The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 4, Episode 13 - The Nurse - full transcript

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

JOHN-BOY: The joy
and pain of growing up

came to each of
us in different ways.

But no one endured
the experience alone.

And so it was when Mary Ellen
tried her first searching steps

away from her childhood.

It was a time of
joy and pain for her,

and for the rest of us as well.

So far it's been easy on us,

'cause at least we've been
able to do the things we like,

and still stay at home.



Yeah. I hope it's as
easy for Mary Ellen.

Well, at least the family
wants her to be a nurse,

and she's not gonna have to
spend any time convincing them.

She's just dying to go.

Who's that? Ike.

Mary Ellen.

Oh. You know, she's been in
and out of here 20 times a day.

What on earth is she expecting?

Graduation presents.

Uh, mostly a suitcase.

She's been afraid
she's gonna have to

go away to nursing school
with her stuff in a gunnysack.

Well, I don't know
about any packages,

but I think there's a
letter here for her. Here.



Miss Mary Ellen Walton.
JASON: Who's it from?

"University of Virginia, School
of Nursing, Charlottesville."

Oh, great. She's
been expecting that.

And there's a package here.
It's for your daddy from Richmond.

Everything's coming in today.

Is that for us, too?

No, this is for Miss Nora
Taylor, Public Health Nurse.

Yeah, we know her.

I think it's some supplies

from the Center Hospital
in Norfolk, Virginia.

It's been here a couple of days.

Well, does she know it's here?

Well, there's no way for
me to get in touch with her.

She's up at the Basham's place.

I guess there's somebody
pretty sick up there.

Well, I'll take it
up there. Sure.

Well, I'm sure she'd be
obliged. It's no trouble.

And listen, you tell Mary Ellen

that if any packages
come in here

that... that even remotely
look like a graduation present,

I'll personally
deliver them to her.

She'll be happy to
hear that. Thanks, Ike.

See you later. Okay.

Hey, Jim-Bob.

What's the matter with you?

I'm watching out for Mary Ellen.

They working on
that trunk over there?

You ought to see
it. It's looking good.

I'm gonna take a look
at it. See you later.

JASON: Hey. What
do you think of it?

It's real snazzy.

It's better than that.

I'd say it's almost
professional-looking.

Well, coming from an almost-writer,
I guess that's good enough.

We'd be all but finished if we
had that hardware from Richmond.

Oh, there it is.

How about that? It came today.

Hey, you got the
hardware, huh? Yeah.

Wow, look at this.

Well, that's even prettier

than it looked
like in the catalog.

You think she'll like
it? Oh, sure she will.

I think if it helps her
get out into the world,

she'll be crazy about it.
She's just busting to go.

Yeah, I'll bet she'll be busting to
come back when she gets homesick.

You gotta remember,
this is a big moment

for your sister, going
off to nursing school.

You're getting old, Daddy.
Three down, four to go.

Yeah, and I'm next.

(ALL LAUGHING)

You got a long way to go, Son.

Who's the package for?

Nora Taylor.

I've got to deliver
it to her later.

You sure did a good
job with this suitcase.

Yeah, we're kind of proud of
it ourselves, if we do say so.

Yeah, well, considering
what we had to start with,

it doesn't look too
home-made, does it?

No, it looks real professional.

Well, it's practically worn out.

We've had to hide it
one place and another

so Mary Ellen wouldn't find it.

Well, she may need
it before too long,

'cause this came for er today,
from the School of Nursing.

I'll be up in my room.

Mary Ellen's gonna
make it just fine.

I told you that the
day she was born.

(CHUCKLES)

JIM-BOB: Hi, Mary Ellen.

(EXCLAIMS) Open it.

Here, hurry.

(DOOR OPENING)

John-Boy, it's me. Hide this,
quick. She almost caught us.

All right, uh, I'll
put it under here.

No, not under there. You can
see under there from the hall.

Mama! Look at this letter!

I'll be right down, Mary Ellen.

Hide it. Where?

Uh, anywhere!

I'll put it under the
desk. No, not there!

You said anywhere!

Mama! Where are you?

I'll be right there.
Put it in the closet!

I'll come up!

No, no, no! Stay
there, I'll be right down!

There's no room in the
closet. Oh, John-Boy.

This is it, Grandma! This
is what I've been waiting for!

Yahoo! I'm gonna be
going, I'm gonna be going!

Mama. Mama,
hurry up. Here it is.

Well, there she is. All grown
up and ready for the world.

I wonder if the world's
gonna be ready for her.

Wait, wait. Listen to this.

"Entrance examinations will
be held for a two-day period,

"and arrangements can be
made for out-of-town applicants

"to stay at the Nursing
School overnight."

I'm gonna be going,
Mama! I'm gonna be going!

Oh. That letter's been
a long time getting here.

Yeah, but it got here.
Never any doubt in my mind.

What's all the
celebrating about?

Look, it came. I got it.

Mary Ellen got her letter
from the School of Nursing,

just like I said she would.

Does this mean
you're going away?

For two days to Charlottesville
to take the exams,

and then I'll be back for a
couple of days to pack, and then...

And then I'll be
going off for school!

If you're gonna stay overnight,
you're gonna need a suitcase.

Or a sack or something.

We used to have an old
suitcase around here someplace.

Where is it? That
old suitcase...

It's probably stuck
away somewhere.

It'll take a month of
Sundays to find it. I'll go look.

Mary Ellen, uh, listen.

I'm gonna go up the hills and see Miss
Nora. I've got to deliver some supplies.

Why don't you come up
and give her the news?

You tell her about the exams.

(STUTTERING) Oh, I'm sure she'd
much rather you told her yourself.

We'll help you look for
that old suitcase later.

All right. Let's go.

Here, Grandma, hold on
to this. And don't lose that.

Give me that. Come on, John-Boy.

Elizabeth. Elizabeth!

Well...

MARY ELLEN: How'd you
like to ride up here every day

like Miss Nora does?

(JOHN-BOY WHISTLES)

Well, according to Ike, she's
been staying up here, mostly.

Somebody's sick at the Basham's.

You reckon your entrance
exam's gonna be tough?

I'm not worried about it.

You know, college
was a lot harder

than I thought it was gonna be.

This nursing school
could be the same way.

Well, I don't care if it is.

I just want to ride
off this mountain,

down into the rest of the world.

Well, it's down there, honey.

All around, everywhere.

Well, I'm just tired of
hearing people talk about it,

and taking
everyone's word for it.

I wanna be there!

(CHUCKLES)

Afternoon.

We're looking for
Miss Nora Taylor.

We've been looking
for Miss Nora Taylor.

She's caring for
my daughter-in-law.

Essie's took down
with something.

Sorry.

I hope she'll be better soon.

Been so long now her man's gone.

Ain't nothin' I can do for her.

Ain't nothin' I can
do for anybody.

Howdy. Hi.

How are you?

Tired.

That came in for
you at the post office.

Oh, I needed these things.

We figured you might.

I'm mighty grateful to you both.

You're welcome.

Is Mrs. Basham very sick?

She's had a rheumatic heart
condition ever since she was a child.

It's gotten progressively worse.

JOHN-BOY: We won't keep you.

But Mary Ellen did have
a piece of news for you.

Day after tomorrow, I go into
Charlottesville to take my nursing exams.

Oh, Mary Ellen, I am glad!

I wish you were
a nurse right now.

If there were 50 of us in these
hills, it wouldn't be enough.

Well, thank you both.
JOHN-BOY: We'll be seeing you.

Keep well. Stay well.

Bye-bye. Afternoon.

Is that your mule?

Yeah. His name's Blue.

How come you call him
Blue when he's white?

Well, we tried
to get a blue one,

but they're pretty
scarce in these parts.

We'll be seeing you.

MARY ELLEN: Well, I
need some kind of a suitcase.

Even that old wreck would
be better than nothing.

Well, I don't know where it is.

Are you sure you looked
all over in the attic?

I told you I did.

Well, then it has to be in here.

GRANDMA: (WHISPERING) Erin.

Keep her away from the house!

Where?

The barn. Get her to the barn,

and keep her there
till I call you, all right?

What if she doesn't wanna go?

Well, just...

Just tell her
something's in the barn!

What?

Oh, Good Lord, Erin.
Dream up something.

Well, it was here,
and now it's gone.

Now who would have
taken that beat-up old thing?

I remember now.

The last time I saw it,
well, it was in the barn.

You think so?

Well, we've looked
everywhere else.

Might be.

Well, if it's in here,
Myrtle's probably eaten it.

Well, maybe it's in
that corner over there.

(MOOING)

Ready down there?

Is the coast clear?

She's in the barn.

Where? In the...

Then up and at it,
fellas, and lose no time.

Take the ice cream over to
the porch. Over to the porch.

Put them on the steps.

Sure is heavy.

How many quarts did
you make, Grandpa?

Well, there's enough
for you to have a taste

after I have my usual share.

Ben, now, don't you dip
your finger into that ice cream.

Zeb, you and the boys get on
the bottom step with the ice cream.

Oh, no, first... first get the
bench out of the kitchen.

Come on, Ben. GRANDMA: Ben?

Here you go, Ma.

Oh, that's beautiful.

You just put it right there,

so that it's the first
that thing she sees.

Ma, now you boss
of this work crew?

Well, it's a special
occasion and... and,

well, I just want
everything to go just right.

JOHN-BOY: Well, I'm
not arguing with you.

Good! Where do you
want this, Grandma?

Right here. Put the bench...

Put the cake on the bench.

(ALL CHATTERING)

It's not here.
Well, keep looking.

Well, we've already looked
everywhere. Maybe we missed it.

You can't miss a suitcase.

GRANDMA: Mary
Ellen, we found it!

I wonder where.

Mary Ellen.

We're coming.

ELIZABETH: Is she
coming? Try to look natural.

Here she comes.

Okay. Com on, sit down.

(CLEARING THROAT)

Surprise!

ALL: Surprise!

OLIVIA: Like Grandma
said, we found it.

Oh, it looks brand new!

Yeah, Grandma and Mama
sort of fixed it up together.

ELIZABETH: Me
and Erin helped, too.

They both pitched in.

I can't believe it!

Now you can go
away and stay away.

You sure that's what you
meant to say, Jim-Bob?

Well, it didn't come out
like I thought it in my head.

Oh, it's beautiful!

You'll be the only girl in
school with a hand-made trunk.

You even put my name on it!

"Mary Ellen Walton!"

Hey, she knows how to read!

It's a requirement in
nursing school, Ben.

Here, I wrapped it myself.

I can use some pencils.

Yeah, well, I got the kind
with the biggest erasers

'cause I figure you're gonna
be making a lot of mistakes.

Jason! Jason!

Here, that's for you.

It's a book.

Don't tell me.

It's the story of
Florence Nightingale.

She's supposed to be
the idol of all the nurses.

I haven't read it.
I hope you like it.

You're all just awful!

I don't know what to do.

And a bouquet.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Yeah, Grandpa, is
the ice cream ready?

It's perfect, but, of course, I've
forgotten how to make any but perfect.

(GRANDMA EXCLAIMING)

I just don't know
what to say. It's just...

Oh!

Come on. I'll cut the cake here.

Good luck.

I want a piece of that cake.

Don't I get a hug?

The room sure is gonna
feel empty when you're gone.

Oh. Just think of all the
extra space you'll have.

But it still won't be the same.

You'll get used to it.

What are you doing?

Well, I thought as soon
as you get your stuff out,

I can move mine in.

Well, you could
wait until I leave.

I mean, I'm not even gone yet.

Are you taking
your bed with you?

You want that, too?

Well, as long as
you won't be using it.

I thought you were
going to miss me.

All you want to
do is get rid of me

so you can take over my things.

No. We're all gonna miss you.

But, well, I just thought,
anything you wouldn't be using...

Well, anything I
leave, you can have,

but wait until I'm gone.

What are you doing with that?

It's your baseball glove.

I know.

Can't I have it?

Elizabeth, at least you could
have waited until she was gone.

Can I help?

With what?

I know a worried
man when I see one.

You know, Liv,

when the boys were
testing their wings,

you used to stay up all night,

and I'd tell you not to worry,

they know how to take
care of themselves.

But now it's Mary Ellen.

She's your baby
girl, and it's different.

She always has been.

She's a young woman.

She's strong, capable, sensible.

She's ready to make
a life of her own.

Of course she's ready.

Spent her whole life on
Walton's Mountain, protected.

Liv, there are things out there,
there are people out there,

she doesn't know anything about.

Wanna go out there with
her, take her by the hand?

Hmm?

Would you like me
to walk in with you?

No, I'd rather go in alone.

All righty. Good luck.

Thanks.

Excuse me. NURSE
COLLINS: Good morning.

I'm Mary Ellen Walton.

I'm here to take the
entrance examinations. Ah.

Are you planning to
spend the night with us?

Well, they said I
could in the letter.

That's an
interesting-looking suitcase.

Oh, thank you. My mother
and my grandmother made it.

That is, they sort
of made it over.

Here we are. Mary Ellen Walton.

All right. Come
with me, Mary Ellen.

Thank you.

(SIGHING)

This will be your
bed for the night.

Joyce Parish is here to take the
exams, too. She's up from Richmond.

Joyce, this is
Mary Ellen Walton.

Our cafeteria is
in the basement.

Lunch is at 12:00
and dinner at 6:00.

Where do we take
the examinations?

The first one is about
to start in 45 minutes.

And that'll be in classroom 102.

That's just to the left of the
reception desk, where you came in.

102 in 45 minutes.

Oh, everything will seem very
strange and confusing at first,

but if you have any
questions, don't be afraid to ask.

Thank you.

Are you scared?

I was at first, but
not so much now.

Well, do you know anybody here?

No.

Neither do I.

I wish I was home.

Well, if you were home
you'd wish you were here.

(SIGHING)

I've been wanting this as
long as I can remember.

Have you?

Yeah.

Well, she said it would be a
little strange and confusing at first.

Tomorrow you'll be fine.

I sure hope so.

Livie, you are a mind reader.

Guess I'm not much of one. I
thought it was just you and Grandpa.

Ah, sweet cider.

Only two glasses. Well,
that's okay. Jim-Bob will go

to the house and get some more.

Guess I'll never be older than
him, get to run him around some.

(JOHN EXCLAIMING)

Here, you hold it, then.

This one's for Grandpa.

All of it's for Grandpa.

Aren't you the lady that came down here
with coffee and this noon with sandwiches?

Got my eye on the
man that works here.

Could Mary Ellen leaving
have anything to do with that?

Could be.

I guess when one
of them goes away,

you want to be
closer to the others.

I don't understand these
questions. (SHUSHING)

(WHISPERING) But I don't.

Well, they're perfectly clear.

Not to me.

Well, you just take this on down
the hall, and your questions, too.

The admissions nurse
will have to help you.

Go on, now.

I was taking the test
and I had some questions.

Well, these deal with algebra
and some beginning chemistry.

Well, I haven't had
either of those courses.

I'm sorry, but we have rules
here that are really not flexible.

They simply will not bend.

You mean there's
no way I can pass?

Well, this work is quite good,

but without math and science,

you can't enter nursing school.

Well, this is a fine
time to find out!

How was I supposed to know?

Someone should have told you.

Well, someone didn't tell me!

Do you have any idea how much
we need nurses where I come from?

Miss Walton.

You have some things to learn.

I know. I get told
that all the time.

About math, about science,

and about admissions nurses.

You do not shout at them.

I'm sorry.

I know better.

It's just that I got so mad.

Angry.

And I really can't blame you.

I don't think I can
understand these books.

Someone will have to tutor you.

Who?

You'll have to arrange
that on your own,

and you will, if you
want this badly enough.

When you think you can answer
the questions, you come back to us.

You make it sound so easy.

Well, I don't mean to.
Nothing about this is easy.

You have to truly want
to become a nurse.

I've always wanted that.

You be sure of that.

Some girls come to us

when all they really want
is an excuse to leave home.

Mary Ellen, they told me
you called. What happened?

I don't wanna talk about it.

What, something go wrong?

Dumb school! They
don't tell you anything!

Mary Ellen, what happened?

If I talk about it, I'll cry.

There's nothing wrong with that.

(CAR APPROACHING)

Mary Ellen! Something wrong?

Is something wrong, honey?

That school is so dumb.

They expect you to know stuff
and they don't even tell you!

(SHUSHING)

It's gonna be all right.

Easy, easy.

(SHUSHING)

I'm so dumb I couldn't
even take the test!

I don't believe that.

Well, they had all these questions
about stuff I'd never even studied.

Honey, that's not
the end of the world.

That school will
be there for years.

You can make those
subjects up, can't you?

Mary Ellen!

Mama, don't even
ask me what happened.

Mary Ellen, what happened?

There were questions
about algebra and chemistry

and stuff I'd never
even heard of!

What kind of stuff?

Subjects like John-Boy
didn't even have in school.

He got into college.

And those are the subjects
he's having fits over.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

May I come in?

I don't care.

Sorry, I thought
you'd finished crying.

I have.

I'm sorry, John-Boy.

I'm sorry I was so mean to you

after you came all the way
from Boatwright to get me.

Don't be silly, you
weren't mean at all.

I felt so ignorant.

Nobody in the world knows
everything. That's for sure.

Don't you think you can do it?

You should've seen
this place, John-Boy.

It was the cleanest, the
whitest place you ever saw.

And the nurses, and the student
nurses, and even the walls...

They just gleamed.

Really something, huh?

Sure was.

And there was such order

and such beautiful simplicity

and such purpose.

I sound crazy, don't I?

(SIGHING)

Everything I want, and
here's what's stopping me.

It's in these two books.

Math and science.

I have to get them somehow.

How hard do you want to work?

Like a mule.

"Like a mule" might do it.

Would you like me to help you?

D-C angle equals a... Yeah.

That's right.

Right. Now, look. See, you
got ahead of yourself there.

I did not! Yes, you did.

You missed a step from
there to there, right there.

Well, what difference does it make
as long as I get the right answer?

How do you know you
got the right answer?

'Cause I looked it up. See?

I know it's in the back of
the book. That's not the point.

You're supposed to
get the right answer,

but you're also supposed to be able
to prove how you got the right answer.

Why? I don't know. That's
what they ask you to do.

Look, here's the example, and
here's the proof right there, see?

You just do it. All right.

If we ever get through this algebra
stuff, which I' m not too sure about,

we're going to be in a lot of
trouble when we hit chemistry,

'cause I'm terrible at that.

I know.

Have you spoken
with Mrs. Fordwick?

No.

I guess I'll have to.

I just wish there was some way

I could cut through
all this book stuff

and just go right to nursing.

Well, there's
probably tons of stuff

in these books
that you don't need.

You ought to talk to
somebody who's taken the test

and knows exactly how much math

and how much science
you need to pass.

Someone like Miss Nora.

Well, sure. She's probably
had to take the exam.

Of course she has. Why
don't you talk to her about it?

Yeah.

Hey, that's a really terrific
idea, John-Boy. Thanks.

I have them all the time.

How's Mrs. Basham feeling?

She don't seem to
be picking up none.

I'm sorry. I hoped
things were better here.

Only so much a mortal can do.

MARY ELLEN: Hello there.

You want I should
fetch Miss Nora for you?

If she's busy, I can wait.

She said to stir
it now and again.

You can read, I'll bet.

I'll bet you could, too,
if you got the chance.

Mama, she wants I should read.

She's bad off now.

I'll bet she's real
proud of the way

you're helping Miss Nora.

If you don't cost a
cent, I can afford you.

I could say the same to you.

I can't get into nursing school

until I know what's in them.

I know.

If I could tell you
why, I'd be glad to.

You'll study all this and later

after you start your training.

We can help each
other, Miss Nora.

I'll do all I can around here if
you'll help me with these courses.

You have any idea how
much I need your help?

We just keep saying the
same things to each other.

It's far from easy, Mary
Ellen, and it's far from pleasant.

I can start now, can you?

Be careful. Don't
drag it in the dirt.

Hang it up there in the sun.

That way they'll smell
good when they're dry.

MARY ELLEN: I'll never be able
to study it all, I just won't have time.

NORA: There's no need to.

A lot of things in these books

aren't covered in
the examinations.

That's what John-Boy thought.

Maybe if I just covered
the important things.

It's just a matter of
sorting out what you'll use.

They won't ask you any
questions on chapters five and six.

Chemistry of metals,
you'll study that later.

Poisonous elements,
that's important.

Chemistry of food,
you'll wanna know that.

When will I ever use
algebra in nursing?

On one important occasion.

To pass your entrance exam.

NORA: Gently...
Put you on your side.

Easy.

You must have
brought more blankets.

Yeah, we had some extra ones.

Pull it tight.

Close your eyes.

You better watch
it, you're next, kid.

(LAUGHING)

All right.

(MOANING)

It's okay. You're dreaming.

It's okay.

It's okay.

I have someone here
who really wants to see you.

Who?

My big girl.

I'm right here, Mama.

MARY ELLEN: She's
a real big help to us.

Miss Nora and I, we
depend on Violet a lot.

(MOANS)

OLIVIA: Mrs. Basham
feeling any better?

It's hard to say.

Mary Ellen's working wonders
keeping her comfortable.

How are the studies?

Oh, you've got no worry there.

And she's a great help to me in
every way. She's mighty willing.

Oh, she's a worker,
if she gets the notion.

Tell us, Miss Nora, what with Mary
Ellen working along with you and all,

do you think she's
right for nursing?

Oh, she's gonna
tell us that, John.

Believe me, if she's
right or wrong for it,

Mary Ellen will be
the one to tell us.

Bye now. Bye-bye.

Maybe I better get some supplies

and run them up to
the Basham place.

Old Lait Basham would rather
starve to death than accept a handout.

I'll work on that
when I get up there.

Elizabeth, don't pull any of the big
ones. They're about to go to seed.

Give me some of the nice,
sweet, little, juicy, young ones.

Thank you, Grandpa.

Looks like a boy at school.

Oh, yes. It does
look like Oscar.

Give me some more of them.

What about the turnips?

JOHN-BOY: There's a lot
of activity around here today.

Daddy and I are taking some
supplies up to the Bashams.

Miss Nora's making
her rounds up in the hills,

so Mary Ellen is alone up there
now taking care of Mrs. Basham.

I will stay with her to
help in whatever way I can.

Now here's enough vegetables
to last them for a while.

Put in the cornmeal?

Cornmeal and flour.

This is about the finest ham to
come out of the smokehouse, Pa.

Which pig was it?

Petunia, I think. But
for sentimental reasons

I don't keep track of who's
who in the hams anymore.

Hope the milk keeps.
It's a long way up there.

It'll be all right. Just
wrap it wet and cool.

Goat's milk lasts
longer than the others.

John-Boy, I got a great
idea on how to make us rich.

I'm gonna start calling you
"Make A Million" Walton.

No. This is a real
good idea. Really.

If we grow a goat
as big as a cow,

(LAUGHING) it would
give ten times as much milk.

That's a great idea, as
long as it's a nanny goat.

You try milking a billy
goat the size of a cow,

he'll butt you from
here to Saint Louis.

GRANDPA: Ready
for you, John-Boy.

Ben, you hurry
up with that milk.

You talk to Myrtle, Grandpa.

Myrtle... (IMITATING
GOAT BLEATING)

Would you? Could you?

Papa! Papa! A horse is coming.

Now you'd hardly
know this place, Daddy.

Mary Ellen has sure done
a job of work around here.

Got a ways to go, Son. Lait!

John.

Sorry to hear about Essie, Lait.

She's took right bad.

Hoped things
might be looking up.

No, sir.

Lait, uh,

I'm kind of short on rock
maple. I got me a special order.

Can you spare a couple of trees?

(CHUCKLES)

Trees is all I got, John.

Kind of short on cash, too.

How about you take some
garden truck and ham and such

until I come up with some money?

Fair enough. Fair enough.

Come on, Son. Help me out.

Yes, sir.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

How is she?

About the same.

Daddy's here.
He'd like to see you.

Could you, uh, go outside for
a minute and speak with him?

Oh, I can't leave her now.

I'll stay with her
while you talk to him.

All right. Just sit with her.
That's about all you can do.

All right.

Hey, Daddy. Hello,
honey. How are you?

Oh, I'm fine.

You're looking tired.

No, it's a good kind of tired.

I feel like what I'm
doing is worth something.

It's like I just suddenly
woke up to life.

You gonna stay on up here?

As long as I'm needed.

You come home
as soon as you can.

John-Boy will stay with
you till you're ready, all right?

All right.

Hey, you! Hey!
What're you doing?

I need that leg, you.

(LAUGHING)

(SCREAMING)

Get out of here.

Oh, we've got them cleaned up, and
they're learning to work some, but...

They're gonna have to find
their own way out of here.

Looks like they
got a ways to go.

You should've seen her, Liv.

She looked like a
regular grown up woman.

She is.

In a week or so?

I imagine it
happened little by little.

Growing up does.

I just can't think of
Mary Ellen that way.

I remember when
we used to talk about

her graduating from high school.

Now here it is.

Liv, why does it
bother me so much?

Just remember, a son is
a son till he takes a wife.

A daughter is a daughter
for the rest of her life.

Yeah, well...

Before you know it, some
guy will be around here

asking me if he can marry her.

That'll come, too.

Yeah.

Well, he's gonna have
to be some kind of man.

(OLIVIA CHUCKLING)

(SCOFFS)

It's awful early.

But it ain't cold a bit.

It's a quiet time,
peaceful time.

Try and remember
it that way, Violet.

That's dew on things
this early time of day.

Tiny little water drops
waiting for the sun.

I'll bet your mama
told you that.

Mothers do that.

They tell you all the nice and
pretty things when you're little.

And you always remember
what your mama tells you.

You have it with you
your whole life long.

Even when something happens
and your mama has to go away,

you can remember
what she told you,

and you can bring
her back to you.

Is Mama gone?

She tried so hard, Violet.

But she was tired and weak.

She didn't want to leave you,

but she just had to.

Does Mama still hurt?

No.

And she'll never,
ever hurt again.

It's all right to cry.

I think your granddaddy
needs you now.

I was worried about you.

It was a hard time.

I figured something was wrong.

Mrs. Basham died.

Mary Ellen was with her.

I got the circuit preacher
to take care of everything.

You all right?

I never really
understood before.

All my life I've
heard grownups say,

"It's best,

"she won't suffer anymore."

And all I could think
about was, "She's dead.

"She won't live anymore."

And what about the kids?

Violet.

She's not much
older than Elizabeth.

She's the oldest now.

I'm just tired.

I saw everything she did, Mama.

You'd have been proud of her.

I am.

What are you doing
home from school?

Got a cold.

What are you
looking at, big eyes?

I was just thinking, you know
after you go to nursing school,

and Erin will probably
get married or something,

well, then I'll have
the room all to myself.

And then one day I suppose
you'll be going away, too?

I guess so.

You know, when I
was at the Basham's,

it was as if I'd
already left home.

It was kind of scary.

And then I'd think
about the house.

The way the sun hits the
windows in the morning,

the sound of Mama and Daddy's
voices when they first get up,

the way we all say good night,

how good it feels to all sit
around the table together.

When I go away to nursing school

I'm gonna remember
all those things.

Then maybe I'll
grow up and be brave.

Mary Ellen, you're the
bravest person in the world.

No, I'm not.

I just talk like I am.

JOHN-BOY: By summer's end,
Mary Ellen had been accepted

at the School of Nursing
of the University of Virginia.

All of us watched her grow
through those difficult weeks

as she gathered the knowledge
and maturity she needed.

At the end of it, Mary Ellen knew
that nursing was to be her life.

And as long as she pursued it,

it was rewarding to her and to
everyone who knew her as a nurse

and loved her as a person.

(ERIN SCREAMS)

OLIVIA: Erin, was that you?

ERIN: There's a cricket
in my bed! A big fat cricket!

Jim-Bob, did you
put that in Erin's bed?

Jim-Bob?

(GRANDPA LAUGHING)

JASON: (LAUGHING)
It was Grandpa.

Mary Ellen, I wish I could
go away to school with you.

ELIZABETH: So do I. I'd
have my very own room.

JOHN: Everybody go to sleep.

I'm gonna get you, Grandpa.

(GRANDPA LAUGHING)