The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 1, Episode 9 - The Ceremony - full transcript

When I was growing up...

in the Blue Ridge Mountains
of Virginia...

during the Depression
of the 1930s,

times were often
difficult and unsure.

But I don't think
any of us ever realized

how safe and secure
our lives really were...

until that summer
when a family arrived

in Walton's Mountain
from Germany.

Never thought I'd live to see
a taxicab in Walton's Mountain.

What are they doing here,
John-Boy?

-Lost, more than likely.
-Who was in it? Did anybody see?



Looked like three
or four people to me.

Wouldn't it be something
to ride in a taxi cab?

It would be something else
to pay the bill.

It sure would.

Stay here.

Take care.

Here you go, ladies.
Here's your change.

Ya'll come back.

Good afternoon.
What can I do for you?

-Are you Mr. Godsey?
-That's right.

I am Professor Mann.
David Mann.

Oh, Professor Mann,
I've been expecting you.

Welcome to Walton's Mountain.

And this is my wife, Eva.



Very pleased to make your
acquaintance, ma'am.

We, too, are pleased to meet
you, Mr. Godsey.

If you would be so kind as to
give us the key to the cottage.

The key to the cottage.
Of course, Professor.

I've got it right here
in the cash register.

Listen, if there's
anything you need...

you don't hesitate
to ask old Ike.

First time I heard of anybody
coming here in a taxi before.

-Must have cost a fortune.
-I reckon.

$7.50. I heard my father
say this.

Oh. Too bad
my Daddy didn't know.

He was in Charlottesville
yesterday.

Could have given you
a ride for nothing.

That would have been nice.

-You are....
-I'm sorry. John-Boy Walton.

How do you do?

This is my sister Mary Ellen,
and my brothers Jason and Ben.

Happy to make your acquaintance.

My name is Paul. Paul Mann.

You figure to stay
around here, Paul?

Figure to stay?

I am sorry.
My English is not yet very good.

What my brother means is
are you going to be staying....

Will you stay here in
Walton's Mountain for a while?

Excuse me.

Why do you wish to know?

No reason. Just asking.

If you do not mind,
we will be on our way.

Come, Eva.

We will stay
for a while, ja.

Bye, Paul.

-Pleased to have met you.
-Same here.

Auf Wiedersehen!

Bye.

Sure talk funny, don't they?

If that's his daddy,
he's not very friendly.

-Mr. Godsey.
-Hi, kids.

-Who are those folks?
-Where did they come from?

Where're they going to live?

Their name is Mann. M-A-N-N.
And it's Professor and Mrs.

-Professor?
-Right. From Berlin University.

-Berlin in Germany?
-Right again.

What are they doing here?

Doc Harrison wrote me
from Richmond last week...

said some friends had arrived in
the United States unexpectedly.

And he'd loaned them
his summer cottage.

Doc Harrison's cottage. That's
a little aways from our house.

Germany?

Miss Hunter at school says
there's gonna be

lots of trouble there.

-It's already started.
-What's started?

It's not easy to say.

We get the information in bits
and pieces over the radio...

and in the newspaper, but ever
since Hitler took over...

there's been a lot of changes.

It is charming. Ja, Paul?

Yes, yes.

I think we will like
it here, Mama.

And you will have
many friends, too.

One moment, please.

Understand, both of you.

We will be polite.

We will speak when spoken to...

but we'll not encourage
conversation with these people.

Why not, Papa?

Because it is the best way,
believe me.

Also we will speak English only.

-David, this is not--
-Eva, please.

Inside.

John-Boy,
do they speak English?

They do, with a German accent.

Did you see that funny box
he was holding?

I'll bet they're spies.

-Spies. You reckon, Jim-Bob?
-Sure.

They got a radio in that box
for sending out coded messages.

I declare, you two.

Elizabeth, eat your squash.

Tastes better if you
call it squish.

What kind of people
did they seem to be, son?

They are real polite.

The father was kind of formal.

The boy, was he young or old?

He must have been
some years younger than Jason.

But there was something
odd about him.

Odd? What do you mean by odd?

When you look at him,
when I looked at him anyway...

at his eyes...

I don't know, I got the feeling
he was older than I am.

Probably tired out
from the journey.

No wonder.

Tomorrow I'll bake an applesauce
cake and take it over to them.

-I wouldn't go there, Mama.
-Why not?

Suppose it's not a radio
they got in that box.

Maybe it's a bomb.

Bomb?

Where in the Lord's name
does that child get those ideas?

-I told him.
-Elizabeth.

Eat your squish.

You children start using
your napkins.

This is H.V. Kaltenborn
with the news.

Beneath the surface of
a Germany united

by Hitler, the government's
official persecution

of Jews quietly continues.

Marriages between Aryans and
Jews are forbidden by law...

and now no Jew may teach
or hold public office.

Already, persecution has joined
hands with suppression.

One night recently,
in the streets

near the University of
Berlin...

an enormous bonfire
was ignited.

Into the flames were thrown
more than 20,000 books...

books by authors of
international reputation

and importance.

Sigmund Freud, H.G. Wells,
Stefan Zweig...

Helen Keller, Albert Einstein,
Emile Zola....

Did you hear what that man
was saying?

It is hard to listen to.

Burning books is like
burning people.

Why would people do such
craziness?

Seems like this Hitler has
some idea of a master race.

Aryans, he calls them.

You heard what Kaltenborn said.

You have to fit into a pattern.
If you don't, get rid of them.

I don't understand. How can
people fit into a pattern?

I mean, all of us here
are completely different.

I just don't understand
that at all.

Will somebody turn on
that radio?

John-Boy.

We're missing
One Man's Family.

I tell you,

I don't know how you can listen
to One Man's Family...

when some maniac in Europe
is burning books!

-Get a hold of yourself.
-No, I don't care, Mama.

I don't know who
those writers are.

I never read any of their books,
but I'll read all their books...

and find out just
what they had to say.

And what I don't know...

is how all of you can't feel
what I am feeling right now.

He's a writer, alright.

Words on paper must be
very important.

Otherwise they wouldn't be
burning those books.

You missed it.

Eva.

-I asked you, please.
-What?

Oh. I am sorry. I forget.
Only English.

That's where those German
spies live.

That's just a bunch of baloney.

-Bet you can't hit that rock.
-Bet I can.

Get down!

Look what you did.
Now let's get out of here.

What happened?

Here, too. It begins.

I cannot go through it again.

When in the name of God
will they leave us alone?

Come, Eva.

Guess nobody's home.

-Should I try around back?
-No.

If anybody was home,
they'd have heard us.

We'll come back later.

Mama, there is somebody there.

-Let's go back.
-No.

Some other time.

Come on, children.
Let's go home.

There we go.
A little bit more there.

That ought to just about do.

Boy, I love the smell
of fresh-ground coffee.

Is that about it, Olivia?

There's a lot more things
I need...

but I have to watch
every penny these days.

I know what you mean.
We're all in the same boat.

What are the damages?

Let me figure it up here.
Let's see now.

With the coffee
that will be $97.

Out of $100.

Hi, Professor.
Hello, Mrs. Mann.

-How are you today?
-We're well. Thank you.

-Did you get settled in okay?
-Yeah.

I need a piece of glass.
A window glass.

-Do you know what size?
-Ja, 10 inches by 21 inches.

Reckon we can take care
of that.

If you would just follow me
right around.

Want a cracker?

-Mrs. Mann.
-Ja.

I'm Olivia Walton.

My children met you here
the other day.

Ja, that is so.

We'd love it if you'd come
around and call on us some time.

I think that might be most nice.
I'll speak to my husband.

Eva.

Would you come here a minute,
please?

-Bye, Ike.
-Bye, Olivia.

Real nice people,
the Waltons.

In the whole of Jefferson
County...

you'd be hard put to find a
better woman than Olivia Walton.

Person's lucky if they can count
her among their friends.

Mr. Godsey, I'm afraid here, we
cannot afford to make friends.

-Why not?
-Because here we are not wanted.

David.

-Not wanted?
-Yes.

You see, yesterday
someone deliberately...

broke our window with a rock.

For the life of me,
I can't imagine anybody

wanting to do that around here.

Deliberately, that is.

Maybe it was a mistake
or an accident.

No, Mr. Godsey.

For us...

it is most difficult to believe
that such things were accidents.

Hey, Paul, you want a lift?

-Yes, please.
-Hop in.

Thank you.

How old are you, Paul?

12. But very soon,
I shall be 13.

I remember when I was 13,
I didn't care for it too much.

-Why?
-I don't know.

Seems like I was always stuck
somewhere in the middle.

-Not a boy, not a man.
-But that is not so.

Thirteen is a very important
age, very important indeed.

That is when you become a....

Become what?

We are here.

-Thank you, John-Boy.
-You're welcome. See you later.

John-Boy, could you come in?

I would like to introduce you
to my parents.

Sure.

-Come in, please.
-Thank you.

Papa.

Papa, are you home?

Mama.

Mama.

Mama.

They are not back yet.
Will you wait, please?

-Sure, if they're not too long.
-They only went to the store.

These are very dull.

"Liver ailments of the elderly."

I reckon you're right.

But upstairs in the attic,
I find many good ones.

Charles Dickens'
A Tale of Two Cities.

Your Zane Grey, which I read
to learn about America.

Would you like to see them?

-Yes, I sure would.
-Come on.

-I have James Fenimore Cooper.
-You have The Deerslayer ?

Yes, I think so.

Great. I read
The Last of the Mohicans,

but not The Deerslayer.

Those up there,
I could not reach.

I'll get them for you.

Here we are.

Paul!

Are you alright? Just stay right
there. Now don't move.

Is it your head?

-I knocked into him--
-What are you doing here?

-I was getting--
-What have you done to my son?

Nothing, just....

-Get out of this house!
-Let me explain!

Papa, wait.
You don't understand!

-Please get out.
-Professor, you don't under--.

I do not wish to understand.
Get out.

I do not wish any more
trouble in this house.

Get out!

John-Boy.

Yes, sir.

You hardly said a word all
through supper.

You still worried about what
happened over at the cottage?

No, I'm not worried.
I just feel so darned stupid.

Maybe you should go over there,
have a talk with Professor Mann.

Straighten him out about it.

It's not that important.

If it bothers you, son,
it's important.

You do like I tell you.

It's a long time
since I worked with my hands.

It is a good feeling.

As good as new.

Not another moment too soon.

Paul, I am sorry about
yesterday.

But when I heard you cry out...

and I see you lying
on the floor...

suddenly I think we're
back in Berlin

and someone is trying
to hurt my son.

My anger burst out.
So I could not hold it back.

David, how can you think that?

The people here
are so friendly with us.

Yes.

So were our friends on
Friedrichstrasse, most friendly.

And yet when
the bad times came...

they were the first
to turn against us.

That will not happen here.

How can we be so sure?

In this country also, there
is a terrible depression now.

Many people have no jobs.

They have lost their homes
and their farms.

This condition breeds fear.
They need someone to blame.

But why would they blame us?

Because they need a scapegoat.

Do you know how many times
in history...

the Jews have been used
this way?

I do not wish this
for our family again.

David, we cannot change
what we are.

This will be with us
wherever we go.

No.

Not if we are careful.

Do you mean we can no longer
be Jews?

Exactly.

Not even in secret.

There will be
no Friday night prayers.

There will be no observance
of the Sabbath...

or any other holy days.

We will forget we are Jews
until this nightmare is over.

But what about my birthday?

Yes, in two weeks
he will be 13.

I know.

You mean, I cannot have
my bar mitzvah?

I'm sorry, Paul.
Not even that.

It hurts me to do this,
but I cannot.

I will not allow us
to take any more risks.

Professor Mann,
I've got to talk to you.

Please, come inside.

No, sir.

What I've got to say
is just between us two.

I don't rightly know
what I did to offend you.

But I came here to tell you...

that you had no right to yell
at me the way you did.

I was hurt.
My feelings were hurt.

I didn't come here
to look for an apology.

I just want you to know
how I feel.

Please. Come in.

Ja.

-Paul.
-John-Boy.

This is my wife.

Eva, this is young John Walton.

I'm most happy to meet you.

My son explained to me
what happened...

and I do owe you an apology.

I was terribly upset about
something...

and I misjudged the situation.

I ask you to forgive me.

Sure, Professor.

Sure.

We will, as you say...

turn over a new leaf, yes?

Okay. Yeah.

John-Boy, I want you to know
that I am most happy...

that my son will have friends
as good as you and your family.

That's our pleasure, ma'am.

Okay, all ready down here.

Okay, Ben, let's heave.

Careful. Don't drop him.
Don't be scared, Reckless.

Remember, Charles Lindbergh
wasn't scared.

-But Reckless is.
-What do you think you're doing?

Mary Ellen, you crazy or
something? Let him down.

He was whining to come up.

That's no reason to hang him
from a tree...

like a Christmas ornament.

Go on, let him down.

Alright. Untie him.

-What is his name?
-Reckless.

Reckless?

-That is a good name for him.
-Yeah.

I have always wanted
to have a dog like that.

And also one of those.

-A tree house?
-Ja.

Come on up.

Let's all go up.

Maybe your folks'll give you
a dog for your birthday.

No, I don't think so.

Why not? It's not like
being in a city...

with no place for it to run.

-It is not that.
-Don't they like dogs?

No, Elizabeth. I think they
would like to have a dog.

But you see, this year...

I do not think I'll be
celebrating my birthday.

Everybody has to celebrate
their birthday.

You told me this one
was real important

'cause you were gonna be 13.

-I know.
-Why is being 13 so important?

Is it some kind of custom in
Germany or something?

Not only in Germany, but
anywhere in the world if you...

If you're what?

It is late. I must go.

No, don't. Wait.

Paul, our Daddy's always
telling us...

not to pry into
other folks' affairs...

and I know that none of us
here want to do that.

But if something's
bothering you,

and you want to tell
somebody about it...

then I just want you to know
that you can trust all of us.

Come on, tell us why you aren't
celebrating your birthday.

Well, you see...

I am a Jew.

A Jew? What's that?

It's a religion in the Bible,
Ben. You ought to know that.

Jesus was one.

I still don't know
what a Jew is.

Does that mean that you believe
in special things?

We believe that God created
the heaven and the earth...

and made the mountains
and the seas.

We believe that, too.

We believe in the Ten
Commandments:

"Thou shalt not kill."

"Honor thy father
and thy mother."

"Remember the Sabbath
and keep it holy."

We learned all that
in Sunday school.

Seems to me that being a Jew...

isn't all that different
from being a Baptist.

Perhaps it is not.

Except when you are 13.
Then I think it is different.

Why is that?

When a Jewish boy is 13,
he has his bar mitzvah.

-Bar what?
-Bar mitzvah.

This is a very solemn
ceremony...

which celebrates his arrival
at manhood.

It is performed by a rabbi.

What's a rabbi?

He is something between your
minister and a teacher.

He is most good and wise
about many things.

Also there must be nine other
Jewish men with him.

They are called a minyan.

What do they do?

-They are witnesses.
-Like in court?

For the service, I must say...

certain prayers which I've been
studying for a long time.

Also, I must wear
special things.

Are Baptists allowed to go
to your bar mitzvah?

Anybody is allowed to come
if they are your friends.

-You've just got to have it.
-We're your friends.

I am afraid that
is not possible.

But why not?

You see...

my father says
that we can no longer be Jews.

I still can't figure out
what a Jew is.

Come on, get in. Let's go!

John-Boy...

your father, did he ask
where we were going?

I told him.
To Charlottesville.

You didn't tell him why,
did you?

Not exactly.

I just told him
it was important...

and I asked him to trust me.

It's John-Boy.

I didn't hear
the truck drive up.

Since when did John-Boy knock?

Children, stay right here now.
Finish your meal.

-Good evening.
-Good evening.

I am Professor Mann.

Yes, won't you come in?

I'm John Walton.
This is my wife Olivia.

-How do you do.
-We've met.

We were looking for Paul.

We thought he might
be here with you.

I haven't seen Paul all day.

You children seen
anything of Paul?

Go on now, speak up.
Have you seen him?

Paul went into Charlottesville
with John-Boy.

-Charlottesville?
-Yes, sir.

Now this might be them
just now.

Now you children
stay right there.

I'm sorry, Dad.
We had a flat tire.

I reckon you owe the Professor
and Mrs. Mann an explanation...

and an apology.
They've been real worried.

Why did you go into
Charlottesville...

without asking your mother
and me?

There was something
I had to do there.

-What?
-We've been concerned, Paul.

We certainly have.

I went to see a rabbi.

I do not know what
he's talking about.

My bar mitzvah.
I went to see a rabbi--

He is talking nonsense.

-Come, we will go home.
-No.

Did you say no to your father?
Have you no respect?

No.

Not anymore.

Paul!

Paul!

Is that you, John-Boy?

Son, I've been looking
everywhere for you.

-Come on, I'll take you home.
-No.

You can't stay out here
all night.

I'm not going back there.
Not ever.

Come on, Paul. Be sensible.

Paul!

If you're gonna be
a man at 13...

you better start
acting like one.

Stay away from me, John-Boy.

Stay away!

Don't worry, Mrs. Mann.
He's perfectly alright.

Just a little shaken up.

Paul.

I'm alright, Mama.

I'll be back in a minute.
I was fixing him some hot soup.

Thank you, Mrs. Walton.

Oh, we were so worried.

Here, let me take that.

He ate only a few mouthfuls,
and then he fell fast asleep.

The best thing for him. By
morning, he'll be right as rain.

Sit and have a cup of coffee
before John drives you home.

David will be worried.

Already he is so hurt
by all this.

It'll only take a minute.

I am tired.

Lying there he looked so young.

Like a little boy again.

Sometimes I wonder
if all this will ever end.

It seems now like a bad dream
that will not stop.

Living here in America...

it must be so hard for you
to understand.

But how can anyone
understand madness?

A country where you're born
and raised...

and you call your own,
suddenly changes.

Your husband for no reason
is threatened...

and forced from his job.

At school, your child
is taunted and ridiculed.

On the streets, the neighbors,
they turn away when you speak.

Then one night...

the windows in your house
are smashed.

The door is smeared
with paint and slogans.

Words so filthy...

that you must quickly clean them
before your child can see them.

Because of these memories
we are afraid.

So here we hid...

and decided to pretend
we were not Jews.

But you knew that already.

Knew, and never for one minute
paid it any mind.

Unfortunately not all people
are so good as you...

and your family.

The first day we arrived...

someone threw
a rock through our window.

That's an accident, I'm sure.

Yes.

I'm sure it was.

I hope you are right.

Good morning.

-Paul, he's alright?
-Sure, he's just fine.

I'm so glad.
Come in, Mr. Walton.

-Mint.
- Danke schoen.

-David, did you hear that?
-Yes, I heard.

Excuse me,
I've some work to do.

Just a minute, Professor.

I'd like to have a word
or two with you.

Mr. Walton, has not your family
already interfered quite enough?

Maybe it does seem like
we've been interfering...

but I do believe, sir,
that John-Boy was right.

You defend the actions
of a boy...

who deliberately turns a son
against a father?

I think Paul had already
turned away somewhat...

and he was just trying to get
you all back together again.

David.

I haven't finished yet,
Professor.

Please listen to him.
He is older.

Take a seat, Mr. Walton.

I thank you.

First off...

You ought to know that my two
young grandchildren...

broke your window accidentally
with their slingshot.

And they are sorry for it.

What's more, they're
going to pay for it.

Then, too...

perhaps I don't understand what
you feel or been through...

because I'm not of your faith.

But there is one thing
that I do understand.

It doesn't matter what your
color or your religion is.

You got to be proud
of your heritage.

Stand up to it, like a man.

If you denied your heritage,
you'd be false to yourself...

and it would rankle inside of
you just like a canker.

You're not ashamed of being
a Jew, are you?

It is not a question of shame.
It is a question of survival.

Suppose you do survive
on the outside...

inside you die.

Just look around you, man.

Already, your whole family
is all torn apart.

Your wife, she is in deep pain.

Your own son,
he won't come home to you.

And you yourself, sir.

I do believe that you're not
a happy man.

You see, sir...

I was born here
in the shadow of this mountain.

My father before that
and his father before that.

There're generations of Waltons
buried up here on the hill.

That's my heritage.

I know it's not much compared
to yours, but it's mine.

Why, my ancestors, if they ever
denied their heritage...

my grandchildren wouldn't be
what they are today.

I know that same sort of feeling
is deep in your heart...

just like it's been in the
hearts of all your people...

for over 5,000 years.

Thank you, Mr. Walton.

Well, you just mull that over.

Good day, sir.

Come in.

-Mama.
-Paul.

You will have your bar mitzvah.

Oh, good.

And Papa? Will he come?

I do not know, Paul.

He is a very proud man.

Look.

Your Torah, your talliths.

Let us declare the greatness
of our God...

and render honor unto the Torah.

Professor.

I have a present for my son.

Would you give it to him?

Why don't you give it
to him yourself?

"Praised be the Lord,
our God...."

My father.

I had bought this for you
a long time ago.

Today I am thankful
for many things.

My father and mother...

for bringing me up through
these troubled times to manhood.

We came here
to escape hatred and violence...

and have found love
and friendship.

I think the rest
my father would like to say.

This is a very proud day...

for me and my wife.

And I wish to thank
all of you...

for helping to make it so.

It has restored my faith
in people.

But most of all, I wish to thank
Grandfather Walton...

for reminding me of who I am...

and what I am.

I promise him...

and I promise my son...

I shall never forget.

By the end of that summer...

Professor Mann
had found a position...

in the History department...

of a university
in a nearby town.

That was nearly 40 years ago.

But the house in which we grew
up is still there...

and my mother
lives in it today.

Often I go there in memory

and hear again those voices
from long ago.

-Mama?
-Yes, Ben.

How did Jews get to be Jews
and Baptists get to be Baptists?

By following in their father's
footsteps.

If we follow in Daddy's
footsteps, what will we be?

You'll be a fine man.

-John.
-Huh?

When are you going
to get yourself baptized?

Livie, this is no time
of night to start that.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, honey.

In a moment, some scenes
from the next episode of

The Waltons.