The Shunning

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(CHILDREN PLAYING)

(ROOSTER CROWING)

(STRUMMING OUT-OF-TUNE CHORD)

(STRUMMING)

(HUMMING)

BENJAMIN:
What do you

think you're doing?

Benjamin.

Don't bother explaining,

Katie.

Just be thankful it was me

that heard you up here.

Not Mam or Dat.

I just wanted to

hear it one more time.

This isn't how

you want to start

your new life with

the Bishop, is it?

Sneaking around.

Keeping secrets.

Now, you'd best go

help Mam with supper

so they don't

wonder where ya are.

Got the first 10

acres harvested today.

Lord willing, we'll be harnessing

up the hay-mower next week.

We better.

That ol' draft horse is

about to give up the ghost.

Mmm.

Smells like heaven.

Mam must have cooked it.

Benjamin Lapp.

I'd best get to my

own dinner table.

See you in the morning, Dat.

SAMUEL:
Yeah, okay. Gut, Son.

Katie.

Before we bless the meal, your mam

and I have something for you.

SAMUEL:
It's your dowry.

We've been saving it up

since you were just a baby.

I'm right proud

of you, Katie.

Not every man's

daughter marries a bishop.

What are me and John Beiler going

to do with all this money?

Maybe build an extra

room onto his house.

For all them grandbabies

we pray you'd be bringing us.

We'll be sure to

put it to good use.

Invite the Bishop and his

boys for supper tomorrow.

We should all have one more meal

together before the big day.

# A cool summer night was

spent watching the fireflies

# dance in

the light of the moon

# Who would have guessed

that what we thought was real

# was so fragile

and ended so soon?

# I miss what we had together

# Promise each other forever

Whoa!

# Was it a long time ago?

# I don't even know

# I barely recognize the

places where we used to go

# I've lost track of time

# It seems like just yesterday

# But you're slipping away

# You're slipping away #

Hello, there, Jacob.

I just finished the milking.

I can see that.

Here, you want me to help you?

No, ma'am. Papa says I'm big

enough to do my own chores.

Papas always

know what's best.

Of course he does.

He's the Bishop.

What were you

singing just now?

Singing? Jah, I heard ya.

It was awful nice.

Oh, 'twas nothing.

I don't remember anything

like that from the hymn book.

Welcome, Katie Lapp!

Yeah, it was.

Just a different one, is all.

Hello, Hickory John.

John, help your brother

to the kitchen with his milk.

Dat told me to take it.

I got it.

Give it here.

He told ya to help.

Get the door.

He'll warm to you in time.

It's only been a few years

since his mama's passing.

So, what brings you out

so early in the morning?

On my way into town to

clean for the Millers.

My dat wanted me to

come by and invite you

and the boys to

supper this evening.

Jah. Jah. That would be gut.

By the way, I want you

to tell those English

that it's time for them to start

looking for a new housekeeper.

Once you and I are tied, you'd

be plenty busy with those boys,

not to mention

some of our own, I hope.

See you tonight then?

Jah.

(SIGHS)

(POP MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)

DANIEL:
I got ya something.

Where did you get it?

When I went to the city last

month to visit my cousins.

Katie Lapp.

You are the most beautiful

creature God ever made.

In a few years,

when we're both old enough,

I'm going to marry you.

Then I'll be sure

to grow up fast.

(CAR DOOR CLOSING)

Help you, ma'am?

Yes, I'm trying

to locate someone.

An Amish woman

named Rebecca.

I'm sorry to say

I don't have her last name.

Well, there's more'n 350

souls in Hickory Hollow.

Must be at least a dozen

or more named Rebecca.

It would be a start if you could

point us to where they live.

No, ma'am.

Not without permission.

Please, sir.

It is important

that I find her.

She would have a daughter,

about 20.

Sorry, ma'am.

Thank you, anyway.

It's the same thing in every

one of these little towns.

No one knows anything.

If they do, they're not

willing to say it.

The Amish are

very private people.

You just have to keep knocking

until someone opens up.

What if that

door never opens?

Then I'll crawl

through a window.

Let's stay on this road.

Maybe I'm the problem.

I haven't seen another brother

within 100 miles of this place.

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

Couldn't help but

overhear ya in the store.

Old as I am, I suppose I know just

about every soul in this county.

The Rebecca I'm looking for

would have a daughter,

born 20 years ago.

EPHRAM:
Ella Mae Zook!

You have left your

groceries in the basket.

What I was saying was

she would have been born on...

June 5th.

Yes.

EPHRAM:
If you ain't coming back, I'm

gonna put your stuff back on the shelf!

ELLA MAE:
Hold your horses,

Ephram Yoder.

I'll be in presently.

It would mean everything to me if

you could give this to Rebecca.

Do what I can, child.

(EXHALES)

Mam, did you ever

love anyone before Dat?

Even if I did, I wouldn't

be telling ya now, would I?

The answer is no.

Once your dat sets

his mind to something,

there's no changing it.

Well, he set his mind on me

and I'm grateful he did.

I just...

I thought I'd be sewing my

wedding dress for someone else.

I know.

Your days with Daniel,

the memories you made,

they'll always

be a part of you.

But you can't build the rest

of your life on memories.

ELLA MAE:

Sorry for interrupting.

Come in, Ella Mae.

I can't stay, child.

I was just hoping to have a

word in private, Rebecca.

Ella Mae.

Happened to pay a visit to Ephram

Yoder's store this morning.

There was a fancy English

woman there who give me this.

I don't understand.

What made her

give this to you?

What ya say?

She was a determined woman.

And I didn't want this letter to

fall into anyone else's hands,

except yours.

Should you need me,

I'll come.

Leave me

to do this, Katie.

Go upstairs and finish

stitching your wedding dress.

I'd rather

be here with you.

No, I insist.

Go on. Right now.

Mama.

You'll be awful busy being a

wife and mother to those boys.

We likely won't

see much of ya,

except for

the Sunday preachings.

Never far away, Mama.

Never far away, Katie.

So, have you chosen

a side-sitter yet?

Jah,

my youngest brother, Noah.

Boys, what do you

think of the shoofly pie?

Delicious.

I'm gonna need

another slice right quick.

It's Katie's recipe,

you know.

Our good fortune, then.

Katie'll makes us lots of good pies

when she's our mam, won't ya?

You'll have to patient with me, little Jacob.

Never been a mama before.

Dat, can we play

checkers after supper?

Jah, Benjamin will

get out the card.

Maybe Katie can

sing to us, too.

The song you were singing today,

from the other hymn book.

You must be confused, Son.

We only have one

hymn book, the Ausband.

We do not sing

the songs of the English.

That is what sets

our world apart.

JACOB:
All I know is

it's real nice.

Katie, will ya

please sing it?

Jacob, that's enough

about the singing.

Finish your pie.

Now stop your worrying.

She's a willful child.

But she knows

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