Amish Grace

Based on a True Story.

However, certain events and characters have

been fictionalized including the Graber family.

- (Bird Cries)

- And you have everything, right?

- (Bell Dinging)

- (Chattering)

(Children Laughing, Chattering)

(Man)

Work hard, Elijah.

April 2, 2007

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

(Car Door Closes)

(Sighs)

Wow. That looks nice.

Looks bigger than the one they tore down.

- Sure put it up fast.

- Well, that's because they work together.

Boys, wait for your sister.

(Woman)

Hi. Hey. Hello. Rebecca.

Look at you, getting around so well.

(Chuckles)

I've been practicing.

Well, have a wonderful day at school.

I know things won't be the same, but...

(Bell Ringing)

Thanks for coming in on your day off

to do this follow-up with me.

Are you kidding me?

I wouldn't have missed it.

I've never had a story hit me so hard.

(Groans)

It's changed how I see everything.

Six Months Earlier

October 1, 2006

- (Dog Barking In Distance)

- (Knocking On Door)

Such a racket on a Sunday, Rebecca.

Do you need to see Katie as badly as all that?

- Sorry. I'll knock quietly next time.

- Mmm-hmm.

I'll not hold my breath.

Good Sunday, Mary Beth.

(Laughs) She truly is

a clodding horse, isn't she?

Ah. You forget what you were like before

you became such a refined young lady.

I was never a horse.

Oh, no. More like a hopping,

fluttery bird flying about.

Now look at you...

a young woman baking pies.

Barely a feather left.

Bet I could still fly if I wanted to.

I've no doubt.

Does this mean you're going

to talk to Teacher Ruth today?

- Do you think I'm ready?

- I do.

We're going to help Dat set up the barn!

(Sighs)

Oh, boy!

Now, your sister... she's a half-blind colt.

Mmm-hmm.

(Sighs)

Move along, girls.

Folks are ready to worship.

(Horse whinnies)

Whoa.

Wie geht's, Isaac?

Where's Rebecca?

I hope she hasn't been in the way.

No, no. She's been a big help.

I just sent her inside with Katie to wash up.

(People Chattering)

- Hi.

- Happy Sunday.

Good Sunday.

- No bean chowder?

- (Sighs)

Good. Chowder with Isaac doesn't agree.

- It doesn't sit well with Gideon either.

- (Laughs)

I got a package from Emma. Look.

Look. Her boys are taller than she is now.

She's my sister. And was a friend to you.

She's shunned, Ida.

You shouldn't open her letters.

Good Sunday.

(Ida) Hannah and Jacob

love Sundays at our house.

- She's so beautiful.

- I'm taking her to town this week.

- Want to come with me?

- I'd love to.

- Can we come too?

- You two aren't old enough.

Well, I mean, if they really want to come,

we could always ask.

But they annoy me.

Well, then, we'll just have to

make you sing and entertain us.

Have you heard Rebecca sing?

- (Laughing)

- Oh.

(Laughing)

I went to the horse auction this week.

And an English man said to me...

"Why do you keep yourselves separate"?

Well...

I will tell you what I told him.

"We are separate so that we do not stray".

"Someone who boasts

that he is a Christian..."

"must walk in the path of Christ".

Then he said to me...

"Can you not walk in the path

of Christ and watch television too"?

(Chuckles)

I said, "Well, that would be

quite a trick".

How can we keep our minds on God...

if we're distracted by worldly pursuits?

The answer is, "We cannot".

We keep our lives simple so that our path

to heaven will be wide open for us...

and not cluttered with obstacles.

Let us lift our voices now...

in expectation of arriving

in our true home.

# Safe in the arms #

# Of Jesus #

# Safe on his gentle breast #

# There lie His love #

# Overshared #

# Sweetly my soul #

# Doth rest #

# Hark, 'tis a song

of heaven #

# Borne in the sweetest voice #

# Echoed by saints in spirit #

# Making my heart rejoice #

(Children Laughing, Chattering)

- Kick it hard, Katie!

- (Katie) Get up!

Hyah!

(Men Chattering)

(Grunts)

- (Children Chattering)

- (Boy) I got it!

(Woman)

Children, time to wash up for supper.

Lass uns essen!

(Chattering)

Mom, after we eat, will you tell

the little ones the Dirk Willems story?

I will... if you go talk to Teacher Ruth.

- I will.

- Good.

(Man)

God is with us... (Continues. Indistinct)

(Chattering Stops)

(Chattering Resumes)

- It's the, uh...

- Spin.

- (Chattering)

- (Laughs)

- You know, I hear they're building a new house.

- Yeah.

- Oh, the people across the street?

- Oh, really?

Teacher Ruth, I was wondering...

Are you finally gonna ask her

about being teacher's helper?

Katie, you little spiller!

(Chuckles)

It's all right, Mary Beth.

I think the whole settlement knows

that you've got your eye on my job.

No, I don't want to be teacher yet.

I'm only 14. I know I'm not old enough.

But I would like to start helping...

just so that I could be ready

for my apprenticeship next year.

Well, I'd love the help.

In fact, if you hadn't asked me,

I was going to ask you.

Truly?

You'll make a wonderful teacher.

Thank you.

(Laughing)

There you are.

Dad just called. He wants to know

how long you're gonna keep his truck.

Um, just one more day.

Okay. Can you call him

and tell him? Charlie?

Are you gonna call him and tell him?

Could you call him? I want to catch

an hour or two of sleep before my shift.

Okay. Okay.

(Gasps)

Where's Daddy going?

He go night-night? He going night-night.

Now, Dirk refused

to renounce his beliefs...

so they locked him up

for many, many months...

until one cold, bitter night,

he saw his chance and he escaped.

Only one of the guards saw him,

and he started chasing him.

So Dirk was running as fast as he could

across a frozen pond...

until, all of a sudden,

he heard a crash and a crack...

and he turned around

just in time to see the guard...

crashing through the ice

into the freezing water.

Well, Dirk knew that

more guards were coming...

and he also knew that this was

his last chance to escape.

But he turned around, he went back...

and he pulled that guard

out of the water and saved his life.

But what happened to Dirk?

Well, it's really sad.

You don't want to know.

- They burned him at the stake.

- But he was so nice.

- You're such a baby, Hannah.

- No, I'm not.

- Yeah, you are.

- Sarah.

Don't worry, Hannah. He died in peace...

because he knew that

he had done the right thing.

So he went straight up to heaven to live

with God and all the angels.

Okay. So who wants

to hear a happier story?

Tell the one about the angels.

Daddy, Mom says it's time

for you to get up for work.

(Clock Ticking)

(Inhales, Exhales)

Do they fit?

- Danke.

- Can we wear them to school tomorrow?

(Gideon. Laughing) No. No, these

are for winter. It's not even cold yet.

But... Please?

It might rain all of a sudden.

(Laughs)

Well...

We'll see what your mom says.

Gideon, the milk truck is still outside. Maybe

you should see if Charlie needs some help.

Danke.

(Laughing)

- Good one, Mama.

- Look at my boots.

Oh! They're lovely.

- (Groaning) What the hell?

- (Cows Mooing)

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