03x02 - The First Day

[bunniefuu]

(john-boy) when
you're growing up,

septembers have
a special feeling.

another carefree summer
is all too quickly ended

and a new school
year is about to begin.

there was an extra excitement
for me in the september of .

my years at miss hunter's school

on walton's mountain were over

and I was ready to take
those first faltering steps

into the strange world outside.

how vividly I recall
the edgy excitement

the awful exhilaration of
preparing for my first day

at boatwright university.

it was a day which showed me
how little I knew about some things

and how well my parents
had prepared me for others.

[Thudding]

John-boy, what in the world are
you doing up and dressed at this hour?

Well, too excited to sleep.
Didn't mean to wake you.

Come here.

I just wanted to be sure
I'm a % ready for them.

Was there ever such a worrier?

I reckon I come by it naturally.

[Chuckling]

Those creases
could be a bit sharper.

Hmm, well, they're
sharp enough for me.

You do look nice.

Well, how I look isn't gonna
count for as much as how I do.

You'll do just fine.

It's a long way from this
room to boatwright university.

Are you scared? Mmm-hmm me, too.

Got butterflies in your tummy?

More like crocodiles.

[Laughing]

I'll be down in a minute.

[Birds twittering]

Erin, if you don't stop brushing
your hair it's all gonna fall out.

Oh, mama brushes her hair
times a day and it doesn't fall out.

If you brush your teeth
too much will they fall out?

[All laughing] they only fall
out if you don't brush them.

Mary ellen, when mama sees that old
rouge on your face, she's gonna have a fit.

It makes me glamorous. It makes
you look like you have a fever.

What do you know?

I know we're all gonna be late
for school if we don't get a move on.

Erin's the one that's
holding up everything.

I'm not, ben. I
have to look nice.

There's a new boy coming
to school this year.

Well, you better hope
he likes bald girls.

You're funny, mary ellen.

Brushing's good for your hair.

Jim-bob, who ever told
you that you could sew?

Looks pretty good to me.

[Giggling] sissy!

Hey, jim-bob! Stop that!

He called me a sissy!

Oh, will you look at
what you made me do?

(Erin) serves you right!

Boys, if you don't stop
fighting, I'm gonna call daddy.

He won't hear you.

He's milking the
cow for john-boy.

Let me up!

Say uncle!

Daddy!

(Ben) say uncle!

(Jim-bob) no! Let me up!

John-boy, do you know
how to tie a bow tie?

Jason, you know, I'm not gonna be
here, uh, for the next, uh, years.

Are you gonna let these savages

Behave like this or you
gonna keep them in line?

Come on, ben, get up.
That's enough. Cut it out.

Think it's funny, don't you?

Mary ellen, wipe that
rouge off your face.

Erin, that's enough
hair brushing!

Come on, everybody.
Everybody out.

Jim-bob, get dressed!
Elizabeth, come on!

Everybody move, come on, go!

(Erin) relax!

[Sighing]

Ok, brother?

Ok.

(John) not the bread this time.

[Children laughing]

Here.

Last sausage... Elizabeth,
you haven't eaten a thing.

I'm not hungry.

Elizabeth, you are
not going to school

Unless you have
a good breakfast.

Then I get to stay home?

Now, honey, you wouldn't
want to stay home from school

When everybody else
was there, would you?

I'd try it.

It's the first day back
to school that I don't like.

Yeah, after that you get back
into the same old boring rut.

Boring?

Yeah, mary ellen thinks
everything is boring.

It's her new word.

You children are gonna look
back on these school days

As the best time of your life.

♪ School days school days ♪

♪ Dear old golden rule days ♪

♪ Reading and
writing, arithmetic ♪

♪ Taught to the
tune of a hickory... ♪

♪ You were my queen in calico ♪

♪ I was your bashful,
barefoot beau ♪♪

(Grandma) you were
barefoot, all right

But you were about as
bashful as a buzz saw.

Is that the way you
remember it, old woman?

That's the way it was.

Was, till I met you.

Still being bashful?

Maybe someday going to
school will be romantic

But right now it's just boring.

I never thought learning
new things was boring.

What new things? Same old
subtraction and multiplication,

Same old conjunctions,
adjectives and adverbs,

Same old history dates:

, , .

Same old faces, same old
squeaky pencil sharpener.

Why don't you just
try oiling it this year?

Oh, you can laugh, john-boy.
You're going off to college

And you'll be seeing
all kinds of new things.

New subjects, new faces.

Yeah, new faces,
that's the truth.

I'm going from someplace
where I know everybody

To someplace where
I don't know anybody.

That's scary.

(Mary ellen) but not boring.

Ben, jim-bob, erin, time to
get your things together.

Says you.

Yeah, says me.

I'm not gonna have you all
straggling in late the first day.

Oh, I'm not going
till john-boy leaves.

Well, it's time for
john-boy to leave right now.

You didn't eat your
breakfast, either.

Well, I'll make up
for it at suppertime.

Say, what did happen in ?

[Grandpa humming]

Can I learn to drive soon?

[Laughing]

Here he comes!

[Birds twittering]

(John-boy) looks pretty good.

Thank you.

(Grandma) john-boy!

John-boy I want
you to take this.

$ .

And cents.

$ . , For what?

For emergencies.

Grandma, I've got this planned
right down to the last penny...

You don't plan emergencies. They
just happen. Now, you take that.

Thank you.

Thank you. I can't
believe I'm really going.

Come on, honey.

Whoever thought that my burying
suit would be going to college

Instead of going up to heaven
with some harp-twanging angels.

Or pitchforking devils.

Looky here, esther... Oh, hush.

Well, I'll see
everybody tonight.

Ok. We bought this for you.

(Mary ellen) and erin
initialed it for you.

Thank you. Thank
you. Have a nice day.

Ok.

Remember everything
so you can tell us it later.

I will.

Kiss the girls for
me, all right? I will.

[Laughing]

[Car engine starting]

Good luck. Good luck, son.

Goodbye.

Bye-bye. Good luck.

Bye.

Ok, let's go.

Since when are you so
anxious to go to school?

Jim-bob, where's your lunch?

I gotta get my books.

Well, hurry up, elizabeth,

And I want you to get
organized this year.

We're not gonna wait
for you every morning.

Well, we can start.
She'll catch up.

(Grandma) bye-bye.

Sounds like our number
boy is beginning to take over.

Turned into a regular
drill sergeant, pa.

Well, our john-boy
is surely riding high.

Most important day of his life.

[Birds chirping]

What we always
wanted. Isn't it, liv?

Please, please say you're
going to the boatwright campus.

I am going to the
boatwright campus.

Oh, you're an angel! An
absolute, lifesaving angel!

[Chuckling]

Hi. I'm polly thompson.

Oh, I'm... A friend was supposed

To pick me up and
drive me to the campus.

Well, I was only a
few minutes late.

Heavens. I thought
I was stranded

Absolutely quaking at
the thought of being late

Dreadfully late,
on my very first day.

And then just when I was
about to succumb to despair

Rescue. Are you a
student at boatwright?

I'm a freshman.
My name is john...

It is such a relief to be
my own person finally.

All those terrible
high school games

You boys expect a girl to play

Pretending to be helpless,
inadequate, totally dependant.

Well, this morning is the beginning
of a new life for polly thompson.

Old acquaintances
won't recognize me.

Self-sufficient, resourceful,
equal to anything.

Oh, you know, you haven't
told me your name, yet.

John bo... Uh, walton,
john walton, jr.

Well, john walton, don't
you think we better push on?

You know, we
could still be late.

Oh, of... Absolutely. Of course.

Oh, the first day
of college. There's

Nothing like it for
excitement and adventure.

I mean...

[Car horn blaring]

[Car horn blaring]

Young man!

Hello there!

Me?

Yes, you're the young man.

Isn't it marvelous how
friendly everyone is?

Uh, i... I'm not so sure
he's being friendly.

Of course he is.

Look on the positive side
and life will be positive.

Where are we hurrying?

To meet my dearest friend.

Thanks for saving my life.

Ok.

Excuse me, do the
freshmen register

In the administration building?

You really are a
freshman, aren't you? Yeah.

No upperclassman would ever
come on campus looking like that.

Hmm. Well, it's
such a special day,

I thought everybody'd
be dressed up.

[Chuckling] friend, never
dress up. Dress down.

Casual, offhand.

I'm mike west.

I'm john walton jr.

What year are you in?

Oh, I'm a freshman, but you
won't catch me advertising it.

Listen, let me give
you some advice.

You want to make
it in college, first,

You never call
attention to yourself.

And second, don't
volunteer for anything.

And above everything,
don't look eager.

Eager?

The way you look right
now, open, vulnerable.

You never let them
see you're interested.

Look, here's the look you want.

Always aloof, superior.

You make them feel uneasy.

All right.

(Paxton) hey! Hey, fellas.

Hi, how are you? Ignore them.

Why? They're just being
friendly. Come on over, guys.

Don't pay any attention to them.

Come on. They're
just being friendly.

Hi, how are you? Hi.

It's your first day at dear
old boatwright? Very first.

What's your name?
John walton jr.

It's time you started
learning your place, frosh.

Which is lower than low.

What do you mean walking
on sophomore circle?

Well, you fellas called
me over, didn't you?

Well, no freshman's
allowed on this walk.

Or maybe you think
you're, uh, special?

No.

(Paxton) where's your beanie?

My what?

Your freshman cap.

Well, I don't
suppose I have one.

(Hobgood) well,
get one, fast. Ok?

Well, I suppose I might.

Say, "yes, sir."

Well... (Paxton) anytime
an upperclassman

Is kind enough to
even notice you're alive

You must address him as "sir."

Now, let's hear a
heartfelt apology

For your inexcusable
behavior, walton.

Umm, I really wasn't aware
I was breaking any rules

And, anyway, I don't
think it's very fair of you...

All freshmen are ignorant.
We are aware of that

But your ignorance is no
excuse. Now you must apologize.

I apologize. "Sir."

Sir.

What's this? It's
my handkerchief.

Looks like a shoe rag.

You're right. It's a shoe rag.

And next time, I'll
let you shine them.

Yeah, ok.

(Paxton) hold it.

Did you give the frosh
permission to leave?

(Hobgood) he... He didn't ask.

(Paxton) well?

May I have permission
to leave, sir?

For now.

But get that beanie on.

Or you go swimming in the lake.

Might not be such a bad idea.

Oh, walton.

Welcome to boatwright!

[All laughing]

[Exclaiming]

All right, pa, take a breather.

It's hotter than a turkish bath.

Hey, you think, maybe

That we bit off more
than we can chew

Contracting with
talbot for loads?

We'll manage.

I sure miss john-boy.

He'll still help us.

No. Less and less.
He's flown the coop.

What with his job,
school, and his homework,

[Chuckles] less and less.

Well, what do you
want me to do, pa?

Tell him to forget
what he wants?

Settle for piecemealing
lumber and a jitney sawmill?

No, you will do what
you have to do, john,

And john-boy will
do what he has to do.

But we are sure gonna miss him.

[Birds clucking]

Well, you're right there, pa.

But we will manage.

All right, now, take it easy.

Did you lose something,
walton, besides your dignity?

No, I'm just trying to
find my big brother.

Oh, mine found me.
Davis, this is walton.

How do you do? Hi.

Mike's been telling me how I
could get more out of college.

Your irony isn't lost
on me. I'm relieved.

I came here expecting
a lot of questions,

And so far I've had
nothing but answers.

What's your big brother's name?

Umm, hewlett, shanks hewlett.

Oh, he's over there. The tall
guy talking to the pretty girl.

Oh, thank you very much.

It's nice to be needed.

Walton, listen,
don't be subservient.

Remember, the first seconds
of any relationship are critical.

Thank you.
(Eileen) it's still no.

You can't turn me down.
I most certainly can.

Excuse me, uh, but I believe...

Freshmen pick up their orientation
packets at the appropriate table.

I won't take no for an answer.

Well, you just might have to.

I have my packet.

If you have any questions,
try the information booth.

I've been looking forward
to this all summer.

Oh, well, uh, under those
circumstances then the answer is still no.

You are my big brother.

Oh, yeah, walston. Walton.

Well, I wondered where you were.

Nice to have you with us,
walston. Thank you. Walton.

Yeah, you seem to be doing ok
on your own. That's the best way.

You know, self-reliance
and all that.

Listen, if you come up with
anything you can't handle,

Give me a whistle. Ok?

Ok, thank you. Bye.
See you around.

Now, we are going to
reconsider that answer, aren't we?

Because you're too nice a girl to turn
down a sensitive guy like old shanks.

John?

John walton! I am
so glad to see you.

I was beginning to think I'd
never see a friendly face again.

Been having some
problems? Problems?

Nothing's gone right for me
today, not one blessed thing.

Some sophomores were
exceedingly rude and obnoxious.

And now I can't
find my big sister.

That sounds familiar.

The one nice thing that's happened
to me today has been meeting you.

Well, hearing that's the first
nice thing that's happened to me.

Oh, my goodness! What?

I am utterly ruined,
destroyed, annihilated.

[Shushing] what? My book bag.

I... I must have left it on
that bench by the fountain.

Bench by the fountain. I'll get
it. It has my admission papers,

My money, my -year diary,
everything. I'll get it. I'm gonna get it.

On the bench, by the
fountain. Ok. Right.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

I'll have them picked up in
just a second, sir. Everything.

In alphabetical order? Uh...

I've seen you someplace
before, haven't i?

No. No, I don't think
so. I'm new here.

(Miss hunter) children, I want
you to... Elizabeth, pay attention.

I want you to read the
first page of your book,

And if you come across any
word that you don't know,

Just write it down
on your papers,

And we'll talk about them later.

Mary ellen, are you
changing your desk?

Yeah, I've been sitting in the
same desk for years and years.

I've decided I need a change.

Good idea.

Now, as you all know, this year
we're gonna be studying civics,

The mechanics of our governments:
federal, state and local.

Now, in our federal
government there are branches.

Who can name them?

Surely somebody must know that.

Jason.

[Jason clearing throat]

Yes?

I guess I don't know.

Then why did you
raise your hand?

I don't know why, miss hunter.

You know I always appreciate
it when students volunteer

But to volunteer when you have no
answers just wastes everybody's time.

I'm sorry.

The branches
are the executive,

The legislative
and the judicial.

What's wrong with jason?

I don't know. He's
acting really weird.

[Chalk scraping]

Here you go.

Oh, john, thank you!

If you hadn't found
this, I'd have d*ed!

Well, you would have been
inconvenienced and mortified,

But you would have survived.

Oh, you know what I mean.

[Goat bleating]

[Bleating]

Finally.

A new student who looks as
if he might have an iq over

And some minimal
sense of responsibility.

Walton, is it? Yes, sir.

Randolph, student
chairman of orientation.

How do you do?

(Randolf) my co-chairman.

[Goat bleating]

No, actually, this is your
freshman class mascot.

Our mascot?

Walton, can I trust you to
carry out a simple assignment?

Of course he can.
He's most dependable.

Well, this mascot,
with a suitable escort

Is to accompany the
freshman class sponsor

To the platform for the orientation
ceremonies in about minutes.

Can I trust you to take
your mascot to room

In the administration building

And escort the faculty
sponsor to the amphitheater?

Uh, all I do is just
lead the goat?

And try to keep him from eating
the sponsor's academic robe.

[Chuckling]

All right, sure.

Room . .

Administration building.
Administration building.

Better get moving.
Ok, thank you.

Come on. Let's
go. Hey, don't go.

Well, why not?

Oh, listen, tie this beast
to the nearest tree.

Let's get out of here.

You're just jealous

Because he picked
john instead of you.

Jealous?

It's an honor to be placed in
charge of our class mascot.

[Birds twittering]

Oh, you are both so gullible.

You just don't trust
anybody, do you, son?

No, that's the first
rule of survival.

Well, I said I was going to take this
goat, and I'm gonna take this goat.

Bye.

I warned you!

[Goat bleating]

[Goat bleating]

What's the matter,
none of you slickers

Ever seen a goat
before? Come on, come on.

Here we are.

Oh, no.

[Goat bleating]

[Students chuckling]

Sir.

[Sighing]

Young man, apparently
you have dedicated yourself

To making an impression on me.

Uh, I was asked to come
here, professor ghote.

Oh, sophomoric humor.

Somebody should do a study.

Hmm, on the other
hand, it's hardly worth it.

Young man, as you can see my
name is "w" for william, k. Ghote.

Naturally, the campus wits
promptly dubbed me, "billy ghote."

An insult to us
both, dear friend.

[Students laughing]

However, under these
circumstances, walton,

It would appear
that you are the goat.

[Students laughing]

Come on, goat.

Thank heaven that's done.

Oh, livie, you still
on that ironing?

Think it would be
easier to get things done

Without children
interrupting all the time.

Doesn't work that way.

It's too quiet. I can't
get anything done.

You know how I used to get
things done when I missed my kids?

You join in, you see it works.

♪ Work for the night is coming ♪

♪ Work through
the morning hours ♪

(Both) ♪ work while
the dew is sparkling ♪

♪♪[Humming] ♪ work
'mid springing flowers ♪

♪ Work by... ♪♪ Oh,
gran, I can't, I feel foolish.

Well, I don't. Here, let me finish
that. We haven't got all day.

You do something else. Go on.

[Sighing]

(Grandma) ♪ work while
the day grows brighter ♪♪

I think I'll fix something
special for supper tonight.

Applesauce cake?

Well, now, how did you know?

(Both) it's john-boy's favorite.

[Chuckling]

Welcome to
boatwright university.

John walton. How are you?

Miss monsell, it's
good to see you again.

Good to see you here,
finally. Thank you.

I never did get a chance
to thank you in person

For fixing it so I
could take that exam.

Oh, I'm happy that it worked
out the way that it did.

Now, let's see.

Uh, I need your
certificate of admissions.

Oh, it's in here, isn't it?

(Miss monsell) I don't find it.

[Papers rustling]

Oh, boy.

I can't register you
without that certificate.

Sorry, it's not here.

How long do the
freshmen have to register?

Till : this afternoon.

After that, you'll have
to pay a late penalty.

$ .

$ !

Oh, lord.

I'm sorry. I'll be
back. Thank you.

[Door slamming]

Mmm, something smells all
mighty good over there in the oven.

You can't have
any of it. Why not?

Not till tonight.
It's applesauce cake.

Ooh, john-boy will
appreciate that.

Pa.

Oh, lord, look down upon us

And those who are
absent from us. Amen.

(John) amen.

I hope he's making
out all right.

Why not?

He's a walton, isn't he?

He is a walton.

You think that's the
answer to everything.

Well, was for you,
wasn't it, sweetie?

(John) he's gonna be
coming up against

A lot of people with some
mighty strange notions.

Well, isn't that what
education is all about?

Just don't wanna see him
getting hurt, that's all.

(Grandpa) oh, john-boy
can take care of himself,

All right. Just like big john.

Well, if he doesn't know how to take care
of himself, pa, he's gonna have to learn.

Oh, no.

Professor ghote.

No, no, no, walton,
I'd like you to stay

Well away from me until
I've gotten safely in my car.

Yes, sir, I can understand how
you must feel about me today.

Wary. Sir, my car happens
to have disappeared.

And you parked it here?

Yes, sir.

Well, walton, I must say,
you have been consistent.

You're not aware that
this is faculty parking?

Oh, no, I'm not
aware of that, sir.

And you didn't bother
to read any of the...

They're covered up.

Yes, with banners.

Well, that certainly is an
extenuating circumstance.

Well, w-where do
you think my car is, sir?

Uh, I would guess that
the campus policeman,

Who is a model of
vigilance and integrity,

Has had it towed to the garage.

Where is that? Directly
behind administration.

Thank you.

Walton,

Explain to them about
the signs being covered.

Yes, sir, I will. I'll
also tell them I'm new.

(Ghote) walton,

That, I imagine,
will be apparent.

Hi. Hi.

This is my car, ok?

Uh, that's too bad.

It's gonna set you back
some dough to bail it out.

No, I didn't realize it
was faculty parking only.

You see, all the signs were
covered up with banners.

Oh, is that a fact? So it wasn't
really my fault, do you understand?

Yeah. Look, i... I told the
boss when he hauled it in here,

The first day he ought
to be more lenient,

But gib, he goes after
parking violators

Like they were public enemies.

Gonna be mighty red-faced when
you tell him. Yeah, well, where is he?

Oh, he's gone to lunch. He'll
be back in about an hour or .

An hour or ! I don't have time.

I've got to take this
car now, all right?

I'd... I'd really like
to help you, but i...

I mean, I just don't have the
right to let you take the car.

You know, gib, he's
real touchy that way,

And, uh, if I lose this
job, I'm out of school.

You understand?

Yeah.

It's ok, thank you.

Yeah, I'll see you later. Bye.

Oh, john, where in the
world have you been?

I've just looked
everywhere for you.

Uh, polly, I can't
stop to talk, right,

Because I've gotta
go do something.

Ah, oh, please! You
have to help me.

Just look what they've
done to my schedule.

They put me in
classes at the same time.

Now how can I be in english
lit. A in ryland hall

And also in sociology
a in richmond hall?

Why don't you ask someone
in the registrar's office, ok?

There's a huge line. Well,
how about the faculty advisor?

I can't find her. I can't find anyone
who cares what happens to me.

Listen, I'd like to help you
right now, but I just can't.

I've got to make a
phone call, all right?

Oh, john, you wouldn't turn
your back on a drowning person.

Listen, I'm drowning
too, don't grab onto me

Or we're both goners, all right?

Ask somebody else to
help you. I can't, I'm sorry.

Excuse me. I'm sorry.

Creep!

Thank you.

The operator says
cents for minutes.

Well, it's not gonna take
anything like minutes.

Here you go. Thank you.

It's ringing now.

[Telephone ringing]

Godsey's.

Ike, this is john.

John, who?

Me, john.

John-boy.

Oh, john-boy, hey,

Sure is a surprise
to hear from you.

Listen, ike, I have
to ask you a favor.

I don't know how I did it but I
managed to leave the house today

Without my
admission certificate.

Admission certificate.

Yeah, I can't get
registered without it.

Uh-huh.

Yeah.

I see.

But you're gonna
get your car back?

Good.

Ok, look, could
you have my daddy

Drive it over here in a
truck this afternoon?

Ok, I'll take care of it.

[Door closing]

[Bell tinkling]

Students, before we begin
this afternoon's session,

I'd like you to
meet andrew clark.

Andrew's family just
moved here from tennessee,

And I'm sure that you're all
gonna make him feel at home.

Is there anything you'd
like to say, andrew?

Hi.

(All) hi.

(Miss hunter) jason.

Well, I'd just
like to say that...

To tell andrew that he's
more than welcome here

And I'm speaking for all of us.

Thanks.

What does he think he's
doing, speaking for all of us?

[Boys laughing]

I wanna see it again.

[Chattering]

Excuse me.

Walton, how's it going?

You know, I reckon I've seen
better days on the mountain.

You seen polly thompson?

No, not since lunch.

With that girl,
hysteria is a way of life.

[Sighing] you seem to
be doing all right.

It's one of my specialties,
analyzing people.

I decide what it is
they want from me

And then fool them into
thinking that they're getting it.

Sounds mighty complicated.

Not really.

Take these frosh-baiting
sophomores, for instance.

Now, they're just looking for
proof that they're superior.

The only way they're going
to find that is with greenies

Who volunteer to be humiliated.

Hmm, like me.

Well, you give them
too much of a target.

Where you're from, the way
you dress, the way you talk.

The way I talk?

"I reckon I've seen better
days on the mountain."

Hmm, well, that's me. That's
the way I am. I can't help it.

No, anybody can
change. Hmm, maybe.

Look it. For a start,

Take off the coat and
the vest and that tie.

And if anybody asks you where
you're from, you say richmond.

Richmond! I don't look
like I'm from richmond.

Obviously, I don't talk
like I'm from richmond.

Ok, okay. Say charleston.

No, no, no, no.

All right, "not
very far from here."

But don't say,
"walton's mountain."

Look, mike, I
appreciate your help...

No, listen, it's last names.

I'm west and you're walton.

[Sighing]

I mean, there's gotta be
some other way of doing this.

No, listen, they're looking
for guys who are different.

For a while, don't let
them see that you are.

I gotta register.

John-boy say why he didn't come
back and get the paper himself?

Well, he parked his car in the
wrong place and they towed it away.

Towed it away? (Ike) yeah,
but there's no problem.

He's gonna get it back later on.

Seems to me livie's having
a devil of a time locating it.

Where you going?

Well, I thought I'd just
have a look-see for myself.

Now, just sit down.

You'll just get in livie's way.

I have still got
eyes like a hawk.

Well, then settle
back on your perch.

Livie's quite capable
of finding what she's...

Was almost ready to give up.

Where was it? In
his writing tablet.

: 'S the deadline,
john. I'm on my way.

[Chattering]

[Laughing]

Oh, walton,

Haven't we met somewhere before?

It's possible.

Did you say you
were from roanoke?

No, no. I don't live
very far from here.

I know the waltons
from newport news.

Uh, it's not us. No.

Hi, ich.

Hey, what's your hurry, ich?

Hey, ich, don't trip
over those clodhoppers!

Hey, ichabod, get a mule!

[Paxton laughing]

(Paxton) do you believe
he's the runt of the family?

I saw an old hillbilly
one time, up near afton

Nearly feet tall.

Hi, boys.

(All) hi, west.

(Hobgood) you see what I see?

(Paxton) I don't believe it.

(Mike) looks like it's
right out of a museum.

Or a junkyard.

Hey, walton, look
what's driving it.

Hey, maybe it's
ichabod's old man.

Will you gentlemen
excuse me? It's my father.

[Chuckling]

Still got time to register?

Oh, thanks to you.

I'm sorry for being such
an absent-minded wonder.

(John) with all that
excitement this morning,

Could forget anything.

Hell, this morning I thought
I had the world by the tail,

It's been wagging me ever since.

I heard somewhere that education

Is mostly finding out
how little we know.

Well, I seem to be off
to a right good start.

(John) you got yourself
some new friends?

(John-boy) no friends of mine.

You better get
yourself signed up. Ok.

Daddy.

You know, when I left
the house this morning,

I thought I was gonna
be a different man.

Just like that, huh?

Same old country boy.

Can't seem to get rid of him.

(John-boy) can't seem to.

Son, you're gonna be all right.

Thank you.

[Car engine starting]

I'll see you tonight.

Tennessee, huh? Yeah.

Must be a right beautiful place.

Yeah, it's really
nice down there.

Well, listen,
andrew, don't worry.

After a while,
you'll make friends

Get used to being here,
and you'll feel fine then.

I hope so. Thanks a lot.

Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

[Children chattering]

Ben.

Hmm.

Why don't you go
talk to the new boy?

Try to make him feel welcome?

Why don't you?

I've already spoken to him.

Go speak to him again.

Oh, sh**t.

Erin, as soon as class is out,

You collect
jim-bob and elizabeth

So we can start
home right away, ok?

Yes, sir.

Mary ellen... Don't give me
any orders, jason walton.

Now, listen here, mary...

I have been listening and
watching you all day, jason,

And if you ask me, it isn't
andrew clark over there

Who's the stranger, it's you.

Come on, erin.

[Birds chirping]

[Sighing]

Guess john-boy went off
to boatwright this morning.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, I'm sure he's gonna
make the most of it.

John-boy does that.

Hmm.

Like my older sister.

My, but she cast a long shadow,

And how I tried to
be exactly like her.

You did?

[Chuckling] oh, yes.

I made myself and
everybody else miserable.

Until I faced up to the simple
fact that I wasn't like her.

Never could have been,

And I never should have
wasted a minute trying to be.

Why, it was as foolish as if
you took it into your head

To try to be
exactly like john-boy.

I never could.

Well, thank goodness.

If you could make yourself
into a carbon copy of john-boy,

It would only mean
that we'd lost jason,

And that's a very special person

And in his own way.

Well, you give john-boy my best.

I surely will, miss hunter.

[Sighing]

There we are.

Thank you. Now
everything's in order.

Thank you very much.

And minutes to spare.

[Chuckles]

Miss monsell,

I hope I'm not gonna be
this much trouble to you

For the next years.

[Sighing]

Polly.

Polly, listen, I'm really
sorry about the way

I talked to you this afternoon.

I just had things on my mind.

Oh, I don't blame you.

This morning I
was so full of talk

About being
self-sufficient, independent.

Till I found out I'm
just a scared little kid,

Not even ready for
kindergarten, much less college.

Hmm, one thing I found out
today is that every freshman

Is as scared as we are.

They don't look it.

Well, some of them do
a better job of hiding it.

Did you get your
schedule fixed up?

Do you really want to help me?

Well, sure.

You know, you might just be
stuck with me for the next years.

Well, I'll risk it. Come on.

(Mike) hi, walton, thompson.

(John-boy) hello.

Oh, I see you're all
dressed up again.

Well, I can't seem to
follow your advice.

I hope we can still be friends.

Well, if you want to
play the bleeding martyr

Just count on me for
iodine and bandages.

[Laughing]

(Crouch) freshmen.

Off the bridge.

Yes, sir.

[Birds twittering]

May we cross now?

"Sir."

Sir?

No, you can't.

Why not, sir?

Well, because you're freshmen.

Oh, yes, well, we apologize
for that, but it is only temporary

And I'm sure you understand.

After all, only last year you
were just as big a fool as any of us.

Excuse us, please.

Looks like we got ourselves
a hotshot here, men.

Let's cool him off in the lake.

Boys, if you try to put
me in that dirty water

In the only good
suit I've ever owned,

I'm gonna take you in with me.

Let's get him!

[Grunting]

(Polly) help! Freshmen. Help!

Freshmen!

Help! Come on, freshmen, help!

[All grunting]

[Polly exclaims]

(Polly) help! No!

[All grunting]

Gentlemen, paxton,
hobgood. Hold it.

Walton?

Yes, sir.

Walton, it occurs to me
that I'd like a word with you.

Gentlemen, would you
kindly clear the bridge?

[Ghote clearing throat]

[Ghote chuckling]

Your first name, by any chance,

Wouldn't be horatio, would it?

No, sir. John.

[Sighing]

What did you want
to say to me, sir?

Walton, don't you
think you've caused

Enough damage
for your first day?

Why don't you go home now?

Thank you. Thank you.

Angelique.

So whatever
happened to that goat?

I never saw the goat again

But I had to wait a
half-hour to get my car back.

Oh. Wearing funny hats,
throwing people into lakes,

College sounds more
like kids stuff to me.

Hooligans!

I recollect one of your
grandma's rowdy friends

Wanted to dunk me in the
river with all my clothes on.

What they had in
mind was baptizing you.

Well, when I go for a
swim, I prefer skinny-dipping!

Oh, zeb!

We missed you at
school, john-boy.

Miss hunter said
to give you her best.

She must have crossed through
my mind a thousand times today.

She sure taught me something.

I suppose you were
bored, mary ellen?

Well, not as much
as I expected to be.

Interesting new subject?

More like interesting new boy.

Andrew clark. Mary
ellen's crazy about him.

I am not.

Then how come you kept practicing
your name, mary ellen clark?

Oh, this family.

Nothing quite like
it, is there, huh?

Now leave that!

[All chattering]

If anybody touches that
cake, I want you to hog-tie them.

All right, let him eat. Let
him eat, now. Let him eat.

You gonna push me
out of the way, too?

(John) yeah, no, not you...

(john-boy) there have been
many other first days in my life

since that long-ago september.

but I have been sustained
through them all by certainties.

i am who I am, with
whatever shortcomings.

and family ties may lengthen
to accommodate distance

but they are never broken.

(Elizabeth) john-boy?

(John-boy) yes, elizabeth?

Did they really give
you a big brother?

They did.

Was he nice?

Well, he was very busy.

He didn't pay too
much attention to me.

That's the way most
big brothers are.

Well, I'll try to remember that.

But they're still nice to have.

Good night, elizabeth.

Good night, john-boy.