The Shunning Page #3

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What did it say?

It don't matter none, Katie!

Yes it does, it matters to me!

Why did you burn it?

Because some things

are better left unsaid.

All that matters is

we are your family.

But, Dad.

Katie.

Please, trust me on this.

You're better off not

digging up old graves.

Does Benjamin know?

No, just the three of us.

And that's how we're going to

keep it for everyone's sake.

(DOOR OPENS)

(WHISPERING)

Not a word about it.

BENJAMIN:
Morning, all.

ELLA MAE:
Don't suppose you can

pretend not to have seen this

when it shows up

as a wedding gift.

It's for me?

Cow's out of the barn now.

Please,

pour yourself some tea.

What's weighing

on you, Katie-girl?

Last time you stopped by

unannounced was three years ago.

Talking to you lifted

my spirits, Ella Mae.

The only thing that got

me through some days.

Well, I still

have ears to hear.

That envelop you

give Mam the other day.

May I ask how

you come by it?

You and your

folks have a talk?

Jah, they told me

about the English woman.

But they wouldn't tell me

what the letter said.

Plainly, it weren't meant

for my eyes or yours.

All I know

is that I was the baby catcher

in this community for 50 years.

Of all those

hundreds of babies,

only one I didn't catch.

Me?

Your folks brought

you home all bundled up

from the hospital

in Lancaster.

Why do you think

she gave me away?

Perhaps the better question

is why has she come back?

My folks won't say.

Maybe they're doing

what's best for you.

They kept it a secret

from me my whole life.

How is that

what's best for me?

Don't be so quick to judge.

You don't have all

the puzzle pieces.

But don't I deserve to?

What if I was supposed to have

a whole other life, Ella Mae?

Out there,

among the English.

Oh, I won't deny this

is powerful news.

But no matter

where God puts us,

it's up to us how

we choose to live.

Can I help you?

I want to look like you.

Excuse me?

I mean, I would like to dress in

something like you are wearing.

Not like this.

Okay. All right, then. Yeah.

Trust me.

You were born to wear these.

(CHATTERING)

EPHRAM:
God has said, "It's not

good that man should be alone.

"Let us make him

a partner like himself."

And for this reason,

a man should leave

his father and mother

and be joined to his wife.

And the two shall

become one flesh.

So,

we stand here today

to join this couple,

John Beiler with Katie Lapp,

in the eyes of the Lord.

If there's a soul present

who could give cause why these

two should not be united,

let them speak now,

for after this, not one

complaint should be heard.

If there be no objections

and our sister

and brother agree...

I... I...

I'm so sorry, John Beiler.

I cannot marry you.

I'm so sorry.

Katie, are you in here?

Katie!

Katie, are you out here?

Please, answer me!

I'm not angry with you!

I just want to know you're okay!

(CRYING)

Katie!

Katie!

Katie! Where have you been?

Have you any idea

of what you've done?

What will the people

think of us now?

Your conduct today has put

shame on this entire family.

I don't expect

you to understand.

But I did John

a favor today.

What you did was

leave a widower

with no wife and no

mother for his boys!

John thought he was marrying

a good Amish woman.

But that's not what I am.

Is it?

Daughter.

Don't let your willful

spirit get you shunned.

Benjamin, take little Eli.

Go home to your family.

Katie.

You are to go to

the Bishop tomorrow.

You are to repent for what you did

and beg him to take you back.

If he will still have you.

I will not. I will not

obey you in this, Papa.

All my life, I trusted you

to know what's best for me.

But you never

trusted me enough

to tell me

the truth about myself!

I have a right to know

what that letter said.

I demand you tell

me what it said!

You demand?

You speak to me with respect, you hear me?

I'm your father!

You are not my father!

(REBECCA GASPS)

Oh, Katie.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(DOOR OPENS)

She's here.

Thank you for coming.

Please, won't you sit down?

We made a promise to each

other all those years ago.

We took her and

raised her as our own.

And you were never to

come looking for her.

I know,

but things changed.

Not for us.

For her own sake,

we never told her about you.

But you coming here,

sending letters,

snooping around,

forced us to tell her about you.

I am so sorry.

I just wanted to

meet with Katherine.

Katie.

Katie. I just...

I just wanted to see

her for a few moments.

You may think that I'm naive.

But I know what you want.

You want to take her from us.

No.

I would never do that.

If that's true,

write another letter.

Another letter?

One that says you're

sorry for coming here,

for trying to see us.

And that once you got here,

you realized that it was all

a foolish mistake, that you

lost your heart to see Katie.

And that you're going home,

never to return.

I could never

write those things.

You would if you wanted

what's best for Katie.

Not what's best for you.

But I couldn't

say what isn't true.

Then we have nothing more

to say to one another.

I've come to you

seeking counsel.

I'm at my wits'

end with the girl.

We sympathize, Samuel Lapp.

It's a good thing you want to bring

some order back to your household.

It looks to me

as if the poor lamb

has just lost her way.

Let us not forget,

our Lord left

the 99 to go and bring

the one lost sheep

back to the fold.

True, Ephram, but what

if all this ruefulness

is evidence that she wants

to run from the flock?

Leave the people behind.

Samuel, this is the question

only you can answer.

Are you fearful she's on the

brink of leaving the church?

I pray to God

it's not the case.

But I can't promise

that it ain't in her mind.

Then the scripture

is clear on that.

If she will not

listen to admonishment,

then for her own good,

she has to be disciplined.

"With such a one,

you shall not even eat!"

Bishop John,

as grievous as this is, as our shepherd,

this matter now falls to you.

John.

I was planning

to come see you,

but I didn't want to upset the

boys any more than I already had.

Were you planning

to make a confession?

No.

(SIGHS)

This confirms it then.

You are drifting

away from the people.

As of today,

you are shunned.

None of us in Hickory Hollow

can speak to you.

You may not eat at the same

table with other church members

nor do business with any

plain soul until such time

that you come to your senses

and we see that your actions

meet with your convictions.

Then you may be able

to offer a kneeling

confession before

the congregation.

And it is only then

die Meinding can be lifted,

even if it takes

the rest of your life.

Mama, why is Katie

sitting at the kids' table?

(SHUSHING)

Just eat your food.

Did you run into Abe Stoltzfus

at the farmers' market today?

No.

He was going to give you some

medicine to deliver to Ella Mae.

What's the matter

with Ella Mae?

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