03x24 - The Venture

[bunniefuu]

(john-boy) late in ,
there came a time

of excitement and anticipation

on walton's mountain.

big things, we felt,
were about to happen.

like the rest of the country,

we were inching out of
the worst of the depression

and on a single day, of us
attempted to take giant steps.

i was applying for my
first job on a newspaper.

my father was attempting
to expand his milling operation

and jason was only
a hairsbreadth away

from winning a scholarship at the
kleinberg conservatory of music.

we were all convinced
that in the months ahead

we would see the return of
prosperity and happier days.

(Olivia) elizabeth, if you
circle that date one more time,

You're gonna wear
out the calendar.

You should save those
crayons for schoolwork.

They cost a nickel a box.

I just don't want
anyone to forget

That this is a very
important date.

Small chance of that.

[Mary ellen laughing]
I b*at you!

(Ben) that's not fair.

Now, we've got bread in
the oven. You want it to fall?

Oh, sorry, grandma.

Mama, I'm hungry. Is
there anything to eat?

There's some bread dough.

(Children) yuck.

There's warm soup on
the back of the stove.

Oh, well, I'm starving.

Come on, let's go.

You know, I don't feel
like vegetable soup.

I'm gonna do my chores.

Mmm-hmm. Mama, [ladle clanking]

Are you really
worried about them?

Well, yeah, I guess I am.

No need to be worried, mama.

I wish I was as sure of
that as you are, elizabeth.

John-boy will get the job,
daddy'll get the contract,

And jason will get
the scholarship.

And we'll all live
happily ever after. Sure.

What makes you so
sure of that, elizabeth?

Because today is the th.
Is our very lucky number.

Superstitious nonsense.

Is supposed to be
everybody's lucky number.

How'd it get to be
our private property?

A gypsy told me.

(Mary ellen) there haven't
been any gypsies around here

In nearly years.
You're makin' it all up.

No, I'm not. Am i, jim-bob?

(Olivia) if there are any
gypsies hangin' around,

You children should've told us.

We saw one when grandpa
took us over to faber.

And countess nevita read my palm

And she said that the number
was very important to us.

Your grandpa took you
to see a fortuneteller?

And she only charged us cents.

Oh, good lord!

Well, you certainly
got your money's worth.

Don't worry, mama.
John-boy'll get that job.

You just wait and see.

I don't know. He
was awful nervous

When he left here this morning.

Well, what did john-boy
have to be nervous about?

I think he'd make a
really great reporter.

[Typing]

Tsk!

Took you an hour to do this?

Oh, I didn't know you
were testing me for speed.

Speed's important, but I
put more store by accuracy.

Well, I can vouch for the
accuracy of every word there.

Now, don't flinch.
I can't help it.

Are you sensitive about
changes in your work?

Oh, no, I realize that
when you're startin' out

You have to make
changes. Mmm-hmm.

[Chuckles]

Your professor stress
terseness in writing?

Terseness? Concise. Brief.

Uh, for instance, here you say, "the
patrolman erupted in a volcanic fury."

Well, that's
exactly what he did.

Uh, could we say, "the
patrolman got mad"?

That would be more terse.

Imagine that old man taking
elizabeth to see a fortuneteller.

I tell you, livie, I never
know what he's gonna do next.

Well, I hope that
fortuneteller was right.

We could use all
the luck we can get.

Where have you been? Out
consortin' with the gypsies again?

Never you mind. You seen
any of the boys around?

Ben and jim-bob are
upstairs studying for a test.

If you want, I'll call them.

[Sighs]

Grandpa, are you all right?

Oh, yes.

But I could do
with a little help

Luggin' the machinery
over to the new mill.

You're not at all
well. You're burnin' up.

Oh, I just feel a little
achy in my joints, maybe.

Well, I sure hope you're not
comin' down with some kind of a germ.

(Grandma) there's a lot
of influenza goin' around.

None of that. I got
no time for that.

No? Well, then you better get
to bed. And right now. Come on.

Uh, leave me alone,
will you, esther?

Grandpa, you're not gonna do
yourself or anybody any good

If you let yourself
get really sick.

Not you, too, livie.

Sorry. This time
it's against one,

You're just gonna
have to listen to us.

(Grandma) will you come on?

All right. Come on.

I will go and take a
rest for a little while.

I'll be right in, soon as I
make you a mustard plaster.

Oh, no.

You ladies be good
enough to let me know

The minute john or the
boys come home, will you?

Now, will you get
undressed and get to bed?

[Chuckling] all right, well.

♪♪[Piano and clarinet
playing mozart concerto]

[Exhaling]

[People clapping]

(Judge) thank you,
miss marshall.

If you'll just go to
the waiting room now.

[Sighs]

Well, I guess it's all over
but the judge's decision, huh?

Good luck.

Thank you.

You sounded really great.

You sounded pretty
good yourself.

[Doorknob clicking]

Well, the way you
played that mozart piece,

I reckon you like
him as much as I do.

Not really. But mozart is
sure-fire audition material.

Um,

You, uh,

Planning on sp-specializing
in classical music,

If you win?

I wanna play with spitalny.

Who's spitalny?

Phil spitalny and his
all-girl orchestra.

What about you?

Oh, I wanna compose
like gershwin.

And they have the best classes
here in composition and theory.

Well, it's gonna be
one of us, so good luck.

But not too much.

[Judge clears throat]

Miss marshall, mr. Walton.

You have been of the most
skilled finalists we have ever had.

(Judge) unfortunately,
there is only one scholarship

And therefore only one winner.

You boys stop that.

What's the matter, grandma?

Your grandpa's sick and
it just might be influenza.

If we get it, we might be able
to stay home from school.

Influenza is nothing
to laugh about.

Your grandpa's in there
having chills one minute

And burning up
with fever the next.

Want me to go get
the doctor, grandma?

Well, I reckon I know as much

About treatin'
influenza as doc mcivers.

I'll send for him if I need him.

Ok, grandma. Sure
wish daddy were here.

(Grandma) oh, while
you're wishing,

Will you bring in some firewood?

I just may have to keep
the fire goin' all night.

I might sit up.
With the old man.

And do it quiet!

Ok, grandma.

All right, it'll be there.

Take care of that, will you?

You can't do it, john. There's
just no way that you can do it.

Walt, let me worry
about that, will you?

[Hammer tapping]

You see those?

Now, in weeks, I start
construction of of these.

, Not one.

It's a pretty big
operation, john

And your mill is just not geared
to cut the amount of lumber I need.

Why, the studding
alone on this would...

I can deliver all
the studs you need.

And all the rafters,
all the sidin',

All the sheetin',
all the floorin'.

Within days? I can
start delivering in .

Oh, john.

I've seen your operation.

Not lately, you haven't.

You know woody
dawkins, over in crozet?

Yeah, I knew him. He's dead.

I bought all his
equipment from his widow.

All at once? You win the irish
sweepstakes, or something?

Wasn't that easy.

I, uh, had to take a
loan from the bank.

[Laughing]

You are a rounder. I
got to hand it to you.

Here, have some coffee.
You look a little tired.

I am. I'm working
nights at the mill.

But I'll get it done.

[Sighing] john.

I've been talking to cal smith
lumber in charlottesville.

Now, cal is already geared

To turn out the amount of
lumber in the volume that I need.

But I'm closer
to you than he is.

I can deliver it
cheaper and faster.

Now, walt, I'm gonna
level with you.

I aim to sit right here
until I get that contract.

Bandits are over there.

Mom! They're here!

They're home. They're home!

Hey, everyone.

From the looks of it, we'd
better brace ourselves.

(John-boy) I can't believe that.

, Two-by-fours! That's
what he says he wanted.

That's what he
said, I don't know.

Center beams, -by- . Right.

It'd take men
just to lift one.

Right. You're absolutely
right about that.

Well, why doesn't
somebody say something?

Hmm? Oh, I got the job!

I got the scholarship!

And I got the contract from
walt catlett for bungalows.

[All cheering]

We got it!

(Ben) I knew you could
do it the whole time.

[Grandpa inhaling]

How're you feeling, pa?

(Grandpa) oh, I'm stuffed
up and achin' all over.

How'd you make out?

Got that contract
from walt catlett.

He's buildin' new bungalows

And we're gonna supply
every stick of lumber.

Hallelujah, that's a tall order.

I know, pa, but we'll make it.

Ah, might as well sh**t me

For all the good I'm doing you.

When do you have to deliver?

Days.

Oh, that's cuttin'
it all mighty short.

If we don't get a roof on there

Before the rains, why,
it'll ruin everythin'.

I know, pa. I'll have it finished in
days, be cut and lumbered in .

I am awful sorry that
I got sick on you, son.

Don't you worry, pa.

You just get well.

[Sneezing]

[Hammer tapping]

Jim-bob, that's the rd
nail you've lost already.

I wouldn't lose them if
you'd stop bumpin' into me.

I don't care, this
frame has to go up.

Well, I have to get
this nailed down.

I'm as important as you are.

All right, you boys,
stop squabblin'.

Work! Come on, now.
This isn't even here!

(John-boy) don't hammer
that in yet, ben. Wait a minute.

[Hammer tapping]

[Gasping]

[Tapping]

Esther. What's that noise?

[Tapping]

John's back at work
and it's not even daylight.

Well, he better be careful

Or he's gonna ruin his health.

[Scoffs] you're a
fine one to talk.

You feeling all right, zeb?

Well, I'll have to say it.

That mustard
plaster you put on me

Is not doin' a particle of good.

Well, then I just have
to make another one,

Only this time, stronger.

Oh, no!

Oh, yes.

[Birds chirping]

Daddy.

Mama's got some
breakfast for you.

I had my breakfast at : , son.

Well, she's got a plate
of eggs cooked up

And some fresh coffee,
and some hot biscuits.

Sure could use some coffee.

Now, daddy, I wish
you wouldn't overdo.

The boys will be out to
help you right after school.

There'll be plenty for them
to do when they get here.

Yeah, I've got to go over to
the newspaper right after class

But I promise to make it
up to you on the weekend.

You say somethin'
about coffee, son?

Yes, sir. I'll get it for you.

[Sawing]

[Hammer tapping]

[Thundering]

Got some more soup, liv?

There's plenty.

You just take
your time eatin' it

'Cause you're not gonna work
on that mill anymore today.

I got to.

You're sick. I can
see it in your eyes.

Just tired. I'll be all right.

John, I want you to stop now.

Grandpa'll be up in a few days

And the boys can
help you after school.

Rafters are next.

No job for young
boys or old men.

How much can you
ask of yourself?

Liv, I owe $ .

There's no time to slow down.

There's no point in talking
to you. You won't even listen.

[Thunder rumbling]

There's a storm comin' up. And
you'll work right through it.

Yes, I will. Oh, I
know you will.

Liv, I got to get that roof on.

In the pouring rain?

Will you leave me alone?

Well, I might as well.

It's like talking to a stone
wall trying to get you to listen.

[Sighing]

John.

[Thunder rumbling]

[Cutlery rattling]

He's sick, livie.

I know, grandma.

You speak to him.
He won't listen to me.

It won't do any good.

Oh, I'm sick of this
damned depression.

Livie! Well, I am.

He wouldn't be out there k*lling
himself if things were better.

He's your son. Why don't you
go out there and talk to him

And ask him what earthly
good it does any of us

If he ruins his health?

But... Grandma.

I'll try. Thank you.

John! John walton!

What is it, ma?

You come down here.

Ma, if it's not important
don't bother me.

I'm heading down
the home stretch.

You're headin' for the sickbed.

Johnny.

John?

John-boy! Jason!

John-boy!

(woman on p.a. System) calling
dr. Stevens. Dr. Stevens, please.

would you please check
with the nurse on duty...

calling dr. Dennis.
Dr. Dennis, please.

Mama?

Shh, it's all right, it's
just me. It's just me.

(John-boy) I've come to take you
home. You've been here for hours.

Mom, I spoke with doc mcivers.

He says the best thing
you could do right now

Is just go home
and get some rest.

I rested just fine right here.

Mama, you're gonna need all
the strength you can muster up

When daddy's home
tryin' to get well.

Sittin' here exhausting
yourself hour by hour

Is not gonna do you or
anybody else any good.

Mrs. Walton, you
really must go home.

We'll take good
care of your husband.

I'm gonna be here
when he wakes up.

(Nurse) we have the number of
that store in walton's mountain.

We can let you know when
there's any change in his condition.

Mrs. Walton, I'm
gonna have to insist.

Visitors are allowed
only during visiting hours.

Nurse, I'm sorry about your
rules, but I'm stayin' here.

Excuse me.

Why don't you just...

John-boy, will you
go find dr. Mcivers

And make the proper
arrangements, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Livie, as long as there are no
complications, he's gonna be fine.

Now, why don't you go on
home and get some rest?

No.

What's gonna happen to
that brood of children

If their mother and
father both get down sick?

And what's gonna happen to john
if he wakes up alone in a hospital?

Mama, please.

John-boy, will you go
home and help grandma?

It's all right.

I'll arrange for your stay.

Thank you.

If you need me, just
call the store, all right?

Oh, he's still got his fever.

He's getting better.

Well, thank you, grandma.

Is he gonna get better soon?

I hope so, honey.

How long does he have
to stay in the hospital?

About days.

Days?

What about the
new mill and the saw?

We might as well
say fare-thee-well

To walton and sons lumber yard

If we don't get that catlett
order cut and delivered.

First things first, old man,

And I say that we should
get john out of that hospital.

We can take just as good
care of him right here.

Yeah, I can stay home from
school and be his nurse.

No. Everybody has got to
go about their daily business.

Grandma, he is gettin' the best care
he possibly can, right where he is.

John-boy, we're gonna owe
that hospital an arm and a leg.

I'm bringin' home a
paycheck every week.

It's not much, but it'll help.

I can get some extra
work with bobby bigelow

If mama'd let me
work weeknights.

That's right, jason.

With a little help, I could cut

And deliver that
catlett order myself.

I don't care if catlett
ever sees that order.

John's worked himself
into the hospital,

And you're just
out of the sickbed.

And I have no intention
of spending my time

Going to the funerals
of my son and my husband

Seeing them put underground
because of their own foolishness.

What are you doing out of bed?

Do you want the children
to catch that germ?

Now, you get back to bed.

I'll admit your grandma
is right for once.

I don't feel quite
up to it just now.

I'll go sweat it out.

Come on. And that
goes for you, it's late.

[Sniffing] excuse me.

Are daddy and grandpa gonna die?

Of course not.

All they need is a little rest.

In a couple of weeks,

They'll be back to their
old selves again, you'll see.

Come on, why don't you
children do what grandma says?

Just go to bed, all right?

It's a good idea.

Good night.

Good night.

Goodnight. Goodnight, honey.

Good night.

Is daddy really gonna be ok?

Jason, you ought to see him in
that oxygen tent thing. It just...

Well, he's gonna
be all right. It's...

That's not really
what worries me.

How are we gonna get that loan
payment out by the st of the month

If the mill isn't operating and if
we don't get that catlett order out?

That's something I don't know.

If we don't come
up with the money,

We could lose the
house, couldn't we?

Yes, we could.

[Sighing]

Amen. Amen.

He's awake.

Oh, that's good news, mama.

Sent me home to rest.

He sends his love to everybody.

Well, I'll go by
and see him later.

[Sighs]

I've grown to hate this place.

Well...

It's a strange thing.
Couple of days ago

It looked like everything was
going so well for this family.

[Birds twittering]

Maybe we're being told not to
allow ourselves to get too prideful.

"Pride goeth
before destruction."

Mama, pride doesn't have
anything to do with this mill.

Daddy's been
strugglin' to build this

Just so that he could
make things better for us.

I know.

I just get so afraid when I
think of us goin' into debt.

Maybe losin' the house.

Or remember, the
bible also says:

"They saw that the
lord was with them

And he caused them to prosper."

Well, I don't doubt
that the lord is with us.

He just hasn't seen fit to
send us much prosperity lately.

Well, I'm workin', and jason's
working. That should help some.

I'm gonna get a job, too.

What? Are you serious?

Well, it seems to me
you've got enough of a job

Taking care of this
house and this family.

Grandma will just have
to take over for a while.

Did you speak to
daddy about this?

No, I thought I'd
wait until it's settled.

Well.

Well, other women have
done it, I don't see why I can't.

You better come in the house
before you catch pneumonia, too.

(Bennett) olivia walton.

You left a lot of information
off your form, mrs. Walton.

I'm sorry, i... I... I've never really
worked in business before.

You take gregg or pitman?

I don't understand.

Shorthand.

No, no.

[Clears throat]

How many words a minute?

How many words a minute, what?

How many words a
minute do you type?

I don't type.

(Bennett) "typing: none."

[Clears throat]

[Clears throat]

Uh, mrs. Walton,

This agency provides
skilled personnel

For business and
professional people.

Uh, exactly what
skills do you have

That, uh, might make
you a person of value

To one of our
prospective employers?

Well, I've never
really worked before.

I mean, I've worked,
but not in an office.

You see, my husband
is in the hospital and i...

Thank you for your time.

Margaret allen.

So he told jim-bob
that he'd give him cents

If he went up onto the roof
and crowed like a rooster.

And then, jim-bob told
elizabeth he'd give her cents

If she'd go up into the tree
house and flap her arms.

[Laughing] hi, mama.

Excuse me, mary ellen,
while I kiss your father.

Well, I guess I'll leave
you lovebirds alone.

Bye-bye, daddy. Bye, honey.

Excuse me, miss,
could you help me?

I dropped that magazine.

Thanks a lot.

My name is joseph wilkes.

I'm mary ellen walton.

My daddy has the pneumonia.

What are you in for?

Well, I fell out of my tractor.

Broke my leg in places.

Oh, that must be
very uncomfortable.

[Chuckles] yeah.

Why don't you sit down
and I'll tell you about it.

No thank you, I
can't stay. Goodbye.

Bye.

How's elizabeth?

She really misses you.

John-boy?

Oh, his part-time job
is workin' out all right.

Says the boss is kind of hard
on him, but he's learning a lot.

And how are you?

I'm having the time of my life.

All kinds of new experiences.

[Sighing]

Liv, I wanna talk
seriously to you.

Do I have to be serious?

I wanna just enjoy
being here with you.

I've been thinkin', liv.

I over-extended myself.

There's no way I'm gonna
make those bank payments.

We'll find a way.

I want you to go home.

I want you to tell grandpa and
john-boy to sell the new equipment.

John, there's got to
be something we can do.

I'll go back to
the old operation.

It's not much, but at
least it paid the bills.

I'm not gonna take the
chance of losin' our home.

Are you sure that's
what you want?

Yes, liv. I'm sure.

Please go home and
tell 'em my decision.

Once upon a time, like today,

Me and jim-bob went
down to ike godsey's store.

Ike and corabeth were hollerin'

At each other somethin' awful.

Mr. Godsey,

This general merchandise store

Is in bad need of
a coat of paint.

Corabeth, do you think my
pockets are lined with money?

(Elizabeth) mr. Godsey, I
do not intend to exist

In this, in this rundown
shack one more minute.

We'll have us both in the
poorhouse, before you know it.

Then mrs. Essie davis came in

And said that we'd probably
go to the poorhouse.

She said that the franklins
had a mortgage like us

And the bank made them
go to the poorhouse.

Well, the next time you
hear anyone say that

You just tell 'em to
watch their tongue.

All right, now,
down off that table.

Nobody in this house is
gonna end up in the poorhouse.

[Car approaching]

Excuse me, grandma. Mama's home.

(Elizabeth) is daddy ok?

(Olivia) he's much
better, honey.

Is john-boy here?

He's upstairs workin' on
an assignment for a paper.

Will you get him, please,
ben? Where's jason?

Sulking. Grandma made him
stop practicing the piano.

Yeah, well, it was just too
much. Tell me about john.

He's feeling much
better, grandma.

In fact, you can go see him
tomorrow if you want to.

Me, too? Me, too?

Oh, I'm sorry, only children
over are allowed in.

But we'll take him
all your messages.

Mama, how is he?

He's coming along
fine, john-boy.

Your... Your daddy has something
he wanted me to tell you.

You better all sit down.

Your...

[Sighing] your daddy
feels it might be better

If we put off openin' walton and
sons lumber yard until another time.

Oh, no. Grandpa, he wants
you to sell everything

Except the old mill equipment

[Voice catching] as
quickly as you can.

Then when's walton and
sons lumber yard gonna be?

Well, I suspect the lord'll make
that happen when the time is right.

(John-boy) grandma, I
suspect the time is right now.

I agree with john-boy.

That mill is sittin' out
there practically built.

We've got to finish
it. I vote yes on that.

So do i. Yeah, me too.

We can all help.

I don't think you children
realize how serious this is.

If we don't sell that
equipment, we can't meet the loan

And if we don't meet the
loan, we have to sell the house.

Your father has made a decision
and we must respect his decision.

Mama, even if we try
to sell that machinery

It's gonna take
days to find a buyer.

We just can't give up on it now.

No, no, with all of us workin'

Uh, before you go to
school, the young ones, I mean,

And then after school
they come on out and help.

I know we can do
it. That includes me.

This is an emergency.

And I know what I've got to do.

I don't know about
the rest of you

But I cannot leave this
house for another mornin'

And go off to college
knowin' what's happenin' here.

I'm sorry.

Now, I'm gonna go out
there and work. Me, too.

(John-boy) let's
all go. Come on.

Hey, john-boy,
hold on there now.

(Grandpa) hold on. Grandma,

[Door closing] what
do you think?

Well, I think you better
change your clothes.

We've got work to do.

I'll go change.

You take the
children their coats.

[Sawing]

Oh, darn it all.

(Grandpa) timber! Very funny.

(Jim-bob) ben,
hurry up now. I am!

Sit still!

(Jason) hurry up. Here.

Ok, ok. I'll just hold
them up in another minute.

(Mary ellen) come on, jason.

(Jason) jim-bob.

Do you want the nail?
Yes, I want the nail.

Why don't you take
your time, jason?

(John-boy) come on,
jim-bob, get over here.

(Jason) get to work, jim-bob.

(Grandpa) john-boy.
Just wait a minute.

Would you listen to me?

Shh, I think I have found out
what is the matter with this.

Listen, please. Grandpa.

I can tell you what's wrong.

What? There are parts missing.

(Ben) jim-bob, the girls
are doing more work

Than you are right
now. Will you get going?

(Jim-bob) I'm tired.

(Mary ellen) so are
we all, you baby.

Come on, will you
j-just stop it, please?

I can't even hear myself think.

All right now, grandpa,
there's parts missing. Yes.

Tell me what they are, let me
go to the store, and I'll get them.

Yes, but you'll have
to be ordering them.

It'll take some time
for them to get here.

Well, I'm, I cannot sit around
here and wait for parts to come!

Come on, let's just go see
if we can get that shaper

In some kind of condition.
Come on. Come on.

Let me look at these plans here.

[Groans] what is the
matter with you?

I hit my thumb with
the stupid hammer.

Look, grandpa.

Which one of you
bumped the ladder, huh?

(Ben) it was mary ellen!

[All arguing]

Now, wait a minute!
Just, wait a minute!

What?

None of you are doin'
any good. Why don't you...

John-boy, john-boy, calm down.

Mama... John-boy, calm down.

We all need a break now.

Jason, are you all
right? It's coffee time.

Yeah, I'd say that.

(Ben) can we have hot
chocolate instead?

Yes, of course you can.

(Jim-bob) we did plenty
of work, john-boy.

(Ben) will you shut up, erin?

Hey, jason, will you come here?

Come here, let me
have a look at you, son.

Oh, please, grandpa, don't...

Well, there is nothing
wrong with it. It isn't broken.

I know there's
nothing wrong with it.

Why don't you just go back
upstairs instead of complainin'

About a bruised thumb.
Get back to work.

Listen, it's... It's not
just a bruised thumb.

I have to play a barn
dance saturday night.

How am I gonna
play guitar with...

Under the circumstances,

I'd say it was pretty careless
of you to hurt yourself.

Why don't you just go
back up and get to work?

John-boy, you're
pushin' us too hard.

I'm so tired. I can't
even see straight.

Jason, I am not making anyone do

Anything more than
I'm making myself do.

You understand?
Yes, you are, john.

You're pushing this too far.

You yourself, and we
are being pushed too far.

And we're through, we're just...

We are not through! We are
gonna work until we drop.

(Grandpa) and we still
won't be finished, john-boy.

(Jason) john-boy,
grandpa's right.

He's not right.

[Knock on door]

Yeah?

(Jason) it's me. Can I
see you for a minute?

I don't really wanna talk
to anyone right now, jason.

It's important. It'll
only take a second.

[Sighs]

All right, come on in.

You know, jason, i, uh...

I didn't mean to be so
rough on you out there.

It's just... It's just
been an awful day.

I know. Don't worry about it.

[Sighing] uh,

I had an idea.

Yeah?

If I was to start workin'
with bobby bigelow, full time,

Traveling with him,

I'd be earnin' a considerable
amount of money every week.

[Sighing] you can't do that.

Now, listen. Hear me out.

See, the band
travels in the bus.

So, I wouldn't need
to pay for rooms

Or anything like
that. Just food.

Bobby provides the uniforms.

And the scholarship at
kleinberg goes down the drain.

John-boy, I'm only .

I can go to the
conservatory any time.

Jason, mama and daddy

Are not gonna let you
throw away that scholarship

To go runnin' around with a
bunch of country musicians.

That's all there is to it.

Anyway, you still
wanna write music?

Sure, but what's that
got to do with anything?

You say you can go to
the conservatory any time.

Come on, jason. That
scholarship is for right now,

Not for when things get better.

What's this? It's a letter

Notifyin' the conservatory I'm
letting go of the scholarship.

What? I'm lettin' go
of the scholarship.

You can't send this.

After... After all it took for
you to get that scholarship?

After all the convincin' it took

To get daddy to
go along with it?

You can't throw
that away, jason.

Anyway, I have
an idea of my own.

You figure out how to
turn sawdust into money?

[Chuckles] no.

I reckon I got a way
to keep our heads

Above the water
for a little while.

How's that?

I'd rather nobody
knew about it just yet.

You know, jason,

I don't want you to think
I was making light of this.

I know how much it
took for you to write it.

Believe me.

Mr. Fletcher.

I promise you, you won't
find a harder workin' man.

I don't doubt you for a minute.

I wish I had more
stringers like you.

Then what's the problem?

You're quittin' college.

Only for a year, if I can
work it out that way.

Well, how will I know
you won't quit me?

Mr. Fletcher, I've
made my decision.

If you don't wanna give
me work on your paper

I'll just have to find
it someplace else.

Have you told 'em at the
university you're quitting?

I'm gonna speak to dean
beck on monday about it.

How long before you
think you can start here?

Oh, i, uh... As soon as
I've spoken with him.

I just have to
clean out my locker,

Say goodbye to a
couple of professors.

Are you sure you
know what you're doin'?

Yes, sir.

Report here tuesday at : a.m.

Thank you.

I'll see you tuesday, sir.

Walton, if you want
writing for a career,

It's practical day-to-day
experience that counts.

You learn more here in a year,

Than you will
at the university.

Son, you've made
a smart decision.

Your daughter tells me
she wants to be a nurse.

She'd make a good one, too.

Now, you got a son in college,
and one at music school,

And a daughter that's
gonna be a nurse.

I mean, not bad.

Darn tooting, that's not bad.

(John) john-boy. Daddy.

Joseph. Hey, john.

[Clears throat] well,
how's the food?

It's not like your
mama's, I'll tell you.

[Chuckles] you don't have
to tell me. I remember well.

Daddy, I'd like to
say something to you.

Sure.

Could I draw the curtain?

All right. Excuse us, joseph.

Sure.

Uh,

I don't think you're gonna
like what I have to say

But my mind is made up.

So I'd appreciate it if
you'd just listen to me.

Mr. Fletcher at the newspaper

Says that I can work for him
full time, starting tuesday.

Says he'll give me $ . A week

Plus money for my gas, 'cause I
travel more than miles a day.

He must think a lot of you,
making an offer like that.

Well, it was my idea.

I, uh,

I thought maybe that I would

Leave college for a year.

No.

[Sighing] just wait a minute.

I... I told you, I've
made up my mind.

Now, I think I can leave college

And work it out so that I
don't lose my scholarship.

Now, mr. Fletcher thinks
it's a wonderful idea.

He says a year of
practical experience

At the paper will
be very good for me.

And I don't need to
be in college to write.

I can write any
place that I've got

A... A piece of
paper and a pencil.

I can read anything
I want, it's... It's...

Well, I sort of look at this job

As the beginning
of my real career.

I'm looking forward
to working on the paper.

I said no.

Why not?

'Cause you're
kiddin' yourself, son.

You drop out for a year,
you may never get back.

Life has a way of tying you down

With responsibilities, john-boy.

This is your time. I'm not
gonna let you throw it away.

Daddy,

If I bring home that
money every week,

Then you won't have to
get rid of the new mill

Or the equipment.

And we can have walton
and sons lumber yard

Is that john walton?

As soon as you get
back on your feet.

They're havin' a disagreement.

The bank won't take
anything away from us

And the hospital won't even
have to wait for us to pay the bills.

No.

Please, would you just let me
do this thing for you and mama?

No!

All right, I can be as
stubborn as you can

And I'm telling you, my
mind is made up about it.

John-boy, I said, no!

I'm sorry, but my, but
it's, but it's already done.

Undo it!

I'm sorry, i... I... I... I don't really
want to talk about it anymore.

I wanna talk about it, son.

I'm sorry daddy, not now.
(John) you come back here.

Not now, I'm sorry.
Come back here!

Come...

Hi, john.

What's goin' on here?

Mama. Zeb.

Oh, there's ike godsey.

Well, I guess we
better get started

By puttin' up that
siding over there, huh?

Somebody show ike
how to drive a nail.

[Laughing] somebody show
zack how to use a hammer.

Go along, ike. I was born
with a hammer in one hand,

Fistful of nails in the other.

Built me a building
by the time I was .

Oh, yeah? What did
you build, a privy? No.

[All laughing]

A bear trap.

Oh, yeah, did you get any bears?

No. No bears where I come from.

It's too poor.

We were so poor nobody
ever d*ed. Couldn't afford to.

You ain't too poor
to work, are you? No.

Let's go.

Looks like they've come to help.

(Ike) let's get to work.

Who told them we needed help?

[Laughing] I don't know.

Excuse me.

Grandma.

Looks like we're gonna be
makin' a lot of coffee today.

Zebulon, come in here at...

Oh, that old fool.

[Grandpa laughing]

Oh, ike, you are a good man.

Well, we could have
done this or days ago

If you folks hadn't
been so all-fired proud.

Ike godsey, are you
responsible for this?

I wish in the future
you wouldn't go

Listenin' in on private
conversations.

John-boy, I don't have time

For any of your high fallutin',
philosophical conversations right now.

We're too busy.

And, uh, zeb, you know, I think
you could be more use to us

If you were dressed a
little bit, uh, less, uh, casual.

Well, I don't see
any ladies present,

But just for you, I
will put my pants on.

(Grandpa) thank you all. Ike,

Thank you very much.

You're welcome, john-boy.

Finished? Everything?

It's just sittin' there waiting
for you to go to work.

I can't believe it.

The bank agreed to give us a short
extension on the first payment.

There's only one
bad thing, though.

Mr. Catlett gave our
order to somebody else.

He did?

John walton, the
mill is sittin' there,

Waitin' for you to go to work.

Now, if there's one mr. Catlett,
there's bound to be .

Where am I ever gonna get
another order like that?

You better hurry up and get
out of here and start lookin'.

Otherwise, we might
end up in the tree house.

Wanna hear some good
news about john-boy?

You tell that son of
yours I wanna talk to him.

I brought you a
message from him.

He's startin' back to school.

He's gonna keep
his part-time job.

Mr. Fletcher was
kind of mad at him

But he said it was all right as
long as he didn't change his mind.

Liv, I wanna go home right now.

Only got another day to go.

My clothes are right over
there in that closet. Come on.

Oh, john, you can't
do that. Come on.

John, see?

Come on. John.

Come on. Doc mcivers
is gonna be mad at me.

[People applauding]

(John) "walton and
sons lumber yard."

That's something.

[John laughing]

Fellas, you done good.

(john-boy) the depression
wasn't over by a long sight

and prosperity wasn't
anywhere near around the corner

but we had taken a giant
step forward, as a family.

(Elizabeth) daddy?

(John) what is it, honey?

If you had d*ed
when you were sick,

Would you have gone
to heaven or hell?

I don't know. What do you think?

Well, you could have
probably made it to heaven.

Night, daddy.

Good night, elizabeth.

(Olivia) john, I really do
wish you'd start thinking

About goin' to
church on sundays.

Night, liv.

Night.