Amish Grace Page #2

Damn you!

(Groans)

- Charlie.

- (Gasps)

- Can I lend a hand?

- No.

No, I'll get it.

How are Amy and the children?

Are they well?

(Grunting)

Well, you let me know

if you need anything.

(Chuckles)

Katie...

- Katie was determined to sleep in her boots.

- (Laughs)

I thought we were gonna

have to pull them off her while she slept.

(Clears Throat)

What is this?

Emma sent it. A gift.

And you accepted it? She's shunned.

I know.

Then... what are you doing?

She's my sister. I miss her.

I was hoping...

I want to visit her.

I think you want more than that.

Not for me. For Mary Beth.

- She wants to be a teacher.

- And she will be... here.

Yes, but what if she chooses not to stay?

To teach the English,

she'll need college and...

She's so bright, Gideon.

Don't you think we should...

- Shouldn't we at least consider...

- We made our choice, Ida, long ago.

It was the right choice for us,

but Mary Beth...

Will choose for herself

when the time comes.

By then it will be too late. She'll have

missed her chance for high school.

Listen, Gideon. Emma has

made us a very generous offer.

She said that Mary Beth

can stay with her for a time...

- and see what it's like to go to an English school.

- What are you saying?

I'm saying maybe we should try...

- You want our daughter to be shunned too?

- No, of course not.

You know she wouldn't be shunned.

She hasn't been baptized yet. I'm saying...

I just think she deserves

a chance to be something more than...

More than what?

She is a child of God.

She is already everything

that she needs to be.

It is Emma who is putting

these ambitions in you...

Emma who lives with outsiders,

tempting you with worldly matters.

Oh, you mustn't talk to her anymore.

- (Sighs)

- Promise me, Ida...

that you won't talk to Emma again.

I don't deserve you.

(Rooster Crows)

Mary Beth, I hope you're not going out

without something in your stomach.

Are you finished milking already?

I'm sorry, Dat. I overslept.

I tried to tell her it was time to get up.

(Laughs)

Well, the cows asked about you...

but I told them you'd be back tomorrow.

(Laughs)

I can't tell if we're still

quarreling or not.

We're not.

(Sighs)

An apple is not a proper breakfast.

Here. Sit and eat.

You'll need to be fortified...

for your first day as teacher's helper.

The first thing I'm going to do is

I'm going to help Hannah with her sums.

Teacher Ruth says she's a little slow-headed

with numbers, but I think I can help.

You have a good heart...

Teacher Mary Beth.

(Footsteps)

All right.

I'm off to my prayer meeting.

The bus is coming in 15 minutes...

so finish your breakfast

and don't forget to brush your teeth.

Hey.

Hey.

Make sure you get a few hours of sleep

when they're gone, okay?

Okay.

(Door Opens. Closes)

- (Laughter)

- Slow down, Katie. It's not a race.

Do I have to call you

"Teacher Mary Beth" now?

No, of course not, silly.

I'm just a teacher helper.

Why are you walking so funny?

New boots. They're still a little stiff.

Well, mine aren't.

Really? 'Cause you just tripped.

(Laughing)

Bye, Dad.

I'm going to the feed store.

Do you need anything while I'm in town?

A packet of needles would be nice.

(Children Laughing, Shouting)

(Laughing. Shouting Continue)

(Laughs, Screams)

- (Laughing)

- (Katie) You're it!

(Bell Ringing)

All right, everyone, take your seats.

How's everybody doing today?

- Beautiful.

- (Children) Good.

- (Teacher Ruth) ...with your sums today.

- (Chattering)

(Chattering)

(Teacher Ruth)

All right, Mary Beth, can I have...

- my teacher's helper up front, please?

- Yes. (Laughs)

Okay.

(Panting)

(Man Over Phone)

(Teacher Ruth) There's a man. He just

walked into my school. He's got a gun!

(Horse whinnying)

- What is it?

- Whoa!

- Has something happened?

- I don't know.

Levi came to get Isaac. He says

there are police cars at the school.

They told me to stay put,

but I'm doing no such thing. Step up!

(Ringing)

- (Beeps)

- Hello?

Hey, Charlie. I just got Maddy to sleep.

I hope you didn't wake her up.

What?

What are you talking about?

Are you... Are you okay...

- (Line Clicks)

- Charlie?

- (Beeps)

- (Handset Settles In Cradle)

(Siren wailing)

(Siren Continues)

- Katie!

- Mama!

- Katie!

- Whoa.

(Crying)

There's a bad man in school, Mama.

Oh. But you got away.

Oh, thank Jesus, you got away.

Emma and I ran out the side door,

just like Teacher Ruth.

And I thought Mary Beth would run too.

I thought she would run.

Mary Beth is still

in the school with the man?

- Yes.

- Sarah and Rebecca too?

He said he wouldn't hurt us

if we did what he said.

But I ran.

I'm sorry, Mama. I'm so sorry.

What should we do?

We should pray.

(Police Radio Chatter)

- There you go.

- I thought I looked tired.

- Ah, man, I'm allergic to Mondays.

- (Chuckles)

- I just brewed a fresh pot of coffee if you want to go grab some.

- Good.

- Oh, Jill, look alive.

- I need you two on the road now.

School shooting,

West Nickel Mines. Amish school.

Amish? That doesn't make any sense.

The Amish don't have guns.

The shooter wasn't Amish.

He, uh, shot a bunch of young girls.

Call us if you get any other details.

(Siren wailing)

(Helicopter Whirring Overhead)

- Hey, Bill.

- Derek.

(Chattering)

But my son... he got out, so...

I don't know anything about

the rest of the children.

- (Chattering)

- (Police Radio Chatter)

Come, boys.

We'll ask Dat. He may know.

Ida. Have they told you anything?

Just that we have to stay here.

And that one girl has passed for certain.

- Who?

- They don't know who because all the girls are dressed alike.

They asked us for a photo of Mary Beth.

I told them we didn't have one...

on account of God doesn't

like us to be in pictures.

I can't leave Katie.

I'll go.

(Amy)

Yes. Is this the Sheriff's Office?

Well, I've been trying to get ahold

of someone who can help me.

I... I just got a very disturbing

phone call from my husband.

Scared the heck out of me. I...

I don't know. I don't know

if he's gonna hurt himself or, uh...

Yes, I will hold.

Dad. Thank God you're here.

You have to watch Maddy.

I have to go find Charlie. He just...

There's something you need to see.

(Man) Although no official statement

has been released, what we do know...

is a lone gunman apparently entered

this one-room Amish school.

He allowed the boys to leave,

but kept the girls inside with him.

- God.

- The first trooper arrived on scene...

- What... Why are you showing me this?

- Amy, that's my truck!

The truck I loaned Charlie last week!

- (Baby Crying)

- Wait, Sheriff, what can you tell us...

I'm sorry, Ma'am.

I can't give you any information.

(Car Doors Opening)

No word on names or any other details?

No, the news conference

isn't for another 40 minutes.

- Yeah. Yeah, I got it.

- (Beeps)

Leonard doesn't want us

to wait for the news conference.

He wants us to go live in 10,

so pick your spot...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes