Original subtitles

You might be able to talk me into giving you a beer.

But this friend of yours, I ain't serving him.

Jim-Bob, let's get out of here.

He fought in the war, too. Is that not good enough for you?

He still ain't getting served.

It's not funny, Elizabeth.

Oh, come on, Ben. It's not like he's robbed a bank or anything.

ELIZABETH: Besides, I'd feel the same way he does if I'd been treated like that.

The point is Jim-Bob has been in jail.

Why don't we take this car for a real spin?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

JODIE: Now, come on, Air Force, put it into the wild, blue yonder...

(JODIE SCREAMING)

JIM-BOB: Jodie! Jodie? Jodie, are you okay?

JOHN-BOY: The end of World War Il brought a period of readjustment

for the men who had served in the armed forces.

Restless soldiers returned home

to towns that looked smaller than they remembered.

And families found their sons to be different from the boys

who had marched off to war.

Some of them were eager to assume the responsibilities of life,

while others floundered, determined to make up for the years they had lost.

(SINGING) Show me the way to go home

(BOTH LAUGHING)

I don't think people on this bus appreciate good singing.

(CHUCKLING) That's all right. I'm beat, anyway.

Reminds me of the time we knocked over Buck Vernon's outhouse.

- Yeah, with... - BOTH: Buck in it.

Boy, the first thing I'll do when I get home is ditch this uniform

- in the closet once and for all. - I know what you mean.

If I never have to look at another uniform again...

BOTH: it'll be too soon.

I just want to sleep late, eat home cooking and have some fun.

Mmm. Amen to that.

You know, I was thinking about souping up my old car. You wanna help me?

In between sleeping, eating and having fun?

Well, I promise it won't interfere with that.

Then you got yourself a deal.

I figure a couple of ex-service mechanics like us

can fix that car up like nobody's ever seen.

And how.

Sister, I...

Sister, where are you?

Come out, come out, wherever you are. Olly, olly, oxen free!

You didn't tell me we were playing hide and seek.

(SIGHING)

Boo!

(BUS APPROACHING)

- Hey, Jodie. - Hey.

- How you doing? - All right.

- Jim-Bob. - Hey, John-Boy. How are you?

I'm fine, just fine. Jodie, what are you doing here?

I ran into Jim-Bob on the bus over in Charlottesville.

Hey, John-Boy, I promised him we'd give him a ride home.

- His folks don't know he's back yet. - You didn't tell them?

Nope, wanted to surprise them.

Well, it's good to have you home, both of you.

- I see you brought my car with you. - Elizabeth says it's her car.

- Oh, I just loaned it to her. - I'll let you two settle that.

(JODIE AND JIM-BOB CHUCKLE)

I don't know how this could happen. I haven't even been back a whole minute.

That's what you get for taking off like The Green Hornet.

- Oh, Jim-Bob. - JIM-BOB: Hey, Walt.

- Hi, John-Boy. - Hi, Walt.

- Looks like Jodie Foster. - Hello, Sheriff.

Wow. Where's the fire?

I'm sorry, Walt. I guess I got a little carried away.

- You home for good this time? - Yes, sir.

- How about you, Jodie? - Oh, yes, I'm just out of the Navy.

Well, it's good to have you fellows back.

I'll tell you what. I'm gonna let you go this time.

But if it happens again, I'll have to give you a ticket.

So just drive nice and peaceful.

Yeah. Thanks, Walt. I really appreciate this.

(SIGHS)

You can come out now.

I give up. You win.

(CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS)

Mamie? Where can you be?

Mamie?

Where can you be?

Jodie!

Jodie?

- VERDIE: Oh, Jodie! Hello, Jim-Bob. - Hey, Verdie.

John-Boy. Why don't you two get out of the car, and I'll make us some lemonade.

Thanks, Verdie. But we ought to be getting home.

- Thanks for the ride. - JOHN-BOY: You bet.

Oh!

Why didn't you let us know you were coming home?

I wanted to surprise you, Mama.

Hey, Josh. Did you keep up things while I was away?

- Sure did. Especially your fishing tackle. - I figured you'd keep an eye on that.

I caught a three-pound bass over in Rockfish River.

- You weigh that fish, Mama? - No, we ate it.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Still looks like the same old place. Where's Daddy?

He had to go to Detroit for a couple of weeks.

Your uncle Jessie busted his leg, and your Aunt Sarah is having a baby.

- They needed a man around. - And Daddy just couldn't say no, could he?

(VERDIE CHUCKLING) You know your father.

I know Aunt Sarah, too.

If she wants him there, she'll get him there.

I sure am glad you're home.

We need a man around here, too.

With your papa away, I worry about Josh.

Oh, Mama! What do you worry about me for?

'Cause you're such a pretty thing, I'm afraid somebody will steal you.

(VERDIE CHUCKLING)

Now, take your brother's stuff into the bedroom.

Okay.

J.D. Pickett's switching from defense work to making farm equipment.

Doing just as fine as he did during the war.

He's already hired some Negro veterans. Bet he could use a good mechanic.

I don't think so, Mama. I just want to take it easy for a while, you know?

Don't know how long I'll be around.

(EXCLAIMING) Are you planning on going someplace?

Mama, I've been all over the world, saw things I never dreamed of.

Seaports in the South Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands, the west coast.

But you always said you wanted to live right here.

Oh, Mama, the South isn't for me. I'll never amount to nothing if I stay here.

I don't wanna be somebody else's mechanic for the rest of my life.

Well, you're here now. And J.D. Pickett needs workers.

Maybe you could sign on with him just until you decide what you want to do.

Mama, I've been in uniform for four years.

Every time I turned around, it was, "Do this," or, "Do that."

I'm tired of taking orders. I don't know what I wanna do,

but I don't want to work for J.D. Pickett.

That's fine for right now.

I hope it's fine, because that's how I plan to do things.

(HONKING HORN)

Ike, she'll kill herself!

IKE: Miss Emily, stop!

- Help! I've forgotten how to stop! - Miss Emily, use the brake.

- Where is it? - IKE: Miss Emily!

Use the brake. Miss Emily, stop!

Stop! Use the brake! Use the brake!

- Use the brake. - Help, Ike!

(MISS EMILY EXCLAIMING)

MISS EMILY: Like that? IKE: Yes. No, the other side.

- Yeah, that's it, Miss Emily. - MISS EMILY: I got it!

- IKE: Are you okay? - Miss Emily, are you all right?

(PANTING)

I drive so seldom, don't you know?

Sister usually drives, but she's vanished from the face of the Earth.

- I'm terrified! - Now, calm down, Miss Emily.

- And tell us what happened. - Mamie is missing.

I looked all over for her, I looked all over the house, all over the grounds,

under the furniture, up the chimney. She's simply not there.

Well, perhaps she swooned.

Oh, Corabeth, you don't suppose she's fallen ill.

- CORABETH: Oh, I certainly hope not. - Oh, I hope she's not been abducted.

I don't know how I'd pay the ransom.

Mr. Tomkins at the bank refuses to send the check before the first of the month.

- I think I'd better drive you home. - MISS EMILY: Oh, yes.

- We'll find out what's going on up there. - MISS EMILY: Yes.

Here, take that. Move over, Miss Emily.

- ROSE: This is not right. - ERIN: Yeah.

- This one over here? - Thanks, Elizabeth.

Here, let me hand this to you.

(DOOR OPENING)

Hey, everybody.

ROSE: Oh, hi. ERIN: Hi, Jim-Bob.

ROSE: John-Boy, did you remember to pick up some butter?

Oh, Rose, I'm sorry. It slipped my mind.

Well, don't worry about it. We'll just have lard on the biscuits.

I'll go get some butter. I need stockings anyhow.

Here, give my car keys.

- Here they are, and it's my car. - But you gave it to me.

Only while I was away.

Oh, I see. Well, do I get to use it now and again?

Sure, as long as I'm not working on it.

I'm thinking about turning it into a hot rod.

(DOOR CLOSES)

How's it feel to be out of the service, Jim-Bob?

Great.

This sure isn't the hero's welcome I expected.

ERIN: Where's the hero?

MARY ELLEN: We've seen you almost every weekend

since you've been at Langley.

Hey, Jim-Bob, you think you can give me a hand in the mill tomorrow?

I would like to take some time off, get used to civilian life again.

While you're at it, do you think you could squeeze in a tune-up?

My van's running terrible.

Why don't you ask me in about a month?

What's gotten into him?

All this newfound freedom's gone to his head.

I give up. I don't know where she is.

I guess we'd better call the Sheriff.

And the FBI.

(KNOCKING ON WALL)

(CONTINUES KNOCKING)

MISS MAMIE: Help! Help! Help me!

Mamie, what are you doing in the wall?

Oh, Emily! Don't be such a ninny! Do something!

Miss Mamie, this is Ike Godsey. I'm out here.

Oh, Ike! Thank heavens! Please get me out of here.

Well, I'll try. But first I gotta know how did you get in there?

I was waiting for Emily in the entry when I suddenly felt a spell coming on.

I leaned against a panel and a door sprang open.

I stepped inside. I guess I must have fainted.

Start pressing on the panels. I'll take the bottom ones.

You can take the top ones.

Okay, let's try this other wall.

Oh, what an ordeal.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Hey, Jim-Bob, we thought it was about time for a little celebration!

And since John-Boy was the first one out of the service...

- What? - I'm gonna let him do the honors.

- Oh, some Recipe. - You guessed it.

(ALL LAUGHING)

- Oh, careful there. - Drink up.

Now, this is more like the welcome home I expected.

John-Boy started this tradition, didn't you?

But when I came home, I didn't have any brothers to drink it with.

Easy with that stuff.

Yeah, but do you think it ever stopped him?

- No. - I can't think of anything that would.

Not when it comes to having a taste of the Recipe.

Except for maybe Mama.

Yeah, Jim-Bob, besides resting, what's your plans?

Well, Ben, I don't have any plans, at least not yet.

Don't lounge around too long. You wouldn't want to turn it into a habit.

I don't know, I kind of like having all this time off.

Besides, I worked my fingers to the bone in the Air Force.

Yeah, why don't you try the battlefront?

Yeah, why don't you big war heroes tell me about it sometime?

Oh, Jim-Bob, I wasn't meaning anything by it.

- Yeah, sure you didn't, Ben. - JOHN-BOY: Hey, where you going?

Stick around. The party hasn't started yet.

(SIGHING) Look, I'll do what I want to do when I want to do it.

(JOHN-BOY EXCLAIMS)

That's ingenious.

Ladies?

- No. - You go first.

We'd have never found this in a million years.

Well, it's taken us the better part of a century.

We were told about it when we were children.

But we were told a lot of things. The tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny...

And the secret room.

We were beginning to believe it never really existed.

Papa carried the secret with him to his grave.

Oh, look, Sister.

A Recipe machine.

Oh. It must be the one the Colonel erected.

We supposed it had been destroyed years ago.

This room should be declared a national monument.

Mmm.

(MISS MAMIE EXCLAIMING)

This must be Grandfather's vintage Recipe.

MISS MAMIE: Just think, Sister,

every generation of Baldwins has had its Recipe machine.

- IKE: A noble tradition. - This calls for a celebration.

Mr. Godsey, would you join us in a bit of Grandfather's vintage Recipe

to help us celebrate this joyous occasion?

Just the thing to cut the dust, don't you know?

(CLEARING THROAT)

- Yeah. - IKE: Look at this.

Jim-Bob, here is a list of things I need from Godsey's.

I can't go right now. I was going into Rockfish.

- Well, I don't know how. - Cindy said she'd lend me her car.

Oh, good. Well, then, you can pick these things up on your way back.

- I am in a hurry, Rose. - And I have to fix dinner.

You've been home a whole week and all you've done is work on this car.

I'm resting up from the war.

What in the world do you have to rest up from? Now, here, take this.

And when you get back from the store, the screen door needs fixing.

Hey, Rose, why can't somebody else do that?

- JIM-BOB: Hey, Jodie. - Hey, Jim-Bob. What's up?

I was on my way into Rockfish to look for a carburetor.

Stopped by to get some groceries for Rose.

Yeah, I'm here on errands, too.

I thought you said you were gonna stop by and help me work on the car.

I wanted to start rebuilding the engine, change the body around,

give it a paint job, maybe.

I wanted to, but my Mama had some other ideas.

Sounds like my family.

I haven't had a minute's peace since I've been back.

You know, if I had some money, I'd buy that old building over there

and move into it.

That isn't even a house.

- It's just an old barn. - I don't feel like I live in a house.

It's like moving from one barracks to another

when I left the service and came home.

Amen to that.

My mother thinks she's a CPO.

(JIM-BOB CHUCKLES)

- So, you wanna go into Rockfish with me? - What about your groceries and mine?

Well, what about them? Come on, let's go.

JIM-BOB: Hey, move over!

JODIE: Pass him. JIM-BOB: Hang on.

Well, Jim-Bob, I didn't expect to see you again so soon.

Neither did I, Walt.

- Hello, Jodie. - Sheriff.

- Remember what I told you last week? - How could I forget?

It looks to me like you plan on making a habit of this.

You just bought yourself a ticket, son. You almost bought the farm.

I'm really sorry, Walt. I promise I won't do it again.

I'm sure you won't, after you find out how much this fine is gonna be.

Can I see your license, please?

(JIM-BOB SIGHS)

(KNOCKING)

- Is this the Baldwin residence? - Yes, it is.

My name is Winthrop. Fred Winthrop.

I'm Mamie Baldwin, and this is my sister, Emily.

- How do you do? - MISS MAMIE: How do you do?

I'm here representing the federal government

as an agent of the alcohol tax unit.

Oh, the ATU. Papa spoke of it often.

- Yes, won't you come in, Mr. Winthrop? - Thank you.

It's a pleasure.

We have many friends in Washington.

We used visit there quite often before Papa passed on.

- May I have your hat? - Why, thank you.

How is Mr. Truman?

He has carried on so bravely since Mr. Roosevelt died.

Mr. Truman is fine. Now, ladies, I'll get right to the point.

I'm here investigating the rumors about the production of bootleg whiskey.

It has come to our attention that you two are making moonshine.

(MISS MAMIE EXCLAIMS)

Oh, the only thing we've been known to manufacture is papa's Recipe.

And it's much more like sunshine than moonshine.

You must be exhausted after your long trip, Mr. Winthrop.

Perhaps a glass of the Recipe would restore your vigor.

- That'd be a very good idea. - We'll receive you in the Recipe Room.

Papa's Recipe Machine is truly a thing of beauty.

Papa would be so proud to know that the renown of his Recipe had reached

all the way to the government in Washington.

- He was a judge, don't you know? - That's a fine still.

Oh, that's not a still, Mr. Winthrop. That's the Recipe Machine.

(EXCLAIMING)

That's the best moonshine... Pardon me. Recipe I've ever tasted.

- But I'm afraid it is illegal. - Illegal?

Yes, very. I ought to arrest both of you and cart you off to jail right now.

Oh, you can't put us in jail, Mr. Winthrop.

We're Daughters of the American Revolution.

And of the Confederacy!

You're both too charming to be in jail,

especially when you didn't even know you were breaking the law.

How can it be against the law?

MISS MAMIE: The Recipe is medicinal.

It leaves one with the most exhilarated feeling.

We've been making it ever since Papa died.

Nonetheless, it is illegal, and you're gonna have to stop.

Now, I'll be back here with some help to cart away the Recipe Machine.

Don't worry. You won't even have to watch.

- What will we do without the Recipe? - Make apple juice. Good day.

Do you think all this work was worth it?

If it runs good, it was worth a month's work.

I can't see why it shouldn't.

Shaving that cylinder head ought to give it a lot more power, too.

The hotter wires and new plugs are gonna help, too.

When do you wanna take her out?

- How about right now? - Sounds great.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(JIM-BOB EXCLAIMS)

(ENGINE REVVING)

(ENGINE REVVING)

(JODIE EXCLAIMING)

- Runs like a charm. - Sure, does.

- Boy, I was right. - About what?

You repairing ships and me fixing airplanes,

souping up this car was a piece of cake.

I think we deserve a reward.

Hey, you think we can get them to serve us beers in here?

- We can try. - Let's go.

- What do you two want? - A couple of beers.

A little young to be running around this late, aren't you?

Well, how old do you think we are?

Not old enough to be drinking beer.

Well, we're veterans. We just got out of the service.

Oh, I imagine you could talk me into giving you a beer.

But this friend of yours, I ain't serving him.

- Well, why not? - You blind?

Take a look at him.

Jim-Bob, let's get out of here.

He fought in the war, too. Is that not good enough for you?

He still ain't getting served.

- Problem, Matt? - No, I got it under control.

Jim-Bob, come on.

(JIM-BOB SIGHS)

(CRASHING)

You two are going to be awful sorry you done that.

- HENDRIX: Good morning, Verdie. - Good morning.

- Jason. - Walt.

VERDIE: We came for our boys.

HENDRIX: Took you a little while, didn't it?

We decided a night in jail might do them some good.

I hope you're right.

- Jodie. - Yes, sir.

- Jim-Bob. - Yes, Sheriff.

Your liberation is at hand.

They've agreed to pay for the damages they caused,

and they promised me they would take it easy from now on.

We'll see to it that they do.

Well, they're both just back from the service,

and they're a little wound up.

But they've got to learn

that being veterans does not give them license to make trouble.

We don't like this anymore than you do, but we can't tie them down.

I can and I will.

Sorry about bringing you in here like this, Jason.

We'll talk later.

- I'm sorry, too, Mama. - You should be.

- Both of you. - Here are the keys to your car.

- Thanks. - Thanks, nothing.

If you don't settle down, son, I'm gonna take your driver's license away.

- JASON: So long, Walt. - See you.

Whatever are we to do?

Life won't be worth living without the Recipe.

Thank you.

Well,

we could garden.

And it'll give us more time for bird-watching.

What'll we do in the wintertime

when the garden's covered with snow and the birds have all flown south?

We could quilt.

And knit.

(SNIFFLING)

And sew.

There are many books in Papa's library we haven't read.

Quilting, knitting, sewing, reading.

I shall be consumed with boredom.

Or perhaps we could seek employment.

Now, Sister, get control of yourself,

or you're going to have me crying again.

I can't help it.

Thank you, Jason, for the ride. I'm sorry about all the trouble.

Don't worry about it, Verdie. See you later.

Hey, Jodie. Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Josh, go in the house.

- I want to have words with your brother. - Yes, ma'am.

- Mama, I'm really sorry. - I'll bet you are.

- What kind of behavior was that? - Mama, I apologized.

- What more do you want me to say? - I don't want you to say anything.

I expect you to stop fooling around and start acting like a man.

What kind of example do you think you're setting for Josh?

Well, he wouldn't have known I'd been picked up by the Sheriff

if you came and got me last night.

I set such store by having you home.

With your Papa away, I thought I'd have some help.

And now, what I've got is two children.

If you plan on staying around here, I expect you out, looking for a job!

Jim-Bob, that is the dumbest stunt you've ever pulled in your life.

- I guess I just wasn't thinking. - That's obvious, Jim-Bob.

Well, listen to you, Ben. You stayed out all night when you eloped

- and had the family worried sick. - ELIZABETH: Ha, ha!

It's not funny, Elizabeth.

Oh, come on, Ben. It's not like he's robbed a bank or anything.

ELIZABETH: Besides, I'd feel the same way he does if I'd been treated like that.

The point is Jim-Bob has been in jail.

MARY ELLEN: And you had us all worried to death.

With your mother and father away, I feel partly responsible for what happened.

I just thought that you were old enough to know better.

- He's old enough to know better. - He just doesn't act it.

Jim-Bob, you have done nothing but fool around ever since you got home.

ERIN: While the rest of us have been working to keep things up around here,

you haven't done a thing.

MARY ELLEN: Except forget to bring the groceries.

What am I supposed to do?

You can start by taking some responsibility for yourself.

You could look for a job.

- Life was better in the air corps. - Is that what you think?

Yes, that is what I think.

MARY ELLEN: Jim-Bob, where are you going?

Are you my drill sergeant, Mary Ellen?

Do I have to tell you where I'm going every minute of the day

like I was some kind of criminal?

Oh, Mr. Godsey,

I have been thinking about the secret room that Miss Mamie discovered.

What about it?

Could it be possible, Mr. Godsey, that you have overlooked

a significant detail which might give us a clue

to the notorious purpose of such a room?

Notorious?

(LAUGHING)

The only thing notorious about that house was the Recipe.

I beg to differ with you, Mr. Godsey.

Well, then, you know something that I don't.

Cousins, Mr. Godsey, cousins!

I refer to that constant array of ladies

privately entertained by old Judge Baldwin.

Why, even Miss Mamie implies they were not all cousins.

Well, then, what were they?

Really, Mr. Godsey, must I spell out everything for you?

Corabeth, the Recipe room was used by the Colonel to make the Recipe.

Mr. Godsey, now, really. Now, there is the difference between us.

You have no sense of romance, of intrigue...

(DOOR OPENS)

- Oh, good morning, Miss Mamie. - Good morning.

- How are you today? - Oh, just fine.

Miss Mamie, Mr. Godsey and I were discussing the remarkable discovery

of the secret room in your home.

Yes, it was a most joyous occasion.

Sister and I were very happy about it for a while.

Well, I was just saying to Mr. Godsey, who has very little imagination,

that the room very possibly could have been used for...

Miss Mamie, is there something I could get for you?

- Yes, I came to get smelling salts. - Smelling salts coming right up.

As I was saying, we were speculating that the room could have been used for...

Here you go, Miss Mamie. I hope this will take care of you.

Thank you. These will come in very handy.

So, how is Miss Emily?

Emily has taken to her bed.

I'm afraid we have been dealt an enormous blow.

And I myself have been having fainting spells.

Oh, dear, that sounds serious.

I am afraid that we have suffered a tragedy of enormous consequence.

What is that?

A man from the government came to the house the other day and told us

that it is illegal to make the Recipe.

IKE: Oh, no.

And he's coming to dismantle Papa's Recipe Machine,

and there's nothing that we can do about it.

Well, perhaps now you can devote your energies to more enriching endeavors.

Without the Recipe, Sister and I feel that

there's really no point in going on at all.

How about the machine in the secret room?

Maybe you could use that.

We discussed the possibility of using it, but it's in such dreadful condition,

we thought we couldn't hope to repair it.

Maybe I could come by and take a look at it,

and you and I could put it back together again.

Mr. Godsey!

- Could you? - Well, I'll sure give it a try.

I'll tell you what. I'll come by just as soon as I can.

Oh, thank you!

- Perhaps I won't need these after all. - Bye, Miss Mamie.

Mr. Godsey, I am appalled!

You are aiding and abetting in a criminal activity!

- Boy, what a lousy day. - You're telling me.

They didn't even want to let me out of the house tonight.

I didn't even bother going home.

I spent all afternoon at Pickett Metal, filling out job applications.

They want to put me on the assembly line.

Hey, maybe if I talked to Erin, she could find you something better.

Better? That's the best job they've got to offer.

I tell you, Jim-Bob, I ain't long for Walton's Mountain.

I wouldn't mind getting out of here myself.

(CHUCKLING) You've got it made here. You're white!

You come from the right family. How can you go wrong?

Sure. I can become a successful lumberjack,

out cutting trees for my older brother for the rest of my life.

That sounds great, doesn't it?

Yeah, well.

I'm thinking about heading north, working in one of them shipping yards.

That's about the only place I'll have a chance.

Hmm.

- Did you see much action in the Navy? - Sure did.

- I was at Pearl Harbor, the Midway. - Yeah, what was it like?

You were better off at Langley.

I don't know sometimes.

Hey, you know John-Boy, Jason and Ben? They were all in the thick of it.

My family really worried about them.

Boy, and then when they got home, roll out the red carpet.

I didn't get a red carpet.

Yeah, well, at least you deserved one.

(SIGHING CONTENTEDLY)

Hey,

why don't we take this car for a real spin?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Hey, sure you want to sit up there? This road's pretty curvy.

I was in Pearl Harbor, remember? I think I can manage.

- What's going on, Jim-Bob? - Hang on, Jodie.

JIM-BOB: Hey, Jodie, I don't want you falling off.

JODIE: Now, come on, Air Force, put it into the wild, blue yonder...

(JODIE SCREAMING)

Jodie! Jodie, are you all right?

Jodie?

Jodie!

Oh, God. Jodie!

- He's resting. - He's going to all right, isn't he?

(SIGHING) He has a broken arm and a mild concussion.

The doctor wants to keep him here for a couple of days.

I just got done with the accident report. How's Jodie?

He's fine. I'm more worried about you.

I'm okay.

I'm really sorry about all this, Verdie. It's all my fault.

I shouldn't have been so hard on him.

Well, there's nothing any of us can do about that now.

I think we should all try and get some rest.

I'm going to stay right here, Mary Ellen.

- Come on. - I'd rather stay with Verdie, John-Boy.

Jim-Bob, it's almost 2:00 a.m. You need some rest, and so does Jodie.

Verdie, I'm really sorry about all this.

Found one of old Mama's scrapbooks.

We've been wondering where you were hiding.

Did you guys know Daddy was an old war hero?

I know, he didn't like talking about it much.

Didn't you hear us call you?

Oh, I did, but I didn't feel like answering.

I didn't feel like facing the family after what happened last night.

You're gonna have to face them sometime.

The sooner you get it over with, the better.

Why did Mama have to get sick?

I don't think there's a single person in the whole world

who could give you a straight answer to that.

Everything sure is rotten.

Why don't you go downstairs and try to turn it around?

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

I guess I have to.

All right, okay, I'll tell them. Bye-bye now.

Was that Mary Ellen calling about Jodie?

Yeah, she wanted me to tell you not to worry,

and that he's gonna be okay, and he's awake.

(SIGHING IN RELIEF) Oh, thank heavens for that.

I've got an announcement to make. I thought a lot about what happened.

Not just last night, but ever since I got back home.

I've decided to re-enlist.

- Jim-Bob, you're not serious. - Yes, I am.

I'm gonna go to the recruiting office today.

Why on earth would you want to do a thing like that?

They still need an Air Force even with the war over.

But we need you here, Jim-Bob.

I think you'd be better off without me.

You're wrong. You don't know how much we missed you when you were gone.

It was my fault Jodie nearly got killed last night.

You can't go back into the service just because of a car accident.

I've thought about it a lot.

Ever since I got back, all I've done is make trouble.

At least in the air corps, I did things right.

Jim-Bob, you've just gotten back.

Why don't you give yourself some more time?

Don't you think you should wait awhile?

Sounds like you're making a decision you would regret later on.

There's no use in discussing it, Rose. My mind's made up.

Jim-Bob, wait a minute.

I don't feel like talking right now, Elizabeth.

You can talk to me. It's not like talking to the others.

Well, there's nothing to talk about.

It's not fair to turn your back on people who love you.

You're acting like a child.

You wouldn't be acting like this if Mom and Daddy were here.

The only reason you want to go back into the service is

because you want to turn your back on your responsibilities.

You're running away, and I'm ashamed of you.

(KNOCKING)

It's Mr. Winthrop. Prepare yourself.

- I'm going to take to my bed. - Sister, we must be brave.

Remember, fortitude.

(KNOCKING)

Hello, ladies.

I want you to meet my assistants, Mr. Carr and Mr. Corwell.

- How do you do? May I take your hats? - Thank you.

Now, I trust you ladies are not gonna put up a fight of any sort.

Well, what must be done, must be done.

Very good. Gentlemen, this way.

This will only take a minute, ladies.

Oh, Mamie, this is too terrible. I cannot bear to watch.

(STUTTERING) Just a minute.

Gentlemen, this Recipe Machine was used by our dear Papa before he passed on.

He built it with his very own hands, and it's...

It's all we have left to remind us of him.

Would it be too much to ask

if we might have just one piece intact

as a fond memento of better days?

All right. I don't see why not. Go ahead.

Well, how about this?

Why not? Sure, go ahead.

Oh, thank you for being such gentlemen.

- Thank you. - Go ahead, Sister.

- IKE: That's it. - There. You got it, I think.

There, it's all set. Okay, now, bring it around.

- MISS MAMIE: Oh, good. - And put that in right there.

(MISS EMILY EXCLAIMING)

- There we go. - (EXCLAIMING) Set that down.

This calls for a toast.

- Oh, yes. - Sounds like a good idea.

A little Recipe sounds good, huh?

Like Corabeth would say, the little pièce de résistance.

(MISS EMILY SPEAKING IN FRENCH)

We have 1894, 1895 or 1896.

MISS EMILY: 1894. IKE: Sounds like a good year.

1894, here's one right here.

(MISS EMILY SIGHS)

IKE: Oh, be careful.

(MISS EMILY EXCLAIMING)

MISS EMILY: Good?

(CHUCKLES)

- Be careful, don't spill it on the rug. - Oh, well, it's good for the moths.

Thank you, Sister.

Ready, ladies? Down the hatch.

To Papa.

Well, let's not forget the Colonel.

(ALL LAUGHS)

VERDIE: Are you sure you don't wanna lie down back here?

I can move up front with Mary Ellen and John-Boy.

- Mama, I'm fine. - Headache's gone?

I feel like a new man.

I hope you don't mind if we make a little detour before I drop you off.

I wanted to get Jodie home and in bed as soon as possible, John-Boy.

Mama, all the doctor said was not to put any strain on this arm.

That doesn't mean I have to stay in bed.

It's pretty important, Verdie. Jodie's right.

He can move around as much as he wants to.

(CHUCKLING) If you say so.

I guess I have been trying to run his life too much anyway.

No, Mama, none of this ever would have happened if I had listened to you.

As soon as this cast comes off, I'm heading for J.D. Pickett's.

I don't think so.

Oh, John-Boy, don't try and talk him out of it.

I won't have to.

(HAMMERING)

- Hey, Jodie. - Hey, Jim-Bob.

JODIE: Oh, I'm sorry.

What's this all about?

See that sign right there?

JODIE: Yeah, but I don't get it. JIM-BOB: We're going into business.

I bought the barn with my separation pay.

We're opening a garage.

And you want me to come to work for you?

I want you to be my partner.

I was thinking about re-enlisting after the accident,

but then Elizabeth talked to me.

And I figured we did such a good job on that car

we might as well make a little money at it.

- Well, what do you say, Jodie? - I don't know what to say.

Well, before you say anything, I think I better tell you something else.

It took all my separation pay to buy this.

It's probably gonna take all yours to buy the equipment we need.

Does that mean my van finally gets that tune-up?

It sure does, but we don't give discounts.

(ALL LAUGHING)

- Partners? - Partners.

JOHN-BOY: Jim-Bob and Jodie opened their garage.

Their partnership provided them with a way to make the final transition

back into civilian life.

Both families breathed a sigh of relief

to see them settle down and become responsible young men.

And Miss Emily and Miss Mamie,

when asked about the loss of their papa's Recipe Machine,

would smile and say, "Don't worry, we saved enough for everybody."

ELIZABETH: Jim-Bob, if I came to your garage,

would you teach me how to change the oil in a car?

JIM-BOB: Why do you want to know how to do that, Elizabeth?

I was just thinking it might be fun to be a mechanic.

Okay, I'll teach you, but you'll have to wear old clothes, so you won't get dirty.

ELIZABETH: I don't want to touch the oil. I just want to watch you do it.

JIM-BOB: (SCOFFING) Good night, Elizabeth.

English -SDH