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Eugene's Dilemma

Album: Gold Audio 05: Daring Deeds, Sinister Schemes

Episode: 76

Lesson/Theme: Doing what's right; responsibility; standing up for your friends.

Bible Verse: John 15:13,17

Characters: Eugene, Whit

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: June 24, 1989

Last Air Date: April 18, 2008

Description:
After being fired from Whit's End, Eugene has wasted no time in getting a new job at Campbell County Community College. He's working in the school's computer center, in charge of the high security programming. It guards financial reports, students' grades, and other personal information. His boss, Mr. Burglemeister, introduces Eugene to his only other employee, a child genius named Nicholas Adamsworth. Nicholas's parents died when he was little, and he is being tested in a new program the college has started with the state orphanage to see if kids with his intelligence can adjust to higher learning. If Nicholas fails to adjust, the program will be canceled. He'll end up back at the orphanage, "trying to keep from being picked on." The work runs smoothly for a while, but trouble starts when Mr. Burglemeister asks Eugene to run a random check on the students' grades. Nicholas acts very nervous, and his attitude worsens when they're suddenly visited by Nicholas's counselor-Richard Maxwell. Richard was up for Eugene's job, though he's not cut out for any responsible position. After Richard leaves, Eugene runs the random check and discovers a discrepancy-a grade has been changed. Nicholas tries to downplay it. Eugene investigates the matter and discovers that not one, but two grades have been changed. Nicholas confesses. He says he had to change them or else Richard Maxwell would have given the college a bad report about Nicholas. Just then, Richard shows up and confirms what Nicholas has said. Richard informs Eugene that if he doesn't keep quiet about all this, Richard will make Nicholas's life even more miserable. Later, Eugene comes up with a scheme to correct things-he and Nicholas will simply change the grades back. Unfortunately, Eugene is caught doing this by Mr. Burglemeister, who brings him before the college's board of trustees-one of whom is Whit. Eugene takes full responsibility for the incident, but Whit's investigation reveals that Eugene is actually innocent. Whit tries to get the truth out of Eugene, but he refuses to implicate anyone but himself. Things look bleak for Eugene, but at the last minute Nicholas bursts into the room and tells all. The trustees fire Richard Maxwell, place Nicholas on indefinite probation at the college, and transfer Eugene . . . back to Whit's End! Whit feels Eugene has learned his lesson and has discovered the importance of sacrifice. But all is not completely well: Richard Maxwell vows to return. . . .

Questions:
What should Nicholas have done when he was first threatened by Richard Maxwell? Was it right for Eugene to take all of the blame the way he did? Why or why not? Was Eugene dishonest to change the grades back? Should he have handled the situation differently? Explain your answers.