License to Deprive

The Washington family lands what looks like an easy job: playing costumed frontier settlers at Odyssey's newest attraction, a 1794 cabin Jack Allen discovered hiding inside their own ruined barn. But when their very first tour is picked apart by Abraham Darrow, the Historical Society's stern expert, he shuts the place down for a three-day crash course in living history. No electricity, no pizza, no sleeping past dawn... just corn-husk beds, candle-making, chimney cleaning, and endless study. Exhausted, the family sticks it out together, and by the final morning even Abraham is impressed. Then, celebrating with modern pizza, soda, and charades in the cabin, they're caught mid-chicken-dance by the mayor and a visiting state senator. The demonstration dissolves into laughter - but the Washingtons come away thankful for their modern blessings and full of respect for the settlers who lived without them.

Found on The Best Small Town Album 50 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

2 of 2 0627 Life, in the Third Person While a broken leg lands Mandy in the hospital, her fractured family is forced to stop hiding from the hard conversations they've been avoiding.

1 of 2 0628 The Highest Stakes After six months away, a father returns to Odyssey believing his debts are paid and hoping to win back the family his gambling destroyed.

2 of 2 0629 The Highest Stakes When his estranged father comes back into his life, a boy who shares a treasured secret must decide whether trust and forgiveness are worth the risk of being hurt again.

0630 Chip off the Shoulder New foster kid Kelly and a still-simmering Connie collide when a school project goes missing at Whit's End, forcing both to face what it really takes to trust and forgive.

0631 A Capsule Comes to Town When a national radio program asks whether Odyssey is stuck in the past, the search for a century-old time capsule puts the town's memory - and its heart - to the test.

0632 Suspicious Finds When a magazine nomination for Best Small Town in America sends Odyssey scrambling to impress a secret inspector, the townspeople's frantic makeovers threaten to undo the very charm that earned the honor.

0633 License to Deprive the Washington family signs on to portray frontier settlers at a restored historic homestead, only to learn that living history is far harder than performing it

1 of 2 0634 Accidental Dilemma When a blog post blows Jason Whittaker's cover as a government agent, an old enemy with a score to settle sets a trap in Odyssey.

2 of 2 0635 Accidental Dilemma When the trail of a shadowy criminal leads straight back to Odyssey, Whit and his friends must outwit the Whisperer on their own home ground - where the price of victory may be higher than anyone expects.

0636 A Class Reenactment A pompous theater impresario is hired to dramatize Odyssey's founding for radio, but his flair for spectacle keeps colliding with the town's true story.

0637 The Forgotten Deed With Whit's End on the verge of reopening, a dispute over a time capsule uncovers a question about who really owns the land beneath it - and whether the shop can keep its faith at its heart.

1 of 2 0638 The Triangled Web A hometown reunion turns tangled when three old friends each plan a heartfelt conversation with the same woman on the same night.

2 of 2 0639 The Triangled Web A reunion in Odyssey turns into a tangle of competing romantic hopes when three men each plan their own perfect moment with Lucy, forcing everyone to decide what commitment really means.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 4 more roles

4 supporting roles

Mayor Margaret Faye Alexandra Kenworthy Abraham Darrow Jeff Doucette Senator Hoynes Actor Unknown Mayor Faye's secretary Sarah Kallberg

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Marshal Younger Writer · Producer Dave Arnold Director · Executive Producer Nathan Jones Sound Designer Bob Hoose Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 2 min

Jack Allen discovers a drawing among the time capsule materials showing a house built by Elmer McAlister, son of Odyssey's founder. The date indicates that the house was constructed in 1794, making it the oldest building in the state if it still exists. Jack recognizes the ruined barn at the back of the Washingtons' property as that very structure.

The Historical Society restores the building as a frontier home, complete with a garden, animals, period furnishings, and guided tours. Ed and Elaine persuade Jack to hire their family as the costumed settlers. The extra income can pay for repairs at home, and the work looks simple: they will perform chores and family life for visitors.

Their first tour seems convincing until an unusually knowledgeable guest asks detailed questions. He points out inventions, clothing, and events that do not belong in the year the Washingtons are portraying. He is Abraham Darrow, the Historical Society's expert, and he considers their mistakes disrespectful to history.

Abraham closes the attraction for a three-day crash course. The Washingtons must live entirely as frontier settlers, even when tourists are absent. He wakes them before dawn, forbids modern conveniences, makes them sleep on corn husks, and assigns candle-making, soap-making, cooking, sewing, chimney cleaning, berry gathering, and mountains of study.

The family quickly becomes exhausted. Ed must remember which wars, machines, and treaties have occurred by their chosen year. Elaine sews long dresses by hand, Marvin loses modern coins from his pockets, Tamika cooks beet dishes, and Kelly discovers that gathering enough berries is far less pleasant than a picnic.

Ed urges everyone to endure the ordeal. For all its hardship, the work gives them time together and shows them what earlier families faced every day. By the final morning, their skills and knowledge impress even Abraham. He explains that historical accuracy honors people who worked, suffered, built homes, and helped create the country they now enjoy.

Returning to electricity, cable television, a repaired dishwasher, and pizza does not feel quite as satisfying as expected. The Washingtons would rather spend time together, and they choose to eat in the restored cabin. Abraham joins them, relaxes his standards while tours are closed, and plays charades over modern pizza and soda.

Their relaxation is badly timed. Mayor Faye arrives with State Senator Hoynes just as Abraham is performing the chicken dance. The family tries to explain the dance and pizza as frontier customs, but the dignified demonstration has dissolved into laughter. The Washingtons may not impress their guest perfectly, yet they have gained gratitude for modern blessings and respect for the people who lived without them.