All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S04E06.The.Breakdown.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Suffering in silence was not
a popular pastime with me,

nor my brothers and sisters.

Feelings, good and bad,
in the Walton family

were customarily laid out
for everybody

remotely concerned
to see and hear

and hopefully to adjust to.
Sometimes, of course,

we did hide our true feelings
out of hurt.

And once, in the case
of my brother Jason,

out of a refusal to believe

he could have such bad feelings
against his older brother.

-Jason, let me help you.
-Oh, I can manage.

-What is going on out there?
-Nothing. I'm on my way to work.

Here.

Will you please just
all go back to bed?

Mama, why is Jason mad?

Maybe I should sleep
in the barn.

Maybe we should be glad
you don't play a bass drum

or a bull fiddle.

Alright.
Go back to bed, Elizabeth.

-But, Mama...
-Now.

Come on,
I'll fix you breakfast.

Mama, I don't have time
for breakfast.

If I'm not out there, you know
Bobby's gonna start honking.

Let him honk.

Mama, I'm not hungry, and
I really don't have the time.

Seems like lately there's never
any time for food or sleep.

I want you to sit yourself down.
I'm gonna fix you some eggs.

Hey, what's going on here
at the crack of dawn?

Is this a late snack
or an early sunrise breakfast?

I got everybody up.

I've been wide awake for hours.

To hear her tell it, she hasn't
slept in 50 years, 52 years.

She's afraid she'll miss
something.

-Well, that's Bobby.
-This will only take a minute.

Mama, I can't. See you tonight.

Oh, Jason, don't forget
my request, I'll Fly Away.

We'll try to work it in,
Grandma.

Esther, it can barely be 5:00.

We got time to spend another
hour or so in bed.

No, no, I'm not sleepy.

When somebody gets me up
with the chickens, I'm...

Well, alright, if this old
chicken is gonna stay up,

this old rooster
will do likewise.

-A little...
-Oh, get dressed.

Get dressed. Okay.

* One bright mornin'
when this life is over *

* I'll fly away *

* To a place
on God's celestial shores *

* I'll fly away *

* I'll fly away *

Come, Mary Ellen, sit down
and listen. It'll do you good.

I like them better
as the Haystack Gang.

* Yes, I'll fly away *

Well, friends and neighbors
out there in radioland,

that winds up this session
of your favorite hymns

with yours truly, Bobby Bigelow,
and all the Sunrise Gospeleers.

We played that last
soul rouser there

especially for Mrs. Zeb Walton,

who happens to be
the grandma

of our lead guitar player,
Jason Walton.

Hope you enjoyed that,
Mrs. Walton.

-I did. I most certainly did.
-Okay, friends...

Talk louder, Esther.
They're over in Charlottesville.

-I said...
-...family Bible for just $2.95.

And, as a special bonus,
we'll be sending along

a special true-life photograph
of all your Sunrise Gospeleers,

personally autographed
by yours truly, Bobby Bigelow.

Well, that's all the time
we have this morning,

but we'll be back again
tomorrow morning,

same time, same station. So when
you hear that old rooster crow,

pile out of bed
and join us.

Till then, so long, and may the
good Lord take a liking to you.

You know, Livie,
I just feel so proud.

My grandson bringing church
music to all those people.

The hymn-playing and the Bible
selling are fine.

It's that other part
that worries me.

You mean the Haystack Gang?

For 30 minutes every morning,
they're the Sunrise Gospeleers.

The rest of the time
they're the Haystack Gang,

playing barn dances
and old honky-tonks.

The longer he stays
with that gang,

the longer my prayers
get each night.

No need to worry, Liv.
He's just getting experience.

It's what kind of experience
he's getting that worries me.

Well, orders for Bibles
are coming in real good.

And, Jason, don't forget

to send one of these pictures
along, okay?

Yeah, Bobby, I don't mind doing
my fair share, but...

You're doing more than that.

And believe me,
I'm not gonna forget it.

Don't you think everybody should
pitch in a little more?

Everybody is, but, Jason,
you're the one I can depend on.

I can't commence to tell you how
much that really means to me.

I'm glad you feel
that way.

You're my good right arm,
you know,

whether you're playing that
guitar or addressing labels

or doing this fan mail.

Yeah, that's another thing,
this fan mail...

Is very important.

We take care of these people,
they're gonna take care of us.

Jason, them friends and
neighbors out there in radioland

are the most important thing.

Without these cards and letters
coming in everyday,

what's gonna remind
this radio station

it needs Bobby Bigelow
and his gang?

It's very important.

It just takes up
so much of my time, though.

It's time well-spent, Jason.
Take my word for it.

Look at me jawing at you,

when you got better things
to do than listen.

I got my own bases to cover.
I'll see you tonight.

I'll be by to pick you up
about 6:30, 6:45.

We'll go over and set up
for the dance.

Okay.

I doubt if I'll be
through here by tonight.

You, there.

Let me have that.

-Those spines are so fragile.
-I'm sorry, sir.

What are you doing
in the stacks?

I have an appointment
with Dr. Hoadley.

Secretary said
I could find him down here.

Well, you have. I happen
to enjoy the company of books.

-Who are you?
-John Walton, sir.

I'm applying for the NYA job.

-I hope I didn't harm the book?
-No. No.

Just what qualifies you
to work back here with me?

-Any previous experience?
-No, not really.

Except maybe as a customer.

I love books.

I don't spend as much time
as I'd like to in the library.

I certainly could use the money.

If you'd like to speak with
Professor Parks

in the English department

and maybe Mr. Fletcher
down at the newspaper,

I'm sure they'd give you
a reference.

What's your connection
with the newspaper?

I'm what you call a stringer.

I sort of fill in,
you know, special assignments.

That sounds like
very uncertain employment.

That it is.

But I like it, and it would give
me plenty of time to work here.

You like books, do you?

I can honestly say
that the only thing

I enjoy more than reading
is writing.

I'm working on one now.

There are enough books
in the world already.

I know what you mean.

And maybe some day
you'll have room on your shelves

for just one or two of mine
if they're good enough.

-What's your major?
-Journalism.

Ever thought of Library Science?

No, not till now.

Well, maybe you should.

Natural choice for a young man
who finds pleasure in books.

I can't imagine a more

challenging or rewarding
vocation.

And naturally, in selecting
a young man for this NYA job,

I would tend to prefer someone

who would dedicate
his future to the work.

-I can understand that.
-Well, you think about that.

In any case, it's quite nice
to meet you, John.

Thank you.

NYA will notify you
in a day or two.

Alright. Excuse me.

-Now, what's that?
-What kind of food do we have?

Well, it smelled like stew.
I knew it was.

Alright.

-Oh, Mama, that looks so good.
-Here, sweetheart.

-Okay.
-Here we go.

-Don't spill it, Elizabeth.
-Let's see now.

Erin, I think it's your turn
to say grace.

Should I wait for Jason?

We could all starve
waiting for Jason.

Go ahead, honey.

Thank you, Lord,
for giving us this nice day

and for letting each of us
go his own way.

Thank you for letting us
be gathered here

to enjoy this good food
and company.

-Amen.
-Amen.

You said that very well, Erin.

-Very nice, honey.
-It has been a nice day.

I've seen 30,000 days,
more or less, good or bad,

long and short, and nary a one
of them has been like the other.

-Jason, got time for supper?
-Here he is.

-Oh, sorry, Daddy. I haven't.
-Then make time.

Mama, I can't. I promised Bobby
I'd be ready early,

to help set things up
for the dance.

Some things are more important
than promises made to Bobby.

Now you sit yourself down
and take some nourishment.

-I'll have this on the way.
-Jason!

-See you all later.
-John!

It'd be nice having
all the children

sit with us all the time,
but when a man has a job,

he's got to get it done.

This catch-as-catch-can
musician's job is no good.

Remember the time John-Boy

got involved
with that marathon dance?

What's that supposed to mean?

There's all kinds of growing
to be done.

I know the kind of growing
I want for Jason,

and I'm gonna tell him,
and he's gonna listen.

"In the distance,
flowing over the pine trees

"from the swamp over the..."
Over the pond?

"In the distance, flowing over
the pine trees from the swamp,

"came the many-voiced
choir of frogs.

"Once only came
the saddest sound in the world,

"the single unanswered voice
of a whippoorwill.

"But there was
no one to hear it,

"for everyone
in the house was asleep."

You going out or you coming in?

-Lately, I'm never sure.
-Well, goodnight.

Goodnight.

That boy is so tired,
he can hardly put

one foot in front of the other.

Why aren't you in school?

After the radio show, I decided
not to go to class.

Jason, you are so rundown,

I worry about you
every minute of the day.

I'm just so far behind
in my work,

I thought I'd give myself
a chance to catch up.

The way you've been overdoing
it, you'll never catch up.

March inside and put on your
pajamas and pile into bed.

Mama, I'm not sick.
I'm just a little tired.

Go on, now.
Do like I say. Come on.

-Oh, Mama, I can't.
-I don't want an argument.

Mama, I have all that
fan mail to answer,

then I have to send out
a dozen Bibles,

then I gotta write some music

so that I can face
Professor Thaxton tomorrow.

Now you hear me out.
You've spread yourself too thin.

You take on one more job,
you'll disappear altogether.

Now, your Mama's right.

You've been galloping off
in 10 different directions.

Now, you gotta make up your mind

whether you want this,
that, or the other thing.

Trouble is, I want it all.
This, that, and the other thing.

Well, it can't be. Now,
you've got to make a choice.

Now, you stick to your
hymn-singing and your studies.

And forget about playing dances

and honky-tonking all over
the country with Bobby Bigelow.

But Bobby's
depending on me, Mama.

And, besides, the money's good
and I'm learning.

Anyway, I gotta get busy.

The morning's almost gone
and I won't have done a thing.

Well, I'm certainly grateful
for the chance, Dr. Hoadley.

I intend to give it my best.

If at any time you feel
I'm not doing something

I should be doing,

then let me know
'cause I wanna learn about it.

It pleases and reassures me
to hear you say that, John.

You won't find your work
too difficult.

Arranging these books,
filing them in the stacks.

This will be your desk.

You know, John,
there is an opportunity here

for the right man
to get far more from this job

than just a little paycheck.

A little paycheck is gonna be
a big help, though.

I'm glad, but I think you'll
benefit from this

in the larger way as well.

-Yes, sir?
-You have imagination.

Yes, sir. Sometimes too much.

It takes imagination
to appreciate what working

in a library really means.

I'm sorry to say
that too many of my staff

immerse themselves
in the routine,

the detail, filing, the
cross-filing. It's all important

but it's only a part
of a true librarian's vocation.

We are the custodians
of the thoughts, the theories,

the hopes, the fears of all men
for over the last 3,000 years.

It's quite a responsibility.

You know,
I sometimes think of us

as the pharmacists of the mind

and the spirit.

A man or a woman
need a prescription.

They want comfort or pleasure

or information or inspiration,
so they come to us.

We reach into the collection
and we find the medicine.

Are you familiar with
the poetry of Emily Dickinson?

Sure.

Here's one that every true
librarian should know by heart.

"There is no frigate like a book

"To take us lands away

"Nor any coursers like a page

"Of prancing poetry

"This traverse
may the poorest take

"Without oppress of toll

"How frugal is the chariot

"That bears a human soul!"

I don't know that one.

Well, you think about that
the next time you're cross-eyed

from working
with your card-index,

you're bored with your filing,

your back is aching,
shoving these book carts,

and you remember

that even though you're starting
here in a basement library

somewhere
in the hills of Virginia,

all these books lead us back

to those who cared for
the great library in Alexandria

and even to those who started
the collection in the Vatican.

I hope I'm up to it.

I think you'll make
a fine librarian.

I'm wasting your time. I just
didn't have time to finish it.

You're doing too many things.

You have to devote yourself
to the reason you got

a scholarship here.

I don't know. Maybe I am.

It's just that everybody's
expecting too much from me.

You and my family
and Bobby Bigelow, everybody.

You're wearing
too many hats, Jason.

Pick one,
put the others in the closet.

Maybe I should just forget
serious music for now

and let you help somebody
who has the time and the energy.

Sooner or later,
you will have to choose.

I'll see you at the usual time
on Monday.

Thank you.

Jason,

it's no crime
to admit limitations.

Everybody has some.

Everybody?

You never met my big brother.

Evening. Two tickets?

Okay, here you go.

-Hi.
-Hey, Betsy.

-Want to buy a ticket?
-Ralph will get the tickets.

-Where's that beautiful man?
-Who might that be?

Why, my dreamboat,
Bobby Bigelow.

Oh. Well,
he's over there someplace.

Oh, don't you just love
his smile?

Makes you feel all warm
and glowy inside,

at the same time
it gives chills.

-I hadn't noticed.
-I could look at him all night.

Here you go. Have a nice time.

Hey, you. I seen you talking
to my girl just now.

Oh, you mean the girl
who just went by here? Betsy?

How come you know her?

-I knew her in school. A little.
-Just how little?

Very little. It was a small
school and you knew everybody.

Very little.

Betsy is my girl,
you understand?

So don't get any ideas.

Look, I haven't got time
even for ideas.

Bobby, when you play like you
do, I just get wobbly all over.

Sugar, maybe you
ought to see a nerve doctor.

Wobbly knees usually calls
for medicine not music.

Now, don't you go teasing me,
Bobby Bigelow.

I just never did hear
nobody play so darn perfect.

Girl, you are a true
music-lover.

Say, Jason,

you didn't give us very much
on that last guitar break, son.

-I did the usual.
-Behave yourself, Ralph.

I told you to stay away
from that grinning git fiddler.

I'm getting
a bottle of pop.

I don't take orders from you,
Ralph Sorly. Let go.

-Ow. Bobby, he's hurting me.
-You're coming with me now.

Hey, you let go of her.

Come on. Break it up.
Don't get up, Jason.

-Yes, yes, yes.
-Ralph!

Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!

Now what's this all about?

-This guy's asking for trouble.
-Hey!

What do I smell on your breath?
Corn liquor?

I bet I know where the rest
of this pint is. Come on.

Out!

Oh, Jason. You were so brave.

Wasn't he just
the bravest thing?

Yeah, bravest thing I ever saw.

Hey, you didn't jam your picking
hand, did you, partner?

You poor, sweet thing.
Does it hurt?

Some.

Oh, you poor thing.
Oh, I'll take care of it.

-You don't have to.
-It's the least I can do,

after standing up for me
and practically saving my life.

After the next set.

Floor show's over. Time for
a little bit of music here.

Come on. Play. Come on.

It's all over. Just a little
dancing and a song, that's all.

Gather around, folks.
Gonna pick one for you.

One, two, three, four.

-Goodnight, Betsy.
-Goodnight, Bobby.

-I'll just be a minute.
-Okay.

Now stay close to me, Jason.

I don't think you ought to worry
about Ralph being around.

If he is,
he'll take to his heels.

You showed him who was the
better man.

I was just lucky.

Jason, I'm so glad
we're back together again.

Well, here you are,
safe and sound.

You're in such a hurry to go,

a body would think you had
another girl waiting somewhere.

It's just that Bobby's
in a hurry...

You should know,
I'm a very jealous person.

Goodnight.

I believe this has been the most
important evening of my life.

See you later.

Jason, wait.
My Papa-Daddy's not home.

You just can't leave me alone.

I've gotta get home!

Well, I'm afraid
to be by myself.

Suppose Ralph
is just waiting out there.

Betsy, I really don't think
you have to worry.

-Take me home with you.
-I can't do that!

Well, then you'll just have to
stay here and look out after me.

Jason, please.

Oh, alright.
Go on ahead, Bobby.

And take care of my guitar.

You're every bit
as kind and understanding a gent

as I figured you must have been
in high school.

I don't know
what my family is gonna think.

Well, heavens, you're a man.

Men often stay out all night,
like my Papa-Daddy.

You mean,
he may not come home at all?

Oh, he has some old girl
he likes over on Route 29.

-Over by Witt's store.
-Where's your mama?

Mama went to heaven
in July of the year 1931.

But that means that you and...

That means that you'll sleep
out here on the swing

and I'll sleep inside.

We'll be just like Clark Gable
and Claudette Colbert

in It Happened One Night.

Betsy, I really don't think
I ought to stay after all.

I know who I'm gonna be
dreaming about.

What's wrong?

Jason hasn't come back
from the dance yet.

The way Bobby Bigelow drives
that car gives me the chills.

No, no. If it had been an
accident, we'd have heard.

Yeah, that's right.
We would have.

Well, does John know?

He and John-Boy are out
looking for him now.

You have a sensible boy,
and he's gonna be alright.

I'm gonna start the coffee.

They didn't find him.

No sign of him.

Well, what could've
happened to him?

We rousted the sheriff
out of bed,

it seems there was trouble
at the dance last night.

What kind of trouble?

Jason sort of got
into a fight with a fellow

named Ralph Sorley.

-Was Jason hurt?
-Sheriff said no one was hurt.

A deputy confiscated
Ralph's bottle of corn

and escorted him from the dance.

What on earth was Jason
fighting about?

What do men usually fight about?

A girl?

Jason fighting in a public
place over a girl?

Well, I guess he was trying
to protect her, Liv.

That's Bobby Bigelow.
Maybe he knows where Jason is.

-Hey, Bobby.
-Good morning, John-Boy.

Hey, where's my redheaded
fiddler?

Well, we thought maybe you'd
have the answer to that.

You mean he didn't come home
at all last night?

That boy is growing up faster
than I thought he was.

What is that supposed to mean?

Well, I left him over at Betsy
Morgan's about midnight,

and I'll give you odds
that's just where he stayed.

Look, I'll stop by
over there at that place

and if he's safe and sound, I'll
let you know on the broadcast.

Thank you.

Looks like that old boy's blue
moon has turned to gold!

See you.

Well, Bobby says he's 99.5% sure

that Jason spent the night
with a friend.

Bless you, radio friends.

Welcome to another
inspirational 30 minutes

with your Sunrise Gospeleers.

Thank the Lord we're all here
to praise Him this morning.

We lost one of our lambs
temporarily,

but the Walton family
prayers were answered

and the little woolly lamb

is safe back
in the fold once again.

In fact, we're gonna dedicate
this first hymn

to Jason this morning.

Liv, you can stop worrying
about your son now.

Stop worrying.

Our son stays out fighting all
night without a thought to us?

I'm sure he had
a good reason, Mama.

-It's his first offense, Livie.
-And his last.

Well, don't forget
he's at that age

where he's discovering a lot of
confusing things about himself.

-I'm at the same age.
-You always have been.

Well, I don't care
how confused he is.

He'd better face up
to the truth.

You can't fight
and rowdy around

and expect to wash it away with
hymn-singing in the morning.

-Liv, the boy's 18 years old.
-I know how old he is, John.

Pa, say grace, please.

Forgive us, Oh Lord. Amen.

Look at all this mail.

Hey, do they love us, Jason?

Bobby, I'd appreciate it if you
could take over for me today.

I wish I could, but I have this
really important meeting.

It could mean a lot more money
for all of us.

But I've got to get home.

Don't forget, we have to play
at the Elks Club, okay?

See you.

I can't believe this
is happening to me,

sitting in a radio station
with a real celebrity.

I guess we owe a lot of thanks
to Ralph, don't you think?

I mean, if he hadn't tried
to haul me away...

Betsy, I've got work to do.

I don't want you
to call me Betsy.

-I want you to call me Bette.
-Bette?

Alright. Bette.

-Don't you want to know why?
-Why what?

Why I want you to call me Bette!

It's after Miss Bette Davis,
the great movie actress.

Lord, I saw her in
Of Human Bondage

and she just drove the man
who was in love with her crazy.

Now that I'm Bette, don't
you just stay by me always?

Betsy, we'll be together lots,

but first I have to work

and I have to go to school

before I do anything else,
I've gotta get home.

I could go with you.
I'm dying to meet your mama.

I heard she's religious
and deep down I am, too.

I just know we'd get along.

-Not today.
-Jason.

Not today. Soon, soon,
but not today.

Say, Pa, what was that fellow
doing around here

this morning with that shotgun?

Oh, there was a perfect stranger
come by this morning

looking for a tall, gangly boy
who kept his daughter

out all night.

Oh, yeah?

Sure he wasn't around
trying to tree possums, was he?

No.

-Morning, son.
-Oh, hello, Jason.

Morning.

I'm sorry about
not getting home last night.

I spent the night with a friend.

I used to call it staying up all
night with a sick friend.

-Your friend do that to you?
-No.

Well, we heard you spent the
night with a girl.

No.

-No?
-No?

Well, yes.

-Yes.
-Yes.

Well, see, I was at Betsy's

because she was afraid
to stay there by herself.

But she was on the inside
of the house,

and I was outside
on the porch swing,

and she said it was like that
movie It Happened One Night.

It Happened One Night?

Yeah.

Does Mama know about Betsy?

About Betsy, no. She doesn't
know about Betsy yet.

But she's pretty
upset anyway, son.

Yeah.

She's...

She's waiting for you.

Yeah?

Yeah.

I'm real sorry, Mama.

Is that all you have
to say for yourself?

I'm... I'm sorry
I had you worried.

Who was the friend
you stayed with?

No one you know yet.

Your poor cheek.

It doesn't hurt much.

What about your reputation,
brawling over a girl?

Who told you about that?

It's probably all over the
county by now.

Well. Well, the other fellow
was hurting her.

You wouldn't want me to stand
there and watch, would you?

No. Not if he was hurting her.

What was her name?

I don't know. It was just,
just some girl.

Mama, I've got to get to the
Conservatory.

I'm going to be late for my
session with Professor Thaxton.

You're always rushing off
somewhere.

Tonight, you
and your daddy and I

are gonna sit down
and come to an understanding.

You're a model of efficiency
and industry, John.

Well, thank you. I'm just trying
to get this done today.

You may even lead me
to revise my whole attitude

toward the NYA students.

I dug out these three catalogs.

I suggest you glance at them
on your own time, of course.

Harvard University, Yale,
William and Mary College.

Three of the finest schools
for Library Science.

Excuse me, sir.

I don't think I could afford
any of these schools.

Not as an undergraduate,
perhaps,

but it's time for us to begin
planning your advanced degrees.

Well, I certainly appreciate
the trouble you've gone to.

They have grants, they have
scholarships, jobs available.

Now, my feeling is

that you should try for your
master's at William and Mary,

then go for your doctorate
at either Harvard or Yale,

and then an apprenticeship

at one of the
great private libraries.

You look dazed.
Am I going too fast?

Yes, sir.

I think you're suggesting
that I change my major

to Library Science.

You are interested, aren't you?

That was certainly the basis

for giving you this job in the
first place, was I misled?

Well, no. I mean,
I'm very interested.

I enjoy the work
and I'm trying to do a good job.

There's no complaint
on that score.

As I told you, I think of this
job as a kind of initiation.

John, it would be an exercise in
futility to train a young man

who had no intention
of using his experience.

That's true.

So if you don't want those
catalogs...

Well, I'll take them home
tonight and read them.

Good.

I'll let you get back
to your work.

You okay, Jason?

-You okay?
-Oh, perfect.

I'm starving.
I'm lower than a snake's belly.

I'm walking in my sleep
and I'm mad.

-Who are you mad at?
-Everybody.

Oh, just nobody's satisfied
with what I do.

My best just ain't good enough.

Oh. Come on.

No.

Professor Thaxton's
disappointed,

Bobby's disappointed,
Mama's disappointed.

Look, you don't have to tell me.
I know exactly how you feel.

No, you don't.

You don't know anything
about my feelings.

Oh, yes. A year ago,
I was right where you are now.

No, you weren't!

-Because I'm different!
-Don't yell at me.

As I can remember, I've had to
take your old hand-me-downs,

the things you didn't need
anymore.

All your old books,
old clothes and old toys,

I don't need your old feelings.
I've got my own.

-Calm down, Jason. Calm down.
-No.

Look, I don't need you
to show me the best way,

the easy way, your way.

I'm tired of playing
follow-the-leader with you.

I'm going off in my own
direction,

and if I fall flat
on my face in the mud,

nobody's gonna say, "He couldn't
keep up with number one."

-You want to start right now?
-Sure.

Good.

Jason!

Don't get out of the car.

I shouldn't have
said those things.

Let's just go home.

You are not going
out of this house tonight.

Mama, I have to go.
Bobby's counting on me.

Are you going to deliberately
disobey me?

-I'm sorry.
-John.

Liv, he has obligations.
People are depending on him.

One of our children is bent on
hurting himself grievously.

-It is our place to stop him.
-Mama.

-I am one of your children.
-I thought you'd forgotten.

-But I'm not a child.
-You're acting like one.

Well, I feel like a man.

Almost.

That's Bobby.

John, he is sick.
Anyone can see that.

-Hi.
-Betsy.

-Bette.
-Oh, yeah. Bette.

I thought you
didn't hear Bobby honking.

Anyway, I was dying
to meet your family.

Hi. I'm Bette Morgan.

I guess Jason told you all about
him and me and everything.

Oh, you're the friend
he did the favor for.

Well, that's a funny way
of putting it.

Mama.

Jason's not going
with Bobby Bigelow tonight.

Oh, I am. Yes, I am.

Maybe I wish
I didn't have to, but...

Jason.

Jason's going to be fine.

I know. He'll be up
and about in a day or two.

Just stretched himself
a little thin.

It's not his health
I'm worried about.

I just can't stand by and see
what he's doing to himself.

This kind of thing
happens to most boys, Liv.

He's destroying himself.

He's just trying
to find out who he is.

We tell him one thing.
We say, "This here is Jason."

Bobby Bigelow comes and says,
"No, sirree, this is Jason."

His professor's
pointing him in one direction.

That young lady is probably
giving him her ideas.

Jason doesn't know whether he's
here, there or yonder.

That's always a painful
situation.

So much easier
when they were little.

You say that now.

Remember those 2:00, 4:00
and 6:00 feedings?

Yes, I do. And I loved them.

I did.

-Is he still feverish?
-No, nice and cool.

-His eyes are clear.
-Yeah.

I'm going to devil some eggs for
his lunch. His favorite.

I don't want you
to go to any trouble, Grandma.

You'll be pleased
if I fix them, won't you?

Sure.

Well, then it's worth
the trouble.

You were the one of our children
decided earliest to walk?

Trying to catch up
with John-Boy even then.

You were so small, so frail.

But you would pull
yourself up, stand free,

take a tottering step or two,
and then fall down.

Oh, the bruises.

First I used to follow you
around, taking your hand,

trying to steady you,

trying to keep you
from hitting the floor.

I was a problem even then.

And one day I reached out
for you,

your Daddy grabbed my arm
and stopped me.

The two of us just stood there
watching you struggle.

Getting up. Falling down.

And then finally, you did it.

You walked across this room
all by yourself.

I can still see the smile
on your face.

Mama,

I'm sorry for all the trouble
I caused you.

I know I made a lot of mistakes,

but I want you to trust me
to learn from them

and not make the
same ones too often.

There's just one thing, Jason.

You have no idea
how some girls can maneuver.

Now, if I were you,

I wouldn't do anything
to encourage that Bette Morgan.

Well, another week's work
well done.

Thank you, sir.

Dr. Hoadley, I wanted to return
these catalogs to you.

They're yours to keep.

You may want to give them
to somebody else.

You're not interested?

No, sir.

I'm a writer,
I'm not a librarian.

When I gave you this job,
I was under another impression.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry if I've misled you,

and I understand it if you feel
that you have to replace me.

I want you to know I've already
learned a great deal from you.

This is a great disappointment.

Yes, sir. I'm sorry.

We're all very pleased
with your work.

I've always thought
this job should be available

to the student
who wanted it for more

than a financial stopgap.

Of course. I understand that.

Just a minute, John.

It would be awkward to break in
someone new at this point,

if you wish, you can keep the
job for the balance

of the semester.

Well, thank you.

I regret your decision,
of course.

But I admire your honesty.

I won't put any more
pressure on you.

And remember

there is a space
for your first novel

right up there.

I appreciate this.

I'll see you Monday.

Jason, we really missed you,
boy.

Well, I listened
to the program this morning.

Without you, there's a hole in
our arrangements

big enough to drive a truck
through with the doors open.

When you gonna stop playing
like an invalid

and come back to work?

Well, I'll tell you.

You know, I like you.

And I like playing
with the gang.

And I want to come back.

So what are you waiting for?

Well, if I do come back,
I'll do my fair share,

with the Bibles and the tickets
and the fan mail and all of it.

But no more carrying
the whole load.

Jason, I was gonna bring up
that very thing.

Well, I feel that if the work
isn't spread around equally,

then I'm just gonna have
to find myself another job.

Hey, friend, you come back and
we're all gonna pull together.

I swear on a stack of Bibles,
our own radio specials.

-Okay?
-Okay.

Hey, there's somebody out in the
car who would like to see you.

Yeah? Who's that?

Oh, Jason. My poor, poor Jason.

You know I want to be here
taking care of you always.

-Just like Joan Crawford in...
-Betsy.

...when the man she was
crazy in love with was dying

-of some perfect...
-Betsy!

Don't holler at me.
And it's Bette.

I don't want to holler at you,
Bette.

-Well, I thought you liked me.
-I do like you.

-I like you a lot.
-Well, then?

But you talk too much.

You talk when you don't
have anything to say.

But when you're quiet,

like now, you're really
a beautiful girl.

Oh, Jason.

Now, if you and I
are gonna be friends, or more,

then we have to have
a 50-50 relationship.

Now,

if you expect certain things
from me,

then I should expect certain
things of you.

Now, if I'm kind
and considerate,

you should be kind
and considerate, see?

But you have to understand
that a person can like someone

without giving them 100%
of their time and attention.

Right?

So,

you want to try it out
and see how it works?

Oh, yeah, sure. You'll see.

I'll be so quiet, you'll think
you're in a silent movie.

That's my girl.

Hey, hey, everybody.

This is Bobby Bigelow
and his Haystack Gang

broadcasting by remote control
direct to you

from our Big Harvest Benefit
dance at the Elks Hall

in Charlottesville.

Now here's a real breakdown
featuring our guitarist,

Jason Walton.

-Listen to him go.
-He is good.

And getting better all the time.

I still like the hymns best.

Is that why your feet
are tapping?

No doubt Betsy,
or should I say Bette Morgan,

is swooning right there at
Jason's elbows.

Well, she never seems far away.

Say what you will about Betsy,
girls,

I think she's done a heap of
good for Jason's self-esteem.

Oh, he's a lucky boy
to have a good woman like that.

You've lived with one
for 50 years, old man.

Out of that breakdown

my brother emerged
with a new maturity,

and he and I
came to a better understanding.

We stopped the old game
of follow-the-leader

and began to face things
together.

To my mother, Jason and all the
rest of us would always be

"the children."

With my father's help,
she learned not to rush in

and try to pick us up after
every tumble.

Still, we knew she was there,

ready to help if ever
and whenever we reached out.

-Night, Livie.
-I cannot understand it.

Understand what?

Why Jason would give a girl
like Bette Morgan

a second glance.

Well, you gotta remember,
honey. Love is blind.

But I thought boys looked
for girls who put them

in mind of their mothers.

Yeah, well...

-Goodnight, Liv.
-Goodnight.