Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison are on their way to Bloomington, Indiana, to begin production on a faith-based movie called "The Last Letter." Their company is called Oak River Films, and it is their mission to produce a movie that would be of high enough quality so as to present its strong Christian message to theaters nationwide.
While Chase worried about the money that investors had put toward their project, his wife Kelly worried that there wasn't enough money to get the project off the ground.
Keith's wife Lisa was supportive, her father was one of the investors. Indeed it was Keith who had chosen to use money from investors, as going through a studio might cause them to give up creative control.
Keith's daughter Andi was in her first year at Indiana University, and was going to be in the movie. She had been a bold missionary with Keith and Lisa in Indonesia.
Bailey Flanigan, 19, made the decision to live on campus late in her freshman year, and is excited about getting involved with Campus Crusade. Her dad was a coach for the Indianapolis Colts. She had become close to the nearby Baxter family. She was roommates with Andi, and they had heartfelt talks every night.
Bailey was dating Tim Reed, but was thinking more and more about Cody. Cody had lived with Bailey's family, instead of foster care, and he went on to serve in Iraq. He returned having lost a leg, and now wore a prosthetic. Afterwards he thought that Bailey could do better than him, and encouraged her relationship with Tim. Tim had been popular at Christian Kids Theatre, and this continued through college. Unfortunately he was more about himself than anyone else, which made Bailey wonder about her relationship with him. She wanted to be closer to Cody, but she rarely saw him, and she wonders if this was on purpose.
Andi struggled some with her faith these days, especially after the car accident death of her friend Rachel. She also struggled to tell Bailey about it. They talked about their weekend when they returned to their room, and talked about Campus Crusade and the prospect of playing in a play.
Back at Bloomington, Rita was being picky about her contract. They were in desperate need for known actresses, and had agreed to put up with her temper. Keith was able to strike a deal with a local, but would be out $500 to accommodate her salmon breakfast demands. Other trials led them to shoot only 5 out of the 8 scenes they needed to shoot on Day 1. They soon realize they must get more investors or it would be irresponsible for them to continue. Keith's faith inspires Chase.
Rita tells Chase that she took the role because she had researched the two of them on the internet, and believed that the two of them could be the next big thing. In the process, she leaves no doubt she was hitting on him.
Their young star actor Jake was bitten by the dog they were using in the movie. He was rushed to the hospital, where Keith met the doctor, who happened to be John Baxter, the father of a famous actor, and had heard about their efforts in faith-based films.
Meanwhile the producers strive to have none of the film's workers feel "below the line."
At the audition, Bailey introduced Tim to Andi. All 3 of them did well at their auditions, especially Andi, who did so well that Bailey worried about competing with her for the next 4 years, especially after Tim gushed over the performance.
Cody writes her a letter to Bailey telling her how much he misses her, and told her that he'd be at Cru that week.
Andi made it to the Cru meeting, and met Daniel, the LG coordinator. Soon Cody sees her (he had brought a letter for Bailey and given it to her) and they sit together. Daniel announces that Andi's dad's film crew will be on campus soon and that they were looking for extras. A little later Bailey shows up and sits with them. She did not look concerned that the two of them were sitting together, and Andi wondered what the deal was with them.
Meanwhile Bailey had avoided talking to Andi about Cody, and so she couldn't blame her were she attracted to him. At the same time, she wouldn't be able to stand it were they to get together.
She tried to focus on the songs, and realized that having a roomate that shared her faith was like having a sister. Besides, she was dating Tim.
Bailey and Cody were able to talk after the meeting, and soon they were talking just like good old times. He had grown a lot. They had all received callbacks for "Scrooge."
On the day they were to shoot on the IU campus, the food vendor's truck burns to the ground. Chase goes shopping and pulls off breakfast and lunch anyway. He considers the eternal impact of their efforts.
Andi introduces her father to Bailey. He had been concerned about Andi talking to Jake.
On the set, the two heard of a rumor that some of the cast and crew were upset that this movie may be promoted only among the Christian market, and some were threatening to walk. Keith struggles with what to say, and then gives a heartfelt speech to the cast and crew about his vision for the film. The lone Christian, Jeanetta, stood up and clapped -- soon everyone was doing so.
Jake struck up more conversation with Andi, and she accepts his invitation to his trailer. They exchanged phone numbers, and he tells her that the actress that played his girlfriend had left and will need a replacement.
She plays a small role with Jake, and the day couldn't have been dreamier for her, until her dad pulled her aside about her being alone with him.
The Baxter kids came with their kids to see the movie being filmed, followed by Tim. Bailey felt better about her relationship with Tim. He had heard about her seeing Cody the night before, and this got him thinking that he should tell her how he felt. He does so, and kisses her. Near the end of their meeting, Bailey spots Cody watching them, which makes her heart skip a beat, and makes her parting with Tim anticlimactic.
Chase and Keith had a good day and are very pleased with what scenes they were able to shoot thus far. Chase suggests they use Andi or Bailey for Jake's girlfriend. They look at some shots, and both think that Bailey would be perfect for the part.
Chase returned to his hotel room to find Rita sitting there. He refuses her advances, and demands that she leave.
Andi drove to meet Bailey's family, and was impressed by her home. Andi enjoys meeting Bailey's family, but laments her being an only child.
Keith called Andi to tell her that they had decided to have Bailey read for the part of Jake's girlfriend. Andi fought jealousy, and realized they had already become to good of friends to be jealous of each other.
Rita seems to have been up to something with Jake. Plus "Below the Line" union picketers, led by Larry, arrived by bus to the area to protest. Apparently someone had called the union. Some of the crew defended the producers, saying that their working conditions were fine, and that they need work during the strike. Keith and Chase state that this is not a union film, but Larry states that all the below the line guys are union members, and sticks to his demands.
Dane, a famous actor, and Luke Baxter, a lawyer, arrive and said that he'd help them. Dane would cover Luke's fees. The two give the cast and crew time off until lunch the next day. They all meet with Larry early the next morning. They still continue to lose time.
Lisa starts a prayer chain. She calls Ashley, who makes plans to meet at the Community Theater and contacts the CKT parents, many of whom stay to pray. Lisa prayed with Dane and the rest late into the night. Meanwhile not much progress was not being made. Many stayed until 2:30am, when Keith called to say they were back in business. They needed to replace what they were paying the crew per diem with union wages, but the difference wouldn't break them, although they would need more investors.
Andi and Bailey both got parts in "Scrooge," and Tim got the starring role. Andi shared her faith struggle with Bailey.
Jake called Andi's cell phone, and asked her to go to Lake Monroe. She thinks about all the testimonies she heard over her life, about how God rescued people from some crazy life and rescued them, and wonders if she doesn't need to live a little dangerously sometime. Bailey tells her that all who do that end up wanting their purity back. She tells him that they are like bright white sheets of paper amongst beige, off-white sheets. The beige sheets feel pretty good until they are up against the white ones.
Cody decides to go to the Clear Creek football game, where he used to star, despite having intending to wait a few years when he was more used to his prosthesis. Bailey and her father would be there, and the crew would be shooting B-roll for the movie. He meets with her family, and before he saw Bailey, her father announces to the crowd the homecoming of their returning star and veteran. Everyone in the stadium stood and cheered.
Andi takes Jake up on his offer, and goes with him without telling her parents. They talk about the movie, he compliments her, and kisses her. She is exhilarated but soon protests how fast he is moving. He persists, but soon Dane and his wife Katy happened by. Dane seems to know what is going on, and invites them to continue walking with them, as it was getting dark. The four talk and Dane asks Jake if he's "living right," and tells him he knows where to find him if he ever wants to talk about God. Once back to the car, he tries to continue, but Dane and Katy had stopped what was happening just in time. She insists on going back.
She decides to catch the second half of the football game. There, Cody sees Bailey with Tim. He doesn't want to be with Bailey while she was with him, but Andi catches up with him. They caught up for a good while in her car in the parking lot while waiting for the crowd to come out.
Chase's wife Kelly wonders how long she can keep her spirits up while taking care of Molly and Macey, and the knowledge of how things were going with the movie. After contemplating a picture of Chase holding a firefly in wonder, she receives a message from God about what she should do next.
Bailey had seen Cody sitting in Andi's car. She is talking with her mother about this when Andi calls her. Andi tells her about her date with Jake and her time with Cody. Bailey wonders about maintaining a friendship with her without being rude. She knew it would be hard, but what she needed to do would be to trust God brought them all into each others lives for a reason, even if that meant Cody ended up with Andi.
Chase scores an interview with Entertainment Tonight. They hope against hope that an investor might see it and look them up. He later finds Jake and Rita making out, and demands that they keep their behavior off camera above the line as well. He returned to his hotel room that night to find Kelly.
Back on the set, Jake approaches Andi and apologizes for what happened. He offered to take her out again, somewhere public this time. Between that and her sensing that Bailey was uneasy about her hanging out with Cody, she agrees to meet him at a frat party. After all, how could she understand what she was missing if she never experienced it? And with Jake there no strange guys would be hitting on her.
Jake called her when she got to the party, saying that he needs to work with Rita for a while. He encouraged her to stay at the party and wait for her - and to have a couple beers. She thinks no wonder the two of them were delivering such great performances, if they were putting in long hours rehearsing.
At the party, she gets attention from guys, especially Ben from math class. He gave her a beer (her first ever), and easily chugged two himself. Soon the room was moving, and she was in his arms. She accepted another - mixed - drink from him. Soon he tries to take advantage of her. She causes a scene and then throws up, disgusting Ben who soon sulked off. She called Cody who came to get her. He took her to her room, and refused her requests to stay with her. She was more sick than she should have been from a few beers, apparently it was whatever Ben had slipped her. She missed the breakfast date with her family the next morning.
The ET piece would not air in time, probably not until next month, they said. Without an investor, they would have enough money to last only through Tuesday. It looks as if they may have to make the thank you speech to the cast and crew.
Keith and Chase visit the Baxters for one of their famous Sunday dinners, and meet the entire family. They pray, and then Chase called Kelly, who reported that the ET piece ran.
Tuesday comes, nothing having come through. Keith begins a speech, and just before he gets to the point, Chase vehemently waves a fax at him and interrupts, telling the cast and crew to take their places. The ET piece was seen by the daughter of Ben Adams, whom they had tried repeatedly to reach. She got through to Ben, and he was willing to invest whatever was needed.
Soon they wrapped filming, and some of the crew had recommitted their lives to God because of what they had experienced. Ben Adams and her daughter come to visit the set. Kendel brings news that a bestselling author had turned down numerous offers from producers, because the right one had not come. They spot some fireflies.
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