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♪ ♪
(alarm clock beeping)
(beeping stops)
♪ ♪
(closes drawer)
♪ ♪
- You're gonna be late. - Can't you take me?
Uh, no, I can't-- it's in the opposite direction.
She'll be asking for me.
I'll go with you.
No. Go to church.
But why do I...
Because I'm trying to...
Look, God knows what I need--
I have begged, pleaded, I have said it all--
and He is welcome to intervene at any time. Really.
But I can't sit in church, smiling and singing,
when cancer is killing my child across town.
I can't.
Can I just... I...
Wesley, please. I'm tired.
Mallory needs your prayers.
Maybe God will have a harder time
saying no to a 13-year-old.
'Cause apparently He has no problem looking past me.
- Don't be late. - But we have no...
m-milk.
(door opens)
(door closes)
CONGREGATION: ♪ Submission, all is at rest ♪
♪ I in my Savior am happy and blessed ♪
♪ Watching and waiting ♪
♪ Looking above ♪
♪ Filled with His goodness ♪
♪ Lost in His love ♪
♪ This is my story ♪
♪ This is my song ♪
♪ Praising my Savior ♪
♪ All the day long ♪
♪ This is my story ♪
♪ This is my song ♪
♪ Praising my Savior ♪
♪ All the day long. ♪
All right! Now, that's why we come to church, huh?
- CONGREGATION: Amen. - (chuckles) Isn't it great
to be able to be here in the house of the Lord,
to be able to come here
and invite God to join us today
in His holy house.
Now...
at this time, the altar is open for you.
- (piano playing gentle song) - As I look out among you,
I'm thinking that there are a few of you
that maybe need to come up here and unburden yourselves,
to, uh...
let go of some of the heaviness
that you dragged in here with you today.
Why sit here all morning with that heaviness in your heart?
Come, come on up
and give it to the Lord.
Okay, now, with eyes closed and heads bowed,
if there is anyone
that needs to bring something to the Lord,
that you come up and you do it right now.
(piano continues playing gentle song)
Come on up, folks.
I promise you...
your heart will feel so much better.
Please come up to the altar and...
place your prayer...
place your requests for God in the box.
And come and...
give your hearts to Him.
Give over your burdens to...
your Savior.
Boy, God is good, isn't He?
- CONGREGATION (quietly): Amen. - (chuckles)
♪ ♪
(birds chirping)
All right, then.
Okay. Good.
All right, let's, uh...
let's everyone go ahead and have a seat.
Sister Lorene has an announcement for us.
Thank you, Pastor.
Those wonderful smells
coming from the banquet room tell me that all of you
are, uh, prepared today for today's potluck.
- (Lorene continues speaking) - It's good to know
God hears us, isn't it?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
Why don't you write your request down,
put it in the box, and let God do His job, okay?
LORENE:...so kind to help me with everything,
so they are, um, uh...
- Thanks, Wesley. - ...they're setting up tables
in the... in the banquet room.
Uh, many of you have, um,
have already brought your dishes and everything.
Uh, Jane is going to show you exactly where...
where you need to put everything.
Some of you need to bring--
uh, that you said you brought drinks.
If you will, just go ahead and get 'em to her.
Uh, if necessary, we'll have somebody run and-and get...
- ♪ ♪ - (Lorene's voice fading)
(indistinct chatter)
BILLY: Hey, kid.
Wesley.
- Yeah? - Just a second.
Look, uh...
I'm sorry you were rushed.
- Doesn't matter. - Sure it does.
He cares, you know.
I get it.
It is his job, after all.
I'm not talking about Pastor Conlin.
I'm talking about the Lord.
Sure doesn't seem that way.
Sometimes what we feel and...
well, what we know...
aren't always the same.
Are you staying for the potluck?
Actually, I'm just about to head out.
Didn't bring anything to share, so...
I just carried four casseroles
and a chocolate cake for my wife.
There's enough.
How about we just enjoy ourselves?
Mr. Wells, I just... I don't think...
You look like you haven't had a good meal in weeks.
We're gonna take care of that. (chuckles)
- ♪ ♪ - (indistinct chatter)
So, ready for the math test tomorrow?
Yeah. It shouldn't be too bad.
Easy for you to say. I studied all day yesterday,
and it still feels as if I'm reading a foreign language.
Oh.
You should try the cream puffs.
I helped my mom fill them last night.
Yeah. Sure.
Thanks.
♪ ♪
Hello, everyone.
Hi. Uh...
Hello there again.
Now, before all of you start, uh,
peeling off here, I have the results today
of today's dish-off.
But first, how about these gorgeous ribbon bouquets
made for us by our own Mrs. Patterson?
- Aren't they beautiful? - (applause)
You know, this was maybe our toughest one.
As a matter of fact, our judges went back and forth a bit,
but we finally decided
on this delicious creamed chicken dish.
And the winner is our gifted cook...
W... Wesley Eldredge.
Wesley Eldredge?
You're a good woman, Mrs. Wells.
(chuckles)
Mr. Wells?
Could you tell Mrs. Wells I'm sorry?
Tell her yourself.
(Billy sighs)
Yeah, that can go there.
And that can go there.
Mrs. Wells...
I'm really sorry.
Go on, now.
- Are you sure? - Yeah.
And tell your mother we're still praying.
Yes, ma'am.
♪ ♪
(quietly): Oh, my jacket.
♪ ♪
(phone vibrating)
Pastor Conlin.
Yep. I'll be right there.
♪ ♪
WOMAN (over P.A.): All doctors to the E.R.
(monitor beeping steadily)
MALLORY: They can't fix me.
That's what she's telling her, right?
I don't know what they're talking about, Mallory.
Maybe your medication.
I keep asking Mom what Heaven will be like,
but she just tells me to stop asking questions like that.
Yeah, because she's scared, okay?
Sometimes I wish she would just stop.
That the doctors would stop. I want to be done.
Sometimes.
Is today sometimes?
Mom says you went to church today.
Said a prayer for you.
- Wrote it down, even. - I think if I knew
God heard me when I prayed, it would help me not be so...
Sick?
Afraid.
Mr. Wells says that God sees all of us.
I pray and I pray-- nothing happens.
Remember Holly's grandmother?
She was really sick.
They prayed and she got better.
Maybe she would have gotten better anyway.
And that's one time-- who else do you know
who's got a real prayer answered?
I mean, like really answered.
- Lots of people. - Who?
I'm telling you, a lot of people.
Mom used to pray in that chair all the time.
Now she just cries.
Well, maybe that's praying in its own way.
Out of the kajillion prayers every day,
why would I ever be important enough for Him to notice?
You're the most important person in the world.
To me.
Thank you, but you're not God.
I'll make sure He notices.
I will. I promise, okay?
I'll make sure He notices you, somehow, some way,
and then I'll make sure He knows everything about you.
Will you tell me if He answers?
It'll help me be... braver.
You're already the bravest girl I know.
♪ ♪
(indistinct chatter)
You didn't really make that casserole.
Well, someone says differently. Did you see
that big, beautiful ribbon I got?
- (sighs) I'm gonna have to charge it. -I told you
- last time you were overdue. - Yeah, just one more time.
- Please? - Look, kid,
if you can't pay, just have your mom come in
and sign up for free lunches.
Why do you put me through this every day?
OLIVIA: We're together.
Here.
I'll pay you back later. I just forgot my money today.
Don't worry about it.
Thanks.
(quietly): Thanks.
CONLIN (voice-over): Yeah, but the youth group
uses that room on Thursdays.
Maybe they could use the...
multipurpose room.
Okay.
Hey, let me, uh, let me call you back in a few.
I have something I might have to deal with here in a second.
I'll call you back.
Hey, Wesley.
You okay? Your sister?
She's the same.
Okay. Uh, what can I do for you?
Um...
(sighs): well...
I was thinking that...
well, I've got all this extra time,
and with my mom and sister always in the hospital,
I was...
Come in. Sit down.
I need a job.
I was wondering if you could use any help around the church.
Uh...
what kind of work were you thinking?
Anything, really.
I can clean up or answer phones,
whatever you got.
You ever done that type of work before?
(sighs)
Not exactly.
I mean, I clean up in the house and I answer the phone, but...
- never for pay. - How old are you again, Wesley?
- 13. - (chuckles)
I think it would be illegal for me to hire a 13-year-old, so...
Not if I work on the weekends. I already checked.
Look, I admire your ambition, but...
uh, look, we, uh...
we cut the janitor from the budget last year--
I do everything myself now.
There's no extra money, at all, so...
Could you do me a favor? Can you put a letterhead
- in the printer for me? - Right.
Thanks.
I was thinking that if I did more of the cleaning up,
that you could do more of the pastor work.
Well, cleaning up the church,
uh, you know, making sure the lights work,
getting here early to turn on the heat,
- that is part of what pastors do. -And the trash?
What's that?
Garbage, I guess.
♪ ♪
Wesley...
these were written in confidence.
You shouldn't have these.
My sister doesn't think that she's important enough
for God to notice her.
Seeing you throw these requests away like they're nothing...
Well, Wesley, hey, come on, wait a minute.
If I kept every request
that was put into that prayer box, I-I...
Look...
God knows what people write down.
He does.
I just...
I don't need to be in the middle of it.
This is a stupid thing.
It's so stupid, because this just makes people feel better.
That's all.
It really is.
Why are you here, Wesley?
I told you.
I need a job.
And you're using people's requests as leverage?
All that I know is that you need help
and I need a job.
Okay.
Okay, Wesley.
But it's gonna be manual labor.
Toilets.
Windows. Vacuuming.
Light bulbs. Spiderwebs. Everything.
- And the trash? - And the trash.
Okay. When can you start?
I'm available starting now.
Well, then let's get to work.
♪ ♪
WESLEY (voice-over): Watch. Get it. Jump!
- (video game music plays) - Aw. Okay.
Here it comes again. Now, this time, tap left, left,
then jump.
(frustrated sigh) I'm no good at this.
I brought you something.
Can't. It'll make my stomach hurt.
But it's your favorite.
And I bought it with my own money.
- You don't have any money. - Do now.
Got a job.
- Does Mom know? - No.
And she's not going to. Right?
Where?
The church. Cleaning stuff up.
(sighs)
That sounds fun. Why?
Well, I told you-- I'm out to get God's attention,
and I figured that, well, if I work at a church
scrubbing toilets, He might notice me.
I'm pretty sure that's dumb.
Maybe. But...
you know, Mom also needed some extra help, so...
Don't mess it up.
I'm taking this.
♪ ♪
(bike brakes squeak)
♪ ♪
Help you find anything?
Yes. I'm looking for a gift.
Boy about six or seven.
- Maybe a toy? -We don't really stock a lot of toys.
Did you try the toy store over on Main?
Let's just say that's a little out of my price range.
- Okay. How much you got? - Um, here you go...
Uh, ten bucks.
- Uh, let me show you what I have in that range. -Thanks.
Have a look-- this is about all I got.
Okay. Thank you.
(scoffs softly): Um... no.
Hmm.
Hey, uh, forgot to mention, all that clearance
- is an extra 30% off. - Thanks.
Oh.
Yes!
(chuckles): Hey, nice find.
(chuckles) You wrap?
- I can give you a box. - Okay.
And some string to tie around it.
- Yeah, that'll work. - Okay.
(tapping cash register)
Comes to $9.84.
- Here you go. - Okay.
- Thanks. - Mm-hmm.
Wait here a minute.
Okay.
This was part of a set, but everything got separated,
and we can't really sell it individually.
- Thanks. - No problem, kid.
Hope he likes it.
♪ ♪
(knocks twice)
(door closes)
♪ ♪
(turns off engine)
♪ ♪
You're still here?
Thought you were coming home last night.
Me, too. She was begging me to stay,
and she started coughing, so I couldn't just leave her.
I'm sorry, I know I should have called,
but it got really late.
I'm gonna go hop in the shower and then head back.
Whatever.
Billy Wells called me yesterday.
He was yammering on and on about you helping him paint
the old chapel on Saturday,
and wanted me to tell you to bring some paint clothes.
He went on and on and said he'd pay you extra...
- Pay me extra? - Yes, and he also said
that you've been working for Pastor Conlin? Is that true?
- Well? - Well what?
You ever consider asking me first?
We need things around here. Groceries, laundry soap.
My lunch account hasn't been paid in weeks.
Well, they can't refuse you a meal.
Yeah, but it's pretty embarrassing.
I mean, with just a little bit of money,
I could pay for my lunch and I could get milk
- without even bugging you. - I know things are tight
and we've cut back, but you're a kid,
and you should be doing homework and...
and hanging out with your friends-- I mean,
I haven't seen you with one of your friends in months.
Yeah, because nobody wants to hang out with the poor kid
whose sister has cancer.
Well, what about baseball? You love baseball.
Why aren't you telling me anything about your games?
Maybe because there are no games.
You forgot to send the permission sheet
on sign-up days.
Oh, Wesley, I am so... (gasps)
late.
I have to meet the doctor this morning.
I am hoping it's about a trial.
I am praying he has a miracle for us.
Oh, are you really?
- Am I really what? - Praying for a miracle.
Or is that just something you say?
I don't have time for this.
Don't miss the bus. There's your lunch money.
It's all I've got until next week.
- I can take care of myself. - Wesley?
Bye.
(school bell rings)
Hey, Olivia.
Here.
I told you not to worry about that.
Yeah, and I told you that I'd pay you back.
That's it. Now we're square. I just wanted
to pay you back, okay?
Thanks.
BILLY: Look, I know Pastor Conlin
has brought you on for some extra help,
but this morning... you work for me.
- You got it? - Yes, sir.
Now, fixing up this old chapel
is a project I've been meaning to do for a long time.
Really? I didn't even know they still used this place
after they built the new sanctuary.
They don't. That's why I want to fix this old girl up.
Now, first...
we got to do some scraping and some sanding.
Let me show you. Come on.
♪ ♪
You see this?
That's all got to come off
before we make it look pretty again.
Now, we're gonna be here till June
if you don't learn to put a little bit more into it.
(exhales)
What's so special about this old building anyway?
Well...
my daddy helped build this church.
I kind of felt like it was my duty
to help keep it up after all these years.
I see an old nail...
and I wonder if his hands drove it in.
Or I see the smooth edges of a pew and...
wonder if he smoothed it and shaped it.
But mostly...
I've been coming here to meet God my whole life.
I wonder sometimes if He looks down and...
sees this place and says... "Now, that's a joint
I wouldn't mind spending some time in." (chuckles)
You think it works?
Well... guess lots of folks would probably say
it's been a while since we seen last of Him.
But if Heaven opened up and He showed up tomorrow,
I'd at least like it to look as if we were expecting Him.
You know, if I were God, I would only hold meetings
with people on beaches.
Maybe... maybe some baseball fields.
- But mostly beaches. - (chuckles)
Mabel sends her regards... and a peace offering.
You put me in a bad spot with her.
Well...
give her about two more weeks.
She's slow to anger, but slower to forgive.
She also wanted me to ask you about, uh...
- your sister. - Oh.
Well, my mom doesn't tell me much.
What I do know is that she had a meeting
with the doctor yesterday, and...
well, if it was good news, I think I'd already know.
I'm sorry.
Do you know anyone who's ever died?
Sure.
Did they suffer?
Some did.
And some who I thought were surely dying
got a lot better.
So, look, after you're done with that,
it's the end of your shift with me.
- Why? - Well, I told the pastor
I'd free you up...
so you could tend to your other work by this afternoon.
If God does show up tomorrow,
it's the inside of the church that'll matter the most.
(chuckles) Yeah.
Tell Mrs. Wells thanks.
I will.
Oh. I almost forgot.
(clears throat)
This is for you.
Thank you.
You do good work.
Thanks.
Hold up.
I put a little extra in there.
I want you to pay off your lunch account at school.
Consider that an advance
on the rest of the work I want done around here.
Olivia told you?
Conversations between me and my granddaughter
are none of your business.
Now, go ahead, take it.
You know, you got a special girl looking out for you.
Thanks, Mr. Wells.
- See you. - See you.
♪ ♪
♪ Leaning on the everlasting arms ♪
♪ Leaning, leaning ♪
♪ Safe and secure from all alarms ♪
♪ Leaning, leaning ♪
♪ Leaning on the everlasting arms. ♪
That was just beautiful.
I love that song, don't you?
- (congregation affirms) - Yeah.
Let's have a seat, please.
Pastor, I'm-I'm sorry. Um...
I need to share something.
Please, sure.
Last week when I came in,
I had two dollars in my checking account,
which isn't that unusual,
but my son's birthday was coming up in a couple days.
And when I put a request in that box,
I honestly thought nothing would happen.
And on the night of Evan's birthday,
someone put a package at my door.
And who would have known
Evan had been asking for a baseball mitt?
Only a baseball mitt.
God sent them, I know. I know this.
And for the first time in a long, long time,
I have hope and I feel seen.
And I just want to tell God that I'm grateful.
CONLIN: Well, thank you for sharing.
And I think
that's exactly the kind of encouragement we need
to head into our time of prayer.
Amen.
CONGREGATION: Amen.
♪ ♪
(birds chirping)
Hey, Eldredge.
- What's up, Derek? - Where you been?
You playing fall ball this year?
Just had to take the season off, okay?
Just family stuff.
So that's why Coach pulled you off the bench, Hendricks.
What you working on?
Just a project thing.
You got a game today?
Got rained out. Stuck inside.
Stinks.
TONY: Why you seem so busy?
It's a love letter, guys.
Must be to that cute girl in math.
He stares at her all the time.
DEREK: Come on, guys. Coach is waiting on us.
Hey, stay loose, Eldredge.
Hendricks is killing us.
(whispering): Those guys are so annoying.
♪ ♪
(monitor beeping)
(strained breathing)
What are you doing here?
It was a half-day at school today.
Open house tonight.
Why does she sound like that?
This little girl.
My baby.
I told her to trust me.
Like I knew what I was doing.
Called every doctor,
begged every specialist.
They all said she'd beat it.
WESLEY: She will.
I told her how strong she was.
She is.
She is so strong.
But I didn't fight hard enough.
Yes, you did.
I didn't.
And now it's...
and now it's gonna take a miracle.
How do I tell her?
She already knows.
(coughing)
Nurse! Nurse!
Mom, what's happening?
(coughing continues)
♪ ♪
MARGARET (voice-over): I couldn't believe it.
It was... it was amazing.
They call me and say we qualify for their assistance program.
Just like that, our bill is gone.
A miracle.
Praise God.
BILLY: Amen.
Thank you, Margaret.
(sighs) I don't know
what's been going on here the last couple of weeks.
This keeps up, we may need the old chapel for overflow.
Some of your faces
I haven't seen in months.
Years for some of you.
Next Saturday we're painting the church steeple.
- 9:00 a.m. - And, Penny, welcome back.
And you, Peter.
I'm honored to have you here this morning.
And I know your mother's especially happy.
(vacuum whirring)
It's you.
Excuse me?
- (whirring stops) - What's me?
They all think God is doing something special
with that little prayer box up there.
I can't figure out why.
Now, you thought I was wrong
for throwing away those prayer requests,
but tricking people into thinking God
is doing miracles?
That's a different kind of betrayal, Wesley.
That's the same kind of wrong.
You see, people really don't care
whether it's God or the kid who cleans the toilet
is answering their requests.
They're getting their hope.
You should be happy.
Your church is always full.
Have you told anyone about this?
Of course not.
Okay.
Pastor.
With more people coming in on Sunday,
I can only assume that the offering plates
are, well, a little bit more full,
and I can use an allowance.
I'm already pulling money out
of our small miscellaneous fund,
and the rest of your paycheck
- is coming out of my pocket. - I'm sorry.
But it's not for me.
It's for the prayer requests. Some of these requests,
I need money to answer them.
Wesley, I can't do it.
Fine.
Should we just go back to the way things used to be
and tell everyone it was a fake?
- Should we do that? - (sighs)
No.
♪ ♪
For those of you who still think homework is an option,
these test scores may tell a different story.
Bring these back tomorrow with your parents' signatures.
(school bell rings)
I mean it about parent signatures.
I'm counting it as a homework assignment.
♪ ♪
Hey, what's up?
Oh, I was waiting for you.
Okay.
- I heard your sister... - Oh.
- That she's... - Yep.
Uh, what can we do? Do you need anything?
Well, I need for my sister not to die.
Well, I've been praying,
- and so many people... - Yeah. Yeah, I bet.
Bet they have.
I'm sorry.
You sure that's safe?
Well, it wouldn't be any fun if it was safe.
(chuckles)
I wasn't sure you'd make it.
- It's okay if you need to... - Oh, no, no.
I'm just in the way at the hospital.
I'm sure that that is not true.
But I'm glad you're here.
So, what can I carry up for you?
Well, you are earthbound today.
But you'll be my supply man.
(scoffs) I don't want to stay down here all day.
The action's all up there, so...
Plenty of years ahead for action.
For now I owe it to your mom
to keep you safe.
Yes, sir.
How's it coming with that paint?
Still mixing.
When was the last time you did this?
Oh, I don't know.
Probably 20 years at this point.
This place hasn't been painted in 20 years?
I didn't say that.
I said I haven't painted it in 20 years.
Then who has?
Uh, my son, for one.
Then why isn't he painting it now?
He died.
About eight years ago now.
Car accident.
Olivia just turned four.
Worst day of my life.
(exhales)
Olivia's dad is...
Her mom remarried.
Greg's a good man.
He loves Olivia,
and we are thankful for that.
(sighs) I'm sorry.
- I didn't know. - Yeah.
Me, too.
(screams)
Oh, no.
Hang on, please.
God, please help me.
I'll be right back. You're gonna be okay.
(siren wails in distance)
(indistinct radio chatter)
EMT (on radio): I need transport.
(indistinct radio chatter)
NURSE: What do you got?
Male, 70s, non-responsive. Possible head injury.
- Where was he? -Church roof. Kid said the ladder fell.
All right, let's get him in ASAP.
Are you okay?
Yes, ma'am.
Well, don't worry, we'll take good care of him.
Thanks.
(indistinct conversations)
♪ ♪
My grandfather thought you might be here.
Says you should've been watching
the ladder more closely.
(exhales sharply)
I'm gonna kill him.
My grandmother may beat you to it.
I'm sorry I was so rude to you.
That's okay.
I didn't know about your dad.
Y-Your grandfather, he told me.
I always thought that your dad was... (grunts)
you know, your real dad.
His smile made me feel important.
That's what I remember.
You must have his smile, then.
My mom's in the car out front
if you want a ride home.
Yeah, thanks.
♪ ♪
(birds chirping outside)
(knocking on door)
Good morning.
(faintly): What?
I'm gonna go with you to church.
WESLEY: Why?
I feel like it.
Leaving in 15 minutes, okay?
(sighs)
WESLEY: Why are you really doing this?
Well, Billy Wells came to see me
in Mallory's room last night.
WESLEY: But how? He's, like, dead.
(scoffs) I swear he is the most stubborn man
- I have ever met. - Yeah.
First he wanted me to go visit him,
which Mallory was not having a good night,
- so I politely declined. - Mm-hmm.
And then, 30 minutes later--
I don't know how he convinced them,
he must have broken every single
hospital rule there is--
but he had the nurse
wheel him down to Mallory's room.
He was flat on his back, on the hospital bed
with another nurse, with the cart,
with the monitor and the IVs.
I am not making this up.
It was the craziest thing I have ever seen.
I'd be surprised if the nurses have a job this morning.
(Wesley chuckles)
All I know is, by the time...
by the time the nurses wheeled him back to his room,
I promised him I'd go to church today.
And that's why you're doing this?
He's a nut job.
Yet here we are.
Yep.
♪ Praise Him, praise Him ♪
♪ Tell of His excellent greatness ♪
♪ Praise Him, praise Him ♪
♪ Ever in joyful song. ♪
Where did all these people come from?
Just started showing up.
CONLIN: Let's thank God for His goodness.
(congregation applauds)
As many of you know,
Billy Wells took a terrible fall yesterday
as he was painting the old chapel.
He's got some long days of recovery ahead of him,
but we'll keep him in our prayers.
We also want to remember Mallory Eldredge.
It's good to have her mother here with us this morning.
Do you have a-an update on her?
Uh, you know, well, it's been tough.
We were hoping to get her in a clinical trial,
but it's not looking good.
She's still fighting and, you know, we're not giving up.
She's been so strong,
but this thing has been really aggressive,
so, you know, we're...
And how are you, Mrs. Eldredge?
(chuckles)
I'm scared, that's all.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
The prayer box is now open.
Please come forward.
This is for Mallory.
Thank you.
Why'd you leave?
Why'd you stay?
I haven't felt that in a long time.
What?
I don't know.
Hope?
Listen, I've got to get to work.
Please see your sister later.
She's been asking for you.
- Okay. - Okay?
Wesley.
It's not gonna be long.
I'll clear it out.
They're all for your sister.
I'll do it.
I used to really believe in prayer, you know.
I mean, of course, it's my job--
pray for people--
but beyond the obligation of it,
I really... believed.
Passionately.
I prayed with the expectation that you could...
grab hold of heaven and...
actually change the world.
Why'd you stop?
Mm. The seemingly randomness of it all.
Are we changing God? Is God changing us?
Is a cosmic slot machine
really the best way to do it?
It's a box of slips asking God
to heal Mallory.
Maybe He'll say yes.
But probably He won't.
And that bothers me.
Maybe we're doing this all wrong.
I imagine so.
I prayed for Mr. Wells yesterday.
I didn't mean to, it just came out.
It probably helped.
You need to stop saying things
just because you think it's the right thing to say.
You're probably right.
(monitor beeping)
Hey.
Where have you been?
Oh, I'm sorry.
You shouldn't be talking.
You've been telling me that since I was two.
(Wesley chuckles)
Don't do that.
I tried, Mal.
I really did.
I tried to get God to notice us like we talked about.
Remember?
(sighs) I promise I did.
I felt Him today.
You did?
He was here with me.
You saw Him?
Felt Him.
Oh.
A lot of people prayed at church today.
I think He heard them.
He didn't let Mr. Wells die.
I really do think He's starting to notice us.
Just hang in a little bit longer, okay?
Okay, big brother.
I love you.
I'm not giving up on you, okay?
Do you hear me?
(monitor continues beeping)
Let her sleep.
WESLEY: Why won't God just help her already?
Maybe He did today.
What? By-- she felt something in her heart?
I mean, that's not enough, it's not helping her, okay?
It's not time yet.
She had her last dose two...
The doctor is upping her dose.
- He wants her comfortable. - But, uh...
Wesley, where are you going?
Don't know yet.
♪ ♪
(grunts)
♪ ♪
(grunts)
Hey! Hey! Hey, kid. Hey, kid.
What are you doing out of your room?
I'm not going back to my room.
(Wesley sighs)
We've been looking all over for you.
Look, everybody just simmer down.
Do you ever do what you're told to?
Mr. Wells, you have to stop trying to leave your room.
BILLY: I'm just a broken, crazy old guy
who can't be blamed for my behavior.
What are you doing?
(grunts)
Try that again and we'll have to restrain you.
I mean it.
Now that I better understand the rules,
I'll be on my best behavior.
Promise.
What's going on?
Apparently, your husband fashions himself
as an escape artist.
(scoffs) For crying out loud, Billy.
I leave for one cup of coffee...
It's the meds, dear.
Making me do bad things.
MABEL: Sure they are.
And you?
You two are nothing but trouble together.
The kid had nothing to do with it.
Right.
(sighs) Well, it was good to see you,
but I really need to go.
You know, we heard about Mallory.
Our hearts are with you, Wesley.
Thanks.
I went searching for you 'cause I got something to say.
MABEL: Let the boy be with his family.
BILLY: Mabel,
this is important.
No more joking around.
Right before that gust of wind took me out,
well, I...
I had an epiphany.
A realization.
An understanding.
That day you went down to the altar and prayed,
the day Pastor Conlin rushed you along,
something happened that day.
Your prayer was pure.
I could see it in your face.
You brought a fresh wind into that church
where old folks like me have been praying
for too long about achy knees and...
You prayed from your soul that day and we all noticed.
Maybe even God noticed because things have changed
around that place that day.
I've been working on sprucing up
the outside of an old building, but you...
but you cleaned us up on the inside
just by believing without all the hang-ups.
- That's not true. - Mm-mm.
Don't argue with a man who just looked death in the face.
I know things.
Wesley, don't let anybody look down on you
because you're young.
You set an example
for the believers in speech,
in conduct, in love,
in faith and purity.
You ever heard that?
No, sir.
Well,
you look it up,
because you're doing that.
You are setting the example.
That's what I wanted to say.
The end.
I'm done.
I hope you get better, Mr. Wells.
Call me Billy, for crying out loud.
Okay, okay.
Fine. Billy.
Pray for me, okay?
Everyone is.
♪ ♪
(birds chirping)
♪ ♪
(crickets chirping)
Here you go. Have a good trip.
How can I help you tonight?
(sighs) Need a ticket to Memphis.
- By yourself? - It's not for me.
Not for tonight, either.
Traveling when?
Saturday.
- Returning? - Eh, Monday, I guess.
Passenger name?
$40.
Here you go.
Here you go. Next?
(crickets chirping)
Hey, day care's down the street, kid.
(crowd chatter)
Come on, kid. You can't be in here.
Okay, see that guy over there in the blue shirt?
See him right there in the blue shirt?
Need you to give this to him, okay?
Thanks.
(woman laughs, chatter continues)
(crickets chirping)
Have fun.
(birds singing)
♪ ♪
Excuse me?
Do know where Ramona is?
Thank you.
Yes, that's all for now. Thank you.
- How'd you get in here? - There a lot
- of kids like me? - Meaning?
Can't afford to pay their lunch bill?
Always.
You know it's not their fault, right?
It's actually pretty embarrassing.
(sighs) I'm sure it is,
but if they would just have their parents come in
and fill out the paperwork
and do the things that they need to...
I'm not sure how far this will go,
but can you please use this
to pay off all the kids' lunch debt?
Where'd you get that?
Just take it.
And please don't be so mean to hungry kids.
(birds singing)
See me.
Why can't You see me?!
Where are You?
What more can I do?
(door opens)
(door closes)
(sighs) Wesley.
I've been looking everywhere for you.
No.
- I'm sorry. - No.
I'm sorry.
No.
(crying): I'm so sorry.
(both crying)
I'm sorry.
It's time.
CONLIN (voice-over): "But Jesus called the children
"to Him and said,
"'Let the little children come to me,
"'and do not hinder them,
"for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'
"Truly I tell you,
"anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God
like a little child will never enter it."
(knocking)
(door squeaks open)
Pastor Conlin sent this over.
What is this?
- Oh, it's nothing. - Wesley,
this looks like people's prayer requests.
Why do you have these?
I told you, it's nothing.
I buried my daughter today.
I have nothing, nothing left for this.
So I'm gonna ask you one more time, okay?
Why do you have these?
This is proof that God did nothing to help Mallory.
It's proof that prayer is a stupid joke
that keeps stupid people
from taking responsibility for their own lives.
It's proof that He doesn't see us,
He's not coming, and that He doesn't even care.
You did this?
You answered all these people's prayers?
Why? Why would you do this?
Promised Mallory I'd get God's attention.
I promised her that I'd get Him to notice us,
so I did His job for Him.
I did Pastor Conlin's job, too.
I answered all of these requests, making people think
that God was listening. (scoffs)
I got all these people coming back to church,
thinking that He was, you know, helping and caring.
Wesley, come here.
You have to tell people what you've done.
I will never go back to that church.
You're a good son, and you were the best brother,
but you're not a liar.
And you may have had your reasons,
but these people-- they deserve the truth.
Why does anything matter at this point?
It doesn't matter anymore.
That's for them to decide what matters.
They won't understand why I did this.
I don't even understand why I did any of this.
Thanks for meeting me out here.
I figured you could use a little break.
Thanks.
And maybe a friend.
I was only four years old when my dad died.
I was so young
that I don't know which of my memories are real,
and which are just stories I've always heard.
So I don't pretend to know what it's like...
(sighs) Please don't.
I really can't handle an inspiring lecture right now.
Just don't.
No lecture, but watching your sister die--
you'll never get over it,
and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar.
Please, Wesley, talk to me.
Fine. You want to talk?
Well, then I got a question for you.
Do you still hate God?
Will I always hate Him?
That's what I really want to know.
God didn't kill my dad.
Didn't keep him alive, either.
No, but if nothing bad ever happened,
how would I really know that I could trust Him
to take care of me?
He did, you know.
He took care of my mom and me.
And then He brought my new stepdad.
That's nice for you.
So that's it?
Yup. I guess.
Wesley, please.
What?
Are you just gonna go around being mean
the rest of your life, blame God and throw rocks,
because, poor you, you're the only one
that's had something bad happen?
I did what everyone said to do, okay?
Have faith, pray hard, do all the right things.
What more do you want from me?
I don't want anything from you.
Why do you keep following me around, huh?
I'm sorry for thinking you need a friend.
- I don't. - I think you do.
Why can't you just leave me alone?
I won't. I want to, but I won't.
I will walk with you, I'll wait with you,
I'll even hit rocks with you.
Whatever you need, I'm here.
♪ So I'll cherish ♪
♪ The old rugged cross ♪
♪ Till my trophies ♪
♪ At last I lay down ♪
♪ I will cling ♪
♪ To the old rugged cross ♪
♪ And exchange it someday ♪
♪ For a crown. ♪
This life is...
not always easy, is it?
It's all the clichés, all the thorns in the side,
the detours, the derailments, the ditches.
I don't talk about this often
because somewhere along the line,
I bought the lie
that pastors shouldn't burden their people
with their own mess.
When I lost my wife and child
in a complicated delivery four and a half years ago,
I made a decision to never be that vulnerable again.
I haven't just paid the price for that.
You have, too.
(sniffs) You see, for some time now,
you've been led by a pastor who couldn't bear
to truly walk with you in your needs, in your pain
because of his own brokenness
and...
anger... toward God.
An anger that made it impossible
to share with you a God who knows you,
a God who loves you.
And so I relied on formulas
and prescripted orders of service.
I checked the boxes, I made sure
that we went through the motions,
and I hoped that somehow, on your own time,
you were getting whatever you needed from God.
(sighs)
And then this boy named Wesley Eldredge
came into my office, he sat down,
and he called me a hypocrite.
He also told me that I didn't believe...
I didn't believe that God cared anything
about you or your prayer requests.
And he was right.
And I was humiliated,
and I was scared and mad...
...that someone had dared
to expose the truth about who I really am.
We need to tell you all something, Wesley and I.
Really, it's only me who should be confessing,
but in his mother's great wisdom,
she asked that Wesley be present for this.
I insisted, however,
that you hear this story from me.
I owe him this.
I owe you this, Wesley.
(birds singing)
MRS. ELDREDGE: This was Mallory's favorite place.
She loved it here.
I was so proud of you today.
I know it wasn't easy sitting through that.
And even though I don't agree with how you did it,
nothing changes the fact that you did help a lot of people.
Oh. Feels like I haven't been outside in six months.
Haven't seen the sun or even felt a breeze.
I'm gonna go back to work soon.
A few days, actually.
I don't want you to think
that I'm acting like everything's back to normal.
I can't ever imagine feeling normal again.
But I'm going crazy at home.
Every time I pass her room...
I need the distraction. And the bills.
Are you trying to ask my permission or something?
I didn't want you to think I was trying
to move on too quickly, you know?
Do whatever you want.
I will spend the rest of my life
with the anguish of losing a child.
I don't want to lose two.
(voice breaking): You haven't lost two.
Wesley, I really need to ask you
to please forgive me.
I know I will never be the same mom that I was before.
I'm beat up and broken and really, really sad.
But I love you.
And I love how hard you fought for Mallory.
I mean, who has the nerve to chase God the way you did?
My son does. And you know what?
In those last few days,
I know that God came into Mallory's room.
I felt it. I can't explain it.
It was just such a holy place.
I know He was there.
Then why isn't He here now?
I don't feel Him or see Him anywhere.
Why does He have to make everything so hard?
Wouldn't it be so much easier
if He just showed up every now and then?
I don't know.
(birds singing)
(video game music playing)
(tapping)
(video game music and tapping continue)
(video game music stops)
(creaking)
(birds chirping)
You're throwing rocks at my house?
I couldn't make it up the steps in this dumb thing
in order to ring the doorbell.
So, pebbles.
Understated yet effective.
(sighs): Yeah.
You know, it's a bad time, so...
Well, of course it is.
But I'm an old man who can't afford
the consideration of time.
So come here.
I got some things to say.
Fine.
You got one minute.
All right, so here it is.
Now, you got to pay attention.
Now, you've been running around,
trying to get God to notice you
with these noble acts of...
k-kindness and courtesy.
And we all hear the story and we think,
"Oh, poor kid."
But God never loses sight of us,
not for one moment.
We're the ones who lose sight of Him,
because we fight to stay out of the places
that He most... hangs out.
You want to find God?
Walk through the Valley of Death
with your eyes wide open.
You've joined a prestigious club
I like to call the Grateful Limpers.
This is the greatest pain of your life.
But I speak from experience--
God is near.
You will never forget losing your sister.
And you'll always walk with a limp because of it.
If you let it,
that limp will...
let you know God's grace all around you.
You're gonna see Him
the way that people with perfect, happy lives never do.
Grace.
Keep your eyes open.
I got it.
Stubborn.
I heard that.
Yeah, good.
It's meant for you, too.
Oh. One more thing.
The steeple-- finish it.
- I already quit. - Finish it.
I paid you in advance, remember?
You owe me.
Now, I'll have some guys there two Saturdays from now to help.
But you're in charge.
Yes, sir.
(door opens)
(door closes)
(indistinct chatter)
Hey, Wesley. How's it going?
Doing okay, I guess.
Hey, I'm sorry about your sister.
Thanks.
Guess that's why you weren't playing this season, huh?
So, Eldredge,
we hear you're, like, a secret prayer agent.
- Not me. - No, no,
- that's what they're saying. - All right,
- that's enough, Tony. - No, Derek, this is good stuff.
So, how does it work? Someone writes it down
and slips it in your magic box
and then you sneak out at night?
I mean, this is fantastic.
Do you wear a costume?
A cape? A mask?
I said that's enough, Tony.
I got it.
See what you can do with this, okay?
I'm gonna ask Olivia to the dance.
I'm gonna write it down right here and pray she says yes.
Get it? Praying?
Fight!
(indistinct chatter)
That's enough.
- What are you doing? - He didn't start it.
You didn't deserve this.
OLIVIA: Are you okay?
- I'm fine. - You need ice.
I'm fine.
(brakes squeak)
(bicycle thuds)
Hold on, young man.
School called and said you were coming back early.
What happened?
Nothing.
Wesley, come on.
Get down here, please.
(sighs)
What happened to your face?
Like I said, nothing.
Come on.
Let me take a look in the kitchen.
- Does it hurt? - (grunts)
I don't want to talk about it right now. I'm fine.
Are you sure? Maybe I should take you to get it checked out.
Yes, I'm sure.
Why can't people stop asking me this?
The nurse already checked it out, okay?
Can I go up to my room already?
Uh, actually,
there's something I want to show you.
I went to the hospital today.
- Why? -They found some of Mallory's things in a drawer.
It's drawings and notes and stuff.
But I haven't been able to go up there,
wasn't ready, until today.
I wanted you to see this.
WESLEY: No.
Mm-mm.
MRS. ELDREDGE: "Dear God..."
No. I said I don't want to hear it, okay?
Wesley, please.
"My brother told me I'm the bravest girl
he knows, but that's only because You let me have him..."
MALLORY (voice-over): ...as a big brother.
Even when he's super annoying,
I've always known that nothing can go wrong
with him looking out for me.
I need to ask You to please take care of him,
because I don't think he believes in You anymore.
He's very stubborn, and You might have to work extra hard
to make sure he knows that You are real
and that You love him very much.
- Also, God... - MRS. ELDREDGE: "Also, God,
"please help my mom not to cry so much.
"So I guess, in closing,
"I'm asking You to look over my family.
Mallory."
(paper folding)
It looks like you got one more prayer request.
CHILDREN (voice-over): Chase! Chase!
Chase! Chase! Chase!
Chase! Chase! Chase! Chase!
Chase! Chase!
(cheering and applause)
MAN: Go! Come on, come on!
Hold up, hold up, hold up!
Hey!
He'll be so glad you're here.
(bat clangs)
(cheering and applause)
BOY: Hit the ball!
- (cheering and applause) - BOY 2: Go, go, go!
(both groan)
Maybe next time.
Yeah.
I'm gonna go talk to him.
Okay.
(cheering)
WESLEY: Evan.
That was a tough hop.
You know, it's almost impossible to field a hit
like that.
I mean, coming right at you--
could've bounced any other way.
I looked away from it.
Should've stayed with it.
I know better.
Hey, you're playing a game of baseball, right?
- What? - Well,
you're out here playing a game of ball
with a real team
and real uniforms and you're in the middle of a real game.
- Right? - Yeah.
That's pretty awesome.
You just can't forget that you love that, okay?
Yeah.
COACH: Evan, you're up.
(cheering and applause)
- Aw. - Oh. (chuckles)
MAN: You got it, Evan. You got it.
- (bat clangs) - (whooping)
MAN 2: Come on, come on, come on!
MAN 3: Come on, come on, come on!
(cheering)
BOY: Go, go, go! Go, go, go!
(cheering)
(cheering and applause)
♪ ♪
I'll get the trim
- if you get the wall. - Okay.
What is all this?
This is the help that I promised you.
- (chuckles) - (laughs)
Yep. Let's get to work.
♪ ♪
Don't you want to come and join us?
I like watching everything from up here.
Can I sit with you?
Yeah, just watch out for the wet paint.
So, where you been all day?
Thought I'd come once all the work was done.
Ah. Smart.
Think we did a pretty good job, right?
You know they're probably gonna tear it down
to make room for the new Children's Center.
What? No, no, no. But your grandfather, he told me
to work on this so that we could start using it again.
It's all a big, made-up project to give you something to do.
So why wouldn't you tell me that?
Mm, no point, really.
He'd just come up with another plan.
You know my gramps--
stubborn as can be.
Yeah.
(clicks tongue) Um...
Uh...
What?
I don't know how to say this.
What already?
Okay, you're gonna think I'm crazy.
No, I won't.
(sighs)
I saw God today.
And I came over here to think about it a little bit more,
so that I could always remember what it felt like.
Wow.
That's not what I expected you to say.
(chuckling)
It was an epiphany.
A realization, an understanding.
I know what an epiphany means.
All those people down there...
(chuckles) ...they're really messed up.
- OLIVIA: Uh... - Okay,
what I mean is, they're all down there working
and sweating and telling stories,
stories about every single terrible thing
that's happened in their lives.
It's pretty depressing at first.
But then it occurred to me
that these stories are telling how God's helped them.
They're telling His story. Ms. Clemons
says that God is never late.
Brad? Brad,
well, he knows a God that can get him a new job.
And Penny and her husband, they know a God
that can fix a relationship.
See that guy down there?
He's trying to figure out why God never failed on him.
And then there's your crazy old grandpa, but...
he cries every single time
that he thinks about...
how God knows what it's like to lose a son.
You put all of that together,
and it suddenly seems like that tiny God
that you think you can control
becomes bigger and bigger and bigger
and more amazing.
You got all of that while painting an old church?
(chuckles)
I kept wanting God to see me,
but I finally saw Him today.
Is that even possible?
Yeah.
All those people down there,
none of 'em realize that God is with them.
He's here.
And I think they should know that.
Maybe...
maybe you should tell them.
Like, now?
- Sure. Why not? - (chuckles)
Who's gonna believe a 13-year-old?
I will.
Come on. Want to get something to eat?
Yeah. Let's go.
♪ ♪
I see You.
♪ ♪
(music ends)