Original subtitles

During the day I have absolute faith that John-Boy's all right,

but at night, it's a different story.

Is he alive? Is he a prisoner of war? Is he wounded?

We could get some help. Maybe we should go to the Red Cross.

I can't promise anything at all. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I know a lot of other families are going through this just now,

but it doesn't make it any easier.

This is desperately important to us.

I know what it is to wait, Mrs. Walton.

We found out your son was missing

when we tried to contact him about his manuscript.

We knew John-Boy had been keeping a journal,

but we didn't know he had enough material for a book.

It's powerful stuff, and very marketable right now.

What do you want from us?

Well, our attorneys feel that you and Mrs. Walton can sign for him.

- Sign for it? - As next-of-kin.

You're making it sound as if he's dead.

Liv, I'm just telling you how it is.

We have to find a way to go on living.

I'm getting tired of you trying to calm me down.

Now, look, Liv...

It seems like your answer to all of this is to put your arms around me

and tell me that everything is gonna be just dandy.

- Liv, listen to me... - I don't want to listen to you!

JOHN-BOY: There is something in a mountain

which gives strength and stability to those who know it well.

Its timeless slopes make troubles seem smaller.

We were to draw on that strength many times

during the anxious years of World War Il.

But those years brought troubles of a kind we had never known before.

The pain of separation from loved ones who were sent overseas

and who might ha ve become casualties or prisoners of war.

The agony of waiting.

Liv, come to bed.

I'd just keep you awake with my tossing and turning.

Honey, you got to get some sleep. Come on.

Every time I close my eyes, all I see are young boys being killed.

Liv, missing in action can mean all kinds of things.

During the day I have absolute faith that John-Boy's all right,

but at night, it's a different story.

Is he alive? Is he a prisoner of war? Is he wounded?

You're just gonna have to be patient till we find out.

I keep having this horrible dream that John-Boy's lying wounded

in a field somewhere waiting for help that never comes.

I can't keep sitting on my hands just waiting for another telegram.

Well...

We can try to find some help. We can go to the Red Cross.

I've done volunteer work with the ladies in Rockfish.

All they do is roll bandages.

There's a bigger chapter in Richmond. Why don't we go there?

- Tomorrow? - Liv, it is tomorrow.

Come on, let's get a couple of hours sleep and we'll get an early start.

Last call for breakfast.

Darn it, I dropped a stitch.

(CLICKING TONGUE)

Girls who say "golly" and "gosh" and "darn" will wind up living alone in a barn.

Swell.

(LAUGHS)

How are you this morning, Erin?

Tired of being tied to a desk week after week.

Excuse me.

I know just how you feel.

It can't be any worse than riding around on a horse in the hills all day.

ELIZABETH: When do you go back up?

Depends how soon I can get the things I need.

The medical supplies are being shipped, and you know how the mail is.

- Morning, everyone. - Hi.

Sorry we're late. Cindy wasn't feeling too well.

I have indigestion something awful.

Cindy, heartburn's a very good sign.

I had it bad,

and no woman ever had an easier time giving birth to a baby than I did.

Hey, did Mama and Daddy already come down?

They left for Richmond at the crack of dawn.

They won't be back until late.

Daddy didn't mention anything about business there.

They went to the Red Cross. They're looking for news of John-Boy.

I sure hope they find out what happened.

I'm not sure I want them to.

Cindy, Elizabeth is teaching me how to knit,

and I'm gonna make a baby blanket.

- Or would you rather have booties? - No, a blanket's just fine.

- How are you coming with your sweater? - I keep dropping stitches.

MARY ELLEN: You'll get the hang of it.

I just wish I knew Albert's exact size.

That should be a cinch to figure out.

When he bends down to kiss you, how far does he have to lean

before his lips press passionately against yours?

I was in love with a boy once. He kissed me and that ruined it.

I hardly know Albert.

We just danced once at The Home Front Canteen.

Why are you putting so much of time into that sweater?

He's going overseas.

You're supposed to do things for boys that are going overseas.

Go swallow a frog.

Did you feed Reckless today?

She won't eat. I think she's sick.

- Let's go have a look at her. - Thank you.

How long has she been like this?

She acted pretty sad yesterday, but she ate all her food.

Her nose is dry.

So is mine. Is that bad?

You'll live. It means Reckless doesn't feel too good, though.

Go get it, girl! Get it!

(DOG WHIMPERING)

She doesn't even want to play.

She's been through this before.

Maybe we ought to take her to a doctor.

We got some medicine that always makes her snap out of it. I'll go get it.

Attagirl, Reckless. You're the best dog I ever had.

JOHN: Two days after we got the telegram from the War Department,

we got this letter from the Adjutant General.

We haven't heard anything since.

We weren't told where he was

before he was reported missing or any other details.

Where was he the last time he wrote you?

We think it was Sicily.

All we know is that he was covering the invasion

for the Army paper The Stars and Stripes.

We have this article, he sent us a copy of it.

Maybe there's a clue in here we missed.

It seems to have been written weeks before he was reported missing.

I'm sure the War Department has looked into all this.

Anything else you think I should know?

That's about it.

Many persons listed as missing in action

are subsequently reported as prisoners of war.

Since this information is furnished by the countries with which we are at war,

the War Department has no way of expediting these reports.

However, the Red Cross maintains strict neutrality.

We have access to all military hospitals and prisoner-of-war camps.

I'll ask our Washington office to cable our Central Tracing Agency in Geneva,

and a search will be launched for your son immediately.

- Are there any questions? - Have any idea how long it will take?

I can't promise anything at all. I'm sorry.

Thank you.

I know a lot of other families are going through this just now,

but it doesn't make it any easier.

This is desperately important to us.

I know what it is to wait, Mrs. Walton.

(BELL TINKLING)

Hey, Jeffrey, what can I do for you?

- Can I just look around? - Yeah, sure.

I'd buy something, but I don't have enough money to buy what I want.

What is it that you want?

Well, Reckless is sick,

and I just wish I had some type of dog toy that could cheer her up.

Maybe we got something here that might work. Let's take a look.

Hey, how about this?

(TOY SQUEAKING)

- Hey, she'd like that. - Now wait a second.

How much you got in your pocket?

A nickel.

Well, I'll be darned! That's exactly what it costs!

I'll take it. Thanks.

(BELLS TINKLING)

Mr. Godsey, how can children be expected

to learn the values of life if adults deceive them?

Come on, Corabeth. He didn't want the ball for himself.

He was just trying to be generous and thoughtful for somebody else.

I believe that children should be taught to face the realities of life.

Once again you have made the same mistake

that you have made time and time again with Aimee.

Well, if I've been such a bad father,

then how come Aimee has grown up to be such a lovely young lady?

But who knows what heights she might have scaled

had she received firmer guidance?

Why, this very moment she might be on her way to becoming a fine artist,

a writer, a world-famous concert pianist...

(BELLS TINKLING)

Hi.

Hey, Ike, Corabeth.

Here are some things Rose needs for supper.

And I need some more yarn.

You know where it is. Aimee, Elizabeth's here.

Mr. Godsey, please, I wish you wouldn't shout.

It sets such a bad example for the young people.

I didn't get quite enough, I guessed wrong.

I've got enough for two sweaters, and I'm just making a muffler.

- Maybe we should switch soldiers. - Not on your life.

I can't say that I blame you.

Philip's dreamy, isn't he?

Well, Albert's not that bad, it's just he's kind of immature.

- Ike, I have three of these. - Yeah, that's 75 cents.

- Add it to that, Ike. - Yeah, sure.

(BELLS TINKLING)

Tell me, Ben,

have I been a bad father?

That's a dumb question, Ike.

- Come on, tell me. - Of course not.

I think you're a very good father.

I just worry that I'm letting Aimee down.

What's gotten into you, Ike?

I tell you, Ben,

wondering whether you've been giving the girl the right kind of guidance,

it really shakes a man.

You wouldn't know what I'm talking about.

I've taken care of little kids before.

You just got to do what you think is right, and that's that.

But it's different when it's your own daughter.

(CLATTERS)

Hey, you're gonna be figuring that out pretty soon yourself.

No, I'm not. I'm gonna have a son.

(SCOFFS)

Bye-bye.

(CAR DOOR CLOSING)

Hey, Rose. What are you doing, waiting up for us?

Is everything all right?

You had a long-distance call from Washington this evening.

Say who it was?

It was a Mr. Henshaw. Now, he said it had to do with John-Boy,

and that you were to call no matter how late you came in.

The number's over by the phone, John.

Yes, Mr. Henshaw? Yes.

You've heard from our son?

Yeah, we could talk to you tomorrow.

Yeah, I'll be here all day. Bye.

It's John-Boy's publishing house.

He's written another book.

- John... - No, Liv.

He sent the manuscript long before he was reported missing in action.

I just know they're going to find him soon, God love him.

Now you come in the kitchen and let me fix you a snack.

I'm not hungry.

No, thank you, Rose. We'll just go to bed.

Come on, put the ball in your mouth. Come on, come on.

(TOY SQUEAKING)

Sometimes a dog just likes to be left alone.

She's sick, real sick. I don't think the medicine did any good.

She'll be all right.

Besides, you better get going. All the kids are ready to go to school.

- Come on, Jeff. Get going. - You're not the boss of me.

(TOY SQUEAKING)

Mary Ellen, how do you handle a little kid that doesn't listen to you?

You having trouble with Jeff?

Everything I say to him, he does just the opposite.

Yeah, he and Serena were real devils before Aunt Rose got a hold of them.

Sometimes they still are.

I can't blame them with a father like that.

We just have to be very careful with them.

You're right. I guess I've been just going about it all wrong.

Thank you.

What you got there? Can I have it?

It's still dry.

Actually, you can tell more by looking into the dog's eyes.

Nothing to worry about. She's already doing much better.

Are you sure?

She'll be fine by the time you get home from school.

- I sure hope so. - Now you run along or you'll be late.

I guess so.

Here, you might feel better before I get back from school, so...

I think I ought to give lessons on how to make children obey.

What if she isn't better when he gets home from school?

I wasn't kidding. You really can tell by looking into the dog's eyes.

Maybe a vet can.

Well, Grandpa did. I do what he told me to do.

You just shouldn't build up his hopes unless you're absolutely sure.

You ready to go in? Come on.

Reckless? Hey.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(OLIVIA SIGHS)

Any reason why you're sitting out here in the middle of the day?

Same reason you keep coming down to the house for a drink

when there's a bucket of water at the mill.

- No sign of him yet? - JASON: Not yet.

Now we probably know more about

what happened to John-Boy than Mr. Henshaw does.

It'll be a chance to talk about him. I'm hungry for every detail I can get.

Does that look like a publisher's car?

(CAR DOOR CLOSING)

- Mr. Walton? - Yes, sir.

- I'm Paul Henshaw. - Henshaw. This is my wife, Mrs. Walton.

- How do you do? - How do you do?

- My son Jason. - Glad to meet you.

- Furlough? - Three-day pass.

Why don't you come in the house? We have a lot to talk about.

Thank you.

Can I get you anything? Some coffee or something?

No, thanks. I'd like to get right to business.

- Have a seat, Mr. Henshaw. - Thank you.

We found out your son was missing

when we tried to contact him about his manuscript.

Do you know our John-Boy?

I'm in the business department. I've never met him,

but I feel like I know him through his writing.

Tell us about the book.

It's called GI Journal. His impressions and observations of the war,

talks with pilots, GIs in foxholes and in tanks.

It's powerful stuff, and very marketable right now.

We knew John-Boy had been keeping a journal,

but we didn't know he had enough material for a book.

- The manuscript has a flavor all its own. - Do you have it with you?

No, but we'll get you a copy as soon as we can.

What do you want from us?

I have a letter here from your son, and I'd like you to read it.

As you can see, he was hoping that our firm would be the publisher.

We sent him a contract.

The unopened envelope came back stamped "Missing in Action."

You can't publish it?

Well, our attorneys feel that you and Mrs. Walton can sign for him.

- Sign for it? - As next-of-kin.

Next-of-kin? You're making it sound like John-Boy's dead.

Sorry, Mrs. Walton, I didn't intend that at all.

What did you intend?

Nothing, honestly. We just want to get the book out as soon as possible.

Mama, John-Boy wouldn't have sent them his book

unless he wanted them to publish it.

Jason, will you stay out of this, please?

This has come on us kind of sudden.

We're gonna have to have a little time to talk this over.

There is nothing to talk over. I'm not signing anything

as though John-Boy's not coming back to do it for himself.

I didn't intend to upset anybody, please believe that.

Your son has written a fine book, and we're anxious to get it into print.

Forgive me if I acted too hastily.

She's been through a lot lately, Mr. Henshaw. We all have.

All right if I get in touch with you later,

in case you and Mrs. Walton have changed your mind?

- Just give us a little time. - All right.

PAUL: Bye.

Just thought I'd drop by for one of these fabulous pickles.

How'd you know they're fabulous?

I've read John Walton, Jr.'s book, Walton's Mountain.

He described this store to a T, didn't he?

He sure did, the place and the proprietor.

And how did he describe the proprietor's wife?

To a T.

You know, John-Boy is missing in action now.

Yes. I'm with the company that published his first book.

Came down here to talk to his parents about a new one we want to publish.

- Still a nickel? - A nickel a pickle.

(EXCLAIMS)

Just a minute.

It just so happens that I have got a photograph

of John-Boy and I standing out in front of the store.

It'd be marvelous to use as an illustration in your book.

There aren't going to be any illustrations.

Then you could use it on the cover.

All the books are coming out with a picture right on the cover now.

Mr. Godsey, I hardy feel that a picture of you in your shirt sleeves

with John Walton, Jr. at the age of 12 would be appropriate.

Sir, I, myself, am an authoress, a poetess.

Perhaps you would like to glance at some of my verse?

I wish I had the time, but I'm very busy.

"Hark! Now that spring is here Oh, what lovely sounds we hear

"Whispering breezes, babbling brooks Birds singing in secret nooks

- "Bees a-buzzing..." - I'm terribly sorry.

But I do have to leave now.

Well, perhaps you would like to take some of my verse with you?

- We don't publish poetry. - But you should.

Remember, in the words of the immortal Shelley,

"Poetry is a record of the best and happiest moments."

Excuse me, I have an appointment. I'll be late.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Too bad he didn't publish poetry, Corabeth.

This could have been your big chance.

Well, I doubt that I'd go with them anyway.

I would be interested in an older and more distinguished publishing firm.

Yeah.

Remember that summer we went camping up on the mountain? Just the two of us?

- As I recall, it was our anniversary. - One month.

I caught a beauty of a fish, and you cooked it.

- It was a wonderful day. - It was a wonderful night, too.

I laid awake for a long time after you went to sleep.

Looking up at the stars and thinking,

"There's some kind of miracle happening inside of me."

Liv.

There's no way you could have known that.

I know I couldn't have known it, but I did.

It was you next to me, breathing so slow and deep,

and the sky talking down at me. I knew.

Now you're gonna tell me you knew it was a boy, too.

You wouldn't believe me if I did.

So many memories,

all those years watching him grow, going out on his own

and becoming somebody we not only loved, but were proud of.

Now I'm talking about him as if he's part of the past,

and I don't want to do that.

Oh, honey.

(SIGHING)

It's so hard not knowing,

not being able to do anything about it.

Signing or not signing that contract

won't change what's happened to him, will it?

No. We ought to think about it, Liv.

Mufflers take so long. I should have done socks instead.

- Try knitting a sweater sometime. - Baby blankets are hard, too.

You're doing fine, Serena. You're all doing good.

Still trading sweaters for kisses, Elizabeth?

Do you think I should embroider my name and address on the muffler?

- So Philip remembers who knit it for him? - And writes me all during the war.

And maybe when he gets back, we'll fall in love and get married!

I've been looking all over for Reckless. Has anybody seen her?

She probably just strayed off. She'll be back.

- Reckless is missing! - Here she is.

Hey, Reckless! I'm sure glad to see you.

I had to go to Rockfish, and she wanted a ride.

- Is she feeling better? - She chased a squirrel!

(RECKLESS WHIMPERING)

- Why'd she cry? - You must have touched a sore muscle.

I took her to the vet. He says there's nothing he can do.

He says we ought to put her to sleep. Says she's suffering.

She can't be. She's not that old.

We've had her for seven years,

and we don't know how old she was when we got her.

You wouldn't let the vet put your dog to sleep, would you?

MARY ELLEN: We might have to.

Any sickness can be treated.

If she's in pain, and treatment would only drag it out,

you wouldn't want her to suffer, would you?

You shouldn't have told Jeff she was better.

I didn't have the heart to tell him the truth.

You're not doing the boy any favors by giving him false hope.

Someone has to tell him.

MARY ELLEN: When a dog's suffering and having no fun at all,

it just doesn't want to go on.

But maybe she can start having fun again.

We'll watch for a few days and hope for the best.

Sick dogs are like sick people.

Sometimes they get better when doctors think they can't.

- Do you think Reckless will? - I don't know, Serena.

You said you could tell by looking at her eyes.

Jeff!

Being a father is not as easy as I thought it would be.

What are you doing?

I'm re-reading this letter from the Adjutant General's office.

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walton.

"The personal effects of an individual missing overseas

"are held by his unit for a period of time and are then turned over

"to the effects quartermaster for disposition

"as designated by the soldier."

It's all so cut and dried. "Personal effects," "disposition."

Honey, getting his effects isn't gonna make any difference.

It'll mean the army's given up on him.

They do that in every unit.

They keep the belongings for a set period of time.

I'll tell you what.

Let's call the Red Cross. Right now.

Miss Fisk, would you come in here a moment please?

FISK: Yes, Mrs. Denman.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Red Cross, Mrs. Denman.

Yes, this is John Walton.

I'm here with my wife.

We just wondered if you'd heard anything yet.

Mr. Walton, your boy was a reporter for Stars and Stripes, is that correct?

- That's right. - I'm sorry, but we've had no word.

We're still waiting for a reply to our cable.

- You haven't heard anything at all? - Here, let me talk to her.

Mrs. Denman, this is Olivia Walton.

Isn't there something we can do?

Make phone calls, write letters, something?

You can help by waiting for us to notify you.

Trust us, we're doing everything we can.

Thank you.

They're doing everything they can,

we're doing everything we can, and nobody's doing anything at all.

I guess these things just take time.

You're beginning to sound like Mrs. Denman.

Liv, I'm just telling you how it is.

We have to find a way to go on living.

I'm getting tired of you trying to calm me down.

Now, look, Liv...

It seems like your answer to all of this is to put your arms around me

and tell me that everything's gonna be just dandy.

- Liv, listen to me... - I don't want to listen to you!

I'm sick of it!

I'm sick of listening to you and Rose and Mrs. Denman

and everybody else! I'm sick of it!

Don't you think I care? He's my son, too!

(SIGHING)

Will you listen to us?

I'm sorry, John.

I love you.

Honey, we keep this up, we'll both be out of our minds.

Now, listen, we'll keep after Mrs. Denman.

We'll go to Richmond twice a week if we have to.

- Time for bed, Jeff. - I think I'll stay here and sleep.

(RECKLESS WHIMPERING)

- Can I get you a blanket or something? - Reckless seems to be okay.

I don't think so.

- Did she have any of her supper? - Just a piece of chocolate fudge cake.

- Don't give her any more of that, okay? - Why not?

That stuff is a little rich for a sick dog.

You told me she'd be well when I got home from school.

That just shows how much you know about dogs.

So why should I listen to what you say?

Jeffrey, I really thought she'd get well.

- Then why did you take her to the vet? - Because she got worse during the day.

I kept an eye on her because I knew you were worried about her.

You're keeping her awake, she needs to sleep.

Good night, Jeff.

Don't worry, Reckless. They're not going to put you to sleep.

I know a nice, cool cave where you can rest

and I can visit you every day,

until you're better enough to even chase rabbits.

I was out this way and I dropped by to apologize for any offense

I may have caused you the other day. Thank you.

I'm often told that I'm too enthusiastic. Sometimes it gets me into trouble.

But I certainly didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings.

I'm sure you meant well, Mr. Henshaw.

I guess you came by to see if we've changed our minds

about having the book published.

Well, I'd be lying if I tried to deny that.

Mr. Henshaw, we've been talking about this.

We feel it's what John-Boy wants.

Well, good. Sign for him then.

Here's the contract.

It's a standard contract, much like the one he signed

when we published Walton's Mountain.

What do you think, Liv?

There's nothing to it. It just authorizes us to go ahead with publication.

We take care of all details, rights, promotion, distribution.

What do you mean by promotion?

You see, this project has tremendous possibilities,

magazine rights, radio spots, personal interviews.

After all, we'll be dealing with an author who is missing in action.

He may even have given his life for his country.

It's a very dramatic situation.

Yes, it is.

Are you planning to use the fact that our son is missing in action to sell books?

Exactly! We were even thinking of getting Life or Look magazine

to do a pictorial on your family, your sacrifice for the war effort.

I assure you our company doesn't go in for tasteless exploitation.

Sounds to me like what you're talking about is tasteless exploitation.

There's no harm in promoting a good book.

Look, let me tell you how our business works.

We don't care about your business, Mr. Henshaw.

- I don't think I want to sign this, John. - We're not gonna sign this thing.

That's final, so no use dragging this out.

I'm sorry.

(COCK CROWING)

(COW MOOING)

Attagirl, Reckless. And no barking, or we're sunk.

We're almost there, Reckless.

I know you're tired. I'll tell you what.

When we get to the cave, you can sleep for the rest of the day.

You're gonna be fine, girl.

Pretty soon you're gonna be well enough to come home.

You're feeling better already!

You like it out here in the woods, don't you?

(LEAVES RUSTLING)

Hey, a rabbit!

(BARKING)

Reckless! Slow down, girl! You'll knock yourself out.

Stay, girl, stay!

Reckless! Wait for me!

Reckless, where are you?

Hey, Ike.

The ladies' hearts must flutter

as they watch that handsome sergeant come waltzing by.

I've got to beat them off with a stick, all right.

Ike, I'm looking for something for Mary Ellen.

She's going up on the Mountain pretty soon, making her rounds.

Thought I'd get her a little present.

Hey, there's something else you can take along.

A package came in here a while ago.

- For Mary Ellen? - No. It's for your mother and father.

First class, registered. Got eight bucks worth of postage on here.

Really looks like it must be important.

Got a little beat up, didn't it?

Yeah, the return address got torn off. I wonder where it's from.

I haven't the foggiest.

Maybe I better wait for your daddy to come by, huh?

I think I better take it, Ike. He's not gonna be home till late.

Here's a dollar for the compact.

What do you think it is?

You think it might be John-Boy's personal effects?

The compact was 89 cents, Ike. I'd like my change.

MARY ELLEN: Jeffrey, where have you been?

Your grandmother's been calling everywhere for you.

I was out in the woods with Reckless. She got lost.

I figured you were out with her.

Don't worry, Jeff. I'm sure she'll be back.

- How far from home were you? - Real far.

Let's go. I'll help you find her.

Cindy, will you look after John Curtis? He's upstairs napping.

- Reckless! - Reckless!

Reckless! Reckless!

Jeff, you stay with me, or you'll get lost.

- Reckless! - JEFFREY: Reckless!

- Reckless! - Reckless!

Reckless!

MARY ELLEN: Reckless!

BEN: Reckless! Reckless!

Reckless! I found her! Over here!

Reckless!

I was afraid we'd never find you. But you had fun, didn't you?

I'm afraid we're not gonna have to put her to sleep, Jeff. She's dead.

It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought her out into the woods.

If she didn't want to go, you couldn't have made her budge.

If it wasn't for me, she'd still be alive.

It's my fault. I killed her.

Jeff, you shouldn't blame yourself.

A dog usually knows when he's gonna die,

so he goes off all by himself. He dies alone.

Did you know that about dogs?

I never had one before her.

Reckless hasn't been having any fun lately, she's been in a lot of pain.

But you saw her today chasing a rabbit, didn't you?

That's what you want to remember about Reckless. She died a happy dog.

Thank you.

- Mrs. Denman? - Mr. and Mrs. Walton, isn't it?

Yes. We were in town doing business.

We thought we'd drop by and see if you'd heard anything.

Please sit down.

I've been trying to reach you all day.

I have some news.

Early this month, your son returned to London from Sicily.

And on the seventh, he went along as an observer on a bombing mission.

His plane didn't come back.

Do you have any idea what happened?

Well, it isn't official, but we learned from Stars and Stripes that

it was hit by anti-aircraft fire and went down over occupied Belgium.

Nobody knows whether the plane crashed or made a forced landing.

Is that all you know?

For now.

But they're still checking hospitals and prisoner-of-war camps,

and as soon as we hear anything definite, we'll let you know immediately.

I wish you knew our John-Boy.

You don't know what it's like, do you?

Mrs. Walton, I got one of those War Department telegrams last year.

My son went down on the Hornet. His body was never found.

I'm so sorry.

- He hasn't left us, has he? - No, Liv, he hasn't left us.

Whatever happened to the airplane, he hasn't left us.

- We thought you'd be in bed. - We couldn't get to sleep.

MARY ELLEN: We were hoping you'd have some news.

I do. But sit down.

It's been an awful hard day, what with worrying about John-Boy

and having to bury Reckless, that sweet old dog.

- OLIVIA: Is Jeffrey all right? - He's all right now and sound asleep.

Jim-Bob gave a sermon, and then we all said a prayer for John-Boy.

We have some news.

John-Boy was on an assignment for Stars and Stripes,

and his plane went down over Belgium.

Oh, no.

- Is he dead? - No.

We don't know. We're not gonna give up hope.

Daddy.

It's a letter from Henshaw.

"GI Journal by John Walton, Jr."

There's some other stuff in here, too.

- Chapter 11. - It's Chapter 12.

He wrote that his typewriter got smashed in Tunisia, remember?

He said he ran out of paper.

"Some of the bomber crews in Sicily had been on as many as 30 missions

"without a rest period.

"Though they were full of laughter and bantering good nature,

"they knew that the law of averages was against them

"and they worried about it.

"The only clue to this was that they talked more about the folks back home.

"Childhood memories, anecdotes about families and friends.

"That's the way it is when you're secretly afraid your number is up,

"as I know from experience."

"Your thoughts go back to the past and to the people you love.

"Something I've been secretly afraid of for a long time finally came to pass.

"I was asked if I wanted to go along on a bombing run

"and with a crew that had flown 27 consecutive missions."

Could this be the mission that he didn't get back from?

No, honey. This was in Sicily.

His plane went down over Belgium.

Go on, Daddy.

JOHN: "I had seen many formations of bombers from the ground

"and tried to imagine what it would be like to be in one of the planes.

"I found out when I flew with them as an observer.

"We ran into a hailstorm of flak.

"Then came the fighters.

"This couldn't be happening.

"It was all like a bad dream.

"Memories of what I'd seen in the war began to rush through my mind.

"The Battle of Britain.

"The faces of the people in London.

(GUNS FIRING)

"I saw again the GIs I had tra veled with in Tunisia and in Sicily.

"And in all the faces that flashed before me,

"there was that look of determination that will not let us give up

"until the war is over and victory is ours."

I think we should share this, Liv.

I think we have to.

JOHN-BOY: The book was published, and brought comfort to many

who wanted an honest report on their loved ones overseas,

and those were the people for whom GI Journal was written.

MARY ELLEN: Has anybody seen John Curtis? He's not in his bed?

BEN: He was in here a while ago. I thought he went back into your room.

MARY ELLEN: How could you lose sight of him?

CINDY: I was brushing my teeth.

MARY ELLEN: John Curtis! Everybody check around.

I'll look downstairs!

(PIANO PLAYING)

Lord, another musician in the family. Come on, John Curtis. Time for bed.

- Good night, John Curtis! - ALL: Good night, John Curtis!

English -SDH