Adventures in Odyssey

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.

John Avery Whittaker: Hi there, I'm John Avery Whittaker, but you can call me Whit. I run a shop in Odyssey called Whit's End. It's a place of discovery, imagination, and excitement. But don't take my word for it. You can find out for yourself on today's Adventures in Odyssey.

Guest (Male): Chad, thank goodness I found you! Julie's in trouble.

Chad: What kind of trouble?

Guest (Male): She's being held hostage by 27 Middle East terrorists. They're in the top of a hotel. They've blocked all the exits. The police have been trying for hours, but they can't even get close to her.

Chad: Oh yeah? Which hotel?

Erica: There he is.

Kim: That's it, that teenage heartthrob guy.

Erica: Hurry, we're already four minutes late.

Bart Rathbone: Well, well, hello there, ladies. How are you doing, and welcome to the Electric Palace?

Kim: Get those three, Erica.

Erica: There he is. This is great, 14 Chad Pearsons in the same room with me. I've had dreams like this.

Guest (Male): Chad, thank goodness I found you! Julie's in trouble.

Chad: What kind of trouble?

Guest (Male): She's being held hostage by 27 Middle East terrorists. They're in the top of a hotel. They've blocked all the exits. The police have been trying for hours, but they can't even get close to her.

Chad: Oh yeah? Which hotel?

Bart Rathbone: Excuse me, ladies, but do you plan on purchasing all 14 of these television sets?

Kim: Hey, a little respect for your elders here.

Bart Rathbone: I'm trying to run a business here. Don't you have TV sets at home?

Erica: If we go home, we'll miss too much.

Bart Rathbone: Too much of what?

Kim: Chad Pearson.

Bart Rathbone: Chad Pearson. Wait a minute, I've seen that guy before.

Erica: He's on practically every magazine cover in the country.

Bart Rathbone: Yeah, that's it. That teenage heartthrob guy. So girls really like him, huh?

Kim: Probably every girl in Odyssey. Do you mind? Chad's talking.

Bart Rathbone: Every girl in Odyssey. Sounds like a business opportunity if I ever heard one. Listen, you girls watch as long as you want, as long as your little hearts want. Give me those keys.

Chris: Now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, Bridget reconnects with an old friend.

Bridget: So you're a friend of Candy's?

Guest (Male): We worked together at Burger World.

Bridget: So you were there when she got fired.

Chris: While Wyatt creates a bond of a very different kind.

Wyatt: I found this app called Ether. It lets you create your own virtual friend.

Guest (Male): A virtual friend? How do you do that?

Wyatt: You give it the personality traits you want, so it'll talk about things you like.

Chris: Listen to "As Iron Sharpens Iron," now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Erica: Hi, Kim.

Kim: Is it on yet?

Erica: Almost. Turn it up.

Bart Rathbone: Hey everybody, Bart Rathbone here, coming at you live from the Electric Palace. Remember if you plug it into the wall, it's at the Electric Palace. Let's get to the point.

Kim: Let's.

Bart Rathbone: You're probably sitting there waiting for the new hit TV show, *Heartbreak Condominiums*.

Erica: Yes, we are.

Bart Rathbone: Wonderful show, one of my favorites. And you probably can't wait to lay your eyes on America's new heartthrob, Nick Grant, who plays teenage crime fighter Chad Pearson. Good friend of mine, by the way, we're very close. And I know how much he means to you and to the entire community of Odyssey.

And that is why I am sponsoring the Win a Day with Nick Grant contest. That's right, a month from today, the winner will get to spend an entire day with Nick Grant. What could possibly be better than that? Sign up right here at the Electric Palace. Chances to win are absolutely free with a ten dollar purchase.

Bart Rathbone: Ladies, one at a time please. Now, who was the first one here?

Erica: Me!

Bart Rathbone: Now, everyone will get their chance. Erica, I think you were the first. What do you got there?

Erica: Here, a box of batteries. They're for my dad for his birthday.

Bart Rathbone: How nice. When is your dad's birthday?

Erica: I don't know, sometime this year.

Bart Rathbone: That will be $8.62.

Erica: $8.62? That's not enough for a ticket, right?

Bart Rathbone: Not quite, it has to be at least ten dollars.

Erica: Give me 15 of these thingies.

Bart Rathbone: These fuses? They're 25 cents apiece.

Erica: Give me 15.

Connie Kendall: Here are those gizmos you wanted.

John Avery Whittaker: Oh, the electrical wires. Thank you, Connie. What's wrong?

Connie Kendall: With all due respect, Whit, next time you need something from Rathbone's Palace, send Eugene.

John Avery Whittaker: Why?

Connie Kendall: The place was a madhouse. Bart's sponsoring a new contest. Win a day with some teen celebrity from a soap opera on TV. I don't know, the girls are going crazy.

John Avery Whittaker: I remember seeing something about that. You don't know who the celebrity is?

Connie Kendall: No idea. They all look alike to me anyway. I guess they're announcing the winner tomorrow.

John Avery Whittaker: Leave it to Bart to figure out a way to exploit the crushes of Odyssey's girls.

Connie Kendall: It's ridiculous.

John Avery Whittaker: Bart or the girls?

Connie Kendall: Bart's always ridiculous. But the way these girls act, all because of some TV star.

John Avery Whittaker: Didn't you ever have crushes when you were younger?

Connie Kendall: Me? No way.

John Avery Whittaker: Really?

Connie Kendall: Well, there was that show with Detective Mike Hamcharmer. And that singer Rick Springload.

John Avery Whittaker: I get the idea, Connie. You were obviously too mature to have any serious crushes.

Connie Kendall: Right.

Kim: Erica, over here!

Erica: Hi, Kim.

Kim: They're about to announce the winner.

Bart Rathbone: Good morning, everyone. Thank you all for coming and welcome to the Win a Day with Nick Grant contest brought to you by the Electric Palace, where our motto is: If you can't find it at the Electric Palace, then we'll probably have to order it for you. All right, on with the contest.

In this barrel that I have right here are the names of over 100 girls, and one of them will be our lucky winner, winning an all-expense-paid day with television star Nick Grant. I will now spin the barrel.

Erica: Come on, please, let it be me.

Bart Rathbone: I now reach my hand into the barrel and withdraw the winning name. And the winner of the Win a Day with Nick Grant contest sponsored by the Electric Palace is Connie Kendall!

Kim: Connie? How could Connie win?

Bart Rathbone: Connie, could you come to the platform, please? Connie?

Erica: She's not even here!

Bart Rathbone: Is Connie Kendall on the premises?

Kim: I can't believe it. She probably didn't even want it.

Connie Kendall: I won what? A day with Nick Grant?

John Avery Whittaker: Well, congratulations, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Thanks, Whit. I can't believe this. Tell me again, this guy's name is Nick what?

Kim: She doesn't even know who he is! Nick Grant, the guy who plays Chad Pearson on *Heartbreak Condominiums*.

Connie Kendall: Never seen it.

Erica: She's never seen it!

John Avery Whittaker: Wait a minute, Connie. You didn't even know you entered the contest?

Connie Kendall: No!

Erica: She didn't know!

Kim: Did you buy anything at the Electric Palace this week?

Connie Kendall: No. Wait a minute. When I got those supplies for you, Whit, a couple days ago.

John Avery Whittaker: How much did they cost?

Connie Kendall: $11, I think.

Erica: $11? I missed Nick Grant by a lousy dollar! I can't believe this. You entered and you didn't even know it?

Connie Kendall: Hold on, I was running the errand for Whit, so he should be the winner.

John Avery Whittaker: I don't think Nick Grant would appreciate that.

Erica: Aren't you even excited about it?

Connie Kendall: Well, you say this guy is a soap opera star? How old is he?

Erica: 17. He'll be 18 in May.

John Avery Whittaker: It might be fun, Connie, a day with a big celebrity.

Connie Kendall: Might be fun.

Bart Rathbone: Excuse me, excuse me there, excuse me. I need to get to the podium there. Thanks for coming. Girls, you're going to have to move this way. Nick's limo has to get through right here, through there. Thanks. Excuse me. Connie, how you doing, you lucky girl, you? Smile for the camera, honey, smile.

Erica: Connie, hey! How are you? Are you excited?

Connie Kendall: Yeah, I guess.

Erica: I can't believe he's actually going to be here. Could I ask you a favor?

Connie Kendall: Sure, what?

Erica: Well, you know, Connie, we've been friends for a long time and I really care about you, and I'm sure you know I would do just about anything for you. And I'm sure the feeling is mutual. Look, Erica, what do you want? Do you think I can maybe hang around with you today?

Connie Kendall: I don't care.

Erica: Cool!

Bart Rathbone: Ladies and gentlemen, I present Nick Grant!

Nick Grant: Thank you, thanks Bart, thanks everybody. I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored this event and made it such a fun thing for me. I'm very excited about my day with Katie Kennel.

Bart Rathbone: It's Bart and Connie Kendall.

Nick Grant: Right. Hello, Connie, nice to meet you.

Connie Kendall: Hi, nice to meet you too.

Nick Grant: Odyssey is one of *Heartbreak Condominiums*' favorite cities. I thank you for watching. And don't forget to shop at the Electric Palace. Well, Connie, have you thought about what you want to do?

Bart Rathbone: Hey, let's get a shot of the happy couple. Say cheese.

Connie Kendall: Cheese. I was thinking maybe we could—

Erica: Connie, could you maybe introduce me?

Connie Kendall: Sorry. Nick, this is Erica.

Nick Grant: It's nice to meet you, Erica.

Erica: You're beautiful.

Nick Grant: Thank you.

Erica: I have 27 posters of you at home.

Nick Grant: 27?

Erica: My room is a Chad Pearson museum.

Connie Kendall: That's great, Erica. Okay Nick, I was—

Bart Rathbone: Another picture! Put your arm around her, Nick boy. Cheese! Go ahead.

Connie Kendall: Well, if you wanted to—

Bart Rathbone: How about one with the kids and me? Okay, smile guys. Cheese! Just call me Cupid.

Connie Kendall: Look Nick, there's this place—

Bart Rathbone: How about this angle? Cheese!

Connie Kendall: That's having this carnival—

Bart Rathbone: Let's get one with the store in the background there. Cheese!

Connie Kendall: Maybe we could go over there.

Bart Rathbone: Look this way, guys! Cheese!

Nick Grant: That sounds—

Bart Rathbone: And one of you two just talking to each other. Cheese! Just great.

Nick Grant: So you want to go on the stomach twirl?

Connie Kendall: No, not really. I don't like going upside down.

Erica: I love the stomach twirl!

Nick Grant: Are you hungry? Not yet? I could go for something, if you want something, of course.

Dale Jacobs: Excuse me, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Oh, hi Dale. Nick, this is Dale Jacobs with the Odyssey Times.

Nick Grant: Hi.

Dale Jacobs: So how would you say your day is going so far?

Connie Kendall: Well, I don't know yet. We haven't done anything.

Dale Jacobs: Generally speaking, though, how's it going?

Connie Kendall: Generally? I don't know. Can you check back with me in six hours and I'll let you know then?

Bart Rathbone: Excuse me, Jacobs, but I can field that question.

Dale Jacobs: What are you doing here, Bart?

Bart Rathbone: Just seeing how those two kids are doing.

Dale Jacobs: You wanted to say something, Bart?

Bart Rathbone: Yes, I did. You know, I always pride myself on really understanding—

Nick Grant: So how do you like the show?

Connie Kendall: The show?

Nick Grant: My show.

Connie Kendall: Oh yeah, your show. Well—

Nick Grant: Did you like last week's?

Connie Kendall: Well, actually, I didn't see it.

Nick Grant: Oh.

Erica: I saw it! You were terrific.

Connie Kendall: Look Nick, I sort of have a confession to make.

Nick Grant: Why?

Connie Kendall: I don't watch your show.

Nick Grant: What? You mean you've never seen it?

Connie Kendall: Well, once. I watched it a couple weeks ago just to see who you were.

Nick Grant: To see who I was?

Connie Kendall: You see, I kind of won this contest by mistake.

Erica: I watch your show, Nick!

Nick Grant: Excuse me, but who are you? What are you doing hanging around us?

Erica: I'm Erica.

Nick Grant: Great, Erica. Now would you mind just going away and leaving us alone?

Connie Kendall: You don't have to be rude to her.

Nick Grant: I'm not being rude.

Erica: He can be rude if he wants, Connie.

Nick Grant: Look, you didn't win the contest, Connie did. Now, to be perfectly honest, I'd like you to leave.

Connie Kendall: She can stay if she wants. I told her she could come.

Nick Grant: Fine, stay. I really don't care, just keep quiet. So, what did you think of the show you saw?

Connie Kendall: What?

Nick Grant: The show.

Connie Kendall: I don't know. I thought it was kind of dumb, since we're being perfectly honest.

Nick Grant: You don't even like the show?

Connie Kendall: I'm sorry. I just thought the story was kind of dumb. I mean, let's be honest, in real life, people are usually not able to knock off an entire gang of karate experts with just a frisbee and a spatula.

Nick Grant: Come on, it's television. Nobody said it had to be real life.

Connie Kendall: I know, but I think television has the responsibility to show—

Nick Grant: Let's just drop it. As a matter of fact, I probably could take on a few karate experts just with a frisbee and a spatula. I study that stuff to get into the part.

Connie Kendall: Oh, really?

Erica: Of course he could!

Connie Kendall: Come on.

Nick Grant: Hey, I've taken on guys with a lot less than a spatula.

Connie Kendall: Oh, Connie, you don't know anything about him.

Nick Grant: Look, I believe you.

Connie Kendall: No, you don't.

Erica: Show her, Nick!

Nick Grant: All right, all right, I will. Bart, come here!

Bart Rathbone: Me?

Nick Grant: Yeah, you. Stand over here.

Bart Rathbone: Well, I have this back—

Nick Grant: Come on, get over here.

Connie Kendall: Nick, you don't have to do this.

Nick Grant: No, Connie, you obviously don't believe me.

Connie Kendall: I believe you!

Nick Grant: Okay, Bart, come at me.

Bart Rathbone: Come at you?

Nick Grant: Yeah, like you're going to beat me up or something.

Bart Rathbone: Nick, look, I would never do anything—

Nick Grant: Just do it!

Bart Rathbone: Like this?

Erica: All right, Nick! That was great!

Connie Kendall: Congratulations, you knocked Bart Rathbone down. Hip hip hooray.

Nick Grant: Connie, give the guy a break. You want me to get a bigger guy?

Connie Kendall: No, forget it! Just forget it!

Nick Grant: Are you okay, Bart?

Bart Rathbone: If you don't mind, I think I'll just stay down here for a while. A couple days, maybe.

Erica: Nick, Connie?

Nick Grant: Yeah, Erica?

Erica: Don't be upset, but my parents said I have to be home in time for dinner.

Nick Grant: Oh, it's okay.

Erica: But don't do anything until I come back, okay? I don't want to miss anything.

Nick Grant: Well, we'll do our best. Bye.

Connie Kendall: So speaking of dinner, you want something?

Nick Grant: Sure.

Connie Kendall: How about Whit's End?

Nick Grant: That place you've been talking about? Sounds great.

Connie Kendall: Thank you for my stuff, Whit.

John Avery Whittaker: You're welcome. Took me a while, but I got it for you.

Connie Kendall: The dart game's always been a tough one for me, too.

Nick Grant: You didn't have to do that.

Connie Kendall: I wish you'd stopped when I told you to. You lost a lot of money at that place.

Nick Grant: No problem, I got plenty more where that came from.

Connie Kendall: Yeah, but you could have bought this thing for half the money you spent. $40 throwing darts for—

Nick Grant: What? Why are you looking at me like that? What is it with you? What exactly do you want from me? Do you just want to leave? Am I spoiling your night or something? You want to go home and paint your nails? Maybe that will be a little bit more fun for you. I've been trying to show you a good time, and you won't even give me a second look. Am I that boring? Just how hard do I have to work to impress you anyway?

Connie Kendall: That's what I mean. Stop.

Nick Grant: Stop what?

Connie Kendall: Trying to impress me. Stop trying to be Chad Pearson around me and just be yourself, okay? Give yourself a break. You're not on TV.

Nick Grant: Be myself? But this is my self. Here, this is the place.

Connie Kendall: Oh no.

Nick Grant: Why don't we go to that booth near the wall? Excuse us.

Connie Kendall: Excuse me.

Nick Grant: How about this one?

Connie Kendall: This is fine.

Bart Rathbone: Let's get one of the couple at dinner. Say cheese.

Nick Grant: Cheese. What are you in the mood for?

Connie Kendall: Whit makes a pretty good pizza.

Nick Grant: That sounds good.

Bart Rathbone: Big smile up here! Cheese!

John Avery Whittaker: Hi, Connie.

Connie Kendall: Hi.

John Avery Whittaker: And you must be Nick Grant.

Nick Grant: Yes, sir. Nice to meet you.

John Avery Whittaker: I'm sorry about the commotion, but I can't seem to get everyone to leave.

Connie Kendall: That's okay, I'm getting used to it.

John Avery Whittaker: Would you like some ice cream or did you come in for some dinner?

Nick Grant: We'd like a medium pizza.

John Avery Whittaker: What do you want on it?

Bart Rathbone: Smile! Cheese!

John Avery Whittaker: All right, it will be about 15 minutes.

Bart Rathbone: Hey, you two, look this way. Cheese!

Nick Grant: Maybe this isn't the best place to have dinner.

Connie Kendall: What do you mean? I like your pizza.

Nick Grant: I mean, maybe you should try to sneak out. Go somewhere away from this crowd.

Connie Kendall: That's a great idea. How?

John Avery Whittaker: It's an old trick, but excuse yourselves to go to the restroom and climb out the back window.

Connie Kendall: We can meet at the park!

John Avery Whittaker: Perfect. Have a nice time.

Nick Grant: Thanks, Whit. I'll be right back. I need to go to the restroom and wash up a bit. No cameras, please.

Connie Kendall: Yeah, I think I need to wash up a little, too.

Nick Grant: I think we lost them. They're going to expect us to come out of there the cleanest people in the world. It's so good to be away from them.

Connie Kendall: Sure is. I feel so sorry for you, having to deal with that all the time.

Nick Grant: I've gotten used to it. I figure it can't last all that much longer. Pretty soon somebody else will show up and I'll be a nobody again. I want to thank you.

Connie Kendall: For what?

Nick Grant: You're the first person in a long time to treat me like a person.

Connie Kendall: I've treated you terribly.

Nick Grant: That's just it. To you, I was just a normal guy. I kind of miss being a normal guy, you know?

Connie Kendall: I bet you do.

Erica: There you are! I've been looking all over for you. Oh no. Who are all these people? These are my friends. Erica, Nick. I know time's running out and everything, so I was wondering if you could show us some of the tricks you do on the show.

Nick Grant: Tricks?

Erica: Like when you ride your motorcycle.

Nick Grant: I didn't bring it with me.

Erica: How about my bike? It's sort of the same. Well, sort of. I mean, they bring in a stuntman for those tricks. It's only a bike. Nick, you don't have to do anything. Come on, Nick, get going already. I got all these people out here. Now perform, do some tricks. Do it like Chad Pearson would.

Nick Grant: I'm not going to do it.

Erica: What? You don't know how to ride a bike? You're Chad Pearson, you have to.

Nick Grant: Look, I can ride a bike. But I ride it like normal people ride it, not faster than a speeding bullet or up over buildings in a single bound. I'm not Chad Pearson. Do you understand? I'm just me. Show's over, okay? I'll see you later.

Erica: What do you mean? Where are you going? I've seen you ride, Nick, you're great! Nick, come back! You guys wait here.

Connie Kendall: Hey.

Nick Grant: Oh, hi. I came on a little strong, didn't I?

Connie Kendall: No. I think what you did was great. I haven't been more impressed by you all day long.

Nick Grant: Why?

Connie Kendall: Because it was the first time all day that you've been honest about yourself. You decided to stop being Chad Pearson and start being Nick Grant.

Nick Grant: You know, that's not even my real name.

Connie Kendall: Really?

Nick Grant: Really. My real name is Albert Leach. My agent thought I should get a name that was more cool. Sometimes I feel like I'm not even a real person anymore. Everything's so fake about my life. I have to live as if every move I make will be in the newspaper the next day.

Connie Kendall: I couldn't handle that.

Nick Grant: It's really hard. That's why today was so special, Connie. You made me feel like I didn't have to perform.

Connie Kendall: Well, you shouldn't have to. You're a human being. Every human being has a right to be himself. Oh no, here come the reporters. Listen, you go on. Go and just be by yourself for a while, okay? I'll deal with these guys.

Nick Grant: Really? You don't mind?

Connie Kendall: No. Now hurry, go on.

Nick Grant: Listen, write me a letter, okay? Maybe you could even come to visit me in Hollywood sometime.

Connie Kendall: Sure, I'd love that.

Nick Grant: It was really great meeting you.

Connie Kendall: Same here. Bye, Connie. Goodbye, Albert.

Bart Rathbone: Oh look, look, there's Connie. Connie, oh where's Nick?

Connie Kendall: He's gone.

Bart Rathbone: Gone? Well, that's okay. You can still talk to the reporters. Tell them how much you enjoyed your day. Go on.

Connie Kendall: I had a great time.

Bart Rathbone: Well, you can do better than that. Tell them how thrilled you were to spend the whole day with Chad Pearson.

Connie Kendall: Chad Pearson? He's nothing. I like Nick Grant much better.

Chris: Sometimes it's easy to forget that well-known people are really no different from the rest of us. They have needs, feel uncertain, and suffer loneliness too. So the next time you find yourself admiring a so-called celebrity and think that he or she is more important than you, stop and remember that there's only one person who deserves that kind of honor, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for listening. If you ever want to get in touch with us here in Odyssey, the address is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995. Or in Canada, write to Box 9800, Vancouver, B.C., V6B 4G3. Don't forget to ask how you can get a copy of today's episode. It's called "This is Chad Pearson?". That address again is Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80995.

Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. "This is Chad Pearson?" was written by Marshall Younger and directed by Paul McCusker. Our production engineer was Bob Luttrell, and Chuck Bolte is our executive producer. And I'm Chris, hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.