- A distraught farmer in a drought-stricken community files suit against God. Tess arrives to defend, and Monica to testify. The trial teaches the farmer and everyone else in town the value of being good neighbors, and also drives home a stern lesson about the inherent folly of theodicy--an attempt to judge God by human standards.—Temlakos
- The Angels arrive in a Western farming community that has suffered under a prolonged drought. Their assignment is unclear. Only Andrew (John Dye) has any definite role to play: as an auctioneer presiding over an auction in the bankruptcy case of Justinian Jones (John de Lancie), the largest farmer in the community and the most bitter--which is actually saying a lot, since his daughter wishes to leave and no one else knows whether any rain will ever fall again. In a barbershop conversation, Jones pours out his frustration and anger with God--and Stretch, who has taken a vow of silence, writes down a suggestion: "So sue Him."
Judge Dawes (Robert Guillaume) advises Jones on how to file such a lawsuit, and how to "serve process" on God--not by the traditional route, but by publishing a Notice of Appearance. The local editor agrees to print Jones' Notice as a classified ad. But on the day that Judge Dawes brings the case up on his docket, something happens that no one expects: Angel Tess (Della Reese) shows up with papers listing her as the accredited defense counsel, and demands trial by jury! Jones, of course, has no idea who Tess is, but agrees to try the case with her as his opposing counsel. (Jones appears in pro se.)
Jones calls the local banker, Risa, as his first witness. Her evidence sets the tone for the trial, as she reveals that the drought would have caused many other residents to lose their crop insurance, but Risa has been quietly transferring small sums from her own account into theirs, so that they can continue to pay the insurance premiums. That, of course, is just the sort of little favor that neither Jones nor anyone else in town knows about. Tess, when cross-examining, begins by asking Risa where she decided to hang the sun that day, and a few other questions that recall Job chapter 38 ("Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" etc.)
Jones also calls his own daughter, who reveals her intent to leave town--another thing that he did not know.
Tess does not ask for summary dismissal. Instead she calls one witness: Angel Monica (Roma Downey), who appears *as* an angel and demonstrates her "angelic" ability to recall certain historical facts (such as how Stretch got his nickname by performing a difficult mountain rescue) that she would not otherwise know. Monica testifies that God wants to see something happen in the town that hasn't happened yet. Jones, when it is his turn to cross-examine, rounds on Monica, demanding an answer to the question of whether the rain will ever come; Monica almost tearfully says that she does not know.
Judge Dawes calls a recess--but when he reconvenes, a very calm Monica has an answer for Jones: "No." Furthermore, Monica quotes directly the very question that God asked Job, as quoted above. Jones, abashed, says that God has spoken, and that's all he wanted--so he withdraws his complaint, and the trial concludes.
The next day, as the auction is about to take place, Monica speaks to Jones privately and tells him that the town ought to tear down the bronze statue of a horse that stands in its square and erect a statue of him in its place--because Jones has brought the town together in a way that it hasn't been together before. Jones reacts in shock as he confesses that he now realizes that Monica is well and truly an angel, something he never fully realized until that moment. Monica assures him that no punishment, or anything of that sort, will be forthcoming.
The townsfolk then come to Jones and tell him that they are "passing the hat" to collect enough money to satisfy Jones' creditors, so that the auction will not be necessary. This is done, and the town collects a sufficient sum--and just then, the drought breaks with the first rainfall in weeks.
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