The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 9, Episode 10 - The Tempest - full transcript

I hope that you don't
think I'm lying to you.

He changed his last name,

but Curtis Packer is the
same man that you married.

The man I married would
have come home to me.

Who are you?

Don't you know who I am?

Never seen you in my life.

It's me. Mary
Ellen. I'm your wife.

If I'd married you, I'm
sure I'd remember it.

Curt? Curt!

- Get up!
- Curt, what is it?



I said get up. I'm gonna
take you back to Betty's.

You can pack your
things and leave.

Get out of that chair
and get out to that...

Why don't you two do your
arguing somewhere else?

- Butt out of this!
- All right, Curt.

I've about had it with you.
You're nothing but trouble!

Just leave me alone!

A chill settled on Walton's
Mountain that first autumn

after the conclusion of
the Second World War.

Mary Ellen ha d been caught
up in a whirlwind love affair

that seemed certain to a dd
a new member to the family.

But a storm was brewing to the
south, a storm that ended her romance

and called her to a
distant part of the country

in search of a man she
believed to be dea d.



You're going to love
Larksburg, Mary Ellen.

Doesn't have mountains quite
like this place, but it's just as nice.

Don't worry, everything's
going to work out just fine.

I just said goodbye to the
only man I've loved since Curt,

I might be going on
a wild goose chase,

and you're telling me
everything's gonna be fine.

Mary Ellen, it's not a wild
goose chase. Curt's alive.

I wish you'd let me go with you.

I'll be all right,
Jason. Don't worry.

I don't like the idea of you
going off alone to a strange place,

not knowing what to expect.

I'd go down there with you if
I hadn't promised my mother

I'd spend a couple
of days in Raleigh.

I'm sure Larksburg is
nothing to be afraid of.

Larksburg is not
what I'm worried about.

I'll stay in touch.

Good luck.

The bus is on time for a change.

Goodbye, Jason. Be sure
you give John Curtis my love.

I'll do that.

I'll take ten more chances.
Pour me another beer.

I thought you'd
be in Ohio by now.

This isn't Cincinnati?

Nope.

And you're not in any
condition to be going anywhere.

Fix him some coffee.

- You got Mary Ellen on the bus yet?
- She just left.

Can you imagine that? Running
off to Florida on our wedding day?

She didn't have any choice.

Jonesy, listen to me! If Curt's
really been alive since Pearl Harbor,

something is terribly wrong.

If you walk out now, you'll be leaving
Mary Ellen when she needs you the most.

Mary Ellen tried to talk me into
teaching at Boatwright University.

Professor of Geology just
sounds too permanent for my taste.

Then try Pickett Metal.

Look, I've had too much beer to
make a decision like that right now.

I think you've made
your decision already.

What was Curt
like before the war?

He was abrupt,
quick-tempered, affectionate.

He was a good husband
and father and a fine doctor.

Last year he had
the influenza so bad.

He wouldn't have anything
to do with doctors or medicine,

I thought he was gonna die.

He just said if
he died, he died.

That doesn't sound
like Curt at all.

I hope that you don't
think I'm lying to you.

He changed his last name,

but Curtis Packer is the
same man that you married.

The man I married would
have come home to me.

Erin, you knew well and good that that
bid for the McKenna Tractor Company

was due first
thing this morning.

Well I'm sorry, J.D., but
it's going to have to wait.

I'm already behind on the
Heartland Farm Equipment bid.

Well It wasn't my idea to make
shovels and hoes for Heartland.

That's all your fault!

We'll make a lot more money
on the Heartland contract

than we ever would've
making canteens for the Army.

Don't you dare say anything
against our Army contracts, Erin.

Remember our motto: Guns,
tanks and Pickett canteens

turn fighting men
into fighting machines.

You ought to fire
whoever wrote that.

I wrote it!

J.D., I want a raise.

A raise? You're lucky to
be earning anything at all.

Girls your age ought to be
out making babies, not money.

Not only do I want a raise,

but I want a cut in profits of
every future contract I win for you.

What do you think
I am? A dimwit?

I'd like to see you run
this place without me.

I'm sick and tired of
doing the work of two

people and only
getting the salary of one.

I have had it, J.D.!

If you're coming in here asking
for a raise, you can just forget it.

I don't even work here.

Well in that case a raise
is out of the question!

What are you doing here?
I thought you left town.

Uh, I took a room at the
boarding house last night

but don't say anything
if Mary Ellen calls.

It'll make it easier if
she thinks I'm gone.

Erin, you know the rules.
No visitors during work hours.

I came here looking for a job.

Yeah? Well, if you came on Erin's
recommendation, you can just forget it,

because whatever she
said I was paying, I'm not.

Well, I'm not looking
to make much money.

Just enough to pay for my
room at the boarding house.

What's your name?

Arlington Westcott Jones III,
but everybody calls me Jonesy.

You had any experience?

I was in Marine procurement in San Diego
before they shipped me to the Pacific.

Procurement? That's right
up our alley, ain't it, Erin?

Why don't you come
on into the office?

Well, this is where I leave you.

Will I see you in Larksburg?

Oh, I imagine so. I'm only gonna
be here for a couple of days.

You know, Mary Ellen, there's
really no reason why you should have

to stay in that awful
boarding house down there.

Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine.

I want you to stay at my place.

I can't let you do that.

Sure you can. Besides, I've got a
couple of houseplants that need tending to.

When you get there just
ask anybody for directions.

Everybody knows me.

Thanks.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Well, did you get the job?

I sure did.

- See you tomorrow, bright and early.
- Thank you. Thank you very much.

- Bye bye, Jonesy.
- Bye.

- Coffee?
- Mmm.

I think we should put
him on the loading docks.

The people we have out there
just aren't getting the job done.

Oh, he's much too
talented for that.

Besides I've got something
else in mind for him.

Like what?

Oh, I don't know.

First Assistant Manager.

And where does that leave me?

Second Assistant Manager.

Quit staring at me like
that. You make me nervous.

I'd like to do more than that.
I'd like to wring your neck.

Well, Erin, this just means that you're
going to have to move to another office.

Of course, you'll have
to take a small cut in pay.

J.D., I can't believe this.

I'm sorry, Erin, but I've
got my business to think of.

You girls were all right in a
pinch, but now the men are back.

The first team is moving in!

I quit!

- You can't. You didn't give me notice.
- Ha!

Erin! Erin, come back here!

- Excuse me.
- You lost?

I'm a friend of Betty Howell's.

Betty's in North
Carolina this week.

Meantime, I'm covering for her in
the store and doing my waitressing,

and I'll tell you right
now, I don't like it one bit.

Well, I'm gonna be staying
at Betty's until she gets back.

Could you tell me where that is?

Her place is right down the
road there, about half a mile.

Her name's on the
mailbox. That way.

Do you where can
I find Curt Packer?

You a friend of his, too?

I guess you could say that.

Right past Betty's
house. You can't miss it.

Just look for the first
junk heap you come to.

Well, thank you.

Curt?

Who are you?

Don't you know who I am?

Never seen you in my life.

It's me. Mary
Ellen. I'm your wife.

If I'd married you, I'm
sure I'd remember it.

Betty Howell came to see me.

She told me about a
letter you wrote me.

Betty wouldn't have
done anything like that.

Your name is Curtis
Willard. You're a doctor.

We were married for three
years before you went overseas.

I got a telegram saying you
were killed on December 7th, 1941.

I don't know who you are,
and I don't know what you want,

but If you'll excuse
me, I'm busy.

I've come over five
hundred miles to see you.

Would you please talk to me?

I'm sorry, there's
nothing to talk about.

We can talk about your son.

Erin, the whole time I've known you,
I've never seen you so down in the dumps.

What's seems to be the matter?

I've quit my job and I'm
trying to find a new one.

You'll be working in no time.

Every place I tried today is
looking for men, returned veterans.

I can't believe they would
ignore ability like yours.

You know, Erin, you have managed to
acquire a good number of invaluable skills

while working for J.D. Pickett.

They could be a great asset to
me in my real estate business.

That's not a bad idea.

I don't know, Corabeth. I'm just
so upset about this whole thing.

I bet you'd make a lot of money.

I'll get it.

- Hi.
- Hi.

We're having dinner but I
guess you could come on in.

Thank you.

Hello.

Any word from Mary Ellen?

She hasn't called.

Well, I'm obviously
interrupting. I'll just step outside,

say the alphabet backwards and
forwards five times and knock again.

Don't be funny with me.
Not after what you did!

What did I do?

I was in the office today
while you were talking to J.D.

Jason said it would be a
good place to look for work.

Don't bring me into this.

J.D. hired you to replace Erin.

He didn't tell me that.

Well, it doesn't matter because I
wouldn't go back to work for him anyway.

Besides I'm thinking of selling
real estate with Corabeth.

Erin, I had no idea.
I'll quit tomorrow.

- Don't bother, Jonesy.
- Erin.

And don't come running back to me when
you find out the job is too hard to handle.

Look, I bought and sold
war materials for the Marines.

Now, do you honestly think
I'm gonna have a tough time

working for some
two-bit shovelmaker?

You won't last a week.

I can do any job
I set my mind to.

I'd like to see you try.
J.D. will eat you alive.

I'll do a lot better job
working at Picketts

than you will trying
to sell real estate.

- Oh yeah?
- Yeah!

Curt? Curt!

You know it seems like you ladies
are spending as much money on

cleaning materials
as you do on food.

We have a very large house, Ike.

It was fine when Papa was alive.
He was constantly entertaining.

But most of his
guests are dead now.

And their names have been
removed from the guest list.

However, we are obliged to keep the
house as Papa would have wanted it kept.

Or perhaps you two ladies should
consider obtaining domestic help.

Oh, we have considered
that, but we decided that

Papa wouldn't want strangers
touching his things, don't you know?

Thank you for the supplies,
Ike. Good day, Corabeth.

- Goodbye.
- Bye, ladies.

I do wish I could persuade those two
dear ladies to purchase a smaller house,

something more
suitable to their needs.

You know Erin is pretty
close to the Baldwins.

Maybe she could
talk them into moving.

And she is in my
employ, isn't she?

That is a very interesting
idea, Mr. Godsey.

Where on God's green earth
could Erin have put that file?

Mr. Greenley, could
you hold on a second,

we're looking, we're
looking for it now.

We'll call you back.

Here it is!

I hung up on him.

What? You hung up
on Wallace Greenley?

Oh, what kind of a nincompoop
thing was that to do?

Look out now, you've got me
all tangled up here, gimme that.

I'll get it. I'll get
it. Hello. Hello!

Hello.

Yes, yes, yes. Yes,
Mr. McKenna. Certainly will.

We'll have that bid ready for you
day after tomorrow. Thank you.

Won't we?

Sure we will if you'll
show me where the file is.

You're the Assistant
Manager. Go and find it!

I'll call Wallace Greenley
and apologize for you.

Looks like you're planning
on staying for a while.

I saw you last night. What
were you doing out there?

Betty asked me to
look after the place.

I think you were there
because you knew I was there.

I don't know you, lady.

Tell me you don't love me but
don't tell me you don't even know me.

It's just not true.

My name is Curt Packer. I was born
in a little town not too far from here,

and I've never been
outside the state of Florida.

You have a little boy, you
know. I've told him all about you.

Why don't you just get out of
here and go back to Virginia?

How do you know
I'm from Virginia?

You know me, Curt.

You once told me
that you loved me,

and you promised
we'd build a life together.

You shared a bed with me
and then you abandoned me.

And what's even worse,
you abandoned your son.

Your own flesh and blood!

Mary Ellen. If I'd have wanted you here,
don't you think I would have let you know?

Well, I'm here, Curt,
whether you like it or not.

And I think you owe
me an explanation.

I don't know what got into Betty.
Going all the way to Virginia.

Just to make my life
miserable and yours, too.

- Where are you going?
- I came for a drink.

You mind if I join you?

I know you're not suppose
to begin until tomorrow,

but I thought perhaps
you'd like to get a headstart.

I'll start looking
at these tonight.

Aggression is one of the more important
aspects of the real estate business.

More often than not, people are
totally unaware of their own needs.

Therefore, it is our
duty to enlighten them.

I'll try to remember that.

Now the Baldwins sisters
are a classic example.

They live in a house that
is entirely too large for them.

Now once we convince them of
that they will be eternally grateful.

And we'll split a
big commission.

Oh, Erin, there is more
involved here than money.

I would hate to be the one to talk them
into selling that wonderful old house.

But Miss Mamie and Miss
Emily are not getting any younger.

That house is
ice-cold in the winter,

and the responsibility of maintaining
it has become a burden to them.

All we need to do is to
relieve them of that burden.

But it's the only home
they've ever known.

Perhaps I overestimated
your ambition.

Oh, no. I want to be
successful at this. I really do.

Demonstrate it. Be at the mercantile
the very first thing in the morning.

And, Erin, be prepared to talk the
Baldwin sisters into being sensible.

What can I get you?

A bottle of whiskey
and a couple of glasses.

- One glass.
- Fine. One glass.

If we're gonna talk
we might as well relax.

If you think you
can relax, go ahead.

Curt, you gotta understand,
I'm confused and hurt.

Still a nurse?

I'm studying to be a doctor.

Quit while you're ahead.

I used to think I knew you
better than anybody in the world.

I guess I was wrong.

No.

Thank you.

All right.

The morning of the bombing...

I was in my civilian clothes, I
was nowhere near the barracks.

There was a white flash.

And I don't remember
anything at all after that.

When I finally woke up four
months later, I was in a hospital.

I couldn't remember my own name.

You sure you don't want a drink?

Positive.

Well, the pieces finally started
falling back into place for me.

I remembered who I
was, and where I was from.

And I thought about
you and John Curtis,

but I knew you thought I was
dead, and as far as I was concerned,

that was for the best.

You've even given up medicine?

I don't want ever to have
anything to do with it again.

And what about John Curtis?

Don't you ever want to have
anything to do with him again, either?

I picked up the phone to call him. A
couple of times even I let it ring once.

Elizabeth answered it, at
least I think it was Elizabeth.

I hung up.

What are you hiding from?

Please, I'm your wife!

- Get up!
- Curt, what is it?

I said get up. I'm gonna
take you back to Betty's.

You can pack your
things and leave.

Get out of that chair
and get out to that truck!

Why don't you two do your
arguing someplace else?

- Butt out of this.
- All right, Curt.

I've about had it with you.
You're nothing but trouble!

Just leave me alone!

Now, the attic is also a good
place to check for structural defects.

Inspect carefully for
sag or rot in the rafters.

Signs of either could be an
indication of serious problems.

Did you get that, John Curtis?

I don't think he likes
this part too much.

I vow and declare, I've never seen
him so quiet for such a long stretch.

Perhaps I can interest
you in a loan application.

No? No loan application?

Evening, Erin.

What do you want?

Help.

Jonesy! Come on in.

Thank you.

I thought you'd be out chumming
around with J.D. by now.

Yeah, are you busy?

I start work for Corabeth
tomorrow morning.

Erin, the reason I came by was because
of the McKenna Tractor Company bid.

J.D's been pushing
me to get it ready.

And you can't get your
mind off rock formations

so you want me to
give you a pep talk, huh?

I need your help.

I don't work for Pickett
Metal anymore, remember?

I don't see anything wrong with
giving Jonesy a hand if he needs it.

He said he could handle the job.

And it would be against
my conscience to interfere.

Why, I can handle the job all right if
somebody would just tell me what to do.

J.D. doesn't know the first thing
about running his own company.

And you figured that out all
by yourself? Congratulations.

Hello? Yes, we will, Operator.

Mary Ellen?

How's it going down there?

I don't know it's just
good to hear your voice.

Are you all right?

No, I'm not. Curt's alive.

Then it was true.

There's something
very wrong with him.

Is there anything
I can do to help?

I wish there was.

Have you heard from Jonesy?

Uh, no, we haven't
heard from him.

But there's somebody else
here who wants to talk to you.

Come here, John Curtis,
say hi to your mama.

He'll be here in just a second.

Come here, say hi to your mama.

- Say hi.
- Say hi.

Hi, Mama.

Oh, hi, John Curtis,
how's my little boy?

Fine.

Do you miss me?

He's not too
talkative, I'm back.

I have to stay here and I
have to get to the bottom of this.

I think that's up to you.

No, I don't think it is.

Thanks, Erin. Say hello
to everybody for me.

All right. Bye-bye.

- Is she all right?
- Mmm-hmm.

Well, now, let's just go
up to bed, John Curtis.

Curt's alive. It
wasn't a mistake.

I never should have stayed here.

I should have gone to
California like I planned.

Jonesy, I don't want you
to lose your job at Pickett's

so why don't you let
me take a look at that?

But promise me something,
don't leave town. Not yet.

I thought I got rid
of you yesterday.

You almost did till I
talked to a friend of yours.

- Who's that?
- Your son.

What am I supposed to tell him?

Tell him I'm dead.

Curt, we have got to talk.

I'll be here when you get back.

It's up to you.

You know me well enough to know I
won't give up until I get some answers.

And you don't know me at all.

And how is my fledgling real
estate agent this morning?

I'm fine, Corabeth.

I have taken the liberty of
compiling a list of reasons

why Miss Mamie and Miss
Emily should sell their house.

Now, I want you to refer to it this
morning when you discuss it with them.

I would be along in 30 minutes,

to make the kill.

The kill?

Finalize the agreement, if
that is more euphemistic.

I have been up since
dawn drawing up a contract

empowering me
to sell their house.

Now you run along and
prepare for my arrival.

All right.

Morning, Erin. Jonesy
said I could find you here.

Get away from me, J.D.! I
can't stand the sight of you.

I want you to come
back to work for me.

I'm about to lose
that Heartland deal.

You're the only one that
knows anything about it.

Forget it.

You'd only have to work
a couple of hours a day

and I'll pay you
your full salary.

No!

Erin, there's a lot of
money at stake here.

You could be my First
Assistant Manager again.

I wouldn't come back to work for you if
you got down on your knees and begged.

J.D. Pickett on his knees? Hah!

Mr. Pickett, please. My
trainee and I are in conference!

Get out, J.D.

After all I've done for you

then you turn around and
stab me in the back like this.

It's downright criminal!

Now run along, Erin,
and don't disappoint me.

Whatever are we to do, sister?

I wish I knew the answer.

Everything that Corabeth has
included in that list is correct.

The house is old,
it's poorly ventilated.

We very nearly freeze to
death here in the winter.

And we are oblige to devote most
of our time to cleaning the house.

Time we could better
use bird watching.

I'll simply perish if I
have to go to my grave

without having seeing
the Yellow-Billed Pickerel.

I think the Pickerel
is a fish, sister.

That may be but it doesn't
stop me from looking.

Ladies, Corabeth will
be here in a few minutes.

What would you
like me to tell her?

I don't know.

This is a very trying
time for us, Erin.

Perhaps if you read that section
again about the little cottage

beside a babbling brook.

"My dear ladies,
imagine if you will,

"a quaint cottage at
the edge of a forest,

"a stream babbling nearby, a
warm fire licking the chimney,

"and birds nesting
on the rooftops."

Corabeth does make
it sound inviting, sister.

But we would never feel Papa's
presence in any other house.

I do hope we'll be able to take as many
of this furnishings as we possibly can.

Especially the portrait.

Sister, will Papa
ever forgive us?

Maybe Corabeth is wrong.

But the arguments you have
presented are most convincing.

And most disheartening.

You can fix your heater. And
you can always get a maid.

But the age of the house.

According to Corabeth it
will collapse at any time.

Nothing like that is going
to happen, not for years.

Thank heavens! I was
beginning to despair.

The most foolish thing you
could do is sell this house.

That's Corabeth.
I'll let her in.

Sister,

this is a very important
decision we have to make

and it can't be made hastily.

Erin is right, Mamie. It
would be foolish to sell.

We would never be
happy in any other house.

We'll just have to
disappoint Corabeth.

Corabeth, we have
some news for you.

You've decided
to sell your house.

On the contrary.
We were about to

but Erin told us it would
be a very foolish mistake.

What did you do all this for?

The Health Department would
have condemned the place if I hadn't.

I don't usually have
time to do housework.

Betty keeps it tidy for me.

Do you love Betty?

I told you I wasn't leaving
today until I got some answers.

I want them tonight.

I don't love you
anymore, Mary Ellen.

I do not love you.

Well, it's fast becoming mutual.

You've just about destroyed
any feelings I ever had for you.

Then why in the name of
God are you doing here?

Get on the bus. Go back to
Virginia. Quit wasting my time!

What about your son?

I don't love him either. Now,
there's the door. Go on and use it.

You liar!

How can you sit there and tell me that
you don't even care about your own son?

Leave!

The great warrior. Killed at Pearl
Harbor. Decorated for heroism.

Reported in all the newspapers.
Just look at you now.

Come here, I'll
show you something.

See that fish? I caught it off the
Florida Keys a couple of years ago.

I was at war with
it for six hours.

When I got it on deck, it thrashed
around like it was some kind of demon.

Now, it's a great trophy.
But it's a lousy fish.

On the outside it looks
the same as it always did.

But inside it's
empty and lifeless.

What are you talking about?

Sit down.

The day I woke up
in that hospital bed,

my back hurt like hell
and my legs were numb.

They didn't know
if I'd walk again.

But one thing they
did know for certain,

I'd never be a man again just as
sure as that fish will never swim.

I still don't understand.

Look, what do you want?
A medical explanation?

I'm a dead man!
I'm dead! I 'm dead!

I can never be a real
husband, Mary Ellen.

I can never father
another child.

I'm not a whole man, and
I'm never gonna be one.

Now, you go on home.
Forget you ever knew me.

It's not very nice for a
cousin to fire a cousin.

Oh, I don't know, I think
Corabeth would fire Ike if she could.

And sell the store.

Don't you think you're being
a little unfair with Corabeth?

After all, it is her business.

Whose side are you on, anyway?

Oh, Elizabeth, Ben's right.

What good does it do to have salesmen
who talk people out of selling their homes?

So, I guess it's time to
start looking for another job.

Or giving up entirely.

Some fine assistant
manager you turned out to be!

- What's the matter, J.D.?
- Can't even do your own work.

You think I don't recognize the
handwriting on that McKenna bid?

It's Erin's. I asked
her to give me a hand.

I didn't hire you to go run off to Erin
Walton every time you got into trouble.

You went over to Corabeth's looking
for her when you were in trouble.

Well, I wouldn't have been in
trouble if I'd had an assistant manager

who knew his
head from his heels.

You of all people have no right
accusing me of incompetence.

Say, who do you think is
boss around here, anyway?

She quit, remember?

It is not lunchtime yet.

I'm getting out of this asylum
before I become a permanent inmate.

I don't know how Erin put up with
you for so long. She ought to be sainted.

You can't talk to me like that! You
want your salary on payday, don't you?

A dios, J.D. Au revoir,
goodbye and good luck.

Sit down and finish this work!

Finish it yourself or call
Erin. Get her over here.

You need her, and you know it.

You're fired!

I'll be home about 5:00
tomorrow afternoon.

I gotta go, Elizabeth,
I'll see you then. Bye.

Hi.

He won't have
anything to do with me.

You know I spent the
whole time at my mother's

praying you could
get through to him.

Something happened
to Curt at Pearl Harbor,

something that
frightened him very much.

He hid it from
me until last night.

Look, I figured that
out a long time ago.

But it doesn't matter
to me, Mary Ellen.

You were my last hope,
what am I gonna do?

It used to be I
could talk to him.

When he wasn't in one of his
moods, I felt so safe around him.

Like nothing could happen to
me as long as he was by my side.

I wish there was a way
to get through to him.

You see these windows?

He made these shutters for me.
He painted them and everything.

I mean, it took him the better part
of a week and I kept saying to him,

"Why are you going
to all this trouble?"

And he just said, well, he
liked working with his hands.

Then when my father
died, he never left me.

We went all the way
to Raleigh together.

You see, my family, they
don't have too much money

and Curt helped pay
for a proper funeral.

Without him I don't know
what I would have done.

He's different now.

I guess that's partly my fault.

You see, one day I just up and
said, "Why don't we get married?"

He turned real sour and he said,

"Don't you ever, ever say
anything like that again."

I didn't know it was because
he was already married.

It's all right.

Curt will never forgive
me for bringing you here.

Where are you going?

I'll be back.

What are you doing here?
You're supposed to be at work.

I quit. J.D.'s all yours, Erin.

Oh, great!

It looks like neither one of
us did very well at our jobs.

At least I outlasted you.

I hope you don't
expect a medal for it.

- I'll settle for a free lunch.
- Okay.

You know, I've been doing
some pretty hard thinking.

I can't keep bouncing around from one job
to another, working for people like J.D.

I don't know. Maybe it's time I
tried to find something permanent.

Like Boatwright?

Mary Ellen called. She's
coming home tomorrow.

Alone or with Curt?

Alone. She's been through a lot.

She's going to need
you to be here for her.

I came to say good-bye.
My bus leaves at three.

Good-bye.

I still have a few more hours.

I'm busy.

- Betty came home this morning.
- Sorry to hear it.

She's gotten a little
too nosy for me lately.

Are you just planning on
living out here all alone,

with your fishing poles
and your trophies?

That's right.

I suppose a man like you can't
afford to have friends, anyway.

Say anything you like, if
it'll make you feel better.

There's a very unhappy woman
living right down the road from here

who cares more about you
than you do about yourself.

She has done a lot of damage
for somebody who cares so much.

She loves you. I
think you love her.

You're a terrible matchmaker, Mary
Ellen. You forgot what I told you already?

There are other ways
to show tenderness.

Like putting shutters on
a window for someone.

Or helping someone
you love cope with grief.

A kiss. A touch. A smile.

Betty knows. She's
known for months.

Why'd you have to
come down here anyway?

Because I was crazy enough
to think that if you were still alive

we could somehow makeup
for the four years we lost.

A part of me still
loves you, always will.

There's just no way we can ever
find our way back to where we were.

I know.

I found someone else, Curt.

I may have lost him
by coming down here.

At least I know there's a life out there
for me and I've got to get on with it.

Well, you came to say your
goodbyes, you said them.

You sure make a
mean tuna sandwich.

If you think that's good, you should try
my peanut butter and dill pickle special.

- Afternoon, Erin.
- Get up, J.D.

You're hired.

How many times do I
have to tell you, "No"?

Please?

You heard her,
she's not interested.

Erin, I need you.

You should have thought of
that before you forced me out.

I'll make you my vice president.

Come on, J.D.

With your own
nameplate and everything.

I think I'll let you on
a little secret, J.D.

Calhoun Sheet Metal has made
Erin an offer you would not believe.

I'll double your salary.

Calhoun's a pretty
big operation.

They won't have any
trouble topping that.

I'll give you ten
percent of the profits.

Fifteen!

Besides that, I'll introduce
you to my cousin Y.W.

Is he anything like you?

Spitting image. What do you say?

I don't see how you can lose.
You get a boyfriend and everything.

All right, I'll take the
job under one condition.

Don't ever mention your
cousin Y.W. again, J.D.

All right, it's a deal. Let's
go. We've got work to do.

I'll see you on Monday.

Thanks.

Let me know how things work out.

Thank you for coming
down here, Mary Ellen.

I couldn't let you get away
without giving you this first.

It's for John Curtis. Give
him my love, will you?

I'm sorry.

John Curtis will love this.

I'd like to take him
fishing some time.

- You know where to find us.
- Yeah.

Good-bye, Curt.

- Bye, Betty.
- Bye.

Got it. Hi, there!

Hi!

You're supposed
to be in California.

Well, I couldn't pass up
a chance to teach geology

at a fine university
like Boatwright, could I?

Oh, I'm glad.

Shall we go?

Mary Ellen leaned hea
vily on Jonesy for support

during those first few
months after her trip to Florida.

But her greatest source
of strength was John Curtis,

the little boy she and Curt
ha d brought into the world

in the waning hours
of a simpler era.

Good night, John Curtis.

Good night, Mama.

English -SDH