The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 7, Episode 22 - The Tailspin - full transcript

All right, Elizabeth.
This is where you get off.

Aren't you coming
to school, too?

I'm flunking out. Besides,
what's the use of me graduating?

Daddy's gonna hit the
roof when he finds out.

I don't care. Come
on, I'm in a hurry.

What will I tell them at school?

Tell them anything.
Tell them I'm sick.

Tell them I'm leaving and
I'm never coming back.

JOHN-BOY: Although my
brother, Jim-Bob, loved the mountain

as much as the rest of us,

since childhood he had dreamed
of heights beyond its summit.



Now, in the spring of 1942,

as those dreams appeared
to be within his reach,

it seemed that he was finding
new energy and purpose.

If we were disappointed,

it was only because Jim-Bob
was quietly building to a crisis

that would turn his life
in a different direction.

Jim-Bob, get down here!

Jim-Bob!

- How do you explain this?
- It's just a paper airplane, Dad.

Look again.

I was using some
old school papers.

Jim-Bob, that's an F. And I
don't think it stands for "funny."

I haven't been doing
very well in English lately.

I'll say you haven't
been doing very well.



How are you doing in math
and science and history?

Not so good. But I'm only
flunking English, Daddy.

Jim-Bob, how am I gonna get you
to get your head out of the clouds?

I'm sorry, Daddy. I don't
know what's wrong with me.

Just haven't been able
to concentrate lately.

You're always talking about
wanting to join the Air Corps someday.

Do you mean that?

I want it more than
anything in the world.

Well, then you got
to graduate first, Son.

You got to have more than
good eyesight and coordination.

- You got to be smart, too.
- I know that, Daddy.

Wish John-Boy was around
to help you with this English.

I know who could
help him. Corabeth.

She knows lots about books
and she speaks very good English.

- Elizabeth, who asked you?
- That's a good idea, Elizabeth.

You call her, see if she can
give you some private lessons.

And do it now.

You're a real menace,
you know that?

Excuse me, I have to
put my cake in the oven.

Miss Fanny, give me
the general store, please.

Well, Mr. Godsey,
what do you think?

47, 48, 49, 50.
What is it, Corabeth?

It is James Robert's
reading chart.

He's to appear for his
first tutoring lesson today.

Looks pretty official.

Well, the title of the
book is to be entered here,

the author, the number of pages, and
the date the assignment is completed.

What goes in that
little column over there?

Gold stars.

You're kidding.

Well, no, a gold star is to be
entered here for every book completed.

Corabeth, it's bad enough the
books you're having Jim-Bob read

would cure insomnia
in 20 minutes.

(BELLS TINKLING)

But what do you think,
Jim-Bob's a little boy?

Oh, James Robert, your father
told me about your difficulties.

I am so pleased
to be of assistance.

IKE: You're a lucky
young man, Jim-Bob.

Nobody knows more about
literature and books than Corabeth,

or likes to spread
it around so much.

Can we get it over with?

Well, your teacher and I have
made out a reading assignment,

which if you put
your mind to it,

she guarantees me will
get you a passing grade.

She allowed me to
choose the books, of course.

I hope they're not boring.

James Robert, the classics
are deep, but never boring.

Now our goal is
two books a week.

You will appear here on
Tuesday and Friday afternoons

for stimulating discussion,

after which you will write
a book report and turn it in.

- Now, are there any questions?
- Can I read some books about flying?

James Robert, there
are no books on flying.

IKE: Well, sure
there are, Corabeth.

There's Dickie Dinsfield
and the Flying Machine

and Wings Over the Sea.

Mr. Godsey, you are speaking
of pulp. I am speaking of literature.

Come along, James Robert,
and I will introduce you

to the Mayor of Casterbridge.

Who?

And, James Robert, I
want you to think of me

not as your tutor, but rather
as your literary consultant.

Good luck, Jim-Bob.

I bet his name is John Curtis.

- How did you know that?
- And you're Mary Ellen.

I'm sorry, have we met?

I'm Sergeant Charles W. Turner.

Chuck.

I'm...

I was a friend of Curt's.

- Come, sit down.
- Thank you.

I should have called, but I didn't
get a pass until the last minute.

- Sit down.
- Thank you.

Where did you know Curt?

In Wheeling, West
Virginia, where I grew up.

He was like a big brother.

Smarter and tougher
than all the rest of us.

We all looked up to him.

So, you're that Chuck, the little
towhead who lived down the street.

Curt used to talk about you.

When I heard I was going to
be stationed at Camp Rockfish,

I knew I had to come over
and meet the woman he married.

It seems strange that you
knew him longer than I did.

I'll always think of
him as being alive,

helping me through geometry
or getting up a game of stickball.

I knew he'd turn
out to be somebody.

He was somebody.

What do you do when
you're not in uniform?

Little bit of everything.

Used to be a short-order
cook, a door-to-door salesman.

I even tried a little
bush-league baseball.

I never managed to get
to college the way Curt did,

but once this war is over
nothing's gonna stop me.

I'm glad you came.
Can you stay for supper?

I'm due back at camp soon.

Anyway, this was just
a get-acquainted visit.

I don't want to keep you
from what you're doing.

Can I take a rain check?

Sure. I'll even introduce
you to my sister Erin.

Oh, well, if she's anything
like you, I'd like to meet her.

Come on, John Curtis and I
will walk you back to your car.

Thank you.

And then she said, "Jim-Bob, how do you
ever expect to appreciate truth and beauty

"unless you understand the
nature of Mr. Browning's poetry?"

- Or something like that.
- How do you stand it, Jim-Bob?

- Promise not to laugh?
- Yeah, I promise.

- I pretend they're Messerschmitts.
- What?

Those dumb books
Corabeth makes me read.

Every time I have to start one I
tell myself it's a German fighter

and I have to shoot it down.

BEN: And five of them
makes you an ace, huh?

JIM-BOB: Yeah.

- Ben, we're being followed by a policeman.
- Uh-oh. Better pull over.

- Let me see your license, sonny.
- What did I do?

You could have killed someone,
the way you was driving back there.

What are you talking about?
He was only doing the speed limit.

It's okay, Ben. I got it.

He didn't even slow down
for that stop sign back there.

Stop sign! What stop sign?

I've got a perfect
driving record, sir.

I've driven this road hundreds of
times and I've never seen a stop sign.

Well, there is now. Are you
going to argue with me about it?

Fact is, this is the first time
I've ever been pulled over.

You were just lucky there wasn't anybody
coming out of that side street back there.

That little street back
there? There never is!

Oh, I am sorry, fellows.

I'm gonna have to run you in.

- Where are we going?
- County courthouse.

- Oh, come on!
- Thanks a lot, Ben.

You can save that
arguing for the judge.

Your driver's license has
expired. Just follow me.

If we're having company I don't
see why we can't use the good dishes.

'Cause he won't feel at
home if everything's too fancy.

Well, I sure hope
he likes spaghetti.

We've got enough of
it here to feed an army.

You're really going
to like him, Erin.

Mary Ellen, that's the tenth
time you've told me that.

I know he's gonna be
just crazy about you.

Are you playing cupid?

Well, can you blame me? My
sister and an old buddy of Curt's?

- Ben and Jim-Bob still aren't back?
- They should have been here hours ago.

Probably just
taking in the sights.

I sent them to Charlottesville
to get a blade for the power saw.

I don't know, something
must have happened.

If there'd been an
accident, we'd have heard.

You know, I'm beginning
to sound like your mama,

and you're beginning to
sound like me comforting her.

Helps to have
someone to worry with.

(CAR APPROACHING)

JOHN: Here they come now.

- You boys all right?
- Sorry we're late, Daddy.

- Where have you been?
- Charlottesville courthouse.

BEN: Jim-Bob ran a stop sign and I
argued with the deputy and he ran us in.

Jim-Bob was driving
with an expired license.

- He better be able to explain that.
- Go easy on him, Daddy.

They gave him a temporary license
right now, but he's feeling awful bad.

You gonna sit
here all night, Son?

No, sir.

Something wrong?

I had to apply for a new
driver's license today.

Made me take the eye
examination and I flunked it.

Could be a little problem
with your eyes like John-Boy.

Doesn't mean you
can't drive again.

It means I can't fly, Dad.

To be a pilot in the Air Corps
you have to have 20-20 vision.

MARY ELLEN: Looks like we didn't
make too much spaghetti after all.

Jim-Bob, you sure
you wouldn't like some

before Chuck eats through
the bottom of the platter?

No, thanks.

Hey, that's not fair. I'm sitting
right in the middle of traffic.

You don't expect me not
to help myself, do you?

Looks like you've had some
experience with army chow, Chuck.

Yes, sir.

Erin, why don't tell
Chuck about your job?

ERIN: Oh, there isn't that much to
tell. I work at Pickett Defense Plant.

She's in personnel. She's
not only beautiful, but smart.

Mary Ellen...

Well, Chuck played some minor league
ball. Why don't you tell her about it?

- You like baseball?
- Well, I'm not much for sports.

Mary Ellen was
our baseball star.

JASON: She was the
best shortstop we ever had.

Still is.

If you play baseball the way you
cook, I want to sign up for your team.

Well, wait until you
taste Erin's chocolate pie.

Oh, don't bother,
Erin. I'll get these.

- You finished?
- Yes.

Daddy, can I be excused?
I'm not very hungry.

All right, Son. We'll save
some dessert for you,

if you change your mind.

ELIZABETH: He hardly
even touched his plate.

Excuse me, I think
I'll skip dessert, too.

Pass the pie, Mary Ellen.

BEN: Thank you.

- Jim-Bob?
- Up here, Daddy.

Move over, Son. I'm coming up.

Been a long time since
I climbed up this ladder.

(EXHALES)

(SIGHS)

JOHN: I wonder if they'll
ever put a man up there.

JIM-BOB: I know one
thing. It won't be me.

I didn't know you
wanted to go the moon.

Even from the top of the mountain,
it looks like you can see everything.

Wonder what it'd look
like from the top of the sky.

Jim-Bob, you're gonna
fly, if you're meant to fly.

If I'd wanted to be a
schoolteacher or a salesman,

not being able to see so good
wouldn't make so much difference.

My whole life I planned
on going into the Air Corps.

I know, Son.

You know,

when I was a lot younger
than you, about 10 years old,

a circus came to Rockfish.

They had a parade right
down the middle of town,

and there were elephants with
ladies in spangles on top of them.

A whole line of things.

I wanted to go to that circus

more than I wanted to
do anything in my life.

So I ran home and I
went to all the neighbors.

I did chores for them. I
carried water, I chopped wood.

Finally after a couple of
days I'd made 25 cents.

Well, I couldn't sleep
all night, that night.

The next morning I was up bright
and early. I had my chores done by 8:00.

- And you went?
- I went,

but when I got there

the tent was gone. It was
nothing but an empty field,

just candy wrappers
and empty peanut bags.

Circus had left a day early.

Bet you could have died.

What I did was, I came up here

and I stayed up here
for two whole days.

That's a long time.

Yeah, to be alone.

Finally Grandma brought
me some sandwiches

and Uncle Ben threw
up a blanket after a while,

and finally Grandpa
brought me a telescope.

And he told me to look around.

What good was that?

Well, I did look around
through that telescope

and I got a feeling for how

big the sky is.

And then I got a
feeling that maybe

my little hurt wasn't
so important after all.

The only problem is
when I look out into the sky,

all I can think about is
wanting to be a part of it.

Jim-Bob.

Then you can't give
up hope too quick, Son.

BEN: I can't tell you how many
times I've wanted to march down

to that recruiting
office and just join up.

Well, you've got plenty of time.

The war's going to be
around for a while, it looks like.

Daddy says he can't
replace me at the mill

and, besides, we are
doing essential war work.

And Cindy would kill
you if you joined up, Ben.

He's still on his honeymoon.

Some honeymoon. She's right now
visiting her daddy over in Washington.

He's a colonel in the army.

ELIZABETH: Maybe he can
put in a good word for Chuck.

Here you are. I hope
you like picture puzzles.

This is the Matterhorn
in a thousand pieces.

Guaranteed to give
you snow blindness.

Ben, I thought you were going to be
doing some work in the mill tonight.

Oh, I forgot.

Elizabeth, why don't we leave
the dishes until tomorrow morning?

We never leave dishes!

Well, then tonight
will be a first.

If you want some music,
just turn on the radio.

Have a good time, you two.

Do you like picture puzzles?

- Not particularly.
- Well, I love them.

(SIGHS)

Mary Lou Prince says you
look cute with your sunglasses.

Wondered why she was
following me around all day.

I told her you stayed at the
Dew Drop till 4:00 this morning.

She believes anything.

Elizabeth, you think
this is going to work?

Robert McJilton had eyestrain
from studying too much.

So, he wore sunglasses and
had people read him his lessons

until he got better.

It's Corabeth's
fault I can't see.

It's all that dumb reading
she's been making me do.

Mary Ellen?

- Hi, get in.
- What for?

I'm taking you
to the eye doctor.

I don't need a doctor. I've been
taking care of my eyes all day

and I can see better already.

Well, good. Then you have
nothing to worry about. Get in.

JIM-BOB: Mary Ellen,
this is a waste of time.

- Bye.
- Bye.

All right, James Robert, I'm
going to cover your left eye

and I want you to read the
fifth line on that chart over there.

"P, E, C, F, D."

Mmm-hmm. Fine, fine. Now read
the line directly below that one.

"E, D, F, C." No, "O."

"Z, P."

Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.

Now let's try that line
again with your other eye.

"E, D, F,

"O, Z, P."

A little light reading?

Just something to help
me get to sleep at night.

What are you doing here?

"Building a House,
Framing Through Finishing."

I'm reading my way through
the construction shelf.

I figure when the war's over, there's
going to be a demand for houses,

and I'm going to know
how to build them.

You make me feel guilty. I'm
reading Mardi Gras Summer.

I had a wonderful time the
other night at your house.

I knew you and
Erin would hit it off.

I'm going to a bond rally in
Charlottesville on Saturday night.

Kay Kyser and his
orchestra are gonna play.

Sounds like a lot of fun.

What do you do for fun?

John Curtis and I fly to
Florida every other weekend.

We're planning a tour of
South America next month.

I'd ask you to go
to the bond rally,

but I guess it's too soon.

People might think it
was a date or something.

I'm sure Erin would love to go.

I'll give her a call.

I'd better hurry. I have
to go pick up Jim-Bob.

Carry your books?

Bad news, huh?

Doctor Canfield says
I have astigmatism.

Says I need glasses.

No wonder you've been
having trouble at school.

Says it's the kind of eyes I was born
with and there's nothing I can do about it.

I'm sorry, Jim-Bob.

At least the glasses will
help you to see better.

I'm not gonna wear
them. It's not fair!

A lot of things in life aren't.

Jim-Bob, what are you doing?

I don't feel like looking
at this stuff anymore.

You've been saving
these things for a long time.

There's no reason
to save them now.

Jim-Bob, there's all kinds of
jobs you can do in the Air Corps

and still wear glasses.

You don't have to tell
me about the Air Corps.

I've been reading up
on it since I was 12.

You could be a navigator
or a maintenance officer.

Somebody's got to
keep those planes flying.

Your kind of skill could
be valuable to them.

Jason, how would you like it if you
had to spend your life tuning pianos

and nobody ever let you play?

Looks to me like about
$2.50 worth of stuff.

Yeah.

Well, now, Jim-Bob, I know
you drive a stiff bargain.

I suppose you're going to tell me
this is Orville Wright's old flying hat.

That's just something
I got when I was a kid.

I'll throw in an extra
two bits for it anyway.

Thanks.

Not much need for any of
these things anymore, you know.

I guess not.

The workmanship on
this biplane isn't bad.

Tell you what I'll do, Jim-Bob,

I'm gonna offer you $3 for the
whole lot, and not a penny more.

I'll take it.

Don't you want to swap?

What are you selling all
these things for anyway?

I always thought you
wanted to be an aviator.

That's kid stuff. I
changed my mind.

Well, I'll keep it a while just in
case you wanna come back for it.

- Here's $5.
- You sure?

Jim-Bob, you drive the hardest
bargain of anyone I know.

Thanks, Buck.

Yes, Mary Ellen did tell me
about it. It sounds very nice.

That's fine, I'll see you
on Saturday. Bye, Chuck.

That's true.

Here you go.

You didn't sound very enthused.

Well, if you don't like the way I
talk on the phone, don't listen to me.

What am I supposed to do
about Jim-Bob's breakfast?

Just leave it right there.
If he can't make it on time,

he's gonna have to eat it cold.

I don't know where he is. He was
awake before I was this morning.

Doesn't mean a thing with Jim-Bob.
He's the all-time world champion dawdler.

I swear it.

It's about time.

You're going to have to eat
breakfast on the way to school.

I'm not going.

Feeling sick, Son?

Just not going,
not today, not ever.

I'm quitting school.

I hope you're joking.

I could've quit two
years ago if I wanted to.

It was the Air Corps that
was stopping me from doing it.

I have no reason to go anymore.

(ALL PROTESTING)

All right, everybody,
you'd better be on your way.

Let me talk to Jim-Bob alone.

- Goodbye.
- Bye, Daddy.

Jim-Bob.

I know you're disappointed, Son,
but this doesn't make any sense at all.

Once when I was your
age, I wanted to quit school.

Grandpa went through the roof
and I've always been glad he did.

It's different now,
Daddy. There's a war on.

That's not the end
of the world, Son.

As a matter of fact, one of the
reasons we're fighting this war,

is so you can have a
right to an education.

You give up school now and you're
giving up your chance for a good life.

I'm not going back. I
want to join the army.

You're too young,
and you know it.

And I won't give
you my permission.

I don't need your permission.
I'll lie about my age.

Come here.

Who's gonna believe you?

Now get to school.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

I thought you retired
that dress a long time ago.

It's not the dress that's
retired, it's the owner.

I'm going to cut it
down for Elizabeth.

You outgrown it?

No, fits me perfectly. I'll just never
wear something this frivolous again.

I'm a grown woman, a
widow with responsibilities.

Mary Ellen, you may
have had some hard times,

but you're still young.

One of these days you may
feel like having a social life again.

My social life is at home.

It has to be that way for now.

Since when did you
play by the rules?

I thought I saw the old
Mary Ellen the other night.

The Mary Ellen who loved to
laugh and have a good time.

- When was that?
- When Sergeant Turner came for supper.

Chuck is a friend of Curt's. I
was being nice to him, that's all!

Sorry if I hit a nerve.

You have a right to
have a friend, you know.

Jason, would you please get out
of here, so I can find the scissors

and get going on this dress?

I knew I came in here for something.
I borrowed your scissors. Thanks.

Why don't you take that
dress and make it into an apron

and tie yourself to the house?

Elizabeth.

Finally getting around
to oiling these hinges.

Grandpa always said they did
enough complaining for the whole house.

Where's Jim-Bob? Didn't he
come home from school with you?

I guess he's still
hanging around there.

That's funny. He's usually
out before the bell stops ringing.

- Yoo-hoo! John?
- Corabeth.

John, I have come to plead with Jim-Bob
to continue our literary discussions.

I didn't know he quit
the literary discussions.

Nor did I, until I
spoke to his teacher.

Oh, poor lamb, needing
glasses all this time.

Of course, he was bound to
feel self-conscious about it at first.

They'll call you
"four-eyes" at school.

Well, in view of the fact
of his visual difficulties,

I have acquired a novel, Vanity Fair
by William Makepeace Thackeray.

- The print is very large.
- That's nice of you, Corabeth.

Jim-Bob's glasses
should be ready soon.

His glasses are ready. It's
just he won't go to pick them up.

Miss Winfield assures
me that it is not too late,

and she will give him every consideration
when he is well enough to return to school.

Well enough to return to school?

I think I'd better go
do my homework.

Hold on, young lady.

What is this,
"return to school"?

Well, he hasn't been attending
classes. He's been sick for a week.

Have you been covering
up for your brother?

I told them he had a cold.

Where does he go?
What does he do?

I don't know. He said he just
can't stand to go to school anymore.

Sometimes I know how he feels.

You do, huh? You go up to your
room. I'll be up there in a minute.

Yes, Daddy.

John, I assure you, I did not
come here to stir up trouble.

I would just like to know what's
going on around here, Corabeth.

I suppose Jim-Bob wouldn't care much
for William Makepeace Thackeray anyway.

Here you are, Jim-Bob. You've
got some explaining to do, Son.

Corabeth's been to see your
teacher. You've been cutting school.

I might have known Corabeth
would go snooping around.

Oh, Jim-Bob, that
was not my intent.

It's bad enough you had to
push those dumb books on me

and those stupid gold stars.

But how come you had
to go butting in at school?

That's enough, Jim-Bob.

You think you're so important.

All that fancy talk about
the art and the classics.

Well, everybody
laughs at you, Corabeth.

I said that's enough!

You apologize to
Corabeth right now!

That will not be
necessary, John.

I would not accept Jim-Bob's
apology were it offered.

I ought to take you out in
the woodshed right now.

How dare you talk to her
like that? She's your friend!

- She was only trying to help you!
- I don't need any help.

What has gotten into you?

You haven't been going to school,
what in thunder have you been doing?

Trying to join the army.

I've been to every recruiting
office from here to Richmond

and I'm not gonna stop
till I find one that'll take me.

All right.

You been walking around here

like you're the only one that hasn't
gotten his own way in this world.

You've been lying to me,
you had your sister lie to me

and you've been talking
to your elders like that!

Maybe you ought to go in the army,
maybe that would straighten you out.

All you have to do is sign this form. It
says I have your permission to enlist.

All right.

Jason? Dew Drop closed already?

It's after 12:30. What are
you working on so late?

Trying to shine up
this old telescope.

- You worried about Jim-Bob?
- Yes, I am, Son.

You did the right thing, Daddy.

Didn't have much choice.
He had his mind pretty well set.

Jim-Bob's so quiet. It's easy
to forget how headstrong he is.

Your mama and me have always been
able to help you kids with your problems.

Not this time.

(SIGHS) I kind of feel
like I've failed Jim-Bob.

Signing that paper told him you
trusted him to solve his own problems.

You know, Jason, it's kind of nice
having a grown-up son around sometimes.

You don't have to worry about
how your hair looks anymore.

The army's going to
cut it all off anyway.

Wish you were
going with me, Ben.

Sooner or later they're going
to replace all essential workers

with women and older men.

When that time comes,
I'll be joining you.

Never thought I'd
wind up a foot soldier.

I know. That is a tough break.

We're gonna have to really give you
a wing-ding of a party before you go.

Thanks. I really don't
feel like celebrating.

Mary Ellen, you'd better
not hold supper for me.

I'm gonna have a
lot of forms to fill out.

Well, here. These might help you. I
picked them up for you this morning.

Why don't you try them on,
Jim-Bob? See how they look.

I'm never gonna wear them.

It's your life, Jim-Bob.

But you might enjoy it a little bit more if
you could see past the end of your nose.

Are you leaving now?

Just on my way to
the recruiting office.

I'm sorry I got you in trouble.

I'd do it again.

You know, sometimes I
can't believe we're growing up.

You know, you're one
of my best brothers.

Even though you are
going into the army.

I'm glad you're my
sister, Elizabeth. Bye-bye.

Daddy? I'm leaving
for Rockfish now.

Still planning on going
ahead with it, huh, Son?

Yes, sir.

You know, Jim-Bob,

I've always been
proud of my kids

when they discovered
what they want to do in life

and went ahead and did it.

I sure wish I felt this way
about you joining the army.

It's what I want, Daddy.

Okay, Son. I just hope
you don't wake up someday

and be sorry for what you did.

I already made up my mind.

Remember, it's not final
till you take that oath.

- Thanks, Daddy.
- Good luck, Son.

- Looks like you got a flat tire, Corabeth.
- I had already ascertained that.

Can I change it for you?

That will not be necessary. I can
go back to the store for assistance.

Please, Corabeth,
I'd like to help you.

Very well. The
tools are in the trunk.

- Hi, Chuck.
- Hi.

- Come on in.
- Thanks.

Is Erin ready to go?

Probably not. She's not
famous for being on time.

It's all right. I was hoping
I'd get a chance to talk to you.

I'd better see if I
can hurry her up.

Guess you're stuck with me.

Well, I've been
stuck with worse.

I have to stay in the
house all weekend.

- You don't look sick.
- I'm being punished.

You must have done
something really bad.

Depends on whose side you're on.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

- MARY ELLEN: Erin? Erin?
- What?

Erin, what are you doing?

Baking a cake. What
does it look like, Mary Ellen?

Erin, Chuck is downstairs.

You're supposed to go to that
bond rally with him this afternoon.

Oh, no, I forgot! Mary Ellen,
help me rinse out. Quick!

Oh, Erin, I could just drown
you for being so stupid.

It's gonna take you an
hour for your hair to dry out.

I can't help it. It's not like I
really wanted to go out with him.

What do you mean?
You accepted the date!

Only because you
kept pushing me at him

and reminding me he
was one of Curt's friend.

What an awful thing to say.

He's a warm,
wonderful, funny person.

Then you should be going
out with him, not me. Ouch!

Oh, Erin. You don't
deserve anybody so nice.

He may be a nice guy,
but he just isn't my type.

Mary Ellen, would you
leave me some hair, please?

Ow!

Erin, here, finish it yourself!

Corabeth, you should
watch how I'm doing this,

in case you have to
change a tire someday.

I'm afraid I'm not
very mechanical.

I'm not very literary myself.

Sometimes you get stuck doing
things you're not very good at.

Jim-Bob.

Is it true what I hear, that
you're joining the army?

I was just on my way to sign up.

Jim-Bob, I know I didn't seem
very sympathetic to your flying,

but I do want you to know
that I found it admirable.

Really?

There is such daring,

such poetry in flight.

Sure was counting on
joining the Air Corps.

Jim-Bob.

I hate to see you give up the whole dream
just because a part of it can't come true.

Corabeth, I'm sorry about
those awful things I said to you.

I didn't mean them.

Do you think I don't know
what people say about me?

They don't know what
they're talking about.

Jim-Bob,

when I dreamed what
my life would be like,

I never dreamed I'd be behind
the counter of a general store.

I was going to be a ballerina

or a great tragic actress

or marry an aristocrat
and travel the world.

Well, when I found
myself behind the counter

of a general store at a
little country crossroads,

I had to either give
up those dreams,

or find a way of keeping
part of them alive.

I'll never go to Paris,

but if I speak a French
phrase or two, from time to time

I am transported to
the Champs Élysées.

And if I quote Shakespeare,

it is to satisfy that
never-to-be-fulfilled longing

to be center stage

when the house lights dim

(GASPS)

and the curtain is up.

Look at me, Jim-Bob.

On the outside I may
be a storekeeper's wife,

but on the inside
I am a ballerina.

And if it was flying I wanted, I
wouldn't let a pair of glasses stop me.

I'd find a way to fly.

You'd better get a patch on
your spare. You might need it.

Thank you, Jim-Bob.

Jim-Bob, have you
ever seen an albatross?

No, ma'am.

Well, they're very slow
and clumsy taking off,

but once airborne,

they can stay aloft
for days at a time.

Corabeth.

Goodbye.

Find out what's
holding up the parade?

More or less.

You know something? It's not
so bad having to stay in after all.

I mean, I might have gone
to the movies this afternoon

and missed the
show going on here.

Anything I should know?

Well, here comes your date.

I hope you don't mind. There's
been a little change in the plans.

Are you sure?

I am, if you are.

- Hey, Mary Ellen, where you going?
- On a date!

I don't know how that
happened, but I'm glad it did.

I am, too.

And I asked her to get Kay
Kyser's autograph for me.

Oh, I wish I had asked her.

I don't believe it. Hey,
Daddy! Come quick!

Howdy!

BEN: Where have you been?
What's that propeller doing?

Guess what? I'm going
to build an airplane!

- An airplane?
- An airplane?

The Air Corps needs good mechanics
and that's the best way for me to learn.

- Let's go put this behind the house.
- Sounds good to me.

- Give me a hand here.
- See you later.

BEN: It's heavy.
JIM-BOB: Don't drop it.

Jim-Bob?

Daddy.

I decided not to join the army.

I'm real glad to hear that, Son.

Wanna see a picture of
the airplane I'm gonna build?

Sure do.

Hey, Daddy, I
can really see you!

Well, it's about time, Son.

JOHN-BOY: Jim-Bob
failed English that term,

but with Corabeth's help he
managed to catch up in summer school.

He never did excel in literature,
and he never flew for the Air Corps.

But he hung onto his dream,
and one glorious day after the war,

the airplane that he had
built on Walton's Mountain

carried him
briefly into the sky.

And all of us were
there to cheer him on.

JIM-BOB: Good night,
Daddy. Good night, Jason.

JASON: Good night,
Jim-Bob. Good night, Erin.

ERIN: Good night, Jason.
Good night, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: Good night,
Erin. Good night, Mary Ellen.

JOHN: Mary Ellen?

ERIN: She's not home yet.

JOHN: Oh, Lord.
Good night, everyone.

English -SDH