09x03 - The Pledge

[bunniefuu]

How did he describe the pain?

He didn't.
He didn't wanna talk about it.

HOLLISTON:
Wish I'd gotten to him sooner.

I wish I'd known what to look for.

You did the best you could.

I tried to get him in here this afternoon,
he wouldn't budge.

[BILLY GASPING]

I need another doctor in here, quickly.

I've made a decision.

I'm going to study to be a doctor.

Let me make myself clear.

As long as I am Dean of Admissions
at this university...

...we will not enroll you
as a premed student.

Go home and raise your child.
Good day.

JOHN-BOY:
In those last months of the w*r...

...though death
and destruction continued...

...it was possible for the first time,
to think of a world at peace.

There would then be the small
personal wars to be reckoned with...

...such as my sister Mary Ellen's
adversary role with life...

...always heading into it,
never conforming to its patterns.

She was wife, mother, widow, nurse.

And not any or all of these things
together brought her peace of mind.

Something within her
still fought, still searched.

And for those of us overseas...

...even though the w*r
was winding down...

...it was far from over.

[g*nf*re]

Hey, Walton.

You picked a bad place to visit, Carey.

Well, I've been on your tail all day.
I never thought I'd catch you. Here.

- What's this?
- You got a new assignment.

All the dope's in there.

You must have said something
to make them mad.

I told them I was from Stars and Stripes.
They're not supposed to sh**t at me.

Right.

Oh, yeah, I'm your new
replacement up here.

- Hey, I'm ordered back to Paris.
- Oh, gee, that's tough.

Oh, yeah, I got your mail, too.
Mary Ellen Willard, huh?

- Some special girl?
- You don't know how special.

Well, Paris is that way, you lucky dog.

I guess I'll, uh,
follow the troops, huh? Heh.

MARY ELLEN:
Dear John-Boy...

...we're happy that things
are winding down in Germany.

I thank God this awful w*r is ending
and that brave new world is on its way.

Curt and I made such plans for it.

Now, I want to help shape it
for John Curtis.

I wanna grow with
the new directions to come.

But I need to know what they are.

There's a place for me,
I know, but where?

I still get up in the hills
to make my nursing rounds.

Helping these people out is sometimes
the only peace of mind I get.

Good morning.

Well, you're not Grandma Floyd,
I can see that.

Grandma Floyd's bedding up to Serrie
Tatum's while I fix the front porch.

Never seen you frown so.

Aw....

Me and that floor's been
fighting all morning...

...and I declare it's winning.

[CHUCKLES]

Say, I got her well cleaned out good.
You have a drink?

MARY ELLEN: Oh, no, thanks.
Looks like you could use some.

[GROANING]

There's a-- There's a word
here that I can't make out.

Looks like you made
good friends with this book.

Oh, yeah, we go everywhere together.

It's this word here.

[WHISTLES]

- It's right long.
- "Blossoming." It is long.

- Blossoming, -oming.
- That's it.

I'm bound to learn something
when you come around.

Read to me, as far as you've gone.

[HALTINGLY]
"Over the hills...

...and far away...."

Three weeks isn't very
much time, you know.

I'm gonna send Jason
some pictures of the family.

That'll cheer him up
more than anything.

Unless it makes him homesick.

No, Cindy, really, I think
pictures will be just the ticket.

I'm writing Jason a letter.

But I'm saving all the presents and
parties for when they all come home.

I want his birthday present
to be something special.

He's a young man of years
and he's in France.

What more could he want? Ha-ha-ha.

- Can I bother you, Ronie?
- Looks like you already done that.

I was just up at Grandma Floyd's.
I saw Sweet Billy there.

Doesn't seem to be quite himself.

He's off his feet, right enough.
I was a hand to worry, I would.

He wouldn't talk to me about it.

He don't complain, he's Sweet Billy.

You know his ways, how he moves...

...kind of easy through his chores.
Well, not now.

Now he acts like he's got
a week to build the world.

- He sure was going at that porch floor.
- Yeah?

He's cleaned out her well.
Here, he's shoring up my roof.

Fixed the pump.

He don't stop.

Do you think he sleeps well?

I sneak in at night and look at him.

Could be dead, laying there.

You heard him read from
that book you give him?

He'd sooner talk to you than me.
He, uh....

- He's no hand to fret me.
- I'll try to get him to.

I'm sorry, ladies, it's just not here.

But it's long overdue, Mr. Godsey.

I believe I mentioned it's our check
from the Charlottesville Bank.

Well, the mail might be running
a little slow right now.

But if I were you, I'd get right on
that phone there and call the president.

I don't think we need bother Mr. Truman
with this. He's so new at the job.

Oh, I believe Mr. Godsey means
the president of the bank.

Perhaps you best call him.

Well, I'm more inclined to favor
one of our letters, sister.

- Hi, Elizabeth.
- Hello. Miss Mamie, Miss Emily.

- Hello.
- So many letters, Elizabeth.

Well, so many brothers.

Ben in the Pacific, Jason in France,
Jim-Bob at Langley Field...

...and John-Boy's
somewhere out there.

Corabeth, listen to this.

It's addressed to
"The Lady Storekeeper...

...Walton's Mountain, Virginia."
Ha-ha-ha.

Oh!

Well, just listen to this.
Isn't this charming?

"My son is a soldier
stationed at Camp Rockfish.

I always bake him his favorite
chocolate cake for his birthday...

...but I know it would
never reach him on time.

I'm enclosing my recipe...

...and a dollar for the ingredients
and your time.

My son has mentioned you so often...

...as that nice older
lady who runs the store.

I hope you will bake it."

Now, that is charming.

- Older lady?
- We are not amused, Mr. Godsey.

I guess not too many soldiers
overseas get birthday cakes.

Well, certainly not many at Rockfish.

[HORSE NEIGHING]

Sweet Billy! Sweet Billy.

[BILLY BREATHING HEAVILY]

Thought you'd be down home by now.

Ain't nary a thing wrong with me.

Shh.

- Are you in pain, Sweet Billy?
- No, no, I'm just taking my ease.

- Well, your pulse isn't. It's racing.
- Well, can't help that.

- Women folks first.
- Come on.

Much obliged.

I want you to tell me
exactly how you feel.

And I want you to tell me the truth.

Truth is, I'm a big, healthy horse.

I just get lazier every single year.

I got these front steps to fix.

I know some good doctors,
Sweet Billy.

We can go down the hill together,
right now.

We can't have Ronie worried, neither.

What talk there is, is between us.

MARY ELLEN:
I think you need help.

If I ever do need help,
Nurse Mary Ellen...

...I'll let you know first.

Something bothering you, honey?

MARY ELLEN:
Sweet Billy.

He's got a pulse too fast to count
and he's in pain, but he won't admit it.

And he won't come down to the doctor.

Sounds like you did all you could.

I have and it's not enough.

I feel so useless. Touching his head,
giving him water, taking his pulse.

Mary Ellen, you're a nurse,
you're not a doctor.

I know. If I were a doctor,
I could have taken care of him today.

I would've known how.

You never do enough to
suit yourself, do you, honey?

There's always so much more
to be done.

Nurse Mary Ellen! Nurse Mary Ellen!

[MULE BRAYING]

[PANTING]

BILLY:
Ugh.

[GASPING]

I got me a presentment.

[COUGHING]

I'm real glad you came, Sweet Billy.
The hospital's not far now.

Can you tell Ronie I'm plumb sorry?

Save your strength,
you'll tell her yourself.

- All right, Mary Ellen?
- As fast as you can, Daddy.

- He's going to be all right, isn't he?
- What?

He's going to be all right, isn't he?

It's hard to say. Don't even know
what's wrong with him yet.

How did he describe the pain?

He didn't.
He didn't wanna talk about it.

I wish I'd gotten to him sooner.

I wish I'd known what to look for.

You did the best you could.

I tried to get him in here this afternoon,
he wouldn't budge.

[BILLY GASPING]

I need another doctor in here, quickly.

Well, I thought I heard someone.
Good morning.

I come for Sweet Billy. You got him?

Oh, you must be....

Ronie Cotter, I'm his sister.
You tell Mary Ellen, please.

Well, he got awful sick last night...

...and Mary Ellen and her father
had to take him to the hospital.

Now, I've got some fresh coffee,
you come in and....

- This hospital is close by?
- Charlottesville.

Ain't close by, then.

I mind you right enough, young'un.

This is Sweet Billy's sister.

Oh, you're Ronie.
I'm Elizabeth, Mary Ellen's sister.

- She's told me about you.
- Is that a fact?

I'm sorry your brother's sick.

Some young'uns
slide into life just smiling.

Born decent, fine.

Might be my Sweet Billy looking at me.

I'd bet he'd like a ride
on Sweet Billy's mule.

Tell you what,
I'll bring some coffee out here.

I'd start for the hospital...

...but there's no need.
He's gone. I feel that.

- You don't know that, Ronie.
- Oh, I'm sure.

[CAR APPROACHING]

That great big heart of his give out?

- I'm sorry, Ronie.
- Yeah.

Been too close too long not to know.

Used to be he ate the green apple
and I'd get the bellyache.

I thought you didn't know
what was wrong with him.

Just this last while.

The other night I had his pains...

...and it's gone now.
Guess he took it with him.

- He's not suffering now.
- I want him up there with my babies.

- Will you see to that?
- I will.

I believe this calls for a celebration.

I always said, a check in
hand is worth two in the bush.

It certainly was worth waiting for.

Oh, sister, I have a splendid idea.

What about some of
Papa's vintage ?

Oh, my, yes.

I propose we toast
the Charlottesville Bank.

Now, we have drunk to that
every month for years.

I propose a toast to Papa...

...who put the money
in the Charlottesville Bank.

Oh, sister! That wonderful gift you have
for getting to the heart of the matter.

Papa.

[BOTH SIGH]

- Such a lot of good news lately.
- Yes.

You mean,
more than just our check arriving?

Yes.

Mr. Mussolini and Mr. h*tler
have gotten their just desserts.

- I certainly won't miss them.
- Oh, the world won't miss them.

And then there's that
dear Jason Walton's birthday.

Happy birthday, Jason! Ha.

He's been like a son to us, you know.

I'd like to send him
a real touch of home.

Why, sister,
what could be more perfect--

EMILY:
Than Papa's finest year.

And the beauty of it is,
the mails must go through.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

[ALL LAUGHING]

CINDY: Oh, it smells great.
ERIN: Well, it looks pretty good.

- How does it taste?
- Now we should know.

- No!
- We have to make sure it's okay.

You can't taste it.
It's Jason's birthday present.

- Just a little.
- What if you made a mistake?

- We can send him the half of it.
- Is it okay if I come in?

- Erin, it's a man! A real live man!
- And he's not even wearing uniform!

Let's get him, come on. Let's get him.

What are you doing? Come on, let go!

That's disgusting!

- Oh, Elizabeth, don't be so greedy.
- That's right. One for all and all for one.

Elizabeth, don't let it bother you.
Women treat me like this all the time.

- Hey, something smells great!
- No, it doesn't.

Hey, my nose never lies.

Oh!

[GASPS]

- I don't think you should have done that.
- But as long as he has, come on.

- Ohh.
- Mm.

Oh, Elizabeth.

You just ate
my brother's birthday present.

Now you get to make him a new one.

I sure hope you know
what a measuring cup looks like.

Sweet Billy...

...had God's own reason to be.

I declare he was put here purpose.

He had ways inside him.

He...

[GROANS]

...would put a smile in you
that warmed you clear through.

He never learned to hurt anyone.
He never got mean.

I'll think on him all my days.
I'm so grateful he was here.

It was her give him this book.

She taught him to read.

Well.

That, uh....

The last one he was reading.

Over the hills and far away
A little boy steals from his morning play

And under the blossoming apple tree

He lies and he dreams of the things to be

Of battles fought and of victories won

Of wrongs o'erthrown
and of great deeds done

Of the valor that he shall prove some day

Over the hills and far away

Over the hills and far away

[DOOR OPENING]

IKE:
Be right with you.

Where's the lady who works here?

Oh, she's in the back.
She's busy or something.

Oh.

I recognize you.

You've been in here before,
haven't you?

Yeah. Whenever I come, there's this
nice older lady who works here.

Oh! I'll be right back.

[WHISPERING]
No.

[WHISPERING]
But isn't he the soldier?

Tell him I'm not here.
I've gone on an extended tour.

I'm indisposed, I am not here.

You're sure?

Mr. Godsey, I know
whether I'm here or not!

Well, uh, she's-- She's just not here.

Is there anything
I can do to help you?

Gee, I don't know.
She's always helped me.

You see anything you want,
you just let me know.

There's a percent discount
on some items there, to servicemen.

I wanna find something for my girl.
Something just right for her.

That lady, uh....

Oh, I don't know,
she just seems to know so much.

Kind of worldly, you know.

Well, look who's here!

I thought I heard a familiar voice.

- I was asking for you.
- Oh, were you really now?

Yes, he wants to buy
something for his girl.

Oh, and someone
of sophisticated taste to guide him.

Sophistication comes with age.

- Or rather, I should say, maturity.
- Maturity?

One does not simply grow older,
one ripens with maturity.

Perfects with time.

I swear, there isn't a bite
of food left on this table.

Do you think I fed you all enough?

Oh, I think I'm just fine, Rose.
I had a little too much, though.

I might have a little of this
gingerbread. It looks awful good.

- No, you don't.
- Elizabeth made it for Jason.

- Don't touch it.
- Drew already ate the first one.

You mean you'd share this with
your boyfriend, not your own father?

[LAUGHS]

ELIZABETH: Anybody have an idea
how to get it to Jason?

Well, I definitely suggest
you wrap it first.

CINDY:
Oh, don't forget the postage.

- Maybe Erin can help out there.
- Me?

This Lieutenant Whipple
over at Camp Rockfish.

- He's kind of sweet on you, isn't he?
- No, Daddy, I would never ask him.

Why not? Sounds like
a nice young man to me.

Forget it, because
I'd have to go out with him.

He's proposed to me three times and
I've only talked to him on the telephone.

Do you think he could get
a gingerbread to France?

Oh, easy.

Oh, no, you don't!

The ants are gonna get
that cake before Jason does.

Too bad. Elizabeth would have
made Jason's birthday a happy one.

All right, I'll see what I can do.
Ha-ha-ha.

- I knew you would.
- Get away from me!

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

JOHN:
Well, I'd wondered where you'd been.

Well, I've been having a long
discussion with my son.

Have you? What's been on your
mama's mind, huh, John Curtis? Huh?

I've made a decision.

I'm going to study to be a doctor.

[TALKING INDISTINCTLY]

I know what you're thinking, Daddy.

Well.

It's the wrong time
to make such a big decision.

It's too soon.

I feel real bad about Sweet Billy...

...but you've got other things
to think about.

There's a lot to weigh and consider.

I've been doing that.

Give yourself time.

Let healing take place.

You be a good boy today, John Curtis.

Come on, son.

Come on, son.

[GRUNTS]

You know,
you ought to think about him.

Come on, Mary Ellen.

I am giving him thought.

[CAR ENGINE STARTING]

Come on, young man.

Your mama's going bye-bye.

She sure is.

IKE:
Sergeant Jason Walton.

What is this, his birthday present?

Somewhere in allied Europe,
that's where he'll be.

But the APO is more specific, sister.

Well, it all seems to be in order.
I'll just take it over and weigh it and--

[LIQUID SLOSHING]

- Uh-oh.
- It's not broken.

It gurgles.

It's supposed to gurgle,
it's the Recipe.

I know. And it's illegal to send the
Recipe through the United States mails.

Oh, but we've done it before,
many times. To cousins.

Only to members of the family,
of course.

Jason is the very first exception.

- I suppose this is some kind of new law.
- Uh, no.

Well, now,
if it's breakage that concerns you--

No, it's not that.

Well, it shouldn't be.
We pack it very carefully.

Wrapping it first in some of Papa's
best fleece lined underwear.

And then we place it
in a box of straw...

...so that it will ride easily
and absorb any blows.

- Good morning.
- Oh, hello, girls.

It's not the best of mornings,
Mary Ellen.

But it's nice to have a glimpse of you.

- We have some letters to mail.
- Sure, I'll take care of it.

We used to do business
with this post office.

In the future, you can see us spending
our time and money in Rockfish.

The ladies want me to send
this birthday present to Jason.

Only problem is, it's the Recipe.

They want me to send it
through the United States mails...

...and that's illegal.

Well, Erin can get it sent for you.

Well, thank goodness,
we were beginning to despair.

Are you gonna have a friend
tuck it in one of the transports?

Oh, I wouldn't exactly call
Lieutenant Whipple a friend.

Daddy thinks I'm moving too fast.

He thinks I'm making an emotional
decision because Sweet Billy d*ed.

Maybe you are.

I know I made a pledge to myself
that I'd never be that helpless again.

- Heh. Well, that's a big order.
- It's the only kind I hand myself.

You haven't had any college?

Just high school
and then nursing school.

So the first thing you face
is four years of premed.

You can handle that.
But, after that, I don't know.

You don't think
I can handle med school?

I'm not sure you'd get the chance.

Right or wrong, they just don't
encourage women to become doctors.

I expect it to be tough, Bill.

I expect the hours to be long
and the work to be hard.

I expect to bounce off
of a lot of brick walls.

But you don't expect
to fall on your face.

If I do, I won't stay there long.

Come on in, Daddy.

Quite a pile of books you got here.

They're Bill Holliston's
old premed books.

I understand more
than I thought I would.

[JOHN CHUCKLES]

Nobody ever took you for stupid,
honey.

I just wanted to make sure
I'm not getting in over my head.

It's not the schooling that worries me.

It's John Curtis.

Mary Ellen, you're a mother of
a little boy and you owe him this time.

You're going to school
and trying to work...

...and take care of him
at the same time.

You're not gonna do justice
to any part of it.

You keep telling me
I'm a mother, I have a son.

I know that. I love him.

He needs you more than
you need to be a doctor, honey.

I don't think you
have a choice in all this.

You made your choice
when you had him.

I never said it was the last choice
I'd ever make.

You wanna talk about this
or don't you?

I don't think we can.

I didn't know you'd
made up your mind already.

Haven't you?

Yup.

How many kids you got, Walton?

Just one, just Ginny. Isn't she cute?

Well, she doesn't
have a full set of teeth.

Are you crazy?
She's only a year old.

My Jocko had all
his teeth at her age.

And he's only a dog.

- You're not well, Charley.
- Ha-ha-ha.

You can read it out loud, if you want.
I didn't get any mail.

Old Jocko is not much
of a hand for writing.

She misses me, misses me a lot.

- Your kid does?
- No, my wife.

Let me see now.

Your kid is Ginny, your wife
is Erin and your sister's...

No, my wife is Cindy. My sister's Erin.

I thought your sister was Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, Mary Ellen
and Erin are sisters.

Well, you got a whole mess
of women around, Walton.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

MAN:
Mail call!

[SOLDIERS CHATTERING]

Hey, soldier, you can't park here.

Yeah, I know.
I'll be through in just a minute.

- Jason!
- John-Boy, how are you?

- I'm fine, how're you doing?
- All right. You look good.

- Happy birthday, brother.
- Oh, thanks.

Oh, hey, but, uh....

You're more welcome than the wine
but any of my buddies see this...

...we're in more danger
than if we were in a foxhole.

- We can do a better job of hiding it.
- I'm for that.

JASON: This is what I call
a real happy birthday.

French wine and gingerbread cake.

- Hard to top.
- How do you rate packages on time?

I've got a sister with influence.
Army Transport.

Courtesy of a Lieutenant Whipple,
Camp Rockfish, Virginia.

He even wrote me a note,
telling me how crazy he is about Erin.

It's hard to believe she's old
enough to be in love, isn't it?

I keep picturing her with
a Raggedy Ann doll and pigtails.

[JASON LAUGHING]

Of course, I keep picturing you
hiking up your britches every step.

That, uh, gingerbread wasn't
the only gift I got from home.

I'll give you a hint.
One of the packages gurgled.

Courtesy of the Baldwin sisters.

You know, the French say
"Never mix the grape with the grain."

I know, but we're not French.

Chemistry and bacteriology.

And you have a question mark
beside zoology?

I couldn't find it
in the freshman catalog.

You wouldn't.
It's not a freshman course.

And physiology and anatomy
aren't either, I suppose.

I am here to advise you, miss, uh....

MARY ELLEN:
Willard. And it's Mrs. Willard.

Oh, indeed, Mrs. Willard.

Very well, then.

My duties as registrar are to counsel
as well as to enroll students.

Now, I have no idea where you're
heading with this schedule of yours.

Premed.

So it would appear.

Then I must discourage you,
Mrs. Willard, is it? Yes, Willard.

You'll have to reconsider
your selections.

I've considered plenty.
I'm going to be a doctor.

We simply won't have room
to accommodate you.

Our boys from service will be returning.
We owe them first consideration.

My husband was a doctor.

He was k*lled at Pearl Harbor.

Isn't his widow
entitled to a place in class?

We have many courses of study
which I would encourage you to pursue.

There's Home Economics,
Child Rearing classes, Teacher Education.

I've had plenty of experience
with home economics.

I'm already raising a child.

I don't want to be a teacher,
I want to be a doctor.

That's where I belong.

Mrs. Willard, let me make myself clear.

As long as I am Dean of Admissions
at this university...

...we will not enroll you
as a premed student.

Go home and raise your child.
Good day.

You know what?
You're a good little boy.

ELIZABETH: You play with him
more than you used to play with me.

Ha, ha, that's because
you're not as cute as he is.

Well, young man, which pair of pajamas
would you care to wear tonight?

- It's time for your bath.
- Oh, Rose, let me do it.

Oh, no, you don't.
He's all mine tonight.

Get up, come on.

- Look, Mom's here.
- Oh, look, Mom's here.

Oh, you're the nicest thing
that's happened to me all day.

We kept your dinner warm.

- What happened?
- Oh, I'll tell you about it later.

Right now I'm gonna
give John Curtis his bath.

I was just about to take him up.

Thanks, Rose, but I'd like
to have the time with him.

Good, you're home.

They don't want to take me
in premed.

The world may be on your side,
Daddy.

John, I'm going to horn in.

- It's a good night for it.
- Heh.

Well, it's from my side of things.
It's up to you and Mary Ellen, of course.

But I want you to know that I do not
feel put upon in the least.

Doesn't mean
you're not being put upon.

Well, I'll be honest.

I welcome the chance
to care for a child again.

I appreciate what you're trying to do.

Now, it seems like more
than it is, what I do for him.

Mary Ellen gives him motherhood.

Believe you me,
John Curtis knows the difference.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[WHISPERS]
Come on in.

Is he asleep?

He can nod off
in the middle of a smile.

Come to think of it, you were
like that when you were his age.

It's not fair,
everyone can remember things I can't.

It's one of the problems
of being the youngest.

I think the first thing I remember is
running, trying to catch up with Jim-Bob.

Who was running to catch up with Ben
who was probably trying to ditch him.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Oh.

Your shadows, they were all so big.

I still feel the crick
from the back of my neck...

...from looking up at everyone.

Now you can look us
all straight in the eye.

There was one thing
about your shadow.

It was always moving,
always doing something.

Running off in all directions, I know.

Yeah, but you were always doing
something. Going your own way.

Mama used to say it,
Grandma, Grandpa.

"There's Mary Ellen for you.
She's our original."

[LAUGHS]

Mama always said she never
raised any carbon copies.

Never wanted to.

It's just, I can't see you knuckling
under to anybody or anything.

You never have.

[DOOR OPENS]

[BELL RINGING]

IKE: Are you're sure
he's gonna be here this morning?

Of course, : .
Those were the instructions.

The Army might have some
other plans for him, you know.

Well, I believe he arranged
some sort of a pass.

There.

"Happy birthday from--"

Oh, dear, what shall I write on it?

Mrs. Godsey?

Corabeth.

- A friend.
- No, how about, "From Mother"?

The lady who sent the letter,
the lady who sent the recipe.

She sent the dollar. Mother.

Well, to be sure, but....

[CAR DOOR OPENING]

He's here!

- Good morning!
- Ha, ha. Good morning.

CORABETH: Well, good morning, indeed.
- Happy birthday.

The happiest.

How'd you know? I never said--
Did I?

Well, of course you didn't.

Go ahead, tell him, Corabeth.

"Happy birthday from...."

From who?

From you?

Well, it's a sort of a surprise.

- It's kind of a special chocolate cake.
- From an old family recipe.

It tastes like my mother's. Ha.

This is the best thing
that's happened to me since I joined up.

You can't imagine how homesick I was
getting for some good chocolate cake.

I don't know how to thank you.

Well, actually...

...I have a slight confession to make.

While I would like to take credit for it,
it's from your mother.

She sent the recipe and I
merely followed the instructions.

Isn't that just like her?

Well, I-- I was happy
to do all I could to help.

Well, I have a confession of my own.

You know that perfume you
helped me pick out for my girlfriend?

An inspirational scent.

I don't have a girlfriend.

That was for Mom.

So that's twice you've helped me.

I feel like I got a home
away from home here.

Well, what are we waiting for?

We didn't make that cake
just for you, you know.

Hi, Ronie.

Whenever I put in sod,
I put as many weeds in as grass.

- It's hard to stay ahead of weeds.
- Yup.

It seems like the evil things
in this life got all the strength.

What ails you?

I want to study to be a doctor.
I don't think they're going to let me.

Oh. Who's this "they"?

Daddy thinks I have enough to do,
raising John Curtis and working.

Dean Clifford at Boatwright thinks...

...that he doesn't want women
studying medicine.

My doctor friend Bill Holliston says
that even if I make it to medical school...

...the professors and students
will make it rough on me.

Poor little flower.

Them "theys" is gonna crush you,
ain't they?

I didn't say that.

That's what all that
poor-mouth talk is about.

All those folks saying,
"You shouldn't. You can't."

I-- I just ain't never seen
you cower down, girl.

I'm just facing the facts, Ronie.

You know...

...whenever I go at
one of these devils...

...there's always another one
waiting to fight you.

Go ahead, quit.

Give Sweet Billy's grave over to them.

You wouldn't quit now,
would you, girl?

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

CLIFFORD:
Enter, enter.

Dean Clifford, Mary Ellen Willard.
Remember me?

Oh, indeed, Mrs. Willard, isn't it?

Yes, this is my son, John Curtis.

Well, young man, I must say
you're entering college early.

[CHUCKLING]

He might be coming
to some of my classes.

I've changed some of my courses.

Very wise, Mrs. Willard.
Very reasonable.

I fail to see the changes.

For one thing,
I've substituted biology for chemistry.

I've already had some
chemistry in nursing school...

...and I'd like to get into the
life sciences as soon as I can.

But this is still a premed enrollment.

I thought I told you
that was unacceptable.

You did.

If you've had some nursing,
why not go on with it?

- Why not become a nurse?
- I am a nurse.

And the hill people I visit on
my nursing rounds need a doctor.

I'm sure there's a college someplace...

...willing to give
someone like me a chance...

...but that would mean going somewhere
else and leaving those people.

Dean Clifford, I know
there's room for me in premed.

That's what I want, that's all I want.

And if I say no?

Then I'll be back.

And next time,
I won't just bring John Curtis.

I'll bring Ronie Cotter
and Grandma Floyd...

...and Lucius Conroy
and Billy-Joe Sawyer...

...and all the other people
who depend on me...

...for more help than I can give them.

And I'll keep coming back...

...until the day when I'm sitting
at a desk in a biology class...

...getting ready for the day that I can
get my license to practice medicine.

Now, are you sure you want to say no?

Very well.

But they'll never accept
a woman in medical school.

Don't count on it.

[SIGHS]

JOHN-BOY:
In many ways, everyone was right.

The road ahead for Mary Ellen
was hard and discouraging...

...in all ways tough and challenging.

Just right for Mary Ellen...

...who knew how to bounce
off walls and fall on her face...

...and survive to fight another day.

It was her private w*r...

...and in time, even our father
came to agree she'd win.

ELIZABETH: I was just thinking
how much money I'll save...

...with a doctor in the family.

MARY ELLEN:
You better take care of yourself.

ELIZABETH:
You wouldn't charge your sister.

MARY ELLEN: I've got four years
premed, three years med school.

I'll be an intern for a year or so
and then there's a residency.

ELIZABETH: I'll take care of myself.
Good night, Mary Ellen.

MARY ELLEN:
Good night, Elizabeth.

[ENGLISH - US - SDH]