Father Knows Best (1954–1960): Season 2, Episode 37 - Betty's Graduation - full transcript

(giggling)

WITH ELINOR DONAHUE, BILLY
GRAY AND LAUREN CHAPIN,

IN...

ANY MAN, WOMAN,
OR MISERABLE CHILD

EVER BREATHES A
WORD OF THIS, I'M DEAD.

DEAD DEAD.

BUD ANDERSON WILL BE
OBLIVIATED INTO OBLIVION

IN A RAMPAGE OF
MOCKING LAUGHTER.

OH, HUSH, NOW, BUD. IT'S
NOT AS BAD AS ALL THAT.

WHAT IF SOMEBODY SHOULD SEE ME?

NOBODY'S GOING TO SEE YOU.



OH, BUD, PLEASE DON'T SLUMP
OVER TO ONE SIDE LIKE THAT.

WELL, WHAT IF A TORNADO SHOULD
SUDDENLY RIP OFF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE

AND EVERYBODY
WALKING BY COULD SEE ME?

I DOUBT WE'LL HAVE
A TORNADO TODAY.

WELL, WHAT IF LIGHTNING SHOULD
STRIKE AND WE'D ALL BE KILLED,

AND I'D BE FOUND DEAD THIS WAY?

I WOULDN'T DARE
GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

BUD, IF YOU STAND STILL FOR A
SECOND, I'LL GET THIS FINISHED.

I'M WORKING AS FAST AS I CAN.

I DON'T SEE WHY BETTY
CAN'T MODEL HER OWN DRESS.

I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU. SHE HAS
TOO MANY OTHER THINGS TO DO.

SHE'S TRYING TO LEARN HER
VALEDICTORY SPEECH, AND...

WELL, WAIT TILL YOU GRADUATE.

YOU'LL BE JUST AS BUSY.



NOT ME. IF I HAVE TO GO THROUGH
ALL THIS NONSENSE TO GRADUATE,

I'LL DROP OUT OF
SCHOOL FIRST. (phone rings)

OH, BUD, WAIT.

THE PHONE'S RINGING.
IT'S PROBABLY CLAUDE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING HIM CATCH
GOPHERS IN MRS. GEORGE'S ASPARAGUS.

OH, NO. SHE'S GONNA PAY
US TWO BITS A GOPHER.

WE NEED YOU AROUND HERE TODAY.

HELLO, CLAUDE?

OH. OH, WAIT A MINUTE.

BETTY!

HEY, UGLY! TELEPHONE!

DO YOU HAVE TO CALL HER "UGLY"?

NO, I DON'T HAVE TO.

WHO IS IT? DOTTIE.

ARE YOU ABOUT THROUGH
FOOLING AROUND UP THERE

SO YOU CAN TAKE OVER HERE AND
LET A MAN GO DO A MAN'S WORK?

YOU LOOK CUTE! HELLO, DOTTIE.

NO, HONEY, YOU RECEIVE THE
DIPLOMA WITH YOUR LEFT HAND.

THAT'S RIGHT. OH,
YOU'LL REMEMBER.

YES, YOU WILL.

THAT'S RIGHT, THE
LEFT. OKAY, DOTTIE, BYE.

I OUGHT TO BE TRAPPING
GOPHERS RIGHT NOW.

OH, THAT DOTTIE, WORRYING HERSELF SICK
OVER WHICH HAND TO ACCEPT THE DIPLOMA IN.

SHE'LL USE THE WRONG
ONE TOO. JUST WAIT AND SEE.

HOW ARE YOU COMING WITH
YOUR SPEECH? OH, I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T SEEM TO
CONCENTRATE ON IT.

UH, "AS WE STAND ON
THE THRESHOLD OF LIFE..."

I KEEP WANTING TO
SAY, "THE BRINK OF LIFE."

"AS WE STAND ON THE
THRESHOLD OF LIFE,

"FACING BEFORE US THE GREAT
ADVENTURE OF THE FUTURE,

"OUR THOUGHTS TURN BACKWARD
WITH A WARM, NOSTALGIC FONDNESS

"TO THE HAPPY FOUR-YEAR JOURNEY

CULMINATING TODAY
WITH THIS GRADUATION."

I'M STANDING HERE
LOSING TWO BITS A GOPHER.

"AS FRESHMEN... OH,
"FRESHMEN, FRESHMEN..."

"TIMID AS A YEARLING."

"AS FRESHMEN, WE ENTERED
THESE PORTALS TIMID AS A YEARLING,

WIDE-EYED AND EAGER, YET
STUMBLING AND UNLEARNED."

(doorbell rings)

YOU GO, MOTHER! I'D PERISH IF
ANYBODY EVER SAW ME LIKE THIS!

MISS BETTY ANDERSON...
IS THAT YOU, MA'AM?

NO, I'M HER MOTHER, BUT
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOT AT ALL, MA'AM.

IT MUST BE A CORSAGE FROM RALPH!

"BEFORE YOUR RARE BEAUTY,
THESE FLOWERS DO PALE.

PLEASE WEAR THEM TONIGHT
WHEN YOU DANCE WITH THIS MALE."

GEE, HOW CORNY CAN YOU GET?

GEE, IT IS PRETTY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT'LL GO WONDERFULLY
WELL WITH YOUR DRESS TOO.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES
THIS RALPH SURPRISES YOU.

WANT TO KEEP IT IN THE BOX?

BE A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP IT IN
THE REFRIGERATOR UNTIL TONIGHT.

(door opens) OH.

OH. WELL, I MADE IT.

I HOPE IT'S THE RIGHT SIZE
THIS TIME. I WAS LUCKY TOO.

THERE WERE ABOUT SEVEN OTHERS
DOWN THERE TRYING TO EXCHANGE THEIRS.

ACTUALLY, I CAN'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME TO ME.

HERE, YOU WANT TO TRY IT ON?

PRINCESS, WHY THE TEARS?

(sobbing)

WHAT IS THIS?

OH, I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST DON'T KNOW.

SHE SEEMED FINE A
FEW MOMENTS AGO.

SHE SEEMED EXCITED WHEN
THE CORSAGE FROM RALPH CAME.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

WELL, THIS SHOULDN'T
BE A DAY OF TEARS.

GRADUATION DANCE TONIGHT,
THE COMMENCEMENT TOMORROW.

VALEDICTORIAN OF
HER CLASS. (chuckles)

THIS SHOULD BE THE
HAPPIEST DAY IN HER...

YE GODS!

YOU MAKE ONE CRACK,
DAD, YOU AND I ARE THROUGH.

WELL, WE COULDN'T FIGURE
OUT WHAT WAS BOTHERING BETTY.

"AS SOPHOMORES, WE
SOARED TO SUDDEN HEIGHT.

UH, "FLYING ON THE FLIMSY WINGS

"OF SOPHISTICATION
AND SMUG CONCEIT,

"ONLY TO PLUNGE AS AGED
AND PROFOUND JUNIORS

"TO THE REALIZATION
THAT THE JOURNEY WAS YET

LONG AND PERILOUS."

OH, HI, FATHER.

VERY GOOD! SOUNDS FINE!

I'LL NEVER LEARN IT.

WELL, IT SOUNDS TO ME AS
THOUGH YOU'VE ALREADY LEARNED IT.

WANT ME TO HANG
THIS IN YOUR ROOM?

OH, WOULD YOU?

UH, EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?

YES.

ANYTHING ELSE I CAN HELP YOU
WITH? ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO?

NO, I DON'T THINK SO, THANKS.

OKAY.

YOU'RE SURE EVERTHING'S OKAY?

EVERYTHING'S FINE.

GOOD.

(chuckles)

YOU KNOW, I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE
YOU'RE GROWN UP AND GRADUATING.

SEEMS LIKE JUST A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AGO, YOU WERE ABOUT THIS HIGH.

WE USED TO GO OUT
TO THAT LITTLE PLACE

ALONG THE CREEK IN
SYCAMORE GROVE PARK.

YOU CALLED IT YOUR
THINKING SPOT. REMEMBER?

YOU USED TO LIKE TO GO THERE
WHENEVER YOU HAD PROBLEMS.

AND YOU USED TO PUT SOME
FINE QUESTIONS TO ME TOO.

LIKE, UH, "WHO STARTED GOD?"

AND "HOW DO THEY KEEP THE
SUN FROM BURNING UP THE SKY?"

HOW DO THEY, DADDY?

WELL, KITTEN, I MAY
AS WELL TELL YOU.

I HAVEN'T FIGURED
OUT THE ANSWER YET.

I'LL HANG THIS IN YOUR ROOM.

DADDY, WILL YOU TAKE ME
OUT TO THAT THINKING PLACE IN...

WHERE'D YOU SAY IT WAS?

SYCAMORE GROVE PARK.

I NEVER DID KNOW WHY
THEY CALLED IT THAT.

THE TREES ARE ALL LIVE
OAKS AND COTTONWOODS.

WILL YOU TAKE ME THERE?

I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
THINKING TO DO THESE DAYS.

WELL, GOOD. BUT I THINK WE
OUGHT TO FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE.

THAT ONE BELONGS
TO BETTY. SHE OWNS IT?

WELL, IN A WAY.

THE WAY YOU OWN THAT PART OF THE MOON
THAT SHINES THROUGH YOUR WINDOW AT NIGHT.

I SEE... ONE OF THOSE KID DEALS.

YEAH, KID STUFF.

OH, OH, DADDY, WOULD
YOU READ ME THIS BOOK?

NOT NOW. LATER.

IT'S GOT SOME FUNNY STUFF IN IT.

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
IT. IT'S ALL ABOUT A DAIRY.

OH, SOUNDS INTERESTING.

"DEAR DAIRY,

HAD ANOTHER DATE
WITH JIM LAST NIGHT."

FOR THE LOVE OF LOUIE,
MOM, AREN'T YOU DONE YET?

IF YOU'D JUST STAND
STILL FOR HALF A SECOND.

STOP HIDING IN THE
CLOSET. MY HEAVENS.

YOU PROMISED ME YOU'D
BAKE A LEMON PIE IF I

DO THIS, BUT YOU'RE NOT
GONNA HAVE TIME NOW.

IS THAT THE WAY TO TREAT
YOUR ONLY FAVORITE SON?

WILL YOU STOP NEEDLING
ME ABOUT THAT PIE?

I'LL BAKE IT.

WHY DON'T YOU GET
A WHIP AND BEAT'ER?

BETTY SEEMS ALL RIGHT NOW,
AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE.

BUT UNDERNEATH, I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE IT'S JUST MY IMAGINATION.

I THINK SHE'S JUST
WORKED UP, EXCITED.

AFTER ALL, THIS IS A PRETTY BIG
MOMENT IN A YOUNG GIRL'S LIFE.

IT'S A BIG PAIN IN A
YOUNG BOY'S LIFE.

HERE'S THE VOICE
OF MY GRADUATION.

"OUR ANNUAL CLASS REUNION
LUNCHEON HAS BEEN CANCELLED

BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESPONSE."

(chuckles) THEY'RE
FINALLY GETTING SMART.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THE LAST ONE
OF THESE THINGS I RESPONDED TO.

WE SAT AROUND LIKE
A LOT OF STRANGERS.

AFTER A COUPLE OF
STALE REMINISCENCES,

NO ONE COULD THINK OF
ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT.

WHERE'S THE BOX THIS CAME IN?

I PUT IT IN THE KITCHEN.

IS THAT ALL SHE HAS TO DO?

CARRY AROUND A LITTLE
FISTFUL OF DANDELIONS

WHILE I SUFFER AND SLAVE,
TORTURED BEYOND MAN'S ENDURANCE?

LOOK, EVEN THE LITTLE CHILDREN
LAUGH AT ME. A BASE OBJECT OF DERISION.

I QUIT!

DO YOU WANT THAT
PIE OR DON'T YOU?

WELL...

IT BETTER HAVE ABOUT
THIS MUCH MERINGUE ON IT.

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO
READ THIS TO ME NOW?

WELL, MAYBE A
LITTLE LATER, DEAR.

DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE
A CHARACTER IN THIS?

AT LEAST IT'S GOT
YOUR NAME IN IT.

WELL, GOOD.

"MAY 14th.

"ARVIN ASKED ME TO
THE "SPRING FORMAL,

"BUT I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO TELL HIM.

"I KNOW I CAN GET
JIM "TO ASK ME,

IF I WANT HIM."

WHAT IS THIS?

"BUT IF I TURN ARVIN DOWN,

JIM IS JUST DEE.. CEE..."

"DECEITFUL."

Kathy: "BUT IF I
TURN ARVIN DOWN,

"JIM IS JUST DECEITFUL ENOUGH

TO ASK SOMEONE ELSE."

KATHY, WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT?

IN SOME OLD STUFF IN THE ATTIC.

YOU WANT TO HEAR? NO!

YOU SHOULDN'T TAKE
THINGS UNLESS YOU ASK FIRST.

THAT'S RIGHT. THIS BELONGS TO YOUR
MOTHER. IT'S AN OLD DIARY SHE USED TO KEEP.

"DIARY"?

I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT A DAIRY.

(chuckles) WHAT ARE
YOU LAUGHING AT?

NOTHING. NOT A THING.

IF PEOPLE HAD A FEW
MANNERS AROUND HERE,

RESPECTED OTHER
PEOPLE'S PRIVACY...

WHAT PART DID YOU READ, DADDY?

I READ NOTHING.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT SHE
THOUGHT AFTER ARVIN KISSED HER?

NO.

(phone rings)

OH, DEAR, NOW WHAT?

HELLO? OH, YES, YES.

JUST A MINUTE.
IT'S FOR YOU. RALPH.

BUD!

WELL, TAKE IT.

HELLO, RALPH.

YES, YES, I DID, AND IT'S
A BEAUTIFUL CORSAGE.

RALPH, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN
CLOSELY TO WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.

DON'T ASK ME WHY AND
PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND.

RALPH, I'M NOT GOING
TO THE DANCE TONIGHT.

OH, NO, NO, RALPH.
THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL.

PLEASE, RALPH, I ASKED
YOU NOT TO ASK ME WHY.

NO, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE.

I'M NOT GOING AT ALL.

PLEASE DON'T BE MAD.
I-I JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN.

BETTY, YOU DON'T MEAN THAT.
NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO THE DANCE.

WHY, CERTAINLY.

SHE'LL GO, RALPH.

A PRETTY DRESS, A NICE CORSAGE.

YOU'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.

PROBABLY BE THE
HAPPIEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE.

I KNOW, AND THAT'S THE TROUBLE.

I JUST COULDN'T
BEAR TO HAVE IT END.

OH, NOW, PRINCESS...
I JUST COULDN'T.

THE ONLY WAY I KNOW
TO KEEP IT FROM ENDING

IS TO NEVER LET IT START.

ALL THE OTHER DANCES,

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN ANOTHER
ONE TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

BUT NOT THIS ONE.

THIS IS THE LAST ONE...
THE GRADUATION DANCE.

OH, PRINCESS, JUST
BECAUSE YOU'RE GRADUATING...

I'D STOP THAT, TOO, IF I COULD.

I'D STOP ALL THE
CLOCKS, I'D PADLOCK TIME.

HOW AM I GONNA GET THROUGH
THAT SPEECH TOMORROW?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT
"VALEDICTORY" MEANS?

IT MEANS "FAREWELL."

FAREWELL TO ALL THE
THINGS I LOVE AND WANT.

THE KIDS, THE FUN,

THE CLASSES, THE
LIBRARY, THE DATES.

IT'LL ALL BE GONE FOREVER, DEAD!

I'LL NEVER HAVE THEM
AGAIN! NEVER! (sobbing)

NOW WAIT.

LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.

YOU MEAN AFTER I
SUFFERED IN THAT DRESS

ALL THOSE HOURS,

THAT CRAZY LOON ISN'T
GOING TO GO TO THE DANCE?

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAYS.

OH, BROTHER!

WAIT A MINUTE, MOM, THIS
DOESN'T CANCEL OUT THE LEMON PIE.

YOU'LL GET THE PIE.

OH. OKAY. SEE YOU LATER.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I'M GOING OUT TO...

THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME
WAY TO GET HER TO GO.

THIS IS NO WAY FOR A GIRL TO
END HER HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.

I'M GOING OUT TO...

IT'S NICE SHE HAD SUCH
A WONDERFUL TIME,

BUT YOU CAN'T CLING TO THINGS.

DAD, I... I'D GO UP
AND TALK TO HER,

BUT SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T
WANT TO HEAR A LOT OF STUFF.

I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING
BRIGHT TO SAY ANYWAY.

DAD, I'M... BUD, CAN'T
YOU SEE WE'RE TALKING?

YOU ASKED ME WHERE I'M GOING.

I'M GOING TO MRS. GEORGE'S PLACE

TO CATCH GOPHERS FOR HER.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT WITH GOPHERS?

SHE WANTS TO GET RID
OF THEM. CAN I GO NOW?

HONEY, MAYBE YOU'D
BETTER TALK TO HER.

YOU PROBABLY
UNDERSTANDS HOW SHE FEELS.

YOU HAD A GOOD
DEAL MORE EXPERIENCE

IN BEING A HIGH
SCHOOL GIRL THAN I HAVE.

WELL, I'LL TRY.

I DON'T THINK TALKING'S
GOING TO DO MUCH GOOD.

SHE ALREADY KNOWS
ANYTHING I CAN TELL HER.

ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT WHEN
THIS EVENING ROLLS AROUND,

SHE'LL SUDDENLY SEE
THINGS IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.

WILD HORSES WOULDN'T KEEP HER...

(phone rings)

YOU ANSWER THAT.
IT'S PROBABLY RALPH,

AND I'M TIRED OF TALKING TO HIM.

(chuckling)

HELLO.

OH, RALPH. NO, THERE'S
BEEN NO CHANGE YET,

BUT WE'RE WORKING ON HER.

AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

NO, DON'T YOU CALL
US. WE'LL CALL YOU.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD-BYE.

(door closes)

THAT'S STRANGE.
I CAN'T FIND HER.

CAN'T FIND HER?

SHE'S NOT IN HER ROOM ANYWHERE.

DID YOU SEE HER
COME DOWN OR GO OUT?

NO, BUT OF COURSE WE HAVEN'T
BEEN IN HERE ALL THE TIME.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHERE SHE WENT.

BETTY! BETTY?

OH, KATHY... OH, HI, DADDY.

HOW DO YOU LIKE MY
NEW THINKING PLACE?

FINE. HAVE YOU SEEN...

IT BELONGS TO ME AND BEAR.

ONLY TROUBLE IS,
NEITHER ONE OF US

HAS BEEN ABLE TO THINK
UP ANYTHING TO THINK ABOUT.

HAVE YOU SEEN BETTY LATELY?

MM-HMM. ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

SHE SAID SHE WAS
GOING FOR A WALK.

A WALK? WHERE TO? I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WHEREVER IT WAS, I DON'T
THINK SHE WANTED TO GO THERE,

'CAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE
SHE WAS SORT OF CRYING.

JIM.

KATHY SAID SHE WENT FOR A WALK.

OH? WELL, I FOUND THIS
IN HER WASTEBASKET.

HER SPEECH? IN THE WASTEBASKET?

YOU DON'T SUPPOSE... OH,
SURELY SHE DOESN'T INTEND

TO STAY AWAY FROM THE
GRADUATION TOMORROW.

OH, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
ISN'T IT? (phone rings)

OH, THAT RALPH. IT'S YOUR TURN.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S A GOOD DEAL MORE
DISTURBED OVER THIS THAN WE REALIZED.

HELLO? WHO?

OH. OH, YES.

WELL, NO, SHE'S
NOT HERE RIGHT NOW.

OH? WELL, WHAT TIME
SHOULD SHE HAVE BEEN THERE?

REALLY?

WELL, SHE MUST HAVE
GOTTEN THE TIME MIXED UP.

WE'LL TRY AND GET IN TOUCH WITH HER
AND HAVE HER THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I'M SORRY THIS
HAPPENED. ALL RIGHT.

SUPPOSED TO HAVE
BEEN WHERE? THE SCHOOL.

THEY'RE HAVING REHEARSAL AS
PART OF THE GRADUATION EXERCISES,

AND THEY ESPECIALLY WANTED
THE VALEDICTORIAN THERE.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BEEN
THERE HALF AN HOUR AGO.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK SHE'S KIDDING.

WELL, WHERE DO WE START
LOOKING? I HAVEN'T THE LEAST IDEA.

BUT WHERE TO LOOK?

SHE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT WITH ANY OF HER
GIRLFRIENDS. THEY'RE ALL AT THE SCHOOL.

KATHY SAID SHE LEFT AN HOUR AGO, BUT
YOU KNOW HER IDEAS OF TIME. (phone ringing)

OH, WHY ISN'T RALPH REHEARSING
WITH THE REST OF THEM

INSTEAD OF MAKING
THESE FOOLISH CALLS.

HELLO?

WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

BETTY?

WELL, WHERE ARE YOU?

YOU'LL NEVER GUESS.

NOT IN A THOUSAND YEARS.

SYCAMORE GROVE.

OH, I DON'T KNOW. JUST A
SUDDEN, STUPID IMPULSE.

I WANTED TO SEE MY THINKING
PLACE BESIDE THE STREAM AGAIN.

I GUESS I THOUGHT
IT'D SOLVE SOMETHING.

BUT IT DIDN'T.

OH, FATHER, I'M SO MIXED UP,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

BY TAXI, AND IT
TOOK ALL MY MONEY.

THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING YOU.

WELL, YOU WAIT
RIGHT THERE AND I'LL...

NO, WAIT BY THE STREAM.

I'LL BE RIGHT OUT.

SYCAMORE GROVE. WE
SHOULD'VE KNOW THAT.

IS SHE ALL RIGHT? OH, SURE.

POOR KID. REACHING
BACK INTO HER CHILDHOOD,

TRYING TO SLOW
TIME DOWN A LITTLE.

BUT THAT OLD TIME IS
PRETTY RELENTLESS.

I'D BETTER GO. I'LL
DRIVE OUT WITH YOU.

GOOD IDEA.

UH, NO, UH,

YOU BETTER, UH, TAKE
CARE OF THE HOME FRONT.

YOU GET HER DRESS
AND EVERYTHING READY.

I HAVE A HUNCH SHE'LL BE
NEEDING THAT DRESS TONIGHT.

(phone ringS) TELL OLD
RALPH TO HOLD EVERYTHING.

HI.

HELLO, FATHER.

I, UH, SUPPOSE YOU KNOW YOU
MISSED THE GRADUATION REHEARSAL.

I FORGOT.

I SUPPOSE I DIDN'T
REALLY FORGET.

WHY SHOULD I GO TO SOMETHING
THAT'S JUST GONNA MAKE ME SAD?

BY GEORGE, THE OLD
PLACE STILL LOOKS GOOD.

EVERYTHING ELSE
CHANGES AND ALTERS,

BUT SOMEHOW THIS SPOT
LOOKS JUST THE WAY IT USED TO.

IT LOOKS THE SAME,

BUT SOMEHOW IT DOESN'T SEEM

LIKE IT DID WHEN I
WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE I'M
NOT A LITTLE GIRL ANYMORE.

I'VE CHANGED.

DIDN'T IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT LIFE IS...

CHANGE?

IF SOMETHING STOPPED CHANGING,
IT WOULDN'T BE LIVING ANYMORE.

IT'S THE CHANGING THAT
MAKES IT STIMULATING

AND EXCITING AND CHALLENGING.

THIS IS NOTHING TO BE SAD ABOUT.

THIS IS GOOD. IS IT?

SURE. IT'S, UH...

WELL, IT'S LIKE THIS STREAM.

LOOK AT IT. WATCH IT.

SEE HOW IT FLOWS FREE AND FAST,

LIKE IT'S LAUGHING,
DANCING ON THE ROCKS.

THERE'S EXCITEMENT THERE.

HERE THE WATER'S
FRESH AND CLEAR,

AND ALIVE, BEAUTIFUL.

BUT LOOK DOWN THERE AT IT

WHERE THAT OLD LOG HAS
FALLEN INTO THE WATER.

DAMMED IT UP, SLOWED IT DOWN.

SHACKLED IT.

AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WATER?

IS IT FRESH AND CLEAR?

MUDDY AND MURKY.

THERE'S NO LAUGHTER.

LOST THE EXCITEMENT

OF DISCOVERING WHAT'S
AROUND THE NEXT BEND

AND THE NEXT ONE AFTER THAT.

STOP THE WATER COMPLETELY,
AND IT BECOMES STAGNANT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO
THAT TO YOUR LIFE, DO YOU?

THIS IS ALL VERY PRETTY, FATHER,

BUT YOU STILL DON'T
UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL.

OH?

LET'S TAKE YOUR
PRETTY LITTLE STREAM.

WHAT HAPPENS TO IT WHEN IT GOES

WHERE IT EVENTUALLY
GOES... INTO THE OCEAN?

WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

GETS ALL SWALLOWED UP,

MIXED UP WITH BILLIONS OF OTHER
DROPS OF WATER, DROPS IN THE OCEAN.

LOST FOREVER.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

WELL...

JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS...

YOU SITTING HERE ON THIS BANK
ASKING ME ALL THOSE DARN QUESTIONS.

IN OTHER WORDS,
I'M RIGHT. WELL...

AND THERE IS NO ANSWER.

LOOK, LET'S FACE IT.

I'M NO POET, NO PHILOSOPHER.

I'M JUST A GUY WHO
SELLS INSURANCE.

BUT I KNOW YOU'RE
MIXED UP ON ONE THING.

YOU THINK GRADUATION
IS THE END OF THE LINE,

A POINT WHERE THE STREAM
EMPTIES INTO THE OCEAN.

BUT IT'S NOT.

GRADUATION IS BACK THERE,
ONE OF THE FIRST BENDS.

THE BEST PART IS STILL
AHEAD. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?

DON'T YOU REALIZE ALL
I'M LOSING WHEN I WALK

AWAY FROM THAT SCHOOL
FOR THE LAST TIME?

BUT, BETTY... THINGS I
CAN NEVER, NEVER REGAIN.

OF COURSE NOT. YOU DON'T
WANT TO TRY TO REGAIN THINGS.

THAT SPOILS THEM.

JUST BE GRATEFUL

THAT YOU HAVE
WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

NOW YOU WANT TO
MOVE ON TO NEW THINGS.

TRUE, IT'S ROUGHER FROM HERE ON,

BUT THAT MAKES IT
MORE CHALLENGING.

THE REWARD'S GREATER.

LOOK, I KNOW THAT ALL THIS

SOUNDS TO YOU JUST LIKE WORDS.

I HAVE SOMETHING
HERE THAT MEANS MORE

THAN ANYTHING I CAN SAY.

WHAT'S THAT?

A BOOK.

"JUNE EIGHTH.

"LAST NIGHT I GRADUATED
FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

"NO, NOT FROM HIGH
SCHOOL, "FROM LIFE.

"I FEEL SO LOST IT HURTS
IN THE PIT OF MY STOMACH.

"IT'S ALL OVER. GONE.

"ALL THE THINGS I LOVE,
THINGS I CAN NEVER REGAIN.

"COULD I PRESERVE
THESE THINGS BY SUDDENLY

"VANISHING INTO THIN AIR?

SHOULD I CLIMB TO THE TOP OF
THE STEEPEST CLIFF AND HURL..."

GO ON.

THE AUTHOR NEVER
COMPLETED THAT SENTENCE.

THE NEXT ENTRY EXPLAINS WHY.

"JUNE NINTH.

"SORRY WE WERE
INTERRUPTED YESTERDAY, DIARY,

"BUT JIM CALLED.

"WE WENT ON A PICNIC AND
HAD THE MOST PERFECT TIME.

"WE LAUGHED OVER
THE SILLIEST THINGS.

I CAN HARDLY WAIT
TILL HE CALLS TODAY."

YOU KNOW WHO WROTE THIS?

SOMEONE YOU LOVE.
SOMEONE YOU RESPECT.

MOTHER?

YOU'D BETTER NOT EVER
LET HER KNOW I TOOK THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO BE
CONVICTED OF ROBBERY

OR INVASION OF PRIVATE RIGHTS.

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY
ONE THAT FELT THAT WAY.

WELL, SHE PROBABLY
THOUGHT THAT TOO.

BUT THAT WAS ON JUNE THE EIGHTH.

JUNE THE NINTH WAS
THE IMPORTANT DAY.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY

JUST HELD A BIG MIRROR UP TO ME,

AND SUDDENLY I SEE THIS
HALF-GROWN, AWKWARD,

GANGLING GIRL WITH PIGTAILS

WHO CAN'T SEE BEYOND
THE END OF HER NOSE.

YEAH, YOU'RE A MESS, ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK AWFULLY
HARD TO MAKE YOU LOOK ANYTHING LIKE

A VALEDICTORIAN TOMORROW.

OH, THERE'S ONE THING I HOPE.

WHEN YOU AND RALPH GO
TO THAT DANCE TONIGHT,

I HOPE YOU LOOK BETTER
IN THAT DRESS THAN BUD DID.

AND THE NAME OF THIS YOUNG LADY

WHOSE FINE RECORD OF
SCHOLARSHIP AND ACHIEVEMENT

HAS JUSTLY EARNED
FOR HER THE TITLE OF

VALEDICTORIAN OF HER CLASS

IS MISS BETTY ANDERSON.

BETTY, WILL YOU
PLEASE COME FORWARD?

I HOPE SHE REMEMBERS THE SPEECH.

SHE WASN'T AT ALL SURE OF IT
THIS MORNING. SHE'LL DO ALL RIGHT.

SHH!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
AND FELLOW CLASSMATES,

AS WE STAND ON THE
THRESHOLD OF LIFE,

FACING BEFORE US THE GREAT
ADVENTURE OF THE FUTURE,

OUR THOUGHTS TURN BACKWARD
WITH A WARM, NOSTALGIC FONDNESS

TO THE FOUR-YEAR
JOURNEY CULMINATING TODAY

WITH THIS GRADUATION.

BUT OUR SADNESS IN
LEAVING THIS HAPPY HOME

IS SOON LOST IN EAGER
ANTICIPATION OF WHAT LIES AHEAD.

THAT ISN'T HER SPEECH.

LIFE IS LIKE A RUSHING STREAM,

AND IT FLOWS FAST AND FREE.

DANCING OVER THE ROCKS, IT'S
CLEAR AND FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL.

WE HAVE REACHED ONE OF
THE FIRST BENDS IN THE RIVER.

THE COURSE BECOMES
MORE RUGGED NOW,

BUT WE ARE EAGER TO DISCOVER
WHAT LIES BEYOND THAT BEND

AND FLOW ON TO
EXPLORE THE NEXT BEND,

AND THE ONE AFTER THAT,

UNTIL WE'VE RUN OUR
COURSE AS RICHLY

AND AS FULLY AS WE CAN.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

I GOT A COLD.

CAUGHT IT OUT THERE
TRAPPING GOPHERS.