Original subtitles

Hey, how's it feel to be graduating?

It feels okay.

Corabeth said that he might be able to be valedictorian.

- Is that true? - I'm not surprised.

- Why didn't you tell us? - I'm proud of you, Jim-Bob.

- That's a real honor. - I told her I didn't want it.

All I have to do is fail the science exam.

You're going overseas, aren't you?

That's why they gave you the pass.

Yeah, we're...we're shipping out tomorrow night.

Oh, Ben.

(male #1 on radio) 'Closer now, more antiaircraft fire inboard towards the shore.'

'The smoke hangs in the air.'

'You can see a fiery glow along the French coast'

'where our troops are landing.'

My God, it's here. We have invaded France.

[gunfire on radio]

["The Waltons' Theme" by Jerry Goldsmith]

[music continues]

(John-Boy) Sometimes it seemed as if we had always been at war.

The quiet of our lives on Walton's Mountain

was interrupted daily by headlines and bulletins

that took us to far off deserts and island outposts

with impossible names.

Our days swung between hope and despair

but somehow we went forward

meeting the demands of life in a troubled world

proving at home what the war was proving on every front.

That a crisis can make leaders of the most ordinary of men.

I see it, but I don't believe it.

Let me guess, a costume party?

I'm having my picture taken for graduation

and I only need to look good from the waist up.

Jim-Bob, I don't think the world is ready for you.

My graduation was so romantic.

The girls wore long white dresses

and we all carried red roses.

I had a made-over dress, but it was one of the most

wonderful days of my life.

Figures out of all the graduations in family

mine would come in the middle of a war.

Doesn't help that you've had four substitute teachers

this semester either.

There's a new one coming today.

I hardly know anybody in my graduating class.

Most of the people have moved off the Mountain.

- Some new ones have moved in. - Yeah, like Roland Piper.

He calls Jim-Bob cornpone.

Worst of all, nobody will be here to see me graduate.

Mom is gone. John-Boy is back in the army.

Ben's at Camp Perry.

We'll be there, son.

Just think of it as a victory graduation.

Sure.

Hurry up, Elizabeth. We will be late.

Don't wait for Elizabeth, Serena.

She's walking to school with Drew Cutler.

That's why she is taking forever to get ready.

Wonder who the new teacher will be?

Probably someone awful.

Corabeth, you got new glasses.

They are for planning lessons and grading papers.

The slightest magnification only.

Oh, I don't like to tell you this

but they make you look a little older.

Precisely the point.

When one has a tendency to look younger than one's age

sometimes one does not receive the proper respect

one deserves.

Corabeth, don't you think you're taking this all too seriously?

I mean, you haven't any teacher training and the only reason

the board hired you is they couldn't get anybody else.

A situation I intend to remedy this summer

at Boatwright College.

You're not going into school teaching?

My mother was an educator, you know.

You're mother ran a boarding house

and she taught piano on the side.

Many is the time I have been relieved that she did not live

to see what it is that I've become.

The cash and carry queen of a country store.

Corabeth, you don't want to leave here.

Deep in your heart you love it.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

You love being right here in the crossroads of our community.

One smelly bus a day does not a crossroads make.

You've to admit that you like it when friends drop by for a chat.

The size and shape of Zuleika Dunbar's gallstones

is hardly a matter of all-consuming interest.

But, however, to shape young minds

to quench the thirst for knowledge.

Corabeth, teaching is not a breeze.

Some of those kids, they're holy terrors.

The key is discipline. Firmness.

And I intend to establish my authority immediately.

- You won't last out the week. - It makes good common sense.

A husband and wife should never, I repeat

neverwork together.

It is a miracle to me that our relationship survived at all.

In the future you will thank me for this decision.

Alright, go. See if I care.

One can get along just fine on one's own.

[orchestral music]

How do you do? I am your new teacher.

[all chuckling]

Now, some of you may know me as the assistant proprietress

of Godsey's Mercantile.

A position for which I am sadly overqualified.

[all laughing]

However, from now on I am Mrs. Godsey

and I will be with you till the end of the term.

Young man..

...your gum.

I don't think you'd like my gum, ma'am, but I've a fresh stick.

[all laughing]

- What is your name? - Roland Piper, ma'am.

Well, we have certain rules in this school, Mr. Piper.

No whispering, no note passing and no gum chewing.

[swallows]

[all laughing]

And no laughing.

Now, you are not here to enjoy yourselves.

You are here to feed your minds.

It is a serious business.

Now, I understand that there have been

no formal plans made for the graduation.

This is a situation which must be remedied immediately.

Time is of the essence.

'Now, what we need is something memorable.'

Something uplifting.

A theme. We need a theme.

Where I went to school before, there were over 300 kids

in the graduating class.

It hardly seems worth it with just six of us.

I just want to get my diploma.

- Yeah. - That will be quite enough.

'Cause when school's over, I'm gonna start having

myself a good time and I'm never gonna stop until I get drafted!

(all) Yeah!

[all cheering]

Silence!

Silence!

Now, this classroom will come to order.

Oh, here is the photographer.

You may set up your equipment in the corner of the cloakroom.

The seniors are dismissed to freshen up for the photos.

[orchestral music]

Hello, daddy.

John-Boy! What are you doing home?

I got furlough. Ten days.

Good to see you, son. How have you been?

Alright. You writing a novel or what?

I don't do too bad on that old typewriter of yours, do I?

I'd say six words a minute. Anything I can help you with?

No, it's a note to Matt Sarver explaining

I can't get his order on time.

- Nonfiction, huh? - Little fiction thrown in.

So...is the army keeping you busy

writing in the Stars and Stripes?

Daddy, I asked to be reassigned to overseas duty.

John-Boy...don't you think you have done your share?

No...as soon as my papers come through I will be leaving.

That's why I came home.

To tell you.

Oh, son.

You know, I don't do much mill work anymore

now that Ben's gone to the Seabees.

I kinda miss hearing the sound of this machinery

the sawdust and the smell of new-cut wood.

Nothing stays the same.

Pa would say it's like the woods.

I look at John Curtis and I believe it.

He's nothing, but a seedling now.

Pretty soon he'll take up as much room as a yellow pine.

I guess if it's something you got to do, son

you might as well go ahead and do it.

Sometimes I wish I could keep time from passing.

Yeah.

That's a sure sign you are getting older.

There, 40 times. You can count.

Spitball should be one word.

Do I have to do it over?

Will you promise to behave in the future?

It says so right there. "I will not throw spitballs."

Very well, but if you cause anymore trouble

I will keep you in after school the entire month of June.

Corabeth's gonna be a lot tougher than

that last substitute we had.

You thought you could get away with more 'cause you knew her.

- What are you doing? - Cleaning up my desk.

- Is that a ham sandwich? - Yeah.

But you wouldn't want it. It's been there since October.

Jim-Bob, I have just made the most astonishing discovery.

While averaging the grades of the graduates

I find that you're in a very good position

to be class valedictorian.

What?

'Your grades have improved enormously'

in the last two years.

Although, I dare say, had not Brinya Kohler

moved to Middletown and Bernard Dylan joined the army

it would be an entirely different story.

How about Roland? He is smarter than me.

"Than I," Jim-Bob.

Well, actually your grade averages are exactly the same

and whoever makes the best score

on the science exam next week will be class valedictorian.

Science is your best subject, Jim-Bob.

Let Roland do it. I'm not good at making speeches.

But it's something more than oratory, Jim-Bob.

This whole school has been turned topsy-turvy by the war.

What we need is a leader.

Someone to rally the students to a strong and unifying force.

And while I should not take sides I cannot, but hope

that you will be that person.

I wouldn't count on it.

Oh, but have you no loyalty to your alma mater?

You've gone to school here all your life.

And that bumptious Piper boy just moved in last semester.

'He is nothing but a buffoon'

a demoralizing influence and totally inappropriate

to the responsibility.

And I myself would find him impossible to work with.

I'm sorry.

All I want is what's best for the school.

Sure hope he changes his mind.

[sighs]

I hope so too.

[door closes]

Elizabeth, are you still at it?

Drew, I got to go now. Bye-bye, okay.

You gotta make an appointment around here to use the phone.

I can't help it. We are in love.

Serena, I found you some lace to use for Eudora's bridal veil.

Thanks, Mary Ellen. Have you ever been to a doll wedding?

No, this will be my first.

She'll make a beautiful bride..

...just like Erin one of these days.

Don't bother talking to her.

She's writing to Ashley, she'll never hear you.

Even though he hasn't written to me in over a month.

Looks like Rome will be falling in a couple of days.

And Italy's only the first step.

You reckon we'll be invading the continent soon?

That's the rumor.

It will be do or die then.

And all I been doing is training men to go over there.

- Where have you been, Jim-Bob? - Out in the mill.

We're trying to decide what color I should paint my car.

You've been threatening to paint that car for two years.

I'll believe it when I see it.

(John-Boy) 'Hey, how's it feel to be graduating?'

It feels okay.

Corabeth said that he might be able to be valedictorian.

- Is that true? - I'm not surprised.

- Why didn't you tell us? - I'm proud of you, Jim-Bob.

- That's a real honor. - I told her I didn't want it.

All I have to do is fail the science exam.

[dramatic music]

It sure seems like a lot of trouble for nothing.

It's just one of those things you do to keep the world happy.

My son's graduation day was one of the proudest days of my life.

He may have been at the bottom of his class

but he managed to get that diploma anyway.

- Ow! Be careful. - I'm sorry.

Oh, I made over a suit of his father's for him

and we bought him a new pair of shoes. Oh, boy, I tell you.

He looked as shiny as a Buffalo Nickel.

And I thought it would be a turning point

but he just never seemed to take hold.

He drifted and went from one scrape to another.

Not like you, Jim-Bob.

We're expecting big things out of you.

I hope you are not counting on me being president.

Only if you run on the Democratic ticket.

- You want some help? - Not from you.

- What's got her starch up? - Beats me.

- Here you go, Rose, thanks. - Okay, dear.

Did I do something wrong?

Your science notes. You meant it, didn't you?

You're gonna fail the test on purpose.

I don't need this.

I already know everything that's in it.

If I wanna fail, all I've to do is put down the wrong answers.

[sighs]

- What difference does it make? - I don't like cheaters.

- Who is cheating? - 'You are.'

Putting down wrong answers when you know the right ones

is cheating just as much as looking on someone else's paper.

That's not true.

Jim-Bob, you're cheating yourself and you're cheating

the whole class and I'm ashamed of you.

[dramatic music]

- I got some mail for you. - 'Alright.'

In fact, there is one letter here that should be

very important to Erin.

That one.

Oh, it's from Ashley Longworth. Oh, thank heavens.

I was beginning to get worried something had happened to him.

- I guess he is okay. - Oh, good.

So what else can I do for you?

Well, I'm looking for a present for Jim-Bob's graduation.

Oh, I'm gonna give him a card and put a couple of

very fresh new dollar bills in it

Well, maybe something to wear?

Some socks, a new shirt?

You know, Jim-Bob is convinced that this won't

be much of an occasion on account of the war and all.

I want to give him something that will remind him

it was special.

I got it. I got the perfect thing for you.

Some gold cufflinks and I'll make a good deal for you.

Five bucks?

A salesman by the name of Mathews was passing through town

gave me a deposit on it, then he moved without picking them up.

Ike, they are just beautiful

but they've got the man's initials on them.

Sure, M

but you turn it upside down

and it is a W.

For Walton. Dollar down and dollar a week?

You got a deal.

[orchestral music]

- Hi. - Hi.

Hi, Rose. Is John Curtis in bed already?

Tucked him in and he was asleep before I turned the light out.

Have you heard the news? The allies have taken Rome.

'President Roosevelt announced it tonight on the air.'

That's why we're late. J.D. had radio on, we stayed to listen.

Oh, that's wonderful news.

I've got something else that ought to give you a lift.

V-mail from Ashley.

No.

What is it, Erin?

" Dear, Erin

"I wanted you to hear this from me.

"There is no easy way to say it.

'"I'm married.'

'"Her name is Margaret.'

'"She is a lovely English girl I met during'

'"a weekend leave in London.'

'"It seems whirlwind, I know'

'"but we fell very much in love, very quickly.'

'"Do not think badly of me, I loved you once'

"but you are so far away.

"Wish us happiness, as I wish all the best for you.

Ashley."

It's this war.

It's this damn war.

I wonder if I should take a tray up to Erin.

When I came down she was awake. She was just lying there.

I wouldn't do that, Rose.

She likes to be by herself when she's got hurt feelings

ever since she was small.

She'll be a long time getting over this.

I just wish she'd cry or scream, anything.

I'd like to punch that Ashley in the face.

You hold him, I'll help you.

I'll go by Pickett's and tell them she's not going in to work.

Who's not going to work?

There's a government official coming today and J.D. is

counting on me to sweet-talk him through the plant.

We saved you some scrambled eggs, Erin.

No, thank you, Rose.

I heard about Ashley, honey. I'm sorry.

Don't, daddy. I'm trying real hard.

[phone rings]

(Elizabeth) 'Oh, I'll get it.'

'Hello.'

Alright, yeah, sure.

Goodbye. Daddy, it was Ike.

He said something big is happening on the radio.

[radio static]

(male #1 on radio) 'Closer now, more antiaircraft fire inboard towards the shore.'

'The smoke hangs in the air.'

'You can see a fiery glow along the French coast'

'where our troops are landing.'

My god, it's here. We have invaded France.

[gunfire on radio]

You know, next year, you'll be the only Walton left in school.

I mean, besides Jeffery and Serena.

I think I'm gonna like it, won't feel like the baby anymore.

You want to go to the graduation dance with me?

- I already said I would. - No, I mean ours.

That's three years from now, maybe you won't like me.

- Or maybe you won't like me. - Then, we better wait and see.

You know, I wish I was graduating this year.

If I had been born few years ago, I'd be on my way to France.

John-Boy said the announcer was using a new wire recorder.

Oh, I know. That's weird.

I don't see how they get so much noise on a little piece of wire.

It's pretty exciting.

It was awful, I felt like was right in the middle of it.

Yeah. Well, I sure hope the war doesn't end

before I get a chance to go over there.

- You're kidding. - No.

I've been thinking about the Tank Corps.

Mary Ellen's husband was killed at Pearl Harbor.

I've three brothers in service and you want it to go on?

I don't want anything to happen, but I've been reading about it.

Hasn't that convinced you?

Elizabeth, I just want a chance to get at those Nazis.

That's the most immature thing I've ever heard.

I wanna prove I can fight, you're calling me immature?

And selfish and stupid.

Well, that just about covers everything, doesn't it?

If I think of anything else, I'll tell you.

Yeah, well, don't bother. I get the point.

[dramatic music]

Hey, Jason.

So you really are painting your car.

Well, she deserves it.

Still runs as good as the day I built her.

Hey, Elizabeth, what color you think I should paint my car?

Yellow.

She calling you a sissy?

She's still mad 'cause I don't wanna be class valedictorian.

I was hoping you'd changed your mind about that by now.

'Yeah, well, I haven't.'

I've a feeling someday you're gonna regret

that you passed up an opportunity like that.

I'd fall flat on my face. I'm just not a natural leader.

I suppose you think it's something you're born with

like freckles.

Okay, well, maybe she is right. Maybe I am yellow.

I remember something grandpa used to say.

He used to say, "When you come up to a mountain

"there's two things you can do.

"You can either go around it or climb over it.

'"The first way is the easiest'

but you miss the view from the top."

I never figured you to be afraid of heights, Jim-Bob.

[dramatic music]

(male #2 on radio) 'Almighty God, our sons'

'pride of our nation'

'this day have set upon a mighty endeavor'

'a struggle to preserve our republic'

'our religion and our civilization'

'and to set free a suffering humanity.'

'Lead them straight and true.'

'Give strength to their arms'

'stoutness to their hearts'

'steadfastness in their faith.'

'They will be sore tried'

'by night and by day'

'without rest'

'until the victory is won.'

'They yearn but for the end of battle'

'that all return to the haven of home.'

'Some will never return.'

'Embrace these, Father'

'and receive them thy heroic servants'

'into thy kingdom.'

'And for us at home, fathers, mothers'

'children, wives, sisters'

'and brothers of brave men overseas'

'whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them.'

'Help us, Almighty God'

'to bear sorrows that may come'

'to impart our courage unto our sons'

'wheresoever they may be.'

'Thy will be done, Almighty God.'

'Amen.'

[sighs]

This war's starting to turn in our favor.

We just need to give one extra push.

I'm gonna cut some wood.

Me too.

I'll help you.

What about the women? What are we supposed to do?

We wait.

Elizabeth, where is Jim-Bob?

He is in his room with the door shut.

Doesn't he know today is the science examination?

That's the reason he's in his room with the door shut.

Oh, dear.

Well, I'm afraid we can't wait.

Now, your attention, please.

Now, all of you have your assignments.

Now, the younger students will work quietly

while the seniors will proceed with the science examination.

Now, there will be no whispering and I expect you all

to keep your eyes on your own paper.

Now, I'll grade the examinations promptly

and let you know the results after lunch.

Ready. Begin.

Jim-Bob, you're tardy.

I'm sorry.

[orchestral music]

This is only a Wednesday and it feels like Friday.

- It's been a hard week. - Yeah, it sure has.

We had to replace two people on the assembly line this morning.

We got an hour behind because the main stamping machine broke

and J.D. has been impossible.

That's not what I meant.

I know you've to work, but don't you ever let up?

I'm afraid to. That's when it starts to hurt.

I used to love to have you to myself

although it didn't happen very often.

I'm little out of practice playing big brother.

I thought I'd come by and sharpen up my techniques.

If you mean talking about Ashley, don't, John-Boy.

'Cause I'm not gonna cry about that anymore.

Have you given up eating too?

I'm going to devote myself to my career.

After the war is over I'm going to New York

and I'm going to get a job with an advertising company.

Erin, you are not fooling anybody.

I'm not the only girl in this world to get a Dear Joan letter.

I didn't lose my husband like Mary Ellen did

and I didn't almost die like you.

So I'm really very lucky.

Okay, that's just what I told myself

when I was lying there in the hospital.

Guys kept coming in, they couldn't see

they couldn't walk

but all the same there were times when I felt pretty bad.

There was this orderly.

The biggest, toughest-looking guy I've ever seen.

He used to bathe me, he used to wheel me out into the sunroom.

One day when I was really holding it all back

I looked over at him and he was crying.

I asked him why and he said he was crying for me

because I wouldn't cry for myself.

That's when I finally let go.

So there are lot of ways to be a casualty of war.

Us veterans, we got to stick together.

[orchestral music]

I must say that I am most pleasantly surprised

by the results of the examination.

No one made under an 80

and two of you made a score of over 95.

Roland Piper and Marvella Sue Littleton.

[all applauding]

'I congratulate you both.'

And one of you made a score of 100.

James Robert Walton, will you please rise?

What this means, James Robert, is that you

will be valedictorian of the class of 1944.

Good going, cornpone. You're smarter than you look.

(Corabeth) 'And I do hope, Jim-Bob, that you'll give me'

your fullest cooperation.

Now, as you all know tomorrow is the last day of school..

[all cheering]

Quiet, quiet. Please, I must have your full attention.

I know that you're all most eager to hear what it is

that I have planned for the graduation.

Now, these flowers in assorted sizes and shapes

will be stapled to the trellis through which the graduates

make their entrance into the room.

Oh, no.

Following the procession, there will be

a musical selection, "Virginia We Love Thee"

which I have prevailed upon myself to render.

Swell.

[all laughing]

And, Jim-Bob, here's the outline of a speech you are to deliver

praising the founders of the Virginia Academy System

and a brief history of education in the Commonwealth.

Now, are there any questions?

I'm not gonna say this, Corabeth.

I can understand your shyness, but all you've to do is read it.

Surely you can prevail upon yourself to do that.

If I'm gonna be valedictorian, I'm gonna write my own speech.

'We don't want the kind of ceremony you're talking about.'

When I think of my graduation I don't wanna remember

that I walked through a trellis covered with fake flowers.

Why, I am appalled.

All I had hoped to do was to introduce a little style

into an ordinarily dull event.

I don't know about the rest of you, this is probably gonna be

the only graduation I'm ever gonna have.

It may be wartime, but I think if we all cooperate

that means all of us, Piper, I don't see why this can't

be the best graduation this school's ever had.

'I also think we should call a meeting after school'

to decide what we're gonna do.

You can come if you want to, Corabeth.

[dramatic music]

Where're you going today, Uncle John?

I got a little errand to run and I'm late.

- Bye, honey. - Bye, dad.

- Can I come with you? - Not this time.

- I get it. Business. - Sort of.

Are you gonna be back in time for the graduation?

I sure am.

And I'm bringing Jim-Bob a little surprise too.

I sure hope people give me presents when I graduate.

You graduate and we all will.

- Bye, honey. - Bye-bye.

No more pencils, no more books no more teacher's dirty looks.

Jeffery, I'll give you a nickel if you quit saying that.

Not worth it. I'm gonna say it every day all summer long.

Can you say quieter then. Ginny is trying to sleep.

Sorry.

[door slams]

Do you want me to iron that dress for your graduation dance?

I don't think I'm gonna be going.

- Trouble with Drew? - Boys are just impossible.

I sort of remember it that way.

- What happened? - We had a fight about the war.

I hope you are not on opposite sides.

He talks like it is a big, exciting adventure.

A game or something.

If he does, he is bluffing.

I'd hate to be a boy growing up right now reading about battles

knowing I might be in the thick of it soon.

If it were up to women there wouldn't be any wars.

I don't think anybody had any choice in this one.

Hey, look what I found along the roadside.

- Hello. - Hi.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Cindy! - Oh.

Cindy, could you come down here for a minute?

- Yeah, what is it? - It's over there

[Cindy gasps]

Oh, Ben.

Why didn't you call me?

My whole outfit got a pass and I didn't wait in line

for the telephone, so I just started hitchhiking.

Jim-Bob will be glad. He's graduating today.

Yeah, I know, where is he?

He and Roland Piper went off early this morning.

'Haven't seen them since.'

- When can I see my baby? - Right now.

Oh.

- She has no hair. - It will grow back.

- I hope it's red. - Let her be.

I want to spend some time with her momma first.

Is there something to eat around here?

Yeah, let's go find something.

You're going overseas, aren't you?

Yeah, we're...we're shipping out tomorrow night.

Cindy, we don't know where we're going.

Scuttlebutt is that it's somewhere in South Pacific.

Oh, Ben.

It's okay.

You will be fine here with the family.

It's not myself that I'm crying for.

It's everything that you're gonna miss

with Virginia growing up.

That's why I got something from PX.

It's, um, supposed to take really good color pictures.

If she is a redhead, I can tell.

First, I want to take a picture of you.

No, I can't. Not like this.

- Just sit right there. - I can't.

Cindy, at the count of three

give me a big smile.

One.

Two.

'Three.'

Jim-Bob home yet?

Well, I can't believe he'd miss his own graduation.

No telling what kind of trouble Roland Piper could get him into.

Yes, and John isn't home yet either.

Serena, when's Eudora's wedding?

- I called it off. - 'I was looking forward to it.'

I tell you what. If you call it back on, I'll help you with it.

[phone rings]

Hello.

Oh, Corabeth.

No, he isn't here.

No, he hasn't called either.

Oh, I hope there hasn't been an accident.

'Really?'

'Well, now, that is a puzzlement.'

- Thanks, Rol. See you soon. - Here he comes.

Oh, Corabeth, he is here.

'Be patient, dear. We'll, we'll get him there.'

- Why, hello. - Ben, when did you get in?

This afternoon. I thought you'd stand us all up.

Rolly and I had something to do in Rockfish.

There's something funny going on.

Corabeth said the whole graduating class

disappeared today.

[mouth organ music]

[knock on door]

Come in.

Here.

Let me help you with that.

Haste makes waste, as my Aunt Martha used to say.

Thanks, Rose.

Oh, Jim-Bob, this is a big day for you.

And I just want you to know how thrilled I'm to be a part of it.

- Here. - What's this?

Well, open it and see.

It's beautiful, Rose.

but you shouldn't have got me anything.

Try and stop me.

I'll never forget you or this day.

You better not.

- Thanks, Rose. - I'll get out of your way now.

I don't think you need any help putting on your pants.

[orchestral music]

Now, as soon as the processional begins

I want you to be sure and signal me.

Okay, I'll whistle. I'll go..

[whistles]

No, no.

Like this.

Corabeth, I can't do that.

[sighs] Oh, dear.

This is not at all what I had in mind for the graduation.

I never should have tolerated Jim-Bob's mutiny.

What's wrong, Corabeth?

You're not getting one of your headaches, are you?

Just the slightest throb in my temple.

This is too much. I should never have let you take it on.

Oh, well, it's not the work that I object to.

It's the lack of appreciation.

I had such high hopes for those young people

and was there one word of praise?

Not a modicum of gratitude.

Corabeth, you're not gonna be school teaching next year.

That's final.

Well, perhaps my nervous system is just not as suited

for teaching as I thought.

But what if they should need me?

Well, they'll just have to get somebody else.

I'm putting my foot down.

Oh, Mr. Godsey...sometimes you can be very masterful.

[knock on door]

May I come in?

Oh, dear.

It's that crazed Piper boy.

Yes.

Mrs. Godsey, on behalf of the graduation class

I, uh..

...um..

Well, here.

You were the best substitute teacher we had.

[soft music]

Oh.

No hard feelings.

They're lovely.

Here, honey. I'll pin it up for you.

[music continues]

[piano music]

Be seated.

To the friends and families

of the Walton's Mountain graduating class of 1944

welcome.

[soft orchestral music]

I know that you share my pride

in the achievement of these young people

'upon the completion of their secondary school education.'

'Although, I have played only a small part'

'in the final act of their schooling'

when the curtain comes down, I will remember these days.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you

the class valedictorian

James Robert Walton.

[all applauding]

I didn't prepare a long speech.

All of us, not just me, have worked really hard for this day.

'Five years ago we might have gone on to college'

'or gotten jobs.'

'There's a war out there that's not over yet.'

Just this week, a whole lot of kids, not much older than we are

found themselves right in the middle of it.

On the beaches of Normandy.

It was because of them we wanted to do

something special this graduation

that would be our gift to the community and to the school.

So we all got together this morning and went into Rockfish

and enlisted in the army.

[all exclaiming]

That is the boy's enlisted in the army.

All four of us.

The girls came along for moral support.

They promised to write every week.

I know it's not gonna be easy saying goodbye.

'But it helps that we are going together'

and it helps knowing you'll be here running things for us.

Because we need you.

'Now and when we get back.'

That's all I have to say

except I'd like the other graduates to rise

'cause I'm very proud to be part of this class.

[all applauding]

Eat up, you two.

I'm not hungry.

It's hard to swallow this morning.

I know.

Yeah, I know too. I'm having the same problem.

I'm not gonna cry. I refuse to cry.

All set to go.

Rose, will you hold on to my cufflinks for me

till I get back?

Thanks.

Here, grandma, this is till I can send you picture of me

in my uniform.

[grandma chuckles]

Take good care of my model airplanes for me, okay?

There's a good chance I'll be transferring to the Air Corps.

I'll let you know.

Alright, everybody. Here we go.

Hey, where's John-Boy?

He's gonna meet us up front.

[soft orchestral music]

Daddy.

Something you ought to know.

I'm putting in a transfer for a unit that's going overseas.

[sighs]

It seems to be catching on.

I'm proud of all my children.

[upbeat music]

(Rose) 'Look at that yellow.'

There you go, Elizabeth.

Lemon yellow just like you ordered.

- 'Time for us to get going.' - You don't want a ride?

No. We'll walk, daddy.

We got plenty of time before the bus gets here.

It might be the last chance we have to be together for a while.

- 'Alright.' - Bye-bye, sweetheart.

- Bye-bye, daddy. - Take care, son.

- Bye-bye, Mary Ellen. - Alright, behave now.

- God bless you. - See you later.

- Bye-bye, daddy. - Bye.

- Take care now. - Alright.

(Ben) Y'all take care.

(John-Boy) My brothers and I knew, as we walked away that morning

that things would never again be the same.

The war would teach us how small Walton's Mountain was

and how ordinary our lives there.

And yet from the foxholes of France

and the skies over Germany

on the reefs and atolls of the South Pacific

wherever the war was to take us

we returned to the Mountain in memory

over and over again.

That wooded earth, that frame house

that weathered porch where our loved ones waited.

Home.

(John) 'Isn't anybody gonna say goodnight?'

(Elizabeth) 'Goodnight, daddy.'

'Goodnight, Jim-Bob.'

(Jeffrey) 'Jim-Bob can't hear you.'

(Elizabeth) 'I can pretend, can't I.'

(Erin) 'Goodnight, John-Boy. Goodnight, Ben.'

(Mary Ellen) 'Goodnight, Jason.'

(John) 'Goodnight, everyone.'

["The Waltons' Theme" by Jerry Goldsmith]