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The Merchant of Odyssey

Album: 28: Welcome Home

Episode: 359

Lesson/Theme: Mercy.

Bible Verse: James 2:13

Characters: Bart, Edwin

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: September 28, 1996

Last Air Date: June 8, 2009

Description:
Bart Rathbone is finally off the hook for the crimes he committed during the Blackgaard scandal. A judge has decided to show him some mercy by reducing his sentence to time served and allowing him to work again. Immediately, Bart rushes out to try and get the Electric Palace away from Edwin Blackgaard. He offers Edwin a down payment of $5,000 and the balance in monthly installments. But Edwin turns down his proposal. He won’t sell because he’s become fond of his inheritance and, for personal reasons, he can’t sell. Bart is disappointed, until he comes up with a plan. He picks up the phone and calls the IRS to rat on Edwin about the inheritance tax Edwin has due on the Electric Palace. An IRS field agent visits Edwin. The agent informs Edwin that he owes a grand total of $10,000, payable in two installments of $5,000 each. Edwin doesn’t have $5,000, and the only person he knows who does is Bart Rathbone! Edwin foolishly borrows the money, certain that he’ll be able to pay off the loan with the proceeds from his new show, The Merchant of Venice. But Bart causes Edwin to have a little accident, trying to make sure the play won’t open! According to their deal, if Edwin doesn’t repay his debt, Bart will take over both the Electric Palace and the Harlequin Theatre. Edwin thinks he’s doomed. But Jack comes up with a plan to make Bart change his mind. Jack brings Bart to a rehearsal, where Bart is persuaded to play a role in a terrifying scene. In the scene, Bart must repay a debt or lose a pound of flesh! The trick works. Bart is scared silly by the play. He reluctantly agrees to give Edwin more time to repay the loan. Unfortunately for Bart, the IRS agent has learned that he didn’t pay taxes on the $5,000 he loaned Edwin. Now Bart has an appointment with the Internal Revenue Service.

Questions:
Why did Bart want the Electric Palace back so much? Bart told Edwin a contract is a contract. Was he right? Should he have shown mercy to Edwin? Why or why not? Describe a time in which you have shown someone mercy or when someone else has been merciful to you.