Original subtitles

- It doesn't mean your son won't be found. - I'm beginning to wonder.

It's been two months, three weeks and five days

since John-Boy was reported missing in action.

I've known it to take far longer than that.

I just wish I didn't feel so helpless.

Mrs. Walton, wait.

Maybe I could get you to do me a favor.

The Red Cross asked me to try and talk to you.

Your Frank's been worried about you.

He wanted them to find out why you haven't been answering his letters.

It ain't none of your business. It ain't nobody's business!

(GASPS)

Good day, Mrs. Walton.

Let's just stop waltzing around, huh?

I hope you've been thinking about some place to live,

'cause you sure as hell can't stay here.

- You can't run me off. - I can't, huh?

I'm gonna run you off right now.

You know a man named Son Slater?

Yep. Lives up on Bascomb Ridge.

I want charges brought against him.

- What for, Mrs. Walton? - Rape.

- May I come in? - Mrs. Denman. Yes.

Yes, come in.

Do you have some news?

It's the kind of news that can't be given over the telephone.

JOHN-BOY: There was hope in the air, that second autumn after Pearl Harbor.

The Allied forces were finally on the offensive.

And in Winston Churchill's words,

"Those who ha d sowed the wind were now reaping the whirlwind."

But in our home, as in millions throughout the nation,

there was also anxiety for loved ones a wa y in military ser vice.

Some of them would never return,

and there were others whose fate was at that time unknown.

The missing in action.

(SHUDDERING)

(MOANING)

(GASPING)

Liv? Honey, you all right?

It's always the same thing, over and over.

Planes going down, trailing smoke.

Honey. You're dreaming, Livie...

I keep seeing John-Boy in that plane,

wondering what he's thinking when he knows the plane is falling.

The horror, the panic. I keep hearing him cry out.

Stop punishing yourself, honey.

It's all right. It's all right.

Where are you going?

I'm going to look in on my children.

I need to be sure they're safe in their beds.

I'm hurting too, you know.

I know, John.

MRS. DENMAN: We're working on it.

We have our Red Cross search teams checking all hospitals

and prisoner-of-war camps all the way across northern Europe.

- But no luck yet? - It doesn't mean your son won't be found.

I'm beginning to wonder.

It's been two months, three weeks and five days

since John-Boy was reported missing in action.

I've known it to take far longer than that.

There are other camps, other hospitals.

We haven't exhausted our sources.

We'll keep coming back then. Thanks for your help.

I'll call you when I get our next progress report.

I just wish I didn't feel so helpless.

Mrs. Walton, wait.

Maybe I can get you to do me a favor.

We've had a request from a young GI

who comes from your area. Frank Thatcher.

Yes. Young Frank, I know him. He worked for me one summer.

Well, he's being processed to go overseas and he's worried about his wife.

She stopped writing him suddenly about a month ago,

and he's asked the Red Cross to see if she's all right.

I didn't know the Red Cross dealt with that kind of thing.

You'd be surprised what the Home Service Division gets involved in.

Missing allotment checks, emergency leave, pregnant wives,

anything that affects the morale of our men and their families.

What would I have to do?

Well, we're running short of personnel and you'd save us a long trip

if you could check up on Mrs. Thatcher for us.

Find out if there's a problem

and see why she hasn't been in touch with her husband.

That Thatcher place is way back in the hills, Liv.

I could go up there with Mary Ellen.

Our daughter's a county nurse. She makes lots of calls in that area.

We'd appreciate it.

Most of our work is done by volunteers, and we're running pretty thin.

Looks like I just volunteered.

- Bye, now. - Bye.

CORABETH: Please tell me...

- Hey, Ike, Corabeth. - Hey, Jason.

What can I do for you?

Well, I just thought I'd have myself a bottle of pop

- while I'm waiting for the bus. - Okay.

I am deeply grieved, Cousin Eudora.

IKE: What's the matter, Corabeth?

Are you gonna be home for Thanksgiving?

You bet. It's gonna take more than the Army

to keep me away from Mama's turkey and dressing.

- Here you go, Ike. - CORABETH: Poor dear man.

How were you able to wrangle a furlough?

I made me a deal with General Eisenhower.

See, I get Thanksgiving Day off,

and he's free to call on me anytime he wants, for military advice, you see.

I see. And I suppose you and the General Eisenhower

are gonna be sitting down and laying out the second front, huh?

Yeah, yeah, we've been talking about it, so...

Goodbye, Cousin Eudora.

I'm just so grateful to you for letting me know.

(CORABETH SIGHS)

Corabeth, what's the matter?

Uncle Lucas passed on.

Who was Uncle Lucas?

My late mother's eldest brother.

And he was the kindest, sweetest man that ever lived.

I cannot believe that he's gone.

I was his favorite niece.

He was just so vibrant, so enterprising.

In the kindest way, of course.

I'm sorry to hear that, Corabeth. You have my sympathy.

Uncle Lucas went to California years ago to seek his fortune.

He built an empire in land, oil, industry.

But he never let his vast wealth keep him from his family.

He was always concerned about the well-being of his loved ones.

You say you were his favorite niece?

Always.

IKE: Did he have any children?

We were his children.

How about a wife?

CORABETH: No, he never married. Poor man.

Mr. Godsey, what are you suggesting?

Corabeth, don't you understand?

If you were his favorite niece and he had all the money that you said he had,

we might be rich.

Mr. Godsey, how could you be so gauche at a time like this?

You must excuse me. I must retire to my bedroom.

(CORABETH SIGHS)

Well, what do you think of that?

I don't think you ought to count your chickens before they hatch, Ike.

This is not chicken feed, Jase.

This is industry, real estate, oil...

Yes, sir!

I don't know what Aunt Rose does to her eggs,

but mine never turn out like hers.

Seems funny not being crowded at the table anymore.

The house is so quiet with those children gone,

it gives me goosebumps.

Do you think they might stay in Roanoke with Cousin Phoebe?

Cousin Phoebe's got a face like a sour pickle and a disposition to match.

All right, son.

I expect they'll be back soon, honey.

I packed a picnic lunch for us, Mary Ellen.

Then we're all set to go.

I've got all my medical supplies together.

It'll be fun making rounds with you, Mama.

As long as I get my Red Cross chore done.

Last time I saw Darcy Thatcher,

she was trying to get used to Frank being gone.

Her eyes were all red from crying.

Corabeth says she hasn't seen her down at the store in over a month.

She's probably real busy keeping that little farm going.

She can't be too busy to write. Must be something else.

You sure you won't come with us?

I can't. I gotta get that order ready, take it over to Fort Lee in the morning.

Means you'll be gone overnight. I'll miss you.

- You hurry back, I'll take you with me. - I'll try.

- I'll go with you, Daddy. - Me, too.

Would you, really, and miss school?

- Sure. - Sure.

No.

- It's a good idea. - OLIVIA: These eggs aren't so bad, Erin.

JOHN: Very good.

Good morning, Mr. Godsey.

Well, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to get up.

Well, through the years, I have come to realize

that sleep is the best remedy for a grieving heart.

Well, I've always been kind of partial to the Baldwin ladies' Recipe, myself.

I have allowed myself to face the thought

that I might very well receive an inheritance from Uncle Lucas.

Good.

I've been hoping that we could use some of it

for some improvements here in the store.

No, that would be out of the question.

Given the size of the inheritance,

I do believe that we will no longer be needing the store.

No longer needing the store? But this store is our whole life!

Your life, Mr. Godsey.

My life is devoted to the pursuit of art, of culture, of travel. The finer things.

Corabeth, you don't know what you're saying.

You've been right here with me for five years.

And I have enjoyed my time spent here,

but I would have left this store at the drop of a hat.

It is time now for us to enjoy life to its fullest advantage.

Well, that's what I mean.

Now that we have a little money, I mean, we can improve the store.

We can, like, build all new counters here,

and a completely new butcher shop back there,

and out front, a shiny new gasoline pump.

Uncle Lucas would come back from the grave,

if he realized that his vast fortune was being squandered

on a second-class mercantile store

in a remote, poverty-pitched corner of Jefferson County, Virginia!

Corabeth, how can you say that, after all the work we've put in here?

This store has provided us with a roof over our head,

food in our mouth and scarcely more.

What more could we want?

I do not wish to discuss it any further.

I can see that our priorities are in complete opposition.

The inheritance is mine to do with as I see fit!

If the farm's where I think it is, it's just around this next bend.

(VEHICLE APPROACHING)

Don't bother getting out of the truck. I ain't got time for talking.

What's the matter, Darcy?

What do you want?

We just came to visit. This is my mother, Olivia Walton.

Hi, Darcy.

The Red Cross asked me to try and talk to you.

Your Frank's been worried about you.

He wanted them to find out why you haven't been answering his letters.

It ain't none of your business. It ain't nobody's business!

Darcy, let us in. She never acted like this before.

Please, Darcy. We don't want to make trouble for you.

We just want to talk.

Would it be all right if we came in for just a minute?

We've come a long way.

Darcy, what's the gun for?

Never know. I might shoot me an animal.

You're acting awfully strange, you know that?

You must get kind of lonely up here.

How long has it been since you've seen Frank?

A right long spell. I don't know. I lost track of the time.

He's going overseas, you know.

He wrote me about that.

My husband was in the Army.

Wasn't anything under the sun

that would have kept me from writing to him.

If there's something wrong, something he should know...

No! You tell him you couldn't find me.

He loves you. He thinks something awful happened...

Just do like I told you. Please.

Darcy, what are you afraid of?

I can't tell you. Ain't nobody I can tell.

Darcy, I've had a lot of practice with my daughters.

I know when they're hurting and they're in trouble.

You can tell me.

About three weeks ago, a man came along.

I knowed him.

I never did like the way he looked at me.

He said he wanted to put in a peach tree for me.

Little clingstone sapling out of his own orchard.

I told him no need,

but he kept up and he kept up,

and I thought I'd never get rid of him unless I let him go ahead.

(DARCY SOBBING)

I stood out there watching him while he planted the tree.

Pretty soon he got to talking, all familiar-like,

and I got scared,

so I started in the house.

He followed me, he grabbed hold of me and...

I fought him. I fought him!

But he'd taken me.

Did you tell the sheriff?

The man said he wouldn't believe me.

The man said that he'd tell him I asked him in.

- Frank would believe you. - I can't ever tell him.

Darcy, you didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault.

It feels the same as if I did.

I'm just so ashamed I could die.

Who was this man?

I can't tell you that.

I just want to be sure that he doesn't come around here anymore.

He did, once, but he left when he seen I had a gun.

- Can't you go to your family? - I got nobody.

What about Frank's folks?

They was against us getting married. They'd say it was my fault.

I know they would.

I don't want you staying up here alone. I want you to come home with us.

No way. No.

If it was some other kind of trouble, if I was sick

or if I got word something happened to Frank, I might.

This isn't the kind of hurting you take to your neighbors.

We won't tell anyone.

I know you all mean for the best,

but I'd appreciate it if I could be by myself, now.

We'll come by to see you again soon.

No need.

I poured lye on it.

Thank you so very much.

I will let you know if I need another demonstration.

(BELLS DINGING)

Corabeth, what is all this? And what is that car?

And what are all these fancy clothes you're buying?

Mr. Godsey, I am soon to be an heiress.

I must dress and act the part.

Corabeth...

- You're not gonna buy that car? - Who knows?

What a beautiful, beautiful machine.

Such exquisite carpeting and upholstery and a full-tone radio

and a very powerful engine.

Corabeth, all this money that you're spending

on the fancy clothes and fancy hairdos,

this is money you don't even have yet.

As a matter of fact, you might not ever even get it.

Mr. Godsey, dearest.

All I want is to simply take you away from all this.

Corabeth, a letter came for you today.

I will look at that later.

I have to, now, call my real estate broker.

I have him scouring the countryside for suitable residences for us.

Corabeth, the letter is from your Cousin Eudora.

They've read Uncle Lucas' will.

That's right and you've been completely disinherited.

I sure hope you can get all your money back on those fancy duds.

- There's a check in here! - A check? How much is it for?

$18,000!

MARY ELLEN: Sorry this outing didn't turn out to be much fun.

I'd like to know the name of the man that did that to that poor child.

What could you do about it, if you did?

I don't know.

But for a Christian woman, I'm thinking some pretty terrible thoughts.

This is my last stop. Old Joe Bascomb's place.

How you feeling, Mr. Bascomb?

Worse. Only breathing about that deep.

You're still smoking. That's one reason you're not feeling better.

Them pills and powders you left didn't do no good at all.

But that green stuff in the bottle wasn't bad.

Only, it didn't last.

- This is my mother. - Hello, Mr. Bascomb.

How do, ma'am?

I'll leave you two bottles.

Doubt if I'll live long enough to finish them off.

But you might leave three or four, just in case.

Two should be just fine until I come back.

Well, if it ain't Nurse Mary Ellen!

Son Slater, what are you doing here?

I been helping Mr. Bascomb out. Checking his traps for him.

Looks like you got plenty in them sacks, Son.

What is it? Muskrat?

Weren't nary a thing in them traps of yours, Joe.

But I brung you something to eat, instead.

You sure you got them traps set right, Son?

Set and baited, just like you showed me.

(SCOFFS)

Can't even get out to work my traps anymore.

Shows you how much good them pills and powders does.

If it weren't for neighbors around here, I'd starve to death.

- Lady be your ma? - Yeah. Mama, this is Son Slater.

I knowed you right off. I seen you and Mr. Walton once

when I come down for supplies.

Are you related to Charlie Slater?

Charlie's my uncle.

He's been cutting lumber for my husband since I don't know when.

Well, I'm right glad to know you, Mrs. Walton.

Here, take these home with you. They'd be real good eating,

and I got plenty more for Joe.

- Thank you. - Thank you, Son.

- I'll see you in a week, Mr. Bascomb. - (SCOFFS) If I live that long.

You sure you don't want me to put a change of clothes in for you?

I wouldn't be good company.

I can't get that poor young girl off my mind.

I don't much like Mary Ellen working up there.

Not with a man running around loose like that.

Neither do I. But you know Mary Ellen.

She insists it's no more dangerous

than working the night shift at the hospital.

Just don't let her go alone.

When I get back, I'll take a look up there.

It tears me apart.

Darcy all alone, grieving, thinking her life is ruined.

The only one that's gonna convince her different is Frank, you know.

She doesn't want him to know.

She's not being fair to him.

He's her husband. He ought to know.

I've heard of husbands leaving their wives over something like this.

Liv, if he's any kind of a husband at all, he'll want to give her some comfort.

I don't know what to do.

Maybe you should call Mrs. Denman, get him an emergency furlough.

Do you think we have the right to interfere like that?

If this isn't an emergency, I don't know what is.

I'll call her.

You'd hardly recognize the Beasley children.

They've been taking their medicine and playing in the sunshine.

Lady's turned into a regular tomboy and Sam's grown two inches.

When do I get a chance to go see them?

Not for a while. Daddy get off okay?

Sure did.

Looks like he's missing something special for dinner.

What you making, Elizabeth?

Cindy and I are making peach pie for dessert.

I didn't know Ike carried clingstone peaches.

Well, I thought you and Mary Ellen brought these.

Found them in this bag on the table.

Are you going to tell Darcy about trying to get a furlough for Frank?

I'm not sure it's going to come through. Besides, we don't want to scare her off.

- Morning. - Darcy, may we come in?

We stopped off at Ike's and brought you some supplies.

We thought you might need a few things

since we know you haven't been getting around.

Much obliged to you.

Set yourselves down.

There's some letters in here from Frank.

You've sort of been letting your mail pile up, haven't you?

His handwriting's like a little boy's. I used to tease him about it.

Maybe you'll feel like answering him now.

When he first went in the Army, I wrote him every day.

I can't now. He'd know.

If something terrible happened to Frank, wouldn't you want to know?

He had influenza once when we was first married.

Settled in his chest.

I sat up with him all one night waiting for the cough to ease.

Just sat watching him, praying for him, loving him.

Sometimes I wish that cough had set deep so he'd never gone into the Army.

It's wrong to have them kind of thoughts.

Was it Son Slater who came up here that day?

No!

Don't make me tell who it was.

I just want him put away where he can't hurt you or anybody else.

He wouldn't be put away. He'd tell it his way

and people would believe him.

We believe you. So would everyone else.

They'll say maybe I teased him or I led him on.

They'll say I got what I had coming to me.

I keep asking myself what did I do?

Was it something I said?

Did I say something he could have took wrong?

Darcy, no man has the right to lay hands on a woman against her will,

no matter how she looks or talks or dresses.

Now, what happened was not your fault!

I've about pumped that well dry taking baths.

I still feel dirty. And Son Slater is walking around proud

like what he done made him some kind of a real man.

I'll go to the sheriff with you.

No, ma'am. How much do I owe you?

- Don't worry about it. - I don't take charity.

We'll put it on our bill at Ike's and settle with you later.

Don't you never tell Frank that it was Son Slater!

He'd shoot him for sure.

I don't want Frank to go to jail.

- You sure you ought to do this, Mama? - I got to do something.

It seems better than going after Slater with a rifle.

Well, I gotta go get some medical supplies. I'll be back in half an hour.

Good luck.

- Good morning, Mrs. Walton. - Hello, Abe.

You know a man named Son Slater?

Yep. Lives up on Bascomb Ridge. Charlie Slater's nephew.

I want charges brought against him.

- What for, Mrs. Walton? - Rape.

He attacked you?

- No, a young mountain girl. - Oh.

Why don't she come in and make the charges herself?

Because she's frightened, alone, doesn't know which way to turn.

Alone?

Her husband's away in the Army.

Mrs. Walton, just how much do you know about this young girl?

What's that got to do with anything?

It's pretty easy for a girl to make up a story like that about a man.

Why on Earth would she want to do a thing like that?

Who knows? Maybe she wants attention. Maybe she was mad at him.

Maybe she gave him a come-hither look and he turned her down.

Son Slater forced himself on her, not the other way around.

Now, we have to make sure of that.

And the law says we have to know her background.

What kind of reputation she has, moral character, stuff like that.

I don't see what that has to do with anything.

It's Son Slater's moral character we ought to be talking about.

Well, it's gonna be up to her to prove that she didn't encourage Son's attentions

and that she resisted every way she could.

Sounds like she'll be the one on trial.

It's a hard charge to prove.

Hard to prove but not impossible. You just bring her on in

and we'll have her swear out a complaint and then we'll see what we can do.

That girl has been hurt enough.

I wouldn't dream of putting her through the kind of thing you're talking about.

You'd believe Son Slater,

just like all the other fine, red-blooded citizens like yourself.

The verdict would be in before the trial even began.

I can see now why she didn't want to bring charges.

And the worst thing is,

there's a man up in those hills who thinks he's gotten away with something

and he's right!

There's somebody here to see me?

- What is it, Ike? - Jason, I'm glad to see you.

They said it was an emergency.

Well, I wanted to talk to your daddy but he was out of town on business,

and, well, I had to talk to somebody and... I need some advice about Corabeth.

I got back from an overnight hike about an hour ago,

and you had them wake me up for this?

Yeah.

Well, you're the steadiest person I can think of next to your daddy,

and, well, there was nobody else I could turn to.

You're asking the wrong guy, Ike.

When it comes to female psychology, I flunk out every time.

She's giving me a hard time.

I mean, you know how she used to be, hard-working,

and now, I mean, she's a completely changed person.

She gets up at any hour she wants to

and she's calling her stock-broker all the time,

she's even taken an ad out in the paper for a French maid!

There's nothing wrong with that if you can afford it.

Yeah, but, I need her, the store needs her and there's no reasoning with her.

- There's only one thing to do then. - What's that?

Give her what she wants.

Jason, are you crazy?

Sometimes it's the easiest way to change a woman's mind.

You sure you know what you're talking about?

No, but it's the best I can come up with on an hour's sleep.

Anyway, what have you got to lose? Good luck, Ike.

(GASPS)

Good day, Mrs. Walton.

What do you want?

I happened to be in the neighborhood, thought I'd drop in.

You get out of here.

Somebody's been spreading lies about me

and I just wondered, could it be you and that daughter of yours?

I haven't been spreading any lies.

Maybe it's the truth you're worried about.

That wife of Frank Thatcher's, seems like she's just born to make trouble.

And trouble is something I don't cater to.

Then stay away from places where you're not wanted,

and stay away from Darcy. And don't you ever come back here again.

- Now, you listen to me. - Don't you come one step closer.

You keep spreading lies about me and I just may see they come true.

You hear what I'm saying?

You turn around and start walking

and don't you ever come back here again.

You think you're a big man, but you and I both know what you are.

You're feisty, ain't you?

- Get out of here. - I ain't in no hurry.

Well, I am.

Mama, there's a long distance phone call for you.

- (NERVOUSLY) Here, take this. - Are you all right?

Hello? Yes, Mrs. Denman.

How's the emergency furlough coming along?

Three days? It's not very long, but if it's the best we can do...

Tomorrow morning at 10:00? Yeah, I'll meet him.

Does he know?

I see.

Is there any news for us?

Yes, well, we'll keep in touch.

Thank you.

Someone trying to get an emergency furlough?

You're gonna be late back to work, Erin.

And lock the car doors when you go.

I'm going up there.

If I thought you were going to go up there tonight,

I wouldn't have told you.

Liv, I'm not going to have some man

coming on my property and threatening my wife.

He didn't hurt me, John.

Do you want the man on the loose or don't you?

No, of course I don't but if you go up there tonight while you're all upset,

- you're not going to settle anything. - Liv, I...

Please. Please wait till morning.

Please.

All right, Liv.

Frank Thatcher's emergency furlough came through.

I'm going to pick him up at 10:30 in the morning.

- Does he know about Darcy? - Not yet.

All right. I'll take care of Slater.

- You think you can handle Frank? - Looks like I'm going to have to.

Mr. Godsey.

I have never seen anything like the colors in the woods this year.

It is as if an artist had flung his palette at the trees.

I doubt if there is anything to equal it.

You know, there's an ad here.

There's a house for rent on the beach in Florida for the winter.

Mr. Godsey, who is minding the store?

Hmm? Elizabeth.

Do you think that Elizabeth is old enough to be stepping into my shoes?

No. As a matter of fact, I kind of like the idea of youth.

(CHUCKLES) I mean, I don't think you're over the hill or anything.

But it's just that Elizabeth is full of life and energy

and she is willing to learn and take orders.

Well, I guess you will be needing someone

now that I'm having to spend so much time managing my estate.

Yes. As a matter of fact, Elizabeth came up with a very good idea.

She wants to make an improvement. She wants to put in a record department.

You know, she knows all the dance bands.

And that way it'll bring the kids into the store.

Well, what will it be like for the other customers when they try placing an order

and have to listen to the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B?

Corabeth, you got to go along with the times.

Now, Mr. Godsey...

Corabeth, I have made up my mind.

But, Mr. Godsey, we have a reputation to maintain.

Elizabeth, have you finished putting away the produce?

Yes, and I dusted the shelves, stacked the soap boxes,

filled the candy case and washed the fingerprints off the front door.

Well, I guess we won't be needing you anymore today. Thanks a lot, Elizabeth.

All right. Ike, could you make sure that this gets the proper postage?

Sure.

You still writing to John-Boy.

Sure. That's why when they find him, they can forward the letters to him.

He'll have all the news, if they locate him.

ELIZABETH: When they locate him, Corabeth.

- I'll see you later. - Okay.

Bye, Elizabeth.

You know, Mr. Godsey, it has occurred to me

that the purchase of a large automobile at this time would be most inappropriate.

Yeah, I guess, that's a good idea. Well, with gasoline rationing and everything.

I think the best investment I could make at this time would be in war bonds.

Spoken in the spirit of the times.

Then when the war is over and the seas are safe, we could take a world cruise.

Yeah. By then Elizabeth will be old enough to take complete charge of the store.

Well, I would feel much better about that

if I were given the full responsibility of her training.

You mean, you'd like your old job back?

Well, if you don't object to working with a woman who is not quite so youthful.

There's nothing like a mature woman.

Uncle Charlie told me I'd find you up here, Slater.

Who are you?

(EXCLAIMS)

That's right, I'm John Walton.

Now, look, Mr. Walton, I didn't say nothing bad to your wife.

You said she lied. You threatened her.

A man has to protect his good name.

The deputy came up and he was nosing around, asking questions.

Suppose you didn't have any answers for him, did you?

That little Thatcher girl can say what she likes

but a woman don't get took unless she wants to.

Slater, you ought to be in jail

and you would be except I don't want Darcy to have any more pain.

I done her a favor. She was lonely.

- I just give her a little companionship. - Let's just stop waltzing around, huh?

I hope you've been thinking about some place to live,

'cause you sure as hell can't stay here.

- You can't run me off. - I can't, huh?

I'm going to run you off right now. How long it take you to pack?

Now, hold on there. You're a red-blooded man, John.

Put yourself in my place.

That pretty little girl running around up there all by herself

in them thin little dresses.

Tell the truth, John. You'd have done the same thing, wouldn't...

I don't like laying hands on you, Slater. I hate to think what I might do.

Okay, okay. I've been thinking about going up north anyway.

You do that, Slater. I don't ever want to see your face around here again.

- Are you Frank Thatcher? - Yes, ma'am. You must be Mrs. Walton.

Yes, I am. Let's go. I know you must be in a hurry to see Darcy.

They didn't tell me nothing about her except she wasn't sick.

They said you'd tell me.

She is sick, isn't she?

No. She's not sick. Why don't you get in the car?

FRANK: And then the CO called me in to tell me something was wrong at home

and the Army was giving me an emergency furlough.

The only thing I could figure was Darcy was sick or hurt herself.

That explains why she hasn't been writing to me.

Something happened to her. Something she felt she couldn't talk to you about.

Well, we never had any secrets from each other.

It must have been pretty bad.

A man came up to the farm, acting neighborly.

He found her alone and he took advantage of her.

What do you mean, "took advantage"?

He forced himself on her.

She was ashamed and frightened.

She had no one to turn to and she was afraid you'd find out.

I think she was afraid of what you might do.

And she felt like she'd been ruined for you.

I wanted you to see her before you go overseas

because I was afraid she might not be here when you got back.

Who was he?

Frank!

Why didn't you tell me?

I was too ashamed.

I remember how Son Slater used to slink around here looking at you,

like he could see right through what you were wearing.

It was him, wasn't it?

I'm sorry, Frank.

I should have gone after him before I ever left.

He'll get himself killed!

- No, Darcy. - Frank, stop! Please!

Now, hold on, son, hold on.

Listen, if you're looking for Slater, it's too late, he's gone.

I'll find him. Wherever he is.

Wait a minute! The man is not worth ruining your life over.

Your wife is more important now. She needs your help.

Listen to her, son.

FRANK: I love you, Darcy.

You don't think Son Slater will come back after Frank leaves?

Not a chance, not to these hills.

I just wish we could have had him locked up somewhere

so he could have had a nice long time to think about what he did to Darcy.

I can't believe the law doesn't make that possible.

Maybe someday.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Hello, Mr. Walton. May I come in?

Mrs. Denman. Yes. Yes, come in.

Do you have some news?

The kind of news I have can't be given over the phone.

Your son's been found. Wounded but alive.

He's being flown back to an Army hospital outside of Washington.

You'll be able to see him.

How bad is he?

It's very serious.

JOHN-BOY: The conclusion of this episode will be seen next on The Waltons.

English -SDH