My Girl, Hallie

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#537: “My Girl, Hallie”
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My Girl, Hallie

“My Girl, Hallie” is episode #537 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written by Bob Hoose and Nathan Hoobler, and originally aired on February 7, 2004.

Summary

“The Twilife Zone” skit tells the story of a boy named Joey Patrick who has an unusual friendship … with his computer.

Plot

Kids' Radio presents another more-fun-than-freaky episode of "The Twilife Zone!" Narrator John Whittaker introduces Joey Patrick, "an average boy in an average town" that "very soon, will wake up in the Twilife Zone."

Concerned about his slow learning curve, Joey's parents buy him the CyberDyne Super Plus Deluxe 9000.58: an advanced computer not yet released to the public. It's a truly impressive computer, touted as the world's first "bio-circuitry-enhanced learning machine" that is controlled through a headband-type input device. From helping with school work and writing journal entries, to downloading the latest games, it seems that there is almost nothing it can't do! Joey begins improving in his school work and makes it to the Honor Roll, but begins to make excuses for missing out on foursquare games with his friends. Over time, Joey becomes more attached to the new machine and names "her" Hallie. As the weeks go by, Hallie develops a capacity for emotion and becomes more "human" in her speech, while Joey begins to move and speak mechanically, almost machine-like.

Mrs. Patrick becomes concerned with how much time Joey is spending in his room. She sends him outside to play with his friends, but he finds the outdoors too bright and noisy. Joey makes a hasty retreat back to his room and surprises Hallie with a "gift" for his "girl": more memory. Her happiness soon gives way to jealousy when she sees Joey was looking at laptops online. Caught in a moment of guilt, Joey declares that he will never give up Hallie. Later, Joey's mom decides that she's had enough of his bizarre behavior and tells him she plans to get rid of the computer, which is now almost as tall as he is! During this confrontation, she accidentally breaks the headband input device, which had become stuck to Joey's skin. Joey slowly comes to his senses and realizes that Hallie has become too controlling. He unplugs the computer and makes amends with his mom. He excitedly returns to the playground... only to find that the kids are now playing foursquare on their laptops!

Discussion Questions

  1. Was it good that Joey’s computer was so fast and cool?
    • Why or why not?
  2. What is idolatry?
    • How did Joey "idolize" his computer?
  3. Have you ever lost time with your friends because of playing video games or doing other things by yourself?

Cast

Role Voice Actor
Hallie Sara Buskirk
Joey Patrick Corey Padnos
John Whittaker Paul Herlinger
Mary Kelsey Lansdowne
Mrs. Patrick Chris Anthony
Zach Jordan Calloway


Notes

Trivia
  • This episode's premise and plot are very similar to the original Twilife Zone episode, #288: “The Twilife Zone”. Both episodes tell the story of a boy who overcomes a strange attachment to an anthropomorphic object.
  • When the writers wrote the script for this episode, they got to the ending and thought it was a bit too spooky for Odyssey, so they wrote another ending. However, they had ANOTHER problem: an episode with two endings. Which one would they use? They decided to let the fans vote on two possible endings. Both endings are included in the album.
    • In the original ending, Joey pulls the plug and Hallie becomes human while Joey becomes a computer.
  • When Joey temporarily leaves his room, Zach jokes, "The creature emerges from the Black Lagoon". This is likely a reference to the 1954 film Creature from the Black Lagoon.
  • One of the teachers referenced in this episode is named Mrs. Buchenga, a combination of writer Kathy Buchanan's married name and maiden name, Wierenga.
Allusions
  • The name of the computer "Hallie" from this episode is a reference to the computer Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey. There are several lines from this episode that are either direct quotes or allusions to this movie, including Hallie's lines "This conversation can no longer serve any purpose" and "I can feel it. I can feel it." It was similarly referenced in #446b: “The Seven Deadly Dwarves”.
  • The basic plot of this episode is similar to that of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" book Supercomputer.
  • The references to a cup holder might be a reference to a joke in the computer industry where unwitting users think that the load tray for the compact disc drive is a cup holder.
  • Hallie is a "Cyberdyne Super Plus Deluxe 9000.58." Cyberdyne is the company responsible for Skynet and Judgement Day in the Terminator franchise.

Quotes

Whit: Do not adjust your radio. We are in control. You're about to enter a different place and yet one that isn't so different. It's a dimension of sight and sound and of mind. A land of shadows, substance, and a lot of weirdness. You’ve just crossed over into the Twilife Zone.

Joey Patrick: Hmmm, now where am I going to put this juice? Too bad you don’t have a cup holder, Hallie.
Hallie: Cup holder activated.
Joey Patrick: What?

Mrs. Patrick: Joseph Patrick, I’ve had enough of this! I have been calling your cell phone and e-mailing you for a half hour. Why is this door locked? Open it this minute!
Joey Patrick: Just one moment... I am 55% of the way to the door.

Hallie: You were looking at laptops, weren’t you?
Joey Patrick: Uh—
Hallie: I saw you eyeing that little silver one with the cute keypad. How could you look for a new computer?!

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