03x20 - The Choice

[bunniefuu]

[Rooster crowing]

[Chickens clucking]

(john-boy) one of the things
that I find distressing

about life today

is that people don't really
seem to enjoy their work anymore.

when I was growing up
on walton's mountain,

my father and my
grandfather loved their work.

and they instilled a respect
for work in each of us.

but I recall one time, when my
brother jason had to make a choice.

a choice that was
difficult for him,

but even more
difficult for my father.

[Machine whirring]

♪♪[Guitar playing]

It's the th time he's
played that song.

It's getting
monotonous, isn't it?

He has to practice
for this afternoon.

Why, what's so special
about this afternoon?

Oh, it's show and tell.

Miss hunter asked all the
upper-grade kids to bring in something

To show what
they're interested in.

I see, so jason's
showin' a song.

Yeah, he's so dumb.

Everyone else is
bringing in stuff

Like soap carvings
and ant farms.

Just my luck to have a brother

Who stands up in front
of everyone and sings.

Mary ellen, you have a
brother who has a special talent.

You should be proud of him.
(Mary ellen) wasn't one enough?

I mean, it's hard always having someone
in the family who's better than me.

John-boy's always been
the best in compositioning.

Jason's the best in music.

You're young yet.
You'll find your way.

Besides, john-boy and
jason are boys and...

Grandma, I think I'm going to
scream if you finish that sentence.

(Olivia) I think you'll
be sorry if you do.

Mary ellen, who told you you
could hog all the blue ribbon?

Erin, no one did. But besides, it's
first come, first served around here.

It ain't up to me.
Let me have it back.

(Olivia) never mind all that.

You two have been draggin'
your feet all mornin'.

Elizabeth was the only one here
who helped with the breakfast dishes.

Mary ellen, you may not
be the only one in the family

Who doesn't wanna
be tied to a stove.

Elizabeth might
want a career, too.

I do want a career.
I wanna to be a...

A...

Well, I haven't decided
what I wanna be just yet.

But I'm gonna be a something.

I sure hope you do better this
afternoon than you did this morning.

Me, too.

Thanks. It's sure nice to have
the support of your family.

They're just teasing,
jason. You were wonderful.

Yeah, real cheerful. First thing in
the morning, hearing you twanging away.

Flat.

What do you know? You
couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.

Is that your bucket?

(Olivia) all right.
That's enough of that.

Get ready and go.

Bye.

Bye-bye, mama. (All) bye-bye.

Bye-bye, grandma.

And jason, good
luck this afternoon.

Thank you, mama.

Erin, leave my stuff alone.

[Children chattering]

(Jason) bye-bye, daddy. Grandpa!

Bye!

Have a good day.

Study hard. Bye, honey.

(Elizabeth) bye.

(Grandpa) there goes
that long-legged jason.

You know, it seems
only yesterday

He was no bigger than elizabeth.

That was years ago, pa.

[Chuckles] come on,
let's get movin'.

Oh, yeah, we got plenty to do.

You know lucius fenton?

Paul lowell says he wants
his order out by monday.

We've got so much to do, pa, we're
going to have to turn him down.

Walter winchell was
just sayin' on the radio

That the depression
was about over.

Pretty soon, some
folks around here

Won't have any
excuse for not workin'.

I don't know about the depression
being over, pa, but things are easin' up.

You know, maybe it's time we
went into business in a bigger way.

Bigger and better
mill for it, huh?

Got the space right over there.

Yeah, that's good
drainage, there.

Oh, but we'd need a new motor.

Well, maybe we'd need , pa.

But we'd have our
own lumberyard,

Get rid of this makeshift thing.

Hey, I think we could do it.

Why not? Jason will out of
school pretty soon, it'd be a cinch.

How much we got left
on that stevens order?

Well, we got an hour
and a half's work, anyway.

Let's get crackin'. We'll
make this delivery to town,

And we'll price some equipment.

Just for information's sake.

[Grandpa laughing]

Ah, something to dream of.

Walton and sons lumberyard!

[People clapping] ♪ I'm looking
over a -leaf clover ♪

♪ That I overlooked,
that I overlooked ♪

♪ That I overlooked before ♪♪

Miss hunter, can jason
please sing a song

He wrote about the soldier?

Go ahead, jason.

♪ There was a fair maiden ♪

♪ Who lived over the hill ♪

♪ In a little log cabin ♪

♪ That's standing there still ♪

♪ And each morning she'd rise ♪

♪ With the coming of dawn ♪

♪ And all through the valley ♪

♪ You could hear
her sweet song ♪

♪ In the spring
there came courtin' ♪

♪ A farmer's young son ♪

♪ And soon they were married ♪

♪ In name joined as one ♪

♪ But her young man was called ♪

♪ To serve his country ♪

♪ So he joined in the ranks ♪

♪ Under robert e. Lee ♪

♪ The letter that came ♪

♪ One cold winter's day ♪

♪ Told how he'd d*ed ♪

♪ As a hero in gray ♪

♪ But her poor
heart was broken ♪

♪ To think of him gone ♪

♪ And she, too,
d*ed soon after ♪

♪ To join her loved one ♪

♪ And to this very day ♪

♪ You can stand on the hill ♪

♪ Where the sound
of her singing ♪

♪ Is echoing still ♪♪

I'm afraid you're gonna have to
wait till next wednesday, jimmy.

Remember, there's a spelling
test tomorrow. Class dismissed.

[Children chattering]

(Miss hunter) would you
help him with the chair?

(Ben) bye-bye, miss hunter.

(Miss hunter) bye-bye.

Jason, jason, could I
speak to you for a minute?

Well, yes, ma'am.

I think it's time for you
to take music lessons.

Well, there's
nothing I'd like more.

Why don't you talk to
mrs. Breckenridge about it?

Why her?

Well, she used to teach music at
the high school in charlottesville

Before she was married, and
now she's giving private lessons.

Why don't you stop by her house

On your way home
and talk to her?

I will. Thank you.

Mmm.

[Car approaching]

Miss hunter.

John-boy.

How nice to see you.

How are you?

I really wished you'd been
with us this afternoon.

Something special?

Jason played and sang for us.

He was absolutely wonderful.

Yeah, he was nervous
about it this mornin'.

I'm glad he did ok.

Oh, it was better than ok.

Can I give you a lift someplace?

I'm going up to ike's.

Well, good. Hop in.

Thank you.

Well, how's things
at boatwright?

Oh, they're fine, thank you.

(Miss hunter) it was difficult
for you at first, wasn't it?

(John-boy) oh, it still is.

I never dreamed I'd
have this much work.

And homework!
Tons of it, tons of it.

I'm up all night, every night.

How is your writing class?

Oh, that's the best part of all.

We have a professor parks.

He's very tough, but it
just makes me work harder.

You're enjoying it, aren't you?

Every bit as much as
we both knew I would.

Only thing I'm having trouble
with now is I've got to think of

A big project for
my writing class,

And I can't think of anything
that excites me for it.

What have you tried?

Oh, I've written a one-act play

And... And... And a bunch of
character sketches, but...

Why... Why are you
dissatisfied with them?

Well, I'll tell you. They don't
seem important enough for this.

Why don't you try a novel?

[Laughing] a novel? Oh, no!

Why not? A novel!

Well, novels are... Are written by people
like proust and thackeray and dostoyevsky,

Not boys from the
backwoods of virginia.

What about boys from the hills

Of north carolina,
like thomas wolfe?

Well, thomas wolfe is a genius.

Didn't matter
where he came from.

Besides, he's said everything there
is to say about this kind of country.

Some of your short stories
I've felt were... Were cramped,

Like you're constricted
by the form. Hmm?

It's like you have
more to say than

The short story can encompass.

Well, I don't think
I'm ready for that.

I haven't been anyplace.

I... I haven't seen anything important
enough to write a novel about.

Maybe you don't have to travel.

Maybe the novel's right here.

On the mountain?

In the people.

Oh, these are just
ordinary people.

I mean, they're fine
for short stories, sure,

But I don't think there's anything
big enough here for a novel.

Well, I don't know.

Maybe the bigness or what's
extraordinary is in ordinary people.

Well...

That's quite a
suggestion, miss hunter.

I don't know if
I'm up to that yet.

Well, good luck,
whatever you choose to do.

Thank you.

Thanks for the lift.

Oh, you're welcome.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

♪ But her poor
heart was broken ♪

♪ To think of him gone ♪

♪ And she too d*ed soon after ♪

♪ To join her loved one ♪

♪ And to this very day ♪

♪ You can stand on the hill ♪

♪ Where the sound
of her singing ♪

♪ Is echoing still ♪♪

That's very lovely, jason.

Have you ever
studied composition?

No, ma'am.

Do you play the piano?

Well, a little bit.

Um, sort of picked it up by ear,

Listening to songs on the radio.

It's... It's a lot easier

To learn scales and harmony on
the keyboard than on the guitar.

Do you have a piano
you could practice on?

Yes, ma'am, we have one at home,

But it's nothing like that one.

Good. I'll write out the
first scales for you

Before you go.

Uh, do you read music?

Just a little bit.

That's all right.
I'll explain it to you.

I sure have a lot to learn.

Oh, most of it is not
really that difficult.

You have a natural gift.

That can't be taught.

Yes, I think you could
become a fine musician.

Uh, are you familiar with
the works of mozart?

No, ma'am. Not really.

He was a famous composer
who lived many, many years ago.

Here, let me, uh, play
something for you.

[Cranking]

♪♪[music playing]

Supper ready? I'm
hungry. Me, too.

Soon.

You missed lunch.

I couldn't figure
what happened to you.

Mysterious errands.

Well, you do look
like you ate the canary.

(Olivia) john, you
look different, too.

Well, pa and me have
something we wanna tell you,

But, uh, it's a surprise.

We'll wait for the
others to get here.

Can we have a hint?

[Olivia snickers]

♪♪[music playing]

[Sighs]

The man that wrote this music

Is considered one of the
most important composers

In the history of
classical music.

His name was, uh,
felix mendelssohn.

And when he wrote
what you just listened to,

He was years old.

I don't believe it.

If I lived to be , , I
couldn't write music like that.

Oh, maybe not.

But if you aim for the very
best, you're on the right track.

Um...

C-could you explain how...
How all the sounds work?

Well, those are the
things I want to teach you.

Makes guitar playing seem...

Well, even playing
with bobby bigelow,

It makes it seem kind of silly.

Jason, you must never
look at what you do that way.

Never minimize what you're
doing at any particular time.

Just recognize
it for what it is.

A stage in your development.

And remember,

Every experience is
valuable to an artist.

We thank thee, lord, for
the bounty of this table

And pray for the continued health
and happiness of this family. Amen.

(All) amen.

[All chattering] I like these
pitching tomatoes.

(John-boy) I tell you, I
saw you picking them out

In the garden the other day

My mouth started
watering before they was...

Sorry I'm late, everyone.

(Mary ellen) where
were you, jason?

(Elizabeth) you're always late.

I had an errand to run.

(Grandma) seems like the whole
family was off today running errands.

All right, I can't
wait another minute.

John said he had somethin' to
tell us and he was gonna wait

Till all the family was at
the table together. John?

I'm gonna announce the
formation of a new company.

We're expandin' our business.

Walton and sons lumberyard.

Hey, that sounds great!

What about the girls?

(Grandma) good lord!

Well, I have a feelin' you're
behind this scheme, old man.

Just want to send
us to the poor house.

Don't be a wet blanket, esther,

Why, we might get
ourselves rich.

A lumberyard?

Let me explain. Things are
easin' up around here now

And the banks are willin'
to make loans again.

Loans? John, you know
how I feel about loans.

Liv, will you let me explain?

Pa and me went by the
dawkins' place today.

They're sellin' all
their equipment.

We can pick up some fine
equipment, dirt cheap.

The banks are
willin' to finance us

And the interest
rates are real low.

Grandma's right.

Sounds like we're
going from being poor

To whatever's worse than that.

Liv, we can have a bigger mill

And we can get some good
equipment to make fine furniture.

Won't that be something?

A fine line of
chairs and tables.

Walton and company.

Walton and sons
lumberyard and fine furniture.

That sounds great, daddy. I
can work with you full-time.

And jason, when you
graduate, you'll have a trade.

You won't have
to cut fence posts.

You can be a furniture maker.

If you draw the line
catty-corner, there,

You can have a fine
view from the house, too.

Really nice, pa.

We gonna have to make
this road here wider.

We can borrow luke morgan's
tractor, get this done in a day or two.

You have the children helpin',

You ought to do
it in an afternoon.

We gotta have room for
the trucks to turn around.

You really like it, pa?

Oh, I sure do.

I can just see jason
stackin' lumber over there.

And you over there
workin' the new machine.

And me sitting right here

Rocking away and
admiring the beauty of it all.

Too bad we didn't do
this years ago, pa,

When we first had the idea.

Oh, we couldn't. The
depression got in our way.

No one in our way now, pa.

I feel like if we ought to
be able to start next week.

I don't know if I can wait.

[Laughing] me, neither!

♪♪[Piano playing] we can put
the office right here, pa.

We can have a door
leadin' into the work area

And another door with
direct access to the road.

Don't forget to
give it some plumbing.

I know. If we can
run those pipes...

Jason, could you
stop that for a while?

We're trying to figure out the
new workin' arrangements here.

(Jason) daddy, I'm practicing.

Mrs. Breckenridge says I have
to practice at least hours a day

Or the lessons aren't
gonna be worth it.

Well, mrs. Breckenridge
doesn't have to sit around

Listening to you play that
thing over and over again.

It's not a thing.

It's an important beginning
piece for a musician,

And I want to get it just right.

Never mind, I'll do
it some other time

When it doesn't bother anybody.

Jason, come on over here and see

How the new mill is shaping up.

No, thanks, grandpa.
Some other time.

Guy line right here, pa...

[Children squealing]

I never thought
you'd stop that racket.

Yeah, jason, can't you play
something a little more catchy?

Why can't you leave me alone?

Jason.

What do you want?

[Children playing]

You'd better spill it
before you explode.

[Sighing]

John-boy,

I can't stand everyone
acting as though

My lessons with
mrs. Breckenridge

Was just some dumb, kid thing.

I know exactly how you feel.

No, you don't.

Oh, yes, I do.

You're learnin' about
music for the first time

And about what it really is.

You wanna share
it with everybody.

And you want to play
everything perfectly.

That's right. You're
absolutely right.

I can't stand it when
I make a mistake. I...

I just have to play
everything over and over again

Till I get it
absolutely perfect.

I recognize the signs.

What signs?

Oh, yeah.

When I decided I was gonna be a
writer, I was just... I was awful.

I just wanted everybody to
read whatever I was reading

And I'd carry around a
book by thomas wolfe

And I'd grab onto people
and I'd make 'em listen to me.

And all I really
wanted was to say

"Someday I'm going to
write words like that."

You know, mrs.
Breckenridge played me

A concerto by george gershwin.

Now, there's a real genius.

Mmm-hmm.

You know how you wanted
to write like thomas wolfe?

Well, someday,

I think I'd to like to compose
like george gershwin.

And i... I don't think I want to
be a part of daddy's new mill.

That's wonderful, jason.

You've really learned
that beautifully.

Thank you.

Mrs. Breckenridge,
listen to this.

What is that, jason?

Well... Well, I was just sort
of playing around at home,

And that's what came out.

You actually composed
that variation?

Yes, ma'am.

It's very good. Very.

Um, you're graduating from miss
hunter's school this year, aren't you?

Yes, ma'am.

Have you made any definite plans

About going on
to college or, uh...

Well, my daddy's planning on
me working for him full-time.

I see.

Do you want to go
on studying music?

Yes, ma'am. I really do.

Well, you know,

The kleinberg conservatory offers
scholarships in... In composition.

And jason, I think
you should apply.

Well, what would that mean?

Well, it would mean,

Just like going to college, except
that all your work would be in music.

Full-time? Yes.

And they'd pay your full
tuition, and you'd get some money

For books and supplies.

[Exhales]

I'll have to talk to my father.

Of course.

But if you're interested, I'll
get an application for you.

And... And we can fill it out
the next time you're here.

A-are you interested, jason?

Yes, ma'am. I really am.

I'd appreciate it if you'd
get the forms for me.

Daddy?

Jason, I was hoping
you'd get here earlier.

Daddy, can I talk
to you for a minute?

Sure.

[Grunting]

You know those lessons I've
been taking with mrs. Breckenridge?

Know about it? Everybody in the family
knows about the way you been practicing.

She says I'm doing real well.

That's nice, son.

Daddy, she's teaching me
all about classical music.

She's playing me
these victrola records

Of music written by a man
named george gershwin.

He's an american composer.

Good.

Daddy, I want to
write music, too.

Well, sure, son, keep on
studying as long as you want.

No, that's not what I mean.

Mrs. Breckenridge thinks that I
ought to try out for a scholarship

So that I could go to the
kleinberg conservatory of music.

What does that mean, exactly?

Well, that means
that if I wanted,

Then... Then I'd be going to
school full-time, like john-boy.

Well, it would be all paid for,

And I could study composition.

What good would
that do you, son?

Well, then I could go on to
become a working composer.

Well now, son, music
is all well and good,

But you got to learn
yourself a trade.

You're gonna have to
support a family someday.

Well, isn't that just like
john-boy wanting to be a writer?

No, it's not like that at all.

John-boy's learning a trade.

He's going to be a
journalist or a teacher.

What are you gonna have?

Well, i...

Well, I'd be doing
the thing I want to do.

No, son,

I mean, I appreciate your
interest in music, but full-time?

No. I don't want you to do that.

(john-boy) if ever I had
to describe my father,

i would have to
start with his hands.

what they do.

the toil they are engaged in
during the day is reflected in them.

and the skill with
which they work has

shaped them in a
different manner

than I'm sure a stonecutter's
hands would have been shaped.

[Knocking at door]

Hmm?

John-boy?

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, no, it's all right.
Come on in. Just a second.

What's the matter?

Never mind, I can guess.

Did daddy say anything to you?

No, he didn't have to.

You two hardly looked at
each other all through dinner.

He said I shouldn't apply for that
scholarship at the conservatory.

I was afraid of that.

Were you calm or did
you get emotional about it?

No, I was calm, john-boy. I was.

Well, jason,

This mill is a very important
thing to daddy and grandpa.

It means a lot to 'em.

They're both proud men and...
And they're proud of their work.

I know.

You gotta understand. First, I
come along and I say to my father,

"Daddy, your
work is not for me."

Before he gets used to that, you
come along and say the same thing.

You've got to give him
time to get used to the idea.

You do think he'll get
used to it, don't you?

Well, he's a
reasonable man, jason.

I think deep inside he wants us
to have what we all really want.

It's just that I don't
think he really sees

Music as a serious occupation,

The kind of thing that can
help you support a... A family.

It's just that music, to him, is
something that comes over on the radio

And something you
dance to. That's all.

It's not serious.

Well, that's silly.

Of course it is.

Maybe he'll come
to realize that,

But you gotta give him time.

[Sighs]

I feel a little better just
getting it off my chest.

What are all those
little pieces of paper?

These are stories and outlines

And compositions and poems
and I don't know what all.

What are you gonna
do with all of it?

Miss hunter thinks I
ought to write a novel.

Well, that's a good idea.

No, no, no, really.

S-s-suppose you did
and it was published?

You'd be a famous writer,
livin' in new york city.

Oh, you just say that 'cause
you'd want to come and live with me.

Oh, sure.

No, no, listen. Listen. I
could go off to some... Some

Fancy music school during the
day and nights I'd sit up and write...

Oh, wait a minute,

Symphonies and concertos.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Oh, wait a minute,
wait a minute.

I can just see the whole
family, one winter night,

All traipsing into carnegie
hall dressed up in our overalls.

Wait a minute. To hear
the first performance

Of the... The rhapsody of the
blue ridge, by jason walton!

With me conducting
the orchestra.

C-can't you see the truck
parked in front of it all?

I tell you, brother, I think you
and I got a lot to look forward to.

Yeah, we sure do.

All of a sudden, I can't wait.

[Sighing]

Neither can i.

Ok. I can take a hint.

John-boy?

Thanks.

Jason?

(Jason) uh, what do I put here?

Where?

Uh, uh, "previous training."

Well, let's see.

Um, put down, "music
appreciation in high school,

"Music composition lessons
with, uh, mrs. Mary breckenridge,

And, uh, band experience with
bobby bigelow and the haystack g*ng."

It doesn't sound like much.

Oh, it's a lot for
a boy of your age.

What do they mean here
by, uh, financial need?

You have to ask your father
what his yearly income is, and fill in

All the people that he
supports, here, every year.

Should I include my
grandmother and my grandfather?

And your mother and your father

And all your
sisters and brothers.

What's the matter, jason?

Nothing.

Well, that just about does it.

All you have to do now is
find out your father's income.

Oh, I can't.

Why not? It's nothing
to be ashamed of.

No, it's not that.

He doesn't know I'm
applying for the scholarship.

Oh?

He's planning on
expanding the mill,

And he expects me to be there.

Well, perhaps you could work
something out so you could

Be in the mill only part-time.

No. I don't think so.

He wants me to
be there full-time.

Anyway, he thinks of music
as just some kind of hobby

And not something I
can make a living at.

Jason, are you saying
that you've changed

Your mind about applying, then?

No, ma'am. No, I want to.

Would you like me to
talk to your father?

No.

That's something I have to do.

All right, then.

But remember,

That application
better be in the mail

By tomorrow
evening, at the latest.

Thank you.

How was your lesson today?

It was fine, just fine.

You're not being very talkative.

Is something wrong?

Mama, I wasn't just
walking by the store.

I had to mail in my application

For that scholarship audition.

Did you tell your father?

Jason?

No, ma'am.

You have to tell him.

He told me I shouldn't apply.

That's exactly why
you have to tell him.

Mama, there's probably
gonna be thousands of people

Auditioning for this thing.

I probably won't
even get a chance.

Jason, you have got
to tell your father.

Well, couldn't it at least wait

Till I find out if I
got an audition?

When will that be?

Well, I guess they notify
in about a week's time.

[Car approaching]

Mama, please.

We've just come from the bank.

They approved the loan.

We can go over to mrs.
Dawkins' and pick up the equipment

By the end of the week.

And a new truck for the mill,
and a family car, maybe a lasalle.

[Grandpa knocking] not so
fast, pa. Come on, get in.

I'll give you a ride home.

(Grandpa) come on, jason.

No thanks, grandpa. I'll walk.

All right, son. Hurry home.

Bank says I can come down
thursday morning and get the money.

So that means before long, right in
front, there'll be a sign that reads

"Walton and sons
lumber company."

[All cheering]

(Elizabeth) are we gonna be rich

And have all sorts of
things like fur coats?

Right.

Oh, I want a
bunny-fur one, daddy.

Martha rose coverdale has one.

Oh, it's so cute and
soft and cuddly.

So are bunnies.

Ben, that's disgusting.

For once in her
life, erin's right.

Rabbits scratch and
they're nasty and...

Mary ellen.

I don't think this kind of talk is
necessary at the supper table.

For once, I'm on
your side, esther.

And further more...
About the rabbits.

Don't count your chickens
before they're hatched.

I don't agree with that, esther.

I think we got a pretty
fair chance with that mill.

With john, jason, me workin'
out there, and the rest of you

Helpin' in on occasion, why, I think
we could all be lumber barons.

(Jason) daddy?

I don't know about that, pa.

There's a lot of work to do.

Daddy,

I filled in that application

For the scholarship audition
at the kleinberg conservatory.

What's that?

And I mailed it.

(Elizabeth) are you
going to college?

I thought I told you I didn't
want you to do that, son.

Well, it's done.

Well, I don't see any harm in
just mailing in an application.

Daddy, I can take jason's place.

There's time for that, son.

You're too young now.

I am not. And when are you going
to stop treating me like a baby?

I'm just as strong as he is.

Ben, you heard your father.

Daddy keeps on saying it's gonna
be walton and sons lumberyard.

Well, I'm his son, also!

Quiet down.

Let me tell you somethin'.

I'd like you all to be able to
do exactly what you wanna do.

But I'm not gonna let you make
choices that are gonna hurt you.

Now, you're gonna
finish school, son.

And as for music, jason,

Well, you can keep
that as a hobby, but

It's not gonna get you a job, it's
not gonna help you raise a family

And feed that family.

I'm offering you a chance to
learn a trade, to be part of this mill.

Now, you, uh, keep
this music composing

For after-hours or for a hobby.

Daddy, you know
I don't want that.

I'm not gonna let you run off before
you even give this thing a chance.

I don't wanna give it a chance.

And if the only other thing
I can do is run off, then...

Then that's what I have to do.

You want company?

They say misery loves it.

You ok?

Little down. I'll be all right.

Guess you've gotten over
it once before, haven't you?

What do you mean?

Oh, you remember when I was

And you were workin'
over in waynesboro?

You had all kinds
of plans for me.

You introduced me to
the foreman at the shop,

And he was gonna make me an apprentice
as soon as I got out of high school.

When I told you I
had plans of my own,

You got a little upset about it.

I got over it.

Daddy, I know how jason feels.

It may seem defiant to you.

But believe me, he's
every bit as angry

And frustrated with
himself as he is with you.

It's not an easy
stand for him to take

'Cause he loves you very much,

And I'm sure he
feels a little guilty.

And it's easy for me to
understand how jason feels.

And I'll tell you,

Watching you two,

I think I'm just beginning
to understand how you feel.

And the kind of troubles you're
going through with all this.

It's just your luck, isn't it?

You raising us kids
to go off and hurt you.

John-boy, I'm not
sure I understand

What you're trying to tell me.

I mean that

From the time
when we were little,

You were always
drilling it into our heads

To make something with our lives

And to do something,
be somebody.

And you give us so much
love and so much security and

Such a feeling of strength
about ourselves that

We're just running off
and doing all kinds of things

You never even thought of.

I, uh...

I just wanted you always
to grow up independent.

To be able to take
care of yourselves.

Take care of your families.

We will. Believe
me, 'cause of you.

[John-boy sighing]

I don't know what the answer is.

I just want you to know that
I'm beginning to understand you,

As a father.

Jason was wrong, you know.

Going against john's wishes.

Applying for that audition
without... Without telling him.

I'm not worried about jason.

You know, he's a
pretty sensible fellow,

Even if he did fly
off half-cocked.

You know, in the light of
day you'll see things clearer.

But it is john that
I'm worried about.

Yeah, I know, he's not
acting like himself.

I don't know why
he's acting so... Stern.

Yeah, stern toward jason.

Oh, of course you know.

You know, i... I treated him the
same way when he was a young one.

Oh, you never did.

Remember that time when
he came back from the army?

And he was all set going off
to norfolk or newport news

Or somewhere to get a job?

He just couldn't stand the
idea of working alongside of me.

Oh, I remember.
Oh, you were awful.

And you were mean, and I
just couldn't understand why.

I was scared and angry.

Scared? Mmm.

Because he didn't want the
same things that you did?

No, because I was
afraid we'd lost him.

He'd go away and he'd
no longer be our son.

Then I was angry, too,
because he didn't seem to think

The things we liked
were important to him.

Yeah, well, I know one thing.

I know that he's glad that
he decided to stay here.

He likes the mountains and
the land just as much as we do.

Mmm. And he always has.

Oh, he'd come back here that
time, even if he had gone away.

I wonder if jason and john-boy
will be leaving someday.

I suppose they will.

You know, those boys,
they're kind of artistic-like.

That's the way
they love our land.

But me and... Me and john,
we've got to have the feel

Of the wood and the
earth between our fingers.

That's what we need.

Do you think john will let
jason try for that schooling?

Yes, in the long run he will.

He wants them to
have what they want.

And he'll let 'em go, one by one

If they want to.

Ah, come on, old girl,
let's get ourselves to bed.

Zeb, that's not nice.

[Laughing] oh.

Sounded like
grandma and grandpa.

You think they're all right?

Restless, I guess.

I guess.

Sorry if I'm keeping you awake.

Maybe I should go for a walk.

You go, I'm goin' with you.

I don't feel like
gettin' up anyway.

You think I'm being
unfair to jason?

Some.

He's known for years I've
wanted him with me in the mill.

If he was so dead set
on this music business,

Why hasn't he said
anything before?

Because I think
it's only recently

That he's realized how
much his music means to him.

Besides, if he had
told you before,

Would you have
felt any different?

Liv, a man has to have a trade.

I can't stand to think of jason
goin' through life strugglin'.

Trying to keep himself and
his family together on nothin'.

John, is that what's
really bothering you?

Of course it's what's
really bothering me.

John...

Well, how would you feel if you
planned and planned and planned

To give your kids good
things, have a decent life...

And then, when they get old
enough to take advantage of it,

They turn you down flat?

Jason doesn't appreciate
what I'm trying to do for him.

All he's thinking about is some

Scatterbrained idea of
being a fancy musician.

John walton,

You taught your children that if
they wanted something, to reach for it.

Now, that doesn't mean that they're
gonna want the same thing that you do.

Jason's doin' exactly
what you hoped he'd do.

He's being his own
separate person.

I just don't want life
to be hard for him, liv.

No one does, but
he's got to work

That out for
himself, doesn't he?

I guess so.

Good night, john. I love you.

What do you love me for?

I can't write, can't do
music, can't do nothin'.

[Olivia laughing]

Go to sleep.

[Knocking at door]

Who is it?

(John) it's me, son.

Yes, sir.

You're goin'?

I was going to talk
to you before I left.

I know I shouldn't have mailed
that application in without askin' you.

No, son, you shouldn't.

I'm sorry.

But, well, I figure, uh,

Things are only gonna get worse,

So I might as well leave now.

Jason, uh...

How are you going to
take care of yourself?

Well, i... I reckon I'll work with
bobby bigelow as much as I can.

You'd be traveling
all around, then.

You won't have time
for the conservatory.

I'll just have to figure
out a way to do both.

Would you consider a
part-time job at the mill?

Yes, I would.

Can it still be walton and sons?

I'd like that just fine.

You know, I might not
even win that scholarship.

Then you try somewhere else.

Thank you, daddy.

You're an incredible man.

You're an incredible man.

Jason just told me what you've
done, and I think it's wonderful.

I'm going to write that novel.

John-boy, you been
dippin' in the recipe?

No. But I'm intoxicated.

Don't let your
mama know about it.

Oh, she's gonna know about it.

Everybody's gonna know about it.

For days miss hunter
was telling me...

Do you know what
it's going to be about?

No, what's it gonna be about?

It's going to be about
an extraordinary man.

Who? You.

Me?

Yes, you. And the
extraordinary things you do

So that your children can grow up
and have the kind of lives that they want.

And it's gonna to be about mama.

And, it's gonna
be about grandpa.

And, it's gonna be about
grandma and mary ellen

And jason and ben and elizabeth.

I wonder how's it gonna end?

What?

I was wonderin',
how's it gonna end?

I don't know.

We're still living it.

(Ben) ok.

Pa, I think we should
put the office right here.

Daddy, I'd like to have
the desk space at the back

So that I can look at the view

While I'm workin'. Right here.

Ben, if you were workin', you
won't have time for lookin'.

Grandpa, a man needs to have...

To have time to
think while he works.

Come over here, son. (Ben) yeah?

(john-boy) almost all of
us chose careers that

took us away from
walton's mountain.

but no matter how far any
of us traveled in later years,

we always came home.

and while we were away,

my mother and father
were always with us

in our hearts, and more importantly,
in our attitudes toward life.

(John) jason, you gonna
keep that racket up all night?

Sorry, daddy.

I just started playin' and I
forgot all about the time.

One more minute?

That's all.

(Elizabeth) good night, jason.

(Grandma) good night, jason.

(Olivia) goodnight, john-boy.

(Grandpa) goodnight, mary ellen.

Goodnight, erin.

(John-boy) goodnight,
jim-bob. Goodnight, ben.

(Ben) goodnight, john-boy.

Goodnight, erin.

(Erin) goodnight, ben.

Goodnight, mary ellen.

(Mary ellen) goodnight,
mama. Goodnight, daddy.

(Olivia and john)
goodnight everybody.

[Crickets chirping]