All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S03E14.The.Visitor.WEBRip.x264-ION10

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.