An Act of Nobility

A young American writer named James Armer is doing research in the tiny country of Moldavia when a plane crashes near his cottage - and the injured pilot turns out to be Prince Roderick, who looks exactly like him. The prince has been drugged by his scheming cousin Von Warberg, and if he sleeps through tomorrow's coronation, Moldavia could fall into civil war. So James studies the prince's voice and walk all night, then strides into the palace and is crowned in Roderick's place. But when the real prince wakes up, he refuses to believe his cousin is a traitor - until Von Warberg bursts in with a pistol, and James takes a knife slash meant for the king. With the plot exposed and Von Warberg jailed, James refuses every reward except a pocket watch, and goes home with no one ever knowing how Moldavia got its king. Whit tells this whole tale to young Isaac, who needs to learn what nobility really means... and when Whit checks his own pocket watch at the end, listeners are left wondering how he knows the story so well.

Found on It All Started When... Album 13 · 13 episodes

The run See every episode

0181 It Takes Integrity When a cynical schemer runs unopposed for student body president, an idealistic school reporter enters the race to prove that integrity still matters in politics.

0182 The Scales of Justice When two thousand dollars in found cash sparks a courtroom showdown at Whit's End, Isaac must prove the money is rightfully his against the scheming Rathbones.

0183 Tales of Moderation When Connie asks why a wealthy man like Whit lives so simply, he hands her a book of three tales that make the case for moderation better than he ever could.

0184 Isaac the Chivalrous When a legendary knight steps out of the Imagination Station and into modern-day Odyssey, young Isaac gets a firsthand - and unexpectedly challenging - lesson in what chivalry really means.

0185 A Question of Loyalty When shy newcomer Emily's hidden writing talent blossoms under Lucy's mentorship, a countywide newspaper contest puts their new friendship to the test.

0186 The Conscientious Cross-Guard A by-the-book middle school crossing guard must decide whether to abandon his post or face down the school's meanest gang alone.

0187 An Act of Nobility A young American traveler in a small foreign kingdom discovers he bears an uncanny resemblance to its prince - on the eve of a coronation someone is plotting to prevent.

0188 The Courage to Stand A girl's shot at joining the popular cheerleading crowd hinges on one party - and one condition her mother won't bend on.

0189 No, Honestly! The town's least trustworthy kid becomes convinced a charming newcomer is up to no good - but who's going to believe Rodney Rathbone?

1 of 2 0190 Moses: The Passover On his son's birthday, a workaholic father chases the boy into an Imagination Station adventure and finds himself trapped in ancient Egypt on the eve of the tenth plague.

2 of 2 0191 Moses: The Passover Trapped in different corners of ancient Egypt on the night of the first Passover, a father and son each discover that finding their way back to one another will take more than their own strength.

0192 Modesty is the Best Policy When her father vetoes her trendy new dress, a teenage girl discovers that turning heads at school is easier - and more complicated - than she expected.

0193 A Tongue of Fire When aspiring kid broadcaster Jimmy Barclay takes career advice from Odyssey's most notorious shock jock, his quest for laughs puts his friendships - and his show - on the line.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 9 more roles

9 supporting roles

Brooke Myers Amber Arnold Woman on the street Actor Unknown Herald Dave Arnold James Armer Corey Burton General Farnham Hal Smith Captain Holt Actor Unknown Dr. Munroe Phil Lollar Prince Roderick Corey Burton Eric Von Warberg Dave Madden

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Phil Lollar Writer · Director Dave Arnold Sound Designer · Producer Paul McCusker Producer Chuck Bolte Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 3 min

Isaac Morton is sitting glumly at Whit's End, wishing he could learn to keep his big mouth shut. In history class he announced that nobility means kings, dukes, earls and queens, and his teacher - who insists there is much more to it than rank and title - has assigned him a report on what nobility really is. Whit agrees with the teacher. True nobility, he says, is not a matter of birth but of behavior, and to prove it he offers to tell Isaac a story of nobility, on the condition that Isaac writes his report on his own.

The story begins several years ago in a small country called Moldavia, where a young American writer named James Armer is doing research for a book. The townspeople gasp and whisper wherever he goes, and he cannot understand why - until an airplane crashes in the woods near his rented cottage. As James tries to help the unconscious pilot, two men arrive: General Farnham and Dr. Munroe. When the pilot's headgear comes off, everyone is astounded. James and the pilot look exactly alike.

The pilot, it turns out, is Prince Roderick, monarch of Moldavia, due to be crowned king the very next morning. Dr. Munroe discovers that the prince has not simply been careless - his wine was drugged. The bottle came from the cellars of Eric Von Warberg, the prince's ambitious cousin, who has been stirring up unrest and hopes to seize the throne for himself. Roderick will sleep through his own coronation, and if the ceremony fails, Moldavia could tumble into civil war.

So James makes a daring offer: a prince must attend the coronation, and he looks just like one. He asks the general only one question first - whether he truly wants Roderick on the throne - and Farnham answers that Roderick is his rightful king, whom he will serve to his dying breath. Satisfied, James spends the night studying recordings of the prince's voice, practicing his walk, and memorizing the ceremony. The next day, to the shock of Von Warberg and his henchman Captain Holt, "Prince Roderick" strides into the palace in perfect health. James is crowned before the whole court, promising to defend, protect and serve Moldavia even unto death, while Von Warberg fumes and resolves to hunt down the real prince.

That night the conspirators return to the cottage, where Roderick has finally woken up - and he is furious. He accuses his loyal friends of treachery and refuses to believe that his own cousin tried to kill him. He even orders General Farnham to arrest James, and the heartbroken general, bound by honor, obeys. At that moment Von Warberg and Holt burst in with a pistol, planning to kill the king and blame the "assassins." A wild scuffle breaks out. When Holt rushes at Roderick with a knife, James tackles him and takes a nasty slash across the arm to protect the king. Holt escapes, but the general and the doctor overpower Von Warberg, and Roderick finally sees the truth.

The next morning the grateful king, who has jailed Von Warberg and sent Farnham after Holt, insists on rewarding James. But James says he already has his reward - honor and adventure, and the true king on the throne. All he asks for is a watch, since he forgot his own back in America. Roderick gives him the pocket watch from his very own pocket, and James returns home, with no one ever knowing about his unselfish act or how, because of him, Moldavia had a king.

That, Whit tells Isaac, is what nobility is all about: not outward trappings or the family you were born into, but a matter of the heart. Isaac heads off encouraged, though he sighs that it's too bad stories like that aren't real. A moment later Brooke Myers asks Whit for the time - and Whit checks and tells her it's 2:30, leaving listeners to wonder just how he knows that story so well.