02x24 - The Car

[bunniefuu]

Birds chirping

(john-boy) in every
town or village,

there used to be
the hidden people:

those who for one reason or
another are shut away from life,

or who, for some strange reason,

shut themselves
away from the world.

my quest for a car in which to
drive back and forth to college

was eventually to lead me
to of those hidden people.

Well, daddy, she's not
exactly in mint condition,

But between you and me, we could
probably fix her up pretty good.

She needs a new paint job, a
little work on the upholstery.

How much is buck asking?

Gee, I didn't talk
money with him.

I wanted to speak to you first.

All right. Take
this one over there.

We'll chop it up
for firewood later.

Ok.

Fix up this fence. Then
we'll go see about it.

All right.

John-boy, can a chicken talk?

I never heard one
talk, elizabeth.

I heard that old rhode
island red hen talk before

When she was laying an egg.

What did she say?

Ouch.

Laughing

Birds chirping whoo!

Sighs

Good thing I knew
the storm was coming

So I could cover
up the buzz saw.

How'd you know it was coming?
You feel it in your bones?

I heard it on the radio first,
then I felt it in my bones.

Chuckling

Hey, I thought you was going over to
buck's to get yourself a new tin lizzie.

Uh, daddy wants us to clean
up this storm damage first.

I can clean it up, cut it up into
firewood with the help of the young'uns.

You run along.

(John-boy) you reckon?

Hey, daddy, grandpa
says he can do the work!

Ljim-bob, ben, jason!

Calm down.

I just wish we'd left earlier.

Might even be gone by now.

Only : in the morning.

It was there last
night, wasn't it?

Well, sure it was, but anything
could have happened since I saw it last.

I doubt if buck higgins is going
to have to fight off buyers.

Just isn't that
much money around.

Couldn't we go
just a little faster?

Lwe could, except I ldon't wanna
burn out lthe motor this morning.

Hens clucking mr. Higgins!

Morning.

Oh, howdy.

Howdy. How you doing, buck?

Oh, can't complain, john.

Sighing get squares a day.

How many of us
can make that claim?

Storm do much damage out here?

Oh, didn't she blow?

For a while there, I
thought it was gonna pick

Up the house and land
in bascomb's hollow.

Mr. Higgins, you still got her?

Sitting right
where you left her.

Key's in the ignition.

Great. Thank you.

How's your daddy, john?

He's holding on.

How's everybody out here?

Oh, little one's been down
with the whooping cough.

Well, then, if it ain't
one thing, it's another.

Well, uh, what can
I do for you, john?

My boy's got his heart set
on that old ford of yours.

You already got the truck.
What do you need a car for, too?

Bus schedule to
westham's been changed.

Yeah, boy was telling me about
going down there to that college.

If he's up by the cr*ck
of dawn, he can make it.

Thing is, the last bus
back leaves about noon.

He's not out of classes yet.

Well, now, why don't you give
him your truck, john, and retire?

I might just do that, buck.

Bird squawking engine starting

Yeah, $ and she's all yours.

$ ? Well, that's a
reasonable price.

That much money will get
you a whole year of cut lumber.

Lumber? How did we get on
the subject of lumber, john?

Well, I thought
we'd make a bargain.

Let my boy have that car

And I'll supply you with
all the lumber you need.

Sighs afraid I can't
do that, john.

Car engine humming

Sounds like a fair deal to me.

Me, too. Some other
time I'd probably jump at it.

But the only reason I'm
trying to sell the car at all

Is I'm hard up for the cash.

Engine revving (john-boy) whoo!

All I need now is
a raccoon's tail!

John-boy, I declare now that...

(Higgins) I'm real sorry.

We get here too late?

It's not that, son. It's that
buck here needs money.

We just don't have it.

(Higgins) if times
weren't so hard...

Sure, I understand.

Hens clucking you
can leave her there.

Thanks, anyway.

Thanks, buck.

Ldon't mention it, john.

Don't worry, son.

You'll get there whether I have
to drive you coming and going.

I need some gas.

Hey, john-boy. Hi, john.

Fill her up, ike.

Boy, your ears
must sure be burning.

You know, I was just
thinking about you this minute.

You, uh, still
looking for a car?

Hopeless.

Well, why don't you let ike godsey
take care of all your problems for you?

You know, I think I found
just the right flivver for you.

The problem isn't
finding a car, ike,

It's someone willing
to barter for it.

Everybody seems to need cash.

(Ike) you know hyder rudge?

I know where he lives,
but that's about all.

He never gets off his place.
Why does he need a car?

I don't know, but he's got one.

He and his wife had one when
they drove in here the first time.

But what he doesn't
have is a roof.

He lost it in the
storm last night.

You know, I thought I
was gonna lose mine, too.

I was up half the night
with the rafters shaking.

Ike, what about the
car? Oh, yeah, the car.

Well, when I drove by the
rudge place this morning,

I noticed that about half of his
roof was laying out there in the yard.

Well, I thought I'd go in and
check on him and the missus, and, uh,

Well, he wouldn't let me in,

But he told me through the door

That, uh, he couldn't
fix it himself,

And he asked me if I
knew anybody who could.

You know how much he'd
be willing to pay for it?

Well, I don't know. Not much.

But, uh, I figured he hasn't driven
that car since he's been here,

And he might just be
willing to trade it, uh,

For something that he does need.

Wouldn't hurt to ask, john-boy.

Ike, I begin to see angel
wings sprouting on your back

And a hint of a halo coming
up from behind your left ear.

(Ike) I told him you'd
probably drop by later today.

Well, I'll do it.

Daddy, I've kept you away
from the mill long enough.

You wanna manage
this yourself, son?

Yeah. I'll ride up
the house with you,

And then I'll take old blue
over to the rudge place, ok?

Birds chirping

Mr. Rudge.

My name is john walton.

I was down at ike godsey's store

And he said you were looking around
for somebody to help fix up around here.

I got no money.
He tell you that?

He said that you might
be willing to make a trade.

Might be.

He said something
about an old car

You might be willing
to trade for the work.

He's wrong.

I got a good set of
machinist's tools.

I'd be willing to
part with that.

Thank you, but that
won't help me out any.

I got a game leg, and, uh,

I can't manage myself.

So maybe I could throw in, uh,

The victrola.

I'm sorry, but a car
is what I really need.

You take it or leave it.

Thank you. But I really can't afford to put
in the time unless I'm working for a car.

Good day to you.

Boy!

If I was willing to strike
this bargain that you want, uh,

You'd have to do a
powerful lot more

Than just fixing my roof.

Well, I'll do whatever
has to be done.

You'll catch a chill out here.

Catch a worse one inside if
you don't get that roof repaired.

You're the walton
boy, aren't you?

Yes, ma'am.

I was down at godsey's store
the other day. I saw you in there.

Uh-huh.

You gonna help
out with the chores?

I'd like to. If mr. Rudge would be
willing to trade the car you have

For the work I do.

Go in the house, martha, I got
more to say to this boy here.

But, hyder, you not gonna...

Talk to you later.

Nice to have met you.

Thank you.

Can I see the car?

What for?

Well, mr. Rudge, I'll
fix the roof for you.

I'll do any other
chores you want done.

But I'd like to know
what I'm working for.

When can you start?

First thing in the
morning, if you like.

I'll show you the car then.

I'd like to see it now.

If you're so feeble
you can't use your feet,

I don't see how you can do all
the work that needs doing here.

Mr. Rudge, I don't
think you understand.

See, I'm gonna be going
off to college in the fall.

And, my family's got a truck,
but they need it for work.

There's no bus I can take.

And if I've gotta walk miles
back and forth to college every day,

I'm not gonna have much
time to do any studying.

My education is
very important to me.

You'll have to repair the roof,

Clean up this here yard,

Fix all them windows and doors,

Nail down all the loose
floorboards in the house,

And chop me enough
wood for the winter.

All right.

That's a lot of work.

That's an unfair lot of work,

But I can't afford to
worry about that right now.

May I see the car?

Come along.

Thank you.

John-boy exclaiming

This is beautiful.

Oh, she's got a rumble seat!

She is really beautiful.

Now you've seen it.

How's the engine?

In perfect running order.

May I try her out?

You just have to
take my word for it.

Just like I'm gonna take your
word you can do my chores.

(John-boy) ok. Ok.

But after a day's work, if
you're satisfied I can do it,

I'll have to be satisfied
with your engine.

What age are you, boy?

(John-boy) .

What are you gonna
do with your life?

Well, I'm enrolled at the school of
journalism at boatright university.

What does your
daddy think of that?

He's for it.

Be here early.

I'll be here at the cr*ck
of dawn if you want me to.

Afternoon, mr. Rudge.

Geese honking

(hyde) look, mama, it's
a going-away present.

(rudge) no, son.
Not for going away.

it's for coming home!

(martha) you two! What
am I gonna do with you?

L come on in now. l
have some birthday cake.

Absolutely beautiful.
It's not new or anything,

But it's in amazing condition,

The way it's all
waxed and polished.

You'd think it was a baby,
the way he takes care of it.

He's a strange man.

Why do you say that?

Well, I've been down at
ike's when rudge has come in.

He asks for his mail right off
the bat, he looks things over,

And then leaves without
saying so much as fare thee well.

I saw her once. She's a
sweet-looking woman.

Looks like a ghost now.

I'm scared.

He said she looks like a ghost.

Didn't say she is one.

I'm still scared.

Seems to me if they were right-thinking
people, we'd see them in church.

Now hold your horses, everybody.

The rudges have problems.
They must, the way they're acting.

It's none of our business.

Absolutely right. I'm gonna
go down there and do my work,

And when it's all done, I'm
gonna drive my car home.

Can't you drive it home tomorrow,
john-boy, just so we can see it?

I can't even touch it until
I put in a full day's work.

That reminds me, mama, I
gotta get down there at dawn.

Would you pack me up a lunch?

Sure. Ham and biscuits, and how
about some vegetable soup in a jar?

(John-boy) sounds good.

When I was your age and
worked out amongst strangers,

They'd feed me.

Why, even over at esther's, they'd
usually feed me something or other.

You ate too much.

I don't think they're that kind of people,
grandpa. Ham and biscuits will be fine.

We'll take your
lunch to you, john-boy.

Yeah, and see the
car at the same time.

We can all go.

(Jim-bob) and have
lunch with you.

I really don't think
they like company.

Company or no company, I
think john will pay him a visit

And make sure
everything's all right.

Everything's all right. They're
not the kind of people we're used to.

It's gonna work out just fine.

Hyder?

Yes, martha?

Come on in now.

I'll be in directly.

It's getting late.

I'll be tired
soon. I'll be along.

The walton boy thinks you're
gonna let him have the car.

That's what I told him.

I know,

Lbut I don't believe you're
lgonna be able to let it go.

Mr. Rudge.

Grunts we're having
a lucky streak.

I think most of this wood's
gonna be good enough to use again.

Fine. Fine.

And I'll tell you truth, I thought
I was gonna have to make up

A whole new batch of shingles,

But I see that
that's not the case.

I'm gonna tie these
shingles up in batches of

With a length of rope,

And I'll just hitch that length
of rope up there onto the roof,

And when the time comes to do the
job, I'll be able to save us a little time.

Do you always talk so much?

Sighs

I just hope you'll be
satisfied at this point

That I'll be able to do the job.

Glad to see you in
such a fine mood today.

He doesn't mean any harm.

Oh, yeah. Oh, I understand.

Some people just don't take
kindly to young folks, that's all.

It's not that.

Well, it doesn't matter much.

It's because of the car.

Mrs. Rudge,

I hope you understand that I don't
want that car for any foolish reasons.

I know why you want it.

And even if I didn't,

You don't appear to me to be a boy
who goes in for too much foolishness.

No, I don't reckon I am.

John-boy,

Do you know anything
about hyder and me?

I don't think I know
what you mean.

Well, I think there is something
you ought to understand.

I'd appreciate it if this went
no further than the two of us,

But I sense that you are a
person who will honor his promise.

Well, I didn't make a promise.

I want you to promise me
that you won't repeat anything

Of what I'm gonna tell you.

Ma'am, honestly, I don't know
if I can keep a promise like that.

Well, in... In that case i...

Standing around isn't
my idea of working.

Nor mine.

I'm gonna need a ladder.

There's one in the garage.

Never mind, I'll get it for you.

Let me help you.

Hyder, let him get the ladder!

Mr. Rudge, I happen
to need a ladder,

It's in your garage.

Now, you can come right
along with me while I get it

And satisfy yourself that I
am not going to steal my car.

It ain't yours yet!

Mr. Rudge, I have struck
a bargain with you.

You have struck
a bargain with me.

In order for me to hold
up my end of the bargain,

I've got to have the
use of your ladder.

That's the only reason
I wanna get in there.

You wait out here.

Thank you, sir. Thank
you, thank you very much.

Car engine humming

(rudge) so the coach said,

"you've got good
form there, rudge.

why don't you
come out for track?"

and I said, "I've got
better things to do.

L my dad and me are l driving down
to norfolk l to see a battleship."

(John-boy) I don't know
what's going on down there.

She started to talk to me, and
then he walked up and she stopped.

But he did start
the car up once.

I tell you, that engine sounds
like it ought to be in a duesenberg.

Probably was. Maybe that's
why he's acting so funny.

Maybe the car's made
up of stolen parts.

Maybe there's a machine g*n in the
rumble seat left over from a bank robbery.

Mimicking g*nf*re

You children are letting your
imaginations run away with you.

John-boy, erin and I
have been thinking.

We don't want your car
looking like every other car,

So we think we ought
to have a family project.

Designed to what?

Designed to design
you a new-looking car.

We can paint it.

(Jim-bob) red like a fire truck.

Then everybody will
think you're the fire chief.

No, I think... I think, it ought to
be something more, uh, collegy.

You know, like
painting slogans on it.

Skidoo, razzmatazz,
that kind of stuff.

I don't think it's
a very good idea

For me to make my first
appearance on campus too noticeable.

(John) maybe we ought
to let john-boy decide

What he wants to do.

Well, first, I wanna have it.

Then I'd like to paint it a nice

Dignified shade of tan, I think.

I once saw a car
with white fenders

And a black and
white checkered body.

What did it look like, a
butterfly with wheels?

No, it looked like a
newspaper with wheels.

John-boy, could we paint the
rumble seat a special color?

Why the rumble seat?

Because that's
where I'm gonna sit.

Oh.

John-boy, can I be the first
one to ride in the new car?

Me, too!

All that fuss over an old car?

You'd think no one
ever had one before.

No one ever did, in this family.

That old truck doesn't count.

It does if you wanna
get somewhere.

Well, I gotta get
somewhere right now.

I gotta get to bed.

Mr. Rudge is getting
his money's worth,

And my back's telling me
it's time to say good night.

It's time everybody
got to bed. Upstairs.

Good night.

(All) good night, mama.
Good night, daddy.

(John) good night, son.

Good night, everybody.
Good night, grandma.

Good night, honey.

Good night, daddy.

Good night, mama.

Good night, mary
ellen. I'll be up.

I think one of us ought
to go and visit the rudges.

Doesn't sound like they
want anyone around.

Well, I suppose so, but with
john-boy working over there, well,

I think we ought to know
more about those people.

I hope they're not taking
advantage of john-boy.

Now, don't worry, liv, he's going
to be in all kinds of situations.

Land we're not gonna lbe around
to help him. Lhe's gonna have to learn.

Grunting got
yourself a new roof.

Oh, the house feels
cozier already.

I thought you might be thirsty.

Thank you.

I purely love milk.

Never realized
how much I loved it

Till we lost our cow a while
back and had to do without.

Oh, I'd be glad to send
your mom over some.

With a family that big, she
must be lost without a cow.

Oh, well, thank you, ma'am.
But we got another one.

I walked past your
house one night.

I was in some kind of a
mood and I felt like walking,

So I kept going and going until
there I was in front of your house.

It was around : and
all the lights were on,

And I could hear all those
children's voices all over the house.

Well, there's enough of us.

We make enough noise at bedtime.

I just stood there and listened

Till it all got quiet.

Then I came back here.

(Rudge) martha!

Right away, hyder.

My husband needs me.

Thank you, ma'am.

Birds chirping

John-boy,

Why don't you have
your dinner with us?

Oh, thank you, ma'am.
I brought my own.

Ham, biscuits, and
a jelly jar of soup.

I've been watching you
through the window.

Well, if you don't think
mr. Rudge would mind.

Oh, I can't tell you what a
pleasure it would give the both of us

To hear the sound of a young
person's voice sharing our meal.

Mmm-hmm.

Thank you, I believe I
will. Let me wash up first.

Lgrunting

Well, she always wanted
to see herself as a blonde,

But she was too afraid to try
that goop out on her own hair.

So she tried it out on jim-bob,

And his hair turned the awfulest
shade of pink you ever saw!

Mama made her memorize
bible verses that very night.

I'm going on
talking like a fool.

I haven't let you say a word.

What brought you up here
to walton's mountain, anyway?

My leg's starting
to bother me, martha.

I think I'll go to my room.

Ma'am, I'm sorry. I didn't
mean to pry. I really didn't.

I know you didn't, john-boy.

There is one thing I'd
like to know though.

How come he acts so
peculiar about that car?

He'll have to tell you that.

Get out of that seat.
Get out! Mr. Rudge...

I'm sorry.

That car don't belong to you!

I was just sitting in it. I
wasn't going to drive it out.

You're to be working, not
sitting in what ain't yours

And acting like it was.

Mr. Rudge, I'm
sorry. I really...

Lgo on, get out of here!
Ltend your business!

And he was right
behind me. And wham!

He just grabs me by the shoulder
and just yanks me right out of the car.

John-boy, car or no car, I don't
want you going up there again.

That man sounds dangerous to me.

Nah, he wasn't
trying to hurt me.

How'd you handle it, son?

Uh, he started accusing me
of not doing my work properly.

So I got back to it
as quickly as I could.

Sounds to me like
he's just using you,

Like he never intends to
give you that car at all.

Mama, it's a chance
I've gotta take.

No, you don't. We'll find
another way to get a car.

The man may be a
lunatic, for all we know.

He's not a lunatic. He's
just a crotchety old man.

And I've struck a
bargain with him.

And he's gonna live
up to his end of it.

Don't you reckon?
Sounds right to me.

What if he doesn't
live up to his end of it?

Li'll just have lto take it
up lwith sheriff bridges.

Whispering knocking
on door come in.

Come in.

Hey, jason. How are you?

You want me to keep on reading
or do you want something?

Do you know patti ann sommers?

Hmm. Cute.

I like her a lot, john-boy.

You asked her out yet?

Well, last sunday, I asked her if I
could walk her home from church,

And she went with
matt nelson instead.

What?

(John-boy) how could she
turn you down for that creep?

Well, I don't know.
I... I think the reason is

Because he's got a car, a
roadster, and they go driving in it.

Oh, up to flea rock
where it's nice and quiet.

Yeah, that's the place.

Well, look, jason, if the only way
to get patti ann sommers on a date

Is to have a car,

That sure doesn't say very
much for her character, does it?

Well, I've thought about that,

But I want to take
her on a date anyway.

Up to flea rock where
it's nice and quiet, huh?

Yeah, well, i... I
figured, maybe if

She knew I had a car, then,
maybe I'd stand a chance.

Look, jason, to
tell you the truth,

I don't know if I'm gonna
end up with this car or not.

But if I do, as soon as
it's part of the family,

It's yours for the asking.
Don't worry about it.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Good night. Good night.

Thanks.

Good luck.

Knocking on door come in.

Hi, john-boy.

Hi. I'll have to ask
mama and daddy first.

Ask them what?

If you can learn how
to drive and use my car.

You some kind of a
witch or something?

A male witch is called
a warlock. Yes, I am.

Well, what do you
think they'll say?

I reckon mama wouldn't mind
learning how to drive herself.

Mama? She's too old.

She is not too old.
You're just too young.

I'm old enough
to learn to drive.

Well, if they say you
can, then I'll teach you.

You're too young to
understand is what I mean.

I don't understand.

Right. Good night. Good night.

Sighing

Knocking on door
oh, no, no, no, no.

Come in. Come in.
Come in. Come in.

John-boy, could we
ask you something? Yeah.

Can we be the first ones to ride in
the rumble seat of your new car?

Well, you're the first ones
to ask. I don't see why not.

Promise?

Well, the only person who hasn't
asked for a ride in the car yet is grandma

And I doubt she'll wanna
ride in the rumble seat.

Thanks, john-boy.

Good night, you're welcome.

Good night. Good night.

Close the door.

Sighing

Oh, gosh. Hmm.

Knocking on door I'm
asleep. Good night.

(Grandma) i-i-i'll talk
to you in the morning.

Night, john-boy.

Grandma?

Grandma? No, no,
no, come in, come in.

It... It's nothing. It can wait.

No, no. I'm wide awake. I
didn't know it was you.

Well,

You know,

I've always had a
kind of a hankering...

But I was wondering if...

W-would you mind taking
me for a ride in your new car?

Oh, sure.

In the rumble seat?

Laughs well, it's a date!

Sighing oh, that'll
be just lovely.

Yes, it will!

Good night! Thank you, john-boy.

You're welcome.

Good night.

Good night. Watch
out for the door.

Sleep tight. Yeah, you, too.

Chuckling

Loh, mr. Rudge, there's la lot of
waltons ldepending on that car.

What are you two doing here?

Um, we came to measure.

Measure what?

We're making you
surprise seat covers.

But we need to know
what size they should be.

Wow.

Well, I guess it won't be
such a surprise anymore.

Oh, of course they will.
I think it's wonderful.

Thank you very much.

It'll only take a second.

And we got the measuring tape,

A pad and pencil
to write it down.

And grandma said she'd help.

Yeah.

Well, listen, girls,

I'm having a little
bit of a problem here.

Mr. Rudge is acting awful
peculiar about the car.

He's got it locked
up in the garage.

Doesn't want me to look at it.

To tell you the truth, I'm kind of
afraid to ask him for the garage keys.

But it's yours, isn't it?

Oh, sort of, yeah.

Sort of? You've been
working for weeks to earn it.

Well, yes, I have. And I'm gonna
own it. I'm gonna finish today, but...

Well, the material's all ready.

We even dyed it dark
green like you wanted.

Yeah? It's all set to be cut out
but we need to know the size.

Well, he's sick in bed today.

Maybe if I ask mrs. Rudge,
she'll let me have the keys. Ok?

Ok. I'm gonna go find out.

Knocking on door come in.

Birds chirping

Excuse me, ma'am.

You finished those
shutters already?

Yes, ma'am. Two of
my sisters are here.

Oh, I'd love to meet them.

Well, they're right outside.
But I've got a problem.

See, the children
wanna surprise me.

They... They wanna make
seat covers for the car.

They've come out
here to measure.

Oh, I see.

I'm kind of afraid to mention
it to mr. Rudge myself.

But I don't want to disappoint
my sisters, you know.

They've made a whole project out
of this, gone to a lot of trouble, so...

And you want me to ask hyder
for the keys to the garage.

If you wouldn't mind.

No, I'll ask him.

You have every right to do
whatever you like with that car.

Thank you. I'll be right back.

Is it ok?

She's asking him.

You just wait and see, john-boy.

You're gonna have
the chiciest car in town.

All laughing

Chicest. Chic, chicer, chicest.

What do you know?

I made the same mistake one time
and miss hunter corrected me on it.

What does she know?

You're beginning to
sound just like her.

So what's wrong with that?

Mrs. Rudge, I'd like you
to meet of my sisters,

Erin, mary ellen walton.

Hello. Hi.

John-boy, he's not in his room.

Where is it?

Mr. Rudge, what have
you done with my car?

It's not yours,
and it never will be.

I'm leaving now.

We have to wait, martha.

You should be here, too.

Hyder, it's not
like I'm leaving you

And this house
for something else.

I've got nothing else.

But the way we've been living

Is like having
nothing hours a day.

Things will be better

Now that walton
boy won't be around.

He's the only sign of life we've
had in this house for years.

You'll see, I know.

All that time we've spent
waiting is gonna end soon.

Sighing

Oh, poor hyder.

We could never have the wonderful
life we had before, I know that,

But somehow,
between the two of us,

We could have saved something.

This way we got nothing.

We've got hope.

What did you do with the car?

I won't tell you.

The walton boy is gonna live

Whether he gets that car or not.

Hyder, if you could
only let him have it.

He worked for
it, he's earned it.

More important,

You'd be giving yourself
a real life, here with me.

And whatever time I got left.

I can't.

Well, then you're just gonna have
to sit here and wait for nothing.

Alone.

Ldoor closing

Mrs. Rudge, are you sure
you know what you're doing?

It's something I should
have done a long time ago.

Where will you go?

I've got a sister in lynchburg.

I feel so badly about all this.

If we'd known, we never would
have let john-boy get involved.

The first day I saw him,

I felt like telling
him to go on home,

He was never gonna get that car.

Then I got to thinking,

Maybe because he was so
full of life, and so young,

Maybe hyder would come to
understand what he was doing to himself.

And to me.

Mrs. Rudge. Daddy,
this is mrs. Rudge.

How do? How do you do?

John-boy, I came
by here to see you.

It's about time you
got told the truth.

Oh.

I can't say as I
disagree with that.

You see, before we moved here,

We had a son.

He was an only child,

And we made him our whole life.

We worshipped that boy,

Adored him,

Loved him.

Where is he?

He's dead.

Oh.

I'm sorry.

(Martha) when he was only ,

He joined the merchant marines.

He'd always been
in love with the sea,

Ran away once just to get there.

He was like you in many
respects, john-boy.

Curious and full of ideas.

What happened to him?

The ship he sailed on was sunk.

There was a... A
collision at sea.

We were told there
were no survivors.

Was the car his?

(Martha) all this time, hyder's
been taking care of that car.

Polishing it, treating it like it
was some kind of living thing.

It was if it was some
kind of magic for him.

As if somehow

That car was gonna
bring back our boy.

Sighing

Ma'am, I wish you'd
told me this before.

I kept hoping that seeing
you so anxious and so happy

To have the car,

Wanting to put it
to such good use,

That maybe hyder
could give it up.

You shouldn't be
deprived of your future

Because hyder
can't give up the past.

I feel awful funny
taking that car now.

You go and get that car, boy.

If I'm right, hyder
probably drove it

Down to that little glen just
the other side of drusilla's pond.

He used to take it there
sometimes to wash it,

And it's a place that he liked.

You earned it fair
and square, son.

(John) you have a
bargain with mr. Rudge.

Sighing if the car
means so much to him...

If you could help
him to face the truth,

Maybe he could
start living again.

Please.

Ok.

Lthank you.

Birds chirping

Engine starting

Good thing you
brought that car here.

You'd be in a lot of trouble.

Mr. Rudge, I know
about your son.

I'm sorry.

I don't want your pity.

You've brought... You've
brought the car back,

And now you can go.

His name was hyde, wasn't it?

What do you care?

Oh, I care.

I'd like to know about him.

The color of his eyes,

The color of his hair.

Books he read, sports he liked.

Blue.

Like his mother's.

Blue like seawater.

And his hair was the
color of corn silk.

Sniffling and he was
a good runner.

Fast on his feet.

That way from the beginning.

His mother always
running to keep up with him.

Full of mischief.

Never bad, you know, just, uh,

Rudge chuckles

Getting into things
the way kids do.

I remember, one time, we...

We bought him a pair of
rubber boots when he was .

(Rudge) he used to like
to break the crust on a...

A frozen puddle of water.

Rudge laughs (rudge)
one day he, uh,

Picked up a chunk
of ice and, uh,

And held it in
front of his face.

It was like looking
at him through water.

It gave me a chill,

Seeing his face
through that ice.

(Rudge) in high school, his, uh,
track coach was always, uh,

Trying to get him to
come out for the team

On account of he was such
a good runner, see. And, uh,

He wouldn't do it.

Sobbing he, uh, wanted
to be home with us.

Once I took him down to, uh,

See a battleship in norfolk.

And when he was
old enough he, uh,

He went back to the sea.

We took him up there in the car.

"Coming home car" he called it.

Sighing

We showered so
much love on that boy.

He was all we had.

Now...

Oh, god, now he's gone.

Sobbing and he's never
coming home again.

Martha, I need you home.

It hasn't been a home, hyder.

Sighing

Well, maybe now it can be one.

All right.

I'll drive you.

Thank you, mrs. Walton.

Goodbye.

(Elizabeth) mama, daddy,
john-boy, look at us!

(John) wow, what a good job!

All chattering look at that.

Children, would you mind

Letting grandma have the
first ride in the rumble seat?

But you promised!

I know, I promised
but I promised her, too.

Would it be ok if you
went second, hmm?

Well, i... I know we can
all sit in the rumble seat

If elizabeth don't
mind sitting on my lap.

(Elizabeth) sure! Ok, let's go.

Don't step on me!

Don't sit on me, either.

Take it easy.

Go on, be a girl again.

(Ellen) it's time to go.

Engine starting everybody on?

(john-boy) the rudges
remained hidden people

to a certain extent,

rarely involving themselves in
our lives, or that of the community.

perhaps they
just didn't need us.

that, without the false dream,

they were finally able
to find contentment

L in their lives together.

Crickets chirping

(Mary ellen) I'm getting to
be a pretty good driver.

(John-boy) you're supposed
to watch the road,

Not look around to see if
g.w. Haines is watching you.

(Mary ellen) he sure did look
surprised when I drove by.

(John-boy) can't blame him.
You headed straight for him.

(Mary ellen) can I drive it
again tomorrow? Alone?

(John-boy) you can't drive it
alone till after I graduate.

(Mary ellen) but that's
years from now.

(John-boy) I know. Good
night, mary ellen.

(Mary ellen) that's not fair.

(John-boy) I know. Good
night, mary ellen.

Kissing

(John-boy) good night,
mama. Good night, daddy.

Good night, mary ellen.

(Mary ellen) oh, good night.