The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 9, Episode 15 - The Pearls - full transcript

- Everything all right?
- Yes and no.

There was really no
business in the store,

but you've got a visitor
asleep in your spare room.

Oh, yeah? I hope
it's somebody I know.

It's Corabeth's
sister, Orma Lee.

But Corabeth is on
her way to Doe Hill.

Oh, don't make me hit you. I know I look
real sweet, but I'm mean when I'm riled.

Nobody orders me
around in my own store.

Oh, yes, I can. I want my woman!

This is a pleasant surprise.

I got a feeling it ain't
either pleasant or a surprise.



It's been a long time, Orma Lee.

Like most adages,
it is tried and true

that fate makes our relatives,
choice makes our friends.

And it calls to mind a time when
a relative of Corabeth Godsey

swept through Walton's
Mountain like an autumn hurricane,

leaving both destruction
and delight in her wake.

All of this took place during
a difficult period for Elizabeth,

who was entering womanhood, but feeling
at times like a lost and lonesome child.

- I'm glad you could make it.
- Well, you said it was urgent.

Well, all of a sudden,
Corabeth wants to go to Doe Hill,

and I've got to take her into
Charlottesville to catch a train.

Oh, why doesn't she
take the bus from here?

Corabeth? Take a bus?

Sorry, I lost my head.



We must hurry, Mr. Godsey.
I don't want to miss my train.

Are you sure you want to go?

You know, nobody knows for sure
your Aunt Cordelia is really dying again.

If Orma Lee has descended on
her, Aunt Cordelia is at death's door.

That woman is a vulture!

Well, now, that's no way
to talk about your little sister.

It's the kindest thing I
can say at this moment.

She has always coveted Aunt Cordelia's
strand of genuine matched pearls.

She has gone to Doe Hill to get
them, and I intend to prevent her

and keep her from harassing
poor Papa's only sister.

I didn't know you
had a sister, Corabeth.

Come on, you're
going to miss your train.

Oh, Elizabeth, I want you to be
sure and feature the sauerkraut.

We're overstocked and
I want you to move it.

All right, Corabeth.

Now, should I get any calls
about my real estate business,

I want you to be sure
and take the message.

Aunt Cordelia does
not have a telephone,

so I will have to go
into Doe Hill once a day

if I feel it's safe to
leave her bedside.

- It's all right, Corabeth.
- Jim-Bob knows we're leaving,

so if you get any gas customers,
he'll be over to help you out.

- Be back as soon as I can.
- Okay, have a good time.

Thank you.

- Hi.
- Hi.

I understand you're
the store lady today.

That's me. I don't think I'll be swamped.
I'll have time to write Mama a letter.

You just wrote her last night.

You act like you don't
even care she's gone.

I don't know what you're
talking about, Elizabeth.

- I miss her a lot.
- No one misses Mama as much as I do.

Looks like you got a customer.

- Howdy, howdy!
- Howdy.

Is that the Godsey
department store?

Well, it's the only store in
these parts, Godsey or otherwise.

- Yeah?
- Sure is a nice car you've got here.

- Yeah? Well, just don't touch it, boy.
- I was just looking.

Well, just watch
how you do that, too.

This Ike Godsey,
where does he live?

In the back of the store.

You mean that's it? That's home
and business for Ike Godsey?

Him and Corabeth.

Well, I'll be dadgum.

Much obliged, son.

- You want me to work on your car?
- No. That's for not coming close to it.

Well, there it is, your
sister's plantation estate,

as provided by Ike
Godsey, proprietor.

Get my grips, Vern Billy.

I'm staying.

Sweetheart, you sure are right.

The plantation has fallen
into a terrible state of disrepair

and sprouted a gas pump to boot.

Corabeth always could make a
birdcage look like a two-story house.

Honey, I wish you'd give up this
foolishness and come with me.

Oh! You are just
the sweetest thing.

Now, darling, you know I ain't
never been one to count the years,

but if I throw my mind back,
I recall that I am a Walton

and I never stayed any
place named after my family.

Okay, you stay here,
you're going to stay alone.

Now you hear me, Orma Lee?

I've got me a man to
meet over in Richmond

who can get me six
barely-used Studebakers

with fire and fiddle that I can unload
at twice the price over in Tulsa, so...

Now, Vern Billy, you
know as well as I do

that Aunt Cordelia was the only
relative that was ever good to me

and didn't treat me like I
was some kind of trash,

so I feel bound to honor
her deathbed request.

All right, you have
it your own way.

You stay here and try to make
peace with your sister if you can,

but five will get you ten

that the two of you are going
to end up in a hair-pulling

just like it always was!

Not this time, sweetheart.

Now, you know as well as I do that a
woman has got to do what she's got to do,

even if she's got a sick headache
and would rather take to her bed.

There can't be more than one
phone around here. I'll call you.

- Okay-doke.
- Good luck.

I'll be at the Hampton Hotel
in case you need me, honey.

Be sure and check
them speedometers.

Well, as long as you're staring,
why don't you look after them grips?

Yes, ma'am.

May I help you?

Watch it. Flies will get in.

I'm sorry, you just look so
much like someone I know.

Oh! I guess that's why that young fellow
across the road has been ogling me so.

Well, that's my brother,
Jim-Bob. I'm Elizabeth Walton.

Oh, well, hon, shake hands
with one of your long lost cousins.

Orma Lee Walton Stalcup.

You sure are Corabeth's sister.

Oh, lord. Does it show that bad?

Well, sort of.

Well, trot her out,
let's have a look.

Well, she's not here
right now, neither is Ike,

but he ought to be
back in a couple of hours.

Oh, hon, don't tell
me that. I'm played out.

I've been traveling all day
with Vern Billy and a hangover.

I don't know which is worse.

- Can I?
- Oh, sure.

Thanks.

Well, there's a spare room in
the back if you want to lie down.

I sure would.

Honey, if I could just get my
head down and my feet up,

I'd be able to face anything.

Even Corabeth.

Well, it's right back here.

Well, lead on, cousin Elizabeth.

Hon, don't all that
red hair make you hot?

Hi.

I'm sorry I took so long,
Elizabeth, but the train was late,

and Corabeth didn't
want to wait alone and...

That's all right.
It was interesting.

- Everything all right?
- Yes and no.

There was really no
business in the store,

but you've got a visitor
asleep in your spare room.

Oh, yeah? I hope
it's somebody I know.

It's Corabeth's
sister, Orma Lee.

But Corabeth is on
her way to Doe Hill.

I know, I tried to tell her, but
she talks more than she listens.

Well, good luck with her. I
got to go help with supper.

Orma Lee.

I am not sure Walton's Mountain
is ready for two Corabeths.

Well, I saw it with my own eyes.

We got two of them just as
soon as the old one comes back.

I don't think you should let
Corabeth hear you say that.

Poor Ike, I think we should all go
over there and see how he's doing.

I think we ought
to stay out of it.

Family affairs should be left alone
unless they happen to be your own.

Elizabeth, where have you
been? You missed dessert.

I found these up in the attic.
A bunch of old snapshots.

I figure we can get the best ones and
then mail them to Mama and Daddy.

That's a great idea, Elizabeth,
but I'm late for the Dew Drop as it is.

Can we do it on another
night? I have a date.

I have got a ton of homework.

I have to go out to the mill
and do some more paperwork.

Ben, you're working too
long and too hard out there.

Well, with Cindy not around, it just
gives me a chance to do some more work.

- Good supper. Good night.
- Good night.

- Doesn't anybody want to help?
- Well, I will, maybe tomorrow.

Right now, I got a rush
job over at the garage.

Oh, I'll bet there are a
lot of these I haven't seen.

They haven't seen them
either. Not for a while, anyhow.

Well, they have their
own problems, Elizabeth.

I can see that.

Now, who is this little girl
holding so fast to Reckless?

That's little Elizabeth
when she was about seven.

What a long time ago that seems.

Yeah. A long, long time.

Well, ladies, what
a pleasant surprise!

Well, that's just what
we hoped it would be, Ike.

We talked to Corabeth before she
left on the phone, don't you know,

and we promised we'd look
after you during her absence.

And here is some of the
Recipe to fill your lonely hours.

Ah, let's see. "1924."

Well, I can't think of
a better way than that.

And here is a five-course
supper to fill your lonely stomach.

One, two, three,
four, five, you see?

Oh, ladies, you didn't
have to do all that.

Well, we had to prepare our own supper,
so we just doubled the amount for you.

And now, we will watch you
eat it so you won't be so lonely.

Well, I thank you very much
for keeping me company.

- I'll just eat it right here.
- Oh, good.

After all, that's where
all this food started out.

Well, this ain't the first time I woke
up in the back end of a pool hall.

Evening.

- Anyone care to rack 'em up?
- Oh...

- We had no idea you had company.
- I don't. I haven't.

Who is she?

Ladies, I know you
won't believe me,

but I swear I have never
seen that woman before tonight.

I swear, I've been ogled
more since coming here

than a two-headed
calf at the county fair.

Oh, ladies, I would like you to meet...
This is Corabeth's sister, Orma Lee...

I'm Orma Lee Walton
Stalcup, for now.

And these are the Baldwins,
Miss Emily and Miss Mamie.

- How do you do?
- I'm real pleased to meet you.

- We're sisters, too.
- Well, don't that beat all?

And what do they call
you? Besides "handsome"?

I'm Ike, Orma Lee. Corabeth
told me all about you.

I bet she did.

I guess she wasn't
expecting you, huh?

Her whole life, Corabeth
never expected me.

Good, because
she's over in Doe Hill.

Oh, you don't say! Well, I
just come from over there.

Oh, is this silver beautiful!

Oh, Ike, honey,
is this for sale?

Oh, no! The Baldwin ladies were
nice enough to bring me supper and...

Well, maybe you'd like to
join me. I'm sure there's plenty.

Oh, yes! Five courses.

Oh, well,

in that case, I guess I'd better change
into something more uncomfortable.

It's real nice
meeting you ladies.

It's our pleasure. Any sister
of Corabeth's is a sister of ours.

- Isn't she, Sister?
- Oh, yes, indeed.

And you must come and visit
us while you're here, Orma Lee.

Oh, I've never been
one to turn down a party.

They'll write on my tombstone, "The
Lord called and I said I could come!"

Oh, isn't it nice, Ike?

You're not going to be as lonely
as Corabeth thought you would be.

Corabeth will be so pleased.

Oh, yeah. She'll be
pleased. Real pleased.

Well, I'm finished. All we
need now is a new album.

Oh, now, I want
that to be my treat.

You go to Ike's and pick
one out and I'll pay for it.

- You don't have to do that, Rose.
- Oh, I want to.

Besides, it'll give you a chance to
get another look at Corabeth's sister.

You know, maybe we should
invite her to dinner. She is a relative.

Oh, let's do that! I'm
just dying to meet her!

Tomorrow night?

Can't do it tomorrow night. I have
to babysit John Curtis for Mary Ellen.

Well, Jason's having a bingo
night over at the Dew Drop,

and Ben and Erin and Jim-Bob
and all of them are going.

- Oh, I didn't know.
- They didn't ask me either.

I guess I'm just too young.

Well, I'd rather be too
young to go than too old.

You know, I used to
like being the youngest.

Everyone helped
me with everything.

It was special, being
Mama and Daddy's little girl.

If I couldn't sleep at night, I
used to crawl between them.

I could reach out and
feel them on either side.

It was special. It
was like a current.

But I can't do that anymore.

Even if I was still little,
they're just too far away.

You know, I got an eight-by-ten
picture of you and Corabeth

sharing boilermakers
of an evening.

I tell you what I'd like to know is
who taught you how to play pool.

My third husband, Stanley
G. Olsen, was a certified shark.

He taught me the game
and then he give it up cold

when I got to beating
him too regular.

You're not at all like
I thought you'd be.

You mean I'm not at all
what Corabeth told you I'd be.

I guess you and Corabeth
had a kind of a falling out, huh?

Oh, can't have a falling out, brother
Ike, unless you've had a falling in.

Ever since she was a child,
Corabeth had that look about her

like she'd sucked
on a persimmon.

Yeah, I think I know just
the look you're talking about.

Oh, Corabeth just didn't
know how to take me.

She was just too good for the likes
of me. In fact, my whole family was.

Nobody knew how to take
me except for Aunt Cordelia.

Well, Corabeth ought to be there about
now, and I'm expecting a call from her.

And I'll tell her
that you're here.

Oh, that would just upset
her. Let her get her visit out.

It'll give you and me a
chance to get acquainted.

Well, I think you're going to
find it's a little quiet around here.

- What do you all do for excitement?
- Well, there's the Dew Drop Inn.

Jason Walton runs that.

Hey! Come to think of it, there's a
bingo game there tomorrow night.

Maybe we could go.

Ain't no "maybe"
about that, brother Ike.

Bingo, brother Ike! Bingo!

Hi, Ike.

- Hi, Elizabeth.
- Are you all right?

Well, I'm all right,
but my head isn't.

I need a photo album.

Help yourself.

Well, here it is, the
Baldwin ladies' serving set

shined up just as bright
as a new silver dollar.

- Hi, Orma Lee.
- Hi, Elizabeth. I sure am glad to see you.

I had despaired of ever
having human company today,

Ike's tolerance for
boilermakers being what it is.

I don't know how you
can be so cheerful.

Well, it takes a lot of practice, Ike,
and a certain amount of innate stamina,

which I suspect
that you do not have.

Now, Vern Billy, now
there is a man with stamina.

Oh, Elizabeth, honey, will you show
me where those sweet Baldwin girls live

so I can return this
silver mine to them

and assure them that
Ike is doing just fine?

Just so long as you
don't holler at him.

Well, I've got a car. You
want me to drive you over?

Well, sweetheart,
that's real family of you.

Is that okay with you, Ike?

Oh, I'd appreciate
that, Orma Lee,

but when you go, please,
just go quietly, if you don't mind.

Hon, I want to hear all about that
pack of relatives I've got around here.

Ike says you come at the
end of the line in your family.

Well, at least they don't
call me the baby anymore.

Ain't it hell being
the youngest?

Everyone else
says I got it lucky.

Ooh, don't tell me. I had to
live in Corabeth's shadow.

She clean blocked out the sun.

So, one day, I just
up and fled the scene.

- You ran away from home?
- Yup.

A carnival come through Doe Hill,
and that's when I first clapped eyes on

Jesse Roy Mackin and
his Maniacal Motorcycle.

Jessie Roy was a motorcycle
artist. He rode the Wall of Death.

Which is to say, he rode a
cycle around in a wooden barrel

at speeds reaching up to
and surpassing a mile a minute.

Ooh! Made me dizzy
as a witch to watch him.

Come to find out later he made
me dizzy in a lot of other ways, too.

- You get what I mean.
- I get what you mean.

Sounds like he
was the real thing.

Girl, he was 6'5" tall,

with cornflower-blue eyes
and that pink colored hair

and every inch of him
just covered in freckles.

I suspect it was his
cowlick that got to me.

Like Drew.

I was just a big old country
girl. What did I know?

Never been anywhere.
Never seen anything.

So, I took a notion
to run off with him.

And he took favorable to
the idea, so we did just that.

The wind just blew
us hither and yon,

with me holding on to
my hat all over the country.

- Was he your first love?
- My first husband, too.

Nothing would do that boy,

but we would get
married on that motorcycle,

dead center in the
middle of that arena.

- What happened?
- Well, sir,

one night the show
was tied up in Oklahoma,

and just as Jesse Roy
was going like sixty,

a twister struck, and it lifted
him right up out of that barrel.

- Where?
- I know not where.

They never found freckled
hide nor one pink hair of him.

He died as he lived,
whirling around in a funnel.

I took it real hard,
grievous hard.

The widow Mackin, 16 years old.

I'm almost sixteen.

And you got a lot of
living ahead of you!

I can tell by that cloud of hair!
Sweetheart, tell me all about yourself.

And I want to hear all about
your brothers and sisters, too.

- Well, young man, you're in a hurry.
- Well, it smells good, and I'm hungry.

Am I late?

Well, you're late for the helping,
but you're just in time for the eating.

Sorry. Where is everyone?

Well, Jason's at the Dew
Drop and Ben is helping him,

Erin is working overtime and
Mary Ellen has a late class.

Shouldn't we all
be here for supper?

All the more for us who are.

We used to eat together when
Mama and Daddy were here.

Well, that's the way
families are, Elizabeth.

They grow up and they grow away.

All right.

Our Father in Heaven, bless this
family today, wherever they are.

Our thoughts are with
Olivia and John in Arizona.

What's the matter
with Cinderella?

That's just the trouble. No one
asks her to the ball anymore.

You like the way I
look, brother Ike?

I didn't want to overdo,
so I slipped into this rig.

You sure do look scrumptious.

Well, I didn't want to
embarrass my relations.

- You like my pearls?
- Aunt Cordelia's?

Corabeth mentioned
them, I reckon.

She covets them.

Ain't it too bad she's not
here to see how nice I look?

- Are you ready, brother Ike?
- I'm ready, sister Orma Lee.

Well, if this don't beat all.
Orma Lee Walton Stalcup

sitting here with a whole
bevy of kissing cousins.

We're glad to have you.

It's fun getting acquainted
with long lost relatives.

You know, you may look like
Corabeth, but that's about it.

Well, honey, if that isn't the
sweetest thing for you to say.

The minute I laid eyes on you,

I said you were a very perceptive
young lady with a bright future.

You read fortunes, Orma Lee?

Fortunes, minds, palms, tarot cards,
tea leaves, horoscopes, crystal ball,

and I practice a little phrenology
and hypnotism on the side.

How did you learn all that?

I was apprenticed to Madame
Rosetti, my second husband's first wife.

Tell my fortune, Orma Lee.

Well, sir, now, look here.

Ooh!

I see a past filled with
romance and intrigue

and a very bright
future ahead of you.

You sure you're
talking about Jim-Bob?

Wait a minute. I got to
throw myself into my trance.

I got it. I got it.

I see this young woman's
name just as clear as day.

- Cathy.
- How'd you know that?

Don't blame me.
I didn't tell her.

Yup. I see romance ahead
for all my Walton cousins.

And for Mary Ellen here, I
see a young man named Smith.

That ain't it.

Jonesy! He has
gone to California,

and will return to
pursue you in earnest.

Somebody's been talking.

And for Jason,

I see a dark, mysterious
young woman named Toni.

How about that?

And for Ben, who's so
lonesome for his little wife Cindy,

who's off visiting her
newly found natural mother

somewhere in
our nation's capital.

And Erin...

Erin has still not recovered
from her ill-fated romance

with one Ashley Longworth Jr.

Well, how do you know all that?

There's one person she
didn't mention. Elizabeth.

I think our little sister has
been telling all the family secrets.

And I think when I get my hands
on her, I'm going to wring her neck.

Orma Lee, how'd you like to
help me draw the bingo numbers?

- I bet you'd be real good at that.
- Well, you better believe it.

Before I was your age, I was
running the bingo game in the midway.

You just tell me
who you want to win.

Ain't she a kick in the pants?

That's putting it mildly, Ike.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Welcome to bingo night
at the Dew Drop Inn!

Hello?

Oh, yes. I'll be happy
to accept charges.

Mr. Godsey! Where
on earth have you been?

I've been trying to
reach you for hours.

Well, it's not all that late.
Corabeth, are you all right?

Well, I am and I am not.

I'm keeping poor
Mr. Delbert awake.

I had to use the telephone here
at the Doe Hill Funeral Parlor.

What are you doing there?

Well, I'm making some
pre-arrangements for poor Aunt Cordelia.

This is the first opportunity
I've had to use the telephone,

and I've been unable to reach
you, and I'm simply sick with worry.

Well, I'm sorry. I was
over at the Dew Drop.

Jason had a family bingo
night. All the Waltons were there.

Bingo? Honestly, Mr. Godsey,
I should've stayed home

and kept you out of trouble.

It was really quite
harmless. Truly, Corabeth.

Well, I miss you, Ike, and
I wish I could come home.

I miss you too, honey.

How's Aunt Cordelia?

Well, she's at death's door and
she simply will not go through.

I've been hesitant to
leave her bedside until now.

Well, you shouldn't.
You should stay there.

I mean, I can take care
of myself all right here.

But look, there's one thing
I want to tell you, though.

Well, tell me later.
Mr. Delbert has got to close up.

But I'll come home to
you as soon as I can.

All right. All right, honey.

Bye, Corabeth.

Good night, Ike.

Sorry.

How's sister?

I think she's homesick.

Well, she's got good reason to
be. She's got a lot going for her here.

- You really think so?
- I sure do.

"Regular Adonis.

"Tall and handsome.

"Dabbles in the
mercantile business.

"And lives graciously
in the old family home."

- Corabeth wrote you that?
- I couldn't make that up!

She does have a habit of
changing things around to suit her.

It's a gift. Ever since she
was a little bit of a thing,

she took to using big
words and putting on airs.

Adonis?

- She really said that?
- She sure did.

And you know something?

She wasn't far off
from the truth either.

- How's that for service?
- Nothing's wrong, Rose?

It's not a middle-of-the-night
emergency, but it's about Elizabeth.

- She's here, isn't she?
- A little too much, I'm afraid.

Oh, I know it's late
and you're all tired,

but this is the only
chance we get to talk.

What's the matter
with Elizabeth?

Well, it's just that all your
lives are going full blast,

and nobody's bothering
to gather her along.

Well, she's got her own friends.

Oh, it's not the same,
Ben. You're her family.

Seems like you're doing
more and more things

that include all of
you and not her.

I can't take her to the Dew
Drop and I practically live there.

You're right, Rose. I
should find time for her.

Especially with Mama
and Daddy gone.

So should I. And I
will, as soon as I can.

I guess I have been working a
little too much at the mill lately.

It doesn't seem right.
I'm all she has at home.

- You see that, don't you?
- Sure.

Okay, okay, but
nobody ever told me

I was supposed to
babysit my little sister.

Ferns, Lord Almighty!

They grew along a stream outside of
Doe Hill so thick you could hide in them.

Well, Mama took these from
Drucilla's Pond where they grow thick,

and then she'd use
them around the house.

- You a mama's girl?
- Well, no more so than Daddy's.

I remember evenings I used to
sit on his lap out here on the swing

and I'd fall asleep. He'd have
to carry me up to my room.

My daddy was kindly,
too. I recall that about him.

Soft spoken and gentle.

I wasn't but ten when he died, but I
always think of him as being mine.

Yours?

Well, Corabeth had Mama,
brother Frank had his Bible,

and I had Papa.

I guess then you were
really alone without him.

Well, except for Aunt Cordelia

and Corabeth's constant shadow.

What's she like now?

Corabeth? Well,
she's different. All right.

Still kind of think she's doing
the world a favor by being alive?

Maybe. But she's nice.
She's a good friend.

Thank you, now. Bye.

Oh, excuse me, ma'am!

- Hey, cowboy!
- Howdy, howdy.

What can I do for you?

- You Godsey?
- That's me.

I swear everything that's supposed
to be big around here is real little.

Wait a second. I don't think I
understand. What do you mean by that?

Oh, just take it easy, little
fella. I just come for my woman.

Well, I don't know who your woman
is, but I have a hunch that if I knew,

I really wouldn't want her.

So why don't you just go on
outside and then you come back in,

and this time with
some manners, huh?

Well, ain't you a feisty
little bandy rooster, though.

Who you calling a feisty little
bandy rooster, you big slob?

Oh, now you're beginning to nettle me,
little fella. I just might clean up on you.

Now, look, nobody walks
into my store and threatens me.

Now, I want you to
get out and stay out!

I'm not one to hit an older
man, but in your case,

I just might make an exception.

Oh, yeah? You wanna try it?

Oh, don't make me hit you. I know I look
real sweet, but I'm mean when I'm riled.

Nobody orders me
around in my own store.

Oh, yes, I can. I want my woman!

Well, take a big
guess on who's here!

Sure is a beauty!

You don't think he'd mind
me looking it over, would you?

Oh, I can handle Vern Billy.

Thanks for the ride, cousin. I
just loved visiting all my kissing kin.

My pleasure, cousin Orma Lee.

Vern Billy, speak to me!

Is he dead?

Lordy, I hope not!

You know him?

He looks kind of peaceful,
don't he? All laid out like that.

Well, he came in here
looking for his woman.

- I didn't know he meant you.
- Oh!

Vern Billy has a hand
to own things outright.

Oh, sweetheart, darling, let me help
you see if you can't get up on your feet.

- What happened?
- Oh...

- Oh...
- Ah!

Oh!

Well, it never would have
happened if you'd have been here

like you were
supposed to, woman.

He gives you any trouble, I'll
take care of him, Orma Lee.

- Take it easy, Ike.
- I can handle him.

I've had enough, little fella.

And I've had
enough of that, too!

Orma Lee, will you
explain me to him?

Just to save your hide.

This here is my lawful wedded
husband, Vern Billy Stalcup.

Numero four or five.

Oh, you always forget.

- Jim-Bob Walton.
- I've seen you before.

Well, you might have told me.

Don't tell Corabeth that
you was brawling over me.

Well, who would've
thought you two

would be the first ones
home, but here you are.

We just about broke our
necks getting out of Pickett's.

- Is John Curtis upstairs?
- Playing in your room.

The table looks great, Rose.

Well, it's the Sunday cloth
that makes it look so special.

Fresh cranberries?

And turkey! Rose, you've
made it a national holiday.

We'll call it "E-Day"
for Elizabeth.

I wanted it to be all
of her favorite things.

It'll mean a lot to her.

Me, too. I love having the
whole family home for supper.

Well, sure wasn't hard to
follow my nose this evening.

Smells great, Rose.

Maybe we should
have brought gifts.

Oh, just being together
will be enough for Elizabeth.

Well, when you do
this for me, bring gifts.

Hey, you all look
vaguely familiar.

I'm saving the
introductions until later.

I'm glad you could
make it anyway, Jason.

Ernie's covering for
me during supper.

Well, where's Elizabeth? She's
going to miss her own party.

Oh, she has lots of errands.
I've forgotten what they are.

But I think she was going over
to Ike's to mail that picture album.

I just came from Ike's
and she wasn't there.

Well, she'll be along.

- Want me to taste anything for you, Rose?
- Take a look at this.

- I'm gonna taste this. What is it?
- Ooh! Yeah. Me, too.

- Give me one of those. Oh!
- Oh, cranberry!

Hi, John Curtis.
How are you today?

We better get this room
cleaned up. It's suppertime.

Vern Billy, when we
get back to Guymon,

you're gonna have to buy
me a cute little store like this

so we can entertain in the
style that brother Ike has to offer.

Yeah, some style. He
liked to kill me earlier.

I'm sorry, Vern Billy. I
guess I just lost my head.

Well, you give us a couple of jars
of that Recipe you got over there,

I'm sure I won't have
any hard feelings.

Jason. You're just
in time for the party.

Jason, this here is Vern
Billy Stalcup, my husband.

Vern Billy, this here is
Jason, one of my relatives.

I can't stay, Orma Lee.
I'm looking for Elizabeth.

Ike, did Elizabeth come
in here to mail a package?

No, I haven't seen her all day.

Well, what do you mean
you're looking for her?

She didn't come home to supper.

The last thing she told Rose
was she was coming here.

- Sorry, Jason.
- Dear, I'm sorry to hear that.

I'm afraid she's run
off, and it's my fault.

What do you mean by that?

Well, she was missing
her mama and daddy so,

and I told her that when I was
her age, I was off and running.

But I didn't mean for
her to hear me that good.

She didn't leave from
here. Maybe Rockfish.

You know the schedules, Ike.

- Where do the buses run from there?
- Now, let's see.

1:00 to Roanoke and
the 2:10 to Charlottesville.

And from either of those places, she
could catch a bus heading for Arizona.

I'm going to go to Roanoke.
It's more on the way west.

Okay, and I'll go to Charlottesville
in case she went there.

Thanks a lot, Ike. I
really appreciate it.

Okay.

Jason, if you want to fly
low, let Vern Billy drive you.

Orma Lee, will you
call Mary Ellen for me?

Let's go, boy.

And don't worry
about Elizabeth, Jason.

She's got a good
head on her shoulders.

That's not going to keep me from
putting her at the top of my prayer list.

I didn't really think you
would come to get me.

What'd you think would happen?

That you'd let me go
visit Mama and Daddy

like I said in the note.

Nobody found any note.

Well, I left it on Erin's
bed. It was in plain sight.

Well, that's not important now.

You don't understand.

When you were growing up,
you had Mama and Daddy.

You had Grandma and Grandpa too.

But I don't.

It's different for me.

It must be hard.

But I'm only your brother. I wouldn't
know how to be anybody else.

Well, I don't want you to.

I think maybe you do.

Lately, I don't know
if you realize it or not,

but you've been expecting
Mary Ellen and Erin,

Ben and Jim-Bob, all of
us, to fill this void in your life.

And we can't.

We all love you,
but we can't do that.

Rose says that families
grow up and grow away.

It's true.

You don't mean to hurt anybody.

You just get all caught up in
your own life and it happens.

I guess so.

Bus now boarding for
Saint Louis at gate 4.

I can't let you go, Elizabeth.

She's not well enough.
You'd be a worry.

I wouldn't want that.

I promise you, as soon
as Daddy says she's able,

I'll drive you to
Arizona myself.

Okay.

Now, be careful with those.
They're filled with fine china.

Yes, ma'am, your
Aunt Cordelia's.

Look here.

I wonder why Mr. Godsey has all
the lights on this time of the night.

I wouldn't know, ma'am.

I believe you said it was
$19.50. Keep the change.

Thank you, lady.

At least it'll be quiet driving
back to Charlottesville.

Yoo-hoo, Mr. Godsey!

Ain't nobody here but
us chickens, Corabeth.

Well.

This is a pleasant surprise.

I got a feeling it ain't
either pleasant or a surprise.

It's been a long time, Orma Lee.

I wondered which one
of us would say that first.

I guess Aunt Cordelia
warned you I might be here.

Well, I surmised as much when
she wrote that her deathbed request

was to see us reconciled
while she was still alive.

I guess once you made that
promise she perked right up,

like a sparrow in a spring thaw.

Well, she always could turn
ill health to her advantage.

Well, I guess a promise
extracted under false pretenses

is no good as a promise at all.

I suppose.

Well, I just couldn't
resist coming here.

Although it's been a revelation,
as you can well imagine.

Well...

It isn't exactly like
I wrote in my letter.

Neither is that
fellow you married.

I cherish him, Orma Lee.

Oh, I was hoping you'd
say that, Corabeth,

because as the song
says, and as I full well know,

- a good man's hard to find.
- Oh!

Not for you. Men have
always been attracted to you.

You were Papa's favorite.

You were Mama's.

Remember that time

we went on that picnic
at Culpepper Creek?

And you fell in and
Papa had to fish you out.

I'm ashamed to admit
it, but I jumped in.

I so wanted him to notice me.

Corabeth Walton Godsey!

As bad as I was, I could
never think up a stunt like that.

Papa's blue pants just faded
right down over his white spats.

I never seen anything
so comical in my life!

And Mama was furious because
he wore them to the picnic.

Papa always was a dandy.

I have missed you, Orma Lee.

You're the only one that
could make me laugh.

Well, for all your fussing and
chiding, I've missed you, too.

I guess you noticed.

Aunt Cordelia told me.

She gave me her fine china.

Aunt Cordelia
gave me her pearls.

But because I love you,

and you deserve them as
much as I do, but not more,

here you go, sister mine.

And I want to give you half
of Aunt Cordelia's fine china.

I do love you, Orma Lee.

Well, of course
you do, precious.

It was a time of
discovery for both families

that it is possible to
choose relatives as friends.

Corabeth and Orma Lee and
Elizabeth and her brothers and sisters

found out that the family
fabric gave from time to time,

but the mending
always made it stronger.

- Jim-Bob?
- Yeah, Elizabeth?

Did you get a new picture
taken for Mama's album?

I keep forgetting.
I'll do it tomorrow.

That's okay. I'll just send the one
I found in Mama's bureau today.

- She hid it there.
- Oh, yeah? Which one is that?

The one on the bear
rug in your birthday suit.

I thought I tore that one up.

Good night, Jim-Bob.

English -SDH