The Walton's Christmas movie, the homecoming

tonight CBS proudly presents the homecoming a Christmas story by Earl Hamner jr. a warm and inspiring all family movie made especially for television starring Patricia Neal [Music] the story of a family and a Christmas Eve that changed their lives forever [Music] my grandfather used to say that nobody owns a mountain but getting born and living and dying in a shadow we loved Walton's mountain and felt it was ours [Music] the walton family had endured in that part of the Blue Ridge for over 200 years a short time in the memory of a mountain still our roots had grown deep in its earth when I was growing up there with my brothers and sisters I was certain that no one on earth had quite so good a life I was 15 and growing at an alarming rate each morning I woke convinced I had added another inch to my height while I slept I was trying hard to fill my father's shoes that winter we were in the middle of the depression and the mill on which our village depended had closed my father had found work in a town 50 miles away and he could only be with us on weekends on Christmas Eve early in the afternoon we had already started looking forward to his homecoming up in the hill just don't cut around it [Music] don't you play something Christmasy Jason it's not Christmas yet Christmas john-boy tonight at midnight my grandpa raised the church veil Kowski turn their knees and pray you believe that John Boy Wonder [Music] how'd you like to bump into Santa Claus [Music] I want you all to listen to me a minute try not to worry mama today something wrong john-boy she's got a lot on her mind daddy promised he'd be home early today he's not here yet here you know he'll get here sure he will but first he's got to pick up his paycheck get it cash and take a bus to Charlotte's mill and take another bus to Hickory Creek for Mary's got to hitchhike six miles it's gonna take a while meanwhile let's get this wood in the house and we'll have a nice warm fire when it gets here [Music] [Music] [Music] this depression gets any worse you may have to it'll never come to that Franklin D Roosevelt gonna put this country on its feet again you watch my word he's your president get the cow in the barn son yes storms gonna hit here any time now how'd you know that grandpa well I can feel it in my bones you pull my leg grandpa no man my bones feel one way for good weather and another way for bad science Mary Ellen anything else what you asking Santa Claus to bring you I think I'd like a little canary bird I can get you a waffle next spring grandma I don't want anybody catching any wild things now you eat your soup you want some more no thank you mommy's got the Christmas spirit what's she doing down in the basement after apples decided to make her applesauce cake after all she told me she didn't have enough sugar she claims she's gonna buy sugar it's her money valid wouldn't be Christmas without Zippy's applesauce cake there's too much nutmeg in it for my taste who wants to see something pretty my Christmas cactus just chuck it downstairs in the basement last fall and you how can a plant know it's Christmas maybe it feels in its bones like grandpa I rooted this bread from when my mama used to have it's 17 years old I value has it been that long I planted the same here John and I were married 1960 I'm intellect before the world war why daddy mama same reason anybody gets married baby how'd you know you loved him oh I just knew oh he was an something in those days wedding grandma all my boys were handsome they took after their daddy listen to the old man my family didn't approve of me marrying your daddy did you all know that what they have against daddy well my family were big Baptist and your daddy in those days wasn't exactly religious he was religious he just wasn't a churchgoer anyway when my family said we couldn't get married your daddy and I sneaked off one night and we'd see the Baptist preacher John said we're here to be married and preacher hick said does your mama know about this and I said no sir and he said well Ben I can't marry you huh I was scared to death I'm ready to run right straight home but your daddy spoke up said mr. Hicks you are not the only blind God are you blind preacher in the world will get us another preacher mr. Hicks turn red as a beet and then he said under the circumstances then I will marry you on and so he did oh he never had the touch mama this morning there was a red bird in your crabapple tree oh I love to sing now Red Birds gonna feast tonight he won't freeze the red bird has a knack of surviving winter otherwise he would have headed south with the gold finches and blue bird when he leaves started to turn I wish my dad could fly if he could find anyone half wait for the bus daddy goes flying around in the air somebody who's liable to think he's a turkey Buzzard and shoot him down don't you worry about your daddy he'll be home who's gonna crack some walnuts for my applesauce cake [Music] Bob John doesn't get home soon with some money oh we're gonna have a Christmas dinner is my okay and we won't even have that if I don't get a just give it to the post office mail it special deliver what did you ask Santa Claus to bring you honey Ben I know what you want Train Set what do you want JimBob I've been thinking about writing to him myself Deana around here I don't believe you because you're ignorant you just want to make something mommy said a bad word Mary on watch your mouth that was so below mealy nothing I hope you get bad colds your eyeballs now you want another swap Mary Ellen Mary Ellen just crazy everybody goes crazy when you're 13 world is a big round ball 8,000 miles smack through the middle Walton's mountain is just a tiny speck on it you go crazy when you're 13 john-boy I didn't have time to I was too busy looking after you children well honey I got stuck mr. prosperity is just around the corner oppression no it happened in New York City something they called Wall Street crashed and they had to close the banks and all of a sudden it wasn't any more money I'll rightly understand it myself when I grew up I were to marry man miss you have to buy me guns and if a depression comes along we'll just move away from it when I grew up I'm gonna marry a rich man I have lots of babies I'm not gonna have any babies what are you gonna have Elizabeth why don't you just get on over here and do some work [Music] [Music] smart I can't have puppies if I want to it don't work like that you sure look when you grow up you're gonna be a woman and a woman has babies wanna know a secret I don't care what I'm gonna stay it'll not grow up Oh forever stop crying they're squeezed myself and push it back in like daddy and that old yellow duck sure when you gonna start it's not what squeezing whenever I feel like I'm growing you're growing things oh we're here did you catch you sure JimBob Elizabeth y'all come on to the house I'm doing many good if we did there already grown [Music] [Music] very cloudy how are you boys and girls mrs. Walter why they just fine when y'all coming over see you maybe we'll come over tomorrow see what Santa Claus brings to us but hey you're welcome to come but Santa Claus isn't bringing but have your boys and girls been bad no buzz is poor this year I never saw anything the way that child is growing oh I don't know what they're growing on sorry regions are hard line of work daddy's got an extra job now up in the world you find extra work around here well to tell you the truth mrs. Walden I'm working for the Baldwin ladies I'm surprised at you I thought you know a man has got to eat everybody knows those two old ladies make bootleg whiskey what are they don't call it that they called it Papa's recipe I don't care what they call it it's still bootleg whiskey cloudy you come around we'll be waiting for you okay mrs. Walton you put some of that stuff in the back for the ladies now thanks yes we'll take that and three yards of buzz hland and six yards of that Atlanta silk with you in a minute I do believe you're John Waltons wife yes ma'am he hasn't had a stroke of luck sister John Waltons just the man we need to see well John's not home yet we are expecting him any minute we in such a fix only John Walton can save us do you think this is pretty system yes I do yeah I don't know I really don't know what what's the trouble miss Emily oh well you know after the judge died you remember our papa we got so many calls for his recipe then we had to start making it again his recipe was famous from one end of the state to the other of course it was tried and true been on the family for generations Chuck didn't leave us as much money as most people suspect but he did leave us a recipe it provides for us in our old age I couldn't exist if I had to live on charity so we make the recipe or did to look at astra see what catastrophe is that Miz Emily my machine is broken down we think that the trouble is with a copper coil you see no system it's in the burner you see we have to keep the ingredients at a regular temperature while they're cooking Emily the troubles in the coil there's something stuck in there that won't let the recipe through at any rate mr. Walton we're terribly low on the recipe we'd be mortified if someone came asking for and we couldn't supply it well what what did you want John for John my job Oh sister why did we want John walke sister we thought that he might you know examine the machine and repair it for us or prepared to pay when ever the job might call for oh I'll tell John when he comes home it's been a real treat to see and this is what little thank you how all those dear children fine just fine John what says their regular thoroughbred yes ma'am I hope Santa Claus is good to everybody enjoy a Merry Christmas mr. Godsey where's John Olivia I've been expecting them buyer to do his Christmas shopping well John's not home here that will he'll be along John Wharton would no more stay away from home on a Christmas Eve and fly to the moon yeah I know you'll get here if you can it's just 50 miles on slippery roads and then that long walk home from the person by the ground undercover well I didn't mean to tell you my troubles that I've gone for some sugar how much do you need oh I figure I can get bound that two pound two pounds what else can I get for you living I believe that'll do you have noticed I put in a line of toys this year and your youngest she just can't take her eyes off it she can't come in here without picking it up hold that babying it it's hard to explain a depression to children did you notice the price tag reads at 89 cents I'm worth every cent if person is in the market for down I can let you have it for what it cost me I won't make a penny on it but we can do it for Elizabeth 65 cents thank you just the same if it's a problem cash right at the moment I can let you have a little correct don't put temptation in my way out you know John and I never bought anything on credit in our lives just thought I would make the offer and I appreciate very Christmas to you and you and John Sheriff Bridget yes ma'am you didn't have the bass John Walton walking somewhere between here and hickory creek did you know ma'am if I had out here give them a ride well how are the roads over that way people getting through well as far as I can tell miss Walton what man Christmas yes ma'am merry Christmas to you what do you say Ike hey chef something I can do for you oh you can give me by the nickel where the crackers and run a dime for it this balloony what you doing out this way you're looking for somebody maybe maybe you wouldn't put a man in jail on Christmas Eve now would you what if I could catch him you would you got a dimes worth to the ounce who is this man you're looking for Robin Hood bandit strikes again ain't he something many citizens of the outlying counties are enjoying Christmas this year due to the efforts of the man they call the Robin Hood bang each year since 1929 needy people have found gifts of food and supplies at the back door usually the appearance of such gifts have coincided with the disappearance of such items from the shelves of local markets this year it is the J and B produce company who supply room was emptied of its turkeys and Hounds seems a shame to arrest me like that just making a laughingstock of me in front of whole counties what are you doing I'm tired of it I got me a mind to arrest him before the day is out and what are you doing looking out this way I got some clues I got some clues like what look here Ike you mind your business and on my mind strikes me funny that he never robbed you maybe you know who he is [Music] you'll be driving six white turkeys when she come she'll be driving six white turkeys went to six white turkey children six like turkeys [Music] [Applause] [Music] why don't you try to get that station well that is the station from Pittsburgh well I don't think you know how to work that radio don't tell me I don't know how to work the radio there you go they shortened its doors mr. Lindbergh was welcomed on the steps of City Hall by drover Whelan lucky Lindy a former aerial mailman himself has been in Europe surveying the possibility of airmail service between the old and the new world he suggests that airmail service between Europe and America is practical and predicts that in the distant future Freight and even passengers might cross the Atlantic by airplane cost the answers and the children's home I wouldn't fly from here to rockfish and one of the fence Babe Ruth and Will Rogers as they toured the wards Rogers joked with the children and perform some of the rope tricks he made famous on the stage of the Ziegfeld Follies the great Bambino gave each of the children a baseball autographed by the entire Yankee team see anything abdominal seen snow continues to hinder attempts to rescue two men trapped when a bus overturned on route 29 the bus filled with passengers homeward bound for the holidays went off the road near coach Phil all passengers except for the two trap men have been removed no deaths have been reported although many injured have been received in the University Hospital in Charlottesville over in Waynesboro James Tucker knows that his store was about I wish it was spring of the year you forsythia blumerman by the fans and and the crocus coming up truth no daughter we don't know he was on that bus I just as soon but children not know about that accident if there's bad news no time when it comes a telephone is what we need I said first thing I'm gonna get when this depression is over it's anybody seen john-boy I heard him go up to his room he closed the door locked it again what does that boy do up there john-boy it's ma'am what you doing up there boy well nothing mama then what's the door locked for well I reckon you just got locked a door don't get locked all by itself you come on down John usually likes to get the trees but I think maybe you and john-boy but guess what this year I know where there's a real cutting down trees is men's work they're girls places in the kitchen but I want to go I need you to help me make my applesauce cake oh I already helped you she's such a prissy but would you girls stop arguing and get busy go what were you doing up there but I locked doors homework I don't see why I have to lock the door to do homework sometimes I like a little privacy mama come on son let's go and get that Christmas tree [Music] [Applause] [Music] grandpa you ever been away from Walton's mountain the family Bible see my granddaddy he'd be your great-great granddaddy he come here in 1789 with nothing but an axe a plow a mule and a rifle well I know where his old cabin stood my daddy showed me the foundations one time yeah you've got pioneer stock at you you can take pride in that this is fought for land battles right here more than one flood fire freezin weather diphtheria scarlet fever whooping cough loneliness hard time now I thought you made Wars damn - hey grandpa we got something so we on Wong's mount they can't own about it any more than you can own the ocean or piece of the sky you hold it in trust you live on it you take life from it and once you're dead you rest in it you just do not think about that part of it you're not ready for are you never there's your tree boy [Music] when I watch go for all the time of its life [Music] it's a last string decorations on now you watch your temper well they're all grabbing at once you're the oldest you make them mine well I'm tired of being the oldest I feel like an old mother duck can't do a thing about that now you're stuck with it alright next next one of you the moves it's gonna get a spanking won't be good john-boy just you just let me get these on and then you can take over alright remember keep your fingers crossed cuz if one bulb is going bad then none of them's gonna work you want some help jump on you can plug it in now Jason [Applause] what's that it's a blue jay you can't put that thing on the tree it's full of Mines it'll run smell bad Villegas no I blew all the stuff out of it inside clean as a whistle look at that still got bird poop on it thing like that on a Christmas tree oh boy Dan you know Santa calls a woman take one look at that bird poop and he's gonna head right back up the chimney [Music] what have you got to say for yourself Mary Ellen my bird's nest is the prettiest thing on the whole tree what about this name-calling he said we were pissant well you know better than that don't you Elizabeth I don't feel like a pissant hey Oh this bird's nest looks nice they oh it looks real man Charlie Smith a big welcome around here we pleased to see you Charlie it's just simple oh well we thought maybe you would your hon oh wait that rice come home yet we're mighty worried charlie well I don't blame you Oh Charlie would you like a cup of coffee or something no I can't stay but a minute Olivia but I did know that John wouldn't have chance to do much hunting this Christmas so I thought he'd appreciate a little lead on the table this is the answer to mark friar fine bird all right where'd he come from oh I shot him up on Wales mountain don't appear to be no wild turkey to me never saw a wild turkey this clean what kind of shot she used didn't got him cleaned to the head with a single bullet a sittin still bird you shot a sittin still bird at thirty six paces mrs. Walton clean off the limb of a dead chestnut tree I declare I think our cooking do not sure looks like a store-bought Turkey to me whoa whoa John be surprised when he walks in that door and finds a Christmas turkey roast well look here I uh I got some more stops mate for nights over so I'll just wish y'all a Merry Christmas Oh Charlie stay and have some my applesauce cake will slice one warm from the oven I can't live here but how much obliged to why don't I you know stop any more spend a little bit of time with John you do that now naughty Buddy Holly hey mama where you reckon Charlie got that for gettin laid john-boy milk the cow [Music] I think new Kia cow is that the most disgusting thing anybody ever did you know any other way to get the milk out they said it would be a lot easier if you could just screw off her tail and dip it out with the gourd job every day sure I mean a real date well yeah I've had real days remember that time after prayer meeting when you walked home with Glenn Foster we just walked what else nothing else did you kiss her I tried to why didn't you her daddy come out on the porch have you kissed many girls we're not kissed a few on the lips not sure it was like right nice I don't think I got long to live Oh Mary Ellen will you quit just like any man no I'm just gonna just explode by the time I'm 14 though wrapped me in bed sheets and hide me in the Attic and you better calm yourself down girl got the growing pains wake up they'll all be gone but you'll be alright pretty girl Goods a pretty face with a figure like this oh they'll grow what your bosoms [Music] I think you're beautiful you know why I don't let them sing listen to like everybody else mushy start forgiving everybody for everything they ever done to me my goodness cloudy well are you boys and girls in the living room what brings you out in such a cold cold night I got a surprise for you boys Oh surprise turn they got a missionary box down at the store some woman showed up with presents says she's gonna start handing our presents just as soon as they get a crowd we do not accept charity in this house you took that turkey from Charlie Sneed that's enough out of you john-boy why don't you let him go I can't see anything wrong with him getting a toy an apple or candy bar mama can we go down there and just watch what fun would that be do can we go as long as we don't take anything mama we're just watches if the others get please let him go Livie well oh maybe it wouldn't do any harm just to go and watch [Music] I thought I'd never make it I've never seen it so slippery join us I know it's cold and you want your presence but first I want you to know why I am here who knows what our missionary is somebody has spread the gospel to the infidels exactly and I am missionary this year I said to the ladies in our society why look to some foreign country for heathens when the Blue Ridge Mountains are filled with them so we didn't send off our gifts to some are not appreciative savages but to you whose need is just as great now that is why I am here and we shall begin with a song who knows a good song Oh a manger splendid how would you like to start [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] nah-nah as everybody knows Christmas is Jesus birthday and since the Bible is Jesus book I want everybody who comes up here for a present to have a Bible quote to tell me to real not to me it's not the bobblehead Shh anybody here no one what is man that thou art mindful of him thank you what is man that thou art mindful of him what is man that thou art mindful of him that is our good quote and a good question do you know what it means does anyone it means he's so big and we such P little all things why is he messed around with us indeed yes splendid make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands they could joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands oh you must bleed your Sunday school teacher got another one what is man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul to our junior member jesus wept jesus wept no love you try not to breasts are like two young rose that are twins which feed among the lilies Solomon songs chapter four verse five by two breasts are like two young roads that are twins which feed among the lilies Solomon song chapter 4 verse 5 how about you do you got your pearls before swine can't snatch it throws before wine say we won't tell him well we'll just make Elizabeth hide it [Music] maybe we can fix it not in a million years [Music] it's ten o'clock and daddys still not home Mama's real worried and the rest of us are too on top of everything else we went down to the store and a lady was giving away presents Elizabeth got a broken doll and it scared him nobody ever gave away anything worth keeping I guess I've been thinking about myself and wondering what's wrong I just can't seem to stop rollin mama says it's natural but I'm scared if I keep getting taller I'll be a freak or something I wish I could see a doctor about it the city are as Christians begin the observance of this holiest of holidays in their church church attendance is lower in the valley than had been expected went upstairs ya think he's keeping some kind of secret nobody knows he wears me to death my Schumann ranted travelers are being given food and lodging by local churches and the Red Cross one death has been reported from the bus accident near coach Dale names of the injured are being withheld until next of kin are notified the merchants Christmas parade was interrupted briefly due to a fire at the Hamilton cook hardware company the blaze was brought under control quickly and the parade continued to the corner second main there's things we can do but sit and wait [Music] second molar are you smoking cigarettes up here oh man then what are you doing nothing wrong then what's the door locked for I just locked it without thinking are you hiding something in that bed john-boy yes ma'am I'd like to know what your high tablet why in the world would anybody want to have to tap it mama you don't have a right to some kind of privacy in this house I just don't understand you john-boy hiding things under a mattress is it something you're ashamed of no ma'am and why are you hiding it's enough tablet mama all my secret thoughts I feel what I think about what it's like late at night to hear a whippoorwill calm here it's mate call back the rumbling of the midnight train crossing the trestle at rockfish or just watching the water go behind the creek and knowing someday it'll reach the ocean wondering if I'll ever see an ocean and what a wonder that would be you know mama sometimes I Hawk on over to the highway and I just sit and watch the buses go by and the people in it and I'm wondering what they're like and what they say to each other and where they're bound for things stay in my mind mama I can't forget anything and it all gets bottled up in here and sometimes I feel like a crazy man I I can't rest or sleep or anything till I just rush off up here and write it down in that tablet sometimes I think I really am crazy I do things been different mom I could have done something with my life oh oh you will journal you've got a promising future but I would have like mama still tried to be a writer yeah that's what you won couldn't you still try oh no not in these times you know it takes a college education to be a writer and anyway even if we did have money it wouldn't be right to risk it all on me anyway I couldn't disappoint my daddy you know he's got his heart set on my taking up a trade he just want you to know how to make a living well I could sure never do that scribbling things down in a tablet we talked about this some more but yeah right now we've got something else to talk about there's not gonna be any more buses tonight daddy won't get home with me not unless somebody goes after him well I can't get very far on foot but I'll do the best I can you go see if you can find Charlie Sneed okay maybe maybe still down at the store his cars down there a while ago you asked Charlie to drive you over to Charlottesville a no-carb is can get through where a bus never would here's a dollar to pay for the gas if you don't see anything of your daddy along the way then you go to the bus station if he's not there try the hospital oh he wouldn't be in any hospital son a bus went off the road earlier today there's one man dead and some others hurt I didn't want to burden you with but now I think you've got to know I guess I guess I better get moving it was gonna be under the train in the morning but I think you need it I never said for each of you it's all the santa claus is gonna beat this year can't get out we're told you getting either it's a man's job I'm sending y'all don't let me down [Music] that the goodness [Music] where you going son [Music] Charlie honey I hey john-boy what happened Charlie did you ever see such I'm messed up situation your whole life son well once you got your hand cut for where's all the mistake I come by to have a soda pop with Ike here your first thing I knew the law comes stomping in slaps these cuffs on me like I was out Capone I tried to get word to you he's been hanging around here since the middle of the day know that I didn't see no sheriff's car he outsmarted you Charlie he parked out and back there's got the wrong man Ike you know that I wish I did know that I mean all them half of them still has the name of a store they come from it must have just you know slipped off somebody's truck that's right so that's where I found everybody that's death mm-hmm you found him all right you found him in the storage room with a J&B produce company after you busted in there last night I was right here where I am now last night Ike you tell him it's a fact sheriff a Charlie was right here up to closing time uh-huh and right after closing time you hightailed it over the J and B produce company sure why don't you just wait until after Christmas to lock him up now charlie is a man of his word he won't run out on you hmm you double dog right he won't he's going to jail well now Christmas ain't no time to lock a man up that drafty old jail yours well I could I could catch pneumonia and die for morning he won't turn on your conscience that I caught pneumonia died on Christmas Day you should have give that some thought while yours lifting them turkeys and hams come on Ike I'll set him up john-boy you you run on home and tell your daddy fix time you will yeah Oh daddy ain't home yet I sell them is really wrong if Johnny ain't got in by now hello mama sent me down here hoping you take me over Charlottesville see if we could find him she can give me a dollar for the gas messed up situation listen keeps my car in this pocket right over here now you take him and drive that boy on over town with you Oh Charlie you know I can't do that until the law finishes as Pookie John Bo you now drive oh well daddy just let me drive that old DeSoto he used to have that's good enough here he's wrecked my pocket go ahead and take charlie you can't let this boy drive halfway across the county with a carload full of stolen good boy he wants to take the chance cars hidden appreciate you charlie Mike you got any on you any Christmas cheer in this place huh well I got a little of Miss Emily and Miss Mamie is receipe push make by me got me just man look at that [Music] john-boy john-boy yes sir you taking care of things while I'm away yes sir daddy you remember that bird story daddy when you were a boy yo yellow duck battle yellow duck just a baby wanted to keep him little so every day at squeezing the keep it'll grow one day I squeezed too hard he died like anything ever die and as it grows you remember when I bring your lunch to the shop sit and listen to you and the other man Tom taking care of a sir daddy night you were boring I wanted to wake the world tell my my name is john-boy wall my babies are thoroughly when I was little I used to sit way over in the field of pajama notion john-boy dust could fall and you would call me john-boy your daddy come home I wanna be like you daddy I'm trying you're doing fine I try to hunt well I hate hunting I'll go hunting with you if that's what you want because now I wanna be like you're doing fine I'm trying you'll find your own way I'm trying john-boy trying to triumph john-boy [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] when Christ [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you just weather this year star with all that snow falling down out there tonight and you came right on in and you know what the Good Book says well there are two or three children I've been working on it so Maude I want you to pull that curtain on back and we all gonna come over the town of Bethlehem and we're gonna see what these children have worked out for us today and that's really supportive all right this all started and it came to pass and that we're not a decree from Caesar Augustus that all world should be tent it all week to be taxed every one into his own City and she also went on sewing from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being greedy child and so it was a while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought forth a son they were so afraid fear not for behold I bring you tidings of the great joy which shall be to all people for on to is born this day in the City of David a savior which Christ the Lord hey Mary what you gonna name that pretty little baby marry me baby some call him one thing I think I'll call him Emmanuel [Music] [Applause] so call him one thing I think I'll call him say hey our heads in prayer almost gracious Father we thank thee for this cold evening and the warm hearts that are here in church tonight we ask thee O Lord to help us to be worthy of this father to save ya we ask this in your name [Applause] [Music] well I was out in Charlie Sneed's car looking for my daddy and I ran out of gas I was wondering if you knew where I could find some no but I can give you a ride over to Ike's store but I'm afraid it's closed but now well they don't sell gas oh no no they uh you know they have customers coming in to get some of the recipe and wheat and barley gas from them all right try and there's a nobody there well then we'll just burn a little addressed beef all righty let me take care of the kids and send them on home and then we'll be on our way all right [Music] [Music] remember this one Mamie Ashley Longworth brought up that Christmas he came court I still think of Ashley down then did you know that yes what yes he thought highly of you but he loved me someone has run out of that recipe did it ever occur to you sister that if I'd married Ashley Longworth you would be carrying on the Christmas tradition all alone Mamie [Music] maybe you missed every word I've said well well you're gone there's no reason not to carry on the conversation is that you remember that Christmas I'll pop out all the cousins from Buckingham County here and the house caught fire it's harp on duty miss Mamie oh how nice of you to call who else is out there the john-boy Walton miss Mamie oh come in come in we called the fire engines off they didn't get here for ages and pop had to come hi because not sure oh I should have mentioned that get back in the house and everybody started drinking the recipe and having a fun time company had two Christmas travelers I know you do I know you john-boy Walton Miss Emily mercy your Neely's Biggs your daddy yes ma'am ha ha evening miss Emily you all together oh that's just about the size Evan Miss Emily yes this a treat sister company on Christmas Eve my sister and I were just having our Christmas joy come on in by the fire and enjoy it with us no time for Christmas joy I thought we'd come here to get some gas you don't get it boy but you don't rush these ladies what they're crazy then you just play crazy - y'all take seeds take seeds oh we can't stay miss Emily's but you already just got here yes miss jolly is that the judge yes indeed these are the judges quarters spent the last eight years of his life in these rooms reading his law books and drinking the recipe and entertaining his friends sister those stories simply are not true there were no ladies only gentlemen except from this Flossie and miss Mae cousin sister cousins Papa always called them cousins well they certainly dropped out of the family after Papa died oh the judge certainly was to get about sister some nights he'd just vanish I've never volunteer to tell either of us wait Ben didn't he ever tell you where he went on those nights sometimes I suspected it was something we had no right to know oh well now I'll tell you he used to come and visit my Papa but George did show up in the evening with a whole gallon jug of the recipe and then he and Papa would sit in it sipping it sip then long about 10 o'clock one of them would start to singing and another one would join in when the roll is called up yonder I wager oh yeah and then keep on singing until they couldn't stand up and then mama she'd put in the bed and then just keep on saying it until they fell asleep he know that him no from front to finish I've got to go what's that oh nothing Miss Emily you have got to stay you gentlemen must be frozen to death take off those whip boots and let them dry by the fire while we visit well we really can't stay Miss Emily yes yes now take off your shoes and those damn socks too before you both come down with lumps up there's gonna be socks hanging by our fireplace again huh what Santa Claus is gonna say when he sees that sister you're such a ninny believing it's Santa Claus at your age why do I do just because he doesn't pay us a call anymore was no reason to stop believin do you remember Ashley Longworth yes I have heard of him Miss Emily your Papa used to speak of him really mm-hmm what do you say well I don't think he held too high of an opinion of it oh I sometimes wonder what ever happened to Ashley Longworth Papa chased him off is what happened my wasn't he the handsome thing Mamie knew it to anything that handsome head to know it I always remember my 25th birthday October 19th Ashley was here as usual and he asked me to go for a walk with him the woods were afire with color and as we stood under a maple tree a shower of golden leaves fell there's regular whirlwind of them and in that whirlwind of golden leaves Ashley Longworth kissed me Ashley left that evening I heard from him once farewell letter you might call it then nothing I think of him often but as the years have gone by and still no word of him comes I decided he must have died and one of the wars I'm sorry you think maybe we could borrow some I'm sorry I miss Emily Emily put a record on the Victrola Emily oh it'll probably need winder hasn't been used since the last time we had a party that was before Papa died remember when all the mukundan cousin's dropped in Papa hadn't seen him in years Oh we played hymns and sang and afterwards everyone started drinking the recipe I'll get in crime oh mercy that was a day to remember [Music] it's mr. Enrico Caruso the nice thing about life is you never know when there's gonna be a party wouldn't have been about Christmas travelers hadn't taken it in mind to stop by Christmas praise the Lord you know I remember so well your Papa and my Papa singing together wish I could have been there when they saying throw out the lifeline a willing follow me throw out the Lifeline throughout the lifeline someone is drifting away Wow lifeline across the dark way there is a brother whom someone should say somebody's brother who then would dare to throw out the lifeline the world of care [Music] [Applause] [Music] Miss Emily miss Mamie we got to have some gas yes sister where do we keep the gas in the car sister but I'm afraid there isn't any what you need it for well I was out looking for my daddy and Charlie Sneed's car and I run out why did you say so in the first place come on [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] all the trouble [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] well can't we get into the woods and go around it we can try can't we hassel no she found in the drift I'm afraid we're gonna have to turn around well I got to go on from here on foot then oh it's 30 miles to Charlottesville boy it'll take you a week to get there oh you must let us take your home I have got to find my daddy well you don't know where he is and if anything happens to him you're gonna be needed at home so let's go [Music] [Music] [Music] what are you children doing out of bed it's not Santa Claus let somebody out is that John looks more like John Boy is my daddy with them noo hes all alone why don't you children go back to bed you said if we rested a while we could see the miracle I need there's not gonna be any miracle just the same I'd like to see for myself stadi home not yet who was that let you off down at the gate was Miss Mamie Miss Emily Baldwin they give me a ride home in their Pappy's sleigh we got no Santa Claus what am I gonna do with you boy I send you looking for your daddy and you end up joyriding with two old lady bootleggers Oh enjoy riding mama well they took me to look for daddy we got right far but there's a tree down in the road stopped us dead what's that you got in your hand it's a present mama for Miss Mamie Miss Emily oak make whiskey don't those crazy old women know I don't allow whiskey in this house I've got young children in this out what sort of example do they think we sit here you take it out younger and pour it on the ground it's not whiskey Marmite cygnar I would be ashamed of myself well it'll be midnight before you know it I'll be getting to the church now oh man you stay in this house you're too old to be prancing around the cold Oh woman you're not the boss of me I got a ring in Christmas carpets awful slippery outside nobody'll expect you to ring the church bells dinner well the Methodists will be ringing in Christmas and so will the Episcopal well the Baptist Bell is going to be ringing right along with them my children go along with you I'll be all right daughter ladies and gentlemen since you'll be asleep when I come home I bid you Merry Christmas Merry Christmas you old fool will you go with us john-boy to see the miracle in the barn yeah sure honey uncle anybody else grandma no I'm going to bed I'm too tired to keep my eyes open good night everybody I bet you mom the first miracle I want to see tonight is your daddy walking through that door [Music] tell us the story again john-boy when Jesus was born it's in a stable and the first things to lay eyes on him so first mom and his papa the first things lay eyes on him was the sheep and the goats cows and all the other animals that lived there they were the first ever to see Jesus face I never since that night animals all over the world wait up [Music] and at the stroke of midnight they kneeled down and they pray and speak in human voices [Music] you want some coffee I've been keeping it warm what a woman I'm married I take two peach when I came according you crazy oh where in the world are you John well the last bus out of town ran into an accident I heard I just knew you were on well thank you john-boy I didn't see any point you're spending Christmas in a bus station so I started to hitchhike I must have spent half the day out there on that road with my thumb up in the air as far as Hickory Creek for dark and from then on was every step along the way by foot what's in that sack daddy well now doggone if I know Ben well you see I was walking across the yard I didn't want to make any noise because I figured that you kids would all be asleep you see all of a sudden I saw something flying straight across the sky landed right on top of this house we heard it you did I wait a second then I saw this team of some kind of animals look like about the size of a year old calf you know and little pointy things coming on at the top of the head reindeer I think so Ben I think so now I never seen a reindeer I don't know for sure but I think that's what it must have been and I looked and then this little old man got out little old man dressed in black boots and a red coat and some kind of white fur all around here sure it was but I'd never seen that old son of a gun before Elizabeth I didn't know who it was I thought it might be somebody trying to break into the house I looked around and I got me the biggest rock I could find here in the rock no I didn't hit him but I scared him I scared him so much that that sleigh slid right off in the room of the house and landed down in the yard [Laughter] reindeer bin reindeer that take off but I was able to grab a hole before he left the ground you taught me how I didn't talk to him and I rassled him and I got me a whole big arm load of that stuff in that sleigh before he got away I think hey man would you bring that one over here I think this must be for you what can the word you've been wishing for springtime dead or winter America those are for Grandma and Grandpa son of mine show music hey I wonder how word got all the way to the North Pole you wanted to be a writer well I guess you must be a right smart man I don't know the thing about the write and trade son but if you want to take it up you got to give it your best that's your daddy I see some sleepy children after bed now you can play in the morning don't say you got yet wait till wrong then the last light goes out okay get along kids thanks dad you all right Serena I am well you won't be having another day like this one I'm not going back you quit your job I think hard times are almost over I think the country's gonna get better until it does get better I'll make a living here on Waltons mountain and dead or winter if everything covered with snow there's timber for lumber and railroad ties firewood in the spring our plow and plant come for our harvest what I can you must spend every cent of your paycheck just about yeah what are we gonna live on this coming we love Christmas is a season when we give tokens of love in that house we received not tokens but love itself I became the writer I promised my father I'd be and my destiny led me far from Walton's mountain my mother lives there still alone now for we lost my father in 1969 my brothers and sisters grown with children of their own lived not far away we are still a close family and see each other when we can and like Miss Mamie Baldwin 'he's fourth cousins we're apt to sample the recipe and then gather around the piano and hug each other while we sing the old songs for no matter the time or distance we are united in the memory of that Christmas Eve more than 30 years and 3,000 miles away I can still hear those sweet voices good night good night JimBob good night Ben good night buddy [Music] you

Channel: Morris Pattison

Views: 5,053,200

Rating: 4.7738376 out of 5

Keywords:

Id: umEEnFtmV0I

Length: 98min 22sec (5902 seconds)

Published: Sat Dec 13 2014

Reddit Comments

[u/Linuxllc]

I grew up with the Walton's. The only cast member's that got replace were the parents before it became a TV series.

[u/MovieGuide]

The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) (TV)

Drama [USA:PG, 1 h 40 min]
Patricia Neal, Richard Thomas, Edgar Bergen, Ellen Corby
Director: Fielder Cook

IMDb rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8.1/10 (450 votes)

The Walton family is preparing for Christmas in the early 1930s. It's Christmas eve and they are waiting for father Walton to come home from his job in the city some 50 miles away. Since he is late, everyone is worried and over the radio the mother and grandparents hear about an overturned bus and hurt travelers but keep this news from the rest of the family. The story is really a coming of age story about the oldest son JohnBoy who must cut down the tree with his grandfather since his father isn't home and is eventually told about his missing father and sets out to find him. An all round heartwarming story, especially if you are a fan of The Waltons. A simple story about a simple family in simple times. Great family entertainment! (IMDb)

More info at IMDb, Wikidata.
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