Amish Grace Page #6

They said a mother needs

a ride to a hospital.

Yes.

Yes, that's me. I'm Rachel.

This is Ida.

And it's very kind of you to take me.

Isn't she kind, Ida?

Please, let me help.

Yes. Please. Ida.

Let's go.

So who is it you're going to visit?

What's her name?

Rebecca.

She's 10.

Well, I'm glad she made it.

I'll be praying for Rebecca.

Her other daughter, Sarah, was killed...

along with my daughter.

It seems very warm for this time of year.

Is it?

I guess it is.

My husband says our corn

will be later than usual.

I hope that won't cause you any problems.

Oh, no. It's a bit of a blessing

since we've all been...

so occupied.

You know, if there's anything I can do

for you and your family, you just...

I can give you rides anywhere you gotta go.

I can give you my phone number.

That's very generous.

We don't have a phone, but...

- I'll be happy to take your number.

- Will you please pull over?

- I have to get out of the car.

- Why? What's wrong?

- I don't feel well. I need to get out.

- I'm pulling over.

Ida!

Ida!

- What are you doing?

- No, what are you doing?

Sitting in the car beside Amy Roberts

discussing the weather?

I cannot bear the sight of her!

Ida, this is not a fitting way to talk.

She did nothing wrong.

Mary Beth is dead because of her husband!

- And you're gonna defend her and scold me?

- My daughter is dead too.

And I want to scream at the world too.

- But more than that, I do not want to make my heart...

- (Scoffs)

a battleground between hate and love.

It hurts too much.

We have suffered enough damage.

We must do as God asks, Ida!

We must choose love.

I cannot go to the hospital with you.

Mary Beth's funeral is tomorrow.

I have much to do.

You think Leonard's

barking up the wrong tree.

Pretty much.

You gotta admit...

we don't know for sure

until we look into it.

Is that who I think it is?

(Jill)

It's Ida Graber.

Ida?

Are you all right?

Can we give you a ride?

Not today. But...

the day after tomorrow...

can you give me a ride then?

Yeah, yeah, we could do that.

Uh, where do you need to go?

(Sighs)

To Philadelphia.

I can't stand to be here anymore.

I... I just...

I have to get out of this place.

I have to leave.

Will you do it?

I don't know anyone else to ask.

I'll pick you up

at your house Friday morning.

- Is that for one of the girls they say Daddy killed?

- Yes, honey.

It's for Mary Beth Graber.

I think they made a mistake.

I think Daddy went into the school

to help the girls...

and the real bad guy

shot him and got away.

So...

they just think it was Daddy,

but it wasn't.

Oh, honey.

(Shutter Clicking)

(Crying)

Thank you for talking to me today.

Those are some big ears.

Ah.

(Chuckles)

(Sniffs)

- Smell it.

- (Sniffs)

- Mmm.

- They're ready.

The harvest is late this year.

- You ever walk through a cornfield at night?

- (Laughs) No.

No, this is a first for me, day or night.

When it's quiet,

you can hear the corn grow.

(Chuckles)

God's work... it's all around us.

Not everything is God's work.

For many years,

we were persecuted for our faith.

We're not afraid to die.

Young girls should not have to die

while sitting in school.

No.

No, no. It may not seem so to us...

we who are left to bear

the pain and loss...

but it is not our place to decide

who does and does not die.

That, especially, is God's work.

Charlie Roberts

wrote in his suicide note...

that he wanted to offend God...

for taking his baby daughter.

He was purposely doing evil.

All the more reason

that we should forgive him.

Do you say things like that

because you're supposed to say them?

I believe that you're asking me

if I'm a puppet to my faith.

No. No, I'm sorry.

It's just...

I don't see how you can forgive someone...

who hasn't show regret

or expressed remorse.

I don't see that as genuine forgiveness.

Forgiveness comes from an open heart...

and it comes without condition...

or it does not come at all.

(Sighs)

(Exhales)

It was a long day.

I'm glad it is done.

I have to leave, Gideon.

What are you saying?

- What are you...

- I cannot bear to be here any longer.

I'm going to the city.

I want to find a place near Emma...

and I want to take Katie with me.

I want you to come with us.

I don't want us to be apart. And...

Katie won't be happy without you.

You will never leave, will you?

Not even for me.

I'm a plain man, Ida.

I can be nothing else. This is my place.

- Our place.

- No.

Not anymore it isn't.

- You're in pain. You're not... You're not thinking clearly.

- Not true.

Pain clears the mind very well...

and I know that I do not belong here.

I am not a meek little sheep

like Rachel and Melinda.

Like you, offering up our daughter

as a sacrifice to faith.

You will mock our faith now?

Our faith is the only thing

of value that we have.

No! we had so much more than that!

We had Mary Beth! Our child...

was of priceless value, and you made her

cheap with your easy forgiveness!

It is not easy to forgive!

The Lord does not set us on an easy path!

But this I know.

Faith, when everything is as you want it

to be, is not true faith.

It is only when our lives

are falling apart...

that we have the chance

to make our faith real.

Now, if you do not have true faith,

then perhaps you're right.

Perhaps you don't belong here.

So you will let me go?

I would not force you

to stay here against your will.

Do this one thing for me.

Come with me to the firehouse tomorrow

to meet with the grief counselor.

They said Amy Roberts will be there.

All right, I'll go.

And Katie and I will leave after.

- Gideon...

- Hmm.

I hope you will come see us

as often as you like.

I will not see you.

You will be shunned.

But I will come and fetch Katie and...

bring her here to visit with me.

(Door Opens)

(Door Closes)

(Sighs)

Hey.

- Everything okay?

- Yeah.

- I bet Gideon's pretty upset.

- He is.

And it pains me terribly

to hurt him, but...

I do not see any other way.

If you want to take a few more days

to think about it...

No. It won't be any easier

a few days from now.

I promised Gideon

that I'd go with him to the firehouse.

The families are meeting with Amy Roberts.

Oh. I hadn't heard.

Will you come?

I would just love

to have someone there who...

understands how I feel.

Okay.

Thank you.

I want to thank you all

for coming here today.

I have been so much wanting to tell you...

how sorry I am...

for your girls.

S... So deeply, incredibly sorry.

It's just, um...

what Charlie did is, uh...

it's incomprehensible to me...

and to everyone who knew him.

My son...

he said it feels like a mistake.

You've all been so kind to me...

and to my children.

Even to... Charlie.

Seeing you forgive him...

when some things are just unforgivable.

We all deserve forgiveness, Mrs. Roberts.

Is God going to forgive Charlie

for what he did?

I don't see how any of you...

I'm sorry. I... I... I...

I don't mean to be rude.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes