The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 6, Episode 9 - The Battle of Drucilla's Pond - full transcript

- What are you doing here?
- Nothing, just looking.

You better get out of here.

This area's off limits
to all civilian personnel.

I was just taking a short cut.

- Elizabeth, you get on home!
- I'm not doing anything.

The bridge has been blown up. The
boarding house has had a direct hit.

There's lots more coming.
You get on home, now.

You better run along now.

While the war in Europe
continued to spread,

a deceptive calm lay
over Walton's Mountain.

In this quiet before the storm,
our mother turned to painting,



losing herself in it as if somehow she
could preserve those tranquil days forever.

Ah, Livie, you've got a special
way with that brush of yours.

Grandpa, I didn't
hear you come up.

Just the way I am
when I'm concentrating

over working a beautiful
piece of maple wood.

I ought to be home starting supper, but
the light's just right this time of day,

clear and bright
with lots of shadows.

You planning to enter it in the
painting contest over at Rockfish?

- Sure am.
- It ought to be a shoo-in for first prize.

Why, even from this distance, I can
hear the leaves on that willow tree rustle.

I could paint Drucilla's
Pond with my eyes closed.

Drucilla's Pond.

Yeah, Mother Nature sure
outdid herself on Drucilla's Pond.

Calm waters, nice gentle
breeze, birds singing everywhere,



and best of all, the fish are
biting and the mosquitoes aren't.

World's changing, Grandpa. I'd
like to preserve it just the way it is.

Quiet and peaceful, the
way I want to remember it.

Good lord, what was that?

Well, offhand, I would say
it was United States Army.

Ike tells me they're conducting
maneuvers over in the Federal Preserve.

Next thing you know, they'll be firing
their guns off right under our windows.

Might do us some good one day,

the way that Hitler's
marching over all of Europe.

There's still an ocean between
us and that war, Grandpa.

I'd like to think it's
going to stay that way.

- Don't encourage them, Erin.
- Who's encouraging them?

Didn't you ever
see a girl before?

- What are you doing tonight?
- I'm taking care of my baby.

- What about you?
- I'm busy.

Oh, good afternoon, girls.

Hi, Corabeth, I need a
few things for the baby.

Aimee tells me that
John Curtis is thriving.

He's been cranky the last couple
of days. I think he's getting a tooth.

Did you see all those soldiers out there?
Well, I can hardly keep enough pop on ice.

Well, it's pretty
hard to miss them.

You can't walk down the
road without getting whistled at.

I don't blame them,
pretty girls like you.

I do wish that those enlisted men would be
a little more discreet in their behavior.

You know, the captain
was in this morning,

and he made me Coordinator
in Charge of Civilian Relations.

- Is that all you girls require?
- Yeah, that's it, Corabeth.

- That will be $2 even.
- You know what that means?

I'll be in charge of citizen complaints
and crowd control, things like that.

Oh, would you girls do me a favor
and take this package to your mother?

It's the fabric I ordered for
the girls' dance costumes.

Oh, you know what else? It'll
give me a chance to practice

my civilian defense drills, too.

Uh, Olivia is making the
costumes for Aimee and Elizabeth.

They are performing
a patriotic dance

for the opening of the Ladies
Art League painting exhibit.

I know. Elizabeth has been practicing
Shuffle Off to Buffalo all over the house.

I was so disappointed

when the girls insisted on
learning those modern dance steps.

I had so hoped that they would
continue with their classical training.

I sure like that tap
dancing, though.

We'll see that Mama gets the
material, Corabeth. Bye, Ike.

- Bye-bye.
- Thank you.

Bye.

- Don't look now, but there's some more.
- Ignore them.

Hey, what's the matter?

You too stuck up to
say hello to a soldier?

Oh, Curt!

Curt! Oh, my God.

- Okay. Hi.
- Hi, Curt.

Why didn't you tell
me you were coming?

How was I supposed to tell you? I
didn't know myself until the last minute.

This is my driver,
Private Lance.

- My bride, Mary Ellen.
- Hi.

My sister-in-law, Erin. So
how's that son of mine doing?

Oh, he's being spoiled to death
by Elizabeth. Come and see him.

Uh, I wish I could, I
really do, but I'm afraid

the army has other
plans for me right now.

Well, you're staying at
the house, aren't you?

No, see, I have to
bunk with my unit.

In fact, we're looking for
a place to camp right now.

When am I going to see you?
You can come for supper, can't you?

I can't make any promises, Mary
Ellen, but I'll do my best, okay?

Maybe I'll see you around, Erin.

It's possible. This is a
very small community.

- Bye. Bye.
- Bye, Curt.

See you, Erin. Bye.

I thought you weren't
going to do any more sewing

till you got yourself
a new machine.

Elizabeth and Aimee need
costumes for the dance program.

I figured that old machine
was good for one more project.

Why don't you order or get
a new one? We can afford it.

Why don't you
ask Ike to order it?

I was counting on
earning the money myself.

Just how do you
plan on doing that?

I am going to win the
cash prize at the art show.

No reason you shouldn't.

Comes marching home
again Hurrah! Hurrah!

When Johnny comes marching
home again Hurrah! Hurrah!

The men will cheer and the boys will
shout The ladies they will all come out

And we'll all feel gay when
Johnny comes marching home

Oh, what a fine-looking bunch

those American soldiers
are marching along the road.

Announcement!

I am now working hand in
glove with the United States Army.

I just sold their supply sergeant that
ornery chicken-chasing pig of ours.

- And I got a good price for him, too.
- You don't waste any time, do you, Pa?

They're a fine-looking
bunch of American soldiers.

Mary Ellen says
Curt's with them.

She's walking on air 'cause
he's in the neighborhood

and brokenhearted 'cause
he can't stay at the house.

I saw Curt down there running
around with the commander.

They were looking for a
place for the army to camp out.

Now, I just thought maybe
if we got close enough

that Curt could get home to have
supper with Mary Ellen once in a while.

So I told them they could camp
out right here on our Drucilla's Pond.

That's a good idea, Pa.
They'd have water, shade,

they'd be far enough from the
house so the noise won't bother us.

Jim-Bob's down there right now
looking the whole army camp over.

I'm going to have to find a way
to keep Jim-Bob away from there.

Hmm. We'd best keep
an eye on Erin, though.

What is that?

That's Elizabeth.

I made a swap with Corabeth,
dance costumes for tap shoes.

No sign of the calf yet.

Poor old Chance. She's
having a hard time with it.

Just a dumb animal, Liv,
they don't remember pain.

Don't say that in front of her. You're
not a dumb animal, are you, Chance?

Remember that time you sold her calf.
She carried on like her heart was breaking.

She was pretty smart then.

She got you and Pa to get some
money and buy her baby back.

- Going to sell this one?
- No, ma'am, not if you want to keep her.

Where are you taking
my plate? I'm not done yet.

You are unless you're
planning to eat the plate.

Where's the bread? I
want to sop up this gravy.

The bread was taken
away while you were busy

telling us how you helped set
up camp down at Drucilla's Pond.

It's all right, Jim-Bob.
We'll sneak down later,

get us a cold meatloaf
sandwich and a glass of milk.

You know what they call
supper in the army? Mess.

For good reason. You should've
seen what they served up last month

at the National Guard camp.

Elizabeth, don't you have
another pair of shoes?

What's the matter with her?

She's expecting her husband
home for supper and he didn't come.

Just leave her alone.

Elizabeth, you must
have some other shoes.

You're going to wear
those tap shoes out.

The army's got motorcycles
that can do anything.

Oh, I sure wish we had motorcycles
down there in the Spanish-American War.

Teddy Roosevelt, he used to do our
maneuvers down in the Florida swamps.

Oh, it was hot, hot as the
dickens. Them poor, poor horses.

We weren't called
Rough Riders for nothing.

Sure sounds like
it was exciting then.

- Nothing dull about it now.
- A girl in every port.

That's the Navy.

I know what I'm going to
do when I have to enlist,

ask to join the Air Corps.

What should we do
for a drunken sailor?

I feel sorry for all of you, missing
out on all of that excitement.

Here, try a little KP. It'll give
you a taste for military life.

KP?

Erin, could you listen for John
Curtis? I'm going for a walk.

- Sure. Okay.
- He's asleep.

Halt! Who goes there?

Mary Ellen Walton Willard.
Who wants to know?

I'll sure be glad when
Chance drops that calf.

Have you ever really seen
the view from this window?

I've been looking out
that window all my life.

The trees, the mountains. I'm
going to paint it from this very angle.

- The composition's just right.
- Why paint it?

You can stand there washing
your dishes and look at it.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

Well, where did you come from?

I snuck in and spent the night with
your daughter. I hope you don't mind.

- You didn't have to sneak, Curt.
- I know, but it's more exciting that way.

Would you like some breakfast?

I don't have time, but
thanks. I'll see you later.

Will I see you tonight?
- If I can get back.

I guess that's what you
call night maneuvers.

- How did Curt happen to be here?
- He brought me home after I got arrested.

What are you talking about?

I went for a walk down by the pond
last night. They've put it off limits.

You're lucky you didn't get
yourself and Curt into trouble.

For taking a walk on
your own property?

They got our permission. The
guard was just doing his duty.

It turned out all right, Mama.
Curt's C.O. gave him permission

to walk me back home and then
he stayed the rest of the night.

I better go see if
John Curtis is awake.

Remember when I went AWOL?

Came home to see you just
before they shipped me overseas.

I was torn between being afraid that
you'd get put in the guardhouse and

hoping that you would, so you wouldn't
have to be shipped out of the States.

I hope Mary Ellen never
has to go through that.

She'll manage,
just the way you did.

I'll fix it, Liv. It'll
be good as new.

- Will that be all?
- Oh, no, I need four dozen eggs.

Eggs, Thelma? You must have a
lot of big appetites about your place.

Well, it's not for us.

I want to make a cake for those
soldiers down at Drucilla's Pond.

Well, in that case, I think I'll
join up with the army myself.

Thelma, I wouldn't
make any cake today

because all the men are down on
maneuvers along the James River.

The C.O. keeps me informed
of all the troop movements.

In that case, I can get
on down to the pond.

I got a can of worms
very anxious to go fishing.

They'll be sure to be back by Saturday
because that's the day of the big disaster.

You mean the mock disaster.

Godsey Hall will be the
headquarters for all the local casualties.

That's right. I've been signing
up victims all morning long.

Hey, how about the two of you?

Well, you can count on me, Ike.

I wouldn't mind getting
a minor wound or two

if they shoot me in the
shade someplace or other.

Well, you know, I've already
signed up Jim-Bob to be on my staff.

You know, since you've been
doing this civil defense work, Ike,

you're sounding more and more
like the government every day.

Well, at any rate, being a
government man, I got your mail.

Thelma, that's yours,

and Zeb... No, no, wait,
I got it wrong. No, no.

This is the Waltons',
and, Thelma, that's yours.

Oh, by the way, I
noticed that Olivia

has sent away for a
catalogue for sewing machines.

And it just so happens that we've
got a demonstrator in the back,

- and it's only slightly used.
- Oh, yes, it's in excellent condition.

I'm sure we could come
to an agreeable price.

I'll let Livie know about it. She's
got a nose for a good bargain.

Oh, here, Thelma, may I assist you to
your place with this bag of groceries?

Oh, thank you, Zeb. Isn't
it a little out of your way?

- What was that you said about a cake?
- Oh, you rascal.

- Bye.
- Bye now.

Looks like I'm out of gas.

Looks like I'm out of gas. Could I
get a lift to the nearest service station?

We got gas at home and it's
closer. Why don't you hop in?

Okay.

You were right, Erin, about
this being a small community.

I'm Jason Walton.

Oh, my name is Lance
William. They call me Billy.

- It's nice to meet you.
- What a dumb thing to do, run out of gas.

I just got assigned to drive for Lieutenant
Willard and already I'm goofing up.

Don't worry about it. We'll get
you back before he ever finds out.

You know him pretty well. Do you
think he'll throw the book at me for this?

I really couldn't say.

Nice seeing you again, Erin.

I don't think your sister
likes me very much.

She had a boyfriend who enlisted.
He was killed in a training accident.

G. W. Haines. He was
just like one of the family.

- That's tough.
- She took it pretty hard.

I guess she doesn't want
a boyfriend who's a soldier.

Yeah. I thought someone was going
to get it this morning down by the pond,

a grenade exploded.

We wondered what that was.
I'll get you a can for the gas.

Thanks.

That well went dry
about 15 years ago.

There's cool water in
the kitchen if you're thirsty.

Well, thank you,
ma'am. That'd be nice.

I saw you drive up with Erin
and Jason. I'm their mother.

Well...

Happy to know you, Mrs.
Walton. I'm Billy Lance.

Mind if I look?

Might do better if you just look at
the pump. I can't seem to get it right.

Well, I think it's fine. It's like
looking at it through your eyes.

Gonna be taking it down soon. I wanted
to get a picture of it before it's gone.

I wish I had talent like that. All I
can do is work on mechanical things.

That's a talent. Our
youngest son is like that.

Our oldest boy seems to be the creative
one. He's in New York working on a novel.

He's about your age.

What are you doing in the army?

Well, ma'am, I come from a small
town in West Virginia, hill country,

and I'd like to see that
it stays just like it is.

Well, I can't preserve
it the way you can.

It sounds like you think
we might be in this war.

I don't know, but if we are, at least
some of us will have a head start on it.

Erin?

- Erin?
- I'm up here.

Come in.

You're not being very
sociable these days.

Well, I'm sorry if
I hurt his feelings.

I know you are.

Look, Jason, it's just that he's
in the army, another soldier.

Well, he's not just another
soldier. I told him about G.W.

He wanted you to know that he's
sorry. He just wants to be a friend.

I guess I shouldn't
have been so rude.

I'm taking him back to his
truck now. I'll tell him you said so.

Listen to the tempo,
girls! Heads up!

Smile!

Try to stay together
now! Heads up!

Tempo, tempo.

All right, you men, now bring the
cots right along in through here, okay.

Now, what I want
you to do, Ben and

Jim-Bob, is bring the
cots right over there.

You don't have to yell,
Ike, we can hear you.

All right, you men, now I
want it lined up right over here.

Ike, we got to set them up
before we can line them up.

Yeah, but... It's important
that it looks military.

Mr. Godsey! You are
interrupting our rehearsal.

Corabeth, this is
official business.

Our patriotic military dance for the
art exhibit is also official business,

and I would
appreciate a little peace.

Corabeth, I have my orders.
Now, go take care of the store.

Aimee, Elizabeth, come along.

Once again the military has run
roughshod over the poor artiste.

Yeah, this works pretty good.
I think I'll use it all the time.

All right, you men, now line
up those beds along there.

I want them looking shipshape.

It's all mighty quiet
around here today.

That's because the
army's moved elsewhere.

Even the birds have gone away.

They'll be back, soon
as the army breaks camp.

Billy Lance was telling me they had
an accident round here with a grenade.

They had to explode it in the pond.
They were real lucky nobody got hurt.

Oh, no! Look.

Nobody got hurt, huh?

Wait, Grandpa. I'm not
sure I want to enter this one.

I never did get
the light quite right.

Now, hand them all over. She'll touch
everything up if you give her a chance.

Now, Liv, there comes a time
when you got to let things go,

say to yourself, "I've done
the best I can for them."

Just like you did
with our children.

I always figured I could do better
with my children, too, if I had more time.

I turned out all right.

Oh, that Reckless surely
hates the sound of gunfire.

- The army's starting up early today.
- I was hoping they'd take the weekend off.

I wonder what they are
going to blow up next.

Today's the drill practice Ike's
been talking about all week.

Ben's still down
there helping out.

- Ike wants me to help, too, Daddy.
- You going, Pa?

No, I've kind of lost my
taste for their maneuvers.

You're blaming yourself for what
happened down at the pond, Grandpa?

Hard not to, considering I
invited them here in the first place.

Keep guard here, Pa. Don't
get captured by the enemy!

It's hard to tell the difference
between enemy and friends these days.

- Daddy, can you give me ride to Ike's?
- Hop in.

There. How's that?

Those frames you made set off
the pictures real nice. Now, let's see.

It's like looking at
a family history, Liv.

You painted about
everything on the property.

Sometimes when supper's late
because I've been painting, I feel guilty.

But seeing these pictures hanging
here makes me feel real good.

If I was a judge, I'd
give you first prize.

Because you like my painting
or because I'm your wife?

I've got to admit it, Liv, I know more
about wives than I do about painting.

Oh, Olivia, your work is
going to be hard to beat.

I sure hope so. I've already
spent the prize money.

That was a nice article in the
Rockfish Press about the show.

It was and, do you know, the
phone hasn't stopped ringing

with people wanting to
know when the exhibit begins.

And then they are coming all
the way from Charlottesville for it.

Maude, now, have you got
your pictures hung up yet?

No, that's why I'm here.

I thought maybe John
Walton would help an old lady.

You show me an old lady,
Maude, and I'll be glad to help her.

Olivia, if we don't come back,
I've run off with your husband.

Don't you dare, Maude.

All right, Maude, what
do want to hang first?

Don't you think we ought
to put the big one up here?

This big one here? You want
it right in the middle, Maude?

- I think so.
- Okay.

Sir, we're in the middle
of a civil defense drill.

- You're about to enter the disaster area.
- Can we get through up ahead?

Yes, but we'd appreciate
it if you'd drive carefully

and keep a lookout for victims
and emergency medical personnel.

- I will do that.
- Okay.

I hope the drive
was okay, Thelma.

Oh, it was just fine.
You're doing fine, Ben.

- Okay, bye-bye.
- Bye.

Does this really do
anybody any good?

Next to starting a war,

it's the closest they can get
to training in actual conditions.

Sure looks real.

Thelma, how soon is Ike's
going to be open for business?

Oh, I can't talk now,
Olivia. I'm in shock.

Hi, Mama. Tell Erin I'll
be home in time for dinner.

I'll tell her.

John, I'm going to have to
ask you to move that truck.

We've got to keep the roadway
clear for emergency vehicles.

Sure, Ike. Everything all right?

Oh, sure, yeah. Everything's
running along right on schedule.

You know, we had a direct
hit on the boarding house.

We have 13 casualties,
three of them serious.

But we'll have them
all taken care of

and the whole area
cleaned up by 1500 hours.

You can drop
back a little later,

we're having a special
on peanut butter, all right?

All right, Ike. We'll let you
get back to your war games.

All right, you guys, now
move that stuff over there, huh?

I don't know why they're
called games. They look so real.

Could be happening right here.

I don't want any
of that stuff here.

Glad to see folks
taking this seriously.

We are going to
war, aren't we, John?

Sooner or later Hitler's
gonna have to be stopped,

maybe we're going to
have to help stop him.

Sometimes I wish we'd never
had sons, only daughters.

Look what I got for you, Rover.
It's not even supper time yet.

- What's the matter with Rover?
- Oh, he's molting, again.

- Losing all his tail feathers.
- I know that. What's he doing up there?

He flew up there couple of hours ago
and I haven't been able to get him down.

I wouldn't mind, but he's scaring
Chance. Come on down, you stupid bird!

It must be all that gunfire.

All the animals have
been acting pretty funny.

Reckless is hiding
under the house.

Myrtle won't even let her milk
down, even when Grandpa tried.

Where is Grandpa?

He's in his room. He's
not in a very good mood.

Come on, Rover, I'm
losing patience with you.

Thought you were coming
out to the mill to help me.

Oh, I've got some errands to
take care of down at Rockfish.

Oh, dear, just listen to the
sounds of those blasted guns.

Does get onto your
nerves, doesn't it?

War is coming
closer all the time.

I never felt it so plain as when I saw
all those fish floating dead on our pond.

Every time I hear the guns,
it seems to be coming closer.

And when it does, nothing in this
whole wide world will be the same.

I thought it was hard
enough, Pa, going off to war,

leaving Liv and you and
Ma and the Mountain behind.

Son, you'll never know what it was like
just sitting home here waiting for you.

I guess I'm going to find out what you
found out. It's even harder to stay behind.

You know, I heard on
the radio the other day

something that
Mussolini fellow said,

"War is to man what
motherhood is to a woman."

There's no truth in that, Pa.

There are some
that think that way.

Heaven knows where
history will take your sons.

How many generations will it
take for us to settle our differences

without killing one another
and crippling our land?

I wish I knew the answer.

Be careful going down that road with
those soldiers and the equipment around.

Very nice.

You and Aimee did
beautifully, Elizabeth.

And now, before we open
the exhibit for public viewing,

we'd like to make an award to the artist
who's been voted the most outstanding.

And through careful
and lengthy consideration,

the judges have
voted the prize of $25

to Maude Gormley.

I never thought
I'd win the prize,

but in case I did, I
wrote this little speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen, on
this auspicious occasion..."

Oh, skip it. It all
boils down to this.

I'm as proud as
punch! Thank you.

The exhibit is
now officially open.

- Liv, I thought you were a shoo-in.
- So did I.

- The judge must be blind.
- Thank you, Jim-Bob.

At least they didn't give
the prize to somebody

who paints squares and
squiggles and calls it art.

There's the Shirley Temple
of Walton's Mountain!

Oh, Elizabeth,
you were wonderful!

Where's Grandpa? I
wanted him to see the dance.

He got a little nervous about
Chance and stayed home.

But I'll tell him
how good you were.

Let's go see the pictures, okay?

Well, here comes the
whole Walton family.

- Hello, Thelma.
- Hello.

Well, you seem to have
recovered in fine shape.

- Why, it was just a glorious disaster.
- It was a good experience for my men, too.

I think now that they could probably
handle a real emergency if they had to.

Let's hope they never have to.

Listen, Curt, how long are we going
to have to put up with all that noise

from those guns? Do you
know I had a cake in the oven

just for you boys and one of
those loud explosions came about

and it just flattened
that cake like a rock.

You haven't heard anything yet.

In the morning, the engineers are
scheduled to dynamite a road block.

It'll be the biggest blast yet.

Honestly, I think you men
enjoy all these little explosions,

like a bunch of little boys on the
Fourth of July. Bang, bang, boom!

Mama, I can't find your
pictures. They're gone.

You must have looked in
the wrong place, Elizabeth.

No, I looked in the right place. Right
over here. Come on, I'll show you.

Excuse me.

They're not here.

Well...

- Somebody cleaned them all out!
- Who would've taken them?

Uh, I can explain,
Olivia. They've been sold.

Sold?

Yes, all of them. I can't really
tell you the gentleman's name,

but he was a most distinguished
collector and greatly admired your work.

Wow. Congratulations.

Oh, come on, you must tell
me who he is. Who was it?

Congratulations.

What are you going to
do with all the money?

How are you, Chance, old girl?
Oh, you're still the same, huh?

I was hoping you'd have a
surprise for us this morning.

You've had that grin on
your face ever since last night.

I'm thinking about that new
sewing machine I'm going to buy

with the money I
earned from my paintings.

Aren't you wondering
who your secret admirer is?

I figure he's tall and handsome.
He certainly has good taste.

- You are a beautiful woman.
- You are a beautiful man.

Fire in the hole!

Now!

Now.

Must be the big one
Curt was talking about.

Hope it's the last one.

John! Livie! Everybody,
come on out here!

- What happened?
- It's Grandpa.

- Sounds like the barn's bombed.
- Are we being blitzkrieged?

- Pa? Pa, you all right?
- Couldn't be better.

You scared us half to death.

I was just making an announcement about our
old friend Chance here. She's delivered.

Looky, looky, looky.

Yeah, I just came out to take a look at
her and that darned army blast went off.

Yes. This little girl here was
literally scared into this world.

Good girl, Chance.

Guess we can thank the army for that. It
was the dynamite that brought her forth.

I think we should
call her Gwendolyn.

Not this one. She's Dynamite.

- Easy as pie.
- Look at that.

No more footwork.

From now on, Livie, you got to exercise
on your bicycle to keep your legs in shape.

- Can I learn how to use it?
- Sure.

How about making some
seat covers for my car?

So many sewing projects, I
can't decide which one to start first.

Well, I better take a
look in at Dynamite.

Mama, can I borrow that silk scarf
Daddy brought you from France?

- I put it in the attic last spring.
- Got a big date?

- Curt and I are going for a walk.
- Is John Curtis asleep?

Almost, but I think you
can still rock him for a while.

- When's Curt coming?
- Any time.

- I'll go look for him.
- All right.

I wonder how the bobbin works.

Don't you think you should wonder
about how your algebra works?

I was just leaving.

Well, what will
they think of next?

- You find it, Mama?
- I'll be right there.

Trying to figure out
how this bobbin works.

What's the matter?

- I'm taking it back.
- Is there something wrong with it?

It's just that I bought it with
money I thought I had earned.

You did earn that money.
What are you talking about?

I'm talking about my pictures
that I just found up in the attic,

the ones from the exhibit.

I guess you thought you were doing me
a favor, but it was cruel and humiliating.

Everyone congratulating me
for something I didn't deserve.

- Mary Ellen, Curt's here.
- Liv, what are you accusing me of?

Liv, will you come
back. Liv? Liv. Liv!

Hello, Curt, come on in.

Fine thing when you
have to make a date

with your own husband
just to go for a walk.

I'm sorry. There's no walk tonight.
My driver is waiting outside for me.

The whole outfit's pulling out, heading
back to Fort Lee. Maneuvers are over.

We just got the
word, Paris has fallen.

Paris, gone?

- Oh, John.
- This will hurt the whole world.

That beautiful city.

Those poor people.

I'd like to see the
baby before I go.

Tell your family thanks
for being so nice to me.

I'm sorry I didn't get to
know them any better.

Would it be okay
if I wrote to you?

You probably have girls
everywhere you've been.

- Well, not at Walton's Mountain, Virginia.
- You better be careful.

I might write you back.

- Good bye, Erin.
- Bye.

- You take care of yourself, Curt.
- Okay, Erin.

- Got to go. Bye.
- Bye.

You're learning early
about saying good bye.

Livie, you decided
to accept the war?

It terrifies me, Grandpa. I
tremble every time I think about it.

I can't run away anymore.

There's a war coming, and there's
nothing any of us can do to stop it.

Well, at least we can put up the storm
windows before the blizzard hits us.

We thought we lived
through some hard times,

but we're likely to
have worse ones ahead.

Liv, I've come out here
to make a confession.

I am the mysterious collector
that bought your paintings.

- Why, Grandpa?
- Because I admired them.

Because I suddenly realized how fast things
are changing up here on this mountain.

I wanted to leave sort of a legacy of
these times and places to my grandchildren.

Janie, she promised not to tell down
there, and I smuggled them home,

got them up there in the attic. I
didn't mean for you to find them,

and I certainly didn't mean
to hurt your feelings, Liv.

I would gladly have
given them to you.

No, then it would have been
your legacy and not mine.

This way it comes
from both of us.

As it was, when I got down there,
that one painting of the front porch

I admired so had already
been sold to someone.

It's probably hanging in some
famous museum, like people say.

Probably. Will you
forgive me, Liv?

First thing I'm going to make
on my new sewing machine

is a shirt for you to wear
to church on Sunday.

Come on.

No one of us on
Walton's Mountain

could possibly foresee that the
world was about to go up in flames.

Mama's paintings became
a lasting link to what was,

a reminder that through changes
and turmoil some things do endure.

Pa? GRANDPA: Yes, son.

Did you pay all the pig
money for the pictures?

Yes, I did.

But I still got even with the
army for blowing up the pond.

How'd you do that?

I sold them the
catfish that they killed.

Grandpa!

Well, they were
still pretty fresh.

Good night!

English -SDH