TITLE: Evidence of God By Dusty Fincher 08/06/05 |
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND |
FADE IN:
A swooping view over a beautiful green forest, full of life.
LUKE (vo)
Evidence of God. I can’t seem to find it
anywhere.
We go past the forest and fly over a smallish town sitting on the side of a mountain.
LUKE (vo)
Lord knows I’ve looked....
We pan past the town and suddenly, we have a fantastic vantage point of the mountain.
We swoop over a crystal clear lake on the mountainside.
LUKE (vo)
But I’ve yet to find even the smallest shred
of evidence that he exits.
The breathtaking view continues on by until we slowly fade to black...
FADE BACK IN:
INT. BAR - NIGHT
We are greeted to the sight of an empty beer mug sitting on a bar counter. The hand attached to the mug belongs to LUKE JOHNSON, a man in his early to mid forties.
LUKE
More, please.
JOHN THE BARTENDER walks over and fills the mug back up. Luke watches as the beer pours into the glass. By the glassy look on his face, we can already tell he’s had one or two.
Luke takes the full mug and holds it up in salute to his friendly neighborhood bartender.
LUKE
Appreciation.
John puts his hand up to his forehead in a return salute. Right back atcha.
John takes a look around his bar and sees that Luke is still one of his only customers of the night. Not a hopping place at the moment, this.
One old fella sits at a corner table, keeping to himself and nursing a cold one.
John turns his attention back on Luke.
JOHN
Why the curiosity? About God, that is?
LUKE
Because I don’t believe. And maybe it would
be a lot easier if I did. I mean, there are
so many out there who do, but I just can’t.
What are they seeing that I don’t? I need to
understand.
JOHN
Why? Why not just accept that people’ll believe
what they want, no matter what, and just get
on with your life?
LUKE
I honestly don’t know.
As Luke continues to nurse his brewskie, another customer comes up to the bar beside him.
MARK
Hit me with it, John.
John sets a longneck in front of Mark.
JOHN
How goes it, Mark?
MARK
Can’t complain. Actually, I could, but why
risk a reputation as a whiner?
JOHN
Would that all of my customers abided by that
philosophy.
Luke shoots him a look. Mark notices it.
MARK
Didn’t mean to start nothin’.
JOHN
You didn’t. Luke here was assuming that I
had him grouped in with ordinary, everyday
complainers. No sir, he has real problems,
but he won’t let me in on the source of it
all.
MARK
Well, what’s the what?
JOHN
He can’t seem to find God.
Luke gives Mark a sideways glance.
LUKE
You wouldn’t happen to know him, would you?
MARK
Me and God have lunch every Tuesday afternoon
after our racquetball match.
JOHN
I bet he takes you every time.
MARK
Well, he IS God, but I manage to give him
a good game.
LUKE
Funnier guys I’ve yet to come across in all
my travels.
MARK
You go far in your search for the Almighty?
Luke nods.
LUKE
Even been to Tibet a time or two. Nothing
there. Nothing anywhere that I can see. Just
a bunch of disillusioned simpletons.
MARK
Harsh.
JOHN
He’s been in a harsh mood.
MARK
I see.
LUKE
There’s a lot in the world to be harsh about.
If you can’t see that by now, then I envy you
in ways you’ll never understand.
MARK
Try us on.
LUKE
Sorry, not quite that drunk yet.
MARK
If you’ve hit Tibet a couple of times and no
telling where else you’ve been, you must have
a pretty stacked bank account. That’s gotta
count for something, right?
LUKE
Let’s just say that I can honestly tell you
that money does not always equal happiness.
MARK
Not always, huh? What about sometimes?
Luke smirks at the question as he takes another sip.
LUKE
I think I’d settle for sometimes right about
now, but alas, it’s not to be.
MARK
Well friend, I wish I could help you out, but
me and God have never really been on speaking
terms. I could buy you another cold one, though.
LUKE
I appreciate it, but no thanks. I think I’m
about to head out while I can still see straight
enough to drive somewhat safely.
Before he can get up to leave, an old voice rings out across the near empty bar.
MATT
You want to see evidence of God?
Luke looks over his shoulder to see the old man, once sitting in the corner by himself, has gotten up and is presently headed in his direction.
MATT
Then you don’t need to look any farther than
Hallsville, Arkansas.
LUKE
Excuse me?
MATT
Little town, sits right in front of this
mountain. Nice, gorgeous place. Great people.
Young man by the name of Jared Durwood lives
there. He’s a miracle worker.
LUKE
I’ve seen my share of those types.
MATT
This boy ain’t no “type”, son. He’s the real
deal. He’s done the impossible many times
over.
LUKE
And I’ve heard several stories like this one.
But I’ve never witnessed a true miracle worker
in action. Leave the bedtime stories to kids,
old man.
Matt simply smiles at Luke as he shrugs his shoulder.
MATT
Think what you want to. All I know is that
before I met Jared Durwood, I couldn’t walk.
Matt turns around and walks away from the group with a spring in his step.
Luke turns back to the barkeep.
LUKE
You know this geezer?
JOHN
Old Matt comes in here at least once every
couple of weeks or so. Spends a little time
for himself, as he likes to say.
LUKE
Is it true, what he says?
JOHN
I always assumed he had an operation.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.