The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 1, Episode 1 - The Foundling - full transcript
The family takes in a deaf girl who was abandoned by her mother.
When I was growing up
during the Depression...
I lived with my redheaded
brothers and sisters...
my parents and grandparents,
at the foot of a mountain...
which had been in our family
for generations.
My father used to say that
in our house
there was always room
for one more.
I remember a morning...
when his hospitality
was put to a challenging test.
-Morning.
-Morning, Livie.
Morning, hon.
Have a good rest?
Hardly closed my eyes all night.
Twenty thousandand one nights...
I've spent with this old
woman...
more or less,
give or take a few...
To hear her tell it, she's never
closed her eyes all that time.
The way you snore, what I wish I
could close is my ears!
I never snored in my life.
John-Boy, cows are waiting!
I'm coming, Mother.
"'Where are you going,
my pretty maid?'
"'A-milking, sir,' she said"
In books, it's always the girls
that milk the cows.
Just shows you shouldn't believe
everything you read in books.
I reckon.
He was up half the night
writing poetry.
-Mama!
-Yeah?
Come out here.
-I'm trying to get breakfast.
-Mama, look at this.
For goodness sake.
-What's going on out here?
-It's a child.
I can see that.
What is she doing here?
-Where'd she come from?
-I don't know.
Honey?
What's your name, honey?
How did you get here?
John-Boy, carry her inside.
-She bit me!
-She's scared out of her wits.
Don't be afraid, honey.
It's alright.
What are they doing now,Daddy?
Giving her a good scrub,
which she doesn't much like.
-Who does?
-Has she run away from home?
Maybe, or somebody left her
on our doorstep.
Is that where you found
the rest of us?
No, honey.
-Why do they always laugh at me?
-'Cause you say funny things.
You reckon she's an orphan,
Daddy?
Maybe.
Pass the sugar.
If she had parents...
they'd never leave her
on our doorstep, would they?
Not likely, honey.
Why don't you finish
and scoot outside 56
-We want to see her.
-Talk to her.
The last thing she needs is to
face this mob. Now out you go.
-We'll never get to see her.
-You always chase us out.
Out!
Daddy, where did you find me?
Hiding behind one of your
mama's smiles, honey.
Off you go.
-You're all cleaned up?
-What's the matter, honey?
Are you hungry?
Have you had your breakfast?
Come on.
My Lord, she's half-starved.
-I'll get you some milk.
-Here's a glass.
-Her name's Holly.
-Holly. You got her to speak?
No, she hasn't said a word, but
I found this scrap of paper...
in the pocket of those rags
she was wearing.
Hello, Holly.
It's like there's
a wall around her, John.
Holly?
Honey?
It's alright.
You don't have to be afraid.
Nobody's gonna hurt you.
What shall we do, John?
If she's a runaway, her folks
will be looking for her.
I guess we'd better take her
to the Sheriff.
Morning, Sheriff.
You mean there's been no report
of a runaway girl?
Looking at this little thing,
I'll lay odds
there won't be one.
What do you think we ought to do
with that little one?
With seven of your own
to feed...
I don't guess you're any too
anxious to take on another one.
-I do have to think of first.
-Sure you do.
I think the best thing
for me to do is...
take that little waif
over to the County Home.
About 4:00?
That'll be fine. Thank you.
Now, Olivia, be sensible.
She'll have a warm bed
and plenty of food.
She needs more than that.
John, I don't think it's that
she won't talk.
I'm afraid she can't.
That's another reason we can't
even think of keeping her.
-If she can't talk at that age--
-Let Doc Holloway examine her.
Why spend $2 we don't have
to have the doc examine her...
when they'll examine her freeat the home?
John, I have a feeling
about this child.
You have a feeling
about every child.
Please.
Every time I hear myself
asking you to be sensible...
I know I've lost the argument.
She's a healthy, normal child
except for one thing.
She's deaf.
-Deaf?
-Since birth, I'd say.
That explains it then.
That's why she never
learned to talk.
-Can anything be done?
-About the deafness? No.
But, of course, she can be
taught to communicate.
I have a simple pamphlet here...
Fingerspelling, they call it.
Talking with the hands.
I've seen it.
It's beautiful the way they do
it. Like the wings of birds.
You see, Doc,
the Sheriff is taking her...
to the County Home this
afternoon.
I see.
Can they help her there,
do you reckon?
Maybe she'll be lucky.
But they're so overworked
and understaffed...
that there's not much time
for any special care.
Well, at least now...
we can tell them what she needs
and they can help her.
-Put your money away, John.
-Come on.
On those rare occasions when I
have a generous impulse...
don't discourage me.
-Thank you, Doc.
-Here.
Send the pamphlet
along with her.
Maybe somebody will spare a few
minutes a day to help her.
Thank you.
-Bye, Doctor.
-Bye.
"Thy smile the beaming sun
doth quite outshine
"And warms the coursing blood
like heady wine"
Is that all?
That's as far as I've written.
You like it?
It sounds like the stuff
I don't understand...
in our literature books.
I plan to write at least
12 stanzas of it.
I don't see how you do it.
The inspiration
is the important thing.
I mean...
when someone inspires someone
else with feelings...
with certain feelings....
Do you drink a lot of wine,
John-Boy?
Wine? Me?
You mentioned some kind
of wine in the poem.
"Heady wine."
Actually I don't know
too much about wine.
My daddy makes dandelion wine.
Marcia, when I finish my poem,
do you think--
That's alright.
There's something I want to ask
Kitty Lou anyways. Bye.
To think they're gonna
send her away.
But why can't she stay
with us, Mama?
Because your daddy feels it's
better for her, for everybody...
if she goes to the County Home.
Now don't look so heartsick.
I wish she could stay here,
too...
but we can't always have
everything we want...
especially during this
Depression.
Want to play keep-away?
-Can I play?
-Sure, Elizabeth.
Daddy, you mad at somebody?
Not somebody, John-Boy.
Something I just can't do
nothing about.
Hi, boys.
Sorry I'm a bit later
than I figured on, John.
No matter, Ep.
She's over there.
I guess I'd better get started.
Come on.
We've been thinking and...
what we've decided is...
to keep the little girl...
for a while.
-You folks are real kind.
-Some folks'd call us foolish.
Let's go play.
Looks like we're gonna
have us a houseguest.
John-Boy, finish up for me,
will you?
Yes, sir.
"C"...
"H"...
"A"...
"I"...
"R."
Chair.
This stands for that.
I'm sorry, Mama, I can't seem to
help her make the connection.
All those feelings
locked up inside...
the key is right there
in her hands.
If she only knew
how to use it.
Did John-Boy try to teach her?
Oh, he's too busy writing poetry
for Marcia Wollery.
Marcia?
How come you keep
running away from me?
I wanted to read you
the rest of the poem.
I don't wanna hear it.
You don't?
Why not?
I told Kitty Lou about you
and your poetry.
She says you're just
making fun of me.
-Marcia, I was not.
-I saw right off she was right.
I'm dumb alright.
Probably the dumbest girl
in the whole class.
You've had all the fun
you'll have on my account.
You stay away from me,
you hear? Away!
Is this a purely
social call...
We want 2 cents worth of candy.
And I suppose
an agreement has been reached...
as to what kind of candy
the group prefers?
-I say licorice.
-Peppermints.
-Jellybeans.
-Gumdrops.
And what kind do you say,
young lady?
-She doesn't say anything.
-Because she can't.
So this is your little visitor.
And she can't hear
a word we say?
But she's smart
in lots of ways.
She's lucky to have
a friend like you, Jim-Bob.
So what's it going to be?
If we get four different
kinds of candy...
and divide it five ways...
nobody's going to get very much.
If Jim-Bob would spend
some of his money....
You mean you still
got that birthday quarter?
I want to buy
something special with it.
So, what's the verdict?
-I'll vote for licorice.
-Me, too.
Three to one, a majority.
2 cents worth of licorice.
2 cents worth of licorice.
Now, that is a big transaction.
Maybe next time.
Won't it be fun
playing with them together?
-Here. That's a real bargain.
-Thanks.
-Here, Elizabeth.
-I hate licorice.
Being in the minority isn't
easy, Elizabeth.
Tell you what I'll do, though.
I'll give you a little
consolation.
Here you go.
Gumdrops!
Thank you, Mr. Godsey.
You're entirely welcome,
Elizabeth.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-What are we stopping for?
-The haunted house.
It's not haunted. Just nobody's
lived there for a long time.
No!
-Daddy says never to play there.
-Who'd want to?
It would be great for
hide-and-seek.
Hide there
and who'd come looking for you?
Let's walk faster.
I've been looking everywhere
for you.
Near out of my mind
wondering what happened to you.
I'm sorry, Anson.
Where's Holly?
-She's not here.
-Where is she?
Where you got her hid?
Ruth, you're acting the fool
carrying on like this,
hurting everybody.
-She's got to be put away.
-No.
I don't understand you.
Running away from home...
hiding out in a place like this.
What are you trying to do?
Anson, please, I'm hoping to get
her with a good family.
Maybe with other children,
she'd have a chance.
She'll have a chance at the
County Home.
They know how to handle
such as her.
She'd die!
In a place like that,
she'd just wither up and die.
You can't keep her
hid in the woods...
and you ain't bringing her
back to our place.
I told you,it's the two of us now.
-But she's part of us.
-No, she ain't.
-She's a throwback.
-Don't you call her that!
That's what she is,
bringing bad luck and trouble.
How can you say that
about your own child?
I grew up living
in the shadow of a throwback...
and I can't take no more of it.
Holly's not like your brother.
Inside, she's a whole person.
She's smart as anyone.
You're putting off
what has to be, Ruth.
Now, either you take her to that
County Home like we agreed...
Anson, give me
a couple more days, please.
You've got till Friday.
If you ain't home by then,
I'm coming back.
Here.
Something to live off of.
What's wrong with the radio?
Will you quit fiddling
with that dial?
I'm trying to get hold of
Charlie and Edgar.
Sit down. Let me do it.
The way she talks, you'd think
she'd invented radio.
If I hadn't been kept so busy
looking after you, I might have.
Goodnight, everybody.
No, not tonight, Daddy.
What's wrong with the boy?
Is he sick?
-Lovesick. Wants to be alone.
-Mary Ellen.
I am not.
I suppose that was the extent
of your musical education.
Hit me again.
Well, no, not completely.
You see, I played in church
on the one-stringed instrument.
-You did?
-Yeah.
-One-stringed instrument?
-Yeah.
-You give up?
-Yeah.
I rang the bell.
-Funny?
-You don't understand it.
Yeah. We were all picked men.
Well, maybe they picked me
a little before I was ripe.
-What a night!
-Yes, it was.
Until the wheel
came off the wagon.
Don't cry, it's alright.
Please don't cry.
I guess I never thought much
about that before.
What it must be like...
not to hear radios...
or birds singing, people
laughing.
So much beauty in the world
just to hear.
It's sad you're
gonna miss all that.
Darling, but you can't just go
through your whole life...
being sad all the time,
can you?
Can you?
That's how you're feeling.
Sad.
When you're sad,
the tears come.
Sad.
That's no good.
Nobody likes to be around
someone who is sad all the time.
You gotta smile sometime, dear.
You got to be happy sometime.
Now, what are you gonna be?
Are you gonna be sad...
or are you gonna be happy?
Are you gonna be sad...
or are you gonna be happy?
Or are you gonna be happy?
Sad?
That's right!
That's it!
Daddy!
Mama!
What on earth?
I want you to pay very close
attention...
'cause Holly has got something
she wants to say to you.
Happy!
How did she do that?
Everything is going well.
Holly is getting to be like
one of the family.
But even though all of us can
talk on our fingers with her...
I think she misses
her own mama and daddy.
My love for Marcia grows.
The power of the pen
may be great...
but in love it has failed me.
367 00:28:09,922 --> 00:28:12,124
John-Boy Walton!
Suppose somebody saw you.
I reckon they'd think
I was fond of you.
What would they think of me?
That would depend on how you
acted when I gave you the kiss.
I ought to holler...
slap your face.
Is that how you felt?
-Why are you fond of me?
-I don't know. I just am.
Since when?
For a long time now.
That was why I wrote you
the poetry...
'cause I thought it'd be a good
way to let you know my feelings.
You wrote poetry
instead of trying to kiss me?
I guess I thought
it'd be more eloquent.
Maybe.
Not near as much fun.
Are you fond of me?
We'll see about that.
So I'm going to give you
another kiss.
Maybe.
When I say you can.
We'll see about that.
Hi, Mr. Godsey.
Hey, ladies.
What can I do for you?
Mr. Godsey, Mama needs
some starch and bluing.
Okay.
Jabez, be right back.
Starch and bluing coming up.
I ought to give your mama
a wholesale rate...
as much laundry as she does.
399 00:29:55,327 --> 00:29:57,529
She's learned to talk,
I mean, with her hands.
-We learned it from a book.
-Isn't that remarkable.
Here you go.
-Come on, Jim-Bob.
-Thanks, Mr. Godsey.
Mr. Godsey, can I buy this
with my quarter?
A quarter?
Well, seeing it's you, Jim-Bob,
I'll give you a special price.
-Thank you.
-Bye.
-Did you buy that?
-Yeah, for Holly.
That's nice.
Go on, take it.
Go on.
-We're home, Mama.
-Yeah, we got your stuff.
Thank you.
What's this?
Jim-Bob bought it for her.
That was a nice thing to do.
Here. Run along now.
Come on, let's go play.
Probably the first toy of her
own Holly's ever had.
Why are you so quiet, Miss
Elizabeth?
Nobody cares about me anymore.
Is that so?
I wish I was deaf.
Elizabeth Walton, you ought
to be ashamed of yourself.
May the good Lord forgive you
for even thinking
such a thought.
Did you ever!
No, it won't do the young'un any
harm to find out... 430
-Here, Erin, come on!
-Okay, don't let her get it.
No, don't throw it that high.
Come on, you got
to give her a chance.
She got it. I told you
to give her a chance.
Come on, you're
in the middle now.
Get in there. Here, Holly!
Come on, watch it.
You got to try and get it.
Here, don't throw it so high.
Here, Holly!
Don't throw it that hard.
You got to give her a chance.
Go back!
No, they want you, not me.
Ma'am!
Could I talk to youfor a minute?
About Holly?
Holly?
Is she your little girl?
Why don't you come on home
and talk to my mama?
It's alright.
I think you should.
Come on.
It's alright, come on.
Howdy.
What can I do for you?
Better let me have
a nickel's worth of cheese...
and about 5 cents worth
of those soda crackers there.
Alright.
I need a gallon of gas
for the truck, too.
This is an exceptional cheese.
It's sharp.
But not too sharp.
Being in a place like this...
Once in a while,
we see a stranger.
But the only newcomer I can
remember is the Russell baby.
No, I'm not talking about
babies. A girl, 6-year-old girl.
That sounds like the child
the Waltons found.
-Found you say?
-Yeah. Laying on the doorstep.
-Could be my daughter.
-Holly is her name.
These Waltons,
where do they live?
Down the road, about half a
mile. The house is on the left.
Wait a second. I thought you
said you wanted to buy some gas.
No, Holly.
Your mama's had her chance.
You're coming with me now.
It was wrong leaving her
like I did.
But I felt this was a house
filled with love.
I felt that with a family like
you, with people like you...
that maybe something good
would happen.
-So it has.
-She's doing just fine.
She's a very bright little girl,
you know.
She can talk with her hands.
Just wait till you see those
fingers flying...
feelings bubbling up
like clear water from a spring.
She'll be here in a minute.
But I don't know
how to read the signs.
You'll learn,
like the rest of us.
Papa was talking to her
just last night.
Now don't encourage him.
There's nothing to it. I learned
it in no time. You just--
-Elizabeth and Holly are gone.
-Gone? Gone where?
Mary Ellen said she saw them
going down the road.
We looked everyplace
but we couldn't find them.
We looked everywhere.
Mary Ellen, how long since you
saw the little girls?
It was quite a while ago.
Holly was playing
keep-away with us.
Elizabeth had the sulks,
went off somewhere...
and Holly followed her.
Sounds like we've got a runaway.
Jason, Ben and Jim-Bob scout
along the edge of the woods.
John-Boy, you look
around the barn.
They can't have gotten far.
I'll go look around
the back pasture.
You see to it
you don't get lost.
I always find my way back
to you, old woman.
-Can I go with you, Daddy?
-Me, too. 506
We'll probably find them
down the road.
I'm sorry, Holly.
I wish it wasn't this way,
but it is.
I need some gas.
I was hoping you'd make it back
before you ran out.
Better give me a couple of
gallons of gas.
I see you found
your little girl.
Look at her hands going there.
I bet she sure is excited
about being back with her daddy.
You stay in there.
How about the gas?
-You see anything, honey?
-No.
Elizabeth!
Daddy!
Help, Daddy!
Holly!
Runaways?
Yeah, it seems Elizabeth's
decided to leave home...
and Holly traipsed along
to keep her company.
Holly was just here
with her daddy.
Her daddy?
Yeah, I thought you two met
when he picked her up.
-How far ahead are they, Ike?
-Better get moving, John.
-Hurry up, Daddy.
-Can't you go any faster?
Honey, I'm going
as fast as I can.
Just what the devil's
going on here, mister?
-Where's Elizabeth?
-I don't know no Elizabeth.
-She's my little girl.
-Little girl?
That's right, mister.
I want to know--
Just a minute, Mary Ellen.
Holly says Elizabeth's locked
herself in a box or something.
-Holly says?
-Locked herself in a box? Where?
The haunted house.
The Halstead place.
Come on. You get in the back.
We'll take Holly, you follow us.
Elizabeth!
Holly, where is she?
Elizabeth, it's alright.
We're here, honey.
Hang on, baby.
Sweetie, you alright, baby?
It's gonna be fine, sweetheart.
Thanks to Holly.
Come on, baby.
Let's go home to your mama.
Your wife's over at our place.
You better come along.
It's alright, baby.
She's perfectly okay.
Tomorrow, she'll be off to
school as always.
That's my girl!
-We better be getting on.
-Stay for supper.
Please don't leave.
That's nice of you,
but I'd like to get home.
We owe you all so much.
I'd say that Holly
squared all accounts today.
What's this?
It's a present.
Yours.
Ours.
He's learning!
Come on, baby, let's go.
We'll see you all later.
Let's go outside and say
goodbye. Come on, everyone.
-So long.
-Bye.
-Take care now, you hear?
-You all come back.
Come see us.
Bye!
What's this?
I don't know.
-Who is it for?
-Yeah, tell us.
It's for John-Boy.
-Come on, open it.
-I am.
Come on, fast!
What is it?
It's a gingerbread.
Who's it from?
Give it back, come on!
John-Boy, isn't that sweet!
What does it say?
"Pure poetry."
Those were lean years...
and for many Americans
a harsh and bitter time.
On Walton's Mountain...
we were sustained with poems,
gingerbread, laughter...
and sharing.
But most of all by a remarkable
mother and father.
The house in which we were born
and raised is still there.
Still home.
And on the winds that sigh
along those misted
blue-ridged mountains...
our voices must echo still.
What do you want, Ben?
Are you going
to marry Marcia Wollery?
You want me to?
She makes good gingerbread.
I'll think about it.
-Good night now.
-Good night.
during the Depression...
I lived with my redheaded
brothers and sisters...
my parents and grandparents,
at the foot of a mountain...
which had been in our family
for generations.
My father used to say that
in our house
there was always room
for one more.
I remember a morning...
when his hospitality
was put to a challenging test.
-Morning.
-Morning, Livie.
Morning, hon.
Have a good rest?
Hardly closed my eyes all night.
Twenty thousandand one nights...
I've spent with this old
woman...
more or less,
give or take a few...
To hear her tell it, she's never
closed her eyes all that time.
The way you snore, what I wish I
could close is my ears!
I never snored in my life.
John-Boy, cows are waiting!
I'm coming, Mother.
"'Where are you going,
my pretty maid?'
"'A-milking, sir,' she said"
In books, it's always the girls
that milk the cows.
Just shows you shouldn't believe
everything you read in books.
I reckon.
He was up half the night
writing poetry.
-Mama!
-Yeah?
Come out here.
-I'm trying to get breakfast.
-Mama, look at this.
For goodness sake.
-What's going on out here?
-It's a child.
I can see that.
What is she doing here?
-Where'd she come from?
-I don't know.
Honey?
What's your name, honey?
How did you get here?
John-Boy, carry her inside.
-She bit me!
-She's scared out of her wits.
Don't be afraid, honey.
It's alright.
What are they doing now,Daddy?
Giving her a good scrub,
which she doesn't much like.
-Who does?
-Has she run away from home?
Maybe, or somebody left her
on our doorstep.
Is that where you found
the rest of us?
No, honey.
-Why do they always laugh at me?
-'Cause you say funny things.
You reckon she's an orphan,
Daddy?
Maybe.
Pass the sugar.
If she had parents...
they'd never leave her
on our doorstep, would they?
Not likely, honey.
Why don't you finish
and scoot outside 56
-We want to see her.
-Talk to her.
The last thing she needs is to
face this mob. Now out you go.
-We'll never get to see her.
-You always chase us out.
Out!
Daddy, where did you find me?
Hiding behind one of your
mama's smiles, honey.
Off you go.
-You're all cleaned up?
-What's the matter, honey?
Are you hungry?
Have you had your breakfast?
Come on.
My Lord, she's half-starved.
-I'll get you some milk.
-Here's a glass.
-Her name's Holly.
-Holly. You got her to speak?
No, she hasn't said a word, but
I found this scrap of paper...
in the pocket of those rags
she was wearing.
Hello, Holly.
It's like there's
a wall around her, John.
Holly?
Honey?
It's alright.
You don't have to be afraid.
Nobody's gonna hurt you.
What shall we do, John?
If she's a runaway, her folks
will be looking for her.
I guess we'd better take her
to the Sheriff.
Morning, Sheriff.
You mean there's been no report
of a runaway girl?
Looking at this little thing,
I'll lay odds
there won't be one.
What do you think we ought to do
with that little one?
With seven of your own
to feed...
I don't guess you're any too
anxious to take on another one.
-I do have to think of first.
-Sure you do.
I think the best thing
for me to do is...
take that little waif
over to the County Home.
About 4:00?
That'll be fine. Thank you.
Now, Olivia, be sensible.
She'll have a warm bed
and plenty of food.
She needs more than that.
John, I don't think it's that
she won't talk.
I'm afraid she can't.
That's another reason we can't
even think of keeping her.
-If she can't talk at that age--
-Let Doc Holloway examine her.
Why spend $2 we don't have
to have the doc examine her...
when they'll examine her freeat the home?
John, I have a feeling
about this child.
You have a feeling
about every child.
Please.
Every time I hear myself
asking you to be sensible...
I know I've lost the argument.
She's a healthy, normal child
except for one thing.
She's deaf.
-Deaf?
-Since birth, I'd say.
That explains it then.
That's why she never
learned to talk.
-Can anything be done?
-About the deafness? No.
But, of course, she can be
taught to communicate.
I have a simple pamphlet here...
Fingerspelling, they call it.
Talking with the hands.
I've seen it.
It's beautiful the way they do
it. Like the wings of birds.
You see, Doc,
the Sheriff is taking her...
to the County Home this
afternoon.
I see.
Can they help her there,
do you reckon?
Maybe she'll be lucky.
But they're so overworked
and understaffed...
that there's not much time
for any special care.
Well, at least now...
we can tell them what she needs
and they can help her.
-Put your money away, John.
-Come on.
On those rare occasions when I
have a generous impulse...
don't discourage me.
-Thank you, Doc.
-Here.
Send the pamphlet
along with her.
Maybe somebody will spare a few
minutes a day to help her.
Thank you.
-Bye, Doctor.
-Bye.
"Thy smile the beaming sun
doth quite outshine
"And warms the coursing blood
like heady wine"
Is that all?
That's as far as I've written.
You like it?
It sounds like the stuff
I don't understand...
in our literature books.
I plan to write at least
12 stanzas of it.
I don't see how you do it.
The inspiration
is the important thing.
I mean...
when someone inspires someone
else with feelings...
with certain feelings....
Do you drink a lot of wine,
John-Boy?
Wine? Me?
You mentioned some kind
of wine in the poem.
"Heady wine."
Actually I don't know
too much about wine.
My daddy makes dandelion wine.
Marcia, when I finish my poem,
do you think--
That's alright.
There's something I want to ask
Kitty Lou anyways. Bye.
To think they're gonna
send her away.
But why can't she stay
with us, Mama?
Because your daddy feels it's
better for her, for everybody...
if she goes to the County Home.
Now don't look so heartsick.
I wish she could stay here,
too...
but we can't always have
everything we want...
especially during this
Depression.
Want to play keep-away?
-Can I play?
-Sure, Elizabeth.
Daddy, you mad at somebody?
Not somebody, John-Boy.
Something I just can't do
nothing about.
Hi, boys.
Sorry I'm a bit later
than I figured on, John.
No matter, Ep.
She's over there.
I guess I'd better get started.
Come on.
We've been thinking and...
what we've decided is...
to keep the little girl...
for a while.
-You folks are real kind.
-Some folks'd call us foolish.
Let's go play.
Looks like we're gonna
have us a houseguest.
John-Boy, finish up for me,
will you?
Yes, sir.
"C"...
"H"...
"A"...
"I"...
"R."
Chair.
This stands for that.
I'm sorry, Mama, I can't seem to
help her make the connection.
All those feelings
locked up inside...
the key is right there
in her hands.
If she only knew
how to use it.
Did John-Boy try to teach her?
Oh, he's too busy writing poetry
for Marcia Wollery.
Marcia?
How come you keep
running away from me?
I wanted to read you
the rest of the poem.
I don't wanna hear it.
You don't?
Why not?
I told Kitty Lou about you
and your poetry.
She says you're just
making fun of me.
-Marcia, I was not.
-I saw right off she was right.
I'm dumb alright.
Probably the dumbest girl
in the whole class.
You've had all the fun
you'll have on my account.
You stay away from me,
you hear? Away!
Is this a purely
social call...
We want 2 cents worth of candy.
And I suppose
an agreement has been reached...
as to what kind of candy
the group prefers?
-I say licorice.
-Peppermints.
-Jellybeans.
-Gumdrops.
And what kind do you say,
young lady?
-She doesn't say anything.
-Because she can't.
So this is your little visitor.
And she can't hear
a word we say?
But she's smart
in lots of ways.
She's lucky to have
a friend like you, Jim-Bob.
So what's it going to be?
If we get four different
kinds of candy...
and divide it five ways...
nobody's going to get very much.
If Jim-Bob would spend
some of his money....
You mean you still
got that birthday quarter?
I want to buy
something special with it.
So, what's the verdict?
-I'll vote for licorice.
-Me, too.
Three to one, a majority.
2 cents worth of licorice.
2 cents worth of licorice.
Now, that is a big transaction.
Maybe next time.
Won't it be fun
playing with them together?
-Here. That's a real bargain.
-Thanks.
-Here, Elizabeth.
-I hate licorice.
Being in the minority isn't
easy, Elizabeth.
Tell you what I'll do, though.
I'll give you a little
consolation.
Here you go.
Gumdrops!
Thank you, Mr. Godsey.
You're entirely welcome,
Elizabeth.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-What are we stopping for?
-The haunted house.
It's not haunted. Just nobody's
lived there for a long time.
No!
-Daddy says never to play there.
-Who'd want to?
It would be great for
hide-and-seek.
Hide there
and who'd come looking for you?
Let's walk faster.
I've been looking everywhere
for you.
Near out of my mind
wondering what happened to you.
I'm sorry, Anson.
Where's Holly?
-She's not here.
-Where is she?
Where you got her hid?
Ruth, you're acting the fool
carrying on like this,
hurting everybody.
-She's got to be put away.
-No.
I don't understand you.
Running away from home...
hiding out in a place like this.
What are you trying to do?
Anson, please, I'm hoping to get
her with a good family.
Maybe with other children,
she'd have a chance.
She'll have a chance at the
County Home.
They know how to handle
such as her.
She'd die!
In a place like that,
she'd just wither up and die.
You can't keep her
hid in the woods...
and you ain't bringing her
back to our place.
I told you,it's the two of us now.
-But she's part of us.
-No, she ain't.
-She's a throwback.
-Don't you call her that!
That's what she is,
bringing bad luck and trouble.
How can you say that
about your own child?
I grew up living
in the shadow of a throwback...
and I can't take no more of it.
Holly's not like your brother.
Inside, she's a whole person.
She's smart as anyone.
You're putting off
what has to be, Ruth.
Now, either you take her to that
County Home like we agreed...
Anson, give me
a couple more days, please.
You've got till Friday.
If you ain't home by then,
I'm coming back.
Here.
Something to live off of.
What's wrong with the radio?
Will you quit fiddling
with that dial?
I'm trying to get hold of
Charlie and Edgar.
Sit down. Let me do it.
The way she talks, you'd think
she'd invented radio.
If I hadn't been kept so busy
looking after you, I might have.
Goodnight, everybody.
No, not tonight, Daddy.
What's wrong with the boy?
Is he sick?
-Lovesick. Wants to be alone.
-Mary Ellen.
I am not.
I suppose that was the extent
of your musical education.
Hit me again.
Well, no, not completely.
You see, I played in church
on the one-stringed instrument.
-You did?
-Yeah.
-One-stringed instrument?
-Yeah.
-You give up?
-Yeah.
I rang the bell.
-Funny?
-You don't understand it.
Yeah. We were all picked men.
Well, maybe they picked me
a little before I was ripe.
-What a night!
-Yes, it was.
Until the wheel
came off the wagon.
Don't cry, it's alright.
Please don't cry.
I guess I never thought much
about that before.
What it must be like...
not to hear radios...
or birds singing, people
laughing.
So much beauty in the world
just to hear.
It's sad you're
gonna miss all that.
Darling, but you can't just go
through your whole life...
being sad all the time,
can you?
Can you?
That's how you're feeling.
Sad.
When you're sad,
the tears come.
Sad.
That's no good.
Nobody likes to be around
someone who is sad all the time.
You gotta smile sometime, dear.
You got to be happy sometime.
Now, what are you gonna be?
Are you gonna be sad...
or are you gonna be happy?
Are you gonna be sad...
or are you gonna be happy?
Or are you gonna be happy?
Sad?
That's right!
That's it!
Daddy!
Mama!
What on earth?
I want you to pay very close
attention...
'cause Holly has got something
she wants to say to you.
Happy!
How did she do that?
Everything is going well.
Holly is getting to be like
one of the family.
But even though all of us can
talk on our fingers with her...
I think she misses
her own mama and daddy.
My love for Marcia grows.
The power of the pen
may be great...
but in love it has failed me.
367 00:28:09,922 --> 00:28:12,124
John-Boy Walton!
Suppose somebody saw you.
I reckon they'd think
I was fond of you.
What would they think of me?
That would depend on how you
acted when I gave you the kiss.
I ought to holler...
slap your face.
Is that how you felt?
-Why are you fond of me?
-I don't know. I just am.
Since when?
For a long time now.
That was why I wrote you
the poetry...
'cause I thought it'd be a good
way to let you know my feelings.
You wrote poetry
instead of trying to kiss me?
I guess I thought
it'd be more eloquent.
Maybe.
Not near as much fun.
Are you fond of me?
We'll see about that.
So I'm going to give you
another kiss.
Maybe.
When I say you can.
We'll see about that.
Hi, Mr. Godsey.
Hey, ladies.
What can I do for you?
Mr. Godsey, Mama needs
some starch and bluing.
Okay.
Jabez, be right back.
Starch and bluing coming up.
I ought to give your mama
a wholesale rate...
as much laundry as she does.
399 00:29:55,327 --> 00:29:57,529
She's learned to talk,
I mean, with her hands.
-We learned it from a book.
-Isn't that remarkable.
Here you go.
-Come on, Jim-Bob.
-Thanks, Mr. Godsey.
Mr. Godsey, can I buy this
with my quarter?
A quarter?
Well, seeing it's you, Jim-Bob,
I'll give you a special price.
-Thank you.
-Bye.
-Did you buy that?
-Yeah, for Holly.
That's nice.
Go on, take it.
Go on.
-We're home, Mama.
-Yeah, we got your stuff.
Thank you.
What's this?
Jim-Bob bought it for her.
That was a nice thing to do.
Here. Run along now.
Come on, let's go play.
Probably the first toy of her
own Holly's ever had.
Why are you so quiet, Miss
Elizabeth?
Nobody cares about me anymore.
Is that so?
I wish I was deaf.
Elizabeth Walton, you ought
to be ashamed of yourself.
May the good Lord forgive you
for even thinking
such a thought.
Did you ever!
No, it won't do the young'un any
harm to find out... 430
-Here, Erin, come on!
-Okay, don't let her get it.
No, don't throw it that high.
Come on, you got
to give her a chance.
She got it. I told you
to give her a chance.
Come on, you're
in the middle now.
Get in there. Here, Holly!
Come on, watch it.
You got to try and get it.
Here, don't throw it so high.
Here, Holly!
Don't throw it that hard.
You got to give her a chance.
Go back!
No, they want you, not me.
Ma'am!
Could I talk to youfor a minute?
About Holly?
Holly?
Is she your little girl?
Why don't you come on home
and talk to my mama?
It's alright.
I think you should.
Come on.
It's alright, come on.
Howdy.
What can I do for you?
Better let me have
a nickel's worth of cheese...
and about 5 cents worth
of those soda crackers there.
Alright.
I need a gallon of gas
for the truck, too.
This is an exceptional cheese.
It's sharp.
But not too sharp.
Being in a place like this...
Once in a while,
we see a stranger.
But the only newcomer I can
remember is the Russell baby.
No, I'm not talking about
babies. A girl, 6-year-old girl.
That sounds like the child
the Waltons found.
-Found you say?
-Yeah. Laying on the doorstep.
-Could be my daughter.
-Holly is her name.
These Waltons,
where do they live?
Down the road, about half a
mile. The house is on the left.
Wait a second. I thought you
said you wanted to buy some gas.
No, Holly.
Your mama's had her chance.
You're coming with me now.
It was wrong leaving her
like I did.
But I felt this was a house
filled with love.
I felt that with a family like
you, with people like you...
that maybe something good
would happen.
-So it has.
-She's doing just fine.
She's a very bright little girl,
you know.
She can talk with her hands.
Just wait till you see those
fingers flying...
feelings bubbling up
like clear water from a spring.
She'll be here in a minute.
But I don't know
how to read the signs.
You'll learn,
like the rest of us.
Papa was talking to her
just last night.
Now don't encourage him.
There's nothing to it. I learned
it in no time. You just--
-Elizabeth and Holly are gone.
-Gone? Gone where?
Mary Ellen said she saw them
going down the road.
We looked everyplace
but we couldn't find them.
We looked everywhere.
Mary Ellen, how long since you
saw the little girls?
It was quite a while ago.
Holly was playing
keep-away with us.
Elizabeth had the sulks,
went off somewhere...
and Holly followed her.
Sounds like we've got a runaway.
Jason, Ben and Jim-Bob scout
along the edge of the woods.
John-Boy, you look
around the barn.
They can't have gotten far.
I'll go look around
the back pasture.
You see to it
you don't get lost.
I always find my way back
to you, old woman.
-Can I go with you, Daddy?
-Me, too. 506
We'll probably find them
down the road.
I'm sorry, Holly.
I wish it wasn't this way,
but it is.
I need some gas.
I was hoping you'd make it back
before you ran out.
Better give me a couple of
gallons of gas.
I see you found
your little girl.
Look at her hands going there.
I bet she sure is excited
about being back with her daddy.
You stay in there.
How about the gas?
-You see anything, honey?
-No.
Elizabeth!
Daddy!
Help, Daddy!
Holly!
Runaways?
Yeah, it seems Elizabeth's
decided to leave home...
and Holly traipsed along
to keep her company.
Holly was just here
with her daddy.
Her daddy?
Yeah, I thought you two met
when he picked her up.
-How far ahead are they, Ike?
-Better get moving, John.
-Hurry up, Daddy.
-Can't you go any faster?
Honey, I'm going
as fast as I can.
Just what the devil's
going on here, mister?
-Where's Elizabeth?
-I don't know no Elizabeth.
-She's my little girl.
-Little girl?
That's right, mister.
I want to know--
Just a minute, Mary Ellen.
Holly says Elizabeth's locked
herself in a box or something.
-Holly says?
-Locked herself in a box? Where?
The haunted house.
The Halstead place.
Come on. You get in the back.
We'll take Holly, you follow us.
Elizabeth!
Holly, where is she?
Elizabeth, it's alright.
We're here, honey.
Hang on, baby.
Sweetie, you alright, baby?
It's gonna be fine, sweetheart.
Thanks to Holly.
Come on, baby.
Let's go home to your mama.
Your wife's over at our place.
You better come along.
It's alright, baby.
She's perfectly okay.
Tomorrow, she'll be off to
school as always.
That's my girl!
-We better be getting on.
-Stay for supper.
Please don't leave.
That's nice of you,
but I'd like to get home.
We owe you all so much.
I'd say that Holly
squared all accounts today.
What's this?
It's a present.
Yours.
Ours.
He's learning!
Come on, baby, let's go.
We'll see you all later.
Let's go outside and say
goodbye. Come on, everyone.
-So long.
-Bye.
-Take care now, you hear?
-You all come back.
Come see us.
Bye!
What's this?
I don't know.
-Who is it for?
-Yeah, tell us.
It's for John-Boy.
-Come on, open it.
-I am.
Come on, fast!
What is it?
It's a gingerbread.
Who's it from?
Give it back, come on!
John-Boy, isn't that sweet!
What does it say?
"Pure poetry."
Those were lean years...
and for many Americans
a harsh and bitter time.
On Walton's Mountain...
we were sustained with poems,
gingerbread, laughter...
and sharing.
But most of all by a remarkable
mother and father.
The house in which we were born
and raised is still there.
Still home.
And on the winds that sigh
along those misted
blue-ridged mountains...
our voices must echo still.
What do you want, Ben?
Are you going
to marry Marcia Wollery?
You want me to?
She makes good gingerbread.
I'll think about it.
-Good night now.
-Good night.