Vincent MacKenna is a
retired, melancholic
Vietnam War veteran living in
Sheepshead Bay, who
smokes,
gambles and has a
drinking problem. His wife, Sandy, has
Alzheimer's and no longer recognizes him, but he poses as a doctor to visit her and does her laundry. Vincent's only close friends are his cat Felix and a pregnant
Russian sex worker named Daka. Despite his rough persona, Vincent has acquaintances who admire and care about him. Vincent's 30-year-old
Chrysler LeBaron gets hit by a branch felled by his new neighbors' moving van. Maggie Bronstein, a
radiology tech in the midst of a bitter
divorce, and her son Oliver meet Vincent, who demands payment for the damage to his car and fence (the damage to the fence he had actually done himself). Maggie does her best to provide for Oliver, who is intelligent and kind-hearted but bullied at his
Catholic school. On his first day at his school, Oliver's phone, wallet, and house keys are stolen by his classmate Robert. Oliver asks Vincent if he can stay at his home until his mother comes home from work. Vincent offers to continue "babysitting" for a fee. Vincent picks up Oliver daily after school because Maggie often works
late shifts. Vincent's ideas of after-school activities involve visits to racetracks and drinking in bars. Vincent teaches Oliver how to defend himself from bullies, resulting in Oliver breaking the nose of Robert, who later apologizes and gives back what he stole. Vincent and Oliver win a high-odds bet on the horses, enabling Vincent to pay off some of his debts. After staff in Sandy's nursing home remind him that he is behind on fees and tell him Sandy will be moved the next week if he does not pay what he owes in full, Vincent steals money from an account he set up for Oliver with their winnings from the track. He takes the money to the racetrack and gambles this money away hoping for a big win. Vincent is confronted in his home by
loan sharks Zucko and Antwan who attempt to take Sandy's jewelry. Vincent collapses while Zucko and Antwan leave him on the floor. Oliver finds him and calls emergency services. Vincent is hospitalized, told he has had a
stroke, and has to undergo
physical therapy. Oliver, Maggie, and Daka help Vincent recover, but his language remains stunted. Vincent becomes
depressed after finding out that Sandy died while he was hospitalized. He is given a box containing her few belongings and her
ashes. Meanwhile, Oliver's father blindsides Maggie in court with photographs of Vincent taking Oliver to inappropriate places. Now forced to share
joint custody, a furious Maggie tells Vincent that he can no longer see Oliver. For his "
Saints Among Us"
school project, Oliver asks around the neighborhood about Vincent's past. Later, he nominates Vincent at the school's assembly, publicly declaring him “St. Vincent of Sheepshead Bay” and presenting him with a medal. Oliver's rationale comes from his teacher's definition of sainthood as a person showing commitment, dedication and sacrifice. Vincent fits this in terms of his wife; he also saved two fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War. The school audience is impressed by Oliver's speech and applaud Vincent, who has been tricked into attending the event by Daka. Some time later, Daka gives birth to a baby girl named Victoria and she, along with Maggie, Oliver, and Robert, go to Vincent's house, where they eat together as a surrogate family. ==Cast==