Personal Debt

Set in a small Kansas town in the mid-1970s, Personal Debt follows the intertwined lives of three childhood friends—Jack, Bill, and Vincent—whose lifelong sacrifices for one another have shaped their biggest achievements. But when tragedy strikes, their bond is tested in ways they never imagined.

Jack’s world shatters when his only daughter is born with a terminal illness. Desperate to afford her life-saving medication, he makes a reckless choice—robbing a local pharmacy. The heist takes a devastating turn, ending in the accidental death of an elderly woman—Vincent’s mother.

Now the town sheriff, Bill finds himself caught between friendship and duty. Determined to give Jack a fighting chance, he seeks out Michael Zurilli, a sharp, Bronx-born trial lawyer who once benefited from Bill’s testimony in a high-profile case. Recently widowed and battling his own demons, Zurilli agrees to defend Jack pro bono, traveling to a town where many want justice without a trial.

As Jack languishes in jail, drowning in guilt over his best friend’s loss and his daughter’s worsening condition, Zurilli realizes that saving Jack isn’t just about proving his innocence—it’s about restoring his will to live. But in doing so, the counselor must confront his own grief. Is he truly here to defend Jack, or is he just running from the emptiness left by his wife’s death?

A gripping tale of loyalty, loss, and redemption, Personal Debt explores the weight of sacrifice and the debts we owe—not just to others, but to ourselves.