As a journalism student, John-Boy is given the job of showing around Porter Sims, a reporter who is writing a guide book about Virginia. He says though that he doesn't just want to see the historical sites that John Boy wants to show him, he also wants to meet the people of the community. He claims that everyone has something that they don't want to talk about. John Boy suggests that he meet the elderly Baldwin sisters, but Grandpa is not keen, fearing that Sims may uncover something that will bring shame on their memories of their father, Judge Baldwin.