Lease of Life

Rev. William Thorne lives in Hinton St. John with his wife Vera and daughter Susan, a gifted pianist. The family struggles financially as Vera pushes Susan's talent toward opportunities in London, fearing it will be wasted otherwise. The community centers on the church, but Susan's future tuition remains uncertain.

Local elderly farmer Mr. Sproatly visits Thorne on his sickbed, hoping the money he leaves will go to his son instead of his wife after his death. He contemplates leaving cash and a will in Thorne's care. The moment is interrupted when Mrs. Sproatly enters, and the plan is abandoned.

While drafting a sermon, Thorne collapses and is told by his doctor that he has less than a year to live. He travels to Gilchester Cathedral to seek perspective, and the cathedral's organ music haunts him during the bus ride home. The news unsettles his parishioners as the gravity of his mortality sinks in.

On the way back from Gilchester Cathedral, the organ music echoes in his head as he rides the bus toward home. The experience deepens his reflections on life, faith, and the value of freedom within belief. He resumes his duties with a transformed outlook.

Back in town, two women discuss the sexton Mr. Spooner's drunkenness, and Thorne promises to deal with him appropriately. He weighs how discipline and mercy should interact within his parish. The moment foreshadows the practical tests his new philosophy will face.

Thorne returns to Sproatly and takes a leather case containing a will and a large amount of cash. Sproatly's wife challenges him, testing his resolve and his conscience as the old man's fortune becomes a potential temptation. The exchange leaves Thorne's resolve in sharp relief.

Thorne reevaluates his life and the parish he serves, finding himself happier and more tolerant of minor indiscretions. He chooses to ignore gossip and let people live according to their conscience rather than rigid rules. The change deepens his connection with many parishioners.

At a boys' school, Thorne tears up his prepared notes and delivers an improvised sermon about disobeying rules and enjoying life. The boys respond with enthusiasm, while the dean, headmaster, and parents view it as rebellious. A reporter prints the story, spreading the new image of the vicar.

Thorne speaks honestly about his beliefs, arguing that religion is freedom to act with conscience rather than blind obedience. Some words are misunderstood, provoking controversy and attracting sensational responses from curious newcomers. The congregation swells, but not all are drawn for the right reasons.

The ongoing worry about paying Susan's tuition resurfaces, and Thorne faces temptation in the form of shortcuts to raise funds. He weighs the costs and benefits of bending his principles for a greater good. In this struggle, his conscience remains the central guide.

When Sproatly dies, Thorne checks the bag of money and finds it £100 short, the exact amount Vera had given to Susan and claimed was spent elsewhere. He confronts Vera, who confesses to borrowing the money. The revelation tests Thorne's trust in others and his own moral compass.

Mrs. Sproatly confronts Thorne in the churchyard after her husband's funeral about the missing money. Thorne collapses in the church, overwhelmed by the mounting pressures of duty and temptation. A reporter later tells Vera that the editor has agreed to pay £100 for Thorne's articles.

Thorne's spirit is revived as he heads to his evening service, choosing to live for the living rather than the dead. He pauses to speak with the gravedigger, reflecting on how acts of compassion in the present can redeem a life. The moment marks a quiet affirmation of his renewed faith and purpose.