Original subtitles

Come on, boys. Let's go. We ain't got all night.

-Okay. -Alright.

Entering Boatwright University, in 1934...

meant that I was also entering a whole new phase of my life.

Although exposure to the outside world brought excitement

and challenge, it also brought changes and conflicts...

which neither I nor anyone in my family had been able to foresee.

Just closing up.

Excuse me, but my brother ordered a set of headphones.

He was told they'd be in sometime today.

-Just came in this morning. -Good.

-Name's Walton, isn't it? -Yes, it is.

These are fine. He'll be very happy to get these.

-Ninety-seven cents. -Okay.

I need to get some notebooks and some pencils.

I'll just take a second, alright?

Well, are you off now?

I was just coming back to say goodbye.

You sure you won't change your mind, Daisy?

Quite sure.

I put in a couple of extra dollars.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson.

Thanks for everything.

-I know what I'm doing, I do. -I sure hope you do.

Personally, I think it's just plain foolishness.

Well...

goodbye, Daisy.

You take good care of yourself...

and you come back and see us, whenever you can, okay?

I will.

Bye.

I don't know.

People today, they just seem to have gone plumb crazy.

Now, let's see what you got there.

Just two books and four pencils and some earphones here.

-Next. -Bet this will be a lot of fun.

It sure will, pal. Sure will.

Nobody under 18, remember that, Fred.

Okay.

Thompson.

-First name is Clyde. -Spell that.

-C-L-Y-D-E. -Yep.

Hi.

Hi. You gonna sign up?

For this marathon thing?

I don't know. What do you do?

You give them your name and you choose a partner.

Then tomorrow morning the Marathon starts...

and you see how long you can keep dancing.

This one lasts seven days.

-Seven days? Straight through? -Right.

At the end of that time, a lot of people will have dropped out.

But for whoever's left, they have what they call

"elimination dances"

and the winning team gets to share $200.

-$200. That's crazy! -You want to sign up then?

-When does it start? -Tomorrow.

-Tomorrow? Saturday, Sunday.... -And I need a partner.

Listen, I'm on mid-semester break until a week from Monday.

Next.

-Last name first, honey. -Garner.

G-A-R-N-E-R.

First name, Daisy.

You got a partner?

Walton, W-A-L-T-O-N, John.

Why not?

I just don't understand it.

He's been late before.

I know, but he's never been as late as this.

Boy's old enough to take care of himself.

Old enough or not, supper was three hours ago...

and I'd say that's just plain inconsiderate.

Livie, the boy's got a life of his own now...

there's no use trying to cling on to him.

I am not clinging on to him and I don't understand why....

Jim-Bob, where have you been?

Ben needed a smaller screwdriver

so I went to the saw mill to get him one.

I have told you and Elizabeth not to run outside after dark.

Sorry, Mama.

I don't understand what's come over this family lately.

Everybody doing exactly what they want...

and paying no mind at all to anyone else's feelings.

Okay.

Now you run the wire from the crystal

through the groove along the bottom--

Wait a second, Mary Ellen.

It takes longer to build a crystal set

than reading the instructions. Now slow it down!

At this rate, it'll never get done.

-I got it! -Good.

I sure wish John-Boy would get home with the earphones...

so we could all plug in and listen.

With earphones, only one person can listen at a time.

Ben, when are you gonna get it finished?

-Tomorrow. -More like a week from tomorrow.

I sure wish John-Boy was home though.

If I was John-Boy, I wouldn't want to get home.

-Why not? -'Cause Mama's real mad.

She said nobody in the family is paying any mind

to anybody's feelings anymore.

-I just don't understand it. -Understand what, Mary Ellen?

When John-Boy got accepted to Boatwright...

Ma was really proud and excited.

Now that he's actually going there every day, she seems....

-Seems what? -Well, sort of edgy.

Home!

Where have you been?

I had to read at the library and then I stopped by in Scottsville

to pick up Ben's earphones. I'm sorry, Mama.

-I didn't know it was so late. -Supper was three hours ago.

Dinner's keeping hot on the stove.

I'll get it.

Guess what? I entered a dance marathon!

You what?

I met a girl in Scottsville, and we entered a dance marathon.

What's a dance marathon?

You pick a partner and you keep dancing as long as you can.

For ever and ever?

Yeah. All day and all night, for seven days.

A whole week? Those poor feet.

It's not too hard when you're tripping the light fantastic.

The winning couple gets to take home the prize money. $200!

You mean to tell me you really entered that thing?

It's crazy but I've got seven days off mid-semester break.

There people in line having a good time

and I met this girl and....

I'll take everyone to New York if I win! All expenses paid.

-New York! -Oh, no, you won't.

Sure, I think it's a wonderful idea. I'd love to do it.

It's not whether you'd love to or not.

I forbid it and that's all there is to that.

I'm sorry, Mama, but I've already entered

and I'm certainly not backing out now.

You are not entering one of those trashy things...

and I don't want to hear any more about it!

Alright, you children...

go on upstairs.

Go on.

Esther. Let them settle it.

Let's sit down and talk about this like reasonable people.

There is nothing to talk about.

There is something to talk about. I'm in college now.

I have a life of my own I don't wanna be ordered like a baby.

There's no point in arguing with me. You are not going!

Well, I've already entered it.

I'm going through with it, and that's all there is to it!

Well, why didn't you tell him he can't go?

Well, Liv, I don't see any harm in it.

But I expect you to take my side in things like this.

-Even if I don't agree, Liv? -John, he is still a boy.

I'm not so sure.

As he says, he's got a right to live a life of his own.

Are you going into Scottsville?

Yes.

You know how I feel about you going in there...

and making a spectacle in front of all those people.

I gotta go, Ma.

-John! -Daisy.

I was scared you might have changed your mind.

Oh, no, I'm here, I'm here.

They fixed this place up, didn't they?

-Orchestra and everything. -Yeah.

Yeah, if you can call it that. Hi, I'm Spanky Logan.

-How do you do? -Fine.

-This here is Helen Faye. -How do you do? John Walton Jr.?

-This your first? -My very first.

Helen and Spanky have been in eight marathons already.

-Eight? -Yeah, eight.

Last one was in Scranton, PA. We almost won that one.

I'll tell you, it was at Elk's Hall.

We've worked there a dozen times already.

-You've worked there? -Yeah, in vaudeville.

-Really? -Yeah, really.

Yeah, we're pretty good, you know. We worked a lot.

We work about 30 weeks a year, you know, with really top acts.

Of course, this place is kind of a stopgap for us...

just to tide us over a little.

Let's take our suitcases and check them in?

The rest quarters are right over there.

You two wait here, will you? Come on.

I'll be right back.

Kids! All of you come on down front here so I can talk to you.

Come on, move right in. That's it.

You might as well sit down while you got the chance.

Everybody settled? Good.

My name's Harry Bracket, and this here is Fred, my assistant.

First off, I'd like to say hello to all you nice people

and explain to you the rules of the game.

Because, for the next week

that's just what we're going to have here, a game.

Seven days and seven nights...

of good, clean fun!

Right.

Now, at the end of that time, the lucky couple...

is gonna walk away from here with not one...

-but $200! -How about that!

Now, with every game there gotta be rules.

-Do you think it's true? -I reckon, if he says so.

I hope it is. We sure need that $200. We need to get married.

Congratulations.

-I'm Steve Bates. -John Walton Jr. How do you do?

And this here is P.M., my fiance.

-Short for Priscilla Mae. -How do you do? This is Daisy.

Hey, you, buddy. Shut up.

You don't want to start off on the wrong foot in this, do you?

Good.

Now, medical attention, the best.

A qualified doctor and nurse in attendance, 24 hours.

If your partner drops out...

you can continue on dancing until there's another dropout.

Then the two of you can team up together. That clear?

Good.

It looks like we're gonna be on the radio.

Testing, one, two, three, four.

Radio Station, W.Q.S.R.

This is our first broadcast from the Rivana Dance Palace...

where days and nights of endurance have just begun...

for these determined young people.

Look out, now! And here we go!

Come on!

Chopstick!

That was absolutely fantastic!

But you'll never make it if you keep going at that rate.

-Oh, we will. -It's important.

You gotta get the audience on your side.

Yeah, 'cause local shopkeepers are always watching you.

They might sponsor you for something like free shoes...

or something like that. New shirts, stuff like that.

Sometimes, the folks watching you throw money at you.

That is, if you do a real fancy turn.

We made $15 one night in Raleigh.

I'm having a hard enough time just keeping up with this.

You will! Reach for the stars, kid. Reach for the stars!

How you feeling?

Okay. My feet are beginning to hurt a little.

Mine, too.

-Spanky says you get used to it. -I hope so.

So do I.

-Pull me in. -Okay.

Thank you.

We're okay.

We're gonna go try out Ben's crystal set.

Think it'll work?

I read him all the directions. If he followed them, it should.

-Let's see if it works. -Not until Mary Ellen gets here.

-Ready? -Yeah.

Good.

-Is it gonna work? -Sure it is.

What's going on in here?

-Does it work? -We'll see soon enough.

Can you hear anything?

-It works! -Oh, good!

Try it, Mama.

They're playing that song!

Oh, Ben, it works real good.

This is our first broadcast from the Rivana Dance Palace...

where days and nights of endurance--

Better be getting back to work.

What's the matter, Liv?

I just don't care to listen, that's all.

They're broadcasting that marathon from Scottsville.

-What's wrong, honey? -I'm okay. I'm okay.

-You sure? -Come on, dance.

-Your feet still hurt? -No.

I guess Spanky was right.

We must be getting our second wind.

-Spanky looks terrible. -I know.

Steve and P.M. look exhausted, too.

Hey, you two! I just bet $2 on you.

-$2 to win. -$2 to win?

Yeah.

We won't let you down.

Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your kind attention?

Folks, this very minute, these courageous boys and girls...

have been dancing continuously,

here at the Rivana Dance Palace for 13 hours!

Let's give a big hand!

Woke up and you weren't there.

I couldn't sleep.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you.

First thing in the morning,

I'm gonna drive down to Scottsville...

and see for myself what this marathon is all about.

You wanna come along?

No, I don't.

John-Boy forgot his jacket.

I'd appreciate it if you'd take it to him.

I'll leave it on the table.

In all my life, I never saw a more stubborn woman.

No audience back there.

I'm not part of the audience. I just want to talk to my son.

-Daddy? -Stay where you are.

What are you doing here?

I wanted to find out what's going on down here.

Everything is alright. I'm fine.

You want to make your own decisions. I'll not stop you.

Got a right to see where you are and what's going on, don't I?

This is it. How's Mama?

She's fine. She sent you this. You forgot it.

-Will you thank her for me? -Sure.

-I gotta get back on the floor. -I'll be going then.

Come on, up!

Sorry. Why don't you stay, Daddy? It's alright.

No, thanks, Son. I gotta get back.

Give everybody my love.

Tell them I'll see them at the end of the week.

You take care of yourself, you hear?

I am. I am.

Alright, boys and girls. Give me a listen.

Good news!

An extra five-minute rest period for all of you, starting now.

Go back. Take a load off your feet. You deserve it.

For all of you who were kind enough to be here today...

and watch these brave young kids...

in just five minutes...

we've got a little surprise!

We are going to stage the Jack Rabbit Run!

-What's he talking about? -It's an elimination dance.

Our contestants will run...

in tempo around the ring. Which means...

each of them will take turns running backwards.

What?

Alright then.

Get set. And....

Come on, let's move it now. Move it!

Across the room now. Move it. Move it.

Come on, let's move now. Let's not stop now.

Alright, are you moving now?

Move it! Move it!

Move it!

Let's go. Let's go. Come on, let's go.

Let's go. Move.

Didn't I tell you to move it? Move.

Move!

Move!

Come on, let's go!

Let's go, move it!

Didn't I tell you to move it? Move.

Move.

Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.

No, Spanky. No!

Come on, Spanky, you can't go down.

It's alright. Everything's going to be alright.

Well, that's the way it goes, folks. We just lost Spanky.

One half of a real courageous team

but we've still got little Helen here...

and she can go right on dancing if she wants to.

-What do you say? -Spanky, no.

Well, that's her decision, folks.

Give her a big hand to show how much we think about her.

Brought to you from the floor of the Rivana Dance Palace...

where these young people have been going almost non-stop...

for 54 hours.

Already, several couples have been forced to drop out.

Last night, one contestant collapsed...

and was rushed from the dance hall by ambulance.

His name is Spanky Logan.

And today, his condition is described as--

Jim-Bob, turn that off.

Just want to see if there's any news about John-Boy.

You'd better go outside. Come on.

You need anything from the store, Grandma?

Lots of things we can't afford.

Livie.

You know, it's such a nice afternoon

maybe I'll walk part of the way with you.

Livie, there's something I want to tell you.

Something that happened almost 20 years ago. 1917.

Well, when we first got into the war, Ben...

that's John's older brother...

well, right away...

he wanted to the army and go on over to France and fight.

I wanted to stop him. I wanted to tell him...

that he had to stay right here, that he couldn't go.

Livie, he was my firstborn.

Well, Zeb knew how I felt. We sat up all one night talking.

Zeb trying to make me see...

that I had no right trying to hold on to Ben.

I remember him saying that...

"Well, we taught that boy how to think for himself...

"and now that he is, we can't stand in his way."

Well, he made me see...

that Ben was old enough to make his decisions about his life.

It broke my heart to let him go.

-But he did go. -Yeah...

and John went a year later.

Fish aren't biting, you girls are so noisy.

What ever are you two gossiping about?

We were just talking, Grandpa.

Well, I'd better get down to the store before it closes.

I'll start supper soon as I get back.

Thanks, Grandma.

It's hard with all of them.

Yes, I know.

I remember.

You think maybe I ought to shave at the next rest break?

No, never mind.

When this is over I'm going to soak in a hot tub...

all day long.

When we win this, you can soak for a week.

You think we have a chance?

Well, somebody's going to win. Why not us?

-Are you sure you're okay? -I am not going to drop out.

-You'll not get another partner. -It doesn't matter.

It does. You know it does. We need the money.

Something wrong?

She got all heated up during that run last night...

and then afterwards, she got the chills.

I'm alright, honest I am.

I got some aspirin from the nurse.

You better be careful and take care of yourself.

Here we go. I'm gonna take those.

Let's go.

Let's go. Let's go. Let's move it. Put that down.

Let's go. Let's dance. Let's dance. Let's dance.

Let's dance.

Alright. Excuse me. Let's dance.

She's not going to last too much longer.

She should let the doctor take a look at her.

She should just quit.

I hope she does.

Then we'd have a better chance.

This really means that much to you, doesn't it?

Yes.

Ever since I read about this marathon and the prize...

I knew I had to enter.

I knew I had to win.

I've got to.

Why?

'Cause the money will get me away from here.

I have lived in this town every single day of my life.

Farmed out to any place that would have me...

for the money the county paid them.

And when I got through school...

I went to work in Mr. Patterson's five-and-dime.

Well, that didn't seem like such a terrible place.

It isn't...

but it's not where I want to be.

It's not what I want, not by a long shot.

What do you want?

To get out of here.

Have the money to get on a train, go to New York City.

New York City.

I know this sounds crazy, John...

but I want to be in one of those skyscrapers.

I've heard, sometimes...

the rain clouds drift right down past the window.

Can you imagine that?

Opening a window, reaching out...

and touching a rain cloud with your bare hands?

And down below...

the people would be hurrying along the lighted streets...

with their umbrellas...

and I'd be up there...

far above them...

safe and secure...

with the clouds drifting by.

Wouldn't that be something?

Yeah, maybe for a while, it would.

What do you mean?

Not forever, I don't think.

Maybe not...

but I'm sure gonna try...

'cause down here...

I don't like it much.

P.M.? Honey?

Honey? P.M., are you alright?

-Move it! -No.

Keep on dancing!

Anybody who stops dancing will be disqualified!

This is crazy.

-Liv? -Yeah?

What are you doing?

Thinking.

I'm trying to figure out what's been bothering me so much.

Come up with any answers?

He doesn't tell me anything anymore.

He used to tell me what he was writing about...

what he'd been thinking...

what he wanted to do.

He doesn't do that anymore, and I feel....

Shut out.

Yeah.

Like there's a big wall between us and I just can't get past.

It's not gonna always be that way, honey.

He's seeing...

and feeling new things...

and they're unfamiliar and bewildering to him, most likely.

He's got to get used to it in his own time, in his own way.

Then he'll be able to share them with you.

Does he tell you things?

Not like he used to. I miss it, too.

Guess you have to let go of your children twice.

You think you've already done it...

but you're just pretending, and you don't even know it.

And all of a sudden one day it happens.

Your heart lurches, and it's done.

-Come on to bed. You're cold. -No.

I'm worried about him.

Most of all, I'd just like to talk to him.

I'd like to tell him that I understand now.

Do you think that'd be mothering him too much?

No, I don't think it would be mothering him too much.

Liv, where you going?

This seems to be as good a time as any.

Keep talking.

-I'm sorry. -Keep talking.

You know, I'd like you to meet my grandpa.

He'd take a fancy to you.

He's always got his eyes open for a pretty face.

He loves to dance.

If he was here, he'd walk off with that $200, easy as pie.

You alright?

I'm gonna wait outside. I had no idea it would be this bad.

I thought you wanted to see him.

John-Boy.

John-Boy.

Daddy.

What are you doing here? It's 4:00 in the morning.

I want you to meet my dancing partner.

This is Daisy. This is my father.

-Daisy. -Mr. Walton.

Okay, kids, that's it. Rest period.

Take a break.

Only 80 hours to go.

-We sit down? -Yeah, I think we should.

Come on, let's have a seat for a while.

-I'm going to get some coffee. -See you later.

Eighty hours!

Daddy, I didn't have any idea it was going to be like this.

Why do people want to do this?

They're just fainting and falling down.

For $100 apiece.

It feels like I've never been any place in the world...

outside of this room.

You don't have to stay, you know.

She doesn't, either.

No, she doesn't.

-Daisy, let's quit. -No.

Daisy, I'm quitting.

I've known all along you would.

I'm not leaving here without you.

Yes, you are.

You're right, you know.

I can go on. Steve needs a partner.

-Please. -I can't.

I have to win that money.

Maybe someday I'll find all the things

you have on Walton's Mountain...

but I have to find them for myself.

Goodbye.

Bye.

I forgot what fresh air smelled like.

I'll get the truck.

Daddy, I left my bag and my sweater--

Don't worry about that. We'll get that in the car tomorrow.

I've never been to Scottsville this late before.

It's lonesome, isn't it?

-How's everybody at home? -They're fine.

John-Boy.

I've been your mother for 18 years.

It's kind of hard to stop all at once.

I don't want you ever to stop.

All I want to do right now is just go home and go to sleep.

In the morning, I want to tell you all about this.

You didn't meet Daisy, did you?

As I continued growing up, the horizons of my world widened.

I eventually moved far from Walton's Mountain.

But the things we had then...

the love we had, the delight we took in each other's company...

have never faltered and remain constant to this day.

-Ben, turn that off! -I can't. It's stuck!

-You'll wake up John-Boy. -John-Boy?

-You already woke him. -John-Boy's back!

-Let him get some sleep. -Goodnight, John-Boy.

-Goodnight, John-Boy. -Goodnight.

-Goodnight, John-Boy. -Goodnight, John-Boy.

But it's daytime. You can't say goodnight.

-Good morning, John-Boy. -Good morning, Elizabeth.