(First USA telecast: 9 November 1972)
Writer: Nigel McKeeand.
Director: Vincent Sherman.
Music: Jerry Goldsmith.
"When
I was growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the Depression
of the 1930s times were often difficult and unsure, but I don't think any of us
ever realised how safe and secure our lives really were until that summer when
a family arrived on Waltons Mountain from Germany".
A rarely seen taxi drives past John-Boy, Mary
Ellen, Jason, and Ben as they walk along the road. A taxi from the
‘Charlottesville Cab Co.’ stops in front of Ike’s store where a man and woman
emerge and walk inside. Ike greets the couple, finding out they are Professor
and Mrs. Mann, friends of Dr. Harris from Richmond. Dr. Harris has arranged
through Ike to loan them his summer cottage. The four Waltons walk up to the
taxi knowing that it cost much money for the ride. The boy inside tells them
that the cost was seven dollars, fifty cents. John-Boy introduces himself and
his siblings to Paul, the couples’ son. But the father, who wishes to be left
alone, cuts their conversation short.
The Waltons ask Ike many questions about the
family. Ike tells them that the father worked as a professor at Berlin
University and they are staying at the Harris cottage. Ike also tells them
about the problems in Germany since Hitler took power. At the cottage Prof.
Mann tells his wife and son that they will be polite but will not make friends,
and will speak English, not German. At the supper table the Waltons discuss the
new family. Jim Bob and Elizabeth think they are spies. John-Boy believes Paul
is a few years younger than Jason, but that his eyes show a look beyond his own
age. Olivia decides to bring them applesauce cake tomorrow.
On the radio the family listen to the
persecutions that the Jews are enduring under the domination of Adolph Hitler.
John-Boy becomes upset when he hears that thousands of books are being burned,
and says, “Burning books is like burning people. Why would people do such
craziness?” John talks about how Hitler wants a ‘master race’, but John-Boy
doesn’t understand how the family can be so calm when books are being burned.
The next day Ben and Jim Bob shoot slingshots
near the Mann’s cottage while the family unpacks possessions. Jim Bob
accidentally sends one of his rocks off course, breaking one of the Mann’s
windows. David and Eva fall to the floor, believing they are being targeted as
German Jews. The professor asks, “Why won’t they leave us alone?” Ben and Jim
Bob run away. Soon Olivia, Mary Ellen, and Erin walk up to the house with their
present. The Mann’s pretend to not be home, not sure who is outside. With no
answer at the door the threesome leave, but not before Erin sees Paul peering
out from his window.
Later Paul returns with John-Boy, inviting
him to meet his parents. When they find the parents still shopping at the
store, they look for books that Paul found in the attic. But when John-Boy
reaches for books on a chair, its leg breaks forcing John-Boy to fall onto
Paul. Just then Professor and Mrs. Mann enter to find John-Boy leaning over
their son. Professor Mann becomes irate, forcing John-Boy out of his house.
That night John learns what happened. Knowing his son is upset John tells
John-Boy to clear up the misunderstanding.
The next morning David Mann repairs the
windowpane while Paul sits silently. Paul’s father apologizes for the incident.
David explains that some people need other people to blame for their bad times.
He tells his family that they can no longer be Jewish, and must not observe
Jewish rituals. Paul’s father tells him that they will not observe his bar
mitzvah. Just then John-Boy knocks on the Mann’s door. When Prof. Mann answers
John-Boy tells him that he had no right to yell at him and that his feelings
were hurt. The professor explains that his son told him what really happened
and apologizes to John-Boy.
The children pull Reckless up a tree with a
body harness. John-Boy forces the kids to return the dog to the ground. Paul remarks
that he would like a dog and a tree house. The group climbs into their tree
house where they discuss Paul’s upcoming birthday. Paul explains how his 13th
birthday is so important to a Jew. After explaining the Jewish beliefs the
children don’t think there is much difference from being a Baptist. Paul says
one difference is his bar mitzvah, when he becomes a man. He unhappily admits
his father refuses to let him celebrate.
Later, John-Boy picks up Paul so he can talk
with a rabbi in Charlottesville. That night the family eats supper when they
are interrupted with a knock on the door. The Mann’s are wondering where their
son is, hoping he would be with John-Boy. The children finally admit that Paul
is with John-Boy. Just then the truck drives up after the pair are delayed with
a flat tire. When Professor Mann asks Paul where he has been, Paul admits that
he saw a rabbi. The professor denies knowing what his son is talking about.
Paul runs away, unwilling to further deny his religion. John-Boy runs after
him, eventually having to rescue Paul after falling into the water. Back home,
Paul recovers in bed. His mother describes to the family the horrors they faced
in Germany. She realizes the family already knew they were Jewish. Olivia says
that they “didn’t give it any never-mind”. When Eva says that windows in the
house were broken when they first moved in, Grandpa observes Ben and Jim Bob
quickly run upstairs.
Grandpa decides to talk with Professor Mann
the next day. Grandpa admits his two grandsons accidentally broke their window
and will pay the expense. He describes his heritage on Walton’s Mountain and
Professor Mann’s Jewish heritage. Grandpa tells the man that he must stand up
for his beliefs. When Grandpa asks him if he is ashamed to be Jewish, Mann
explains that they have to survive. Grandpa wonders what he will feel inside if
he denies his very existence. Eva thanks Grandpa for talking with them.
Eva brings Paul (who is recovering at the
Walton house) the items he needs for his bar mitzvah. She is not sure if Paul’s
father will attend. During the ceremony held at the house David Mann walks up
to the house with a present. John-Boy convinces him to give his son the
present. When he walks into the house, Paul is very happy that his father will
attend. Professor Mann tells the audience that his faith in people has been
restored. He especially thanks Grandpa Walton for reminding him of who and what
he is, and promises Grandpa and his son that he will never forget.
"By
the end of that summer Professor Mann had found a position in the History
Department of a University in a nearby town. That was nearly 40 years ago, but
the house in which we grew up is still there and my mother lives in it today.
Often I go there in memory and hear again those voices from long ago".
Ben:
Mama?
Olivia:
Yes, Ben.
Ben:
How did Jews get to be Jews, and Baptists get to be Baptists?
Olivia:
By following in their fathers footsteps.
Ben:
If we follow in Daddy's footsteps what would we be?
Olivia:
You'll be a fine man. (whispers) John?
John:
Huh.
Olivia:
When are you going to get yourself baptised?
John:
Now Livy, this is no time of night to start that......
Olivia:
Goodnight.
John:
'Night honey.
Notes:
The setting is summer in the 1930s.
The telephone number of the Charlottesville Cab Company is “257”.
A “bar mitzvah” is the ceremony that initiates and recognizes a 13-year-old Jewish male to be considered an adult and responsible for his moral and religious duties.
Ellen Geer, who played Eva Mann, is Will Geer’s daughter. Additional information on Ellen can be found at: http://www.beautyandthebeastfanclub.net/main/tributes/mary/mary.html.
Also appearing:
Ike Godsey (Joe Conley), Professor David Mann (Noah Keen), Eva Mann (Ellen Geer), Paul Mann (Radames Pera), Rabbi (Saul Silverman).
(synopsis written by William Atkins and edited by Arthur Dungate)