The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 7, Episode 12 - The Boosters - full transcript

- Why are you packing?
- Why do people usually pack?

- But where are you going?
- I'm not sure.

All I know is I'm getting out of
here. I've had all I could take.

I don't understand.

From now on, I'm
going to be my own boss.

Aren't you ever coming back?

Maybe to visit sometime,
but not to live here.

Goodbye, Elizabeth.

Goodbye, Ben.

Most of the time when strangers
appeared on Walton's Mountain,

they were people who had taken
the wrong turn from the main highway



and had gotten themselves lost.

But the coming of World War
II was to bring many strangers

who were actually
looking for the mountain.

And while we didn't exactly have a
traffic problem, we did have traffic.

And that's what
gave my brother Ben

the idea for the boldest
venture he had ever attempted.

- He was safe.
- Here.

- I was safe.
- You were out!

Well, we were starting
to worry about you.

Hi.

Yeah, we thought you'd
be home hours ago.

Yeah, but traffic was
slow on the Richmond road.

- Did you have a good trip?
- Got more orders than we can fill.

- Any four-alarm fires around here?
- Oh, a few, but we put them all out.



What are you
staring at, Elizabeth?

Well, it's just, you don't look
like yourself in those clothes.

Well, I guess I better
go put on my apron then.

To the mill, we got
some talking to do.

Daddy, I caught up with everything
so we can start the next order.

- We're in trouble at Murdock Lumber.
- Why?

You gave Joe an order
he can't possibly fill.

Well, he's filled
bigger ones before.

Not in three days, and
that's the deadline on this one.

No one told me
anything about a deadline.

They didn't tell me
till I got to Richmond.

Well, why didn't you call me?

I didn't think you'd
subcontract on your own, Son.

But I've done that a
dozen times at least.

Not without
checking with me first.

I thought I was in charge
when you weren't around.

You're supposed to
hold down the fort, Son.

Well, how am I supposed to do
that and not make any decisions, huh?

- You made a mistake, a bad one.
- Well, why don't you just fire me?

Don't give me any ideas.

I work like a man over there,
and he treats me like a kid.

Well, maybe, most of
it's just in your mind, Ben.

No, 'cause I'm his son.

If I was just anybody who worked
for him, he'd show some respect.

Yeah. Well, you're
a little low on oil.

- I'd put a quart in next time you gassed.
- Well, you better do it in now, Ike.

I gotta take good care of this heap.
It's gotta last me till the war's over.

That's for sure.

You know, now that the
cost on new cars is frozen,

the price of used ones
is gonna go way up.

There's sure been a lot of cars
going up and down this road lately.

It's all the comings and
goings at the Pickett plant.

It's going to be a regular 42nd
Street and Broadway around here.

Well, Zuleika says she can use twice
as many rooms at the boarding house.

You know, I got a notion to
open up a defense plant myself.

Probably it'd only cost
maybe, oh, two, three million.

- Here, Ike.
- I'll get your change.

Thank you.

Ike, I'll tell you something you
could invest in, an auto court.

Here I am talking about millions, and you
come up with a penny ante idea like that.

Now wait a second, think about it.
The one at Rockfish is always full.

Yeah, I guess that
is the only auto court

within 30 miles of the
Pickett plant, isn't it?

You'd clean up.

Well, how about you? A
little business of your own?

- It would make daddy sit up.
- Think your daddy'd come in on it?

- What about Corabeth?
- What about Corabeth?

Oh, honey, we were just talking
about opening up an auto court.

It wouldn't take much cash, I mean,
we could borrow most of it from the bank.

An auto court? One of those
dreadful things with cabins?

There was one near Doe Hill.

It attracted the most
undesirable elements.

Well, Corabeth, the
times have changed.

The finest people stay
in auto courts nowadays.

The finest people stay in hotels
where they can live graciously.

Elegant appointments, continental cuisine,
a string quartet playing a Strauss waltz.

I was thinking we could
make money two ways.

People would stay
in the auto court,

and then they'd buy
their groceries in the store.

I will not have that riff-raff
drifting in and out of this store.

Two ways?

Well...

Of course, if it were done in good
taste it might attract the discriminating.

I was thinking we
could call it Corabeth's.

Corabeth's Guest Cottages.

That does have
a nice ring to it.

I knew she'd be all for it.

I think I'm gonna mention it
to daddy. See you later, Ike.

Yeah.

I tell you, it'd be a gold mine.

All those people driving through to
meetings at the Pickett defense plant.

What happens when the
war ends and Pickett closes?

Oh, we're less than
six miles from Route 29.

Heavy traffic day and night
going from Florida to New York.

We'll put up a couple of road
signs, and we'll be full-up all the time.

Son, lumber's my business. I don't
know anything about running an auto court.

Ike and Corabeth are
ready to put in with us.

Us?

Well, sure. I'd like to go in on it
too. I could borrow on my land.

That land was left for you to build a home
on some day, Son, not to gamble away.

It's not a gamble,
it's a sure thing.

Sounds like a hare-brained scheme to me.
Now run along, I've got paperwork to do.

- Hey there, Ben!
- Hi, Yancy.

Hey, how're you doing, Ben?

Hey, Ben, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, Ben.

- What's the matter with Ben?
- I don't know.

I wanted to talk to him
about something, but you'll do.

I got big news. I lined
up a job in Rockfish.

I start just as soon
as I get my diploma.

- What kind of diploma?
- I'm going to college. Barber college.

- That's great, Yancy.
- Yeah.

It's a correspondence school.
I saw this ad in Grit magazine.

If you buy a full set of scissors,
combs, and razors, like I done,

then you get the
course for half price.

They can teach you
to be a barber by mail?

Yeah, they send you textbooks that teach
you everything a barber needs to know.

Haircutting, shaving,
first-aid, chair-side manner,

how to talk customers into
high-priced treatments, the works.

Even a useful
little book of jokes.

Like, the customer
comes in and he says,

"How can I save my hair?"
And you say, "In a cigar box."

I've been getting
straight As in everything.

Well, how can they
grade you on haircutting

unless they watch you cut hair?

You send in
before-and-after pictures.

I take a picture of you, and
believe me, you could use a haircut.

Then I cut your hair, then I take a
picture after to show how it turned out.

You know, Jason,

you sure would look terrific
in a clipper-edge flat top.

- You want one?
- No, thanks.

No charge.

I like it long, Yancy.

I'll pay you.

How about if I let you
know when I want one?

How about a shave?

Well, I have kind of sensitive
skin, I have to do it myself.

- Mud-pack facial? Egg shampoo?
- I'll wait till you get your diploma.

- Hey, how do you avoid falling hair?
- I don't know, Jason.

- You don't?
- No.

You just step out from under it.

Huh?

- You like that?
- I like that.

Why don't you
write it down then.

- It goes in the book.
- Okay.

Hi.

What's wrong, Ben?

What makes you
think anything is wrong?

You always stuff yourself when
you're sore about something.

I'm sore, all right, at my boss.

You and John-Boy had the right
ideas by going out on your own.

It was different with us,
we had other interests,

you always liked
working at the mill.

Well, I do, but I don't like
being treated like a kid.

Did you take the last
piece of pie that was left?

I'll share it with you.

You look a little tired.

It used to be fun
working at the Dew Drop.

Now it's crowded every night
with people from Pickett's plant,

everybody yelling for requests.

I hardly get a chance
to take a break.

- And it's going to get worse.
- Why?

I heard that Franklin Steel plant is
going to open a factory near here, too.

You sure of that?

A couple of big shots came in
tonight wearing gray flannel suits.

I heard them talking.

Well, what do you
know about that?

Jason said they're just
about ready to start building.

We've kicked this around long enough,
Son, and I'm not interested, that's that.

You're not interested
because it's my idea!

I mean, how would a kid know a
good investment from a bad one?

Don't start twisting things
around, let's just drop it.

Well, I'm not gonna go drop it.

I'm going to the bank right
now and applying for a loan.

Hold on, Son, you can't take out a
loan till you're 21, unless I sign for it.

Would you stand in
my way by not signing?

I need a foreman who
keeps his mind on the job,

not some moonlighter
thinking of other things.

Then I think the best
thing is for me to quit.

That's your privilege.

- I'll stay on until you replace me.
- I'll find somebody today.

You're going to sign?

All right, Son, I guess you're old
enough to make your own mistakes.

Thanks.

Hello? Oh, yes, he is. One
minute please, he's right here.

Ben, it's for you.

Thank you.

I'll be in the kitchen, you
come on in, we'll talk about it.

Okay, thank you.

- Hello?
- Ben.

The bank just phoned to say
they've approved your loan.

Well, that's great!
I'll go right on over.

- Did you get a nice room?
- Just fine, Mama.

You're sure you know what you're doing?
You know how your daddy feels about this.

Mama, I'm old enough
to make up my own mind.

- Good luck, Ben.
- Thanks, Mama.

Say it, Liv. Tell me I ought
to beg him to come home,

go back on the job, and
moonlight if he wants to.

That's not what I
had in mind at all.

I just hate to see this trouble
between the two of you.

Liv, if I give him special
treatment because

he's the boss's son,
he'll never shape up.

- I agree.
- What do you want me to tell him then?

Don't you think if he really believes in
something he ought to go out and do it?

I'm not going to wish him
well if I think it's a big mistake.

I'm gonna get dinner started,

but I don't think I'm
going to feel like eating it.

"The major divisions of
haircutting are: One, edging,

- "two, shaping the sides, and three..."
- Topping.

Keep your head up, Jim-Bob.

How can I do that and read
the questions at the same time?

Hold the book higher.

"Slithering is the process of?"

Stripping with shears.

"Probably the most common
fault in haircutting is..."

Ouch! Cutting
the customer's ear.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Most common fault?

Taking off too much hair!

Just make sure you don't
take off too much skin.

Well, quit moving your
head around. Almost done.

Looks good, too.

- Good.
- Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute.

It is important to
make the customer feel

that he's gotten
everything he's entitled to.

- Hot towel, sir?
- Come on, Yancy, I haven't got all day.

Okay, almost done.

That looks great.
Looks great. I got it.

Huh?

Now we just gotta take a picture
and... Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Golly. Here, give me the book.

Take a picture right up here
in the light. Here in the light.

Jim-Bob, that is a class A
haircut if I have ever seen one.

Beautiful.

You're forgetting the
most important part.

I forgot, 25 cents.

You can make double of that if
you let me give you a shampoo.

You've already washed my hair
twice this morning, you're gonna ruin it.

Ruin it? Your hair
never looked better.

But it is getting a
little thinner on top, sir.

I'd best give you a treatment,

or the only way you're gonna be
able to save your hair is in a cigar box.

That's right!

Well, of course, it does
make a great deal of difference,

knowing that Franklin
Steel is coming here.

Yeah, I think it's going to
be a regular boom town.

And as you say, Corabeth, as long
as we plan it for the discriminating.

But I have a wonderful idea.

Why stop at the guest cottages?

Why not make them
part of a town square?

With a lovely lawn and boxwood hedges
and marble benches, and a bandstand...

Oh, no. Better yet, instead
of a bandstand, a fountain!

- Sounds great to me.
- Yeah, me, too.

Except I wish your dad
was going along with it.

Oh, there'll be plenty of others,
Ike. I've already sold Zuleika on it.

Yeah, but it's him not liking
the idea that worries me.

I've got a lot of respect in his judgment,
and I don't like going against it.

Oh, I'm sure he'll change his mind as
soon as he hears about our town square.

Oh, I could just see it now.

Walton's Mountain will
become a great scenic attraction.

Of course, we will need the entire
community supporting this project.

Word must go out that there will
be a town meeting here, tonight.

It has been unanimously decided to
form a Boost Walton's Mountain Club.

And I'd like to now get to the
most important part of our business,

the construction
of an auto court.

Mr. Chairman, may I
please have the floor?

Fellow Boosters, what we are talking
about here is not merely an auto court,

but what we have in mind
is a magnificent town square,

with gorgeous landscaping
and a quaint souvenir shop,

and possibly a cozy tea room.

And dominating all of
this, a magnificent fountain.

Thank you, Corabeth.

It has been decided
that the ideal location

for the auto court is
right outside this hall.

That land is owned by Miss
Mamie and Miss Emily Baldwin.

And I would like to ask you ladies if
you would be willing to sell your land

for those of us who would
like to share in this investment?

Sister, I like it out there
just exactly the way it is.

So do I, there are so many
reminders of the other days.

The first time I walked alone
with dear Ashley, it was there.

And dear Mr. Sims.

Do you know where he found
that Indian arrowhead he gave me?

- Right out there?
- Right out there.

Oh, I understand how
you ladies both feel.

But there's a war on,

and it is our patriotic
duty to put up an auto court

for people doing business
with defense plants.

That's right. It's going to put
Walton's Mountain on the map!

That's right, ladies.

Everybody's getting involved,
ladies, it's like the war effort.

Mr. Chairman, my sister and I
have decided not to sell our land...

but to give it to
the Boosters' Club.

Oh, thank you,
ladies. Thank you.

- Mr. Chairman.
- Mr. Godsey.

I understand that John Walton has been
against this project from the beginning.

Well, I see he's here now, and
I think we should hear from him.

- Have you changed your mind, John?
- No, I haven't.

John, how could you possibly
be against this magnificent plan?

Tell us why you're
against it, John?

Would you standing up
please, so we can all hear you?

As most of you know, I'm not a man
to meddle in other people's business.

I wasn't going to come tonight,

but I just couldn't stand by and
see good friends and neighbors

- put their money in a bad risk.
- What do you mean by a bad risk?

Well, I looked into it a little,

checked with the bank and the real
estate people over in Charlottesville.

I don't know if
you are all aware

how many auto courts went
broke in the last five years.

All kinds of businesses have gone
broke, but we're in a boom now.

One thing you can be sure about a
boom is it's gonna be followed by a bust.

All of you remember
that big Florida boom,

where a lot of small people
lost everything they had.

All that was totally
different, that was a swindle.

It had crooked speculators that
over built, they sold swamp land.

Maybe I ought to
remind you folks

about what happened right
here in Jefferson County.

The Guthrie coal mine.

Remember how Cyrus Guthrie built
this whole town for mining families?

Then the mine wore out long
before the experts thought it would.

Now that's a ghost town,
not one family living in it.

We're not talking
about a whole town,

we just want to keep up
with the rest of the country,

just take one
little step forward.

He's right, John.

I mean, you've expanded your
business to keep up with the times.

I don't know why we can't.

Yeah. Take me, for instance.

Now, I've had this little general
store at this country corner for years,

this is my chance to make it
big, and I don't want to be left out.

Nor do I.

Now, John, as much as
I respect your opinion...

Let's take it to a vote.

I was just getting to that.

I vote that we proceed with
our plans for a town square.

I second the motion.

- All those in favor?
- Aye.

Opposed?

The ayes won.

- I sure hope Ben knows what he's doing.
- I just wish he hadn't gone against Daddy.

He has a right to
his own opinion.

I think that we should put most of the
guest cottages right here by the rocks.

Mmm, but I think we ought to put
that unit with the office right here,

right next to the store, huh?

That's a good idea, that
way we have enough room

over on the other side of the
town square for some shops.

Mr. Godsey! Ben!

Just wait until you hear
what they have to say about us

in the Charlottesville Progress.

Oh, yeah?

"Social Notes from Walton's
Mountain by Corabeth Walton Godsey.

"A Boosters' Club
has been formed

"and will sponsor the
construction of a town square.

"In addition to an attractive
group of guest cottages,

"there will be a tea room
and a number of shops.

"The pièce de résistance
would be a lovely fountain.

"And in the future, it is hoped

"there will be a library, a music
hall and other centers of culture."

- Have you seen this paper?
- Yeah. I think you should call Ben.

- He'd think I was saying, "I told you so."
- He needs your support.

Out to prove to the world he's independent,
he's still got you doing his laundry.

I think I'd be doing John-Boy's
if he weren't in London.

I'm surprised he
doesn't send it to me.

You do want Ben back
on the job, don't you?

He's anxious to prove himself,
maybe it's better this way.

And maybe it isn't. Why don't
you try it again and find out?

It's up to him if he wants it
back, he's gonna have to ask me.

Who is it?

Zuleika.

- Come on in.
- Last call for breakfast.

I already had coffee this
morning. That's all I want.

Hotcakes and sausages, Ben.

I'm not hungry.

Oh, come on, Ben. Perk up.

- It's not the end of the world.
- It just seems that way, huh?

- You know what you ought to do?
- What?

You ought to call your father
and ask him to make up.

Zuleika, thanks for
the vote of confidence.

Oh, no, no, no, Benjamin,
don't take it the wrong way.

Anyone with half
a brain could see

you were cut out to make
your mark in this world.

If it's not the auto court
it'll be something else.

Just play it safe, right?

Well, I always thought you
loved doing mill work, Ben.

I do, but I also like
being my own boss.

Well, what are your plans?

I've given up on this idea of
the town square, that's for sure.

But, Ben, it said in the paper

there was a ban on all new
construction unless it's essential.

I know that, Zuleika.

But that auto court and all
the other buildings that we build

are for people that are working
over at the defense plant.

And the way I see that,
that's essential construction.

Benjamin, I think you
might have a point there.

I made the call over to
War Production Board,

and the man's gonna call me
back when they get the ruling.

Well, I'm certainly gonna
keep my fingers crossed.

- Thank you.
- Good luck, Ben. Good luck.

I need it.

The best shampoo for
cleansing the hair and scalp,

without losing the natural oils or
glossiness, is the egg shampoo.

- Egg shampoo.
- Don't move your head, please.

Yancy, do you know anything
about washing a girl's hair?

Hair is hair.

Yeah, but girl's hair is longer.

I'm only gonna wash
yours down till there.

"Beat eggs thoroughly
into a mixture."

I'll tell you what, you
let me give you a facial

- and I'll throw in an extra two bits.
- You can just forget about that.

You didn't tell me there was
going to be egg in the shampoo.

Elizabeth, you made a deal.

Okay, but hurry up.
I've got homework to do.

"Put bowl in one hand,

"with thumb and the second finger of
other hand, separate strands of hair."

Excuse me, sir, is
that dandruff I see?

- Stop fooling around, Yancy.
- I'm not fooling around.

I need practice in salesmanship.

Yes, I'm sorry to say,
sir, that is dandruff.

I'll give you a tonic
after your shampoo,

and then we'll put you under
the ultraviolet ray lamp for a while.

The shop at Rockfish
gets $2 a shot for that.

- Get started, will you?
- Very well.

Okay.

- Ow! You got it in my eye!
- I got a towel. Here, here.

I've got some stuff to
wash your eye out with.

You're not washing
anything for me.

Elizabeth, what am I gonna do with
this shampoo? It's got four eggs in it.

Make an omelet.

Hello? Speaking. Is this
the War Production Board?

But the man I was talking
to this morning said...

It's you?

I see.

Thank you.

That was one of
the deputy directors.

The director took my query
with great consideration,

but he said the type of construction
I'm asking for is not essential.

- So therefore it wouldn't be permitted.
- Oh, Ben, I am sorry.

- But can't the ruling be appealed?
- No.

- They said there's no exceptions.
- It was the chance of a lifetime.

We could have turned this wasteland
into the garden spot of Virginia,

while the cash register
played a merry tune.

I had ideas.

They just opened a new place in
Richmond, they call it a supermarket.

They got all the merchandise lined
up on shelves in rows, just like a library.

The future looked so bright.

And the people take carts,

and they go up and down the
aisles and just help themselves.

And then they check
out the food as they go.

I'd give my right arm
to own a place like that.

For once it looked as if all
our dreams had come true.

We could have built a
beautiful house on the hill.

You did a good job,
Ben. You tried your best.

Yeah, I guess I swung
hard and struck out, huh?

That was a tough break, Son.

Yeah, I guess I got the
bust before the boom, huh?

I'm sorry, Ben.

Why don't you tell Mom I'll
come by sometime later today?

She'd like it if
you'd stay for dinner.

I can't, I have to go into
Rockfish sometime today.

Well, you certainly
could say I told you so.

Well, maybe I didn't like this scheme,
but I sure didn't wish any bad luck.

All we wanted was to
comfort the weary traveler.

A place to rest his head, a
glorious fountain to inspire him.

It's good to dream
big, Corabeth.

Come on now, you
shouldn't give up so easy.

- Isn't it hopeless?
- I don't know.

Ben's the determined kind. He has
a way of bouncing back from things.

Takes after his
old man, I guess.

Well, Ike, I need some
wood glue, about two quarts.

Need a ride, stranger?

Well, if you give me a lift,
lady, I'll clean your windshield.

- Best offer I've had all day.
- Okay.

Too bad about the
freeze on construction.

Is there any openings
over at Pickett Metal?

Sure, but you'd make more
money working for Daddy.

Save your breath, Erin. I'm
not going back to that mill.

- Oh, Ben, you're stupid if you don't.
- Lay off, will you?

Besides, it's not the
same at home without you.

Move over.

Ben, let's go.

- You go ahead, I'll see you later.
- Where are you going?

I'm back in business!

It's just a freeze on
new construction.

Any home that's
already been built,

well, there's no law saying you can't
move it from one place to another.

Oh, I get what
you're driving at.

You're talking about
that mining ghost town

- that Cyrus Guthrie got stuck with, right?
- That's exactly what I'm saying.

The bank in
Charlottesville took it over.

And I already talked to them, and
they said any place we want, we can buy.

I was looking and there are some

one room and bath units
just about the right size.

We haul eight to ten units
up on Walton's Mountain,

and we got ourselves
an auto court!

But I've seen those houses in Guthrieville,
I mean, they're in terrible shape.

Oh, we can fix them
up in no time at all!

Yeah, but it'll cost you
a ton to move them.

I already checked
into it, it costs less than

one-fourth the price
of new construction.

Of course, that doesn't include
the price of the old buildings.

- What does it all add up to?
- We could swing it, Ike.

10% down, 30-year
mortgage at 6%.

Can't beat that, can you?

- There's only one thing.
- What's that?

They need someone responsible to
sign a paper guaranteeing the payments.

Now, of course I would
do it, but I'm not old enough.

Well, Corabeth has got her
heart set on that town square.

And that fountain, too.

All right, I'll do it.

That's great, Ike, we'll
get everything now.

Yeah.

There it is, honey, our first
one. We moved it in at 4:00 a.m.

- Ben and I supervised the whole thing.
- But it's just so run-down.

Oh, yeah. But I mean, after we put
some landscaping and it gets painted,

then we put a board
walk from the store over

to the house, well,
it'll look just great.

Well, what do you
think, Corabeth?

Well, I just didn't
expect it to be so shabby.

Oh, don't you worry about that.

By the time we're ready to
bring in all those other units,

this one'll be all prettied up.

You know what we forgot, Ben? We
got to put a traffic signal, right here.

- Now that's the ticket, Ike, think big!
- You betcha!

Come on, Ben, have a cup of coffee,
while Corabeth fixes us some breakfast.

Ham and eggs for two
hardworking cooper men, Corabeth!

Mr. Godsey, this is
not a truck stop, yet.

After you.

Thank you.

I don't know, Ben, if we bit
off more than we could chew.

Ah, we've got it made, Ike.

In fact, chances are there'll probably
be fellow Boosters all day today,

- coming by to help us.
- I don't know.

- I sure hope you're right.
- Yoo-hoo! Ben! Mr. Godsey!

You see what I mean?

Oh, Zuleika, good to see you.

- Yeah, I'm glad to see you.
- You look so pretty.

Oh, thank you very kindly.

- Oh, I just love these colors!
- Not bad, huh?

Oh, you two industrious young men
have inspired me to get busy myself.

That's what we like to
hear. The more the merrier.

I'm going right
into your store, Ike,

and I'm gonna buy me a
gallon of that pretty paint.

- Oh, you don't have to do that, Zuleika.
- Oh, yes, I do, Benjamin!

I have to keep up
with the competition.

I'm going to repaint the
trim on my boarding house,

just to make sure I keep
getting lots of business!

It just looks lovely.
Keep up the good work.

- Toodle-oo.
- Toodle-oo.

Lots of Boosters coming
by to help us, huh?

There will be.

- How did we get talked into this?
- Beats me.

Ike was sorting the mail
and Ben had a phone call.

That's the last I remember.

I seem to remember
reading about this somewhere.

Yeah, me too. It's all starting
to come back to me now.

Hey, here comes Yancy,
maybe we can get him roped in.

This here a wide place in the road is
turning into a regular big city, ain't it?

Oh, hi, Yancy.

Looks like a real tough
job you two got there.

No. We feel this is an
honor, part of our civic duty.

Yeah, you don't get to do this
unless you're really good with a brush.

Oh, I can see you two are
real good at this painting.

Of course, we might let you take over,
that is if you think you're good enough.

Yeah, that way you'd have a part in
boosting up the community, Yancy.

Well, now, I can see why it
would be an honor, yes, sir,

but, well, there's two
good reasons why I can't.

One, I had just come down
to see if the mail's come in.

Ike's sorting it now. It's
probably not even ready.

What's the other reason?

Well, just before I left school,

it was about the fifth grade, as I recall,
the teacher said I had to read a book.

That's the other reason.

- What kind of reason is that?
- A darn good one.

The book I read was The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

You two are doing
a real good job.

Hey, Yancy, we've been
waiting for you. You got a surprise!

- You mean it's here?
- Just go on in and see.

Hey, guys, come here, quick!

And now as postmaster
of Walton's Mountain,

Jefferson County, and
the State of Virginia,

I am the designated official to
conduct this graduation ceremony.

Mr. Yancy Tucker, having
successfully completed all courses

in the tonsorial arts and sciences
through the United States mail, of course,

is hereby granted the degree
of B.B., Bachelor of Barbering.

- Congratulations, Yancy.
- Speech. Speech, Yancy!

Thank you.

Since I never graduated
from nowhere before,

and I never got me
any kind of diploma,

I just don't know what to say.

Oh, Yancy, you don't
have to make a speech

because Corabeth and I are going
to give you a graduation present.

Here you are.

- Ta-da! Congratulations, Yancy!
- Yeah! Yancy!

Well, who's first?

Oh, I have to get back to work,
Yancy. It sure is beautiful, though.

And I've gotta finish
sorting the mail.

Well, I guess we better
go before we get in trouble.

- See you later, Yancy.
- It's a beautiful chair.

Corabeth? Shampoo?

- Hey, Jase!
- Taking a break?

Oh, I'm trying to decide on
what I should name this street.

Well, Main Street
sounds a little small-town.

Ben?

I'm thinking after I put
that row of buildings in,

I'm going to put a
street light right in there.

Ben, there's something
you should know.

Yeah, we have to keep it very convenient
for those folks over at Franklin Steel.

That's what I've been
trying to tell you, Ben.

There isn't going to be any
Franklin Steel plant here.

- What you talking about?
- I just heard it from J.D. Pickett.

See, there's this
land speculator,

he made up the rumor about
the Franklin mill being here

to try to raise up the price of
the land he was trying to unload.

It's just a rumor.

I hate to be the
one to have tell you,

but I didn't want you to
hear it from somebody else.

Yeah, thanks.

How about coming back
to the house with me?

All right, I'll think about it, I told
you, Ike. I'll talk to you later, bye.

Didn't sound too
good from this end.

Ben called Franklin Steel's
main office in New York,

they don't know nothing
about a plant down here.

Poor Ben, he was so sure
it was going to work out.

Boosters' Club called a special
meeting for this afternoon.

You going?

They'll sure tear him to
pieces for getting them into this.

I couldn't bear to watch that,

any more than I could bear the thought
of him standing up to that bully in school

when he was just a little boy.

I made him do that, didn't I?

I explained the situation
to Mr. Gibbs at the bank.

And I tried to
cancel the contract.

But he refused, that
was the way I left him.

However he did call me back,
and told me he changed his mind.

That all he's going to hold
us to is the cost of the building,

the one that's
already been moved.

ZULElKA: Do you mean
just the cost of moving it here?

No, that plus the amount
that we already agreed upon.

- Oh, well, Mr. Godsey signed.
- Now hold on, we are all responsible.

Says who? I think we're
being sold a bill of goods!

I think we've all been
sold a bill of goods.

I'm pulling out
of the whole deal.

No, please!

I'm pulling out of here right now.
- I'm pulling out.

Under the circumstances,

perhaps sister and I should
withdraw our offer to donate the land.

Oh, wait a minute. You
can't leave us holding the bag!

We feel certain Papa
wouldn't approve.

Walton, this whole
thing was your idea.

Now please, let me finish, okay?

I brought everyone
into this situation myself,

and I'm willing to take
all the responsibilities!

I don't see how you
think you could swing that.

- You ain't got nothing.
- You're a kid, Ben. What do you know?

Hold on!

Hold on now. Hold on!

I've been standing at
the back listening to this

and I just know that Ben
won't let this be a dead loss.

You've been looking at that
building, haven't you, Son?

- Figuring out other ways to use it.
- Well, sure there's other ways to use it.

I mean, you don't have
to use an auto court.

I mean, there's plenty
of people that drive by,

and I'm sure we can
get them to bring in...

- Roadside cafe.
- Or a drive-in!

An antique store that would
attract people from all over.

What I'm trying to say is there's
a lot of money that could be made

right there in that location.

Just one question I got, Son.

Now, if you take
over the payments,

does that mean that
you get all the profits

or do you share it with
the Boosters' Club?

What profits? What on
earth are you talking about?

Well, it seems to me that if I'm
gonna make all the payments

that I should also
get all the profits.

Well, now, I see your
point. It's a good one.

I mean, you're my son, I'd
like to see you make a profit.

But as a member
of this community,

maybe we ought to
think what's best for all.

Well, now, maybe we have
been acting just a little hasty.

Well, this did start
out as a joint project.

Well, now, I suggest that the
investors make the payments,

find suitable tenants
for the buildings,

and share the profits,
as originally agreed upon.

I second the motion.

Well, you've all heard the
motion, it's been seconded.

So all those in favor?

- Aye.
- Thank you.

Anyone opposed?

Well, we're back in
business! Meeting adjourned!

Have you had any luck
finding someone to replace me?

A couple of fellows
look promising.

Well, whoever it is, make sure
you check them out on the old saw,

it could play tricks on you.

Guess you'll be spending all
your time with the Boosters, huh?

Oh, the Boosters have a lot of
organizing to do, that's for sure.

Can't think of
anyone better to do it.

Of course, the Boosters
won't take all my time.

I've been thinking of
hiring a new manager.

- Do you have anyone special in mind?
- No.

You got a mind to take on
some new responsibility?

Any extra money in it for me?

- Room and board and $25 a week?
- You got yourself a deal.

- Thanks, Daddy.
- Don't thank me, Son.

Not every day you can hire a
man who's just built a new town.

The important thing
about any community

is not the grandeur of its
buildings but the spirit of its people.

Ben and the Boosters
continued to work together

to help the little town
through its growing pains.

Ben went back to
work at our father's mill.

But he had proved he
could make good on his own.

Walton's Mountain didn't become
the largest town in Jefferson County,

but it did prosper and
expand in the years to come.

Corabeth's dream of a town
square with a fountain did come true.

Though, it didn't have the
splendor that she had envisioned,

that cool spring water
gave welcome refreshment

to homefolks and
strangers alike.

Come on, Ben, turn out the light.
- Pretty soon, Jim-Bob.

I want to finish these plans
for some more shops in town.

Don't forget a dress shop, Ben.

And I know Mary Ellen would
like a place for baby clothes.

You've got a movie theater?

What you'd better have
is an undertaking parlor.

That's awful, Jim-Bob. What
do you want one of those for?

- You, unless you turn out the light.
- Goodnight, everybody.