It's 1969 and John-Boy is the TV news anchor person in New York and is in the throes of writing a new book. He and a very pregnant Janet are making plans to return to Walton's Mountain for the celebration of John and Olivia's 40th wedding anniversary. Teaching at school, Olivia is worried about one of her pupils whose father is deliberately discouraging his studies. Meanwhile, Elizabeth arrives back from her travels and announces to Drew, who is still working at the mill with Ben, that she is back to stay. She is very upset to find that Drew did not wait for her, and that he has a new girlfriend. Also, problems arise for John-Boy and Janet because the longer John-Boy stays on the mountain, the more he becomes convinced that he would like to settle down there, raise his family, and continue with his writing whereas Janet wants to stay in New York.

John-Boy and Janet are to be married, but plans threaten to get out of control when Janet's Aunt Flo puts herself in charge of the arrangements. Back on the mountain, John's entry into local politics creates a charge of "conflict of interests", and Olivia is nervous when she signs on for a course in American Studies at Boatwright. Grandma is furious when a dark secret about her father is exposed. Toni is expecting yet another child, Corabeth attempts to become a writer through a mail-order correspondence course.

In the 1960s John-Boy is still living in New York, trying to persuade his fiancée to marry him. Meanwhile, Ben and Cindy's daughter, Virginia, has died and Cindy is finding life very lonely without her. She tells Ben that she would dearly love to adopt another baby, but Ben feels that it is not a good idea. Also Ben is arguing with his father about their lumber company for he wants to buy a new truck, but John keeps insisting that they can't afford it. Elsewhere, Erin now has three children and is separated from Paul. Her decision to start seeing another man causes some indignation among the other Walton family members. Ike and Corabeth become grandparents when Aimee has a little baby daughter, while Elizabeth returns from Europe and reunites with Drew, her old beau.