The Actress is like many of the first-season episodes where we learn more about the Walton family by seeing how they react when an outsider comes to visit. In this case, we begin with John-Boy driving the truck with a man, approaching a fancy Cadillac that has broken down, and, on seeing a woman outside wearing fancy clothes, is told by the man beside him, "That
is my employer."
John-Boy recognizes the lady when they stop as a famous actress he has seen in the movies. He gushes over her and she is impressed when he tells about her sending Mary Ellen an autographed picture some time ago. The actress is most distressed to learn that her car cannot be quickly repaired and that there is no restaurant nearby. She accepts John-Boy's offer of dinner with his family and they go off, leaving the chauffeur to fend for himself. (That part seemed odd to me.)
The actress clearly is not used to the Waltons' lifestyle, but she is polite to them all and appreciative of their hospitality. As she started to tell a story at dinner, John-Boy is summoned away by Grandma, insisting that he go to Ike's to check on the repairs to her car right then. We can tell that Grandma just doesn't want him to be corrupted/tempted by her stories and it was a rather funny scene.
We later hear that the actress will be forced to stay longer than expected because a replacement part for her car has to be sent from Chicago. (It should have been Detroit, since she was driving a Cadillac, but they can't get every fact right in writing these stories.) Then we hear that her driver has absconded with all of her money and jewelry and he cannot be located.
Along the way, the Waltons learn how some people live lives vastly different from them, and our actress learns that she needs to make some changes to her life as well. There is also conflict between Mary Ellen and her parents over the way they are treating their guest. It would be easy to say Mary Ellen wasn't very likable here, but it is also easy to say she behaved like a lot of 13-year-olds would have, including a dramatic pledge that nobody expects her to intend to keep.
When we first met the actress she seemed petulant and grouchy and most disagreeable. She couldn't have continued that way and been allowed to stay at the Walton home. I thought she came across as someone used to having people do whatever she wants, but who wasn't a bad person overall.
This may not have been nearly the most memorable episode, but it was a rather interesting show that taught us a bit about what to do when we encounter people different from ourselves.
John-Boy recognizes the lady when they stop as a famous actress he has seen in the movies. He gushes over her and she is impressed when he tells about her sending Mary Ellen an autographed picture some time ago. The actress is most distressed to learn that her car cannot be quickly repaired and that there is no restaurant nearby. She accepts John-Boy's offer of dinner with his family and they go off, leaving the chauffeur to fend for himself. (That part seemed odd to me.)
The actress clearly is not used to the Waltons' lifestyle, but she is polite to them all and appreciative of their hospitality. As she started to tell a story at dinner, John-Boy is summoned away by Grandma, insisting that he go to Ike's to check on the repairs to her car right then. We can tell that Grandma just doesn't want him to be corrupted/tempted by her stories and it was a rather funny scene.
We later hear that the actress will be forced to stay longer than expected because a replacement part for her car has to be sent from Chicago. (It should have been Detroit, since she was driving a Cadillac, but they can't get every fact right in writing these stories.) Then we hear that her driver has absconded with all of her money and jewelry and he cannot be located.
Along the way, the Waltons learn how some people live lives vastly different from them, and our actress learns that she needs to make some changes to her life as well. There is also conflict between Mary Ellen and her parents over the way they are treating their guest. It would be easy to say Mary Ellen wasn't very likable here, but it is also easy to say she behaved like a lot of 13-year-olds would have, including a dramatic pledge that nobody expects her to intend to keep.
When we first met the actress she seemed petulant and grouchy and most disagreeable. She couldn't have continued that way and been allowed to stay at the Walton home. I thought she came across as someone used to having people do whatever she wants, but who wasn't a bad person overall.
This may not have been nearly the most memorable episode, but it was a rather interesting show that taught us a bit about what to do when we encounter people different from ourselves.
