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Heaven Is for Real

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Heaven Is for Real HEAVEN IS FOR REAL Written by Randall Wallace Based on the book byBeck Todd Burpo Caren April 4, 2013 DRAFT 1ST BLUE REVISIONS Scenes Added: A22 HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FADE IN: SUPERIMPOSE: “In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would not have told you.” -- Jesus of Nazareth 1 BEFORE OPENING CREDITS-- 1 We see the majesty all around us: Spectacular sunsets... cloud formations... moonlight on ocean waves... The delicacy of a flower’s pedals wet with dew... the amazing flight of a hummingbird, the breathtaking breach of a whale... The beauty of a newborn child... SUPERIMPOSE: HEAVEN IS FOR REAL We see the whole Earth, a living jewel in the enormity of the universe; our perspective of it becomes drawn into a single point: an EYE... We pull back toBeck see this eye being painted on a canvas... CLOSE ON THE FACE of a girl... Her name is AKIANE KRAMARIK, and she is 12 years old. She has the eyes of an angel, an almost colorless blue, and is in some kind of trance... She is painting. What she is painting is coming from the vision she Carenis having, seeing what others don’t see... HER BRUSH dips into the paints she has mixed--mostly cerulean blue--and touches masterfully onto her painting... ULTRA CLOSE-- She is painting eyes... They are open and bright, seeing something divine, like hers are... 2 INT. SERIES OF CLOSE UPS - DAY 2 The hands of a strong young man are working on a mechanical, skilled and thoroughly blue-collar task. We see: 2A --Those hands, swift and sure, never stopping, using a 2A drill to bore holes in a metal frame... 2B --Threading chain drives though geared sprockets... 2B 2. 2C --Wiring an electric motor into a building’s circuit box...2C 2D --installing a wall switch complete with emergency 2D shutoffs and infrared safety circuits. And then we see the worker: TODD BURPO, fit and energetic, moving up and down a tall ladder, nimble as a goat... He’s in some kind of warehouse, surrounded by rolls of carpet. He finishes the mechanical work and moves to the switch he’s just installed on the wall. He jabs the button and... THE HUGE GARAGE DOOR OPENS, revealing MAJESTIC BEAUTY: rolling plains beneath an endless sky. 3 EXT. RURAL NEBRASKA - DAY 3 The Nebraska heartland spreads out before Todd. SUPERIMPOSE: Imperial, Nebraska The owner of the carpet company, BeckSLIM FORREST, 45, steps up. FORREST Mighty quick. TODD I don’t get paid by the hour. FORREST CarenI’m afraid you don’t get paid by cash either. You sure you’re okay with the carpet? TODD Times are tough for all of us. When your business improves mine will too. 4 EXT. NEBRASKA - DAY 4 Three rolls of new carpet lie stacked in the back of Todd’s pickup; on its door is a magnetic sign: BURPO GARAGE DOORS. Todd drives away, waving to Forrest. 3. 5 EXT. IMPERIAL, NEBRASKA - BEAUTIFUL ROADS - DAY 5 We see the vast beauty of the Great Plains as Todd drives his red pickup through his hometown. He passes a sign: Imperial Nebraska, Population 1,926. 6 EXT. VOLUNTEER FIRE HOUSE - DAY 6 Todd pulls his truck to a stop outside a simple yet lively building: the Volunteer Fire Department. Sitting in a circle of chairs in the open doorway of the volunteer fire station, in front of fire trucks polished to a dazzling shine, are a half dozen healthy young men enjoying bowls of chili and each other’s company. Most are blondish Cornhuskers; but one, RAY, is African-American, and one, MICHAEL, is Latino. MICHAEL What’s up, Todd? You rob another carpet store?! Todd gets out and hollers back with the same good spirits. TODD Unlike you boys I actually have a job! Beck One of the volunteers is JAY OLSON, Todd’s best friend. JAY Yeah, five of ‘em! As Todd drops the tailgate of his pickup, Jay leaves his chili and movesCaren out to help Todd. JAY If you keep letting people pay you with things instead of money, you’re going to run out of things and money. TODD Hey, I don’t come down where you work and tell you how to shovel. They heave the big roll of carpet onto their shoulders and carry it into the firehouse; as they pass the others-- JAY Well don’t you ladies be troubling yourselves to help! 4. Ray, a muscular 250, gulps another mouthful of chili. RAY We thought you wanted to work off some calories, you guys are starting to look kinda tubby. 7 INT. VOLUNTEER FIREHOUSE - BUNK ROOM - DAY 7 Todd and Jay drop the carpet roll onto the concrete floor of the firehouse bunk room. JAY This’ll be great in here. TODD The rest will just about fill up the church basement. JAY Want me to help you drop it off? TODD Naw, I got it. I know better than to ride in a pickup with you after you been eating chili. Beck 8 EXT. VOLUNTEER FIRE HOUSE - DAY 8 Todd and Jay walk out together. As Todd heads to his truck-- JAY Let me know, and I’ll help you Careninstall it! I know you need help with skilled labor! 9 INT. CROSSROADS WESLEYAN CHURCH - DAY 9 Todd, strong as a mule, carries the last of the carpet rolls into the church basement. He checks his watch and winces... 10 INT. HIGH SCHOOL GYM - DAY 10 Todd hurries into the gym where the wrestling team is starting their workout. TODD Okay, guys! One hundred burpees! 5. WRESTLER Gee, thanks, coach! Todd starts doing the exercises with them. He notices one wrestler slumped at the edge of the mat and moves to him. TODD What’s wrong, Heywood? HEYWOOD I hurt my shoulder. TODD Just warming up? HEYWOOD Naw, on the farm. Todd presses his fingers into Heywood’s shoulder joint. The boy flinches. Todd’s day just got even more complicated. 11 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY 11 As doctors are checking out Heywood’s shoulder, Todd notices a young man trying to comfort a sobbing woman. Todd moves gently up to them. Beck TODD Is there a way I can help? Off their look, he remembers his clothes. TODD CarenI’m a pastor. WOMAN You look like the janitor. TODD I’m willing to be the janitor. And I’m willing to pray for you too. The woman turns and storms off. MAN I’m sorry. She’s my sister; her husband just left her and now our father’s dying. She’s angry at the world. TODD Me too, most of the time. 6. MAN Dad’s like my sister, he doesn’t believe in anything. TODD My grandfather didn’t believe much either, but I sure loved him. Here’s my card. Call me if you change your mind. 12 EXT. IMPERIAL NEBRASKA - ROAD - SUNSET 12 Todd drives Heywood home; the kid seems okay. TODD I called your folks to let them know you’re okay. Your Dad was especially worried. HEYWOOD Really? TODD Sometimes Dads are so busy wanting to make their sons men that they forget to show much theyBeck care. Todd stops in front of a farmhouse; Heywood gets out. HEYWOOD Thanks, Coach. 13 INT./EXT. NEBRASKACaren HIGHWAY - TODD’S TRUCK - SUNSET 13 Todd is exhausted, so tired he’s sagging as he drives his truck toward home. The sun is going down and the sunset is beautiful. He looks up and tries to feel its beauty--and can’t. He checks his watch: there’s one more stop he wants to make. 14 EXT. IMPERIAL, NEBRASKA - TOWN CEMETERY - SUNSET 14 Todd walks alone through the headstones, and comes to one that’s whiter and fresher than most of the others. Todd stops and stares down at the grave. He places a few Nebraska wildflowers on it. He tries to pray...and nothing comes. 7. 15 EXT. IMPERIAL, NEBRASKA - BURPO HOUSE - EVENING 15 The houses of Imperial, Nebraska, are sprinkled across the countryside. ONE HOUSE is bursting with life. 16 INT. BURPO HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - EVENING 16 Eight women, led by Todd’s pretty wife, SONJA (28), are singing. LADIES’ CHOIR “Take my life and let it be Consecrated Lord to thee Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of thy love--” Sonja, as she sings, is noticing not only the flow of the music but everything else--she has a genius for quiet awareness. One of the women, ROSA, has a newborn, and is holding her baby as she tries to follow along with the singing. Sonja sees the baby’s blanket is tattered. LADIES CHOIR At the impulse of thy love...” SONJA (interrupting) Beck Hold on! That’s right on pitch and rhythm, but it feels a little-- NANCY PHELPS, 50’s, is a strong presence--a natural leader. NANCY Caren--pious? SONJA Yes. Let’s try again... LADIES’ CHOIR “Take my life and let it be Consecrated Lord to thee--” Suddenly Nancy jumps in with an imitation of Janis Joplin singing “Piece Of My Heart”-- NANCY “TAKE IT! TAKE ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART now baby!...” At first the other ladies are surprised, but then Sonja laughs and joins in too-- 7A. SONJA AND NANCY “You know you’ve got it!--” ALL the ladies do the Janis Joplin throat-ripping scream-- LADIES’ CHOIR AWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHH! They howl and laugh; Cassie (8) looks at little Colton (4). Beck Caren 8. CASSIE I’ll never understand grown-ups.
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