The Shack Page #6

For what?

Couldn't save her.

Couldn't get to her in time.

Missy doesn't think that.

And neither does Nan or Papa.

It's time to let that go.

()

(MACK SIGHS)

- How was it?

- Terrible.

And wonderful.

I'm very proud of you, my friend.

Thank you. For letting me see her.

Oh. It wasn't my idea.

(WATER SLOSHING)

(JESUS LAUGHS)

This always works better

when we do it together, don't you think?

()

(BOTH LAUGHING)

God has time to catch a few rays?

(CHUCKLES)

Honey, you have no idea

how much I'm doin' right now.

Papa...

Yes, Mackenzie?

I've been pretty hard on you.

Sorry.

- I had no idea.

- It's okay.

It's in the past now, where it belongs.

Maybe we can start

growing together without it. Hmm?

I'd like that.

Thank you for letting me see Missy.

(CHUCKLES)

It was entirely my pleasure.

I can't begin to describe the joy

it gave me to see you two together.

And Missy's a special girl.

(WHISPERS) Oh, yeah.

You understand now.

I can work incredible good

out of unspeakable tragedies.

But that doesn't mean

I orchestrate the tragedies.

After everything I've felt

in my heart towards you...

Why would you keep working on me?

Because that's what love does.

I don't really understand

relationships, do I?

But you still love me anyway.

(CHUCKLES)

Men. Such idiots sometimes.

Did I hear God just call me an idiot?

(PAPA CHUCKLES)

If the shoe fits, yes, sir.

If the shoe fits.

Freshen up, Mack. Got a big night ahead.

Someone gonna tell me where we're goin'?

Look around, Mackenzie.

Don't forget to enjoy the journey.

()

JESUS:
Here we are.

This is it?

SARAYU:
To your eyes.

Just for tonight...

we'd love for you to get

a glimpse of what we see.

Okay.

()

What are those?

SARAYU:
Not "what".

Who.

Papa's children from every tongue,

tribe and nation.

What you call personality and emotion,

we see as color and light.

What's happening with that one?

Why is he focused on us?

He's focused on you.

Is that...

Dad.

Mack, I'm so sorry.

For everything.

I was blind, and I couldn't see you.

I couldn't see anyone.

Yeah, I know.

I know.

I was scared.

(CRYING) I didn't know what to do.

Son, I forgive you.

You've become the father I could never be.

And I'm so proud of you.

Can you ever forgive me?

I'll see you again, son.

Yeah...

Let's go home.

(DOOR OPENS)

MAN:
Mack. Wake up.

It's time for us to go.

Papa?

(CHUCKLES)

Good morning, son.

You're messin' with me, aren't ya?

Oh, always.

(SIGHS)

For what we have to do today,

you're gonna need a father.

()

- Where are we going?

- Almost there.

(PAPA GROANS)

(SIGHS)

We're here to do something

that's going to be very painful for you.

Please, don't.

Son,

we're on a healing trail to bring closure

to this part of your journey.

You want me to forgive him?

Mmm-hmm.

He killed my daughter.

I wanna hurt him.

I want him to hurt...

like he hurt me.

I want you to hurt him.

I know you do.

But he, too, is my son.

And I want to redeem him.

"Redeem him"? He should burn in hell.

So, we're back to you as the judge?

()

(SOBBING)

So, you just let him get away with it?

Nobody gets away with anything.

Everything bears consequences.

- What he did...

- Was horrible.

I'm not asking you to excuse what he did.

I'm asking you to trust me to do

what's right and to know what's best.

And then what?

Forgiveness doesn't establish

a relationship.

It's just about letting go of his throat.

Mack, the pain inside is devouring you,

robbing you of joy

and crippling your capacity to love.

I can't.

You're not stuck because you can't.

You're stuck because you won't.

()

You don't have to do this alone.

I'm here with you.

I don't know how.

Just say it out loud.

I...

I forgive...

I forgive you.

(SOFT PIANO PLAYING)

Mackenzie, you're such a joy.

I'm still angry.

Of course you are.

No one lets go all at once.

You might have to do it 1,000 times

before it gets any easier.

But it will.

Let's go.

()

Let's bring Missy home.

MACK:
I forgive you.

I forgive you.

I forgive you.

()

(CRYING)

Please, please!

(CONTINUES CRYING)

(WE ARE MESSENGERS'

"I'LL THINK ABOUT YOU" PLAYING)

(SIGHS HEAVILY)

(JESUS CHANTING PRAYERS INDISTINCTLY)

It does a body good to let

the healing waters flow.

Those are your tears, Mackenzie.

We've been collecting them

for a long time.

- Here you go.

- Thanks.

Mackenzie, we have something

for you to consider.

You can remain here with us,

or go home to Nan and your children.

(SIGHS)

Either way, we promise

to be with you always.

What about Missy?

If you stay, we'll be

with her this afternoon.

If you go, you'll be leaving her behind,

but only for now.

Well, what does she want?

She'd love to see you today.

But she lives in a place

where there's no impatience,

so she doesn't mind waiting.

(SOFT CHUCKLE)

Everything about being here

has been so remarkable.

Back home, I go to work,

try to be a good person.

Love my family.

(FAINTLY) I don't know.

Does what I do really matter?

Absolutely.

Mack, you are important.

And so is everything you do.

Every time you love, Mack, or forgive,

with every act of kindness,

the universe changes. For the better.

Mmm. If anything matters,

then everything matters.

Then I wanna go home.

(CHUCKLES)

Well,

can we ask you to do

something for us when you go?

Anything.

Kate needs you.

She blames herself for Missy's death.

(SIGHS)

You had your own guilt to deal with.

But the time for blame is over.

When I go back...

I still want you in my life.

I always was.

I always am.

I always will be.

That's good.

'Cause I've become especially fond of you.

(LAUGHTER)

- JESUS:
I love you, Mack.

- (LAUGHTER CONTINUES)

()

(HORN BLARING)

(GLASS SHATTERING)

WILLIE:
Mack?

Mack?

Hey.

Mack.

(CHUCKLING) Hey. Hey, buddy.

You're awake.

MACK:
Where am I?

You're at the hospital.

Where's Papa?

- I'll go get the doctor and the family.

- Okay.

Willie...

She was there.

Who, Mack, was where?

I gotta talk to Kate.

- Hey, hey, settle down.

- And Nan. And Josh.

- I gotta tell 'em.

- They're here.

Nurse just went to get 'em.

They're in the cafeteria.

What happened?

(CHUCKLING) Well, buddy, you were

hit by a 40-ton semi.

Last night?

No, Friday. Right after

you stole my truck.

That's impossible.

(GROANS)

I spent the weekend at the shack.

Mack, you never made it.

Yeah, I did. Yeah, I made it.

- I was there.

- Okay.

Hey, bud, this is a lot

to take in, all right?

I met God.

Papa said to tell you

he's especially fond of you.

(CHUCKLES)

- Mack?

- Rest.

Hey.

Oh.

Oh, you're okay.

I'm sorry. About everything.

Shh.

It's okay.

It's okay, we can talk

about it later, sweetie.

You just need to rest now.

I got so much to tell you about...

the lake and Papa.

And Missy.

She was there. I saw her.

It's okay.

- Hey. Hey.

- (CRYING)

(SNIFFLES)

She's more than okay.

She's happy.

She's beautiful.

She's so beautiful.

()

Hey, champ.

Hey, sweetie.

You're strong.

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