The Waltons

A dishonest travelling salesman persuades a family to part with their hard‑earned cash, convincing them to buy a selection of books. The salesman, a roving merchant, uses deceit to get the family to spend their savings on the books they are offered.

The Five-Foot Shelf is a programme presented as an episode, falling within the genre of a typical television instalment. It is listed simply as a programme and episode, with no further classification provided beyond its title. The entry is catalogued as a programme and an episode, with no additional classification noted. In this instalment, a travelling salesman—who is portrayed as dishonest—arrives at a household and sets about persuading the residents to spend their hard‑earned money. He offers them a range of books, presenting the selection as a worthwhile investment despite his lack of integrity. He presents the books as a collection which enriches the household, despite his dishonest nature. The family, trusting his pitch, is led to consider the purchase. The salesman’s tactics involve convincing the family that the books will bring some benefit, prompting them to part with cash they have saved through diligent effort. Their willingness to hand over the money underscores the effectiveness of his persuasion, even though the transaction is driven by his deceitful intentions. The family's decision reflects a desire to invest in literature, though they are unaware of the salesman's lack of honesty. Ultimately, the family relinquishes their cash in exchange for the books the salesman has offered. The episode centres on this exchange, highlighting how a dishonest itinerant merchant can influence a household to make a purchase that they might otherwise have avoided. The transaction concludes with the family holding the books they purchased, having spent the cash they earned through work.