The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 4, Episode 6 - The Breakdown - full transcript

JOHN-BOY: Suffering in silence
was not a popular pastime with me,

nor my brothers and sisters.

Feelings, good and
bad, in the Walton family

were customarily
laid out for everybody

remotely concerned
to see and hear

and hopefully to adjust to.

Sometimes, of course, we did
hide our true feelings out of hurt.

And once, in the case of my brother
Jason, out of a refusal to believe

he could have such bad
feelings against his older brother.

OLIVIA: Jason, let me help you.

JASON: Oh, I can manage.



What is going on out
there? Nothing's going on.

I'm on my way to work.

Here.

Will you please just
all go back to bed?

Mama, why is Jason mad?

Maybe I should
sleep in the barn.

Maybe we should be glad you
don't play a bass drum or a bull fiddle.

All right. Go back
to bed, Elizabeth.

But, Mama... Now.

Come on, Jason, I'll
fix you some breakfast.

Mama, I don't have
time for breakfast.

If I'm not out there, you know
Bobby's gonna start honking.

Let him honk.

Mama, I'm not hungry, and
I really don't have the time.



Seems like lately there's
never any time for food or sleep.

Now I want you to sit yourself
down. I'm gonna fix you some eggs.

GRANDPA: Hey, what's going
on here at the crack of dawn?

Is this a late snack or an
early sunrise breakfast?

See, I got everybody up.

GRANDMA: I've been
wide awake for hours.

Oh, to hear her tell it, she
hasn't slept in 50 years, 52 years.

She's afraid she'll
miss something.

(HONKING)

Well, that's Bobby.

Jason, this will
only take a minute.

Mama, I can't. See you tonight.

Oh, Jason, don't forget
my request, I'll Fly Away.

We'll try to work
it in, Grandma.

GRANDPA: Esther,
it can barely be 5:00.

We got time to spend another
hour or so in bed. Come on.

No, no, I'm not sleepy.

When somebody gets me
up with the chickens, I'm...

Well, all right, if this
old chicken is gonna

stay up, this old
rooster will do likewise.

A little... Oh, get dressed.

Get dressed. Okay.

(DOOR CLOSES)

♪ One bright morning

♪ When this life is over

CHORUS: ♪ I'll fly away

♪ To a place ♪ On
God's celestial shore

CHORUS: ♪ I'll fly away

Come, Mary Ellen,
sit down and listen.

It'll do you good.

I like them better as
the Haystack Gang.

♪ When I die ♪
Hallelujah bye and bye,

CHORUS: ♪ I'll fly away

♪ Yes, I'll fly away ♪

Well, friends and neighbors
out there in radioland,

that just about winds up this
session of your favorite hymns

with yours truly, Bobby Bigelow,

and all the Sunrise Gospeleers.

We played that last
soul rouser there

especially for Mrs. Zeb Walton,

who just happens
to be the grandma

of our lead guitar
player, Jason Walton.

Hope you enjoyed
that, Mrs. Walton.

Oh, I did. I most certainly
did. BOBBY: Okay, friends...

Talk louder, Esther.

They're over in Charlottesville.

(CHUCKLING) I said...

family Bible for just $2.95.

And, as a special
bonus, we'll be sending

along a special
true-life photograph

of all your Sunrise Gospeleers,

personally autographed by
yours truly, Bobby Bigelow.

Well, that's about all the
time we have for this morning,

but we'll be back again
tomorrow morning,

same time, same station.

So when you hear
that old rooster crow,

you pile out of bed
and join us, won't you?

BOBBY: Till then, so long, and
may the good Lord take a liking to you.

You know, Livie, I
just feel so proud.

My grandson bringing church
music to all those people.

The hymn-playing and
the Bible selling are fine.

It's that other part
that worries me.

You mean the Haystack Gang?

For 30 minutes every morning,
they're the Sunrise Gospeleers.

The rest of the time
they're the Haystack Gang,

playing barn dances
and old honky-tonks.

The longer he
stays with that gang,

the longer my
prayers get each night.

No need to worry, Liv.
He's just getting experience.

It's what kind of experience
he's getting that worries me.

Well, orders for Bibles
are coming in real good.

And, Jason, don't forget

to send one of these, uh,
pictures along with each one, okay?

Yeah, Bobby, I don't mind
doing my fair share, but...

You're doing more than that.

And believe me, I'm
not gonna forget it.

Well, don't you think everybody
should pitch in a little more?

Well, everybody is, but, Jason,

you're the one I can depend on.

I can't commence to tell you
how much that really means to me.

Well, I'm glad
you feel that way.

Well, you... you're my
good right arm, you know,

whether you're playing that
guitar or addressing these labels

or, uh, doing this fan mail.

Yeah, that's another
thing, this fan mail...

Is very important.

We take care of these people,
they're gonna take care of us.

Jason, them friends and
neighbors out there in radioland

are the most important thing.

Without these cards and
letters coming in everyday,

what's gonna remind
this radio station

it needs Bobby
Bigelow and his gang?

It's very important,
very important.

Yeah, it just takes up so
much of my time, though.

It's time well-spent, Jason.

Take my word for it.

Look at me jawing
at you, when you got

20 better things to
do than listen to me.

I got my own bases to cover.

I'll see you tonight.

Um, I'll be by to pick
you up about 6:30, 6:45.

We'll go over and set
up for the dance tonight.

Okay.

I doubt if I'll be
through here by tonight.

HOADLEY: You, there.

Let me have that.

Those spines are so fragile.

I'm sorry, sir.

What are you
doing in the stacks?

I have an appointment
with Dr. Hoadley.

Secretary said I could
find him down here.

Well, you have. I happen to
enjoy the company of books.

Who are you? John Walton, sir.

I'm applying for the NYA job.

I hope I didn't harm the book?

Uh, no. No.

Just what qualifies you to
work back here with me?

Any previous experience?

No, not really.

Except maybe as a customer.

I love books.

I don't spend as much time
as I'd like to in the library.

I certainly could use the money.

If you'd like to speak with Professor
Parks in the English department

and maybe Mr. Fletcher
down at the newspaper,

I'm sure they'd
give you a reference.

What's your connection
with the newspaper?

I'm... I'm what
you call a stringer.

I sort of fill in, you know,
special assignments.

That sounds like very
uncertain employment.

That it is.

But I like it, and it would give
me plenty of time to work here.

You like books, do you?

I think I can honestly
say that the only thing

I enjoy more than
reading is writing.

I'm working on one now.

There are enough
books in the world already.

I know what you mean.

And maybe some day you'll
have room on your shelves

for just one or two of mine
if they're good enough.

What's your major?

Journalism.

Ever thought of Library Science?

No, not till now.

Well, maybe you should.

Natural choice for a young
man who finds pleasure in books.

I can't imagine a more
challenging or rewarding vocation.

And naturally, in selecting a
young man for this NYA job,

I would tend to prefer someone

who would dedicate
his future to the work.

I can understand that.

Well, you think about that.

In any case, it's quite
nice to meet you, John.

Thank you. NYA will
notify you in a day or two.

All right. Excuse me.

(GIGGLING)

Now, what's that?

What kind of food do we have?

JOHN-BOY: Well, it smelled
like stew. I knew it was.

All right.

Oh, Mama, that looks so good.

Here, sweetheart.

Okay. Here we go.

Don't spill it, Elizabeth.
Let's see now.

Erin, I think it's your
turn to say grace.

Should I wait for Jason?

We could all starve
waiting for Jason.

JOHN: Go ahead, honey.

Thank you, Lord, for
giving us this nice day

and for letting each
of us go his own way.

And thank you for letting
us all be gathered here

to enjoy this good
food and company.

Amen. ALL: Amen.

You said that very well, Erin.

JOHN: Very nice, honey.

It has been a nice day.

I've seen 30,000 days,
more or less, good or bad,

long and short, and nary a one
of them has been like the other.

Jason, got time for
some supper? Here he is.

Oh, sorry, Daddy. I haven't.

Then make time.

Mama, I can't.

I promised Bobby
I'd be ready early,

so I could help set
things up for the dance.

Some things are more important

than promises made
to Bobby Bigelow.

Now you sit yourself down
and take some nourishment.

(CAR HORN HONKING)

I'll have this on
the way. Jason!

See you all later. John!

Now, honey, it'd be nice
to have all the children

sit with us all the time,

but when a man has a job
to do, he's got to get it done.

This catch-as-catch-can musician's
job is no good for a growing boy.

JOHN: Remember the time John-Boy
got involved with that marathon dance?

OLIVIA: What's that
supposed to mean?

There's all kinds of
growing to be done, Liv.

Well, I know the kind of
growing I want for Jason,

and I'm gonna tell him,
and he's gonna listen.

"In the distance, flowing
over the pine trees

"from the swamp over
the..." Over the pond?

"In the distance, flowing over
the pine trees from the swamp,

"came the many-voiced
choir of frogs.

"Once only came the
saddest sound in the world,

"the single unanswered
voice of a whippoorwill.

"But there was
no one to hear it,

(FOOTSTEPS PATTERING) "for
everyone in the house was asleep."

You going out or you coming in?

Lately, I'm never sure.

Well, good night.

Good night.

That boy is so tired, he can hardly
put one foot in front of the other.

Why aren't you in school?

Well, after the radio show, I
decided not to go to my classes.

Jason, you are so rundown, I worry
about you every minute of the day.

(SIGHING) I'm just so
far behind in my work,

I thought I'd give myself
a chance to catch up.

The way you've been
overdoing it, you'll never catch up.

Now you march
inside and upstairs

and put on your
pajamas and pile into bed.

Mama, I'm not sick.
I'm just a little tired.

Go on, now. Do
like I say. Come on.

Oh, Mama, I can't.

Jason, I don't want an argument.

Mama, I have all that
fan mail to answer,

and... and then I have to
send out a dozen Bibles,

and then I gotta get
some music written

so that I can face
Professor Thaxton tomorrow.

Now you hear me out.

You've spread yourself too thin.

You take on one more job,
you'll likely disappear altogether.

Now, your Mama's right.

You've been galloping
off in 10 different directions.

Now, you gotta make up your mind

whether you want this,
that, or the other thing.

Well, trouble is,
Grandma, I want it all.

This, that, and the other thing.

Well, it can't be.

Now, you've got
to make a choice.

Now, you stick to your
hymn-singing and your studies.

And forget about playing dances

and honky-tonking all over
the country with Bobby Bigelow.

But Bobby's depending
on me, Mama.

And... And, besides, the
money's good and I'm learning.

Anyway, I gotta get busy.

The morning's almost gone
and I won't have done a thing.

JOHN-BOY: Well, I'm certainly
grateful for the chance, Dr. Hoadley.

I intend to give it my best.

If at any time you feel I'm not
doing something I should be doing,

then you just let me know
'cause I wanna learn about it.

It pleases me and it reassures
me to hear you say that, John.

You won't find your
work too difficult.

Arranging these books,
filing them in the stacks.

This will be your desk.

You know, John, there
is an opportunity here

for the right man to get
far more from this job

than just a little paycheck.

Well, a little paycheck is gonna
be a mighty big help, though.

I'm glad, but I think
that you will benefit

from this in the
larger way as well.

Yes, sir? You have imagination.

Yes, sir. Sometimes too much.

It takes imagination
to appreciate

what working in a
library really means.

I'm sorry to say that
too many of my staff

immerse themselves
in the routine,

the detail, filing,
the cross-filing.

It's all very important
but it's only a part

of a true librarian's vocation.

We are the custodians of
the thoughts, the theories,

the hopes, the fears of all men

for over the last 3,000 years.

It's quite a responsibility.

You know, I
sometimes think of us

as the pharmacists of the mind

and the spirit.

A man or a woman
need a prescription.

They want comfort or pleasure

or information or inspiration,
so they come to us.

We reach into the collection
and we find the medicine.

Are you familiar with the
poetry of Emily Dickinson?

Sure.

Here's one that every true
librarian should know by heart.

"There is no frigate like a book

"To take us lands away

"Nor any coursers like a page

"Of prancing poetry

"This traverse may
the poorest take

"Without oppress of toll

"How frugal is the chariot

"That bears a human soul!"

Hmm. I don't know that one.

Well, you think about that

the next time you're cross-eyed

from working with
your card-index,

you're bored with your filing,

your back is aching,
shoving these book carts,

and you remember

that even though you're
starting here in a basement library

somewhere in
the hills of Virginia,

all these books lead us back

to those who cared for the
great library in Alexandria

and even to those who started
the collection in the Vatican.

I hope I'm up to it.

I think you'll make
a fine librarian.

Uh...

(PLAYING PIANO)

I'm wasting your time.

I just didn't have
time to finish it.

You're doing too many things.

You have to devote yourself to the
reason you got a scholarship here.

I don't know. Maybe I am.

It's just that everybody's
expecting too much from me.

You and my family and
Bobby Bigelow, everybody.

You're wearing too
many hats, Jason.

Pick one, put the
others in the closet.

Maybe I should just
forget serious music for now

and let you help somebody
who has the time and the energy.

Sooner or later, you
will have to choose.

I'll see you at the
usual time on Monday.

Thank you.

Jason,

it's no crime to
admit limitations.

Everybody has some.

Everybody?

You never met my big brother.

Evening. Two tickets?

Okay, here you go.

Hi. Hey, Betsy.

Want to buy a ticket?

Oh, Ralph will get the tickets.

Where's that beautiful man?

Who might that be?

Why, my dreamboat,
Bobby Bigelow.

Oh. Well, he's over
there someplace.

BETSY: Oh, don't
you just love his smile?

Makes you feel all
warm and glowy inside,

but at the same time
it gives you chills.

Oh, I hadn't noticed. I could
just look at him all night.

Here you go. Have a nice time.

Hey, you. I seen you
talking to my girl just now.

Oh, you... you mean the... the
girl who just went by here? Betsy?

How come you know her?

Oh, I knew her
in school. A little.

Just how little?

Uh, very little. It
was a small school

and, uh, you knew
everybody. Very little.

Betsy is my girl,
you understand?

So don't get any ideas.

Look, I haven't got
time even for ideas.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(SIGHS)

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)

(MEN WHOOPING)

(ALL CHEERING)

Bobby, when you play like
you do, I just get wobbly all over.

BOBBY: Well, sugar, maybe
you ought to see a nerve doctor.

Now, wobbly knees usually
calls for medicine not music.

Now, don't you go
teasing me, Bobby Bigelow.

I just never did hear
nobody play so darn perfect.

Girl, you are a
true music-lover.

Say, uh, Jason,

you didn't give us very much
on that last guitar break, son.

JASON: I did the usual.

You behave yourself, Ralph.

I told you to stay away
from that grinning git fiddler.

I'm gonna go get
a bottle of pop.

I don't take my orders
from you, Ralph Sorly.

Let go of my arm.

Ow. Bobby, he's hurting me.

You're coming with me right now.

Hey, you let go of her.

MAN: Come on, you
guys. Come on, break it up.

BOBBY: Don't get
up, Jason. Come on.

MAN: Yes, yes, yes.

BETSY: Ralph!

Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!

Now what's this all about?

This guy's asking for trouble
and he's about to get it.

What do I smell on
your breath? Hey!

Corn liquor?

I bet I know where the
rest of this pint is. Come on.

Out!

Oh, Jason. You were so brave.

Wasn't he just
the bravest thing?

Yeah, bravest thing I ever saw.

Hey, you didn't jam your
picking hand, did you, partner?

Oh, you poor, sweet
thing. Does it hurt?

Some.

Oh, you poor thing.
Oh, I'll take care of it.

You don't have to.

Well, it's the least I can do,

after you... you stood up for
me and practically saved my life.

After the next set.
Floor show's over, folks.

Time for a little
bit of music here.

Come on. Play. Come on.

It's all over. Just a little
dancing and a song, that's all.

Gather around, folks.
Gonna pick one for you.

One, two, three, four.

BOBBY: Good night,
Betsy. Good night, Bobby.

I'll just be a minute. Okay.

Now stay close to me, Jason.

I don't think you ought to worry
about Ralph being around here.

Well, if he is, he'll
take to his heels.

You showed him who
was the better man.

Oh, I was just lucky.

Jason, I'm so glad we're
back together again.

Well, here you
are, safe and sound.

You're in such a hurry to go,

a body would think you had
another girl waiting somewhere.

Well, it's just that
Bobby's in a hurry and...

You should know, I'm
a very jealous person.

Good night.

I do believe this has been the
most important evening of my life.

(HORN HONKING)

See you later.

Uh, Jason, wait.

My Papa-Daddy's not home.
You just can't leave me alone.

I've gotta get home!

Well, I'm afraid
to be by myself.

Suppose Ralph is
just waiting out there.

(HONKING)

Betsy, I really don't
think you have to worry.

You could take me home with you.

I can't do that!

Well, then you'll just have to
stay here and look out after me.

(SIGHING)

Jason, please.

Oh, all right. Go
on ahead, Bobby.

And take care of my guitar.

You're every bit as kind
and understanding a gent

as I figured you must
have been in high school.

I don't know what my
family is gonna think.

Well, heavens, you're a man.

Men often stay out all
night, like my Papa-Daddy.

You mean, he may
not come home at all?

Oh, he has some old girl
he likes over on Route 29.

Over by Witt's store.

Where's your mama?

Mama went to heaven
in July of the year 1931.

But that means that you and...

That means that you'll
sleep out here on the swing

and I'll sleep inside.

We'll be just like Clark
Gable and Claudette Colbert

in It Happened One Night.

Betsy, I... I really don't
think I ought to stay after all.

I know who I'm gonna
be dreaming about.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

What's wrong?

Jason hasn't come
back from the dance yet.

The way that Bobby Bigelow
drives that car just gives me the chills.

No, no. If it had been an
accident, we'd have heard.

Yeah, that's right.
We would have.

Well, uh, does...
does John know?

He and John-Boy are
out looking for him now.

You have a sensible boy,
and he's gonna be all right.

I'm gonna start the coffee.

(CAR APPROACHING)

They didn't find him.

No sign of him.

Well, what could've
happened to him?

Well, we rousted
the sheriff out of bed,

and it seems there was a little
trouble at the dance last night.

What kind of trouble?

Ah, Jason sort
of got into a fight

with a fellow
named Ralph Sorley.

Was Jason hurt? Sheriff
said no one was hurt.

A deputy confiscated
Ralph's bottle of corn

and escorted him from the dance.

What on earth was
Jason fighting about?

What do men usually fight about?

A girl?

Jason fighting in a
public place over a girl?

Well, I guess he was
trying to protect her, Liv.

(HORN HONKING)

That's Bobby Bigelow. Maybe
he knows where Jason is.

Hey, Bobby.

Good morning, John-Boy.

Hey, where's my
redheaded fiddler?

Well, we thought maybe
you'd have the answer to that.

You mean he didn't come
home at all last night?

That boy is growing up
faster than I thought he was.

What is that supposed to mean?

Well, I left him over at Betsy
Morgan's about midnight,

and I'll give you odds
that's just where he stayed.

Look, I'll stop by
over there at that place

and if Jason is safe and sound,

I'll let you know on
the broadcast, okay?

Thank you.

Looks like that old boy's
blue moon has turned to gold!

(LAUGHING)

See you.

Well, Bobby says he's 99.5% sure

that Jason spent
the night with a friend.

BOBBY: Bless you, radio friends.

Welcome to another
inspirational 30 minutes

with your Sunrise Gospeleers.

Thank the Lord we're all here
to praise Him this morning.

We lost one of our
lambs temporarily,

but the Walton family
prayers were answered

and, uh, the little woolly lamb is
safe back in the fold once again.

In fact, we're gonna dedicate this
first hymn to Jason this morning.

Well, Liv, you can stop
worrying about your son now.

Stop worrying.

One of our sons
stays out fighting

all night without a
thought to any of us?

ERIN: I'm sure he had
a good reason, Mama.

Oh, it's his first
offense, Livie.

And his last.

Well, don't forget
he's at that age

where he's discovering a lot of
confusing things about himself.

I'm at the same age.

You always have been.

Well, I don't care
how confused he is.

He'd better face
up to the truth.

You can't fight and
rowdy around all night

and expect to wash it away
with hymn-singing in the morning.

Liv, the boy's 18 years old.

I know how old he is, John.

Pa, say grace, please.

Forgive us, Oh Lord. Amen.

Look at all this mail.

(WHOOPING)

Hey, do they love us, Jason?

Bobby, I'd appreciate it if you
could take over for me today.

Well, I just wish
I could, Jason,

but I have this really
important meeting.

Hey, it could mean a lot
more money for all of us.

But I've got to get home.

Uh, don't forget we have
to play for that party tonight

at the Elks Club, okay?

See you.

I can't believe this
is happening to me,

sitting in a radio station
with a real celebrity.

I guess we owe a lot of thanks
to Ralph, don't you think, Jason?

I mean, if he hadn't
tried to haul me away...

Betsy, I've got work to do.

I don't want you
to call me Betsy.

I want you to call me Bette.

Bette? Mmm-hmm.

All right. Bette.

Don't you even want to know why?

Why what?

Why I want you to call me Bette!

It's after Miss Bette Davis,
the great movie actress.

Lord, I saw her in
Of Human Bondage

and she just drove the man
who was in love with her crazy.

Now that I'm Bette, doesn't it
wanna make you never leave my side,

just stay by me night and day?

Betsy, we'll be together lots,

but first I have to work

and I have to go to school

and, before I do anything
else, I've gotta get home.

I could go with you. I'm
dying to meet your mama.

I heard she's real religious
and deep down I am, too.

I just know we'd get along.

Not today. Jason.

Not today. Soon,
soon, but not today.

JOHN: Say, Pa, what was
that fellow doing around here

this morning with that shotgun?

GRANDPA: Oh, there was a
perfect stranger come by this morning

looking for a tall, gangly boy

who kept his
daughter out all night.

Oh, yeah?

Sure he wasn't around trying
to tree possums, was he?

No.

Morning, son.

GRANDPA: Oh, hello, Jason.

Morning.

I'm sorry about not
getting home last night.

I spent the night with a friend.

I used to call it staying up
all night with a sick friend.

Your friend do that
to your eye, son?

No.

Well, we heard you
spent the night with a girl.

No.

No? No?

Uh, well, yes.

Yes. Yes.

Um...

Well, see, I was at Betsy's

because she was afraid
to stay there by herself.

But, uh, she was on
the inside of the house,

and... and I... I was outside
on... on the porch swing,

and, uh, she said it was like
that movie It Happened One Night.

It Happened One Night?

Yeah.

Does, uh, Mama know about Betsy?

About Betsy, no. She
doesn't know about Betsy yet.

But she's pretty
upset anyway, son.

Yeah.

She's, um...

She's waiting for you.

Yeah?

Yeah.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

(DOOR OPENS)

I'm real sorry, Mama.

Is that all you have
to say for yourself?

I'm... I'm sorry I
had you worried.

Who was the friend
you stayed with?

Um... Uh, no one you know yet.

Your poor cheek.

It doesn't hurt much.

What about your reputation,
brawling over a girl?

Who told you about that?

It's probably all over
the county by now.

Well. Well, the other
fellow was hurting her.

You... You wouldn't want me to just
stand there and watch, would you?

No. Not if he was hurting her.

What was her name?

Uh...

(STAMMERING) I don't
know. It was just, just some girl.

Mama, I've got to get
to the Conservatory.

I'm going to be
late for my session

with Professor Thaxton as it is.

You're always
rushing off somewhere.

Tonight you and your daddy and I

are gonna sit down and
come to an understanding.

You're a model of
efficiency and industry, John.

Well, thank you. I'm just
trying to get this done today.

You may even lead me to revise my
whole attitude toward the NYA students.

(LAUGHS)

I dug out these three catalogs.

I suggest you glance at them
on your own time, of course.

Harvard University, Yale,
William and Mary College.

Three of the finest
schools for Library Science.

Excuse me, sir.

I don't... I don't think I could
afford any of these schools.

Not as an
undergraduate, perhaps,

but now's the time for us to begin
planning your advanced degrees.

Well, I certainly appreciate
the trouble you've gone to.

They have grants, they have
scholarships, jobs available.

Now, my feeling is

that you should try for your
master's at William and Mary,

then go for your doctorate
at either Harvard or Yale,

and then an apprenticeship at
one of the great private libraries.

You look dazed.
Am I going too fast?

Yes, sir.

I think you're suggesting that I
change my major to Library Science.

You are interested, aren't you?

That was certainly the basis for my
giving you this job in the first place.

Was I misled?

Well, no. I mean,
I'm very interested.

I enjoy the work and I'm
trying to do a good job.

There's no complaint
on that score.

But as I told you before, I think
of this job as a kind of initiation.

John, it would be an exercise
in futility to train a young man

who had no intention
of using his experience.

That's true.

So if you don't want
those catalogs...

Well, I'll take them home
tonight and read them.

Good.

I'll, uh, let you get
back to your work.

(GROANS) You okay, Jason?

You okay?

Oh, perfect.

(GRUNTS)

I'm starving. I'm lower
than a snake's belly.

I'm walking in my
sleep and I'm mad.

Who are you mad at? Everybody.

Oh, just nobody's
satisfied with what I do.

My best just ain't good enough.

Oh, come on.

No.

Professor Thaxton's
disappointed,

Bobby's disappointed,
Mama's disappointed.

Look, you don't have to tell
me. I know exactly how you feel.

No, you don't.

You don't know anything
about my feelings.

Oh, yes, I do. A year ago, I
was right where you are now.

No, you weren't!

Because I'm different!

Don't yell at me.

As long as I can remember, I've
had to take your old hand-me-downs,

the things you
didn't need anymore.

All your old books and all your
old clothes and all your old toys,

but I don't need your old
feelings. I've got my own.

Calm down, Jason. Calm down. No.

Look, I don't need you
to show me the best way,

the easy way, your way.

I'm tired of playing
follow-the-leader with you, John-Boy.

I'm going off in
my own direction,

and... and if I fall flat
on my face in the mud

at least nobody's gonna say, "He
couldn't keep up with number one."

You want to start
right now? Sure.

Good.

Jason!

Don't get out of the car.

I shouldn't have
said those things.

Let's just go home.

You are not going out
of this house tonight.

Mama, I have to go.
Bobby's counting on me.

Are you going to
deliberately disobey me?

I'm sorry.

John.

Liv, he has obligations.
People are depending on him.

One of our children is bent
on hurting himself grievously.

It is our place to stop him.

Mama.

I am one of your children.
I thought you'd forgotten.

But I'm not a child.
You're acting like one.

Well, I feel like a man.

Almost.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

(CAR HORN HONKING)

That's Bobby.

John, he is sick.
Anyone can see that.

Hi.

Betsy.

Bette. Oh, yeah. Bette.

I thought maybe you
didn't hear Bobby honking.

Anyway, I was dying
to meet your family.

Hi. I'm Bette Morgan.

I guess Jason told you all
about him and me and everything.

Oh, you're the friend
he did the favor for.

Well, that's a funny
way of putting it.

Uh, Mama.

Jason's not going with
Bobby Bigelow tonight.

Oh, I am. Yes, I am.

Maybe I wish I
didn't have to, but...

Jason.

Jason's going to be fine.

I know. He'll be up and
about in a day or two.

Just stretched
himself a little thin.

It's not his health
I'm worried about.

I just can't stand by and see
what he's doing to himself.

This kind of thing
happens to most boys, Liv.

He's destroying himself.

He's just trying to
find out who he is.

We tell him one thing. We
say, "This here is Jason."

Bobby Bigelow comes along
and says, "No, sirree, this is Jason."

His professor's pointing
him in one direction.

That young lady is
probably giving him her ideas.

Jason doesn't know whether
he's here, there or yonder.

That's always a
painful situation.

So much easier
when they were little.

You say that now.

Remember those 2:00,
4:00 and 6:00 feedings?

Yes, I do. And I loved them.

(LAUGHS)

I did.

Is he still feverish?

No, nice and cool.

His eyes are clear. Yeah.

I'm going to devil some
eggs for his lunch. His favorite.

I don't want you to go
to any trouble, Grandma.

But you'll be pleased
if I fix them, won't you?

Sure.

Well, then it's
worth the trouble.

You know, you were
the one of our children

decided earliest to walk?

Trying to catch up with
John-Boy even then.

You were so small, so frail.

But you would pull
yourself up, stand free,

take a tottering step or
two, and then fall down.

Oh, the bruises.

First I used to
follow you around,

taking your hand,
trying to steady you,

trying to keep you
from hitting the floor.

I was a problem even then.

And one day I
reached out for you,

your Daddy grabbed
my arm and stopped me.

The two of us just stood
there watching you struggle.

Getting up. Falling down.

And then finally, you did it.

You walked across
this room all by yourself.

I can still see the
smile on your face.

Mama,

I'm sorry for all the
trouble I caused you.

I know I made a lot of mistakes,

but I want you to trust
me to learn from them

and not make the
same ones too often.

There's just one thing, Jason.

You have no idea how
some girls can maneuver.

Now, if I were you, I
wouldn't do anything

to encourage that Bette Morgan.

Well, another week's
work well done.

Thank you, sir.

Dr. Hoadley, I wanted to
return these catalogs to you.

They're yours to keep.

You may want to give
them to somebody else.

You're not interested?

No, sir.

I'm a writer, I'm
not a librarian.

When I gave you this job, I
was under another impression.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry if I've misled you,

and I can certainly
understand it

if you feel that you
have to replace me.

I just want you to know I've
already learned a great deal from you.

This is a great disappointment.

Yes, sir. I'm sorry.

We're all very
pleased with your work.

I've always thought this
job should be available

to the student who wanted it for
more than just a financial stopgap.

Of course. I understand that.

Just a minute, John.

It would be, uh, awkward to
break in someone new at this point,

so if you wish, you
can keep the job

for the balance of the semester.

Well, thank you.

I regret your
decision, of course.

But I admire your honesty.

I won't put any more
pressure on you.

And remember

there is a space
for your first novel

right up there.

I appreciate this.

I'll see you Monday.

Jason, we really
missed you, boy.

Well, I listened to the
program this morning.

Without you, there's a
hole in our arrangements

big enough to drive a truck
through with the doors open.

So when you gonna stop playing
like an invalid and come back to work?

Well, I'll tell you.

You know, I like you.

And I like playing
with the gang.

And I want to come back.

So what are you waiting for?

Well, if I do come back,
I'll do my fair share,

you know, with the
Bibles and the tickets

and the fan mail and all of it.

But no more carrying
the whole load.

Jason, I was just gonna
bring up that very thing.

Well, I... I just feel that if the
work isn't spread around equally,

then I'm just gonna have
to find myself another job.

Hey, friend, you come back
and we're all gonna pull together.

I swear on a stack of
Bibles, our own radio specials.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Okay?

Okay.

Hey, listen, there's somebody out
in the car who would like to see you.

Yeah? Who's that?

Oh, Jason. My poor, poor Jason.

You know I want to be here
taking care of you day and night.

Just like Joan Crawford
in that movie... Betsy.

When the man she was crazy in
love with was dying of some perfect...

Betsy!

Don't holler at
me. And it's Bette.

I don't want to
holler at you, Bette.

Well, I thought you
liked me. I do like you.

I like you a lot. Well, then?

But you talk too much.

You talk when you don't
have anything to say.

But when you're quiet, like now,

you're really a beautiful girl.

Oh, Jason.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Now, uh, if you and I are
gonna be friends, or more,

then we have to have
a 50-50 relationship.

Now, if you expect
certain things from me,

then I should expect
certain things of you.

Now, if I'm kind
and considerate,

you should be kind
and considerate, see?

But you have to understand
that a person can like someone

without giving them 100%
of their time and attention.

Right?

So, uh,

you want to try it out
and see how it works?

Oh, yeah, sure. You'll see.

I'll be so quiet, you'll think
you're in a silent movie.

That's my girl.

BOBBY: Hey, hey, everybody. This is
Bobby Bigelow and his Haystack Gang

broadcasting by remote
control direct to you

from our Big
Harvest Benefit dance

at the Elks Hall
in Charlottesville.

Now here's a real breakdown
featuring our guitarist, Jason Walton.

(JASON PLAYING BANJO)

Listen to him go.

He is good.

And getting better all the time.

I still like the hymns best.

Is that why your
feet are tapping?

No doubt Betsy, or
should I say Bette Morgan,

is swooning right
there at Jason's elbows.

Well, she never seems far away.

Say what you will
about Betsy, girls,

I think she's done a heap of
good for Jason's self-esteem.

Oh, he's a lucky boy to
have a good woman like that.

You've lived with one
for 50 years, old man.

JOHN-BOY: Out of that breakdown

my brother emerged
with a new maturity,

and he and I came to
a better understanding.

We stopped the old
game of follow-the-leader

and began to face
things together.

To my mother, Jason
and all the rest of us

would always be "the children."

With my father's help,
she learned not to rush in

and try to pick us
up after every tumble.

Still, we knew she was there,

ready to help if ever and
whenever we reached out.

JOHN: Night, Livie.

OLIVIA: I cannot understand it.

Understand what?

Why Jason would give a girl like
Bette Morgan a second glance.

Well, you gotta remember, honey.

Love is blind.

But I thought boys
looked for girls

who put them in
mind of their mothers.

Yeah, well... (LAUGHING)
Good night, Liv.

(LAUGHING) Good night.