The Blessing - Recap

The ocean shore. Gulls careen in the air. Lassie runs along the water's edge playfully then onto the rocks. She sees a human figure clambering over the rocks in the distance. She barks. The figure nears -- it's a boy in a serape and his dog. The boy throws a stick for his dog to fetch. Lassie runs to meet them. The boy strokes Lassie while the terrier digs in the sand. Lassie greets the terrier but the boy tells Lassie that his dog Poco cannot hear. The boy introduces his dog to Lassie. Lassie nuzzles Poco in greeting.

The boy offers to share his food with Lassie and opens his pack. As he does so, he looks looks up and catches sight of a man approaching. It is Bob Erickson. The boy, frightened, picks up his dog and runs away. Lassie and Bob run after the boy. The boy clambers over the rocks and hides in a dark niche.

Bob discovers him. The boy begs Bob not to send him back to Mexico. He says he must reach Mission San Luis Rey and that his name is Manuel Sandoval.

Bob realizes that it was his uniform that frightened Manuel; he explains he's not a policeman but a forest ranger working on an underwater research project in the area. He offers his name and his hand to Manuel in friendship; he introduces Lassie then offers to help Manuel.

Bob asks the boy why he needs to go to the Mission. Manuel explains his dog Poco has been deaf for three months due to an infection and fever. He cannot hear the sounds of danger and came close to being hit by a car at home. He says his little sister Teresa cries for Poco because she does not understand. Manuel has promised his sister that Poco will hear again by Christmas. Manuel mentions the Blessing of the Animals and hopes the good padre at the Mission will bless Poco so his hearing will be restored.

The Mission bells are heard in the distance. Manuel realizes he's close to the Mission. Bob tells Manuel his parents must be contacted to let them know he's safe and the border authorities must be called. Bob and Manuel leave for the Mission with their dogs.

In the Mission's garden Manuel and the padre talk before a statue of St. Francis. Bob and Lassie listen nearby. Manuel says he has heard of St. Francis' miracles and asks the padre if another miracle is possible. The padre tells Manuel miracles stem from within only with the help of God and desires must be accompanied by a strong faith in His ways. Manuel says he has that faith and he has promised his sister that Poco will hear before Christmas. Manuel asks again for the blessing. Padre sends Manuel to the kitchen for a meal and tells him he will give the blessing later. Manuel walks away then returns because Poco wants Lassie to come, too. The boy and the dogs wend their way through the garden. the padre and Bob leave the garden to contact the border authorities.

The padre takes Bob to his office to telephone the border authorities. Bob tells the authorities that the boy will stay at the Mission for the night and he'll drive him home in the morning. The authorities tell Bob they will see to it that Manuel's parents are contacted.

Bob rises and says he doesn't envy the padre. Nothing in this life is easy the padre says. The padre tells Bob he couldn't refuse the blessing nor can he guarantee the results.

The interior of the Mission church. The padre is praying at the altar. Bob and Manuel enter the nave. Bob kneels reverently in a pew. Manuel approaches the altar and the padre. The padre turns and dons his stole. Manuel kneels; his face is full of reverence, faith and hope. The padre reads the blessing. Bob looks up to a statue of St. Francis. The dog is blessed. The padre catches Bob's eye and the men smile kindly.

Manuel, Bob, and the padre leave the church. The bells ring. They all watch Poco but the little dog is unable to hear. Manuel picks him up tenderly and cradles him. The padre asks him to be patient. Bob says there are no instant miracles. The boy rises and the padre suggests Manuel gets some rest. The padre leads Manuel away.

Later that night, Manuel slips into the church with his beloved pet. He approaches the alter reverently and slowly then kneels. he speaks to the statue of St. Francis. He says he is going away He says he only wanted one little miralce and that it isn't Poco's fault he went deaf. He says he thought He would help. He turns and wlks halfway down the aisle. He turns and says "I ... I think now that You don't even know how to do a miracle." He runs away through the garden.

The next morning Bob and Lassie are driving along the coastline looking for Manuel and his dog. Lassie spots the two and warns Bob. Manuel runs. Lassie puruses him. Manuel climbs over a rocky and dangerous cliffside. Lassie follows. Manuel is in the water and the terrier is lost in the pounding waves. Lassie rescues the dog while Manuel clings to a rock. Bob stands on a rocky cliff looking frantically for any sign of life in the waters below.

Lassie brings the terrier ashore. Manuel staggers from the water. The boy and his dog are reunited. Manuel thanks Lassie. Bob find thr too and says he couldn't go home and didn't know where he was going. Bob tells Manuel that Father Matthew alerted him to his mysterious absence and that everyone at the Mission is looking for him.

Suddenly the mission bells ring. Poco sits up at the sound. He barks at the bells. Manuel is overjoyed! His beloved Poco can hear again! Manuel cradles the dog in his arms. Lassie barks with happiness.

Bob drives up to the mission is his station wagon. Manuel is with him and he tells Father Matthew that his Poco can hear again. Father Matthew assures Manuel that if indeed a miracle occured it was God's doing. Manuel goes into the church leaving Poco with Bob and Lassie. Bob wonders if the therapeutic effects of the sea and the surge cleaned out some obstruction in the dog's ear. The padre admits it was possible.

In the church Manuel kneels before the statue of Saint Francis. With humility and reverence, he tells the Saint he apologizes for the things he said and hopes the Saint will forgive him. He promises he and his sister will go to church every Sunday. He wishes the Saint the best Christmas ever.

Outside the church, Father Matthew tells Bob the Lord works in strange ways and nothing's easy -- not even small miracles. Manuel joins them and wishes the padre a Merry Christmas.

Bob and Manuel place the dogs in the back end of the station wagon. The car pulls slowly away. The padre waves farewell as Lassie barks a "Merry Christmas!"



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