Original subtitles

Old friends were treasured on Walton's Mountain...

it was a pleasurable time when people who had moved away...

would come back to visit or to remain.

I remember a time when friends, both real and imaginary...

appeared in our village...

and how those friends affected our lives.

Hey, Elizabeth, shake a leg!

-She had to wait for Jimmy. -Jimmy? I don't know any Jimmy.

Neither does anybody else. She made him up.

-Why'd she make up a "Jimmy"? -I don't know.

Hey, Elizabeth, come on!

Go on. We're coming.

Don't worry, Jimmy. We can walk as slow as we want.

-Elizabeth, can I meet Jimmy? -No.

Why not?

Because he's my friend and I don't feel like it.

-You know what, Elizabeth? -What?

You're crazy.

You know, Jimmy, you don't have to talk to anybody but me.

When we get home, we'll have a spelling lesson.

I'll teach you how to spell real good.

Then we'll have supper.

-Don't run in front of the car. -Get off of the hood of the car!

-What did you learn today? -I learned a lot.

You get any smarter today? Sure can't tell by looking.

-You're home early, John-Boy. -My history class got cancelled.

Hey, did...

any of you notice on the way to school, if that door was open?

-I never looked. -Not me.

Did you notice if the window was up like that?

No, none of us. No one was around.

You fellows check in the front?

Okay.

Anybody home?

Anybody home?

It's really a nice house, Jimmy. It's just sort of...

lonely.

Anybody home?

It's been closed up for so long.

Like a tomb.

It's sort of scary.

I reckon not.

-Nothing around front. -Except weeds taller than me.

It's like a jungle.

We better get back home.

-I get the front seat. -Get off of that car.

Jim-Bob, you get off the hood!

Hey, Grandma!

-Hey! -Come on, Reckless.

Come on, what'd I tell you about driving like that?

-Thanks a lot, John-Boy. -Thanks.

Everybody, just hold on a minute!

I gave you a lift, you help me wash this car.

Looks like it's been through the Great War.

-Fine. -Sure, okay.

How come you're all so fired quick to wash that car?

They wouldn't dream of washing anything else.

Change your clothes first.

And you girls start cleaning the vegetables for supper.

I'll do it. I don't wanna wash the car anyway.

Neither do I.

Well, how do you feel about not having any driving lessons?

-That's blackmail. -That's right.

Creep.

Hey, Daddy...

do you know if anybody's back to open up the old Beardsley place?

Did you see anyone over there?

No, we passed by. The window was up and the back door was open.

You think maybe the family's come home?

Nonsense! We'd have heard about it if they'd come home.

I looked around, but it seemed like nobody was there.

-I'll go and take a look later. -Okay.

Ben, don't lean too heavy on that, you'll fall through.

It's okay, it can hold.

Jim-Bob, don't get any water in there, will you please?

Alright.

Need some help, Grandma?

No, thanks, Livie, I'm fine. Go on, sit down and rest a bit.

Feels funny being the only one without something to do.

You can do these if you want, Mama.

No, thanks, Erin, you go right ahead.

Ben, you're pushing Jimmy!

Well, if he's not gonna help, he shouldn't stay here.

-Jimmy? -He's an I-M-A-G-I-N-A-R-Y.

F-R-I-E-N-D.

You do this side of this window.

Seems to me I had a friend like Jimmy when I was her age.

You did? Well, then I don't see how it can harm her...

playing games like that.

I don't see why it should.

Daddy, did John-Boy tell you...

we saw the door to the old Beardsley place open today?

Yes, he did.

It be nice if they moved here?

I hope they do. I was always partial to Mason Beardsley.

Nice man.

Delia's a lovely woman.

They didn't have to moved out of here in the first place.

I imagine that boy James Lee dragging them off...

just because he wanted to move to Atlanta.

They're too old to stay there alone.

Ben.

I beg your pardon, but the Beardsleys are precisely...

the same age as your grandma and me.

You wouldn't want to live alone, would you?

No, I wouldn't...

but your grandma and I could manage if we had to.

Age is all in the mind.

Well, not exactly, but partly so.

We gotta do is hose her down and be finished. She looks good.

After that, I get my driving lesson.

I didn't say when you could have your driving lesson.

Well, that's not fair.

You can have one, but it's gonna be short.

I got a lot of studying to do. Don't do that!

Jimmy, when Mary Ellen has her driving lesson...

you get out of the way, she's just a beginner.

-Okay, turn on the water. -Okay, hit the water.

Let's go, Ben. Come on, get the water....

I know you're gonna die!

Come on. Stop it. Stop that.

Stop it. Turn that water off!

I'll kill him! I'll kill him!

You got a lot of things you want here, Mr. Beardsley.

Let's see, coffee....

Ike, I need some screws to help fix the barn door.

Mason Beardsley. I knew it!

I knew that it had to be you.

Zeb Walton, my old friend.

Now the mystery is solved, welcome home.

You're looking in the prime, Zeb. How's Esther?

She's still kicking. And Delia, how is she?

Beautiful.

And fine. Thank you kindly.

Zeb, you don't age.

I don't dare to.

And that John and Olivia and the children?

Yeah, all seven of them, just fine.

And John-Boy, he's going off to college.

Oh, no. Now, we can't have been gone that long.

It's been quite a while.

It's about five years, Mr. Beardsley.

Well, I don't count the time past. That's over.

We're home, Zeb.

Yeah, the sweetest word in the language: home.

Yes, sir.

Bring everything in here, I guess.

It's good to set foot over your threshold again.

Thank you, Zeb.

Put the groceries right here.

-Thank you kindly. -Oh, my land!

Smells musty in here. Could do with a little air.

It's stuck. Give me a hand here, Mason.

There you go.

Well, anything else I can help you with?

No, you've done enough already, Zeb. Thank you.

Helping me bring all this stuff home.

Soon as you get through fussing around here...

I think you'd come to our house for supper.

Not tonight, Zeb. Thank you kindly.

I really want to be right here.

It'll be lonely for you here.

I could never be lonely here.

I know how you feel.

Once in a while, once in a great while, I find myself...

at home, alone.

I go wandering around through all the empty rooms...

and all the time I can hear the sound of their voices.

Sort of the echo.

We never dreamed we'd be gone anywhere near this long.

Hey, it's still kind of dark in here.

Let's open it up. "Let there be light."

Hey, how's James Lee?

He's well. He thrives.

James Lee sells real estate, do you know that?

Yeah, I heard about that somewhere or other.

James Lee would do well wherever he set down.

If he landed on the moon, first thing he'd do would be

to set out a sign saying "For sale."

For sale.

I suppose he's sold on living down there in Atlanta, huh?

Indeed he is. It's home to him now. But never to us.

Never to Delia and me.

This picture here of Delia.

I remember them pearls around the neck.

You got those over at Virginia Beach, didn't you?

We always planned on going back there.

Well, it's not so far away. You may get there yet again.

I've grown old, Zeb.

But Delia....

Delia's beauty endures.

I yearn to see her.

I remember dancing with her once.

The sun shining in her hair and the perfume. The flowers.

Well, she's still the loveliest of ladies.

Delia just doesn't change.

You'll see.

I was getting ready to send out a search party for you.

Oh, I'm sorry. But you know, the mystery is solved.

-Mason Beardsley is back. -He is?

Yeah, I ran across him down at Ike Godsey's store.

Here, before I forget. The screws.

He was buying out the store. Mason, I mean.

He and his wife, Delia, are coming back here for good.

-How is he? -Well, he's fine, I guess.

Something wrong?

I don't know. Maybe just because...

I ran across him again after so many years away.

He looks almighty old.

-Suppose I look the same to him. -Probably.

You certainly are a comfort to an old boy today, aren't you?

-Sorry, Pa. -Well.

Looks don't matter as long as you feel like always.

Esther, hey, Mason Beardsley is coming back...

and his wife, is going to join him.

That's good. That's real good.

-How is he? -He's fine, I guess.

-Esther. -What is it?

You know that eucalyptus oil

that you've been rubbing on your chest?

-Well, what about it? -Stop using it.

Well, it's for my pleurisy. You just want me to suffer?

No, I want you to smell the way I always remember you.

And how did you remember?

Like a crabapple tree in April.

Oh, good Lord! Zeb, what have you been up to?

Esther, you are of a suspicious nature.

You always used to smell so good and I miss it.

-I didn't used to have pleurisy. -Thank heaven for memories.

Zeb, are you feeling alright?

Well, I may feel a trifle blue.

Running across Mason again after all these years...

makes me want to bring back all of the good old days.

You old fool.

I was just going to collect some eggs. You come along with me.

Alright.

Thank you for the beautiful day...

and not letting it rain so we could play outside and for...

the food that we have to eat. Amen.

Amen.

And please make it so everyone leaves enough for Jimmy.

Pass the bread down here, will you, please?

Why can't Jimmy eat invisible food?

It gives him indigestion.

He's not gonna have any of mine for sure.

He can have my spinach.

-I'm bored with Jimmy. -He said the same about you.

I have a feeling I know who Jimmy is.

He's the person that says what she would like to say...

but thinks she can't get away with.

Attention. Attention, everybody.

-Jimmy, listen to Grandpa. -Thank you, Jimmy.

You thought you saw someone over at the Beardsley place?

Well, it was Mason Beardsley himself.

-Mason? Did you see him? -Saw him at Ike Godsey's store.

He's down there buying out half the store, getting ready...

before Delia gets back here.

And that is what I wanted to talk to you about.

Oh, Grandpa.

"Oh, Grandpa?" What does that mean?

I have a feeling you're gonna ask us

to help Mr. Beardsley around his house.

Right, the first time.

Quiet down now.

The place is a mess. There's been nobody to keep it up.

There's plenty to do down there, yes.

But I think if we get together here over the weekend...

we can clear the place and get it ready.

I'm sorry, but I got work to do all this weekend.

Something to learn, huh?

Do you recollect who it was that taught you to tie a trout fly?

It was you, and I was eight years old.

No. It was Mason Beardsley himself.

And I'll expect you, Saturday morning...

right after breakfast, to go to work over there.

Mr. Beardsley didn't teach me anything.

That's not to say he won't.

You'll be there, too, Jim-Bob, and the rest of you.

What about helping Mama here?

I think I can lend you out to Grandpa this one time.

How long will it take to clean up?

If yo'll help, it'd only take a day.

That's why I want yo'll to help.

Well, I'll tell you what.

Ben and Jim-Bob, you do the fireplaces...

and I'll take care of the weeds.

-No, you can do the fireplaces. -I did the fireplaces at the....

And it connects up here, runs along.

Could be broken...

or run through with roots after all this time.

I carried water in last night, but that'd be hard for Delia.

Nothing serious, I'm sure, Mason.

You don't think of the problems.

One day you just say, "Let's go back home," and you go.

Yeah, we'll fix the pipes for you.

John, I'll fetch us a picking shovel.

You have nothing else to do, I know, John.

We're real pleased to have you home, Mason.

You need some more stuff. You ought to have an extra bucket.

If you're gonna clean, you gotta have another one of these.

I don't know, Ike, Mama just said to get ammonia and soap.

No, I think you should have another mop...

and then you got the soap and the polish and the other stuff.

And whatever you don't need, you just bring it back.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

It's gonna be real nice...

when the Beardsleys come back home, you know?

Yeah, I just....

I really hated to pass that old house on the road there.

Nobody in it. Looked like it was dying.

It's gonna be full of life now with Mrs. Beardsley coming back.

I purely love that lady.

Yeah, she's a special woman.

I used to deliver butter and eggs over there for Mama.

Most customers they just come and meet you at the door...

but not her. She used to invite me in, though I was just a kid.

Sometimes she'd have a magazine for me with a story in it...

she thought I'd enjoy.

Nope, they don't make better ladies than Mrs. Beardsley.

That's the truth.

What's that you're saying about the Beardsleys?

-Hey, Miss Minnie. -Hi, Miss Minnie.

We were just saying it was nice to have Mr. Beardsley back.

I can't believe I heard you right.

Yes. We're fixing up the house for Mrs. Beardsley.

I could hardly believe it when they left...

and now you say they're back?

Well, then why in the world hasn't somebody come to get me?

Well, to tell you the truth, I don't know.

-I guess, maybe-- -Don't bother me with you guess.

You know no one has ever taken care of their house but me?

Are you sure everything is alright?

Yeah.

How long has Mr. Mason been back?

-I think he got here yesterday. -Yesterday.

-John-Boy, come with me. -Where?

Let's go see Mr. Mason. Come on.

Alright.

Wait a second. You got your bucket and your mop here...

and we gotta get that other stuff.

Good morning. Good morning.

-Morning. -Morning.

-Where is he? -Why, he's inside.

Good morning, Mrs. Walton.

Miss Minnie. Am I glad to see you.

I never saw such a mess.

We got our work cut out for us, don't we?

-Hello, Miss Minnie. -Hi, Mrs. Walton.

Good to see you.

Mr. Mason!

Miss Minnie.

-Nobody came to tell me. -I should have. I'm sorry.

Is everything alright, Mr. Mason?

Yes, indeed.

Oh, I'm so glad to see you. You haven't changed a bit.

I wish that was true.

Miss Delia, when is she getting here?

Pretty soon.

I want everything perfect for her.

I know. I worked for you'll for 20 years.

I missed you every day you've been gone.

We're too old to change much, Mr. Mason.

I would like it if you'd let me come here...

and help you get the place ready for Miss Delia.

Fine. It'll be just like the old days.

Right, so let me put this stuff down and I'll be right back.

Hey, Mama?

-Thank you, John. -Here's some fresh water.

John-Boy...

five years do make a difference.

Zeb tells me you're in college.

Yes, sir. Boatwright University. I'm a journalism student.

Delia will be so pleased.

You were always a favorite of hers, you know?

Feeling's mutual.

-John-Boy, come here! -My daddy needs me outside.

See you later.

Here's your firewood, Miss Minnie.

Just put it right down here.

-John-Boy. -Yes, ma'am?

How well do you remember Mr. Mason and Miss Delia?

Well, I reckon I've known them since I was born.

Does he seem the same to you?

Well, sure.

He's a little distracted maybe...

but that's because he's trying to get everything ready in time.

Well, Mr. Mason never was much good without Miss Delia around.

In a funny kind of way...

they always reminded me of my own grandma and grandpa.

Maybe a little more delicate.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

It'll be a little while yet.

All those pipes is rusted through.

Let me help you with this.

We both have missed you so much.

I knew it was a mistake when you left

to let James Lee haul you off to the city.

I told him so, but he wouldn't listen.

Now, I know this is gonna sound silly...

I was worried that Miss Delia wouldn't do well in Atlanta.

There's not much time left.

Excuse me.

Sit down. Rest yourself.

It's my turn to handle that shovel for a while, Zeb.

Now....

We won't do...

a lick of work till they get back with those pipefittings.

And they'll be just like all the other plumbers.

This is good, Zeb.

Yes, they'll be getting better for you.

Everything's pretty much the same.

Well, except for one thing it's missing that, too:

Esther and Delia sitting there on the front porch...

rocking away and settling the fate of everybody else...

on Walton's Mountain.

I can almost hear them.

And me grinding away with the ice-cream freezer.

You always used to sit right over there.

Sitting right there with it gripped between my legs...

and grinding away.

That splendid, slow rhythm of mine.

It was never once a failure.

Except maybe for a speck or two of rock salt...

that'd get into the ice-cream.

Of course, that just showed that it was homemade.

How I miss those times.

Yes, and from now on...

they are going to be better.

Miss Minnie is right.

We shouldn't have listened to him. We both knew it was wrong.

How's that?

Well, Delia and I, we should never have left home.

Your boy thought he was doing what was best...

for you and Delia to move.

But we shouldn't have gone.

Well, you're here now. That is the important thing.

Here. Today. Now.

There's no sense railing away and complaining...

about things that are past.

What about all that time between, Zeb?

It was wasted. Shouldn't have been.

-We should never have left. -There, there, now, old friend.

"The heart, it is a wondrous thing."

Everything else about us seems to get aged.

The body complains, the mind rebels, if you let it.

But in your heart, you can seek things the way they always were.

"Earth is the right place for love."

Oh, gentle place it is...

the heart.

Hey, where do you think you're going?

Jimmy, you don't have to speak to him.

I get it. You and that friend of yours...

are trying to get out of doing any work.

Come on, Jimmy, he doesn't understand anything.

I think I'll make me up a guy and hand him this rake.

Alfred. That's what I'll call him.

Here, Alfred, it's your turn to rake for a while.

-What do you think you're doing? -It's Alfred's turn to work.

Alfred, huh?

Yeah, he's Jimmy's brother. Except, he's older and stronger.

He'll be done with the yard in no time. Just look at him go.

Well, just in case he isn't, why don't you give him a hand?

Nice pal you turned out to be, Alfred.

I mind the way you and Delia waltzed.

Smooth and easy, graceful-like. You didn't need the music.

You yourself were like holding a feather, Esther.

-No such thing. -Indeed you were.

You were my favorite dancing partner, after Delia.

-That was a long time ago. -Not to me.

I've missed Delia.

You get to be my age...

it's nice to have someone around who remembers the old times.

We'll have a picnic as soon as she comes.

You and Zeb, Delia and me.

Just like the old days. And I know just the spot.

Esther, do you still have that pink and white dress?

It had little stripes.

You looked like a candy cane in it.

Oh, Mason, I haven't seen that dress since before the war.

There's a bit in...

that quilt I made for Mrs. Breckenridge but....

Dust rags, the rest of them...

and they've seen better days, too.

You can wear that dress. And Delia...

she has one with little lavender-colored flowers on it.

The two of you will look like...

the personification of spring.

Oh, Mason, it's lovely of you to remember...

but those days are gone forever, along with those dresses.

Well, for me, anyway.

Not for Delia, not for her.

Esther, I feel kind of tired.

Would you excuse me? I think Il'l have me a little rest.

Look, Jimmy, it's like a regular house.

Sit down.

You know, Jimmy...

when I grow up, I'm gonna live in a house like this...

in a nice, quiet place.

And you'd live with me, too.

Of course, I'd be older than you, so I'd take care of you.

Let's sit in the swing for a while.

It'll be real nice.

We'll have a cow just like Chance.

And a dog. Maybe we could borrow Reckless from Mama and Daddy.

And I could learn to make applesauce cake...

and then we could invite them to supper.

And you could peel the apples like I do now.

When we get a little older...

you could get someone littler to do that part.

Better go. I think the people who own the house are coming.

And they might get mad at us for being here.

All set, Pa.

This pump's older than I am.

Give a thought that this priming water will work.

Stay right where you are.

Miss Minnie...

may I explain the advantages of having running water inside?

In and out one door, in and out the other.

Would it be too much to mess up in front of one door?

My apologies. But if I am successful with this priming...

this will be the last time I'll gallivant through here.

Why don't you just go on in and fix the pump?

I accept your thanks.

Oh, Miss Minnie, I'm sorry.

Every time I start at home, one of the children comes straight--

It's alright. If you back up a little bit it'll be alright.

I was looking for my little girl, Have you seen her?

Yes, she just came by here...

looking for cookies for her and her baby brother, Jimmy.

Left here with a handful. How old is the baby?

Jimmy? He's invisible. She made him up.

She's the littlest, guess she'd to have someone to take care of

or yell at once in a while.

I really like the way children make things up.

Like a regular storybook.

I remember one time, my girl, Rosie...

I said to her, "How is your friend, Wilma?"

Now, she'd been talking to Wilma since she was tiny.

She looked at me like I was out of my mind. She says:

"Mama, Wilma is just a made-up person. And I unmade her.

"So don't you ask me about her."

It really made me kind of sad when she said that.

I know. I guess it's a sign they're growing up.

I hate to think of Elizabeth getting older.

Well, they can be as much pleasure when they're older.

If you know them and they know you.

Now, James Lee, Mr. Mason's boy.

I don't think he knows his mama or his papa well.

'Cause he moved them to Atlanta.

I don't know why, but I get a real bad feeling...

when I think about Miss Delia living away from here.

Grandma.

Good Lord, what I did to your clean floor?

It's alright, Mrs. Walton. It's alright.

I'm about done.

-You ready to go, Livie? -I am, Grandma.

We've got to get home and get started on our own house.

Let's go.

-Have you seen Elizabeth? -No.

Mama, Jimmy's hungry.

Excuse me, Miss Minnie. I dirtied up your floor.

No, I think I'm beginning to like it that way.

Makes a place look more lived-in.

Let's go say goodbye to Mason.

-He's gone to take rest. -I saw him out by the stream.

Say goodbye to him, Miss Minnie?

Sure, will.

Elizabeth, go find John-Boy and tell him to hurry.

You can come this way.

Miss Minnie, I'm worried about Mason.

Will you keep a special eye open?

Don't you worry about it.

I'll make sure things are alright

and when Mrs. Delia gets here...

they are bound to be.

Come on, everybody, it's time to go home.

-Come on, Zeb. Come on. -Alright.

You know, Esther, I hate to go without saying goodbye to....

Now, you can come back later...

and you ask him to have supper with us.

Right now, we got to be getting on home.

-Esther-- -Now, Zeb, he's taking a rest.

Miss Minnie will keep an eye on him. Come on.

Alright. If you're so all-fired hurry to get on home...

keep on doing what you've been doing all day, let's get moving.

Oh, stop it.

John-Boy, hurry up. Your grandma wants to get home.

-Come on. Shake a leg. -We're coming.

Hop on, honey.

-Don't forget Jimmy. -Alright, here's Jimmy.

-Say "thank you." -You're welcome.

I'm gonna walk down to Ike's and return this. Alright?

-Alright. -See you later.

John-boy, you sure look all tuckered up.

I am. So's everybody else.

The house is looking pretty good, though.

We didn't use that bucket. There was one in the garage.

Mama used everything else, except for the furniture polish.

I'm glad you took it with you, though.

No fun running out of things when you're

in the middle of a job.

There something else you need?

You know something? I could use some pencils.

I hate to run out right in the middle of writing something.

I guess I can take care of that.

You'd think in a house as big as ours...

you'd be able to keep track. But I can't.

Elizabeth, of course she uses them.

She loses hers so she takes one of mine...

and Ben chews on his. Mary Ellen's haven't got..

Ike Godsey's General Merchandise store.

-Of course, Erin... -Yes, speaking.

...'cause they're in her little box.

It's James Lee Beardsley. Hi, James Lee, how are you?

Long time, no see.

Oh, your dad? Sure, he's here. He's been here a couple of days.

He's just fine. I never saw him look better.

Well, everybody's taking care of him.

There's Miss Minnie Doze and all the Waltons.

He's just fine. He really is.

You're coming down here?

You're coming right away, huh?

I wanted to know about your....

Your mother.

He says he's coming here.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Mason!

Miss Minnie. I thought you'd left hours ago.

I did. But I got to thinking about you and I got worried.

Well, there's no need to worry.

What are you going to have for supper?

I'm not really hungry, but thank you.

You've got to eat.

If you don't, you'll get sick.

I just fix you a little something...

and leave it on the back of the stove?

No, thank you, really.

I don't want to hear, "No, thank you," Mr. Mason.

You have got to eat.

When Delia wakes up, she'll fix us something.

-Miss Delia? -She's just having a little nap.

I can't wait to lay my eyes on her. When did she get here?

Earlier. She's tired from her trip. I'm sure you understand.

Some other time would be better.

Oh, yeah.

-Well.... -Oh, I'm so glad she's here.

-It makes all the difference. -Yes, you give her my love...

and tell her I'll be by to see her.

-Hey, Grandpa. -Hey, John-Boy.

Just out looking for some mushrooms.

-Finish your homework? -Yes, I did.

-You see Mr. Beardsley today? -No. I didn't.

I went there after church. Kind of snuck out on your grandma...

but he must have gone off visiting somewhere.

Well, maybe James Lee got here.

Well, he could have, I guess, if he left Atlanta last night...

and drove all night.

-But I don't know. I don't know. -I don't know.

Who knows?

Grandpa, how long have you known Mr. Beardsley?

Beardsley? Me? Since long before you was born.

I suppose you think we're much different, but we're unalike.

We're real good friends, you know.

I happened to live a different life than Mason...

and I grew up with you all.

But Mason, he was a lawyer.

A real good man, with a fine practice.

He used to say to me...

"Zeb, I wish I had your skill with tools."

Funny thing, around the house he was never any earthly good...

while Delia of his could hammer a nail better than he could.

But he had a wonderful gentle touch with small things.

I've seen him sit for hours and tie wonderful trout flies...

and he loved the outdoors.

Him and me, we'd to come up here when we was boys...

and later on with his Delia and my Esther...

and they'd fix us a picnic basket...

and we'd set up here on Sundays just admiring the scenery...

and enjoying ourselves.

You'll be able to do that again soon, won't you?

I don't know, John-Boy. I just don't know about him.

You see, the difference between Mason and me...

is something you couldn't see just by looking at us.

I've enjoyed going around, talking to everybody I know...

even take a little nip of the Recipe now and then and again.

And that way, life with Esther seemed to be a lot better.

But not Mason. No, sirree.

He never wanted to do anything unless Delia was there with him.

They never wanted to be away from one another one minute.

As a matter of fact, he retired years before he had ought to...

just so he could spend more time with her.

You think there's something wrong with that.

Well, I didn't used to.

I used to think maybe I didn't love your grandma enough...

wanting to hang on to a little bit of my own independence.

But now, maybe I'm right.

Especially when you see yourself getting older...

there's always the chance that one...

or another of you might be left alone.

I just don't know.

I just don't know, John-Boy.

Jimmy, can't you see I'm busy? The baby needs taking care of.

Now, sit down on the rocker and wait your turn.

There you go. She had a bubble.

We can sit together and have tea...

and I'll get everything ready.

Delia?

You out here, Delia?

My name's not Delia, Mr. Beardsley.

My name's Elizabeth.

It's lovely here, isn't it? So peaceful.

Me and Jimmy were just playing.

Jimmy was going to get up anyway.

-So you like this place, too? -It's nice.

Many's the summer's night we came out here after supper...

Delia and I, and sit cool till we got drowsy.

We'll do that again now.

Me and Jimmy only come in the daytime.

We aren't allowed out at night.

Well, maybe if Delia spoke to your mother...

she'd allow you to join us here one evening.

Jimmy's just a pretend friend, you know.

I made him up 'cause I get tired of being the youngest.

But I think I'll disappear him now.

I forgot I had this doll. She's even smaller.

We'll have a lovely time.

Maybe your grandma and grandpa would like to join us, too.

I could ask them. I have to go now.

It's been nice talking to you.

You know, Delia and I...

haven't seen you since you were real little.

-Probably you don't remember us. -I do, kind of.

-Bye, now. -Bye-bye.

I was hoping you'd finished weeding by now.

I keep hoping I will, too.

Supper's just simmering. I think I feel like a little walk.

Where's Grandpa?

He wandered off about an hour ago.

He's been mighty thoughtful all day.

Why is it you have to plant flowers but weeds just grow?

Where'd you get such a smart question?

I don't know.

I wish I knew the answer to it, honey.

-Is Jimmy still with you? -No, he vanished.

-Hey, Mrs. Beardsley's home. -Did you see her?

No, but Mr. Beardsley said she'd ask us to tea some time.

That'd be nice when she gets settled in.

Olivia.

-Well, James Lee, how are you? -Well, thank you.

My goodness, Mrs. Walton.

-James Lee. -How are you?

-And is that.... -Elizabeth.

My, you've grown since I saw you last.

-Olivia, is John home? -He's in the house.

Have you been to the house yet?

No, I was going to go, but I wanted to talk to you all first.

Elizabeth, go find Grandpa. Come on inside, James Lee.

John, James Lee's here. He wants to talk to you.

James Lee. I thought I heard a car.

-John, how are you? -Good to see you, James.

Good to see you.

-Sit down. Have some coffee. -Thank you. Thank you.

The drive from Atlanta is not easy.

-Looking real good, James Lee. -Thank you, Livie.

Been to the house? We were cleaning it up the other day.

Your pa seemed to like that.

James Lee Beardsley, whenever did you get here?

Just a minute ago, Mr. Walton.

-John-Boy. -We heard you were coming.

Have you seen your daddy yet?

No, that's what I wanted to talk about.

Here's your coffee.

-Here, sit down. -Thank you, Livie.

Well, I declare.

It sure is good to see all of you again.

It's good to see you.

I wish there was some easy way to say what I have to say...

but you probably noticed that my father is not exactly himself.

Well, he did seem kind of lonely.

But now that your mother's here, I guess he's alright.

-Is that what he's been saying? -You mean she's not?

My mother's been dead over two years now.

I don't believe that. Why....

We've all been making ready for her. We....

I know. I'm sorry.

I knew this would be a shock but....

-Esther, it's alright. -Zeb.

She died very quietly.

But Father, he's never been able to accept it.

Keeps looking for her.

He wandered all over Atlanta searching, looking...

certain that he'd find her, in a store, in the park...

anywhere.

That's mighty hard on you, James Lee.

Well, because I can't help him.

I can't comfort him. He won't believe she's gone.

Sometimes he'll tell me he's seen Mother...

and she'll be coming along anytime now.

So he's alone, after all.

I should have known that he'd come back here.

Must have thought he'd surely find her here.

I guess he feels very close to her in that house.

Yeah.

What are you going to do, James Lee?

I don't know, sir.

He won't want to leave here, I promise you that.

-I know where he is. -Elizabeth?

Well, honey, how do you know where Mr. Beardsley is?

Jimmy and I....

I mean, I was playing down by the creek...

where the chairs are and the swing...

and Mr. Beardsley came.

Yeah, down by the house.

-Well, I'd just-- -James Lee, let me go.

-There you are, Mason. -Zeb, sit down.

I got good news for you.

Your boy, James Lee, just drove in from Atlanta.

I'll not see him, Zeb.

He's worried about you, Mason.

He shouldn't be.

We're fine, Delia and me.

Mason, Delia is not here.

She is to me, Zeb.

That's it. Pull it under.

Mama, why is it wrong to pretend, to make-believe?

You mean like Jimmy?

And Mr. Beardsley. He pretends.

It's alright to pretend, as long as you know it's pretending.

Okay. Now, what do you mean by "underneath"?

You know what to do, you just pull...

the needle through but on this side.

Esther, you seem to be way off somewhere.

-Poor Mason. -Yes, Esther.

I wonder, would you come looking for me?

Wouldn't have to.

Knowing you, you wouldn't go without me.

A short time later, Mr. Beardsley...

was released from his search on this earth...

and we all came to feel that he, at last, found his Delia.

As I look back now...

at all the lessons we were to learn on Walton's Mountain...

I recall with increasing gratitude...

that our parents and grandparents were there...

to shed light and make clear what we couldn't understand.

-You still awake, John-Boy? -Yes, Elizabeth.

You always write what's true...

or do you sometimes just make-believe?

Sometimes I make-believe. It's called fiction.

It's alright if you know it's make-believe.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

-Goodnight. -Goodnight, John-Boy.

-Goodnight, Mama. -Goodnight, Elizabeth.

Goodnight, Grandma, Grandpa.