Ep.21 - The Revel

Synopsis:

John-Boy leaves for new York to hear from his Editor Belle Becker to see if his war novel has been accepted for publishing. Unfortunately his manuscript has been rejected by the Board of Editors due to having too many war novels. John-Boy takes the news hard. He runs into Mike O’Brien, a friend who worked with him at Stars and Stripes magazine during the war. They drown their sorrows at a local gin joint. John-Boy takes a punch to the face that knocks him unconscious after he accidentally spills his drink on another customer. He wakes up in his friends apartment. Mike tries his luck at making a connection to write in Hollywood and eventually leaves town for the coast. He leaves John-boy a note, a bottle of whisky and the bill for the rent with the angry landlady at his toes. John-Boy desperately looks for work but is eventually thrown out by the landlady when he can’t make the rent.

Erin goes to New York to surprise her brother but learns from the landlady that he has been tossed with no forwarding address.

John-Boy sees a help wanted sign in the bar that he had previously got into a bar fight. The bartender has doubts and shows him the door. John-Boy resorts to sleeping on a park bench and has his typewriter stolen in the night. He sells his suitcase and clothes for food. He makes a final visit to his editor who sees the crumpled man in front of him about to give up hope. She gives him a small advance to return home to the mountain, to start a new novel.

Erin and Jim-Bob fight over who will get to move into their old parents room. With the bickering tactics rising to a peak all the siblings draw straws to see who will get the room. Elizabeth wins but she can’t find comfort sleeping alone in the room by herself. She asks Erin if she can sleep in her old bed again. Erin is grateful having found it too quiet herself.

Elizabeth decides that they should leave it empty for their parents return. The room belongs to them.

The Baldwin sisters decide to have a class reunion/celebration of life/fancy dress ball. They engage the Walton’s to help prepare. Each of the siblings turn on each other in an attempt to not be committed to a task but in the end they all end up helping. Elizabeth makes doily invitations, Mary Ellen makes Olivia’s Apple Sauce Cake, Ben and Jim-Bob fix the Recipe Machine and agree to park the cars and limos of the guests. Ike and Corabeth discover that most of the Baldwin’s party invitations have been returned due to address unknown or deceased notification.

On the night of the party the sister’s have prepared a beautiful Ball but have lost hope that anyone will attend. They decide to dance together to raise their spirits but without guests they can’t sustain their enjoyment.

When Ben and Jim-Bob return from the Baldwin’s to announce that no cars arrived at the party the Walton family decides to make sure that a party happens and call the community to gather at the party. The sisters who had given up hope are surprised by the knock art the door and are so excited by the arrival of guests. Dancing, food and refreshments are enjoyed by all and the sisters make a speech of gratitude for all that they have to be thankful for which is cheered by John-Boy who has quietly arrived in the back of the crowd upon his return from New York.

• This episode is written by creator Earl Hamner's son Scott.
• In this episode Bettye Ackerman makes her second appearance as John-Boy’s publishing editor. Her first appearance was in ‘The Achievement’ (s5-ep24) Her brother Robert Ackerman plays the bartender in this episode.
• This episode marks the end of the regularly scheduled series.