You look at me and you see Slippin’ Jimmy… hey, what do you get when you cross the Godfather with a lawyer? An offer you can’t understand.
You want me to write about the mafia?
From the very beginning, when I thought of writing, it was about my family, our home and Waltons Mountain. This was my world, the only kind of life I knew well enough to tell people about. I remember a day in the 1930’s when I finally felt ready to show one of my stories to someone for the very first time.
My family is pretty simple. As long as you follow a few simple rules. Don’t get my father talking on capital punishment. Don’t get my mom talking on women’s lib. And don’t get Alex talking.
If there’s a question you need to know, go ask Alex.
You overrated cowboy. You thought you owned me? Well, nobody owns Alexis!
You know what they say, cowboy. Easy come, easy go.
Oh, come on now. You come up here for the cowboy experience.
Did you stay for the rattlesnake roundup?
Them railroads have come to stick in my craw, Matt. They’re taking jobs that cowhands oughta be doin’. Herdin’ cows into box cars instead of across green grass just don’t make sense.
“I thought he hated children.”
“He does. He just loves model trains.”
Oh, no! We are lost in a city of high furniture prices.
I did not take this city to preside over the injustice I fought to destroy. I took it to bring people freedom.
Free to be you and me.
Nick, we love each other. Damn it, look at me. Does that change me so much? I’m still your father. Don’t, don’t cry. C’mon. I’ve lied to myself for a long time. Why should I lie to you?
You’re right. Who am I kidding? You should have seen me when I was young, Sheldon. The fellas used to line up and bring me boxes of candy. Why did I eat it all? Will you hold me?
It’s a Saturnalia miracle.
It’s a Festivus miracle!
Dad is okay and this is some kind of miracle?
The next thing I know, I’m hiding in my bedroom blaring a Richard Feynman lecture, mom shouting Jesus would forgive her if she put ground glass in my dad’s meatloaf. And my dad’s on the roof, skeet-shooting her Franklin Mint collectible plates.