The Other Woman

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.
Tom Riley: Howdy, Tom Riley here. We're just getting ready for a time of wonder, adventure, and excitement. Would you like to join us? Then get ready because you never know what can happen when you have an adventure in Odyssey.
Rodney Rathbone: Did you hear that report?
Doris Rathbone: Tom Riley's meeting a blonde at some big-shot hotel.
Eugene Meltsner: Precisely.
Guest (Male): This wins top awards.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, thank you, Whit.
Rodney Rathbone: What was Aunt Bertha doing there?
Doris Rathbone: That's even better.
Rodney Rathbone: Well, they always do it that way on TV.
News Reporter: And the speculation at City Hall is now centered around rumors that Tom Riley will not seek another term as mayor in Odyssey at the next election. Riley, in an interview with the Odyssey Times yesterday, hinted that he was tired of all the politics and longed to return to his farm. But he's not sure.
Bart Rathbone: I don't believe it.
Rodney Rathbone: Hey, Pop! Pop!
Bart Rathbone: What? Your son hasn't been home two weeks, and he's already starting in.
Rodney Rathbone: Did you hear that report?
Doris Rathbone: Pop, she swatted me with the broom.
Rodney Rathbone: He left his clothes all over the bathroom again. Is that what they taught you in jail?
Bart Rathbone: Riley may not run for mayor again.
Rodney Rathbone: Look, right here on my arm. See those brush marks?
Doris Rathbone: I swung with the wrong end, lucky for you.
Bart Rathbone: Are either of you listening to me? I said, Riley may not run for mayor.
Rodney Rathbone: Yeah, so?
Doris Rathbone: You got a son who's growing up to be a slob just like his father, and you're talking about Tom Riley?
Bart Rathbone: Don't you see? If Riley doesn't run, then that'll give some other guy a chance, like me.
Rodney Rathbone: You run for mayor? You're kidding. Bart, nobody around here trusted you to dump their trash. Why would they elect you mayor?
Bart Rathbone: Because it's my turn, that's why. I've been wanting to win that big office at City Hall for as long as I can remember. I might have a chance if Riley doesn't run.
Rodney Rathbone: But how, Pop? Who'd listen to you?
Bart Rathbone: The people, that's who. The people. When they see what a good guy I've become and how well I served the public while I was doing my community service time. It's a cinch. Big city politicians do it all the time. I could write a book.
Rodney Rathbone: Oh, yeah. It would have to be a coloring book the way you write.
Bart Rathbone: All right, all right. It's a moot point unless Riley can be persuaded not to run. And I reckon we're the ones to help persuade him.
Rodney Rathbone: Oh, Pop, not again. I just got out of the slammer.
Bart Rathbone: Will you quit whining? Besides, it was pretty quiet around here while you were gone.
Rodney Rathbone: But you don't know what it's like. They started calling me Sissy, and they didn't even have cable TV.
Doris Rathbone: I'll bet they didn't let you leave your clothes all over the bathroom floor, either.
Bart Rathbone: All right, all right. Will you two cut it out? Now this is important. We've got to think of a way to make sure that Tom Riley doesn't want to run for mayor.
Guest (Female): Take a summer vacation with the Calhoun family, now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.
Guest (Male): Dad, are we almost there? I can't be in this car another minute.
Guest (Female): Did you guys know that Yellowstone is over 2.2 million acres? Between meeting new neighbors, cooking over the fire, and making plans for sightseeing, it's a classic family camping trip until things take a dangerous turn.
Guest (Male): They're stealing the camper. They're stealing us!
Guest (Female): Don't miss the Great Yellowstone Heist, now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.
Tom Riley: Well, thank you, Whit. It's been a long time since I had one of your milkshakes. I've missed them.
John Avery Whittaker: You're welcome, Tom. I'm glad you found the time to drop by.
Eugene Meltsner: Yes, Mr. Riley, particularly considering the proverbial buzz you caused with your comments in yesterday's newspaper.
Tom Riley: I don't know what I was thinking. Dale Jacobs asked me how I liked being mayor, and I gave him an honest answer. I didn't think everyone would make such a fuss over it.
Eugene Meltsner: It plays on our innate human desire to want to know the future. Your choice to run or not to run for mayor will affect the course of this city and, as the city goes, so goes the population.
Tom Riley: Meaning that people are just curious?
Eugene Meltsner: Yes, I suppose that's an abbreviated form of what I was attempting to say. So, are you?
Tom Riley: Am I what?
Eugene Meltsner: Going to run for mayor again?
Tom Riley: Now, Eugene. You're not curious, are you?
Eugene Meltsner: Oh, not at all. I was merely inquiring out of a fundamentally objective desire to know.
John Avery Whittaker: He's curious.
Tom Riley: Sounds like it to me. Well, Eugene, I think Whit should run for mayor. How's that for an answer?
John Avery Whittaker: Please, Tom, I have enough to think about.
Eugene Meltsner: Admittedly, it's an intriguing idea.
John Avery Whittaker: No, it isn't.
Tom Riley: I'd like to stay and consider the possibilities, but I better get going. My secretary's probably ready to resign by now. And I need to run out to Hillingdale for a few minutes.
Eugene Meltsner: Hillingdale? Is that?
Tom Riley: Yes, it is.
Eugene Meltsner: But why is he going there?
John Avery Whittaker: It's personal. I'm going up to the computer room, Eugene. Keep an eye on things down here, will you?
Eugene Meltsner: Of course. Hillingdale.
Rodney Rathbone: But I don't want to drive all the way out to the factory outlets to buy a laundry basket. Who needs a laundry basket when you have the bathroom floor?
Bart Rathbone: That's what I'm talking about here.
Rodney Rathbone: Ma, I was joking. Ma, can't you take a joke?
Doris Rathbone: Not when it comes to cleaning up after you, I can't.
Rodney Rathbone: Look, you go by yourself and get it.
Doris Rathbone: No way. I know what'll happen there. I'll buy you a laundry basket, you won't like the color, and you'll never use it. You're going with me, and you're picking one out yourself.
Rodney Rathbone: But what if the gang sees me carrying around a laundry basket? They'll start calling me Sissy too.
Doris Rathbone: Oh, quit your griping. I had a cousin named Sissy. It's a very nice name.
Rodney Rathbone: But I. Hey, is that Tom Riley?
Doris Rathbone: Where?
Rodney Rathbone: That brown car passing us in the next lane. What's he doing way out here? Duck! Don't let him see us.
Bart Rathbone: What are you doing? You've got to drive.
Doris Rathbone: You said to duck, so I ducked. Would you make up your mind already?
Rodney Rathbone: Keep up with him.
Doris Rathbone: What? Whatever for?
Rodney Rathbone: Because we've got to help Dad, remember? Let's follow him. Maybe he's up to something. Step on it, he's getting away.
Doris Rathbone: I don't know about this cloak-and-dagger stuff. What if he's just out for a drive or something?
Rodney Rathbone: Watch it, he's turning.
Doris Rathbone: What do you want me to do?
Rodney Rathbone: Turn with him.
Doris Rathbone: You say so. You could have braked first.
Rodney Rathbone: Well, they always do it that way on TV.
Rodney Rathbone: Riley went inside. What a mansion. I've never seen anything so big.
Doris Rathbone: Hillingdale Haven. Must be some kind of ritzy hotel. You know, resort. Well, I never heard of it. You think we would have heard of it? Hey, here comes Riley. These bushes are too high, I can't see. Give me a boost up.
Rodney Rathbone: No way. He'll see if your head suddenly pops up and down. Wait a minute. He's walking with a woman.
Doris Rathbone: A woman? What kind of woman?
Rodney Rathbone: How many kinds are there? She's dressed nice and has blonde hair.
Doris Rathbone: Tom Riley's meeting a blonde at some big-shot hotel.
Rodney Rathbone: They're sitting down on a bench right next to the fountain. They're sitting real close too.
Doris Rathbone: How romantic.
Rodney Rathbone: Romantic, yeah. But have you ever seen Tom Riley's wife?
Doris Rathbone: No, you?
Rodney Rathbone: Once, a couple of years ago. I can tell you one thing, she wasn't no blonde. He's holding her hand.
Doris Rathbone: Let me see, let me see.
Rodney Rathbone: Cut it out, Ma. I want to see. Get out of my way. Wait, I've got to think. This is too good to be true. Do we have a camera in the car?
Doris Rathbone: Are you kidding? Your dad broke our Brownie after that trip to Hawaii, remember? Oh, wait a minute. We bought one of those disposable cameras to get pictures of your Aunt Bertha's gallstone operation. I think it's in the glove compartment.
Rodney Rathbone: Her gallstone?
Doris Rathbone: No, the camera. Now you run and get the camera while I keep an eye on Riley.
Rodney Rathbone: Oh, and why should I run all the way back to the car? You're the kid, you go and I'll watch.
Doris Rathbone: But you're too short to see anything.
Rodney Rathbone: Rodney!
Doris Rathbone: Ma!
Rodney Rathbone: Rodney!
Doris Rathbone: Ma!
Rodney Rathbone: Rodney!
Rodney Rathbone: You see? You see? It's not his wife. Tom Riley was holding hands with a woman who wasn't his wife.
Doris Rathbone: She looks like a giant thumb. And what was Aunt Bertha doing there?
Rodney Rathbone: Ma took those pictures. Here's the ones we can use.
Bart Rathbone: That's Riley all right. And I don't know who that woman is, but they sure look cozy, don't they? Hey, this is great. This is unbelievable. Are you sure this isn't his wife? I've never seen her.
Doris Rathbone: I'm not sure that anybody's ever seen her. You know she never helped Riley with his campaign or goes to the mayor dinners or anything like that. If I were a mayor's wife, I'd be at all the discount store openings, cutting the ribbons and filling the shopping carts and saying, "Honey, how you doing?"
Bart Rathbone: Don't get yourself all worked up, Doris. Maybe Riley's one of those chauvinist types who doesn't respect women and keeps his wife locked up at home. Like you, Bart.
Rodney Rathbone: Will you be quiet while I figure this out? Look, Pop, I saw Mrs. Riley once a couple of years ago, and I'm telling you that this woman isn't her. For one thing, Mrs. Riley wasn't a blonde.
Bart Rathbone: Okay then. I think it's my duty as a law-abiding citizen to get these pictures to the newspapers.
Doris Rathbone: But Dale Jacobs will never print these pictures in the Times.
Bart Rathbone: Not the Times, Doris. I'm talking about a paper that stands for the true exploitation of freedom of speech, that sticks up for the little guy by printing nasty stories about the big guys, that promotes truth, justice, and the American way, all for thirty-five cents at your local grocery counter.
Rodney Rathbone: You mean you're going to take these pictures to?
Bart Rathbone: That's right. The Odyssey Tattler.
Doris Rathbone: My favorite!
Tattler Editor: Look, you useless reason for living, I don't care what you want. I care about my paper. So you better cough up that money, or you'll find your picture on the front page as the lowlife sponger that you are. Wow, you really play hardball. Who was that? A reporter, a lawyer? That was my brother. Now, what can I do for you?
Bart Rathbone: Well, I've got some pictures here I thought you might like to see.
Tattler Editor: Nice thumb.
Bart Rathbone: Not that one.
Tattler Editor: Who's the old lady?
Bart Rathbone: Oh, sorry, those aren't the ones. Go farther down the pile, farther. I see. They're a little grainy and blurry.
Bart Rathbone: Bad camera.
Tattler Editor: I like grainy and blurred. Makes our readers think they're real. And that's Tom Riley, our righteous mayor. Who's the lady?
Bart Rathbone: We were wondering the same thing.
Tattler Editor: Not his wife?
Bart Rathbone: Nope.
Tattler Editor: So Riley's being palsie-walsie with another woman, huh? Now where'd you say you took these pictures?
Bart Rathbone: At the Hillingdale Haven Hotel.
Tattler Editor: You ditz, it's not a hotel. It's one of those detox rehab centers. That's even better. Riley's got a relationship going with a woman who has a problem. Perfect! Hey, copy boy! Tell Ed to hold this afternoon's front page. I've got something better to go on.
Eugene Meltsner: I don't believe my eyes. It's not possible.
John Avery Whittaker: I've seen a lot of sordid writing in my time, but this wins top awards. How could they do this to Tom?
Eugene Meltsner: There must be something ordinary citizens can do to stop this farcical form of journalism.
Tom Riley: Later, later, please. I'll be happy to make a statement later. Oh, boy, oh, boy. It's a good thing you have private property, Whit, or I would never be able to get away from those guys. They chased me the whole way up here.
John Avery Whittaker: Tom, I'm surprised to see you. I thought you'd barricaded yourself into your office.
Tom Riley: Oh, I see you have your copy of the Tattler.
Eugene Meltsner: It was given to us, Mr. Riley. We wouldn't spend our money to support such trash.
Tom Riley: Well, they got themselves a pretty big seller today, didn't they?
John Avery Whittaker: I couldn't be more furious, Tom.
Eugene Meltsner: And I second that emotion. It brings to mind many of the rather more violent expressions from the Psalms.
Tom Riley: Frankly, I'm surprised that the whole thing hasn't come out before this.
Eugene Meltsner: You are? But this is scandalous. Where did they concoct these absurd photos?
Tom Riley: They're not absurd, Eugene. That is me in the pictures.
Eugene Meltsner: Yes, but to make it look as if you were involved in a dubious rendezvous with another woman when it's obvious that you were. What were you doing, Mr. Riley?
Tom Riley: Can't you see? I was talking to a woman on a bench at the Hillingdale Haven Mental Health Center.
Eugene Meltsner: Precisely. You don't know the woman in the pictures, do you, Eugene? Well, actually no. Should I? It's my wife, Eugene. The Tattler has created a scandal from pictures of me talking with my wife.
Guest (Male): Missing gold? A haunted mansion? Bank robbers? Young Whit is on the case.
John Avery Whittaker: My dad says I'm clever and resourceful.
Guest (Male): Read all about his adventures in the Young Whit book series. These five books are filled with exciting tales that are perfect for kids ages ten and up.
John Avery Whittaker: It's a long story.
Guest (Male): Your kids will love these exciting stories, and they'll learn important lessons about God too. Learn more at youngwhit.com. That's youngwhit.com.
Guest (Male): The stories we hear help shape who we are. The right stories teach us to be brave, to be kind to others, to be godly people. So let your kids hear stories that will build their faith with an Adventures in Odyssey Club membership. Your family will get access to over one thousand faith-building episodes, including club exclusives. Try a membership free for fourteen days to see if it's right for your family. Go to adventuresinodyssey.com to start your free trial. That's adventuresinodyssey.com.
Eugene Meltsner: The woman in the picture is Mrs. Riley. I must confess that I never would have recognized her. But then I've only seen her once or twice.
Tom Riley: Agnes hasn't gotten out much over the past few years. She spends most of her time at Hillingdale, where the doctors can give her the attention she needs.
Eugene Meltsner: Mr. Riley, forgive me if this is an intrusive question, but why precisely does she need help from doctors?
Tom Riley: The truth is, my wife suffers from a mental illness, a deep depression that keeps her from being able to cope with all the pressures you and I take for granted.
Eugene Meltsner: I'm sorry, Mr. Riley. I didn't know. Is her condition because of what happened to your son Timmy?
Tom Riley: Well, Agnes is my second wife. I lost my first wife to cancer a year after Timmy died. Agnes lost her husband to the same disease around that time. We met, and I reckon we thought we understood each other, both losing our spouses like that. When she heard how Timmy died, she got it into her head that we should have a child. And we tried for a long time. She miscarried a couple of times. That was hard. Then the doctors finally worked out that she couldn't have children. The news was more than she could stand. Now, that was the start of her problems.
Eugene Meltsner: I'm speechless. I don't know what to say.
Tom Riley: Not much you can say. That's just the way it is.
John Avery Whittaker: How do you think she'll react to this news, Tom?
Tom Riley: I'm sure she doesn't know. The doctors wouldn't let a newspaper within a mile of the place. I'll break it to her myself. In fact, that's why I came over here, Whit. I didn't want the press following me, and I thought you might have a clever way to get me in there.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, my car's out back. We could sneak you out that way and, if you don't mind crouching down in the passenger seat.
Tom Riley: I don't mind, and I appreciate your help. After I talk to Agnes, then I'll tell the press everything.
Eugene Meltsner: Everything, Mr. Riley? But certainly it's no one's business but your own.
John Avery Whittaker: Yes, that's right, Tom. Don't feel as if you have to tell them anything. It's private.
Tom Riley: I gave up privacy when I became mayor. That's why I'm so surprised that the question about my wife hasn't come up before this. This might make my decision about the next election for me.
John Avery Whittaker: Shall we go, Tom?
Tom Riley: Ready when you are, Whit.
John Avery Whittaker: All right, Eugene, will you keep those reporters diverted while we leave?
Eugene Meltsner: Yes, sir. How about cannon fire from the third floor?
Rodney Rathbone: Quick, quick! Turn on the TV. They just said that Tom Riley's making a statement.
Bart Rathbone: Hot diggity. I can't wait to hear what he has to say. Let's see you get yourself out of this one, Riley.
News Reporter: And Mayor Tom Riley has just stepped to the podium.
Tom Riley: Good evening, everybody. How you doing? I guess you all must be wondering what in the world is going on around here. First, I cause a fuss about whether or not I'm going to run for mayor again, and now this, the Tattler. I don't suppose any of you folks read this stuff, right? Well, just in case you have, I thought I should explain about these pictures. It's embarrassing to be honest for the people who printed them, I mean. The mysterious blonde that you sort of see here is my wife, Agnes.
Rodney Rathbone: What? His wife?
Doris Rathbone: No way.
Tom Riley: She changes her hair color like some people change their clothes. Don't ask me why. So, to you editors at the Tattler, better luck next time with your scandals. Excuse me for getting personal for just a minute, but you all know that I don't like to play political games. I like to keep things up-front and honest. So, I want to explain about Hillingdale Haven. You see, that's where my wife lives for the moment. God love her, she's ill. Mentally ill is how most people would put it. Some of you long-term residents of Odyssey will remember a few of the circumstances that led to her problems. She suffers from deep depression to the point where just getting out of bed in the morning takes a lot of work. The last few years have been even harder on her for obvious reasons. So, she's been in Hillingdale full-time for quite a while, which is why no one ever sees her. And I appreciate those of you who didn't join the Tattler in assuming the worst. So, where are we now? Well, this is as good a time as any to let you all know that I will not seek re-election as mayor. To be honest, I've had enough. Let somebody else have a turn. I want to go home to my farm and try to help my wife get better. I want to thank you all for your attention.
News Reporter: And there you have it, an explanation from Mayor Tom Riley.
Rodney Rathbone: We shouldn't have done it, Bart. We never should have done this here. I feel terrible.
Bart Rathbone: I know, Doris.
Rodney Rathbone: Do you see what we caused? Oh, that poor man.
Bart Rathbone: Yeah, I don't feel so very good myself.
Rodney Rathbone: Oh, come on. What's with you two? He's not running for mayor. Isn't that what you wanted?
Bart Rathbone: Not like this.
Rodney Rathbone: But Pop!
Bart Rathbone: Just be quiet, Rodney. Close your mouth and never open it again, all right? I think I need to take a walk.
Doris Rathbone: Yeah, yeah, hold on there. I'll come with you.
Rodney Rathbone: What's the matter with you two? Why are you acting like this, huh?
John Avery Whittaker: He's a brave man, our mayor.
Eugene Meltsner: He is indeed. To have endured so much pain and then have this happen is more than anyone should be expected to bear. I don't know that I could be so noble.
John Avery Whittaker: I don't know if I could either, Eugene.
Eugene Meltsner: I must ask you a question, though, about Mrs. Riley and her illness. Mr. Whittaker, I can understand why Mr. Riley never made his wife's illness public knowledge, but I've never heard him mention it at church. Surely church would be the one place where he could ask us to pray for him and for her.
John Avery Whittaker: Well, years ago, when Agnes first started to show the symptoms of her depression, Tom went to our church for help. But no one knew what to do or how to respond. At first, they prayed for her healing, but she just didn't get any better. It was awkward. Eventually, people stopped praying. People would avoid Tom or wouldn't know what to say to him. He was a constant reminder that their prayers hadn't been answered, and it made them uncomfortable. It's tragic that the one place where Tom should have been able to find the most support was the place where he felt the most alone. I'm afraid that Tom's experience isn't unique. As a church, we have much to learn about how to support those who are suffering from illnesses that aren't easily understood.
Eugene Meltsner: It is indeed a sobering thought.
John Avery Whittaker: Yes, it is. But Tom's announcement today has opened a door for us to show him the love and support he has needed for so long. And I intend to do just that.
Eugene Meltsner: As do I, Mr. Whittaker. As do I.