The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 7, Episode 4 - The Obsession - full transcript

Aren't you ever coming to bed?

I'd sure like to, but I've
got to study a while longer.

You've been working around
the clock for weeks now.

- I don't know what's keeping you going.
- I'm all right, Mama.

Good night.

The war in Europe brought
to Walton's Mountain

a renewed awareness of
the frailty of human freedom.

We realized that an ocean away,

people were fighting and
dying for independence.

In the fall of 1941,

our family was to witness
another fight for freedom.



It was a fight that would reveal
to all of us a new kind of courage.

I always thought once
your children were grown-up

you could stop
worrying about them.

- Which one now?
- Mary Ellen.

She's been over-working herself
for weeks. She's just getting home.

If it were any of the other
children, I'd be worried, too.

Mary Ellen's strong.
Nothing's gonna get her down.

She's stubborn, too.

She didn't get that from me.

Come in.

I just came to say good night.

That's about all I've been
getting from you these days.

That and an occasional
good morning.

John Curtis was sound asleep.
Did his new teeth bother him much?



Some. I wish you'd let
us bring him in our room

until you get
over this studying.

It's the only time I
get to be with him.

Pushing you pretty
hard, are they, honey?

I was lucky to get into this
accelerated program, Daddy.

Means I can join Curt sooner.

Maybe these long hours will make
you turn out to be a better nurse.

If you live through
nursing school.

Don't worry, Mama.
It's almost near the end.

And I have a three-hour final coming
up on Friday that I better get to work on.

Better get some sleep
before you fall down.

I will. Good night, Mama.

- Good night, Daddy.
- Good night, honey.

Remember I'm betting on you.

Five will get you ten I make it.

Between you working on your co-op,
and Mary Ellen trying to get her RN,

I'm beginning to feel like I'm
caught between two buzz saws.

John Walton, what are these?

Those are pieces
of necktie, Liv.

When they don't come
out even, I cut them off.

- Couldn't you re-tie it?
- Haven't got time.

Besides, you know how
I hate to wear neckties.

Stop that! You know
how ticklish I am.

Precious, leave my feet be!

What did you wake me for?

How could I wake you when you
was just playing footsie with me?

I was sound asleep.

Oh, Yancy, stop that!

My feet are way over there.

Then there's an
animal in our bed!

He must've sneaked in
last night when I got up.

You let another
animal into this house

and you'll really have
something to regret.

Oh, David, hello.

I wasn't sure whether
to wake you or not.

- What time is it?
- Nearly 2:00.

Oh, you're a life saver.
I have a biology class.

What I came down here
for is to get a cup of coffee.

How about if I postpone that till
after your class? Would you join me?

I really ought to
get back to studying.

Looks like you could
use the caffeine.

- Okay, I'll meet you about 3:00.
- Okay.

Hi.

Are you all right?

I'm behind on my beauty
sleep. By about a month.

You know, you don't have
to put yourself through this.

When I was finishing school, I was
just about dropping from exhaustion

until an intern
gave me some pills.

- What kind of pills?
- Amphetamines.

Kept me going
like a ball of fire.

- I don't know. I don't like the idea.
- Well, that's up to you.

The way you look today, you're
never gonna make it through exams.

I didn't know you was
planning on taking no trip.

I'm leaving you,
Yancy. For good.

I'm miserable here.

But I thought we was
happy as larks together.

We should be having
a life of nuptial bliss.

But when I was woke this morning
by a chicken pecking at my toes,

I saw this was no place for me.

Sissy, my animals need me.

I am tired of
tripping over Tiger.

And it's more than
just your animals.

Sweetheart, if there's anything
I've done, all you gotta do is tell me.

I wouldn't want you to go

making yourself over
even supposing you could.

It's just that I'm yearning for

the kind of life I had
before we was married.

I miss the bright
lights out on Route 29.

But I married you to take
you away from all that.

You took me too far away.

I'm not suited to the
backwoods way of life.

I thought you loved me.

I do love you.

I just can't live with you.

Well, doggone, if I make
any sense out of that.

Well, I think my leaving
will do us both a lot of good.

We're just like
star-crossed lovers.

Best we put some
distance between us.

Goodbye, precious.

Sissy.

Tiger.

Tiger, she's gone. Yeah.

I have never been
tired like this before.

I bet I can even
sleep standing up.

Well, I know you can
sleep sitting down.

You're almost through
though, aren't you?

School ends this week and then
there's the state licensing exam

in two-and-a-half weeks.

And I can't think past
this test on Friday.

Maybe I can help
you study for it.

If you really wanna help me
you could get me some pep pills.

Just to keep me from taking
any more unscheduled naps.

You have to be
careful with that stuff.

Just enough for
three or four days.

Please, David?

I never could say no to you.

Boys,

you're looking at a man
whose heart is broke.

Look on the bright side, Yancy.

You're practically
a bachelor again.

That's right. Remember what it
was like before you got married?

You could come and
go as you pleased.

No one to get mad at
you for coming home late.

- With beer on your breath.
- No woman telling you what to do.

- Or insult my chicken.
- That's right.

You can go fishing all day long.

Woman didn't understand me.

I'm a complicated man.

- But now you're a free man.
- You're right.

You're both right! A toast!

- To freedom!
- To freedom!

To freedom!

- Oh, Tiger!
- He feels better already.

Shouldn't you be at school?

Forgot my dumb book.

Jason, could you please drive me
to school today so I won't be late?

Sure, just let me grab
something to eat first.

Mary Ellen, you are so lucky.

No more school,
no more homework,

for the rest of your life!

That's not true, Elizabeth. I've got
two weeks before the state exam,

and about three hours left to cram for
the hardest test I'm ever likely to take.

Were you able to get
any sleep last night?

Oh, just look at me, all
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

From my days as
Jessica, girl spy,

I'd say Mary Ellen didn't
get any sleep at all last night.

How do you figure that?

Obvious clue.

Give up?

- You're too sharp for me.
- It's her uniform.

Mary Ellen wore that
very uniform yesterday.

She never wears the same
uniform two days in a row.

Therefore, she never got to bed.

She could've slept in it.

But if she'd slept in it, it
would've been wrinkled all over.

- Not just in the skirt.
- Knock it off, you two.

Today I'm more concerned with
this test than with what I'm wearing.

There's something else
wrong with your theory, Jessica.

What?

Anybody who's been up all night
couldn't have as much energy as that.

I still think it's good
detective work.

Come on, let's
get you to school.

- Good luck on your test.
- Hope you get an A.

Thanks.

- Hello.
- Hi, Daisy.

There are some extra diapers in
there and a couple of his favorite toys.

I really appreciate your
looking after John Curtis for me.

Daddy had to make a business
call and he took Mom along with him.

John Curtis and I get
along just fine. Don't we?

And I'm glad when you give me a
chance to repay you for your lovely home.

Well, I'm just glad someone's
keeping it warm for us.

I stopped by Ike's
on the way over.

Letter from Curt?

He has a weekend pass.
He'll be home tomorrow.

I don't know how I'm going to
concentrate on that test today.

All the more reason
for doing so now.

Listen, if you need help
when Curt comes, let me know.

Thanks, Daisy.

Bye-bye, sweetheart.
Wish me luck.

Good luck.

- Hi.
- Hi!

Today's the big day.
How are you holding up?

Well, I'm still on my feet.

I'm gonna sleep for about two
days when this exam is over.

- I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
- Thanks.

David, I did it. I'm
sure I passed my exam.

Congratulations!

It's your help that really
made the difference.

I'm always happy to oblige.

I got by on only half the
pills I thought I'd need.

Hey, listen, do me a favor,
okay? And get rid of the rest.

- I don't like you having them around.
- I will, I promise.

Good girl.

Now, I'm off on rounds.

Well, I think this'll help
John Curtis' teething pain.

What is it?

It's a little gift from Miss
Mamie and Miss Emily.

Isn't he a little
young for the Recipe?

You're just going to be
rubbing it on his gums.

It won't turn him
into a guzzler.

Well, it's a good thing
Grandma's visiting Cousin Jane.

I don't think John
Curtis will squeal on us.

This is the way it
should always be.

You and me together
in the office, working.

Yeah, and necking.

Any way I can keep you here?

No, I'm afraid not, but before
you know it, you'll be joining me.

And you'll be back
for my graduation.

Well, I would like
to, I really would,

but I'll never be able to
get another pass that soon.

Listen, Mary Ellen.

I've been working a long
time to get my graduation cap.

I was counting on sharing
the moment with you.

You don't have time
to feel sorry for yourself

because you've got that
state exam to study for.

I'm not worried about that
exam. It's going to be a breeze.

Oh, really? Is that right?

Well, tell me something.

How is Dimercaprol used?

It has something
to do with poison.

Well, I don't remember just now.

I think that you better start,

because you're gonna have to
do more than just pass that test.

If we're going to
find work together

you're gonna have to compete
against other registered nurses for jobs.

You don't have much
confidence in me.

Honey, you're a wonderful nurse.

And all I ask is for you to
convince the state examiners of that.

So, you've got to buckle down for the
next two weeks and really study hard.

I'll do my very best.

I do wanna be with you.

Okay.

Let's go see if Daisy and John
Curtis are back from their walk.

It's time for me to say goodbye.

Seems like all we
ever do is say goodbye.

Afternoon, Corabeth.

- Ike.
- Howdy, Yancy.

- Sure hope you got one of them for me.
- I might have. Let's see.

Here it is.

Looks like it's in
Sissy's handwriting.

Surely you know that they
are estranged, of course.

- Estranged? You mean Sissy and Yancy?
- Shh!

Bad news?

Sissy says she's gonna
buy herself a divorce.

- Oh, my...
- Oh, my word!

She's fixing to get back
all her rightful property

and she's going
calling on a lawyer.

Alimony.

What kind of money?

Well, that's the kind that some fancy
attorney connives to make you pay to Sissy

the rest of your days.

Where would I get any money?

Well, surely, Sissy is
just being precipitous.

Perhaps she has forgotten the words
of the song I sang at your wedding.

I love you truly, truly, dear

Life with its sorrow
Life with its...

Well...

I better go break the
bad news to Tiger.

Well, good luck, Yancy. Don't
let them lawyers bamboozle you.

Your attitude belies the
seriousness of the situation.

Don't you realize that this is
the first marital disengagement

in the history of
Walton's Mountain?

You said you'd only need enough
pills to get through that one exam.

That's before I found out how
hard the state exam's going to be.

- And now you want a two-week supply?
- That's not such an awful long time.

How did I let myself
get talked into this?

Because you're a good friend.
I'd appreciate some sedatives also.

You know, if you put enough
of this stuff into your body,

you're likely to start acting
even funnier than you usually do.

If you don't stop fussing
at me, I'll go to Curt's office.

I can always get
what I need there.

Does Curt know you're
taking these things?

No, and there's no
reason for him to know.

I'll be careful. Trust me.

All right, but this
is the last time.

Come in.

You're still up?

I was finishing up a composition
that's due tomorrow. Today.

Yeah, the sun will be
coming up before long.

How can you be so
wide awake at this hour?

Well, you'd be amazed how
exhilarating organic chemistry can be.

- Well, don't stay up too long.
- No, I'm going to bed soon.

- Good night.
- Good night.

I thought Mary Ellen was the
only one I had to worry about.

Now you've taken to staying
up all hours of the night, too.

I don't plan to make a
habit of it like Mary Ellen.

Good morning, everybody.

The sun's up and so is
Mary Ellen Walton Willard.

I just gave the baby his bath
and now he's hungry for his bottle.

I think I will skip
breakfast myself.

Which means an extra
serving for somebody else.

Jason, you look
like you could use it.

You seem to be in
high spirits this morning.

Well, there's a lot to do, and I'm
looking forward to getting it done.

You sure you're all right?

Well, I might have a small headache,
but I can't let that slow me down.

Mama, do you know
what Jim-Bob did?

I'm not sure I want to know.

Well, he bet me a quarter that he could
pick up a piece of paper with his nose.

Don't tell me he did it.

- He put rubber cement right there.
- Serves you right for gambling.

Come on, Erin, you owe me.

I'll pay you, but I don't
have any change right now.

I don't take IOUs.

Oh, Mary Ellen, can I borrow
a quarter to shut Jim-Bob up?

Sure, seems like a worthy cause.

I didn't say you could
go through my purse!

Mary Ellen, you said I
could borrow the money.

I don't care! You're old
enough to respect my privacy.

Here's your money! And don't
go through my things again!

Sorry, Erin, I didn't
mean to get you in trouble.

- She's awful touchy this morning.
- What a crab!

- Mary Ellen, what's going on here?
- Nothing.

I wish everyone would
just leave me alone.

What's the matter with your mom?

Hey, everybody.

- Hello, Yance.
- Hello, Yancy. How are you?

John, I dropped by 'cause I
need some help with my divorce.

Yance, I don't know much
about that kind of thing.

Me, neither. See that's
why I got this legal book.

I figured you and me can go through it
and you can help me with them lawyer words.

Yance, I'm no good at that.

- Corpus delecti?
- No, can't say I've ever heard of that.

- Tort?
- Tort.

Yeah, I have heard that one.

Corabeth Godsey one time,
she brought out these little pies.

I think she called them torts.

- I knew you'd be good at this!
- I told you I wasn't any good.

We'll look through
the rest of the book.

Yance, I'm telling you,
this is all over my head.

Ben. How about helping
out an old buddy, Ben?

I can't make heads or tails out of
the whereases and the wherefores.

I sure would like to, Yancy,
but I'm all tied up right now.

Yancy, maybe I can help you. I
always listen to Mr. District Attorney.

You're a little young,
ain't you, Elizabeth?

Why, I bet Clarence
Darrow started this young.

Clarence Darrow?
You know about him?

Well, maybe you can help
me. Where should we start?

Well, first, I think we better go
see Miss Emily and Miss Mamie.

Well...

Their pop was a judge.
They'd know all about law.

But maybe we shouldn't
bother them sweet old ladies.

Yancy, if you want
me to be your lawyer,

you're gonna have to learn to
trust in me and do what I say.

Elizabeth, we'll
go to the Baldwins.

It's all yours,
Melissa, try it out.

Oh, that looks fine.

- Are you all right?
- What happened?

- I just got dizzy.
- Thank goodness you're okay.

Maybe you ought to
lie down for a little while.

No! I'm okay! Don't make
a big to-do about this.

Let me take you in the house.

Just leave me alone! I'll get a
drink of water and I'll be fine!

I've never seen her so on edge.

You know, I've been wondering

if she might not be keeping
herself going on pills.

Well, I've worked with enough
dancers who've taken them,

and she's all fired
up the same way.

Mary Ellen's not the
type to even try that stuff.

Well, look at the way she's
been acting, that dizzy spell.

I don't think it's
a case of nerves.

Now, what's so important that you
had to drag me all the way out here?

I wanted to talk to you where
we wouldn't be disturbed.

Well, we don't appear to have
been followed. Now, what is it?

I've wasted enough
time today already.

I've been thinking about
your accident this afternoon.

I had a dizzy spell and ran over a curb.
You could hardly call that an accident.

Daisy...

Daisy thinks you might be taking
some kind of medicine to keep you going.

What if I am?

Don't look so shocked. I'll stop as
soon as I've taken the state exam.

That's over a week away. I
think you ought to stop now.

One dizzy spell does not
mean I'm losing control.

You weren't in control
when you were driving today.

I'll be more careful
next time. I can't

stop now, Jason, this
test is too important.

Don't wait too long, Mary Ellen.

You used to be the strongest-willed of
all of us. I'd hate to see you lose that.

Jason, I need them!

Okay, John Curtis, how about
you and me taking a little nap?

Here you go.

Now, you just be quiet and let
your mommy get some rest, okay?

You all have pets here?

Well, there are some bats in
the attic and some squirrels,

and several families
of mice in the basement.

But they've been here as long as we have
and we wouldn't think of evicting them.

Papa had a hunting dog.
His name was Beauregard.

He passed on in 1925.

He had been eating grass all day. And as
time went on he just became disoriented.

Grass will do that.

Excuse me, ladies, but...

Yancy is my client and
we're here on legal matters.

Oh, yes, Mr. Tucker,
we've been hearing about...

Your marital difficulties.

It's all over town, ain't it?

Miss Mamie, we were wondering
if your father handled any divorces.

Well, not that I recall,
but just let me check.

There must be one.
Maybe a scandal?

Sister, wasn't there a case
with a horse and a Mr. Roberts?

Well, if there
was, it'll be in here.

Papa kept marvelous records.

Yes. Here it is.

Mr. Thomas Brooke Roberts.

Papa granted his wife a
divorce because Mr. Roberts

had stolen a horse in Pennsylvania
and was consequently a criminal.

I don't think Sissy
has stolen any horses.

I'm almost sure she ain't.

Well, can you remember
anything else that might help us?

I have heard that the woman is
granted custody of the progeny.

We never had one in the
house. Had a two-seater out back.

Oh, I think my sister was
referring to children, Mr. Tucker.

And pets are just like children.

How true. Does Papa
say anything about pets?

Oh, dear me!

It seems that Mrs. Roberts
was given all the livestock.

Except, of course, for the stolen horse,
which was returned to Pennsylvania.

I knew it! The ex-wife always gets
custody of the animals and the children.

Oh, no!

Is that your homework
you're reading, Jim-Bob?

Yeah, and I've been
at it for over an hour.

Well, a little longer
won't strain you.

Mama, how am I supposed to study
with John Curtis making all that noise?

You hollered worse than that
when you were cutting teeth.

I wish Mary Ellen
would make him shut up.

I'll go up and see if I can take
him off her hands for a while.

Oh, John Curtis.

Poor baby. Oh, yes.

There.

Mary Ellen?

Mary Ellen?

Mary Ellen?

Mary Ellen?

What is it?

- Is the baby all right?
- Yeah, he's fine.

I hated to wake you, but I
was concerned about you.

You were sound asleep and John
Curtis was crying right beside you.

You didn't hear a thing.

I guess I was more
tired than I thought.

Whether you like it or not,

I'm moving John Curtis in with your daddy
and me until this examination is over.

Okay.

You got enough on your mind
without worrying about him.

I'll send Ben up
to get the crib.

Now you try to get
some more sleep.

I'm a broken man.

I could get used to the
loss of Sissy, but my pets...

We haven't lost yet.

I'll look for a loophole. That's
what a good lawyer has to do.

There's got to be a loophole.

Elizabeth, why don't you
take Papa's notebook?

Perhaps you'll find something
in there that will aid you.

- Guard it with your very life.
- I will. Thank you.

Mr. Tucker,

we do hope you'll have a happy
issue from all your romantic suffering.

I do love a happy ending.

- To what, Sister?
- Why, to everything, Sister.

I've never known a mother to sleep in
the same room while her baby's crying.

That's not natural.

You think there's something wrong
with her besides being worn out?

Maybe. I keep worrying about it.

Look, Liv, I'm going to make a
delivery tomorrow. Be gone overnight.

Why don't you come along
and get your mind off Mary Ellen?

It will take more
than a trip to do that.

I don't know what good
standing around here

and worrying about
her is going to do you.

She's got to take her exam in two
days. I told her I'd take care of the baby.

All right, Liv, but I think you're letting
your fears mushroom all out of proportion.

You're probably right. But that
doesn't make them seem any smaller.

- Goodbye, Daddy.
- Goodbye, honey.

And goodbye, young lady.
You be good now, huh?

- I will. When will you be back?
- Tomorrow morning, early.

But if you go before I get back,
you knock 'em dead. You hear?

- I'll sure try.
- And don't stay up all night cramming.

I won't. It's important I get a
good night's rest before this test.

- All right.
- I'm relieved to hear that.

I wish I had finished studying.

Two days and I still haven't
found a loophole for Yancy.

If there is one
you'll find it, honey.

- I hope so.
- Say goodbye to the others.

Regards to Matt and Betty Lou.

- Bye.
- Drive carefully.

- Have fun.
- Bye-bye, Daddy.

Well, back to the books. I've got a
couple more hours of studying to do.

- I'll be glad when all this is over.
- Oh, not half as glad as I will.

I never thought I'd see my
youngest daughter reading the law,

especially at age 12.

In Portia Faces Life
they had a lady lawyer.

I listened to it last summer.

Lawyers spend a lot of time in school
before they go advising people what to do.

I don't think you ought to involve
yourself in Yancy and Sissy's problems.

- But I'm only trying to solve them, Mama.
- By helping them get a divorce?

No, Mama, by getting
them back together again.

That's what Judge Baldwin says a
lawyer's first duty is in divorce cases.

Then what are you doing looking
through there for loopholes?

Don't you see? If
I make them think

they'll be separated forever, then
they'll want to get back together again.

I hope your strategy
doesn't backfire.

It didn't backfire on you when
you did it on Ben and Jim-Bob.

When did I ever do
anything like that?

Remember when they kept fighting?
You told them that one of them

would have to stay in the shed.
That got them back together real quick.

I had no idea you were on
to what I was trying to do.

Everyone knew.
Except Ben and Jim-Bob.

I see.

Well, I'm glad you
were paying attention.

Mary Ellen?

Mary Ellen?

Mary Ellen?

Mary Ellen! What are you
doing here this time of night?

I didn't mean to wake you.

I heard some glass breaking.

Everything's fine,
just go back to bed.

Is anything wrong? Can I help?

Nothing's wrong! When
I asked you to stay here,

I didn't expect you to be snooping around
the office at night. Now, good night.

My God.

Daisy!

Jason, is that you?

Daisy called me at the Dew Drop.

What happened?

- What's this?
- Sedatives.

I've been taking
them to get to sleep.

I ran out, so I went to Curt's
office to get some more.

I didn't take any.

I don't want to
take any ever again.

She's also been taking
stimulants to keep going.

Only, she'd get going so fast, she
couldn't slow down enough to sleep.

She'll probably feel the need
for them for a few more days.

Tell us what we
can do to help you.

Just stay with me.

Jason, go get some
blankets, warm up some milk.

We're spending the night here.

Oh, Mama.

I wish I was a baby again and
you could just rock me to sleep.

I'm here, Mary Ellen.

- Mama, why can't I sleep?
- Give it time.

You've been with me for hours
and I'm not feeling any sleepier.

You go try to lie down on
the couch. I'll be right back.

Want me to heat you up
some more warm milk?

No, I think I've had
my limit of warm milk.

How about a hot water bottle?

When you were little and you
used to have trouble getting to sleep,

sometimes I'd read to you.

Seemed to help.

I'm too old for
fairy tales, Mama.

This isn't a fairy
tale, Mary Ellen.

It's your book on
Florence Nightingale.

John-Boy gave me that book
when I went to nursing school.

I thought I'd start by
reading his inscription to you.

"Mary Ellen, I thought
you ought to have this book,

"not only because Florence
Nightingale was a pioneer in nursing,

"but also because she was a
woman who dreamed great dreams

"and had the spirit and
courage to fight for those dreams.

"I am certain that you will grow
up to be that same kind of woman.

"John-Boy.

"Chapter One.

"Florence Nightingale was
born in England in 1820.

"selfless dedication
to serving others.

"We now realize
how very important

"her tireless efforts were
to humanity in general.

"Few professions
can trace their origins

back to the efforts of
one particular person.

"The field of nursing can,
to Florence Nightingale."

What's going on here?

It looks like some
kind of slumber party.

Oh, I guess you
could call it that.

I thought Mary Ellen wanted to get a
good night's rest before her test today.

I think she's probably getting the best
night's sleep she's had in a long time.

Easy, Tiger.

Sissy, is that you?

No one else, you lazy thing.

You coming back to me?

I wrote you that I wanted my
property and I've come to fetch it.

I don't care how much you'll
be missing them curtains,

they're rightfully mine.

Oh!

And so is that coverlet.

What about my animals?

I don't want your pets.

Look what they've
done to my coverlet!

Oh, Sissy, I could kiss you.

I talked to the lawyer
about our divorce.

Well...

I can't afford no alimony.

I don't want your money.

But the lawyer says we
need what he calls grounds.

He says you need
them for a divorce.

You ever stole a horse?

Yancy, you silly
goose, of course not!

Well, then it looks like we're
gonna have to stay hitched.

You remember them good old days
when I was back working at the Dew Drop

and you was courting me?

Yeah. We had us
some fine old times.

Can you ever forgive me
for asking you to marry me?

Oh, Yancy, I liked the asking.

You did it so often that

you made me feel certain that
you weren't trifling with my affections.

Yancy, this is Elizabeth
Walton, your lawyer.

Come on in, Elizabeth,
the door's open.

Sissy, what are you doing
here? It'll ruin getting a divorce.

It doesn't look like we
can get one anyway.

I found a loophole!

If you leave Yancy for two years,
then you'll have grounds to get a divorce.

Desertion.

Well, I'll leave right now

and we can commence
counting the days.

Tiger.

Oh, Elizabeth.

What the heck.

I figured I could bring
them two back together.

Feels good to be
doing chores again.

It's one sure way to get
yourself all tired out by bedtime.

Oh, every night's getting
easier to fall asleep.

What's all the fuss about?

A letter from the state
capitol for Mary Ellen.

Must be the results of my exam.

I passed! I'm a
registered nurse!

Congratulations! You
worked hard enough for it.

We're proud of you, honey.

I just wish I could have been
with you when you needed me.

- That's all right, Daddy.
- No, it's not.

I work hard to give
this family what it needs,

but sometimes I let
my work get in the way.

I want to share your bad times
as well as your good times.

Oh, Daddy!

Now that you're a real registered
nurse, why don't you go call Curt about it?

I can't. I wrote him all about
the trouble I got myself into.

Curt loves you.
He'll understand.

Not this time.

He hasn't written, he
hasn't called, nothing.

Where's Daddy?

Oh, he said he'd be
a little late. Business.

Mary Ellen, do you
mind if we wave at you?

Oh, I don't mind, but I'll probably
be so nervous, I won't even see you.

Mary Ellen, I brought
you a graduation present!

Curt!

Oh, I'm so glad you're here.

- Did you get my letter?
- Yes. Yeah, I did.

Listen, I'm sorry that I put
so much pressure on you.

You're not disappointed in me?

Disappointed,
no. Surprised, yes.

But then again,

you've done nothing but surprise
me from the first time we met.

Hi, kiddo.

How'd you get leave, Curt?

They gave me a few days off.

- I'm being transferred.
- To where?

I'm gonna be stationed at an
army base near Pearl Harbor.

- Where's that?
- That's Hawaii. It's a tropical island.

Why, that's halfway
across the world!

I thought we were
going to be together.

Honey, they need
nurses in Hawaii, too.

Aren't I worth following
halfway around the world?

I wonder how I'll
look in a grass skirt.

- Should we go in?
- Yes.

You better learn to
do the hula, Mary Ellen.

Helen Crawford Swasey.

Virginia Whitemore.

Mary Ellen Willard.

On that day we were not only
aware of Mary Ellen's victory

in becoming a nurse,

but also of a greater
victory that she had won.

We knew that she had
found her strength again

and with it had come a
bright rediscovery of freedom.

I think I'll be a lawyer
when I grow up.

Not a divorce lawyer, I hope.

I might be pretty good at
it. I saved Yancy's marriage.

Besides, I think lawyers
must have lots of fun.

Good night, Elizabeth.

They're always writing about
the party of the first party

and the party of the
second party and the...

The party's over.
Good night, Elizabeth.

Daddy, I think it would be more
lawyer-like to say, "Case is closed."

Good night, Elizabeth.

Good night, everyone.

English -SDH