The Baldwin
Sisters
This is a scene in A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, and
I think the Baldwin ladies have an absolute gem of a line. Remember
that they are getting on in age and are quite frail. They have
been arrested and put into jail for making bootleg whisky, and
John, being John, went down to the jail with Mary Ellen, and insisted
that they be released.
To show their gratitude, they have made John a cake, with
some of the recipe in the icing. As they drive the car into the
Walton driveway, John is standing on the porch, watching in amazement
as the car swerves to the side and into a bush at the side of
the driveway. Naturally he races over to see if the ladies are
hurt at all, and to find out what happened.
Miss Mamie reassures him that they are not hurt, and that
"we often use a convenient bush for stopping." Miss
Emily adds "Saves wear and tear on the brakes you know."
They say it all so seriously and it just makes me laugh every
time I see it and see them in this really big car, heading straight
for the bush so that they can stop!
Another reference is made to them driving in A Walton Wedding,
when they tell Ike that they have made a big batch of the recipe
for John Boy's wedding and that they are going to take it there
themselves. Miss Mamie mentions that they will need to get the
car out again and learn how to drive it again! Miss Emily adds
that she will be navigating. It's probably a good thing that John
Boy's wedding was eventually held at home on Waltons Mountain!