Happy Smilers

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479: Happy Smilers
Season	2001
Album	37: Countermoves
Aired	December 15, 2001
Written by	John Beebee
Directed by	John Beebee
Produced by	Unknown
Sound Design by	Bob Luttrell
Music by	John Campbell
Prev: Strange Boy in a Strange Land Next: The Popsicle Kid

[edit] General information

Theme: Happiness, Joy

Scripture=None

[edit] Summary

Aubrey is stuck serving the S.M.I.L.E group who seem to be a little too happy. When their leader, Guy, suffers a heart attack, Aubrey learns what it means to be truly happy.

[edit] Plot

It's another great day at the Timothy Center. Well, maybe not so great. Aubrey finds out that not only can't she go to a movie with her friend, but she has to help serve the Society for Mental Improvement and Living Enthusiastically ("SMILE" for short). If there's anything she feels like doing now, it's not smiling. Regardless, the Society arrives in full force. Aubrey meets the crew and is equally disgusted by all of them. There's Howard, the local chapter president. There's George, who thinks he's Mr. Cool. And that's not to mention Jerry and Betty (who thinks Aubrey is a cynical prune-face). Aubrey retreats to the kitchen to find a huge cake that the national president of SMILE is going to jump out of. The president himself, Guy Shaffer, shows up to climb in and is amused by Aubrey's direct honesty to him. Over the noise of the obnoxious "Happy Song," Aubrey wheels the cake with Guy inside into the meeting room. Just as Guy makes his grand entrance, he collapses to the floor. The Smilers panic, but Aubrey performs CPR. Later at the hospital, Aubrey and Tom Riley come to visit Guy and find the Smilers already in the room. They are trying to keep Guy in high spirits, but it doesn't seem to be working. After they leave, Guy asks Aubrey about her honesty and Aubrey asks about Guy's "happiness." Aubrey is convinced that Guy can't really be happy all the time and Guy tries to convince Aubrey that she should be happy. Back at the Timothy Center, Aubrey sees that the Smilers are going about their merry little way and Howard gives an "update" that paints a much more positive picture of Guy's condition. The next day at the hospital, Howard and Guy have a confrontation. Howard demands that Guy act happy and Guy tells Howard to "get out." Howard leaves acting very nonchalant as Aubrey enters. Guy asks if she's thought about their conversation and what she really believes. Guy talks about a change in his life and wonders if Aubrey needs one, too. The next morning, Aubrey awakens to find that the Smilers have left and even decided to remove Guy as president. Tom comes in to tell Aubrey that Guy wants to see Aubrey again at the hospital. They head off. At the hospital, they find Guy's room empty. A nurse informs them that Guy died early that morning. On the way back to the Center, Tom tells Aubrey that Guy accepted Jesus last night and he even did it because of Aubrey. Aubrey is shocked. That night, she finds her dad up late dubbing tapes for the Smilers. Aubrey asks if her dad has any regrets about moving to the Center. He doesn't. She asks if he's happy. He says he'd rather be joyful. With that, he shuts off the tape. That's the end of the Happy Smilers visit to the Timothy Center.

[edit] Discussion Questions

1. Why did Guy change his position on the Happy Smilers?
2. Is there anything wrong with being happy?
3. What was wrong (or right) about the Smilers?
4. Read James 1:2-4. It talks about taking joy in times of trouble. What is the difference between happiness and joy?

[edit] Cast

[edit] Notes

[edit] Reviews

[edit] Quotes

George-Betty!

Betsy-George!

George-I've been lookin all over for you and Henry! Where is that happy guy?

Betsy-Oh, he died last year.

George-Oh.Sorry to, uh, hear that.

Betsy-Oh it's Ok. I just have to keep thinking poooositively!

George-You are so right!