Original subtitles

She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes

She'll be coming round the mountain She'll be coming round the mountain

She'll be driving six white horses when she comes

- Grandpa. - Come in.

Grandpa, breakfast is ready.

I'll be with you in two shakes of your pigtails, Elizabeth,

but I'm so excited, I don't think I could eat anything.

Grandpa, are you sure Grandma's coming home this time?

Of course she's coming home, the doctor said so over the telephone.

- Erin heard him say so. - That's what they said last time.

We'll show them, old woman, won't we?

A house alone has little meaning,

it's the people who live there who bring it to life and give it character.

All during my grandmother's absence, our house, and everyone in it,

seemed to long for her return.

Grandpa never stopped hoping that she would come home,

and finally there came a day when his prayers were to be answered.

There's plenty of porridge, Grandpa.

I can't manage much more than coffee.

My stomach's got so many butterflies in it, I'm practically airborne.

We're all excited, Pa.

Ma's been gone a lot longer than anybody figured.

She hasn't even seen the baby.

She's hasn't even seen my car.

She wouldn't be coming home now if I hadn't put the pressure on the hospital.

Well, I just hope you're not bringing her home too soon.

Esther hasn't spoken a word since the morning she had the stroke.

The hospital's been taking care of her for months,

it's time we had a turn at it.

Well, it takes a long time to overcome aphasia.

A what?

Elizabeth, that's the medical term used for what's wrong with Grandma.

You remember, Elizabeth, means she can't speak clearly.

It happens to a lot of people when they have a stroke.

The side of her brain that controls her speech is damaged,

and so the other side has to learn to take over.

Like a spare tire.

Nothing to joke about, Jim-Bob.

I didn't mean it to be a joke.

Well, we all got to pitch in and help take care of her.

With a little peace and quiet, and tender loving and care,

she'll soon be her usual self.

Pa, are you sure don't want me to go along with you?

I don't think so, Son, no.

I fetched Esther up on the Mountain the first time,

and I will bring her back again.

I leave as one, return as two.

Wild horses can't stop him when he gets like that.

I'm going to start cleaning Grandma's room.

I'll come help you, Erin, when I feed John Curtis.

Come on, Jim-Bob.

Let's go clean up out front.

I'm gonna go work in the mill, Daddy.

Why don't you get Ma's rocking chair?

- We'll polish it up for her. - That's a good idea.

I've got to go do my chores so I can get ready for 4-H.

You know, it's a big responsibility.

The doctor's only letting Ma come home because Pa badgered him into it.

Well, it'll do her good to be home.

Jim-Bob, we just dusted in here!

Yeah, well, you know how Grandma likes the porch swept clean.

But she doesn't sweep the dust back into the house.

Really, Jim-Bob.

Dear Esther is coming home.

This very afternoon?

And Grandpa's over there picking her up right now.

Well, I understand that your grandmother is having difficulty communicating.

Well, it's true, Grandma can't talk,

but she's never had any trouble communicating.

After Papa had his stroke, whenever he wanted anything,

he'd just pound on the floor with his cane.

Sister, I don't think anyone is interested in our family history.

Well, he did, Sister.

There's still the crack he made in the dining room ceiling.

Jason, do you suppose Esther could use Papa's old cane?

Well, Miss Emily, when Grandma comes home,

she's gonna be back in her old room again, and that's on the ground floor,

so I don't think we'll have to worry about that.

- Thanks, Corabeth. - Excuse me, Miss Mamie.

Here, Jason, I got everything that's on the list.

Oh, thanks, Ike.

I got to be getting along, Mama's waiting for these.

- See you all later. - Bye.

Goodbye.

Give your grandmother our regards.

Oh, I will, thanks, Corabeth.

Poor thing.

To be deprived the power of speech must indeed be a sore trial.

Well, that might be true for most women, but if I know Esther well,

she'll get her two cents worth in, one way or the other.

Oh.

Mama, what's happening to me?

I wanted to wear this dress Grandma made for me, but look!

Oh, I guess we can't take the hem out anymore.

Wish you could take me in some.

I look like a skinny chicken.

You do not look like a skinny chicken.

I wish all these growing pains would stop and I could feel like a real person.

Don't you feel like a real person?

Hmm?

Well, it's just some days, it feels like I'm growing a mile a minute.

Makes my head spin.

Mary Ellen used to say the same thing when she was your age.

What about the dress?

Don't think there's much we can do about that dress.

When do you think Grandma will make be able to make me a new one?

Not for a while.

Besides, I thought you were going to take up sewing for your 4-H project?

I'd rather raise an animal.

Well, there aren't any young animals around here.

And I think you should get started learning something about sewing.

This morning's when we sign up for our projects.

Will I miss Grandma coming home?

You'll be back in plenty of time. Now, go change into something else.

I will, but it won't do any good.

Now I know why they call this the awkward age.

There you go.

I want you to smile real pretty for your great-grandma.

It's the first time she's ever seen you.

Sit still.

Yeah, that's cute, yeah.

Grandma's done a lot of rocking in this old chair.

I remember from way back when I was little.

Every last one of you got rocked to sleep in it.

And when you had tears, had colic or scraped a knee,

she'd tell you stories when you couldn't sleep.

It's been a long time since she's rocked in this chair.

Yeah, I expect she'll be real glad to see it again.

Maybe we can all get together and take turns and read stories to her.

Uh-huh.

Important thing is to behave yourselves, not get her all upset.

I get it, Daddy. No teasing or goofing around.

No, or coming in late from The Dew Drop Inn.

She's coming, everybody!

She's coming! She's coming!

Hey, she's coming, Jason!

Hey! Hey, everybody!

Grandma's coming home! Mama, Mary Ellen, Erin, come on, everybody.

Grandma's home!

Daddy, Ben, come on!

Come on. Here, here.

Mary Ellen, Erin.

John Curtis, this is a fine time for you to give in to a biological urge.

Well, you can't meet your great- grandmother with your pants wet.

Come on.

- Welcome home! - Grandma!

- Hi, Grandma! - Grandma!

Hey, come on, everybody, you're not letting Grandma

get a word in edgewise!

Sorry, Grandma, I didn't mean to say that.

Hi, Grandma.

Come on, come on in.

Come on, let's get in the house.

The house is so spic and span, the girls...

Upsy-daisy.

Heavenly Father, we are most grateful to have our Esther back home with us again,

feel her loving presence around our table.

For in the beginning, this family was born of her,

and still gains strength and courage through her loving affection.

Once again, O Lord, we are grateful that this family's chains

are forged together through suffering and pain.

But here we are, O Lord, giving, rejoicing for all of our blessings, forevermore.

- Amen. - Amen.

It's good to see you still like Liv's dumplings, Ma.

Mmm.

After all that hospital food, home cooking must taste pretty good.

The Ladies' Aid Society gave a supper the other night.

We sure missed your potato salad, Grandma.

Mighty good of you to say so, Liv.

Grandma, could you please pass me the butter?

There you are.

Have you told your grandma about the 4-H club yet, honey?

No, we had our first meeting today.

Did you learn your slogan, yet?

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,

my heart to greater loyalty,

my hands to larger service,

my health to better living,

for my club, my community, and my country.

Elizabeth's gonna learn to sew.

I changed my mind about that, Mama.

Excuse me, I hear the baby crying.

We can all hear him. Sometimes we hear him all night.

He's a very good baby, Ben.

He sleeps through the night, most of the time,

except when you come in late from The Dew Drop Inn

and stumble up the stairs.

You better look out, Mary Ellen. I'm gonna get you for that.

Oh, I'll get it. It's probably Clarence.

Old Porky Dutter. I wonder what he's doing here.

His name is Clarence, Jim-Bob, and he's a very nice boy.

Yes, Mama.

Sorry I couldn't get over sooner, Elizabeth. I had a lot of chores.

- Did you bring him? - In here.

Come on in, Clarence, have a piece of pie.

What kind you got?

Chocolate, and there's plenty of it, here.

Give him to me. I'll take him out back.

What you got there, Elizabeth?

Clarence bring you a token of his affection?

No, it's Jay-Bez.

Clarence is giving him to me.

- Him? - Is that what I think...

Elizabeth, what's in that sack?

- It's a little piggy. - It's a piggy!

- What are you doing with a pig? - Oh, no!

- Well, he's my 4-H project. - I thought you were gonna do sewing.

Now we know what we're having for breakfast tomorrow.

Oink! Oink! Oink!

Pig in a parlor, Esther.

Elizabeth, get that thing out of here.

Get that pig out of here.

- Get that out of the kitchen. - Oink, oink, oink!

Nice to be home isn't it, Ma?

Here you are.

How'd you ever get off by yourself?

Pa's been sticking to you like flypaper all afternoon.

You warm enough, Ma?

Don't want you coming down with something

now that we've finally got you home.

Lordy, sometimes I think the crickets are going to take over the world.

You remember when Ben and me

used to have those cricket races out in the barn when we were kids?

Everything was all right till you caught us gambling on them,

and that was the end of that.

Oh, Ma.

Where does the time go?

I don't mind telling you, Ma.

I miss hearing the sound of your voice.

But the doctor says it won't be long

before you'll be bossing us around just like you used to.

Meantime, I guess

we'll find out there's nothing to be afraid of in silence.

Sometimes just being near each other is what really counts.

Here we are.

Esther, I'll tell you one thing,

be the first time in a long time

that I won't be suffering from having cold feet.

Oh, Esther, dear.

Oh, I have missed you.

What's this you got here?

Oh, I see, it's a diary you've been writing in.

It's private? You don't want anybody to look at it?

I wouldn't dream of peeking at it. Come over here, I'll tuck you in.

Just like old times, eh?

You know, for a long while, Esther, I just didn't have the heart

to sleep here in this bed by myself. Just couldn't get around to it.

And then, I got over that, after a while.

Then, a little later on, I just couldn't bear to seem to spread myself out.

Then I got over that.

I knew all along, I've got to save this place for you.

And here we are.

Esther dear, I just pined away for you,

I can't tell you how much.

All this while, I didn't have an eye for anyone else but you.

Of course, there was that Zuleika Dunbar,

she did come by once or twice, to find out how you was getting along.

I didn't really mean to invite her into the house,

but it seems I shouldn't ignore her,

because she'd baked me some of that carrot cake of hers.

And I found out, too, that carrot cake of hers isn't near as good as yours, Esther.

Oh, you know how she is.

"Oh, what a handsome man, you are, Mr. Walton.

"You just don't show your age at all, Mr. Walton."

Of course, Mary Ellen was right there in the parlor with us all the time,

except for once, when she had to go upstairs to see to John Curtis.

Esther, you sure you're feeling all right?

You just don't seem to be getting mad at me at all.

Grandma, we just wanted to tell you again

how glad we are to have you home, and to say good night.

Good night, Grandma. - Sweet dreams.

- Sleep well, Grandma. - Welcome home, Grandma.

Goodnight, Grandma.

Our prayers have been answered, Grandma.

Mighty glad to have you home, Ma. Good night.

Esther just wants to tell you good night to you all and God bless you all.

Esther? Esther?

Oh, I was worried, you were sleeping so still.

Go back to sleep.

Esther,

I do love you so.

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer

Amen

Please be seated.

Yes, indeed, what a friend we have in Jesus.

And today we welcome back a friend of his,

a lady who helped build this house of worship,

who's a pillar to her family and to her entire community.

Esther Walton, welcome home.

I'd be honored to have you stand with me after the service

today and greet your friends and neighbors.

Jay-Bez! Jay-Bez!

Jay-Bez!

Jay-Bez!

Mama, I can't find Jay-Bez.

- Did you look in his pen? - Mama, he's not there.

Well, you don't have time to look for him now, anyway,

you ought to be on your way to school.

Grandma, I'll get that.

But he's gone off somewhere.

Well, he'll come back when he's hungry.

I wish you were as interested in your sewing as you are in that pig.

- You wanna wash or... - I'll let you dry.

Oh, Grandma, never mind that. Erin and I will do the dishes.

You just relax, it's okay.

I'll get it, Grandma.

- Where did you find him? - He came home.

Pigs do that sometimes.

- Want me to put him back in his pen? - Would you?

- Want to walk to school? - Uh, I'm not quite ready, yet.

You'd better go ahead.

Thanks for bringing back Jay-Bez. I'll see you at recess.

See you later.

What do you mean you're not ready for school?

I didn't wanna walk with him, Mama. All the kids make fun of Clarence.

That makes no difference. He's a friend.

He was nice enough to give you that pig and he brought it back home again.

Now, you run and catch up with him.

All right.

You all right, Grandma?

- Mary Ellen, I think I'll dry this time. - No.

Grandma, don't you worry about sweeping the porch.

I'll do that. Come over here and sit down.

Grandma, give me the broom.

Grandma, the broom.

Come on. Have a seat.

There you go. Now, isn't that better?

We searched our minds, Esther,

for something you would really enjoy.

And something that would be good for you at the same time.

Oh, my land, what a beautiful jug of the Recipe. Beautiful.

The decanter, I mean.

We remembered that poor Papa,

after he had his stroke, just about lived on the Recipe.

- And he lasted for 15 years. - More.

It has great medicinal properties, you know.

Oh, yes, the Recipe is definitely known for its curative powers.

Esther thanks you.

I think.

Sister and I felt that you must be anxious to know

what the Ladies' Aid Society has been up to.

So, we brought the minutes of the meetings you have missed.

Now, you must tell us, Esther, if you're tired.

Now, let me see.

"The meeting was called to order by Corabeth Godsey."

Let's see, this was just last week.

No, Sister, I think it was the week before.

Oh, no, dear, it was last week.

It was the day that the wind blew

the big branch off the elm tree.

"Elsie Wainwright reported on the progress of the garden..."

John, there is something wrong with Esther.

She just handed me this bottle of Recipe

with a great big smile on her face.

Kind of takes the pleasure out of having a drink.

Maybe she's so happy to be home, Pa, she wants you to have it.

Oh, no, no, not the Esther I know.

No, no matter what you see, she is not the same.

I am beginning to think that I brought home the wrong old woman.

"At this point, Mrs. Godsey asked for a report

"from the rummage sale committee."

We have a rummage sale coming up in about three weeks.

Daddy, sure you don't want me to go along with you on this delivery?

Your grandpa's gonna help, Son.

Need you here to do some paperwork on those new orders.

- Wish he'd get a move on. - He's still giving Grandma a bath.

He won't let her do anything on her own.

She took care of us for years. It's time she had some taking care of.

Here we are. Sit right out here on the porch, Esther,

till we come back. Make yourself comfortable.

I am sorry to have to leave you for even part of a day, Esther,

but Ben will be in charge around here,

and Mary Ellen and young John will take care of anything that you would want.

And I'll be back this afternoon, in time to tuck you in for your nap.

Give me a kiss.

I'm going into town with John and Grandpa to do some shopping.

- You wanna come? - No, no, no.

Esther better stay right here and rest, be in shape to see the doctor tomorrow.

Next time.

Now, Ben, you take good care of your grandma.

Oh, I know, Grandpa. Daddy already gave me the orders.

Nothing to worry about, Pa.

The kids can take care of Ma as good as you can.

Nobody can take care of Esther as well as I can.

I hate leaving Grandma behind.

The ride would be too hard on her.

What's even harder on her is all this mollycoddling we're doing to her.

Grandpa sure has come alive since you've came home, Grandma.

Thank you, Ben.

What you being so nice about, today?

I'm just thinking of a way to get back at you for snitching to Grandma

about me going to The Dew Drop Inn.

Good luck, Brother. I know all your tricks by now.

Hey, there, John Curtis, would you like your bottle?

You wouldn't believe how hungry he gets, Grandma.

Here you go.

Don't be such a pig, John Curtis.

Grandma, I'm gonna go bring in the laundry.

Will you watch him for me?

John Curtis.

Here, Grandma, you wanna hold John Curtis?

Yes.

Oh, look, the wheel needs fixing.

I have to go fix the wheel, okay?

Hey, Mary Ellen, something's wrong with John Curtis.

Take a look at him.

What's the matter, is something wrong with his bottle?

Beats me.

Hey, come on, get out of my car!

I'm going to get you, Ben!

Jay-Bez! Come back here!

You take... I'm gonna get you, yet, Ben.

Ben! Ben, Jay-Bez is loose! Help me find him.

Grandma, how could you let Ben do a thing like that?

Come on, sweetheart. We'll give you your bottle and put you to bed.

And then I gonna knock Ben from here to Faber.

Hello. Is someone there?

Who is it? Who's there?

Grandma? Is that you?

Where is everybody?

Grandma?

Hey, Grandma, you've never even been for a ride in my car.

I just got it fixed. Would you like to go for a ride?

Shall we?

Watch your step, now.

Well, how do you like it?

Hello. Is Sheriff Bridges there?

Listen, Ep, do you think you could find my folks and give them a message for me?

Jay-Bez! I'm sure he came around this way.

Well, there he is!

I can't get out!

That pig.

You're a mess.

Let's go home.

What do you think, Grandma?

Would you like to learn to drive some time?

Maybe I'll teach you some time.

Grandma?

Grandma?

Grandma?

I knew we should have brought her.

Oh, dear, what could have happened?

Hold on, you two, we're not sure anything happened.

Any rate, don't spare the horses, get going.

Grandma?

Want some help?

What are you doing here?

I brought Jay-Bez back. He's in the pen.

- Where is everybody? - Beats me.

Well, at least we know where the pig is.

Mary Ellen!

Where's your grandma? Is she all right?

I don't know. I was just looking for her.

Well, isn't she here?

Well, I went upstairs to take care of the baby,

when I came back down she was gone.

- Where's Ben? - Haven't seen him either, lately, that is.

Oh, Lord, I hope she hasn't wandered off.

Better start looking for them.

Esther, what on Earth have you been up to?

- Where have you two been? - Are you all right?

Just went for a little ride. Grandma thought it was great.

Well, you should have told someone.

Yeah, but there was nobody around to tell.

Look.

That boy's got more explaining to do than I thought.

Guess I'd better go fill a tub.

Well, Ben got exactly what he deserves.

All right, what happened?

We were chasing Jay-Bez. Ben fell in the swamp.

Jay-Bez came home again. I put him back in his pen.

How did he get out of the pen?

Some pigs are awful smart.

It was my fault this time, Elizabeth.

See, I was playing a trick on Mary Ellen.

Whatever it is, you're in plenty of hot water.

We better have a talk. All of us.

Does he mean me, too?

No, Clarence, this is strictly a Walton pow-wow.

You don't know how lucky you are.

Ben, I thought you were in charge around here.

You shouldn't be running off, leaving your grandma alone.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

Mary Ellen, I thought I could depend on you.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

It's not me you should be apologizing to, but your grandma.

- I'm sorry, Grandma. - I'm sorry, Grandma.

It's my fault, John. I shouldn't have left her alone.

Jim-Bob, you're taking an awful responsibility

running off like that.

Sorry, Dad.

I know you young-uns mean well,

but your grandma just isn't up to your shenanigans, these days.

Look, now, you just got her all upset.

Come along, Esther, it's time for your nap, anyway.

Come along.

Well, hello, Esther.

I hope we're not coming to call too soon.

Oh, just look at you, Esther Walton, surrounded by all your family.

What a picture you make.

I know that you must be overjoyed to be home again.

He did it again.

Guess Jay-Bez is just a natural born homing pig.

He's ruining all my 4-H records. He keeps running off all his fat.

That's not good, for a pig.

I should have told you, Elizabeth.

I knew Jay-Bez would come back.

Pa tried to sell him before, and he kept coming home all the time.

Well, then why'd you give him to me?

I thought it would get me a chance to see you once in a while.

Well, you see me all the time at school.

It didn't seem like enough.

I could look at you all the time.

- At me? - I think you're beautiful.

And I'm only the school fat kid.

It's the inside that counts. I think you've got a thin soul, Clarence.

You're not mad about Jay-Bez?

Well, I suppose we can keep him at your place.

I can come over with the feed. We can take care of him together.

- We can be partners. - Okay!

- Shake, partner! - Shake.

Uh-oh, he's gone again!

I'll bet I can find him. I'll race you.

Am I interrupting something?

Thought you might wanna help me snap some beans.

It's kind of nice having company for sitting down chores.

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

There's no need to rush, Grandma. Take all morning, if you want to.

All afternoon, for that matter.

Don't get upset. You don't have to rush, you know.

It took me a long time when I had polio

before I could put one foot in front of the other without thinking about it.

Sorry, Grandma.

You want more to do?

Do Me, me... Need me.

Need me.

- Need you? - Yes.

Oh, Grandma, we do need you.

You don't think anybody needs you?

All right. It's all right.

It's all right, Grandma.

It's all right.

- Do I smell coffee? - I sure hope so.

Well, morning, Pa.

Morning, children.

Yes, I made some coffee. I'll fetch you some.

Catch any worms, Pa?

I didn't get up early. I've been up all night.

I couldn't sleep. Been reading.

- Is that Grandma's journal? - Yeah. Yes, I must admit it is.

I shouldn't have looked into it, but I was getting desperate.

She's been writing this journal for a long time, now.

I never once looked into it.

But there comes a time when a secret isn't a secret anymore.

I was hoping I might find out from here what was wrong with your ma.

What did you find out?

Right here.

Just a few days before she come home from the hospital, she wrote down,

"I have come to realize that my loss of speech is punishment

"for having been sharp-tongued in the past."

"I have made a solemn promise to the Lord

"that if he allows me to go home,

"I will always be uncomplaining with my family and friends,

"and not force my opinions on others."

And that is exactly what she's been doing.

Always smiling and agreeable, never complaining.

No wonder she can't talk.

She's got it all locked up here inside...

Is that all, Esther?

What kind of a promise you have made, if you don't get mad

when I've been prying into your most private thoughts?

I've seen the time, if I did a thing like this, you'd have hauled off

and walloped me with the first thing you could get your hands on.

You always were stubborn as a mule!

Ma never did made a promise she didn't keep.

You know, Grandpa, I think we're all kind of guilty of over-protecting her.

What are you talking about, Liv? We have treated her like a queen.

More like an invalid.

We shove her into that old rocker.

Every time she tries to do something, somebody rushes in to give her a hand.

She might as well not even get out of bed in the morning.

Just trying to do what's best for her, Liv.

When you're older, you need to feel like you're good for something,

like you're needed. We taken that away from her, Grandpa.

Esther?

Now, there are a lot of things around here that are not right,

and I'll admit to being wrong to about half of them.

However, I would like to point out to you

it was the good Lord himself that made you the sharp-tongued woman

that you were.

He did it to add flavor to this family,

the way you put salt or pepper in a stew to keep it from being so flat.

And if he did take away your speech,

maybe he did it as a lesson to us, not to you.

And by golly, we need a little seasoning around here,

otherwise life would be just too dull, tasteless, without it.

Now, Esther,

maybe you did make a promise to the good Lord

that everything would be sweetness and light

if he'd just let you come home from the hospital.

However, I also made a promise to the Lord,

that I would let you sit in the sun and not lift a finger,

if he'd just let you get well enough to come back with me.

However, I am going to break that promise and ask the Lord's forgiveness,

and I hope you do likewise.

Old woman, if you want any breakfast,

you better start sweeping this porch and earn your keep!

And that's the way it's going to be from now on out.

You've come home, Esther!

You've come home!

You old fool.

Oh, boy. Oh, boy.

My grandmother had finally come home,

and once again she became her old self,

giving us the benefit of her wisdom and love.

That old house will always live in my memory,

especially when it comes time to say good night.

This little piggy went to market.

Good night, Jim-Bob.

And this little piggy stayed home.

Night, Jason. Night, Ben.

This little piggy had roast beef.

Good night, Erin. Good night, Mary Ellen.

And this little piggy went wee-wee-wee,

all the way home to Clarence's.

Good night, Grandpa.

Good night, Grandma.

Good night, Ma.

Good night, everyone.

English -SDH