Airdate: 12/7/72
Cousins of Olivia – Ham Denby, Cora, and their son, Job – arrive to stay with the Waltons after their Kansas farm is destroyed by the Dust Bowl. Dishonest, shiftless and believing hard times means doing anything in order to get by, they quickly disrupt the family harmony. Ham shoplifts items from Ike’s store (much to Erin’s moral disapproval), and Job soon develops less than honorable designs on Mary Ellen. When no letter for possible employment arrives to offer Ham financial stability, he puts his feelers out for some acreage on Walton’s Mountain that he believes is owed to his wife as an inheritance. It takes Cora to see that their welcome has been fully worn out, and bids adieu on behalf of her clan.
Cousins of Olivia – Ham Denby, Cora, and their son, Job – arrive to stay with the Waltons after their Kansas farm is destroyed by the Dust Bowl. Dishonest, shiftless and believing hard times means doing anything in order to get by, they quickly disrupt the family harmony. Ham shoplifts items from Ike’s store (much to Erin’s moral disapproval), and Job soon develops less than honorable designs on Mary Ellen. When no letter for possible employment arrives to offer Ham financial stability, he puts his feelers out for some acreage on Walton’s Mountain that he believes is owed to his wife as an inheritance. It takes Cora to see that their welcome has been fully worn out, and bids adieu on behalf of her clan.
An edgy, offbeat episode, not only for its unsavory depiction of the Denbys, but also the direction, which features some interesting camerawork and acting choices (in fact, this episode won a Director’s Guild of America award). It’s a true testament to the Walton’s hospitality and family loyalty that they take in such a pack of scoundrels for as long as they did. Actor Ken Wolger is quite disturbing as Job; the scenes involving him and Mary Ellen as he considers sexual advances on her are quite chilling.
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