peter fiocco

Winter Rainbow – Synopsis

Born to a life of wealth and privilege, William Tyler finds over the years that he is not equipped to take advantage of the gifts of his birthright. Somehow, he manages to fail at everything he attempts: including love and marriage. Things go from bad to worse for William on the day of his graduation from college when that evening someone guns down his father and his father’s mistress in a double homicide. Shortly thereafter, his mother abandons and disowns him and has him jailed for embezzlement. As a result, it does not take long after his release from prison for William to descend into alcoholism and homelessness. Besides, becoming a drunk and a vagrant causes him to forget his real name -- which is okay with him -- and he becomes just plain Willie, a man with no past and no future. After many years of a lifestyle that heaped abuse on his mind and person, by the time he reaches middle age William is completely disoriented and without purpose. However, recently, as much as he tries to suppress it, his past keeps nagging to be recognized.

Suddenly, on a Christmas Eve, in a driving snowstorm, he encounters what he believes is the ghost of his father. Together they discuss the shooting and Willie agrees to help his father try to discover the identity of his murderer. They also discuss the known suspects, of which there are a number of credible candidates and the clues related to the crime: a lost pocket watch and the missing murder weapon. William is certain that Willie is the source of his decline and decides to ignore him and his constant meddling. He needs to get his head straight if he is going to complete his mission. With the help of a friend, a fellow drunk and vagrant formerly a lawyer of considerable intellect before his descent into mental illness due to personal tragedy, William cleans himself up and decides to confront each of the likely suspects. He intends to begin with his mother – who happens to be the chief suspect, at least according to his father. All he has to do is find her. Furthermore, she owes him his inheritance and he intends to collect -- one way or another.