Episode
Touched by an Angel: The Face of God
Overview
Dr. Sarah Conover is at the forefront of human genetics and on the verge of a historic breakthrough by being the first to clone a human being. Her headstrong pursuit is met with strong opposition from her supervisor, Brad Renslow, who questions the social ramifications of human cloning. Under the microscopic scrutiny of a government review team, Sarah anxiously awaits final approval to proceed from the company board. Sarah acknowledges to the throng of media that she is not playing the role of God, but improving upon him. For Sarah, the advancement of genetic technology ultimately leads to healthier and better lives and will allow infertile parents to have children. Fearing the possibility that Sarah will proceed without authorization, Brad assigns a boi-ethicist, Monica, to weigh the moral and ethical implications. The ease and eagerness with which Sarah demonstrates the initial steps of the cloning process causes Monica to question Sarah's motives and intentions. Sarah argues
Details
- Series
- Touched by an Angel
- Season
- Season 7
- Episode
- Episode 22
- Air date
- 2001-04-29
- Runtime
- 48 min
Episode context
The Face of God is Episode 22 in Season 7 of Touched by an Angel. It aired on 2001-04-29. The runtime is 48 min.
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Episode 21: The Sign of the Dove
Andrew runs into a colleague, fellow Angel of Death, Adam, while spending his ""day off"" in Richmond, Virginia visiting the Mason family, a family he's had the privilege of following over many generations. Andrew occupies a special place in the Mason family, so much so that they've dedicated a special chair in his honor. Adam and Andrew stop in for a non-alcoholic beverage at the Mason family tavern, The Sign of the Dove, which is managed by Ben Mason, an affable young man who is to be married that evening. While Andrew and Adam talk shop, one of angel of death to another, Monica tries to get through to her assignment, Nicholas Freeman, a hard-working man own owns the print shop next door, which is being edged out by the competition. Driven to drastic measures to provide for his family, Nicholas is planning to blow up his print shop so his family can collect the insurance. While recounting his experiences with the Mason family, Andrew sees a dove on the window sill, a sign that Ben
Episode 23: Netherlands
Monica works with the newly created Angel, who has yet to be named, trying to explain what it means to work with human beings and the rewards of helping them connect with God. The Angel is apprehensive, wondering why Monica chooses to stay on Earth after experiencing the wonder of being in God's presence. Monica explains that she stays because God asks her to, and because he loves them. But the Angel doesn't know what love is. Monica's first priority is finding the Angel a pair of glasses to correct her blurred vision and trade her angel garb for human clothes. After doing so, Monica shares her appreciation of different coffees with the Angel when a young girl named Madeline approaches. Madeline explains that she comes to this business complex with her mother who's looking for work. The Angel befriends Madeline and offers to fix her braiding her hair and discerning the angel's name to be ""Gloria"" from the hymn ""Angels We Have Heard On High."" Tess explains that Gloria has a very
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Episode 20: Band of Angels
17 year-old Alex Wilson breaks into the music store where he works to steal a guitar, not counting on the fact that his boss and mentor, famed Blues musician Henry Baldwin, would be working late that night. Armed with a gun, Henry goes into the darkened store to confront the intruder. Henry is shocked to find Alex there and goes to call the police when Alex tries to stop him. There's a struggle for the gun and Henry is fatally wounded. Alex is arrested, found guilty and remanded to the local juvenile detention center until sentencing. Monica works at the detention center supervising a group of six boys, including Alex. In a show of false bravado, Alex makes it known that he's serving time for murder. Ronald (the angel from records and permanent files) suggests to Monica that perhaps the boys need to find some common ground. The next day, Tess surprises Alex with some strawberry pancakes for his birthday, and when everyone joins to sing ""Happy Birthday,"" they stumble onto some u
Episode 24: Shallow Water (1)
Perched on a rocky peak above a vast canyon, Monica reflects on her previous temptation by Satan and her triumphant return to God's grace. Monica is at a loss for words trying to describe the new gift God has given her. Tess explains that God has blessed her with the ability to see humans ""from the inside out,"" to see the past and how it has changed the present. Monica begins sensing the joyful sounds and images of the Winslow family as they were three years ago. Tess reminds Monica to patiently allow the events connected with the wreckage to unfold. Monica gradually retraces the history of the Winslow's to the present day. Meanwhile, Diana Winslow continues her therapy under the counsel of psychiatrist Rebecca Markham, to uncover the painful memory she has suppressed. Diana says she has prayed for an angel to help her reunite her family and reconnect her son Danny with the other relatives. Believing that Diana's faith in God has hampered her progress, Rebecca tries to refocus
Episode 19: The Penalty Box
Star hockey player, Jeff McHenry, a senior at the exclusive St. Crispin's prep school enjoys the privileged lifestyle afforded to him by his father's wealth. With his team on the heels of the playoffs and his father's financial support to attend Harvard, Jeff's future seems secure. Jeff's arrogance fuels rivalry with teammate, Chase Jennings, and draws alliances from both on and off the ice rink. When Jeff's substitute History teacher, Andrew, tries to teach his class about the St. Crispin's Day speech from Shakespeare's Henry V, it is clear that Jeff has never understood or practiced the humility that made Henry V a great leader. Jeff's mettle is tested when a bad investment bankrupts his father. Jeff painfully accepts his transfer to a public school, but is allayed by his father's assurance that his college tuition is safe. Jeff's adjustment to the socially and economically diverse Eastside High proves to be a difficult one. He refuses Monica's invitation, as the interim hocke
Episode 25: Shallow Water (2)
Cynthia and J.D. meet with Diana Winslow, who is still in denail that her son, Danny, is dead. Monica goes to the long-term acute center where Carter and Lila wait with their son, Joshua, who lies unconscious on life support. Monica hopes that they might be able to help her locate their other son, Jed, in order to help Diana remember what happened the night of the accident. Carter doesn't know where Jed is and wants nothing to do with him. But Lila feels differently and admits that perhaps Diana is right, that this family needs a reunion. Acting on a tip from Lila, Monica drives J.D. and Cynthia to Memphis in search of Jed. They follow the sound of a man singing until they finally find Jed on a street corner, dirty and disheveled, some spare change in his guitar case from passerby. Monica asks J.D. to convince Jed to return home to Nashville and begin the healing process. J.D. tells Monica he's no good at preaching, but Monica tells him to reach out to Jed through music. As Dr
Episode 18: Visions of Thy Father
17 year-old Jason Harris seems to have it all, a loving family, a beautiful girlfriend and aspirations of being a photojournalist. Jason's father Will Harris a prominent ophthalmologist, has been urging Jason to monitor an old eye injury which resulted in detached retinas. Monica is assigned to help this family deal with a secret, and she winds up working with alongside Jason in a local photo store. When Monica learns of Jason's talent for photography, she offers to introduce him to a photographer friend of hers Andrew at the Denver Daily Herald. Jason meets with Andrew and suggests his father for one of their ""day in the life"" photo spreads. Andrew takes Jason up on his suggestion and invites Jason to shoot it himself. Jason spends the next day shadowing his father, but when he returns for one last photo he walks in on his father kissing his receptionist Sherri and captures the moment on film. Jason returns home, now sharing the burden of this secret. Will talks to Jason priva
Episode 17: I Am an Angel
7 year-old Mickey has been despondent since his mother's recent death. He lives with his Aunt Val and his older brother Ryan. When Ryan learns that Guy Garfield, the star of Mickey's favorite television show ""The Avenging Angel,"" will be appearing at an Angel Convention in Portland, he goes there in the hopes of persuading Guy to help his brother. Guy makes a grand appearance by way of his ""golden ladder"" which takes him back and forth to Heaven on his weekly series to cheering fans. But Monica and Tess have observed the real Guy, a boozing womanizer who is anything but angelic. Ryan stretches the truth and asks for help for his ""dying"" brother. Guy graciously agrees, milking the moment for all its worth. But once he's offstage, he makes it clear to Monica (who's filling in as his assistant) that he has no intention of keeping his promise. Monica decides to keep it for him by driving an unsuspecting Guy to the rural town where Mickey lives. Once Guy realizes he's been ""kidnapp
Episode 16: Winners, Losers & Leftovers
Liam Cadegan works for ApexOne Technologies, a high-tech company which has just been bought as part of a merger. While Liam is generally secure in his job and is clearly devoted to his family, he starts to become affected by the paranoia of those around him in the wake of the company, tense climate, even the least competitive person can switch gears and become a predator. Harlow meets with the employees by video conference and introduces Monica as the new vice president of community relations. Monica suggests aligning themselves with the Special Olympics and offers to arrange a meeting this weekend with her contact (Andrew). Liam, whose son will be participating in the Special Olympics, supports the idea, acknowledging the fact that his son is disabled. But Harlow preempts Monica's suggestion in favor of a corporate retreat he's scheduled this weekend. Josh Whitman (one of Liam's colleagues) reads between the lines and advises Liam to prepare for a gladiator-style competition whi
Episode 15: Thief of Hearts
11 year-old Corey Taylor is hanging out at the local newsstand when he spies a locket dangling near the cash register. He steals the locket in plain view and runs off before anyone can catch him. Alice Dupree, the newsstand attendant, contacts the police regarding the theft. Monica arrives in the scene as the officer on duty to get all the information. Alice gives Monica a photo of the culprit who was caught on her security camera as well as a sketch if the heart-shaped locket, which Alice describes as a priceless family heirloom given to her by her mother. Monica pays a visit to Corey's school and discovers that he's an orphan with a heart condition. But Alice remains unsympathetic, anxious to get her locket back. Monica tracks Corey down at the local arcade and gives him the opportunity to return the locket on his own. When he doesn't show up, Alice is irritated with Monica's trusting attitude. It just confirms what she's believed all along, that trust leads to disappointmen
Episode 14: Bringer of Light
Monica and Tess are captivated by the thousands of stars that decorate the beautiful night sky. Monica elaborates on the majesty of God's heavens and it is revealed that the angels are actually sitting in planetarium hosted by Andrew. Across the city, 15 year-old Lucy Baker sits in her room looking at the sky, where only the moon can be seen above the city lights. Erica Baker joins her daughter and the two share a moment pondering what or who created the universe. ""It's just luck,"" responds Lucy's father and science teacher, John. Lucy is not convinced that her atheist father is right. At school, tension runs high between father and daughter, who is barely maintaining a C average. John reminds Lucy that her grade hinges on her next research paper and she needs to come up with a topic. Despite her struggles in science, Lucy excels in Monica's English class. Monica encourages Lucy's growing curiosity of how the universe was created by allowing Lucy to combine her research for h
Episode 13: A Death in the Family
Detective Frank McCovey and his narcotics team obtain a warrant to raid the house of an elusive drug dealer based on a tip from his informant. The targeted address is an African-American neighborhood known for its criminal element. McCovey leads the raid, ignoring the signs that indicate they may be at the wrong house. McCovey charges through the apparent empty residence and mistakenly shoots an innocent 11 year-old boy, Jamal Griffin, who is hospitalized in critical condition. Reverend Davis, hardened by the social injustices perpetrated on his community, proclaims that this is one will not be ignored. Andrew, an Internal Affairs agent, suggests the truth behind the tragic event lies with the accidental death of McCovey's 10 year-old daughter's by a black man. McCovey refuses to discuss the matter, insisting that he followed proper procedure. Meanwhile, Jamal's mother begins her vigil beside her unconscious son and is joined by the police department's community relations office