Walton's Mountain by day was friendly...
but by night, ghosts seemed to hide in every shadow...
and the feeling of something old and mysterious...
flowed downward on the cold night wind.
And if you were walking homeward...
past a house that was known to be haunted...
you couldn't help but be a little apprehensive.
What's the matter with you?
Those tadpoles are taking away my appetite.
I don't see why we have to have those things at the table.
Sit, Elizabeth. Put those away, until we finish eating.
What do you intend doing with all them tadpoles?
Start a bullfrog farm and get rich like Elwood P. Fairweather.
Who's Elwood P. Fairweather?
I read about him in Liberty Magazine.
He made about $600 million...
selling bullfrogs' legs to restaurants.
We got a good start.
-Caught nearly a hundred today. -Another hundred tomorrow.
If you're gonna keep a hundred bullfrogs in our room...
I'm moving out.
I'm keeping the tadpoles there until they turn into bullfrogs.
They'll hop all over the room.
Suppose I wake up in the night...
you want me to step on one?
Pass the chicken.
Hello, everybody.
You'll never do it.
-Mary Ellen. -Oh, swell.
Where have you been, son?
I'll tell you.
I was coming home past the Pendleton place...
and the moon went under a cloud for a second...
and it got real dark...
and all of a sudden, I saw a light going from room to room.
I'm scared.
You think I wasn't?
So, I decided to make a noise...
and when I did, the light went out.
It's a well-known fact that the Pendleton place is haunted.
It's not surprising when you consider
the tragedy that house has seen.
I promised Dave Pendleton I'd keep an eye on that place.
Finish your supper. We'll go back and take a look around.
Little girl?
There's no need to be scared now.
Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, little girl!
Miss, just a minute.
Just a minute, Miss.
Hold on there.
Now, we didn't mean to scare you.
My name is John Walton. This is my son.
We noticed a light on in the place.
The owner of this place, Mr. Dave Pendleton...
he asked me to keep an eye on it for him.
Dave Pendleton is my father.
-You're Jenny? -Yes.
It's Jenny. I haven't seen you since you were a little baby.
Look, Mr. Walton...
it was mighty nice of you to come here to check on things...
I'm just fine. Really, I am...
and you don't have to worry about me.
-Are you here alone? -Yes, but I'm all right.
My daddy and Eula will be here in a couple of days...
and I think I'll wait here until they come.
Who's Eula?
My father's married again.
Why don't you get your things together
and come on over to our place?
I wouldn't want a little girl of mine being here alone.
-I don't want to be any trouble. -It's no trouble. Come on.
Weren't you scared over there all by yourself?
A little bit, but I'm used to being alone.
Don't you have any brothers or sisters?
No. I'm an only child.
Why don't they get you some?
Elizabeth, did you know that you're very pretty?
I've got a tadpole named after me.
Can I see him tomorrow?
You can see him right now if you want to.
You want one named after you?
-That one. -Hi, Jenny.
And she is about the prettiest thing I've ever laid eyes on.
I expect she is in trouble of some kind...
and I know Mama and Daddy think she has run away from home.
Tomorrow, I think....
Good night, John-Boy. Good night, Jason.
Good night, Elizabeth.
Good night, Mary Ellen.
Good night, Erin.
Good night, Jason. Good night, Ben.
Good night, Erin. Good night, Mama.
Good night, Ben.
Good night, Jim-Bob.
Good night, Mama. Good night, Daddy.
Good night, Jim-Bob.
Good night, Jenny.
Good night, John-Boy.
Mary Ellen, do you always do that?
-Do what? -Say good night that way?
-Sure. -That's wonderful.
It is unless we have a lot of relatives staying here.
It's practically morning before everybody...
gets said good night to.
Is that Reckless' I-want-my-breakfast bark...
or somebody's-coming bark?
I don't think he quite knows.
Hello there, Sheriff. Come on in.
Thank you, Livie. Hi, John.
You're up with the chickens...have a seat.
-Can I fix you breakfast? -No. Coffee will be just fine.
There you go.
I'm sorry to barge in on you folks this time of day...
but I got a call from Dave Pendleton down in Richmond.
His little girl ran off.
She's here, Sheriff. She's sleeping with the children.
Yeah?
-Is she all right? -Seems to be.
She wanted to spend the night at the Pendleton house...
but we brought her here.
I'm sure glad to hear that.
Did Dave give you any idea why she ran away?
Yeah, well, I guess....
Dave got himself married again...
and Jenny just didn't take too much to the idea.
I better get to a phone, and tell him where she is.
I'd appreciate it if you folks keep an eye on her.
We'll try our best.
That's good coffee, Livie.
-I'd like to enjoy a full cup. -You do that, Sheriff.
Take care.
Everybody, time to get up!
Mary Ellen, Erin. Breakfast!
-Well, look who's up already. -Good morning.
-How'd you sleep, young lady? -Wonderful, thank you.
-You like your eggs Scrambled? -Yes, thank you.
Why don't you sit over there.
-Morning. -Morning.
Have a seat.
I'm not taking anybody's place, am I?
No. There's plenty of room.
-It's too tight, Mama. -Will you stop being a baby?
Well, it is.
What's the matter with Ben?
-It's just a scratch. -It's nothing.
Mrs. Walton, did you ever take in boarders?
Well, not on a regular basis.
I was wondering if you would take me in for a while.
I'd pay, and I wouldn't be any trouble.
Jenny, you're welcome to stay as long as you like...
but we wouldn't think of taking money for it.
I could just stay here forever.
There's something I better tell you, though.
My Daddy doesn't know where I am.
I reckon he does by now. The Sheriff was here earlier.
Your daddy had been talking to him.
Jenny, why did you run away?
Well, I didn't run away, exactly.
You see, my Daddy was away on his honeymoon and...
and I just thought I'd take a trip up to Walton's Mountain.
I've wanted to come ever since I've read my mother's letters.
She loved it here.
If I'm gonna be in this family...
I'd better start doing my share of the work.
Mommy!
Why is Jenny working?
Because I'm going to cook, clean, and stay in your room...
and be just like one of the family.
Does that mean we gotta share our money from the frog farm?
I reckon $6 million will go quite a way
no matter how you share it.
Okay, Jenny. I guess you'll be a Walton, too.
Boo.
Oh, hey.
Don't let me interrupt.
Oh, no. Come on in.
I've fed Reckless, swept the kitchen floor...
then helped Erin and Mary Ellen with the dishes...
and now I figured I'd come up and dust your room a little.
Be my guest.
What's that you got on your head?
Your grandma gave it to me.
She said that in the olden days...
the women used to wear them while they did their chores.
How do I look?
Not exactly like a pioneer lady.
I feel like one.
I feel just like a pioneer mother
struggling to raise a family in the wilderness.
Shouldn't you be out chopping the wood, or milking the cow?
I did already.
What are you're writing in there, anyway?
Stuff.
Did you write anything in there about me?
What does it say?
I'm not gonna tell you.
What do you think of me?
To tell you the truth, I don't quite know what to make of you.
I know a lot about you.
-Like what? -I've been talking to your mama.
She told me how you wanted to be a writer.
Yes.
Have you read Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe?
We have a hard time getting books out here.
So I haven't actually read that one.
What do you want to do?
I'd give anything in the world...
to belong to this family.
You belong. You're here. Everybody likes you.
Do you?
Well, sure.
What's this here?
Didn't you ever see a dulcimer before?
Well, I heard of them.
There's a man down the road, Old Man Dawson. He makes them.
And I never could afford to buy one for myself...
but every now and then he'll let me take one home and play on it.
What does it sound like?
Hey, that's pretty.
Will you play me something?
-Oh, no. I-- -Please play me something.
I'll play you a song, I guess.
Let me see.
* I'd plant me a red *
* And rosy bush *
* I plant me a green willow tree *
* To prove to all *
* Who come this way *
* That she has forsaken me *
It's easy.
That's the thing that I wanna tell you. The goat, you know.
Come in.
Yeah, I'll get it.
-John, it's Dave. -Dave Pendleton.
How are you? It's good to see you.
-It's been ages. -It's been nine years.
It has. Looks like those years have been good for you.
I can't complain.
Let me introduce my wife. Eula, this is John Walton.
-How do you do? -I'm glad to meet you.
Pleasure's mine. Come on in. You remember my father.
-Good to see you. -How are you?
Mary Ellen, turn down that radio.
There's someone here you should meet.
She's surrounded by all our children.
-Howdy. -Say hello to Dave....
-Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton, kids? -Hello.
Daddy, are you pretty mad at me?
Jenny, you're too old to spank, too young to put in jail.
What am I gonna do with you?
You could give me a kiss.
-Daddy, I'm sorry I worried you. -That's all right.
-Sorry. -You're forgiven.
Have you had supper? I'd gladly fix some.
We had something on the way, thanks.
We won't take up your evening.
Just wanted to pick up this scalawag.
Daddy, the Waltons said I could visit for a while.
That's right, Dave. She can stay. Can't she, kids?
What this girl really deserves is a trip across my knee...
but considering that she's mine and spoiled rotten to boot...
Eula and I are gonna open the old house and stay a while...
and give Jenny time to look around till she's content.
Oh, Daddy, thank you.
-Thank you, too, Eula. -You're welcome.
We'd better be going.
John-Boy, you promised to take me to the mountain top tomorrow.
Mrs. Walton, leave the dishes for me to do.
Grandma, you promised to teach me to crochet.
If you're gonna do that tomorrow, you'd better sleep.
John, Livie, I sure appreciate your looking after my girl.
Our pleasure, Dave.
-Good night. -Good night.
Bye!
I'll go for some more candles.
Eula, thank you for coming.
You're welcome, Jenny.
Why haven't you and Daddy been down here before?
Jenny, when you're a second wife, you live with a ghost.
That's your mother, isn't it?
Do you think I favor her?
There's a resemblance.
Jenny, please don't run away again.
If something's bothering you, let's talk.
I didn't run away so much as I stole away.
You and Daddy were on your honeymoon.
I thought I'd get back before you would.
We came back early just to spend some time with you.
Maybe we could spend some happy times here.
Don't you just love those Waltons?
Yes, they seem very nice.
John-Boy wants to be a writer.
-That's the oldest boy? -Yeah.
When he looks at me, I feel like he can see right into my soul.
I know the feeling.
You know, Eula, I've turned out to be a very domestic person.
I've been helping with the cooking
and sewing and ironing the clothes....
I just feel like an old mother hen.
That's so nice.
Come on. I'll give you a tour of the place.
-Thank you, Jenny. -You're welcome.
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
I just knew it would be like this.
Like what?
The two of you sitting alone together sharing a moment...
before you started your day.
It's a hard to get a word in...
when that herd descends on us.
I just love this house...
and you two...
and Grandma and Grandpa...
and all those fine redheaded children.
I want to know everything there is to know...
about the Walton family.
Like, for instance, how did you two meet?
We didn't. We grew up together.
Childhood sweethearts?
Were you in love right from the beginning?
No. She was too prissy.
I was not.
I didn't think much of you either.
Wickedest boy in town. Never went to Sunday school.
But when did you fall in love?
When she stopped being prissy, round about high school.
Came a time when I just couldn't keep my eyes off her.
Or any other girl in town.
Just looking all over to make sure I picked out the best one.
And all the time I thought I picked you.
-Good morning. -Morning.
John-Boy, you promised to take me to the top of the mountain.
I know. I didn't forget. You need me today, Daddy?
I could use you...
but I wouldn't like it said that my son...
broke a promise to a pretty girl.
John-Boy, you gonna take the younger children with you?
I'll ask them.
I'd appreciate that.
How much more do you think we have to dig?
-It's really shaping up. -Think so?
We're ready for the water. Get the hose.
Let's fill it up. Come on, Elizabeth, get out.
Mary Ellen, what are you up to now?
Don't you recognize a frog pond when you see it?
Is that what that is?
We got 300 tadpoles to put in it.
Then I reckon you all are too busy...
to come take a hike up on the mountain.
Not now, John-Boy.
Okay, well, go right ahead. See you later.
-Have a nice time. -Bye.
Can we put the tadpoles in now?
It's not very deep.
It's a little too muddy, too.
Jim, the tadpoles!
You idiots! How am I going to get rich with you idiots around!
There they go.
This is it.
Right here is where my ancestors first settled.
What a fine old chimney.
Just think...
a man and a woman stood here once
and warmed themselves in front of this...
and the children played right here in front of the fire.
Sure.
I bet she even cooked right there in the fireplace.
Of course. Everything was make-do back in those days.
What were their names?
His was Rome, and hers was Rebecca-Lee.
Rome Walton, your supper's ready!
I can't come right now, Becky-Lee. I'm fighting Indians.
Are there many of them?
Not any more there ain't.
Then you better get in to supper...
because I can't keep this venison steak warm much longer.
Venison steak! Again venison steak!
Venison steak in the morning, venison steak at night!
Now, look here, Rome.
I only cook what you bring into this house.
If you want a boar, go and shoot yourself a boar.
Don't you recall I shot a boar yesterday?
Don't you recall that boar...
that chased you across the cornfields?
Oh, my goodness, I forgot.
I'll throw this venison steak to the wolves
and cook you up some boar.
Becky-Lee, you're a fine old pioneer woman.
And, Rome Walton, you're a fine old pioneer man.
I sure didn't know that was going to happen.
It just happened.
Yeah, just happened.
* When I was young and I was gay *
* I loved her long and well *
* But the sorrow that loving has brought me *
* No human tongue can tell *
* Oh see yon lonesome little turtle dove *
* He's swinging on that yonder vine *
* Lamenting for his one true love *
* As I do morn for mine *
* Oh hush you lest you break my heart *
* For no one will I cry *
* Ten thousand lovers have already parted *
* So why not you and I *
How soon?
She'll calve in about two weeks.
Did you ever see such a fine day as today?
It was an uncommonly pretty day.
Looks like spring is here to stay.
I don't know. There's still a lot of snow on the mountainside.
Maybe it's false spring.
I don't mind. You know I love the snow.
-John-Boy-- -Daddy, you ever been in love?
I still am.
How did you feel the first time?
-Scared me to death. -Scared you to death?
What way was that?
The way it still is.
The first face that comes to mind when I wake in the morning.
The face I carry with me into sleep every night.
A feeling that never stops of needing her, of her needing me.
Lordy, don't I know.
You and Jenny?
Yeah.
-You like her? -I do like her.
-You think Mama likes her? -I'm sure she likes her.
Because you know, she's wild about y'all.
She thinks you and Mama are the finest people she ever met.
She just said she could hug Elizabeth to pieces.
Dad, think I'd be rushing things if I went over tonight?
No, son. I don't think you would be rushing things.
Suppertime!
-Suppertime, Jason. -Let's go.
Now mind your manners. Racing in here like a herd of wild horses.
We're hungry, Grandma.
Simmer down. There is no excuse for bad manners.
-We're sorry, Grandpa. -All right.
He is.
Who is?
Never mind.
-Come on, Daddy. Tell me. -Later. Jason, please.
Lord, we thank thee for all the good things you have given us.
Bless this food and this house. Amen.
Come on, Daddy, tell me who it is.
All right!
-Your brother's in love. -Who's he in love with?
John-Boy?
Who is it, Daddy? Is it Jenny?
Shhh.
When someone John-Boy's age is in love...
it can be a very serious matter.
So, if he acts strange for the next few days...
-you bear with him, all right? -Okay.
-Is it Jenny, Daddy? -Pass the carrots, son.
I bet you it's Jenny.
How's your appetite, John-Boy?
Just fine.
Pass the meatloaf.
Did somebody swallow some giggle water?
Are you in love, John-Boy?
Daddy said you were.
Daddy.
Now, listen, John-Boy.
Being in love shouldn't be a deep, dark secret.
I think you should celebrate.
I think you should send up some Roman candles...
sing a Hallelujah chorus.
You can sing a Hallelujah chorus if you want to.
I'm going to eat my supper. Pass me that meatloaf.
Oh, Esther, where's your spirit of romance?
Look who's talking.
Romance. When was the last time you kissed me?
You old fool!
I wish we could stay here forever.
I don't know about forever...
but I'll speak to your father.
Maybe he'll let us stay on for a while...
after he goes back to Richmond.
Oh, Eula, you're wonderful.
How long could we stay?
Let's see what your father says.
See what he says about what?
Just a little plot Jenny and I have hatched.
That sounds ominous. Plot?
You don't suppose that store we passed is still open?
-Are you out of cigarettes? -Yes.
I imagine we can find something open
between here and Charlottesville that has cigarettes.
Anyway it's a nice night for a ride.
-Want to come, Jenny? -No, thanks.
Come on. It's a beautiful night.
-Jenny's expecting someone. -He said he'd be here.
Okay. We will be right back, honey.
-So long. -Bye.
Somebody's helping himself to your bullfrogs, Mary Ellen.
You dirty, thieving raccoon, get away from my frogs!
Dirty, thieving raccoon, get out of here, come on.
Go go go!
That raccoon did not know
those bullfrogs belonged to you.
He'll be back, more than likely.
If he is, he's gonna find me waiting.
Can I borrow your shotgun, Daddy?
I think this hoe is enough to scare him if he comes back.
-Life is a strange wonder. -Why?
Just a few days ago, I didn't even know you were alive...
and now you're the most important person in my life.
Enduring. Oh, I like that.
You ever heard of Fiji?
Tasmania, Micronesia? They are in the Pacific.
You know, we could go to such places.
I will cook, sew, and clean and care for our children...
just the way your mama does.
Barcelona.
At night, when you are writing...
we'll sit and watch your face and make no noise.
Tenerife, Constantinople.
Our children will call good night to us and to each other.
We'll go to such places.
And they will know that they are safe and warm and loved.
Look at that sky.
The stars are so close, you could reach out and touch them.
-I love you, John-Boy. -I love you, Jenny.
-What's that? -Whippoorwill.
It makes a lonesome sound.
The lonesomest sound is when a whippoorwill calls...
-and its mate doesn't answer. -Why wouldn't she answer?
Maybe she's stopped loving him.
-That's not gonna happen to us? -Not ever.
'Cause I will love you through all enduring time.
-Don't go in yet. -Oh, I have to.
Why?
So I can be over at your house first thing in the morning.
-Good night. -Good night.
-John? -What's the matter?
Is Jenny here?
-I took her home an hour ago. -What happened, Sheriff?
Dave and his wife were coming out that turn on Route 29...
and a big transfer truck going north. They collided.
Bad?
-Dave's dead. -Oh, no.
Wife was a little more lucky.
They've got her at the hospital in Charlottesville.
Does Jenny know?
She'd been asleep when I got there.
I tried to break it to her as easy as I could.
All of a sudden, she just seemed to know...
ran out of the place, disappeared in the dark.
-I've got to go find her. -I'll see you, John.
John-boy.
Jenny, honey?
The sheriff....
Jenny?
Darling?
Better get some rest.
I'll just sit here a little while longer.
Go rest. I'll sit with her.
You think she could stay like this for the rest of her life?
I don't know.
I love her, Mama.
I know, son.
Now go on.
Morning.
-Morning. -How is she?
We should send for Doc Shackleford.
Can I see her?
Let's see what Doc Shackleford has to say first.
No, Grandma. Thank you.
Physically, there's nothing wrong with Jenny.
-She's all right, now? -Oh, she's far from all right.
Sometimes people just can't face their pain of grief head on.
They turn away...
convince themselves a tragedy never really happened.
That's what Jenny's doing.
But it's not healthy. She's got to face up to what's happened.
How can we help her?
-You've the best medicine -How's that, Doc?
You Waltons, this family.
Try to get her interested in what's going on around here.
What if we can't?
I'll stop by sometime tomorrow.
You children play outside.
I'll let you know if there's any change in Jenny's condition.
How's the frog farm coming, honey?
Come on, Grandpa, I'll show it to you.
You, too, Esther. Come on.
Jenny?
Can you hear me?
Can't you hear me?
I think they're all gone.
One raccoon couldn't eat 300 bullfrogs.
Mary Ellen, I think you have one left.
-Right over there. -There it goes.
Mary Ellen, I think I know where your bullfrogs are going.
Where?
They're peepers, tree frogs.
$600 million. Up a tree!
You may have lost $600 million, Mary Ellen.
Listen to that music.
-Well, let's go. -Where're you going?
We're gonna start over but this time...
we'll get the right tadpoles. Come on.
-Come on. -Let's go.
You think the doctor knows what he's talking about? She's just--
I think if there's no change by morning,
we'll get him right back here.
I'll take over for you at midnight.
Good night, Jim-Bob.
Good night, Elizabeth. Good night, Erin.
Good night, Jim-Bob. Good night, Mama.
Good night, Erin. Good night.
Good night, Mama. Good night, Daddy.
Good night, Ben.
Good night, Mary Ellen.
Good night, Daddy.
-Good night, Jason. -Good night, Mary Ellen.
Good night, John-Boy.
Good night, Jason.
Good night, Jenny.
It's all right now.
It's just fine.
It's all right now.
It's just fine now.
We should have ordered a truck instead of a taxi.
You about ready?
I haven't told John-Boy yet.
But you've known for a week we were leaving.
You're not going to change your mind at the last minute right?
Eula, you're the only family I've got left.
I'm grateful that you want me.
We'll come back to Walton's Mountain.
That doesn't make it any easier for me to leave him now.
John-Boy.
Jenny.
This is for you.
I know this dulcimer.
This is the finest one that Old Man Dawson ever made.
Now it's yours.
What made you go do such a thing?
It's a going-away present.
I'm not going away.
It's too soon.
Eula's waiting for me.
You must have known for days now.
Why didn't you say something?
Because I wanted it to be happy right up until the end.
I can't let you go.
Rome Walton...
don't you go bringing any other pioneer ladies up here...
while I'm away.
You're the only old pioneer lady I ever want, Becky-Lee.
You'll come up here and you'll think of me once in a while?
You will be in my heart and my mind through all enduring time.
It's breaking my heart to leave you, Rome Walton.
And mine to see you go.
-Jenny, I'll come with you. -No.
Goodbye, old pioneer man.
Goodbye, Becky-Lee.
* Oh hush you lest you break my heart *
* For no one will I cry *
* Ten thousand lovers have already parted *
* So why not you and I *
Jenny was to come into our lives again...
The promises we made to each other we were not to keep.
Still, her name and her face are remembered in our house...
and the memory of Jenny is as sad...
and as sweet as the cry of a night bird...
drifting across the new green fields of spring.
Still awake, son?
Yes, Daddy.
I wish I could tell you...
it's gonna hurt a little less tomorrow.
Yes, sir.
-But I don't think it will. -Yes, sir.
Good night, son.
Yes, sir.