Original subtitles

(narrator) Looking back down the years to the Great Depression

I realize that our family was much more fortunate than most.

Many things were in short supply

but we had the advantage of being able to live

on the bounty of the rich Virginia country.

And even more important than the gifts of the land

our family remained intact.

We stayed together under one roof

and were never deprived of the comfort and closeness

of our mother and father.

Those feelings easily made up

for what we often lacked in material things.

What are you doing?

Fixing my shoe.

Do you live around here?

What's your name?

Reed.

Mine's Elizabeth.

- Many of you folks at home? - Eleven in all.

Seven kids, and then

Mama, Daddy, Grandpa, and Grandma make four.

That's eleven.

Any of you folks read?

John-Boy reads. He reads all the time.

He does?

You going in the store?

Yes, indeed, I am.

- Hi, Mr. Godsey. - Hi, Elizabeth.

You back in to change your guess?

No. I'm right. I'm going to win.

Want to see something pretty?

That's the most beautifulest doll in the world.

She sure is pretty.

I'm gonna win her. I'm a real good guesser.

You are?

- Thanks, Mr. Godsey. - You're welcome.

Soon, she'll be all mine.

Soon, I'll tell you who the winner is.

That's the best I can do for you.

I know who it is. It's me.

- Bye, Mr. Godsey. - Bye.

- Nice little girl. - Yeah.

I'm prepared to bring you culture and knowledge.

- Don't waste your breath. - I haven't used any yet.

Mister, don't waste it, will you?

I've got a whole storeroom full of supplies back there

and I've got trouble selling.

I bought a bunch of those dolls that I've got to sell.

I'm giving this one away.

The kids come in and they count the beans.

I got to sell those dolls at $2.98. Hard cash.

I've got an icebox that's broken down

and meat that's gonna spoil pretty soon.

I got things going wrong around here that you can't even count.

Alright, what have you got?

Books.

You better keep right on going.

Why don't you go to Charlottesville?

Or better yet, you ought to go to Westham.

It's a college town. You probably can sell some.

I stopped there before I came here.

Thanks, anyway.

I sure hope that little girl wins this doll.

You say you got more of these?

- Yeah. - $2.98.

That's right. They're not cheap, either.

My girl would give her heart and soul for a doll like that.

How old is your little girl?

Seven.

Sort of like....

What did you say that little girl's name was?

Elizabeth Walton.

A doll bed's not hard to make. Not for you.

You know, a man came at me pestering like that one time.

All he wanted was to build a courthouse with new steps.

- Any work takes time, honey. - Not a doll bed.

Last time I saw your doll bed, it looked in good shape to me.

But this is for a new doll.

You got a new doll? Where is it?

At Mr. Godsey's store. He has to count the beans before I win.

Maybe we ought to wait till you bring that doll home, honey.

You know, there's a chance you won't win.

I'll win.

She's been down to that store every day.

She's convinced that doll's hers and Ike's holding it for her.

We tend to forget, as we ramble on, John

that one of the sweetest words in life is hope.

This is way beyond hope, Pa. She really believes that.

It's as catchy as measles. She's got me believing it, too.

You suppose that's why I've been trying to figure out

whether I should put straight legs on that doll's bed

or make them curved like a rocker?

- Honey, I got to go to Ike's. - Just two more pushes, Daddy.

One.

- Two. - Hi.

How do?

Something I can do for you?

No, sir.

I think maybe there's something I can do for you.

I'm prepared to bring you culture and knowledge

and travel and trips to the far and wondrous places.

- The wit.... - Keep going on, mister.

Whatever you're selling, we can't afford anything right now.

Hate to have you waste your time.

I'll be going to the general store, if you'd like a lift.

I don't think there's much sense in my going back that way.

Thanks.

Sir, would you mind if I sat down for a minute?

Sure, go ahead. Take your time.

Livie, I'll be down at Ike's!

Bye-bye.

- Mister? - Yes, ma'am?

Mister, would you like a cup of coffee?

That's very generous of you, ma'am.

I'm selling culture and knowledge.

Travel and trips to the far and wondrous places.

The wit, wisdom, and philosophy of 100 great minds.

And more.

Excitement, adventure

drama, and laughter.

You got all that in that bag of yours?

I think he's talking about books.

Yes, ma'am. The Harvard Classics.

Five-Foot Shelf of Books.

The greatest set of books in the whole world.

Excuse me. Are you selling the Harvard Classics?

You must be John-Boy. I met your sister down the road

and she said you're a powerful reader.

That's an accurate description.

John-Boy, this is Mr. Reed.

How do you do?

Those are wonderful books. Those Harvard Classics.

- I've heard about them. - Yes, sirree.

Greatest set of books in the whole world.

There are over 418 stories

contained within 50 volumes.

So many.

Yes, ma'am. I could give you

testimonials from people across the country.

There's a woman in Washington, DC

a Mrs...Clara Emerson, mother of five.

She claims that the purchase of this same set of books

is what prompted her children to go on with their education.

Must be very expensive.

You got the whole collection? You got the whole set with you?

I have samples here.

Real fine book. Beautiful binding.

Ma'am, it'd take me the whole day

to properly describe this set of books.

This one book is just the index

for what's contained in the other 49 volumes.

Whose idea was all this anyway?

They were put together by the president of a great university.

It takes three pages to list the professors he had helping him.

Sounds right impressive.

John-Boy, these are no times to be spending hard-earned money

on a whole set of books.

But just think of the adventure locked within these pages.

The great literary works of the ages.

It would be wonderful.

It'd help you with your college work, too.

Sure.

It could save me money. Save me from buying books at school.

It might encourage the others to read.

You heard what he said about that lady in Washington, DC.

Livie, what's come into you?

Sometimes I get so tired of this depression

I think the only way to be sane is to do something extravagant.

And this isn't even extravagant! It would help the whole family.

This is really.... I can't believe this.

They've got books on science, astronomy, poetry.

It's incredible.

And all for only $3 down and a little bit per month thereafter.

Good Lord.

I can only repeat, Mrs. Walton.

I would feel as if my children were being deprived

if they didn't get a set of these books for themselves.

Wait a minute.

- Alright. - What?

But Mama....

There's a little over $3 in the nest egg here.

- Livie, that money is-- - It's mine and I'm gonna do it.

- You sure about this? - $3 now.

Mrs. Walton, what's your first name?

$3 now and more every month for the rest of your life.

- What's the first name? - Mrs. John Walton.

- You're really sure? - I'm sure.

It'll be good for the whole family.

When do we get the rest?

You don't have them with you.

How long does it take to get them all?

The whole set.

It's...difficult to say.

There's packing and shipping.

And there's quite a bit of bookkeeping involved in this.

- So, it's hard to say. - Sure.

I can see that you folks are really interested.

So I'm prepared to do something extraordinary for you.

This book here.

The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini.

He was a famous artist born a poor boy across the water.

Now his is one

of the 50 volumes.

His story.

I'm going to give you this. Yes, take it.

To keep until the rest of the books arrive.

He painted

old chapels

and many things.

I thought that was Michelangelo who did all that stuff.

Yeah, him, too.

Thank you. Thank you.

You'll make us real happy if you finish the rest of these.

Much obliged.

You've made John-Boy real happy, Mr. Reed.

You've made me real happy.

I suspect John isn't going to be as happy as the two of you are.

- Good day to you, Horace. - Ike.

How's the hunting going?

- I'm off hunting, John. - How come?

Oh, it's that wife of mine.

I bring home venison, she turns up her nose at it.

I'd like some good deer, as far as I'm concerned.

- She says it's too gamy. - Tell you what, Horace.

Come and hunt with me and Yancy on Saturday.

I know where the biggest covey of quail is in Jefferson County.

What's got into you, John?

Not a weekend goes by you're not off hunting.

I've got a lot of mouths to feed. What else am I gonna do?

If you didn't throw your money away, that wouldn't a grief.

You know better than that.

What about those books you bought?

- Books? - Books. Five feet of them.

That's a yard and two thirds by the way I count.

If you want to throw your money away like that

that's up to you.

When you send the drummers to my house

I don't consider it friendly.

- What are you talking about? - Let me tell you something.

Next time you send one of them peddlers over to my house

I'm gonna fill his caboose with rock salt

and he can thank you for that.

Wipe your feet.

- Olivia? - You all through at Ike's?

Come outside for a minute. I want to talk.

- Something wrong? - Could be.

Can it wait till I finish this?

Wipe your feet. Take off your cap.

Where did those apples come from?

- Me and Ben worked for them. - Ben and I.

Horace Linely told me there was a book salesman by his place.

I just might make an apple cobbler for supper.

Ma, we'll talk about supper in a minute.

Did that book salesman talk you into something?

- John, I thought you liked-- - Please, Ma! Olivia.

He was selling the Harvard Classics.

Yes.

They're very special books and I bought them.

- Look, there's one now. - Oh, yeah. See?

What do you mean "there's one now"?

It's a whole set. We bought the whole kit and caboodle.

- How many books did you buy? - Fifty.

- Fifty? - Fifty.

- Fifty? - Fifty?

You two, go out and finish your chores.

- Put the apples down there. - Go!

We can't afford this.

You should've talked it over with me first.

I'm gonna find that book salesman and cancel that order.

John, please don't. This is very important to me. To John-Boy.

He won't have to spend money on books for school.

Where're we gonna get the money?

I've used my egg money for the first down payment.

I'll make the rest of the payments as the money comes in.

Are those books going to be any use, son?

Absolutely! They are the greatest classics in the world.

Like Mama says, it'll save me money in college.

I could help pay for it myself if I got an odd job or....

Would you like a cup of coffee, John?

Yes, I would.

You'd better tell him the rest.

- I'll get the coffee first. - What else?

- You know that Mr. Reed? - You mean the book salesman?

He didn't have a place to stay.

So he's going to stay in the barn for few nights.

- How did you know? - Just a lucky guess.

Where is this Mr. Reed now?

He's down at Ike's mailing in the order for the books.

But he'll be back.

- In time for supper, I hope. - John, you just can't imagine.

He told me how hard things are on the road just now

and I felt sorry for him.

Your luck sure did change fast, didn't it?

Yeah, it sure did.

You'll be surprised how many people around here like to read.

How many orders you get?

A couple.

- There we go. - I want to look at it first.

Let's see, that's one.

two, ninety-eight.

She's just about perfect.

Serena is gonna be real happy.

Her birthday's next week.

Serena. That's a pretty name.

- Where does your family live? - New York.

The company I work for is based there.

Okay. This is the time you kids all have been waiting for.

A bunch here, huh?

Kids, come on, slow down now.

- I got five. - 700.

Hurry up, Mr. Godsey, so I can win.

- Ten. You got 10? Twenty. - I got 10.

Mr. Reed?

Mr. Reed, I'm reading that book about Cellini.

He was something, wasn't he?

Nothing could get in that man's way.

If I wrote a story about such a man, no one would believe me.

I got to that part where he burned his house down.

- Burned down his house. - Yeah, you remember.

He needed to keep the furnace going all night so he could

melt down the bronze to pour it into the mold

so he could make that statue.

- Burned up his whole house? - Every piece of it.

Bit by bit. Furniture.

All night. In the morning, there just wasn't any house left.

Nothing but that mold and that statue standing there.

The thing about it is that the writing is just so vivid.

It jumps right off the page at you. I could smell the smoke.

I could see the flames. Didn't you think so?

I just....

cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of those books.

Which one is your favorite?

To tell you the truth.

I haven't had time to read them all.

Of the ones you have read, which one is your favorite?

Let's see....

How can you sell them if you don't know what's in them?

To tell you the truth.

This isn't my line of work.

I'm a printer by trade, and I'm a darn good one.

And when this....

rough time came, I had to take what I could get, this was it.

It's all I could get. I got a wife and a child.

They got to eat, just like anybody else.

This is your first time out as a salesman?

First time I've....

been away from home, too.

Away from my wife and Serena.

That's my little girl.

I tell you, John-Boy, it's hard.

It's real hard.

There you are.

Your grandma said you'd fallen into the milk and got drowned.

No, we just got to talking about books and things.

I'm real glad that Livie is buying that set of books.

I do hope there's a volume of poetry.

I was always partial to poetry.

"About Ben Adhem, may his tribe increase!

"Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace

- "His name led all the--" - Here.

What's that?

Poetry. What you were asking about.

You suppose it'd be legal for me to accept this volume

without making another payment?

Sure. Sure.

We often....

give away an extra volume with the down payment.

That is real nice of you.

Say, would you like to stay for supper?

I'm real tired. Think I'll turn in now, if you don't mind.

Have it your own way. Come on, John-Boy.

Sounds like Jim-Bob.

She's got the doll!

Told you I'd win it!

What's her name?

Didn't I tell you that hope was something worth waiting for?

- She's so pretty! - Don't get her dirty.

I'm not getting her dirty.

- Thank you very much. - Later, Ike.

Alright, Ike, take care.

What's so funny?

This Benvenuto fella

he sure knew how to have himself a good time.

I don't know though, it's pretty gamy.

I don't know if the children should read this sorta books.

It's pretty racy.

- Where? - Never you mind.

Let me see that. Come on.

- What does "racy" mean? - Fast.

I don't see anything racy in that.

Look here.

Maybe this is the kind of book you shouldn't read either.

You old fool. You can read anything into anything

with that mind of yours.

If you sleep on the floor, you'll catch a cold.

The doll's bed isn't ready yet.

How about the doll sleeping on the floor?

If she sleeps on the floor, she'll catch a cold.

- It's better than if you do. - No, it isn't.

Yes, it is, 'cause if you catch it, we'll catch it.

Get back in your own bed.

No. Doll told me she wanted to sleep on my bed.

Yeah, I'll bet she did.

Funny, I didn't hear anything.

That's because you don't understand.

She said it in front of you.

She talks in a different language.

Yeah, oo-go-la-ma-goo-goo-goop.

That's doll talk for, "I want to sleep in Elizabeth's bed."

You're mean. I hate you.

Nobody hates anybody, Elizabeth. And get in your bed.

If anybody sleeps on the floor, it's gonna be Doll.

- But, Daddy-- - Get in your own bed.

I bet Mr. Reed's little girl's doll

doesn't have to sleep on the floor.

Mr. Reed doesn't have a little girl.

He couldn't afford a doll like that.

Thank your lucky stars you won it. Now go to sleep.

Mr. Reed does too have a girl, and she has a doll, like mine.

Mr. Godsey told me so.

Mr. Reed likes my doll so much that he bought his girl one.

Alright. Settle down and go to sleep.

- Goodnight, everyone. - Goodnight.

- John-Boy. - Daddy?

Mr. Reed say anything to you about having a little girl?

He said something about it.

He say anything about buying his girl a doll like Elizabeth has?

I don't reckon he's got enough money to buy any dolls.

Elizabeth was just....

She was probably just pretending.

Yeah. Unless....

Unless what?

I can't imagine him having any other money

than what Mama gave him for our books.

Daddy, do you....

Daddy?

You say he's staying with your folks?

Yeah.

The funny thing about him

the first time he came into the store

I thought he's gonna fall over with hunger.

Then the second time he comes in

he's got nothing better to do with his money

than buy one of those dolls like Elizabeth's.

A doll?

It costs a lot to buy that doll?

Yeah. He plunked it right down and said

his little girl was going to have the best birthday ever.

And then he said he was moving on.

- Now he's staying with you'll. - He is. He was, anyway.

- Much obliged to you, Ike. - Don't mention it, John-Boy.

Daddy, Elizabeth was right.

Is he still here?

He left just after you did this morning.

His stuff's probably still in the barn.

There you are, right there. There's a doll box.

Alright. Leave everything just as it is.

I'll go find him.

- No, I'll take care of it, son. - Daddy, come on.

He might have had some other money.

Could've used that to buy the doll.

- Give him a chance, son. - Daddy, do you realize

that if he's used our money, we're not gonna see those books?

He's got to have his say. Get to your chores.

Grandma said to give you this.

She didn't have to go to that trouble.

She likes to wiron and ash.

I mean wash and iron.

- Will you thank her for me? - Sure.

- You don't have to hold that. - I'll hold it for you.

What's your little girl going to name her doll?

My little girl doesn't have a doll.

I mean the one you bought her for her birthday.

I don't know.

I want to thank you folks for a very nice meal.

Mrs. Walton, excellent cobbler.

Glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Reed.

Mr. Reed?

There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you outside.

Mr. Reed.

We're gonna be listening to the radio. Why don't you join us?

Thank you, but I think I'd better get back to the barn.

Gonna get up early tomorrow, and I want a good night's rest.

Sit down. You'll enjoy it.

Thank you, Mr. Walton. I would enjoy it.

Alright, everybody, let's go.

It's time for Fibber McGee and Molly.

- Lot of static tonight, Pa. - Storm up at Rock Creek.

Keep trying. I want to listen to Hollywood on theair.

So you can pretend you're gonna be

a famous Hollywood movie actor someday?

You're always pretending you'll be Gene Autry when you grow up.

What you mean "when I grow up"?

Alright, you two.

Daddy, she's always pretending to be one thing or another.

It's alright to pretend as long as you don't hurt anybody.

Sorry, everybody. Too much static tonight.

Oh, dear. I'll tell you what. I've got an idea.

Why don't we do things the way we used to?

That new book of poems I got here.

Mr. Reed gave us.

Could you read out of this, John-Boy?

No, thank you, not tonight.

Why don't you read, Grandpa?

It's a good idea. We haven't heard you read for ages.

Well, if you want me to.

I really do think I'd better be going.

Being a family man, I thought you'd like joining our family.

Please stay.

How did you know I was a family man?

John-Boy was telling me about your daughter and her birthday.

Mrs. Walton was saying how

you wanna buy the books you sold for your own children.

He's got a wonderful voice. Sit down. You'll enjoy it.

Esther.

- Show off. - Sit down.

"Leigh Hunt.

"1784-1859.

"Jenny Kissed Me.

"Jenny kiss'd me when we met.

"Jumping from the chair she sat in.

"Time, you thief, who love to get

"Sweets into your list, put that in!

"Say I'm weary, say I'm sad

"Say that health and wealth have miss'd me

"Say I'm growing old, but add

"Jenny kiss'd me."

- Yes, she did. - You old fool.

Daddy, he's gone.

Maybe he felt he was intruding.

John-Boy, I'll take care of it.

I wanna have a talk with you.

I've got to be going.

Mr. Reed, that money my wife gave you.

When does she get the rest of the books?

There's packaging and mailing and all that.

It's hard to say....

the exact day.

How do you send that money to your company?

Money orders, along with the form.

I got it right here in my case.

Where'd you get the money order?

The store down the road.

- Ike Godsey's store? - That's right.

That's wrong.

You didn't buy anything like that from Ike Godsey.

Yes, I did. I got it right here in my case. You want to see it?

Mr. Reed, you stole that money from my wife.

I want it back.

Mr. Walton.

I have...a little girl, too.

She'll be 7 years old next week.

Mr. Reed.

I guess I must've traveled

over 4,000 miles this past year trying

to sell these books.

Walking, walking.

And all that time

I wasn't able to put away

enough

to buy my little girl a present.

I know you want your money.

But I want my little girl

to have a present.

I want her to wake up...

I want her to wake up

on her birthday

to something special.

Doesn't matter to you who pays for it?

No.

Doesn't matter.

Doesn't matter.

Alright, Mr. Reed.

Take your doll.

Get on out of here.

- Morning. - Hi, John-Boy.

It's as pretty a piece of burl wood as I've ever seen.

Sure is. How long you been hoarding that?

Three or four years, maybe.

It's a funny thing

a tree can grow up tall and straight, good like this

you cut it down.

Cut it up into ordinary boards, just like that.

But when a tree has its troubles, like this

when it's full of knots

gnarls, all sickly disease, parasites, and whatnot

and turns out to something beautiful, like this.

Maybe that just goes to show us.

That trouble sometimes brings out the best in all of us.

Trouble may bring out the best in trees

but I'm not too sure about people.

- How's that? - What you gonna do with that?

I've been thinking of making a shelf for you.

That Benvenuto Celli, like when he burned his house down....

Going to make a bookshelf?

Well, no need for you to make a bookshelf.

The last thing in the world this family needs is a bookshelf.

Mr. Reed is gone.

And Mama's money is gone.

And we've been stung.

Mr. Reed.

Mr. Walton, I wanna talk to you and your wife.

Not much to say, as far as I can see.

Yes, there is, Mr. Walton. It's important to me.

I'd be much obliged if you'd give me a moment.

Please.

John-Boy, would you move the chair for me, please?

Sure.

John-Boy.

Table, too.

Thank you.

Hello, Mr. Reed.

Mr. Reed, you are not welcome here.

Please, Mrs. Walton, I've got to talk to you.

You didn't send in the down payment to the company.

That's right.

I don't know how you consider

buying your girl a present bought with stolen money.

What are you up to now?

Here.

I hope you'll forgive me.

I had to give it back.

Mr. Godsey was nice enough

to take the doll back

and give back your money.

- Would you get his books? - Sure.

These are hard times.

Doing without has gotten to be a way of life.

But it was wrong of me.

Trying to change that at your expense.

Times like these, people

do things they never dreamed of doing before.

I'll just go on

selling these books

and manage as best I can.

Hope that things get better soon for everybody.

If everybody here's agreed

I'd like to make another down payment

on the Five-Foot Shelf of Books.

- We're agreed. - Amen to that.

You should get your first shipment within 10 days.

Well, I'll be going.

- Take care on the road. - Thank you.

- Goodbye. - So long.

Mr. Reed!

Mr. Reed!

Mr. Reed!

Mr. Reed! Mr. Reed!

Goodbye, Mr. Reed.

How about this?

"Two Years before the Mast and Twenty-four Years after

"by Richard Henry Dana, Jr. with introduction and notes.

"Chapter 1. Departure.

"The fourteenth of August

"was the day fixed for the sailing of the brig Pilgrim

"on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn

"to the western coast of North America.

"As she was to get under weigh early in the afternoon

"I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock

"in full sea-rig, and with my chest

"containing an outfit...."

The salesman was right about one thing.

The wit and wisdom of the ages were contained in those books

and many of the voyages we took

were no less memorable for having been enjoyed

through the written word.

It was, too, Michelangelo who painted chapels. I know it.

You're wrong, Mary Ellen. It was that Cellini fellow.

- It was Michelangelo, Jason. - See, smarty.

Well, a body can't be expected to know everything.

There's something I want to know.

Me, too. What's a chapel?

It's like a church, honey.

That's nice. Goodnight, Daddy. Goodnight, Mama.

Goodnight, Elizabeth.

What was it you wanted to know, Jim-Bob?

Is Mr. Cellini or Michelino going to paint our church?

Either one. We're not proud.

Mama.

- Goodnight, John-Boy. - Goodnight.