Most of us on Walton's Mountain prided
ourselves on our friendly hospitality...
our family's good name, and our dignity as individuals.
But in a remote hollow lived a man named Lutie Bascomb...
with his daughter, Lois May.
If Lutie prided himself on anything, was his cussedness.
You come straight home now, you hear?
Yes, sir.
And if any boy looks at you, you look the other way.
Nobody's gonna go looking at me, Pa.
And if that teacher tries to fill you with more blasphemy...
you walk out of there, and you come home.
That be all, Pa?
You better hightail it in there
before I think of something else.
Now, in this area, we're very fortunate in that we have...
many artifacts available to us.
Good morning, Lois May.
Alarm clock didn't go off.
That excuse is beginning to wear thin.
-Third time this week. -Yes, ma'am.
In our study of aboriginal man...
I want you, Addison, to gather all the artifacts you can find.
Arrowheads, cooking implements, mortars and pestles.
I know that your grandfather has a fine collection of them.
Yes, ma'am.
And, John-Boy, I want you to keep the notes.
You'll be responsible for the final written report.
Yes, ma'am.
And, Lois May, I want you to do the scientific research.
Scientific?
How many times must I tell you?
Brush that hair out of your eyes.
You'll go blind.
Yes, ma'am.
Now sit up straight, please.
Please open your history books to Page 103.
-How's it coming? -Almost finished.
Good. John know you spent the money?
The material didn't cost that much...
and I don't charge for the labor.
Let's see if it fits.
That's pretty.
Just because there's a depression on...
is no reason to let this house look tacky.
There.
-Won't John be surprised? -He ought to.
All the work you put in.
There!
That's nice.
Looks so nice, I think I'll slipcover the whole place.
Look at this. A paint job is what we need.
Paint doesn't cost that much.
With this crew of Waltons, we could paint the inside
and the outside in one day.
You've got a couple of starving animals on your hands, Liv.
Hungry as a bear in the springtime of the year.
Zeb Walton, you're a long time from coming out of hibernation.
Notice anything different, John?
Like what?
Grandma, why do we put up with these two men?
Lord knows. No, that's not new.
Think we ought to feed them?
A little food might improve their eyesight.
You know, Grandpa...
sometimes women are the strangest creatures.
Couldn't very well get along without them, could we?
We need about 1,000 feet, I think.
And over 200 two-by-fours.
Should be able to get that by Tuesday.
Tuesday.
Do you see anything?
It's just like Miss Hunter said, crystals are beginning to form.
-Where? -Right there.
Oh, yes.
I can't believe that's really happening.
It's like something's being created right there.
If those are sugar crystals...
I wonder what would happen if we used salt.
Why don't you find out?
There's an experiment on that in your book, you can do at home.
I've extra beakers and test tubes.
You can take them home if you like.
I don't know what my daddy would say.
-But that sure would be fine. -Good!
I can hear it now...
"News flash! Miss Lois May Bascomb discovers...."
A mess, probably. But it'll sure be fun.
Here you are.
-Thank you kindly. -You're welcome.
Class is dismissed.
Bye!
What did you learn today?
Jason?
You run along. I'll be home a little later, alright?
You sweet on Lois May Bascomb?
You bet. I'm gonna throw myself at her feet...
tell her I'm crazy about her, and offer my hand in marriage.
-John-Boy. -Yes, Jason?
-You're crazy. -See you later, little brother.
Mind if I walk along with you?
I don't know what my pa would say.
He usually walks me both ways.
Just as far as Ike Godsey's?
-I reckon that'd be alright. -Good. I'll take your books.
I've often wondered
why your daddy walks you to and from school every day.
He doesn't trust me.
Doesn't trust you? Why's that?
It's no secret now. I mean, everybody knows about my ma.
Pa says I got her blood in me...
that I gotta be real careful and watch myself all the time...
so I don't turn out evil like her.
She wasn't a bad lady.
I didn't know her real well...
but she always just seemed sad and lonely to me.
She writes me letters once in a while.
Wilmington, Delaware is the place where she lives.
Pa won't let me read them. He takes them and burns them.
What in the blazes're you doing...
on this road walking with that boy?
We just happened to be going in the same direction.
Right. We're in the same grade, doing an assignment together.
I don't care what you're doing together...
you stay away from my little girl.
What's the matter with you? We're just taking a walk.
Your walk has come to an end!
Lois May, get yourself home.
-Hey, Ike. -Hey, John-Boy.
What have you got against that table?
Yesterday I had a revealing experience.
Yeah?
I had a table like this and I had to store it out back.
I never could sell it. Last winter, it got rained on.
This spring, some chickens roosted on it.
When I was working out there, some paint spilled on it.
-No wonder you couldn't sell it. -No, hear me out.
Yesterday a city lady came by here.
She must've got lost off the main road.
She came in here, she saw this, and she said:
"How much would you take for that divine antique table?"
-You sold it to her? -$3.50.
Hot patootie!
And so I figured that there must be some more city ladies...
who would be very interested and hungering...
for some rare old antiques like this.
So tomorrow I'm going over to Charlottesville...
and I'm gonna do me some business.
If I help you out tomorrow, would you pay me for it?
What's a young squirt like you need with money?
There's a dictionary at Jarman's Bookstore...
I'd give anything to own.
I could use some help.
If you came along with me...
you might make enough for the dictionary.
-I'll sleep on it. -Don't sleep on it too late.
I plan to start early.
Hand me that stain, I'll show you what a table wrecker I am.
-You're gonna help me out? -Sure am.
You're a pro!
Remember, you tell Miss Hunter that I got sick...
and had to run on back.
-Sure. -You tell her first thing.
-I will. -Thank you, buddy.
I'll take care of it.
-He doesn't look sick to me. -You mind your own business.
Come on. Wish I was sick.
Evening, sisters.
-Boy, are you in trouble. -How's that?
They found out you skipped school.
Jason, I thought I told you to say I was sick.
I did, but Martha Cloverdale saw you leave with Ike in his truck
and she told.
That tattletale.
Feeling better, John-Boy?
I was, till I heard this.
They're in there waiting for you.
Evening, all.
Miss Hunter's told us that you weren't in school today.
That's right.
How come?
I went to Charlottesville with Ike Godsey.
Ike had this idea of dirtying up furniture
and selling it as antiques.
Did he?
-Every stick of it. -The idea.
I don't see how he can show his face in church on Sunday.
You think selling antiques is more important
than getting an education?
No.
Daddy, I wanted this dictionary.
Ike bought it for me for helping him.
What's wrong with the dictionary we've got here?
There's words missing out of it...
and Elizabeth has cut all the pictures out for her scrapbook.
Still no excuse for missing school.
I know. I'm sorry.
Listen, son.
You know it's my heart's craving...
that all my children finish high school.
Even college, if I can manage to live that long.
So when I send you over to that school...
I expect you to get an education...
not come back with some report about selling furniture.
I'm sure we'd be able to make up the lost work...
if John-Boy would be willing to spend a little extra effort.
I sure would, Miss Hunter.
And why do we call him Neanderthal man? Beaumont?
Because the first one was found in Germany...
in a place called Neander.
Were they hunters or farmers? Jeanette?
Hunters, Miss Hunter.
And, Lois May.... That hair again.
What kind of weapons did they use?
Arrows and spears mostly.
How did Neanderthal man differ from Cro-Magnon man? John-Boy?
Cro-Magnon man was better developed.
How so?
For one thing, they'd learned to draw.
We know that because they left paintings on cave walls...
and they had developed religion.
Yes, Lois May?
If they had religion, did they believe in Jesus?
Jesus hadn't been born yet.
We're talking about a period...
from 45,000 to 100,000 years ago.
You look puzzled. What's the problem?
The Bible says the world's only about 8,000 years old.
But much of The Bible is symbolic.
Just a minute.
-Where are you going? -I've gotta go home.
Can't you wait until school is dismissed?
No, ma'am.
Last night my pa told me if you was to teach any more of that...
I was to walk out of here or else he'd lick me good.
What stuff?
Atheism.
You know that's not what I'm teaching in this room.
Yes, you are.
And my pa says if you go on teaching it...
you and your school are gonna burn in the fires of hell!
We'll continue with the lesson.
What is known about the kind of religion...
practiced by Cro-Magnon man?
-You lost, John-Boy? -No, I came here on purpose.
-Why? -To see you.
I know why you came.
You could get Miss Hunter in an awful lot of trouble.
I'm afraid I already have.
How's that?
He makes me tell him everything that's said or done at school.
I had to tell him about what happened today.
What did he say?
He was awful mad.
Maybe you and I ought to go and talk to Miss Hunter about it.
I can't. I gotta go in and fix supper.
I don't have a mama like you do. I do all the work around here.
You better go back before my papa gets home.
It won't do either of us any good for him to find you here.
See you later.
Mr. Bascomb!
I'm glad you've come. It'll be good to clear the air.
-I've seen your kind before. -You may call me Miss Hunter.
Don't you get high and mighty with me, woman!
You can push kids around, but you are talking to a man now!
In Lois May's interest--
Lois May's interest is what I'm here about!
You call yourself a school teacher?
You ain't fit to walk in this place.
Telling these children they're coming from monkeys and apes!
No such thing was said in this classroom.
Let me show you a textbook, and explain to you exactly what--
I've seen them atheist books!
Pictures like that...
of men with hair all over their bodies, faces like apes!
She brings that book in the house again...
I'll throw it in the fire.
It is my personal belief that we were created by God.
However, one cannot overlook the fact that man has progressed--
You preach that heathen talk to somebody else!
Maybe your people swung through the trees by their tails...
but not mine.
-You're behaving as if they did. -I won't take your insults!
Nor I yours, Mr. Bascomb.
I'll have your job for this, you hear me?
You are gonna hear from me.
-It's kind of late, Miss Hunter. -Mr. Walton, Mr. Walton.
You've caught me at a bad time.
What's the trouble?
I've had the most disturbing conversation with Mr. Bascomb.
What's Lutie up to now?
He threatened to have me fired.
He'd been drinking...
but sometimes I wonder if that man's all there.
Sounds like Lutie's acting kind of strange.
Unless his mind is completely befuddled with the alcohol.
With Lutie Bascomb, that is a pretty safe bet.
We'll give you a ride home,
if you don't mind riding in a rattly old truck.
I'm tired. I'd be proud to ride in a rattly old truck.
-Come on in. -There we go.
-How you doing, son? -Hey, Daddy.
You know any reason why Lutie Bascomb...
would wanna get Miss Hunter fired?
He say that?
Miss Hunter said.
What happened at school anyway?
We're working on a project about primitive man...
and Lois May got things all mixed up...
and she thought that Miss Hunter was preaching atheism.
-Was she? -Daddy, she wouldn't do that.
But this whole thing could get out of hand.
How so?
She's not about to change the way...
she teaches just to please Lutie Bascomb.
I sure hope not.
If Lutie keeps getting madder...
and gets the whole community riled up against her...
it's gonna be that Scopes trial all over again.
Your turn, Emily.
I changed it last time, sister. It's your turn.
I distinctly remember changing it...
after he sang the aria from Figaro.
Sometimes I doubt that your memory is all that it should be.
And I shudder to think what Papa would say...
if he knew that you are ruining his Victrola
by letting it run on like that!
-Sister? -Yes, I heard.
You don't suppose that's Papa's spirit, do you?
It couldn't be. Papa always used the front door.
Yes, that's true.
I do fear someone's breaking into the Recipe room.
Do you remember where Papa used to keep his pistol?
Yes, but I haven't the faintest idea how to work it.
What on earth could they possibly want?
After all, sister, two maiden ladies, alone.
We must take flight.
Doors all finished, son?
Yes, sir. I'm the specialist here, anyway.
Miss Mamie, Miss Emily, what's happened?
-Sit down. -Some water, please!
-Emily, are you quite alright? -I think I lost a shoe.
It was the one with the black satin bow.
I was always so fond of it, you know.
Ladies, you wanna tell us what happened?
We were sitting in our living room...
listening to Papa's recording of Mr. Caruso.
La Donna e Mobile. You remember, John-Boy?
We played it for you last Christmas Eve.
Yes, ma'am, I remember.
It was my sister's turn to change the record.
It was your turn, Mamie.
At any rate, we heard a noise.
A splintering noise, don't you know, like someone breaking in.
You see who it was?
We didn't wait to see!
We fled out the back way and we ran like the wind!
And I lost a shoe.
We're lucky to escape with our lives.
Sister, I'm scared to go home.
Now, you just take it easy.
After a bit, we'll take you back and make sure you're safe.
Thank you, Mr. Walton.
Thank you ever so much, all of you.
Notice anything missing, ladies?
The little ivory music box that played the Strauss waltzes.
That's been missing for 25 years.
-Where did the sound come from? -From the Recipe room.
Let's take a look.
This lock is busted.
I do hope Papa's Recipe machine has come to no harm.
If anything's missing, it's probably some Recipe.
I won't sleep a wink tonight.
Don't you worry, Miss Emily.
Somebody just got thirsty, came here, and took some recipe.
They won't be back.
Better get on up to bed, son.
Yes, sir. Goodnight, Mama. Daddy.
I thought you two men were never coming home.
-Where have you two been? -Out with a couple of ladies.
I really appreciate that.
Out with a couple of ladies...
while I'm home slaving over a hot iron.
Neither one was as pretty as you.
Don't you sweet-talk me after you've been out carousing.
Someone broke into the Baldwin place.
They take anything?
Some of the Recipe.
Good riddance.
-You know who did it? -I got an idea.
-Well, who? -Lutie Bascomb.
He was over at Ike's place. Ike wouldn't give him any beer.
He's got a thirst meant for a bigger man.
Probably got desperate.
I wish that man would just move away somewhere.
-He's no angel. -He doesn't even try.
Him nor that daughter either have never set foot...
inside the Baptist Church since I've been going there.
He probably goes to no church. He's a heathen like me, maybe.
You may have acted like a heathen when I married you...
but you're as God-fearing as the next man.
At least you didn't make me into no Baptist.
I haven't given up yet.
You gonna stand there ironing or are you gonna come up to bed?
I'll be along.
-Yes, sir? -It's getting late.
-What are you doing, homework? -No, just writing some stuff.
Let me ask you something.
When you're just writing stuff...
what do you write?
You want me to read it to you?
Sure, go ahead.
Alright.
"The house is hushed now. The hour is late.
"The night is still except for a whippoorwill...
"that calls from the crabapple tree.
"In the kitchen, I hear the voices of my parents...
"as they speak quiet, private things to each other.
"Sleep flows through the house like a silent river.
"Soon our own sleep'll join in the flow of that quiet river...
"and each of us will dream our separate dream."
Why did you write that down?
Daddy, I don't know that.
I just have to write it down.
You keep at it.
I sure will.
-John! -What is it, Livie?
Something's on fire up the road.
Come on! Come on!
Would you look at that? Like the burning of Rome.
I hated school, but I didn't want this to happen.
-Me neither. -How'll I get my education?
Don't worry, Jim-Bob. Daddy says we'll all have one.
You can depend on that.
-Then Lutie has flown the coop. -Looks that way.
He won't get far.
You expect he took the girl with him?
Reckon.
The dog's gone, too.
Lutie, this is the Sheriff. You better come on out of there.
Here, child.
Go on, Lois May.
Leave her alone, John.
No, it's alright.
When he came home...
he was roaring drunk.
He kept saying he was the Lord's sword of vengeance.
That he was gonna punish the heathens.
I tried to stop him from going out again.
He started to hit me.
I don't remember any more until you came.
Did you know the school burned down tonight?
No.
Right to the ground.
Where's my papa?
We don't know.
Sheriff Bridges will find him.
Did God tell him to do that?
You're a religious woman, Mrs. Walton.
-Did He? -No, child.
Good morning, John-Boy.
We saw you go by.
My mama sent me to see if you'll have breakfast with us.
Thank her for me, but I've got to go to the county seat.
Gotta see what they'll do about the supplies
for the rest of the year, and a new school for next year.
This is an awful thing.
We got Lois May at our house.
You have?
Yeah, she got beat up last night by her father, before the fire.
That man's not fit to raise a child.
I've got to do something about her.
-She's got too much promise. -I know.
Lois May has a fine mind, and particularly for science.
I always thought I could help bring that out...
if she were under the proper influence...
but there's that father of hers.
What are we gonna do now?
Looks like you young people will have a vacation.
I don't know as I want one.
Why not?
I hate to lose the school time.
I'll get a school.
I have to.
I have to get a young writer ready for college.
Oh, my Lord.
What is it?
No, don't come over here.
I think I've found Lutie Bascomb.
Funerals are no place for a young girl.
Lois May went.
It's her father. Oh, my goodness.
But I haven't got anything to do.
Come here. Come on.
-I'll teach you how to crochet. -No thank you, Grandma.
When I grow up, I'm gonna discover lost countries.
I don't think explorers have any need for crocheting.
What you're liable to discover is a husband...
and a bunch of kids...
and crocheting can come in mighty handy.
Not me. I'm gonna be a career woman.
What makes you think being married
and raising a family isn't a career?
They've just come back from the funeral.
I'll tend to the coffee.
How was the funeral?
Mary Ellen, don't ask questions like that about funerals.
I could use some coffee.
Would you like to change out of those clothes, child?
I can't keep staying here, Mrs. Walton.
Just until you get your thoughts together.
I keep thinking about my mother...
thinking maybe she ought to know.
Do you know where she is?
Wilmington, Delaware, is all I know.
Would you like us to try to get in touch with her?
I don't know.
Maybe she just doesn't care.
Miss Hunter, is there something I can get for you?
You can get me a school, Mr. Godsey.
Ma'am?
The folks at the County seat promised...
to rebuild the school this summer...
but there are six more weeks of school left this year.
I've found makeshift classrooms...
for everybody but my older children.
How large is this room?
I don't know. What would you say...
about 20 feet by about 19 wide?
The men come and play pool here at night, don't they?
Nights mostly, yes, ma'am.
So you have no use for it during the day?
Not much use.
It just might do for my older high school students.
I'd have to ask you to move the pool table, however.
I guess we could move it back at night. Right, Hawthorne?
Long as we both don't get no hernia.
Splendid!
I thank you for your generosity.
I suppose the School Board pays a rent for the premises?
No, they don't. This was my own idea.
Your offer is very kind and I thank you very much.
Good day.
You're welcome.
I guess.
Don't fight it, Ike.
We both might get educated.
I wanted to point out to you that...
the children will be very comfortable...
on my treasured antiques.
Do you think it's wise?
Children can be quite severe on furniture.
They can't do any harm.
As a matter of fact, the rougher they treat it...
the more I can sell it for.
I suppose you know what you're doing.
That's right, just bang it up.
-John-Boy! -Yes, Miss Hunter.
You can ring the bell anytime now.
Alright.
Sometimes we tend to think of a school as a building...
but a school isn't a place, it's a group of students.
And if they're eager to learn...
the learning can take place anywhere.
Where do you want me to put this--
School's in session.
We'll occupy these quarters for the next few weeks...
until the beginning of summer vacation.
In order to make up--
You know, Mamie, I despair of ever finding that shoe.
Do you think I ought to offer a reward?
Sister, I would simply forget that shoe.
It has absolutely no value.
It's certainly a pleasure to see you here, ladies...
but we have a class in progress.
How jolly! A gentleman came by last evening for some Recipe--
-Good morning, all! -Good morning, ladies.
May we observe? Good morning, John-Boy!
We never attended school formally, you know.
Papa took care of our education right at home.
My, but was he strict.
-Ladies, may I continue? -By all means.
We'll have a seat back here and we'll be as quiet as mice.
Yes, we'll be just as quiet as we can be.
Let me see, where were we?
We were just beginning, Miss Hunter.
Oh, yes.
I want everyone to study your last assignment...
while I take the roll and see who we've got here.
Mamie, do you remember--
-Lester Adams. -Here.
Lois May Bascomb.
Ma'am, I don't think she felt like coming to school today.
Do you think she would mind if I came to see her?
No. I think she'd like that.
So you see, Lois May, I did recognize your sensitivity.
I wanted so much to help you, to draw you out.
But I went about it in the wrong way.
You were always picking on me.
Yes, I was, but you must understand...
a woman like me only picks on people she wants to help.
You have so much promise in the field of science.
Do you know that?
How could I know anything? My hair is always in my eyes.
I know you feel bitter right now, but try to understand.
I wanted you to keep your hair neat
and attractive because you're a pretty girl.
Or would be if you believed in yourself.
-I can take care of myself. -I know you can.
But I'd like to help you.
I don't need any help.
There's so much I could do with you...
if you'd only come back to school.
What am I, a dog you can train to do tricks?
Lois May, now you come straight home, you hear?
And if any boy looks at you, you look the other way.
And if that teacher tries to fill you
with any more blasphemy...
you walk out of there, and you come home.
You have so much promise in the field of science.
Do you know that?
There's so much I could do with you...
if you'd only come back to school.
Lois May left the house before we did this morning.
I figured maybe she'd be coming to school, but....
Don't know. Maybe she didn't come to school...
afraid that the kids would laugh at her black eye.
Think so?
-Where could she be, then? -Search me. Hope she's alright.
Good morning, everybody.
Looks like almost everybody's here this morning...
so we'll dispense with the roll call. Now, first we'll--
May I come in?
Of course you may.
Sit here.
Would everyone please open your science books to Chapter 9?
"The living earth."
They should be out any minute now.
I wonder if I'll know her.
Why did you leave her when you ran away?
I had planned to come back for her one day.
I wrote her letters.
But I never got an answer.
Do you know who this is?
I think I do.
I came as soon as I heard.
Everything's all taken care of.
He's buried.
Dead.
I didn't know you'd be so pretty.
Where have you been all these years?
I wrote to you.
Even when I didn't get an answer, I kept on writing.
You could at least have come by once in a while.
Just to see if I was alive or dead.
I did that, too.
I stood over in those woods, watching you and watching him.
I was trying to get up enough courage
to walk up to you and take you away.
I was scared of him, Lois May.
I know.
I haven't been much of a mother to you up until now.
I'd like to start trying.
Don't you think it's a little late?
May I say something?
If you were Mary Ellen...
and I was your mother...
I'd grieve for the time we'd lost...
but I'd hope that we could make it up in the years to come.
Could we just go for a walk together and talk about it?
I wouldn't know what to say.
Take my word for the end of the story of Lois May Bascomb.
For truth is far stranger than fiction.
I was to meet her many years later, when she had become...
not a scientist, but the wife of a diplomat.
She now lives abroad...
and I expect that sometimes her memories, as mine do...
return to those Depression years, and Walton's Mountain.
You know that shoe Miss Emily lost?
I found it today, and she offered me a reward.
What did she offer?
A kiss, or some of the Recipe.
-Which one did you choose? -Both.
You old fool.