Moving Targets
“Moving Targets” is episode #327 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Paul McCusker, and originally aired on August 12, 1995.
Summary
Jason and Jack clash about how to handle the growing crisis around Odyssey, leading to Jack's resignation from Whit's End. Meanwhile, Philip Glossman and Professor Bovril show up to investigate the tunnel under Whit's End.
Plot
Jason, who has been out of town, and Eugene, who has been busy at the college, reunite at Whit’s End and catch up on all the mayhem that’s been happening around Odyssey. They talk about Katrina, and about Eugene's attempts to move on since she left. Jason talks to Eugene about the Underground Railroad tunnel under Whit’s End, which he believes would make a great display for the kids, and reveals that he has asked an inspector to come in and make sure it’s safe. Eugene points out Jason didn't talk to Jack about it, but Jason brushes this off.
Jack arrives at Whit's End and goes down to the tunnel with Jason and Eugene, but he tells Jason that he is bothered by the idea of the tunnel attraction. The timing isn’t right, especially with all the problems around town lately, and he is concerned by the fact that Jason didn't talk to him before contacting an inspector. He is also disturbed because of another strange dream in which the tunnel was a way to let evil into Whit’s End. But Jack’s reticence about the tunnel is frustrating to Jason, who feels that every time he has a new idea for Whit’s End, Jack has a problem with it. This leads to friction between the two of them.
The tunnel is causing more problems than those between Jack and Jason. The city inspector, due to both state legislation about the particular architecture and the historical significance of the tunnel, defers to state authorities for the ultimate decision on the tunnel issue. Professor Bovril shows up as a state consultant, but right behind him is none other than Philip Glossman.
Alone in the tunnel, Bovril and Glossman are pleased to find that the mysterious mineral they’ve been looking for is there, but they need to get Whit’s End cleared out so that they can have total access to the mineral, and this needs to be accomplished subtly and successfully. Bovril expresses his full confidence in Glossman, who replies ominously that he has an ace up his sleeve "that nobody knows about".
Meanwhile, further friction develops between Jason and Jack after Jason learns that Jack started up and then disbanded the Israelites. Jack defends his decision, stating firmly that the battle is too serious when kids start getting hurt and that it isn't his place to put children at that level of risk. But Jason disagrees, arguing that getting hurt is the nature of battle and that fighting fire with fire is worth the risk so that good can triumph over evil. Jack believes that something far more sinister is going on, and using the Israelites isn’t the way to fight it, and Jason's response is that if Jack won’t keep the Israelites going, then he will. Their disagreement becomes so heated that Jack feels he has no choice but to resign his job. Effective immediately, he will no longer work at Whit’s End.
Discussion Questions
- Why was Jack so opposed to Jason’s plans for the Underground Railroad tunnel and the Israelites?
- Do you agree or disagree with Jack? Explain.
- Have you ever had dreams like Jack’s?
- Do you believe that God still talks to us through our dreams?
- Why or why not?
- Do you believe that God still talks to us through our dreams?
- Jason felt it was important to fight fire with fire. Was he right or wrong?
Cast
Heard in episode
Mentioned in episode
Notes
- Trivia
- This episode takes place entirely at Whit's End.
- Jason mentions in this episode that he has been out of town for "a couple of weeks"; his last episode prior to this was #319: “A Touch of Healing, Part 2”.
- This episode includes references not only to the events in the preceding three episodes but also to the plot elements from several other episodes, including:
- The history learned in #314 – #316: “The Underground Railroad”
- The Bible that Eugene received from Katrina in #294: “Unto Us a Child Is Born”
- The events of #202: “Timmy's Cabin”, #286 – #287: “Tom for Mayor” and #19: “Recollections” involving Philip Glossman
- The meeting of Jason, Jack and Billy McPherson in #293: “A Code of Honor”
- Jason's actions during #296: “Red Wagons and Pink Flamingos” and #318 – #319: “A Touch of Healing”
- Allusions
- In-Universe
- In #323: “A Little Credit, Please”, Connie mentions that Eugene is doing an analysis of soil deposits around Odyssey. This is likely the reason he would begin analyzing the mineral in the Underground Railroad tunnel in this episode and could have been inspired by the important part soil and dust on Eugene's car played previously in #309 – #311: “The Perfect Witness”.
- Goofs
Quotes
Philip Glossman: In this case, I guess you could call me the Governor’s all-around... troubleshooter.
Connie Kendall: Troublemaker, you mean.
Jack Allen: Connie. Have you offered either of these gentlemen anything to drink?
Connie Kendall: No.
Eugene Meltsner: I could come up with something in my chemistry set—for Mr. Glossman, I mean.
Jack Allen: Now children, let's be on our best behavior.
Jason Whittaker: Look, why does it seem like we keep coming back to this same argument? I want to take action, and you want to do a fact-finding tour.
Jack Allen: Because recklessly taking action leads to unforeseen problems!
Jack Allen: So, you're... taking over the Israelites.
Jason Whittaker: Yeah.
Jack Allen: Well, I can't stop you... any more than I've been able to stop you from anything you've done over the past few months.
Jason Whittaker: Well, you always said I was stubborn like Dad.
Jack Allen: <chuckles sadly> Stubborn, yes... but not like your dad.
Jason Whittaker: Glossman? Who's Glossman?
Eugene Meltsner: He's the rather dubious personality from the state government who keeps trying to... how shall I say it?
Connie Kendall: Destroy Odyssey.
Jason Whittaker: Jack's gone. This note is his resignation.
Connie Kendall: What?
Jason Whittaker: Jack won't be working at Whit's End anymore.
Resources
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