The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 5, Episode 14 - The Rebellion - full transcript

I just feel bound fast, like
I, like I couldn't break free,

I couldn't be different.
I couldn't change.

What in the world would you want to
change, Livie? John? The children?

Myself, mostly.

Corabeth, go over
that part again,

the... the part where that
awful smell washes out.

Oh! You know, that burns.

The years brought many changes
to us on Walton's Mountain,

but when change did not come
often enough to suit my mother,

it was her way to seek it.

She would search for change, reach
out to it, and welcome it when it came.



See you later.

See you later.

Get in the car.

Mom, are you burning somethin'?

Of course not. What
are you lookin' at?

Well, I don't know.

Well then, you must have
something better to do.

Well, that's funny. I thought
you'd smell it, too, because it's...

Well, it's a burning smell, like... Well,
you know, when you singe a chicken.

Erin. Am I bothering you?

Mmm-hmm

I like it better
without the curl.

I'm gonna run this in to
the Reverend, all right?

Okay.



Who's that playing the
organ? Grandma's at home.

I know, and it ain't Jason,
either. He's in Westham. Huh.

Listen, you run this stuff over to Ike's
and come back and get me, all right?

Yeah, sure.

Just let me know who it is. I'd hate to
be that person when Grandma finds out.

See you later. See you later.

Reverend, I brought
you this, all right?

Shh.

It's got the announcement
for the church supper.

Wonderful. Thank you.

You know, Grandma's
not gonna cotton to the idea

of Zelda Maynard
playing the church organ.

I know.

More than likely, she'll
come after you with a stick.

John-Boy, can I talk
to you about this later?

Well, that was splendid, Mrs.
Maynard, genuinely inspiring.

Well, thank you,
Reverend Fordwick.

Now, you know that you have an
accomplished organist in your congregation.

Oh, John-Boy. Well, my
goodness. Mrs. Maynard.

Well, how is that charming
grandfather of yours?

Very well, thank you.

I'll bet he is.

Well, you played
beautifully, Mrs. Maynard,

and thank you for sharing
your blessed gift with me.

Yes, well, he's such a courtly
gentleman, always a twinkle in his eye.

Well, he does enjoy
life. That's for sure.

As best he can. How
is your grandmother?

Well, she's working very hard
on the church supper, as always.

Yes. Yes, I'm sure she is.

Once again, many thanks.

Well, I'll expect to hear from
you, Reverend, favorably.

Our cup runneth over, John-Boy.
Now we now have two talented organists.

I'm not so sure
that's a blessing.

Oh, you mean Esther and Zelda.
Well, I'm sure they can take turns.

One Sunday, Esther can play, and
then the following Sunday, Zelda.

Sharing is a very
Christian thing, John-Boy.

Oh, I know it is, and I can
assure you of one thing.

When Grandma finds out about it,
she's gonna go right through the roof.

Well, I'm certain you can
find the right way to tell her.

Oh, no, no, no, not me. I'm
not gonna tell her anything.

You're the logical o ne to tell
her. No, I'm not. I just came here

to deliver the newspaper...
You're very close to your grandma.

She'll take it very
well, coming from you,

and you have a wonderful
way with words, John-Boy.

Where's your mama?

I think she's still upstairs.

She know I'm waitin' for her?

She's trying on clothes.

For a picnic?

Seems like I've been taking
stuff out to cars all morning.

You'd be getting
used to it by now.

I was hoping maybe you'd say, "I'm
proud of you, son. Here's a quarter."

Ha!

I'd wear that one.

Then you wear it.

Honey, everyone
is waiting for you.

Everything I put on makes
me look like a flour sack.

Maybe I am a flour sack.

Pretty bad off, huh?

Yes, I am, but I don't
intend to stay that way.

I don't know how, but I'm gonna
change something right soon now.

Livie, you seen
the apple butter?

No, but I know it's here.

You'll have to take those
off once we get home.

I... I don't remember
packing it, but if you do...

I didn't say that, Grandma.

I know it's here because
not once in 20 years

have we ever forgotten
to bring the apple butter.

I thought you liked
my apple butter.

I do. Good Heavens. I do!
What I don't like is the "always!"

That don't make
much sense to me.

Grandma, will you get one of
the girls to help you, please?

Erin!

Almost. Yep.

There it is. No.

Hey, John,

you got a feeling for
the best place to go?

Uh-huh.

All right, then,
let's go, John-Boy.

I got... I got a little bit of
thinking to do, Curt, all right?

You gotta do some
thinking? Yeah.

Well, I guess you don't
wanna go fishing, then, huh?

All right, well, maybe
later. See you later.

Um...

Where's he going?

Didn't he say that he had a
feeling for the best place to go?

Yeah, he does. Right
over there with Mama.

I guess he doesn't
want me with him, then.

Maybe later.

May-Maybe a little
bit later, all right?

Okay.

Mary Ellen, is being married as
wonderful as you thought it would be?

Yeah, it is.

Don't you miss us?

Well, I still love you an awful
lot, but I'd rather live with Curt.

Why?

Don't tell me it's one of those
"someday" things. "Someday"?

"Don't worry, Elizabeth. You'll
understand it someday, when you're older."

Well, it's true.

Rats.

You want me to
go fishing with you?

No.

See, we promised
never to lie to each other.

Oh.

Sometimes I wonder why.

Why don't I get you an inner tube?
You could float all the way to the ocean.

Then what would I do?

You'd have to walk back,
but at least it'd be a change.

Why couldn't you catch a salmon?

Salmon?

Why does it always have to
be carp or perch or catfish?

Why couldn't it just
once be a salmon?

Or why couldn't Amelia Earhart
come wandering through the thicket,

all fine and healthy
and asking for Jim-Bob?

I'll tell you what, you get me
Amelia Earhart and a salmon,

and I'll get you an
inner tube with oars.

I thought I heard voices.

Hello, Verdie. Verdie.

Good day to you.

I'm kind of relieved it's you.

I thought maybe it
was Amelia Earhart.

Don't pay any attention to him.

I don't believe I will.

Those ferns are lovely.
They're all fresh and green.

Aren't they? You know, I tell myself
I'm thinning them out along the bank

so that they can have breathing
room, but some might say different.

Gotta get some of those for Ma.

Oh, and please carry a
message to her for me.

Tell her I heard her playing this
morning when I passed your church,

and I have never heard better.

Good day to you.

Bye-bye.

Bye, Verdie. Ma'll be
pleased to hear that.

I wonder. She hasn't played
the church organ since Sunday.

I like these sweet gum...
- Those taste great.

They grow in the swamps,
and the leaves turn real red.

Look at your grandma. God's in
His heaven, all's right with the world.

Contented she can
be if she has a mind to.

It's true.

I'd just as soon be off in a cave somewhere
inlceland when she got her dander up.

Grandma doesn't
know it yet, but she's

gonna have to share
playing the church organ

with Zelda Maynard on Sunday.

Who got a fool idea like that?
The Reverend Fordwick said

that somebody ought to tell her
that sharing is a very Christian thing.

I think that someone
ought to be you.6

You know, Grandpa?
She plays right well.

Oh, no. Her own dearly
beloved grandson can tell her.

Her dearly beloved grandson is leaving
for Westham as soon as the picnic is over.

He's gonna be gone for the whole
weekend, so you ought to tell her, okay?

No, you tell her now.
I would love to tell her,

but I can't. I wouldn't
think of depriving

you of this Christian
experience, all right?

John-Boy, you tell her while she's
in a good mood. Sorry, Grandpa.

Come on, everybody, let's eat.

Oh, good. We were waiting
for you. Come on, food is ready!

Oh, look at that
chicken. I want a leg.

Right there. That's
what I got. Mmm.

Oh, smell it right there?
Oh, this looks good.

Help yourself. Oh, a piece
of chicken, that's what I want.

How about some potato salad?

This chicken tastes awful.

Awful?

Why, this chicken
tastes real good, Livie.

Your chicken's always good,
Mama. Tastes just the same to me.

That's exactly it.

Much as I love all of them,

it's just kind of restful walking
along here, the two of us.

There was nothing wrong
with that chicken, Livie.

I don't know how I
must seem to the family.

The way they looked at me, I
don't know how I seem to myself.

Not very pleased,
that's for sure.

I just feel bound fast, like
I, like I couldn't break free,

I couldn't be different,
I couldn't change.

What in the world would you want to
change, Livie? John? The children?

Myself, mostly.

But anything, Grandma.

I wonder. I've heard sometimes
it can bring the oddest feelings.

A friend of Mama's was supposed

to have been driven
clean out of her mind by it.

By what?

I always thought that time of life
was down the road a ways for me.

Oh, no, Livie. No. Honest?

Oh, it's a long ways off yet.

It's kind of a relief.

Well, life has its
funny ways, Livie.

Here you are so restless for change,
and I just can't abide the thought of it.

You didn't sneak
out of the house

and go down to the church
this morning, did you?

I don't sneak.

You didn't go down to the
church this morning, did you?

No, never left the house.

I didn't think it could be you.

How what could be me?

Verdie Foster said she heard
someone playing the organ this morning.

Well, Verdie's wrong. Wasn't me.

And it wasn't Jason. He came
straight to the picnic from Westham.

And only Jason and
me play that organ.

Well, if it was curlier down at the
ends, it would be sort of Irene Dunne.

Are you sure? Didn't
you see The Awful Truth?

When do I ever get a chance
to go to Charlottesville?

Do you like it, Mama?

Well, it's different.
I don't know.

Well, Irene Dunne got Cary
Grant at the end of the movie.

Well, then, it might
be worth a try.

Well, how about if we
tried something like this?

Do you recognize that
style? Freddie Bartholomew?

No, silly.

Claudette Colbert.

How did you know? I'm smart.

Well, you got it short,
and that's what I like.

You'd cut your
hair? I sure would.

Oh, Daddy would
just... Break your neck.

Well, she'd look like
Claudette Colbert.

Don't cut your hair.

John Walton, I'll cut
my hair if I want to.

Don't! Don't you
two encourage her.

Don't cut your hair.

He means it, Mama.

Well, so do I.

Dang.

Yeah.

Well, I just don't
see how it could be.

Verdie claims she heard
it. That's what she told Livie.

I don't see how she could hear
it when it wasn't Jason or me.

Well, you know that church
organ just don't play itself.

Esther, there's something I
think I had ought to tell you.

Yeah. What about?

Well, you know, it is possible that someone
else could play the organ aside from you.

Well, who else is there?

Zelda Maynard.

Jason was over
in Westham. Jas...

Zelda Maynard? Mmm-hmm.

John-Boy says she
plays the organ real good.

John-Boy?

Reverend Fordwick seems to
think that you could divide up the job.

Reverend...

I was playing that organ long before
Reverend Fordwick ever came here.

I only gave it to Jason
because of his music.

And when he can't play, like...
like last Sunday, then I take over.

It's mine!

You mean it's Walton property?

Zelda Maynard!

Now, Esther, you
just simmer down.

You're the one that's always
talking about Christian charity.

Yeah, well, charity
begins at home.

Yes, it also begins in the church.
Considerably well thought of there.

And that organ is part of the church
and has been so for over 60 years.

Yeah, well, we've been
part of it for 50 years! Oh...

And you know as well as I do

that when it comes to, to giving or
to helping out or sharing with others,

I don't even think
about it twice. I just do it.

Then what the Sam Hill are
you getting so upset about?

Don't you use swear words to me.

Sam Hill is not a swear word.

Yeah, well, when you say it, it sounds
like one, so it's all the same thing.

Oh, you get me so mixed up I don't
know what I'm talking about, galldang it!

You're doing it again.

Oh, no. Charity, that's
what I was talking about.

Galldang it, what
in the blue blazes...

Zeb! I am not swearing!
I don't intend to.

But if you're so all fired
forgiving and generous,

what do you get so upset about
Zelda playing on the organ for?

Yeah, well, it was the way
I heard about the playing.

She... She could
have come to me.

She could have talked to me before
she ever talked to the Reverend.

Yeah.

That'd be something like a little
old rabbit come calling on the fox.

Oh, so now she's the dear little
rabbit, and I'm the mean old fox.

Oh, nothing of the sort, now, now,
now, now. You just calm down, now.

You must admit that you and Zelda are not
exactly what you would call bosom friends.

There's been a certain dislike,
especially on your part, I must say.

You can't expect her to
come waltzing over here

just to get your approval
of her playing the organ.

Well, it was the
way I heard about it.

Livie and John-Boy and
the Reverend and then you

and heaven knows how
many others knew about it.

Seems like everybody
knew about it before I did.

Why did I have to be the
last one to hear about it?

Well, I must say,
there's a certain tendency

on the part of some
people to, uh, to...

To go behind my back?
Yeah, well, it's dishonest.

It's robbery. It's just
downright robbery,

taking what's been mine all
these years, and in church.

Forgiveness. What
about forgiveness?

Isn't there something in your
Good Book about forgiveness?

I'll pray on it.

What you making?

It's getting late
for you, Elizabeth.

Are you making fudge?

Fudge.

Isn't it kind of late for fudge?

It's late for you.

Do you think I'll get
some in my lunchbox?

I wouldn't count on it.

Daddy,

Mama's making a huge batch of
fudge, and she's gonna eat it all.

Well, good for her.

Does he really mean that?

No, he doesn't. Yes, I do.

Your mama has it in mind
to be something different.

Maybe if she eats a whole
bunch of fudge, she'll get fat.

I don't think I'll like that.

But it'll be different.

I don't understand, and I
really don't think I want to.

Oh, the last place I boarded,

they had a man who'd come and hose
down the porch and then sweep it, just so.

Well, if you know where he is,
and he works for nothing, I'll hire him.

Well, it's just another way things
are better when there's a man around.

Good morning, ladies.

Good morning, Zeb. Oh! Well,
Mr. Walton, how very nice to see you.

All alone, are
you, Zeb? Oh, yes.

As a matter of fact, I am on
somewhat of a secret mission.

I wonder if it'd be possible to
speak to this glorious creature.

Well, I... If you
please, Flossie.

If you must.

Oh, you are reading
my mind, Mr. Walton.

Oh, I wouldn't dare
do that, my dear lady.

No.

Oh, well, I... I'd be
mortified if you could.

I beg your pardon? Read my mind.

Oh, no, no, I wouldn't
do a thing like that.

No, I wouldn't mortify you
for the whole wide world.

You... You said something
about a secret mission.

Oh, yes, the secret is
for your little ears alone.

Really? Yes.

I want to appeal to the
better side of your nature.

Oh, Mr. Walton.
You know you can.

I understand that you
play the organ beautifully.

Oh, now, now.

Well, I've studied ever
since I was a... What lovely...

Well!

I consider that an insult!

A what? What's that?

I believe, Mr. Walton, that that
was your wife come spying on us.

Oh, yes, that's
Esther all right.

She'd barge by, but
she wouldn't spy on us.

Oh, no, she knows better
than to do a thing like that.

Better than what?

To think there'd be anything
between the two of us...

I just come here
to try to tell you...

To persuade you that...
About the organ in the church.

Esther has played on that
organ for such a long time.

Yes. Yes, I know. Too long.

Well, Reverend Fordwick says that
sharing is a very Christian thing to do.

Hmm. Well, a very
Christian, very gracious,

very unselfish thing to do

would be for that prying
old woman to retire.

Esther!

Esther!

Esther, would you hold your
horses? Just slow down, now.

Esther, I want to talk to you.

Esther!

Esther, if you're thinking what I
think you're thinking, you're mistaken.

I know what I saw
with my own eyes,

and I don't need
anything explained to me.

Well, maybe you
better explain it to me.

I am not the only Baptist that can
walk by Flossie Brimmer's, you know?

I fail to see what
you're driving at.

Oh, there sits Zebulon
Walton, big as life,

with the woman who plans to take
his wife's place at the church organ.

Now, that can only mean that
you prefer her playing over mine.

Nothing of the sort. Esther,
would you listen to me?

Esther, just listen here!

Esther, that's your trouble.
You'll never listen to anything!

Oh, hello, Esther.

It's so nice to see you.

I'll be with you in just
three shakes of a lamb's tail.

Uh, I hear

that Zelda Maynard's gonna be
playing the organ at church this Sunday.

You... You don't
seem too pleased.

Well, I... I... I don't know.
I've never heard her play.

I don't know if she has
the feeling for a church.

Oh, I, I hear she
plays real good.

Well, I would've heard her if
somebody had let me know.

People are keeping a lot of things
to themselves around here lately.

Well, I thought everybody
knew that Zelda played the organ.

Everybody but me.

Hello, Esther.

Forgive me for not pausing to
converse with you, but busy, busy, busy.

Well, what have you lost now?

Have you seen that
little petite bottle of fixer?

Corabeth, you're
burning something.

I'm sorry, Esther. I just
cannot chat with you now.

It's a bottle about this big,
and it has green liquid in it.

Can't you smell that?

Oh, that bottle! Oh, yeah, that's
over there right behind the soap chips.

You used that
the last time that...

Oh!

Eureka!

See? I knew where
it was all the time.

What's she doing back there?

Oh, she's just putting the finishing
touches on the beauty parlor.

I thought that was
finished weeks ago.

Well, you know...
A lot of little details.

Ouch! Ooh!

Who was that?

It's... It's not Olivia.

Ouch! Corabeth!

Well, it sure
sounds like Olivia.

Oh, well, what would
Olivia be doing back there?

Well, that's what
I'd like to find out.

Esther, I wouldn't go
back there if I were you.

Well, then, you
stay right here, Ike.

Livie! Livie!

Liv... Oh! It was
meant to be a surprise.

Good Lord.

Grandma, this
isn't the best time.

You just let it smoke like that?

Corabeth says it's supposed to.

It's working. That's what we
call it. Working its wonders.

Smells awful.

I understand all
that washes out.

Well, it better. Nobody
could stand to be near you.

Tell her, Corabeth.

Now is a very critical
time. Tell her what?

How all that awful
smell washes out.

Well, it'll be on your pillow
slips and your clothes.

Just being in the same room,
why John would have a fit.

Grandma.

Hmm? Go someplace, please.

Well, that's why I came in
here. I guess I'll go to church.

Wonderful.

Yes, our quarters
are very cramped.

I have to stay with her every
moment now, to the very end.

You make it sound
like childbirth.

Grandma!

Don't worry, Livie. It
just may all work out.

Corabeth, go over
that part again,

the part where that
awful smell washes out.

Oh! You know, that burns.

Reverend Fordwick?

Why, Esther Walton, how
often have I thought of you lately.

Well, John-Boy's right.
She... She plays well.

He told Zeb, and Zeb told me.

Our church is blessed, Esther, at
having not one, but two organists

right in its own congregation.

Don't forget Jason.

Of course, three.

Yeah. He's a Walton.

And, well, I don't deny
having prayed on this some.

Longer than anything
else I can remember.

And, uh, well, next to
my family, of course,

the church and the church organ
have been mighty close to me,

and I, uh... I...

What is it, Esther?

No. No, I'm cannot
share with that woman!

And if you want her,
you don't want me.

You don't want a Walton,
and that's the straight of it!

No, now that is not
the way it is at all.

I will not resign my organ
playing to just anyone.

And if you toady to
that Zelda Maynard,

then I will resign from this
church, Reverend Fordwick.

Esther!

I will turn Methodist!

There. Now, come along.

Oh, wait, Corabeth.

Hiding from me,
you little rascal!

It's going to be just beautiful.

I hope so. I'm kind of nervous.

No, it'll be perfect.
Come along.

Oh, no! Oh, my goodness, no!

Haven't we got a good do?

I look like I've got
springs all over head!

Honestly, Olivia, the
way you express yourself.

Kinky little bed springs,
smelly little bed springs.

Oh, now we give it a good
rinsing. Now, bring them over here.

Them?

The little bed springs.

Corabeth, you did say the
smell would rinse right out?

Well, water tends to
make a permanent curlier,

so we must exert caution
on how wet we get the hair.

Now, we'll rinse it, and then
we'll give it a good soaping.

We don't wanna
make it any curlier.

Well, brushing is good for the hair, but
in its way, it tends to deepen the wave,

and bringing up the
natural oils the way it does

tends to make us wash oftener.

Which tends to
make our hair curlier.

Well, styling is everything.

Ow!

I do believe that the solution lies
in the loving bosom of her family.

I think you will agree.

You think we'll agree, Pa?

I do believe the Reverend
thinks we had ought to agree.

You didn't hear her. You didn't
see it, either, when she said,

"I will turn Methodist!"

Well, I felt the Earth
shake a little while ago.

That was Esther all right.
She were shakin' things up.

I do wish I could share the levity
that you gentlemen see in this situation.

I really envy your ability
to take this so lightly.

What's that?

There is someone
behind that tree.

Can that be Olivia?

I do believe it is.

She's gaining on the house.

Oh.

Mama, the door won't open.

It's locked. Go
along, Elizabeth.

I didn't even know it locked.

Well, she usually likes it open.

Mama, are you all right?

Mama? Mama, are you sick?

Go along, girls, I'll
be down in a minute.

Ma, do you think there's
something wrong with Olivia?

Well, when I finish with what
ails me, I'll give her some thought.

Ma, are you sick?

No, I'm thinking about it.

Daddy.

Mama's up in her
room. The door's locked.

I wish I knew what
was going on with her.

Well, I did it.

You look like Shirley Temple.

What'd you do to yourself, Mama?

Good old Reckless, you
still love me, don't you?

Mama, I was just
coming to see you.

I was just coming
to find you. Why?

Because you daddy and
your brothers and sisters

and your grandma and your
grandpa are all laughing at me.

Why are they laughing?

Oh, Mama, I'm sorry.

Mama?

Would you take a
look at this tomato?

Oh, that's a beaut.

Oh, that is a whopper!

It's a ponderosa.
Where'd you find it?

Out back of the shed.
Oh, that explains it.

You're the only two going
to church this morning?

Don't ask me. Mama's upstairs.
I guess grandma's in her room.

She's in a foul mood, too,
and Livie isn't much better.

Liv!

They come from seeds. Somebody threw
it out there, landed in the cow manure.

Mmm-hmm.

Don't say it.

Well, it's about
time somebody did.

What came over you?
Grown, sensible woman.

I wanted something
different. I wanted a change.

Couldn't you change your dress or
your shoes? Did it have to be your hair?

I was tired of it. It
was drab and dull,

and I've been wearing it the
same way since I was a young girl.

And that's supposed
to be an improvement?

I'd like to shave my head and lock
myself in my room until it grows out right.

You did the one thing I
asked you not to do, Liv.

I liked your hair the way
it was. I always liked it.

Do you just love me for my hair?

Where are you going?

To climb in a hole. I'm
gonna pull the hole in after me,

and I just want everybody
to leave me alone!

Aimee, if you don't hurry yourself
along, we'll be late for church.

What is keeping that
child? She's dressing.

Oh, hello, Erin.

Oh, we're not open for visitors.
We're just leaving for church.

Have you seen my mama?

Well, honey, I haven't laid
eyes on her since yesterday.

What do you all think of that special
permanent wave I gave your mama?

Doesn't it give her a totally
new and exciting personality?

Well, it's a little
unusual for Mama.

Are you sure you didn't
see her pass by outside?

I know we haven't been standing
outside watching for people.

Well, I want to know
what John and the

family thought of your
mama's new appearance.

We were surprised.

And your mama's enjoying it?

Well, I'm not so sure.
She ran out of the house.

I better go. The rest of
them are leaving for church.

Well, I do declare. Aimee! I do.

I thought it looked
quite swanky.

Esther, stop
whatever you're doing.

We're gonna be late for church.

I am not going. I am
not going to any church.

Esther. Esther, you'll
be sorely missed.

I am not going.

Church won't be the same
without you, Grandma.

Oh, they'll get along
without me just fine.

Well, it seems to me,
Grandma, that, uh, you'd

want to hear Mrs.
Maynard play the organ.

I wouldn't miss it.

Jason, I have heard her play.

She should have taken your job at the
Dew Drop Inn, not at the church organ.

I'll try to explain that
to Reverend Fordwick.

There is nothing to explain.
Now, will you please go?

Esther, will you let
me explain it to you?

That's the trouble.
You just never listen.

Esther, I went to see that woman
because I thought I could persuade her

to go to another church or
share the organ-playing with you.

All right, children.
Let's go to church then.

Nah. Bye, Daddy.

Bye, honey. Come on, young ones.

Simmer down, Pa. BEN:
Bye, Daddy. Bye, Grandma.

Bye, Grandma.

It's nice having you home, Ma.

I was getting tired of being
the only backslider in this family.

I am not a backslider. I just
can't tolerate that woman.

I don't blame you. I don't
care much for Zelda, either.

What she ever do to you?

Nothing. She just kind
of rubs me the wrong way.

Want some of this paper,
Ma? Come on, sit down.

No, thank you. No.

Well, they say
nothing stays the same.

What's that supposed to mean?

Well, that's just a saying, Ma.
"Things never stay the same."

Like you, you know, going to
church every Sunday all your life.

Now you decide you don't wanna go
to church. Might be nice for a change.

Change? I'm not
giving up my religion.

Well, guess I... Guess
I misunderstood, Ma.

What's so funny?

No, I was, uh... I was just thinking
about the Reverend, you know,

looking out over that
congregation and not seeing you

for the first time
in all these years,

it's gonna give
him quite a start.

And also, see, that Zelda woman
all sitting there, smiling away.

I suppose I am being selfish. I shouldn't
let one bad apple wreck the whole barrel.

Now, come on, Mama. I was
counting on you staying home with me.

I've decided to go.

My church means more
to me than my pride.

Want me to give
you a ride over, Ma?

No, thank you. I've got
a lot of thinking to do.

Okay, Ma.

Verdie? Olivia.

I need your help. What can I do?

I don't know how to ask.

Asking ought to
be the least of it.

Oh...

You're not ill?

Not in any usual way,

but I am kind of sick
about something I've done,

and if I could just find the right words
without in the least offending you...

Friends can't offend each other.

I was, sort of, of a
mind to change things.

And you did.

And I heard that your people
have some secret way...

Of straightening hair, you mean?

I have always heard that, too.

Oh, Olivia!

Go ahead and laugh.
I'm getting used to it.

But if you could just manage
to get a grip on yourself?

Well,

the art of hair-straightening
was never handed down to me

because none in our family
ever straightened our hair.

We left it natural.

I'm sorry.

Thanks, Verdie.

Olivia, you can't
change it right away,

but you can cover
it sort of pretty.

Why, I was saving
this for quilting pieces,

but I think we can
put it to better use.

Come in the house,
where there's a mirror.

Will the congregation please rise and
join me in singing hymn number 344?

Esther?

Women. Huh.

♪ There's a land
that is fairer than day

♪ And by faith
we can see it afar

♪ For the Father
waits over the way

♪ To prepare us a
dwelling place there

♪ In the sweet by and by

♪ We shall meet
on that beautiful shore

♪ In the sweet by and by

♪ We shall meet on
that beautiful shore ♪

The congregation may be seated.

Goodbye, Reverend. I
truly enjoyed the sermon.

Oh, thank you very much.

Bye. Ben. Bless you.
Hello, how are you?

I'm fine. Have a good day.

Good service. See you
next week. Thank you.

You're a great
diplomat. Thank you.

Esther, I was so pleased that
you decided to join us today.

Thank you, Reverend. Oh, and,
Esther, be sure to bring me the hymns

you'll be playing at
next Sunday's services.

I'll do that. All right.

Lovely service, Reverend.

Sharing is a very
Christian thing to do, Esther.

Well, there's one thing
I won't share with her.

What's that? You.

Olivia, come on up.

Just for a minute.

Oh, I love your
turban. It's beautiful!

It's beauty is only on
the surface, Flossie.

Oh?

Flossie, you're drinking!

I am not. It's... It's
just purely medicinal.

My feet are killing me.

You wouldn't want
me to fix you one?

Flossie, you know I don't drink.

Well, you never
had fallen arches.

No one, no one has ever
had such a day as I've had.

I wouldn't count on it.

At least you live
with your loved ones.

I live with "Who needs a
room? I need the money."

I guess it's not easy.

It's a lonely life, Olivia.

Why are you wearing that
turban? You bump into a door?

Oh, what a nice couple.

I thought maybe you were
tired of running off alone.

I am.

Excuse us, Mrs. Brimmer.

Liv, it seems to me when a man and
woman have been married 22 years,

they have a right to
spend the night together.

I agree.

Alone.

I agree.

In a hotel.

I agree.

I got a suitcase packed.

Let's go!

Bye. Bye, Flossie!
Nice talking to you!

It was fun.

And for a time after that,
peace reigned in our valley.

No one again challenged Grandma's
right to play the church organ.

My mother? Well, this was
surely not her last rebellion,

but, most certainly, it was
her last permanent wave.

- Mama?
- Yes, Elizabeth.

John-Boy says your hair
grows every single second.

That's enough of that.

There are four kinds of
human hair. John-Boy.

There's short and crisp,
straight, lank... John-Boy.

Long and coarse, wavy and curly,

and a special fourth
kind of hair called frizzy.

Mama?

Mama?

Your mama can't hear you.

She's got her head
under the pillow.

Good night, Mama!

Frizzy says good night.