The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 1, Episode 7 - The Sinner - full transcript

I remember a day in hot summer
back during the Depression

when we all wished Walton's
Mountain was a mile higher

so its cool shade
would reach us sooner.

Growing up in
those long-gone days

I took for granted the
discomfort of a hot summer.

But as a novice writer,
I took it as my duty

to question other things.

Like sin, and
what made a sinner.

Trouble was,
no one seemed to agree.

It is most inspiring
to meet a missionary

from our Asian outpost.



The people in my villageare
mainly Buddhists, Mathew

but they worship animals

and all manner of odd statues.

It must be beautiful
to win such a soul to the Lord.

How can you bear to come home?

Only to find another
missionary who shares my zeal.

I hope I shall prove worthy.

You were much praised
for your austere living.

You will find the people in
Walton's Mountain simple folk.

It will provide a perfect test.

"Happy is the man
that findeth wisdom

"and the man that getteth
understanding."

As long as you
mind your manners.

And no tickling at the table.



What if I have to sneeze
while he's praying?

You say, "Excuse me."

Mama, do angels sneeze?

I can't say, Elizabeth.
I never saw one myself.

I bet they'd sweat, though,
if they had to wait two hours.

Don't say "sweat."
Say "perspiration."

I told Miss Prissom
we'd be honored.

The very least we can do
is welcome this young preacher.

I'm gonna watch and
listen to him real close.

Can't think ofa better model, son.

You'll have to learn to yell
and holler about the Devil

just like he was running you
a foot race and gaining on you.

That Reverend doesn't
get here pretty soon

with all this heat, he's going
to find us all melted away.

Clean down to our halos.

Grandpa, when God kicked
the Devil out of Heaven

did he lose his halo?

Now see here, Jason,
you're asking the wrong fella.

Of all the list
of exciting professions

I could have taken up

being a preacherwasn't one of them.

I never could get a real good
clear picture of Hell.

I hope and pray you never
see the real thing, old man.

You'll feel very
secure here, Mathew.

Olivia Walton is a good Baptist
with a God-fearing family.

I feel like Daniel, set down
by the Lord among docile lions.

I trust them. Myself, I doubt.

There is no room for timidity
in our work, Mathew.

Maybe he went to Heaven.

-In Miss Prissom's car?
-In a chariot.

They'll be here soon.

-Who's ready for a swim?-I am!

Sit down, children.

What's going
on around here, Liv?

Looks a bunch
of stuffed owls to me.

We're waiting for Miss Prissom.

You mean that lady
that looked like

she's been weaned on lemons?

She came by this morning and

asked if we could put up Rev.
Fordwick from Divinity School.

He'll hold an all-day service

and meeting on
the grounds this Sunday.

We're waiting on them.

-Been waiting.
-Since lunchtime.

I promised these
children I'd take them

It's mighty hot outside.

John, Miss Prissom and this
new preacher are company.

They ought to be here
any minute, John.

Maybe we can find them
a couple of suits. Come on.

If you ask me

collars and ties were
invented by the Devil

on one of his mean days.

How about you, Grandma?

I'm not so old that
I put my comfort

before good
manners, John Walton.

Now, Liv, I didn't
mean to contradict you.

It's just that I did promise
the children, you know.

on his very first
day of God's work.

I'll tell him we're
having a mass baptism.

Come on. Who's ready
up there? Let's go.

Good morning.

-Reverend, welcome.
-Mr. Walton.

This is my brood here.

-That's John-Boy.
-Howdy.

Jason, Jim-Bob

and there's Erin,
Mary Ellen, Ben

and over behind the tree is
Elizabeth. Come here, honey.

Come on out!

Yes. I believe your
wife was expecting us.

Yes, ma'am, she was.
About two or three hours ago.

I promised these children
I'd take them swimming.

On the Sabbath afternoon?

I reckon the Lord knows
how bad the heat gets

seeing as he
made Hell out of it.

May I speak with
your wife, please?

-Yes, she's waiting for you.
-Thank you.

Why don't you get some old
clothes and come join us?

Last one in has to hang
up all the bathing suits!

They'd been waiting
such a long time.

"Blessed is the man
that endureth temptation."

James 1:12.

"They that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength."

Isaiah 40:31.

Olivia, Esther

has anyone here
seen my inner tube?

[screaming]

[everyone screaming]

I gave him John-Boy's room.

Miss Prissom went back to town.

No doubt convinced
that the pagans here

are more in need of
salvation than in Asia.

We're all sinners, Liv.

I take this seriously, John.
I wish you would.

There's nothing sinful
about the children

There's a time and a place.
We have a guest.

alright, I'll gather
the children together.

Thank you.

And I'll tell them
to mind their manners.

It's your own
that hurt me, John.

What's he doing?

He said, "Idleness is
the Devil's workshop."

I'd rather work with Daddy.

When a fellow gets
to be my age

sin is something mostly
that you remember.

How about my age?

There are certain
things that you're

still a mite
too young for.

Come on, Grandpa.I'm 17 years old.

For instance, like trying
to get a driver's license.

It takes a certain maturity.

You make it sound like you got

to get a license
in order to sin.

You sassing me?

No, sir. Just that
to be a writer,

I ought
to know certain things.

I'm old enough
to know about sin, don't you?

-If you have to ask, you ain't.
-I know some, believe me.

What I don't know
is how much I don't know.

That's a subject that most folks

are not too keen
to talk about, John-Boy.

is good folks and
nothing about sinners?

There's nothing
fascinating about sinners.

Some say there's
nothing fascinating

about watching a poplar turn
its leaves before a rainstorm.

Have you talked
to that Rev. Fordwick?

He's not much older than I am.

I don't know how
to tell you this

but there are a lot of folks
that lead exciting and colorful

lives that are not the biggest
sinners in the whole world.

"And if thy right eye offend thee

"pluck it out,
and cast it from thee

"for it is profitable that one
of thy members should perish

"and not that the whole body
should be damned into--"

Damn!

Children.

Do not mock
the power of the Lord.

You don't want to be like
Lucifer when he fell in pride.

Be not free with
curses and abominations

lest you be cursed
in the eyes of God.

Give up your evil ways.

End debauchery. End adultery.
End covetousness.

Let no tongue wag
that is not as pure

For your hearts are shriveled up

and inside ye are corruption.

Think ye of the fierce and
righteous judgment of the Lord.

You are as putrid as death

and a stench in the nostrils
of the Lord Jehovah!

And he shall visit you one day

with scourges of fire to cleanse
you--

Reverend!

You're scaring these children.

We are all evil sinners
in the Lord Jehovah's eyes

and it's time now to repent,
before it is too late.

Now listen here. These
are good, sweet children.

I'm not gonna let anyone fill
them with a pack of nonsense.

Children, go inside
and wash up for lunch.

I'll wash up, too, ma'am.

My children are not going to
be treated like that, Liv.

Not by anyone.

They are my children,
too, John Walton.

[music]

[piano music]

I guess you're old enough
to travel your own road, son.

I love you and Mama both.

There's no choice there.

It's not a question of one being
right and the other wrong.

but I don't truly
know what you believe.

I believe life is
a mystery. A sacred one.

As for faith, that's
a personal and private thing.

It's not something you pull on
like your pants in the morning.

I don't think
that's much different

from what your mama thinks.

That Rev. Fordwick
sure says a lot

of things that
make me angry.

Sure what he says
makes you angry,

or the fact that he's
taken over your room?

Maybe. It's kind of hard
to write up in the loft.

-He'll only be here till Sunday.
-Yeah.

Daddy, will you answer me
a couple of questions?

I'll try.

The Reverend keeps
talking about

sex and sin like
it's the exact same thing.

I'm going to have
to stop calling you

John-Boy one of these days.

I keep thinking I'm too old
to be so ignorant about so much.

I think I told you all you
need to know about mating

about one sex joining the other.

What you don't know
yet is about love.

-I know about love.-I mean

one man joining one woman.

Admiring and respecting
each other enough

they want to share that feeling.

You love Mama. I can see that.

When the Good Lord
put his hand to making your mama

I'm sure he's right proud
of what he came up with.

And I'm right proud
with the children

that came out of
our loving each other.

I sure don't see
nothing shameful

about loving a woman that way.

You got a good soul, son.

No use spoiling it
by fretting about sin.

Some people crave sinning

like other people
crave rhubarb pie.

I hate rhubarb pie.

Let's hope you don't acquire
a taste for either one.

-Morning, Reverend.
-Morning.

You know, you could take a bath
in the tub if you wanted to.

Cold showers and
plenty of exercise

are bulwarks against
temptations of the flesh.

-How old are you?
-Twenty-one next month.

I'm 17.

You are troubled.

Kind of same
as anybody, I guess.

will rid you of impure thoughts
which trouble young men.

See, that's what bothers me.

I want to be a writer,

so naturally I puzzle
over these things.

It's sorting out
what's pure and impure

that I have trouble with.

Your religious training
should make that no problem.

It helps, I admit.

But the problem
is nobody seems able

to give me a straight answer
on any one thing.

I'd be happy to advise you
to the best of my ability.

Reverend, what is sin?

Then how could
dancing be sinful?

Grandma feels that
dancing is sinful.

It can lead to temptation.

Then people shouldn't be
allowed to dance?

It is best not to challenge
Satan, for he is strong.

I'm going to get dressed.
Join me in a cross-country run?

Maybe tomorrow.

Better an ounce of prevention
than a pound of cure.

Repent!

For I say that the hour is nigh

when judgment shall be visited

and the sheep shall be
separated from the goats.

Drunkenness is an abomination.

Repent!

Fornication and lustful
ways must be abandoned.

Repent!

Lying and stealing
and bearing false witness

are abominations!

Repent, ye sinners!

Carve out sin from
your hearts like a boil!

Repent!

For whatsoever ye sow

so also shall ye reap!

-How was the sermon? Scary.

Want a lick?

No, thank you.
I'll wait for supper.

I heard you practicing.

Perhaps you have a suggestion.

Yes, Reverend, I do.

Far be it for me to tell
you what to say, Reverend

but about the way you say it.

You see, most folks around here
aren't used to being shouted at

and a lot of us won't understand

some of that fancy
language you're using.

I was just going to suggest that
you say what you're gonna say

but simpler and
easier, that's all.

I have spent
four years, Mr. Walton

learning and studying
to preach the word of God.

It's up to youto accept or reject it.

John-Boy, could you
explain something?

What?

If God hates sin
the way the preacher says

I guess everybody
should hate it.

I guess.

Then how come everybody
keeps right on sinning?

-What makes you so sure they do?
-The preacher says they do.

Yeah.

I've been puzzling over it
myself, Jim-Bob. I don't know.

The way I get it is some people
just have a craving for sin

the way other people
crave rhubarb pie.

I hate rhubarb pie.

Hey, Yancy.
315 00:21:04,931 --> 00:21:07,233

They're beauties, Yancy.

I'll let your daddy have them
for 10 cents apiece.

How come you're
letting them go so cheap?

These are wild.
Heard of wild turkeys?

Of course I've heard
of wild turkeys.

These are wild chickens.

I round them up
whenever I need them

in the woods back of my house.

Wild chickens, huh? Just how
wild are these chickens?

There's one rooster
in there, he's real feisty.

Had to wrestle him about an hour
before I got him in the crate.

Better watch out
getting them in the pen.

You don't want to be done
in by a feisty chicken.

Give me a hand.

I had to wrestle
you two or three hours

before I got you in a crate.

-Where's your daddy?
-In the house.

-I'll go in and get my money.
-Appreciate it.

Aren't you going
to see my daddy?

I figured I'd go over
to the Baldwin sisters

just in case they might need
an errand run or something.

Okay, bye.

I guess Yancy sure does
like the rhubarb pie.

Come on, open this door.
Come on, you feisty chicken.

Mama!

Mama, the Devil was after me.

Elizabeth, honey,
you were having a nightmare.

He was going to take me to Hell.

No. You were only dreaming.

Don't be afraid.
We're here, aren't we?

I'm scared.

You're a good girl. You've
got nothing to worry about.

-There is.
-Honey, you were only dreaming.

No, Mama, there is.

Well, then tell me what.

Yesterday I took a piece
of your gingerbread.

Now, now.

Elizabeth, honey

I surely don't believe
the Lord made Hell

for 5-year-old girls who take
one small piece of gingerbread.

Are you sure, Daddy?

I'm not saying what you did
was right. It was wrong.

Your conscience
is bothering you, honey,

giving you those bad dreams.

If your conscience
is in that good working order

you got nothing to worry about.

-Are you sure, Mama?
-I'm sure.

You want me to
tuck you into bed?

No.

I'm tired from running
away from that Devil.

Good night, honey.

You see what's
happening around here?

We've got differences making
us frosty with each other.

That's something we haven't
seen in 18 years of marriage.

It's not good for
the children, either.

Sure is dispiriting to me.

You're the one that started it.
That day he arrived.

-Takes two to quarrel, you know.
-You acted like a heathen.

Still do, as far
as he's concerned.

That Fordwick is just
a well-intentioned kid

and he tries too hard.

Give him a chance.

He's trying to preach
the word of the Lord.

I sure wish he knew a little bit
more about human nature.

Good night, John.

Good night.

-Yancy?
-Who's that?

John-Boy?

What are you doing
out here, John-Boy?

Are you drunk?

My car ran into
a fence down the road.

You sound and you smell like you
fell into a vat of that recipe.

Those Baldwin sisters
are certainly hospital.

Hospitable!

-That's better. Sleep it off.
-I'm fine. I'm fine. Watch!

Come on, Yancy, come on down.

You're drunk!
You're going to fall.

Rev. Fordwick.

Yancy!

Damn!

-Come on, up! Get up.
-I'm fine.

[chattering]

Thank you, Reverend.

-Hurry!
-Come along now.

Almost done. Hurry!

alright, hold the
buckets. Fire's out.

Get on inside, Liv.
Take them inside.

The fire's out.

We all could use
a cup of hot chocolate.

Come on inside, children.

Come on, Reverend.

Might find you
a piece of peach cobbler.

He's human.

Everything's alright up there.

We better keep our eye
on things for a minute.

Sometimes they smolder
and flame up again.

Should we put on one more?

No, Yancy. We
don't need any more.

I'm mighty sorry.

-You were drunk?
-Yes, ma'am.

Is this the human nature
you prize so highly?

Chocolate's almost ready.

It was a mighty
foolish thing to do.

Yancy, it certainly was.

I vow to replace your hay
and repair your barn.

I thank the Lordthat my getting drunk

didn't cause more harm
to you and your family.

I am sorry, John.

I hope you'll accept my apology.

I'm no more a saint
than you are, Yancy.

It was a foolish thing to do,
but I know it was an accident.

That's a bad burn on your arm.

Better let my mama
take a look at it.

Your mama's seen enough of me
for one night. I'll be fine.

I'll be back tomorrow
and start to clean up.

-Don't you need a ride, Yancy?
-No. I'm fine.

Good night.
436 00:28:57,436 --> 00:29:00,807

I'm still mighty glad
you shook his hand, though.

So am I.

Morning, Reverend.
I got some mail for you.

I've put it in the Waltons'
box. Show him where it is.

Thank you, Mr. Godsey.

Howdy, Miss Prissom.
How do you like the tent?

It seems adequate, Mr. Godsey.

How would you like
a nice cold bottle of pop?

I'm just going to
Charlottesville.

I'll be back
this afternoon to help.

Could you give me a lift over
to the Baldwin home, Mr. Walton?

I've a letter from
my mother in Richmond.

The Baldwins are her cousins
on Uncle Elwood's side.

She insists I look
them up and invite them

to my freshman sermon tomorrow.

You know the Baldwins?

Yes. That's where he went to get--

The Baldwin sisters. They're
the pillars of the community.

-Real sweet old ladies.
-That's good to hear.

I'm sure they'll
be at your service.

No need to drive
all the way there--

My mother wrote.
I must extend the courtesy.

You can have some
chit-chat with them

after your services tomorrow.

John-Boy, perhaps you'd
be good enough to guide me?

-Actually, it is pretty far.
-How far?

It's way off yonder.
Quite a ways off.

I'd be happy to
pay for the gas.

You run on home and tell your
mother I'll be back late.

You can't take him there!

He insists. He's as stubborn
as a big mule. Go along, now.

Hey, Reverend.
Hold on there a minute.

I'll be right with you.

My pleasure, Miss Emily.

Mother insisted
that I pay my respects

and offer you
a personal invitation

to come to the service.

How nice.

Look here, Reverend

my daughter-in-law Olivia is
expecting us home for a feed.

Nonsense, Mr. Walton.

You can't drag
Cousin Mathew off

when we've just begun
to enjoy our little visit.

We so seldom get to Richmond.

When was it last time,
sister? 1913 or 1915?

1914, dear.

Papa took us down to the family reunion.

Oh, yes.

And you were just
a tiny little babe in arms.

And to think here
you are in our own home

all grown up and
a man of the cloth.

It makes me feel
a little less strange

out here in
the country to be with kin.

This is some of our dear
father's secret herbal recipe.

My mother spoke
of the Judge often.

An upstanding and righteous man.
A real credit to the family.

Look here, Reverend, this is
a pretty strong herbal recipe.

Mr. Walton, you enjoyed the
Judge's recipe countless times

and I don't believe it ever
disagreed with you. Did it?

No, ma'am.

Does the recipe
disagree with you?

It tastes fine.

Is it pure?

It is pure, as usual.

Our father,
the Judge, used to say

that elixirs
and herbal recipes

brought the pioneers
through many trying times.

And he himself
lived to the ripe old age of 87.

My mother used
to point to your father

as a man of unfailing vigor.

But it's pretty strong medicine.

Strong?

My sister and I have used Papa's
recipe every day for years

and we've never been troubled
with liver ailments or catarrh.

At Divinity School,
they gave me an elixir

when I was afflicted with
catarrh. It was vile.

This is.

It's tasty.

It is such a sweet surprise
to see you, Cousin Mathew.

I don't believe we've
seen your mother,

Cousin Sarah, since 1913.

Now, Reverend,
you must have another cup.

It is good for you.

Here's to getting
rid of our catarrh.

-I'm taking two.
-No, one.

John-Boy, what time did Rev.
Fordwick go to the Baldwins?

About 11:00.

Then he should be back by now.

I'm sure Grandpa won't
let him come to any harm.

Of course not.

[both singing]

Neighbors and friends,
I want to thank.

[singing]

Here we go.

Miss Prissom says
she's gonna preside

over the serviceherself tomorrow.

She's a missionary.

Do I have to go?

Son, you're old enough
to decide that for yourself.

Some preacher.

-He just made a mistake.
-Daddy, he's a hypocrite!

All that talk about
sin and repenting,

and he goes out
and gets himself drunk.

And you act like it was nothing.

Now, don't mistake me, son.

It's simply wrong to get drunk.
But he's just a young fella

not too experienced
at the job of living.

I can't take this
cold shoulder anymore.

Neither can I.

Is Mr. Fordwick about yet?

Yes, ma'am. But he
didn't want no breakfast.

No. I shouldn't wonder.

Miss Prissom?

Ben, run along and
tell your mother

I'll be there in a moment.

-Good morning, Miss Prissom.
-Good morning.

I am mortally ashamed.

Since early this
morning I have prayed

to the Lord for forgiveness.

There isn't much I can say.

Indeed there
is not, Mr. Fordwick.

I apologize.

I let you down.

And the mission work in
Asia that you offered.

It's so important.

I'm certain the Lord will find

a more suitable
vessel to do His work.

But I still want to try.

I know I have fallen,
and I am ashamed

and I will pray for strength

but I spent four years
learning and studying.

What do I do, Miss Prissom?

"Whatsoever a man soweth,
so also shall he reap."

Goodbye.

Fingernails.
And the other one.

Now perhaps if we are
all ready we can leave.

It's getting pretty
hot out there,

and I could drive you
ladies in my truck.

Perhaps it would be good for all
of our souls if we just walked.

Good thing this
service came along

as soon as it did,
you old sinner.

I do believe in repenting
every once in a while

but this old sinner is about as
ready as he's ever gonna be.

You don't want to come?

No, Mama.

I won't ask you, then.

Your daddy and I had
a long talk last night.

And we agreed to disagree.

Comes a time when a child
becomes a man, John-Boy.

It's time you started.

-Jason?
-Mama?

You got the spring
water in the thermos?

Yes, ma'am.

Seeing as we got the whole day

that compressor needs some
overhauling. I could use a hand.

You bet!

They're all gone, son.

I'd like to get my things.

I'd be obliged for a lift
to the nearest bus stop.

What about the all-day service?

I recognize how hollow

and righteous all my words were.

Both of you were quicker
to realize that than I was.

What are you going to do?

I guess my call to
the ministry was faulty.

I'll try to be
worthy of whatever else

the Lord wants me
to do with my life.

You're quitting?

I don't see as
I have any choice.

A man cannot ask other men

to lead their lives better
than he is capable of himself.

Do those sound like words
from the lips of a sinner?

Maybe sinning is doing something
that hurts somebody else.

I reckon maybe
it's doing something

that hurts
yourself, too.

Maybe.

His whole life just ruined.

Sounds like any kindof justice to you?

I don't know.

All I know is that when I talked

to you about wanting
to be a writer

you said the right
way to go about that

was just to get up when
you stumble and keep on trying.

I've been resisting
wearing ties and going

to church meetings
for a long time

but sometimes it seems
like the proper thing to do.

You are the daughters
and the sons of Cain.

Sinners and outcasts
in the eyes of the Lord.

There is not one
of you who is worthy

without doing repentance each day

of his life for the abominations

the evils and
the sins that you have done.

Fall down on your knees
and beseech the Lord to forgive.

-Daddy!
-Wearing a tie!

Morning, Miss Prissom.
Sorry to interrupt.

Why have you brought
that man here?

I brought along the preacher
we all came to hear.

I'd like to hear him myself.

If he speaks, I shall leave.

Miss Prissom, Matt Fordwick
here is a trained preacher.

That's worth hearing,
for my money.

Little of it as there is.

It is not worth listening to
a drunkard and a public sinner.

That's true, John.

Most of you folks know me,
and know the kind of man I am.

I'm not much of a churchgoer.

Lately, as a matter of fact,

I've been more
unfeeling than usual.

More bullheaded.

If you don't believe me,
ask my wife over there.

But I've read
the Bible, too, you know

and seems to me
there's a story

And it said something about:

"Let him who is without sin
cast the first stone."

I am a sinner.

I guess I don't
need to tell you that

but I need to admit it.

Maybe it takes a sinner
to know another sinner.

To know how it feels
to do wrong things

when you want
to do what's right.

I think the Lord understands

how hard it is to be good.

He appreciates it when we are,
and he's sad when we aren't.

The way you parents
are when you watch 670

It hurts.

It's hard to live in this world.

Especially these days.

I just want to say one thing

that the most important thing

is to love the Lord

and to try to do what he wants

and to pray for
forgiveness when you fail.

* Just as I am,
without one plea *

* But that thy blood
was shed for me *

* And that thou bidst
me come to thee *

* O Lamb of God,
I come, I come *

* Just as I am,
and waiting not *

* To rid my soul
of one dark blot *

* O Lamb of God,
I come, I come *

The memory of those days
is with me still.

It makes me laugh sometimes

to think how innocent
a boy I was.

Sometimes cruel and pompous

and sometimes loving and wise,
like my parents.

And remembering
those long-gone days

I am grateful they were mine.

* I come **

John-Boy, you think I could be
a preacher when I grow up?

You want to be?

That's what I need
to ask you about.

What, Ben?

as much as he likes praying?

I wouldn't let
that stop you, Ben.

-Good night, now. Good night.