The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 4, Episode 21 - The Quilting - full transcript

JOHN-BOY: On Walton's Mountain,
as our parents had before us,

we grew up taking for granted
the traditions that shaped our lives.

When my sister Mary Ellen took a
stand against a solemn mountain custom,

it was a rebellion that rattled
the complacency of generations.

She was 17, but
the custom was older

than even my grandmother
could remember.

Grandma.

Hello. Hi, Grandma.

(LAUGHING)

I haven't been gone all
winter, you know. Hey.

If you young ones
would clear out,



and stop pawing
her, I'd appreciate

putting an arm
around my favorite wife.

Esther, I missed you.

Well, it's good to be home, Zeb.

Did you bring us
anything, Grandma?

You're lucky I didn't
bring the bronchitis.

Martha Corinne had it bad.

Sounds like you
brought us some anyway.

With an angel of mercy
like you dancing attendance,

Martha Corrine ought to be up and
climbing back up her mountain by now.

Did you put mustard plaster
on her? Well, of course.

How else do you
think she got well?

Poor Martha Corinne.

Hey, Grandpa.



Why don't you take the day
off and spend it with Grandma?

Yeah, Grandpa. No.

No, let the womenfolks
talk it over first.

I propose we glue
the furniture together

before your daddy
gets back from town.

Good idea. Come
on, Ben. Come on.

Besides, I wouldn't want to spoil
your grandma by letting her know

just how much I missed her.

It doesn't make sense, Martha Corinne
over there in Brightwood by herself.

The bottom drawer, dear.

She's a stubborn woman.
You'll never convince her of that.

I don't know how she
can stand the quiet.

A house needs voices.

This house has plenty
of that, that's for sure.

We missed you, Grandma.

Yeah, especially doing the
dishes and hanging out the wash.

Well, surprised you
didn't save them for me.

ELIZABETH: What are these for?
They're squares for Mary Ellen's quilt.

Martha Corinne made this one.

Did you ever see
such fine stitching?

And this is from Margaret Brent.

Appliqued butterfly.

And the next one.
This is Cousin Estelle's.

And Cousin Nora May's.

They're beautiful, Grandma.

Yeah. Well, now I have enough
to finish Mary Ellen's quilt top

and we can get
on with the quilting.

I already told you, I'm
not gonna have a quilting.

Oh, don't be foolish.

Why am I being foolish?

Well, because as long
as anybody can remember,

when a girl reached
a certain age,

well, the women got
together and made her a quilt.

And you've already
passed that age.

Good. Then let's
just forget about it.

Well, now, that's
easier said than done,

with Martha Corinne reminding
me that it's way overdue,

and your cousin Leona
waiting to have her quilting party.

Well, I'm not stopping her.

Oh, yes, you are.

You're older than she is.

And it just wouldn't look right
if she had hers before you.

Well, I think the whole
thing is just stupid.

It's a lovely
tradition, Mary Ellen.

I think it's kind of romantic.

Well, good, then you have it.

I'm sorry, Grandma.

She does seem
kind of set against it.

I wouldn't push it just now.

Well, somebody has to push her.

She'll be going to
that school in the fall.

And it has to be quick or never.

Well, it just might be never
if she gets her back up.

"They told her how,
upon St. Agnes' Eve

"Young virgins would
have visions of delight

"And soft adorings
from their loves receive

"Upon the honey'd

"Soft adorings from their loves
receive upon the honey'd middle"

Mary Ellen, when are you gonna
learn. To come in here, you knock!

Well, you never used to
mind when I saw you in BVDs.

I mind. I mind.

Jeez.

What's the matter
with you anyway?

It's Grandma.

Grandma? She's only been home 10
minutes. You two scrapping already?

She's talking about
that quilting again.

(SIGHS) Never could understand
what you've got against that thing.

Well, what do I
need a quilt for?

Put in your hope chest,
silly. I don't have one.

Well, you will.

Well, I have better things
to do than sit around hoping.

Mary Ellen, everybody knows
that you are going to nursing school.

There is no reason in the world

why you can't live your own life

and go along with the old ways.

Well, I don't like what
the old ways stand for.

It means I'm available.

What about those coming-out
parties they have in Richmond?

It's all the same thing.

Mary Ellen, every society has got
some sort of coming-of-age ceremony.

Yeah, well, how would you like it
if all the men in town got together

to build you a toolbox, and what
you really needed was a typewriter?

(SIGHS)

Maybe you can get the ladies
to knit you a hot water bottle.

RADIO HOST: "The boy cried out
in terror shrill, 'My path has given way

"'Oh, deep the pit, oh, steep
the hill, I'm falling, help me, pray'

"The man reached out a stalwart
hand 'Take hold, ' he boldly hailed

"And led the youth to firmer land
where truth and right prevailed"

Inspirational.

Incredible. Mmm-hmm.

That's all for today, ladies. Be
with us tomorrow as we explore

another shelf of
The Poetry Pantry,

brought to you by the
makers of Blue Ridge Bluing,

the home laundry aid that
discourages a dingy wash.

And remember, the deadline

for our weekly contest
is midnight tomorrow.

May I, uh... And
now friends, in radio...

What's all of this
here, Grandma?

I'm entering that contest
he was talking about.

Mmm. What do you have to do?

Oh, just say why I like Blue
Ridge Bluing in 25 words or less.

Twenty-five words?
Looks to me, offhand,

like you're about
9,000 words over.

I just want so much to win, I
just tried it every which way.

R-Read one of them.

Yeah? All right.

(CLEARS THROAT)

"I like Blue Ridge Bluing and
use it in my wash every Monday.

"I'm glad Monday follows Sunday,

"because cleanliness
is next to godliness."

I like that. It's got a
good touch of humor in it.

You mean it's... it's funny?

Hmm? Yeah.

Well, no, it's humorous.

Well, it's not
really funny. Uh...

Listen, how about after supper
you and me go over these things

and pick out the
best one, all right?

I'd appreciate that, John-Boy.

(SIGHS)

It's a real treat,
store ice cream.

It's a special treat to
welcome Esther home.

We don't like to come
calling empty-handed.

IKE: Oh, John-Boy, uh, how's
your job going with the newspaper?

Well, pretty slow,
Ike. I'm in the middle

of a feature on
Virginia wildflowers.

I didn't know you were
an expert on wildflowers.

Well, I'm not... I am.

Well, you can write the
article if you want to, Grandpa.

Can I take your dish, Grandma?

Make me feel like company.

They wouldn't even let
me help with the supper.

There'll be plenty
to do tomorrow.

Right now we're celebrating
the fact that you're home.

Well, Esther, if you're
getting out of your chores,

perhaps you'd take a walk
in the moonlight with me.

Sorry about that, Grandpa.
But I got a date with her first.

We're gonna go over some things
for that radio contest, aren't we?

What contest is that?

Welcome to The Poetry Pantry.

JOHN-BOY: Excuse me.

What's the prize, Ma?

$15 cash.

Hey, that's a fortune.

What you gonna
do with it, Grandma?

Take piano lessons.

Piano lessons?

Only kids take piano lessons.

Hey, how about me?

But you can already
play the piano, Ma.

I do not. I fiddle
at it. By ear.

When Martha Corinne asked me
to play something from the hymnal,

I couldn't even read a note
and I would like to learn.

That's a good idea, Grandma.

Something else we can't put
off, that's Mary Ellen's quilting.

Well, you'd better just
keep putting that off.

That's the first time I
ever heard of a young lady

objecting to her
own quilting party.

Well, you might just as well
run an ad in the newspaper

announcing that Mary Ellen
Walton is looking for a husband.

Well, maybe John-Boy
can get you a cut-rate ad

for the Jefferson County Times.

(BOYS LAUGHING)

Or I could just put up a
special notice in the store.

You see what I mean?

GRANDMA: It's
not like that at all.

GRANDPA: Well, if Mary Ellen
don't go for the quilting custom,

maybe we could do
what the Amish people do.

When a young lady
becomes of age,

they just paint
the front door blue.

(ALL LAUGHING)

IKE: As a matter of fact, I just
got in a shipment of blue paint.

JIM-BOB: For her we'll
have to paint the whole house.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Very funny.

I have been reading Coming of
Age in Samoa by Miss Margaret Mead.

And Miss Mead says
that if a young girl

does not go along
with her traditions,

that she is forced to marry
an old man in the village.

And I know just the
one. Yancy Tucker!

(ALL LAUGHING)

See what you've started?

That's enough
teasing, everybody.

Nobody's trying to
marry anybody off.

This quilting seems kind of
harmless, but if Mary Ellen objects,

maybe you'd
better call it off, Ma.

It's too late to call it off.

GRANDMA: As the
oldest woman in this family,

I took it as my responsibility.

The invitations have gone out.

Mary Ellen's quilting will
be a week from Saturday.

Grandma, how could you?

She'll get used to the idea.

She'll be grateful.

(GRANDMA PLAYING PIANO)

(GRANDPA GROANS)

Wonderful, Esther.

Oh, I'm telling you, they just
don't write music like they used to.

And if they did I
couldn't read it.

That's why I intend
to learn the notes.

If you say so,
Esther, but to me,

that's something
like teaching the rose

how to smell better.

You've just been
listening to me too long.

(GROANS)

If the concert's over,

how about you and me
going out and take that walk

to see the fireflies?

I'll go fetch your sweater.

(HUMMING)

Grandma, how's this?

(CLEARS THROAT)

"I like Blue Ridge Bluing

"because it touches my family's
laundry with the same soft haze

"that colors the
mountain near our house,

"and makes Monday's
laundry part of the landscape."

That's 25 words exactly.

Oh, that's lovely. Mmm.

If I had words like
you do, I'd win for sure.

Well, there you go.

Well, I can't take this. I couldn't
send this in. It's not mine.

Well, it is now. It's my
welcome-home present to you.

Good luck.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Come in.

Sorry to disturb you. Could you
help me in the attic for a minute?

Sure.

It's been a long time
since I've been up here.

Can you hold that for me?

This is my hope chest.

My mother's before that and
my grandmother's before that,

clear back, oldest
daughter to oldest daughter.

What's in it?

Oh, memories mostly.

One time, it was full
of brand new things.

Doilies, scarves, embroidered
pillowslips that wore out long time ago.

And that tablecloth my
grandmother crocheted for me,

the one we still use
on special occasions.

What is this?

That's the dress that I wore when
your daddy first took me dancing.

(LAUGHING)

Well, I'm surprised he
ever took you out again.

I'll have you know that
was the latest fashion.

I copied it from the
Ladies' Home Journal.

Lydia Lee, my first doll.

You'd be surprised
what you'd find in here.

John-Boy's first shoes.

Oh...

This is a lace handkerchief
your daddy brought me from Paris.

It's time to clear these things out,
Mary Ellen. The hope chest is yours now.

I appreciate it, Mama, but I
can't think of anything I'd use it for.

When my mama gave it to
me, I was younger than you.

It looked so big and empty, like
all those years still ahead of me.

I had no idea how
to fill it or them.

Well, I know how
I'm gonna fill mine.

What's this?

Those are some sketches
I made in high school.

You're good, Mama.

Well, my teacher thought so.

He wanted me to
apply for a scholarship.

Why didn't you?

I fell in love with your daddy.

I had to make a choice.

I made the right one.

You're gonna have to make
your own choices, Mary Ellen,

and I don't expect them
to be the same as mine.

Still, the hope chest
is here if you want it.

Thanks, Mama.

GRANDMA: I just don't understand
why Mary Ellen doesn't want her quilting.

When I was her age, I
just couldn't wait for mine.

It meant that I was grown-up.

Mary Ellen is a
good, sensible girl.

She'll realize Old Dominion
customs are good for her.

What ladies are you
inviting to the quilting?

Well, the women we're close to
around here who can thread a needle,

and a couple who
can't, the Baldwin sisters.

The Baldwins? Oh.

Maybe they would
bring the punch.

We'd wind up with a crazy quilt.

Uh...

I want you to tell John
not to run the mill that day.

We want to hear ourselves think.

I suppose you want all of us
to vacate the premises, huh?

Well, don't you have a
delivery to make in Westham?

Oh, yes, indeed we do.

(LAUGHING)

(SCREAMS)

What... What's the matter?

There's something in this bed.

Oh, no.

Oh-oh.

Hot water bottle!

There's nothing worse than putting
your feet on a cold hot water bottle.

Mmm. I forgot I'd been
using it while you was away.

You did miss me, didn't you?

(GROANS)

Mmm.

OLIVIA: Remember that lace
handkerchief you sent me from France?

Yes, I do. What about it?

I came across it when I
was in the attic tonight.

What were you doing up there?

Going through my hope chest.

I want to give it to Mary Ellen.

Don't you think that's kind of
risky after what happened tonight?

Yeah. I thought maybe if
we move it into the girls' room,

it might help her
get used to the idea.

Now that Grandma's
started all this.

It's just not easy, two women
living under the same roof.

I'll have a talk with
her if you want me to.

No, it'll probably do
more harm than good.

Grandma's a big help to
me and I love her dearly,

but I wish she'd remember
who's the mother in this house.

I don't know how you
put up with her sometimes.

Sometimes I don't know
how I put up with any of you.

You're gonna come to bed or
you gonna sit there all night?

IKE: One roll of cotton
batting for Mary Ellen's quilt.

Oh, I'm glad it got here.

Esther's been fretting
about it like an old, wet hen.

Well, I can't blame her, with
Mary Ellen on her high horse.

Mary Ellen will come
around in due time.

Worst of it is, we menfolk have
been barred from the premises.

No place to go, and come
home to a cold supper.

The good old days,

why, we could have
a cornhusking bee

while the ladies were quilting.

Well, the only trouble is, this is
the wrong time of year for husking.

Sure is.

Maybe, Ike, we could
arrange a little pool husking.

Corabeth won't be
around here all day long.

And we could all
get together here.

That is a great idea.

I'm glad I thought of that.

And maybe I could prevail
upon the Baldwin ladies

to furnish us some
of the Recipe?

Yeah.

YANCY: Howdy, Zeb. Ike.

Hi, Yancy!

Uh, Yancy, what
can I do for you?

Laying in some supplies, I
got me a list here somewhere.

You're sure you didn't
put it in your other suit?

Well, I hope not, because I
ain't seen that suit in 10 years.

Here it is, here it is.
I told you I had one.

Well, let's see here. I need
some dry mustard, garlic buds,

cayenne pepper,
chili powder, paprika,

peppercorns and Tabasco sauce.

Already got me green chilies, hot
chilies, green tomatoes, horseradish,

cider vinegar, pork belly,
beef cuts, bell peppers,

chicken livers and
squirrel shanks.

GRANDPA: Sounds to
me like you're preparing

some of your special
Red Devil Chili.

It ain't no angel food cake.

Oh, Yancy, it is
indeed fortunate

you should drop in on
us at this particular time.

And why is that, Zeb?

Well, Ike and I here are planning
a little rendezvous of our own

while the ladies are
having their quilting.

And you have just been
elected to supply the provender.

The grub.

Our very favorite, Mr. Walton.

Seeing that box of mead at Ike's
store reminded me I hadn't called

on you dear ladies
for quite a spell.

I was just telling Sister I
must get my quilt square

over to Mrs. Walton today.

Now you can take it for me.

Well, I'd be pleased
to do so, Miss Emily.

Sister already finished hers, but
mine was such a delicate design,

it took much longer.

It depicts a swirling leaf,
quite like the golden ones

that showered down around
Ashley Longworth and me

when last we met.

I'm sure Mary Ellen will
be pleased to treasure it.

Well, if I know Mary Ellen,
she'll undoubtedly have suitors

considerably more reliable
than Ashley Longworth.

Ashley was not in
the least unreliable.

He did vanish, dear.

He had reason.

More reason, if I recall,

than Mr. Porter Sims
did when he vanished.

Well, Mr. Porter
Sims didn't vanish.

He was simply called
away by his work.

Sister was quite
taken with Mr. Sims.

Now, I do think that Mr. Walton
has more pressing business

than to be hearing about
our gentlemen friends.

A gentleman friend Ashley
Longworth most assuredly was.

But Mr. Porter Sims was
merely an acquaintance.

Of course.

And very discreet
with his attentions.

Now, why am I standing here
with a jar of Recipe in my hands?

Oh, you brought it
for Mr. Walton, dear.

Oh, of course.

(LAUGHING)

Well, Mr. Walton, since you
can't stay for a sip of the Recipe,

we'll be very pleased if
you'd take that with you.

Oh, I am pleased to have
such riches bestowed upon me.

Why, this white
liquid is pretty enough

to be embroidered
on a quilt square.

Yes, indeedy!

Oh, the quilt
square, Mr. Walton.

Oh. Oh, forgive me.

Ah. Yeah.

BEN: What you
got there, Grandpa?

Well, I was down to
Ike Godsey's store.

He had a good buy on turpentine.

Never can tell when
you might need it.

What are you boys up to?

We're finishing this piece of
furniture for Mama. Daddy's too busy.

Your daddy has been
busier than usual lately.

We ought to be able to
give him some time off.

How do you give
the boss time off?

I could start, you know,

by letting you boys
take that furniture order

over to Westham come Saturday.

Do you think Daddy would let us?

I might be able to persuade him.

And I have a little loose change
hanging around somewhere.

Might let you go to the
picture show with popcorn.

Hey! The Dawn Patrol is
playing at the Jefferson,

and there's a serial
with Tailspin Tommy.

I know some girls go to
the movies every Saturday.

Hey, you think we
can see them twice?

The girls?

No, the movies.

Well, I'll speak to your
daddy when the time is right.

I think he'll see the advantages
of you delivering that furniture.

What time do the movies start?

I can't wait to find out.

Thanks, Grandpa.
Thank you, Grandpa.

♪ The Camptown
ladies sing this song

♪ Doo-da, Doo-da

♪ The Camptown
racetrack's nine miles long

♪ Oh, de doo-da day

♪ Goin' to run all night

♪ Goin' to run all day

♪ I bet my money
on a bob-tailed nag

♪ Somebody bet on the bay ♪

They announce the winner yet?

Pretty soon.

RADIO HOST: And
now, friends, in radioland,

I'm pleased to announce
this week's winner

of our Blue Ridge
Bluing contest.

She is Mrs. Zebulon Walton
from Jefferson County!

I won. (LAUGHING)
You've done it.

Here is the winning
entry by Mrs. Walton,

"I like Blue Ridge Bluing because
it does what it is supposed to do,

"and not many things do that these
days!" Congratulations, Mrs. Walton.

Your check is in the mail.

Well, congratulations.

That was really very good. That
was right to the point, wasn't it?

Well, I... I meant to
tell you, John-Boy,

but I just couldn't send in the
one you wrote, it wasn't mine.

It wasn't as good, either.

Y-Yours was just wonderful, and I
couldn't use those words, could I?

Grandma, Grandma,
it was perfect.

I'm just glad you won.

Really, congratulations.

(LAUGHING)

It's time to get supper.

Congratulations, my lady.

May I escort you to the stove,

Mrs. Zebulon Walton of Jefferson
County, Virginia in the Old Dominion?

It's not easy to change
Grandma's mind, is it?

Well, I guess I just shouldn't
have butted in, that's all.

Don't worry about it.
You got that from her.

(SIGHS)

OLIVIA: This is gonna be lovely.

GRANDMA: Yeah.

I'm having trouble with
Miss Emily's square.

I can't tell which side is
up, which side is down.

They both look the same.

Which way does a leaf fall?

It looks fine, Grandma.

Anyway, it's the
thought that counts.

Well, I hope Mary
Ellen feels that way.

She still insists
she's not coming.

Mary Ellen has a
mind of her own.

Hope she'll change
it on her own.

Might help her to know
you'll insist she be there.

Grandma, I want Mary
Ellen to have this quilting,

but I'm not gonna
insist on anything.

If we'd talked about this before,
you would have known that.

(BARKING)

Went to pick up
Maude's quilting frame

and found out that
Maude comes with it.

GRANDMA: Glad to see you, Maude.

Nice to see you, Maude.

MAUDE: I've been saving
my carrot tops for Myrtle.

They keep her
well. Where is she?

I'll show you where she is.

Oh. Got this letter from Ike's.

It's your winnings
from the radio contest.

Well, at least that's one good
thing that's happened today.

We just might have a wake
instead of a quilting party tomorrow.

Mary Ellen still dragging her
heels? Dragging her heels?

She's got her feet dug in
worse than a Missouri mule.

And you're no help.

Liv, I could make her go to
that thing, but I'm not going to.

I think she should go
under her own power.

I think you should
stay out of it, too.

I wish the whole
thing were over.

When you've got a coop
with three feisty hens,

you're bound to
have ruffled feathers.

I am not a feisty hen.

Look pretty good
to this old rooster.

(ALL CHATTERING)

(PLAYING PIANO)

Looks pretty
good. Oh, I'll get it.

Well, hi, G.W. Come on in.

Well, I'd like to talk to
Mr. Walton first, if I could, out here.

You would? Well,
sure, I'll get him.

Daddy, G.W.
wants to talk to you.

Here, Son, take this plank.

All right.

Mama, he's got flowers!

What can I do for you, G.W.?

Well, sir, I just
wanted to ask you

if I could sit up
with Mary Ellen.

But I thought I should
get your permission first.

I appreciate that, G.W.

Mary Ellen's the one to ask.

The mood she's been in lately,
you'd better be ready to duck

after you ask her. I
always am with Mary Ellen.

Uh-huh.

G.W. wants to see you.

(CHUCKLING)

What is the matter
with all of you?

It's just G.W.

(LAUGHING)

Hi, G.W.

Here.

You didn't have
to bring me flowers.

Well, I thought it would be the
right thing to do at a time like this.

(PLAYING MELODIOUS TUNE)

G.W., what's the
matter with you?

I mean, we've
had plenty of dates

and you never brought flowers
and acted all solemn before.

Well, I heard about
your quilting party

and I wanted to get over
here before the others did.

What others?

Oh, there's bound
to be lots of others.

(DOOR SLAMMING)

Look, G.W., I think there's
something you should understand.

I understand, Mary Ellen.

I'm not in a big rush,

but my folks are giving me
some land to start a farm on.

I thought maybe you'd like
to see where it's going to be.

You're very sweet, G.W., and we've
been good friends from way back,

so I want to be honest with you.

I'm gonna be going away to
nursing school when the fall comes,

and right now, I'm just too
busy to think about anything else.

It has nothing to do with you.

I only thought with
the quilting and all...

This quilting isn't my
idea at all, any part of it.

Oh.

Thank you for coming
by and for the flowers.

I'll see you before
I leave for school.

Okay, Mary Ellen. See you later.

(PLAYING HERE COMES THE BRIDE)

Jason! Look out!

Mary Ellen.

MARY ELLEN: Now
look what you've done.

Look what you've
done to poor G.W.

Not to mention how
you've embarrassed me!

And all because
of that stupid quilt!

The word is out that
Mary Ellen Walton

is available for kitchen duty,

housework, and raising children.

Well, it's not true!
I have other plans.

You can go ahead and
have your quilting, Grandma,

but I am not going to be there!

You'll be there.
It's your quilting.

No, it's not,
Grandma. It's yours!

Mary Ellen, don't you ever talk to
your grandma that way again. Ever!

Lord only knows what's
going to happen tomorrow.

Grandma, I love you dearly,
and I don't want to hurt you,

but from now on, where
the children are concerned,

I'd appreciate it if you'd
remember that I am their mother.

Grandpa, you want to
see if we loaded this okay?

Be right with you, Ben.

Jim, will you close up the shop?

Sure, Grandpa.

Be sure and tighten this
load up real good, Ben.

Your daddy's sure to
give it a close inspection.

Dawn Patrol ready to take off!

JOHN: Is that your square?

OLIVIA: It's a house
with eight windows,

one for each of the
children and one for me.

And where's my window?

You're the door, letting the good
things in, and keeping out the bad.

Well, that's nice.

Well, it came out real pretty.

GRANDPA: John.

Jim-Bob and Ben
are all set to roll.

You want to come
out and take a look?

What for?

Well, they're gonna
take the truck on

over to Westham
with the furniture in it.

And maybe take in a picture
show and some popcorn.

Come again, Pa?

John, how long has it been
since you've taken a day off?

Just as long as since
you had a day off, Pa.

All right, I'll take one off for
you and you take one off for me.

Turnabout. You agree, Livie?

I reckon you both earned it.

Yes, indeedy.

JASON: Grandpa? Mmm?

John-Boy's gotta finish that article
he's writing for the newspaper.

He'll be down to Ike's later.

Now we best be going.

The less your grandma
knows about this, the better.

Pa, you're an old conniver.

See you all later.

I knew he was up to something.

You go along now
and have a good time.

No, sirree, I'm gonna work
in peace and quiet at the mill.

Livie, I thought I heard Zeb.

Looks like the menfolks
have plans for the day.

Well, at least they
won't be underfoot.

Anybody see Mary Ellen?

Not since breakfast.

I was going upstairs to
see if the girls are ready.

Livie, I only want what's
best for Mary Ellen.

I know.

Ready.

You look very pretty.

Grandma will tell
you what to do.

Mary Ellen?

In the bathroom, I guess.

John-Boy, have
you seen Mary Ellen?

No.

Nobody else has seen her either,

and the ladies are
gonna be here any minute.

Well, I'll l go look for her.
Maybe she just went for a walk.

Thank you.

(SIGHS)

Corabeth, honey lamb,

you'd better hurry now or you're
gonna be late for the quilting.

CORABETH: Now, don't
rush me, Mr. Godsey.

Just a few minutes now.

I hope that you are not swamped
with customers while I'm gone.

I mean, what will you
do if a multitude descends

on this general
merchandise store?

Oh, I don't think we'll
have any problem.

You see, I... I've
got help here.

Well, what have we here.

A fine group of gentlemen!

Now, what are you all up to?

Well, we thought
we'd keep Ike company

and maybe help
him out if he needs it.

Now, isn't that
right neighborly?

Now, I want you to get along

and you have a wonderful
time with the ladies, okay?

But now, dear, the... the canned
goods need to be restocked.

Don't you worry about
that, I'll take care of that.

And don't forget to bring in
those feed sacks from out back.

I'm going to take
care of that, too.

Don't you worry about a thing.

Oh, dear!

The front window
needs to be washed.

That's the first thing I'm
gonna take care of, okay?

(LAUGHING)

Okay, now, you
have a wonderful time.

I bet it's going to be
a wonderful quilting.

Toodleedo.

Change this. Change this sign!

Sign should have been changed a
long time ago, it's way out of date.

(MAN WHOOPING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

CORABETH: It's too bad
about Mary Ellen's headache.

She didn't want to come anyhow.

Never mind, Elizabeth.

I wanted a quilting, but Papa
insisted on a coming-out party.

What's a coming-out party?

That's when you make your
debut and are presented to society.

Oh, what a lovely
evening it was.

All the young debutantes
in their white gowns

and the young men
in their uniforms.

I felt like a princess descending
that magnificent stairway

at the John Marshall Hotel.

Mama, did you have
a coming-out party?

No. I had a quilting.

It's gonna be a
lovely quilt, Olivia,

but I don't
recognize the pattern.

Grandma and I
made our own pattern.

MISS MAMIE: It's very
original, Mrs. Walton.

Mercy me, Elizabeth, my
needle's gone clean through.

I'll get it.

Oh, Elizabeth.

MRS. BRIMMER: Hope
she doesn't drop the frame.

Oh, be careful.

GRANDPA: Bless you. Well, lads,

don't you think it's high time

we had a slug at
Judge Baldwin's Recipe,

just to be sure it's up to
its usual high standards?

Man ahead, I always say.

Smells like...

Tastes like... My
God, it is turpentine!

IKE: Let me see that.

(GRIMACING)

That is turpentine.

You know, Ben came
in here the other day

with a jar just like
this and he says,

"Could I have some turpentine?
I want to refinish some furniture."

(LAUGHING)

You know, I thought that rocker

had a kind of
special glow to it.

(GROANS)

Mary Ellen.

Mary Ellen.

(SNIFFS)

Hey, Yancy, you better keep
the lid on this Red Devil Chili.

It's likely to take the
paint off the ceiling.

IKE: Hey, Zeb, why don't
you fight fire with fire?

What? Guaranteed
not to be turpentine.

Oh, Yancy's stump liquor, huh?

Jason, Moonlight Bay.

(JASON PLAYING GUITAR)

♪ We were sailing along

♪ We were sailing along

ALL: ♪ On Moonlight
Bay ♪ On Moonlight Bay

♪ We could hear
the voices ringing

♪ They seemed to say
♪ They seemed to say

♪ "You have stolen my heart"

♪ "You have stolen my heart"

♪ "Now don't go away"
♪ "Now don't go away"

♪ As we sang

♪ Love's old sweet
song on Moonlight Bay

♪ On Moonlight Bay ♪

MRS. BRIMMER: We can take one
more row, Mrs. Walton. Isn't that right?

(ALL CHATTERING)

No sign of her?
Thanks for trying.

I'm sorry, Mama.

Mary Ellen, are you in there?

Mary Ellen!

JOHN-BOY: Mary
Ellen, you open this door!

Mary Ellen, if you
don't unlock this door,

I'm gonna go downstairs and tell
your mama exactly where you are

and then she can come up
here and talk to you herself.

I do not understand you, girl.

You come up here and
lock the door in the attic.

And you leave your mama
and your grandma downstairs.

You know what this
means to your grandmother?

Here she's invited all of those
ladies, they're sitting there downstairs

and you come up here and lock
yourself in the attic sulking away.

You know how
embarrassing that is for her?

Well, Grandma got
herself into this, I didn't.

Don't be ridiculous.
Grandma did this for you.

She's been to a lot of work
and a lot of trouble for this.

And what about those
women down there,

you think they made those
quilting squares just for fun?

Every one of those
quilting squares

is a gift they made
with their own hands

just for you personally,
'cause they care about you.

How would you feel if you took
a lot of time and a lot of trouble

to make a birthday
present for Mrs. Fordwick,

and she didn't even show up
at her own party to accept it?

It's not the same thing.

This whole quilting
has just one purpose,

to put me on the
market for marriage.

Well, I am not on the market.

I'm not a piece of merchandise,

and I am not going to give up
my self-respect and my principles

for a stupid backwoods
custom that takes away my rights

to be a person
and live my own life.

Mary Ellen, that is one of the dumbest
statements that you have ever made.

That is one of the stupidest things
that I have ever heard you say.

Nobody is gonna
take away your rights,

nobody's gonna
make you do anything

that you don't wanna do.

And having this quilting
is not gonna ruin your life.

The only thing it is, is a gift.

That's all it is. It's a
gift from those ladies,

something that you'll have
with you for the rest of your life

to remind you of people
who were close to you

and who you were fond of
while you were growing up.

That's the only thing
it means, Mary Ellen.

Well, that's what
it means to you.

But to everybody else, it
means I'm looking for a husband.

Just a bunch of women getting
together to help another helpless,

unattached woman find a man.

All right, I really don't
care what you do.

Just seems to me you could put
yourself out a little bit for your grandma,

seeing as how this
is so important to her.

In a couple of days,
she'll forget about it.

She will never forget
about it, Mary Ellen.

Then it's just too bad. And you
will never forget about it, either.

You'd better go now, John-Boy.
Yeah, I'd better go now.

You know something,
if you and your grandma

was to have a stubborn contest,

I'd be hard-pressed to decide
which one of you two was the winner.

But I'm not really
worried about you

'cause you're
gonna be all right.

It's the split between your mama

and your grandma
that worries me.

And that's gonna be
a long time mending.

Why don't you think
about that for a little while?

(DOOR CLOSING)

(INCOHERENT CHATTERING)

(GASPS)

Ooh.

They say it's bad luck
to get blood on a quilt.

Well, I wouldn't worry
too much about that.

My fourth cousin Jessie

cut her hand on a pair of
scissors at her quilting party,

then had 11 children, outlived
three husbands, died rich at 94.

(ALL LAUGHING)

I often thought I'd
like to marry again,

but it's pretty hard to
find a man at my age.

It's hard to find
a man at any age.

Well, John-Boy. You
think you'd like to join us?

Well, thank you very much, Mrs.
Brimmer, but I would be sure to spoil

all of the beautiful needlework
that you ladies have done today.

MAUDE: Time was when
the menfolk on the frontier

could sew as fine a
seam as the ladies.

They had to.

Stores and women were scarce.

MRS. BRIMMER: Mary
Ellen, you sure look pretty.

ELIZABETH: Headache better?

MISS EMILY: Isn't
it a lovely quilt?

MISS MAMIE: It will
be finished quickly now.

May I sit next to you, Grandma?

You better not
sit anywhere else.

What's this?

Little something
for your hope chest.

Open it later.

Grandma, this is your
money for your piano lessons.

Jason can teach me
everything I have to learn.

Thank you.

Here's your needle.

John Walton will have to
run them all off with a stick.

Who is that, Sister?

All the young gentlemen
that will be coming to call

now that Mary Ellen
has had her quilting.

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

(MEN SINGING)

ALL: ♪ It was from
Aunt Dinah's quilting party

♪ I was seeing Nellie home

♪ I was seeing Nellie home

♪ I was seeing Nellie home

♪ It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party

♪ I was seeing Nellie home

♪ On my arm a soft hand rested

♪ Rested light as ocean foam

♪ It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party

♪ I was seeing Nellie home

♪ On my life new
hopes were dawning

♪ And those hopes
have lived and grown

♪ It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party

♪ I was seeing Nellie home

♪ I was seeing Nellie home ♪

JOHN-BOY: There may not have been
true harmony in the singing that evening,

but we could feel it once
again flowing through our family.

The gap between young and
old, traditional and modern ways

had been bridged by something
we all felt for each other,

an enduring
respect and affection.

ELIZABETH: Tell me about
the picture show, Jim-Bob.

JIM-BOB: Tomorrow, Elizabeth.

I saw it three times so I
won't forget. Good night.

ERIN: When can I
have my quilting, Mama?

MARY ELLEN: Good night,
Grandma. GRANDMA: Night, Mary Ellen.

ERIN: Mama, when
can I have my quilting?

JOHN: We'll talk about
it in the morning, Erin.

Good night, now.

BEN: Mama, I met a girl
at the picture show today.

Looked a lot like you. OLIVIA:
That's nice, Ben. Good night.