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| Original Airdate: November 9, 1972 Writer: Nigel McKeand Director: Vincent Sherman |
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Prologue: |
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| "When I was growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the Depression of the 1930s times were often difficult and unsure, but I don't think any of us ever realised how safe and secure our lives really were until that summer when a family arrived on Waltons Mountain from Germany." | |||||||||
Synopsis: |
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Professor David Mann and his family arrive on Walton's Mountain from Germany. They have rented a cottage for the summer. The Professor works for the Berlin University but he is fearful of the changes that are happening in their country. The Waltons discuss the arrival of the new family at the dinner table. After dinner John-Boy overhears on the radio that they are burning books in Germany. He is outraged and swears that he will read every one of the books that were burned. Jim-Bob fantasizes that they are spies. Whilehe and Ben are doing target practice with a slingshot at Drucilla's Pond, a stone accidentally flies wild and breaks a cottage window where the Mann's are staying. The couple mistake the rock through the window as a act of violence and it terrorizes Mr. and Mrs. Mann who have experienced these type of violent acts against Jews back in Germany. |
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| The Professor decides that the family must keep their distance from other people and that they must no longer practice their Jewish religion in order to prevent suspicion and remain safe. John-Boy has befriended their son Paul and when Paul falls while they are searching for books in the attic of the cottage Mr. Mann throws John-Boy out of their home for fear that some harm has come to his son. He apologizes for his actions but Paul is upset that he will not be able to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. John-Boy secretly takes Paul to Charlottesville to meet a Rabbi. When they return home late the Mann's come looking for him at the Walton's and learn that he has defied his father's wishes. Paul stands up against his father when he denies his religion but then runs away and falls into Drucilla's pond. He recuperates at the Walton's and refuses to return home. When Grandpa discovers that Ben and Jim-Bob are responsible for the broken window he tells the Professor that they will pay for the repair. He also speaks from his heart and convinces the Professor that he shouldn't allow fear to destroy his faith and heritage. Paul celebrates his Bar Mitzvah at the Walton's. His father arrives in time to partake in the ceremony with his son. |
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Epilogue: |
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| "By the end of that summer Professor Mann had found a position in the History Department of a University in a nearby town. That was nearly 40 years ago, but the house in which we grew up is still there and my mother lives in it today. Often I go there in memory and hear again those voices from long ago." |
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Episode Notes and Interesting Facts: |
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Additional Cast: |
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Guest Stars: Noah Keen (Professor Mann), Ellen Geer (Eva Keen), Radamas Pera (Paul Mann) with: Joe Conley (Ike Godsey) |
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Music from this episode: |
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