Pokenberry Falls, R.F.D.

The Barclay family records the story of a life-changing journey for one-year-old Stuart to hear when he is older. It begins with George’s graduation from seminary. During the family’s celebratory meal at Burger World, George reveals that the committee at their Odyssey church plans to recommend him as full-time pastor. The appointment still requires a church vote, and George refuses to assume that the obvious opportunity must be God’s will.

Their meal is interrupted by Ellis Birch, an eccentric visitor wearing fishing lures on his hat. Ellis has already sent George a mysterious postcard from Pokenberry Falls, New England. He represents the town’s First Church and asks George to consider becoming its pastor. A relative of someone in Connellsville had heard George preach and recommended him. Ellis admits that George was the last candidate added to their list, but he offers to fly the entire family to Pokenberry Falls so they can examine the opportunity themselves.

Ellis’s old postcards show a beautiful resort town full of grand scenery and prosperous visitors. He also describes the famous Lionel Hotel, a plastics factory, a private college, and six planned housing developments. Barry Lionel owns the hotel and factory, chairs the college board, and serves as head deacon at the church. Although the Barclays have no desire to leave Odyssey, George feels they must at least visit. Saying no without investigating would be easy, and he wants to give God room to guide them.

Ellis flies George, Mary, Jimmy, and Donna to Pokenberry Falls in a small, aging Cessna. At the Birch home they meet Ellis’s wife, Vivian, and their granddaughter Amy. Amy’s parents have died in a car accident, so she lives with her grandparents. Jimmy is instantly overwhelmed by Amy’s beauty. The family also learns that they cannot stay in the parsonage because its renovation has left it without pipes or indoor plumbing.

Amy offers to show Jimmy and Donna around while her grandparents take George and Mary on the official tour. The adults first see the fine hotel, golf course, and resort facilities. When George insists on visiting the town itself, Ellis reluctantly drives downtown. The truth behind the old postcards becomes clear: stores are boarded up, a theater has closed, social-service offices are busy, and few people are on the streets. The elegant hotel stands apart like a castle beside a worn-out village.

Amy presents the same truth without Ellis’s hopeful explanations. She takes Jimmy and Donna to the place called the falls, which is now only a pipe pouring water into a concrete basin; the original waterfall has disappeared because of factory construction. To Amy, the false-looking falls symbolize the entire town. She despises Pokenberry Falls and plans to leave on her eighteenth birthday. She also claims that no one their age attends church.

Near the private college, Ellis tells George that the new pastor will also serve as college chaplain. The beautiful old stone church impresses George and Mary, but two police cars are parked outside with their lights flashing. Someone inside is shouting and smashing glass. Ellis sends the officers away and reluctantly explains that the angry man is his own brother, Owen. George insists on accompanying Ellis into the church.

Meanwhile, Amy brings Jimmy and Donna to a former utility shed where she and her friends hide from the town they hate. She produces a bottle of alcohol and invites them to drink. When they hesitate, she mocks their innocence and calls everyone who refuses a loser. Jimmy and Donna know the choice is wrong, but Amy presses the bottle toward them and orders Jimmy to take it.