The Waltons

- Any sign of them? - Nothing.

Me neither. I walked about three miles down that way.

- What did you find? - Nothing but this.

It's one of the oars from the boat.

In the late spring of 1940,

our world on Walton's Mountain was very quiet and uneasy.

For the first time ever, people stopped work in the daytime

to turn on the radio.

The war in Europe had seemed to be hibernating

until suddenly, on the 10th of May,

the Germans invaded Belgium

and the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

By the 10th of June, they had enslaved all three,

and driven the British and French forces into the sea

and were marching into Paris.

To all purposes, the free world in Europe

now consisted only of the British Isles.

And just as suddenly, at least it seemed so,

here at home there were no more pacifists, no isolationists.

The little ocean between us and the Nazi terror

was not very wide anymore.

People were beginning to feel that the time had come

to help whatever allies we had,

and to be ready when the attack turned on ourselves.

Hope we're not interrupting

your housework, Olivia.

You are, and I don't mind in the least.

We considered most carefully our calling at this time of day,

but we decided the matter was most urgent.

What matter is that, Miss Emily?

What matter was it, Mamie?

Well, Sister and I can scarcely bear

to look at the newspapers anymore.

Down in Norfolk, why, it's just like 1917 all over again.

They say the Navy alone has 22,000 people working,

that don't include the women and young ones.

We are so distressed

about our cottage at the seashore.

Someone should be using it.

Probably is a real shortage of houses down that way.

Of course, we haven't gone down to see it.

Last summer, we had a man remodel the kitchen.

And he said if we added a screen porch

and did something about the other bedrooms,

the cottage could accommodate quite a number of people.

He sent this list of materials that would be needed.

When Mr. Roosevelt made that speech

at Charlottesville yesterday

about everybody pitching in and harnessing the resources, I...

It was like he was pointing his finger right at Sister and me.

- Mmm? - Our cottage, that's a resource.

We've got the lumber,

the siding, the nails, everything except the screening.

You just tell me where you want it and when.

Well, it isn't just the lumber, John,

what we really need is you.

If you'd go down there and do the work yourself,

then Sister and I could be sure it was being done properly.

I'm much obliged, ladies,

but this looks like a couple of weeks work to me.

I don't like being away from the family that long.

Your family wouldn't be fond of it, either.

John, if we took the boys along to help,

we'd get it done in, say, 10 days.

Well, with them pitching in, Pa,

we'd probably do it in a week at the outside.

Is your cottage big enough for an army of Waltons?

Oh, the cottage is plenty big enough,

and everything there that you would need.

Then we are all going.

So, if everything goes alright,

we'll be going to the seashore. The whole family.

That's great! We're going to the beach!

- When are we going? - Not until tomorrow morning.

That is, if we get enough lumber.

I wish Curt and I could go with you.

Not with the baby due any day. We're staying close to home.

I hope we'll be near a phone if anything starts to happen.

While us men are working, what will the girls do?

Listen, I've got an idea.

Remember last time we went to Virginia Beach

on Mama's honeymoon? Let's make it up to her.

Let's not let her do any work at all.

That sounds like a fine idea to me.

That is a splendid idea, Elizabeth.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

What's the matter, son, don't you want to go?

Oh, sure. I was just thinking.

Look out, everybody. Old Ben's thinking again.

Well, the trouble is, we all just can't pack up and go.

There's chores to be done.

You got to feed the stock, milk the goat and the cow.

Put the chickens away at night. Just keep an eye on the house.

You sound like you're volunteering.

The job has to be done. You got to be practical, I always say.

Ben, you're growing up.

Maybe there's more to it than that.

I hate to think of you rattling here by yourself.

We're not that far away.

He'll probably take all his meals at our house.

I'll be fine, Mama. What could possibly happen?

I'll race you!

- Don't go too far! - Too late! Too late, Livie.

Between the smell of the ocean and the sight of the beach grass

I'm lost already. I'm purely gone.

Let's get this stuff unloaded!

- Daddy, Mama's helping again. - Now, cut that out!

- It's a bad habit, I guess. - Get the key and look around.

It sure is nicer than that tent we stayed in last time.

Sure is. Oh, it's beautiful, John.

It's awfully well-kept for not having been stayed in

since summer before last.

Wonder who's been watering these plants.

Let's take a look inside.

There's something peculiar around here, John.

- Oh, hey, Ben. - Oh, hey, Ike.

I was just thinking about you. You just have a haircut?

I was wondering if I could use your phone.

Kind of an important phone call.

I'm sure the phone can handle that kind of a call.

Mr. Godsey, did you spill something out here?

Yeah, I understand they all went off and left you there

to bach it by yourself, huh?

Oh, Ben. Not tonight you're not, poor thing.

You're having supper right here with us.

That's sweet of you, Corabeth, but, I already...

Oh, come on, Ben, don't stand on manners.

After all, you're family.

- Ike, I have plans. - Oh, fiddle-de-dee.

We'll see you here later tonight for supper.

Okay, Elizabeth, now what are you doing?

Surveillance.

What are you surveilling? Dead starfish again?

Don't go bringing any home like you did last time.

- See that boat out there? - It's a ship.

- It's got a big gun on it. - Maybe it's English.

They said they're gonna fight on the beaches and in the streets.

It's United States. I saw the flag when it was up closer.

Well, maybe it's the Coast Guard, guarding the coast.

Are you gonna come along quietly or wait for Mama?

Remember that neat movie we saw, Confessions of a Nazi Spy?

Not every word of it, like you do.

See that girl over there?

She's been watching that boat for about 20 minutes.

She takes pictures, too.

A man came along, she gave him something.

If you don't get home, Mama's going to give you something.

I don't know what you can expect.

Leave a house like this, especially on the beach,

somebody's bound to come along and use it.

Suppose it'd been Goldilocks, Livie,

and had eaten up all our porridge.

I think it's the spy on the beach.

Don't start that spy stuff again.

She and Mama should go into business together.

- This is nothing to joke about. Sure it is.

Come to some place you've never seen before, and suddenly it's,

"Somebody's been sitting in my chair."

There's food in the icebox, if you could call it that.

Someone's used the bed.

Suppose whoever's been using this place

comes traipsing in on us in the night.

Maybe somebody ought to stand guard.

I don't want anybody walking in on me at night.

I bet it's that spy. I'm not going to sit back.

Nobody's gonna be walking in on us at night.

Pa, right over there above the door.

Hold it right by the roof there.

Hey!

Don't move!

Hold it there, right tight. Seventeen, two.

I'm sure you must be all imagining

perfectly dreadful things about me,

lurking around your house.

Mainly we were wondering why.

Quite. Well, in point of fact, I was just wondering

how I could manage to get my things out of here.

Is that your food in the refrigerator?

And my bag in the back closet.

I hope you've been eating something besides

chocolate bars and potato chips.

Today we saw you looking at the gunboat.

Now, hold on, everybody.

Maybe you'd tell us who you are.

Oh, of course. My name is Lisa Cooper,

and I'm a student at the College of William and Mary.

What are you doing here?

I dare say it's going to sound foolish.

Foolish? Being foolish is good for you. I do it every so often.

Well, all of a sudden, I needed the seashore,

and I didn't wire ahead for a hotel room,

and when I arrived here, there was none to be had.

And I saw that no one was using this house,

and the key was where one usually finds it.

I shall insist on paying, of course,

and I'll leave immediately.

Where will you go?

Quite honestly, I don't know, but I'll find somewhere.

Well, until you do, you'll stay right here.