Amish Grace Page #5

Would you like to comment on why

you think it's a good idea...

to forgive the man

responsible for the tragedy at the school?

We don't have to talk on camera.

I just want to know, because, honestly...

I'm having a hard time understanding it.

I know this is very difficult.

Your lives have been turned upside down.

Your grief is new, and very painful.

But with time...

you can create

a new normal for yourselves...

especially if you stop

to remember the good things.

Why don't we start...

by talking about the memories you cherish

about your daughters.

Hannah was seven...

and so sweet.

Everyone always told me how sweet she was.

She loved working with me in the garden.

She'd take such care planting each seed...

patting it into the ground

with her little hands...

then practically drowning it with water.

Sarah was 12.

She liked gardening too.

But what she loved most was horses.

She'd just got a new mare.

The first night

we brought it to the farm...

Sarah slept in the barn.

(Crying)

Our Mary Beth was 14, and...

she loved to read.

I think she read the Bible

twice all the way through.

She loved to tell stories.

- Once, she wrote a...

- She wanted to be a teacher.

Anna was seven.

Lydia was eight.

They did everything together.

(Chuckles)

One evening...

Charlie Roberts came to get our milk...

and he had his sons with him.

And they played

with Anna and Lydia in the dairy.

I'm so sorry... that I left.

I keep praying to God...

that he will give me

that moment over again...

so that I can stay.

Ruth, if you hadn't run for help, the police

wouldn't have got there as soon as they did.

They told us that he was planning to do

much worse, and you spared them that.

Yes. Ruth. You did the right thing.

I forgot to mention

something else about Mary Beth.

Uh, how good she was

with younger children.

She was the only one that

could calm my nephew Amos...

when he was having an asthma attack.

She helped him up until the day

that Emma and the boys moved away.

Oh, that's right.

I'm not supposed to speak of my sister.

She's shunned for taking up

with an English man.

(Sniffles) We can forgive the man

who murdered our children. Sure...

but... but we cannot forgive

a lonely widow for falling in love.

I told you I shouldn't have come.

Yeah, no. I can't get anyone to talk

on camera. Oh, I gotta call you back.

- Hey, are you all right?

- I don't want to be here.

I want to go home.

Well, we can give you a ride.

(Ida)

This isn't a good idea.

My husband will be unhappy

if I go home without him.

Your husband was one of the men

that went to see Amy Roberts.

They don't understand how it bothers me.

None of them do.

They don't understand that...

That some things are unforgivable?

My colleague Ann Curry

has been covering this story...

from Lancaster County,

and she's with us there again tonight.

- Ann, good evening.

- Brian, good evening.

Along with forgiveness...

Those people out there

don't give up, do they?

(Ann Curry) Still, the Amish people here

are quick to forgive...

- burying their anger even before burying their children.

- Ah, honey.

You don't need to be watching that.

Where are the kids?

Lillian from church took them

to get something to eat.

What about you?

When was the last time you ate?

This time a week ago, I was...

bringing Charlie a plate in the garage.

He was fixing Andy's bike.

I thought we had a good life.

I would have bet money he thought

the same thing too, but he didn't.

He actually picked going to hell

over staying here with me.

Uh, how about I, uh...

make you a grilled cheese...

since that's the only thing

I know how to make.

- What's this?

- Some Amish came and dropped it off.

It's donations.

They said their kids can't use them...

so they gave them to the boys.

Huh. I'll be.

They really put their money

where their mouth is, don't they?

I asked the community what they wanted

from the world outside...

and I was told, "Tell the world

we are grateful for its prayers".

"But also remember to pray

for the gunman's family". Brian?

(Rooster Crowing)

(Moos)

(Crying)

(Sniffing)

(Coughing)

Katie, no! Oh. What are you doing?

Making cookies for after

Mary Beth's funeral.

Katie!

Katie. I'm sorry for yelling.

I just didn't want you to get hurt.

Oh, Katie, I said I was sorry.

(Crying)

This should be my funeral too.

I should have gotten shot too.

I don't know why I ran.

It would be better

if she was the one that ran.

She would never burn the cookies.

Oh, Katie.

Katie, listen. Listen, shh.

Shh.

I thank God you ran.

I thank God you're here.

And don't ever think...

that you should have been shot or...

or that you shouldn't be here

with me and your father.

we love you.

And we need you. So, please...

Please, please...

Don't ever feel bad for being alive.

Now, let's go and make

a fresh batch of cookies together, okay?

(Knocking On Door)

Isaac just returned from the hospital.

He says Rebecca opened her eyes three times

in the night. They think she's waking up!

Oh, that's wonderful news.

That's... wonderful.

Will you come with me to the hospital?

But Mary Beth's funeral...

It isn't until tomorrow.

Please, Ida.

If it turns out she's not waking up...

- I can't bear to sit there alone.

- Yes.

Yes, of course. I'll go change.

- I'm so happy for you.

- (Kisses)

- We just need to pray that she's waking up.

- Let's do that.

(Man)

So you have one of the families saying...

that they have no intention of doing

the forgiveness thing.

No, not a family. A mother.

Her husband is clearly

in forgiveness mode.

He was one of the men

that went to Amy Roberts's house.

Is she being pressured to toe the line?

Is that what that powwow

they had yesterday was all about?

No. No. It was, uh,

some kind of grief counseling.

Although Ida was pretty upset

when she came out.

So I suppose there could be

some kind of pressure going on.

Well, then, what are you sitting here for?

- Find out.

- Leonard...

Do we really want to pursue this angle?

All the networks are pretty much

taking the Amish at face value.

I don't take anything at face value.

I'm not gonna report something as a fact

unless I'm sure it's a fact.

I mean, if you find evidence that this

community genuinely forgives Roberts...

then fine. I'll let you run with it.

But if what we really have

are deacons and elders...

making devastated parents feel like

they gotta spout the party line...

it's a different story.

So this is where the fireman picks you up?

He says it's on his way to work,

although he won't be working today.

- He said he'd get another to drive me.

- Mmm.

I must say...

all our lives we're told to keep ourselves

separate from outsiders, but...

been nothing but generous

and openhearted to me.

(Car Approaching)

Looks like a woman.

Oh.

(Car Door Opening)

Hi.

I... I, uh, went to the firehouse to see

if I could volunteer and help with anything.

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