Rewards in Full
Matthew 6:1
“Rewards in Full” is episode #312 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Phil Lollar, and originally aired on April 29, 1995.
Summary
Jack Allen and Erica Clark both come up with ideas that help the community; however, neither of them gets credit for it.
Plot
Jack has started a new social program around town called “Food for the Hungry.” He’s made a poster for advertising and is just leaving to get it copied when Bart Rathbone enters. Connie explains the program to Bart. After some persuading, Bart agrees to put up a poster in the corner of one of his store windows. That afternoon, Jack encourages Erica to begin a poster campaign of her own about bicycle helmet safety.
A few days later, though, Bart ends up taking credit for Jack’s idea when he discovers that the program is good for his business, and Erica’s friend Brenda winds up getting praised in front of the whole school for Erica’s bicycle helmet safety posters. Erica storms into Whit’s End, fuming. She tells Jack what happened, but Jack has trouble understanding why she is so upset. After all, the point of Erica’s campaign is to help keep kids from getting hurt. He says, as long as she is helping kids, what does it matter if she doesn’t get credit?
Just then, Connie enters. She tells Jack that Bart is hogging all the credit for the “Food for the Hungry” program. Erica believes that Jack will finally understand how she feels now, but while Jack admits he understands a little better, he still doesn't feel angry. As he puts it, he didn’t start the program to get credit. He started it to gather food for the hungry. And since Bart is helping the hungry, why should Jack be upset if the program is working? He adds that Brenda and Bart have their "rewards in full," fleeting fame and praise, but he and Erica have the satisfaction of knowing that their work is saving lives. Erica agrees.
A few moments later, Bart makes a fool out of himself on television by revealing that he knows next to nothing about “Food for the Hungry.” Then Brenda comes and apologizes to Erica for taking credit she didn’t deserve. All is well in Odyssey again.
Discussion Questions
- Why didn’t Bart want to have anything to do with the “Food for the Hungry” program at first?
- What changed his mind?
- What should Erica have done to keep the principal from making the mistake he did?
- Have you ever done work someone else took credit for?
- What did you do about it?
- Have you ever taken credit for someone else’s work?
- Why is that wrong?
- What did you do about it?
Cast
Notes
- Part of the Electric Palace’s address, 1313 Mockingbird Road, came from the TV series The Munsters.
- The character of Harry Wainwright comes from two characters in It's a Wonderful Life — Sam Wainwright, played by Frank Albertson and Harry Bailey, played by Todd Karns.
- Erica's posters make parody references to the "This Is Your Brain On Drugs" PSA campaign, as well as the 1939 film Gone With The Wind. ("Gone with the Schwinn")
Reviews
Quotes
Bart Rathbone: <on TV> It's like I've always said, Abby. The poor have got to eat, too.
Connie Kendall: Like you've always said?!
Jack Allen: I never knew Bart was such a good tap dancer!
Connie Kendall: You said it!
Bart Rathbone: It means, well, being a leader. 'Cause without leadership, nobody's really in charge... and when no one's in charge, well... you got no leader.
Abby Libbens: Well said, Bart. Well said.
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