ellen burstyn gathers $200K in an essay contest to sell the diner.
percy is accused of stealing the money, which she didn't, and dies in an attempt to contact Eli (son of Ellyn Burstyn), the man in the woods, who ended up with the money, inadvertently.
Eli rejoins society, redeemed by percy (the Christ figure), and the winner of the essay contest ( a girl much like percy) arrives in town to claim her diner, and a chance in life for her baby son.