(10 November 1977)
Writer: Andy White.
Director: Harry Harris.
Music: Alexander Courage.
"In the fall of 1939 the people on Waltons Mountain
were becoming increasingly affected by the spreading war in Europe. In our
family and others, despite our rural isolation it was to cause immediate and
profound change".
Ike motorcycles pass
John, Grandpa, and Jason at the mill without stopping to say his usual ‘hello’.
He stops at the Willard’s to deliver a letter from the
War Department. Curt has been called up to active duty
much to the shock and anger of Mary Ellen. Curt tells the family he will be commissioned a first lieutenant at Fort Lee. Jim Bob
talks about flying in the war but Olivia is disturbed at the possible thought
of her son in the military. She hopes Curt will understand when she does not
see him off after earlier vowing never to see another family member off to war.
On Monday, after Curt says good-bye to the family at the Rockfish bus station,
Erin sees G.W. arrive home on leave from the army.
At the Dew Drop Inn,
Yancy gets a back rub from Sissy while Horace drinks a beer and Jason plays the
piano. G.W. and another soldier arrive at the bar and sit with Yancy and
Horace. A war report suddenly blares from the radio. Yancy realizes how close
the war is coming to their home shores, declares, ‘I’m goin’ to fight the
Huns!’, and asks Sissy to marry him. Yancy prepares for his entrance into the
military by asking Ben to take care of his animals while he is gone and getting hitched at the Baptist church. Rev. Buchanan
officiates at the ceremony while Corabeth is the soloist, Ben is the best man,
and Thelma is the maid-of-honor. The wedding is only slightly
interrupted when Rev. Buchanan asks if anyone has any reason to prevent
this marriage from taking place. Yancy looks around at the congregation knowing
he only has a few precious moments left in his bachelorhood. But
no one speaks up and Yancy and Sissy are married.
Erin and G.W. talk about
his experiences at Camp Lee. He tells Erin how he feels about the land, his
religious beliefs, and his country. Erin knows G.W. does not really want to
return to Camp Lee. She feels guilty thinking that she was the reason he joined
the military in the first place.
Yancy is
given a big send-off by the town folks complete with music played by
slightly inebriated members of the marching band. Before stepping on the bus G.W. tells Erin that he loves her and kisses her. On the
bus ride back to camp, G.W. writes a letter to Erin and (for some unknown
reason) a letter to John.
Feeling lonely without
Curt near her, Olivia and John find Mary Ellen quietly crying while rocking
their grandson. They ask her to stay with them until Curt returns home. Mary
Ellen gladly accepts the offer. After settling back into the Walton’s house,
Mary Ellen decides to travel to visit her husband. It has been a long time
since a baby was in the house, but Olivia and John gladly take care of John
Curtis while their oldest daughter is gone.
As John loads sacks into
the back of the truck, the bus returns with Yancy inside. He sees John and asks
him to sneak him out of town. Yancy tells John he is embarrassed about being rejected by the army for flat feet and for being over
the age of thirty-two years. Returning home, he is also shocked to find that
his new wife has redecorated his shack with a woman’s touch and removed his
beloved animals to the out-of-doors.
Mary Ellen’s returns
home early to tell Olivia, John, and Erin the sad news that G.W. was killed in a training exercise at Camp Lee. Erin listens
with shock and disbelief. Curt and John drive the body back to the Haines’. John tells Curt to relate the whole story of how
G.W. was killed so the Waltons children realize what
horrible consequences can happen from war. In the morning, the family prepares
to attend G.W.’s funeral but Erin suddenly says she can not
bear to go and runs off. While Rev. Buchanan speaks about how Waltons Mountain
has given up one of its fine, young men, John leaves to find Erin. He finds her
and reads the letter that G.W. wrote to him. The letter is a will in which G.W.
bequeaths to Erin the bottomland acreage that his parents gave to him. He
states that he knows Erin will love it and protect it.
GW's letter to Erin –
Dear Erin,
I'm writing this on the bus after we said goodbye at
Rockfish. I'm returning to Camp Lee and whatever Fate
may bring. This for legal purposes is a Will - I, George William Haines, on
this date do bequeath to you, Erin Walton, the bottom land acreage given to me
by my parents and recorded in the Jefferson County Hall of Records. I know you will love it and protect it. Thankyou
for sharing my thoughts and my dreams. GW
"That first
casualty brought the war home to our mountain. There were to be many more
sacrifices during the long war years ahead, but GW Haines was remembered most
especially because he was the first from our area to give the fullest measure
of his devotion".
Elizabeth: Where's Erin?
Olivia: She's outside.
Elizabeth: Is she alone?
Olivia: I don't think so. Goodnight
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: Goodnight Mama.
Notes:
G.W. stands for George
William.
The first name of G.W.
Haines’ father is George.
The first name of G.W.’s
mother is Louise.
The name of G.W.’s horse
is Red.
Jason’s car (that was passed down from John Boy) has license plates 46-4072
Virginia.
The Willard’s truck
license plates are 56-7203 Virginia.
Also appearing:
Ike Godsey (Joe Conley);
Corabeth Godsey (Ronnie Claire Edwards); G.W. Haines (David Doremus); George
Haines (Lin McCarthy); Louise Haines (Jean Allison); Yancy Tucker (Robert
Donner); Sissy (Cissy Wellman); Horace Brimley (A.
Wilford Brimley); Thelma (Dorothy Shay); Rev. Hank Buchanan (Peter Fox); Curt
Willard (Tom Bower); Mickey (David Dotson); The Radio Announcer (Art Gilmore).