THE WALTONS:
Season Nine Episode Guide

• The Outrage

• The Pledge

• The Triumph

• The Premonition

• The Pursuit

• The Last Ten Days

• The Move

• The Whirlwind

• The Tempest

• The Carousel

• The Hot Rod

• The Gold Watch

• The Beginning

• The Pearls

• The Victims

• The Threshold

• The Indiscretion

• The Heartache

• The Lumberjack

• The Hostage

• The Revel

The Outrage (Two hour episode) (First aired 20th November, 1980)

There are problems galore in this episode of The Waltons. John is working alongside Harley Foster, as they are preparing a load of lumber for delivering. The head off to deliver their load, but are forced to stop in a small town after the truck's fan belt breaks. While John is fixing it, Harley heads across to the Cafe, where he is confronted by racial prejudice.  Harley is being refused service. John arrives and criticises the Deputy Sheriff for allowing a group of German POW's to be allowed service, but not a black US citizen. John and Harley head off, but the Deputy Sheriff feels that he has seen Harley before.

Back home, Sheriff Bridges arrives at the mill with the news that he is looking for Harley, who may be an escaped prisoner, accused of killing a man many years ago. Harley confesses to John that he is the man they are looking for, but he says that the trial was prejudiced. In the meantime, Ep arrives at Harley's home but finds him not there, so proceeds to John's, where he agrees to give John 24 hours to sort the mess out. John hides Harley at a disused lumber mill. John and Verdie visit the lawyer, who agrees that the case was tainted, but that he had to back off when his wife was threatened. He mentions that Harley received a commendation for saving the lives of two men while he was in the Navy. It is something that he had never told Verdie about. However the lawyer is unable to provide any more help other than the trial transcripts, and the advice to get a good lawyer...one who is willing to take a risk and will defend a black man.

Following the promised 24 hours, Ep arrives back at the Waltons, to either learn where Harley is, or to take John into custody. John cannot give his friend away, and so gets taken off to jail, something which he tells Mary Ellen "hurts Ep more than it hurts me." When Harley hears that John is in jail, he surrenders himself to Ep, who then releases John. John heads home and tries to work out what he can do to help Harley, and finally decides to head to Warm Springs, to see the President, Franklin Delanor Roosevelt. There he convinces one of the aides that Harley's cause, that of an American citizen, is just as worthwhile, if not more important than what is happening overseas.

Verdie races over to the Walton house after the news has been announced on the radio that the President has died. A little while later though, John's car pulls up in front of her house, with Harley inside. The last thing the President did before he died was to sign a pardon for Harley.

The other stories happening in this episode, include the Walton sisters insisting on not allowing Cindy to take over any of the chores around the house. They claim that she is not used to doing hard work, and that they've been doing those sorts of chores all of their life. Cindy is less than impressed, and gives them the cold shoulder, until something happens which shows them that in some ways, she is stronger than they are, and can shoulder some of the responsibility.

Drew and Elizabeth are having problems with their relationship when Elizabeth begins neglecting Drew and spends all of her time with her horse Molly, and the new foal, Pepper. Molly must be destroyed though, when an accident causes her to break her leg, and Drew tries to repair the couple's relationship by buying Pepper from John and suggesting that they might rear her together.

Corabeth and Ike are another couple with problems. Ike doesn't support Corabeth's decision to become a real estate agent, and wonders why modern women aren't like his mother was...a stay at home wife. His comments cause Corabeth to resign from the mercantile and become such a wife, and though she tries very hard, Ike realises that she is not happy, and still wants to be a real estate agent. He discovers that a love story she has been reading, really has another book inside on how to make millions from real estate! The next day he sets up a small corner in the store as Corabeth's new real estate agency, a gesture she is very happy with.

This episode ends with the entire Walton family standing at a railway station in the dark one morning, paying their respects to the President who had guided their country out of the Depression and towards victory in the war. As the train carrying the President's body to the capital city passes by, John Walton simply says: "Goodnight Mr President".

Written by Rod Peterson & Claire Whittaker; directed by Philip Leacock.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Michael and Marshall Reed (John Curtis), Claire and Elizabeth Schoene (Virginia), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Tony Becker (Drew), Lisa Harrison (Toni), Hal Williams (Harley Foster), Lynn Hamilton (Verdie Foster), Jason Moses (Josh Foster),  John Crawford (Ep Bridges), Jordan Suffow (Norman), Charles Thomas Murphy (the Deputy), Hank Brandt (the Aide), Dick Sargent (the Chief), Hank Stohl (Radio Announcer), David Clover (Patrolman).

The Pledge (First aired 4th December, 1980)

Mary Ellen is feeling frustrated. She has been to visit her patients on the mountain and has found that Sweet Billy doesn't seem well, but he won't tell her what's wrong. Ronie can't offer much help either. When he rides into the Walton yard one day, in agony, Mary Ellen and her father take him off to the hospital, but it's too late. After much sole searching, Mary Ellen decides to return to Colleg and become a doctor. She presents her intended schedule to the adviser at the University, and he comments that her course load looks like Pre-Med. She confirms this and he then tries to steer towards other courses, like home economics, child rearing, nursing, but she says that she has enough experience with those things, has a child at home and is a nurse. She is told quite bluntly, that they would never allow her to take a place in medical school anyway, as all the places would be taken by the returned servicemen.

Disappointed, she returns to visit Ronie, and Ronie tells her to persevere with her dream to become a doctor. The people of the mountains need her. Mary Ellen returns to the admissions office with a very slightly revised schedule that is still Pre-Med. However she takes John Curtis with her this time, and she tells the officer that she will continue coming in with different mountain people until he does admit her into the courses she wants.

The Walton girls are making plans for Jason's birthday which is coming up. Elizabeth makes a batch of gingerbread, only to have it eaten by Drew, so another is made. The Baldwin ladies are also planning for Jason's birthday, with plans of sending him some recipe. Both presents end up being sent by special delivery, by way of a young man who is sweet on Erin.

Corabeth is also preparing for a birthday. She has had a letter from a young soldier's mother. Apparently her son had written that there was an older lady at the mercantile who was quite "wordly". The mother has sent a family recipe for a cake plus $1 to cover ingredients, and hopes that Corabeth will bake a birthday cake for her son.

Written by Kathleen Hite; directed by Lawrence Dobkin.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Michael and Marshall Reed (John Curtis), Claire and Elizabeth Schoene (Virginia), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Tony Becker (Drew), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Richard Lineback (Sweet Billy), Ellen Geer (Ronie Cotter), Bucklind Beery (Dr. Holliston), Dennis Robertson (Dean Clifford), Dick Christie (Sgt. Carey), Chip Frye (Charley), Laurence Lau (G.I.), Robert Telford (man at grave).

NOTE: We learn in this episode, that Jason either is 24, or will be turning 25. Rose says "He's a young man of twenty-four years" when the girls are planning what to send him.

The Triumph (First aired 18th December, 1980)

We see Jason, with his men, as they come to an old shack, where they are to spend the night until further notice. Along comes another soldier, a very shy and frightened young man, who gets picked on by some of the others in the group. We discover that he has spent time in a mental hospital following his experiences where he was the only man left out of his group after an airplane attacked them. Jason tells him that they are all scared, no matter what bravado they put on. This young man, Willis, comes in handy when the men find some canned food with German words written on them. He translates for them. He later is able to tell a sniper, whom the group was about to shoot, that the Germans had surrended and the war was over. They leave the village taking the sniper as their prisoner of war.

Back on Waltons Mountain, the Godsey's are in trouble with the rations board after they were observed allowing the Baldwin ladies to take food without the correct ration coupons, promising to repay the Godsey's the following month. The officer issues Ike with a warrant given that this was not the first time it had happened. Ike and Corabeth are very distressed, and even more so when they arrive home one night to find their shop has been broken into and all their provisions have been stolen. They decide to close the mercantile, but their friends and neighbours rally around and make them realise that they are a valued part of their community and they are needed.

Jim Bob arrives home after a very roundabout trip with a strange man, and tells his family that the Germans have surrendered. Everyone is delighted by this news, but are still concerned about Ben who is in the Pacific region with the Japanese.

Written by Robert Pirosh; directed by Philip Leacock.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rae (Rose), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Mark McClure (Willis), Dana Gladstone (Lusco), Hank Stohl (Lieutenant), James Nolan (Jenkins), Ken Wright (Slate), Davis Roberts (the Farmer), Eldon Quick (Parsons), Brian Utman (German sniper), Jordon Suffin (Norman), Jack McCulloch (Jackson).

The Premonition (First aired 25th December, 1980)

Although the war with Germany has ended, the war in the Pacific was still going on and Cindy becomes very concerned for Ben's safety when she begins to have dreams and see visions of him. She feels that it is a premonition that something awful is about to happen. She later receives a telegram saying that Ben has been taken as a Prisoner of War, as well as a letter from Ben describing a similar premonition that he had of seeing Cindy. She feels that she can only trust and have faith that Ben will come home to her safely.

John Boy is working in Paris and meets a young woman, Simone, who wants him to write an article alerting people to the the dangers of land mines. He feels that he has enough work to do so refuses, although he is very drawn to Simone. During a picnic with Jason though, he sees just what a land mine can do and changes his mind. The more John Boy gets to know Simone, the longer he wants to stay in Paris, and writes to his family to tell them that he has decided to stay on in Paris after his discharge from the army. He changes his mind though, when he hears the news of Ben, and returns home to be with his family, leaving Simone in Paris.

Written by E.F.Wallengren; directed by Bernard McEveety.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rae (Rose), Claire and Elizabeth Schoene (Virginia), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Anita Jodelsohn (Simone Berringer), Jordon Suffin (Norman), Ed Call (Sergeant Norton), Woody Eney (Major Sawyer), Patrick Skelton (Soldier), Roger Etienne (French Man), Danielle Aubry (French Woman).

The Pursuit (First aired January 1st, 1981)

Jim Bob arrives home unexpectedly, saying that he wants to spend time with his family, but that he doesn't want to talk to anyone who might call for him. Later a young woman arrives at the mercantile, saying that she felt it was time to meet Jim Bob's family and that they were very good friends. The young woman, Kathy, is obviously in love with Jim Bob, however he doesn't return her feelings, and when he tells her that he doesn't love her, Kathy tells him that she is pregnant with his child. After some deliberation, Jim Bob and Kathy decide to marry, but Mary Ellen doesn't believe that Kathy is pregnant. After a talking to from John, Kathy admits to Jim Bob that she is not pregnant after all, and the couple decide to remain friends.

Meanwhile Ben in the Japanese Prisoner of War camp is having a difficult time. He is defiant and is trying to keep his spirits up. Following him making a USA flag and getting his fellow prisoners to salute to it, in a celebration of July 4th, he is put into solitary confinement.

Written by Michael McGreevey; directed by Philip Leacock.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Claire and Elizabeth Schoene (Virginia), Lisa Harrison (Toni), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Kathy Seals), Jordon Suffin (Norman), Frank Catalano (Angie), Richard Molnar (Billy), Dane Witherspoon (Clint), Jerry Fujukama (Camp Commander), Hatsuo Uda (Corporal), Ted Noose (Master Sergeant Bruner), Ken Michelman (Corporal Bergstrom), Jerry Hoffman (Lt. Saunders).

The Last Ten Days (First aired 8th January, 1981)

Toni is visiting with the Baldwin ladies, giving them a gift which Jason had sent to them, when the phone rings. Apparently the pair take turns to answer the phone, because Miss Mamie says that it's Miss Emily's turn, and she comments that she loves to hear the bell ring. By the time she gets to the phone, the caller has hung up. We see that it's Corabeth trying to call them, and expecting them to be home, she assumes the operator called the wrong number and tries again. This time it's Miss Mamie's turn to answer, but while the two sisters argue, Toni gets up and answers. Corabeth delivers the message that Jason Walton has arrived home. Toni drops the phone and runs out without another word. The two argue soon after though, when Toni proposes marriage, and Jason tells her that he doesn't want to marry when he is about to be shipped out again, this time to the Pacific. Toni tells him that in that case, they are through!

Elizabeth and Drew are having love problems too, with Drew wanting to enlist to become a pilot. Elizabeth tells him that he is being very immature about it and tells Rose she doesn't know what she ever saw in him. Rose gives her some advice, and when Drew arrives to tell her that his parents wouldn't give permission, we see a very glamourous Elizabeth, and Drew falls in love all over again.

We see Ben Walton too, who is being held captive by Japanese soldiers. Cindy and John are both extremely worried about him, especially after there is an announcement that bombs have been dropped on Hiroshima and Neroshima. Cindy says she worries about how they will be treating their P.O.W's if they don't even care that so many of their own citizens have been killed. Ben and his mate are herded out of their hut one morning, and given shovels to carry. Both wonder what they're for, but suspect the worst...that they may be digging their own grave. Their guard leads them to where he wants them to go, then forces them to get down out of sight when a jeep goes past. The guard then races out shouting "Americans", gives Ben his rifle, and tells Ben "I am your prisoner". The Japanese soldier has led Ben and his friend to safety.

The folk on Waltons Mountain gather at the Walton home to hear a very important radio announcement. President Truman announces to the USA that Japan has finally surrendered. Amid the celebrations, the phone rings. It is Ben to let Cindy know he is alive and coming home.

Written by Marion Hargrove; directed by Bernard McEveety.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Lisa Harrison (Toni), Tony Becker (Drew), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Jordon Suffin (Norman), Sab Shimono (Corporal Kiyono), James Saito (Sergeant), Walker Edminston (Radio Announcer 1), Bud Hiestand (Radio Announcer 2).

The Move (First aired January 15th, 1981)

Ben returns home and excitedly makes plans with Cindy about their new future together. He has decided that he will go to college and train to become an engineer. With Ben's imminent return though, John has been making plans of his own, wishing to make Ben a partner in the mill. He is disappointed with Ben's decision, but will not stand in his way. However Ben is forced to rethink his decision when Olivia has a relapse of T.B. forcing her to go to Arizona for further recuperation. John feels that if Ben is not interested in working at the mill, then he will sell it as he wishes to go with Olivia to Arizona. Ben decides that he would rather put his own plans on hold rather than have his father sell the mill, feeling that they would lose a part of their heritage if the mill was sold.

Cindy's father also makes an appearance in this episode when he comes to visit.

Written by Kathleen Hite; directed by Harvey Laidman.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Claire and Elizabeth Schoene (Virginia), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Dan Frazer (Colonel Henry Brunson), Lewis Arquette (J.D. Pickett), Ed Couppee (Captain Bennett), Len Wayland (Mr. Gentry), Jerold Pearson (Sailor).

NOTE: This would be Ralph Waite's final appearance in the series, although he returned during the television movies of 1982 and the 1990's.

The Whirlwind (First aired 22nd January, 1981)

We first meet Arlington Wescott Jones 111 when he stops his "lemon" of a car and picks up Jim Bob, who is heading home. Jim Bob tells him that the road they are on will lead him to Waltons Mountain, but as they are going down the hill, Jonesy realises that the brakes are failing, and they can't stop. Mary Ellen and Jason are in a car coming the opposite way, and when they see Jonesy's lemon is having trouble, and that Jim Bob is in it, they turn around, only to find that it has crashed. Jim Bob climbs out unhurt, but Jonesy is not so lucky, and passes out as soon as he climbs out of the car. They take him back to the house, where Mary Ellen begins to patch him up.

Since Jonesy's car won't go, and Jim Bob has offered to fix it, Ben suggests that Jonesy work at the mill for a while and they'll give him room and board. "You'll get to eat meals with the family" says Ben, and Jonesy agrees right away, thinking it would be a good opportunity to get to know Mary Ellen better. As Mary Ellen tends to him, he asks her if she believes in love at first sight. He does. The minute he set eyes on her he fell in love. He kisses her, and when she breaks away he notices John Curtis standing there watching. Mary Ellen introduces her son, and Jonesy apologises, thinking he has been kissing someone else's wife.

Jonesy later finds out the real truth about Mary Ellen's husband, and sets out to win both her heart, and Johnny's (his name for John Curtis). The more time they spend together, the more in love the two become. The morning comes when Jim Bob tells Jonesy that he has fixed the car, and Mary Ellen rushes to her room crying, realising that he will be leaving. When she won't let Jonesy in the normal way (through the door), he climbs up onto the roof and she finally lets him in through the window. He proposes that they marry and she and Johnny go with him on his journey to see the USA. She agrees.

Meanwhile Jason has bought the Dew Drop Inn, and is planning to reopen it as a roadhouse again. Corabeth is disappointed that he is not opening it as a concert hall, or some other cultural centre, but Jason tells her that he just wants somewhere to play his tunes. When he tells the family though, they are not impressed at all, so Jason goes off to try and get the Inn ready for its opening date by himself. He finds that he is overwhelmed by what has to be done, and the night before it is due to open, the family arrive there to find him drunk, and the place nowhere near ready to open. They all pitch in to help him to make opening night a great success. Even Corabeth, accompanying Ike to keep him out of trouble, decides that it is very nice.

Back home, Cindy and Mary Ellen, left behind by the others, are now ready to go when there is a knock at the door. A young woman, Betty, is looking for Mary Ellen. She shows Mary Ellen a photo of a man, asking if she recognises him. Mary Ellen says it's Curt. Betty tells her that Curt is alive, living in Florida. Betty had learnt about Mary Ellen when Curt had written to her, but later took the letter back so it was never sent. Mary Ellen refuses to believe that it is the same man, but after some deliberation, she decides that she needs to call off her wedding to Jonesy, and head to Florida to investigate further. The next morning we see Jonesy head off to continue his trip.

Written by Claire Whittaker; directed by Nell Cox.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Michael and Marshall Reed (John Curtis), Richard Gilliland (Jonesy), Pamela McMyler (Betty), Debbie Richmond (Waitress).

NOTE 1: This marks the introduction of Jonesy into the show. Richard Gilliland became a regular for the remainder of the series, including the three 1982 telemovies.

NOTE 2: The storyline in this episode is continued on to the next episode of The Waltons.

The Tempest (First aired 5th February, 1981)

Mary Ellen heads off to Florida to try to sort out whether the man Betty knew as Curt Packer, was her husband Curt Willard. She confronts him when she gets there, only to have him say that he has never seen her before. He does slip up, however, when he tells her to go back to Virginia. Mary Ellen hadn't told him where she was from. After much time and conflict, Curt finally tells her that he was injured in the bombing, and when he woke up four months later he didn't know if he would ever be right again. As it is, he tells her that he can never be a "real man" again. Mary Ellen finds it hard to believe that this is the man she married, but he does redeem himself somewhat when Betty tells of some of the caring things he has done for her. Mary Ellen heads back to tell Curt that Betty loves him, and he obviously loves her, and maybe Mary Ellen and Curt should move ahead with their lives. Just as she is about to leave on the bus, Curt appears with a fishing rod for John Curtis.

Back on Waltons Mountain, Jonesy has come back to wait for Mary Ellen. He decides to head over to Pickett's plant to look for work, and J.D. hires him to do Erin's job, effectively demoting her. As a result, she quits. Corabeth hires her as a trainee real estate salesperson. The pair each find their new jobs challenging to say the least. Jonesy can't do Erin's job, and asks her for help, and Corabeth sets Erin the task of talking the Baldwin ladies into selling their home. Although there are good reasons that they should, Erin finally tells them that it would be a mistake to sell. Corabeth is not pleased that her sales assistant turns out to be someone who talks people out of selling! Erin gets sacked from that too. Jonesy is not having much better luck, and when J.D. finds out that Erin has been doing some of Jonesy's work, J.D. comes over to her home to beg her to come back to him, and with far better conditions.

When Mary Ellen arrives back home, she finds John Curtis and Jonesy both waiting for her, and is happy to discover that Jonesy has taken a job as a geology professor at Boatwright University.

Written by E.F.Wallengren; directed by Gabrielle Beaumont.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Michael and Marshall Reed (John Curtis), Richard Gilliland (Jonesy), Pamela McMyler (Betty), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Scott Hylands (Curt Willard), Lewis Arquette (J.D. Pickett), Mo Malone (Estelle).

The Carousel (First aired 12th February, 1981)

Cindy is waiting for her father to arrive when word gets through that he has died. She and Ben go off to Washington to the funeral, and while there, Cindy sees a woman who seems familiar to her, and she is reminded of some carousel music. It is when Cindy is sorting through her father's papers though, that she comes across some papers which tell her she was adopted. It is when she looks at her own daughter Virginia, that she realises that she needs to find her birth mother. Unfortunately the law office won't help, but they do send her to the doctor involved. He doesn't seem to be much help either, but Ben takes the record book for 1925, Cindy's year of birth. They then discover that two mothers delivered baby girls on the day Cindy was born, April 26, 1925. They try visiting the first mother, but without success. They are disappointed when they can't find the other woman.

Cindy is plagued by dreams of a carousel in a park, the music there, and the face of a woman who used to play with her...the same woman she recognised at the funeral. Rose suggests that perhaps Cindy could put a notice in the newspaper saying that she is looking for her mother. She is lucky enough to get a letter back saying that her mother can be found at a certain address. Cindy and Ben go to visit the address, and the woman who opens the door is the one Cindy has been dreaming about and recognised at the funeral. She later meets Cindy in the park to explain her birth details to her, but doesn't want any further contact with Cindy as her husband doesn't know of Cindy's birth. However, later she drives up to the Walton house to tell Cindy that it was her husband who had written the letter to Cindy and had known about her for some time, and she would now like to have more contact with Cindy and her granddaughter.

Drew moves into the house with the Walton family while his parents are away, but things don't go as the young couple had hoped. Elizabeth had expected that they would be able to spend plenty of time together, but Drew is so busy helping all the other family members out that he neglects her completely. Until she makes a date with another young man that is, and Drew comes to his senses.

Written by Robert Pirosh; directed by Herbert Hirschman.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Peggy Rea (Rose), Penelope Windust (Bernadine), Tony Becker (Drew), Anita Dangler (Mrs. Foley), Bill Erwin (Dr. Grover), Edward Bell (Mr. Nichols).

The Hot Rod (First aired 19th February, 1981)

Josh Foster and Jim Bob Walton both arrive home after being discharged from the army, but neither one wants to settle down. Jim Bob narrowly misses the Deputy's car whilst driving and is given a warning to slow down, but that doesn't seem to stop his speeding, nor his reckless behaviour, and Josh is not much better, going along with his friend. They just want to have fun and wind down after fighting in the war. The boys continue to please themselves, until finally their families tell them that they'd better start pulling their weight or get out. Both boys lament about their problems, continue to drink beer, and skylark in Jim Bob's hot rod, until suddenly Josh shoots out of the car when Jim Bob hits a bump. Jim Bob races him to hospital. Josh is injured, but it is enough to bring both boys to their senses.

There is a crisis at the Baldwin home when Miss Emily arrives at Godsey's store saying that she can't find her sister anywhere in the house. Ike goes back with her to investigate and finally locates the elderly woman locked away behind a secret panel. The Baldwin ladies realise that they have found the secret room that their Grandfather used to make the recipe. It is certainly a very timely discovery because they have a visit from a law enforcement agent, telling them that making "moonshine" is illegal. Naturally the sisters don't believe they are doing anything illegal, and produce some recipe for him to taste. It is moonshine, and he declares that he will be back to dismantle and take their still away.

The ladies are distraught by this news, but Ike comes to the rescue, suggesting that perhaps he could fix the old still in the secret room, so that they can continue to make their recipe.

Written by Scott Hamner; directed by Bob Sweeney.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Peggy Rea (Rose), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Charles R. Penland (Jody Foster), Lynn Hamilton (Verdie Foster), Jason Moses (Josh Foster), John Carter (Deputy Sheriff), Tom Williams (Mr. Winthrop), Herb Armstrong (Cafe Owner), Gordon Hodgins (Cafe Customer).

NOTE: Scott Hamner, the writer for this episode, is Earl Hamner's son.

The Gold Watch (First aired 26th February, 1981)

Stanley Perkins, Rose's dancing beau, arrives back at the Walton home from the sales job he had always dreamed about in the West saying that he has retired, and wants to settle down. He is not looking well though, and we see his doctor visiting with his sister, wondering why Stanley didn't return to the hospital after his last visit with her. Rose realises that all is not well when she discovers that he has some clothing from a hospital, a hospital which Mary Ellen tells her is a mental hospital. He is given a job at the Mercantile, but leaves after he feels that he has been the cause of a small fire.

When Stanley's sister comes looking for him, the story of his being fired is learnt and his friends on the mountain band together to present him with a testimonial and a gold watch, which they feel that he deserves. He is also offered a job with the local newspaper after they see an advertisement that he put in for Ike.

Jason is having problems with the Dew Drop Inn, with other bars having live entertainment, while he hasn't. Toni suggests that a cowboy singer could be a good idea and promptly sets off to find one. Having hired him though, Jason then gets upset when he seems to be far more interested in Toni than actually working. He quits after Jason sees him hassling Toni for a good luck kiss just before he makes his debut, and since there are so many people waiting to see him, Toni and Jason band together to give their audience some great entertainment.

Written by Juliet Packer; directed by Walt Gilmore.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Peggy Rea (Rose), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), William Schallert (Stanley Perkins), Carolyn Coates (Elvira Perkins), Lisa Harrison (Toni), Curtis Credel (Johnny Calico), Terry Burns (Dr Martin), Virginia Peters (The Angry Woman), Robert Richie (Man at the Bar), George Strattan (Customer), Rex Benson (Mr Cuthbert).

The Beginning (First aired 5th March, 1981)

The people on Waltons Mountain get a "call" to the church in the middle of the night, when the new minister arrives to find the church in a state of disrepair. And so, a new minister is introduced to the community. His harsh words do stir the Waltons and their neighbours into doing something about cleaning up the church.

During dinner one night, Jason just "happens" to mention to his family that Toni is Jewish. Needless to say they are rather taken aback by the news, and wonder about the couple's future together. During their stunned silence though, Toni runs out, and Jason realises that he has hurt everyone by what he has said and the way it was said. Later Jason apologises to Toni. Toni admits that she has never actually practised her faith and then discusses with Tom, just what being Jewish means. He gives her a book written by a Rabbi he met during the war.

Jason's family, especially Ben, feels that if he marries Toni, it will cause the family to become divided, and Toni initially turns down Jason's proposal for the same reason. Jason is especially angry with Ben, but when the two begin fighting, Jason realises that he is not angry with Ben, and returns to ask for Toni's hand once more.

A very funny scene occurs when Corabeth takes it upon herself to tell the Baldwin ladies, with whom Toni is staying, that she is Jewish, and the ladies reply, very wide eyed and innocently, that they have had many stimulating discussions with Toni regarding religion.

Written by Kathleen Hite; directed by Lawrence Dobkin.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Peggy Rea (Rose), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Lisa Harrison (Toni), Kip Niven (Reverend Tom Marshall).

The Pearls (First aired 12th March, 1981)

Corabeth and Ike Godsey have just left the store, when another car pulls up. Corabeth is going to see Aust Cordelia, who has a strand of genuine matched pearls, and who is dying. Corabeth wants to get to the pearls before her sister Orma Lee has a chance to get them. However it is Orma Lee who has pulled up outside the Mercantile, to try to keep Aunt Cordelia's dying wish that the two sisters reconcile before her death. She first sees Jim Bob, who is nearly speechless, and then meets Elizabeth, both of whom are astounded by the likeness between the two sisters. However, when it comes to personality the pair are completely different. Orma Lee says that she never turns down a party, and comments that her tombstone will read "The Lord called, and I said I could go."

When Ike arrives back from dropping Corabeth at the station, he too is astounded by the likeness, but enjoys the fact that Orma Lee can play pool with him, and enjoys a drink or two...more than he can handle anyway. She urges Ike not to tell Corabeth that she is visiting, but rather to wait until she comes home. In the meantime, Orma Lee sets about to get to know her Walton cousins, and tells Elizabeth a great deal about herself and her childhood with Corabeth.

Elizabeth is finding life at home very tough at present. She is too young to be included in the things the older children are doing (she tells Orma Lee she is nearly 16), and she is missing her parents a great deal. So much so that she ends up packing some of her things, with a view to visiting them in Arizona. She leaves a note on Erin's bed, but it is not found because Mary Ellen dumps Erin's coat on top of it. When they realise that she is gone, Jason goes and finds her at the bus station, reminding her that Mama isn't well enough to see her, but that as soon as she is, he will drive her.

With Ike also out trying to locate Elizabeth, Corabeth arrives home to find Orma Lee waiting there. The sisters discuss things and end with Orma Lee giving Corabeth one of the strands of pearls, and Corabeth giving Orma Lee half of the fine china.

Written by Mary Worrell; directed by James Sheldon.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Playing both Corabeth and Orma Lee), Peggy Rea (Rose), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Taylor Lacher (Vern Billy), Candace Coster (Double for Ronnie Claire Edwards), Rand Hopkins (Taxi Driver), Llynn Storer (Bus Station Announcer).

NOTE: Orma Lee also mentions a brother Frank, and that she was the youngest in the family.

The Victims (First aired 19th March, 1981)

Erin's friend, Laurie, is chatting to Erin but her husband, Kenny, becomes quite angry and abusive after deciding that she has been talking for too long. This is just the start of the chain of events where we see Kenny becoming jealous and abusive towards Laurie. When Kenny is sharing a table at the Dew Drop Inn with Jason and John Boy, the brothers remember how John Boy would help Laurie with her English homework, and how she had a crush on him. We see Kenny drinking too much and becoming very possessive of Laurie.

Later Mary Ellen is on the phone with a neighbour of Laurie and Kenny's and she is telling Mary Ellen about a row which is happening in their house. Mary Ellen and John Boy head down to their home to find out what is going on. Laurie answers the door and tells them that she hit her head on a cupboard, but we see her as she goes back into Kenny, and we realise that he is abusing her. Things reach a climax when Jason finds that Kenny has barricaded himself inside his house, after bashing Laurie, and they finally realise that the war has scarred him mentally. He agrees to seek some help.

Jim Bob also gets into a fix when he tries to coerce Ike and Corabeth into buying some gas masks and helmet liners. Ike puts some money towards it, then says that he won't be able to sell the things Jim Bob has bought and asks for his money back. Obviously Jim Bob doesn't have it, but Ben suggests, very subtly, that he should sell his car. Finally someone offers to buy the masks etc from Jim Bob and he ends up making a very healthy profit from his business endeavours.

Written by Juliet Packer; directed by Lawrence Dobkin.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Peggy Rea (Rose), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Carol Jones (Laurie Ellis), Ben Andrews (Kenny Ellis), John Carter (Deputy Sheriff), Archie Lang (Buck Vernon), Michael McDonough (Deputy Ernie Allen).

The Threshold (First aired 2nd April, 1981)

John Boy is speaking to Dean Beck in hope that he might be able to come up with a teaching position at Boatwright University while John Boy continues to write his novel, which is not going very well. The Dean says that there's nothing available currently, but goes on to tell John Boy about the possibility of the University teaching about television, and suggests that perhaps John Boy might be able to work on a proposal for the board, which would sway them to agree to the television idea. While John Boy works very hard to come up with an idea for a presentation, Jim Bob tries to build a TV set so that they, at Waltons Mountain, can get to see John Boy's proposal.

Rose is having problems of her own when it seems as if Zuleika Dunbar is monopolising Rose's beau, Stanley. Zuleika tries to get him to teach her how to drive and continually wants him to take her places. When Zuleika comments on Rose's "dress size", Rose makes up her mind to lose weight, however her plans are quite drastic and she becomes crabby with everyone, and eventually faints. The Walton girls want to cheer her up so they get together and make her a dress, identical to one which Rose had been admiring in the Mercantile, and the gift, along with Stanley's sweet talk, makes her wonder why she was ever jealous. Stanley makes it quite clear that she is the only one for him.

Meanwhile John Boy is having a hard time putting his proposal together. He tries several ideas, but nothing seems quite right. With just an hour to go until the presentation he is interrupted by John Curtis, who wants to share his picture book with John Boy, and it is through the eyes of John Curtis, that John Boy finds the solution to his problems. The TV Jim Bob had made finally works in time for the family, and many of their friends, to see John Boy's presentation being broadcast.

Written by Scott Hamner; directed by Herbert Hirschman.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Peggy Rea (Rose), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Michael and Marshall Reed (John Curtis), Leslie Winston (Cindy Walton), William Schallert (Stanley Perkins), Pearl Shear (Zuleika Dunbar), Ivor Francis (Dean Beck), Mindy Dow (Urbania), Colleen Casey (Melpomene), Karen Louise Scott (Erato), Young Boy (Jonathon Woodward).

NOTE:  The "goodnight ending" is very interesting in this episode. Part of it goes:

        Elizabeth:      Maybe you'll have your own television show one day?
        John-Boy:     Um, I'd like that, Elizabeth.
        Elizabeth:     What would you call it?
        John-Boy:     I don't know, since I write best about this family, I guess I'd call it The Waltons. Goodnight                                 Elizabeth.

The Indiscretion (First aired: 7th April, 1981)

This episode begins with Ike watching Corabeth packing her things and telling him that she is divorcing him. He has no idea what he has done wrong though. Corabeth heads off to the Walton home where she seeks refuge, and tells the family that she is divorcing Ike, but won't say why. The family, still not knowing the whole story, begins to take sides against either Ike or Corabeth. Ike tries to win Corabeth back using a variety of tactics, but she is not persuaded. Finally Corabeth tells Mary Ellen and Rose that she found a letter written to Ike by a woman named Pamela. They urge her to let Ike explain it but she won't.

Finally Ike is served with divorce papers which say that Corabeth is filing for divorce because of adultery. He thinks she's mad because she saw him at the Dew Drop Inn with another woman, but when she tells him its because of Pamela, he finally understands. He explains to her about Pamela and reads her a letter from Pamela which he has kept. Pamela says in it that she understands how much he loves Corabeth and that she could never stand between the couple. After some thought, Corabeth goes back into the Mercantile and continues on with her married life.

Elizabeth also faces some serious questions with her "man" during this episode. Drew is pressuring her to spend the night with him. He is looking after the Balwin's house and dog while they are holidaying at Virginia Beach and he thinks it would be a perfect opportunity for the two of them to get close without having the interruptions they have when they are at the Walton home. Elizabeth finally says no at the last minute and Drew's response is that she mustn't love him. He storms out. Elizabeth goes looking for him the next day, and they both admit that they were happy Elizabeth called it off as they were both incredibly nervous and felt that their relationship would have changed forever if they had made love.

Written by E.F.Wallengren; directed by James Sheldon.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Peggy Rea (Rose), Leslie Winston (Cindy Walton), Tony Becker (Drew Cutler), Victoria Carroll (Nina Sue), Alvy Moore (Frank Sims), Dana Craig (Deputy Sheriff).

NOTE:  The ending here is special in that the goodnights are by Ike and Corabeth, rather than the Waltons.

The Heartache (First aired 14th April, 1981)

During this episode we discover that Rose is having problems with "heartburn", but it soon becomes apparent that it is something more serious than that. Stanley finally asks Rose to marry him, and although she initially says yes, after her visit to the Doctor and finding out that she has a heart condition and needs tablets and peace and quiet, she calls off the couples plans, without explaining anything to Stanley. Heartbroken he decides to leave Waltons Mountain and his job. Ike finally tells him that Rose has the same heart condition that he himself has, and knowing this Stanley pursues Rose once more and the wedding is back on.

Cindy is trying to persuade Ben to allow her to take a job, and she is quite surprised to find him very supportive about the possibility. She finds a job in a store at Charlottesville and takes Virginia to a nursery school nearby. She is doing very well, and impressing the owner, who offers her the job of assistant manager. Cindy does some serious thinking and decides that she would really rather be at home with her family each day on Waltons Mountain for the time being.

The episode ends with Rose and Stanley's marriage.

Written by Kathleen Hite; directed by Herbert Hirschman.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Peggy Rae (Rose),  Leslie Winston (Cindy), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Marshall and Michael Reed (John Curtis), Clare and Elizabeth Schoene (Virginia), William Schallert (Stanley Perkins), Kip Niven (Reverend Marshall), Ken Sansom (Dr Cole), Corinne Michaels (Mrs Bassett).

The Lumberjack (First aired: 21st April 1981)

A young man appears at the Walton Lumber Mill wanting to do business with Ben. Ben comments that his prices are not competetive, however the man tells him that the timber is better quality than some Ben had bought. The young man is Paul Matthews, and John Boy, working with Ben, thinks that he seems familiar. Paul leaves Ben rather angry at some of the comments which had been made.

The next Walton to meet Paul is Erin. The two bump into each other, literally, at the Mercantile store. Paul has asked Ike for some tobacco, and Erin gets some for him and takes it to his timber camp, where the two have coffee and spend the day together. The young couple spend much of the next few days together, including dinner at the Walton home, where Paul is a surprise guest. Ben opens the door to Paul, wearing an apron and appears to want to shut it straight away again, however Paul mentions that he is Erin's guest. Dinner is successful, but once more, John Boy is feeling that he knows Paul from somewhere. He finally does remember where he saw Paul, when he discovers his photo in a back issue of The Stars and Stripes newspaper. He visits Paul and urges him to be straight with Erin. Paul's father owns Northridge's Lumber Company, but Paul doesn't like his father's methods of logging. Paul is more into conservation, as John and Zeb Walton were, and only wants to take what is needed from the earth, and replace what he has taken. So Paul is starting his own business, using only part of his name, so he isn't associated with his father.

When Paul goes to visit Erin that night, he invites her for dinner at his father's home. Erin is taken by surprise when they arrive at the Northridge home, or perhaps mansion would be more the word. Paul and his father don't appear to agree on very much at all, and they eat dinner at a huge table...Paul at one end, Wesley Northridge way down the other end, and Erin stuck in between, and finally she cannot take any more of their squabbling. Erin tells Mr Northridge that he is too loud and talks to much and that he should be very pleased because his son is following very closely in his footsteps, and with that she drives off home very upset.

Not long after, the two rather humble Northridge's arrive at the Walton door to apologise, and the relationship between Paul and Erin continues once more, with the blessing of Mr Northridge.

Meanwhile, Ike has bought a gieger counter, hoping to find uranium, and he and Jim Bob head off to the mountain. They find some soil they are sure contains uranium, and take some of it back as a sample. Corabeth and Ike take the sample bag to be analysed, expecting to become rich, only to find that the spot the sample was found, had some dangerous industrial waste buried there. Instead of becoming rich, Ike and Jim Bob are mentioned in the paper as having unearthed the site and performing an important public service.

Written by Carol Zeitz; directed by Harvey S. Laidman.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth Godsey), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Morgan Stevens (Paul Matthews Northridge), Richard Eastham (Mr Wesley Northridge), Lew Horn (Mr Franklin), Vivian Brown (Roxie), Chuck Lindsley (Joe Hurley), Robert Dryer (Tom Hurley).

NOTE 1: Morgan Stevens was seen during a season 8 episode "The Waiting", as Sam.

NOTE 2: There are some excellent lines in this episode. Some of my favourites are:

            a)   Corabeth (to Ike): Mr Godsey, I am your wife. I have a right to give you a hard time.

            b)   Erin (talking to Mary Ellen about her unlucky love life): I have this terrible fear that I'm going to end up like Miss Emily. With this dream of a kiss and no man to stand behind it.

            c)  Ike (when being introduced to Mr Northridge): We handle your toothpicks at our Mercantile.

                 Mr Northridge: I'm glad to hear that. We even sell the splinters at Northridge!

The Hostage (First aired: 28th April, 1981)

Mary Ellen is making her nursing rounds to a family up in the hills, and comes across a dying old man, his granddaughter Sissy and neighbour Job. The old man tells Mary Ellen that he has left both his house and his granddaughter to Job, however Mary Ellen protests that at 14, Sissy is still a minor and cannot marry anyone yet. She takes Sissy home with her. Job is not happy though and arrives at the Walton home wanting to get her back. When Ben and Erin tell him that neither Mary Ellen, nor Sissy are there, he kidnaps Elizabeth until they return Sissy. The note the illiterate man leaves them is 141. Mary Ellen realises that his message is an eye for an eye. Finally Elizabeth is located and she tells her family, and the Sheriff, that Job hasn't harmed her, and also convinces Job to allow Sissy to attend school to learn to read and write. Thanks to Elizabeth Job receives a much lighter sentence for his part in her kidnap.

The Baldwin sisters also have an exciting time when their Cousin Octavia, who has been mentioned many times throughout the series, finally comes to visit them at Waltons Mountain. However Ike doubts her motives when he finds out that the chandelier she was trying to fix nearly fell on the sisters, and that their recipe machine blew up after she had worked on it. The two ladies also complain of feeling unwell after eating her cooking. Ike thinks she is up to no good. He does find that her motives were good in the end, but finds out that she is a kleptomaniac and has done some time at an institution. She says that yes, she had been stealing from him but can't be held accountable. Ike agrees not to call the Sheriff, but instead tells her to cut her visit short and be on the next bus. The Baldwins comment what wonderful adventures they've had with Octavia there.

Written by Marjorie Fowler; directed by Herbert Hirschman.

Guests:  Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth Godsey), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), John Crawford (Sheriff Ep Bridges), Mary Wickes (Cousin Octavia), Gary Grubbs (Job Moonie), Fran Ryan (Eula Mae Moonie), Debbie Lytton (Sissy Crooks), Al Hopson (Rance Crooks).

The Revel (First aired 4th June, 1981)

John Boy is heading off to New York City, anxious to find out news of his latest novel. When he arrives, he is told by his editor, that the board had turned it down, deciding that there were too many war novels out currently. He decides to stay and prepares to look for work and a place to stay, but runs into an old friend who talks him into going to a bar instead. John Boy gets drunk and is taken to his friend's place for the night. In the morning, the friend, Mike, suggests that the two of them room together, and although John Boy continues to try to write, Mike tries to get them jobs in Hollywood. One evening John Boy comes home to find that Mike has left for Hollywood, leaving him with both the room, and the rent. When John Boy can't pay the rent, the landlady evicts him, and finally, when his typewriter is stolen, he returns to see his publisher, telling her that he can't keep writing. She sends him back to Waltons Mountain with the train fare and a good lecture.

While John Boy is trying to carve a career for himself in New York, the Baldwin ladies begin planning a ball to celebrate life. They had been reminiscing about their days at finishing school and lamenting that all good things must come to an end (perhaps a statement about The Waltons coming to an end?) and hence their decision for the ball. They plan to invite their classmates from the finishing school and set about their plans with the help of members of the Walton family. Unfortunately though, many of their friends have died, or moved away, and many of the invitations are returned unopened. Ike tells the ladies to continue with their preparations for the ball, and in the end, all their friends from Waltons Mountain attend. At the last moment, during a speech given by the elderly ladies, John Boy arrives at their home, just in time to celebrate.

Guests: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth), Leslie Winston (Cindy), Robert Wightman (John Boy), Helen Kleeb (Miss Mamie), Mary Jackson (Miss Emily), Bettye Ackerman (Belle Becker), Robert Rockwell (Clayton Anderson), Lew Palter (Personel Man), James Ingersoll (Mike O'Brien), Treva Frazee (Landlady), Ted Jordan (Man in the Bar), Robert Ackerman (Bartender).