Original subtitles

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND DISTRESSING

ABOUT LIFE TODAY

IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY SEEM TO ENJOY THEIR WORK ANYMORE.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP ON WALTON'S MOUNTAIN,

MY FATHER AND MY GRANDFATHER LOVED THEIR WORK.

AND THEY INSTILLED A RESPECT FOR WORK IN EACH OF US.

BUT I RECALL ONE TIME, WHEN MY BROTHER JASON HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE.

A CHOICE THAT WAS DIFFICULT FOR HIM,

BUT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR MY FATHER.

♪♪

IT'S THE 4TH TIME HE'S PLAYED THAT SONG.

IT'S GETTING MONOTONOUS, ISN'T IT?

HE HAS TO PRACTICE FOR THIS AFTERNOON.

WHY, WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON?

OH, IT'S SHOW AND TELL.

MISS HUNTER ASKED ALL THE UPPER-GRADE KIDS TO BRING IN SOMETHING

TO SHOW WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

I SEE, SO JASON'S SHOWIN' A SONG.

YEAH, HE'S SO DUMB.

EVERYONE ELSE IS BRINGING IN STUFF

LIKE SOAP CARVINGS AND ANT FARMS.

JUST MY LUCK TO HAVE A BROTHER

WHO STANDS UP IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AND SINGS.

MARY ELLEN, YOU HAVE A BROTHER WHO HAS A SPECIAL TALENT.

- YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF HIM. - WASN'T ONE ENOUGH?

I MEAN, IT'S HARD ALWAYS HAVING SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WHO'S BETTER THAN ME.

JOHN-BOY'S ALWAYS BEEN THE BEST IN COMPOSITIONING.

JASON'S THE BEST IN MUSIC.

YOU'RE YOUNG YET. YOU'LL FIND YOUR WAY.

BESIDES, JOHN-BOY AND JASON ARE BOYS AND...

GRANDMA, I THINK I'M GOING TO SCREAM IF YOU FINISH THAT SENTENCE.

I THINK YOU'LL BE SORRY IF YOU DO.

MARY ELLEN, WHO TOLD YOU YOU COULD HOG ALL THE BLUE RIBBON?

ERIN, NO ONE DID. BUT BESIDES, IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED AROUND HERE.

IT AIN'T UP TO ME. LET ME HAVE IT BACK.

NEVER MIND ALL THAT.

YOU TWO HAVE BEEN DRAGGIN' YOUR FEET ALL MORNIN'.

ELIZABETH WAS THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO HELPED WITH THE BREAKFAST DISHES.

MARY ELLEN, YOU MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE FAMILY

WHO DOESN'T WANNA BE TIED TO A STOVE.

ELIZABETH MIGHT WANT A CAREER, TOO.

I DO WANT A CAREER. I WANNA TO BE A...

A...

WELL, I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I WANNA BE JUST YET.

BUT I'M GONNA BE A SOMETHING.

I SURE HOPE YOU DO BETTER THIS AFTERNOON THAN YOU DID THIS MORNING.

ME, TOO.

THANKS. IT'S SURE NICE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY.

THEY'RE JUST TEASING, JASON. YOU WERE WONDERFUL.

YEAH, REAL CHEERFUL. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, HEARING YOU TWANGING AWAY.

FLAT.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW? YOU COULDN'T CARRY A TUNE IN A BUCKET.

IS THAT YOUR BUCKET?

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT.

GET READY AND GO.

BYE.

BYE-BYE, MAMA. BYE-BYE.

BYE-BYE, GRANDMA.

AND JASON, GOOD LUCK THIS AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU, MAMA.

ERIN, LEAVE MY STUFF ALONE.

BYE-BYE, DADDY. GRANDPA!

BYE!

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

STUDY HARD. BYE, HONEY.

BYE.

THERE GOES THAT LONG-LEGGED JASON.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS ONLY YESTERDAY

HE WAS NO BIGGER THAN ELIZABETH.

THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO, PA.

COME ON, LET'S GET MOVIN'.

OH, YEAH, WE GOT PLENTY TO DO.

YOU KNOW LUCIUS FENTON?

PAUL LOWELL SAYS HE WANTS HIS ORDER OUT BY MONDAY.

WE'VE GOT SO MUCH TO DO, PA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN HIM DOWN.

WALTER WINCHELL WAS JUST SAYIN' ON THE RADIO

THAT THE DEPRESSION WAS ABOUT OVER.

PRETTY SOON, SOME FOLKS AROUND HERE

WON'T HAVE ANY EXCUSE FOR NOT WORKIN'.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE DEPRESSION BEING OVER, PA, BUT THINGS ARE EASIN' UP.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S TIME WE WENT INTO BUSINESS IN A BIGGER WAY.

BIGGER AND BETTER MILL FOR IT, HUH?

GOT THE SPACE RIGHT OVER THERE.

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD DRAINAGE, THERE.

OH, BUT WE'D NEED A NEW MOTOR.

WELL, MAYBE WE'D NEED 2, PA.

BUT WE'D HAVE OUR OWN LUMBERYARD,

GET RID OF THIS MAKESHIFT THING.

HEY, I THINK WE COULD DO IT.

WHY NOT? JASON WILL OUT OF SCHOOL PRETTY SOON, IT'D BE A CINCH.

HOW MUCH WE GOT LEFT ON THAT STEVENS ORDER?

WELL, WE GOT AN HOUR AND A HALF'S WORK, ANYWAY.

LET'S GET CRACKIN'. WE'LL MAKE THIS DELIVERY TO TOWN,

AND WE'LL PRICE SOME EQUIPMENT.

JUST FOR INFORMATION'S SAKE.

AH, SOMETHING TO DREAM OF.

WALTON AND SONS LUMBERYARD!

♪ I'M LOOKING OVER A 4-LEAF CLOVER ♪

♪ THAT I OVERLOOKED, THAT I OVERLOOKED ♪

♪ THAT I OVERLOOKED BEFORE ♪♪

MISS HUNTER, CAN JASON PLEASE SING A SONG

HE WROTE ABOUT THE SOLDIER?

GO AHEAD, JASON.

♪ THERE WAS A FAIR MAIDEN ♪

♪ WHO LIVED OVER THE HILL ♪

♪ IN A LITTLE LOG CABIN ♪

♪ THAT'S STANDING THERE STILL ♪

♪ AND EACH MORNING SHE'D RISE ♪

♪ WITH THE COMING OF DAWN ♪

♪ AND ALL THROUGH THE VALLEY ♪

♪ YOU COULD HEAR HER SWEET SONG ♪

♪ IN THE SPRING THERE CAME COURTIN' ♪

♪ A FARMER'S YOUNG SON ♪

♪ AND SOON THEY WERE MARRIED ♪

♪ IN NAME JOINED AS ONE ♪

♪ BUT HER YOUNG MAN WAS CALLED ♪

♪ TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY ♪

♪ SO HE JOINED IN THE RANKS ♪

♪ UNDER ROBERT E. LEE ♪

♪ THE LETTER THAT CAME ♪

♪ ONE COLD WINTER'S DAY ♪

♪ TOLD HOW HE'D DIED ♪

♪ AS A HERO IN GRAY ♪

♪ BUT HER POOR HEART WAS BROKEN ♪

♪ TO THINK OF HIM GONE ♪

♪ AND SHE, TOO, DIED SOON AFTER ♪

♪ TO JOIN HER LOVED ONE ♪

♪ AND TO THIS VERY DAY ♪

♪ YOU CAN STAND ON THE HILL ♪

♪ WHERE THE SOUND OF HER SINGING ♪

♪ IS ECHOING STILL ♪♪

I'M AFRAID YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT TILL NEXT WEDNESDAY, JIMMY.

REMEMBER, THERE'S A SPELLING TEST TOMORROW. CLASS DISMISSED.

WOULD YOU HELP HIM WITH THE CHAIR?

BYE-BYE, MISS HUNTER.

BYE-BYE.

JASON, JASON, COULD I SPEAK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE?

WELL, YES, MA'AM.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE MUSIC LESSONS.

WELL, THERE'S NOTHING I'D LIKE MORE.

WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO MRS. BRECKENRIDGE ABOUT IT?

WHY HER?

WELL, SHE USED TO TEACH MUSIC AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

BEFORE SHE WAS MARRIED, AND NOW SHE'S GIVING PRIVATE LESSONS.

WHY DON'T YOU STOP BY HER HOUSE

ON YOUR WAY HOME AND TALK TO HER?

I WILL. THANK YOU.

MMM.

MISS HUNTER.

JOHN-BOY.

HOW NICE TO SEE YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

I REALLY WISHED YOU'D BEEN WITH US THIS AFTERNOON.

SOMETHING SPECIAL?

JASON PLAYED AND SANG FOR US.

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

YEAH, HE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT IT THIS MORNIN'.

I'M GLAD HE DID OK.

OH, IT WAS BETTER THAN OK.

CAN I GIVE YOU A LIFT SOMEPLACE?

I'M GOING UP TO IKE'S.

WELL, GOOD. HOP IN.

THANK YOU.

WELL, HOW'S THINGS AT BOATWRIGHT?

OH, THEY'RE FINE, THANK YOU.

IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR YOU AT FIRST, WASN'T IT?

OH, IT STILL IS.

I NEVER DREAMED I'D HAVE THIS MUCH WORK.

AND HOMEWORK! TONS OF IT, TONS OF IT.

I'M UP ALL NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT.

HOW IS YOUR WRITING CLASS?

OH, THAT'S THE BEST PART OF ALL.

WE HAVE A PROFESSOR PARKS.

HE'S VERY TOUGH, BUT IT JUST MAKES ME WORK HARDER.

YOU'RE ENJOYING IT, AREN'T YOU?

EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS WE BOTH KNEW I WOULD.

ONLY THING I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH NOW IS I'VE GOT TO THINK OF

A BIG PROJECT FOR MY WRITING CLASS,

AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT EXCITES ME FOR IT.

WHAT HAVE YOU TRIED?

OH, I'VE WRITTEN A ONE-ACT PLAY

AND... AND... AND A BUNCH OF CHARACTER SKETCHES, BUT...

WHY... WHY ARE YOU DISSATISFIED WITH THEM?

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU. THEY DON'T SEEM IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THIS.

WHY DON'T YOU TRY A NOVEL?

A NOVEL? OH, NO!

WHY NOT? A NOVEL!

WELL, NOVELS ARE... ARE WRITTEN BY PEOPLE LIKE PROUST AND THACKERAY AND DOSTOYEVSKY,

NOT BOYS FROM THE BACKWOODS OF VIRGINIA.

WHAT ABOUT BOYS FROM THE HILLS

OF NORTH CAROLINA, LIKE THOMAS WOLFE?

WELL, THOMAS WOLFE IS A GENIUS.

DIDN'T MATTER WHERE HE CAME FROM.

BESIDES, HE'S SAID EVERYTHING THERE IS TO SAY ABOUT THIS KIND OF COUNTRY.

SOME OF YOUR SHORT STORIES I'VE FELT WERE... WERE CRAMPED,

LIKE YOU'RE CONSTRICTED BY THE FORM. HMM?

IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE MORE TO SAY THAN

THE SHORT STORY CAN ENCOMPASS.

WELL, I DON'T THINK I'M READY FOR THAT.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ANYPLACE.

I... I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO WRITE A NOVEL ABOUT.

MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL.

MAYBE THE NOVEL'S RIGHT HERE.

ON THE MOUNTAIN?

IN THE PEOPLE.

OH, THESE ARE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE FINE FOR SHORT STORIES, SURE,

BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING BIG ENOUGH HERE FOR A NOVEL.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THE BIGNESS OR WHAT'S EXTRAORDINARY IS IN ORDINARY PEOPLE.

WELL...

THAT'S QUITE A SUGGESTION, MISS HUNTER.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M UP TO THAT YET.

WELL, GOOD LUCK, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR THE LIFT.

OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

BYE-BYE.

BYE-BYE.

♪ BUT HER POOR HEART WAS BROKEN ♪

♪ TO THINK OF HIM GONE ♪

♪ AND SHE TOO DIED SOON AFTER ♪

♪ TO JOIN HER LOVED ONE ♪

♪ AND TO THIS VERY DAY ♪

♪ YOU CAN STAND ON THE HILL ♪

♪ WHERE THE SOUND OF HER SINGING ♪

♪ IS ECHOING STILL ♪♪

THAT'S VERY LOVELY, JASON.

HAVE YOU EVER STUDIED COMPOSITION?

NO, MA'AM.

DO YOU PLAY THE PIANO?

WELL, A LITTLE BIT.

UM, SORT OF PICKED IT UP BY EAR,

LISTENING TO SONGS ON THE RADIO.

IT'S... IT'S A LOT EASIER

TO LEARN SCALES AND HARMONY ON THE KEYBOARD THAN ON THE GUITAR.

DO YOU HAVE A PIANO YOU COULD PRACTICE ON?

YES, MA'AM, WE HAVE ONE AT HOME,

BUT IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT ONE.

GOOD. I'LL WRITE OUT THE FIRST 5 SCALES FOR YOU

BEFORE YOU GO.

UH, DO YOU READ MUSIC?

JUST A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I'LL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.

I SURE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN.

OH, MOST OF IT IS NOT REALLY THAT DIFFICULT.

YOU HAVE A NATURAL GIFT.

THAT CAN'T BE TAUGHT.

YES, I THINK YOU COULD BECOME A FINE MUSICIAN.

UH, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE WORKS OF MOZART?

NO, MA'AM. NOT REALLY.

HE WAS A FAMOUS COMPOSER WHO LIVED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

HERE, LET ME, UH, PLAY SOMETHING FOR YOU.

♪♪

SUPPER READY? I'M HUNGRY. ME, TOO.

SOON.

YOU MISSED LUNCH.

I COULDN'T FIGURE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

MYSTERIOUS ERRANDS.

WELL, YOU DO LOOK LIKE YOU ATE THE CANARY.

JOHN, YOU LOOK DIFFERENT, TOO.

WELL, PA AND ME HAVE SOMETHING WE WANNA TELL YOU,

BUT, UH, IT'S A SURPRISE.

WE'LL WAIT FOR THE OTHERS TO GET HERE.

CAN WE HAVE A HINT?

♪♪

THE MAN THAT WROTE THIS MUSIC

IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPOSERS

IN THE HISTORY OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

HIS NAME WAS, UH, FELIX MENDELSSOHN.

AND WHEN HE WROTE WHAT YOU JUST LISTENED TO,

HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

IF I LIVED TO BE 1,000, I COULDN'T WRITE MUSIC LIKE THAT.

OH, MAYBE NOT.

BUT IF YOU AIM FOR THE VERY BEST, YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

UM...

C-COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW... HOW ALL THE SOUNDS WORK?

WELL, THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WANT TO TEACH YOU.

MAKES GUITAR PLAYING SEEM...

WELL, EVEN PLAYING WITH BOBBY BIGELOW,

IT MAKES IT SEEM KIND OF SILLY.

JASON, YOU MUST NEVER LOOK AT WHAT YOU DO THAT WAY.

NEVER MINIMIZE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME.

JUST RECOGNIZE IT FOR WHAT IT IS.

A STAGE IN YOUR DEVELOPMENT.

AND REMEMBER,

EVERY EXPERIENCE IS VALUABLE TO AN ARTIST.

WE THANK THEE, LORD, FOR THE BOUNTY OF THIS TABLE

AND PRAY FOR THE CONTINUED HEALTH AND HAPPINESS OF THIS FAMILY. AMEN.

AMEN.

I LIKE THESE PITCHING TOMATOES.

I TELL YOU, I SAW YOU PICKING THEM OUT

IN THE GARDEN THE OTHER DAY

MY MOUTH STARTED WATERING BEFORE THEY WAS...

SORRY I'M LATE, EVERYONE.

WHERE WERE YOU, JASON?

YOU'RE ALWAYS LATE.

I HAD AN ERRAND TO RUN.

SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS OFF TODAY RUNNING ERRANDS.

ALL RIGHT, I CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE.

JOHN SAID HE HAD SOMETHIN' TO TELL US AND HE WAS GONNA WAIT

TILL ALL THE FAMILY WAS AT THE TABLE TOGETHER. JOHN?

I'M GONNA ANNOUNCE THE FORMATION OF A NEW COMPANY.

WE'RE EXPANDIN' OUR BUSINESS.

WALTON AND SONS LUMBERYARD.

HEY, THAT SOUNDS GREAT!

WHAT ABOUT THE GIRLS?

GOOD LORD!

WELL, I HAVE A FEELIN' YOU'RE BEHIND THIS SCHEME, OLD MAN.

JUST WANT TO SEND US TO THE POOR HOUSE.

DON'T BE A WET BLANKET, ESTHER,

WHY, WE MIGHT GET OURSELVES RICH.

A LUMBERYARD?

LET ME EXPLAIN. THINGS ARE EASIN' UP AROUND HERE NOW

AND THE BANKS ARE WILLIN' TO MAKE LOANS AGAIN.

LOANS? JOHN, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT LOANS.

LIV, WILL YOU LET ME EXPLAIN?

PA AND ME WENT BY THE DAWKINS' PLACE TODAY.

THEY'RE SELLIN' ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT.

WE CAN PICK UP SOME FINE EQUIPMENT, DIRT CHEAP.

THE BANKS ARE WILLIN' TO FINANCE US

AND THE INTEREST RATES ARE REAL LOW.

GRANDMA'S RIGHT.

SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING FROM BEING POOR

TO WHATEVER'S WORSE THAN THAT.

LIV, WE CAN HAVE A BIGGER MILL

AND WE CAN GET SOME GOOD EQUIPMENT TO MAKE FINE FURNITURE.

WON'T THAT BE SOMETHING?

A FINE LINE OF CHAIRS AND TABLES.

WALTON AND COMPANY.

WALTON AND SONS LUMBERYARD AND FINE FURNITURE.

THAT SOUNDS GREAT, DADDY. I CAN WORK WITH YOU FULL-TIME.

AND JASON, WHEN YOU GRADUATE, YOU'LL HAVE A TRADE.

YOU WON'T HAVE TO CUT FENCE POSTS.

YOU CAN BE A FURNITURE MAKER.

IF YOU DRAW THE LINE CATTY-CORNER, THERE,

YOU CAN HAVE A FINE VIEW FROM THE HOUSE, TOO.

REALLY NICE, PA.

WE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THIS ROAD HERE WIDER.

WE CAN BORROW LUKE MORGAN'S TRACTOR, GET THIS DONE IN A DAY OR TWO.

YOU HAVE THE CHILDREN HELPIN',

YOU OUGHT TO DO IT IN AN AFTERNOON.

WE GOTTA HAVE ROOM FOR THE TRUCKS TO TURN AROUND.

YOU REALLY LIKE IT, PA?

OH, I SURE DO.

I CAN JUST SEE JASON STACKIN' LUMBER OVER THERE.

AND YOU OVER THERE WORKIN' THE NEW MACHINE.

AND ME SITTING RIGHT HERE

ROCKING AWAY AND ADMIRING THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL.

TOO BAD WE DIDN'T DO THIS 2 YEARS AGO, PA,

WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE IDEA.

OH, WE COULDN'T. THE DEPRESSION GOT IN OUR WAY.

NO ONE IN OUR WAY NOW, PA.

I FEEL LIKE IF WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO START NEXT WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN WAIT.

ME, NEITHER!

♪♪WE CAN PUT THE OFFICE RIGHT HERE, PA.

WE CAN HAVE A DOOR LEADIN' INTO THE WORK AREA

AND ANOTHER DOOR WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO THE ROAD.

DON'T FORGET TO GIVE IT SOME PLUMBING.

I KNOW. IF WE CAN RUN THOSE PIPES...

JASON, COULD YOU STOP THAT FOR A WHILE?

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NEW WORKIN' ARRANGEMENTS HERE.

DADDY, I'M PRACTICING.

MRS. BRECKENRIDGE SAYS I HAVE TO PRACTICE AT LEAST 2 HOURS A DAY

OR THE LESSONS AREN'T GONNA BE WORTH IT.

WELL, MRS. BRECKENRIDGE DOESN'T HAVE TO SIT AROUND

LISTENING TO YOU PLAY THAT THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT'S NOT A THING.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT BEGINNING PIECE FOR A MUSICIAN,

AND I WANT TO GET IT JUST RIGHT.

NEVER MIND, I'LL DO IT SOME OTHER TIME

WHEN IT DOESN'T BOTHER ANYBODY.

JASON, COME ON OVER HERE AND SEE

HOW THE NEW MILL IS SHAPING UP.

NO, THANKS, GRANDPA. SOME OTHER TIME.

GUY LINE RIGHT HERE, PA...

I NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D STOP THAT RACKET.

YEAH, JASON, CAN'T YOU PLAY SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE CATCHY?

WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?

JASON.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

YOU'D BETTER SPILL IT BEFORE YOU EXPLODE.

JOHN-BOY,

I CAN'T STAND EVERYONE ACTING AS THOUGH

MY LESSONS WITH MRS. BRECKENRIDGE

WAS JUST SOME DUMB, KID THING.

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL.

NO, YOU DON'T.

OH, YES, I DO.

YOU'RE LEARNIN' ABOUT MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME

AND ABOUT WHAT IT REALLY IS.

YOU WANNA SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY.

AND YOU WANT TO PLAY EVERYTHING PERFECTLY.

THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I CAN'T STAND IT WHEN I MAKE A MISTAKE. I...

I JUST HAVE TO PLAY EVERYTHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN

TILL I GET IT ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

I RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS.

WHAT SIGNS?

OH, YEAH.

WHEN I DECIDED I WAS GONNA BE A WRITER, I WAS JUST... I WAS AWFUL.

I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO READ WHATEVER I WAS READING

AND I'D CARRY AROUND A BOOK BY THOMAS WOLFE

AND I'D GRAB ONTO PEOPLE AND I'D MAKE 'EM LISTEN TO ME.

AND ALL I REALLY WANTED WAS TO SAY

"SOMEDAY I'M GOING TO WRITE WORDS LIKE THAT."

YOU KNOW, MRS. BRECKENRIDGE PLAYED ME

A CONCERTO BY GEORGE GERSHWIN.

NOW, THERE'S A REAL GENIUS.

MMM-HMM.

YOU KNOW HOW YOU WANTED TO WRITE LIKE THOMAS WOLFE?

WELL, SOMEDAY,

I THINK I'D TO LIKE TO COMPOSE LIKE GEORGE GERSHWIN.

AND I... I DON'T THINK I WANT TO BE A PART OF DADDY'S NEW MILL.

THAT'S WONDERFUL, JASON.

YOU'VE REALLY LEARNED THAT BEAUTIFULLY.

THANK YOU.

MRS. BRECKENRIDGE, LISTEN TO THIS.

WHAT IS THAT, JASON?

WELL... WELL, I WAS JUST SORT OF PLAYING AROUND AT HOME,

AND THAT'S WHAT CAME OUT.

YOU ACTUALLY COMPOSED THAT VARIATION?

YES, MA'AM.

IT'S VERY GOOD. VERY.

UM, YOU'RE GRADUATING FROM MISS HUNTER'S SCHOOL THIS YEAR, AREN'T YOU?

YES, MA'AM.

HAVE YOU MADE ANY DEFINITE PLANS

ABOUT GOING ON TO COLLEGE OR, UH...

WELL, MY DADDY'S PLANNING ON ME WORKING FOR HIM FULL-TIME.

I SEE.

DO YOU WANT TO GO ON STUDYING MUSIC?

YES, MA'AM. I REALLY DO.

WELL, YOU KNOW,

THE KLEINBERG CONSERVATORY OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS IN... IN COMPOSITION.

AND JASON, I THINK YOU SHOULD APPLY.

WELL, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN?

WELL, IT WOULD MEAN,

JUST LIKE GOING TO COLLEGE, EXCEPT THAT ALL YOUR WORK WOULD BE IN MUSIC.

FULL-TIME? YES.

AND THEY'D PAY YOUR FULL TUITION, AND YOU'D GET SOME MONEY

FOR BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.

I'LL HAVE TO TALK TO MY FATHER.

OF COURSE.

BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, I'LL GET AN APPLICATION FOR YOU.

AND... AND WE CAN FILL IT OUT THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE HERE.

A-ARE YOU INTERESTED, JASON?

YES, MA'AM. I REALLY AM.

I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU'D GET THE FORMS FOR ME.

DADDY?

JASON, I WAS HOPING YOU'D GET HERE EARLIER.

DADDY, CAN I TALK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE?

SURE.

YOU KNOW THOSE LESSONS I'VE BEEN TAKING WITH MRS. BRECKENRIDGE?

KNOW ABOUT IT? EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY KNOWS ABOUT THE WAY YOU BEEN PRACTICING.

SHE SAYS I'M DOING REAL WELL.

THAT'S NICE, SON.

DADDY, SHE'S TEACHING ME ALL ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC.

SHE'S PLAYING ME THESE VICTROLA RECORDS

OF MUSIC WRITTEN BY A MAN NAMED GEORGE GERSHWIN.

HE'S AN AMERICAN COMPOSER.

GOOD.

DADDY, I WANT TO WRITE MUSIC, TOO.

WELL, SURE, SON, KEEP ON STUDYING AS LONG AS YOU WANT.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN.

MRS. BRECKENRIDGE THINKS THAT I OUGHT TO TRY OUT FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

SO THAT I COULD GO TO THE KLEINBERG CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, EXACTLY?

WELL, THAT MEANS THAT IF I WANTED,

THEN... THEN I'D BE GOING TO SCHOOL FULL-TIME, LIKE JOHN-BOY.

WELL, IT WOULD BE ALL PAID FOR,

AND I COULD STUDY COMPOSITION.

WHAT GOOD WOULD THAT DO YOU, SON?

WELL, THEN I COULD GO ON TO BECOME A WORKING COMPOSER.

WELL NOW, SON, MUSIC IS ALL WELL AND GOOD,

BUT YOU GOT TO LEARN YOURSELF A TRADE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SUPPORT A FAMILY SOMEDAY.

WELL, ISN'T THAT JUST LIKE JOHN-BOY WANTING TO BE A WRITER?

NO, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL.

JOHN-BOY'S LEARNING A TRADE.

HE'S GOING TO BE A JOURNALIST OR A TEACHER.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA HAVE?

WELL, I...

WELL, I'D BE DOING THE THING I WANT TO DO.

NO, SON,

I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN MUSIC, BUT FULL-TIME?

NO. I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT.

IF EVER I HAD TO DESCRIBE MY FATHER,

I WOULD HAVE TO START WITH HIS HANDS.

WHAT THEY DO.

THE TOIL THEY ARE ENGAGED IN DURING THE DAY IS REFLECTED IN THEM.

AND THE SKILL WITH WHICH THEY WORK HAS

SHAPED THEM IN A DIFFERENT MANNER

THAN I'M SURE A STONECUTTER'S HANDS WOULD HAVE BEEN SHAPED.

HMM?

JOHN-BOY?

OH, I'M SORRY.

NO, NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT. COME ON IN. JUST A SECOND.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

NEVER MIND, I CAN GUESS.

DID DADDY SAY ANYTHING TO YOU?

NO, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.

YOU TWO HARDLY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER ALL THROUGH DINNER.

HE SAID I SHOULDN'T APPLY FOR THAT SCHOLARSHIP AT THE CONSERVATORY.

I WAS AFRAID OF THAT.

WERE YOU CALM OR DID YOU GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT?

NO, I WAS CALM, JOHN-BOY. I WAS.

WELL, JASON,

THIS MILL IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO DADDY AND GRANDPA.

IT MEANS A LOT TO 'EM.

THEY'RE BOTH PROUD MEN AND... AND THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR WORK.

I KNOW.

YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND. FIRST, I COME ALONG AND I SAY TO MY FATHER,

"DADDY, YOUR WORK IS NOT FOR ME."

BEFORE HE GETS USED TO THAT, YOU COME ALONG AND SAY THE SAME THING.

YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE HIM TIME TO GET USED TO THE IDEA.

YOU DO THINK HE'LL GET USED TO IT, DON'T YOU?

WELL, HE'S A REASONABLE MAN, JASON.

I THINK DEEP INSIDE HE WANTS US TO HAVE WHAT WE ALL REALLY WANT.

IT'S JUST THAT I DON'T THINK HE REALLY SEES

MUSIC AS A SERIOUS OCCUPATION,

THE KIND OF THING THAT CAN HELP YOU SUPPORT A... A FAMILY.

IT'S JUST THAT MUSIC, TO HIM, IS SOMETHING THAT COMES OVER ON THE RADIO

AND SOMETHING YOU DANCE TO. THAT'S ALL.

IT'S NOT SERIOUS.

WELL, THAT'S SILLY.

OF COURSE IT IS.

MAYBE HE'LL COME TO REALIZE THAT,

BUT YOU GOTTA GIVE HIM TIME.

I FEEL A LITTLE BETTER JUST GETTING IT OFF MY CHEST.

WHAT ARE ALL THOSE LITTLE PIECES OF PAPER?

THESE ARE STORIES AND OUTLINES

AND COMPOSITIONS AND POEMS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH ALL OF IT?

MISS HUNTER THINKS I OUGHT TO WRITE A NOVEL.

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

NO, NO, NO, REALLY.

S-S-SUPPOSE YOU DID AND IT WAS PUBLISHED?

YOU'D BE A FAMOUS WRITER, LIVIN' IN NEW YORK CITY.

OH, YOU JUST SAY THAT 'CAUSE YOU'D WANT TO COME AND LIVE WITH ME.

OH, SURE.

NO, NO, LISTEN. LISTEN. I COULD GO OFF TO SOME... SOME

FANCY MUSIC SCHOOL DURING THE DAY AND NIGHTS I'D SIT UP AND WRITE...

OH, WAIT A MINUTE,

SYMPHONIES AND CONCERTOS. WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

OH, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

I CAN JUST SEE THE WHOLE FAMILY, ONE WINTER NIGHT,

ALL TRAIPSING INTO CARNEGIE HALL DRESSED UP IN OUR OVERALLS.

WAIT A MINUTE. TO HEAR THE FIRST PERFORMANCE

OF THE... THE RHAPSODY OF THE BLUE RIDGE, BY JASON WALTON!

WITH ME CONDUCTING THE ORCHESTRA.

C-CAN'T YOU SEE THE TRUCK PARKED IN FRONT OF IT ALL?

I TELL YOU, BROTHER, I THINK YOU AND I GOT A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

YEAH, WE SURE DO.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, I CAN'T WAIT.

NEITHER CAN I.

OK. I CAN TAKE A HINT.

JOHN-BOY?

THANKS.

JASON?

UH, WHAT DO I PUT HERE?

WHERE?

UH, UH, "PREVIOUS TRAINING."

WELL, LET'S SEE.

UM, PUT DOWN, "MUSIC APPRECIATION IN HIGH SCHOOL,

"MUSIC COMPOSITION LESSONS WITH, UH, MRS. MARY BRECKENRIDGE,

AND, UH, BAND EXPERIENCE WITH BOBBY BIGELOW AND THE HAYSTACK GANG."

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH.

OH, IT'S A LOT FOR A BOY OF YOUR AGE.

WHAT DO THEY MEAN HERE BY, UH, FINANCIAL NEED?

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOUR FATHER WHAT HIS YEARLY INCOME IS, AND FILL IN

ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HE SUPPORTS, HERE, EVERY YEAR.

SHOULD I INCLUDE MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY GRANDFATHER?

AND YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR FATHER

AND ALL YOUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, JASON?

NOTHING.

WELL, THAT JUST ABOUT DOES IT.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO NOW IS FIND OUT YOUR FATHER'S INCOME.

OH, I CAN'T.

WHY NOT? IT'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

NO, IT'S NOT THAT.

HE DOESN'T KNOW I'M APPLYING FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP.

OH?

HE'S PLANNING ON EXPANDING THE MILL,

AND HE EXPECTS ME TO BE THERE.

WELL, PERHAPS YOU COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT SO YOU COULD

BE IN THE MILL ONLY PART-TIME.

NO. I DON'T THINK SO.

HE WANTS ME TO BE THERE FULL-TIME.

ANYWAY, HE THINKS OF MUSIC AS JUST SOME KIND OF HOBBY

AND NOT SOMETHING I CAN MAKE A LIVING AT.

JASON, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU'VE CHANGED

YOUR MIND ABOUT APPLYING, THEN?

NO, MA'AM. NO, I WANT TO.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TALK TO YOUR FATHER?

NO.

THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

BUT REMEMBER,

THAT APPLICATION BETTER BE IN THE MAIL

BY TOMORROW EVENING, AT THE LATEST.

THANK YOU.

HOW WAS YOUR LESSON TODAY?

IT WAS FINE, JUST FINE.

YOU'RE NOT BEING VERY TALKATIVE.

IS SOMETHING WRONG?

MAMA, I WASN'T JUST WALKING BY THE STORE.

I HAD TO MAIL IN MY APPLICATION

FOR THAT SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION.

DID YOU TELL YOUR FATHER?

JASON?

NO, MA'AM.

YOU HAVE TO TELL HIM.

HE TOLD ME I SHOULDN'T APPLY.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY YOU HAVE TO TELL HIM.

MAMA, THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

AUDITIONING FOR THIS THING.

I PROBABLY WON'T EVEN GET A CHANCE.

JASON, YOU HAVE GOT TO TELL YOUR FATHER.

WELL, COULDN'T IT AT LEAST WAIT

TILL I FIND OUT IF I GOT AN AUDITION?

WHEN WILL THAT BE?

WELL, I GUESS THEY NOTIFY IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME.

MAMA, PLEASE.

WE'VE JUST COME FROM THE BANK.

THEY APPROVED THE LOAN.

WE CAN GO OVER TO MRS. DAWKINS' AND PICK UP THE EQUIPMENT

BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

AND A NEW TRUCK FOR THE MILL, AND A FAMILY CAR, MAYBE A LASALLE.

NOT SO FAST, PA. COME ON, GET IN.

I'LL GIVE YOU A RIDE HOME.

COME ON, JASON.

NO THANKS, GRANDPA. I'LL WALK.

ALL RIGHT, SON. HURRY HOME.

BANK SAYS I CAN COME DOWN THURSDAY MORNING AND GET THE MONEY.

SO THAT MEANS BEFORE LONG, RIGHT IN FRONT, THERE'LL BE A SIGN THAT READS

"WALTON AND SONS LUMBER COMPANY."

ARE WE GONNA BE RICH

AND HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS LIKE FUR COATS?

RIGHT.

OH, I WANT A BUNNY-FUR ONE, DADDY.

MARTHA ROSE COVERDALE HAS ONE.

OH, IT'S SO CUTE AND SOFT AND CUDDLY.

SO ARE BUNNIES.

BEN, THAT'S DISGUSTING.

FOR ONCE IN HER LIFE, ERIN'S RIGHT.

RABBITS SCRATCH AND THEY'RE NASTY AND...

MARY ELLEN.

I DON'T THINK THIS KIND OF TALK IS NECESSARY AT THE SUPPER TABLE.

FOR ONCE, I'M ON YOUR SIDE, ESTHER.

AND FURTHER MORE... ABOUT THE RABBITS.

DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY'RE HATCHED.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, ESTHER.

I THINK WE GOT A PRETTY FAIR CHANCE WITH THAT MILL.

WITH JOHN, JASON, ME WORKIN' OUT THERE, AND THE REST OF YOU

HELPIN' IN ON OCCASION, WHY, I THINK WE COULD ALL BE LUMBER BARONS.

DADDY?

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, PA.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

DADDY,

I FILLED IN THAT APPLICATION

FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION AT THE KLEINBERG CONSERVATORY.

WHAT'S THAT?

AND I MAILED IT.

ARE YOU GOING TO COLLEGE?

I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT, SON.

WELL, IT'S DONE.

WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY HARM IN JUST MAILING IN AN APPLICATION.

DADDY, I CAN TAKE JASON'S PLACE.

THERE'S TIME FOR THAT, SON.

YOU'RE TOO YOUNG NOW.

I AM NOT. AND WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO STOP TREATING ME LIKE A BABY?

I'M JUST AS STRONG AS HE IS.

BEN, YOU HEARD YOUR FATHER.

DADDY KEEPS ON SAYING IT'S GONNA BE WALTON AND SONS LUMBERYARD.

WELL, I'M HIS SON, ALSO!

QUIET DOWN.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHIN'.

I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANNA DO.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU MAKE CHOICES THAT ARE GONNA HURT YOU.

NOW, YOU'RE GONNA FINISH SCHOOL, SON.

AND AS FOR MUSIC, JASON,

WELL, YOU CAN KEEP THAT AS A HOBBY, BUT

IT'S NOT GONNA GET YOU A JOB, IT'S NOT GONNA HELP YOU RAISE A FAMILY

AND FEED THAT FAMILY.

I'M OFFERING YOU A CHANCE TO LEARN A TRADE, TO BE PART OF THIS MILL.

NOW, YOU, UH, KEEP THIS MUSIC COMPOSING

FOR AFTER-HOURS OR FOR A HOBBY.

DADDY, YOU KNOW I DON'T WANT THAT.

I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU RUN OFF BEFORE YOU EVEN GIVE THIS THING A CHANCE.

I DON'T WANNA GIVE IT A CHANCE.

AND IF THE ONLY OTHER THING I CAN DO IS RUN OFF, THEN...

THEN THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

YOU WANT COMPANY?

THEY SAY MISERY LOVES IT.

YOU OK?

LITTLE DOWN. I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

GUESS YOU'VE GOTTEN OVER IT ONCE BEFORE, HAVEN'T YOU?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

OH, YOU REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 16

AND YOU WERE WORKIN' OVER IN WAYNESBORO?

YOU HAD ALL KINDS OF PLANS FOR ME.

YOU INTRODUCED ME TO THE FOREMAN AT THE SHOP,

AND HE WAS GONNA MAKE ME AN APPRENTICE AS SOON AS I GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN I TOLD YOU I HAD PLANS OF MY OWN,

YOU GOT A LITTLE UPSET ABOUT IT.

I GOT OVER IT.

DADDY, I KNOW HOW JASON FEELS.

IT MAY SEEM DEFIANT TO YOU.

BUT BELIEVE ME, HE'S EVERY BIT AS ANGRY

AND FRUSTRATED WITH HIMSELF AS HE IS WITH YOU.

IT'S NOT AN EASY STAND FOR HIM TO TAKE

'CAUSE HE LOVES YOU VERY MUCH,

AND I'M SURE HE FEELS A LITTLE GUILTY.

AND IT'S EASY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW JASON FEELS.

AND I'LL TELL YOU,

WATCHING YOU TWO,

I THINK I'M JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL.

AND THE KIND OF TROUBLES YOU'RE GOING THROUGH WITH ALL THIS.

IT'S JUST YOUR LUCK, ISN'T IT?

YOU RAISING US KIDS TO GO OFF AND HURT YOU.

JOHN-BOY, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND

WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME.

I MEAN THAT

FROM THE TIME WHEN WE WERE LITTLE,

YOU WERE ALWAYS DRILLING IT INTO OUR HEADS

TO MAKE SOMETHING WITH OUR LIVES

AND TO DO SOMETHING, BE SOMEBODY.

AND YOU GIVE US SO MUCH LOVE AND SO MUCH SECURITY AND

SUCH A FEELING OF STRENGTH ABOUT OURSELVES THAT

WE'RE JUST RUNNING OFF AND DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS

YOU NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF.

I, UH...

I JUST WANTED YOU ALWAYS TO GROW UP INDEPENDENT.

TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES.

WE WILL. BELIEVE ME, 'CAUSE OF YOU.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND YOU,

AS A FATHER.

JASON WAS WRONG, YOU KNOW.

GOING AGAINST JOHN'S WISHES.

APPLYING FOR THAT AUDITION WITHOUT... WITHOUT TELLING HIM.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT JASON.

YOU KNOW, HE'S A PRETTY SENSIBLE FELLOW,

EVEN IF HE DID FLY OFF HALF-COCKED.

YOU KNOW, IN THE LIGHT OF DAY YOU'LL SEE THINGS CLEARER.

BUT IT IS JOHN THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

YEAH, I KNOW, HE'S NOT ACTING LIKE HIMSELF.

I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S ACTING SO... STERN.

YEAH, STERN TOWARD JASON.

OH, OF COURSE YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I... I TREATED HIM THE SAME WAY WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG ONE.

OH, YOU NEVER DID.

REMEMBER THAT TIME WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM THE ARMY?

AND HE WAS ALL SET GOING OFF TO NORFOLK OR NEWPORT NEWS

OR SOMEWHERE TO GET A JOB?

HE JUST COULDN'T STAND THE IDEA OF WORKING ALONGSIDE OF ME.

OH, I REMEMBER. OH, YOU WERE AWFUL.

AND YOU WERE MEAN, AND I JUST COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.

I WAS SCARED AND ANGRY.

SCARED? MMM.

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU DID?

NO, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID WE'D LOST HIM.

HE'D GO AWAY AND HE'D NO LONGER BE OUR SON.

THEN I WAS ANGRY, TOO, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK

THE THINGS WE LIKED WERE IMPORTANT TO HIM.

YEAH, WELL, I KNOW ONE THING.

I KNOW THAT HE'S GLAD THAT HE DECIDED TO STAY HERE.

HE LIKES THE MOUNTAINS AND THE LAND JUST AS MUCH AS WE DO.

MMM. AND HE ALWAYS HAS.

OH, HE'D COME BACK HERE THAT TIME, EVEN IF HE HAD GONE AWAY.

I WONDER IF JASON AND JOHN-BOY WILL BE LEAVING SOMEDAY.

I SUPPOSE THEY WILL.

YOU KNOW, THOSE 2 BOYS, THEY'RE KIND OF ARTISTIC-LIKE.

THAT'S THE WAY THEY LOVE OUR LAND.

BUT ME AND... ME AND JOHN, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE FEEL

OF THE WOOD AND THE EARTH BETWEEN OUR FINGERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

DO YOU THINK JOHN WILL LET JASON TRY FOR THAT SCHOOLING?

YES, IN THE LONG RUN HE WILL.

HE WANTS THEM TO HAVE WHAT THEY WANT.

AND HE'LL LET 'EM GO, ONE BY ONE

IF THEY WANT TO.

AH, COME ON, OLD GIRL, LET'S GET OURSELVES TO BED.

ZEB, THAT'S NOT NICE.

OH.

SOUNDED LIKE GRANDMA AND GRANDPA.

YOU THINK THEY'RE ALL RIGHT?

RESTLESS, I GUESS.

I GUESS.

SORRY IF I'M KEEPING YOU AWAKE.

MAYBE I SHOULD GO FOR A WALK.

YOU GO, I'M GOIN' WITH YOU.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE GETTIN' UP ANYWAY.

YOU THINK I'M BEING UNFAIR TO JASON?

SOME.

HE'S KNOWN FOR YEARS I'VE WANTED HIM WITH ME IN THE MILL.

IF HE WAS SO DEAD SET ON THIS MUSIC BUSINESS,

WHY HASN'T HE SAID ANYTHING BEFORE?

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONLY RECENTLY

THAT HE'S REALIZED HOW MUCH HIS MUSIC MEANS TO HIM.

BESIDES, IF HE HAD TOLD YOU BEFORE,

WOULD YOU HAVE FELT ANY DIFFERENT?

LIV, A MAN HAS TO HAVE A TRADE.

I CAN'T STAND TO THINK OF JASON GOIN' THROUGH LIFE STRUGGLIN'.

TRYING TO KEEP HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY TOGETHER ON NOTHIN'.

JOHN, IS THAT WHAT'S REALLY BOTHERING YOU?

OF COURSE IT'S WHAT'S REALLY BOTHERING ME.

JOHN...

WELL, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU PLANNED AND PLANNED AND PLANNED

TO GIVE YOUR KIDS GOOD THINGS, HAVE A DECENT LIFE...

AND THEN, WHEN THEY GET OLD ENOUGH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT,

THEY TURN YOU DOWN FLAT?

JASON DOESN'T APPRECIATE WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO FOR HIM.

ALL HE'S THINKING ABOUT IS SOME

SCATTERBRAINED IDEA OF BEING A FANCY MUSICIAN.

JOHN WALTON,

YOU TAUGHT YOUR CHILDREN THAT IF THEY WANTED SOMETHING, TO REACH FOR IT.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE GONNA WANT THE SAME THING THAT YOU DO.

JASON'S DOIN' EXACTLY WHAT YOU HOPED HE'D DO.

HE'S BEING HIS OWN SEPARATE PERSON.

I JUST DON'T WANT LIFE TO BE HARD FOR HIM, LIV.

NO ONE DOES, BUT HE'S GOT TO WORK

THAT OUT FOR HIMSELF, DOESN'T HE?

I GUESS SO.

GOOD NIGHT, JOHN. I LOVE YOU.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ME FOR?

I CAN'T WRITE, CAN'T DO MUSIC, CAN'T DO NOTHIN'.

GO TO SLEEP.

WHO IS IT?

IT'S ME, SON.

YES, SIR.

YOU'RE GOIN'?

I WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOU BEFORE I LEFT.

I KNOW I SHOULDN'T HAVE MAILED THAT APPLICATION IN WITHOUT ASKIN' YOU.

NO, SON, YOU SHOULDN'T.

I'M SORRY.

BUT, WELL, I FIGURE, UH,

THINGS ARE ONLY GONNA GET WORSE,

SO I MIGHT AS WELL LEAVE NOW.

JASON, UH...

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?

WELL, I... I RECKON I'LL WORK WITH BOBBY BIGELOW AS MUCH AS I CAN.

YOU'D BE TRAVELING ALL AROUND, THEN.

YOU WON'T HAVE TIME FOR THE CONSERVATORY.

I'LL JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO BOTH.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER A PART-TIME JOB AT THE MILL?

YES, I WOULD.

CAN IT STILL BE WALTON AND SONS?

I'D LIKE THAT JUST FINE.

YOU KNOW, I MIGHT NOT EVEN WIN THAT SCHOLARSHIP.

THEN YOU TRY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THANK YOU, DADDY.

YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE MAN.

YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLE MAN.

JASON JUST TOLD ME WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.

I'M GOING TO WRITE THAT NOVEL.

JOHN-BOY, YOU BEEN DIPPIN' IN THE RECIPE?

NO. BUT I'M INTOXICATED.

DON'T LET YOUR MAMA KNOW ABOUT IT.

OH, SHE'S GONNA KNOW ABOUT IT.

EVERYBODY'S GONNA KNOW ABOUT IT.

FOR DAYS MISS HUNTER WAS TELLING ME...

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT?

NO, WHAT'S IT GONNA BE ABOUT?

IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN.

WHO? YOU.

ME?

YES, YOU. AND THE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS YOU DO

SO THAT YOUR CHILDREN CAN GROW UP AND HAVE THE KIND OF LIVES THAT THEY WANT.

AND IT'S GONNA TO BE ABOUT MAMA.

AND, IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT GRANDPA.

AND, IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT GRANDMA AND MARY ELLEN

AND JASON AND BEN AND ELIZABETH.

I WONDER HOW'S IT GONNA END?

WHAT?

I WAS WONDERIN', HOW'S IT GONNA END?

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE STILL LIVING IT.

OK.

PA, I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THE OFFICE RIGHT HERE.

DADDY, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE DESK SPACE AT THE BACK

SO THAT I CAN LOOK AT THE VIEW

WHILE I'M WORKIN'. RIGHT HERE.

BEN, IF YOU WERE WORKIN', YOU WON'T HAVE TIME FOR LOOKIN'.

GRANDPA, A MAN NEEDS TO HAVE...

TO HAVE TIME TO THINK WHILE HE WORKS.

COME OVER HERE, SON. YEAH?

ALMOST ALL OF US CHOSE CAREERS THAT

TOOK US AWAY FROM WALTON'S MOUNTAIN.

BUT NO MATTER HOW FAR ANY OF US TRAVELED IN LATER YEARS,

WE ALWAYS CAME HOME.

AND WHILE WE WERE AWAY,

MY MOTHER AND FATHER WERE ALWAYS WITH US

IN OUR HEARTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN OUR ATTITUDES TOWARD LIFE.

JASON, YOU GONNA KEEP THAT RACKET UP ALL NIGHT?

SORRY, DADDY.

I JUST STARTED PLAYIN' AND I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE TIME.

ONE MORE MINUTE?

THAT'S ALL.

GOOD NIGHT, JASON.

GOOD NIGHT, JASON.

GOODNIGHT, JOHN-BOY.

GOODNIGHT, MARY ELLEN.

GOODNIGHT, ERIN.

GOODNIGHT, JIM-BOB. GOODNIGHT, BEN.

GOODNIGHT, JOHN-BOY.

GOODNIGHT, ERIN.

GOODNIGHT, BEN.

GOODNIGHT, MARY ELLEN.

GOODNIGHT, MAMA. GOODNIGHT, DADDY.

GOODNIGHT EVERYBODY.