The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 4, Episode 14 - The Intruders - full transcript

JOHN-BOY: Whoever
sees his father clearly?

I believe I often saw my father

not as he was, but
as I needed him to be.

Then, one difficult autumn,

I had a chance to
glimpse the whole man

and to understand
him more fully.

(HORN BLARING)
Right on us, isn't he?

Sure is. What's
the matter with him?

Guess he's in a hurry.

If he's in such a
hurry surely he'd say...

Who is that guy?



What's the matter with him?

He's sure close.

(HORN BLARING) He
wants you to pull over.

JOHN: There's no
place to pull over.

I know there's no
place to pull over.

He's gonna run you
off the road, Daddy.

Here we go.

Talk about your crazy drivers!

The name on the side
of that truck, you catch it?

Murdock something.

Murdock Wood Company.

Those are the folks who
took over the Dawkins Mill.

Yeah, well, his road style
doesn't say too much for him.

Sure doesn't.



Oh, and there's
our barn over there.

That's my brother's car
over there, got a rumble seat.

Goes to the university, too.

There's our tree house.

You want to try the swing?

Hi, Courtney!

Hi, Erin.

Oh, did you want
to use the swing?

No. Never mind.

Hey, Ben.

Hi, Courtney. Hi.

Can I have some rubber
bands from your inner tube?

Well, Jim-Bob, uh,

sure, you take the
whole thing. Gee, thanks.

Oh, Mama, this is
Courtney Wallace.

And her family moved over
from Lynchburg two weeks ago.

Nice to meet you, Courtney.
Don't forget your chores, Ben.

I won't, Mama.

Here I'll show you our rabbits.

They're over here.

Got two new babies.

Really? Yeah.

It's much quieter over here.

I've never seen a place
with so many people before.

Are you ever alone?

Well, uh, we are now.

Hey, Courtney.

Hi, Jason. How are you?

Fine.

Showing Courtney
your rabbits, huh?

Yeah.

Well, it's not my fault
that I have a family.

Here, I'll show you the barn.

There's always somebody or
something watching you around here.

These animals mind
their own business.

This is Chance and
Myrtle and there's Blue!

Ben, let's go for a ride.

On Blue?

Why not? It'd be fun.

Oh, don't you want to?

Well, sure. But I do
have chores to do.

I should ask my mama.

Can't we just go?

We will.

Shouldn't you ask
your mother first?

JOHN-BOY: We haven't done
this much since I started college.

JOHN: What's that, Son?

Oh, just drive
along like this or talk.

It used to be every time there
was something about the business,

a new contract or something,
you'd manage to let me know about it.

Still do.

Oh, you haven't passed on a
piece of good news in a month.

Hasn't been any.

That new mill's been giving
us some stiff competition.

Really? I figured you'd have
an advantage over them,

knowing all the people
in these parts. It helps.

If it weren't for Horace building
his new barn we'd be out of work.

Things are really
running that close, huh?

Yeah.

Guess the times
are getting harder.

I heard they were
getting easier.

That's what I heard, too.

(CAR APPROACHING)

Hey, Horace.

Horace, how's the
world treating you?

Fair to middling, John.

John-Boy, they fire
you out of that college?

No, they just laid
me off for a day or two

while they erase
the blackboards.

Want this load over there?

Barn's coming along
real good, Horace.

Yeah, and at this rate I'll move

the first cow in,
in a year or two.

John, we've been doing
business together a long time.

That's for sure.

Been friends ever
since we sprouted.

That's right, Horace.

John, I hate to back out on
an order, but that's the fix I'm in.

Now, I'll take what
you brought today,

but there's some new
folks milling lumber

over at the old Dawkins place.

It's good lumber, and
they're selling at a better price.

Things being the way they
are, I... I gotta take them up on it.

I don't see how they're doing
that, Horace, not to doubt your word.

I don't know.

We're already
selling rock bottom.

I feel real bad about it, John.

No need to, Horace.

Their name's Murdock.

Murdock Wood Products.

BEN: So, if we went about a
mile or so up from where we were

we would've gotten to
my granddaddy's home,

which all there is
left is just a chimney.

COURTNEY: I bet it's
really pretty up there.

Oh, it's beautiful.

Hey, Myrtle.

(BLEATING)

Good boy.

That was fun.
What there was of it.

I told you I had to
get back to my chores.

Hey!

You can't park Blue there.

Why not?

Because this is where
Myrtle likes to eat.

We're not in her way.

Yeah, but Myrtle doesn't want
to eat with Blue staring at her.

Ben, I've been
thinking about it.

Maybe we shouldn't be
seeing each other so much.

Well, why not?

Maybe there's too
much weight in the nose.

Well, if you... Maybe if I...

Courtney, why? That might help.

All you gotta do is pick
it up and throw it back.

I am... Courtney,
now wait a second.

What's wrong?

I don't wanna talk about it.

Well, I think I've a
right to know why.

ELIZABETH: It won't
work. JIM-BOB: Yes, it will.

All right, Ben.

I think I'm older than you are.

By eight days!

I'm not talking about years.

I mean, I'm ready
to be an adult.

And you're stuck
in all this childhood.

Childhood?

Yeah, Ben, childhood.

Bye, Ben.

Courtney, wait.

Give me back my
plane! Elizabeth!

See!

You're just lucky that's
all. You just throw it wrong.

Oh, you broke it. Now you're
gonna... I did not break it!

I'm gonna tell Mama
on you. I did not break it!

Go feed Myrtle!

Well, what are you two
looking so glum about?

We've got us something
to think about, Pa.

There's competition
moving in, Grandpa.

Ben's gone crazy.

What are you talking about?

He's upstairs packing!

Packing? What happened?

Well, I just walked in the room
and he's packing a suitcase.

Did he say anything?
Was there any...

No, he just said
he was going off.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Come in.

Going someplace, Son?

I'm getting out of here, Daddy.

I'm fed up with
everything around here!

Come on kind of
sudden, didn't it?

I just decided. It's
time for me to go.

I'm going to Charlottesville
and get me a job.

Something got you stirred up?

Daddy, I'm tired of people
treating me like I'm a dumb kid.

That's all people treat me
around here! Like I'm a nobody!

Ben, I haven't noticed that.

Well, a person can take only so
much, and I've had all I can take!

I'm gonna show a
lot of people around

here that I'm not
just a stupid tagalong.

You wanna go out
on your own, huh?

That's right. I'm old enough
and I'm big enough, now.

Daddy, I gotta be my own man.

Don't you think maybe we ought
to talk this over with your mama?

Mama's a woman

and women don't understand that

sometimes there's
things a man has to do.

All right, Son.

Your mama's not gonna like it.

Take along these socks
and a sweater here.

Is it true that Ben's leaving
for California to search for gold?

No. The whole thing's silly.

He'll probably get
as far as Ike's store.

What are you
girls talking about?

Jim-Bob says Ben's up in his
room packing to leave home.

Good Lord! Not another one!

Oh, how far can he
get with no money?

Ben always has a
dollar or two stashed...

I'd better be going.

And just where have
you better be going?

I'm going to Charlottesville
and get me a job.

Without saying a
word to your mother?

I was gonna say goodbye.

And that's all?

Goodbye, Mama, Daddy.

Let him go, Liv.

Did you give him permission

without even bothering to
find out how I feel about it?

Yes, I did.

John, he may act older
but he's only 16 years old.

He doesn't know
anything about the world

or what he's getting
himself into out there.

Well, it's time he found out.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

You know, if the wind shifts,

be good to be getting
some rain on the mountain.

Somebody should
be out looking for Ben.

Talk to your son.

John... We're not
here to talk about Ben.

He can take care of himself.

Oh, you're just gonna brush it
aside like it was nothing at all.

This family has a
serious problem.

You know the old Dawkins mill.

Yes. The place closed up right
after the Depression started.

That's right.

A new company
has moved in there.

And they're selling lumber
cheaper than we are.

Well, now, don't that beat all.

Don't know how they're doing it,

but they're taking our
customers away from us.

Well, Daddy, I've been thinking,

and for a new outfit

they seem to have an awful
lot of cut lumber already.

GRANDPA: Well, they
may be doing something

we should know something about.

I'll go over there and have a
look. I'll drive you over there.

I'd like to take a look at
what they're doing myself.

I don't know what snooping
around over there is gonna do.

We are not going over
there and snoop around.

We're just going
over to have a look.

All right.

Don't get in any trouble.

Point is, I guess we're
gonna just have to

put in more hours
out on that mill.

What's the point
of working harder

if they can sell lumber cheaper.

Maybe we'll even
have to cut our prices.

I don't how I'm
gonna do it, but...

Ben's out there somewhere.

He knows enough
to keep himself dry.

Liv, do you think, after
the first of the month

we could sell some chickens?

Chickens?

Get rid of some of
them young roosters

and keep the pullets for layers.

John, this is the first time we
haven't known where Ben is!

Anything could've
happened to him

and you're talking
about chickens?

Liv. What?

There comes a time
when we have to trust

the good raising
we've given Ben.

All I know is, Ben
is we don't where,

doing we don't know what on the
most miserable night of the year,

and you let him go!

JOHN-BOY: So that's the reason they
can sell lumber cheaper than we can.

They just tear the place apart.

GRANDPA: Blind, ruthless
cutting on a slope like that,

erosion will wash the soil away.

No care, no replanting.

Oh, they've got a lot to learn.

Let's get out of here.

Don't stand in the aisle, kid.

Sir, I was wondering
if you need any...

No, we don't.

No unauthorized
personnel allowed in here.

Close the door when you leave.

It's the wrong time for
Ben to be heading out.

No time's gonna
seem like the right time.

Things the way they are, the
whole family should be together.

He's out there looking for a
job alone when there aren't any.

Everyone keeps talking
about how grownup he is.

He's 16 years old, he's inexperienced,
he can be taken advantage of.

It's not a very
comforting thought,

what with all the evil and crime
you hear on the radio these days.

Livie, the... Where
are you going?

I'm gonna borrow John-Boy's car,

I'm gonna go to Charlottesville,

I'm gonna find Ben and bring
him home where he belongs.

Well, I'm going, too.

GRANDPA: Keep
your eye on Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: Grandpa, why do we
have to come all the way down here?

Well, because I didn't want
you young'uns to get any older

without learning everything
about these forests

and having proper
respect for them.

Now just take a look
over there at that.

What do you see?

ELIZABETH: A big
old tree. How old?

That tree there was standing
when this whole land around here

was a battlefield during
the War Between the States.

Of course, it was a
mere young thing then,

but if you look closely
there under the bark

you could see a bulge where
a Union musket ball came in.

Why Union?

The Virginians
were better shots.

And this big tree
here back of us

was standing when I charged up

San Juan Hill with
Teddy Roosevelt.

That clump of trees over
there, the other side of the ridge,

they were started
along about the time

when Orville and Wilbur
Wright flew the first airplane.

And over the ridge there, is
a whole bunch of white cedars

that I planted the very year
you was born, Elizabeth.

Over there that
young clump of alders,

they must've started
just about the time

as our Depression was starting.

But there's something
much more important

and older than that even.

What? You take this.

Dirt? Mmm-hmm.

It takes, oh, maybe 50
years to grow a good tree,

but it takes over 100 years to
get one inch of good soil like this

that the young
trees can sprout in.

Now that's why you
have to be so careful

when you're walking
out among the trees,

don't get your
machinery in off the roads.

And for every tree that you
cut be sure and plant three.

Well, isn't that what we do?

We do, but... Sad
to say, Jim-Bob,

we're not the only ones cutting
on this mountain nowadays.

GRANDMA: Do you know
how fast you're going?

20 miles an hour.

There's no need to
drive like a speed maniac.

The faster we go the
sooner we'll get to Ben.

Boys, why...

You remember when
Jim-Bob ran away?

And then there was
my cousin Iris' boy.

He ran off to make his fortune.

He got as far as Portsmouth.

What happened to him?

What happened is that he
got the tar whipped out of him

because when they found him

he'd spent the night at a
speakeasy bar down by the waterfront

filling himself with liquor.

Livie, you're going
22 miles an hour!

GRANDPA: Jason!

Where's your daddy and John-Boy
going in such an all-fired hurry?

Well, we heard on the radio

that C&O Railroad had a trestle
washed out in last night's rain.

Oh, C&O washout?

They will be needing
considerable lumber right away.

Well, that's what we figured.
So, he and John-Boy went down

to the railroad depot in
Rockfish to try and get the order.

Why in the blue blazes
didn't they wait for me?

Well, you weren't here.

Oh, nonsense. Everybody
knows I'm within yelling distance

any time of the day or night.

Grandpa, don't blame
me. They were in a hurry.

They had to go and
you weren't available.

That is a pitiful excuse!

I'm gonna get the mill ready.

(RECKLESS WHINING)

You know, if that trestle
washed out just last night,

we might be the first
one in to talk lumber.

About time we had some luck.

How old are you? You look young.

I'm gonna be 16.

Well, we'd like to have
people who have been 16.

Do you have any
experience clerking?

I've bought a lot of
things from clerks.

And I learn fast. I'm sorry,

but we're not hiring
right now as you can see,

and if we were we'd want
somebody a little more mature.

Well, shall we go up?

I don't think it's
gonna do much good.

Seems like we've tried
every street in Charlottesville.

Livie, it's getting late.

Come on.

WILLIS: And the
freight's piling up.

I know how much
we're losing every day.

Look, I'll get
back to you later.

What do you want?
I'm John Walton.

We heard about the washout.
We'd like to sell you some lumber.

Bill Cobbs. Murdock Mills.

Sorry, but I got that contract

all wrapped up for the washout.

Just a minute,
Cobbs. Frank Willis.

Willis, this is my son here.

You're here to sell
lumber. That's right.

I need a lot of it
and I need it fast.

Right now, I can take all
both your mills turn out.

When do you want it?

Every day that trestle's
out is costing us money.

I'll take it right
now if I can get it.

Give me an order, sir.
We'll be on our way.

Daddy... Mr. Willis,
just a minute.

I'd like to ask you a
question. WILLIS: Shoot.

I see your advertising for bids
on your warehouse contract.

Looks to me like that's
gonna take a lot of lumber.

It'll take a lot. What about it?

Well, I got an idea.

What if the first mill to deliver
the order for the washout site

gets the warehouse contract?

That's a thought all
right. Not a bad one.

It's okay by me.

Daddy?

The more I think about
it, the better I like it.

We'll see how fast you
guys can cut lumber.

The first mill, then, to deliver

a load of clear Locust Bridge
stock to the washout site

wins this warehouse contract.

That's a bargain.

Just a minute,
that's the kind of

heavy lumber that
takes time to mill...

Daddy, Daddy,
we can handle that.

Well, John, you want it?

All right.

You're not talking very much.

Did I talk out of
turn back there.

No, Son.

I just don't like doing
business that way.

What do you mean?

Oh, you're talking about
the competition? Well...

I don't understand,
then. Just the other day

you were telling me how
bad things are getting.

I think we should
take what we can get.

We stand to get a lot back
there and what do we got to lose.

I don't know.

You start concentrating
on beating the other fella

you forget what's important.

Doing what you know how to
do and doing it the best you can,

letting the rest
take care of itself.

Well, maybe so.

But I think times are
different now, Daddy.

There is more competition.
You gotta admit to that.

I may not like it any
more than you do,

but maybe we just have to
get out there and scramble.

Maybe we do.

You know something else?

I think it might
be kind of exciting.

Pa!

Pa, looks like we got
ourselves some work.

John, may I ask you a question?

Sure, Pa. What is it?

Isn't this company known
as Walton and Sons?

Yeah, Pa, you know it is.

And who is the number
one Walton around here?

Pa, you are.

May I ask why you two go
sashaying off on company business

and leave me here
to twiddle my thumbs?

You see, Pa, you weren't about.

We were in kind of a hurry.

Sorry, Pa.

Sorry doesn't feed the bulldog!

We didn't do it on
purpose, Grandpa.

Well, my sensibilities
are considerably aroused.

And they're likely to be so for
some time in the foreseeable future!

Oh, come on, Pa!
I will not come on!

Right. Have it your way. Grandpa,
Grandpa, you're very upset,

and nobody's
blaming you for that.

And we shouldn't have
run off and left you.

And we're sorry
about it. I admit that.

But we've gotta get
back to work now.

We gotta take care of business.

You go on about
your own business.

Grandpa, we need you for
the... We need everybody.

Grandpa, we have got ourselves

a contract with the C&O Railroad

to supply the lumber
to repair the washout.

And what is more, if
we can deliver our order

before the Murdock Mill does

we will win the contract
for that big warehouse

that they're planning to build.

John! That sound like
considerable of a plum, huh?

It does indeed. John!

Come to your
senses, have you, Pa?

I never lost mine. I don't
know just where yours were.

Why didn't you tell
me about that contract?

First good news I've
heard in over 25 years

and I'm the last
one to hear about it!

Yeah, well, um,
let's get to work.

I'll be turning off
up past Rockfish.

Okay. Okay, hop in.

Stiff neck?

I slept in a doorway last night,

trying to stay out of the rain.

Yeah, I've done that
a few times myself.

What, you out to
make your fortune?

No, just trying to get a job.

Lot of people in the
same boat these days.

Well, it's especially hard on
someone who's only experience is

planting the turnips, or milking
a cow, or working in a sawmill.

Oh, you got mill experience?

All my life, practically.

Well, I'll tell you something.

I work in a sawmill and they
need a guy with experience.

I think you just
found yourself a job.

Are you from around here?

Hi, there. I brought
you some groceries by.

That's all paid for, right?

Well, no, but you just sign
here to make sure you got it.

Okay.

(CLATTERING)

Is that Ben?

What's that?

No, I just saw
someone I know, is all.

Okay, thanks. You're welcome.

Listen, uh, the boys
coming by the store tonight?

I guess so. Not much else to
do around here come sundown.

Okay. See you tonight.

Okay.

Walton's Mountain
is getting to be

about the most romantic
place in the whole country.

The whole world.

My own brother going off
with a broken heart over a girl!

Isn't Courtney
lucky, Mary Ellen?

Because Ben had a crush on her?

Because Ben left
home on account of her.

I wish some boy would like
me enough to go away like that.

A boy you liked?

A boy I was crazy about.

Well, why'd you want a boy that
you were crazy about to leave home?

Oh, Elizabeth, you don't
know anything about romance.

Ladies, it's dinnertime.

I'm hungry enough to eat
a horse and chase the rider.

Why isn't this table set?

There's nothing to set it for.

Mama and Grandma took John-Boy's
car and went into Charlottesville.

What for? To find Ben.

What is happening
around this house?

Get that dress off the
table and get this table set.

Mary Ellen, try to get some
food on the table, please.

Here's your mother.

Olivia, do you
know what time it is?

OLIVIA: I guess I do.

Esther, do you
know what time it is?

What are you doing in
here before dinner's ready?

I would like to know what is
happening around this place.

We put in a hard morning's work,

we come in here and the
meal is not even started.

You wanna know
what's happening, John?

Yes! I'll tell you
what's happening.

I have not seen our
son, Ben, for 24 hours.

That's what's
happening! Olivia...

Daddy, Ike. Ike.

Howdy, everybody.

I hope I'm not walking in
on the middle of anything.

JOHN: What can
we do for you, Ike?

Well, I got a surprise over
at the Murdock Mill today.

Do you know that Ben
is working over there?

You saw Ben? He's
working for the other mill.

IKE: Yes, he is.

I'm gonna go over there
and straighten him out.

Wait a minute. You
are not going anywhere.

If Ben wants to work for the
Murdocks, it's his business!

Well, at least we
know he's safe.

Safe? He's working
for the other company!

The Murdocks are
not our enemies.

They are trying to make
a living just like we are!

And they're probably
eating better!

Daddy, Ben is a
member of this family.

He has his rights. I
don't intend to interfere.

But our own brother
helping to beat us out!

Don't worry about your
brother! Take care of yourself!

I do not understand

why he would be helping
someone who's working against us.

It doesn't make any sense!

Unless maybe he doesn't
know anything about this contract.

Whether he knows or doesn't
know, it's none of our business!

We have a job to
do. Let's get to work.

Sure. All right. Fine.

(MACHINE WHIRRING)

All right, everybody. Listen up.

We're not turning
enough of this wood out.

There's an extra
dollar in it for everybody

if we got a load of this
stuff by tomorrow morning.

PARSONS: You've got it!

All right. Let's go. Come on.

(WHIRRING)

I've got Ben on my mind
and I can't get him off.

Will you take over
for me, Grandma?

Go on.

John-Boy!

John-Boy!

Yes, ma'am.

What is it, Mama?

I want you to go get
Ben and bring him home.

Well, I'd love to
go get Ben, Mama,

but Daddy's not
gonna hear about that.

I'm asking you to go get
him and bring him home.

Well, that sort of puts me in
the middle, doesn't it, Mama?

John-Boy, if you
don't go get him, I will.

Oh, no. That'd be the worst
thing you could possibly do.

Can you imagine how embarrassed
he'd be if you went to get him?

I'll go get him.

All right, John. Let's
give it another whirl.

Here we go.

GRANDPA: Hold it, hold it.

Just when I
thought I had it fixed.

Luck.

Daddy, we could try that
old one we patched up.

Go get it, Son.

Pa, we're just
fooling ourselves!

We'll never out-mill
the Murdocks.

They got better machinery,
younger, stronger men...

If you are referring
to my age...

Pa, don't start that again.

You're always too ready to
put the old man on the shelf.

You don't get your
hackles up, please?

If you think I'm getting ready

to be left behind
like an old cow's tail,

you've got another thing
coming! Pa, will you forget it!

It may interest you to
know that this old codger

has thought up a plan that's gonna
put us way ahead of the Murdocks.

What's that?

Don't you worry. I've got it right
up here in these old boiled brains.

If you're gonna put me behind
like a old cow out to pasture...

Will you come back here?

I am going for a walk.

Come on, Jason!

Oh, boy.

Where you going, Grandpa?

(SIGHS)

I was getting kind of hot
around the collar back there.

I thought I'd come
down here and cool off.

Well, Daddy said I
wasn't needed for a while.

You know, I feel a
kinship with these woods,

more than anything
else, except the family.

And sometimes I think I
understand the woods even better.

Better than the family? Mmm-hmm.

Well, I know every
tree around here,

the loblollies, the
ashes, willows.

I know every curve
in this here river,

where it spreads
out in the shallows,

and runs deep and
wide down in the narrows.

Grandpa, are we gonna lose the
mountain to those Murdock people?

Lose it?

Well, if they take all
our business away?

Where did you ever
get such an idea as that?

From you.

From the sad way you
talked about the mountain.

Well, it would relieve
us a lot of worries

if we'd get that
warehouse contract.

I guess we gotta get it then.

That's easier said
than done, Jim-Bob.

Them Murdocks
are new around here,

but they have got the
edge on us in a lot of ways.

Well, we've been here longer
and we know the country better.

Yes, we do.

Oh, yes, we do.

What a day, huh? Yeah.
You know something?

This job's getting to
be too much like work!

Yeah, but another
day, another dollar.

And another dollar when we
get the load out in the morning.

You know, the way Cobbs
is throwing money around,

he really wants to beat the
Waltons to that warehouse contract.

What's that?

I said, he wants to beat the
Waltons to the warehouse contract.

What's the matter with you?
You getting hard of hearing?

I guess so.

See you tomorrow, Ben. Yeah.

Mr. Cobbs, I'm sorry, but I
can't work for you anymore.

What's wrong?

Nothing. I just
don't belong here.

Well, you're doing good work and I
can't afford to lose a man right now.

It's my fault.

Why don't you stick around, Ben,

it's always rough the first day

but tomorrow will
get better, huh?

What can I do for you? Came
to pick up my brother here.

You two are brothers?

You better get your
walking papers, Ben.

I already have.

I'd rather not have that, sir.

If I knew of any contract I
never would have taken this job.

And if I'd know you were a
Walton, never would have hired you.

Start up the car.

(CAR ENGINE STARTING)

JOHN-BOY: Come on, Ben.

Ike. Oh, Ike, there you are.

IKE: Zeb, hey.

Hey, Ike, do you remember
that length of logging chain

we used to pull Minnie Brubaker's
bull out of the Hardrick's Swamp?

Yeah, sure I remember.
I got it out back.

I could sure use that logging
chain again if you feel so inclined.

Sure, you can use it. What
are you aiming to use it for?

We figure on taking
the logging chain,

tying it around our lumber

and sliding it off our truck
into the Rockfish River.

Float it down to the
nearest C&O washout trestle.

We're gonna pull a fast
one on that Murdock bunch.

Those are the people...

I don't want you to
breathe this to a soul.

We're gonna have our lumber
delivered and be on our way back home

while that Murdock outfit

is still zigzagging downhill
the old mountain road.

Zeb, those guys that are
playing pool back there,

they're with the Murdock
lumber company.

Uh-oh.

Don't suppose they
heard me, did you?

It doesn't look like they did.

I guess they can't
hear you back there.

Thank you, Ike. I'll pick
up the logging chain.

Okay.

(BARKING)

(HONKING)

How are you, Ben?

Jason, Jim-Bob, come on.

I gotta get some
tools to fix this thing.

Come on. Let's go.

(CHICKENS CLUCKING)

Hello, Daddy.

Son.

I'm sorry about the way I acted.

I went like a
jackass over a girl.

Those things happen, Son.

There's one thing I don't
think you understand.

John-Boy told me
about the way you all felt

when you found out that I was
working for the Murdock Mill.

You wanted to be
off on your own, Son.

That's not what I'm
talking about, Daddy.

I never knew the Murdocks were
taking business away from you,

and if I had, I never
would've taken that job.

I just saw a job
that I could take

and I took it 'cause I didn't
want to come home a failure.

Ben,

there was something you
had to do and you did it.

And I'm proud of you.

I've gotta get back to work.

You get something to eat
then you get back to work.

All right?

Hello, Mama.

Just dropping by, or are
you planning to stay a while?

I'm gonna stay for a while.

You can put your suitcase down.

Well, how is everybody?

Everybody's just fine.

Good. How are the animals?

Animals are just fine.

And the fall crops doing okay?

The fall crops are doing very...

Ben, I am so mad at you!

Do you know what it's
like not hearing from you?

I didn't think you
wanted to hear from me.

I was walking the floor!

I didn't think you liked
the idea of me going.

I didn't like the
idea of you going.

I think it was very, very wrong.

Now sit down!

Here, eat your pie.

I'll get you some milk.

BEN: Daddy, we're breaking
our backs for nothing.

We don't stand a chance
with that Murdock bunch.

Just load the truck, please.

I suppose you boys don't
remember what I told you.

Pa, you know I don't go
for that fancy scheming.

You have no faith in the old
man, huh? Just let him ramble on.

Pay no attention to him.

What're you talking
about, Grandpa?

Don't get him started, Son.

Your daddy's hardheaded, Ben.

BEN: I think it
runs in the family.

Dad, I got these chains here.
When do... I've got a job for you.

I've got a job right here,
Grandpa. Daddy, I've put...

It's all part of the plan.

What plan? What
is he talking about?

Get down here...
JOHN-BOY: Hey, Ike.

Hiya, John-Boy. Gramps.

Hey, John! I got
some news for you.

It's not particularly good but I
think you better know about it.

What's on your mind?

The Murdock truck just
stopped by the store,

and they're loaded
and they're on their way.

Oh, I told you, Daddy. We're
just trying to kid ourselves.

"O ye of little faith."
Come on, let's get loaded.

Pa, I'm not gonna race
this truck down the mountain.

We're not gonna race this
truck down the mountain.

We will get there and get
that contract before them.

Come on, let's get loaded!

Here we go. Here we go. Why
don't we get a line made here?

Easy does it now. Hold it.

Easy? Hold on, boys.

Whoa, whoa! Easy!

Hey, Walton, where's your truck?

Fellas, hold it! Fellas!

I'm sorry you're gonna have to
move on down the river a ways,

'cause I'm holding
this spot here.

You guys ever hear
about holding up a river?

We're already here. Get out of
here. Move her on down there.

No. This is the
Waltons' spot right here.

If I was you, I wouldn't
make Mr. Cobbs mad.

That's all right. Why don't
you just get in your truck

and move it on down
the river... No way.

All right, fellas.
Thank you. There it is!

We're off!

Good luck.

Thank you, honey.

I don't know what
you have in this thing...

Now drive carefully.

All right. Bye.

But drive fast.
We'll win it, Daddy.

All right. Good luck, Daddy.

Good luck.

I don't wanna make him angry,
but this here is the Waltons' spot

and I was here first,
and I'm staying here.

Stand back, Walton.
You're just in the way.

I aim to stay in the way, mister,
'cause this is the Walton spot,

this is a Walton man and
I'm gonna be right here.

You want me to sit on you?

Head out, Grier.

Come on, let's go. Get
that wood down here.

(LAUGHING)

Pa, you think it's about time you
told me about this scheme of yours?

It's a pure pearl
of simplicity, Son.

The Rockfish River here is gonna

win us our warehouse contract.

You wanna explain that?

We'll all find out in three
shakes of a lamb's tail.

Get it on there, let's go.

(MEN GRUNTING)

There she goes.

Let's go! Pole it!

She sails like a duck!

All right. We'll see
you downriver, Grier.

Okay.

Walton, tell your
grandpa thanks for the tip.

MAN 1: Over to
that side. Come on.

MAN 2: Yeah, we're on our way.

There we go.

We'll see you, Grier.

Okay.

(LAUGHING)

Push it over this way.

I'm trying.

Hey! What's the
matter out there?

We're stuck on something!

We're caught!

Get on those poles and push!

I'm trying!

What's going on down there?

The fellas seem to be
stuck on the sandbar.

Well, now isn't that a shame.

You weren't thinking of floating this
load down the river, were you, Pa?

Now you know I'm not
as crazy as all that, yet.

Hey, boys! Take it
easy. Enjoy yourselves.

There's only 44 more
of those sandbars to go!

(LAUGHING)

What happened to my pole?

(WHISTLING)

JOHN-BOY: Like the
tortoise in Aesop's Fables,

like Br'er Rabbit in the
tales of Uncle Remus,

my grandfather had outwitted
the opposition with his cunning.

We arrived at the
site a full half-day

ahead of our
floating competition,

and were awarded
the warehouse contract.

It kept us going for
most of that winter.

MARY ELLEN: Good night,
Ben. BEN: Good night, Mary Ellen.

You ladies' man. OLIVIA:
Let's go to sleep now, everybody.

Good night, Jason.
Good night, Elizabeth.

JOHN: Liv, there's something I'm
gonna do when this Depression is over.

OLIVIA: What? Put up
proper walls in this house

so everybody can't hear what's
being said in every other room.

ELIZABETH: Why you
gonna do that, Daddy?

Good night, Elizabeth.