The Highest Stakes

Grady has shown his father the one thing Wooton asked him to keep secret: a hidden room full of original Power Boy artwork. Now Wooton's most treasured drawing is gone, and Grady knows exactly who took it - Carson has stolen it to pay off his gambling debts. Heartbroken, Grady tells his father never to call him son again, then confesses everything to Wooton, who forgives him on the spot. That forgiveness changes Grady, and in the treehouse he makes the biggest decision of his life... to follow Jesus. Meanwhile Whit poses as a buyer for the stolen drawing and offers Carson a way out: return the artwork, get honest work, and face his addiction. Ashamed, Carson leaves the drawing behind and tries to disappear, sure his family can never forgive him. But Grady already has - and a phone call from Kristi turns Carson around at the bus station, trading his ticket out of town for one back to Odyssey.

Found on The Sky's the Limit Album 49 · 12 episodes

The run See every episode

0623 Buddy Guard When Grady hires a bodyguard to stop a park bully and a radio host discovers his on-air complaints can strong-arm people into paying up, both learn how quickly protection turns into power.

0624 Wooing Wooton When Wooton's estranged father suddenly invites him back into the family fold, meeting a woman who shares his quirky passions forces him to weigh what he wants most against what he believes.

0625 Something Significant When Trent balks at being assigned to set up chairs instead of acting in a church play, Whit sends him on an Imagination Station journey to discover what makes a task truly important.

1 of 2 0626 Life, in the Third Person Feeling invisible in her fractured family, Mandy tries to outrun her parents' separation on her bicycle - but some things can't be escaped.

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.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 6 more roles

6 supporting roles

Kristi McKay Julianne Buescher Samantha McKay Mary Mouser Carson McKay Dave Bitran Bus Ticketing Attendant Actor Unknown Connelsville Inn Desk Clerk Jess Harnell Littleton Restaurant Server Actor Unknown

Made by

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

The story

Read the full synopsis 2 min

During the McKays' visit to Wooton's house, Grady proudly shows Carson a secret room filled with original Power Boy artwork. The most valuable item is Wooton's drawing for the first comic. Wooton has trusted Grady never to reveal the room, but Grady believes sharing it with his father is different. Carson promises that he can be trusted.

Carson later asks whether Kristi has spent the repayment money and admits that more old gambling debt has come due. He refuses Grady's offer to help. Soon afterward, Wooton discovers that the original Power Boy drawing is missing. Grady realizes Carson has stolen it to pay Wilson.

Grady confronts his father and begs him to return the drawing, promising that the family can face the debt together. Carson insists that will not work. Feeling betrayed after defending and trusting him, Grady tells Carson never to call him son again. Kristi is furious when she learns what happened and resolves to bar Carson from their home for good.

Grady confesses to Wooton that he broke his promise by revealing the secret room. Wooton grieves the loss but values Grady far more than any drawing and forgives him. While they build a drawbridge for the treehouse, Grady says he wants to become kind and forgiving like Wooton instead of repeating his father's worst traits.

Wooton explains that choosing the person one wants to become requires a lifetime of effort and the right help. Grady understands that he means Jesus. Though still afraid of his mother's reaction, Grady is ready to follow Christ, and Wooton prays with him.

Carson arranges to sell the drawing, but the buyer at the restaurant is Whit. Working with Wooton and the police, Whit offers to pay Carson's debts if he returns the artwork, works at a church-sponsored auto center, and enters counseling for gambling addiction. Carson thinks his family can never forgive him. Whit answers that shame does not cancel a father's responsibilities and that Carson cannot repair himself without God.

Grady tells Kristi that he has forgiven Carson because forgiveness is now part of the life he has chosen. He also admits that he has become a Christian. Kristi sees the positive changes already taking place in her son and accepts his decision. She even agrees to talk with Whit or Wooton because her family needs help beyond its own strength.

Whit goes to Carson's motel the next morning and finds that he has checked out. Carson has left behind the Power Boy drawing and a letter admitting that he still has far to go. He believes his latest betrayal is too much to forgive and plans to disappear rather than fail them again.

Kristi calls Carson before he can leave town. The returned drawing proves that some part of his change is real, and Grady's forgiveness challenges her to offer another chance. She promises that they can talk and face the debts somehow if Carson truly wants to be a father. At the bus station, Carson gives up his ticket away and asks for one back to Odyssey.