(21
February 1980)
Writer: Juliet Packer.
Director: Harry Harris.
Music: Alexander Courage.
"There
were many homecomings in my life but the one I remember best followed a long
spell in the hospital during World War Two. A visit home would be the final
step in my recovery, and I looked forward to the comfort of those familiar
surroundings. I never dreamed that I would bring the war with me, and that it
would haunt me, even on
On the bus traveling home to Walton's Mountain, a traveler that hears John-Boy speak of 'Katey Anne' while asleep, awakens him. The soldier questions John-Boy about Katey Ann, who is unaware of her identify. At the same time, Rose, Mary Ellen, and Cindy move Mary Ellen and John Curtis out of their bedroom and into the shed, in order for John-Boy to sleep in his own room. Erin and Serena bring John-Boy's old typewriter down from the attic, while Jason and Jim Bob look for his old desk.
Miss Mamie and Miss Emily arrive at Ike's store to hear that
John-Boy is coming home for a visit. The sisters decide to celebrate the
occasion with a party for John-Boy where he will sign copies of his new novel G.I. Journal. While searching for the
Baldwin's mail, Corabeth finds a letter for Ike that turns out to be a message
of 'greetings' from the President of the
The family nervously waits for the bus to arrive at
Rockfish. John mentions that everyone should make John-Boy as comfortable as
possible. When the bus arrives, everybody hugs John-Boy and he is introduced to
Cindy. At home, Rose, Serena, Jeffrey, John Curtis, and Virginia wait to meet
John-Boy. In his old bedroom, John-Boy is surprised to find it just like he
left it. He sees his yearbook and wonders if anybody knows of a girl named
'Katey Anne'.
John and John-Boy discuss changes brought on by the war. John tells John-Boy what it felt like coming home from the war, glad to be met by his wife and baby, but sad not knowing if his brother Ben was properly buried somewhere in Europe. John says he eventually had to resign the fact that he'll never know what happened to Ben. John-Boy says he is not yet ready to accept his memory loss. Later, John-Boy hears Jim Bob hitting a hammer to an anvil, reminding him of a sound he heard during his blackout. Ike visits the draft board, telling the new man he is sure a mistake was made when he was drafted. With Ike's file missing, the man tells Ike to fill out the required forms before his scheduled physical.
John and Nan Bennett meet at the house to talk about her
brother. John-Boy relates what he knows about the flight back from
On the porch, Jeffrey finds John-Boy writing in his journal. Jeffrey asks him what it is like to be in the army. John-Boy says he spent most of the time writing for Stars and Stripes. Later, Jeffrey tells Jim Bob that he is worried about what branch of the military he should join. Jim Bob assures him that the war will be over before he becomes eligible to join.
At the store, a F.B.I. agent asks Ike several questions
pertinent to his draft notice. When Ike admits he received the notice but did
not appear at his physical, the agent forces Ike to the induction center.
Jeffrey is told to tell Uncle John what has happened. At the
Jason, Ben, and Jim Bob bring beer to John-Boy in his
bedroom. They all drink (except Jim Bob who has soda pop) the 'forbidden fruit'
banned in their mother's house. They talk about rolling and smoking cigarettes
behind the smokehouse and getting caught by Grandpa, who proceeded to make them
smoke a whole sack full of tobacco. Downstairs Jim Bob shows John-Boy a model
of the flying fortress airplane that he built. Jim Bob suggests placing the
name 'Scarlet O'Hara' on its side. John-Boy suddenly realizes that 'Katey Anne'
should be placed on it and remembers the missing pieces of his blackout.
John-Boy relates that while Stewart flew the crippled airplane he said that
'Katey Anne' (the airplane) would bring them home. Continuing the story,
John-Boy says how after crashing, he and Stewart climb out of the sinking airplane
and kept afloat clinging to pieces of the plane. During this time, John-Boy
realizes that Stewart is injured. Trying to stay awake they sing '’Carry Me Back to Old
"I
had come home to plant a part of my tass that was missing. There was an ache in
my heart for my friend Stewart, but I had finally confronted the past, and
accepted its cruelty".
Serena: I left it on Nana's dresser, I'll get it in the morning.
Mary Ellen: Has anybody run across John Curtis' Teddy Bear?
Mary Ellen: I don't think we'll ever get sorted out, even John-Boy left his
slippers.
Mary Ellen: Goodnight everbody!
Everybody: Goodnight!
Notes:
The
Jeffrey likes to look at the comic strips in The Charlottesville Progress.
The Walton's Mountain draft board registered all men under the age of sixty-five years old.
Lyrics for the
song 'Carry Me Back to Old
Information about Stars and Stripes appears at http://www.starsandstripesmuseumlibrary.org/.
Ike says he was born on September 24, 1901.
Also appearing:
Ike and Corabeth Godsey (Joe Conley and Ronnie Claire Edwards), Cindy Walton (Leslie Winston), Rose Burton (Peggy Rea), Serena Burton (Martha Nix), Jeffrey Burton (Keith Mitchell, John Curtis (Michael and Marshall Reed), John-Boy Walton (Robert Wightman), Miss Emily and Miss Mamie Baldwin (Mary Jackson and Helen Kleeb), Nan Bennett (Diane Stilwell), Stewart Bennett (John Furey), Bragdon (Stephen Keep), Mr. Truby (Michael Thoma), The Soldier (David Cramer), Major Gordon (Philip Baker Hall), The Corporal (John Philip Dayton).