All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S01E14.The.Minstrel.WEBRip.x264-ION10

[guitar music]

[theme music]

[car honking]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

When I was growing up back
in those

distant Depression years...

I always seemed to be
a year or two younger...

than I wanted to be...

and a year or two older
than my parents thought I was.

It tried my patience
for a long time...

until one day,
something happened

to my sister, Mary Ellen...

that helped me understand
those feelings in myself.

I'm sorry.

Hi there. I'm Jamie.

Mary Ellen Walton.

You a stranger around here?

I'm traveling through.
You okay?

I think so.

-You live nearby?
-Up there.

Where are you from?

Here, there, and everywhere.
I'm a traveling minstrel.

I'm trying to see as much of
this world as my two feet...

and this sad excuse for a burro
will take me to.

You just travel whenever you
want to?

I'm trying to set down
on paper...

all the old songs I hear
from all over the world.

Now and again, I sing a song
or two for my supper.

I'm late for mine. Goodbye.

I'm traveling, too.
I'm going to Virginia Beach.

Hey, Daddy!

Apple cobbler tomorrow,
everybody.

Liv, have I got news for you!

And how's your love story
coming, John-Boy?

I tell you, I know how the hero
feels, alright...

but I'm having a little trouble
with how the girl feels

when he kisses her.

I thought maybe you could help
me with it a little bit.

I'll tell you all about it
later, John-Boy.

Liv, I spent the afternoon
with old man Pickett.

Owns those apple orchards
over in Earlysville.

I didn't think you could charm
that old grouch out of anything.

I made a deal with him,
a business deal.

He's got an orchard
full of ripe apples.

He contracted a railroad car
to haul them away...

all the pickers are busy
over in Cumberland County.

It'd be a shame if all those
apples rot on the trees.

They won't.

We're gonna pick them.

What are you all looking at?
Turn around and eat your meal.

Once you finish, get yourself
a good night's rest...

because tomorrow...

we're gonna pick us
an orchard full of apples.

Can we keep some of the apples?

You can keep all you can eat,
Ben.

-Oh, boy.
-Apple cobbler.

Daddy, how're we going to pick
a whole orchard full of apples?

Mighty fast, that's how.

And it's a lot of apples,
a whole lot of apples.

I'm gonna need every one of you.

It's hard cash on the line
if we deliver on time.

But that Pickett's a shrewd one.

He put a little hook
in the deal.

What's old Pickett done?
Glued his apples onto the trees?

He doesn't believe
we can fill that contract.

So he's giving us a 10-cent
bonus for every bushel we pick.

And you all get to keep
every cent of that bonus.

Money, Ben.

But what happens
if we don't pick them in time?

If we don't...

I owe him 50 cents for every
bushel we leave on the tree.

That's an awful gamble,
isn't it?

No gamble at all, Liv.
Just look here.

We got a whole
houseful of Waltons

who are very good
at picking apples.

I'm gonna pick a million
bushels.

I'll bet you are.

I'm sorry, but you can't.
You're just 13 years old.

But Caroline Keswick is 16

and her cousin, Nancy Sue,
is almost 18.

She lives in Richmond
and she owns her own car.

I just don't think it's
suitable...

for three young girls
to be alone

for a whole week away from home.

But we have it all planned.

Have you planned
your share of the expenses?

It's only $9.

That's more than
we can spare right now, child.

Mama, I'm not a child.

I'm growing up,
but nobody wants to let me.

Don't you understand
this is the biggest...

most important thing
that's ever happened to me?

You'll have plenty of chances...

when you're old enough
to make your own decisions.

And right now, you got a chance
to make some money.

That bonus I talked
to you about.

Buy yourself a new dress
or anything you want.

Besides, you'll be helping
the family.

I want to get away
from being stuck here.

Travel someplace. See people
and places different...

than what I've seen and done
ever since I could talk.

When will I ever get
a chance like this again?

What I'm saying is
not to be mean to you...

but to do what I think
is right for you.

How would you know? I want to
see the ocean, taste, listen.

You're so dumb to think
I'd be happy to give that up...

just to pick apples!

Now listen here, young lady, if
there's one thing I won't allow

it's a disrespectful child.

Now you go on off and think
about what we've both said.

Go on, now!

If I could, I'd run away
from home.

And as soon as I can,
I'm going to!

Now listen here.

Let her be, John.

Words like that shouldn't be
allowed to fester, Liv.

She needs some time to be alone.

-Good evening.
-Hello.

You wouldn't happen to have
a few mouthfuls of hay...

for a hungry burro, would you?

And something tasty
for his master?

I can only sing for my supper.

Sure, help yourself to the hay.

We've already eaten supper...

but let me see if Mama's got
something extra for you.

Come on.

[dramatic music]

* I want to see an ocean *

* Know if it tastes of salt *

* Swim in a Maine river *

* Running wild *

* Living in
a city of strangers *

* Where neighbors don't know
my name *

* Where I am "me"
and not my parent's child *

* Some need roots to grow on,
but I'm a blossom man *

* Never saw a firefly caught
that smiled *

* Rainbows die at sunset *

* and laughter has no sea *

* My name is "Now" *

* won't be tomorrow's child *

-Hi.
-Hi there.

-It's a beautiful song.
-Thanks.

Did you sing for your supper?

I wasn't worth it.
Your mama's a good cook.

The stars are like diamonds
on velvet tonight.

The moon's up, too.

-Gonna be here in the morning?
-For breakfast.

-Good night.
-Good night, Mary Ellen.

How long have you been traveling
around seeing things?

Since I was 15.

What's it like?

Every day is so different
from the one before.

Good night, Jamie.

Maude Gormley.

She lives way out
in the sticks

but she's the person
you'd want to see.

You think she'd sing
some of her old songs for me?

I mean, my being a stranger.

Maybe if one of us
went with you.

And you're all busy.

And you probably want to get
a good night's sleep

before tomorrow, too.

It sure has been nice talking
to you all.

I haven't been on a front porch
in a long time.

-Good night.
-Good night, Jamie.

He said that when his ears
are tired of listening...

and his eyes are tired of seeing

then he just might settle down
someplace.

You think he's lazy, John-Boy?

He helped me with the chores
without my asking.

Sure is full of wanderlust.

A lot of young people would
like to travel these days

if they could.

Yeah.

Mike Hackett,
he travels 40 miles a day...

to get a job that pays
less than 50 cents an hour.

I know, hard times.
I said, "if they could."

I guess Jamie's just busy
doing something else...

than we're accustomed to.

Like writing down
old Maude's songs.

You think her songs
need writing down?

He thinks they do.

He's a nice-mannered boy.

-Ready for bed, Mary Ellen?
-Yeah.

I wanted to say I'm sorry,
Daddy, for sassing you

the way I did and being
disrespectful.

That's all over with.

Can I kiss you good night?

I couldn't get
to sleep without it.

You're gonna be all grown up
before you know it, Mary Ellen.

I was looking at the stars.

You know, the stars are
so far away...

that by the time
the light from them gets here...

they're all blown up.

Gone.

That's how I feel about seeing
things I want to see...

and doing things I want to do.

By the time I grow up,
they won't be here.

-Good night, John-Boy.
-Good night, Mary Ellen.

Maybe Mary Ellen could take
Jamie up to Maude Gormley's.

I'm sure that'd be
a real treat for her.

Can't do that, son.

Got a whole orchard full of
apples just waiting on us.

I'm gonna turn in, too.

-Good night, Mama, Daddy.
-Good night.

You know, Daddy...

I know what Mary Ellen means
about those stars.

Good night.

Why don't you let her go?

I'll tell her in the morning.

We're gonna be one short
tomorrow at picking apples.

Daddy's letting Mary Ellen show
Jamie the way over

to Maude Gormley's.

Wish I were gonna
hear Maude sing.

She'd sing all day if anybody
would sit and listen.

* I was born in East Virginia *

* North Carolina I did roam *

* There I met a fair
pretty maiden *

* Her name and age
I do not know *

* Her hair it was
of a brightsome color *

* And her lips of ruby red *

* On her breast
she wore white lilies *

* There I longed
to lay my head *

[harmonica music]

[joyful music]

[music continues]

I think I broke it.

Yes.

Best get to the doctor
right away.

Take this. Careful.
Take him up.

Easy. Come on.

Pa, you take him in. Come on.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

Alright, step back.

Hold on, John-Boy.
We'll be at the hospital soon.

It doesn't really hurt so bad.

How long have we got
to finish picking those apples?

The day after tomorrow.

* Johnson boys was raised
in the ashes *

* Didn't know how
to court a maid *

* Turn their backs
and hide their faces *

* Sight of a pretty girl
makes them afraid *

* Sight of a pretty girl
makes them afraid *

* Johnson boys eat
peas and honey *

* They have eaten 'em
it all of their life *

* Make the peas
taste mighty funny *

* But it keeps them
on the knife *

* But it keeps them
on the knife *

You heard Maude sing that just
once and you already know it.

It takes practice.

You just stay right there.
I want to sketch you.

Okay.

Just relax.
But don't move around.

Winter's coming.

The squirrels are gathering
their hazelnuts.

There's a lot of people like
that. Too many.

What's wrong with saving
for a rainy day?

Today is what's wrong.

So many people are worried
about tomorrow's rain...

they're afraid to enjoy
today's sunshine.

My parents are like that.

-Not you?
-I don't want to be.

At night I watch the sun set...

and I wonder what it's like to
be where the sun is coming up.

Yeah.

Are you like that?

I've been from sea to shining
sea...

and I've watched your sun
slide beneath the waves...

out past the Golden Gate.

I was in a hurricane once...

that ripped up trees
the size of your house

and blew them two blocks away.

That was on the Gulf Coast.
And even to Paris, France.

You know, you can live there on
oysters, white wine, and cheese.

And the chestnut trees,
they shed so many blossoms...

the sidewalks,
they look like snow.

I'd like to see that.

Well, there you go.

That's me?

You're blushing, Mary Ellen.

You made her so pretty.

Doesn't do you justice.

Mary Ellen.

-Hi, Mom.
-You're out late, aren't you?

I had such a good day.

Let's sit down for a while.

Where is everybody?
It's still early.

Asleep.

They worked till dark, ate
supper, and collapsed into bed.

John-Boy broke a bone in his
wrist. He fell out of a tree.

-Is he alright?
-He's fine.

He just has to wear
a plaster cast for a while.

I'm sorry I wasn't here.

Mary Ellen, you had a special
day, and I'm glad of it.

We all need one now and again.

Just to say, "I'm me,"
and not worry about anything.

It was the most beautiful day
of my life.

-It really was.
-I'm so glad.

I didn't mean that
I don't care about John-Boy.

I know you didn't.

He couldn't pick apples,
and I wasn't here either.

Now don't you fret over it.

What's the matter?

I love you, Mama.
And Daddy, and all of you.

And we love you, too.

And I'm truly sorry about today.

But?

It's all rushing past me.
That's the way it always feels.

It's all going by
and I'm just standing still.

Always watching and hearing
about exciting things...

and never doing anything.

Mary Ellen, my life is very
happy here.

Very rich.

I have my bad days, too, but....

Some day when you're
a little older...

and you find a man to love
and care for...

someone to share
your dreams with

you won't feel so restless.

And it won't be long now.

Mama, I see the life
you and Daddy have here...

and I don't want it.

Now, don't be ashamed of your
feelings. They're honest.

I wish I knew how I felt.

I always thought this was a home
for you, honey, not a prison.

Thanks, Daddy.

Just don't hurry things.

You had something to eat?

Maybe you better go upstairs
and get some rest.

It's been a long day
and we're all pretty tired.

-Good night, Daddy, Mama.
-Good night, Mary Ellen.

Did you ever taste the ocean?

I wonder if it
really tastes salt.

Liv, all children grow up.

I'm gonna have nothing but apple
cobbler three meals a day.

Better put aside some money
for Doc Shackleford.

We're gonna have some giant
bellyaches around here.

Apple cobbler?

My mother had a special way of
making apple cobbler

with cinnamon in it.

-Nutmeg.
-Cinnamon.

-It was nutmeg.
-Cinnamon.

Anyway, your grandma here
never could seem

to get the knack of it.
Never could seem to learn.

I learned to put up with you,
though.

[instrumental music]

-Hi.
-Hey.

I think Chance likes me better
one-handed.

Will you talk to me, John-Boy?

What about?

How important do you think
it is to be what you want to be?

I think it's very important.

You want to be a writer...

but you stay here
and help Daddy.

Girl, they need me here.

They took care of me when I was
a baby.

Fed me, wiped my bottom,
made me clothes. Loved me.

I figure I owe them something
for that.

You're paying a debt.

I'm not paying a debt.
It's a loyalty.

Do you love them?

Of course I love them.

We're gonna be stuck here
forever.

No, we're not gonna be stuck
here forever.

When we get married,
we'll go off...

and have a new loyalty
that's more important.

Just like when Mama left her
parents to marry Daddy.

Are you happy living here,
John-Boy?

Not when I have
to milk the cow, I don't.

I mean, really.

Yes, I think I'm happy here.

I'm happy, I guess.

[sighs]

And I'm unhappy, too.

John-Boy...

is something wrong with me?

I'm gonna buy me a machine
to make licorice whip.

I saw a hat at Ike Godsey's.

It has pink silk ribbons
hanging down the back...

and a little make-believe flower
made out of velvet.

It's so pretty.

You already got a hat.

You should look
absolutely gorgeous in that.

Can I have a sip of that,
please, Jim-Bob?

I had my eye on a fishing rod
in the mail order catalogue.

It claimed it can flick a fly

as light as a falling flake
of snow.

I wanna get me a new harmonica.

One of them with
two sets of holes.

You can play a melody
and a harmony at the same time.

I hope you can, Jason.
I can't play either one.

[laughter]

Little red devils.

[intense music]

[soft music]

I think she's run off, John.

She could have gone home.

More likely she took off after
that Jamie.

I'm worried.

We'll pack up now.
She's probably home.

[guitar music]

* I want to see an ocean *

* Know if it tastes of salt *

* Swim in a Maine river *

* Running wild *

* Living in
a city of strangers *

* Where neighbors don't know
my name *

* Where I am "me"
and not my parent's child *

* Some need roots to grow on,
but I'm a blossom man *

* Never saw a firefly caught
that smiled *

* Rainbows die at sunset *

* and laughter has no sea *

* My name is "Now" *

* won't be tomorrow's child **

That's me. I want to see the
ocean.

They say at Virginia Beach, the
sand is silver in the moonlight.

You got the hunger.

Would you take me?

-How old are you?
-16.

-You're a girl.
-I'd be safe with you.

-I guess I reckon you would.
-Thanks, Jamie.

Really, thanks.

You're not the first, you know.

Others have seen me rolling free

made the same talk you have.

-What happened?
-I don't know.

They all had roots so deep,

they never could pull up
and come along.

Or if they did, they went
right back the day after.

Not me.

You sure are late.
Supper's warming in the oven.

-Is Mary Ellen here?
-Isn't she with you?

We think maybe she's run away.

If I had any brains
I would have seen this coming.

I bet she followed that Jamie
fellow. You know he moved on?

Alright, children.
Get washed up for supper.

Don't worry, Mama, Mary Ellen
can take care of herself.

She's the best fighter
in the whole school.

Thanks, Jim-Bob.

Daddy went to notify the
Sheriff and he's not back yet.

I guess he's checking the bus
station and such places.

If anybody's to blame for all
this, I think it's Jamie.

Leading his kind of life...

I guess you don't think too
much about the consequences

of what you do.

[Jamie playing guitar]

* I was born in East Virginia *

* North Carolina I did roam *

* There I met *

* A fair pretty maiden *

* Her name and age *

* I do not know *

* Her hair it was
of a brightsome color *

* And her lips of ruby red *

* On her breast
she wore white lilies *

* There I longed
to lay my head **

What was that for?

You've been everywhere,
done so many things.

Just what I want.
And you're so kind.

You made that picture so pretty

and you sang me
your special song.

It was just a song.

You shouldn't have taken it
for more than that.

I ran away from my family,
you know. I left them.

So you'll be my family now.
I'll be yours.

What do I need with a family?

I'll be anything
you want me to be.

Go with you anywhere
you want to go.

You can tag along as far as
Virginia Beach.

But if I decide to go someplace
else, or stop somewhere...

you're on your own. Understand?

But we're the same, you and me.
We should be together.

You remember what I said?

That each day starts new?

I don't want any strings to my
life. Not you, not anybody.

But I left home.

-Maybe you shouldn't have.
-You could come and go.

I won't bother you.

Mary Ellen, will you stop trying
to act grown up?

You're just a kid.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Sheriff and I looked all night,
Liv.

There's just no sign of her.

You need some rest.

What we need is some daylight.

It's just an hour till dawn.

Why don't you rest till then?

Okay, now hush.

It's alright.

I think I have one.

What happened?

I made a fool of myself.

One thing I know about
Mama and Daddy.

No matter what I do
or what you do...

we can always go home.

-What time is it?
-It's 5:30.

-Mary Ellen?
-She's not back yet.

I'll fix you some breakfast.

There's no need, Livie.
I just want some coffee.

Thank God, baby.
Are you alright?

I don't know what came over me

but I ran away
and I went to Jamie.

He wasn't all the way
I thought he was

and I ran away from him...
and John-Boy found me.

-John-Boy, thank you.
-She was on her way back.

I'm really happy with the
children I picked to have.

Hey, you all, come on down.
See who came home for breakfast!

Almost got them.

That's why they call me
"Speedy" Walton.

You pick them
and we'll pack them.

Look at the size of that.

Mr. Pickett, here they are.

How about the ones
on the far side?

Cleaned out.

Have to give credit
where it's due.

I didn't think you'd make it.

Once we Waltons
get started on something

there's no stopping us.

I guess you're right.

[instrumental music]

Here's the household money, Liv.
You put that aside.

-I thought we'd never finish.
-I did.

I don't think I could shake
another hand

much less pick another apple.

I've seen enough apples
for a while myself.

You did a good job.

Now we're gonna divide this
bonus money up equally.

Now I can get my hat.

You all well deserve it,
I'll tell you that.

I always knew you young'uns
would be good for something.

-After all, I trained you.
-You sure did, Grandpa.

They all eat like you.

The Waltons always
had a reputation

for doing things second to none.

They come by it naturally.

My Grandpa Walton,
he trained my pappy...

and my pappy trained me

and I've done
likewise with you, John.

You didn't have a thing
to do with it.

John's always been
a hard-working boy.

It's natural inheritance like
your red hair and freckles...

and big blue eyes.

$31.90.

Any of you scholars
care to figure out

how much that is apiece?

How many ways to split it?

There were 11 in the family
last time I counted, Erin.

-Do we all get the same?
-That's what I promised.

You don't think that's fair?

We all didn't
do the same work, Daddy.

That's true.

Grandma there,
she didn't pick any apples...

but she did the chores and made
meals for the rest of us.

And Elizabeth, she didn't pick
quite as many apples as Jason.

But she did her best.
We all did.

Well, Daddy, it's $2.90 apiece.

-$2 and....
-That's right!

Here you go, son. One, two...

ninety.

How are you gonna spend your
share?

I don't know,
but I'll think of something.

How come Mary Ellen
isn't down here?

She's up in her room.

She said she's thinking.
Just laying on her bed though.

She didn't do her fair share,
Daddy.

That is true, Jason.

I said before some of us
did different things...

we all worked as hard
as we're able...

except Mary Ellen.

Maybe there's a lesson
to be learned here.

If we do our share,
we're honored in the effort.

But if we don't...

then we don't deserve to share
in what the rest earned

Maybe that's true of Mary Ellen.

Daddy, can we take a vote on
that?

What's a vote?

Daddy, I think you're wrong.
I don't mean to sass you.

What do you mean?

I think we all share
a lot of other things

besides work and money.

At least I think we ought to.

Daddy wants you downstairs
right away.

I'm coming.

She's coming!

We've been counting up
the bonus money from the apples.

-Where've you been?
-Thinking.

We've got something new
for you to think about.

I'd like to say something
to all of you.

What is it?

I believe I caused you all a lot
of pain, and I'm sorry for it.

I wanted to see and do things
that I can't see or do here.

I still do.

But I love all of you, and I'm
really sorry for what I did.

We love you, too, Mary Ellen.

I think we understand
those feelings, honey.

Some of us have honest
feelings like that

around here, too, sometimes.

What we've decided to do,
each one of us...

is to throw part of our bonus
money in...

and send you on a trip to
Washington.

-D.C.!
-You can see Mr. Roosevelt.

You're old enough to travel
on the bus by yourself...

and you can stay
with your Aunt Jessie.

Don't cry, Mary Ellen. I still
have 70 cents left for gumdrops.

That's 140 gumdrops!

You're gonna have a toothache.

What are you going to do there?

My sister Mary Ellen
went to Washington, D.C...

and she saw enough new
things...

to satisfy her craving
for adventure for a long time.

I looked at her with new eyes
after that night...

because I realized
she was no longer a child.

I grew up, too, of course,
and left Walton's Mountain.

But the love and warmth I knew
in that special family...

was like a pebble dropped
in water that ripples

through my life to this day.

-Mama?
-Yes, Jim-Bob?

Where do you reckon Mary Ellen
is right this minute?

-Where do you think she is?
-At the White House.

Having tea with Mrs. Roosevelt.

I'll bet she's having tea
with Mr. Roosevelt.

Probably telling him
how to run things.

In that case, t
he country's in good hands.

-Good night, everybody.
-Good night, Mama and Daddy.

In a moment, some scenes

from the next episode
of The Waltons

[theme music]

[music continues]