03x04 - The Runaway

[bunniefuu]

[Birds chirping]

(john-boy) in today's troubled
world, it isn't unusual to hear

that a member of a family
has packed up and left,

gone off on his own, feeling
rejected and misunderstood.

when I was growing up
on walton's mountain,

it never occurred to us

that such a thing could
happen in our family,

and yet, it did.

See you tomorrow. We're gonna
b*at the pants off you this time.

No, fat chance.
Johnny's pitching.

Oh, just wait. You'll see. Yeah.

Hey, come on,
everybody. Let's go!

We're coming.

Ok, now remember, he needs
lettuce to eat, and water.

Don't forget the water,
'cause it's real important.

And you got to talk
to him. I know, I know.

You're not the only one
in the world who knows.

Well, I took care of him last
time miss hunter was away.

If anything happens to
him, boy, will you be sorry.

(Jason) I'm telling you, ben,

There's a white deer
up on the mountain.

Grandpa told me.

(Ben) do you believe
everything grandpa says?

Of course.

(Mary ellen) oh, jason, come on,

You gotta admit, he
stretches the truth a lot.

Well, maybe... (Ben)
about that much.

(Mary ellen) like every
time he tells a story.

(Ben) like that fish he caught!

(Mary ellen) how about the
dog that stopped a train?

(Ben) the catfish with
the whiskers this long?

Come on, jim-bob! Step on it!

[Elizabeth coughing]

Elizabeth, put your sweater on.

You're gonna catch a chill.

I'm hot.

It's not hot, it's cold.
Now stop coughing.

I can't. I don't feel
well. Carry me.

(Mary ellen) oh, come on,
you're just being a baby.

I feel funny and I'm tired.

[Elizabeth coughing]

You're the mother
hen now. You carry her.

What's that supposed to mean?

Well, it used to be john-boy.
Now you're the lucky one.

[Birds twittering]

Hold my books.

Come on, honey.
Pick up your sweater.

We'll be home in a minute.

I'm gonna make you
feel better, all right?

Keep away from me
and porthos, elizabeth.

I don't want him to
catch your disease.

You know, porthos is
just a dumb guinea pig.

You're just jealous
'cause I get to keep him.

I am not. Who cares
about him, anyway?

He's the little kids'
mascot, not ours.

Don't worry, porthos.
You're gonna have a swell time.

(Amy) one, please.

(Greg) may I see your
student i.d. Card?

Oh, I'm not a student.

I work in the
university bookstore.

The lecture is only open
to boatwright students.

I'm sorry.

I was a student last semester.

I'm coming back in the spring.

I've read everything
bennett holmby ever wrote.

(Amy) he's my favorite author.

I'll pay for one.

The tickets are only available

To currently
registered students.

Could a registered student
get more than one ticket?

(Greg) yep. To a customer.

[Birds chirping] uh,

Would you take me to
the lecture? Please?

Yeah. Sure, of course.

Um, , please. Oh,
yes, I am a student.

[Clearing throat] ok.
Thank you very much.

I hope you will be
very happy together.

Uh, thanks.

You know, you don't have to
sit with me if you don't want to.

The seats aren't
assigned or anything.

I mean you, you could sit
wherever you wanted to. Here.

Well, unless you don't want
to sit with me, uh, you keep it.

Ok. I'll meet you here
at : tomorrow.

Sure, sounds fine to me. Ok.

Uh, listen, this is
my car right here.

I'm just going home.

Uh, I'll drop you home, if
you'd like. Where you going?

Thank you. I live at mrs.
Ward's boarding house.

All right, where's that?

Uh, at the end of beaumont. Ok.

[Coughing]

Hi.

Better not come too close.

Why not? I just want
to see how you are.

Porthos might catch my disease.

[Porthos squealing]

I was only kidding
this afternoon.

He's nice and I like him a
lot, but you're my sister.

I know.

I just didn't want you to think
I like porthos more than you.

Ok.

Lots of people like you,
but all porthos has is me.

You'd figure coming
to a new place

With all the people
hanging around

He'd be real nervous. How
can you tell when he's nervous?

He jumps around and squeals.

I'd like to see that.
Make him nervous.

I'd rather not.

If he gets too nervous, he
might have a heart att*ck.

That would be awful.

Did you ever look
at him close up?

Ears are real interesting.

[Coughing]

I better wait
till I feel better.

I'm glad you understand.

Ben and jason don't
even try to be nice to him.

[Sighing]

Maybe, that's because
they're not small anymore.

Probably.

[Squealing]

(Jim-bob) it must feel
funny, being real small.

Hardly anyone even notices you.

It does.

If you feel better tomorrow,
maybe you can take a good look at him.

Ok.

Better stay in bed and rest.

I'll come and see you tomorrow.

Well, how'd you get interested
in bennett holmby to begin with?

I've been reading his books
since I was a child. Uh-huh.

He writes about travel and
foreign places better than anyone.

That's true. Did you read his
book about the greek islands?

Oh, it's my favorite one.

You can almost smell those
olive trees and feel the sun.

Uh-huh. It's wonderful.

Did you used to go to
boatwright, or what?

Yeah, I had to drop
out temporarily. Uh-huh.

I'm working in the
university bookstore.

I'm trying to save up enough
money to go to school again.

Yeah. Everybody's trying to
save up money these days. Yeah.

(John-boy) uh, I'll
get it. I'll get it.

[Amy giggling] I'm sorry, this
door's a little embarrassing.

You do have the best manners.

Well, what's so
funny about that?

Oh, it's not that.

It's, uh, well,
here we are. Huh?

You just drove me home. Yeah.

And we're going to
the lecture tomorrow.

Oh, I'm sorry! My
name is john walton.

Amy partridge. How do you do?

Partridge? What
kind of name is that?

She have feathers or something?

It is a name like
any other name,

And I wasn't
speaking to you, ben.

Amy partridge is a nice name.

There's a nice
old-fashioned ring to it.

When are you gonna bring her
home so we can meet her, john-boy?

I'm not gonna bring her
home! I don't even know her.

Well, you don't have
to be so growly about it.

Look, all I did was just
say that I met a girl.

All of a sudden, it's a
federal case. That's right.

She sounds like a mighty
forward girl to me.

Imagine asking a strange man,
straight out, to take you to a lecture.

The squeaky wheel
gets the grease.

You want anything in this
world, you gotta ask for it.

Jason! Hey, don't gobble
up all those strawberries.

Hand them over.

[Elizabeth coughing]
mama, I'm lonesome.

I'll be right there.

(Grandpa) livie,

The best thing I know
of for elizabeth's cough

Is a little honey and whiskey.

I will resort to that,
grandpa, only if I have to.

(Elizabeth) mama.

(Ben) daddy, can
jason and I be excused?

(John-boy) "may jason
and I be excused?"

We want to practice
before it gets too dark.

We're playing against
johnny purvis' team tomorrow.

(John) I'm gonna need you
around here tomorrow.

The whole day?

(John) yep. You've got
extra chores to do.

We got an extra-big
order for a new customer.

Mr. Elwood dobbs.

He's a builder and
he'd be gold to us

If we can only get that
order done in good time.

But, daddy, this game...
(John) you can get up early

And do your extra chores.

You might still have
time for that game.

Now, if you want to out
and pitch a few, go ahead

And maybe I'll join you later.

Thank you, daddy.

I'm gonna take my
strawberries with me.

You still got that
thing in your overalls?

He's not a thing,
he's a guinea pig.

(Grandma) good lord.

(Grandpa) well, now.

He's nice, grandma.
Look. I see him.

Now, he could be
covered with germs.

Jim-bob, get him out of here.

Since when do we have
animals at the dinner table?

He's lonely.

He's used to lots of
company at school.

(Erin) he's their
class mascot, daddy.

(Mary ellen) personally,
I think he's revolting.

Porthos thinks you are, too.

Porthos, eh?

Where are the
other musketeers?

Or should we call
them guinea pigateers?

Athos and aramis?
They dropped dead.

Miss hunter pronounces
it "arami." Without the "s."

I can't say it that way.

How come they dropped dead, son?

No one watched over
them during vacation.

Porthos will be all right,
'cause I'm taking care of him.

What is that?

It's just porthos,
mama. He's our mascot.

Looks like a guinea pig to me.

John-boy, can me and porthos
sleep in your room tonight?

Where am I gonna sleep?
We'll sleep on the floor.

I don't want him around ben and
jason, 'cause they're mean to him.

No, no.

I thought you'd understand.

I do. No.

Well, why not? 'Cause I gotta
do a lot of reading tomorrow

Before this holmby lecture.

Oh, h-holmby. I wish I could be at
that lecture with you, john-boy.

I remember, I wanted
to be an explorer myself

When I first read about
all those goings-on in tibet.

Tibet. Oh, you and your
heathen notions. Stop it.

Well, I'll tell you all about it
tomorrow, grandpa. Good night.

Sorry, jim-bob.

Jim-bob, will you get that
thing out of the kitchen?

I would like to have
my coffee in peace.

I think I'll go pitch a
few with ben and jason.

That's a great idea.

With all that timber I
gotta get out tomorrow,

My old bones are
telling me I'm going to bed.

First sensible thing
you've said tonight.

Coming up with me, honey?

Good night!

(Jim-bob) hey! Leave us alone!

(Ben) you know, you
make a lovely couple.

A -footed pig
and a -footed one.

(Jason) hey! You guys cut
that out before I crown you.

Come on, cut that out, jim-bob.

How's anyone supposed to do
any work around here? Shut up.

Please.

Are you going to
kiss him good night?

You're just jealous
'cause he likes me best.

I don't want him to like me.

In fact, I don't even want
him in the same room with me.

Me, neither. Let's put them
both in the barn with chance.

[Jason and ben taunting]
come on. Here we go.

[Jim-bob screaming] daddy! Mama!

(Jason) you're gonna
spend the night in there.

[Jim-bob screaming]
daddy! Help! Mama!

All right now. Get in
bed and settle down.

Jim-bob, where's that animal
gonna sleep? Right here, with me.

Oh, no. I want you to
put him in something

So he doesn't get out and go traipsing
through the house all night long.

But, mama...
Jim-bob, do as I say.

All right.

Get in bed. You got a tough
day tomorrow. Good night.

Good night. Good night.

(Jason) good night.

[Squealing]

Poor porthos. Probably
won't sleep a wink.

He'll just be crying all night.

Sleep well.

Good night, porthos.

Sweet dreams, porthos.

Good night, you skunks!

[Jason and ben laughing]

[Crickets chirping]

[Porthos squealing]

[Exhaling]

[Squealing]

[Crowing]

[Cock crowing]

[Knocking on door]

(Grandma) come on, john-boy.

Rise and shine, you boys.

(Grandma) rise and shine,
there's chores to be done.

I'll rise, but I
sure won't shine.

[Knocking on door]

(Grandma) girls, now
you get a move on.

(Jim-bob) morning, porthos.

[Ben yawning]

It's not "good morning,
porthos," it's "goodbye."

What's that supposed to mean? Looks
like old porthos has flew the coop.

Porthos?

Morning. (Mary ellen
and erin) morning, mama.

Mary ellen, you
better make your bed.

And then both of you get
out and feed the chickens. Ok.

And how are you
feeling this morning?

Not too good, huh?

Let's see how your
temperature is today.

Porthos?

Hey, porthos.

Porthos?

(Ben) jim-bob, what
are you doing

Sitting in the
middle of the floor?

Porthos is...

Porthos, porthos. That's
all you've been talking about.

Get a move on. We've got
stuff to do for daddy.

Porthos is...
Never mind, jim-bob.

You gonna sit there
all day? Come on!

Hurry up!

What's the matter with you?

You look like, you've been sh*t
through an orchard and hit every tree.

Porthos is dead.

Well, how'd that happen?

It's my fault.

Oh, I'm really sorry
about that, jim-bob.

Uh,

Uh, uh, listen, l-let's
talk about it, all right?

But I'm late for school.
I really have to run, ok?

I'm, uh, I'm really
sorry about that.

[Elizabeth coughing]

(Olivia) you're really feeling
awful, aren't you? Come on.

We're gonna give you a little
steam here and see if it helps any.

Let me fix this pillow for you.

[Elizabeth coughing]
there you go.

Now, honey, don't be scared.

I just want you to lean over
and breathe in some of this steam.

It'll loosen up
that cough a little.

That's a girl.
Take deep breaths.

Mama?

Jim-bob, go on downstairs
and get your breakfast, honey.

It's about porthos.

And don't bring that
animal to the table.

Come on, sweetheart,
now breathe deep.

But, mama...

[Elizabeth coughing] (olivia)
now, don't wiggle that.

It's gonna spill, sweetie, and
it's hot. Jim-bob, go on downstairs!

[Elizabeth coughing]

Just breathe deep.

You all right?

That's a girl. Take
a deep breath.

That's it, you've got it!

Good.

Daddy!

Daddy!

Jim-bob, don't ever touch
me when I'm running the saw!

(John) I could have
a bad accident.

Son, that's nothing to
cry about. Now run along.

I gotta finish this
order for mr. Dobbs.

Morning, jim-bob.

(Grandpa) no, I can't go
fishing with you today.

Best thing to do is just clear
out and keep out of the way.

Run along, son!

How's your little beast
enjoying his vacation?

Well, I hope he decided to
spend it somewhere else.

[Saw humming]

[Birds chirping]

Sorry, porthos.

[Grunting]

Watch it. Watch it.

And I think that'll do.

[Sighing]

I might have to come back for
the other load after dinner.

Can you have it ready for
me by : ? Yes, siree. Huh?

We'd better make it about : . We've
still got a heap of lumber to cut.

Ok. See you then.

(John) all right.

(Grandpa) so long.

I think, I could do with
another cup of coffee.

You'd better keep going, pa.

No, we deserve a break.

[Truck engine rumbling] there's
nothing like having breakfasts.

Just like the old days, huh?

[Horn honking]

[Door creaking]

How much is the gas?

Cents a gallon.

Cents a gallon.
That's highway robbery.

Well, it's the same price
as you pay anywhere, mister.

Oh, I'm not blaming you.

Let me have a dollar's worth.

Just this country's
going to the dogs. Cents.

You'd think people
were made of money.

Hey, there, jim-bob.

Hey, we got some mail
here for your mama.

A package from sears roebuck.

You talking to me?

No, just saying hey to a
neighbor child that went by.

There you go.

Ok. You come back, now.

Thank you.

[Truck engine starting]

Can I get a ride, mister?

Sure, hop in.

Esther, I could do with a couple
more of your lovely flapjacks.

You could do better without a
couple more of my lovely flapjacks.

Look at that stomach. Bet you
can't even see your own feet.

Pa, we'd better get back.

John, would you go up and see
elizabeth? She's really feeling poorly.

Sure, honey.

Daddy, look! It's a
note from jim-bob.

He's run away and he says,
he's never coming back.

"I'm running away forever.

"Everyone's too busy to
care that porthos is dead.

"So don't waste
time looking for me.

Love, one of your
children, jim-bob walton."

Jim-bob? Oh, he wouldn't
run away. Not that boy.

He's probably off
crying behind some tree.

No, grandma. His aviator
cap and goggles are gone.

Came up to me this
morning and I put him off.

I did, too. Ah, yeah.

Let's look for him.

I'll bet, I know
where that boy is.

Nowhere they think.

I don't understand your folks,

Letting you out this far alone.

I was supposed to take
a bus, but I missed it.

Well, if you was mine, you
wouldn't be out wandering.

I'm not wandering. I'm going
to town to see my uncle.

He's real sick and
he was asking for me.

Well, we'll be
there. No time flat.

The sooner, the
better. He may not last.

He's nowhere out back.

I looked all around here, too.

[Sighing]

Hope he turns up soon. I
gotta get that lumber cut.

I know.

This dobbs is a good
customer, you know.

I lose him, I'm
gonna lose a lot.

Right now, I'm
concerned about jim-bob.

Such a little man.

Thinks he can take
care of himself.

Wonder how that...
That animal d*ed.

I don't know.

I hope jason didn't step
on him or something.

Oh.

I've just been standing
here, thinking about those...

Those moments that go by.

It's nobody's fault,

But, I sure wish we
could have him back again.

Oh, honey, kids have been
running away ever since time began.

Pretty soon, elizabeth's
gonna be running away.

Lord help us when that happens.

Just don't you
ever run away, huh?

Don't count on it.

(Ben) daddy.

Here they are.

(John) any sign of him?

(Ben) we can't find him.

(Erin) daddy, we
looked all over.

He's not over at
chester pruitt's.

He's not over at
the pond, either

And charlie prescott says,
he hasn't been there all day.

John, I think, we ought
to call sheriff bridges.

I'll go to ike's and
do that right now.

Maybe, we can look
around some more.

(Grandpa) we've looked about
everywhere there is to look.

[Coughing]

Oh, for heaven's... Elizabeth.

Honey, you've got to get back
to bed. You're running a fever.

I can find jim-bob. I
know all his places.

We looked everywhere
you told us he might be.

He said he's not coming
home. I heard you.

He'll be back. Don't you fret.

Now, come on up to bed so you'll
be all well when he gets home.

Come on.

Afternoon, john.

(John) ike.

Have you seen jim-bob?

Yeah, he wandered by
here a little while ago.

I hollered at him, but
he kept right on going.

Which way was he
headed? Uh, toward town.

He left us a note saying he
was running away from home.

[Laughing] well, I bet he'll be
home right about suppertime.

Probably. I want to
call sheriff bridges, ok?

Oh, sure. John, here's a thought.
You know, there was a guy here

A little while ago,
filling up on gas

And he had a whole load of
lumber in the back of his truck.

Looked like he came
from your place.

Elwood dobbs. What about him?

Well, he would have had to have

Passed jim-bob on
the way to town.

Yeah, he was headed
to westham, too.

Maybe, it's not sheriff
bridges I need, after all.

If they're headed for
westham, john-boy can help.

[Bell tinkling]

Excuse me, ma'am.
I'm john walton.

I was told that there
was an emergency.

Ah, thank you.

Hello, who's this?

Hello, daddy? What's wrong?

Uh... Run away?

Uh, all right.

Oh. Yeah, ok. Sure.

Uh, yeah, as soon as
I can. Elwood dobbs.

Right. All right, I'll
call you in an hour.

Ok, bye.

[Sighing]

Oh, excuse me, ma'am,
may I use this phone again?

This is a business phone.

We cannot permit
personal calls to be made.

Yes, I know, but
this is an emergency.

You see, I have to meet a girl.

Uh, oh, I have to meet
a girl for the... For the

Bennett holmby
lecture, of course,

And I'm not sure that I'll
be able to get there, so...

I'm sorry, mr. Walton

But it's an ironclad rule.

Yes, ma'am.

[Door closing]

Uh, excuse me, excuse
me. Uh, excuse me.

Um, can you give this to a girl?

I mean, if I'm not here. I mean,
if... If I'm here, I'll be here

(John-boy) but if I'm not here

There's gonna be a
girl coming to meet me

A little bit before the lecture.

And would you please
tell her, if I'm not here,

That, uh, I had an emergency and I
couldn't make it, and I'm very sorry.

Please. Thank you.

Oh, excuse me, her
name is amy partridge.

Amy partridge. Amy partridge.

Yes, and she's blond and
she comes up to about here.

And I'll try to
make it, but if I can't,

Would you give
her that? Thank you.

Well, that's the end
of the line. Westham.

Westham!

Well, come on. You're just
wasting time sitting there.

I thought we were
going to charlottesville.

You said, you wanted the
first town down the road.

(Dobbs) this is it.

That's ok, thanks.

Excuse me, sir,
are you mr. Dobbs?

Yeah. What's it to you?

Well, I'm john walton's son.

Your father send you to say,
he couldn't finish the order?

No, no, nothing like that.

Uh, mr. Dobbs, when you were
driving away from our place

Did you pass a little
feller on the road?

Blond, comes up
to about here on me.

Probably wearing
an aviator's cap.

Yeah, I gave him
a lift. You did?

Where'd you drop
him off? Right here.

Just a couple of minutes ago.

Why, is he in some
kind of trouble?

No. No, he, uh,
[birds twittering]

He's run away from home.

Oh, why, I should
have guessed it.

He gave me some long-winded
tale about a sick relative.

Oh, lord.

Well, where did he go?

Uh, he took off across the
street there somewhere.

Ok, thank you very much.

Mr. Dobbs, if you see him
again, would you hold onto him?

Even if you have to hog-tie him.

Sure. Thank you very much.

Here comes john.

Any news, son? Yeah.

[Elizabeth] did you find jim-bob?
I think we're on the trail.

But you still haven't found him.

Ike thinks that elwood
dobbs gave him a lift

And dobbs was
headed for westham.

(John) I took a chance
and called john-boy.

But you don't know
for sure if he's there.

John-boy's over
talking to dobbs now.

He's gonna call
back in about an hour.

I hope you still
called sheriff bridges.

Yeah, I did. He told me to let
him know what john-boy said.

In the meantime,
he's out looking.

Oh, that poor child.

I just know that he's wishing
he were here right now.

[Telegraph clicking]

[Clearing throat]

How's that machine work?

Is that what you
come here to ask?

No.

(Clerk) well, what is it then?

[Train engine chugging]

I wanna buy a ticket.

Ok. Where to?

Do you have any for japan?

What state's it in?

I forget, but it's where
all the japanese live.

You mean japan, asia?

Son, you can't get there from
here without getting on a boat.

How about washington, d.c.?
Can you get there from here?

You're not too definite about
where you're going, are you?

You live around here?

Yeah. I'd better be
getting home for supper.

Where is that child?

Oh, well. There goes the
lecture, and there goes the date.

Are you amy partridge,
by any chance?

Oh, how did you know?

A guy came running in
here about an hour ago

And said to give this to a girl named
amy partridge who'd be waiting here.

Yeah.

[Birds chirping]

Did he say anything else?

Uh, he said, he wouldn't
be able to make it.

Oh, yeah. Well, thank you.

Come on, now. I want
all this food finished up.

Starving yourself isn't going
to help anything. Come on. Eat up.

I could do with another
sandwich, esther.

You're the one at this table that
could do with a little starving.

Esther, we have got
to keep our strength up.

Strength? I should think, you'd
get weak just carrying that around.

I guess we should have
been nicer to jim-bob.

I mean, he's not that bad.

Oh, did you hear from
john-boy? John-boy called.

He said jim-bob's in westham,
and he's out looking for him now.

(Grandpa) have you
talked to the sheriff?

The sheriff's out driving around.
John-boy thinks he can find him.

There's only so many places a
little boy with no money can hide.

Your daddy and me are
going to go into westham.

John-boy said he'd meet us at
the college as soon as he could.

(Mary ellen) can I go
with you? No, no.

Now, somebody has to stay
here and take care of elizabeth.

Besides, dobbs is coming
by at : this afternoon.

You go right ahead.

The boys and I have
already cut all the lumber

And I'll help dobbs,
load it on the truck.

Did elizabeth have any lunch?

She said, she wouldn't
eat until jim-bob gets home.

I'd better take something up to
her. I'll take care of elizabeth.

And I'll take care of you.

All right, then. Come
on. Let's go. Let's go!

Ok, help yourself.

Excuse me, are you lost?

Come on. You've got some
people worried about you, son.

[Exhaling]

Come on, get out of the barrel.

Go away and leave me
alone. Come on, get out. Out.

You're not the boss of
me. I'm taking care of myself.

What are you gonna do? Spend the
rest of your life standing in the trash?

I'm running away. I'm going
to join the army air corps

And they're gonna teach me to drive
an airplane and I can fly away real far.

[Sighing]

Ok, good. Come on, let's go.

Where are we going?
Recruiting office.

What for? I wouldn't
miss this for the world.

Come on, let's go. Out. Out.

Don't run.

Uh, hi, men.

Is there something
I can help you with?

I wanna join the army air corps

And learn to drive an airplane.

Oh, well, sure thing.

That's if you qualify.

How do I do that?

Well, first I have to
ask you some questions.

That's right. What's your name?

Jim-bob walton.

Well, I need your, uh, last
name first and first name last.

Walton, bob-jim.

Ok. And your, uh, home address?

(Jim-bob) we don't have one.

Walton's mountain, virginia.

Ok.

And what is your birth date?

(Jim-bob) june , .

Ok. Height?

Well, I'd say about inches.

How much do you weigh?

Pounds ought to do it.

Have you ever been arrested?

No, sir.

No, good, good.

Ok. Uh, marital status?

He wants to know
if you're married.

No.

Oh, single, huh?

Ok. Now, how much
schooling do you have?

I'm in the th grade.

Oh, well, you see, you have
to have a high school diploma

Before you can
join the air corps.

(Sgt. Strong) it takes a good
education to learn to fly an airplane.

But I'll tell you what.

You go finish your
education, and then come back

And we'd be more than happy
to have you in the air corps.

Thanks.

Thank you for
you time, sergeant.

No trouble. That's
what I'm here for.

[Traffic humming]

Still gonna run away.

Yeah, well, it's
time we had a talk.

I'm not changing my mind.

Listen, I spent a lot of
time looking for you today

And I missed that lecture
I was supposed to hear.

Now, you're gonna
listen to me. Then can I go?

[Sighing]

There's a hotel down
the corner. We'll go there.

Can I have something
to eat? Maybe.

Anyway, I've got to phone
ike's and tell daddy I found you.

He's waiting for my
call. They won't let me go.

Jim-bob, if you ran
away from there

Because you're so all-fired
sure that nobody cares about you,

Then what makes you think they
won't be happy to see you go, huh?

Ok. Let go of my arm.

You promise not
to run away? Yeah.

Ok, come on.

Jim-bob!

Ow, that hurts!

Yeah? You're really
going to have something

That hurts in a
minute. Now walk!

Walk!

Hello, ike? Ike, this is...

Will you just hold still?

Excuse me, uh, ike,
this is john-boy.

Look, is my daddy there?

He is, huh?

[Bell tinkling] yeah, I got him.

Ok, ok, thank you.

What'd he say?

He said that, uh,

Daddy is already on his
way to the university.

He must be pretty mad
at me. Yep. I reckon he is.

Come on, we've got
some time to k*ll.

[Cutlery clanking]

Can I have some ice cream?

Well, we can have
anything we want

As long as the total doesn't
exceed cents. Including the tip.

Your menu, sir.

Thank you. I want one scoop
of strawberry ice cream.

Ok, and I'd just
like a cup of tea.

Fine. Thank you.

Ok, now it's my turn
to want something.

I want to know what started
all this running away foolishness.

'Cause nobody cared.

I needed someone to talk to.
Everyone was running around being busy.

No one gave a hoot
about porthos dying.

Hmm.

(Jim-bob) it's all my fault.

No one thought it was
important enough to listen to.

[Sighing]

You're absolutely
right, jim-bob.

I am?

Hmm, about today, anyway.

I know, I was all wrapped up

In going to that lecture
and seeing that girl.

I didn't pay any
attention to you.

And daddy was worried about
filling that order for dobbs

And mama had to
tend to elizabeth.

Hey, you're absolutely right.

We should have been there to
listen to you when you needed us.

Thank you.

So I was right to run away.

Well, uh,

That still does seem like
a pretty big move to make.

Of course, maybe, it
would have been better

If you had just said,

"Please, listen to me. I'm in
trouble and I need your help."

I didn't exactly
hear you say that.

Well, they should have known.

Oh, well, people don't know
everything. We're just people.

We have to be told straight
out, or asked straight out.

If you don't tell us
what's bothering you,

You can't expect to be mad at us

For not knowing
what's bothering you.

I guess you're right.

But that means I can't run away.

Well, that's your decision.

Of course, there
are a few things

You're gonna have to figure on
if you plan to go through with it.

Like what?

Well, you're gonna
have to learn how to sew.

Ben says sewing is sissy.

Well, you're gonna
have to learn anyway.

You're gonna be
ripping your clothes.

Mama won't be around
to mend them for you.

And you are gonna have
to get a job, you know.

And, of course,
there's the family.

I mean, it's not gonna
be too easy for us

To just get over your
just running away.

And it'll be especially
hard for your mama.

You'll have no way of knowing
what becomes of us children.

Or grandma and grandpa.

I reckon you'll miss us.

Anyway, I hope you'll miss me.

I know, I'd miss you.

We could always
write to each other.

Yeah, we could,

But, uh, somehow, I don't
think it would be the same.

(Holmby) it most
certainly would not.

Oh, I assure you
both, it would not.

Do you know us?

Yes, I think I do
know you. Both.

Now, you, young man,
are feeling put upon

Because attendance
wasn't danced upon you

(Holmby) at the exact
second that you needed it.

And you, sir, are
perfectly right.

How people should listen to
each other. At all times, if possible.

Now, patience isn't easy
for a person your age.

But I'm willing to wager

That if you hadn't flown off
the handle, and had waited a bit,

Time would have
been made for you.

[Sighing] now, as for
writing letters,

If you'll just look carefully...

Wow!

[Holmby chuckling]

(Jim-bob) wow! Have you
been to all those places?

(Holmby) at least twice.

And they are grand.

Each place is a
unique experience.

Now, the sights and
sounds and smells

Renew my spirit.

But arriving at each
one of these places

Is always a... A bit of a
disappointment to me.

It wouldn't be for me.

Now, you hear me out, young man.

I feel a sense of
disappointment because

There's never anyone
there to... To talk to,

Who cares like a family would.

Don't you have any
family? Oh, not any longer.

And when I did,

It wasn't the kind of a family that
could be described in any of the ways

I just heard you speak of yours.

(Holmby) you have
a way with words.

You must know it.

If you don't, take it from me.

I've made my life with words.

And I'm a shrewd
assessor of talent.

Consider writing, sir.

I suspect that you
have a talent for it.

He is a writer.

Oh, oh, no, no, I'm
not... Not a writer.

I plan to be one,
though, someday.

He writes real nice stories about
me and my brothers and sisters.

He's real talented.

Well, that's what
I'm talking about.

And your defense of your brother

(Holmby) uh, who is
not in need of any,

Leads me to know that I'm right.

Forgo your venture
into the world, child.

At least for the present.

(Holmby) the small
world that you inhabit,

Sounds to me a
warmer, richer one

Than most people
ever get to know.

Well, good luck
with your work, sir.

May I ask your name?
I'll look for your books.

John walton jr.

Jim-bob walton.

Bennett lawrence holmby.

I know.

Well, jim-bob,

Did you know that
your running away

Has made this one of
the best days of my life?

So you want me to
keep on running?

Do you know that, that man who
was sitting here talking to us,

Is the man I was supposed
to go hear lecture today?

And nothing that he
said in that auditorium

Could have been
better than what he said

To you and me,
straight out, right here.

[Sighing]

Well, I guess, we'd
better be going.

Where? Well, back to
school. Daddy'll be here.

You can either say goodbye,
or just go home with him.

I'd like to go home,

But how am I gonna explain to
the kids at school about porthos?

[Cutlery clanking]

Well, did you k*ll
him, or did he just die?

He fell off the dresser,
so I guess he k*lled himself.

Uh, well, if you just tell them
that, straight out and honest,

I'm sure they'll
listen to you now.

But they won't have a mascot.

Well, that's... That's... That's
a whole other problem.

Excuse me, ma'am?

Uh, could we have
the check, please?

There's no charge.

The old gentleman said
to tell you, it was on him.

[Sighing]

Bennett holmby
bought me a cup of tea.

But my ice cream cost more.

Hmm, yeah, it did.
Come on, let's go.

(Olivia) john, are you sure
this is the best place to wait?

(John) it's where he parks his
car. He's bound to show up here.

(John-boy) hey, daddy!

(John) jim-bob!

(All) jim-bob!

(Jason) how are you?

Bob, you had us nearly
worried to death.

Am I gonna get a spanking?

As much as you deserve it, son,
I'm gonna let you off this time.

The reason I'm
going to let you off

Is because I wasn't
listening to you this morning.

That's ok. I'll make
you listen next time.

(John) ok.

Hey, ben. Yeah?

I guess this means we're not
gonna get the room to ourselves.

I think, I'm gonna run away
this time. Yeah, me, too.

All right, in the truck.
All of you. Come on.

Ok, I'll see you at
home. Uh, daddy?

(John-boy) that's amy. Could...
Could I be excused from supper?

All right, son, see you at home.

Uh, jim-bob, it was nice
talking to you. Likewise.

(John-boy) amy!

[Car engine starting]

Excuse me, uh, let me
take those, all right?

Um, look, I'd like to...

(All) bye, john-boy!

(John-boy) see you later.

(john-boy) I often remember
jim-bob saying to my father,

"it's ok, next time,
I'll make you listen."

i wish that it were in the power

of all children to say
that to their parents

and to know that, indeed,
they would be heard

as we were in those wonderful
days on walton's mountain.

(Elizabeth) good night, jim-bob.

(Jim-bob) good night, elizabeth.

Good night, jim-bob.

You already said that once.

I know, but I want
to say it again.

Elizabeth, you're crazy.

Mama, jim-bob called me a name.

(Olivia) well, you
call him a name.

(Elizabeth) jim-bob,
you're a name!

[Jim-bob laughing]

What's so funny?