Dogged

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1

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

[CAB DRIVER] Can't take you

any further son.

SAM:
Ah, no,

this is fine, thanks.

How much do I owe you?

Seventeen pounds, please.

Islander?

Yep, born and raised.

Visiting your folks?

SAM:
Funeral, actually.

Oh, sorry to hear that.

[SAM SIGHS]

Sorry, uh,

I'm a student.

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

- Hi, Dad.

- Well, hurry up. The tide's coming in.

I hope you've brought

some smart clothes with you

- for the funeral.

- Of course.

Mum said Megan fell

from the cliffs.

Yes, terrible business.

What was she doing

up there?

I don't know, son.

Messing about,

I should think.

- Playing the fool.

- It just doesn't make much sense.

Every kid born around here knows

how dangerous East Point is.

Yes, well, some children just

don't listen to advice, do they?

And don't go talking

to your mother about it, either.

She's very upset.

[LADY HUMMING]

[LADY GASPS]

[TIRES SCREECHES]

Bloody hippies!

- D*ckhead!

- Stay out of the sodding road!

[CHUCKLES]

- Hello, darling.

- Oh, hi, Mum.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Do you want me

to make you some food, love?

Uh, no, thanks, Mum.

I'm really tired.

I might just have

a lie down if you don't mind.

[FOOTSTEPS RECEDING]

[CHURCH BELL RINGING]

ALAN:
Come on, you two.

Buying any wood?

Got magic in it.

[CHURCH BELLS CONTINUE RINGING]

[MOUTHING] Good morning.

Solomon had sinned.

Solomon had turned

his back on God.

And yet, God withheld

his hand of punishment

during Solomon's lifetime.

How come?

Why wasn't the entire kingdom ripped

away from Solomon and his family?

Because of David.

As far as he was concerned,

there was no other relationship

as critical as his relationship

with God.

And once he realized he had

jeopardized that relationship,

he struggled to put God

back in his life.

Scripture tells us

that Solomon's heart

was not fully devoted

to the Lord, his God,

as the heart

of his father had been.

David's relationship with God

was protecting his son

even when Solomon made a terrible

and disastrous decision.

And so, this morning's sermon

is intended as an encouragement

to those of you

who take your relationship

with God seriously.

When you focused

your life on God,

you have created

an inheritance of protection

for your children.

They may make foolish decisions

and pay a terrible price,

but your faith

will show to them

the worst effects

of their foolishness.

It's also meant

as a challenge

to those of you

who haven't realized

the importance

of your relationship with God.

You can give

no greater inheritance

- to your offspring.

- What?

- FATHER DAVID:
And the inheritance...

- Stop staring.

We've been

through enough already.

Which brings us sadly

to the tragic story

this week

of our own young

Megan Lancaster,

who saw a deer that had

been injured at East Point.

As was her nature, she ran

to help the stricken animal

and in so doing,

fell from the cliff.

How sad so young a person

should lose her life

in coming to the aid

of a lowly animal.

And yet the difference

between a person and an animal

is no greater

than the difference

between divinity

and humanity.

That is why it is so amazing

the Divine Lord,

the highest form of life,

knowingly and willingly

sacrificed himself

for the sake

of a lower life form.

We pray this week

for Megan's family,

for John and Bea, her parents,

that their sacrifice

might not be in vain.

[CHATTERING]

We shall all rise now

to sing hymn number 237,

All Things Bright

and Beautiful.

["All Things Bright

and Beautiful" playing]

What are you doing here?

Why'd you have

to come here?

It's a church.

I'm here for service.

Yes, I know it is,

but I don't want you here

- and I don't want...

- I'll do what I can...

Listen to me!

I don't want you here,

do you understand?

DANIEL:
Well, that's very...

Just go home.

Body of Christ.

Sam? I thought it was you.

Dr. Goodman,

how lovely to see you.

The university term over already?

It can't be.

Well, no, I just came back

for Megan's funeral.

DR. GOODMAN:
Oh, yes.

Terrible news.

Very good of you to come.

Oh, well, I...

What exactly happened there?

She fell. She fell

from the cliffs at East point.

- But...

- I signed the death certificate myself.

Horrible business.

Barely recognizable.

I just...

Enough, Sam,

let's not delve.

The village has been

traumatized enough.

And now tell me

how's university going?

- Is everything all right?

- Mmm-hmm.

Well, come on. Your mother's

gotta get dinner on.

It was nice

seeing you again, Doctor.

Me, too, Sam, albeit

in terrible circumstances.

[OVEN DOOR OPENING]

Dear, Lord,

we thank you this day...

[SIGHS]

Everything all right, Rachel?

Yes, Father.

FATHER DAVID:
Good.

Well, we really

should be getting home,

so you can help your mother

prepare for the festival.

We have much to give

thanks for this year.

- Dad?

- Hmm?

Never mind.

Look, I know things have been

difficult since Daniel came back,

but we really should be grateful

for his safe return.

Megan. She was so young.

She never got

to experience anything.

[SIGHS] I know, my darling.

But some experiences

are overrated.

I just mean that the Lord

had a higher purpose for her.

That's why he took us

from her.

I know.

This was her home.

It's your home, too.

This island is your family.

What more would you need?

Beware thrill-seeking, Rachel.

It's done your brother

no good.

And I'm sure young Sam

will come back to us in time.

You must not travel

down a destructive path.

Has Daniel spoken to you

of his addiction?

No.

His path was not predetermined.

He's ill.

And he's made some terrible

decisions in his short life.

I don't want you

to do the same.

Come on.

[RUMBLING]

What?

You know,

I've missed you

since I've been away.

You've always been

my best girl, Rach.

[GASPS] Daniel.

What are you doing?

This has got to stop.

We forgave what you did

before, Daniel.

Don't push your luck.

She's your sister.

I'm sorry, mummy,

I can't help it.

What the hell

was that about

at church this morning?

Well?

Do you not realize that

your actions reflect on me?

On this family?

Well?

Kite.

Is this what you're looking for?

Yeah.

But there's more.

She went that way.

ALAN:
Right. I'm off

down to the pub.

Have a nice time, love.

- Are you coming?

- Uh, no, thanks, Dad.

Come on.

The fellas will think

I have a daughter

instead of a son

if you don't come out.

Leave him.

He's had a busy day.

Couple of beers

will do him good.

He doesn't want to.

Besides, I want to catch up

on new stories about university.

It's about time he grew up.

It's just a bunch of old men, Dad.

It's boring.

You need to get your head

out of the clouds, boy.

Get involved in real life.

I have a real life.

It's not here.

See you later. Don't wait up.

Sorry, mum, I didn't mean...

I know what you meant.

So, how is university?

[CHUCKLES] It's brilliant.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

[OWL HOOTING]

[WHISPERS] Kite.

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