| “ | Remember, your father has a plan... | „ |
| — Frank to Lucifer, moments before his death in "A Priest Walks Into a Bar" | ||
Frank Lawrence, also known as Father Frank, was a Roman Catholic priest who had a parish in Los Angeles, United States. During his final moments, he became one of the few humans to realize Lucifer's true identity.
History[]
Before entering the priesthood, Frank was a touring musician. He played the piano, traveling across the country, he opened for such acts as David Bowie and the Rolling Stones, he thought the fun would never end. Ten years prior to the episode, however, he, his daughter, Connor, and his parents were involved in a car accident; Frank's daughter and Connor's parents were killed. It was after this tragedy that he discovered his faith, and chose to become a priest, which he said gave him peace. When he again crossed paths with Connor - the child without a parent - Frank took the responsibility of taking care of him - the parent without a child. Connor thought him overprotective.
In order to save Connor from a life dealing drugs, he asked Lucifer for a favor, but Lucifer refused at first with a "big fat no." Lucifer wanted to prove that the priest was a hypocrite, and wanted to blame him for the death of the Youth Center's director and drug dealer, Mr. Arietta. After Chloe spoke to Frank at his church, she asked him to come in and make a statement, as they left the church, he was the target of a drive by shooting on the church steps; Lucifer asked, "You wonder why I don't go to church."
Something more upbeat...
After actually getting to know him, Lucifer grew to like Frank, but would not admit it. When Frank then claimed to be a better piano player than Lucifer, the two retired to the penthouse to play. They both truly enjoyed playing piano together, and Chloe, who witnessed the interlude, called it "absurdly adorable."
When Connor's guilt seemed obvious, Lucifer asked how Frank could still have faith in the boy. Frank told Lucifer he believed that no one is beyond salvation, not even Lucifer; that God had a plan. When Lucifer told Frank that God's plan for him was obvious, Frank asked how he knew God's plan for him was over; Lucifer couldn't answer.
After later receiving a call from Connor, Frank left the penthouse, thinking that Connor was in danger, when the boy was actually trying to entrap the priest under orders from The Spider. Lucifer and Chloe follow Frank to the church and witness when Connor proves unable to kill Frank. The Spider, however, the man behind Arietta's murder, and the takeover of the drug ring, then attempts to kill Connor, but is stopped by Frank, who throws himself in front of Connor, and takes the bullet meant for the boy. He collapses, galvanizing Lucifer, who rushes to Frank's side. Lucifer tries to prevent Frank from dying, using his jacket as a pressure bandage, and telling him he can't go anywhere, he has more people to annoy. Frank tells Lucifer that he wondered why God had put Lucifer in his path, but then realized that he had been put in Lucifer's path. He tells Lucifer, "your father has a plan." Lucifer then realizes that Frank understands his true identity. Frank then dies despite Lucifer's efforts. Furious at the waste of Frank's life, Lucifer charges towards Doyle and slams him against a wall, holding him by the neck, threatening to "pull the legs off the Spider." Chloe talks him down, telling Lucifer that "Father Frank wouldn't want this." Reluctantly, Lucifer let's Frank's killer drop to the floor. Visibly upset, he leaves the scene and heads home.
Back at the penthouse, saddened and angered by Frank's death, Lucifer rages against God, "You cruel, manipulative Bastard! Was this all part of Your plan? It's all just a game to You, isn't it? Eh? Well, I know punishment, and he did not deserve that. He followed Your stupid rules and it still wasn't good enough! So what does it take to please You? Break Your rules and you fall! Follow them and you still lose?! Doesn't matter whether you're a sinner! Doesn't matter whether you're a saint! Nobody can win, so what's the point? What's the bloody point?"
Trivia[]
Frank is apparently one of the few humans to have believed Lucifer about who he really was. He is the second human to emotionally impact Lucifer, the first being Chloe. Frank might have helped push Lucifer towards the path of redemption. It is unknown if Frank understood who Lucifer was the whole time, or simply found clarity before dying.
Family[]
| Frank Lawrence† | Unknown | ||||||||||||
| Unnamed daughter† | |||||||||||||
Notes:
- Solid lines denote parent-child blood relationships and brother-brother relationships
- Dashed lines denote marriage relationships that result in offspring
- † denotes the deceased
Appearances[]
| Season One | ||
|---|---|---|
| #9 | "A Priest Walks Into a Bar" | Appears |
| #10 | "Pops" | Mentioned |
| Season Two | ||
|---|---|---|
| #8 | "Trip to Stabby Town" | Indirect mention |
| Season Three | ||
|---|---|---|
| #7 | "Off the Record" | Mentioned |
| Season Six | ||
|---|---|---|
| #9 | "Goodbye, Lucifer" | Mentioned |
Trivia[]
- Frank befriended Lucifer over their shared love of music.
- According to Lucifer, Frank's deadly sin is Wrath.
- In the final season, Lucifer's "To Do" list involved checking on Frank; showing Lucifer didn't forget him during the millennia he spent in hell.
- Lucifer called him "padre" a few times, which is Italian for father.
- Lucifer called him "Padre Pederast" which is likely a reference to the Catholic Church sexual abuse cases.
- Lucifer referred to him as "Padre Punchy" to Chloe after Frank admitted to punching Arietta.