The Shack

1

WILLIE:
Who wouldn't be skeptical

when a man claims to have spent

an entire weekend with God?

In a shack, no less.

And not just any shack.

This was the shack.

What I'm about to tell you

is a little on the...

well, it's a lot on the fantastic side.

But that doesn't necessarily mean

it's not true.

()

Mack was born in the Midwest.

A farm boy in an Irish-American family,

committed to calloused hands

and rigorous rules.

(GLASS SHATTERING)

- WOMAN:
(WHIMPERING) No!

- MAN:
Look at me!

- Look at me!

- You're hurting me.

- Listen.

- (WOMAN SCREAMS)

WILLIE:

His father was an elder in the church.

What are you looking at, boy?

- Closet drinker.

- Leave him alone.

- (GRUNTING)

- (WOMAN WHIMPERS)

WILLIE:
Especially when the rain

didn't come, or came too early...

- (SCOFFS) Yeah.

- (WOMAN SOBS)

Most times in between.

Mack!

I just took an apple pie out of the oven.

Come have a slice.

No, thanks.

That wasn't a question.

Here you go.

- Thanks.

- Mmm-hmm. (SIGHS)

Look at me, baby.

Daddies aren't supposed to do that

to their kids.

It ain't love. You understand?

What do I do?

Talk to God.

He's always listening.

Sing with me,

as those who feel led

make their way to the altar.

(ORGAN PLAYING)

WILLIE:

That Sunday, when the preacher called...

(CONGREGATION)

What can wash away my sin?

...he knew he couldn't stay silent

any longer.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again?

- Nothing but the blood of Jesus

- I'm sorry.

That's all right.

Just tell Him what you're sorry for.

I can't make Him stop.

I try, but when he drinks...

he beats my mom.

I try to protect her.

But I can't! (SOBBING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

MACK'S DAD:
Why do you make me

do this, boy?

(MACK GRUNTS)

Why do you embarrass me

in front of my people?

Say it.

- Say it!

- (GRUNTS)

"Obey your parents in everything,

for this pleases the Lord."

Louder!

Colossians 3:
20!

"Obey your parents in everything,

for this pleases the Lord!"

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

- (GRUNTS)

- (MACK SOBBING)

WILLIE:
The beating lasted

well into the night.

What happened after that,

Mack doesn't like to talk about.

(MACK'S FATHER COUGHS)

Let's just say pain has a way

of twisting us up inside...

And making us do the unthinkable.

Thirteen is way too young

to be all grown up.

(GASPS)

The secrets we keep have a way of clawing

their way to the surface.

You're okay.

Mack and Nan had been married

for 18 mostly happy years.

She's the glue that holds

that family together.

Actually, if we get outta here in the next

three minutes, we might make it on time.

Kids?

Missy, hold still for one second.

Pause! Pause!

- Okay. Never mind, forget it.

- Josh!

Jo...

- Are you ready?

- Yeah. Why?

Well... Nan, there's something

wrong with Josh.

- He's combed his hair and he smells nice.

- He's trying to impress Ally Taylor.

- No, I'm not!

- Yes, you are!

- Who's Ally?

- Well, I don't care who it is.

If she gets us there on time,

she's got my blessing.

But if God is always with us,

why does He care if we're late for church?

- She's got a point.

- Yeah.

God cares because your mama cares.

- (MACK CHUCKLES)

- Okay, come on.

It was a nice try, you little rascal.

WILLIE:
Good morning.

- Hi, guys.

- NAN:
Hi.

Mack, did you catch the game last night?

Since when do I control the remote?

(LAUGHS) I hear one day you get it back.

You know, crazy thing is,

I'm starting to like her shows.

WILLIE:
I met Mack

at church 10 years ago.

ALL:
Holy, holy, holy

Lord God Almighty

Early in the morning

Our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy...

WILLIE:
Back then, he didn't know God

the way Nan did.

(SINGING CONTINUES)

If his relationship was wide...

Nan's was deep.

She called God "Papa"

and talked to him like an old friend...

which was never something

Mack could relate to.

But together they still managed to create

what most would call a good life.

But all that changed in an instant...

when the Great Sadness came uninvited.

MACK:
No, you can't drive,

it's too dangerous.

No, I haven't seen anything like it.

Yeah, of course I'll be fine.

I'll heat up that rice thing.

Just a little tired, I guess.

I was gonna clear up

the driveway before dark.

Call me in the morning.

Yeah, you, too.

(PHONE BEEPS)

()

(SPLUTTERING)

(ENGINE STOPS)

I ain't seen a storm like this

in 30 years.

It's a good thing Nan and the kids

are off the roads.

You want some help over there?

Grab my shovel. Knock it out in no time.

I'm okay.

Shouldn't take too long.

Thanks for the gas.

How about some dinner tonight?

Maggie made chicken pot pie.

Nah, Nan left me food in the fridge.

- Maybe next time.

- All right.

Thanks.

All right.

(GRUNTS)

KATE:
Hey, Dad. Dad?

- MACK:
Hmm?

- KATE:
Dad, catch.

MACK:
There's no room. (CHUCKLES)

Hey.

You might wanna put this somewhere

where you can find it.

First aid.

If we get stung by bees, we'll use

river mud, right, Josh?

- Yeah.

- (SIGHS)

Mom, are you sure you can't

get out of your seminar?

Come on, come on,

you guys are gonna have a great time.

I have faith in your Dad's

mothering skills.

- KATE:
You do?

- Hey.

Hey, hey, hey, young lady,

what have you got there?

- My insect collection.

- Your what?

Hey, are you packing bugs?

- No, Daddy.

- No?

This is Dixie and Donna,

the carpet beetles.

Wanda, the walking stick.

And that's Carl, the caterpillar.

"Carl, the caterpillar." I like it.

Can I take them? Please?

(SIGHS)

We can't leave

Carl, the caterpillar, behind.

Not a good idea.

No.

I'm sorry. I tried.

Summer's last hurrah?

It's gonna be an awful lonely

weekend around here.

I'll bring you back a six-pound brown.

All right. None

of that store-bought stuff.

- I can tell the difference.

- (MACK CHUCKLES)

Hey, Willie, have you got a moment?

- Sure.

- Cool.

We gotta... we gotta go.

Hey, a little patience, please. Kids?

Okay, okay. Come on.

(MACK GROWLS)

- Cheese?

- NAN:
Okay.

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

- Good-looking bunch.

- Sure?

Okay! Get outta here! Goodbye!

()

Hey, kids, look there. Remember?

The falls. Daddy, we have to stop!

- Let's go see the waterfall.

- No stopping.

We gotta get to the campground

before dark.

Well, have you told Missy the story

of the Indian princess?

What princess?

Come on, Dad, you have to!

You have to tell her the story.

- We have to go back.

- Please!

We can't go back.

- We can't keep pulling off every exit.

- Come on.

The answer is no.

MACK:
A long time ago,

there was an Indian princess.

MISSY:
What did she look like?

MACK:
Well, she was very pretty.

MISSY:
What color was her hair?

Like this.

Do you want me to tell you

the story? Okay.

Well, this princess was

the only daughter of the eldest chief.

And he was the leader of a great tribe.

Till one summer, a terrible sickness

spread through the land.

It was so fierce

even the strongest warriors fell ill.

They were on the verge of death.

So, all the chiefs met

to see what they could do.

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