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What Happened to the Silver Streak?

Album: Gold Audio 09: Just in Time

Episode: 118

Lesson/Theme: Forgiveness; unconditional love.

Bible Verse: Matthew 18:21-35; 1 Corinthians 13:7

Characters: Connie, Whit

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: July 7, 1990

Last Air Date: June 13, 2008

Description:
This episode is a remake of "The Case of the Missing Train Car," OUSA episode #21. Traci Needlemeyer replaces Warren, and (in a twist) Curt replaces Officer Harley. Michelle Terry has a bad reputation. Fortunately, that reputation doesn't matter to people like Tom Riley and Whit. Tom and his wife, Agnes, are sponsoring Michelle on a "parole" from reform school. Whit has given Michelle free run of Whit's End, treating her the same as the other kids. Their good intentions are working-Michelle seems to be responding. She's built a fine miniature-blue-colored-caboose. Warren, however, informs Michelle that to be truly authentic, the caboose should be red. Saying that, he proudly holds up his perfect replica of a Silver Streak engine. Both Michelle and Warren are pleased with and protective of their work, which is why Warren panics the next day when he goes to Whit's End and discovers his Silver Streak is missing! Officer Harley is there and takes over the investigation. Unfortunately, all fingers seem to point at Michelle Terry. Officer Harley takes them all for a ride out to the Riley farm to question Michelle and finds that she had both the motive and opportunity to steal the caboose. Whit and Tom refuse to believe it, though. Officer Harley takes Michelle down to the station for further questioning. Tom follows, dropping off Whit and Warren back at Whit's End along the way. Whit questions Connie about the Silver Streak and learns that she cleaned up around the Train Station after the kids left the previous day, throwing away several items. It's possible that Connie accidentally threw away the Silver Streak! They race down to the trash bin outside to see if it's there. Unfortunately, the garbage men have already emptied the dumpster, but they still see the evidence: a set of wheels from the Silver Streak. Warren ends up apologizing to Michelle for accusing her of stealing. Michelle accepts the apology, but during the conversation that follows, she lets information slip that proves she really did steal the Silver Streak! What's more, she doesn't care! She's tired of all these "do-gooders" and tells Officer Harley to take her away from them, back to reform school. Later, Connie looks in on a distraught Whit. He can't believe that Michelle behaved the way she did, despite all the kindness they showed her. Connie shrugs off the whole incident. She says Michelle was just a bad apple, and if she doesn't want to be helped, there's nothing more Whit can do. But there is one last thing Whit can do. As Connie leaves, Whit sinks to his knees in prayer.

Questions:
Should Traci have accused Michelle? Should Whit and Tom have defended her? Why or why not? Connie said Michelle was "just no good." Do you believe that? Does God believe someone is no good? Explain your answer. Read Matthew 18:21-35. Why do you think Jesus wants us to forgive each other so often?