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

- Mama, wake up.
- Is she all right?

I can't tell.

- You have to get us home fast.
- I can't see the road.

Look out!

In the autumn of 1941,

the harsher realities of the
world beyond Jefferson County

seemed remote from the
ebb and flow of our daily lives.

Although our isolation
would soon be shattered,

my family, particularly
my sister Elizabeth,

would find the small joys and sorrows of
life on Walton's Mountain, reality enough.

- Hey, Elizabeth.
- What's going on out here?



Elizabeth wants to
learn how to drive.

Elizabeth, driving's
pretty serious business.

I think maybe
you're a little young.

It's my patriotic duty.

- Civil defense.
- Please.

Think you can handle it? I don't
want you getting into any accidents.

Daddy, with me as copilot,
what could possibly happen?

All right, if you think you're
ready, I'll give you a chance.

Change places.

Take her out on the back
road and be very careful.

- Yes, Daddy.
- Go ahead.

And, Elizabeth, I want you to
promise you'll never drive with anybody

unless you're with your brothers
or sisters. You understand?

Yes, sir.



Okay, this is the
ignition starter.

You pull that out when you
want to turn on the battery.

You're fighting it, Elizabeth!

You got to think of yourself
as part of the machine.

I can't do that and change
gears at the same time.

- Oh, swell...
- What did I do wrong?

You popped the clutch first, you
missed second gear completely,

you left the hand brake on,

and you weren't going fast
enough to be in third gear.

Well, you never said anything
about how fast you were going.

- Isn't it obvious?
- No, it's not!

Start the car.

Push the gas.

Do you need to
pull that thing up?

Elizabeth, there's a car coming.

Why don't you get over
to the side of the road?

Elizabeth, get over.
Elizabeth, get over!

They do allow other cars
on the road, you know.

Did you see how
fast he was going?

Elizabeth, how do you
expect me to teach you to drive

if you chicken out every time
a car comes down the road?

- I'm not doing bad for a beginner.
- You're a menace.

I'll walk home. Creep!

Ha!

All new equipment.
We can remove this wall,

put a patio, and a small
fountain, and then a skylight.

Mama had a skylight
back home in Doe Hill

and she used to raise
ornamental orange trees from seed.

Oh! Permeated with the
odor of orange blossoms,

that room was one of the
Seven Wonders of the World!

Oh, just a moment, young ladies.

Where are you going?
What is this you're wearing?

- A kind of uniform?
- It's what everyone wears at school.

Well, it is very unladylike.

Now, Aimee, change into your plaid
skirt and your black patent leather shoes.

Patent leathers? Oh,
but they're so creepy.

- They're what?
- Creepy.

What a peculiarly
unpleasant expression.

Well, that's how
everybody talks.

Aren't you gonna change?

No, in 10 minutes
she'll forget all about it.

- It's kind of weird, isn't it?
- Oh, she's been acting strange lately.

One minute she's happy,
then the next she's sad,

and she forgets things.

And Doe Hill, it's
coming out of my ears.

Sounds like "the change."
Mama had it last year.

What is it?

Women reach a certain age
and, well, they go kind of crazy.

It's because they can't have
babies anymore. Maybe that's it.

Well, my mama already
can't have babies.

I thought she was
younger than your mama.

Really? I thought they
were about the same age.

Everybody over 18
looks the same to me.

She has been acting a little
more unusual than usual.

I don't think you young
ladies understand

the proper importance
of these formative years

in preparing yourself
for your debut.

- What debut?
- It's when you're presented to society.

And for that
auspicious occasion,

you must cultivate the tastes of a
lady. In music, in art, in the dance.

That first tall, handsome young man to
come courting is not many years away.

There is much to learn.

You must work on your needlepoint,
your sewing, your piano lessons.

Yes, there's much to learn

if you are to find the proper
tall, handsome young man.

When I was a girl,
back in Doe Hill,

I used to paint
on pieces of silk.

Horses.

I almost always painted horses.

Their proud heads,

their fine, strong,
muscular bodies.

Oh, they were so beautiful.

Does anyone still paint on silk?

Oh.

The world has squandered

so much of grace and beauty.

How was your driving
lesson, Elizabeth?

- Ask Jim-Bob.
- You wouldn't listen.

Well, Jim-Bob, you
have to be patient.

I'd rather do this geometry
than teach her to drive.

Jim-Bob, if you do geometry as
well as you teach driving, you'll flunk.

- I'll give you a lesson, Elizabeth.
- We, who are about to die, salute you.

Somebody better
warn the countryside.

Don't listen to them. I'll
teach you how to drive.

- I could use a little excitement.
- Thank you.

- Drips.
- Can you believe that?

Are you all right, Mama?

I'm feeling unwell,
but it will pass.

Oh, tell your father
that I'm indisposed.

- Hi, Aimee.
- Hi.

Is supper ready?

Well, Mama's not feeling
well, so I'm making supper.

That's a big girl!

- Mama's sick, huh?
- Well, she's sleeping.

So we better not bother her.
We'll bring her supper later.

Okay, we'll let her sleep then.

Mama, is Corabeth too
young to have "the change"?

What a strange
question. Why do you ask?

She's been acting kind of
weird, like something's wrong.

Well, she's a very high-strung
lady who keeps a lot of things inside.

If you feel uncomfortable, maybe you
and Aimee ought to play here for a while.

- We don't have a pool table.
- And we never will.

Great news, Mr. Godsey, I have
decided to strike out on my own.

I shall no longer be a
financial burden to you.

Well, you're feeling better.
Aimee made you some soup.

I'm going to become
a woman of means.

What is it that every home in
Jefferson County cries out for?

- A refrigerator.
- An interior decorator.

Uh, you know about
interior decorating?

Why, in my family, a sense of
taste and style was a requirement.

Well, listen,
Corabeth, you know,

we can't afford any
extra expense at this time.

Well, I will just need a little
minor financial assistance initially,

but once we're underway, I have no doubt
that the possibilities will be limitless.

We're gonna have
to discuss this later

because I gotta go to
a civil defense meeting

in just a few minutes.

Well, couldn't you
be late, just this once?

Well, I couldn't
set a bad example.

Oh, but can't we just talk?

I so long to share my
plans and my ideas.

Tomorrow, first thing.

- I won't wake up.
- Well, that's all right, I'll wake you up.

Come on, Elizabeth. Could
we go a little faster, please?

I'm not ready to go fast yet.

You're never going to learn
if you stay in second gear.

And I have to get to
Rockfish sometime today.

Don't yell at me!

Well, look, will you please step
on it? At least put it into third gear.

Good.

There's a curve.

All right, just go on your...
You're going too fast now!

Hit the brakes!
Elizabeth, hit the brakes!

You can drop me
off at Ike's store.

Elizabeth, I'm sorry for
yelling. I didn't mean to.

Well, I have to go.

Please say something.
You're making me feel real bad.

Suffer.

- Where are you going all dressed up?
- We're going over to the Baldwin's.

Mama's going to redecorate.

- Well, what's the matter?
- Beats me.

And no more credit
to Maude Gormley.

Mr. Godsey ought to be back
soon. Are there any more questions?

- Yeah, you got anymore molasses cookies?
- Yes, they're in the pantry.

Oh, no. Perhaps you'd
better not go in there.

I sprayed for insects this
morning. Come along, Aimee.

We are beginning a brand new enterprise.
And you shall be my trusted assistant.

Hey, you got done early today.

- Ben had to go somewhere.
- Who's your next victim?

Jason gives me a lesson
as soon as he gets home.

I hope it works, you're
running out of family.

Take two, dear.

It's so nice to have you here.

Well, now we
have a full decanter.

Are you sure you won't
have a touch of the Recipe?

Oh, no, no.

It seems to do so much for tea.

Oh, I prefer it
to lemon, myself.

Oh, no, really.

Oh, Sister and I find ourselves
quite relaxed after a cup.

Indeed we do.

Well, I usually
drink my tea plain,

but since you insist, it would be
most ungracious of me to refuse.

Well, now, this is
quite an occasion.

Sister, this is the first
time that Corabeth

has joined us in a
sip of the Recipe.

Papa would be so pleased.

Now, as to the
point of my visit.

I have just had the
most wonderful idea.

What this little community
is in desperate need of

are the services of
an interior decorator.

I did not know
there was a demand.

Oh, well, a successful
business creates its own demand.

What is required is someone with
a cultivated sense of taste and style.

- And that's why you came to see us?
- Precisely.

Well, that might be diverting,
don't you think, Sister?

Well, yes, if there's a need.

Imagine, Sister, becoming
interior decorators at our age?

Oh, no. No, I'm afraid
you misunderstand.

Keep our suggestions
modest, of course.

They're making the most
wonderful reproductions now.

Queen Anne, Chippendale,
don't you know?

Well, now, let's see. What
did we do with our books?

Let me see, I was pressing
violets in them last spring.

Why won't anyone listen to me?

I am so sorry.

- Is there something you want, Corabeth?
- We're neglecting our guest.

Corabeth's cup is empty already.

Would you like a little tea
with some of the Recipe?

This time I will have the
Recipe without the tea.

Elizabeth,

you know I love you, and I
think you're a real neat person.

And what you're trying to
do, learning to drive at 13,

I think it's real spunky.

- You're angry.
- I'm not angry.

It's really okay if you
want to take me home.

I mean, today's just not my day.

- What happened?
- I drove the car into the lake.

Well, maybe you'll
do better next time.

There's nobody left.
Jason was my last chance.

What are you doing outside? I
thought you were the trusted assistant.

No, we have tarried too long.

We really must return to the
world of General Merchandise.

Are you going to
redecorate their house?

Oh, really. How children can
misunderstand the affairs of adults.

- We really must go.
- You're very welcome to stay.

Oh, no. No, I don't want to
keep you from your pursuits.

Sister and I are much
too old for pursuits.

Actually...

I have pressing
business in Rockfish.

But what about Elizabeth? I thought
we were going to take her home.

Perhaps Elizabeth can
make other arrangements.

- We could driver her, couldn't we, Sister?
- Oh, that's a lovely idea.

Elizabeth's been
taking driving lessons.

Really? Well, then you can drive
us. Would you like that, Elizabeth?

- Yes. Thank you.
- Oh, good!

That was a nasty one.

The best thing to do is to
stay in the middle of the road.

- It's smoothest in the center.
- Sister feels it's safer.

What do you do
about oncoming cars?

Oh, they usually get right over
whenever they see us coming.

See, part of my problem is
I'm never in the same car twice.

I like this car, though. It
changes gears really easily.

I hardly ever use the clutch.

Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Elizabeth!

Elizabeth! Put on
the brakes, Elizabeth!

- Everybody all right?
- Oh, just fine.

That was quite
exciting, don't you think?

Elizabeth, why are you
driving the Baldwin's car?

- We insisted, didn't we, Sister?
- I do believe it was your idea, dear.

Lucky nobody was hurt.

You know better than to
drive without being supervised.

Oh, but Sister was giving her
the full benefit of her advice.

And she was doing very well,
too, right up until this last part.

Elizabeth, you should
have known better than that.

I think you've had enough
driving lessons for a while.

Don't worry, Daddy. Jim-Bob
was right, I'm a menace.

Well, at least you
didn't hit the house.

Daddy, I think I've changed my
mind about learning how to drive.

I don't think there's
any damage to the car.

Oh, ladies, ladies. Come on out.

- We'll back this car out of here for you.
- We'd be most grateful.

We must get home and
start studying swatches.

Corabeth wants us to
redecorate her house.

Well, I think maybe you
ladies got that backwards.

It's Corabeth who wants to
go into interior decorating.

Oh, could we have
misunderstood, Sister?

Well, with Corabeth,
that isn't too difficult.

I do hope we haven't
offended Mrs. Godsey.

Oh, I don't think so.

I distinctly remember her
saying she was going to Rockfish

on some other business.

That's right, I believe she
intends to open a dancing school.

A dancing school?

Well, all right ladies.
Just step aside here.

We'll have your car
out of here in no time.

Corabeth, open this door!

You just can't simply announce
that you're opening a dancing school

and then walk out the door!

I intend to open a school of the
dance, Mr. Godsey, and that is final!

Well then why don't
you use Godsey Hall?

Because the students
are in Rockfish!

I signed the lease
today! It is a fait accompli.

Corabeth, we cannot afford that!

Yes, we could. I am drowning
in this Virginia backwater!

Corabeth, I hate it
when you talk like that!

- Open this door!
- Leave me alone!

- Ben, get me some more of these!
- Okay!

Olivia said that I
might find you here.

John, I don't believe I've
ever been here before.

My, you have certainly risen in the world.
As a relative, no matter how distant,

I want to tell you how proud
I am of your achievements.

Thank you, Corabeth.
What can I do for you?

Oh, well, no doubt you've
heard of my dancing studio?

Yes, I heard you signed a lease over
in Rockfish. Ike was telling me about it.

I'm going to put in an
entire wall of mirrors.

- Sure sounds like a lot of work, isn't it?
- Precisely, that's why I've come to you.

You see, I believe that the
reluctance on the part of the mothers

to enroll their daughters, is
partially due to the dressing facilities.

The little girls are
having to dress in the...

In the powder
room, one at a time.

Well, you can see the difficulty
as enrollment increases.

I could see that
would be a difficulty.

How many girls do
you have now enrolled?

Three, oh, possibly five. But,
as I said, we've only just opened.

Um...

I wanted to prevail upon
you to possibly build me

a small dressing room.

And maybe a partition
for a waiting room.

Corabeth, I don't think I can
take on any extra work right now.

Well, this will take
very little of your time.

But, of course, if you are
behind in your schedule,

I wouldn't want to impose
on a family member.

- All right. Why don't I drop by Saturday?
- Perfect.

Oh.

That's the day the sign goes up.

Well, I... I really must go.

- See you Saturday.
- Bye, Corabeth.

John.

Corabeth?

Oh, John! You're just in time.
And, Olivia, how kind of you to come.

The Corabeth Walton
School of Dancing?

Of the Dance.

And, John, even a modest man
like yourself must understand

how well respected the name
Walton is in this community.

And, of course, my maiden
name is Walton, you know.

- Everybody thinks of you as Godsey.
- My point exactly.

I was kind of hoping I'd get
to see you teach your class.

Oh, well, the dressing room facilities
have proven to be more of a problem

than I anticipated.

So, John, you are here
not a moment too soon.

- Any way I can help, Corabeth.
- Corabeth, I got to talk to you.

- Olivia, John.
- Ike.

Well then, talk.

I got a bill this morning for a
phonograph record machine.

It is getting to the point where I'm
afraid to open the mail, you know.

Oh, well, really, I can't
teach dancing without music.

How do you expect
me to pay for it?

The tuition from 20 students will
more than make up for the expenses!

- Well, how many do you have now?
- I haven't even opened yet!

- Would you answer my question?
- Nor do I intend to,

until John sees to it that the
dressing rooms are finished!

Now, perhaps you would like
show him what it is I have in mind.

John, I think that
this area over here

is where Corabeth wants
to put the dressing facilities.

Well, Ike,

looks like you got a school
of the dance on your hands.

I used to dream of being a
dancer. Guess every young girl does.

I plan to enroll Aimee
in our advanced class.

I do hope that you
will enroll Elizabeth.

Well, she is at
that awkward age.

Maybe some ballet lessons
might do her some good.

Annual tuition is $50.

That tuition might be the reason
why you only have one student.

I always thought dancing
schools charged by the lesson.

Oh, but for you, Olivia,
payable in two installments.

I'm sorry.

That's more than we can afford
for dancing lessons just now.

It never dawned on me that I would
not receive full support from my family.

Are you sure you're up
to this? You look worn out.

Perhaps it's the pressure
of a new enterprise.

Are you in some kind of trouble?

Olivia, I would not tell
another soul this, but...

Mr. Godsey is very
difficult to live with.

He is not romantically
satisfactory.

You're not gonna solve that problem
by getting yourself into another one.

I need this.

So badly.

What's it going to run
me, John? Arm and a leg?

Oh, Ike, maybe Elizabeth
wants to take some lessons.

I'll swap you the lumber for lessons,
and I won't charge you for my time.

- I can't let you do that, John.
- Come on, Ike.

Don't you remember all the favors
you've done for me over the years?

Well, I really do
appreciate it. But...

What I'm afraid of, is going bankrupt
before she gets this out of her system.

Maybe she'll surprise
you and do real good at it.

She just keeps going
from one thing to the other.

- You got any idea what's bothering her?
- I don't know.

But if it doesn't turn around pretty
quick, I'm going to wind up a crazy man.

Are you sure nothing's bothering you?
You hardly said a word all the way home.

Liv, this sounds crazy, but have
you ever seen Corabeth take a drink?

You mean liquor? No,
never. You know how she is.

Well, I saw an empty liquor bottle
in that trash can of hers over there.

Of course, it could have
been one of the workmen.

Now that you mention it,

I thought I smelled something
funny when I was talking to her.

I tell you, Liv, something
is going on over there.

Corabeth's got a
lot of weaknesses

but I can't believe that
drinking is one of them.

If she's got a drinking problem, it
doesn't mean she's got a weakness.

It may be something
she can't help.

If that's true, there must be
something we can do for her.

If it's true, there's
nothing we can do at all.

And third position, and
remember to point your toes...

No, no, no. Now,
we shall begin again.

And little girls, I want you to remember
that you are not common chorus girls,

but young ladies, reaching for
the heights of poetic movement.

Now remember to let
your extremities flow.

Now, we shall
begin again. And...

If you would learn
to tie a proper knot,

we could get on with the business
at hand much, much quicker.

Now, we shall begin again, and
we shall start with the left foot, Judy.

The left foot. Learn
to tell them apart.

You put that child on point,
and in less than 10 years

you will be lucky if she
can walk, let alone dance!

Miss Walton, since you
obviously don't know anything

about running a dancing school,
I will find a teacher who does!

- Where did everybody go?
- Mama?

Where did the children go?

No one gave them
permission to leave.

The first rule of a
dancer is discipline.

They have no discipline.

- Mama.
- Are you all right, Corabeth?

It won't work.

They won't pay my tuition.

We'll fail, just as
everyone thought.

It's a failure, isn't it?

- I don't know.
- Oh, well.

It doesn't matter.

You're just a child.

Oh.

I wish I were in Doe Hill.

A place of serenity and repose.

Sometimes...

I wish I were a child again.

If you're an adult, you
can do anything you want.

Anything you want?

Oh, well.

Run along.

I'll be with you in a moment.

We'll be waiting
for you in the car.

Oh, Mama,

where is that tall young man
you said would come and find me?

She shouldn't drive like this.

Well, she's done this a lot of times
and she always manages to make it.

Corabeth, maybe Ike
should come and drive us.

- No!
- No, certainly not.

I am perfectly
capable of driving.

Corabeth, you're
going the wrong way.

Mama, you're
supposed to go left.

Mama, wake up!

- Mama?
- Corabeth? She's passed out.

- We have to get help.
- There will be someone along.

We'll be out here all
night. You have to drive us.

- I can't! You know I... I told you.
- You have to.

No sign of them, Ike.

Well, it's not like
Corabeth to be late like this.

Tell you what, I'll go into
town look around for them.

- You want to come with me?
- No. I think I'll stay here by the phone.

All right, Ike. I'll
talk to you later.

Ike!

- Hello, Daddy.
- Corabeth! What happened?

- Is everybody all right? Aimee?
- We were worried about you all.

Corabeth, I want to
know what happened.

Corabeth wasn't
feeling well, Ike.

You all know what happened,
why are you pretending?

Mama was drunk.

She wrecked the car and passed
out because she was drunk.

Corabeth, aren't you
going to say anything?

You could have killed everybody.

Why don't you just take a gun

and shoot me, Mr. Godsey?

Ike, I guess we'll
be getting on.

John, please. Would
you come in for a minute?

I got to talk to you.

Corabeth?

Daddy, are you mad at me
for driving Corabeth's car?

Not this time, honey.

It's amazing what you
can do when you have to.

Hmm.

It's been quite a night.

What will happen now?
Will they get a divorce?

No, I don't think so.

They got some
things to work through.

It's gonna take a lot of
understanding on both their parts.

I seems the older I get
the less I understand.

Me, too.

John, she wants to see you.

Ike, this is really
none of my affair.

- She's your wife.
- She won't talk to me.

- Maybe if you give her a little time.
- She blames me, you know.

I haven't made her happy.

- Ike...
- Please, John?

Remember the wedding?

You were my best man.

You wait here, honey.

All right, Ike. I'll go see her.

Corabeth?

I need your help, John.

Please help me to
get away from here.

Corabeth, I think you've got a
problem that you can't run away from.

What could you possibly
know of my problems?

Corabeth,

I know that you have a
feeling your life is out of control.

I know you're feeling trapped.

I know you're afraid of
everything all the time.

And that you keep taking
a drink just to get through it,

but it doesn't work
for you anymore.

What makes you such an expert?

I had a friend once,
during the war.

Yes?

A lot of fellas drink when
they're under fire, Corabeth,

but this fella found himself
staying drunk for weeks at a time.

Never even realized how much
he was drinking, till one night,

drunk,

he almost got himself and a
whole bunch of his friends killed.

You see, Corabeth,

most alcoholics will tell you,

they're lucky if they get scared
enough to go look for help.

We both know what could
have happened tonight.

Maybe it's time
you got some help.

An alcoholic?

Is that what you think I am?

Why don't you just
think about it for a while?

Please help me, John.

I'll help you.

But remember, you got
a lot of help right here.

You got a husband and
a daughter who love you.

They don't love me,

they tolerate me.

Why don't we find out
about that? Right now.

Aimee, let's go see your mother.

Mama, I was so scared.

Are you all right?

I'm sorry if I disappointed you.

Oh.

You didn't disappoint me.

You have never disappointed me.

I'll be anything
you want me to be.

Anything.

Just don't be sad.

Oh, no, baby, no.

No.

All I want is for
you to be happy.

Corabeth, Ike's
waiting in the store.

Why don't we take Aimee
home, she can stay with Elizabeth.

All right, Aimee?

You'll be all right?

Good night, Mama.

Good night, chérie.

John?

That friend of
yours in the Army?

That was you, wasn't it?

Good night, Corabeth.

Thank you, John.

Ike, it's time to talk to her.

Aimee will stay with us tonight.

Why don't you just go
out to the car, you two?

Ike,

you've known about Corabeth's
drinking all along, haven't you?

How come you never
talked to her about it?

I guess I was afraid that
I'm the reason she drinks.

Corabeth's got a lot of problems,
she's gonna have to face them herself.

But wishing away her drinking
or pretending it isn't there, Ike,

that's not the way.

I paid her bills, and...

I went along with
all her wild schemes.

I guess I thought I was doing
everything I could for her.

Best thing you can
do is help her face it.

Why don't you go talk to her, Ike?
She's got some tough times ahead.

Oh, Mr. Godsey,

I'm just so ashamed.

And I need your help.

I cannot go through this alone.

I have loved you from
the first moment I saw you.

But look at me.

Is this the woman
you fell in love with?

She's sad.

She's been hurt.

She hurt herself.

But she's still the same woman.

Nobody knows
that better than I do.

God knows, everybody's
got their weaknesses,

but I've seen your strength

and your courage
and your spirit.

And I've seen the great love
that you have for our daughter.

I know that you
can't quite let it out.

And you know she
loves you, you know that.

And I love her.

And you.

We'll fight this thing together.

You are loved.

You're not alone.

Mr. Godsey.

For Corabeth Godsey, it was a
battle that would last a lifetime,

with a few spectacular setbacks
before her ultimate success.

The weeks and months ahead

would sweep us all into
the World War we so feared.

And for Corabeth, they would
hold an extra measure of terror.

Her newfound strength
would soon be tested,

as would our own, against
the fury of a greater enemy.

I never noticed before how
tall you really are, Mr. Godsey.

- Are you girls still awake?
- We can't sleep.

Try harder.

We're trying to decide what
color to paint Jim-Bob's car

when he goes into the air corps.

You've got plenty of time to
decide. Now, get some sleep.

- Night.
- Good night.

What did you say about my car?

- Go to sleep!
- Now, wait a minute.

Good night, Jim-Bob!