All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S07E17.The.Burden.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Are you sure it's what
you want, Jim-Bob?

As sure as I've ever been
about anything, Reverend.

How does your family
feel about it?

I wanted to talk to you first.

You're not asking for
an easy life, by any means.

I've thought about it a lot.

There's a special reason
why I know it's right.

Yeah, what's that?

Well, yesterday,
I had a sign from God.

JOHN-BOY: Along with the rest
of the country,

1942 brought great upheaval
to Walton's Mountain.

Each day, the news from the
battlefronts grew more grim,

while here at home,

defense plants worked
around the clock

to produce the weapons of war.

In our home,
we suffered a personal tragedy,

for our mother was away

recovering from
a serious illness.

It was a time of great trial
for each of us,

but especially for Jim-Bob.

MAN ON RADIO: The fall of
Singapore,

the careless loss
of the battleship LaFayette

and the sinking of the
oil tanker W.L. Steed

by Nazi submarines operating
off our own East Coast

all add up to make this
the worst week of the year,

the worst week of the century
and probably

the worst week since the grim
days of the Civil War.

At his press conference,

President Roosevelt sounded
a further pessimistic note

when he stated that about
all we can hope to do is...

Sorry, it's just too depressing.

Sure sounds bad.

It may take a while,
but we're gonna win this thing.

Where's Jim-Bob? He was supposed
to bring in some firewood.

Well, I saw him with Tinker
sometime this afternoon.

Well, he's sure been keeping
bad company lately.

Probably they're
are over at the Dew Drop

listening to Jason
and polishing off a few beers.

I wouldn't doubt it.
Ever since Mama's been gone,

Jim-Bob thinks he can
get away with murder.

Maybe it's time
I had a talk with him.

(DOOR OPENING)

-Hi.
-Hi, honey.

-What you got there?
-Fireflies.

Elizabeth, how many bugs
do you need?

There are more up in our room
than there are outside.

They're insects. This is a very
important assignment.

I need to have as many species
as I can get for my collection.

Daddy, speak to your daughter.

How long is this project
gonna go on, honey?

Until we finish the unit
on Entomology.

Make sure you keep your insects
on your side of the room.

I think they're cute.

(CAR BRAKING)

Well, I know who that is.

ERIN: The daredevil
of Walton's Mountain.

I have a few things
to say to him.

You let him have it, Mary Ellen!
I'd hate to be in his shoes.

Jim-Bob, where have you been?

-Busy.
-You missed supper.

Hey, Jim-Bob, Tinker got you
drinking the hard stuff yet?

Very funny.

If you're not gonna be home
for supper, you could've called.

Wasn't near a phone, Daddy.

You've been
whooping it up a lot lately.

I'm getting awfully tired...

Wait a minute,
I'm not finished yet.

-You're not my mama.
-I'll take care of this.

Jim-Bob.

Mary Ellen's right. You've been
running around too much, Son.

I'm not hurting anyone.

I got a call from your
school teacher today.

You haven't been
doing your school work

and you've been
such a smart aleck,

nobody else can do theirs.

Now, I know this is
a tough time for you,

but I'm not going to excuse
that kind of behavior.

-School's boring.
-If you keep this up,

your mama will hear about it,

I don't want her
hearing this kinda news.

Who's gonna tell her?

Jim-Bob, you can't horse
around all your life.

Now, listen to me.
I tried it when I was your age.

It got me a reputation
I couldn't get rid of for years.

I don't want the same thing
to happen to you.

Yes, sir.

We're all hurting, Son.
Don't make it any worse.

-Elizabeth, what in the world?
-It's a Luna moth trap.

-What is a Luna moth?
-Well,

this is what they look like.

"Luna" means "moon,"
so really it's a moon moth.

Well, it's very pretty,
but it is still a bug.

It is an insect.

-Want to see how my trap works?
-Not particularly.

Moths are attracted to light,
so before we go to bed,

-I have to turn on the lamp.
-Not interested.

Middle of the night, when the
Luna moth has plenty of time

to figure how to get in the
trap and close to the light...

I'm not listening.

...just pull this string.
Ta-dah!

The smaller insects get out,
but the Luna moth is stuck.

I hope it doesn't work.

I wonder if Marie Curie
had to put up with a sister.

(CAR APPROACHING)

(CAR HORN HONKING)

Sorry, Corabeth.

James Robert,

I have asked you repeatedly
to slow that vehicle down

when driving through
our little community.

Now I shall report to your
father your reluctance to do so.

You don't have to do that,
Corabeth.

One's life is simply not safe
around here.

Boy, I'm really
going to get it now.

Don't let that
old battle-ax scare you.

I think I'd better
take you home.

Well, good afternoon, Corabeth.

I must apologize, John.
I am not here on a social visit.

-Do you see this?
-I see it.

It is the heel of my shoe,

which I broke as I fled
across the street

in order to avoid being struck
down by your youngest son.

Every time I turn around,
that boy is in trouble.

This is his first offense,
an apology would be sufficient.

However, I have asked him
repeatedly, to no avail,

to slow that vehicle down.

Now, I am here in the hope that
you can remedy the situation.

I'll take care of it, Corabeth.

Corabeth tells me
you almost run her over today.

Sorry, Daddy, my brakes
haven't been working too well.

Why are you doing driving around
with bad brakes, Son?

I don't know.

Jim-Bob, do you have
something to say to Corabeth?

I already told her I was sorry.

Why don't you tell her again?

-Sorry, Corabeth.
-Thank you, James Robert.

There's no better remedy
for ill feelings

than a heartfelt apology,
now, is there?

Jim-Bob will see that your
shoe gets fixed, Corabeth.

Oh, that will not be necessary.
Mr. Godsey has a way with shoes.

Well, I really must be going.

Thank you for bringing
this to my attention.

I'll see it doesn't
happen again.

You're welcome.

Jim-Bob, get those brakes fixed.

I haven't had lunch yet, Daddy.

Get the brakes fixed first,
then you can have lunch.

Any more problems with that car,
It gets a good long rest.

I got these plans
out of a book at school.

It's about this wide and that
tall and one-inch thick.

Why does it have to be thin?

So you can see the ants
making their tunnels.

I've heard of lot of dumb things
in my life, never an ant farm.

Well, if you want to do it,
just tell me.

Look, Elizabeth, I'm up to my
ears with important work to do!

Well, I wouldn't want
to put you to any trouble.

Here.

(SIGHS)

I'll work it in somehow.

Don't feel like you have
to wait till Christmas.

Look.

Jim-Bob, you know
better than that!

Brace that car
with a block of wood.

Can't get under there with
just a jack holding it up.

Alright, I will, Daddy.

I don't know what that boy's
using for brains lately, Ma.

(CRASHING)

Jim-Bob! Ben! Jason! Ben!

Jim-Bob. Jim-Bob,
Son, you alright?

Easy. Hurry! Jim-Bob!
Lift! Lift! Lift!

JOHN: Drag him out.
MARY ELLEN: Watch his shoulders.

Jim-Bob. Son, you alright?

-Does it hurt?
-Yeah, I'm okay.

That car could have
cut him in two.

Somebody up there is watching
out for you, Jim-Bob.

Oh, my... Thank God.

(ALARM RINGING)

ERIN: Elizabeth!
What in the world?

-Can't get sleep, huh?
-I was just thinking.

About the accident?

I noticed you haven't
been working on your car.

Don't really feel like it.

It's not easy getting over
a shock like that.

My whole life flashed past me
when that car fell.

It was pitch black under there.

All I could hear
was a lot of screaming.

I thought I heard Mama, too.

Why don't you go to bed,
Jim-Bob?

Maybe being able to walk away
from it was a sign.

Or maybe it's just the way the
underside of the car is shaped.

Jesus said, "I am sent,
not to call the righteous,

"but sinners to repentance."

And unless the sinners
of this world repent,

the punishment of God,
will pour down upon their heads

like rain from heaven.

Excuse me, Reverend Bradshaw.

-Oh, young Walton, isn't it?
-James Robert.

Ah, you know, all the years
I've been preaching

and I still get nervous
when I face a new congregation.

I think you're doing real good.

You know,
I had the funny feeling

that you were being
dragged to church

by the scruff of your neck, huh?

I need to talk to you,
it's real important.

Well, alright,
let's sit over here, huh?

(ORGAN PLAYING)

(SINGING) There's a land
that is fairer than day

And by faith we can see it afar

For the Father
waits over the way

To prepare us
a dwelling place there

In the sweet by and by

We shall meet
on that beautiful shore

In the sweet by and by

We shall meet
on that beautiful shore

Brothers and Sisters,

as you know, I've been
preaching a long time

at one place or another.

I have counseled sinners

and I've tried as best
I could to console

and comfort the grieving.

And I've seen love
and sacrifice,

and drunkenness and cruelty.

And I thought that nothing,
nothing could ever surprise me.

But this morning,
a young man you all know

came to me after many hours
of prayerful thought

and revealed his intention

of giving his life over
to the service of God

by becoming a preacher.

James Robert Walton,

please stand so we can
all be proud of you.

Jim-Bob.

(CROWD MUTTERING)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

-Can I come in?
-Sure, Daddy.

Mary Ellen told me the news.

I guess you were
kind of surprised.

Yeah, I was surprised.

Yesterday, you looked like
you were bound and determined

to stir people up from here
to Rockfish, and today,

you're telling the whole world
you're gonna be a preacher.

-What happened?
-I did a little thinking.

I'd say you did a lot of
thinking, Son.

That thinking had
something to do

with the problem with the car?

Am I right?

I could have been killed
under there, Daddy.

Yeah. It was
a close call alright.

Sure scared me some.

But I'm not sure if
that's reason enough

to become a preacher, Son.

What about your hopes
of becoming a pilot?

Well, I changed my mind.

What you do with your life
is your choice.

Just don't want you getting
locked into something

-you don't really want to do.
-I want it real bad, Daddy.

First, I have to show Reverend
Bradshaw how sincere I am.

I promised him
I'd go over to Boatwright

and sign up for some
seminary classes.

That's alright with me, Son.

I just kind of wish you'd
talked it over with me first.

Dinner's ready.

What you got there?

It's my ant farm.
Ben just finished it.

Don't wait dinner for me.

I got lot to think about.
I wanna fast and pray.

You mean you're not
going to eat?

"Blessed are they
which do hunger

"and thirst after righteousness

"for they shall be filled."
Matthew 5:6.

What are you reading?

-Leviticus.
-Is it interesting?

Yeah, it's about the Jews after
Moses led them out of Egypt.

It talks a lot about
making sacrifices to God.

Right now, I'm reading
about sacrificing pigeons.

I thought they'd put
a stop to that.

I don't know, I haven't
gotten to that part yet.

Aren't you hungry?

You know, it's been
proved scientifically

you're supposed to eat seven
basic food groups every day,

otherwise you get sick.

Mama would die if she knew
the way you were eating.

Aren't you supposed to be
collecting insects or something?

I'm looking for an ant hill.
Wanna help?

I'm not looking for ants on the
Sabbath, you shouldn't either.

A scientist is a scientist,
seven days a week.

"Woe unto them that are wise
in their own eyes." Isaiah 5:21.

Jim-Bob, are you sure that car
didn't fall on your head?

You saw where it landed.

(SIGHS)

Jim-Bob back yet?

He's upstairs,
reading the Bible.

-Still at it, huh?
-What's wrong with him?

Nothing wrong with getting
a little religion,

as long as it doesn't
get out of hand.

He seems really sincere
about wanting to be a preacher.

I always knew there was
a spiritual side to Jim-Bob

-that would come out eventually.
-It's probably just a phase.

I remember when I wanted
to be a missionary.

It'll sure make Mama happy.

Now, maybe we shouldn't mention
it to your Mama if she calls.

Jim-Bob's got to work
this out for himself.

And I don't want to hear about
any of you teasing him either.

Come on, Jim-Bob.

Take a vacation from
righteousness tonight

and let's go sin.

No, thanks.

Ben, what kind of sins
are you going to commit?

Oh, a little coveting,
a little lust,

maybe even go in
for some swearing.

Ben, you better think
of your soul first.

I was only joking, Grandma.
Goodnight.

You understand,
don't you, Grandma?

Yes.

-For me?
-Yes.

"Published 1870, Philadelphia."
Grandma, I can't take this.

(SOFTLY) Oh, no.

"To our beloved Esther,
on the day of your baptism,

"July 11, 1883.

"Love, Mama and Papa."

Grandma,
I don't know what to say.

I always figured
I was sixth in line

for everything in this family.

This is the best gift
I ever got. I love you.

I'm gonna keep it with me
forever, just to remind myself

that somebody in this
family believes in me.

-Sit down, won't you?
-Thank you.

Reverend Bradshaw called

and asked me to outline
a program of study for you.

He's going to see
I'm licensed to preach,

after I learn
more about the Gospels.

I knew your brother John
when he was here at Boatwright.

If you're at all like him,
I'm sure you'll excel

at anything you put your mind
to, including the ministry.

I'm sure going to try.

What we offer at Boatwright is a
four-year undergraduate program.

Four years?

Thought I could go to seminary
for a while and start preaching.

Seminary is a graduate school.

You have to earn a college
degree before you're accepted.

What we offer here
is General Study,

and History, Geography,
Philosophy,

Literature from all
around the world,

as well as an extensive study
of the Old and New Testaments,

in Hebrew and Greek, of course.

I don't know any
Hebrew or Greek.

You will, and Latin, naturally.

You have had some Latin,
haven't you?

No, sir.

Oh, that's a problem.

Before we could even
consider your application,

you'd have to complete at least

one semester
of high-school Latin.

But why? I just want
to preach in English.

I wonder if you understand
the purpose of these classes.

Um, an effective minister

must be thoroughly versed
in the Bible

and in Baptist beliefs.

"Go ye into all the world
and preach the gospel

"to every creature."
Mark 16:15.

Doesn't say anything about
having to learn Greek first.

I know it seems like a long time
now, but it will go quickly.

You don't understand.

I have to preach. I can't wait
four years to start.

In that case, James Robert,

perhaps it would be wise for you

to reconsider your
decision altogether.

Thank you.

Elizabeth, that thing
will never work.

Do you know anything
about science?

I know enough
about Luna moths.

They don't come around
here every day.

I didn't say it'd work
the first night.

Science is 99% perspiration,
1% inspiration.

Thomas Alva Edison said that.

Why don't you try
a little bait in there,

like a piece of cheese?

A Luna moth is not a mouse.

Well, look who's here,
Billy Sunday!

And he's brought Jason along.

Go easy on him, Ben.
He's had a tough day.

-Did you get accepted?
-Who needs Boatwright anyway?

John the Baptist didn't go
to a college before preaching.

And he didn't live
in a fancy parsonage, either.

He lived in the hills.

And he didn't get his seven
basic food groups either.

He ate honey and locusts.

Well, in that case, Elizabeth,

you better watch out
for your insect collection.

Very funny, Ben.

You alright?

Grandma, it seems like
everybody's trying

to keep me from
becoming a preacher.

Ben makes fun of me.

Professor Hoadley says I have
to spend four years in college.

I didn't think it was
going to be this hard.

Grandma, that's beautiful.
I'm going to remember that.

Good!

Jim-Bob, I'm sorry
if I hurt your feelings.

That's okay, Ben.

"Whosoever shall smite thee
on thy right cheek,

"turn to him the other also."
Matthew 5:39.

"How hard it is for them
that have riches

"to enter into the kingdom
of God." Mark 10:24.

-Here, Ben.
-Car keys?

Nope, my car.
I'm giving it to you.

I'm giving away all my riches.

Jim-Bob.

Hi, Corabeth, can I please have
four more Mason jars?

Oh, yes, of course.

And how is our young man
of the cloth?

Oh, Jim-Bob? He's fine.

How proud you must be
to have a brother so dedicated

to such high ideals
and lofty ambitions.

I have always been able
to hold my head up high,

ever since my brother Albert
graduated from the seminary

at Jerome College in Savannah.

I didn't know someone in your
family was a preacher.

Oh, yes. But, of course, his
work, in the service of the lord

keeps him so busy
that I rarely see him.

I know what you mean.

I hardly see Jim-Bob anymore.
He's always reading the Bible.

Well, perhaps he's finished
sewing his wild oats.

There were many in the community
who doubted his sincerity.

Particularly in light
of his actions just prior

to the Reverend Bradshaw's
announcement in church.

However, I was never
one of the doubters.

Well, I'm sure Jim-Bob
will be glad to hear that.

Now, how are you
little orphans doing

now that Olivia is gone?

Well, we all miss her,
especially me.

I better be going.

Well, have you been helping
Mary Ellen with the canning?

No, this is my own project.

Oh, well, Elizabeth,

that's very impressive
for a girl of your age.

You must enter a jar
in the County fair.

I will, Corabeth.

(DOOR OPENING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

Shh.

We have to find crickets.

(BABY COOING)

See that? Oops!

(BABY COOING)

(BABY WHINING)

John Curtis, look,
it's a Luna moth!

Oh, no, you didn't.

Oh.

(SIGHING)

Now it's gone.

Now I have to start all over
again. Give me that.

Elizabeth, where have
you been all day?

You were supposed to be here,
helping us clean house.

I've been collecting crickets
for my science project.

Well, you better not be bringing
those horrid things upstairs.

I've just about had it
with your bug zoo.

It's not a zoo. It's research.

Don't care what it is,
I'm sick of it!

Alright, now,
what's all this fuss about?

Well, Elizabeth keeps bringing
bugs up into our room.

Lately, that's all she's
been thinking about.

Insects are beautiful.

If you took the time
to study them, you'd know.

There is nothing
beautiful about those.

A student of insects

can't ignore the
crickets of the world.

Alright, now, I'm getting
tired of this bickering.

Elizabeth, do you have enough
bugs to finish your assignment?

I suppose.

Alright, well, don't bring
any more bugs into the house.

Are you listening, Elizabeth?

And you leave her alone
till she finishes her work.

Are you listening, Erin?

-The Lord, the Great Provider.
-Jim-Bob, I saw Tinker today.

Wanted to know why
he hasn't seen you lately.

There's somebody who
needs to be preached to.

Elizabeth, why aren't you
helping?

Oh, our lady scientist
is too important to help.

With Mama gone, we're all
supposed to share in equally.

-I do my fair share.
-ERIN: Of making a mess.

"It is better to dwell
in a corner of the housetop,

"than with a brawling woman
in a wide house." Proverbs 21:9.

Couldn't have said it
myself better, Son.

Daddy, if you don't mind...

Alright, Jim-Bob,
you say the grace.

Heavenly Father, we give thanks
for all of our blessings.

We're sorry if sometimes
we don't always do

exactly as we're supposed to.

We're sorry that our father
hasn't repented

of his sins and gotten
baptized yet.

Please help him
to mend his ways.

Also, bless Elizabeth.

She's been too
wrapped up in science

to think of you very much.

Please bless Mr. and
Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt,

and Ike and Corabeth.

And also Mr. Winston Churchill
and his wife.

Please bless Grandma
with good health.

And especially, Heavenly Father,

please bless Mama
that she'll get well,

and that I'll become
a good preacher.

-Amen.
-ALL: Amen.

Very nice, Son,
your mama would have been proud.

ELIZABETH: Except you
forgot to bless the food.

-Yes.
-I did?

You also forgot to bless your
car so it'd fix itself.

What about this? When are
you gonna get it fixed?

It's not my car, it's Ben's.

Oh, we've been
through this before.

The car is yours.
It's your responsibility.

I'll be glad to fix it,
but it's not my car.

Jim-Bob, I don't want that car.

Jim-Bob, just because you
are becoming a preacher,

doesn't mean you have to give
away everything you own.

It's your car, you fix it.

You just don't understand,
do you? Excuse me.

No, you're not excused.
Sit down and eat your meal.

JOHN: Here you go.
Pass the potatoes, please.

This is very interesting.

Out of 13 crickets,
I have six species.

Five field crickets, three tree
crickets and one bush cricket.

Why don't you just turn off
the light and sleep?

-I'm trying to sleep.
-I made an important discovery.

Don't care if you found a way
to win the war,

we both have to get up
early tomorrow.

Why? It's Saturday.

Because you, Mary Ellen
and I have to clean the house.

Well, I can't. I'm gonna be
looking for a praying mantis.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

-JIM-BOB: Elizabeth? Erin?
-Come in.

"Blessed are the peacemakers,

"for they shall be called the
children of God." Matthew 5:9.

I heard you fighting.

Here, Erin, I'm not just
giving you the headphones,

-Want you to have the whole set.
-Your shortwave radio?

Jim-Bob, don't be silly.

Here, Elizabeth,
it's a present from me.

Jim-Bob!

I want you to stop
ruining your life.

You're being deceived
by science.

What's the matter with science?

It's keeping you
from more important things,

like reading the Bible
and resting on the Sabbath.

You have to decide whether
you're a Baptist or a scientist.

I can be both.

A good Baptist wouldn't spend
so much time on insects.

How do you think they
found the cure for malaria?

Besides, insects were made
for fields, not bottles.

-Would you be happy in a jar?
-They're just bugs.

Jim-Bob, I can't keep these.

Why not?
I'm not going to need them.

Elizabeth, I think you should
go to bed so Erin can rest.

Goodnight.

ELIZABETH: I'm beginning
to think he means it.

ERIN: The Reverend
James Robert Walton.

It just doesn't sound right.

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

They're gone!
We gotta find them!

Elizabeth,
this is the last straw!

-Oh.
-Oh, yuck.

It sounds like an
air-raid siren in here.

Elizabeth's crickets got loose.

There goes one! Get it!

JASON: I got it.
ELIZABETH: Don't kill it.

What are you killing?

ELIZABETH: My crickets are
missing. There are 12 of them.

Twelve. Well, find them before
they wake up John Curtis. Oh.

There are four field crickets,
and two ground crickets,

they're very small
and don't make a lot of noise.

-Quit talking and just look.
-Like little crickets?

-Mm-hmm, and they're also...
-Oh, help! One's in my bed!

(ALL CLAMORING)

(ERIN SCREAMING)

Three tree crickets, they're
green and make lot of noise.

BEN: I don't want Jim-Bob to be
sleeping through all this fun.

Ben, don't worry about Jim-Bob,
just hunt. There's one there.

Don't you get tired of bossing
people around, Mary Ellen?

Oh, Ben, now is not
the time to start in.

(ALL CLAMORING)

Whoa, whoa!
What is going on in here?

Well, we think there might
be crickets missing.

It wasn't a cricket
that woke me,

it was all of you yelling
at each other.

You've been at
each other's throats

ever since your mama went away.

I know you miss her,
I miss her, too,

but we got to start pulling
together, here.

Now, what are you all doing?

Well,

my cricket collection got loose.

MARY ELLEN: We were
helping her catch them.

Elizabeth, I know science
is important to you, honey,

but you better take your bugs
to the shed tomorrow morning.

She can keep them in here
for a couple more days.

I guess I'm getting
used to them.

Hey, Elizabeth, I'll help
you round them up, okay?

Alright, now, help each other
out, but do it quietly, huh?

-Okay, Daddy. Goodnight.
-JOHN: Goodnight.

JASON: There goes one
under the dresser.

(ALL CLAMORING)

BEN: He's the green one.

(ALARM RINGING)

Jim-Bob!

-What are you doing up so early?
-I was just on my way home.

-Here, you want some?
-No, thanks.

That's right, I almost forgot.

I'm speaking to a preacher now,

and too uppity for an old buddy.

(BOTTLE BREAKING)

Looks like you're
headed somewhere.

To do the work of the Lord.

I was gonna stop in at the
church and ask him for guidance.

Don't rush off, Jim-Bob. You got
work to do right here first.

I don't get it.

I want you to preach to me.
I need to hear a sermon.

You're making fun of me, Tinker.

You might not know it
by looking at me,

but I been doing a lot of
thinking about this stuff.

Really?

I haven't seen the inside
of a church in years.

I need some of your
spiritual strength.

You're like
a lost sheep, Tinker.

Maybe it's the will of the Lord
we met this morning.

I'm counting on you
to bring me back to the fold.

Come on.

I don't think we
should be doing this.

The church is supposed
to be for everybody,

saint and sinner alike.

Besides, it'll be good practice
for you. Don't be nervous.

Just stand right up there
at the front and let me have it.

The Bible says,

"Repent and be baptized
every one of you

"in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of your sins."

Acts 2:38.

When we repent,

that means we're sorry for
the sins that we've committed,

and we promise God
we won't commit them again.

"Be ye therefore perfect."
Matthew 5:48.

That means we can't lie,
cheat, steal...

Hold it, Jim-Bob.

What about that watermelon
patch we raided?

-That was stealing, wasn't it?
-Yeah.

And remember when we
told Zuleika Dunbar,

"That wasn't us
who threw the rock

through the boarding house
window," when it really was?

I remember. Why?

Seems like it's a little late
to worry about being perfect.

You don't have to be perfect
till after you repent.

Then that solves everything!
I just won't repent.

-But you have to.
-Who's making me?

Nobody. It's just something
you have to want to do.

Let me get this straight.
I'm supposed to be perfect,

which I don't have to worry
about until I repent,

and I have to repent,
but only if I want to?

You're mixing me up.

I get the feeling you don't know
half of what you're talking.

-Where are you going?
-Home.

I thought you wanted
to hear a sermon.

If I would've thought you were
gonna give me a real sermon,

I'd have driven right on by.

You're no preacher. You're just
a little crazy in the head.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall
revile you and persecute you."

You sure are a sight, Jim-Bob.
All high and mighty.

If only you heard what people
were saying behind your back.

I don't care!

Now I got a Jim-Bob story
I can spread around town.

I can just hear the laughs.

The day your mama had you,
Reverend Jim-Bob,

she had herself
the Walton family fool.

Fighting in church now?
Yes, sir,

James Robert Walton,
you have repented.

Daddy! This is for you. I found
it pinned to Jim-Bob's pillow.

I don't know how long
he's been gone.

Oh, what now?

"I have decided to begin life
as a preacher today.

"There's no time to spare.

"I can't leave my candle under
a bushel any longer.

"Love, Jim-Bob."

His candle under a bushel?

That's why he's been giving
all his stuff away.

-BEN: Should I go after him?
-No.

Maybe he deserves a chance
to try his hand at preaching.

-Let me think about this.
-Okay.

-Oh, Elizabeth.
-Hmm?

Be sure to get those crickets
out to the shed by tonight, huh?

(DISAPPOINTED) Okay.

Well, Ma, I never expected
anything like this.

Come.

Come.

What is it, Ma?

"Ye are the light of the world.

"A city that is set
on a hill cannot be hid.

"Neither do men light a candle
and put it under a bushel,

"but on a candlestick.

"And it giveth light unto all
that are in the house.

"Let your light so shine
before men."

So, this is the candle
under the bushel

that Jim-Bob was talking about.

Yes.

You showed it to him?

So, now you blame yourself
that he left?

Ma, as long as I can remember,

you blame yourself every time
anything goes wrong.

That's a very nice
scripture passage, Ma.

Jim-Bob just turned it around
to suit his own means.

But, Ma, whatever
is on Jim-Bob's mind

hasn't got much to do
with preaching the gospel.

He's hurting.

Ben, Jason!

I've caught a Luna moth!

Mary Ellen, Erin,
come on, hurry!

MARY ELLEN: She did it!

I don't believe it! It worked!

Look at it.

It's dead.

-Oh.
-Sure was pretty.

I'm sorry, Elizabeth.
I know how much you wanted one.

Maybe Jim-Bob was right.

Living things shouldn't
be kept in jars or cages.

Jim-Bob!

I thought you were
studying the gospel.

I found a Luna moth in my
trap today, it was dead.

So I let all my insects go,

except for the ants.

First, I have to find
the ant hill they came from.

You were right about
the insects.

Can't learn anything from them
when they're in jars.

I can learn so much more
studying them in nature.

You know, I missed you.

Elizabeth, go away
and leave me alone.

Daddy! Jim-Bob's over
at the little pond.

Alright, honey, you wait here.

Jim-Bob.

I've been worried
about you, Son.

I failed, Daddy.

Bible says, "No man,
having put his hand to the plow

"and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God."

You're trying to tell me that
only preachers go to heaven?

It seems to me God wouldn't
have made so many people

if only a few were
going to be saved.

Grandma gave me this.

I guess she figured
I'd keep my hand on the plow.

You been sitting here
all this time, Son?

I thought I was
on my way to save souls.

Tinker picked me up.

He'd been drinking all night.

He heard about me wanting
to become a preacher.

I guess he had
a hard time believing it, huh?

He made me so mad
I took a swing at him.

I felt so ashamed.

Even preachers get mad
sometimes, Jim-Bob.

Afterwards,
I just walked and walked.

Every house I went by,

I felt like I ought to go
to the door and cry repentance.

Look at this.

You see this ant farm
of Elizabeth's?

Every one of those ants
has a different job to do

and no one is more important
than the other.

That goes for folks, too,
you know?

No job is more important
than the other.

I don't care whether you're
a preacher or a woodcutter,

a pilot, a scientist,
a writer like John-Boy.

But I was told to become
a preacher!

Who told you?

It started when
the car fell on me.

Why don't you tell me
about it, Son?

Well, I heard the jack buckle

and everything got black,
all of a sudden.

I thought I was dead.

My whole life came to me
in a split-second.

I knew what kind of a person
I was. Not a very good one.

For a moment,
I was glad I was dead.

It seemed like nothing
was going right.

First Grandma got sick,

then Grandpa died,

And Curt was killed
at Pearl Harbor.

And?

Then Mama got sick
and had to go away.

What's all this got to do
with being a preacher, Son?

While I was under the car,
it seemed like somebody told me

that if I'd been a little bit
of a better person,

did what I was
supposed to do

that none of this would
have happened.

So you blame yourself for it.

For Grandpa and Curt dying,

your grandma and your ma
getting sick, huh?

All I know is that,
all of a sudden, I wasn't dead.

I was sitting up
and everybody was saying

what a miracle it was.

I was being warned, Daddy.
Any more goofs and...

Any more goofs
and your mama might die?

Son.

Jim-Bob, I know
just how you feel, Son.

You know,

if I thought that by preaching

your Mama would get well
and come home,

I'd be on my way to the pulpit
right now.

-You would?
-You bet I would.

(SIGHING) Son.

There have been times
when I thought

like you're thinking now.

I wondered if maybe I hadn't
let your Grandpa work so hard,

he'd be alive now.

Or if I'd gone with him
to the mountain that day,

he wouldn't have died.

I've thought about maybe
if I was around the house more

and helping your ma out,
she wouldn't have gotten sick.

But that kind of thinking
is no good, Son.

You can't blame yourself for
things that happen in life.

You can't put yourself
in the center.

You got no business there.

What you got to do is

take things as they come

and just keep going.

You think Grandma
will be disappointed in me?

I think maybe your Grandma
is a little tired

of you being so all-fired
good all the time.

I'll tell you what.

Why don't we get you fed and see
if we can get your car fixed?

Okay, Daddy.

JOHN-BOY: Although Jim-Bob
never became a preacher,

his deeply religious experience

added an important dimension
to his life

and to his relationship
with our father.

In the years to come,

his faith became
a source of strength

to all those who knew him.

BEN: Thanks for fixing
my car, Jim-Bob.

JIM-BOB: Whose car, Ben?

ERIN: Jim-Bob, will you show me
how to work my shortwave radio?

JIM-BOB: I didn't know you had
a shortwave radio, Erin.

ELIZABETH: My new goggles
are great

for sneaking up
on insects, Jim-Bob.

They make me look like one.

JIM-BOB: Your goggles,
Elizabeth?

BEN: Now, Jim-Bob, you know that
God loveth a cheerful giver.

Second Corinthians 9:7.

JIM-BOB: Yes, but what
the former preacher giveth,

the former preacher
taketh away. Jim-Bob 1:2.

ALL: Goodnight, Jim-Bob.