The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 7, Episode 10 - Day of Infamy - full transcript

This sure is a great way to
spend a Saturday afternoon.

It's part of my
Sunday school project.

You're just trying to get in good with
everybody because Christmas is coming.

It's not my fault I've
got the Christmas spirit.

Well, you're all
finished. Let's go.

Read it over once. I want
to make sure it's right.

"Reverend Henry Buchanan,
Sunday service, 10:30 am.

"Peace.

"'Man's gift to man under God.'

"December 7th, 1941."

Just think, only 18
more days till Christmas!



Time's inexorable march brought
constant changes and challenges

to the people on
Walton's Mountain.

Happily for us, the
closeness of our family

seemed always to temper
life's harsher moments.

However, a crisp, cold Sunday
morning in December of 1941

was to bring an event that
would sorely test our family

and the entire nation.

Here's your paper, Daddy.

Oh, thanks, Son. Hope
the funnies are good.

There hasn't been much
cheerful news lately.

Jason, would you make sure the
boys are ready for church on time?

Sure, Mama.

You think you can look up
from your paper long enough

to keep an eye on John Curtis?



There's some good football games
today. I'll read him the sports section.

He likes Bible stories better.

Might be good for both of you.

There's not many Bible stories
in the sports section, honey.

If they're playing games on
Sunday, there ought to be.

She's only lived here a month.
How'd she get a nickname like that?

How do you think?

And you're taking
her for a ride?

Well, she's taking me.

That's why I need you to fill in for
me over at Ike's Civil Defense drill.

They really call her
Sinful Cindy to her face?

Not to her face.

Now, how about it? Is
it worth 50 cents to you?

Yeah, that's slave labor,
but I need the money.

We've got to get going
or we're gonna be late.

- Hey, you playing the organ today?
- Not today.

I've got a faculty recital
at Kleinberg this afternoon.

I've got so many
butterflies in my stomach,

I wouldn't know one
hymn from another.

Better hurry it up.
I'll get Grandma.

Okay.

I sure appreciate what
you're doing for me, Jim-Bob.

Hope it's worth it for you.

Red convertible, long
blonde hair. You bet!

Gee, that's funny. I never heard of
a convertible with long blonde hair.

Ten more days. It
seems like an eternity.

I bet I've packed and
unpacked a dozen times.

You must be getting
pretty good by now.

Mama, you don't seem
very upset about my leaving.

I've had some practice in letting
you go. I just wish it wasn't so far away.

Well, Curt says
Hawaii's beautiful.

And the hospital we'll be
working at looks out over a harbor.

It has a lovely-sounding name.

Pearl Harbor.

It's gonna be a great
adventure for both of you.

I'm just glad you're not
taking John Curtis with you.

Mama, John Curtis is
going with me, you know that.

So, the art exhibit is a perfect
excuse for going into town.

Sounds sneaky.

Louella Parsons says it's the best
movie Hitchcock has ever made,

and Hedda Hopper
thinks that Joan Fontaine

will win an Academy
Award for it.

It sounds scary. Suspicion.

Yeah, and romantic.

I don't see how they can say going
to a movie on Sunday is being sinful.

I mean, when the Bible was
written, they didn't even have movies.

Hi, Olivia.

You go on ahead. I
want to talk to Verdie.

Good morning, girls.

Hi, Verdie, it's
good to see you.

Good to see you too, Olivia.

Looks like you Waltons are going
to fill up your church this morning.

There's gonna be
one less pretty soon.

Curt finally got permission for
Mary Ellen to join him in Hawaii.

Oh, how wonderful! When?

Probably before Christmas.

Jodie's over there on
the battleship Arizona.

They put into
Hawaii all the time.

Well, if I know Mary Ellen, she'll
get them all together for a visit.

I hope so.

You know, I think
Jodie's a little homesick,

but he'd never
admit it to his mother.

There doesn't seem to
be a word like "homesick"

for the people who
have to stay at home.

I call it "folk-sickness."

When your children leave
home, you miss them all the time,

even though you try to do
everything just the same.

And it never is the same.

It sure isn't.

Come on over and say goodbye
to Mary Ellen before she leaves.

- I'll do that, Olivia.
- All right.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye.

Lord,

we thank thee for the blessings
thou has bestowed upon this family

and for the food
upon this table.

We ask thee to protect our
loved ones who are not with us,

John-Boy, Curt, Jodie Foster.

Watch over our Mary Ellen and John
Curtis, who will soon be far from us,

but ever present in our hearts.

Amen.

Amen.

This looks really good, Mama.
- Oh, look at this. Dig in.

- Go ahead.
- Chicken...

Who's that?

Ben's date. Look at that car.

- Oh, her hair's not really that color.
- Yeah, but the car is.

I don't think Ben should
go out with that kind of a girl.

Especially on a Sunday.

What kind of a girl
you think she is?

Well, she just looks suggestive.

Now, Liv,

what could possibly happen in an
open car in the middle of December?

They could put the top up.

Oh, I see my car and
chauffeur are waiting for me.

Oh, Ben, I hope she
makes you walk home.

Definitely.

Jim-Bob, don't forget
to go over to Ike's, okay?

Ta-ta.

Ta-ta.

I hope they get a flat.

- Hey, Cindy.
- Hi, Ben.

Going to listen to the
Sunday concert, Grandma?

- Yes.
- You need anything?

Oh...

- Okay, I'll be upstairs.
- Okay. Fine.

Everybody gone?

Yep, it's a quiet Sunday
afternoon at the Waltons.

Tell Daddy to bring
some good firewood.

I want to hear it crackling
once before I leave.

We'll be back in about
an hour, Grandma.

We want to surprise Mary Ellen and
John Curtis with an early Christmas.

We're going to go get a tree.

Zeb. Zeb.

Oh, what a good idea.

We'll get one that Grandpa
planted. That way, he'll be proud of it.

Oh...

You'll get one change of
winter clothes, John Curtis,

and then you are going native.

Can you say aloha?

Aloha? No?

Curt says it means
hello, goodbye,

kindness, love, affection
and anything else nice.

You're gonna love it over there.

It's green, warm all year round,
soft winds, and the living is easy.

It won't be easy leaving the
mountain and everybody on it.

But seeing your daddy again is gonna
make everything okay, isn't it, big boy?

John Curtis, I can't believe the way
you have outgrown all these clothes.

Now, I'm going to go
downstairs and find a box

and pack them all away, okay?

Aloha, John Curtis.

We interrupt this program

to bring you a
special news bulletin.

The Japanese have attacked Pearl
Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands by air,

President Roosevelt
has just announced.

Several U.S. battleships are
known to have been destroyed.

Ford Island, Schofield
Barracks and Hickam Field

have received extensive damage.

Stay tuned for further reports.

- Oh...
- Grandma, what is it?

It's... It's bad. Come.

- Come where?
- Come on.

Grandma, please don't upset
yourself. It can't be all that bad.

It is.

Here is what happened.

President Roosevelt phoned
Secretary Early a half-hour ago

that the Japanese had attacked
Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands.

A few moments later,
he again phoned Mr. Early

and told him that the
planes had attacked Manila.

This means that
war is under way...

- Oh, my God.
- Between Japan and the United States.

Come on, fellas! We got to
have more hustle than this.

This might be real fire
set by real saboteurs, huh?

Come on, you guys,
you aren't listening to me.

I mean, the Nazis are
tricky. You got to hustle here.

Mr. Godsey!

Corabeth, I have told
you a hundred times,

do not disturb us when we
are in the middle of a drill.

Mr. Godsey, we have been
attacked by the Japanese.

At Pearl Harbor.
It's on the radio.

Corabeth, you must
have misunderstood.

I wish I had misunderstood.
It was H.V. Kaltenborn.

He repeated it several times.

Pearl Harbor.
That's where Curt is.

In our nation's capital,
Secretary of State Cordell Hull

escorts Japanese ambassador,
Nomura, and special envoy...

I wish the feature would start.

You think I have time
to go get some popcorn?

No.

Negotiations between the
United States and Japan...

- What happened?
- I don't know.

Could I have your
attention, please?

I'm sorry to interrupt
our program,

but I believe you would want to know
that President Roosevelt just announced

that the Japanese have
attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

I thought some of you might wish to leave,
especially the servicemen in the audience.

- Pearl Harbor.
- Isn't that where Curt is?

We better go home.

We interrupt our music

for your Sunday
afternoon listening pleasure

to bring you this latest
bulletin from our newsroom,

Honolulu, Hawaii.

At 7:55 this morning,
Honolulu time,

Japanese warplanes attacked
U.S. military installations

at and around Pearl Harbor.

The number of casualties and the
amount of damage is not known at this time.

To repeat, Japanese warplanes
have attacked Pearl Harbor...

Oh, change the station, Ben.

- No, I have to get home.
- What?

Now, back to music for your
Sunday afternoon listening pleasure.

Oh, but we've just started.

I'm sorry, Cindy,
but we're at war!

What did I do?

Hello, Professor Collyer.

My boy, I am terribly sorry.

I was beginning to think you and the
others had forgotten about my recital.

For a time, I'm afraid we had.

Is something wrong?

Pearl Harbor has been
attacked by the Japanese.

- Thanks, Cindy.
- Ben!

When am I going
to see you again?

I wish we didn't
have to hurry home.

If we're gonna decorate
John Curtis' tree tonight,

we got to get it set up.

It's been nice being alone
together for a change.

I am driving the long
way home, you know.

- The holidays won't be easy this year.
- Mmm.

I'm worried about Ma. We got
through Pa's birthday all right,

Thanksgiving, but now
with Mary Ellen being gone...

And John Curtis.

He's just the right
age to enjoy it all.

He's gonna have his own tree.
One his great-grandpa planted,

and we'll help him decorate it.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ, our savior

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all
from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O, tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O, tidings of comfort and joy

It is estimated that 50 to

100 aircraft from
Japanese aircraft carriers

somewhere in the Pacific in the
vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands,

participated in the
early morning attack...

Would you please turn that down?

Look, Mary Ellen, let
me take John Curtis.

Cruisers and destroyers in Pearl
Harbor have received direct hits...

Oh, I wish Mama and
Daddy would come home.

Fires have been started at Hickam
Field and other land installations.

We are still waiting
for further details,

and we'll continue to broadcast the news
as soon as further information is received.

Don't give up hope, Mary Ellen.

Oh, Verdie, I've been thinking about
you ever since I heard the first report.

The Arizona's been hit.

I've been praying
for Jodie and Curt.

I guess prayer is all
we've got right now.

And each other.

Mama and Daddy are
up on the mountain.

My menfolk are off on a fishing
trip and Esther's in Richmond.

We'll be each
other's family for now.

Oh, let me take
that big boy of yours.

Oh, I need something
precious like him to hold.

Come here, John Curtis.

- Oh, it's okay.
- It's all right, John Curtis.

Verdie, I can't stand still.
I don't know what to do.

I know. We need some
chores to keep us busy.

Oh, I bet John Curtis could show us
how to feed those nice laying hens.

Come on, come on, John Curtis.

What in the world?

- We having some kind of a party?
- I don't know.

Daddy, have you heard the
word? Pearl Harbor's been bombed.

Japanese planes have bombed
Honolulu all day. It's been on the radio.

It's the truth,
John. It's awful.

Mama, I'm so glad you're home.

It's awful, Mama, awful!

- Where's Mary Ellen?
- Mama!

There, there.

Good afternoon, everybody.

Japan has made war upon the
United States without declaring it.

Airplanes, presumably
from aircraft carriers,

have attacked the great Pearl
Harbor naval base on the Islands,

and have attacked Manila,
the capital of the Philippines.

There has been much damage.

Many fires were started.

About 50 planes, it is believed,

participated in the attack
on the Hawaiian Islands.

Many, according to a bulletin that
has just come in, were shot down.

So far, as is known, the attack
on Hawaii and Manila was made...

I'm all right. Really, I am. I just
couldn't take much more of that.

That's all we're gonna be
hearing about from now on.

They don't know
the whole story yet.

It wasn't only that.

It was the way everyone
kept looking at Verdie and me.

We're all concerned
for both of you.

We can't help that.

But it isn't only Verdie and
me this is going to affect.

They ought to be
thinking about themselves.

They are, honey, we are.

But you and Verdie
come first right now.

Curt's all right. I know he is.

We're all holding on to that.

Cleveland pine.

You didn't get any firewood.

We went up in the
mountain to get that tree.

We wanted to surprise
you and John Curtis.

An early Christmas, kind of.

I love the idea.

Bring it in, Daddy.
We'll decorate it tonight.

I'm gonna put John
Curtis down for his nap.

All torn up on the inside,
all Mary Ellen on the outside.

Feel kind of funny about
this Christmas tree now.

She's gonna need it
more than ever now.

It's way past his naptime,
but he'll be cranky

if he doesn't
get a little sleep.

Every time I pick him up, I
realize how big he's gotten.

John Curtis, here's
your favorite soft drink.

Japanese aircraft carriers...

It gets dark earlier
these days, doesn't it?

The winter solstice
is coming in.

December 21st. It's the
shortest day of the year.

Comes just before Christmas.

It happens every year.

Mary Ellen, do you want us to
put those things away for you?

No, I'll do it later.

I'll tell you what you can do,

why don't you get out
the Christmas trimmings,

and we can fix up that little tree
Mama and Daddy brought home?

Are you sure?

I don't want John
Curtis to grow up thinking

there's only palm
trees in the world.

Go on. I'll be down later.

All right, we'll wait for you.

Maybe you ought to take a nap.

What do you see, Mama?

Everything I've
always seen out here.

The trees are still
there, the sky isn't falling,

and the mountain
looms strong as ever.

And yet nothing's the same.

I wonder what Grandpa
would say about all this.

He's never one to
turn away from a fight.

He fought in Cuba.

Daddy fought in France.

And Uncle Ben died there.

Well, we'd better get going.

Where you going?

Daddy wanted us to finish
our chores before it got dark.

Oh.

You go on, then.

Ma?

Oh, I was hoping you
were getting some rest.

Ma, I know how you feel.

Fact is, now I know how
you felt about 25 years ago.

War takes on a whole new meaning
when you got children, doesn't it?

Yeah.

Ma, I'm going to need
some of your strength.

Livie will, too.

After everything that's
happened, chores seem so dumb.

What're you going to do, get
a gun and shoot someone?

I'd sure like to.

Think about what Mary Ellen
must be feeling right now.

Not a single tear.

At least in front of anybody.

Sure is hard to think
about Curt being over there.

I don't see how she does
it without falling apart.

We've all got to find
that kind of strength.

You gonna enlist?

I don't know.

I've got to find out where I stand
with the National Guard now.

When my enlistment was up,
I wasn't eligible for the draft.

I'm going to join the
Air Corps for sure now.

If Mom and Daddy will let me.

I'm going to join up.
Probably go into the Navy.

I thought you were
dead-set against the draft.

Things are all different now, Jason.
Oh, you think I'm chicken or something?

Ben, take it easy.

I don't want you boys
rushing into anything now.

But look what's happened, Daddy!

I know. We all feel the same way
and we'll all be involved soon enough.

What if there's a sneak
attack on the East coast?

We have to be prepared.

What we're doing here at the mill is just
as important as running off to the war.

Cutting wood?

I just got a call from Matt Sarver. He's
doubled every order he's got with us.

He's doubled it?

I'm gonna need you all till
I can find some extra help.

And that's hard
to do these days.

Count on me, Daddy. There's
lots of ways to win a war.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean
we can't do more later on

when you put on extra men.

You and Jason are old enough
to make your own choices.

Jim-Bob soon will be.

For now, I want
you to stand by me.

Sure, Daddy.

Sure. I've been thinking of
ways of increasing our output,

working extra hours
and speeding things up.

Good.

Jim-Bob?

Yeah, for now.

This is the latest and most
complete word we have received.

And at this time, there are no
further reports from Pearl Harbor.

The White House has
announced that the President

will address a special
session of Congress tomorrow.

His speech will be
carried on this station.

Stay tuned for
further bulletins.

We return you now to
music by our studio orchestra.

- Turn that off for now, will you, Son?
- Please do.

All the regular programming
has been canceled anyway.

I heard a lot of people
complained this afternoon

when they interrupted the
broadcast of that pro-football game.

Well, nobody could
believe the news at first.

How did Grandma find
out about Uncle Ben?

A telegram.

I remember the day it came.
It could have been John.

Terrible way to learn the news.

There is no easy way, Son.

I never thought I wouldn't want
to decorate a Christmas tree.

I don't feel like it either.
I'm gonna go to bed.

That's a good idea. We
all should get some sleep.

I don't think I've ever felt
more tired or less like sleeping.

But I guess we
all need the rest.

Pray, pray.

That's right, Ma. We all should
pray. Millions will be doing it tonight.

Deck the halls
with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Well, let's trim the tree.

John Curtis and I are
rested up and raring to go.

All right, then.

Looks like we're going to have too
many ornaments for this little tree.

We can decorate the whole house.

I'm gonna decorate one
on your nose, Elizabeth.

Well, we better start by putting
a string of lights on the tree.

- I'll help you, Ben.
- Okay.

Oh, Grandma, you found it!

Look, John Curtis,
it's a real bird's nest.

It's been on our Christmas
tree ever since I was a little girl.

Which doesn't seem too
long ago, at least to me.

It really wasn't, Mama.

I do love our little tree.

I don't know what I
would have done without it.

I think Pa planted it just
for a night like tonight.

And for each one of us.

- Come on, let's go!
- Well, let's look for those lights.

Here we go!

Deck the halls
with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Don we now our gay apparel

Fa la la, la la la, la la la

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol

Fa la la la la, la la la la

What are you doing here?

What are you doing here?

Remodeling. I want my patients
to have a comfortable waiting room.

Dr. Vance thought it was
enough to practice good medicine.

Well, I don't need all this
space for my own living,

so I'm going to expand
the examining room, too.

Come on, I'll show you.

See, someday, I'm going to
put in a pharmacy right back here.

Maybe set up an operating
room, put in a few hospital beds.

You've rearranged everything!

Sure. It's more
convenient this way.

Well, there's nothing
wrong with the way it was.

- You disapprove?
- Dr. Vance certainly would.

- What did you stop by for anyway?
- I thought you wanted a nurse.

I thought you
weren't interested.

Well, I changed my mind.

Well, what makes
you think that I haven't?

I was hoping to have
another dance with you.

May I?

This may be our last
chance to be alone.

You're about to turn
into a married lady.

Well, people might not understand
if they see us out here together.

There's nothing to
misunderstand, is there?

I saw you kissing
last Saturday night.

Well, it didn't mean a thing.

Well, I hope it did, Mary Ellen,

because I'm going to marry you.

I suppose you call
that a proposal?

It's the best one you're
gonna get from me.

Well, I wouldn't marry you, Curtis
Willard, if you were the last man on Earth.

With this ring, I do thee wed.

And with all my earthly
goods, I thee endow.

Oh, do you want
to bite my finger?

What's there?

Yeah? Yeah? Uh-huh.

Can I see him again?

Yeah, as soon as his grandparents
get through admiring him.

Silly, I was worried about him.

He's just perfect, isn't he?

I guess he's just about the most
beautiful baby I've ever seen.

Smart, too.

Timing his arrival so his
daddy would have to deliver him.

I wouldn't have
missed it for anything.

Well, you did real good,
considering it's your first son.

You didn't do so bad yourself.

If we're going to hear the
President, we'd better get home.

Yeah.

Thanks for coming with me.

I feel better now.

Not a soul in sight.

Yeah.

Everything has
stopped to listen to FDR.

I always wanted a son, you know.

But now, when I think of all
the women across the land,

the mothers of sons,

I realize that's one
heartache I won't have to bear.

Corabeth?

Would you like to come
over here and listen with me?

Senators and representatives,

I have the distinguished
honor of presenting

the President of
the United States.

- Where's Jim-Bob?
- He went to Rockfish.

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker,

members of the Senate and
the House of Representatives.

Yesterday,

December 7 th, 1941,

a date which
will live in infamy,

the United States of America

was suddenly and
deliberately attacked

by naval and air forces
of the Empire of Japan.

It will be recorded

that the distance of
Hawaii from Japan

makes it obvious that the
attack was deliberately planned

many days or even weeks ago.

The attack yesterday
on the Hawaiian Islands

has caused severe damage

to American naval
and military forces.

I regret to tell you that very many
American lives have been lost.

As Commander-in-Chief
of the Army and Navy,

I have directed that all measures
be taken for our defense.

But always will our whole nation

remember the character
of the onslaught against us.

No matter how
long it may take us

to overcome this
premeditated invasion,

the American people
in their righteous might

will win through
to absolute victory.

With confidence
in our armed forces,

with the unbounding
determination of our people,

we will gain the inevitable
triumph, so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare

that since the unprovoked

and dastardly attack by Japan

on Sunday, December 7 th, 1941,

a state of war has existed

between the United States
and the Japanese Empire.

Guess we all expected it.
Sure doesn't make it any easier.

I don't understand why
Jim-Bob isn't home by now.

Did he tell you why
he went to Rockfish?

Well, I really couldn't understand
him. You know how he mumbles.

What do you think
he said, honey?

He talked about the recruiting
office. He told me not to tell you.

He can't join the Air Corps,
not without us signing for him.

He can if he lies about his age.

Olivia?

Good news, Olivia, good news!

Oh, Verdie.

Mary Ellen.

I'm so glad.

Jodie was on weekend liberty.

He got a message to me
through the Red Cross.

He was wounded by a bomb
blast, but he's gonna be just fine.

That's good news, good news.

Any news, Mary Ellen?

No.

Jim-Bob, I want to talk to you.

What about that promise
you made me yesterday?

Don't worry, Daddy,
they wouldn't take me.

Jeb at the telegraph office
asked me to give this to you.

I'll take that.

He knew what was in it.

He told me.

I guess it's better I tell you than
you read it from a piece of paper.

I want to hear it, Jim-Bob.

Curt was killed taking
care of the wounded.

They said he was
performing heroic duty.

Olivia,

do you want me to stay?

Thank you, Verdie, no.

If there's anything
I can do, anything.

It's very hard for us to know
why all this is happening.

We're gonna need each
other very much now.

"To John Curtis."

Curt gave you this?

Daddy?

"Dear Son,

"since I am about to take a
trip to the other side of the world,

"I've been thinking of all
the things I want to tell you

"about the life you
have ahead of you.

"Your great-grandmother
Walton is keeping this letter for you

"in case I do not have the opportunity
to tell you these things myself.

"Like you, I came into
this family as a stranger.

"In addition to the love I
share with your mother,

"I have had a
special relationship

"with each member of
the family that is now yours.

"I found out what it
means to take great joy

"in simply being alive from
your late great-grandfather,

"and deep inner strength
from your great-grandmother.

"In John and Olivia, you
will have grandparents

"who will be eternally young,

"yet wonderfully
old in understanding.

"You're a lucky boy to
have such beautiful aunts

"to grow up admiring as
gentle Erin and lively Elizabeth.

"And no matter
what happens to me,

"you will have fine young
men to look up to in your uncles.

"John-Boy to give
you the gift of words,

"Jason, the love of music,

"Ben, the drive
to get things done,

"and Jim-Bob,

"to show you how to
dream your way to the sky.

"From all in this family, you are
blessed with love and kindness.

"Your mother and I will do all we
can to make this a better world for you.

"But we give you
only two things,

"life and love.

"The rest you must
earn for yourself,

"and you will be the
better man for doing so.

"With great love,

"your father,

"Curtis Willard."

We had always known how
strong-willed Mary Ellen could be,

but those two December days
proved her great inner strength.

These were the times that would
remain in the memories of all Americans

who were old enough to grasp
the meaning of what had happened

on December 7 th, 1941.

The day when the world was
never again to be the same.

Are you still up, Mary Ellen?

I'm coming in, Mama.

You all right, honey?

Yes, Daddy, I'll be fine.

Good night.