Original subtitles

Liv, it's past three.

- You haven't been to sleep, why? - I don't know.

Why are you crying?

I can't tell you.

That's not like us. We always talk about things.

- Now, come on. - Don't touch me!

There is a special niche in memory

where a child places his parents.

A place and time where they are never younger, never older.

A time when they are changeless.

For me, that memory is of many years ago,

and no matter what came after, they are forever young.

Jason, will you please find someplace else to practice?

Jason, will you stop playing for a minute!

I have to practice this piece, Mama. I'm playing it in church tomorrow.

Somewhere else. I can't have it here.

Well, I can't practice at church 'cause they're staining the floor today.

And if I try to play this kind of music at the Dew Drop Inn,

nobody is gonna buy any beer!

Jason, I don't care where you go, just please...

You hurt yourself, Mama?

What happened?

I'm not sure.

Thought I saw you coming out here. Couldn't figure out why.

No reason I can think of.

Liv, you crying?

Just wanted some air. I think I'll sit here for a while.

Can I stay with you?

I'd rather you didn't.

Mama!

Hey, Mary Ellen, have you seen where mom is?

No.

That's silly. She's usually around here.

Watch where you step. There's glass all over the floor.

- What did you break this time? - Nothing.

You know sometimes you don't make a whole lot of sense.

- What have you got there? - Oh. This is private.

It's papers for Mama to sign.

Maybe I'll let you look at 'em after she's done.

I'd wait on it if I were you, Jim-Bob.

Today isn't the best day to be asking Mama for favors.

What's wrong with Mama?

I don't know. Maybe nothing.

Who said it was a favor, anyway?

Mama!

Guess that's my mess. Thanks, Mary Ellen.

It wasn't that much trouble, Mama.

I don't know what gets into these hands. They used to work better.

Might be you overwork them.

I guess I drove Jason away.

He'll be back.

It just flew out of my hand.

Hey, Jim-Bob, you better get a move on.

I'm not going to church. I'm sick.

You're liable to be. Mama's on her way upstairs.

- Jim-Bob, what's wrong? - He claims he's sick.

When did this come on?

Probably when the church bell started ringing.

I've got a stomach ache, but I don't think it's serious.

Let me see your tongue.

I don't think it's serious, either.

Mama, is it a good time to talk to you?

It's a good time to go to church.

You want me spreading germs all over those people?

Here's your Bible. Find yourself some paper and copy ten Bible verses.

Keep you from getting bored.

How long ago? You don't want to tell me.

They're gettin' up ahead of us there.

I can't figure out which one to have,

sandwiches and lemonade, or cake and ice cream.

I thought you wanted both.

Well, I think I do, but I might change my mind.

What do you think, Mama?

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

My party.

What party?

Remember the party you promised me I could have?

Remember you were gonna make me a dress,

and I could invite anyone I wanted to.

You did say it, Mama. We all heard you.

I'm sure if you'd told me, I would have remembered.

- Mama? - You don't remember?

Maybe we ought to talk about this later.

No, wait a minute. Let's get this straight.

What party are you talking about?

You promised me I could have a party, invite anyone I wanted to.

You also said that you'd make her a new dress.

You did, Mama, it was just the other day, when we were all in the kitchen.

No one said a word to me about any party, and I don't want to hear any more about it!

- Mama, what is it? - You all go on ahead.

Liv! I'll wait here with you if you like.

I just want you all to go on ahead

and stop fussing over everything! I'm not ill.

Please!

Come along, come along, young'uns.

Come on.

Good morning, Olivia.

Something wrong, Olivia?

Hadn't planned on buildin' your bedroom yet,

but I'm willing. I'm willing.

He ever answer you?

We understand each other. He doesn't talk back.

You thinking about building on the Mountain again?

Never stopped thinking about that, Son.

And, Daddy, I got a real good chance for a job in Rockfish.

That so?

Might be paying $20 a week, and that's just at the beginning.

The experience is better than the money.

I'd be working with tools and I'd have a chance to learn a lot.

What you got there?

Some papers you have to sign 'cause I'm under age.

Under age for what?

Building small airplane parts. It's for defense work.

Be on after-schools and Saturdays.

It says here you need both parents' signatures.

Yeah.

Well, I'm willing if you wanna give it a try.

Don't neglect your schoolwork.

Don't know how your mom's going to feel about this.

Well, you could sign it.

It says it needs both parents' signatures.

You ask her about it, I'll back you up.

Thanks, Dad. What was for breakfast?

Sausage and pancakes.

You wouldn't want any anyway with that stomach ache.

Hey, Daddy, isn't something supposed to be cooking?

Hmm.

It's not like your mama to forget Sunday dinner.

Where's Liv?

Isn't she home? She left before church.

Why'd she do that?

I don't know.

Seemed to be all right. Said she wasn't sick.

Well, she sure hasn't been herself lately.

Well, if she missed church, something must be wrong.

I'll go look for her.

You better get some dinner started around here.

What is it, Liv?

The other day, running off from behind the barn, today missing church,

it's got to be serious.

I feel like I'm a long way from home.

You look so serious.

I feel homesick.

Like I want to go back.

Like I wanna be a child with my mother and father.

I know they've been gone this long time,

but that's the kind of homesick I feel.

Doesn't make much sense, does it?

Whatever troubles you troubles me, Liv.

We've always been able to talk. Talk about things.

If we couldn't talk, we...

We'd touch and make things good again.

I've just never seen you this way.

It's tearing me apart, not being able to help you.

I feel like running away or trying to catch up or finding something I've lost.

I don't know which it is.

How can I find what I'm looking for when I don't even know what it is I've lost?

Your mama's tired, she's taking a rest. There's no need for all these long faces.

Yeah, Livie needs a little peace and quiet

after taking care of all you wild young'uns for all these years.

Let's try to be extra considerate of her for a while.

If you've got any problems, don't go to her with them.

I don't understand. I mean, is she sick?

I told you, honey, she's tired.

How much longer is she gonna be tired, Daddy?

That's a real bright question, Jim-Bob.

Yeah, it's like, "How high is up?"

I need to know, Ben, it's not that dumb.

Jason, this was a big day for you, you ask the blessing.

God, our Father, we thank you for the bounty of this table.

And we all ask your help in making Mama feel easier.

- Amen. - Amen.

Ah, here she is.

Figured it was safe to come down, now that all the work is done.

Mama?

Come in, Mary Ellen, if you're alone.

Somebody you don't wanna see?

I'm trying to work on this surprise for Elizabeth.

Oh, Mama, it's just what Elizabeth wants.

Never know when I can work on it.

I don't know if I've mentioned lately but these... hands seem to fight me.

Would you like me to massage them? Curt says I'm real good on backs and necks.

All right.

I must get that child to tell me what she needs,

how many children she wants and...

Are you talking about the party?

Elizabeth's party, I told you about that.

Yeah, I guess I forgot.

I'm sorry.

You didn't hurt me, Mary Ellen. They hurt me!

Sometimes it seems like they don't belong to me at all.

Sometimes the pain just shoots through them!

Do they hurt that much?

Don't mind the tears, I'm not really

crying. I just can't seem to stop the tears.

I really think you're just tired, Mama. Just extra tired.

I think I'm just extra silly.

I don't know when I've given way like this before.

I don't think ever.

Well, I don't like the feeling. And I am not going to accommodate it.

Mama?

I'm taking a trip, you want to come along?

Make-believe?

For the time being, anyway.

This is my mother and her sister, Aunt Kate Daley,

in front of our house in Alberene.

Which one's your mother?

Do I look like her?

I think you're prettier.

Well, I'm not. Or nearly as good or as strong.

I wish I could be the woman my mother was.

What about your Aunt Kate?

Kate Grover Daley. She wasn't at all like my mother.

They were both strong women,

but Mother's strength was a quieter strength.

You always knew where Aunt Kate stood on things and where you stood with her.

It's kind of like having an older sister in Aunt Kate.

Who's the little girl?

That's your mama.

Really?

And that hat you see going round the porch, that was on my daddy's head.

You know? I'm glad you grew up to be my mama.

I hope I grow up to be as pretty as you are.

Mama?

I'm all right, Elizabeth. It's just a little close in here.

I think I better go downstairs.

Are you feeling sick?

You know how it is, Elizabeth, sometimes it's time to move on.

Will you pick up that photo album?

- Mama, I need to talk to you. - It'll have to wait, Jim-Bob.

Well, I've been waiting, and it can't wait any more.

Daddy's gonna sign it. All you have to do is read it.

I mean, you don't have to read it, just sign your name.

Well, I have to know what I'm signing.

It's just a chance at the best job offer I ever had.

Good money and good experience. Daddy's all for it.

With the chores you have to do around here and your schoolwork,

you've got enough to handle.

Come on, Mom, it's just in Rockfish at Lou's tool and machine shop.

After schools and Saturdays, and that's it. I still have time to do my schoolwork.

Jim-Bob, I am busy. I don't wanna talk about it.

This is lousy.

Don't you talk to me that way.

I'm sorry, Mama.

Daddy says we have to be extra nice to you right now.

I don't know why. You sure make it tough.

I don't know what it is with your mama, but it's getting time to find out.

I'll tell you, it's got me worried.

I wish Curt were here. He'd know.

- Mama, why don't you take my place? - I've got some errands to run.

Why don't you let Mary Ellen run 'em?

It'd be awful nice having you up on the Mountain building the house.

Wonder if I put the potatoes on to boil.

Mary Ellen, will you take care of it for me, please?

Liv.

Liv!

When I was in training, there was a patient kind of like Mama.

Very sad, very depressed. The doctors called it melancholia.

What did you do about it?

Well, the first thing you do is don't take my word for it.

I learned my lesson about diagnosing illnesses a long time ago.

Oh, hello, Olivia, how are you?

Boy, this is the limit. I gotta find this earring in here.

- Has the mail gone out yet, Ike? - Oh, I don't know.

Flossie Brimmer comes in here, she's dressed fit to kill.

She's going into Westham to shop for the day.

She loses her earring, and she thinks it's in here...

I think I found it!

Gum! Corabeth!

Mr. Godsey, I am not deaf.

Hello, Olivia, I didn't know you were here. What can I do for you?

I just wanna mail some letters.

Oh, well, the mail seems to be slightly disorganized.

But if you'll give them to me, I'll see that they're dispatched.

How am I gonna get this off?

Shall I take them, dear?

A little paint thinner, rubbing alcohol.

I beg your pardon?

It'll take the gum off his hands.

Oh, well, I'll tidy Mr. Godsey up a bit, and then we'll be back in business shortly.

You know, Flossie, she comes in with...

Number, please.

Your number, please.

May I please have your number?

Hello? Hello?

Is anybody there? Hello?

You won't believe what was in that gum, Olivia.

Yeah, Flossie Brimmer's...

Strange. She left without leaving her letters.

Hello? Is anybody there? Hello?

Hello?

It's me, Ike, Erin.

Oh, Erin.

Well, I guess your mother just changed her mind.

Oh.

Strange, she didn't mail her letters.

Well, there's one thing never changes up here. That's this endless view.

This house never changes much either, Pa.

You can't do anything but fits and starts.

I don't think we've been able to put one week's decent work in here

since we first got going on it.

Just keep pulling me away.

Hauling logs, working for the Army, chasing pigs, working with the Baldwins.

Time is a precious commodity.

There was a time

Liv and me used to talk about living up here without a house.

That was a long time ago,

before the babies started coming, you know?

You don't suppose you're the only couple that ever had such an idea, do you?

I don't want it to go on any longer, Pa.

Things standing in the way of Liv being up here.

She needs a change. A view, breathing space, Pa.

Well, let's get started.

I'd feel a lot better about this if I were driving you over there.

Where did I put that picture?

Oh.

Do you remember Aunt Kate at all?

Nice lady.

She was when I saw her sometime back.

Fifteen years ago, I counted.

Liv.

John, it won't be long.

How long?

I don't know how long. I just... I just feel if I can go back to Alberene

and spend some time with Aunt Kate, that it will set all kinds of things to rest.

But you never say what kind of things.

Just...

Feelings. I...

The need to go back to...

To be somewhere else, to get out of my family's way for a while.

I can't believe this! What in the hell is going on around here?

You're just gonna have to be patient with me, John.

Hello, young fella.

Walton, James Robert. I was in here last week.

Oh, sure. About the job, only you're under age, right?

That's what you said, sir.

No, that's what Uncle Sam said.

Well, let's look at your application now.

It's not signed or anything.

It better be. Unless you had a few birthdays this week to bring you up to age.

You see, it's about my mama.

My daddy's gonna sign it, but she can't right...

Well, she has to sign it, too. Now, I told you that.

Well, she's gonna sign it. She's just away right now.

You have to have both parents. I made that as clear as I could.

My grandpa would sign it in a minute.

How about the minister?

It sounds like you better get to work on your mama.

I guess that job's still open then.

Well, not for long.

I guess I told you I built my own car.

Walton.

Thanks.

Whatever's in that case, I've already got plenty of it.

I was told you'd want all I have.

Of what?

Candy kisses, liquorice whips, a rag doll...

A flannel nightgown and a clean handkerchief!

You've run away from home again. Your mother is going to be so...

Olivia!

I do my best crying indoors.

Here!

This isn't how I planned it.

I believe that.

Come in. Sit down.

Tell me how you thought it would be.

You were going to open the door, I was going to say,

"Hello, Aunt Kate. I'm Olivia Walton,"

and you were going to be thrilled to see me.

I guess that's a better beginning.

No, I liked the candy kisses and the liquorice whip.

Why have you run away from home this time?

Are you given to tears or do you have something to cry about?

I don't know.

I often have a sherry after I've mowed the lawn.

Not for me, thanks.

You sound just like your mother.

I used to rub it on your gums when you were teething.

It worked wonders then.

You'd stop crying.

Very often you smiled at me.

I don't want any, thank you.

If you wrote me a letter about coming to visit, I didn't get it.

I wrote you one, but I didn't mail it.

What's the matter, Olivia?

Something dreadful. Something very frightening.

What is it?

I can't control how I think. Or what I think.

- Have you been to a doctor? - Or how I act.

It seems wherever I am, I wanna leave. I don't even know what I'm doing here.

You'll stay here till we know.

I don't know what's wrong with me.

Your mother used to solve most of her problems over a cup of tea.

I'll fix you one.

And after this, most likely, you'll want a rest.

And then tomorrow, we'll see Doc Caldwell,

who's got no business being as wise as he is.

I don't know if I'm gonna be able to lie still long enough to rest.

Might be different today.

- What're you up to? - Nothing.

You gonna leave those on the floor?

I'll pick 'em up when I want to.

Looks like Mama's writing.

It's just some stuff she wanted to throw away.

You're copying her signature?

I'm not very good at it.

I wouldn't get very good at it.

That's forgery. You can get thrown in the clink for that.

Well, even if I was good at it, I'd probably be too nervous.

You mean on the job application?

I really want the job.

They'd probably shoot you for it.

Mama wrote this to John-Boy.

I think reading other people's mail is a crime, too.

"I need something to hold on to, or I know I'll fly off the world."

I wonder why she'd say that. Wonder why she'd write it to John-Boy.

Don't ask me. I'm practically an orphan.

Yeah, you're in a lot of trouble all right.

I sure am.

Daddy's up on the Mountain working on the house, and now Mama's gone.

Yeah, we better throw these away.

Mama meant to get rid of them obviously.

Jim-Bob, you're gonna get in trouble.

I was just thinking about it.

Honest.

Aunt Kate, you didn't tell me we were coming here.

We're having a picnic. Right under the oak tree.

- Does anybody live here? - Not at the moment.

Does it look the same to you?

It's a lot smaller than I remember.

You're bigger.

I seem to remember you could see the church from this side

and nearly to your house on the other.

Trees and shrubs grow, too, you know.

At least the rope didn't break.

I expect it's been changed.

A few times.

Be careful, child.

Be careful, child.

It's supper time. Time to come in now and clean up.

It'll be dark soon. I don't want you out there alone.

Come in now, child.

Olivia.

Olivia.

Here's some tea.

Come sit and eat.

- I made you party sandwiches. - With the crusts off.

This isn't the same tea you gave me yesterday.

Oh, no, that was my special blend for people who need to rest and can't.

I slept round the clock.

It does a job on a cold, too, if you catch it soon enough.

There's always been a part of me that wanted to be wild and free.

I imagined that when the children were grown I could express that part of myself.

Inside I feel like a young girl.

When I look in the mirror...

You're determined that it's bad news, aren't you?

The way that I feel... No, the ways that I feel,

there's no chance that it could be good news.

Olivia.

You really do want to know, or you'd have never come to me.

You're going to see Dr. Caldwell, right?

Let's go, Mary Ellen!

Daddy, am I glad I caught you.

- Any word from your mama? - No.

Can you sign these now?

All right, but I don't know what good one signature'll do.

I thought if I showed him your signature, he'd hold the job open a little longer.

I hope so, but don't count on your mama changing her mind.

Maybe she'll be a new woman by the time she gets back.

Thanks, Daddy.

Let's go, Mary Ellen!

- Hello. - Hi, Reverend.

Jim-Bob, my car broke down.

- Where you headed? - Rockfish.

- Mind if I bum a ride? - Hop in.

James Robert, I never thought you would be an act of Providence.

Here, I'll hold that.

- Darn it. This just isn't fair! - What's the matter?

I wasn't gonna go through with it, but...

I just can't figure out how you show up right when I was signing it.

You preachers got powers or something?

Yeah, yeah. We're absolutely amazing. What are you talking about?

I signed my mother's signature on there.

You forged your mother's name?

It's pretty good if you know what my mama's handwriting looks like.

But you preachers probably know everything.

Just beats me how you do.

How did your dad's name get on here?

He signed that.

Guess I lost that job for sure.

Well, you know what you did was wrong.

I wanted the job.

But you are going to forgive and forget, right?

Well, I'll forgive you, but I don't know if I can forget about it.

It's going to take some thought.

Guess I'm going to drive you to Rockfish now.

Sure you want to?

- It's Kate Grover Daley in Alberene. - Right.

Operator? Yes, could you give me Alberene, Virginia? Mark it 2346.

Thank you.

- Is it ringing? - Yep.

You should have seen what Mama wrote to John-Boy.

I know I shouldn't have been looking at it, but...

Well, the other day, she tried to call somebody from Ike's.

I don't know who it was, though.

- Is it still ringing? - Yep.

Thank you.

There's no answer, Jason. You want me to try later?

No, I'll think of something.

I just can't accept that.

He's a nice enough man, your young Dr. What's-his-name.

Caldwell.

And I mean no offense to him. It's simply that he's too...

I don't know how to say it.

You said to me in the car he doesn't know what he's talking about.

I guess I did say that.

No sherry for me, thank you.

I am just trying to remember. The...

The shortness of breath, the interior shakes and quivers,

the headaches that split your skull and the hands that won't work.

- I didn't tell you... - And the need to run away.

You didn't mention the sudden rises in temperature and the forgetfulness.

How do you know?

Those were my symptoms.

This time of life. It didn't start with you, Olivia.

But I'm too young, aren't I?

Apparently not.

- That smells good. - Your headache must be gone.

The food wasn't made that appealed to me when I had one.

I hate growing old.

Well, you've been doing it right along.

Never seemed so until this came along.

Oh, Olivia!

You find that amusing? Well, I don't.

Well, it is.

And you better find some way so you can laugh at yourself a little bit.

- It's not the end of the road. - It is surely not the beginning.

It's a bend in the road. It's just a turning, that's all.

I'm sorry. I'm not myself.

No, you're not.

You're mighty quick to agree.

Well, the Olivia that I know writes me letters.

Not often.

But enough for me to know how wonderful John is.

And how talented John-Boy and Jason are.

And how lovely Erin is and Elizabeth and Mary Ellen and the baby.

Ben is some kind of a tycoon. And Jim-Bob thinks that he's Lindbergh.

I do love hearing about them.

And you haven't mentioned them once since you've been here.

Now, I know that you've been fearful.

I was terrified.

And you had every right to be.

But now that you know what it is, you just have to head in there.

And stop feeling sorry for myself.

Well. None of it's easy.

But just turning your eyes around and thinking about that family of yours,

it's a good place to start.

I guess if I've got to grow old, and there doesn't seem to be any way of stopping it,

I might as well try to do it gracefully.

You never can tell about this kind of a storm.

It may rain, it may flood, it may light up the sky and roar,

and then just go on its way.

I wish Daddy was here.

He may very well be up there in the brunt of it.

What's that?

Don't worry about Daddy, Elizabeth. He can take care of himself.

I just wish he was here. Mama, too.

This could be my fault.

- Jim-Bob, how could this be your fault? - Can't be sure.

Sometimes it's fire, hordes of locusts, sometimes it's flood.

Just depends on what kind of punishment you get.

Now, what did that mean?

Well, sometimes it's just as well not to know what Jim-Bob means.

Come on, let's get on in.

It's a night that you get under the dining room table with the dog. Come on.

Oh, boy. It's gonna pour. Get in.

But they're always there, Operator.

I know it says it's a store and a post office, but they live there, too.

Well, could you try Rockfish? Just ask for the operator.

Could be Erin, she works there.

What seems to be the trouble, Operator?

I thought it smelled like rain.

All the lines are down, clear to Westham?

No. No, thank you.

There's a storm back home, all the lines are down.

I wish I was there.

Yes?

I think my mother's here.

- Which one are you? - I'm Jason.

I'm your mother's Aunt Kate, and I'm mighty glad to see you!

- Mama! - Jason!

What are you doing here?

- Are you all right? - Is everyone all right?

I don't know how everyone is. We were so worried about you.

We tried to call you, Erin and I, but there was no answer.

I tried to call you all, too, but the operator said the lines were down.

Can you come home now?

You just give me a minute to pack. Go get your breakfast.

- Hi. - Hello.

- Jim-Bob, what is all this stuff? - None of your business.

Jim-Bob's going to copy some sermons for me.

- Ever seen his handwriting? - Why don't you go run along, Elizabeth?

It's gonna be a whole lot better when he gets finished.

- You want me to copy all of these? - Yep.

Don't just copy 'em, read a few of 'em. They're worth it.

Jim-Bob, I never knew that you liked to copy sermons.

One of these days, Liv, I'm gonna build you that house up in the mountains.

I already have a house. And I'm standing in it.

It's wherever you and I are together.

My mother's concern for her lost youth didn't last very long.

And though she must have known many times when she thought she'd

fly off the world, she never concerned her family with them again.

And today, her children are hard-put to maintain the pace

of that vital, interested woman for very long.

To us, she'll be forever young.

- Mama? - Yes, Elizabeth.

Has Jim-Bob told you about his new job?

Shut up, Elizabeth!

Jim-Bob, don't talk that way!

He's helping Reverend Buchanan.

I think that's wonderful, Jim-Bob. What do you do?

- Copy sermons. - What an interesting idea!

It was his idea, Mom. Good night.

Good night, everybody.

English -SDH