Allie Stough - The Way

         Daniel is a boy how decides to go on a hick on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He unfortunately dies suddenly and the autopsy shows it was natural causes. His father Tom gets the news while he is golfing and decides to go and identify the body. Tom is on a train from California and has a flash back of the time when he drove him to the airport for his hike. Daniel takes Tom's bag and sits for a drink. A man sits opposite of him and talks about the trail. Tom looks at Daniel's things. Tom has another flashback of when Daniel told him he wanted to travel and not finish school. Tom is overwhelmed. Tome decides to cremate Daniel. He decides he is going to go on the trail with "Daniel." Tom spreads the ashes at the site of Daniel's death. There is a cross on the site. He is done for the day and sleeps in a hostile.
          He travels with a man. He spreads more ashes another location. The guy with him tries to figure out what he is doing. He stops and eats and has a vision of his son sitting across from him. He drops is bag for a break and it falls in the water. He finally gets it and decides to spend the night at the site. He goes through town and sees the man again. A lady hiking with them asks why Tom never "stops to smell the roses." They stop for the night and sleep at a church. They run into Jack that is doing a pole of why everyone is walking and Tom refuses to tell why he is. He spreads more ashes. They get to a place where they may sleep but the man is crazy so they camp instead. He drops the ashes and the woman tries to pick them up and it angers Tom. The woman opens up to him and says that she is traveling for her unborn daughter who her husband would have abused. Tom gets frustrated with the three others because they are not true pilgrims. He gets into trouble and the police get him. One of the man who is carrying a credit card bails him out. While in jail he has a vision of his son. They go back to the trial. Jack wants to write a book so Tom tells him his story. A gypsy steels Tom's bag and he gets it back. Because of their anguish they are invited to a night party. He has another vision of his son. They all stay in a hotel and are in separate rooms. They eventually all go into one room. The go back on the trail and get to the spot where the rocks are laid. Tom spreads more ashes. He tells Jack to write his book. When they are all done with their journey they get a certificate. Tom puts Daniel's name on it. When you walk into the church you are supposed to be on you knees to thank St. James for protection on the trial. The guy who is over weight is the only one who gets down on their knees. Tom kneels at the alter with the ashes. They are all moved by the service. He sees his son as one of the monks. They go to the ocean and he puts the ashes in the ocean.
          A true pilgrimage is death. You don't chose lie you live it. Its a personal journey for everyone.