Home Again, Part 1
“Home Again, Part 1” is episode #724 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Paul McCusker, and originally aired on December 8, 2012.
Summary
When Jason Whittaker finally returns to Odyssey for peace and quiet, the excitement surrounding his return makes it hard to find either.
Plot
Whit and Eugene Meltsner are at Whit's End working on an inventory program meant to help Joanne Allen close down J and J Antiques. Connie Kendall enters and tells them that Joanne is downstairs. After she does so, the alarm system notifies them that someone or something is in the tunnel. Whit goes down and Joanne explains she has ten boxes of antique books to donate to Whit's End's library. After Joanne leaves, Whit opens the tunnel doors, and finds his son, Jason Whittaker. Jason explains he's staying in a cabin at Trickle Lake and that he's quit the agency. He continues to say that he wants to reconnect with God, and for the time being he doesn't want very many knowing he's in town. Connie comes down and suspects Jason is back in town; however, Whit advises that she keep it a secret.
Despite this, Connie proceeds to tell Eugene that Jason's back in town. Penny Wise joins their conversation, and Connie also tells Penny, who decides she would like to reunite Connie and Jason. Eugene then goes to J and J Antiques and the two discuss Jason's return to town. While entering the diamond rings from the shop's inventory they discover that there's an FBI alert about a jewelry scam with a man who bears a striking resemblance to Eugene. Eugene and Joanne then presume that Jason has come back to town to investigate this particular case and Eugene decides to take the diamond rings to get them appraised.
Meanwhile Penny starts scheming with Wooton Bassett to find Jason's location and reunite him and Connie. Wooton then proceeds to discreetly question Whit about Jason's location. Wooton then tells Penny despite the fact Whit asked Wooton to honor Jason's privacy. Penny and Wooton then invite Connie to a picnic near Jason's cabin. However, they tell Connie to be quiet about their plans.
Whit brings supplies to Jason's cabin and tells him that isolation with God is more difficult than Jason may think. On the drive back, Eugene calls Whit and tells him that he's running an errand for Joanne. He then tells him he knows Jason's back. Whit correctly guesses that Connie told him. After Eugene says he wants to talk to Jason, the two end the conversation due to a bad connection and Whit suspects he and Eugene were talking about two different things.
In the meantime, Jason has trouble with the silence and goes for a walk. Eugene takes the diamonds to a local jewelers and the jeweler invites him to the back. Once Eugene is in the back, the jeweler locks the door. He then knocks out Eugene.
(Continued in #725: “Home Again, Part 2”)
Discussion Questions
- Do you have a problem keeping secrets?
- If so, what can you do about it?
Cast
Heard in episode
Mentioned in episode
| Character | Mentioned By |
|---|---|
| Jack Allen | John Whittaker |
| Robert Mitchell | Penny Wise |
Notes
- Trivia
- In the broadcast version of this episode, Chris invites listeners to “drop [her] an email” at Questions@WhitsEnd.org.
- This episode was re-aired on September 17, 2016, as a commemoration of Janet Waldo (Joanne Allen). That version included an introduction by Dave Arnold.
- Jack's visit to Scotland is a tip of the hat to actor Alan Young's Scottish heritage.
- In-Universe
- This episode has significant connection to The Green Ring Conspiracy (Saga).
- Jason references the events of #703 – #705: “The Labyrinth”.
- This is the first time the Underground Railroad tunnels are mentioned since renovations on Whit's End were completed. Despite the two explosions that have taken place in them, at least one of them is still intact.
- Eugene previously helped J and J Antiques with their computer in #393: “Wrapped Around Your Finger”. He also previously made a store inventory program for Fred Holstein in #373: “For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll, Part 2”.
- The struggle with silence and solitude was similarly addressed in the earlier episode #366: “Solitary Refinement”.
- Allusions
- Eugene and Sebastian reference the Vulcan neck pinch, a technique used by Spock on Star Trek.
- Goofs
- Connie assures Penny that Jason was never anything like a near fiancé, that he was instead more of a big brother. However, according to the events of #335: “Love is in the Air, Part 1”, her relationship with Jason was platonic only because of his lack of interest. Possibly she was trying to avoid Penny prying further.
Quotes
Connie Kendall: Why do I get the feeling that there are things going on that I don't know about?
Eugene Meltsner: Perhaps because there are things that are going on that you don't know about.
Connie Kendall: That helps.
Wooton Bassett: Oh, and say hi to Jason for me.
John Whittaker: I will. What?!
Wooton Bassett: Oops.
Eugene Meltsner: May I suggest that it is none of our business?
Connie Kendall: Right.
Eugene Meltsner: Having made my usual attempt to convince you that you should leave things alone, Ms. Kendall, I shall now depart and leave you to do exactly the opposite!
Connie Kendall: Oh! Why don't you go invent cold fusion or something?!
Eugene Meltsner: I'm off to J&J Antiques to install the new inventory program. Should I invent cold fusion, you shall hear about it.
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