The Smell

One of the central mysteries of the series is The Smell which pervades the town and appears to kickstart the events of the narrative.

Pre-Series
There has been a pungent and unpleasant smell in the town, which has since disappeared. The town committee as requested help from the federal government in order to combat the smell.

Episode 1
Kelly, Harry and Cassandra comment on how the smell has returned just before their performance in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The smell appears to get into the theatre as many spectators hold handkerchiefs to their noses.

Karen Bingham is involved in a tense meeting with Mr. Pffiefer in her office.

Karen is once again involved in a town meeting at The Church. It is announced that the EPA and the Department of the Interior will begin testing the atmosphere that week. Again, several members of the congregation hold handkerchiefs to their nose, which suggests that the smell is quite unpleasant. There is a concern that the smell poses a health hazard to the community.

Students over the age of 16 at the senior high school, West Ham High, are being taken to the National Park Service in the Great Smoky Mountains for a week's camping.

The morning after the party in The Church, Sam notices that the smell has gone.