All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S07E03.The.Calling.WEBRip.x264-ION10

The Baldwin place?

We seem to have come too far,
or perhaps not far enough.

If you will proceed
in a westerly direction

exactly three-quarters
of a mile,

you will come across
the Baldwin house.

It is a late 18th century
Georgian mansion.

You've been most helpful.
Thank you.

Sisters, I'm Reverend Buchanan.

I'd be happy
to show you the way.

You're a good Samaritan.
Thank you.

Come, Sister Theresa.
Thank you.

Why are they dressed so funny?

Because they are nuns.

Catholic nuns.

And I suspect that
they are here in pursuit

of that child staying
at the Baldwins'.

Maybe I'd better go
tell Jim-Bob.

He may wanna rescue her!

JOHN-BOY: Our years of
containment as a family unit

were growing
to a close in 1941.

Everywhere there was
a new mobility.

New and different people found
their way to Walton's Mountain

to touch and shape
the lives of our family,

bringing customs and beliefs
that were foreign to us.

One such encounter
had a special meaning

for my brother, Jim-Bob.

Working all night makes you kind
of tired, doesn't it, Son?

I didn't work all night.

Heard the saw late last night

and then first thing
this morning.

You've said it plenty of times,
an order doesn't fill itself.

How long before
you can get that order

for the new desk to Camp Lee?

I can get started anytime.
Finishing's the problem.

Jason hasn't got much free time,
but how about Jim-Bob?

He shows up sometimes. I don't
know, it's just not for him.

Give him an engine to work on
or short-waves,

anything but mill work.

Mill work's what we've got, Son,

and I sure don't have much time.

Looks like you got two jobs
cut out for yourself.

What are you talking about?

Cutting that lumber and finding
someone to help you do it.

Find someone?

Hire someone.

Well, I don't know
how to do that.

Yes, you do. It's easy.

Just look around and find
someone who isn't like Jim-Bob.

Oh, I can't believe
I'm really here.

Is it as you remember it,
Mary Frances?

Oh, I believe it's more
beautiful, Cousin Emily.

You'll have the same room
you had eight years ago.

That looks to that lovely
mountain.

Where the Waltons live.

They're both still here,
the family and the mountain.

I'm so grateful
you let me visit.

Oh, look!

What is it, dear?

Someone's flying a kite, see?

(EXCLAIMS)
It looks so high and free.

Someone's holding that string.

Even a kite needs a mooring,
or it has no purpose.

We all need a purpose.

To be sure.

To be sure.

Oh, no.

Corabeth has these squares.
She calls them,

well, leftovers, you know.

(GRANDMA MUMBLING)

The word has two sounds...

Oh, it'll come to me.

Anyhow, I'm about the only
person who can use them.

They don't cost much...
"Remnants"!

Oh.

Speaking of remnants,
don't you hurt?

Not very much. Grandma,
you got any silk?

Hmm?

(GRANDMA MUMBLING)

This is cotton.
Besides, it's mine.

Well, silk's best
for me, anyway.

Yeah, this is real nice,
Grandma. You got any more?

Oh, yes.

I could make a really
big kite out of this,

or maybe even
a couple smaller ones.

Kites? Kites?

What else am I gonna
use silk for, Grandma?

-Come on. Go on.
-Kite.

Come on.

ELIZABETH:
I'm so glad you came!

You like my new skirt?

Why, I believe it is a skirt.

Why, and it's brand new.

You can see that.

I made it myself. All I've to do
is put in the hem.

Well, how clever of you.

We were hoping to find
your mother at home, Elizabeth.

We'd like to talk to her,
privately.

Sure, she's right inside.

She's fixing up an old chair
of Grandpa's for Grandma to use.

By the way, Elizabeth,

I'm certain we can find some
material at home,

if you want to sew
something else.

Sure, that'd be great.

Sure.

-The Baldwin sisters are here.
-Oh.

-Thank you, Elizabeth.
-Hello, ladies.

Miss Emily, if any of that
material is silk,

Jim-Bob could use it.

Oh, good.

Here, won't you sit down?

Thank you.

What's Elizabeth talking about?

I really don't know.

Oh, I do, Sister.

She and Jim-Bob are making
skirts, and he prefers silk.

I think you must be confused
with what Elizabeth said.

That's exactly what's wrong,

Sister and I don't know
how to talk to young people.

Of course, she didn't come here
to talk, she came here to think.

And that's worried me
from the very beginning.

Perhaps if we'd
had children of our own.

Sister, Papa would never have
permitted such a thing!

You told me Mary Frances was
coming. I gather she's arrived.

She'd written that she wanted to
come here to do some thinking.

What we want to know, Olivia,

is what do you think
a 17-year-old girl thinks about?

Mary Ellen thought
about baseball.

Erin went from rabbits
and fawns to young men.

Mary Frances,
I don't know about.

Well, she walks
a very great deal.

And thinks.

I remember a quiet girl,
very pretty.

She seems so lonely.

We were wondering
if some of your children

could become acquainted
with her again.

Young people have
a way of finding each other.

-I'd like to see her again, too.
-Oh.

That could be arranged.

Yes.

Are you nesting up there?

MARY FRANCES:
I'm trying to rescue this kite.

That's my kite, you know.

Not if I climb up and get it.
You abandoned it.

You're gonna get stuck anyway.

That's where you're wrong.
I already am.

You're kidding?

Oh, I'd like to be.

Don't look down.
I'll help you.

Do hurry, please.

That's the trouble
with girls climbing trees.

They get so far
and then they chicken out.

They can't go any higher
and they can't come down.

MARY FRANCES:
I've climbed lots of trees.

This one just didn't look
so high from down there.

JIM-BOB: Stay where you are
and don't try anything funny.

Is there anything funny
about this at all?

Just take it slow and move your
leg over to this branch.

Is that better?

Yes, thank you.

Maybe we can rescue it together.

It looks like
a lovely captured bird.

Except it's got four wings.

Well, it had four wings.

I'm sorry.

That's alright.
It really is.

It's alright.

Thank you.
Thank you so much.

Looks like you're obliged
to me now.

I'm Beau Pauley.

Well, Ben Walton.

That much the man told me.

What he said was,

"Ben Walton's looking
to hire someone."

-You do mill work?
-Sure do.

Your mill's near here?

It's about five miles up the
road. Where you've been working?

Oh, around.
How big's your crew?

Full-time, I got myself.

I'm looking for a good man.

You're looking at the best.

We'd be working side by side,

so it's important
that we get along together.

Ben Walton, you need me
and I need this job.

We're gonna get along fine.

Climb aboard.

(BEAU WHISTLING)

(FOOTSTEPS RUSTLING)

Oh, please, don't go.

Aren't you Mrs. Walton?

And you're Mary Frances.

I remember you very well.

I'm gonna dig some ferns.
You wanna help?

Oh, yes, if I can.

It's not hard. You just have to
be sure you get enough soil.

Here you go.

Maybe I could bring some to
Cousin Mamie and Cousin Emily.

They're real pleased
to have you here.

The Mountain is a good place
to think things through.

How'd you know that's what
I'm doing, or trying to do?

Just a guess,
and I do have three daughters.

Do you pray, Mrs. Walton?

I sure do.

The best way I know
to find answers.

Do you always get an answer?

In God's time, I do.

In God's time.

I'm so glad you said that.

Sister Scholastica says
I have a gift for impatience.

That when I think I know
I want something,

I want it immediately.

That's not unusual
for a young person.

Sister Scholastica?

She's a nun at the convent.

How can I learn patience,
Mrs. Walton?

You've come to the wrong person.

Patience is something
I haven't got time for.

You don't seem to be impatient.

The way I see it,
impatience means

that you care
about someone or something.

And you should see
how much I care

when Jim-Bob forgets
to empty the trash!

Ma, Livie thought you'd like
to have Grandpa's chair

out here on the porch.

(GRANDMA MUMBLING)

I thought it'd be nice for
watching fireflies after supper.

(MUMBLING)

The cushions make it seem like
new, don't they, Ma?

How about some tea?

Anything I can do for you, Ma?

Grandma and I are
gonna have a cup of tea

to celebrate finishing
that chair.

It'll make sitting on the porch
a real pleasure for her.

Maybe after a while she'll be
able to forget it was Grandpa's.

Why should she forget?

She's sleeping in their room,
in their bed.

They were so close.

And going in that room,
night after night, alone.

MARY ELLEN:
It's hard enough for me with
Curt just away in the Army.

She doesn't go in that room
alone. Not that room.

What do you think,
short stop or first base?

A catcher. He takes in anything
I throw at him.

(BABY GIGGLES)

(ADULTS LAUGH)

Do you smell something?

I'll bet Elizabeth's bought some
of that cheap perfume, again.

What's the matter
with everybody?

What's going on up there?

(SCOFFS)

I don't know, but it's not me.

If I went to class
smelling like that,

they'd kick me out of school.

I'm going to the library.

I'm going to the library,
Grandma.

The library.

Must be some librarian.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Well, hello there.

Has the mail come, Mr. Godsey?

Yeah, Corabeth is
in there sorting it now.

Okay, I won't be long.

Well, she sure is pretty,
isn't she?

Just about three gallons, Ike.
We're just going to Rockfish.

Boy, somebody sure has got
something powerful smelling on.

Well, that's some of John-Boy's
old aftershave lotion.

Can you tell I put some on?

Oh, no. No.

(LAUGHING)

Are you enjoying staying
with your aunts?

Oh, very much.
Only they're cousins.

Miss Mamie and Miss Emily
are my mother's first cousins.

No, I'm not finding
a thing for Baldwin.

Oh, but my name's Conover.

My mother was a Baldwin.

Mary Frances Conover,
what a lovely name.

Oh.

It appears to have been
sent from a convent.

Yes, where I go to school.

I was expecting this.
Thank you so much.

You have a pleasant ride
to Rockfish.

They sure do make
a nice couple, don't they?

They?

Yeah, Mary Frances and Jim-Bob.

You mean Jim-Bob is going out
with that Catholic girl?

Well, whatever she is,
he sure is crazy about her.

You got some bad news?

Disappointing news.

I was so sure
I would have an answer.

I'm sorry, Jim-Bob. I shouldn't
show my feelings so much.

Well, I don't see anything
wrong with that.

It's bad discipline.

I have so much to learn.

Well, we're going
to the library.

To learn about kites.

Maybe there's something else
you'd rather do?

No, we planned to do this,
it's important we stick to it.

It's no good drifting
all the time.

Drifting is one of the best
things I do.

Grandpa said
I had a real knack for it.

SISTER SCHOLASTICA:
It's going to be high adventure,

I feel it through me.
Do you, Sister Theresa?

When Mother Superior sends me
on an errand to Richmond,

it's my duty to comply.

SISTER SCHOLASTICA:
Well, you are happy
to be going, aren't you?

SISTER THERESA: Oh, yes.

Is there any way
you can let your face show that?

Oh, that's so much better.

We'll work on smiles
while we're away.

Is it a very long way
from Stanton to Richmond?

Well, it depends
on which route you take.

And I know lots of
interesting side roads.

And they tell me

that the country around
Walton's Mountain

is very beautiful.

(SINGING)
* Get out the way,
Old Dan Tucker *

*You're too late
to get your supper *

*Get out the way,
Old Dan Tucker *

*You're too late
to get your supper *

* Now Old Dan Tucker
come to town *

*Swinging them ladies
round and round *

*First to the right
and then to the left *

*Then to the one
that he loves best *

What's the matter with him?

What's the matter with him?
I've got a happy worker,

and don't hurt his feelings.

Howdy, young lady.

Mama says it's quitting time.

She'd like to know
if you'll take supper with us?

We've got the best food
in Jefferson County.

Well, you thank her kindly.

-What does that mean?
-Not this time, but I'm obliged.

You tell your mama that.

We'll see you tomorrow morning.

Me and the sun.

*Get out the way,
Old Dan Tucker *

* You're too late
to get your supper *

*Get out the way,
Old Dan Tucker *

*You're too late
to get your supper *

(WHISTLING)

* Get out the way,
Old Dan Tucker *

*You're too late to get... *

*To get your supper *

* Get out the way,
Old Dan Tucker *

(CHURCH ORGAN PLAYING)

Mary Frances has simply flowered
since her arrival, Olivia.

We had a lovely talk
in the woods.

Sounds like she's enjoying
her stay here with you.

-Will she be coming to church?
-Well, no...

It seems to me there was
something else she was planning.

Oh, you remember, Sister,
she went off with Jim-Bob.

He's doing a nice job
of drawing her out.

I was hoping
she'd come to church.

I think we'd better go on
inside, don't you?

Olivia!

I'll be right along.

-Good morning, Olivia.
-Good morning, Ike.

Go inside and save us a place.

Olivia, I feel that it is my
Christian duty as a kinswoman...

Oh, Corabeth,
I'd rather you didn't.

Jason's just finished
the opening hymn.

But this will challenge
the very roots of your faith.

I would give anything not to be
the bearer of such bad tidings,

but still and all...

Mary Frances is a Catholic, and
she's seeing a lot of Jim-Bob.

Oh, my.

Well, of course,
if it has your sanction.

You've taken care
of your Christian duty,

why don't we go on inside
and pray for understanding?

SISTER SCHOLASTICA:
Which way would you say, Sister?

SISTER THERESA:
The signpost puts Richmond
to the right.

A fork in the road
is always a challenge,

or at least it's meant to be,
I believe.

Not if there's a signpost.

I have a preference
for the least-traveled roads.

How do you feel about roads,
Sister?

I have only the feeling

that the signpost
puts Richmond to the right.

Well, then that means that

Walton's Mountain
must be to the left.

JIM-BOB: It's a pretty good wind
up there. You want to fly it?

MARY FRANCES:
Oh, I'd love to, if you think
I can hold on to it.

Oh, I'll be here.
You'll do alright.

MARY FRANCES:
Old Lawrence Hargrave surely
invented himself something.

He did?

Jim-Bob, all our research
and you don't remember

the Australian
who invented the box kite?

Well, I got other things
on my mind, lately.

It's really going now.

MARY FRANCES:
Did your father ever build that
house up on the Mountain?

JIM-BOB:
He started it lots of times.

All kinds of things
keep him from finishing it.

You remember that clear
since you were nine years old?

It was such a lovely idea.

I guess it's good to have
a dream you can make come true.

I've got mine.
I'm going to be a pilot.

You sound so sure of that.

Well, I am.
I've always wanted to fly.

Sometimes, it's hard to think
about anything else,

especially school.

But how can you really be sure?

There're a lot of things
you could grow up to be.

Well, I've thought
about other jobs.

Racing motorcycles.
Driving in the Indianapolis 500.

Things like that.

Whenever I see a big old hawk
gliding around up in the sky,

I always come back
to wanting to be like him.

Wanting to fly.

You always come back to it.

Would you go flying with me?

I might. If you didn't do a lot
of stunts and daredevil things.

That's half the fun. Except,
I'd be real careful with you.

Keep it straight and level.

You better eat some more
of Miss Mamie's sandwiches

or she'll think
you didn't like them.

I'm not very hungry.

I haven't been
very hungry, lately.

I don't sleep much, either.

People get sick
if they don't eat and sleep.

I'm sure I've never felt
this way before.

I think about you all the time.
I mean, all the time.

First thing in the morning,
I want to come and see you.

Jim-Bob...

Being with you
makes me feel all warm inside.

And when I take you home
and you close that door...

I like you, too. Very much.

Mary Frances,

I liked this girl
named Patsy Brimmer.

She was nice and I liked her,

but this just isn't
the same at all.

I never heard you say so much.

Nobody ever did.

Please understand me. I have
the warmest personal regard

for Miss Mamie and Miss Emily.

But why keep the truth
of her Catholicism a secret?

Corabeth, would you mind
giving me a hand, please?

You know, the Baldwin ladies
are wide-open books, Corabeth.

They're very inclined to tell
me, or anybody else, anything.

Except about this.

Don't you see?

No, Corabeth, I don't see.

Thank you, Hank.

Well, mine will not
be the first voice

to cry in the wilderness.

My great aunt Agatha,
who traveled extensively

always said that
Catholics needed

just the tiniest
foothold to take over.

Well, that Mary Frances
found the right place.

I tell you, Walton's
Mountain is in danger.

Is that true, Reverend?

Elizabeth, We'll
be able to hold our own

against this
Mary Frances Conover.

Oh, Reverend.
She is but the first step.

I am surprised
at your complacency

at this threat
to our very way of life.

Corabeth, with you
defending our way of life

I think we're pretty secure.

Well, I try and do my duty.

Forewarned is forearmed.

I don't understand this.

Poor child. Jim-Bob
is just being led around

by the nose by that papist.

I thought they just had dates.

I sought Olivia to tell
her, but she already knew.

Well, I think having a Catholic
around is pretty good.

A little bit of competition
never hurt anybody.

Including Baptists.

Reverend, I hope that
you will remember that

when they and their
alien and mystical ways

become part and parcel
of Walton's Mountain.

Could someone direct us
to the Baldwin house?

I thought surely I'd find
my answer while I was here.

It would be an agreeable
place for an answer.

But if it hasn't come--

But you have.

I take that as a sign.

A very definite sign.

That I have
a preference and curiosity

about least-traveled roads,
and the desire to see that

tiny speck on the map,
Walton's Mountain.

Yes, but you wrote
that you couldn't come.

Well, the trip to Richmond
came up quite suddenly.

I know you're here
to help me with my decision.

No.

Just to stand with you awhile.

We cannot stay.

I can't make it alone.

God wouldn't let you.

If it's his will
that you become a nun

he will show you the way.

He will give you the answer.

"The answers come
in God's time."

Jim-Bob's mother told me that.

You'd like her, Sister.

I like her already.

Jim-Bob.

I believe I like him, too.

Do you travel a great deal?

No.

This is my first trip
away in seven years.

Away from the convent?

Sister Scholastica thought
it would be good for me.

Are you enjoying yourself?

It is very different.

We're very glad you've come.

And we hope you can stay
awhile. Don't we, Sister?

Oh, no. I call her "Sister".

We are sisters.

Of course you are, too.

But as you say,
it's very different.

They wear the most
beautiful costumes.

Turn, please. Turn, please.

Corabeth says they're alien
and mystical, Mary Frances, too.

I doubt she meant that kindly.

I'm glad Reverend Buchanan
was there to stand up for them.

She says, "Mary Frances leads
Jim-Bob around by the nose."

If you're going to take
Corabeth's gossip to heart,

I'm going to have to start
keeping you away from there.

I just don't understand
why she's so bothered by them.

Some folks don't like anybody
to be different from them.

Catholics are people,
same as we are.

Looks pretty good, huh?

Well, I mean the hat.

Looked better on Beau.

You should see
the hats the nuns wear.

Well, this is my hat.
I bought it in Rockfish.

Where you taking your hat?

Don't worry. I'll
take it to the best places.

You and Beau going out alone?

Yeah, Daddy.
Sure is a great guy.

Works like a son of a gun.

And just sings that silly
song and works his head off.

Well, goodnight.

Goodnight, Son.

Where's that Beau from?

He never said.
He just kinda smiles a lot.

Mama?

Do Baptists have nuns?

No, honey.

Hmm. It's too bad.

Because I just
might like to be one.

(CAR APPROACHING)

(DOOR OPENING)

That will make very
uncomfortable sleeping, Sister.

I do not plan to sleep.

Well, I called the convent,
they know our plans.

Everything is well with them.

Your plans, Sister.

I should not have
fallen in with them.

I thought, when I
mentioned high adventure

I saw a little
twinkle in your eye.

I doubt that very much.

I belong at the convent.
I am comfortable there.

I do not belong in a Protestant
house, Sister Scholastica.

It's the only house.

Why, if His Holiness came
to visit Walton's Mountain,

he would probably stay here.

His Holiness would have
gone straight to Richmond.

(LAUGHING)

BEAU: Goodnight.
Goodnight. Goodnight.

(LAUGHING)

BEN: Whoa, steady there.

BEAU: I think I better help you
walk, you keep bumping into me.

I suppose that's why
Jason asked us to leave.

BEN: Well, he doesn't
like me taking your beer.

-BEN: Jason is a serious man.
-Yeah, yeah.

Wrong car.

I'd never have slipped you that
beer if I knew you were a minor.

I mean, Ben, I thought
you were 30, 35, at least.

I think you had a little bit
more than beer tonight. Come on.

Hey, if I have,
it's something I can handle.

To the boarding
house, old buddy.

I'll put you
in the mill tonight.

That way I can keep
an eye on you.

You're the boss.

What's the name
of this place again?

Why, it's the Dew Drop Inn.

I've been kicked out
of a lot of places.

I always like
to remember their names.

(SINGING) Old Dan Tucker
He got drunk

He fell in the fire

(METAL CLANGING)

(CLANGING)

(TRUCK DOOR SLAMMING)

(METALLIC CLANGING)

Ben!

Ben!

Daddy?

Blazes going on around here?

Well, I don't know. Beau and I
came in late last night,

we slept here so we
wouldn't wake you up.

To get sober, I'd bet.

Where is he?

I don't know.
I was going to watch him.

-But I guess he already left.
-Did more than that.

There's money damage
here, Son. It's a mess.

It's going to throw
you behind schedule.

- You gonna fire him?
- No, I'm not gonna fire him.

You are.

That's the way it works.
You hired him.

-Yes, sir.
-Do it today.

I got to go to Scottsville,
I'll be back tonight.

Get this place cleaned up.

Oh, this is a fine Cody.

The best I've ever seen.

Mary Frances and I
built it ourselves.

Oh, then come,
Mary Frances, you take it.

I'm always afraid I'll let go.

Oh, nonsense.
Jim-Bob won't let you do that.

-That's a girl.
-Yeah.

SISTER SCHOLASTICA:
Jim-Bob, do you know
Mount Weather, Virginia?

JIM-BOB: No, I don't.

Well, around 1910,
for some data collection,

they strung a train
of 10 kites together.

The highest one went
four-and-a-half miles.

Really? That's hard to believe.
Not that you'd lie or anything.

Jim-Bob!

JIM-BOB: Got it?
MARY FRANCES: Yeah.

(BEAU WHISTLING)

Howdy there, Ben.

Beau, you made a terrible
mess in here last night.

You know how to throw a party,
Ben. I sure enjoyed myself.

Well, it cost us money.

I've wasted half a day
cleaning up this mess.

And you ruined the lumber.

There's nails in that power saw!

I'm sorry, Ben. I promise
it will never happen again.

That's right, it won't happen
again. Because you're fired.

(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) Well,

that was a good one.

I'm glad I know
when you're kidding.

I'm not kidding. I'm serious.

I don't want you
working here anymore.

I thought you said we
were buddies, you and me.

You're not gonna kick
out an old buddy, buddy?

I checked on where
you were working before.

I should have done it sooner.

You poking around
behind my back?

They all said the same thing.
You started out working great.

Then you start drinking liquor
on the job, then you slack off.

Well, I can't afford that, Beau.

You're crazy if you think
I'd let some kid lay me off.

I was man enough
when I hired you.

Yeah? Well, it's going to take
your old man to fire me.

No, it's not.

I'm in charge here.

I want you out. Now.

Where am I gonna go?
What am I gonna do?

Here's a week's pay.

Get yourself
straightened out, okay?

You sure there's no way?

I'm sure.
Good luck.

Well, I'll be seeing you,
old buddy.

*Now, Old Dan Tucker
came to town*

* Swingin' the ladies
round and round *

* First to the right,
then to the left *

* Then to the ones
that he loves best *

* Get out the way *

Once upon a time
there was a young man

named James Robert Walton.

He used to work
on his car a lot.

Took care of Rover,
teased his brothers.

Sometimes, I even managed
to get a smile out of him.

I really liked him a lot.

(SIGHS)

Now, there's
this stranger left behind

who mostly just stares
off into space.

Don't you know why?

I think I do.

Mama, nothing's ever felt
like this before.

Sometimes it feels good

and then it hurts, and sometimes
it feels really great

till I get sort of sick.

(LAUGHS) It's known as
being in love, Jim-Bob

and most of us manage
to survive it somehow.

Mama, what would you say
if I married a Catholic?

I'd say you're both
a little young.

Does that mean
you don't like her?

I like her very much.

I can't stop thinking about her.
You notice how pretty she is?

I've noticed.

And there's a lot
more than that.

A lot more. If she feels
the same way I do

maybe she'll wait for me
until I get a job

and I can take care of her.

That's how a good man feels
when he loves someone.

That's the easy part.

The hard part is,
she's Catholic.

Yes, ma'am.

Why don't you two just go on
getting to know each other

and maybe the rest
will take care of itself.

I wish I could make her
understand how I feel.

I've tried to.

I just can't talk right.
Say what I wanna say.

Have you tried writing
it in a letter?

It's what your daddy used to do
when he wanted to talk to me.

I don't know
if I could do that.

I guess it wouldn't
hurt to try.

That looks like a difficult
letter you're trying to write.

I have to tell Jim-Bob
what I've decided.

Then you've reached a decision?

The one I think
you want me to make.

Believe me, Mary Frances

I do not pray that your life
duplicates mine.

After all, it's your life.

I thought you wanted me
to become a nun.

Only if it's right for you.

My life fulfills me,
but it might not fulfill you.

You must make your own decision.

With God's help.

Yes, I know.

It's all so difficult, though.

Important things usually are.

And telling Jim-Bob
your decision

whatever it turns out to be

is important, too.

Much too important to
just write him a letter.

Don't want to butt in, Son

but I don't like seeing you
suffer like this.

I just don't know how to handle
how I've been feeling lately.

Mmm. I know what you mean.

I had the same problem
when I first met your mama.

Walked around with
a stomach ache for two months.

-Yeah?
-Of course, at the same time

I felt like I was walking
on a cloud.

-Yeah?
-We had a problem

because her folks
didn't like me very much.

I wasn't sure she did.

She wasn't Catholic, though.

No, but her family thought
I was some kind of heathen.

Were you?

No angel.

But it all began to change,
though

when I was able to tell her
how I felt about her.

That's what
I'm trying to do

write it in a letter
to Mary Frances.

I can't find the words, though.

Only takes three.

Thanks, Daddy.

JIM-BOB:
Hurry up. You're late.

MARY FRANCES:
I came to say goodbye.

I'm returning to the convent.

Will you be back?

I won't be seeing you again.

I thought you liked it here.

I thought we liked each other.

Remember what you said
about flying?

You always come back to it?

That's just how it is with me.

You helped me understand that.

I have a calling.

I wish I hadn't.

Jim-Bob, I love you

but there are a lot of ways
you can love.

You have to choose
the way

that's the most
important to you.

I found my way.

Those nuns making you go back?

No.

I wanted to tell you how I feel.

I guess you don't want it now.

Maybe if she loved
somebody else

I could get that
through my head.

She does love
someone else, you see.

I know. She loves God.

Why can't she love him here?

She must undergo
a time of testing

before she becomes a nun.

When that time comes, it will
be a kind of marriage for her.

She will take vows to
a commitment to service and love

that will last her
lifetime and beyond.

I don't think
I'll ever understand.

Maybe some day.

I pray you will.

JOHN-BOY: The pain of that time
stayed with Jim-Bob

longer than any of us
would have liked.

But, as it is
with any lost love

a healing of the heart
takes place

and life becomes a thing
of wonder again.

-Ben?
-Yes, Elizabeth?

What did you do with that hat,
like Beau had?

BEN: I threw it away.
ELIZABETH: I wish I had it.

BEN: I thought you wanted one
like Sister Scholastica's.

ELIZABETH: That wasn't a hat,
that was a habit.

BEN: Yeah, that's what Beau had.
A bad one.

ELIZABETH: Goodnight, Ben.

BEN: Goodnight, Elizabeth.