Heavenly Pursuits

In the Vatican, Father Cobb presents evidence to promote Blessed Edith's elevation to sainthood. A Vatican official urges caution, downplaying miracles and sending Cobb back to Scotland. Cobb continues to lead the school in prayer, invoking Edith's intercession to heal the sick, including Alice McKenzie.

Vic, a remedial teacher, discovers he has a fatal brain tumour after tests. The doctor decides not to overwhelm him with the diagnosis. The news unsettles Vic, setting up the tension between illness and his newfound teaching resolve.

The Headmaster complains to union rep Jeff Jeffries about Vic's letters to the board to keep Stevie from a special school. After a friendly card game at Vic's apartment, Jeff convinces Vic to back off on his campaign. Vic agrees, though his heart remains with Stevie's potential.

That night, Vic witnesses his stereo play by itself while he is drunk. The unexplained event unsettles him and hints at the possibility of miracles to come. He tries to dismiss it as mere oddity as he faces the day ahead.

The next day, Vic discovers he can teach basic math concepts more effectively using examples from the gambling world. Stevie Deans begins to respond to this practical approach, proving he is capable of learning. The classroom atmosphere shifts as students engage more deeply.

The Headmaster is excited by reports that Alice McKenzie is improving, seemingly due to Edith's intercession. Vic remains skeptical, attributing any progress to better teaching rather than miracles. The school publicly notes the improvement as part of the ongoing miracle discussion.

That night, Vic faints at a pub, and Ruth Chancellor offers to drive him home. She becomes a steady source of support as Vic grapples with his condition and the attention around him. The next day, Ruth prays for him in church, strengthening their bond.

In the days that follow, Ruth's faith and support help Vic persevere in his teaching. His relentless efforts lead to breakthroughs with other withdrawn students, expanding the impact beyond Stevie. The school starts to see a broader transformation in the classroom dynamic.

A student is trapped on an adjacent roof, and Vic dives to help. The student slips and falls 40 feet, but a tree breaks the impact; the boy ends up with two broken legs while Vic also falls and sustains minor scratches. The incident becomes a flashpoint for the miracle debate around Vic's abilities.

Back at the hospital, new x-rays show that Vic's brain tumour is gone, a fact the doctors refuse to explain to him. The radiologist withholds the telling, leaving Vic in a liminal space between belief and science. Father Cobb later treats the x-rays as definitive proof, but he destroys the physical copies to avoid explicit confirmation.

Newspapers trumpet Vic's survival and Stevie's apparent academic improvement. The bishop arrives, irritated by the miracle narrative, and Stevie is sent away to a religious retreat. School officials insist there were no miracles—only improved teaching and student effort.

The radiologist delivers the x-rays to Father Cobb as proof of a miracle. Cobb, leaning on faith rather than evidence, burns the X-ray images and proclaims that belief alone matters more than proof. This act intensifies the clash between science and faith in the story.

Vic returns to the rooftop to demonstrate that his leap was not a miracle. He performs the 17-foot jump again to challenge the miracle narrative. Jeff reveals Stevie Deans' whereabouts, prompting Vic to set out to bring Stevie back.

Vic, Ruth, and Jeff learn Stevie's whereabouts and hurry toward the railway station to retrieve him. Ruth and Robbie join the effort, sharing a tense moment as the crowd swells around them. A moment with Princess Diana interrupts the scene as Robbie offers her flowers.

Vic and Ruth share a heartfelt embrace at the station, reaffirming their commitment to teaching 'special' students. They depart by train to bring another child back to the school, signaling a new chapter in their mission. The story closes on the tension between belief and proof that underpins their journey.