Rights, Wrongs, and Winners

A tie in the Best Small Town contest gives Odyssey one week to prove its heart to the judges of Home and Country magazine. Meanwhile the whole town buzzes with news that detective Harlow Doyle is the secret creator of the Power Boy comics... but mailman Wooton knows the drawings landed at Harlow's door by mistake, because he drew them himself. After praying with Whit, Wooton tells the truth on Connie's radio program - and promptly gets Odyssey disqualified, since Power Boy and the magazine share a publisher. To save the contest, Wooton quits his mail route, sells his house, and moves away for a year. But Connie and Whit won't take a prize that costs them a friend, and five hundred signatures later, the town votes almost unanimously to withdraw and bring Wooton home. Sunshine Beach gets the trophy, while Wooton returns to his route and hands a signed Power Boy lunchbox to every kid in the best town in America.

Found on The Best Small Town Album 50 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

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.

0640 Rights, Wrongs, and Winners When two tied towns are challenged to prove their true heart, Odyssey's chance at the title gets tangled up with the surprise unmasking of a beloved comic book's secret creator.

1 of 2 0641 The Imagination Station, Revisited A curious kid sneaks an early ride in Whit's rebuilt Imagination Station and lands in Jerusalem during Jesus' final week, where a blind boy's hope draws her into events far bigger than she expected.

2 of 2 0642 The Imagination Station, Revisited A trip through an unfinished Imagination Station drops Kelly into the final days of Jesus' life, where she can only watch as betrayal and injustice unfold around her.

TTC01 Here Am I When Whit's newest invention drops Connie into a series of surreal scenarios, she must defend the idea of absolute truth against game-show pundits, talk-show guests, and a very persuasive adversary.

TTC02 The Truth Be Told When a new newspaper editor asks a young reporter to dig up dirt on Whit's End, her investigation unfolds alongside a homespun superhero tale about a librarian transformed into a champion of absolute truth.

TTC03 The Science Club When a young science club president is assigned a presentation on Darwin, a curious question from Whit turns his topic into a test of whether the club really follows the truth wherever it leads.

TTC04 Three in One When a new cable access channel comes to Odyssey, Connie steps up to be a voice for what kids really need - while everyone around her keeps stumbling onto the same big idea.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 7 more roles

7 supporting roles

Mayor Margaret Faye Alexandra Kenworthy Ed (c) Jess Harnell Ed (a) Jess Harnell Perry Browning Jimmy Weldon Newcaster Actor Unknown Powerboy/Powergirl Fan (a) Actor Unknown Stella Doyle Diane Hsu

Made by

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

The story

Read the full synopsis 2 min

Home and Country magazine announces that Odyssey and Sunshine Beach have tied in the Best Small Town competition. Rather than name both winners, the judges give each town one week to demonstrate its true heart. The vague challenge tempts Connie and others to stage impressive acts, but Whit warns that a town's heart is revealed by everyday character, not a performance for judges.

The same week, comic-book fans identify private detective Harlow Doyle as the secret creator of Power Boy. Original drawings have appeared at his mother's house, a publisher collects pages near his office, and one character speaks like him. Harlow accepts the fame because the evidence sounds convincing, though he has no memory of drawing anything.

Wooton knows the truth: he created Power Boy and mistakenly delivered a package of drawings to Harlow. He fears that public attention will change how people treat him, but Harlow begins promising story developments that Wooton would have to write. After praying with Whit, Wooton decides that honesty matters more than protecting his anonymity.

On Connie's program, a trivia question quickly proves that Wooton knows the comic's history while Harlow cannot even spell a villain's name. Wooton explains the mailing mistake and admits that characters, including one based on Harlow, were inspired by real people around Odyssey. The long-hidden creator is finally known.

The revelation creates a conflict for the contest. Power Boy and Home and Country share the same publishing company, and past wrongdoing has made the judges strict about possible favoritism. Perry Browning says Odyssey must be disqualified because Wooton's work connects his hometown to the company.

Wooton proposes a costly solution. Perry agrees that Odyssey may remain eligible if Wooton leaves Campbell County for one year. Wooton quits his beloved mail route, sells his house, and moves to Odenton. He dislikes his new home but believes leaving is the right sacrifice for his town.

Connie and Whit refuse to accept a prize purchased by losing a friend. Mayor Faye argues that every citizen should decide an issue affecting the whole town, so Connie gathers five hundred signatures calling for a vote. The result is almost unanimous: Odyssey withdraws from the competition so Wooton can return.

Sunshine Beach receives the Best Small Town award. Although the final announcement feels anticlimactic, Odyssey has answered the judges' real question. Its citizens surrender recognition to protect one beloved member of their community.

Wooton returns joyfully to his home and mail route. In gratitude, he begins giving every child in town a Power Boy lunchbox signed by the creator. Odyssey may not possess the official title, but Wooton knows he lives in the best town in America.