The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 6, Episode 20 - The Return - full transcript

I hear you're thinking about
working over at the shipyards.

I got to think about it.

I'd give anything if you could
stay here where you belong.

I belong where I can
take care of my family.

Oh, are you two miners?

No, no. But we just figure, if you're gonna
open the mine again, it needs shoring up.

You think it was
gonna be this bad?

Stood a good chance to be.

You sure could do the work.

Dad, you better
take a look at this.

Wonder where that's coming from?



It's wet up here.

And getting wetter.

What are you doing in here?
There's work to do outside!

Now, get out and do it!

- I don't want you in here.
- We don't want you in here, either.

You should never have
come home, John-Boy!

Many of our friends are leaving
the mountain again to find work,

and we thought that was
behind us with the Depression.

I'm sure it's all part of this
dreadful war around us,

and I turn away from it.

Your father has managed
to stay home so far,

and we have our
health, so we're grateful.

Hello? Yes, ma'am.

I'd like to place a call to
Walton's Mountain, Virginia.



Walton. W-A-L-T-O-N.

Walton's... That's right.
It's Mr. John Walton.

Walton's Mountain, Virginia.

Thank you.

Hmm?

Oh.

Ah, all right. Well... No,
I'll have to try again later.

There's no telling how long
the phone'll be out of order.

See, it's way back in the
mountains, and they don't...

Hello?

In the early times of
separation from my family,

I kept in mind a clear picture
of the scenes of my boyhood.

But the times were changing,

and my memories were far
removed from the realities.

The turbulent state of the country in
the year before we entered the War

was especially felt in our
remote, little community.

And particularly by my father.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Now,
just hold on there, fellow. Just...

Will you listen to
me... Listen to me.

I tell you, I have
the letter right here.

It is in my hand.
It is in front of me.

I am looking at the letter!

Adams.

Lieutenant Robert C. Adams.

Well, he is the gentleman that
authorized payment for the desks.

You picked up the
desks three months ago!

The problem?

Listen here, the problem
is I have not been paid!

No, no. No, listen. I
do not want to be...

No, do not transfer
me to payroll.

I have talked... No, and I don't
want to talk to procurement!

Forget it!

Three months is a bit long
to wait for payment, John.

I couldn't help overhearing.

You know, Corabeth, I think they
gave them army tests to everybody,

and those who come out
lowest get on the switchboard.

Good mind to load up my truck
with gas and go on over to Camp Lee.

Oh, we've all known
late, but three months?

In these troubled times?

Don't you just love
this deep, old patina?

Thought that was a bed-warmer.

Of course it's a
bed-warmer. I know that.

I was referring to
the tone of the brass.

Yeah, well, it's real nice.

Ike around?

No. No, he'll be
gone for a while.

However, if you're really serious
about driving over to Camp Lee...

No, I can't afford that
kind of gas, Corabeth.

Well, for five full minutes,
he gives me my motivation.

This brilliant director, and
these are his words, not mine,

gives me that much
direction for one line.

One little line. "Shall
we walk, or grab a cab?"

Shall we walk, or grab a
cab? Can walk, grab a cab.

- It's that simple.
- At least it's something.

Something's bothering you?

I got a letter from my mother.

Is something wrong?

I think times are
pretty rough there.

There's no work, no jobs.

People are moving
away to find jobs.

- Well, not your dad.
- Not yet.

But I know him, Daisy,
I really know him.

And I know he'd go wherever
he had to, to make a living.

You want to go home, don't you?

I just think she's
really worried.

She never would have
mentioned it to me if she wasn't.

She's not one to borrow trouble.

I never thought I'd be saying
this, but I think you should go.

I don't want to leave you.

Well, not too long, please.

Well, it's not me, anyway.
It's up to Mr. Johnson.

Oh, well, you tell Mr. Johnson
that if I can get along without you,

Associated Press certainly can!

Did that already, Pa.

Well, I'm doing it
today. It's my turn now.

Just that there's no use doing
the same work all over again.

What work would you have me do?

There is no work,
Pa. That's the point.

You'd think somebody'd

wanna buy lumber
as good as this.

Army wants to.

Only trouble is
they won't pay for it.

Ah, they will.

Ep says a lot of men
are leaving Rockfish.

Going over to the coast. Working
in defense plants and shipyards.

Ike told me all about that.

Sure is a long way from home.

Yeah, I've never known a time
when a little sacrifice wasn't called for.

Now, you're not getting
any ideas, are you?

Funny thing when a
man gets to be my age,

he thinks he's got a right
to live his life in his own way.

It's not what I'm
talking about, Pa.

It's just they're not going
to hire men your age.

And if you've used your mind at all,
you'd use it longer because you're older.

Chances are a
little better, too.

Pa, will you stop picking
up on every little thing I say?

It is possible to forget more
than some people will ever know.

Same goes for machinery.

It's got to be used.
Taken care of.

Wish you'd ease up a
little. Try to understand.

That goes for people, too.

Got to keep moving along,
otherwise you get rusty.

Camptown race...
Gonna run all day

Oh, how long has
it been, Mr. Walton?

Well, too long. Where you been
keeping yourself, Nurse Nora?

Well, I spend a time
on this road all day.

Seems like I'm riding up
or down it most of my life.

Haven't got sickness
back up yonder?

Oh, some.

Most of the real
sickness can be done for.

Medicine or a bandage
takes care of most.

It's not that kind
that bothers me.

Well, it's not an epidemic,
or something serious?

Oh, not the usual kind. Nothing
you could call contagious.

Up there, Mr. Walton, what...

What I need most
is a pill for lonely.

A pill for loneliness?

Well, now, that's
mighty hard to come by.

My best to your family.

Let me know if I can help
out with those lonely people.

I know that feeling.

Do you want to see me, John?

Oh, yes, sir. I finished the story
here. I'd like you to okay it for me.

As long as you like it,
I don't have to read it.

Well, it's talking about the depressed
areas in the country, economically.

You know Jefferson
County is one of the worst?

Why, they can't do that
to two old newspapermen

- from Jefferson County, can they?
- Listen to this. Here.

- What?
- Here, starting here.

"High unemployment in the
towns of Westham and Rockfish.

"Local businesses have
shut down temporarily.

"Some owners have
closed doors permanently

"and left for more
prosperous areas."

I saw something about
that this morning here.

Yeah, Mama wrote me that people
were leaving Walton's Mountain

'cause they just can't
make a living there.

Here it is. Here it is.

"Virginia claims one of the
nation's highest prosperity booms.

"All along the sea coast,

"where ship-building and defense plants
are burgeoning, record numbers of people

"are commanding the highest
wages since the Depression."

- It goes on.
- No, no, no, no.

The shore and the Blue
Ridge are two different worlds.

They always have been.

What about your family?

Well, Daddy's still at home, but
all he's got going for him is a mill,

and I'm sure there're not too many
people hiring millwork these days.

It's a good thing we're not trying to
make a go with The Blue Ridge Chronicle,

or we'd go broke.

I had a hard enough
time as it was.

I know that Virginia is the
farthest thing from your mind,

but I want you to
take this to accounting.

Are you forcing me to go home?

Only because it's
Jefferson County.

And I'll want the
coast story, too.

- You'll be hearing from me, Mr. Johnson.
- I hope so.

Thank you, sir.

I didn't catch the
name of this town.

This?

This is paradise.

I'm just kidding. It's
Rockfish, Virginia.

I just haven't been
home in a long time.

Miss Fanny!

John-Boy?

- It is. It's you, isn't it?
- I think it's me, I think so.

Oh, my goodness!

- Well, it certainly is you.
- You're the first friendly face I've seen.

But how long has
it been, John-Boy?

About a year. This is
a surprise visit, though,

and I was going to start
out by surprising Erin.

She still does work
here, doesn't she?

Oh, she does. Now and then.

Well, I haven't been
able to afford much help.

- What with people giving up their phones.
- Is it really that bad?

But Erin seems to
have another job.

Really? That's funny. She didn't
write me about that in her letters.

Well, perhaps I shouldn't
have mentioned it.

I can't say what
kind of job it is.

Erin hasn't volunteered.

Oh, and of course, John-Boy,
you know I would never pry.

Oh, no.

Still, there aren't
many jobs, you know,

for a young lady in Rockfish.

Well, I'm sure I'll find out all
about it as soon as I get home.

Possibly.

Well, it's just a treat to
see you again, John-Boy.

Thank you, Miss Fanny.

Oh, and I know you
want to surprise everyone,

so I won't mention to
a soul that you're here.

- I appreciate it, Miss Fanny.
- You can count on it.

Emma?

You'll never guess
who's back in town.

Hello.

I didn't think it was possible.

Car to stop on this road
and me not know the driver.

Want a ride anyhow?

All right.

- Put your stuff in the back.
- Thanks.

- I'm Hank Buchanan.
- Howdy.

Hi.

I'd say you fit most
of your descriptions.

How's that?

Well, I'd take Mama's word for
it you're a fine, young preacher,

and Daddy'd have to mean it when
he said you was a hell of a fisherman.

You're right so far.

'Course, Erin's always
been a little flighty now.

She says you're a dreamboat.

I am.

I like hearing it
better from Erin.

Now, you must be the
legendary John-Boy.

"Legendary"?
That's not bad, now.

- "Genius, wise beyond your years."
- No, one thing about my family, now,

they never been prone
to exaggerating, no.

Not at all.

I'm really glad to meet you,
though. I'm glad to see you first.

- How have they all been?
- They're all healthy.

Mostly, things
are good for them.

- Mostly?
- It's the times, you know.

There aren't any jobs. No money.

Causes strains and decisions to be
made that wouldn't be made otherwise.

Well, what about
Erin? How is she doing?

She's fine. She's probably
older than you remember her.

I'll find out for
myself pretty soon.

I tell you one thing, everybody's
going to be mighty glad to see you again.

This close to home.

And I'm only now beginning to
realize how much I missed them.

- Well, here you are.
- Yep.

You're the author. Here's your
chance for a grand entrance.

And a legend should make one.

Free of the encumbrance
of a dreamboat.

- I'm much obliged.
- My pleasure.

John-Boy!

John-Boy! Hey, Johnny!

Big city like that, it's funny
you wouldn't need a car.

Well, walking is a lot easier. The
blocks are shorter than you'd expect,

and you get there much
faster than if you drive.

We been watching
those newsreels.

Looks like all they
have is traffic jams

and people shaking their fists at
each other, and the horns honking.

Well, it's not all like that.

But some, I will admit.
But taxis are easy to get.

Yeah, but they
cost a lot of money.

If AP wants me to get
someplace fast, they pay for a taxi.

Oh, so when are you going
to buy your penthouse?

Next week, when I
finish paying for my yacht.

Mama, that's the best food I
eaten since the last meal I had here.

You stay around long enough, I'll
put some of that weight back on you.

- Oh.
- I don't know. I think he feels just fine.

- Three to five pounds lighter.
- It's about that.

I tell you what, I'm gonna go
upstairs and get a closer look at the kid

that stole my room.

Yeah, well, you wake him up and
you've got to get him back to sleep.

I know how to do that.
I rocked most all of you.

John Curtis.

What are you doing up?

You go back to sleep, you hear?

You look just like
your Uncle John.

Oh, boy.

He told me all of his problems,

and the minute I started in on
mine, he went right off to sleep.

Does it feel strange being
in your old room again?

It feels good, but
it feels strange, too.

It's home, and yet it
isn't quite anymore.

Home's wherever I am with Curt.

I sent him a letter, you know.

He told me. That was nice.

You've got a good man there.

How's Daisy?

She's absolutely wonderful.

Are you going to marry her?

Like I said, she's
absolutely wonderful.

- Daddy's awful quiet tonight.
- Oh, he's worried.

He won't talk about it.
Well, maybe to Mama.

But you can almost hear him
turning the things over in his mind.

We all thought that new mill was
going to save the day, didn't we?

Curt and I do what we can. I mean,
John Curtis and I are staying here.

I can't see Daddy
taking money from you.

He won't.

We come from a very
proud line, you know.

We're stubborn, too.

Hey, hey!

Hey!

- How you doing?
- My big brother!

- What a surprise!
- Oh, you're looking fine, Jason!

So do you.

- You remember me?
- Yeah.

- Miss Fanny told me you were here.
- Oh, she promised that she wouldn't.

Oh, she means well.

- We'll do our talking inside, all right?
- All right.

John-Boy, you didn't tell Mama and
Daddy about my two jobs, did you?

- Well, no. I figured you do that yourself.
- I can't.

And please don't
let them find out.

Erin.

I'm real tired, John-Boy.

I can see that.

I... I met Hank Buchanan today.

Looks like he could
be a real good friend.

He is.

You sure you don't
want to tell me?

I can't.

Well, you're a grown girl now.

Quiet upstairs. You must
have everybody tucked in.

Almost everybody.

Are they big worries, Mama?

Well, there's Erin. You saw.

Comes home exhausted every
night from I don't know what.

Well, she's young. She
can afford to be tired.

Then there's your father.

Worrying himself sick
over no work and no money.

Think maybe he needs
you most right now.

- Is he out on the porch?
- Mmm-hmm.

John-Boy, thank you for
answering my letter so soon.

You know, nothing in the world
smells like the nights do around here.

Always some kind
of fragrance in the air.

You on vacation, Son?

Hell, I can stay awhile.

But I'm on a story, about what's going
on around here and over on the coast.

That won't take more than a sentence.
There's not much going on around here.

What about the new mill?
All those army orders?

We busted our tails
to fill those orders.

Now, the Army's three months
behind in their payments.

They have no need
for more orders.

Who authorized the
work? You remember?

Uh-huh. Lieutenant
Robert C. Adams.

Why you writing that down?

Associated Press can open
doors I can't open alone.

Maybe I can help
move it along a little bit.

That'd be nice.

They'll pay in good time.

Guess they don't
need no more orders.

And there's no other
work around here.

I hear you're thinking about working
over at the shipyards. Defense plants.

I got to think about it.

I'd give anything if you could
stay here where you belong.

I belong where I can
take care of my family.

They need you here.

I'll be the best
judge of that, Son.

I didn't come all this way
to pick a fight with you.

Just don't start running my life for
me. I've got a few years on you yet.

John-Boy, I'm real
glad you're home.

Your mama and me are
proud of you, you know.

Boo.

I thought you went
to bed hours ago.

Who do you think made this
room all nice and homey for you?

Mama?

She let me do it. After
all, it was my idea.

So you decided to turn into a
nice, young lady after all, huh?

I don't know. I
just got started.

- It's nice to have you home.
- Thank you, honey.

Promise to spend as much
time with me as you can?

As much as I can. I promise.

Good night.

You know,

I did do a pretty
nice job, didn't I?

Yup.

You awake, Liv?

What is it?

Should've heard the
way he was talking to me.

Like he was my pa.

He was gonna do this,
thinks I ought to do that.

With the back of
my neck getting hot.

He's not a boy anymore.

Before I knew it, I was...

I was sounding like Grandpa.

Think the back of Grandpa's
neck gets hot when you talk to him?

Never thought much about it.

Anyway, I told John-Boy
I was proud of him.

Now that you've said that, do
you think we could get some sleep?

Okay.

Hey, Ike!

Hey! John-Boy!

So great to see you.

Oh, you look just great.
The city must be good to you.

- How you doing, Ike?
- Oh, John... Corabeth!

- Come out here and see who's here!
- Hey, Corabeth, come on out here!

Oh, you're a
sight for sore eyes.

- Hi, darling, how are you?
- John-Boy! I declare!

Oh, you don't know how
often I've thought of you folks.

Oh, well, what a
surprise to see you.

Hey, where you going
with your lunch box, Ike?

Well, just going out looking.

Yes. Yes, he's looking
for an extra position.

I'm looking for a job
is what I'm looking for.

Well, that's what I said.

You had any luck?

No. But I'm keeping on trying.

John-Boy,

now, we're gonna get
together before you leave, huh?

- Yeah, sure, Ike, that's a promise.
- Okay.

Bye, honey.

- Can I use your phone for a minute?
- Oh, sure.

You'll find many changes here,
John-Boy. Not for the best, I fear.

People have had to
move away, you see.

There's no money.
None to be made.

They can't buy anything
beyond the barest necessities.

Mr. Godsey wouldn't
like me to say this,

but if people would just pay
him what they owed him...

Oh, well, not your family,
of course. I didn't mean that.

They've never been
much for owing money.

What can I do for you?

Well, I'm afraid, Corabeth, I
just wanted to use the phone.

- Your service hasn't been restored yet?
- Not yet.

Well, just before you use
the phone and make your call,

I want you to see some
of these lovely treasures.

Mmm. Oh.

These really are treasures,
aren't they? I bet they're old.

Yes, they're all
genuine antiques.

I just love these gentle
reminders of my gracious past.

- This is really something here.
- Yes.

Isn't that a lovely old
colonial bed warmer?

I reckon the beds were cold
in colonial times, weren't they?

Very. Oh...

John-Boy, with all your
contacts in New York,

you must know someone who
would be interested in these things.

For a price, of course.

Oh... Well, I...

I'm afraid not
offhand, no, but...

But they're really
lovely, though.

I mean, I could understand
how you'd be proud to have them.

Ike must travel all over
the place, looking for work.

Taking what he can get.

He does more looking than
taking. There's nothing out there.

What about that old Guthrie Coal
Mine? Whatever happened to that?

Coal mining's a big deal again over
in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

I think Mr. Guthrie closed that
mine down during the Depression.

Is he still around?

Lives in that old house all
by himself, as far as I know.

His wife was taken
a long time ago.

None of his children are at
home. They went away to school,

never came back.

See, if you could open that
mine, that'd solve a lot of problems.

If there's one good going concern.
Ike could hold onto his store.

Corabeth could
keep her treasures.

What treasures?

There's a whole family of
things that she wants to sell.

She show you that old
brass bed warmer, did she?

- Oh, yes, sir.
- That doesn't belong to her.

That belongs to all the Waltons.

- Can only warm one bed at a time, Liv.
- That is far from the point.

You don't need a bed warmer.

That's almost as far.

I think I'd better go over
there and take a look

at the rest of
Corabeth's treasures.

You don't need any
more treasures, either.

Come on, Blue.

Let's go off where
we are needed.

Maybe he won't come today.

Said he would.

You must've heard him.

"See you tomorrow,
Willis." He said that.

I heard him.

Well, then?

Don't pay to get your
hopes up sometimes.

Expecting good things
don't make them so.

Here comes Miss Nora and
Zeb's right along with her!

- Morning, Miss Nora.
- Morning.

You won't believe how
much I did after you left, Zeb.

I believe you.

- Morning, morning, Allie.
- Morning to you and Nora.

You staying awhile?

Oh, I'm afraid I can't,
Allie. Mrs. Hadley's in need.

I'll stop by on my way back.

Come on. Get along, Blue.

Go along, mule.

- I fetched you a little something, Allie.
- Oh, no, now.

Yes, I did, too.

Had a lot of trouble finding it,
too. Ain't it a pretty little thing?

Ain't pretty.

It's beautiful.

So fine and lovely.

Can't be for me.

It is. My Esther made it.

It's from both of us. To you.

That had ought to be a smile.

- Allie, leave him, come on!
- No.

Hey, she's busted through.

The old spring's
showing water again.

Did all that after you left.

Looks like a respectable
amount of labor.

Now, stand aside. Let me show
you a disrespectable amount!

- Mr. Walton and John-Boy! Oh!
- Verdie.

- Verdie, I didn't know you worked here.
- Day work sometimes.

- You look wonderful. How's the family?
- Just fine.

Harley will be so glad to
know you're home again.

Oh, good.

Well, I know you all didn't
come by here to see me.

Oh, Mr. Guthrie, if he's in.

- I'll tell him you're here. Come on in.
- Thanks.

Oh, Verdie.

I've brought
visitors, Mr. Guthrie.

Who is it?

Mr. John Walton
and Mr. Walton, Jr.

- Howdy.
- Mr. Guthrie.

Hi.

Well, it's nice to see you both.

We're not interrupting
anything, are we, sir?

I wish you were.

- Here, sit down.
- Thank you.

No, it's been many a year since
anybody was able to interrupt me.

I don't do anything anymore.

Well...

Mr. Guthrie, we
were wondering...

We wanted to talk to
you about your coal mine.

Oh, what about it?

We hear they're reopening mines
up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Yes. I read that.

Well, we were wondering if you
had any plans to reopen yours.

There she is, right over there.

When was it painted?

'35.

Last year that she operated.

Well, you see, the men got
chances at better salaries

and other jobs off elsewhere.

I couldn't keep 'em back, and
you can't dig coal without men.

As my son was asking, do you
have any plans to reopen the mine?

No, I don't have
any plans at all.

But I keep reading

that they need coal for
factories and mills, and...

Oh, are you two miners?

- No, sir.
- No, sir.

I own a lumber mill, and haven't
been getting many orders lately,

and there're a lot of men in
Jefferson County out of work.

Yeah.

And you say you're not miners.

No, no. But we just figure if you're gonna
open the mine again, it needs shoring up.

- You know, timbers and supports, and...
- Mmm-hmm.

- Have you been up there?
- No, sir.

As you say, it's been
closed quite awhile.

Yeah.

Since 1935.

You know, that artist
really captured that place.

Neat little package, isn't it?

And I don't mind saying it
was a good money-maker.

Looks it, sure.

Tight and secure.

Would you have any objections
to us looking over the site?

Oh, no. You help yourself.

Be something, wouldn't it, huh?

To get this place
stirring again?

Not such a neat little
package now, is it?

No, not at all.

You be careful, Elizabeth.

Don't worry. I've
been here lots of times.

We'll be right down here,
honey. Now, you be careful.

I just want to take
a look around.

You think it was
gonna be this bad?

Stood a good chance to be.

You sure could do the work.

Me and those able-bodied
men standing about.

John!

John Walton?

It's Ep.

Hell.

By golly, I get to
arrest the whole family.

Hey, how you doing, Ep?

What are you boys doing
here besides trespassing?

Just looking the place over.

Trying to get Guthrie to hire
me to make this place safe.

Can't mine until it
is, that's for sure.

Nothing much more
dangerous than an old mine.

Mr. Guthrie hired Harley as a
watchman here after he shut down,

but they gave up
on that after awhile.

Well, I hope you
boys get the job.

It'll be a relief not to have to
chase people out of this place.

Help!

Wait, now, what was that?

Daddy?

Elizabeth? Elizabeth!

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth?

Elizabeth?

Daddy?

Honey?

John-Boy?

Honey, are you all
right? Are you hurt?

- I don't think so.
- Is she there?

Yes. She's down there. She
says she isn't hurt, though.

Honey, are you all right?

- Sorry.
- I got a rope in my car.

Stay right there, honey.
Ep's gone to get a rope.

- I'll be right down.
- Is there enough room down there

- for somebody else?
- Seems like a pretty big hole.

Daddy, I ought to go down
there. I'm lighter than you are.

- Come on, Ep!
- All right, here.

- I think I ought to go down there.
- All right, you go.

Yeah. John, we need
you up here to pull.

He's the lightest, anyway.

Okay. Wait a second. I'll put it
around here. Okay. I'm all right.

I'm all right. I'm all right.

Okay, honey. I'm coming down.

Just a minute, honey!

All right.

Okay, I'm fine.

- All right, I'm down.
- You make it?

Yep. You all right, honey?

You sure you're all
right? Everything okay?

I'm fine!

- Just dumb, that's all.
- All right.

Is Elizabeth all right, Son?

Yeah, she's right here with me.

- Does it hurt anywhere?
- No.

All right.

Hold onto this. Just a second!

You can bring her
up in just a second!

All right?

- Okay, she's ready.
- Wait a minute...

Easy, honey. You'll
be up in a minute.

Easy, honey. Watch it, watch it.

All right.

Hold on. I got you.

All right.

All right?

She's all right.

Here, John-Boy.

Okay, I got it. Wait a second.

All right.

Jason.

- What are you doing still up?
- I had to finish some work on a story.

- Hey, are you alone?
- Yep.

- Where's Erin?
- I don't know.

I stopped at Miss Fanny's to
pick her up and she wasn't there.

- Does that happen often?
- Sometimes. Once in a while.

- Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
- Good night.

Good night.

Oh, listen. Can I
use my car tomorrow?

Sure. I think it
could use some gas.

I'd be happy to
put some in for you.

Good night.

- Thanks for the ride.
- Get some rest, Erin.

I will.

Erin?

Um... It's late, John-Boy.

She doesn't want to talk to me.

Well, no, she doesn't.
Not yet, anyway.

Jason said she
wasn't at Miss Tatum's.

She wasn't.

You got a sister?

No.

Well, they can concern
you in a very special way.

You know, the fact that she's
avoiding me doesn't hurt my feelings.

But whatever is bothering her
that much, that's what worries me.

Yeah.

Thanks for bringing her home.

No problem.

Well, this... This...

Looks like a fair
price. Of course, I

haven't been up there
in a long, long while.

Well, sir, it really
needs a lot of work.

Even the buildings
aren't all that safe.

Well, we can't have that.

How about you, young man?
You going to stay around and work?

Well, I'm bound to see
it begin, that's for sure.

Good.

- I want Harley on that job.
- So do I.

- Well, you want me to sign these?
- Handshake's good enough for me.

All right.

- Best of luck to you.
- Thank you.

Sheriff.

And this is

all thanks to you, young man.
I'm very excited about this.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, my goodness!

John-Boy!

Oh, I was just hoping you'd
find time to come see me.

Oh, I like that!

Well, you know I'd have
time to come see you.

That kissing business. Could
you do another one over here?

Isn't that sort of what New
York is like? Kind of kissy?

Oh, it's just home
folks, that's all, Thelma.

Oh, come up here. I
wanna give you something.

All right.

You sit right over there.

Thelma's gonna give you
a welcome-home present.

Now, you call that a
welcome-home drink.

Thank you, Thelma.

Here's to you.

Gosh, you know, I
was in the city once.

Oh, hot dog. If I ever get the
money and the time together again

at the same time, I'm
gonna come see you.

Well, you do that, and I'll
treat you the beer, all right?

Hey, Jason!

- Hey, Brother.
- How you doing?

All right. Glad
you could make it.

Yeah. It's not too much
of a crowd here tonight,

although you're
in pretty good form.

Oh, it is a little slow.

This is about average
for these days, though.

Oh, yeah. Thelma's looking well.

She's a fine lady.

Tell me something, Jason.

When you drive Erin, where do
you take her? To this other job?

Mmm, not really.

I don't take her anyplace special.
Just drop her off in Rockfish.

She usually says she
has an errand to run.

And then you pick
her up at Miss Fanny's?

Unless Hank Buchanan
drives her home, yeah.

Why don't you talk
to Erin about all this?

Oh, well, she won't
confide in me at all anymore.

I've tried.

She doesn't seem to talk to
anybody much, except Hank.

She's so tired these days. She just
falls asleep in the car on the way home.

When we're at home,
all she does is sleep.

I don't understand it.

I do not understand it.

Hey, does your momma
let you drink this stuff yet?

Hey, Thelma! Bring us
a ginger ale, all right?

Coming right up.

Here's to you, Brother.

'Course, we're gonna
be doing carpentry work.

- We're not going to be doing any mining.
- That's good, John.

Our job is to set those buildings
to right, shore up the mine.

Replace those supports.

You gonna cut the
lumber here, John?

Thought I'd set a mill
up over there, Harley.

Save us some time.

I say anything
about getting paid?

- No.
- Not yet, you didn't.

Not yet, no.

Well, you're gonna
get paid. $35 a week.

Oh, that's great!

Hey, I appreciate this, John.

Looks to me like the job's
gonna last a good, long time.

- Oh, great.
- Good.

I appreciate this, John. I've
been out of work for two months.

I was getting awful tired
of just sitting around.

- Thank my son here. I didn't do it.
- Oh!

Appreciate it, John-Boy.

I thank you for the work,
John, and so does the family.

Just pull your load, Easy, and don't
spend all that pay at the Dew Drop Inn.

- Oh, I won't, John. You know me.
- Yeah, I know you, Easy, I know you.

Verdie says she saw you and
knew good times was comin'.

Well, I didn't do all that much, Harley.
You guys are gonna do all the work.

- Mighty grateful, John-Boy.
- All right.

Grandpa?

You didn't have too
much to say about all this.

No concern of mine. They
don't want me to work with them.

Well, you don't
have to be asked.

Some people don't think there's
any place in the world for a man

of my advancing years.

But Pa, I want
you to work with us.

There's plenty of millwork, fitting,
cutting. But I want you above ground.

- You hear that?
- Pa, I don't want you in the mine!

Not while we're shoring
up! That's off limits!

Blue and I got other work to do. I
don't intend to be your water boy.

- Grandpa!
- Come on, Blue.

Now, where do you
suppose he's going?

All I know is I keep
hurting his feelings.

Fathers are kind of
hard to raise, aren't they?

Still think I'm right about him.

Uh-oh. Here comes
a smiling lady.

What you got there?

Thought you could go
some lemonade and cookies.

Allie?

Never mind your sass.
Help yourself, now.

Sugar cookies,
light as a feather.

How many times I said, "How come
you don't make me sugar cookies?"

I can't say when I had one.

Well, have one,
and fill your mouth.

Lord, Allie's gone sweet on
you, Zeb. Look at her, look at her!

She's fixing to smile
and show her teeth.

I'm fixing to lay one
aside of your head, Willis.

You know, you remind me

of a pretty thing
I married once.

You're trying to charm me, so I
won't lay one aside your head.

I keep it close with me.

I recollect you
called it a smile.

I try to keep one handy always.

You know, folks,

there isn't much in
this life, except love,

and hard work, and
that is about the size of it.

How come it to be
so hard to know that?

'Cause it's so easy.

Now, where'd you get those?

I figured they'd be someplace
in Mr. Guthrie's old office.

He used to give
them out to the men,

but most of the guys
got to wearing 'em home.

Might take one of
these home myself.

Gives you the proud
look of a working man.

You look mighty official.

Say, John, before you
get to the mine shaft,

there's a long
tunnel over yonder.

I know there's lots of places where
the overhead is supported by timbers.

I'd like to check 'em out.

You're the only one that's been in
there. You're gonna need some help.

Hey!

I thought Jefferson County, Virginia,
is supposed to be a depressed area!

You are working for Harley now.

All right.

Come on, Jim-Bob. Bring your
ruler. You're working for me.

Okay.

It's like a cave.

Not as good. Man made this cave.

Main timbers start here.

- You can't shore these up.
- Nope.

Gotta replace those. Get
to measuring, Jim-Bob.

- How's it going, Son?
- Pretty good.

Dad, you better
take a look at this.

Wonder where that's coming from?

It's wet up here.

And getting wetter.

Take a shower.

It's work we didn't count on.

Nothing to that, John.

Just take our picks, chip
away some of that stone,

and reach in and
turn off the faucet.

That's what we're after. Work.

Yeah.

Sister and I think John-Boy

should be named Jefferson
County's Man of the Year.

Why, he's scarcely
set foot here.

Though the idea is not
entirely without merit.

Well, just look what he's done.

He went to see Mr. Guthrie,
set all those wheels in motion,

created all those jobs.

Don't you agree, Olivia?

I don't think I need to.

You and Miss Emily have
always sung his praises.

To the skies.

He always was such a live wire.

How was it you put
it at breakfast, Sister?

Oh, dear. Now,
how did I say that?

It made a little
rhyme, remember?

Oh, I know, I know.

"Good things abound
when he's around."

The "he", of
course, is John-Boy.

Of course.

Oh, I think that must be
the Man of the Year now.

He said he'd come
and call for me.

- John-Boy!
- Well, hello!

- Come in!
- Oh, no. I'm afraid I'm not presentable

- to come in, ladies.
- You are to us, as always.

You look so well, both of you.

Oh, do, now, step right inside. We
want to hear more about the mine.

You certainly sparked life back
into Walton's Mountain, John-Boy.

Well, everybody's working hard.

There's not going to be enough
hot water to get you clean.

You think I'm dirty, wait till
you see the rest of your family.

Oh, please come back
when you can stay longer.

Oh, I will. I
promise, I promise.

Tell Jason to be
careful of his hands.

He should be mindful of those
gifted musician's hands of his,

there in the dark
recesses of the Earth.

I'll be sure to tell
him. Bye-bye, ladies.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye.

Mmm-hmm?

Mama? Do you
know how late it is?

Yes, I do. And
Erin's not home yet.

- Has she ever been this late before?
- Never.

I want you to find
her, John-Boy.

I don't know how to tell you
where to look, or how to find her,

but find her and
bring her home safe.

All right.

Are you leaving
for Norfolk today?

We'll see, Mama. Don't worry.

Miss Fanny? I have to
know something from you.

- What is it, John-Boy?
- Erin isn't home and Mama's worried sick.

Now, do you know where
she's working that other job?

Oh, I promised I wouldn't tell.

You have got to tell me, Miss Fanny.
Something could've happened to her.

Now, you can blame me if
you want to, but I've got to know.

Oh, here it is.

James R. Dolworth, 312
Hazel Avenue, Rockfish.

Thank you.

What can I do for you?

Mr. Dolworth?

Yes?

My name is John Walton.
I've come for my sister.

What are you doing here?

Erin, I don't know
what you're doing here.

But I do know you've got a
family at home that's worried.

Now, come on.

Whoa. Now, Erin's been taking
care of my two children while I work.

Bobby's been sick tonight,
and that's why she's late.

It's a respectable
job and I pay her well.

Now, there's nothing wrong
here. I give you my word.

I didn't say there was.

I'll be in the car.

Jim's wife died a
couple of months ago.

So you take care of the
children while he's at work?

He works in Waynesboro.

He's a foreman at
the chemical company.

And it takes time coming and going,
so I feed the children, wash the clothes,

and clean the house.

There's gonna be trouble when
your father hears about this.

I didn't want any
of you to hear of it.

'Cause I knew what you'd say.

So you know
tonight's the end of it.

No, it isn't, Mama.

I make more money from
Jim than I do from Miss Fanny.

And I'm going to keep that job.

Dry as a bone two days running.

Told you I could
fix that old faucet.

This must be where old
Elizabeth crashed down.

It's a wonder she
didn't break her neck.

How are we going to make
this thing Elizabeth-proof?

Well, I guess we'll just take the
brush away, and all the lumber,

and then we'll just seal it up.

John-Boy, he's
got the right idea.

What do you mean by that?

First, he gets everybody
excited about this mine,

then he talks to Mr. Guthrie
about making the jobs,

- and then when the work comes around...
- He goes to Norfolk.

Well, he's no fool.

I'm gonna make sure I'm
the oldest son next time.

Pretty soon you will be.

You know, I'm gonna be going...

Going off like John-Boy does.

That's what traveling
salesmen do. Girl in every town.

Yeah, just let me know where
you are and I'll fly by in my airplane

and wave down to you.

There's only one way
to build ships faster.

What way is that?

Incentive.

That'll come when
we get into the War.

I notice you say when, not if?

When, not if. Right.

I'm not pushing for
it, you understand.

But I'm a realist, Mr. Walton.

Now, the coal that you use, that's mostly
from West Virginia and Pennsylvania?

Is that any better
than Virginia coal?

It's available.
Virginia coal isn't.

Their mines have been
slow getting into production.

You'd have to ask them why.

If Virginia coal was available,
at competitive prices, of course...

We'd use it.

Maybe you know something
I don't know about that?

Well, I know enough to know that
the Guthrie Mine down in Rockfish

is gonna be
operating pretty soon.

That does surprise me.

Why's that?

Never thought they'd get that
old mine into production again.

Yeah, well, we should have some
good, old Virginia coal coming out of there

in no time.

What are you doing up? I thought
everyone in the world was asleep.

Kind of a restless
night, isn't it, Pa?

Yeah.

Milk.

Panacea for babies
and old people.

Pa, I wish you'd come over
there and run the mill for me.

Trick is, you know, just to
let it simmer, not to let it boil.

You know, things you can do
left-handed takes them half a day to do.

Experience. Experience. That's
everything in life, you know.

Pa, listen to me.

I really need your help. I
need you over there, Pa.

Need. Your need is a little
too late. I am busy elsewhere.

Damn it, you are stubborn.

Don't swear at me!

I've switched things
around a little today, fellas.

Check this to find
out where you work.

- You check the worksheet, Harley?
- Thought we always worked side by side.

I'll call you when I want you.

When I want you, Harley.

What are you doing in here?
There's work to do outside!

Now, get out and do it!

- I don't want you in here!
- We don't want you in here, either.

All right, we'll all go out.
There's a fault right along here.

I don't think it's
safe. Until I find out...

Get out of here!

Get out!

Get out of here. Get out!

Hello?

Oh, Lord.

Daddy?

Daddy!

Daddy...

It's a long way off, Zeb. Could
be some other kind of sound.

Sounds like the Guthrie Mine.

My son and
grandsons are in there.

Go with him, Willis!

I knew you'd want to come.
Mary Ellen, we may need your help.

Erin, you and Elizabeth
take care of John Curtis.

- All right, Mama.
- How bad is it, Hank?

I don't know. Let's go.

John Walton!

John!

Where is everybody?

Did you pull that whistle?

Do you know what that...

- John-boy? What's the matter?
- They're in there.

- Who was in there? Who's in it?
- Everybody's in there, Ep.

- What, was it a cave-in?
- Everybody's in there, Ep!

Come on, let's go!

Come on. Come on.

I don't know how they all
got in here at the same time.

Probably everybody who
could hear that whistle is in here.

No, no, no, no!
Don't, John-Boy! No!

Not the pick! We don't
know where anyone is.

I know, son.

I know. You want to
rip it all down at once.

But it doesn't work that way.
Come on, now. Come on.

- Come on.
- Okay.

- You all right?
- Okay, just tell me what to do.

- All right. Take that shovel...
- Just tell me what to do, all right?

Take that shovel right
there. Easy does it.

Easy.

Jim-Bob... Jim-Bob,
are you all right? Jim?

Yeah, I'm okay, Harley.

John? John...

You all right?

Harley, Jim-Bob,
are you all right?

Where is everybody?

Jason pushed me in here,
so I wouldn't get buried.

They could've jumped
clear beyond each side of us.

Start digging! Dig
there! Come on!

Jason! Ben!

Jason!

Ben!

Jason!

- Daddy...
- What?

Dig! His... Dig!

John-Boy, tell me.

Verdie, it's bad. It's a cave-in,
and we don't know how deep it is.

- I'll go in.
- Mr. Guthrie, what we've got to know is,

what's behind the blockage. I
mean, how deep does that go in there?

Is there another entrance
into the mine, Mr. Guthrie?

Every man and boy in there?
John-Boy, who's going to get them out?

Ep is there and I'm there, and we're
just gonna have to have some help.

Mr. Guthrie, how about in the office?
Is there any blueprints, any kind of help?

There must be. There
must be. Come on.

Where would they be?

I never thought that
I... I shouldn't have...

- I feel responsible!
- That doesn't do any good.

I feel responsible. Now, we
got a problem to solve here.

You said there were diagrams around
here somewhere? Blueprints, something?

It could be at home.

Mr. Guthrie, think. Will
you please think about it?

The files! The filing cabinet...
Yeah, blueprints, blueprints...

What was the name of that
company? It'd be filed under that.

No blueprints here, I
can't find any blueprints.

Verdie!

Verdie, come on.
You can't do this!

Don't tell me what I
can't do! Harley is in there!

Verdie, come on. Calm down, now.
Just calm down. We can take care of it!

We'll take care of it. Come on.

Mr. Guthrie?

Mr. Guthrie, this looks
like something here.

Not this here. This.

This is a sectional conveyor.

A brattice.

A concrete stoppage.

- What is this?
- Boy, you wouldn't know it if you saw it.

But you would.

Mr. Guthrie, we've
got to have this stuff.

John-Boy!

Hank, the sheriff's in the
mine. Tell him I'll be right there.

John-Boy, we want
to hear it from you.

There's nothing to tell. It's a
cave-in. It happened before I got here.

They're all in there.

Mama, don't...

I can't accept this, Verdie.

I can't, either.

- And I won't.
- Mama...

Mama, come on! Get out of
here! Verdie, please! Come on!

You ladies, out of here!

The only hope we
got is in that office.

Tell Guthrie to find
another way into the tunnel.

Make him find it!

- What did you do with the hats?
- Oh, I left them in the office.

Here. Here.

- Olivia, did you find out anything?
- Corabeth, we need you. Come on.

- Livie, is it what we feared?
- I'm afraid so, Grandpa.

Grandpa, it's a cave-in. I
think John-Boy needs you.

Time to go.

- But did I lock the store?
- Oh, come on, Corabeth.

- I don't remember!
- Corabeth...

Hey, Johnny! Okay, one more!

Here they are. Here
they are. John-Boy! Ep!

Let me give you a hand, here.

Grandpa... Ep, why don't you
go outside and get some air?

You've been working
steady since we got here.

Oh, there's no time to rest now.

Let me spare you. No man knows
what he can do until he's been tested.

I'm glad you're here, Grandpa.
Hey, Sheriff, what is that?

Hold it! Hold it!

- Mr. Guthrie, could this be anything?
- What? I need help here, real help.

Too many people
shoving papers in my face.

You don't even know
what you're looking for.

- We're what you've got, sir.
- Please, Mr. Guthrie. John-Boy says

we have to find another entrance
to the tunnel. Now, this looks like...

Are you the mother?

I think this might be something.

John-Boy! John-Boy!

Is everybody all right?

Okay...

Okay...

It was I who pulled the whistle.

If help comes, it'll
be because of me.

Won't it, Verdie?

Grandpa?

- Have you had more trouble?
- Another cave-in.

Now, there's a second wall
of earth between us and them.

John-Boy?

John-Boy, this doesn't say what
it is, but isn't this the tunnel here?

I can't see.

There's got to be a
legend here somewhere.

It goes right down around there... And
look, it goes straight down here, see?

Now, wait a minute. If this is
the same shaft, right here, okay?

And if we follow it... If
we follow it right along...

- Yeah...
- You remember the other day?

- Where Elizabeth fell in?
- Yeah! If that's the same shaft, then...

- That would be beyond the cave-in.
- It might be.

Come on, let's go! Come
on, come on. Let's go.

Ep, this has got to be it here!

Well, now, you were down in
there. Which way did that tunnel go?

When I was down there the other
day, it seemed to go straight off that way!

Just right off that
way! It's got to be it.

This has got to be... This has
got to be this side of the cave-in.

I know.

Grandpa! Hank! Come on!

All right, we got it!

- Get through?
- Yeah, we can make it. Come on.

Ep, this is it. This is
the end, right here.

They've got to
be just beyond it.

Well, how we know we
can get through this stuff?

We don't.

- All right? You got one?
- Yeah.

I never was cut out
to sit around and wait.

We've all had our
turn at feeling helpless.

People are going to start
blaming me, you know that?

I mean, talk about an ordeal.

How am I going to be
able to face up to this thing?

Not one of us has
put blame, Mr. Guthrie.

Oh, I know.

I know. I see their faces
when they come up here

and see me standing here safe.

Please, Mr. Guthrie, don't.

It wasn't my fault!

Not one of you can
say it was my fault.

It was that young
Walton boy and his father.

There's no need to take on so.

You were there, Verdie.
You saw them come to me.

They came to me
with their proposition.

It didn't start from me!

It's all on your head, boy!

Yeah, the whole... This
tragic thing! It's your doing!

You should never have
come home, John-Boy!

Put me down, fellas.

That's just their fear
talking and that's all it is.

They have a need
to blame someone.

If blame would
accomplish something...

- What can we do to help, Miss Walton?
- Well, the men are sure needed here.

You can wait with us.

Need any more light
down there, John-Boy?

Well, if there's any way you can get
us some more, we sure could use it!

Grandpa! Right there!

We're stronger than
we've ever been, John-Boy.

- Has anything happened?
- I think we're through the wall!

What is it? Huh? What is it?

Grandpa. Grandpa, here.

John-Boy!

In here!

John? John, speak.

John?

John?

Ben? Ben!

Ike!

Our Father in Heaven,

we humbly thank thee for
bringing us all safely together again.

We pray that this terrible
experience will make us appreciate

all the good times that
we've shared together,

and each other.

We pray that the one empty
space at this table will soon be filled,

and we thank thee for all the things
that we sometimes take for granted.

For the sunshine and
clean mountain air,

sons and daughters
and all growing things.

May thy blessings continue
to look upon this house.

- Amen.
- Amen.

That was pretty, Mama.

Here you go.

In time, the debris from the
cave-in was cleared away,

and once the mine was made safe,

it provided employment for local men
until the vein of coal was exhausted.

Today, the mine
has been sealed off,

and those dark, hollow
rooms under the earth

are silent and
empty and depleted.

The near tragedy bought the people
of Walton's Mountain closer together,

and in our own family, it healed the rift
between my father and my grandfather.

I had come home again,

and there would be much to
remember and to write about

when I returned to New York.

- Good night, Daddy.
- Good night, Ben.

- Good night, Pa.
- Good night, Son.

Good night, John-Boy.

Good night, Daddy.

Good night, everybody.