The Prodigal, Jimmy

057: The Prodigal, Jimmy

Preview:

Airdate

January 14, 1989

Last Aired

Date Recorded

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Recorded at

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Album

04: The FUN-damentals
04: Puns, Parables, and Perilous Predicaments
Classics 04: Bible Eyewitness: New Testament
True Riches, Lasting Treasure
Collection 3
AIO Encore Collection
Faith Launch

Cassette No.

{{{cassette}}}

Length

{{{length}}}

Theme

Repentance
Forgiveness
Parables

Genre

[[Category:{{{genre}}} Episodes]][[:Category:{{{genre}}} Episodes| {{{genre}}}]]

Scripture

Luke 15:11-32
1 John 1:9

Written By

Phil Lollar

Directed By

Phil Lollar

Produced By

Dave Arnold

Executive Producer

Chuck Bolte

Post-Production

Dave Arnold

Engineer

Dave Arnold

Music By

Martie Echito

Songs By

Unknown

Inventions Used

[[{{{invention}}}]][[Category:Episodes that use the {{{invention}}}]]

Rating

Current user rating: 94% (23 votes)

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Family Store

By Faith, Noah

The Prodigal, Jimmy

A Matter of Obedience

Summary

When Jimmy Barclay realizes he's spent all his savings on pizza and video games, he finds it difficult to confront his father.

Plot

Jimmy Barclay is rolling in dough - almost $50 worth, to be exact. He decides to spend the money and his entire Saturday playing video games at the arcade. But his father, George, nixes that idea, thanks to the C-minus Jimmy got on his spelling test. George rightly surmises that the poor grade is due to Jimmy's lack of study and his tendency to goof off lately. George orders Jimmy to stay home, finish his chores, and study.

But Jimmy's money is burning a hole in his pocket and his piggy bank. He decides that he's old enough to come and go as he pleases. So when George goes to work, Jimmy sneaks out and heads off to Pizza City. His plan is to have some fun in the morning, then return home before his dad does that afternoon at 3:30.

At Pizza City, Jimmy meets up with two unsavory men named Mook and Howie, who con Jimmy into spending all his money on them. They teach him how to play video games and tell him jokes, living it up at Jimmy's expense. But when his funds run out, Mook and Howie quickly leave. Jimmy is embarrassed and hurt at being taken for a sucker - until he remembers to ask about the time. It's 3:30.

Jimmy is so scared, he doesn't go home. He goes to Whit's End and plays with the trains. Whit, who has already talked with George, wheedles the story out of Jimmy, who doesn't know what to do.

For guidance, Whit tells him the story of another fellow who disobeyed his father, spent all his money on no-good friends, and ended up feeding pigs for a living. Jimmy recognizes the story as the parable of the prodigal son. With Whit's help, Jimmy realizes that just like the son in the story, he, too, must repent and return home.

Whit takes Jimmy home, and he immediately confesses his sins to George. Jimmy waits for his punishment. But before George punishes his son, he welcomes Jimmy with a hug, showing him the real meaning of the prodigal story: forgiveness.

Discussion Questions

1. Jimmy said he was old enough to make his own decisions. Was he?
   • When is someone old enough to make his or her own decisions?
   • Explain.
2. Why was Jimmy so afraid to go home?
   • Was his fear justified?
3. What does it mean to repent?

Cast

Characters	Actors
George Barclay	Chuck Bolte
Herbert	Bob Luttrell
Howie	Steve Burns
Jimmy Barclay	David Griffin
John Whittaker	Hal Smith
Mook	Steve Wunch

Notes

• The last scene, between George and Jimmy, was performed "free-form," that is, the actors ad-libbed the entire scene!
• The sound effects for the video games in the arcade come from an Atari 2600. One of the games sounds used in the episode comes from the 2600 version of Pac Man.
• This episode was Steve Burns' AIO debut.

Quotes

Howie: You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?
Mook: I think so... what are you thinkin'?
Howie: I'm thinkin' we just found somebody with lots of money here!
Mook: Oh. Then I'm not thinkin' what you're thinkin'. But if you're thinkin' what now, what I think you're thinkin', then you're thinkin' a good thought, I think.
Howie: Would you come on?!

---

John Whittaker: Well Jimmy, you know you're gonna have to go home.
Jimmy Barclay: But my dad will kill me!
John Whittaker: You don't know that.
Jimmy Barclay: You don't know my dad!

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