The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 8, Episode 4 - The Diploma - full transcript

This here is the new Nurse Nora.

I reckoned that the minute
I saw her horse and mule.

Are the Beasley children here?

They're right inside, only
you ain't going to them.

Whereas you report that you
had graduated from high school,

well, we find no evidence
to substantiate that.

Something's got to be wrong.
I graduated from high school.

The Army has strict regulations against
dealing with people who falsify records.

You know, we've always taught
our kids that learning is important,

and here, their daddy hasn't
even graduated from high school.

Sort of like hitting a home run and
finding out you missed second base.



Now, to set your record straight,
you need that diploma, Mr. Walton.

Listen, you can't
keep me off this base.

Take a good look,
Mr. Walton. You're off.

It isn't all up to you, Ronie.

Sweet Billy, Sam, Lady, you
claim you care about them.

I don't believe you.

And if I have to bring the sheriff up
here to find those children, I'll do it.

JOHN-BOY: The intermingling of what
had gone before and what lay ahead,

was a never-ending process that
touched our lives on the mountain.

My father was not a
man to live in the past.

He honored it, but it was his
way to live the time at hand.

One early morning in 1943, the present
was awaiting my sister, Mary Ellen.

And the past was ready
to catch up with our father.

See? I told you so.



I wonder how they got here.

They walked, dummy.

And then they
tied themselves up.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

I'm gonna go tell Uncle John.

I get to do that.
I saw them first!

- Uncle John, come see the horse!
- Nana!

I saw them first!

Uncle John! Jim-Bob!
Come see what's in the yard!

Children, you'll wake
everyone. Goodness.

JEFFREY: Wake everybody
up! Look in the yard!

I believe I will.

BEN: What was
all that commotion?

Oh, it's just the children, yelling
and hollering with excitement.

They've never seen a horse before
that wasn't tied to a milk wagon.

- That's Nora's horse and mule.
- JOHN: Easy, easy, easy.

OLIVIA: Jim-Bob, you better go
see if Nora's asleep in the barn.

- JIM-BOB: Which way is the barn?
- That way, sleepyhead.

Honey, you know
anything about this?

MARY ELLEN: I haven't
talked to Nora in weeks.

ELIZABETH: Hey, what's
that stuck in the saddle?

It's for me.

JEFFREY: Can we
keep them, Uncle John?

They belong to the county nurse,
but I'll boost you up if you want.

No. No. Put me down.

You'll teach us how to ride
sometime, won't you, Uncle John?

Sure, honey. Sometime.

Nora's been called
into the Army.

Isn't that kind of sudden?

She's been thinking
about it for a long time.

There's an epidemic at Fort Lee.
I guess that made up her mind.

She wants you to tend
to her horses for her?

She says until the county
can find a replacement for her,

she wants me to
take over her job.

But you can't do that. You'll
be gone for days at a time.

Who else is there?

ROSE: God save us. What
am I doing, standing here?

- JOHN: Come on.
- Olivia, it's my turn to make breakfast.

Somebody check the barn,
see if Jim-Bob's fallen asleep.

- I can't believe I'm up this early.
- You're not.

Why do they say this is
the nicest time of the day?

'Cause it is, if you look at it.

I remember when you first went up the
hills to help Nora. She taught you a lot.

More than anyone.

I never would have made it
through nursing school without her.

Come on, Mama.

Looks like we're gonna be
a couple of substitutes today.

The countries in
Central America are

Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Sounds like Mama's
planning a geography lesson.

I hope Miss Winfield
comes back before long.

I don't know whether I like
living with a schoolmarm.

MARY ELLEN: They can
be awful prim and proper.

Won't let you chew gum,
I never understood why.

You two better watch out, or I'll
make you both stand in a corner.

Better get out of here
before that happens.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye, Daddy.

- You think you can manage that?
- Part of it at least.

I should be able to get a leave from
the Pickett Plant without any problem.

And I'm a nurse, I can
take care of sick people.

They're such different
people, Mama.

"Special people,"
Grandpa used to call them.

Set in their own ways,
living in their own world.

Some are ill, some are
hungry, some are lonely.

Grandpa used to take them
presents. Smiles, he called them.

Nora's afraid a couple
of children have rickets.

She left cod-liver oil with a neighbor,
but she doesn't think she gives it to them.

- That's discouraging.
- And she says,

"These are prideful people, Mary Ellen.
You can afford more tolerance than they."

There's something on the back.

"I know you won't let Ronie
Cotter scare you off. She'll try."

Nora knows you very well.

She knows you won't turn down a
challenge like Ronie... What's her name?

Cotter. Ronie Cotter.

Hello there, young fella.
What can I do for you?

You can address me
properly, for one thing.

I'm Lieutenant James Dodd
Eller, G-2, out of Camp Rockfish.

Okay, what can I do for you?

That's Army
Intelligence, mister.

Yeah, it seems to me I
heard that somewhere.

I need information concerning the
whereabouts of one John Walton,

who is alleged to run a
mill operation in this area.

Nothing alleged
about John's mill.

It's right down the road
there, about half a mile.

Do you have reason to believe
that he can be found there?

If he's home, he can be found there. I
mean, that's where his whereabouts is.

I'm just doing my job, mister.

Overdoing it, I'd say.

Tell that officer in Procurement

next time he wants lumber
we're gonna need more notice.

Did you know he was a college
professor before he joined the Army?

Now, you tell him anyway.

Okay, but I don't
think it'll do much good.

What's the matter?
Can't he hear?

He does a lot of thinking of things.
Taking the long view, he calls it.

He smoke a pipe?

- You know him?
- No, but I know pipe smokers.

You see, by the time
they get their pipe out

and they get the tobacco out,
and they put the tobacco in the pipe,

and they tamp it down,

and they light it, and
they puff on it a while,

they forgot what you
were talking about.

(LAUGHING)

JOHN: Morning.

- Mr. John Walton?
- Yes, sir.

- Lieutenant James Dodd Eller.
- Lieutenant.

Camp Rockfish.

G-2, Mr. Walton.

This is my son, Ben. What
can we do for you, Lieutenant?

A little matter of
security, Mr. Walton.

Both of you gentlemen filled out
the regulation security forms, I believe.

- Quite a while ago.
- Yes, and your file is quite in order.

There's a discrepancy
in yours, Mr. Walton.

There is?

Whereas you report that you
had graduated from high school,

well, we find no evidence
to substantiate that.

Something's gotta be wrong.
I graduated from high school.

The Army has strict regulations against
dealing with people who falsify records.

What are you talking about,
falsify? I graduated from high school.

Not according to county
records, Mr. Walton.

The county's got to be wrong. I got
a diploma around here someplace.

If you can produce such a document,
that would have an effect on our decision.

Decision? What decision
are you talking about?

You do business
with Camp Rockfish.

You need to get on the
premises, I presume?

You haven't got a notion to
keep me off the post, do you?

You're saying I can't?

Now, wait a second. We'll find
the diploma and get it to you, okay?

If you find it.

Now listen, I'm doing
business on that post,

you get that through
your head, young man.

I wouldn't be too sure, sir.

Let's get to work.

Grandma Floyd?

Grandma Floyd?

- Grandma Floyd.
- I don't know you.

I'm Mary Ellen Willard.
I'm a friend of Nora's.

She'll be in today. She
sees me right regular.

She sent me to see
you. I'm a nurse, too.

Them's her animals out
there. Nora'll be in directly.

I'm afraid not. Nora's
joined the Army Nurse Corps.

I'll be coming by to
see you for a while.

- You know all that, do you?
- It came up very suddenly.

You wanna hear what
she wrote me about you?

She says you're good friends
and she cares about you very much.

So she run off? Don't make
a particle of sense to me.

- You go along, you hear?
- Is there anything I can do for you?

Just, go along. I don't need
no one, now Nora's gone.

I'll be by from time to time.

Good morning.

He just the beatinest
thing on molasses cookies.

I can't blame him.
You got any more?

No, we shared them,
him, me and the jackass.

I give them a cookie, they
give me a nuzzle. I call that fair.

- Sweet Billy? That's your name, isn't it?
- What for is it on the paper?

This is just to help me get
acquainted. Nora made me a list.

- Are you on the paper?
- I'm Mary Ellen Willard.

- I never seen you before.
- GRANDMA FLYOD: Claims Nora sent her.

Claims she's a nurse.

She show you the
paper? She says I'm on it.

Never saw Nora carry
one with her, did you?

I guess, maybe not.

She says Nora went
off to the Army suddenly.

Now if that ain't peculiar.

Why, that can't be. There's
only men in the Army.

The Army Nurse Corps.

It was an emergency,
an epidemic at Fort Lee.

- She's got every kind of story.
- Here, read it for yourself.

I'd like to oblige you,
ma'am, but I can't read.

- I guess it just don't show.
- You could have fooled me.

I need to find the
Beasley cabin.

Don't know that.

- It's over yonder, bearing to this hand...
- He don't know neither.

I need to look in on
the Beasley children.

Sam and Lady Beasley are most
likely over at my sister Ronie's place.

I can take you there.

I'm beginning to see why
they call you Sweet Billy.

Come on.

- You got any idea how stupid this is?
- No, sir.

How long did Lieutenant
Eller say he'd be?

Just said for you
to wait here, sir.

(VEHICLE APPROACHING)

I'll handle it from
here, Sergeant.

May I assume you brought
your diploma, Mr. Walton?

You may assume I came here
to try to talk some sense into you.

The diploma?

Look, you got it so I
can't talk to Procurement.

I can't see anybody but you.

And I'm being as patient
with you as I know how.

The clearance of people
who do business with the Army

is a concern to
Army Intelligence.

Now, to set your record straight,
you need that diploma, Mr. Walton.

Listen, you can't
keep me off this base.

Take a good look,
Mr. Walton. You're off.

I don't hide diplomas
under the underwear.

Where do you hide them?
Jeffrey, please sit down.

- What did he say to you?
- Who?

That smart-aleck,
young G-2 officer.

- Jeffrey...
- Jeffrey says that's what I called him.

There's nothing to
get excited about, son.

I'm just trying to find
my high school diploma.

John, you've looked through
these boxes three times now.

Why don't we just sit
down and try to figure it out?

- You did something wrong in high school?
- I didn't do anything wrong, son.

Then how come Army
Intelligence is after you?

Liv, please, I've got
enough on my mind.

I know a wood box
that needs filling, Jeffrey,

and I'm gonna
show you where it is.

Maybe I ought to stay here
and help out Uncle John.

- No, no, Jeffrey, I'm fine. I'm fine.
- Come on.

This be it.

RONIE: You ain't
coming one step further.

You're Ronie Cotter?

Don't matter that. You
just turn tail and get.

You two ladies was
bound to meet sometime.

This here is the new Nurse Nora.

I reckoned that the minute
I saw her horse and mule.

Are the Beasley children here?

They're right inside, only
you ain't going to them.

I've got lots of time.

Nora told me she thinks
the children have got rickets.

That grieved her
so much, she run off.

She joined the Army.
Still don't make no sense.

The Army Nurse Corps.
It came up real suddenly.

He's got his own ways,

but what he don't know
he can always ask his sister.

Ronie always tells
me what I think.

- Is the children's father around?
- Around maybe.

But he ain't here and he ain't at home.
Orey Beasley is most never at home.

Leastwise not since
the children's mama died.

Hey, where you going?

Hello, there.

Miss Nora sent me to see you.
You want to tell me your names?

The boy's Sam, she's Lady.
That's all you need to know.

I remember Miss Nora.

What are you two doing inside
on a beautiful day like today?

You ought to be out
playing in the sunshine.

I can keep them quiet
and warm in here.

Can't you see they're too sickly
to be running around outside?

Well, why don't we take a
look? Lady, you wanna be first?

I won't have you poking
and prodding around.

- It's only a stethoscope.
- I know what it is.

And I know it ain't
never cured nobody.

You can just take your fancy gear
back down the mountain with you

where you come from.

And leave Sweet Billy and me
to take care of these young'uns.

We done it before Nora
come riding up the hill.

Then see to them, play with
them outside, see they eat right.

And if you don't do
anything else, give them this.

A spoonful a day. It's cod-liver
oil, but it can make them well.

(SIGHING)

I'll be back, Ronie. You
better get used to that.

(GRUNTS)

Was it a large diploma
or a small diploma?

Just a diploma.

Was it rolled up with a little ribbon
around it or was it laid out flat?

I don't know.

- Now, was it framed?
- Rose.

Doesn't that just drive you crazy,
John? I don't know why I do that.

Since childhood. Questions.
Questions. Questions.

I drove my angel
mother beside herself.

And my husband, he just
got up and left the house.

Where could the
blasted thing be?

That's the question
you have to ask yourself.

If I was a diploma,
where would I be?

You'd think the county board of education
would keep their records straight.

Of course, this house isn't very
straight, or I'd be able to find it.

Now, now, John. It'll turn up.

Every cloud... You know.

Where do you think
Ma would put it, or Liv?

Is it possible you put
it someplace, John?

- Me?
- Just a thought. It is your diploma.

I'd have thought for sure it'd be
in that old Army trunk in the barn.

There's a lot of other
stuff out there, too.

I mean, it could have been. I went
in the Army right after graduation.

There's some love
letters out there, Mama.

You've no right to read
my love letters, young man.

I didn't say they were yours.

Daddy. Look what I found,
it's your graduation picture.

Now we're getting somewhere.

"Walton's Mountain School,
Graduating Class, 1917."

I was beginning to think I
dreamt this whole thing up.

There's your daddy,
handsome devil, isn't he?

- You graduated in uniform?
- Yeah.

Me and Wilfred Tulluck
volunteered right after the war started.

That was April 6th, 1917, John.
We just studied that in History.

No, this must have been taken
sometime later, late in April.

- That can't be right, Daddy.
- Graduation's in June.

Mama grows them.
Aren't they pretty?

If you like flowers,
pretty enough I guess.

Would you like me to put
them in a glass for you?

I'll mind them, if
I take the notion.

I'd like to bring my
grandma to visit you.

She's over in Buckingham
County right now.

- But maybe when she gets back.
- It's just a name, you know, I ain't one.

Young'uns around here started
it 'cause I'm near as old as God.

Then you're not
really a grandma?

If you paid a mind when I talk, you'd
know I just said that. Just a name.

Do you have any relatives?

Nope, and I ain't shopping
for any, young lady.

I'll be stopping by again soon.

(SPITS)

Ain't no need to get off.
Ronie's been gone a long time.

- I didn't come to see Ronie.
- Yes, ma'am.

She said you'd be sure
and come by this morning.

Where are Sam and Lady?

Ronie took them off somewhere.
She don't want you to see them.

Sam and Lady need this medicine
and Ronie hasn't even opened the bottle.

I told her you'd rile and she said,
"Let her." She's just not partial to you.

I'm not partial to her, either.
It's got nothing to do with that.

You gonna have to do any changing
'cause Ronie ain't a hand at change.

Sweet Billy, listen to me,
Sam and Lady are sick.

You tell Ronie if they
don't get the care they need,

I'll have to take them away.
They'll have to go to a hospital.

I won't like doing it,
but I'll do it if I have to.

- Elizabeth said you found something.
- The dustiest records in Jefferson County.

From 1917 to 1920.

Kept in the distinguished
and nearly illegible hand

of one Horace F.
Kendall, Principal.

Horse-Face Kendall, I remember.

It states clearly that you and Wilfred
Tulluck volunteered for the Army...

I told you that.

And that there was a farewell
ceremony given in your honor.

At the Rockfish
Railroad Station.

Where Principal Kendall, in an
emotional address, stated that, quote,

"These honored young doughboys
will be graduated with their class,

"the class of 1917," unquote.

That's it. Let's take this
over to the smart aleck at G-2.

It was all talk, John.

He never put it into action,
he never carried it out.

Lord Almighty, what does it
take to keep you out of here?

I told you I'd be back.
Sam and Lady need me.

You can drop in your
tracks, they ain't here.

Don't lie to me, Ronie. I know
they're with you most of the time.

Oh, you know that, do you?

You and Miss Nora, always full
of palaver about what you know.

They ain't here.

Do you want Sam and Lady to die?
Or to be crippled the rest of their lives?

Don't you talk dying to me.

I'm the one who's keeping
them safe from you and Nora,

and that bottle you
keep shoving at me.

You never intended to give
them their medicine, did you?

My mama used to say, "Leave the
old maids to mopping and scrubbing,

"might be to garden some.

"Don't never let
them near young'uns."

Nora and I have studied medicine.
We've watched children in hospitals.

- We've seen what rickets can do.
- And you've read your infernal books.

Nora's always quoting chapter and verse.
Didn't make her smart with young'uns.

It's been months since Nora first
suspected the children had rickets.

"They need vitamin
D, cod-liver oil,

"sunshine and a lot
of hugging." Hugging.

You read just fine.

I was born more knowing
you can ever read.

My mama saw we
learned what need be.

- You never taught Sweet Billy to read?
- I wouldn't shame him. No need for that.

MARY ELLEN: Shame him?

Can't you see? He ain't
just like everybody else.

- I know he can't read, he told me that.
- And wouldn't I be some fine sister

to let him know he ain't
good enough for reading?

You born knowing that, too?

If he were my brother, I'd try and
teach him. I'd give him a chance.

Don't you never hold out a
promise to Sweet Billy you can't keep.

It isn't all up to you, Ronie.

Sweet Billy, Sam, Lady, you
claim you care about them.

I don't believe you.

And if I have to bring the sheriff up
here to find those children, I'll do it.

- There enough light for that?
- Not really, but at least it's quiet.

- Kids keep interrupting you?
- And others.

(CHUCKLES)

You know, maybe
I could be of help.

I don't think so. I'm
grading English papers.

Composition, I
always hated that.

Listen to this one. I had the
class write a paper on patriotism.

"Patriotism is when I
see the flag going up

"and my heart goes up
the pole along with it."

You gave that an A?

It's very sophisticated
for a third-grader.

Must be nice to
have an education.

You're still bothered
about that diploma.

I keep telling myself, Liv,
that I got the education,

that's all that counts.

But, you know, it keeps
eating away at me.

If it's the Army
that's worrying you,

why don't you take those
old records down there?

That'll explain why you
thought you graduated.

It's not that, Liv.

It's that we've always taught
our kids that learning is important,

and here, their daddy hasn't
even graduated from high school.

Sort of like hitting a home run and
finding out you missed second base.

If it means that much to you,

there's a test you can take
that covers high school work.

It'd mean a lot of studying,

but it might be worth
it, to get your diploma.

- Liv, I'm too old for anything like that.
- No, you're not.

- Would you help me?
- I'll get you the books and everything.

- I think I'll give my schoolmarm a kiss.
- I wouldn't give that a C.

You wouldn't?

That's better.

(WHISTLING)

Hey, Ike.

There he is, the man
most likely to succeed.

Corabeth.

John, Elizabeth told us
of your plans to graduate.

I cannot find words to tell
you how proud I am of you.

- But she'll keep looking.
- Mr. Godsey.

Ike, what I need is a
real good notebook.

Okay, is that something you're
reading or is that a book you wrote?

(LAUGHING)

Don't worry about him, Corabeth.

Soon I'll be smart enough to have
a real good conversation with you.

I shall look forward to that.

John, we must watch
the use of the word "real."

We are using it as a synonym for
"very," which, of course, it is not.

- We are?
- Here you go, real good notebook.

- When is your examination?
- Soon as I learn everything in this book.

You know, I bet you Corabeth
could pass that test right now.

Mr. Godsey, I doubt
that very strongly.

However, perhaps with just
the briefest review of the book,

- just a glance, really.
- All right.

How about subjunctive?

Subjunctive.

My goodness, the subjunctive. Yes,
of course, we use it all the time, yes.

Go ahead, tell us what it is.

Well, how to find
the precise definition?

Clarity. Now, what we
want above all else is clarity.

Now, the subjunctive is...

If I could just find that Latin word for
it. It is from the Latin root, of course.

Now, clarity, in the interest
of clarity, the subjunctive is...

Of course, it is
used primarily with...

If you could just give me
one or two words to start, I...

John? Mr. Godsey.

Subjunctive.

(SIGHS)

(EXCLAIMS)

(JOHN EXCLAIMS)

- Hey, Dad, you want some help?
- I'm all right.

- Let's see what you've got there.
- No, thank you.

I know a lot about
this stuff that you don't,

- I've been going to school...
- I'm all right, thank you.

- He was only trying to help.
- We all are.

- Just say the word.
- I'm fine. I read and write all the time.

Daddy, I think we're
getting on your nerves.

If you want any help, just call.

It's all right, I'm fine.

- We'll be upstairs.
- All right.

What's the matter
with Uncle John?

Not a thing. Just trying to get
caught up on 30 years of homework.

(SIGHS)

You already finished studying?

Liv, I just can't concentrate
the way I used to.

It shouldn't be any different than
going over accounts or figuring bids.

It's not the same thing at all.

This has got nothing to
do with making a living.

You're teaching me participles
and what's the capital of Michigan.

It's got nothing
to do with life.

Basic education means
knowing certain things, that's all.

It does, huh? What's
the capital of Michigan?

- Lansing.
- That's right.

You know, I don't blame kids
for getting fed up with school.

- I got a notion to chuck the whole thing.
- You getting cold feet?

Liv, it's a lot harder than I
thought it was going to be.

You better get to it, then.

OLIVIA: Go on.

How you getting along up there?

I don't think you ever know. But
I'm trying and I'm learning a lot.

- How about you?
- I've never been smarter in my life.

- When do you take your test?
- This afternoon, if he wants to.

- This afternoon, that's too soon.
- Hi.

- Here's your book.
- Thanks, Mama.

- Come on, let's go.
- You taking him with you?

Does he look like a secret weapon to
you? Come on, let's go bye-bye. Come on.

- Bye.
- Bye-Bye.

- Liv, this afternoon?
- That's up to you.

I'm giving some makeup
tests this afternoon.

You'd fit right in the picture.

- Liv, do I look smart enough?
- You look wonderful.

Well, honey, I...

Morning, Ronie.

- You collecting strays?
- No, this one's mine.

John Curtis, say hello
to Miss Ronie Cotter.

- I never took you for married.
- I'm a widow.

- Look at you two.
- You coming to take us away?

No, I brought you a treat. We're
gonna have ourselves a picnic.

- Do you like picnics?
- We don't know.

It's where you eat outside and
you play games. It's a lot of fun.

- Why don't we take some of this first?
- You take some, too.

I don't really need it. But
my little boy out there takes it.

- Ain't nary a little boy.
- Sure, he's out there with Ronie.

Ain't nary Ronie, neither.

Ronie won't allow
you back there.

RONIE: You can play with it.

I've known the little boy
that could play with a doll.

Want to try it on your back?

Look there, up on the head
and down on the shoulders,

and up in the front, there
you go. Hey, let's go for a walk.

Look at you, what a
big boy, what a big boy.

There ain't a place you don't
come nosing around, is there?

I'm sorry, Ronie. I was
looking for John Curtis.

We were all going to
have a picnic, you know.

He's safe enough with me.

It's a lovely garden. You
take such good care of it.

Oh, you get to riling up,

and it's peaceable to sit here
with them. Quiet and easy like.

- He's mighty healthy.
- I'm lucky.

Pox swept through
here like a fire,

took my Roy and my two babies.

The fine doctor
couldn't save them.

He kept opening bottles and
parceling medicine down them.

Reading books and boiling water.

And they died. They just died.

Epidemics are sinful.
Sometimes even medicines fail.

But Sam and Lady have
a chance, the best chance,

if you'll just care for them, the
way you tend your garden here.

You can take this doll to the
picnic. You want to do that?

Sure ain't Ronie's way
to let folks back there.

Must have been hard for
her to bear, losing her family.

Yeah, I could never leave her
now. I'm about all Ronie's got.

- She loves you, Sweet Billy.
- Keeps me right close by.

Sometimes I look off
down that road and I think,

"You go on down there, Sweet
Billy. Join yourself the Army."

- I'd a mind to do that.
- You tell Ronie that?

Lord, no, ma'am. I wouldn't
fret her now with that.

You can't go and leave
them as needs you.

He's most as pleasant
as another little boy I knew.

SWEET BILLY: You mind
how Pa used to let me ride?

RONIE: Hmm-mmm.

SWEET BILLY: Reckon he'd
like to? RONIE: He just might.

SWEET BILLY:
Let's go, John Curtis.

(EXCLAIMING)

Come on, John
Curtis. Oh, my God.

You made some good
friends today, didn't you?

He sure rides fine. He's
like carrying a feather.

Sure is a pretty thing.

You mean me to keep this?

Sure, Ronie will help you with your
letters, the words come after that.

- You don't never give up, do you?
- Do you?

Let's set out the picnic.

All right, John Curtis,
just stand there.

Sam, Lady, come on,
we're gonna have a picnic.

There you go, here.

There you go, Serena. Jeffrey.

Wherever you'll be most
comfortable, Mr. Walton.

- Come sit next to me, Uncle John.
- I'll be fine right here, Jeffrey.

- Don't worry, you'll pass.
- Easy for you to say.

All right now,
let's settle down.

You've all got your special work
and you're gonna need quiet to do it.

If you have any questions come
up to the desk and ask me quietly.

Don't talk among yourselves.

(JEFFREY TAPPING)

Jeffrey, that's distracting.

- I didn't know I was doing anything.
- Apparently you're not.

Let's get back to work.

OLIVIA: This is actually
a two-part question.

I want you to answer the question first
and then I want you to list the idioms.

Two times six
is... Two six times.

- Not out loud, Jeffrey.
- You made me lose count.

You're supposed to do it in
your head, Jeffrey. There's room.

Listen to your Aunt Liv. Simmer
down. We're all trying to do our best.

Wasn't expecting you, sure.

I was just on my way
home. This is my son.

That a fact?

Grandma back from
Buckingham County yet?

No, she's still visiting.
We all miss her a lot.

- Young'un, too, I guess.
- They're great friends.

- How goes it with you?
- It goes along.

These was growing.

Grandma Floyd,
they're beautiful.

They's all over, wild.
Guess you know that.

Here, John Curtis. Why don't you
hold these fast till we get home, okay?

Sure do thank you.

(JOHN CURTIS GURGLING)

JOHN: Just in time to welcome
the weary traveler home.

John Curtis, how you doing?
Thank you. How you doing?

- You look tired, Mary Ellen.
- I am.

But like Grandpa used to
say, "It's a good kind of tired."

- You have a good day?
- Yeah.

How about you?
How was your test?

Your mama hasn't told me how I did,
but I don't think I disgraced the family.

That's good.

(ALL CHEERING)

Congratulations!

(ALL SINGING)

JOHN-BOY: The past and
the present joined again,

that special
evening in our home.

And it was questionable
who had learned the most.

Our father, preparing for a graduation
over a quarter of a century late,

or Mary Ellen, gaining new insight
with each trip to those remarkable people

who live in the backwoods
hollows of the Blue Ridge.

ELIZABETH: Daddy?
JOHN: Yes, honey.

ELIZABETH: I'm real proud
of you for passing that test.

JOHN: Very proud, Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH: Everybody's real proud of you.

JOHN: No, no, everybody's
very proud, Elizabeth.

We're using "real" as a synonym
for "very," and, of course, it's not.

ELIZABETH: You
sound just like Corabeth.

- Good night, Elizabeth.
- Good night, Daddy.

English -SDH