The Shack Page #3

Mack...

Mack!

(TV ANNOUNCER SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

()

- (DOOR OPENS)

- NAN:
Mack!

Hey!

- (DOOR SHUTS)

- We're home!

- Hey, Dad.

- Hey, champ.

You okay?

Yeah, I just slipped

on the ice last night.

(SIGHS) Let me see.

It's fine. It's just a little bump.

What's that?

It's just a work thing.

- Where's Kate?

- She'll be in in a minute.

- Tried calling you this morning.

- You did?

Must've really been out.

Hey, Dad. Dad?

Can I go finish my homework at Ally's?

You've seen the weather out, right?

- It's only two streets away.

- Another time.

Hey, you. Hey.

What?

I just wanted to say hi.

Hi.

Can I go?

Yeah.

How was she at Arlene's?

Uh... same as always.

She comes out of her shell

for a minute, and then retreats.

So I'm gonna take her

to my brother's this weekend.

He knows a counselor

that we could try, and...

thought maybe you could join us.

I'm pretty sure that's the last thing

that she'd want.

I... think it's best

if it's just you guys.

I gotta get changed

and go run some errands in town.

- Mack.

- Yeah?

Don't forget we love each other.

And you don't know anything about it?

- Well, there's no stamp.

- No.

Well, if it's not stamped,

it's not delivered.

Well, you want your mail

while you're here?

()

(INDISTINCT WHISPERING)

(ENGINE STARTS)

What do you need a four-wheel drive for?

Mack... Come on.

We been friends for a long time.

Just shoot straight with me.

Is this about that note?

(SIGHS)

You're not thinking

about going back there, are you?

(SIGHS) Well...

Have you talked with Nan

about this at all?

No, I don't want to upset her.

She's barely holding it

together right now.

Have you prayed about it?

- I just want your truck.

- (LAUGHS)

But you know this isn't

a good idea, right?

I mean, what if it is that guy?

And then he's trying to get you out there

for who knows what reason.

We don't know that yet.

You already think about

the other possibility?

What?

You think it's God?

You're the one who said

there were no tracks in the snow.

Well, maybe it'd been out there

for a few days and I didn't see it.

I don't know.

It's completely crazy.

But I gotta do something,

and this is all I got.

Okay.

But I'm gonna go with you.

Sure, fine.

I hope it goes well with her.

Yeah. I hope it goes well with you, too.

- Sweetie, can you take this?

- JOSH:
Yeah.

Thanks.

- Text me when you get there?

- (SIGHS)

Look... I know that you are wrestling

with something.

And it's okay if you don't know

how to talk about it.

It's just that we've lost so much already.

I don't wanna lose you, too.

Okay?

(ENGINE STARTS)

(HONKS)

Tent. Bags. Food.

Coleman lantern. Snowshoes.

Just in case.

Where's your pole?

(LAUGHS) I didn't know

we were goin' fishin'.

We should probably have something to do

when we finally figure out

I've lost my mind.

All right. I'll grab my stuff.

(ENGINE STARTING)

()

WILLIE:
You're not thinkin'

about goin' back there, are you?

NAN:
I don't wanna lose you, too.

(MISSY GIGGLES)

(HORN BLARING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(PANTING)

(MUMBLES)

(EXHALES)

(WHISPERS) Hey.

Where are you?

I'm here.

Come on out.

()

You couldn't even let us

have her body buried properly.

You coward.

Why?

God! God!

(SCREAMING)

(CRYING) I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Sorry.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

You led me here.

Now you don't have the guts to show.

Some Papa you are.

Pretty chilly out here, huh?

Got a fire goin' inside,

if you wanna warm up.

Come on, Mack.

I know someone who'd love to see you.

()

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(WINGS FLUTTERING)

(SOFTLY) No.

(WOMAN EXCLAIMS EXCITEDLY)

(MAN, LAUGHING) I told you.

(LAUGHTER)

Mackenzie Allen Phillips.

Mmm-mmm!

Mmm... (LAUGHS)

My, my, my.

Look at you.

Do I know you?

Not very well. But we can work on that.

I've been so lookin' forward to this,

to finally see you face to face.

Can I take your coat?

And that gun.

We wouldn't want anyone to get hurt,

now would we?

I understand. It's confusing.

We all do.

You will do this on your terms and time.

How about some introductions?

I'm Elousia.

I have a lot of names,

but that's one of my favorites.

Or, if you want, you can call me

what Nan does.

You know Nan?

Oh, yes. Very well.

Are you saying that you're...

I am.

The "I am"?

I am that I am.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Look at that. Already quotin' Scripture.

And you've met my son.

Great to see you, Mack.

Your son? Of course.

And I'm Sarayu.

- Sarah who?

- (ALL LAUGH)

Sarayu. It means "a breath of wind."

Right.

So...

which one of you is...

ALL:
I am.

And you have no idea how much I love you.

It's okay, baby.

Let it go.

We all collect things we value, don't we?

I collect tears.

Right.

It's good to meet you guys.

I'll be right back.

()

(DOOR CLOSES)

Why'd I have to wake up?

JESUS:
Think you dropped this.

You wrote this?

We're so happy

you accepted our invitation.

This is nuts.

What am I doing here?

What am I supposed to do? (CHUCKLES)

You're not supposed to do anything.

You're free to do whatever you like.

You can go fishing.

Or hiking.

Help Sarayu in the garden.

Or you can go talk to Papa in the kitchen.

Your choice.

I know this is overwhelming, but...

you're gonna be all right, Mack.

I'll be finishing up a project

in the workshop, if you wanna stop by.

Okay.

(REGGAE MUSIC PLAYING ON EARPHONES)

- (HUMMING)

- (DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(MUSIC STOPS)

You remember that smell?

Ma Griffe.

Your mother's perfume.

She loves you

more than you can possibly know.

- Am I dead?

- Do you feel dead?

You knew I would come, didn't you?

'Course I did.

Was I free not to come?

I'm not interested in prisoners.

You're free to walk out

that door right now.

(SIGHS)

Why did you bring me back here?

Because here's where you got stuck.

You're wearing a dress.

Excuse me?

I always pictured you with a white beard.

(CHUCKLES)

I think that's Santa.

(CONTINUES CHUCKLING)

After what you been through, I didn't

think you could handle a father right now.

Here. Make yourself useful.

Press out...

Fold back.

Rotate.

All there is to it.

(SIGHS)

I know what a great gulf

there is between us, Mack.

You may not believe it,

but I am especially fond of you.

Mmm-hmm.

I wanna heal that wound that's growin'

inside you and between us.

There is no easy answer

that'll take your pain away.

No instant fix that's enduring.

Life takes a bit of time

and a lot of relationship.

"Relationship"?

Hmm.

You're the almighty God, right?

You know everything.

You're everywhere, all at once.

And you have limitless power.

Yet, somehow...

you let my little girl die.

When she needed you most...

you abandoned her.

I never left her.

If you are who you say you are...

Where were you when I needed you?

Son...

When all you see is your pain,

you lose sight of Me.

(EXHALES)

Stop talking in riddles.

How can you say that you will help me

when you couldn't help her?

Because of you... she's gone.

Unless you can change that,

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