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(John-Boy) LIVING ON WALTON'S MOUNTAIN,
WE WERE ALWAYS IN TOUCH WITH THE MOTION OF LIFE.
GROWTH AND CHANGE, LOSS AND GAIN
WERE NATURAL AND EXPECTED.
WE SAW THE GREEN LEAVES TURN TO GOLD,
AND THEN FALL TO THE GROUND, CRUMPLED AND GRAY.
BUT ALL OF US KNEW THAT WHEN SPRING CAME AGAIN,
LIFE WOULD RENEW ITSELF.
BUT ONE SUMMER, WE WERE FACED WITH AN UNEXPECTED KIND OF CHANGE
THAT MADE US ALL WONDER
IF THE FUTURE WAS REALLY A THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
YOU IMITATING ME, SITTING THERE READING THAT BOOK?
YEAH, WE PROMISED WE'D BRING BACK ENOUGH FISH FOR DINNER,
AND SO FAR YOU HAVEN'T BEEN MUCH HELP.
AL BU
T THAT.
ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?
SURE IS. WHAT IS IT?
(Seth) IT'S A RECORDER.
I'M GONNA MAKE ONE.
(John-Boy) LET ME SEE.
SEE THERE?
irping]
YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY IT?
MY PA TAUGHT ME
YOU ALREADY PLAY GUITAR.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A SINGER,
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO PLAY ANOTHER INSTRUMENT FOR?
I'D LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY EVERY INSTRUMENT THERE IS.
YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO END UP PLAYING FOR YOUR DADDY'S BAND, AREN'T YOU?
[chuckling] WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M PLANNING.
(Jason) HEY, SETH,
IS IT VERY HARD TO LEARN TO PLAY?
NO, YOU WANT TO LEARN?
SURE.
WELL, I'LL TEACH YOU. YOU'LL LOVE IT.
OK. BUT FIRST WE GOTTA TRY TO CATCH SOME FISH HERE.
OH, YEAH.
I GOT 2 DOWN HERE.
YEAH, THEY'RE STILL THERE.
WITH YOU AND YOUR MAMA, THERE'S GONNA BE 13 OF US AT DINNERTIME,
AND--AND-- SO WE'VE GOT OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US
BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT GOING HOME.
.
GET HER OUT THERE.
[laughs]
(Seth) HEY.
[continues laughing]
I DECLARE.
SEE THERE? ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS ASK.
[mumbles]
COME ON, BITE.
(John) THAT WAS GOOD FISH, JASON.
(Jason) GRANDPA, IS IT TIME YET?
I WAS APPOINTED TIMEKEEPER,
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHEN IT'S TIME. EAT YOUR DESSERT.
MAYBE WE SHOULD TURN THE RADIO ON.
DON'T FRET, SETH. WE'VE GOT TIME.
WELL, THE RADIO'S GOTTA WARM UP. I'LL TUNE THE STATION IN.
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
ALL RIGHT.
IS EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD GONNA HEAR SETH'S PAPA SING?
EVERYBODY THAT LISTENS TO GRAND OLE OPRY, AND THAT'S A FAIR AMOUNT.
HEY. HEY, COME ON, EVERYBODY. THE PROGRAM IS STARTIN'.
[alarm ringing]
I WAS JUST ABOUT TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
♪[music playing on radio]
YOU GO ALONG WITH THEM, WILMA, IT.
OH, THERE'S NO HURRY, MRS. WALTON.
RED WON'T BE THE FIRST ONE.
LET ME GIVE YOU A HAND.
CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR INVITING US TO DINNER.
MAKES FOR MORE OF A CELEBRATION.
(Olivia) IT'S ONE FOR US, TOO.
THEY AREN'T AS GOOD AS MY PA AND HIS BOYS.
NOBODY IS.
♪[musi
s playing]
[girl whooping]
(announcer) THANK YOU, WILLIE SMALL, FOR THAT FINE RENDITION.
AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ON THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE GRAND OLE OPRY,
RED TURNER AND HIS COUNTRY BOYS.
MAMA, COME ON. HURRY UP!
PAPA'S GONNA BE NEXT!
YOU GO AHEAD, WILMA. WE CAN FINISH UP.
MIGHT'VE BEEN A LOT BETTER FOR EVERYONE
IF RED HADN'T WORKED AWAY FROM HOME SO MUCH,
AND SEEN MORE OF HIS WIFE AND THAT BOY.
I'M SURE RED FEELS THE SAME WAY. HE'S A GOOD MAN.
LET'S GO. WE CAN DO THIS LATER.
♪ I LIKE MOUNTAIN MUSIC ♪
♪ GOOD OLD MOUNTAIN MUSIC ♪
♪ PLAYED BY A REAL HILLBILLY BAND ♪
♪ GIVE ME RURAL RHYTHM, LET ME SWAY RIGHT WITH 'EM ♪
♪ I THINK THE MELODIES ARE GRAND ♪
IS HIS PAPA INSIDE THE RADIO?
NO, HONEY. HE'S IN NASHVILLE, SINGING INTO A MICROPHONE.
SBY?
[whispering] YEAH, LIKE BING CROSBY. NOW, SHH...
♪ GIVE ME RURAL RHYTHM LET ME SWAY RIGHT WITH 'EM ♪
♪ I THINK THE MELODIES ARE GRAND ♪
♪ I LIKE MOUNTAIN MUSIC ♪
♪ GOOD OLD MOUNTAIN MUSIC ♪
♪ PLAYED BY A REAL HILLBILLY BAND ♪
[crowd cheering]
ISN'T MY PA JUST PLAIN GREAT?
HE DOES SOUND WONDERFUL.
(announcer) MIGHTY GOOD PICKING AND SINGING THERE, RED.
NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
NOW, WHERE ARE YOU BOYS HEADED FOR WHEN YOU LEAVE NASHVILLE?
(Red) WE GOT 2 WEEKS OF STATE FAIRS,
AND THE
SURPRISE.
HEY, OUT THERE, WILMA, AND YOU, SETH.
THAT
LKS.
HEY TO YOU BOTH,
AND I'LL BE SEEING YOU REAL SOON.
YOU LOOK FOR ME TO BE BACK HOME IN WALTON'S MOUNTAIN
JUST 2 SHORT WEEKS FROM TODAY.
[all cheering]
(Seth)
HOT DIGGETY! MY PA'S COMING HOME! MY PA'S COMING HOME!
JASON, GET YOUR FINGERS LIMBERED UP.
YOU'RE GONNA BE MY HELP AND ASSISTANT WHEN I AUDITION FOR MY PA.
YOU'RE AUDITIONING FOR YOUR PA?
SURE. HE SAID I COULD TRY OUT WHEN I WAS GROWN SOME.
[exclaiming]
SETH! YOU'RE GETTING OVERHEATED.
OH, MAMA, I'M FINE.
JUST THINK, I MIGHT FINALLY GET A CHANCE TO JOIN UP,
AND BE A REGULAR MEMBER OF PA'S BAND.
WELL, YOU STILL GOT A TOUCH OF THAT CHILL YOU HAD.
SIT DOWN AND RELAX.
YOU WANT TO BE ALL BETTER WHEN YOUR PA GETS HERE.
ALL RIGHT, MA.
[chuckling] PAPA'S COMING HOME.
YOU'RE STILL GONNA MAKE THAT RECORDER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT?
YOU BET.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE PLAYING WHILE I'M SINGING?
HEY, WE--WE HAVE TO GET US SOME WOOD.
DO WE NEED A SPECIAL KIND?
TO MAKE A RECORDER, YOU NEED APPLE, GOOD SEASONED APPLE WOOD.
THAT'S RIGHT. HOW'D YOU KNOW THAT, SIR?
DADDY,
SOUNDED REAL PRETTY.
ONLY, IN THOSE DAYS, WE CALLED IT A FIPPLE FLUTE.
SIPPLE FLUTE? FLIPPLE? FLOPPLE?
FOPPLE FLUTE.
FLIPPLE FLUTE.
FLOPPLE FLUTE.
FLAPPLE, FLIPPLE FLUTE.
FIPPLE FLUTE.
AND I KNOW WHERE THERE'S JUST SUCH A TREE TO SUIT YOUR PURPOSE.
IT'S AN OLD MACINTOSH APPLE WAY UP IN THE HIGH MEADOW,
AND ITS OLD LIMBS ARE ALREADY SOAKED THROUGH WITH MUSIC,
DRIVEN IN THROUGH THE WINTER SNOWS AND RAINS,
AND THE SONG OF THE BIRDS.
CAN WE GO TOMORROW?
I CAN.
CAN YOU, JOHN-BOY?
WELL, IF IT'S EARLY ENOUGH, YEAH.
(Seth) WELL, LET'S MEET AT IKE'S STORE AT 5:00.
IN THE MORNING?
YEAH, LAZYBONES.
IT'S AN HOUR YOU DO YOUR BEST NEVER TO SEE.
5:00'S OK WITH ME.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, SETH.
IT'S A LONG CLIMB UP TO THAT MEADOW,
AND YOU'VE BEEN AWFULLY TIRED LATELY.
OH, MAMA, PLEASE?
OH, TSK, ALL RIGHT.
BUT IF YOU'RE ALL GOING OUT THAT EARLY,
WE'D BETTER GET HOME SO EVERYONE CAN GET SOME REST.
ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPER, MRS. WALTON.
SO NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN, WILMA.
THANK YOU, OLIVIA.
YOU COME AGAIN REAL SOON, WILMA.
I'LL RUN YOU HOME.
THANK YOU, JOHN.
(Seth) SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.
YEAH, SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.
(Seth) GOOD NIGHT. SO LONG.
SEE YOU LATER.
[alarm ringing]
OH.
[muffled ringing]
(Jason) HEY, THIS RECORDER, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO MAKE IT?
(S OH IF
WHEN CAN I START LEARNING TO PLAY IT?
JUST AS SOON AS YOU WANT.
REALLY?
SURE.
OH, GOOD.
HEY, COME ON, YOU TWO. WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY.
I'M COMING.
OK, SETH, I'LL RACE YOU TO THE TREE. COME ON.
[Jason laughing]
[Jason hooting]
[Jason screaming]
SON, YOU'RE TOO SHORT OF BREATH.
YOU'VE BEEN SMOKING BEHIND THE BARN.
[sighs]
NO, I
HING.
IT'S JUST THAT COLD I HAD LAST WEEK.
THERE SHE IS.
YEAH.
OH!
AND LIKE YOUR GRANDPA SAID,
IT EVEN SMELLS LIKE IT CAN SING.
[laughs]
WELL,
THERE'S A LOT OF BRANCHES ON HER.
ANY ONE YOU FAVOR IN PARTICULAR?
THIS ONE HERE LOOKS JUST ABOUT PERFECT.
HERE WE GO.
[gasping]
(John-Boy) SETH?
SETH, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
I DON'T KNOW
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK HE'S FAINTED. YOU'D BETTER GO GET DADDY.
(Jason) WILL HE BE ALL RIGHT?
I DON'T KNOW, JASON. GO GET DADDY.
SETH.
SETH?
SETH.
SETH?
JOHN-BOY.
GONNA BE ALL RIGHT. YO
INTED.
NOW, YOU JUST TAKE IT EASY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, OLIVIA.
DR. VANCE NEVER INSISTED ON SEEING A SPECIALIST
ANY OF THE OTHER TIMES
THAT SETH WAS FEELING POORLY.
HE'S A VERY CAUTIOUS MAN.
THAT SHOULD BE SOME COMFORT TO YOU, WILMA.
[door creaking]
MRS. TURNER? WOULD YOU COME IN, PLEASE?
WHAT TIME YOU RECKON IT'S GETTING TO BE?
ALWAYS SEEMS LONGER WHEN YOU'RE JUST WAITING.
[door opening]
MRS. WALTON, UH, WOUL
PLEASE?
MRS. TURNER NEEDS YOU.
WILMA?
IS HE REALLY SICK?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT LEUKEMIA IS, JOHN-BOY?
NO.
IT'S A DISEASE OF TH
LOOD.
T?
NOTHING.
NOTHING?
NOT TODAY.
ONE DAY, MAYBE RESEARCH WILL COME UP WITH AN ANSWER
BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT.
BUT, I MEAN...
SETH DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.
HE'LL LIVE, TSK, ANOTHER YEAR MORE.
THERE'S NOT A BLESSED THING ANY OF US CAN DO FOR HIM.
[car honking]
[
g]
LET ME COME IN AND HELP YOU FIX SOME SUPPER, WILMA.
NO, THANK YOU, OLIVIA.
I'D JUST LIKE TO GET SETH SETTLED DOWN.
YOU SURE?
COME ON, SETH.
GO IN THE HOUSE, MAMA.
SETH?
JOHN-BOY, STOP HIM!
DON'T WORRY, WILMA, HE'LL BE BACK.
[panting]
[panting]
[gasping]
[screaming]
bbing]
[crickets chirping]
IT'S SO DARK NOW AND COLD.
HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A JACKET.
JOHN-BOY,
GO AFTER HIM, PLEASE?
SEE IF YOU CAN FIND HIM.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, MA'AM.
WILMA?
(John-Boy) SETH?
I'M SORRY I WORRIED YOU, MAMA.
COME INSIDE.
YOU GO ON IN.
I'LL BE IN THERE IN JUST A MINUTE.
BUT IT'S COLD.
IN A MINUTE, MAMA.
I GOTTA TALK TO JOHN-BOY.
I NEED YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR.
SURE.
IN ALL THE EXCITEMENT THE OTHER DAY,
WE NEVER DID GET THAT APPLE WOOD.
WOULD YOU GET IT FOR ME?
I NEED IT NOW.
YEAH. I'LL GET IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
COULD YOU TELL JASON I WANT TO START HIM ON THOSE LESSONS RIGHT AWAY?
SETH? YOUR MAMA'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
I'M COMING IN NOW.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
"AND THEN GRANDMA SAID,"
[inaudible]
JIM-BOB, WHAT'S THIS WORD?
"REBECCA," AND IT'S A NAME, NOT A WORD, STUPID.
DON'T YOU TALK TO YOUR SISTER LIKE THAT.
SHE'S JUST TRYING TO LEARN.
IT'S ABOUT TIME.
[engine stops]
[truck door closing]
YOU'VE BEEN GONE FOR HOURS.
HE MUST'VE GIVEN THAT CHILD EVERY TEST UNDER THE SUN.
[door closing]
I WAS BEGINNING TO WORRY ABOUT YOU.
THEY MUST BE STARVING, OLD WOMAN.
WHY DON'T YOU STOP YOUR MUTTERING AND FEED THEM?
YEAH. I KEPT YOUR SUPPER WARM FOR YOU.
NO, THANK YOU, GRANDMA. NOTHING FOR ME.
(John-Boy) ME EITHER, GRANDMA. THANK YOU.
NOW, IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR APPETITE,
SOMETHING REALLY MUST BE WRONG.
WHAT IS IT, OLIVIA? YOU'RE SHAKING.
WHAT DOES THE DOCTOR SAY?
HE SAID THAT--
JIM-BOB AND ELIZABETH, WOULD YOU GO TO BED, PLEASE?
MAMA.
PLEASE?
(John) WHAT IS IT, OLIVIA? WHAT'S WRONG?
(Olivia) SETH, JOHN, IS...
IS WHAT?
HE'S GONNA DIE.
OH, LORD.
(Grandpa) WHY, HE'S JUST A YOUNGSTER.
HE'S THE SAME AGE AS ME.
SETH'S NOT SICK. HE...
HE'S JUST TIRED OUT.
HE HAD THAT COLD.
YOU REMEMBER WHAT HIS MAMA SAID. HE'S JUST GOT A CHILL.
DOCTOR SAYS HE HAS LEUKEMIA, JASON.
WELL, THE DOCTOR'S WRONG. HE'S JUST GOT A CHILL.
IT'S A BLOOD DISEASE. THEY CAN'T CURE IT.
g]
GET OUT OF HERE.
GO ON, GET OUT.
JASON, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?
COME ON, ALL OF YOU, OUT OF HERE. GO ON.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH JASON?
SEEMS LIKE HE'S IN A BAD MOOD.
HE JUST KICKED US ALL OUT OF HIS ROOM.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT JASON RIGHT NOW.
♪[guitar playing]
NOISE.
I'LL GO TALK TO HIM.
(Olivia) SIT DOWN, CHILDREN. I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
♪[continues playing]
JASON?
JASON?
WHAT'S HE DOING, MAKING THE SCARF?
I DON'T KNOW. HERE HE COMES.
HERE HE COMES.
ALL RIGHT, WHO'S GONNA BE IT?
ELIZABETH'S GONNA BE IT.
WHY ME ALL THE TIME?
BECAUSE YOU'RE THE YOUNGEST.
YEAH.
I BET YOU CAN SEE.
NO, SHE CAN'T.
I CANNOT.
YOU CAN'T SEE, CAN YOU?
OK, TURN HER AROUND.
(all) 1, 2, 3.
[all cheering]
(Mary Ellen) ALL RIGHT, ERIN'S IT.
(Erin) I'M IT.
ERIN.
IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
OH.
THAT WOOD FEELS LIKE SILK.
THAT'S SOMETHING.
MY PA'S GONNA BE GETTING HOME ANY DAY NOW.
JASON AND ME ARE GONNA TARTED
DID HE KNOW I WAS COMING OVER TODAY?
YEAH, I TOLD HIM.
YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY CLOSE TO YOUR PA, AREN'T YOU?
YEAH.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I DON'T SEE HIM FOR MONTHS AT A TIME, BUT
I CAN ALWAYS SORT OF PICTURE WHERE HE IS,
WHAT HE'S DOIN'.
MAMA NEEDS HIM NOW REAL BAD.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR HER,
ALONE, WITH PA WORKING AWAY
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN BE SO CALM ABOUT THIS.
I'M NOT CALM.
I MEAN, IF IT WAS ME, I'D BE WANTING TO YELL AND SCREAM AND CARRY ON.
I DID.
REMEMBER WHEN I RAN OFF ALONE?
BUT WHEN I WAS ALL YELLED OUT AND IN THE QUIET THERE,
I STARTED TO HEAR THINGS.
YOU KNOW, LIKE THE WHIPPOORWILLS CALLING,
LEAVES RUSTLING IN THE WIND,
BERRIES DROPPING OFF THE TREES,
TRAIN C THE TRE
KFISH...
YOU KNOW WHAT I HATE TO GIVE UP MOST?
THOSE SOUNDS.
WHAT WOULD YOU MISS MOST IF IT WAS YOU?
WITH ME, IT'S HEARING THINGS.
I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE NOT HEARING.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO FINISH THIS.
I WANT TO FILL IT WITH ALL THE SOUNDS I WON'T BE HEARING.
AND THEN SOMEBODY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE IT AND PLAY IT,
AND PUT THOSE SOUNDS INTO THE AIR.
AND THEY WON'T EVER DIE.
HEY, JASON, COME HERE. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S ALMOST DONE.
I CAN'T. I GOT TO GET IN THE HOUSE NOW.
I GOT WORK TO DO.
JASON.
[footsteps pattering]
WHY WON'T HE TALK TO ME?
BECAUSE HE'S SCARED.
BECAUSE HE FEELS GUILTY.
ABOUT WHAT?
BECAUSE IT'S YOU INSTEAD OF HIM.
WHY SHOULD HE?
HE DOESN'T WANNA DIE ANY MORE THAN I DO.
DON'T YOU THINK THERE ARE TIMES WHEN
I WISH IT COULD BE ANYBODY ELSE BUT ME?
AND I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THAT.
I WISH HE COULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
I'D LIKE TO HOW TO PLAY
YOU, TOO, JOHN-BOY! COME ON.
OK, I'M COMING. COME ON, JOHN-BOY.
JOHN-BOY'S IT.
[all laughing]
COME ON, JOHN-BOY, NOW, DON'T PEEK.
I'M NOT GONNA PEEK.
OH, WAIT A MINUTE.
[all chattering]
OK, HERE WE GO. OK, ONE...
ONE.
...2, 3!
THE CHILDREN SOUND SO HAPPY.
DON'T THEY?
I WISH SETH HAD HAD BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
IT'S BEEN HARD FOR HIM, BEING AN ONLY CHILD WITH HIS PA AWAY SO MUCH.
[kids laughing]
LIVIE,
HOW DO YOU GIVE UP A CHILD?
HOW DO YOU LET GO OF THE LIFE THAT CAME FROM YOUR LIFE?
[sighs]
I PRAY.
AND I'VE TALKED WITH REV. FORDWICK.
AND I'M AFRAID.
AFRAID I WON'T BE ABLE TO HANG ON.
WH
K?
TOMORROW.
OR THE NEXT DAY.
OLIVIA, HE DOESN'T KNO
THIS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO TELL HIM.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
(all) TURN HIM AROUND!
THEY GOT SETH PLAYING IN WITH THEM.
STOP IT!
[kids cheering]
STOP IT!
[chuckling] WAIT.
I SHOULD NEVER HAVE LET YOU COME HERE TODAY.
MAMA, PLEASE.
SETH, I ASKED YOU TO SAVE YOUR ENERGY.
MAMA, STOP IT.
SETH, PLEASE.
JOHN-BOY, YOU MUST BE CRAZY TO LET THIS HAPPEN.
MYSELF.
IT WAS ALL MY IDEA.
YOU KNOW WHAT CONDITION HE'S IN.
HAVE YOU TAKEN LEAVE OF YOUR SENSES?
NO, MA'AM, I'M SORRY.
MAMA, STOP IT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
JUST SIT IN A CHAIR ALL DAY AND WATCH EVERYBODY ELSE OUTSIDE?
I'M NOT GOING TO STAY INSIDE THE HOUSE
AND WATCH LIFE PASSING BY THE WINDOW.
I WANT TO BE PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, MAMA?
YOU'RE MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I'M LAID OUT IN THE PARLOR ALREADY.
I'M 17 YEARS OLD, MAMA.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET TO BE 18.
I WANT WHAT'S LEFT TO ME.
I WANT ALL OF IT, MAMA.
MAMA,
I'M SORRY I YELLED. I--
MAMA, I...
WE'LL GO HOME NOW.
OH, HE COULD GO UP ON--ON THE PORCH AND REST FOR A WHILE.
YOU DON'T HE HAS TO
JOHN-BOY, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
LISTEN, WHY DON'T YOU COME BY LATER?
ALL RIGHT.
NOT TODAY, JOHN-BOY, PLEASE.
HE'S HAD ENOUGH EXCITEMENT FOR TODAY.
WILMA, WON'T YOU LET JOHN-BOY DRIVE YOU HOME?
I'M--I'M FINE. THANK YOU, ANYWAY. I'LL BE FINE.
(John-Boy) YOU EVER THINK ABOUT DYING?
(John) AT TIMES.
DOES IT SCARE YOU?
GUESS IT USED TO,
BUT TIME HAS A WAY OF TAKING CARE OF THINGS, SON.
AS YOU GET OLDER,
YOU REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING HAS A BEGINNING,
A TIME TO BE, AND AN END.
I KNOW ALL THAT.
IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING I NEED TO BE REMINDED OF EVERY DAY.
COME TO KIND OF A PRIVATE UNDERSTANDING.
DYING IS A NATURAL PART OF LIVING.
IT JUST SEEMS VERY UNFAIR TO ME THAT SOMEBODY LIKE SETH,
WHO HAS SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO,
CAN ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE EVERYTHING TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM.
AND HE HAS TO LIVE THE REST OF HIS LIFE KNOWING THAT
THAT NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES,
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
I MEAN, I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO COLLEGE,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BECOMING A WRITER AND HAVING A FAMILY.
EVERYTHING I'M DOING NOW IN MY LIFE
IS LIKE A PREPARATION FOR WHAT'S TO COME.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO,
I DON'T THINK I COULD TAKE ANY PLEASURE IN LIVING AT ALL.
SETH DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO, SON.
HE'S TRYING TO TAKE PLEASURE IN LIFE.
IT JUST SEEMS POINTLESS TO ME.
JOHN-BOY, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND
FEELING VERY DISAPPOINTED AND UNHAPPY ABOUT LIFE.
THEY WERE COUNTING SO MUCH ON THE FUTURE
THEY FORGOT TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.
SETH UNDERSTANDS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUTURE TO LOOK FORWARD TO,
[birds chirping]
I WOULD JUST WANT TO CURL UP IN A CORNER AND FORGET EVERYTHING.
JOHN-BOY, SOMEHOW I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.
[knocking on door]
MA'AM, I'D LIKE TO E IN?
I'M SORRY, JOHN-BOY. HE'S RESTING.
OH.
UH, MA'AM, THESE ARE HIS. I BROUGHT THEM FOR HIM.
HE LEFT THEM AT THE HOUSE.
I'LL SEE HE GETS THEM.
THANK YOU.
UH,
MA'AM, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM
EVEN IF IT'S JUST FOR A MOMENT.
SOME OTHER TIME, JOHN-BOY.
I'LL TELL HIM YOU WERE HERE.
[car approaching]
♪[guitar playing]
[men laughing]
(Red) HI!
HEY, EVERYBODY! SETH, WILMA, I'M HOME!
HEY, YOU GO ON NOW. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
(both) SO LONG, RED.
HEY, YOU BEEN A BUNCH OF GOOD OLD BOYS TO TRAVEL WITH.
GOODBYE.
JOHN-BOY, IS THAT YOU?
HEY, RED.
HEY, DON'T RUN OFF NOW. I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT I BROUGHT SETH.
PA!
[laughing]
SETH, HOW ARE YOU? YOU SON OF A GUN.
LORD, YOU MUST HAVE GROWN A FOOT.
WHAT YOUR MA BEEN FEEDING YOU?
HEY, JUST RIGHT.
WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHAT I GOT IN THE BOX.
GOT THE REST OF THE OUTFIT.
JUST LIKE MINE, ONLY BRAND-NEW.
JOHN-BOY, WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT?
HEY, WHERE'S YOUR MA?
I GOT A BRAND-NEW, LATEST FASHION BEAUTIFUL NEW DRESS FOR HER.
WILMA, OH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
OH, WILMA, HONEY, IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HOME.
RED.
SO FINE TO SEE YOU ALL.
COME ON.
[truck approaching]
(John) RED.
HI, JOHN.
WHERE YOU HEADED?
NO PLACE SPECIAL.
JUST TRYING TO THINK THINGS OUT.
COME ON, GET IN.
I'VE BEEN WANTING TO THANK YOU, JOHN.
YOU, LIVIE, AND THE KIDS,
HAVE BEEN REAL
AND THE BOY.
MY SON.
RED, I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING I COULD SAY TO HELP.
YEAH, I KNOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE WORST PART IS?
IT--IT'S SEEING THE BOY SO QUIET.
HE'S ALWA
S,
NG, SINGING.
WASN'T SO QUIET THE OTHER NIGHT
WHEN HE HEARD YOU ON THE RADIO.
SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIM, RED.
HE WAS PROUD AS COULD BE.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS THAT
HE OUGHT TO BE HAVING THE BEST TIME HE COULD NOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIM THE OTHER DAY. I--
I BROUGHT HIM HOME A COSTUME, YOU KNOW,
LIKE I WEAR WHEN I'M WORKING.
HIS EYES JUST LIT UP LIKE SUNSHINE WHEN HE SEEN IT.
HE'S BEEN WANTING TO JOIN THAT SHOW OF YOURS
EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN OLD ENOUGH TO WALK.
[sobbing] WHAT AM I GOING TO DO, JOHN?
I DON'T KNOW, RED.
THE CLOSEST THING TO THIS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY
WAS L
JOHN-BOY GOT HURT REAL BAD.
GOOD CHANCE HE COULD HAVE DIED.
HIS EXAMS WERE COMING UP THAT ALLOW HIM TO GO TO COLLEGE.
DOCTOR SAID IF HE TOOK THOSE EXAMS,
N MIGHT
DID HE TAKE THEM?
YEAH, HE DID.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE REALIZED THOSE EXAMS WERE AS IMPORTANT TO HIM AS LIFE.
IN A WAY, IT WAS HIS LIFE, RED.
I KNOW WHAT SETH WANTS.
I GUESS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS THE COURAGE TO GIVE IT TO HIM.
TAKE CARE, RED.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO...
THANKS.
RED. WHERE'D YOU GO?
HI, HONEY. HOW ARE YOU?
WHERE'D YOU GO?
WILMA, I WENT INTO TOWN AND SAW DR. VANCE.
WHY?
WHAT FOR?
WILMA, I BEEN THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.
THERE'S NO USE US TRYING TO KEEP THAT BOY UP THERE IN HIS BED.
I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE,
OUT OF THIS HOUSE AND OUT OF THIS WAITING GAME WE'RE PLAYING.
EP HIM
CAN.
SO DO I.
BUT I WANT TO DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO,
GIVE HIM THE THINGS HE NEVER HAD.
HE'S SICK. HE'S GOING TO DIE.
ARE YOU TRYING TO DRIVE HIM TO HIS GRAVE SOONER THAN HE HAS TO GO?
I JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM THE THINGS HE HADN'T HAD.
A REAL FAMILY LIFE WITH HIS MOM AND HIS DADDY,
AND I WANT HIM DOING WHAT HE LOVES TO DO.
PLAYING HIS MUSIC, PLAYING WITH ME IN A GROUP.
NO.
YES.
AND WHEN HE'S GONE,
WE'LL HAVE REAL GOOD MEMORIES.
NOT BE LOCKED UP WITH SOME PICTURE OF HIM
LAYING THERE IN HIS BED WAITIN'.
WE CAN BE A REAL FAMILY.
YOU, ME, AND OUR BOY
LOVING EACH OTHER,
MAKING WHATEVER TIME WE GOT LEFT REALLY MEAN SOMETHING.
OH, RED.
I LOVE YOU AND THE BOY, WILMA.
W
MEMORIES.
AND HE WON'T MISS HAVING ANYTHING HE EVER REALLY WANTED.
[exhaling]
[sighing]
MORNING, JOHN-BOY.
SETH.
[horse snorting]
WELL, THINGS ARE A LOT BETTER NOW.
PA AND ME AND MAMA ARE LEAVING.
I HEARD THAT.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SEE YOU.
WOULD YOU MAKE SURE JASON GETS THIS?
WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT TO HIM?
WELL, JUST MAKE SURE HE GETS IT.
MAYBE AFTER WE'VE GONE.
OK.
WELL, I'LL SEND YOU ALL LOTS OF POSTCARDS.
OK.
YOU MIGHT EVEN BE HEARING ME ON THE RADIO.
PA'S GOING TO HAVE ME SINGING WITH THE BAND.
I'M SURE GLAD THINGS WORKED OUT THAT WAY, SETH.
I NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD,
BUT, UH,
THINGS ARE GOING TO BE REAL GOOD NOW.
I HOPE SO.
I'LL BE SEEING YOU.
[birds twittering]
GRANDPA, I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY BROTHER.
HOW SO? HASN'T HE SEEN SETH LATELY?
WON'T EVEN TALK TO HIM.
AND THEY'RE LEAVING REAL SOON.
YES, SIR. I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU'D SPEAK WITH HIM.
OH, I'D BE GLAD TO, JOHN-BOY.
THANK YOU.
SETH FINISHED THIS RECORDER.
IT'S A GIFT FOR JASON.
I THINK YOU'D BEST GIVE IT TO HIM YOURSELF.
BUT, UH, I'LL BE RIGHT ALONG.
THANK YOU.
♪[guitar playing]
JASON, THIS IS FOR YOU FROM SETH.
HE WANTED YOU TO HAVE IT SPECIALLY.
HE TO
EED YOUR HELP
FIND ENOUGH WORMS, MAYBE WE CAN ALL GO FISHING.
HEY, WHAT YOU GOT HERE?
IT'S FROM SETH.
RECKON IT'S THE RECORDER.
OH. OH, THAT...
A FIPPLE FLUTE FROM
TREE.
WHY, IT IS NICE OF SETH TO GIVE YOU THAT.
I DON'T WANT IT.
WHY NOT?
[sighing]
SETH WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING IMPORTANT
SO THAT YOU COULD ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM.
IF I WAS GOING TO DIE, THAT WOULDN'T BE SO IMPORTANT.
YOU'VE KNOWN ME EVER SINCE YOU WAS BORN.
GOT A BIG STORE OF MEMORIES.
ANYTIME YOU WANTED TO THINK BACK A MEMORY,
YOU'D COME UP WITH SOMETHIN'.
E.
SURE I AM.
AND IN TIME, SO ARE YOU.
AND EVERYONE THAT YOU LOVE AND CHERISH.
AND EVERY TIME ANYONE GOES AWAY IT IS GOING TO HURT.
THIS TIME WITH SETH, IT IS DIFFERENT.
WHY IS IT DIFFERENT?
SOMEHOW IT SEEMS UNJUST.
YOU'RE A LITTLE YOUNG YET TO KNOW THE FULL WEIGHT OF INJUSTICE,
BUT IT'D HAVE BEEN MUCH FAIRER
FOR IT TO HAVE BEEN ME THAN SETH.
GRANDPA.
THAT'S TRUE. I'M 72 YEARS OLD.
I'VE LIVED A FULL, RICH LIFE.
I GOT TO DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I WANTED TO IN MY LIFE
EXCEPT FOR ONE OR 2 THINGS YOUR GRANDMA DISAPPROVES OF.
IT'S NOT FAIR FOR ANYBODY TO HAVE TO DIE.
TRUTH IS, JASON, IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH FAIRNESS.
WHY COULDN'T IT BE SOMEBODY WHO'S MEAN OR BAD?
THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT MYSTERIES.
WHO GETS CHOSEN AND WHY?
BUT IT HAPPENS ALL THE SAME.
AND YOU WON'T LIKE YOURSELF, JASON,
UNLESS YOU FACE UP TO IT SQUARE,
AND GRIEVE FOR HIM IN YOUR HEART AND TO HIS FACE.
THAT WAY IT'S FAIR TO YOU AND--AND TO HIM.
[chuckling]
YOU'RE GETTING SO BIG IT'S HARD TO COMFORT YOU LIKE I USED TO.
AND YOU--YOU JUST--JUST-- JUST THINK ABOUT IT.
[door closing]
[sniffling]
[sniffling]
♪[playing]
♪[recorder playing]
[sobbing]
[sniffling]
GO ALL THE WAY DOWN.
TAKE IT UP, PUT IT DOWN.
OK.
START AGAIN.
(John-Boy) AS TIME WENT ON
THERE WERE OTHER OCCASIONS THAT NECESSITATED OUR GRIEVING,
AND I OFTEN THINK THAT THIS EARLY BRUSH WITH TOTAL LOSS
MADE US BETTER ABLE TO FACE THOSE WHICH WERE TO COME AFTER.
(John) YOU'RE GETTING TO SOUND REAL GOOD, JASON.
(Jason) THANK YOU, DADDY.
GOOD NIGHT, DADDY. GOOD NIGHT, MAMA.
(Olivia) GOOD NIGHT, JASON.
(Erin) SOUNDS LIKE WALTON'S MOUNTAIN WOULD SOUND IF IT COULD SING.
GOOD NIGHT, JASON.
(Jason) GOOD NIGHT, ERIN.
GOOD NIGHT, GRANDPA.
(Grandpa) GOOD NIGHT, JASON.
YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.