A hapless and socially detached attorney's life changes dramatically when he executes the will of his recently-deceased client. It is stipulated that the substantial fortune will be shared by all who attend his funeral mass, but no one shows up ... except one mysterious, homeless man seeking refuge from a raging storm.

SYNOPSIS:

SANCTUARY, a story of compassion and redemption, follows Nick Capaldi, a socially detached attorney who's lost his religion, and Monroe Latamor, a homeless man suddenly turned millionaire after being the only one to show up at a funeral mass, thus receiving the deceased's fortune. Monroe was simply seeking shelter from a raging winter storm. Capaldi first must find Latamor to get him his newfound wealth. "A miracle," Father Aguilera, who presided over the funeral mass, calls it. But Nick doesn't believe in miracles. Simply a business transaction.

With Aguilera's help, Monroe and Capaldi meet, and the dour attorney slowly works his way through his own soured past dealing with the new millionaire and his advocate, Mary, who looks after the homeless and is writing a book about them. Monroe decides to use his money to aid his fellow homeless and purchases a rundown motel where they can all stay. The motel is quickly renovated and the homeless community find new hope.

All is well, lives are changing, even Capaldi's, until Marcela Whitehurst hears of her father’s will and how it was ultimately executed. This outrages her, even though she was not close to her father, and she vows to do anything to get the money back. She confronts Capaldi when she arrives unannounced at his office two days before Christmas.

Meanwhile, Father Aguilera must deal with his own doubts and the true meaning of the Sacramental Seal after Monroe confesses to the priest that he has killed. He visits the police station.

Marcela is persistent, but with Capaldi and Mary's help, once she sees the goodness the money bought, she decides to leave and not challenge the will. A Detective comes looking for Monroe. But he has disappeared. An all-out search commences for him on Christmas night. He’s never found.

The story ends with a twist when Martha (nee) Latamor arrives and informs Father Aguilera that Monroe was her father, but died many years ago trying to escape from prison to be with her at Christmas. Martha shows him Monroe's grave and reveals her father's true story, how he had killed, but not intentionally.

Now even Capaldi believes in miracles.

From the Screenwriting Staffing “Recommend” coverage: The story itself is extremely inspiring and makes the reader feel good after finishing. The character Monroe doesn’t say much but his actions are filled with love and kindness. Monroe acts through his heart instead of his mouth. Even though he rarely speaks, he is easily likable and near impossible to not support, which says a lot about the writer. The characters surrounding Monroe, such as Capaldi, Father Aguilera, and Mary all have individual wants and desires. They are all unique in their own respect and add to the overall theme of compassion. They help build his character into the hero that he is, and when he disappears they are the heroes remaining. Even Mrs. Whitehurst, who is an unlikable antagonist practically the whole time, has a life altering moment that feels real. The writing and attention to character development truly makes this script feel realistic and worth something.

SANCTUARY