33 Tina Leary, Psychic, in Veteran's Day

Scripts-Aloud

Tina Leary: Veterans Day

In this poignant episode of "Tina Leary," psychic Tina Leary meets Mr. Griffin, an elderly, decorated veteran. Griffin, a West Point commissioned officer who served in conflicts from Vietnam to Afghanistan, is nearing the end of his life and seeks guidance to put the pieces of his long, isolated career together.

Tina, after an initial reading that reveals a lack of deep emotional connection in his mind, reveals her secret tool: a U.S. Government-issued Philco radio, a device inherited from her Navy Intelligence mother, which can contact the decease.

Griffin decides to "fire it up" to find his father, Steven Griffin, who was killed in WWII at Okinawa. The contact is immediate and shocking—not only does he speak to his father, Steven, but also to Tina's mother, Martha, who turns out to be his old flame from Angola. The dramatic, often funny, reunion with Martha uncovers old grudges and "things left unsaid". Steven, Mr. Griffin's father, confirms his pride in his son and, knowing about Mr. Griffin's terminal cancer diagnosis, offers timeless advice on appreciating the little time he has left. The episode ends with Mr. Griffin finding a new perspective: to "stop and smell the roses" and take comfort in the knowledge that his father is always with him.

Major Themes

• Service and Sacrifice: The episode explores the heavy toll of a lifetime of military service, from Mr. Griffin's decades spent in "every theater" (war zones) to the tragic, early death of his father in WWII.
• Legacy and Regret: Mr. Griffin struggles with feeling he left "no legacy" and questions the worth of his life. His father's perspective encourages him to recognize that you "never know how you affect people".
• The Power of Connection: The story contrasts Mr. Griffin's emotionally isolated life with the unexpected re-ignition of connection through the radio, allowing him to reconnect with a lost love and finally hear his father's affirmation.
• Mortality and Time: Given his terminal diagnosis 24, Mr. Griffin's perspective shifts from dwelling on the past to accepting that life is a "blink of an eye" and finding meaning in appreciating the short time he has left.