All language subtitles for The Waltons S01E11 The Literary Man.DVDRip.Non-HI.cc.en

GROWING UP ON WALTON'S MOUNTAIN

IN THOSE DEPRESSION YEARS

WHEN TIMES WERE LEAN
AND MONEY WAS SCARCE,

I LEARNED EARLY THAT HARD
WORK WAS A CENTRAL FACT OF LIFE

AND THE KEY TO SURVIVAL.

I WASN'T AFRAID OF WORK,

BUT ABOVE EVERYTHING
ELSE I WANTED TO BE A WRITER.

GRIPPING A BOOK,
READING AND REREADING

THE WONDERFULLY
COLORED SENTENCES:

THIS WAS AS CLOSE AS I
COULD GET TO ANOTHER WRITER.

UNTIL ONE AFTERNOON

I MET SOMEONE WHO SHOWED
ME THE WAY I MUST TAKE

TO BE A LITERARY MAN.

JOHN-BOY!

RIGHT HERE, DADDY.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, SON?

WE HAD TO FINISH
LOADING THIS OURSELVES.

I'M SORRY, I WAS OFF READING.

NOW, THAT'S A LOAD FOR SURE.

NOW LET'S GET IT INTO TOWN.

SO WE'RE BEHIND SCHEDULE?

NOT SO FAR WE CAN'T CATCH UP.

GET IT TO THE RAILROAD
STATION AND COME ON BACK.

WE GOT MORE TIMBER TO CUT.

YES, SIR.

YOU THINK WE'LL
MAKE OUR DEADLINE?

WE GOT 3 GOOD
DAYS AND 3 GOOD MEN.

WE'LL MAKE IT.

MAN AND HIS MACHINE.

TIMES LIKE THIS YOU WONDER,

WHICH IS THE SLAVE
AND WHICH IS THE MASTER.

SIR?

AH, NEVER MIND, SON.

YOU DON'T NEED A PHILOSOPHER.

I THINK YOU PROBABLY
NEED A MECHANIC.

I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING I'VE EVER
SEEN MY DADDY DO, AND IT'S NO USE.

SON, YOU HAVE AROUSED THE
DORMANT GOOD SAMARITAN IN ME.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DIP INTO
MY MECHANICAL BAG OF TRICKS

AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO?

ARE YOU AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRMAN?

NO, NO. CAN'T LAY CLAIM TO THAT.

BUT I HAVE TINKERED WITH
A FEW ENGINES IN MY TIME.

COULD HELP YOU OUT ON
THIS ONE IF YOU SAY THE WORD.

SURE. GO RIGHT
AHEAD. I'D APPRECIATE IT.

NO GUARANTEES.

THE NAME IS COVINGTON.
A.J. COVINGTON.

A.J. TO MANY, ANDY
TO A CHOSEN FEW.

I'M JUST JOHN-BOY WALTON.

MMM-HMM.

WELL, JOHN-BOY,

I JUST MIGHT BE ABLE TO
HELP YOU, WITH A LITTLE LUCK.

BEN.

I DON'T NEED IT.

NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO PUT YOUR BERRIES IN?

MY HAT.

WELL, MOSTLY HIS MOUTH.

I'LL GET YOU, MARY ELLEN.

COME ON, JIM-BOB.

I DON'T THINK I'LL GO TODAY.

WHY NOT?

I DON'T FEEL SO WELL.

BUT IT WON'T BE ANY
FUN WITHOUT YOU.

NOW YOU JUST RUN
ALONG, ELIZABETH.

JIM-BOB'S GOT NO BUSINESS
OUT IN THE HOT SUN

IF HE'S NOT FEELING WELL.

I'LL BRING YOU SOME
BERRIES, JIM-BOB.

THE CHILD GOT A FEVER?

I DON'T THINK SO.

HIS FOREHEAD FEELS CLAMMY.

I WONDER WHAT IT IS.

WELL, IT'S TOO LATE
FOR SPRING FEVER

AND TOO EARLY FOR
SUMMER DOLDRUMS.

I'LL BREW HIM SOME TEA.

AND YOU ARE GONNA DRINK IT.

HOLD IT.

I CAN'T THANK YOU
ENOUGH, MR. COVINGTON.

MACHINES ARE STILL
LARGELY PREDICTABLE,

UNLIKE PEOPLE.

I WISH I COULD OFFER TO PAY YOU.

AND SPOIL MY IMAGE
AS A GOOD SAMARITAN?

GLAD I COULD HELP.

WELL, CAN I GIVE YOU A LIFT?

WELL, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

WHICH WAY ARE YOU GOING?

ANY WAY YOU'RE
HEADED WOULD BE FINE.

WELL, I'M JUST GOING
UP TO ROCKFISH

TO DELIVER THIS LUMBER.

READING MOBY DICK?

CARNIVAL MAN GAVE IT TO ME.
LITTLEST MAN YOU EVER SAW.

"WHEN GLIDING BY
THE BASHEE ISLES

"WE EMERGED AT LAST
UPON THE GREAT SOUTH SEA.

"NOW THE LONG SUPPLICATION
OF MY YOUTH WAS ANSWERED.

"THAT SERENE OCEAN
ROLLED EASTWARD FROM ME

A THOUSAND LEAGUES OF BLUE."

YOU KNOW IT BY HEART.

CERTAIN SECTIONS.

MELVILLE WAS MY
MODEL AND INSPIRATION

WHEN I WAS LEARNING THE CRAFT.

ARE YOU A WRITER?

THERE ARE SOME WHO THOUGHT SO.

YOU READY?

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AH.

I SURE DO APPRECIATE YOUR
HELPING ME OUT, MR. COVINGTON.

A.J.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

NEVER UNLOADED LUMBER BEFORE.

IT'S A NEW EXPERIENCE
FOR ME. GRIST FOR THE MILL.

I BET YOU'VE HAD A
LOT OF EXPERIENCES.

WELL, I LEFT INDIANA WHEN I
WAS 17 AND WENT TO CHICAGO.

CHICAGO.

"HOG BUTCHER FOR THE WORLD,
TOOL MAKER, STACKER OF WHEAT,

PLAYER WITH RAILROADS AND
THE NATION'S FREIGHT HANDLER."

CARL SANDBURG.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST TIME

I HEARD CARL RECITE THAT POEM.

STIRRED UP QUITE A HULLABALOO.

YOU KNEW CARL SANDBURG?

MMM-HMM.

WORKED BESIDE
HIM AS A STEVEDORE.

YOU KNOW, CHICAGO WAS AN
EXCITING PLACE IN THOSE DAYS.

ANDERSON, DREISER, LINDSAY.

SO YOU MADE CHICAGO
YOUR HOME, EH?

THE WORLD'S MY HOME.

I GUESS YOU'VE JUST ABOUT BEEN
EVERYWHERE AND DONE EVERYTHING.

WELL, I'M WORKING ON IT.

AND THOSE ARE THE
EXPERIENCES THAT MAKE A WRITER.

YOU SEEM TO BE UNUSUALLY
INTERESTED IN THE LITERARY LIFE.

OH, I AM.

HAVE SOME AMBITION
THAT WAY YOURSELF?

I WANT TO BE A WRITER.

MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE IN THE WORLD,

I WANT TO BE A WRITER.

IF YOU REALLY MEAN THAT,

YOU'VE ALREADY TAKEN
THE FIRST BIG STEP.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT,

YOUR WRITING HAS TO COME FIRST.

BEFORE COMFORT,
SECURITY, HAPPINESS.

VERY FEW STICK IT OUT.

BUT YOU HAVE.

WHAT'S THE 2ND STEP?

THAT DEPENDS.

WON'T YOUR, UH, FOLKS BE
WONDERING WHERE YOU ARE?

IT'S ALMOST 6:00.

THEY WILL BE WORRIED.

MR. COVINGTON?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME
HOME AND MEET MY FOLKS?

IF YOU SAY SO.

HOP IN.

YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT JOHN-BOY.

WELL, HE OUGHT TO BE.

THAT I AM, MA.

I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING
YOU ALREADY KNOW.

THAT'S HER SPECIALTY.

WELL, IF A BOY OF MINE HIS
AGE HAD BEEN OFF ALL HOURS,

HE'D HAVE HIS BOTTOM
SCORCHED WHEN HE GOT HOME.

THAT BOY OF YOURS HERE GOT
IN TWICE AS MUCH DEVILMENT

AS JOHN-BOY EVER DID,

AND I DON'T RECALL HIS BOTTOM
WAS TOO HEAVILY SCORCHED.

WAS IT?

HEY, EVERYBODY.

UH,

I HAD A BREAKDOWN IN... IN
THE TRUCK ON THE WAY IN.

AND IF IT HADN'T BEEN
FOR THIS GENTLEMAN,

I NEVER WOULD'VE
GOTTEN IT FIXED.

UH, MR. COVINGTON,
THIS IS MY FAMILY.

MY DADDY, JOHN WALTON.

HOW DO YOU DO, SIR.

THIS IS MY WIFE, MY FATHER.

PLEASURE, SIR. MY MOTHER.

HOW DO YOU DO.

SHE JUST FLAT WENT OUT ON ME.

QUIT THIS SIDE OF THE YARDS,
AND MR. COVINGTON HELPED ME OUT.

FACT IS, HE GOT HER STARTED
WHEN I WAS READY TO GIVE UP.

MUCH OBLIGED TO YOU, SIR.

WON'T YOU STAY FOR
DINNER, MR. COVINGTON?

UM, THANK YOU KINDLY.

HAVE A SEAT RIGHT THERE, SIR.

THANK YOU.

UH, YOUR HAT, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS, UH, FIXING TRUCKS

A SPECIALTY OF
YOURS, MR. COVINGTON?

OH, JUST A SIDELINE.

WELL, MR. COVINGTON IS A WRITER.

IS THAT A FACT?

WHAT BRINGS YOU TO
THIS NECK OF THE WOODS?

JUST PASSING THROUGH.

ON YOUR WAY TO WHERE?

ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE.

OH, VERY NICE. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO YOU WERE IN CUBA
COVERING THE WAR?

SAN JUAN HILL AND
ALL THE REST OF IT.

YOU MUST'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF
MATERIAL FOR STORIES THERE.

STEVE CRANE WAS MY TENT MATE.

STEPHEN CRANE? THE
RED BADGE OF COURAGE?

BRILLIANT WRITER.

OH, YES.

TRAGIC LOSS.

HE DIED SO YOUNG.

WELL, IT'S ABOUT
TIME TO TURN IN.

WE'VE GOT TO WORK DOUBLE
TIME TOMORROW, JOHN-BOY.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE
A SAWMILL, MR. WALTON.

YEAH, JUST A LITTLE
THING OUT BACK THERE,

CUT SOME LUMBER FOR THE
RAILROAD, A LITTLE FIREWOOD.

I ONCE WORKED A WHOLE SEASON

ON A LUMBER MILL
UP NEAR SEATTLE.

IT WAS HARD WORK
BUT IT WAS SATISFYING.

AND YOU'VE CUT TIMBER?

ACRES OF IT.

WELL, DADDY, WE'VE
STILL GOT THE CONTRACT

FOR THE FOUR-BY-FOURS TO FILL...

JOHN-BOY, YOU'RE
SPEAKING OUT OF TURN.

MR. COVINGTON WAS KIND ENOUGH

TO HELP OUT IN AN
EMERGENCY, DO US A FAVOR.

WELL, IF, UH, IF I
COULD HELP YOU OUT,

I'D BE GLAD TO STAY
ON FOR A FEW DAYS.

WE'RE IN NO POSITION
TO HIRE HELP.

BED AND BOARD TILL THE JOB'S
DONE WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH.

WELL, IF, YOU'RE KIND
ENOUGH TO PUT UP

WITH WHAT LITTLE
WE HAVE TO OFFER.

I'D BE MORE THAN SATISFIED.

OH, WELL, GOOD.

YOU CAN HAVE MY ROOM.

WHY, THAT'S VERY
GENEROUS OF YOU, JOHN-BOY,

BUT IF THE BARN'S AVAILABLE,

I WOULD ENJOY A NIGHT'S
SLEEP ON A SWEET BED OF STRAW.

WELL, ALRIGHT, I'LL GET
YOU SOME BEDCLOTHES

AND FIX YOU UP A NICE
PLACE IN THE BARN.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT
STRAW DOES SMELL REAL GOOD.

BRIGHT BOY.

HE'S GOT ALL THE
MAKINGS OF A GOOD WRITER:

CURIOUS AND SENSITIVE.

AND TRUSTING.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. WALTON.

GOOD NIGHT.

YOU'RE ALL SET, JOHN-BOY.

A.J.!

AFTER WHALEN'S MEADOW,

COME ON BACK AS SOON
AS YOU'VE GOT A LOAD.

WE NEED ALL THE LOGS WE CAN GET.

YES, SIR.

SEE YOU LATER, DADDY.

HUP YA.

MULE SEEMS TO BE LIMPING.

YEAH.

OK, HOLD, HOLD,
HOLD, HOLD, HOLD.

SHH!

NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW.

OH, NO WONDER
YOU'VE BEEN HOBBLING.

YOU GOT A BIG
ROCK STUCK IN HERE.

THERE WE GO.

A.J., WILL YOU
LOOK AT THE... A.J.?

"WHILE ON MY WAY TO
SUFFERN ALONG THE ERIE TRACK

"I PASS BY A POOR OLD FARMHOUSE

"WITH ITS SHINGLES
BROKEN AND BLACK.

"I SUPPOSE I'VE
PASSED IT 100 TIMES,

"BUT I ALWAYS STOP FOR A MINUTE

"TO LOOK AT THE HOUSE,

THE TRAGIC HOUSE, THE
HOUSE WITH NOBODY IN IT."

DID YOU KNOW JOYCE KILMER, TOO?

NO.

NO.

WHO OWNS THIS PLACE, JOHN-BOY?

WELL, IT USED TO
BE THE TABOR PLACE.

BUT NOW MY DADDY SAYS ANYBODY
WHO CAN PAY THE BACK TAXES ON IT

CAN CLAIM IT.

REMINDS ME OF MY
BOYHOOD HOME IN INDIANA.

NOBODY'S BEEN HERE
FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS.

YOU EVER NOTICE THAT SOME HOUSES

JUST DETERIORATE
OUT OF LONELINESS?

CAN'T STAND NOT SHELTERING LIFE.

I WONDER IF THESE
ROSES WERE RED.

WELL,

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CHOPPING
DOWN TREES, NOT GATHERING WOOL.

JIM-BOB,

LIKE YOU TO TRY A LITTLE
OF THIS BEEF BROTH.

DO I HAVE TO?

NO, I WON'T FORCE YOU.

DOES IT STILL HURT?

CAN YOU SHOW ME WHERE?

YOU JUST LIE STILL.

MAMA, IS JIM-BOB REAL SICK?

HE'S GOT A BAD STOMACHACHE.

LIKE WHEN I ATE
THE GREEN APPLES?

HE ISN'T AS SICK AS I
WAS THAT TIME, IS HE?

NO, ELIZABETH.

NOBODY'S EVER BEEN
SICKER THAN YOU AND LIVED.

OUT, YOU CHILDREN. OUT.

OH.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST
START WRITING, A.J.?

I WAS JUST 15 WHEN
I FIRST STARTED

MAKING WORDS DO THE
TRICKS I WANTED THEM TO DO.

WELL, WHY'D YOU START?

WHY? WELL,

I WAS MAKING ALL THESE
EXCITING NEW DISCOVERIES.

I FELT LIKE I JUST HAD TO SHARE
THEM WITH SOMEBODY OR BUST.

OH, I KNOW, I KNOW.

TROUBLE IS, ON AN INDIANA FARM,

WHAT WITH THE
MILKIN' AND PLOWIN',

AND PLANTIN' AND HARVESTIN',

THERE WASN'T MUCH TIME
FOR PEOPLE TO LISTEN.

SO I STARTED WRITING ALL
MY THOUGHTS DOWN ON PAPER.

HOW OLD WERE YOU THEN?

17.

ALONG ABOUT THE SAME TIME

I HEARD ABOUT THIS STORY
CONTEST A MAGAZINE WAS HAVING.

SO I POLISHED UP
THIS PIECE I HAD DONE

ON A DROUGHT THAT WE'D
HAD THE YEAR BEFORE,

AND SENT IT IN.

I DIDN'T WIN THE $75 FIRST
PRIZE, BUT I DID WIN THE SECOND.

AND YOU WERE
JUST 17 AT THE TIME?

YEAH.

THIS WATCH WAS MY PRIZE.

OH, IT'S A BEAUTY.
I'VE ADMIRED IT.

I'VE CARRIED IT WITH
ME ALL THESE YEARS.

WHAT HAPPENED THEN?

WELL, I LIT OUT FOR CHICAGO.

NO MONEY. NO PROSPECTS.

BUT I WAS LOADED DOWN
WITH HOPE AND DETERMINATION.

WEREN'T YOU SCARED?

YOU BET.

BUT I KNEW THEN, AS I KNOW NOW,

THAT UNLESS A MAN IS READY
TO STRIKE OUT ON HIS OWN,

LEAVE KITH AND KIN BEHIND
WITHOUT EVER LOOKING BACK,

HE'LL NEVER MAKE IT AS A WRITER.

MY BIG STORY, THE ONE I WAS BORN
TO WRITE, IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

I JUST GOT TO KEEP
SEARCHING TILL I FIND IT.

A.J., I'VE NEVER LET ANYONE

BUT MY SCHOOLTEACHER
SEE WHAT I WRITE,

BUT WOULD YOU MIND
READING A LITTLE SOMETHING?

AND, UH, I'LL BET
YOU JUST HAPPENED

TO BRING IT ALONG
WITH YOU, DIDN'T YOU?

YEAH.

I'LL BE GLAD TO.

THANK YOU. I JUST, UH,

I JUST WROTE THIS LAST NIGHT.

WELL,

THAT'S NOT BAD.
THAT'S NOT BAD AT ALL.

YOU THINK YOU SEE THE MAKINGS
OF A WRITER IN THERE SOMEWHERE?

WELL, YOU'RE WORKING AT IT.

IT MIGHT BE, THOUGH, THAT YOU'RE
WORKING A LITTLE BIT TOO HARD.

YOU SEE, SOMETIMES THE FANCIEST
WORDS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST.

AND ADJECTIVES ARE
JUST LIKE RED PEPPER:

A LITTLE BIT GOES A LONG WAY.

LOOK, FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT HERE.

NOW WHAT DO YOU SAY LET'S
START CHOPPING SOME ADJECTIVES.

ALL RIGHT.

HE DOESN'T SEEM TO
BE GETTING ANY BETTER.

WELL, MAYBE YOU'D BETTER
SEND FOR DOC SHACKLEFORD.

LAST OF THE LOGS, DADDY.

NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT
IT TILL JOHN-BOY GETS BACK.

I SURELY THOUGHT
JOHN-BOY WOULD BE BACK

WITH ANOTHER LOAD BEFORE NOW.

ALL RIGHT, SON, SWITCH IT ON.

ALL RIGHT, DADDY.

JOHN!

WE NEED A DOCTOR.

JIM-BOB'S GETTING
WORSE BY THE MINUTE.

HOLD IT, SON.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL GET OVER TO
IKE'S AND CALL HIM RIGHT NOW.

THERE, NOW. SEE HOW
MUCH CLEARER IT IS?

SAYS IT ALL IN HALF THE WORDS.

YES, WELL, NOW IS THE TIME FOR
YOU TO BE LEARNING THOSE SKILLS.

THEN WHEN YOU GO OUT
AFTER YOUR BIG STORY,

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WRITE IT.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH, A.J.

MY PLEASURE, SON. MY PLEASURE.

WE'VE BEEN AT THIS A GOOD WHILE.

I BETTER GET BACK TO WORK.

WHEN A WRITER GETS
LOST IN HIS OWN WORLD,

TIME HAS NO MEANING.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T EVEN
HAVE A HALF A WAGONLOAD YET.

HEY, EVERYBODY.

SORRY WE'RE LATE GETTING HOME.

OH, BEN, WHEN YOU'RE
FINISHED EATING,

WOULD YOU PLEASE TURN
THE MULES OUT FOR ME?

SURE. THANK YOU.

SEEMS LIKE DARK JUST
FELL ON US ALL OF A SUDDEN.

PUT IN A LONG DAY
UP THERE, DIDN'T YOU?

WE THOUGHT MAYBE
YOU MIGHT HAVE GOT LOST.

NO, SIR, WE DIDN'T, BUT WE
DID LOSE SIGHT OF THE TIME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

HOW'S JIM-BOB?

HE'S ONE SICK CHILD.

YOUR DADDY PHONED
FOR THE DOCTOR,

BUT HE WAS OUT ON ANOTHER CALL.

ALL WE CAN DO NOW IS WAIT.

BRING BACK A FULL
LOAD, DID YOU, SON?

WELL, NO, DADDY, NOT
EXACTLY A FULL LOAD.

RIGHT MUCH, THOUGH. WE, UH...

HOW'D THINGS GO AT THE SAWMILL?

WE MANAGED TO GET
ALONG TILL MID-AFTERNOON.

THEN WE RAN OUT OF TIMBER.

WE WAITED AND WAITED FOR YOU.

WE WANTED TO COME
UP AND FETCH YOU.

WE THOUGHT MAYBE YOU
LAID DOWN FOR A NAP...

ALL RIGHT, CHILDREN,
THAT'S ENOUGH.

THE JELLY, PLEASE.

DADDY, I DID WRONG
TODAY. I'M SORRY.

THOSE THINGS HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

WE GOT SUCH AN EARLY START.

IT SEEMED LIKE WE
WERE DOING REAL GOOD.

AH, SOMETIMES A
MAN WORKS REAL HARD

AND CAN'T SEEM TO
GET ANYTHING DONE.

NO, IT WASN'T THAT.

WE SAT DOWN ON A LOG TO EAT
LUNCH AND WE STARTED TALKING.

I ASKED A.J. ABOUT
WRITING, NATURALLY.

HOW HE GOT STARTED AND ALL.

AND HE TOLD ME.

AND YOU DIDN'T GET
MUCH WOOD CUT.

THAT'S THE WHOLE THING.

WELL, I THINK READING AND
WRITING'S A FINE THING, JOHN-BOY.

BUT YOU HAD A JOB
TO DO TODAY FOR ME,

FOR THE FAMILY, FOR YOURSELF.

A MAN'S JUDGED

BY THE WAY HE IS HANDLING
A JOB HE'S AGREED TO DO.

GIVE LESS THAN YOUR BEST,

WHETHER YOU'RE WRITING OR
CHOPPING WOOD OR FARMING,

AND YOU'RE FAILING
A LOT OF PEOPLE.

MOST OF ALL HE'S
FAILING HIMSELF.

YOU DO THE BEST AT WHAT YOU TRY,

YOU'LL HAVE NOTHING
TO BE SORRY ABOUT.

I'LL TRY, DADDY.

JOHN.

YOU'D BETTER COME.

WHAT IS IT, LIVIE?

IT'S JIM-BOB. THE
PAIN IS REAL BAD.

AND I'M AFRAID.

HIS FEVER'S RISING AND HIS LITTLE
STOMACH IS AS TIGHT AS A DRUM.

FEELING PRETTY
TOUGH, ARE YOU, SON?

YES, SIR.

OH, HE HASN'T BEEN
SICK TO HIS STOMACH,

SO IT ISN'T ANYTHING HE ATE.

THE PAIN'S LOWER
DOWN, ISN'T IT, HONEY?

WELL, I'VE GIVEN HIM SOME FENNEL
TEA TO CHECK THE FEVER AND...

EXCUSE ME, I...

I HEARD YOUR SON WAS SICK.

I THOUGHT MAYBE I
COULD BE OF SOME HELP.

OH.

SO YOU'RE A DOCTOR, AS WELL
AS A WRITER AND A WOODCUTTER?

NO, MA'AM, I'M NOT A DOCTOR.

BUT I HAVE WORKED IN A HOSPITAL.

ANY ADVICE YOU CAN
GIVE US, MR. COVINGTON,

WE'D BE MUCH OBLIGED.

HI, SON.

HURT DOWN HERE?

AH, OK.

I THINK YOUR SON
HAS APPENDICITIS.

ACUTE APPENDICITIS.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT?

WELL, I'VE SEEN THESE
SYMPTOMS BEFORE.

IF THERE'S EVEN A
POSSIBILITY THAT I'M RIGHT,

IT COULD BE VERY SERIOUS.

WHAT ABOUT DR. BROOKS
DOWN IN SCOTTSVILLE?

I THINK WHAT YOU
NEED NOW IS A SURGEON,

NOT A COUNTRY DOCTOR.

WELL, THANK YOU, MR. COVINGTON.

QUITE ALL RIGHT.

WE GET HIM TO THE
HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY.

WE'LL STAY WITH HIM
TILL HE'S FIXED UP.

I DON'T KNOW HOW
LONG THAT'S GONNA BE,

BUT I'LL GET BACK
HOME AS SOON AS I CAN.

WE'LL BE FINE.

YOU ALL BEHAVE YOURSELVES, HEAR?

WE WILL, DADDY. DON'T WORRY.

JOHN-BOY, WE STILL GOT A
CHANCE TO FILL THAT CONTRACT.

WE'RE GONNA TRY.

BYE, JIM-BOB. BYE.

BYE, JIM-BOB.

OH, DON'T CRY, HONEY.

CRYING'S NOT GOING TO
MAKE JIM-BOB FEEL ANY BETTER.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE
ME FEEL BETTER.

ALL RIGHT. INTO THE
HOUSE, ALL OF YOU,

BEFORE SOMEBODY
CATCHES THE GRIPPE.

HERE, GRANDPA.

ONE WALTON AT A TIME IN
THE HOSPITAL IS ENOUGH.

MMM.

WELL, I'VE SEEN YOUR
SYMPTOMS BEFORE, TOO.

ACUTE DEPRESSION.

I LET THEM DOWN, A.J.

AH!

WE WERE CHOPPING OUT ADJECTIVES

WHEN WE SHOULD'VE BEEN
CHOPPING DOWN TREES.

NEVER THOUGHT OF ANYTHING
ELSE BUT THE WRITING.

I JUST NEVER GAVE A THOUGHT
TO ANYONE ELSE BUT MYSELF.

WELL, I'LL SHOULDER THE BLAME.

NO, IT'S MY FAMILY
AND IT WAS MY JOB.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL
SHARE THE BLAME.

A.J., I'VE BEEN THINKING A
LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT. IF A
MAN WANTS TO BE A WRITER,

THEN THAT'S GOT TO COME
FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

WELL, AT A CERTAIN
POINT IN HIS LIFE.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I
TALK A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

A.J., I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER
BE ABLE TO TURN MY BACK

ON THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT.

THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON ME.

NOW WAIT A
MINUTE, JOHN-BOY. I...

I WASN'T SUGGESTING YOU
MAKE SUCH A DRASTIC MOVE

TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY.

I WAS JUST TALKING GENERALLY.

TODAY, TOMORROW, NEXT
YEAR. WHAT DOES IT MATTER?

I'VE BEEN FOOLING MYSELF
WITH THIS DUMB IDEA

THAT I'M GONNA BE A WRITER!

YOU'RE RIGHT. A WRITER'S GOTTA
BE ABLE TO CUT OFF THOSE TIES.

HE'S GOT TO BE ABLE
TO JUST GO LOOKING

FOR THAT STORY HE
WAS MEANT TO WRITE.

AND I TRULY ADMIRE YOU, AND
ALL THE GREAT MEN WHO'VE DONE IT.

BUT I HONESTLY DON'T THINK
I'LL EVER HAVE THE COURAGE.

I GUESS I KNOW I'LL
ALWAYS BE LOOKING BACK.

JUST BE TIED TO WHAT'S HERE.

UH...

JOHN-BOY, UH, WE GOT A BIG DAY
TOMORROW AND YOU'RE TIRED NOW.

WE SURE DO HAVE A
BIG DAY TOMORROW.

I MAY NEVER BE A WRITER,

BUT I'M GONNA BE THE BEST LOGGER
IN JEFFERSON COUNTY TOMORROW.

GOOD NIGHT, A.J.

GOOD NIGHT.

0.90, 0.95, $1.00. THERE YOU GO.

Y'ALL COME BACK, NOW.

WELL, MR. COVINGTON,
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

AH, A LITTLE
INFORMATION. UH-HUH.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THE TABOR PLACE

COULD BELONG TO ANY
MAN THAT PAID THE TAXES.

THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S A SHAME.

NICE LITTLE PLACE LIKE
THAT JUST FALLING TO PIECES.

UH, DO YOU KNOW HOW
MUCH THE TAXES ARE?

AS A MATTER OF FACT I DO.

I WAS THINKING OF
BUYING THE PLACE MYSELF.

$58.76.

WHY? UH, DO I TAKE IT
YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN IT?

WELL, I'VE GOT TO ADMIT, I AM A
LITTLE BIT TIRED OF TRAVELING.

WELL, IT'D BE AN HONOR
TO HAVE A PERSON

OF YOUR REPUTATION
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE'S ONE PROBLEM, THOUGH.

I'M A LITTLE BIT SHORT OF CASH.

OH, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOWADAYS.

YES. I DO HAVE THIS
WATCH, THOUGH. AND, UH,

ALTHOUGH I HATE TO PART WITH IT,

I HAVE TO HAVE A DOWN
PAYMENT ON THE TAXES.

OH, SHE'S A BEAUTY.

HOW MUCH?

$40.

$40?

I'LL GIVE YOU $25.

WELL, THIS IS, UH,

ONE OF A KIND, MR. GODSEY. UH,

$35.

H-HOW'S THAT WORK AGAIN?

$30.

IT'S YOURS.

THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IS
OVER AT THE COUNTY SEAT.

AND, UH, LET'S SEE,
THAT'S $5, $10, $20, $30.

HOW'RE YOU DOING, A.J.?

OK!

WHOO-HOO!

SURE IS TAKING A LONG WHILE.

I WISH I COULD'VE
STAYED WITH HIM.

OH, LIVIE, HE'S
GETTING THE BEST CARE.

HE LOOKED SO SMALL
IN THAT BIG WHITE BED.

WELL, I'M JUST GLAD WE
GOT HIM HERE ON TIME.

WE HAVE MR. COVINGTON
TO THANK FOR THAT.

MMM-HMM.

IF ANYTHING HAD GONE WRONG,

THEY SURELY WOULD'VE TOLD
US BY NOW, WOULDN'T THEY?

MMM-HMM.

HADN'T YOU BETTER GO ON HOME?

WE'LL JUST SIT THIS
THING OUT TOGETHER.

WHAT ABOUT THE CONTRACT?
IF WE DON'T MAKE IT?

JUST GONNA HAVE A LONG WINTER.

HOO!

WELL, YOU AND THE MULES
HAVE DONE REAL WELL.

WE SURE HAVE.

COULDN'T HARDLY SEE THE SUN FOR
THE CHIPS FLYING UP THERE TODAY.

COME ON, JASON, GIVE ME A HAND.

SURE.

WE'LL GET THIS ONE FIRST.

ALL RIGHT.

GOT HER? YEAH.

OK, LET'S GO.

WE'RE WAY BEHIND ON THIS ORDER.

TROUBLE IS, THIS OLD MACHINE

WILL GO JUST SO
FAST BUT NO FASTER.

OH, WELL, UH,

WELL, YOU CAN MAKE IT
GO FASTER, MR. WALTON.

HOW'S THAT?

WELL, YOU CHANGE THE
RATIO OF THE PULLEYS.

RATIO?

HOW CAN WE DO THAT?

OH, WELL, UH,

WELL, YOU JUST REPLACE THAT
LARGE PULLEY WITH THE SMALL ONE, SEE.

UH, I FAIL TO SEE IT.

WELL, IT'LL MAKE THE
BLADE GO TWICE AS FAST,

SO YOU'LL BE CUTTING
TWICE AS MUCH LUMBER

IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.

WELL, I SAY LET'S TRY IT.

NOTHING VENTURED,
NOTHING GAINED.

MR. WALTON?

DOCTOR.

YOUR BOY'S APPENDIX
HAS BEEN REMOVED

AND THE OPERATION WAS
A COMPLETE SUCCESS.

HOW LONG BEFORE WE
CAN SEE HIM, DOCTOR?

UH, SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN A COUPLE
OF HOURS TILL THE ETHER WEARS OFF.

I'LL... I'LL HAVE THE
NURSES CALL YOU,

SO YOU CAN BE WITH THE
BOY WHEN HE WAKENS.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, HOW ABOUT THAT?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

WHY, IT'S SIMPLE. WHAT
YOUR RATIO'S DONE

IS TO BURN OUT
OUR ROLLER BEARING.

BUT IT WAS WORKING.

FOR A WHILE, ANYWAY.

WELL, THAT'LL BE DADDY.

I HOPE HIS NEWS IS
BETTER THAN OURS.

I'M SORRY, JOHN-BOY.

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, A.J.

HOW'S JIM-BOB?

MINUS ONE APPENDIX
AND DOING JUST FINE.

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

TELL THE OTHERS.

AH.

DADDY, WE'RE NOT GONNA
MAKE THAT CONTRACT.

IT'S MY FAULT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT GRANDPA TOLD ME.

NO, I WAS JUST SO ANXIOUS
TO MAKE UP FOR THE TIME I LOST,

THAT I HAD A.J. TRY
TO SPEED UP THE SAW.

IT WORKED FOR A WHILE, THEN
IT BURNED OUT THE BEARING.

AT LEAST YOU GAVE IT A TRY, SON.

IT WASN'T SUCH A BAD IDEA.

BUT I LOST.

JOHN-BOY, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO PUT
OUR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL A LITTLE HARDER.

IT'S GONNA BE SLIM
PICKINGS THIS WINTER.

THAT OPERATION COST $22.

AH, WE'LL GET BY SOMEHOW.

THANK YOU, CHANCE.

I FEEL A TERRIBLE
ACHING EMPTINESS,

BUT I WILL FILL THAT EMPTY
PLACE IN MYSELF WITH WHAT I FEEL

FOR MY FATHER AND MOTHER
AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

INSTEAD OF LIVING IN THE PRIVATE
WORLD OF MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS.

JOHN-BOY! OH, JOHN-BOY!

SEE YOU LATER, GIRL.

AFTER THIS WRITING,

I WILL LAY ASIDE MY
JOURNAL FOREVER.

I WILL TRY TO ACCEPT THIS

AND LEARN TO LIVE
WITH THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT I CAN NEVER
FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS

OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

TO SEARCH FOR THE ONE GREAT
STORY THEY WERE BORN TO WRITE.

COME IN, SON.

AM I DISTURBING YOU?

NO, NO, NO, NO.

I WAS JUST... I
WAS JUST THINKING.

PIECING OUT A
STORY IN YOUR MIND?

YEAH.

WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE
TO TALK IT OUT LOUD,

THERE'S NOTHING I'D
RATHER DO THAN LISTEN.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE WITH
ALL MY STORIES, JOHN-BOY.

TALKED THEM ALL AWAY,

INSTEAD OF PUTTING
THEM DOWN ON PAPER.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I'VE YARNED MY YARNS AT
BOARDING HOUSE TABLES,

IN SALOONS, HOTEL
LOBBIES, STREET CORNERS,

JUST ABOUT ANYPLACE I
COULD GET ANYBODY TO LISTEN.

THEN WHEN I SAT
MYSELF DOWN ALONE,

IN FRONT OF A BLANK
PIECE OF PAPER, I...

IT WAS ALL GONE.

I WAS DRAINED. I'D
TALKED IT ALL AWAY.

SO I COULDN'T WRITE.

BUT YOU DID WRITE.

VERY LITTLE, SON.

THIS, UH, THE STORY I WAS
PIECING OUT IN MY MIND,

IT WAS ABOUT

A YOUNG BOY
GROWING UP ON A FARM.

ME?

OR ME.

MAYBE EVEN BOTH OF US.

THIS BOY WANTED
TO WRITE. SO HE DID.

HE WROTE ABOUT
HIS FAMILY, THE FARM,

HAPPENINGS IN A
SMALL TOWN NEARBY.

PEOPLE READ WHAT HE
WROTE, AND THEY LIKED IT

BECAUSE THEY SENSED IT
CAME OUT OF HIS OWN FEELINGS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I THINK SO.

AND THEN HE GOT A
LITTLE RECOGNITION.

WHERE'S YOUR WATCH?

IT'S IN A SAFE PLACE.

THEN HE GOT A LITTLE RECOGNITION
AND HE WENT TO THE BIG CITY.

HE MET OTHER WRITERS. HE TALKED
ABOUT WRITING AND THE LITERARY LIFE.

CAME AWAY WITH A
LOT OF BOGUS NOTIONS.

ONE, HE TOLD HIMSELF
THAT TO BE A WRITER

HE HAD TO CUT ALL
OF HIS FAMILY TIES.

SO HE CUT THEM.

THEN HE LOOKED AT THE SMALL
BUT HONEST THINGS HE'D WRITTEN

AND DECIDED THAT
THEY WERE TRIVIAL.

HE HAD TO GO SEARCHING
FOR THE BIG STORY.

BUT DIDN'T MELVILLE AND
LONDON DO THE SAME THING?

WHAT THEY SAW AND FELT,

THEY SET DOWN WITHOUT ASKING
THEMSELVES IF IT WAS "THE" STORY.

AS LONG AS IT WAS "A" STORY.
THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH.

BUT THIS FELLOW I'M
TELLING YOU ABOUT,

HE USED THE WANDERING
AND THE SEARCHING

AS AN EXCUSE TO
KEEP FROM WRITING.

SO, YOU KNOW HOW HE ENDED UP?

NO.

WITH NOTHING TO SHOW

FOR 45 YEARS OF LIVING
BUT A FEW TALL TALES

AND SOME SECONDHAND MEMORIES
OF WORKING WRITERS HE'D KNOWN.

BUT HE COULD STILL
WRITE IF HE WANTED TO.

HE TELLS HIMSELF
THAT FROM TIME TO TIME,

BUT HE DOESN'T REALLY
BELIEVE IT ANYMORE.

MORAL STORIES ARE
OUT OF STYLE, JOHN-BOY.

BUT THEN, SO AM I.

BUT MY STORY HAS A MORAL.

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE SEARCHING

FOR THE ONE BIG STORY
YOU WERE BORN TO WRITE.

WRITE THE LITTLE STORIES.

WHO KNOWS, THE SUM TOTAL
OF THEM MIGHT BE THE BIG ONE.

WRITE ABOUT WALTON'S MOUNTAIN.

YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT
YOUR FAMILY AND THIS PLACE.

JUST THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN DOING.

WRITE ABOUT HOW IT IS TO BE
YOUNG AND CONFUSED AND POOR.

GROPING, BUT SUPPORTED BY A
STRONG FATHER AND A LOVING MOTHER.

SURROUNDED BY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS

THAT PESTER YOU
AND IRRITATE YOU,

BUT CARE ABOUT YOU.

TRY TO CAPTURE THAT
IN WORDS, JOHN-BOY.

THAT'S AS BIG A CHALLENGE AS
THE KLONDIKE OR THE WHITE WHALE,

OR FLYING THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN ALONE.

IT WAS TOO BIG FOR ME,

BUT I THINK YOU JUST
MIGHT BE UP TO IT.

THANK YOU, A.J.

"IT NEEDS NEW PAINT AND SHINGLES

"AND THE VINES SHOULD
BE TRIMMED AND TIED.

"BUT WHAT IT NEEDS
THE MOST OF ALL

IS SOME PEOPLE LIVING INSIDE."

WELL, IT WAS ABOUT SO LONG

AND IT SORT OF LOOKED
LIKE A FISHING WORM.

MOTHER!

JIM-BOB, I THINK ERIN IS
GETTING A BIT SQUEAMISH.

WELL, I AM GLAD WE ARE
NOT EATING AT THE TABLE.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING.
IT'S SCIENTIFIC.

IT'S DISGUSTING.

IT'S ALL GONE.

IT'S THE MOST INTERESTING THING

THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE.

WELL, SOME FOLKS THINK THAT A
FOREST FIRE IS ENTERTAINMENT, TOO.

AH, STOP PICKING AT THEM.

YOU WERE AS CURIOUS AS A
MAGPIE WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG 'UN.

WHENEVER THAT WAS, I WONDER.

I AM THE ONLY ONE AROUND HERE

WHO CAN RECOLLECT BACK THAT FAR.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, SON?

A.J.'S GONE.

WHAT? WHERE?

WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A GOOD-BYE?

WELL, HE LEFT ME A NOTE.
I'D LIKE TO READ IT TO YOU.

"DEAR JOHN-BOY,
TIME FOR MOVING ON.

"I'M LEAVING YOU SOMETHING.

THIS IS NOT A
GIFT. IT'S A LOAN."

$22.

WHERE WOULD HE GET $22?

I THINK I KNOW, GRANDMA.

"I'VE GOT NO GOOD USE FOR THIS.

"IT WILL HELP TO COVER
THE LOSS OF THE CONTRACT.

"THIS IS THE MOST
I'VE WRITTEN IN YEARS.

"'MY ROAD CALLS ME,

"'LURES ME WEST,
EAST, SOUTH, AND NORTH

"'MOST ROADS LEAD MEN HOMEWARDS

"MY ROAD LEADS ME FORTH.'

"AFFECTIONATELY, A.J. COVINGTON.

ANDY."

WE NEVER SAW NOR HEARD
FROM A.J. COVINGTON AGAIN.

HE WANDERED INTO OUR LIVES,

TOUCHED THEM, AND WANDERED AWAY.

OFTEN WHEN I FACE THE SILENT
CHALLENGE OF A BLANK PIECE OF PAPER,

I REMEMBER THE LITERARY
MAN AND THE ADVICE HE GAVE ME.

I STRUGGLE TO
KEEP FAITH WITH HIM

AND SET DOWN THE SMALL THINGS,

THE SEEMINGLY TRIVIAL THINGS
WHICH PERHAPS TAKEN ALL TOGETHER

WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE AT
LEAST SOME SUGGESTION

OF THE LOVE AND
SACRIFICE AND JOY

THAT SUSTAINED ONE FAMILY
WHO LIVED OUT THE DEPRESSION

AT THE FOOT OF
WALTON'S MOUNTAIN.

MAMA?

YES, JASON?

I GOT A SHARP HURT IN MY SIDE.

YOU RECKON I COULD
BE GETTING APPENDICITIS?

I HOPE NOT. TRY
TURNING ON YOUR BACK.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, MAMA.

HURT GONE?

I WAS LAYING ON MY HARMONICA.

GOOD NIGHT, JASON.

GOOD NIGHT, MAMA.

IN A MOMENT, SOME SCENES

FROM THE NEXT
EPISODE OF THE WALTONS.