The Shack Page #2

Princess' father, he told of a prophecy.

The illness could only be stopped

if the daughter of a chief

gave up her life for her people.

After a long debate, they knew

they couldn't ask for such a sacrifice.

And the princess, when she heard

about this prophecy,

she knew what she had to do,

'cause she loved her people so much.

One morning,

she climbed up to those rocks.

And without hesitation, she jumped.

(SNIFFLES)

The next morning, a great healing

came over the tribe.

The sick began to rise from their beds.

Everyone rejoiced.

But the chief knew

that his daughter was missing.

He knew what she had done.

His heart broke.

His tears rolled down his cheek.

He cried out, asking for his daughter's

sacrifice to be remembered.

The Great Spirit was so moved by his tears

that he answered his prayers.

Water began to fall. Right there.

That's how Multnomah Falls was created.

- Ready to go?

- Shotgun.

A little patience, please.

You got that off your Mommy, didn't ya?

MACK:
Careful near the water.

KATE:
(LAUGHING) Okay, Dad, sure.

Hey, let me give you a hand with that.

(GRUNTING)

There we go.

- I'm Mack.

- Emil.

That's my wife, Vicki.

- Those two yours?

- They are.

Seem to be getting on.

Yeah, well, I suppose we should, too,

or this whole thing's gonna get awkward.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Hey, listen, we're just camped right up

here if you wanna come by later,

help us light some marshmallows on fire.

- That sounds good.

- Great! I'll see you later.

- EMIL:
The other day

- ALL:
The other day

- I saw a bear

- I saw a bear

- A way up there

- A way up there

The other day I saw a bear

A great big bear way up there

(LAUGHING)

- He looked at me

- He looked at me

- I looked at him

- I looked at him

- He sized up me

- He sized up me

MACK:
You have a nice family.

EMIL:
Thank you. You as well.

Daddy, we need to say our prayers to Papa.

I'll be right there.

"Papa"?

Yeah, it's my wife's nickname for God.

I like that.

It is a little too familiar

for my taste, but the kids love it.

- Daddy.

- I'll be back.

(WHISPERS) Do you know

what my mom used to tell me?

She said when a star twinkles,

a prayer is heard in heaven.

MISSY:
Wow.

Papa sure is busy.

- Yeah.

- How come she had to die?

- Who?

- The Indian princess.

Well, I don't think she had to.

I think she chose to.

What she did saved her people.

Is it a true story?

It might be.

Sometimes legends come from true stories.

But Jesus dying isn't a legend.

(MACK SIGHS)

It's in The Bible, so it must be true.

Is the Great Spirit another name for Papa?

He is a spirit.

And he is great. Right?

Then how come he's so mean?

Why'd you say that?

The Great Spirit made the princess

jump off the cliff

and made Jesus die on the cross.

Don't you think that's mean?

I'll tell you what.

When we get home, your Mom

will have a good answer for you.

Daddy, will I ever have

to jump off a cliff?

No.

No, honey.

You will never have to jump off a cliff.

Would God ask me to?

No.

He won't ask you that, either.

Okay.

Good night, Daddy.

(SOFTLY) Good night.

She asks good questions, doesn't she?

Yeah, she sure does.

She's a special girl.

You both are.

Thanks. Love you, Dad.

I love you.

Get some sleep.

Missy, it's time you start packing up.

Do you think the princess

should have red boots or blue?

Time to come in!

MISSY:
Daddy, red or blue?

(SIGHS) What else is she wearing?

She's wearing a red dress like mine.

Ah. Then red it is.

It's beautiful, honey.

KATE:
Daddy! Look at me!

- Stop!

- Daddy!

(KATE YELLS)

Josh! Josh! Dad!

Josh! Dad!

He's stuck! I can't get him!

(SCREAMING) Josh! Josh!

Dad!

Josh! Dad, he's stuck! Dad!

Josh! Dad, where's Josh?

- Hey, hey, hey, you okay?

- I can't get him!

(BOTH GASP)

- MAN 1:
Need help? He okay?

- MAN 2:
He's got him.

Come on, Dad!

Hang on.

MAN 3:
Go, go, go. Get his right side.

(GRUNTING)

Hey.

- KATE:
Come on, Josh.

- Come on, come on.

Come on, son. Come on, son.

Come on! Come on, son.

- Come on, Josh! There we go.

- (COUGHS)

There we go. That's it.

(KATE SIGHS)

()

Missy!

Hey, you can come out, honey.

Everyone's fine now.

Emil, have you seen Missy?

- No.

- Can you check your camp?

Yeah. She's probably with my girls.

- You okay?

- Where is she, Dad?

She'll be here somewhere.

We'll find her. Okay?

Not here. My girls are gone, too.

Check those bathrooms and showers,

and I'll check those.

All right.

Missy!

EMIL:
Emily!

- Sorry, have you seen a little girl?

- I didn't see anybody.

Missy?

(DOG BARKING)

Vicki! I found them.

Where's Missy?

I'm sorry, Mack, they haven't seen her.

Missy! (PANTING)

Oh, God. Missy!

Oh, God. Please, God.

(SIRENS CHIRP)

OFFICER:
We need to know

if there's anything different

from the way you remember it,

anything out of place.

- You said she was there.

- Yeah.

(SIGHS)

What's that?

That ladybug, that pin.

That's not Missy's?

No. Definitely not.

I think it's probably

one of two places, fellas.

I think it's either the lake

or the mountain.

- Yeah. Let me check this clearing...

- Yeah.

(INDISTINCT)

Can someone please tell me

what's going on?

(SIGHS)

Um, I'm really sorry, Mr. Phillips.

Apparently, there's a guy the Feds

have been pursuing for years.

They think he's responsible for abducting

at least five young girls.

(SIGHS)

Do you think he took my Missy?

We don't know anything for sure.

OFFICER:
(OVER RADIO) We have

a possible suspect sighting.

Man in a truck near the Imnaha roadblock.

Bureau is setting up base camp

in Joseph. Over.

Tell him we'll be there within the hour.

Mr. Phillips, go get your kids.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Mr. Phillips, there isn't

one person in this room

who doesn't care about your Missy.

We're doing everything in our power

to bring her back safely to you.

KATE:
Mom!

It's okay. It's okay, I'm here.

KATE:
I'm so sorry.

- I'm here.

- KATE:
I'm so sorry.

Shh...

NAN:
Hey.

(WHISPERS) Took my eyes off of her

just for a second.

- They tipped over the boat.

- Shh. I know.

- Hey.

- (SOBBING)

Hey.

Shh...

Mack. Sweetie, it's not your fault.

Mr. Phillips?

Sir?

Ground teams found the truck

in the mountains.

MACK:
Okay.

Chopper's waiting, sir.

Mack, you okay?

- You're okay?

- Okay.

- Okay.

- OFFICER:
We gotta go.

MACK:
Okay. Okay.

- (INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

- (THUNDER RUMBLES)

()

(SOBS)

(MACK SCREAMS)

(GROANS)

(TAP RUNNING)

()

Hey, Mack.

We're just sitting down for dinner.

- What the heck is this?

- What?

Some kind of sick joke?

You... you think I wrote this?

Mentions the shack. Signed "Papa."

Who else knows that?

Mack, I would never kid about that.

Now, where'd you get it?

It was in my mailbox.

Somebody put it there.

Who would stoop this low?

Should we call the police?

Call the police? Yeah, and say what?

"A letter showed up in my mailbox

with no tracks in the snow,

and it might've been signed by God"?

There were no tracks?

Just forget it.

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