The Waltons

When I was growing up back in those

distant Depression years...

I always seemed to be a year or two younger...

than I wanted to be...

and a year or two older than my parents thought I was.

It tried my patience for a long time...

until one day, something happened

to my sister, Mary Ellen...

that helped me understand those feelings in myself.

I'm sorry.

Hi there. I'm Jamie.

Mary Ellen Walton.

You a stranger around here?

I'm traveling through. You okay?

I think so.

- You live nearby? - Up there.

Where are you from?

Here, there, and everywhere. I'm a traveling minstrel.

I'm trying to see as much of this world as my two feet...

and this sad excuse for a burro will take me to.

You just travel whenever you want to?

I'm trying to set down on paper...

all the old songs I hear from all over the world.

Now and again, I sing a song or two for my supper.

I'm late for mine. Goodbye.

I'm traveling, too. I'm going to Virginia Beach.

Hey, Daddy!

Apple cobbler tomorrow, everybody.

Liv, have I got news for you!

And how's your love story coming, John-Boy?

I tell you, I know how the hero feels, alright...

but I'm having a little trouble with how the girl feels

when he kisses her.

I thought maybe you could help me with it a little bit.

I'll tell you all about it later, John-Boy.

Liv, I spent the afternoon with old man Pickett.

Owns those apple orchards over in Earlysville.

I didn't think you could charm that old grouch out of anything.

I made a deal with him, a business deal.

He's got an orchard full of ripe apples.

He contracted a railroad car to haul them away...

all the pickers are busy over in Cumberland County.

It'd be a shame if all those apples rot on the trees.

They won't.

We're gonna pick them.

What are you all looking at? Turn around and eat your meal.

Once you finish, get yourself a good night's rest...

because tomorrow...

we're gonna pick us an orchard full of apples.

Can we keep some of the apples?

You can keep all you can eat, Ben.

- Oh, boy. - Apple cobbler.

Daddy, how're we going to pick a whole orchard full of apples?

Mighty fast, that's how.

And it's a lot of apples, a whole lot of apples.

I'm gonna need every one of you.

It's hard cash on the line if we deliver on time.

But that Pickett's a shrewd one.

He put a little hook in the deal.

What's old Pickett done? Glued his apples onto the trees?

He doesn't believe we can fill that contract.

So he's giving us a 10-cent bonus for every bushel we pick.

And you all get to keep every cent of that bonus.

Money, Ben.

But what happens if we don't pick them in time?

If we don't...

I owe him 50 cents for every bushel we leave on the tree.

That's an awful gamble, isn't it?

No gamble at all, Liv. Just look here.

We got a whole houseful of Waltons

who are very good at picking apples.

I'm gonna pick a million bushels.

I'll bet you are.

I'm sorry, but you can't. You're just 13 years old.

But Caroline Keswick is 16

and her cousin, Nancy Sue, is almost 18.

She lives in Richmond and she owns her own car.

I just don't think it's suitable...

for three young girls to be alone

for a whole week away from home.

But we have it all planned.

Have you planned your share of the expenses?

It's only $9.

That's more than we can spare right now, child.

Mama, I'm not a child.

I'm growing up, but nobody wants to let me.

Don't you understand this is the biggest...

most important thing that's ever happened to me?

You'll have plenty of chances...

when you're old enough to make your own decisions.

And right now, you got a chance to make some money.

That bonus I talked to you about.

Buy yourself a new dress or anything you want.

Besides, you'll be helping the family.

I want to get away from being stuck here.

Travel someplace. See people and places different...

than what I've seen and done ever since I could talk.

When will I ever get a chance like this again?

What I'm saying is not to be mean to you...

but to do what I think is right for you.

How would you know? I want to see the ocean, taste, listen.

You're so dumb to think I'd be happy to give that up...

just to pick apples!

Now listen here, young lady, if there's one thing I won't allow

it's a disrespectful child.

Now you go on off and think about what we've both said.

Go on, now!

If I could, I'd run away from home.

And as soon as I can, I'm going to!

Now listen here.

Let her be, John.

Words like that shouldn't be allowed to fester, Liv.

She needs some time to be alone.

- Good evening. - Hello.

You wouldn't happen to have a few mouthfuls of hay...

for a hungry burro, would you?

And something tasty for his master?

I can only sing for my supper.

Sure, help yourself to the hay.

We've already eaten supper...

but let me see if Mama's got something extra for you.

Come on.

- Hi. - Hi there.

- It's a beautiful song. - Thanks.

Did you sing for your supper?

I wasn't worth it. Your mama's a good cook.

The stars are like diamonds on velvet tonight.

The moon's up, too.

- Gonna be here in the morning? - For breakfast.

- Good night. - Good night, Mary Ellen.

How long have you been traveling around seeing things?

Since I was 15.

What's it like?

Every day is so different from the one before.

Good night, Jamie.

Maude Gormley.

She lives way out in the sticks

but she's the person you'd want to see.

You think she'd sing some of her old songs for me?

I mean, my being a stranger.

Maybe if one of us went with you.

And you're all busy.

And you probably want to get a good night's sleep

before tomorrow, too.

It sure has been nice talking to you all.

I haven't been on a front porch in a long time.

- Good night. - Good night, Jamie.

He said that when his ears are tired of listening...

and his eyes are tired of seeing

then he just might settle down someplace.

You think he's lazy, John-Boy?

He helped me with the chores without my asking.

Sure is full of wanderlust.

A lot of young people would like to travel these days

if they could.

Yeah.

Mike Hackett, he travels 40 miles a day...

to get a job that pays less than 50 cents an hour.

I know, hard times. I said, "if they could."

I guess Jamie's just busy doing something else...

than we're accustomed to.

Like writing down old Maude's songs.

You think her songs need writing down?

He thinks they do.

He's a nice-mannered boy.

- Ready for bed, Mary Ellen? - Yeah.

I wanted to say I'm sorry, Daddy, for sassing you

the way I did and being disrespectful.

That's all over with.

Can I kiss you good night?

I couldn't get to sleep without it.

You're gonna be all grown up before you know it, Mary Ellen.

I was looking at the stars.

You know, the stars are so far away...

that by the time the light from them gets here...

they're all blown up.

Gone.

That's how I feel about seeing things I want to see...

and doing things I want to do.

By the time I grow up, they won't be here.

- Good night, John-Boy. - Good night, Mary Ellen.

Maybe Mary Ellen could take Jamie up to Maude Gormley's.

I'm sure that'd be a real treat for her.

Can't do that, son.

Got a whole orchard full of apples just waiting on us.

I'm gonna turn in, too.

- Good night, Mama, Daddy. - Good night.

You know, Daddy...

I know what Mary Ellen means about those stars.

Good night.

Why don't you let her go?

I'll tell her in the morning.

We're gonna be one short tomorrow at picking apples.

Daddy's letting Mary Ellen show Jamie the way over