The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 8, Episode 3 - The Kinfolk - full transcript

I want you to meet my grandchildren.
This is Serena and Jeffrey.

OLIVIA: Hi, Serena.
JOHN: Serena.

ROSE: Say hello to your Aunt
Olivia and your Uncle John.

JOHN: Hello, Jeffrey.
OLIVIA: Hi, Jeffrey.

I don't want any more supper.

Now wait a minute, son. We
don't waste food around here.

- You sit down here and finish.
- I'm not hungry.

There's chocolate
pudding for dessert, Jeffrey.

I said I'm not hungry.

Let's not pretend.
Let's go for a ride.

(CAR ENGINE STARTING)



What on earth did you
two think you were doing?

Do you want them to ask us
to leave? Is that what you want?

I don't think they want us here
anyway. They're just like all the others.

No, they're not.

They need us and Lord
knows we need them.

Jeffrey's been having nightmares.
Does he have them often?

Oh, land, Olivia,
I didn't hear him.

Rose, little girls don't steal, and little
boys don't have horrible nightmares

unless there's something
deep down that's troubling them.

JOHN: (SHOUTING)
Ben, Jason, fire!

Hey, there!

(SHOUTING) Keep
that sand coming.

JOHN-BOY: The arrival
of spring was alwa ys

a welcome time on
Walton's Mountain.



During the war, it was a
reminder that life did renew itself,

in spite of the tragedies
our family ha d suffered.

My father's business
was booming.

My mother ha d recovered
from her lengthy illness,

and there was a feeling that the family
could bra ve the dark da ys ahea d.

That strength was
tested one da y

when our cousin, Rose
Burton, came to visit.

There she is.

ROSE: Olivia!
OLIVIA: Oh, my God.

ROSE: That darned suitcase
just doesn't want to stay shut.

OLIVIA: Here, let me help you with
that. ROSE: Olivia, I'm so glad to see you.

I could hardly sit still on
the bus, I got so fired up.

Rose, you look so good
after all these years.

I've put on a pound or two.
But you're looking fine yourself.

The way Kate carried on, I was
afraid you'd still look a little peakish.

- I've never felt better.
- Isn't that wonderful?

- You must be John.
- Rose.

After all these years
of hearing about you

I was beginning to wonder if
there really was a John Walton.

I'm for real, I think.

Isn't this a pretty part of the
world? Air smells like honeysuckle.

I want you to meet my grandchildren.
This is Serena and Jeffrey.

OLIVIA: Hi, Serena.
JOHN: Serena.

ROSE: Say hello to your Aunt
Olivia and your Uncle John.

JOHN: Hello, Jeffrey.
OLIVIA: Hi, Jeffrey.

You two like to
go fishing, do you?

Boy's a bit bashful, God love him,
doesn't take after his grandmother at all.

We'll get to know each other.

But you watch out for
Serena. She'll talk you silly.

If there was ever a natural
actress in the family, here she is.

I'm sorely tempted to get
her tap dancing lessons

and pack her off to Hollywood.

- Right, Serena?
- Let's stay here a while first.

Good idea. Here's
the car, right over here.

So good to see you.

Oh, I can't get over
how well you're looking.

It's been on my
thoughts so much.

Mr. Godsey, would you please be
so kind as to unlock that door for me?

- I'm sorry, Corabeth, I can't do that.
- Of course, you can.

There's classified
government material in there.

And nobody can go in
there except Jim-Bob and me.

I just don't think it's the proper time
for the general public to know about it.

You know what they say. A
slip of the lip will sink a ship.

I am not the general public.

- JIM-BOB: Hi, Ike, Corabeth.
- Hello, Jim-Bob, I'm glad you got here.

I came over as soon as I could.
It sounded like an emergency.

If there is a crisis I would
appreciate being forewarned.

This is important.
Come on, Jim-Bob.

This is the siren that used to
be out on the porch of the store.

I found it out in the
middle of the road, broken.

The wind probably blew it down.

It was the work of saboteurs.

Somebody wanted to destroy
our area's only warning device.

Yeah, but who'd want to
sabotage that little thing?

Jim-Bob, there's a war
on, don't you remember?

At any rate, I wrote a letter to the Civil
Defense Department in Washington.

- And this is the replacement.
- You mean all this is one siren?

Jim-Bob, let's face it.
We do a good job here.

And they sent us the very best.

The letter that came with it said
that I was to protect it at all costs.

Wow, would you look at that horn?
Bet you it's so loud, it's dangerous.

I couldn't make head or
tail out of the directions.

That's why I figured you'd
be the perfect man for the job.

Ike, I don't know anything
about putting sirens together.

You put your car together, didn't you?
That's why I figured you could handle this.

- It's gonna take a long time.
- Jim-Bob, you'll be paid, and well paid.

Remember this is
a top-secret mission.

And I don't want anybody, even
in your family, to know about this.

This is Grandma's room.
You'll be staying here.

She's in Buckingham County
going from cousin to cousin.

Isn't this just peachy?

Esther must be a wonderful
woman if she's anything like this room.

I always say you can tell a person
by the kind of house they keep.

Grandma would want you
to stay here while she's away.

We cleaned out
some of those drawers

and you can hang some
of your clothes in that closet.

Kate told me about your
boy missing in action.

It's the saddest
thing I ever heard.

We just keep praying that
John-Boy will be all right.

He will, Olivia. I know. I
just feel it in my bones.

That slip's got more wrinkles
in it than a preacher's Bible.

If you'll leave it out, it's my
ironing day, I'll press it for you.

Oh, no, you don't.

I'm gonna do the ironing or anything
else that needs doing around here.

I want to make myself useful.

You've done enough for
me in one lifetime, Rose.

I don't know what you mean.
I just walked in the door.

I mean, when you risked getting
influenza to save my whole family.

You worked night and
day until we were well.

I don't know how you can even
remember. You were only, what, six?

I remember. You used to go
get fresh mint from the woods,

and you'd put it in a cloth
and put it on my forehead.

That's still my
favorite fever remedy.

And you'd sit up with me
at night until I went to sleep.

Your face was the last thing
I remember seeing each day.

You looked like a little
angel when you were asleep.

- I didn't want anybody to disturb you.
- It'll be nice to repay the favor.

I'll try and arrange to get pneumonia
this year, so you can do just that.

Meanwhile, I want
you to just relax

and let Cousin Rose
take care of everything.

You'll be staying here
with me and my sister, Erin.

- She's working right now.
- Won't it be awfully crowded?

No more crowded than
when Mary Ellen slept here.

I guess I've just been
spoiled most of my life.

I'm used to my own room.

Serena, this is my
sister-in-law, Cindy.

- Hi, Serena.
- SERENA: Nice to meet you.

- My, what a pretty brooch.
- Oh, well, thank you.

My papa gave me one just like that
once. He gives me lots of nice things.

And when he gets back from the
Navy, we're gonna go around the world.

Well, that's nice.
Are you all settled in?

ELIZABETH: We're getting there.

I'll take that. It's
my treasure box.

Don't you want to show
us some of your treasures?

Maybe later. I don't like showing
them to people I don't know very well.

JIM-BOB: This is kind of a surprise. I was
just getting used to having my own room.

We probably won't be here long.

So, is this all the
stuff you brought?

I travel light.

Boy, I've never seen so
much green stuff in all my life.

Don't they have any
trees back in Baltimore?

Yeah, but they just put
buildings between them.

- You got any bears here?
- Yeah, big, black ones.

- Tigers?
- We got a couple of them.

- How about elephants?
- I haven't seen any in a couple of years.

But if you keep your eyes
peeled you might see some.

Who do those chickens
belong to out front?

- They belong to the family.
- Can I have one?

As far as I'm concerned,
you can have them all.

Jim-Bob, pass
the butter, please.

I wonder where Jeffrey
is. His supper's getting cold.

Oh, he's just exploring.

He's never lived on a mountain
before. He just can't see enough of it.

CINDY: I felt the same
way when I came here.

I got to be getting
back to the base.

- Can't you have some supper first?
- I'm sorry, I'm a little late as it is.

It was nice meeting you,
Cousin Rose. You, too, Serena.

I'm gonna walk this young
Sergeant out to his jeep.

- Take care of yourself, son.
- Thanks, Daddy.

- See you all later.
- JIM-BOB: Bye, Jason.

ALL: Bye. ROSE: Bye, Jason.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, come over
here. What have you got there?

He's a pet.

That's one of our best laying hens,
son. You better find yourself another pet.

Jim-Bob said I could have
as many chickens as I wanted.

He's my favorite.

Hey, Jim-Bob, you gonna
give away the mill next?

I didn't think he'd
take me seriously.

You take that back out to the pen, son,
then come in here and eat your supper.

What if I don't want to?

Jeffrey, is that any way
to talk to your Uncle John?

- He's not my uncle.
- You take that back, now.

Yes, sir.

I'm afraid I've spoiled those
two silly, God love them.

You know how grandmothers are.

If you feel a need, John,
you just take a firm hand.

I hope I won't have to.

Olivia, you've got yourself
some fine-looking children.

I think they take after my
side of the family mostly.

BEN: Oh, Daddy.

We've got some catching
up to do, Cousin Rose.

Last time I heard from you
was right after you got married.

I wish you had met that man.

Burt was a conductor on
the Norfolk and Southern.

And sometimes he'd take me along.
I'd ride all the way to Raleigh, free.

I still miss him.

Sounds like the spark never
went out of your marriage.

Burt was a romantic. He looked on
the sunny side of things, same as I do.

Trouble with being
married to a railroad man is

- you don't see very much of him.
- You and Burt have a big family, did you?

No, just the one, Burt Jr.
Serena and Jeffrey's daddy.

He's a captain in
the Navy, you know.

He travels everywhere
and sends us money.

Serena, now why don't
you just finish your supper?

- Have the children been with you long?
- Quite a while.

Their mother died when they were
young and their father raised them.

I don't want any more supper.

Now wait a minute, son. We
don't waste food around here.

- You sit down here and finish.
- I'm not hungry.

There's chocolate
pudding for dessert, Jeffrey.

- I said I'm not hungry.
- Come back here, son. Come here.

- He may need a spanking after all.
- Oh, no.

It's hard for me to be
strict with them, John.

They've had such a
trying time, you know.

- What you reading?
- Some instructions.

- Instructions for what?
- It's a project me and Ike are working on.

- Can I help?
- Nope. It's top-secret.

You mean spy stuff?

Say, aren't you supposed to be getting
ready for bed or something like that?

You going to bed now?

No, but you're younger than
me and you need more rest.

- Now, why don't you put your pajamas on?
- In a while.

Am I gonna have
to do it for you?

Okay, I'll do it. I'll do it. But
first you have to leave the room.

You can be a real
pest sometimes.

- What are you doing?
- Waiting for this chicken to grow an egg.

She's not gonna do
anything with you in there.

- Chickens work in private.
- She'll get used to me. Where you going?

I can't say. It's a
government secret.

- Please let me come with you.
- Nope.

- You could blindfold me.
- Nope.

Then I'll just sit here
and watch this chicken.

But don't take her out of the coop.
You remember what Daddy said.

Do I have to do
everything Mr. Walton says?

If you're smart, you do.

- What if she follows me?
- Shoo her back in.

Would you look at
this store, Serena?

I haven't been in a sweet little country
store like this since I left Alberene.

- May I be of assistance?
- You must be Corabeth Godsey.

I'm Rose Burton, and this is
my granddaughter, Serena.

Well, how do you do?

I understand that you've
taken over up at Olivia's.

Is it true that she sleeps until
11:00 and takes her breakfast in bed?

(LAUGHING) Try as I might, I
haven't been able to talk her into it yet.

You could talk me into it.

We came in for 10 pounds of
flour and a box of baking soda.

CORABETH: Are you
here for a lengthy visit?

We don't exactly know yet.

Well, there are no bounds to
John and Olivia's hospitality.

ROSE: They're wonderful people.

I guess if you decide to remain here
as permanent residents of the mountain,

that you'll be looking
for quarters of your own.

Heavens, we couldn't afford to rent.
We'd have to put Serena to selling pencils.

- That'll be 58 cents, please.
- Well, let's see here. Fifty.

All righty, there we are. Thank
you very much. We'll be seeing you.

Ta-ta!

- Want some help with those repairs?
- No, thanks.

This is a pretty dangerous
place. Shouldn't be in here alone.

This used to be
Jim-Bob's scooter.

With a little help we could
get this back on the road.

(HEN CLUCKING)

I think she flew in here.
You know, I bet she's wild.

You put that back
in the coop right now.

While you're gone,
I'll get some paint.

We could make this the finest
scooter in Jefferson County.

I don't want to
ride that old thing.

- Jim-Bob, where have you been?
- I had to eat sometime.

Do you realize that Walton's Mountain
is absolutely helpless without this siren?

Why, the Germans
could attack right now

and we might as well be out in
the street waving handkerchiefs.

- Who'd attack today? It's too hot.
- That doesn't matter.

Did you read about the
saboteurs in New York yesterday?

- Yeah, but they caught them.
- They caught four of them.

Lord knows how many got away.

Do you realize the Germans could
be goose-stepping through the woods

right there now?

Now what we've got to do, we've
got to attach Horn A to Mount B.

Now, we got to take the
wires here at D, E and F,

we got to attach them
to H, G and Z, there.

- You understand?
- Why don't you just put this stuff away?

- It's only gonna confuse me.
- What's this thing do?

- What are you doing here?
- I came with you in the car.

Now look what you've done to me.

How am I supposed to
explain that to Civil Defense?

You won't have to. Come
on, you're going back home.

You better not tell
anybody about this.

What you doing?

I'm pretending that I'm
on my way to see Papa.

- Where have you been?
- I can't tell. Can I get in?

You be the daddy. Sit here.

Let's not pretend.
Let's go for a ride.

I think the keys
are in Cindy's room.

The dusting is done. It's
time to start the windows.

You better leave some
work for the rest of us, Rose.

After all, I've got three grown
daughters who need some chores to do.

Well, there's
plenty to go around.

What is it that's so satisfying
about cleaning out a closet?

This one's been
haunting me for years.

If you hadn't come, I don't know
when I would have gotten around to it.

I like it here. And it's doing good things
for the children to be around your family.

It's nice having young
ones at the table again,

running up and down the stairs.

Olivia, I don't want to try
to hide anything from you.

But we need a place to
rest our heads for a while.

And, well, I think you could use the
help. But I want you to be honest with me.

If it's all right with you, we'd
like to stay on a little while longer.

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

JOHN: Are you all right, son?

- JOHN: Are you okay?
- What have you done to my car?

What on earth did you
two think you were doing?

Do you want them to ask us
to leave? Is that what you want?

I don't think they want us here
anyway. They're just like all the others.

No, they're not. They need us
and Lord knows we need them.

- I wish Papa was here. He'd teach Jim-Bob.
- Did you and Jim-Bob have words?

He and that old Ike
think I'm a German spy.

Now, you two listen to me,

if we have to leave here,
we have no place to go.

We'll probably wind
up back in Baltimore,

and I know you don't want
that any more than I do.

Now, won't you please try?

- I'll be good.
- Jeffrey?

I sure like that chicken.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Mind if I come in?

I hope you've come to give
these mischief-makers a talking to.

I don't know what got
into them, a prank like that.

What you two need is some
chores to keep you busy.

Jeffrey, you like the chickens, I'm
gonna put you in charge of them.

You feed them, gather the eggs,
and clean up the coop every day.

I want you out in the
garden, weeding, too.

Yes, sir.

Serena, you can slop
the pigs morning and night.

Did you hear that, Serena?

Yes, ma'am.

What I ought to do is take you
over my knee and spank you.

If you were my own, I would.

Now you get busy, and
you keep out of trouble.

I think you two better get
going on your chores right away.

SERENA: What does
slopping the pigs mean?

(COUGHING)

Do you have any idea what
you're doing to your lungs?

- I needed it. I'm nervous.
- Hogwash.

It's a silly excuse grownups
use. Put that out this minute.

- That's what this place is for, isn't it?
- No, this is where we smoke our meat.

And I thought the smokehouse
was for smoking cigarettes.

Besides, you're too young.
Let's go tell your grandmother.

- Didn't you do anything wrong before?
- Well, I never smoked.

Didn't you know it
could stunt your growth?

I'm so small anyway, I don't
think I'm gonna get very big.

Anyway, if you don't tell
on me, I'll be your slave.

I don't want to tell on you,
it's just it's for your own good.

Okay, go ahead,
break my nana's heart.

I'll just move in with the chickens,
that way I won't bother anybody.

If you promise me that you're not
gonna smoke anymore, then I won't tell.

Here, I'm giving it up for good.

You'll thank me for this
one of these days. Come on.

- CINDY: Who is it?
- Serena. Can I come in?

Come on in.

- I came to apologize.
- You shouldn't be apologizing to me.

You should be apologizing
to your Uncle John.

He's the one that
has to fix that fence.

It was your car we wrecked.

- I hope it's okay.
- It seems to be.

If there's anything I can
do to make it up to you,

just tell me
what and I'll do it.

No, that's okay. It was an
accident. Thanks for the apology.

- I'll wash your car if you want.
- Ben's my car washer.

But maybe he'll let
you help sometime.

If you think of
anything, let me know.

See you later, Cindy.
Thanks for everything.

Bye-bye.

- What are you thinking about?
- Rose.

She needs a place to stay.

She won't say anything,
but I think she's desperate.

Liv, I thought they were
supposed to be here just for a visit.

I was looking forward to a little
peace and quiet in my old age.

My heart goes out
to those children.

Jeffrey's into everything and
Serena's living in a dream world.

She sure has a lot of
stories about her father.

I heard her say the other day
he sent her a string of diamonds.

Rose doesn't even
mention him at all.

- You think she's covering something?
- I don't know. I think they need help.

- And you plan on giving it to them?
- I owe Rose a lot.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

JOHN: Come in.

Your youngest daughter
wants to say good night.

JOHN: Come over here.

I wish you weren't too big to
crawl under the covers with us.

Mama, how long are Serena and
Jeffrey gonna be staying with us?

- They crowding you?
- Maybe.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

- Where do the refugees go to register?
- In here. We're having a party.

- I got kicked out of my own room.
- Jeffrey throw you out?

Guess he's not used to getting
undressed with me in there.

And I thought you
came to tuck us in.

I think I'll go get something
to eat while I'm waiting.

OLIVIA: There's some chocolate
chip cookies in the cupboard.

JOHN: Give me a cup
of coffee, will you, son?

ELIZABETH: Bring me some milk?

OLIVIA: Bring me some
chocolate chip cookies.

No. Go away. No.

Please don't. No.

Go away.

Please, go away.

Please, go away. No.

- Hey, Jeffrey, wake up.
- Go away from me!

- It's just me, Jason.
- No, go away.

- JASON: Nobody's gonna hurt you.
- Please leave me alone. I'll be good.

- Is everything okay?
- He's just having a bad dream.

It's okay, Jeffrey.
It's just Jason.

I thought I heard
somebody yelling.

Jeffrey was having a nightmare.

Here, let me take him.

Hey, Jeffrey. Attaboy.

- Are you all right?
- I guess so.

- I didn't mean to wake everybody up.
- It wasn't your fault.

- You want to tell me about your dream?
- No.

Want me to sit here
with you for a while?

- No, I can manage.
- You sure?

All right.

Good night.

- Wasn't expecting to see you.
- Neither was Jeffrey.

- Wake me up if he has another bad dream.
- JEFFREY: I won't have any more.

- Good night, Jim-Bob.
- Good night, Mama.

- Good night, Jason.
- Good night, Mama.

JEFFREY: You are
getting sleepier, sleepier.

Your eyes start to close.
You are falling into my control.

You are in my power.

- Hey, Jeffrey, what are you doing?
- Trying to hypnotize this chicken.

- You can't hypnotize chickens.
- This one's already in my power.

You're supposed to be cleaning
the coop, not putting them to sleep.

That's why I'm hypnotizing them.

I'm gonna make the
chickens do all the cleaning.

If it works, send some
up to the bedroom.

JEFFREY: You going
to that top-secret place?

No, I just got some work to
do at the store. I'll see you later.

(SIREN BLARES)

- What is that?
- It's my new siren, that's what.

Be calm! Be calm,
everybody! It's a false alarm.

JOHN: Sorry. Nobody
fire. Hold your fire.

- JOHN: What happened, Jim-Bob?
- This is our top-secret project.

Do you mean to tell me that you left
me to maintain the merchandise store

so the two of you could come out here
and build this oversized noisemaker?

The government sent it.

Isn't this kind of thing pretty
loud for Walton's Mountain?

No, no, in case of a night invasion, it'd
wake everybody in the whole area up.

Let's forget the night
invasion. What's going on now?

- Jim-Bob?
- Don't look at me.

It was Jeffrey.

I saw him running away
from here carrying a chicken.

- That would be Jeffrey.
- That boy sure can stir up trouble.

JOHN: Come on.

JASON: Pa, I can't understand why the
government would send such a big siren.

We don't have one that
size at Camp Rockfish.

BEN: Tell you, the way Ike talks,
they'd send war planes if he wanted them.

Hold it.

Jeffrey!

Jeffrey? I can see
you, son, answer me.

- Yes, sir?
- What are you doing? Hiding?

No, I'm just roosting.

You've done enough roosting.
Come down here. I want to talk to you.

- Who gets to spank him?
- You two go about your business.

Come here, son.
Come here. Come on.

- Did you set off that alarm today?
- Yes, sir.

- How come?
- I just wanted to see if it works.

- I tried to turn it off.
- You know, you got chores to do.

- You pick any weeds yesterday?
- No.

I thought we had
this straightened out.

- What's that in your pocket?
- Egg.

You put the egg in the kitchen
and come out. We got work to do.

Come on.

Now, I got to go to Rockfish. When
I come back, I want this lawn cut.

I don't know how it works.

You put your hands
right there and you push.

- I'll cut myself on that thing.
- No, you won't. Now push.

Oh, my, Jeffrey. Aren't
you the busy one today!

Shut up.

It's your own fault, you know.
You've been a terrible, terrible boy.

- Leave me alone.
- Nana's really mad at you.

I think we should just put you
in an orphanage somewhere.

I saw that, Jeffrey. You
can stop mowing right now.

But I'm supposed to have the lawn
finished before Mr. Walton gets back

- or I'll get in trouble.
- You're already in plenty of trouble.

You mowed down Mama's
flowers and you did it on purpose.

- Here it is, think it'll work?
- Sure. Why shouldn't it?

Besides, if we don't put this lock on,
somebody else might do what Jeffrey did.

I'm afraid I'll get electrocuted
when I put the key in there.

What? Who's there?

Corabeth, you scared
the dickens out of me.

Mr. Godsey, this letter just
arrived from Civil Defense.

And it looked so urgent that I
thought I should bring it over myself.

They're probably congratulating
us on the good job we've done.

Please allow me.

Corabeth, you can't read
that. It's a top-secret document.

Mr. Godsey, please. Every living
soul in Jefferson County and beyond

- knows about your top-secret.
- Give that to me.

"Dear Mr. Godsey, as you
have discovered by now,

"our department inadvertently
sent you a Code 2 warning apparatus

"designed for a major metropolitan
area, in this case, Richmond.

"A truck will be
sent out next week to

deliver the unit to its
proper destination."

That can't be.

"Please have it packaged in
its original crates for shipment.

- "We apologize for the error."
- Let me see that.

Does this mean that we're
gonna have to take it down?

- I'm afraid so.
- Am I still gonna get paid for my work?

Jim-Bob, you heard the letter.
The government made a mistake.

Don't forget to bring the
tools back when you're done.

- Who told you you could wear my dress?
- I didn't think you'd mind.

This is Cindy's brooch. She's
been looking for it everywhere.

- No, my papa sent it to me from the Navy.
- Whose perfume are you wearing?

- Let me see that.
- No, it's mine.

Give it to me now.

- Where did you get this perfume?
- I just borrowed it from Corabeth.

This is my necklace. I was
wondering where it went.

This bracelet belongs to Elizabeth.
These earrings are Mary Ellen's.

You've been stealing
from everybody.

- You better come with me. Come with me.
- No.

Your grandma will be interested
to know what you've been doing.

I'm disappointed in you, Serena.

- SERENA: I was gonna give it all back.
- I better give Cindy back her brooch.

You promised you
wouldn't do this anymore.

OLIVIA: Can you tell us why
you took those things, Serena?

- I was just pretending.
- Pretending what?

I was just pretending that my
daddy was sending me presents.

But I wasn't stealing,
I was just borrowing.

There's a big difference. When
you borrow, you ask permission.

Now, I think it's time we
sat down and had a talk.

- This won't happen again, will it, Serena?
- No, ma'am.

All right, now you run upstairs
and get that dress back to Erin.

Yes, ma'am.

- Rose, what's troubling those children?
- They miss their father, is all.

There are thousands of little
girls, all across the country,

whose fathers are away. There's
got to be more to it than that.

Jeffrey had a nightmare last
night. Does that happen often?

Oh, land, Olivia, I didn't hear him.
I'm used to sleeping in the next room,

and I can get to him
before he wakes Serena.

Rose, little girls don't steal, and little
boys don't have horrible nightmares

unless there's something
deep down that's troubling them.

(COUGHS)

Ben, Jason, fire!

Hey, there!

JOHN: Come on, everybody,
quick! Jason, get the sand.

Mary Ellen, get the sand over
there. Get that corner, over there.

OLIVIA: Jim, get the bucket.

JOHN: Keep that sand coming!

JOHN: Come on! Move
those buckets! OLIVIA: Honey!

Come on! Keep
those buckets coming!

JASON: Keep them
moving! JOHN: All right!

JOHN: We got it! Turn off the hose!
We got it. We got it. That's enough.

Another five minutes and we
would have lost the whole mill.

BEN: Daddy, look at the shaper.

JOHN: Damn.

Look what I found.

Give me those.

JOHN: Where's Jeffrey?

Come along, Serena.
It's time to go pack.

JIM-BOB: Daddy?

Show them, Jeffrey.

Are you gonna turn around
or should I turn you around?

God Almighty.

Is that what Jeffrey's
nightmares were about?

Don't tell them,
Grandma. Please.

Who did that?

ROSE: His father, my son.

The kindest, gentlest man on
earth till he takes to the bottle.

He'd give the
children a licking,

and then afterwards he'd feel just
terrible and promise never to do it again.

It was the night he started beating
Jeffrey with a belt over and over again,

that I knew I had to get
those children out of there.

You can't imagine what it's like

hoping you never see your
own son again as long as you live.

Jeffrey.

- Why didn't you tell us, son?
- He's my papa. I love him.

Lord, we know you've been watching
over this family these many years.

You've been awful good to us.
We thank you for all your gifts.

I ask you to keep
watching over us,

especially those members of
our family who aren't with us today.

We thank you for bringing
Rose and the children to us.

We hope they'll feel that
our house is their home.

This table was
getting kind of lonely.

Now it's full again.

- Thank you, Lord. Amen.
- ALL: Amen.

JOHN-BOY: Rose
and her grandchildren

were accepted in our
family and in the community.

Jeffrey and Serena still managed to
get themselves into considerable trouble,

but they were driven to it by
high spirits and not by cruelty.

For the first time in their young lives
they began to feel loved and protected.

OLIVIA: Good night, Serena.

SERENA: Good night, Aunt
Olivia. Good night, Nana.

ROSE: Good night,
Serena. Good night, John.

JOHN: Good night,
Rose. Good night, Jeffrey.

(HEN CLUCKING)

JOHN: Jeffrey, are you
sleeping with that chicken?

JEFFREY: Just a minute.
Let me check under the covers.

Yes, sir, looks like one
snuck in here all right.

JOHN: You put her back
first thing in the morning.

JEFFREY: Yes, sir.

JOHN: Good night, son.
JEFFREY: Good night, Uncle John.

English -SDH