Sanctuary and Other Stories

SANCTUARY Already mourning from the untimely death of his wife, Matt Markovich and his son, Jake, head back to the small town of San Marcos, where Matt grew up. They arrive to aid Matt’s aging father, Tomislav, with the passing of Matt’s terminally ill Mother. When large sinkholes begin to appear around the peninsula of the coastal community, Matt is asked by an old friend, and local politician, to lend his expertise as a soils engineer to find the cause. Over the course of his investigation, Matt finds himself having to help both he and Jake come to grips with the pain of loss and familial ties to the past. Matt goes on to realize the two pillars of his childhood, family and faith, are the very things he must protect Jake from as the Markovich family past, his pious father and the deep secrets of the Mission of San Marcos Del Mar attempt to consume the father and son. TWO HUNDRED GRAND depicts a day in the life of Jack Cunningham, a degenerate gambler and serial liar whose personal choices send a ripple effect to those around him who ultimately pay the price for Jack’s sins. RITUAL When an unassuming bride-groom, Frank Gomez, goes to the dentist after a prolonged lapse in care, he is informed that multiple gum surgeries will be required. Prior to the procedures, Frank must undergo a series of deep cleanings by an attractive hygienist named Sofia. Over the course of Frank’s sessions with Sofia, he is led down an unforeseen path that will change the course of his life. MEMENTOS is the tale of Herman Schaeffer, an old man, who must sort through and separate the trash, the ghosts and the memories of his past. DO NO HARM A sudden, but routine, medical procedure disrupts Gabriel Tomich’s daily life and sends him on a journey through the abyss of a local community hospital. REAL GIRLS When Nick’s fiancé leaves him for a woman, he is devastated and recedes into the safety of work, gym, home and sleep. For over a year, this structured life has allowed Nick to stuff down the feelings of loss, pain and anger from the break-up. This all changes when Nick takes the advice of a friend to try Virtual Reality porn as a way to simulate sexual relations with digital girls as a means to ease himself into live dating. The intermingling of Nick’s ‘Real’ and ‘Virtual’ worlds will transform him forever.

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