03x07 - The System

[bunniefuu]

(john-boy) when I was growing
up on walton's mountain,

the word "honor"
was hardly ever used.

but its meaning was
well understood.

honorable behavior was something

that was expected in my family.

therefore, I found
it strange when,

like every other
freshman at school,

i was told that
honor was a tradition

and that the heart of it
was to be found in a system

that governed our
lives as students.

and one that, if ignored,

could end our days as
members of the student body.

"On my honor, I
have neither given,

Nor received aid
on this examination"

Will be sole witness as to
the integrity of your work.

[Bell ringing]

So, until friday
morning, class dismissed.

I will see mr. Walton
and mr. Povich, please.

John, if you and tom povich don't
know each other, you're about to.

Oh, we've met. Yes, sir.

You know that at boatwright

We accord scholastic
and athletic scholarships

As equal educational privileges.

I have never lost a scholarship
student of either sort yet.

Mr. Povich knows I am worried
about his passing this course.

(Emory) the results of friday's
exam are very important.

Tomorrow is founder's day.

There will be no
scheduled classes.

I would appreciate it,
john, if you would spend it

Helping another scholarship
student who is in danger of failing.

Of course. Thank you.

Uh, I'm through
with classes at : .

Well, i... I have practice. Oh.

I'm sorry, i... I hate to mess
up your holiday like this.

Oh, no, it's ok, don't
worry about it.

Listen, I'll just... I'll just come
down to the field this afternoon

And we can talk about what
we're going to do tomorrow, ok?

Ok. Thank you. All right.

Listen, I really
do appreciate it.

It's all right, believe me.

Hut- , hut- , hut- .

[Grunting]

[Whistle blowing]

Ok, let's go again.
Quickly, line it up.

Let's go.

On , now.

Hut- , hut- , hut- .

[Grunting]

[Whistle blowing]

All right, let's go. Line up.

If you can't handle
a freshman like him,

What do you expect from those
washington and lee boys, saturday?

Now let's hit it.

On .

Hut- , hut- , hut- .

[Grunting]

[Whistle blowing]

That's the way to go.
That's the way to go!

Now, do it that way saturday,

I double-guarantee you
we'll come in winners.

Take your lap.

Povich, you all right?

You did good today, povich.

You made these boys work
their tails off, for a change.

Take your lap.

[Bells tolling]

Hi. Oh.

Is it like that for you
out there every day?

Kind of. I don't
know how you do it.

Some days I don't either.

You're staying at
the dorm, aren't you?

Well, why don't you
come home with me?

You can stay at my house tonight

And we can study
all day tomorrow.

Won't your folks mind, your
bringing someone home just like that?

No, don't worry about it.

Come on, we'll get your things.

Ok.

[Chickens clucking]

[Screaming]

Now look what you've
gone and made me do.

Well, since when did a little old
nip on the neck get you so upset?

Well, it's not decent in
broad daylight. Oh, yeah?

I don't know what possessed me.

Something must've
just come over me.

The mere sight of you
moved me to madness.

Oh, you old fool.
Now will you go catch

That chicken you
made me lose? Go on.

(Grandpa) well, I don't know.

That particular chicken
can outrun this old rooster.

Well, it can't outrun me.

That's our supper for tonight.

(Grandpa) catch it, come on.

[Children shouting] you're running
all the skin off its bones.

Let the old girl
have its freedom.

[Laughing]

(Grandma) you feisty
ball of feathers,

I'll get you as soon
as I get my breath.

Grandma, why are you
talking to the chicken?

She's trying to entice the
chicken to within her grasp.

Now, you children, you go
catch that chicken for me.

[Children shouting]

Hey! Hi, john-boy.

Hey.

Hey, everyone.
This is tom povich.

Tom, these are my
brothers and sisters.

Tom. Hi.

If anybody wants chicken
and dumplings for supper,

Somebody better
catch me a chicken.

An eating chicken, not
one of my laying hens.

Well, go on! All right.

Grandma, this is tom povich.
Tom, this is my grandma.

Hi.

Pleased to meet you.

Did I do something wrong?

No, you just caught
her at a bad time.

Welcome to walton's mountain.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Grandpa here.

So, she having a hard
time catching that chicken?

(Tom) , , , hike!

Ok.

Good. Good.

You throw that good
and you only play guard?

Well, somebody's got
to block. That's true.

Now take it back
behind your ear this way.

Ok? Ok, jim-bob, jason.

Ready? Yeah.

Ready, set, hike!

I think you can lead him a
little more. He's fast enough.

Yeah.

All right, mary ellen,
you send it to jim-bob.

Jim-bob, when you get
the ball, you run this way.

I'll be here. Daddy, you block.

[Grunting]

I'll tell you one thing.

If jason thought it up it's the
world's most confusing play. Ha!

You wait! You!

Ok, hut- , hut- , hut- , hike!

I see it. I see it. I see it.

Daddy.

Bob!

Go, jim-bob.

Touchdown! Yeah!

[All shouting]

Stick with me! Stick with me!

- , - , - , Hike!

[Grunting]

Grandpa!

No! Come on!

Daddy!

Go, mary ellen!

[Screaming]

No!

Yeah!

Good going, mary
ellen. Good play, honey.

Oh, that's enough for me.

I am whipped, whipped, whipped.

[Sighing]

If the coach had seen that

He'd have helped me
fail my history test.

Promise you won't tell. I swear.

You were swayed
by a pretty face.

You know, that
happened to me one time.

My hat's off to you, mary ellen,

That was a real nice
touchdown. Thank you.

Why not? She's the biggest
tomboy in the state of virginia.

Oh, ben, stop being so childish.

Well, you are. Isn't she?

She used to be, anyway.

It's gotta be near feeding time.

I sure hope so. I
could eat a cow.

I'm not arguing.

[All laughing]

Oh, shut up.

Grantland rice wrote
about him in collier's magazine.

He thinks that jay berwanger
of chicago university

Is the best runner in football.

Best I ever saw in person was,
uh, clarke hinkle of bucknell.

He's professional now.

Pass the milk, please.

Esther, while this young
man is eating with us,

I suggest you go out
and buy another cow.

[All laughing] chicken and
dumplings are real good, too.

They're grandma's specialty.

I heard that some
professionals get paid $ a game.

You mean that grown men
get paid just to play football?

Well, I get to go to
school free because I play.

If you're a good player, why
do you go to school at all?

Well, I don't want to
be a football player.

Well, now, I don't
understand you.

You go to college free because
you're a good football player

But you don't wanna be one?

Grandma, it's a
scholarship, just like mine.

He gets his books
and tuition free.

You mean, if you
played football,

You could have got a
scholarship for that?

Sure, but can you see
me playing football?

No. You have to
be very good at it.

How much time do
you put in practicing?

(Tom) about hours a day.

Must be pretty tough to
study at night after all that.

Yeah, it sure is.

And I have to keep up a
"c" average, otherwise...

You don't sound like you're
from this part of the country.

No. No, I'm from a small
coal town near pittsburgh.

(Grandpa) aliquippa.

Where's that?

In pennsylvania. It's
far away from here.

Do you have a sawmill? No.

No, my papa works in the mines.

Do you live in a house? Sure.

Only we don't own
it. Or the land either.

You folks do, don't
you? Yes, we do.

You live in a company
house, huh? Right.

What's that?

Oh, it's like that soapstone
quarry up the mountain.

The workers live in the
houses that the company owns.

You understand that
all these questions

Are just preparatory to
dr. Emory's examination?

I only wish his were
gonna be this easy.

Well, it's time
we hit the books.

I'll see you all later.

Well, it was sure a fine
supper, and I thank you.

You're more than welcome.

You sure that you
had enough to eat?

What's for breakfast?

Esther?

[Grandpa laughing]

Thank you. Excuse me.

He's a great
eater. Pass the milk.

I got to have a pencil. I
can't think without a pencil.

There you go. Thank you.

[Sighing]

And I cannot see
without my glasses.

Where are they?
They're being repaired.

[Yawning]

I'm sorry. Oh, boy, I am b*at.

I got this job

Coaling furnaces in a couple of
fraternity houses every morning.

: .

Is that part of
your scholarship?

No.

No, but I can't take any
money from my parents

And that was the
only job I could get.

Look, why don't we just stop
studying now and get some sleep

And we can cram all
day tomorrow, ok? Ok.

[Groaning]

So, somebody told
me you were a writer.

Well, I'm in the
school of journalism.

If I can't make it as a writer,

I guess I could be a teacher.

I'm planning on law school.

Well, I'm planning on getting
to new york city somehow.

Maybe I'll see you there.
That's a good town for lawyers.

A lot of opportunity
out that way.

No, I don't think so.

I wanna go back to my hometown.

Well, can you support yourself
as a lawyer in your hometown?

Oh, yeah, I think I'll have
more work than I could handle.

I wanna help the miners.

Only trouble is, if my grades
don't start getting better

I won't be working for
them, I'll be one of them.

[Chuckling]

You're really worried about
flunking out, aren't you?

Yeah.

I should have talked
to dr. Emory sooner.

But I was ashamed to
admit I couldn't do the work.

Well, I'm not your coach. I can't
give you any double guarantees.

But you can pass this course.

And you can certainly
pass this test on friday.

(John-boy) right now, that's
all we've got to worry about.

Well, I'll be ready to study
first thing in the morning.

Ok, good.

[Puffing]

Hey, john. Yeah?

[Bed creaking]

I gotta pass.

[Sighing]

Then you will.

I got to go
downstairs for a while.

I'll see you later. Sleep well.

Thanks. Good night.

Good night.

Jason?

What are you doing there?

Shh. Ben's in there.

Well, what's wrong
with ben being in there?

I don't know, I can't see.

Ben!

Yeah?

(John-boy) are you all right?

Can't anyone have any
privacy in this house?

I know you're there, jason.

All right, I'm here.

Every time I turn around
lately, you've been spying on me.

What's the matter
with you lately, anyway?

Nothing's the matter with me.

What's the matter with you,
turning into a spy all of a sudden?

Ben, what's bothering you? You.

Why don't you just
leave me alone?

Ben, jason.

You boys playing
hooky from school again?

No, we were just
leaving, grandpa.

[Birds chirping] oh,
that's too bad.

You know, because if you was
playing hooky to go fishing,

I'd kind of liked to have
gone along with you.

Ben, what are you going
to school that way for?

I'm going the long way
around, there's plenty of time.

Grandpa, have you
noticed ben lately?

Ben is the kind of fellow
that's pretty hard not to notice.

Does he seem strange to you?

All boys that age
act kind of strange.

It's a phase they
go through with.

Matter of fact, you are going
through one of them phases right now.

How's that, grandpa?
Called the phase

Of "being late for school
again if you don't get a leg on."

Bye, grandpa. You go
the regular way and...

summa theologica was
written by thomas aquinas

As a survey of all knowledge.

Well, we're gonna
have to understand

The effects of
charlemagne's rule.

Whether what he did
was good or bad, and why.

Uh, well, under his rule, for the
first time, europe was all together.

Mmm-hmm?

Uh... Charlemagne...

Charlemagne

Started a whole new system
of commerce and trade.

People used silver
coins for money. Right.

Now, if all this was so
wonderful, how come it didn't last?

The barbarians, right?

You're doing just fine.

Thanks.

It's... It's all starting to run
together in my head, though.

Why don't we just
have some lunch

And forget all about
it for a while, ok?

Ok.

"In the period of
centuries, b.c. To b.c.,

The greek civilization
developed..."

You know something?

I think I'm gonna
pass this test.

Ben?

Yeah, grandma?

What's the matter, boy?

Nothing, grandma.

Well, you can't just
be doing nothing.

You gotta be doing something.

I was thinking.

Well, you just go on outside and
do your thinking in the sunshine.

Go on.

Sure, grandma.

[Footsteps shuffling]

Thanks.

You got nothing to worry
about. Just take it easy.

According to the rules
of the honor system,

I shall not return to this
classroom until minutes from now.

Please remember,

If any of you believe
a fellow classmate

Is looking at
another's test paper,

And copying from it,

You are obliged to turn that
student in to the honor council.

(Emory) your failure to do so

Will result in your being
considered just as guilty as he may be

Should you both be caught.

All examinations,
upon completion,

Are to be signed with your
pledge and your signature.

You may begin.

[Exhaling]

[Bell ringing]

Can I see you?

I don't wanna talk to you.

Tom, what did you
have to do that for?

You knew the answer to
every question on that test.

Are you going to
the honor council?

I think I'd rather die.

I think it's what
you have to do.

I don't understand you at all.

First you cheat on a test and
then you tell me to turn you in.

Townsend saw you. What?

He looked over at you just
when you looked at me. Great!

Wasn't anyone in there watching his
own paper, like you're supposed to?

Look, I did something stupid,

But there's no need for both
of us to have to pay for it.

Well, we're both gonna pay
for it, 'cause that's the system.

Why did you do that?

I got scared.

Well, maybe townsend
won't say anything about it.

We can't take that chance.

What are you gonna do if you lose
your scholarship? Well, I don't know.

But being in school means as
much to you as it does to me.

So let's go and get
it over with, huh?

Ok.

I make this statement
according to the rules

Of the honor
system, respectfully.

Thank you,
mr. Walton. You may sit.

Mr. Townsend, I'd
like to hear from you.

[Sighing]

It was about : .

I looked up and I
observed mr. Povich.

(Townsend) he was copying
from the paper to his left.

Mr. Walton was watching him at
the same moment, as he just told you.

Have you anything
further to add? No, sir.

You may take your seat.

[Sighing]

Boy, am I glad you're here.

I'd have hated to
turn you in, too.

Mr. Povich,

Here at boatwright we govern
ourselves under a system

Which equates the honor of the
group with the honor of the individual.

You're here because gentlemen

Have charged you with cheating

Which is a major
offense of that system.

If you're found guilty, it will be
our duty to expel you from school.

You are entitled to a
defense of the charge.

You may be represented
by legal counsel,

If you so wish.

I'm guilty.

And the pledge I
signed was a lie.

Mr. Povich, if there is even the
slightest doubt as to your guilt...

I told you, I'm guilty.

Mr. Povich, you have
not been excused.

Um,

Excuse me.

Sir.

I would...

I would like to be able to speak
for mr. Povich at this hearing.

But, mr. Walton, only a few
moments ago you acknowledged...

I reported mr. Povich

Because I'm obliged to do so under
the rules of the honor system.

That doesn't mean I
want to see him get...

That doesn't mean that
I would like to see him

Get dismissed from school.

You say he is
entitled to counsel.

If he agrees, I think
it's only appropriate

That I be the one to defend him.

(Council president)
mr. Walton, this council

Never stands in
the way of a student

Who wishes to defend
another student.

Mr. Povich's plea
of guilty will stand.

(Council president) as of
today, he is on suspension.

His hearing will
determine whether or not

He is to be expelled
permanently from the university.

If you have no classes
monday afternoon,

We will hear your
defense at, um,

[Whispering] : . : P.m.

I have no classes.

Mr. Townsend, your
testimony is on record.

You'll be called if necessary.

You may be excused.

[Sighing]

Mr. Povich,

It will be necessary
to notify your family

Of the events as
they have occurred.

Why do they have to know?

(Council president) it is a
rule of this council

That any time a matter
of this nature arises

All parties involved be kept
advised of the proceedings.

Please, i...
Mr. Povich, I'm sorry.

We must follow the rules.

If there are no
further questions...

We meet again monday afternoon

At : p.m. For your hearing.

Oh.

We got a lot of talking to
do between now and monday.

[Stammering]

What's the use?

What's your defense gonna be?

"Gentlemen,

"My friend here is
a football player,

"So please forgive him.

"He's got knocked in
the head so many times,

He can't tell right from wrong."

Oh, stop feeling
sorry for yourself.

Tom.

What is it?

If you don't feel like staying
at the dorm during all of this,

And I really can't blame you,

Please feel free to
come back to our place.

I think I'd like to
take you up on that.

Ok.

You gonna tell your
parents about what happened?

No, not if you don't want me to.

Well, I think I'd like
to tell them myself.

Ok.

[Ben coughing]

Hi, jason.

Huh.

I take it you
wouldn't have dared

Come out here to
the garden at all

Unless there's something
on your mind troubling you?

Grandpa. Mmm-hmm?

What would you do

If you saw somebody
doing something

You knew they
shouldn't be doing?

I take it you seen somebody
doing something wrong

You don't think they
had ought to be doing?

Yes, sir, I have.

Uh, well, how serious a crime
is it that they've committed?

Well, you couldn't
actually call it a crime.

(Grandpa) what is it?

It's ben, grandpa. He's
smoking cigarettes.

Ben?

Well, you told
your daddy about it?

Well, see, I know ben is gonna
get caught sooner or later,

And I remember what daddy made
me do when he caught me smoking.

What was that?

He made me eat a
whole cigarette.

[Chuckling] ew.

Well, made you stop
making a chimney

Out of the top of
your head, didn't it?

[Exhaling] sure did.

Mmm. It's pretty
drastic. I think I can

Think of something
better than that.

You run along now and
I'll let you know when I do.

Thank you, jason.

It's ok.

And if you feel like you don't
wanna tell my family about it,

That's ok, too.

No.

I'd feel like I'd be lying
every minute I stayed here.

And I just didn't trust myself,

So I looked at the paper the
fellow next to me was writing

And john saw me.

And you told? What
kind of friend are you?

Oh, he didn't want to.
He had to, mary ellen.

According to the
boatwright rules,

Seeing it happen
and not reporting it

Would have made him
just as guilty as me.

Well, no one would
have known about it

If you hadn't said anything.

Mary ellen, that's
not the point.

It would have been like lying.

And if someone else
saw, then john-boy

Would have gotten
in trouble, right?

Someone else did.

Both of us would be out of school
now if john hadn't have spoken up.

Well, I still don't
think you had to do it.

(John) now, there's not
much sense in talking

About who should have done what.

Important thing is,
what's gonna happen now?

I get to have a hearing.

You mean like a
regular court trial?

(Tom) yes, ma'am.

And john is gonna defend me.

(John) you think he
can do any good?

(Tom) well, I hope so.

Can they put you
in jail? (Tom) no.

Why don't you have
your folks come over?

No.

Well, I mean, I'm sorry they
even had to know about it.

They can't afford to come here

And I'd just as
soon they didn't.

If you'd like, I can come
on over and talk for you.

(John) tell them about
the hard practicing

You're doing and the studying.

Thank you, mr. Walton.

(John) welcome.

Best thing this family could do

Is get on about
their own business.

Come on, boys.

Good idea. Boys?

For once your grandpa
is right. Come on.

You know...

You know, maybe it's a good
thing that this happened, anyway.

Are you crazy?

No, I think I've got our
line of defense worked out.

What? You see, it's the
system that's at fault.

I shouldn't have to be
responsible for your conduct.

(John-boy) your honor
is a personal thing.

Now hold on, son.
Daddy, just wait a minute.

I mean, I may be my
brother's keeper,

But that doesn't mean I
have to be his watchdog.

Why can't the professors stay
in the rooms during the exams?

If they wanna catch cheaters,
then let them do the looking.

Don't set friends
against each other.

The whole system is wrong. I think
that's the line of defense we have to use.

I think, if you take that line,

We're both gonna
be out on our ears.

(John) can I say something?

I think you're going
off halfcocked.

Don't you agree with me?

It's not the point, whether
I agree with you or not.

I think what's upsetting you

Is that you had to
turn in your friend.

(John) now, I may not
like that any more

Than you, but don't
listen to mary ellen.

Don't put yourself on trial,
and don't put the system on trial.

Point is that tom's on trial and
unless you work up a defense

He's going to be
thrown out of school.

[Stammering]

[Sighing]

I just don't know
where to begin.

[Singing]

Attaboy, jason.

Grandpa? Uh-huh.

You know what I told
you about ben? Yeah.

Well, I think we ought to
forget all about it for now.

There's been enough
commotion around here as it is.

No need for any
commotion, jason.

Ben is indulging in an
expensive and nasty habit

And I intend to
nip it in the bud.

Let me try.

Ben!

Yeah, grandpa?

Oh, there you are.

Ben, I'm going fishing.

Won't you come along?

Sure, grandpa.

Fish don't seem to be
biting too good today. Yeah.

Oh, let's just relax

And let them make
up their minds.

[Whistling]

Grandpa! You? Smoking?

Lot of things you don't
know about me, young man.

Come on, have one.

No, no, thank you. Go ahead.

When a young man
gets to be your age

He generally tries
to smoke on the side

Just to see what it feels like.

Generally on corn silk.

Go ahead, have one.
No, really, I can't.

Come on, I insist.

There you are. Just try one.

Sit back and enjoy it.

Are you enjoying yourself?

It's all right.

Can you inhale?

Sure. Inhale.

Deeper, deeper.

Can you... Can you
blow a smoke ring?

I think I can.

Try it.

Oh, that's no good at all.

Go ahead, try another, come on.

Can I put it out now, grandpa?

Oh, no, I think you
ought to practice

Blowing smoke rings some more.

Not right now, grandpa.

No time like the present.

Get your technique down pat.

Come ahead.

Well, this one's finished.

Well, come on, have another.

Go ahead, have another here.

Grandpa!

Go ahead. You
know, smoking is like

Anything else in this world.

In order to do a thing, you
got to learn how to do it right.

Go ahead, inhale.

I want you to go ahead and
practice blowing some smoke rings.

Inhale deep.

In order to do so,
you have to make

A perfect round
"o." Go ahead, inhale.

[Inhaling deeply]

Grandpa, did someone tell on me?

What do you mean?

Well, jason's been
snooping around me all week.

Did he see me smoking and tell?

I cannot tell a lie, ben.

Yes, he was worried about you.

(Ben) why?

Because he didn't
want the same thing

To happen to you
that happened to him.

Like when daddy caught him?

That's right.

Go ahead.

I think I've had
enough, grandpa.

For how long, ben?

Maybe forever.

Grandpa, did your pa
want you to stop smoking?

Yes, indeed he did.

But you smoked anyway?

Not after he did to me
what I have just done to you.

I... I haven't smoked. At
least, not until today.

Excuse me, grandpa.

What's the matter, ben?
Aren't you feeling good?

[Sputtering]

Matter of fact, I don't
feel any too good myself.

[Gasping]

Come along, ben.
Hurry along, willy.

Hey, tom. Huh.

Caught you a nice mess
of fish for your supper.

Oh, they look real good.

Hey, you ok, ben? You
look a little funny.

Excuse me.

What's wrong with him?

Well, we both
been having a battle

Between our stomach
and our conscience.

I hope it's settled by supper.

Tom? Yeah.

Tom, I think I've got it. What?

According to this catalog, there
are provisions in the honor code.

Offenses can be considered
either major or minor,

And you can't get kicked out
of school for a minor offense.

Well, what do you
suppose a minor offense is?

Well, it doesn't say here,

But we've got till monday
to come up with one.

Tom. Good luck.

We'll be thinking of
you. I'll say a prayer.

I'd offer you one, too.

Might do you more
harm than good.

We'd better get going.

We'll be back as soon as we can.

[Car engine starting]

Bye!

Well, here we go.

I feel kind of sick.

Me, too.

It's ok. All we can
do is give it a try.

(John-boy) thank you.

Howdy. Can I help you?

I'm looking for my son.

You know a boy, tom povich?

Tom? Well, sure I do.

My name is walton. John walton.

Is my son here?

Well, no, he's not.

How did you know
he was staying here?

I got a letter.

And when I came to westham,
they told me at his dormitory

That he went to
john walton's house.

Well, he's with
my son right now.

He's over at the university.

(John) tom has a hearing today.

Is there a bus to the school?

I'm afraid not. Last
one left for town.

Tell you what, why don't I
drive you over to the university?

I'd appreciate that.

You wait right here. I'll
get my jacket, we'll be off.

(John-boy) I'm not going to
deny that tom povich is guilty.

What I would like to ask of you

Is that his
punishment be reduced

From a major offense of
the honor code to a minor one.

Mr. Walton, cheating
has never been

Regarded as a minor violation.

Yes, sir, I'm aware of that.

But there's nothing
in the rules to indicate

That under extenuating
circumstances, it couldn't become one.

(John) don't look so
worried, mr. Povich.

My son feels confident
he can work things out

So tom can stay in school.

No.

He might.

He's a persuasive talker
when he gets going.

Tom don't belong
there. He never did.

You saying you don't want
your son to stay in school?

I came here to take him
home, where he belongs.

Tom wants something
different for himself.

Don't you want that for him?

No.

I seen what happens
when someone wants more.

My neighbors,

Their boy, howard eckart,
he went away to a college.

He comes home now all
dressed up, once a year, maybe.

He don't even stay over.

He talks fancy, he acts fancy,

He thinks he's better
than everybody.

Him and his fancy wife.

He acts ashamed of his father.

Tom couldn't be that way.

Nothing could make him that way.

Howard eckart's father
thought that about his son, too.

Did you know that

One-third of the
freshman football players

On scholarship
flunk out each year?

I suggest to you that
there is a direct correlation

Between your statement
and mr. Povich's action.

Do you know what is required of a
freshman on an athletic scholarship?

Now, what bearing
can all of this have

When it has already
been determined

That mr. Povich did indeed cheat

On his exam and
betray our honor code?

(John-boy) I think it
does have a bearing.

Tom has to practice
on that football field

Over hours,
afternoons a week.

He also has to earn
enough money to stay alive.

His scholarship only
pays for books and tuition.

As I understand it, though, that's
all your scholarship provides for.

Oh, sure, but I
live in the area.

I have my meals at home, I
have a roof over my head.

Mr. Povich has a
place at the dorm.

Even living at home, I
have to work part-time

To stay here and not
be a burden on my family.

So does tom.

He has a job coaling furnaces
at the fraternity houses

Which starts at : a.m.

So your argument is that
mr. Povich is overworked,

That he has no time to study,

And that he should be allowed
to cheat and get away with it?

(John) no, sir.

But there is something else.

Tom can lose his scholarship

If he fails to keep up a
"c" average in his studies.

(Council president)
so would you.

But he can also lose his
standing if he... If he gets hurt

And can't play on
the football field.

What good is mr. Povich
to the team if he can't play?

That's exactly my point.

He's getting pressured
from both sides,

Scholastically and athletically.

(John-boy) that doesn't
seem fair to me.

[Door opening]

(John-boy) everybody
thinks that athletes go...

Go through college
for a free ride, you know.

Just play a little football,
take it easy, have a good time,

That they're not really
interested in studying.

(John-boy) that's
not always true.

And it's certainly not
true of tom povich.

Tom was born in
bridgetown, pennsylvania.

That town stays
alive because it has

A couple of working coal mines.

Tom's father is a coal miner.

Tom's father went into
the mines at years old.

Tom's mother does
housework in a nearby town.

And no member of
tom's family has ever

Gone in school
past the th grade

Except for tom.

Tom povich wants to be a lawyer.

There are no lawyers in
bridgetown, pennsylvania.

There are only miners
and mine owners.

(John-boy) so if you grow up
in bridgetown, pennsylvania

And you want something
more, you have to leave

And not come back.

But tom doesn't want that.

His dream is to go back to
bridgetown with his training as a lawyer,

And give the people
he grew up with

Something they've
never had before.

Someone who can speak for them,

Because he's one of them.

[Clears throat] is
that your case?

Uh, yes, it is.

Except, I think tom
should tell you

What happened in the classroom.

Go ahead, mr. Povich.

It was on the final question.

I had written my answer
and I was just reading it over.

(Tom) lorenzo
valla, to ,

Italian humanist who started

The science of
textual criticism.

And... And suddenly, i... I was
sure that I had the dates wrong.

So I looked over to the
fellow's paper on my left.

And he had down
the same dates I did.

(Tom) but even if he hadn't,

I... I still wouldn't
have changed mine.

And I swear that's true.

If you look at my exam book,

You'll see that I
didn't change anything.

There are no erasures.

That is what you
would wish us to believe.

Yes, sir.

That is the truth.

Excuse me.

Yes, sir?

This boy is my son.

If he tells you that's
the truth, believe him.

He don't lie.

Excuse me, but there
is something else

That I would like
to say as well.

The idea of turning my friend
in was very painful to me

(John-boy) and I wasn't
even sure that I could do it.

But, it was tom povich
that made me do it.

And it was tom who
refused to allow me

To jeopardize my
own scholarship,

And who insisted that we
come here to you together.

Now, this is an honor council,
and I hope from all of this

You'll be able to
see that tom povich

Is certainly an honorable man.

And please,

Don't just let a momentary
lapse in judgment destroy what...

What I think is an
honorable dream.

You should be proud
of yourself, son.

Thank you.

Papa, I'm glad you're here,
no matter what happens.

I came here to take you home.

But I was wrong.

This is where you should be.

You may come in now. The
council has reached its verdict.

[Door closing]

The honor council of
boatwright university,

By a unanimous vote,

Finds thomas povich guilty
of both cheating on his exam,

And lying when he
signed his pledge.

A second vote was taken
on mr. Walton's motion

To reduce punishment
to a minor offense.

Subject to approval of the dean,

The council, by a majority vote,

Has agreed to reduce your
conviction to that of a minor offense.

(Council president) however,

Should there be a second offense

It would mean your immediate
dismissal from the college.

I will ask you if you
are willing to give us

Your word of honor here and now.

Your word of honor as
a gentleman, mr. Povich.

I give my word.

[Sighing]

As mandatory in the
conviction of a minor offense,

You are hereby suspended from
classes and from this campus

For a period of one week.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[All chattering] anybody
want some more lemonade?

Oh, right here, esther.
I'd like another swig or ,

Because I want to propose
a toast to tom povich

And his future career
at boatwright university.

Hear, hear. Hear, hear.

And I say to john walton jr.,

I hope I get to be as good
a lawyer as he is already.

[All chattering]

Well, I better go
now or I'll miss my bus.

I'll drive you to the station.

I thank you for everything.

Uh, john, I'd like
to drive my father.

Oh, sure, I understand.

Can I borrow your car?
Of course. Mr. Povich.

Thank you. My pleasure.

Papa, come on.

Bye-bye. See you soon, tom.

Goodbye.

(Tom) I'll be back soon.

So long. So long.

Bye!

(john-boy) the experience
with tom povich

was one of many I
was to encounter

as my horizons widened
beyond walton's mountain.

they were to
expand my own vision

and increase my understanding
of what I had already been taught

from the time I
had been a child.

and while I was a college man
and my horizons were expanding,

it was still a comfort
and a strength

to return each
night to that house,

and to go to sleep to the sound

of those voices
whispering good night.

(Jim-bob) good night, elizabeth.

(Elizabeth) good night,
jim-bob. Good night, ben.

Good night, ben!

(Jim-bob) he's in the bathroom.

You reckon he's smoking
his cigarettes in there?

I don't think so.

How can you tell?

'Cause he's got his tobacco
sack hidden out in the barn.

(Olivia) john!

(John) go to sleep, liv.