John's unmarried cousin Corabeth Walton (Ronnie Claire Edwards) comes for a visit after the death of her mother. Ike Godsey takes a liking to her and decides he is tired of the bachelor life.
John wants to expand the mill and call it Walton and Sons, but Jason wants to study music. He tries to get a scholarship. John-Boy is told he should write a novel.
John Boy's story, if published, may devastate Emily Baldwin. Grandpa wins a statue at a raffle. The statue resembles his old girlfriend, and Grandma does not like having it around.
Ben and Jason's relationship is strained when Ben suggests Jason hire a girl who Ben likes, Sally Ann (Erin Moran), to sing his new song with him in Bobby Bigelow's band. The plan backfires on Ben when Sally falls for Jason instead.
John-Boy's dean asks him to take care of a 16-year-old genius college student for a weekend. The genius is gifted in all academic areas, but woefully lacking in social graces.
A prize fighter arrives searching for work, living and training in the Waltons' barn. Some are put off by his fighting, but he wants to build a church in the community.
John's 25th high school reunion is being planned, but he is apprehensive about facing his highly successful classmates. John-Boy fears he will never make a living as a writer. Jim-Bob makes a profound comment.
Jason spends too much time playing with a band. His school work, music lessons, and health begin to suffer. Meanwhile, John-Boy gets a part-time job in a library; the librarian wants him to choose it as a profession.
Mary Ellen and Erin both fall for a forestry student (Michael O'Keefe). He is there to study the trees on Walton's Mountain. Erin and the forestry student date.
Marsha, John-Boy's old girlfriend, returns to sell her family home at the urging of her fiance. Wedding plans end when the fiance realizes the home is in debt. Olivia helps a disadvantaged student get glasses.
Cousin Olivia, who married on the mountain in The Shivaree episode, returns to Walton's Mountain following her husband's sudden death. Family cat has kittens and dies giving birth. Elizabeth and Cousin Olivia both have to heal.
King Edward VIII abdicates the throne and the Waltons follow the story. Meanwhile, a movie production team is in town and John-Boy reconnects with a friend who's part of the production crew. John-Boy is offered a job.
The family helps Vera Walton and her husband, Wade, navigate a rough patch in their marriage. She cannot get used to the city and he is too used to it. He has fallen into the criminal element.