All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S04E13.The.Nurse.WEBRip.x264-ION10

The joy and pain of growing up

came to each of us
in different ways.

But no one endured
the experience alone.

And so it was when Mary Ellen
tried her first searching steps

away from her childhood.

It was a time of joy
and pain for her,

and for the rest of us as well.

So far it's been easy on us,

'cause, at least we've been
able to do the things we like,

and still stay at home.

Yeah. I hope it's
as easy for Mary Ellen.

At least, the family
wants her to be a nurse,

and she's not gonna have to
spend any time convincing them.

-She's just dying to go.
-Who's that?

-Ike.
-Mary Ellen.

Oh. She's been in and out
of here 20 times a day.

-What on earth is she expecting?
-Graduation presents.

Mostly a suitcase. She's been
afraid she's gonna have to go

to nursing school with
her stuff in a gunnysack.

I don't know about any packages,
but I think there's a letter.

Here it is.
Miss Mary Ellen Walton.

Who's it from?

"University of Virginia, School
of Nursing, Charlottesville."

-Great.
-She's been expecting that.

There's a package here for your
daddy from Richmond.

-Everything's coming in today.
-Is that for us, too?

This is for Miss Nora Taylor,
Public Health Nurse.

Yeah, we know her.

I think it's supplies from the

Center Hospital
in Norfolk, Virginia.

-Been here a couple of days.
-Does she know it's here?

There's no way for me
to get in touch with her.

She's up at the Basham's place.

I guess there's somebody
pretty sick up there.

-Well, I'll take it up there.
-Sure.

-I'm sure she'd be obliged.
-It's no trouble.

Listen, you tell Mary Ellen that
if any packages come in here

that even remotely look
like a graduation present,

I'll personally deliver
them to her.

-She'll be happy to hear that.
-Thanks, Ike. See you later.

Okay.

Hey, Jim-Bob.

What's the matter with you?

I'm watching out for Mary Ellen.

They working on that trunk
over there?

You ought to see it.
It's looking good.

I'm gonna take a look at it.
See you later.

-Hey.
-What do you think of it?

-It's real snazzy.
-It's better than that.

I'd say it's almost
professional-looking.

Coming from an almost-writer,
I guess that's good enough.

We'd be all but finished if we
had that hardware from Richmond.

-Oh. There it is.
-How about that?

It came today.

-Hey, you got the hardware, huh?
-Yeah.

Wow, look at this.

That's even prettier than
it looked like in the catalog.

-You think she'll like it?
-Sure she will.

I think it helps her
get out into the world,

she'll be crazy about it.
She's just busting to go.

I'll bet she'll be busting to
come back when she's homesick.

Remember, this is a big moment
for your sister,

going off to nursing school.

You're getting old, Daddy.
Three down, four to go.

Yeah, and I'm next.

You got a long way to go, Son.

Who's the package for?

Nora Taylor. I've got to deliver
it to her later.

You sure did a good job with
this suitcase.

We're proud of it ourselves,
if we do say so.

Considering what we had
to start with,

it doesn't look
too home-made, does it?

No, it looks real professional.

Well, it's practically worn out.

We've had to hide it so
Mary Ellen wouldn't find it.

Well, she may need
it before too long,

'cause this came for her today,
from the School of Nursing.

I'll be up in my room.

Mary Ellen's gonna make it
just fine.

I told you that
the day she was born.

Hi, Mary Ellen.

-Open it.
-Here, hurry.

John-Boy, it's me. Hide this,
quick. She almost caught us.

Alright, I'll put it under here.

Not under there. You can see
it from the hall.

Mama! Look at this letter!

I'll be right down, Mary Ellen.

-Hide it.
-Where?

Anywhere!

-I'll put it under the desk.
-No, not there!

-You said anywhere!
-Mama! Where are you?

Mary Ellen, I'll be right there.
Put it in the closet!

-I'll come up!
-No, Stay there, I'll be down!

-There's no room in the closet.
-John-Boy.

This is it, Grandma! This is
what I've been waiting for!

Yahoo! I'm gonna be going,
I'm gonna be going!

Mama, hurry up. Here it is.

There she is. All grown up
and ready for the world.

I wonder if the world's
gonna be ready for her.

Wait, Listen to this.

"Entrance examinations will be
held for a two-day period,

"and arrangements can be made
for out-of-town applicants

"to stay at the Nursing School
overnight."

I'm gonna be going, Mama!
I'm gonna be going!

That letter's been a long time
getting here.

But it got here.
Never any doubt in my mind.

-What's the celebrating about?
-Look, it came. I got it.

Mary Ellen got her letter from
the School of Nursing,

-Just like I said she would.
-This mean you're going away?

For two days to Charlottesville
to take the exams,

then I'll be back for a couple
of days to pack,

then I'll be going off
for school!

If you're gonna stay overnight,
you're gonna need a suitcase.

Or a sack or something.

We used to have an old suitcase
around here. Where is it, Mama?

That old suitcase. It's probably
stuck away somewhere.

It'll take a month
of Sundays to find it.

Mary Ellen, I'm gonna go up
the hills and see Miss Nora.

I've gotta deliver
some supplies to her.

Why don't you come up
and give her the news?

-You tell her.
-I'm sure she'd much rather

you told her yourself.

We'll help you look for
that old suitcase later.

Alright. Let's go.

Here, Grandma, hold on to this.
And don't lose that.

-Give me that.
-Come on, John-Boy.

Elizabeth.

-Elizabeth!
-Well...

How'd you like to ride up here
every day like Miss Nora does?

Well, according to Ike, she's
been staying up here, mostly.

Somebody's sick at the Basham's.

You reckon your entrance exam's
gonna be tough?

I'm not worried about it.

College was a lot harder than I
thought it was gonna be.

This nursing school
could be the same way.

Well, I don't care if it is.

I wanna ride off this mountain
into the rest of the world.

Well, it's down there, honey.

All around, everywhere.

Well, I'm just tired of hearing
people talk about it,

and taking everyone's word for
it. I wanna be there!

Afternoon.

We're looking
for Miss Nora Taylor.

We've been looking
for Miss Nora Taylor.

She's caring for my
daughter-in-law.

Essie's took down
with something.

-Sorry.
-I hope she'll be better soon.

Been so long now
her man's gone.

Ain't nothing I can do for her.

Ain't nothing I can do for
anybody.

-Howdy.
-Hi.

-How are you?
-Tired.

That came in for you
at the post office.

-I needed these things.
-We figured you might.

I'm mighty grateful to you both.

You're welcome.

Is Mrs. Basham very sick?

She's had a rheumatic heart
condition since she was a child.

It's gotten progressively worse.

We won't keep you.

Mary Ellen did have
a piece of news for you.

Day after tomorrow,
I go into Charlottesville

to take my nursing exams.

Mary Ellen, I am glad!

I wish you were
a nurse right now.

If there were 50 of us in these
hills, it wouldn't be enough.

-Well, thank you both.
-We'll be seeing you.

-Keep well.
-Stay well.

-Bye-bye.
-Afternoon.

-Is that your mule?
-Yeah. His name's Blue.

How come you call him Blue
when he's white?

Well, we tried
to get a blue one,

but they're pretty scarce
in these parts.

We'll be seeing you.

I need some kind of a suitcase.

Even that old wreck
would be better than nothing.

-I don't know where it is.
-You looked in the attic?

I told you I did.

Well, then it has to be in here.

Erin.

Keep her away from the house!

Where?

The barn. Get her to the barn,

and keep her there till
I call you, alright?

What if she doesn't wanna go?

Well, just...just tell her
something's in the barn!

What?

Good Lord, Erin.
Dream up something.

Well, it was here,
and now it's gone.

Now who would have taken
that beat-up old thing?

I remember now.

The last time I saw it,
well, it was in the barn.

You think so?

Well, we've looked
everywhere else.

Might be.

Well, if it's in here,
Myrtle's probably eaten it.

Well, maybe it's in that corner
over there.

Ready down there?

Is the coast clear?

She's in the barn.

-Where?
-In the...

Then up and at it, fellas,
and lose no time.

Take the ice cream
over to the porch.

-Over to the porch.
-Put 'em on the steps.

Sure is heavy.

How many quarts
did you make, Grandpa?

Well, there's enough
for you to have a taste

after I have my usual share.

Ben, now, don't you dip
your finger into that ice cream.

Zeb, you and the boys get on the
bottom step with the ice cream.

No, first get the bench
out of the kitchen.

-Come on, Ben.
-Ben?

-Here you go, Ma.
-That's beautiful.

You just put it right there,

so that it's the first thing
that she sees.

Ma, now you boss
of this work crew?

Well, it's a special
occasion and,

I just want everything
to go just right.

Well, I'm not arguing with you.

-Good!
-Where do you want this?

Right here. Put the bench...

Put the cake on the bench.

-It's not here.
-Well, keep looking.

Well, we've already looked
everywhere.

Maybe we missed it.

You can't miss a suitcase.

Mary Ellen, we found it!

I wonder where.

-Mary Ellen.
-We're coming.

-Is she coming?
-Try to look natural.

Here she comes.

Okay. Come on, sit down.

-Surprise!
-Surprise!

Like Grandma said, we found it.

It looks brand new!

Yeah, Grandma and Mama sort of
fixed it up together.

Me and Erin helped, too.

They both pitched in.

I can't believe it!

Now you can go away
and stay away.

You sure that's what you meant
to say, Jim-Bob?

It didn't come out
like I thought it in my head.

Oh, it's beautiful!

You'll be the only girl in
school with a hand-made trunk.

You even put my name on it!

"Mary Ellen Walton!"

Hey, she knows how to read!

It's a requirement in nursing
school, Ben.

Here, I wrapped it myself.

I can use some pencils.

Yeah, I got the kind
with the biggest erasers

'cause I figure you're gonna
make a lot of mistakes.

-Jason!
-Jason!

Here, that's for you.

-It's a book.
-Don't tell me.

It's the story of Florence
Nightingale.

She's supposed to be
the idol of the nurses.

I haven't read it.
I hope you like it.

You're all just awful!

I don't know what to do.

And a bouquet.

Yeah, Grandpa,
is the ice cream ready?

It's perfect, but, of course,
I've forgotten

how to make any but perfect.

I just don't know
what to say. It's just...

Come on. I'll cut the cake here.

Good luck.

-I want a piece of that cake.
-Don't I get a hug?

The room sure is gonna feel
empty when you're gone.

Oh, just think of all
the extra space you'll have.

But it still won't be the same.

You'll get used to it.

What are you doing?

I thought, soon as you get your
stuff out, I can move mine in.

You could wait until I leave.
I mean, I'm not even gone yet.

Are you taking your
bed with you?

You want that, too?

Well, as long as
you won't be using it.

I thought you were
gonna miss me.

You wanna do is get rid of me
so you can take over my things.

No. We're all gonna miss you.

But, well, I thought, anything
you wouldn't be using...

Well, anything I leave,
you can have,

but wait until I'm gone.

-What are you doing with that?
-It's your baseball glove.

-I know.
-Can't I have it?

Elizabeth, at least you could
have waited until she was gone.

Can I help?

With what?

I know a worried man
when I see one.

You know, Liv,

when the boys were
testing their wings,

you used to stay up all night,
and I'd tell you not to worry,

they know how
to take care of themselves.

But now it's Mary Ellen.

She's your baby girl,
and it's different.

She always has been.

She's a young woman.
She's strong, capable, sensible.

She's ready to make
a life of her own.

Of course she's ready.

Spent her whole life on
Walton's Mountain, protected.

Liv, there are things out there,
there are people out there,

she doesn't know anything about.

Wanna go out there with her,
take her by the hand?

Would you like me to walk
in with you?

No, I'd rather go in alone.

Alrighty. Good luck.

Thanks.

Excuse me.

Good morning.

I'm Mary Ellen Walton.

I'm here to take
the entrance examinations.

Are you planning to
spend the night with us?

Well, they said I could
in the letter.

That's an interesting-looking
suitcase.

Thank you. My mother
and my grandmother made it.

That is, they sort of
made it over.

Here we are. Mary Ellen Walton.

Alright. Come with me,
Mary Ellen.

Thank you.

This will be your
bed for the night.

Joyce Parish is here
to take the exams, too.

She's up from Richmond.

Joyce, this
is Mary Ellen Walton.

Our cafeteria
is in the basement.

Lunch is at 12:00
and dinner at 6:00.

Where do we take the
examinations?

The first one is about to start
in 45 minutes.

And that'll be in classroom 102.

That's just to the left of the
reception desk,

-where you came in.
-102 in 45 minutes.

Everything will seem very
strange and confusing at first,

but if you have any questions,
don't be afraid to ask.

Thank you.

Are you scared?

I was at first,
but not so much now.

Well, do you know anybody here?

No.

Neither do I.

I wish I was home.

Well, if you were home
you'd wish you were here.

I've been wanting this
as long as I can remember.

Have you?

Yeah.

She said it would be a little
strange and confusing at first.

Tomorrow you'll be fine.

I sure hope so.

-Livie, you are a mind reader.
-Guess I'm not much of one.

I thought it was just
you and Grandpa.

-Sweet cider.
-Only two glasses.

That's okay. Jim-Bob will go to
the house and get some more.

Guess I'll never be older than
him, get to run him around some.

Here, you hold it, then.

This one's for Grandpa.

All of it's for Grandpa.

Aren't you the lady that came
this morning with coffee

and this noon with sandwiches?

Got my eye on the man
that works here.

Could Mary Ellen leaving
have anything to do with that?

Could be. I guess
when one of them goes away,

you want to be closer
to the others.

I don't understand
these questions.

But I don't.

Well, they're perfectly clear.

Not to me.

You just take this on down the
hall, and your questions, too.

The admissions nurse
will have to help you.

Go on, now.

I was taking the test
and I had some questions.

Well, these deal with algebra
and some beginning chemistry.

Well, I haven't had either
of those courses.

I'm sorry, we have rules here
that are really not flexible.

They simply will not bend.

You mean there's no way
I can pass?

Well, this work is quite good,

but without math and science,
you can't enter nursing school.

Well, this is a fine time
to find out!

How was I supposed to know?

-Someone should have told you.
-Well, someone didn't tell me!

You have any idea how much we
need nurses where I come from?

Miss Walton.

You have some things to learn.

I know. I get told
that all the time.

About math, about science,

and about admissions nurses.
You do not shout at them.

I'm sorry.

I know better.

-It's just that I got so mad.
-Angry.

And I really can't blame you.

I don't think I can understand
these books.

Someone will have to tutor you.

Who?

You'll have to arrange
that on your own, and you will,

if you want this badly enough.

When you think you can answer
the questions,

you come back to us.

You make it sound so easy.

I don't mean to.
Nothing about this is easy.

You have to truly
want to become a nurse.

I've always wanted that.

You be sure of that.

Some girls come to us

when all they really want
is an excuse to leavehome.

Mary Ellen, they told me you
called. What happened?

-I don't wanna talk about it.
-What, something go wrong?

Dumb school!
They don't tell you anything!

Mary Ellen, what happened?

If I talk about it, I'll cry.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Mary Ellen!
Something wrong?

Is something wrong, honey?

That school is so dumb.

They expect you to know stuff

and they don't even tell you!

It's gonna be alright.
Easy, easy.

I'm so dumb I couldn't even
take the test!

I don't believe that.

They had all these questions

about stuff
I'd never even studied.

Honey, that's not the end
of the world.

That school will be there
for years.

You can make
those subjects up, can't you?

Mary Ellen!

Mama, don't even
ask me what happened.

Mary Ellen, what happened?

There were questions about
algebra and chemistry

and stuff I'd never
even heard of!

What kind of stuff?

Subjects like John-Boy
didn't even have in school.

He got into college.

And those are the subjects
he's having fits over.

May I come in?

I don't care.

Sorry, I thought
you'd finished crying.

I have.

I'm sorry, John-Boy.

I'm sorry I was so mean
to you after you

came all the way
from Boatwright to get me.

Don't be silly,
you weren't mean at all.

I felt so ignorant.

Nobody in the world knows
everything. That's for sure.

Don't you think you can do it?

You should've seen
this place, John-Boy.

It was the cleanest,
the whitest place you ever saw.

And the nurses, and the student
nurses, and even the walls...

They just gleamed.

Really something, huh?

Sure was.

And there was such order

and such beautiful simplicity

and such purpose.

I sound crazy, don't I?

Everything I want,

and here's what's stopping me.

It's in these two books.

Math and science.

I have to get them somehow.

How hard do you want to work?

Like a mule.

"Like a mule" might do it.

Would you like me to help you?

D-C angle equals a... Yeah.

That's right.

Right. Now, look. See,
you got ahead of yourself there.

-I did not!
-Yes, you did.

You missed a step.
From there to there.

What difference does it make as
long as I get the right answer?

How do you know it's right?

'Cause I looked it up
at the back of the book.

I know it's there.
That's not the point.

You're supposed
to get the right answer

but you also have to prove
how you got the right answer.

-Why?
-I don't know.

That's what they ask you to do.

Here's the example
and the proof.

-You just do it.
-Alright.

If we ever get through algebra,
which I'm not too sure about,

we're gonna be in trouble
when we hit chemistry,

-'cause I'm terrible at that.
-I know.

Have you spoken with
Mrs. Fordwick?

No. I guess I'll have to.

I wish there was a way I could
cut through all this book stuff

and just go right to nursing.

There's probably tons of stuff
in these books, you don't need.

What you oughta do, is talk
to somebody who's taken the test

and knows how much math and how
much science you need to pass.

Someone like Miss Nora.

Well, sure. She's probably
had to take the exam.

Of course. Why don't you
talk to her?

Yeah.

Hey, that's a really
terrific idea, John-Boy. Thanks.

I have them all the time.

How's Mrs. Basham feeling?

She don't seem
to be picking up none.

I'm sorry. I hoped things
were better here.

Only so much a mortal can do.

Hello there.

You want I should fetch
Miss Nora for you?

If she's busy, I can wait.

She said to stir it
now and again.

You can read, I'll bet.

I'll bet you could, too,
if you got the chance.

Mama, she wants I should read.

She's bad off now.

I'll bet she's real proud of the
way you're helping Miss Nora.

If you don't cost a cent,
I can afford you.

I could say the same to you.

I can't get into nursing school
until I know what's in them.

I know. If I could tell you why,
I'd be glad to.

You'll study all this and later
after you start your training.

We can help each other,
Miss Nora.

I'll do all I can around here

if you'll help me
with these courses.

You have any idea
how much I need your help?

We just keep saying
the same things to each other.

It's far from easy, Mary Ellen,
and it's far from pleasant.

I can start now, can you?

Be careful.
Don't drag it in the dirt.

Hang it in the sun. They'll
smell good when they are dry.

I'll never be able to study it
all, I just won't have time.

There's no need to.
A lot of things in these books

aren't covered in the
examinations.

That's what John-Boy thought.

Maybe if I just covered
the important things.

It's just a matter of sorting
out what you'll use.

They won't ask you any questions
on chapters five and six.

Chemistry of metals,
you'll study that later.

Poisonous elements,
that's important.

Chemistry of food,
you'll wanna know that.

When will I ever use algebra
in nursing?

On one important occasion.
To pass your entrance exam.

-Gently...
-Put you on your side.

Easy.

You must have brought
more blankets.

Yeah, we had some extra ones.

Pull it tight.

Close your eyes.

Let's get the...

You better watch it,
you're next, kid.

Alright.

It's okay. You're dreaming.

It's okay.

It's okay.

I have someone here
who really wants to see you.

Who?

My big girl.

I'm right here, Mama.

She's a real big help to us.

Miss Nora and I,
we depend on Violet a lot.

-Mrs. Basham feeling any better?
-It's hard to say.

Mary Ellen's working wonders
keeping her comfortable.

-How are the studies?
-You've got no worry there.

And she's a great help to me in
every way. She's mighty willing.

She's a worker,
if she gets the notion.

Tell us, what with Mary Ellen
working along with you,

do you think she's right
for nursing?

She's gonna tell us that, John.

Believe me, if she's right or
wrong for it,

Mary Ellen will be the one
to tell us.

-Bye now.
-Bye-bye.

Maybe I better get some supplies
and run them up

to the Basham place.

Old Lait Basham would rather
starve than accept a handout.

I'll work on that
when I get up there.

Don't pull any of the big ones.
They're about to go to seed.

Give me some of the nice, sweet,
little, juicy, young ones.

Thank you, Grandpa.

-Looks like a boy at school.
-Yes. It does look like Oscar.

Give me some more of them.
What about the turnips?

There's a lot of activity
around here today.

Daddy and I are taking some
supplies up to the Bashams.

Miss Nora's making her rounds
up in the hills,

so Mary Ellen is alone up there
now taking care of Mrs. Basham.

I will stay with her
to help in whatever way I can.

Now here's enough vegetables
to last them for a while.

-Put in the cornmeal?
-Cornmeal and flour.

This is about the finest ham to
come out of the smokehouse, Pa.

-Which pig was it?
-Petunia, I think.

But for sentimental reasons

I don't keep track of who's who
in the hams anymore.

Hope the milk keeps.
It's a long way up there.

It'll be alright.
Just wrap it wet and cool.

Goat's milk lasts longer than
the others.

John-Boy, I got a great idea
in how to make us rich.

I'm gonna start calling you
"Make A Million" Walton.

This is a real good idea. If we
grow a goat as big as a cow,

it would give
ten times as much milk.

That's a great idea,
as long as it's a nanny goat.

Try milking a billy goat
the size of a cow

he'll butt you from here
to Saint Louis.

Ready for you, John-Boy.

Ben, you hurry up
with that milk.

-You talk to Myrtle, Grandpa.
-Myrtle...

Would you? Could you?

Papa! Papa! A horse is coming.

Now you'd hardly know this
place, Daddy.

Mary Ellen has sure done
a job of work around here.

Got a ways to go, Son. Lait!

John.

Sorry to hear about Essie, Lait.

She's took right bad.

Hoped things might
be looking up.

No, sir.

Lait,

I'm kind of short on rock maple.
I got me a special order.

Can you spare a couple of trees?

Trees is all I got, John.

Kind of short on cash, too.

How about you take some garden
truck and ham and such

until I come up with some money?

Fair enough. Fair enough.

-Come on, Son. Help me out.
-Yes, sir.

How is she?

About the same.

Daddy's here.
He'd like to see you.

Could you go outside for a
minute and speak with him?

I can't leave her now.

I'll stay with her while you
talk to him.

Alright. Just sit with her.
That's about all you can do.

Alright.

-Hey, Daddy.
-Hello, honey. How are you?

Oh, I'm fine.

-You're looking tired.
-No, it's a good kind of tired.

I feel like what I'm doing
is worth something.

It's like I just suddenly
woke up to life.

-You gonna stay on up here?
-As long as I'm needed.

You come home
as soon as you can.

John-Boy will stay with you
till you're ready, alright?

Alright.

Hey, you! Hey! What're you
doing? I need that leg, you.

Get out of here.

We've got them cleaned up,

and they're learning
to work some, but...

They're gonna have to
find their own way out of here.

Looks like they
got a ways to go.

You should've seen her, Liv.

She act like a regular
grownup woman.

-She is.
-In a week or so?

I imagine it happened little
by little. Growing up does.

I just can't think
of Mary Ellen that way.

I remember when
we used to talk about her

graduating from high school.
Now here it is.

Liv, why does it bother me
so much?

Just remember, a son is a son
till he takes a wife.

A daughter is a daughter
for the rest of her life

Yeah, well...Before you know it,
some guy will be around here

asking me if he can marry her.

That'll come, too.

Yeah.

Well, he's gonna have to be
some kind of man.

It's awful early.

But it ain't cold a bit.

It's a quiet time,
peaceful time.

Try and remember
it that way, Violet.

That's dew on things
this early time of day.

Tiny little water drops
waiting for the sun.

I'll bet your mama
told you that.

Mothers do that.

They tell you all the nice

and pretty things
when you're little.

And you always remember
what your mama tells you.

You have it with you
your whole life long.

Even when something happens
and your mama has to go away,

you can remember
what she told you,

and you can bring her
back to you.

Is Mama gone?

She tried so hard, Violet.

But she was tired and weak.

She didn't want to leave you,

but she just had to.

Does Mama still hurt?

No.

And she'll never,
ever hurt again.

It's alright to cry.

I think your granddaddy
needs you now.

I was worried about you.

It was a hard time.

I figured something was wrong.

Mrs. Basham died.
Mary Ellen was with her.

I got the circuit preacher
to take care of everything.

You alright?

I never really
understood before.

All my life I've heard
grownups say,

"It's best,

"she won't suffer anymore."

And all I could think about
was, "She's dead.

"She won't live anymore."

And what about the kids?

Violet.

She's not much older than
Elizabeth. She's the oldest now.

I'm just tired.

I saw everything she did, Mama.

You'd have been proud of her.

I am.

What are you doing
home from school?

Got a cold.

What are you looking at,
big eyes?

I was just thinking, you know
after you go to nursing school,

and Erin will probably
get married or something,

well, then I'll have the room
all to myself.

And then one day I suppose
you'll be going away, too?

I guess so.

You know,
when I was at the Basham's,

it was as if I'd already
left home.

It was kind of scary.

And then I'd think
about the house.

The way the sun
hits the windows in the morning,

the sound of Mama and Daddy's
voiceswhen they first get up,

the way we all say goodnight,

how good it feels to all sit
around the table together.

When I go away to nursing school
I'm gonna remember those things.

Then maybe I'll grow up
and be brave.

Mary Ellen, you're the bravest
person in the world.

No, I'm not.

I just talk like I am.

By summer's end,
Mary Ellen had been accepted

at the School of Nursing
of the University of Virginia.

All of us watched her grow
through those difficult weeks

as she gathered the knowledge
and maturity she needed.

At the end of it,
Mary Ellen knew

that nursing was
to be her life.

And as long as she pursued it,

it was rewarding
to her and to everyone

who knew her as a nurse
and loved her as a person.

Erin, was that you?

There's a cricket in my bed!
A big fat cricket!

Jim-Bob, did you put that
in Erin's bed?

Jim-Bob?

It was Grandpa.

Mary Ellen, I wish I could go
away to school with you.

So do I.
I'd have my very own room.

Everybody go to sleep.

I'm gonna get you, Grandpa.