Original subtitles

AS A FAMILY,

LIVING ON WALTON'S MOUNTAIN DURING THE '30s

WE WERE LARGELY SELF-SUFFICIENT

AND HAD LITTLE DEPENDENCE ON CASH MONEY.

STILL, AS I VENTURED OUT INTO THE LARGER WORLD,

I REALIZED THAT MAKING ENDS MEET

WAS GOING TO BE A FAR GREATER PROBLEM THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED.

I SET ABOUT LOOKING FOR A PART-TIME JOB,

ONE WHICH WOULD PAY ME AN ADEQUATE WAGE

AND, AT THE SAME TIME,

NOT INTERFERE TOO MUCH WITH MY STUDIES.

"AND SO FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

FOUND HERSELF ON BOARD A TROOP SHIP BOUND FOR THE CRIMEA."

NOW TIGHTEN THAT.

"ALTHOUGH PREPARED FOR THE HAZARDS AND PERILS WHICH LAY AHEAD,

"AS SHE CROSSED THE WINTRY SEAS

"THIS FRAIL WOMAN COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE KNOWN

"WHAT GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS SHE WAS DESTINED TO MAKE

TO MANKIND AND TO MEDICINE."

HERE YOU GO. THAT'S RIGHT. NOW BRING THE WRENCH.

WRENCH?

DEDICATION TO MEDICINE MUST BE THE MOST REWARDING LIFE THERE IS,

DON'T YOU THINK?

MARY ELLEN, I THINK RIGHT NOW LIFE WOULD BE MUCH MORE REWARDING

IF YOU'D JUST GET OUT OF MY WAY AND STOP BABBLING.

YOU JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING.

MARY ELLEN, WOULD YOU BRING MY BOOKS, PLEASE?

HERE YOU GO, DADDY.

WATCH THIS, SON.

WHAT'S THIS?

WHAT?

"GENTEEL WOMAN REQUIRES PERSON WITH LITERARY BACKGROUND.

2 AFTERNOONS A WEEK FOR 2 HOURS. WILL PAY."

DON'T YOU LOSE THAT. I NEED THAT ADDRESS.

LET'S TRY HER. OK.

BUT WHAT'S IT FOR?

YOU ARE THE NOSIEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD.

IF YOU MUST KNOW, IT'S FOR A PART-TIME JOB.

I GOT IT OFF THE BULLETIN BOARD AT COLLEGE.

OK? GO AHEAD.

HOLD IT, HOLD IT!

ALL RIGHT.

THAT SAVES ME $2.50, WHICH I DON'T HAVE.

HOW MUCH THIS PART-TIME JOB PAY, SON?

UH, 50 CENTS AN HOUR.

THE APPOINTMENT'S AT 3:15 THIS AFTERNOON.

YOU FORGOT YOUR SANDWICHES.

OH, THANK YOU, GRANDMA.

DON'T PUT 'EM THERE! YOU KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN?

THE ENGINE HEAT WILL MELT THE CHEESE,

AND... AND THE BREAD WILL CURL UP LIKE CARDBOARD.

SORRY, SORRY. I'M SORRY, GRANDMA.

HOPE YOU GET THE JOB, SON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD LUCK.

GOODBYE.

COULDN'T YOU HAVE WAITED A FEW MINUTES?

EXCUSE ME?

I SAID,

COULDN'T YOU HAVE WAITED A FEW MINUTES?

THERE WAS NO ONE AT THE OTHER DOOR.

I WENT TO ANSWER IT, BUT YOU HAD ALREADY GONE.

YOU'RE VERY IMPATIENT, AREN'T YOU?

WELL, ACTUALLY,

I WANTED TO SEE ABOUT THE JOB BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE GOT HERE.

THAT'S WHY I'M EARLY.

MY NAME IS JOHN WALTON.

RUTH THOMAS.

PLEASED TO MEET YOU.

MAY I COME IN?

COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS JOB?

MR. WALTON,

THIS JOB WAS ARRANGED BY MY MOTHER.

IT'S ENTIRELY HER IDEA, NOT MINE.

OH, I SEE.

OH, WELL, THEN I'LL PROBABLY BE SPEAKING WITH HER ABOUT IT.

RUTH?

RUTH, I WAS IN GROGAN'S. I FOUND JUST THE BLOUSE THAT...

MOTHER, THIS IS JOHN WALTON.

HE'S HERE TO SEE ABOUT THE JOB.

OH, YES, OF COURSE.

WELL, I'M VERY PLEASED TO MEET YOU, MR. WALTON. I'M, UH, IRENE THOMAS.

HOW DO YOU DO?

YOU'RE HERE EARLY.

WELL, AS I SAID, I WANTED TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO ARRIVE...

MR. WALTON'S VERY IMPATIENT.

WELL, UH, WHY DON'T WE GO INTO THE LIBRARY.

MOTHER, WHY ALL THE SECRECY?

I THINK I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HEAR

WHAT YOU AND MR. WALTON HAVE TO SAY.

WELL, YES, OF COURSE.

I... I CERTAINLY DIDN'T MEAN TO EXCLUDE YOU, RUTH.

PLEASE, WON'T YOU SIT DOWN?

THANK YOU.

WELL, THE JOB IS VERY SIMPLE. I, UH,

WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME HERE 2 AFTERNOONS A WEEK

TO READ ALOUD TO... TO US, UH, ANYTHING YOU LIKE.

UM, ANYTHING THAT YOU, UM,

MIGHT FIND INTERESTING OR STIMULATING.

BOOKS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS...

MOTHER, WILL YOU STOP BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH?

YOU KNOW I CAN'T STAND IT WHEN YOU START PRETENDING.

WHAT MY MOTHER SO TACTFULLY IS TRYING TO TELL YOU

IS THAT YOU ARE TO COME HERE TWICE A WEEK

TO READ TO ME.

AS YOU CAN SEE, MR. WALTON, I'M BLIND.

NOW, WHETHER YOU COME OR NOT

IS A MATTER OF COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE TO ME.

IT'S FOR YOU AND MY MOTHER TO DECIDE.

NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME.

I THINK I'D BETTER BE GOING.

OH, JUST A MINUTE, PLEASE.

I APOLOGIZE.

WELL, THERE'S NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE.

I... I KNOW IT'S NOT FAIR TO ASK YOU NOW, BUT, UH, PLEASE.

I... I DO WISH YOU'D CONSIDER.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD DO ANY GOOD.

BUT IT MIGHT.

I... I WON'T PRETEND TO YOU. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS.

2 OF THEM.

EACH TIME, SHE DROVE THEM AWAY.

BUT, UH, RECENTLY, SHE'S JUST WITHDRAWING, YOU KNOW, MORE AND MORE

INTO THAT SHELL OF HERS.

I... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

YOU SEE, I THOUGHT THIS TIME

IF IT WAS SOMEBODY YOUNGER, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE HER OWN AGE AND INTERESTS...

I... I REALLY DON'T KNOW, MA'AM.

IF IT'S A QUESTION OF MORE MONEY...

NO, IT ISN'T.

I'M SORRY.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.

I JUST HAVE TO THINK IT OVER.

I'LL HAVE TO CALL YOU BACK TOMORROW.

OH.

BYE-BYE.

NOW, RECKLESS, IF YOU RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE, YOU AREN'T GONNA GET WELL.

COME ON.

COME ON, YOU DUMB DOG. COME ON, RECKLESS.

LISTEN TO THE DOCTOR, COME ON. NURSE. I'M A NURSE.

WHAT A RELUCTANT PATIENT.

STAY HERE. OK, THAT FINISHES THAT ONE.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, LIE DOWN.

WE'RE NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET.

NOW, NOW, JIM-BOB, WE'LL NEVER GET WELL

IF WE GET OUT OF BED TOO SOON, WILL WE?

JOHN-BOY! WHAT'S NEXT?

OK, Y-YOU GUYS TAKE ANOTHER...

JOHN-BOY. THIS IS HIS PULSE, ISN'T IT?

CHECK HIS PULSE. JIM-BOB!

YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE!

OH, WELL.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE'RE NOT DONE WITH HIM. COME BACK.

WAIT, THAT'S GOTTA GO THROUGH THERE.

WHAT IS IT? IT'S JIM-BOB.

HE'S GOT A BULLET WOUND IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER

MULTIPLE FRACTURES IN HIS HEAD, LEFT ARM, AND LEG.

AND HE HAS A CONCUSSION, TOO, DOESN'T HE?

RECKLESS HAS A BROKEN PAW.

LOOKS TO ME LIKE HIS BANDAGES ARE GONNA FINISH HIM OFF

BEFORE HIS WOUNDS.

MARY ELLEN, I... I THINK HE'S SUFFOCATING.

NO, HE'S NOT.

MARY ELLEN, I THINK THE PATIENT

SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BREATHE A LITTLE BIT.

MMM.

WHAT'S ALL THIS FOR, ANYWAY?

JUNIOR FIRST AID ASSISTANT.

MARY ELLEN HAS TO TAKE HER TEST NEXT WEEK.

TO GET YOUR BADGE, YOU'VE TO SHOW THEM YOU CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS.

ALL AT ONCE?

WELL, IT STARTED OFF WITH THE BULLET WOUND IN THE SHOULDER

AND THEN WE ALL GOT TO CHOOSE AN INJURY.

YOU KNOW WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE NOW?

LIKE THE GUY IN THE HORROR MOVIE MAMA WOULDN'T LET US SEE.

YOU BETTER COME IN AND WASH UP.

SUPPER'S ALMOST READY. COME ON.

COME ON IN.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

OH, IT'S OK TO LEAVE HIM THERE, MARY ELLEN.

THE MAD SCIENTIST WILL COME AND TAKE HIM HOME ANY MINUTE NOW.

I'LL GIVE YOU A HAND.

I ALWAYS KNEW THEY WEREN'T SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

OH, LOOK AT THIS!

APPLE PIE.

OH, WOW!

HEY, HOLD YOUR HORSES THERE, ESTHER.

I'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE OF THIS PICCALILLI RELISH OF YOURS.

YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT.

YOU KNOW HOW SPICY THINGS KEEP YOU AWAKE

HALF THE NIGHT.

I'M WELL AWARE OF THAT FACT, OLD GIRL.

SPICY, HUH? THAT'S WHY I MARRIED YOU, YOU SPICY THING, YOU.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, SON, TAKE THAT JOB?

I DON'T KNOW. I NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.

BUT WHY? I MEAN, IF SOMEONE'S BLIND LIKE HER,

I DON'T SEE WHAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

IT'S NOT REALLY AS SIMPLE AS THAT, MARY ELLEN.

SHE'S VERY RESENTFUL AND HOSTILE TOWARDS EVERYTHING.

MAYBE THE IDEA OF HAVING A STRANGER AROUND SCARES HER.

MAYBE.

SHE MUST NEED HELP.

IF SHE'S RESENTFUL AND DOESN'T WANT JOHN-BOY THERE,

THERE'S NOT MUCH HE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

WE NEED THE OTHER PIE, MARY ELLEN.

DAD... DADDY, SHE DID SAY SHE DIDN'T CARE WHETHER I CAME BACK OR NOT.

SHE DIDN'T WANT ME THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SURE SHE MEANS IT, SON?

WELL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WANTS.

IN HER SITUATION, I COULD UNDERSTAND THAT.

I SURE DO NEED THE MONEY.

MARY ELLEN, TAKE THAT THING OFF.

GOOD LORD!

IT'S TERRIBLE.

IT MUST BE TERRIBLE TO BE BLIND.

MARY ELLEN?

MARY ELLEN, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

I DON'T WANNA TALK TO YOU, JOHN-BOY.

WHY NOT?

ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THAT JOB?

WHY IS THAT JOB SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

JOHN-BOY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I DO WHEN I GET VERY LONELY

AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE TALKING TO ANYBODY?

NO.

WELL, I READ A BOOK.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU,

BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU LOVE THEM.

AND YOU TAUGHT US ALL THAT THE WORLD IS IN BOOKS

AND THAT THEY MAKE YOU LESS LONELY.

I THINK THAT RUTH MUST BE THE LONELIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD.

MARY ELLEN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD LIKE ME TO READ TO HER?

I THINK SHE'D LIKE ANYTHING YOU CHOOSE.

THANKS.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

YOU SAID TO REMIND YOU WHEN IT'S 12:00.

OH.

THE MORNING GOES SO FAST.

I LIKE THESE DAYS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE MORNING CLASSES.

HOW COME?

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

YOUR STUDYING UP HERE MAKES THE HOUSE SEEM DIFFERENT,

SORT OF CALMER.

THAT'S NICE.

YOU BETTER HURRY OR YOU'RE GONNA BE LATE.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN I'LL BE BACK.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE JOB.

THANK YOU. BYE-BYE.

RUTH SHOULD BE DOWN IN A FEW MINUTES, MR. WALTON.

PLEASE SIT DOWN.

THANK YOU.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW RELIEVED I WAS TO GET YOUR PHONE CALL.

I DO HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS.

OH, THERE'S NO NEED.

I, UH, BROUGHT A COUPLE OF BOOKS.

I HOPE RUTH WILL ENJOY THEM.

WELL, I HOPE SO, TOO.

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF SHE'D TAKE A LITTLE INTEREST IN SOMETHING.

SHE, UH, HARDLY LEAVES THE HOUSE,

EXCEPT TO GO OUT IN THE GARDEN.

I WISH YOU COULD HAVE KNOWN HER BEFORE.

YOU MEAN SHE WASN'T ALWAYS BLIND?

SHE WAS ONE OF THE MOST OUTGOING, ENERGETIC GIRLS YOU EVER SAW.

AND BRIGHT! LIVELY, ENQUIRING MIND.

SHE WAS A FRESHMAN AT BOATWRIGHT, YOU KNOW.

WELL, WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

WELL, QUITE RECENTLY, VERY SUDDENLY.

4 YEARS AGO,

SHE HAD A SEVERE CASE OF SCARLET FEVER

AND WHEN IT WAS OVER SHE WAS BLIND.

THAT'S AWFUL.

WELL, OF COURSE IT WAS TERRIBLE FOR HER.

BUT, WHEN THE SHOCK OF IT WORE OFF,

SHE SEEMED TO, UH, COME TO TERMS WITH IT

AND TAUGHT HERSELF TO DO THINGS AND GET AROUND.

I REMEMBER HER SAYING, "I'M GOING TO THINK OF THIS AS A HANDICAP,

NOT A TRAGEDY."

SHE EVEN DISCOVERED

THAT IN RICHMOND THERE'S AN INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND.

AND THEY WERE GONNA TRAIN HER

AND PREPARE HER TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE.

RUTH'S FATHER ADORED HER.

ALL HER LIFE, HE ENCOURAGED HER

AND HELPED HER IN EVERYTHING SHE DID.

AND DURING THOSE FIRST DAYS,

THE TIMES WHEN SHE WAS... DOUBTED HERSELF,

HE SUPPORTED HER AND HELPED HER UP.

WHAT HAPPENED?

IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE NEW PLANS,

HE DIED VERY SUDDENLY.

NOW, THAT WAS TOO MUCH FOR RUTH.

SHE COULDN'T COPE.

SHE JUST SEEMED TO SHRINK AWAY FROM EVERYTHING

AND WITHDRAW MORE AND MORE INTO HERSELF.

AND THERE'S... THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO POSSIBILITY THAT SHE'LL EVER SEE AGAIN?

NONE.

OH, RUTH, I WAS, UH...

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UH... ME.

WELL, I, UH, I REALLY, I HAVE TO GO.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO DO.

OH, GOODNESS, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW LATE IT HAD GOTTEN.

WELL, I'LL, UH,

LEAVE YOU TO YOUR READING THEN.

OH, HELLO, AGAIN.

YOU'RE STANDING, AREN'T YOU?

YES.

WELL, I'D PREFER IT IF YOU'D SIT.

UM,

I, UH, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN,

SO I JUST WENT TO THE LIBRARY

AND I... I PICKED UP A VOLUME OF POETRY

AND A COUPLE OF NOVELS AND SOME ESSAYS...

APPARENTLY, MY MOTHER THINKS YOU SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT MY LIFE.

I TEND TO DISAGREE WITH HER.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION MORE FULLY,

THE ANSWER IS NO.

I SHALL NEVER BE ABLE TO SEE AGAIN.

NOW DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME YOU GOT ON WITH YOUR READING?

OF COURSE.

UH,

WELL, WHAT SORT OF THING WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR FIRST?

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

POETRY.

POETRY? GOOD. I... I HAVE, UH...

I... I PICKED UP A VOLUME OF TENNYSON HERE.

UM...

I LIKE TENNYSON MYSELF.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I CHOSE.

UH, THE...

THE LADY OF SHALOTT IS, UH, YOU KNOW...

THE LADY OF SHALOTT.

"ON EITHER SIDE THE RIVER

"LIE LONG FIELDS OF BARLEY AND OF RYE

"THAT CLOTHE THE WOLD AND MEET THE SKY

"AND THRO' THE FIELD THE ROAD RUNS BY TO MANY-TOWER'D CAMELOT

AND UP AND DOWN..."

PUT YOUR PLUGS IN YOUR EARS.

JASON, I SAW YOU MAKING EYES AT JANE CARRINGTON.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YES, YOU WERE, ALL THROUGH THE HISTORY TEST.

YOU DID EVERYTHING BUT GIVE THE ANSWERS.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE LOVE BIRDS?

YOU'RE CRAZY.

I DON'T EVEN LIKE JANE CARRINGTON.

ELIZABETH,

GET DOWN OFF AND GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

HONEY, YOU DO THAT AGAIN, AND I'M GONNA SPANK YOUR BEHIND.

BUT I ALMOST MADE IT HALFWAY ACROSS.

I DON'T CARE HOW FAR YOU GOT.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT

UNLESS BEN OR MARY ELLEN OR ME IS HOLDING ONTO YOUR HAND.

WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT IT? "WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT IT?"

THERE'S ABOUT AN 80 FOOT DROP FROM THE BRIDGE TO THE WATER.

THAT'S WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT IT.

YEAH, A TIDAL WAVE WILL COME AND WASH YOU AWAY

AND YOU'LL GET EATEN BY A GIGANTIC WHALE.

AND YOU'LL BE KNOWN TO EVERYONE AS ELIZABETH JONAH WALTON.

GET YOUR BOOKS, HONEY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE GOTTA STUDY TODAY.

JASON. MMM-HMM.

I THINK I'M GOING TO STAY HERE FOR A WHILE.

YOU OK?

SURE.

BOY, THAT WAS AN EASY TEST TODAY, WASN'T IT?

DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT IT. I KNEW YOU'D FAIL!

WHAT ABOUT JASON HERE, NOW?

"HE CLASPS THE CRAG WITH CROOKED HANDS

"CLOSE TO THE SUN IN LONELY LANDS

"RINGED WITH THE AZURE WORLD, HE STANDS

"THE WRINKLED SEA BENEATH HIM CRAWLS

"HE WATCHES FROM HIS MOUNTAIN WALLS

AND LIKE A THUNDERBOLT HE FALLS."

DO YOU LIKE TENNYSON?

SOMETIMES.

"WRINKLED SEA" IS GOOD, I THINK.

YES.

BUT USUALLY I FIND HIM TOO

SENTIMENTAL.

UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO OUT INTO THE GARDEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE?

IT'S PROBABLY COOLER OUT THERE... NO, I PREFER IT IN HERE.

MAYBE SOME OTHER TIME WE COULD GO OUT INTO THE GARDEN.

NO, MAYBE SOMETIME, IF YOU'D LIKE, I COULD TAKE YOU FOR A WALK.

WE COULD GO FOR WALKS.

MR. WALTON,

I THINK I SHOULD EXPLAIN SOMETHING.

I NEVER GO OUT OF THIS HOUSE.

YOU SEE, A LONG TIME AGO A DOCTOR SUPPLIED ME

WITH A CANE AND SOME SPECTACLES,

ALL THE TRAPPINGS OF A BLIND PERSON.

I PREFER NOT CALLING ATTENTION TO MYSELF

BY TAPPING MY WAY ALONG THE SIDEWALK.

OF COURSE NOT

BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THAT WAY WITH ME.

I THINK FRIDAY IS THE NEXT TIME

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

YES.

WELL, I'LL EXPECT TO SEE YOU THEN.

RUN!

RUN, ELIZABETH!

THAT GIRL'S GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE A REGULAR BABE RUTH.

SHE'S OUT.

SHOOT! I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S THE WAY RUTH FEELS, JOHN-BOY.

I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING.

I JUST OFFERED TO TAKE HER FOR A WALK.

SHE TURNED EVERYTHING AROUND.

MADE IT SOUND LIKE I'D SAID SOMETHING STUPID OR TACTLESS.

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SHE MAY BE USING THAT BLINDNESS OF HERS TO BLACKMAIL PEOPLE.

HMM?

REMEMBER MARTHA ANDERSON, LIV?

MMM-HMM. YOUR FIRST COUSIN.

2ND FROM ZEB'S SIDE.

I'LL SEE IF THOSE POTATOES ARE DONE.

WANT ME TO GIVE YOU A HAND, LIV?

SIT STILL.

WHAT ABOUT HER?

SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT. SHE WAS ABOUT 16.

I GUESS, SHE WAS RIDING ON THE BACK OF A HAY WAGON

AND SOMETHIN' SCARED THE TEAM, AND THEY RAN AWAY.

IT WAS AN AWFUL ACCIDENT.

SHE'D COME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,

SHE DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO START A NEW LIFE FOR HERSELF.

THERE'S NOT MUCH ELSE SHE COULD DO, WAS THERE, DADDY?

MAYBE NOTHING,

BUT THE POINT IS, SHE DIDN'T EVEN TRY.

HER FAMILY LET HER GET AWAY WITH IT,

ALWAYS FETCHING AND CARRYING FOR HER.

FROM THEN ON, SHE USED THAT INJURY

TO WANGLE ANYTHING SHE EVER WANTED OUT OF EVERYBODY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

WELL, SHE JUST BECAME A MEAN, BITTER, OLD WOMAN.

YEAH, IT'S AN AWFUL THING TO SAY,

BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER A SINGLE PERSON

THAT WAS SORRY WHEN SHE DIED.

SUPPER'S READY.

HEY, COME ON, EVERYBODY.

WASH UP.

WELL, DADDY,

I'D HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO RUTH.

I'D HATE TO SEE IT HAPPEN, TOO.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ANYBODY CAN DO,

THEN IT'S UP TO THE OTHER PERSON.

JOHN-BOY!

JOHN-BOY!

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE LEAVING SO EARLY.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

WELL, WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME?

UH, WELL, WHAT?

WILL YOU PROMISE YOU WON'T THINK IT'S STUPID?

MARY ELLEN, WHAT IS IT?

WELL, WHEN YOU SEE RUTH THIS AFTERNOON,

WOULD YOU GIVE HER THIS?

I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT A TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP.

I SPENT A LONG TIME DOWN BY THE CREEK THE OTHER AFTERNOON.

I WANTED TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT ONE.

OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S REAL SMOOTH.

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND FEEL IT. GO ON.

YOU CAN PRETEND IT'S ANYTHING YOU WANT, A BIRD OR A FISH.

RUN YOUR THUMB ALONG THE GROOVE IN THE SIDE.

IT FEELS LIKE THE BOWL OF A TEASPOON.

YOU'RE RIGHT, IT DOES.

IT'S VERY NICE.

YOU DON'T THINK IT'S STUPID, DO YOU?

NO, I DON'T. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL

AND I'M SURE SHE'LL APPRECIATE IT.

SEE YOU LATER. BYE.

"THE FACT IS, LADY BRACKNELL, I SAID I HAD LOST MY PARENTS.

"IT WOULD BE NEARER THE TRUTH TO SAY

"THAT MY PARENTS SEEM TO HAVE LOST ME.

"I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHO I AM BY BIRTH.

I WAS... WELL, I WAS FOUND."

"FOUND!"

"THE LATE MR. THOMAS CARDEW,

"AN OLD GENTLEMAN OF VERY CHARITABLE AND KINDLY DISPOSITION

"FOUND ME, AND GAVE ME THE NAME OF WORTHING

"BECAUSE HE HAPPENED TO HAVE A FIRST-CLASS TICKET FOR WORTHING

"IN HIS POCKET AT THE TIME.

"WORTHING IS A PLACE IN SUSSEX.

IT IS A SEASIDE RESORT."

"WHERE DID THE CHARITABLE GENTLEMAN WHO HAD A FIRST-CLASS TICKET

FOR THIS SEASIDE RESORT FIND YOU?"

"IN A HANDBAG."

"A HANDBAG?"

I'D FORGOTTEN THAT PLAY WAS SO WITTY.

HMM, IT IS.

I, UH,

SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT, UH,

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST

IS... IS REALLY AN ASSIGNMENT AT COLLEGE.

OH!

KILLING 2 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.

DOING YOUR SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT AND READING TO ME.

DO YOU MIND?

WHY SHOULD I?

THERE'S

SOMETHING I FORGOT TO TELL YOU, TOO.

YOU READ VERY WELL.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I IMAGINE I'VE HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE

READING TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHILE THEY WERE GROWING.

YOU'RE FROM A LARGE FAMILY?

OH, LARGE?

WELL, THERE'S 3 BROTHERS AND 3 SISTERS

AND, UH, MAMA AND DADDY, OF COURSE,

AND... AND MY GRANDMA AND MY GRANDPA.

WE ALL SIT DOWN TOGETHER AT THE TABLE.

THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF US, AND IT'S VERY NOISY, TOO.

UH, WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

WALTON'S MOUNTAIN.

IT'S A VERY SMALL PLACE, ABOUT 28 MILES FROM HERE.

THERE'S JUST A... A BAPTIST CHURCH, A METHODIST CHURCH

AND A STORE, LIKE GODSEY'S. THAT'S WHERE WE DO OUR SHOPPING

AND... AND PICK UP OUR MAIL AND USE THE TELEPHONE.

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT.

UM, I'M NOT SURPRISED.

IT'S A NICE PLACE, THOUGH. PEOPLE WHO GO THERE SEEM TO LIKE IT.

I REMEMBER, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THERE... THERE WAS ABOUT, UH...

OH, I DON'T KNOW. A BUNCH OF CARNIVAL PEOPLE WERE STRANDED ON THEIR WAY

TO THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR.

THEY STAYED THERE ABOUT 2, 3 DAYS

AND EVEN THEY SAID THEY HATED TO LEAVE.

IT SOUNDS VERY NICE.

IT IS.

YOU KNOW, RUTH, UH,

I REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT NOT GOING OUT AND ALL

BUT IF YOU'D EVER LIKE TO COME TO THE MOUNTAIN... NO!

I MEAN, MAYBE ON A SATURDAY...

I'M AFRAID THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.

WELL, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYBODY BUT MY FAMILY THERE.

YOU MEAN, BECAUSE IT'S YOUR FAMILY

THEY'D BE POLITE AND ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN.

I JUST TOLD 'EM ABOUT YOU. THEY'D LIKE TO MEET YOU, THAT'S ALL.

WOULD THEY? MMM-HMM.

ESPECIALLY MY SISTER, MARY ELLEN.

I HAVE, OH...

THIS REMINDS ME. SHE... SHE... SHE WANTED ME TO GIVE YOU THIS.

SHE SAID IT WAS SORT OF A... A TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP.

IT'S JUST A PEBBLE. THAT'S ALL.

SHE FOUND IT IN THE CREEK BY THE HOUSE.

SHE SAID SHE TOOK A LOT OF TIME JUST TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE.

THE ONE SHE THOUGHT FELT THE MOST INTERESTING.

IT'S A PERFECT GIFT.

HOW APPROPRIATE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

A STONE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S STONE-BLIND!

RUTH, RUTH, I WANNA TELL YOU ONE THING,

MY SISTER TOOK A LOT OF CARE TO FIND SOMETHING FOR YOU

THAT SHE THOUGHT WOULD HAVE A... A SPECIAL MEANING...

OH, A SPECIAL MEANING?

YOU MEAN SOMETHING TO REMIND ME THAT I'M BLIND?

NO, RUTH.

NO. YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING TO REMIND YOU.

YOU REMIND YOURSELF.

EVERY DAY THAT YOU SPEND LOCKED IN HERE

AWAY FROM THE WORLD, REFUSING TO GO OUT.

YOU REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU'RE BLIND EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE!

OH, YES, I DO! OH, YES, YOU DO.

AND EVERY... AND EVERY UNKIND, HARSH WORD THAT YOU UTTER IS JUST A PLEA FOR PITY.

WELL, I CAN'T PITY YOU.

WHEN I FIRST TOOK THIS JOB,

I THOUGHT MAYBE I COULD HELP YOU

BUT I SEE I CAN'T DO THAT EITHER.

YOU KNOW, RUTH,

IF MY SISTER'S GIFT WAS TACTLESS OR WRONG, I'M SORRY.

BUT I ASSURE YOU, IT WASN'T INTENDED TO BE.

JOHN!

JOHN!

YES. RUTH, I'M HOME.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

YES, THANK YOU.

BYE.

RUTH, WHERE'S JOHN WALTON?

HE'S... HE'S ALREADY LEFT.

MOTHER,

UM, THERE ARE SOME THINGS

THAT... THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU.

OF COURSE, DEAR.

PLEASE, SIT DOWN.

JOHN-BOY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS

BUT I WAS JUST THINKING TO MYSELF AS I CAME OUT OF IKE'S,

"WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF JOHN-BOY WALTON DROVE BY RIGHT NOW?"

AND HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT.

DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS?

WHAT?

THE PHONE MESSAGE THAT CAME IN AT IKE'S.

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

SAYS, "I'D LIKE TO COME TO WALTON'S MOUNTAIN TOMORROW.

I'LL ARRIVE BY TAXI AND BE THERE AROUND NOON. RUTH."

FROM WHAT YOU'VE TOLD ME ABOUT HER, I... I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WELL, I THINK I DO.

LIVIE, DO WE HAVE ANY OF THAT CELERY SALT LEFT?

IT'S IN THAT CABINET BEHIND YOU IF THERE'S ANY LEFT.

I ONLY NEED A PINCH JUST TO FINISH UP THAT COLESLAW.

IS IT 12:00 YET?

10 TILL.

IS RUTH'S MOTHER COMING WITH HER?

WELL, I IMAGINE SO. THIS IS HER FIRST TIME OUT. I DON'T THINK SHE'D GO ALONE.

HERE IT IS. JUST... STOP IT.

JUST ENOUGH.

I'LL HAVE THIS READY IN A MINUTE, LIVIE.

TAXI'S HERE!

WELL, I'LL GET HER.

THANK YOU.

RUTH.

HELLO, JOHN.

HELLO.

UH, DID YOU GET MY MESSAGE ALL RIGHT?

YES, I DID.

RUTH, I'M VERY, VERY GLAD YOU CAME.

I... I CAME BECAUSE

I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

AND I WANTED TO THANK YOUR SISTER.

AND...

WHAT?

WELL, YESTERDAY, AFTER YOU LEFT

I WAS ALONE FOR SOME TIME.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME

I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT GOING OUT OF THE HOUSE.

AND I REALIZED SOMETHING.

THAT MAYBE THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

WASN'T AS FRIGHTENING AS I WAS MAKING IT OUT TO BE.

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I'D FIND THAT OUT

WOULD BE BY GOING OUT INTO IT.

SEE, YOURS WAS THE ONLY INVITATION I HAD.

I DECIDED TO TRY IT BECAUSE

I THINK I WANT MY LIFE BACK.

AND I'M TRYING IT BECAUSE

IF I DON'T FIND OUT, I'LL NEVER KNOW.

WELL.

THE BEST WAY TO START IS BY MEETING MY FAMILY

AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM TO MEET.

YES, I KNOW. I REMEMBER YOU TOLD ME.

THIS WAY.

JIM-BOB.

JIM-BOB, THIS IS RUTH.

RUTH, THIS IS JIM-BOB, MY YOUNGEST BROTHER.

HI. HI.

WE'RE ALL READY TO GO. DADDY SAID TO PUT THESE IN THE TRUCK.

OK, GO ON.

MAMA. MAMA, THIS IS RUTH.

RUTH, THIS IS MY MOTHER, OLIVIA WALTON.

HELLO, RUTH. HOW DO YOU DO?

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY, WE THOUGHT WE'D HAVE A PICNIC LUNCH.

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

YES, I AM.

THIS IS MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, MARY ELLEN.

HI.

HELLO.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT.

IT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL OF YOU.

I'M GLAD YOU LIKED IT.

I'M ELIZABETH, THE LITTLEST ONE.

YES, I GUESS YOU ARE.

AND I GUESS I'M THE LARGEST.

BY FAR, AND THE OLDEST.

I'M ESTHER WALTON, JOHN-BOY'S GRANDMA.

HOW DO YOU DO?

AND THE OLD MAN'S MY HUSBAND.

SHE'S HALF MY SIZE AND MY AGE, BUT MY FAVORITE.

SHALL I ESCORT YOU TO THE TRUCK? YES.

WE'RE JUST LEAVING FOR A PICNIC.

THANK YOU.

ELLEN. COME ON, EVERYBODY.

PICNIC. COME ON. THERE YOU GO.

DON'T STAB ME WITH THE FISHING POLES.

OOPS.

♪♪

AND I HEARD SOUNDS I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

I USED TO LIE AWAKE AT NIGHT IN MY ROOM

AND LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS THAT THE HOUSE MADE.

FIRST, I HATED LISTENING TO THEM.

I WOULD PUT MY HANDS OVER MY EARS.

AND THEN SLOWLY I BEGAN TO COUNT ON 'EM.

NOW, WE HAD A MOCKINGBIRD THAT USED TO LIVE IN A TREE RIGHT UNDER MY WINDOW.

I USED TO LOVE TO LISTEN TO HIM.

I COUNTED ONE MORNING, 27 SEPARATE CALLS.

HE JUST COULDN'T STOP.

HOW OLD ARE YOU, MARY ELLEN?

16, WHY?

HAVE YOU

EVER THOUGHT OF WHAT YOU'D WANT TO DO WHEN YOU FINISHED SCHOOL?

I'M PRETTY SURE.

I WANT TO BE A NURSE OR A DOCTOR.

BUT THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY

AND THERE DON'T SEEM TO BE TOO MANY WOMEN IN THAT FIELD.

BUT SOMETHING WHERE... WELL...

SOMETHING WHERE YOU COULD HELP PEOPLE IN TROUBLE.

YEAH.

WELL, YOU'LL BE VERY GOOD AT IT, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE.

YOU'VE ALREADY MADE ME FEEL

A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE AND... AND MORE AT EASE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?

I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER.

I LOVE THE IDEA OF TEACHING CHILDREN.

I WANTED TO BE THE FIRST ONE

TO INTRODUCE THEM TO BOOKS.

RUTH, DO YOU KNOW WHO HELEN KELLER IS?

YES.

WELL, YOU COULD BE LIKE HER.

I MEAN, SHE HAD A LOT MORE TO GET PAST THAN YOU DO.

AND THERE'S SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND.

AND THERE'S THOSE DOGS THAT ARE TRAINED.

AND... AND SO WHAT IF YOU CAN'T SEE?

I MEAN, YOU CAN TALK AND YOU CAN LOVE THINGS.

AND THAT'S REALLY ALL A TEACHER HAS TO DO ANYWAY, RIGHT?

YES.

THANK YOU, MARY ELLEN,

FOR YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR CARE.

HEY, COME ON.

MAMA'S GOT LUNCH READY, AND SHE SAYS IF YOU DON'T GET THERE FAST,

SHE WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAVING YOU ANYTHING.

AFTER LUNCH, WE COULD GO TO THE SWIMMING HOLE.

ISN'T IT A LITTLE CHILLY TO BE THINKING ABOUT SWIMMING?

WELL, IT'LL BE SUMMER AGAIN

AND THEN WE COULD GO SWIMMING.

THAT'S RIGHT, ELIZABETH.

IT WILL BE SUMMER AGAIN.

HE WASN'T VERY OLD WHEN HE SAID,

"I THINK I COULD TURN AND LIVE WITH ANIMALS."

ERIN, WERE YOU WATCHING HIM

TO SEE IF HE WAS TRYING NOT TO LOOK AT YOU?

WALT. WALT WHITMAN.

I NEVER READ TOO MUCH WHITMAN.

HEY, ERIN, I'LL RACE YOU TO THE BRIDGE.

OK. ME, TOO!

SIT DOWN AND LET YOUR FOOD DIGEST, PLEASE.

OH, MAMA, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO.

YES, THERE IS, ELIZABETH.

YOU COULD TELL ME WHERE WE ARE.

OH, WELL, THE MOUNTAIN'S BEHIND US

AND, WHY, THERE ARE SOME TREES.

WHAT KIND OF TREES?

OH, ALL KINDS.

IT'S CALLED DRUCILLA POND.

AND I COME HERE TO WRITE QUITE OFTEN.

A WRITER NEEDS A SPECIAL PLACE

TO SIT AND THINK IN PEACE AND QUIET.

"GIVE ME, KIND HEAVEN, A PRIVATE STATION

A MIND SERENE FOR CONTEMPLATION!"

THAT'S REAL NICE, PA.

OH, IT'S JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF VERSE I PICKED UP FROM SOMEWHERE.

OH, THIS FOOD, THIS SUN.

IF WE DON'T GO PRETTY SOON, I'M GOING TO FALL ASLEEP.

THERE WON'T BE ANYMORE WORK TODAY.

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL.

SO WE BETTER PACK UP, EVERYONE.

COME ON.

JIM-BOB.

GET A MOVE ON.

ALL RIGHT, JOHN-BOY, QUIT LYING ON YOUR WATERMELON.

WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN, GRANDPA?

"A MIND SERENE FOR CONTEMPLATION!"

WHERE'S THAT FROM? DO YOU KNOW THAT, RUTH?

UH, NO.

PALGRAVE'S GOLDEN TREASURY.

IT'S NICE.

IT'S FUNNY, THOUGH.

IN A WAY, IT KIND OF DESCRIBES HOW THIS PLACE FEELS TO ME

SO PRIVATE AND SERENE.

YOU KNOW, WE 3 HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

POETS UNDER THE SKIN.

THAT'S THE WAY I HAVE ALWAYS FELT ABOUT THIS PLACE.

I GET IT FROM MY FATHER.

WELL, HE ALWAYS LOVED POETRY.

YOUR HAND.

IT'S LIKE 2 DIFFERENT HANDS.

I MEAN, THIS SIDE IS SO SMOOTH

AND THE PALM, IT'S AS TOUGH AS LEATHER.

AH, IT COMES FROM OVER 50 YEARS OF HARD WORK, I GUESS.

IT ALSO COMES FROM A LIFETIME OF BEING

BOTH GENTLE AND STRONG.

OH, RUTHIE,

YOU'RE A GIRL AFTER MY OWN HEART.

YOU'RE ALL COMING?

YEAH.

OH, RUTH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WALK ON BACK TO THE HOUSE?

WE COULD TAKE THE PATH BY THE STREAM.

SOUNDS NICE.

CAN I COME?

SURE.

DADDY,

WE'RE GONNA WALK ON BACK TO THE HOUSE, OK?

HEY, GRANDPA. MMM-HMM.

WOULD YOU TAKE THAT FOR ME?

SURE. UH, OK.

COME ALONG, ELIZABETH.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK AT THE HOUSE.

ERIN!

OH, I LOVE THAT SOUND OF THE STREAM.

MMM-HMM.

THE SMELL OF IT, TOO.

THE SMELL?

YES, AN EXTRA THAT COMES WITH BEING BLIND.

ARE YOU COLD?

UH, A LITTLE.

I GUESS I LEFT MY SWEATER AND PURSE

BACK THERE AT THE PICNIC PLACE.

OH, UH... ELIZABETH? HONEY? YEAH?

WILL YOU STAY HERE WITH RUTH FOR A MINUTE?

I'M GONNA GO BACK AND FETCH HER SWEATER. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

THANK YOU. NOW, HERE'S THE RAILING OF THE BRIDGE RIGHT HERE.

THERE, OK? I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

THANK YOU!

WELL,

IT MUST BE AWFULLY NICE LIVING HERE.

IT'S SO PEACEFUL AND QUIET.

MIGHT BE PEACEFUL OUT HERE,

BUT IT'S SURE NOISY BACK AT THE HOUSE.

I SUPPOSE SO.

WITH ALL THOSE BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ALWAYS GOING ON.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE,

I ALWAYS WANTED A BROTHER.

ONCE, I EVEN PRETENDED I HAD ONE.

HAROLD, I USED TO CALL HIM.

I READ IT IN A BOOK

AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD, SOLID NAME

FOR A BROTHER OF MINE TO HAVE.

DID YOU EVER DO THAT?

MAKE UP IMAGINARY FRIENDS?

ELIZABETH, WHERE ARE YOU?

I'M DOING MY DARE ACT.

DARE?

YEAH, I GET ON THE BRIDGE RAILING.

JASON DOESN'T WANT ME TO DO IT 'CAUSE HE THINKS I'LL FALL.

UH, ELIZABETH, GET DOWN FROM THERE.

IT'S EASY. I DO IT ALL THE TIME.

ELIZABETH, PLEASE GET DOWN.

ELIZABETH, GIVE ME YOUR HAND!

ELIZABETH, PLEASE!

JOHN!

JOHN!

KIDS, WAIT HERE.

ELIZABETH!

ELIZABETH!

ELIZABETH!

ELIZABETH!

ELIZABETH!

I GOT HER! I GOT HER!

RUTH! RUTH!

RUTH, IT'S JOHN. I GOT YOU. I'VE GOT YOU NOW.

I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU.

IT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S ALL RIGHT. JUST HOLD ON TO ME.

YOU JUST HOLD ON TO ME. IT'S OK.

EASY.

ALL RIGHT, HONEY?

RUTH.

MY HEAD HURTS, BUT I'M OK.

I'LL HELP YOU OUT.

GO AHEAD.

GO ON, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S OK. STAND UP. EASY, HONEY. EASY.

JUST WAIT.

JUST WAIT RIGHT HERE. HERE'S A TREE.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, SON.

SHE'S ALL RIGHT? YEAH.

I'LL TELL RUTH.

LORD. RUTH!

RUTH!

NO, RUTH!

STOP! NO!

GET AWAY FROM ME!

GET AWAY.

RUTH, ELIZABETH'S ALL RIGHT. SHE'S ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH IS ALL RIGHT. COME ON...

GO AWAY. RUTH! RUTH!

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL...

NO, YOU DON'T! YES, I DO.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

YOU FEEL IT WAS ALL YOUR FAULT.

LIKE IT WAS STUPID FOR YOU TO COME OUT HERE...

YOU'RE NOT BLIND! OF COURSE I'M NOT BLIND!

BUT I DON'T HAVE TO BE BLIND

TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS THROWING YOUR LIFE AWAY LIKE THAT.

IT'S COWARDLY TO GO BACK TO THE KIND OF LIFE

THAT YOU HAD BEFORE IN THAT... IN THAT HOUSE.

RUTH.

PLEASE, JUST... JUST LISTEN TO ME.

RUTH, YOU TOLD ME THIS MORNING THAT YOU WANTED YOUR LIFE BACK.

WELL, YOU'VE GOT IT BACK.

YOU'VE HAD IT BACK ALL DAY LONG.

PLEASE, JUST DON'T LET IT SLIP AWAY AGAIN.

PLEASE, JUST HOLD ON TO IT.

PLEASE, JUST DON'T RUN AWAY.

JOHN. YES, YES, I'M RIGHT HERE.

HELP ME.

ALL RIGHT. OF COURSE I'LL HELP YOU.

YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

JUST HOLD ON.

JUST DON'T LET GO. I'M RIGHT HERE.

DON'T LET GO.

JUST DON'T LET GO.

JUST DON'T LET GO.

STEP.

THE DOCTOR SAID

ELIZABETH HAD NOTHING MORE SERIOUS THAN A BUMP ON THE HEAD

AND A BRUISED KNEE.

RUTH RETURNED TO WESTHAM

BUT SHE DIDN'T REMAIN HIDDEN AWAY BYE, RUTH.

LIKE SHE HAD BEFORE. BYE-BYE.

AFTER SOME TRAINING AT AN INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND GOODBYE.

SHE RETURNED TO BOATWRIGHT UNIVERSITY, BYE.

WAS GRADUATED

AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A SOCIAL WELFARE WORKER

FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

MAMA?

YES, JIM-BOB?

BEN'S SNORING, AND HE'S KEEPING ME AWAKE.

MAYBE HE'LL STOP IF YOU TURN HIM OVER ON HIS SIDE.

OK.

JIM-BOB, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?

YOU GONE CRAZY OR SOMETHING?

WILL YOU... WILL YOU TWO PIPE DOWN?

KEEPING EVERYBODY AWAKE.

BEN, YOU BETTER STOP HITTING ME.

YOU STARTED IT. WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?

THERE'S A FIGHT IN THE BOY'S ROOM.

OH, NO.

YOU CHILDREN BEHAVE YOURSELVES BEFORE YOU WAKE YOUR FATHER.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT, JIM-BOB!

LEAVE ME ALONE, BEN.

BEN! JIM-BOB! GO BACK TO BED!

WHO'S WINNING, JASON?

AM I GONNA HAVE TO COME OVER THERE?

BEN'S WINNING, ELIZABETH.

IT'S A DISGRACE HOW NO ONE GETS TO SLEEP AROUND.

YOU CHILDREN WANT A SPANKING?

DADDY!

YOU THINK I'D BETTER GO OVER THERE, LIV?

SOMEBODY HAD BETTER DO SOMETHING.