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Mountain of Love II
by Ernie Johnson (authorernieroy@yahoo.com)

Rated: G   Genre: Action/Adventure   User Review:
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The four young men, now six years older, are called back to Mount MAnhadden. What can they see now that they didn't see when they were there six years previous


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



MOUNTAIN OF LOVE II

FADE IN:

INT. CAL'S RESIDENCE - JUNE 5TH - DAY
                                                            
CAL LONG sits in his living room and reads his Bible before
going to bed. God’s Holy Word is open to the book of
Jeremiah, chapter twenty-four, and when he reaches the
seventh verse he stops.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Reads Aloud)
For I shall give them a heart to
know me, that I am the Lord and
they shall be my people and I will
be their God: for they shall
return to me with their whole
heart.
                                                            
Cal rereads the chapter and pauses once again at the very
same verse of scripture.
                                                            
                       CAL
What are you trying to tell me,
Lord?
                                                            
KERRY LONG, Cal’s wife, is in the kitchen and she hears Cal
talking. She heads into the living room.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Did you want me, honey?
                                                            
                       CAL
No I didn’t, love, but come here a
minute, seeing as you're in the
room with me.
                                                            
                       KERRY
      (Sitting Down)
What’s wrong?
                                                            
                       CAL
I was just having my devotions,
honey, and it was like God was
speaking to me through His Word.
                                                            
                       KERRY
What's the scripture?
                                                            
Cal shows her the passage of scripture and she reads the
words quickly.
                                                            

2.

                       KERRY
What do you think God's trying to
say to you?
                                                            
                       CAL
If I'm right, hon, God wants us to
go back to Manhadden.
                                                            
                       KERRY
The last time you were there was
almost six years ago and it was
you who received God’s blessing
for the most parts. Why would He
want you to go back up there now?
                                                            
                       CAL
I don’t know, sweetheart, but I'm
sure He wants us all to go back
there.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Us, as in you, Brad, Mark, and
Greg?
                                                            
                       CAL
I think God’s wants our wives to
go up there with us.
                                                            
Cal looks her square in the eye.
                                                            
                       CAL
You can use a break from the house
for a week and you’ve never been
camping before, so
it might be fun, too.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Oh Cal, I love you with all my
heart and soul, sweetie, but to go
camping in a tent, on a mountain
that has bears, mountain lions,
and who knows what else, I don’t
think I could do that.
                                                            
                       CAL
I’ll tell you what! If I can get
all of the other guys to go up
there with me, with their wives as
well, would you at least consider
going?
                                                            

3.

                       KERRY
Honey! Not one of the girls ever
slept in a tent before, so I doubt
they’d even consider such an
adventure, and that is what it
would be for all of us girls, and
adventure.
                                                            
                       CAL
Please, sweetheart?
                                                            
Cal leans forward to give her a kiss.
                                                            
                       KERRY
My weakness has always been your
charm, Cal, and with some
reluctance I’ll agree if all the
others girls will go up there too.
When are you going to plan this
little trip of ours?
                                                            
                       CAL
It will take some doing, but I’d
like to be able to go up there
sometime within the next two to
three weeks, before the
vacationing season. If we're able
to leave here on Saturday morning,
the twenty-sixth we can leave
there on Friday the second of July
before the holiday weekend crowd
goes up there.
                                                            
                       KERRY
When are you going to talk to the
guys?
                                                            
                       CAL
I think I’ll do it tomorrow after
church.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Do you want to invite everyone
over here tomorrow afternoon and
we can all talk it over, including
the girls?
                                                            
                       CAL
That’s a great idea. Let me call
the guys now and if everyone
brings as little something we can
all have dinner together and talk
about it then.
                                                            

4.

                       KERRY
If you’re going to call them
tonight, Cal, it’s eight o’clock
so you better get to it.
                                                            
Kerry stands to go back into the kitchen.
                                                            
                       CAL
What do you want to make for it so
I can let them know?
                                                            
                       KERRY
We have enough stuff for salads
and rolls, honey.
                                                            
                       CAL
Thanks, sweetheart. You’re an
angel.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Just remember one thing, all the
girls have to say yes before I
will.
                                                            
                       CAL
You’re on!
                                                            
Kerry returns to the kitchen while Cal grabs the phone and
dials Mark’s familiar number.
                                                            
After the second ring the phone is answered.
                                                            
                       LYNNE (VO)
Hello!
                                                            
                       CAL
Hi, Lynne, is Mark around? It’s
Cal Long.
                                                            
                       LYNNE (VO)
Oh hi, Cal. Mark is down at the
barn feeding the horses. He
should be done in about ten or
fifteen minutes. Want him to call
you when he gets in?
                                                            
                       CAL
That would be great!
                                                            
                       LYNNE (VO)
Is anything wrong, Cal?
                                                            

5.

                       CAL
Not at all, thanks.
                                                            
                       LYNNE (VO)
Then I’ll have him call you in a
few minutes. Good night.
                                                            
                       CAL
Goodnight, Lynne!
                                                            
Cal hangs up and immediately picks up the phone again. He
dials the number for GREG.
                                                            
                       SHARON (VO)
Hello, Stone residence. SHARON
speaking..
                                                            
                       CAL
Hi, Sharon. It’s Cal. Is Greg
around, please?
                                                            
                       SHARON (VO)
He’s right here. Hold on a
second.
                                                            
                       GREG (VO)
Good evening, Cal. To what do I
owe this pleasure?
                                                            
                       CAL
Hi, Greg. I believe God is
calling us back to Manhadden. Can
you and Sharon drop over to the
house after church tomorrow? I am
trying to get everyone together so
we can talk it over.
                                                            
                       GREG (VO)
Are you serious? Sure, Cal, we
can be there. Want us to bring
anything?
                                                            
                       CAL
We're supplying the salad and
rolls, so what would you folks
like to bring?
                                                            
                       GREG (VO)
If you’ve got a grille I’ll bring
the steaks. How does that sound?
                                                            

6.

                       CAL
I’ll have mine well done. See you
guys at church in the morning.
                                                            
                       GREG (VO)
We’ll see you there. Bye for now.
                                                            
Cal once again hangs up the receiver and is quick to pick it
up again. This time he dials Brad’s home number.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Hello!
                                                            
                       CAL
Hi, Terry, it’s Cal Long. Is the
old goat at home?
                                                            
Cal laughs into the receiver.
                                                            
                       TERRY
      (Laughing)
You seem to be in a good mood, and
he’s not an old goat. He’ll be
right with you.
                                                            
                       BRAD (VO)
So I’m an old goat, huh? What’s
up my friend?
                                                            
                       CAL
I think God is calling us all back
to Manhadden. I am getting the
four families together at my place
after church tomorrow. Greg is
bringing steaks and Kerry is
supplying the salad and rolls, so
can you and Terry join us?
                                                            
                       BRAD (VO)
Well be there, but what would you
like us to bring?
                                                            
                       CAL
How about dessert? I know your
wife loves to bake so I’ll leave
the dessert to you guys.
                                                            
                       BRAD (VO)
Not a problem. I’ll see you in
church in the morning. Thanks for
the invite.
                                                            

7.

                       CAL
Don’t thank me, Brad. Thank God.
See you tomorrow.
                                                            
Cal places the receiver back onto the hook when the phone
rings and he answers it.
                                                            
                       CAL
Hi, Mark!
                                                            
                       MARK (VO)
      (Chuckling)
How'd you know it was me?
                                                            
                       CAL
Because I was expecting your call
right about now.
                                                            
                       MARK (VO)
I’m glad I didn’t disappoint you.
What’s up?
                                                            
                       CAL
Are you and Lynne free tomorrow
afternoon right after church?
                                                            
                       MARK
We can be, Cal. What’s going on?
                                                            
                       CAL
I feel God calling us back to
Manhadden, Mark, and my gut
instinct is that he’d like the
girls to go up there with us. I
thought maybe the eight of us
could get together at my place,
after church in the morning, and
if everybody brought a little
something we could have dinner out
in the back yard and talk it over.
                                                            
                       MARK (VO)
What would you like us to bring?
                                                            
                       CAL
Well we have steak, salad, rolls,
and dessert, so name your poison.
                                                            
                       MARK (VO)
I’ll have Lynne make a casserole
and we’ll also bring the sodas,
okay?
                                                            

8.

                       CAL
Sounds great. Between you and I,
Mark, I believe God has something
in store for us and it feels like
more than just an adventure on the
mountain.
                                                            
                       MARK (VO)
Sounds good. You do realize that
none of the girls have ever gone
camping before, don’t you?
                                                            
                       CAL
I was pretty sure they hadn’t, so
that could make it even more fun.
I’ll see the two of you at church
in the morning. Goodnight.
                                                            
                       MARK (VO)
Goodnight, Cal, and God bless.
                                                            
Kerry enters the living room of their modest ranch style
home and she sits on the couch beside her husband.
                                                            
                       KERRY
How did you make out, honey?
                                                            
                       CAL
Everyone is coming over here right
after church. I would think
they'd stop at home to change into
something comfortable first
though, but we do have all the
food we need. It will be good to
have us all together again. The
last time we were all in the same
place, outside of church, was when
Sharon and Greg got married last
October.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Yes it will, honey, and they are
all great friends. Do you think
the girls will go up there?
                                                            
                       CAL
Are you worried they might?
                                                            
                       KERRY
Not really. While cleaning the
kitchen I remembered what you told
me about the last time you were up
there. I may not be a camper,
sweetheart, but I do love animals
            (MORE)

9.

                       KERRY (cont'd)
and could easily become friends
with Bandit.
                                                            
                       CAL
Bandit became more than just a pet
to me. That raccoon knew every
inch of that mountain and he knew
all the animals too. If Bandit is
still alive I’d love to see my
little masked friend again. It's
more likely that we would get to
see the younger raccoons who would
be adults in their own right.
                                                            
                       KERRY
What about Splinter?
                                                            
Kerry sits back and listens.
                                                            
                       CAL
Splinter was a young fawn of maybe
eight months or so. I think he
was a male, and now that six years
have passed he would be an adult
buck by now, with antlers and
everything.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Do you think he’d remember you
after all these years?
                                                            
                       CAL
That fawn had a broken leg, Kerry,
and God healed that break in less
than eight hours. I put the
splint on his leg and it was
Splinter who came to me to have it
removed that same night. If
Splinter is alive and still on
Manhadden, I'm sure he’ll remember
me.
                                                            
At nine-thirty Cal and his young wife head to bed.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
INT. HOLDEN VALLEY PENTICOSTAL CHURCH - DAY
                                                            
The four young adult couples sit together in one pew as
Pastor Tim delivers the morning message. They all sit there
and listen to his words as he brings his message to a close.
                                                            

10.

                       PASTOR TIM
There are times when we will hear
God’s voice when we are having
devotions, praying, or even just
reading His word. All too often
we are preoccupied with the
humdrum of our everyday lives to
hear His voice when He talks to
us. Does God talk to us in a
voice we can hear with our ears?
No! How then can we hear God’s
voice? It tells us in revelation,
chapter three and verse twenty
that if any man hear my voice,
and open the door, I will come in
to him, and will sup with him, and
he with me. We hear God’s voice
with our hearts, not with our
ears. Has God spoken to you? Let
us pray.
                                                            
Pastor Tim prays the closing prayer.

They all closed their eyes as the pastor prayed.

After the morning service is over, Cal and his friends get
in line to greet Pastor Tim at the door of the church as
they leave.
                                                            
                       PASTOR TIM
Good morning, Cal; Mrs. Long.
                                                            
                       CAL
Thank you for that message this
morning, Pastor. That was
directed at me.
                                                            
Cal shakes Pastor Tim’s hand.
                                                            
                       PASTOR TIM
I knew it was meant for someone
here in my congregation, Cal. That
was not the sermon I had planned
or prepared to present this
morning. Somewhere around eight
o’clock last night God spoke to me
and I changed my sermon.
                                                            
                       CAL
That’s amazing, Pastor, because it
was around eight o’clock when I
got a message from God. Have a
great day.
            (MORE)

11.

                       CAL (cont'd)
                                                            
                       PASTOR TIM
Thanks, Cal.!
                                                            
Cal waits for his friends outside the church. It’s a
comfortable seventy-two degrees and the sun shines bright.
                                                            
                       GREG
Can you believe that, Cal?
                                                            
Greg and Sharon joins Cal and his wife.
                                                            
                       CAL
Let’s just say that the morning
message reinforced what God said
to me last night, Greg. Do you
and Sharon want to go home first
and change? We’ll be having
dinner on the patio..
                                                            
                       GREG
That’s what we were planning to do
anyway.. We left the dessert at
the house. What time should we be
at your place?
                                                            
                       CAL
One o’clock is fine.
                                                            
                       MARK
We’re going to head home first
too, Cal.
                                                            
Mark and Lynne join the others.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Are you excited about this, Kerry?
                                                            
                       KERRY
I wasn’t, at first, but with all
that is going on, I'm getting
there.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
We’ll see you at one.
                                                            
Brad and Terry reach Cal.
                                                            
                       BRAD
It does look like God wants us
back up there, Cal.
                                                            

12.

                       CAL
It sure does. I hope the girls
go. This will be a great
opportunity for them all.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Can we run home quick and change?
                                                            
                       CAL
Sure! We’ll meet at my place, on
the patio, at one.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Are you planning to go up there,
Kerry?
                                                            
                       KERRY
If all three of you go I will. I
fought it, last night, but there's
more here than just a mere camping
trip. I feel God’s presence in
this endeavor.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Good! We’ll be at the house by
one. See you there, girl.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Thanks, Terry.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. CAL'S RESIDENCE- SUNDAY - DAY
                                                            
By twelve forty-five Cal is outside on the patio and he
starts the grille.
                                                            
                       CAL
All we need now are the steaks and
I can get them started, honey.
                                                            
Kerry brings out the salad.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Good! I have the oven on and will
wait until the meat is almost done
before I put the rolls on. That
will only take a few minutes.
                                                            
                       CAL
Are you getting excited?
                                                            

13.

                       KERRY
Up until this morning’s sermon I
was fighting it. Now I guess God
has me hooked.
                                                            
                       CAL
Good girl!
                                                            
Cal gives his wife a kiss.
                                                            
Greg and Sharon enter the back yard.
                                                            
                       GREG
You got the grill on? The steaks
are here.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Hi, Kerry. Are you going up there
with us?
                                                            
Sharon gives her friend a hug.
                                                            
                       KERRY
I take it you're planning to go.
                                                            
                       SHARON
After all I’ve heard about this
mountain, girl, you couldn’t keep
me away. Please say you’ll go. I
have no idea what God has in store
for us up there, girl, but by all
accounts it has to be beautiful.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
If she says she's not going, then
I’ll have to get one of the
bridles from the barn and lead her
up the mountain.
                                                            
Lynne and Mark enters the Long’s back yard.
                                                            
                       KERRY
You’re going too, Lynne?
                                                            
                       LYNNE
      (To Mark)
Honey! Can you put the casserole
on the table for me?
                                                            
Lynne hands Mark the bowl.
                                                            

14.

                       LYNNE
Listen to me, Kerry. You ask any
one of these men and they’ll all
tell you how beautiful Mount
Manhadden is. For any place on
earth to be as close to Heaven as
that mountain is, I want to make
sure I get to see it.
                                                            
                       TERRY
      (Entering the Yard)
Count me in! Who doesn't want to
go?
                                                            
                       KERRY
At first I didn’t.
                                                            
                       TERRY
And now?
                                                            
                       KERRY
I made an agreement with Cal that
if you three girls went up there
then I’d go too.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Good girl! Do you want to put this
stuff in the fridge until it’s
time for dessert?
                                                            
Terry hands Kerry one of the two bowls.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Sure! Follow me.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (To His Friends)
Are all the girls excited about
going?
                                                            
                       MARK
Lynne can’t wait.
                                                            
                       GREG
Sharon wants to go, even though
sleeping in a tent is not high on
her to do list, as she puts it.
                                                            
                       BRAD
I convinced Terry last night that
taking this trip would be like
taking a trip to Heaven, Cal, and
told her about the things we saw
when we were up there the last
            (MORE)

15.

                       BRAD (cont'd)
time. She's going.
                                                            
                       CAL
Then the only thing we’ll need is
bigger tents. Get the girls
around the table. The steaks are
almost done.
                                                            
Cal flips the steaks over for the final time.

With two picnic tables placed end to end there's enough room
for all eight of them to have a seat with room to spare.
                                                            
                       CAL
Before we eat, gang, I think it’s
appropriate we have a word of
prayer.
                                                            
Cal waits for them all to bow their heads.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Praying)
Father God! We’d like to thank
you for today and for friends who
know you personally. We ask now
that you bless this food to our
body’s use and let your will be
done here this afternoon. We ask
this in your holy name, Lord,
amen. Okay, gang, dig in.
                                                            
During the meal the talk is once again about their last trip
to Manhadden. Cal lets his friends talk and sits there as
the momentum builds towards their new trip and adventure.
                                                            
                       GREG
Cal! You haven’t said much at
all.
                                                            
                       CAL
Why don’t we get the dessert out
and I’ll talk to everyone?
                                                            
                       KERRY
Want to help me, Sharon?
                                                            
                       SHARON
I’m right behind you.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
We’ll clean the table off.
                                                            

16.

Lynne nods to Terry Ames.
                                                            
Once the dessert is on the table, and everyone is seated
around it, Cal stands at one end.
                                                            
                       CAL
Last night, while having my
devotions, it was like God
directed my hands. I rarely go
into the book of Jeremiah unless
it has to do with the sermon in
church. When I got to the
twenty-fourth chapter I felt
compelled to read it thoroughly
and I didn’t get very far.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Why not?
                                                            
                       CAL
When I got to the seventh verse it
was like it was the only scripture
on the entire page.
                                                            
                       BRAD
What did it say?
                                                            
                       CAL
For I shall give them a heart to
know me, that I am their Lord and
they shall be my people and I will
be their God; for they shall
return unto me with their whole
hearts.
                                                            
                       MARK
Does that mean us?
                                                            
                       CAL
Do we not have a heart to know
Him, that He is our Lord, and are
we not His people and He our God?
                                                            
                       BRAD
Well yes to all of that.
                                                            
                       CAL
I agree. Then the next verse
says; we shall return to him with
our whole hearts.
                                                            

17.

                       MARK
How do our wives fit into this?
                                                            
                       CAL
When we married our wives we
became one with each other and one
with God as well. My heart is
Kerry’s and hers is mine. For me
to go back to Manhadden without
her I would feel like I was not
giving God my whole heart.
                                                            
                       MARK
You continue to amaze me. I am
inclined to agree with you. Lynne
and I are one in heart and spirit.
To go there without her by my
side would be like leaving a part
of me behind.
                                                            
                       CAL
Why God wants us there is anyone’s
guess, but I'm sure there's a good
reason He’s called us back there
after six long years.
                                                            
                       GREG
When are you planning to go?
                                                            
                       CAL
We all have some things to get
first, Greg. We all need larger
tents. The one-man tents we have
are fine for ourselves, but
married it would mean cramped
quarters.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Thank you, Cal.
                                                            
Sharon's face flushes.
                                                            
                       TERRY
      (Smiling)
I’ll second that.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay! So we got the girls to go,
so the least we can do is to try
and make it as comfortable for
them as we can, at least inside
the tent anyway. It’s now the
sixth of June and we would be best
to leave here either the
            (MORE)

18.

                       CAL (cont'd)
nineteenth or the twenty-sixth.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Why?
                                                            
                       CAL
After that we’ll likely run into
the traffic for the holiday
weekend and vacationers as well.
From there through Labor Day the
mountain will be packed with
campers. Our best bet is to be
out of there before that weekend.
                                                            
                       MARK
Lynne and I can be ready by the
nineteenth, Cal. I’ll get Skip to
manage and run the farm for the
week.
                                                            
                       GREG
I’ve got two weeks vacation time
coming to me at the mill, Cal, and
I'm sure my boss would be happier
if I took it either before or well
after the summer rush. Count
Sharon and I in for the
nineteenth.
                                                            
                       BRAD
I own my own store, Cal, so
getting time off is no problem.
Count Terry and I in for the
nineteenth as well.
                                                            
                       CAL
That leaves only Kerry and I.
Being a salesman I make my own
hours. We’ll set our climb date
for Saturday morning the
nineteenth of this month and we’ll
leave Manhadden on Saturday
morning the twenty-sixth. I’ll
make the call to the state park
and make the reservations and try
to reserve the same spaces we had
the last time we were up there.
                                                            
                       GREG
Should we bring our fishing rods?
                                                            

19.

                       CAL
If you want to eat more than just
berries for the week I’d suggest
we all did, or at least the guys
anyway. Having the women with us
will allow us to be able to bring
some food, because they can carry
some inside their backpacks, but
nothing that will spoil.
                                                            
                       MARK
Where and when should we meet?
                                                            
                       CAL
If it’s alright with you, Mark,
we’ll all meet at the ranch and
take only two cars to the State
Park. We can take mine, because
it’s a van, and also your van,
Mark. We should meet somewhere
around seven o’clock and leave
your place before eight.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Why so early, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
We have an hour and a half’s drive
to the state park and with you
girls it will take a good five
hours or more to get to the
campground.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Who should bring what for food?
                                                            
                       CAL
I hadn’t thought that far ahead,
yet, but we'll discuss it later
this week. I guess that just
about wraps it up for today.
Thanks, everyone, for coming and
being a part of this. It would be
a good idea if you’d all let me
know when you have everything you
need by next Sunday, specifically
about the tents.
                                                            
Cal's friends stand to get ready to leave.
                                                            
                       MARK
We’ll have a great time up there,
Cal.
                                                            

20.

                       CAL
I know that, but something inside
me tells me this is going to be
more than just an adventure trip,
Mark.
                                                            
                       CAL
In what way?
                                                            
                       CAL
I don’t know, for sure, but just
make sure we all have our Bibles
with us, just in case we need
them.
                                                            
Both Cal and Kerry Long watch as their friends leave to go
home. As the last car pulls out of the driveway Cal turns
to his wife.
                                                            
                       CAL
Don’t you feel better now that all
the girls will be up there with
us?
                                                            
                       KERRY
Yes I do, thank you. What were
you saying to Mark about this
being more than an adventure trip?
                                                            
                       CAL
Maybe nothing, sweetheart, but my
gut tells me there’s more to this
trip up Manhadden than what we
witnessed up there six years ago.
I’m not going to let it bother me,
love, so let’s clean up and get
inside. It’s a shame Bill Grimes
moved to Arizona three years ago.
He’s the only one missing from
this group.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
INT. ENTERING MANHADDEN STATE PARK - DAY
                                                            
Cal takes a left turn onto Manhadden Park Road with Mark
right behind him. All four girls are sound asleep as Cal
pulls up to the ranger station.
                                                            
                       CAL
Good morning, ranger.
                                                            

21.

                       RANGER TED
Good morning, folks. Are you
folks here for the day?
                                                            
                       CAL
No, sir. My name is Cal Long and
we have reservations for four tent
sites on Overlook Campground.
                                                            
                       RANGER TED
One second, Mr. Long, let me
check. You’re right, young man,
you do. That will be two hundred
and eighty dollars for the seven
nights.
                                                            
                       CAL
There you go sir!
                                                            
Cal hands the ranger the money.
                                                            
                       RANGER TED
Is that vehicle behind you part of
your group?
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes, sir.
                                                            
                       RANGER TED
I need the license plate numbers
of both vehicles, if you would,
please. Write them down right
here.
                                                            
The ranger hands Cal a brief form.
                                                            
                       CAL
There you go, sir.
                                                            
                       RANGER TED
Your tent sites are six, seven,
nine, and ten, as you requested,
and they are clearly marked at the
campground. Here’s a map of the
park and the various trails that
run throughout. If there is an
emergency, the main ranger
facility is at the Boathouse
Campground and it is manned
twenty-four hours a day,
otherwise, Ranger Murdock will
check in on the campground
sometime on Tuesday morning. Enjoy
your stay at Manhadden. If you’re
            (MORE)

22.

                       RANGER TED (cont'd)
planning to do any fishing make
sure you have your fishing
licenses with you.
                                                            
                       CAL
Thank you, ranger. We'll see you
in a week.
                                                            
Cal pulls away from the shack with Mark right behind him.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Voice Raised)
Okay, ladies, it’s time to wake up
back there.
                                                            
Cal pulls into an empty parking space close to Roundabout
Trail.
                                                            
                       SHARON
      (Yawning)
We’re here already?
                                                            
Sharon rubs her eyes to wake up.
                                                            
                       SHARON
It feels like I just got to sleep.
                                                            
                       CAL
You girls fell asleep almost as
soon as we left the house. Come
on, let’s get our gear out.
                                                            
                       MARK
Did the women folk fall asleep in
your van too?
                                                            
Mark exits his van.
                                                            
                       CAL
They sure did. I take it Lynne
and Terry did as well.
                                                            
                       MARK
As soon as we hit the highway.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well at least they're rested.
                                                            
Once all the gear is unloaded and the eight of them are
loaded up, Cal and Kerry head out behind Mark and Lynne.
Brad and Terry bring up the rear.
                                                            

23.

CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. ROUNDABOUT TRAIL - DAY
                                                            
Almost a quarter of a mile into the woods the trail branches
off to the right with Roundabout Trail remaining to the
left. A huge sign notifies campers and hikers of the
different campgrounds on the trails to their right.

                                                            
                       KERRY
What Trail are we taking, honey?
                                                            
Kerry notices the sign that reads, EDEN’S TRAIL – ROCKY
MOUNTAIN TRAIL AND LOOKOUT TOWER TRAIL with an arrow that
points to the left.
                                                            
                       CAL
We’ll follow Roundabout to Eden’s
Trail and take that up the
mountain to the campground.
                                                            
Moments later they come to a clearing in the woods, once
they reach the eastern side of Loomis Lake.
                                                            
                       SHARON
What a difference out here.
                                                            
                       MARK
That’s Loomis Lake, ladies.
                                                            
They all stop to take a look.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
It looks so quiet and serene.
                                                            
                       TERRY
This is what you picture Heaven to
look like.
                                                            
                       CAL
Let’s keep moving, ladies. You
can get a better look when we take
a break before we go up Eden’s
Trail.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Are we starting to climb uphill
now, honey?
                                                            

24.

                       CAL
Yes we are, sweetheart. From here
on out it’s all uphill, but this
part of the climb is easy.
                                                            
                       KERRY
You call this easy?
                                                            
                       CAL
Once we leave Roundabout Trail,
and start the climb up Eden’s
Trail, you’ll notice a remarkable
difference in the hike.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
      (Chuckling)
Remarkable, as in our legs will
hurt for sure tonight remarkable?
                                                            
                       MARK
If we all take our time, we can
make it to the campground without
any pain at all. We're not going
to rush you girls to Overlook.
                                                            
                       SHARON
That’s a good thing.
                                                            
They approach the backside of Loomis Lake near Eden’s Trail.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, ladies, we will be taking a
fifteen minute break when we get
to Eden’s Trail.
                                                            
Cal and Greg pick up the pace for the final hundred yards to
the Trail, where the ground levels off.
                                                            
                       GREG
We’re here! Let me get that
backpack off you, love.
                                                            
                       CAL
Let’s all get these backpacks off
our backs and have a rest before
we start the next leg of the climb
up Eden’s.
                                                            
Cal removes his wife’s backpack from her shoulders.
                                                            

25.

                       MARK
You girls go ahead and sit on that
huge boulder and you’ll get a
great view of Loomis Lake.
                                                            
Mark joins his friends.
                                                            
                       BRAD
The girls seem to be doing good so
far, Cal.
                                                            
Brad sets his gear on the ground.
                                                            
                       CAL
It’s been easy so far, Brad. Now
we're going to have to take our
time. I don’t want the girls so
sore that they can’t enjoy
themselves up there. It would
take the four of us guys about
forty-five minutes from here to
the Cravitz Caves, but it could
take up to twice as long with the
girls. What we’ll do is take a
good half-hour break when we get
there.
                                                            
                       GREG
If I remember right, Cal, the hike
to the caves is the hardest part
of the whole climb to Overlook.
                                                            
                       CAL
From Cravitz to Overlook is a
climb, yes, but the trail is not
so hard from the caves to the
campground. From here to Cravitz
Caves; however, is uphill and
rocky.
                                                            
                       MARK
Shall we go and join the ladies?
                                                            
The men head over to the large boulder that sits on a ledge
above Loomis Lake on the northeast corner. All four young
ladies are immersed in the beauty they observe.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Is it this beautiful at the
campground, Cal?
                                                            

26.

                       CAL
What you girls see here is the
beauty that surrounds Lake Loomis.
What you’ll see up there, at the
campground, is like stepping into
God’s Garden of Eden. It’s a
different kind of beauty that only
our God can provide and is truly
too hard to explain unless you're
there to see it.
                                                            
                       MARK
How are you girls doing so far?
                                                            
Mark moves around to be beside his wife.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Well we haven’t hit the roughest
part of the hike, or climb as you
guys call it, but so far we are
holding our own. Not bad for
inexperienced women.
                                                            
                       CAL
The roughest part of the climb
will be the next hour or so.
That’s why we are letting you rest
your legs for fifteen minutes
before we go on. Once we reach
the Cravitz Caves we’ll take
another break but it will be about
a half hour.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Why such a long rest at the caves,
Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Well, for one thing, I am sure
you’ll want to take a walk through
the caves while you’re up there. I
think you women call it woman’s
curiosity, and by taking a half
hour it will also give your legs a
chance to rest before we continue
on to the campground.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
What’s so special about the caves?
                                                            
                       BRAD
I can answer that question. Cal
didn’t go into the caves with us
the last time, but anyway it’s a
            (MORE)

27.

                       BRAD (cont'd)
natural phenomenon the way the
caves were formed. Through most
of it you can stand straight up
and the rock formation is very
smooth as if water rushed through
it for centuries.
                                                            
                       MARK
In other words it’s another
beautiful sight to see on this
fantastic mountain.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well, ladies, I guess it’s time we
load ourselves back up and begin
our real climb.
                                                            
Cal helps his wife off the large boulder.

One by one the girls are helped off the rock and they head
over to where their gear lays on the ground.
                                                            
                       MARK
Want me to take the lead from
here, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Go right ahead.
                                                            
Mark starts the climb up Eden’s Trail.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. CRAVITZ CAVES - DAY
                                                            
By eleven-fifteen, with the girls well worn out from the
strenuous climb, the crew of eight manages to make it to the
landing outside the Cravitz Caves.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Are we finally here?
                                                            
Terry unzips her backpack.
                                                            
                       BRAD
I told you you’d make it, honey.
                                                            
Brad helps her off with the backpack.
                                                            

28.

                       LYNNE
The last ten minutes seemed like
it was an hour.
                                                            
Mark assists her off with her own backpack.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well, ladies, from here to the
campground should take no more
than maybe an hour and a half or
so, so go ahead and take about
thirty minutes to rest your weary
legs.
                                                            
Cal takes a look into the trees around them.
                                                            
                       GREG
What are you looking for, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I was just looking for a winged
friend, even though after six
years it’s not likely he’d still
be around here.
                                                            
                       GREG
Oh, that’s right! Of course!
You’re looking for BJ.
                                                            
                       CAL
That’s the one.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Can we go into the caves, honey?
                                                            
                       CAL
Make sure that someone goes with
you, sweetheart.
                                                            
Cal continues to look into the trees.
                                                            
                       MARK
Do you want to be alone, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I don’t think it will make a
difference. Even if BJ is here,
there’s no guarantee he’ll even
remember me.
                                                            
Cal grabs a seat on a nearby rock.
                                                            

29.

                       MARK
Come on, ladies., The three of us
will take you down there.
                                                            
The seven of them head down and into the depths of the
Cravitz Caves while Cal sits on the rock alone. Ten minutes
pass and Cal can hear his friends and wife as they traverse
through the buried maze of the Cravitz Caves. He feels the
warmth of the noontime sun as it shines bright on the small
ledge above the caves. From somewhere in the trees behind
him, Cal hears the chirping of a bird and out of instinct he
turns to see if it’s his friend BJ.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Voice Raised)
Is that you, my feathered friend?
                                                            
                       BJ
Chirp… chirp… chirp.
                                                            
The bird flies down from its perch atop a branch of a nearby
white birch.
                                                            
                       CAL
I’d hoped you’d be here, BJ.
                                                            
Cal extends his right arm for the bird to land on.
                                                            
                       CAL
How have you been, BJ?
                                                            
Cal lowers his arm so the bird can stand on his leg.
                                                            
                       BJ
Chirp... chirp... chirp.
                                                            
                       CAL
I missed you too, little buddy.
                                                            
Cal's friends exit the caves off to his left.
                                                            
                       CAL
My other friends are here too, BJ.
                                                            
The girls draw near to where Cal sits.
                                                            
                       KERRY
I know you told me all about your
trip up here six years ago, honey,
and I knew you never lied to me,
but to see a blue jay just sitting
there on your leg is more than I
            (MORE)

30.

                       KERRY (cont'd)
can imagine.
                                                            
                       CAL
You can come over here and pet
him, or her, whichever it is. This
is my friend BJ, or at least I
think it is.
                                                            
                       BJ
Chirp… chirp… chirp.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Hi there, Mr. BJ.
                                                            
Lynne kneels down on one knee in front of Cal.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Cal! I'm sure all of us wives
have heard about BJ and the other
animals that are in this mountain
who’ve taken a liking to you, but
now we are seeing it up close.
This bird is so docile, it’s like
he’s tamed in some way.
                                                            
                       CAL
He, or she, sure is, and he’s been
tamed by the creator of all
things, our God.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Will he or she let us pet it, Cal?
                                                            
Sharon kneels beside Lynne.
                                                            
                       CAL
My guess is that BJ knows the love
we have in our hearts and would
love you to share that love with
him. Go ahead and try, Sharon.
                                                            
BJ side steps on Cal’s leg until he reaches his kneecap.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Did you see that? It’s like the
bird knew what you said, Sharon.
                                                            
                       BJ
Chirp… chirp… chirp.
                                                            
Bee Jay looks right into Sharon’s eyes.
                                                            

31.

                       SHARON
He does understand.
                                                            
Sharon pets the bird’s head.
                                                            
                       CAL
BJ! I hate to break this up, my
friend, but we have to get to
Overlook Campground and get these
tents set up.
                                                            
                       BJ
Chirp… chirp.
                                                            
BJ flies off Cal’s leg and above them, then off in the
direction of Overlook Campground.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Just like old times, huh Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
In a way, Brad. I think it’s a
sign that we're expected back
here.
                                                            
                       GREG
From a blue jay, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
What better way to be greeted back
to this mountain than by the same
bird, in the same spot, as he did
six years ago.
                                                            
                       MARK
Want us to load up now, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I think the girls have rested up
enough, right ladies?
                                                            
Cal grabs his wife’s backpack.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Now I am anxious, more than ever,
to get to this place, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
I can take the lead this time.
                                                            
Cal starts off up the trail
                                                            

32.

CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. BEAR CREEK FOOT BRIDGE - DAY
                                                            
With a minimal slow down, it takes cal and his friends just
a little over an hour to make it to the Bear Creek Foot
Bridge.
                                                            
                       CAL
We are at the footbridge below the
campground, gang.
                                                            
Cal turns to wait for the others.
                                                            
                       SHARON
How much further, Cal?
                                                            
Sharon rests on the handrail of the footbridge.
                                                            
                       CAL
We are about ten minutes from here
to the campground. Do you girls
want to take ten minutes here or
push on to the campground?
                                                            
                       TERRY
There’s no place to sit down right
here, Cal. Let’s push on to the
campground.
                                                            
                       KERRY
I’ll second that.
                                                            
Kerry steps across the footbridge first.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Wait for us, Kerry.
                                                            
Lynne follows her friend across the short bridge.
                                                            
                       SHARON
You girls aren’t getting there
without us.
                                                            
Sharon and Terry run across the wooden footbridge behind the
others.
                                                            
In a matter of seconds it became a race to see which girl
would get to the campground first. The men watch their
wives find a hidden level of energy they didn’t know they
had.
                                                            

33.

                       MARK
What got into them, Cal?
                                                            
Mark follows his friend across the bridge, with Brad and
Greg behind him.
                                                            
                       CAL
Let’s just say that the girls made
it up here faster than we expected
them to and it all began when they
got to see BJ at the caves.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Shouldn’t we run after them?
                                                            
                       CAL
Why spoil their fun. They want to
be able to say they beat us to the
campground, so we let them. No
harm will be done if we're the
last ones up there.
                                                            
                       GREG
Do you think Bandit will show up?
                                                            
                       CAL
I sure hope he does. The girls
would love to be able to pet and
feed a wild raccoon.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Would he still be alive today?
                                                            
I can’t answer that, Mark.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. OVERLOOK CAMPGROUND - DAY
                                                            
                       TERRY
We beat you guys up here, Cal.
                                                            
Terry laughs as her husband and the others enter Overlook
Campground.
                                                            
                       CAL
That you did. Well done, ladies.
Cal unzips his backpack.
                                                            
                       TERRY
This place is so awesome.
                                                            

34.

Terry looks around the ledge that serves as Overlook
Campground.
                                                            
                       TERRY
It’s quiet, desolate, and so
beautiful.
                                                            
                       CAL
According to the rangers, this
place was not man-made. God made
this campground to be a beautiful
place to spend some quality time
alone with Him. If you want to,
ladies, go and stand out there by
the outer rail and look at the
view of Loomis Lake below here.
We’ll start to set up the tents.
                                                            
Cal brings their tent to the same site he had six years
ago.

Each one of the men does the same thing and at once they
start to unpack while the girls get a good view of the
valley below the campground.

The girls finally relax. They got to the campground just
before two o’clock and when the tents are all set up it’s
almost three-fifteen.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well, ladies, what do you think?
                                                            
Cal and the others join the girls by the outer rail.
                                                            
                       SHARON
There’s no words to describe the
view from here, Cal.
                                                            
                       BRAD
This is the same way we felt when
we came up here before. To say
it’s beautiful doesn’t do this
place justice.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
So, now that we're here in this
Heavenly place called Mount
Manhadden, what’s next for us?
                                                            
                       CAL
I would suggest you girls find a
comfy spot near the tents and sit
down and relax. The four of us
guys will go out and get the
            (MORE)

35.

                       CAL (cont'd)
firewood we need so we can both
stay warm tonight and make us come
coffee as well.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Will we be safe here, alone?
                                                            
                       BRAD
You’ll be safe, Terry.
                                                            
LATER
                                                            
By six o’clock, with the afternoon sun dipping slowly the
western skies, all eight of them sit around the campfire and
wait for their coffee.
                                                            
                       MARK
What will we have for supper
tonight, men?
                                                            
                       CAL
We all brought a can of spaghetti,
so for tonight it will be a good
idea if we suffice our diets with
that. In the morning the guys
will go with me to the creek for
some fresh trout.
                                                            
Cal looks around the campground.
                                                            
                       KERRY
What are you looking for, honey?
                                                            
                       CAL
Well I was hoping to find an old
friend, but I don’t see him
anywhere.
                                                            
                       MARK
You don’t really believe Bandit
would be up here after six long
years, do you, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Up here, on Mount Manhadden,
anything is possible, Mark. If
Bandit, himself, is not still here
than it’s very likely one of his
babies could be. They would be
about his same size about now.
                                                            

36.

                       BRAD
Why don’t we start our dinner now,
Cal? Bandit showed up here, the
first time, after we ate,
remember?
                                                            
                       CAL
I remember that, but I have a gut
feeling inside me that our masked
friend, or one of them anyway, is
around here.
                                                            
Kerry reaches into her backpack and pulls out the can
opener.
                                                            
                       CAL
Let’s get the cans open and we can
heat the spaghetti right inside
the cans. Once they are heated we
can place them on paper plates so
we can eat. It will be easier to
just heat them up in the cans.
                                                            
Moments later, as darkness starts to consume the campground,
eight cans of spaghetti are placed on the metal grille that
sits atop the fire.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well what do you girls think of
Overlook Campground?
                                                            
                       LYNNE
It’s every bit as beautiful up
here as Mark told me it was.
                                                            
                       SHARON
The hike up here was rough, Cal,
and I’d be lying if I said it
wasn’t. Now that we’ve made it
up here, none the worse for wear
mind you, I can’t think of
anyplace, outside of Heaven
itself; I’d rather spend time
like this. My best friends are
here; God is here, so I feel I
should be too.
                                                            
                       TERRY
As for me, gang, I'm sure there is
so much more to see up here that I
can hardly wait.
                                                            

37.

                       KERRY
At first I was the holdout on this
adventure up here. I wanted no
part of a camping experience, but
now that I’m here, with some of
the greatest friends a woman can
have, I look forward to whatever
God wants to bring our way.
                                                            
                       CAL
It might be a while before we have
any inkling as to why God wants us
up here, ladies, but in the
meantime we can enjoy this part of
Heaven God’s given us to see.
How’s the dinner doing, Greg?
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. OVERLOOK CAMPGROUND - NIGHT
                                                            
By the time the meal is over with, darkness starts to take
control of the campground as the sun’s rays sink well behind
the trees to the west. After a brief devotion by the entire
group, all four of the women head to bed early.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
What are we supposed to wear to
bed, Mark?
                                                            
Lynne unzips the tent cover.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
We didn’t bring any night things.
                                                            
All four guys burst out in a fit of laughter. Mark finally
regains his composure.
                                                            
                       MARK
Up here, love, you wear what you
have on and change in the morning.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Are you serious?
                                                            
                       MARK
This is what we call roughing it.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Roughing it isn’t exactly how I’d
phrase it, Mark. Don’t you
realize we are women?
                                                            

38.

Cal and the other three guys stand together by the outer
rail.
                                                            
                       CAL
We know you ladies are women,
Sharon, but this is not the
Sheraton Hotel, nor are we at
anyone’s home.
                                                            
                       BRAD
When in Rome, do as the Romans do,
or in this case, when at
Manhadden, do as other campers do.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Okay! Okay! I know when I am
being ganged up on.
                                                            
Sharon enters her tent and the other three women follow her
lead and they each enter their own tents.
                                                            
                       MARK
If you guys don’t mind, I’m going
to get some shut-eye.
                                                            
                       GREG
I think I’ll do the same, Cal.
Goodnight, you two.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Are you going to stay up, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I plan to for a little while. I
want to make sure the fire is out
before I hit the hay.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Then I’ll see you in the morning.
                                                            
                       CAL
Goodnight, Brad.
                                                            
Cal turns back towards the valley. A bright full moon
rises into the night’s sky and as Cal looks out into the
valley below Overlook, Loomis Lake looks like no more than a
puddle that’s outlined by the forest that surrounds it.
                                                            
Cal hears the hoot of an owl in a nearby tree.
                                                            
                       CAL
Is that you, Mr. Owl?
                                                            

39.

                       MR. OWL
Hoo… hoo.
                                                            
                       CAL
It’s me, Mr. Owl, your friend from
long ago.
                                                            
                       MR. OWL
Hoo… hoo… hoo.
                                                            
The adult owl flies into the night’s sky and lands on the
top outer rail only inches away from where Cal stands.
                                                            
                       CAL
You’re bigger now, Mr. Owl.
                                                            
Cal gets a good view thanks to the moon’s rays that shine
brightly on the campground.
                                                            
                       MR. OWL
Hoo… hoo.
                                                            
                       CAL
I guess that means you agree with
me. Do you remember me?
                                                            
                       MR. OWL
Hoo… hoo… hoo.
                                                            
Mr. Owl flaps its wings and lifts off the rail and lands on
Cal’s left arm.
                                                            
                       CAL
I guess you do.
                                                            
Cal pets the head of the owl.
                                                            
                       CAL
I'm happy to see you, my friend,
but it's been a long day, and I'm
sure God has another one planned
for tomorrow, so I have to say
good night. Are you going to be
around this week?
                                                            
                       MR. OWL
Hoo... hoo... hoo.
                                                            
Cal extends his arm and the owl flies off his arm and in
seconds is perched on the branch of a nearby tree.
                                                            
Cal then makes a final check of the fire and then heads to
his tent.
                                                            

40.

CUT TO:
                                                            
 
INT. FERRIS' CAR - DAY
                                                            
The FERRIS' are about to turn onto Manhadden Park Road.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Are we almost there, daddy?
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Gruff Voice)
Be quiet, Andy. We’ll be there in
a few minutes.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Do you have to be so rough on him,
Jack. He’s only eight years old,
and just an average boy.
                                                            
                       JACK
Are the two of you going to hound
me all week?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Jack! You promised to take him
and he worked hard to earn the
right to be here.
                                                            
                       JACK
We’ll talk about this later.
There’s the ranger shack.
                                                            
 
EXT. ROUNDABOUT TRAIL - DAY
                                                            
Andy gets out of the car.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Is that the trail we’ll be taking,
daddy?
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Raised Voice)
That’s the one, Andy. Now you
stay right here by the car, young
man.
                                                            
Lorraine Ferris heads around the car to her husband.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Let him have a good time this week
Jack, please?
                                                            

41.

                       JACK
If I must. Let’s get our stuff
out of the car. We’ve got a good
four hours hike up the mountain to
get to the campsite.
                                                            
Jack opens the trunk.
                                                            
                       JACK (Cont'd)
Come here, son.
                                                            
                       ANDY
      (Sheepish Voice)
Yes, sir!
                                                            
                       CAL
Turn around so I can put this
backpack on your shoulders and get
it hooked up.
                                                            
Almost ten minutes later Jack Ferris leads the three of them
down Roundabout Trail towards Mount Manhadden.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. OVERLOOK CAMPGROUND - DAY
                                                            
At eight o’clock, with some daylight seeping into the
campground at Overlook, all four of the men meet outside the
tents.

Cal starts to set up the campfire.
                                                            
                       CAL
How’d you guys sleep?
                                                            
                       MARK
I conked out right away.
                                                            
                       BRAD
It didn’t take me very long, Cal.
I heard you out here, but I never
heard you go back into the tent.
                                                            
Cal looks at Brad with a smile on his face.
                                                            
                       GREG
Okay, Cal, what did I miss? Seeing
as I conked out, and Kerry was
already in her tent before I went
to bed, what did I miss?
                                                            

42.

                       CAL
      (Chuckling)
Now what makes you think something
happened?
                                                            
                       MARK
Because we know you and this
mountain, my friend.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, then, Mr. Owl showed up out
by the outer guard rail. He sat
on my arm for a while.
                                                            
                       BRAD
That hoot owl is still around
after six years?
                                                            
                       CAL
He sure is. He’s bigger than when
we saw him last, though.
                                                            
                       GREG
Not to change the subject, Cal,
but what are we going to do for
our breakfast? We didn’t eat much
last night and I’m getting hungry.
                                                            
                       CAL
Mark! Is Lynne going to be doing
any fishing this week while we’re
up here?
                                                            
                       MARK
She has her license with her but I
didn’t bring her fishing rod. Why?
                                                            
                       CAL
I’m just trying to see how many
fish we can catch each day. With
her that makes fifteen, and if
those fish are still as big as
they were six years ago it would
mean we would have more than
enough for the entire day. To
answer your question, Greg,
someone needs to stay here at the
campground to stay near the fire
and to be with the ladies when
they wake up.
                                                            

43.

                       GREG
If you guys want to, Cal, I can do
that this morning. I better go
and get the canteens filled up for
the coffee before you guys take
off.
                                                            
Greg begins to round up the canteens.
                                                            
                       BRAD
I’ll go with him, Cal. He has
more than four canteens to get
filled now that the ladies are
with us.
                                                            
                       GREG
We’ll be right back.
                                                            
                       MARK
Are you ready to start the fire,
Cal?
                                                            
Mark pulls out two of the larger pieces of wood from the
pile and places them near the spot where the fire will
start.
                                                            
                       CAL
Go ahead, Mark.
                                                            
Cal stands up and seconds later he heads over to the outer
rail and looks towards the sky.

As soon as the fire gets going, Mark joins Cal by the outer
rail.
                                                            
                       MARK
What’s wrong?
                                                            
                       CAL
God's called us up here for a
specific reason, Mark, but I can’t
put my finger on what it is.
                                                            
                       MARK
Let God have His way, my friend.
Whatever reason He had for calling
us back up here, we'll be ready
for it.
                                                            
Moments later both Greg and Brad return with the filled
canteens.
                                                            

44.

                       GREG
Are any of the ladies up yet, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I think this fresh mountain air
knocked them out.
                                                            
Cal and mark join the others by the fire.
                                                            
                       GREG
When should we get them up?
                                                            
                       CAL
I'm pretty sure that once the fish
are cooking, and they get a whiff
of the aroma as it wafts through
the air, they’ll all get up.
Whoever isn’t up, by then, their
husband can wake them. Let’s get
our rods, guys, and go to the
creek and catch our breakfast.
                                                            
                       BRAD
How many fish can we catch?.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well one of us should catch their
limit of three, and the others no
more than two. That will leave
eight fish for our evening meal.
                                                            
The men grab their fishing rods.

While Greg makes the morning coffee, Cal, Mark, and Brad
waste no time in getting down to their favorite fishing
spot. Within a half-hour the three of them have the seven
trout they need for their breakfast.

The three men return to the campground and as they approach
the campfire they can see that Lynne and Kerry are already
up and enjoying their morning coffee.
                                                            
                       CAL
Good morning, ladies.
                                                            
Cal lays his two trout on the grille.
                                                            
                       CAL (Cont'd)
Did you both sleep well?
                                                            

45.

                       LYNNE
Once I got used to the fact the
ground is harder to sleep on than
a nice soft mattress, I managed to
sleep like a log, Cal. Morning,
honey!
                                                            
Mark bends down for a kiss.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Once you got into the tent I slept
great, sweetheart.
                                                            
Kerry stands to kiss her man.
                                                            
                       CAL
Go ahead and put the fish on the
grille, guys.
                                                            
Cal gives his wife a quick kiss and then bends to get a cup
of coffee.
                                                            
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER
                                                            
                       GREG
The fish are just about done,
whenever anyone wants to eat.
                                                            
Greg flips the fish over one final time.
                                                            
                       CAL
Would you care to bless the food
this morning, Sharon?
                                                            
                       SHARON
I’d be glad to. Shall we bow our
heads.
                                                            
Sharon waits for them to bow their heads, and then prays.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Dear Lord! We thank you for this
lovely day and for this food
you’ve so graciously supplied for
us. Bless it to our bodies use,
we pray, amen.
                                                            
                       CAL
Dig in, everyone
                                                            
Cal looks around.
                                                            

46.

                       MARK
Are you still looking for Bandit?
                                                            
                       CAL
I guess I'm just hoping he’ll show
up, Mark.
                                                            
                       MARK
Do you think it would be Bandit,
or one of his kids?
                                                            
                       CAL
After six years it would probably
be one of those two babies he
brought up here to the campground.
I doubt Bandit is still alive
now.
                                                            
                       TERRY
How did you feel when you were
with them at their cave, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
It’s kind of hard to explain.
Where I've never been a parent, or
a grandparent, I can’t truly
relate, but my guess would be that
I felt like a grandparent to those
little fur balls. They played
with me and then snuggled up to me
and went to sleep. I adored them.
                                                            
                       GREG
There’s three pieces of fish left
Cal. Help yourself.
                                                            
Cal grabs one of the three remaining pieces of fish and
starts to eat.

The smell and aroma of the cooked trout wafts well into the
woods and reaches the cave that belonged to Bandit before he
died three years ago. Taking residence in the cave now are
Bandit’s two offspring and smelling the fish they waste no
time in heading in its direction.
                                                            
                       GREG
I wonder, if Bandit does come will
he be alone or will he have his
whole family with him?
                                                            
Greg moves the last two remaining fish away from the fire.
                                                            

47.

                       CAL
If he brings his whole family,
Greg, there won’t be enough fish
for the four of them.
                                                            
Cal takes another look around.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Where would he be coming from,
honey?
                                                            
                       CAL
If I remember correctly, when we
were here before, he came up
Eden’s Trail from the footbridge.
                                                            
                       TERRY
      (Nervous Voice)
I don’t know if one of them is
your Bandit or not, Cal, but there
are two raccoons coming our way
from Eden’s Trail. What should we
do?
                                                            
                       CAL
Relax, Terry, this is Mount
Manhadden. Let them come to us on
their own.
                                                            
Cal turns quickly to greet his friends.
                                                            
                       MARK
Neither one of them is Bandit,
Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
I know! Bandit was bigger, Mark.
My closest guess is that these two
are his offspring, the ones Bandit
brought up here with his mate.
                                                            
                       MARK
You could be right. It appears
they are heading straight for you.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well hello there!
                                                            
Cal extends both hands to the two masked raccoons that walk
right up to him. Once the two raccoons lick Cal’s hands,
Cal is able to pet them both on the head.
                                                            

48.

                       CAL (Cont'd)
You two know me, don’t you?
                                                            
                       LARGER RACCOON
Chatter… chatter… chatter.
                                                            
                       CAL
Are you two hungry?
                                                            
The four girls sit opposite the fire and watch closely in
awe.
                                                            
                       LARGER RACCOON
Chatter… chatter… chatter.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well I see who wears the pants in
the family. The smaller one is a
female, gang, and by the looks of
things she's pregnant.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Are you serious, Cal?
                                                            
                       TERRY
What in the world is she doing up
here this far away from their
cave?
                                                            
                       CAL
I am only guessing, mind you, but
it's possible she's up here to get
some food to feed her young.
                                                            
Cal hands them both some of the fresh fish.
                                                            
                       CAL (Cont'd)
There you go, you two.
                                                            
                       SHARON
What will you call them, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Well Bandit would be an ideal name
for them both, because of their
masks, but I'll call the male one
Bandit, because of the love I had
for his father, but I have no idea
what I could use for a name for
his mate. I’ll leave that chore
up to you girls to decide.
                                                            

49.

The two masked creatures of the woods lay on the ground by
their friends and enjoy the meal Cal gave them. They devour
the last of the fish in no time.
                                                            
Kerry joins her husband and tries to help relax the pregnant
raccoon and pets her head.
                                                            
                       KERRY
They are so gentle, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes they are.
                                                            
Bandit suddenly arises and turns towards Eden’s Trail.
                                                            
                       CAL
What’s wrong, Bandit?
                                                            
Cal chases after him when he takes off to the edge of the
campground.
                                                            
                       BANDIT
Chatter… chatter.
                                                            
Bandit looks at his mate.
                                                            
                       BANDIT
Chatter… chatter… chatter…
chatter.
                                                            
Bandit looks up at Cal.
                                                            
                       BRAD
What's he doing, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I don’t know, but he's now looking
down the trail. What is it,
Bandit?
                                                            
Off in the distance, somewhere down the trail below the
campground, Cal hears a voice.
                                                            
                       JACK (VO)
Andy! Where are you?
                                                            
                       CAL
Someone's in trouble down the
trail, gang.
                                                            
Cal looks at Mark, who is headed towards him.
                                                            

50.

                       MARK
Should we all go?
                                                            
                       CAL
Let Sharon and Kerry stay here
with the pregnant raccoon. I
don’t want her running down there,
just in case. I heard someone
calling out to someone else called
Andy, so it might be a missing
child. There it is again.
                                                            
Cal hears the same male voice calling out.
                                                            
                       CAL
Lynne, Terry, please come with us.
There may be a woman down there
who could use female friends about
now.
                                                            
                       SHARON
We’ll stay here with this raccoon,
Cal.
                                                            
Sharon bends down to pet the animal.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Is Bandit going with you guys?
                                                            
                       CAL
If he’ll come we will be glad to
have his help. He would know this
mountain better than any of us
would. Let’s go, gang!
                                                            
Bandit leads the way down Eden’s Trail on a run.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. EDEN'S TRAIL - DAY
                                                            
The four men and two women run to keep up with their masked
friend, but his four legs allows him to move at a
considerably faster pace and distances himself from the
group.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
We can’t keep up to Bandit, Cal.
Our legs won’t let us run downhill
that fast. If you guys want to go
ahead of us, then go ahead and we
will catch up to you.
                                                            

51.

                       CAL
Then we will slow down, ladies. If
there’s a mother down there,
looking for her son, then she's
going to need female friends she
can turn to.
                                                            
Cal starts down the trail at a slower pace.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. EDEN'S TRAIL - FURTHER BELOW - DAY
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Yelling)
Andy! Where are you?
                                                            
FADE IN:
                                                            
 
EXT. EDEN'S TRAIL - FURTHER UP THE TRAIL - DAY
                                                            
                       GREG
I can hear him now, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
I know, and by the sound of him,
he, or they, are somewhere near
the Cravitz Caves.
                                                            
                       GREG
You don’t think the boy went into
the Cravitz Caves by himself, do
you?
                                                            
                       CAL
At a young age, a child’s
curiosity would take him just
about anywhere he wished to go.
                                                            
The six of them continue to hike down the trail as fast a
walk as they can without tiring out the ladies, until the
voice calling out gets close.
                                                            
                       BANDIT
Chatter… chatter.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, Bandit, we’ll take it from
here. If we need you, old buddy,
I’ll call for you, okay?
                                                            

52.

Cal kneels down in front of his masked friend.
                                                            
                       BANDIT
Chatter… chatter… chatter.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Does he know what you said?
                                                            
                       CAL
I can’t say for sure, Terry, but
if he’s like his father then three
chatters means a yes. One
solitary chatter means no, I
think, and two means there’s
something ahead.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Then that should mean that the man
is just ahead of us, right?
                                                            
                       CAL
If I’m right, he is. Let’s go!
                                                            
Cal, Mark, Brad, Greg, Lynne, and Terry start the zig zag
course back down the trail with Bandit close behind them.
When they get to the second turn to their right they
encounter the only obstacle in the path to the Cravitz
Caves, a huge boulder they either have to climb over or
around.
                                                            
As Cal approaches the boulder, the father calls out again in
a yell.
                                                            
                       JACK (VO)
Can you hear me, Andy?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE (VO)
      (Crying)
What are we going to do, Jack?
                                                            
Cal steps to the edge of the boulder above the couple.
                                                            
                       CAL
Excuse me, folks, but we’ve come
to help.
                                                            
                       JACK
Who in blue blazes are you, sir,
and who are the we you're talking
about?
                                                            
Jack looks up and sees only Cal.
                                                            

53.

                       CAL
My name is Cal Long and my friends
from the Holden Valley Pentecostal
Church, and I heard your yells
from the campground above here. We
came down here to see if we could
help you find your son.
                                                            
                       JACK
Oh great! Now I’ve got a bunch of
holy rollers trying to help me.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Stop it, Jack. They didn’t have
to come down here.
                                                            
Jack stands there with a scowl on his face.

Lorraine then looks up at Cal.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Thank you. Our son somehow got
separated from us and we have no
idea where to look for him.
                                                            
                       CAL
We’ll come right down. Ma’am.
                                                            
Cal carefully works his way around the boulder with Bandit
and the others right behind him. One by one they climb
around the boulder and Cal is the first to reach Mrs.
Ferris.
                                                            
                       CAL
My name is Cal Long, ma’am, and
these are my friends from the
church, Brad, Greg, Mark, Lynne,
and the last woman coming out here
is Terry.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Thank you all for coming out of
your way to help. My name is
Lorraine Ferris and the grump over
there is Jack, my husband.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
How old is your son Andy, Mrs.
Ferris?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
He’s just eight years old, miss.
                                                            

54.

                       CAL
Before we do anything, ma’am, we'd
like to say a quick prayer for
your son, if you don’t mind.
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Bitter Voice)
You all do what you want, but I’m
going to go and look for my
missing brat.
                                                            
                       MARK
Will you pray with us, Mr. Ferris?
                                                            
                       JACK
You go ahead and pray, but I’ll
stay right here.
                                                            
                       CAL
Let’s hold hands and pray.
                                                            
Cal forms a circle and holds hands. He bows his head, and
prays.
                                                            
                       CAL (Cont'd)
Dear God! We ask right now that
you be with little Andy Ferris.
Keep him safe from harm, Lord, and
if it be your will, lead us to the
boy so he can be reunited with his
parents. We ask this in your Holy
Name, Lord, amen.
                                                            
                       JACK
A lot of good that hogwash will
do. I’m going to go and look for
my boy.
                                                            
Jack turns and starts to go back down the trail.
                                                            
                       CAL
Wait a second, Mr. Ferris. I have
an idea that just might find your
son.
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Sarcastically)
And just what might that be, sir?
                                                            
                       CAL
I have a friend that knows these
woods better than any human does,
and even though he’s just a
            (MORE)

55.

                       CAL (cont'd)
raccoon, he’s a pretty smart
animal.
                                                            
                       JACK
Now I’ve heard everything. Get
lost, you idiots!
                                                            
Jack turns again and starts down the trail.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Are you serious, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I’ll show you.
                                                            
Cal turns around.
                                                            
                       CAL
Come here, boy.
                                                            
Bandit approaches Cal slowly and stands in front of the
puzzled Lorraine.
                                                            
                       CAL
This is my friend Bandit, Mrs.
Ferris. Do you happen to have
anything of your son’s with you?
                                                            
Cal bends down to pet his friend.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
When we were at the Cravitz Caves,
Andy gave me his hat because he
was getting a warm head with it
on. I stuck it in my backpack.
Can you use that?
                                                            
                       CAL
It has your son’s scent on it and
that’s all I should need.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
That’s a raccoon, Mr. Long, not a
bloodhound.
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes, ma’am, this is a raccoon, but
on this mountain my furry friend
here is better than any
bloodhound. Now can I see that
            (MORE)

56.

                       CAL (cont'd)
hat?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Can one of you ladies pull it out
of my backpack. It should be
right on top.
                                                            
                       TERRY
I’ll get it for you.
                                                            
Terry stands right next to the puzzled woman and reaches
into her backpack and finds the hat.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Thank you. You’ll have to forgive
me, right now, but I don’t
remember your name.
                                                            
                       TERRY
It’s Terry, Mrs. Ferris. Here it
is.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Where your friend is a raccoon,
Cal, how is he going to be able to
find Andy?
                                                            
                       CAL
You said it yourself a few moments
ago. He's going to do just what a
bloodhound would do. Your son’s
scent is all over that hat, ma’am,
and I am going to have Bandit
sniff it and hopefully look for
and find your son’s scent. If he
does find it then he’ll be able to
locate the boy, no matter where he
is.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Here’s the cap, Cal.
                                                            
Terry hands the blue baseball cap to Cal.
                                                            
Cal takes the ball cap and kneels down again by his masked
friend.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, Bandit, I need some help, my
friend. Take a whiff of this hat,
boy, and try to locate his scent
from it, then find the boy it
            (MORE)

57.

                       CAL (cont'd)
belongs to.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
I’ve heard of bloodhounds, and
other dogs doing stuff like this,
Cal, but I’ve never heard of a
raccoon doing it.
                                                            
Bandit stands there and sniffs Andy’s hat.
                                                            
                       CAL
He seems to know what I asked him
to do though.
                                                            
Bandit takes off down Eden’s Trail towards the Cravitz
Caves.
                                                            
                       CAL
I wonder where your husband went,
Lorraine.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Andy was behind us when we left
the Cravitz Caves, Cal, and I
believe he thinks Andy may have
doubled back and gone back there
to see them. He wouldn’t let Andy
go inside and see them when we
stopped to take a break there.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, everyone, let’s try to
follow Bandit if we can.
                                                            
From where they are, the Cravitz Caves are close to a
quarter of a mile down the zig-zagged trail. Bandit moved
ahead of them and stopped when he caught a whiff of the
boy’s scent. At the fifth turn Bandit stopped and looked
straight off the trail and onto a very narrow path that
branches off and away from the main trail.
                                                            
                       CAL
What is it, Bandit?
                                                            
Cal nears his four-legged masked friend.
                                                            
                       BANDIT
Chatter… chatter… chatter.
                                                            
                       CAL
It looks like your son went in
here, Mrs. Ferris. I’ll yell and
see if he can hear me. ANDY! CAN
            (MORE)

58.

                       CAL (cont'd)
YOU HEAR ME, ANDY?
                                                            
Cal yells as loud as his lungs will let him, while he stands
there and hears his echoes reverberate through the trees
around them.
                                                            
                       JACK
I see you didn't find him either,
huh?
                                                            
Jack Ferris approaches the group on his way back from the
caves.
                                                            
                       JACK (Cont'd)
Well he wasn’t down at the Cravitz
Caves and there was no sign that
he was even there.
                                                            
                       CAL
Your son, Mr. Ferris, went down
this narrow path for some reason.
                                                            
                       JACK
And just what makes you think
that? Are you an expert?
                                                            
                       CAL
I’m not an expert, sir, but my
friend Bandit is. He got your
son’s scent from his ball cap and
when he got here he stopped and
waited for us until we knew where
he was going.
                                                            
                       JACK
You’ve got to be soft as a grape,
young man, if you’re going to try
and make me believe this raccoon
is smarter than I am.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Jack! Stop it, please. Our son’s
life is at stake.
                                                            
                       CAL
We are wasting time, sir. Okay,
Bandit, lead the way. Where did
Andy go?
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 

59.

EXT. NARROW PATH INTO THE WOODS - DAY
                                                            
Bandit once again takes off on a run and the others,
including the skeptical Jack Ferris, try to catch up.
Bandit; however, has a solid scent he's following and in a
matter of a minute the masked denizen of the forest is out
of sight.
                                                            
                       MARK
Where did he go?
                                                            
Cal and Mark wait for the others to catch up.
                                                            
Cal looks at his three friends.
                                                            
                       CAL
Who’s the fastest runner out of
you three?
                                                            
                       GREG
I guess that would be me, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
Do me a favor, Greg, and head back
down the trail and go to the
ranger station by the beach. Let
them know what's going on up here.
If and when we find the boy we
have no idea what shape he’ll be
in.
                                                            
                       GREG
I’m on my way.
                                                            
Greg turns to go back to Eden’s Trail.
                                                            
                       JACK
What about finding my son, Mr.
Know it all.
                                                            
                       CAL
You know, Mr. Ferris, if you'd
work with us, this whole ordeal
could move a lot faster. You,
your wife, and the others follow
this trail at a pace you're
comfortable with. I'm going to
run and try to find Bandit.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Be careful, Cal. We’ll be right
behind you.
                                                            

60.

                       LORRAINE
Can’t you, just this once, put all
that hatred that’s inside you to
one side, Jack? These nice people
went out of their way to help us
find Andy.
                                                            
Bandit traveled the narrow path that was matted down by some
of the forest animals. He went almost three-quarters of a
mile around the mountain and stops quickly as he sees the
boy lying on the ground with his head propped up against a
log. Bandit then approaches the boy at a slow pace and lies
down next to him.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Yelling)
Bandit, where are you?
                                                            
Cal listens to his echo bounce around in the trees around
him.
                                                            
Bandit could hear his friend off in the distance, but he
stayed with the boy Andy, the child he was sent to find.
                                                            
Moment’s later eight-year old Andy Ferris wakes up to find a
raccoon on the ground by his side, and for a moment he's
scared and screams.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Mommy! Daddy! There’s something
beside me.
                                                            
Bandit stands up and gently nudges the boy.
                                                            
                       BANDIT
Chatter… chatter… chatter.
                                                            
                       ANDY
What do you want? What are you?
                                                            
Andy stands up and backs away from the raccoon.
                                                            
                       BANDIT
Chatter… chatter.
                                                            
Bandit rolls over on the ground by Andy’s feet.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Do you want me to pet you?
                                                            
Andy kneels down on the ground by the humbled raccoon.
                                                            

61.

                       ANDY (Cont'd)
I’m not afraid of you now.
                                                            
Andy rubs Bandit's furry stomach.

Cal happens upon the scene and as he looks at the bright
young boy, tears well up in the corner of his eyes. He
approaches the child slowly.
                                                            
                       CAL
Are you Andy Ferris?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Yes I am, but who are you, mister?
                                                            
Andy continues to rub Bandit’s tummy.
                                                            
                       CAL
My name is Cal Long and your mommy
and daddy are right behind me a
little ways. Are you alright,
Andy?
                                                            
                       ANDY
I am fine, Mr. Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
How did you manage to end up way
out here?
                                                            
                       ANDY
I saw this little brown bunny
rabbit and I tried to catch him.
When I got here I couldn’t see him
anywhere. I yelled for my mommy
but I guess she couldn’t hear me.
I got tired so I laid down right
there, by that piece of wood. When
I woke up this animal was laying
right beside me.
                                                            
                       CAL
That animal, Andy, is a raccoon
and he’s my friend. His name is
Bandit because his eyes look like
they are wearing a mask on them.
                                                            
                       ANDY
      (Excited Voice)
There’s my mommy and daddy.
                                                            

62.

In an instant the boy jumps to his feet and runs to his
mother.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I missed you, mommy.
                                                            
                       JACK
Are you okay, son?
                                                            
                       ANDY
I'm fine, daddy. I was scared
when I couldn’t find you and mommy
is all. That raccoon found me,
and his name is Bandit. Did you
know that?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Yes we do, Andy. Cal and his
friends sent Bandit out to look
for you.
                                                            
Lorraine kneels down to hug her son.
                                                            
                       JACK
How can we thank…
                                                            
Mark interrupts Jack.
                                                            
                       MARK
There’s no need to thank us, sir.
                                                            
Mark places his arm on the man’s shoulder.
                                                            
                       MARK (Cont'd)
The God we prayed to, He heard our
prayers and answered them. Where
your son is okay, Mr. Ferris, why
don’t we start to make our way
back to the trail? I'm sure the
rangers will be coming with our
friend by the time we get out of
here.
                                                            
While Mark starts to lead the Ferris’ down the path, Cal
looks at his friends.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Quietly)
Now I know why God called us back
here.
                                                            

63.

                       LYNNE
      (Quietly)
To witness to this family?
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes, I believe it is. Come on,
let’s catch up to them.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. OVERLOOK CAMPGROUND - DAY
                                                            
The girls stand as the rest of the party enters the
campground.
                                                            
                       KERRY
We were beginning to get worried
about you guys.
                                                            
                       CAL
It’s a long story, dear, but to
shorten it a little, these folks
are the Ferris’. Their son
drifted off the path behind them
and got lost in the woods above
Cravitz Caves. Bandit sniffed the
boy’s ballcap and went looking for
him and found him too. After the
rangers checked him out we came
back up here. I suppose it’s time
we all got officially introduced.
The Ferris’ know me. This is my
wife, folks and her name is Kerry.
You already know Greg and this
other woman is Sharon, his wife.
That’s Lynne and Mark, and Brad
and Terry, they are both married
couples as well. Kerry! Sharon!
This is Lorraine and Jack Ferris
and their son Andy.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Nice to meet you folks.
                                                            
Kerry shakes their hands.
                                                            
                       SHARON
The same here. Would you folks
like some hot coffee?
                                                            

64.

                       LORRAINE
I sure could stand a cup. Thanks,
Sharon.
                                                            
                       JACK
I’ll take one, and thanks.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
What will we do about getting our
tent up?
                                                            
                       LYNNE
The men will put it up for you,
Mrs. Ferris. You three just
relax. You’ve gone through enough
for one day.
                                                            
                       CAL
What number is your tent site, Mr.
Ferris?
                                                            
                       JACK
It’s number fifteen, Cal, and
thank you.
                                                            
                       CAL
No problem, sir.
                                                            
Lorraine sits down on the ground and as she sips her coffee
she can see a change in her husband’s attitude, but says
nothing and enjoys it.
                                                            
                       TERRY
There you go, Mr. Ferris. Be
careful, it’s hot.
                                                            
Terry hands him a paper cup filled with hot coffee.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Would you like another one,
Lorraine?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I am still nurturing this one,
thanks.
                                                            
                       JACK
Thank you! Why are you people so
kind to us strangers?
                                                            
                       TERRY
I’d like to try and answer that
for you, Mr. Ferris. I’ll give
you a couple of good reasons..
            (MORE)

65.

                       TERRY (cont'd)
When you first met us, down there
on the trail, you called us ‘Holy
Rollers’. That’s not true by any
means. We are Christians, all
eight of us, and one of our God’s
Commandments says to love thy
neighbor. Though you may not
reside next door to us, in a
traditional manner, you are still
fellow human beings, and as such
we love you as people. Would God
turn his back on someone who
needed help?
                                                            
                       JACK
If this God of yours is real, then
I'd have to say no.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Jesus was ridiculed for all the
good things He did. You ridiculed
us for wanting to pray for your
son’s safety before we went out to
look for him
                                                            
                       JACK
I get the point, so what’s number
two.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Not one of us are parents, Jack,
so we don’t know the level of fear
that went through you when you
couldn’t find Andy. Someday, when
we are parents, and if the same
situation were to come up like you
faced, we all would hope and pray
someone would find it in their
hearts to help us the way we
helped you.
                                                            
                       JACK
That makes sense.
                                                            
                       KERRY
When the guys finish with your
tent they'll be going down to the
creek to catch some fish for our
supper. If you’ll give him
permission to go, sir, I'm sure
one of the guys will take Andy and
let him catch a few trout for your
supper. We have a fire already
            (MORE)

66.

                       KERRY (cont'd)
built and a big grille to cook
them on, so you can cook yours
right along with ours.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Can I daddy, please?
                                                            
                       JACK
What kind of a father would I be
if I said no. Andy! You do what
these guys tell you to do, okay?
If you want to go, and it’s okay
with them, you can go.
                                                            
                       ANDY
You mean it, daddy? I can go?
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, Mr. Ferris, your tent is all
set up.
                                                            
Cal reaches for a coffee.
                                                            
                       KERRY
When are you guys going to the
creek for supper, honey?
                                                            
                       CAL
As soon as I've had my coffee,
why?
                                                            
                       KERRY
There’s a young man here who'd
like to catch some supper for his
mom and dad.
                                                            
                       CAL
Really? Can he go, Mr. Ferris?
                                                            
                       JACK
I already told your wife he could
go, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
Would you like to come and watch
your son fish, Jack?
                                                            
                       JACK
You wouldn’t mind a bitter old man
tagging along?
                                                            

67.

                       CAL
That bitterness, Jack, is in God’s
hands now. You are here with
friends, and this is a happy
campground, okay? I don’t mind
you coming with us at all. I’d be
glad to have you.
                                                            
Cal looks at his wife and she nods her head with some
discretion.
                                                            
                       BRAD
We’re about ready to go to the
creek, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
I’ll be with you guys in a minute.
We’ve got two more going with us,
Brad. Andy and his father are
going.
                                                            
Cal rubs Andy's head and then grabs his pole.
                                                            
                       CAL (Cont'd)
We’ll be back with our supper,
ladies.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
You be good and do what he says,
Andy.
                                                            
The men start down Eden's Trail towards Bear Creek.
                                                            
                       SHARON
When the guys come back with the
fish, Lorraine, we hope you and
the family will join us for
dinner.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I can’t speak for the men, but I’d
like that.
                                                            
                       KERRY
Remember, Lorraine, we'll be here
all week, if you need someone to
talk to.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Thank you. I may just take you up
on that.
                                                            

68.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON
                                                            
When the men return to the campground Andy runs over to his
mother.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I caught two fish, mom, and the
second one I caught all by myself.
                                                            
Lorraine stretches her arms and gives her son a hug.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
      (Slight Chuckle)
Very good, Andy. Are you going to
cook them for me too?
                                                            
                       GREG
I think we'll leave that up to the
big boys, Lorraine
                                                            
Greg lays nine trout across the grille side by side.
                                                            
                       KERRY
All those are for us, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
All but two of them. There are
two of those fish for the Ferris'.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
My little Andy caught those two
fish, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Well the biggest trout of the day
is about twenty-four inches long
and the smallest one just about
twenty, so even if he caught the
smallest ones, Lorraine, he did
one fine job.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
You’ve made our son’s whole week,
Cal. You do know that, don’t you?
                                                            
                       CAL
I didn’t do anything other than
what my good Lord would want me to
do if He was right here beside me
in the flesh.
                                                            

69.

                       JACK
This God of yours, Cal. No one
ever sees him, do they?
                                                            
                       CAL
Not in the way you mean it, Jack,
but God is all around us.
                                                            
Cal hears a familiar chirp in the background.
                                                            
                       JACK
You’ll have to do better than that
to make a believer out of me.
                                                            
                       CAL
Answer me a question, Jack.
                                                            
                       JACK
If I can. What question?
                                                            
                       CAL
What do you know about blue jays?
                                                            
                       JACK
They are nothing but wild untamed
birds.
                                                            
                       CAL
What if I were to tell you that I
have, on this mountain mind you,
one tamed and very human friendly
blue Jay that goes by the name BJ?
                                                            
                       JACK
Even I know that’s impossible.
                                                            
                       CAL
BJ! Come to me my friend.
                                                            
Cal holds out his arm.
                                                            
                       BJ
Chirp… chirp… chirp.
                                                            
B J flies down from the branch of a nearby tree and lands
on Cal’s outstretched arm.
                                                            
                       CAL
How are you, my friend?
                                                            

70.

                       JACK
I'm sitting here and seeing this,
but I am having a hard time
believing it.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Can I pet him, daddy?
                                                            
                       JACK
If Cal says it’s okay, then go
ahead. Now I’ve seen everything.
                                                            
                       CAL
No, Mr. Ferris, you haven’t. This
small and seemingly insignificant
blue jay is but only one of God’s
many wonders of love that you’ll
get to see here on Mount
Manhadden, or for that matter,
anywhere else. Go ahead, Andy,
and pet him.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
My little Andy is taking this all
in, Lynne.
                                                            
THE FOLLOWING MORNING
                                                            
Because Overlook Campground is on the western edge of the
mountain only a bright sky above gives any credence to the
sun’s ascent into the morning’s sky.
                                                            
                       JACK
I wonder if our friends would let
us have a couple pieces of wood so
we can get our coffee and tea
started.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Why don’t you go over there and
ask them, Jack? They won’t bite
you.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Can I go with you, daddy?
                                                            
                       JACK
Come on, son, let’s take a walk
over there.
                                                            
The two of them head over to the other campsite.
                                                            

71.

                       JACK
Good morning, everyone.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Good morning, Jack. Where’s the
wife?
                                                            
                       JACK
She is waiting for us to come
back. I just came over here to
see if I could borrow a few pieces
of wood so we can get a fire
started to make coffee.
                                                            
                       GREG
Go on back and get the wife, Jack.
We pretty much expected you folks
to be joining us for breakfast
today anyway.
                                                            
                       JACK
Are you sure we won’t be a bother?
                                                            
                       GREG
      (Chuckling)
Do I have to ask you again?
                                                            
                       JACK
Thank you. I’ll go and get her.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Can I stay here, dad?
                                                            
                       JACK
Now you stay right here. Mommy
and I will be right back.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. EDEN'S TRAIL NORTH - DAY
                                                            
It's noon, with the sun high into the mid-day's sky as the
Ferris' start out on their afternoon hike.
                                                            
                       ANDY
There's Cal and his friends.
                                                            
                       CAL
Good afternoon, folks!
                                                            

72.

                       LORRAINE
Good afternoon, Cal. It looks
like a wonderful day for a hike.
                                                            
                       CAL
It sure is. You’ll get to see
some of the berry bushes up the
trail maybe a thousand yards or
so. Did you bring anything to
carry them back to camp in?
                                                            
                       ANDY
I got my baseball cap, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
I’m afraid, Andy, that if that’s
all they had and they filled it
then you wouldn’t take much back
to camp with you. Do we have any
empty bags with us?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
No need, Cal. Kerry gave us a
couple and I brought them.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
I have an extra one, Cal.
                                                            
Lynne reaches into her pocket and pulls it out.
                                                            
                       CAL
Give it to Lorraine, will you,
Lynne.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
I’d be glad to.
                                                            
                       CAL
There you go, folks, now you can
have plenty of ripe berries to
snack on tonight.
                                                            
                       JACK
How can we thank you folks?
                                                            
                       CAL
You just take good care of your
family, Jack. That’s all the
thanks we would ever ask for.
                                                            
Lynne hands the empty plastic bag to Andy’s mother.
                                                            

73.

                       LORRAINE
We’ll see you all back at camp
later.
                                                            
The three of them continues on up the trail.
                                                            
The sun sits high in the early afternoon’s sky. The
temperature is already at eighty-four degrees as the Ferris’
continue down the narrow trail.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
      (Voice Raised)
Stay close by, Andy.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I will, ma! How far to those
berries?
                                                            
                       JACK
Just up the path a bit, son, so
stay close.
                                                            
Before long the Ferris’ come to the first row of
blackberries.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Are these blackberries, Jack?
                                                            
                       JACK
They sure do look like the same as
we have at home, honey, but they
are almost three times bigger than
they are.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Can I eat some, daddy?
                                                            
                       JACK
Let me check, first, so you don't
get sick, Andy.
                                                            
Jack grabs two of the ripened berries and puts them in his
mouth.
                                                            
                       JACK
Wow! They are delicious. Go
ahead, son, and help yourself.
                                                            
Andy wastes no time and grabs as many as he can fit into his
small hands.
                                                            

74.

                       ANDY
I’m going to sit down and eat
them, dad.
                                                            
                       JACK
You go ahead, Andy. Mom and I
will fill the bags for when we get
back to camp.
                                                            
                       ANDY
These taste really sweet, daddy.
                                                            
                       JACK
They sure do, son. Are you about
ready to move on, Andy?
                                                            
                       ANDY
I’m ready now, dad. Want me in
front?
                                                            
                       JACK
You bet!
                                                            
Andy takes the lead and is followed closely by his mother
and father. A few hundred yards ahead, Andy goes right by a
trail to his immediate right and doesn’t see it, but his
father does.
                                                            
                       JACK
I wonder what this trail is.
                                                            
Jack looks at his son.
                                                            
                       JACK
Hold up, son. I want to take this
trail. Come back here and stay
with us.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
That looks like a rocky trail,
Jack. I’m not sure it’s safe for
us to go down there, honey.
                                                            
Lorraine pushes the bushes aside and can get a better look
at the hidden trail.
                                                            
                       JACK
We’ll be alright, honey. We need
a little adventure on this trip.
You and Andy stay behind me.
                                                            
Jack starts down Rocky Mountain Trail.
                                                            

75.

                       JACK (Cont'd)
There could be some interesting
things to see away from the beaten
path.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Yeah, there might be, but Jack, it
could be dangerous as well, and we
are not experienced climbers.
                                                            
                       JACK
We’ll take our time, dear.
                                                            
Jack Ferris and his family do take their time and in a
matter of fifteen minutes are swallowed up by the forest
itself, as the trail lowers into the bowels of Manhadden
State Park.

Jack happens upon an opening with a large boulder in the
center. He steps onto it with caution and looks at the
trail below. He decides that they have gone low enough and
turns to tell both his wife and son. As he turns he is
greeted by the sun’s rays and momentarily blinds him. As he
raises his hands to block the sun’s rays his right foot
slips and he's thrown off balance and falls to the ground
with a thud.
                                                            
As Lorraine steps onto the huge boulder she sees her husband
disappear over it.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Jack! Are you alright?
                                                            
Lorraine steps further out onto the boulder.
                                                            
                       JACK
Ouch! I think I broke my leg,
Lorraine.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Where’d daddy go, ma?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Stay right there, Andy. Daddy
fell off this big rock. Hang on,
Jack, we’ll be right down.
                                                            
                       JACK
Like I can go anywhere.
                                                            
Jack drags himself back so that he can lean up against the
same boulder he fell from.
                                                            

76.

                       LORRAINE
Follow me, Andy, and be very
careful.
                                                            
Lorraine climbs around the left side of the boulder and
reaches for her son’s hand.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Let me help you down, Andy. Give
me your hand.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Okay, ma.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Easy!
                                                            
Andy works his way to her, with her help. Lorraine turns to
face her husband.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
We’re almost there, Jack.
                                                            
                       JACK
Hurry up, will you. My leg is
buckled up underneath me.
                                                            
Jack screams in pain.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Come on, Andy.
                                                            
As Andy reaches the ground he immediately runs over to his
dad.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Are you alright, daddy?
                                                            
                       JACK
No, son, I’m not.
                                                            
Jack's face is twists in a grimace.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
What can I do to help you, Jack?
                                                            
Lorraine brings her hands to her mouth from the shock of
what she sees.

Jack leans up against the huge boulder with his right leg
buckled up underneath him.
                                                            

77.

                       JACK
I have to straighten this leg out.
My leg is not designed to bend
this way.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
This is going to hurt some, Jack.
Can you lean over onto your left
side?
                                                            
                       JACK
I think so.
                                                            
Jack lowers his body to the left as pain shoots up and down
his leg.
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Yelling)
Ouch!
                                                            
Lorraine tries to straighten out his right leg
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Easy, Jack, I’ve just about got it
straight.
                                                            
                       JACK
Ouch! Help me get back up,
please?
                                                            
Both Lorraine and Andy helps him get back to the sitting
position so he can lean back against the boulder.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Now what are we going to do?
                                                            
Lorraine tries to wipe the tears that streak down the front
of her face as she looks at her husband.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Daddy!
                                                            
                       JACK
What, son?
                                                            
                       ANDY
When I was lost, yesterday, it was
Cal and his friends who prayed to
God that they would find me, and
they did.
                                                            

78.

                       JACK
So? What does that have to do
with me?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Maybe I could pray to God and ask
Him to help you so we can get back
to camp.
                                                            
                       JACK
What is he babbling about,
Lorraine?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Maybe, for once, you’d put your
foolish pride aside, Jack, because
Andy has a point.
                                                            
                       JACK
Okay, so let’s say he’s right.
None of us has any idea how to
pray.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I know what you’re thinking, ma,
and daddy is right, but Cal told
me that praying is just like
talking to God. I’ll try to pray
to God for my dad.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Go ahead, Andy!
                                                            
Andy bows his head and closes his eyes.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Mr. God! I guess you know why I'm
here, sir. My daddy fell off the
big rock and he needs to see a
doctor. I don’t know what you can
do, sir, but can you send us some
help? Amen.
                                                            
Tears once again flow down the front and sides of Lorraine’s
face.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
That was nice, Andy. What do we
do now, sit here and wait?
                                                            

79.

Andy gets up to see if he could climb back up the trail and
go for help. As he looks up at the boulder he sees a white
cloud. Standing on that cloud he thinks he sees an angel.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Mommy! Mommy, come here, quick.
                                                            
Andy waits there for his mother to stand up and join him.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
What’s the matter?
                                                            
Lorraine sees he's looking up into the sky above them. She
lifts her head and gasps at the sight she sees.
                                                            
                       JACK
What is it, Lorraine?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
You’re not going to believe what
I’m seeing, Jack.
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Raised Voice)
Well tell me already.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Jack! I’m not kidding or
delirious, but right above us,
just above the boulder and
standing on a cloud, is what looks
like an angel.
                                                            
                       JACK
Did you say an angel? What is it,
he, or she doing here?
                                                            
Just then the male angel speaks, and his words are soft and
deep.
                                                            
                       ANGEL
Fear not, for the Lord thy God is
with thee. Trust in the Lord with
all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding.
                                                            
                       ANDY
What does the angel mean, mommy?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Did you hear him, Jack?
                                                            

80.

                       JACK
Of course I heard him, but I’ll be
hanged if I know what he meant.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Mommy! That angel showed up right
after I prayed, remember?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
As a matter of fact, Andy, he did.
You don’t suppose that was God’s
answer to Andy’s prayer, do you
Jack?
                                                            
                       JACK
I don’t care what it is, if he
will get rid of this pain. What
did this angel or whatever, do or
say?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
He said for us not to fear and
that God was with us. He also
said something about putting our
trust in Him.
                                                            
                       JACK
Right now I’ll put my trust in
anyone who can stop the pain.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Does it hurt really bad, daddy?
                                                            
                       JACK
Yes, son, it hurts very much.
                                                            
As little Andy bends down beside his father, the Angel of
the Lord speaks to one of the natural inhabitants of the
forest. Splinter heads to where the fallen Jack Ferris
remains perched up against the huge boulder.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
What in the world are we going to
do now, Jack?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Daddy! If I can climb up onto that
big boulder I can climb back to
the trail and run back to the camp
and get Cal and his friends.
                                                            

81.

                       JACK
I can’t let you do that, son.
Those rocks are worse than I ever
imagined. I should have listened
to your mother up on the trail. If
you got hurt I’d never forgive
myself.
                                                            
Mrs. Ferris hears some rustling of bushes on the opposite
side of the trail from where her husband sits.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
      (Raised Voice)
What was that?
                                                            
Andy stands to get a better look.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I heard it too, ma.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Get back here, Andy. It could be
almost anything.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I just want to see, mom.
                                                            
As Mrs. Ferris joins her son, the rustling of the bushes
becomes increasingly close.
                                                            
                       JACK
What is it, Lorraine?
                                                            
Jack tries to stand, but the intense pain in his right leg
forces him to abort the idea.

Andy sees a stick by his feet and picks it up.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I’ll protect you, ma. Anyway, we
are supposed to put our trust in
God, remember?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I remember.
                                                            
Splinter forces his antlered head through the thick brush
that lines the opposite side of the trail, about thirty feet
away from where Lorraine and Andy stand.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Oh my God, Jack, it’s a male deer
with antlers. It’s huge!
                                                            

82.

Splinter exits the forest behind him and starts to head
their way.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Can I pet him, ma?
                                                            
Andy drops the stick.
                                                            
                       JACK
No wild buck will come close to
you, Lorraine. I used to hunt
them years ago and if they even
smelled a human’s scent they would
take off for the deep woods.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Tell that to this deer, Jack. He’s
almost close enough to touch, and
he appears friendly.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Are you friendly, Mr. Deer?
                                                            
Splinter gets close to the boy.
                                                            
Splinter gets down on its front knees and looks at Andy with
deep brown eyes.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Mom! You’re right, he is
friendly.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Don’t go near him, Andy. We can’t
be sure.
                                                            
                       JACK
What’s going on, Lorraine?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
The deer just plopped on the
ground in front of us as though he
knew us. I don’t know what to do.
                                                            
Lorraine keeps a close eye on the buck.
                                                            
Andy takes the next step and walks over to Splinter.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Andy, don’t!
                                                            
Lorraine almost screams at him, but by then Andy is already
petting the buck’s head.
                                                            

83.

                       ANDY
It’s okay, mommy, he’s friendly,
just like I told you.
                                                            
Andy holds out his hand. Splinter adjusts his head and
licks Andy’s outstretched hand like he was a family pet.
                                                            
                       ANDY
See, mommy?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I don’t believe my eyes, Jack, but
that deer is just laying there and
licking Andy’s hand like a house
pet.
                                                            
                       JACK
How is that animal going to get me
out of here, Lorraine?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Daddy! I think this is the same
deer Cal told me about. He said
his name was Splinter, I think.
Are you Splinter, Mr. Deer?
                                                            
Andy's eyes open wide as Splinter stands, right there in
front of him, and scruffs his right hoof across the ground.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Jack! This is unbelievable. That
deer seems to understand Andy.
                                                            
Mrs. Ferris watches them both close.
                                                            
                       JACK
Not in this lifetime. The only
things deer know are fear.
                                                            
Splinter crosses the rocky trail and as Lorraine stands
beside her husband the buck goes right in front of the
injured Jack Ferris.
                                                            
                       JACK
What does Rudolph here want?
                                                            
Jack looks at the ten-pointed buck.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I think I know, daddy.
                                                            
Andy moves beside Splinter.
                                                            

84.

                       JACK
Be careful, son.
                                                            
                       ANDY
That Angel told me not to be
afraid, and I ain’t. I think
Splinter wants to take me to Cal.
                                                            
                       JACK
      (Raised Voice)
You’re not going nowhere, son, and
that’s that.
                                                            
                       ANDY
But daddy, you’re hurt and
Splinter can help.
                                                            
Splinter lowers his head until his nose is right by Jack’s
right foot and just casually nudges it.
                                                            
                       JACK
Ouch!
                                                            
Jack screams in intense pain.
                                                            
                       JACK
What did you go and do that for?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
As much as I hate to admit it,
Jack, that deer, or buck, whatever
he is, just told you how bad you
were. I think Andy is right.
                                                            
Splinter kneels down on its front legs.
                                                            
                       JACK
What’s he doing now?
                                                            
                       ANDY
I think he wants me to get on his
back, daddy.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Don’t try to argue, Jack. I think
he’s right.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I'm coming, Splinter. Help me up,
mommy.
                                                            
Andy grabs one of Splinter’s antlers as his mother helps him
get on his back.
                                                            

85.

Splinter stands and Lorraine looks at the buck.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I don’t know if you can understand
me or not, Splinter, but I feel
foolish talking to a deer. You be
careful with Andy and take him to
Cal at the campground. Andy! You
hold onto his antlers real tight,
okay?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Okay, mommy. Let’s go, splinter.
                                                            
The buck turns and heads back towards the woods.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I’ll be back with Cal and his
friends as soon as I can, mommy.
                                                            
Andy waves as Splinter heads through the thick brush with
her son on his back.
                                                            
Lorraine stands there with her hands to her mouth at the
sight of her son on a wild buck’s back.
                                                            
                       JACK
What’s happening up there,
Lorraine?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Our grown-up son just left here
with that deer to go and get Cal,
Jack. I’m so proud of him.
                                                            
                       JACK
That was a risky thing you did,
Lorraine. That’s our only son.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Don’t you think I know that? You
just sit there and rest until Cal
and his friends get here.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. OVERLOOK CAMPGROUND - DAY
                                                            
At the campground the men spent the last two hours
collecting wood for both their campfire and that of their
friends, the Ferris'.
                                                            

86.

Greg finishes stacking the wood near the Ferris’ tent and
returns to their campsite.
                                                            
                       GREG
There’s enough wood here now for
both campfires.
                                                            
                       CAL
Thanks for stacking their wood,
Greg.
                                                            
Cal sips on a hot cup of coffee.
                                                            
                       BRAD
What time are we planning to go
fishing for our supper, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I want to wait until the Ferris’
return so Andy can get to go with
us. I’ll take him down to the
pool with me.
                                                            
                       BRAD
How many do we need to catch
tonight?
                                                            
                       CAL
Well there’s going to be eleven of
us.
                                                            
                       BRAD
Then we should get our limit.
                                                            
                       CAL
I’m pretty sure that what we don’t
eat, Bandit will, so I’ll say yes.
                                                            
                       MARK
      (Grinning)
Are our wives still asleep?
                                                            
                       CAL
I guess the fresh air up here
makes the girls tired, Mark. I
haven’t seen one of them for over
an hour now.
                                                            
With the ladies resting in their tents, Cal and the others
relax around the campfire, and they do so with fresh cups of
coffee.
                                                            

87.

From the silence of the Manhadden woods that surround them,
Cal hears a familiar chirping, but he hears something
different from other times he’s heard that sound.
                                                            
                       MARK
What’s wrong with BJ, Cal?
                                                            
They all get up to see what all the commotion is about.
                                                            
                       CAL
I don’t know, but something’s up.
                                                            
Cal reaches out for his feathered friend.
                                                            
                       CAL (Cont'd)
Come here, BJ.
                                                            
                       BJ
Chirp… chirp… chirp… chirp… chirp
                                                            
BJ lands on Cal’s outstretched arm and chirps some more. In
an instant the bird lifts back up and into the air and flies
towards Eden’s Trail.
                                                            
                       BRAD
It looks like BJ wants us to
follow him, Cal.
                                                            
Brad heads to the edge of the campground.
                                                            
                       BRAD (Cont'd)
There’s nothing down there.
                                                            
Brad takes a quick look down the empty trail.
                                                            
                       CAL
Then something has to be wrong,
guys. Let’s get the ladies up,
and make it quick. Our quiet
afternoon is about to be
shattered.
                                                            
Each of the four men heads to their own tents to wake their
wives and for the next ten minutes unanswered questions are
being asked. BJ returns to the outer rail and continues to
chirp out of control.
                                                            
                       KERRY
What should we do, honey?
                                                            

88.

                       CAL
Before we do a thing, gang, it
would be a good idea if we brought
our feelings before God. Let’s
form a prayer circle.
                                                            
They all form a circle and hold hands while they bow their
heads and close their eyes.

BJ becomes quiet as Cal starts to pray.
                                                            
                       CAL
Lord! Whatever we are about to
face this afternoon, I ask that
you give us the wisdom to address
it with your love and grace. We
ask this in your precious name,
Lord, amen.
                                                            
As they let their hands go of each other a voice rings out
from somewhere below the campground on Eden’s Trail.
                                                            
                       ANDY (VO)
Cal! Help!
                                                            
                       CAL
That’s Andy, and he is yelling for
help.
                                                            
Cal runs to the edge of the campground by the trail, with
the others right behind him.
                                                            
                       MARK
What's he doing down on this
trail, Cal?
                                                            
                       SHARON
Is that what I think it is?
                                                            
Sharon gasps when she sees a full grown buck, with Andy
sitting on its back.
                                                            
                       CAL
Come on, gang, let’s go!
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. CAMPGROUND TO EDEN'S TRAIL - DAY
                                                            
Cal takes off on the run and heads down the trail towards
their young friend and antlered deer.
                                                            

89.

Cal slows down by the buck and Greg is directly behind him.
                                                            
                       CAL
Is this who I think it is, like
maybe Splinter?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Yes it’s Splinter, Cal, and he
gave me the ride here. My dad is
hurt real bad.
                                                            
Andy is almost out of breath.
                                                            
                       CAL
What happened, Andy?
                                                            
                       ANDY
He fell of a big rock and he
thinks his leg is broke.
                                                            
                       CAL
Take it easy, Andy. You’re here
with us now. Hi, Splinter. Thanks
for the help my dear friend. Nice
to see you again.
                                                            
Cal grabs Andy to lift him off.
                                                            
                       CAL
Let’s get you back to camp and you
can tell us everything.
                                                            
                       ANDY
You’ve got to hurry, Cal. He’s
hurt really bad.
                                                            
                       CAL
Come on, Splinter. Please come
too, my friend.
                                                            
Moment’s later Andy, Cal, and his friends approach the
campground while Splinter brings up the rear.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. OVERLOOK CAMPGROUND - DAY
                                                            
                       LYNNE
What’s going on, Cal?
                                                            

90.

                       CAL
We’ll know in a minute. Okay,
Andy, tell us what happened.
                                                            
For the next few minutes Cal and his friends hear a child’s
shortened version of what happened to his father and the
events leading up to his being on Splinter’s back.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, guys, let’s get our gear.
Ladies! Get a couple blankets and
make sure we have a couple
canteens filled with water.
                                                            
Cal rushes to his tent to get his axe.
                                                            
                       CAL
Are you coming too, Splinter?
                                                            
Splinter stands there and once again he scruffs his hoof
across the ground.
                                                            
                       CAL
Good! That means yes. Greg! Grab
another canteen so we will have
three with us. They are both
probably thirsty about now. Lead
the way, Andy. You are the only
one who knows where that trail is.
None of us ever saw it when we
were hiking up that way.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I think I know where it is, Cal,
but if I am wrong I’ll be pretty
close.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. EDEN'S TRAIL NORTH - DAY
                                                            
Andy starts up Eden’s Trail North. The four men each have a
hatchet with them and the ladies have a canteen each and two
blankets and start up the trail behind Andy towards Cramer’s
Pond Overlook, with Splinter in the rear.
                                                            
                       MARK
What other trail is up here
besides the one that goes to the
lookout tower, Cal?
                                                            

91.

                       CAL
The only other one I know of is
the one that only experienced
climbers use, and that’s not very
often.
                                                            
                       MARK
What one's that?
                                                            
                       CAL
If I remember right it’s Rocky
Mountain Trail. It is supposed to
connect to Eden’s Trail North
somewhere near Cramer’s Pond
Overlook, but we never saw it the
last time we were up here.
                                                            
                       BRAD
But then again we never looked for
it, either.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Soft Voice)
True enough! If that’s the trail,
we are going to have problems,
Mark.
                                                            
                       MARK
That’s what I was afraid of. I’ll
be praying he’s okay.
                                                            
                       CAL
Thanks!
                                                            
                       ANDY
We’re almost there, Cal.
                                                            
Andy slows down to look for the trail to his right.
                                                            
                       ANDY (Cont'd)
It’s here somewhere, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, Andy, relax buddy. We’ll
get your dad back to our camp
somehow, but first we’ll have to
find him. Mark! Check that
opening up ahead, will you please?
                                                            
                       MARK
I’m on it, Cal.
                                                            
Mark moves to the opening on a run.
                                                            

92.

                       CAL
Okay, Andy, I want you to do me a
favor.
                                                            
Cal kneels down to look him in the face.
                                                            
                       ANDY
What’s that, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Once we find that trail I want you
to stay up here with my wife
Kerry, at least until we see how
bad the trail down to your dad is,
okay?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Okay, Cal, I will, but make sure
you let mommy know I'm okay.
                                                            
                       CAL
I can do that my little friend.
                                                            
                       MARK
That’s the trail, Cal, and it’s
hidden by a lot of brush, but
what’s even worse is that trail
looks mighty rough to climb down.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, everyone. Listen up. Kerry!
You stay up here with Andy and
Splinter. The rest of us will
climb down and see what we have to
face down there. Splinter my
friend. Stay here and keep an eye
on these two, will you, pal.
                                                            
Splinter scruffs his right hoof across the ground in
response.
                                                            
                       ANDY
He understands you, doesn’t he,
Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I guess so. The last time I saw
him he was about as tall as you,
Andy. Okay, everyone, let’s go,
but be careful. It’s rough going
down there.
                                                            

93.

CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRAIL - DAY
                                                            
The four men and three women start down the rugged Rocky
Mountain Trail with Cal Long in the lead.
                                                            
                       BRAD
How far down are they?
                                                            
                       CAL
I'm not really sure, but we should
be close by now. Let me call out.
Jack! Lorraine! Can either of
you hear me?
                                                            
Cal waits for a reply.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
They are coming for us, Jack.
(Yelling)
We’re down here.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Yelling)
We’re on our way, so stay put.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
      (Yelling)
Is Andy okay?
                                                            
                       CAL
He's fine. We’ll be right there.
                                                            
Another almost ten minutes elapses before Cal reaches the
boulder above the Ferris’.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
We’re down here below this huge
boulder, Cal.
                                                            
Lorraine waves both hands for him to see.
                                                            
                       CAL
How did you get down there?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Over to your left you can climb
down and around the boulder.
                                                            

94.

                       CAL
Greg! Can you and Brad go and get
my wife and Andy, please?
                                                            
                       GREG
We’re on our way.
                                                            
Greg and Brad start the climb back up the trail.
                                                            
                       CAL
We’re coming down, Lorraine. Hang
on!
                                                            
                       JACK
Is Andy with them?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I didn’t see him, but they said he
was okay. I have no reason to
disbelieve them after what they
did for him when they met.
                                                            
                       JACK
How in the world are they going to
get me out of this mess without
making the pain even worse than it
is now?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I have no idea, Jack. Here they
come now. I’m so sorry to trouble
you folks again.
                                                            
                       CAL
You folks are not trouble,
Lorraine. How are you doing, Mr.
Ferris?
                                                            
Cal looks down at his fallen friend.
                                                            
                       JACK
I’ve had better days, Cal. I
think my leg is busted. Where’s
my son?.
                                                            
                       CAL
I had him stay on the upper trail
with my wife until I found out if
it was safe enough for him to come
down here.
                                                            

95.

                       JACK
You are a smart man, Cal, ands I’m
so dumb. I never should have
attempted this trail.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Are you okay, Lorraine?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I'm just so worried about my
husband right now. How’s my
little Andy?
                                                            
                       LYNNE
That son of yours is a true storm
trooper, Lorraine, and you both
should be very proud of him and
what he did alone and unselfishly.
                                                            
                       CAL
At this moment I don’t have any
idea at all, Lorraine, but before
we can even think about moving him
I am going to have to splint that
broken leg. Otherwise the move
back to camp will be excruciating
for him.
                                                            
Cal surveys the situation.
                                                            
                       MARK
Do you need two straight sticks,
Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
If you would, Mark. I need two
about thirty-six inches long and
sturdy.
                                                            
                       MARK
I’m on it.
                                                            
                       TERRY
What can we do, Cal?
                                                            
Cal reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pocket knife and
hands it to Terry.
                                                            
                       CAL
Take this knife and both you and
Sharon work together to cut me
eight strips of cloth about two
feet long out of one blanket. I
            (MORE)

96.

                       CAL (cont'd)
need them to secure the splints to
his leg. I’ll also need another
eight pieces more to secure the
blanket to carry him out on.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Do you want the second eight the
same length?
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes, thanks. Do either of you
need something to drink, Lorraine?
                                                            
                       JACK
You brought something, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
All I have is water, Jack, but we
thought you might be thirsty about
now.
                                                            
                       JACK
You know it, and water will be
just fine.
                                                            
Andy reaches the spot where his father sits.
                                                            
                       ANDY
How’s my daddy, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Your dad's been hurt, Andy, but
he’s a tough guy, just like you.
While we're taking care of him,
young man, I want you to do me a
favor.
                                                            
                       ANDY
What?
                                                            
                       CAL
Promise me you’ll keep praying to
God that he’ll be okay.
                                                            
                       ANDY
I can do that. I will, I promise.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I'm so proud of you for what you
did, Andy.
                                                            

97.

His mother gives him a big hug.

When Mark returns he has two straight sticks that appear to
be strong when Cal tests them. With the strips of cloth
Terry hands him, he's ready to secure Jack’s leg for the
trip back to camp.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, Jack, there’s no easy way I
can do this. I have to put
splints on your bad leg so it does
not bend on the way back to the
campground. This is going to
hurt.
                                                            
                       JACK
Do what you have to do, Cal,
because I want out of here. What
can I do to help you?
                                                            
                       CAL
I want you to just sit there and
grit your teeth when the pain
shoots up that leg. I have all
the help I need with me at this
end.
                                                            
                       JACK
Okay, then, go for it!
                                                            
                       CAL
Mark! When I give the word, lift
Jacks right leg about twelve
inches off the ground. Brad! You
get on one side of him and Greg
you get on the other. When Mark
lifts the leg I want you guys to
hold the sticks up, one on each
side of his leg. I’ll start at
the lower end and tie them secure
so he cannot move or bend it. Got
it, guys?
                                                            
                       MARK
All set here!
                                                            
                       BRAD
We’re ready, Cal.
                                                            
The five women watch in awe at the precision their amateur
doctor husbands set and secure Jack’s leg in less than five
minutes.
                                                            

98.

                       LORRAINE
Have you guys ever practiced doing
that?
                                                            
                       CAL
No, nor have we ever had any
training on it either. It’s just
common sense, though.
                                                            
                       JACK
That was less painful than I
thought it would be, guys.
                                                            
Jack lays flat on the ground.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, Mark, You take Brad and I
need two good sized poles about
nine feet long and straight as you
can get them. We are going to
have to Carry Jack out of here so
they need to be strong.
                                                            
                       MARK
We’re on it, Cal.
                                                            
Mark follows Brad into the woods.
                                                            
                       JACK
How do you guys plan on carrying
me out of here through this rough
terrain?
                                                            
                       KERRY
Don’t worry, Mr. Ferris. If Cal
can’t come up with a plan I'm sure
God will.
                                                            
                       CAL
Sharon! Do you have that other
blanket?
                                                            
                       SHARON
It’s on the ground over here, Cal.
Do you need it?
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes, please!
                                                            
                       GREG
What are you going to do, Cal?
                                                            

99.

                       CAL
I have to wait until Mark and Brad
return first, Greg. Once we have
the two poles we need to wrap the
blanket around several times and
then it needs to be tied off in
four places for each pole. Once
they are tied then you can wrap
the poles twice more for strength.
Are you with me so far?
                                                            
                       GREG
I sure am. Once that's done we
can carry him out of here, but
which way?
                                                            
                       CAL
Andy knows. He went a certain way
on Splinter’s back, so he should
remember how Splinter went. If he
does then he can guide us.
                                                            
Cal looks at Andy.
                                                            
                       GREG
Here come the guys now, Cal.
                                                            
Greg grabs the blanket from Sharon.
                                                            
                       GREG (Cont'd)
Thanks, honey.
                                                            
                       CAL
Open it up all the way first,
Greg.
                                                            
Greg opens the blanket and sets it on the ground near the
fallen Jack Ferris. As they follow Cal’s instructions the
portable stretcher is formed in about fifteen minutes.
                                                            
                       CAL
That looks about as sturdy as we
can make it for you, Jack. We
are not an ambulance team so the
trip back will be anything but
smooth. Are you ready to be
transferred onto this thing?
                                                            
                       JACK
As ready as I’ll ever be. Go
ahead and do it.
                                                            

100.

                       CAL
Okay, guys, there’s four of us and
one of him. Will one of you ladies
fold the stretcher until we have
Jack in place? Then you can open
it up and we’ll set Jack onto it.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
I’ll get it, Cal
                                                            
Lynne heads over to the stretcher.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay! On the count of three we
lift him up gently until we are
all upright. Once we have our
balance we will move him over to
the stretcher. Once Lynne opens
it we can set him down. Ready!
One… two… three, lift.
                                                            
The four men bend down and lift the limp and sore Jack
Ferris off the ground. Once they stand straight up they
carry him the few feet to where the stretcher lays folded.
When they get there Lynne opens the stretcher and they place
his body down on it.
                                                            
                       JACK
If you do that many more times,
Cal, I’ll be asking you to put me
out of my misery.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well we're not going to be the
ones to put you out of your
misery, my friend, but to be
honest I don’t know how we’ll get
you out of here.
                                                            
                       JACK
Oh that’s just great!
                                                            
                       ANDY
Cal! I remember the way that
Splinter brought me to the
campground.
                                                            
                       CAL
Well before we do another thing,
Andy, we're going to pray for your
daddy, okay?
                                                            

101.

                       ANDY
Okay! Can I hold hands with you
guys when you pray?
                                                            
                       CAL
You sure can. Let’s pray,
everyone.
                                                            
The five women, four men, and Andy encircle Jack Ferris and
hold hands while they bow their heads and wait for Cal to
pray.
                                                            
                       CAL
Dear Lord! We ask now that your
presence be felt amongst us this
day. Give us guidance and wisdom,
Lord as we now seek a safe way
back to the campground that will
dull the pain in Jack’s leg. Even
now, Lord, as we try to carry him
back to camp, we ask that your
healing touch be applied to the
break he sustained in the fall.
Open his eyes to your love, and to
his family as well we pray, Lord,
amen.
                                                            
As Cal closes the prayer Andy is the first to hear the
rustling of bushes in the woods on the opposite side of the
rocky trail and close to where Splinter appeared earlier.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Cal! I hear some noise in the
bushes. I think Splinter came
back.
                                                            
Andy runs across the narrow trail towards the sound.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Raised Voice)
Wait a minute, Andy.
                                                            
Andy stops dead in his tracks.
                                                            
Out from the bushes comes a full-grown brown bear and he
stops once he reaches the clearing.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
      (Screaming)
Cal! It’s a bear!
                                                            
Andy stands only fifteen feet from it and is frozen from
fright.
                                                            

102.

                       CAL
Easy, Andy. Back up towards me.
                                                            
Cal keeps an eye on the bear as he walks slowly towards the
young lad. He stops when he meets up with him. Cal then
looks straight into the bear’s eyes and a sudden peace comes
over him.
                                                            
                       CAL
There’s no need to fear, everyone.
I know this bear.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
How can you possibly know a wild
bear, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Six years ago this bear was one of
two young cubs who stole my fish
at the pool where I fished.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
How can you be so sure?
                                                            
                       KERRY
Lorraine! I’ve been married to
Cal for three years and he's right
more than he's wrong. I’d stake
my life on his feelings right now.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I’ve seen some strange things
since we got on this mountain, but
how is this bear going to be able
to help us?
                                                            
                       CAL
This bear is your husband’s ride
out of here, Lorraine.
                                                            
Cal heads over to the bear.
                                                            
                       CAL
Hi, my friend. It’s been a long
time and you've grown so much
since then.
                                                            
A soft muffled growl escapes the bear’s mouth.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Did that bear just talk to Cal?
                                                            

103.

                       LYNNE
In a manner of speaking he did.
Animals can’t talk like humans do,
but each one has a mode of
communication. The bear has a
growl. Where it was a soft one I
take it that it’s a good sign.
                                                            
                       CAL
God sent you to help us out,
right?
                                                            
Another growl escapes the bear’s mouth and he heads away
from the bushes and crosses the trail as the women stand
aside and let the approximately eight hundred pound bear go
where it wants to. Once on the other side he heads to one
end of the stretcher; the end by Jack’s head, and turns
around with its back towards Jack’s head.
                                                            
                       SHARON
What is he doing, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
What I think he's trying to say is
to put the end of the stretcher
onto his back, but that’s only a
guess.
                                                            
                       MARK
We can get one end on there, Cal,
but what's going to keep it up
there for the trip back?
                                                            
                       CAL
Cut a long strip from what is left
of the second blanket. Once we
have that we can tie the stretcher
around his neck so it don’t fall
off. A few of us will have to go
with him in case we need to lift
the other end over something and
to keep it straight. The rest of
you I want to climb back up the
trail and get back to camp and
make a place ready.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Ready for what?
                                                            
                       CAL
Ready for us when we get back
there with Jack. I don’t know
what God has in mind, but while we
work our way through the woods and
            (MORE)

104.

                       CAL (cont'd)
back to camp, spend some time in
prayer.
                                                            
                       SHARON
Here’s that piece of blanket you
need, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
How are you doing, Jack?
                                                            
                       JACK
If I make it through all this I
don’t dare tell a soul. In three
days I’ve seen a raccoon that
thinks he’s a bloodhound, a deer
that acts like a horse, and now I
am about to be hauled away by a
bear who thinks he’s a pack mule.
That’s not to mention the fact my
wife and son saw an angel and we
all heard him. Who in their right
mind would believe me?
                                                            
                       CAL
      (Chuckling)
But think of the memories you’ll
have forever. Let’s lift him onto
the bear.
                                                            
Cal and Mark lift the litter so Jack’s head rests on the
bear’s rump.

Cal secures the litter around the bear’s neck with the
blanket.
                                                            
                       CAL
Greg! You and Brad help us get
over the rocky trail. Once we get
on the other side, you two see
that the ladies make it out of
here in one piece. Take your time
because we can’t go too fast
through the woods.
                                                            
                       GREG
We’ll make a fire when we get
there, Cal, and have a place to
lay him down when you get back to
the campground.
                                                            
Greg bends and grabs one leg of the litter.


105.

Once across the trail Greg and Brad guide the ladies back
onto the boulder and up the trail.
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, Mr. Bear, it’s time to head
to Overlook.
                                                            
                       JACK
Are my wife and son going to be
okay, Cal?
                                                            
The bear starts into the woods in front of him.
                                                            
                       CAL
They are in good hands with my
friends, Jack, so they’ll be fine
and meet us when we get to the
campground.
                                                            
Cal continues to walk beside the bear.
                                                            
FADE TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. ROCKY MT TRAIL TO OVERLOOK - DAY
                                                            
The bear drags the litter through the dense forest.
                                                            
                       MARK
How are you doing, Jack?
                                                            
                       JACK
Either my leg is so numb now that
I can’t feel the pain or the pain
in my leg is easing up. I can’t
say for sure, as my mode of
transportation is not the most
comfortable ride on earth, but it
sure beats my trying to walk back
to camp. I wonder something,
though.
                                                            
                       MARK
And what’s that?
                                                            
                       JACK
The four of you are so well
adapted to this rugged life in the
woods and on this mountain, or so
it seems anyway, but why haven’t
you once criticized me for taking
that awful trail that landed me in
            (MORE)

106.

                       JACK (cont'd)
this situation?
                                                            
Mark looks at Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
I’ll answer that one, Jack. As
Christians it is not our place to
judge other people for the things
they say or do. Our Bible tells
us, and I’ll quote it, Judge not
that ye be not judged. We may
wonder what prompted you to take
that trail, yes, but with you
lying there in immense pain, and
obviously embarrassed as well,
what good would we have done you
to ask?
                                                            
                       JACK
None, I suppose. At the time I
probably would have hated you all
for it.
                                                            
                       CAL
Your son is starting to love you
the way he should, so we didn't
need to turn him against you in
any way.
                                                            
                       JACK
How can I know this God of yours
like you guys do?
                                                            
                       CAL
To be honest, Jack, you’ve just
taken the first step by asking.
Tonight, after we’ve seen what we
can do for that leg of yours, ask
us that question again. God wants
you and your family to be a part
of His.
                                                            
CUT TO:
                                                            
 
EXT. OVERLOOK CAMPGROUND - DAY
                                                            
Andy and the five women arrive at the campground, with both
Brad and Greg, about thirty minutes after leaving Cal and
Mark on the trail.
                                                            

107.

                       SHARON
What do we need to do while we
wait for them to get up here,
Greg?
                                                            
                       GREG
Terry! You and brad collect the
canteens and go to the creek and
get them filled up, will you
please? I'm sure Cal is going to
need to have a cup of coffee when
they get here, Lorraine! Get a
blanket from your tent so we can
have it available. I’ll get a
fire started so he can have some
heat.
                                                            
Greg heads to the woodpile.
                                                            
                       KERRY
What about Lynne and I?
                                                            
                       GREG
Find a solemn place to pray and
say a prayer for Jack.
                                                            
Lorraine is on her way to the tent and hears Greg say that.
                                                            
                       ANDY
What Can I do, Mr. Greg?
                                                            
                       GREG
Why don’t you go with Cal’s wife
and Lynne and pray to God real
hard for your daddy to get better.
                                                            
Everyone does as they are instructed and there's a lot of
movement within the campground.
                                                            
It takes almost an hour but Cal’s friend, the bear, manages
to drag Jack Ferris across the entrance to the campground.
                                                            
                       CAL
We made it home, Jack.
                                                            
                       JACK
If someone were to have told me
that such a thing was possible,
Cal, I would have said they were
totally insane. This bear came up
to us, from who knows where, and
he came not to do any harm, but
            (MORE)

108.

                       JACK (cont'd)
rather to save me.
                                                            
                       CAL
That’s the same way our God is.
                                                            
                       JACK
I’ll ask later.
                                                            
The bear comes to a stop and Cal pet's her head..
                                                            
                       CAL
Okay, my furry friend, you can
stop now.
                                                            
                       CAL
      (To Mark)
Are you ready to lift him off?
                                                            
Cal unties the blanket that holds the litter onto the bear.

Both Cal and Mark lift one end of the litter on the end
where Jack’s head is. The bear moves away from the litter
so the two men can set the litter on the ground.

Andy watches, with Kerry and Lynne. Once the bear stops
Andy heads over to him and hugs the bear.
                                                            
                       ANDY
Thank you, Goody, for helping the
guys bring my dad back to camp.
You’re a good bear and my friend.
                                                            
Goody kneels down, beside Andy, by the outer rail and Cal
watches as Andy kneels down beside him and hugs him some
more.
                                                            
                       JACK
Is Andy going to be okay, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
On any mountain but this one I’d
say no, Jack, but Mount Manhadden
is God's Mountain of Love, and
your son and Goody, as he calls
the bear, love each other in God’s
way.
                                                            
The afternoon’s son gives way to early evening shadows as it
lowers behind the treetops around the campground.
                                                            

109.

                       MARK
Do you have a pillow for your
husband’s head, Lorraine?
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
I have one at the tent, yes. Let
me go and get it.
                                                            
Lorraine gets up and runs to her tent site.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Are we going to try to get
something to eat, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
I think God has something more
important planned, Terry, but it’s
only a feeling I have inside. We
still have the berries if we need
them later. Anyway, it’s too late
to send anyone down to the creek
to catch some fish.
                                                            
The entire group gathers around Cal.
                                                            
                       MARK
I can sense God’s presence in this
campground, everyone.
                                                            
The Angel of the Lord descends upon the campground from the
Heavens above.
                                                            
                       SHARON
I can feel it too, Mark.
                                                            
Sharon kneels down in front of the injured Jack Ferris.
                                                            
                       SHARON (Cont'd)
Jack! Our God is going to do
something good here tonight, for
his spirit, even though we cannot
see it, is already here in this
place with us.
                                                            
                       JACK
What's this spirit all of you keep
speaking about, a ghost?
                                                            
Lorraine returns to her husband with a small pillow.
                                                            

110.

                       LORRAINE
Lift your head a little, honey,
and let me slip this pillow
underneath.
                                                            
As soon as Jack lifts his head she places it underneath.
                                                            
Lynne Miller is the next to kneel down in front of Jack, and
beside Sharon.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
The Holy Spirit is not a ghost, as
you think ghosts to be, Jack. The
Holy Spirit is the spirit of the
Living God who resides in all our
hearts.
                                                            
                       JACK
I’m sorry, but this is way too
heavy for me to grasp right now.
                                                            
The rest of Cal’s friends kneel in a circle around Jack.
                                                            
Lorraine Ferris sits on the ground by her husband’s head
with her son Andy by her side. Cal is the only one who is
still standing.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
What are you going to do to try
and help my husband, Cal?
                                                            
Tears start to form in the corners of both her eyes and she
sits there and looks at her helpless husband.
                                                            
                       CAL
As Christians, Lorraine,
everything we do starts out in a
word of prayer and the reason we
do this is because we believe in
the power of prayer and that God
hears and answers our prayers.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Are you going to pray for Jack?
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes we are, and that’s why
everyone is kneeling in a circle
around your husband and both you
and Andy.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
But you're still standing, Cal!
                                                            

111.

                       CAL
I am standing only because I've
been praying silently in my heart.
I'm going to join the others in a
moment.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
Does this mean you are going to
pray for all of us, Cal?
                                                            
Wrinkles form on her forehead.
                                                            
                       CAL
Yes we're going to pray for your
whole family. God can heal your
husband, Lorraine, right here, and
right now, but our Bible, which is
God’s Holy Word, tells us, and I
quote it, Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
saved.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
But he has been saved. You folks
came down to that trail and saved
him.
                                                            
                       CAL
I know this is hard to explain,
but we didn't save your husband,
Lorraine. It was the faith of
your eight-year-old son, Andy,
that saved him.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
How do you mean?
                                                            
                       CAL
Our Bible also says, that by faith
ye are saved. When Andy believed
what the Angel of the Lord told
you folks, he prayed, in faith,
and God answered that prayer by
sending Splinter to you so he
could get back to us so we could
help him.
                                                            
                       JACK
I remember him praying, Cal.
                                                            
Tears flow down the sides off Jack's face.
                                                            

112.

                       CAL
Okay, Jack, now it’s your turn to
have that same kind of faith.
                                                            
                       JACK
After what I said to you folks,
when we first met yesterday, your
God can forgive me for my
stupidity?
                                                            
                       CAL
Our God is an understanding and
forgiving God, Jack. On our way
back to camp you asked me a
question.
                                                            
                       JACK
Yes I did. I asked you how could
I know this God like you people
do.
                                                            
                       CAL
I’ll answer this question right
now.
                                                            
Cal's friends close their eyes and pray in silence.
                                                            
                       CAL (Cont'd)
First off you have to believe that
God is real. Then you have to ask
Him to forgive you of your sins.
It’s as simple as that.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
How is that going to heal my
husband, Cal?
                                                            
                       TERRY
Lorraine!
                                                            
Terry ceases her prayer and stands to go by her side.
                                                            
                       TERRY
Our God heals the sick, He can
cast out demons, makes the blind
to see and the deaf to hear, but
this healing comes at a price.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
We haven’t got the money, Terry.
                                                            

113.

                       TERRY
The price cannot be paid for by
money. The price has already been
paid for by the blood of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ, when He
died on the cross for our sins.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Andy!
                                                            
                       ANDY
Yeah!
                                                            
Andy looks up at Lynne.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Would you like God to come into
your heart with mommy and daddy?
                                                            
                       ANDY
Yes, ma’am.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Do you believe God can heal your
daddy right here, tonight?
                                                            
                       ANDY
I know He can. Look at all the
neat things that happened after
that angel talked to us down
there.
                                                            
                       LYNNE
Good boy!
                                                            
                       BRAD
Lorraine! Sit closer to your
husband, and Andy! You sit on the
other side of your dad and the
three of you hold hands.
                                                            
They do as he asks.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
What now, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
Right now I am going to kneel down
here and we'll all close our eyes
and pray and let God do what He
wants to do. I can’t speak for
God, but if you want the joy and
love that God gives, then open
your hearts and let God come
            (MORE)

114.

                       CAL (cont'd)
inside. When we are done I’ll ask
you to repeat after me a simple
prayer. Once you’ve accepted
Christ into your hearts we will
see what God can do for that leg.
                                                            
Cal and his friends all bow their heads and pray in silence.
Unbeknownst to the entire group the Angel of the Lord
appears in a cloud above the campground and looks down at
the family who are humbling themselves before God.
                                                            
Once Cal and his friends stop praying, Cal looks at the
Ferris’.
                                                            
                       CAL
Are you all ready to accept Jesus
into your heart?
                                                            
Lorraine looks at their new friends.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
The three of us are ready, Cal.
                                                            
                       CAL
Then if everyone will bow their
heads and close their eyes. I’ll
ask you folks to repeat after me.
                                                            
Cal waits for everyone to comply, and then prays.
                                                            
                       CAL
Dear God! We know we have sinned.
We ask that you remove this sin
from our hearts. Welcome us into
your family we pray, Lord, amen.
                                                            
While the entire group prays the sinner’s prayer, one by
one the creatures of the forest approach Overlook to
participate in God’s finale.
                                                            
When Cal and the others open their eyes, Splinter approaches
the campground from Eden’s Trail, followed closely by the
second of two full grown bears. Bandit and his mate leads
the procession from Eden’s Trail North with two full-grown
mountain lions and a grown moose close behind.
                                                            
As darkness descends upon the campground, Mr. Owl and Bee
Jay fly down from nearby trees and perch atop the outer
rail.
                                                            

115.

                       LORRAINE
      (Crying)
What is happening, Cal?
                                                            
                       CAL
There is no reason to fear,
Lorraine, for all these animals
are all my friends from the
forest, but more importantly, they
are God’s creatures and friends.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
What in the world are they doing
here, now?
                                                            
                       CAL
Bandit, Splinter, and Goody, one
of these two bears, have all
played a big part in having you
folks know our God, and if I'm
right, they are all here because
God sent them.
                                                            
                       LORRAINE
So what's next?
                                                            
                       CAL
My friends and I are going to lay
hands on your husband and pray God
heals his leg, right here, and
right now. I want you and your
son Andy to place your hands on
his shoulder, and Jack! This is
now the time to have the same kind
of faith your son had earlier
today. You have to put your
complete faith in God. Lorraine
and Andy! You two also have to
have faith and believe God will do
this, too. Then it’s up to God.
                                                            
Cal and the others lay their hands on Jack Ferris’ body, and
when they do the Angel of the Lord allows the light of
Heaven to shine down on the entire group. Then, as he
speaks for the God of Heaven and Earth, he says in a soft
and gentle voice,
                                                            
                       ANGEL
YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.
ARISE AND REJOICE IN THE LORD.
                                                            
A warmth flows out of the light and hits Jack and flows
throughout his body. As the light dissipates Jack feels the

116.

strength return to his leg and he sits up and tries to
stand. As he stands he has no pain throughout his body, he
looks up in the direction where the light came from.
                                                            
                       JACK
Thank you, Lord.!
                                                            


THE END


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