Original subtitles

How did he describe the pain?

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

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.

(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'm Dean of Admissions at this university,

we will not enroll you as a pre-med student.

Go home and raise your child. Good day.

JOHN-BOY: In those last months of the War,

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 war was winding down,

it was far from over.

(GUNS FIRING)

Hey, Walton.

You picked a bad place to visit.

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.

Told 'em I was from Stars and Stripes.

They're not supposed to shoot 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 follow the troops.

MARY ELLEN: Dear John-Boy,

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

I thank God this awful war 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 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 beddin' up at Serrie Tatum's

whilst I fix the front porch.

Never seen you frown so.

(SIGHING)

Me and that floor's been fightin' all mornin'

and I declare it's winnin'.

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

Oh, no, thanks. Looks like you could use some.

(PANTING)

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, a-ming. -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.

I'm sure that'll cheer him up more than anything.

Unless it makes him homesick.

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

Well, I'm writing Jason a letter.

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

I want his birthday present to be something special.

He's a young man of 24 years and he's in France.

What more could he want?

Can I bother you, Ronie?

Looks like you already done that.

I was 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 what's going at that porch floor.

Yeah?

He's cleaned out her well.

Here, he's shorin' 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, layin' 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 mentioned it's our check from the Charlottesville Bank.

The mail might be running a little slow right now.

If I were you, I'd get on that phone 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.

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."

(EXCLAIMS)

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

"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.

Thought you'd be down home by now.

Ain't nary a thing wrong with me.

(SHUSHING)

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

-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.

I think you need help.

If I ever do need help, Nurse Mary Ellen,

I'll let you know first.

Something bothering you, honey?

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've taken care of him.

I would've known how.

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

-There's always more to be done. -Nurse Mary Ellen!

Nurse Mary Ellen!

(MULE BRAYING)

(SWEET BILLY GASPING)

I got me a presentment.

(GASPING)

I'm 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.

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

-He's going to be alright? -What?

He's going to be alright, isn't he?

It's hard to say. Don't 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 here this afternoon, he wouldn't budge.

(GASPING)

I need another doctor in here, quickly.

ROSE: 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 lookin' 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.

Been too close too long not to know.

Used to be here at the green apple

and I'd get the belly-ache.

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 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 1925?

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. Hitler 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!

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

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

-What could be more perfect... -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've to make sure it's okay.

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

-Just a little. -If you made a mistake?

-We'll send him half. -Is it okay if I come in?

-Erin, it's a man! Live man! -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!

-Elizabeth, don't be so greedy. -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!

(EXCLAIMS)

-You shouldn't have done that. -But as long as he has, come on.

Oh, Elizabeth...

You just ate my brother's birthday present.

Now you 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 a-purpose.

He had ways inside him...

He...

...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 readin'.

"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 over thrown 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 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, 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.

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

There's a 10% discount on some items here, to servicemen.

I wanna find something for my girl.

Something just right for her.

That lady...

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 tastes to guide him.

Sophistication comes with age.

-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 enough?

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

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

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

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

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

ELIZABETH: Does anybody have ideas to get it to Jason?

Well, I definitely suggest you wrap it first.

CINDY: Don't forget the postage.

-Maybe Erin can help out there. -Me?

Lieutenant Whipple over at Camp Rockfish,

is 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 three times, I've talked only on the telephone.

Well, do you think he'd 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've made his birthday a happy one.

Alright, I'll see what I can do.

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

(SOFT FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

JOHN: 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?

I've made a decision.

I'm going to study to be a doctor.

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.

(JOHN 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.

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.

It all seems to be in order.

I'll just take it over and weigh it and...

(GURGLING)

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

It gurgles.

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

I know. It's illegal to send it 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 a new law. -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 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.

(DOOR OPENING)

-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 letters to mail. -Oh, I'll take care of it.

We used to do business with this post office.

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

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

The 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 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 died.

Maybe you are.

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

-Well, that's a big order. -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.

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, 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.

(CHARLEY LAUGHING)

You can read 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.

You got a whole mess of women around, Walton.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

MAN: Mail call!

(MEN CHATTERING)

Hey, soldier, you can't park here.

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

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

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

-Happy birthday, brother. -Oh, thanks.

Oh, hey, but...

You're even 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 better job of hiding. -I'm for that.

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 Lieutenant Whipple, Camp Rockfish, Virginia.

He 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 Raggedy Ann doll and pigtails.

(JASON LAUGHING)

I keep picturing you hiking up your britches every step.

That 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...

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.

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 killed 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 wanna be a teacher, I wanna be a doctor.

That's where I belong.

Mrs. Willard, let me make myself clear.

As long as I'm 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 with me.

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

Well, young man, which pair of pajamas would you 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?

(SIGHING) I'll tell you about it later.

Now I'm gonna give John Curtis his bath.

I was about to take him.

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.

Well, it's from my side of things.

It's up to you and Mary Ellen, of course.

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.

(KNOCK 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, was trying to ditch him.

ELIZABETH: Your shadows, they were all so big.

I can 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."

Mama always said she never raised any carbon copies.

Never wanted to.

I can't see you knuckling under to anybody or anything.

You never have.

(BICYCLE BELL RINGING)

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

Of course, 10:00. 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! -Good morning.

-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 a special chocolate cake. -From an old family recipe.

It's just like my mother's!

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

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

I don't know how to thank you.

Well, actually,

I have a slight confession to make.

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.

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.

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.

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 friend Bill Holliston says 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 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 'em.

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

(KNOCK 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 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 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 willing to give me a chance,

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 the people who depend on me for more help than I can give.

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 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 war,

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

ELIZABETH: Mary Ellen, I was thinking how much money I'll save

with a doctor in the family.

MARY ELLEN: You better take care of yourself, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: You wouldn't charge your sister.

MARY ELLEN: I've got four years of premed,

three years of med school, I'll be an intern for a year

and then there's a residency.

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

MARY ELLEN: Goodnight, Elizabeth