Touched by an Angel

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Episode 405: “Jones vs. God”

Episode 405: “Jones vs. God”
Original Air Date: October 19, 1997
Written by: Ken LaZebnik
Directed by: Sandor Stern
Produced by:

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

Guest Cast:
Justinian Jones John De Lance
Judge Dawes Robert Guillaume
Leela Jones Jennifer Lambert
Gordon Don Jeffcoat
Risa Debra Jo Rupp
Cotton J. Kenneth Campbell
Stretch Ray Xifo

The town of Clarion, South Dakota is in the midst of a farm killing drought when Tess and Monica arrive to help them with their growing crisis of faith. Justinian Jones, a struggling farmer, enters Cotton’s barber shop where a heated debate quickly develops between he, Cotton, Judge Dawes and Risa, the town mayor, as to whether the town should sell out to a huge agricultural company. Having arrived to serve as auctioneer of the towns assets, Andrew sits quietly in the barber chair as Risa advocates selling to the conglomerate before the drought kills the town.

Opposed to her is Justinian who is determined to stay on his farm even if he has to sell his horse and “pull the darned plow” himself. Continuing his tirade, Justinian decides to sue God. The Judge outlines how he should serve notice to God through the newspaper and a hearing is set. Outside, Justinian’s daughter, Leela tells her boyfriend Gordon of her plans to leave town in search of more opportunity while he tries to convince her of the virtues of the small town they have grown up in. Later, all the townspeople gather in the court room, fully expecting a rapid dismissal of the case. Tess arrives to act as council for God and a jury trial is granted.

As the trial begins, Jones begins by saying that droughts are considered “acts of God” and as such, He should be held responsible for the “intentional infliction of emotional stress” upon the people of Clarion. One by one, Tess calls the townspeople as witnesses in an attempt to show them how God has blessed them. When Tess calls Monica, the angel as an expert witness, Justinian corners her on the stand and temporarily stuns God’s defense team by asking for an end to the drought. After a short recess and a prayer from Monica. She then returns to God with his answer to Justinian’s request. The answer is “no.” Justinian then realizes how blessed he is and Risa and the others rally together at a town picnic. As Justinian leads all in a prayer of thanks, their faith is rewarded as rain begins to pour out of the clear blue sky.

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