Our Father

(In Development)

Self righteous and pompous, William “BILL” McClusky is far from the average pastor. His love for all things monetary has not gone unnoticed by his Beverly Hill’s Good Shepherd colleagues and he is reassigned to St. Theresa’s Church in Detroit, Michigan. One promiscuous hooker, four stolen hubcaps, and an Alligator skinned wallet later “Bill” arrives in Detroit with a strong preconceived notion of the earthly hell he has just been thrust into.

With a certain California swagger, he cautiously approaches his (hopefully) temporary living quarters. MILDRED DRUMMOND, a member of the parish staff, greets him with disdain. He later runs into a homeless man by then name of J. BANKS, who is sporting a World War II pilot’s helmet and a certain infatuation for his new ‘neighbor’. With his sarcastic charm and witty humor, Bill makes quite the impression on St. Theresa’s school principal, SISTER PATRICIA, who has no doubt that he will do just as the others that came before him had done: fail. While Bill certainly has many flaws, his strengths meet their full capacity after meeting ROSA FLORES and her daughter CAROLINA FLORES. After a few failed attempts at acclimating himself with the community (one of which resulted in a gang fight at a local pub), Bill realizes that the only way to rebuild a community is to first rebuild and strengthen its people.

As Christmas approaches, Bill decides that there is no better way to bring people together than by spreading some theatrical holiday cheer. His plan is, however, thwarted by an eccentric, seizing mother and a Christmas tree-fire-fiasco that sends Carolina Flores to the hospital in a coma. After much non-successful pleading with the ARCHBISHOP and the MONSIGNOR for funds to supply the church and school with books, Bill decides to work with what he has: cunning wit. In a Robin Hood-esque fashion, Bill, Sister Patricia, Rosa, and Mildred trick, deceive, and fake a few coughs to get what they need to get their community back on the right track.

Unfortunately, this task is proving much more difficult as plans to terminate St. Theresa’s are being made and it looks like Bill is going to need a lot more than a fake cough to save this much needed parish. He turns to Father Walsh, who presides over St. Theresa’s sister church on the wealthier side of town. His efforts seem futile as the integration of the two economic classes does not seem to be going very well. Buttons pushed, Bill finally snaps and gives the country-club goers a lot to think about.

At Mass that following Sunday, Bill reluctantly makes the announcement that St. Theresa’s will be shutting down. Hisses and boos are heard around the room as it is, for the first time, nearly at capacity. Before the sermon comes to a close, the doors swing open. A large group of people, led by Father Walsh, enters and makes it known that the church will remain open due to many generous offerings and full support. Bill’s success is unparalleled to anything that the community has ever seen. Bill only wishes to share his joy with one person: nine-year-old Carolina. He rushes to the hospital and shares his news with her unresponsive body. After a heartfelt and very personal prayer, something extraordinary occurs. Carolina miraculously opens her eyes. The doctors cannot explain how or why, but as Bill embraces her he realizes that maybe faith is worth it after all and that in the end, everything really does happen for a reason.