CHRISTMAS STORY
By Wood Dickinson

GENRE: Drama, Family, Other

LOGLINE: When Beth McCarthy dies suddenly she leaves her husband Joe lost. He has lost his wife of 45 years and with her death his faith in God, something that was greatly shared by them both. An ACLU lawyer shows up in town to fight with the city and have the manger scene removed from the town square, Joe becomes his unwitting foil. In Joe’s bitterness he sees no reason not to have the scene removed. If his joy is gone why not everyone else's. Joe wasn’t counting on the reaction of the town. Up in arms and angry at Joe this just seems to drive Joe deeper into his convictions. All but one girl. Sally is suffering with an intellectual disability that leaves her seeing the world in simple terms. This hasn’t stopped her. She has a profound but quiet faith in God. Joe wasn’t counting on Sally’s unconditional love and faith that he would ultimately do the right thing. Unknown to Joe the manger scene has played a central role in Sally’s life. It is her connection to her father who died when she was a child. With the help of the ACLU Joe nearly achieves his goal until he realizes his goal has changed. All the vindictiveness of the towns folk wouldn’t move him. Impassioned pleas from his pastor wouldn’t move him but ultimately God working through a simple girl guides Joe back to a place of joy and peace.