The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 8, Episode 11 - The Silver Wings - full transcript

Watch the hole in the floor there.
My foot sort of went through it.

I'll fix that for you tomorrow.

I don't want you
to feel obligated.

I'll put your mailbox
back up for you, too.

I think I'm gonna like
it here. Nice neighbors.

I know that she's married. I know
that she's practically middle-aged.

That you've been spending every day
with her since she moved into that cabin.

You can take my word for it, Elizabeth.
She's nicer to be around than you.

Thank you for helping with the
cabin, and for just being here to talk to.

You're playing with
fire, son. I want it to stop.

What are you gonna do,
Daddy? Lock me in my room?



I thought you trusted me.

You're gonna fly, Jim-Bob!

As World War Il continued,
more and more American families

felt the pain of separation
from their loved ones.

With no end in sight, they
could only wait and pray

for the day their friends and
relatives would come home safely.

During this time,

my brother Jim-Bob
eagerly waited for his chance

to join in the fight.

And while he
waited, he fell in love.

- She'll be right there, Jim-Bob.
- Tell her to get a move on!

Hurry up, Serena.

You don't want to make Jim-Bob
late for the first day of his new job.

How do I look, Nana?



With all those badges, you
could pass for an Army General.

Come on, Serena.

Oh, yeah, don't forget I'm
giving my luncheon today.

I'll have everything ready time
you get home from your meeting.

Now scoot!

Bye.

The Randolph place? That
old cabin's been empty for years.

- It's not anymore.
- But that's back in the woods!

You didn't tell me that
was part of the route.

Mrs. Randolph moved
in a few days ago.

She's entitled to mail
service just like anybody else.

That road's gonna be
kind of hard on my car.

Now listen, Jim-Bob, the
mail must be delivered.

Now, if you don't want the job,
I'm sure I can get somebody else.

I want the job. I just hope
she doesn't get a lot of mail.

Okay, Jim-Bob, now remember,

neither heat, nor
snow, nor gloom of night

- shall stay these couriers...
- Stay these couriers...

- from the swift completion...
- from the swift completion...

- of their appointed rounds.
- Of their appointed rounds.

Cadets of the Blue Ridge
Girls' Club, we are at war!

Now, we must think of
ourselves as an army.

Now, some of us are privates
and some of us are generals.

Nevertheless, we must all do
our utmost in the name of freedom.

Now, I do not need to tell you

how very disappointed I am in
the results of our scrap metal drive.

Ten pounds of tin foil is
not going to get us to Berlin.

However, we can make
amends for our miserable showing

by earning all of our merit
badges prior to the awards banquet.

Now remember,

our motto is, "A Blue Ridge
Cadet is the best weapon yet."

Onward to victory!

Although some people
say he's just a crazy guy

To me he means a
million other things

For he's the one that taught
this happy heart of mine to fly

He wears a pair of silver wings

And though it's pretty
tough The job he does above

Hi. I didn't know I
had an audience.

Usually my singing drives
people the other way.

You know, you have the distinct
honor of being my first visitor.

Aren't you gonna
tell me who you are?

I'm the mailman. I
brought your mail.

Nothing from my husband,

but I guess that's not your fault,
overseas mail being the way it is.

Your mailbox is broken.

Yeah, like everything else
around here. I'm Betsy Randolph.

I know.

Do you have a name?

James Robert Walton.
People call me Jim-Bob.

Jim-Bob. Good to
know you, Jim-Bob.

I wrote some letters this morning.
Do you post as well as deliver?

Sure. I am the mailman.

I know. Come on. They're inside.

And we thank you
especially for this food.

- Amen.
- Amen.

Serena, why don't you tell everyone
what we're having for dinner?

The soup is vichyssois.
That's French.

Then there's cucumber sandwiches,
tomato aspic and a vegetable mold.

I don't think I've ever had a
cucumber sandwich before.

Mrs. Godsey helped
me plan the menu.

Sounds like something
Corabeth would cook up.

We never get a meal like this at
camp. It's a real treat for me, Serena.

What's the occasion?

I'm qualifying for my
Cooking and Etiquette badges.

Well, shall we?

The soup's cold!

That's the way it's
supposed to be, Jeffrey.

Serena, what other merit
badges are you working on?

All kinds. Here's the
list Corabeth gave us.

I don't know how I'm going to get it
all done before the awards dinner.

I think you should just
forget the whole thing.

Starting with this aspic.
- Come on now.

Serena's trying to improve
herself, we should give her a hand.

I do need a witness
for each of the tasks.

All right. Who wants to
witness woodcarving?

Come on.

Jim-Bob's not here. Why
don't we put him down?

That's a good idea.

Daddy, we're all real busy.

We got loads of work, Daddy.

You don't have anything to do
at night while your wife's away.

You take camping, Ben.

And fire-making. Erin,
why don't you witness that?

And sewing. Jeffery. No.

- Elizabeth, you help with sewing.
- Oh, no.

That leaves art.

- Jason.
- What do I know about art?

Honey, why don't you do the first aid?
You can use Jeffrey there for a patient.

Does that mean I
get to wear a splint?

And who wants hiking?

How about you, Daddy?

Yeah. I'm sure you
can find the time.

Please, Uncle John?

All right, I guess
I could do that.

- Actually, there's two hikes.
- Okay.

Five miles each.

Okay.

Eat up, John. We're having
fried bananas for dessert.

Wonderful.

Thanks, Jim-Bob. Never could
have moved that by myself.

Now all I've got to do is find
the room to put all this stuff.

I'll help you.

I wouldn't be so
quick to volunteer.

The first step is in getting
this place cleaned up.

It is in pretty bad shape.
Nobody's lived here for years.

Would you believe my husband
used to spend his summers here

when he was a boy?

It seems like a nice
place to wait for him.

- You sure got your work cut out for you.
- Yeah.

I've never lived in the mountains before.
Do you think I could learn how to fish?

Matt was always
talking about fishing.

I could show you. I know all the
good fishing spots around here.

- Is that your husband?
- Mmm-hmm.

That was taken
just after he enlisted.

He's a pilot?

Yeah. He's the head man of a
B-17 somewhere over Europe.

I'd do anything for
a set of those wings.

I want to join the Air Corps
as soon as I'm old enough.

- You want to be a flyer?
- Yup.

I've dreamed about it all my life.
Except I've got this problem with my eyes.

They say I can't see
well enough to be a pilot.

I'm sorry.

I hear they need mechanics,
and I'm pretty good at that.

Matt has to fly. That's what
makes him feel really alive.

If you love flying, you should be in
the air. Just sign up for the flight crew.

Do you think I'd have a chance?

You know, when I was a little
girl, I wanted to be a concert pianist.

But my teacher told me I
could never be good enough.

I believed her.

Hold onto your dreams, Jim-Bob.
Don't ever let anyone talk you out of them.

Here, I don't want to
hold you up any longer.

That's okay. You're at the
end of my route anyway.

I'll be back tomorrow. Maybe
there'll be some more mail for you.

I hope so.

And I can help you, too.

You really don't have to. I'm
getting used to being alone.

Watch the hole in the floor there.
My foot sort of went through it.

I'll fix that for you tomorrow.

I don't want you
to feel obligated.

I'll put your mailbox
back up for you, too.

I think I'm gonna like
it here. Nice neighbors.

I'll fix the fence
tomorrow, too.

What you gonna do? Build
the Randolphs a new house?

I'm just gonna fix a plank in
the porch that I stepped through,

and repair her fence
where I knocked it over.

I'm surprised she's letting
you back on the property at all.

Me, too.

You're dressed kind of fancy for
that kind of work, aren't you, son?

I don't want her to think I'm a
hick. Mrs. Randolph's a nice lady.

And her husband's a
major in the Air Corps.

- She pretty?
- She's beautiful.

You're not getting stuck
on her, are you, Jim-Bob?

I'm just gonna do some
work for her, Daddy.

You be careful.

She's a lot older than
me. And she's married.

Uh-huh.

Don't forget to
bring back my tools!

The flowers that grow on the
Mountain grow all by themselves.

They don't need any care at all.

With these fancy flowers, you've
got to pamper them a lot or they'll die.

Yeah? How much pampering?

A lot of water at first, and you've
got to feed them a lot of manure.

Of course, it all depends on
what kind of manure you use.

I mean, there's cow manure,
sheep manure or even a mixture.

I've never used horse manure before,
but I'm sure it would work just as well.

I can bring you a whole bucket
of any kind of manure you want.

That's just in case you
don't know about manure.

Thank you. That's
very informative.

I think I'll start work
on the mailbox now.

Serena, I'm sorry, but
I've got to get back to work.

If I'm late J.D.
will dock my pay.

Please don't go. I need a witness. If you
leave I'll have to start all over again.

Jeffrey here is going to be
my official substitute witness.

Come on, Jeffrey.
Just sit right down here

and stay and watch until
Serena gets the fire going.

I'll be here for
the rest of my life.

Erin, it doesn't count
unless you see it.

Sure it does, Serena, because
Jeffrey is gonna report directly to me.

Right, Jeffrey?

That thing's not
gonna make a fire.

Erin, don't leave me with him.

Jeffrey, you just sit here and don't
move until you see smoke and fire.

I've got to get going, so
you take over for me now.

I don't see why she
doesn't just use a match.

How much longer
is this gonna take?

Shut up and watch!

- That was good stew, Mrs. Randolph.
- Good.

If I can cook on this old wood
stove, I can cook on anything.

If you want to practice some
more, I'll volunteer my stomach.

I don't know how you can put
away all that food and stay so skinny.

Grandpa used to
say I had a tapeworm.

I believed him, too. Even
gave him a name. Marvin.

Well, you and Marvin are
welcome for supper any time.

Thanks.

Especially when you
bring a letter from Matt.

Bet you miss him, don't you?

- Yeah. I do.
- He'll be back.

Maybe even in time
for the crocuses.

He's where he has to be,
and he's doing what he loves.

You know, Matt used to
claim that he was half-bird.

I used to sit for hours and watch the
hawks and eagles fly over the Mountain.

I'd pretend I was one of them,
gliding free and easy in the wind.

Yeah. You'll get there, Jim-Bob.

One way or another. I'm building
my own airplane from spare parts.

I've got something
I want to show you.

Matt used to sit for hours
and look through this.

He's got pictures of practically
every plane ever built.

Mmm-hmm.

Take it home with you so you can
have the time to really look through it.

Thanks, Mrs. Randolph.
I'll take good care of it.

I'll bring it back as
soon as I'm done.

I'd like it if you stopped calling
me Mrs. Randolph. It's Betsy.

All right, Betsy.

Thank you for helping with the
cabin, and for just being here to talk to.

You promised you'd teach me to bowl
as soon as the new bowling alley opened.

Sorry, Elizabeth, but I'm busy.

That was two weeks ago!

- Look, I promise we'll go bowling.
- When?

Elizabeth, I haven't
got time for this.

You've got time for Mrs. Randolph. Is
she more important than your sister?

I've been helping her fix up
the cabin. It's been a lot of work.

You don't go up there every
day because you love to work.

You've got no right to
talk like that, Elizabeth.

You don't even know Betsy.

I know that she's married. I know
that she's practically middle-aged.

That you've been spending every day
with her since she moved into that cabin.

You can take my word for it, Elizabeth.
She's nicer to be around than you.

What do you think, partner?

- I think we did a pretty good job.
- Yup.

I think this calls
for a celebration.

Would you like to join me
for dinner tonight, Mr. Walton?

It would be a pleasure,
Mrs. Randolph.

I thought you were
supposed to go bowling.

That's what I thought, too.

What's the matter,
Miss Elizabeth?

Jim-Bob. He's been
such a jerk lately.

I got to drive over to Ike's.
I could use some company.

Corabeth.

Your youngest son was here
just barely 90 seconds ago.

- We saw him. I guess he didn't see us.
- He's kind of in a fog.

I hate to interfere with James Robert,
but I am really very concerned about him.

What'd he do now?

He bought a very costly
bottle of perfume as a gift.

Come to the point, Corabeth?

It was for that Randolph woman.

I'm afraid he is more
involved than he knows.

That's putting it simply.
He's head over heels in love.

Come on now,

you're putting a lot of weight on a
little bottle of perfume, aren't you?

Perhaps.

But nevertheless, it is
called Toujours l'amour,

which translated
means "love forever."

What's the tent for, Serena?

I'm gonna sleep in it. It's
for my Camping merit badge.

Ben helped me set it up.

Can I camp out with you?

No, I've got to
do that part alone.

Come on, Serena.
Nobody's gonna know.

Absolutely not. It was bad enough
to make a fire with you around.

Aren't you afraid of the bears?

Don't think you're gonna
scare me by talking about bears.

What if it rains?

- It looks like it's gonna rain tonight.
- It's not gonna rain.

And even if it does, I'll
be perfectly fine in my tent.

It's waterproof.

Uncle John, come
and see my tent.

Well, looks like you're all
set for a big night outside.

At least for a night outdoors.

When can we start on our hike?

Honey, something's come up. I'm
gonna be real busy for the next few days.

When can we go on it then?

I tell you what, as soon as I
get free, we'll combine both hikes.

We'll take a 10-mile hike,
and we'll call it an outing.

- Okay.
- Okay.

Uncle John?

Does there happen to
be any bears around here?

No. Nothing's gonna bother you.

- You sleep tight.
- Okay.

Hey, Serena! Run
for it! It's a cloud burst!

Jeffrey, would you turn off the
hose, or Uncle John's gonna get you.

If you like playing with water so
much, you go take a bath right now.

Yes, sir.

- You going somewhere, son?
- Just up to see Betsy.

You were there most of the day.

You seem to be spending a
whole lot of time with her, Jim-Bob.

I've been helping her fix up her
cabin. There was a lot of work to do.

Is that what you're
gonna do tonight, work?

We're having supper together.

- Just the two of you?
- Sure. Why not?

Because she's a married woman,
Jim-Bob. People are beginning to talk.

I don't know what about.
We're good friends, that's all.

Good enough for an
expensive bottle of perfume?

Corabeth strikes again.

Jim-Bob, I don't like the
idea of you going up there.

She's waiting for me.

You're playing with
fire, son. I want it to stop.

What are you gonna do,
Daddy? Lock me in my room?

I thought you trusted me.

I thought you would never stop.

At least now you know
everything there is about manure.

Yeah. More than I
really want to know.

Thank you again for the flowers,
Jim-Bob. They're beautiful.

- What's this?
- Just a little present.

Go on, open it.

Do you like it?

- Jim-Bob, I can't accept this.
- Why not?

- It's too generous.
- You've been awful nice to me.

I just wanted to show
you I like you a lot.

I already know that.

I like helping you.

I want to take care of you.

I've never felt this way before.

Jim-Bob, I'm afraid I've
given you the wrong idea.

Maybe we've spent
too much time together.

I shouldn't have been
so dependent on you.

I know you love your husband.
It doesn't make any difference.

I just want to be with you.

Jim-Bob, I can't
keep this. I'm sorry.

I hope you can understand.

I got to get going.
Thanks for dinner.

I won't be up to whitewash
that fence tomorrow.

Daddy needs me
at the mill all week.

Good night, Jim-Bob.

- Do you have any idea what time it is?
- Good night, Daddy.

Good night, nothing.
I want an explanation.

It's late and I'm tired. I
just want to go to bed.

Jim-Bob, I'm trying to be
mother and father around here.

- I want you to start talking.
- I've been driving around.

By yourself? What
happened to Mrs. Randolph?

I wish I'd never laid eyes on
her. I wish I'd never met her!

Why don't you tell me about it?

I'm in love with her. It came
over me before I knew it.

That's the way it happens.

You were right, Daddy.
I got in over my head,

and it hurts.

Why don't you get some sleep, son?
Things will look different in the morning.

I'm sorry I was
acting so stupid.

No reason to feel sorry, you've
got enough pain to live with.

Jeffrey, would you just stop

bouncing that ball?
I've got to concentrate.

When are you
gonna do my first aid?

- I'm drawing Jason right now.
- You promised!

- How's it coming?
- Just sit still, Jason.

- Can't I take a look?
- I'm almost finished.

Come on, Serena.

Mary Ellen showed
you that stuff last week.

I can hardly wait to see it.

This is the first time
I've had my portrait done.

This is my first time,
too, so don't expect much.

There. All done.

Let's see.

It looks like a
squashed watermelon.

Shut up, Jeffrey.

- What do you think, Jason?
- I like it.

I think a couple of changes here and
there, and you've got a real museum piece.

You don't have to
lie. I know it stinks.

I think it's real good
for the first time.

She's right. It stinks.

- You're a pest, do you know that?
- I was just telling the truth.

I think it's time to do the first
aid now. Come on, Jeffrey.

See you later, Jason.

- What are you doing?
- Swinging.

I want you to know I didn't mean
those things I said the other day.

Then why'd you say them?

Because I didn't like the way
you were talking about Betsy.

All that's changed now. I'm
not gonna see her anymore.

Wait a minute. What did she do?

She didn't do anything. It's just not
right that I spend all my time with her.

She's a lot older than me.

- And she's got a husband.
- Right.

Jim-Bob, are you
in love with her?

Not anymore.

You know, I'm
glad you apologized.

- I don't like it when we argue.
- Neither do I.

You want to go bowling tomorrow?

- Sure.
- Okay.

- Serena, don't cover my eyes.
- I have to.

- Just like I have to cover your mouth.
- My mouth?

Especially your mouth.

There.

All finished. Bye, Jeffrey.

And it serves you right!

Serena! Don't leave me!

Excuse me. I'm looking
for Jim-Bob Walton.

- Mrs. Randolph?
- Mmm-hmm.

- You must be his father.
- That's right.

Is Jim-Bob here?
I'd like to talk to him.

That may be a problem
there, Mrs. Randolph.

I'm not sure he
wants to talk to you.

I made a terrible mistake, and I need
to straighten things out with Jim-Bob.

See, he's hurt and angry and
seeing him won't do much good.

Mr. Walton, your
son means a lot to me.

He was my friend at a time
when I really needed somebody.

I can't just let either of us
throw that friendship away.

You know, Mrs. Randolph, he
loves you. It's not just puppy love.

I'm sorry, I didn't
mean to hurt him.

He may act like a little boy sometimes,
but he's got the feelings of a man.

It might be better to give him
some room so he can work this out.

I want to see him, Mr. Walton.

He's working on his airplane
engine, over behind the barn.

Thank you.

How's it coming?

Slow.

It looks intricate. You
must be quite a mechanic.

I'm not bad.

I've missed you, Jim-Bob.

Whitewashing that fence all by
myself yesterday wasn't much fun.

I know you're angry with me.

I want you to know that
I didn't mean to hurt you.

And it's not every day
you find a good friend,

and it's really horrible when
you think you've lost one.

That's what I wanted to say.

Betsy, don't go.

I'm not angry with
you. I'm angry at myself.

It was my fault.

We both made a mistake.

Look, if we don't
see each other again,

we're gonna be left with
this empty feeling inside.

Is that what you want?

I'm still kind of confused.

You worked very hard
for me on the cabin.

I've never had a
chance to repay you for it.

- I didn't expect you to.
- Yeah, I know.

- But I have something for you anyway.
- What is it?

It's a surprise.

How about it?

Okay.

You sure been acting mysterious,
bringing me way up here.

- I notice it hasn't hurt your appetite.
- Marvin loves fried chicken.

So does Buddy, and I
promised to save him some.

You didn't tell me we were
meeting somebody up here.

Yeah, Buddy Russell, he's an
old friend of Matt's. And he's late.

What's that?

I think it's your surprise.

I told you Buddy would find us.

You're gonna fly, Jim-Bob!

Hey, Buddy.

Jim-Bob.

Got to get a tie.

Let's go!

Come, Josephine,
in my flying machine

Going up she goes, up she goes

Balance yourself
like a bird on a beam

In the air she goes,
there she goes

Up, up, a little bit higher

Oh, my, the moon is on fire

Come, Josephine,
in my flying machine

Going up, all on!

Goodbye!

I still can't believe it,
the way I felt up there,

just like an eagle soaring
over the mountains,

the wind whistling in my ears.

And it's just the beginning, Jim-Bob.
You're gonna be doing a lot of flying.

Come, Josephine,
in my flying machine

Going up she goes, up she goes

I don't know how
to thank you, Betsy.

It was even more
incredible than I'd imagined.

Just promise you'll
take me for a ride

in that plane you're building
when you get it finished.

You can be my copilot.

- Friends?
- Best friends.

Come in.

- Morning, Uncle John.
- Morning, honey.

When can we start on our hike?

Ben and me got to go
to Charlottesville, first.

We'll only be a couple of hours.
You be ready when we get back, okay?

- I'll be waiting.
- Good. We've got a great day for a hike.

- Okay. Goodbye, Uncle John.
- See you later.

Good morning.

I was going up to see Betsy.
I thought I'd take her her mail.

Jim-Bob, I already brought Betsy's
mail up to her place early this morning.

Mr. Godsey and I
went up there together.

- It was a telegram.
- What kind of telegram?

- Her husband.
- Oh, no.

I offered to stay with her, but she
said she just wanted to be alone.

I should be with her.

Jim-Bob, I don't think I'd go up
there if I were you. Just leave her be.

No, Mr. Godsey, I think he
should. She needs a friend.

- Uncle John hasn't come back yet, huh?
- No.

- And I can't wait for him any longer.
- Where are you going?

- On my 10-mile hike!
- You can't go by yourself.

Watch me!

Betsy?

I heard.

Ike and Corabeth told me.

Are you all right?

I don't mean to bother you.

I just want you to know
I'm here if you need me.

I wish I could make
you feel better.

Sometimes it helps if
you can talk about it.

My sister lost her
husband at Pearl Harbor.

It took her a long time
just to be able to cry.

I didn't know Matt, but I felt like I did
because we both love flying so much.

What I'm trying to say is,

if you want to talk to
somebody, I'd be happy to listen.

If you need me, I'll be outside.

- Any sign of her?
- No.

I went all the way up to Bascomb
Ridge and back, and there's no sign of her.

There's no telling which
way she might have gone.

How's Rose holding up?

I made her some tea,
but she's still real upset.

She's mad at Jeffrey for not telling her
Serena left and she's blaming herself.

Thank heaven.

Sorry we're late.
The truck broke down.

We tried calling, but there
wasn't a phone for miles.

I'm glad you're here, Daddy.

Serena took her hike by
herself. She hasn't come back yet.

- Which way did she go?
- No one knows.

Jeffrey said she just took off.

You go on the back road to
Rockfish. Come on, son, you drive.

Who's there?

Serena!

Serena!

- Should we take the lower road?
- Not yet.

I just hope she didn't
cut through the woods.

Serena, are you all right?

- All right, honey, now come on home.
- No.

It's not 10 miles yet, and
I'm gonna finish my hike.

Is it all right if I
finish it with you?

Come, Josephine,
in my flying machine

Going up she goes, up she goes

Balance yourself
like a bird on a beam

In the air she goes,
there she goes

Jim-Bob was never to
see Betsy Randolph again,

but their brief friendship
was a turning point in his life.

No one would ever think
of him as a boy again.

He had become a man.

Good night, Uncle John.
- Good night, Serena.

Good night, Jeffrey.

Jeffrey, I said good night.

Are you still mad at me?

I could have smothered
in those bandages.

I'm sorry. I promise I'll never
do anything like that again.

Don't be too sorry, Serena.

It was the quietest
afternoon I've spent in months.

- Good night, Jeffrey.
- Good night, Nana.

English - SDH