The Waltons (1971) s07e23 Episode Script

All right, Elizabeth.
This is where you get off.
Aren't you coming to school, too? I'm flunking out.
Besides, what's the use of me graduating? Daddy's gonna hit the roof when he finds out.
I don't care.
Come on, I'm in a hurry.
What will I tell them at school? Tell them anything.
Tell them I'm sick.
Tell them I'm leaving and I'm never coming back.
Although my brother, Jim-Bob, loved the mountain as much as the rest of us, since childhood he had dreamed of heights beyond its summit.
Now, in the spring of 1942, as those dreams appeared to be within his reach, it seemed that he was finding new energy and purpose.
If we were disappointed, it was only because Jim-Bob was quietly building to a crisis that would turn his life in a different direction.
Jim-Bob, get down here! Jim-Bob! - How do you explain this? - It's just a paper airplane, Dad.
Look again.
I was using some old school papers.
Jim-Bob, that's an F.
And I don't think it stands for "funny.
" I haven't been doing very well in English lately.
I'll say you haven't been doing very well.
How are you doing in math and science and history? Not so good.
But I'm only flunking English, Daddy.
Jim-Bob, how am I gonna get you to get your head out of the clouds? I'm sorry, Daddy.
I don't know what's wrong with me.
Just haven't been able to concentrate lately.
You're always talking about wanting to join the Air Corps someday.
- Do you mean that? - I want it more than anything in the world.
Well, then you got to graduate first, Son.
You got to have more than good eyesight and coordination.
- You got to be smart, too.
- I know that, Daddy.
Wish John-Boy was around to help you with this English.
I know who could help him.
Corabeth.
She knows lots about books and she speaks very good English.
- Elizabeth, who asked you? - That's a good idea, Elizabeth.
You call her, see if she can give you some private lessons.
Excuse me, I have to put my cake in the oven.
Miss Fanny, give me the general store, please.
Well, Mr.
Godsey, what do you think? It is James Robert's reading chart.
He's to appear for his first tutoring lesson today.
Looks pretty official.
Well, the title of the book is to be entered here, the author, the number of pages, and the date the assignment is completed.
- What goes in that little column over there? - Gold stars.
You're kidding.
Well, no, a gold star is to be entered here for every book completed.
Corabeth, it's bad enough the books you're having Jim-Bob read would cure insomnia in 20 minutes.
But what do you think, Jim-Bob's a little boy? Oh, James Robert, your father told me about your difficulties.
I am so pleased to be of assistance.
You're a lucky young man, Jim-Bob.
Nobody knows more about literature and books than Corabeth, or likes to spread it around so much.
Can we get it over with? Well, your teacher and I have made out a reading assignment, which if you put your mind to it, she guarantees me will get you a passing grade.
She allowed me to choose the books, of course.
I hope they're not boring.
James Robert, the classics are deep, but never boring.
Now our goal is two books a week.
You will appear here on Tuesday and Friday afternoons for stimulating discussion, after which you will write a book report and turn it in.
- Now, are there any questions? - Can I read some books about flying? James Robert, there are no books on flying.
Well, sure there are, Corabeth.
There's Dickie Dinsfield and the Flying Machine and Wings Over the Sea.
Mr.
Godsey, you are speaking of pulp.
I am speaking of literature.
Come along, James Robert, and I will introduce you to the Mayor of Casterbridge.
Who? And, James Robert, I want you to think of me not as your tutor, but rather as your literary consultant.
Good luck, Jim-Bob.
I bet his name is John Curtis.
- How did you know that? - And you're Mary Ellen.
I'm sorry, have we met? I'm Sergeant Charles W.
Turner.
Chuck.
I'm I was a friend of Curt's.
- Come, sit down.
- Thank you.
I should have called, but I didn't get a pass until the last minute.
- Sit down.
- Thank you.
Where did you know Curt? In Wheeling, West Virginia, where I grew up.
He was like a big brother.
Smarter and tougher than all the rest of us.
We all looked up to him.
So, you're that Chuck, the little towhead who lived down the street.
Curt used to talk about you.
When I heard I was going to be stationed at Camp Rockfish, I knew I had to come over and meet the woman he married.
It seems strange that you knew him longer than I did.
I'll always think of him as being alive, helping me through geometry or getting up a game of stickball.
I knew he'd turn out to be somebody.
He was somebody.
What do you do when you're not in uniform? Little bit of everything.
Used to be a short-order cook, a door-to-door salesman.
I even tried a little bush-league baseball.
I never managed to get to college the way Curt did, but once this war is over nothing's gonna stop me.
I'm glad you came.
Can you stay for supper? I'm due back at camp soon.
Anyway, this was just a get-acquainted visit.
I don't want to keep you from what you're doing.
Can I take a rain check? Sure.
I'll even introduce you to my sister Erin.
Oh, well, if she's anything like you, I'd like to meet her.
Come on, John Curtis and I will walk you back to your car.
Thank you.
And then she said, "Jim-Bob, how do you ever expect to appreciate truth and beauty "unless you understand the nature of Mr.
Browning's poetry?" - Or something like that.
- How do you stand it, Jim-Bob? - Promise not to laugh? - Yeah, I promise.
- I pretend they're Messerschmitts.
- What? Those dumb books Corabeth makes me read.
Every time I have to start one I tell myself it's a German fighter and I have to shoot it down.
And five of them makes you an ace, huh? Yeah.
- Ben, we're being followed by a policeman.
- Uh-oh.
Better pull over.
- Let me see your license, sonny.
- What did I do? You could have killed someone, the way you was driving back there.
What are you talking about? He was only doing the speed limit.
It's okay, Ben.
I got it.
He didn't even slow down for that stop sign back there.
Stop sign! What stop sign? I've got a perfect driving record, sir.
I've driven this road hundreds of times and I've never seen a stop sign.
Well, there is now.
Are you going to argue with me about it? Fact is, this is the first time I've ever been pulled over.
You were just lucky there wasn't anybody coming out of that side street back there.
That little street back there? There never is! Oh, I am sorry, fellows.
I'm gonna have to run you in.
- Where are we going? - County courthouse.
- Oh, come on! - Thanks a lot, Ben.
You can save that arguing for the judge.
Your driver's license has expired.
Just follow me.
If we're having company I don't see why we can't use the good dishes.
'Cause he won't feel at home if everything's too fancy.
Well, I sure hope he likes spaghetti.
We've got enough of it here to feed an army.
You're really going to like him, Erin.
Mary Ellen, that's the tenth time you've told me that.
I know he's gonna be just crazy about you.
Are you playing cupid? Well, can you blame me? My sister and an old buddy of Curt's? - Ben and Jim-Bob still aren't back? - They should have been here hours ago.
Probably just taking in the sights.
I sent them to Charlottesville to get a blade for the power saw.
I don't know, something must have happened.
If there'd been an accident, we'd have heard.
You know, I'm beginning to sound like your mama, and you're beginning to sound like me comforting her.
Helps to have someone to worry with.
Here they come now.
- You boys all right? - Sorry we're late, Daddy.
- Where have you been? - Charlottesville courthouse.
Jim-Bob ran a stop sign and I argued with the deputy and he ran us in.
Jim-Bob was driving with an expired license.
- He better be able to explain that.
- Go easy on him, Daddy.
They gave him a temporary license right now, but he's feeling awful bad.
You gonna sit here all night, Son? No, sir.
Something wrong? I had to apply for a new driver's license today.
Made me take the eye examination and I flunked it.
Could be a little problem with your eyes like John-Boy.
Doesn't mean you can't drive again.
It means I can't fly, Dad.
To be a pilot in the Air Corps you have to have 20-20 vision.
Looks like we didn't make too much spaghetti after all.
Jim-Bob, you sure you wouldn't like some before Chuck eats through the bottom of the platter? No, thanks.
Hey, that's not fair.
I'm sitting right in the middle of traffic.
You don't expect me not to help myself, do you? Looks like you've had some experience with army chow, Chuck.
- Yes, sir.
- Erin, why don't tell Chuck about your job? Oh, there isn't that much to tell.
I work at Pickett Defense Plant.
She's in personnel.
She's not only beautiful, but smart.
Mary Ellen Well, Chuck played some minor league ball.
Why don't you tell her about it? - You like baseball? - Well, I'm not much for sports.
Mary Ellen was our baseball star.
She was the best shortstop we ever had.
Still is.
If you play baseball the way you cook, I want to sign up for your team.
Well, wait until you taste Erin's chocolate pie.
Oh, don't bother, Erin.
I'll get these.
- You finished? - Yes.
Daddy, can I be excused? I'm not very hungry.
All right, Son.
We'll save some dessert for you, if you change your mind.
He hardly even touched his plate.
Excuse me, I think I'll skip dessert, too.
Pass the pie, Mary Ellen.
Thank you.
- Jim-Bob? - Up here, Daddy.
Move over, Son.
I'm coming up.
Been a long time since I climbed up this ladder.
I wonder if they'll ever put a man up there.
I know one thing.
It won't be me.
I didn't know you wanted to go the moon.
Even from the top of the mountain, it looks like you can see everything.
Wonder what it'd look like from the top of the sky.
Jim-Bob, you're gonna fly, if you're meant to fly.
If I'd wanted to be a schoolteacher or a salesman, not being able to see so good wouldn't make so much difference.
My whole life I planned on going into the Air Corps.
I know, Son.
You know, when I was a lot younger than you, about 10 years old, a circus came to Rockfish.
They had a parade right down the middle of town, and there were elephants with ladies in spangles on top of them.
A whole line of things.
I wanted to go to that circus more than I wanted to do anything in my life.
So I ran home and I went to all the neighbors.
I did chores for them.
I carried water, I chopped wood.
Finally after a couple of days I'd made 25 cents.
Well, I couldn't sleep all night, that night.
The next morning I was up bright and early.
I had my chores done by 8:00.
- And you went? - I went, but when I got there the tent was gone.
It was nothing but an empty field, just candy wrappers and empty peanut bags.
Circus had left a day early.
Bet you could have died.
What I did was, I came up here and I stayed up here for two whole days.
That's a long time.
Yeah, to be alone.
Finally Grandma brought me some sandwiches and Uncle Ben threw up a blanket after a while, and finally Grandpa brought me a telescope.
And he told me to look around.
What good was that? Well, I did look around through that telescope and I got a feeling for how big the sky is.
And then I got a feeling that maybe my little hurt wasn't so important after all.
The only problem is when I look out into the sky, all I can think about is wanting to be a part of it.
Jim-Bob.
Then you can't give up hope too quick, Son.
I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to march down to that recruiting office and just join up.
Well, you've got plenty of time.
The war's going to be around for a while, it looks like.
Daddy says he can't replace me at the mill and, besides, we are doing essential war work.
And Cindy would kill you if you joined up, Ben.
He's still on his honeymoon.
Some honeymoon.
She's right now visiting her daddy over in Washington.
He's a colonel in the army.
Maybe he can put in a good word for Chuck.
Here you are.
I hope you like picture puzzles.
This is the Matterhorn in a thousand pieces.
Guaranteed to give you snow blindness.
Ben, I thought you were going to be doing some work in the mill tonight.
Oh, I forgot.
Elizabeth, why don't we leave the dishes until tomorrow morning? We never leave dishes! Well, then tonight will be a first.
If you want some music, just turn on the radio.
Have a good time, you two.
Do you like picture puzzles? - Not particularly.
- Well, I love them.
Mary Lou Prince says you look cute with your sunglasses.
Wondered why she was following me around all day.
I told her you stayed at the Dew Drop till 4:00 this morning.
She believes anything.
Elizabeth, you think this is going to work? Robert McJilton had eyestrain from studying too much.
So, he wore sunglasses and had people read him his lessons until he got better.
It's Corabeth's fault I can't see.
It's all that dumb reading she's been making me do.
Mary Ellen? - Hi, get in.
- What for? I'm taking you to the eye doctor.
I don't need a doctor.
I've been taking care of my eyes all day and I can see better already.
Well, good.
Then you have nothing to worry about.
Get in.
Mary Ellen, this is a waste of time.
- Bye.
- Bye.
All right, James Robert, I'm going to cover your left eye and I want you to read the fifth line on that chart over there.
"P, E, C, F, D.
" Mmm-hmm.
Fine, fine.
Now read the line directly below that one.
"E, D, F, C.
" No, "O.
" "Z, P.
" Mmm-hmm.
Mmm-hmm.
Now let's try that line again with your other eye.
"E, D, F, "O, Z, P.
" A little light reading? Just something to help me get to sleep at night.
What are you doing here? "Building a House, Framing Through Finishing.
" I'm reading my way through the construction shelf.
I figure when the war's over, there's going to be a demand for houses, and I'm going to know how to build them.
You make me feel guilty.
I'm reading Mardi Gras Summer.
I had a wonderful time the other night at your house.
I knew you and Erin would hit it off.
I'm going to a bond rally in Charlottesville on Saturday night.
Kay Kyser and his orchestra are gonna play.
Sounds like a lot of fun.
What do you do for fun? John Curtis and I fly to Florida every other weekend.
We're planning a tour of South America next month.
I'd ask you to go to the bond rally, but I guess it's too soon.
People might think it was a date or something.
I'm sure Erin would love to go.
I'll give her a call.
I'd better hurry.
I have to go pick up Jim-Bob.
Carry your books? Bad news, huh? Doctor Canfield says I have astigmatism.
Says I need glasses.
No wonder you've been having trouble at school.
Says it's the kind of eyes I was born with and there's nothing I can do about it.
I'm sorry, Jim-Bob.
At least the glasses will help you to see better.
I'm not gonna wear them.
It's not fair! A lot of things in life aren't.
Jim-Bob, what are you doing? I don't feel like looking at this stuff anymore.
You've been saving these things for a long time.
There's no reason to save them now.
Jim-Bob, there's all kinds of jobs you can do in the Air Corps and still wear glasses.
You don't have to tell me about the Air Corps.
I've been reading up on it since I was 12.
You could be a navigator or a maintenance officer.
Somebody's got to keep those planes flying.
Your kind of skill could be valuable to them.
Jason, how would you like it if you had to spend your life tuning pianos and nobody ever let you play? Looks to me like about $2.
50 worth of stuff.
Yeah.
Well, now, Jim-Bob, I know you drive a stiff bargain.
I suppose you're going to tell me this is Orville Wright's old flying hat.
That's just something I got when I was a kid.
I'll throw in an extra two bits for it anyway.
Thanks.
Not much need for any of these things anymore, you know.
I guess not.
The workmanship on this biplane isn't bad.
Tell you what I'll do, Jim-Bob, I'm gonna offer you $3 for the whole lot, and not a penny more.
I'll take it.
Don't you want to swap? What are you selling all these things for anyway? I always thought you wanted to be an aviator.
That's kid stuff.
I changed my mind.
Well, I'll keep it a while just in case you wanna come back for it.
- Here's $5.
- You sure? Jim-Bob, you drive the hardest bargain of anyone I know.
Thanks, Buck.
Yes, Mary Ellen did tell me about it.
It sounds very nice.
That's fine, I'll see you on Saturday.
Bye, Chuck.
That's true.
Here you go.
You didn't sound very enthused.
Well, if you don't like the way I talk on the phone, don't listen to me.
What am I supposed to do about Jim-Bob's breakfast? Just leave it right there.
If he can't make it on time, he's gonna have to eat it cold.
I don't know where he is.
He was awake before I was this morning.
Doesn't mean a thing with Jim-Bob.
He's the all-time world champion dawdler.
I swear it.
It's about time.
You're going to have to eat breakfast on the way to school.
I'm not going.
Feeling sick, Son? Just not going, not today, not ever.
I'm quitting school.
I hope you're joking.
I could've quit two years ago if I wanted to.
It was the Air Corps that was stopping me from doing it.
I have no reason to go anymore.
All right, everybody, you'd better be on your way.
Let me talk to Jim-Bob alone.
- Goodbye.
- Bye, Daddy.
Jim-Bob.
I know you're disappointed, Son, but this doesn't make any sense at all.
Once when I was your age, I wanted to quit school.
Grandpa went through the roof and I've always been glad he did.
It's different now, Daddy.
There's a war on.
That's not the end of the world, Son.
As a matter of fact, one of the reasons we're fighting this war, is so you can have a right to an education.
You give up school now and you're giving up your chance for a good life.
I'm not going back.
I want to join the army.
You're too young, and you know it.
And I won't give you my permission.
I don't need your permission.
I'll lie about my age.
Come here.
Who's gonna believe you? Now get to school.
I thought you retired that dress a long time ago.
It's not the dress that's retired, it's the owner.
I'm going to cut it down for Elizabeth.
You outgrown it? No, fits me perfectly.
I'll just never wear something this frivolous again.
I'm a grown woman, a widow with responsibilities.
Mary Ellen, you may have had some hard times, but you're still young.
One of these days you may feel like having a social life again.
My social life is at home.
It has to be that way for now.
Since when did you play by the rules? I thought I saw the old Mary Ellen the other night.
The Mary Ellen who loved to laugh and have a good time.
- When was that? - When Sergeant Turner came for supper.
Chuck is a friend of Curt's.
I was being nice to him, that's all! Sorry if I hit a nerve.
You have a right to have a friend, you know.
Jason, would you please get out of here, so I can find the scissors and get going on this dress? I knew I came in here for something.
I borrowed your scissors.
Thanks.
Why don't you take that dress and make it into an apron and tie yourself to the house? Elizabeth.
Finally getting around to oiling these hinges.
Grandpa always said they did enough complaining for the whole house.
Where's Jim-Bob? Didn't he come home from school with you? I guess he's still hanging around there.
That's funny.
He's usually out before the bell stops ringing.
- Yoo-hoo! John? - Corabeth.
John, I have come to plead with Jim-Bob to continue our literary discussions.
I didn't know he quit the literary discussions.
Nor did I, until I spoke to his teacher.
Oh, poor lamb, needing glasses all this time.
Of course, he was bound to feel self-conscious about it at first.
They'll call you "four-eyes" at school.
Well, in view of the fact of his visual difficulties, I have acquired a novel, Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray.
- The print is very large.
- That's nice of you, Corabeth.
Jim-Bob's glasses should be ready soon.
His glasses are ready.
It's just he won't go to pick them up.
Miss Winfield assures me that it is not too late, and she will give him every consideration when he is well enough to return to school.
Well enough to return to school? I think I'd better go do my homework.
Hold on, young lady.
What is this, "return to school"? Well, he hasn't been attending classes.
He's been sick for a week.
Have you been covering up for your brother? I told them he had a cold.
Where does he go? What does he do? I don't know.
He said he just can't stand to go to school anymore.
Sometimes I know how he feels.
You do, huh? You go up to your room.
I'll be up there in a minute.
Yes, Daddy.
John, I assure you, I did not come here to stir up trouble.
I would just like to know what's going on around here, Corabeth.
I suppose Jim-Bob wouldn't care much for William Makepeace Thackeray anyway.
Here you are, Jim-Bob.
You've got some explaining to do, Son.
Corabeth's been to see your teacher.
You've been cutting school.
I might have known Corabeth would go snooping around.
Oh, Jim-Bob, that was not my intent.
It's bad enough you had to push those dumb books on me and those stupid gold stars.
But how come you had to go butting in at school? That's enough, Jim-Bob.
You think you're so important.
All that fancy talk about the art and the classics.
Well, everybody laughs at you, Corabeth.
I said that's enough! You apologize to Corabeth right now! That will not be necessary, John.
I would not accept Jim-Bob's apology were it offered.
I ought to take you out in the woodshed right now.
How dare you talk to her like that? She's your friend! - She was only trying to help you! - I don't need any help.
What has gotten into you? You haven't been going to school, what in thunder have you been doing? Trying to join the army.
I've been to every recruiting office from here to Richmond and I'm not gonna stop till I find one that'll take me.
All right.
You been walking around here like you're the only one that hasn't gotten his own way in this world.
You've been lying to me, you had your sister lie to me and you've been talking to your elders like that! Maybe you ought to go in the army, maybe that would straighten you out.
All you have to do is sign this form.
It says I have your permission to enlist.
All right.
Jason? Dew Drop closed already? It's after 12:30.
What are you working on so late? Trying to shine up this old telescope.
- You worried about Jim-Bob? - Yes, I am, Son.
You did the right thing, Daddy.
Didn't have much choice.
He had his mind pretty well set.
Jim-Bob's so quiet.
It's easy to forget how headstrong he is.
Your mama and me have always been able to help you kids with your problems.
Not this time.
I kind of feel like I've failed Jim-Bob.
Signing that paper told him you trusted him to solve his own problems.
You know, Jason, it's kind of nice having a grown-up son around sometimes.
You don't have to worry about how your hair looks anymore.
The army's going to cut it all off anyway.
Wish you were going with me, Ben.
Sooner or later they're going to replace all essential workers with women and older men.
When that time comes, I'll be joining you.
Never thought I'd wind up a foot soldier.
I know.
That is a tough break.
We're gonna have to really give you a wing-ding of a party before you go.
Thanks.
I really don't feel like celebrating.
Mary Ellen, you'd better not hold supper for me.
I'm gonna have a lot of forms to fill out.
Well, here.
These might help you.
I picked them up for you this morning.
Why don't you try them on, Jim-Bob? See how they look.
I'm never gonna wear them.
It's your life, Jim-Bob.
But you might enjoy it a little bit more if you could see past the end of your nose.
Are you leaving now? Just on my way to the recruiting office.
I'm sorry I got you in trouble.
I'd do it again.
You know, sometimes I can't believe we're growing up.
You know, you're one of my best brothers.
Even though you are going into the army.
I'm glad you're my sister, Elizabeth.
Bye-bye.
Daddy? I'm leaving for Rockfish now.
Still planning on going ahead with it, huh, Son? Yes, sir.
You know, Jim-Bob, I've always been proud of my kids when they discovered what they want to do in life and went ahead and did it.
I sure wish I felt this way about you joining the army.
It's what I want, Daddy.
Okay, Son.
I just hope you don't wake up someday and be sorry for what you did.
I already made up my mind.
Remember, it's not final till you take that oath.
- Thanks, Daddy.
- Good luck, Son.
- Looks like you got a flat tire, Corabeth.
- I had already ascertained that.
Can I change it for you? That will not be necessary.
I can go back to the store for assistance.
Please, Corabeth, I'd like to help you.
Very well.
The tools are in the trunk.
- Hi, Chuck.
- Hi.
- Come on in.
- Thanks.
Is Erin ready to go? Probably not.
She's not famous for being on time.
It's all right.
I was hoping I'd get a chance to talk to you.
I'd better see if I can hurry her up.
Guess you're stuck with me.
Well, I've been stuck with worse.
I have to stay in the house all weekend.
- You don't look sick.
- I'm being punished.
You must have done something really bad.
Depends on whose side you're on.
Erin? Erin? - What? Erin, what are you doing? Baking a cake.
What does it look like, Mary Ellen? Erin, Chuck is downstairs.
You're supposed to go to that bond rally with him this afternoon.
Oh, no, I forgot! Mary Ellen, help me rinse out.
Quick! Oh, Erin, I could just drown you for being so stupid.
It's gonna take you an hour for your hair to dry out.
I can't help it.
It's not like I really wanted to go out with him.
What do you mean? You accepted the date! Only because you kept pushing me at him and reminding me he was one of Curt's friend.
What an awful thing to say.
He's a warm, wonderful, funny person.
Then you should be going out with him, not me.
Ouch! Oh, Erin.
You don't deserve anybody so nice.
He may be a nice guy, but he just isn't my type.
Mary Ellen, would you leave me some hair, please? Ow! Erin, here, finish it yourself! Corabeth, you should watch how I'm doing this, in case you have to change a tire someday.
I'm afraid I'm not very mechanical.
I'm not very literary myself.
Sometimes you get stuck doing things you're not very good at.
Jim-Bob.
Is it true what I hear, that you're joining the army? I was just on my way to sign up.
Jim-Bob, I know I didn't seem very sympathetic to your flying, but I do want you to know that I found it admirable.
Really? There is such daring, such poetry in flight.
Sure was counting on joining the Air Corps.
Jim-Bob.
I hate to see you give up the whole dream just because a part of it can't come true.
Corabeth, I'm sorry about those awful things I said to you.
I didn't mean them.
Do you think I don't know what people say about me? They don't know what they're talking about.
Jim-Bob, when I dreamed what my life would be like, I never dreamed I'd be behind the counter of a general store.
I was going to be a ballerina or a great tragic actress or marry an aristocrat and travel the world.
Well, when I found myself behind the counter of a general store at a little country crossroads, I had to either give up those dreams, or find a way of keeping part of them alive.
I'll never go to Paris, but if I speak a French phrase or two, from time to time I am transported to the Champs Élysées.
And if I quote Shakespeare, it is to satisfy that never-to-be-fulfilled longing to be center stage when the house lights dim And the curtain is up.
Look at me, Jim-Bob.
On the outside I may be a storekeeper's wife, but on the inside I am a ballerina.
And if it was flying I wanted, I wouldn't let a pair of glasses stop me.
I'd find a way to fly.
You'd better get a patch on your spare.
You might need it.
Thank you, Jim-Bob.
Jim-Bob, have you ever seen an albatross? No, ma'am.
Well, they're very slow and clumsy taking off, but once airborne, they can stay aloft for days at a time.
Corabeth.
Goodbye.
Find out what's holding up the parade? More or less.
You know something? It's not so bad having to stay in after all.
I mean, I might have gone to the movies this afternoon and missed the show going on here.
Anything I should know? Well, here comes your date.
I hope you don't mind.
There's been a little change in the plans.
Are you sure? I am, if you are.
- Hey, Mary Ellen, where you going? - On a date! I don't know how that happened, but I'm glad it did.
I am, too.
And I asked her to get Kay Kyser's autograph for me.
Oh, I wish I had asked her.
I don't believe it.
Hey, Daddy! Come quick! Howdy! Where have you been? What's that propeller doing? Guess what? I'm going to build an airplane! - An airplane? - An airplane? The Air Corps needs good mechanics and that's the best way for me to learn.
- Let's go put this behind the house.
- Sounds good to me.
- Give me a hand here.
- See you later.
It's heavy.
Don't drop it.
Jim-Bob? Daddy.
I decided not to join the army.
I'm real glad to hear that, Son.
Wanna see a picture of the airplane I'm gonna build? Sure do.
Hey, Daddy, I can really see you! Well, it's about time, Son.
Jim-Bob failed English that term, but with Corabeth's help he managed to catch up in summer school.
He never did excel in literature, and he never flew for the Air Corps.
But he hung onto his dream, and one glorious day after the war, the airplane that he had built on Walton's Mountain carried him briefly into the sky.
And all of us were there to cheer him on.
Good night, Daddy.
Good night, Jason.
Good night, Jim-Bob.
Good night, Erin.
Good night, Jason.
Good night, Elizabeth.
Good night, Erin.
Good night, Mary Ellen.
Mary Ellen? She's not home yet.
Oh, Lord.
Good night, everyone.
English - SDH