The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 5, Episode 22 - The Long Night - full transcript

Where's Grandma?

I should think it'd
be fairly obvious

that she's still
in the hospital.

What happened?

Well, they told him
they didn't want him

hollering around
the hospital anymore.

Not to come back.

Don't do this to
me. It's not fair.

Call it fair, keeping me
and your grandma apart?

Shh. Not so loud.

Well, you haven't heard
anything yet, Granddaughter.



If you don't let me
go see your grandma,

I'm gonna make an explosion that
can be heard till Washington DC.

JOHN-BOY: It has
always seemed to me

that 1938 was the
springtime of my life.

I was engrossed in
completing my novel,

and as the words poured out,

I felt as if the whole
world was unfolding.

It was a time of rising hope,

not only for me, but
for my grandfather.

♪ Bring back ♪

Now, you young ladies have got
to help me get this place spotless.

Your grandma can
spot a speck of dust

quicker than a bird dog
can spot a covey of quail.

While she's here, can't she?



Grandma's going to like
sleeping on sun-dried sheets again.

At the hospital, they dry 'em
in some kind of a machine.

That's the best remedy your
grandma could possibly have.

Be right back here
in her own bed.

With her very own
special window.

Well, it's all ready
and waiting for her.

Grandpa? Mmm-hmm.

I'll pick some flowers and
put 'em by Grandma's bed.

Oh, that's a great
idea. You do that.

I found some violets
by the old pump.

Violets. That's her
very favorite flower.

And besides, it'll match
that, that bed jacket

that I ordered from
the wish catalogue.

Okay. Now, don't
you mess up this room.

You know better
than that, honey.

This room is gonna
stay exactly like it is,

until I bring her home
across the threshold.

Home.

(HUMMING)

(PIANO PLAYING)

(WHISPERING) Esther...

Esther...

When I get you back,

I'm never gonna
let you go again.

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)

JIM-BOB: Sounds like you're
going to need a valve job, Daddy.

You think it'll get us to
Charlottesville and back?

I mean, like in the
next six months or so.

I could do it for you.

With these hospital bills
we got, you might have to.

Well, according to Grandpa,

it's all gonna come
to an end today.

Is Grandma really coming home?

That's up to the doctors.

She might be there
longer than he thinks.

Elizabeth, you tell your mother

I'm bringing Grandma
home in time for supper.

But she'll probably want
it in a tray in her room.

ELIZABETH: Okay, I'll
put a doily on her tray.

Now, you boys get busy
cleaning up this here yard.

Looks like a
cyclone had struck it.

You don't wanna
have it like this

just because your grandma
isn't here to boss you.

Let's get going, son.
BEN: Okay, Grandpa.

Hi, Elizabeth. Oh, hi, Aimee.

What are you doing?

What does it look like?

I'm cleaning up
the chicken coop.

Wanna come in?
I'll teach you how.

I can't get my clothes dirty.

Why don't you go
home and change then?

I already did.

Don't you do any chores?

Not chicken coops.

Only feminine and
domestic endeavors.

Huh?

That's what Mama calls them.

That does sound like Corabeth.

Well, I already
polished the mirrors

and folded the linen.

I was wondering if you
wanted to play paper dolls.

Well, maybe tomorrow.

Sure you don't want to come
in and gather some eggs?

I better not. Thanks anyway.

Mama, I turned on the
light next to Grandma's bed.

I hope you're not going
to be too disappointed

if Grandpa can't bring her home.

Oh, he'll bring her
home. He promised.

Mama, look.

Jim-Bob put the knives
where the forks ought to be.

Good help is hard
to find these days.

Mama,

do you know that Aimee isn't allowed
to help with any outside chores?

Corabeth says it isn't ladylike.

That's up to Corabeth.

Yeah, but she can't even
play kick-the-can at recess.

She's always worried
about scuffing her shoes.

I wish you'd worry
about it a little more.

The kids are calling her
Princess Margaret Rose.

(HAMMERING)

Oh, I think
Grandma'll like that.

Yeah, it's gonna be great.

It was Erin's idea,
too. She made it.

It's Grandma's favorite.

Thought I'd better practice
a little before she gets here.

Guess Grandpa's got everyone
convinced he's bringing her home.

It's the best place for her.

(CAR APPROACHING)

ELIZABETH: They're
here. BEN: Yeah.

Jim-Bob... Ben,
get rid of this ladder.

JIM-BOB: Wait till
Grandma sees that!

Where's Grandma?

I should think it'd
be fairly obvious

that she's still
in the hospital.

Take it easy, Pa.

Anyone who wants
to say, "I told you so,"

can do it now and
get it over with.

Grandpa, you can't blame
yourself for getting your hopes up.

I told Esther I'd get her out
of that white-wall prison today,

but a couple of stiff-necked doctors insist
on keeping her there against her will.

Never before
have I failed Esther,

when I made her a promise.

Now, we'll just see if they
can keep us apart or not.

We'll just see.

What happened?

Just like we figured.

The only one who thought
Ma was coming home was Pa.

I have to admit, he
almost had me convinced.

It wasn't bad enough he
couldn't bring her home.

He decided to move her
bed over by the window

so she could look out.

With Grandma in it?

Right under the nose
of the head doctor.

Mary Ellen and me
tried to calm him down.

And Curt and another
intern had to come in

and drag him off
down the hall way.

He was hollering all the way.

Poor Grandpa.

It must have been
hard on Grandma.

Hmm. Well, they told
him they didn't want him

hollering around
the hospital anymore.

Not to come back.

Ever.

"Lord hear thee in
the day of trouble."

(SIGHING)

(GRANDPA HUMMING)

Morning, son.

Wondering where you
were. Breakfast is ready.

Well, I can't sit
around all morning

waiting for the ladies
to get breakfast.

Not when there's
work to be done.

This order of fence
posts must go out today.

You're at it kind of
early, aren't you, Pa?

Well, I read somewhere that work
preserves us from three great evils.

Boredom, poverty and vice.

And so that's why I
intend to keep busy.

Work is also something
you do when you can't sleep.

Liv tells me your bed
wasn't slept in last night.

That bed is waiting there for
when Grandma comes home.

Besides, the rocker was good
enough for all the sleep I got.

Pa, you can't get any
sleep in that rocker.

Not if you want to go on
working the way you do.

You underestimate me, son.

I can do just as much work
as you can, and then some.

I believe you can.

The hotcakes are ready. Do
you want them or don't you?

Well, I'll be with
you there in a jiffy.

(GRANDPA HUMMING)

(WHISTLING)

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Grandpa? Hello there, grandgirl.

What are you up to? Well,
I'm transplanting some azaleas.

Just thinning them
out for your grandma.

She prefers azaleas
to all other flowers.

The pink ones.

Curt and I feel real bad about
what happened yesterday.

When Curt told you
Grandma was doing fine,

he didn't mean she
was ready to come home.

I must have made a mistake.

I shouldn't have
took him at his word.

Well, Grandma needs
the kind of rest and quiet

she can only get
at the hospital.

That's why everybody
was so upset with you.

All that fuss.

Well, don't worry about it.
They're just doing their jobs.

Well, I'm glad
you're not mad at me.

Mad at you?

How could I be mad
at you, Mary Ellen?

You putting in all
those long hours,

just to be with your grandma.

Well, I want to be
with her. Mmm-hmm.

I'm glad there's one
honest-to-goodness Walton at least

that's there to
take care of her.

Are you going back
to the hospital today?

Yeah, I'm taking the
late afternoon shift.

Mmm-hmm.

Well, it's a real
comfort to know

that you're gonna
be there with her.

You ask her where
she's hid my wool socks

and give her my love, will you?

I sure will, Grandpa.
See you later.

(HUMMING) Yes,
you certainly will.

(HUMMING)

Elizabeth, you're
getting so tall,

we had to skip
two sizes this year.

It seems to me that Elizabeth is
old enough to be wearing dresses

instead of coveralls, Olivia.

Maybe so, but when you're milking Myrtle
or feeding chickens coveralls are better.

We'll take them.

Well, the book I have on raising
young ladies very firmly suggests

that little girls should
wear dresses at all times.

Can I go see Aimee now?

Better ask Corabeth.

Well, Aimee is having her music
appreciation hour now, Elizabeth,

but I'm sure she would be
glad to have you join her.

Okie-dokie. I'll see you at
home, Mama. Mmm-hmm.

Such a charming child.

It always surprises me to
hear those slang expressions

come out of that
sweet little mouth.

Most children talk
that way these days.

Oh, all the more reason why a child's
leisure hours should be supervised.

Uh, my book says that little
ladies should spend their time

doing such things as fine
stitchery and elocution.

I don't think your book
was written for the Waltons.

Oh, no criticism intended.

It's just that when
you adopt a child,

you can't afford
to make mistakes.

Corabeth, if you have a book
that tells you how to raise children

without making mistakes, it's something
every mother should know about.

Oh, I'd be happy
to loan it to you.

Thank you. You hang onto it.

But just remember,

you're Aimee's
mother, not the book.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

That was Frederic
Francois Chopin.

Mama has purchased albums
of the world's finest music

and I listen to a different
selection each day as I embroider.

Do you have any
by Benny Goodman?

Jason says he can really swing.

Well, I don't think Mama
approves of Mr. Goodman.

Oh. What does she approve of?

The finer things in life.

She's trying to teach
me what they are.

Is playing down by the
creek a finer thing in life?

Probably not.

Oh, that's too bad.

I was hoping maybe we could
pick wildflowers tomorrow.

And maybe press them in a book?

Mama has a scrapbook of wildflowers
she collected when she was young.

I think she'd approve of that.

That's good.

You come over my
house after school.

Well, I'm going to
turn Mr. Chopin over.

Would you like
to listen with me?

Uh, no, thanks.

I've got to help
Jim-Bob fix his car.

Maybe if you get some
records by Benny Goodman,

then I'll appreciate
music with you. Bye-bye.

Okay.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

(WHISTLING)

Pa, you sure you and Ben
can handle this by yourselves?

Never you mind.

I'd go with you, but I have to wait
for this lumber man from Roanoke.

First things first.

You seem awful cheerful, Pa.

Any law against that?

No, I'd just hope you haven't
got anything up your sleeve.

You're not planning to go anywhere
but the fence company, are you?

Are you gonna keep
an everlasting eye on me

the way you with your boys?

I just don't want a repeat of what
happened at the hospital yesterday.

Seems to me you have enough to
do to take care of your own family.

I'm not so far over the hill,
but what I can, I take care mine.

BEN: You ready to go, Grandpa?

Come on, Ben. Hurry
up. Let's get going.

You are slower than
molasses these days.

Sorry.

(CHUCKLING)

See you later, Daddy.

Hi, morning. Hey, Ben, you go
ahead and deliver the lumber in there.

I've got other
business to attend to.

Now, Grandpa, you're not
going to the hospital, are you?

Never you mind. You
just pick me up there later.

Sir, may I ask
where you're going?

Second floor.

Mother Nature Plant
Nursery making a delivery.

Our staff is responsible for
taking flowers to the patients.

Just leave them with me.
An orderly will be by soon.

I'm sorry, madam,

but the outfit I work for insists
on making personal delivery.

My instructions are,
take this plant to Est...

To Mrs. Walton's
of the second floor.

Just put it down.

We haven't lost
a potted plant yet.

Oh, I'll just save
your staff the trouble.

I am sorry, sir.
A rule's a rule.

Now if you persist in
trying to break this one,

I shall have to call the
hospital administrator.

Well, I wouldn't want
you to go all that bother,

but if must call somebody,

why don't you call a
nurse on the second floor

in Mrs. Walton's room so that this
lovely plant can be delivered personally?

Very well, sir. Just
wait over there.

This plant'll just die out
here in this drafty hole.

GRANDPA: Psst! Psst!

Psst!

Grandpa, you're not
supposed to be here.

(SNEEZING) Shh!

I have been trying to
convince that Salem witch

to let me take this plant
up to your grandma.

Oh, I'll take it. No, no, no, no.
That's a little too heavy for you.

You just go ahead. Lead the way.

Grandpa.

Don't do this to
me. It's not fair.

You call it fair, keeping
me and your grandma apart?

Shh. Not so loud.

Well, you haven't heard
anything yet, Granddaughter.

If you don't let me
go see your grandma,

I'm gonna make an explosion that
can be heard till Washington DC.

All right, all right.

But promise me
you won't stay long.

All I want is just
to look at her.

Okay, stay behind me and
I'll try and smuggle you up.

Oh, Mary Ellen, I'll
never forget you for this.

Oh, there... Hold
it, Mary Ellen.

You can come out from
behind that foliage, Zeb.

I'd know you anywhere.
Come on, both of you. Out.

He promised to
behave himself, Curt.

I don't care what he promised.
He's not allowed in here.

Esther and I've been
together for over 50 years

through good
times and bad times.

And you're trying
to keep us apart

just when we need
one another most.

I don't have any choice.

Grandma's got to have
quiet if she's going to get well.

Oh, yeah, whatever happened to
families that took care of one another?

Time was, born at
home, got sick at home,

and was taken care of at home
by people that loved one another.

They died at home, too.

Because they didn't have
doctors on duty 24 hours a day

and nurses and modern
medical equipment.

Zeb, you got to give up Esther
long enough to let us make her well.

Oh, all right.

If you and this hospital are
gonna take over from me,

you better do a first-class job.

First class.

Grandpa.

(DUCKS QUACKING)

Figured I'd find you here.
I got your fishing pole.

I just come down here
for some peace and quiet.

All I can think about is Esther.

You know it never
occurred to me before.

All the living creatures in this
world seem to come in pairs.

It's not easy, is it, Pa?

Yeah. Man has got to be
needed the way I needed Esther.

The way Esther needed me.

That's what kept us
going all these long years.

We'd wake up in the morning
with our knees all out of joint.

And I'd yell down to you
to turn the radio up louder.

We'd be yelling at one another.

All that time,

Esther just seem to
be a young girl to me.

Every time she looked at me

it always made me
feel somewhat younger.

She still needs you, Pa.

She'd have something to say
about the way you're carrying on.

(GRUNTS)

Same thing happened to my pa.

And I didn't understand him
anymore than you understand me.

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

Did you hear that?

Is that Erin coming back
from the telephone office?

No. Her step is lighter.

Maybe it's John-Boy finishing
the work on his novel for the night.

No, he usually comes
straight up the stairs.

You know what everybody
sounds like, don't you?

I ought to, by now.

Must be Grandpa.

He sure has been acting
like a caged animal lately.

Think you ought to go to him?

I tried talking to him.

He's gonna have to
work this out for himself.

Would you miss me that much?

I miss you that much now.

How long you gonna
read that book?

Now who's that?

Jason home from the Dew Drop.

Hi, Grandpa. Oh, hi, Jason.

What're you doing out here?

Well, I can't seem to sleep in
the bedroom with Esther gone,

so I come out here.

It's kind of nice to find
somebody awake when I get home.

Yes, it is.

Many folks down at the
Dew Drop this evening?

Oh, just the regular crowd.

I guess they've got
no place else to go

and nothing to
keep them at home.

You know, I seem to be able
to understand that a little better

than I used to.

(CHUCKLING) Night owls.

Music seems to bring
them together. Hmm.

Helps them forget
their troubles.

That's one good thing
about what I'm doing.

Got any requests?

Oh, no. You must be tired.

It's a little late, you know.

I'm as wide awake as
you are, Grandpa. Yeah.

Mmm-hmm. Well, then how about...

You know Lorena?

Esther used to love that song.

Famous War Between the States.

You'll have... have to help
me with the words. Hmm.

Lorena.

♪ The years drift
slowly by, Lorena

(CHUCKLING) I remember.

Yes, that's a sweet song.

♪ The years creep slowly by

♪ Lorena That's it.

♪ The snow is on the grass again

♪ The sun's low
down the sky ♪ Lorena

♪ The frost gleams
where the flowers have been

♪ But the heart beats
on as warmly now

♪ As when the
summer days were nigh

♪ Oh, the sun
can never dip so low

♪ A-down affection's
cloudless sky

♪ The sun can never dip so low

♪ A-down affection's
cloudless sky ♪

Is he going to
sit there all day?

Daddy says he's gonna
take some time off.

He's earned it, but
he sure looks unhappy.

Well, he misses Grandma.

It gives me a weird
feeling to see him like that.

(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)

And first position
and second position

and third position.

Fourth position
and fifth position.

Very good, Aimee.

Now, turn and watch
me and flow, Aimee,

flow and point your toe

and first position
and second position

and third posi...

Oh, Elizabeth,
Aimee is very busy.

She will not be
allowed to play today.

Oh, well, we weren't
thinking of playing.

We were going
to pick wild flowers

and press them in a book.

Oh, well, that sounds
like a worthwhile past-time,

but Aimee is busy
practicing her ballet.

N'est-ce pas, Aimee?

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

Huh? CORABETH: She asked if
she could be allowed to go later.

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

But first she must
finish her practicing.

Would you care to
join us, Elizabeth?

Come on, Elizabeth.

Stand right here.

(PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)

Girls, and first position

and second position
and third position

and fourth position
and fifth position.

And turn and again and watch me.

(GIGGLING) And
think tall, girls, think tall.

And first position
and second position.

And third position.

And no giggling, Elizabeth.

And fourth position and...

Thanks for the ride, John-Boy.

We're gonna be
down by the creek.

JOHN-BOY: Well,
don't fall in, all right?

MAN ON RADIO: No
signpost points the way.

One must tread the troubled
hours and bravely cross each day...

You listening to
the Poetry Pantry?

Oh, yes, John-Boy. Esther
and I liked to listen to the poets.

You can turn it off though, now.

Upon the final page.

Grandpa, I'm worried about you.

I am sick at heart.

I understand that.

But, uh, lying around
and doing nothing

isn't gonna cure
that kind of disease.

Since when did you get to be such
an expert on matters of the heart?

Well, I'm just saying what
you'd be saying if it was me.

Been sitting around here all day
watching everybody coming and going,

off to school, off to work,

going about their
business of everyday living

as though nothing had happened.

As if Esther wasn't even missed,

except for her chores.

Wait a minute, Grandpa.

We miss her every
minute of the day.

But we gotta keep on going.

I mean, there are
things we have to do,

everyday things
that have to be done.

I declare.

Bad enough Grandma
being in the hospital

without you acting
like you're giving up.

Oh, everybody'd get along
very well without me, too.

Grandpa.

Nobody in this household

can get along without you.

You ought to know that.

There's something else
you ought to know, too.

You are Grandma's husband,

and the way you take all of this

can make it much easier or
much tougher on the rest of us.

Grandpa, you're the head of
the family. You're our patriarch.

We're all looking for
your support in this.

Besides, if Grandma
saw you like you are now,

she'd probably slap
the fire out of you.

Look! I found a magic circle.

Now you can make a wish.

Okay.

What did you wish?

I wished I could
do this everyday.

It's much more fun than
French lessons and ballet.

Yeah. It's a lot more fun

than cleaning out
a chicken coop, too.

Why does Corabeth
make you do those things?

I guess she wants
me to be refined.

Is Corabeth refined?

I guess so.

You know, all the
kids are noticing

you're getting to be more
and more like Corabeth.

Is that bad?

Well, it's all right
for Corabeth.

You know, her
life's practically over.

But you're just a little girl.

We got enough flowers.
I'll beat you home.

Oh, no you won't!

Will too!

I won!

Won... Won... Won? What? What?

We went out picking daisies.

What have we got here?

All the wild flowers.

We were hoping to name them.

I suppose I know the names of
most of the wild plants and flowers

around this part of the country.

Their given names, anyway.

Here's the violets like
you gave your grandma.

That there is an iris, a
wild flag, they call 'em.

There seem to be
some sweet rockets here.

And wild asters and
daisies and such.

How about mine, Mr. Walton, sir?

Well, you bring them
a little closer here

and I'll have a
good look at them.

They seem to be
about the same, I think.

Oh, oh, oh, look here.

Along with the flags is
the Virginia Lungwort.

Mertensia virginica.
Grows in swampy places.

The Virginia Bluebell.

Here, you hold it
up to your ear now,

and you can hear it ringing.

I don't hear anything.

Well, that means you're
going to get a letter.

CORABETH: Aimee. Aimee.

Well, this is a... Aimee!

Aimee Godsey!

What on earth has
happened to you?

Why just look at you, girl.

Your dress is dirty and torn

and your hair is all tangled.

And your new Mary
Janes are covered in mud!

I'm sorry, Mama.

As well you might be.

Is this any way for a proper
young lady to look, Aimee?

Haven't you learned anything?

Now, Corabeth.

Come with me this
moment, Aimee Godsey.

Corabeth, you just simmer down.

Now, these girls have been
out trotting around the woods,

collecting the
bounties of nature,

and it's only natural they
get their feet a little dirty.

Aimee has been doing very
nicely in her cultural pursuits,

and I will not have her abandon
them for less admirable activities.

Oh, Corabeth, you
treat this sweet young girl

like she's a grown-up
woman already.

With all due
respect to you, Zeb,

I will thank you to
mind your own business.

Come, Aimee, let's go home.

I don't wanna go.

Now see?

See what ideas you
have put into her head?

Aimee, vite!

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

(SNICKERING)

I do not think it would
be wise at this juncture

for Elizabeth and Aimee
to play together anymore.

Good day, Zeb.

Juncture, hmmph.

I just lost my best friend.

Oh, yeah.

(SIGHS)

Corabeth,

there's something I've been
meaning to talk to you about.

I'm listening.

Well, it's about Aimee.

I haven't mentioned
anything to her,

but I think that a
child should feel

that her parents
agree about things.

Well, about what, specifically,

do we disagree?

Well, Corabeth, I don't
know how to say this to you,

but, uh, I think you've
been teaching Aimee

to be a just a little too
hoity-toity for Walton's Mountain.

Hoity-toity?

Well, you've been so
strong on that book.

The author of that publication

happens to be one of
the outstanding authorities

on cultural pursuits and
manners for young ladies.

Sweetie pie, that book
was written 30 years ago.

True values are timeless.

I gonna spend the night on
the sofa in the beauty parlor.

If that's what she's gonna do,

I'm gonna spend the
night on the pool table.

Ike, it's Aimee.

She's not in her room. What?

She's gone.

(COUGHING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Aimee Godsey!

What on earth are you doing
out this time of the night?

I ran away, Mr. Walton.

Well, do tell. Well, come on in.

Come in.

Set that down.

Well, it just so happens that we
run a very nice hotel for runaways.

And I've been kind of
lonesome this evening...

This evening?

Oh, dear me, it's
almost morning.

Just leave that right
here. Come on over here.

You look silly.

Sit right down here
now, Aimee Godsey,

and you tell me all about this.

Why on earth did you run away?

Well, it's no fun
living at my house.

I mean, it just isn't fun.

I was wondering if I
could stay with your family.

Well, that's pretty flattering.

But I hear tell

that you do have a lot more pretty
things at your house to play with

than most other little girls.

Well, I get tired of listening
to records all the time.

I'd really rather
play hopscotch.

Hmm.

Well, that don't seem to me to be
a good enough reason to run away.

Nobody wants to play with me,

except Elizabeth,

and now Mama's taken
her away as a friend.

Oh, that was terrible.

(SIGHS)

But I still don't think

it's good enough reason
for breaking Corabeth's heart.

It won't break her heart.

I don't think she
likes me that much.

Why, Aimee Godsey, I
am astonished at you!

Ike and Corabeth
love you very dearly.

Well, then why are they
always trying to change me?

"Aimee, don't muss your
hair. Aimee, stand up straight.

"Aimee, it's time for
your piano lessons."

Well, I suppose that's because

you, you was living at the
orphanage for such a long time

that you don't realize that
all parents talk that way.

(MUMBLING)

They do? Oh, yes, they do.

Only, Corabeth is so new at it,

she tries a little
harder than most.

I wish I had a grandpa.

Mmm, you do?

Well, I suppose that
could be arranged.

You could adopt one the
same way you was adopted.

Would you be my
grandpa, Mr. Walton?

Well, now I consider
that a real honor.

You know, grandpas do
come in handy now and then.

When the young ones
around here get out of sorts,

don't see eye to eye
with Livie and John,

they come to me for
some good advice.

Well, not necessarily
good, but for advice.

And my advice to you would
be for us to go back to Corabeth's

and explain to her exactly
how it is that you feel.

(EXCLAIMING)

Hmm? Do you think
you can, Grandpa?

Of course! That's
what grandpas are for.

(LAUGHING)

Oh, you sweet, young thing you.

Kidnapped.

That's what I thought when I
came in here a few minutes ago

when little Aimee
wasn't in her bed.

Kidnapped. I just knew it.

Corabeth, it's okay.
Now Aimee's back

and she's just fine.

Oh, but I don't understand.

Why would she want to run away?

Now, Corabeth,

you know, yesterday on the
front porch I did talk to you

a little out of line,

but since then
something has happened.

Now I have sort
of a legal right.

Miss Aimee here has sort of
made me her honorary grandpa.

Kind of adopted me,

so that gives me a right
now to speak out a little.

I don't think she could
find a finer grandpa

in all of Jefferson County.

Well, some folks around
here might question that,

but not me.

Corabeth,

all of us around here really
appreciate what you're trying to do,

raising this little lady.

But there's one thing that
you're neglecting somewhat,

that is you aren't showing
her how to be a young'un.

You know, all those French lessons
and ballet and everything are fine

for showing her what it's like to
be when she's a grown-up lady,

but sort of neglecting
what she is now, a child.

But my book says...

Oh, forget about
that book, Corabeth.

Only thing a mother
needs to know

comes straight
from out of her heart.

Just trust yourself.

Aimee, dear,
what is it you want?

I wanna be like
all the other kids.

I want coveralls
and climb trees,

sometimes just do nothing.

Nothing?

GRANDPA: Nothing.

Like we all did when we
were young, Corabeth.

Remember going out
on a summer evening,

lying on the grass, just looking
up at the stars and you wonder?

Going down, sitting
along the banks of a creek,

listenin' to the birds sing

and the waters gurgle.

Go running up on the top
of the highest mountain,

look out across the valley,

just wished someone you loved

was alongside
of you to share it.

Then it comes across
to you, the feeling,

"Oh, how good it
is just to be alive!"

That's doing nothing, Corabeth.

In the long run, it
is something. Hmm.

Well...

Maybe we could go on a
picnic one of these days.

Just the three of us.

And I have that
nice wicker hamper

and I'll make some sandwiches,

and we'll go looking for birds.

Would you like that?

Yes, Mama.

I would like that very much.

You're gonna sit there
all day, John-Boy?

Time's a-wasting.

(SCATTING)

GRANDPA: The thing I like
to do is go wild flower hunting.

Over there I think is another
big patch of wild irises.

Right over there.

(GROANS)

Pa just about wore me out today.

Just hope he doesn't overdo.

We don't want him ending
up in that hospital, too.

You don't have to
worry about that.

At least you'll get
some sleep tonight.

JIM-BOB: Elizabeth,
you asleep yet?

ELIZABETH: No, Jim-Bob, are you?

What do you think?

I just wanted to say
good night, that's all.

Good night, Jim-Bob.

Good night, Ben.

BEN: Good night, Elizabeth.

Good night, Mama,
good night, Daddy.

JOHN: Good night,
everybody. Let's get some sleep.

Mama, can I take ballet
lessons like Aimee?

OLIVIA: We'll talk about it
in the morning, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: Good night, Grandpa!

Good, he's asleep.

(TRUCK ENGINE REVVING)

Isn't that my truck starting up?

Who'd be using it at this hour?

I don't know. I can't imagine anybody
would bother to steal that thing.

Who took the truck?

Grandpa?

He's gone.

We'd better get to the
hospital. Okay, I'll drive.

John-Boy, if time ever comes when
you have to come chasing after me

in the middle of the
night... Yeah, what?

Will you do it?

Yeah, I'll be glad to.

Everything all right, Pa?

Don't worry, Son,

not planning to
cause a commotion.

We thought maybe
you'd run away like Aimee.

No.

It just suddenly
occurred to me tonight,

when the family was
saying their goodnights,

why I haven't been
able to sleep lately.

I haven't said good night
to Esther for a long time.

So I arranged with Mary Ellen

to be as close to her
as I possibly could.

The signal came
from that window.

That's Esther's room up there.

JOHN-BOY: Well,
she knows you're here.

Maybe we better
leave you two alone.

Oh, that would be nice.

Good night, Grandpa.

Good night, Pop.

Good night, Esther dear.

Good night.

JOHN-BOY: Grandpa's quiet
vigil so moved the hospital staff

that he was eventually allowed
to sit with her again in her room.

But until that time

he came every
evening to the bench

where he could see
her lighted window.