Martha Nix Movies

Already having great difficulty meeting his business deadlines, John Walton (Ralph Waite) is further stymied by a total breakdown of equipment at the lumberyard. Accordingly, John himself "breaks down"and announces his retirement, celebrating his new-found freedom in the company of his friend Ike (Joe Conley) at a local bar. When both men come staggering home three sheets to the wind, chaos ensues (as chaos often does). Elsewhere, cousin Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) is a cinch to win an upcoming soapbox derby--mainly because he's the only contestant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) and Josh (Todd Bridges) steal money from the Godsey's store to cover their losses in a crap game. But when the authorities catch up with them, Jeffrey magnanimously allows Josh take all the blame. And in another development, an insulting remark from a soldier convinces Ben (Eric Scott) that it is high time that he enlist in the Armed Forces -- even though he is a new husband and an even newer father. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jason (Jon Walmsley) befriends a young Polish-American Jew named Ted Lupinsky (Todd Susman). When Ted tells the Waltons that his grandfather died in an extermination camp, the story seems too incredible (and too horrible) to believe. Eventually, however, Ted persuades the family that he is telling the truth -- and along the way, he helps Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) overcome her feelings of rejection for being more intellectual and less frivolous than her classmates (one of whom is played by Erica Hunton, who previously essayed the title role in "The Foundling," the very first episode of The Waltons). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It is the spring of 1944 on Walton's Mountain. As war correspondent John-Boy (Robert Wightman) prepares for his return trip overseas, his brother Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) is trying to figure out a way to avoid being chosen as his high school's class valedictorian; sister Erin (Mary Elizabeth McDonough) receives some dispiriting news from her erstwhile fiance; and brother Ben (Eric Scott) bids a tearful farewell to his wife and baby as he heads off to the Pacific front. Former series regular Ellen Corby makes a return appearance as Grandma Walton, while featured among Jim-Bob's classmates is a young, pre-Mask Eric Stolz. Although this is technically the final episode of The Waltons' eighth season, the "official" finale, a two-hour retrospective titled A Decade of the Waltons, was telecast by CBS on May 22, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Peggy Rea joins the cast as Rose Burton, the Waltons' aunt from Baltimore. Having come to Walton's Mountain to help the family out while Olivia (Michael Learned) continues her convalescence, Aunt Rose brings her two troublesome grandchildren, Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) and Serena (Martha Nix), along for the ride. As it turns out, the kids' bad behavior stems from a very serious problem which Rose is reluctant to discuss with anyone. Meanwhile, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) and Ike Godsey (Joe Conley) do their bit for the war effort by constructing a rather odd-looking air raid siren. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Just before Christmas, the Walton family becomes aware of a "spirit" who has been running loose on the Mountain and committing acts of petty thievery. Cousin Jeffrey (Keith Mitchell) locates the elusive thief, a young man named Paul (Ned Bellamy), and becomes his friend -- and nevermind that Paul happens to be a runaway German prisoner of war. And elsewhere on the Mountain, Cindy (Leslie Winston) and Corabeth (Ronnie Claire Edwards) cause a considerable amount of embarrassment for the menfolk with their Christmas-gift requests. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Working as a delivery man, Jim-Bob (David W. Harper) falls in love with one of his customers, Betsy Randolph (Patsy Rahn). It so happens, however, that Betsy is already spoken for: she is the wife of an Army air corps pilot. The plot takes a curious turn when Betsy's husband is killed in action. Elsewhere, girl scout Serena (Martha Nix) gets lost in the woods while trying to win a merit badge for hiking, obliging her uncle John (Ralph Waite) to look for her -- and to end up hiking right alongside Serena as she ventures into some decidedly treacherous territory. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Erin (Mary McDonough) wants to marry Ashley Longworth Jr. (Jonathan Frakes), but there is a major roadblock to their future happiness: unlike the deeply religious Waltons, Ashley is an atheist. His explanation that the War has soured him on the concept of God meets with shock and disappointment from Erin's family -- with the exception of her father John (Ralph Waite), who understands Ashley's spiritual crisis even if he doesn't condone it. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Kami Cotler) is getting sick and tired of her "tag-along" cousin Serena (Martha Nix). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Unless John (Ralph Waite) can prove that he has graduated from high school, his lumber company will lose an important Army contract. Unfortunately, John's diploma is nowhere to be found, and thus he is forced to take a difficult equivalency test -- and he's none too happy about virtually returning to his scholar days at the tender age of 43. Elsewhere, new district nurse Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) tangles with a superstitious mountain family which refuses to accept any form of "new fangled" medical treatment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi