Original subtitles

- Lose something? - No, I found something. Footprints.

Considering all the feet around here, that's no surprise.

- But these are different. - Heel, five toes. What's the difference?

None of us has gone barefoot since the last rain.

- What is the answer to this? - Beats me.

Looking back to 1939 on Walton's Mountain

I have to span a chasm far deeper and wider than nearly 40 years of time.

Customs and prejudices that were acceptable in those days

have gentled into a greater justice today.

But they were part of that time,

and to remember them any other way would be false.

It was then, too, that m y youngest brother, Jim-Bob,

entered a phase designed to drive the rest of the family to exasperation.

A time when nothing stayed in his head for very long.

It sounded like the whole wall gave way.

A lot of it did. I guess I wasn't thinking. Can I help you, Verdie?

Hadn't I better help you first?

I got plenty of time to clean it up later.

- You working here now? - Ike and Corabeth went to Charlottesville.

I'm taking care of store for them while they're gone.

- How long will that be? - I think Ike said till this afternoon.

Oh, then maybe you can help me.

We're leaving for Asheville in the morning.

And I need someone to look after the house and water the garden while we're away.

Sure.

- You want to go in there and get that? - No, it'll be all right in there.

Well, we're leaving in the morning and I'd like to get things settled.

- Why are you going to Asheville? - Oh, then you did hear me!

Sure. I'll water your garden and clean up things for you.

My sister broke her foot. I don't know how long we'll be gone.

But this will take care of the first week, Jim-Bob.

- You don't have to pay me, Verdie. - Now Harley and I insist on that.

- Mr. Godsey pay you to tend the store? - Yeah.

We're obliged to you, Jim-Bob.

Boy! Is he gonna get it.

He just yanked everything out. Didn't put anything in the house.

We better or else we're gonna get it, too.

Yeah.

Didn't even water. What's wrong with him?

Oh, his head isn't working.

You jump on him and he says, "I didn't think."

If he says that one more time, I declare I'll scream.

Mmm, he's growing too fast.

His brain's out of whack trying to keep up with his body.

John-Boy had the longest spell of any of them till Jim-Bob.

Looks like Jim-Bob's gonna make a life's work out of it.

- "It"? - The Blank Stares or whatever you call it.

He left the basket in the middle of the yard. Only three eggs.

- I don't know where his mind is. - Three eggs?

- You look around for some more. - I already did. There aren't any.

- He must have lost them somewhere. - I wonder where he's lost his head.

So you're the culprit. I've been blaming Jim-Bob.

You can go right ahead. I guess you heard about the vegetables and the eggs.

What does he want to do with this in the barn?

I just washed it a couple of days ago.

My fishing pole is missing, he's flown the coop again.

I'm about to womp that boy.

- You say you just washed that? - He helped me take it off the line.

Livie! Livie!

Livie, Livie!

Stop whatever you're doing and come on over to the sink

and take a look at this string of beauties.

Who was it taught me that a good sportsman always cleans his own catch?

So he does, and so I will, daughter.

Aren't they splendid? String of cat so firm and cool-looking.

- Did you put John's pole back in the barn? - I didn't catch 'em.

I found them on a bed of leaves in a state of splendor out there on the back steps.

Who do you reckon caught them?

Mmm? I firmly believe that these are a peace offering from someone.

From the Brainless Wonder. That's what we've been calling Jim-Bob

ever since he's been walking around here with his head in the clouds.

I'm not partial to that nickname.

Come over here, Erin, and let me show you the fine art of cleaning fish.

I think I'm busy, Grandpa.

Come on, stand you in good stead with the next young fella you meet.

- Hi, Daddy. - Hi.

- What are you looking at? - I don't know.

Jim-Bob, what the devil's the matter with you?

If you don't hear it I guess it's not up there.

Thought I heard an airplane.

How come you left the fish on the back porch this morning?

I don't know. What fish?

Son, you are skating on mighty thin ice. Where did you put my fishing pole?

- I don't know where your fishing pole is. - You didn't go fishing this morning?

I've been working for Ike all morning. I think he gave it to me.

Ben and Elizabeth picked the vegetables for you this morning,

and watered the garden, Erin gathered the eggs.

We haven't been getting too many eggs lately. And I can't figure out why.

I knew I had it somewhere.

You mean you didn't feel that in your shoe?

Nope.

Son, we got a lot of work to do in the mill. I'm gonna need you around here.

Ike and Corabeth went to Charlottesville.

Next time that happens you let me know. We'll see if we can work something out.

Jim-Bob, will you get your head out of the clouds?

Hope you find your fishing pole.

This trail leads up to the back porch.

It goes off towards the barn, too.

There's my fishing pole.

It's still wet.

It's wet, too. It's blood.

- Who are you? What are you doing here? - Hiding.

- How'd you hurt yourself? - I got a fishhook in my foot.

Come on.

Whoa! Hold on, hold on. Now we got some settling up to do.

You ain't aiming to hit me, mister, are you?

- Here's your soapy water. - Thanks, Jim-Bob.

- That hurt? - It don't feel good.

Should be over soon.

Might help if you try to think about something else.

You got a fishhook in your foot, there ain't nothing else.

Jim-Bob, the wood pile's not going to fill itself.

Now!

We came borrowing. You got a big frying pan?

You know where it is.

- You feeling all right? - Fine, Mama.

- Hey, John, you taking up surgery? - I can handle a fishhook.

- Who's the patient? - We don't know, do we?

- You live around here? - No, sir.

- You got a name? - Josh.

- Josh what? - Ain't no what. Just Josh.

- What's your name? - John Walton.

- She your woman? - I'm his wife.

- By, golly! You did that all right. - Oh, Daddy can do just about anything.

Come on, let's raid the kitchen.

- You want it? - It ain't mine.

Here.

Hey, lady!

A fishhook didn't bother you, but a little clean water hurts?

He'll take care of my foot.

Well, I guess I got other things to do.

Let it soak a while, then you can dry it off.

- I haven't seen you around here before. - Just lately I been living in your barn.

And taking from our vegetable garden and henhouse, huh?

- Yes, sir. - You think that's right?

Catfish ain't where I put it. You must've found them.

It ain't never had so much water.

You think the catfish makes up for things, huh?

Best I can do, mister.

Easy.

Mama says to put these on when you're through.

I hope your foot gets better.

Come on, Josh.

Maybe I'll wait out here for you.

- Ep. - John!

- This here is Josh. - Well, howdy, Josh.

Yes, sir.

Say, this looks like a sitting down meeting here.

There we go.

What can I do for you, John?

Yeah. I just want to find out where he belongs.

Somebody must be looking for him.

- Josh, you lost? - No, sir.

- Did you run away? - I move right along.

- What for you got a gun? - This here is the Sheriff, Josh.

You gonna hit me?

Nobody's going to hit you. We just want to find out where you belong.

Where do your folks live? Your ma and pa?

What does that mean? You must know where you come from.

That ain't what he asked me.

He asked me about my Ma and Pa, and I went like this...

'Cause I don't know.

Well, all right, let's put it this way,

where did you come from before you were here?

He never was there, she went off a long time back.

Your mean your ma, she died?

Just out the door and off. North Carolina.

We lived with Grandma Bill. She's the one that died.

And that left you alone?

Now wait a minute. You walked all the way to Virginia from North Carolina?

I had plenty of time.

Well, John, there's just nothing on him here.

'Course, you know, that sometimes happens.

Why don't you let me ask around, see what I can come up with, huh?

- Much obliged, Ep. - You bet ya.

Come on, son.

Good-bye, Josh.

Thought you might like something cool.

Oh, that's good.

- Have you seen Jim-Bob? - I thought he was out here with you.

Work's falling behind. What with Jim-Bob and Josh, we can't get anything done.

I haven't seen Josh since you got back from Rockfish.

He's either a pretty sad little orphan boy or he's in cahoots with the devil.

I think we should keep him here till we find out where he belongs.

Ep doesn't think there's much chance to that.

Then we'll just have to find the right place for him.

You know, he kind of grows on you. He doesn't say much.

You ask him a straight question he'll give you a straight answer.

- You believe what he tells you? - I don't know.

Well, hey, Josh.

- What does that thing make? - Well, it doesn't make anything.

It's called a press, it's a printing press. See?

Well, you can just leave that stuff there.

I never saw a house like this. And what you call it?

Well, it's called a shed.

I never saw a shed like this.

Well, it's a lot nicer now than it used to be ever since my brother fixed it up.

Which one?

Well, his name is John-Boy. He's lives in New York.

- Gee, you ask a lot of questions. - I have to know a lot of things.

I got to go fill this thing up. Now you just leave that press alone, okay?

Josh?

You ever seen a room like this?

Well, I knew it was here, if that's what you mean.

And one your boys, he sleeps yonder?

No, the boys have rooms in the house. Nobody sleeps here now.

- You like this room? - I mean!

Well, you can sleep here till we find something better for you.

We'll get some clothes of the boys' for you to wear, you need a bath.

None of that, you get busy with this here soap.

It'll all be over with before you know it.

Takes all of you to watch me?

That's right. We've got other things to do, so just get a move on.

- Them womenfolk's peeking out at me? - Nobody's going to see you.

- What for my clothes up there? - My Mama cleaned them for you.

That woman is mean on clean!

She make you wash regular, Mister?

Every Saturday night, whether I need it or not.

Here, come on, let's get going.

- Where you been? - Took Josh an extra blanket.

- Is he asleep? - He's dead to the world.

No wonder, the day's work he puts in.

- I wish we could keep him. - So do I.

- But you know the answer to that. - Yes, and I hate it.

The longer we keep him the harder it's going to be to let him go.

I keep hoping someone will turn up and claim him.

Not likely.

I think tomorrow I'd better go to the orphanage and see if they have room.

Ep's already spoken to them.

I don't like it any better than you do.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute!

You get back up the stairs. What's the matter with you? Come on.

Go on.

- You must be Mr. Walton. - Yes, ma'am.

Won't you come in?

Sheriff Bridges said you'd be expecting us.

Yes. And this must be Josh.

Well, I'm Mrs. Thomas.

Yes, ma'am.

And this is going to be your home for a little while, Josh.

Patience is the first thing we learn here, Mr. Walton.

And everything takes a little time, but then time is what we're rich with.

- You like baseball? - I fish.

Fish. Well, you're going to meet lots of new friends.

I bet you're just going to love it here.

I'll be around.

It's one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

I know. It's one of the reasons I stayed home.

You should've seen him. He just stared at me like I was abandoning him.

Then go get him. Bring him back.

In this day and age you know what that would do.

We couldn't take him some of the places we normally go.

- We just wouldn't go to those places. - Like the church?

He couldn't go to school with the other kids.

He'd suffer. They'd suffer.

At least where he is, he's got a chance for a good family to take him in.

I'll keep an eye on him, I'll drop by once in a while, see how he's doing.

I wouldn't go up there just yet the way he worships you.

Give him a little time to get adjusted.

I guess you're right.

Ah, let's turn in.

Elizabeth was feeling all right this morning.

She has a fever. I'm gonna try and keep her...

- How long you stay at Mrs. Thomas'? - Till it was dark.

I'm right hard to see in the dark.

I suppose that means you haven't eaten anything.

Haven't raided the henhouse or the garden?

No, ma'am.

I just been sitting here shining my shoes and being good.

Well, my problem's easy. All I got to do is fix him some breakfast.

Mrs. Thomas and all those boys and girls, I thought that was the answer for you.

I don't know.

Just felt like I was back in North Carolina.

When Grandma Bill died all them ladies come.

"Put him here, put him there," they'd say.

"You take him, Flora." "No. I got enough boys."

And they parcel me off here, there, anywhere.

So I just started walking.

I guess I'm most content with you, Mr. John.

- You feel better? - I think so but Mama doesn't.

Seems she's always known when it's time for me to be better.

- Was your mama like that? - I don't think so.

- Don't you know? - I almost forgot about her.

Josh, I found something for you.

First comes the alphabet. If you learn a few letters a day,

then you can spell and soon you'll be able to read.

- That's nice. You mean to learn me? - I going to teach you.

- You're feeling better. - Then can I go to Mary Ellen's?

- Maybe tomorrow. Come on, Josh. - I'm powerful ready.

See. "A" is the first letter of the word "apple".

And "ate".

See, "Joe ate an apple."

Hmm?

- What you gonna cook? - Hmm?

I'm smoking meat. This here is a smokehouse.

- What kind of meat? - Oh, wildcat, bear mostly.

- I got a bear in there right now. - Are you sure?

Sure. I caught this bear down in that big hollow.

You know how I caught him? Well, I will tell you.

You know, bears, they like honey.

They like honey better than anything in the world.

Now, sir, I went down there in the hollow where the bear was,

he was snuffing around there eating blueberries or something,

and I got me an old bee tree

and I put honey all over my hands real thick like.

He reared up on me, he was tall as that old poplar tree over there,

and he rushed toward me, his eyes glaring and sniffing my honey.

And I reached out and... Pow!

Hit him right between the eyes.

He never knew what hit him.

I wouldn't advise you to try that until you get somewhat larger.

Wood, wood, wood, wood.

All you need, I'll fetch it for you.

Well, you're a real handy young man to have around. Thank you.

Are you Mr. John's daddy?

I am proud to say that I am John's daddy, yeah.

He sure do like you say.

On occasion he does do that, yes.

If you think I'm good to have around, you tell Mr. John that?

I'll do that. I'll do that little thing for you, young man.

I'm about to carve up this here bear.

Which part of the bear would you like?

She said the boys run away the most, but a lot of them come back.

I can't hear you.

Mrs. Thomas from the orphanage.

That's what she told me yesterday when I called her about Josh.

Did she say anything else?

Just that she'd try to keep him there if we brought him back.

"When at last the Mole woke up,

"much refreshed and in his usual spirits, the Rat said,

"'Now then! I'll just take a look outside and see if everything's quiet...'"

Can't you see the likes of all these moles and rats talking?

They only do it in books.

I am the world's greatest teacher. I just taught him the alphabet yesterday.

That's impossible.

If you want to please someone a lot, it's possible.

Even if it means letting them teach you how to read when you already know how.

Lookie, lookie, lookie.

I have never seen this place so clean before.

- Someone helping out. - Somebody's doing some work.

Must be one of those elves that turn sawdust into gold.

- They do a good job. - Yeah, they're giving us a hand.

Sorry I'm late, Daddy.

Old Man Walker hadn't even started to write his handbills before I got there.

- I had to wait through six customers. - How about you, Jim-Bob?

Jim-Bob!

- Oh, sure. - What's your excuse?

Don't you know you're supposed to help out around here?

I'm sorry, Daddy, I just didn't think.

Well, we're here now, why don't we get to work.

Fine, you do that.

- Who did all this? - Elves, mostly.

I want to talk to you, Josh.

You been doing Ben and Jim-Bob's work for them?

- Well, what kind of work they do? - Out at the mill with Daddy.

They supposed to do that?

Somebody came in and cleaned up the whole place.

I keep them mighty nice.

You keep everything mighty nice, I just want to know why you do it?

You think it pleases Mr. John?

- Is that what you're after? - Sure.

You're on the right track.

Verdie's one of the nicest ladies we know.

Harley's her husband, he's a fine man, too.

They got a son, Jodie, he's about Jim-Bob's age.

- He's a nice boy. - How'd you know that?

Her being so nice, and him being so fine, I knew the boy had to be extra good.

You look right handsome.

- I wish you'd wear those. - My feet ain't free in shoes.

Then why do you carry them around?

- They mine now? - Yes.

I take care of things that's mine.

Funny they'd all be gone.

- Father, what are you all doing here? - Might ask you the same question.

I work here. Boy, they sure got you scrubbed up.

- What do you mean you work here? - I'm just working while they're gone.

Gone where? Honestly, Jim-Bob!

Sorry, I thought I told you. Guess I just didn't think.

Where have they gone, and for how long?

To Asheville. Verdie's sister broke her foot. I don't know when they'll be back.

Jim-Bob, you're working at Ike's, you're working here,

when you going to start working at home?

Their hose had a leak, so I taped it for them.

I don't care how many jobs you have, you got work to do at home.

- Now get home and get started. - Yes, sir.

We're gonna be busy, Jim-Bob.

I'll take two cans of paint and them screws if they come in, Ike.

Okay.

Ep tells me you got a visitor over at your house.

His name is Josh.

- Any idea where he belongs? - Doesn't seem to belong anywhere.

I'll take that paint and those screws, Ike.

Oh, sure.

- You like fishing? - Yes, sir.

- Ever seen one of those? - No, sir, not like this.

It's called a level-winder reel. It's the best.

If you had one of those, would you take me fishing?

Might.

I got your paint here. Those screws aren't in, though.

They'll be in tomorrow though, for sure.

Where does Josh sleep?

- Come on, Josh. - Yes, sir.

- We're gonna fish that pond dry now. - You get this at Ike's?

Mind you said we'd go fishing if that belonged to you, Mr. John.

Where did you get the money for this, Josh?

- I could spare the time right now. - Josh.

Did you take this from Ike's store?

Yes, sir, I did.

Come on.

Go ahead, Josh.

I would have paid when I could.

It was still stealing. What should we do with him?

- Mr. John knows I pay when I take. - You don't take!

You got the rules all wrong, Josh. You can't get away with things like that.

But you had your eye on that reel. No sin you shouldn't have it.

Now don't pretend you don't understand what I'm saying.

You know right from wrong. I'm ashamed of you.

Yeah?

What did I forget?

What did you remember lately is more the question, Son.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

I got something important for you to do, you think you can do it?

- Yes, sir. - Well, I'm counting on you.

Here's $28, I want you to go to town tomorrow, put it in the bank.

- It's payment on the mill. - Okay.

- You won't let me down? - I promise.

All right.

John! Oh, there you are.

He's nowhere around the barn and your fishing pole is just where you left it.

He wasn't at the pond either.

- Elizabeth! - He's not up here.

John!

His bed hasn't been slept in. I know he's gone, he took his shoes.

I didn't know what to do with him but I didn't mean to run him off.

You didn't run him off.

Weren't you supposed to do something for your father?

I'm going in to town right now. Has anybody seen Josh?

Thought maybe he's at Verdie's. He knows nobody's home there.

You were supposed to water her garden this morning.

I forgot. I'll do it on the way to town.

I shouldn't have told Josh I was ashamed of him.

Let's see you dance. Come on. Come on, dance.

I don't know how to dance.

Come on, if you dance we'll give you a penny, huh? Come on.

- Let me see your shoes, come on. - They're mine!

Let me see your shoes.

Hey, you just leave him alone.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Hold him now, hold him now. You like this brand?

Come on.

You like this brand?

We've been looking for you.

- Where'd you find him? - In Rockfish.

Running is no kind of answer, you know that.

- Jim-Bob, what have you got on you? - It's beer.

- Get out of the car. - What have you been doing?

- There's a real good explanation, Mama. - I'm waiting to hear it.

- It's just on my hair and my clothes. - Is that all?

Come on, Josh, you gotta help me explain this.

They told me to dance, and then they poured beer all over him.

- Who did? - Just two guys, Mama.

When I found Josh, they were pushing him around.

I told them to leave him alone, and we kind of got in a fight.

I'm glad I sent you to town so you'd be there to help Josh out.

Jim-Bob, you did get to the bank, didn't you?

I must've lost it in the fight.

- Well, did you go back and try to find it? - I never thought.

Come here.

Don't hurt him, Mr. John.

Daddy, I was headed for the bank. I

couldn't leave Josh with two guys after him.

Do you know how hard we had to work for that $28?

I know.

I'm glad you were there to help out Josh. I'm proud of you.

But I could blister your behind for losing that money.

- I'll make it up, Daddy. - You sure enough will.

I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me.

Things just don't stick in my head anymore.

Didn't you have a time like that when you were young?

I guess maybe I did. Went through something like that.

I guess I forgot.

Go on, take a bath.

Josh, I'm sorry something like that happened.

There are stupid people everywhere, you know.

It's all right. It happened to me lots of times.

It's not all right.

If I hadn't tried to keep you out of trouble,

I wouldn't be in this mess right now.

Where were you going, anyway?

- Want me to do that again? - Not unless you want your neck in a sling.

- Well, where were you going? - Can't say where I was going.

Just going before I got myself put again.

- I don't want to go to that home, Jim-Bob. - Daddy said Mrs. Thomas is a nice lady.

And that nice lady's place is just full of boys and girls.

Come to think of it, this place is pretty full of boys and girls, too.

But they's yours, you was born belonging.

Must be the best kind of thing, belonging somewhere.

Good to have you helping out, Son. Just keep your mind on your work now.

I feel sorry for Josh.

Yeah, that's easy to do. But it doesn't solve anything for him.

You know, in a way it's too bad you can't be his father.

- He thinks an awful lot of you. - He's all right.

If it was up to me I'd send him to Verdie's, he'd belong there.

That's good thinking, Son. Your head's back where it belongs.

- Yes, sir. - I'm glad for that.

Sister's much better, thank you.

- And we're mighty glad to be back home. - We're glad to have you home, Verdie.

Josh here is one of the reasons.

Now you're not from around here. I know most everybody.

I come from North Carolina, I got nobody. I walked here.

And this is the second time he marched me over here to give me to you.

My goodness! And I had you in mind as a quiet boy.

Oh, he is a quiet boy mostly, Verdie.

I thought maybe you know of a family that could take him in.

Now that shouldn't be hard to do, I can see that.

I took him to Mrs. Thomas', but he didn't like it there.

That's because you weren't going to be with Mrs. Thomas, you see.

I might know of a home.

I'll have to make inquiries, of course.

Maybe you and Josh can come back tomorrow.

Well, thank you, Verdie. We'll do that.

Bass working over there.

They're just playing.

They won't bite when they're just playing.

- Might catch one. - Not likely.

Josh, you're going to have a good home.

I want you, Mr. John.

I'll be close by.

They say that. They all say that.

"I'll be close. I'll look in on you."

And they never come back.

I care to belong to you.

Just wouldn't work, son.

Would it of worked if I was white?

Might make it some easier.

You wouldn't have to be proud of me.

You wouldn't even have to call me son, unless you felt like it.

Josh, I'd be proud to call you "son". I'd be proud to treat you like a son.

Happiest times of my life was when I was raising my sons.

They're almost grown now.

Here you're giving me a chance to live those fine days all over again,

that's mighty tempting.

I can't do it.

Maybe in 10 years, maybe in 100 years, who knows,

but not here, not now.

It would be a hurtful thing for you even if we tried, Josh.

- You understand? - I reckon.

I'd change things if I could.

- May I come in? - Yes, ma'am.

I never saw anyone take better care of a pair of shoes and never wear them.

I'm fixing to leave these here.

They belong to you, like these clothes. They're yours now.

You must have liked Verdie. Everybody does.

Ain't what I like that counts.

Hold your head up. - Yes, sir.

No matter what happens, you always hold your head up.

Yes, sir.

- Good afternoon to you, Mr. Walton. - Verdie.

And to Mister Josh, too.

Good afternoon, ma'am.

Well, I've got news for you.

Good news, I hope.

- It's the best news for me. - You found a home for Josh.

Harley and Jodie, they went into Westham on a job of work.

But my Harley and I talked the night long

and we believe Josh belongs with us.

Liv and I were hoping that would happen.

- You and Harley are sure? - Harley knows my heart.

And my heart was set on you, Josh.

That's good.

Guess I better be getting on home.

You go along now, Mr. Walton.

Josh and I, we have to start knowing each other.

- Behave yourself. - Yes, sir.

Won't seem so for a while, Josh, but this is the place for you.

- I want you. - I want him.

But you don't belong with him.

You belong here with Harley and Jodie and me

and all the good black people hereabouts.

- You see him right along? - Right along.

The Waltons are kind people, but they don't know much about us folks.

I'm going to raise you to be a fine man,

a fine black man, and proud!

Josh found his place to belong to

and he grew up to have much to be proud of.

To this day, Josh speaks of my father with the deepest affection and regard.

And we often laugh together about how he came into our lives

during the time that Jim-Bob's head was on vacation.

You awake, Daddy? - Yeah.

You stop and think about it, Josh is luckier than most guys.

How's that?

Well, Verdie just saw him and picked him up to be their son.

That's kind of special.

Guess you're right.

We were just born to you and Mama.

We didn't have any say about it at all.

Sorry about that. Guess we weren't thinking.

- Goodnight, Son. - Goodnight, Daddy.

English -SDH