Our House/Sounds from a Silent Clock (2)

Sounds from a Silent Clock (2)
Season 2, Episode 2
Airdate	September 20, 1987
Written by	William Schwartz, E.F. Wallengren
Directed by	Ray Austin
← 2x01 Sounds from a Silent Clock (1)	2x03 → A Silent, Fallen Tree
Our House — Season Two

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Sounds from a Silent Clock (2) is the second episode of the second season of Our House, and the twenty-sixth episode overall.

This is the second part of a two-part season opener focusing on a major earthquake that strikes Los Angeles. Storylines involve Gus becoming trapped in an elevator with Jessie's foster baby and a banker; David and his classmates seeking refuge at a rural church, which is later rocked by a gas explosion; and Kris' student piloting lesson taking an unexpected turn when she and her teacher are forced to divert to another airport when the runway is damaged.

Starring:

Guest Starring: Nicole Dubuc (Bertha), David Mendenhall (J.R. Dutton), Robert Beuth (), Kiva Lawrence (), Bruce Glover (), Michael Cavnaugh (Mac Hoover), Terry Wills (), Hope Tibbetts (), Paula Marchese (), Dennis Haysbert (), Diane Rodriguez (), Chris Lytton (), Tiana Thorpe (), Charles Champion (), Randy Bertish ()

Co-Starring:

Plot Overview

The earthquake proves to be rather mild with no apparent deaths, but still damaging as the second hour unfolds.

Gus is able to get his loan at the bank, following a conversation with a hard-nosed banker when they and Jessie's foster baby are trapped in the elevator. He later comes home to a shaken Molly, who had come home from school after the earthquake and was now home alone. Joe comes over to use Gus' two-way radio to coordinate rescue efforts.

Following Kris' piloting lesson, she arrives home and admits to Jessie that she had taken the lessons without permission. Jessie is very angry ... but the anger soon is set aside when she learns David is at the hospital.

What had happened with David and his classmates: While on their way back to school, the bus breaks down near a rural church, where its only occupant is a caretaker named Mac, who is bitter and estranged from his family. David makes quick friends with Mac and he begins to help him repair the church, which has suffered seemingly only cosmetic damage. David talks about girls, including his crush on Chelsea ... unaware that Chelsea has hooked up with another boy named Brett. Both Chelsea and Brett sneak into the church and up a long ladder through to the bell tower.

Just then, Mac smells gas, which quickly becomes pea-soup thick and – unaware of anyone else in the church – herds David out. There is a huge explosion, and Brett and Chelsea are trapped. Mac sees them and runs toward the church in a rescue effort ... until he is blown back by a second explosion.

At the hospital, David is found to be OK and he and others were simply taken there as a precaution. David is allowed to go to Mac's room, where he has suffered severe injuries and is on life support; he reveals that Brett and Chelsea were apparently rescued and were recovering; the rescue was apparently off-camera, as the last scene they were shown (at least in the syndication cut) saw a third explosion at the church and the fire quickly encroaching the bell tower while they were still trapped and screaming for help. The vigil ends when Mac goes into shock and eventually dies of internal injuries. Back at home, Gus comforts David and tells him that he gave his life to try to save others.

Jessie realizes that raising a baby is more than she can handle and contacts an adoption agency for options. A social worker is assigned to the baby and assures Jessie and Gus that the little boy will be put up for adoption and given a good home.

The other storyline saw Joe lose contact with his wife following the earthquake. He is worried over her safety until phone service is restored. Late that night, the wife calls the Witherspoons, and Joe happily realizes she is home, safe and sound.

Notes

• This episode originally aired as a two-part Season 2 opener, aired over two weeks. Both the original two-part and feature-length versions were available to television stations.