Ester Verdie's daughter comes back to Walton's Mountain disillusioned over having a college degree & unable to land a meaningful job. Erin helps her find a job at J.D. Pickett's plant.

Mike Paxton, John-Boy's old friend, is confined to a wheel chair and believes there is no hope for the future. Through the help of the family, he comes out of his shell.

John serves on the local draft board. A young soldier he drafted has been killed and the boy's Dad threatens John & Jim-Bob. The family receives word that John-Boy is missing in action.

Olivia says the mountain needs a day nursery for children of defense plant workers. Corabeth thinks that Ike has a girlfriend when she sees Rose teaching him to dance.

The film company comes to Walton's Mountain and Pickett plant is used for a war-time documentary. Erin is convinced by the director that she has potential in Hollywood.

All of Jefferson County watched with wonder when Mary Ellen and Erin decide to venture even farther into a mans world.

When John's equipment breaks down and Jim-Bob breaks his, John decides maybe he has had enough. Jeffrey builds himself a soapbox car sponsored by Godsey's store.

Ben comes home from the war and tells John he wants to study engineering. The long awaited vacation that Erin plans to go on is interrupted. John tells the his family he has to take Olivia to Arizona to the sanitarium.

Mary Ellen finds out that Curt is still alive. He is living in Florida but is quite the different person from the man she remembers. J.D. asks Erin to come back to work by begging Erin.