Ep 6. The Nightwalker

The Nightwalker is an episode from The Waltons season 5, which revolves around a mysterious visitor wandering around the Walton's house and surrounding area at night. The episode takes place during the middle of the night, as John and Olivia are awakened by some strange noises coming from the outside. When John investigates he finds nothing.

Throughout the episode, the family becomes more and more suspicious of the nighttime visitor, even though they never actually lay eyes on him. They start hearing strange noises, such as footsteps on the porch and dogs barking, and begin to feel increasingly anxious about the presence of an unknown intruder.

As the episode unfolds, the family members start to discuss the possible motivations of the nighttime visitor. Some of them begin to worry that he might be a thief, while others suggest that he might just be a lost traveler looking for help.

Meanwhile, John and Olivia decide to search the house and the surrounding area for any signs of the visitor, but they come up empty-handed. As the night drags on, tensions run high, and the family starts to turn on each other, with some members becoming increasingly paranoid and others trying to maintain a sense of calm.

Eventually, the family discovers that the nighttime visitor is actually someone they know well, but who has fallen on hard times and is too proud to ask for help. They learn he has been walking around at night because he has nowhere else to go.

The episode ends on a heartwarming note as the family rallies around the visitor and offers him a place to stay, highlighting the strong bonds of community and family that the series is known for. The Nightwalker is a classic episode of The Waltons that showcases the show's ability to balance tension, drama, and heartfelt emotions.