The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 7, Episode 15 - The Parting - full transcript

Nothing to worry about, John.

Is that right, Doctor?

Well, she's a little
shy on weight.

She's going to use the
rest as much as you do.

Staying here will just make
things harder for your family, Olivia.

I'm not going anywhere.
I just got home.

Now, Liv, if it's the
best thing for you...

The best thing for me is to be with
you, and my family and my home.

My parents were
used to being together.

My father's work kept him close to
home when we were a young family.

So there were always times in
the day to share a smile or a touch



or a special look between them.

Now, those times
were nearly gone.

Work took my father away from home
more often and for longer periods of time.

The separations were
hard on them both.

Kind of expected you'd
be down here before this.

That so?

Somehow I get the feeling that
you didn't come by to see me.

I did have an older man in mind.

I thought Daddy was
going to be home before this.

I guess him and Matt Sarver
lined up a few extra jobs.

I can hear it now.

"Liv, we've been waiting all these
years for this amount of work."

It's money in the bank.

Have you taken a good
look at your father lately?



Well, he looks tired. But he
only knows one way to work.

Too long and too hard.

I can do without the
money in the bank.

You look tired, too.

I'm just worried about him. All
this traveling's wearing him out.

Yeah, but it shouldn't
wear you out, also.

How about if I take
you away from all this?

I have to fill these
orders in Rockfish.

Thanks.

I think I'll wait
for your daddy.

Ask me out again
sometime, young man.

Okay, six apples, sliced
and peeled. How much sugar?

- A handful?
- No.

Spoonful?

One spoonful of sugar. Okay.

How much nutmeg?

A teaspoon? A tablespoon?

You and Mama are just alike.

You put salt and
pepper in to taste

and you know it's right when
it looks right or feels right.

Or you put in some
sugar or a dab of this.

That's right.

That's fine for you natural-born
cooks. But how am I supposed to learn?

John Curtis, let me
give you some advice.

Don't ever get
mixed up with girls.

Sounds like Uncle Jim-Bob's
had another fight with Tanya.

You know what she said?
She said I had a one-track mind

and all I think about
is cars and planes.

It's true, isn't it?

See what I mean?

They're always trying
to get you to change.

At first they think
you're wonderful.

The next thing you know, they're
trying to get you to improve yourself.

I don't think I'm
getting through to you.

I certainly hope not.

I'm going over to Zuleika's
to help clean out the attic.

Don't bring home a lot of junk.

He sure has a lot of trouble
with women, doesn't he?

Yes. Oh, boy.

You're waiting up
for me? It's not late.

I thought you might
be your daddy.

What's that?

Nothing.

Good. Then you won't
have to take it in the house.

Actually it is something.

Zuleika gave it to me.

She said it was just
gathering dust in her attic.

An accordion?

What are you going
to do with that?

I'm going to learn to play
it. Zuleika showed me how.

This part right
here is the bellows.

I didn't know you were
interested in music.

I wanted to prove I could do
something besides working on machinery.

Makes you look very dashing.

Thank you.

Do my eyes deceive me?

I'm afraid not.

I see it, but I
don't believe it!

Back to work.

- Sometimes I wonder about Jim-Bob.
- He has a way of inspiring wonder.

I wish I could help, Mama. I
know you're worried about Daddy.

All those years we didn't have
a phone I didn't expect to hear.

I just knew he'd be
home when he could.

He wasn't gone as
much then, either.

Seems like our lives have
completely turned around.

You all were little and needed most
of our attention, we were together.

Now that you don't
need us as much

and we can spend more time
with each other, we're apart.

Worrying about it
won't help, Mama.

I know.

But once I get worrying,
I have to see it through.

He'll be along soon.

Why don't you come in the house?

Mama, your hands are hot.

Now, don't you start worrying.

Hot hands just means hot hands.

I suppose since you're
awake I can come in.

What are you doing up this late?

I was doing my recipe book.

You know there isn't a
single one in this house?

There never has been.

It isn't fair.

Suppose I move away and get a terrible
hankering for your applesauce cake?

I don't even know
how to make it.

Then you haven't been
watching all these years.

I must have made
a thousand of them.

I've got apple pie down pat.

And Grandma's going to teach
me how to make her sponge cake

and Cousin Sue
Ellen's savory stew.

There's so much to learn.

I do believe you've come down
from your tree house, Miss Elizabeth.

I was worried.

Oh, you look good!

You feel good.

On second thought,
you don't look so good.

You must have
slept in your clothes.

In a couple of minutes, I'm
gonna be sleeping without them.

I thought for sure
you'd call last night.

I wasn't near a phone, Liv.

I don't want to make
this hard on you.

Hard on us, John.

You know,

when I'm away from you,
I keep thinking of things

I wanna tell you
when we're together.

Now I can't think
of any of them.

If you don't go to bed, you're
gonna fall asleep right here.

All right. But I got to be up in
a couple of hours. You call me.

Taking the day off?

I was just gathering some
eggs for your father's breakfast.

This is as far as I got.

Seems funny seeing
you sitting this time of day.

The sunshine feels good.

You must know some fine
doctors in Charlottesville.

Are you sick, Mama?

Oh, goodness, no! I'm
talking about your father.

I've never seen
him this worn out.

Sure, I know a
number of doctors.

The trick is to get him to go.

You're the only one he'll listen
to. Have you talked to him yet?

When would I?

When he's home, he's asleep
resting up to go out and get tired again.

I know what I'd
do. I'd go with him.

I wouldn't be separated from
him an hour I didn't have to be.

What's all that caterwauling?

It's Jim-Bob practicing
his new accordion.

Sounds like somebody
is being strangled.

You're looking kind of
run-down these days, Daddy.

Yeah, maybe I need
some of Ma's Spring Tonic.

That's not the tonic you need.

You need Mama.

You're right there, Son.

You're not like other
married couples.

When you're separated,
you're no good.

Mama isn't, and you're not.

Can't always be together.

Any reason you can't
take her with you next trip?

Well, I hadn't thought about it.

Maybe I ought to ask her.

I would if I were you.

Your mother must have a great
deal of faith in you young people.

Streaking off to the ends of the earth
and leaving you to your own devices.

Daddy's taking her to Virginia
Beach after his business trip.

Mr. Godsey and I have
often thought of stealing away.

But, then, as the saying
goes, who'd mind the store?

I'd be glad to. All
you have to do is ask.

Mr. Godsey and I are
mindful of our responsibilities.

Oh, before I forget,
make sure that you tell

Esther that we're
nearby if she needs us.

Well, Grandma has
all the help she needs.

And nobody takes better
care of her than Elizabeth does.

Still, I know how
young people are,

how they take advantage
when their parents are away.

We'll do just fine, Corabeth.

Well, make sure you tell your
mother I hope she enjoys her vacation.

We will.

Thanks for saying that
nice thing about me.

- I was only saying what was true.
- Yeah, and right in front of Corabeth.

I didn't expect to see you
all. What a nice surprise.

Mary Ellen and I enjoyed this and
we hope you have some time to read it!

Thank you.

These are for those
postcards you better send me.

- All right, I will.
- Here, Mama.

Oh, Ben, that's beautiful.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

It's the latest fragrance, Mama.

- Cologne? My goodness.
- It's supposed to drive men wild.

Don't put any on unless
I'm around to beat them off.

Nobody told me to
bring a gift, Mama.

How are you coming
with that accordion?

Not too good.

You can learn to make music
come out of that instead of squawks.

That'll be all the gift I need.

Okay, Mama.

- Sounds good to me.
- You know where I'll be, Ben.

You know where
I'll be, too, Daddy.

You're looking for
a very pretty lady?

Yes, I am.

She's in there.

Excuse me.

Yes, may I help you?

Fellow outside said I
might find my wife in here.

Blonde lady with
a brown suit on.

Yes, yes, she's trying
on a dress right now.

She'll be right out. Would
you like to sit down?

Thank you.

- John?
- Yes, Liv.

Stunning, isn't she?

Have you finished
with Matt Sarver?

Yes, I did.

And I don't have to go home to my wife.
You want to go away for the weekend?

John.

I'm not kidding. How
about Virginia Beach?

John.

You got anything to
wear kind of to the shore,

like leisure wear
or anything like that.

- Something like this?
- That's right!

That's it, that looks good.

What do you think, Liv?

Don't you think
it's a little daring?

Oh, no, come on. Try it on.

Come on. I'll wait over here.

Okay, I beat all the eggs in.
How much flour do I need?

It's one of those mysterious things
good cooks are supposed to know.

Every good boy does fine.

Jim-Bob, can't you play
that someplace else?

John Curtis is sleeping upstairs.
Ben won't let me play in the mill.

It's too cold on the front porch
and you can't play with cold hands.

Jim-Bob.

You can't play that, period.

Do you remember when you got
Grandpa's old saxophone out of the attic?

It sounded like Chance
with a stomachache.

Boy.

You better face it, Jim-Bob. Some
people aren't naturally musical.

Some people just
aren't naturally cooks.

Look at that mess over
there. You expect us to eat it?

You didn't complain
about my apple pie.

'Cause I had so much
heartburn, I couldn't talk.

Out!

- Come on, Grandma, we're just playing.
- Out!

Out!

Go on!

Go on!

I guess that's the end
of my cooking lesson.

Is your food hot?

No, but the melon is.

Something wrong, Liv?

It just seems a
little close in here.

There's nothing left
to open but the door.

Everything's a little weary.

You didn't eat much.

I'm not hungry.

- I'm glad you're here, honey.
- So am I.

- Your forehead's kind of hot.
- Your hands are cold.

Take off your shoes.

How far is Alberene from here?

It's not far.

Why? Do you want to stop
and see your Aunt Kate?

No.

I want you to see Dr. Caldwell.

You're too tired, John.
There's got to be a reason.

Seems to me neither
of us are doing too well.

He's a very good doctor.

All right. I'll go if you will.

If that's the only way.

- Does that look good!
- Hurry up, Elizabeth.

- What's he doing?
- I don't know.

That looks funny.

Uh-oh!

That looks even funnier.

I think we look real good
at the head of the table.

So do I.

Now what did you
children do today?

Oh, no. Now I really
miss Mama and Daddy.

Oh, thanks a lot!

Well, I just want to eat.

Ben, you'll eat just as
soon as you've said grace.

John Curtis.

Father, we give thanks for this food
and for the blessings at this table.

Bless our parents and keep
them safe and well. Amen.

Amen.

I wonder where Mama
and Daddy are tonight.

Well, wherever they are,
I know Mama's happy.

Daddy, too.

Yes.

Hurry up! I'm getting hungry!

I'm going to be done by the
time you get it, you realize that.

Was I in there that long?

Yes. But I don't
expect you to believe it.

I'm not used to waiting.

You waited for seven
children to be born, didn't you?

Liv's just kind of played
out, don't you think?

She could be.

You see, I've been
away working a lot.

We're not used
to being separated.

That's what the doc
will say, don't you think?

What did he say about you?

He said I was overtired and working
too hard, pushing myself too much.

He told me I should
stop acting like I was 20.

I've begged him to find
another way to say that.

Kind of funny, you've
known Liv longer than I have.

This is a strange
place to get acquainted.

Tell me.

Was she always as
pretty as she is now?

Except while we were waiting
for her second teeth to come in.

The front ones
were late arrivals.

Gave her a kind of gappy smile.

Nothing to worry about, John.

Is that right, Doctor?

Well, she's a little
shy on weight.

She's going to use the
rest as much as you do.

We made a couple
of precautionary tests.

But Virginia Beach sounds
like the best place for you both.

We'll take real good
care of each other.

Tests, Charlie?

A week in the sun by the
shore never hurt anyone.

Just you take things
a little easy, Olivia.

- I'll see that he does, too.
- That's right.

- Thank you, Doctor.
- All right.

Hope you're not counting
on fish for supper.

You giving up?

Nothing out there but an old
boot and a bunch of seaweed.

It's lucky I know where there's
a little chowder house in town.

- Been cleaning up the beach?
- Beautiful, aren't they?

I don't know all their names,
but they're kind of like snowflakes.

Each one is so different.

Some of them, their color's
faded, some of them are small.

A lot of them are broken.

This one's a whelk.

A little sea snail
used to live in there.

Kind of sad to think
of him moving out.

Maybe he got evicted.

You're about as
romantic as a toad!

I'll tell you what.

You give me a kiss, maybe
I'll turn into something.

Come here!

Told you! I'll give
you some more!

Let me rest a minute. I can't
seem to catch my breath.

Oh, Liv, you know better
than to run away from me.

- I think I better sit down, John.
- Come up here.

Liv?

I feel a little weak.

Must be your kisses.

Doctor told me to stop
acting like I was 20.

What did he tell you?

Mostly to stop
worrying about you.

Those tests he took? He going
to tell you how they come out?

I didn't ask him.

You know doctors, they're
mysterious about their work.

I think I'll just lie down here
in the sun for a little while.

Why don't you go catch
me something? No tires.

Corabeth.

I still don't think we should have
come over here without calling first.

You know how young people are.

If left to their own devices they will
survive on the most dreadful food.

We owe it to Olivia to see that
they have some supervision.

Hi, Ike and Corabeth.

Hi, Jim-Bob.

You see? There are problems.

I suspect that we arrived
not a moment too soon.

"And your father is trying
his luck at surf fishing.

"We miss you all. Love, Mama."

Sounds like they're
having a wonderful time.

Save that postcard for
my collection, all right?

Guess I better get
back out to the mill.

I don't want Daddy to come back
from his trip with more work than he left.

Well, you're the one that's
going to need a vacation.

I think you're right.

- Oh, hi, Ike, Corabeth.
- Hi, Ben.

We've brought you
some home cooking.

My, you little girls are
just as busy as bees.

You're dressed for Sunday, Ike.

It's not my idea. We're
here on an errand of mercy.

Corabeth seems to think
you are all starving to death.

This smells just like
the stew I'm making.

Oh, well, I hardly think so.

That recipe has been
in our family for years.

Cousin Sue Ellen's savory stew.

Why! I never dreamed

that Sue Ellen would pass that recipe
on to your father's branch of the family.

Well, Grandma's teaching
Elizabeth to cook all kinds of things.

I can't get her sponge
cake right, though.

Oh! Perhaps she failed to
reveal all of the ingredients.

Come along.

Wait a minute, Corabeth. Why
don't you and Ike stay for supper

since we do seem
to have a lot of food?

Oh! That's very kind of you,
but we really must run along.

You know, if you're all
neglected, you sure don't show it.

Neglected?

Now, what on earth put
that idea in your head?

I simply dropped in to see
that things were under control.

Well, thanks for
the stew, Corabeth.

- I'll walk out with you.
- You're welcome.

- Bye-bye.
- Thank you.

Let's taste this.

My goodness! They
do think we're neglected.

- Look at this.
- Here, Elizabeth.

That must be Jim-Bob.

I heard he was learning
to play an instrument.

He's having a
little trouble with it.

I guess that's why he's
practicing in the barn.

We stood it as long as we could and
then we voted him out of the house.

Now wait a second, Jason.

I can remember when you
started to play the piano.

You never heard so many
bad notes in all your life.

He had his fingers going in every
possible direction at the same time.

It's not the same now.

Wish you'd tell that to
my teachers at Kleinberg.

See you later,
Ike. Drive carefully.

- It's not easy, is it?
- I'm about ready to give up.

I'm surprised you haven't already.
We certainly haven't encouraged you.

I don't blame you. I can
hear as well as anybody else.

I guess Tanya was right.

All I'll ever be good for is
fixing cars and motorcycles.

There's nothing wrong with that.

I was going to get good enough to drive
her over to Westham and serenade her.

Boy, what a stupid idea.

Well, you can't serenade
her with scales and exercises.

What you need to do is learn a
good simple tune, something romantic.

At this rate it'll
take me all year.

Here. Give me that thing.

Maybe I can help you with
the keyboard part of it at least.

Let's see.

I don't know about these
buttons over here though.

We'll figure something
out. Now what do I do?

Thought I'd give this to
Grandma. You think she'll like it?

Yeah. Don't know
what she'll do with it.

She'll admire it.

Not everything has
to be useful, you know.

Maybe we ought to get
souvenirs for everybody at home.

I've already taken care of it.

I've got some scarves
for Mary Ellen and Erin.

A pail and bucket
for John Curtis.

A conch shell for Elizabeth,
so she can hear the ocean.

And salt water taffy
for everybody else.

Kind of hard letting go
thinking about them, isn't it?

I miss each and every one of
them. But I'm having a wonderful time.

- You want to do some fishing?
- No, thank you.

- I came here to relax.
- You sure are getting good at it.

This is the fourth sponge
cake I've made in three days.

I've used up every
egg in the place,

done everything you told
me to do and it's still not right.

It's fine.

No. It's not moist. And
it's got a different flavor.

I don't know. Are you sure
we're not leaving something out?

Corabeth says sometimes
cooks will keep their recipe secret.

But you wouldn't
do that, would you?

Grandma? Would you?

Is it something for the cake?

The Baldwin ladies' Recipe?

You use this in
your sponge cake?

I won't tell anybody, Grandma.

My lips are sealed. This is one ingredient
I am not going to use in my recipe book.

Be ready in just
a few minutes, Liv.

You look like a different
man. Tanned, rested.

I haven't thought about the
mill since we've been here.

Even the war seems far away.

No radio to remind
us of it all the time.

Matt Sarver is not calling, giving
me a new order every 20 minutes.

- We haven't even read a newspaper.
- It'll probably catch up with us soon.

I'll never forget this time,
John. Never in all the world.

- Kind of hate to go home.
- I don't mind going home.

We just have to
take all of this with us.

You thinking about
something, Liv?

I never think when
I look at the sea.

I do.

I think about all the fish out there
and how I would like to catch them.

I get lost in all its changes.

Its sound, the patterns
of light, colors, the tides.

They wash all the
thought from me.

You haven't gained
much weight here.

You've gained
enough for both of us.

Let's hold on to
this time, John.

Oh, Mama!

Your daddy bought
that for me, too.

It's beautiful.

The price tag is still
on it. You didn't wear it?

I didn't have time to alter it.

Mama, you've lost weight.

Oh, I don't think so.

What did the doctor say?

Well, he said your daddy
and I should take the rest.

We should take things easier
and we should start acting our age.

Is that all he said about you?

I think so. Why?

Because you've lost weight and you've
come back from your rest very tired.

Oh, that's just my way.

I always need to rest
up from my vacations.

You haven't said a thing to me about
you and John Curtis. Did he miss me?

We all missed you, Mama.

Will you stop
looking so worried?

- Mama, are you expecting someone?
- No, why?

Because there's a woman
down there that I don't recognize.

Why, it's Aunt Kate.

It looks almost familiar.

I've tried to tell you
everything about us.

Would you like some
tea or lemonade?

Nothing, thanks.

I knew I'd feel at home here.

Can't believe it took
you this long to come.

I guess you remember
that was Mama's.

I can still see where
it was mended.

It's been cracked
ever since I remember.

All one summer your mama took violin
lessons from the lady down the street.

She didn't know it,
but the lady's son used

to hide behind the
draperies to watch and listen.

One day, overcome by love,

he fell out against the piano
and the vase was broken.

How did Mama get it?

- She married the son.
- My father?

I didn't know that.

There are a lot of stories
I'd like to tell you, Olivia.

Some day when we have time.

Kate, what a surprise!

Just in time to join our
coming home picnic.

Oh! Thank you, John.

Can we sit down?

Something wrong, Kate?

Olivia knows I'm not one
for much preliminary, John.

My dear, those precautionary
tests Charlie took?

They indicate you're in the
early stages of tuberculosis.

I don't believe that.

I know.

Is he sure?

Yes.

I put a lot of names on
how I felt, but not this.

It sounds so awful.

Like some ancient
plague, I know.

But it's not like that, Olivia.

I've read somewhere it takes
a long time to overcome this.

Rest, a certain diet, quiet,
surely. And there's medicine.

- Did Dr. Caldwell send my medicine?
- Why, no, he didn't.

We can fix up John-Boy's press
room. Special place for you, Liv.

I'm afraid that can't be.

You can't stay here, Olivia.

I can't stay in my own home?

For the first while, you
have to be in a sanatorium.

There's a fine one
near me... Oh, no.

And after a while, I
want you to stay with me,

until I can bring
you home again.

Does it have to be that way?
Isn't there a sanatorium near here?

There aren't many
in all of Virginia.

I'm not going anywhere.
I just got home.

Now, Liv, if it's the
best thing for you...

The best thing for me is to be with
you, and my family and my home.

You said something about medicine,
rest, quiet. I can get all that here.

And Mary Ellen's a nurse.

Staying here will just make
things harder for your family, Olivia.

You know what you have to do.

- I'll be back.
- Liv...

Mama?

- Where is she going?
- Where's Mama going?

The picnic's almost ready.
I had a surprise for her.

- Maybe I better tell her.
- No, she has something on her mind.

- I hope nothing's wrong.
- Something is wrong.

There's no easy
way to tell you this.

So I guess I'll just say
the truth straight out.

Your mama's sick. She's likely
to have to go away for a while.

- Away where?
- To a sanatorium.

What's that?

It's a hospital for people
who have tuberculosis.

Oh, no!

How bad is it, Daddy?

We're lucky. Dr. Caldwell
caught it early.

She gets the right kind of
treatment, she'll be just fine.

I don't want Mama
to go anywhere.

It's all right, dear.
It won't be for long.

Your mama's going to
need all the strength you got.

Let's pull together on this. Come
on, we got a picnic to get ready.

I never think when
I look at the sea.

I'll never forget this time,
John. Never in all the world.

Kind of hate to go home.

Let's hold on to
this time, John.

The sooner I leave,
the sooner I'll be home.

The food we had on our trip
was great, but this beats all.

This cake is delicious,
Elizabeth. Sure you made it?

Grandma helped me.

Elizabeth's becoming
quite a cook.

Her stew's better than
Corabeth's, if that means anything.

Corabeth was sure
we'd been deprived.

Everything went really great while
you were gone. Didn't it, Grandma?

I appreciate what
you're all trying to do.

But not talking about it isn't
going to make it go away.

We all know that I'll be
leaving in the morning.

I don't know for how long
and that's what makes it hard.

But it's not going
to be forever.

Meanwhile, I'm going to be
very comforted knowing that

you'll all be here taking care of
your grandma and your daddy.

And I want good
reports of all of you

or there's going to be
trouble when I get home.

Well, what's the matter with you?
Don't you think I deserve a rest?

Come on, this is
supposed to be a party.

Doesn't anybody know a joke?

I know a joke.

What's the difference
between Hitler's moustache

and a snake wearing tap shoes?

- I don't know.
- Why don't you tell us, Elizabeth?

Well...

Hitler's moustache
is a paper man's...

Is a wall...

Well, I can't remember,
but it was really funny.

You're a real genius.

Mama?

Remember that going-away
present I forgot to give you?

- I sure do.
- I'm ready now.

That was just
wonderful, Jim-Bob.

I'm never going to play it for anybody
else again, Mama, not even if they beg me.

Well, now, why
are you all so quiet?

We're just waiting to
say goodbye, Mama.

There aren't going
to be any goodbyes.

I want you all to go back to
chores like you usually do.

We're just going to pretend
that this is any other morning

and I'm off to Ike's
for the groceries.

Are you all going to stand
around all day, doing nothing?

Mama.

Goodbye, Mama.

You be a good girl.

I'll miss you, Mary.

I love you, Mama.

Take care of your daddy.

Jason.

Olivia?

Time to go.

Well, you sure you don't
want me to go with you?

I'm sure.

I'll be over to see you.

Liv, I'll miss you.

It was a sad day.

The first of many long, lonely days
for our father and for all the family.

But eventually the time did pass

and my mother was cured
of her frightening illness.

Not surprisingly, she endured
it all with great courage.

And whenever one of us would
falter and feel sorry for ourselves,

we could always recall
Mama's voice saying,

"Now, none of
that, I won't have it."

- Daddy?
- Yes, Elizabeth.

When Mama's at Aunt Kate's, she's
not too far from the shore, is she?

No. Just a nice drive.

I hope you'll take me next time.

I keep listening
to the conch shell.

I've heard the ocean a lot.
I'd just love to see it again.

Some fine day,
honey, we'll do that.

Good night, everybody.

Good night, Daddy.