

It's Christmas Eve, early 1930s on Walton's Mountain. As the family prepares for the holiday, they anxiously await Pa's return home from his job in the city some 50 miles away. He is late, and Ma and the grandparents hear on the radio a report of a bus accident that worries them. Oldest son John-Boy must step up to help grandfather cut down a Christmas tree, and upon learning the concern about Daddy sets out to find him.

William Windom
Charlie Snead

Cleavon Little
Hawthorne Dooley

Andrew Duggan
John Walton

David Huddleston
Sheriff Ep Bridges

Woodrow Parfrey
Ike Godsey

Sally Chamberlin
City Lady

Jon Walmsley
Jason

Judy Norton
Mary Ellen

Mary Elizabeth McDonough
Erin Walton

Eric Scott
Ben

David W. Harper
Jim-Bob

Kami Cotler
Elizabeth