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Episode 302: “A Joyful Noise”

Episode 302: “A Joyful Noise”
Original Air Date: September 21, 1996
Written by: Katherine Ann Jones
Directed by: Peter Hunt
Produced by:

Martha Williamson
Jon Andersen
Robert J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:
Clara Olympia Dukakis
Dr. Adam Litowski Dwight Schultz
Emily Houghton Jane Sibbett
Melissa Houghton Mika Boorem

Monica begins working with Dr. Adam Litowski, a child psychiatrist haunted by an event from his past that is influencing his treatment of Melissa Houghton, a young girl who claims to hear the voices of angels. While exploring a nearby church’s bell tower late on a rainy night, Melissa encounters Clara, a mysterious stranger who escorts her home. Convinced that the girl is possibly schizophrenic, Adam prescribes medication. Monica, however, knows Melissa is telling the truth and becomes more concerned when Andrew shows her that the doctor’s daughter, Katie–whose birthday he plans to celebrate–is deceased.

Adam denies that her death has affected his diagnosis of Melissa’s “illness.” Her mother, Emily is distressed by her reaction to the medication and is incensed when the doctor mistakenly calls Melissa, “Katie.” Shaken by the turn of events and by Andrew’s realistic mural of the rustic cabin where Katie died, Adam heads there intending to commit suicide. Monica intercedes by revealing herself and showing the doctor how his daughter died–she fell off the cabin’s roof while trying to rescue a bird’s nest from the chimney. The angel tells him Katie is safe and happy because God sent an archangel named Clara to handle her transition.

Days later, Melissa escorts Adam to the bell tower where she had previously met Clara, who reappears to the trio. The archangel assures the doctor his daughter felt no pain and saw only beauty at the time of her death. Clara also advises Melissa that though she is off medication it will be harder for her to hear the angels, but she should never stop listening for them.

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