The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 8, Episode 7 - The Journal - full transcript

During the day I have absolute
faith that John-Boy's all right,

but at night, it's
a different story.

Is he alive? Is he a prisoner
of war? Is he wounded?

We could get some help. Maybe
we should go to the Red Cross.

I can't promise
anything at all. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I know a lot of other families
are going through this just now,

but it doesn't
make it any easier.

This is desperately
important to us.

I know what it is to
wait, Mrs. Walton.

We found out your
son was missing



when we tried to contact
him about his manuscript.

We knew John-Boy had
been keeping a journal,

but we didn't know he had
enough material for a book.

It's powerful stuff, and
very marketable right now.

What do you want from us?

Well, our attorneys feel that you
and Mrs. Walton can sign for him.

- Sign for it?
- As next-of-kin.

You're making it
sound as if he's dead.

Liv, I'm just telling
you how it is.

We have to find a
way to go on living.

I'm getting tired of you
trying to calm me down.

Now, look, Liv...

It seems like your answer to all of
this is to put your arms around me

and tell me that everything
is gonna be just dandy.



- Liv, listen to me...
- I don't want to listen to you!

There is something in a mountain

which gives strength and
stability to those who know it well.

Its timeless slopes make
troubles seem smaller.

We were to draw on
that strength many times

during the anxious
years of World War Il.

But those years brought troubles of
a kind we had never known before.

The pain of separation from
loved ones who were sent overseas

and who might ha ve become
casualties or prisoners of war.

The agony of waiting.

Liv, come to bed.

I'd just keep you awake
with my tossing and turning.

Honey, you got to get
some sleep. Come on.

Every time I close my eyes, all I
see are young boys being killed.

Liv, missing in action can
mean all kinds of things.

During the day I have absolute
faith that John-Boy's all right,

but at night, it's
a different story.

Is he alive? Is he a prisoner
of war? Is he wounded?

You're just gonna have
to be patient till we find out.

I keep having this horrible dream
that John-Boy's lying wounded

in a field somewhere waiting
for help that never comes.

I can't keep sitting on my hands
just waiting for another telegram.

Well...

We can try to find some help.
We can go to the Red Cross.

I've done volunteer work
with the ladies in Rockfish.

All they do is roll bandages.

There's a bigger chapter in
Richmond. Why don't we go there?

- Tomorrow?
- Liv, it is tomorrow.

Come on, let's get a couple of
hours sleep and we'll get an early start.

Last call for breakfast.

Darn it, I dropped a stitch.

Girls who say "golly" and "gosh" and
"darn" will wind up living alone in a barn.

Swell.

How are you this morning, Erin?

Tired of being tied to a
desk week after week.

Excuse me.

I know just how you feel.

It can't be any worse than riding
around on a horse in the hills all day.

When do you go back up?

Depends how soon I
can get the things I need.

The medical supplies are being
shipped, and you know how the mail is.

- Morning, everyone.
- Hi.

Sorry we're late. Cindy
wasn't feeling too well.

I have indigestion
something awful.

Cindy, heartburn's
a very good sign.

I had it bad,

and no woman ever had an easier
time giving birth to a baby than I did.

Hey, did Mama and
Daddy already come down?

They left for Richmond
at the crack of dawn.

They won't be back until late.

Daddy didn't mention
anything about business there.

They went to the Red Cross.
They're looking for news of John-Boy.

I sure hope they find
out what happened.

I'm not sure I want them to.

Cindy, Elizabeth is
teaching me how to knit,

and I'm gonna
make a baby blanket.

- Or would you rather have booties?
- No, a blanket's just fine.

- How are you coming with your sweater?
- I keep dropping stitches.

You'll get the hang of it.

I just wish I knew
Albert's exact size.

That should be a
cinch to figure out.

When he bends down to kiss
you, how far does he have to lean

before his lips press
passionately against yours?

I was in love with a boy once.
He kissed me and that ruined it.

I hardly know Albert.

We just danced once at
The Home Front Canteen.

Why are you putting so
much of time into that sweater?

He's going overseas.

You're supposed to do things
for boys that are going overseas.

Go swallow a frog.

Did you feed Reckless today?

She won't eat. I
think she's sick.

- Let's go have a look at her.
- Thank you.

How long has she been like this?

She acted pretty sad yesterday,
but she ate all her food.

Her nose is dry.

So is mine. Is that bad?

You'll live. It means Reckless
doesn't feel too good, though.

Go get it, girl! Get it!

She doesn't even want to play.

She's been through this before.

Maybe we ought to
take her to a doctor.

We got some medicine that always
makes her snap out of it. I'll go get it.

Attagirl, Reckless. You're
the best dog I ever had.

Two days after we got the
telegram from the War Department,

we got this letter from
the Adjutant General.

We haven't heard anything since.

We weren't told where he was

before he was reported
missing or any other details.

Where was he the
last time he wrote you?

We think it was Sicily.

All we know is that he
was covering the invasion

for the Army paper
The Stars and Stripes.

We have this article,
he sent us a copy of it.

Maybe there's a clue
in here we missed.

It seems to have been written
weeks before he was reported missing.

I'm sure the War Department
has looked into all this.

Anything else you
think I should know?

That's about it.

Many persons listed
as missing in action

are subsequently reported
as prisoners of war.

Since this information is furnished by
the countries with which we are at war,

the War Department has no
way of expediting these reports.

However, the Red Cross
maintains strict neutrality.

We have access to all military
hospitals and prisoner-of-war camps.

I'll ask our Washington office to cable
our Central Tracing Agency in Geneva,

and a search will be launched
for your son immediately.

- Are there any questions?
- Have any idea how long it will take?

I can't promise
anything at all. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I know a lot of other families
are going through this just now,

but it doesn't
make it any easier.

This is desperately
important to us.

I know what it is to
wait, Mrs. Walton.

Hey, Jeffrey, what
can I do for you?

- Can I just look around?
- Yeah, sure.

I'd buy something, but I don't have
enough money to buy what I want.

What is it that you want?

Well, Reckless is sick,

and I just wish I had some type
of dog toy that could cheer her up.

Maybe we got something here
that might work. Let's take a look.

Hey, how about this?

- Hey, she'd like that.
- Now wait a second.

How much you got in your pocket?

A nickel.

Well, I'll be darned!
That's exactly what it costs!

I'll take it. Thanks.

Mr. Godsey, how can
children be expected

to learn the values of
life if adults deceive them?

Come on, Corabeth. He
didn't want the ball for himself.

He was just trying to be generous
and thoughtful for somebody else.

I believe that children should be
taught to face the realities of life.

Once again you have
made the same mistake

that you have made time
and time again with Aimee.

Well, if I've been
such a bad father,

then how come Aimee has grown
up to be such a lovely young lady?

But who knows what
heights she might have scaled

had she received
firmer guidance?

Why, this very moment she might be
on her way to becoming a fine artist,

a writer, a world-famous
concert pianist...

Hi.

Hey, Ike, Corabeth.

Here are some things
Rose needs for supper.

And I need some more yarn.

You know where it is.
Aimee, Elizabeth's here.

Mr. Godsey, please, I
wish you wouldn't shout.

It sets such a bad example
for the young people.

I didn't get quite
enough, I guessed wrong.

I've got enough for two sweaters,
and I'm just making a muffler.

- Maybe we should switch soldiers.
- Not on your life.

I can't say that I blame you.

Philip's dreamy, isn't he?

Well, Albert's not that bad,
it's just he's kind of immature.

- Ike, I have three of these.
- Yeah, that's 75 cents.

- Add it to that, Ike.
- Yeah, sure.

Tell me, Ben,

have I been a bad father?

That's a dumb question, Ike.

- Come on, tell me.
- Of course not.

I think you're a
very good father.

I just worry that I'm
letting Aimee down.

What's gotten into you, Ike?

I tell you, Ben,

wondering whether you've been
giving the girl the right kind of guidance,

it really shakes a man.

You wouldn't know
what I'm talking about.

I've taken care of
little kids before.

You just got to do what you
think is right, and that's that.

But it's different when
it's your own daughter.

Hey, you're gonna be figuring
that out pretty soon yourself.

No, I'm not. I'm
gonna have a son.

Bye-bye.

Hey, Rose. What are you
doing, waiting up for us?

Is everything all right?

You had a long-distance call
from Washington this evening.

Say who it was?

It was a Mr. Henshaw. Now, he
said it had to do with John-Boy,

and that you were to call no
matter how late you came in.

The number's over
by the phone, John.

Yes, Mr. Henshaw? Yes.

You've heard from our son?

Yeah, we could
talk to you tomorrow.

Yeah, I'll be here all day. Bye.

It's John-Boy's
publishing house.

He's written another book.

- John...
- No, Liv.

He sent the manuscript long before
he was reported missing in action.

I just know they're going to
find him soon, God love him.

Now you come in the kitchen
and let me fix you a snack.

I'm not hungry.

No, thank you, Rose.
We'll just go to bed.

Come on, put the ball in your
mouth. Come on, come on.

Sometimes a dog just
likes to be left alone.

She's sick, real sick. I don't
think the medicine did any good.

She'll be all right.

Besides, you better get going. All
the kids are ready to go to school.

- Come on, Jeff. Get going.
- You're not the boss of me.

Mary Ellen, how do you handle a
little kid that doesn't listen to you?

You having trouble with Jeff?

Everything I say to him,
he does just the opposite.

Yeah, he and Serena were real devils
before Aunt Rose got a hold of them.

Sometimes they still are.

I can't blame them
with a father like that.

We just have to be
very careful with them.

You're right. I guess I've been
just going about it all wrong.

Thank you.

What you got
there? Can I have it?

It's still dry.

Actually, you can tell more
by looking into the dog's eyes.

Nothing to worry about. She's
already doing much better.

Are you sure?

She'll be fine by the time
you get home from school.

- I sure hope so.
- Now you run along or you'll be late.

I guess so.

Here, you might feel better
before I get back from school, so...

I think I ought to give lessons
on how to make children obey.

What if she isn't better when
he gets home from school?

I wasn't kidding. You really can
tell by looking into the dog's eyes.

Maybe a vet can.

Well, Grandpa did. I
do what he told me to do.

You just shouldn't build up his
hopes unless you're absolutely sure.

You ready to go in? Come on.

Reckless? Hey.

Any reason why you're sitting
out here in the middle of the day?

Same reason you keep coming
down to the house for a drink

when there's a bucket
of water at the mill.

- No sign of him yet?
- Not yet.

Now we probably know more about

what happened to John-Boy
than Mr. Henshaw does.

It'll be a chance to talk about him.
I'm hungry for every detail I can get.

Does that look like
a publisher's car?

- Mr. Walton?
- Yes, sir.

- I'm Paul Henshaw.
- Henshaw. This is my wife, Mrs. Walton.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

- My son Jason.
- Glad to meet you.

- Furlough?
- Three-day pass.

Why don't you come in the
house? We have a lot to talk about.

Thank you.

Can I get you anything?
Some coffee or something?

No, thanks. I'd like to
get right to business.

- Have a seat, Mr. Henshaw.
- Thank you.

We found out your
son was missing

when we tried to contact
him about his manuscript.

Do you know our John-Boy?

I'm in the business
department. I've never met him,

but I feel like I know
him through his writing.

Tell us about the book.

It's called GI Journal. His impressions
and observations of the war,

talks with pilots, GIs
in foxholes and in tanks.

It's powerful stuff, and
very marketable right now.

We knew John-Boy had
been keeping a journal,

but we didn't know he had
enough material for a book.

- The manuscript has a flavor all its own.
- Do you have it with you?

No, but we'll get you a
copy as soon as we can.

What do you want from us?

I have a letter here from your
son, and I'd like you to read it.

As you can see, he was hoping
that our firm would be the publisher.

We sent him a contract.

The unopened envelope came
back stamped "Missing in Action."

You can't publish it?

Well, our attorneys feel that you
and Mrs. Walton can sign for him.

- Sign for it?
- As next-of-kin.

Next-of-kin? You're making
it sound like John-Boy's dead.

Sorry, Mrs. Walton, I
didn't intend that at all.

What did you intend?

Nothing, honestly. We just want to
get the book out as soon as possible.

Mama, John-Boy wouldn't
have sent them his book

unless he wanted
them to publish it.

Jason, will you stay
out of this, please?

This has come on
us kind of sudden.

We're gonna have to have
a little time to talk this over.

There is nothing to talk
over. I'm not signing anything

as though John-Boy's not
coming back to do it for himself.

I didn't intend to upset
anybody, please believe that.

Your son has written a fine book,
and we're anxious to get it into print.

Forgive me if I
acted too hastily.

She's been through a lot
lately, Mr. Henshaw. We all have.

All right if I get in
touch with you later,

in case you and Mrs. Walton
have changed your mind?

- Just give us a little time.
- All right.

Bye.

Just thought I'd drop by for
one of these fabulous pickles.

How'd you know they're fabulous?

I've read John Walton, Jr.'s
book, Walton's Mountain.

He described this
store to a T, didn't he?

He sure did, the place
and the proprietor.

And how did he describe
the proprietor's wife?

To a T.

You know, John-Boy
is missing in action now.

Yes. I'm with the company
that published his first book.

Came down here to talk to his parents
about a new one we want to publish.

- Still a nickel?
- A nickel a pickle.

Just a minute.

It just so happens that
I have got a photograph

of John-Boy and I standing
out in front of the store.

It'd be marvelous to use as
an illustration in your book.

There aren't going
to be any illustrations.

Then you could
use it on the cover.

All the books are coming out with
a picture right on the cover now.

Mr. Godsey, I hardy feel that a
picture of you in your shirt sleeves

with John Walton, Jr. at the
age of 12 would be appropriate.

Sir, I, myself, am an
authoress, a poetess.

Perhaps you would like to
glance at some of my verse?

I wish I had the time,
but I'm very busy.

"Hark! Now that spring is here
Oh, what lovely sounds we hear

"Whispering breezes, babbling
brooks Birds singing in secret nooks

- "Bees a-buzzing..."
- I'm terribly sorry.

But I do have to leave now.

Well, perhaps you would like to
take some of my verse with you?

- We don't publish poetry.
- But you should.

Remember, in the words
of the immortal Shelley,

"Poetry is a record of the
best and happiest moments."

Excuse me, I have an
appointment. I'll be late.

Too bad he didn't
publish poetry, Corabeth.

This could have
been your big chance.

Well, I doubt that I'd
go with them anyway.

I would be interested in an older
and more distinguished publishing firm.

Yeah.

Remember that summer we went camping
up on the mountain? Just the two of us?

- As I recall, it was our anniversary.
- One month.

I caught a beauty of a
fish, and you cooked it.

- It was a wonderful day.
- It was a wonderful night, too.

I laid awake for a long
time after you went to sleep.

Looking up at the
stars and thinking,

"There's some kind of miracle
happening inside of me."

Liv.

There's no way you
could have known that.

I know I couldn't have
known it, but I did.

It was you next to me,
breathing so slow and deep,

and the sky talking
down at me. I knew.

Now you're gonna tell me
you knew it was a boy, too.

You wouldn't
believe me if I did.

So many memories,

all those years watching
him grow, going out on his own

and becoming somebody we
not only loved, but were proud of.

Now I'm talking about him
as if he's part of the past,

and I don't want to do that.

Oh, honey.

It's so hard not knowing,

not being able to
do anything about it.

Signing or not
signing that contract

won't change what's
happened to him, will it?

No. We ought to
think about it, Liv.

Mufflers take so long. I
should have done socks instead.

- Try knitting a sweater sometime.
- Baby blankets are hard, too.

You're doing fine, Serena.
You're all doing good.

Still trading sweaters
for kisses, Elizabeth?

Do you think I should embroider
my name and address on the muffler?

- So Philip remembers who knit it for him?
- And writes me all during the war.

And maybe when he gets back,
we'll fall in love and get married!

I've been looking all over for
Reckless. Has anybody seen her?

She probably just
strayed off. She'll be back.

- Reckless is missing!
- Here she is.

Hey, Reckless! I'm
sure glad to see you.

I had to go to Rockfish,
and she wanted a ride.

- Is she feeling better?
- She chased a squirrel!

- Why'd she cry?
- You must have touched a sore muscle.

I took her to the vet. He
says there's nothing he can do.

He says we ought to put her
to sleep. Says she's suffering.

She can't be.
She's not that old.

We've had her for seven years,

and we don't know how
old she was when we got her.

You wouldn't let the vet put
your dog to sleep, would you?

We might have to.

Any sickness can be treated.

If she's in pain, and
treatment would only drag it out,

you wouldn't want her
to suffer, would you?

You shouldn't have
told Jeff she was better.

I didn't have the heart
to tell him the truth.

You're not doing the boy any
favors by giving him false hope.

Someone has to tell him.

When a dog's suffering
and having no fun at all,

it just doesn't want to go on.

But maybe she can
start having fun again.

We'll watch for a few
days and hope for the best.

Sick dogs are like sick people.

Sometimes they get better
when doctors think they can't.

- Do you think Reckless will?
- I don't know, Serena.

You said you could tell
by looking at her eyes.

Jeff!

Being a father is not as
easy as I thought it would be.

What are you doing?

I'm re-reading this letter from
the Adjutant General's office.

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walton.

"The personal effects of an
individual missing overseas

"are held by his unit for a period
of time and are then turned over

"to the effects
quartermaster for disposition

"as designated by the soldier."

It's all so cut and dried.
"Personal effects," "disposition."

Honey, getting his effects
isn't gonna make any difference.

It'll mean the army's
given up on him.

They do that in every unit.

They keep the belongings
for a set period of time.

I'll tell you what.

Let's call the Red
Cross. Right now.

Miss Fisk, would you come
in here a moment please?

Yes, Mrs. Denman.

Red Cross, Mrs. Denman.

Yes, this is John Walton.

I'm here with my wife.

We just wondered if
you'd heard anything yet.

Mr. Walton, your boy was a reporter
for Stars and Stripes, is that correct?

- That's right.
- I'm sorry, but we've had no word.

We're still waiting for
a reply to our cable.

- You haven't heard anything at all?
- Here, let me talk to her.

Mrs. Denman, this
is Olivia Walton.

Isn't there something we can do?

Make phone calls,
write letters, something?

You can help by waiting
for us to notify you.

Trust us, we're doing
everything we can.

Thank you.

They're doing
everything they can,

we're doing everything we can,
and nobody's doing anything at all.

I guess these
things just take time.

You're beginning to
sound like Mrs. Denman.

Liv, I'm just telling
you how it is.

We have to find a
way to go on living.

I'm getting tired of you
trying to calm me down.

Now, look, Liv...

It seems like your answer to all of
this is to put your arms around me

and tell me that everything's
gonna be just dandy.

- Liv, listen to me...
- I don't want to listen to you!

I'm sick of it!

I'm sick of listening to you
and Rose and Mrs. Denman

and everybody
else! I'm sick of it!

Don't you think I
care? He's my son, too!

Will you listen to us?

I'm sorry, John.

I love you.

Honey, we keep this up,
we'll both be out of our minds.

Now, listen, we'll keep
after Mrs. Denman.

We'll go to Richmond
twice a week if we have to.

- Time for bed, Jeff.
- I think I'll stay here and sleep.

- Can I get you a blanket or something?
- Reckless seems to be okay.

I don't think so.

- Did she have any of her supper?
- Just a piece of chocolate fudge cake.

- Don't give her any more of that, okay?
- Why not?

That stuff is a little
rich for a sick dog.

You told me she'd be well
when I got home from school.

That just shows how
much you know about dogs.

So why should I
listen to what you say?

Jeffrey, I really
thought she'd get well.

- Then why did you take her to the vet?
- Because she got worse during the day.

I kept an eye on her because I
knew you were worried about her.

You're keeping her
awake, she needs to sleep.

Good night, Jeff.

Don't worry, Reckless. They're
not going to put you to sleep.

I know a nice, cool
cave where you can rest

and I can visit you every day,

until you're better enough
to even chase rabbits.

I was out this way and I dropped
by to apologize for any offense

I may have caused you
the other day. Thank you.

I'm often told that I'm too enthusiastic.
Sometimes it gets me into trouble.

But I certainly didn't mean
to hurt anyone's feelings.

I'm sure you meant
well, Mr. Henshaw.

I guess you came by to see
if we've changed our minds

about having the book published.

Well, I'd be lying if
I tried to deny that.

Mr. Henshaw, we've
been talking about this.

We feel it's what
John-Boy wants.

Well, good. Sign for him then.

Here's the contract.

It's a standard contract,
much like the one he signed

when we published
Walton's Mountain.

What do you think, Liv?

There's nothing to it. It just authorizes
us to go ahead with publication.

We take care of all details,
rights, promotion, distribution.

What do you mean by promotion?

You see, this project has
tremendous possibilities,

magazine rights, radio
spots, personal interviews.

After all, we'll be dealing with
an author who is missing in action.

He may even have given
his life for his country.

It's a very dramatic situation.

Yes, it is.

Are you planning to use the fact that
our son is missing in action to sell books?

Exactly! We were even thinking
of getting Life or Look magazine

to do a pictorial on your family,
your sacrifice for the war effort.

I assure you our company doesn't
go in for tasteless exploitation.

Sounds to me like what you're
talking about is tasteless exploitation.

There's no harm in
promoting a good book.

Look, let me tell you
how our business works.

We don't care about your
business, Mr. Henshaw.

- I don't think I want to sign this, John.
- We're not gonna sign this thing.

That's final, so no
use dragging this out.

I'm sorry.

Attagirl, Reckless. And
no barking, or we're sunk.

We're almost there, Reckless.

I know you're tired.
I'll tell you what.

When we get to the cave, you
can sleep for the rest of the day.

You're gonna be fine, girl.

Pretty soon you're gonna
be well enough to come home.

You're feeling better already!

You like it out here in
the woods, don't you?

Hey, a rabbit!

Reckless! Slow down, girl!
You'll knock yourself out.

Stay, girl, stay!

Reckless! Wait for me!

Reckless, where are you?

Hey, Ike.

The ladies' hearts must flutter

as they watch that handsome
sergeant come waltzing by.

I've got to beat them
off with a stick, all right.

Ike, I'm looking for
something for Mary Ellen.

She's going up on the Mountain
pretty soon, making her rounds.

Thought I'd get
her a little present.

Hey, there's something
else you can take along.

A package came
in here a while ago.

- For Mary Ellen?
- No. It's for your mother and father.

First class, registered. Got eight
bucks worth of postage on here.

Really looks like it
must be important.

Got a little beat up, didn't it?

Yeah, the return address got
torn off. I wonder where it's from.

I haven't the foggiest.

Maybe I better wait for
your daddy to come by, huh?

I think I better take it, Ike.
He's not gonna be home till late.

Here's a dollar for the compact.

What do you think it is?

You think it might be
John-Boy's personal effects?

The compact was 89
cents, Ike. I'd like my change.

Jeffrey, where have you been?

Your grandmother's been
calling everywhere for you.

I was out in the woods
with Reckless. She got lost.

I figured you were out with her.

Don't worry, Jeff. I'm
sure she'll be back.

- How far from home were you?
- Real far.

Let's go. I'll
help you find her.

Cindy, will you look after John
Curtis? He's upstairs napping.

- Reckless!
- Reckless!

Reckless! Reckless!

Jeff, you stay with
me, or you'll get lost.

- Reckless!
- Reckless!

- Reckless!
- Reckless!

Reckless!

Reckless!

Reckless! Reckless!

Reckless! I found
her! Over here!

Reckless!

I was afraid we'd never find
you. But you had fun, didn't you?

I'm afraid we're not gonna have to
put her to sleep, Jeff. She's dead.

It's my fault. I shouldn't have
brought her out into the woods.

If she didn't want to go, you
couldn't have made her budge.

If it wasn't for me,
she'd still be alive.

It's my fault. I killed her.

Jeff, you shouldn't
blame yourself.

A dog usually knows
when he's gonna die,

so he goes off all by
himself. He dies alone.

Did you know that about dogs?

I never had one before her.

Reckless hasn't been having any
fun lately, she's been in a lot of pain.

But you saw her today
chasing a rabbit, didn't you?

That's what you want to remember
about Reckless. She died a happy dog.

Thank you.

- Mrs. Denman?
- Mr. and Mrs. Walton, isn't it?

Yes. We were in
town doing business.

We thought we'd drop by
and see if you'd heard anything.

Please sit down.

I've been trying to
reach you all day.

I have some news.

Early this month, your son
returned to London from Sicily.

And on the seventh, he went along
as an observer on a bombing mission.

His plane didn't come back.

Do you have any
idea what happened?

Well, it isn't official, but we
learned from Stars and Stripes that

it was hit by anti-aircraft fire and
went down over occupied Belgium.

Nobody knows whether the plane
crashed or made a forced landing.

Is that all you know?

For now.

But they're still checking hospitals
and prisoner-of-war camps,

and as soon as we hear anything
definite, we'll let you know immediately.

I wish you knew our John-Boy.

You don't know
what it's like, do you?

Mrs. Walton, I got one of those
War Department telegrams last year.

My son went down on the
Hornet. His body was never found.

I'm so sorry.

- He hasn't left us, has he?
- No, Liv, he hasn't left us.

Whatever happened to the
airplane, he hasn't left us.

- We thought you'd be in bed.
- We couldn't get to sleep.

We were hoping
you'd have some news.

I do. But sit down.

It's been an awful hard day,
what with worrying about John-Boy

and having to bury
Reckless, that sweet old dog.

- Is Jeffrey all right?
- He's all right now and sound asleep.

Jim-Bob gave a sermon, and then
we all said a prayer for John-Boy.

We have some news.

John-Boy was on an
assignment for Stars and Stripes,

and his plane went
down over Belgium.

Oh, no.

- Is he dead?
- No.

We don't know. We're
not gonna give up hope.

Daddy.

It's a letter from Henshaw.

"GI Journal by John Walton, Jr."

There's some other
stuff in here, too.

- Chapter 11.
- It's Chapter 12.

He wrote that his typewriter got
smashed in Tunisia, remember?

He said he ran out of paper.

"Some of the bomber crews in Sicily
had been on as many as 30 missions

"without a rest period.

"Though they were full of
laughter and bantering good nature,

"they knew that the law of
averages was against them

"and they worried about it.

"The only clue to this was that they
talked more about the folks back home.

"Childhood memories, anecdotes
about families and friends.

"That's the way it is when you're
secretly afraid your number is up,

"as I know from experience."

"Your thoughts go back to the
past and to the people you love.

"Something I've been secretly afraid
of for a long time finally came to pass.

"I was asked if I wanted to
go along on a bombing run

"and with a crew that had
flown 27 consecutive missions."

Could this be the mission
that he didn't get back from?

No, honey. This was in Sicily.

His plane went
down over Belgium.

Go on, Daddy.

"I had seen many formations
of bombers from the ground

"and tried to imagine what it would
be like to be in one of the planes.

"I found out when I flew
with them as an observer.

"We ran into a
hailstorm of flak.

"Then came the fighters.

"This couldn't be happening.

"It was all like a bad dream.

"Memories of what I'd seen in the
war began to rush through my mind.

"The Battle of Britain.

"The faces of the
people in London.

"I saw again the GIs I had tra
veled with in Tunisia and in Sicily.

"And in all the faces
that flashed before me,

"there was that look of
determination that will not let us give up

"until the war is over
and victory is ours."

I think we should
share this, Liv.

I think we have to.

The book was published,
and brought comfort to many

who wanted an honest report
on their loved ones overseas,

and those were the people for
whom GI Journal was written.

Has anybody seen John
Curtis? He's not in his bed?

He was in here a while ago. I
thought he went back into your room.

How could you lose sight of him?

I was brushing my teeth.

John Curtis! Everybody
check around.

I'll look downstairs!

Lord, another musician in the family.
Come on, John Curtis. Time for bed.

- Good night, John Curtis!
- Good night, John Curtis!

English -SDH