#209 THE WINNER                     (Original air date:    11/20/97)
 

Written by:	Debra Epstein
Directed by:	Terrence O'Hara
Produced by:	Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen, E.F. Wallengren & R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

Rick Jasper	Brian McNamara
Cindy Jasper	Sara Rayne
Marie Jasper	Bette Ford
Miles Montgomery	Andy Freeman
Benny	John Pitacciato

 

While the Greene family partakes in an all-you-can-eat buffet at a Mesquite, Nevada casino, Nathaniel gets busted by security when he and a precocious nine-year-old named Cindy are caught using the slot machines. At Nathaniel's instigation, Rick Jasper (Cindy's father), offers Russell work on his construction crew. After a couple toughs visit the construction site to collect on a loan, Russell learns that Rick's got a gambling addiction and is heavily in debt. Eventually, it becomes apparent that Rick's addiction is wreaking havoc in his and his daughter's life. With Russell and Josh's help, Rick manages to complete construction in time to receive a bonus. But instead of using it to pay off his debt, he returns to the blackjack table. Desperate, he returns home, tears apart the living room in search of the rent money. He orders a frightened Cindy to reveal where she's hidden the rent money -- even though he instructed her to hide it in the first place. The next morning, having lost everything, Rick shows up outside the Greenes' trailer. Rick asks Russell for a loan, asking him to think of his daughter. But Russell turns him down, driving home how Rick's addiction is destroying his family. Unable to hear the truth, Rick picks up a baseball bat and strikes out at Russell. Russell disarms him and takes him to the church for an intervention where Rick's mother, his daughter and co-workers plead with him to take the first step toward recovery -- admitting he has a problem. Russell even strong-arms tough guys, Benny and Max, into participating, agreeing to work out a payment plan. It is the combined influence of these people, but especially his daughter Cindy, that makes Rick realize that he must seek help for his addiction.