Cast List
John-Boy Walton: Richard Thomas
John Walton: Ralph Waite
Olivia Walton: Michael Learned
Esther Walton (Grandma): Ellen Corby
Zebulon Tyler Walton (Grandpa): Will Geer
Mary Ellen Walton: Judy Norton
Jason Walton: Jon Walmsley
Ben Walton: Eric Scott
Erin Walton: Mary Elizabeth McDonough
Jim-Bob Walton: David Harper
Elizabeth Walton: Kami Cotler

Production Staff
Producer: Robert L. Jacks
Executive Story Consultant: Earl Hamner
Associate Producer/Production Manager: Neil T. Maffeo
Music: Arthur Morton
Theme Song by Jerry Goldsmith
Created by Earl Hamner

“The Journey”
Original airdate: 09/13/1973
Screenplay: Nigel McKeand
Director: Harry Harris
John-Boy, who needs a new pair of trousers for a school dance, drives Grandma to see a neighbor, Maggie MacKenzie, who has been having heart problems. They find her trying to crank up her old car; she says she needs it running to go celebrate what would have been her wedding anniversary. Back at the Walton home, the children are teasing John-Boy for his determination to attend the dance with Marcia Woolery, and are also caring for an injured seagull that was blown inland by a recent storm. When Dr. Vance finds out why John-Boy is fixing Maggie’s automobile, he scolds her because of her failing health, but she is resolved to go on the trip. Later, while serving tea to John-Boy, Maggie reminisces about her wedding day and the subsequent anniversary celebrations when she and her husband would have a special time at the seashore. These recollections touch John-Boy’s heart and when, after Maggie has yet another slight heart attack, she asks him to take her to the seashore, he at first refuses, but then remembers her stories and also the homesick seagull languishing at home, and agrees. Marcia is furious, since that will be the day of the dance. John-Boy’s regrets die at the sight of Maggie’s joy and his first experience with the ocean. He takes her to eat at the same restaurant where Maggie and her husband always dined, and there samples his first lobster. While they dance, Maggie envisions John-Boy as her Michael. On the way home, Maggie suffers her final heart attack, and, on her deathbed, thanks a grieving John-Boy for the day and gives him the gold piece she received on her wedding day. At long last, too, the seagull is well and, like Maggie, is freed.
Maggie MacKenzie: Linda Watkins. Dr. Vance: Victor Izay. Marcia Woolery: Tami Bula. Waiter: Chester Jones.
Notes
Earl Hamner plays Michael MacKenzie in the flashback sequence.

“The Odyssey”
Original airdate: 09/20/1973
Screenplay: Joanna Lee
Director: Jack Shea
Tired of not being able to write because of requests for help with Mary Ellen’s lamb Daisy, Jason’s racer, and Ben in his room recovering from a fever, John-Boy gets permission to spend the night on the mountain in the deserted Montgomery cabin. On the way there, he helps Granny Ketchum, an old black “herb woman,” extract her mule, Blue, from the garden, so by the time he reaches the cabin, a storm is brewing. He finds the cabin occupied by his old classmate Sarah Simmons, on the run from her legal guardians the Canelies in Richmond, and pregnant by her husband Riley O’Connor, whom she had married secretly. John-Boy wants to take her home, but she is afraid her guardians will tell her mother only their side of the story. Also, they have told her they are going to put the baby up for adoption. Sarah also has the same fever Ben had come down with, so John-Boy runs to an ailing Granny Ketchum. She gives him a tea remedy and loans him the mule, for the storm has worsened and even stranded a frantic Margery Simmons at the Waltons. Sarah has barely recovered from the fever and the storm subsided (after squashing Jim-Bob’s prize tomatoes), than the girl goes into labor and John-Boy must deliver the child, the girl Sarah wanted. He has already discovered that Sarah was never really married and understands her unease in returning, but takes her and baby Mariah back to her mother. He finds that Granny Ketchum has died and willed Blue the mule to him. Once again the children nag John-Boy for help, but he can now accept and enjoy it again.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Sarah Jane Simmons: Sissy Spacek. Granny Ketchum: Frances E. Williams. Margery Simmons: Allyn Ann McLerie. Dr. Vance: Victor Izay.
Note:
There is a story involved with the addition of Blue the mule to the Walton menagerie. Richard Thomas’ grandparents were also mountain dwellers, but in the Kentucky hills, where they had a small farm. They told Richard that every small rural family in those days had a mule to plow the garden, etc. Thomas told Earl Hamner this, but Hamner said the family was too poor to buy a mule. Hence the story where Granny Ketchum leaves the mule to John-Boy.

“The Separation”
Original airdate: 09/27/1973
Screenplay: Richard Carr, from a story by Ellen Corby
Director: Philip Leacock
The children clamor for permission to attend an upcoming barn dance. The caller will be Oglethorpe Hansen, an old beau of Grandma’s. The joy of this upcoming event is tempered when their electricity is turned off when they cannot afford the bill. Grandpa, sent to the store to buy candles, instead goes to the Baldwin home to fix some pipes in order to earn the money to pay the bill-if they will allow him to borrow their car. The ladies agree, but only if they can go with him, and when they do so, they take their time. Grandma, who has been worried about his disappearance, sees it only as him “out gallivanting” and is furious, which only makes Grandpa more stubborn, so he won’t admit why he did it. Grandma then tosses Grandpa from their bedroom and in a huff after an argument, Grandpa moves out. John-Boy finds out about the quarrel and discovers Grandpa at the store, asleep on the pool table, insistent that he won’t return until Grandma apologizes. When Grandma finds out why the electricity is back on, she does intend to apologize, only to find out from Ike that Grandpa has gone back to the Baldwin home. He only has done so to pick up the perfume he bought for her, but she doesn’t know that and returns home in a huff. Grandpa is hurt at her mistrust and gives the perfume to John-Boy instead; when he presents his grandmother with the flask she is too proud to admit she was wrong. Grandpa is persuaded to attend the barn dance when he learns Grandma is “eager” to see her old beau. It takes a few minutes, but the strains of “their” song, “My Wild Irish Rose,” brings them back into each other’s arms.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Miss Mamie Baldwin: Helen Kleeb. Miss Emily Baldwin: Mary Jackson. Oglethorpe (Fred) Hansen: William Paterson. Mr. Harper: John J. Fox. Electric Company Man: Ed Cook. Anker Barnes: Ancel Cook.
Notes:
This is one of several stories written by Ellen Corby. “Hansen” is Ellen Corby’s real last name.

“The Theft”
Original airdate: 10/04/1973
Screenplay: Robert Malcolm Young
Director: Harry Harris
John is fixing a refrigerator at the home of the rich Claybourne family; he discovers son Stuart Lee doesn’t pay as well as his late father and the family desperately needs cash: there are bills due and the truck badly needs new tires. On the same day that Mrs. Claybourne misses some of her silverware, John comes home with two new tires and a gift for Olivia. When the sheriff comes to investigate, John refuses to reveal where he went that afternoon, arousing suspicions from Sheriff Bridges and the older members of the family. In fact, John is acting so strangely that even the children doubt him, and the neighbors begin avoiding the family and talking about them. Ben cannot even sell magazines door-to-door without being accused of dishonesty. There are mysteries at the Claybourne house as well: daughter Amelia was pulled from her private school and Stuart Lee is wearing shoes with holes in the soles. In fact, Stuart Lee almost admitted to Ben that the family couldn’t afford magazines. John-Boy discovers that the Claybourne finances are shaky and confronts Stuart Lee, who must stop his mother when she loudly demands John return her silver. He finally admits it is he that took the silver, to sell to keep the family solvent; he had not told his mother because he didn’t want her to know they were nearly penniless. Apologies are made, and John admits he was acting oddly because he had pawned his wedding ring to buy the tires.
Mrs. Claybourne: Diana Webster. Stuart Lee Claybourne: Dennis Dugan. Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Sheriff Ep Bridges: John Crawford. Amelia Claybourne: Janit Baldwin. Dewey: Davis Roberts. Dodge Evanhauer: Vern Rowe. Garage Man: Frederick Davis.

"The Roots”
Original airdate: 10/14/1973
Screenplay: Sheldon Stark
Director: Philip Leacock
While picking peaches, the Walton children and Verdie Grant befriend Harley and Jody Foster, an itinerant father and son who have been all over the country doing odd jobs. While Harley enjoys the open road, talking to the Walton children and drinking lemonade at Verdie’s home makes Jody wonder if he wouldn’t want to have a real home. Harley is able to fix the malfunctioning truck and is invited to stay with the Waltons; Verdie then cons Harley into fixing the Baldwin ladies’ car as well. Ike offers him a full time job, but Harley isn’t sure he wants to stay. Jody, however, is helping Jim-Bob with a newly planted peach tree and does want to stay. Verdie tries her best to convince both of them to remain in the area. Jody tells Olivia his biggest wish is to have a bed of his own and he’s so upset by the thought of leaving that he runs away to Verdie’s house, where she discovers he can’t read, whereupon Harley and Verdie argue over the boy’s future. In a huff, Harley decides to leave. Verdie gives Jody a going-away gift and fires a last shot at his father, but Jody has assured they won’t leave by stealing money from Ike’s cash register and hiding it in Harley’s knapsack. When he confesses what he has done, a chagrined Harley decides to settle down-and perhaps pursue Verdie as well! The peach sapling also survives.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Verdie Grant: Lynn Hamilton. Harley Foster: Hal Williams. Jody Foster: Erin Blunt. Mr. Denton: Noble Willingham.

“The Chicken Thief”
Original airdate: 10/18/1973
Screenplay: Richard Carr
Director: Ralph Senensky
A trip to the general store results in a letter from Liberty magazine for Ben, who then encounters Yancy Tucker, whose job at the moment looks definitely shady. Later, while helping deliver wood, John-Boy sees Yancy stealing chickens; Yancy claims the next day that he only “borrowed” the hens to give to the needy. John-Boy says he feels guilty about not revealing the identity of the thief, so Yancy agrees to replace the chickens. Next day John-Boy finds out that the farmer, Charley Potter, was shot by a chicken thief, so he and John search for Yancy, only to have the miscreant arrested on the Walton doorstep. Meanwhile, Ben is having his own struggle with conscience: he borrowed an idea from John-Boy’s poems and won the Liberty carrier-boy contest. Yancy believes he will be cleared of the crime and refuses any help from John-Boy, but the latter is at least able to assure Ben that, although he is envious, borrowing an idea for a poem is not the same as stealing it. While helping Charley with his chores, John-Boy sees all the people Yancy has helped by his chicken thievery returning chickens to help him. John then appears to worm the real truth from Charley: he saw Yancy returning the chickens, gave chase, and accidentally shot himself, but was too embarrassed to admit it. Yancy is cleared and Ben’s poem received enthusiastically.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Sheriff Ep Bridges: John Crawford. Yancy Tucker: Robert Donner. Maude Gormley: Merie Earle. Charley Potter: Richard O’Brien. Jane Aspen: Cissy Wellman. Floyd Carter: David Moody. Mr. Kilgore: Charles Kuenstle. Mrs. Blankfield: Dorothy Meyer. Mrs. Porter: Meg Wyllie.

“The Prize”
Original airdate: 10/28/1973
Screenplay: Dale Eunson
Director: Philip Leacock
One quiet August Sunday, as the family relaxes and plans for the upcoming county fair, the Baldwin sisters arrive with their guest, Oscar Cockrell, one of Olivia’s old beaus and a candidate for the state legislature. This old relationship intrigues the children and John-Boy asks his mother if she’s ever wondered what her life would have been like if she’d married someone else. Olivia responds that she’s had fantasies, but she’s content. A wistful Oscar drops by a few days later to talk to Olivia and ask her if she’s happy; it doesn’t seem if he enjoys his politicking or his worldly wife. On the day of the fair, the family departs home with their entries: Olivia’s special cake (with whiskey frosting), Grandma’s quilt, and Ben’s pig Rover, a gift from Yancy Tucker, which will be used in the greased pig contest. John-Boy catches a ride with Oscar, who tells him he’s still searching for a purpose in life. Family and friends enjoy the simple pleasures of the fair, and Olivia’s cake wins first prize, although Grandma’s quilt does not, and the Baldwin sisters’ jelly-liberally spiked with the Recipe-is the hit of the jam contest. When Ben’s pig is discovered as belonging to a neighbor, Olivia uses her prize money to purchase the animal. Meanwhile, Oscar discards his canned speech and talks from the heart, endearing himself to the community.
Miss Mamie Baldwin: Helen Kleeb. Miss Emily Baldwin: Mary Jackson. Sheriff Ep Bridges: John Crawford. Martha Rose Coverdale: Cindy Eilbacher. G.W. Haines: David Doremus. Oscar Cockrell: Peter Donat. George Porter: Dana Elcar. Dr. Vance: Victor Izay. Grace Patterson: Louise Lorimer. 2nd Woman Judge: Angela Greene. Quilt Lady: Kathleen O’Malley. 1st Man: Charles Kuenstle. Cake Lady: Joella Deffenbaugh. 2nd Man: Jay Ripley. 3rd Man: Burt Prelutsky. Jelly Lady: Patricia Wilson. 1st Woman Judge: Queenie Smith.
Notes:
Michael Learned was married to Peter Donat at the time this was filmed. Donat’s father was Robert Donat, who won an Academy Award for Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

“The Braggart”
Original airdate: 11/01/1973
Screenplay: Richard Fielder
Director: Jack Shea
Hobie Shank, an orphan who stayed with the family four years earlier, arrives at the Walton house as boisterous as ever, telling them that a baseball scout from the minor leagues will be looking him up soon. John-Boy, who has always felt a bit overwhelmed by Hobie, is put out by the attention this garners the other boy and is skeptical about the baseball scout story. Behind his overconfident manner, however, Hobie is really doubtful and afraid he won’t get the job. Half the neighborhood turns up to see Hobie try out, including an admiring Marcia, and his success brings more adulation, to John-Boy’s dismay. John helps negotiate an excellent contract for Hobie and his ego grows until he demurs at visiting the orphanage any longer, although he know the younger boys look up to him. But while fooling around with the girls, he falls out of a tree and breaks his right elbow. The arm heals, but will never be the same and his contract is cancelled. Hobie sinks into despair and decides to leave before a baseball game they have arranged, partially for his benefit, but John-Boy berates him for “chickening out” when trouble approaches. Watching the ball game convinces Hobie that the boys at the orphanage need him, so he takes a job as athletic director.
Sheriff Ep Bridges: John Crawford. Hobie Shank: Michael McGreevey. Marcia Woolery: Tami Bula. Clyde “Preacher” Harroway: Richard X. Slattery. Sam “Half Pint” Brady: Christopher Gardner. Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Martha Rose Coverdale: Cindy Eilbacher. Calvin Trask: Brian Culhane. Dr. Wolfe: William Wintersole. Mrs. Baker: Doreen Long. Georgie: Moosie Drier. Norma Lee: Shawn Shea. Iggy: Michael Reilly.
Notes:
Michael McGreevey, now a writer in his own right, is the son of prolific television writer John McGreevey, who wrote several episodes of the Waltons series. Mike McGreevey appeared in several Disney films.

“The Fawn”
Original airdate: 11/08/1973
Screenplay: John McGreevey
Director: Ralph Waite
Disturbing events on Waltons Mountain both large and small: neighbors are forced to move when they can’t pay their taxes and their farm is taken over by greedy landlord Graham Foster, and Erin discovers that her “boy friend” Harold Beasley isn’t quite the “knight in shining armor” she thought him to be. Foster gives John-Boy a job collecting rents, testing John’s patience, and Erin brings home an orphan fawn she calls “Lancelot.” Although she’s told she can’t keep the animal, Erin does, and the fawn soon starts getting into everything. Then she finds she will have to let it go nevertheless, since it is illegal to keep a wild animal as a pet. John-Boy meets hostility when he collects the rents and discovers that his new boss does not make repairs on time. When John-Boy reports to Foster, the man refuses to pay him and berates him for being honest and proud like his father, to which John-Boy retorts that he’s glad of it. In the meantime, a game warden takes Lance away to free him, leaving Erin sullen and suffering nightmares about the deer; when she goes looking for him, she indeed finds poachers trying to shoot him. Mr. Hennessey the game warden offers to take Lance to a Game Farm instead, but when Erin finds out Lance would be penned, she agrees to free him herself. In the end, John-Boy cleverly gets his pay by fixing a tenant’s roof, then deducting his salary from the rent she gives him, thus ending his “business career.”
Graham Foster: Charles Tyner. Mr. Hennessey: Matt Clark. Mrs. Littlefield: Mary Betten. Roswell: James Gammon. Beth Ann: Donna Sanders. Harold Beasley: Jimmy Davilla. Poacher #1: James Jeter. Mrs. Crofut: Marjorie Morton Eaton. Poacher #2: Sam Javis. Charlie: Todd Miller.
Notes:
Ralph’s Waite’s directorial debut.

“The Thanksgiving Story” (2 hour episode)
Original airdate: 11/15/1973
Screenplay: Joanna Lee from a story by Earl Hamner
Director: Philip Leacock
Excited by both his upcoming scholarship examinations and the imminent arrival of Jenny Pendleton for a Thanksgiving visit, John-Boy interrupts preparation of food for the holiday and later helps the men at the mill. A fan belt snaps off the saw, striking him in the face, but he is unhurt, or appears to be: later he begins having spells where he loses control of his hand muscles, but he attributes it to too much writing. Because John-Boy is busy, Jason takes a job at the Baldwin home. They are making a special batch of the Recipe for President Roosevelt. This year Ben is determined that he’ll bring home the turkey, so Grandpa makes him a lure. Soon John-Boy is experiencing double vision occasionally, but he ignores his symptoms to clean the Pendleton house, but to his chagrin, Jenny and Eula show up early. After dinner, John-Boy and Jenny have an at-first awkward reunion at the old Walton homestead. While John-Boy applies for his scholarship, Mary Ellen tries out for, and wins the role of, Pocahontas in the school pageant. John-Boy confides his secret thoughts to Jenny on the mountain. Meanwhile, the Baldwin sisters are so impressed by Jason that they propose adopting him, to Olivia’s indignation. John-Boy continues to mask his symptoms so he will not miss the scholarship test, but during the exam his vision becomes so blurred that he cannot continue and must have someone pick him up. Dr. Vance suspects a blood clot in his brain and schedules a bitter John-Boy for surgery. He emerges without the feared blindness, and is eager to see if he can take the exam over. Miss Hunter persuades the college to allow John-Boy to retake the test in the hospital with her as a proctor. John tells him that Dr. Vance advises against it, but John-Boy insists on taking the test, finishing before time is up. Soon it is Thanksgiving, and, as the family sits down to the turkey that Ben didn’t shoot (but did buy, thus still bringing it home), Dr. Vance arrives with John-Boy, making it a truly thankful day. Some weeks later, John-Boy receives a telegram-he is indeed on the scholarship list.
Reverend Matthew Fordwick: John Ritter. Dr. Vance: Victor Izay. Miss Mamie Baldwin: Helen Kleeb. Miss Emily Baldwin: Mary Jackson. Rosemary Hunter: Mariclare Costello. Dr. McIvers: Rance Howard. G.W. Haines: David Doremus. Martha Rose Coverdale: Cindy Eilbacher. Jenny Pendleton: Sian Barbara Allen. Eula Pendleton: Diane Shalet. Mabel: Kym Karath. Miss Mansell: Nadine Turney. Teacher: Monty Margetlo. Nurse Stewart: Claudia Bryer. Proctor: Keith Atkinson. Dr. Haley: Ivan Bonar. Jerry: David Henesy. Higgins: Paul Sorenson. Nurse: Betsy Finley. Fern: Teresa Medaris.

“The Substitute”
Original airdate: 11/22/1973
Screenplay: John McGreevey
Director: Lee Philips
When Miss Hunter’s sister is in a car accident, she must leave to nurse her, so the school board hires a young, inexperienced, but much honored daughter of a famous New York educator. Megan Pollard appears to everyone to be too straight-laced and sober for her years, and gets no joy out of life or personal relationships. Her impersonal methods soon have the children rebelling, especially when she puts Ben back a grade after a pedantic test and places Lucilla, a little girl who has always sat in the front row, in the back of the room. Megan also tells John-Boy that his stories are too emotional. When little Lucilla is reprimanded for not listening, John-Boy angrily tells Megan that the girl is a child, not a theory, and that she has always sat up front because she is hard of hearing. Megan begins to doubt her ability to teach, especially after the school board complains about her, and finally decides to resign. John-Boy asks her not to leave, telling her that her objectivity has taught him that feelings are more important than ever. The young woman finally tearfully admits that her father was never able to show emotion to her and she grew up behind a shell of protection, not getting involved in life so she wouldn’t be hurt. At school, she asks the children to begin again, and starts to learn about feelings while participating in a kite-flying contest.
Megan Pollard: Catherine Burns. Lucilla Younger: Melanie Freeman. Ethel Richardson: Katherine O’Malley. Rosemary Hunter: Mariclare Costello.
Notes:
Catherine Burns co-starred with Richard Thomas in the film Red Sky at Morning, which Earl Hamner saw before The Homecoming was cast and suggested that Richard would be perfect for the role of John-Boy.

“The Bequest”
Original airdate: 11/29/1973
Screenplay: Mart Thaw
Director: Alf Kjellin
While watching Martha Rose parade around her bleached hair at Ike’s store, the children are entrusted with a letter for Grandma. She’s afraid to open it when it turns out to be from a legal firm, but it turns out that her old friend, Fern Potter, passed away and left her $250. Overwhelmed by both her friend’s death and the amount of money, Grandma decides to give $50 to the church to fix the roof, then tells the children they will get $5 each and wants the remainder to go to John-Boy to save for college. Anticipating the bequest, the family orders a new water heater and the children plan to purchase Halloween costumes and other wanted items. The children’s greed disturbs Olivia, especially after the boys get into a fight over the money. Grandma, however, enjoys the praise of the grateful congregation and John-Boy takes her on a special thank you trip to tour the college he wants to attend. Another letter is waiting from the law firm when they return: once Fern’s debts were paid, the estate was depleted; there will be no money. Grandma is depressed because she can no longer keep her promises, but John-Boy coaxes her out of it. It will take more to cheer up Jim-Bob, though: as guinea pig in Mary Ellen’s search for a solution to turn her hair blond like Martha Rose, she has turned his hair orange! With John’s help, the congregation fixes the roof themselves, and the sale of Grandpa’s newly repaired watch starts up John-Boy’s college fund again.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Martha Rose Coverdale: Cindy Eilbacher. Reverend Matthew Fordwick: John Ritter. Receptionist: Ann Carol Pearson. Librarian: Eunice Christopher.

"The Air-Mail Man"
Original airdate: 12/13/1973
Screenplay: Peter L. Dixon and Sarah Dixon
Director: Robert Butler
Olivia has fallen into the habit of waving to an airplane that flies over the house (the pilot waggles his wings back). One evening the plane develops engine trouble nearby and the family uses lanterns to guide him to a safe landing in the pasture. The pilot, Todd Cooper, is an affable young man whose restlessness led him to quit the air-mail business to go barnstorming. Grandma senses something hidden about him even as she cannot understand his (and Olivia's and Jim-Bob's) obsession with the sky. Next day is Olivia's birthday and she is feeling dull and low while the men help Cooper fix his plane and the girls and Grandma bake her a cake. Olivia has a wistful conversation with Cooper about flying, and while he is absent, she climbs into the cockpit and pretends she is aloft. A restless Todd approves of Jim-Bob's model plane, and, eager for his replacement parts, asks John-Boy if he will go to Ike's store to see if they are in. There, he and the eldest Walton boy encounter a woman whose photo John-Boy accidentally saw in Cooper's flight bag. She is Sue, his wife, whom he left when he found out she was pregnant; he was afraid having a baby would tie him down. Sue insists having a child will not restrain him, that he can see her and the baby when he can and still fly, but he objects that this is unfair to her. He later tells John he doesn't feel the way he should about the baby, but John convinces him to try again. John-Boy's gift to his mother is a reading, and his own interpretation, of the Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "The Windhover," which she treasures along with the cake, Jason's song, and the family's presents. Her most exciting gift, however, is a flight in the airplane before Todd and Sue leave together.
Todd Cooper: Michael Glaser. Sue Cooper: Julie Cobb. Ike Godsey: Joe Conley.
Note:
Michael Glaser later became Paul Michael Glaser and starred in Starsky and Hutch.

"The Triangle"
Original airdate: 12/20/1973
Screenplay: Lionel E. Siegal
Director: Lee Philips
As she helps him with a contest essay, Miss Hunter awakens John-Boy's growing feelings for her. He is unaware that she is being courted by a shy Reverend Fordwick, much to her astonishment and delight. In fact it seems love is in the air at the Waltons Mountain School: Ben is taking a bodybuilding course to impress Naomi, a girl who likes muscular boys. The family is preparing for a church picnic, and, while helping Miss Hunter fix a dress for the occasion, Olivia finds out about the romance. Olivia reveals the news to John-Boy, who has confessed to his mother that the "most unforgettable person" of his essay is not his aunt, as he has told everyone, but is about Miss Hunter. He immediately becomes surly, halting work on the essay. When he visits his teacher to continue work on it, Reverend Fordwick is there and suggests John-Boy write something for the Sunday service. Miss Hunter protests that perhaps he is not ready and asks John-Boy to read a portion of his essay aloud, only to have him break down and tell her that not only is the essay actually about her, but that he doesn't feel that way any longer. She begs Olivia to persuade him to submit the essay. John-Boy refuses to attend the church picnic, and when he airs his resentment to John, his father suggests he's jealous. The church picnic is a success for Ben even though he loses the nail-driving contest—Naomi pays attention to him—and eventually for John-Boy, who apologizes to his teacher for his jealousy and they are friends again.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Rosemary Hunter: Mariclare Costello. Reverend Matthew Fordwick: John Ritter. Mrs. Brimmer: Nora Marlowe. Naomi Atkins: Janet Johnson.
Note:
This is the first appearance of Mrs. Brimmer. We will later find out her name is Flossie.

“The Awakening”
Original airdate: 01/03/1974
Screenplay: Joanna Lee
Director: Lee Philips
An unusually irritable Grandma, who has been having trouble hearing, gets upset when she hears President Roosevelt’s plans for social security, which reminds of her encroaching old age. Age, too, has caught up with Mary Ellen, who has gotten her first kiss from Kevin Sturgis, a university student, and her new feelings trouble her. Her dreaminess astonishes G.W. and her need for privacy leads to her request to use the old tool shed as a bedroom. John-Boy has already claimed it as a study and is furious about having to always be the self-sacrificing eldest. During the commotion, Grandma faints and the doctor is called. He suspects an inner-ear infection, but Grandma refuses to see a specialist. Although he is still angry at her, Grandpa tells John-Boy about a girl he once knew, independent like Mary Ellen, named “Sissy,” who wanted to start her own seamstress shop. When John-Boy asks what happened to her, Grandpa responds, “I married her.” John-Boy persuades Ike to sell him a bouquet of yellow roses, a gift to Mary Ellen, along with the use of the shed. Grandma, having finally gone to the doctor and found out her problem is only a virus, returns home to birthday presents: a thimble for “Sissy,” curios, Erin’s crocheted “creation,” and the bouquet of roses from Mary Ellen and the other children, who had no other gift. Very soon all is back to normal again: Grandma hears well, G.W. is after Mary Ellen again, and she has rejected the shed as “too private.”
Dr. Vance: Victor Izay. Kevin Sturgis: James Carroll Jordan. Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. G.W. Haines: David Doremus.
Note:
The story was originally supposed to be about Mary Ellen getting her first menstrual period, but the censors objected, so they changed it to her first kiss.

“The Honeymoon”
Original airdate: 01/10/1974
Screenplay: John McGreevey
Director: Jack Shea
Frustrated at the children’s neglect of their duties, Olivia declares a sit-down strike until they do their chores. John decides that Olivia should finally have the honeymoon she never had, making her reminisce about her wedding, pulling out her dress and trousseau. Even though she says they cannot afford it, John is determined to take her to Virginia Beach. Then the mill saw breaks down, and the children contribute money to the price Grandpa gets for an old oven so the honeymoon can still take place. Crises happen as soon as John and Olivia depart: Reckless chases a skunk into the house and the truck breaks down in a thunderstorm. Half the children catch cold after sleeping in the barn, and Marcia Woolery seems determined to snag John-Boy into going steady. When they have an argument, John-Boy slips and dislocates his shoulder. In contrast, Olivia and John are having a lovely time, but when she phones the store to see if a nearby forest fire will threaten the house, Ike lets the calamitous events spill and Olivia insists they return home. Marcia finally apologizes for her behavior, but tells John-Boy that she needs more security than he can give her; Mary Ellen’s carefully nurtured cucumber/melon cross turns out to be a weed; Grandma comes home from a babysitting job with laryngitis; and the honeymoon is finally finished-on a camping trip with all the children along.
Bellhop: Greg Mabrey. Marcia Woolery: Tami Bula. Ike Godsey: Joe Conley.

“The Heritage”
Original airdate: 01/17/1974
Screenplay: Dale Eunson
Director: Harry Harris
A nearby hot springs that has soothed Grandpa’s back for years becomes the center of attention when a Mr. Harmon offers John money for the family land, more than it’s worth. He tells John that is for personal use, but they discover that he wants to set up a spa near the hot springs. Amid plans for Grandma and Grandpa’s fiftieth wedding anniversary, the family dreams what they would do with the money if they sold out. When Harmon ups his offer, John thinks of the children’s future and considers selling the mountain so he can keep up the taxes and fix up the house and set away money for the children. The news surprises John-Boy However, when John tells Harmon he will sell, Harmon tells him that they want the Walton house and surrounding buildings as well, but that his people will build the Waltons a new home. Ironically, it is Grandpa who talks John into accepting. Reluctance to lose the mountain and memories mar the excitement of being rich; each family member has his own special place that they love. John-Boy finally tells his father that the children will be richer with their heritage than with money and John tells Harmon he will not sell. Thus the Golden Anniversary celebration is doubly joyful.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Sheriff Ep Bridges: John Crawford. Mr. Harmon: Noah Beery. Yancy Tucker: Robert Donner. Ken Lambert: Charles Kuenstle. Mrs. Brimmer: Nora Marlowe. Bill Dieter: Norman Andrews.

“The Gift”
Original airdate: 01/24/1974
Screenplay by Carol Evan McKeand from a story by Ray Goldrup and Jack Hanrahan
Director: Ralph Senensky
The family is entertaining Jason’s friend Seth Turner and his mother Wilma; Seth’s dad, musician Red Turner, has just appeared on Grand Old Opry. When his father returns home, Seth plans to audition for his band, and he, Jason, and John-Boy take a trip to the mountain to find applewood for Seth to make a recorder. Seth is unusually tired and faints on the hike, but attributes it to a recent cold. A doctor’s exam reveals the hard truth: Seth has leukemia. The news shatters him and his mother, and the Waltons, especially Jason, are stunned. Jason then withdraws and will not face Seth. The dying boy, ironically, has made peace with his future, and is worried only about his mother being alone. Wilma tries to overprotect him, refusing to let him play with the other children, but when Red arrives home and learns the news, he persuades her to let Seth have wonderful times before he dies and asks them to come on the road with him. Since Jason will not speak with him, Seth gives the recorder he has made to John-Boy to give to him. But Jason will not accept the instrument or Seth’s fate until Grandpa speaks with him. Before he leaves to accompany his father, Seth has taught Jason the rudiments of recorder playing.
Seth Turner: Ron Howard. Wilma Turner: Pat Quinn. Red Turner: Ken Swofferd. Dr. McIvers: Rance Howard. Ike Godsey: Joe Conley.
Note:
Rance Howard is Ron Howard’s father. The Red Turner character returns on a later episode.

“The Cradle”
Original airdate: 01/31/1974
Screenplay: Joanna Lee
Director: Ralph Senensky
Olivia decides to earn extra money by selling bubble bath; business is good, but while she makes her rounds, she begins to experience nausea and other symptoms of pregnancy. Dr. Vance confirms the news, but not everyone is happy about it: Olivia wonders how they will make ends meet with another child-there’s no money now for Mary Ellen’s dancing lessons-and Elizabeth is afraid she will not be loved as much any longer when she isn’t “the baby.” But anticipation quells doubts and the children plan a baby shower for their mother and John-Boy secretly builds a cradle for the new baby. Olivia tries to continue with her sales, but this late pregnancy is hard on her and she must stop due to sickness. To cheer her up, the children give her their gifts early. They are all excitedly thinking of names for the new child: Elizabeth wants to call her “Joy,” Jim-Bob wants to call him “Seymour.” To help their mother, Jim-Bob and Ben are determined to sell the bubble bath themselves, but they aren’t as successful as Olivia, who starts to eagerly anticipate the new arrival. But she has a miscarriage. Everyone is disappointed and Olivia blames herself, until the sounds of the children make her realize what she lives for.
Dr. Vance: Victor Izay. Miss Mamie Baldwin: Helen Kleeb. Miss Emily Baldwin: Mary Jackson. Mrs. Breckenridge: Adrienne Marden. Maude Gormley: Merie Earle. Mrs. Brimmer: Nora Marlowe.

“The Fulfillment”
Original airdate: 02/07/1974
Screenplay: Michael Russnow and Tony Kayden
Director: Nick Webster
Stevie, a bitter young orphan, is staying with the Walton family and resists all advances of friendship. Blacksmith Curtis Norton is also having his own problems: his wife Ann, after adjusting to country life, is exhibiting her old flighty behavior again, spending money, rereading old movie magazines, and acting odd. She has found out she cannot have children and is shattered by the fact. One day Stevie runs away and befriends Curtis, who likes the spunky youngster, and the little boy begins to adjust to family life by his friendship with Curtis. Ann meets Stevie and likes him until she finds out he’s an orphan; she has convinced herself that the doctor is wrong and that she and Curtis will have their own family some day, and there is no room for Stevie. She cannot even bear to see Curtis playing with the boy. John-Boy cannot understand why Ann is acting so foolishly and tells her so, but she remains adamant until she sees how upset Curtis is by Stevie’s imminent departure. No one wants to see him leave, and at the last moment Ann and Curtis arrive; Ann apologizes to Stevie and tells him she made a mistake, and that she and Curtis would like to adopt him, instead of a baby or anyone else in the world.
Stevie: Tiger Williams. Curtis Norton: Victor French. Ann Norton: Ivy Jones.
Note:
Victor French went on to the regular role of Isaiah Edwards on Little House on the Prairie.

“The Ghost Story”
Original airdate: 02/14/1974
Screenplay: Nigel McKeand
Director: Ralph Waite
The Waltons are caring for Luke Enright, a young boy who lost his mother some years ago. One day Luke, Elizabeth, and John-Boy are at Ike’s store where they find the Baldwin sisters consulting a Ouija board. Ike asks John-Boy to take the board home, and the children have fun playing with it, although Olivia disapproves of them playing with something that supposedly has to do with the supernatural. Grandpa thinks it odd that Luke and the “spirit board” are at the house at the same time, since a mysterious occurrence once happened at the boy’s birthday party. When John-Boy and Jason use the board privately, it startles them by saying it has a message for Luke! Olivia finally recounts what happened at Luke’s party five years earlier: several people felt Alice Enright’s presence and smelled her favorite flower, violets, and Tom Enright found a wild violet on the floor—in the middle of February. The Ouija board is just spelling out a message for Luke when Olivia hastily interrupts them. John-Boy, puzzled, gets some books on the subject and is convinced that someone is trying to send Luke a message, so he and Jason attempt to use the board again before Luke leaves on the night train to Richmond. (Strangely, when Grandma packed Luke’s things, his mother’s photo had vanished.) The board spells out “train.” Luke is about to leave, but circumstances suddenly conspire against it: his ticket is lost, they find a runt puppy from Ike’s dog Charity, and John’s truck mysteriously swerves off the road. They miss the train and John-Boy wonders if their reluctance to give up Luke is causing all the events. Later, listening to the radio, they find out the train Luke would have been on was derailed. Mysteriously, the photo of his mother has reappeared on the mantel.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Miss Mamie Baldwin: Helen Kleeb. Miss Emily Baldwin: Mary Jackson. Luke Enright: Kristopher Marquis. Horace: Wilford Brimley. Roswell: Jim Gammon.

“The Graduation”
Original airdate: 02/21/1974
Screenplay: Lionel E. Siegal
Director: Alf Kjellin
Chance the cow starts acting strangely on the day the family takes John-Boy into town to buy him a real collegiate suit and all the accessories. John-Boy seems more excited and eager to find out what Marcia Woolery will write in his autograph book-until he finds out Chance has died. He offers to take the suit back, but the family demurs; however, when John cannot make a lumber deal to pay for a new cow, John-Boy returns the suit against orders. After the return, the Baldwin sisters give him a tie-pin Emily meant for her old beau Ashley Longworth. Olivia feels ashamed that John-Boy will have to graduate in knickers, so she and Grandma plan to make over Grandpa’s “burying suit” for him. As Miss Hunter writes in his autograph book, John-Boy recalls his school days and helps a little boy coming to school for the first time. On graduation morning, he finds the made-over suit in his room. John brings the new cow home. He tells John-Boy that he hopes that, even though he’ll be called “country” when he gets to college, John-Boy will remember that he’s important. On graduation day, Marcia and John-Boy say official farewells. Ike gives him a fountain pen, and John-Boy presents an emotional valedictory speech.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Rosemary Hunter: Mariclare Costello. Reverend Matthew Fordwick: John Ritter. Marcia Woolery: Tami Bula. Miss Mamie Baldwin: Helen Kleeb. Miss Emily Baldwin: Mary Jackson. Mrs. Brimmer: Nora Marlowe. Small Boy: Jeff Cotler. Salesman: William Lanteau. Girl Graduate: Gaye Nelson. Saleslady: Janice Carroll. Girl Graduate: Peggy Drier. Tailor: Ted Lehman. Girl Graduate: Geri Berger. Young Man: Casey Morgan. Tyler Crofut: Rob Clotworthy. Young Woman: Vicki McCartly. Henry Cottle: Gil Rankin.
Note:
Jeff Cotler is Kami Cotler’s brother. He will play Pip in “The Children’s Carol.”

“The Five Foot Shelf”
Original airdate: 03/07/1974
Screenplay: John Hawkins
Director: Ralph Waite
Elizabeth befriends George Reed, a down-on-his-luck book salesman unsuccessful in doing business with Ike, and points out a beautiful doll the storekeeper is raffling off. He tells her his little girl would love the doll, too. Desperate to earn money, he talks Olivia into putting a $3 deposit on a set of the Harvard Classics, “the five foot shelf” of books that John-Boy would love to have, and she invites him to stay in the barn for a few days. John is angry about her not consulting him about the purchase, but she has used her own money. Reed confesses to John-Boy that he’s really an out-of-work printer, and begins to regret what he’s done when Elizabeth wins the doll and the family celebrates: he has taken Olivia’s deposit money and used it to buy a doll for his daughter. When John-Boy finds out about the doll purchase, he wants to confront the salesman, but John asks him to let Reed decide for himself. Consumed by guilt, Reed walks out of a family gathering, and John confronts him, only to have Reed break down and says he wants his daughter’s upcoming birthday to be special, no matter who pays for it. John tells him to leave. Honest at heart, Reed instead returns the doll and gives Olivia her money back, but the Waltons reorder the books. Elizabeth is about to offer him the doll she won, but senses his pride will not accept it, and he leaves, his confidence restored.
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. George Reed: Ben Piazza. Little Girl: Anne Elizabeth Beasley. Horace: Wilford Brimley. Elmer Bob: Ancel Cook.

“The Car”
Original airdate: 03/14/1974
Screenplay: Chris Andrews
Director: Philip Leacock
After a storm, John and John-Boy visit a neighbor looking for a car to get John-Boy to college, but the neighbor cannot take lumber in trade. Ike tells John-Boy that Hyder Rudge, who lost his roof in the storm, might have a car to trade for labor, and the young man makes a deal with the bitter, uncommunicative man: John-Boy will fix the roof and do jobs in trade for the car, which isn’t new, but has been polished and cared for although Rudge does not drive it himself. Working for Rudge doesn’t solve any mysteries about the man for John-Boy, although Martha Rudge has tried to speak to him. Rudge will not even permit him to touch the car, and when he catches John-Boy sitting in it, he is furious. The children, as well as Grandma, are excited about the vehicle’s imminent arrival, and on the day John-Boy comes to finish the job, Mary Ellen and Erin accompany him to measure the seats for covers. When Martha opens the garage for them, the car has vanished and Rudge refuses to tell anyone where it is. Martha walks out on him, but not before she has told the Waltons the truth: the car belonged to their son, who was killed in the Merchant Marine, and her husband clings to it and mourns. John-Boy discovers the location of the car and brings it home after helping Rudge talk out his grief; the automobile is finally his. Painted beige, with its new green seat covers, it takes Grandma on her much-desired dream ride: in the rumble seat!
Ike Godsey: Joe Conley. Hyder Rudge: Ed Lauter. Martha Rudge: Bonnie Bartlett. Higgins: Paul Sorenson.