The Rectory

Fleabag meets Lessons in Chemistry meets The Thorn Birds

It’s 1968 and Sandy is at the lowest point of her life, reeling from her impending divorce due to her inability to have children, a turbulent extramarital affair, and financial struggles. She seeks counseling from Father Martinelli who offers advice, comfort and spiritual guidance. There’s an instant spark between them and before long, their relationship moves from his office to the bedroom.

Sandy makes a fresh start by accepting his offer to be the live-in parish secretary. She quickly finds that she is not the first vulnerable, young woman that has been lured into his well-constructed web of affection, financial security and a chance to start over. As their affair is put under a microscope by nosy parishioners and the Bishop, and as Father’s past and present relationships come to light, Sandy realizes she must find a way out of his “velvet trap” if she is ever going to find true happiness.

Knowing that she will never be content as a priest’s “wife”, wanting her own family even if she has to adopt, and getting more and more frustrated with Father’s secrets and lies, she starts seeing the son of a parishioner who is in town visiting his ailing mother. Their relationship quickly evolves and he asks her to come with him when he heads back to Missouri. Sandy takes him up on his offer in an attempt to escape the rectory, much to everyone’s shock and dismay. It soon becomes obvious that she has jumped from the frying pan directly into the fire as their relationship turns dark.

Sandy is rescued by Father and settles back into the safety of the rectory, but she knows it’s only temporary. It’ll never be enough for her. When Father has a serious health emergency during a short plane trip, she is thrown into close quarters with the pilot, a mutual friend and fellow parishioner who is going through a divorce. There is a strong attraction between them, and they have much in common, but Sandy is very cautious now. Could he be the one to lead her out of the rectory to find the happiness she’s been so desperately seeking?