Original subtitles

JIM-BOB: This is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

It's part of my Sunday school project.

You're trying to get in good with everyone

'cause Christmas is coming.

It's not my fault I've got the Christmas spirit.

Well, you're all finished. Let's go.

Read it over once. I want to make sure it's right.

"Reverend Henry Buchanan, Sunday service, 10:30 am.

"Peace.

"'Man's gift to man under God.'

"December 7th, 1941."

Just think, only 18 more days till Christmas!

JOHN-BOY: Time's inexorable march brought constant changes

and challenges to the people on Walton's Mountain.

Happily for us, the closeness of our family

seemed always to temper life's harsher moments.

However, a crisp, cold Sunday morning in December of 1941

was to bring an event that would sorely test our family

and the entire nation.

Here's your paper, Daddy.

Oh, thanks, Son. Hope the funnies are good.

There hasn't been much cheerful news lately.

Jason, make sure the boys are ready for church on time

Sure, Mama.

Can you look up from your paper and look after John Curtis?

There are good football games. I'll read him the sports.

He likes Bible stories better.

Might be good for both of you.

There's not many Bible stories in the sports section, honey.

If they're playing games on Sunday, there ought to be.

She's lived here a month. How'd she get a nickname like that?

How do you think?

And you're taking her for a ride?

Well, she's taking me. That's why you should

fill in for me over at Ike's Civil Defense drill.

They really call her Sinful Cindy to her face?

Not to her face.

Now, how about it? Is it worth 50 cents to you?

Yeah, that's slave labor, but I need the money.

We've should go, or we'll be late.

-You playing the organ today? -Not today.

I've got a faculty recital at Kleinberg this afternoon.

I've got so many butterflies in my stomach

I wouldn't know one hymn from another.

-Hurry it up. I'll get Grandma. -Okay.

I appreciate what you're doing for me, Jim-Bob.

Hope it's worth it for you.

Red convertible, long blonde hair. You bet!

I never heard of a convertible with long blonde hair.

Ten more days. It seems like an eternity.

I bet I've packed and unpacked a dozen times.

You must be getting pretty good by now.

Mama, you don't seem very upset about my leaving.

I've had practice in letting you go. I wish it wasn't so far.

Well, Curt says Hawaii's beautiful.

The hospital we'll be working at looks out over a harbor.

It has a lovely-sounding name.

Pearl Harbor.

It's gonna be a great adventure for both of you.

I'm just glad you're not taking John Curtis with you.

Mama, John Curtis is going with me, you know that.

So, the art exhibit is a perfect excuse for going into town.

Sounds sneaky.

Louella Parsons says it's the best movie Hitchcock ever made,

and Hedda Hopper thinks that Joan Fontaine

will win an Academy Award for it.

It sounds scary. Suspicion.

Yeah, and romantic.

I don't see how going to a movie on Sunday is being sinful.

When the Bible was written, they didn't even have movies.

Hi, Olivia.

You go on ahead. I want to talk to Verdie.

VERDIE: Good morning, girls.

Hi, Verdie, it's good to see you.

Good to see you too, Olivia.

Guess you Waltons are gonna fill up your church this morning.

There's gonna be one less pretty soon.

Curt got permission for Mary Ellen to join him in Hawaii.

Oh, how wonderful! When?

Probably before Christmas.

Jodie's over there on the battleship Arizona.

They put into Hawaii all the time.

If I know Mary Ellen, she'll get them all together for a visit.

I hope so. I think Jodie's homesick, but he wont admit it.

There isn't a word like "homesick"

for people who have to stay at home.

(CHUCKLES) I call it "folk-sickness."

When your children leave home, you miss them all the time,

even though you try to do everything just the same.

And it never is the same.

It sure isn't.

Come over and say goodbye to her before she leaves.

-I'll do that, Olivia. -Alright.

-Bye-bye. -Bye.

OLIVIA: Lord, we thank thee for the blessings

thou has bestowed upon this family

and for the food upon this table.

We ask thee to protect our loved ones who are not with us,

John-Boy, Curt, Jodie Foster.

Watch over Mary Ellen and John Curtis

who will soon be far from us, but ever present in our hearts.

Amen. ALL: Amen.

BEN: This looks good, Mama. JOHN: Look at this. Dig in.

-Go ahead. -BEN: Chicken...

(HONKING)

Who's that?

JIM-BOB: Ben's date. Look at that car.

-Her hair isn't that color. -Yeah, but the car is.

(HONKS)

I don't think Ben should go out with that kind of girl.

Especially on a Sunday.

What kind of a girl you think she is?

Well, she just looks suggestive.

Now, Liv, what could possibly happen

in an open car in the middle of December?

They could put the top up.

Oh, I see my car and chauffeur are waiting for me.

I hope she makes you walk home.

Definitely.

Jim-Bob, don't forget to go over to Ike's, okay?

Ta-ta.

ALL: Ta-ta.

I hope they get a flat.

-Hey, Cindy. -Hi, Ben.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Going to listen to the Sunday concert, Grandma?

-Yes. -You need anything?

Oh...

-Okay, I'll be upstairs. -Okay. Fine.

Everybody gone?

Yep, it's a quiet Sunday afternoon at the Waltons.

Tell Daddy to bring some good firewood.

I want to hear it crackling once before I leave.

We'll be back in about an hour, Grandma. We want to surprise

Mary Ellen and John Curtis with an early Christmas.

-We're going to go get a tree. -Zeb. Zeb.

Oh, what a good idea.

We'll get one that Grandpa planted. He'll be proud of it.

Oh...

You'll get one change of winter clothes, John Curtis,

and then you are going native.

Can you say aloha?

Aloha? No?

Curt says it means hello, goodbye,

kindness, love, affection and anything else nice.

You're gonna love it over there.

It's green, warm all year round, soft winds, and living is easy.

It won't be easy leaving the mountain and everybody on it.

Seeing your daddy again is gonna make everything okay.

(COOING)

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I can't believe the way you have outgrown all these clothes.

Now, I'm going to go downstairs and find a box

and pack them all away, okay?

(EXCLAIMS)

Aloha, John Curtis.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

MAN 1 ON RADIO: We interrupt this program

to bring you a special news bulletin. The Japanese

have attacked Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands by air,

President Roosevelt has just announced.

Several U.S. battleships are known to have been destroyed.

Ford Island, Schofield Barracks and Hickam Field

have received extensive damage.

Stay tuned for further reports.

-Oh... -Grandma, what is it?

It's... It's bad. Come.

-Come where? -Come on.

Please don't upset yourself. It can't be all that bad.

It is.

(CHANGING STATIONS)

MAN 2 ON RADIO: Here is what happened.

President Roosevelt phoned Secretary Early a half-hour ago

that the Japanese had attacked Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands.

A few moments later, he again phoned Mr. Early

and told him that the planes had attacked Manila.

This means that war is under way...

-Oh, my God. -...between Japan and the US.

Come on, fellas! We gotta have more hustle than this.

This might be real fire set by real saboteurs, huh?

(WHISTLES)

Come on, you aren't listening to me.

I mean, the Nazis are tricky. You got to hustle here.

Mr. Godsey!

Corabeth, I've told you a hundred times,

don't disturb us when we're in the middle of a drill.

Mr. Godsey, we have been attacked by the Japanese.

At Pearl Harbor. It's on the radio.

Corabeth, you must have misunderstood.

I wish I had misunderstood. It was H.V. Kaltenborn.

He repeated it several times.

Pearl Harbor. That's where Curt is.

NEWSREADER: In Washington D.C., Secretary of State Cordell Hull

escorts Japanese ambassador, Nomura, and special envoy...

I wish the feature would start.

Do I have time to go get some popcorn?

No.

Negotiations between the United States and Japan...

-What happened? -I don't know.

(ALL MURMURING)

Could I have your attention, please?

I'm sorry to interrupt our program,

but President Roosevelt just announced

that the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

(ALL MURMURING)

I thought some of you might wish to leave,

especially the servicemen in the audience.

-Pearl Harbor. -Isn't that where Curt is?

We better go home.

(MUSIC PLAYING ON CAR RADIO)

MAN ON RADIO: We interrupt our music

for your Sunday afternoon listening pleasure

to bring you this latest bulletin from our newsroom,

Honolulu, Hawaii.

At 7:55 this morning, Honolulu time,

Japanese warplanes attacked U.S. military installations

at and around Pearl Harbor. The number of casualties

and the amount of damage is not known at this time.

To repeat, Japanese warplanes have attacked Pearl Harbor...

Oh, change the station, Ben.

-No, I have to get home. -What?

Back to music for your Sunday afternoon listening pleasure.

Oh, but we've just started.

I'm sorry, Cindy, but we're at war!

What did I do?

(EXCLAIMS IN ANNOYANCE)

(PLAYING PIANO)

Hello, Professor Collyer.

My boy, I am terribly sorry.

I thought you and the others had forgotten about my recital.

For a time, I'm afraid we had.

Is something wrong?

Pearl Harbor has been attacked by the Japanese.

-Thanks, Cindy. -Ben!

When am I going to see you again?

OLIVIA: I wish we didn't have to hurry home.

JOHN: If we're gonna decorate John Curtis' tree tonight,

we got to get it set up.

OLIVIA: It's been nice being alone together for a change.

I am driving the long way home, you know.

-These holidays won't be easy. -Mmm.

I'm worried about Ma. We got through Pa's birthday alright,

Thanksgiving, but now with Mary Ellen being gone...

And John Curtis.

He's just the right age to enjoy it all.

He's gonna have his own tree. One his great-grandpa planted,

and we'll help him decorate it.

(SINGING) God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ, our savior

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O, tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O, tidings of comfort and joy

MAN ON RADIO: It's estimated that 50 to 100 aircraft

from Japanese aircraft carriers in the vicinity

of the Hawaiian Islands, participated in the attack...

Would you please turn that down?

Look, Mary Ellen, let me take John Curtis.

...battleships in Pearl Harbor have received direct hits...

Oh, I wish Mama and Daddy would come home.

Fires have started at Hickam Field and other land bases.

We are still waiting for further details,

we'll continue the broadcast as soon as we receive information.

Don't give up hope, Mary Ellen.

Verdie, I've been thinking about you since I heard the report.

The Arizona's been hit.

I've been praying for Jodie and Curt.

I guess prayer's all we've got right now.

And each other.

Mama and Daddy are up on the mountain.

My men folk are off on a fishing trip and Esther's in Richmond.

We'll be each other's family for now.

Oh, let me take that big boy of yours.

Oh, I need something precious like him to hold.

Come here, John Curtis.

-Oh, it's okay. -It's alright, John Curtis.

Verdie, I can't stand still. I don't know what to do.

I know. We need some chores to keep us busy.

I bet John Curtis could show us how to feed those nice hens.

Come on, come on, John Curtis.

What in the world?

-We having some kind of a party? -I don't know.

Daddy, have you heard the word? Pearl Harbor's been bombed.

Japanese planes have bombed Honolulu. It's on the radio.

IKE: It's the truth, John. It's awful.

Mama, I'm so glad you're home.

ELIZABETH: It's awful, Mama, awful!

-Where's Mary Ellen? -MARY ELLEN: Mama!

There, there.

MAN ON RADIO: Good afternoon, everybody.

Japan has made war upon the U.S. without declaring it.

Airplanes, presumably from aircraft carriers,

have attacked the Pearl Harbor naval base on the Islands,

and have attacked Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

There has been much damage.

Many fires were started.

About 50 planes, it is believed,

participated in the attack on the Hawaiian Islands.

Many, according to a bulletin that has just come in,

were shot down.

So far, as is known, the attack on Hawaii and Manila was made..

I'm alright. Really. I just couldn't take much more of that.

That's all we're gonna be hearing about from now on.

They don't know the whole story yet.

It wasn't only that.

It was the way everyone kept looking at Verdie and me.

OLIVIA: We're concerned for both of you.

We can't help that.

But it isn't only Verdie and me this is going to affect.

They ought to be thinking about themselves.

They are, honey, we are.

But you and Verdie come first right now.

Curt's alright. I know he is.

We're all holding on to that.

Cleveland pine.

You didn't get any firewood.

We went up in the mountain to get that tree.

We wanted to surprise you and John Curtis.

An early Christmas, kind of.

I love the idea.

Bring it in, Daddy. We'll decorate it tonight.

I'm gonna put John Curtis down for his nap.

All torn up on the inside, all Mary Ellen on the outside.

Feel kind of funny about this Christmas tree now.

She's gonna need it more than ever now.

It's way past his naptime, but he'll be cranky

if he doesn't get some sleep.

Every time I pick him up, I realize how big he's gotten.

John Curtis, here's your favorite soft drink.

MAN ON RADIO: Japanese aircraft carriers...

MARY ELLEN: It gets dark earlier these days, doesn't it?

The winter solstice is coming in.

December 21st. It's the shortest day of the year.

Comes just before Christmas.

ERIN: It happens every year.

Mary Ellen, do you want us to put those things away for you?

No, I'll do it later.

I'll tell you what you can do,

why don't you get out the Christmas trimmings,

and we can fix up that tree Mama and Daddy brought home?

Are you sure?

I don't want John Curtis to grow up thinking

there's only palm trees in the world.

Go on. I'll be down later.

Alright, we'll wait for you.

Maybe you ought to take a nap.

(SIGHS)

(SOBBING)

What do you see, Mama?

Everything I've always seen out here.

The trees are still there, the sky isn't falling,

and the mountain looms strong as ever.

And yet nothing's the same.

I wonder what Grandpa would say about all this.

BEN: He's never one to turn away from a fight.

He fought in Cuba.

JIM-BOB: Daddy fought in France.

JASON: And Uncle Ben died there.

Well, we'd better get going.

Where you going?

Daddy wanted us to finish our chores before it got dark.

Oh.

You go on, then.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

JOHN: Ma?

Oh, I was hoping you were getting some rest.

(GRANDMA SIGHS)

Ma, I know how you feel.

Fact is, now I know how you felt about 25 years ago.

War takes on a new meaning when you got children, doesn't it?

Yeah.

Ma, I'm going to need some of your strength.

Livie will, too.

(SIGHS)

After everything that's happened, chores seem so dumb.

What're you going to do, get a gun and shoot someone?

I'd sure like to.

Think about what Mary Ellen must be feeling right now.

Not a single tear.

At least in front of anybody.

Sure is hard to think about Curt being over there.

I don't see how she does it without falling apart.

We've all got to find that kind of strength.

You gonna enlist?

I don't know.

I have to find out where I stand with the National Guard now.

When my enlistment was up, I wasn't eligible for the draft.

I'm joining the Air Corps for sure now.

If Mom and Daddy will let me.

I'm going to join up. Probably go into the Navy.

JASON: I thought you were dead-set against the draft.

Things are different now, Jason. You think I'm chicken?

JOHN: Ben, take it easy.

I don't want you boys rushing into anything now.

But look what's happened, Daddy!

We all feel the same way and we'll be involved soon enough.

What if there's an attack on the East coast? We have to prepare.

What we're doing here is just as important as running off to war.

Cutting wood?

I got a call from Matt Sarver. He doubled every order with us.

He's doubled it?

I'm gonna need you all till I can find some extra help.

And that's hard to do these days.

Count on me, Daddy. There's lots of ways to win a war.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean we can't do more later on

when you put on extra men.

You and Jason are old enough to make your own choices.

Jim-Bob soon will be.

For now, I want you to stand by me.

Sure, Daddy.

Sure. I've been thinking of ways of increasing our output,

working extra hours and speeding things up.

Good.

Jim-Bob?

Yeah, for now.

MAN ON RADIO: This is the latest

and most complete word we have received.

There are no further reports from Pearl Harbor.

The White House has announced that the President

will address a special session of Congress tomorrow.

His speech will be carried on this station.

Stay tuned for further bulletins.

We return you now to music by our studio orchestra.

-Turn that off for now, son. -Please do.

All the regular programming has been canceled anyway.

I heard a lot of people complained this afternoon

when they interrupted the news of that pro-football game.

Well, nobody could believe the news at first.

How did Grandma find out about Uncle Ben?

OLIVIA: A telegram.

I remember the day it came. It could have been John.

Terrible way to learn the news.

There is no easy way, Son.

I never thought I wouldn't want to decorate a Christmas tree.

I don't feel like it either. I'm going to bed.

Good idea. We all should get some sleep.

I don't think I've felt more tired or less like sleeping.

But I guess we all need the rest.

Pray, pray.

That's right, Ma. Millions will be praying tonight.

MARY ELLEN: (SINGING) Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Well, let's trim the tree.

John Curtis and I are rested and raring to go.

Alright, then.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Guess we're gonna have too many ornaments for this tree.

ELIZABETH: We can decorate the whole house.

I'm gonna decorate one on your nose, Elizabeth.

We better start by putting a string of lights on the tree.

-I'll help you, Ben. -Okay.

Oh, Grandma, you found it!

Look, it's a real bird's nest.

It's been on our tree since I was a little girl.

Which doesn't seem too long ago, at least to me.

It really wasn't, Mama. I do love our little tree.

I don't know what I would have done without it.

I think Pa planted it just for a night like tonight.

And for each one of us.

-Come on, let's go! -BEN: Look for those lights.

(ALL CLAMORING)

Here we go!

ALL: (SINGING) Deck the halls[I] with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Don we now our gay apparel

Fa la la, la la la, la la la

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol

Fa la la la la, la la la la

CURTIS: What are you doing here?

-What are you doing here? -Remodeling.

I want my patients to have a comfortable waiting room.

Dr. Vance thought it was enough to practice good medicine.

Well, I don't need all this space for my own living,

so I'm going to expand the examining room, too.

Come on, I'll show you.

See, someday, I'm going to put in a pharmacy right back here.

Maybe set up an operating room, put in a few hospital beds.

You've rearranged everything!

Sure. It's more convenient this way.

Well, there's nothing wrong with the way it was.

-You disapprove? -Dr. Vance certainly would.

-Why did you stop by, anyway? -I thought you wanted a nurse.

I thought you weren't interested.

Well, I changed my mind.

Well, what makes you think that I haven't?

CURTIS: I was hoping to have another dance with you.

May I?

This may be our last chance to be alone.

You're about to turn into a married lady.

People might not understand if they see us out here together.

There's nothing to misunderstand, is there?

I saw you kissing last Saturday night.

It didn't mean a thing.

Well, I hope it did, Mary Ellen,

because I'm going to marry you.

I suppose you call that a proposal?

It's the best one you'll get from me.

I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on Earth.

With this ring, I do thee wed.

And with all my earthly goods, I thee endow.

ERIN: Oh, do you want to bite my finger?

What's there?

(ERIN COOING)

Yeah? Yeah? Uh-huh.

(ERIN EXCLAIMING)

MARY ELLEN: Can I see him again?

As soon as his grandparents get through admiring him.

Silly, I was worried about him.

He's just perfect, isn't he?

I guess he's just about the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.

Smart, too.

Timing his arrival so his daddy would have to deliver him.

I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Well, you did real good, considering it's your first son.

You didn't do so bad yourself.

If we're going to hear the President, we'd better get home.

Yeah.

Thanks for coming with me.

I feel better now.

(STATIC ON RADIO)

Not a soul in sight.

Yeah.

Everything has stopped to listen to FDR.

I always wanted a son, you know.

But now, when I think of all the women across the land,

the mothers of sons,

I realize that's one heartache I won't have to bear.

Corabeth?

Would you like to come over here and listen with me?

MAN ON RADIO: Senators and representatives,

I have the distinguished honor of presenting

the President of the United States.

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

-Where's Jim-Bob? -ELIZABETH: He went to Rockfish.

ROOSEVELT: Mr. Vice President,

Mr. Speaker,

members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Yesterday,

December 7th, 1941,

a date which will live in infamy,

the United States of America

was suddenly and deliberately attacked

by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

It will be recorded

that the distance of Hawaii from Japan

makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned

many days or even weeks ago.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands

has caused severe damage

to American naval and military forces.

I regret to tell you that many American lives have been lost.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy,

I have directed that measures be taken for our defense.

But always will our whole nation

remember the character of the onslaught against us.

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

No matter how long it may take us

to overcome this premeditated invasion,

the American people in their righteous might

will win through to absolute victory.

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

With confidence in our armed forces,

with the unbounding determination of our people,

we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

I ask that the Congress declare

that since the unprovoked

and dastardly attack by Japan

on Sunday, December 7th, 1941,

a state of war has existed

between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

(PEOPLE APPLAUDING)

(SIGHS)

Guess we all expected it. Sure doesn't make it any easier.

I don't understand why Jim-Bob isn't home by now.

Did he tell you why he went to Rockfish?

I really couldn't understand him. You know how he mumbles.

What do you think he said, honey?

He talked about the recruiting office. Told me not to tell you.

He can't join the Air Corps, not without us signing for him.

He can if he lies about his age.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

VERDIE: Olivia?

Good news, Olivia, good news!

Oh, Verdie.

Mary Ellen.

MARY ELLEN: I'm so glad.

Jodie was on weekend liberty.

He got a message to me through the Red Cross.

He was wounded by a bomb blast, but he's gonna be just fine.

That's good news, good news.

Any news, Mary Ellen?

No.

Jim-Bob, I want to talk to you.

What about that promise you made me yesterday?

Don't worry, Daddy, they wouldn't take me.

Jeb at the telegraph office asked me to give this to you.

I'll take that.

He knew what was in it.

He told me. I guess it's better I tell you

than you read it from a piece of paper.

I want to hear it, Jim-Bob.

Curt was killed taking care of the wounded.

They said he was performing heroic duty.

Olivia,

do you want me to stay?

Thank you, Verdie, no.

If there's anything I can do, anything.

It's very hard for us to know why all this is happening.

We're gonna need each other very much now.

"To John Curtis."

Curt gave you this?

Daddy?

"Dear Son,

"since I am about to take a trip to the other side of the world,

"I've been thinking of all the things I want to tell you

"about the life you have ahead of you.

"Your great-grandmother Walton is keeping this letter for you

"in case I don't have the chance to tell you these things myself.

"Like you, I came into this family as a stranger.

"In addition to the love I share with your mother,

"I have had a special relationship

"with each member of the family that is now yours.

"I found out what it means to take great joy

"in simply being alive from your late great-grandfather,

"and deep inner strength from your great-grandmother.

"In John and Olivia, you will have grandparents

"who will be eternally young,

"yet wonderfully old in understanding.

"You're a lucky boy to have such beautiful aunts

"to grow up admiring as gentle Erin and lively Elizabeth.

"And no matter what happens to me,

"you will have fine young men to look up to in your uncles.

"John-Boy to give you the gift of words,

"Jason, the love of music,

"Ben, the drive to get things done,

"and Jim-Bob,

"to show you how to dream your way to the sky.

"From this family, you are blessed with love and kindness.

"Your mother and I will do all we can

"to make this a better world for you.

"But we give you only two things,

"life and love.

(SIGHS)

"The rest you must earn for yourself,

"and you will be the better man for doing so.

"With great love,

"your father,

"Curtis Willard."

JOHN-BOY: We'd always known how strong-willed Mary Ellen was,

but those two December days proved her huge inner strength.

These were the times that would remain in the memories

of all Americans who were old enough to grasp the meaning

of what had happened on December 7th, 1941.

The day when the world was never again to be the same.

OLIVIA: Are you still up, Mary Ellen?

I'm coming in, Mama.

JOHN: You alright, honey?

Yes, Daddy, I'll be fine.

Goodnight.