The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 5, Episode 24 - The Go-Getter - full transcript
John and Ben again come to blows about work at the mill. Ben quits and becomes a used-car salesperson. Does a good job - but with questionable sales tactics. Has to make the car sales right.
I'm going to go in to Rockfish
tomorrow and do some shopping.
Maybe Sarah'd run into Ep.
It's possible.
I thought you didn't
like matchmaking.
Huh? There's no use of
me beating around the bush.
Sarah's got her eye on you, Ep.
John-Boy, I'm in love.
May I point out that you're
being paid to work here,
not to be daydreaming
about Darlene Jarvis.
I don't need this job.
I can get a job with
Mr. Jarvis tomorrow if I want.
Well, then, why
don't you just do that?
(ALL CHATTERING JOYFULLY)
(CAR HORN HONKING)
(CAR BACKFIRES)
(ALL CLAMORING)
JOHN-BOY: In the spring of 1938,
I began to feel the burden of
publishing The Blue Ridge Chronicle
and finishing my novel.
It would be the newspaper
which would create a crisis
affecting the entire family.
JIM-BOB: Push. Push.
JOHN-BOY: Hey! Hey!
What are you all doing,
making that much noise?
I'm trying to work in here.
You all mind keeping
the noise down, please?
What's the matter with him?
Oh, he's always a little edgy
when he's working on his novel.
He's down to the last chapter.
He's been working on
it long enough. Yeah.
I don't see why that gives
him the right to be so grouchy.
I'm pooped anyway.
Listen, I got to
finish my deliveries.
Better luck next time, Jim-Bob.
Oh. Come on, let's give
her a shove back to the shed.
Come on, everybody.
Come on. Give her
the old heave-ho.
Steer it, Jim-Bob.
Don't run into
Livie's flower bed.
(ERIN WHOOPING)
(GRANDPA EXCLAIMING)
(MOTORCYCLE ENGINE RUNNING)
(BLARING)
(MOOING)
BEN: Here's the new
wrinkle, Mr. Jarvis.
Exclusively for you.
$5 off any of your used
cars on your lot with this ad.
Ben, you are suggesting I
should advertise to lose money?
No, sir. To increase traffic.
And traffic means sales,
and people are gonna
come to you to get $5 off.
More traffic, more money.
Well, this ad is twice
the size I usually take.
I want you to make
twice as much money.
(CHUCKLES) Maybe
even three times as much.
Ben, you're a go-getter.
Write him a check, Darlene.
Um, I already have, Daddy.
Oh.
Well, thank you, sir. And
I'm gonna come by to see
how our campaign brings
in all those customers.
You do that, Ben.
(CHUCKLES) Spending
all my money in advertising.
I'd do a lot better if you
worked for me as a salesman.
(BOTH CHUCKLING)
Hi. Hi, Ep. Come on in.
I found a 1934 green
Dodge abandoned.
Wasn't stole off
this lot, was it?
Thank you, no, Ep.
Ben here has me selling 'em
faster than people can steal 'em.
(CHUCKLING) Atta boy, Ben.
Well, I better be going. I
can go hitch a ride on home.
Oh, no, Ben. Why
don't I drive you home?
I'm all caught up on the books.
Can we take the
blue Chevy, Daddy?
Sure. Make sure
there's plenty of gas in it.
Thanks.
Thank you, sir.
Bye, Ben. See you later.
Uh, Ben, why don't you drive?
Sure.
Bye-bye. Bye.
Bye, Daddy. Bye, Sheriff.
Bye, Ben.
(CHUCKLING)
Makes you wish you were
young again, doesn't it? Yeah.
Why, Sarah Griffith.
I didn't know you were in town.
Olivia.
Can I give you a lift?
What brings you
way back up here?
Vacation.
How's Ep?
I did ask you what brings you
all the way up here, didn't I?
Yes, but you didn't
answer my question.
Ep is Ep. He
doesn't change much,
but we like him the way he is.
Dear sweet Ep.
Just may change soon.
I like the way
you've set your hat.
Do you think I'm being too bold?
A faint heart never
won a good man.
You're way ahead of me, Olivia.
Why don't you come in
and say hello to everybody?
Oh, I can't. I have to unpack
over at Mrs. Brimmer's.
It'd be nice to have you
back on the mountain.
Well, as long as I'm here,
that's a happy possibility.
Bye. Bye.
Now that's what I
call traveling in style.
Thanks for the ride,
Darlene. Oh, that's okay.
Will you be in tomorrow?
Well, I ought to show
your daddy the ad in print.
Well, I'd like to
see it, too, Ben.
Okay.
I'll be by for sure.
Maybe even tonight, okay? Okay.
Okay.
Bye-bye, Ben. Bye-bye.
Well, hey.
Oh, our secret, huh?
Our secret.
Well, you know how the guys are.
You won't tell Curt, will you?
Not unless I talk in my sleep.
You do talk in your sleep.
I've heard you before.
That's okay. Curt
doesn't listen in his sleep.
Good.
Thanks.
So, anyway, Grandma said
to thank Ike and Corabeth,
the Baldwin sisters
and Mrs. Brimmer
and everybody else from all over
who sent her get-well cards.
She gets any
more get-well cards,
I'll have to build another
room to put 'em in.
MARY ELLEN: Pass
the beans, Ben. (SIGHS)
Well, I hope your mood has
improved from this morning.
Grandpa, I was just trying to
concentrate this morning, that's all.
JOHN: Appears you're
still trying to concentrate.
I'm afraid my table
talk isn't very good
when I'm writing
under a deadline.
If you'll excuse me,
I think I'll have dessert when
I finish working, okay, Mama?
Come on, Ben. Let's go.
Hey, John-Boy, can I
use your car tonight?
Ben, we got work to do.
We got a newspaper to
put out, you remember?
Sure, sure. Excuse me.
(GRANDPA CHUCKLING)
You look like you're
busting to tell me something.
Remember Sarah Griffith?
She nursed Ep Bridges when
he was wounded in France?
I do. OLIVIA: She's here.
She's spending the week
staying at Mrs. Brimmer's.
How did her engine sound?
I don't know, Jim-Bob.
We were talking.
I bet you were.
Well, couldn't you listen?
I did fix it, you know.
I know, Jim-Bob.
Why couldn't you listen?
What kind of mother are you?
Jim-Bob, she's
gonna be here a lot.
You can discuss it with her.
ERIN: Jim-Bob's still
infatuated with her.
Whatever that means.
It means you like her a lot.
Well, who wouldn't like
a lady ambulance driver?
Mama, can we eat our
desserts by the radio?
I want to listen to
Charlie McCarthy.
I don't see why not.
You're easy to get
along with tonight.
I do wish Sarah
would settle down here.
You two get along, don't you?
I'm going to go in to Rockfish
tomorrow and do some shopping.
Why not Charlottesville?
There's better stores there.
(RADIO PLAYING) We
thought we'd go in to Rockfish.
Maybe Sarah'd run into Ep.
It's possible.
Liv, this isn't like you.
I thought you didn't
like matchmaking.
I'm just going along
for the ride, that's all.
Wonder what I should wear.
That innocent look is
what you should wear.
Oh, Ben, uh...
Listen, I... I got an idea
I want to write down.
Could you run one of these
off and proofread it for me?
Sure. Thank you.
Oh!
What was that? What happened?
Uh, it was just a little
paperweight I made.
You dropped it into
the press? Yeah.
You could've broken the press.
There's "Darlene"
on it. It's for her desk.
Ben, I don't understand you.
You spend an hour
making a paperweight.
You know we're
already behind schedule.
John-Boy, I'm in love.
Is there some law against that?
Well... Well, when
there's work to be done
and you almost break
my press, yes, there is.
Well, John-Boy, I
never would've done it
if you'd let me borrow your car.
I would've gone, and I would've
come back and done my work later.
May I point
something out to you?
May I point out that you're
being paid to work here,
not to be daydreaming
about Darlene Jarvis?
John-Boy, may I point out to you
that you've been pretty
hard to get along with lately?
Oh, yeah?
Well, then, just don't cross
me and do the work, all right?
John-Boy, I don't need this job.
You, what?
I don't need this job.
I can get a job with
Mr. Jarvis tomorrow if I want.
Well, then, why
don't you just do that?
Yeah, I'll do that, tomorrow.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(SIGHS)
(WHISTLING)
My land, don't you look spiffy.
Thank you, Grandpa.
John tells me you
and Sarah Griffith
are heading to town on a
shopping spree? That's right.
Are you sure there
isn't something else
that Sarah Griffith
has got in mind?
You know, I think Ep
Bridges had better look out.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Well, Sarah Griffith's
the sort of girl,
once she gets her eye on a man,
(CAR HORN HONKING) he's as
good as hog-tied, roped and branded.
See you later.
Oh, no. Just hold on there.
I'd like to say hello to her
before she changes her name.
You behave yourself.
Oh, I will. You know I will.
No, I don't.
Miss Griffith, am
I glad to see you.
Good to see you again, Jim-Bob.
This hand isn't greasy.
I've been keeping it clean.
Welcome back to
Walton's Mountain.
Nice to be here.
Your engine sounds pretty
good. Had it fixed lately?
No, I didn't need to.
You're such an
excellent mechanic.
My land, you look positively,
radiantly beautiful, Miss Griffith.
You always do.
Thank you, sir.
Goodbye, you two.
See you.
I think I can find
what I'm looking for
at Barton's Dry Goods store.
(CLEARING THROAT) Olivia.
Don't tell me you
were coming to town
and you weren't going
to say hello to me.
Hello, Ep.
Why, uh... Sarah.
When'd you get back?
I, uh, just got in yesterday.
Oh.
Well, I, uh,
I've been meaning to
get over to Richmond.
I would've liked that.
Yeah, well, ladies,
uh, come on in.
I've got the coffee on.
OLIVIA: Oh, no, thank you, Ep.
Sarah was kind enough to
drive me in to do some shopping.
I think I better do it.
Uh, well, just as you say.
I'll either meet you
back here or at Barton's.
Well, now.
Ain't this a surprise, huh?
Come on in. I've got coffee on.
BEN: I've given
it lot of thought.
I'd like to take you
up on that job offer.
I know I can sell.
I know you can, too.
When does the big ad come out?
Tomorrow's Chronicle. Uh-huh.
I'm going to give you a try.
Well, you won't regret it, sir.
There's a list of the
cars that are for sale.
You take a look at that and
see what you can do. Okay.
I already know a lot
about cars from home.
Ben, good luck.
Thank you.
JOHN: How was your trip?
We ran into Ep.
Take you long?
(CHUCKLES)
He and Sarah talked for a while,
but Sarah said nothing happened.
He immediately proposed to her
right there in the middle of the street?
Are you interested in
hearing what happened or not?
You said nothing happened.
Sarah invited him over to
Mrs. Brimmer's for supper
but Ep said he had a pool game.
Do you think he had a pool game?
Probably does now.
Why? When she came
all the way from Richmond?
Olivia, I've known
Ep a lot of years.
I've hunted with him,
I've fished with him,
had an off-duty drink with him,
and I've played pool with him.
You should see the
way he plays pool.
He looks at that
shot from every angle
while you're just standing there
chalking, waiting for him to shoot.
I am not interested
in a pool game.
Ep doesn't like to
make fast moves.
He probably likes Sarah a lot,
but he's not going to
be pushed into anything.
Well, you're his friend.
You've known him a long time.
I suggest you get over to Ep
and tell him to make his move.
No.
No, I may grouse him
about not getting off the dime
but I am not going to
push him into matrimony.
He may enjoy his freedom.
You think freedom is
better than marriage?
I didn't say that.
Well, it sounded like it.
Liv, this whole thing is
beginning to get out of hand.
Maybe you'd like to
go play pool tonight, too.
Liv.
BEN: Howdy.
Howdy.
Any salesmen around?
Well, I'm the salesman.
Ben. Benjamin Walton.
My truck gave up.
Haven't got much
in the way of money.
Any bargains?
Gee, I'm sure sorry to
hear about your truck.
But lucky for you, we're
famous for our bargains.
People come as
far as Charlottesville,
even Richmond, for
our bargains. Mr...
Arnie Shimerdy.
Mr. Shimerdy.
See what we can
do for you today.
That's a pretty little
truck right over here
that someone's gonna
snap up in a hurry.
BEN: Here you go.
The upholstery's shot.
Well, Mr. Shimerdy, that all depends
on where you want to put your money.
Fancy upholstery or just
down-to-earth transportation.
You look like a man
that can smell a good buy.
How much?
You can drive your truck
home for under $100.
How much under?
$10.
Mr. Shimerdy, I know
you want this truck,
and if I talk to Mr. Jarvis,
I'm pretty he'll knock a few dollars
off because of the upholstery.
I know a man that
put a rug on his seats,
and it lasted for
over five years.
Now, if you do
that, Mr. Shimerdy,
that's just money
in your pocket.
Where is this Jarvis?
Well, he's right over there.
Where is that boy?
He's probably watching
the moon come up
over Rockfish with Darlene.
His supper's ruined.
Mom, you don't think about
food when you're in love.
John, do you think you ought to
drive over there and look for him?
Oh, don't worry about him, Liv.
He's grown up enough
to take care of himself.
JOHN: What happened
to your typewriter?
That last chapter
isn't coming easy.
Are you sure you're not thinking
about the run-in
with your brother?
Well, it has been on my mind.
Since you're not doing anything,
can you think of a five letter
word that means "to tell all."
C-O-N-F-E-S-S. That's seven.
Well, you're no
good at crosswords,
but at least you can count.
Spell.
John-Boy?
Well, if I was to help you out it
wouldn't be your puzzle, would it?
I'm not getting anywhere.
I'll tell you what, John-Boy,
maybe you should have
written the last chapter first.
How can he write
the last chapter first?
That's the way I read a book.
If I like the way it
turns out, I go back.
You're crazy, Jim-Bob. No.
(CAR APPROACHING) It saves
wading through a dumb book.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES) Ben's home.
OLIVIA: Well, it's about time.
I sure hope he's
done some thinking.
Hey, everybody, I'm home.
Hi, Son.
Hey, Ben, where'd
you get the fancy car?
It's one of
Mr. Jarvis' used cars.
Your mother had your
supper in the oven, Son.
Better hurry up and eat.
If it gets any colder, I'm
gonna have to feed it to the pigs.
I'm gonna go out to the shed.
Uh, wait a minute.
I have some good
news to tell everyone.
May be of some
importance to a few of you.
Especially you, John-Boy.
I'm not the little
brother anymore.
What?
I got a job today.
I'm gonna be working as a car
salesman for Jarvis' used car lot.
And what's more, I
sold a pickup truck today
and I made a commission of $8.
Maybe I'll get a little bit
more respect around here.
Why, Ben, we've always treated
you with full respect around here,
all of us, haven't we?
Son, was that truck you sold
the one that Jarvis had out back,
the white one that Mort
Sellers used to own?
Yeah, that's the one.
I hope you told
whoever bought it
everything that
was wrong with it.
He never asked.
It's a lot of truck
for the money.
Well, it was.
Why, Fester, you've got
more knots than the shoelaces,
you know that?
My feet are growing too fast.
They're breaking my shoelaces.
Well, I know, I
know. That's true.
But look, look at it this way.
You could logically become
the world's champion
shoelace buster.
Did you ever think
about that, huh?
Makes you blink, don't it?
Off you go. Thanks, Sheriff.
Hi, John.
How's the world treating
you? Can't complain, Ep.
That's good.
You know Sarah Griffith
is up from Richmond.
Yeah. I hear she's over
at Flossie Brimmer's, right?
Mmm-hmm. Yeah.
Quite a lady. Oh,
she's... She sure is.
She really surprised me when she
showed up at Honor Day like that.
The memories that,
uh, she brought back.
She and Liv hit it off
right from the start.
You'd think they'd known
each other for years.
You would. You
really would for sure.
Yeah.
Ep, uh,
I'm supposed to talk
to you about something.
Yeah.
Oh, well.
Let's, uh, go inside here.
I got some coffee on.
Uh, I'll wash up some cups.
Now, Ep, I'm
gonna get right to it.
An unmarried man, you
know, walking around loose, Ep,
gives women ideas.
Oh, well, uh...
There's no use me
beating around the bush, Ep.
Sarah's got her eye on you, Ep.
She wants you to
ask her to marry you.
What... Uh...
Look, John, I, uh...
(SIGHS)
Gosh. I...
Liv put me up
to this, Ep. I've...
She'd like nothing better
than have her friend
staked out up here for good.
All the women in my family
are kind of soft on you anyway,
you know that, Ep.
Well, I'm...
I'm... I'm pretty soft
on them, too, but, uh...
Now that Sarah...
A man could do a lot worse.
Oh, look, look. John,
John, I... I... I know, uh...
You could see, uh...
I've always been the
kind of a fellow that, uh...
You know, you've got
to kind of go by my, uh...
With me, John, it's
just hard to figure...
Of course, in my case, it...
And yet...
Hi, Ben. Well, hello, Darlene.
(CHUCKLES)
What's the matter?
Well, I've never seen
you wearing a hat before.
Well, how do you like it?
It's real cute. It
goes with your tie.
Good.
I figured since I'm gonna be the
best car salesman in the country,
I better start looking the part.
You know what you've got, Ben?
What? You've got style.
Thanks.
You know, Mary Ellen, these
have gone up to 30 cents.
30 cents a dozen for eggs?
Yeah. You and Curt ought
to start raising chickens.
It would never work. He can't
stand to see anything penned up.
You mean even
chickens? Curt's weird.
Hi, Flossie. How are
you, Mrs. Brimmer?
What's the matter
with your feet?
They are giving me fits.
Until you've had aching feet
you don't know what misery is.
Did you walk all the
way from your house?
There's no other
way to get here.
Ike, I'd like a pound of sugar
and a bag of cornmeal, please.
Okay. Sugar and
cornmeal coming up.
I'll bet anything,
Curt would tell you to
stay off your feet for a while.
Honey, if you run
a boarding house,
you can't stay off your feet.
Well, why don't you buy a car?
You know, I've thought of it.
Well, Ben is working
over at Jarvis'.
You ought to go over
there and see what he's got.
It's, uh, 38 cents.
Uh, put it on the bill.
Imagine me with a car.
Why not?
Well, women are flying planes.
I guess I could
drive a car. Bye-bye.
Did you see Ep Bridges
in town? We talked.
What did he say? Not much.
Did you bring up
the subject of Sarah?
Uh-huh.
Well?
Well, he said Sarah
was a fine woman.
Is that all? Mmm-hmm.
Doesn't sound like much
of a conversation to me.
Mmm-hmm. Ep's not
much of talker, you know.
Well, what did you say?
I told him the truth.
I said Sarah wanted him
to ask her to marry him.
You said that to Ep?
Uh-huh. Ep
understands straight talk.
Sarah would die
a thousand deaths
if she knew you
said that to him.
And I wouldn't blame
her. How could you?
What are you
getting so riled about?
You're the one who's
dead set on telling the truth.
This is something
entirely different.
What's so different?
It doesn't matter. You probably
spoiled the whole thing anyway.
Why?
Because there's nothing
that scares a man off faster
than knowing that a
woman is after him.
I don't know. I knew
you were after me.
It didn't scare me off.
The men in this family.
Now Ep would be knocking
at Sarah's door right now
if everybody would
just leave him alone.
If everybody left Ep alone, he'd
probably never get out of bed.
This car is just right
for you, Mrs. Brimmer.
Used to belong to Preacher
Parker over in Scottsville.
He took real good care of it.
It's a nice-looking car.
All the tires are just fine
and the valves were
just grounded last year.
MRS. BRIMMER: I wouldn't
know a valve from a hubcap.
Hey, Ben, could I
see you a minute?
Sure, one moment.
Excuse me a moment, please.
Sir?
Yeah, Ben, looks like
you got a buyer there.
I think she's going
to buy the car.
Yeah, she's going
to buy something.
Now look, Ben, we can sell
that little coupe she's looking at
any day of the week.
Why don't you see if you can
get her interested in another car?
That Studebaker
Sedan, for instance.
That needs work, doesn't it?
Yeah, it could use
a little cleaning up.
Might need some work later on.
But it's quality.
It's big, it's heavy, it's safe.
I don't know.
She's a friend of my family's.
And I want to put her
in something good.
Yeah, of course you
do. Of course you do.
But, uh, you could point
out the difference in size.
The big back seats.
She can take her
friends with her, huh?
You sell that sedan, Ben,
there's a $5 bonus
in it for you, huh?
Mrs. Brimmer, Mr. Jarvis
has a good idea.
Why don't you take
a look at the sedan?
It carries five passengers,
and it costs less
than that small coupe.
It's awfully big, isn't it?
And I'm not that good a driver.
Oh, you will be,
in no time at all.
There's a lot of
advantages to a big car.
You can take all
your friends for a ride
or you can go pick up your
boarders at the bus station.
ELIZABETH: You get
a fancier car every day.
Well, Mr. Jarvis says I can
use any car I want of the lot.
Did Mr. Jarvis lend
you the hat, too?
Well, the hat's mine.
The logging road cuts along
the valley right about here, I think.
Uh, be a par shorter
if they go along the
ridge route to the saddle.
Well, you know how
steep that hill is, though?
I'm home, everybody.
Well, look at my handsome son.
What're you doing?
Selling tickets to the circus?
No. I'm selling cars.
I sold another one today, Daddy.
Made $12 commission
plus $5 bonus.
You look pretty
funny in that hat.
Darlene likes it.
Take it off in the house, Ben.
Let me try that on.
(LAUGHING)
Well, Mr. Jarvis says I'm the
best salesman he's ever had.
"Born to it," is what he
says. And I believe him.
It just comes natural to me.
Big business and
progress and all that.
And the money I'm making.
I've made $25 already this week.
Well, I hope you're putting
some of that aside, Son.
It's a warm feeling to
have money in the bank.
I was thinking, Daddy,
why don't you get rid of
that ratty old truck of yours?
I can get you a great deal
on this beautiful LaSalle
Roadster we've got.
I can just see your daddy
driving a load of lumber to Rockfish
in a LaSalle Roadster.
Will you please go
outside and tell Jim-Bob
and Elizabeth to
wash up for supper?
Yes, Mama.
(CHUCKLING)
Flying high, that
boy. Yeah, he sure is.
BEN: Elizabeth, come to supper.
All right.
Jim-Bob, Mama wants
you to get cleaned up.
Okay.
You know, I can't figure out
why you spend so much time
working on this piece of junk.
Well, when it's
finished, I'll have a car.
Jim-Bob, when it's together
it'll still be a piece of junk.
No one will even
wanna ride in it.
Big shot.
I'm going into town.
Is there anything you
need while I'm there? No.
Is there enough gasoline in the
truck to get me there and back?
Uh-huh.
You seen Ep Bridges lately?
Saw him last Wednesday. Why?
Your idea about letting him make his
own moves with Sarah hasn't worked.
She hasn't seen him since then.
He's probably been busy.
Not that busy.
Her vacation's over
in a couple of days.
She'll be going back to Richmond
and that could be
the end of everything.
JOHN: I don't know how
you're going to get Ep to move,
unless you hog-tie
him and drag him.
There are ways.
What do you say, old-timer?
Thanks.
Here you go.
(LAUGHING)
SHERIFF: Here.
Now, the leg up. Here you go.
(GRUNTING) There
you go. Thank you.
Bye, kids. Bye.
Morning, Olivia. OLIVIA: Hi, Ep.
How's everybody out your way?
Everybody's just
fine, thank you.
Except Grandma, and
she's improving all the time.
I want you to remember me to her
next time you go
out to the hospital.
I want to get out there
this next week, if I can.
Ep, John and I are having a
little supper on Friday night
in honor of my friend, Sarah.
We'd like you to come.
Why, I... I'd be happy to.
I thought afterwards
maybe the four of us
could come into
town and see a movie.
That would be
enjoyable, wouldn't it?
Of course, we
wouldn't have to pay.
Sheriff and his party
always get in free, see.
(CHUCKLING) All right.
We'll be your guests for
that part of the evening.
I hear it's a dandy
good show, too.
Singing picture.
Jeanette MacDonald
and Nelson Eddy.
Hmm. Yeah.
We'll look forward to
seeing you Friday at 6:00.
Oh, I'll be there.
I'll be there.
Bye. Bye.
(SIGHS)
I'm so glad to see you, Olivia.
It's just about time
for a cup of tea.
Oh, I haven't got time, Flossie.
I have to get home.
Is Sarah here?
Well, she was a few minutes ago.
Sarah, Olivia's here.
SARAH: Be right out.
She's such a nice
one to have around.
You know, if Ep Bridges
doesn't marry her,
he ought to have
his head examined.
Look at the way she talks to me.
You'd think I've been
living here for years.
You and Ep are coming
for supper Friday night.
Did you have to threaten him?
No, he was pleased as punch.
Wear that red dress
you were showing me.
Maybe I ought to go down
and have Cora Godsey do my hair.
Just don't let her give
you a permanent wave.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
Is this your new car, Flossie?
That's mine. Did
Ben sell it to you?
Just the other day.
It's a big old thing, isn't it?
You must enjoy having a car.
Well, I did the first day,
but then it made such a racket,
and the engine stopped
and it hasn't run since.
I think she ought to take it
back and make him repair it.
I would.
I might think about that.
Kind of a small group,
considering the number
you folks usually have here.
Where is all the family tonight?
Liv drove 'em out.
Oh, that's not true.
John-Boy and Grandpa are
visiting Grandma in the hospital.
Uh, Erin's working at
the telephone office.
Ben is on a date.
Jason's working at
the Dew Drop Inn.
Jim-Bob is having
supper with Patsy Brimmer.
Elizabeth is playing with
Aimee at the Godseys.
And that's it. Have I
left anybody out? No.
How do you keep
track of all of them?
I don't always.
It's real good chicken, Liv.
Thank you. Would
anybody like some more?
No, no. No, thank you.
Good chicken.
John.
You must find it
awful quiet here
after living in Richmond, Sarah.
That's what I like about
up here in the mountain.
The quiet.
And the people.
Yeah. Most of us
feel that way about it.
The beans are good,
too, if I say so myself.
You didn't cook 'em.
I grew 'em.
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
JOHN: Last time we saw Nelson
Eddy, he was a Canadian Mountie.
Yeah, I saw that one.
Being the sheriff
of Jefferson County
was pretty dull
after seeing that.
Why, you could be a Canadian
Mountie if you wanted to be.
SHERIFF: No. Can't sing.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Put that back.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
Oh, you want this?
Duh, sure I do.
Okay. You got it.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
Tickets, please.
Oh, evening,
Sheriff. Go right in.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
Go, get him, Milo!
(WHISPERING) This
is a stupid arrangement.
Don't look at me.
Ep and Sarah ought
to be sitting together.
Ep is the host.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
DOG: Duh, he sure
cooled us off, didn't he?
(RAT LAUGHING)
You know, there's something
I've always wondered about.
Was that Nelson Eddy
and Jeanette MacDonald
singing to each other
out there in the woods?
And there's a big
orchestra playing.
Now, there's nothing
around out there for miles,
but where did that big
orchestra come from?
You're not supposed
to notice that, Ep.
Just supposed to
rare back and enjoy it.
I think it's supposed to
be the music in their hearts.
I just thought it
was real pretty.
I just always
wondered about that.
OLIVIA: Good night,
Sarah. JOHN: Night.
What are you looking
so worried about?
Sarah and Ep scarcely
spoke to each other.
Liv, you can't make
people talk, you know.
He should have driven us home
first and then brought her home.
What are you
looking like that for?
JOHN: All right, Ep.
Olivia, I sure did
appreciate that good supper.
I really did enjoy that.
Glad you could come by, Ep.
We really enjoyed
the movie, too.
JOHN: See you in town.
That is the most
aggravating thing.
Those two really
love each other.
Why is Ep so standoffish?
I don't know, but we're
never gonna force him.
If it's gonna happen, it will.
We're just gonna
have to leave 'em alone.
You're a real big help.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
SHERIFF: Sarah? It's Ep.
Ep?
(SIGHS)
I came back.
Erin, if you expect to
ride into town with me,
you better hurry up
and finish that quick.
All right.
I just wish one morning
you children would
all be ready to go on time.
Seems like somebody's
forever being hauled,
pushed or shoved out of here.
That's due to the fact that certain
people wait till the last possible minute
before they get out
of bed. That's you.
Hmm. That's the pot
calling the kettle black.
If you children would do less
bickering and more eating,
maybe you wouldn't be late.
Morning.
OLIVIA: Morning.
Breakfast is in the oven.
Well, Rudolph Valentino Walton,
what time did you
get in last night?
Well, it's none
of your business.
You ought to be arrested.
OLIVIA: What
kind of talk is that?
Did you see the car
he sold Mrs. Brimmer?
What about it?
Yeah, what about it?
Well, it's no good.
I hope you didn't know it was in
poor condition when you sold it to her.
Well, it's a lot of
car for the money.
It's a lot of headaches.
Ran just long enough to
get her there and then it quit.
The timing chain's broken.
Yesterday on the switchboard,
I heard Mrs. Brimmer
talking to her sister.
She paid $125 for that car.
And now it won't run.
And she doesn't have
enough money to get it fixed.
I just hope you
didn't know, Ben.
Ben?
What are you all
jumping on me for?
I can't know everything
about every car I sell.
You're all jumping on me like I
committed some sort of crime.
You sold Mrs.
Brimmer a rotten car.
Ben, I'm having a bad
enough time on this book
without you standing
there staring at me.
John-Boy, I don't know what
to do with Mrs. Brimmer's car.
Mr. Jarvis won't fix it,
and I don't have the money.
What about all those
big commissions,
all that money you were making?
I spent most of it.
On Darlene?
(SIGHS)
Well, the only
thing I can tell you is
walking around hating yourself
isn't gonna help anything.
Well, what should I do?
I don't know.
But you better do
something. Anything.
See if you can fix
the car yourself.
Maybe Jim-Bob
will help you with it.
No, Jim-Bob's sore at me.
(SIGHS)
I don't know what
to tell you, Ben.
You wanted your independence.
You wanted to be
free of this job here.
You got that.
You've had the good times.
Now let's see how you
can handle the bad ones.
Thanks.
(BEN WHISTLING)
Careful, boy.
BEN: Come on, Blue.
Whoa.
Thanks again,
Erin. Anytime, Ben.
What are you gonna do with that?
I'm gonna fix it.
(SNICKERS) This I gotta see.
Oh, Olivia,
you'll be glad to know
that Ben came after my car,
and he's going to
fix it for me himself.
Ben's not the
mechanic in the family,
but I know he'll do his best.
Flossie, Corabeth told me
that Sarah is leaving today,
she's going back to Richmond.
Well, that could be.
Everything in her room is packed
and I haven't seen her all day.
I was so hoping she and
Ep would get together.
I guess we all were.
Sarah, what's this I
hear about your leaving.
Yes, I'm going to go back
to Richmond this afternoon.
Oh, we're all going to miss you.
Well, I'll...
I'll be right back
after the honeymoon.
Ep and I are gonna get married.
Sarah!
I told you all you had to do
was leave those two alone
and they would get together.
It wasn't leaving
them alone that did it.
It was the supper and the movie.
You remember when Ep
dropped Sarah off first?
Uh-huh.
Well, he doubled
back to Mrs. Brimmer's.
Sarah was waiting
and he proposed.
You want me to
tell you, you win?
I just wanted you to
know what happened.
You know, you sure
don't look like a mechanic.
BEN: Get out of here, Jim-Bob.
Oh, I want to see a
real expert at work.
I want to come out
and get you, boy.
What's the matter, you
having some trouble?
No, I'm not having any trouble.
Now, just get out of
here, Jim-Bob, huh?
(EXCLAIMS)
(RATTLING)
(RATTLING)
(CAR ENGINE CRANKING)
We've got to get the radiator
off to get to the timing chain.
You're a good brother,
Jim-Bob. Thank you.
Well, don't just stand
there. Grab a wrench.
JOHN-BOY: They are
grown now, those boys,
men set apart by
time and distance.
But the patterns that were set
in those early years still remain.
During the years that followed,
my brothers and my sisters
came to each other's aid
often in time of trouble.
And they still do.
ELIZABETH: Mama, are you awake?
OLIVIA: Yes, Elizabeth.
Why do ladies put
candles on the table
when they invite men for supper?
Because candlelight
makes ladies look prettier.
Well, why is that?
JIM-BOB: Because candles
don't put out much light
and you can't see too much.
Isn't that kind of sneaky?
Good night, Elizabeth.
tomorrow and do some shopping.
Maybe Sarah'd run into Ep.
It's possible.
I thought you didn't
like matchmaking.
Huh? There's no use of
me beating around the bush.
Sarah's got her eye on you, Ep.
John-Boy, I'm in love.
May I point out that you're
being paid to work here,
not to be daydreaming
about Darlene Jarvis.
I don't need this job.
I can get a job with
Mr. Jarvis tomorrow if I want.
Well, then, why
don't you just do that?
(ALL CHATTERING JOYFULLY)
(CAR HORN HONKING)
(CAR BACKFIRES)
(ALL CLAMORING)
JOHN-BOY: In the spring of 1938,
I began to feel the burden of
publishing The Blue Ridge Chronicle
and finishing my novel.
It would be the newspaper
which would create a crisis
affecting the entire family.
JIM-BOB: Push. Push.
JOHN-BOY: Hey! Hey!
What are you all doing,
making that much noise?
I'm trying to work in here.
You all mind keeping
the noise down, please?
What's the matter with him?
Oh, he's always a little edgy
when he's working on his novel.
He's down to the last chapter.
He's been working on
it long enough. Yeah.
I don't see why that gives
him the right to be so grouchy.
I'm pooped anyway.
Listen, I got to
finish my deliveries.
Better luck next time, Jim-Bob.
Oh. Come on, let's give
her a shove back to the shed.
Come on, everybody.
Come on. Give her
the old heave-ho.
Steer it, Jim-Bob.
Don't run into
Livie's flower bed.
(ERIN WHOOPING)
(GRANDPA EXCLAIMING)
(MOTORCYCLE ENGINE RUNNING)
(BLARING)
(MOOING)
BEN: Here's the new
wrinkle, Mr. Jarvis.
Exclusively for you.
$5 off any of your used
cars on your lot with this ad.
Ben, you are suggesting I
should advertise to lose money?
No, sir. To increase traffic.
And traffic means sales,
and people are gonna
come to you to get $5 off.
More traffic, more money.
Well, this ad is twice
the size I usually take.
I want you to make
twice as much money.
(CHUCKLES) Maybe
even three times as much.
Ben, you're a go-getter.
Write him a check, Darlene.
Um, I already have, Daddy.
Oh.
Well, thank you, sir. And
I'm gonna come by to see
how our campaign brings
in all those customers.
You do that, Ben.
(CHUCKLES) Spending
all my money in advertising.
I'd do a lot better if you
worked for me as a salesman.
(BOTH CHUCKLING)
Hi. Hi, Ep. Come on in.
I found a 1934 green
Dodge abandoned.
Wasn't stole off
this lot, was it?
Thank you, no, Ep.
Ben here has me selling 'em
faster than people can steal 'em.
(CHUCKLING) Atta boy, Ben.
Well, I better be going. I
can go hitch a ride on home.
Oh, no, Ben. Why
don't I drive you home?
I'm all caught up on the books.
Can we take the
blue Chevy, Daddy?
Sure. Make sure
there's plenty of gas in it.
Thanks.
Thank you, sir.
Bye, Ben. See you later.
Uh, Ben, why don't you drive?
Sure.
Bye-bye. Bye.
Bye, Daddy. Bye, Sheriff.
Bye, Ben.
(CHUCKLING)
Makes you wish you were
young again, doesn't it? Yeah.
Why, Sarah Griffith.
I didn't know you were in town.
Olivia.
Can I give you a lift?
What brings you
way back up here?
Vacation.
How's Ep?
I did ask you what brings you
all the way up here, didn't I?
Yes, but you didn't
answer my question.
Ep is Ep. He
doesn't change much,
but we like him the way he is.
Dear sweet Ep.
Just may change soon.
I like the way
you've set your hat.
Do you think I'm being too bold?
A faint heart never
won a good man.
You're way ahead of me, Olivia.
Why don't you come in
and say hello to everybody?
Oh, I can't. I have to unpack
over at Mrs. Brimmer's.
It'd be nice to have you
back on the mountain.
Well, as long as I'm here,
that's a happy possibility.
Bye. Bye.
Now that's what I
call traveling in style.
Thanks for the ride,
Darlene. Oh, that's okay.
Will you be in tomorrow?
Well, I ought to show
your daddy the ad in print.
Well, I'd like to
see it, too, Ben.
Okay.
I'll be by for sure.
Maybe even tonight, okay? Okay.
Okay.
Bye-bye, Ben. Bye-bye.
Well, hey.
Oh, our secret, huh?
Our secret.
Well, you know how the guys are.
You won't tell Curt, will you?
Not unless I talk in my sleep.
You do talk in your sleep.
I've heard you before.
That's okay. Curt
doesn't listen in his sleep.
Good.
Thanks.
So, anyway, Grandma said
to thank Ike and Corabeth,
the Baldwin sisters
and Mrs. Brimmer
and everybody else from all over
who sent her get-well cards.
She gets any
more get-well cards,
I'll have to build another
room to put 'em in.
MARY ELLEN: Pass
the beans, Ben. (SIGHS)
Well, I hope your mood has
improved from this morning.
Grandpa, I was just trying to
concentrate this morning, that's all.
JOHN: Appears you're
still trying to concentrate.
I'm afraid my table
talk isn't very good
when I'm writing
under a deadline.
If you'll excuse me,
I think I'll have dessert when
I finish working, okay, Mama?
Come on, Ben. Let's go.
Hey, John-Boy, can I
use your car tonight?
Ben, we got work to do.
We got a newspaper to
put out, you remember?
Sure, sure. Excuse me.
(GRANDPA CHUCKLING)
You look like you're
busting to tell me something.
Remember Sarah Griffith?
She nursed Ep Bridges when
he was wounded in France?
I do. OLIVIA: She's here.
She's spending the week
staying at Mrs. Brimmer's.
How did her engine sound?
I don't know, Jim-Bob.
We were talking.
I bet you were.
Well, couldn't you listen?
I did fix it, you know.
I know, Jim-Bob.
Why couldn't you listen?
What kind of mother are you?
Jim-Bob, she's
gonna be here a lot.
You can discuss it with her.
ERIN: Jim-Bob's still
infatuated with her.
Whatever that means.
It means you like her a lot.
Well, who wouldn't like
a lady ambulance driver?
Mama, can we eat our
desserts by the radio?
I want to listen to
Charlie McCarthy.
I don't see why not.
You're easy to get
along with tonight.
I do wish Sarah
would settle down here.
You two get along, don't you?
I'm going to go in to Rockfish
tomorrow and do some shopping.
Why not Charlottesville?
There's better stores there.
(RADIO PLAYING) We
thought we'd go in to Rockfish.
Maybe Sarah'd run into Ep.
It's possible.
Liv, this isn't like you.
I thought you didn't
like matchmaking.
I'm just going along
for the ride, that's all.
Wonder what I should wear.
That innocent look is
what you should wear.
Oh, Ben, uh...
Listen, I... I got an idea
I want to write down.
Could you run one of these
off and proofread it for me?
Sure. Thank you.
Oh!
What was that? What happened?
Uh, it was just a little
paperweight I made.
You dropped it into
the press? Yeah.
You could've broken the press.
There's "Darlene"
on it. It's for her desk.
Ben, I don't understand you.
You spend an hour
making a paperweight.
You know we're
already behind schedule.
John-Boy, I'm in love.
Is there some law against that?
Well... Well, when
there's work to be done
and you almost break
my press, yes, there is.
Well, John-Boy, I
never would've done it
if you'd let me borrow your car.
I would've gone, and I would've
come back and done my work later.
May I point
something out to you?
May I point out that you're
being paid to work here,
not to be daydreaming
about Darlene Jarvis?
John-Boy, may I point out to you
that you've been pretty
hard to get along with lately?
Oh, yeah?
Well, then, just don't cross
me and do the work, all right?
John-Boy, I don't need this job.
You, what?
I don't need this job.
I can get a job with
Mr. Jarvis tomorrow if I want.
Well, then, why
don't you just do that?
Yeah, I'll do that, tomorrow.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(SIGHS)
(WHISTLING)
My land, don't you look spiffy.
Thank you, Grandpa.
John tells me you
and Sarah Griffith
are heading to town on a
shopping spree? That's right.
Are you sure there
isn't something else
that Sarah Griffith
has got in mind?
You know, I think Ep
Bridges had better look out.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Well, Sarah Griffith's
the sort of girl,
once she gets her eye on a man,
(CAR HORN HONKING) he's as
good as hog-tied, roped and branded.
See you later.
Oh, no. Just hold on there.
I'd like to say hello to her
before she changes her name.
You behave yourself.
Oh, I will. You know I will.
No, I don't.
Miss Griffith, am
I glad to see you.
Good to see you again, Jim-Bob.
This hand isn't greasy.
I've been keeping it clean.
Welcome back to
Walton's Mountain.
Nice to be here.
Your engine sounds pretty
good. Had it fixed lately?
No, I didn't need to.
You're such an
excellent mechanic.
My land, you look positively,
radiantly beautiful, Miss Griffith.
You always do.
Thank you, sir.
Goodbye, you two.
See you.
I think I can find
what I'm looking for
at Barton's Dry Goods store.
(CLEARING THROAT) Olivia.
Don't tell me you
were coming to town
and you weren't going
to say hello to me.
Hello, Ep.
Why, uh... Sarah.
When'd you get back?
I, uh, just got in yesterday.
Oh.
Well, I, uh,
I've been meaning to
get over to Richmond.
I would've liked that.
Yeah, well, ladies,
uh, come on in.
I've got the coffee on.
OLIVIA: Oh, no, thank you, Ep.
Sarah was kind enough to
drive me in to do some shopping.
I think I better do it.
Uh, well, just as you say.
I'll either meet you
back here or at Barton's.
Well, now.
Ain't this a surprise, huh?
Come on in. I've got coffee on.
BEN: I've given
it lot of thought.
I'd like to take you
up on that job offer.
I know I can sell.
I know you can, too.
When does the big ad come out?
Tomorrow's Chronicle. Uh-huh.
I'm going to give you a try.
Well, you won't regret it, sir.
There's a list of the
cars that are for sale.
You take a look at that and
see what you can do. Okay.
I already know a lot
about cars from home.
Ben, good luck.
Thank you.
JOHN: How was your trip?
We ran into Ep.
Take you long?
(CHUCKLES)
He and Sarah talked for a while,
but Sarah said nothing happened.
He immediately proposed to her
right there in the middle of the street?
Are you interested in
hearing what happened or not?
You said nothing happened.
Sarah invited him over to
Mrs. Brimmer's for supper
but Ep said he had a pool game.
Do you think he had a pool game?
Probably does now.
Why? When she came
all the way from Richmond?
Olivia, I've known
Ep a lot of years.
I've hunted with him,
I've fished with him,
had an off-duty drink with him,
and I've played pool with him.
You should see the
way he plays pool.
He looks at that
shot from every angle
while you're just standing there
chalking, waiting for him to shoot.
I am not interested
in a pool game.
Ep doesn't like to
make fast moves.
He probably likes Sarah a lot,
but he's not going to
be pushed into anything.
Well, you're his friend.
You've known him a long time.
I suggest you get over to Ep
and tell him to make his move.
No.
No, I may grouse him
about not getting off the dime
but I am not going to
push him into matrimony.
He may enjoy his freedom.
You think freedom is
better than marriage?
I didn't say that.
Well, it sounded like it.
Liv, this whole thing is
beginning to get out of hand.
Maybe you'd like to
go play pool tonight, too.
Liv.
BEN: Howdy.
Howdy.
Any salesmen around?
Well, I'm the salesman.
Ben. Benjamin Walton.
My truck gave up.
Haven't got much
in the way of money.
Any bargains?
Gee, I'm sure sorry to
hear about your truck.
But lucky for you, we're
famous for our bargains.
People come as
far as Charlottesville,
even Richmond, for
our bargains. Mr...
Arnie Shimerdy.
Mr. Shimerdy.
See what we can
do for you today.
That's a pretty little
truck right over here
that someone's gonna
snap up in a hurry.
BEN: Here you go.
The upholstery's shot.
Well, Mr. Shimerdy, that all depends
on where you want to put your money.
Fancy upholstery or just
down-to-earth transportation.
You look like a man
that can smell a good buy.
How much?
You can drive your truck
home for under $100.
How much under?
$10.
Mr. Shimerdy, I know
you want this truck,
and if I talk to Mr. Jarvis,
I'm pretty he'll knock a few dollars
off because of the upholstery.
I know a man that
put a rug on his seats,
and it lasted for
over five years.
Now, if you do
that, Mr. Shimerdy,
that's just money
in your pocket.
Where is this Jarvis?
Well, he's right over there.
Where is that boy?
He's probably watching
the moon come up
over Rockfish with Darlene.
His supper's ruined.
Mom, you don't think about
food when you're in love.
John, do you think you ought to
drive over there and look for him?
Oh, don't worry about him, Liv.
He's grown up enough
to take care of himself.
JOHN: What happened
to your typewriter?
That last chapter
isn't coming easy.
Are you sure you're not thinking
about the run-in
with your brother?
Well, it has been on my mind.
Since you're not doing anything,
can you think of a five letter
word that means "to tell all."
C-O-N-F-E-S-S. That's seven.
Well, you're no
good at crosswords,
but at least you can count.
Spell.
John-Boy?
Well, if I was to help you out it
wouldn't be your puzzle, would it?
I'm not getting anywhere.
I'll tell you what, John-Boy,
maybe you should have
written the last chapter first.
How can he write
the last chapter first?
That's the way I read a book.
If I like the way it
turns out, I go back.
You're crazy, Jim-Bob. No.
(CAR APPROACHING) It saves
wading through a dumb book.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES) Ben's home.
OLIVIA: Well, it's about time.
I sure hope he's
done some thinking.
Hey, everybody, I'm home.
Hi, Son.
Hey, Ben, where'd
you get the fancy car?
It's one of
Mr. Jarvis' used cars.
Your mother had your
supper in the oven, Son.
Better hurry up and eat.
If it gets any colder, I'm
gonna have to feed it to the pigs.
I'm gonna go out to the shed.
Uh, wait a minute.
I have some good
news to tell everyone.
May be of some
importance to a few of you.
Especially you, John-Boy.
I'm not the little
brother anymore.
What?
I got a job today.
I'm gonna be working as a car
salesman for Jarvis' used car lot.
And what's more, I
sold a pickup truck today
and I made a commission of $8.
Maybe I'll get a little bit
more respect around here.
Why, Ben, we've always treated
you with full respect around here,
all of us, haven't we?
Son, was that truck you sold
the one that Jarvis had out back,
the white one that Mort
Sellers used to own?
Yeah, that's the one.
I hope you told
whoever bought it
everything that
was wrong with it.
He never asked.
It's a lot of truck
for the money.
Well, it was.
Why, Fester, you've got
more knots than the shoelaces,
you know that?
My feet are growing too fast.
They're breaking my shoelaces.
Well, I know, I
know. That's true.
But look, look at it this way.
You could logically become
the world's champion
shoelace buster.
Did you ever think
about that, huh?
Makes you blink, don't it?
Off you go. Thanks, Sheriff.
Hi, John.
How's the world treating
you? Can't complain, Ep.
That's good.
You know Sarah Griffith
is up from Richmond.
Yeah. I hear she's over
at Flossie Brimmer's, right?
Mmm-hmm. Yeah.
Quite a lady. Oh,
she's... She sure is.
She really surprised me when she
showed up at Honor Day like that.
The memories that,
uh, she brought back.
She and Liv hit it off
right from the start.
You'd think they'd known
each other for years.
You would. You
really would for sure.
Yeah.
Ep, uh,
I'm supposed to talk
to you about something.
Yeah.
Oh, well.
Let's, uh, go inside here.
I got some coffee on.
Uh, I'll wash up some cups.
Now, Ep, I'm
gonna get right to it.
An unmarried man, you
know, walking around loose, Ep,
gives women ideas.
Oh, well, uh...
There's no use me
beating around the bush, Ep.
Sarah's got her eye on you, Ep.
She wants you to
ask her to marry you.
What... Uh...
Look, John, I, uh...
(SIGHS)
Gosh. I...
Liv put me up
to this, Ep. I've...
She'd like nothing better
than have her friend
staked out up here for good.
All the women in my family
are kind of soft on you anyway,
you know that, Ep.
Well, I'm...
I'm... I'm pretty soft
on them, too, but, uh...
Now that Sarah...
A man could do a lot worse.
Oh, look, look. John,
John, I... I... I know, uh...
You could see, uh...
I've always been the
kind of a fellow that, uh...
You know, you've got
to kind of go by my, uh...
With me, John, it's
just hard to figure...
Of course, in my case, it...
And yet...
Hi, Ben. Well, hello, Darlene.
(CHUCKLES)
What's the matter?
Well, I've never seen
you wearing a hat before.
Well, how do you like it?
It's real cute. It
goes with your tie.
Good.
I figured since I'm gonna be the
best car salesman in the country,
I better start looking the part.
You know what you've got, Ben?
What? You've got style.
Thanks.
You know, Mary Ellen, these
have gone up to 30 cents.
30 cents a dozen for eggs?
Yeah. You and Curt ought
to start raising chickens.
It would never work. He can't
stand to see anything penned up.
You mean even
chickens? Curt's weird.
Hi, Flossie. How are
you, Mrs. Brimmer?
What's the matter
with your feet?
They are giving me fits.
Until you've had aching feet
you don't know what misery is.
Did you walk all the
way from your house?
There's no other
way to get here.
Ike, I'd like a pound of sugar
and a bag of cornmeal, please.
Okay. Sugar and
cornmeal coming up.
I'll bet anything,
Curt would tell you to
stay off your feet for a while.
Honey, if you run
a boarding house,
you can't stay off your feet.
Well, why don't you buy a car?
You know, I've thought of it.
Well, Ben is working
over at Jarvis'.
You ought to go over
there and see what he's got.
It's, uh, 38 cents.
Uh, put it on the bill.
Imagine me with a car.
Why not?
Well, women are flying planes.
I guess I could
drive a car. Bye-bye.
Did you see Ep Bridges
in town? We talked.
What did he say? Not much.
Did you bring up
the subject of Sarah?
Uh-huh.
Well?
Well, he said Sarah
was a fine woman.
Is that all? Mmm-hmm.
Doesn't sound like much
of a conversation to me.
Mmm-hmm. Ep's not
much of talker, you know.
Well, what did you say?
I told him the truth.
I said Sarah wanted him
to ask her to marry him.
You said that to Ep?
Uh-huh. Ep
understands straight talk.
Sarah would die
a thousand deaths
if she knew you
said that to him.
And I wouldn't blame
her. How could you?
What are you
getting so riled about?
You're the one who's
dead set on telling the truth.
This is something
entirely different.
What's so different?
It doesn't matter. You probably
spoiled the whole thing anyway.
Why?
Because there's nothing
that scares a man off faster
than knowing that a
woman is after him.
I don't know. I knew
you were after me.
It didn't scare me off.
The men in this family.
Now Ep would be knocking
at Sarah's door right now
if everybody would
just leave him alone.
If everybody left Ep alone, he'd
probably never get out of bed.
This car is just right
for you, Mrs. Brimmer.
Used to belong to Preacher
Parker over in Scottsville.
He took real good care of it.
It's a nice-looking car.
All the tires are just fine
and the valves were
just grounded last year.
MRS. BRIMMER: I wouldn't
know a valve from a hubcap.
Hey, Ben, could I
see you a minute?
Sure, one moment.
Excuse me a moment, please.
Sir?
Yeah, Ben, looks like
you got a buyer there.
I think she's going
to buy the car.
Yeah, she's going
to buy something.
Now look, Ben, we can sell
that little coupe she's looking at
any day of the week.
Why don't you see if you can
get her interested in another car?
That Studebaker
Sedan, for instance.
That needs work, doesn't it?
Yeah, it could use
a little cleaning up.
Might need some work later on.
But it's quality.
It's big, it's heavy, it's safe.
I don't know.
She's a friend of my family's.
And I want to put her
in something good.
Yeah, of course you
do. Of course you do.
But, uh, you could point
out the difference in size.
The big back seats.
She can take her
friends with her, huh?
You sell that sedan, Ben,
there's a $5 bonus
in it for you, huh?
Mrs. Brimmer, Mr. Jarvis
has a good idea.
Why don't you take
a look at the sedan?
It carries five passengers,
and it costs less
than that small coupe.
It's awfully big, isn't it?
And I'm not that good a driver.
Oh, you will be,
in no time at all.
There's a lot of
advantages to a big car.
You can take all
your friends for a ride
or you can go pick up your
boarders at the bus station.
ELIZABETH: You get
a fancier car every day.
Well, Mr. Jarvis says I can
use any car I want of the lot.
Did Mr. Jarvis lend
you the hat, too?
Well, the hat's mine.
The logging road cuts along
the valley right about here, I think.
Uh, be a par shorter
if they go along the
ridge route to the saddle.
Well, you know how
steep that hill is, though?
I'm home, everybody.
Well, look at my handsome son.
What're you doing?
Selling tickets to the circus?
No. I'm selling cars.
I sold another one today, Daddy.
Made $12 commission
plus $5 bonus.
You look pretty
funny in that hat.
Darlene likes it.
Take it off in the house, Ben.
Let me try that on.
(LAUGHING)
Well, Mr. Jarvis says I'm the
best salesman he's ever had.
"Born to it," is what he
says. And I believe him.
It just comes natural to me.
Big business and
progress and all that.
And the money I'm making.
I've made $25 already this week.
Well, I hope you're putting
some of that aside, Son.
It's a warm feeling to
have money in the bank.
I was thinking, Daddy,
why don't you get rid of
that ratty old truck of yours?
I can get you a great deal
on this beautiful LaSalle
Roadster we've got.
I can just see your daddy
driving a load of lumber to Rockfish
in a LaSalle Roadster.
Will you please go
outside and tell Jim-Bob
and Elizabeth to
wash up for supper?
Yes, Mama.
(CHUCKLING)
Flying high, that
boy. Yeah, he sure is.
BEN: Elizabeth, come to supper.
All right.
Jim-Bob, Mama wants
you to get cleaned up.
Okay.
You know, I can't figure out
why you spend so much time
working on this piece of junk.
Well, when it's
finished, I'll have a car.
Jim-Bob, when it's together
it'll still be a piece of junk.
No one will even
wanna ride in it.
Big shot.
I'm going into town.
Is there anything you
need while I'm there? No.
Is there enough gasoline in the
truck to get me there and back?
Uh-huh.
You seen Ep Bridges lately?
Saw him last Wednesday. Why?
Your idea about letting him make his
own moves with Sarah hasn't worked.
She hasn't seen him since then.
He's probably been busy.
Not that busy.
Her vacation's over
in a couple of days.
She'll be going back to Richmond
and that could be
the end of everything.
JOHN: I don't know how
you're going to get Ep to move,
unless you hog-tie
him and drag him.
There are ways.
What do you say, old-timer?
Thanks.
Here you go.
(LAUGHING)
SHERIFF: Here.
Now, the leg up. Here you go.
(GRUNTING) There
you go. Thank you.
Bye, kids. Bye.
Morning, Olivia. OLIVIA: Hi, Ep.
How's everybody out your way?
Everybody's just
fine, thank you.
Except Grandma, and
she's improving all the time.
I want you to remember me to her
next time you go
out to the hospital.
I want to get out there
this next week, if I can.
Ep, John and I are having a
little supper on Friday night
in honor of my friend, Sarah.
We'd like you to come.
Why, I... I'd be happy to.
I thought afterwards
maybe the four of us
could come into
town and see a movie.
That would be
enjoyable, wouldn't it?
Of course, we
wouldn't have to pay.
Sheriff and his party
always get in free, see.
(CHUCKLING) All right.
We'll be your guests for
that part of the evening.
I hear it's a dandy
good show, too.
Singing picture.
Jeanette MacDonald
and Nelson Eddy.
Hmm. Yeah.
We'll look forward to
seeing you Friday at 6:00.
Oh, I'll be there.
I'll be there.
Bye. Bye.
(SIGHS)
I'm so glad to see you, Olivia.
It's just about time
for a cup of tea.
Oh, I haven't got time, Flossie.
I have to get home.
Is Sarah here?
Well, she was a few minutes ago.
Sarah, Olivia's here.
SARAH: Be right out.
She's such a nice
one to have around.
You know, if Ep Bridges
doesn't marry her,
he ought to have
his head examined.
Look at the way she talks to me.
You'd think I've been
living here for years.
You and Ep are coming
for supper Friday night.
Did you have to threaten him?
No, he was pleased as punch.
Wear that red dress
you were showing me.
Maybe I ought to go down
and have Cora Godsey do my hair.
Just don't let her give
you a permanent wave.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
Is this your new car, Flossie?
That's mine. Did
Ben sell it to you?
Just the other day.
It's a big old thing, isn't it?
You must enjoy having a car.
Well, I did the first day,
but then it made such a racket,
and the engine stopped
and it hasn't run since.
I think she ought to take it
back and make him repair it.
I would.
I might think about that.
Kind of a small group,
considering the number
you folks usually have here.
Where is all the family tonight?
Liv drove 'em out.
Oh, that's not true.
John-Boy and Grandpa are
visiting Grandma in the hospital.
Uh, Erin's working at
the telephone office.
Ben is on a date.
Jason's working at
the Dew Drop Inn.
Jim-Bob is having
supper with Patsy Brimmer.
Elizabeth is playing with
Aimee at the Godseys.
And that's it. Have I
left anybody out? No.
How do you keep
track of all of them?
I don't always.
It's real good chicken, Liv.
Thank you. Would
anybody like some more?
No, no. No, thank you.
Good chicken.
John.
You must find it
awful quiet here
after living in Richmond, Sarah.
That's what I like about
up here in the mountain.
The quiet.
And the people.
Yeah. Most of us
feel that way about it.
The beans are good,
too, if I say so myself.
You didn't cook 'em.
I grew 'em.
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
JOHN: Last time we saw Nelson
Eddy, he was a Canadian Mountie.
Yeah, I saw that one.
Being the sheriff
of Jefferson County
was pretty dull
after seeing that.
Why, you could be a Canadian
Mountie if you wanted to be.
SHERIFF: No. Can't sing.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Put that back.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
Oh, you want this?
Duh, sure I do.
Okay. You got it.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
Tickets, please.
Oh, evening,
Sheriff. Go right in.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
Go, get him, Milo!
(WHISPERING) This
is a stupid arrangement.
Don't look at me.
Ep and Sarah ought
to be sitting together.
Ep is the host.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
DOG: Duh, he sure
cooled us off, didn't he?
(RAT LAUGHING)
You know, there's something
I've always wondered about.
Was that Nelson Eddy
and Jeanette MacDonald
singing to each other
out there in the woods?
And there's a big
orchestra playing.
Now, there's nothing
around out there for miles,
but where did that big
orchestra come from?
You're not supposed
to notice that, Ep.
Just supposed to
rare back and enjoy it.
I think it's supposed to
be the music in their hearts.
I just thought it
was real pretty.
I just always
wondered about that.
OLIVIA: Good night,
Sarah. JOHN: Night.
What are you looking
so worried about?
Sarah and Ep scarcely
spoke to each other.
Liv, you can't make
people talk, you know.
He should have driven us home
first and then brought her home.
What are you
looking like that for?
JOHN: All right, Ep.
Olivia, I sure did
appreciate that good supper.
I really did enjoy that.
Glad you could come by, Ep.
We really enjoyed
the movie, too.
JOHN: See you in town.
That is the most
aggravating thing.
Those two really
love each other.
Why is Ep so standoffish?
I don't know, but we're
never gonna force him.
If it's gonna happen, it will.
We're just gonna
have to leave 'em alone.
You're a real big help.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
SHERIFF: Sarah? It's Ep.
Ep?
(SIGHS)
I came back.
Erin, if you expect to
ride into town with me,
you better hurry up
and finish that quick.
All right.
I just wish one morning
you children would
all be ready to go on time.
Seems like somebody's
forever being hauled,
pushed or shoved out of here.
That's due to the fact that certain
people wait till the last possible minute
before they get out
of bed. That's you.
Hmm. That's the pot
calling the kettle black.
If you children would do less
bickering and more eating,
maybe you wouldn't be late.
Morning.
OLIVIA: Morning.
Breakfast is in the oven.
Well, Rudolph Valentino Walton,
what time did you
get in last night?
Well, it's none
of your business.
You ought to be arrested.
OLIVIA: What
kind of talk is that?
Did you see the car
he sold Mrs. Brimmer?
What about it?
Yeah, what about it?
Well, it's no good.
I hope you didn't know it was in
poor condition when you sold it to her.
Well, it's a lot of
car for the money.
It's a lot of headaches.
Ran just long enough to
get her there and then it quit.
The timing chain's broken.
Yesterday on the switchboard,
I heard Mrs. Brimmer
talking to her sister.
She paid $125 for that car.
And now it won't run.
And she doesn't have
enough money to get it fixed.
I just hope you
didn't know, Ben.
Ben?
What are you all
jumping on me for?
I can't know everything
about every car I sell.
You're all jumping on me like I
committed some sort of crime.
You sold Mrs.
Brimmer a rotten car.
Ben, I'm having a bad
enough time on this book
without you standing
there staring at me.
John-Boy, I don't know what
to do with Mrs. Brimmer's car.
Mr. Jarvis won't fix it,
and I don't have the money.
What about all those
big commissions,
all that money you were making?
I spent most of it.
On Darlene?
(SIGHS)
Well, the only
thing I can tell you is
walking around hating yourself
isn't gonna help anything.
Well, what should I do?
I don't know.
But you better do
something. Anything.
See if you can fix
the car yourself.
Maybe Jim-Bob
will help you with it.
No, Jim-Bob's sore at me.
(SIGHS)
I don't know what
to tell you, Ben.
You wanted your independence.
You wanted to be
free of this job here.
You got that.
You've had the good times.
Now let's see how you
can handle the bad ones.
Thanks.
(BEN WHISTLING)
Careful, boy.
BEN: Come on, Blue.
Whoa.
Thanks again,
Erin. Anytime, Ben.
What are you gonna do with that?
I'm gonna fix it.
(SNICKERS) This I gotta see.
Oh, Olivia,
you'll be glad to know
that Ben came after my car,
and he's going to
fix it for me himself.
Ben's not the
mechanic in the family,
but I know he'll do his best.
Flossie, Corabeth told me
that Sarah is leaving today,
she's going back to Richmond.
Well, that could be.
Everything in her room is packed
and I haven't seen her all day.
I was so hoping she and
Ep would get together.
I guess we all were.
Sarah, what's this I
hear about your leaving.
Yes, I'm going to go back
to Richmond this afternoon.
Oh, we're all going to miss you.
Well, I'll...
I'll be right back
after the honeymoon.
Ep and I are gonna get married.
Sarah!
I told you all you had to do
was leave those two alone
and they would get together.
It wasn't leaving
them alone that did it.
It was the supper and the movie.
You remember when Ep
dropped Sarah off first?
Uh-huh.
Well, he doubled
back to Mrs. Brimmer's.
Sarah was waiting
and he proposed.
You want me to
tell you, you win?
I just wanted you to
know what happened.
You know, you sure
don't look like a mechanic.
BEN: Get out of here, Jim-Bob.
Oh, I want to see a
real expert at work.
I want to come out
and get you, boy.
What's the matter, you
having some trouble?
No, I'm not having any trouble.
Now, just get out of
here, Jim-Bob, huh?
(EXCLAIMS)
(RATTLING)
(RATTLING)
(CAR ENGINE CRANKING)
We've got to get the radiator
off to get to the timing chain.
You're a good brother,
Jim-Bob. Thank you.
Well, don't just stand
there. Grab a wrench.
JOHN-BOY: They are
grown now, those boys,
men set apart by
time and distance.
But the patterns that were set
in those early years still remain.
During the years that followed,
my brothers and my sisters
came to each other's aid
often in time of trouble.
And they still do.
ELIZABETH: Mama, are you awake?
OLIVIA: Yes, Elizabeth.
Why do ladies put
candles on the table
when they invite men for supper?
Because candlelight
makes ladies look prettier.
Well, why is that?
JIM-BOB: Because candles
don't put out much light
and you can't see too much.
Isn't that kind of sneaky?
Good night, Elizabeth.