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Gathering Thunder

Album: 25: Darkness Before Dawn

Episode: 326

Lesson/Theme: Darkness Before Dawn mini-series

Bible Verse: n/a

Characters: Bart, Lucy, Sam, Connie, Rodney

Writer: Marshal Younger

Sound Designer: Mark Drury

Original Air Date: August 5, 1995

Last Air Date: April 23, 2009

Description:
Lucy and Connie have been nabbed by a group called "the Israelites". It's a 'good' gang that Whit used to run around town. Jack has brought the group back to take action against the Bones's crime wave. Their leader is Billy MacPherson, a member of the original Israelites. Jack has also recruited Sam, which explains why he has been acting so strange lately. And Sam has made Butch their informant. This enables the Israelites to prevent the Bones's next rotten plan: vandalizing a war monument in McCalister Park. Meanwhile, based on instructions from "higher up", Bart heats up his attacks on Tom Riley's mayorship. He implies there is a connection between the crime wave and Tom's lack of leadership. Then, a new leader is brought in to guide the Bones, Jellyfish, who instantly suspects that there is a traitor in their midst. Jellyfish gives the gang their next line of attack: Part of the Bones will meet at the movies and cause a diversion while the rest of them will attack Whit's End again. Butch tells Sam about the plan. But Sam is worried about Butch and tells him to be careful. At the movies that night, Butch learns that Jellyfish wants part of the Bones to attack the Harlequin Theatre instead of Whit's End. Butch tries to sneak out to make a phone call to warn Sam and the Israelites. But Jellyfish catches him, and the Bones beat him up, badly. When Jack learns about this, he is horrified. He never meant for things to get this out of hand. As a result, he disbands the Israelites.

Questions:
Do you think it was a good idea to create a good gang in order to battle an evil one? Why or why not? Why did Bart keep hammering away at Tom Riley's lack of leadership? What would you have done if you were in Butch's place?