All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S03E12.The.Job.WEBRip.x264-ION10

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."

-Right. Now bring the wrench.
-Wrench?

Dedication to medicine
must be the most

rewarding life there
is, don't you think?

Mary, 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.

"Two afternoons a week
for two hours. Will pay."

Don't you lose that.
I need that address.

Let's try her.

But what's it for?

You are the nosiest
woman in the world.

It's for a part-time job.

I got it off the
bulletin board at college.

-Okay?
-Go ahead.

Hold it, hold it!

Alright.

That saves me $2.50,
which I don't have.

How much this
part-time job pay, Son?

Fifty cents an hour.

The appointment's
at 3:15 this afternoon.

You forgot your sandwiches.

Oh, thank you, Grandma.

Don't put them there!
You know what'll happen?

The engine heat will
melt the cheese,

and the bread will
curl up like cardboard.

Sorry. I'm sorry, Grandma.

-Hope you get the job, Son.
-Thank you very much.

-Good luck.
-Goodbye.

[knocking]

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.

I see. 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.

I'm very pleased to meet you,
Mr. Walton. I'm Irene Thomas.

How do you do?

You're here early.

I wanted to be
the first one to arrive--

Mr. Walton's very impatient.

Well, 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 certainly didn't mean
to exclude you, Ruth.

-Please, won't you sit down?
-Thank you.

Well, the job is very simple.

I would like you to come here
two afternoons a week to...

read aloud to us,
anything you like.

Anything that you 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.
-There's no need to apologize.

I know it's not fair to
ask you now, but, please.

I do wish you'd consider.

-It wouldn't do any good.
-But it might.

I won't pretend to you.
There have been others.

Two of them.

Each time, she drove them away.

But recently, she's just
withdrawing 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 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.

Bye-bye.

Now, Reckless, if
you run all over

the place, you aren't
gonna get well.

Come on.

-Come on, Reckless.
-Come on, you dumb dog.

-Listen to the doctor, come on.
-I'm a nurse.

What a reluctant patient.

-Stay here.
-Okay, 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?
-Okay, 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.
-Wait a minute. We're not done.

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, I think he's suffocating.
-No, he's not.

Mary Ellen, I think
the patient should be allowed

to breathe a little bit.

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 everything.

All at once?

Started with the bullet wound in
the shoulder...

and we get
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 okay 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!

Hold your horses there, Esther.

I'd like a little more of this
piccalilli relish of yours.

You've had enough of that.

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? If someone's blind like
her, I don't see what you've

to think before
you make up your mind.

It's not really
as simple as that.

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.

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?

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.
-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.

The morning goes so fast.

I like these days when you
don't have morning classes.

How come?

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 dunno exactly
when I'll be back.

-Good luck with the job.
-Thank you.

Bye-bye.

[music]

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 brought a couple of books.
I hope Ruth will enjoy them.

I hope so, too.

It would be
wonderful if she'd

take a little
interest in something.

She 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.

Four 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 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.

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.

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
absolutely no possibility

that she'll ever see again?

None.

Ruth, I was....
We were talking about--

Me.

Well, I really 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...

leave you to your reading then.

Hello, again.

-You're standing, aren't you?
-Yes.

Well, I'd prefer
it if you'd sit.

I don't really know
what you're interested in...

so I just went to the library...

and 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.

Well, what sort of thing
would you like to hear first?

It doesn't matter.

Poetry.

Poetry? Good. I have....

I picked up a volume
of Tennyson here.

I like Tennyson myself.

I have a couple
of things I chose.

The Lady of Shalott
is, 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.

I was not.

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're not supposed to

do it unless Ben or Mary
or me is holding your hand.

-What's so bad about it?
-"What's so bad?"

There's about an 80 foot drop
from the bridge.

That's what's so bad about it.

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.

We gotta study today.

Jason, I think I'm going
to stay here for a while.

-You okay?
-Sure.

Boy, that was an easy test
today, wasn't it?

-Don't talk about it.
-I knew you'd fail!

[chattering]

"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.

Would you like to go out into
the garden for a little while?

-It's probably cooler out--
-No, I prefer it in here.

Maybe some other time
we could go out into the garden.

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.
-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 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.

Remember Martha Anderson, Liv?

Your first cousin.

Second from Zeb's side.

I'll see if those
potatoes are done.

-Want me to give you a hand?
-Sit still.

What about her?

She had an accident.
She was about 16.

She was riding on the back
of a hay wagon...

and something 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.

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?

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.

-Bye.
-See you later.

"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.

It is.

I suppose I should
have told you that...

The Importance of Being Ernest

is really an
assignment at college.

Killing two 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?
-Large?

Well, there's three brothers
and three sisters...

and Mama and Daddy, of course,
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.

-Where do you live?
-Walton's Mountain.

It's a very small place,
about 28 miles from here.

There's just a Baptist Church,
a Methodist Church and...

a store, Ike Godsey's. That's
where we do our shopping...

and pick up our mail
and use the telephone.

I've never heard of it.

I'm not surprised.

It's a nice place. People
who go there seem to like it.

I remember, two years ago, there
was about.... I don't know.

A bunch of carnival
people were stranded

on their way to
the Chicago World's Fair.

They stayed there
about two, three days...

and even they said
they hated to leave.

It sounds very nice.

It is.

You know, Ruth...

I remember what you said
about not going out and all...

but if you'd like to come
to the mountain--

-No!
-Maybe on a Saturday--

I'm afraid that
would be impossible.

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 told them about you. They'd
like to meet you, that's all.

Would they?

Especially my sister,
Mary Ellen.

This reminds me.
She wanted me to give you this.

She said it was sort of
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, I wanna tell
you one thing...

my sister took a lot of care
to find something for you...

that she thought would
have a special meaning--

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!

Yes, you do. 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!

[slow music]

-Yes.
-Ruth, I'm home.

Yes, that's right.

Yes, thank you.

Bye.

Ruth, where's John Walton?

He's already left.

Mother...

there are some things
that I'd like to ask you.

Of course dear.

Please, sit down.

[music]

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 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?

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.

-Did you get my message right?
-Yes, I did.

Ruth, I'm very,
very glad you came.

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.

Okay, go on.

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 to the truck?
-Yes.

-We're leaving for a picnic.
-Thank you.

-Come on, everybody.
-Picnic.

There you go.

Don't stab me with
the fishing poles.

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 them.

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?

Sixteen, 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 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.

There's special schools
for people who are blind.

There's those
dogs that are trained.

So what if you
can't see? I mean,

you can talk and
you can love things.

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.

Erin, I'll race you
to the bridge.

-Okay.
-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.

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.

It's just a little
piece of verse

I picked up from somewhere.

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.

Alright, 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?

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 three
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
two different hands.

I mean, this side
is so smooth...

and the palm, it's
as tough as leather.

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, okay?

Grandpa, would
you take that for me?

Sure.

Come along, Elizabeth.
We'll see you back at the house.

Erin!

I love that sound of the stream.

-The smell of it, too.
-The smell?

Yes, an extra that
comes with being blind.

Are you cold?

A little.

Guess I left my
sweater and purse

back there at
the picnic place.

-Elizabeth? Honey?
-Yeah?

Will you stay here
with Ruth for a minute?

I'm gonna go and get her
sweater. I'll be right back.

Now, here's the railing of
the bridge right here.

There, okay? I'll be right back.

Thank you!

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?
-I get on the bridge railing.

Jason doesn't want me to do it
'cause he thinks I'll fall.

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.

It's alright. It's alright.
You just hold on to me.

It's okay.

Easy.

Alright, honey?

My head hurts, but I'm okay.

I'll help you out.

Go ahead.

Go on, it's alright.

-It's okay.
-Stand up. Easy, honey. Easy.

Just wait. Just wait
right here. Here's a tree.

I'll be right back.

-It's alright, Son.
-She's alright?

-Yeah.
-I'll tell Ruth.

Lord. Ruth!

[intense music]

Ruth!

-Stop!
-No! Get away from me!

Get away.

Ruth, Elizabeth's alright.
Elizabeth is alright--

-Go away.
-Ruth!

I know exactly how you feel--

-No, you don't!
-Yes.

You feel you shouldn't
have come here.

You feel it was your fault and
stupid for you to come here--

-You're not blind!
-I'm not blind!

I don't have to
be to know that...

you've 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 house.

Ruth.

Please, just listen to me.

Ruth, you told me this morning
that you wanted your life back.

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, I'm right here.

-Help me.
-Of course I'll help you.

You're alright.
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

like she had before.

After some training

at an institute
for the blind...

she returned to
Boatwright University,

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.

Okay.

Jim-Bob, what do
you think you're doing?

You gone crazy or something?

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.
-Oh, no.

You children behave yourselves
before you wake your father.

-You're going to get it, Jim.
-Leave me alone, Ben.

Go back to bed!

-Who's winning, Jason?
-I'll 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.