All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S08E19.The.Inspiration.WEBRip.x264-ION10

I know it's kind of
short notice, but..

...I was wondering if you'd
go to the dance with me.

I thought you were
going with Joleen Eisley.

Yeah, so did I, but she decided
to go with someone else.

So I'm your second choice.

(John)
'Miss Mamie..'

...are you in
some kind of trouble?

Is there anything
I can do to help?

I haven't wanted
to face it..

...but I'm afraid
I'm going blind.

Miss Mamie,
are you in there?

I can't be interrupted,
Mary Ellen.

Miss Mamie, you have
an appointment with the doctor.

I'm sorry, John.

I can't go, and I won't go.

Not now and not ever.

Esther.

We didn't know
you had returned.

Yes.

- Can we come in?
- How nice.

Please do.

(John)
'Said you wanted
a nurse, so..'

[dramatic music]

["The Waltons" theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[mellow music]

(John-Boy)
On Waltons Mountain, we
treasured our neighbors.

Everyone knew everyone else

and we shared together
in the joys and the sorrows

of the people around us.

We were all deeply
alarmed when we learned

that Miss Mamie Baldwin
had developed an affliction

one that might forever
confine her within her home.

The recipe is finished, and not
a moment too soon, I suspect.

I do believe this room
is going to be

more than adequate, sister.

We should be able to accommodate
a sizable number of guests.

Well, I do wish you'd stop
dancing long enough to tell me

what it is this room
is supposed to accommodate.

Oh, a lovely surprise, sister.

While you were in the recipe
room, the teacher stopped by.

She was looking
for a suitable location

for the Annual Spring Dance.

And I offered
to let them use our house.

Emily!

'This room is intended
for dining, not for dancing.'

I'm astonished that
you didn't consult with me.

Why, sister, I thought
having the dance

would make you very happy.

(Emily)
'Imagine, having
this house overflowing'

'with young people and music.'

Emily, sometimes I think your
mind is beginning to wander.

Mamie, that was very
uncharitable of you.

Oh, look what you made me do.
You made me spill it.

Oh, I'm sorry, sister.

Please forgive me.

I don't seem to be able
to do anything lately

without upsetting you.

[knock on door]

That must be John.
Let him in.

It's been a long time since
I've seen you smile, sister.

[melancholic music]

I thought
you were your father.

- No, I'm still me.
- Oh, I'm so glad.

Daddy couldn't make it today.

He got an emergency call
from Camp Rockfish.

You'll have to be our
official taster then, won't you?

Sister, look who's here.

John, how good of you to come.

Why, sister, it's Jason.

Oh, so it is.

- Hello, Miss Mamie.
- Jason.

- Please sit down.
- Thank you.

Tell us how the war is going.

Well, Miss Mamie,
I hear we're making

some progress over in Italy.

Oh, Jason,
if you're ever required

to go there yourself,
you must see Florence.

It's truly the great
artistic center of the world.

(Emily)
'Papa took us there
when we were very young.'

Oh, the statue of David
by Michelangelo

was a truly inspiring sight.

Ah, sister.

- Jason.
- Thank you.

- A toast.
- To victory.

May it come quickly.

- And stay long.
- I'll drink to that.

Oh, my..

Oh, something
seems amiss, sister.

It does seem to lack
a certain je ne sais quoi.

- Oh, what did you do to it?
- I didn't do anything to it.

(Emily)
'You made this run yourself.'

'Perhaps you read
the recipe wrong.'

- I'll be in the garden.
- Oh..

Come on, eat up.

Is it serious, son?

It's hard to tell, daddy,
but she sure was acting strange.

(Mary Ellen)
Usually she's a little
less strange than Miss Emily.

Maybe she's been sampling
a little too much of the recipe.

(Rose)
Please try some of those
crabapples, they're delicious.

I wonder where
this child could be?

Hi, everybody,
I'm sorry I'm late.

(Jim-Bob)
Serenading Steve Prince
again, Elizabeth?

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Everybody knows you wanted him
to ask you to the Spring Dance.

Elizabeth's got a boyfriend.
Elizabeth's got a boyfriend!

Jeffrey, now, you
hush up right now

or you'll be washing
dishes while I listen

to The "Great
Gildersleeve"tonight.

Who are you taking, Jim-Bob?

Well, I've got my eye
on a few prospects.

You could take me out
if you want.

There you go. Sounds
like a good offer to me.

Somebody pass
the bread, please.

It's right in front of you.

[laughing]

(John)
Here you go, Elizabeth.
I'll cut you a piece.

Oh, hello, Elizabeth.

That child gets
prettier every day.

- Hello, Elizabeth.
- Hi.

Could you mail this for me?

I'll be happy to.
Oh, another letter to John-Boy.

- I'll put the postage on it.
- Thank you.

Elizabeth, it's so sweet of you
to write John-Boy so often.

Corabeth, do you know
anything about boys?

Well, I'm hardly the one to ask.

All my experiences
with men have brought me

nothing but heartache.

Oh, Mr. Godsey
excepted, of course.

I'll tell you one thing
about boys, Elizabeth.

They're afraid of girls.

I always thought
it was the other way around.

Oh, Elizabeth, you're too pretty
to be worrying about boys.

Let them worry about you.

Oh, well, I guess
I ought to be going.

(Ike)
'Bye, Elizabeth.'

Corabeth, I think I'm going
to look at some dress material.

- Excuse me, Elizabeth.
- Hi, Steve.

Good morning,
Mrs. Godsey, Mr. Godsey.

Hi, fellows.
What can I do for you?

(Steve)
'We need a reel
of 10-pound test line.'

Ah-ha. Sounds to me
like you're going after

that big catfish again, huh?

(Drew)
'Yeah, that's right'

'but this year,
we're going to catch it.'

Yeah, you will if he's
still in Drucilla's Pond.

That fish's been there
as long as I can remember.

'My daddy hooked him
last year, but he got away.'

Well, see you later, Mr. Godsey.

Bye-bye.

(Ike)
'Hey, boys.'

Aren't you
forgetting something?

The 25 cents for the line.

- Oh!
- Excuse me.

- Goodbye, Mr. Godsey.
- Good luck on the catfish.

(Steve)
'Buh-bye, Elizabeth.'

Nice boys.

Elizabeth, you said
you wanted some dress fabric.

- I have just the thing for you.
- No, thank you, Corabeth.

Well, now,
that is very peculiar.

John.

Well, Miss Emily.

I haven't seen you
behind a wheel

since the afternoon you
drove into Drucilla's Pond.

Well, yes.

Uh, sister's been insisting
that I do the driving lately.

How is Miss Mamie?

To be perfectly honest,
I'm not quite sure. I..

[bird fluttering]

Oh...did you see that?

Oh! I believe
it is a red-eyed vireo.

No, looks more like
a white-breasted nuthatch to me.

You know, I saw
a robin yesterday.

Spring is coming
in full force.

Miss Emily,
is there something wrong?

It's sister.

She refuses to go
bird-watching with me.

Jason did say
she looked troubled.

Oh, she's been troubled
for a month.

She gets headaches, she refuses
to go out even for a short walk.

She can't pick up a tea-tray
or pour a cup of coffee.

And last night,
I listened at her door..

...and she was weeping.

Have you asked her
what the problem is?

Oh, yes. And her answer
is always the same.

She says she's fine

and she wishes I would stop
intruding on her.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Is there something I can do?

You've always been
such a good friend, John.

I thought, perhaps if you were
to have a talk with Mamie..

...she would confide in you

whatever it is
that's troubling her.

Yes, I'd be glad to.

- Sister?
- Emily, where have you been?

- We've a visitor, John Walton.
- John!

- How nice of you to come.
- Miss Mamie.

- Sit down, please.
- Thank you.

I've been kind of worried
about you lately.

I haven't seen you around.

Oh. I'm getting old.

And I do so enjoy
a quiet day by the fire.

Miss Emily tells me you haven't
been to church in over a month.

Oh, sister. I do so wish
you wouldn't reveal information

about personal nature,
even to good friends.

I'm sorry, Mamie.

Miss Mamie, are you
in some kind of trouble?

Is there anything
I can do to help?

No, John.

There's nothing
you can do to help.

I haven't wanted to face it..

...but I'm afraid
I'm going blind.

It was very kind of you
to bring us, John.

Any time you need help,
you just ask, Miss Emily.

Thank you.

If there is something
really wrong with sister

we might be needing
the services of a good nurse.

Perhaps, Mary Ellen
could move in with us.

Well, if she can't, I'm sure
we can find somebody who will.

- You can come in now.
- Thank you.

Sister, are you alright?

I'm afraid
Miss Baldwin has cataracts.

Oh, my!
What's cataracts?

It's a cloudiness in the eye..

...caused by the deterioration
of the protein in the lens.

'It's like looking through
a very foggy window.'

Once it advances
to a certain stage..

...blindness is almost complete.

The doctor says
I need surgery.

'It's a relatively
simple operation'

'and usually, quite safe.'

But I want you to know

that whenever we're dealing
with the human eye

any kind of surgery
is extremely delicate.

Emily, I'm terrified.

Our papa died on the operating
table, don't you know?

'And this is not
a life-threatening operation.'

The only risk
is the possibility

that the surgery
may not be successful.

At least, you have a chance
of getting your sight back.

I'd like to schedule the
operation for Friday morning.

Doctor Canfield, my sister
and I will have to discuss this.

'I'll tell my nurse to go ahead
and schedule the operation'

'on my calendar.'

If you have any problems,
give me a call.

(John)
'Thank you, Doctor.'

I know it's frightening

but at least it's worth
taking the chance.

- Papa wouldn't agree.
- No, he certainly wouldn't.

Elizabeth, what on earth
are you doing?

Making plans.

"Plan 1. Show Steve that
I depend on him.

"A, by asking his help
on a homework problem

"and B, by convincing him
to carry my books home for me.

If Part A of Plan 1 fails,
go directly to Plan 2."

Elizabeth, what is this,
scientific approach to romance?

- Don't tell Jim-Bob.
- Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.

Mainly because he'd start
making plans of his own.

"How to get rid
of my sisters."

Plan 1. Lead Erin
into the forest.

Well, do you think
it's going to work?

I don't know. I always thought
romance was just supposed

to spark or something.

Maybe for you.
Let me show you how it works.

Alright.

Plan 1 shows Steve
that I depend on him, right?

Hmm-Hmm.

By asking his help
on homework

and having him
carry my books for me.

Then if that doesn't work,
go to Plan 2.

'And this shows Steve that I can
function in a man's world.'

I do this by fishing
and playing baseball.

Okay. Mmm-hmm.

If that doesn't work, Plan 3.

'Now, this is
the direct approach.'

'You're going to ask him
to the dance?'

No, I just hint a lot.

What if he doesn't do anything?

- Well, then, I go to Plan 4.
- Which is?

I give up.

Hmmm.
Well, Elizabeth..

...why don't you tell me if
this works, because if it does

I could use a chart
or two of my own.

- Two?
- Why not?

You can't store all your eggs
in one basket.

How are you feeling, sister?

I just wanted to look
at papa's portrait.

I don't know how much longer
I'm going to be able to see it.

When I'm troubled..

...I like to come here
and look at his face.

I always seem to feel
so much better

for having communed with him.

Papa was always so strong.

He loved us.
He really loved us, Emily.

And he always seemed to know
what was best for us.

When he died...
I thought my life had ended.

Without your strength,
I don't know

how I could've endured
those trying days.

And I was strong
only because of you, sister.

If you hadn't been there,
I shudder to think

what would have happened.

We stood together then,
and we'll stand together now.

Oh, yes, we must.

In spite of what John
and Dr. Canfield

and all the others
have to say about it.

- And we will.
- Yes.

Don't you think you should
go to bed now, sister?

In a moment.

[mellow music]

- Oh, Steve, hurry up.
- I'm hurrying.

- Hi, Steve.
- Oh, hi.

Do you understand all the stuff
about quadratic equations?

Yeah. It's not that hard.

I didn't do very well
on my homework.

I was wondering
if you could give me a hand.

Oh. Drew and I were going to go
fishing this afternoon, alright?

You know I'm going over
to Joleen's house.

Oh. I guess it was tomorrow
we were going to go fishing.

(Drew)
'No, it wasn't till Friday.'

Oh, I just remembered.

We're having Reverend Bradshaw
over for dinner tonight.

Well, how about in the morning?

Why don't you ask the teacher
for some help?

Sure.

- See you later, Elizabeth.
- Buh-bye, Drew.

I thought you got all A's
on that homework.

Mind your business, Serena.

Hello.

I hope they're ready.
We have to have Miss Mamie

checked in in half an hour.

Miss Emily.

- Hello, John, Mary Ellen.
- Miss Emily.

Is Miss Mamie ready?

Well, not exactly.

She is supposed to be
at the hospital today

for the operation.

Mary Ellen, I'm afraid
she's changed her mind.

- May we come in?
- Oh, yes, of course.

Uh, sister is busy preparing
a new supply of the recipe.

She can't possibly
be disturbed right now.

She doesn't have any choice.
The recipe's gonna have to wait.

Very well, John.

How odd.
It appears to be locked.

Miss Mamie,
are you in there?

I can't be interrupted,
Mary Ellen.

It's the recipe,
don't you know?

Miss Mamie, you have
an appointment with the doctor.

I'm sorry, John.

I can't go, and I won't go.

(Miss Mamie)
'Not now, and not ever.'

(John)
'Yes. Yes, I understand.'

Yes, Doctor.
I'm sorry this happened too.

So, I'll tell her.

Thank you.

He's not very happy about it.

He said we'll have to make
arrangements for later.

No, I'm sure
sister won't agree to that.

The recipe is finished.

Consumed in quantities, it has
the most exhilarating effect.

Oh, it has the most amazing
medicinal powers.

Miss Mamie,
you had an appointment

with Dr. Canfield this morning.

He was waiting
at the hospital for you.

Oh, I'm sorry.
I hope he was not imposed upon.

Miss Mamie, you have
a serious eye problem.

Dr. Canfield is qualified
to treat it.

I think you should make
another appointment.

But I have no further need
of medical treatment.

Sister's doing just fine now.

How many fingers?

I have no time
for games, Mary Ellen.

Neither do we.
What's going on around here?

Why are you fighting
this operation?

Well, aside from the fact
that I am very much better

sister and I
have an oath to uphold.

Papa made us promise
to take care of one another.

And so, sister and I vowed
that we would never allow

ourselves to submit
to surgery of any kind.

How could we possibly
keep our promise to papa

if we risked our lives
on the operating table?

People don't die
from cataract surgery.

- That's what they told papa.
- He had a lesion removed.

A simple operation,
so they said.

And four hours later,
he was dead.

So, I will not break my oath.

Not even if it costs you
your eyesight?

Not even if it costs me
my life.

'Do you have any idea'

'how many blind people there are
who would give anything'

'if their eyes could be operated
on and their sight restored?'

You know, Mamie's
a lot like pa was.

No matter how bad he was hurt,
the last thing he wanted to see

was a doctor.

According to him, doctors made
the cure worse than the fever.

Miss Emily is only
making things worse.

She believes everything
Miss Mamie does

about doctors and operations,
and she'll do whatever she can

to make sure they don't
break their oath.

Miss Emily said something
about needing a full-time nurse

when we were
in the doctor's office.

It's gonna take somebody
living with them

to change their minds.

Between my nursing rounds
and John Curtis

I don't have nearly
enough time for them.

I've got somebody in mind.
She's not a nurse.

She'd probably do more good
than anybody we know.

I don't see why we just didn't
go fishing at Hardware Creek.

Because I've woman's intuition,
and just happen to know that

the fish are gonna be
biting here.

What happens when
a big one comes close

does your heart
start to beat faster?

Trust me, I know
we're gonna catch a fish.

It's too shallow here.

Hey, Jim-Bob!

Hey, Steve.

You knew he was coming,
didn't you?

Not another word!

- You still after that catfish?
- Sure am.

Who's that with you?

(Jim-Bob)
'Elizabeth.'

You mean, she's fishing, too?

You're gonna need
better bait than this

if you wanna catch Steve.

Why don't you talk louder,
so the whole world can hear you?

I sure like fishing,
unlike most girls.

(Jim-Bob)
'I do, too.'

Sure we shouldn't talk louder?
Maybe he didn't hear us.

I think, I'm going to fish
somewhere else.

- 'I think I caught something.'
- Hang on, Elizabeth.

Hang on, Elizabeth.

- I think I've got a submarine!
- I'll get the net.

Oh, that's a big fish.

That's my catfish!

I've been after that fish
for three years

and who gets it?
A dumb girl!

Now, wait
till daddy sees this.

Elizabeth,
what are you doing?

Come on, this fish is more
important than that dance.

Daddy's back.

Come on, they're here.

(Esther)
'Hello.'

- Hello, Grandma.
- Hello, Grandma.

Welcome home.

Nice to have you back, Grandma.

Grown, isn't he?

Oh, my!

We joined up, grandma.

Welcome home, grandma.

I have someone
I want you to meet.

Grandma, this is your first
great-granddaughter..

...Virginia.

Oh, my. Baby.

Ma, I want you to meet Rose.

Esther. Do you mind
if I call you Esther?

These are my grandchildren.

This is Serena and Jeffrey.

'You know,
we held supper for you two.'

'I hope you're both
starving to death.'

We're going to have
your blueberry pie, Esther.

I was finally able
to track down a recipe for it.

You know,
you'd be a wealthy woman

if you'd been willing to give up
a few of your secrets.

Ma, let's eat.

[mellow music]

[indistinct chattering]

May I come in, ma?

Feels kind of strange,
doesn't it?

Having a house full
of new people.

No.

I felt the same way when
Liv first brought 'em here.

Took some time,
but I've changed my mind.

Ma, we needed them..

...especially,
with you and Liv gone.

Besides, Rose and the kids
had nowhere else to go.

[no audio]

Ma...I love you.

This is your home.

It'll always be here
for you.

I wish we had
couple more days together

before I had to take you
over to the Baldwin's.

Yeah.

[mellow music]

- Hi, Jim-Bob.
- Hey, Steve.

- Are you coming in, Elizabeth?
- No, I'm gonna wait out here.

(Jim-Bob)
Good luck.

- Steve?
- Hi, Elizabeth.

Been fishing lately?

You caught the only fish worth
catching in the whole county.

I didn't mean to,
was an accident.

- Threw it back.
- You shouldn't have done that.

You should have
had it mounted.

- Steve.
- What, Elizabeth?

I finally figured out
quadratic equations.

That's good.

Have you heard
about the dance?

Of course, I've heard
about the dance.

Do you like to dance?

Depends on who I'm dancing with.

Now, listen, I'm waiting
for somebody, Elizabeth.

- Are you going?
- 'Where?'

- To the dance.
- Yeah.

Oh, there you are.

I thought I was gonna
have to come in and get you.

- Hi, Elizabeth.
- Hi, Norma.

- Ready?
- Mmm-hmm.

That's too bad,
Elizabeth.

(Elizabeth)
Men are such jerks.

Elizabeth, don't you
want a ride home?

I'd rather be alone.

[knock on door]

Coming.

Esther. We didn't know
you had returned.

- Yes.
- Can we come in?

How nice. Please do.

'Said you wanted a nurse, so..'

- 'Oh, that was before.'
- Who is it, Emily?

Hello, Miss Mamie.

Oh, John.
How nice of you to drop by.

'I brought you a visitor all
the way from Buckingham County.'

- Esther?
- Yes, it's me.

Maybe we should take Esther's
things to the guest room.

[knocking on door]

Daydreaming?

You could call it that.

You have a friend
downstairs waiting for you.

A guy named Drew.

I really don't feel
like seeing him.

Would you go downstairs
if his name was Steve Prince?

I don't have to worry about it
'cause it's not going to happen.

As soon as I start to like a
guy, he pretends I don't exist.

Elizabeth, we've all
been through that.

Jason, Mary Ellen,
Erin and myself.

Why don't I just stop
falling in love then?

I don't want to feel
like this again.

Nobody does.

But it's a risk
you've gotta take

if you wanna get close
to another person.

I wish I could wake up
tomorrow morning

and be your age
and happily married.

To your surprise,
you will be, soon enough.

But right now,
Drew is downstairs

hoping to talk to you.

There's nothing like a good
friend to mend a broken heart.

Take it from
someone who knows.

Now, come on.

[mellow music]

- Hi, Elizabeth.
- Hi, Drew.

Um...Elizabeth,
I was wondering..

...I know it's kind of
short notice, but..

...I was wondering if you'd
like to go to the dance with me.

I thought you were gonna
go with Joleen Eisley.

Yeah, so did I, but she decided
to go with someone else.

So I'm your second choice.

Well, I'm your second choice,
too, you know.

I mean, you wanted to go
to the dance with Steve

but I figure you and me,
we can have just as much fun.

Even if we aren't with the
person we wanted to be with.

And...well, it's better
than staying home.

'And...well, we've
always been friends.'

Look, you want to go or not?

Sure.

Great. Then I-I'll see you
tonight, huh?

Great. Hey, thanks a lot.
I'll see-see you later.

Buh-bye, Elizabeth.

Buh-bye.

It's good of you
to be so concerned, Esther

but sister and I
are getting along quite well

on our own as you can see.

Just as we always have
since papa departed.

But I am glad that you're
going to stay for a few days.

More for sister's sake
than my own.

Esther's here for your sake,
sister, not mine.

I hope you're not going to try
to talk me into surgery.

'Cause I will not
have some charlatan

put a knife to my eyes.

We are very much
against charlatans

and their knives,
don't you know?

Other people
have handicaps, Esther.

So why can't sister?

No hope.

Hope.

Hope.

[instrumental music]

Where is Corabeth?

She should be here right now
to help with the preparations.

[piano music]

Oh, my.

Isn't it romantic?
My oh my.

Just like the grand balls
papa used to host.

Yes, it is grand, sister,
but it's been an exhausting day.

And I really haven't
the energy left

to carry out my duties
as a chaperone.

Oh, surely, sister,
you're not too tired

to enjoy
the dancing and music.

Yes, I'm afraid so, sister.

- I'm afraid so.
- Grandma.

I want you to meet Drew.

Hello, Mrs. Walton.
Nice to meet you.

- 'Are you having fun?'
- Oh, yes.

I'll see you later.

(Ester)
Good day.

Elizabeth.

I seem to be spending
all my evening

telling you two
to dance further apart.

Now, you're dancing entirely
too close for comfort.

I'm very comfortable,
Corabeth.

Yeah, me too.

[music continues]

- Ouch! Steve.
- I'm sorry.

I guess I just wasn't meant
to be a dancer.

- You sure weren't.
- Norma!

[music continues]

- You want to sit this one out?
- Alright.

Let's go outside.

Esther. Did you see that?

Elizabeth and Drew went out
on the patio alone together.

Whatever for?
There's not a soul out there.

That's my point.

Well..

I shall just sit here and count
the seconds until they return.

Kind of nice to get
some fresh air, don't you think?

Do you think
we should be out here alone?

Sure, why not?

Well, how about,
because my grandmother's inside

and Corabeth
is watching us like a hawk?

I think they're afraid we're
gonna fall in love or something.

- Would that be so awful?
- I don't think so.

Hey, you like
those fast dances?

Well, not as much
the slower ones.

Do you wanna dance?

Alright.

[music continues]

I-I think I shall retire.

Oh, sister,
the party has just begun.

For me, it has ended.
Goodnight, Esther.

Say good night to Corabeth.

I shall take you to your room.

No, no, I'm alright.

[music continues]

You're a lot easier
to talk to than Joleen..

...and you're a good dancer.

Thank you.
You're a good dancer too.

Yeah, I couldn't believe
how upset Norma was

at the way
Steve was dancing.

Steve, who?

- Well, here we are.
- Home.

Yeah?

Do you want to go to a movie
tomorrow night?

Oh, yeah, I'd love to.
What time?

- 6:30?
- Alright.

Well...I suppose
I better be getting inside.

- I'll get the door for you?
- Well, you don't have to.

I mean, I can do it myself.

I've been opening doors
for a long time.

[romantic music]

- Buh-bye, Elizabeth.
- Buh-bye.

[piano music]

- Do you like this one?
- Yeah. Oh, yes.

[both laughing]

- Eyes. Eyes.
- It's a scarf.

- Eyes.
- Eyes.

You-you want me
to put this around my eyes?

- Yes.
- Oh-h!

What fun!

Blind Man's Bluff.

It's always been my favorite
sport, don't you know?

There. There I am,
all tied up.

That's it.
Turning.

Now, Esther,
not too fast.

I tend to get dizzy,
don't you know?

[panting]

Esther, I'm frightened.

Esther. Help me. Help me.

Esther, you want...sister..

[porcelainware shatters]

Oh! It's sister.

Sister...are you hurt?

I was dusting.
I didn't see it.

John Quincy Adams gave this
to papa's grandfather.

[melancholic music]

Poor sister.

Sister.

I'm getting old, sister.

Too old to even do
my own dusting.

No, you're not.

I wonder what will go
once my eyesight fails.

My hearing, perhaps?

I'll always be here
to take care of you, sister.

No, no, no.

'But, Esther, surely,
she can't look after herself.'

It's true, sister.
I shall be a burden to you.

(Ester)
Yeah.

See.

I love the color
of these roses.

It saddens me to think
that I may not be able

to see them much longer.

But you've learned to live
with your handicap, Esther.

I shall just have to learn
to live with mine.

[bird chirping]

- A whippoorwill, sister.
- Where? Can you see it?

'I believe it's the other side
of the wall.'

Where everything shall be soon.

Try, try.

But all my life,
I've so depended upon my sight.

Now, to have it
taken from me, I..

Don't give up.

Papa's been dead
for over 20 years, sister.

Perhaps, it's time we did try.

Would you want me
to break our oath?

Papa made us promise
to take care of one another.

I wouldn't be keeping
that promise

if I stood by
and let you go blind..

...when there's help
right at hand.

But we vowed
never to undergo surgery

because that's the way
papa died.

If papa had died
while planting roses..

...would we have vowed never
to plant another rose bush?

If papa had been struck down
while looking at the stars..

'...would we have pledged never
again to look at the heavens?'

Well, I suppose we did say
a great many things then

that we didn't really mean.

Papa shouldn't have died
that day.

But then...perhaps,
I shouldn't be blind either.

Oh, sister..

Oh..

Thank you.

(John-Boy)
After Miss Mamie
consented to the operation

my grandmother returned
to Buckingham County

to take care
of her sister Angie.

When Miss Mamie's eyesight
was restored

she later said that she had
stood at her father's portrait

and had seen
a look of approval

that she had never known
to be there.

(Jim-Bob)
'Elizabeth,
when you say good night'

'does Drew kiss you? Elizabeth?'

- 'No, Jim-Bob.'
- 'Oh, come on.'

'Drew kisses me
before he says good night.'

'Does he close his eyes
when he kisses you?'

- 'I don't know.'
- 'Why not?'

'Because I close mine.'

- 'Elizabeth?'
- 'What?'

'Good night, Elizabeth.'

[theme music]