All language subtitles for The.Waltons.S08E10.The.Waiting.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Oh, yes, yes..

(male narrator)
On the last episode
of The Waltons.

Do you have some news?

What kind of news I have
can't be given over the phone.

Your son's been found.

'Wounded, but alive.'

'He's being flown to an army
hospital outside of Washington.'

You'll be able to see him.

How bad is he?

It's very serious.

["The Waltons" theme
by Jerry Goldsmith]

[music continues]

(male narrator)
Joy and tragedy
walked hand in hand

during the dark days
of World War II.

When good news came

it always seemed
to be tensed with sadness.

The words "Your son is alive"
were too often followed

by the phrase
"He's badly injured".

When those words came
to my family

it meant that the long wait
was not over.

It had just begun.

Hey, Corabeth!

Corabeth, it's in the paper.
It's about John-Boy. He's save!

Mr. Godsey, we all know that.

Now, in the future
would you please not shout?

He's safe, he's safe.

That's a new picture,
isn't it?

Well, I'm not sure
I like that.

Who cares? The word's worth
a thousand pictures.

We're gonna be seeing John-Boy
before the day is out, daddy.

It is hard to believe,
isn't it?

Don't you know how long
you'll be gone?

(John)
'No way to say.'

Looks like your ma's planning
on staying a long time.

- Now, women do that.
- Women do what?

They pack a lot of stuff

because they know some poor
stiff's gotta carry it.

Just something to keep
your strength up.

Rose, thank you.

Oh, I dared to think if you
getting stranded off the road.

We're not planning
on any detours.

You never know,
a flat tire or bridge out.

'You never know nowadays.'

This car isn't gonna stop
until we get to Alexandria.

But thank you. We'll enjoy
the feast on the road.

You and my family
take care of each other.

Don't you worry your head.
Our hearts are with you.

We'll be waiting for word, mama.

Tell John-Boy I'll come just
as soon as he wants me there.

I'll be anxious to meet him
as soon as he's able.

Hi, everybody.

Got room for this?

- O-oh!
- It's a good picture.

- I bet who's taken, I wonder.
- What does it say?

'"John Walton Jr.,
son of Mr. & Mrs. John Walton'

"of Jefferson County has been
found alive in an army hospital

near Washington D.C. according
to American Red Cross."

(John)
'That's not news.'

'"An observer for the
Stars and Stripes'

young Walton was shot down
an airplane over Belgium."

- We know that by heart.
- Can we have this, Ike?

Sure. Here, take one
to John-Boy.

He'll get a kick out of it.
I mean, he will later on.

Y'all take care
of each other now, alright?

- Goodbye.
- Take care.

'Goodbye, mama.'

'Goodbye, daddy.'

- Bye.
- Bye.

[indistinct chatter]

Here we go.

See any looks like
Quarter 2-B?

Just people.
And noise.

This way.

'Excuse me, can you
tell us where..'

Excuse me.

We're looking for
Quarter 2-B..

Room 235.

Excuse me, we're looking
for our son.

John Walton Jr.

They gave us this slip.

Up the stairs, west lane,
second door on the right.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

(woman on intercom)
Dr. Jackson outside call.

No visitors. That can't mean us,
can it, Liv?

I don't think so.

No visitors,
doctor's sign says.

We're his parents.

Talk to the doctor. He's the one
who can give that permission.

Where's the doctor?

'He's probably making
rounds or in X-ray or surgery'

I'll see if I can find him.
Have a seat in the waiting.

- Maybe, we could just--
- I'll see if I can find him.

[melancholic music]

His name is Banion.

* Keep the Home-Fires Burning,
while our hearts are yearning *

[humming]

Rose!

You're important
to me, Elizabeth

just as you're important
to your mother.

I always help mum at the wash.
She does it in the morning.

Well, then, we'll do it
in the morning from now on.

Oh, I tell you, we're going
to have the best time.

Planning things
and working together

and keeping busy, Elizabeth.

You know that's the very
ticket is keeping busy.

- Oh, there is my big boy.
- Hi, Rose.

- I can eat you with a spoon.
- Come on.

Why are you wearing
your pajama top.

I couldn't find the shirt.
Came to get one off the line.

Oh, well, I'll tell you
to help yourself, Jim-Bob

but they're all wet.

Everyone of 'em?

Well, I tidied your closet
this morning.

It was just a shambles and I
wanted you to start out fresh.

So, I threw all your shirts
in the laundry.

- Swell.
- 'I knew you wouldn't mind.'

This little family
is going to pull together

and do the job that John
and Olivia would want us to do.

We're gonna stand
as one, Jim-Bob.

I'm going over to the mill.

Oh, now, that's the very ticket.

Help your brother.

[Rose humming]

It's a busy place.

Thousands of men.

Sure didn't expect this.

Big, tall, personnel.

Noise. I'd no idea
that it'd be so noisy.

I don't think
anybody can rest here.

Dr. Banion?

Mr. and Mrs. John Walton?

Yes, sir.

We're real anxious
to see our son, sir.

You'll see him.

(Dr. Banion)
'You should be prepared
for what you'll see.'

Now, your son's condition
is quite serious.

I assume you've been told that.

We know that he was shot down
and then he was hurt.

They said he was in shock.

Now, it's a kind of head injury
your son sustained.

'He's lucky to be alive. I'm
talking to keep it that way.'

To build his strength.

It will be our concern
for quite sometime to come.

Will he know us?

No.

(Dr. Banion)
'No, he won't know you.'

'He doesn't know himself.'

He hasn't made a sound
since he was brought in.

He simply lies there. Stares.

What can we do?

You can sit with him.

You shouldn't do
or say anything

'that might excite him or
try for a sustained period'

'to provoke a reaction.'

What I mean,
can we...can we talk to him..

I mean, can we, can we
talk about home?

You'll find your way.

Ah, you'll-you'll need this
to enter his room.

Keep it with you.
They'll ask for it.

You're finally gonna
let us see him?

That's one lesson we learn here
over and over, Mrs. Walton.

Patience.

We wait.
We all wait here.

John-Boy, it's your mama.

(John)
'I'm here too, son.'

Both are here. And we're gonna
stay right close.

[melancholic music]

He's weak.

He's bound to be.

He's not even blinking, Liv.

Oh, I'm-I'm sure he does
from time to time.

(Olivia)
'He's just resting and healing.'

Takes time, Liv.

We've got plenty of that.

I'm just so grateful to be here.

Look down on John-Boy,
our biggest brother.

He's been missing from the war

and we're thankful
that you found him

and brought him back.

Please help that he'll get
healed up fast

so that he could
come home again.

Everybody misses him. Amen.

Amen.

I didn't hear you come in.

You hardly even
know John-Boy.

I've seen his picture a lot.

He has nice eyes.

Serena, there were lot of times
I'd like to give you away

but tonight
isn't one of them.

[thunder]

(Olivia)
'John.'

I think his eyes moved.
Just a little.

(John)
'John-Boy.'

It was the slightest movement
but I'm sure they moved.

Son, if you can hear me,
grip my hand.

We can wait.

(nurse)
'Okay, here we go, general.'

[indistinct]

Wait a a minute. Let me get
this screen out of the way.

[indistinct]

That's right. I gave general
his first ride.

(male #1)
'Would you put your belly.'

'We got you here, didn't we?'

'You know, I think
it was fairly..'

Ah!

Now, what've we gotta hear?

Your whole long sad story,
is that it?

(Olivia)
'Please.'

Can't you be a little quieter?

We're not disturbing him. You
could drive a tank through here.

He wouldn't hear it.

[melancholic music]

Come on, lady,
don't be mad.

Our son is very
badly hurt. He's..

He's very bad.

Ain't no one
in here feeling good.

It's just the noise
and the wisecracks.

We have a daughter
who's a nurse.

She acts like a nurse.
She's not harsh, cruel.

Can't be an army nurse, then.

Are they all like that?

Corrigan? She's the best.

'No hand to talk
or act like a church lady.'

'She can't afford to.'

Nurses are supposed
to be comforting.

Well, you think about it.

All she sees is arms off..

...legs off, heads caved in.'

Barely living, mostly dying.

Now, she's got
to protect herself

wrap up in some
kind of tough shell

or she'd crack up.

Who you got over there?
Your boy?

- Our son.
- Is he unconscious?

Mm-hm.

You ought to be damn glad you
got Corrigan looking after him.

There's been nobody looking
after him this whole time.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[sighs]

[music continues]

His condition
seems to have stabilized.

But don't change the treatment
for another 48 hours.

He tried to pinch me.
That's a good sign.

That's the best
sign there is.

You gonna be coming in?

We're on round, sir.
We'll get there.

Boy across the hall, Walton,
shock, head injuries?

Who just lays there,
stares, not moving.

Nobody's been in
to see him.

He's checked
regularly, Mr. Walton

by doctors and nurses,
day and night.

Now, we'll be
in there shortly.

He's got all these bandages,
tubes sticking out of him.

It's keeping
him alive, Mr. Walton.

You may say it's keeping him
alive. I say it stinks.

Believe me, sir,
every care is being taken.

What are you
doing for him?

We've been trying
to talk to him.

You don't give a damn!
Nobody's seen him!

How do you know he can't respond
if you don't do something?

Shouting in the corridors
won't change a thing.

'This is tough, Mr. Walton,
and it's going to be tough.'

At best, it's a long, hard pull

and no one can assure you
your son's gonna make it.

'But as long as he's here, he'll
get the best care we can give.'

My wife and I would
sure appreciate that.

[melancholic music]

There are plenty
of sweet potatoes.

Oh, my, and here's
loads of eggplant!

Here, let me fill
your plates again with this.

- You eat the eggplant, Rose.
- Jim-Bob.

You can have my share first.

(Mary Ellen)
'Erin?'

Well, I'm sorry, I didn't know.

Well, it's supposed
to be awfully good for you.

It is, and for that little
package you're carrying.

(Rose)
'Why don't y'all tell me
what you like'

'and I'll fix that?'

I'd just like to get a phone
call from mama and daddy.

I guess, it's too soon to hear.

(Elizabeth)
'Wouldn't you just give
something to be with them?'

I just can't stop thinking
about John-Boy.

I'll just feel so much
better when we hear something.

I think I know what John
and Olivia would like us to do.

I think they'd like us
to hold down the fort.

Do you know
what's creeping up on us?

A fungus.

One I've had to put up with
ever since I can remember!

Thanksgiving is
creeping up on us.

I think it would be fun
if we all worked on it together.

I'd almost forgotten
about Thanksgiving.

Well, if mama gets back in time,
she'll take care of it.

(Jim-Bob)
'I don't think
we should have it.

Well, now, Jim-Bob Walton,
that's not up to you.

'I mean, after all,
Thanksgiving is just there.'

Why don't we talk
about it later, Rose?

Well, there's no problem.

There's just a little
planning necessary.

Order the turkey, get the
berries for the cranberry sauce

'and the oysters
for the dressing'

'and there's plenty of time.
There's no rush.'

Oysters?

(chuckles)

Well, I guess, I've said
something else wrong.

[instrumental music]

I feel so torn.

I wanna go home with you,
but I can't leave John-Boy.

I don't like
leaving you here alone.

When I think
of what hotel rooms cost

I don't know what else to do.

Don't worry about the expense.
We can afford it.

I wish we could go back
to the times

when we could hardly
afford anything at all.

At least the children
were all safe under one roof.

I think about those times, too.
I'll call you, Liv.

John, I just know there's
something inside of John-Boy

that's trying
to reach out

and there can't be silence
and darkness when it does.

I understand, honey.
You have to stay.

You take care.
Just a minute.

[instrumental music]

Give my love to everybody.

I'll talk to you soon.

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

They told us his plane
went down at sea

right off
the coast of Belgium.

No one knows how
he survived the crash.

'A fishing boat came along
and picked him up.'

Then, they put him on
a ship coming to England.

That's where he's been
the last couple of months.

Why didn't somebody let us know?

It took them
a long time to identify him.

He'd lost his dog tags.

What's his condition?

Maybe, you could see some
difference from day to day.

-But he looks the same to me.
-Holding his own?

(John)
'He's not losing any ground.'

Does mama see a change?

Well, you know your mama.
She's sure he's gonna call out

one of these days, and when he
does, she wants to be there.

We've all just
gotta keep believing.

We have to give
her all the help we can.

I hope she doesn't
worry about us too much.

(John)
'She knows you're in good hands
with Rose here.'

Well, you know, I've
been looking through that

old family recipe book
and I still believe

that if we all pitch in
on that Thanksgiving dinner

'it could be the pleasantest
kind of a thing to do.'

'Now, I've made a shopping list'

and I'm going to ask Ike
to get us a 25-pound bird.

I'm tired of hearing about that
dinner. Goodnight, everybody.

'Goodnight, son.'

(Mary Ellen)
'It just doesn't seem right
to celebrate this year.'

- Goodnight, daddy.
- 'Goodnight, honey.'

I don't feel
very thankful, either.

(Erin & John)
'Goodnight.'

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight, honey.

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.

I never had much
of a family Thanksgiving.

So, you'll just
have to decide for yourself.

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight, dear.

We know you mean well,
Rose. Goodnight.

- Goodnight, son.
- Goodnight.

They don't wanna
thanks-give, nana.

Sure seems that way.

How about you two,
you gonna say goodnight?

I'm so glad
to have you back, Uncle John.

Good to be here, honey.

Make you feel any better

I'll take you fishing,
Uncle John.

Well, we'll see about that.
Thank you, son.

- Goodnight, nana.
- Goodnight, sweetie.

Well, John,
can I get you something?

Could use another
cup of coffee, Rose.

Oh, good.

You know the trouble,
don't you, about Thanksgiving?

It's this big table
with all the empty places.

I take up a good
deal of that space, John.

And the children.

And you're welcome.
You know it, Rose.

It's just that
with pa gone and..

...I wish you'd known him.

There was something
to be thankful for.

And ma resting this long time.

Curt dead.

Jason in the Army.
John-Boy not very much alive.

Liv over there with him.

It's just not easy
to be thankful, you know?

I know what you're saying, John.

But it seems to me,
these are the times to try.

'You know, really try.'

[instrumental music]

(Olivia)
'I think the colors
all through the mountains'

'were brighter
than ever this year.'

'The dogwood
leaves turned first'

red as the fire
leaping out of the stove

when your father first
lights the wood in the morning.

Then pumpkin orange,
then lemon yellow.

Just one long sweep of gold
all through your meadow.

And the bushes and the far off
trees every shade of scarlet

like the flight
of a thousand cardinal birds

with the wind bending
them this way and that.

Do you remember the man
who burned the books back home?

They were German books.

You were outraged.

That was the first time
we began to realize

what this horrible war
was all about.

But I was so proud of you then.

I'm proud of you now.

[instrumental music]

[sighs]

I hate leaving him alone
all through the night.

Well, it's not like you're
leaving him with a stranger.

I'm not going anywhere.

I've been doing
all my talking

to the one who can't hear.

Oh, it's okay.
I listen.

Do you have a family somewhere?

No one to speak of.
Your home place sounds nice.

It is.

These legs are contrary.

Won't move at all on their own.

They get a notion to,
they can hurt or burn or itch.

You ever scratch an itch
you can't feel?

- Aren't they getting better?
- No.

And I'm told they won't be.
That doesn't matter.

I only need them
when I stand up.

I'm sorry.
I didn't realize.

Oh, lady.
Don't look like that.

You gotta get
so you can turn things around.

Sometimes laughing's
all you've got.

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.

[melancholic music]

Mrs. Walton?

Mrs. Denman,
what are you doing here?

I've been transferred
to Eastern Division

Headquarters in Alexandria.

I guess you'd call it
a promotion.

Your son's...about
the same, I know.

I enquire about him.
That's how I knew you were here.

I'm thankful
to be here with him.

Looking tired.
Mr. Walton's not here?

He had to go home.
His work goes on.

You're staying all alone?
Where, some hotel nearby?

Walking distance.

So's my apartment.

Come have a bite
of supper with me.

You won't believe this, but
you've been on my mind all day.

I'd love to.

[instrumental music]

Nobody encourages me
to believe it

but I know John-Boy
knows I'm there.

Are you sure
you want to believe that?

It makes you
very vulnerable, you know.

Something's different.

Since the first time John and I
saw him, something's changed.

- Then you must stay on.
- I plan to.

As long as he needs me.

Is that your son?

It was taken just before
he shipped out.

Look at those shoulders.

Would you believe
I used to scold him

for not standing up straight?

Eighteen years
he ignored my advice..

...and in two weeks
some Navy CPO

had him looking like that.

He's very handsome.

I tried to make myself go up
and look in on John-Boy..

...but I just couldn't face
seeing all those young men

they're sending home
from the war.

Knowing that Terry
won't be coming home.

I thank God I never
had to go through that.

Oh, I told you you'd been
on my mind all day.

'The Red Cross staff
at the hospital'

'is badly in need
of case workers.'

'I thought of you right away.'

Now, the pay is..

[laughs]

Well, we could only offer
you expenses to begin with.

You mean, do volunteer work
full-time?

It's near John-Boy.

'Maybe, you'd like to
talk it over with Mr. Walton.'

I could do that.
I'm going home this weekend.

Another thing.

If you're willing to step on
each other from time to time..

...you're welcome to pay
half the rent on all this.

[instrumental music]

You sure you're gonna
be alright..

..with your work and John-Boy?

I don't think we're given more
than we can handle.

Worst part is
being away from you.

We started right out
being separated, didn't we?

Me going off to war.
There's been a few times since.

All those years of looking up
and finding you there.

Reaching out
and touching you

gets to be habit-forming.

- Well, we'll do that some more.
- And I haven't left yet.

[ambient music]

Is mama still here?

She's upstairs.
You're just in time.

- Hi.
- Hi.

[laughs]

The way everyone comes in and
out we need a revolving door.

[Rose chuckles]

(Olivia)
'Just a second.'

[instrumental music]

- Wow.
- I was hoping you'd get home.

I almost saluted you.
Thought you were a colonel.

I don't feel much like one.

In this family,
you're the last one

I'd expect to see
putting on an uniform.

None of us has much control
over our lives these days.

I'm real glad you're going
to be with John-Boy.

If anyone can reach him,
pull him back, it's you.

I've tried talking to him.
So has your daddy.

I thought if I read some
of his own words

it might spark something.

I remember when I was little,
tagging along after him.

'We'd be going fishing
or climbing a tree'

'or running an errand.'

He always had that little
notebook in his back pocket.

'He'd stop in
the strangest places'

'and write down a few words
he'd thought of.'

'And then we'd move on.'

After that, it was you
with your harmonica

and Jim-Bob and Ben
tagging off after you.

Every one of you had your own
ways right from the start.

It would have been easier for
you if we'd been more alike.

You would've known
what to expect.

Carbon copies? I don't think
I could have stood that.

Everyone is fainter
than the last.

I'll stick to my originals.

It's never gonna be the same,
is it, mama?

The world, Walton's mountain,
this family.

Not with the world changing
the way it is.

We can't reach back
and grab the past.

We gotta remember
the good times.

We've had a lot of those.

I don't remember anything else.

- I'm proud of you, mama.
- I'm proud of you, too.

[instrumental music]

[John Curtis babbling]

(Ben)
'Oh, mama is there.'

Oh!

- Olivia, you look beautiful.
- Thank you, Rose.

I wish we'd be coming with you.

I wish I could take y'all.
I hate to be leaving you here.

We're not the only family
going through this.

Don't worry about us, mama,
we'll be fine.

I'll miss you,
I'll think about you

and I'll try not to worry.

Jeffrey and I promise
to do our chores.

Yeah, but you got
the easy stuff.

Cindy, you better not
have that baby

before John-Boy and I get back.

Hm, I'll do my best.

Ben, you take good care of her.

I will, mama.

Jim-Bob?

You think he'll get
any better, mama?

(John)
'We don't know, son.'

Nobody knows.

[melancholic music]

[telephone rings]

Red Cross.

Oh, hello, Mrs. Rodriguez.

I'm glad you called.
Did you find your room?

I'm sorry I missed you when
you were here this afternoon.

Do you have any questions?

I'm afraid Rudy's condition
is permanent.

Both eyes.

Yes, blind.
I'm sorry.

I'll see you tomorrow,
Mrs. Rodriguez.

Never easy, is it?

I don't know how you faced
those families all this time.

It took my mind off
my own troubles.

I'll bet you haven't thought
of John-Boy all afternoon.

I'm going up to see him now.
Maybe you wanna come.

Sorry.

There's another
young man up there

who needs a visitor of his own.

As I said..

...sorry.

[dramatic music]

[door opens]

- Hello.
- Hi.

I wish to hell he'd pinch me.

- I beg your pardon?
- That's just something we say.

Means he'd be on the mend.

Oh.

[instrumental music]

"The dusk of evening seeped down
from the mountains

"over the meadows of spring

"and through the blossoming
crab-apple orchard.

"The trees were in full blossom

and their light perfume
filled the night with wonder."

(Corrigan)
'You read to him?'

He wrote it himself.

Well, "I'll be damned,
by John Walton, Jr."

(Olivia)
'I don't see what harm
it could do.'

It seems better than driving
a tank through the room.

[instrumental music]

Pretty soon,
he'll be riding Old Blue.

I think Old Blue might be safe.
This little mare's kinda frisky.

Now, now!

You just put tooth in that.
Come on, come on.

Now, isn't that it?
You tell me if it isn't.

Oh, it's okay, Rose. John Curtis
and I feed ourselves.

It's mince meat.

Mm-hm, it's mince meat.

Oh-ho, I'm so relieved!

Do we get a prize
for getting the right answer?

Pies for Thanksgiving
is what you get.

'I tell you,
when I found Esther's recipe'

'I'd just wanted to weep
for joy.'

I said to myself,
"That's the key."

'You see, any fool
can roast a turkey'

but to give this dear family
the kind of mince pies

they're used to,
well, you just can't know.

'And I know I've got
Olivia's sage-dressing recipe'

'just down pat.'

This family's Thanksgiving
dinner is gonna taste just as if

grandma and Olivia
had cooked it.

- I wish you wouldn't, Rose.
- Wouldn't?

'I've tried before to be
mama and grandma'

'rolled into one.'

It won't work.

Mary Ellen, I meant
no such thing.

I was just trying
to step in and help.

(Erin)
'Rose, don't try and be
someone else.'

Just be yourself.

(Mary Ellen)
'That's right.'

If we just let Thanksgiving
go by without a lot of fuss

it would be better for everyone.

Well, you beat all,
you people. You do.

Don't you think
I know that your hearts

are with John-Boy
this Thanksgiving?

And grandma and Olivia?

We didn't mean
to hurt you, Rose.

Well, now, just be quiet.
All I hear is what's wrong.

who doesn't want dinner
and who isn't here anymore.

Don't you know
that we all miss someone?

I am weary unto the death
of trying to be thankful

all by myself.

'Now, I am!'

And that's the size of it!

[dramatic music]

Where you rushing off to, nana?

- Just one of my walks, Serena.
- Can I come with you?

No, I've got something
to work off.

You children best stay there.

Oh, one of those walks.
She's good and mad.

Share, Jeffrey.
Give it here!

"A wisteria vine
that was filled each spring

"with heavy-scented clusters
of purple blossoms.

"The thought of leaving
saddened the boy.

"He looked at his home and he
felt as if a curtain was drawn

"across the scene,
cutting him away from his family

"and separating them from him.

"He knew then
that all things change and grow

"and that when he returned,
the wisteria and the fern

"and geranium would've changed
and grown and somehow he too

would have changed, and a
curtain would have fallen."

How I wish
you could have heard that.

I did.

- He writing about himself?
- And his family. All of us.

Almost makes me homesick.

And I've never been anywhere
near Walton's Mountain.

Where are you from, Sam?

No place in particular.

I bummed around a lot
before I joined the army.

Who's gonna look after you
when you get out of here?

Same guy that looked after me
before, I guess.

Me.

'I always got by, always will.'

It doesn't get lonesome
very often.

(John-Boy)
'Oh, ma.'

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

John-Boy, you called my name.

John-Boy.

'You called for me.
I'm here.'

I heard it, too.
I've got good ears.

I just wouldn't mind
hearing it again.

We'll-we'll stay on for a while.

But I wouldn't count
on his saying anything else.

He said one word.

But we can't consider it
a breakthrough

unless it continues.

I can wait.

So long as you understand
he may have had

just one fleeting moment
of lucidity.

What I understand is
he called me by name.

There's more hope now than ever.

[instrumental music]

I will, Liv, yeah.
Right away! Yeah.

That's the best word
he could have said.

Okay. You just keep
reading to him.

Goodbye, honey.

- John-Boy said something?
- He said, "mama."

I'm glad she was there.

Now, look, you're to keep
praying and your friends

and tell the church
it's a beginning.

He's gonna come back now.

Thanksgiving's coming,
and all you've got is eggs?

What on Earth
is that boy talking about?

Oh, Rose, we'll even eat
your oyster salad.

[Rose exclaims]

[instrumental music]

Jim-Bob, where are you going
with that gun?

I'm gonna shoot us a turkey.

Just yesterday, I was thinking
about shooting you.

Can I have the key?

Here you go. Only take
a couple of shells.

John-Boy's meadow
is full of turkeys.

Thanks, daddy.

John Walton,
what's happening to this family?

All of a sudden, Thanksgiving
has become a legal holiday.

Liv just called.
John-Boy called her name!

[both laughing]

Praise be!

There was a time
when coffee this late

would keep me awake
half the night.

- Doesn't hold true now.
- Well, no wonder.

Working long hours
at the office

and spending every
available moment

by John-Boy's bedside.

I hope you get rest when you're
going home for Thanksgiving.

I'm not going home.

I figured the best way for me to
give thanks is to be with him.

I wish you had more
to give thanks for.

But now, it's enough
that he's breathing.

[melancholic music]

'Where are you going to
spend your Thanksgiving?'

'Well, I'm not gonna stuff
a turkey, I can tell you that.'

'The cafeteria at the hospital
has pretty good food.'

You can get a six-course meal
all on one tray.

And sit with all those noisy,
overworked army nurses?

No, thanks.

I know someone
you could spend the day with.

I thought you were gonna be
with John-Boy.

I was thinking about the boy
John-Boy shares his room with.

Olivia, the way you've nagged me
to come up and see that boy

I'm beginning to feel sorry
for your husband.

Sam is bright, likeable,
and he needs a friend.

'There's no sense in both of you
spending the day alone.'

I bet you'd be a whiz
at matchmaking.

Shall I tell him
you'll be there?

Sorry, Olivia.

I wouldn't be good company.

I'd see the boy that I used to
spend my Thanksgivings with.

[instrumental music]

(female chattering on intercom)

(John)
'Liv?'

John!

Why didn't you tell me
you're coming?

I didn't plan it.

Rose has everything organized.
I felt I was getting in the way.

You look good to me.
When did you get in?

Where are you staying?

We are gonna stay
in the best hotel in town.

How did you manage that?

I got my ways.
Is that alright with you?

I'll have to ask my roommate.

- Liv..
- Oops.

[ambient music]

- Mrs. Denman, Sam.
- I don't believe it.

This lady says
she's a friend of yours.

I hope so, 'cause
I'm letting her kidnap me.

I left a tray in there for you.

Thanksgiving dinner straight
from the hospital cafeteria.

Pumpkin pie's a bit runny,
but aside from that

it's a fairly respectable meal.

You're gonna have to split it.
I didn't know there were two.

We appreciate that.

You two going down
to the cafeteria?

She's taking me out
of all of this.

Well, they're serving
turkey downstairs

and I said I'd bring a friend.

And you couldn't
find a friend, so..

'You ever try to pull
a wishbone alone?'

I'm much too frail.

- Oops.
- You're a terrible driver.

I was driving before
you were born, sonny.

Happy Thanksgiving, John-Boy.

John-Boy, I'm here.

Here we go.
Oh, my!

(all)
Oh, that looks great, Rose.

Thank you, boys.

(Ben)
Boy, that's heavy.

- I'm starving.
- Oh, I can't wait.

Oh, thank you, Jeffrey.

I want to tell you
everybody had a hand

in this dinner,
including the pilgrim here.

Oh, I think you should say
the grace, Rose.

Alright.

Father in heaven..

...please bless this table,
this family..

...and all those who are with us
only in our hearts today.

And I might as well
stick this in.

I promise not to try and do
everything at once again.

And if I do, I hope you'll give
me a nudge, sir. Amen.

- Amen.
- That was beautiful.

I better stand up and get
a little leverage on this thing.

[instrumental music]

'Dear God..'

...we thank you for letting us
be together today.

'We ask you
you're continued blessing'

'on our dear family at home.'

[instrumental music]

(John)
'We thank you for..'

'...blessing our son John-Boy.'

'And for returning him
safely to us.'

[instrumental music]

(male narrator)
And so they started back,
so many young men

from tunnels of darkness
to light.

From the very door of death

to the first turning step
back to life.

And the families' hearts
were glad all over the land.

(Jim-Bob)
'That was a great dinner, Rose.'

(Elizabeth)
'It was. Really, Rose.'

(Rose)
'Why, thank you.
My goodness.'

(Erin)
'I'm glad we didn't
talk you out of it.'

(Rose)
'Now, if this isn't
just the nicest thing.'

'I'll tell you what
I was thinking about Christmas.'

'Now, I really think
we should hit that early.'

(all)
'Goodnight, nana!'

["The Waltons" theme
by Jerry Goldsmith]

[music continues]