Whenever she was able, Ellen distanced herself from Stella on the set. Stella told me she was protecting Ellen. “From what?”, I said. I don’t think Stella ever forgave me for that comment.

From the get-go it was clear that Ellen understood every word she heard, but simply could not respond in kind. I often think today how frustrating that must be.

A little back story on Ellen’s stroke:

Ellen had had her stroke during the prior season.
On the Friday morning (prior to her stroke) Ellen arrived on the set with script changes in hand and was handing them out to the cast – the scene was a fairly complicated one in the kitchen. Being young and never having dealt with an actor handing out changes, I didn’t realize the ramifications. This was definitely a “no-no”.

Someone tipped off producer Andy White and he came to the stage. He was livid. Unfortunately, he reprimanded Ellen on set, in front of the cast and crew. (Andy was a good producer, a soft-spoken, lovely man, so it surprised me. Perhaps there was a prior challenge of the script by Ellen, I never found out)

Ellen cried. (ironically that worked as she was peeling onions in the scene).

Ellen was humiliated and did not speak to any of the crew or, I think, cast the balance of the day. She was as livid, if not more so, than Andy. I was concerned. Ellen was tense, and very red-faced the balance of the day.

When Ellen came to my desk to sign out, she knocked my coffee over and it soaked my paperwork. I said, “I hope you’re not angry at me.” and she tapped the top of my hand and said, “I’m not. Don’t worry.” I told her I’d phone her later with her call time for the following Monday. I phoned her later that night. She seemed to be fine.

The following Monday morning she did not show up for work. Ellen was always on time, in fact she usually reported early. I phoned her home several times. No answer. Will was upset and marched up to Earl’s office toward the front of the lot. Earl and Will drove off in a flash. They found Ellen on the steps to her basement. No one knows how long she was there.

The news Ellen had had a stroke reached the set before Will and Earl returned. What to do? Scenes were re-arranged and the days work saved, but everyone was hit hard by the news of Ellen’s injury.

I was instructed by Production Manager Neil Maffeo to “white-out” Ellen’s name from the call sheet that afternoon. I asked why – he said it was for “insurance purposes”. I whited Ellen’s name out, but did not renumber the cast list. Someone told Earl whatt I’d done. Earl called the stage and chewed me out, boy was he angry! I’d never heard Earl raise his voice before. It honestly scared me. I told Earl I was simply following Neil’s instructions. That didn’t help. Earl said Ellen was not to be treated that way – and how did anyone know she wasn’t going to return?

This, then, made her return the next year all the more glorious.

I was never a part of the creative decision making, however, I knew Rod and Claire very well, and I also knew that the company (Lorimar) and the network (CBS) initially resisted Ellen’s return, insisting her work would take too long to complete.i

In addition to the “green bean scene”, I will never, ever forget filming the scene on the front porch with Ellen and Will — two cameras — Ralph, you in direct contact with Ellen. You cleared the set of all non-essential crew, but permitted me to stay. Thank you. It made a deep impression.

When Ellen said “You old fool” there wasn’t a dry eye in the crew — we kept rolling – I saw you, Ralph, were very moved. Someone, I think it was me, said “Is anyone going to say ‘Cut’?

What a brilliant performance from Ellen, beautiful words from Rod and Claire — and brilliant directing.

Thank the Lord the results have been preserved.

It was Will who started the Indian brouhaha – Ralph Waite climbed aboard.

One other thing, I laughed out loud when Will was hammering the fence and said to Elizabeth, “You hold the nail — no, you hold the board I’ll hold the nail” an ad-lib, a wonderful moment —

There was also a moment between Elizabeth and Grandpa (in another episode) that was laugh out loud. It was Grandpa and Elizabeth outside the smokehouse. As they approached the door, Grandpa was to open it, Elizabeth to follow him in. There was a bent nail that held the door shut, and for some reason it was TOO bent. Now we’re rolling, and Will can not get the door opened — he fussed with it, tried his darndest, then finally turned to Elizabeth and said, “Who the hell bent this nail, Elizabeth?” That take, I believe, was printed. If it wasn’t it should have been. I’m sure Kami never forgot it. God Bless Will. I can’t imagine anyone else as Grandpa Walton.

Notice there is no #1 or #5 on the Cast Call Sheet — out of respect for Richard (#1) and Ellen (#5) the Cast on the Call Sheet was not renumbered. It was a nice gesture, and reminder that they were missed. It was a feeling, a tone that was set by Earl.

I noticed that Ralph said, “Damn, I hate to wait.” that surprised me – I think he slipped it in.

Did you know about that? Was it approved, and in the script? I’ve no recollection, and had to rewind the clip several times and listen carefully. Certainly it was a natural thing for John Walton to say “Damn” at the moment his daughter was in pain.

Early on in the series there was an infamous note from CBS to Earl and everyone on set asking that it be made certain that a piece of dialogue Richard had be clearly understood NOT to be the word damn. How times have changed.