HIGHER GROUND
Based on the book "This Dark World"
By
Carolyn S. Briggs
Previous Screenplay by
Tim Metcalfe & Carolyn S. Briggs
Screenplay by
Carolyn S. Briggs
The Group Entertainment
Carly Hugo / Matt Parker
115 W. 29th St, #1102
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-868-5233
[email protected]
[email protected]
WGA# 1414043
May 24, 2010
Pink Revised as of 05/24/10
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
1
5/25/2010
1.
EXT. RURAL NEW YORK - LAKE - DAY - 1979
1
Three dozen mostly youngish people stand at the edge of a
brown river. Most of the men have long hair; the women wear
flowing skirts and scarves over their hair for modesty’s
sake.
Bill, 41, stands waist deep in the river with five members of
his congregation. On the riverbank, a few men play “I Have
Decided To Follow Jesus” on guitars and a harmonica.
BILL
As you are buried with Him in
baptism, so you are raised with Him
through faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
*
The men sing.
MONTAGE
Believer 1 emerges from her baptism radiant.
Believer 2 gets water up his nose and snorts buggers.
Believer 3 trembles.
Believer 4 shows no reaction at all.
Believer 5 comes out of the water with a Whoop and a extended
index finger: One Way.
2
EXT. RURAL NEW YORK - LAKE - UNDERWATER - CONTINUOUS
2
CLOSE UP - Corinne, 26, submerged under the surface of the
water. Her eyes are open and she stares into the New York
sky.
DISSOLVE TO:
3
OMITTED
3
CHAPTER 1: SUMMONS
4
*
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAY - 1961
4
CLOSE UP - Young Corinne, 8, submerged in the bathtub, stares
at the sky-blue and cloud-painted ceiling. She hears MUFFLED
SHOUTING and sits up. Water sloshes out of the tub.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
2.
KATHLEEN (O.S.)
Corinne! You’ve got chores to do.
5
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
5
Young Corinne feeds a towel-wrapped piglet on her lap. A
storybook is propped in front of the pig’s face, she reads to
him.
KATHLEEN, 30, arranges piglets on a rack in the oven. CW, 30,
enters the room, wraps his arms around Kathleen as she is
bent over. Subtly humps her.
KATHLEEN
Oh, please. You’re a lot of help.
CW
I was hoping for a little help
myself. I got this problem, Lady.
Kathleen straightens up and turns and we see that she’s six
months pregnant.
KATHLEEN
Somehow your problems become my
problem. Shoo-shoo. I’ve got an
oven full of runts.
He caresses her full belly, kisses her neck. Down and down.
She giggles, sinks to the floor. CW tickles her.
Young Corinne watches her parents cavort and then turns back
to the piglet she’s feeding. Milk runs from it’s mouth.
Daddy!
YOUNG CORINNE
CW and Kathleen stop their nuzzling. CW helps Kathleen up,
approaches Young Corinne. He picks up the piglet, a quick
look.
6
EXT. BRIDGE - DAY
6
CW balances a box on the railing of the bridge. Below a river
flows sluggishly. Young Corinne scrambles out of the car
despite her mother’s protest, as Young Wendy watches from the
car.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
3.
KATHLEEN
(through window)
It’s not worth a lousy ten dollars
off the rent. All this drama. The
agony.
CLOSE ON THE BOX: THREE DEAD BABY PIGS
CW picks up each pig up and drops it gently over the side of
the bridge. The pigs disappear but then bob back to the
surface. Young Corinne’s eyes widen and she looks up at her
dad.
YOUNG CORINNE
Where are they going?
CW
It’s the end of the road for them,
Squirt.
7
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S BEDROOM - DAY
7
Young Corinne’s fingers select and stack books. Her feet
stand on the stack. Wearing her mother’s stuffed bra, she
threads her arms into a blue silk dress and pulls it over her
body. Looks at herself in the mirror, pushes the heel of her
palm against her overbite and smiles.
YOUNG CORINNE
(to self in mirror)
Oh, Darling. I love you.
Everything will be all right.
CW enters the room.
CW
(whistles appreciatively)
Damn, Squirt.
YOUNG CORINNE
I was just pretending.
CW
I know. Hey, come outside. I have a
surprise.
8
EXT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - YARD - DAY
8
CW helps Young Corinne climb up on the stilts he’s built for
her.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
4.
She’s wobbly and CW has to hold her up while she learns to
walk. Long shot of the two of them, father and daughter. We
see the farmhouse, animals and the surrounding landscape.
9
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - KITCHEN -DAY
9
Corinne, eating a white bread and bologna sandwich, opens the
back door. A salesman stands there with a large suitcase.
Kathleen enters with a laundry basket which effectively
disguises her pregnancy.
SALESMAN
Let me introduce myself, Ma’am, I’m
Bobbie Lee Moore, and I work for
the Duluth Accordion Company, and
I’d love to show you an instrument
that will bring magic and
opportunity into your little one’s
life. Hey, Short Stuff, how’d you
like to play the accordion?
KATHLEEN
She’s not musical. We really
wouldn’t be interested.
SALESMAN
Not to contradict you Ma’am, but
maybe she hasn’t found her
instrument. This is the Deluxe
Squeeze for the pre-teen. It has
all the features of a full-size, 22
full length white and black keys,
all your sharps, all your flats. A
real beauty.
Salesman opens the case, pulls out the accordion and straps
it around Corinne who is mute and pliable, bending and
threading her arms at his touch.
SALESMAN (CONT’D)
Let’s see now. We’ll start with a
scale.
He gets on his knees and wraps his arms around Young Corinne,
places his hands on top of hers, presses his sweaty face
against hers while he moves into “Mary Had a Little Lamb”,
then “Yankee Doodle”.
SALESMAN (CONT’D)
Why, this kid’s got it! Real
talent. All these years in the
business, I can spot ‘em.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
5.
Kathleen sinks to a chair, feeling weak and warm, and undoes
the top buttons of her blouse. Salesman loses interest in
Young Corinne’s potential talent.
KATHLEEN
It’s bigger than she is. She can’t
even stand up straight.
Young Corinne begins to topple. Salesman reaches over and
steadies her, eyes on Kathleen’s breasts swelling above her
blouse.
SALESMAN
She’ll grow into it. Maybe make it
a career.
Young Corinne begins to tip sideways again. Salesman
straightens her, eyes still on Kathleen.
SALESMAN (CONT’D)
Not everybody can get by on looks
like her momma. Hey honey. Don’t
you love the Deluxe Squeeze?
*
YOUNG CORINNE
(close to tears)
No, it’s too heavy.
Kathleen gasps. A stream of blood-tinged fluid runs down her
legs.
10
INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - DAY
10
Young Corinne and Young Wendy sit squeezed together in a
single chair. Young Wendy is crying. Young Corinne wipes
Young Wendy’s nose, blows some bubbles, trying to distract
her.
11
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY- ICU - DAY
11
Young Corinne in the hallway jumps up and down, trying to
glimpse through the glass of a closed door to a room where
her crying mother lies with her feet in stirrups, protesting
as an anesthesiologist places a mask over her face.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
12
5/25/2010
INT. KATHLEEN’S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
6.
12
CW holds a sad Kathleen, caressing her back. Young Corinne
and Young Wendy stand in the doorway watching. Young Corinne
walks to her mother and smooths her hair from her face.
YOUNG CORINNE
Oh, darling. Everything’s going to
be all right.
Kathleen rolls away from them all.
13
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
13
Young Corinne is standing at the library counter with a stack
of books. She takes a deep vanilla whiff of one she holds.
MRS. TUTTLE, a six-foot-tall librarian with every inch
straining toward God, is checking Young Corinne’s books out.
She shakes her head at The Lord of the Flies and shoves it
away from the pile.
MRS. TUTTLE
We’ll see you in church on Sunday?
The skin tag on Mrs. Tuttle’s neck has caught the fine gold
chain she wears. A tiny gold cross dangles and mesmerizes
Young Corinne. The cross gives way.
YOUNG CORINNE
Yes, Ma’am.
She looks longingly at the forbidden book before turning
away.
14
INT.
PASTOR BUD’S CHURCH - DAY
14
Pastor Bud, 35, stands before dozens of children with a mic.
PASTOR BUD
It’s the Lamb of God, precious
ones. He’s knocking on the door of
your heart gently, gently, gently.
Can you hear him now? Tap, tap,
tap... Oh, so softly...
Young Corinne is rapt.
Jesus is a gentleman, children.
He’s not going to go barging into
your heart without an invitation.
Won’t you let him in?
(MORE)
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
7.
PASTOR BUD (CONT'D)
Won’t you open the door to
Jesus?... Take that chain off your
door, pull open the latch. Oh,
look, it’s Jesus! He’s waiting for
you! Oh, precious, precious Jesus.
You’re welcome here, dear Lord. Let
us pray.
The children know the drill. They immediately bow their heads
and squint their eyes shut.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
With everyone’s eyes closed and no
one looking around, raise your hand
if you made a decision today. Yes,
Pastor Bud, I opened the door. I
didn’t leave Jesus out in the cold.
I’m on my way to heaven. Who here
will raise your hand today and say
I’ve been saved?
TIM’s hand goes up.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
I see you.
Shelly raises her hand.
And you.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
Young Corinne hesitates and then raises her hand as high as
she can.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
And you. Bless you, dear children.
Bless you.
Pastor Bud cues the organist. A chorus of “I Have Decided to
Follow Jesus.”
Pastor Bud leaves the front of the church and passes through
the aisle, reaching out to grip the shoulders of the children
he passes. He pauses at the back row where Corinne sits,
placing his hands on her shoulders and praying.
The organist stretches out the last chord as AMEN.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
A--men. It’s been a great year at
Vacation Bible School. Shelly,
Corinne, Tim...please stay and talk
to me a minute.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
8.
Pastor Bud mops his face with his handkerchief as Shelly,
Tim, and Young Corinne join him. We see Pastor Bud’s monogram
on his elegant handkerchief and an expensive looking
wristwatch. He is the most elegant savior Corinne can
imagine.
On her way towards the pulpit, one kid pig snorts at her,
another armpit farts.
He flips his tie over his shoulder and hitches up his dress
pants.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
This is quite a day in heaven today
-- you know why?
TIM
Because we asked Jesus into our
heart?
YOUNG CORINNE
(mouths to Tim)
Hearts, moron.
She gives Tim a dirty look. And then is filled with guilt.
PASTOR BUD
That’s right, Buddy.
He puts his arm around Tim which makes Young Corinne frown
again.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
There’s a parade in heaven right
now -- oh, I can hear it, big bass
drums, little tinkly flutes, shouts
and hallelujahs because you three
children just made the best
decision of your lives. Now, I want
each of you to tell your momma and
poppa that your name is written in
(pauses and almost
whispers)
The Book of Life. Don’t be ashamed
of Jesus, little ones, and He won’t
be ashamed of you.
Young Corinne nods and smiles at him before turning to see
Kathleen walking in the door of the sanctuary. She hurries to
hustle her mom out of the Inner Sanctum, but it’s too late.
Pastor Bud has spotted the unsaved and ravishing Kathleen,
wearing a red bouffant wig.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
9.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
Kathleen! Hot enough for you?
KATHLEEN
Beastly. I’m thinking I might join
the girls at the pool this
afternoon.
Pastor Bud is flustered at the unbidden mental image of
Kathleen in a swimming suit.
PASTOR BUD
Ah, Bathsheba bathing, cooling from
the heat of the day.
KATHLEEN
(Dimples engaged)
You like to swim, Pastor Bud?
PASTOR BUD
No, ma’am. Never learned to swim,
but His power is perfected in my
weakness.
KATHLEEN
I used to be a lifeguard -- I could
teach you.
Young Corinne notices this exchange and chews her lip.
15
FANTASY
15
Pastor Bud stretched (in a bathing suit) prone on a church
pew. Kathleen (in a bathing suit) lies on his back, her arms
placed over his arms, showing him how to stroke and when to
breathe.
BACK TO:
15A
INT. PASTOR BUD’S CHURCH - DAY
15A
PASTOR BUD
Oh, no, I’d sink like a stone. The
baptism tank is as deep as I go,
but never mind that. Corinne has
some wonderful news to share with
you.
He takes Kathleen’s hands between his own massive ones. Two
church moms walk by and smile tightly at Kathleen.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
10.
PASTOR BUD (CONT’D)
I know it hasn’t been easy for you
since you lost your baby, but God
can bring something good out of
tragedy, you know? Your family can
be whole and strong if God’s in the
center.
Young Corinne whistles nervously. Kathleen’s forced good mood
deflates, but she doesn’t let on. Waves cheerfully at Pastor
Bud and herds the girls out.
16
EXT. PASTOR BUD’S CHURCH - PARKING LOT - DAY
16
As Kathleen and the girls walk out to the car, Tim earnestly
talks to his mother who drops to her knees and hugs him.
Young Corinne takes her time, not anxious to get in the car.
Young Corinne picks up a pop bottle and begins to blow sounds
across the rim as she watches the scene with Tim and his
mother.
A stray dog appears in the empty parking lot. Young Corinne
stops blowing, they have a stare-off. She breaks it and hops
in the car.
17
EXT./INT. CONVERTIBLE - STREET - DAY
17
Young Wendy is in the front seat beside her mother. Kathleen
peers into the rear view mirror and fusses with her hair,
ties on a head scarf.
KATHLEEN
This humidity! It makes us look
like Bozo. You, too, Corinne. Wendy
is the lucky one.
Young Wendy gloats Young Corinne’s direction. Young Corinne
glares.
KATHLEEN (CONT’D)
So what’s this wonderful news?
YOUNG WENDY
She got saved today.
From what?
KATHLEEN
YOUNG CORINNE
I just raised my hand, that’s all.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
11.
YOUNG WENDY
Pastor Bud, he says Jesus knocks on
our heart, but we don’t listen.
KATHLEEN
Huh. He should try the door bell
instead. Sit up straight, Corinne.
You’re going to get a hump on your
back like your grandma.
YOUNG WENDY
I’m two and a half inches taller
than Corinne.
YOUNG CORINNE
Shut up, Wendy. You’re a string
bean.
YOUNG WENDY
You’re a runt.
KATHLEEN
Oh, Girls. Stop it. I don’t know
why I bother sending you to church.
It doesn’t take.
Kathleen pulls out of the parking lot. Young Corinne turns
around and sees the dog still staring and the red cross on
the church shrinking as they drive away.
CHAPTER 2 : RENEGADE
18
INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY - 1968
18
Teenage Corinne, 15, climbs stairs on her way to her locker.
A studly senior boy, KIRK, in a letter jacket waits for her
mid-stairs.
Hi.
Hi.
KIRK
TEENAGE CORINNE
KIRK
Are you Wendy Waters’ lil’ sister?
I’m older.
TEENAGE CORINNE
KIRK
Oh right. What’s your name, anyway?
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
Corinne.
5/25/2010
12.
TEENAGE CORINNE
She arrives at her locker, struggles with the combination
lock.
KIRK
How come I’ve never seen you
before? Cause you’re such a shrimp?
(pulls a toothpick out and
starts digging)
You in tenth grade?
Yeah.
TEENAGE CORINNE
KIRK
C’mon. Really? No way you’re old
enough to be in high school. Did
you get promoted and skip a few
grades?
No.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Teenage Corinne finally opens the lock.
KIRK
Listen, I’ve got to ask you
something. The guys and me -we were wondering about your
sister’s tits.
Wendy?
TEENAGE CORINNE
KIRK
Yeah Wendy, with the huge boobs the
size of watermelons, I swear to
God. You should know.
Teenage Corinne is uncomfortable.
KIRK (CONT’D)
We gotta know, is she wearing
falsies?
TEENAGE CORINNE
Why should I tell you anything?
KIRK
Cause you think I’m cute.
He lightly touches her nose.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
13.
KIRK (CONT’D)
Cause I think you’re kinda cute?
TEENAGE CORINNE
They’re real.
KIRK
I knew it. Damn! When she runs
sprints...
(turns to leave)
Man alive.
TEENAGE CORINNE
She has to go to Albany to get
special bras.
KIRK
(laughs, leaving)
God! That’s so great.
Teenage Corinne watches Kirk walk away and whistles a nervous
tune.
19
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S LIVING ROOM - DAY
19
CW and Kathleen silently sit on opposite ends of the couch
watching TV. He picks up one of her bare feet and lightly
tickles it. She doesn’t respond. He bends over and lightly
bites her big toe. She pulls her foot away and doesn’t look
at him.
20
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - KID’S BEDROOM - DAY
20
Teenage Corinne is lying on her bed writing poetry. Her side
of the room is plain, a pile of books on her bedside table.
Teenage Wendy’s side of the room is plastered with posters of
The Jackson Five, the Cowsills, especially the Monkees. Wendy
wears a blouse and a pair of panties, pulls out a pair of
jeans.
Teenage Corinne pauses in writing to watch her. Teenage Wendy
opens their underwear drawer and removes another pair of
panties which she puts on top of the first pair. Teenage
Corinne begins to write again.
Teenage Wendy continues to put on underpants until she is
wearing eight pairs. She then puts on her jeans, rotates to
check out her ass in the mirror.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
21
5/25/2010
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - KID’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
14.
21
Off screen we hear CW and Kathleen arguing downstairs.
Teenage Wendy is snoring on her twin bed. Teenage Corinne is
tuned in, worried, staring at the ceiling wide-eyed.
22
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
22
CW opens a carton of Neapolitan ice cream, the chocolate and
the strawberry stripes are decimated. He begins to scoop out
the remaining vanilla ice cream, but it’s too hard. He can
only get a sliver, tries again, the spoon bends.
Teenage Corinne, passing by the kitchen door, sees her
father’s rage and tears as he stares into the carton of ice
cream.
23
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
23
Teenage Corinne waits at the card catalogue until Mrs. Tuttle
leaves the check-out desk before she approaches and slides
her stack of books toward the assistant librarian for checkout. The Lord of the Flies is the book on top.
24
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - DAY
24
Teenage Corinne pulls open her father’s underwear drawer. All
of his clothes are still there.
25
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - KID’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
25
Teenage Corinne lies in bed watching both the alarm clock and
monitoring the back door through a window. It’s one in the
morning when CW finally pulls into the driveway.
26
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - STAIRWELL - NIGHT
26
Teenage Corinne sits on the bottom step of the stairs to spy
on her parents. Kathleen is dressed, complete with a new
blond wig.
TEENAGE CORINNE
(sotto)
Tell her she looks pretty. Tell her
you love her.
Kathleen stands in front of CW who remains silent. She tries
to pass him.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
15.
TEENAGE CORINNE (CONT’D)
(sotto)
Go on, Daddy, say it.
CW grabs Kathleen’s arm. She hits him with her purse. He
pulls the wig from her head and laughs. She runs into the
bedroom door and locks it behind her. CW sinks on the couch,
turns on the TV, and pulls a pint from his pocket.
27
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - DAY
27
Teenage Corinne slowly opens the drawer -- it’s empty. She
pulls open the closet door and sees everything is gone on her
father’s side of the closet except for his winter coat. She
pulls his coat out of the closet and buries her face in it,
then threads her hands and arms into it and sits on her
parents’ bed.
28
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
28
Kathleen lies on the sofa with her head in Teenage Corinne’s
lap. Teenage Corinne brushes her blond wig. Teenage Wendy
flips through a Cosmo magazine.
TEENAGE WENDY
This says it’s not sexy to have
black hairs around your nipples.
KATHLEEN
(pulls the wig off and
hands to Corinne)
Will you put this away for me?
TEENAGE CORINNE
When will Daddy be back?
Kathleen turns her face away.
29
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
Teenage Corinne places the wig back on the wig stand. She
digs her fingernails into the Styrofoam, trying to create
eyes, a mouth that actually speaks.
TEENAGE CORINNE
(to the Styrofoam head)
He’s coming back, Momma.
She kisses the forehead of the wig stand.
29
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
30
5/25/2010
16.
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL TRACK - DAY
30
Teenage Wendy is running sprints. Kirk and several others
ogle her as she jogs by. Badonka-donks badonking.
A30
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL COURTYARD - DAY - 1970
A30
Teenage Corinne lays on a picnic table writing poetry.
Teenage Ethan, a long-haired senior, passes by with his band.
Teenage Ethan approaches Teenage Corinne. She looks up at
him, checks her surprise, closes her spiral notebook and
smiles. He sits beside her, holding his guitar case on his
lap.
TEENAGE ETHAN
You’re the writer, aren’t you?
Teenage Corinne nods.
TEENAGE ETHAN (CONT’D)
Corinne Waters, right?
She nods again, can’t keep her eyes off his hands-long and
slender fingers with a handsome gold class ring.
TEENAGE ETHAN (CONT’D)
I was on my way to practice. You
know The Renegades?
TEENAGE CORINNE
Everyone knows The Renegades.
I’m Ethan.
I know.
TEENAGE ETHAN
TEENAGE CORINNE
TEENAGE ETHAN
What are you doing?
TEENAGE CORINNE
Waiting for my sister to finish
practice.
TEENAGE ETHAN
No, what are you writing?
TEENAGE CORINNE
Oh. Some thoughts on
disappointment.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
17.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Hey, we should try to write a song
together.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Oh! Sure. I could try. It’s just...
I’m not musical.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Maybe you haven’t found your
instrument yet.
She looks at him intently. He blushes and looks away.
31
INT. COMMUNITY CENTER - REHEARSAL SPACE - NIGHT
31
Teenage Corinne watches The Renegades practice. Teenage Ethan
sings a duet, “It’s All Up to You” with MIKE, a band member.
She smiles shyly at Teenage Ethan and doodles his name in her
notebook.
32
EXT. OPEN FIELD - DAY
32
Teenage Ethan and Teenage Corinne are sharing an enormous
caramel apple. He stretches out watching her pleasure in
eating it. She leans over him and then he balances her belly
on his extended legs. She hovers like a glider over him, the
apple up in the air, howling, and then collapses. Crickets
and bullfrogs serenade.
A32
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - BATHROOM - NIGHT
A32
Teenage Corinne studies her teeth in the mirror, presses on
the crooked one. She fashions makeshift braces for herself
out of paper clips. Admires her reflection. Teenage Ethan
calls from outside.
33
INT. KATHLEEN & CW’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS 33
Teenage Ethan strums his guitar, works out the lyrics to
“Higher Ground”, the song Teenage Corinne’s has written in
her notebook. He encourages her to harmonize. Teenage Wendy
enters and Teenage Corinne braces herself for the attention
Teenage Wendy usually gets.
TEENAGE WENDY
I like The Renegades. You guys are
cool.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
Thanks.
5/25/2010
18.
TEENAGE ETHAN
TEENAGE WENDY
I’m the only freshman to make
Varsity.
TEENAGE ETHAN
You’re looking at the first guy out
in Dodgeball.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Me, too. I’m always out first.
TEENAGE ETHAN
I knew there was a reason I loved
you so much. Woah! A reason I liked
you so much. Liked.
TEENAGE WENDY
Woooo! I heard that.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Get lost, Wendy.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Yeah Wendy, go shoot some hoops or
something.
Teenage Ethan’s hand becomes an animated four-legged
“creature” with an animated middle finger. The creature
crawls up Teenage Corinne’s arm making her giggle. It stops
at her face, touching her nose with a gentle tap.
Teenage Ethan kisses Teenage Corinne, competing for kisses
with his “creature”.
Ew, gross.
TEENAGE WENDY
The “creature” looks at Wendy quizzically and then flips
over, effectively giving her the finger.
TEENAGE WENDY (CONT’D)
You guys are full of shit.
Teenage Corinne looks at Teenage Wendy as she leaves.
TEENAGE ETHAN
(affectionately)
Don’t ever look away when I’m
kissing you.
Teenage Corinne gives him her full adoring attention.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
19.
34
OMITTED
34
35
EXT. ELLENVILLE STREET - DAY
35
Teenage Corinne and Teenage Ethan in Teenage Ethan’s van.
They pass CW with his arm around another woman and her two
small children.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Want to say hi?
TEENAGE CORINNE
He won’t be nice to you, anyway.
He’ll say you need a hair cut.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Well, I’ll ask him who his barber
is.
Teenage Corinne shakes her head. Teenage Ethan puts his van
into gear and they drive off.
36
INT. COMMUNITY CENTER - NIGHT
36
The Renegades are playing “It’s All Up to You”. The stage is
elaborately strobed and lit. Teenagers fill the youth center,
but Teenage Corinne sits in a folding chair at the side of
the stage. She watches Teenage Ethan intently. Teenage Ethan
turns and sings the lyrics to her. Teenage Corinne smiles
back at him.
37
EXT. EMPTY SWIMMING POOL - NIGHT
Teenage Ethan and Teenage Corinne are kissing deeply. She
pulls away.
ETHAN
It’s okay. We’re always gonna be
together. We’re gonna have two
girls, just like you and Wendy.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Does one of them have to be like
Wendy?
(beat)
Next Sunday.
37
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
20.
TEENAGE ETHAN
(understands what she
means)
Next Sunday.
They sit next to each other, both immersed in the world of
Next Sunday.
A37
INT. HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY CLASSROOM - DAY
A37
BIOLOGY TEACHER, 30’s, stands in the doorway of the lab and
flicks the light switch off and on twice.
BIOLOGY TEACHER
Each of you has a tray. Please
remove the cover.
Teenage Corinne pulls off the paper sheet and sees a baby
pig, exactly like the ones her mother tried to keep alive so
many years ago.
BIOLOGY TEACHER (CONT’D)
Pig anatomy is actually quite
similar to human anatomy. Same
muscle structure, all the thoracic
and abdominal organs are the same -Close on the pig’s eye -- it’s unblinking. Inarguably dead.
B37
EXT. BARN - DAY
B37
*
Teenage Corinne waits for Ethan in a barn. She wears a long
dress, looks virginal, holds a blanket. She feeds apples to
some goats.
Teenage Ethan’s van pulls up. He walks up to her, they watch
each other, awkwardness. He kisses her on the forehead. They
exit the barn.
38
EXT. PASTURE - DAY
38
They sip a bottle of Boone’s Farm. They are silent as they
hop a spit rail fence, walk across a field. They spread out a
blanket and scrape the mud off their sandals.
They smile at each other. Teenage Ethan unzips his pants;
Teenage Corinne pulls up her dress to mid-thigh. Teenage
Corinne lies on her back. With Teenage Ethan on top of her,
she looks over Teenage Ethan’s shoulder at the bees swarm the
apple blossoms above them.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
A38
5/25/2010
FANTASY
21.
A38
Teenage Corinne’s biology teacher (in his underwear) sits
cross-legged in the grass, a pointer in his hands. He directs
her attention to the bees.
BIOLOGY TEACHER
The female bee mates with the male
bee in midair, gathering all of the
sperm she will need in her
lifetime. After the female mates,
she retreats and returns to her
nest.
BACK TO:
B38
EXT. PASTURE - DAY
B38
ETHAN
(finishing quickly)
Oh, Honey!
Teenage Corinne smiles at him, tugs her dress back down.
39
EXT. VAN - DAY
39
Ethan is driving Teenage Corinne home from her deflowering.
They pass Pastor Bud’s Baptist Church Marquee: BEHOLD, I COME
QUICKLY!
40
INT. CW AND KATHLEEN’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY - 1971
40
Teenage Corinne sits at the kitchen filling out an community
college application. The phone rings. Teenage Wendy answers.
TEENAGE WENDY
Hello. Sure hold on. What’s this
regarding?
She passes Teenage Corinne the phone.
TEENAGE WENDY (CONT’D)
It’s a nurse. Something about your
physical.
The nurse says something to her. Teenage Corinne nods, drops
her head, crumples the application in her hand.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
41
5/25/2010
22.
INT. HOTEL - CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
41
The Renegades perform “Lady Lady” at Teenage Corinne and
Teenage Ethan’s wedding reception. Mike and HARRY, a band
member, sing a duet.
Teenage Ethan feeds a six month pregnant Teenage Corinne a
bite of their wedding cake and she feeds him. Flashbulb pops.
Teenage Corinne takes a single sip of champagne, gags as the
next flashbulb pops.
42
INT. HOTEL - BATHROOM - NIGHT
42
Teenage Ethan holds back Corinne’s hair as she pukes in the
toilet.
43
EXT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - DAY - 1972
43
A pale pink trailer. Petunias surround the trailer’s skirt.
44
EXT. STONE WALL - DAY
44
Teenage Ethan works as a mason. He kneels, uses a hammer and
chisel to break a stone in half. His hands are cracked and
bleeding. He douses his hands with a water bottle, continues
working.
45
EXT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - DAY
45
Teenage Corinne wears blue plastic rollers, sits on the porch
stoop swatting flies. Fifteen month old Baby Abigail plays
with pebbles.
46
INT. SHACK - NIGHT
46
The Renegades are practicing “Progeny Swansong”. Teenage
Ethan yawns mid note and Mike motions to Harry to take over
vocals. Teenage Ethan focuses on his cracked hands, as the
band picks up energy.
47
INT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - NIGHT
47
A curly Teenage Corinne lies on the floor of the living room
trying to touch one wall with her fingers and the opposite
wall with her toes. The baby drops scrabble pieces into a cup
of water.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
23.
Teenage Ethan enters the trailer with a bottle of Cornhusker
lotion. Sits down and slathers it on his beat-up hands.
TEENAGE ETHAN
What are you doing?
Teenage Corinne sits up.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Wanted to see if I could touch both
sides at once. How are your hands?
TEENAGE ETHAN
Like a toad’s. Prince-not-soCharming. I like your hair.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Eh. Tried something new.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Abigator’s not sleeping?
Teenage Ethan cuddles the baby, chomps her big thighs
playfully.
TEENAGE CORINNE
She’s got hiccups. Wendy told me
Jesus people are in town. She and
her friends get high and go talk to
them.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Jesus Freaks in Ellenville?
TEENAGE CORINNE
Yeah, they gave her a Bible.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Bet she was thrilled.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Told her I’d take it.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Well Abby could use a booster in
her seat. Couldn’t you Abby?
Teenage Ethan blows mouth farts on her thighs.
TEENAGE CORINNE
You’re givin’ her bruises.
TEENAGE ETHAN
I’m curing her hiccups.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
24.
TEENAGE CORINNE
I haven’t opened a Bible since I
was a kid.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Then I came along and corrupted
you.
Teenage Corinne doesn’t answer. Teenage Ethan looks around
their trailer.
TEENAGE ETHAN (CONT’D)
Things’ll get better. If I could
get in more practice time -TEENAGE CORINNE
--And if I didn’t have a baby to
take care of, I’d write a novel.
This is our life. At least we have
Abby Fat Legs. Little pork-butt.
Teenage Ethan picks up the guitar again and makes up a song.
TEENAGE ETHAN
(singing)
I traded my guitar for chubby baby,
Now I work at the pig farm for
gravy.
TEENAGE CORINNE
(singing)
The hair once on your head,
Has moved down to your chest.
And I spend all my time,
Baby suckin’ on my breast.
Teenage Ethan laughs.
48
EXT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - DAY
48
Teenage Corinne wears cranky Baby Abigail in a makeshift baby
backpack as she whistles and jigs back and forth, in and out
of the trailer. She comes out holding The Way, the Bible the
Jesus people gave Wendy and hops around the front garden,
jostling fussy Baby Abigail while she reads.
A48
EXT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - DAY
The kitchen table had been set up outside. A fan blows on
them as they dine.
A48
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
25.
They eat potato pancakes and sunny side up eggs. Teenage
Ethan drinks beer and Teenage Corinne sips iced tea. Teenage
Corinne cuts around the white of the egg, eats only the
yolks. She swats flies from the baby’s head with her fly
swatter.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Poor baby sweatball. Do you like
living in a sauna?
He reaches over with a napkin and wipes her forehead off.
TEENAGE CORINNE
I read the Bible today.
TEENAGE ETHAN
The whole thing?
Yes twice.
TEENAGE CORINNE
TEENAGE ETHAN
Real page turner I bet.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Yeah this one’s different. I can
actually understand it. Wanna read
it with me? I read the Song of
Solomon. It’s really just a love
poem. “Your breasts are like two
giant towers...” or something like
that.
TEENAGE ETHAN
I’m hip to that.
TEENAGE CORINNE
“I’m my Beloved’s and He is mine.”
Are you?
Am I what?
Mine?
TEENAGE ETHAN
TEENAGE CORINNE
TEENAGE ETHAN
TEENAGE CORINNE
Whose else would I be?
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
49
5/25/2010
INT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - BEDROOM - NIGHT
26.
49
Teenage Ethan coats his hands with lotion, then pulls on a
pair of plastic gloves. He lies down in bed beside Teenage
Corinne, folds his hands over his chest. Teenage Corinne
picks up The Way and opens it, stops and looks at his gloves.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Do those help?
TEENAGE ETHAN
(pawing at her)
You like my love gloves?
TEENAGE CORINNE
Ew, don’t touch me with them.
And then he does. All over. She’s laughing. It echoes her
memory of her parents in CW And Kathleen’s kitchen. Teenage
Corinne gently pushes him away and sits up.
TEENAGE CORINNE (CONT’D)
I’m going to start, okay?
TEENAGE ETHAN
(big sigh)
Hit me.
TEENAGE CORINNE
(reading)
“I was hungry and you gave me food.
I was thirsty and you gave me
drink, a stranger, and you took me
in, naked and you clothed me. I was
sick and you cared for me--”
TEENAGE ETHAN
(looking at his hands)
I was dry and you lubed me.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Hush. “Lord, when did we see you
hungry or thirsty or a stranger or
naked or in prison?”
TEENAGE ETHAN
Naked? You wanna get naked? I’ll
get you naked. Come here, woman.
He pulls off her pajama bottoms as she tries to keep them on.
He pins her arms down and kisses her, tugs at her pajama top.
She shrieks with pleasure, clamps her hand over her mouth to
not wake the baby and the Bible is lost somewhere on the
bottom of the bed.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
50
5/25/2010
27.
INT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
50
It’s hot, the windows are open, a fan is blowing on the
family who lie on a quilt on the living room floor. Baby
Abigail is sleeping in the middle. Teenage Corinne and
Teenage Ethan can’t sleep. He switches on a lamp and reaches
for The Way.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Let’s see what God has to say.
He opens the Bible, his fingers hover over the page and then
he blindly points to a verse. Reads it. Silence.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Well? Read it.
TEENAGE ETHAN
“I will dash your infants against
the rocks.”
What?
TEENAGE CORINNE
She reads. They both look at Baby Abigail, who is sweetly
sleeping.
TEENAGE ETHAN
That’s fucked up.
(beat)
Let’s start at the beginning.
He opens the Bible to Genesis and places it between them.
51
EXT. BAR - PARKING LOT - DAY
51
Teenage Ethan’s bus is parked outside. Teenage Corinne sits
outside on one of the bus’s bean bag chairs eating an ice
cream cone. She has The Way open on the bench beside her. She
is bent over reading it, dipping her finger into the ice
cream to pacify Baby Abigail. Nothing works.
52
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - RENEGADES BUS - NIGHT
52
Bean bag chairs, coolers, some extra cords line the walls.
BRENDAN, a band member, chews his toenails off nearby. Mike
sits outside on a cooler, noodling on his guitar writing “A
Guitar Riff”.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
28.
Teenage Corinne changes Baby Abigail’s poopy cloth diaper.
Shit smears down the baby’s legs and onto Teenage Corinne’s
arm. Baby Abigail won’t stop crying. She plucks a toenail
from the baby’s bottom.
TEENAGE CORINNE
(exasperated)
How did a fingernail get into her
diaper?!
They ignore her. Teenage Corinne anxiously whistles.
A52
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - RENEGADES BUS - NIGHT
A52
Teenage Ethan drives, guzzling Mountain Dew to stay awake.
The guys are in the back, sitting around two coolers, one for
beer; the other cooler contains their stash. A band member is
describing a hot girl he saw that night. Mike is counting
money and putting it at the bottom of the cooler. Two others
are working out the riff to “Nothing Good About Me”.
Teething?
TEENAGE ETHAN
TEENAGE CORINNE
She needs her crib.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Put her in the cooler. The big one.
The beer’s gone. Put her blanket in
it. She’ll feel cozy.
Teenage Corinne walks back and kicks the big cooler. Mike
sits on it, lights a hash pipe.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Mike, I need this.
MIKE
Yup, just don’t take that one.
He points toward the smaller cooler stacked with baggies of
weed and hash.
Teenage Corinne takes the large cooler and drags it as far
away from the band as she can. She lines it with the blanket
and then lays Baby Abigail down inside and gives her a
passifier. Afterwards, Teenage Corinne joins Teenage Ethan at
the front.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
29.
TEENAGE CORINNE
This is the last gig Abigail and I
are coming to, Ethan.
They look at the band in the back. They’ve rolled some joints
already and are mooning passing cars.
TEENAGE ETHAN
Hey, Dickheads! Wanna get us pulled
over? My kid’s in the bus for
God’s sake.
In the back, the guys are laughing really hard now. Someone
throws a beer can at Teenage Ethan.
TEENAGE ETHAN (CONT’D)
(turning around)
Fucking cut it out!
Teenage Ethan loses control of the bus which heads down an
incline, straight into a river. The back end remains on land.
Chaos. Panic. One of the band members opens the back door and
starts throwing equipment out.
TEENAGE ETHAN (CONT’D)
Corinne! Are you okay?
Teenage Corinne struggles to get on her feet. She has a large
slash on her forehead.
CORINNE
The cooler! Where’s the cooler?
Mike opens the back door and Brendan and Harry unload their
equipment to dry ground, swearing at Teenage Ethan. Water is
seeping in and Teenage Ethan grabs Corinne to get her out.
TEENAGE CORINNE
(to Mike)
Did you get the cooler?
MIKE
Yeah, it’s outside.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Where’d you put it?
MIKE
Outside.
(to Ethan)
C’mon, man. Help us.
Teenage Ethan helps Corinne out, jumps out after her. They
search for the cooler.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
53
5/25/2010
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - RENEGADES BUS - NIGHT
30.
53
TEENAGE ETHAN
Where’d you put the cooler?
Mike hands him the stash cooler. Teenage Corinne and Teenage
Ethan look at each other in horror. They run back to the bus.
Stay here.
TEENAGE ETHAN (CONT’D)
He pulls himself up into the back door of the bus.
Hysterical, Corinne sinks to the ground.
TEENAGE CORINNE
Oh please Jesus please God oh
please Lord Jesus, save my baby.
54
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - RENEGADES BUS - NIGHT
54
In the weak light of the flashlight, the cooler bobs in the
rapidly filling bus. Teenage Ethan reaches for it.
55
INT. ETHAN AND CORINNE’S TRAILER - BEDROOM - NIGHT
55
Teenage Corinne and Teenage Ethan are pretzeled in bed with
Abigail.
TEENAGE CORINNE
God saved her. He saved us.
Teenage Ethan’s eyes are filled with grateful tears. He
presses his lips against Teenage Corinne’s forehead. She
kisses the baby.
56
EXT. NATURE - DAY
56
Teenage Corinne and Teenage Ethan sit in their van watching a
motley group of hippies conduct a church service. The hippies
wear crosses and babies. Several hold their hands in the air
in worship. They open their Bibles and read aloud.
Teenage Corinne and Teenage Ethan get out of the van, put the
baby in her Snuggli. Teenage Corinne hesitates, but Teenage
Ethan tugs her gently forward toward the gathering of
saints. Someone yells hello and then a dozen others echo:
Welcome, Brother. Welcome, Sister.
CHAPTER 3: CONSUMED
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
57
5/25/2010
31.
EXT. RURAL NEW YORK - LAKE - DAY - 1979
57
Bill lifts Corinne, 26, 4 months pregnant, from the water.
The first things she sees are Ethan and her children Younger
Abigail, 8, and Younger Lily, 5. Annika, Ned, Deborah, Molly,
Luke, Younger Joel, Joel's Older Sister, Hope and Frank all
stand and watch with Corinne’s family.
BILL
(to onlookers)
Sound the trumpets! Our beloved
sister Corinne has finally been
baptized.
People on the riverbank hoot and holler. Corinne and Bill
wade side-by-side.
BILL (CONT’D)
Nobody loves the Lord more than
Corinne, but getting baptized in
this murky lake - whoo - not for
this Sis. It’s not san-i-tary.
CORINNE
That was wild -- I was so
overwhelmed thinking about this
child in my womb, thinking what God
has done in our lives-Corinne steps on something and screams.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Yuck, what is that, a snapping
turtle? Oh dear Lord what was that?
Eww-- how far He’s brought me, this
family He’s given me. Love you,
babies. Momma’s got to get cleaned
up, yuck.
ANNIKA, late 20’s, holding Younger Abigail’s hand, hugs
Corinne. They beam at each other.
ANNIKA
Phooy -- you stink like carp.
Corinne swats at her. Molly sings “Blessed Assurance”.
Annika and Corinne walk with their arms around each other to
the van. The van is plastered with Christian fish and dove
symbols, psychedelic crosses, and bumpers stickers. It is
painted WARNING IN CASE OF RAPTURE, THIS CAR WILL BE
UNMANNED.
*
*
*
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
A57
5/25/2010
EXT. CW’S MOTEL APARTMENT - DAY
32.
A57
Corrine walks up to her father’s motel apartment to check on
him.
58
INT. CW’S MOTEL APARTMENT - DAY
58
Letting herself in, Corinne stands there and absorbs the
hopelessness of the room.
Dad?
CORINNE
She opens his closet and runs her hand through his clothes.
Puts her face inside a shirt. Breathes.
She makes his bed and places a New Testament on his pillow.
Prays for his salvation.
59
EXT. KATHLEEN AND CW’S HOUSE - PASTURE CEMETERY - DAY
Ethan and CW are digging a grave. Younger Lily tosses back
dirt into the hole with a hand shovel. CW is waist deep,
shirtless. Corinne, Kathleen and Kathleen’s new boyfriend,
DICK, watch Ethan pant in the mid-day heat.
ETHAN
You don’t have to go a full six
feet, you know. The county said
between four and six feet.
CW
Just making sure she doesn’t crawl
back up.
Corinne opens a Diet Pepsi for CW. He takes a break.
Aw Granny.
CORINNE
CW
I’m sorry, Squirt. For Cripe’s
sake, she was a goddamn
hypochondriac. But I guess she was
right this time. I’m gonna miss
that old cow. She’s at peace now.
CORINNE
It’s true, Daddy. Cause Grandma
knew the Lord.
59
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
33.
CW
Yeah, and now your mom’s gone
bonkers too. I’m the hold-out, I
guess.
CORINNE
Yes you are.
CW
Don’t worry about your old dad. I’m
pretty tough. Tough as toenails.
CORINNE
I know, Daddy, you’re tough, but
there’s no Diet Pepsi in hell. What
are you going to do about that?
CW
If it’s hot enough, I’ll drink
Coke.
CW looks toward the farmhouse. Dick, still lingering outside
the farmhouse, peers at them.
CW (CONT’D)
Man, I’d like to deck him with an
ugly stick. This is real hard on
old dad.
CW waves at Dick, who nods and heads back into the house.
CW (CONT’D)
Your mom’s boyfriend too good for
digging holes? Insurance agents
don’t get their hands dirty?
Corinne doesn’t respond. CW lays down in the grave, teasing
Corinne.
CW (CONT’D)
You know, Squirt, one day I’m gonna
go toes up too and you should be
prepared. No graves. Don’t like the
view. Just have a big ol’ barbeque.
ETHAN
The grave is facing all of us.
Thank God for the blessed hope of
the rapture.
CW
Here we go...
Ethan takes the opportunity.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
34.
ETHAN
CW, it begins with the sound of a
trumpet heard all over the world. A
full brass section, I imagine.
Then, here’s the cool part: The
dead in Christ, like stiff ole’
Grandma Mary, will rise out of
their graves. Then all the
Christians who are still alive we’ll be changed in a twinkling of
an eye, raptured straight into
heaven.
CW
Okay by you if I help myself to
your Les Paul?
ETHAN
It’s gonna happen. You need to be
ready. I’ll pray with you right
here and now. The Bible says,
“Today is the day of salvation.”
CW
(wearily)
I liked you better when you had
your head up your ass.
60
OMITTED
60
61
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY
61
J.O.Y.(Jesus, Others, Yourself) written on index cards and
taped walls, the inside of the front door. Younger Abigail’s
bed on one wall of a tidy bedroom, Younger Lily’s crib on the
other.
The Corrine and Annika, as well as HOPE, 30, a sister who
wears thick glasses, and MOLLY, 28, a sister who leads
worship, are conducting a Bible study while Younger Abigail,
Younger Lily, Younger Joel, Joel's Older Sister, and the
Sisters’ other children play with wooden toys. Bill’s wife,
DEBORAH, late 30’s, leads. She wears a cross pin on her
blouse.
DEBORAH
We need to encourage each other to
be a good wife. Being a mother
comes naturally, but being the
helpmeet our husband needs means
crucifying our flesh.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
35.
ANNIKA
Ah yah yay.
HOPE
And Scripture says submit to them
the same way we submit to God.
Tough.
ANNIKA
Yeah, not once has God passed gas
in my bed and stuck his head under
the covers to smell it, a Ukrainian
oven.
CORINNE
(sotto)
I call it hot-boxing. Ffff.
DEBORAH
God charges our husbands with our
care. He tells them to love us as
they love their own bodies. To
cherish us. If someone cherishes
you, it’s not that hard to submit.
CORINNE
Submitting can be fun. Submitting
to God is such a pleasure, to
become one with Him. I love how it
feels as though I have been
swallowed up. I think of God more
frequently than I breathe. I open
my eyes in the morning thinking of
Him and I know He’s watched me
sleep all night long. It’s love, I
feel consumed.
ANNIKA
If anyone in the world heard you
talking, they’d think you were
crazy.
Corinne mocks a looney face, tweaks Annika’s nose.
DEBORAH
But we’re not of the world.
62
EXT. RURAL NEW YORK LAKE - CLIFF
62
Believers, including Molly, Hope, Deborah and Frank, sit on
rocks, on the grass. A large wooden cross is set up. A
handsome guy who looks like Jesus, Luke, 30, plays guitar.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
36.
Bill sings “How Great Thou Art” as the Believers harmonize.
Corinne is transformed in worship. She holds her palms open,
her lips moving in whispered prayer, peace and joy radiating
from every pore.
*
Bill smiles at Deborah who sings harmony; they are clearly a
team. The song ends; Bill extends his pointer finger toward
heaven, the Believers gesture the same. The band members sit.
*
*
BILL
How are you guys? Praise God,
another Sunday morning and the
saints have gathered. “Do not
neglect the assembling of
yourselves together as is the habit
of some, but all the more as you
see the day draw near...” Hebrews
10:25. And we have assembled
ourselves in God’s cathedral-under His heaven, surrounded by the
splendor of His creation. Martin
Luther once said that God writes
the Gospel, not in the Bible alone,
but also in the trees, and in the
flowers and clouds and stars.
Cliffs like these -- don’t they
proclaim His name? Praise God.
*
I couldn’t do it without you,
Brothers and Sisters. I need you.
You make me strong when I’m feeling
beat-up by this world. Your faith
strengthens my faith. I give thanks
for each and every one of you here.
It’s not an accident you’re here.
Not random. Each of you was called
to this place by the Creator God.
Before you were born, he knew you
by name, knew how many hairs were
on your head. Or in Frank’s case,
how many hairs were missing on his
head. He knew your form and
structure. Even if your structure
keeps getting larger, as in the
case of Ned.
Ned, 30’s, Annika’s adoring husband, shakes his head ruefully
but good-naturedly. Annika smooches his cheeks.
BILL (CONT’D)
When you were knitted together in
secret -- God knew you. No secrets
from God.
(MORE)
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
37.
BILL (CONT’D)
You can’t go anywhere where God
didn’t get there before you.
Ethan reaches for Corinne’s hand and closes over it.
63
EXT. NATURE - DAY
63
As the grounds are de-churched, a procession of Believers,
including Corinne, Luke, Younger Abigail, Molly, Hope,
Deborah, Frank, Bill, Ned and Ethan walks a cross down a hill
a la Calvary.
*
*
*
*
LUKE
Hey, Little Sis. What do you play?
Ethan, wrapping up gear, overhears, shouts over his shoulder.
ETHAN
She’s not musical.
CORINNE
I’m still looking for my
instrument, Ethan.
LUKE
Ethan was on fire today. It’s so
amazing to be playing and feel the
Holy Spirit descend.
CORINNE
Like a rushing wind.
LUKE
(singing)
Rushing wind, blow through this
temple. Blowing out the dust
within.
Younger Abigail stops coloring to listen to Luke sing.
Corinne, transfixed with his beauty and spontaneity, finally
looks away, busy gathering the children’s belongings,
whistling tunelessly.
64
EXT. BILL AND DEBORAH’S HOUSE - BACKYARD - DUSK
64
Bill, Deborah, Corinne, Ethan, Luke, Molly, Annika, Frank and
the Believers surround an enormous bonfire: They’re burning
rock albums. Ethan heaves in The Renegades, but no expression
passes his face.
*
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
38.
Corinne tosses The Lord of the Flies after giving one last
long peruse. The flames spurt up and we see her face through
them.
65
INT. COMMUNITY/CHURCH HALL - BASEMENT - DAY
Bill, Ned, Ethan, Luke, Frank, and the Brothers from the
church are gathered for a men’s group. Bill is flanked by
Ned and another elder.
BILL
So you all know about Nancy and Al.
Nancy’s taking the kids and moving
to Portland. It’s devastating.
65
*
*
*
ETHAN
Did they come for counseling?
BILL
We met with them a few times, but
the damage had been done. Their
marriage was weakened by sexual
issues.
*
ETHAN
Sexual issues? Like an affair?
BILL
We’re not gonna go there. God has
laid it on our hearts to speak
frankly with you. To tell you that
you need to attend to your wives’
needs.
NED
We’ve got a set of uh, tapes-Christ-Like Sex by Dr. Frank
Barnes.
Ned puts a cassette tape into the player and lets it run.
DR. BARNES
When it comes to satisfying your
wife, Brothers, clitoral
stimulation is part of God’s plan.
You’ll find the clitoris located
toward the top of her labia, but
below the pubic bone. This is the
focus of pleasure sensation for
your wife. Let her be your guide to
what feels good. She will indicate
this with body movements and
various sounds.
(MORE)
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
39.
DR. BARNES (CONT'D)
It is advisable to apply one
tablespoon of oil or lotion. Direct
contact without lubrication won’t
please your bride.
The brothers react variously.
66
EXT. SWIMMING HOLE - DAY
66
Corinne sits with Molly, Hope, Younger Lily, Younger Abby,
Younger Joel, Joel's Older Sister, and the Sisters, who are
nursing, preoccupied with their kids and looking dowdy, as
usual.
Two young women walk by wearing the briefest of bikinis. The
Sisters stare.
Annika wolf whistles. One of the young women, a Latina, turns
around and does a significant shimmy/pelvic thrust. Annika
responds with an East European trill with her tongue.
67
INT. NURSING HOME - DAY
67
Ethan is playing guitar to a few disinterested patients.
Corinne trims a patient’s toenails. Annika combs a patient’s
hair. The old woman beside Ethan looks as though she’s going
to smile, but instead belches loudly.
Ethan strums loudly. She belches again. Strumming louder,
Ethan starts to sing “Nearer My God to Thee”.
ETHAN
“Nearer my God to Thee--”
The old woman then gives way to a very long wavering
flatulence.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
“Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to
thee!”
An old man takes out his hearing aid at this point, and
Corinne and Annika cant take it, collapse into laughter.
68
INT. BUNGALOW - CORINNE AND ETHAN’S BEDROOM - DAY
Corinne and Annika are making Corinne’s bed.
CORINNE
It’s always so cold in this room.
I freeze at night.
68
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
40.
ANNIKA
All the better for cuddling, huh?
CORINNE
Eh. Ethan’s pretty wiped out when
we go to bed. I am, too. Aaaaugh...
I yawn just thinking about it.
Annika impulsively pulls the bedspread back down and gets in.
Corinne grins and crawls in with her. They lie side by side
and Annika props her head up on her elbow.
ANNIKA
Honey that’s no good. You can’t let
sexual chemistry burn out.
Corinne watches Annika’s beautiful mouth.
CORINNE
What if it does?
ANNIKA
Did Ethan listen to those sex tapes
Bill gave to the brothers?
CORINNE
Yeah. After that he started messing
with me like I had a toggle switch.
All I got was a callous.
ANNIKA
Poor Ethan. He was trying.
CORINNE
I know. We’re just turning into
Brother and Sister for real.
ANNIKA
Spice it up, Corinne. Do something
to show how much you admire him.
I’ve been drawing Ned’s penis
lately.
Corinne looks at Annika with shock, and then pulls the
bedspread over her eyes. Annika peels the bedspread down.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
I’ll show you the drawings.
CORINNE
That wouldn’t be right. Would it?
ANNIKA
It’s just art. Not a peep show.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
41.
She grabs Corinne’s journal from her bedside.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
You draw Ethan’s and I’ll draw
Ned’s.
CORINNE
I don’t think Ethan would like
this.
ANNIKA
Are you kidding? He’d be flattered.
Ned loves to look at his penis
drawings. He has such a “solodtky
hooiy” I call it Shamu.
She starts to sketch quickly and confidently. Corinne, after
hesitating, starts with a few short lines, whistling under
her breath. Annika peers over.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
You better make it bigger than
that, or he definitely won’t like
it.
CORINNE
They’re so weird looking.
ANNIKA
God’s design.
CORINNE
I think He needed a practice run
before he made women. We’re
prettier. Tidier.
ANNIKA
The human body is beautiful,
period. It brings glory to God.
(finishes with a flourish)
There is the mighty Shamu. What do
you think?
Ouch.
CORINNE
ANNIKA
Nothing a little olive oil doesn’t
take care of. Let’s see yours.
CORINNE
(showing hers shyly)
It’s kind of crooked.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
42.
ANNIKA
That can be a very good thing when
it comes to your G spot.
CORINNE
G spot, pee spot. God didn’t give
me one of those.
Younger Abigail, Younger Lily, Younger Joel and Joel's Older
Sister, run in. They excitedly crawl on the bed, Corinne
frantically crumples the art.
YOUNGER LILY
Can we color, too?
69
EXT. WOMEN’S HEALTH CLINIC - DAY
69
Deborah, Molly, Annikah, Hope and the Sisters carry signs
protesting abortion. Corinne and Luke are holding hands,
intimate in prayer together. Corinne opens her eyes and
watches him for a moment.
A young WOMAN exits the front door of the clinic, distraught,
an avalanche of emotion. Corinne turns from prayer.
HOPE
Heads up. Another victim.
CORINNE
She’s undecided. She’s not limping.
Hope, wearing a ceramic white dove on a green ribbon
approaches the woman. She pulls out a tiny plastic fetus.
HOPE
I bet they told you it won’t hurt
you. I bet they said it won’t hurt
the baby. They probably told you
that it’s a clump of tissue, right?
That it just looks like a blood
clot, right? But your baby looks
like this. So sweet, isn’t it? She
even gets hiccups.
WOMAN
I just had an appointment to talk.
HOPE
Your baby’s saying, “Please let me
live.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
CORINNE
Hope, she’s just asking questions.
What’s your name?
Joanne.
WOMAN
CORINNE
I’m Corinne. Do you have someone
else to talk to, besides them, to
weigh your decision? Your mom?
JOANNE
She said I had to come here.
CORINNE
Well, I’m a mom. I got pregnant
when I was seventeen, I know how
scary it is.
LUKE
As scary as it feels, you should
know that God is loving you through
your fear and your decision.
CORINNE
No matter what you choose to do.
Luke grabs Corinne’s hand and moves her discreetly back.
LUKE
Turn to Him for advice. Everyday
that’s a challenge for you, God is
there to comfort. Not even the
tiniest details of your life are
unnoticed by the Lord. He knows all
about you and loves you just the
same.
CORINNE
Yup, you look like you could use
some comfort.
Joanne is extremely confused, light-headed.
LUKE
Talk to me. I can see your heart’s
breaking. Maybe you and I can go
across the street and get some
juice? I promise I won’t preach,
I’m a pretty good listener.
JOANNE
I don’t even know you.
43.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
44.
LUKE
Luke Boone, carpenter. Mediocre
bass player. Lover of German
Shepherds. I cook a mean bolognese.
What do you say, some juice? We
need to get some fructose in you,
you look pale. Let’s fix you up.
She considers. They walk off.
LUKE (CONT’D)
(to Corinne)
I’ll bring you back something.
I appreciate you and the Sisters so
much. Just want you to know that.
He leaves and Corinne whistles to herself, watching his back.
HOPE
Wow. The power of God.
CORINNE
(sotto)
Or testosterone.
As he crosses the street, he turns around and flashes her a
Hollywood smile.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Praise God.
Corinne bows her head in prayer.
70
OMITTED
70
A70
INT. BUNGALOW - CORINNE AND ETHAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A70
Corinne, in bed, peers under the covers. Ethan is buried
underneath, hard at work. She conveys discomfort. She reaches
down, grabs his head and pulls it up to meet hers.
CORINNE
Okay, that’s plenty.
Ethan emerges, oblivious.
ETHAN
How’d I do?
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
45.
CORINNE
It’s... the beard, Honey. The
beard makes me sore.
Shoot.
ETHAN
He runs from the room in his underwear. He returns,
brandishing a wee glass vial of olive oil. He jiggles it.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
Let’s try this. Olive oil. A little
slip and slide.
Corinne stares at him.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
Chamomile infused. I pressed it
myself.
You did?
Uh huh.
CORINNE
ETHAN
CORINNE
Did you take out the pimientos
first?
She tastes it.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Yum. Let’s save it for another
time, okay?
He flops back on his pillow, deflates. She pecks him. He
finds Corinne’s crumpled penis drawing.
ETHAN
What is this? Is this...
CORINNE
Is it what?
ETHAN
(studying)
A worm?
CORINNE
Yeah, honey it’s a worm. Goodnight.
Ethan stares at the drawing. Corinne hits the lights.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
46.
ETHAN
I love you.
CORINNE
I love you too.
71
EXT. LAKE - DAY
71
Corinne and Annika wear long skirts that have been hitched up
as they pedal a paddle boat into the center of the lake.
Annika closes her eyes, holds her palms open and mouths a
prayer in tongues.
ANNIKA
Leekonee ma hala. Singleafon. Sha
la kah. Shing ton gah. Mayahkan ee
fah sokanna. Treecum a sahkahlada.
Corinne is stunned. She studies Annika, who comes out of it.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
Keil ama tonod ramala indiksia.
Ilia tondi lamatra silia contira sa
ma.
CORINNE
What was that?
ANNIKA
It’s the gift of tongues. A prayer
language.
CORINNE
Prayer language?
Mm-hmm.
ANNIKA
CORINNE
It’s beautiful. How does it work?
ANNIKA
Scripture says, “He who speaks in
tongues edifies himself.” It builds
me up, like charging my battery.
CORINNE
Can you do it anytime you want?
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
ANNIKA
Any time I’m in the spirit. It’s
like being inside the holy of
holies and having God pray for you.
God Himself.
CORINNE
“The Holy Spirit intercedes for us
in groans too deep for words.”
ANNIKA
Romans 8 - “For we do not know how
to pray as we ought.” It’s like
tapping into God’s heart and
knowing what He wants for me.
CORINNE
Do you know what you’re saying?
ANNIKA
I have no idea.
No?
CORINNE
ANNIKA
No, I don’t know. But I do know
it’s what God wants me to say.
CORINNE
When did this happen?
ANNIKA
I was on the toilet. It was taking
a while, so I started to pray.
CORINNE
It woulda’ given me the runs. Does
it feel weird?
ANNIKA
Feels good. I’m aware of my
surroundings. I’m not really out’ve
control, but I’ve no control over
what’s happening. The language just
bubbles up, fills me with such joy,
I’m flowing. I feel caught up into
a heavenly realm of peace and
comfort. It’s a fantastic feeling.
47.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
48.
CORINNE
You sounded so holy. Like an angel.
The most beautiful thing I’ve ever
heard. Like the most perfect
language in the universe.
ANNIKA
It’s God’s language.
CORINNE
D’you suppose we’ll speak it in
heaven.
Uh-hmm.
ANNIKA
Corinne studies Annika.
CORINNE
But what does it feel like.
ANNIKA
It settles things in your spirit.
CORINNE
I want it -- you get everything.
It’s exactly what I need. I want
it.
They both bow their heads. Their legs pumping, their eyes
shut, palms held open in prayer.
72
OMITTED
72
73
INT./EXT. BUNGALOW SIDE ENTRANCE - DAY
73
Wendy, now 25, stands in front of Corinne’s house with a
suitcase in her hand. She hesitates and then knocks on the
door.
Corinne opens the door, shocked to see Wendy.
CORINNE
Oh, gosh, Wendy! What’d you do to
your hair?
WENDY
Sun-In/home perm. Big mistake.
CORINNE
Well, get one of Mom’s wigs.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
49.
WENDY
I have it. Look, Rich kicked me
out. I’ve no place to go. Okay if I
crash for a while?
Corinne reaches for Wendy’s hair.
74
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY
74
Wendy wears her mother’s wig. Corinne is trying to pick it
out and whistles tunelessly. Younger Abigail, wearing dressup Angel wings, sits fascinated with her seldom-seen aunt.
WENDY
Your children are gorgeous.
(to Younger Lily)
You could be a beauty queen. You
could be Miss USA.
CORINNE
We’re all beautiful in God’s eyes.
Right, Abby?
(to Wendy)
Hold it down on the front!
WENDY
I am. Ow, you’re hurting me.
CORINNE
“Man looks at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at
the heart.” We pray for you every
day. Don’t we, girls?
YOUNGER LILY
We ask God to open Aunt Wendy’s
eyes and save her from hell.
WENDY
Well, thanks, honey. I really
appreciate that.
75
INT. BUNGALOW - BASEMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT
75
The room is spartan with a beat-up bureau, a plain iron bed,
a cast-off lamp from upstairs. Wendy unpacks, starts to put a
tackle box in the bottom drawer of the bureau, and then
changes her mind. She shoves it far under the bed.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
76
5/25/2010
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
50.
76
A family reunion: CW has been invited to dinner. The room’s
walls are Christian-themed: crosses, loaves and fishes, David
slaying Goliath. Ethan’s praying.
ETHAN
And Father, we thank you that Wendy
and CW can share in Your provision
with us tonight. Bless them both
and speak to their hearts. We ask
in Jesus’ name.
A-MEN.
YOUNGER ABIGAIL AND YOUNGER LILY
Corinne holds a plate of dried-out looking burgers.
CORINNE
Daddy? Veggie-burger?
CW
(dryly)
Looks delicious.
ETHAN
No cholesterol, high in protein.
You get used to the taste.
WENDY
They’re good for you, Daddy.
CW salts his burger heavily.
CW
Not anymore. What’s good for me is
seeing my girls together. I’m real
sorry about that stinkin’ asshole -Younger
Abigail stops eating. Her eyes widen at her grandpa.
CORINNE
Dad... The girls...
CW
Sorry. I’m ticked off at Rich and
the way he’s done my Wendybug.
You’re better off without him.
Corinne’ll help you get back on
your feet.
Wendy leans over and cuts Younger Lily’s burger into little
bites.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
51.
YOUNGER ABIGAIL
Why is Aunt Wendy so nice when she
doesn’t know Jesus?
ETHAN
It’s not enough to be nice or do
good things, Honey. A man is
justified by faith apart from the
works of the law. God will justify
the circumcised by faith -YOUNGER LILY
What’s circus sized?
CW
When you get cut off from the
circus.
WENDY
(to Younger Lily)
I’m nice to you because I love you,
that’s all.
CW
Kids are the best things in life.
Losing your baby brother -His voice cracks and he clears his throat. Takes a drink.
CW (CONT’D)
-- destroyed my marriage. God, I
regret that.
Younger Abigail slips off her chair and leans against her
grandfather’s arm. CW carefully lifts his arm and tucks her
against his side.
CW (CONT’D)
Don’t worry, Abby. Your grandpa’s a
tough old guy.
CORINNE
Don’t anyone mention baby pigs
about now, please.
WENDY
Good-bye, Pinky.
She makes a splashing sound.
WENDY (CONT’D)
Good-bye, Porky.
Another “splash” from Wendy.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
52.
CW
(laughs)
I’ll be damned if I remember why I
thought dropping them off the
bridge was a good idea.
ETHAN
Most people stick with the shoe-boxin-the-backyard burial.
Corinne reaches for Younger Lily, who winces. Corinne rolls
up her sleeve and sees Younger Lily’s arm is bruised.
CORINNE
Honey, what’d you do to your arm?
YOUNGER LILY
Deborah told me to stop whining and
made me sit in the quiet chair. She
pinched my arm hard.
CORINNE
Ethan, look at this.
Ethan leans over and sees the bruise.
ETHAN
Spare not the rod -- Scripture
tells us to train our children in
the way they should go.
CORINNE
That’s Old Testament. New Testament
says that the Kingdom of God
belongs to innocent children.
ETHAN
Innocent children.
Corinne does not dignify with a response.
Awkward silence.
CW
This Deborah some sort of she-man?
Don’t know her own strength?
Corinne and Ethan don’t answer him.
77
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
77
Corinne is behind the wheel Deborah’s Car in a deserted
parking lot. Deborah sits beside her, teaching her to drive.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
53.
DEBORAH
Women are not as good drivers as
men, so we have to be even more
vigilant. Start with proper hand
position, at 10 and 2.
Corinne assumes position.
DEBORAH (CONT’D)
Good. Hands on the wheel, eyes on
the road. But not pedal to the
metal! A little joke. Okay. It’s
safer to fly in a plane thousands
of feet in the air than it is to
drive a car. We should pray for
traveling mercies before we start.
CORINNE
Definitely. Please.
DEBORAH
Father God, we come to your Throne
Room this morning and petition you
for mercy even though neither of us
deserves it or has found any favor
in your eyes outside of that which
the Lord Jesus has bought at such a
great price. We bow down before you
and admit our helplessness.
CORINNE
Amen. Thank you Father.
(starts the engine)
I have to confess, I am scared. I’m
nervous. I have no eye-hand
coordination.
(pointedly)
Just go easy on me, I bruise easy.
Corinne looks at Deborah.
DEBORAH
(clueless)
My dear, “I will boast all the more
gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Corinne steps on the gas too hard and then slams the brake
equally hard. The car lurches over the curb into a lone
shopping cart. Deborah screams. Corinne pushes the cart
across the lot.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
54.
DEBORAH (CONT’D)
You know what? I don’t mind one bit
giving you rides anywhere, Bible
study, doctor appointments -- just
call me.
A77
EXT. ND ROAD - DAY
A77
*
Annika sits in the car with Corinne and gives her a pep talk.
ANNIKA
There’s a small friction zone.
Ease off the clutch as you press
the gas.
(gesticulating)
Eeeease and press. Eeeease and
press. It’s like making love. Work
the stick as you would a hooiy.
Anyone can drive. Even my nine-yearold niece can drive. Come on
Corrine.
Corinne drives while Annika prays for her.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
Satan’s doing a number on you,
Corinne, and I’m going to bind him
right now. Satan, you have no power
over us. We are children of God and
we renounce your fiery darts. We
take those fiery darts and throw
them right in your hooiy. We reject
your lies. We denounce you. We
pronounce you a fallen angel, one
doomed to hell forever and ever.
Get thee behind us, Satan.
CORINNE
Yeah, get lost, Bub.
Bub?
ANNIKA
CORINNE
Yeah, you know, Satan is Beelzebub - the Lord of the Flies. The book?
*
*
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
55.
ANNIKA
Get lost, Bub. That’s great. Get
lost Bubba! Hubba-Bubba! Get Lost!
We’ve got God in our MGB!
*
Her and Annika are smiling, praising God. A SIREN behind
them.
CORINNE
What do I do?
ANNIKA
Pull over. It’s not Satan, but it’s
as bad.
Corinne looks stricken, but Annika winks.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
Another important driving lesson:
charm the cop.
Corinne pulls the car over.
B77
OMITTED
B77
C77
EXT. ND ROADSIDE - DAY
C77
A cop approaches the car. Annika leans forward and greets the
cop in her heaviest East-European Accent.
ANNIKA
Hello, Mr. Polezei, good Sir. What
a nice mustache you have. So thick,
so manly. Very beautiful.
COP
Ma’am, you’re a long way from home.
ANNIKA
I am so loving America, Mr.
Officer. I love also the handsome
men in uniforms, so stylish, making
us safe.
COP
I clocked your friend here going
fifteen miles over the speed limit,
and that is a direct threat to your
safety.
ANNIKA
I confess, it was my fault. Arrest
me, Sir, not her. I had a vedgie.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
56.
COP
You had a what?
ANNIKA
A vedgie. You know what dis is, a
vedgie? My underwear in my pooskienooskie. Ay yah yay. It splits my
kaka in half. Backwards AND
forward. I was squealing in my
discomfort. My friend, she cannot
be blamed.
COP
(to Corinne)
License and registration, please.
CORINNE
It’s a learner’s permit.
Corinne rummages thru many plastic baggies in her purse. She
hands two to him, staring straight ahead, trying not to look
at Annika. Cop unzips the documents from their baggies and
examines. He hands them back.
COP
Always keep your mind on the road,
Ms. Miller.
CORINNE
The Bible says to keep our minds
set on the things above, but I can
do that and concentrate on the road
at the same time. I will.
Cop scrutinizes her while he scratches his nose, looks next
to Annika.
COP
And I hope you, uh, took care of
your problem.
ANNIKA
Thank you, everything is beautiful
now down there. Thank you. I
plucked it out. Some women you know
Mr.Polizei, like me, I have lots of
curves and deep caverns. Thank you
for your concern and good advice,
Officer Sir.
They wait for the cop to leave.
CORINNE
A vedgie? I’ll give you a vedgie.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
57.
Corinne reaches over and yanks on the waistband of Annika’s
panties. They tussle.
78
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY
78
Ethan is tucking his Bible and two textbooks into a valise as
Younger Lily rides his feet. Corinne prepares a to-go
sandwich for Ethan.
CORINNE
I wish I were the one going to
theology class.
ETHAN
Maybe not, honey. It’s really indepth. Heavy-duty stuff to help us
be equipped to teach the Word.
CORINNE
I want heavy-duty. I’d like heavyduty texts.
ETHAN
I tell you what I learn on Saturday
mornings.
CORINNE
You know what we women are
studying? A book called You Can Be
the Wife of a Happy Husband.
ETHAN
Great title.
Corinne eyes Ethan.
CORINNE
Well, at least let me drive you
there and then I’ll take the baby
over to Annika’s. Thanks to her I
can do that now.
ETHAN
You mean thanks to God. God
provides us with everything we
need. I’ll drive myself.
He kisses them both on the forehead and leaves.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
79
5/25/2010
58.
INT. COMMUNITY/CHURCH HALL - BASEMENT - DAY
79
Annika sits nursing her three-year-old covered with a
blanket.
Wendy sits nearby, looks and feels out of place.
Ethan holds down chords as a congregation baby strums his
guitar. Molly plays banjo and sings. Deborah, Ethan, Luke,
and Ned harmonize “I’ve Got A River Of Life”. Younger
Abigail, Younger Lily, and other children sing along.
Corinne, in plain dress with no make-up, finishes praying
with another woman, they hug and smile through their tears.
Bill grips the men’s shoulders as he passes to the podium.
BILL
Let’s give a warm welcome to
Corinne’s sister Wendy.
*
*
They clap, Wendy gives a thin smile.
BILL (CONT’D)
Now let’s give a hot hand clap for
Jesus!
*
Believers clap even louder, hoot and hollar. A baby claps.
BILL (CONT’D)
Praise God. I’ll start by asking if
anyone in the Body has anything to
share.
*
No one stands, Corinne gets to her feet.
CORINNE
This morning, I was praying with a
sister for her rebellious child.
After we asked for God’s help, we
thanked Him for answering our
prayer. Because He will answer it.
And we’re told in Thesh, Thesh,
Thess, wow that’s a tongue twister.
In Thessalonians that God wants us
to turn to Him with all our needs
and desires -- pray for the Ganders
to have a winning season, it’d take
a miracle -- I’ll pray, anyway Roger, Deborah, Bill, Frank exchange glances. They’re
uncomfortable with this.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
59.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
-- and then give thanks when they
choke in the fourth quarter like
they always do. That’s faith, isn’t
it? Isn’t that what makes us
different from the world? We
believe even though we don’t see?
“Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen” -- that’s what it says in
Hebrews and-BILL
(interrupting)
Thanks, Sis. The power of the holy
Word. I don’t know who you were
praying with this morning, and I
don’t have to know, but I’d just
like that sister to know that the
other elders and I would consider
it a real privilege to pray with
you this morning. Who else here has
something to encourage the saints,
to edify the Believers this
morning?
*
Male congregation members raise their hands.
80
INT. COMMUNITY/CHURCH HALL - BASEMENT - DAY
Corinne is wiping Younger Lily’s face when Deborah
approaches.
DEBORAH
Sister, you came very close to
preaching today. We have to be so
careful to not appear as though
we’re teaching the men.
CORINNE
I wasn’t trying to, I -DEBORAH
I understand and you were so
sincere. I know your heart and I
know you want to submit to God in
all things.
CORINNE
Of course I do. That’s all I want.
80
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
60.
Deborah hugs her and walks away. Corinne is deflated. She
licks her fingers, begins to scrub Younger Lily’s face with
renewed vigor which makes Younger Lily cry.
81
INT. BUNGALOW - BATHROOM - DAY
81
Corinne stands in front of her mirror watching her mouth as
she tries to speak in tongues. Wendy stands outside the door,
listening to her sister.
CORINNE
Oh, how I love you, Father God. I
worship you. Kah Lah Ma-so.
She reaches inside the medicine cabinet, takes out a bottle
of mouthwash. Gargles. Tries again.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
(singing)
Come Holy Spirit. I need you. Come
Sweet Spirit, I pray.
(speaking)
Get thee behind me, Satan.
Kami a sah. Oh, geela bok tah.
Stops. Looks at the toilet, hesitates, and then plops on it.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Please let me do this, God. I’ve
given you my whole heart. Please,
have mercy on me.
82
INT. BUNGALOW - BEDROOM - DAY
82
Corinne and Wendy fold clothes. Corinne refolds Wendy’s
towels which makes Wendy fold even sloppier. They laugh.
83
INT. BUNGALOW - BASEMENT BEDROOM - DAY
83
Younger Lily is playing on Wendy’s bed with My Little Pony
figurines. One of the ponies falls off the bed, and she hops
off to fetch it. She spots the tackle box under the bed and
pulls it out. Opens the box. It’s filled with plastic bags of
whitish powder. She lifts a bag out and pulls it open,
holding it over the pony’s nuzzle like a feed bag.
84
INT. BUNGALOW - BEDROOM - DAY
Wendy and Corinne still folding clothes. Wendy holds up a
pair of Corinne’s high-waisted cotton underpants.
84
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
61.
WENDY
Nice turtleneck. These yours or
Ethan’s?
(trying to fold)
How do you even fold ‘em?
Corinne, embarrassed, grabs them away from Wendy.
85
INT. BUNGALOW - BASEMENT BEDROOM - DAY
85
Younger Lily dips her fingers into the bag of powder and uses
it to sprinkle her baby doll’s bottom during a diaper change.
ETHAN (O.S.)
Lily! Are you down here?
He enters the bedroom. Younger Lily looks up guiltily. Her
clothes are covered with the white powder.
86
INT. BUNGALOW - BEDROOM
- DAY
86
Corinne stacks the folded clothes into a laundry basket.
Wendy examines her hair in the mirror. Ethan storms into the
bedroom. He thrusts the tackle box toward her.
Wendy and Ethan stare at each other.
CORINNE
What is it?
Look.
ETHAN
Corinne looks inside the box. Ethan throws it at Wendy.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
Get this out of our house.
Corinne wrestles it back from Wendy.
CORINNE
We’re answerable to God before
anything else. I won’t let her have
it.
WENDY
It’s not yours. And it’s not mine,
either.
CORINNE
Who has drugs and doesn’t use them?
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
62.
WENDY
I’m holding it for someone else.
I’m a safe house.
CORINNE
We gave you a safe house.
Younger Abigail and Younger Lily, alarmed at the shouting,
appear in the doorway. Younger Lily hops up and down, cockadoodle-doo’ing like a rooster for no apparent reason.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
What’s wrong, Lily?
Corinne scoops her up, looks into her eyes.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Oh my God, she breathed it in.
87
INT. BUNGALOW - BATHROOM - DAY
*
87
Ethan flushes the drugs. Corinne scoops water from the faucet
and forces Younger Lily drink.
ETHAN
Wendy, you’ve got to get right with
God. Look what you’ve done.
WENDY
It’s not for me.
Wendy is wracked with guilt.
CORINNE
What’s not for you? Peace?
Righteousness? Eternal life? Which
one of those things don’t you need?
WENDY
(leaving)
I don’t want your life, Corinne.
I’ll take my fucked-up one instead.
A87
EXT. BUNGALOW - FRONT PORCH - DAY
A87
Corinne watches Wendy throw in her bags and close the trunk
of her car. They stare at each other. Wendy drives off.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
88
5/25/2010
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
63.
88
The house church has gathered for communion, with Ethan,
Luke, Deborah, Bill, Annika, Ned, Hope, Molly, and Frank all
in attendance. Someone plays “Holy Holy” on pedal steel. They
break bread in the living room and pass the chalice of grape
juice. Corinne surreptitiously wipes the rim of the cup
before drinking. Her eyes fall on the picture of her and
Wendy.
89
INT. BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - NIGHT
89
Luke is saying good-bye to Corinne.
LUKE
That’s a nice dress.
CORINNE
You like it?
LUKE
I was the only boy in a household
of women. I notice things.
Deborah enters the kitchen with leftover communion supplies
and hears this exchange. She pours out the remaining juice in
the sink as Luke leaves.
Deborah pulls Corinne into a bedroom.
A89
INT. BUNGALOW - ETHAN AND CORINNE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
DEBORAH
You know the Scriptures tell older
women to teach the younger women,
right? I’ve known the Lord a lot
longer than you have, Sis.
CORINNE
What’s wrong, Deborah?
DEBORAH
Your dress.
CORINNE
My dress? What. It’s long enough.
It’s not tight.
DEBORAH
It got Luke’s attention. You don’t
want to make a brother stumble.
A89
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
64.
CORINNE
Some of them would stumble if I
wore a burlap sack.
DEBORAH
Pray about it, but I don’t think
you should wear it again.
Corinne examines her dress in the full-length mirror. Deborah
watches from behind.
B89
FANTASY
B89
Corinne pulls the dress off. She’s wearing trashy lingerie,
juts out her pregnant belly and swivels her hips
provocatively.
CORINNE
Would this make a brother stumble?
BACK TO:
I’m sorry.
DEBORAH
Deborah holds out her arms for an embrace and Corinne returns
the hug numbly.
90
EXT. GOOD WILL ROLL-OFF CONTAINER - DAY
90
Corinne drives up alongside the container, tosses the dress
into the donation bin. She hesitates, exits her car, uses the
car door as an aide and dives in after it. Uh oh, she can’t
get out. Her head bobs up and down as she calls for help.
91
INT. BUNGALOW - ETHAN AND CORINNE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
91
Corinne and Ethan lie in their bed. Ethan lubes her pregnant
belly with shea butter.
CORINNE
Why don’t we believe in tongues?
ETHAN
Cause we don’t.
CORINNE
Scripture mentions tongues thirtyfive times. I counted. God does not
fill his book with things of minor
importance.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
65.
ETHAN
Bill says the gifts of the spirit
were only for the first century.
*
CORINNE
So Bill’s never spoken in tongues.
*
No.
ETHAN
CORINNE
Well who should know more about
tongues, those who speak in them or
those who don’t.
ETHAN
It’s nonsensical. Probably voodoo.
Bill says to not believe every
spirit, but to test the spirits,
whether they are of God. ‘Cause
Satan will supply everything to
satisfy the pride of the natural
human heart and it’s great lust to
titivate the senses.
CORINNE
Annika prayed for me in tongues.
She called it prayer language. I
thought it was beautiful.
ETHAN
Does Ned know?
Corinne stops Ethan’s massaging hands.
CORINNE
She’s worshipping God. It makes her
feel closer to Him. There can’t be
anything wrong with that.
Intelligent people don’t sit around
muttering to themselves in a
strange language.
ETHAN
The Deceiver comes disguised as an
angel of light. You know that. Did
you understand her?
No.
CORINNE
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
66.
ETHAN
Well God is not a God of confusion.
Just because something is beautiful
doesn’t mean it’s good. Polish
gibberish.
(regarding his greasy
hands)
What do I do with the rest of this?
CORINNE
I’m so nauseous.
Ethan looks at her hopeful. She turns over. Ethan rubs his
hands through his hair.
92
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
92
Corinne is lying on the sofa (five months pregnant). Annika
enters from finger painting with Younger Lily and Annika’s
oldest daughter in the next room. Corinne, weak and pale,
whimpers and dry heaves.
ANNIKA
Did you have a good nap? I’ve fed
the girls, but what can I fix you
before I go?
CORINNE
(tearful)
Can’t keep anything down. I’m so
tired.
ANNIKA
If you could eat anything, what
would it be?
CORINNE
White bread bologna sandwich.
Iceberg lettuce. Miracle Whip.
ANNIKA
Do you have those things here?
CORINNE
We’re strictly a whole wheat and
legume family.
ANNIKA
I’ll run to the store.
Yum.
CORINNE
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
67.
ANNIKA
Our bodies know what they need. The
girls and I will be back.
CORINNE
And a cupcake. With pink frosting.
A big one.
93
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY
93
The remains of Corinne’s white bread sandwich on a plate, she
gobbles her pink cupcake. Annika sits at the end of Corinne’s
bed and gently rubs Corinne’s foot. Penis paintings surround.
CORINNE
Not that one. I have planter’s
warts on that one.
ANNIKA
(inspecting)
Ooh, so many. Try sucking them out
with half an onion. Give me your
other one.
CORINNE
That feels really good.
Annika sings an old Polish song, “Posadzhu ya hrushechku”.
She continues to rub Corinne’s feet and Corinne can’t keep
her eyes off the Annika’s beautiful breasts.
A93
FANTASY
A93
Corinne slips her toe between Annika’s breasts. Annika smiles
and nods. Annika smears pink frosting on Corinne’s foot and
licks it off. Corinne groans.
BACK TO:
ANNIKA
My goodness. You do appreciate a
foot rub.
94
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
94
Ethan is strumming “I Need Thee Every Hour” on his guitar
quietly as Corinne (nine months pregnant) and Luke talk with
their open Bibles on their laps.
CORINNE
So there’s three ways of dealing
with the backslider?
(MORE)
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
CORINNE (CONT'D)
Sometimes compassion, other times
snatch him back, but there’s a time
to just let him go ... I don’t get
that.
LUKE
First of all, we need to be tender
with believers who haven’t matured -they need to be treated with
kindness. We shouldn’t expect them
to be able to eat the meat of the
Word. Baby believers still need
milk. Speaking of, I think you’re
dripping.
Embarrassed, she covers her lactating breasts.
CORINNE
Oh dear, oh my. Yes well, it’s the
third one. These things happen,
sorry.
He smiles.
LUKE
So... if they’re wavering, we care
for them like we would for a baby.
Does that make sense?
CORINNE
Then what does it mean to snatch
someone from the fire? Is that a
metaphor or does it really mean
hell?
LUKE
I think it’s both. Temptation is
consuming, like fire, you know? It
can devour us...
They stare at each other. Sexual tension between them.
CORINNE
Do you know you have a lisp?
Yes I do.
LUKE
CORINNE
A little one. Oh... this is the
part I don’t understand.
(reading from Bible)
(MORE)
68.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
69.
CORINNE (CONT'D)
“With some you must deal with
mingled fear and pity, hating even
the garments soiled with sin.”
ETHAN
(looks up from his guitar)
That reminds me. Did my hooded
sweatshirt get washed?
Corinne’s unwilling to be pulled away for domestic concerns.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
I’ll go check. Might just head to
bed while I’m at it. Night, Bro.
(shakes Luke’s hand and
then to Corinne)
Make sure the door’s locked, okay?
Ethan lightly kisses Corinne on the lips. She pats him on his
shoulder. It’s both motherly and dismissive.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
Don’t keep her up too late, Bro.
She needs her rest.
LUKE
She’s a miracle happening right
before our eyes. All women should
look like you do now, Corinne.
CORINNE
Like a hippo? Chubby Checkerina.
LUKE
Pregnancy is a woman’s crowning
glory, and that’s the truth. I
can’t wait to have my very own
preggy princess. All night, you’ve
sort of taken my breath away.
Ethan’s face is composed and he nods in agreement, but he’s
awkward, doesn’t know if Luke should be saying this or not.
He starts to kiss Corinne good-night again, but she’s got her
Bible open to ask another question. Ethan turns and leaves.
A94
INT. BUNGALOW - CHILDREN’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
A94
Upstairs, Ethan walks into the children’s room. Watches them
sleep, hears laughter from downstairs.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
95
5/25/2010
70.
INT. BUNGALOW - BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
95
Ethan stares at himself in the mirror. Hears Corinne and Luke
burst into laughter. He shaves off his beard.
96
INT. BUNGALOW - CORINNE AND ETHAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
96
Corinne is surrounded with loving and tender Sisters in her
bedroom. She is in labor. In the midst of laboring, Corinne
screams out.
CORINNE
I can’t do this. Everyone leave.
Ethan, get my mom. Nika, I want my
mom. Please, I need my momma.
The room hushes. The Believers exchange glances. Annika shoos
them out and ushers in Kathleen.
Kathleen sits down by Corinne’s side. Annika gets Corinne
ready to push.
A96
INT. BUNGALOW - CORINNE AND ETHAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A96
Ethan and the brothers are singing “Heavenly Father I
Appreciate You” and playing guitars outside the bedroom.
They’re also minding the children they’ve brought along. It’s
a singing, laughing, rejoicing occasion.
97
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY - 1985
Six years have passed. Corinne wears
clothing. The decor has evolved. The
and Hope hold each other’s hands and
children play on the floor nearby as
closing.
97
more stylish hair and
Sisters, Annika, Molly
sing “Kum Ba Yah.” Their
Deborah prays in
DEBORAH
Oh, Father God, how grateful we are
that you will indeed come by here,
and you won’t see our righteousness
as filthy rags, that because of
Jesus, you no longer see our hearts
as corrupted and wicked, full of
evil and lust and hate. I know we
wearily try Your patience, but you
are gracious and withhold the rod
of judgement we so richly deserve.
We are healed by his stripes and
all our iniquities have been laid
upon him.
(MORE)
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
71.
DEBORAH (CONT'D)
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
for a degenerate and undeserving
people.
She finally says Amen, and the women disperse.
ANNIKA
I know Deborah loves the Lord and
she means well, but some of her
prayers make me feel suicidal.
CORINNE
No kidding. She uses a lot of “w”
words. Eleven “w” words in the last
three sentences. Ooh, look at her
dress.
A lace “W” on the front of Deborah’s dress. Annika takes a
deep breath, and looks puzzled.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
What’s wrong? Ooh, two “w’s”. She’s
rubbing off on me.
ANNIKA
Headache. I’ve been getting some
whoppers lately.
Corinne takes Annika’s hand and squeezes her pressure points.
CORINNE
You’re the one we should have
prayed for this morning.
ANNIKA
It’s fine. But pray for me this
week. It’s hard to be filled with
the spirit when my head is
pounding. It makes me cranky.
DEBORAH (O.S.)
Hey, everyone, Rebekah’s brought
carob brownies!
CORINNE
You know what carob tastes like?
Chocolate?
ANNIKA
CORINNE
Disappointment.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
98
5/25/2010
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - EVENING
72.
98
The family (now Older Abigail, 15, Older Lily 12, and Gabe 5)
is eating when the PHONE RINGS. She gets up to answer it.
99
INT. BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - EVENING
99
Corinne picks up the phone.
Intercut as needed.
Hello?
100
CORINNE
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING
100
Ned holds the phone to his ear.
NED
Corinne? We just got back from the
emergency room.
101
INT. BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - EVENING
101
CORINNE
What happened?
102
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - EVENING
102
ETHAN
Gabe, honey. C’mon, let’s do this.
Our God is so big, isn’t he?
Older Abigail is too big to play the “Our God is so big”
game, but Older Lily and Gabe hop up. Ethan stands up, too.
Ethan, Older Lily, and Gabe squat down.
TOGETHER
Our God is so BIG!
They jump up as tall as they can.
103
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING
NED
Annika had a seizure today. Worst
thing I ever saw.
(MORE)
103
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
73.
NED (CONT'D)
The poor kids were screaming -anyway, we got her down to the
hospital.
104
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - EVENING
104
ETHAN AND CHILDREN
There’s nothing our God cannot do.
They shake their head “no” emphatically.
105
INT. BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - EVENING
105
CORINNE
What’d they say? What’s going on
with her?
106
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - EVENING
106
ETHAN AND CHILDREN
So strong and so mighty.
They make muscles in each arm like Popeye.
107
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING
107
NED
Can you put Ethan on the phone?
108
INT. BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - EVENING
108
CORINNE
No, Ned, I can’t. Tell me. What’s
wrong with Annika?
She sinks into a chair by the phone watching her family,
straining for what Ned will say next.
109
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING
NED
She has a brain tumor, probably
malignant, but operable. She’s
scheduled for surgery on Friday.
109
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
110
5/25/2010
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - EVENING
74.
110
ETHAN AND CHILDREN
There’s nothing our God cannot do.
They fold their arms over their chests as they say the last
line. Ethan laughs with the kids. Corinne watches her family,
the dead phone hanging on her shoulder.
111
INT. BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - NIGHT
111
Corinne stands at the sink scrubbing and praying furiously.
Ethan comes in quietly and puts his hands on her shoulders.
CORINNE
Annika has a brain tumour. They
think it’s operable. She’s
scheduled for surgery on Friday.
ETHAN
Then we’ll be there Friday.
Praying.
CORINNE
God’s going to heal her. We have
the power of the universe on our
side. I need her. Ned and the kids
need her. God is good, right? He
calls Himself the good shepherd.
Ethan takes the pan out of her hands, pulls out a dish towel
and dries her hands off. Wipes suds from her face.
ETHAN
Let God be God, okay? Annika
belongs to him, not to us.
CORINNE
If God is who we say He is, He will
heal her. We just have to have
faith.
112
INT. HOSPITAL - ANNIKA’S ROOM - NIGHT
112
Annika lies in a hospital bed. Ned is in the recliner beside
her, snoring. A nurse takes her vitals as an elderly woman
lies still in the next bed.
NURSE
That sleeping pill isn’t doing you
much good, is it?
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
75.
ANNIKA
I slipped it to Ned. But I’m glad
my Peetee Neetee Nedkee was able to
sleep.
NURSE
Your friend is spending the night
in the guest lounge.
Annika reaches over, shakes Ned.
ANNIKA
Wake up Papanoopoo.
He rouses.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
Nedkee? Nedchyk? Would you get
Corinne?
NED
She’s still here?
He stands up, lets out a bear yawn, reaches into his pocket
and pulls out a praying hands night light.
NED (CONT’D)
Joel wanted me to bring this for
you. So you wouldn’t be scared, he
said.
He plugs it on the wall opposite her bed. They both look at
it softly glowing.
ANNIKA
He needs it. What’s he going to do
without it?
NED
I told the sitter to leave the
light on in the hall.
They both tear up imagining their baby son giving up his
light. Ned kisses her tenderly and leaves the room.
113
OMITTED
113
114
INT. HOSPITAL - ANNIKA’S ROOM - NIGHT
114
Corinne enters.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
Hey, Sis.
5/25/2010
76.
ANNIKA
CORINNE
Hey, Sis. Like your night light.
Corinne stands at the edge of her bed, fingering the guard
rail as the elderly woman in the next bed lies unmoving.
Annika lifts her bed covers up and holds them open.
ANNIKA
Come in. Now I’m the one who needs
my mom.
Corinne walks to the other side of the bed and lies down.
CORINNE
Annika, I’ve been praying. I think
you’re healed already. I believe
God has already removed the tumor.
I do.
ANNIKA
You truly believe that?
Mostly.
CORINNE
ANNIKA
(Laughs)
Mostly? That’s not faith that moves
mountains.
CORINNE
I’ve been fasting, too. I’m
claiming your healing, Annika. “If
two or more of you agree on
something on earth, it shall be
done in heaven.”
ANNIKA
Could you pray for me, Corinne?
There’s a spirit of depression and
fear in this room. I’m struggling.
Corinne wraps her arms around Annika and Annika lays her head
on Corinne’s chest. Shifts her head, looks up at Corinne.
ANNIKA (CONT’D)
Are you wearing a padded bra?
CORINNE
What? Yeah, I am. Need help after
nursing.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
ANNIKA
I like it. It’s soft.
I’m glad.
CORINNE
Corinne stares at the ceiling. Doesn’t know how to pray.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
This is a time I really wish I had
a prayer language so the Holy
Spirit would pray for me.
ANNIKA
Mine sort of dried up the last
couple of days. I don’t know why.
CORINNE
Father God, You are the light and
in You is no darkness at all.
Annika is your lamb, God, your
precious daughter, and she’s
scared. Please carry her through
this valley, Father. Hold her
close. Fill her with the peace that
passes all understanding. Thank you
for healing my sister, Lord Jesus.
Thank you for making her whole. We
pray this in the name of our Savior
and we’ll give you all the praise
and glory, Amen.
Corinne holds Annika, kisses her head.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
And PS: Get lost, Bub.
ANNIKA
(laughing)
Oh, thank you, Sister. God’s here.
I feel Him. You brought him here.
CORINNE
Emmanuel -- God with us. Oh,
Annika, I love you. Everything’s
going to be all right.
Ned returns.
NED
You better get out of there,
Corinne. They might wheel you into
surgery instead.
77.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
78.
Corinne scrambles out of bed and Ned takes her place. He and
Annika smile at Corinne who now stands at the foot of the
bed.
ANNIKA
(French accent)
And you would be so beautiful with
zee shaved head. A pixie with big
blue eyes. Enchante.
There’s nothing left to say. Corinne flies to Annika’s
bedside for one last hug. Then she leaves.
115
INT. HOSPITAL - LOUNGE - DAY
115
Bill leads a small group of believers, including Corinne,
Deb, Molly and Hope, in prayer. Others try to keep Gabe,
Older Lily, Older Abby, Older Joel and Joel's Older Sister
entertained and happy. Ethan and Luke harmonize “God is so
Good”.
*
Ned looks glazed and worried.
116
INT. HOSPITAL - ANNIKA’S ROOM - DAY
116
*
Annika is hooked up and unconscious. Ned watches her through
a window as she lies in the room alone.
117
INT. HOSPITAL - LOUNGE - NIGHT
117
The children are gone and the group is now Corinne, Ethan,
Luke, Bill, Deborah, Molly, Hope and Frank among others. They
are drinking coffee, praying in groups of two and three. Ned
appears in the hall. All turn their attention.
*
NED
They got it all. She’s going to
live.
BILL
Thank you, Father. Oh, merciful
God.
*
Everyone echoes.
NED
They’re telling me that she’s not
going to be herself.
BILL
What does that mean, Brother?
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
79.
NED
It can mean a lot of things. Part
of her brain was damaged when they
removed the tumor. I don’t know
what it means.
He breaks down. Corinne sinks into a chair.
118
INT. HOSPITAL - ANNIKA’S ROOM - DAY
118
Corinne sits beside Annika. There is a new patient in the bed
beside Annika sleeping. The room is scattered with deflated
balloons. Annika’s head is bandaged. She is awake, but her
face is curiously vacant.
CORINNE
I tried to get Joel to eat, he said
he was too full from pie. It turns
out he ate half a cherry pie that
Deborah had brought earlier.
Annika’s expression doesn’t change. She has aphasia, can’t
process what Corinne is saying.
ANNIKA
(with great difficulty)
Puh -- Puh -CORINNE
(devastated)
Yes, honey. Pie. People are going
to bring your family fresh meals in
for a while.
Annika slaps Corinne’s arm.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
What do you need, sweetheart?
ANNIKA
Aaa Aaa Aaa
Annika scratches Corinne’s arm. The scratch wells up with
blood which Corinne wipes quickly with a tissue she finds in
one of her purse’s many compartmentalized plastic baggies.
CORINNE
Wow, we need to trim those nails.
Beat. Annika looks at Corinne’s arm which has welled blood
again.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
80.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s okay;
you didn’t hurt me.
Annika draws her knees up to her chest, rocks herself in her
bed. Corinne pulls out the praying hands night light and puts
it in her purse.
119
INT. BILL’S CHURCH - BASEMENT - NIGHT
119
*
The Believers, including Ethan, Deborah, Molly, Hope, Luke
and Frank, have gathered to thank God for Annika’s healing.
BILL
Our God is the one who delivers.
He has delivered our sister from
the Valley of the Shadow of Death
and we want to thank Him tonight.
We rejoice with Annika and Ned and
their children.
*
He looks directly at their family, including Joel's Older
Sister, sitting in the first pew. Ned is trying to contain
his emotions. The children are bored or animated variously.
Ned turns around and hands Older Joel to Corinne to hold.
BILL (CONT’D)
The Lord God has been your Defense
and your Shield. Jehovah Jireh. God
has provided. His ways are not our
ways, but we trust His lovingkindness. His infinite mercy --
*
Bill’s voice cracks and he tries to compose himself. Ned
stands up and moves to the podium.
*
NED
Last night, our two-year-old, Joel,
looked up at me and said, “Blimey,
Da, I’m knackered.” It cracked me
up because of course Annika taught
him to say that.
(beat)
Annika loves the Lord, but she also
loves drama, art, and nature. She
has an uncanny ability to find good
in what other people would call
misfortune or tragedy. So I just
want you all to know that Annika
and I are content to walk the path
the Lord has us on. It’s not a path
we would have chosen for ourselves,
but His will, not ours.
(MORE)
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
81.
NED (CONT'D)
God has called all of us to life
and life more abundant. That’s the
life Annika has always lived. And
I...
(looks at his wife)
I love you with all of my heart.
Close on Annika who has a thick string of saliva between her
lips. One of her daughters wipes her mouth for her.
People nod, smile, tear up. Bill leads believers in the call
and answer song, “It is Well With My Soul”.
Annika at one point hums tunelessly and then stops. We see
her head scar from behind. She turns around and sees Corinne
in the audience. Corinne smiles at her, but Annika scowls and
shakes her head in a repetitive motion.
Ned puts his arms around his wife and squeezes her tight,
nuzzles her.
In unison the men and women sing the last line “It is well
with my soul”, Corinne does not.
CHAPTER 4: WRESTLING UNTIL DAWN
120
INT. ANNIKA’S AND NED’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY - 1987
120
Annika lays in bed. Corinne feeds her breakfast while Annika
swats at her impulsively.
CORINNE
You must have a lot of pent-up
anger, Sister. You’ve been wanting
to haul off and slug me over the
years? Now’s your chance?
Annika grunts. Tugs at her zippered jacket.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Ned picking out your clothes? I’m
going to pull out some of your
favorites and make sure you get to
wear them. Okay, honey?
Guh.
ANNIKA
CORINNE
God? Do you want me to read your
Bible to you?
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
82.
Annika shifts in her seat, her limbs spastic. She looks at
Corinne full in the face, but doesn’t respond.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
What insight is God going to
provide, Nika? What scripture is
going to explain this?
Annika moans.
121
INT. BILL’S CHURCH - SANCTUARY - DAY
121
*
The Believers, including Ethan, Deborah, Molly, Hope, Frank,
Older Abby, Gabe, Older Lily, Older Joel and Joel's Older
Sister, have gathered. Corinne sits behind now married Luke
and his new wife, JOANNE, the woman from the abortion clinic.
Joanne traces Luke’s neck and shoulders with her lovely
manicured fingers. Corinne can’t stop watching.
Bill holds the mic for a seven year old BOY who stands on a
folding chair.
*
BOY
Thank you Jesus.
BILL
That’s right Son.
*
BOY
Thank you Lord.
Bill chuckles.
BILL
What’s on your mind kiddo?
BOY
I just wanna say something. I like
talking into mics and I want to
tell God that the microphone is one
of His greatest inventions. Also I
have a prayer request. I’ve been
praying that the Lord gives me my
own room soon,‘cause maybe Cain and
Abel would not kill each other so
much if they had had their own
rooms. And what else, uh, oh yeah,
this could be the day the Lord
comes back for us. And part of me
wants to finish the leggo turtle
I’m building. It’s this big.
(spreads his arms)
No its even bigger.
(MORE)
*
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
83.
BOY (CONT'D)
But I don’t mind if it doesn’t get
finished cause I wanna meet Jesus
already. I love him and I believe
in him since the day I got saved.
Amen.
Bill tousles his hair and kisses the boy’s head.
*
BILL
Amen little brother. I appreciate
your heart, the way you want to
encourage us this morning. The
kingdom of God belongs to such as
these.
*
Bill walks up to the pulpit.
*
BILL (CONT’D)
Good night everyone, I don’t know
how I can preach a better sermon.
You know what? I’m humbled by that
kind of faith, how about you? Makes
me ask myself if I have the faith I
started out with. The Lord says in
the book of Revelation, “Because
you are lukewarm, I will spew you
out of my mouth.” Ever take a big
gulp of day-old coffee? Expecting
something hot and bracing and
instead you get something that
tastes like yesterday’s newspaper,
damp and moldy?
(cringes in disgust)
Well, the Lord feels the same way
about some of us. He says, “You
know what, Guys? Give me hot coffee
or cold coffee, but not something
in between. I don’t want someone
with one foot in the Church and one
foot in the world.”
A121
FANTASY
*
A121
Corinne watches Joanne’s hand move down Luke’s back, linger
at his belt, and then dive inside his pants for deep
exploration. She pulls from Luke’s pants some wet spaghetti.
Luke turns around to Corinne .
LUKE
Did you know just how much I
appreciate you Sisters?
Joanne slurps up a piece of spaghetti.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
84.
BACK TO:
B121
INT. BILL’S CHURCH - SANCTUARY - DAY
B121
BILL
We have to ask ourselves: Who is
our Master? We can’t serve both the
world and the Lord. That’s like
having two wives. Whoo -- it’s hard
enough to keep one happy, no
offense to you sweet Sisters. But
you do keep us hopping. Deborah now
tells me that the hair in my ears
is not attractive and I need to
keep it trimmed. Did you guys know
that? You gotta worry about the
hair in your ears? Your nose, too?
This middle age deal, it’s not for
sissies. Hair popping up where it’s
not supposed to. Your Pepsodent
smile ain’t so dazzling any more.
And then there’s these things
called skin tags. I’m turning into
a horror show. But Deborah, she
still loves me. Believers, we have
to give God our whole heart, not a
part of it, not on good days, not
when we feel like it, but every day
in every way.
*
Corinne watches as Ned leads a lurching Annika past them.
122
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
122
The family finishes dinner. Ethan watches Corinne interact
with the kids, and not with each other.
123
INT. BUNGALOW - LAUNDRY ROOM - NIGHT
Corinne is putting clothes in the washing machine.
Hey.
ETHAN
He just stands in the doorway watching her.
CORINNE
Hey. What do you need?
*
123
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
85.
ETHAN
I just wanted to be with you for a
minute, I guess. Kids always around
wanting you. Kiss me.
He kisses her, she slightly turns her head.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
Why do you turn your head when I
kiss you?
I don’t.
CORINNE
He kisses her, Corinne turns her head one way.
He kisses her again, Corinne turns her head the other way.
ETHAN
See, you do.
They watch each other.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
Why are you turning away?
CORINNE
I’m not sure.
ETHAN
Well, try not to.
124
EXT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - NATURE - DAY
124
The Sisters, including Hope and Molly, are meeting for
prayer. They dress in slacks and loose sweaters now; only
Corinne wears jeans. When Corinne can’t catch Annika’s eye,
she moves to sit at her feet.
HOPE
My mother-in-law, please keep her
on your prayer list. Her heart is
so frigid to the Lord. Ron and I
tried to share with her the other
night, she shut us right down.
Annika thumps her leg against her chair.
DEBORAH
Father, we just lift your name
above all names. You provide us
with all of our needs and give us
the desires of our hearts.
(MORE)
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
86.
DEBORAH (CONT'D)
You are holy and good and your
tender mercies surround us each
moment of our lives. Lord you light
our lamp, you enlighten our
darkness. You give us the shield of
Your salvation, Your right hand
holds us up, Your gentleness makes
us great.
Corinne looks up at the words “desires of our hearts” and
turns around to look at Annika.
A124
FANTASY
A124
Annika comes out’ve her agitation, looks Corinne square in
the eye, sings the last sentence of “Posadju Ya Hrusheckhku”,
smiles and winks at Corinne.
BACK TO:
B124
EXT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - NATURE - DAY
B124
Annika’s agitation. Her eyes closed, her head thrown back.
Corinne takes Chapstick out and applies it to Annika’s lips.
125
OMITTED
125
126
INT. BUNGALOW - CORINNE AND ETHAN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
126
Corinne applies a new red lipstick in the mirror. She sees
Ethan sleeping.
Corinne lays beside Ethan with the lipstick, hovers it over
his lips. She outlines his nipple and fills it in. Ethan
wakes up and looks down.
ETHAN
Did you enjoy that?
Yes.
CORINNE
ETHAN
Can I do yours? It’s only fair.
No.
CORINNE
But she pulls up her shirt. She’s braless.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
Wow.
5/25/2010
87.
ETHAN
CORINNE
This is dumb. We’ll just make a
giant mess. Never mind.
She yanks her shirt down. Ethan deflates.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
I’ll get a washcloth.
ETHAN
Forget it. I’m going to take a
shower. You don’t know if you’re
coming or going, Corinne.
He heads for the bathroom.
I do.
CORINNE
ETHAN
(turning around)
What?
CORINNE
Careful not to get lipstick on my
towels.
127
EXT. SOCCER FIELD - DAY
Gabe now plays soccer. Corinne and Ethan watch.
ETHAN
Maybe you and I could go get
something to eat tonight after
House Church?
CORINNE
Maybe. If we’re not too tired.
ETHAN
We gotta eat.
CORINNE
We could stop and get a chili-dog
at Tony C’s.
ETHAN
A chili-dog. That’s romantic.
127
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
88.
CORINNE
(eyes on Gabe)
It can be.
ETHAN
You could try. At least I try.
CORINNE
Look at him dribble, so cute. He’s
going to score!
ETHAN
He’s not doing well with his memory
verses. The girls could recite
chapters at this age -CORINNE
He’s a boy.
ETHAN
All the more reason for us to train
him up in the way he should go -CORINNE
I love him the way he is.
ETHAN
And I don’t? God doesn’t? Why do
you twist everything all the time?
Why do you make simple things so
complicated?
A127
EXT./INT. CAR - SOCCER FIELD PARKING LOT - DAY
A127
Corinne heads for the car. She gets in the driver’s seat.
Ethan starts to get in the passenger side, but he changes his
mind and opens the rear door, sits behind her.
CORINNE
You’re acting like a child.
ETHAN
I can see better from back here.
CORINNE
(mumbling)
Loser.
What?
ETHAN
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
89.
CORINNE
That was embarrassing. Gabe’s
teacher was sitting behind us. You
didn’t see her?
ETHAN
No. I only see you.
CORINNE
What do you see when you look at
me? A helpmeet? The virtuous woman?
Handmaiden of the Lord? The mother
of your children?
ETHAN
I see a new creature in Christ.
CORINNE
That’s me. Popped out of Zeus’s
forehead fully grown.
They glare at each other. Then Ethan’s face falls.
ETHAN
I don’t know what that means.
CORINNE
No shit you don’t. You don’t
understand anything. Not literature
or intelligent conversation or how
to make love. I just do it myself
these days - you know that? Takes
me 30 seconds to do what you
couldn’t get done listening to stepby-step instructions from Dr. Fuck
Barnes. Talk about a slow learner.
Ethan, enraged, reaches over the seat and pins her neck and
shoulders to the back of the seat with his forearm.
She pries his arm away from her neck, coughing, half-crying.
ETHAN
Oh, my God. Are you all right?
He opens his door; she opens her door. He reaches for her;
she jerks away. He gets in the driver’s seat and hunches over
the steering wheel. He sees Corinne walk away.
128
EXT. TONY C’S ICE CREAMERY - DAY
128
Ethan sits solo. Families sit around tables with umbrellas.
Ethan breaks down and sobs as he eats his chili dog.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
129
5/25/2010
90.
INT. BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - NIGHT
129
Corinne is standing at the sink doing dishes when Ethan
approaches her. She stiffens.
ETHAN
I don’t know what to say to you.
There’s no excuse for what I did.
CORINNE
You scared me.
ETHAN
I know. I’m so sorry. Please,
please forgive me.
CORINNE
You forgive me.
130
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
130
Ethan’s lying on the floor listening to an old The Renegades
record, “Sea of Nevermore”. Corinne spoons him. He doesn’t
turn around.
ETHAN
This is so fucked up.
I know.
CORINNE
ETHAN
I don’t know what we’re supposed to
do.
They lie together. Their children run and laugh upstairs,
thumping on the floor above them, happy and unaware.
131
INT. MARANATHA COUNSELING OFFICE - WAITING ROOM - DAY
131
Corinne and Ethan sit in an office waiting room. A WOMAN, 40,
and a MAN, 40, sit across the room from them. The woman very
methodically spreads out the contents of her purse on the
empty chair beside her, item by item, clearly irritating the
man who hisses at her and she hisses back.
MAN
For crying out loud. What are you
doing?
WOMAN
Looking for a peppermint.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
91.
MAN
You don’t need a peppermint.
WOMAN
No, but you do.
Corinne retrieves a mint from one of the many plastic baggies
in her purse. She sucks on it. RECEPTIONIST, 62, sits behind
a desk.
RECEPTIONIST
Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the doctor’s
ready for you now. Down the hall,
second office on your right.
A131
INT. MARANATHA COUNSELING OFFICE/DR. ADAM’S OFFICE - DAY A131
DR. ADAMS, 47, stands up as they enter and extends his hand.
DR. ADAMS
Dick Adams. Y’all are in Bill’s
church, is that right? He’s told me
that you’ve been a backbone of the
congregation for many years.
ETHAN
Bill’s discipled me, taught me the
Word, modeled Jesus Christ in all
his dealings with us. I thank God
for Bill every day.
*
*
*
DR. ADAMS
(to Corinne)
And you feel the same way?
CORINNE
Bill’s amazing.
DR. ADAMS
What’s that mean? He does tricks
pulling rabbits out of hats? Makes
a coin appear from behind your ear?
CORINNE
He’s been a blessing.
Dr. Adams laughs.
DR. ADAMS
I’m going to say this straight,
Ethan and Corinne. I consider
myself a prophet of God.
(MORE)
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
92.
DR. ADAMS (CONT'D)
God is giving me the Word of Wisdom
right now. Brother, I need to talk
to your wife alone. Please wait for
her in the waiting room. Help
yourself to some coffee.
ETHAN
I’d like to stay. Corinne and I
don’t have secrets from each other.
DR. ADAMS
I wouldn’t be so sure, Brother.
Maybe, maybe not. You don’t see
what God sees.
ETHAN
Bill thinks Corinne’s in a dark
night of soul. And I don’t want her
to go through that alone.
*
DR. ADAMS
We have to have pity and fear,
hating even the garments soiled
with sin.
CORINNE
(ignoring Dr. Adams)
Ethan, this isn’t going to work.
ETHAN
But Bill says -DR. ADAMS
(to Corinne)
It’s not going to work unless you
repent. Your marriage isn’t worth
an hour of your time? That’s how
lightly you take your wedding vows?
Go on, Brother. She’s my sister in
the Lord and I’ll treat her with
kindness. Go on now, Brother.
Ethan is torn, slowly stands up. Corinne doesn’t look at
Ethan. He strokes her shoulder and leaves.
DR. ADAMS (CONT’D)
Your husband’s quite a guy. Wants
to protect you just like the Lord’s
charged him. But we’re waging a
battle for your soul. We want you
in heaven with him and your
children, not outside with the
dogs.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
93.
CORINNE
Inside with you or outside with the
dogs. Hmm.
DR. ADAMS
Why are you here?
CORINNE
I’m here because my husband of
fifteen years asked me to come.
A knock on Dr. Adam’s door.
DR. ADAMS
What is it?! I’m in a session!
The receptionist’s head peeks around the door.
RECEPTIONIST
Your wife wants to know if you want
meatloaf or chicken cacciatore for
dinner.
DR. ADAMS
I don’t care!
RECEPTIONIST
She’s at the supermarket right now.
DR. ADAMS
Chicken! And those oblong things
with chocolate drizzle. Creme
filling.
Eclaires?
Yes.
RECEPTIONIST
DR. ADAMS
RECEPTIONIST
You heard that Mrs. Adam’s?
DR. ADAMS
Give me the phone.
He grabs the phone.
DR. ADAMS (CONT’D)
Make sure you check the expiry on
the bird, you near killed me the
last time.
Mrs. Adams shrill voice is heard radiating from the phone.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
DR. ADAMS (CONT’D)
(wincing)
Uh huh. Uh huh. I cant talk now.
Bye. Yup. Uh huh, we’ll talk about
this later. Bye.
Dr. Adams resumes the session.
DR. ADAMS (CONT’D)
There’s a fiery lake waiting for
you where whips will cut your
flesh, fiery brands sear your
skin...
CORINNE
Do you get to watch?
DR. ADAMS
This isn’t funny, Mrs. Miller. You
are crucifying Christ all over
again. I see right into your soul.
Corinne checks the clock.
DR. ADAMS (CONT’D)
Let me tell you a story. A year ago
this time, I stopped at
McDonald’s for an Egg McMuffin. I
was finishing up when I spotted a
city councilman whose ongoing
affair with his secretary was
common knowledge. Even his wife
knew. I took my last drink of
coffee, and the Lord says to me,
“Rebuke him. Tell him to repent.”
I didn’t want to rebuke this guy,
to be honest, but God doesn’t take
no for an answer. So I stand up. I
walk over to his table and I just
lay it out there-- God says you
must repent from your sin or He
will deal with you. Guy just stares
at me with eyes as cold as any
devil’s and tells me to fu - to
“interfere” with myself. I shrug.
I’d done what God told me to do.
The city councilman leaves
McDonald’s and drives off a slick
road later that day. Over a cliff.
Dead.
94.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
95.
DR. ADAMS (CONT’D)
I look at you this morning, and I’m
eating my Egg McMuffin all over
again.
(beat)
God is going to crush you. You’re
worshipping at the altar of
yourself.
CORINNE
Your Word of Wisdom’s on the blink,
Doc. I’m not worshipping jackshit.
132
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
132
Corinne enters and breathes in deeply the smell of books. She
opens an old looking book and steals a whiff of it, fanning
it’s pages. A nearby library patron, LIAM, 40’s, notices.
LIAM
Oh, you’ve got to smell that one.
Possession. A.S. Byatt?
CORINNE
It’s good, huh? Do I know you?
LIAM
What’s your zip code?
50310.
CORINNE
LIAM
I’m your mail carrier.
CORINNE
My male - what?
LIAM
In America, you call us mailmen.
CORINNE
I’ve seen you! Of course.
LIAM
If I were a smoother sort, I’d
feign I never laid my eyes upon
you, but I have to admit. I have.
CORINNE
You come really early.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
96.
LIAM
The word’s out, alas.
CORINNE
To my house. The mail is delivered
early.
Liam is amused. Corinne gets busy leafing through books.
133
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
133
*
The remains of communion are on the coffee table. Folding
chairs supplement the couch.
Luke plays piano. Worship team is mid-worship singing
“Sweetest Name I Know.” Corinne, Ethan, Annika, Deb, Molly,
Bill, Frank, and Joanne listen.
BILL
The Word says to greet each other
with a holy kiss. What would you
do, Luke, if I laid a wet one on
your cheek?
*
*
LUKE
Well, Brother, I’d turn the other
cheek.
(smacks his own ass)
This cheek!
BILL
Then I’d have to kiss that one,
too! God’s good. How I love the
Lord Jesus, the sweetest name I
know.
(he eyes Corinne)
Who has a burden on her heart? What
can we pray for tonight as a house
church? Let us carry your burden
for you. You’ve carried it long
enough.
He is looking at Corinne as he says this. She looks at him
briefly and then looks away. Ethan sets down his guitar and
takes the slack. He hunches forward as he speaks.
ETHAN
God’s revealing to me how much I’m
walking in the flesh. I really lost
it a couple of weeks ago.
(MORE)
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
97.
ETHAN (CONT'D)
I know Satan can’t possess a
Believer, but I’m telling you, I
was out of control. I need God to
fill me with his Spirit.
BILL
A broken and contrite heart, O God,
thou will not despise. We’ll
intercede for you, Brother. Who
else?
JOANNE
Please pray for Luke and for me. We
can’t get pregnant.
Luke puts his arm around her, can’t keep his eyes from her
face.
JOANNE (CONT’D)
We want to raise a son or daughter
for the Kingdom, but God is saying
no.
LUKE
It’s so hard to say not our will,
but Your will be done.
JOANNE
Everywhere I look there are babies
and pregnant women. It’s a constant
reminder of what I did. It’s hard
to not feel that God’s punishing
me. I’m reaping what I sowed. Sow
destruction, reap destruction...
It’s six years since my abortion, I
cannot get those faces out’ve my
mind, those people at the clinic
who killed my baby. I know I signed
the papers...I want the rage that
surrounds my womb to be lifted. I
still hold anger towards the people
who were involved, I’m so angry.
I’m furious with myself. I am
angry at God. God, I am angry at
You. Even though it was my
decision, I gave my consent. Oh
Lord. I want the pain to stop. I
feel so empty. I don’t feel His
forgiveness. I need this pain to
stop. I want a baby so bad. I want
to give Luke a baby.
Corinne watches them. Luke whispers loving words, comforts
his wife.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
98.
BILL
Jesus in the Garden, submitting to
the Father’s will, sweating blood
as he begged God the Father to save
his life. And that’s the Jesus who
now intercedes for us.
*
Someone picks up the guitar and starts strumming the verse of
“Create In Me a Clean Heart”.
BILL (CONT’D)
(speaking subtly to
Corinne)
That’s the Jesus who says to come
unto Me you who are weary and heavyladen. Jesus is calling you tonight
to come to him.
*
The others sing a complete chorus of the song.
BILL (CONT’D)
Everyone in this room, I take to
the Father’s throne, and I pray his
tender mercies upon you, his
gracious watch-care. I pray for his
angels to watch your comings and
goings, to keep you in the shadow
of his wings. Amen and amen.
The Believers in the room stand up and hug each other, pick
up the mess, put away the folding chairs. Everyone is
surreptitiously watching Corinne. She ducks into the hallway
away from the smiling good will and presses herself against
the wall.
She feels like she will explode.
Luke follows her out. He stands in front of her and they look
at each other without speaking.
LUKE
What’s going on with you?
I’m okay.
CORINNE
LUKE
You are not okay. God lays you on
my heart every day. And I pray for
you, little Sis.
CORINNE
What do you pray?
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010
99.
LUKE
For you to find your way out of the
wilderness. To seek His face and
favor.
(beat)
To be okay.
Corinne nods slowly, tries to smile her thanks, but doesn’t.
134
EXT./INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S DRIVEWAY - NIGHT
134
Corinne sits in the car, bows her head, and tries to pray.
CORINNE
Lord. Help me. Please draw near to
me. I can’t feel you. I feel
nothing. Where are you? I’m sorry,
Lord. Where are you?
She takes deep breaths. Starts again.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Forgive me for my rebellious heart,
for not loving Ethan the way You
want me to. Forgive for my
stubbornness, for my lack of
patience. Forgive me for the lust
of the eye for my wandering heart.
Oh, God. Just let me feel Your
presence again. Please God, don’t
let me leave You.
She waits.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
I’m going to do this unless you
stop me.
She waits. And waits. Ethan gets inside the car.
ETHAN
Just stay home next time. You
obviously don’t want to be there.
Corinne is silent.
ETHAN (CONT’D)
You’re leaving me. Aren’t you.
She doesn’t answer.
They sit in the car. The only sound is Ethan weeping.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
135
5/25/2010 100.
INT. BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY
135
Corinne stacks boxes, blankets, suitcases outside the front
door. Ethan plays “Solid Rock” on his guitar on the sofa.
ETHAN
You sure about this?
No.
CORINNE
ETHAN
You still gonna come to church,
hear us sing?
CORINNE
I said I would, didn’t I?
ETHAN
You said a lot of things you didn’t
mean.
She picks up two last boxes and pushes the door open. Ethan
doesn’t help. She’s gone. Ethan sings “Higher Ground.”
CHAPTER 5 THE BOOK OF LIFE
136
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
Corinne looks up from her table of books to see...
LIAM
This is my lucky day. I’ve run into
you again, and I just checked out a
lovely new collection of Paulip
Larkin.
CORINNE
Who’s that?
LIAM
Sodding son of a bitch who liked
schoolgirls, but a poet who can
break your heart. Doesn’t seem
possible, does it? People who are
perverts of the first order but
have the tongue of angels?
CORINNE
That’s in I Corinthians, though I
have the tongue of angels and have
not --
136
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
--love.
5/25/2010 101.
LIAM
CORINNE
You know the Bible?
LIAM
If a man knows Shakespeare, the
Bible, and something about art,
then a man is educated.
CORINNE
Where you from?
LIAM
County Galway. Ireland. But I’ve
lived here for nearly twenty years.
A librarian walks between them and gives them a look like
Take it outside.
CORINNE
It was nice to meet you...
LIAM
Liam Donovan.
CORINNE
Corinne Miller.
LIAM
We’ll have to talk more of books
and I’ll tell you what I learned in
a long walkabout with an aborigine
in the outback.
137
INT. CORINNE’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
137
Corinne lies alone in a double bed for the first time. She
reaches over to “Ethan’s” side of the bed. Her fingers cramp
at the emptiness. She whistles a lonely tune.
138
EXT. PAWN SHOP - DAY
138
Corinne stares at an accordion in the window of the shop. She
enters and haggles with the owner it’s price.
139
INT. CORINNE’S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY
139
Corinne sits with her used accordion. She makes a phone call.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 102.
CORINNE
Ned? Put Annika on the phone, will
you? Can she hold it by herself?
(beat)
Hi, honey. How are you? I miss you
so much. I wrote you this little
tune Nika, listen.
Corinne plays a sweet simple melody.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
It reminds me of you. Nika?
A139
INT. ANNIKA AND NED’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
A139
Annika lets the phone slip to the floor. Corinne waits
another few seconds and then hangs up.
140
INT. CORINNE’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
140
Kathleen is helping Corinne hang curtains.
KATHLEEN
Good. Nice heavy curtains. These
will keep anyone from peeping in at
you.
CORINNE
They’re so ugly.
KATHLEEN
You’re a single woman now. You have
to start being careful.
CORINNE
Start being careful? When have I
ever not been careful?
Beat.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Besides now.
The curtain rod gives way and the curtains fall to the floor.
Kathleen starts to pick them up.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Leave them. I like the windows
better this way. I like the light.
A KNOCK on the door. Corinne opens it. FAYE, 40’s, stands
outside. She’s holding a paper bag and thrusts it to Corinne.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 103.
FAYE
Hi there. I’m Faye Colbert and I
just wanted to welcome you to the
building. Extra donuts nobody ate
at Speedee Lube this morning. I
sure hate to see them go to waste.
CORINNE
Oh. How nice.
FAYE
Also, wanted to give you a head’s
up. This floor is full of religious
nuts who will be ringing your door
bell with all their assorted
Watchtowers and the like.
KATHLEEN
If you let Jehovah’s Witnesses in
once, they’ll come back again and
again.
FAYE
They got a quota they got to make
every month. They’ll hound you to
death. We had a couple of Mormons
knocking on doors last month, too.
Nice looking guys in dress shirts
and ties. Creepy, though. Smiling
to beat the band.
KATHLEEN
False prophets -- a sign of the end
times, my pastor says. That and
earthquakes. Of course it’s no
coincidence that California gets
all the earthquakes what with San
Francisco and the kind of people
who live there.
Mexicans?
FAYE
KATHLEEN
Them, too. ‘Course they’re Catholic
and they breed like there’s no
tomorrow. I told Corinne to just
keep a chain on the door.
CORINNE
“Do not neglect welcoming strangers
because you might be entertaining
angels unaware.”
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 104.
KATHLEEN
More likely Charles Manson than an
angel, I’d say.
CORINNE
Thank you for the donuts, Faye. You
work at Speedee Lube, I assume?
FAYE
Corner of Fifth and Douglas. Come
in for a 10% Good Neighbor
discount.
Wow.
141
CORINNE
EXT. BILL’S CHURCH - SANCTUARY - DAY
141
Corinne is picking up the kids from church to spend the day
together. Gabe holds a drawing. The kids get in the car.
GABE
It’s Daniel in the lion’s den.
CORINNE
My gosh, it is. This is wild.
Corinne looks at his drawing of lions lounging on sofas and
recliners, watching TV.
GABE
The other kids said I did it wrong.
They said there were no TV’s in
Bible days, no remote controls.
CORINNE
You have an imagination, Gabe. My
son is an artist. I’m taking you
guys somewhere special.
142
INT. ART GALLERY - DAY
142
Corinne and the three kids wander a gallery of modern art.
They stand in front of a nude sculpture. The kids are wildly
amused. Gabe is biting the side of his mouth and giggling.
CORINNE
The human body is beautiful, you
guys.
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 105.
GABE
Those ladies need to go to Weight
Watchers.
The docent hushes them. The nude looks like Annika.
tweaks her nose.
Corinne
143
OMITTED
143
144
EXT. BUNGALOW - FRONTYARD - DAY
144
Corinne is working in a flower bed at the front of the house.
Liam watches her from a distance for a moment and then begins
to walk toward her, whistling a tune. She looks up and
whistles back.
CORINNE
Good morning.
LIAM
I didn’t expect to see you here.
I’ve been delivering your mail to
another address. I beg your pardon
if I’m speaking out of turn.
CORINNE
I plant this flower bed every
spring. The kids would be so sad if
nothing grew here. Aren’t they
beautiful?
LIAM
Beautiful indeed.
A long beat. He’s staring at her intently, frankly.
CORINNE
So did you deliver my mail today?
LIAM
I did. Only bills, I think.
But I did knock on your door
because I
(reaches into mail bag)
brought you this.
He holds out a book toward her. She wipes her hands on her
pants and takes the book shyly.
CORINNE
The Collected Poems. W.B. Yeats.
You’re loaning this?
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 106.
LIAM
I am and I’m only asking for one
small favor.
CORINNE
Uh oh. What’s that?
LIAM
Indulge me. Let me read one aloud.
Now?
CORINNE
LIAM
You wouldn’t be the first I’ve read
to today, you know. Two blocks
over, an eighty-two-year old lady
receives nothing but junk mail and
my daily poem.
CORINNE
That’s lovely. All right, yeah. Why
not? Go ahead.
She sits on the edge of the flower bed. Liam quickly flips to
the page he wants. He’s quite skilled in his delivery, hardly
referring to the page.
LIAM
Never give all the heart, for love
Will hardly seem worth thinking of
To passionate women if it seem
Certain, and they never dream
That it fades out from kiss to
kiss; For everything that's lovely
is But a brief, dreamy, kind
delight.
O never give the heart outright.
CORINNE
That’s Yeats?
LIAM
You have the look of a woman who
gives all her heart.
Corinne turns to dig another hole in the dirt.
CORINNE
It’s hard to give less, you know?
LIAM
I hope you’re planting some flowers
where you can see them, too.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
145
5/25/2010 107.
INT. CORINNE’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY
145
Corinne reads the book of poetry Liam left her. Mesmerized,
she reads out loud. Older Lily reclines against her mom.
CORINNE
And all the words that I write,
Must... never rest in their flight,
Till they come where your sad, sad
heart is,
And sing to you in the night...
OLDER LILY
That’s pretty, Mama.
CORINNE
William Butler Yeats. Have you
heard of him?
OLDER LILY
(shaking her head no)
Is he a Believer?
CORINNE
He’s Irish. A revolutionary. He
wrote this:
Now and in time to be,
Wherever the green is worn,
All changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.
OLDER LILY
That’s weird. How can something
beautiful be terrible?
CORINNE
A paradox, honey. Something that
seems as though it can’t be true,
but it is.
146
INT. BUNGALOW - DINING ROOM - DAY
146
It’s Gabe’s 7th birthday party. Kathleen, her husband, DICK,
50’s, Ethan, Corinne, Older Abigail, Older Lily, Wendy, and
CW are all celebrating. Kathleen sets a cake with burning
candles in front of Gabe.
KATHLEEN
Make a wish, Darling!
They urge Gabe on. He smiles at them before blowing very
hard. The family claps.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 108.
GABE
Mommy gets the first piece!
WENDY
No Silly, the birthday boy gets the
first piece.
GABE
(to Ethan)
But I want you and Mommy to give
each other bites like you did at
your wedding. Like in the picture.
Please?
WENDY
Birthday cakes aren’t the same as
birthday cakes, Gabe. I’ll tell you
what, you can help me cut my
wedding cake if I get married
again. How about that?
CW
(to Kathleen)
Didn’t you bake their wedding cake,
too? God, that was a delicious
cake. Nobody bakes like you.
DICK
She’s put 20 pounds on me.
CW
I would have guessed closer to 40.
Kathleen laughs and presses her fingers over her lips.
OLDER LILY
Please, Mom and Dad? I want to take
your picture.
Older Abigail is silent. She helps her grandma plate pieces
of birthday cake with no comment but watches her parents’
faces.
GABE
I’m the birthday boy. I want to
take it.
CORINNE
All right. All right. If it makes
you happy. Come on, Ethan, let’s do
the re-enactment.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 109.
ETHAN
Okay. Get the camera ready. I think
I rubbed cake in your mother’s face
if I remember right.
CORINNE
You did not. Don’t you dare.
Gabe and Older Lily are enthralled and happy their separated
parents seem playful. Ethan and Corinne pinch off a bit of
birthday cake with their fingers.
OLDER LILY
Kiss! Kiss! Don’t forget the
wedding kiss.
Corinne and Ethan each put a bite of cake into each other’s
mouth. They face each other for the first time in a long
time, their lips inches apart. The camera flashes. And then
they turn away.
GABE
I thought you’d smash it on her
face.
CORINNE
I’m going to smash it on your face.
Are you going to be ornery now that
you’re 7? Did you turn into a
ornery little boy?
She tickles him to the floor. Ethan watches and Older Abigail
watches him, aching for his sorrow. CW and Kathleen watch.
Dick sees a look his wife and her ex-husband exchange.
DICK
Kathleen! Did you bring ice cream
to go with this cake?
Kathleen pulls her eyes away from CW’s and looks blankly at
Dick.
KATHLEEN
Coming right up.
147
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
147
Corinne is perusing art books. She hears children’s laughter
and walks to the children’s section where a Liam has
volunteered, reading a story to a group of children and
parents.
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 110.
He holds a boy who looks just like him on his lap. A woman
rests her hands on Liam’s thigh. Corinne is surprised, but
not crushed. Embarrassed, but not excessively.
She listens to the story, too, and laughs with the kids.
148
EXT. WOMEN’S CLINIC - DAY
148
Corinne is driving past the women’s clinic. She sees Luke,
Deborah, Joanne, Annika, the Sisters holding hands in prayer.
Annika looks up, they make eye contact. Corinne waves and
smiles. Annika scowls, holds her sign up at half-mast. The
others help her she drops it.
A148
EXT. PASTOR BUD’S CHURCH - PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
A148
Corinne peers in the front door. She imagines a song, “We
Worship and Adore Thee” echoing, walks back to her car.
B148
FANTASY
B148
Dozens of mutts join her silently on the parking lot. One by
one the dogs come. Some lie down at her feet. She is one of
the pack now.
BACK TO:
C148
EXT. PASTOR BUD’S CHURCH -
PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
C148
Corinne looks around at the deserted parking lot, sticks her
hands into her pockets.
149
EXT. CORINNE’S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
149
Corinne struggles with the key to her mailbox in the bank of
mailboxes. Liam approaches.
LIAM
“She seemed to have grown clean and
sweet
Like any rock-bred, sea-borne bird:
Sea-borne, or balanced in the air
When first it sprang out of the
nest...”
CORINNE
Yeats. “The Political Prisoner.”
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 111.
LIAM
Ah, I’ve converted you to Yeats.
CORINNE
You introduced me to Yeats. But
you’re not converting me to
anything.
LIAM
Good on you.
CORINNE
Yes. I think that’s about right.
150
INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY
150
Corinne waiting on customers. Looking up a book on the
computer. Dusting the shelves, running her finger along the
bindings.
Bill and Deborah enter the bookstore.
*
CORINNE
Hi! What can I help you with?
BILL
Got a guy in my church with a
broken heart playing his guitar day
and night. You wouldn’t consider
paying that fella a visit, would
you?
Corinne and Bill stare at each other.
*
*
DEBORAH
We’re looking for a book for our
niece, Corinne. Rebekah told me
there’s a great children’s book by
George MacDonald.
CORINNE
The Princess and the Goblin? Such a
beautiful allegory.
BILL
I remember reading MacDonald in
seminary.
CORINNE
C.S. Lewis called George MacDonald
his master.
(MORE)
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 112.
CORINNE (CONT'D)
I think his concept of universalism
is interesting -- the cross as a
gift to all men, not just some.
Limited versus unlimited atonement.
But I’ve heard you talk about all
this, Bill.
*
BILL
Sometimes there’s a disconnect
between the talk and the walk.
*
She pulls the book off the shelf and hands it to them.
CORINNE
Tell me about it.
BILL
Sis -- Corinne, I hope you find
what you’re looking for.
151
EXT. BILL’S CHURCH - SANCTUARY - DAY
*
151
*
Corinne is seated on the curb outside with her new dog. Ethan
exits the church building to get his guitar. When he reenters the church, Corinne ties her dog to a post, follows
him inside and stands at the back.
A151
INT. BILL’S CHURCH - SANCTUARY - DAY
A151
Ethan, Older Lily, Gabe and Older Abigail are at the front of
the church, along with Annika, Deborah, Molly, Luke, Hope,
Joanne, Ned, Frank, Older Lily, Older Joel, Joel's Older
Sister and Gabe. Older Abigail plays the guitar, they share a
standing mic. Harmonizing “In the Garden.” Corinne turns to
leave.
She stops, turns back around. Walks up the aisle to the front
of the room. She takes the podium. Ethan tugs her arm gently,
but Corinne pulls away.
CORINNE
My daughter has the voice of an
angel, doesn’t she? Do I hear an
Amen?
She doesn’t.
*
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 112A.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
(referring to lyrics)
“He walks with me and he talks with
me and He tells me I am his own.”
What more could anyone want? Taking
a stroll with God in the Garden.
(MORE)
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 113.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Having a chat with the Creator of
the universe. Asking questions and
getting answers. You couldn’t be
any safer, any more secure. No
higher place. No safer ground.
Corinne struggles to find her voice.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
Call upon the name of the Lord and
you will be saved. We call Him so
many names. El Shaddai. Lord.
Father God. Jesus. Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father. Adonai. Jehovah
Jireh. The ancient Hebrew alphabet
didn’t contain any vowels, so God’s
name was rendered only in
consonants. The vowels had to be
provided orally when a word was
spoken, but the rabbis didn’t want
to use God’s name in vain, so His
name was never spoken. All we’re
really left with is a string of
consonants, an unspeakable name.
Bill stands up and reaches for the microphone, but Corinne
beseeches him with a look and an upraised hand. He steps
back.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
When I was a little girl, my pastor
told me that Jesus was knocking at
the door of my heart, so I listened
real hard and I thought I heard
Him. I raised my hand and told
everyone Jesus was standing there
and he wanted me. Tap, tap, tap,
Pastor said. So I invited Him in.
Welcome I said and gave all my
heart outright. And I’m telling you
this morning, I’m telling you that
I’m still waiting for Him to make
Himself at home. I call. And I
call. And there have been times I
know He answered, times I was sure
he was there, but other times, I’ve
got the porch light on, and He
doesn’t come. I feel like I live in
am empty place. I’ve told God I’m
not letting go until he blesses me.
But I’m wrestling something
nameless, without form and void. I
just want it to be solid so bad,
you know?
(MORE)
*
HIGHER GROUND - REVISED PINK SCRIPT
5/25/2010 114.
CORINNE (CONT’D)
I need all of this to be real. And
I don’t always know how to make it
real. So forgive me. I admire your
faith, I do.
PASTOR BILL
Thank you, Corinne.
(to congregation)
Let’s turn to page (TBD) in your
hymnals.
Organist and musicians begin to play, music team sings “How
Great Thou Art”.
Ethan kisses her on the cheek. She looks at him with
gratitude. She kisses him sweetly on the mouth and steps away
from the podium. She and Older Abigail walk down the aisle
together, arms around each other.
Corinne stops at the door and looks over her shoulder.
THE END
*