Deloris Van Cartier

Deloris Van Cartier was the central hero of the 1991 movie Sister Act and the sequel Sister Act II.

Sister Act
In 1968 Deloris Williams was a young girl who attended a Catholic school. Her wisecracking and disobedience exasperated the nun, who warned her that people like her tended not to do so well.

By the early 90s Deloris Van Cartier was divorced and working as a lounge singer in Reno. She was carrying on an affair with casino owner Vince LaRocca. When Vince gave her his wife's fur coat she decided that she had enough of Vince and went to break up with him. In Vince's suite Vince was interrogating his young driver and confirmed that he had spoken to the police. Vince had the young driver executed right as Deloris came in to the suite. Deloris managed to get out a few words of apology for an earlier argument before exiting the suite. Vince decided he couldn't have her as a witness and had his soldiers chase after her.

Deloris managed to escape and took a taxi to police headquarters where she told the police what she had seen. Lt. Eddie Souther revealed that Vince was a major mob figure. He asked Deloris if she would testify against Vince, but she was too frightened to do so. Souther told her that if she agreed to testify he would hide her in the last place on Earth Vince would ever look for her.

The next day the pair arrived in San Francisco. To Deloris's considerble horror, she realized that she was going to be staying in the convent attached to St. Katherine's Parish. The Reverend Mother was none too thrilled about the prospect, but the pastor Msgr. O'Hara said that the convent would have law enforcement protection, and that the Reno police department was giving them a considerable donation.

Reverend Mother took Deloris in. After telling her not to smoke and having her dress in a habit, Reverend Mother informed Deloris that while she was in the convent she would be known as Mary Clarence.

At first Deloris had a rough time adjusting to the structure of convent life, of having to get up before dawn, of small and plain meals, and of working in the church and convent. She found the convent closed off from the neighborhood. The choir at St. Katherine's was in sad shape. Despite the difficulties of having to conform to Catholic communal living she did make friends with many of the nuns there, especially the shy Mary Robert and the boisterous Mary Patrick. Deloris snuck out to a bar one night followed by Mary Robert and Mary Patrick. Coming back they were caught by the Reverend Mother. She nearly called Souther to ask him to make alternative arrangements for Deloris, but decided instead that for the remainder of her time there she would sleep and sing.

Within minutes of arriving in the choir room everyone realized that Deloris had an excellent grasp of music theory, and former leader Mary Lazarus agreed to step aside. The following Sunday the choir sung Hail Holy Queen in the traditional manner followed by a fast paced rock and roll performance of the hymn. People in the street overheard the choir and came in to see what was going on. The Reverend Mother was quite unhappy and was going to have Mary Lazarus resume her leadership of the choir. However Msgr. O'Hara stepped in and said that the music was heavenly, and it was brining people in to church. Deloris convinced him to let the nuns go out in to the neighborhood, helping to clean up the area and make it much more liveable. Deloris was nearly exposed when a TV crew visited, but Vince had been distracted when she appeared on TV for a few seconds.

Meanwhile Pope John Paul II was visiting the states and heard about St. Katherine's choir and decided to visit the parish. Upon the decision of the choir to let Deloris select the music instead of a traditional program, Reverend Mother decided she had enough and was going to hand in her resignation. Deloris offered to go in her place but Reverend Mother still was planning to resign.

Tate, a corrupt officer on Vince's payroll discovered where Deloris was hiding. Vince sent his men Joey and Willie to bring her back to Reno. After Deloris was kidnapped, Reverend Mother revealed the truth to the convent that Mary Clarence was not a nun, but a singer named Delores Van Cartier. The nuns of the convent all flew to Reno to rescue Deloris.

Vince confronted Deloris, who faced her former lover calmly and without any outward signs of fear. The Deloris they faced now was nothing like the woman who fled a few motnhs ago. Vince tried to have Joey and Willie execute Deloris, but they found they couldn't do it, fearing their souls in jeopardy for killing someone who might have actually become a nun. Deloris managed to knock over both Willie and Joey and escaped through the casino. Vince chased Deloris through the casino as the other nuns of the convent arrived. As a group they tried to escape but Vince cornered them. Before Vince could shoot Deloris Lt. Souther shot him in the arm. Vince cursed her as he was being dragged away by cops, Deloris simply responded with, "Bless you."

The Reverend Mother found a renewed sense of purpose and since Deloris would soon be leaving she needed to stay. Deloris returned with the nuns to St. Katherine's where in front of a packed house they performed for the Pope, who was pleased with what he saw.

Sister Act II: Back in the Habit
After the performance in front of the Pope Deloris left the convent to resume her career, which was far more successful. She began an act based on her exploits at the convent where she hid from Vince. At the last performance of her show Mary Lazarus, Mary Robert, and Mary Patrick approached Deloris to ask for assistance. The nuns were now working at the same St. Francis Academy that she attended. Learning that the school was in danger of closing Reverend Mother asked Deloris to assist in convincing the Diocese to keep the school open.

Resuming her Mary Clarence persona, Deloris taught the music class at the school. She was able to bring about a change in the students, who had been rude and unruly. Getting them interested in learning and singing, she was able to bring them to perform at an all-state choir championship. For the first time in many years the school won the championship.