03x11 - The Job

[bunniefuu]

(john-boy) as a family,

living on walton's
mountain during the ' s

we were largely self-sufficient

and had little
dependence on cash money.

still, as I ventured out
into the larger world,

i realized that making ends meet

was going to be a far greater
problem than I had anticipated.

i set about looking
for a part-time job,

one which would pay
me an adequate wage

and, at the same time,

not interfere too
much with my studies.

"And so florence nightingale

Found herself on board a
troop ship bound for the crimea."

(John) now tighten that.

"Although prepared for the
hazards and perils which lay ahead,

"As she crossed the wintry seas

"This frail woman could
not possibly have known

"What great contributions
she was destined to make

To mankind and to medicine."

Here you go. That's right.
Now bring the wrench.

Wrench?

Dedication to medicine must be
the most rewarding life there is,

Don't you think?

Mary ellen, I think right now
life would be much more rewarding

If you'd just get out of
my way and stop babbling.

You just don't
care about anything.

Mary ellen, would you
bring my books, please?

Here you go, daddy.

(John) watch this, son.

[Birds chirping]

What's this?

(John-boy) what?

"Genteel woman requires
person with literary background.

Afternoons a week
for hours. Will pay."

Don't you lose that.
I need that address.

Let's try her. Ok.

But what's it for?

You are the nosiest
woman in the world.

If you must know,
it's for a part-time job.

I got it off the bulletin
board at college.

Ok? Go ahead.

[Engine faltering]

Hold it, hold it!

[Engine stops]

All right.

[Engine starting]

[Exclaiming]

[Engine idling] that saves
me $ . , Which I don't have.

How much this
part-time job pay, son?

Uh, cents an hour.

The appointment's
at : this afternoon.

You forgot your sandwiches.

Oh, thank you, grandma.

Don't put 'em there! You
know what'll happen?

The engine heat
will melt the cheese,

And... And the bread will
curl up like cardboard.

Sorry, sorry. I'm
sorry, grandma.

Hope you get the job, son.

Thank you very much. Good luck.

Goodbye.

[Birds chirping]

(Ruth) couldn't you have
waited a few minutes?

Excuse me?

I said,

Couldn't you have
waited a few minutes?

There was no one
at the other door.

I went to answer it, but
you had already gone.

You're very
impatient, aren't you?

Well, actually,

I wanted to see about the job
before anybody else got here.

That's why I'm early.

My name is john walton.

Ruth thomas.

Pleased to meet you.

May I come in?

[Sighing]

Could you tell me a
little bit about this job?

Mr. Walton,

This job was
arranged by my mother.

It's entirely her
idea, not mine.

Oh, I see.

Oh, well, then I'll probably
be speaking with her about it.

(Mrs. Thomas) ruth?

Ruth, I was in grogan's. I
found just the blouse that...

Mother, this is john walton.

He's here to see about the job.

Oh, yes, of course.

Well, I'm very pleased to meet
you, mr. Walton. I'm, uh, irene thomas.

How do you do?

You're here early.

Well, as I said, I wanted to
be the first one to arrive...

Mr. Walton's very impatient.

Well, uh, why don't
we go into the library.

Mother, why all the secrecy?

I think I should be
allowed to hear

What you and
mr. Walton have to say.

Well, yes, of course.

I... I certainly didn't mean
to exclude you, ruth.

Please, won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Well, the job is
very simple. I, uh,

Would like you to come
here afternoons a week

To read aloud to... To
us, uh, anything you like.

Um, anything that you, um,

Might find interesting
or stimulating.

Books, magazines, newspapers...

Mother, will you stop
b*ating about the bush?

You know I can't stand it
when you start pretending.

What my mother so
tactfully is trying to tell you

Is that you are to
come here twice a week

To read to me.

As you can see,
mr. Walton, I'm blind.

Now, whether you come or not

Is a matter of complete
indifference to me.

It's for you and my
mother to decide.

Now if you'll excuse me.

I think I'd better be going.

Oh, just a minute, please.

I apologize.

Well, there's no
need to apologize.

I... I know it's not fair to
ask you now, but, uh, please.

I... I do wish you'd consider.

I don't think it
would do any good.

But it might.

I... I won't pretend to you.
There have been others.

Of them.

Each time, she drove them away.

But, uh, recently, she's just
withdrawing, you know, more and more

Into that shell of hers.

[Sobbing] i... I don't
know what to do.

You see, I thought this time

If it was somebody younger, you know,
someone her own age and interests...

I... I really don't know, ma'am.

If it's a question
of more money...

No, it isn't.

I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have said that.

I just have to think it over.

I'll have to call
you back tomorrow.

Oh.

Bye-bye.

Now, reckless, if you run all over
the place, you aren't gonna get well.

Come on.

Come on, you dumb
dog. Come on, reckless.

Listen to the doctor,
come on. Nurse. I'm a nurse.

What a reluctant patient.

[Chuckles]

Stay here. Ok, that
finishes that one.

Hey, wait a minute, lie down.

We're not finished with you yet.

[Jim-bob groaning]

Now, now, jim-bob,
we'll never get well

If we get out of bed
too soon, will we?

John-boy! What's next?

(Mary ellen) ok, y-you
guys take another...

John-boy. (Ben) this
is his pulse, isn't it?

(Jason) check his
pulse. Jim-bob!

You'll see, you'll see!

(Ben) oh, well.

Hey, wait a minute,
wait a minute.

We're not done
with him. Come back.

Wait, that's gotta
go through there.

What is it? It's jim-bob.

He's got a b*llet wound
in his right shoulder

Multiple fractures in
his head, left arm, and leg.

And he has a concussion,
too, doesn't he?

Reckless has a broken paw.

Looks to me like his bandages
are gonna finish him off

Before his wounds.

Mary ellen, i... I think
he's suffocating.

No, he's not.

Mary ellen, I think the patient

Should be allowed
to breathe a little bit.

Mmm.

What's all this for, anyway?

Junior first aid assistant.

Mary ellen has to
take her test next week.

To get your badge, you've to show
them you can do all these things.

All at once?

Well, it started off with the
b*llet wound in the shoulder

And then we all got
to choose an injury.

You know what he looks like now?

Like the guy in the horror
movie mama wouldn't let us see.

You better come in and wash up.

Supper's almost ready. Come on.

Come on in.

Hey, wait a minute.

Oh, it's ok to leave
him there, mary ellen.

The mad scientist will come
and take him home any minute now.

I'll give you a hand.

I always knew they
weren't serious about it.

[All laughing]

(John) oh, look at this!

(All) apple pie.

(Ben) oh, wow!

Hey, hold your
horses there, esther.

I'd like a little more of this
piccalilli relish of yours.

You've had enough of that.

You know how spicy
things keep you awake

Half the night.

I'm well aware of
that fact, old girl.

Spicy, huh? That's why I
married you, you spicy thing, you.

So, what are you going
to do, son, take that job?

I don't know. I need a little
more time to think about it.

But why? I mean, if
someone's blind like her,

I don't see what you have to think
about before you make up your mind.

It's not really as simple
as that, mary ellen.

She's very resentful and
hostile towards everything.

Maybe the idea of having a
stranger around scares her.

Maybe.

She must need help.

If she's resentful and
doesn't want john-boy there,

There's not much
he can do about it.

We need the other
pie, mary ellen.

Dad... Daddy, she did say she didn't
care whether I came back or not.

She didn't want me
there in the first place.

Sure she means it, son?

[Sighing]

Well, it is possible that she
doesn't know what she wants.

In her situation, I
could understand that.

I sure do need the money.

[Crashing]

Mary ellen, take that thing off.

(Grandma) good lord!

It's terrible.

It must be terrible to be blind.

Mary ellen?

Mary ellen, what's
the matter with you?

I don't wanna talk
to you, john-boy.

Why not?

Are you going to take that job?

Why is that job so
important to you?

John-boy, do you know what
I do when I get very lonely

And I don't feel like
talking to anybody?

No.

Well, I read a book.

And it's because of you,

Because of the
way you love them.

And you taught us all
that the world is in books

And that they make
you less lonely.

I think that ruth must be the
loneliest person in the world.

[Sighing] mary ellen.

What do you think she
would like me to read to her?

I think she'd like
anything you choose.

Thanks.

Good night.

Good night.

You said to remind
you when it's : .

Oh.

The morning goes so fast.

I like these days when you
don't have morning classes.

How come?

Oh, I don't know.

Your studying up here makes
the house seem different,

Sort of calmer.

That's nice.

You better hurry or
you're gonna be late.

I don't know exactly
when I'll be back.

Good luck with the job.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

Ruth should be down in
a few minutes, mr. Walton.

Please sit down.

Thank you.

I can't tell you how relieved
I was to get your phone call.

I do hope you understand
how much I appreciate this.

Oh, there's no need.

I, uh, brought a
couple of books.

I hope ruth will enjoy them.

Well, I hope so, too.

It would be wonderful if she'd
take a little interest in something.

She, uh, hardly
leaves the house,

Except to go out in the garden.

I wish you could have
known her before.

You mean she
wasn't always blind?

She was one of the most outgoing,
energetic girls you ever saw.

And bright! Lively,
enquiring mind.

She was a freshman at
boatwright, you know.

Well, when did this happen?

Well, quite recently,
very suddenly.

Years ago,

She had a severe
case of scarlet fever

And when it was
over she was blind.

[Sighing]

That's awful.

Well, of course it
was terrible for her.

[Sighing]

But, when the
shock of it wore off,

She seemed to, uh,
come to terms with it

And taught herself to
do things and get around.

I remember her saying, "I'm going
to think of this as a handicap,

Not a tragedy."

She even discovered

That in richmond there's
an institute for the blind.

And they were gonna train her

And prepare her to
go back to college.

Ruth's father adored her.

All her life, he encouraged her

And helped her in
everything she did.

And during those first days,

The times when she
was... Doubted herself,

He supported her
and helped her up.

What happened?

In the middle of
all the new plans,

He d*ed very suddenly.

Now, that was too much for ruth.

She couldn't cope.

She just seemed to shrink
away from everything

And withdraw more
and more into herself.

And there's... There's absolutely no
possibility that she'll ever see again?

None.

Oh, ruth, I was, uh...

We were talking about, uh... Me.

Well, i, uh, I
really, I have to go.

I've got a lot of things to do.

Oh, goodness, I didn't
know how late it had gotten.

Well, I'll, uh,

Leave you to your reading then.

[Sighing]

Oh, hello, again.

You're standing, aren't you?

Yes.

Well, I'd prefer
it if you'd sit.

Um,

I, uh, I don't really know
what you're interested in,

So I just went to the library

And i... I picked up
a volume of poetry

And a couple of novels
and some essays...

Apparently, my mother thinks
you should know more about my life.

I tend to disagree with her.

But to answer your
question more fully,

The answer is no.

I shall never be
able to see again.

Now don't you think it's time
you got on with your reading?

Of course.

Uh,

Well, what sort of thing
would you like to hear first?

It doesn't matter.

Poetry.

Poetry? Good. I... I have, uh...

I... I picked up a volume
of tennyson here.

Um...

I like tennyson myself.

I have a couple
of things I chose.

[Clearing throat] uh, the...

the lady of shalott
is, uh, you know...

the lady of shalott.

[Clearing throat]

"On either side the river

"Lie long fields of
barley and of rye

"That clothe the
wold and meet the sky

"And thro' the field the road
runs by to many-tower'd camelot

And up and down..."

[Laughing]

(Jim-bob) put your
plugs in your ears.

(Erin) jason, I saw you making
eyes at jane carrington.

(Ben) that's right.

(Mary ellen) yes, you were,
all through the history test.

You did everything
but give the answers.

(Jim-bob) what about
those love birds?

[All chattering] (jason)
you're crazy.

I don't even like
jane carrington.

Elizabeth,

Get down off and
give me your hand.

Honey, you do that again, and
I'm gonna spank your behind.

But I almost made
it halfway across.

I don't care how far you got.

You know you're
not supposed to do it

Unless ben or mary ellen or
me is holding onto your hand.

What's so bad about it?
"What's so bad about it?"

There's about an foot drop
from the bridge to the water.

That's what's so bad about it.

Yeah, a tidal wave will
come and wash you away

And you'll get eaten
by a gigantic whale.

[Growling]

And you'll be known to everyone
as elizabeth jonah walton.

[Growling]

Get your books, honey.

[Birds chirping]

[Jason whistling]

(Ben) all right.

We gotta study today.

[Water flowing]

Jason. Mmm-hmm.

I think I'm going to
stay here for a while.

You ok?

Sure.

(Ben) boy, that was an
easy test today, wasn't it?

(Jim-bob) don't you talk
about it. I knew you'd fail!

[All laughing]

[All chattering]

(Jim-bob) what about
jason here, now?

[Chirping]

(john-boy) "he clasps the
crag with crooked hands

"Close to the sun
in lonely lands

"Ringed with the
azure world, he stands

"The wrinkled sea
beneath him crawls

"He watches from
his mountain walls

And like a
thunderbolt he falls."

Do you like tennyson?

Sometimes.

"Wrinkled sea" is good, I think.

Yes.

But usually I find him too

Sentimental.

Uh, would you like to go out
into the garden for a little while?

It's probably cooler out
there... No, I prefer it in here.

Maybe some other time we
could go out into the garden.

No, maybe sometime, if you'd
like, I could take you for a walk.

We could go for walks.

Mr. Walton,

I think I should
explain something.

I never go out of this house.

You see, a long time
ago a doctor supplied me

With a cane and some spectacles,

All the trappings
of a blind person.

I prefer not calling
attention to myself

By tapping my way
along the sidewalk.

Of course not

But it wouldn't be
that way with me.

I think friday is the next time

You're supposed to be here.

Yes.

Well, I'll expect
to see you then.

(John) run!

[All exclaiming] run, elizabeth!

(Grandpa) that girl's going to
turn out to be a regular babe ruth.

She's out.

sh**t! I don't know.

It's the way ruth
feels, john-boy.

I don't see that there's
much you can do about it.

I'm not trying to do anything.

I just offered to
take her for a walk.

She turned everything around.

Made it sound like I'd said
something stupid or tactless.

Sounds to me like she may be using that
blindness of hers to blackmail people.

[Children chattering] hmm?

Remember martha anderson, liv?

Mmm-hmm. Your first cousin.

Nd from zeb's side.

I'll see if those
potatoes are done.

Want me to give you a hand, liv?

Sit still.

What about her?

She had an accident.
She was about .

I guess, she was riding
on the back of a hay wagon

And somethin' scared the
team, and they ran away.

It was an awful accident.

She'd come home
from the hospital,

She didn't even try to
start a new life for herself.

There's not much else she
could do, was there, daddy?

(John) maybe nothing,

But the point is,
she didn't even try.

Her family let her
get away with it,

Always fetching
and carrying for her.

(Grandpa) from then
on, she used that injury

To wangle anything she
ever wanted out of everybody.

What happened to her?

Well, she just became a
mean, bitter, old woman.

Yeah, it's an
awful thing to say,

But I can't remember
a single person

That was sorry when she d*ed.

(Olivia) supper's ready.

Hey, come on, everybody.

Wash up.

Well, daddy,

I'd hate to see that
happen to ruth.

I'd hate to see it happen, too.

There's only so
much anybody can do,

Then it's up to
the other person.

[Whistling]

John-boy!

John-boy!

I didn't know you
were leaving so early.

What's the matter?

Well, would you do
something for me?

Uh, well, what?

Will you promise you
won't think it's stupid?

Mary ellen, what is it?

Well, when you see
ruth this afternoon,

Would you give her this?

I guess you could call
it a token of friendship.

I spent a long time down by
the creek the other afternoon.

I wanted to find
just the right one.

Oh, it's beautiful.
It's real smooth.

Close your eyes
and feel it. Go on.

You can pretend it's anything
you want, a bird or a fish.

Run your thumb along
the groove in the side.

It feels like the
bowl of a teaspoon.

[Chuckling] you're
right, it does.

It's very nice.

You don't think
it's stupid, do you?

No, I don't. I think
it's wonderful

And I'm sure she'll
appreciate it.

See you later. Bye.

"The fact is, lady bracknell,
I said I had lost my parents.

"It would be nearer
the truth to say

"That my parents
seem to have lost me.

"I don't actually
know who I am by birth.

I was... Well, I was found."

"Found!"

"The late mr. Thomas cardew,

"An old gentleman of very
charitable and kindly disposition

"Found me, and gave
me the name of worthing

"Because he happened to have a
first-class ticket for worthing

"In his pocket at the time.

"Worthing is a place in sussex.

It is a seaside resort."

"Where did the charitable
gentleman who had a first-class ticket

For this seaside
resort find you?"

"In a handbag."

"A handbag?"

I'd forgotten that
play was so witty.

Hmm, it is.

I, uh,

Suppose I should
have told you that, uh,

the importance of being ernest

Is... Is really an
assignment at college.

Oh!

k*lling birds with one stone.

Doing your school
assignment and reading to me.

Do you mind?

Why should i?

There's

Something I forgot
to tell you, too.

You read very well.

Well, thank you.

I imagine I've had
a lot of practice

Reading to my brothers and
sisters while they were growing.

You're from a large family?

Oh, large?

Well, there's
brothers and sisters

And, uh, mama and
daddy, of course,

And... And my grandma
and my grandpa.

We all sit down
together at the table.

There's a whole bunch of
us, and it's very noisy, too.

Uh, where do you live?

Walton's mountain.

It's a very small place,
about miles from here.

There's just a... A baptist
church, a methodist church

And a store, like godsey's.
That's where we do our shopping

And... And pick up our
mail and use the telephone.

I've never heard of it.

Um, I'm not surprised.

It's a nice place, though. People
who go there seem to like it.

I remember, a couple of years
ago, there... There was about, uh...

Oh, I don't know. A bunch of carnival
people were stranded on their way

To the chicago world's fair.

They stayed there
about , days

And even they said
they hated to leave.

It sounds very nice.

It is.

You know, ruth, uh,

I remember what you said
about not going out and all

But if you'd ever like to
come to the mountain... No!

I mean, maybe on a saturday...

I'm afraid that
would be impossible.

Well, there wouldn't be
anybody but my family there.

You mean, because
it's your family

They'd be polite and
on their best behavior.

No, that's not what I mean.

I just told 'em about you.
They'd like to meet you, that's all.

Would they? Mmm-hmm.

Especially my
sister, mary ellen.

I have, oh...

This reminds me. She... She...
She wanted me to give you this.

She said it was sort of
a... A token of friendship.

It's just a pebble. That's all.

She found it in the
creek by the house.

She said she took a lot of
time just to find the right one.

The one she thought
felt the most interesting.

It's a perfect gift.

How appropriate.

What do you mean?

A stone for someone
who's stone-blind!

Ruth, ruth, I wanna
tell you one thing,

My sister took a lot of care
to find something for you

That she thought would
have a... A special meaning...

Oh, a special meaning?

You mean something to
remind me that I'm blind?

No, ruth.

No. You don't need
anything to remind you.

You remind yourself.

Every day that you
spend locked in here

Away from the world,
refusing to go out.

You remind yourself that
you're blind every day of your life!

Oh, yes, I do! Oh, yes, you do.

And every... And every unkind, harsh word
that you utter is just a plea for pity.

Well, I can't pity you.

When I first took this job,

I thought maybe I could help you

But I see I can't
do that either.

You know, ruth,

If my sister's gift was
tactless or wrong, I'm sorry.

But I assure you, it
wasn't intended to be.

John!

[Door closing]

John!

[Sighing]

Yes. (Mrs. Thomas)
ruth, I'm home.

Yes, that's right.

Yes, thank you.

Bye.

Ruth, where's john walton?

He's... He's already left.

Mother,

Um, there are some things

That... That I'd
like to ask you.

Of course, dear.

Please, sit down.

John-boy, you are not
going to believe this

But I was just thinking to
myself as I came out of ike's,

"Wouldn't it be nice if john-boy
walton drove by right now?"

(Olivia) and how was your day?

Nothing to brag about.

Does it have anything
to do with this?

What?

The phone message
that came in at ike's.

What does it say?

Says, "I'd like to come to
walton's mountain tomorrow.

I'll arrive by taxi and be
there around noon. Ruth."

From what you've told me
about her, i... I don't understand.

Well, I think I do.

Livie, do we have any
of that celery salt left?

It's in that cabinet behind
you if there's any left.

I only need a pinch just
to finish up that coleslaw.

(Olivia) is it : yet?

Till.

Is ruth's mother
coming with her?

Well, I imagine so. This is her first
time out. I don't think she'd go alone.

Here it is. Just... Stop it.

Just enough.

I'll have this ready
in a minute, livie.

Taxi's here!

Well, I'll get her.

[Chuckles]

(Ruth) thank you.

[Car engine idling]

Ruth.

Hello, john.

Hello.

Uh, did you get my
message all right?

Yes, I did.

Ruth, I'm very,
very glad you came.

I... I came because

I wanted to apologize to you
for what happened yesterday

And I wanted to
thank your sister.

And...

What?

Well, yesterday, after you left

I was alone for some time.

And for the first time

I began to think about
going out of the house.

And I realized something.

That maybe the world
outside the house

Wasn't as frightening as
I was making it out to be.

And the only way
that I'd find that out

Would be by going out into it.

See, yours was the
only invitation I had.

I decided to try it because

I think I want my life back.

And I'm trying it because

If I don't find out,
I'll never know.

Well.

The best way to start
is by meeting my family

And there's a whole
bunch of them to meet.

Yes, I know. I
remember you told me.

This way.

Jim-bob.

Jim-bob, this is ruth.

Ruth, this is jim-bob,
my youngest brother.

Hi. Hi.

We're all ready to go. Daddy
said to put these in the truck.

Ok, go on.

Mama. Mama, this is ruth.

Ruth, this is my
mother, olivia walton.

Hello, ruth. How do you do?

Such a beautiful day, we
thought we'd have a picnic lunch.

Are you hungry?

Yes, I am.

This is my oldest
daughter, mary ellen.

Hi.

Hello.

I wanted to thank
you for the gift.

It was very thoughtful of you.

I'm glad you liked it.

I'm elizabeth, the littlest one.

Yes, I guess you are.

And I guess I'm the largest.

By far, and the oldest.

I'm esther walton,
john-boy's grandma.

How do you do?

And the old man's my husband.

She's half my size and
my age, but my favorite.

Shall I escort you
to the truck? Yes.

We're just leaving for a picnic.

[Chuckling] thank you.

Ellen. Come on, everybody.

(Grandpa) picnic. Come
on. There you go.

[All chattering]

(Elizabeth) don't s*ab me
with the fishing poles.

(Ben) oops.

♪♪[All singing]

And I heard sounds I've never
heard before in my whole life.

I used to lie awake
at night in my room

And listen to the sounds
that the house made.

First, I hated
listening to them.

I would put my
hands over my ears.

[Birds chirping]

And then slowly I
began to count on 'em.

Now, we had a mockingbird that used
to live in a tree right under my window.

I used to love to listen to him.

I counted one morning,
separate calls.

He just couldn't stop.

How old are you, mary ellen?

, Why?

Have you

Ever thought of what you'd want
to do when you finished school?

I'm pretty sure.

I want to be a
nurse or a doctor.

But that costs a lot of money

And there don't seem to be
too many women in that field.

But something where... Well...

Something where you
could help people in trouble.

Yeah.

Well, you'll be very good
at it, whatever you choose.

You've already made me feel

A lot more comfortable
and... And more at ease.

What do you want to be?

I wanted to be a teacher.

I love the idea of
teaching children.

I wanted to be the first one

To introduce them to books.

Ruth, do you know
who helen keller is?

Yes.

Well, you could be like her.

I mean, she had a lot more
to get past than you do.

And there's special schools
for people who are blind.

And there's those
dogs that are trained.

And... And so what
if you can't see?

I mean, you can talk
and you can love things.

And that's really all a
teacher has to do anyway, right?

Yes.

Thank you, mary ellen,

For your energy and your care.

Hey, come on.

Mama's got lunch ready, and she
says if you don't get there fast,

She won't be responsible
for saving you anything.

[Mary ellen and ruth laughing]

After lunch, we could
go to the swimming hole.

Isn't it a little chilly to
be thinking about swimming?

Well, it'll be summer again

And then we could go swimming.

That's right, elizabeth.

It will be summer again.

(Grandpa) he wasn't
very old when he said,

"I think I could turn
and live with animals."

(Mary ellen) erin, were
you watching him

To see if he was trying
not to look at you?

Walt. Walt whitman.

[All chattering]

I never read too much whitman.

Hey, erin, I'll race
you to the bridge.

Ok. Me, too!

(Olivia) sit down and let
your food digest, please.

Oh, mama, there's nothing to do.

Yes, there is, elizabeth.

You could tell me where we are.

Oh, well, the
mountain's behind us

And, why, there are some trees.

What kind of trees?

Oh, all kinds.

It's called drucilla pond.

And I come here to
write quite often.

A writer needs a special place

To sit and think
in peace and quiet.

"Give me, kind heaven,
a private station

A mind serene for
contemplation!"

That's real nice, pa.

Oh, it's just a little piece of
verse I picked up from somewhere.

Oh, this food, this sun.

If we don't go pretty soon,
I'm going to fall asleep.

There won't be
anymore work today.

I know exactly how you feel.

So we better pack up, everyone.

[Sighing] come on.

Jim-bob.

Get a move on.

All right, john-boy, quit
lying on your watermelon.

What was that again, grandpa?

"A mind serene for
contemplation!"

Where's that from?
Do you know that, ruth?

Uh, no.

Palgrave's golden treasury.

It's nice.

It's funny, though.

In a way, it kind of describes
how this place feels to me

So private and serene.

You know, we
have a lot in common.

Poets under the skin.

That's the way I have
always felt about this place.

I get it from my father.

Well, he always loved poetry.

Your hand.

It's like different hands.

I mean, this side is so smooth

And the palm, it's
as tough as leather.

Ah, it comes from over
years of hard work, I guess.

It also comes from
a lifetime of being

Both gentle and strong.

Oh, ruthie,

You're a girl
after my own heart.

You're all coming?

Yeah.

Oh, ruth, would you like to
walk on back to the house?

We could take the
path by the stream.

Sounds nice.

Can I come?

Sure.

Daddy,

We're gonna walk on
back to the house, ok?

[Grunting]

Hey, grandpa. Mmm-hmm.

Would you take that for me?

Sure. Uh, ok.

Come along, elizabeth.

We'll see you back at the house.

Erin!

Oh, I love that
sound of the stream.

Mmm-hmm.

The smell of it, too.

The smell?

Yes, an extra that
comes with being blind.

Are you cold?

Uh, a little.

I guess I left my
sweater and purse

Back there at the picnic place.

Oh, uh... Elizabeth?
Honey? Yeah?

Will you stay here
with ruth for a minute?

I'm gonna go back and fetch
her sweater. I'll be right back.

Thank you. Now, here's the
railing of the bridge right here.

There, ok? I'll be right back.

Thank you!

Well,

It must be awfully
nice living here.

It's so peaceful and quiet.

Might be peaceful out here,

But it's sure noisy
back at the house.

I suppose so.

With all those
brothers and sisters,

There must be something
always going on.

You know, when I was your age,

I always wanted a brother.

Once, I even
pretended I had one.

Harold, I used to call him.

I read it in a book

And it sounded like
a good, solid name

For a brother of mine to have.

Did you ever do that?

Make up imaginary friends?

Elizabeth, where are you?

I'm doing my dare act.

Dare?

Yeah, I get on
the bridge railing.

Jason doesn't want me to
do it 'cause he thinks I'll fall.

Uh, elizabeth, get
down from there.

It's easy. I do it all the time.

Elizabeth, please get down.

Elizabeth, give me your hand!

[Exclaiming]

[Water splashing]

Elizabeth, please!

John!

John!

Kids, wait here.

Elizabeth!

Elizabeth!

[Gasping]

[Sobbing] elizabeth!

Elizabeth!

Elizabeth!

I got her! I got her!

Ruth! Ruth!

Ruth, it's john. I got
you. I've got you now.

I got you. I got you. I got you.

It's all right. It's all
right. Just hold on to me.

You just hold on to me. It's ok.

Easy.

All right, honey?

[Ruth crying] (john-boy) ruth.

My head hurts, but I'm ok.

[Sobbing] I'll help you out.

Go ahead.

Go on, it's all right.

It's ok. Stand up.
Easy, honey. Easy.

Just wait.

Just wait right
here. Here's a tree.

I'll be right back.
I'll be right back.

It's all right, son.

She's all right? Yeah.

I'll tell ruth.

Lord. Ruth!

(John-boy) ruth!

No, ruth!

Stop! No!

[Sobbing] get away from me!

Get away.

Ruth, elizabeth's all
right. She's all right.

Elizabeth is all
right. Come on...

Go away. Ruth! Ruth!

I know exactly how you feel...

No, you don't! Yes, I do.

You feel like you shouldn't
have come here in the first place.

You feel it was all your fault.

Like it was stupid for
you to come out here...

You're not blind! Of
course I'm not blind!

But I don't have to be blind

To know that you have no business
throwing your life away like that.

It's cowardly to go
back to the kind of life

That you had before
in that... In that house.

Ruth.

Please, just...
Just listen to me.

Ruth, you told me this morning
that you wanted your life back.

Well, you've got it back.

You've had it back all day long.

Please, just don't
let it slip away again.

Please, just hold on to it.

Please, just don't run away.

John. Yes, yes, I'm right here.

Help me.

All right. Of
course I'll help you.

You're all right.

Just hold on.

Just don't let
go. I'm right here.

Don't let go.

Just don't let go.

Just don't let go.

Step.

(john-boy) the doctor said

elizabeth had nothing more
serious than a bump on the head

and a bruised knee.

ruth returned to westham

but she didn't remain
hidden away bye, ruth.

like she had before. bye-bye.

after some training at an
institute for the blind goodbye.

she returned to
boatwright university, bye.

was graduated

and eventually became
a social welfare worker

for the state of virginia.

(Jim-bob) mama?

(Olivia) yes, jim-bob?

Ben's snoring, and
he's keeping me awake.

Maybe he'll stop if you
turn him over on his side.

Ok.

(Ben) jim-bob, what do
you think you're doing?

You gone crazy or something?

[Jason yawning]

(Jason) will you... Will
you two pipe down?

Keeping everybody awake.

Ben, you better stop hitting me.

You started it. (John-boy)
what's going on over there?

(Mary ellen) there's a
fight in the boy's room.

Oh, no.

You children behave yourselves
before you wake your father.

You're going to get it, jim-bob!

Leave me alone, ben.

Ben! Jim-bob! Go back to bed!

(Elizabeth) who's
winning, jason?

Am I gonna have to
come over there?

(Jason) ben's
winning, elizabeth.

(Erin) it's a disgrace how no
one gets to sleep around.

(Grandma) you children
want a spanking?

[All chattering]

(Elizabeth) daddy!

(John) you think I'd
better go over there, liv?

(Olivia) somebody had
better do something.

[All chattering]