A young boy, who is likely around eight or nine years old, tells a story about an older priest named Father Flynn who he has become friends with. Father Flynn has suffered three strokes and is now paralyzed. The boy is uncertain about whether or not Father Flynn has died and is hesitant to confirm it. Meanwhile, the boy's aunt, uncle, and a family friend discuss Father Flynn's unusual behavior, and the friend suggests that the priest may not be a positive influence on younger people. The boy is offended by what he perceives as condescension but chooses to remain silent.

After having a bad dream about Fr. Flynn, the boy comes across a message at the priest's sisters' residence that informs him of Flynn's passing. Despite this news, instead of feeling sad, the boy experiences a strange sense of liberation. Although he recalls the teachings about Catholicism he received from Flynn, he can't explain the elation he feels.

Later in the evening, the boy accompanies his aunt to pay their respects but finds himself unable to focus on prayer or engage in small talk with Eliza, one of Fr. Flynn's sisters. Instead, he listens to his aunt and the sisters as they discuss the priest's lackluster career and troubles in the clergy, including a notable incident in which he dropped a chalice during a mass early on in his career. Eliza suggests that this mishap, combined with the demands of priesthood, had taken a toll on Fr. Flynn's mental state, and hints that he may have even started to lose his sanity. Although the boy is still pondering his relationship with the priest, he remains silent throughout the conversation.