The Waltons S05E20 The Heartbreaker

When the shadows of this life are gone Uh, Fanny Tatum gave me a very interesting piece of information regarding Kurt's younger sister Vanessa, and your Jason. Jason, you're so sweet, and this place is so lovely, so peaceful. On Walton's Mountain, the marriage vows once pledged usually remained in force until the contract was ended by the death of one of the partners. Divorce was a taboo word spoken in whispers. And then, one day, a young woman who had left her husband appeared on the mountain with serious consequences for my brother, Jason. Are you sending me a postcard for your towels now, you hear? Well, I'd love to, ma'am, except I don't have your dress. Well, I have yours, so I can write to you. Kurt, honey, it's nice to see you. It's good to see you. You look fine. Oh, thank you. Oh, Vanessa, the Waltons. Oh, now, which one did you marry? This one. How do you do? You did real fine for yourself, honey. And married life seems to agree with you. You never look better in your entire life. Where's Taylor? Oh, I didn't bring him along. No, I have left that man. But, honey, I just couldn't take it no more. I pitied Taylor stuck back there in the cold and the mud. I gave him a chance. I said, come on, sugar, let's find us a new world and make us a new life. And he just couldn't bring himself to leave. But I had to. What did Taylor say about that? Well, he said he wouldn't stand in my way. I tried to explain to him that I just couldn't live out my whole life and die in that little old gray town. You know how lively I am and love everything bright and full of color. Which way did we go, sugar? Oh, right over there. I just felt a hundred percent better the minute I left that gritty, ramblo, cold town. There are some big trees down there. You must keep awfully busy. Oh, I bet you did some scrubbing, didn't you, Mary Ellen? I did do some cleaning. I remember the first time I had company, when Taylor's mama came to visit, I pretty nearly ironed the pages of the Bible. What can we do with these suitcases, Kurt? Put them in the bedroom. Prettiest little house you ever saw. Mary Ellen, you sure have done a nice job of fixing it up. Well, thank you. Honey, why don't you let us get you settled in, unpacked and everything. Mary Ellen and I have a couple of patients we've just got to see. Oh, that's all right, honey. You go on and do what you have to do. I can take care of myself, you know. I'm pretty good at it. I'm just glad to be here in all this greenery, breathing all that nice, fine country air. I'm sorry we have to leave you. All right. Bye-bye. Honey, I'll take my guitar. Bye. John Boyer, those population figures for the county, right? Yeah, they're the latest government figures. Then why is the circulation in the Chronicle so much less? Well, Ben, the figures represent total population. Now, total population means babies and little kids. There's no reason for a family to buy more than one newspaper. Well, what if you divide the entire number by five, which is what you say the size of the average family is around here. Where'd you get that idea? That was from your article. Yeah. John Boyer, even then, circulation is so much less than the number. Well, Ben, I guess everybody doesn't like to read the newspapers. And you know why? Because everyone already knows what's going on around here. You've got to give people something interesting. Come on, just go ahead and entertain them. You have to entertain them. What do you mean entertain people? This is a newspaper, Ben. Look, John Boyer, why don't you do something for me? Why don't you start writing short stories for the people that want something more than just the news? I don't have time to write short stories. I got a newspaper to run. I got a novel to write. Well, why don't you use part of your novel? What do you mean? You mean print parts of the novel in the newspaper? That's what I said. Just for entertainment. Of all the spring vegetables, I favor mustard and turnip greens the most. Give me a schedule. These are for Mary Ellen. I know. Bye, everybody. Where are you going? To work. Will you take these and drop them off at Mary Ellen's on your way? Sure, Mama. See you all later. How's the print? How is that? Well, John Boyer's going to start printing excerpts from his novel in the Chronicle. Congratulations, Pa. Well, now, I think he's made an excellent choice. It'll be the first time we get to see any part of that novel. What's it about? Well, I guess it's about you. One of your exploits. I wonder which exploit it could be. About the time that the bear chased me down the mountain? Or maybe it's the time that I saved Yancy from being swallowed up by that catfish. Mary Ellen? Hello? Come on in. Hello? Who are you? I'm Jason Walt, Mary Ellen's brother. Another Walter? Mm-hmm. How many of y'all are there? Eleven. Children? No. No, there's seven children. And then there's Mama and Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa. Sure is a house full. Mm-hmm. Are you Vanessa? That's right. Well, I came by to drop these off. Very much obliged. Could Mary Ellen had some errands to make, but I haven't had myself a fine old time. Thought I'd catch up on some of the local news. And I read something called the Blue Ridge Chronicle from cover to cover. And when I was all through, I found out it was three weeks old. Then you're all caught up. Well, a lot more happens around here than where I come from. Um, is that you playing the guitar? I heard somebody playing as I was walking up. Oh, I was just practicing a few chords. I'm a singer. Well, I'm gonna be anyway. And if you want something bad enough, you're bound to get it. That's what I think anyway. See, now, if you just look on the bright side, I know it's gonna come true. That's what I do. You just might be right. Uh, it's getting kind of late. I have to be getting to work. What you do, sugar? Well, I play guitar and piano at a little roadhouse on Route 39. A place called the Dew Drop Inn. You do? I think that's a real fine ambition. And you have achieved it! You must be real proud of yourself. I am. You ought to stop by sometime. I'm just crazy about good music. Well, good. Remember, Dew Drop Inn. Bye. Bye. And you come. Bye. And I will. All right. See you there. The Dew Drop Inn. Come in. It's me, Grandpa. Oh, come on along. What you doing? Oh. Spring planting time, you know. Seeds. My old catalog. I like these. It's a little too early to plant them. Zinnias and morning glories. We can plant these, though. Mr. Shims. Can I ask you a question? Well, sure. Why not? See, it's about Vanessa, Kurt's sister. Vanessa, yes. Vanessa and her husband are separated. But Vanessa's happy. How can that be? Well, now, that's a hard question to answer. Yeah. You know, when Daddy was away working, Mama wasn't happy. Because they were separated. That's true. And now Grandma's away at the hospital, and you weren't happy. Because you're separated. No, indeed. It's hard to be cheerful. Especially come nightfall. You know, I don't think separation is a particularly happy word. That Vanessa, she may appear to be happy and rosy and everything, but underneath, I think she feels a real hurt. Let's not you and me ever get separated. Never. Never, never, never, never, never. Tell me a story. Oh. Well, I caught this trout, and I put it in a rain barrel. Here you are, boys. Thelma. You wouldn't dance with me? Who said I would? Well, let's go. I truly enjoyed that. Thank you. Can you stay, sit down? Sure. Some popcorn? Thank you, Thelma. Thank you, my dear. See you later. My pleasure. Oh, that was good music, Jason. Such good dancing music. How old are you? I have a beer, please. A beer? Are you old enough to have a beer? Thelma, I've been married longer than I can remember. Well, and I suppose you would like a gin? I'll have my usual. Your usual? Okay. Where did you learn how to play music like that? Oh, I taught myself some. I had panel lessons for a while. Right now, I go to the Kleinberg Conservatory of Music. I do envy you going to a real music conservatory. Oh, there's so much I need to learn. I wish I knew just a little more about playing the guitar so I could play along with my singing. I could help you with some chords if you wanted. Good. Sure. Oh, I truly would appreciate an act of kindness like that. Here you are. Thank you. I heard you were coming, but nobody mentioned a reason for your visit. I have left my husband. I have left the town where I was born and grew up. I want to do something with my life. So do I. You already are doing something just wonderful. Man, to music. To music. Oh, careful. Bring all your girls here. No. This is where I come when I want to be completely alone. I've never shown it to anybody. I'm flattered. The spot has helped me a lot with my music. To be good at something like singing, you have to be willing to try different things, to explore what you can do. You have to be willing to be terrible. Jason, you're so sweet, and this place is so lovely, so peaceful. When this life is over, I'll fly away to a land on God's celestial shore. What's next? When the shadows When the shadows of this life are gone, I'll fly away That's right. When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I'll wait I'll wait, oh glory I'll fly away in the morning When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I'll wait Just a few more weary days and then I'll fly away To a land where joys will never end I'll fly away I'll fly away, oh glory I'll fly away in the morning When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I'll wait I'll fly away Yes, I'll fly away Didn't I tell you she was good? Honey, you're terrific. Oh, my goodness. You are terrific, honey. You work here every weekend, will you? You mean it? Oh, you're just wonderful. Oh, thank you! Just love looking at all those stars. Thousands and millions of them. Back home, you're lucky if you can see the poach light. Yeah, I remember. You sure have found yourself a beautiful spot here. Kurt, I really have enjoyed being here. Honey, I've really enjoyed having you around. So has Mary Ellen. But we're not the only ones. I kind of think Jason likes having you around, too. He's such a talented man. Funny and gentle. Whatever is between you two could turn into a pretty serious thing for him. Might turn into a pretty serious thing for me, too. Maybe you ought to think about that. Think what? Do you really think you could be satisfied in a place like this? Kurt, you have your whole life cut out for you. A new wife, a house, your medical practice. A job doing what you really want to do. But I'm just starting out. Do you really know anything about me? Well, I think I do. You know, I can sing. And when I get fixed up, I'm not bad looking. Maybe life didn't give me all the nice things it gave you. But I sure know how to take them. Hey, Elizabeth, why don't we play hooky from school today? Let's play with me. Cool. Yes, I did. Be good. No books. Jim Bob, you took the wrong book. You're not going to class today? I have to miss it. Can we talk? I'm not going to tell you what to do. All right. I just want you to think about what you're doing. Go on. We're having a private talk. I just want you to think about what you're doing. What am I doing? You're getting yourself involved with a married woman. She left her husband. She is still married to him. Mama, you'd never accept anything that wasn't marriage and home and children and church every Sunday. Jason, what's bothering me about you and Vanessa is her taking her marriage vow so lightly. Taking people lightly, that can't be right. Well, isn't that what you're doing? You're taking us lightly. You're taking our feelings for each other lightly just because on a piece of paper somewhere it says she's married. Jason, all I ask is that you go slow with this girl. Vanessa is not a girl. She's a woman. She's taught me that sometimes you can't take things too slowly or your whole life will get away from you. You could only get to your spot by the border. This is another way. You shouldn't have missed your composition class. But I'm glad you did. I had to. Our assignment was to write a short piece in the style of Johann Sebastian Bach. I don't think my teacher would have accepted this. I had it in my head last night so I just had to work on it. It's called Vanessa's Song. There's a place up in the mountain where I go to be alone And I bring you here, my darling To share my love Red birds flying through the valley Crickets singing in the dew Rivers rolling through the valley They all know my love for you I have never been so honored in my entire life. I'm glad I found you. This is a married woman. Could be you're worrying about something before there's any need to worry. It's getting close to home. You can see that. Taken with and tied up with. There's some difference. One can lead to the other. There's a place up in the mountain Where I go to be alone And I bring you here, my darling To share my love With you alone Where's my Thelma? Hi, darling. It's about time for old country Joe Martin to come around here. Yeah, I want you to meet my new manager of the band, Lou Rimer. How you doing, honey? Glad to meet you. How'd you get tired of such trashy fellows as this? Thelma, I thought you were in love with me. Well, I am in love with you. I just get tired of waiting in line, that's all. You're going to give Lou here to have a drink, sit down here. Two beers, Thelma. Thelma, bring me another beer. Okay, okay, okay. Hey. Didn't I see you down at the Colonial Theater in Norfolk? Yeah, we played there. Me and my band hit most of the big cities. We did two weeks in Chicago. Where are you boys headed now? The big time. Yeah, well, this tour here will end up in Nashville. We're going to do some music, a grand old opera. Grand old opera? Hey, little darling. Don't let me stop you. Come on, let's get on with it, yeah. Come on, hey, hey, hey. Come on. There's a place up in the mountains where I go to be alone. Quite an interesting little lady. Oh, she's real interesting, you bet. You hear my darling to share my love with you alone. Yeah! Come on, sit down here with us. Come on, you two, sit down here with us. Come on. Go get it, go get it, darling. Come on, you two, come on. Come on. Sure. Yeah, let me help you over stage. Vanessa, I want you to meet the famous country Joe Martin right there. How do you do? Nice to meet you, little girl. This is Jason. Nice to meet you. And that's his manager there, Mr... Lou Rimer. Glad to meet you. Nice to meet you. Did I hear you say you were going on tour? We received a warm reception everywhere we went. Just played Richmond. Had a sell-out crowd. There you go, country Joe. Yeah, yeah. Oh, well. Jason Walton, I feel like I'm living in a dream world. Wasn't tonight the most exciting night of your whole entire life? No. An afternoon not too long ago in our spot was the most exciting day of my life. Oh, Jason, you're so sweet, but I didn't mean that. You were terrific on Vanessa's song. Oh, Lord, I loved that song. You were terrific. I just knew I was gonna be. I just had this feeling it was gonna come out right, and Joe seemed to like it. I'm sure he did. You really think so, or maybe he was just being generous? No, I think he really liked it. Oh, he did, he did. I just know he did. Oh. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Rhymes. Usual time. Come on, Jason. Here you go. You wish you had grass, honey? You know, I was kind of wondering. Do you think Myrtle ever gets lonesome because she doesn't have another goat with her? I don't know. I never heard of a lonesome goat. Maybe it's better that she doesn't have a husband. That way they'll never have to be separated. You know, I practically taught John Boy how to write. He teach you how to shoot pool? Well, he was just a little shaver. I used to sit around the kitchen table and show him how to make his letters before he even knew how to say the words. It's your shot, Zeb. I know that. You know, if John Boy's gonna be one of them fiction writers, selling makeup stories and stuff. That's right. Looks to me like he's got the right teacher. Ha, ha. He's got you there, Zeb. John Boy is writing an autobiography which means it is bound to be the truth. Your shot, Zeb. Yes, I know that. Keep quiet, will you? Are you sure? I wonder what he'd have to say about that. I am simply appalled. You just buy the paper tomorrow morning and you'll find out. Don't be such a cheapskate. Fanny, I can't talk now. I'm gonna have to call you back. John Boy used to have a good head on his shoulders. Still your shot, Zeb. I know it. I don't want to interfere with my game. Excuse me. Fanny Tatum gave me a very interesting piece of information regarding Kurt's younger sister, Vanessa. And your Jason. That's my shot. Morning, Jason. Morning. Vanessa inside? She's not here right now. Oh. She was supposed to practice our music this morning. I reckon I'll just wait. How come you're not in school? Well, this is more important. Well, I'm gonna be my usual blunt self, Jason. And, uh, I'm gonna risk hurting somebody I think a whole lot of. I know my sister and I think you ought to know what you're taking on. Well, I know her too. You have to understand what she's been through. Don't get me wrong, Jason. I love my sister. I love her for all the wonderful things she is, but you have to remember with Taylor and Vanessa, all we've heard is her side of it. That's all I have to hear. Taylor has a side too. Vanessa is not an easy person. She's, uh, she's restless and she's full of discontent. She always has been. But I love her spirit. The way she wants to make something of her life. I'm just telling you the way I feel. If you're telling me not to fall in love with her, you're too late. See you later, Jason. You don't know about Jason and that girl. Now, Liv, you know the way Corbett. I can't believe how small-minded some people are. Honey, it's not like you to pay attention to what other people are saying. I guess I can understand why they feel the way they do. And what's bothering me is I feel about the same. I missed school to come see you. Well, I had to go into town to pick out some things for Curt and Mary Ellen. They've been so nice to me. The least I could do is carry my weight for half an hour. You could have gotten the things at Ike's. Well, I didn't. We had an arrangement. Jason, you don't own me. I'm not your personal property. I have a good mind, then, not to come back this afternoon to help you with your music. Well, why don't you just forget about me? There are other things I can be doing with my time. I want to thank you for helping me deliver these papers today. Old Ben was falling down tired. I found myself with a free afternoon. Might as well put it to good use. Yeah. So this is the grandpa edition. That's it. Starts off real good. Thank you. You're a good rider, but you're a rotten driver. I didn't build a road. Okay, I'll tell you what. Why don't you put a couple dozen in the hotel newsstand and then a couple dozen right up there. See you in that stand? I'll meet you around the block. All right. Thank you. Yes, little darling, I remember those lonely nights and roadhouses and vans not being paid and tough saloons and going hungry. I know what you're going through. It's not going to be forever. You don't have to worry about nothing. Here we were in this lonely town, guitar strings broken, no money, lonely. Well, here it is. Grandfather and the Intruders. Chapter from a novel. He was a solidly built man and you could see by the lines of his face what a handsome figure he was in his youth. He preferred to take life at an even pace, but he could be aroused when his family or his beloved forests were threatened, relying on vast resources of vulpine cunning, which, vulpine, what does that mean? Where would John Boy get a word like that? Well, you know how he's always increasing his vocabulary. M-A-B-B-O-B-O-B, vul, vulpine, of a fox, crafty, Machiavellian, Machiavellian. Well, I know what that means. What does it mean? Well, to be sort of, well, I have heard of it. M-A-M-A-B-M-A-M-A, Machiavellian, double dealing, he's, duplicitous, duplicity, D-O-D-U-D-U-D, du, duplicitous, double dealing, conniving, deceitful. Well, I don't have to look that one up. John Boy is calling me a liar, right here in print, to the whole world, to Hepton Bridges, to Corbis, to Ike, to the Baldwin sisters, to Zack, Fordwick's sister. Right here. Grandpa. Grandpa, John Boy'd never do a thing like that. He has. Hand in print. Got troubles, have you, son? Yeah. I guess I expected it. Your mother may have been kind of worried about you. She being a married woman and all. The fact that she was married had nothing to do with it. I think maybe it does, son. Figures she's on the run. Maybe something you should have known. She's bound and determined to get someplace. We had something. Very real and special between us. Jason, you remember the time you were a little fellow, you found the mallard duck down by the pond, thought she was yours, and one day that flock of ducks came over and she flew away. It was as natural for her to fly away as it was for you to want her to stay. Daddy, I love Vanessa. I know, son. Never been so insulted in my entire life. Insulted? What do you mean, insulted? To have my own grandson call me a liar. But more than that, to do it in public print. I am deeply hurt, John Boy'd. Wait a minute. I never called you a liar. Oh, yes, you did. I most certainly did not. It says so right here in the paper. Where did I call you a liar? Speaking of a ball pine, where did you ever get the idea that I was underhanded and deceitful? It doesn't mean that. Oh, yes, it does. It says so right here. All right, in one sense it means that, but that's not the way I meant it. I meant it in a different sense entirely. Scheming and lying. There's another word for it, Grandpa. Smart. Did you read the story? No, I quit. All right. I did not want to be insulted any further. Volpine means foxy. I mean, I admit it can mean deceitful, yes, but it implies intelligence. Very definitely, intelligence. Don't sound like the same thing to me. Do you remember the time that that rival lumber company started cutting timber up on the mountain? And we got into a race with them to see who could finish that contract first, and you fooled them. You remember that? You fooled them into taking their lumber downstream. Yes, I got them stuck on a raft. We sure outfoxed them. Not by lying to them, but by tricking them up with their own greed. Now, Grandpa, you have a quality that we all admire. Everyone around here admires it. I do as well as everyone else. You have a quality of natural shrewdness, cunning, natural intelligence. That's all right. If I've offended you, I'm terribly sorry. The last thing in the world I intended to do was offend you, and if you'd like to, you just say the word and I will strike that phrase from the novel if and when it ever gets published. Vulpen. Foxy. I don't think I'd have you change a word of it, Jean-Paul. Good. If you need any help with the bed, just give me a call. Now, when elevator boy gets to close the door and you go tumbling down the shaft by 27 floors, when you reach the bottom and you're lying there inert, some fool is sure to ask you, buddy, are you hurt? Foolish questions. Your answer is, I know. No, I was in a hurry. The elevator's too darn slow. Foolish questions. What is there to say? Foolish questions. Jason, won't you talk to me? I apologize about this morning. I was being cranky, I guess. I saw you today going into that hotel. Oh, I'm sorry. So am I. Oh, Jason, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry we even ever met now. Let's just say we didn't. Well, that's the way you want it. Oh, I wish you understand. I have to do what I'm doing. I came here to say goodbye. I'm going to Nashville. I'm gonna be singing with Joe Martin's band. I get it. Now, it's not that simple. Love you, Jason Martin, and I still do. I think you're the finest, kindest person I've ever met. And I hate what I'm doing, but I can't help myself because I'm so frightened of not getting somewhere or not doing something with my life. If I didn't, I'd just suffocate. And the thought of that suffocating life just terrifies me. Your life would terrify me? Well, I'm not saying it's great. It's just what I have to do. Jason, if you really love me, can't you accept me as I am? Can't you even try? Not right now. I wouldn't ask you to wish me good luck. Good luck. At 20, it's hard to believe that time heals most pain, even that of a badly wounded heart. But time did work its wonders, and as each day passed, the hurt in Jason's eyes showed less and less, until finally it wasn't there at all. Night, Mama. Night, Elizabeth. Night, Aaron. Aaron asleep already? No, I was just thinking. About what, Jason? About what a fool he is. All right, that's enough. Now go to sleep. I guess I have to admit, I was kind of naive. I'll have to teach you how to be more vulpine. Come on, everybody, let's go to sleep.