 |
|
Seven-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 entrance 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 "kidnapped," he bolts and
flags down the sheriff, only to discover that she is Aunt Val.
While trying to sort things out, Aunt Val vents her frustration
about losing her sister and how her life has suddenly changed.
Ryan takes this the wrong way, assuming she resents being stuck
with two kids. Ryan explains to Monica how his mom made them
lunch every day and tucked them in at night and told them she
loved them, whereas Aunt Val just does the minimum. Out of the
spotlight, Guy gets a chance to appreciate the simple pleasures of
small town life and strikes a rapport with Val. Meanwhile, Mickey
talks to Andrew (his bus driver) about praying for an angel. When
Mickey comes home to find “Gabriel” in his living room, he thinks
God has answered his prayer. Despite Monica's pleas, Guy assumes
his angel persona and assures Mickey that his mother is in Heaven
-- conjuring a make-believe image. Mickey packs his overnight bag
so that "Gabriel" can take him to Heaven. When Guy tries to
explain his way out of this, Mickey runs off and climbs to the top
of an old grain silo to wait for the "golden ladder" himself.
While Val and Ryan go for help, Monica reveals herself as an angel
to Guy. She tells Guy that God wants him to be the man he was
before the fame, who served God rather than serving himself. Guy
climbs the silo to rescue Mickey and explains that he's not an
angel, but that real angels do exist. Mickey reaches out to Guy
and accidentally falls, but Andrew is there to catch him. Andrew
reveals to Mickey that he took his mother to Heaven and helps him
understand the difference between Guy's make-believe version of
Heaven versus the awesome reality of being in God's presence.
Comforted by Andrew’s words, Mickey is finally able to say goodbye
to his mother and move forward. Aunt Val embraces her nephews,
telling them how much she loves them, and a spiritually renewed
Guy joins the restored family as they return home.
|
