03x05 - The Romance

[bunniefuu]

[Birds chirping]

(john-boy) life on walton's
mountain never seemed more stable

than when I was
and in college.

it was comforting to know
that the family was always there,

knowing exactly
what they were doing,

and accepting it as the right
and necessary way to live.

each of us has a secret life,
private dreams and aspirations

and fantasies that we are
hesitant to share with others.

i had always associated
my mother with our home,

and thought the boundaries of her
life were within the walls of that house.

then, one day, I happened to stumble
across my mother's private dream.

[Blowing air]

[Exclaiming]

John-boy! What do you mean,
creepin' up on me like that?

You could scare a body to death.

I'm sorry, I just
wanted to surprise you.

You certainly did that.

What's that? Give it to me.

Can I see it? No, give it to me.

This is good!

It is not, now give...

When did you take up painting?

[Sighing] I didn't.

It's just relaxin', that's all.

Have you done any others?

Or .

Of what?

The house,

Elizabeth asleep under the
oak tree, and this one. That's all.

Can I see them? No,
I threw 'em away.

You threw them away! Why?

Because it's just
foolish doodlin'.

Now, let's get home.

All right. I've
got the car here.

Art lessons? What would
I do with art lessons?

Learn. Develop your talent.

I don't have any talent.

Are you tellin' the college man

He doesn't know
talent when he sees it?

[Chuckling]

Well, supposin'
I did, and I don't,

Where would I take the lessons?

In charlottesville,
at the high school,

They have night
classes for adults.

We can't afford that.

Night classes are free.

All you do is supply
the materials.

Oh!

Anyway, I don't have the time.

One evening a week
for a few hours.

Well, I just can't go
off and leave everybody.

[Sighing] mama, the
children are old enough

To put themselves
to bed. Even elizabeth.

[Laughing]

Well, how would I get there?

Uh, um, uh, well, uh,
you could drive my car!

I'll teach you how to drive.

[Laughing]

Why not?

[Both laughing]

And nobody'll have to worry
about getting whooping cough again.

I'll believe that when I see it.

Well, you'll see it in
a year or , grandma.

(Elizabeth) what's an injection?

(Mary ellen) well, they
stick a needle in your arm.

(Jim-bob) like a sh*t. I'd rather
have the whooping cough.

(Jason) oh, well, we've
had tonight's disease.

I wonder what tomorrow
night's disease is gonna be?

Now, you boys stop
teasin' your sister.

She's tellin' you things
that are important to her.

We know that, daddy. She's better
than information, please! on the radio.

Well, you'll all
sing a different tune

When an epidemic sweeps
over walton's mountain

And they have to call me back
from wherever I'm serving mankind

To give you all injections
to save your lives.

[All laughing]

John-boy's gonna
teach me to drive.

Good lord.

(Jim-bob) but you already
know how to drive a bicycle.

(Grandpa) well,
good for you, livie.

You'll be ready to take off when
this family gets to be too much for you!

(Grandma) that's
not funny, old man.

(Grandma) now, why do you
have to learn how to drive?

(Grandma) there's no
place you need to go

That one of the
men can't take you.

I'm going to go to night school.

In charlottesville.

And that's why I need
to learn how to drive.

Night school. But you've
had plenty of schoolin'.

(Olivia) john, you
haven't said anything.

What're you planning
on studying, liv?

Painting.

Oh, I remember, you used
to like to paint pictures.

(John) haven't done
that for a long time.

I'll bet you'll be
a famous artist.

I doubt that, jim-bob.

(Erin) I don't understand.

Why do you have to take
lessons to learn how to paint?

There's a lot of things
about paintin' I don't know,

And I'd enjoy learnin' 'em.

(Grandma) and once you've learned
'em, what good'll they do you?

(Ben) excuse me.

She can paint a picture of
me, and I'll be immortalized.

Wouldn't you like to
pose with me, old girl?

(Grandma) oh, you
old fool, stop it.

[Grandpa laughing]

(Jim-bob) mama, will you
paint a picture of me?

(Olivia) if I get
good enough, I will.

What would you paint?

Oh, I'd paint you in
your aviator's cap,

Standing outside, watching
an airplane go over.

Mama, are you gonna have
to live in charlottesville?

[Chuckling] no, honey, I'll only
be gone for a few hours,

One night a week.

And then I won't
leave till after supper.

If you go to school, mama,

Why don't you take a course
that you could make money at?

You could take lessons
in sewin' or gardenin'.

(Grandma) now that
might make some sense.

Livie knows all she needs
to know about those things.

Remember the time I
went on that fishing trip

Because I was feelin'
the need of a change?

(John) maybe that's the way
livie feels about these lessons.

That's exactly how I feel.

Well, I just don't know what's
gotten into people these days.

Traipsin' off to take
up paintin' lessons,

And... And talkin' about being
a... A travelin' nurse or somethin'.

Well, as far as I'm concerned,

I want things to be kept
exactly the way they have been.

Grandma, I've heard
you complain before

About doin' the same
thing day after day.

(Olivia) settin' the
table, doin' the chores.

It's no different for
me. I do need a change.

I need to do
somethin' for myself.

It doesn't mean I care
any the less for all of you,

It... It just means
that I want more.

I want to be a more
interestin' person, for myself.

I think it'll be good
for all of you, too.

John-boy?

Hmm? What does this mean?

What? "When cars
come to an intersection

The car to the right
has the right of way."

To the right of what?

To the right of
you. To your right.

If the car is on your
right, he goes first.

If the car is on your
left, you go first.

Ow!

Squeeze it, erin, and keep
your eye on the needle.

'Cause if he's on my
left, then I'm on his right.

[Chuckling] that's right.

Uh, that's only if you reach
the intersection at the same time.

If you reach the intersection
last, he goes first.

If he reaches the
intersection last, you go first.

[Laughing]

How do I look?

Very nice. What are
you so gussied up for?

I'm going walking
with don millman.

Don millman! He
thinks he's so great!

Well, he is. Someday
he's going to be a doctor.

Ah, and you're
going to be a nurse,

That makes it very convenient.

[Knocking]

Evening, all. (John-boy)
good evening, doctor.

(Olivia) come on in.

Uh, don and I are going
for our walk now.

Don't you two be late.

You should see what
mary ellen was doing today.

She was sitting in front
of the mirror sayin',

"Dr. And mrs. Don millman,
mr. And mrs. Don millman."

(Erin) and she kept sayin'
it over and over again.

Well, don't you
think it's disgusting?

[Erin running upstairs]

[Door closing]

John-boy,

What does this mean?

What are you doin'?

I'm going to be a
painter like mama.

How do you like it?

(Jim-bob) it's ok.

Want me to do one for you?

If you want to.

I don't see why mama has to go
to school to learn how to paint.

It's simple. All you gotta
do is sit down and paint.

Ok, mama, let's go.

Come on!

Thank you.

Well?

I can't even find
art classes on this.

You can't? Here they are.
Art classes, right there.

There are of 'em. Yeah.

Well, why don't you start with the
simplest? This looks perfect to me:

"Beginners water color classes,

Tuesday nights,
from : to : p.m."

That's it.

Oh, john-boy,
this is so exciting!

Yeah, we're gonna have to
concentrate on those driving lessons.

It's gonna be
nothing but a dream

If you can't get
yourself back and forth.

(John-boy) ok, mama. Now,
make sure it's in neutral.

Now it's in neutral.

All right, turn your key. Ok.

Push down on the clutch.

[Squeaking]

Push down on the starter button.

[Engine revving]

Elizabeth! Come here!

Elizabeth, you stay still.

(John-boy) now, push
down on the accelerator.

[Engine revving] not too
much! Not too much!

Ease her into first gear.

Now, down on the accelerator
and ease it up on the clutch.

Ease up off the clutch.

Take your foot
off the clutch easy.

Ease it up, ease it up.

[Both exclaiming]

(John-boy) put your brake on!

No! Watch out! No, no, no.

(John-boy) step on the brake!

Put the brake on!

Keep out of the garden!

I'm not gonna lie anymore.

(John-boy) mama, no!
Brake! Brake it, don't...

Oh, john-boy! Take
it easy! Hold on.

Watch out for the trees.

Grandma, we gotta
get her out of there!

Steer for the tree!

Oh! John-boy!

(John-boy) well, just
put the brakes on!

(John) get back, get
back, everybody!

Turn that thing off, john-boy.
You're not teachin' her right.

What do you mean I'm not
teachin' her right, daddy?

This is a whole different
thing from the truck.

It's not the same at all.
Don't tell me what's different.

I've been drivin' longer
than you've been alive.

I know as much about cars as
anyone on walton's mountain.

(Grandpa) I drove the
first one back in .

(John-boy) oh, grandpa, these
new cars are very different

From those old ones. It's
not the same thing at all.

I may have forgotten
what I knew,

But I do know you're not
supposed to strip your gears.

I know coordination is the
main thing, I was just... I'm sorry.

[Birds chirping]

Any sign of them yet, son?

No, sir.

[Sighing] think anything
happened to 'em?

(Mary ellen) of course
not, elizabeth.

They probably just had a
long line at the license office.

Esther, come on
out and see the fun.

(Grandma) I have chores to do.

Here they come!

Jason, who's drivin'?

I can't tell.

(Erin) it's mama!
Mama's drivin'!

Then get out of the way!

(John) good job,
honey! You learned it.

(John-boy) how about that?
We got a lady with a license.

[All cheering]

John-boy, now can I
learn how to drive?

No, not tonight, mary ellen.

Tonight mama's going into
town for her first class.

(Erin) bye, mama. Bye.

Have a good time.

(All) bye. Drive careful.

(Grandma) now, you drive
carefully, you hear?

(Grandpa) bring
home your pictures!

[Engine starting]

(John-boy) hey!

[All laughing]

(John) that's the
wrong way. That way.

(John-boy) wrong way.

(Mary ellen) have fun.

(John) bye-bye. Bye!

Hello, I'm joshua
williams. And you're...

I'm olivia walton.

Olivia.

Ladies and gentlemen,
your attention, please.

I want to introduce you
to your new classmate,

Olivia walton.

(All) how do you do?

Olivia, meet the rest of
tomorrow's greatest painters!

[All chuckling]

Why don't we put
you back there, huh?

Put your art book right here.

Let's put this on, so you
won't get your sweater dirty.

Thank you.

Paint, brushes, board,

Charcoal.

We're working on apples.

Have a seat, olivia.

Is everything all right?

Oh, yes, thank
you, mr. Williams.

Does it bother you
that I called you olivia?

Oh, no.

Well, yes, I suppose
it does. I guess i...

I guess I thought school
would be more formal.

[Chuckling]

All right, mrs. Walton.

That's too formal.

It's only paper.

[Sighing]

It's so empty.

[Chuckling]

It will be until you fill it.

[Sighing] and after you've
made that first mark,

You'll be much less scared
than you think you are right now.

I've never drawn apples before.

What have you drawn?

Well, I tried to paint
a mountain once.

Was it a real mountain?
Oh, yes, walton's mountain

Named after my husband's family

When they first settled there.

It's... It's very pretty.

Why do you want to paint it?

Because it's so strong

And comforting.

It seems to be saying, "don't
worry. I'll always be here,

"Standing

And watching over you."

Think I'll try those apples now.

♪♪[orchestra
music playing on radio]

He understands what I
mean almost before I say it.

It's the strangest thing, john.

It's almost as if he has a
special way of knowing.

Guess that's what
makes him a good teacher.

The students
sure like him a lot.

Especially the women.

He has a way with them.

Them?

How about you?

[Laughing] oh, john,
he's just a baby!

What'd you paint?

Oh, I'm not good
enough to paint, yet.

I'm still at the
sketchin' stage.

I drew a bowl of apples.

I'd like to see that.

Well, maybe when they're round
like apples, instead of flat like pennies,

I'll show it to you.

[Door opening]

[Hinges squeaking]

Mary ellen,

[Clearing throat]

[Sighing] I don't know
how many more nights

I'm gonna be able to
stay up waiting for you.

Oh, I'm sorry, daddy,
the time just flew by.

(Olivia) mary ellen,
don is a nice boy,

But : is your
bedtime on weekdays.

[Sighing]

We're workin' people, honey,
and school's your work.

You're not going
to be able to do it

If you don't get enough sleep.

Oh, at my age, I don't
need much sleep.

Well, at my age, I do.

What do you and don find to
talk about for so long, anyway?

[Sighing]

Sutures.

[Snorting]

Sutures!

[Olivia laughing]

A lot of improvement.
Good night.

Good night.

[Muttering]

Good night, joshua.

(Joshua) good night,
janice. Florence.

[Women giggling]

[Chuckling]

Olivia.

[Chuckling]

I wanted to show
you somethin'. Oh?

[Exclaiming]

[Laughing] they're round!

Olivia, the apples are round!

Now you're ready
to start painting.

I know. I never
thought I'd get it right.

They're very good, too.

Though you still
could use a little work,

Right here, a
little more shading.

Oh, sensitive. The
mark of the true artist.

Now, why don't you tell me why
you really stayed after the others?

I wanted to show you
my mountain picture.

Oh.

I've been working
on it at home, and i...

Oh!

I see what you mean.

About the mountain bein' strong.

It's very good, olivia.

Thank you.

It could be a lot
better, though.

Oh, of course it could be.

But it shows spirit,

And you can see the care
that's gone into the work.

Qualities I see
in you, I see in it.

I worked really hard on it.

[Chuckling]

You know, you should
paint a lot more, olivia.

You have a lot of things
to say and you have the skill.

You could express
them beautifully

If you really work on it.

I don't have the kind
of time it would take.

Oh, if you enjoy it, then
you must make the time.

Ha! There's too much housework.

Housework is for
ordinary people.

(Olivia) you don't understand.

My time isn't my
own. I have a family.

Then you must get away from them

To a quiet place
where you can work.

[Laughing] you really
don't understand.

When I say a family, I mean it.

I've got children.

Housework may be ordinary
but, then, so is my life.

Olivia,

Do you ever think about
a different kind of life?

One where you could do
just what you wanted to do?

You could paint
whenever you wanted to,

You could eat at
any hour you chose,

Or if you wanted to walk
in the rain or the sunlight,

All you'd have to do would be to
walk out the door and start walkin'.

Hmm.

Do you ever think
about a kind of life

Where you could do exactly
what you wanted to do,

When you wanted to do it?

Yes, sometimes.

Is that the kind
of life you have?

[Laughing]

Oh, that's the way
I'd want it to be.

Sounds lovely.

But I've chosen a
different kind of life.

But you do think about it?

Yes, sometimes.

Come on. Let's go
have a cup of coffee.

[Laughing] thank you,
but I have to get home.

Now, now.

Try doing just what
you feel like doing.

For half an hour, anyway.

All right.

[Laughing]

I don't know. The
only problem is, uh,

I get a little icky at
the sight of blood.

Oh, well, if you're
gonna be a doctor, don,

I mean, you know, you gotta
overcome that type of thing.

I mean, like, take
me. I mean, I've been...

I've been around
blood all my life.

You know, with the
chickens and the...

Mary ellen. It's
time to come in.

In a minute, grandma.

Mary ellen, it's late.

I'll be right in.

[Sighing]

[Door slamming]

She's so old-fashioned.

Oh, I don't know about that.

I think your grandma's right.

Women need lookin' after.

Well, don, if I'm
gonna be a doctor...

You mean nurse.

I've changed my mind.

Mary ellen, why are you
tryin' to compete with me?

(Grandma) mary ellen.
Just a minute, grandma!

Listen, don millman, let
me tell you something.

I'm not the least bit interested
in competing with you.

I want you inside
this house right now.

I can be just as good a
doctor as you, if not better.

As far as I'm concerned,
you can just go jump in a lake.

Grandma, why do you
have to keep yelling at me?

Don and I are trying to
have a serious conversation.

Because it's late
and I need my sleep.

Well, why don't you go to bed?

Well, because it's not
proper for you to be out there

With a young man without a grown
person waitin' up until he's left.

Oh, I don't know who's more
old-fashioned. You or don.

I'm a grown person capable
of making my own decisions.

Well, not to me you're not.

Grandma, in just a few
years I'm going to be a doctor.

A what? A doctor.

Whatever are you
talking about, mary ellen?

Well, I've decided that the real
medical world is doctoring, not nursing.

There is no such
thing as a lady doctor.

There is too. Name one.

Dr. Marie curie,
dr. Clara swain,

Dr. Alice hamilton,
dr. Emily dunning barringer,

Dr. Mary...

Well, hopefully, by the
time you're grown up,

That sort of thing will
have stopped happenin'.

Now, will you please go to bed?

And dr. Mary ellen walton.

M.e. Walton, m.d.

[Cutlery rattling]

Paul gauguin.

He had an ordinary life.

Wife, children, a good job,

But he wanted to paint.

So he just got up one day
and left everything behind.

Where'd he go? Tahiti.

Tahiti?

My goodness.

[Chuckling]

Only a man could do that.

Oh?

You're wrong, olivia.

There was a woman
called mary cassatt.

She left her home in philadelphia
and went to paris to paint

And live.

Paris.

You know,

There's a little square there in
the shadow of the sacre coeur,

All the painters of
paris gather there

And paint that lovely cathedral

And all the small alleys

And cafes and streets
leading up montmartre.

My husband was there
during the armistice. Hmm.

One day I'll live there.

What would you say if I said,
"olivia, come with me. We'll go to paris.

I'll paint in a garret and
you can be my inspiration."

[Laughing]

I'd say, "who's gonna
feed the children

And see that they get
off to school on time?"

[Chuckling]

Oh, olivia, there you go,

Being ordinary again.

I told you, I am ordinary.

Paris, france.

[Chuckling]

(Olivia) children, I want
you to have your breakfast

Before I leave. Now, hurry.

You'd think just once when I
ask them to hurry, they would.

Good lord,
olivia. It's only : .

I told them I had
to leave early.

Have a good time, liv.

I wish you were goin' with me.

I'm not much for museums.

Besides, I got a job to get
done over in scottsville.

Anything I can do for you, john?

No, thanks, pop.

You could get to that
firewood out back, though.

Take care.

Ah, I sure would like to go
somewhere, even scottsville.

It's been a long time
since I have been anywhere.

You're not goin' anywhere,
at least not today.

Can't have everybody
gallivantin' all over the country.

Grandma, mr. Williams has
gone to a lot of trouble

To arrange this class
trip to the museum

And nothin' in the world
would stop me from goin'.

Well, it's just plain
foolishness, far as I can see.

Imagine goin' all the way to
richmond and all the way back

Just to look at a
couple of pictures.

Daddy? Can you
drop me at school?

Hurry it up, son. I got
to be in scottsville at : .

Thank you.

You sit down and have
a proper breakfast.

I can't, grandma.

You'll ruin your
digestion. I can't, grandma.

Daddy's gonna drop
me and he'll be late.

Because I'm using
john-boy's car.

That's ok, mama.

Well, it'll have to be,
this one time, anyway.

Don't be late.

I'll be home after supper.

I hope it won't be too late.

That is if I get
out of here at all.

Well, have a good
time. And drive careful.

Your car's in good hands.

Pigs.

Mary ellen, watch your language.

Mama, what did you say the name

Of that painter you
were telling us about was?

Paul gauguin.

He was a frenchman.

He ran away from his wife to
paint natives without much on

On an island off somewheres.

Tahiti.

(Grandma) some heathen place.

I told you no good could
come from this paintin' business.

You're wrong,
esther. He was great.

Famous, in more ways than one.

Yeah, well, I'd like to hear
his wife's side of that story.

What kind of pictures
does he paint, mama?

I'll tell you when I get
back. I don't have time now.

Now hurry up and eat.

I reached first.

But I want it.

But I got it.

There's plenty for everybody.

Mary ellen, will you get
the toast? It's in the oven.

Why do I have to? What am i,
some kind of sl*ve around here?

What is the matter with you?

Well, what do you care?
You don't have any time.

You have to go off
to that dumb museum.

See? A woman's
place is in the home.

Grandma, I am only going
to richmond for the day.

The way you're all
acting around here

You'd think I was
going to tahiti forever.

[Birds chirping]

Mary ellen, what's
botherin' you?

It isn't important.

You are makin' me very angry.

Now, you know I have to leave

And you're deliberately not
tellin' me what's on your mind.

Now, what is the matter?

Oh, it isn't important.

If it's bothering
you, it is important.

Well, do you think it's all
right for women to be doctors?

Did you and don
millman have a fight?

Well, he had the
nerve to tell me

That he thought it was weird
for me to want to be a doctor.

I thought an interest in medicine
was what you two had in common.

It is. Or was.

What happened?

[Sighing]

Well, he told me he didn't want
a woman to be a competitor.

He thought of me
more as an assistant.

And I told him to
go jump in a lake.

What's worryin' you?

His not wantin' the competition,

Or you tellin' him to
go jump in the lake?

Both.

Why don't you tell him that
you didn't mean to be rude?

Well, do you think it's strange
for a lady to be a doctor?

No. They do most of the
doctorin' in the world as it is.

It's high time they got a college
degree and got paid for it.

You better hurry, mom.
You're gonna be late.

I'll see the kids off to school.

Thank you, mary ellen.

There they are, waitin' on us.

Well!

Looks like we won't be
a stag party after all.

We're so sorry to be late.

But we stopped
by for mrs. Colton.

But she was afraid
her legs would swell up

Walking all day in the museum.

Are we the only ones goin'?

All the other men
but me is workin'.

Oh!

I, uh, don't think
we should wait

Any longer, mr. Williams.

Well, now, I'm... I'm sure that, uh,
mrs. Walton is planning on coming.

[Horn honking]

There she is.

I'm sorry I'm late.

I'm just glad you could make it.

Hello. All right. Here we go.

Janice? Oh, me first.

Mr. Evanston, I'll put you in back
between these lovely ladies,

If you don't mind.

Mind? No, sir.

[Mr. Evanston chuckling]

I haven't had a date like
this for almost years.

You've got a pretty nice
date yourself, mr. Williams.

I couldn't agree with
you more, mrs. Hallet.

[Mrs. Hallet laughing]

(Joshua) everybody ready?

(Janice) sure, we are.

(Joshua) hold on to your hats.

[Janice exclaiming]

[People chattering]

Now, I want you all to look
at each painting very carefully

So we can discuss it
when we get back to class.

[Gasping]

I just can't believe
I'm really here.

How do you do?

[Chuckling]

Oh, isn't that
amazin'? Look at that.

The painter caught the
exact look of an older person

Who really loves life.

It's in the eyes.

John's father looks
like that when he smiles.

[Exclaiming]

This one's by someone
named winslow homer, .

Look at the color of that skin.

Now, how does he
make it look so real?

[Chuckling]

I don't think I like
this one very much.

But those colors.

You can almost feel
how cold that water is.

See the highlighting?

Now, that's how my bowl
of fruit should have looked.

Olivia, that's a bunch of
onions. You're doing apples.

Don't make fun of
me. It's the same thing.

It's what you
were talking about.

The lines disappearing
behind the object.

[Sighing] I give up.

Look. Look at that.

[Olivia laughing] sweet.

(Olivia) look at that little
boy pulling up his drawers.

(Mrs. Hallet) I sure
couldn't do that.

(Joshua) olivia?

Excuse me.

[Gasping]

Oh, joshua, it's beautiful.

I knew you'd like it.

It's just wonderful.

Look at that shadow around her
mouth and that tiny, little smile.

The way he's standin'
there lookin' at her,

They could be right
here in this room now.

And his eyes,

He's lookin' at her with
his eyes so filled with love.

Oh, joshua, what
a wonderful day.

Yes it is.

Right. Come on.

[Crickets chirping]

John? How about my beatin'
you at a game of checkers?

Tonight you probably could, pa.

[Chuckling]

Then let's go at it.

Well, for once they're
where they're supposed to be.

♪ O beulah land ♪

♪ Sweet beulah land ♪

♪ I look away across the sea ♪

♪ Where mansions are
prepared for me ♪♪

♪♪[Humming]

Hey!

Red or black?

Black.

(Elizabeth) john-boy,
what are you doing?

(John-boy) reading, same as you.

That's not what I'm doing.

It looks like what you're doing.

This story's too hard.

[Sighing]

What story is that?

The one about the
mermaid who wants legs.

Is that the one
mama's reading you?

Yeah.

[Sighing]

Could you finish it?

No, honey. I, uh...

Look, y-you know,
mama will be back,

And... And, uh, I'm sure she wants
to know how it ends herself,

So wait till she gets
home. She'll read it to you.

Yeah, but mama's not here.

Elizabeth, she'll be back, she
said she'd be home after dinner.

We already ate.

Ok, I'll finish it for you.

Then when mommy gets home,
I can tell her how it ends.

Ok.

(John) john-boy.

Yes, sir.

You taught your mama to drive,

Did you teach her
how to change tires?

Uh-oh.

I was plannin' on it.

Plannin' is not doin', son.

Sorry.

Did mama have a flat tire?

I hope not, honey.

Well, where were you up to?

About here.

Right here. You sure? Yeah.

Ok.

(John-boy) "and so the little
mermaid thought and thought.

"'If only I had
feet, ' she said,

"'Then I could go and look
for the fisherman myself.

The little mermaid floated
along thinking about where..."

You know, pa, maybe livie's
had trouble with the car.

Maybe I oughtta drive
into charlottesville.

Oh, you know livie well enough,

If she was in any real
trouble she'd ask for help.

(John-boy) "she
closed her eyes..."

(Grandpa) your move.

"And very soon she
was fast asleep."

Help keep your
mind off the time.

(Joshua) I'll get these doors.

[All chattering]

(Mrs. Hallet) thank you.

(Olivia) thank you.

[Car door closing]

(Janice) look out. Oh, thank
you. Oh, yes, thank you.

Next trip, new york.
Right, mr. Williams? Yes.

Maybe, mr. Evanston, maybe.

May I escort you ladies home?

That'll be our pleasure.
Delighted, mr. Evanston.

Good night. Good night.

Olivia, thank you so much.

My family's gonna
be worried sick.

Why don't you
leave your car here?

You're tired. I'll
drive you home.

Oh, that would be lovely,

But john-boy will need
the car in the morning.

Olivia, it was a wonderful day.

I think it was probably the
most exciting day of my life.

I've made my decision. Mmm?

I am going to be a doctor.

Don millman can either
like it or jump in a lake.

That's good.

Well, you'll feel different

When you find yourself all
alone at the end of the day

With nothing to do but read
a lot of books about diseases.

Grandma, if women
went along with that,

They'd be doing nothing but folding
clothes for the rest of their lives.

I'll finish this up,
mama. You better hurry

If you're gonna
go to your class.

I'm not going tonight.

All right, take that.

Go upstairs and put 'em away.

[Sighing] come on.

Liv, why aren't you
going to class tonight?

I don't wanna talk
about it right now.

All right.

[Grunting]

Joshua williams is more
interested in me than he should be.

I thought you said
he was just a kid.

He's years younger than I am.

Uh-huh.

It's just that he seems
so attracted to me.

You're a beautiful woman.

You've dealt with men
who looked at you before

Or were attracted to you.

Well, not quite this way.

Well, if it's botherin' you, liv, maybe
we oughtta bring it out in the open.

That day we went to
richmond, to the museum?

We had such fun together and...

Well, I was vaguely aware
that he was attracted to me,

But i... I didn't think it would
go any further than that.

Did it?

He kissed me.

He what?

Well, it wasn't planned.

I mean, we really were
havin' such a good time

Lookin' at the pictures
and everything and...

And then we drove
back to charlottesville

And he walked me to the car and

It happened.

I think he was more
surprised than I was.

What did you do?

Well, I got in the car and came
home. What are you thinkin'?

I'm thinkin' I'm glad
I wasn't there.

I don't like you bein'
bothered like that.

Well, I'm not goin' back to the
class, so there's no need worryin'.

I don't know why not.

You were enjoyin'
yourself, havin' fun.

Just have a talk
with this fella.

Tell him how you feel,
then you can go back.

He's so young. Really.

If I don't go back to the
class, he'll get the point.

Liv, it's not like you to back
off before something's settled.

I know.

Then go back and get
it straightened out.

Well, I don't want to make
more of it than there was,

And he's a nice
man and I like him.

Maybe that's what's
botherin' you, that you like him.

Don't be silly, john.

I'm not bein' silly. Why
shouldn't you like him?

He's interested in what
you're interested in.

He's attracted to you.

[Laughing] I have to admit,
it is kind of flattering.

As long as you're aware
of it, it can't be hurtful.

I think you oughtta go back
there and straighten it out.

I'll have to think about it.

All right, liv,
have it your way.

Just a little more down
here to emphasize the height.

Oh, thank you.

[Knocking]

(Joshua) anybody home?

Olivia.

Joshua, what are you doin' here?

I wanted to talk to you.

I want to talk to
you, too. Come on in.

Sit down.

Oh, that's my knitting,
I always put it there.

I can't tell you how many times

I've sat on it
myself. I'm sorry.

Socks. I'm knitting
them for the children.

Would you like some lemonade?

Yes, thank you.

Oh!

Wonderful kitchen.

I don't think I've ever been
in one quite like it before.

Oh, these plants. I always
forget to water them.

I guess it's because
they're so near the tap.

How long have you lived here?

Years.

John brought me here
when we were first married.

I met him when I
was years old.

Ever since that first
day when I saw him,

I wanted to come to this
place and live here with him.

I...

I know you think I've
never had any real chance

To decide what
kind of life I want.

Or maybe you think that
my life is boring, but it isn't.

Olivia... Please let me finish.

This house, that knitting
that you almost sat on,

Those plants that I'm
always forgetting to water,

Even that glass of lemonade.

All those things are
a part of what I am.

I can understand
someone thinkin'

That maybe I might
want to leave here.

(Olivia) I sometimes wonder what
other kind of life I might have had.

(Olivia) but that's
not important.

What is important is that
I'm here because I want to be.

I chose this life and I like it.

I'm very glad I came here.

Olivia, I think I owe
you an apology.

You kept telling me all of that,

I guess I didn't
want to believe it.

I'm sorry.

Uh... I feel so... Foolish.

Oh, please, don't.

I am and I always will be very
flattered that you cared for me.

Olivia?

John, this is joshua williams.

(Olivia) joshua, my husband.

How do you do? How do?

I was just leaving.

Mr. Walton,

I'd, uh, like mrs. Walton to
consider coming back to my class.

She's beginning
to draw very well.

(Joshua) would you
mind if she did that?

I don't see why she shouldn't.

Thank you.

(Joshua) good afternoon.

I, uh, look forward
to seeing you in class.

Tuesday.

I'm glad you came by, joshua.

So am i. Goodbye.

Bye.

I heard some of
what you said, liv.

Did I do good?

Did just fine.

Hey, he's cute. Who is he?

Joshua williams.
My paintin' teacher.

Did he come to drag you
back to class by brute force?

Somethin' like that.

Hey, there's don. Mama,
what am I gonna do?

Why don't you wait here
and see what he has to say?

Hi, mary ellen. Hi, don.

Listen, uh, I would have given you
a call but you don't have a phone.

Now, tell me, how are you going
to be a doctor without a telephone?

I... You wanna walk?

Yeah.

(john-boy) the mountain colored
our lives when we lived in its shadow,

and even after, when the course
of our lives led us far away.

wherever I may be,
with the coming of night

also comes the whisper
of those long-ago voices.

[Don whistling]

(Olivia) what's going
on in there, you girls?

(Mary ellen) nothing, mama.

Sounded like somebody whistlin'.

Mama, it's just don.

He promised he'd whistle
good night to me from the road.

(Ben) I thought he was a
doctor, not a mockingbird.

Mama, will you make ben shut up?

Be quiet, ben.

Can I please whistle back, mama?

Go ahead, mary ellen.

Otherwise he'll be
out there all night.

[Mary ellen whistling]

[Don whistling]