare say, had not Brinya Kohler

moved to Middletown and Bernard Dylan joined the Army,

- it would be an entirely different story. - How about Roland? He's smarter than me.

"Than I," Jim-Bob.

Well, actually, your grade averages are exactly the same.

And whoever makes the best score on the science exam next week

- will be class valedictorian. - Science is your best subject, Jim-Bob.

Let Roland do it. I'm no good at making speeches.

But it's something more than oratory, Jim-Bob.

This whole school has been turned topsy-turvy by the war.

What we need is a leader,

someone to rally the students to a strong and unifying force.

And while I should not take sides, I cannot but hope

- that you will be that person. - I wouldn't count on it.

Oh, but have you no loyalty to your alma mater?

You've gone to school here all your life.

And that bumptious Piper boy just moved in last semester.

He's nothing but a buffoon, a demoralizing influence,

and totally inappropriate to the responsibility.

And I myself would find him impossible to work with.

I'm sorry.

- All I want is what's best for the school. - Sure hope he changes his mind.

(SIGHS)

I hope so, too.

- Elizabeth, are you still at it? - Drew, I got to go now. Bye-bye, okay.

You gotta make an appointment around here to use the phone.

I can't help it. We're in love.

Serena, I found you some lace to use for Eudora's bridal veil.

Thanks, Mary Ellen. Have you ever been to a doll wedding?

No, this will be my first.

She'll make a beautiful bride, just like Erin one of these days.

Don't bother talking to her. She's writing to Ashley, she'll never hear you.

Even though he hasn't written to me in over a month.

Looks like Rome will be falling in a couple of days. And Italy's only the first step.

You reckon we'll be invading the continent soon?

That's the rumor.

It'll be do or die then. And all I been doing is training men to go over there.

Where have you been, Jim-Bob?

JIM-BOB: Out in the mill.

Me and Daddy are trying to decide what color I should paint my car.

You've been threatening to paint that car

for two years. I'll believe it when I see it.

JOHN-BOY: Hey, how's it feel to be graduating?

It feels okay.

Corabeth said that he might be able to be valedictorian.

- Is that true? - I'm not surprised.

Why didn't you tell us?

I'm proud of you, Jim-Bob. That's a real honor.

I told her I didn't want it. All I have to do is fail this science exam.

It sure seems like a lot of trouble for nothing.

It's just one of those things you've got to do to keep the rest of the world happy.

My son's graduation day was one of the proudest days of my life.

He may have been at the bottom of his class,

but he managed to get that diploma anyway.

- Ow, be careful. - I'm sorry.

Oh, I made over a suit of his father's for him,

and we bought him a new pair of shoes.

Oh, boy, I tell you. He looked as shiny as a Buffalo Nickel.

And I thought it would be a turning point but he just never seemed to take hold.

He drifted and went from one scrape to another.

Not like you, Jim-Bob. We're expecting big things out of you.

I hope you're not counting on me being President.

Only if you run on the Democratic ticket.

- You want some help? - Not from you.

- What's got her starch up? - Beats me.

- Here you go, Rose, thanks. - Okay, dear.

Did I do something wrong?

Your science notes. You meant it, didn't you?

You're going to fail the test on purpose.

I don't need this, I already know everything that's in it.

If I want to fail the test, all I have to do is put down the wrong answers.

- What difference does it make? - I don't like cheaters.

- Who's cheating? - You are.

Putting down the wrong answers when you know the right ones

is cheating, just as much as looking on someone else's paper.

- That's not true. - Jim-Bob, you're cheating yourself,

and you're cheating the whole class. And I'm ashamed of you.

- You know, I got some mail for you. - All right.

In fact, there is one letter here that should be very important to Erin.

- That one. - Oh, it's from Ashley Longworth.

Oh, thank heavens. I was beginning to get worried

- something had happened to him. - I guess he's okay.

- Oh, good. - So, what else can I do for you?

Well, I'm looking for a present for Jim-Bob's graduation.

Oh, I'm going to give him a card and put a

couple of very fresh new dollar bills in it.

- Well, maybe something to wear. - Some socks, a new shirt?

You know, Jim-Bob is convinced that this won't be much of an occasion,

on account of the war and all.

I want to give him something that will remind him it was special.

I got it. I got the perfect thing for you, some gold cuff links.

And I'll make a good deal for you, five bucks?

A salesman by the name of Matthews was passing through town,

gave me a deposit on it, and then he moved on without picking them up.

Ike, they're just beautiful. But they've got the man's initials on them.

Sure "M." But you turn it upside down and it's a "W."

For Walton. Dollar down and a dollar a week?

You got a deal.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Hi, Rose. Is John Curtis in bed already? - I just tucked him in and he was asleep

- before I turned the light out. - Have you heard the news?

The Allies have taken Rome.

President Roosevelt announced it tonight on the air.

That's why we're late. J.D. had the radio on in his office and we stayed to listen.

Oh, that's wonderful news.

Well, I've got something else that ought to give you a lift.

V-mail, from Ashley.

- No. - What is it, Erin?

"Dear Erin, I wanted you to hear this from me. There is no easy way to say it.

"I'm married. Her name is Margaret.

"She is a lovely English girl I met during a weekend leave in London.

"It seems whirlwind, I know, but we fell very much in love, very quickly.

"Do not think badly of me. I loved you once, but you are so far away.

"Wish us happiness, as I wish all the best for you. Ashley."

It's this war. It's this damn war.

I wonder if I should take a tray up to Erin.

ELIZABETH: When I came down, she was awake. She was just lying there.

I wouldn't do that, Rose. She likes to be by herself when she's got hurt feelings.

Been that way ever since she was a little bit of a thing.

She'll be a long time getting over this.

I just wish she'd cry or scream, anything.

I'd like to punch that Ashley in the face.

You hold him, I'll help you.

I'll go by Pickett's this morning and tell them she's not going in to work.

ERIN: Who's not going to work?

There's a government official coming today,

and J.D. is counting on me to sweet talk him through the plant.

- We saved you some scrambled eggs, Erin. - No, thank you, Rose.

- I heard about Ashley, honey. I'm sorry. - Don't, Daddy. I'm trying real hard.

(PHONE RINGING)

ELIZABETH: Oh, I'll get it.

ELIZABETH: Hello. All right, yeah, sure. Bye.

Daddy, that was Ike. He said something big is happening on the radio.

MAN O VER RADI O: Closer now, more

antiaircraft fire inboard towards the shore.

The smoke hangs in the air.

You can see a fiery glow along the French coast where our troops are landing.

My God, it's here. We've invaded France.

You know, next year, you'll be the only Walton left in school.

I mean, besides Jeffrey and Serena.

I think I'm going to like it, won't feel like the baby anymore.

You want to go to the graduation dance with me?

- I already said I would. - No, I mean ours.

That's three years from now. Maybe you won't like me.

- And maybe you won't like me. - Well, then, we better wait and see.

You know, I wish I was graduating this year.

I mean, if I had been born just a few years earlier,

- I could be on my way to France. - John-Boy said the announcer last night

was using one of those new wire recorders.

Oh, I know, that's weird. I don't see how they get so much noise

on such a little piece of wire. It's pretty exciting.

It was awful, I felt like I was right in the middle of it.

Yeah. Well, I sure hope the war doesn't end before I get a chance to go over there.

You're kidding.

No, I've been thinking about the tank corps.

Mary Ellen's husband was killed at Pearl Harbor,

I've got three brothers in the service, and you want the war to go on?

Oh, I don't want anything to happen to them.

But you know, I've been reading about it

- and watching newsreels. - Hasn't that convinced you?

Elizabeth, come on. I just want a chance to get at those Nazis.

That's the most immature thing I've ever heard.

I want to prove I can go fight like a man and you're calling me immature?

And selfish, and stupid.

Yeah, well, that just about covers everything, doesn't it?

If I think of anything else, I'll tell you.

Yeah, well, don't bother! I get the point.

Hey, Jason.

- So, you really are painting your car. - Well, she deserves it.

Still runs as good as the day I built her.

Hey, Elizabeth, what color you think I should paint my car?

Yellow.

She calling you a sissy?

She's still mad at me because I don't want to be class valedictorian.

I was hoping you'd changed your mind about that by now.

Yeah, well, I haven't.

I have a feeling someday you're going to regret

that you passed up an opportunity like that.

I'd fall flat on my face. I'm just not a natural leader.

I suppose you think it's something you're born with, like freckles.

Okay, well, maybe she is right. Maybe I am yellow.

I remember something Grandpa used to say.

He used to say, "When you come up to a mountain,

"there's two things you can do. Either go around it, or climb over it.

"The first way is the easiest, but you miss the view from the top."

I never figured you to be afraid of heights, Jim-Bob.

PRESIDENT O VER RADI O: Almighty God, our sons, pride of our nation,

this da y, ha ve set upon a mighty endea vor,

a struggle to preser ve our republic, our religion and our civilization,

and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lea d them straight and true.

Give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts,

stea dfastness in their faith.

They will be sore tried by night and by da y, without rest,

until the victory is won.

They yearn but for the end of battle,

that all return to the ha ven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father,

and receive them, Thy heroic ser vants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home, fathers, mothers,

children, wives, sisters

and brothers of bra ve men overseas,

whose thoughts and pra yers are ever with them, help us,

Almighty God, to bear sorrows that ma y come,

to impart our courage unto our sons

wheresoever they ma y be.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

(SIGHS)

This war's starting to turn in our favor. We just need to give one extra push.

I'm gonna cut some wood.

- Me too. - I'll help you.

What about the women? What're we supposed to do?

We wait.

- Elizabeth, where is Jim-Bob? - He's in his room with the door shut.

Doesn't he know today is the science examination?

That's the reason he's in his room with the door shut.

Oh, dear. I'm afraid we can't wait.

Now, your attention, please. Now, all of you have your assignments.

Now, the younger students will work quietly

while the seniors will proceed with the science examination.

Now, there will be no whispering,

and I expect you all to keep your eyes on your own paper.

Now, I will grade the examinations promptly

and let you know the results after lunch. Ready? Begin.

- Jim-Bob, you are tardy. - I'm sorry.

This is only a Wednesday and it feels like Friday.

- It's been a hard week. - Yeah, it sure has.

We had to replace two people on the assembly line this morning,

and then we got an hour behind because the main stamping machine broke,

and J.D.'s been impossible.

That's not what I meant. I know you have to work, but don't you ever let up?

I'm afraid to. That's when it starts to hurt.

I used to love to have you to myself, although it didn't happen very often.

I'm a little out of practice playing big brother.

I thought I'd come by and sharpen up my techniques.

If you mean talking about Ashley, don't, John-Boy.

'Cause I'm not gonna cry about that anymore.

- Have you given up eating, too? - I'm going to devote myself to my career.

After the war's over, I'm going to New York

and I'm going to get a job with an advertising company.

Erin, you're not fooling anybody.

I'm not the only girl in this war to get a Dear Joan letter.

I didn't lose my husband like Mary Ellen did,

and I didn't almost die like you. So, I'm really very lucky.

Okay, that's just what I told myself when I was lying there in the hospital.

Guys kept coming in, they couldn't see, they couldn't walk.

But all the same, there were times when I felt pretty bad.

There was this orderly. The biggest, toughest-looking guy I've ever seen.

He used to bathe me, he used to wheel me out into the sunroom.

One day, when I was really holding it all back,

I looked over at him and he was crying.

I asked him why and he said he was crying for me because I wouldn't cry for myself.

That's when I finally let go.

There're a lot of ways to be a casualty of war.

Us veterans, we got to stick together.

I must say that I am most pleasantly surprised

by the results of the examination.

No one made under an 80 and two of you made a score of over 95.

Roland Piper and Marvella Sue Littleton. I congratulate you both.

(ALL CLAPPING)

And one of you made a score of 100.

James Robert Walton, will you please rise?

(ALL CLAPPING)

What this means, James Robert, is that

you will be valedictorian of the class of 1944.

Good going, cornpone. You're smarter than you look.

CORABETH: And I do hope, Jim-Bob,

that you would give me your fullest cooperation.

Now, as you all know, tomorrow is the last day of school.

(ALL CHEERING)

Quiet. Quiet, please. I must have your full attention.

I know that you are all most eager to hear

what it is that I have planned for the graduation.

Now, these flowers, in assorted sizes and shapes

will be stapled to the trellis,

through which the graduates make their entrance into the room.

Ah, no.

Following the processional, there will be a

musical selection, Virginia, We Love Thee,

which I have prevailed upon myself to render.

Swell.

And, Jim-Bob, here's the outline of a speech you are to deliver,

praising the founders of the Virginia Academy system,

and a brief history of education in the Commonwealth.

- Now, are there any questions? - I'm not gonna say this, Corabeth.

Oh, well. I can understand your shyness,

but all you have to do is read it. Surely, you can prevail upon yourself to do that.

If I'm gonna be valedictorian, I'm gonna write my own speech.

I don't think any of us want the kind of ceremony you're talking about.

When I think of my graduation,

I don't want to remember that I walked through

- a trellis covered with fake flowers. - Why, I am appalled.

All I had hoped to do was to introduce a little style into an ordinarily dull event.

I don't know about the rest of you,

but this is probably gonna be the only graduation I'm ever gonna have.

It may be wartime, but I think if we all cooperate, that means all of us, Piper,

I don't see why this can't be the best graduation this school's ever had.

I also think we should call a meeting after school

to decide what we're gonna do.

You can come if you want to, Corabeth.

Where're you going today, Uncle John?

I got a little errand to run and I'm late. Bye, honey.

- Bye-bye, Daddy. - Can I come with you?

Not this time.

- I get it. Business. - Sort of.

Are you gonna be back in time for the graduation?

I sure am, and I'm bringing Jim-Bob a little surprise, too.

I sure hope people give me presents when I graduate.

You graduate and we all will.

- Bye, honey. - Bye-bye.

No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks.

Jeffrey, I'll give you a nickel if you'll quit saying that.

Not worth it. I'm going to say it every day, all summer long.

Can you say it quieter then? Ginny's trying to sleep.

Sorry.

Elizabeth, do you want me to iron that dress for your graduation dance?

I don't think I'm gonna be going.

- Trouble with Drew? - Boys are just impossible.

I sort of remember it that way. What happened?

- We had a fight about the war. - I hope you're not on opposite sides.

He talks like it's a big, exciting adventure, a game or something.

If he does, he's bluffing. I'd hate to be a boy growing up right now.

Reading all about the battles and knowing I might be in the thick of it soon.

If it were up to women, there wouldn't be any wars.

I don't think anybody had any choice in this one.

Hey, look what I found along the roadside.

- Hello. - Hi.

- Hi. - Hi.

Cindy!

Cindy, could you come down here for a minute?

- Yeah, what is it? - It's over there.

Ben. Why didn't you call me?

My whole outfit got a pass and I didn't want to wait in line for the telephone.

So, I just started hitchhiking.

Jim-Bob will be glad. He's graduating today.

Yeah, I know. Where is he?

He and Roland Piper went off early this morning. Haven't seen him since.

- When can I see my baby? - Right now.

- She's losing her hair. - It'll grow back.

- I hope it's red. - Better be.

I want to spend some time with her mama first.

- Is there something to eat around here? - Yeah. Let's go find something.

You're going overseas, aren't you?

Yeah. We're shipping out tomorrow night.

Cindy, we don't know where we're going.

The scuttlebutt is that it's somewhere in the South Pacific.

(SOBBING) Oh, Ben.

It's okay. You'll be fine here with the family.

It's not myself that I'm crying for.

It's everything that you're gonna miss with Virginia growing up.

That's why I got something from PX.

It's supposed to take really good color pictures.

If she's a redhead, I can tell.

(SOBBING)

First, I want to take a picture of you.

No, I can't. Not like this.

- Just sit right there. - I can't.

Cindy, at the count of three, give me a big smile.

One.

Two.

Three.

Jim-Bob home yet?

Well, I can't believe he'd miss his own graduation.

Well, there's no telling what kind of trouble Roland Piper could get him into.

- Yes, and John isn't home yet either. - Serena, when's Eudora's wedding?

- I called it off. - ERIN: I was really looking forward to it.

I tell you what. If you call it back on, I'll help you with it.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello? Oh, Corabeth.

No, he isn't here. No, he hasn't called either.

Oh, I hope there hasn't been an accident. Really? Well, now, that is puzzlement.

- Thanks, Rol. See you soon. - Here he comes.

Oh, Corabeth, he's here. Be patient, dear. We'll get him there.

- Why, hello. - Hey, Ben. When did you get in?

This afternoon. I thought you were gonna stand us all up.

Rolly and I had something to do in Rockfish.

There's something funny going on.

Corabeth said the whole graduating class disappeared today.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

Here. Let me help you with that.

Haste makes waste, as my Aunt Martha used to say.

Thanks, Rose.

Oh, Jim-Bob, this is a big day for you

and I just want you to know how thrilled I am to be a part of it. Here.

- What's this? - Well, open it and see.

They're beautiful, Rose, but you shouldn't have got me anything.

Try and stop me.

I'll never forget you, or this day.

- You better not. - Thanks, Rose.

I'll get out of your way now. I don't think you need any help putting on your pants.

Now, as soon as the processional begins, I want you to be sure and signal me.

Okay, I'll whistle. I'll go... (WHISTLING)

No, no. Like this.

- Corabeth, I can't do that. - Oh, dear.

This is not at all what I had in mind for the graduation.

I never should have tolerated Jim-Bob's mutiny.

What's wrong, Corabeth? You're not getting one of your headaches, are you?

Just the slightest throb at my temple.

This is too much for you. I should never have let you take it on.

Oh, well, it's not the work that I object to, it's the lack of appreciation.

I had such high hopes for those young people,

and was there one word of praise? Not a modicum of gratitude.

Corabeth, you're not gonna be school teaching next year. That's final.

Well, perhaps my nervous system is just not as suited for teaching as I thought.

But what if they should need me?

Well, they'll just have to get somebody else. I'm putting my foot down.

(DOOR OPENING)

Oh, Mr. Godsey, sometimes you can be very masterful.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

- May I come in? - Oh, dear.

It's that crazed Piper boy.

Yes?

Mrs. Godsey, on behalf of the graduation class, I...

Uh...

Well, here. You were the best substitute teacher we had.

- No hard feelings? - They're lovely.

Here, honey. I'll pin it on for you.

To the friends and families

of the Walton's Mountain graduating class of 1944, welcome.

(CAR APPROACHING)

I know that you share my pride in the achievement of these young people

upon the completion of their secondary school education.

Although I have played only a small part

in the final act of their schooling,

when the curtain comes down, I will remember these days.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the class valedictorian,

James Robert Walton.

I didn't prepare a long speech.

All of us, not just me, have worked really hard for this day.

Five years ago, we might have gone on to college or gotten jobs.

There's a war out there that's not over yet.

Just this week, a whole lot of kids, not much older than we are,

found themselves right in the middle of it on the beaches of Normandy.

And it was because of them we wanted to do something special, this graduation,

that would be our gift to the community and to the school.

So, we all got together this morning

and went into Rockfish, and enlisted in the Army.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

That is, the boys enlisted in the Army, all four of us.

The girls came along for moral support. They've promised to write every week.

I know it's not going to be easy saying goodbye,

but it helps that we're going together.

And it helps, knowing that you'll be here running things for us,

because we need you now, and when we get back.

That's all I have to say, except I'd like the other graduates to rise,

'cause I'm very proud to be part of this class.

- Eat up, you two. - I'm not hungry.

- It's hard to swallow this morning. - I know.

Yeah, I know, too. I'm having the same problem.

ELIZABETH: I'm not gonna cry. I refuse to cry.

All set to go?

Rose, will you hold on to my cuff links for me till I get back? Thanks.

Here, Grandma, this is till I can send you a picture of me in my uniform.

(GRANDMA CHUCKLES)

Take good care of my model airplanes for me, okay?

There's a good chance I'll be transferring to the Air Corps. I'll let you know.

All right, everybody. Here we go.

- Hey, where's John-Boy? - He's gonna meet us out front.

Daddy.

Something you ought to know.

I'm putting in a transfer for a unit that's going overseas.

(SIGHS)

It seems to be catching on.

I'm proud of all my children.

(CAR APPROACHING)

ROSE: Look at that yellow.

Here you go, Elizabeth. Lemon-yellow, just like you ordered.

BEN: Time for us to get going.

You sure you don't want a ride as far as Ike's?

BEN: No. We'll walk, Daddy. JASON: Bye-bye, now.

We got plenty of time before the bus gets here.

It might be the last chance we have to be together for a while.

JOHN: All right. BEN: Bye-bye, sweetheart.

- Bye-bye, Daddy. - Take care, Son.

- JASON: Bye-bye, Mary Ellen. - All right, behave now.

- God bless you. - BEN: See you later.

- Bye-bye, Daddy. - Bye.

- Take care now. - All right.

BEN: Y'all take care.

J O HN-B O Y: My brothers and I knew, as we walked a wa y that morning,

that things would never again be the same.

The war would teach us how small Walton's Mountain was,

and how ordinary our lives there.

And yet, from the foxholes of France, in the skies over Germany,

on the reefs and atolls of the South Pacific,

wherever the war was to take us, we returned to the Mountain in memory,

over and over again. That wooded earth, that frame house,

that weathered porch where our loved ones waited. Home.

JOHN: Isn't anybody gonna say good night? ELIZABETH: Good night, Daddy.

ELIZABETH: Good night, Jim-Bob.

JEFFREY: Jim-Bob can't hear you. ELIZABETH: I can pretend, can't I?

ERIN: Good night, John-Boy. Good night, Ben.

MARY ELLEN: Good night, Jason. JOHN: Good night, everyone.

English -SDH