The Shack Page #4

I will never be free.

The truth sets everyone free, Mackenzie.

And the truth has a name.

He's over in his woodshed right now,

covered in sawdust.

- "Truth"?

- Mmm.

I know that story.

You left Him, too.

Seems like you have a bad habit

of turning your back

on those you supposedly love.

I'm not who you think I am.

He said it Himself.

"My God, my God,

why hast Thou forsaken me?"

No, Mack.

You misunderstand the mystery.

Don't ever think

that what my son chose to do

didn't cost us both dearly.

Love always leaves a mark.

We were there together.

I never left him, I never left you.

I never left Missy.

(CHIRPING)

Mmm.

He's a beauty, isn't he? Created to fly.

You, on the other hand,

were created to be loved.

Living unloved is like...

clipping a bird's wings.

Pain has a way of doing that to us.

If it's left unresolved, you can forget

what you were created for.

That's not something I want for you.

That's why you're here, Mackenzie.

This is your flying lesson.

Dinner's almost ready.

(LAUGHING)

So Josh has a girlfriend now?

- You mean Ally?

- Mmm.

I like her.

Me, too. I'm especially fond

of that laugh of hers.

(ALL LAUGH)

- JESUS:
It's cute.

- Yeah.

He's still having a hard time

believing this is real.

- You think?

- (CHUCKLES)

How's Kate doin'?

We, um...

We used to be close, but...

Oh, my God.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...

No. It's okay.

I didn't make it.

(LAUGHING)

It is good.

- (LAUGHING CONTINUES)

- (SOFT PIANO PLAYING)

That was the best meal I've had. Ever.

Dreaming or otherwise.

ALL:
Thank you.

Let me ask you somethin'.

I've been tellin' you all

about Josh and Kate and Nan.

But if you're real...

then you already know everything

I'm gonna say before I even say it, right?

Yes, but we choose to listen

to everything you have to say

as if it was for the first time.

We love getting to know

your kids through your eyes.

I'll wash, you dry?

PAPA:
I'll take this round.

Why don't you show Mack

some of your handiwork?

Wanna take a look?

Okay.

JESUS:
Watch this one.

MACK:
Incredible.

I get that you're all connected.

But I feel way more relaxed around you.

That's probably because I'm human.

But you're God, too, right?

I'm the best way any human can relate

to Papa and Sarayu.

To see me is to see them.

You're all so different.

Elousia is not what I expected at all.

And Sarayu, oh, geez.

(LAUGHS)

Sarayu is creativity.

Action.

The breath of life.

She is my spirit.

Love is meant to exist

within a relationship, Mack.

That's all we wanna have with you.

Even if you can't see it.

You are in the center

of our love and purpose.

As beautiful as all this is,

it's nothing compared to how we see you.

MACK:
The last time

I looked at stars like this,

she was lying next to me.

I know.

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

(PAPA AND SARAYU LAUGHING)

- (WHOOPING)

- PAPA:
Yes!

()

PAPA:
Night, Mack!

(MACK GROANING)

- MISSY:
Daddy!

- (MACK GASPS)

Daddy!

Missy!

Daddy!

- Daddy!

- (GASPS)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(PAPA HUMMING)

Your heart

Try to be sure

Mornin', Mack.

You like Neil Young?

I am especially fond of him.

How'd you sleep, baby?

Fine.

You know, dreams are important.

They can be a way of openin' a window,

lettin' the bad air out.

Is there anyone

you're not especially fond of?

Nope.

Haven't been able to find any.

Guess that's just the way I am.

Don't you get mad at 'em?

Well, sure. But what parent doesn't?

And that's when your whole wrath thing

comes in, right?

My what?

Your wrath.

You lost me there.

Come on.

Everybody knows you punish

the people who disappoint you.

Hmm.

Nope. (CHUCKLES)

I don't need to punish people.

Sin is its own punishment.

As difficult as it is for you to accept,

I'm in the middle of everything

you perceive to be a mess,

workin' for your good.

That's what I do.

How can you say that?

After all the pain

and suffering in the world,

what possible good comes from a little

girl being murdered by a sick monster?

See, you may not cause those things,

but you certainly don't stop 'em.

Mackenzie, you're trying

to make sense of your world

based on a very incomplete picture.

It's like looking through

the knothole of your pain.

The real underlying flaw in your life

is that you don't think that I'm good.

I am!

And if you knew me

and how much I love you,

then even when you don't understand,

you could know that I am at work

in your life for good.

And then you would trust me.

Trust you? Why would I do that?

My daughter is dead.

And there's nothing you can say that will

ever justify what happened to her.

(PLATES SHATTER)

(SIGHS)

Looking for the way out?

If you are looking for your truck,

it's up that way, just beyond the trees.

You might need these, though.

Thanks.

Just to be clear,

we're not justifying anything.

(SIGHS)

We'd like to heal it, if you'd let us.

Before you go,

there's something in the garden

I was hoping you could help me with

before tomorrow's celebration.

What celebration?

If you wanna know, you'll stick around.

()

(ANIMAL CALLS)

Wow.

Well, this is wild.

(CHUCKLES) That isn't

the word in your head.

- Okay, this is a mess.

- It is, isn't it?

(SOFT CHUCKLE)

So beautiful.

There's something very special

I want to plant here tomorrow.

To prepare the ground,

we have to dig up all the roots,

or they'll return and harm the new growth.

- But this is gorgeous.

- Uh-huh.

You can start over there.

Okay.

Careful.

That one's deadly.

What's it doing here if it's poisonous?

You're presuming that poison is bad.

Uh-huh.

On its own,

the sap from this twig would kill you.

But combine it with

the nectar from this flower,

and suddenly it contains incredible

healing properties.

Let me ask you,

how confident are you in your ability

to discern good from evil?

Usually pretty obvious.

And your basis for something

being good is what?

Well, if it helps me...

or the people that I love.

And evil?

It's harmful.

If it hurts someone I care about.

So, pretty much, you are the judge?

Yeah, I guess.

You ever been wrong?

Or changed your opinion over time?

I mean, sure.

And there are billions like you...

each determining

what you think is good and evil.

And when your good clashes

with your neighbor's evil,

arguments ensue.

Wars break out.

Because all insist on playing God.

You weren't meant to do any of that.

All on your own.

This was always meant to be

a conversation between friends.

What do you think?

It's still a mess. (SOFT CHUCKLE)

Yes, it is, Mack.

Wild, wonderful, and perfectly in process.

This mess is you.

()

(HAMMERING)

(HAMMERING CONTINUES)

So... you decided to stay.

Thinking about it.

Sarayu can be very persuasive, huh?

If only I was smart enough

to understand a word she said.

(LAUGHS)

So, uh, if you're up for a walk,

there's something on the far side

of the lake I'd like to show you.

I just have to finish up in the shed,

and I'll meet you down there.

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