A Name, Not a Number, Part 2

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#291: “A Name, Not a Number, Part 2”
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Scripture

Psalm 27:5-6

5For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. 6Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

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“Codebreaker, Part 2”
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A Name, Not a Number, Part 2

“A Name, Not a Number, Part 2” is episode #291 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Phil Lollar, and originally aired on December 3, 1994.

Summary

Jason Whittaker, Whit's son, gets sidetracked from his move to Odyssey when he's called to Europe on a mission. He has to find a missing friend who has been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Red Scorpion.

Plot

We learn that the Rukuta virus is indeed a virus but is fairly harmless until it is connected to a mysterious TA-418 formula, which makes it far more deadly. With Mustafa in custody and the threat of world domination over, Jason says good-bye to Tasha and heads for Odyssey.

Jason isn’t in Odyssey long, however, before he discovers a mysterious package from Switzerland, with Tasha’s handwriting on it, in a stack of unopened mail. He is then surprised when Tasha herself appears. The package contains the complete formula for TA-418. She’d mailed it off as a precaution, and now she’s come to retrieve it. Soon, they learn that Mustafa has escaped!

Before Jason can warn Tasha, she has been captured by Mustafa. The deal is simple: He’ll trade Tasha for the formula. They agree to meet at Whit’s End where Filby, one of Donovan’s agents, arrives to capture Mustafa. Jason realizes, however, that Filby is a double-agent. Jason creates enough of a diversion at Whit’s End to save himself and Tasha. Mustafa escapes by leaping through the window. But Mustafa is only free for so long. He is captured not by the police, but by Dr. Blackgaard, who had faked his death. Blackgaard, who knows all about the power of the TA-418 formula, murders Mustafa and leaves. This adventure is only part of Blackgaard’s bigger plan. Meanwhile, Jason says good-bye to Donovan and Tasha, his days as a secret agent are over.

This plot section is too short and should be expanded. »

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think what Jason did for a living is good or bad work for a Christian?
    • Explain your answer.
  2. Is there such a thing as a synthetic virus in real life?
    • Explain.
  3. Why do you think some people want to do things to hurt their own country?

Cast

Heard in episode

Role Voice Actor
Abdul Phil Lollar
Donovan Alan Young
Eugene Meltsner Will Ryan
Miles Filby Walker Edmiston
Jason Whittaker Townsend Coleman
Mustafa Will Ryan
Regis Blackgaard Earl Boen
Tasha Forbes Christie Nimitz
Tom Riley Walker Edmiston
Whit's Safe Bob Luttrell

Mentioned in episode

Character Mentioned By
John Whittaker Tasha Forbes
Jack Allen Jason Whittaker
Molly Jason Whittaker


Notes

  • PARENTAL WARNING: These episodes are about international political intrigue and the threat of biological terrorism. While presented in a way that most youngsters will find enjoyable, these episodes may be too intense for younger listeners.
  • VERSION DIFFERENCE: [view] The broadcast version included a parental warning.
Trivia
  • The climax of this episode shows the extent of Blackgaard's evil, in that he was willing to kill a man simply because "You stabbed me with a needle."
  • The scene at midnight at the gazebo is a play off a scene from the movie The Princess Bride, in which Westley mentions that he and Vizzini (who has Princess Buttercup, Westley's love) at sword point, are "at an impasse". This happens similarly in the episode. Jason is the counterpart of Westley, Mustafa is the counterpart of Vizzini, and Tasha is the counterpart of Princess Buttercup. Jason uses the word impasse to describe his relationship with Mustafa at that moment. To see a full list of Princess Bride references see: List of Princess Bride references.
  • The program originating from the secret computer room that Jason uses to subdue Filby in the finale of this episode appears to be partially based on Level 1 of Applesauce heard in earlier episodes #73: “A Bite of Applesauce” and #83: “The Battle, Part 1”, serving as a "systems check" that reeks havoc on the electrical system (albeit in only one room rather than the entire building).
Goofs
  • An issue deals with Dr. Blackgaard's actual death scene in #334: “The Final Conflict”. He says that "somewhere along the line, he picked up a strain of the Rukuta virus". But in this episode, Dr. Blackgaard tells Mustafa that Abdul had filled the syringe with a vitamin complex which was completely harmless. However, in #329: “The Return”, he tells Jason Whittaker that he was injected with a strain of Ruku virus that had been exposed to air. "It was enough to make me very ill, even to simulate death, but not to kill me," he says. What about the vitamin complex that Abdul put in the syringe? Of course it's possible that Blackgaard was lying to Jason. After all, if he told him that Adbul was working for him, it might lead to awkward questions about Mustafa's death. However, if the first explanation is correct, we are still left with the question of where Blackgaard got the Ruku virus. We never get a hint in any of the Darkness Before Dawn episodes that Blackgaard has created any Ruku virus with TA-418, which would make it possible to catch easily. So if none of the "enhanced" virus was made, Blackgaard had to get it from an injection since, according to Tasha, "the only way to get the virus is to have it injected directly." Who gave Blackgaard this injection and when did it occur? We may never know.

Quotes

Eugene Meltsner: Are you searching for something?
Jason Whittaker: Uh, yeah, a phone jack. I need to plug in my phone.
Eugene Meltsner: I don't believe this room has one; however, I believe there is a phone down the hall in the office.
Jason Whittaker: Well, I like my phone better. I know that sounds strange, but you know, it fits my ear, and it's, well...nicer, and it's—it's...
Eugene Meltsner: <phone rings> It's ringing.
Jason Whittaker: It's also kinda weird. It does that sometimes.


Tasha Forbes: Remember I told you that "T" in TA418 stands for Tasha?
Jason Whittaker: Yeah?
Tasha Forbes: Well, the "A" stands for Avery.


Tasha Forbes: Let's take a walk.
Jason Whittaker: Okay...as long as we can stay outside.
Tasha Forbes: Jason! You don't think you can trust me?


Mustafa: You treacherous dog! You would betray me?!
Miles Filby: Oh, please, not that again.


Regis Blackgaard: I know about TA-418. I've always known. Do you think I ever cared about your petty revolution or your mosquito of a group? There's so much more going on here than you can possibly understand, or even imagine! But you have fulfilled your purpose; for that, I thank you. Of course, you also stabbed me with a needle, and for that...make it look like an accident, Abdul.

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