Touched by an Angel

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Episode 407: “Doodlebugs”

Episode 407: “Doodlebugs”
Original Air Date: February 1, 1998
Written by: Ken LaZebnik
Directed by: Terrance O'Hara
Produced by:

Martha Williamson
Jon Andersen
R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:
Ada  Barbara Mandrell 
Pearhead Morgan Rusler 
Vinegar  K. Todd Freeman
Sis  Tina Lifford 
Erskine  Chris Mulkey 
Andy Hughes Adam Wylie 
Bits  Renee Olstead

After the death of his wife, small town minister Erskine gave up his ministry and his lack of faith has spread to the rest of the townspeople. Erskine’s son, Andy now fears he will die of cancer like his mother while his daughter, Bits, spends her time trying to draw the elusive doodlebugs out of their holes. As Bits tries without success to draw a doodlebug out of its nest, a young man by the name of Pearhead answers a payphone. When he is told by a mysterious voice where to find a winning twenty-dollar lottery ticket, it appears God is finally on his side.

After Pearhead enters Sis and Vinegar’s Café and announces his “miracle,” Sis, her brother Vinegar, and Ada, an aspiring singer all begin to sit vigil by the phone, waiting for heavenly advice. The voice first tells Sis to apologize to Vinegar for some hurtful things she has said and when she does, their relationship instantly improves. Ada then answers the phone and is told to forego her plans to sing in Atlanta because there is someone in town she loves and she should tell him. Erskine then answers the phone and the voice knows the pain he has felt after losing his wife and tells him to find love where he can because his son needs a mother. Erskine is now convinced and when Sis answers the phone and is told to convert an old building into a bar and grill, the entire town pitches in to help; Sis and Vinegar mortgage the café, Pearhead sells his ice cream truck and Ada donates her savings.

When the Gem Bar and Grill burns to the ground on opening night, it appears that all is lost. Tess, meanwhile has traced the voice on the other end of the phone back to Andy. She tries to convince him to own his lie but he is unable to muster the courage and runs away, opting to send an apology note to Ada instead. Tess then reveals to the townspeople, asking them why they had lost their faith. She tells Erskine to begin the search where all successful searches begin, with God. As Erskine prays, the townspeople begin to regain their faith and they begin the search for Andy. Tess then finds Andy in his fathers abandoned church and tells him how much God loves him.

As Sis, Vinegar and Pearhead arrive, Tess tells them they have hidden from God when they should have reached for him. She convinces Andy that he is not going to die like his mother. Erskine and Andy then go to Ada and Erskine asks her to stay. At just that moment, the phone rings and Bits answers it. Apparently, this time the caller is God and He tells bits how to catch a doodlebug. As she cradles the entire nest in her palm, a dove flies away.

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