The Waltons (1971–1981): Season 9, Episode 17 - The Threshold - full transcript

Didn't you tell them about
your television program?

- Television?
- What gives?

Well, Dean Beck
has promised me a job

if I can sell the college trustees
on funding a television department.

I figure if they are going to let
him use the school equipment,

I might as well build
a set to watch him on.

This is gonna take some editing.

Jim-Bob!

Dean Beck wants me to make
a speech right on television.

You've made speeches before.

In front of an audience, sure,
where I can see the people.



But in a studio with the
lights and the camera,

I get cold feet just
thinking about it.

Given that potential,

we owe it to the future
to search out the good,

so that television becomes
a celebration of life.

The post-war world
was an era of innovation.

We stood upon the threshold of a new
age, which was ruled by sudden change.

Technical advancements in
medicine, science and electronics

ha d a profound effect on
the way we lived and thought.

None of us dreamed how deeply we
would be affected by those advancements,

even though we were
close by when it all began.

I've read a lot
about television.

I never thought I'd see it
right here in Jefferson County.

Oh, yes. The equipment was
donated by an electronics company



on the condition we put
in a television department.

But right now, we're
transmitting one night a week.

This is closed-circuit. Two
drama students down the hall.

You know, this is going to
give Boatwright a head start.

Sooner or later, colleges
all over the country

will be teaching
television techniques.

Well, I'm afraid our board of
trustees doesn't agree with us.

They're planning to
shut this system down.

According to them,
television is still experimental

and will never
compete with radio.

Ouch.

How's the novel coming, John?

- Not well.
- No?

I thought it might help to put it
aside and try something else.

It's a good idea. Poetry, short
stories, maybe a collection.

I was hoping that you'd have an
opening in your English Department.

A professorship or something.

When did you become
interested in teaching?

I'm broke, and if I don't find
something to tide me over soon,

I'll never finish that book.

- You don't mean give up writing?
- I've got to find a way to make a living.

Well, I wish I could help you, John,
but all our positions are filled up.

Maybe something will
open up next semester.

About that television
department...

What if you let me take a
crack at the board of trustees?

Oh, we've had meetings
and drawn up proposals.

There's not much chance.

Have you thought of using
television to sell television?

What do you mean?

A program produced right here
at Boatwright, aimed at the board.

An appeal. Something they
could see with their own eyes.

That's a good thought.
And I suppose, if it works,

you'd be creating a position
for yourself at the same time.

Yes. Now, is it a deal?

I sell the board on a television
department and you find me a job in it.

What do you know
about teaching television?

Not a thing. And neither
does anybody else.

Is it a deal?

- We could learn together.
- That's right.

What on earth is that?

My brother Jim-Bob.

He brought me over
here this morning.

He must have found
his way into the studio.

It's nice having company
along on a day like this.

Well, after that big lunch
you fixed, I need the exercise.

- Look out, Rose!
- Oh!

Wasn't that Zuleika Dunbar?

Zuleika Dunbar has never
driven a day in her life!

That's her, all right.
She'll try anything once.

- That woman's a regular caution.
- So they say.

She drives the same way
she cooks. Dangerously.

It's a wonder I survived those
two months in her boarding house.

Bit of a man-chaser, I'm told.

Oh, I wouldn't know
about that, Miss Rose.

Corabeth!

It's such a pleasure to see you
two lovebirds come in here together.

Now, you could hardly call
Mr. Perkins and me lovebirds.

We're just good friends.

Friendship and fondness are merely
steps along the pathway to amour.

Now, how can I help you?

I'd like a slab of
bacon, for one thing.

- Stanley Perkins!
- Oh, Zuleika.

I haven't seen you in ages.

Why, oh, why haven't
you come to visit me?

Well, I've been busy with
my new job over in Rockfish

and trying to make
my apartment livable.

Oh, I would think that apartment
of yours could use a woman's touch.

A box of baking soda,
Corabeth, and that will be all.

Stanley and I had such fun when
he was living in my boarding house.

You remember the time we
were playing the piano together?

I forgot I had my bath water running
and it came pouring down the stairs.

Stanley was gracious
enough to help me mop it up.

Well...

I never did get
my bath that day!

I have put in a new
line of ladies' dresses.

Perhaps you ladies would
like to spread the word.

Well, I noticed them as we
came in. I better take a better look.

Did you see my car?
I just got it last week.

Well, we could hardly help noticing it,
seeing as how you nearly ran us over.

Oh, Stanley!

Well, I would have
offered you a lift,

but it's hard to get going
once I have stopped.

Well, perhaps a few driving
lessons would help you.

I've considered that.

Stanley, you could teach me.
You are such a superb driver.

- Please say you will!
- You flatter me.

- Tomorrow morning, then?
- Well, I guess I could manage it.

Oh, you'd do that
for little old me?

Rose, she is crazy about him.
It is written all over her face.

Now, you'd better do something
about it before it gets too late.

- Well, I'll see tomorrow morning then.
- All right.

Unless I can take
you somewhere now.

No, Miss Rose and I are
planning to walk home.

The long way.

Oh, Rose, I hope you're
not considering that dress.

It's a lovely color, but I don't
think you'll ever get it in your size.

Goodbye, Stanley.

Toodle-loo, all!

Rose, perhaps you could try
one of those shops in Rockfish

for the stylish stout.

Miss Rose is stylish, all right.

I might just do that.

- Bye, Corabeth.
- Bye-bye.

- Hey, John-Boy.
- Hey.

- Can I help you bring anything in?
- No, that's about it. My total assets.

A typewriter, a suit and a
15-year-old car with a bad cough.

Sounds like you're a little down
on your luck right now. It'll pick up.

In the meantime, it's great
having you back with us.

Well, thanks. But it's
just till I get on my feet.

I hate crowding
in on you like this,

but they raised the rent on
my cabin. I had no choice.

Anybody seen Jim-Bob?

Yeah. He brought me home
from Boatwright this morning

and ran off on some mysterious
errand. I thought he'd be back by now.

Jason! That's indecent!

I'm doing something
about it right now.

Let me warn you. Don't
leave your clothes lying around.

Rose will have them in the laundry
before you can say "Super Suds"!

Hey, hey! Coming through.

- What do you have there?
- Ask Jim-Bob.

I'm only an innocent bystander.

Didn't you tell them about
your television program?

- Television?
- What gives?

Well, Dean Beck
has promised me a job

if I can sell the college trustees
on funding a television department.

I figure if they are going to let
him use the school equipment,

I might as well build
a set to watch him on.

- Well, now I've heard everything.
- And how are you going to do that?

With this kit I bought from
some dumb engineering student.

Would you believe he didn't
even know how to put it together?

What makes you think you can?

"Oh, Stanley, you're
such a good driver.

"Oh, Stanley, it would be such
fun if you were to teach me.

"Oh, Stanley, I forgot
to stop my bath."

Come in!

You better take it easy, Rose.
You're going to be stiff in the morning.

I'm in a hurry to get
off a couple of inches.

Corabeth has got
a dress I'd kill for.

A dress is always
good motivation.

Is that why you wanted
this book from the library,

Nine Days to a Better Figure?

Well, that and Zuleika Dunbar.

Who does she think she is,
pointing out that I'm overweight?

Well, she's not exactly
a string bean herself.

I'm telling you, Mary Ellen,
it was a sight to behold,

the way she was
making up to Stanley.

Giving you a little
competition, huh?

Stanley is a very
good-hearted man.

He could be easily taken
in by a woman like Zuleika,

and I'm not going
to let it happen.

I doubt that you will, Rose,
with or without the new dress.

Well, it'll help.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Size 14, here I come!

- Want some bacon?
- Oh, yes.

- Here.
- Thanks.

Now can I have the sugar? Sugar?

Is that all you're eating, Rose?
I've never seen such willpower.

Jim-Bob, aren't you
coming to the table?

Oh, I'd like to, but I want
to get this circuit finished

so that I can get over to
the garage and open up.

Jim-Bob is like a
mad scientist lately.

Not now, Igor, I'm at work!

Jim-Bob, why don't you take the television
down to the garage and work on it there?

That's a great idea. Get that
monstrosity out of the kitchen.

Nobody would want to watch
my program at the garage.

I think the garage
is the perfect place

because Jim-Bob's not
gonna get that thing working.

Well, that just shows
you how little you know.

Well, I certainly
hope you're gonna

straighten up that mess
before this evening.

- I'm having company.
- Oh, yeah, who's that?

Mr. Stanley Perkins is
coming over to sit up with me.

- Ooh!
- All right, Stanley!

Good for you, Rose.

Rose, you been looking out
that window every two minutes.

Well, I can't help
it. Stanley's late.

- Well, maybe he had car trouble.
- It's not like him not to call first.

Oh, thank goodness, there he is.

And, Jim-Bob, try and keep the clatter
down out there while Mr. Perkins is here.

Yeah, Rose, okay.

- Evening, Rose.
- Zuleika!

I hope you don't
mind that I came along.

- Evening, Jim-Bob.
- Evening, Zuleika, Mr. Perkins.

Jim-Bob.

Well, my goodness,
Stanley. I was worried sick.

I thought maybe
you'd had an accident.

Oh, as a matter of fact, we
did. Just a little one, though.

There's no harm done.

Silly me. Stanley was trying to
teach me how to drive the back roads.

Well, I took a wrong turn,
went right into the mud!

Oh.

It took me most of the
afternoon to get out,

and then we had to stop by
my place so I could change.

Lucky thing I just happened
to have a little food.

Fried chicken, potato
salad, half a devil's food cake.

We just sort of
made a day of it.

It's too bad you couldn't
be with us, Rose.

You should have seen
Stanley clowning around.

It was just like old times.

Well, I certainly appreciate
you two stopping by

to tell me what a
good time you had.

Well, I was gonna ask you if you'd like to
come with me while I drive Zuleika home.

Oh, Stanley, I don't think there'll be
enough room in the car for the three of us.

That's right, so why don't the
two of you just run right along?

- Goodbye, Rose.
- Bye, now.

- You sure you don't want to come, too?
- I'm sure.

Come along, Stanley. Bye-bye.

- Good night, Rose.
- Good night.

You working on your
television script, John-Boy?

I was until you all showed up.

Well, this is lunchtime
and this is the kitchen.

Well, writers get so involved with
their work, they forget about eating.

That's why they always
look so unhealthy.

What's your show
about, John-Boy?

I thought I'd make it into
kind of a news program,

show how television will be important
in the communication of information.

What are you going to say?

Daisy Barnes bought four pounds of
butter yesterday over at Ike's store?

Dateline, Rockfish. Maude
Swoop's pigs escaped from their sty.

It's the third time in as many days
that Miss Swoop's pigs have escaped.

You two are a lot of help.

It just doesn't sound
too interesting, John-Boy.

Now why don't you do
a show about sports?

People were interested in news
when I ran The Blue Ridge Chronicle.

John-Boy, this is different.

I mean, how are you going to tell
people news from all over the world?

I mean, what are you gonna do? Have a
guy just sit there reading the newspaper?

You need something that
will really excite people.

- Do you have any ideas?
- Do you remember what happened

when Orson Welles did The
War of the Worlds on the radio?

I think you ought to write a
science fiction thriller like that.

Nobody would ever forget it.

Maybe you ought to do
a romance. Or a musical.

I think you should show how
television can be used for education.

Why don't I just write a
science fiction musical

about two schoolteachers
who fall in love?

You're not giving up, are you?

I can't afford to. My whole
future depends on this project.

I'm just starting over.

Somewhere quiet.

If there is such a
place around here.

Congratulations, John-Boy.

I understand that we are
to have a television celebrity

in our midst very soon.

I'm not going to be
a celebrity, Corabeth.

Well, should you need me for any help
whatsoever, such as in stage presence

or diction, please feel free
to call upon me at any time.

Thank you very much.

And I was wondering,
John-Boy, do you think

you might have the opportunity to
mention Godsey's in your broadcast?

You know, something like,
"Shop at Godsey's Mercantile.

"The bargains you get,
you'll think it's a steal."

I don't think that
would quite fit, Ike.

I certainly don't think
so either, Mr. Godsey.

I think television was meant
to be more uplifting than that.

I don't know, Corabeth.

It seems everybody has got a different
idea about what television is gonna be.

Well, I'm off to
Boatwright. Goodbye.

Oh, and, John-Boy,
remember. Enunciate.

E-nun-ci-ate.

Rose, here comes
your competition.

You just mind your own
business, young lady.

Go on sweeping the porch.

Zuleika, what can I do for you?

Well, I was looking for Jim-Bob. I
went by the garage, but he wasn't there.

Well, he's not here either.

He's gone into town to get
some parts for that television set.

Well, my car needs
work right away.

Is that right?
What's the problem?

It just won't start properly. And
I need to have it fixed right away

so Stanley and I can continue
our driving lessons together.

I used to help my husband
Bert work on his car.

Maybe I could
take a look at yours.

- Oh, Rose, you think you know what to do?
- Well, I'll think of something.

Let's see here now.

- Ha! Well, no wonder!
- What'd you find?

Your distributing
wires need changing.

- Oh.
- Rose!

Land's sake, Elizabeth. Haven't
you finished that porch yet?

There.

- There now, that should do it.
- Well, I sincerely hope so.

I just have enough time
to get over to Rockfish.

Stanley promised me another
driving lesson this afternoon.

Well, then you
better hurry, Zuleika.

There you go.

Oh, it starts up just fine.
I surely do thank you.

Goodbye, Rose. Bye, Elizabeth.

Rose!

Isn't that what the boys do to
people's cars on Halloween?

Where do you think I
learned it, Elizabeth?

- I'm very impressed, John.
- Thank you.

You've written an original
drama, and a very good one at that.

However, I'm afraid it
won't budge the trustees.

But I had them in
mind when I wrote it.

They'll be expecting something
along more academic lines.

Something with scope, showing
how television could change history.

- I thought I'd done that.
- That's not quite classic enough.

Okay.

Okay. If they want something
classic, that's what I'm gonna give them.

That's the spirit! John,
I'm sorry about your drama.

Well, so am I.

- Good luck.
- Okay.

- Isn't John-Boy coming down for dinner?
- He's up in the attic.

There's a "Do Not
Disturb" sign on the door.

I wouldn't mind putting one
down here in the kitchen.

There's a lot of people who
have been messing with my TV set,

breaking tubes
and dropping wires.

Well, it's dangerous to walk
across the floor these days.

Jim-Bob, I think it's your
turn to bless the food.

Okay.

Dear Lord, we thank you for
the pot roast with the onions

and the baby carrots and the new
potatoes, the gravy and the horseradish.

Plus the buttered biscuits and honey, and
whatever else Rose has fixed for dessert.

- Amen.
- Amen.

Nothing like being specific.

You always know what you're
eating when Jim-Bob says grace.

Thank you.

- Rose, where's your plate?
- It's in the cupboard.

In the cupboard to stay

until the needle on the
scale starts dropping.

Rose, you can't stop
eating altogether.

Well, my book says
that if all else fails,

that's the quickest way to
drop those first few pounds.

Does Stanley know
you're doing this?

Well, he will when I
get into that new dress.

Rose, you okay?

I don't think this diet
is very good for you.

Oh, nonsense. I'm just not as
light on my feet as I should be is all.

Give me a few days to
get used to this fasting.

Come on, everybody!
Now, serve up.

Zuleika! Whatever is
wrong with your feet?

I walked all the way back here
from where my car broke down again!

Maybe you ought
to get rid of that thing.

Ever since you changed the wires,
that car has been backfiring and acting up.

Now it won't start at all.

Well, I wonder what I did wrong.

I don't suppose Jim-Bob
has time to look at it.

You'd think he didn't have any
interest in the garage business at all.

He's devoting so much
time to that television set.

Well, I suppose
I'll just call Stanley

and ask him to take me to
the garden meeting tonight.

Let me see if Jim-Bob doesn't have
just a little spare time this afternoon.

Oh, don't bother Jim-Bob.

I'm sure Stanley would
be delighted to drive me.

Besides, I do so
enjoy his company.

- Goodbye, dear.
- Bye.

Don't you ever worry about
getting all those parts mixed up?

No.

Well, how does television work?

Well, light and sound are
converted into electrical impulses

- and then transmitted by a coaxial cable.
- What's that?

Well, it's an insulated conducting
tube through which a conductor runs.

Then it's transmitted over the
air on a six-megacycle width band

on frequencies below
220 megacycles.

Um, I see. Thanks, Jim-Bob.

- Don't you want to know any more?
- I think I know too much already.

Erin, wait. I'm
working on a new idea,

and I need somebody to read this
script so I can hear how it sounds.

Well, what's your idea?

I want each of the nine
muses of Greek mythology

to represent some
aspect of television.

That sounds worse
than a news broadcast.

All right.

- Okay. Erin, from the top.
- All right. Are you ready?

Yeah.

"I am Erato...
- "Erato."
- Erato.

"I am Erato, muse
of love poetry.

"From the well which cures all human ills,
all sicknesses and wounds of indifference,

"I bring you love."

That doesn't say to laugh.

I know. I'm sorry,
John-Boy. Let me try it again.

All right. All right.

"Pindar courted me, and Keats.
In their hearts, I blossomed.

"And to their lips
I brought a kiss."

What is all the giggling about?

It's John-Boy's script.
Mary Ellen, it's really funny!

Thank you, Erin.

Maybe you ought to be
Thalia, goddess of comedy.

Mary Ellen, do me a favor.

Read Clio, muse of history.

Okay? Go.

You mean, "Action!"

"I am Clio, muse of history, ever
watching the passage of events,

"presiding over the march of
mankind across the field of time."

Clio... Clio...

No, that should
be "Chloe! Chloe!"

This is gonna take some editing.

Jim-Bob!

- I can't find the fuses!
- They're above the washbasin.

- Jim-Bob, are you all right?
- Yeah, I think I'm okay.

Must have connected
those wires wrong.

That's no reason to start pulling
them out like you're gutting a catfish.

I didn't mean to blow a fuse.

Well, if you didn't, you might
have blown your head off.

You really had us
scared, Jim-Bob.

Will you look at this thing?
I'm going to have to rewire it.

- That's crazy.
- Jim-Bob!

You may never get this to work.
What you're doing is dangerous.

Now, look, it'll work! All
I've got to do is start over.

Not tonight, Jim-Bob. That
shock could have killed you.

You're going to get some rest.

All right. But I'm gonna start
on that first thing in the morning.

John-Boy?

What are you doing
up at this hour?

I have a meeting with
Dean Beck in the morning,

so I'm burning the midnight
oil. What are you doing up?

Oh, I had a nightmare.
It was just terrible!

There was this whole table full
of food spread out in front of me

and I couldn't get to it. I
woke up in a cold sweat.

Oh, my...

John-Boy?

Do you think Zuleika
Dunbar is prettier than I am?

I think you are the prettiest
woman on Walton's Mountain, Rose.

Thank you, John-Boy.

Do you think my idea of using the
muses in this television presentation

is going overboard?

I think your idea is brilliant.

Thank you, Rose.

- You ready, Dean Beck?
- Mmm-hmm.

Enter Urania.

I am Urania. I represent the
global importance of television.

As infinite as the stars are the
ways I will tie the world together

in modes never thought possible.

Enter Melpomene.

I am Melpomene, muse of tragedy.

To an awaiting public, I will bring the
works of Shakespeare and Euripedes.

Moving you through
pity and terror

so that when I am through, you
will find yourselves forever moved.

Now, enter Erato.

I am Erato...

- Muse of love and poetry.
- Muse of love poetry.

Pindar kissed me, and
Keats. No, that's not right.

From the well which cures...

From the well which
cures, I bring you...

I'm sorry, John. I
just can't remember it.

- Can we begin again?
- No! No, no.

Never mind. Never
mind. Thank you.

Uh, would you girls
excuse us, please?

Thank you. That was very
nice. Very nice costumes.

Thank you very much.
You did very well.

- Thanks a lot.
- Thank you.

Just a minute, girls.

John, would you mind explaining
to me what all that was about?

Okay. Each Muse from Greek tragedy
represents a department at Boatwright.

It ties the presentation together
along academic lines, like you said.

Oh, yes, I did
say that, didn't I?

Well, I'm sorry. I was
wrong. It doesn't work.

Your point is all swallowed
up in those words and images.

- You can't say it's not classical.
- Well, that's true.

So, what do we do now?

Well, the board meets and makes
its final decision in three days.

We're running out of time.

Okay, maybe if I kept it simple.

Just something straightforward
you could read on camera.

Or you could.

Me? I'm a writer,
I'm not a performer.

You are a respected
alumnus of this university,

and you're a published author.

And the board would listen
to you. Are you game? Hmm?

Yeah.

Jim-Bob, I wish you would
work on that in the kitchen.

I'm trying to keep
it clean in here.

- You sure have been crabby lately, Rose!
- And with good reason!

Come in.

- Miss Rose?
- Stanley!

- May I come in?
- Are you sure you have time?

I wouldn't want Zuleika
to miss a driving lesson.

Now, Miss Rose, I never
intended for Zuleika's driving

to interfere with
our friendship.

Stanley Perkins, I
have no hold on you.

You are welcome to keep
company with whomever you choose.

Well, I thought I had
made my choice clear.

You certainly did

the night you brought Zuleika
to share our evening with us.

I had no intention of
hurting you, Miss Rose!

I mean, Zuleika is a silly and
frivolous woman alongside you.

And just the type men like!

Batting her eyelashes and
tossing her bleach-blond curls!

Miss Rose, you do me a great
honor. I do believe you're jealous!

Jealous? Me jealous
of that scheming hussy?

You're welcome to her!

Zuleika and I are
just old friends.

As a matter of fact,
she's welcome to you, too!

You know, you
disappoint me, Miss Rose.

I never did think you were
such an unreasonable woman.

Oh, Stanley.

I'm sorry.

You're still the fairest
of them all, John-Boy.

I was just trying to imagine how
I'd look on a television screen.

Which one of the muses
are you going to be?

We've decided to
ditch the muses. Listen.

Dean Beck wants me to make
a speech right on television.

You've made speeches before.

In front of an audience, sure,
where I can see the people.

But in a studio with the
lights and the camera,

I get cold feet just
thinking about it.

John-Boy, you have been through
the war. You survived the London blitz.

You were shot down in the ocean.

Are you telling me you can't
do something as simple as this?

I don't like cameras.

I hate having my picture taken.

I guess you'd just better
forget the whole thing.

Forget the speech, forget the
board of trustees, forget the job.

I mean, cameras and pictures
are what television's all about.

Okay, Mary Ellen.

I'll call Dean Beck and I'll
have him set the whole thing up.

- That's better. Want a bite?
- Sure.

Well, Rose, how are you
going to get out of this one?

Hurting the dearest
man in the world.

Who's the dearest
man in the world?

Oh, the dearest man in
the world? Stanley Perkins.

I thought everybody knew.

Rose, are you all right?

Oh, I just don't know
what's wrong with me!

Snapping at Jim-Bob
and doubting Stanley.

Rose, I went on a diet once. I
think it lasted for two whole days,

and by the end of the second day, no
one in the house was speaking to me.

She was a bear.

Well, I have my heart set on
getting into that dress. I just...

Zuleika won't have a prayer. I
just think once he sees me in...

Rose? Rose! Elizabeth, go
get Mary Ellen, quick. Rose?

I told you I feel
fine, Mary Ellen.

Rose, you would say that if
you had been run over by a truck.

I just need to
stir around a bit.

You're not going to move
until you get your strength back.

I've got some
soup for you, Rose.

Oh, I've got such a
good start on my diet.

If I could just hold
out a little longer...

You've got to try and eat.

That's the only way
you're going to feel better.

I know you girls mean well, but
I just don't feel like it right now.

Rose, we're not going to let
you starve, so have some soup.

Thank you, dear, but I'll
feed myself, if you don't mind.

Just set it on the
bureau over there.

I'll be all right, girls.

- Well, what do you think?
- I like the lines.

It's the fabric I'm
worried about.

Oh, that dress is simply stunning
on. All my customers have admired it.

Yeah, Corabeth had
that one in the window.

Well, I can see
why. It's very showy.

Yeah, she had it right
next to the radishes.

Mr. Godsey! If you had your way,

we would have no ladies'
fashion department at all.

That'd suit me just fine.

Well, you have to notice
the fullness of the sleeves.

- And the collar.
- And it also opens down the back.

- Do you like this dress?
- Oh, we love it.

$16.95 plus tax.

- Oh, Corabeth, we don't want to buy it.
- But thank you for letting us look.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye-bye.

Where's Rose?

She's in her room.
She's been there all day.

Come on, Mary Ellen. It's clear.

Did you get it?

We had to go all the
way to Charlottesville,

but we got everything we need.

- Does she suspect anything?
- Not a thing.

Let's get it upstairs before
she sees it. Come on.

Hey, come on, you guys!
Can't you hear me? It's finished!

Will you quit
hollering down there?

Well, if you don't hurry up,
you'll miss the demonstration!

What is it, Jim-Bob?
You'll wake the dead!

Rose, I've been working on
my TV all night. It's finished!

Oh, my!

Jim-Bob, what are
you screaming for?

Jim-Bob, what did
you get us up for?

Jim-Bob, I got them.

Elizabeth said it was important.

Gather round, everybody. You're
about to witness a modern miracle

brought to you by
James Robert Walton.

It'll be a miracle if it works.

Keep your eyes fastened
on the screen, folks.

- Nothing's happening, Jim-Bob.
- It's warming up.

Well, how long is it
supposed to take?

Don't give up. It's got to work.

- I'm going back to bed.
- That's a good idea.

Hey, wait a minute, everybody!

Hey, look!

Oh! ERIN: Oh, it is working!

Aren't we supposed
to see something?

They're transmitting a test
picture. I'll try and tune it in.

Looks like a bad snowstorm.

I know what it is. The
antenna's not high enough.

Well, don't worry
about that, Jim-Bob.

The important thing is
you made a television set.

We'll never be able to see
John-Boy through all that confetti.

Where is John-Boy?

Did somebody call me?

- You all set?
- Yup.

- Okay, let's go!
- Okay.

How'd you ever
talk me into this?

- What's he doing?
- He's putting up an antenna.

What for? A radio?

No. Television. We're
gonna watch a show tonight.

Television? Wow!

Yeah.

Okay, let's go.

Hey!

- You two want to give us a hand?
- Sure!

Hey, Jim-Bob, you be careful
now! Don't step through the roof!

- Mr. Godsey, there's somebody on our roof!
- It's only Jim-Bob, Corabeth.

Jim-Bob, what on earth
are you doing up there?

Sorry to bother you,
Corabeth. But it's an emergency!

Jim-Bob got his
television working.

Okay, now, we'll meet you over
on the roof of the barbershop, okay?

Here, hold this, Corabeth.

"And we must recognize that
television is the frontier of today.

"It will" affect

"the future of our world

"in ways we can
only begin to guess."

That bad, huh?

I hope you're not planning
to become a writer.

Everybody thinks they can
tell you how to do it better.

Here, maybe
you'll like this part.

"Art, music and literature are not passive.
They demand someone to look, to listen,

"to think and respond.

"It will be the same
with television.

"And audiences must learn
to participate intelligently,

"for they will share the
responsibility for what they see."

You're right. It's dull, pedantic
and dry. And it's all I've got.

Any suggestions, John Curtis?
You're kidding! You want...

I've got to be in Boatwright
in less than an hour,

and you want to show
me your picture book?

Okay, you win.

"Simple Simon

"met a pie-man
going to the fair.

"Said Simple Simon to the
pie-man, 'Let me taste your ware.'"

See, there's Simple
Simon. He's a bear.

Keep moving!

Keep going! Keep going!

- Okay, stop!
- Okay, hold it, Jason!

Hey, Jason, go over to the
other side of the road, okay?

Keep going, keep going!
- A bit closer.

- Okay, hold it, Jason!
- Hold it, hold it!

Hey, look who's here!

Hey, John-Boy!

Jim-Bob, how's it coming?

Well, okay, as long
as this wire holds out.

- You all set?
- No.

- Wish me luck. I'll need it.
- Yeah, me, too.

Okay.

Okay, move it out!

Come in.

Surprise!

- What is it?
- Open it up!

Hurry!

Rip it!

Oh!

It's my dress!

Where in the world did
you find it in my size?

We made it especially
for you, Rose.

Oh!

- Come on, try it on!
- Go try it on!

- Let's see. You have to model it for us.
- Oh! It's just beautiful. Thank you!

And, Rose, when you've
finished trying it on,

come into the living room. There's
another surprise for you there.

What...

Stop!

Okay, Ike, I want you to
run that up to the tree house.

Okay.

Okay, Bill, why don't you get over
to the top of the barn over here?

And, Jason, you get on the
roof over by the back door.

Ladies, it's just beautiful!

Stanley!

These are for you, Rose.

I'm sorry to hear that you've
been under the weather.

Oh, it was all my own foolishness.
I'm feeling much better now.

You don't have any cause to change
yourself on account of me, Miss Rose.

You always were
the apple of my eye.

I can't imagine whatever
made me doubt you.

I hope you'll forgive me.

Do you feel up to going
dancing with me tonight?

Oh, my.

It'll have to be right here.
John-Boy's on television.

Right here will be
just fine, Miss Rose.

Where did she get that dress?

It's amazing, isn't it? It kind of
looks like the one in your store.

It's about five feet short!

- Haul in the slack!
- Okay.

Well, that does it.

Well, it should be
on any second now.

- Rose.
- Oh!

- New dress?
- It's a present.

Zuleika.

Dean Beck and the members
of the board of trustees

of Boatwright
University... There he is!

I labored for many hours
trying to prepare this speech,

and I didn't get it right until I ha d a
meeting with m y nephew John Curtis

just before I came here.

He wanted to show
me his new picture book,

and as we turned the pages together, I
suddenly ha d a glimpse into the future,

where the pictures
were alive and moving

and where boys and girls
growing up in out-of-the-way places,

like the hills of Virginia,

could share in things they
might not otherwise see.

Things like opera and ballet
and concerts and theater.

Television will take them
across the world into other lives,

so that for John Curtis and his
generation, there will be no strangers,

just people who accept
and understand each other.

Given that potential,

we owe it to the future
to search out the good,

so that television becomes
a celebration of life.

Here at Boatwright, thanks
to a generous contribution...

The board of trustees did decide

to develop a television
department at Boatwright.

Not only did it enable
me to complete m y book,

but it was a turning point
in m y career as a writer.

Television became the most
awesome tool in mass communications

ever to be developed.

And all our lives, on and
off Walton's Mountain,

were never to be the same.

John-Boy? Were you
nervous on television?

Not once I got started.

Maybe you'll have your
own television show one day.

Mmm. I'd like that, Elizabeth.

- What would you call it?
- I don't know.

Since I write best about this
family, I guess I'd call it The Waltons.

- Good night, Elizabeth.
- Good night, John-Boy.

English -SDH