Touched by an Angel

High atop a New York penthouse, Tess entertaining at a society party hosted by bon vivant Everett Clay when his octogenarian father Benjamin, who still runs the family business, makes a surprise appearance to chastise his son and grandson about their wasteful ways. The following morning, Benjamin tells Everett the Bible story of the prodigal son who squanders his fortune. Benjamin reminds Everett that his great grandfather started this company carving handmade buttons and that he's being disinherited to learn the importance of self-reliance and hard work, handing him a framed deerskin jacket, with buttons carved by his great grandfather. Angry and penniless, Everett busts the frame, when Tess appears in her Cadillac, offering Everett a ride to Colorado, where some friends of his had invited him to stay. Before long, they arrive in Central City, the mining town that was in its heydey at the turn of the century. They stop at the historic Teller House saloon where Everett notices a p

Max Rigney shows up for his first day of college with his father, Sam, who is proud to show him the frat house of which he was once-president, the PIG House. Rafael meets them and introduces himself as a student. Tess and Andrew join Rafael, noting that Sam is paying for Max's education, but only if he goes to this school, pledges this fraternity, and takes all the right courses. Walking around the campus, Sam is greeted by Monica, he recognizes her voice and has a troubling flashback. He later discovers that Monica is a visiting philosophy professor, and secretly determines that Max will have to stay away from her, which shouldn't be a problem since he, Sam, has chosen Max's coursework. But that night, Rafael helps Max make a decision of his own and take one class his father hasn't chosen for him, Monica's philosophy class. He tells his mother about it on the phone, and mentions that he might not pledge PIG. He likes being his own man, but that night, his father drives two hour

Rick and Annie Higuerra are expecting their first child and struggle to keep their debts. Annie, seven months pregnant, is undeterred by her husband's suggestion to cancel their Halloween party in a few days. The angels make their own preparations as Tess alerts Monica to Satan's presence in town. Monica, unseen, keeps vigil outside the Higuerra's apartment. Monica confronts Satan, in the form of a lion, but is resolved to protect Rick and Annie, causing the lion to retreat. Rick and Annie are awakened the next day by their new neighbor, Tess, singing the hymn ""When You Can't Move The Mountain."" Monica, working as a manicurist at Annie's salon, meets two of Annie's clients Millie and Clara, and a wayward 13 year-old boy, Dennis, who finds a set of tarot cards in an old box of decorations. Monica fears that Annie's interest in the cards is part of Satan's plans. Meanwhile, Rick tends bar in a scarcely populated lounge, his only regular is Cal, a bookie. Andrew, working as a pl

Cantankerous 102 year-old film director Chandler Crowne wants to die, but Andrew tells him he's got unfinished business. Enter Stevie Noonan, twenty-something student filmmaker who's making a documentary about the famous director who built his reputation on dark, depressing subject matter. Stevie's task is to persuade the reclusive genius for the dark films which became his trademark. In flashback, we find a young Chandler directing his leading lady, Ruby, in an ambitious and inspirational film called ""Redemption."" Besides dealing with a temperamental leading lady, Chandler had to contend with Sid Lumsky, the head of the studio, who fires one of his actresses for having an affair with a member of the crew. Forced to choose from a bevy of young unknowns, Chandler chooses Monica. Chandler then breaks off prematurely, leaving Stevie with unanswered questions. On her way out, Stevie lifts Chandler's pocket watch, only to return later with the pawn ticket as a bargaining tool to get

Calvin Chillcut is a storm-chaser who tracks tornadoes for the National Severe Storms Lab. But die to the dearth of storm activity, the NSSL has just informed him to cease and desist. Distraught over the news, Calvin ties one on and sleeps through the first twister in 2 years. The next day, Calvin shows up at the local watering hole (the Die Hard Diner) with a hangover, and by this point, it's clear that a major storm is headed their way. Tess points out that Calvin doesn't have to turn in his equipment until tomorrow and urges him to stop feeling sorry for himself and get busy. Calvin takes her advice and starts tracking the storm and along the way stops to pick up a hitchhiker, Monica. Calvin explains it's his last day, barring a miracle. And before long, that's just what he gets, in the form of a twister. As the Civil Defense Tornado Warning sirens sound, the Sheriff advises everyone the diner to take cover. Some take his advice, but most feel perfectly safe in the diner,

Betsy and Bud Baxter are in their 15th year of hosting the popular local TV program ""Breakfast with the Baxter's"" when they learn their show is being cancelled. Still reeling from the loss, Bud and Betsy are grateful when two unexpected visitors (Monica and Andrew) show up on their doorstep, feigning car trouble. Monica and Andrew become a welcome distraction for the Baxters, who have devoted their lives to their show and in doing so, have avoided dealing honesty with each other. With a captive audience, Bud and Betsy take a certain glee in telling their guests the whole ugly story of how they were unceremoniously canned after 15 years. Monica and Andrew try to convince the Baxters of the importance of grieving. But Bud pours himself another Scotch while espousing the importance of carrying on. Meanwhile, Betsy busies herself looking through some storage boxes for her mother's meatloaf recipe when she came across a baby's jumper outfit, a painful remind of the child the ""lost.""