03x09 - The Marathon

[bunniefuu]

(Man ) come on, boys. Let's go.

We ain't got all night.

(Man ) ok. All right.

(john-boy) entering
boatwright university, in

meant that I was also entering
a whole new phase of my life.

although exposure
to the outside world

brought excitement
and challenge,

it also brought
changes and conflicts

which neither I nor anyone in my
family had been able to foresee.

Just closing up.

Um, excuse me, but my brother
ordered a set of headphones.

He was told they'd
be in sometime today.

Just came in this mornin'. Good.

Name's walton, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

Uh, these are fine. He'll
be very happy to get these.

Cents. Ok.

Oh, uh, i... I need to get some
notebooks and some pencils.

I'll just take a
second, all right?

Well, are you off now?

I was just comin'
back to say goodbye.

(Patterson) you sure you
won't change your mind, daisy?

(Daisy) quite sure.

I, uh, i... I put in a couple
of extra dollars.

Thank you, mr. Patterson.

Thanks for everything.

I know what I'm
doing, really I do.

I sure hope you do.

Personally, I think it's
just plain foolishness.

(Sighing) well, goodbye, daisy.

You take good care of yourself

And you come back and see
us, now, whenever you can, ok?

I will.

Bye.

[Sighing] I don't know.

People today, t hey just
seem to have gone plumb crazy.

Now, let's see
what you got there.

Oh, just, uh, books and
pencils and some earphones here.

(Fred) next.

(Clyde) bet this
will be a lot of fun.

Oh, it sure will,
pal. Sure will.

(Bracket) nobody under
, remember that, fred.

Ok. Thompson.

First name is clyde. Spell that.

C-l-y-d-e.

Hmm, yep.

Hi.

Hi. You gonna sign up?

For this marathon
thing? Mmm-hmm.

[Chuckles] I don't know.
What do you do?

Well, you give 'em your name
and you choose a partner.

Then tomorrow morning
the marathon starts

And you see how long
you can keep dancin'.

This one lasts days.

Days? Mmm-hmm.

Straight through? Right.

Well, at the end of that time, a
lot of people will have dropped out.

But for whoever's left, they have
what they call "elimination dances"

And the winning team
gets to share $ .

Yeah, $ . That's crazy!

You want to sign up then?

Uh, I don't know.
When does it start?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow? Saturday, sunday...

And I need a partner.

Um, listen, you know,
I'm on mid-semester break

Until... Until a
week from monday.

Next.

Last name first, honey.

Garner.

G-a-r-n-e-r.

First name, daisy.

You got a partner?

Um...

Walton, w-a-l-t-o-n, john.

[Both laughing] why not?

I just don't understand it.

He's been late before.

I know, but he's never
been as late as this.

Boy's old enough to
take care of himself.

Old enough or not,
supper was hours ago

And I'd say that's just
plain inconsiderate.

Livie, a boy's got a
life of his own now

And there's no use
tryin' to cling on to him.

I am not clingin' on to him, and I
don't understand why all of you...

[Door opening]

Jim-bob, where have you been?

Ben needed a smaller screwdriver

So I went out to the
saw mill to get him one.

How many times have I
told you and elizabeth

I don't want you runnin'
outside after dark?

Sorry, mama.

I don't understand what's
come over this family lately.

Everybody doing
exactly what they want

And paying no mind at all
to anyone else's feelings.

(Mary ellen) ok.

Now you run the
wire from the crystal

Through the groove
along the bottom...

Wait a second, mary ellen. It
takes longer to build a crystal set

Than reading the instructions.

Now slow it down!

At this rate, it'll
never get done.

(Jim-bob) I got it! Good.

I sure wish john-boy would
get home with the earphones

So we could all
plug in and listen.

Don't be silly.

With earphones, only one
person can listen at a time.

Ben, when are you
gonna get it finished?

Tomorrow.

More like a week from tomorrow.

I sure wish john-boy
was home though.

If I was john-boy, I
wouldn't want to get home.

(Ben) why not?

'Cause mama's real mad.

She said nobody in the
family is payin' any mind

To anybody's feelings anymore.

I just don't understand it.

Understand what, mary ellen?

Well, when john-boy got
accepted to boatwright,

Ma was really proud and excited.

Now that he's actually going
there every day, she seems...

Seems what?

Well, sort of edgy.

Home!

Where have you been?

Oh, I had to read at the library

And then I stopped by in scottsville
to pick up ben's headphones.

I'm sorry, mama. I didn't
realize it was so late.

Supper was over hours ago.

Dinner's keepin'
hot on the stove.

I'll get it.

Guess what? I entered
a dance marathon!

You what?

I met a girl in scottsville, and
we entered a dance marathon.

(Elizabeth) what's a
dance marathon?

Well, you pick a partner and then
you just keep dancin' as long as you can.

For ever and ever?

Yeah. All day and
all night, for days.

A whole week? Those poor feet.

It's not too hard when you're
trippin' the light fantastic.

(John-boy) at the end of
that time, the winning couple

Gets to take home
the prize money. $ !

[Whistling]

You mean to tell me you
really entered that thing?

I know it sounds crazy but I've
got days off, mid-semester break.

There were lots of people
in line having a good time

And I met this girl and...

Well, I'm just gonna take everyone
to new york if I win! All expenses paid.

(All) new york!
Oh, no, you won't.

Well, sure, I think it's a
wonderful idea. I'd love to do it.

It's not a question of
whether you'd love to or not.

I forbid it and that's
all there is to that.

Well, I'm sorry, mama,
but I've already entered,

And I'm certainly
not backing out now.

No son of mine is entering
one of those trashy things

And I don't want to
hear any more about it!

All right, you
children go on upstairs.

Go on.

Esther. Let them settle it.

Let's sit down and talk about
this like reasonable people.

There is nothing to talk about.

I think there is something to
talk about, mama. I'm in college now.

I'm old enough to
have a life of my own

And I don't wanna be ordered
around like a baby anymore.

John-boy, there's no
point in arguin' with me.

You are not goin'!

Well, I've already entered it.

I'm going through with it,
and that's all there is to it!

Well, why didn't you
tell him he can't go?

Well, liv, I don't
see any harm in it.

Maybe you don't, but I
expect you to take my side

In things like this.

Even if I don't agree, liv?

John, he is still a boy.

I'm not so sure.

As he says, he's got a right
to live a life of his own.

[Birds chirping]

Are you going into scottsville?

Yes.

You know how I feel
about you goin' in there

And making a spectacle of
yourself in front of all those people.

I gotta go, ma.

[People chattering]

[Cymbals clank]

John!

Daisy.

I was scared you might
have changed your mind.

Oh, no, I'm here, I'm here.

Boy, they really fixed
this place up, didn't they?

Orchestra and everything. Yeah.

Yeah, if you can call it
that. Hi, I'm spanky logan.

How do you do? Fine.
This here is helen faye.

How do you do? John walton jr.

This your first?

My very first.

Helen and spanky have
been in marathons already.

? Yeah, .

Last one was in scranton, p.a.

We almost won that one.

Oh, boy, I'll tell you,
it was at elk's hall.

We've worked there
about a dozen times already.

You've worked there?

Yeah, you know, in vaudeville.

[Clicking tongue] really?

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, really.

Yeah, we, uh, we're pretty
good, you know. We worked a lot.

We work about
weeks a year, you know,

With really top acts.

Of course, this, uh, this place
is kind of a stopgap for us

You know, just to
tide us over a little.

Listen, why don't we take
our suitcases and check 'em in?

All right. You know, the rest
quarters are right over there, come on.

Ok. You two wait
here, will you? Come on.

Um, I'll be right back.

all right, you kids! All of
you come on down front here

so I can talk to you.

come on, move
right in. That's it.

you might as well sit down
while you got the chance.

everybody settled? Good.

my name's harry bracket, and
this here is fred, my assistant.

first off, I'd like to say hello

to all you nice people and explain
to you the rules of the game.

because, for the next week,

that's just what we're
going to have here, a game.

days and nights
of good, clean fun!

right.

now, at the end of that
time, the lucky couple

is gonna walk away
from here with not one,

but $ !

(Fred) how about that!

now, with every game
there gotta be rules.

Do you think it's true?

Well, I reckon, if he says so.

I hope it is. We
sure need that $ .

We need to get married.

Congratulations.

Oh, I'm steve bates.

Oh, john walton
jr. How do you do?

And this here is p.m., My
fiancee. Short for priscilla mae.

How do you do? This is daisy.

hey, you, buddy. Shut up.

you don't want to start off on the
wrong foot in this game, now, do you?

good.

now, medical
attention, the best.

a qualified doctor and
nurse in attendance, hours.

if your partner drops out

you can continue on dancing
until there's another dropout.

then the of you can team
up together. That clear?

good.

It looks like we're
gonna be on the radio.

(male announcer)
testing, , , , .

radio station, w.q.s.r.

this is our first broadcast
from the rivana dance palace

where days and nights of
endurance have just begun

for these determined
young people.

♪♪[Music playing]

Look out, now! And here we go!

[Chuckling]

Come on!

Chopstick!

[All cheering]

♪♪[Music playing]

That was absolutely fantastic!

But you'll never make it if
you keep goin' at that rate.

Oh, we will. I-it's important.

You gotta get the
audience on your side.

Yeah, 'cause local shopkeepers
are always watchin' you.

You never know when they sponsor
you for somethin' like free shoes

Or somethin' like that. You
know, new shirts, stuff like that.

[Stuttering] and, sometimes,
the folks watchin' you

Throw money at
you, like they did.

That is, if you do
a real fancy turn.

We made $ one
night in raleigh.

I'm havin' a hard enough
time just keepin' up with this.

[Laughing] you will!
Reach for the stars, kid.

Reach for the stars! Come on!

How you feeling?

Ok. My feet are
beginning to hurt a little.

Mine, too.

[Chuckling]

Well, spanky says
you get used to it.

I hope so.

So do i. [Laughing]

[Birds chirping]

(Jim-boy) pull me in. Ok.

Thank you.

[Panting]

We're ok.

We're gonna go try
out ben's crystal set.

Think it'll work?

Well, I read him
all the directions.

If he followed them, it should.

Let's see if it works. No, not
until mary ellen gets here.

[Exhaling]

Ready? Yeah.

Good.

Is it gonna work?

(Jim-bob) sure it is.

What's goin' on in here?

Does it work?

We'll see soon enough.

Can you hear
anything? [Shushing]

It works! Oh, good!

Try it, mama.

♪♪[music playing]

They're playin' that song!

Oh, ben, it works real good.

this is our first broadcast
from the rivana dance palace

where days and
nights of endurance...

Better be gettin' back to work.

What's the matter, liv?

(Olivia) I just don't care
to listen, that's all.

♪♪[music playing]

They're broadcasting that
marathon from scottsville.

[All cheering]

(Helen) what's wrong, honey?

(Spanky) I'm ok.
I'm ok. You sure?

Come on, dance.

Your feet still hurt?

(Daisy) no.

I guess spanky was right.

We must be getting
our second wind.

Spanky looks terrible.

(Daisy) I know.

Steve and p.m. Look
exhausted, too.

Hey, you two! I
just bet $ on you.

$ To win.

(John-boy) $ to win?

Yeah.

We won't let you down.

[Laughing]

ladies and gentlemen, can
I have your kind attention?

folks, as of this very minute,

these courageous boys and girls

have been dancing continuously,

here at the rivana dance palace

for hours! Let's
give a big hand!

[All applauding]

[Crickets chirping]

Woke up and you weren't there.

I couldn't sleep.

I'm sorry, I didn't
mean to wake you.

[Sighing]

First thing in the morning, I'm
gonna drive down to scottsville

And see for myself what
this marathon is all about.

You wanna come along?

No, I don't.

John-boy forgot his jacket. I'd
appreciate it if you'd take it to him.

I'll leave it on the table.

In all my life, I never saw
a more stubborn woman.

♪♪[Piano playing]

No audience back there.

I'm not part of the audience.
I just want to talk to my son.

[Sighing]

Daddy? Stay where you are.

What are you doing here?

I wanted to find out
what's going on down here.

Well, everything
is all right. I'm fine.

I know, I know you want to make your
own decisions. I'm not here to stop you.

Got a right to see where you
are and what's going on, don't i?

This is it.

How's mama?

She's fine. She sent
you this. You forgot it.

Will you thank her for me?

Sure.

[Siren blaring]

Well, I gotta get
back on the floor.

I'll be going then.

Come on, up!

Sorry. Why don't
you stay, daddy?

You can stay. It's all right.

No, thanks, son.
I gotta get back.

Give everybody my love.

Tell them I'll see 'em
at the end of the week.

All right. You take care
of yourself, you hear?

I am. I am.

[Laughing]

♪♪[Music playing]

[Laughing]

[All cheering]

[Siren blaring]

all right, boys and
girls. Give me a listen.

good news!

an extra -minute rest period
for all of you, startin' right now.

go back. Take a load off
your feet. You deserve it.

ladies and gentlemen,
for all of you

who were kind enough
to be here today

and watch these
brave young kids...

in just minutes...

we've got a little surprise!

we are going to stage
the jack rabbit run!

What's he talkin' about?

It's an elimination dance.

our contestants will run

in tempo around the
ring. Which means...

each of them will take turns

runnin' backwards.

[Spanky sighing] what?

all right then.

get set. And...

♪♪[Music playing]

(Fred) come on, let's move
it now. Move it, move it!

Across the room
now. Move it. Move it.

Come on, let's move now.

Let's not stop now.

♪♪[Tempo increasing]

All right, are you moving now?

Move it! Move it!

♪♪[Music tempo
continues increasing]

Move it!

[Blowing whistle]

Let's go. Let's go.
Come on, let's go.

Let's go. Move.

Didn't I tell you
to move it? Move.

[Blowing whistle]

Move!

Move!

Come on, let's go!

Let's go, move it!

Didn't I tell you
to move it? Move.

[Blowing whistle]

Move.

Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.

No, spanky. No!

[Blowing whistle]

Come on, spanky,
you can't go down.

[Screaming]

[Helen crying]

it's all right, folks.
Everything's going to be all right.

well, that's the
way it goes, folks.

we just lost spanky.

one half of a real
courageous team,

but we've still got
little helen here

and she can go right on
dancing if she wants to.

what do you say?

spanky, no!

[Helen sobbing]

well, that's her decision, folks.
But let's give her a great big hand

to show her how much
we really think about her.

[All applauding]

♪♪[Music playing]

(radio announcer) brought to you from
the floor of the rivana dance palace

where these young people have been
going almost non-stop for hours.

already, several couples
have been forced to drop out.

last night, one
contestant collapsed

and was rushed from the
dance hall by ambulance.

his name is spanky logan.

and today, his condition
is described as...

Jim-bob, turn that off.

Just want to see if there's
any news about john-boy.

You'd better go
outside. Come on.

You need anything
from the store, grandma?

Lots of things we can't afford.

Uh, livie.

You know, it's such
a nice afternoon,

Maybe I'll walk part
of the way with you.

Livie, there's, uh,
something I want to tell you.

Something that happened
almost years ago. .

Well, when we first
got into the w*r, ben,

That's, uh, john's
older brother...

Well, right away, he...

He wanted to join
up with the army

And go on over to
france and fight.

Oh, I wanted to stop
him. I wanted to tell him

That he had to stay right
here, that he couldn't go.

Livie, he was my firstborn.

Well, zeb knew how I felt.

We sat up all one night talkin'.

Zeb trying to make me see

That I had no right
tryin' to hold on to ben.

I remember him sayin' that,

"Well, we taught that boy
how to think for himself

And now that he is, we
can't stand in his way."

Well, he made me see

That ben was old enough to make
his own decisions about his life.

It broke my heart to let him go.

But he did go.

Yeah... And john
went a year later.

[Shushing]

Fish aren't biting,
you girls are so noisy.

What ever are you
gossipin' about?

We were just talkin', grandpa.

Well, I'd better get down
to the store before it closes.

I'll start supper
soon as I get back.

Thanks, grandma.

It's hard for her.

It always is, realizing you
have to let the first one go.

It's hard with all of 'em.

Yes, I know.

I remember.

[All chattering]

You think maybe I ought to
shave at the next rest break?

No, never mind.

When this is over I'm
going to soak in a hot tub

All day long.

When we win this, you
can soak for a week.

You think we have a chance?

Well, somebody's going
to win. Why not us? Mmm?

Hmm.

(Steve) are you sure you're ok?

I am not going to drop out. You
might not get another partner.

It doesn't matter.

It does. You know it does.

We need the money.

Something wrong?

She got all heated up
during that run last night

And then afterwards,
she got the chills.

I'm all right, honest I am.

I got some aspirin
from the nurse.

You better be careful
and take care of yourself.

[Siren blaring]

Well, here we go.
I'm gonna take those.

[Whistle blowing]

Let's go.

Let's go. Let's
go. Let's move it.

Put that down.

Let's go. Let's dance.
Let's dance. Let's dance.

Let's dance.

All right. Excuse
me. Let's dance.

She's not going to
last too much longer.

She should let the
doctor take a look at her.

She should just quit.

I hope she does.

Then we'd have a better chance.

This really means that
much to you, doesn't it?

Yes.

Ever since I read in the paper
about this marathon and the prize,

I knew I had to enter.

I knew I had to win.

I've got to.

Why?

'Cause the money will
get me away from here.

I have lived in this town

Every single day of my life.

Farmed out to any
place that would have me

For the money the
county paid them.

And when I got through school,

I went to work in
mr. Patterson's -and-dime.

Well, that didn't seem
like such a terrible place.

It isn't,

But it's not where I want to be.

It's not what I want,
not by a long sh*t.

Well, what do you want?

To get out of here.

Have the money to get on
a train, go to new york city.

[Chuckling]

New york city.

I know this sounds crazy, john,

But I want to be in one
of those skyscrapers.

I've heard, sometimes,

The rain clouds drift
right down past the window.

Can you imagine that?

Openin' a window, reaching out

And touching a rain cloud
with your bare hands?

And down below,

The people would be hurryin'
along the lighted streets

With their umbrellas
and I'd be up there

Far above them

Safe and secure

With the clouds driftin' by.

[Daisy chuckling]

Wouldn't that be somethin'?

Yeah, maybe for
a while, it would.

What do you mean?

Not forever, I don't think.

Maybe not...

But I'm sure gonna try...

'Cause down here,
I don't like it much.

[P.m. Falling]

P.m.? Honey?

Honey? P.m., Are you all right?

No. Move it!

Keep on dancing! Anybody who
stops dancing will be disqualified!

This is crazy.

(John) liv?

Yeah?

What are you doin'?

Thinking.

I'm trying to figure out what's
been bothering me so much.

Come up with any answers?

[Sighing] he doesn't tell
me anything anymore.

He used to tell me what
he was writin' about,

What he'd been thinkin',

What he wanted to do.

He doesn't do that
anymore, and I feel...

Shut out.

Yeah.

Like there's a big wall between
us, and I just can't get past.

It's not gonna always
be that way, honey.

He's seein'... And
feelin' new things

And they're unfamiliar and
bewildering to him, most likely.

He's got to get used to it in
his own time, in his own way.

Then he'll be able to
share them with you.

Does he tell you things?

Not like he used
to. I miss it, too.

Guess you have to let
go of your children twice.

You think you've already done it

But you're just pretendin',
and you don't even know it.

All of a sudden
one day it happens.

Your heart lurches,
and it's done.

Liv, come on to
bed. You're cold.

No.

I'm worried about him.

Most of all, I'd just
like to talk to him.

I'd like to tell him
that I understand now.

Do you think that'd be
motherin' him too much?

No, I don't think it would
be motherin' him too much.

Liv, where you goin'?

This seems to be as
good a time as any.

Keep talking.

I'm sorry. Keep talking.

[Exhaling]

[Chuckling]

You know, I'd like you
to meet my grandpa.

He'd take a fancy to you.

He's always got his eyes
open for a pretty face.

He loves to dance.

I tell you, if he was here, he'd
walk off with that $ , easy as pie.

You all right?

I'm gonna wait outside, john. I
had no idea it would be this bad.

I thought you wanted to see him.

John-boy.

John-boy.

Daddy.

What are you doing here?
It's : in the morning.

I want you to meet
my dancing partner.

This is daisy.
This is my father.

Daisy.

Mr. Walton.

[Siren blaring]

ok, kids, that's
it. Rest period.

take a break.

only hours to go.

We sit down?

Yeah, I think we should.

[Clears throat] come on, let's
have a seat for a while.

I'm going to get some coffee.

See you later.

Hours!

Daddy, I didn't have any idea
it was going to be like this.

Why do people want to do this?

They're just fainting
and falling down.

For $ apiece.

I swear, it feels like I've never
been any place in the world

Outside of this room.

You don't have
to stay, you know.

She doesn't, either.

No, she doesn't.

Daisy, let's quit.

No.

Daisy, I'm quittin'.

I've known all along you would.

I'm not leavin'
here without you.

Yes, you are.

You're right, you know.

I can go on. Steve
needs a partner.

Please.

I can't.

[Stuttering] I have
to win that money.

Maybe someday I'll find all the
things you have on walton's mountain,

But I have to find
them for myself.

[Siren blaring]

Goodbye.

Bye.

♪♪[Music playing]

(John-boy) ah!

I forgot what fresh
air smelled like.

I'll get the truck.

Daddy, i... I left my
bag and my sweater...

Don't worry about that. We'll
get that in the car tomorrow.

I've never been to
scottsville this late before.

It's lonesome, isn't it?

How's everybody at home?

They're fine.

John-boy.

I've been your
mother for years.

It's kind of hard
to stop all at once.

I don't want you ever to stop.

I swear, all I want
to do right now

Is just go home and go to sleep.

In the morning, I want
to tell you all about this.

[John-boy exhaling]

You didn't meet daisy, did you?

(john-boy) as I
continued growing up,

the horizons of
my world widened.

i eventually moved far
from walton's mountain.

but the things we had then

the love we shared
and the delight

we took in each other's company

have never faltered and
remain constant to this day.

[Alarm clock ringing]

(Olivia) ben, turn that off!

(Ben) I can't. It's stuck!

You'll wake up
john-boy. (Erin) john-boy?

(John-boy) you already woke him.

(Mary ellen) john-boy's back!

Let him get some sleep.

(Erin) good night, john-boy.

(Jim-bob) good night,
john-boy. Good night.

(Ben) good night, john-boy.

(Mary ellen) good
night, john-boy.

(Elizabeth) but it's daytime.
You can't say good night.

Good morning, john-boy.

(John-boy) good
morning, elizabeth.