MovieChat Forums > The Waltons (1972) Discussion > Re: the closing scene in the "The Five F...

Re: the closing scene in the "The Five Foot Shelf" episode...

posted 8 years ago by cattern
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Each time I see the closing minutes of this episode, I never fail to believe Elizabeth is running after Mr. Reed(her huge doll in her arms); shouting his name, in order to give him that huge doll for his daughter.

I wonder if they deliberately wrote that scene that way so viewers would be surprised at Elizabeth's failure to do so.

If so, what point would they be trying to make?

Wouldn't Elizabeth be simply following her own parents' example of generosity towards Mr. Reed in giving up her doll?

What would be the downside to that?

What's the upside to her NOT giving Mr. Reed the doll for his own little girl?

It's particularly misleading since Elizabeth is hauling a doll almost as big as she is all the way to the door of the house to see Mr. Reed.

The viewer can't fail to notice it.

Why couldn't she simply have left the doll behind to tell him goodbye?

[–] Dottiegrl 8 years ago

I've always found the ending unsatisfying too. I think we are to think she did eventually catch up to him and give him the doll.

~ Whoever said diamonds were a girls best friend never owned a dog ~