#205 MOOSTER'S REVENGE  (Original air date:   10/23/97)
 

Written by:	William Schwartz
Directed by:	Jim Johnston
Produced by:	Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen, E.F. Wallengren & R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

Aunt Mooster	Cloris Leachman
George Laverne	Bill Macy
Nurse Polly	Gwen McGee
Andrew	John Dye

 

The Greenes pay a return visit to Claire's Great Aunt Mooster, who has been unsettled by a visit from Andrew, the Angel of Death (Touched By An Angel). Mooster assumes that Andrew's presence means she is going to die, but Andrew tells her to take care of loose ends. Russell challenges the kids to a contest to see who can get rid of the most junk from the trailer. The contest spurs an idea to hold a yard sale for Aunt Mooster's barn full of old collectibles. Mooster gives them free rein to sell everything. But when she finds out the Greenes have sold her piano, Mooster is beside herself, particularly when she finds out that the man who purchased it is George Laverne, her estranged son-in-law (he was married to Mooster's daughter, Nancy, who has since died). Russell goes to George Laverne's house to buy back the piano, but George is unwilling to part with it. Mooster has Russell and Claire take her to George's house. Face to face, years of pent-up emotion and venom come pouring out. Accusations fly in both directions as to who was responsible for their problems, ending with Mooster blaming George for Nancy's death. While reaching for a fishing pole in Mooster's barn, Josh loses his balance and falls onto a bale of hay, dislodging a coffee can filled with money. Along with the money is a mysterious note, penned by Nancy, expressing the deep anguish that haunted her. Russell fears it was a suicide note, but Claire isn't convinced. While listening to one of Nancy's recordings, Hattie convinces Mooster to come to terms with her deceased daughter's troubled life and untimely death. Hattie expresses her own grief in coming to terms with Joe's mental illness and urges Mooster to do the same. Mooster flashes back to the day she found Nancy dead of an overdose. Mooster has Russell and Claire take her back to George's house. This time, Mooster is there to make amends with her estranged son-in-law. While they sit together at the piano, Mooster notices Andrew outside the living room window. She tries to get rid of him -- but unfortunately, it's George's time. The Greene family packs up to leave, with a new set of cherished memories of their beloved Aunt Mooster.