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John Curtis! John Curtis!
Do you see him, Daddy?
Not yet, but we'll find him, honey. He can't have gone far.
John Curtis! John Curtis, where are you?
In 1942, the coming of spring to Walton's Mountain
brought a keener appreciation for all living things than ever before.
With the rest of the world in chaos, here we felt a sense of life renewing itself.
For my sister, Mary Ellen,
it was a time when she was emerging from a painful winter
and struggling to achieve a renewal of her own.
Don't count on John Curtis for breakfast. I've already fed him.
Good to see you back in your uniform.
Do you really think I should be starting to work again?
We've been all through that, Mary Ellen. You're a nurse.
They need nurses real bad nowadays.
- What are you doing? - Trying to match a pair of socks.
You've got one black one and one blue one.
It's close enough.
You know, with Mama gone I feel like I ought to be here looking after everyone.
We'll just divide up the chores differently, maybe not be so fussy about things.
Like socks that don't match?
I'll ask Elizabeth to pin them together next time she does the laundry.
Yoo-hoo!
It's Corabeth, another one of her missions of mercy.
Come on in, Corabeth.
"Spring, sweet spring
"Cold that doth not sting The little birds do sing
"Cuckoo, jug-jug, poo-wee, toowit-toowoo"
That was written in the year 1600,
but the poet might very well have intended it for this very morning.
- Here, forsythia. - Real pretty.
You sure do brighten things up, Corabeth.
I took it as a vow that when Olivia was convalescing
I would do my best to console the family. Mary Ellen, your nurse's uniform?
I'm going back to work part-time.
Oh! But I thought that you had withdrawn from nursing
when your mother became ill.
Well, the family thinks I should try it again.
I think they're getting tired of having me around.
There's always Erin, Elizabeth, Jim-Bob to take care of him.
I hardly feel that Jim-Bob is the fitting parental figure for a growing boy.
Well, I'll be spending plenty of time with him.
Tell your mama to be on her way, John Curtis.
She'll be late for her first day back.
Bye, sweetheart. Be a good boy.
Perhaps it'll be a comfort to you
to know that I am here in case of an emergency.
Emergency?
The only emergencies you have to worry about are the ones at the hospital.
Well. I simply fail to understand.
In my day a young widow withdrew and took comfort in seclusion.
That's what I'd call being buried alive, Corabeth.
All right, John Curtis, now this is middle C.
This is D, next comes E, F, G, A, B, and back to C again.
You got that?
I think an octave is enough for his first lesson.
It's time for his bed. Come on.
Hey, you're letting him get away without telling him to practice.
He's excused until he can reach the keyboard
without sitting on somebody's lap.
John Curtis, kiss your uncle Ben good night.
He's gonna be a famous photographer. He might teach you how.
Good night, John Curtis.
How did the photo session go, Ben?
Hey, I got some real nice pictures of the mountain before it got dark.
How many did you manage to double expose?
Smile, Jim-Bob.
Hey! I'm blinded!
Do you like my new shorts?
I can see why they're called shorts.
Hey, Ben. Take a picture of me. We'll send it to Mama.
Mom would have a fit seeing you like that.
Besides, I've only have one more exposure in this roll
and I'm saving it for something real special.
Well, Ben, when I become a famous model you can always say you gave me my start.
Okay, I'll finish up this roll tonight.
Move, Jason. I'm gonna sit over here.
- I don't get to be in this? - No.
- Wait, how should I go? Like this? - Okay. Yeah.
- How's this? - Okay, smile.
Well, it looks like everybody's getting along just fine without me.
- Where's John Curtis? - Elizabeth's putting him to bed.
Oh, well, I'd better hurry if I'm going to tuck him in.
For someone who's been working all day, she sure has a lot of pep.
It's nice to see her smile again.
Yeah. She sure was getting to be a real sourpuss, huh?
Come on, you want to grow up to be big and strong, don't you?
Well, then eat.
He giving you a hard time?
I have a patient who won't eat stewed apricots,
only Mr. Whittemore's 84 years old.
How are things at the hospital?
I didn't realize how much I'd missed it until I went back.
This week has just flown by. And I'm running late.
Well, go ahead, let me feed him.
Much as I love my work, I always hate turning him over to somebody else.
That's part of being a parent.
Go ahead, take care of that. Hold that spoon, now.
No, you eat, you do it.
Now, it won't be long before I have a fishing pole in your hand.
There'll be no fishing until he learns to swim.
Your mama's right. Swimming first, then fishing.
Oh, I have a short shift today. Will you tell Elizabeth I'll be home early?
- I want to spend some time with my son. - All right, honey.
Here you go, son. Have some apricots, they're good for you.
Come on, try it. No? Here, watch Grandpa.
I think you're right. How about some oatmeal?
Try this.
Come on, try it, try it. Mmm. Yum, yum, yum.
More? There you go. Come on, eat up. Come on.
Okay, John Curtis, to be a good swing rider you have to hold on to the rope.
- Jason, where are you going? - Rockfish. You want anything?
- Yeah. Can I come along? - Sure.
You want to come see the big city, John Curtis?
Mary Ellen's coming home early to be with him. I can't go.
You're not the only babysitter around here. Hey, Jim-Bob!
Jim-Bob, how would you like to take care of John Curtis?
- It's just till Mary Ellen gets back. - I've gotta tune my car.
- It's been missing lately. - Well, he won't stop you.
Well, maybe I can teach him something about engines.
Come on, John Curtis.
- He'd like that. - Let's go!
You any good at setting points?
Hey Jim-Bob. You got a new apprentice?
He's pretty good at taking things apart,
but he's got a lot to learn about putting them back together.
Hey, John Curtis, you wanna come with me over to Ike's
and we'll see if those pictures are done?
That's of course if Jim-Bob doesn't need your advice.
I'll manage. Besides, he likes rides.
You don't want to be a mechanic when you grow up, anyway.
Don't you wanna be a photographer like me?
Now, try to say cheese. Come on, cheese.
- Hey, Ike. - Hey, Ben.
- I see you brought my favorite customer. - Oh, he likes cookies.
I've never seen anything like the way that child changes hands.
Did you get my snapshots from the developer, Ike?
Oh, yeah. They came in the morning delivery.
Oh, great!
Photography is such a worthwhile pastime.
All of those moments recorded which otherwise might fade from memory.
I got them right here. I was looking at them earlier.
- Boy, there's some good shots in there. - Oh, good.
- You're getting better all the time. - Thank you.
Did you ever think of selling them?
I've got a long ways to go before I can submit them to magazines.
Oh, I don't know. I think they're good enough
for the Charlottesville Register right now.
You know the Sunday section? The Rotogravure?
Do they accept pictures from amateur photographers?
They have a 10-dollar prize for the one they like the most.
This one right here of Drucilla's Pond, now that's pretty good.
Oh, yeah.
Now, if I were you, I'd get in my car right now and I'd drive over to Charlottesville,
and maybe you can get there before deadline for the Sunday edition.
Yeah, well, I can't drag him all the way over there.
I thought he was used to being dragged around.
Why don't you let me look after him?
Mary Ellen's pretty particular when it comes to John Curtis.
Hey, now, wait a second, nobody's more particular than Corabeth.
I guess it would be all right. Here.
It's a good idea. Thank you!
- Bye-bye. - Good luck, Ben.
You sweet thing.
It's none too soon to begin training your aesthetic sense.
I know, we'll go bird-watching.
Joanne?
- It's Mary Ellen Walton. - Mary Ellen?
What is it? What's the matter?
It's Kimmy, my little boy.
What happened?
We were in the kitchen cleaning up, and...
He was toddling around after me.
And the phone rang.
I went to answer it.
He must have gotten into something.
Oh, Mary Ellen, when I got there, he was barely breathing.
What are they doing in there? Why don't they hurry?
Our doctors are wonderful. They'll do all they can.
Come on, let's walk.
I have a little boy, too. His name is John Curtis.
Kimmy is just beginning to talk.
He only says a few words.
Daddy, book.
He's...
He's going to be two on Sunday.
Oh, if I... If I only had taken him with me.
If I only hadn't left him!
Don't blame yourself. These things happen.
David?
Oh, God!
Elizabeth? Elizabeth! John Curtis!
- Where's Elizabeth? - She went with Jason.
- Where? - Over to Rockfish.
She took John Curtis to Rockfish?
- No. She left him with me. - Well, where is he?
- Ben took him over to Ike's in the truck. - I just passed by Ike's.
There was no pickup and there was no sign of Ben or John Curtis.
Well, I don't know where they went.
Is this the way my family looks after my son when I'm gone?
By passing him around like he's a package?
What's the matter with you, Mary Ellen? John Curtis is all right.
This child is simply not cut out to be a bird watcher.
He doesn't have the patience for it.
Oh, it's all right, John Curtis. I'm not going to leave you.
I'll never let you out of my sight again.
And how did our young man enjoy the sermon?
He didn't say.
I've always failed to understand
what a child that age gets out of a religious service.
Oh, I don't suppose God is particular about the age of his congregation.
I wish I could get away with screeching all through the sermon.
Well, Mary Ellen, I understand that you have given up your job at the hospital.
It just didn't work out.
Well, under the circumstances, I think that is by far the wisest decision.
- Hey, Ben! Congratulations! - For what?
- Your picture's made it in the Rotogravure. - No kidding!
I left them those prints, but they didn't think they had enough room.
Well, they made room for it, right smack on the front page.
Good going, Ben.
- Which picture did they use? - Wait till you see it.
Well, it must be the one of Drucilla's Pond.
Or is it the one when the sun goes over the mountain?
I know which one, it must be the one that you're looking down on the logging road.
I don't think I'll tell you. I think I'll let it be a surprise.
All I will tell you is that it is a gorgeous exposure.
Come with me, trailing arbutus.
How about that? Front page!
Yes, Liv, I've seen it. I'm as upset as you are about it.
Don't worry, I'll talk to them as soon as they get home.
I love you too, honey. Goodbye.
- Something wrong, Daddy? - Nothing that a switch to Ben won't fix.
- He's right behind us. - Hey, Daddy, have you seen the paper yet?
- You mean the Rotogravure section? - Ike says I have a picture in it.
Can't hardly miss it.
Oh, Ben, how could you?
Either of you care to explain how this happened?
I just left a few pictures over at the newspaper office.
I never knew they'd use this one.
Erin, how could you have your picture taken in an outfit like that?
We were just fooling around.
All the women are dressing like that these days.
Not Walton women! Not my daughter! Not in public!
- Well, that part isn't my fault. - They're your legs.
Nobody should be seen like this except by her husband.
You know what they call you here? The Jefferson County Cutie.
Your mama's fit to be tied!
Well, at least they didn't put your name in it.
Hello?
No, you cannot speak to the Jefferson County Cutie!
Kind of missed my grandson this morning.
We usually go exploring while the rest of you are in church.
I didn't want to leave him behind.
He has such good hands.
He's going to be a doctor like his daddy.
A little early to be deciding his future, isn't it? He might surprise you.
I never thought I'd have a child who'd study years to be a nurse
and then give it up.
Nursing was something that I shared with Curt.
And after Pearl Harbor,
it seemed like a way of holding onto him, being close to him.
But I was wrong.
John Curtis is all I have let of Curt now, and I belong with him.
Just don't make him your whole life. That could be hard on both of you.
Mary Ellen, look at what I've got.
- What'd you do? Rob the post office? - No, it's fan mail!
- For who? - For me.
I haven't read it all yet, but so far I've gotten two proposals,
and one man is writing a song for me. Now, listen to this.
If I can get it open.
"Your beauty has inspired me to compose a song in your honor.
"I'm calling it Carin' for Erin,
"and I'll send you the words as soon as I finish it. "
I can hardly wait!
All this because of that picture of you naked?
One picture is worth a thousand words, and I was not naked.
What kind of person would write this?
"Your picture is the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see in the morning.
"And in between I have wonderful dreams about you.
"Thanks for being what you are. "
- Oh, boy. - I read that one.
He wants to drive all the way from Camp Lee to see me.
Well, don't get too carried away. The house could be crawling with soldiers.
Oh, don't worry, I won't. But you know, Mary Ellen,
they all must be real lonely to write these letters.
We laugh at them, but it's probably the first time
these poor guys have been away from home.
That's true, but don't let them use that line on you
if you go out with any of them.
They might try and take advantage of the situation.
I'm not as naive as you think, big sister. But thanks for the advice, anyways.
After all, it's not like they know you. They're only after you for your looks.
I know. But isn't it exciting? This is more fun than playing post office.
- Got you! - Ben Walton! What did you do that for?
I got this for John Curtis over at Ike's. You think he'll like it?
You can just take it back. I don't want my son playing with weapons.
What are you talking about, Mary Ellen?
- It's only a toy. - It was no toy that killed his daddy.
Now get that ugly thing out of here.
- Look, it only shoots water! - It shoots and that's enough.
If you can't find better games than that,
then you better not play with John Curtis anymore.
Now, that's not fair, Mary Ellen!
You know that John Curtis and I have a lot of fun together.
Elizabeth and I are on going over to Camp Lee.
We'll be home in plenty of time for supper.
And while you're gone, I'm gonna have to go back to Ike's
and return this deadly weapon.
What's the matter with her? She's been like an old mother hen lately.
Mothers get that way sometimes, son.
- I'm sure glad I'm a man. - Me, too.
Fathers are a lot more sensible.
- Lieutenant Oler? - Mr. Walton?
Hello, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Elizabeth.
I'm glad to meet you. We don't get enough pretty girls around here.
Come in, sit down.
I guess we should get right down to business.
I've looked over all the estimates for the barracks lumber job
and I would like you to supply it
if you can give me a reasonable delivery schedule.
I can deliver the first half in three weeks, the rest two weeks later.
That sounds good to me. The job's all yours.
- Is that it? - Don't you want it?
Yes, but we could've settled delivery over the phone.
Mr. Walton, I'm not a very good judge of people on telephone.
I wanted a chance to meet the man I was planning on doing business with
- face to face. - Well, I understand that.
Now, is there anything else I've forgotten that we should be taking care of now?
- Seems to me you're doing fine. - Don't you have to sign some contracts?
- Not only beautiful, but smart, too. - Brains and beauty run in our family.
Here are the papers. You can be signing those and I'll break out a couple of cigars.
All right.
- Elizabeth, what are you dong there? - I'm just stretching my legs.
Well, honey, you're in the lieutenant's way. Come over here and sit down.
What's that?
Oh, I got that out of Sunday's paper. Isn't she a living doll?
That happens to be my daughter.
And I don't like her to be on display like that.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I had no idea, Mr. Walton.
But I'm afraid every man in this camp has her picture pinned up by now.
I guess you could say your daughter's sort of become the sweetheart of Camp Lee.
Put my baby down this instant!
Interference! The ball goes down right here.
That's where I would've hit John Curtis.
Or clobbered him! What do you mean by charging out in the field with my son
as if he were a football?
We used to run that play with Elizabeth. And you carried her!
And it didn't hurt me any.
He didn't start crying till you took him!
Yeah, Mary Ellen. You always loved touch football.
Not when I was a year and a half old.
Come on, John Curtis, let's find something safe for you to do.
See you in a few years, John Curtis.
Or when you can get away from your mama's apron strings.
He's my son and I'll raise him my way,
and if you don't like it, you can stay away from us!
Hey sugarplum, guess how many letters that Erin got today.
Mr. Godsey, please. I am trying to compose a letter.
- She got 42, and that's a new record. - Shocking!
At this very moment, I am writing a letter to the editor of the Charlottesville paper,
protesting the
"demoralizing influence
"of pin-up photography. "
Well, I don't see anything demoralizing about it.
Nonsense. You said there were 42 letters today.
That's 42 more men
"inexorably driven
"to lustful feelings"
by that photograph of Erin.
- Corabeth, it's just fan mail. - But what kind of fan mail?
They are not fans of her personality, but of her
"bare young limbs. "
I understand the soldiers at Camp Lee have made her their official pin-up.
You see what comes of making the human body an object of desire?
What is that?
Oh, this is that corduroy that we ordered special for Mary Ellen.
She's going to make a suit out of it for John Curtis.
Now there is a sensible young woman.
She's trying to make a life for her son in the face of tragic circumstances,
which only goes to prove that there are still lasting values
to be found in today's world.
Come in.
Oh, Ben, I thought you might be Daddy.
Well, he was almost over being mad at us for taking that picture
until he went to Camp Lee.
- I sure am sorry, Erin. - What for?
- For getting you into all this trouble. - Oh, I'm not. It's worth it.
Well, who would have ever thought
that Erin Walton would become the pin-up girl of an army camp?
Ben, look.
I was lucky to even get one letter a month.
You better not let Daddy know you're answering all those.
Well, I hate to deceive him,
but a lot of these soldiers don't have anybody to write to.
You know, you're right. You're doing a patriotic service.
I mean, you must be an inspiration to all those boys at Camp Lee.
I mean, it must be like the flag or apple pie.
- And you're responsible. - Yeah.
Well, I think I'm gonna be going back to taking pictures of scenery.
- Bye-bye. - Bye.
- David, come in. - Hi.
Cleared out your locker like you asked.
Thanks, I didn't know when I'd get a chance to go over to the hospital.
Just put it on the chair.
Well.
John Curtis has been keeping you pretty busy, huh?
How's he doing?
I'd let you see for yourself, only he's napping right now.
Good, good. It'll give me an excuse to come back.
- Won't you sit down? - Well, thank you.
Aren't you even going to ask how things are going at the hospital?
Sure.
Well, everyone down there really misses you,
especially that old codger, Mr. Whittemore?
I beg your pardon. You mean Lewis Bliss Whittemore the Third?
He's not so old.
He sure seems older since you left.
He's lost all his spunk. He's even started being nice to nurses.
I think he actually believes that he drove you away by being so crotchety.
- Tell him I left him for a younger man. - Why don't you tell him yourself?
Will you cut this?
Why don't you come back for a visit?
Or, better still, why don't you come back to work?
You're not going to be happy unless you do. I know you.
- No, you don't. - Hey, remember me?
I'm the guy who almost married you.
I've worked with a lot of nurses since I started practicing medicine,
but I've never seen anyone take the joy in it you do.
I'm sorry David, John Curtis needs me.
Mary Ellen, look. You're a good nurse,
one of those rare people who doesn't turn her back on pain
and who knows when to let go.
Now, the time is coming when you're going to have to start
letting go of John Curtis.
Turning your back on your profession? No, uh-uh. That's not a good way to start.
John Curtis cannot fill that void left by Curt's death.
That's too much to ask of any child.
David, that's not fair. I'm his mother, not his nurse.
And I think I know what's best for my son.
I hope so, Mary Ellen.
I told Mary Ellen I'd get some vitamins for John Curtis at the drugstore.
Meet me down there.
- I'll be along in a minute. - All right.
That's the girl in the newspaper.
- Go on, I dare you. - Okay, okay.
Hey!
I'm sorry, I've never done anything like that before.
It's just, I've loved you ever since I first saw your picture.
You're even more beautiful in real life.
- Do you know this young man? - We just met, sort of.
- Well, soldier? - Wallace, Charles. Private.
United States Army, serial number 27271014.
He didn't harm me, Daddy.
Private, you're wearing a man's uniform,
but the way you're acting, I ought to take you over my knee.
Yes, sir.
I'm not sorry I kissed you. I'll remember that always.
I'm about to lose my temper with you, son.
Yes, sir, good-bye, sir!
- Bye, beautiful. - That's enough!
Looks like John Curtis is going to get himself a new outfit.
He's outgrown practically all of his clothes.
I've been so busy working at the hospital, I haven't had time to keep up with him.
Now, you're gonna make up some lost time, huh?
Is there anything wrong with that?
Kind of touchy, aren't you, Mary Ellen?
I'm sorry. It's just that everybody's been on my back.
The boys, David. I figured you were about to start in on me.
To be a part of a big family
you've just gotta be able to take a whole bunch of advice.
How'd you ever manage to raise seven of us?
Hmm. I don't know.
Some kind of miracle you're all grown and healthy.
I remember when John-Boy was just a baby.
Your mama just wouldn't let him out of her sight.
Then the rest of you started coming along and she eased up a little.
And I guess all of you got plenty love and affection.
John Curtis is my only one.
- I just can't help wanting to keep him safe. - Mmm-hmm, I know.
But fear is not a very good foundation for mother and her loving.
You remember when he first started taking steps?
If you hadn't let him fall once in a while, he never would have learned to walk.
- He'll learn a lot faster if I'm with him. - Well, that's true.
Just don't think you can keep him from every little hurt
that might come along in life.
'Cause you can't.
You got to turn him over to something bigger than yourself.
You know, when I went to France during the last war,
I just couldn't stand the fact I wasn't going to be around to protect
John-Boy and your mama.
- I just had to turn them over to the Lord. - I tried that once.
And now I have to be mother and father both.
I understand the problem.
- Hello, Erin. - Hey!
How can I help you?
Well, I need some stamps. Fifty should be enough to start with.
I imagine that's for the fan mail?
I think a more apropos term would be masher mail.
Ha! Well, you can call it what you want, but she got 276 letters today,
and they're all from Camp Lee.
Erin, perhaps I could help you with this deluge.
I could compose a form letter
that could be sent to discourage repeat offenders
of unsolicited billet-doux.
Well, I couldn't trouble you with my correspondence, Corabeth.
Oh, well, no trouble is too great when a young girl's honor is at stake.
Well, I think I can manage,
except for the requests for the locks of my hair.
I'd be bald if I gave in to everybody who wanted one.
Today your tresses.
Tomorrow, who knows what they'll be asking for?
Well, I guess that's the price you pay for being a patriotic inspiration.
You know, I expect Erin's popularity is just beginning.
I would expect that someday she'll be so famous, they'll name a battleship after her.
Thanks, Ike.
- These must all be invitations. - Listen to this.
"My dear Miss Walton, your presence is cordially requested
"as guest of honor at our inspection, parade and review this weekend. "
He writes like Corabeth talks.
"As camp protocol officer,
"I will be calling you Friday night... " That's tonight!
"... at 2000 hours to set up an escort for Saturday's festivities.
"With sincere respect and admiration, Major John P. Callison. "
How about this one? "Hiya, baby, all us guys think you're some looker,
"so we want you to come to a little shindig we're having. "
- Are there any normal boys there? - I don't know.
Shh! Is that John Curtis?
I didn't hear anything. I thought you left him napping.
I thought we'd managed to get her away from him for five minutes.
Still sleeping?
Well, he could have been in trouble.
- I wonder what I should wear? - When?
- When I go to Camp Lee. - You mean you're really going?
Well, I couldn't let so many GI's down. I'd feel like a traitor.
What time is 2000 hours?
- 8:00. - What about Daddy?
Well, you two will have to keep him far away from the house
when my escort calls.
You mean trick him.
Well, on the outside it might look like Daddy doesn't want me to go,
but deep down he understands things like duty.
There just isn't enough time to get deep down.
- Besides, our fighting men need me. - Correction, want you.
Thanks.
What happened?
- He got a small splinter in his hand. - It was the size of a tree. I got it out.
Let's put these away.
You took half your finger with it. Why didn't you leave it for me?
Consider yourself lucky, Ben.
She took a splinter out of my foot once, and I couldn't walk for a week.
I'd like to have a nickel for every time I've bandaged the two of you.
Look who's talking.
You've fallen out of more trees and had more scrapes and bruises
than all of us put together.
- Poor John Curtis. - What's that supposed to mean?
He'll never know the glory of a black eye or a skinned elbow.
- You're under him every time he falls. - That's not true.
You know, it's natural for boys to get cuts and bruises.
I mean, it's as natural as having a dog or playing hooky.
Ouch!
Or eating too much ice cream and getting sick.
- Aren't you going to let him have any fun? - Not the kind you're talking about.
It's sad to think of our little nephew as growing up and being a mama's boy, huh?
When and if you're ever a parent, you'll understand.
In the meantime, would you stop meddling with the way I'm raising my son?
Here, tape it yourself.
Little hot under the collar today, aren't we?
She's a lot of help, isn't she? Could have done this myself.
Listen carefully. During your speech, you have to smile a lot.
Look around, eye contact is very important. Now rehearse.
Oh, but Elizabeth, it's almost 8:00. The officer is calling in a few minutes
and I don't want Daddy to answer the phone.
You also don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of 300 fans.
All right.
"Dear fighting men, I'm very happy to be here today.
"Some of you may be sent far away to defend our way of life.
"Those of us who must stay at home
"want you to know that our thoughts and prayers will always be with you.
"Your courage and bravery make us all very proud.
"I want you to know there is one girl who will always be with you in spirit. "
They'll love you. Now practice throwing kisses to the crowd.
- No, Elizabeth, that's stupid. - No, it's not. All the big stars throw kisses.
- What's going on in here? - I was just leaving.
Elizabeth and I were just horsing around.
Daddy, don't you think we should try and give of ourselves to the war effort?
What exactly do you mean by giving of yourself?
Well, it makes me sad to think of the soldiers over there
without a female face to look on, except for maybe a pin-up.
You know how I feel about your picture
being plastered over every wall at Camp Lee.
Well, if I went there in a dress that covered my knees,
they'd see I was a nice girl.
Is that why Elizabeth was asking you to throw kisses?
I've been invited there as a guest of honor.
I will not have my daughter being ogled at by hundreds of leering men.
I'd only be ogled at for a few short hours. It's tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
The officer of protocol is calling in a few minutes to get my answer
and to arrange for an escort.
Looks like I found out just in time, doesn't it?
I'm sorry, Daddy, but this my chance to feel like I'm part of something important.
Erin, the answer is no!
Please, Daddy! I can't tell them no!
- Well, I can! - Daddy!
"I hope you don't mind getting this letter from a total stranger.
"Since I saw your picture in the Sunday paper,
"I haven't been able to get you out of my mind.
"You remind me very much of a girl I know back home in Kentucky.
"Her name is Mary Beth. I don't have a picture of Mary Beth.
"In fact, she doesn't know how much I like her.
"I guess I'm just too bashful to tell her.
"Anyway, I was using your picture in place of one of her.
"But the trouble is, somebody swiped it and now I don't have one.
"I wonder if you could send me one that I could keep.
"It doesn't have to be the one in the paper. A snapshot would do just fine.
"I'm sure that Mary Beth would understand, and I hope you will, too.
"Maybe your picture will help me to tell her how I feel.
"Thanks. Most sincerely, Billy Gene Wozier, Private. "
- Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. - What do you mean?
Well, I missed out on being Queen for Jefferson County Days.
And I lost our class election by four votes.
And if Daddy didn't come in when he did last night,
I'd be on my way to Camp Lee.
He would have found out sooner or later,
and then there would have been plenty of trouble.
- Lf Mom were here, I bet she'd let me go. - I wouldn't be too sure of that.
It was the biggest thing that almost ever happened to me.
Mary Ellen, look!
- Lieutenant? - Mr. Walton, you remember me?
Sure do. Why are you over? Checking on your order?
No, sir. I'll trust you to do that.
And now I'm hoping that maybe you can put a little trust in me.
I don't understand.
Well, sir, I came here
to persuade you to allow me to escort your daughter to Camp Lee.
Mary Ellen.
Lieutenant, I told whoever called yesterday she can't go.
Yes, sir, I know that, and that's why I'm here,
to ask you to reconsider.
- Do you have any daughters? - No, sir.
Well, if you did you'd understand
why I don't want her parading in front of a bunch of GI's.
Now who's being over-protective?
Excuse me, Lieutenant.
She's right, Daddy.
I'm still your daughter, but I'm not a little girl anymore.
I do not want you being treated like some kind of dame.
Excuse me, Mr. Walton.
The men only think of your daughter as a beautiful girl next door.
We've put her on a kind of a pedestal.
And believe me, if any wolf does try to come near her,
there'll be more than 300 well-trained infantry men who'll just leap to her rescue.
Daddy, how do you expect me to be able to let go of John Curtis
if you're afraid to let go of Erin?
- Can't you trust me just a little? - I trust you.
Enough to go to Camp Lee?
I don't want you wearing shorts. And keep your clothes on.
Is this all right?
You look gorgeous. Have a wonderful time.
I'm gonna hold you responsible, Lieutenant.
- Yes, sir. - Thank you.
All right, honey.
You let me know if anybody bothers you, I'll come over there with my shotgun.
- How'd I do? - You did great.
Maybe you'll let me take John Curtis fishing now.
We'll both go.
John Curtis? - John Curtis?
See him anywhere?
You look inside. I'll look around outside.
John Curtis?
John Curtis? Sweetheart?
John Curtis?
What's wrong, Mary Ellen?
John Curtis wandered off. We can't find him.
- I'll go get Elizabeth. - Tell her to check upstairs.
John Curtis!
He isn't inside.
Ben, is John Curtis in there with you?
- No, what's wrong? He wandered off somewhere.
We can't find him anywhere.
John Curtis is missing. Find Jason, check the smokehouse,
behind the barn, work your way down the woods to the pond.
We'll go south of the pond.
Don't you worry, Mary Ellen. We'll find him.
We gotta find him before dark.
If he's in those woods anything could happen!
Just don't let your imagination run wild. Now come on, let's start looking.
John Curtis?
John Curtis? John?
John Curtis!
John Curtis? John Curtis!
John Curtis!
John!
John Curtis!
- He's not by the big rocks. - I've checked the smokehouse.
He's not around here, either.
- Better keep looking. - All right.
John!
John Curtis!
John Curtis?
John Curtis, where are you? Sweetheart? John Curtis?
- Daddy, anything? - Not yet.
Oh, where could he be? He should've heard us calling.
- Unless something awful's happened! - He's gonna be all right.
Oh, Daddy, something terrible's happened, and I'm to blame!
Mary Ellen, that kind of talk's not gonna do any good.
He could be lying hurt or unconscious!
If I see him again, I'm never gonna let him out of my sight!
Mary Ellen! No child's had more looking after than that child!
You can't keep life from happening to your kid!
Oh, Daddy!
It's all right, honey. If I could have spared you this, I would.
Oh, I feel so helpless.
I've felt like that ever since John-Boy was a baby.
Daddy.
Shh. Don't startle him. He might start towards you.
Honey, easy now, go that way. Go that way. Shh.
Come on!
John Curtis, what were you doing wandering around all alone out here?
He wasn't alone, was he, Daddy?
Mary Ellen and John Curtis survived their morning in the woods
and during this crisis, Mary Ellen found the strength to start letting go of her son.
Once again, she was sharing John Curtis with us.
As the years went by the bond between mother and son continually deepened,
nurtured not by fear, but by trust and love.
Hey, Erin, how'd you entertain the troops?
- I smiled a lot. Did you kiss any of them?
Good night, Ben.
Good night, Mary Ellen. Good night, John Curtis.
Shh! He's asleep.
Not anymore. Good night, everyone.
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