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[instrumental music]

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(Earl) This is Earl Hamner.

When I was growing up in the hills of Virginia

during the Great Depression

I would never have believed that I would someday end up

at a studio in Hollywood

telling the story of my life on television.

As a matter of fact, television as we know it today

didn't even exist.

We grew up here, in this house, where my mother still lives.

From the earliest times I can remember

I wanted to be a writer.

I was told that to be a good writer

one should write about what he cares for most passionately.

That was my family, and I wrote about them in my novel

"Spencer's Mountain" and in a later novel, "The Homecoming."

"Spencer's Mountain" became a film

and "The Homecoming" became a Lorimar CBS television special

in 1971.

From the special grew the series "The Waltons"

which premiered in the fall of 1972.

Since then, we've covered ten years

"A Decade Of The Waltons."

[instrumental music]

On this special program, we'll visit my hometown

where it all began, meet my mother

my brothers and sisters

and the actors who have portrayed them all these years.

Stay with us during the next two hours

for a visit to two fairly dissimilar towns.

'Hollywood, California and Schuyler, Virginia.'

'And a fine look back at a decade of the Waltons.'

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Here, on this set on the back lot of the Burbank Studio

a lot of talented people have recreated the world

in which I grew up, my family

and a time that existed some 40 years ago

in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

With their help, I'd like to take you back

to a very special day. Grandma's birthday.

Is this what you were looking for, mama?

What? Oh, it sure is. Wherever did you find it?

Up in the attic, in an old chest of drawers.

When it comes to finding junk, Jim-Bob's got a sixth sense.

This isn't junk, these are the pictures that have been

missing from grandma's album.

This is the best present we could ever give her.

(Jason) Where's that picture of Ben jumping into the pond

in his birthday suit?

Well, I was looking for the one with you with the mumps.

Yeah, you look like a beach ball with freckles.

- Ha-ha-ha. - Yeah.

Mama, what's this? It looks like John-Boy's handwriting.

"Thy smile the beamin' sun doth quite outshine

and warms the coursing blood like heady wine."

That was the year John-Boy was in love with Marsha Wollery.

- That's right! - 'Oh, my..'

- That's right. - 'Marsha Wollery.'

I remember that.

"Thy smile the beaming sun doth quite outshine..

And warms the coursing blood like heady wine."

Is that all?

Well, that's as far as I've written.

You like it?

Sounds just like all that stuff I don't understand

in our literature books.

Well, I plan to write at least 12 stanzas of it.

I don't see how you do it.

Well, the inspiration is the important thing.

I mean

when someone inspires someone else with f-feelings..

With-with certain feelings..

Do you drink a lot of wine, John-Boy?

Wine? Me?

You mentioned some kind of wine in the poem.

(John-Boy) 'Oh, heady wine. Heady wine.'

Well, actually, I don't know too much about wine.

- My daddy makes dandelion wine. - Hm.

Marcia, when I finish my poem, you think I...

Uh, not to be keeping you from it.

Oh, no, that's alright.

Just something I wanna ask Kitty Lou anyways.

- Bye. - Bye.

Boy.

Funny how openin' up something like this

brings back a whole flood of memories.

I bet John-Boy would be embarrassed

that we read his poem.

I doubt it. He never did have any privacy.

I remember times when he'd be tryin' to write

and he'd be interrupted by just about the whole family.

[laughter]

[knocking on door]

- Yeah? - 'Hurry on, let me in.'

[sighs] I think I'm having a heart attack.

- Heart attack? - Well..

It keeps going wham, wham, wham.

Then it stops for the longest time

and I think I'm suffocating.

- Well, how'd it start? - Well, trying to go to sleep.

Trying to figure out things.

Yeah, what kind of things?

Like, why a boy likes a girl one day

and the next day he's off chasin' some other girl.

I know what kinda heart trouble you've got.

G.W. Haines heart trouble, right?

I don't know what he sees in her.

She can't catch, can't run, can't throw.

Screams if she sees a wooly worm.

Why, not more than a week ago, G.W. was makin' fun of her.

What happened?

Well, sister, there comes a time

when boys like girls to be different.

And G.W. maybe at exactly that point.

Where a fancy dress is more interestin'

than a great catcher's mitt?

Well, he might still like the catcher's mitt

but he'd rather see the girl in a fancy dress.

- Did I leave my harp in here? - 'No.'

I don't know, Jason. Look around.

[sighs] Alright.

[sighs]

You got a safety pin, John-Boy?

Look on around the dresser.

The strings of my pajamas broke.

Can I sleep in here, John-Boy? There's a mouse under my bed.

Mm-hmm.

- Hey. - Hm?

What are you writin'?

Stuff. Go on to bed.

[instrumental music]

John-Boy, will you kiss me goodnight?

Sure, honey. Hm. Goodnight. Go on to bed now.

[music continues]

(Jason) Now, what's it doin' under here?

[sighs]

Play somethin' pretty, Jason.

[harmonica music]

What is this? A family reunion?

Go on writing, John-Boy. You're not bothering us.

(Jason) That was night here, it's a little darker now, I think.

Mama, do you think we should put this one in the book?

Well, grandma doesn't always approve of the Baldwin sisters.

But why not? They're part of the family, too.

Oh, that's a good picture of them.

That's an oldie.

Has anybody tried usin' it lately? See, uh..

[sighs] They wouldn't accept my story in longhand.

Well, might one venture to ask what the story is about?

Well, it's about my family mostly.

Like how I went lookin' for my daddy one Christmas time and..

[chuckles] s-stopped here on the way and had a little recipe and...

You mentioned the recipe in the story?

Yes, ma'am. I hope you don't mind.

Why, of course we don't mind!

Why, everybody in the whole world

should know about the recipe.

How dare those magazine people

turn down a story about the recipe.

Oh! Yankees, probably.

Yes, ma'am. New York people.

Now am I to understand, John-Boy

that these treacherous Yankees

might be persuaded to accept your story about the recipe

if it were typewritten?

I think it would stand a better chance of it.

[instrumental music]

What would the judge say, Mamie?

Well, I believe the judge would say

that nothin' is more important

than the nurturin' of artistic endeavor.

I can just hear him sayin' it.

He had such an authoritative voice.

Does this mean that..

[chuckling]

[typewriter keys clacking]

The typewriter helped, but it was going to be some time

before my first story was to be published.

In the meantime, other important events were taking place

that were to affect our lives.

(Earl) It was a time in the country when everybody was learning

at first-hand what it was like to be poor.

In the cities, men who had owned their own business

the year before were selling apples on the street.

The outlook was equally grim

for the farming people of the heartland of the country.

Already trying to get along on depression prices

for their produce, they were struck

by a series of natural disasters.

The area came to called the Dust Bowl.

Whole towns in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska

were left inundated with dust as the people migrated

in the hope of finding some better life.

It was also a time in our country

when a crippling disease called polio was raging unchecked.

It was to strike thousands of families, including our own.

John, is that wheelchair still around?

Yes, it is, Liv. It's, uh..

It's out in the hallway.

Tomorrow I'm gonna start learnin' how to use it.

[rain pattering]

What's happened, Liv?

This afternoon I had a little lesson in humility.

Gotta get back to the business

of livin' with things the way they are

instead of the way I wish they could be.

You're sure?

Mm-hmm.

[instrumental music]

- Goodnight. - Goodnight.

[music continues]

[exhales sharply]

[birds chirping]

[instrumental music]

[birds chirping]

(Elizabeth) 'Mama!'

'Mama!'

[indistinct chatter]

(Elizabeth) 'Mama! Mama, mama. Help me, mama. Help me.'

[indistinct chatter]

'Mama! Mama!'

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[clattering]

[footsteps approaching]

Livi.

I heard Elizabeth call.

[chuckles]

I-I just had to go to her.

She was havin' a bad dream.

[footsteps approaching]

I'm alright.

'I'm alright.'

I'm alright.

Olivia, how did you do it?

I don't know.

Maybe you were right, John-Boy.

Maybe I was trying too hard.

When I just got up without thinkin'..

[instrumental music]

[chuckles]

[chuckles] Well, look at me.

[chuckling] I can walk as well as any one-year-old in the county.

Well, I just may take you dancin' when you grow up.

Oh, mama!

[indistinct chatter]

I've been meanin' to finish this photo album for years.

It took a special occasion to bring me to do it.

Somebody get ribbon and paper and we'll wrap it.

I got a pink satin bow somewhere.

Mama, do you think grandma's gonna be wanna be reminded

of all these years?

I don't see why not.

They've been good years mostly.

Learnin' and growin' years.

Lookin' at all our old baby pictures

might make her feel old.

Grandma's too young to feel old.

Right, and besides

grandmothers kinda like havin' pictures of their grandchildren

to show off to people. Just ask mama.

Ask me later, right now I got other things on my mind

like a birthday dinner. Up, everybody.

Reminiscence over. Time to work.

- Come on, man. - I'll put this back.

(Earl) "The Waltons" will continue

as we look back to the time

when the family considered moving away

from Walton's Mountain.

[instrumental music]

And I want that fire good and hot.

Don't want this cake to fall.

Don't worry, mama, I got plenty of wood.

When do I get to lick the spoon?

You have to wrestle me for it.

[laughing]

[harmonica music]

Well, how about it, Mary Ellen?

We can make a whole bunch for the party.

This is not grandma's tenth birthday, Jim-Bob.

We would like to have some semblance of dignity.

[laughing]

Until this series appeared

television families remained stationary in time.

Characters in family drama

frequently did not reflect the events that took place

in the previous week's episode.

We were determined to design each episode of "The Waltons"

as if it were a chapter in a continuing novel.

If we've been successful, it's because our audience

recognizes our characters as human

endowed equally with strengths and weaknesses

reaching out to those around them for warmth and support

and affirmation.

And we found drama in the simplest of situations.

In the homely setting of a kitchen

in an exchange between young and old members

of the same family.

Mostly on the series, what we've always tried to do

is to entertain, to tell a story

and we hoped, a good story.

But as time passed, it turned out

we were doing something in addition.

We were celebrating some values in American life

that go back to pioneer times.

But if you had a $100,000 just for yourself, let's say

you couldn't spend it on anybody else or you'd lose it

what would you do with it?

Oh, I wouldn't know where to begin.

Where to begin where?

We're just playing a little game

as to what we'd do if we suddenly got rich.

I'd buy candy.

John-Boy, come one over and have somethin' to eat.

I'll be there.

Pretend, mama, what would you do with the money?

Oh, alright, let's see.

Um, well, first I'd buy me a new dress

for the golden anniversary.

'And then I'd buy some curtains.'

(Mary Ellen) What else, mama?

Well, I guess there'd be enough left over to go see

my sister Frances in Edgemont.

Mm, I know what I'd do, I'd buy me a big car

the kind that the rich people have.

Have somebody drive me around.

I'd go to my friends' houses and give 'em rides.

What would you do, daddy?

I'd probably buy Elizabeth

a new tooth for the front of her mouth.

(Mary Ellen) 'Seriously, daddy, what would you do?'

Oh, I'd shingle the roof, paint the house

fix up the saw mill, pay some of those debts

'and put the rest in the bank.'

I'd like to get me a new rocker with a good back rest.

What about you, grandma? What would you like?

Oh, I don't know. I'd like to be two inches taller.

[laughing]

I don't need nothin'.

Well, you got all that money, grandma

you gotta spend it on somethin'.

Well, is there some kind of a clock

that can turn back 20 years?

Ah, but then the children wouldn't be here.

Well, then forget it.

(Jason) 'I think I'd go to New York City and study music.'

(Mary Ellen) 'What would you like, Ben?'

(Ben) 'I'd buy me an airplane and fly up'

'to New York and watch the Yankees play.'

I know what Mary Ellen would like.

Shut your yap.

She'd go to Hollywood

and see Gary Cooper in person.

Hey, that's not a bad idea. I'd like that.

We haven't asked Jim-Bob what he'd like.

What would you do if you had a $100,000, Jim-Bob?

Gee, I never had a $100,000. How many zeroes is it?

I don't believe a person should have more

than they know what to do with.

I believe a body should earn his livin'

by the sweat of his brow.

I don't know, pa.

There are times when I could use a little less sweat on my brow.

[instrumental music]

Say, 280 plus 14 times 10?

No, seven.

- Um.. - You countin' the petals?

No, I'm trying to figure out how many birthdays we've celebrated

in this family. How many do you think?

Oh, I couldn't even begin to guess.

- Which one was your favorite? - Oh. That's an easy one.

[instrumental music]

Mama.

Well, thank goodness, someone's come to keep me company.

I have something for your birthday for ya.

Uh..

I've been trying to figure out what to give ya.

It's been difficult this year.

I thought I knew what I was gonna give you

but that didn't seem right.

But I was readin' this mornin'

and I found a poem in here..

By a man named Gerard Manley Hopkins.

'And I'd like to read it to you for your birthday.'

[sighs] Here it is. It's called "The Windhover."

That's a bird.

"I caught this morning morning's minion

"kingdom of daylight's dauphin

"dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding

"of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding.

'"High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing'

'"in his ecstasy'

'"then off, off forth on swing, as a skate's heel'

'"sweeps smooth on a bow-bend'

'"the hurl and gliding rebuffed the big wind.'

'"My heart in hiding stirred for a bird'

"the achieve of, the mastery of the thing.

"Brute beauty and valor and act

"oh, air, pride, plume, here buckle!

'"And the fire that breaks from thee then'

'"a billion times told lovelier, more dangerous'

'"O my chevalier!'

'"No wonder of it, sheer plod makes plough down sillion'

'"shine and blue-bleak embers'

"ah, my dear, fall

gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion."

[instrumental music]

[clears throat]

John-Boy, those words were just like listenin' to music.

[music continues]

I don't really understand what the poem meant

but I think those were just about the most beautiful words

I ever heard.

Well, I think the poem has a meaning. Uh..

To me, it means

that some things..

Which may seem too simple or unimportant

or even just downright plain..

Those things are really every bit as important

and everybody's beautiful as the most magnificent things

in the whole world.

[music continues]

Thank you, John-Boy.

Happy birthday.

There was a..

There was a line in there, somethin' about, "My heart?"

Oh, yeah. "My heart in hiding stirred..."

Hey, mama! Your birthday's ready, if you want it!

[laughing]

- Mama! - Oh, that Jim-Bob.

[Olivia laughing]

Popular belief has it that anybody who's lived

50 or more years is over the hill in every way.

The older person is pictured as cranky

exhausted emotionally, economically

sexually and financially

deprived of vitality in general.

Ironically, our population of older people

is growing with leaps and bounds.

Whether we like it or not

old age is what we're all headed for.

In this series, our older people have been portrayed as vital

'meaningful and contributing members of the family.'

'Once John and Olivia considered'

'selling the house and moving away.'

'One of their main concerns was how grandma and grandpa'

'might take the news.'

[groans]

Hey.

Missy..

Your hands are a lot better than any danged old hot spring.

Yeah..

Almost 50 years, Zebulon.

And I wouldn't miss one minute of it, old girl.

Remember the day we first came up here to this place, Esther?

Shouldn't remember such things.

Why not? We was married, wasn't we?

And then there was a day I come runnin' up here

when I found out I was in the family way.

Scared as a cottontail.

And then you found me, and everything was alright.

I was scared, too, Esther.

You know, you were such a tiny little thing

all I wanted to do was to protect you.

Give you the moon and all the trimmings.

And all I have ever been able to give you

is just a piece of this good earth, hm

and one another.

I guess that's about all anyone's meant to have.

The best there is anyway.

Young people don't know what's important.

Memories are important. They can't take them away from you.

We've had us some good times, haven't we, Esther?

[laughing]

[mellow music]

[thunder rumbling]

John-Boy, I want you to come back downstairs.

I've got to hear what you have to say.

It's only fair.

Yeah, that's what I've been thinkin' about

what would be fair.

You know, the other day when we had a talk

you said that by sellin' the place

you wanted to benefit the children, but..

That's right.

I don't think you were really considering these two.

Well, how do you mean?

[sighs] Well..

Well, the rest of us, uh, the older ones

I, I think maybe it wouldn't be so hard for us.

But we've had this place all our lives

'and we have a history here that's made us what we are.'

And we have memories of this place

that are so firmly planted in our minds

we'll never forget them.

I mean, every breath we've ever taken

is still somewhere in this house.

Mama, as long as I live, I will never forget

'the smell of coffee and bacon driftin' upstairs'

'on a winter morning.'

'I'll never forget the sound of your footsteps in the hallway.'

You know, daddy, I have a picture in my mind of you

that is so clear..

'...I can just see you walking across the meadow..'

'...through a new crusted snow.'

I'll never forget those things.

I stood under the kitchen window and I've listened to the sounds

that this family makes at dinner time

'and everyone's talking at once'

'and nobody's listening to anybody else'

'but the sound of that talk is so beautiful.'

'You just ought to put it to music.'

'The way it drifts out on the evening air..'

It's the sounds of this house, and I'll never forget.

Especially that one moment..

When we're all in bed..

We're all safe, we're all together

just before we go to sleep.

How we say goodnight to each other here.

[instrumental music]

And, daddy, I don't know what kind of Waltons

'these two children would be'

if they have to grow up without all that.

And I think really the decision is theirs to make.

[thunder rumbling]

[music continues]

Let's go to bed.

(Earl) The decision of whether to sell the farm or not

didn't come until the night before grandma and grandpa's

golden wedding anniversary.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

[applauding]

[indistinct chatter]

[music continues]

Keeping track?

- No. - Heh-heh.

Hey, mama, what do you want me to do with the present?

Oh, hide it. We'll give it to her after supper.

- Okay. - It sure looks good, mama.

Don't you dare put a finger to it, young man.

Who, me?

[chuckles] You. Oops.

Oh, no, there's hardly any water.

Well, Jason must be taking a bath.

We gotta all be getting ready soon.

Daddy will be here with grandma.

Well, everything looks real nice, mama.

I wouldn't mind having Mrs. John Jacob

asked to come for supper.

Yeah, but I'd rather have grandma.

- Let's go get ready. - Hm.

(Earl) In a moment we will return to "A Decade Of The Waltons."

We will meet Corabeth Godsey for the first time

and relive the fearsome night

when the fire ravaged the family home.

[instrumental music]

Hm.

- Wow! - Wow, what?

- You look pretty, mom. - Well, thank you.

But that cake's gonna look pretty shabby

if you don't stop jabbing your finger in it.

What are we gonna have to drink with it?

[exhales sharply] What would you like?

How about some of the Baldwin ladies' recipe?

- Hm. - 'Okay.'

- 'How about some lemonade?' - Alright.

But you'll have to go to the store and get the lemons.

- Oh. I don't mind. - Hurry, then.

Don't stay gossiping with Ike and Corabeth.

Hey, mom, was Corabeth really a Walton?

She's your father's second cousin.

Jim-Bob, this is no time to haul out the family tree.

- Go get those lemons. - Okay.

[instrumental music]

- Hello, Uncle Ike. - It's Ike Godsey.

- 'Hey, Ike.' - 'Hey, Ike, how are you?'

- Hi, everybody. - Hey, Ike.

This-this lady came by the store and she asked for you folks

and, uh, I felt I just had to bring her by.

Well, I, I guess I should have written

but I-I wanted to surprise you all.

Well, doesn't anybody know me? John?

- Zeb? - Well..

Well, is it really you, Cory?

It's me, alright. Corabeth.

Corabeth Walton. Yeah. Hello. Good to see you.

I hope I haven't walked in on you at a bad time.

No, not at all, the Waltons are always welcome here.

- Come on and meet the family. - Hello, Zeb.

- C-Cory. - How are you?

Nice to see you.

It's been a lot of years, Corabeth.

The years have been kind to you.

Corabeth, meet the rest of the family. Our children.

This is our youngest, Elizabeth, and this is Mary Ellen.

This is your cousin, Corabeth.

And there's Jason and Jim-Bob.

- Glad to meet you. - Don't forget Erin over here.

Oh, Erin. This is.. Meet your Cousin Corabeth.

Hi.

But, John-Boy, I guess you don't remember me.

Well, I remember, I used to go by your house.

When your daddy was sick, he used to keep

a little sack of candies by the bed, I remember that.

You were just a little boy then.

And the rest of you hadn't even been thought of.

Well, Cory, you must be wore out from traveling.

- Come on, here, sit down, Cory. - Thank you.

I'll go outside and-and get your things.

I'll help you. Come on, Jason.

Come on.

Corabeth, what brings you over to Jefferson County?

- Mama passed away last month. - Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Oh, she must have been nigh on to 80.

- 'Seventy-nine.' - Seventy-nine.

I'm on my way to Richmond to look for a position.

And I thought it only my proper family duty

to stop in and see my kin.

- Well, glad you did. - Pleasure to see you, Corabeth.

Uh, when are you expected in Richmond?

Expected?

Oh..

No, my time's my own now.

'I'm in no hurry.'

I don't intend to move back to Doe Hill.

Everything I own is right here.

'I'm much obliged to you, Mr. Godsey, for your kindness.'

- I was very happy to do it. - Oh.

It's not everyone would extend themselves for a stranger.

Well, if there's anything else I can do for you

to make your visit here more enjoyable

you just say the word.

Thank you so much.

I spotted you for a gentleman the minute I walked in

your general mercantile store.

[laughing]

[clears throat] Well, much obliged, Ike.

Oh, John, i-it was a pleasure.

- We'll see you later. - Thank you.

- Bye, Ike. - Thank you, Ike, thank you.

Well..

I hope my just walking in like this isn't any inconvenience.

Oh, not at all, Corabeth.

Well, last thing I want to be is a burden to anyone.

But I..

Well, if it would fit in with your plans, I..

I certainly would appreciate a chance to rest.

Well, you just stop your fretting, Corabeth.

Uh, John-Boy.

'Uh, why don't you take Corabeth's things'

'up to your room? Jason, give him a hand.'

- Sure. - Oh, dear.

I'm dispossessing you.

Oh, no, it's really just a guest room.

I only stay there when we're not having visitors.

- Yeah. - Ha-ha!

[instrumental music]

I haven't danced so much in years.

Ah, it's wonderful.

Looks to me like chaperones had

even more fun than the sweethearts.

Well, I tried, but he kept saying things

that just didn't make any sense at all.

Oh, you don't have to make sense to be courting.

And Corabeth didn't give him any encouragement

no matter what he said.

I feel sorry for her.

Well, so do I, but that doesn't mean

I want her living under the same roof with me.

[sobbing]

- Corabeth, what's wrong? - What happened?

[sobbing]

Ike asked me to marry him.

And I said yes!

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

[instrumental music]

Corabeth's was all out of lemons.

Oh, isn't that just wonderful?

I guess we'll just have to have some recipe then.

Jim-Bob, if this keeps up

I'm gonna have to go on another sit-down strike.

Uh-oh, I remember the first one you went on.

[instrumental music]

[laughing]

Have you ever heard of Luther Burbank?

It seems I ran across his name

helping one of you children with your homework.

There's some Burbanks live over on the road to Rockfish.

No, grandma, this guy was a scientist

and he experimented with crossing plants.

You cross one plant with another plant

and make all kinds of new plants and vegetables.

- Improving on the Lord's work? - Mary Ellen...

I'm crossing cucumber with watermelon.

Whatever for?

Can you imagine the giant pickles?

- Oh, good Lord. - Mary Ellen.

You were supposed to mop this floor.

Well, I'll do it right now, mama.

I did it.

Well, I'm sorry. I just forgot.

That's the third time this week.

Well..

[door creaking]

[cow mooing]

Chance, get out of here.

Ben, Jason, take that cow back to the stall.

Hey, mama, I don't know how she got out.

I'm sitting there just playing marbles.

Look what she did to my flowers.

And they were just getting a good start.

I'm sorry, mama.

Well, it's not your fault, Elizabeth.

(Elizabeth) 'I guess I left Chance's stall door open.'

Elizabeth, I have told you and told you..

- Not to play in that stall. - I'm sorry, mama.

Jason, the wood box is empty again.

- I told Ben to fill it. - Well, I told Jim-Bob.

And who did Jim-Bob tell? Reckless?

- Reckless! - Grandpa, that dog is..

[indistinct chatter]

- Stop, Reckless! Stop! - Hey!

[indistinct chatter]

Crazy dog.

[clamoring]

Get him out of the kitchen. He's got mud everywhere.

Uh, Reckless, come back, here's a spot you missed.

Oh, I'm sorry, it's all our fault, Livi.

Everybody is sorry and nobody's sorrier than I am.

What?

What are you doing?

What's the matter? You-you resting?

Mama?

Aren't you gonna ever speak to us again?

[door shuts]

What's going on in here?

Well, all of a sudden, uh

Livi begin to act sort of peculiar.

Peculiar?

Nobody does the chores they're supposed to do

so I end up doing them

and then Reckless comes in and ruins everything.

Well, I understand you're aggravated, Liv.

Why don't we all simmer down and, uh, and talk this over?

There has been enough talk and blame-passin'

and sorry-sayin'.

If you don't wanna talk, what do you wanna do?

I'm doin' it.

What's that?

I'm staging my own personal sit-down strike.

Oh, she's having a sit-down strike.

Grandpa, what's a sit-down strike?

Uh, these fellows in Detroit started it.

They sort of plunk themselves down in the middle of things

and they don't budge till they get it arbitrated on

and get what they want.

What do you want, mama?

I want better working conditions

no more excuses and a little cooperation.

Well, now..

Alright.

Alright, Liv, we're ready to arbitrate.

[instrumental music]

(Earl) A house is more than walls and floors

a ceiling and a roof.

It's all the words that were spoken there

all the cries and whispers, all the good times and the bad.

[fire crackling]

- John. - Hm?

- Smoke. - Hm?

John..

[dramatic music]

Girls, come on!

- Wake up! Fire. - John-Boy!

[clamoring]

Hurry up! Get up!

(John) 'There's a fire, kids.'

[clamoring]

Boys, fire.

Jason, Jim-Bob, wake up.

[clamoring]

- 'Fire!' - 'Stop. Now, come on.'

[coughing]

- The house is on fire. - What?

[indistinct chatter]

Let's go.

Mama, you alright?

[screaming]

Get out of here, Esther. Give me that robe.

[indistinct chatter]

[fire crackling]

[clamoring]

[coughing]

Mary Ellen, Elizabeth, hurry!

[dog barking in distance]

Well, there, Elizabeth, come on. Hurry up!

(Olivia) 'Erin, somebody, come down quickly.'

[coughing]

- 'Erin..' - 'Alright let's go, everybody.'

- Get ready! Come on! - Where is everybody?

Come on!

Come on, everybody!

Come on! Here we go!

[indistinct yelling]

- 'Come on!' - 'Come on!'

- No, stay out! Out! - Out! Out!

Get outside and stay out. Get outside and stay out.

- 'Out!' - 'Outside and stay outside.'

[clamoring]

- 'Come on, get out.' - 'Get out!'

(John) 'Out! Everybody, out!'

[coughing]

(John) 'Outside!'

Erin! Erin, get up!

Mama!

[indistinct yelling]

Jason, get that axe and get some help!

You boys give the blanket to..

[clamoring]

Liv, c-come back here.

[clamoring]

John-Boy! Erin!

[indistinct yelling]

[screaming]

(Elizabeth) 'Erin!'

'Erin!'

[indistinct yelling]

[indistinct yelling]

Will you let go?

I'm coming!

(Earl) The fire was the most frightening thing

we'd ever been through on the mountain.

This room had suffered the least damage.

So while all the children were given a place to stay

with friends and neighbors, the grown-ups stayed here.

We spend our whole lives trying to raise our kids

and give them a proper home.

Now they're scattered to the winds

and the house is nothing but a shell.

Oh, honey, there's nothing gone we can't replace.

We had hard times even from the beginning

and we got through 'em somehow.

But here we are, still stumblin'

and picking' ourselves up over and over.

And I don't think I can pick myself up anymore.

Liv, you're over-tired, honey.

Let's see if we can get a good night's rest.

Maybe tomorrow things won't look so grim.

We'll get through.

We're always looking for a way to get through.

Makes a person wonder why we struggle so.

Liv, you're not listening to me.

[sighs]

I got two good strong hands

and a strong back.

I'll put this place back together for you again.

You know you, um

you probably made a big mistake a long time ago.

What?

Well, now

right now you could be married to Oscar Cockrell

be the wife of a big state senator

living in the lap of luxury down Richmond Way.

[chuckles] Well, I didn't love Oscar Cockrell.

And besides, he married Doddie Roberts.

I hear Doddie left him.

[sighs]

We'll just go down to the courthouse tomorrow.

Get me a divorce and go chasing after Oscar Cockrell.

You see?

I told you things would look better tomorrow.

Tsk. Oh, get out.

[laughing]

(Earl) Elizabeth had been more deeply affected by the fire

than anyone knew.

Even after the house had been rebuilt

she was afraid to come home.

Elizabeth.

'Elizabeth.'

Why did you have to find me here?

(John-Boy) 'You can't sleep up here.'

Why not?

All by yourself?

That's what I want.

You're thinking about the fire, aren't you?

It's not gonna happen again, honey.

There's no reason to be afraid.

I'm not afraid.

Then why are you acting this way?

Don't you know how much you're worrying your mama?

I don't want mama to worry.

Well, she is worried.

'And she's worried because she cares about you.'

And I don't understand it, but lately you've been acting

as though you don't care about her or anybody.

- I don't. I don't care. - 'Elizabeth.'

I never want to care about anyone or anything ever again.

- You don't mean that. - Yes, I do, John-Boy, I do.

Whenever I care, terrible things happen.

What terrible things?

Lucy Arnold was my best friend. Lucy died.

Calico, the mama cat, my raccoon, my butterfly..

It always happens, John-Boy, always.

Whenever I love something, it dies.

Oh, please, I don't want you

or mama or daddy or anybody to die.

Mama's fine. We're all fine.

Now I'm scared, John-Boy.

[cricket chirping]

[Elizabeth sobbing]

[instrumental music]

Honey..

Sometimes you do lose people that you love.

That's a hard thing.

But it doesn't happen because you love 'em.

It just happens because it's part of nature.

'You can't keep somebody safe by pretending not to love them.'

'It just doesn't work, believe me.'

'Everybody's afraid.'

Everybody?

Yeah.

'The best way I know to get over it is just, uh..'

'...put myself smack-dab in the middle of people'

'that I do love, people who love me.'

'That seems to make it all worthwhile.'

Why don't you try that? This other thing didn't work, did it?

It was awful.

[music continues]

(John) 'Drove all the way down to Ike's, there's no sign of her.'

(Olivia) 'Didn't see her on the road anywhere.'

(Esther) 'Well, what can we do?'

'But you said you've been everywhere, right?'

[clamoring]

Everybody.

Elizabeth's home.

[instrumental music]

Mama.

[chuckles] Elizabeth, we were so worried about you.

Are you sure it was daddy who pulled up?

Don't peek, Elizabeth. You'll ruin the surprise.

- Shh. - Everybody, be quiet. Be quiet.

(Zeb) 'We weren't expecting him.'

'I hope everybody's home.'

(all) Surprise!

- Happy birthday, grandma. - Happy birthday.

You look great.

[indistinct chatter]

[instrumental music]

During grandma's birthday party

we'll journey back in time to Walton's Mountain

visit with members of our cast and then travel to Virginia

where all these stories began many years ago.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

(Earl) It's time for the evening meal

a very special one, for it's grandma's birthday.

In other parts of the country, it's called dinner.

We called it supper.

A time to visit, to exchange information

to catch up on all that had happened during the day

and to give thanks for all our blessings.

Heavenly Father, we ask Your blessing on this food

and on those who partake of it.

We especially ask your blessing

'on one of your most devoted daughters, Esther Walton.'

'We are grateful for the love and strength'

'she's brought to this family down through the years.'

- Amen. - Amen.

- Alright, let's get it started. - Meat loaf.

- Okay. - Take some of those peas.

I happen to be looking through some old snapshots today

and I ran across some pictures of my wedding

I didn't even know I had.

Too bad you didn't find any about

what happened before the wedding.

It's a wonder any of us survived everything that led up to it.

Well, if isn't Dr. Willard. Nice of you to return.

Would've been even nicer if you'd let us know..

- You were leaving. - Mary Ellen..

Dear sweet, gentle, Mary Ellen.

It sure is great to be back.

And I did let you know.

(Erin) 'Mary Ellen, I..'

He left a letter..

Last Sunday morning.

Oh, I didn't want him to come between you and David so..

[sighs] so I burned it.

Oh, Erin.

It's okay, it's-it's all over now.

You stay out of this, Curt! How could you do that, Erin?

I didn't want the wedding spoiled.

I saw you kissing last Saturday night.

Oh, it didn't mean a thing!

Well, I hope it did, Mary Ellen..

Because I'm gonna marry you.

I suppose you call that a proposal.

It's the best one you're gonna get from me.

Well, I wouldn't marry you, Curtis Willard

if you were the last man on Earth!

(male #1) 'Do you, Curtis take this woman'

'to be your true and lawful wife?'

I do.

(male #1) 'And do you, Marry Ellen'

'take this man to be your true and lawful husband?'

I do.

(male #1) 'And now by the authority vested in me'

'as the minister of the gospel by the old dominion..'

'...and in the name of the Father and of the son'

'and of the Holy Spirit..'

'...I pronounce you man and wife.'

'Therefore whom God hath joined together..'

'...let not man put asunder.'

[instrumental music]

(Earl) It's always a great satisfaction for grandma

to be with her grown grandchildren.

And to recall the role she played

in their younger years.

Like the time she prepared her eldest grandson

to preach a sermon in Reverend Fordwick's absence.

Now..

You-you just sit there.

And make out like you're in church.

Alright.

[clears throat]

"For dust thou art

'and unto dust shalt thou return!"'

You see, that way you get their attention right off

and that-that's very important.

Yeah. It sure works.

Yeah. "For dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return."

Oh! You-you remember when God got so mad at Adam

and all that commotion about Adam and Eve

'and eating the forbidden fruit.'

- I remember. - Yeah.

Well, I-I thought you might like to talk against

original sin.

Hmm.

And, well, it goes on from there, you know.

And that all that begetting went on

for the longest time and until they peopled the Earth.

And-and you-you know what people are.

Yeah. "And-and God saw the wickedness.."

Excuse me.

"And God saw that the wickedness of man

'"was great on the Earth.'

'"And-and all the imaginations'

'"of his thought, of his heart'

'was nothing but evil! Continually."'

And, well, I skipped the verse there.

And God said, "I will destroy man

who I have created from the face of the Earth!"

Ex-except Noah. Now, he-he worked for the God.

Uh, you're still in Genesis, aren't you?

Yeah, well, then-then came the flood

the ark, the animals

and then all that begetting started again.

So, so, I-I skipped.

Hmm.

"If thou would do evil.."

Here it goes again.

Don't you do that on the pulpit, you hear?

"If thou do which is evil

be afraid."

Now, evil is one of those words

you can drive home.

And vengeance is another one.

'"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lo.."'

Uh, "vengeance is mine

I shall repay, saith the Lord."

Well, it-it-it's all in here for you, John-Boy.

'Study it and..'

Well, you know, I-I've listened to the Gospel

most all my life and-and when I was a girl

we used to go to what they call protracted meetings

where the preaching went on for a whole week

'and sometimes we have a dozen preachers'

'in it or more.'

Well, Reverend Fordwick is alright but, oh

I like those old time preachers.

And what I did was I just took the best of everything

that they-they said and

'and well, I-I-I've put it down for you.'

Well, they're for you, John-Boy.

Thank you.

Did you hurt your hand?

Well, it-it'll work out. It's, uh..

You know, maybe you oughta practice that.

'That pounding because'

'there must be a knack in doing it right.'

I will.

Grandpa.

[instrumental music]

For in her tongue is the law of kindness

Proverbs thirty one, verse twenty..

- Six. - Six. Yes.

All about a virtuous woman

for her price is far above that of ruby.

You know, with everybody thinking back

and remembering lately

I found myself doing the same thing the other day.

I was working over the forge

and staring at those red hot coals

and I remembered the time that John-Boy

was trying to warn everybody about

what Hitler was doing over in Europe.

But the way things turned out it's a wonder

nobody would listen to him.

Now, everybody knows Buck Vernon there

can find you anything you're looking for.

It's most appropriate that he found for me

a real piece of junk..

"Mein Kampf."

[indistinct chatter]

I propose..

'that tonight we have a symbolic'

'book burning of our own!'

Hitler may replace the Bible

with his own book in Germany

but it shall never happen here!

[all cheering]

Yeah. Yeah!

While I was at it, I found

a whole bundle of German books!

Uh, I just had 'em

to keep the fire warm!

John-Boy, stay out of..

- Would you stop that right now? - Now, hold on, you young...

[clamoring]

I didn't mean to go this far. John-Boy, calm down.

Put your hand off me.

This is my fault.

I started this whole thing with my newspaper, I know that.

But you misunderstood me!

'I was trying to show you what people are capable of'

'out of ignorance and out of fear'

and out of hatred!

Do you realize that this kind of thing is happening

all over Germany?

All over Germany!

'And right now, Germany and Walton's Mountain are not very'

'far apart in my mind!'

I read that a foreign tyrant

was publishing his plans to take over the world

and was carrying out those plans.

I thought you ought to have the opportunity to know about it!

Just like I'd take the opportunity to tell you

if there was a-a blight that was threatening your crops

or some kind of scandal that was threating your government.

I mean, that's freedom, as far as I can see it.

And if you choose not to know about it, that's freedom too

but if you take a book and if you burn this book

then you can't know about it!

And you'd have your freedom taken away from you!

Do you understand me?

And if there's anybody here

who feels that this book

is more dangerous in one piece

than it is burning in ashes in that fire

then I want you to come up here

I want you to take it out of my hands

I want you to throw it in the fire right now!

Throw them all in the fire!

[instrumental music]

My Lord.

My Lord, I wish there was someone here

who could read German.

[music continues]

Mrs. Brimmer?

Mrs. Brimmer, will you read this to us, please?

[speaking in foreign language]

Alright, now, you read that for us in English, alright.

Just that part.

"In the beginning

"God created Heaven and Earth..

'"...and the Earth was without form..'

'"...and void and darkness'

'"was upon the face of the deep..'

'"...and the spirit of God'

'"moved upon the face of the waters.'

"And God spoke..

Let there be light."

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

These books should be in good hands, John-Boy.

Both of them.

You know, the power of words is something to behold.

I realized why John-Boy wanted to become a writer.

That's when I started to prepare myself

for the moment when he'd strike out on his own.

After that trip to New York

I knew he wouldn't be around here much longer.

[instrumental music]

[sighs] It's getting chilly.

Winter is coming on.

Wild geese will be flying South any day now.

John-Boy, you're awful quiet tonight.

I got a lot on my mind.

Nothing's ever stirred me up in my whole life

like seeing that city for the first time.

[instrumental music]

'I reckon'

'if you're born there, you might take it for granted.'

[John inhales deeply] 'Being a country boy..'

it's a love affair right from the start.

Just being on that island..

Gave me such a feeling..

Promise and adventure..

'...like the wildest things I ever dreamed in my whole life'

'could... happen.'

There's a hotel called the Algonquin..

And that's where a lot of real..

Great writers get together.

'I stood across the street from them... for a long time.'

'And I'm not sure but I think I saw Dorothy Parker'

'and Robert Benchley come out and get into a taxi cab.'

[instrumental music]

[sighs]

It's the same sky looking down on Times Square

but it seems like a whole different world to me.

Well, now..

How do you young folks feel about, uh

your first born flying the coop?

I don't think we can get him to stay, pa, even if we tried.

[instrumental music]

I've been meaning to, uh..

There's no need to, son.

Guess I'd better get busy darning your socks.

I don't think there's a one of 'em that doesn't have a hole.

Well, don't forget your way home, son.

I never will.

[instrumental music]

[sighs]

[music continues]

[sobs]

[music continues]

(Earl) I did leave Walton's Mountain

to live and work in New York City.

I wrote more novels and raised a family of my own.

Today, we live in California

but no matter where I am

the call of the nightbird

the rumble of a train crossing a trestle

the scent of crab apple

bellowing of a sleepy cow

can call me home again.

In memory I stand before that small white house

and I can still hear those sweet voices.

- 'Goodnight, momma.' - 'Goodnight, Ben.'

(Olivia) 'Goodnight, Jim-Bob.'

(Jim-Bob) 'Goodnight, momma.'

- 'Goodnight, Erin.' - 'Goodnight, Jim-Bob.'

- 'Goodnight, grandpa.' - 'Goodnight, Erin.'

(Zeb) 'Goodnight, Jason.'

(Jason) 'Goodnight, grandpa.'

- 'Goodnight, daddy.' - 'Goodnight, Jason.'

- 'Goodnight, Elizabeth.' - 'Goodnight, daddy.'

(Elizabeth) 'Goodnight, John-Boy.'

Goodnight, everybody.

I love you.

[instrumental music]

(Earl) Our "Decade Of The Waltons" will continue in just a moment.

[instrumental music]

- Happy birthday, grandma. - Happy birthday!

- Open it. - You'll like it.

We've been working on this all week.

We had a lot of fun with it.

I love it myself.

The thing's the best!

- There you go. - Is that the print?

Guess what the first picture is, grandma?

- That's the front. - Here we go.

[instrumental music]

We all have special memories of grandpa.

My favorite is one I don't think you even know about grandma.

It was when you were in the hospital after your stroke.

Hold it. Hold it, Mary Ellen.

You can come out from behind that foliage, Zeb.

I'd know you anywhere. Come on, both of you, out.

He promised to behave himself, Curt.

I don't care what he promised, he's not allowed in here.

Esther and I have been together for over 50 years

through good times and bad times.

And you're trying to keep us apart

just when we need one another most!

I don't have any choice.

Grandma's got to have quiet

if she's gonna get well.

Oh, yeah, whatever happened to families

that took care of one another.

Time was, born at home, got sick at home

'was taken care of at home'

'by-by people that love one another.'

They died at home too!

'Because they didn't have doctors on duty'

'24 hours a day'

and nurses and modern medical equipment.

Zeb, you gotta give up Esther long enough

to let us make her well.

Alright.

If you and this hospital are gonna take over from me..

You better do a first class job.

First class!

[instrumental music]

Oh, he didn't have much patience for rules and regulations.

- It didn't make sense to him. - Yes.

I think some of his grandchildren

can be just as stubborn.

Why are you looking at me, mama?

Oh, for about 10,000 reasons, I'd say.

Like the time you were determined

to have your baby at home when Curt thought

'you should go to the hospital.'

- Oh. - Ah.

[all laughing]

[exhales deeply]

[groans]

I'll be right back.

[instrumental music]

This labor's going on far too long.

It's not the length of the labor

that worries me, it's the dilation.

And I think that I'd have to do a caesarean.

[Mary Ellen screaming]

[breathing heavily]

Ahh..

Damn, I hate waitin'!

I always have.

Miserable, isn't it?

I always take comfort in the old saying

"They also serve who only stand and wait."

Only I never could figure out how!

We've had a lot of experience, haven't we, pa, between us.

[chuckles] Sure have.

Only this time, you're the grand and I'm the great.

[Mary Ellen groans]

Easy.

Easy there, son.

All of us..

Hope to ease the pain of a loved one.

That's almost impossible.

You know, you give life you and Olivia to..

Mary Ellen there.

Pain is very much a part of life.

[door opens]

[instrumental music]

Gentlemen..

Meet your new grandson.

Oh!

Wow! Wow, whoopie!

[laughs]

(Earl) In real life, Ellen Corby

who plays grandma had suffered a severe stroke.

Her speech had been affected

and she was paralyzed on her right side.

But Ellen like grandma fought back.

She learned to speak again and to walk.

And after an absence of nearly two years

grandma came home.

In trying to make things easy for grandma

the family mostly made her feel like an invalid.

And that was the last thing she wanted to be.

Am I interrupting something?

Oh, it's, yes.

Thought you might wanna help me snap some beans.

It's kinda nice having company for sitting down chores.

Oh, is it?

It's more than one way to skin a cat.

[laughs]

There's no need to rush, grandma.

Take all morning if you want to.

[indistinct]

All afternoon, for that matter.

[indistinct]

Don't get upset.

You don't have to rush, you hear me?

[indistinct]

It took me a long time when I had polio

before I could put one foot in front of the other

without thinkin' about it.

Listen to me..

Don't..

Don't need..

I'm sorry, grandma.

Need me!

- Need you? - Yes.

Oh, grandma, we do need you!

[indistinct]

You don't think anybody needs you?

[mumbling] Me! Me! Me!

[dramatic music]

[indistinct]

It's alright, grandma. It's alright, grandma.

[sobbing]

[indistinct]

You know, she's been writing this journal

for a long time now.

I never once looked into it.

But there comes a time when a secret isn't a secret anymore.

I was hoping I might find out from here that

what was wrong with your mom.

What'd you find out?

Right here.

Just a few days before she comes home from the hospital..

She-she wrote down..

"I have come to realize

"that my loss of speech is punishment

"for having been sharp-tongued in the past.

'"I have made a solemn promise to the Lord'

'"that if he allows me to go home'

'"I will always be uncomplaining'

'"with my family and friends.'

'"And not force my opinions'

'on others."'

And that is exactly what she's been doing.

Always smiling and agreeable.

Never complaining.

No wonder she can't talk!

She got it all locked up here inside..

[instrumental music]

Is that all, Esther?

What kind of a promise you've made

if you don't get mad when I've been

prying into your most private thoughts?

Why, I've seen the time

if I did a thing like this, you'd have hauled off

and walloped me with the first thing

you could get your hands on.

[instrumental music]

You always were stubborn as a mule!

Ma never did make a promise she didn't keep.

No, grandpa, I think we're all kinda guilty

'of over-protecting her.'

What are you talking about, Liv?

We have treated her like a queen!

More like an invalid.

We're shovering that ol' rocker.

Every time she tries to do something

somebody rushes in to give her a hand.

'She might as well not even get out of bed in the morning.'

We're just trying to do what's best for her, Liv.

When you're older, you need to feel

like you're good for something.

Like you need it.

'We've taken that away from her, grandpa.'

[instrumental music]

[door creaks]

[birds chirping]

[door creaks]

Esther?

I allowed the things around here

that are not right.

And I'll admit to being wrong

about half of it.

'However, I would like to point out to you'

'it was the good Lord himself'

that made you the sharp tongue woman that you were.

He did it to add flavor to this family

the way you put salt and pepper in a stew.

Keep it from being so flat.

And if he did take away your speech

maybe he did it as a lesson to us

not you.

And by golly!

We need a little season around here

otherwise life would be just too dull!

Tasteless, without it.

Now, Esther..

Maybe you did make a promise to the good Lord

that everything will be sweetness in life

if he just let you come home from the hospital.

However, I also made a promise to the Lord

that I will let you sit in the sun and not lift a finger

if he just let you get well enough

to come back with me.

However, I am going to break that promise..

And ask the Lord's forgiveness.

And I hope you do likewise.

[instrumental music]

Old woman, if you want any breakfast

you better start sweeping this porch

and earn your keep!

And that's the way it's going to be from now on out.

[gasps]

Whoopie!

You've come home, Esther! You've come home!

[laughing]

You old fool!

[instrumental music]

Ah..

(Earl) We will return to grandma's birthday party in a moment.

[instrumental music]

♪ It's still the same old story ♪

♪ A fight for love and glory ♪

♪ A case of do or die ♪

♪ The world will always welcome lovers ♪

♪ As time ♪

♪ Goes by ♪♪

Very nice.

I bet I know what mom and daddy are thinking about.

Yeah, that's the song we sang at your 25th wedding anniversary.

When I discovered that I'd married

just about the most romantic man in the world.

What do you mean "Just about?"

[all laughing]

[birds chirping]

[instrumental music]

May I have this dance?

[laughs]

[music continues]

Now, I know how you feel about drinking, Liv

but one glass of champagne every 25 years

won't turn you into a sinner.

Anymore than two or three visits to church

will make you into a saint.

Olivia... this has been the best 25 years of my life.

Mm, doesn't taste like I thought it would.

- Want me to finish it for you? - No.

Mm.

Well, I never thought I'd be dancing

and drinking champagne today.

You turned out to be a regular Sir Galahad.

[laughs] I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't let that get around.

[instrumental music]

- It's good. - Mm-hmm.

Well, the sun's strainin' to get down.

Maybe we ought to think about heading back.

Let's just wait a little longer.

I wanna make a wish on the first star.

♪ Oh Beulah Land sweet Beulah Land ♪

♪ As on thy highest mount I stand ♪

♪ I look away across the sea ♪

♪ Where mansions are prepared for me ♪

♪ And view the shining glory shore ♪

♪ My heav'n my home forevermore! ♪

(Earl) Oh, April 22nd 1978

America lost a national treasure

and each of us lost a beloved friend

with the death of Will Geer.

We were all on vacation when Will died

and his death came as a great shock.

We never had a chance to say farewell

so to help us to deal with his passing

we decided to say goodbye on "The Waltons."

Grandpa, you know Jay Bezz.

He was the pig from my fourth grade project

the one Clarence gave me?

'Well... I'm keeping him at home now.'

'And he's getting nice and fat'

'for the fair we're going to have.'

I hope we don't move to Richmond before the fair.

[mellow music]

Got a real nice spot up here, grandpa.

Had a little bit of rain this season

so everything's going real nice.

Guess you already know that.

I've been thinking about you a lot lately, grandpa.

G.W. too.

If you see him tell him I love him.

I miss you both very much.

[music continues]

Grandpa, there's a lot of you in John Curtis.

He likes to hold his hands out to all kinds of people

just like you did.

And he loves playing in the dirt.

I think he's gonna be close to nature.

The way you were.

Dad is lettin' me use your tools now, grandpa.

He was gone for a few days, and while he was gone I..

I didn't get in too much trouble.

We sure take good care of them.

I heard this song the other day, grandpa.

It reminded me of you.

It's one of your favorites.

[harmonica music]

[instrumental music]

Old man..

You live..

In all of us.

Goodnight, ma.

- You think she had a good time? - I'm sure she did.

She's got the photograph album in bed with her.

There's still a few empty pages at the end.

Yeah.

With this family, I'm sure we'll fill 'em up.

In a few moments it'll be my pleasure

to introduce you to our cast

and the members of my family

they have portrayed on "The Waltons"

and then we'll visit Schuyler, Virginia

where these stories began.

Please stay with us.

For the past eight years

some extraordinarily gifted actors

have acted out the life of a family.

Through their talents they have illuminated

those large and small moments

that taken together are the fabric of life.

Through their art they have moved us

to laughter and to tears.

And through their caring they have created characters

that will live in our hearts.

When we film the "Homecoming" Kami Cotler was six years old.

'In the eight years we've worked together'

'a good many happy things have happened'

'and one of the most pleasant is watching Kami grow up.'

Kami, were there times when you thought

of The Walton brothers and sisters

as if they were real brothers and sisters?

Most of the time.

We've always teased each other

like real brothers and sisters.

And played together like real brothers and sisters.

I think we'll always be close.

There's one viewer who's watched the series with special interest

her name is Nancy Hamner Jameson

and she is my youngest sister.

The model for the character of Elizabeth.

Kami, I'd like you to meet Nancy.

Kami, I'm glad to finally meet you.

- You're very pretty. - Thank you.

I've had people tell me that you and I look a lot alike.

How does it feel to have your life's story on television.

It's almost like living your life over again.

I only know about you up to the time you're 14

what's your life like today?

I live in Richmond, Virginia

I'm married to Garnet Jameson

and I work at the Virginia Commission of Game

in Inland Fisheries.

Do you watch the show?

I never miss it.

Thank you, Nancy. It was nice to meet you.

Goodbye, Kami.

(Earl) When we first met David Harper as Jim-Bob

he was eight years old.

He needed a haircut and he was a terrific actor.

'Today he's a fine young man'

and still one of the best actors in the business.

David, do strangers ever come up to you and call you Jim-Bob?

Sometimes.

(Earl) 'Do they ever comment on the show?'

Well, most of the time they tell me that their favorite part

is when we all say "Goodnight."

We really did that at home.

Last thing we did before we're going to sleep

we'd all call goodnight to each other.

You still do that?

There's someone standing by in Virginia

he's the grown up Jim-Bob. Brother James.

Let's ask him.

How 'bout it, Jim, you still say goodnight all over the house?

Well, only my mother and I live here now.

But sometimes when the brothers and sisters are home

and some of my nieces and nephews are here

we still say goodnight that way.

You've had me do some crazy things on this show.

One time I brought home a peacock.

Did you ever do that?

As a matter of fact I did.

I found a peacock wandering around in the road one night

it was kind of dazed, so I picked it up

and put it in the car, brought it home.

We kept it for a long time.

On the show for about three years now

I've been trying to get into the air corp

and in the last show I finally made it.

Did that really happen to you?

No, I ended up in the medical corps

and spent most in the World War II

at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco.

Did you stay in that kind of work?

In a way. Today I work at the University of Virginia Hospital.

What's it feel like when you watch the show?

I gotta tell you, most of the time we sit around and cry.

- Is it that bad? - No, David, it's that good.

(Earl) We've seen the character of Jason

grow from a small boy interested in music

to a young man who has become a working composer.

Because of the warmth of Jon Walmsley's

portrayal of Jason

'he's been a favorite of everyone on Walton's Mountain.'

The one time he showed signs of becoming spoiled

was when he went to live with the Baldwin ladies

'had a room of his own and breakfast in bed.'

(Clifton) 'And probably his first taste of the recipe.'

Is that you, Cliff?

My brother Cliff, the model for Jason.

Jon, when are you coming back to Virginia?

I'm still trying to recover from that last trip

when you showed me the town.

I thought you were having a good time.

(Jason) 'I was having a little too good a time.'

That was the problem.

Cliff, I think our audience would like to know

what kind of person you are.

Well, I have three children.

I work for machine manufacturing company.

[indistinct] And whenever I can

I go to the country where we grew up.

Your brother has always written

Jason as a musical character

How close is that to your own life?

Well, I can dance from the time the sun goes down

'til it comes up again.

I love music, but the truth is I cannot carry a tune.

Hope one of these days you'll come out to Hollywood

and I'll show you the town the way you showed me at Richmond.

I look forward to that, Jon.

Good to see you again, Cliff.

Good to see you, Jon.

A few years ago my sister Marion Hawkes

visited the set of "The Waltons"

and ended up in the show we were filming at the time.

'At that time she met the actress'

'who had been portraying her Judy Norton Taylor.'

Hello again, Judy.

Hi, Marion.

Early in the series you were always written as a tomboy.

How close to the truth is that?

I was a terrible tomboy.

Growing up in the house with all those older brothers

I learned to fight practically as soon as I learned to walk.

I know you became a nurse

just as Mary Ellen does on the series.

I practiced nursing for a while even after I married.

Did you marry a doctor?

Glenn has his doctorate in psychology

so I suppose you could say I did marry a doctor.

He's a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University

and we have two sons Rob and Bill.

Rob teaches art and Bill is a student at VCU.

Do you have a busy life?

(Marion) 'There aren't hours enough in the day.'

I play golf, I collect antiques, I paint

and I work as a hostess and tour-guide

for Wan Bus Line.

Of course we include a visit to our hometown of Schuyler.

Would you like to re-live those days

that we show on television when you were growing up?

In a way, we do that.

Every Thursday night when we watch "The Waltons."

(Earl) In the original novel of the "Homecoming"

there were eight brothers and sisters

just as there are in my own family.

When CBS decided that the book should become

a television special

they asked us to combine two of the characters into one.

Thus my brothers Bill and Paul became a composite

the character played by Eric Scott.

Now, if I've been playing two people all these years

shouldn't I've been paid twice the salary?

Eric, meet one half of your real life counterpart

my brother Paul.

I agree with Eric, he does deserve a raise.

[chuckles] Thanks, Paul.

You know, Ben has been something of a business man

on the series.

How does that match up to your life?

I've worked for Baker's Shoes Stores

in New York and New Jersey for the past 23 years.

How do you remember these years we've been dramatizing

on television?

They were good years, Eric.

What is your life like today?

My two children are grown and go to college.

I live in New Jersey, but I love Virginia

and I come home whenever I can.

Eric, the other half of your character

is standing by in Virginia.

Meet my brother Bill.

How'd you like the way I've been playing your half of Ben, Bill?

You're doing a good job, Eric.

Well, I can see why I got the part.

At least our hair is the same color.

'Well, Bill, do you have a family?'

Yes, I'm married and I have three children

and I work in Richmond.

Are there any stories about Ben we haven't told yet

that you'd like to see?

Yes, but you can't tell them on television.

(Earl) Eight years ago the role of Erin was created

by a gloriously beautiful little girl.

In the intervening years she grew up to be

this gloriously beautiful young woman Mary Beth McDonough.

Earl, on the show something has always gone wrong

when Erin falls in love.

How 'bout your sister Audrey?

Did she ever have a happy love affair?

Well, let's ask her.

Mary Beth McDonough, my sister Audrey Hamner Hankins.

Mary Beth, I think I had about as many boyfriends

as you've had on the show.

But eventually Hank came along and we were married.

Well, maybe that'll happen to Erin Walton someday.

I hope so. She's only has had her heart broken enough times.

Erin thinks she'd like to have a career

but it might be good for her to settle down.

(Audrey) 'It was for me.'

We live on a farm

west side of Roanoke in Bedford County.

We have five children.

Four sons and our daughter Windy is still in high school.

I now work as a donor resources consultant

for the American Red-Cross.

What's it been like for you to be compared to Erin Walton?

Well, I've taken a lot of teasing.

So have I. It was nice talking with you, Audrey.

Goodbye, Mary Beth. Come to Virginia when you can.

Thank you, Audrey.

Walton's Mountain is actually located here

in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains

of Virginia.

My people withdrawn to these mountains and peaceful valleys

when the country was young.

They settled here, cleared the land

and planted their crops along the banks

of the winding Rockfish River.

[instrumental music]

(Earl) I grew up in a small town of Schuyler

about 28 miles south of Charlottesville.

Little has changed down through the years

and whenever I return to Virginia

I go back in time to another life

the life I led as a boy

and I'm filled with a strong exaltation.

I'm home again.

This the house where we lived those years

as we brought to life on "The Waltons."

My mother still lives here

and is always ready to welcome us home.

[instrumental music]

- Mom, it's good to be home. - It's good to have you home.

You know, when I think of this house when I'm away from here

the one thing I remember is what good food we always had.

- You're a good cook. - I still am.

And I hope you're going to stay long enough

to enjoy some good home cooking.

Well, I certainly am.

Another thing I remember is that

when all of us were away at night

when we'd come home there'd always be a light in the window.

Well, neither your daddy nor I could sleep

till we knew you were safe in your beds.

And now we're scattered all over the world

and you don't know if we're safe in our beds.

I still pray for each one of you before I go to sleep.

World's changed a lot since those years

that we were growing up.

It's hard to be a parent today

but I think that children still need

the same thing they always did.

They need to be guided and they need to be loved.

Since "The Waltons" went on television

I know you've received visitors from all over the world.

What do most of them want to know?

The most common question they ask is

"If your children were as well behaved as the Walton children?"

Were we?

Well, I'd tell them you were.

[both laughing]

(Earl) My father died in 1969.

So he never got to see "The Waltons."

He was a fine man, and we still miss him.

Whenever we come home we always come here

to pay our respects, and to remember him.

[instrumental music]

(Earl) I have walked the land in the footsteps

of all of my fathers

back in time to where the first one trod.

And stopped, saw sky, felt wind

bent to touch Mother Earth

and called this home.

This mountain, this pine and hemlock

oak and poplar, laurel wild and rhododendron

home and mountain

father, mother

grow to the sons and daughters

to walk the old paths

to look back in pride in honored heritage.

To hear its laughter and its song.

To grow to stand and be themselves

one day remembered.

I have walked the land in the footsteps

of all my fathers.

I saw yesterday and now look to tomorrow.

Someone once asked my sister Marion

where Waltons Mountain is.

And she said, "It's somewhere my brother was very happy."

We've been happy here.

And I hope that in the past eight years

we've entertained you

that we have enriched your lives in some small way.

And that whenever possible we've made some affirmative statement

about us as a people

and about people as a part of all mankind.

Will Geer has started the custom of joining hands

during the saying of grace at meals.

And in his memory..

[instrumental music]

Goodnight, Ellen.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, Ellen.

Goodnight, Michael.

Goodnight, Ralph.

Goodnight, Eric.

Goodnight, Michael.

Goodnight, David.

Goodnight, Eric.

Goodnight, Kami.

Goodnight, David.

Goodnight, Mary Beth.

Goodnight, Kami.

Goodnight, Jon.

Goodnight, Mary.

Goodnight, Judy.

Goodnight, Jon.

[music continues]

(all) Goodnight, everybody!

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]