The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 1, Episode 6 - The Star - full transcript

Walton's Mountain
is as old as the Earth itself.

For countless centuries,
it has quietly shouldered

the sky above the land
on which our family

settled, built, and flourished.

Through all its seasons,
through all the great

and small eventsof our lives,
the mountain was changeless

as fixed and as permanent
as the glittering stars above.

And then there was an evening
in the 1930s which started

all of us wondering how fixed
or permanent anything is

even a star.

It's nice.



I've always been partial
to twilight.

We used to call it
"in the gloaming."

You've been so quiet,
I forgot you were there.

I'm still here.

Jim-Bob's it.

-Ben, come out and play.
-I've got to study.

We're having a spelldown in our
class and winner gets a medal.

-Are you gonna be the winner?
-I'm sure gonna try.

Come out and play when
you finish. We're having fun.

I promised myself I'd write
at least 1,000 words

in this tablet every day.

I don't really have anything
to write about.

- Come on, Ben!
- Careful. Jim-Bob's it!

-You're it!
-Look.



The first star.

Starlight, starbright,
first star I see tonight.

I wish I may, I wish I might,
have the wish I wish tonight.

Everybody make a wish.

-Not me.
-Why not?

No star 67 million miles away
is gonna get me what I want.

Did you make a wish?

-I'll bet I know what it is.
-Don't tell!

I won't, and I hope it comes true.

Come on out, son.

Plenty of good seats left,
and they're all free.

Finished what you've been doing?

Seems like I never finish, Mama.

There's always more to write
than I ever manage to set down.

Well, then you'll pick it up
and carry on.

-I guess I will.
-There's no end to it.

Like counting the leaves
on that old oak tree.

That's right, Grandma...

or even the stars
in the sky tonight.

Zeb, what is it?

Look!

Up there!

Did you ever see
the like of that?

You know, Grandma, if it hits
the ground, it's a meteorite.

Looks like it landed
right near here.

Close to the Baldwins, I'd say.

Where are you going, John?

I'm gonna have a look
at that star.

-Me, too.
-You coming, Grandpa?

Grandpa, you gonna come with us?

I think I'll stay here, John.

Zeb, what's wrong with you?

What could possibly be wrong

with a man that's lived
as long as I have?

You children. You're not going
anywhere but to bed.

-But it's so close!-Please!

We could go a lifetime and never
get this close to a star again.

Two Waltons chasing after
a shooting star

is more than enough.
Come on.

-Wasn't it pretty, Mama?
-Beautiful.

It's beautiful and sad.

The end of something.

Everything has to come
to an end sometime.

You all right, Grandpa?

I have seen
better days, daughter.

Sister and I were relaxing
after our dinner.

-Another quiet evening alone.
-I was embroidering.

And I was reading
Pride and Prejudice.

No one writes like Miss Austen.
To read her words

is like having a dear friend
drop in for a leisurely visit.

Suddenly we heard
a strange noise.

Like whistling,
only it was extremely loud.

And there was a brilliant light
flickering outside the window.

We rushed over
to look out

And whoosh!

Right through the roof it went.

We were terrified.

Exhilarated.

Sister wanted to send
for Sheriff Bridges, but I said

"No, let's have a look first."

opened the door,
and there it was!

Our star.

Isn't it magnificent, John-Boy?

I sure never thought
I'd get that close to a star.

You must make a wish on it.

I already have.

So have I.

It's lucky it didn't hit
one of you.

Papa would never have
permitted that.

Your papa was a right powerful
man when he was alive.

But as for controlling
the stars--

This star is a gift
and a sign from Papa.

Why, just look where it landed.

I think we should all have
a little of the Recipe...

in honor of Papa
and our star!

Mr. Walton?

Well, I wouldn't mind,
this being a special occasion.

Isn't this a treat, Sister!

Sister, we have more company.

-How nice.
-Come in.

Do come in and share our joy.

John-Boy.

What are you doing
out of bed?

Did you really get
to see a star?

-I sure did.
-I wish I could've gone.

That star's special to me.

Why is that?

You sure it was that particular
star you made a wish on?

I'm sure.

Do you suppose some time
you could take me to see it?

I got to fix the Baldwin ladie''
roof for them.

You could come along then.

Thanks.

Now I know my wish
is gonna come true.

When I left that place,
there was a hole in the roof

a star on the floor, and
the Recipe flowing like water.

Shameless old bootleggers!

Can you imagine two women
bootlegging whiskey?

Grandma, they don't think
they're bootlegging whiskey.

They're following
their papa's recipe.

They think it's
some kind of cordial.

It's too bad that star didn't
finish off that still of theirs.

-It missed it by inches.
-More's the pity.

Oh, powerful
western fallen star

Why did that star fall
where it did and when it did?

I don't know, Grandpa.
What do you think?

I think the whole drooping star
in the west--

He's half asleep. He should've
been in bed an hour ago.

Come on, Zeb. Come on. Alright.

-Let me help you.
-Nothing.

-Good night, you two.
-Good night, Grandma, Grandpa.

-Something's wrong, John.
-He's just tired.

I'm afraid
it's more than that.

Think we ought to get
Doc Shackleford?

If he's not better
by morning, yes.

after its daring robbery

of a Greencastle,
Indiana bank yesterday.

Closer to home,
stargazers last night

had a rare treat when a
meteorite blazed a fiery trail

across Jefferson County

on the property
of the Baldwin sisters.

The celestial visitor crashed
through the roof

of the Baldwin residence but
property damage was minimal.

In Washington,
Secretary of the Interior..

Are we gonna hear about
the Baldwins even on the radio?

Come on, Mama.
Where're Grandma and Grandpa?

Your grandpa wasn't feeling
too well last night.

He's still in bed.

-Hurry up, John-Boy.
-How come you're in such a rush?

I never thought I'd see
my children so anxious

to get to school.

What's so important
about school suddenly?

-I want it to be a surprise.
-Alright then, surprise us.

Now, scoot!
All of you!

Ben, wait,
you forgot your lunch.

Thanks.

Is today the day
your wish is gonna come true?

Maybe.

It will.
I just know it will.

One of the greatest sights
in the world

is to see your children
marching off to school.

John, I'm worriedabout your pa.

Is he still feeling poorly?

Well, he says he just doesn't
feel like getting out of bed.

I've never seen him
like that before.

Grandma says
you've declared a holiday.

Is that what she says?

Why, you've been working hard
helping me in the sawmill.

No, that isn't it.

You've earned a rest.

I guess maybe I have.

Grandpa, you feeling bad?

No, not just now.

Last night, sitting out there
on the porch

there was a sudden catch

just when that
shooting star fell.

Then it stopped.

And I haven't felt
so bad since.

You feel there's some connection
between that star

and the way you feel?

I do.

Maybe I should ask
Doc Shackleford to stop by.

He's got better things
to do than that.

He can give you an exam.

Examinations and doctors

cannot interfere with
the natural course of things.

There's nothing natural about
you being too tired

to get out of bed.

I haven't heard one of Doc's
long-winded stories

in a long time.

Maybe I'll ask him
to stop by.

As you please, son.

-Chief. C-H-I-E-F. Chief.

Ought.

Ought.

A-W..

G-H-T.

That is not correct. Ben?

-Ought. O-U-G-H-T. Ought.
-That's right.

Sorry, Melanie.

Hoist.

Heights?

Hoist.

Hoist.

H-O-I-S-T. Hoist.

Believe.

B-E-L...

E-I-V-E. Believe.

Sorry.

-Ben?
-Believe.

B-E-L-I-E-V-E. Believe.

That is correct.

Well..

We have only two competitors
left for the medal.

But we really have to get onto
our American History.

George Washington
is expecting us at Valley Forge.

Suppose we continue
the spelldown between

our two finalists tomorrow.

That'll give you time to study
the words in the last section.

Alright.

Yes, Miss Hunter.

I'm so pleased
with the fine showing

of the fourth grade in general.

The speller who proves
himself or herself

worthy of this medal tomorrow

will certainly have good reason
to be proud.

I got you.

Quiet.

Where are your sisters?

I want you children to play
outside and try to keep quiet.

Is something wrong?

Grandpa's not feeling well.

Dr. Shackleford's coming over
after he delivers

Mrs. Thurston's baby.

Can we go in and see Grandpa?

After the doctor comes, Jason.

I had promised the children
I'd take them somewhere today.

But I guess maybe
we'd better stay here.

Where were you
planning to take them?

-To see the star, Mama.
-Maybe even touch it.

Just this once, mind you.

Mind what John-Boy tells you,
and don't be late for supper.

Okay, thank you. Let's go.

Put those things
on the back porch. And be quiet.

Ben, now, quiet.

I was planning to do that.

How's Grandpa?

The same. Just lying
in there like he was...

waiting.

Come here now.
Come on, let's go.

Don't walk on the grass, Ben.
Come on.

Stay together now.

Halt!

You are trespassing
on private property.

Did you indeed?

You'll have to come back
another time.

I am now in the process of
working out a suitable schedule

of exhibit hours and
admission fees for the public.

But, mister...

There will be announcements
in the local papers.

Perhaps handbills as well.

-I'm John-Boy Walton.
-We are not impressed.

John-Boy!

You've brought along some of
your dear brothers and sisters

to see the star.

-Isn't this lovely?
-You've met Cousin Polonius?

Cousin Polonius has come
all the way from Richmond

to share our joy.

And to lift the burden of
responsibility

from these
fragile feminine shoulders.

I'm sorry, the children are just
so anxious to see the star.

Of course they are.
Come in. Come in.

There it is,
a piece of the heavens.

A real honest-to-goodness star.

You wouldn't believe the people
we've had here, John-Boy.

Everybody's heard about it
on the radio.

Everybody wants to seea real
honest-to-goodness star.

There were two
university professors.

A dreadful man from a carnival
who wanted to buy our star.

Can you imagine?

He wanted to put our beautiful
star in his freak show.

As if Sister and I would ever
sell a gift from Papa.

And only a few minutes ago,
there was a representative

of the United States Army.

He was claiming this
and demanding that.

I was feeling
quite intimidated.

But Cousin Polonius
dealt with him.

He dealt with all of them.

-Is it okay to touch?
-Of course, dear. Go ahead.

Aren't you gonna
touch it, Elizabeth?

Not this time.
I want you to have all the luck.

You two got a secret?

Ben made a wish on the star.

I didn't touch it,
so he'll have all the luck.

Good luck, Ben.

All things considered, Zeb,
you're in very good condition.

That pain you had

could have been a spasm
in your muscles right here.

As far as I can tell,
there was no damage done.

Is there something else bothering you?

Something you haven't
told me about?

Ben, I am not what
regular churchgoers call

a religious man.

But throughout the years
I have had my beliefs.

I've learned to recognize
His will and accept it.

-You feel you've had a sign?
-I do.

Zeb, you're too vigorous a man
to be laid low by a sign.

My advice to you

is to get up out of this bed
and start living again.

Physically, he's amazingly sound
for a man his age.

Then why has he taken
to his bed?

There's a verypowerful medicine.

Works all kinds of wonders.

Unfortunately, no doctor can
write out a prescription for it.

Some people call it
"the will to live."

It's helped Zeb Walton
do things

that would exhaust somebody
half his age.

Kept him full of energy
and interest.

You mean he's lost that?

He had a severe pain
near his heart

and at the same instant,
he saw that star fall.

Some people think
a falling star means death.

Zeb Walton is one of them.

The house is so still.

Is Grandpa gonna die?

Now listen, children.

I know you're worried
about Grandpa. We all are.

But mooning around like this
isn't gonna help a bit.

Now, I want you to go to school
and pretend it's a normal day.

How're we supposed to pretend
like it's a normal day?

He might really be sicker
than we know.

Liv, what do you think?

I think you children
will be better off at school.

-Please, Mama.
-Never mind please. Come on.

I can be just
as stubborn as you.

You can think yourself
to death if you want to.

But I'm gonna think you alive.

-Did you ask him about the star?
-He won't talk about it.

I'm gonna try something.

Once that old man
gets an idea in his head

dynamite won't blast it loose.

Morning.

Good to see you looking
so much better.

Do you remember that big,
old white oak tree

that stands by itself on
the banks of the Cyclamen River

up on the mountain?

As long as I can remember,
that was your favorite place.

Pa, I'm gonna need your help
in the sawmill today.

If I'm going to get a regular
contract for the railroad ties

I got to deliver a load
before this day's over.

-They're pushing you too much?
-I can't do it myself.

-But you and me together.
-Don't count on me.

-Now, Grandpa...
-Maybe John-Boy.

If you'd just get out
of this bed and feel the sun

on your face.

Why did you ask me about
that old oak?

Now that time
is a whole lot of years away.

Maybe tomorrow.

Maybe the next day.

You felt a twinge,
you saw a star fall.

That's no reason to stay in your
bed and pick out your grave.

Shooting star means death, son.

Pa, that's just an old notion.
No one's ever proved that.

Mark Twain said that he came in
with Halley's comet

and he would go out with
Halley's comet. And he did.

And I have proved it for myself.

he was the soundest man
in this county.

And one evening, we were coming
home from a barn raising.

He was joshing and laughing.

And then all of a sudden,
in the sky

right up there above us,
there was this shooting star.

I watched his eyes.

They just trailed on
to the ground.

Next morning, he was dead.

His heart failed him,
that's all.

He knew that shooting star
meant that his time had come.

I saw it in his eyes.

Now, my time has come.

Advice.

A-D-V-I-C-E. Advice.

Guard.

Guard.

G...

G-U-A-R-D. Guard.

Very good.

It's obvious Ben and Nancy
have studied well.

Height.

H-E-I-G-H-T.

Success.

S-U-C-E-S-S.
Success.

I'm so sorry, Ben.
That's an incorrect spelling.

Nancy?

This is Col. Tecumseh Henderson
of the Bluegrass Hendersons.

-John-Boy Walton.
-How do you do, sir?

I'll take the Colonel in for his
first glimpse of the star.

Yes, please do.

We're so fortunate, John-Boy.

The Colonel is a publicrelations genius

and as an old friend
of Cousin Polonius

he has agreed to help us bring
the Baldwin Star to the public.

That's great.

P.K., I don't see much money
in it.

With the proper promotion,
we can draw a good crowd.

Touring hick towns
for nickels and dimes.

No, I'm getting
too old for that.

So am I.

You got anything better
to suggest?

No.

P.K., what is this?

In the family, it is always
referred to as "the Recipe."

It's the best sour mash
I've ever tasted.

-Who made it?
-The old ladies.

-You don't mean it.
-They don't know it's whiskey.

They call it
"the recipe."

I call it perfection.

-What's the secret?
-The Recipe Machine.

One of a kind.

P.K., why waste our talents
trying to promote

an oversized cinder,
when we can take this still

and operating
through my connections...

we can clear more in a month
than we can make in a lifetime

with the star.

I've thought of that,
but it wouldn't work.

take their papa's machine...

unless....

unless...

-Star was a warning from Papa?
-No doubt of it.

Why else, out of all
the millions of places

in the universe,
did it strike here?

A fiery finger pointing.

Pointing? To what?

A fiery finger pointing.... Boy!

Take a rest.

Are you saying
that Papa was pointing

to his Recipe Machine?

Don't you see, my dears...

your papa, wherever he is...

has made an agonizing discovery.

distributing it to others
is wrong.

-Wrong?
-Even sinful.

-I can't believe that.
-Neither can I.

What could be wrong
and sinful...

about our lovely,
heart-warming cordial?

I asked myself
the same question.

"The cordial gives pleasure,"
I said.

So it must be a good thing.

But your papa's spirit
chided me:

"That's the reasoning
of the Devil, Polonius.

"Don't be gulled by it.
Be strong.

"It is your duty
as a Baldwin...

"to save mytwo deluded daughters...

"from the subtle corruption
of that cordial."

You heard Papa say
all that?

As clearly as I hear you
right now.

Now, this machine has to be
dismantled and removed.

All those bottles of the cordial
there have to be disposed of.

Then this room can be made
into a shrine.

The star will have
fulfilled its mission...

and your papa's troubled spirit
can be at rest.

-What do you think, Sister?
-I don't know.

I was so happy
when the star came.

It seemed warm and beautiful.

But now, Sister...

it looks almost ugly.

-Don't feel bad, Ben.
-I wanted that medal so much.

John-Boy's gotten awards
for his writing.

Mary Ellen got this
for her racing.

And Jason got second prize
for playing harmonica.

Erin got this for sewing.

And Jim-Bob got this for the
funniest costume at Halloween.

And this is yours
for learning Bible verses.

You said the girl couldn't
spell the word either.

Well, we both missed it.

-You still have a chance.
-I won't win.

You don't know that.

If the wish
was gonna come true

I wouldn't have
missed it at all.

-How's Grandpa doing?
-No change.

You finished at the Baldwins'?

I just barely made a start
and then they asked me

to go home.

Something wrong?

It's Cousin Polonius.

I purely hate
and despise that man.

I mean it, Grandma. He's got
Miss Mamie and Miss Emily

all upset about their star.

I don't know.
He says it's a sign

that what they've been doing
is a sin.

Them two? What kind of sinning
could they do?

They make the Recipe,
and he says that's a sin.

-You ever heard of such a thing?
-He's right.

-Mama, come on.
-You know my feelings.

Seems to me
everybody around here

is hell-bent on tying
that star up

with wrong-doing
and sinning and dying!

Why can't you see it
as a good thing like I do?

-Where are you going?
-I'm gonna chop some wood.

I wish I could
make up my mind

what the star falling
means to me.

Or even whether
it has a meaning.

Couldn't it be something
as natural...

as green leaves turning red
in the fall

or water freezing to ice
in the winter...

melting in the spring?

I only wish Grandpa
could see it that way.

I couldn't sleep
worrying about Grandpa.

Come on in.

I thought I'd study
my spelling.

Sure.

-Okay for a little while?
-Yeah.

This is what I should've done
instead of counting

on that star.

It kind of let you down, huh?

Do you think sometimes
when wishes don't come true...

it's our own fault?

I wouldn't be surprised.

-John-Boy...
-Yeah.

If I thought of an idea for
a story and I wrote it down...

would you read it?

Sure, Ben, you know I would.

I've come over to ask a favor.

You know anything we can do
for you and your family...

we will.

It's about my father.

Such a fine gentleman.

There's no one in our
acquaintance who can sing a song

quite like your father.

Especially when he's had
a sip or two of Recipe.

Oh, Emily.

That Recipe has produced
a lot of good music.

Oh, my, yes.

How Papa loved to harmonize
over a glass of Recipe.

It always seemed
like one of life's pleasures.

But if Papa's come to think
it's wrong and sinful....

Why would your Papa think that?

Well, Cousin Polonius
seems to think that...

that's what Papa meant
by sending the star.

It came as
a warning to us.

Stop making the Recipe,
take down the machine.

Cousin Polonius is going
to remove the temptation.

He and Col. Henderson
have gone to secure a truck.

Now, you ladies are sure
that Cousin Polonius

has your best interests
at heart?

Oh, yes,
and he knew Papa.

Almost as well
as Sister and I did.

So if he says this is why Papa
sent the star, it must be so.

Emily, Mr. Walton
came to ask a favor.

Yes, I'm sorry.

-Oh.
-Oh.

-Hey, Daddy.
-Son, what are you doing home?

Thought I'd slip away
from school during lunch recess

to see how Grandpa was doing.

-He's still in bed?
-What are you carrying in there?

I got here some medicine
from the Baldwins.

John Walton, you're not bringing
bootleg whiskey into this house.

It's stronger medicine
than that.

Grandpa, I got something here
you should see.

What is it?

Now, what do you think it is?

Looks to me like a piece
of burned-up old coal.

-A clinker.
-It's your star.

What? I don't believe it.

I thought since this made you
take to your bed...

and shortened your life
and filled your mind

with gloom and graveyards...

you might wanna take a look
at this heavenly piece of junk.

Why, I fail to understand it.

And when we bury you up there
on Walton's Mountain...

could be the Baldwin sisters
will let you...

keep that thing
and put it on your grave.

John, now you stop.

Could be we could have an epitaph:

"Zebulon Walton,
killed by a falling star...

-"2 miles from where it hit."
-John, this is hateful.

Say goodbye to your grandpa.
Let him lay back

fold his hands,
and die in peace.

Now, that's enough of that!

You might be aware
that you're not the only one.

You've got company, you know.
Miss Mamie and Miss Emily

haven't picked out their
gravesites yet...

but they're letting their
Cousin Polonius...

cheat them with this clinker
here out of their Recipe

Polonius Baldwin? Is he here?

That low-down, no-good, cheap,
conniving son of a sea cook!

Getting a truck now
to take away their temptation.

I don't believe
the Baldwin sisters...

should let go of their daddy's
old Recipe Machine.

Just too bad you're stuck there
in that bed

'cause they have such
a high regard for you...

that you could probably
change their minds.

But you're too busy dying.

Esther, get me a clean shirt.

John-Boy, you were right.

Easy, Colonel, easy.

I can't bear to look
and I can't bear not to look.

Believe me, ladies, once this
temptation has been removed...

it will be as though a great
weight had been lifted from you.

I do feel a heaviness
in the heart.

To change this room,
to send away Papa's things.

Oh, Sister.

You hold your horses
there now a minute, gentlemen.

Oh, Mr. Walton.

What a lovely surprise.

Kindly lay
your burden down, men.

It is a concern of mine.

These lovely ladies
are treasured friends of mine

since their girlhood.

And I'm not one
to stand idly by...

and watch a conniver walk away
with their happy inheritance...

cousin or no cousin!

The ladies have seen
a new light.

You mean...
Excuse me.

You mean the light
from this star?

As a matter of fact, yes.

That star came smashing
from the heavens...

like a great fiery fist
destroying the wellsprings

of wickedness.

But it didn't.
That's the point.

It did not smash
or destroy one thing.

That star came millions of miles
from God knows where...

and I say that reverently...

to fall through your roof
and land here on the floor.

And it did not destroy
or graze...

one thing in this wellspring
of friendliness...

or smash one single jar
in these well-stocked shelves.

-Sister, that is true.
-Yes, it is.

I am through looking for signs
in the course of nature.

A maple tree drops its leaves
doesn't mean the tree is dead.

And a falling star
is a falling star.

If we make anything more of it,
it's our fault, not the star's.

My boy convinced me that we can
think ourselves into anything.

That is my thinking.

The warning
is perfectly clear.

Why, that star just nestled in
here just as light as a feather

and landed here. If it did
bring any kind of a message...

it was "enjoy" not "destroy."

And the message to come through

was not one of sinfulness
or wickedness.

It was the star wished to find
a lovely, happy home

to make its landing. And what
could be more appropriate

than the Baldwin place?

Oh, Mr. Walton

Papa himself
could not have said it better.

You are making
a terrible mistake, ladies.

I am shocked
that you would let

an outsider
come between Baldwins.

Oh, Cousin Polonius,
Sister and I both know...

Then you must not be influenced
by a stranger.

I spoke to Sheriff Bridges
on the way over.

Yeah, that's right.

He did say he's coming by to see
the star shortly, didn't he?

How very nice.

Now where is Col. Henderson
going, Cousin Polonius?

We have several important
transactions...

pending in the capital.

It is obvious that our efforts
to be of help here

are a waste of time.

Ladies.

Sister, I do fear we have
offended Cousin Polonius.

Don't be alarmed, ladies.

As I recall it, Cousin Polonius
has a very forgiving nature.

At any rate,
Papa's Recipe Machine is safe.

I think this is an occasion
that requires a celebration...

with some of the Recipe
made by Papa himself.

Oh, Sister!

The 1925 or the 1927?

Well, let's have
a little of both.

I declare now.

Here we are.

Mr. Walton, the '25.

And we'll give you
a little 1925, too.

-Yours is the first.
-I'll take the '27.

As soon as I mentioned
the word "sheriff"...

Polonius and his crony took off.

Leaving the Recipe Machine
and the star in the hands

of its rightful owners.

You stayed there long enough,
I was beginning to worry.

That's good.

Makes you happy
to worry me, old man?

Sure, because I know how much
you enjoy worrying about me.

Mama! Daddy!

What is it, honey?

-What have we got here?
-A medal, Daddy.

-Ben won it.
-Best speller in whole class.

A medal.

-Isn't that something.
-Look at that beautiful thing.

You must have worked
mighty hard for this, son.

-I did. Didn't I, John-Boy?
-You sure did, champ.

You come on over here with me.
I'll show you where to put it.

We're just gonna put
that right here.

Dead center.

-Congratulations, son.
-Thank you, Daddy.

It was not every day that a
star fell on Walton's Mountain

but nearly every day
brought some small miracle.

The beauty
of the turning seasons...

and the constant revelation
of all that lies

in the human heart.

Over it all loomed

the unfailing love of our
mother and father...

more constant than the stars
in their courses.

What holds a star up in the sky?

They're stuck up there
on something.

What makes one fall?

They burn out like
electric light bulbs.

How come you're so much
smarter than me?

I'm older.

Good night, Jim-Bob.
Good night, Elizabeth.