The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 9, Episode 11 - The Carousel - full transcript

That was the state police.

Cindy, your daddy's
been in a car accident.

No.

He's dead.

Hey, wait a second.

What's this?

Decree of adoption?

"It is hereby ordered
that the infant child,

known henceforth as
Cindy Ann Brunson,

"to be awarded to and from now
on regarded as the adopted child

"of Florence A. Brunson
and Henry R. Brunson"?



I look in the mirror, and I
don't even recognize myself.

Cindy, it doesn't matter.

But most of all,

I wonder how my
mother ever gave me up.

When we were growing up,

we always knew we would
be safe and warm and dry,

here, where we were raised by
loving parents and grandparents.

We knew who we were
and where we came from.

So it was hard to believe
that someone close to us

could suddenly discover that her past
was obscure and shrouded in mystery.

Of all the days for it to rain.
This stuff is never gonna get dry.

What's the matter? Don't you
like socks hanging in the kitchen?

It's just that I don't want him to
have to sleep on damp pillowcases.

You could always
try ironing them dry.



Elizabeth, come and finish up
here, dear. Cindy, let me help you.

And would you please go
and lie down somewhere

before you make a nervous wreck
out of yourself and everybody else?

You're as jumpy as a
flea on a rubber sheet.

Well, all right.

I think maybe I'll just go upstairs and
make sure that everything is all right.

You'd think it was the Duke of
Windsor coming instead of Cindy's father.

I just put those away, you know.

Life's hard, Elizabeth.

Where's Cindy?

Upstairs. She's giving the
Colonel's room a final go-through.

Nothing is too good for Cindy's dad.
He's all she has in the way of family.

- Elizabeth.
- Yeah?

Would you run these up
to Cindy for me, please?

Oh, sure.

You know what they say
about a watched pot, Cindy?

Same goes for waiting
for company to arrive.

I'll get it.

Hello?

Yes, it is. I'm her husband.

I knew it. It's my father, and
he's not gonna be able to get here.

Who?

I see. Are you sure?

Is it my father?

I will. Thank you.

That was the state police.

Cindy, your daddy's
been in a car accident.

No.

He's dead.

Come on, honey.

What is it?

I've seen her somewhere before.

- Hi.
- Hi, Rose.

Drew's grandmother is sick.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear it. I
hope it's nothing serious.

Well, they really
don't know yet.

Well, now, you let me know
if I can do anything, you hear?

Well, no, I don't think so.

She lives in Richmond.

Yeah, my folks just
went there to be with her.

Yeah, leaving him
all alone in the house.

But I think I'll be okay.

Oh, yeah, you'll be just fine.
He can't even boil an egg.

Oh, my word. Well, the
first thing to get settled is

you're going to have
supper with us here tonight.

Well, that's okay. We got plenty
of canned food at my house.

Canned?

What young boys need
doesn't come in cans.

And another thing. You're not going
to stay in that big house all alone.

I'm sure I can be okay.
It's only for about a week.

Maybe two.

Drew, just go home and
get your things together.

Now, you're going to stay here until
your folks get back, and that's that!

Well, thanks a lot.

You know what? I think this is
gonna be a real test of our friendship.

I think you'll pass.

Daddy must have kept
every letter I ever wrote him.

These are all the letters
I wrote him overseas.

Oh, Ben.

He sure loved you a lot.

Why don't we put this
away? It's getting late.

Hey, wait a second.

What's this?

Decree of adoption?

"It is hereby ordered
that the infant child,

known henceforth as
Cindy Ann Brunson,

"to be awarded to and from now
on regarded as the adopted child

"of Florence A. Brunson
and Henry R. Brunson"?

- Hello.
- Hi.

You're the youngest
Walton girl, aren't you?

Yeah, the one you're
going steady with.

Oh, now it all comes back to me.

You look different.

You ought to see my other
pajamas, the ones with the bunny feet.

What you got in your hair?

Oh, it's just a curler.
I don't really need it.

Well, at least you don't go to
bed with all that stuff on your face

like my mom does.

I was on my way to
get a glass of water.

Well, so was I. What's that
they call, "the same wavelength"?

What I really wanted
was some chocolate cake.

Same wavelength again.

Well, shall we?

What's going on here?

We were going to get
some chocolate cake.

Mmm-hmm.

That's not what it
looked like to me.

Come on, now, Erin,
ain't you ever been kissed?

No, not in my pajamas.

Elizabeth, I think
you'd better get to bed.

You're being horrible.
Do you know that?

Drew, hit the hay.

- Good night, Elizabeth.
- Good night.

Cindy. Cindy. Cindy, it's all
right. You just had a bad dream.

Everybody left me.

I'm here.

I was in a park, and
there was a carousel.

That doesn't sound
like a bad dream.

I was riding on a horse,
and I was so happy,

and then all the people
disappeared, and I was alone.

It's all right. You'll be fine.

Why didn't he tell me
that I was adopted?

Why did he let me
find out that way?

He was a good father.
That's all that matters.

I loved him and I miss him,

but now I don't know who I am,

or where I came from,
or who my parents are.

I'll tell you who you are.

You're Cindy Walton with
a husband and a daughter

and a family who all
love you very, very much.

- I'm glad I married you.
- So am I.

Just get some sleep. You'll
feel better in the morning.

Oh, that's great. Yeah, you give
her my love, all right? Okay, bye-bye.

That was my folks calling. They
say my grandma's doing real fine.

- Oh, I'm glad, Drew.
- Yeah, I'm real glad, too.

You see, me and my grandma got this
checker tournament going kind of by mail.

I kind of got worried
that it might be canceled.

I remember when our
grandmother was in the hospital,

and we sat up all night
waiting to hear word.

When we finally found out
she was going to be all right,

we all went down to church and
made Reverend Fordwick let us in.

And even Daddy went with
us, and he never went to church.

I miss Daddy. I miss them both.

The house seems awful
empty without them.

At least we know
they'll be back.

Oh, my. I'm afraid we're
being selfish, aren't we?

That's all right.

We just think of you as
so much a part of our family

that sometimes we
forget about yours.

You're like a real sister to us.

And I feel like I
belong here. I really do.

It's just that since I found out that
I was adopted, a part of me feels...

It feels homesick for a place
I've never even been before.

I look in the mirror, and I
don't even recognize myself.

Cindy, it doesn't matter.

But most of all,

I wonder how my
mother ever gave me up.

How she could turn
me over to strangers.

I have to know.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Walton.

You see, I didn't start
handling your father's affairs

until after my partner passed away,
so I don't know anything about this.

Well, Mr. Blaine must
have kept some records.

Well, all records pertaining to adoption
proceedings must be kept confidential.

Why?

To protect the child
and the adoptive parents.

That's been a law since 1937.

But I am no longer a child, and
my adoptive parents are dead.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Walton.
My hands are tied.

Well, is there
anything we can do?

The only way to gain access to
the records is through a court order,

and your wife has
no grounds for that.

Mr. Nichols, why did my
father keep all of this from me?

I'm sure he intended to tell you some
day. He just put it off a little too long.

You were his friend. Now, you know
he wouldn't want me to suffer like this.

There's got to be
somebody who can help me.

My partner handled
very few adoption cases.

All of them were recommended
to him by the same person,

an obstetrician,
Frederick Grover.

Now, he's retired, but
he's still living in Alexandria.

Thank you, Mr. Nichols.

I'm sorry I can't help you.
My memory's not what it was.

My father was a captain
in the Army in those days.

The name Brunson
just doesn't ring a bell.

Never kept a record
of adoptions, anyway.

Whenever a patient of mine
gave birth to an unwanted child,

I'd just look around,

do what I could to find a
good home for the baby,

and leave the
legalities to others.

Well, I thought you might have
records of all the babies you delivered.

I do, and it is considerable.

You could populate a
small town with the little ones

I've helped into this world.

Well, I was born April 26, 1925.

At least, I think I was.

That should make things easier.

Young lady, I understand
your feelings. Believe me, I do.

But my patients' records are confidential,
and I'm obligated to keep them that way.

Dr. Grover, you're
my last chance.

I don't have
anywhere else to turn.

I'd suggest that you go
home and forget about it.

Dwelling on the past
can only hurt you.

After all, it was your mother's
choice to let you be adopted.

That's right. And what
did you call us, Dr. Grover?

Unwanted babies?

I'm sorry to have troubled you.

- Ben, what are you doing?
- Look what I got.

Dr. Grover's ledger?
Ben, you stole it!

I just borrowed it. We'll put it back
in his mailbox when we're through.

- He's gonna know we took it.
- I don't care.

We'll just look up what
we want. Now, come on.

We'll just write down everything. There
must be a date, some kind of record.

Come on.

Here it is. April 26.

There's a girl born to Mrs. Derek
Shepherd just a few minutes after midnight.

That must be you.

Wait just a second. Here's another
one. Mrs. Cornelius Bookman.

That's a boy.

And here's one more.
Mrs. Arthur T. Foley. A girl.

Anything about
anyone being adopted?

- Uh-uh, nothing.
- Okay.

Oh, Ben, it's a start!

- I'll never get the hang of algebra.
- Sure you will. I'll help you.

You know, you're
a genius at this.

Yeah, well, what's the opposite of
genius, 'cause that's what I am in English.

Well, I can help you in English.

So, that's how you
two do your homework.

This is getting boring.

Drew, I was wondering,
could you do me a favor?

Yeah, sure. What do you need?

I'll need somebody to help me
move furniture over at the Dew Drop.

Drew has a lot of
homework to do.

Oh, well, I'll
just do it tonight.

Great. Thanks. Bye,
Elizabeth. See you later.

There's no Mrs. Derek Shepherd.

Well, I'm not surprised.
It was a long time ago.

- But there is an Arthur T. Foley.
- Let's go.

Okay, it's 716 North...

- This is it.
- It's not much, is it?

Well, whatever we find out, it's
better than not knowing anything at all.

Excuse me.

Yes?

- Mrs. Arthur Foley?
- Who wants to know?

My name is Ben Walton.
This is my wife, Cindy.

As long as you're
not bill collectors.

I've had my share of those
since my husband lost his job.

Did you give birth to
a girl in April, 1925?

How do you know that?

Then it's true?

She was a beautiful
baby. Perfect.

And a girl, just what I'd
been praying for all along.

I was born April 26 of that year.
Dr. Frederick Grover delivered me.

And then later, my mother
put me up for adoption.

I'm trying to find her.

I'm afraid we're
both out of luck.

My daughter ran away with
a sailor when she was 17.

Just packed her bag and left.

I haven't heard from her since.

I thought maybe you
were here with some word.

I wish I was.

Sorry.

Maybe you remember
a Mrs. Derek Shepherd.

She was in the hospital with
you when your baby was born.

There were six beds in the maternity
ward. Women came and went.

I couldn't be certain.

Thank you.

I was a good mother.

I wouldn't have given up my
baby for anything in the world.

Come on.

Well, at least there's
Mrs. Derek Shepherd.

Oh, well, how do we find her?

I don't know.

Maybe we can get
some help at the library.

You know, this is swell. A front
porch, a swing and a pretty girl.

Well, it won't last.
I can guarantee it.

See what I mean?

I'm sorry to interrupt you two love birds,
but if we're going to have supper tonight,

- I need some firewood.
- It's coming up, Rose.

Sure is nice having
an extra boy around.

This is not working
out like I planned it.

Well, I kind of enjoy it, being
part of a big family and all.

Well, you're going to have to move back
home so we can have some time together.

I gotta go get that wood.

Cindy, wait.

It's no use, Ben. And
there's nowhere else to go.

Derek Shepherd died seven
months before I was even born.

I almost wish I hadn't
found that obituary.

There's no one to even ask
who his wife might have been.

My mother.

Look, Cindy, you've done
everything you possibly could.

There's something
that I can't remember.

It's this music.

A name.

Why can't I remember it?

It'll come to you.

Now, come on.

We're gonna go home.

Hey, what's going on?

That's what I'd like to know.

Jim-Bob? JIM-BOB: Yeah.

Is that you, Drew?
What are you doing here?

My folks are away and I was
staying over for a few days.

Quiet. You'll wake everybody up.

If you tried to sit down in your
bed and it started wrestling you,

you wouldn't be
too quiet either.

Thought you weren't due
for a pass till next week.

The Colonel's car broke down over in
Rockfish. I had to come over and fix it.

Hey, look, you guys, I think
I'd better be going home.

It's okay, Drew. Just
stay put. I'll take this bed.

I don't want to put
you out or anything.

We're getting used to it by now.

And we're getting
so we hardly mind.

Well, I guess the
more the merrier, huh?

Douse the light, Jim-Bob.

Douse the light, Drew.

They are not!

- Morning!
- Hey, Ben.

- Look who's here.
- How you doing?

How come?

I'm just here overnight.
I'm on special assignment,

but my lips are sealed.

Where's Cindy, Ben?

She had a bad night, so I
thought I'd let her sleep in.

- Here you go, Ben.
- Is she okay?

Bernadene!

Ben! Ben, I remember
her name. Bernadene.

What are you talking about?

It's all coming back to
me. When I was about four,

my nurse used to take me to a park
near our house and there was a pretty lady

there who used to take
me for rides on a carousel.

Slow down, Cindy.

No, I just saw her
face in my dream.

She's the same lady
that was at the funeral.

Ben, I think she's my mother.

Cindy, you can't
go by your dreams.

Well, that's all I have.

Are you sure, operator?

Well, maybe I'm not
spelling Bernadene right.

All right. Thank you for trying.

No luck?

I've tried Washington,
and every suburb

and every major city
on the East Coast.

No Bernadene Shepherd.

Well, of course, she could have
moved clear across the country by now.

I've already thought of that.

Cindy, I know you want to
find your mother real bad,

but you may be putting things together,
like a name here, and a dream there,

- and they just don't fit.
- But I've learned to believe in my dreams.

Remember when I dreamt something
terrible had happened to Ben,

and then we found out he'd
been taken prisoner of war?

Do you ever read the
personals columns?

I just love those ads like, "Not
responsible for any debts but my own,"

and, "Morris Smith, come
home. We need you."

"Cindy Brunson
looking for her mother."

Exactly. There's bound to be somebody
in Washington that remembers her.

Maybe even knows
where she is now.

Oh, Rose, I hope you're right.

Are we still going
fishing this afternoon?

I was wondering if maybe
we'd take a rain check?

You see, I told Ben I'd
help him deliver an order.

You didn't!

He asked me. What
am I supposed to say?

"I won't. I can't. I'm too
busy. No." Any of those things.

Why you wanna be like that?

It's just ever since
you've been over here,

I haven't had more than
10 minutes alone with you.

You're either running an errand for
Mary Ellen, or helping out in the mill,

or over at the Dew Drop
cleaning up for Jason.

And I think you like it.

Well, what's so
wrong about that?

You know, I never had
any brothers and sisters.

It makes me feel
like part of the family.

Is that what you think
I am? Your sister?

Oh, Elizabeth, of course not.

Good, 'cause I don't
need any more brothers.

But I'm beginning
to need a boyfriend.

Will those letters
go out today, Ike?

They sure will. And I'm sure
they'll get to the newspapers.

The day after
tomorrow at the latest.

You know, Cindy, I put an ad

in a personal column once,
and was extremely successful.

I was trying to locate an old school
chum, and I got an immediate response,

from his wife.

Well, this has just got to work.

We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Cindy, are you sure you're
right in pursuing this so ardently?

Well, it's all that
I can think about.

You know, our daughter
Aimee, she's adopted, you know.

And she was even older. And even
though she did not come to us as an infant,

we still think of her as
our own flesh and blood.

Corabeth, I forgot.
Two cans of peaches.

Aimee's a very lucky young lady,
Ike. You've given her everything.

Well, Corabeth has sent
her to that fancy private school

and I guess it's worth
every penny she spent.

She's already smarter than
I am, and that's going some.

You know, Cindy. Aimee's parents
were both gone when we got her.

But even if they weren't, it would
hurt me deeply for her to embark

on a quest for her real mother.

Because, you see, I think
of myself as her real mother.

I loved my adoptive mother,
Corabeth, but she's dead.

Now, what I'm doing
can't possibly hurt her.

But I beg of you not to
dishonor her memory by pursuing

this will-o'-the-wisp.

I'll think about it, Corabeth.

Cindy. Come along, Cindy.
We've got to hurry and make supper.

Oh, I don't need
the peaches after all.

I don't think you should
have said that, honey.

Oh, I was only
trying to be helpful.

I want her to reconsider
sending those notices.

I know, but sometimes people don't
like to accept advice from outsiders.

I am not an outsider!

I know, but sometimes...
Sometimes what?

Forget it.

What you are saying, Mr. Godsey,
is that I should not offer advice.

Very well, I shan't. I shall never
again show the slightest bit of interest

whatsoever in other
people's affairs. Never!

Hey, something smells real good.

Oh, you've got a smart nose. It's
my special ham and lima beans.

Here, Drew. As long as you're
here, make yourself useful.

And no lumps, please.

Well, where have
you been, young lady?

I had to get Erin to
set the table for me.

I'm sorry. I had to get dressed.

Drew and I are going to
go to the movies in Rockfish.

What movie's playing down there?

Oh, Abbott and
Costello in Hollywood.

Oh, that movie's supposed to
be a riot. I've been dying to see it.

Well, why don't
you just go with us?

Well, why don't we all go?

Oh, and we should ask Ben and Cindy.
You know, they haven't heard from that ad,

and it's been over a week.
They could use some cheering up.

I'll ask her.

Well, that'll be great. It'll
be like just one big party.

All right.

Hey, that's okay with
you, Elizabeth, isn't it?

Why not? We're just
one big happy family.

I'll be darned. Here's a
letter for Verne Rutledge.

I can't even remember
when he got his last letter.

No return address. I
wonder who it's from.

I do not concern myself
with other people's affairs.

Postmark says Oakville.

What was the name of that
woman that he was romancing?

Ellen Gruber, that was her
name. Didn't she move to Oakville?

I wonder if this
letter's from her.

I do not know,
Mr. Godsey, nor do I care.

Hey, this is for Cindy.
And it's from Washington.

It must be in response to that
notice that she put in the newspaper.

Mr. Godsey, I would appreciate it if
you would please keep your thoughts

to yourself when you're prying
into other people's business.

Yes, Mrs. Godsey.

Corabeth?

Where are you going?

I'm taking this letter to Cindy.

I thought you were
going to stay out of this.

Oh, it's not that I have
any desire to speculate.

It's simply that I wish
to deliver this letter

because I know that the poor
child is in an agony of suspense.

Hey, Elizabeth, slow
down, what's the hurry?

I'm meeting Steve
Prince before school.

What for?

He's gonna help me
with an algebra problem.

I told you I'd do that.

Yeah, but when I
went looking for you,

you were in Mary Ellen's
room, putting up bookshelves.

Well, she needed a place
to put all her medical books.

Listen, Drew, you're a very
nice guy and that's your problem.

You'll help anybody
with anything at any time.

And you're spreading yourself so
thin that I can't count on you anymore.

Oh, I get it. But you can
count on Steve Prince, right?

That's right.

Look, have him carry
your books, okay?

Just remember it was your idea!

Yoo-hoo! It's Corabeth.

It's Corabeth.

Cindy!

This letter just arrived.
I rushed right over.

It's from Washington!

- Open it.
- I guess I better get back to the store.

Don't rush off, Corabeth, she might
have an answer for you to take back.

"Dear Mrs. Walton, the person you
are looking for lives at the address below.

"She has never forgotten you."

My prayers have been answered.

There isn't a signature, though.
There's just a Washington address.

Cindy, I'll finish the dishes. I know
you want to get a letter off right away.

I'll take it straight to the
post office in Rockfish.

They have a late morning pickup.

I'm not going to write.
I'm going there now.

Will you take care
of Virginia for me?

I'll do anything to
help. You know that.

Cindy, I know I tried to
discourage you in this pursuit.

Perhaps I was wrong.

I do hope your search
leads to a happy reunion.

Well, I said I wanted
to find my mother.

I hope it's happy.

Do you want me
to go in with you?

Not this time.

Okay. I'll be here.

Good luck.

Thanks.

My name is Cindy Walton,
but I think you already know that.

What do you want?

I didn't come here to make
trouble. I just wanted to meet you.

I think you have
the wrong address.

No, wait. You were at my
father's funeral. Henry Brunson.

I knew him many years ago. I
was sorry to read of his death.

I think you came
there to see me.

I have to go now.

Please. I had a really
hard time trying to find you.

I remember the carousel. We
used to go riding on it together

until you stopped coming to
the park. I think you're my mother.

I can't talk here.

I have to talk to you and I'll
keep coming back until I do.

Wait for me at the
carousel. I'll be there at 4:00.

How much longer
do you want to wait?

Oh, I might have known
she wouldn't come.

I'd like to go back there
and tell her how I feel.

If only it would help.

It helps just having you here.

I wasn't going to
come. I tried not to.

I thought that I knew
all about myself.

But there's a lot of blank
spaces you could fill in for me.

Like why you were adopted?

Why you didn't want me?

Oh, I wanted you.

You have to understand
how things were then.

I wasn't married.

Your father and I,

we were very much in love.
We planned to get married.

But he died before
you were born.

I used his name at the hospital.

Go on.

I wanted you to have all the
advantages a child could have.

My doctor knew of a couple
that wanted to adopt a baby.

They came to the hospital.

I liked them, felt they could
give you what I couldn't.

The agreement was I
was never to see you again.

It was quite by accident I
ran across you at the park.

I saw your father drop you
off there with your nurse.

You and I would play together

while she sat on a
bench and gossiped.

Those were the happiest
afternoons of my life.

One day I came to the
park, and you weren't there.

I met a wonderful man
who wanted to marry me.

I couldn't tell him about you.

I never have told him.

I never can.

You've answered
all my questions.

I guess I'm gonna have
to be content with that.

You're very lovely.

I wish your father
could have seen you.

Can I call you sometime?

It would be
better if you didn't.

I see.

Goodbye.

You know,

I didn't know whether I was
going to love you or hate you.

I don't hate you.

But I have a little
girl of my own now,

and I could never turn my back
on her, not if she needed me.

Take me home.

Okay.

- Hi.
- Hello.

Rose had some extra cream.
I never churned butter before.

You're catching on real fast.

You're all dressed up.
You going somewhere?

Mmm, date.

Well, not with me.

- Oh, here he is.
- Hello.

Steve, what are you doing here?

Elizabeth and I are going
to a party over at the church.

It's a lovely
evening. Full moon.

Uh-huh. I had that
arranged especially for you.

- Yeah, it'll be a nice walk over.
- Especially if we take the long way.

Hey, wait a minute.

You're not going
anywhere with him.

You're my girl, remember?

- You don't own me.
- Yeah, you don't own her.

Steve, you wanna stay out of this?
Look, Elizabeth, if you don't want to go

steady anymore, I really think you
ought to come right out and say it.

- All right.
- Well, go ahead. Say it.

Listen, Drew, this is awfully
embarrassing right in front of Steve.

Look, Elizabeth, I been trying to please
everyone in your family except you.

And I'm sorry.

I'm glad you finally
figured that out.

Hey, Steve, come here for a
minute. Yeah, come here. Grab this.

- What for?
- Just grab it... Go up and down like that.

- Like that?
- Yeah, that's pretty good, yeah.

Hey, look. If Rose asks, you just tell her
me and Elizabeth went for a walk, okay?

Hey, wait a minute,
you can't do that!

It's okay. We'll meet you at the
church. You can have the first dance.

Just keep churning.

Well, it looks like the swing
shift has taken over here.

Don't ask me how it happened.

Well, Steve, I got some fresh bread
in the oven. We could have a slice of it

with some of that butter
as soon as you get through.

You know, the nice thing about
being mad at someone for a long time is

there's so much to talk
about when you make up.

- Hello, Cindy.
- How did you find me?

I told my husband about you

and about my granddaughter.

He'd guessed a long time ago.

It was he who answered
the notice in the newspapers.

Cindy,

do you think that,
after all these years,

I could learn to be your mother?

Cindy's longing to
find out all she could

about her past
was finally fulfilled.

And a loving, lasting relationship
with her mother was just beginning.

Erin, what do you do
when you can't get to sleep?

I stay awake.

No, I'm serious. What
do you do? Count sheep?

No, that doesn't work for me.

Me, either.

Imagine that you're
floating on a cloud.

You're all alone.
You're drifting, drifting.

I'm drifting, drifting. There's
a full moon. But I'm not alone.

- Pleasant dreams, Elizabeth.
- Good night, Erin.

English -SDH