Hey! Hey come here!
Come here with me. When I thought about what I
wanted to say here today... I thought about a story my mother
used to read to me. It was one of her favorites. This was my mother's. It's from an old edition of a
book that was passed down through her family. It's from the Reformation in
the Netherlands. This is Dirk Willems. He had just escaped from
prison. This was the guard who was
chasing him. He fell through the ice and
Williams turned around and pulled him out. They put him back in prison. He was later burned at the
stake. I think about the story whenever
I want to remember my mother. She never thought of herself. Gave so much to others. I think about that a lot. What would she do if she were
still alive? What would she want? Mr. Pope is in poor health. He has lived the last 20 years
of his life in prison. Perhaps being able to live his
last days in the company of his family, his grandchildren. It's the only way he will be
able to salvage something positive out of the
time he has remaining. I'm really sorry.
I wasn't there. I've just been so busy lately, I understand, but I was
thinking about you. How'd it go? Fine. It went fine,
I guess. Were you nervous? A little. Was he there? Yes. Did you talk to him? Yes, he's not doing very well. I read your letter out loud. It was well written. Marian and I just... No it's ok. You don't
need to apologize. I just don't think he should...
No! I know. How's Kyle? It's Carl. Umm...
He's fine. He's out of town. I'm saying it as
place for a while. So how's everything
going with you? Supposed to rain tomorrow. John's out scrambling to get
the hay in. And Rebecca? She's fine. She loves the kite by the way. Really it's not too big for her?
- Oh, no. She's really getting the hang
of it. She loves it. Rebecca, I want you to take this
to Daddy before you go play, Okay? Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad! Marian! Marian! Oh God! I didn't see her. She was in
the back. I didn't see her. Hurry get on the phone!
Get on the phone. Call a doctor.
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Are you sure you're not hungry? I can go back to the house make
you something to eat. You really should eat
something. I'm not hungry. But John could really use his
medicine. His back has been bothering
him. Okay. Why don't you go home and get
some rest? No, I'm fine. I'd like to stay here. No, really. I'm fine. Why don't you go home and get
some sleep. What time is it?
- Three o'clock. No, I'm really not tired. Did you like the soup, sweetie? Good. Ma, somebody's here! I'll be right down. I'll be back in a few minutes. We can read a story.
Okay? Where is it? I don't have any jewelry. I don't even wear a
wedding ring. Mom! I'm sorry, did I wake you up? No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to
sleep so long. I meant to go back to the
hospital. They sent me home. Told me to get some rest. But I couldn't sleep. Thank you, Hannah. For all this. So what's happening?
How is she? She's pulling through. But she's hurt. Baylor took off most of her. Her face is. But we don't know exactly how
bad she is. She's fighting. This morning when she woke up,
she, she squeezed my hand. So stupid of me.
I'm sorry. It's so quiet out here. I was thinking. I want to come
back and help, you know with Rebecca and everything. It would be wonderful to have
you around. You know, we have that extra
room. No, no. No, I'll find a
place to stay. I don't want to be in the way,
but I want to help. It would be wonderful to have
you back. Isaac! Easy, easy now Hannah. You're going to
give an old man a heart attack. You can put that over here. Let's just see. I'm not the only one who doesn't like all those
computers. Well I haven't used anything
else since high school. Sometimes the old ways are the
best. Isaac! Can you give me a
hand in the kitchen? What we just saw it's going to
heal, right? I'm afraid most of what you saw
will be permanent. There has to be something you can do.
- Not here. I can refer you to several
specialists in the Chicago area who might be willing to take a
more aggressive course of treatment. But if you are
interested in taking that route, that's something you should
decide soon. Rebecca will be ready to go
home and just a minute. If you really don't mind coming over
tomorrow and watching Rebecca. Course not I would love to. What
do you think she'd like to do? I mean we would be something
really special. You know what she's been dying to do? Go fishing. Really. She's been begging John to take
her. He said she's too young to
appreciate it. Whatever that means. I probably haven't been fishing
in 15 years. I wouldn't know what to do. Whatever you decide is fine. I'm sure she'll just enjoy
spending time with you. You must be really happy to
have her home. Nice having you around too. So are you going to have a
party for or anything like that? No, we don't want to
overwhelm her. They want everything to seem
normal I guess. Things will never be normal
again. Will they? Not after something like that. You know when I walked in the
kitchen and saw everything. It took me back to that night
when I found mom. I can still smell him certain
nights. Back of my neck tingles my
Palms sweat and I can smell him. That hair tonic, alcohol, sweat. And I can remember everything. Has that ever happen to you? I have to get some things ready
for tomorrow, put Rebecca to bed. I'll see you tomorrow morning
then. Good night. Oh shit. Marian! I think she left a few hours
ago. Can I help you? It's me, Ryan. Ryan? Oh my God. Oh my God, you smell terrible. Yeah, I was over working on the
Baylor one of the calves fell into the manure pit. Headed out, but sort of fell in
myself. Come on. You were always such a
troublemaker. You were such a handful and I
had to babysit you. He was always like that, a
born farmer. Much better than me calf falls in the manure
pit. He goes after it. I would let it drown. That's not true. Maybe I started too late. You should be born in it. You should grow up with soil
between your thighs head and home. It's never too late to learn
new things. Yeah, but you have it you're
born in it. I tell you.
- I don't know. Don't argue you do. Friend. Doesn't she? I'm going to pass defense by
the creek before it gets dark and get your hair cut. Well, I should probably get
going as well. Thank you for the dinner. Gentlemen, it was delicious. No. No. No, I take care. Isaac. Do you have any pictures
of mom? Wait, what is this? This is the train to Siberia. Stalin deported all Mennonites our
family our village to the steps of all ties
through the Ural Mountains. I was growing up asking my parents about our old home. They said no don't talk about
that. Is that you? Oh, no, it's before I was born. This is Victor fine artist
friend of my parents. He was in Red Army escaped. They caught him, he escaped
again and they shot him and my parents found
him and healed him and since then after he visited our
family many times before we were deported. Our school and... This is your mother. She came was a group of
American preachers in a white starch it. Nurse uniform she talked about
the cornfields of Indiana and it sounded to me like a
paradise. I said I come to visit her and
we'll work through the cornfields together. And you did. Yes, we did. So when you decided to come here,
why did you leave your family behind. 1964 we became citizens once again, so that government allowed a
small number of us who had relatives in Germany to play
for travel permit at my mother was very sick, and she couldn't
go and she said that it was my only chance. 1964 that was the same your mom
and dad got engaged. Yeah. Yeah. She was very happy. She was engaged to your father
and they but married the spring. Come on in. Oh, what's all this? From the church we have
more than we can eat. It smells delicious. Looks like your work is going
well. It is. It's so much easier to
think out here than in the city. What are you working on? Nothing special. Just working out a few ideas. What's wrong? Our insurance isn't going to
pay for Rebecca's treatments. You can't be serious. They aren't even covering
all of her hospital stay. There must be some sort of
mistake. They have to cover it. There is no mistake. Experimental,
they're calling it. Dr. Gardner's writing them a
letter, but he said not to expect much. What are you going to do? I don't know. What is there to
do? Well, you have to appeal it for
one thing. If that doesn't work take them to court. And do what sue them? If that's what it takes. Yes. Marian these aren't your friends
and neighbors here. This is a massive Corporation. They expect you to do it. Look I have a friend. He's a fantastic lawyer He can... It doesn't matter what anyone
expects us to do. We don't base our decisions on
what other people expect from us. So you're just going to do the
honorable thing. Whatever you think that is. I'm going to do what's best for
my daughter. It was an accident. That doesn't mean you just have
to sit back and take it. So what do you recommend
we do? Appeal it. Threaten to
sue! Call the newspapers the television stations. They hit you you hit them back. So that's what you do. You'd hit back. Damn, right I would! What has it ever gotten you? This isn't about me. No, it's not. It's about Rebecca. And I will not teach her to be
filled with anger every time something bad happens. Something
out of her control. Don't make it about that either.
What happened to Mom wasn't an accident. She didn't fall down
the stairs. She wasn't struck by lightning. It wasn't some part of God's
plan. There were two men. Two men who
came to the wrong house. It was an accident that they
came to our house. It was an accident that we were
even at home. The whole thing was one big
mistake. It could have happened to
anybody in this town or any town but it happened to us. That's right. It happened to us. Don't drag Rebecca into it. Don't cut her short because
you're afraid she'll turn out like me. I don't even know what you're
talking about anymore. Marian don't leave. We just do things differently
here Hannah. I'm sorry if that's hard for
you to understand. Well tell me then. Help me
understand. Marian stay here a minute. Stay here and talk to me. I need to go. I should have started
supper by half an hour ago. Mom, somebody's here. I'll be right down. Morning. Morning. I'm sorry, I woke you. No. No. No I was umm... I was just planning on
getting up anyway. Yeah, I just... I just want to
bring this back. I you must have left it the
other night. Thanks. Come on in. Thank you. Can I get you something
to drink? Water would be good. It's a little strange.
I know. I'm not sure what Mom would
have thought of Castro but I put my heart and soul into that
book. I mean the critics seem to have
love it. Oh they did. I just wish real life people
who actually bought books liked it as much that's the kind of
book. I want to dedicate to her. Would you mind if I borrow it. Not at all. Thanks. It's for Rebecca. It looks like a lot of work. I like to knit when I've got
the lot of my mind. That's a good habit. Why would you do?
- What do you mean? When you're upset need to think
about something. You're playing is amazing you
ever try to go anywhere with it. Well, I dropped out of
college my sophomore year and moved to New York. Lasted about eight months. What happened? I don't know something about it. Just didn't agree with me. I guess picked up a few bad
habits a lot of debt. So that's it. You just came
back home. You give up awful easy for a
farm boy. I worked awful day jobs. I lived with 3 Mana crewmates
in an apartment the size of a closet. It took me four years in
Chicago before I finally sold my first story. You can't just give up after 8
months. Not if you really want it. It's not that simple. Like I left really soon after
mom died and Dad couldn't take care of the farm by himself. That's an old story. How do you mean? Just seems like the bargain
you have to make if you want to do what you love? You end up hurting the ones you
love the most. Well, it's hardly worth it then
is it? I don't know you want to play in empty rooms the rest of
your life. I'm playing for you, aren't I? You know when I started farming
we would work in the field 14 and 15 hours a day picking corn
by hand and I would watch the sweat dripping of my nose into
the soil drip drip drip all the day long. And I thought that's what has
made the soil so rich. The sweat. it is in a way. No, we have chemicals,
fertilizers, watering, tractors and gasoline machines
everything but we are just a cog in the wheels. Even
sometimes I come out here to remind myself why I keep doing
all this. This is Miracle. That's why. Yeah, miracle. Miracle every
season. I plant the seeds which are the knobs, but we can
control this. What can we control? You know umm... What's going on with John and
Marian the situation with Rebecca? What are we going to do? I don't know. What do you think they should
do? I think they should fight it do
whatever they have to. You know your sister as well as
I do. I do remember the church in the
past has not allowed its members to see you know. Turn the other cheek, right? Where is it? I don't have any jewelry. I don't even wear a wedding
ring. Mom! Marian. You know what we're
looking for don't you? When I came to this country.
This community. I came from the land, but I saw
terrible things. I saw the worst things. Man will do to a man. and also the best man is
capable of. Starving people sharing their food. Family
members offering themselves up for one another when the secret
police. KGB Came in the night. One of the reasons I love this
church this community is that we always pick up one another
when we fall down. Sometimes we do it in
magnificent ways. Sometimes a smaller ways. But we always do it. Recently, we watch the one of
our young ones walk through the Shadow Valley. We watched, we waited, we prayed. And it's by the grace of God
that Rebecca Miller is with us today. But the road out of that Valley
is often long and hard. And it will be long and hard
for John and Marian and for Rebecca. And I would like to see that we
couldn't wait. For the worst of times to bring
out the best in us. As the people... I would like to see it here. Today. This helps a lot Isaac. It does. It's just the kind of money we
need can't be collected here. Like this. I guess I'm just a naive old
man, No Isaac. This is still a lot of
money. It'll help us get by in the
meantime. And you will. I don't know. Do you maintain all the farm
machinery yourself Mr.Miller? Yes, sometimes a
neighbor will come help out with a piece of equipment. Do you keep paperwork, notes? I have a few receipts
copies of the warranties that sort of thing. I don't write down every time I
change the oil. And Rebecca is she allowed to
operate it? And we do chores around
it? No. I mean. Sometimes she'll ride in
the tractor with me or John but... She doesn't play or work around the
machines, especially when they're running. With all due
respect. Mr. Moore, I don't understand what these questions
have to do with our insurance policy and that's what we're
concerned about. I read the policy and I'll be
honest with you. You could have chosen a
more thorough one. Why do you tell me a little bit
more about the accident? It was a farmer accident. Have you spent much time on a
farm, Mr. Moore? No. It's a dangerous place. You walk into that out
building You'll find a dozen ways to get
yourself killed. No matter how careful you are. I may not know much about
farming but I know a lot about accidents. There's no such
thing as a simple accident. Mr. and Mrs. Miller You have a great opportunity
here an opportunity to bring some good to a terrible event. I can't turn back time. But if you let me. I can find a
way to get your daughter taken care of. Hannah? Hi. Are you home? Hannah? You clean up nice. Thanks. What's the occasion? Oh, I drove up to Kalamazoo
for an audition. What kind of audition? It's this group is getting
ready to do some touring out east. Maybe Europe looking for a
keyboard player. So, how'd it go? It's good. I've played worse. That's great. We should celebrate. Way too early to celebrate
anything. Too early for a drink? To dreams
- Dreams. Whoa! What are you doing? That was a $12 drink. Funny didn't taste that expensive. And this time sip it slowly. Actually that does taste pretty
expensive. I have expensive taste. You don't mind spending $30 on
booze. I think money usually takes
care of itself. You don't worry about it too
much. You sound like Dad. You start making money on the
farm a while ago. Doesn't seem to bother him though just keeps
at it and maybe he knows something about money
I don't right. Maybe he's hoping to take it
over from him. He'll be waiting a long time. So what's it like being an only
child? I don't know. I like the
space I guess. What's it's like having a sister. When we were girls. It was like we were a single
spirit and two bodies. Could hear each other's thoughts. After Mom was killed. We just saw two entirely
different worlds. It's hard to explain. Seems like you can get along alright. I guess we do most
of the time. But I miss it. How it used to
be. Jesus Christ Sam. Can you not hang onto a little girl.
- The door. Your dad doesn't talk much
about his past. Does he? No.
- Aren't you curious? Sure. Just not my place to pry I
guess. Well your business when
it's your family. Maybe. Has he ever talked to you about
my mom? Dad only talked about that
night one time. How you driven up to New Paris. Left Mom
home alone eight months pregnant with me. She was knitting socks for me
when you ran up onto the porch. I remember that. She was holding the needles
when she opened the door. I wanted to talk to you about
this. You have no right Hannah. No, right. And that's when I saw her on
the kitchen floor. Stomach opened up from
the gunshot. The floor was streaked with
blood where she had dragged herself from the living room. Is this how you want people to
remember our mother? Marian. I was going to tell you.
- When! When I saw it at a bookstore? I'm sorry, you found
out like this. But if you're just listen, I
think you'll understand that. This is a story people need to
hear. How could anybody possibly need to
read something like this? What could anybody possibly
learn? That they aren't the only ones who've been through
something like this. Other people need to know...
- People need a lot more than a book. That's right. They do and what did we have? We had a church, a father,
relatives. Nobody would talk about it. I'm sick of it. I am sick of the silence. This story needs to be shared.
- But it's not yours to share. You just can't claim it.
- I'm nottrying to claim. She may be dead. But I think she still
deserves some privacy. I just don't understand what
you want to just keep reliving it. I don't want to relive it. I want to get it out. I want to deal with it.
- Deal with it? Is that what your
psychiatrist and analysts tell you to do. Just
because I don't pay someone to tell me how I need
to deal with something doesn't mean that I don't it doesn't
mean that I don't think about it every single day. I just don't want thousands of
strangers reading about it. I'm sorry, if you want to take what happened
that night and lock it up in some deep dark place and never talk about it. We have talked about it. What else is there to say? Say it? Say it right now. Don't you understand that this
way at least some good can come out of everything. We went through that this could
actually help people. The only person that helps
is you. Gentleman, ma'am. This is Marian Miller her
husband John and daughter Rebecca will be joining us
shortly. Good to see you. Are you nervous? That's okay. I
am too. Are you scared? My dad used to take me fishing out
here all the time when I was a boy. About your age.
I guess. How come nothing's happened yet? That's the point. It's just a chance to relax get
away from things... and talk.
- I like it. I do too. I don't think I'm going to
catch a fish though. What happens now? Nothing happens now. Go home. Fix
dinner for your husband and daughter. If they decide to show
up. I mean what happens next with
the case. The case this was the case. You know, how many arms I
had a Twist to get this meeting now. Do you know how many those
people will return my phone calls now, Can't we try to reschedule that
would be a question for your new attorney. Hey, sweetie. Dad took me fishing at bear lake. Sounds like fun. Did you
catch anything. No, but that's not the point. It's not. You must be really tired. Don't you go get ready for bed. I'll be up in a minute. Marian I'm sorry. Really? What exactly are you sorry for? Are you sorry you
ruined the case? Are you sorry that you
mortgaged our daughter's future to take her fishing? I'll tell you what I'm
not sorry for. I'm not sorry
that she wasn't paraded out in front of a bunch of lawyers
like some kind of circus freak. You think this is fun for me. This whole thing makes me sick. But you know what? I'd rather have some lawyers
look at her for a few minutes and have everyone stare at her
for the rest of her life. She needs parents that stand
for something Marian. And what exactly were you standing for
today. For running away from
something difficult? I stood for integrity for one
thing. John she's six years old. You
think she cares about your ideas of integrity. When she's older
she'll care. So all of this is some sort of
exercise to build her character.
- I don't know. I don't know what I did today. I don't know what we should be
doing here. Come here! Come here!
Come on! Come on! Easy there. Easy. What's your name? I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Sam. What's your name? Hannah. Listen, Hannah I'm gonna ask you a question easy one and
I don't want you to lie, because if you lie, I'll know
what you understand. Do you know what we're looking
for in your house? Ever seen your mommy
with the necklace. Where you running? Go to the farm up there. You better hurry. I have to say Hannah. It's absolutely amazing. It's like nothing you've ever
writen before. The passion jumps right off the page grabs you
by the thorat. Just riveting and brave.
So brave of you to write. I'd like to send it to the publisher
as soon as possible. Do you have any corrections
to make before I send it off? No. This is it Hannah. This is the
one we've been waiting for. Are you there? Is eveything alright? Yeah. Everything's fine. It's just dumb luck that you
even got a hold of me. This place is hot, hot, hot and
it won't be here tomorrow. Got your kitchen in here. Got your stove. Counter. You know that kind of stuff. Is this in the Waterford
school district? Oh, man. I don't know. You gonna have more kids. No not planning on it. Me neither ones enough trouble
as it is, huh? You're not gonna believe the
bathroom. Wanna go check it out? Like I said at this price place
is gonna fly off the market. You know that audition, I went to
for the European tour. They offered me the job. That's great. I leave pretty soon. Are you going to do it? No. They play this weird jazz
funk fusion? It's not really my thing. You don't know where it might lead. Have you ever been to Europe? It's really wonderful. Think you would love it. Just hate to leave so soon
before Harvest. Dad can manage. Yeah, maybe. What are you looking at? When I was six. There was this pen knife
I wanted so badly. I mean I wanted it like only a
little kid come on something and ask for for Christmas my
birthday, of course mom and dad didn't want to buy me a knife. So I worked and worked until I
finally saved enough money to buy that knife. God it was beautiful. Had a pearl handle. One day towards the end of summer
Marian and I were fishing and I just couldn't wait for
her to real one in so we could clean it with my knife. But I was playing around with
it drop it in the water. I started to dive in after it,
but Marian grabbed me I could barely swim. She asked me where I dropped
it. She dove in after it. It was deep
but she was a strong swimmer. Seemed like she was down there
forever. When she finally came up she
didn't have it, but she dove again and again until she was
so exhausted she could barely move. Then her
nose started bleeding. She said she felt sick. It was a strange feeling seeing her
there. Realizing that she'd do anything for me. Did she find the knife? Still out there somewhere. I'll never forget that day. I wrote a poem about it "Pearl
Diver." They printed it in the school
paper. Was the first thing I ever wrote that was published. Marian hated it. Why? I don't think she hated the
poem. She just hated that it was out
there for everyone to see. Well, it's like you said,
that's the bargain, isn't it? That's the deal you make. I guess it is. You have one new message. Hannah! Donna here. Where the hell have you been.
I've been trying to get ahold of you all day. Thought you might want to hear
this personally. The hell with it. I've got big news. Are you sitting down? So this is what you've been
working on. All those nights. It's sort of a memoir.
Creative nonfiction. They call it. It's about growing up, about Mom,
the night she was killed. I see. It could be read by a lot
of people. There are sections in it about the church. The
town. I just feel better. If someone like you read it
before it was published. I'm not a historian. I know. But I know you and Mom were
close. I just appreciate it if you
would read it. Sure. It's honor to me. Thank you. Wait a second Hannah. Ryan told me to give it to you
before he left. For where? Off with a musical group to
play piano in Europe. He told you about this?
Did he? Yes, I mean, of course. I just didn't know that
I'd be leaving so soon. I didn't either. Harvest is around the corner. I guess I could manage. I knew he loved music, but I
never thought he'd do something like this. Strange. Strange. Hope it works. So do I. Hope you don't mind if I finish
up some ironing. Trying to get caught up on some
housework while John and Rebecca are gone. They left for Chicago already. They're spending the night at
Phil and Qwens. I'll be joining them tomorrow. We have a few appointments with
some more specialists. That's exciting.
They're optimistic. They think they can help. Marian earlier today. I got a call from Donna my
agent. There's a publisher willing to pay a lot of money
for what I wrote. Enough to pay for Rebecca's
treatments, anything she needs. I appreciate that Hannah.
I do. It's your book and if you want
to publish it, go ahead. But if you came here looking
for some sort of blessing. I can't give you that. Money doesn't change how I feel
about what you wrote. Marian you don't mind me asking
how do you plan to pay for these treatments. John and I are
discussing several options. You're not. We'll do what we have to. You'd really rather sell the farm. Our family's farm then see
this published. It's not quite that simple. I think it is that simple. If you had a daughter
you might understand. Thanks, I'm fine.
- Are you sure? I'm fine. Thank you. Sam Pope died this morning. In his sleep. His mom called me. I don't know what to say. Do you remember that night? I was wearing that
Calico dress. I remember. I loved that dress. Thought it made my
hair look blond. Like Mom's. Jesus Christ, Sam could not
hang on to a little girl. The door. Marian run! Let's go! It's not here. This is the wrong house. Help please.
Please. The plank. Let me
have the plank. Please. Oh god, please.
Give me it. Give me the plank. Please. Give it to...
Please. The plank. Let me have the plank.
Please. Please. Let me have... No! No! Please!
Please! No! You remember Hannah I told you about it Victor. After
he healed, he left my parents something very valuable
a necklace. He said maybe it had belonged
to the South's wife and had taken from The Winter Palace. He said it was worth more than
a dozen Farms. He said to my parents take it
for you risked your life to save mine. My mother gave it to me.
I said mother, What is this necklace is
good for. Couldn't be solved in Russia. It had rubies and
diamonds in it. She said give it to girl you
want to marry. I can't America looking
for Rachel. And give her this necklace and
ask her to marry me. I was too late. She was already engaged
to your father. Necklace, it had diamonds
rubies in it. Load in it. Just load. Until I read your
writings Hannah. I never knew this man who are
looking for a necklace. This is the think. This man we're looking for that
night. I brought these criminals to you. You know what we're looking
for, don't you? I don't.
- Yes you do. No, I don't.
- Yes you do, God damn it! It's not here! Where is it? Sarah was at home alone that
night, eight months pregnant. So your mother, might have saved her life and my son's life. This is for you. Where's Rebecca?
- John took her fishing? They've been gone all day. She nervous about tomorrow. If she is, she doesn't show it. I'm probably more worried than
she is. She's going to do fine. How long will she have to stay? Two nights. Then she can come home. So that's the best place for
her to be. So are you going back to Chicago. You have any business to take
care of there? You know, Isaac ask me to stay. Help him bring in his crop. Are you going to? That must be Gwen. It's fine. I can take
care of this. Go ahead, go. Right here when
you're done. Okay? I'm going to take you fishing
when you get back. Bye sweetie.
