
Obviously, everyone's got a family, but if the dysfunction's just a matter of degree, then the Fitzpatricks all have Ph. D.'s.
Jack Fitzpatrick is dead. His grown children, their spouses, his ex-wife, and his sister all gather at Jack's rundown fishing camp, JACK'S OWN HOLE (Not Wyoming) to view his video will. They're joined by Jack's only two living friends: the camp's caretaker, and Jack's live-in nurse... and, oh, yes, the family priest. Over the course of the weekend, we get to know each of these characters, including Jack -- their joys, their sorrows, their dreams and disappointments -- and most of all, their conflicts with each other and with the old, cantankerous bastard, Jack.
Jane, Jack's youngest daughter never stopped being a tomboy. In her early thirties now, she's a rogue journalist, opting to travel the world over in search of that adrenaline rush that a sensational scoop gives her, rather than be around her family.
Kathleen, Jack's other daughter, is just turning forty. Obsessed with wealth and status, she's in utter denial about Jack's dirty little secret. She and her husband Paul want to turn Jack's fishing camp into a theme park.
Ronnie, Jack's oldest, is married to Lilly and has two little girls, yet considers his life a failure. A recovering alcoholic, Ronnie's always barely keeping his construction business from going under.
Greg, Ronnie's younger brother, is a typical over-achiever. A high-powered Washington, DC attorney, he's terrified of commitment, and a closet drunk. He has not seen or spoken to Jack for over ten years.
Phyllis, Jack's lush of a sister, is a sex-pot way past her prime. Her only regret about Jack's death is that he'll get to be buried in the one remaining space at the family's cemetery plot, leaving her with "no hole".
Father Kinney, a childhood family friend, has come to perform Jack's service. Kinney's struggling with his faith, particularly his vow of celibacy. A struggle which is made all the harder when he re-connects with Kathleen, the object of his adolescent lust way back when.
Eduardo, the camp's caretaker has been working for Jack for several years. A former attorney in his native Colombia, he was forced to leave when, tired of defending drug lords, and smitten by Jane's charms, he gives her information in confidence, which, when published, exposes him as the source and places his life in danger.
Albert is Jack's nurse. Dying of cancer for the last three years, Jack was a miserable patient, yet he and Albert became much more than friends.
Mo, Jack's ex-wife is still bitter about their divorce ten years earlier. A psychologist, she's controlling and condescending. She's come to make sure Jack is dead.
Jack was 69 when he died -- a hard drinking, chain smoking, fly fishing, man's man. The thing is, he was gay, and a bit eccentric, to say the least.
It seems Jack wants to go out in flames, Viking style, in his fishing boat, in the middle of the lake. To make matters worse, he's left the run-down camp to his kids with the caveat that Albert, finally revealed to be his lover of several years, be permitted to live, in perpetuity, in the main house.
So, is it any wonder that this already dysfunctional
family doesn't kill each other in what is probably the longest,
most emotionally grueling weekend of their lives? Instead, they
all leave JACK'S OWN HOLE as better people. A miracle in itself...
or maybe Jack's plan all along.
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