Fireproof Page #5

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during the hard times, but...

You don't know

what I've been competing with.

I mean, when he look...

He makes me feel so humiliated.

And he doesn't even know it.

When did I stop

being good enough for him?

So, what day are you on?

- Eighteen.

- And?

And it's still difficult.

Every day has me adding

a new concept to the way I treat her.

For example?

Well, here.

Day 16 was about praying for her.

I kind of skipped that one.

Day 17 is about listening to her.

Eighteen's about

studying her again.

- Studying her?

- Yeah.

Here.

"When a man is trying to win the heart

of a woman, he studies her.

He learns her likes, dislikes,

habits and hobbies.

But after he wins her heart

and marries her...

...he often stops learning about her.

If the amount he studied her

before marriage...

...was equal to a high school degree,

he should continue to learn...

...until he gains a college degree,

a master's degree...

...and ultimately, a doctorate degree.

It is a lifelong journey that draws

his heart ever closer to hers. "

That's a pretty good concept.

I never thought about it like that.

So do you study Tina?

Yeah, but I don't think

I got my college degree on her yet.

So tell me a little bit more

about the studying her.

I'm supposed to make her

a candlelight dinner...

...and then ask her

a whole list of questions.

Well, my advice is go all out.

Meaning?

Don't go cheap. If you don't cook,

get it from a good restaurant.

Take it home, use your best dishes,

glasses, music, everything.

Make it a memorable date.

Man, what you talking about?

- You ain't had a date in a year.

- I'm like a fine wine.

I need about 35 years

to reach perfection.

But the lady that gets Wayne Floyd,

she'll get the complete package.

- You mean complete wreckage.

- No.

I'm 255 pounds of pure love.

All you need to make marriage work

is a little bit of romance.

And that comes from right here.

Man, that's easy to say

when you ain't never been married.

It's a lot harder than you think.

One day I'm gonna walk in

with a tanned beauty on my arm.

I'll show you how easy it can be.

The only thing you'll come in with

hanging from your arm...

...is a bucket of chicken.

It was tomato juice.

Tomato juice? Man, that's wrong!

- That's wrong.

- What's wrong?

I drank the real stuff

and he drank tomato juice?

You just got that?

Do you know

what that stuff did to me?

Go to bed, Wayne.

- There's some serious repercussions.

- Quiet.

Oh, it's on now.

Done lit a fuse.

Somebody's gonna get

a karate-chop sandwich.

What are you doing?

Maybe I'd like to have dinner

with my wife.

Let me be real clear with you

about something.

I do not love you.

Oh, son.

This is when it gets hard.

- Hello, Caleb.

- We're done, Dad.

I am not gonna keep doing this.

I have tried and there's nothing there.

It's not worth it.

I understand, son,

but you're halfway there...

...which was the most difficult

for us too.

But at least you had some hope.

She has given me nothing.

There was a point

when we had no hope either.

Our marriage should have ended,

Caleb.

You can't listen to the way you feel

at the moment.

She's seen you trying.

No, she doesn't care, Dad.

None of this means anything to her.

Dad, I tried.

Caleb, are you off tomorrow?

Yeah, why?

I'm coming to see you.

We can talk then.

Dad, you don't have to do that.

I want to, son. I'd like to come.

All right.

Dad, I gotta be honest with you.

I feel bad that you drove four hours

just to come see me.

It was good.

It gave me time to think and pray.

So, what are you on, Day 20?

- Yeah, yeah, something like that.

- Yeah.

I'd say the halfway point

was the hardest for us.

Why?

Well, it's when you determine

whether your heart's in it or not.

Makes you check your real motives

when things get difficult.

Yeah?

Did Mom give you a hard time?

No. I thought your mother

had a pretty good attitude about it.

Yeah, well,

Catherine's not buying any of it.

- Why do you think that is?

- Because she doesn't love me.

She doesn't even like me.

Dad, she's just about ignored

everything I've done.

Are you reading everything

on each page?

You mean the Bible verses

at the bottom of it?

No, I'm not, Dad.

- I told you, that is not what I need.

- And what do you need?

I need Catherine to wake up to the fact

that we are about to get a divorce.

And I'm trying to prevent that,

but I cannot do it by myself.

That may be true,

but I think you need more than that.

Dad, if you're gonna tell me

I need Jesus, please don't.

I don't need a crutch

to get through life.

Oh, son,

Jesus is much more than a crutch.

He's become the most significant part

of our lives.

Dad, why do you keep saying that?

He's the most significant part?

How is that?

When I realized who I was

and who he was...

...I realized my need for him.

I needed his forgiveness

and salvation.

See, I don't understand that.

Why do I need his salvation?

What, am I gonna be thrown into hell?

For what? Because I got divorced?

No.

Because you violated his standards.

What? Thou shall not kill?

Dad, I help people.

I am a good person.

According to you.

But God doesn't judge

by your standards.

- He uses his.

- And what are his?

Well, truth.

- Okay.

- Love.

- I'm honest.

- Faithfulness.

I care about people.

I am those things.

Sometimes.

But have you loved God,

the one who gave you life?

His standards are so high,

he considers hatred to be murder...

...and lust to be adultery.

Dad, what about

all the good I've done?

Son, saving someone from a fire

does not make you right with God.

You've broken his commandments.

And one day,

you'll answer to him for that.

Caleb...

...if I ask you why

you're so frustrated with Catherine...

...what would you say?

She's stubborn.

She makes everything

difficult for me.

She's ungrateful.

She's constantly griping

about something.

Has she thanked you

the last 20 days?

No.

And you'd think

after I washed the car...

...I've changed the oil,

do the dishes, clean the house...

...that she would try to show me

a little bit of gratitude.

Well, she doesn't.

In fact, when I come home,

she makes me feel like I'm an enemy.

I'm not even welcome

in my own home, Dad.

That is what really ticks me off.

Dad, for the last three weeks,

I have bent over backwards for her.

I have tried to demonstrate

that I still care about this relationship.

I bought her flowers,

which she threw away.

I have taken her insults

and her sarcasm, but last night was it.

I made dinner for her, I did

everything I could to demonstrate...

...that I care about her,

to show value for her...

...and she spat in my face.

She does not deserve this, Dad.

I am not doing it anymore.

How am I supposed to show love

to somebody over and over and over...

...who constantly rejects me?

That's a good question.

Dad, that is not what I'm doing.

Isn't it?

No...

Dad, that is not what this is about.

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