TITLE: THE PRIZE Original Airdate: October 25, 1973 Writer: Dale Eunson Director: Philip Leacock
PROLOGUE: "Sunday afternoon on Walton's Mountain was a time of quiet contemplation. We took it easy or else at a slower pace and enjoyed a brief respite from the cares that beset us during the week. After we came home from church and had dinner, we permitted ourselves the luxury of play and relaxation. I remember one such Sunday in August
SYNOPSIS: The Baldwin sisters bring Oscar Cockrell over to the Waltons for a visit. He is running for the State Legislature. He was a boyhood friend of John's and a suitor of Olivia's. Oscar is quite smitten by Olivia's beauty. He is unsatisfied with his life and is looking for purpose. The family prepares for the county fair, Grandma has finished a quilt that took 3 years to make, and Olivia bakes a cake. Esther tells her that the secret ingredient in her Aunt Paulie's cake recipe is not almond but whiskey. Thinking that he won't notice Grandma takes a bit from Grandpa's secret stash for the icing flavor. He of course does notice and goes about trying to figure out who has nipped from his bottle. Oscar makes various attempts to lure Olivia away from her life but Olivia is quite content with the life she has. The family arrives at the fair. The Baldwins enter some jelly made from their Papa's recipe. The children try the various rides. Grandpa tells stories about Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough-riders to anyone who will listen.
QUESTIONS: What was Esther suspicious about? What did Olivia's win first prize with? What did Grandma's enter into the fair?
EPILOGUE: "Many people were to touch our lives, hard times, sickness and survival in a harsh decade were still ahead of us, but we weathered them and we endured them, because the love of my parents for each other and for my brothers and sisters made our family invulnerable. I did not know it then, but they were the best days of our lives."
MY THOUGHTS: I like this one. Grandpa sneaking around his bed room trying to fine his bottle of gin. Like the part where they were trying to catch the pig. It remind me of my days on the farm trying to catch baby pigs. It also remind me when I use to help a hog Farmer down road from me. We use to take some of his hogs into the county fair for judging and I will never forget those days. I give this episode 9 weasel stars
