03x13 - The Visitor

[bunniefuu]

(john-boy) old friends were
treasured on walton's mountain,

and it was a pleasurable time
when people who had moved away

would come back
to visit or to remain.

[Children chattering] i remember
a time when friends,

both real and imaginary,

appeared in our village,

and how those friends
affected our lives.

(Jason) hey,
elizabeth, shake a leg!

(Mary ellen) she had
to wait for jimmy.

Jimmy? I don't know any jimmy.

Neither does anybody
else. She made him up.

Why would she make up a "jimmy"?

I don't know. Hey,
elizabeth, come on!

Go on. We're comin'.

Don't worry, jimmy.

We can walk as slow as we want.

Elizabeth, can I meet jimmy?

No.

Why not?

Because he's my friend
and I don't feel like it.

You know what, elizabeth?

What?

You're crazy.

You know, jimmy, you don't
have to talk to anybody but me.

When we get home,

We'll have a spelling lesson. I'll
teach you how to spell real good.

Then we'll have supper.

[Car approaching]

(John-boy) hey, don't
run in front of the car.

Get off of the hood of the car!

What did the big college man
learn today? I learned a lot.

You get any smarter today?
Sure can't tell by looking.

(Mary ellen) you're
home early, john-boy.

Yeah, they cancelled
my history class.

Hey, did, uh,

Any of you happen to
notice on the way to school,

If that door was open?

I never looked. Mmm-mmm, not me.

(John-boy) did you notice

If the window was up like that?

(Jason) no, none of
us. No one was around.

Why don't you fellows
check around in the front?

(Ben) ok.

Anybody home?

Anybody home?

It's really a nice house,
jimmy. It's just sort of...

Lonely.

Anybody home?

(Erin) it's been closed
up for so long.

(Mary ellen) like a tomb.

It's sort of scary.

I reckon not.

Nothing around front.

(Jim-bob) except
weeds taller than me.

It's like a jungle.

Ok. Well, we better
get back to the house.

(Elizabeth) I get the front
seat. Get off of that car.

Jim-bob, you get off the hood!

[All chattering]

[Honking]

(Jason) hey, grandma!

Hey! Come on, reckless.

(John) come on, what'd I tell
you about driving like that?

Thanks a lot,
john-boy. (Erin) thanks.

Hey, everybody, now
just hold on a minute!

I gave you a lift home, and
you can help me wash this car.

It looks like it's been
through the great w*r.

Fine. Sure, ok.

How come you're all so
fired quick to wash that car?

They wouldn't dream
of washin' anything else.

Change your clothes first.

And you girls better get started

Cleaning the
vegetables for supper.

I'll do it. I don't wanna
wash the car anyway.

Neither do i.

Well, mary ellen,
how do you feel

About not having any
more driving lessons?

That's blackmail.

That's right.

Creep.

Hey, daddy,

Do you happen to know
if anybody's been back

To open up the old
beardsley place?

Did you see anyone over there?

No, we passed by.
The window was up

And the back door was wide open.

You think maybe the
family's come home?

(Grandpa) nonsense!

We'd have heard about
it if they'd come home.

Oh, I looked around, but it didn't
seem like there was anybody there.

(John) I'll go by and
take a look later.

Ok.

(John-boy) ben, don't you
lean too heavy on that,

You'll fall right through.
Oh, it's ok, it can hold.

Jim-bob. Jim-bob, jim-bob.

Don't get any water in
there, will you please?

(Jim-bob) all right.

(Olivia) need some
help, grandma?

(Grandma) no,
thanks, livie, I'm fine.

Go on, sit down and rest a bit.

[Kids chattering]

Feels funny being the only
one without somethin' to do.

You can do these
if you want, mama.

No, thanks, erin,
you go right ahead.

Ben, you're pushing jimmy!

Well, if he's not gonna
help, he shouldn't stay here.

Jimmy?

He's an i-m-a-g-i-n-a-r-y
f... F-r-i-e-n-d.

(Ben) ooh!

John-boy, you do this
side of this window.

Seems to me I had a friend
like jimmy when I was her age.

You did? Mmm-hmm.

Well, then I don't see
how it can harm her,

Playin' games like that.

I don't see why it should.

Daddy, did john-boy tell you

We saw the door

To the old beardsley
place open today? Yes, he did.

Wouldn't it be nice if
they moved out here?

Well, I hope they do.

I was always partial
to mason beardsley.

Nice man.

Delia's a lovely woman.

(Grandpa) they hadn't
ought to moved out of here

In the first place.

I imagine that boy
james lee draggin' 'em off

Just because he wanted
to move to atlanta.

They were much too old
to stay there by themselves.

Ben.

Young man, I beg your pardon,

But the beardsleys are
precisely the same age

As your grandma and me.

Well, you wouldn't want to
live by yourselves, would you?

No, I wouldn't, but, uh,

Your grandma and I
could manage if we had to.

Age is all in the mind.

Well, not exactly,
but, uh, partly so.

Well, all we gotta do

Is hose her down and she'll
be finished. She looks good.

And as soon as we're
through, I get my driving lesson.

I didn't say when you could
have your driving lesson.

Well, that's not fair.

No, you can have one,
but it's gonna be short.

I got a lot of studyin'
to do. Don't do that!

Jimmy, when mary ellen has her
driving lesson, you get out of the way.

She's just a beginner.

Ok, turn on the water.
Ok, hit the water.

Let's go, ben. Come
on, get the water...

[Elizabeth shrieking]

I know you're gonna die!

[Elizabeth laughing]

Come on. Stop it. Stop that.

Stop it. Turn that water off!

I'll k*ll him! I'll
k*ll him! I'll k*ll him!

(Ike) you got a lot of things
you want here, mr. Beardsley.

Let's see, uh, coffee...

Oh, ike, I need some screws
to help fix the barn door

Mason beardsley. I knew it!

[Laughing] I knew that
it had to be you.

Zeb walton, my old friend.

Ooh, now that the mystery
is solved, welcome home.

You're lookin' in the
prime, zeb. How's esther?

Oh, she's still kickin', and,

And delia, how is she?

Beautiful.

And... And fine.
Thank you kindly.

[Chuckling]

Zeb, you don't age.

I don't dare to.

And that john and
olivia and the children?

Yeah, all of 'em, just fine.

And... And john-boy, he's
going off to college.

Oh, no, no, now.

We can't have been
gone that long.

[Zeb sighing] well, it's
been quite a while.

It's about, uh,
years, mr. Beardsley.

Well, I don't count
the time past.

That's over.

We're home, zeb.

Yeah, the sweetest word
in the language: home.

Yes, sir.

[Both laughing]

Bring everything
in here, I guess.

It's good to set foot
over your threshold again.

Thank you, zeb.

Put the groceries right here.

Thank you kindly.

Don't mind lending
a hand to you.

Smells musty in here.

Could do with a little air.

[Grunts]

It's stuck. Give me
a hand here, mason.

There you go.

Well, anything else
I can help you with?

No, you've done enough
already, zeb. Thank you.

Helping me bring
all this stuff home.

Say, as soon as you get
through fussin' around here,

I think you'd better come
over to our house for supper.

Oh, not tonight,
zeb. Thank you kindly.

I... I... I really want
to be right here.

It'll be lonely for you here.

I could never be lonely here.

I know how you feel.

Once in a while,

Once in a great
while, I find myself

At home, alone.

I go on around through
all the empty rooms,

And all the time I can hear
the sound of their voices.

Sort of the echo of 'em.

Oh, we never dreamed

We'd be gone anywhere
near this long.

Hey, it's still kind
of dark in here.

Let's open it up.
"Let there be light."

Hey, how... How...
How's james lee?

Oh, he's well. He thrives.

James lee sells real
estate, do you know that?

Yeah, I heard about that
somewhere or other.

James lee would do well
wherever he set down.

If he landed on the moon,

First thing he'd do would be to
set out a sign saying "for sale."

For sale. For sale.

I suppose he's sold on living
down there in atlanta, huh?

Indeed he is. It's
home to him now.

But never to us.

Never to delia and me.

This picture here of delia.

I remember them
pearls around the neck.

You got those o-over at
virginia beach, didn't you?

We always planned
on goin' back there.

Well, it's not so far away.
You may get there yet again.

I've grown old, zeb.

But delia... Delia's
beauty endures.

I yearn to see her.

I remember dancin'
with her once.

The sun shinin' in her hair
and the perfume. The flowers.

Well, she's still the
loveliest of ladies.

Delia just doesn't change.

You'll see.

[Sighing]

I was getting ready to send
out a search party for you.

[Laughing] oh, I'm sorry.

But you know, the
mystery is solved.

Mason beardsley is back.

He is? Yeah, I ran across him
down at ike godsey's store.

Oh, here, before I
forget. The screws.

He was buyin' out the
store. Mason, I mean.

He and his wife, delia, are
coming back here for good.

How is he?

Well, he's fine, I guess.

Somethin' wrong?

Oh, I don't know.
Maybe just because

I ran across him again
after so many years away...

Oh, he looks almighty old.

I suppose I look
the same way to him.

Probably.

Well, you certainly
are a comfort

To an old boy today, aren't you?

Sorry, pa. Well.

Looks don't matter as
long as you feel like always.

Oh, esther,

Hey, mason beardsley
is coming back

And his wife, delia,
is going to join him.

Oh, that's good.
That's real good.

H-how is he? Oh, he's
fine, I guess, hmm.

Esther.

What is it?

You know that eucalyptus oil

That you've been
rubbin' on your chest?

Well, what about it?

Stop usin' it.

Well, it's for my pleurisy.
You just want me to suffer?

No, I want you to smell the
way I always remember you.

And how did you remember?

Like a crabapple tree in april.

Oh, good lord!

Zeb, what have you been up to?

Esther, you are of
a suspicious nature.

You always used to smell so good

And I miss it.

Well, I didn't used
to have pleurisy.

Well, thank heaven for memories.

Zeb, are you feelin' all right?

Well, I may feel a trifle blue.

Runnin' across mason
again after all these years

Makes me want to bring
back all of the good ol' days.

You old fool.

I was just goin' to
collect some eggs.

Now, you come along
with me. Come on.

All right.

Thank you for the beautiful day,

And not letting it rain
so we could play outside

And for the food that
we have to eat. Amen.

(All) amen.

And please make it so everyone
leaves enough for jimmy.

(John-boy) pass the bread
down here, will you, please?

Why can't jimmy
eat invisible food?

It gives him
ingi... Indigestion.

Well, he's not gonna have
any of mine, that's for sure.

(Erin) he can have my spinach.

(Mary ellen) I'm
bored with jimmy.

He said the same about you. Oh.

You know, I have a
feeling I know who jimmy is.

I think he's the person that says
what elizabeth would like to say,

But thinks she
can't get away with.

[Tapping glass] attention.
Attention, everybody.

Jimmy, listen to grandpa.

Thank you, jimmy.

John-boy, you know you
thought you saw someone

Over at the beardsley place?

Well, it was mason
beardsley himself.

Mason? Did you see him?

Saw him down at
ike godsey's store.

He's down there buyin' out
half the store, gettin' ready

Before delia gets back here.

And that is what I wanted
to talk to you about.

Oh, grandpa.

"Oh, grandpa?" What
does that mean?

I have a feeling
you're gonna ask us

To help mr. Beardsley
around his house.

Right, the first time.

[All protesting] quiet down now.

The place is a mess, pa.

There's been nobody
around to keep it up.

Oh, there's plenty
to do down there, yes.

But I think if we get together
here over the weekend,

We can clear the place out and
get it ready for the beardsleys.

I'm sorry, grandpa, but I got
homework to do all this weekend.

Somethin' to learn, huh?

Well, do you recollect

Who it was that taught
you to tie a trout fly?

(Ben) it was you, and I was
about years old at the time.

No. It was mason
beardsley himself.

And I'll expect you,
saturday mornin'

Right after breakfast,
to go to work over there.

Mr. Beardsley didn't
teach me anything.

(Grandpa) that's
not to say he won't.

You'll be there, too, jim-bob,

And the rest of you.

What about helpin' mama here?

I think I can lend you out
to grandpa this one time.

Uh, how long do you reckon it
will take to clean the place up?

If you all pitch in, it
should only take a day.

That's why I want
you all to help.

Well, I'll... I'll
tell you what.

Uh, ben and jim-bob, you do the
fireplaces and I'll take care of the weeds.

Wait a minute, you
can do the fireplaces.

I did the fireplaces at the...
(Grandpa) and the plumbin'.

[Boys arguing]

(John) and it connects
up here, runs along.

Could be broken

Or run through with
roots after all this time.

I carried water in last night,

But that'd be far too
difficult for delia.

Nothing serious,
I'm sure, mason.

Well, you don't
think of the problems.

One day you just say,

"Let's go back
home," and you go.

Yeah, we'll fix
the pipes for you.

John, I'll fetch
us a pickin' shovel.

You have nothing
else to do, I know, john.

We're real pleased to
have you home, mason.

Well, john-boy, you
need some more stuff.

You know, you ought
to have an extra bucket.

If you're gonna
do all that cleanin',

You gotta have
another one of these.

Well, I don't know, ike, mama just
said to get the ammonia and the soap.

No, no, I think you
should have another mop,

And, uh, then you got the soap and
the polish and the other stuff up there.

And, oh, whatever you don't
need, you just bring it back.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

You know, it's
gonna be real nice

When the beardsleys
come back home, you know?

Oh, yeah, I just...

I really hated to
pass that old house

On the road there. Nobody in it.

Looked like it was dyin'.

Well, it's gonna
be full of life now

With mrs. Beardsley coming back.

I purely love that lady.

Yeah, she's a special woman.

You know, I used to... I used to

Deliver butter and eggs
over there for mama.

You know, most
customers they just, uh,

Come and meet you at the
door, but she wasn't that way.

She used to invite me in,
even though I was just a kid.

Sometimes she'd
have a magazine for me

With a story in it
she thought I'd enjoy.

Nope, they don't make better
ladies than mrs. Beardsley.

That's the truth.

What's that you're saying
about the beardsleys?

Hey, miss minnie.

Hi, miss minnie. We
were just sayin'

It was nice to have
mr. Beardsley back.

I can't believe I
heard you right.

(John-boy) oh, yes. We're
fixing up the house

For when mrs.
Beardsley gets here.

[Sighing] you know, I could
hardly believe it when they left,

And now you say
they're back? Uh-huh.

Well, then why in the world
hasn't somebody come to get me?

Well, to tell you the
truth, I don't know.

I guess, maybe... Don't bother
me with your guess. You'd...

Do you know no one has ever taken
care of miss delia's house but me?

Are you sure
everything is all right?

(John-boy) yeah.

How long has
mr. Mason been back?

Uh,

I think he just got here
yesterday. Yesterday.

John-boy, come with me.

(John-boy) where?

Let's go see mr. Mason.

Come on. Come,
come, come. All right.

Well, now, wait a second.

Hey, you got your
bucket and your mop here,

And we gotta get that other
stuff. All right. All right.

Good morning. Good
morning. Morning. Morning.

Morning. Where is he?

Why, he's inside.

(Minnie) good
morning, mrs. Walton.

Miss minnie. Oh, am I glad to
see you. I never saw such a mess.

Oh, we got our work
cut out for us, don't we?

Hello, miss minnie.
Hi, mrs. Walton.

Good to see you.

Mr. Mason. Mr. Mason!

Oh, miss minnie.

Nobody came to tell me.

I should have. I'm sorry.

Is everything all
right, mr. Mason?

Oh. Oh, yes, indeed.

Oh, I'm so glad to see you.

You haven't changed a bit.

I wish that was true.

Miss delia. When is
she getting here?

Oh, pretty soon.

I just wanted to have
everything perfect for her.

Yes, I know. I worked for
you and miss delia for years.

I missed you every
day you've been gone.

We're too old to
change much, mr. Mason.

I sure would like it if you
would let me come in here

And help you get the
place ready for miss delia.

Well, fine. It'll be
just like the old days.

Right, so let me just
go put this stuff down

And I'll be right back.

Hey, mama?

Oh, thank you, john.
Here's some fresh water.

John-boy,

Years do make a difference.

Zeb tells me you're in college.

Yes, sir. Boatwright university.

I'm a journalism student.

Delia will be so pleased.

You were always a
favorite of hers, you know?

Feeling's mutual.

(John) john-boy, come here!

I, uh... I guess my
daddy needs me outside.

See you later.

Here's your firewood,
miss minnie. Thank you.

Just put it right down here.

John-boy. Yes, ma'am?

How well do you remember
mr. Mason and miss delia?

Oh, well, I reckon I've
known 'em since I was born.

Does he seem... Does he
seem the same to you?

Well, sure.

He's a little distracted maybe,

But that's probably because he's
trying to get everything ready in time.

[Tsking]

[Sighs]

Well, mr. Mason never was much
good without miss delia around.

You know, in a funny
kind of way, they...

They always reminded me of
my own grandma and grandpa.

Maybe a little more delicate.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

[Door opening]

It'll be a little while yet.

All those pipes is
rusted through.

Let me help you with this.

Oh.

We both have missed you so much.

I knew it was a
mistake when you left

To let james lee haul
you off to the city.

I told him so, but
he wouldn't listen.

Now, I know this is
gonna sound silly,

But I was real worried

That miss delia wouldn't
do well living in atlanta.

There's not much time left.

Excuse me.

Sit down. Rest yourself.

Oh, it's my turn to

[Engine revving] handle that
shovel for a while, zeb.

Now...

We won't do a lick of work till
they get back with those pipe fittings.

And they'll be just like
all the other plumbers.

This is good, zeb.

Yes, they'll be gettin'
better for you. Hmm.

Mmm-hmm. Everything's
pretty much the same.

Well, except for one
thing it's missin', uh, :

Esther and your delia sittin'
there on the front porch,

Rockin' away and
settlin' the fate

Of everybody else
on walton's mountain.

[Both chuckling]

I can almost hear 'em.

Mmm-hmm.

And me grindin' away
with the ice-cream freezer.

You always used to
sit right over there.

Sittin' right there with it
gripped between my legs

And grindin' away.

That splendid,
slow rhythm of mine.

It was never once a failure.

Oh, well, except maybe
for a speck or of rock salt

That'd get into the ice-cream.

Of course, that just
showed that it was homemade.

Yeah. How I miss those times.

Yes, and from now on

They are goin' to be better.

Miss minnie is right.

We shouldn't have
listened to him.

We both knew it was
wrong. How's that?

Well, delia and i, we should
never have left home.

Well, your boy james
lee thought he was doin'

What was best for
you and delia to move.

But we shouldn't have gone.

Well, you're here now.
That is the important thing.

Here. Today. Now.

There's no sense railin' away

And complaining about
things that are past.

What about all that
time between, zeb?

It was wasted.
Shouldn't have been.

Delia and I should
never have left.

There, there, now, old friend.

"The heart, it is a
wondrous thing."

Everything else about
us seems to get aged.

The body complains, the
mind rebels, if you let it.

But in your heart, you can seek
things the way they always were.

"Earth is the right
place for love."

Oh, gentle place
it is, the heart.

Hey, where do you
think you're goin'?

Jimmy, you don't
have to speak to him.

Oh, now I get it. You
and that friend of yours

Are trying to get
out of doing any work.

Come on, jimmy, he doesn't
understand anything.

I think I'll make me up a
guy and hand him this rake.

Alfred. That's
what I'll call him.

Here, alfred, it's your
turn to rake for a while.

Hey, what do you
think you're doin'?

It's alfred's turn to work.

Alfred, huh?

Yeah, he's jimmy's brother.

Except, he's older and stronger.

He'll be done with
the yard in no time.

Just look at him go.

Well, just in case he isn't,

Why don't you give him a hand?

Nice pal you turned
out to be, alfred.

I mind the way you
and delia waltzed.

Smooth and easy, graceful-like.

You didn't need the music.

You yourself were like
holdin' a feather, esther.

[Laughing] no such thing.

Indeed you were.

You were my favorite
dancing partner,

After delia.

That was a long time ago, mason.

Not to me.

Oh.

I've missed delia.

You get to be my age,

It's nice to have someone around
who remembers the old times.

We'll have a picnic
as soon as she comes.

You and zeb, delia and me.

Just like the old days.
And I know just the spot.

Esther, do you still have
that pink and white dress?

It had little stripes.

You looked like
a candy cane in it.

Oh, mason,

I haven't seen that dress
since before the w*r.

Well, there's a bit of it in that quilt
I made for mrs. Breckenridge but...

Dust rags, the rest of 'em,

And they've seen
better days, too.

You could wear that dress.

And delia, she has
one with little, uh,

Lavender-colored flowers on it.

The of you will look like...

Like the personification
of spring.

Oh, mason, it's lovely of
you to remember, but, uh,

Those days really
are gone forever,

Along with those dresses.

Well, for me, anyway.

Not for delia, not for her.

Esther, i... I feel
kind of tired.

Would you excuse me? I
think I'll have me a little rest.

Look, jimmy, it's like
a regular house.

[Birds chirping]

[Water rippling]

Sit down.

You know, jimmy,

When I grow up, I'm gonna
live in a house like this

In a nice, quiet place.

And you'd live with me, too.

Of course, I'd still
be older than you,

So I'd have to take care of you.

Let's sit in the
swing for a while.

[Swing creaking]

It'll be real nice.

We'll have a cow
just like chance.

And a dog.

Maybe we could borrow
reckless from mama and daddy.

And I could learn how
to make applesauce cake,

And then we could
invite them to supper.

And you could peel
the apples like I do now.

When we get a little older,

You could get someone
littler to do that part.

[Leaves rustling]

Uh-oh, better go. I think the
people who own the house are comin'.

And they might get
mad at us for bein' here.

Ah. All set, pa.

Oh.

This pump's older than I am.

Yeah.

Well, give a thought that
this primin' water will work.

Stay right where you are.

Miss minnie, may I explain
to you the advantages

Of having runnin'
water in the kitchen?

In and out one door,
in and out the other.

Would it be too much just to
mess up in front of one door?

My apologies. But if I am
successful with this primin', uh,

This will be the last time
I'll gallivant through here.

[Laughing] why don't you just
go on in and fix the pump?

I accept your thanks.

Oh, miss minnie, I'm sorry.

Every time I get
started at home,

One of the children comes
straight... It's all right.

If you just back up a
little bit it'll be all right.

I was lookin' for my little girl,
elizabeth. Have you seen her anywhere?

Oh, yes, she just came by here

Lookin' for cookies for her
and her baby brother, jimmy.

Left here with a handful.

How old is the baby? Jimmy?

He's invisible. She made him up.

She's the littlest,
so I guess she felt

She had to have someone to take
care of or yell at once in a while.

I really like the way
children make things up.

Like a regular storybook.

I remember one
time, my girl, rosie,

I said to her, "how is
your friend, wilma?"

Now, she'd been talking
to wilma since she was tiny.

She looked at me like
I was out of my mind.

She says: "mama, wilma
is just a made-up person.

And I unmade her. So
don't you ask me about her."

[Both laughing]

I really... It really made me
kind of sad when she said that.

I know. I guess it's a
sign they're growin' up.

I hate to think of
elizabeth gettin' older.

Well, they can be as much
pleasure when they're older.

If you know them
and they know you.

Now, james lee, mr. Mason's boy.

I don't think he knows
his mama or his papa well.

'Cause he moved 'em to atlanta.

I don't know why, but
I get a real bad feelin'

When I think about miss
delia livin' away from here.

Grandma.

Oh, good lord, look what
I did to your clean floor.

It's all right, mrs.
Walton. It's all right.

Well, I'm about done.

You ready to go, livie?

I am, grandma.

We've got to get home and
get started on our own house.

Let's go.

Have you seen elizabeth? No.

Mama, jimmy's hungry.

Excuse me, miss minnie.

I dirtied up your floor.

No, I think I'm beginning
to like it that way.

Makes a place
look more lived-in.

Let's go say goodbye to mason.

Oh, he said he was
goin' to take a rest.

I saw him out back
by the stream.

Will you say goodbye
to him for us, miss minnie?

Sure, will. Elizabeth,
go find john-boy

And tell him to hurry. Ok.

You can come this way.

[Chuckling]

Miss minnie, I'm, uh,
worried about mason.

Will you, uh, keep
a special eye open?

Don't you worry about it.

I'll make sure
things are all right,

And when miss delia gets
here, they're bound to be.

Come on, everybody,
it's time to go home.

Come on, zeb. Come on.

All right.

You know, esther, I hate to
go without sayin' goodbye to...

Now, you can come back later,

And then you can ask him if
he'd like to have supper with us.

Right now, we got
to be gettin' on home.

Esther... Now, zeb,
he's takin' a rest.

Miss minnie will keep
an eye on him. Come on.

All right, all right. If you're so
all-fired hurry to get on home,

Keep on doin' what
you've been doin' all day,

Well, let's get movin'.

(Grandma) oh, stop it.

John-boy, hurry up.

Your grandma wants to get home.

Come on. Shake a leg.

We're comin'.

Hop on, honey.

Don't forget jimmy.

All right, here's jimmy.

Say "thank you."

You're welcome.

Well, I'm gonna
walk on down to ike's

And return this
to him. All right?

All right. See you later.

(Ike) john-boy, you sure
look all tuckered up.

I am. So's everybody else.

The house is lookin'
pretty good, though.

We didn't use that bucket.

There was one in the garage.

Mama used just about
everything else, though,

Except for the furniture polish.

Oh, I'm glad you took
it, really, though.

It's no fun runnin'
out of somethin'

When you're right
in the middle of a job.

Mmm-hmm.

There somethin' else
you need? Mmm-mmm.

Know what, you know something?
I could use some pencils.

I hate to run out right in the
middle of writing something.

I guess I can take care of that.

[Phone ringing] you
know, it's funny.

You'd think in a house as big as ours,
you'd be able to keep track of 'em.

But I can't do that.

You know, elizabeth,
of course she uses 'em.

She loses hers so
she takes one of mine,

And ben chews on
his so he takes them.

And mary ellen's
haven't... Ike godsey's...

Got any erasers. General
merchandise store.

Of course erin doesn't ever
let me have any... Yes, speaking.

'Cause they're in her little
box. It's james lee beardsley.

Hmm? Hi, james lee, how are you?

Long time, no see.

Oh, your dad? Oh,
sure, he's here.

He's been here a couple of days.

Oh, he's just fine. I never
saw him look better.

Well, everybody's
taking care of him.

There's miss minnie doze and...

And all the waltons.

He's just fine. He really is.

You're... You're
comin' down here?

You're comin' right away, huh?

Well, listen, I wanted
to know about your...

Your mother.

He says he's comin' here.

[Crickets chirping]

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Mason!

Oh, miss minnie.

I thought you'd left hours ago.

I did. But I got to thinkin'
about you and I got worried.

[Laughing] well, there's
no need to worry.

What you going to
have for supper?

Oh, I'm not really
hungry, but thank you.

You've got to eat.

If you don't, you'll get sick.

Now, why don't I just
fix you a little something,

And leave it on the
back of the stove?

No, thank you, really.

I don't want to hear,
"no, thank you," mr. Mason.

You have got to eat.

When delia wakes up,
she'll fix us something.

Miss delia?

Yeah, she's just
havin' a little nap.

Oh, I can't wait to
lay my eyes on her.

When did she get here?

Oh, earlier.

B-but she's very tired from
her trip. I'm sure you understand.

Some other time
would be better, really.

Oh, yeah.

Well, uh...

[Stuttering] oh, I'm
so glad she's here.

It makes all the difference.

Yes, well, you...
You give her my love,

And tell her I'll
be by to see her.

Hey, grandpa.

Hey, john-boy.

Just out lookin'
for some mushrooms.

Finish your homework?

Yes, I did.

You see mr. Beardsley today?

No. I didn't. I went over
there right after church.

Kind of snuck out
on your grandma,

But he must have gone
off visitin' somewhere.

Well, maybe james lee got here.

Well, he could have, I guess,

If he left atlanta last
night and drove all night.

[Stuttering] but I don't
know. I just don't know.

I don't know.

Who knows?

Grandpa, how long have
you known mr. Beardsley?

Beardsley? Me? Well,

Since long before you was born.

I suppose you think we're...

We're pretty much
different, but we're unalike.

We're real good
friends, you know.

I just happened to live a
different life than mason

[Laughing] and I grew
up with you all.

But mason, he was
a lawyer, you know.

A real good man,
had a fine practice.

He used to say to me, "zeb, I
wish I had your skill with tools."

Funny thing, around the house
he was never any earthly good,

While, little,
fragile delia of his

Could hammer a nail
better than he could.

But he had a wonderful gentle
touch with... With small things.

I've seen him sit for hours

And tie the most
wonderful trout flies,

And he loved the outdoors.

Why, him and me, we used to come
up here when we was just boys,

And later on with his
delia and my esther,

And they'd fix
us a picnic basket

And we'd set up here on
sundays just admiring the scenery

And enjoyin' ourselves.

Well, you'll be able to do
that again soon, won't you?

I don't know, john-boy.

I... I just don't
know about him.

You see, the difference
between mason and me is

Somethin' you couldn't
see just by lookin' at us.

I've always enjoyed going
around, talking to everybody I know,

Even take a little nip of the
recipe now and then and again.

And that way, life with esther
seemed to be a lot better.

But not mason. No, sirree.

He never wanted to do anything

Unless delia was there
to do it along with him.

They never wanted to be away
from one another one minute.

As a matter of fact, he retired
years before he had ought to,

Just so he could spend
more time with her.

You think there's
somethin' wrong with that.

Well, I didn't used to.

The fact is, I used to think

Maybe I didn't love
your grandma enough,

Wanting to hang on to a little
bit of my own independence.

But now, maybe I'm right.

Especially when you see
yourself gettin' older,

There's always the chance

That one or another of
you might be left alone.

[Sighs] I just don't know.

I just don't know, john-boy.

Jimmy, can't you see I'm busy?

The baby needs
taking care of. Now...

Sit down on the rocker
and wait your turn.

There you go. She had a bubble.

Now we can sit
together and have tea,

And I'll get everything ready.

(Mr. Beardsley) delia?

You out here, delia?

My name's not
delia, mr. Beardsley.

My name's elizabeth.

Oh.

It's lovely here, isn't it?

So peaceful.

Me and jimmy were just playin'.

Uh...

Jimmy was going
to get up anyway.

[Sighs]

So you like this
place, too, huh?

It's nice.

Many's the hot summer's night we
used to come out here after supper,

Delia and i,

And sit cool till we got drowsy.

We'll do that again now.

Me and jimmy only
come in the daytime.

We aren't allowed out at night.

Well, maybe if delia
spoke to your mother,

She'd allow you to
join us here one evening.

Jimmy's just a pretend
friend, you know.

I made him up 'cause I get
tired of bein' the youngest.

But I think I'll
disappear him now.

I forgot I had this doll.

She's even smaller.

We'll have a lovely time.

Maybe your grandma and
grandpa would like to join us, too.

I could ask them.
I have to go now.

Well... Well, it's been
nice talking to you.

Um, i, uh...

You know, delia and I

Haven't seen you since
you were real little.

Probably you don't
even remember us.

I do, kind of.

Bye, now. Bye-bye.

I was hopin' you'd finished
your weedin' by now.

I keep hopin' I will, too.

Well, supper's just simmerin'.

I think I feel
like a little walk.

Where's grandpa?

Oh, he wandered off
about an hour ago.

He's been mighty
thoughtful all day.

Mama,

Why is it you have to plant
flowers but weeds just grow?

Where'd you get
such a smart question?

I don't know. I wish I knew
the answer to it, honey.

Is jimmy still with you?

No, he vanished.

Hey, mrs. Beardsley's home.

Did you see her?

No,

But mr. Beardsley said
she'd ask us to tea some time.

That'd be nice when
she gets settled in.

Olivia.

Well, james lee, how are you?

Well, thank you.

My goodness, mrs. Walton.

James lee. How are you?

And is that... Elizabeth.

My, you've grown
since I saw you last.

Olivia, is, um, is john home?

He's in the house.

Have you been to the house yet?

No, i, uh, I was
goin' to go, but, uh,

I wanted to talk
to you all first.

Elizabeth, go find grandpa.

Come on inside, james lee.

(Olivia) john,

James lee's here. He
wants to talk to you.

James lee. I thought
I heard a car.

John, how are you?
Good to see you, james.

Good to see you.

Sit down. Have some
coffee. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

The drive from
atlanta is not easy.

Lookin' real good,
james lee. Thank you, livie.

Been over to the house?

We were there cleanin' it up the
other day. Your pa seemed to like that.

Well, john, i...
James lee beardsley,

Whenever did you get here?

Just a minute ago, mr. Walton.

John-boy. We heard
you were comin'.

Have you seen your daddy
yet? Well, no, that's, uh,

That's what I wanted
to talk to you all about.

Here's your coffee,
james lee. Here, sit down.

Thank you. Thank you, livie.

[Chuckles] well, I declare.

It sure is good to
see all of you again.

It's good to see you.

I wish there was some easy way
to say what I have to say, but...

[Sighing] you probably noticed

That my father is
not exactly himself.

(Olivia) well, he did
seem kind of lonely.

But now that your mother's
here, I guess he's all right.

Is that what he's been sayin'?

(Grandma) you mean she's not?

My mother's been
dead over years now.

I... I don't believe
that. Why...

We've all been making
ready for her. We...

I know. I... I'm sorry.

Uh, I knew this would...
This would be a shock but...

Esther, it's all right.

Oh, zeb.

She d*ed very quietly.

But, uh, father, he's...

He's never been
able to accept it.

Keeps lookin' for her.

He wandered all over atlanta,

Searchin', lookin',

Certain that he'd find her,

In a store, in the
park, anywhere.

That's mighty hard
on you, james lee.

Well, because I can't help him.

I can't comfort him. He
won't believe she's gone.

Sometimes he'll tell
me he's seen mother

And she'll be coming
along any time now.

So he's alone, after all.

I should have known that he'd
come back here to walton's mountain.

Must have thought
he'd surely find her here.

I guess he feels very
close to her in that house.

Yeah.

(Grandpa) what are you
going to do, james lee?

I don't know, sir.

He won't want to leave
here, I promise you that.

I know where he is.

Elizabeth?

Well, honey,

How do you know
where mr. Beardsley is?

Jimmy and i...

I mean, I was playing
down by the creek,

Where the chairs are
and the swing, uh-huh.

And mr. Beardsley came.

Yeah, down by the house.

Well, I'd guess
that... James lee,

Let me go.

There you are, mason.

Oh, zeb, sit down.

I got good news for you.

Your boy, james lee, just
drove in from atlanta.

I'll not see him, zeb.

He's worried about you, mason.

He shouldn't be.

We're fine, delia and me.

Mason, delia is not here.

She is to me, zeb.

That's it. Pull it under.

Mama,

Why is it wrong to
pretend, to make-believe?

You mean like jimmy?

And mr. Beardsley.

He pretends.

Well, it's all right
to pretend, elizabeth,

As long as you
know it's pretending.

Hmm? Mmm-hmm.

Ok. Now, what do you
mean by "underneath"?

Well, you know what
you do. You just pull...

Pull the needle
through, but on this side.

Esther, you seem to
be way off somewhere.

[Sighing]

Poor mason.

Yes, esther.

I wonder, would...

Would you come looking for me?

Wouldn't have to.

Knowing you, you
wouldn't go without me.

[Exhaling]

(john-boy) a short time later,
mr. Beardsley was released

from his search on this earth,

and we all came to
feel that he, at last,

found his delia.

as I look back now
at all the lessons

we were to learn
on walton's mountain,

i recall with
increasing gratitude

that our parents and
grandparents were there

to shed light and make clear
what we couldn't understand.

(Elizabeth) you still
awake, john-boy?

(John-boy) yes, elizabeth.

You always write what's
true, or make-believe?

Sometimes I make-believe.

It's called fiction.

It's all right if you
know it's make-believe.

Thank you,
elizabeth. Good night.

Good night, john-boy.

Good night, mama.

(Olivia) good night, elizabeth.

Goodnight, grandma, grandpa.