The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 7, Episode 21 - The Torch - full transcript
An old girlfriend of John Walton buys the Drew Drop Inn where Jason works. John stops at the Drew Drop and re-meets her. She still has feelings for him, but he still loves his wife. Ike Godsey opens a canteen for the soldiers.
You look kind of
shook-up, Daddy.
You would, too, Jason,
if you'd just seen a ghost.
JOHN-BOY: The absence of a loved
one can make the days seem endless
and the nights all the darker.
Especially in spring
when the weather is gentle
and moonlight stirs
the heartstrings.
During my mother's illness, our
family sorely missed her presence,
and without her, my father
was a lonely, vulnerable man.
Mary Ellen.
You're getting to be like Mom for
knowing who's coming in at what time.
I'm getting to be like
her, also, by the fact
that I can't get to sleep
till everybody's home.
I kind of like it. It makes
me feel looked after.
How long are they gonna
keep you on the night shift?
I'm through for now, so you won't
have to wait up for me for a while.
It's all right, I can't
sleep anyway.
This bed is getting lopsided.
I know, I have one just like it.
Good night, Daddy.
Good night, honey.
MARY ELLEN: Jason,
how did you sneak in?
You get pretty good at
it when you work nights.
How are things at the
Dew Drop Inn, Son?
Different. Thelma's sold
out and moved to California.
Now hold on, now.
What does that mean for you?
I wish I knew.
I've only got a few more
weeks to go before I graduate.
I need the money.
I'd be glad to help
out if I could, Son.
Me, too, I've got
quite a bit saved up.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
I've done it so far on my
own. I'd like to keep it that way.
Maybe the new
owner will keep you on.
I'll find out
tomorrow afternoon.
Right now, I'm bushed.
See you in the morning.
MARY ELLEN: Good night.
JOHN: Good night, Son.
Good night again, Daddy.
Good night, honey. Sleep tight.
Excuse me.
Oh, I'm not hiring right now.
Try me in a couple of weeks.
I already work here,
or I did as of yesterday.
My name's Walton, Jason Walton.
Are you the new owner?
Mrs. Jordan.
So, you're Jason Walton.
Did Thelma tell you about me?
No but her books did. Are you worth
all this money she's been paying you?
Thelma thought so.
She built this piano bar for me.
That's about the only thing
around here I might not change.
(PLAYING RAGTIME MUSIC)
I'm going to keep
you, too, Jason Walton.
I'm glad to hear that,
Mrs. Jordan. Thank you.
Jason.
Do you think the regulars around here
would mind if I remodel the joint a little?
Well, to tell you the
truth, Mrs. Jordan,
regulars are kind of
outnumbered these days
by the defense workers
and the soldiers coming in.
I thought I'd knock through a
couple of walls, extend the bar,
make the dining room larger.
If you don't mind my saying so,
my father has his
own lumber business.
He might be able to help
you out with the materials.
Sounds reasonable. Do you think
John could come by this evening?
Sure, I'm sure he would.
Good.
Mrs. Jordan, did I tell you
my father's name is John?
No, Jason, you didn't.
See you later.
Yes, ma'am. Thank you.
(CAR APPROACHING)
Cindy, look.
Elizabeth, he's too old for you.
Besides, Ben gets mad
if I even look at a soldier.
I didn't mean that.
It's just that I feel sorry for
the GIs from Camp Rockfish.
I mean, if they get a day off,
they don't have any place to go.
Well, you can't
bring them all home.
Might be kind of fun, though.
But other towns have
Red Cross canteens
or a YMCA. We
don't have anything.
Camp Rockfish is new.
They'll have rec halls
and day rooms later on.
Come on, we've got
a lot of shopping to do.
Cindy, come here!
Elizabeth, we're going to be
late and I'm gonna get the blame!
We could have our own
canteen right here. Right there.
Ike, don't you see? You'd
be doing your patriotic duty
if you let us open up a canteen.
Well, I'd be happy to do
what I'm able, you know.
Mr. Godsey must be very
cautious not to overdo.
He has a weak heart, you know.
Yes, but we'd run it.
I have convinced Mr. Godsey to
give up some of his responsibilities
as Director of Civil Defense.
Whatever he becomes involved in, he must be
very careful not to overtax his strength.
Well, Corabeth, the kids
would do all the work.
It would just give me a chance to
do a little something for the war effort
and, you know,
without getting tired.
Well, you could be the
senior hostess, Mrs. Godsey.
You'd be helping lonely young men
forget they're far away from home.
Well, I suppose you're right.
We must do all we can to help
our brave, young men in uniform.
Okay, we can use my
record player for music,
and we can put up lots of
decorations. We can have refreshments.
- ELIZABETH: And we can dance.
- Oh, that will be great.
I thought you were
starting a canteen.
This begins to sound
like a night club.
Well, it's got to be inviting
or the GIs won't want to come
- for any fun or excitement!
- That's true.
How much excitement?
Well, we'll have chaperones.
We will? I thought this
was supposed to be fun.
Well, I can be a chaperone on the
nights I'm not on-call at the hospital.
Daddy, you can come tell
stories about the Great War.
That will keep the
troops together.
If that doesn't work, I could
always do a song and dance.
- We're serious.
- I'm serious!
Daddy, I hear you're
stepping out tonight.
No, no, I'm just going
over to the Dew Drop Inn.
The owner wants to
do some remodeling.
CINDY: Oh, what
does she look like?
You know Rita Hayworth?
Well, Mrs. Jordan doesn't
look anything like her.
But Jason said she's
not bad. For her age.
No, I don't even know the woman.
Better watch out, Daddy.
It's strictly business!
Now, come on!
(ALL CHATTERING)
(RAGTIME PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
(PATRONS CHATTERING)
(PATRONS APPLAUDING)
Jason, I'd like to request an old
song, but I don't think you'll know it.
Try me.
Oh, You Beautiful Doll?
Sure, I know it. It's
one of Daddy's favorites.
He just came in.
I know.
(PLAYING OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL)
Johnny.
Johnny,
how you doing?
Callie?
What's new, Johnny?
Callie, is it you?
Whoa!
(JOHN CHUCKLES)
Callie May! What
are you doing here?
That's right!
Callie May is back in town.
When did you decide to
leave the mountain, Callie?
It was just about the time
your daddy got married.
I wanted the city lights.
And I got my share of them.
I worked in joints like this
from here to Florida and back.
I've been running
saloons ever since.
How's Olivia?
Well, she...
She got tuberculosis, as a
matter of fact, a few months back.
She's resting
but she'll be fine.
I'm sorry to hear that. It
must be hard on everybody.
Yes, it is.
Well, getting late.
Jason, you and me gotta
be up early in the morning.
Yup.
Jason, I like the way you
play. I hope you'll stay on.
Thank you. I'll stay
as long as I can.
I'll call you in the morning
about remodeling the place.
Oh, can't you do it tonight?
Callie May, you always
want everything right away.
I think you'll find that I'm just as
difficult to get along with as ever.
Welcome home.
- Thank you.
- Good night.
Good night, Callie.
We want Godsey
Hall to look really nice.
It will look as though it
had been gift wrapped.
(DOOR OPENING)
Oh, yes, ma'am, may I help you?
You'd better, Ike, or
I'll tell Mrs. Tate on you.
I beg your pardon? Mrs. Tate?
How could you forget your
favorite high school teacher, Ike?
Callie, Callie May!
- Oh, you look good.
- Oh, you look great yourself.
Corabeth, this is Callie
May, my old school mate.
Callie May, my wife, Corabeth.
Corabeth, Ike always
was a lucky guy.
How do you do?
And this is Elizabeth Walton, John's
youngest. You remember John Walton?
Hello, Elizabeth.
Yes, I talked to John and Jason last
night. I own the Dew Drop Inn now.
You don't say!
Yes, John's going
to help me remodel it.
You don't say!
She did say, Mr. Godsey.
And this is Cindy
Walton, young Ben's bride.
- Hello, how are you?
- Hi.
Ike, I just stopped by to see if you
have a commercial rate for restaurants.
Well, I'm sure we can work
something out, Callie May.
Good. In that case, here's
a list of the things I'll need.
If the price is right when you deliver,
well, then you've got a regular customer.
Nice meeting you all.
Miss Elizabeth, you sure
are a pretty young lady.
Thank you.
(DOOR OPENING)
Who is that female?
(DOOR CLOSING)
That was the one, the only,
the original, Callie May Jessup.
Boy, the old days
around Walton's Mountain,
she was really something!
As a matter of fact, she used
to go around with your daddy.
Really? I thought Daddy and Mama
were always childhood sweethearts.
Well, they were, but when your
mom's folks objected to the marriage,
well then, John... Well,
he really went wild!
Mr. Godsey, we would rather not
hear the sordid details of John's youth!
- Well, I would.
- So would I.
Well, shall we complete
our transaction?
I think we can break through
this wall to expand the dining room.
No, that's a weight-bearing wall. It's
best to go out that way, Callie May.
- I want this one, Johnny!
- It doesn't make any sense, Callie May.
It's a weight-bearing
wall, I'm telling you.
You're gonna have to put a
beam across the top to hold it up
and it's gonna cost
you a lot more money.
So what? It's my money!
Still stubborn as
ever, aren't you?
You're the stubborn one.
As I recall, you were the
one always starting the fights.
But it was fun
making up, wasn't it?
As I recall, you ran off in
quite a hurry, didn't you?
When you started going with
Olivia again, you got so dull
I couldn't stand looking at you.
I tried to tell you about
Liv, you wouldn't see me.
Oh, please! I got over you a
long time ago, John Walton.
The Dew Drop was a good
buy, and I wanted to come home.
Even if I do have to look
at your miserable mountain.
There's nothing wrong
with our mountain!
(CALLIE SCOFFS)
"Our mountain."
Listen to the big shot.
I suppose you charge
people to look at it.
Let's just get back
to business, all right?
Yes, let's do. My
time is valuable.
I'll start delivering
the lumber tomorrow.
Well, see that you put it
on the side of the building,
because I don't want
you to junk-up the front.
You just get your own plans,
I'll take care of the lumber.
And don't try to dump any
third-grade wood on me either!
Just don't stand in the way when I
start unloading that lumber, Callie May.
Nice doing business with you!
You're as kind and
understanding as ever!
You always did have lousy aim!
Well, that's good to hear, Liv.
No, there's not much
new around here.
Ben and Cindy and Jim-Bob
are over at Godsey Hall.
The girls are going
over there now.
All right, honey.
I love you, too. Bye-bye.
That was your mama.
She didn't wanna run up a
phone bill. She's doing fine.
That's good.
Bye, Daddy.
Bye, honey.
- Better go.
- Bye-bye.
You sure you don't mind
watching John Curtis?
Why should I? I've
got plenty to do here.
We'll be home early, in
case you want to go out.
Where would I wanna go?
See you later.
And then, Jim-Bob, twist
it first before you tack it up.
He knows that, Cindy.
- Like that?
- Yeah.
This is the darnedest-looking
night club I've ever seen.
Oh, really? How many
night clubs have you been to?
Enough. Even the Dew
Drop doesn't look like this.
I wonder how much that Callie
Jordan is going to change it.
What's she like, Elizabeth?
She seemed nice. Real pretty.
Ike said she and Daddy
used to go together.
That was a long time ago.
Cindy, what did
you think of her?
She's been around.
That's what I was afraid of.
How come?
Well, Daddy didn't mention her
to Mama on the phone tonight.
And I know she knew her.
It's been a long time since Daddy's
been out in the world, you might say.
He's been awful lonely lately.
He might get that old feeling.
What do you know
about that old feeling?
It's in the song, isn't it?
Well, Daddy's not that old,
and he is still handsome.
Actually, he's at a
very dangerous age.
You know, it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye
on your father while your mother's gone.
Now, wait a minute!
Daddy can take good care of himself.
I mean, he is a grandfather, you know.
Remind him of that, too, Ben,
but don't count on it
having very much meaning.
Not with a woman like
Callie Jordan around.
Oh, come on. Let's go
get the refreshments.
Cindy's mama and papa
split up when she was 13.
Her mother died a
couple years later.
Better go give her a hand.
Why don't you finish
hanging this stuff up?
Oh, thanks, Ben.
Hi, Grandpa, I've got
a customer for you.
Wholesale or retail?
Mr. Willard's a big
operator, so it's wholesale.
What can we do for
you, big time operator?
Well, he's got some building projects
going and needs some materials.
Building blocks,
Grandpa, lots of them.
What's this Grandpa business? I
don't mind when John Curtis can say it.
But I don't think anyone
else has the right to.
Well, you are one, you know?
Hey, Grandpa, when are we going
to start this special order of his?
You hear that, John Curtis?
Can you say it, "Grandpa"?
Come on. "Grandpa."
- Grandpa.
- JOHN: Come on.
Take the tree out of your mouth.
That's all right, I'll fill
your order anyways.
As soon as I get back
from the Dew Drop Inn.
- Want me to go with you?
- No, I can handle this.
You get to work
on the Willard order.
And sand that wood
down real good.
I don't want my grandson
getting any splinters in his fingers.
- Bye-bye, Grandpa.
- Take it easy, Grandpa.
Bye-bye.
Trouble is he doesn't
look like a grandpa.
Doesn't think like one either.
Hi, Johnny.
Callie May.
You know, no one’s called
me Johnny for a long time.
Not too many people put
May behind Callie, either.
Do you mind?
No, as a matter
of fact, I like it.
Most people have been
calling me grandpa lately.
Anybody who calls you grandpa
needs an eye examination.
Well...
There's your lumber.
As soon as you get your
plans, we can get to work.
Oh, Ike called.
He heard I was looking for lighting
fixtures and he has some on sale.
Be careful of those.
Last time I saw
Ike's lighting fixtures,
they looked like they'd been
floor samples for Thomas Edison.
I ought to at least take a look
at them. You want to come?
I'll meet you there.
Want to race?
Twenty-five years ago,
I would have said yes.
Twenty-five years ago, it
would've been your idea.
I don't know, Johnny,
you're losing your bite.
Callie May, aren't you
ever going to grow up?
You mean grow old, don't you?
I mean, be a lady!
Ha! You wouldn't know
one if you saw one!
Okay, you've got
yourself a race!
(ENGINE STARTING)
(TRUCK HORN HONKING)
(TRUCK HORN HONKING)
Oh, no, no, no! That's not fair!
- Where you been?
- You cheated!
You cheated!
Callie May, you forgot your
way around these old roads.
You took a new road!
I won, and I want to
know what the prize is.
Same as it always was.
Oh, Callie May, now, I
just better settle for a soda.
(DOOR OPENING)
(DOOR CLOSING)
Well, I've been hearing
about your plans,
and I got to thinking, well, maybe
you needed some lighting fixtures.
And if you did, I've got a
really great buy for you.
Here, I got this out
of the storeroom.
Oh.
It's very different.
Yeah.
I've got a dozen of these, and I
don't know why they haven't sold.
I was really looking for
something a little more modern.
I'm sorry, Ike.
Oh.
Well, you know, I'm just trying
to help out an old classmate.
Sure is great having Callie around.
It kind of brings you back, doesn't it?
- It sure does.
- I seem to recall
we spent a great deal
of time playing hooky.
Yes, we did that.
Hooky? I don't
remember playing hooky.
Weren't you with me and Johnny when
we went down to the old swimming hole?
It got hot early that
spring, remember, Johnny?
Yes, I remember.
What spring was that?
As a matter of fact, it got so
hot that we took off at noon
and ran down there
and just jumped right in.
Oh, did that water feel good!
And then Johnny... Johnny
got on that big tire swing
out over the water,
just like Tarzan.
Got to be going along now, Ike.
The only thing is he didn't
have himself a loin cloth!
(DOOR OPENING)
(DOOR CLOSING)
I wasn't there,
Corabeth. I swear it!
It's nice seeing pictures of
your mama all over the house,
but I'm not sure we
need one in the bathroom.
Pretty lady, your mama.
- What's for supper?
- Chicken pot pie.
Great! My favorite!
Just the way Mama makes it.
Supper's not quite ready yet,
so if you want to, you have
time to read your paper first.
Good.
Mama always seemed to
manage to time it out that way.
You sure you don't mind
staying with John Curtis tonight?
Nope.
I'm supposed to be the chaperone at
the opening of the Night Club Canteen.
What I worry about is who's
going to chaperone the chaperone?
Nobody, I hope.
Well, what do you think?
This is one of the dresses
that Mama used to wear.
You all keep this up,
I'm gonna get the car
and go see your
mama in Alberene.
Why don't you?
Grandpa is baby-sitting tonight.
I don't have to
go to the canteen.
No, you go ahead.
Listen here,
you know, it's really not
necessary for you all to remind me
how much I miss your mama.
Is this all because of Callie?
We don't want you to get
involved with that woman.
I don't intend to, honey.
She's a friend. I have a right to
choose my own friends, don't I?
I always gave you that right. Why
don't you let me worry about it?
Sorry.
I'm not just talking
to you, Elizabeth.
Supper's almost ready.
Why don't we dish it up?
Are you sure you put
those posters up all over?
I took a whole stack
over to Camp Rockfish.
When did you do that?
I told you I was
doing publicity.
I put a couple at Ike's store.
Then a few at the
Baldwin's antique shop.
There's a lot of GIs that
go around there, Elizabeth.
Well, don't give up.
It looks real colorful.
Hey, come in.
Have you got any beer in here?
Well, no, but we've got soft
drinks and sugar cookies.
Are you one of
the cookies, sugar?
Yes, she is. And
I'm her husband.
Thanks just the same.
I'll head for the Dew Drop.
Ben, I'm the hostess.
I have to be nice.
But not too nice.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
- Hello.
- It's Callie. How are you, Johnny?
Fine. What's going on?
The draftsman brought by the
remodeling plans, can you come over?
Sorry, Callie May, I'm
here alone with John Curtis.
Oh. Okay, I'll bring them over.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
We don't seem to be overwhelmed
with lonely soldiers, do we?
I could be having a better
time at the ice cream parlor.
It's really a challenge being a
chaperone to my brother and his wife
and my younger
brother and sister.
Something does seem to be amiss.
- Hi there!
- Cindy.
Welcome to the
Night Club Canteen.
Would you like some
refreshments or maybe to dance?
Uh, no, thank you.
Um...
What I would like
are some books.
You see, we don't
have a post library yet.
Oh.
My dear young man,
come with me and I will open the
door to the world of literature for you.
That's really great.
You know, I was studying
Restoration theater when I got drafted.
Oh, Beaumont and
Fletcher, here we come!
Well, I think I'm going
to go relieve Daddy.
This place doesn't need a
chaperone, it needs an undertaker.
Stay and have some cookies.
No, but bring some home for
Daddy. They're Mama's special recipe.
Of course! Isn't everything
we've cooked lately?
- Good night.
- Good night.
- Hi.
- Callie May.
Here they are. Finally! I can't
believe he finally brought them over.
You look at them and explain.
I can't figure them out at all.
I sure will.
I've been thinking about our
race. It was really fun, wasn't it?
It sure was, as long as I won.
I'm giving the
Godseys a hard time.
Poor Ike.
You did lay it on a
little thick, Callie May.
Yes.
So,
this is where Mr. John Walton has
spent the last 25 years of wedded bliss.
Twenty-six.
Let's take a look
at these plans.
I used to imagine what it would've
been like living here with you.
Six children, is it?
Seven.
I didn't quite
picture it that way.
Things not busy over
at the Dew Drop Inn?
Not too.
"O.W."
Olivia painted that. She started
painting again a few years ago.
Not much that lady
can't do, is there?
Johnny,
Olivia's not gone. She's here.
I know.
Now, this is the part
I can't understand.
Mary Ellen.
Callie, I want you to meet
my oldest daughter, Mary Ellen.
Hello, Mary Ellen.
Hello.
Just going over some plans here.
Callie's going to remodel the Dew Drop Inn.
I see.
(CLEARS THROAT)
How're things at the canteen?
Terrible, everybody
went to the Dew Drop.
I'd better get back.
Nice meeting you, Mary Ellen.
Well, I'll look at the blueprints
and we'll talk about them.
- Okay.
- Good night.
- Good night.
- Good night.
How'd you like Callie?
She's seems nice.
How do you like her?
Just an old friend.
Little crazy in the
head sometimes.
Daddy, I remember when
Curt went to Camp Lee
and I kept running into
David Spencer at the hospital.
I know what it's
like to be lonely.
And to keep finding yourself running
into someone who used to be close.
Old feelings aren't always buried
as deep as we think they are.
Mary Ellen, it's
nothing like that.
Callie and me are
old friends, that's all.
Good night, Daddy.
We still have to figure out what
to do with the light fixtures here,
here and here.
Hmm. What do you
think I ought to do?
I have to get down to
Richmond on Saturday.
I know a place that has some good
buys. I can get a catalog and some prices.
I'm not busy on
Saturday. I'll go with you.
Callie, I think there's
something we ought to talk about.
- Hi.
- Hi.
I've got a composition to work on. I
wondered if I could borrow the piano.
The one at home
needs tuning real bad.
Sure, I'd love
to hear it, Jason.
Thanks.
So, all of our business
is settled, then?
I guess so.
I'm sure we'll find the
right fixtures on Saturday.
Got to get back to work.
- Bye.
- Bye-bye, Daddy.
I really should be over at Godsey
Hall helping them close up the canteen.
This piece is due tomorrow.
Did they give up?
Well, it wasn't worth
it. Nobody came.
That's a shame. We need a place around here
for the soldiers when they're off duty.
And take business
away from the Dew Drop?
Well, no, we can't
have that, can we?
Well, go on and play,
I haven't got all day.
(PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC)
Hello, Elizabeth.
Hi.
Jason told me your
canteen folded. I'm sorry.
I guess we just couldn't
compete with the Dew Drop Inn.
I've been in this business
a long time, Elizabeth.
It's pretty hard to beat the
competition with the same kind of place,
unless you can do it better.
Your liquid refreshments
were a little stronger than ours.
That's what people
expect in a night club.
But we thought the GIs
would go for a place like this.
I see a lot of young
soldiers at the Dew Drop.
Most of them are away from
home for the first time in their lives.
But that's why we thought
they'd come here for some fun.
I think what a lot of soldiers are
looking for is a home away from home.
That's for sure.
A place where they could relax,
write letters, read books or magazines.
You know, that's
not such a bad idea.
We can get a Ping-Pong
table and set it up.
Maybe even ask Ike if we
can use his pool table for free.
But how can we do that when
we don't have any money?
It won't be easy to get donations,
especially after we goofed once.
You need a backer.
Something they call a public-minded
citizen who wants to create
good will in the community.
We ran out of all of those when
we tried to get the night club started.
You haven't asked me.
- Well, hello, John.
- Good morning, John.
Good morning, Corabeth, Ike.
Ike, I need some wood screws,
some nuts and bolts. It's all right there.
I'll be back later
to pick it up.
- I'll have them ready.
- Oh, John!
Could I speak to you
for a moment, please?
Why, sure, Corabeth.
I know how lonely you
must be with Olivia gone,
so I have selected two of my
favorite books for you to read.
The Constant Heart
and Faithful to the End.
Thank you, Corabeth.
I appreciate the thoughtfulness.
Well, perhaps when you are through,
we can discuss their moral implications.
I can hardly wait.
Well, now I must go
water the philodendron.
IKE: Oh, John, can I
have a word with you?
- You know, at our time of life...
- Uh-huh.
- And it is a very dangerous age...
- Uh-huh.
We gotta be very careful so that we don't
get off the straight and narrow, you know?
Ike...
Now listen, Ike,
you can trust me.
Are you slipping around?
Who, me? No, not me.
Good. Glad to hear it, Ike.
Hey! You want some nice,
fresh home-made cookies?
Want some cookies, fellows?
Oh! How about some
cookies? Full of lots of energy.
I thought you always
went to the Dew Drop.
I did, but Callie's telling everyone
they ought to come over here
for some real
down-home entertainment.
She was right!
Want some cookies?
How'd you hear about
our canteen, Sergeant?
Callie over at the Dew Drop.
Your move.
- Elizabeth, cookies?
- No, thank you.
One for the winner.
- Hey, want a cookie? Corabeth's.
- Thank you.
I would never have thought it
possible for this place to be so crowded.
Neither would I.
Had it to myself the
first time I came by.
- JIM-BOB: Who's next?
- I am.
What are we playing for?
Make it easy on yourself.
Cindy!
Oh, Ben, every soldier I've talked
to said Callie Jordan sent him!
You just watch your step, okay?
ELIZABETH: Gosh,
you're really good!
(RAGTIME PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
Hi, fellows.
- Ike, you wanted to see me?
- Yes, Callie, I did.
- You got a minute?
- Sure, come on in.
Oh, I'd rather talk
to you out here.
I want to talk to you about
John, and Jason's in there.
Anything you have to say to me,
you can say at the bar. Come on.
Corabeth's waiting.
Was this your idea, Ike?
Well, it's both of ours,
but it's mostly mine.
I really do want to
talk to you about John,
as an old friend.
His or mine?
Well, both of yours.
If you're worried about John
Walton going astray, forget it.
He's settled in like
a bear in winter.
Well, I just remembered the way the
two of you used to be, you know, you...
You really had something
powerful between the two of you.
I got over him a long time ago.
Besides, all we
ever do is fight.
That's what I'm afraid of.
That's all you used to do.
Except, the two
of you, you loved it!
Now, listen, Ike,
you're sticking your nose into
something that's none of your business.
I came here to settle down.
I like the Dew Drop
and the area is growing.
I've had enough of marriage
and trying to get along with men
and that includes John Walton!
Callie, there is
just one thing more.
CALLIE: Mmm-Hmm.
Those marriages of yours,
why didn't they last?
Because both of my
husbands were idiots, Ike!
Maybe it's because they didn't
measure up to the man you really wanted.
John Walton.
Good night, Ike.
Good night, Callie.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
JOHN: Callie May?
Over here.
You ready?
Callie May, you ready?
I'm not going.
How come?
Oh, I had big
plans for this trip,
but now I just can't do it.
What in the world
are you talking about?
You've gotten so
all-fired pure and clean,
you'd probably have a
heart attack if I told you.
Get out of here, Johnny.
You're trespassing.
Callie May, will you make sense?
When I came back here,
I really didn't think you'd
mean anything to me.
I was determined you wouldn't.
But it started all over.
And I began dreaming again.
This could've been a
real nice trip to Richmond.
For both of us.
But
after getting to know your kids
and seeing where you live
and what a nice guy you turned
out to be, I don't know, I just...
I can't do it.
Go on, get out of here. Goodbye.
Goodbye, Johnny.
You know, we might have
had a good life together,
but we went down
different roads.
(JOHN SIGHS)
Sooner or later, we would
have killed each other anyway.
We did have
something good going.
And I've been thinking
about that some lately.
You know, I never did have
much trouble being faithful to Liv,
but that doesn't mean much until
you come up against temptation.
Callie May, Liv means
everything to me.
That's just the way it is.
But on the other hand, you
know, we are good friends.
And we are going to be
doing business together.
And nobody's going to tell me
who I can see and who I can't see.
As a matter of fact, I called Liv the
other night after you left the house.
I told her you
were back in town.
All she said was, "How's
she doing her hair now?"
I told her, "I didn't remember."
She said, "Next time
you see her, take notice!"
Come on, Callie May,
let's go to Richmond.
Get your hands
off me, you big ape!
I'll show you how nice and
innocent the whole thing can be.
You know, you're still just
a dumb old country boy!
I can handle you
anytime, Miss Callie May!
- That's what you think, Johnny Walton!
- Come on, let's go!
- What are you doing?
- Callie, it's all going to be fine.
Just to be sure
I brought a few of the Waltons
along. They want to get to know you.
They wanted to come.
Come on, Callie May.
It'll be nice for me, too, to
get to know you as a friend.
Well,
you better start remembering
how I fix my hair so you can
tell Olivia all about it.
JOHN: We're off to Richmond!
Say hello, everybody.
JOHN: Hey, John Curtis,
how you doing, baby-baby?
Here we go! Everybody
in. Let's go to the big city!
JOHN-BOY: Callie May Jordan became
a respected member of the community
and a good friend to all
our family, young and old.
MARY ELLEN: You
still awake, Daddy?
JOHN: I'm hitting the old
pillow pretty quick, honey.
Everybody's back from the canteen,
and Jason got home half an hour ago.
I know.
JOHN: I've been reading
Corabeth's book tonight,
Faithful to the End.
The other one is better.
MARY ELLEN: The Constant
Heart? I just finished it. It's worse.
- Good night, Mary Ellen.
- Good night, Daddy.
English -SDH
shook-up, Daddy.
You would, too, Jason,
if you'd just seen a ghost.
JOHN-BOY: The absence of a loved
one can make the days seem endless
and the nights all the darker.
Especially in spring
when the weather is gentle
and moonlight stirs
the heartstrings.
During my mother's illness, our
family sorely missed her presence,
and without her, my father
was a lonely, vulnerable man.
Mary Ellen.
You're getting to be like Mom for
knowing who's coming in at what time.
I'm getting to be like
her, also, by the fact
that I can't get to sleep
till everybody's home.
I kind of like it. It makes
me feel looked after.
How long are they gonna
keep you on the night shift?
I'm through for now, so you won't
have to wait up for me for a while.
It's all right, I can't
sleep anyway.
This bed is getting lopsided.
I know, I have one just like it.
Good night, Daddy.
Good night, honey.
MARY ELLEN: Jason,
how did you sneak in?
You get pretty good at
it when you work nights.
How are things at the
Dew Drop Inn, Son?
Different. Thelma's sold
out and moved to California.
Now hold on, now.
What does that mean for you?
I wish I knew.
I've only got a few more
weeks to go before I graduate.
I need the money.
I'd be glad to help
out if I could, Son.
Me, too, I've got
quite a bit saved up.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
I've done it so far on my
own. I'd like to keep it that way.
Maybe the new
owner will keep you on.
I'll find out
tomorrow afternoon.
Right now, I'm bushed.
See you in the morning.
MARY ELLEN: Good night.
JOHN: Good night, Son.
Good night again, Daddy.
Good night, honey. Sleep tight.
Excuse me.
Oh, I'm not hiring right now.
Try me in a couple of weeks.
I already work here,
or I did as of yesterday.
My name's Walton, Jason Walton.
Are you the new owner?
Mrs. Jordan.
So, you're Jason Walton.
Did Thelma tell you about me?
No but her books did. Are you worth
all this money she's been paying you?
Thelma thought so.
She built this piano bar for me.
That's about the only thing
around here I might not change.
(PLAYING RAGTIME MUSIC)
I'm going to keep
you, too, Jason Walton.
I'm glad to hear that,
Mrs. Jordan. Thank you.
Jason.
Do you think the regulars around here
would mind if I remodel the joint a little?
Well, to tell you the
truth, Mrs. Jordan,
regulars are kind of
outnumbered these days
by the defense workers
and the soldiers coming in.
I thought I'd knock through a
couple of walls, extend the bar,
make the dining room larger.
If you don't mind my saying so,
my father has his
own lumber business.
He might be able to help
you out with the materials.
Sounds reasonable. Do you think
John could come by this evening?
Sure, I'm sure he would.
Good.
Mrs. Jordan, did I tell you
my father's name is John?
No, Jason, you didn't.
See you later.
Yes, ma'am. Thank you.
(CAR APPROACHING)
Cindy, look.
Elizabeth, he's too old for you.
Besides, Ben gets mad
if I even look at a soldier.
I didn't mean that.
It's just that I feel sorry for
the GIs from Camp Rockfish.
I mean, if they get a day off,
they don't have any place to go.
Well, you can't
bring them all home.
Might be kind of fun, though.
But other towns have
Red Cross canteens
or a YMCA. We
don't have anything.
Camp Rockfish is new.
They'll have rec halls
and day rooms later on.
Come on, we've got
a lot of shopping to do.
Cindy, come here!
Elizabeth, we're going to be
late and I'm gonna get the blame!
We could have our own
canteen right here. Right there.
Ike, don't you see? You'd
be doing your patriotic duty
if you let us open up a canteen.
Well, I'd be happy to do
what I'm able, you know.
Mr. Godsey must be very
cautious not to overdo.
He has a weak heart, you know.
Yes, but we'd run it.
I have convinced Mr. Godsey to
give up some of his responsibilities
as Director of Civil Defense.
Whatever he becomes involved in, he must be
very careful not to overtax his strength.
Well, Corabeth, the kids
would do all the work.
It would just give me a chance to
do a little something for the war effort
and, you know,
without getting tired.
Well, you could be the
senior hostess, Mrs. Godsey.
You'd be helping lonely young men
forget they're far away from home.
Well, I suppose you're right.
We must do all we can to help
our brave, young men in uniform.
Okay, we can use my
record player for music,
and we can put up lots of
decorations. We can have refreshments.
- ELIZABETH: And we can dance.
- Oh, that will be great.
I thought you were
starting a canteen.
This begins to sound
like a night club.
Well, it's got to be inviting
or the GIs won't want to come
- for any fun or excitement!
- That's true.
How much excitement?
Well, we'll have chaperones.
We will? I thought this
was supposed to be fun.
Well, I can be a chaperone on the
nights I'm not on-call at the hospital.
Daddy, you can come tell
stories about the Great War.
That will keep the
troops together.
If that doesn't work, I could
always do a song and dance.
- We're serious.
- I'm serious!
Daddy, I hear you're
stepping out tonight.
No, no, I'm just going
over to the Dew Drop Inn.
The owner wants to
do some remodeling.
CINDY: Oh, what
does she look like?
You know Rita Hayworth?
Well, Mrs. Jordan doesn't
look anything like her.
But Jason said she's
not bad. For her age.
No, I don't even know the woman.
Better watch out, Daddy.
It's strictly business!
Now, come on!
(ALL CHATTERING)
(RAGTIME PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
(PATRONS CHATTERING)
(PATRONS APPLAUDING)
Jason, I'd like to request an old
song, but I don't think you'll know it.
Try me.
Oh, You Beautiful Doll?
Sure, I know it. It's
one of Daddy's favorites.
He just came in.
I know.
(PLAYING OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL)
Johnny.
Johnny,
how you doing?
Callie?
What's new, Johnny?
Callie, is it you?
Whoa!
(JOHN CHUCKLES)
Callie May! What
are you doing here?
That's right!
Callie May is back in town.
When did you decide to
leave the mountain, Callie?
It was just about the time
your daddy got married.
I wanted the city lights.
And I got my share of them.
I worked in joints like this
from here to Florida and back.
I've been running
saloons ever since.
How's Olivia?
Well, she...
She got tuberculosis, as a
matter of fact, a few months back.
She's resting
but she'll be fine.
I'm sorry to hear that. It
must be hard on everybody.
Yes, it is.
Well, getting late.
Jason, you and me gotta
be up early in the morning.
Yup.
Jason, I like the way you
play. I hope you'll stay on.
Thank you. I'll stay
as long as I can.
I'll call you in the morning
about remodeling the place.
Oh, can't you do it tonight?
Callie May, you always
want everything right away.
I think you'll find that I'm just as
difficult to get along with as ever.
Welcome home.
- Thank you.
- Good night.
Good night, Callie.
We want Godsey
Hall to look really nice.
It will look as though it
had been gift wrapped.
(DOOR OPENING)
Oh, yes, ma'am, may I help you?
You'd better, Ike, or
I'll tell Mrs. Tate on you.
I beg your pardon? Mrs. Tate?
How could you forget your
favorite high school teacher, Ike?
Callie, Callie May!
- Oh, you look good.
- Oh, you look great yourself.
Corabeth, this is Callie
May, my old school mate.
Callie May, my wife, Corabeth.
Corabeth, Ike always
was a lucky guy.
How do you do?
And this is Elizabeth Walton, John's
youngest. You remember John Walton?
Hello, Elizabeth.
Yes, I talked to John and Jason last
night. I own the Dew Drop Inn now.
You don't say!
Yes, John's going
to help me remodel it.
You don't say!
She did say, Mr. Godsey.
And this is Cindy
Walton, young Ben's bride.
- Hello, how are you?
- Hi.
Ike, I just stopped by to see if you
have a commercial rate for restaurants.
Well, I'm sure we can work
something out, Callie May.
Good. In that case, here's
a list of the things I'll need.
If the price is right when you deliver,
well, then you've got a regular customer.
Nice meeting you all.
Miss Elizabeth, you sure
are a pretty young lady.
Thank you.
(DOOR OPENING)
Who is that female?
(DOOR CLOSING)
That was the one, the only,
the original, Callie May Jessup.
Boy, the old days
around Walton's Mountain,
she was really something!
As a matter of fact, she used
to go around with your daddy.
Really? I thought Daddy and Mama
were always childhood sweethearts.
Well, they were, but when your
mom's folks objected to the marriage,
well then, John... Well,
he really went wild!
Mr. Godsey, we would rather not
hear the sordid details of John's youth!
- Well, I would.
- So would I.
Well, shall we complete
our transaction?
I think we can break through
this wall to expand the dining room.
No, that's a weight-bearing wall. It's
best to go out that way, Callie May.
- I want this one, Johnny!
- It doesn't make any sense, Callie May.
It's a weight-bearing
wall, I'm telling you.
You're gonna have to put a
beam across the top to hold it up
and it's gonna cost
you a lot more money.
So what? It's my money!
Still stubborn as
ever, aren't you?
You're the stubborn one.
As I recall, you were the
one always starting the fights.
But it was fun
making up, wasn't it?
As I recall, you ran off in
quite a hurry, didn't you?
When you started going with
Olivia again, you got so dull
I couldn't stand looking at you.
I tried to tell you about
Liv, you wouldn't see me.
Oh, please! I got over you a
long time ago, John Walton.
The Dew Drop was a good
buy, and I wanted to come home.
Even if I do have to look
at your miserable mountain.
There's nothing wrong
with our mountain!
(CALLIE SCOFFS)
"Our mountain."
Listen to the big shot.
I suppose you charge
people to look at it.
Let's just get back
to business, all right?
Yes, let's do. My
time is valuable.
I'll start delivering
the lumber tomorrow.
Well, see that you put it
on the side of the building,
because I don't want
you to junk-up the front.
You just get your own plans,
I'll take care of the lumber.
And don't try to dump any
third-grade wood on me either!
Just don't stand in the way when I
start unloading that lumber, Callie May.
Nice doing business with you!
You're as kind and
understanding as ever!
You always did have lousy aim!
Well, that's good to hear, Liv.
No, there's not much
new around here.
Ben and Cindy and Jim-Bob
are over at Godsey Hall.
The girls are going
over there now.
All right, honey.
I love you, too. Bye-bye.
That was your mama.
She didn't wanna run up a
phone bill. She's doing fine.
That's good.
Bye, Daddy.
Bye, honey.
- Better go.
- Bye-bye.
You sure you don't mind
watching John Curtis?
Why should I? I've
got plenty to do here.
We'll be home early, in
case you want to go out.
Where would I wanna go?
See you later.
And then, Jim-Bob, twist
it first before you tack it up.
He knows that, Cindy.
- Like that?
- Yeah.
This is the darnedest-looking
night club I've ever seen.
Oh, really? How many
night clubs have you been to?
Enough. Even the Dew
Drop doesn't look like this.
I wonder how much that Callie
Jordan is going to change it.
What's she like, Elizabeth?
She seemed nice. Real pretty.
Ike said she and Daddy
used to go together.
That was a long time ago.
Cindy, what did
you think of her?
She's been around.
That's what I was afraid of.
How come?
Well, Daddy didn't mention her
to Mama on the phone tonight.
And I know she knew her.
It's been a long time since Daddy's
been out in the world, you might say.
He's been awful lonely lately.
He might get that old feeling.
What do you know
about that old feeling?
It's in the song, isn't it?
Well, Daddy's not that old,
and he is still handsome.
Actually, he's at a
very dangerous age.
You know, it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye
on your father while your mother's gone.
Now, wait a minute!
Daddy can take good care of himself.
I mean, he is a grandfather, you know.
Remind him of that, too, Ben,
but don't count on it
having very much meaning.
Not with a woman like
Callie Jordan around.
Oh, come on. Let's go
get the refreshments.
Cindy's mama and papa
split up when she was 13.
Her mother died a
couple years later.
Better go give her a hand.
Why don't you finish
hanging this stuff up?
Oh, thanks, Ben.
Hi, Grandpa, I've got
a customer for you.
Wholesale or retail?
Mr. Willard's a big
operator, so it's wholesale.
What can we do for
you, big time operator?
Well, he's got some building projects
going and needs some materials.
Building blocks,
Grandpa, lots of them.
What's this Grandpa business? I
don't mind when John Curtis can say it.
But I don't think anyone
else has the right to.
Well, you are one, you know?
Hey, Grandpa, when are we going
to start this special order of his?
You hear that, John Curtis?
Can you say it, "Grandpa"?
Come on. "Grandpa."
- Grandpa.
- JOHN: Come on.
Take the tree out of your mouth.
That's all right, I'll fill
your order anyways.
As soon as I get back
from the Dew Drop Inn.
- Want me to go with you?
- No, I can handle this.
You get to work
on the Willard order.
And sand that wood
down real good.
I don't want my grandson
getting any splinters in his fingers.
- Bye-bye, Grandpa.
- Take it easy, Grandpa.
Bye-bye.
Trouble is he doesn't
look like a grandpa.
Doesn't think like one either.
Hi, Johnny.
Callie May.
You know, no one’s called
me Johnny for a long time.
Not too many people put
May behind Callie, either.
Do you mind?
No, as a matter
of fact, I like it.
Most people have been
calling me grandpa lately.
Anybody who calls you grandpa
needs an eye examination.
Well...
There's your lumber.
As soon as you get your
plans, we can get to work.
Oh, Ike called.
He heard I was looking for lighting
fixtures and he has some on sale.
Be careful of those.
Last time I saw
Ike's lighting fixtures,
they looked like they'd been
floor samples for Thomas Edison.
I ought to at least take a look
at them. You want to come?
I'll meet you there.
Want to race?
Twenty-five years ago,
I would have said yes.
Twenty-five years ago, it
would've been your idea.
I don't know, Johnny,
you're losing your bite.
Callie May, aren't you
ever going to grow up?
You mean grow old, don't you?
I mean, be a lady!
Ha! You wouldn't know
one if you saw one!
Okay, you've got
yourself a race!
(ENGINE STARTING)
(TRUCK HORN HONKING)
(TRUCK HORN HONKING)
Oh, no, no, no! That's not fair!
- Where you been?
- You cheated!
You cheated!
Callie May, you forgot your
way around these old roads.
You took a new road!
I won, and I want to
know what the prize is.
Same as it always was.
Oh, Callie May, now, I
just better settle for a soda.
(DOOR OPENING)
(DOOR CLOSING)
Well, I've been hearing
about your plans,
and I got to thinking, well, maybe
you needed some lighting fixtures.
And if you did, I've got a
really great buy for you.
Here, I got this out
of the storeroom.
Oh.
It's very different.
Yeah.
I've got a dozen of these, and I
don't know why they haven't sold.
I was really looking for
something a little more modern.
I'm sorry, Ike.
Oh.
Well, you know, I'm just trying
to help out an old classmate.
Sure is great having Callie around.
It kind of brings you back, doesn't it?
- It sure does.
- I seem to recall
we spent a great deal
of time playing hooky.
Yes, we did that.
Hooky? I don't
remember playing hooky.
Weren't you with me and Johnny when
we went down to the old swimming hole?
It got hot early that
spring, remember, Johnny?
Yes, I remember.
What spring was that?
As a matter of fact, it got so
hot that we took off at noon
and ran down there
and just jumped right in.
Oh, did that water feel good!
And then Johnny... Johnny
got on that big tire swing
out over the water,
just like Tarzan.
Got to be going along now, Ike.
The only thing is he didn't
have himself a loin cloth!
(DOOR OPENING)
(DOOR CLOSING)
I wasn't there,
Corabeth. I swear it!
It's nice seeing pictures of
your mama all over the house,
but I'm not sure we
need one in the bathroom.
Pretty lady, your mama.
- What's for supper?
- Chicken pot pie.
Great! My favorite!
Just the way Mama makes it.
Supper's not quite ready yet,
so if you want to, you have
time to read your paper first.
Good.
Mama always seemed to
manage to time it out that way.
You sure you don't mind
staying with John Curtis tonight?
Nope.
I'm supposed to be the chaperone at
the opening of the Night Club Canteen.
What I worry about is who's
going to chaperone the chaperone?
Nobody, I hope.
Well, what do you think?
This is one of the dresses
that Mama used to wear.
You all keep this up,
I'm gonna get the car
and go see your
mama in Alberene.
Why don't you?
Grandpa is baby-sitting tonight.
I don't have to
go to the canteen.
No, you go ahead.
Listen here,
you know, it's really not
necessary for you all to remind me
how much I miss your mama.
Is this all because of Callie?
We don't want you to get
involved with that woman.
I don't intend to, honey.
She's a friend. I have a right to
choose my own friends, don't I?
I always gave you that right. Why
don't you let me worry about it?
Sorry.
I'm not just talking
to you, Elizabeth.
Supper's almost ready.
Why don't we dish it up?
Are you sure you put
those posters up all over?
I took a whole stack
over to Camp Rockfish.
When did you do that?
I told you I was
doing publicity.
I put a couple at Ike's store.
Then a few at the
Baldwin's antique shop.
There's a lot of GIs that
go around there, Elizabeth.
Well, don't give up.
It looks real colorful.
Hey, come in.
Have you got any beer in here?
Well, no, but we've got soft
drinks and sugar cookies.
Are you one of
the cookies, sugar?
Yes, she is. And
I'm her husband.
Thanks just the same.
I'll head for the Dew Drop.
Ben, I'm the hostess.
I have to be nice.
But not too nice.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
- Hello.
- It's Callie. How are you, Johnny?
Fine. What's going on?
The draftsman brought by the
remodeling plans, can you come over?
Sorry, Callie May, I'm
here alone with John Curtis.
Oh. Okay, I'll bring them over.
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
We don't seem to be overwhelmed
with lonely soldiers, do we?
I could be having a better
time at the ice cream parlor.
It's really a challenge being a
chaperone to my brother and his wife
and my younger
brother and sister.
Something does seem to be amiss.
- Hi there!
- Cindy.
Welcome to the
Night Club Canteen.
Would you like some
refreshments or maybe to dance?
Uh, no, thank you.
Um...
What I would like
are some books.
You see, we don't
have a post library yet.
Oh.
My dear young man,
come with me and I will open the
door to the world of literature for you.
That's really great.
You know, I was studying
Restoration theater when I got drafted.
Oh, Beaumont and
Fletcher, here we come!
Well, I think I'm going
to go relieve Daddy.
This place doesn't need a
chaperone, it needs an undertaker.
Stay and have some cookies.
No, but bring some home for
Daddy. They're Mama's special recipe.
Of course! Isn't everything
we've cooked lately?
- Good night.
- Good night.
- Hi.
- Callie May.
Here they are. Finally! I can't
believe he finally brought them over.
You look at them and explain.
I can't figure them out at all.
I sure will.
I've been thinking about our
race. It was really fun, wasn't it?
It sure was, as long as I won.
I'm giving the
Godseys a hard time.
Poor Ike.
You did lay it on a
little thick, Callie May.
Yes.
So,
this is where Mr. John Walton has
spent the last 25 years of wedded bliss.
Twenty-six.
Let's take a look
at these plans.
I used to imagine what it would've
been like living here with you.
Six children, is it?
Seven.
I didn't quite
picture it that way.
Things not busy over
at the Dew Drop Inn?
Not too.
"O.W."
Olivia painted that. She started
painting again a few years ago.
Not much that lady
can't do, is there?
Johnny,
Olivia's not gone. She's here.
I know.
Now, this is the part
I can't understand.
Mary Ellen.
Callie, I want you to meet
my oldest daughter, Mary Ellen.
Hello, Mary Ellen.
Hello.
Just going over some plans here.
Callie's going to remodel the Dew Drop Inn.
I see.
(CLEARS THROAT)
How're things at the canteen?
Terrible, everybody
went to the Dew Drop.
I'd better get back.
Nice meeting you, Mary Ellen.
Well, I'll look at the blueprints
and we'll talk about them.
- Okay.
- Good night.
- Good night.
- Good night.
How'd you like Callie?
She's seems nice.
How do you like her?
Just an old friend.
Little crazy in the
head sometimes.
Daddy, I remember when
Curt went to Camp Lee
and I kept running into
David Spencer at the hospital.
I know what it's
like to be lonely.
And to keep finding yourself running
into someone who used to be close.
Old feelings aren't always buried
as deep as we think they are.
Mary Ellen, it's
nothing like that.
Callie and me are
old friends, that's all.
Good night, Daddy.
We still have to figure out what
to do with the light fixtures here,
here and here.
Hmm. What do you
think I ought to do?
I have to get down to
Richmond on Saturday.
I know a place that has some good
buys. I can get a catalog and some prices.
I'm not busy on
Saturday. I'll go with you.
Callie, I think there's
something we ought to talk about.
- Hi.
- Hi.
I've got a composition to work on. I
wondered if I could borrow the piano.
The one at home
needs tuning real bad.
Sure, I'd love
to hear it, Jason.
Thanks.
So, all of our business
is settled, then?
I guess so.
I'm sure we'll find the
right fixtures on Saturday.
Got to get back to work.
- Bye.
- Bye-bye, Daddy.
I really should be over at Godsey
Hall helping them close up the canteen.
This piece is due tomorrow.
Did they give up?
Well, it wasn't worth
it. Nobody came.
That's a shame. We need a place around here
for the soldiers when they're off duty.
And take business
away from the Dew Drop?
Well, no, we can't
have that, can we?
Well, go on and play,
I haven't got all day.
(PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC)
Hello, Elizabeth.
Hi.
Jason told me your
canteen folded. I'm sorry.
I guess we just couldn't
compete with the Dew Drop Inn.
I've been in this business
a long time, Elizabeth.
It's pretty hard to beat the
competition with the same kind of place,
unless you can do it better.
Your liquid refreshments
were a little stronger than ours.
That's what people
expect in a night club.
But we thought the GIs
would go for a place like this.
I see a lot of young
soldiers at the Dew Drop.
Most of them are away from
home for the first time in their lives.
But that's why we thought
they'd come here for some fun.
I think what a lot of soldiers are
looking for is a home away from home.
That's for sure.
A place where they could relax,
write letters, read books or magazines.
You know, that's
not such a bad idea.
We can get a Ping-Pong
table and set it up.
Maybe even ask Ike if we
can use his pool table for free.
But how can we do that when
we don't have any money?
It won't be easy to get donations,
especially after we goofed once.
You need a backer.
Something they call a public-minded
citizen who wants to create
good will in the community.
We ran out of all of those when
we tried to get the night club started.
You haven't asked me.
- Well, hello, John.
- Good morning, John.
Good morning, Corabeth, Ike.
Ike, I need some wood screws,
some nuts and bolts. It's all right there.
I'll be back later
to pick it up.
- I'll have them ready.
- Oh, John!
Could I speak to you
for a moment, please?
Why, sure, Corabeth.
I know how lonely you
must be with Olivia gone,
so I have selected two of my
favorite books for you to read.
The Constant Heart
and Faithful to the End.
Thank you, Corabeth.
I appreciate the thoughtfulness.
Well, perhaps when you are through,
we can discuss their moral implications.
I can hardly wait.
Well, now I must go
water the philodendron.
IKE: Oh, John, can I
have a word with you?
- You know, at our time of life...
- Uh-huh.
- And it is a very dangerous age...
- Uh-huh.
We gotta be very careful so that we don't
get off the straight and narrow, you know?
Ike...
Now listen, Ike,
you can trust me.
Are you slipping around?
Who, me? No, not me.
Good. Glad to hear it, Ike.
Hey! You want some nice,
fresh home-made cookies?
Want some cookies, fellows?
Oh! How about some
cookies? Full of lots of energy.
I thought you always
went to the Dew Drop.
I did, but Callie's telling everyone
they ought to come over here
for some real
down-home entertainment.
She was right!
Want some cookies?
How'd you hear about
our canteen, Sergeant?
Callie over at the Dew Drop.
Your move.
- Elizabeth, cookies?
- No, thank you.
One for the winner.
- Hey, want a cookie? Corabeth's.
- Thank you.
I would never have thought it
possible for this place to be so crowded.
Neither would I.
Had it to myself the
first time I came by.
- JIM-BOB: Who's next?
- I am.
What are we playing for?
Make it easy on yourself.
Cindy!
Oh, Ben, every soldier I've talked
to said Callie Jordan sent him!
You just watch your step, okay?
ELIZABETH: Gosh,
you're really good!
(RAGTIME PIANO MUSIC PLAYING)
Hi, fellows.
- Ike, you wanted to see me?
- Yes, Callie, I did.
- You got a minute?
- Sure, come on in.
Oh, I'd rather talk
to you out here.
I want to talk to you about
John, and Jason's in there.
Anything you have to say to me,
you can say at the bar. Come on.
Corabeth's waiting.
Was this your idea, Ike?
Well, it's both of ours,
but it's mostly mine.
I really do want to
talk to you about John,
as an old friend.
His or mine?
Well, both of yours.
If you're worried about John
Walton going astray, forget it.
He's settled in like
a bear in winter.
Well, I just remembered the way the
two of you used to be, you know, you...
You really had something
powerful between the two of you.
I got over him a long time ago.
Besides, all we
ever do is fight.
That's what I'm afraid of.
That's all you used to do.
Except, the two
of you, you loved it!
Now, listen, Ike,
you're sticking your nose into
something that's none of your business.
I came here to settle down.
I like the Dew Drop
and the area is growing.
I've had enough of marriage
and trying to get along with men
and that includes John Walton!
Callie, there is
just one thing more.
CALLIE: Mmm-Hmm.
Those marriages of yours,
why didn't they last?
Because both of my
husbands were idiots, Ike!
Maybe it's because they didn't
measure up to the man you really wanted.
John Walton.
Good night, Ike.
Good night, Callie.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
JOHN: Callie May?
Over here.
You ready?
Callie May, you ready?
I'm not going.
How come?
Oh, I had big
plans for this trip,
but now I just can't do it.
What in the world
are you talking about?
You've gotten so
all-fired pure and clean,
you'd probably have a
heart attack if I told you.
Get out of here, Johnny.
You're trespassing.
Callie May, will you make sense?
When I came back here,
I really didn't think you'd
mean anything to me.
I was determined you wouldn't.
But it started all over.
And I began dreaming again.
This could've been a
real nice trip to Richmond.
For both of us.
But
after getting to know your kids
and seeing where you live
and what a nice guy you turned
out to be, I don't know, I just...
I can't do it.
Go on, get out of here. Goodbye.
Goodbye, Johnny.
You know, we might have
had a good life together,
but we went down
different roads.
(JOHN SIGHS)
Sooner or later, we would
have killed each other anyway.
We did have
something good going.
And I've been thinking
about that some lately.
You know, I never did have
much trouble being faithful to Liv,
but that doesn't mean much until
you come up against temptation.
Callie May, Liv means
everything to me.
That's just the way it is.
But on the other hand, you
know, we are good friends.
And we are going to be
doing business together.
And nobody's going to tell me
who I can see and who I can't see.
As a matter of fact, I called Liv the
other night after you left the house.
I told her you
were back in town.
All she said was, "How's
she doing her hair now?"
I told her, "I didn't remember."
She said, "Next time
you see her, take notice!"
Come on, Callie May,
let's go to Richmond.
Get your hands
off me, you big ape!
I'll show you how nice and
innocent the whole thing can be.
You know, you're still just
a dumb old country boy!
I can handle you
anytime, Miss Callie May!
- That's what you think, Johnny Walton!
- Come on, let's go!
- What are you doing?
- Callie, it's all going to be fine.
Just to be sure
I brought a few of the Waltons
along. They want to get to know you.
They wanted to come.
Come on, Callie May.
It'll be nice for me, too, to
get to know you as a friend.
Well,
you better start remembering
how I fix my hair so you can
tell Olivia all about it.
JOHN: We're off to Richmond!
Say hello, everybody.
JOHN: Hey, John Curtis,
how you doing, baby-baby?
Here we go! Everybody
in. Let's go to the big city!
JOHN-BOY: Callie May Jordan became
a respected member of the community
and a good friend to all
our family, young and old.
MARY ELLEN: You
still awake, Daddy?
JOHN: I'm hitting the old
pillow pretty quick, honey.
Everybody's back from the canteen,
and Jason got home half an hour ago.
I know.
JOHN: I've been reading
Corabeth's book tonight,
Faithful to the End.
The other one is better.
MARY ELLEN: The Constant
Heart? I just finished it. It's worse.
- Good night, Mary Ellen.
- Good night, Daddy.
English -SDH