John finds out that the family is almost out of debt so everybody pitches in on a big contract. During the mortgage burning party, Ike Godsey says that the bank will forclosing on the store. Olivia and John come to the rescue.

John-Boy asks Daisy to marry him so both return home and make arrangements .John talks to Daisy's mom and learns Daisy has a 3 yr old daughter.

Jim-Bob meets the Baldwin's cousin, a young girl who is in a convent preparing to become a nun. Ben hires a mill hand who turns out to be an alcoholic.

Mary Ellen gets prescription drugs and abuses them in order to study long hours for her Nurse's exam. Cissy Tucker Yancy Tucker's wife has had enough and she puts her foot down.

Grandma's ex-boyfriend comes calling on Grandma much to the horror of Elizabeth. Jim-Bob persuades Yancy Tucker to make fuel in his still instead of moonshine.

Jason has second thoughts about joining the military service and considers becoming a Conscientious Objector much to Ben's dismay. Jim-Bob gets a military tattoo.

Mary Ellen marries Jonesy but they don't exactly have a good start. While on their honeymoon, she suffers an accident that leaves her unable to bear children. She then shuts everyone, even Jonesy out. She then decides to go to the one person who could understand what she's going through, her mother, who is in Arizona recuperating.