All language subtitles for The Waltons Homecoming (2021) 1080p

- Hi. I'm Richard Thomas.

And I'd like to share
a story with you.

It's a story about a
family...an American family

living through a time
of great social upheaval

and economic hardship.

It's a story that
takes place in 1933.

But it made its mark
on our country in 1972.

And now, in the 21st century,

it may be more resonant
than ever before.

But mostly, it's a story
about human kindness,

and compassion, and love.

It's a story about family...
and one in particular.

A family that I was very proud
to be a part of 50 years ago,

and I still feel
a part of today.

A family called The Waltons.

My boyhood home
in the Blue Ridge Mountains

of Virginia was a place
I've always treasured.

A world full of
mystery and wonder.

But when the stock market
crashed in 1929,

businesses collapsed.

Families split apart.

And folks started
giving up on their dreams.

Our local mill closed,

and Daddy had to find work
90 miles away.

And he could only be
with us once a month.

To make matters worse,
he wasn't given the weekend off

that Christmas in 1933.

I was 17 years old back then.

And I wanted to be a writer
more than anything in the world.

My daddy expected me to fill
his shoes while he was gone.

And I wanted to
prove myself to him.

But I prayed I wouldn't have to
give up my dream in the process.

During the Depression,

sometimes it seemed like
dreams were all we had.

- Well, look at you.

A little Christmas miracle.

- Just not the one
I was hoping for.

Oh Lord, please watch over John.

- What is it, Elizabeth?

- I was teaching
Geraldine to fly

by swinging her over my head.

- Oh, honey...

that's nothing that a little
needle and a thread can't fix.

I will have her good as new
before the day is out, okay?

I wish Daddy was here.

I know.

Grandma and Grandpa are
coming for breakfast.

How 'bout that, huh?

Oh, okay. Well, then,
you need to go get dressed

so you're ready
when they get here.

Yesterday,
President Roosevelt promised

the Electric Home and Farm
Authority will bring

cheap electricity to millions
in the Tennessee Valley.

And we have a cold front
with possible storms

coming through
the tri-county area.

Travel advisories are going out,
so stay close to home, folks.

Now back to our
Christmas Eve program.

- Hey, is that another drawing
of a doll?

- It's to hang on the tree,
Santa's gonna bring one to me.

Dream on, Sis.

- What do you know?

- Santa's probably
out of work too!

Mrs. Walton!

- Coming!

- What is that you're building?

- A Christmas cottage with
cotton for snow on the roof.

It's for above the fireplace.
- How about in the fireplace?

- Erin, you wanna get your
nose out of that magazine

and give me a hand?

- I've got news.

Dan Wilson just
dropped off a telegram.

Where's John-Boy?
- Where do you think?

Upstairs scribbling
secrets in his room again.

- John-Boy, get down here!

I'm coming, Mom.

- I was just
cleaning up my room.

- Good lord.

- Enough, you two.
It's from your daddy.

He's coming home today!

- What?
- Are you serious?

- Whoa!

- He talked to his boss
into moving his shift.

He's got the whole weekend off.
He'll be here by late mornin'.

John-Boy, you gotta get
your brothers and sisters

all squared away.
You have finish your chores

before Grandma and Grandpa
get here.

We got to get the house
ready for Daddy's homecoming.

And I've got breakfast to cook.
- Yes, ma'am.

- You heard her.
We've gotta make this

the best Christmas ever, okay?

Now, Erin, put that magazine
away and help Mary Ellen.

Jim-Bob, clean up that
mess up, please.

- It's not a mess.
It's a decoration.

- Where's Jason?
- He's out in the barn

splitting wood for the stove.

- Move it...now.
- What are you doing?

- I'ma go tell Jason the news!

- Hey. That's Daddy's
old jacket.

- Well, he's not wearing it,
is he?

- What do you want
me to do, John-Boy?

- Well, I think you should
finish your drawing,

and I'll put it in a prime spot
on the tree

where Santa will see it.

- Thanks, John-Boy.

I was excited
that Daddy was coming home.

But I was also nervous.

We'd argued before he left
because he thought that becoming

a writer was interfering
with my responsibilities.

I wanted him to see that I was
doing my part to make Christmas

perfect for the whole family.

- Hey, got some
great news for ya today.

- Huh?
- Daddy's coming home.

- Don't give me that.
- Yeah, it's true.

Momma just got a
telegram from him.

He must've kicked
up quite a fuss.

- Damn!
When's he getting in?

- Late mornin'.

Geez, it's freezing
out here, huh?

What?

I will take that dime.
- No, you won't. It's Daddy's.

That's how he holds 'em, right?

- Yup. You look just like him.

I can almost picture you at
the lathe in the machine shop.

- You know that's not for me.

- Man's gotta earn a living.

- Get off it, all right?

I don't need to hear
that from you too.

- There's nothing wrong with
learning a trade if it means

it keeps your family fed. Okay?

That is a man's responsibility.

- So is thinkin'
for yourself, Jason!

- You and Daddy get in
another fight before he left?

- Yeah, he was upset I didn't
finish painting the shed yet.

He said my chores came first and
writing was wasting my time.

- Well, yeah, it does.
Doesn't it?

Geez!

God, what an awful
thing to do to your body!

Oh, stupid!
What is Daddy thinking?

- You mean besides wondering why

his oldest son is throwing
his future away?

- Why do you always
take Daddy's side?

- Hey. Hey, I filled that.
You're stealing the glory!

- Oh yeah?
Tough luck, little brother.

Daddy had convinced
Jason he should learn a trade,

even though becoming a
musician was his dream.

I think Jason was a bit jealous

that I was stubbornly
hanging on to mine.

- Yeah?

- That's a good one.

- Okay, I get it!

- Yeah? Better luck
next time.

- Grandma!
I'm so glad you're here.

- Well, we all have
to be somewhere.

- All right, I take that back.
I'm not glad to see you at all.

Your grandma brought
some of her cranberry jam.

It's your daddy's favorite.

- Oh, perfect timing.
- Mm-hmm!

- That's a good load
of stove wood.

- Yes, ma'am.

Jason did the work.

- I can't slice any more off
that bone,

but it'll still do for soup.

- It's a good thing.

It's the last of the ham from
the hog John butchered.

- What are we gonna eat
for Christmas dinner?

- Uh, maybe I'll
wring Gretchen's neck

and we'll have
stew and dumplings.

- Okay, Momma,
she's a laying hen.

- The boy's right.

You put Gretchen in a stew,
what you gonna do for eggs?

Unless you're planning
to lay them yourself.

- Maybe I'm just feeling a
little reckless this Christmas.

- Oh!

- I don't like the look of that.

- Where you headed?
- Hickory Creek on Route 29.

Once I'm there, it's a six-mile
hitchhike home, if I'm lucky.

- That's some trip.

Hope the roads hold up.

The man on the radio said
there's a cold front coming.

It's gonna be a bad one.

- I'll have to take my chances.

- Could be icy roads.

You might want to stay
here in Charlottesville.

Tackle the trip home
in the morning.

- No way, my friend!

It's Christmas Eve.
Family's waitin'.

I still got Santa visits to
tend to before the day's out.

Next!

Name?
- John Walton.

- Thank you for
the food we eat.

Thank you for
the world so sweet.

Thank you for
the birds that sing.

Thank you, God,
for everything. Amen.

- Amen, Sister Jen shot a
rooster, killed a hen,

hen died, the rooster cried.

- Slow down, everybody.
This is not a free-for-all.

- Grandpa, why do you
always end prayers that way?

- He won't even tell me.

- It's not very religious.

- Daddy's not so
religious either.

- He's religious.
He's just not churchgoing.

- What does it matter, anyway?

I like the way it
sounds, Grandpa.

- Thank you, Mary Ellen!

- John-Boy, I want you to take
the kids down to the barn later

and crack some walnuts
for my applesauce cake.

- Yes, ma'am.

- So, you are gonna
make applesauce cake?

- Well, I am now, I wouldn't
want to disappoint your daddy.

It wouldn't be Christmas
for him without it.

Oh, I've gotta go to
Ike's and buy some sugar.

- Sugar's not cheap these days.

- Her money to mind,
Grandma.

- I want to go to
Ike's with you, Momma!

- I don't guess
there's a certain doll

you might want to
take a look at, hm?

- What is that you're
drawing there, pumpkin?

- It's a red bird.

- It truly is that. Heh!

That's one fine red bird.

- I wish my daddy could fly.
- Oh, is that so?

- He'd be with us right now.
That's for sure.

- He'll be home by noon.

Plenty of time to beat that
storm that's headin' this way.

- Storm?
- Yeah.

Snow flurries, sleet,
maybe some black ice.

- How do you know that, Grandpa?

- Look right there, in that...
See that tooth back there?

Right there right in
the back, that one?

It aches when a storm is coming.

- He heard it on the radio.

Tell her the truth, old man.

- I felt it in my
tooth first.

- Did they say
when it would hit?

- Oh, nightfall, I reckon.

John will be home
well before then.

Don't you worry, Livy.

- Well, I'm glad you could
get it.

- I gotta run.
Thank you, sir!

- Thank you.
- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas!
Hey, hey, wait! Wait!

Wait! Hey! Stop the bus!

Stop the bus! Hey!
Hey! Stop the bus!

Ooh.

- Hop on.

- Thanks, bud.
- Thank you.

- You've saved my
family's Christmas.

- Ooh-wee, looks like we're in
for a lot of stops.

- Well, holiday traffic
and bad roads.

- Yeah.
- Where you headed?

- Hickory Creek.
- Me too. Welcome aboard.

Name's Elmer.
- John. Good to meet ya.

- Hey, likewise.
- Whew!

- Do you ever knock?

- That pack horse library
lady's coming up the road.

- Is that one of her books?
- Yeah, yeah.

It's, uh, a history
about this English guy.

Uh, and it says "history"
right on the cover, okay?

Now, get out. Get out. Go.
- You're nervous.

- Get out, seriously!
- You're nervous!

- I'm not nervous!
- Yes, you are!

- Hey, Maggie!

I didn't know you were
working Christmas Eve.

- Well, I won't be back until
spring and I wanted to drop

something off before
I left for school.

- Spring?

- Edith Card is gonna
take my route until then.

- Oh.

- Fair warning.

She's a bear for
collecting late fees.

- I was gonna ask you
about "Tom Jones."

You know, I hadn't gotten
all the way through it yet.

- Don't worry.
That's my own copy.

The library wouldn't carry it.

- Yeah, I was wondering. Um...

him and Molly, they're...
that's a little, uh...

- Racy?
- Yeah.

Yeah, I know.

Just wait 'til you get to
his dinner with Mrs. Waters.

- You actually read
that in school?

- World Lit class.

The professor said it was one
of the earliest English novels.

And since I'm certain that
one day you'll write a novel,

thought you'd like to
see where it all began.

- So you don't mind if I hold
on to it a little longer?

- No. I'll pick it up in
the spring.

Meantime, I brought you another.

Something different.

Kipling is President
Roosevelt's favorite author.

And this is a collection
of his stories and poems.

- Well, thanks for
keeping me stocked up.

You know, all we gots the Bible,
the Farmer's Almanac,

and the Sears Roebuck catalog.
- Well, this one's

the library copy,
so you got three weeks before

Edith comes gunning for you.

- I'll make sure
I get through it.

- You're kidding me. What?

- It's just a little bookmark.

I think "JB Walton" is a
good name for an author.

Merry Christmas.
- I don't know what to say.

I mean, if I would've
known that you were coming,

I could've gotten you
something...

- Oh, stop.

No, it wasn't meant
to be a gift exchange.

- You know what?
You stay right there.

- This!

This is a story I wrote,
and it is yours to keep.

- But what about this contest?

- I'll just copy another
one from the original.

Don't worry about it.
But I would be really grateful

if you gave me your thoughts
on it.

- Of course.
- Yeah.

- Wouldn't hurt to get a female
perspective on things, right?

- Absolutely.

- Oh!

- See you next spring.

- I'll be lookin' out for ya.

- Merry Christmas!

- That looked to me like two
worms wrapped around a fishhook.

Oh my gosh!

- Don't get any shells in there,
or someone will break a tooth.

- Oh yeah, it's also
bad luck, I've heard.

- Yup, you and
your superstitions.

- You know, this would go
a lot faster if you'd help us

instead of fooling
with that thing.

- You should be happy I'm
not charging you to play.

- You can take your banjo
and shove it, Jason.

- Oh!
- Erin, don't be such an ass.

- Oh, watch your
mouth, Mary Ellen.

- Me? What about Daddy?
He says that stuff all he wants.

- Well, he's Daddy, ain't he?

- Well, you're not.
So quit acting like a boss man.

- I didn't ask to be
in charge, all right?

I got better things to do.

- Oh yeah? Scribble scribble.

- Quit moping, all right?

You had no right
to say that to Erin.

- She's just jealous that I'm
gonna be a Hollywood star

and marry someone with enough
money to get me whatever I want.

- Dead wrong, sister.
I'm never getting married.

I'm gonna be an aviator
like Amelia Earhart.

I'm gonna fly right out of here
and travel all over the world,

make all kinds of adventures,

with nobody telling me what
to do.

- What kind of adventures?

I don't know, that's what...

makes them adventures.

- You could fly Santa's sleigh.
That'd be an adventure.

- Santa's not coming this year.

- Hey, you don't
know that, Erin.

And don't say it to
Elizabeth, all right?

Guys, we can still make wishes.
Miracles can still happen.

'Cuz this Christmas is gonna be
the best ever no matter what.

So, Jim-Bob, what's your wish?

- An Erector set.

- Great, just what we need.

Another thing of Jim-Bob's
with pieces to step on.

I heard that!

- And I hope you catch a cold
and sneeze your brains out.

- Shut up, little pipsqueak!
- That's enough, Mary Ellen.

What is wrong with you?

- She's just worried Santa won't
bring her breasts for Christmas.

- Anybody else?
- Hey!

Sit down with the rest
of us and shut your mouth.

- Is that an order?
- Yes, it is!

- Well, then you better find
yourself a waitress because

I don't take orders.

Ooh.

Where do
you think you're going?

Huh? Hey, get back here!

- Hey, Mary Ellen?
- Will you give me a hand?

- Be right there!

- Whoo!

- It's so cold.
Let's get in there.

Oh, good girl.

Oh, Rose!

You're doing a little
last-minute Christmas shopping?

- Candles for service tonight.

How are you doing, Elizabeth?

- Fine, Miss Rose.
Where's Claudie?

- Oh, he's with his daddy
getting the church set up.

- Oh, yes.

- I hear there's more weather
on the way, Livy.

You all are welcome to come
to our Christmas Eve service

if the storm kicks up.
It's a short walk.

- That's so kind, Rose.
Thank you.

- What are friends for?

- You mean besides looking
out for each other's children?

I still think you get the
short end of that stick.

- Oh, not so.

We do just fine,
don't we, Elizabeth?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Oh, no, no, no, you come
back here, young lady,

and wait a minute.
I wanna ask Rose something.

Um, you haven't by chance seen
John here in town, have you?

- Sure haven't.

He's not back from
Charlottesville yet?

- No. Um, we thought
he'd be here by noon, so...

- Winter travel, I suspect.
Always delays.

I am sure he's fine.
- Yeah.

- Mind if I drop by a bit later?

I have a little Christmas
cheer I want to deliver.

- Oh...
- Oh, not that kind.

I noticed the
Baldwin sisters are inside.

- Yeah, I bet
they're pleased as punch

now that Prohibition's done.
- Mm-hmm.

- I will have a warm slice of
applesauce cake waiting for ya.

We'll see you in a little bit.

- Momma, if her church is
closer to us than our church,

how come we don't always
go to Rose's church?

- Well, uh, you see, um...

our family has always been
members of First Baptist Church.

And Rose's husband,

he's a preacher over
at Calvary Bible Church,

so that's where she goes.

But...since we were already
members of First Baptist Church,

we don't have to go
to Calvary Bible.

- Oh.

- But that doesn't mean we
can't go, 'cause you know what?

Everybody's welcome
in any of God's houses.

Hm?
- Mm-hmm.

- Right. Let's get inside.

- How does that look to you,
ladies, huh?

- Very fresh.
- All right, good.

And here's your cookies.

- And that is a baker's dozen?
- Absolutely.

Olivia Walton
and!

- A Christmas miracle.

- Miss Emily, Miss Maimie.

- And you must be?
- Elizabeth.

- She has your eyes.
- And your teeth.

- Um, we're looking
for your husband.

- So am I.

- He can fix anything.
- And he's a good customer.

- Oh, which brings
us to our problem.

- Rest his soul, Papa's recipe
machine has become...

- Cantankerous.
Something is blocking the flow.

- Like a kidney stone.

- Oh, how those bedeviled Pa.

- We think the copper coil
needs to be replaced.

- And John is just
the man to do the job.

- Well, I will tell
him when I see him.

- Your groceries, ladies!

It's so nice
to see you, Mrs. Walton.

And we'll call on you
later this evening

with your order of
the Christmas recipe!

- It's famous.
- I look forward to it.

- Merry Christmas, everyone!
- Merry Christmas!

- Ladies! I hope you
haven't been naughty.

Santa's watchin' you know?

Charlie Sneed!

- Will you tell Santa
we're gonna leave a jar

of the recipe by the fireplace?

- I'm sure he'll be pleased.

- Oh, hey there, Livy.
- Charlie.

- Glad I bumped into ya.

Got a big grudge rematch
with the sheriff

on Ike's pool table tonight.

John's free to
join, if he'd like.

We could use an
impartial referee.

- Charlie!

- Well, as a matter of fact, um,

John ain't back from
Charlottesville yet.

- No? Hm.

I'm...I'm sure he'll be along.

When you're through
here with Livy,

dig me up a box of
shells for my Winchester?

.30-06.
- You got it.

- In the meantime,
I'm gonna go make sure

that thing's on the level
for tonight.

What can I
do for you, Livy?

- I would love a pound
of sugar, please, Ike.

You don't wanna get
between him and a cue ball.

I can see that!

Kind of like your little
Elizabeth and that doll.

Every time she comes in here,
she heads straight to it.

- Yeah, well, hard to
explain the Depression

to a five-year-old, Ike.

- I...I...I understand, Livy.

But, uh, Merry Christmas anyway?

- Thanks, Ike.

- All right. Oh, and,
uh, some change for you.

- Thank you kindly.
- You're welcome.

- Yes, yes, yes.
Hey, Elizabeth!

One's got a higher purpose.

- Thank you.
- It's the least I can do.

Let's go. Thank you kindly.
Let's go!

- All right, Merry
Christmas, y'all.

- Merry Christmas!

- Oh, let's go fix your doll.

Oh, Sheriff Bridges,
am I glad to see you.

- How do you do, Mrs. Walton?

I wonder if
you've seen my husband.

He'd be on the road
from Hickory Creek.

He's running pretty late.

- No, ma'am.
I've been up country,

trying to catch that poacher

who's been hunting
without a license.

- Well, I hear
everything he shoots,

he gives to those in need.

He's some kind
of backwoods Robin Hood,

but he's breaking the law.

And what he doesn't give away,
he takes to Charlottesville

and sells for cash money.

Bet no one told you that.

- Well, then, um, good luck.
- Thank you, ma'am.

And I'll keep an
eye out for John.

- Thanks, Sheriff.
Merry Christmas.

- Winchester 70.
Pretty nice, huh?

- Depends on what it's used for.

- Oh, target practice mostly.
You ready for tonight, Sheriff?

- Glad I ran into you, Charlie.
Maybe Ike could fill in for me.

I can't make it tonight.

- Why?
- Pressing county business.

- What's that?
- Can't discuss it.

- Well, that's too bad.

I'll save your favorite cue for
you in case you change your mind

or finish your business early.

- Oh, don't worry, Charlie.

I'll catch up with
you soon enough.

- You're up next, John.

- I'd hold back
some on that nutmeg.

- It's your recipe.
Don't mind me.

I've just been
makin' it for 40 years.

- I don't see why I have
to do the lunch dishes.

- You are the oldest.
- John-Boy's the oldest!

- You're the oldest girl.

- Being a girl should have
nothing to do with it!

It's not a fair way
to hand out chores!

Momma!

- You and your grandma
can work this out.

- If life were fair, Mary Ellen,

I'da had your pretty face.

- "Nelson County gossip.

"Hiriam Buggywell's
old sow pig Petunia

"gave birth to 14 babies
last week.

"Mother and children
are all doing just fine,

except for the
one that was eaten."

- Erin! Look what you did!

- What is all this fuss?

- Erin wrecked my village!

- That's not a village.

That's a...a beaver
dam without the mud.

Now for
Nelson County news and weather.

Well, folks, it looks
like a nasty cold front

will move in by nightfall.

Expect some flurries and
possible sleet later today.

Stay off those icy roads.
Driving could be treacherous.

Instead of going out,

stay home by the fire
this Christmas Eve and...

- I bet old John
just picked up

some overtime yesterday
and slept in.

He'll beat this storm.

- I better go cut us a
Christmas tree while I can.

Where is John-Boy?

As the
tension increased

with every hour
Daddy hadn't returned,

I still felt responsible for
realizing my family's dreams

that Christmas.

I couldn't make
Mary Ellen into a pilot

or Jason into a musician.

But I was determined to make
Elizabeth's dream come true.

With what
little money I had,

I was resolved to find
some way to get her a doll.

John-Boy,
get down here!

- Comin' Momma!

- John-Boy!
- I'm coming.

- Oh, if it isn't the prince!

- Why are you always
raggin' on me, Mary Ellen?

- I don't know.
It seems natural.

- Enough, you two. John-Boy,

I want you to go with Grandpa
to cut a Christmas tree.

- Great.
- Wait, I wanna go too.

- You kidding me?
That's always been my job.

- Well, John-Boy,
times are changing.

Mary Ellen wants to go...

- But...
- No buts.

- Well, if you're
coming, get your gear.

We're not waitin' on ya.

- Hmm-mm.
- Why?

- No.

- ♪ O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree ♪

I never stopped
being enchanted by the beauty

of Walton's Mountain.

Even in the cold of winter,
it was a magical place.

On our hike to
where Grandpa had spotted

his Christmas tree years ago...

we stopped at our
family's cemetery,

a place I'd only
been to once before.

- I've never been
here before, Grandpa.

- Well, not much reason to yet.

This is where your grandma
and me will wind up one day.

- Are these all Waltons?
- Yeah.

These are all your
people, Mary Ellen.

Generations of mothers
and fathers and some babies.

Some of the older graves
are marked by stone,

but all their names
are in the family Bible.

- This place is so strange.

But it's so...

beautiful.

How did we come to get
Walton's Mountain, Grandpa?

- Well, your great-great
granddaddy, my granddaddy,

came through here in
the summer of 1725.

The way it was told to me, he
saved the life of a young boy

who was almost drowned in a
swollen creek up the way.

- Through Fork's Creek,
right, Grandpa?

That's right.

And it turns out that
young boy was the grandson

of a chief of the
Monacan Indian tribe.

And they had been here forever.

The chief told my granddaddy
that he could settle here

as long as he lived in harmony
and used the bounty of the land

to spread kindness to the world.

- I never heard
that story before.

- It's all true.

The Waltons have been
raising families here

and taking care of the land
ever since.

In the hardest of times,
we never let it go.

Never sold, even when the
soapstone company came in

and bought up almost
everything around us.

I like to come here every now
and then just to feel my roots.

No matter where your dreams take
you in this world, Mary Ellen,

you'll always be a Walton.

And you will find that...

family...

well, family is...

- Oh, how I wish it
were springtime again.

Forsythia
blooming by the fence.

Tulips coming up from the snow.

- Don't worry about
John, daughter.

I know my boy.

He'll be here soon
enough, you'll see.

- You two rest here a minute.

I'm gonna go get my bearings.

- John-Boy?

I have a confession to make.

I read your secret notepad.

- What? Are you serious,

Mary Ellen?
- I read what you wrote.

I saw...I saw myself, I saw
Jason and the others.

And it touched me!
It really did.

Look, I'm sorry that
I've been ragging on you.

You're not just a
scribbler, John-Boy.

I had no idea how good you were.

- You see that tree we're after?

- Oh, I was hoping
to get a glimpse of

that big ol' white buck
folks talk about.

- Yeah, I've heard the stories.

- Yeah, I never laid
eyes on him myself.

But I'm always on the lookout.

Some folks say
it's no such thing.

Others say it's a ghost.

I'd give anything to
see him just one time.

You know they say the man who
spots him is changed forever.

- Looks like you're
out of luck, Grandpa.

- Maybe this time.

But in that case, right
there's your tree.

I've been keeping an eye
on that thing for years.

- Must be near 6 feet, Grandpa.

- It's beautiful. I love it.

- I'm not used to making
some many stops on this run.

I think I could've
hitched it faster.

- Just be glad
you're not outside

or in one of those cars we
passed slid off in a ditch.

I guess so.

How long you've
been farming, Elmer?

- Always.

- Tough way to make a
living lately.

- Yeah, what isn't?
But I get by.

- I got cow, a couple
hogs, a laying hen,

and a pretty good garden.

With me being away so much,
it's...it's

hard on my wife, Livy.

I've been thinking
of quitting the mill and

going full out into farming.

- Well, it's sink or swim.

At least you're your own boss.

If you own your own place,
well...

you're not at the mercy of
the damn bank.

- True, and no more travel.

I got a big family
to support.

- Sometimes you just gotta
take the leap

and fix things on the way down,
you know what I mean?

- Yeah, I guess so.

Anyway, wake me up when we get
to Hickory Creek, will ya?

- Sure.

Well, folks, we
got some icy roads up ahead.

Gonna have to make
a little detour.

- Okay. Great-Grandma's star's
on the tree now officially,

which means that
decorating can now begin.

- Don't stop shaking now,
Jim-Bob,

or you'll burn them again.

- Grandpa, my arm hurts.

- Well, that's why God
gave you two of them.

- How about the lights,
John-Boy?

- Well, one bulb doesn't work,
so the whole string don't work.

It's like finding a
black cat in a coal mine.

- Who needs lights?
We got popcorn.

- How will Santa see
without Christmas lights?

- Don't worry, he's used
to, uh, working in the dark.

- We gonna leave
him cornflakes again?

- You bet.
- And a carrot for the reindeer.

- Okay, most of the old
dime store ornaments,

they look great,
and tinsel's up in the attic.

- We don't need tinsel.
We got popcorn strings.

- Not at the rate you're going.

- It's Jim-Bob's fault.
He's burned too many.

- Get your stupid butt over
here and you make the popcorn.

Let me do the stringing.

- You watch your mouth, son.
- You're not my daddy.

- And glad of it.

- Hey, hey, hey!
Let's not be grabby, all right?

Be respectful. Right, Grandpa?

- Mind your brother.

- You heard him. Okay?

- What's that?

- It's a blue jay's
nest with an egg in it.

I found it on a hike with Daddy.
- A rotten egg?

- It's not rotten.
I blew all the stuff out of it.

Clean as a whistle.
- It's got bird poop on it.

Who wants that smelly
thing on our tree?

- I do. And Daddy
will wanna see it.

We talked about it.

- Yeah, Santa's gonna take
one whiff of that bird poop

and go right back up
the chimney.

Lay off, Mary Ellen, Jason.

- Thank you!
- Now what?

- Hey, what's wrong?

- Santa's not gonna come because
of Mary Ellen's stinky nest!

- Look at what you've done!
Made Elizabeth cry.

- That's not my fault.
I just want this...

- It is your fault!
You're the one that brought...

- Hey, hey, everyone, shut up!
It's Christmas Eve, damn it!

- What's all this racket?

- John-Boy said "damn it."

Grandpa!

- He took the words
right out of my mouth.

- It's Daddy!

- Merry Christmas!

Hi, Charlie.

- Gosh, guys.
- Is it something I said?

- I'm sorry.

The kids just thought
it might be their daddy.

- Ain't that rascal back yet?
- We're starting to get worried.

- We both know John won't let
a little weather stop him.

In fact,
it wouldn't surprise me

if he was over at the
Baldwin sisters' place

sampling their recipe right now.

- I won't have you talking
that way about my son, Charlie.

- He drinks, doesn't he?

- He takes a drink.
There's a difference.

Can I pour you
a cup of coffee, Charlie?

Oh, or a piece of
applesauce cake?

- It still hasn't been frosted.

- That's all right.
I can't stay but a minute.

Got my pool game over at
Ike's tonight to get ready for.

Can you keep
a secret, Mrs. Walton?

- Good.

- Charlie Sneed!

He grates on my last nerve.
- Grandma, be polite.

- He treats me like I am deaf!

- I know, but
just be quiet.

I knew y'all wouldn't
get a chance to go hunting

before Christmas.

But I knew you'd appreciate
a little meat on the table.

- I thought the hunting
season was over.

- It is!

- Aren't you scared of breaking
the law on Christmas Eve?

- What better time to
share the Lord's bounty?

- That's right, it's God's gift.
Right, Charlie?

Ah, and the answer
to my prayers!

We are more than grateful.

I'm gonna start
cooking him tonight!

- My pleasure, ma'am.

- Just imagine when John Walton
walks through that door

and he smells a
Christmas turkey in the oven!

You don't know how grateful
we are, Charlie.

This year in particular.

- Poaching on Christmas.

- Now you remember...

Off I go.

- Ah!

We there already?

- I'll see what's going on.

Hey, man, it's Christmas Eve.
You gotta get this bus moving.

Sir,
you need to sit down.

We've got a vehicle
in a ditch up here.

- What did you find out?

- The highway's blocked until

they can get some old delivery
truck towed out of a ditch.

You hungry?
- Could be.

- Ah.
All right, appreciate it.

- I got these from a guy on
the corner in Charlottesville.

He's been out of work a while.

- Hm. We're
damn lucky, you and me.

- I'd say.

Hey.
- Hm?

- Wanna take a
peek at my family?

- Yeah.

- Look at this.

It's a good-looking bunch.

- Thoroughbreds one and all.

- Damn lucky.

- I wish you didn't have to go.

- We have to get home by dark.

- Don't you wanna stay and make
sure Daddy gets home safely?

- We will see him
tomorrow night at supper.

- Merry Christmas, John-Boy.

- I love you, Grandma.
- Love you, too.

Come on, let's go.

- Merry Christmas!

- Merry Christmas!
- Merry Christmas!

We'll
see you at supper.

- Momma?

Do you miss your folks
more at Christmas time?

- Mm, truly I do.

It's a special
time for families.

You'd have liked my folks.

You're as strong-willed
as my momma.

- Really?
- Sure enough.

You know she didn't
want me marrying your daddy.

- How come you never
told me that before?

- Well, 'cause it never came
up in conversation before.

- Why did she object?

- Well, for one thing,
I was 17 years old.

- That's John-Boy's age!
- There you go.

But that wasn't all, she didn't
like me seeing an older boy

with a bit of a reputation.

Not the match for her
churchgoing daughter.

Oh, but I fell so hard
for your daddy...right away.

We had to sneak
off to get married.

- Momma!

I know!

- You know, it seems to me like

you're awfully
strong-willed yourself.

- When need be.

- The Baptist preacher that we
found, he refused to marry us,

until your daddy said...

"You are not the only
blankity-blank preacher

in the world!
We'll find us another!"

That's all it took.

- I don't suppose I'll
ever be getting married.

Unless they invent a man

who doesn't think he
has to be the boss of me.

I just don't wanna have to
answer to anybody but myself.

- I know.

And boy do I worry for
whoever you fall in love with.

Oh.

- Well, hello, you two.
Come in out of the cold.

- Merry Christmas, Livy.
- Hello, Miss Olivia.

- Hi!
- Hey, Claudie!

Do you want to
come see our tree?

I cut it down myself!

- Go on, then!

We wanted to drop by
before it got too late.

Merry Christmas.

- Thank you so much.
You're so sweet.

We will have this with
Christmas dinner tonight.

Now, you come with me.

- For you.

- From your Christmas cactus?

- The very one that
my momma gave me.

- Well, thank you, Livy.
I'll take good care of it.

- Mm. Do you have time for

a little applesauce cake
before you go?

- I have to get back to Harth
and help him finish up.

- You heard from John yet?

I can't let on in front
of the kids, Rose, but...

I'm scared sick.

And people keep telling me
all the reasons

that I shouldn't be concerned.

- But you are.

- If anything happened
to him, Rose...

I don't think I could bear it.

- That's not true, Livy.
And you know it.

- Hmm-mm.

- I can't reassure you.
But I can share your worry.

- Hey, Momma!

- Claudie says there's a
missionary from Charlottesville

handing out toys and presents
from a truck near Ike's.

Can we go?

- I think you all are
forgetting something.

We do not take
charity in this house.

- You took Charlie
Sneed's turkey.

- That was the Lord's turkey.

And Charlie brought it
to us on his behalf.

A gift from God is not charity.
Am I right, Rose?

- You are indeed.

- Can we at least go just to
watch other people get gifts?

- What fun would that be?

- It's something to do.
- Yeah.

- Yeah, I mean, it sure beats
listening to the radio

and waiting for Daddy
to turn up.

- We won't take anything.
Claudie will make sure of it.

Right, Claudie?
- I'll make sure.

- Please, Momma? Please?

- Well, I guess there's
no harm in watching.

- John-Boy! You keep
an eye on Elizabeth.

- Yes, ma'am.

I was glad my
brothers and sisters would have

a nice distraction
from worrying about Daddy.

I decided to make a contribution
to the missionary lady

in exchange for choosing
a present.

She assured me the large wrapped
package I chose was a doll.

So I made my donation
sight unseen, hoping

I could at least make

Elizabeth's Christmas wish
come true.

- You ready?
- Open it.

She's dead, John-Boy!

Hey, it's okay. It's okay.

- I'm sorry. It's okay.

- Oh, John.

Well, folks,
here's your weather update

for Nelson County.

We're expecting
5 to 8 inches of snow

with gusting winds
and poor visibility.

Roads are icy and slick

so officials urge you not to
travel.

We've already had reports
of a southwest bus skidding off

County Road 29
north of Hickory Creek.

Several injuries and one death
have been reported.

Additional emergency crews on
the way to help the injuried.

That's all the information we
have for now.

But stayed tuned for...

- It's dark in here.

- Hey, Mama.
Keep this between us.

I still believe in Santa,
all right?

- Where's Claudie?

- He went back to the church.

- We'll join him there later.

- Aren't you worried about
what some people might say?

- Who cares about that?

- No, I know.
I'm just saying, you know...

- Jason, sometimes change
needs a shove.

We didn't raise you children
to be sheep.

It's Christmas Eve.

We're going to
Calvary Bible Church.

I need you dressed and
ready by 7:15 sharp.

Mama!

- You look like I caught you

with your hand in
the cookie jar.

- I just want some
privacy, Mama, that's all.

- What is so important that

you dash up here
and start writing away?

- I just...

I just like to sort
things out on paper

when they're still
fresh in my mind.

- And what are you sorting out
just now?

- Thoughts. Ideas, you know,

stories I wanna write,

experiences I wanna capture.

- Why does it have
to be so secret?

- Well, do you share everything
that's welling up inside of you?

Look...I'm sorry.

I just want to be
honest with my writing.

I know from some things that
happened today

that if I can put my heart on
paper, I can touch people.

And I will share it with you
when the time is right, okay?

I promise.

- I believe in you, John-Boy.

And we will talk about this
all later

but, honey, right now I need
your help.

- Okay.

- The radio said...

a bus went off of the road
north of Hickory Creek.

People are injuried and
one man is dead.

- Daddy's bus?
- I don't know for sure.

- I have to go find him.

- You have got to find
Charlie Sneed, okay?

He's supposed to be
up at Ike's playing pool.

I'll give you a dollar. You
tell Charlie Sneed to drive you

to Hickory Creek in
that old pick-up of his.

- I'll bring Daddy home.
Don't you worry.

- And when you do, you
meet us at Rose's church.

- Calvary Bible?

- We're going to services
there tonight.

- Okay, whatever you say.
- Son...

I know this is a heavy load.

- I won't let you down.

- John-Boy!

Hey, um, Momma told me.

I just wanted you to take this.

- Your lucky rabbit's foot?

- Not that you'll need it.

- Thanks, Jason.

- You take care of the family
while I'm gone, all right?

- Yeah. Yeah.

Oh!

- Where's Charlie?

- Hey, John-Boy, come on back!

- Charlie, what the
hell's going on?

- You ever seen such
a messed-up situation?

- No, are you...are you arrested?

- Keep it down, you two,
I'm trying to concentrate.

- He's visiting!

- There's no visiting
privileges in Ike's pool room.

Get out.
We're playing for groceries.

- Well, wait just a minute...
- God,

See what you made me do?

All right, talk all you
want while Ike shoots.

It's only fair.

- Ran over a calf about
a mile up the road,

threw it in the
back of my pick-up

instead of letting him
go to waste.

- First calf I ever saw
with 10-point antlers.

- Uh.

- It was one of Glen Robin's
animals.

I was gonna pay him for
the damage

first thing in the morning!
- First thing in the morning

you're gonna be waking up
in the Lovington jail.

- Jail's no place for
a man on Christmas.

- Should've thought about that
one when you poached that buck.

Yoo-hoo!

- Oh! Right here!

- Can't a man play a game of
pool for five minutes without

being interrupted?

- Look, I need...I need your car.

Is your car out there?

- Hey, is that
what I think it is?

- It's all legal now, Sheriff.

- As promised.

This one's for
the groceries.

- And these are from us to
celebrate our Lord's birthday.

- Oh, thank you, ladies.

- Charlie?
- Long story.

- Yeah, my daddy
hasn't come home yet.

And I was hoping that Charlie
could drive me to Hickory Creek

to look for him.

- That ain't gonna happen, son.

Charlie's pick-up has
my evidence in the back.

- Great, well, I
gotta go find him.

- You better start walking.

- Walking?
- On foot?

- It's awful out!

- Just one minute, John-Boy.
I've got an idea.

- What is it?
- We've made a decision.

- You can take the judge's car.

- Merry Christmas!
- I don't know what to say.

I don't think thank you
would be good enough.

- Well, it's our
pleasure, John-Boy.

You go find your daddy.

Just drop us off at our
place and be on your way.

- Perhaps we could
share a cup of eggnog?

- I really wish I could.
I just gotta go find my daddy.

- Oh, we understand.
- Absolutely.

- To the car!
- Yeah.

- ♪ The angels did say ♪

♪ Was to certain
poor shepherds ♪

♪ In fields as they lay ♪

- Well, some new voices!

Welcome, Waltons,
come on in, have a seat.

Come on in. Have a seat.

Join us on the refrain.

- ♪ Noel, noel ♪

♪ Noel, noel ♪

♪ Born is the king ♪

♪ Of Israel ♪

- Whoa, what do you
think you're doing, son?

- That's the bus from
Charlottesville down there?

- Yeah, it sure is.

It hit a patch of black ice
and skidded off the road.

- Well, my daddy may be in that
bus!

- Whoa, whoa, whoa,
listen, listen.

We already took a group of
passengers to Hickory Creek.

He may be gone already.

We're still trying to get
a passenger out

who got pinned up
against a seat. Alright!

You can't go down there, son.
It's not safe.

- But my daddy...
- No buts!

Now, you can stay up here.
But no one else is going down.

You hear me?
- Yes, sir.

Dear God, please
help me, okay?

I promise, if you spare
my daddy's life,

I'll give up my dream
to become a writer, okay?

In your name I pray, Jesus.
Amen.

- The Lord speaks on love.
- Yes!

- The Bible speaks often
of God's acceptance of others.

- All right!
- Yeah!

- But the Lord sees
not as man sees.

But the Lord
looks on to the heart.

- And the heart is
where you find love.

- The heart!
- The heart!

- Is where you find!

Is where you find!

- L-O-V-E.

L-O-V-E.

- Oh, thank you, God.

Good work, men.

- John-Boy!
The hell you doing here?

- Looking for you.

- Elmer,
you...you doin' all right?

- I'm better now
thanks to you.

- I know you'd done the
same for me, friend.

He's gonna take
good care of you now, okay?

- Appreciate it.

Hey, John, you remember
what I told you. Huh?

Get the last ones up.

- What were you
doing down there?

- Elmer's leg was pinned.

It was a two-man
job to pry him out.

- You okay?
- Yeah,

I twisted my damn ankle
when the bus went off the road.

No big deal.

How in the world did
you get here anyway?

- Courtesy of the
Baldwin Sisters.

Well, I'll be damned.

Mighty nice when it calms down.

The stars and all.

I wanna apologize for the run-in
before I left.

I been feeling bad about it
ever since.

- Me too.
- No.

Sometimes I get too worked up
for my own good.

I'm grateful for the way you've
taken care of the family

while I've been gone.

It's time I told you so.

We might have our differences,
but I admire your grit.

And sometimes being a man is
standing up for yourself.

And by that measure, you've
shown us all something.

I'm proud to be your daddy.

- Thank you.

I love you too.

- ♪

Seeing the great white buck

had always been Grandpa's dream.

But that Christmas Eve,
it appeared to Daddy and me.

- You saw that, right?

- That I did, John-Boy.
That I did.

It meant that

a Walton family dream
had come true.

Sometimes the realization
that you've changed

comes flooding in on you.

All in the space of a day or an
hour, or even a single moment.

That night, I realized

I'd passed the threshold
into manhood.

And Daddy, it seemed, had a
little revelation of his own.

- I've been mulling something
over lately, John-Boy.

I don't wanna travel anymore for
jobs, had enough of it.

I plan to start
farming full-time.

Be my own boss for a change.

Think we can make do?

I expect better than that.

What do you think
your mother will say?

- Well, I think she'll say,
uh...

"What took ya so damn long?"

Probably.

- We're supposed to meet up with
them at Calvary Bible tonight.

- The colored church. Uh.

- Is that a problem?
- Hmm? Nah.

I just don't like the idea of
being preached to.

Never stepped foot in any
church, no matter what kind.

Well, at any rate, we gotta
swing by the house first.

- What for?

- Santa Claus...
is coming to the Waltons.

Hope you've been good.

- You got something back there
for me?

- Hey, hey, keep your eyes
on the road.

- Among God's first words in
the Bible, "Let there be light."

And on this day, we celebrate
the birth of another light.

One that can bring us
out of our own darkness.

Now, remember that
as you pass your light

on to the person next to you.

Sister Harriet?
Brother William?

- Thanks, Reverend.

We'll be singing "Silent Night."

♪ Mmmm ♪

- ♪ Silent night ♪

- ♪ Holy night ♪

- ♪ All is calm ♪

- ♪ And all is bright ♪

♪ Round yon virgin ♪

♪ Mother and child ♪

♪ Holy infant ♪

♪ So tender and mild ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪

♪ Peace ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪

♪ Peace ♪

Merry Christmas, Livy.

- Daddy!
- Daddy!

- Behold the light given to us.

The miracle of Christmas.

- Come, everyone, sing with us.

♪ Silent night ♪

♪ Holy night ♪

♪ All is calm ♪

♪ And all is bright ♪

♪ Round yon virgin ♪

♪ Mother and child ♪

♪ Holy infant ♪

♪ So tender and mild ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪

♪ Peace ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪

♪ Peace ♪♪

♪ Joyful all ye
nations rise ♪

♪ Join the
triumph of the skies ♪

♪ With the angelic
host proclaim ♪

♪ Christ is born in Bethlehem ♪

♪ Hark the herald angels sing ♪

♪ Glory to the newborn king ♪♪

- Hey!
- Hey!

- What's that on the porch?

- Why, it's a sack. Huh?

I wonder if Santa came
by while we were gone.

What do you think?

It's a hunch.

- John.
- What do you think?

- I believe Santa said
that one was for Jim-Bob.

- Oh!

- Get it! Get it!
- I think on Christmas.

Who's got something?

- Oh, that sounded great!
- I love it!

- What? What's next?
- Okay, here we go!

- Wow! Lincoln Logs!

- Dahling! I'm ready
for my close-up.

- I bet I know who Santa
got this one for.

- Oh!

Well, look at that.

Wow.

- Look what I got!

You were right, John-Boy!
You were right!

- John-Boy, would you see if
there's one in there

with...with the green ribbon
on it?

- Yeah, I'll look for it.

- John Walton, you've outdone
yourself.

- I've done nothing of the sort.
This is all Santa.

Looks like Santa
brought you something too.

- Oh! What in the world?
- What?

- Oh!

Tulip bulbs.

Oh, John!

- North Pole's a little short on
flowers but, um,

come springtime.

- Now, I think there should be
one more in that sack.

- Yeah?
- Why don't you go ahead

and open it, John-Boy?

- I wonder what this is.
- Okay. All right.

- Uh, wh...

- What is it, son?

- It's just that when I
went lookin' for you,

I made
a promise to God that...

I made a promise to God

that if I found you
safe and alive,

that I would give
up my writing dream.

And I would just take care
of the family and support us.

- John-Boy...I'm no expert
on religion.

But I don't think the Lord
works that way.

He's given you a dream...
and he ain't gonna want it back.

He wants you to see it through.

You keep writing.
- Okay.

- Alright.

- What's that you got
in your hand?

It's a Christmas
present from John-Boy.

It's filled with his writing.

- Whoa. How about that?

What?

- Did you mean what
you said, John?

Working the farm?

You'll stay?

- Try sending me away.

- You must have spent your
entire paycheck

playing Santa Claus.

- Oh, most anyway.

- Oh, what are we gonna live on
this week?

- Love, woman. Love.

Love and acceptance
were the most important gifts

we received that Christmas.

I had given up on my dream
when I prayed to save my daddy

to save my family.

But in the end, saving my
family gave me back my dream.

My brothers and sisters went
on to live their dreams, too.

Jim-Bob became a professor
of architecture at Cornell.

Jason, a bluegrass
producer in Nashville.

Erin, a casting director in LA.

And Mary Ellen became
the first female pilot

for the US Postal Service.

I eventually moved away

and became the writer
I dreamed of being.

But no matter where we find
ourselves as the years go by,

Walton's Mountain remains
our lasting home.

My sister Elizabeth
lives there still

with her son and his family.

She often visits
our family cemetery,

just like my grandpa did
with me and Mary Ellen.

And as we learned from Grandpa
that long past Christmas Eve,

family is, well...

everything is family.

- Watch your step,
Great-Grandma Elizabeth.

- Well, here we are.

- Toby, he would have been
your great-great uncle.

- I love you, John-Boy.

Merry
Christmas, Momma!

Merry
Christmas, Mary Ellen!

Merry Christmas, Erin!

Merry
Christmas, Jim-Bob.

Merry
Christmas, Jason!

Merry
Christmas, Daddy!

Merry
Christmas, Elizabeth.

Merry
Christmas, Momma.

Merry
Christmas, John-Boy.