The Unthinkable

Jim-Bob is threatened by the father of a man who lost his son in the war--after John approved the boy's draft by the military. But the news that John-Boy has been taken as a prisoner of war in Europe brings the families together in their grief.

Olivia returns to find her family deeply involved in the war effort. When the Satterfields receive news of the death of their son, John is told he can expect to pay this loss with the life of one of his own sons.

Olivia's cousin Rose arrives for a visit, bringing her two grandchildren--and problems--with her. Ike and Jim Bob build a huge air raid siren.

John's military security clearance is threatened when it is discovered he did not graduate from high school. Mary Ellen takes over for the county nurse and encounters difficulties with the mountain folk.

Olivia seeks help from the Pickett defense plant for a day nursery for the children of the defense workers but encounters much difficulty. When Corabeth discovers a perfumed handkerchief in her husband's pocket, she suspects the worst of Ike.

When Erin gets involved with a documentary film being made at the Pickett Defense Plant, she is led to believe that can become a star in Hollywood.

John and Olivia must make a decision about publishing a manuscript John-Boy wrote while overseas. Jeffrey becomes very attached to the dog, Reckless, which is suffering from old age.

Home on leave from his ship in the South Pacific, Ashley Longworth, Jr. asks Erin to marry him immediately. Erin is thrilled, but begins to have doubts when Ashley tells her he has vowed never to enter a church again.

While the Waltons wait for news about John-Boy, who is missing in action in Europe, Olivia does volunteer work for the Red Cross. A young GI's wife is raped, and Olivia tries to comfort her.

While John-Boy lies in a coma, Olivia accepts a job as a Red Cross volunteer, never losing faith or patience for a sign of his recovery. Rose plans a big Thanksgiving feast.

Encouraged with his dreams of flying, Jim-Bob finds himself in love with a young married woman whose husband is overseas as a pilot in the air corps.

Erin and Mary Ellen enter a "Run and Ride" race, challenging a traditionally all-male domain.

A German POW escapes from a North Carolina camp and hides on the mountain. When Jeffrey befriends him, the family asks him in for Christmas Eve.

When Cindy is introduced to the book The Fastidious Wife, she follows its instruction exactly and almost goes into premature labor due to exhaustion.

A Jewish recruit in Jason's company tells how his grandfather was arrested and murdered by German soldiers in Warsaw.

Elizabeth's favorite teacher and good friend Hazel must reveal that she is dying of a fatal illness, and Elizabeth must learn to live with another loss -- and learn to forgive Hazel. Meanwhile, Ben and Cindy have a baby girl, Virginia.

Jeffrey and Josh break into Ike's store, and Ben decides to enlist after being humiliated by a soldier.

Zadok Walton, Grandpa's cousin, arrives unannounced to keep a date he made with Zeb twenty-one years ago.

Miss Mamie Baldwin refuses to have an operation for cataracts -- until John brings home a secret weapon: Grandma.

The pressures of wartime and changing values finally affect John Walton. Meanwhile, Jeffrey builds a soapbox derby racecar, but then learns the race has been suspended for the duration of the war.

Mr. Stanley Perkins, a traveling salesman, arrives on Walton's Mountain to rekindle an old romance with Aunt Rose.

John-Boy returns home, still suffering memory loss and deeply troubled by his ordeal. Meanwhile, Ike is arrested for draft evasion.

Mary Ellen and Corabeth both encounter men who bring romance into their lives.

Jim-Bob graduates as valedictorian from high school just as the Allied Forces invade France. He joins his three brothers as all of them march off for duty overseas.

A docudrama of the classic series. A photo album presented to Grandma as a present spurs memories, presented via flashbacks from the series' first eight seasons. Waltons creator Earl Hamner recounts bringing his life to television.