03x08 - The Spoilers

[bunniefuu]

(john-boy) sometimes the
future tries to warn us

by casting a shadow
over the present.

such a warning came
to us one morning

in the form of a scent of
smoke borne by the wind.

I smell smoke. So do i.

Seems to be coming
from the hanover place.

Maybe there's a tramp in there.

We'd better look into that.

Fires scare me to
death this time of year.

[Birds chirping]

I know. My house is on fire.

Well, I wouldn't go
so far as to say that.

One lives in hope.

Don't you know how dangerous
a fire can be in these parts?

Well, it isn't a fire,
really. It's the stove.

I can't seem to make it work.

[Susan sobbing]

I'll take a look at it.

[Grandma coughing]

I'm sorry.

It's just that I
haven't managed to do

One single thing right
since we got here.

I have days when
nothing seems to work.

I guess we all do.

Oh, well, I'd settle for
a day here and there.

It's my life I'm talking about.

It was the damper.
You have to open it.

As soon as this smoke clears
I'll show you how to use it.

[Coughing]

Thank you.

Um, I'm olivia walton

And this is my husband's
mother, mrs. Esther walton.

How do you do?

I'm susan hanover.

Hanover?

You're bertram
hanover's daughter?

Oh, he's my father-in-law.

You sayin' that bertram
hanover's here in this house?

Not on your life.

You couldn't drag him or my
mother-in-law out of new york

With a team of wild horses.

Oh, ted did suggest it, but the
old man would hear none of it.

Is ted your husband?

Yes, he's bertram's son.

This whole
expedition was his idea.

Can you imagine that?
Bertram hanover's kin,

Right here on walton's mountain.

Yes.

(Alicia) mother?

Uh, mother, what on
earth have you done?

(Charles) looks like you
set fire to the place.

Good. We can go home now.

No such luck.

Dad would rent a shanty
somewhere just to keep us here.

These are my offspring.
Alicia, charles,

Some of our neighbors,
mrs. Walton and mrs. Walton.

Hello there.

How do you do?

The children aren't very
happy about being here, either.

[Sighs]

Uh, do you have any children?

.

? Good lord!

How do you keep your figure?

Oh.

[Chuckles]

Well, the... The smoke's gone.

I can show you how to, to work
that stove now, mrs. Hanover.

Oh, susan, please.

Yes, I would be very grateful.

(Susan) awful, isn't it?

Part of this stuff was left
by the people who were renting

And some of it we had
shipped down from new york.

Well, it sure don't look
like it used to in the old days.

I have never lived in
the country in my life

And I'm at my wits end trying
to put this place in shape.

Well, getting the stove
in good working order

Is a step in the
right direction.

Yes. Well, it's
right through here.

Oh, dear.

Oh!

You tell your husband, when
he chops wood, it should be dry.

This here's green.

That's why this
smoked up so much.

First, you'd better tell
him which end of the a*

He's supposed to chop with.

Alicia.

And then you'd
better write it down.

He won't remember it
unless it's in a prospectus.

[Chuckles] not bertram
hanover's son.

(Susan) ted forgets
that he wasn't born here.

Doesn't really have the
roots he thinks he has here.

It's crazy.

It must be hard on you all
moving out here to the country.

Where did you live before?

An apartment building
in new york city.

Susan, would you and your family

Like to come have
supper with us tonight?

You can worry about all
this getting settled tomorrow.

In a word, yes.

It's the first house on
the right down the road.

We usually sit down around : .

Thank you so much.
We'll see you then.

Now, in the meantime, if
you're gonna use this stove

Now come here, you
make sure that this is open.

Not closed. Open, like this.

Thank you so much.
I-i'll see you to the door.

[Door creaking]

[Sighs]

[Birds chirping]

Bye-bye. Bye.

[Sighs]

It's hard to believe.

Some people just have
different ways, that's all.

Oh, I didn't mean that.

I was thinking about
bertram hanover,

Wondering what happened to him.

If he ever had any children,
and what they were like.

Did you know him well?

[Chuckles]

He was one of my beaus. Yeah.

[Scraping]

These benches
sure do get wobbly.

No, it's them kids.

They're growing up so fast.

I took a look at
jason this morning.

He is sh**ting up like corn
after the fourth of july.

(Grandma) here it is, livie.

I found it in my memory book.

What you got there?
An old picture of me?

I can't possibly be as
handsome as I remember.

[Groans]

What are you hanging on to a
picture of that parlor snake for?

I brought it down for livie.

That's me and bertram
at the county fair.

You sure were a looker, ma.

He's good-looking, too, grandma.

He was a parlor snake.

You didn't know him like I did.

If he's so all-fired great

Why did you turn him down
when he proposed to you?

(John) you listen now, liv.

We're about to find out
something from ma's past.

Bertram hanover
was a fine young man.

And, uh, well, we just didn't
see eye to eye about the future.

Nothing would do but
that he'd go up to new york.

But he did ask me to marry
him and go along with him.

Then to show his
deep affection for her

He married sabrina
wilkins weeks after.

What brought on all
this ancient history, huh?

Bertram's son and his family
have moved to walton's mountain.

Grandma and I bumped into
mrs. Hanover this morning.

As a matter of fact, they're
coming for supper tonight.

[Groans] like father,
like son. Mark my words.

(Grandma) ted, don't you
care for spoon bread?

My appetite seems to have
deserted me in the last few months.

This mountain air'll get
your appetite back in no time.

Soon you'll be eating
like a woodchopper.

As soon as I learn
how to chop wood.

That I've gotta see.

Hello.

John-boy, come on
in. Meet the hanovers.

Ted and susan, this is
our oldest son, john-boy.

How do you do?
Pleased to meet you.

How do you do?
I'm sorry I'm late.

(Olivia) sit here, john-boy.

All right.

This is alicia and
charles hanover.

Hello.

Alicia used to live in a
compartment house in new york.

[Alicia chuckling] an
apartment house.

Uh, you folks, uh,
here for good?

(Ted) yes, we are.
We're here to stay.

Providing mother doesn't
burn the house down.

Your father was telling
us you're in college.

Yes, I am. Where do you go?

Uh, boatwright university. It's in
westham, about miles from here.

Oh.

You go to school every day
and come home every night?

Except once when he stayed
out and danced all night.

Mama was mad.

(Alicia) you, uh, commute?

(John-boy) yes. Well, it's
less expensive that way.

Um, let me guess
what school you're in.

Um, law?

No.

No, you're just not
that kind, are you?

Um, art, maybe.

(John-boy) uh, no.

Engineering, definitely not.
No, definitely not engineering.

Uh, music? Am I close?

Uh, jour-journalism, actually.

Oh.

Have you had anything
published? No, not yet.

But I'm getting closer.

It used to be I just got
printed rejection slips

Now I get letters
telling me to try again.

(Alicia) uh, we know a lot
of people in publishing.

Maybe when we get
back to new york

We could have some of your
things read by the right people.

Oh, I thought you
all were staying here.

Oh, well, dad keeps saying that.

I guess you'd call it
sort of a pilgrimage.

What are we
calling it today, dad?

I'm sure the waltons
aren't interested

In why we came here, alicia.

[Clears throat]

I'd like to read some of those
stories you were talking about.

You may.

Do you know who
maxwell perkins is?

Oh, sure I know who
maxwell perkins is.

He's f. Scott
fitzgerald's editor.

Yes, and a close friend
of my father's. Really?

Alicia, the days of
clubs and socializing

With maxwell perkins are over.

Yes. Well, maybe they are
for you, but they're not for me.

[Crockery clinks]

[Chair creaks]

Excuse me.

Mary ellen, erin, uh, why don't
you clear, and I'll see about dessert.

(John-boy) oh,
please. Thank you.

What line of work
were you in, mr. Hanover?

I was, um, a stockbroker
like my father.

"Was" is the right word for it.

From the newspaper, I
hear things are picking up.

Yes, they are.

So this sojourn here in virginia

(Susan) is really the
calm before the storm.

Ted's father is just waiting for
him to come back and start again.

As you may have seen by now

My family isn't too keen
on putting down new roots.

Your father used to say that
he was born here by mistake.

He said he always
belonged in a big city.

He said the same thing about me.

It only occurred to me recently

That he might have been wrong.

Well, we're glad
you're here tonight.

Who wants dessert?

(Children) I do!

(Olivia) charles, don't
you want any dessert?

No. I'd rather look around.

Come on, erin.
Show me the sights.

May i, daddy?

Sure, honey.

[Crockery clattering]

(John) well, I'm
ready for dessert.

[Knocking on door]

Mmm-hmm.

Erin?

I've got a problem.

Yeah? A big one?

A little one? A
medium-sized one?

What kind of problem, erin?

Well, kind of medium-sized.

I've never met anybody
like those hanover people.

Well, you and charlie seem to
be getting along pretty well.

You know tonight after supper

When I showed him blue
and chance and everything?

Mmm-hmm.

Well, he asked me for a date.

Well, I'm sure mom and daddy
wouldn't mind if he came over.

He wants me to go out with him.

Out where?

Nowhere special. Just out.

He wants me to show
him walton's mountain.

Erin, is that the problem?

Well, he's kind of fast.

What if he tries to... Kiss me?

Oh, uh, well, you're
a very pretty girl.

I'm sure there's gonna be lots
of guys gonna try to kiss you.

What'll I do?

Uh, [clears throat]

Uh, erin, has mama ever had a
talk with you about, uh, uh, kissing?

Yeah, but she's
so old-fashioned.

In what way?

She didn't let daddy kiss her

Until they'd been going
together for a long time.

Well, it looks to me
like charlie hanover

Is gonna be around
for a long time.

What will I do
tomorrow if he tries?

[Sighs]

Well, uh, well, do you
want him to kiss you?

I think.

Well, then, I don't... I don't see
what harm one little kiss could do.

Thanks, john-boy.

Erin?

One little kiss.

What else is there?

[Motor whirring]

Morning. Morning.

I, uh, thought I'd
like to take a look

At your place during daylight.

Maybe get some
ideas about gardening,

The kind of animals to
keep. That sort of thing.

Sure. Look around
as much as you like.

Don't you have any help?

Usually pa helps, but he's not
feeling too good this morning.

Well, is there
anything I can do?

No, I wouldn't want to impose.

No, no. I'd like to.

It's a new experience for me.

All right. Grab the
other end of this.

When it's cut, we just
stack 'em over there.

Sounds easy. It's heavy work.

I'm game. Ok.

[Saw buzzing]

Is that it?

Got a visitor for dinner, liv.

Hello, ted. Hello, olivia.

I hope you don't mind.
John's asked me to lunch.

There's plenty. Sit down.

Right there.

Whatever you're
cooking smells marvelous,

And I am famished.

It's the mountain air.

Not to mention the
fact that I have been

Milling logs since
the cr*ck of dawn.

Oh, it just seems that way, ted.

Zeb's grouchy as an old bear.

Sure sign he's getting better.

Oh, lord, ted, you do
look like your father.

I noticed it last night but...

You're the splitting
image of him.

It's only physical, mrs. Walton.

My father thrives
on buying and selling,

Playing the market,
wheeling and dealing.

No, I've finally
found what I want,

And it's the life you
folks have right here.

It's a good life
most of the time, ted.

Your wife get that
stove to workin'?

She finally managed a
meal on it this morning.

Good.

I only wish, though,
that she and the children

Could relax and
enjoy the life here.

Not everyone's cut
out for country living.

I wanted to talk to
you about that, olivia.

I was hoping that you
could go over and see susan.

Be her friend.

Convince her that
the life is good here.

I'd be happy to be her friend,

But I'm not gonna
try to convince her

This life is for
her if it isn't.

She has to decide
that for herself.

Come on, ted, eat up. Have
some of those carrots. [Clattering]

Best kinds you ever tasted.

Leftovers.

[Knocking on door]

Come on in, it's open.

[Door opening]

[Door closing]

Oh, hello.

Uh, I know you're one
of the walton children,

But I can't remember which one.

Mary ellen.

Ah.

Won't you sit down?

Oh, I just stopped by to say
that our teacher, miss hunter

Said that charles was
welcome to come to our school.

Well, why don't you
tell him yourself?

He's probably right
upstairs. Go right on up.

[Knocking on door]

(Mary ellen) charles?

Who's that?

Mary ellen walton.

Come in.

Hello. Hi.

I was looking for charles.

What on earth for?

Well, when I was in school today

I was telling our teacher
about you moving here

And she said that charles was
welcome to come to our school.

So I just stopped
by to tell him that.

Serves the little brat right to
have to go to a log schoolhouse

After that progressive
pigpen in new york.

Don't you like your brother? No.

Do you like yours?

Most of the time.

Tell me about
john-boy. Does he date?

Sometimes.

Well, does he have a steady?

I don't think so.

Oh, where on earth am I gonna
wear this out in the sticks?

Oh, it's gorgeous.

Mother bought
it for me in paris.

Have you been to paris?

We used to go there all the
time before dad lost his money.

Do you like the dress?

I think it's beautiful.

Try it on. If it fits,
you can have it.

Oh, I'd love to try it
on, but I couldn't take it.

These, too.

[Thudding]

Looks like they might fit.

I'll go downstairs.

Oh, the designer of that
dress should pay you to wear it.

I sure don't feel like me.

You look like a lady.

Just wait. We're not through.

Come here, sit down.

This is called a
turban. Bend down.

Bring it around in
the front and twist it.

Hold it.

Now, take the purse. Stand up.

Divine.

It really is.

Alicia, why don't
you give it to her?

I already have.

I've never seen anything
so beautiful in all my life.

[Birds chirping]

Hey, look! Here
comes a movie star.

Look, it's mary ellen.

[Whistling]

Isn't that snazzy?
That's gorgeous.

Mary ellen, where
did you get that dress?

It came from france.

The hanovers used to
go there all the time

Before they lost
all their money.

Oh, yeah? How come
we never went there?

Did you lose all your money?

Never had any
money to lose, son.

You look just
like ginger rogers.

Aw, mama, quit teasing me.

I'm not teasing you.

Where are you planning to
wear that thing around here?

(Ben) she could
wear it to a dog fight.

Or a corn shucking.

Or a weenie roast.

Oh, I've had it with you!

Oh, now look what
you've made me do.

Mary ellen, come back here.

What's bothering her?

(Jason) don't know,
we were only teasing.

Back to your chores.

No need for her
to get that upset.

I'll go see to her.

[Door slamming]

[Knocking on door]

(Mary ellen) what?

I'd like to talk
to you a minute.

Mama, just go away.

Please don't speak
to me like that.

Like what?

You know what I mean.

I'm tired of being treated
like a baby around here.

Mary ellen, what
is bothering you?

You've been teased
by the boys before.

Why are you so angry?

It can't be because
of that silly dress.

That's just what I mean.

It is not a silly dress.

It's wonderful, and
I look beautiful in it.

Yes, you do.

It's just not a dress
that belongs here.

Well, maybe I don't
belong here, either.

I'm sorry, but I want more out
of my life than junky dresses

Made from cheap
pieces of material

That I buy from
ike godsey's store.

Mary ellen, you're very young.
But when you grow up a little

I hope you'll want more for
yourself than you do right now.

What you wear has nothing
to do with what you are.

I'll expect you downstairs to
help me start supper in an hour.

[Birds chirping] and this is
where we have recess.

And what do you do at recess?

Oh, we play games
like hide and go seek

And blind man's
bluff. Stuff like that.

[Sighs]

How can you stand
all the excitement?

Sometimes I think
you're making fun of me,

But I'm never really sure.

[Chuckling] would I do that?

I don't know.

This swing is only made
for one person at a time.

Don't you like me
being close to you?

Um, well, I do and I don't.

It makes me nervous.

You can trust me, erin.

Ah.

Oh, no.

(Charles) wanna go higher?

No.

(Erin) oh, no!

[Creaking]

Hey, you're terrific.

The girls back home would
have fainted on the spot.

What's so scary
about an old swing?

You wanna try again?

No.

You're ok, erin.

Don't do that.

Why not?

Because I said so.

Erin, if you and I are
going to be friends

You've got to be a
lot less provincial.

What does "provincial" mean?

Countrified.

Is that what you think I am?

I haven't made up my
mind about you yet.

Let's just say that I'm
thinking about it. Ok?

Where's erin and mary ellen?

I don't see why I have to
do all this work by myself.

Mary ellen's having a bad day,

And I don't know where erin is.

Anybody home?

Come on in, alicia.

Have you seen erin anywhere?

Oh, she's probably somewhere
fighting off my brother.

What did you say?

Oh, a feeble joke.

He considers
himself a ladies' man,

But he's really just
a disgusting brat.

You shouldn't talk about
your brother like that.

La-di-da.

Alicia, you may get away with
talking to your mother like that,

But don't you try that on me.

I'm sorry. I really
didn't mean anything.

I'm sure you didn't.

I just don't like
the sound of it.

Now, did you want something?

Is john-boy here?

He's upstairs
doing his homework.

Well, I'll go upstairs
and see him. Just a minute.

John-boy?

Alicia hanover's
here to see you.

(John-boy) ok.

He'll be right down.

[Footsteps approaching]

Hi. John-boy.

I'm glad you're here,
I could use a break.

Would you like to go for a walk?

Yes. Yes, that would be nice.

(Alicia) I wanted to talk to you

About reading some of your work.

(John-boy) ok. Mama...

John-boy, don't be late.
There's chores to be done.

Oh, we won't. Come on.

Come on, there's
work to be done.

Just a second.

Give her a chance.

That's it for me. I got to
go work on my stories.

What about your homework, son?

Well, that can wait for tonight.

Alicia hanover wrote a
letter to maxwell perkins,

That editor in new york,

(John-boy) and she told
him she was sending him

Some work by a
"new, young writer."

So I got to get a couple
of my stories in shape.

He's a very important man.

That girl has been
worrying john-boy so hard

About her important
publishing friends

He's completely forgotten
about his schoolwork.

Oh, mama, don't
be so provincial.

Now, what's that
supposed to mean?

It's something she learned from
the love of her life, charles hanover.

Oh, mary ellen, why
don't you just shut up?

Erin, don't talk to
your sister that way.

Ok, I won't talk to her at all.

You may leave the table
after you've been excused.

May I be excused, please?

Yes, you may.

Daddy, what's going
on around here?

Well, I don't know, honey.

Everyone's acting
so crazy lately.

It's the curse of the hanovers.

Oh, good lord.

You're just acting
sillier than usual. Stop it.

See what I mean?

[Hammering]

For a man who just
got out of a sickbed,

I hope you're not
overdoing it, mr. Walton.

Theodore, if you feel so
strongly on that subject

Maybe you would take
over for me for a spell.

[Grandpa grunting] um,
what kind of chickens

Do you think I ought
to stock up with?

White leghorns
are good for eggs.

Rhode island reds
are good for eating.

Buff orpingtons, too,

If you can lay your hands
on some around here.

You know, this place is
really beginning to grow on me.

I'm eating better.
I'm sleeping better.

I'm just feeling
better in general.

(Ted) you'd have to dynamite
me out of this place.

My father was crazy
to leave all this.

Maybe he was right. We're not
all cut out for this kind of life.

Yeah, but

Don't you think a man
should teach his children

That there are other ways
of thinking besides his own?

Well, most of us

Hope our children will grow
up believing what we believe.

My father didn't
just hope, he insisted.

Seems to me like you must
have agreed with him in a way

Or else you'd been down
here a long while back.

Sometimes it takes a shock to
knock some sense into a man's head.

No, I came out here
to find a better life.

Well, I hear life back
there wasn't so bad.

Get up in the morning, put
on a clean shirt and suit,

Go to your job,

Eat in restaurants,
go on vacation.

How many times
you been to europe?

Oh, I don't know.

We used to go every summer,
but that's not the point.

Maybe it's not the point.

Maybe I couldn't live
that kind of a life,

But parts of it sound
real good to me.

By the same token, your
life has a lot of appeal to me.

The simplicity of it all.

[Chuckling] it's
simple, all right.

Up at : , working past dark,

Never know whether you have
enough food or clothes for your family.

See here, theodore,

Just how do you propose
making a living around here?

Do you have any ideas, john?

I mean, I've got
enough capital left

To start some
kind of a new life.

Well, you could
start a little farm.

Wheat, corn, raise
some cattle, chickens.

Maybe have a truck garden.

Start a sawmill, like me.

Whatever you do, it's
gonna to be hard work.

Well, nothing much different

Between city livin' and
country livin', in a way.

Nothing on this
earth is provided for

Unless you provide it yourself.

Ted, you got time to figure
out what you want to do,

But let me tell
you, come winter,

Things get real
rough around here.

[Clears throat] yeah,
well, um, this job looks

Pretty well finished to me,
why don't we call it a day?

Great idea.

Anything you say.

And, um, I'll let you
know what I decide.

Thanks for everything.

Mmm.

Is it ready?

How did you know?

I just took the paper off.

Charles?

Mama, may charles
and I go for a walk?

Where to? Just up the road.

Be back in time for supper.

Is it all right with you, susan?

Oh, yes, of course, go ahead.

Here, have a piece.

No, it goes right to my hips.

The good thing about
this is it's so rich

You don't eat too
much of it. Come on.

Mmm.

Oh, that's incredible.

I'll give you the recipe. Oh!

[Laughing] thank you so much.

Oh, I do love candy.

I think it's one of my
great weaknesses.

I bet you I bought candy
in every country in europe.

You've been to them all?

Well, except for russia.

Yes, i... I guess we have.

Which one do you like best?

Italy.

Oh, rome is my favorite city
in the world after new york.

Italians have such a
wonderful approach to life.

Do you know that
every night, about : ,

They take what they
call a passeggiata.

Sounds wonderful,
what does it mean?

Well, it's a walk, really.

Everybody seems to come out
of their house at the same time.

And they walk and they talk,
and they look in shop windows,

And then they stop by a
little sidewalk cafe for coffee.

Then they all go home.

But they all come back
out later for dinner.

What time do they eat?

: Or : .

We've been in bed
for an hour by then.

Olivia...

Oh, you would
love rome and paris.

Please don't say any more.

I always yearned to
go to those places,

And hearing you talk about them

Just makes the feeling
all that much stronger.

I'm very impressed.

Really? Thank you.

Now, the question is, what
are you going to do about it?

[Water running]

What do you mean?

What are you going to
do about your writing?

Oh. Uh, [birds chirping]

Just keep on writin'.

But to what end?

To get to be as good as
I can get to be, I reckon.

[Sighs] no, that's
not what I mean.

Uh, what are your ambitions?

Where do you see yourself
years from today?

Years? That's a long way off.

Uh, probably I'll be living
in some big city somewhere.

New york.

All right, new york.

And, uh, I reckon I'll be selling
my work by then, so I'll have a...

Well, not too fancy,
nice apartment.

And, uh, I'd like to sort of
have one overlooking a river.

Something like that.
You know, big windows

And a nice feeling to it.

Just so I can do my work.

[Laughs]

Sounds kind of like
thomas wolfe, doesn't it?

No woman?

Woman? Well, sure.

Well, i... I guess she's just
so much a part of my life

I forgot to mention her.

Who will she be? I don't know.

Oh, my wife. Your wife?

Of course.

I think that a writer could
think of a better story

About what his life
was going to be like.

John-boy, I think the time has
come for you to get out of here.

Well, I already said I plan
to be moving on someday.

Now, while you're young
and your senses are alive.

Well, my senses plan to
stay alive for a long time.

You may think that
now, but you're wrong.

Things happen to
people as they get older.

Alicia, I'm in college,

And I like being in college,
and I want to finish college.

And even if I didn't like it,

My parents gave up an
awful lot so I could go there.

And I don't think it
would be really fair...

Artists don't have
time for gratitude.

[Sighs]

They have to take
everything they can get.

They're special people.

Gifted people are privileged.

You'd better start thinking
of yourself that way.

Well...

I don't know about that, but I
appreciate your reading this for me.

You'll have to make
some changes, you know?

No. Why?

Because I don't think it's
salable the way it is now.

[Sighs]

See this first paragraph?

Now, I don't think
your opening sentence

Is enough of an
attention getter.

Well, I do. I
rewrote it times.

Well, that proves I'm right.

Your instincts were
trying to tell you something

And you just weren't listening.

Now, why not move
this paragraph up here?

Then the whole feeling
of the piece is tougher.

Well, my intention
wasn't to be tough.

Well, that's not the point.

All the successful new
books are being done that way.

It's a new wave in
literature... Alicia

Alicia, I don't want to
write some certain way

Because it's a new
wave in literature

And everyone else is doing it.

That's no reason to
write in a certain style.

John-boy, you have
so much to learn.

[Sighs]

I really worry about you.

Isn't it a nice day?

Who cares?

Oh, charles, what are
you being like that for?

Erin, there's nothing
to do around here.

Sun comes up, then it goes down.

And in between,
excruciating boredom.

We're not bored.

Well, I guess you don't
miss what you've never had.

I'm used to movies
and dances and sports.

We play baseball.

In a clearing of
some pine trees.

I'm used to yankee stadium.

You really don't want
to stay here, do you?

No.

[Water running]

If I left, would you miss me?

Yes, I would.

I'd miss you too,
erin. I really would.

I thought you weren't
sure if you liked me.

Well, I am now.

Well, I'm glad, charles,
because I really like you, too.

What are you doing?

I wanna kiss you.

Well, all right.

[Birds chirping]

I'd like to kiss you again.

I don't think so.

Didn't you like it?

Yeah, but I think we
should only kiss once.

Oh, don't be a baby.

Don't! I don't want to!

But I do.

[Fabric tearing]

Leave me alone! I
thought you were nice,

And I thought we
could be friends.

I've got no time to
be friends with babies.

You're being so
stubborn I could scream.

Alicia, I know what I meant
when I wrote that story,

And what you're asking me to do

Would change the whole meaning.

So what?

The impact will knock
the reader down.

No. I can't do that.

I don't want it to
be read that way.

I'd rather it didn't
get read at all.

You're behaving like some
simple-minded bumble-brain.

Next thing you'll tell me is

That you believe in
art for art's sake.

Alicia, there's no need
to get so angry about it,

I just wanna feel
good about what I write.

And when I'm finished, I
don't want to feel like

I've written to
satisfy somebody else

Just because they might
be able to get it published.

[Sighs]

You're a fool, john-boy.

A fool.

Well, you're no lady!
Anybody ever tell you that?

Erin? I could use a hand here.

Oh, erin, I've been
looking for you.

There's a picture
here of ginger rogers.

Erin, you're home early.

You all right?

What's the matter,
honey? What happened?

Mama, do you have to
let someone kiss you

More times than you
want to kiss them?

Did somebody want to kiss you?

Charles hanover.

And did you want to kiss him?

Yes, but just once.

And he wanted more?

Yes, but I didn't.

I guess I didn't want to enough.

Then you were
quite right not to.

But he got so mad,
and he called me a baby.

Erin, you don't ever have to do
anything you don't really want to do.

But why did he get so mad?

Because charles hanover is used to getting
everything he wants when he wants it.

And when he doesn't,
he behaves like a baby.

That's just what he was
like, an angry little baby.

Erin, I'm proud of you.

Why?

Because acting like a grownup

Is one of the hardest things in
the world to do. And you did it today.

Mama, what if I see charles?

Well, why don't you tell him how
you feel about what happened?

Then maybe you two
can remain friends.

If he's grown-up
enough to listen to you.

Mama, when charles grabbed me,

I got scared and I pulled away

And I ripped my dress.

That's all right, honey.

Don't you worry about that.

Thank you, mama.

I guess I better
go find mary ellen.

She probably thinks
I've gone crazy.

What is it, honey?

I'd like to talk
to you a minute.

Right now? Yes.

Something's going on
here, and I don't like it.

Every single person in this house
is upset because of the hanovers.

Alicia's been at john-boy
so hard about his writing

He's stopped doing
his schoolwork.

All mary ellen can think about
is marrying some millionaire

And buying all the
clothes she wants.

I wouldn't worry
about mary ellen

Or john-boy, either.
They'll get over it.

It's even getting to me.

Susan was here the other day

Talking about how
wonderful rome, italy is,

And all of a sudden I started
feeling dull and foolish

Just because I've
never been there

Or hadn't had supper
at : at night.

We can have supper at :
at night anytime you want

If I can stay awake that late.

I'm serious.

Now, I know it'll all blow
over, but erin's different.

What about erin?

Charles hanover kissed her.

And when she wouldn't
go along with more kissing

There was some kind
of struggle and...

Did she get hurt?
No, not physically.

Well, her feelings
got hurt a little.

She's all right.

She knows she did what
she should have done, but...

I just don't want my children
exposed to that kind of thing.

And I don't, either.

I'll take care of it.

Oh, hi, john.

Susan's been admiring
these elm trees,

So I went out in the woods
and dug one up for her.

I'm transplanting it.

[Birds chirping]

This tree's not
going to live, ted.

What makes you say that?

You've cut the
taproot too short.

You didn't leave it enough
root for it to feed itself.

Oh.

Well, I guess I have a
whole lot more to learn

About country life, don't i?

Ted, you've been
talking to me for weeks

About country life
and about city life,

And I don't think any of
that talk is important.

Well, now, it's important to me.

What's important is what's
happening to your family.

It seems to me your wife and
children are paying a heavy price

For your confusion.

A heavy price? Now,
just a minute, john...

Especially those
children of yours.

They don't know who they are.
They don't know how to behave.

They don't know
what their limits are.

Wait a minute. Has one of
my kids gotten out of line?

Your son, charles, got
rough with my daughter erin.

He acted like a
big-sh*t ladies' man.

He got carried
away with himself.

Is she all right?

She's all right. I
just don't want

Anything like that
to happen again.

I know, and I'm sorry.

I guess I just haven't
been on top of things.

That's right, I
guess you haven't.

You know, ted, you and me
don't have much in common.

But one thing we do have
in common are children.

It seems to me when
children are involved

A man's got to forget
his own confusion.

Give them the attention
and the guidance they need.

I know. And I haven't
been doing that.

I've been too involved in my own
problems to put first things first.

Don't you think maybe
it's time you started?

Yeah. Yes, I do.

That's all I came over to say.

Thanks, john.

Hey, john-boy.

Been out reading your
stories to the orioles?

No. Alicia hanover.

You don't sound
too happy about it.

Well, I'm a lot
happier than she is.

I've never seen
anybody so mad in my life.

Why, didn't she like them?

Judging by her reaction, no.

She threw them at me.

What?

She threw them at me.

We were just having a silly little
argument about values in writing

And she got all upset
and she threw 'em at me.

Said I didn't
understand a thing.

You deserve a
better fate than that.

I agree. I'd like
to throttle her.

Hold on, john-boy.

Uh, through the
years, I've learned

Anytime you feel like
throttling a woman

You better take it
out on a pile of wood.

[Birds chirping]

You want it stacked or sawed?

[Chuckling]

Just a minute. I... I
think I'd like to read

Or of your stories
myself, john-boy.

Take your pick.

Just, please, don't throw 'em
at me when you're finished, ok?

Did you talk to ted?

Yes, I did.

I think things'll be
better from now on.

Thank you.

What happens to
families like that?

Well, I guess they try to get back
on their feet and lead happy lives.

Hope they work it out.

I guess we were just lucky, huh?

Guess we were.

[Groans]

Well, there might be
some hope for me after all.

I have managed to make a
casserole that looks edible.

And if you're willing to risk
your life, you can try my lemonade.

[Birds chirping]

You don't trust me.

This was supposed to
be a surprise for you.

Oh, well, you do keep trying.

What's the matter
with it? Is it sick?

It's dying.

I cut the wrong
root or something.

I just, just didn't know.

[Ted sighing]

Well, it was a nice
thought. Thank you, anyway.

Ted, what are we
really doing here?

I'm not sure anymore.

Did you really think it would
be like the days when you'd say:

"Let's go to paris," and I'd
say, "ok, when do we sail?"

No, no, those
were just fun trips.

Oh, yes, they were fun.

And I'm so glad we took 'em.

But this was supposed to
be something quite different.

I know.

Those were just escapes

To get away from the reality
of new york for a few weeks.

I know.

Do you think I've
been kidding myself

And that's what
this trip is, too?

Well, the realities in new
york had gotten pretty harsh.

I know.

Then we came out
here, and this place

Became far more real
than I ever imagined.

Just...

Just think how we must look
to john and olivia walton.

[Laughs]

Well, just the same
as they'd look to us

If they moved into an
apartment on park avenue

Without honestly
wanting to be there.

I guess I did all this to
run away from our old life.

Let's go back, susan.

Let's go back to new york.

Ok.

I almost said,
"when do we sail?"

Yes...

Yes, let's go back if
you really want to.

But I think it's very
important that you know why.

This was all a dream.

You know, my father
was right about one thing.

He said that every man was
born to do a certain thing.

And I've suddenly realized that
I was not born to be a farmer.

Do you know, ted, I have never
cared what your father thought.

But as for you,
that's something else.

Ok, when do we sail?

Well, we're finally off.

Oh, olivia, we're here.

Hello, susan. [Sighs]

There's the taxi.

I know.

Will you write to me?

Sure. You too, ok?

Mmm-hmm.

Erin... Ok.

[Birds chirping]

Good luck, ted. Thank you.

Ted, would you do me a favor?

Of course, mrs. Walton.

Well, would you give
this to your father?

I... I think it might amuse him.

Are you sure you
want to part with this?

Well, no, I'm not.

But zeb thinks it's been
around long enough.

Indeed, I do.

Charles, are you ready?

Yes, ma'am.

Bye. Bye.

Thank you, olivia.
Take care. Mmm-hmm.

Oh, and say goodbye to the rest
of the children and to john-boy.

Alicia, john-boy said to
say goodbye. He's in school.

Give my best to bertram.

And sabrina.

Here you go. Uh,
thanks again, john.

All right.

(Susan) don't
forget next summer.

Have a good trip.

Bye. (All) bye-bye.

(john-boy) we were never
to see the hanovers again.

although erin did receive
one letter from charles.

she carried it
around for a while,

pinned inside her
dress over her heart,

but then a new boy came along

and the last reminder of the
hanovers went out of our lives.

(John) liv?

(Olivia) hmm?

I think I can let go of the
boys when the time comes.

[Crickets chirping]

But I don't know
how it's going to be

To give the girls
to some other man.

You probably won't
have much to say about it.

Liv?

Yes?

Maybe they'll be old maids.

[Chuckling] I wouldn't
count on it.

Liv, I love you.

Will you go to sleep?

Good night, liv.

Good night, john.

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

(Mary ellen) good night,
mama. Good night, daddy.

(Olivia) now look
what you've started.

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

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

(John) good night.

(Olivia) good night.