is a knock at the door.] · can't you hear my hearty baritone? lucy: i didn't know you sang! whit:...

ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY - It Is Well Page 1.by Phil Lollar ©1992, Focus on the Familiy

______________________________________________________

SCENE I.[WHIT'S END. WHIT IS IN HIS OFFICE, DOING SOME WORK AND LISTENINGTO A TAPE OF A CHURCH CHOIR SINGING "THE OLD RUGGED CROSS." THEREIS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.]

WHIT:

(CALLS) Come in.

[THE DOOR OPENS AND LUCY ENTERS.]

LUCY:

(COMING ON) Mr. Whittaker?

WHIT:

Hi, Lucy!

LUCY:

Here's my story for KYDS Radio News.

WHIT:

Oh, thanks. Just set it down in thebasket there.

LUCY:

Okay . . . (SHE DOES) What's thatyou're listening to?

WHIT:

Hm? Oh, just a tape of the choir atmy church.

LUCY:

Oh. Nice.


______________________________________________________

WHIT:

Yeah, we sound all right if I do sayso myself.

LUCY:

"We?" You're in there?

WHIT:

Can't you hear my hearty baritone?

LUCY:

I didn't know you sang!

WHIT:

Well, I'm sure a lot of choirmembers think I can't . . . (THEYCHUCKLE) But I do my best.

[THE CHOIR STARTS SINGING "IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL."]

LUCY:

That's pretty . . . (LISTENSAGAIN) Oh, I've heard this songbefore! What's it called?

WHIT:

(A BIT TAKEN ABACK) You reallydon't know?

LUCY:

Uh . . . no . . .

WHIT:


______________________________________________________

Hm. It's called "It Is Wellwith My Soul," by a man namedHoratio G. Spafford. It's avery famous hymn.

LUCY:

We sing mostly praise songs atmy church.

WHIT:

Ah.

LUCY:

You have something againstpraise songs?

WHIT:

No, not at all. But, thechurch has a rich tradition ofhymns that we've almostforgotten. Like this one.

[THEY LISTEN TO PART OF A VERSE FOR A MOMENT.]

LUCY:

"When peace like a riverattendeth my way . . ." Howpoetic.

WHIT:

There's a remarkable storybehind those words.

LUCY:

There is?


______________________________________________________

WHIT:

Would you believe that theywere written during a time ofalmost unbelievable tragedy?

LUCY:

Really? But it sounds likesuch a hopeful song!

WHIT:

Well, Spafford was anexceptional man. He'd built asuccessful law practice inChicago in the years just afterthe Civil War. He had fivechildren -- four girls and aboy.

LUCY:

Since he wrote such a greathymn, I take it he was aChristian?

WHIT:

Oh, yes. He was deeplyspiritual, and studied theBible every day. He was alsogood friends with some of themost influential Christianleaders of his day, men likeD.L. Moody and Philip Bliss--

LUCY:

Moody? I've heard that namebefore! He was a preacher,


______________________________________________________

wasn't he?

HORATIO:

That's right. Dwight L. Moodywas one of the greatestpreachers of his day. Hespread the word of Godthroughout the United Statesand Great Britain in hugerevival meetings. It was saidthat when he spoke, thousandsof people accepted the Lord.

LUCY:

What about Philip Bliss?

WHIT:

He was also an evangelist whowrote some of the most familiarand well-loved hymns of alltime.

LUCY:

And both of them were closefriends of Mr. Spafford?

WHIT:

Very close. And they helpedhim over the years -- yearsthat were filled with tragedy .. .

[MUSIC: AN EMOTIONAL BRIDGE TO THE NEXT SCENE.]

SCENE II.[THE SPAFFORD HOME, OUTSIDE THEIR SON'S BEDROOM. A DOOR OPENS ANDTHE DOCTOR STEPS OUT.]


______________________________________________________

HORATIO:

Doctor Rawlings.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

How is our son?

DOCTOR:

(A HEAVY SIGH) He's very sick,Mrs. Spafford.

HORATIO:

It's just a severe cold, isn'tit?

DOCTOR:

I'm afraid it's much more thanthat. He's developedpneumonia.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(SCARED) Pneumonia!

HORATIO:

(COMFORTING HER, BUT ALSOSCARED) Now, now, I'm sureeverything is going to be allright, Mother. No need foralarm, right, Doctor?

DOCTOR:

(CATCHING ON) Uh, no . . . no,of course not.


______________________________________________________

[THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.]

HORATIO:

Mother, why don't you godownstairs and see who that is.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(VERY SCARED) Horatio, I--

HORATIO:

(GENTLY REASSURING) Go on,now. Everything is going to befine.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(COMFORTED, BUT STILLCONCERNED) Yes, Horatio . . .

[SHE LEAVES.]

DOCTOR:

(AFTER SHE'S GONE) That wasvery wise, Mr. Spafford.

HORATIO:

My wife . . . is not a strongwoman, Doctor . . . How bad isit?

DOCTOR:

(SIGHS) Bad. The infectionhas gone too far . . . I don'tthink he'll survive the night.

HORATIO:


______________________________________________________

(SHAKEN) Dear Lord . . .

DOCTOR:

I apologize for being so blunt,but I thought you'd want toknow the truth.

HORATIO:

Is he in pain?

DOCTOR:

No, I've given him somemedicine, and left instructionswith the nurse on how to makehim comfortable. All we can donow is wait.

HORATIO:

(EMOTIONALLY) He's . . . justa little boy . . .

DOCTOR:

(GENTLY) I'm sorry, Mr.Spafford . . . I'll look inon you later.

[THE DOCTOR LEAVES AND PASSES PHILIP BLISS ON THE WAY UP.]

BLISS:

(OFF) Doctor.

DOCTOR:

(OFF) Mr. Bliss . . . staywith him . . .


______________________________________________________

BLISS:

(APPROACHING; GENTLY) Horatio? I came as soon as I could--

HORATIO:

He's dying, Philip.

BLISS:

(SYMPATHETIC) Oh, no, no . . . Is their no chance -- no hope?

HORATIO:

None . . . My son is dying, andI can do nothing but watch ithappen.

BLISS:

. . . And pray. You can pray,Horatio -- we can pray.

HORATIO:

(NEAR TEARS) Yes . . . yes,help me to pray, Philip! (BROKEN) Help me . . . to pray. . .

BLISS:

(PRAYS) God of our Fathers . ..

[MUSIC: RISES TOUCHINGLY AND TAKES US BACK TO][WHIT AND LUCY.]

WHIT:


______________________________________________________

They stayed with the boy allnight, and prayed that Godwould spare him and return himto health.

LUCY:

What happened?

WHIT:

(GENTLY) Sometimes God says"No."

LUCY:

You mean, he died?

WHIT:

Yes.

LUCY:

How sad.

WHIT:

It was . . . and it was alsoonly the beginning . . .

[MUSIC: RISES UP AND TAKES US TO]

[COMMERCIAL #1]

SCENE III.[WHIT'S END -- CONTINUOUS. LUCY PICKS UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF.]

LUCY:

What else happened to Horatio


______________________________________________________

Spafford?

WHIT:

Well, as I said, he had built avery successful law practice --medical jurisprudence.

LUCY:

That means he was a lawyer fordoctors, right?

WHIT:

That's right. And it was workthat made him very wealthy. Hehad invested his money inproperty along Lake Michigan .. .

[IN SCENE -- THE SHORELINE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. SPAFFORD IS TALKINGWITH PHILIP BLISS.]

HORATIO:

(MID-SENTENCE) . . .everything from here to thepier, and then the sixbuildings beyond.

BLISS:

This is a very heavyinvestment, Horatio! What doyou plan to do with all of it?

HORATIO:

I want to convert part of it tohousing, and I've set aside theproperty next to the church for


______________________________________________________

Moody's new YMCA center.

BLISS:

Ah! I thought our preacherfriend had something to do withthis.

HORATIO:

He doesn't know.

BLISS:

Really!

HORATIO:

I wanted it to be a surprise.

BLISS:

When are you going to tell him?

HORATIO:

When he returns from Britain. It should give me time to clearup the building code problems.

BLISS:

Building codes? I didn't knowwe had any.

HORATIO:

It's something new -- the citywants to make certain itsstructures are safe.

BLISS:


______________________________________________________

That's understandable.

HORATIO:

Yes, except that the city can'tdecide on what codes it wants. And until it does, I can'tbegin any renovation orconstruction. I tell you,Philip, dealing withbureaucracy is no picnic!

BLISS:

(TEASING) Yes, it must be verydifficult to have all thatmoney . . .

[A BEAT, THEN THEY BITH BURST OUT LAUGHING.]

HORATIO:

(CHUCKLING) All right, allright -- you've made yourpoint. And I am grateful toGod for His blessings.

BLISS:

I am glad to hear it! I wasbeginning to think that moneywas the worst curse ever tobefall mankind!

HORATIO:

Who's to say it isn't? (ANOTHER CHUCKLE, THEN, MORESOLEMN) Of course, the Lordgives . . . and takes away . ..


______________________________________________________

BLISS:

(GENTLY) Of course.

HORATIO:

(A SIGH) Sometimes the memoryof my son washes over me like aflood.

BLISS:

You must give yourself moretime, Horatio. It's only beenfour months.

HORATIO:

Yes . . . but it is verydifficult . . . One good thingfrom this is that I am muchmore thankful for my daughters.

BLISS:

How is your wife?

HORATIO:

Holding up much better than I. She's shown remarkablestrength -- much more than Ithought she had . . . (ABEAT) I owe you a great debtfor all your help during thesemonths, Philip.

BLISS:

No, Horatio -- no debt. You'dhave done the same for me. It


______________________________________________________

is part of who we are aschildren of God.

HORATIO:

Sometimes God seems very faraway.

BLISS:

Then perhaps what you need isto busy yourself with the workof the Lord. Get closer toHim.

HORATIO:

How?

BLISS:

By getting away.

HORATIO:

Away? You're speaking inriddles, Philip.

BLISS:

(SMILES) You know that Moodyis in Great Britain on a grandevangelical campaign. I'm surehe would love to have you andyour family join him.


______________________________________________________

HORATIO:

Oh, that does sound wonderful .. .

BLISS:

But--?

HORATIO:

But . . . I really can't go. Not at this time.

BLISS:

Why?

HORATIO:

These buildings. Businessmatters detain me.

BLISS:

Business.

HORATIO:

I know -- that isn't the bestof reasons . . . but it isunavoidable.

BLISS:

Well, at least think about it. It will do you good.

HORATIO:

Of that, I have no doubt . . .Come, let's get something to


______________________________________________________

eat.

[WATERFRONT SFX (SHIP HORNS, SEA GULLS, ETC.) TAKE US BACK TO WHITAND LUCY.]

LUCY:

Don't tell me -- somethinghappened to the property,didn't it?

WHIT:

Have you ever heard the tale ofMrs. O'Leary's cow who kickedover the lantern in the barnand started the great ChicagoFire?

LUCY:

Yeah, I remember that story. But, I thought it was just alegend.

WHIT:

Well, whether the story is trueor not, there was a huge firealong the shoreline of LakeMichigan around that time --and Horatio Spafford's propertywas right in the middle of it .. .

[IN SCENE. WE HEAR THE RAGING FIRE, THE CLANGING OF FIRE BELLS, THESCREAMS OF HORSES, AND THE SHOUTS OF THE FIREMEN TRYING TO PUT OUTTHE INFERNO.]

FIRE CHIEF:

(SHOUTING) Bring that wagon


______________________________________________________

around here! . . . Keep thatpump going!!

FIREMAN:

(RUNS UP; SHOUTING) Anotherbuilding has started up acrossthe street!

FIRE CHIEF:

We don't have anymore wagons! Get a bucket brigade started!

[HORATIO RUNS UP.]

HORATIO:

(RUNNING UP) Sir? Sir! I'mHoratio Spafford!

FIRE CHIEF:

Well, you're gonna have tostand clear, Mr. Spafford!

HORATIO:

But, these are my buildings! You're just letting them burn!

FIRE CHIEF:

I'm sorry, Mr. Spafford, butthere's nothing I can do aboutit! We don't have enough menor equipment to put `em out! Excuse me . . . (RUNS OFF,SHOUTING) Keep that watercoming! C'mon, you men --move!! . . .


______________________________________________________

HORATIO:

(HORRIFIED; TO HIMSELF) DearGod . . . Dear God, no . . .no . . .

[MUSIC: A BRIEF DRAMATIC BRIDGE TAKES US TO][THE NEXT MORNING. SPAFFORD AND BLISS WALK AMONG THE RUINS.]

HORATIO:

(STUNNED) Gone, Philip . . .it's all gone . . . Completelywiped out . . .

BLISS:

The church is badly damaged,too, Horatio . . . I'm sosorry, my friend.

HORATIO:

(SIGHS) Well . . . I no longerhave business concerns to keepme here . . . Contact Moodyfor me, Philip . . . tell himmy family and I will join himin England . . .

[MUSIC: DRAMATIC BRIDGE RISES UP AND TAKES US TO]

SCENE IV.[THE SPAFFORD HOME. MRS. SPAFFORD IS PACKING THE GIRL'S CLOTHES.]

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(CALLS) Girls! Tanetta! Maggie!

TANETTA & MAGGIE:


______________________________________________________

(OFF; CALLS) Yes, Mother?

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(CALLS) Do you have yourthings together?

TANETTA:

(OFF) Well, I do, but Maggiedoesn't!

MAGGIE:

(OFF) That's because Annie andBessie keep putting my clothesback in the closet!

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(CALLS) I thought I told youolder girls to put Annie andBessie to bed more than an hourago? (A PAUSE) Didn't I?

TANETTA:

(OFF) Um . . . yes ma'am . . .

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(CALLS) Then why are theystill up? (ANOTHER PAUSE)Well?

TANETTA:

(OFF) Uh . . . we dunno . . .uh . . . we were justpacking, and we looked up andthere they were! Right,Maggie?


______________________________________________________

MAGGIE:

(OFF) Uh, yeah, yeah, that'sit! You know how hard it is tokeep track of `em, Mother!

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(CALLS) I know two girls whoare going to be in a lot oftrouble if they don't do asthey're told! Now, I want youto put Annie and Bessie back tobed and then bring me down yourthings! We're leaving in themorning -- we don't have timefor foolishness!

TANETTA & MAGGIE:

(OFF; CALL) Yes, Mother . . .

[HORATIO ENTERS DURING THIS LAST BIT.]

HORATIO:

(COMING ON) Trouble? What'sall the yelling about?

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Oh, I think our girls aresuffering from a case of pre-trip jitters, excitement andforgetfulness.

HORATIO:

Just the girls, eh?

MRS. SPAFFORD:


______________________________________________________

Yes, why?

HORATIO:

Well, dear, I know we wanted torest and recreate on this trip,but, considering that it'll benearly winter when we arrive,don't you think it'll be a bitcold for bathing suits?

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(GRABS THEM FROM HIM) Give methose! (HORATIO CHUCKLES.) Ididn't pack them -- they werealready in there. I use thesetrunks for storage, too,remember?

HORATIO:

Mm-hmm . . .

[HE LAUGHS AGAIN, AND SHE LAUGHS WITH HIM.]

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Oh, Horatio, it is good to seeyou smile again.

HORATIO:

And you, my love. We've hadour share of tragedy -- it istime that joy returned to thishouse.

[TANETTA AND MAGGIE ENTER.]

TANETTA:


______________________________________________________

(COMING ON) Here are Annie andBessie's clothes, Mother.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Oh -- just set them on thattrunk over there. Are thelittle ones in bed?

TANETTA:

Yes, ma'am.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Good. Where are your's andMaggie's things?

[MAGGIE ANSWERS FROM BEHIND THEM.]

MAGGIE:

(STRAINING UNDER THE LOAD) Right . . . here . . . uuh!

HORATIO:

Oh, goodness! Let me take someof that! (HE DOES)

MAGGIE:

(SARCASTICALLY) Thank you forleaving me all of the heavystuff, Tanetta!

TANETTA:

I thought you could use theexercise.


______________________________________________________

HORATIO:

Well, why don't you get alittle exercise and help yourmother pack these trunks . . .

TANETTA:

(SUBDUED) Yes, Father.

MAGGIE:

(MOCKING) Ha, ha!

HORATIO:

. . . both of you.

MAGGIE:

(SUBDUED) Yes, Father . . .

TANETTA:

Mother, how long will we be onthe ship?

MRS. SPAFFORD:

6 days.

MAGGIE:

That's a long time. Will therebe things to do?

HORATIO:

Plenty of things.

TANETTA:


______________________________________________________

What about in England? Willthere be things to do there,too?

HORATIO:

Oh, yes -- especially inLondon! It's a grand place! There are so many things to see-- Buckingham Palace . . .Parliament . . . The Tower ofLondon . . . On, no, my dear --you won't be bored in England.

[THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.]

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Now, who could that be?

TANETTA & MAGGIE:

I'll get it--

HORATIO:

No, no -- I'll get it. Youboth continue with what you'redoing.

[HE WALKS OVER TO THE FRONT DOOR AND OPENS IT.]

MR. KRAMER:

Mr. Horatio G. Spafford?

HORATIO:

Yes.

MR. KRAMER:


______________________________________________________

My name is Kramer, and I workfor the Chicago ZoningCommission.

HORATIO:

Yes, Mr. Kramer, how can I helpyou?

MR. KRAMER:

I'm afraid there is a problemwith your property along LakeMichigan--

[MRS. SPAFFORD WALKS UP.]

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(COMING ON) Horatio?

HORATIO:

This is my wife. Darling, thisis Mr. Kramer from the ChicagoZoning Commission.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Mr. Kramer.

MR. KRAMER:

Mrs. Spafford. We were justdiscussing your husband'sbuildings by the waterfront.

HORATIO:

I no longer have any buildingsdown by the waterfront, Mr.Kramer. The fire destroyed


______________________________________________________

them all.

MR. KRAMER:

I know, sir -- that's theproblem.

HORATIO:

I don't understand.

MR. KRAMER:

The city is having somedifficulties with the clean-upof the Lake Michigan property. As you know, the shoreline isin a rather confused condition,to say the least. There aresome discrepancies about whoowned what.

HORATIO:

But I've already filed one setof papers with the Commissionexplaining the extent of myholdings.

MR. KRAMER:

I know that, sir, but now theyneed to see proof of ownership-- deeds, titles, blueprints,if any.

HORATIO:

(SIGHS) Oh, very well. I'llpull everything I have togethertonight.


______________________________________________________

MR. KRAMER:

We're not in that big of arush, Mr. Spafford. Just bringthem with you the day aftertomorrow.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

The day after tomorrow?

MR. KRAMER:

That's when the meeting is set.

HORATIO:

Then it will be quiteimpossible for me to attend. We're leaving for Europe in themorning.

MR. KRAMER:

That, of course, is yourchoice, Mr. Spafford, but theCommission cannot guaranteethat you will retain ownershipof your property if you are notat the meeting.

HORATIO:

So, I attend . . . or loseeverything.

MR. KRAMER:

As I said -- that is yourchoice . . . Good day, Mr.Spafford, Mrs. Spafford.


______________________________________________________

[KRAMER LEAVES, AND HORATIO CLOSES THE DOOR.]

MRS. SPAFFORD:

What are you going to do,Horatio?

HORATIO:

I suppose I shall have toattend.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

I understand . . . I'll tellthe girls to stop packing.

HORATIO:

Why?

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Because we're cancelling ourtrip.

HORATIO:

We're doing no such thing!

MRS. SPAFFORD:

But, Horatio--

HORATIO:

I want you and the girls to goon ahead. I'll follow in a fewdays.

MRS. SPAFFORD:


______________________________________________________

Are you sure?

HORATIO:

Of course! Now, c'mon -- westill have a great deal ofpacking to do!

[MUSIC: A LIGHT BRIDGE TO THE NEXT SCENE.]

SCENE V.[THE BRIDGE OF THE S.S. VILLE DU HAVRE, DAYS LATER. IT IS A FOGGYEVENING. THE SEA IS A BIT CHOPPY, AND WE HEAR THE SOUND OF A STEAMBOILER IN THE DISTANCE. THE CAPTAIN IS SHOWING MRS. SPAFFORD ANDTHE GIRLS AROUND.]

CAPTAIN:

(MID-SENTENCE) . . . And hereis our bridge.

TANETTA:

Is this where you steer theboat?

CAPTAIN:

Among other things, yes. Feelfree to have a look around, butdon't touch anything unless youask permission first.

[REACTIONS FROM THE GIRLS AS THEY MOVE OFF.]

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Thank you so much, Captain, forshowing my daughters and mearound the Ville Du Havre.

CAPTAIN:


______________________________________________________

Think nothing of it, Mrs.Spafford. I know howyoungsters can get a bit stir-crazy after three or four daysat sea.

MAGGIE:

(COMING ON) Mother, look atthe pretty bell!

CAPTAIN:

Ah -- I see you've discoveredour ship's bell. It announcesthe time. Which reminds me --it's nearly five o'clock. Would you all like to ring inthe new hour?

THE GIRLS:

(EXCITED) Could we, Mother?!/Oh, please!

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Are you sure it's all right,Captain?

CAPTAIN:

Certainly! There are five ofyou, so it works out perfectly. Now, all of you line up behindyour mother . . . (THEY DO)Okay, Mrs. Spafford, here's thehammer. When I give you thesignal, strike the bell goodand hard, then pass the hammeron to the next one in line.


______________________________________________________

And each of you do the same,got it? (THEY DO.) All right .. . now!

[THE BELL TOLLS FIVE TIMES. AFTERWARDS, MRS. SPAFFORD AND THE GIRLSARE VERY PLEASED WITH THEMSELVES.]

CAPTAIN:

Well! That was wonderful! Youall handled that like truesailors!

SAILOR:

(A BIT OFF) Captain?

CAPTAIN:

Pardon me, folks . . . (A BITOFF; TO THE SAILOR) Yes, whatis it?

SAILOR:

(OFF) Fog rolling in sir. East by Northeast.

CAPTAIN:

(OFF) Fog? That's odd . . .Keep careful watch.

SAILOR:

(OFF) Aye, sir.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Is there a problem, Captain?

CAPTAIN:


______________________________________________________

(COMING ON) Oh, no, ma'am. We're just headed into a littlefoul weather, that's all. Nothing to worry about as longas we have Myrtle.

TANETTA:

Myrtle? Who's Myrtle?

[FOR AN ANSWER, WE HEAR A TERRIFIC BLAST ON A FOG HORN, CAUSING THESPAFFORDS TO JUMP.]

CAPTAIN:

(CHUCKLES) That's Myrtle --our fog horn. Gotten methrough many a close scrape,she has. Why, I remember onetime off the Gulf of Mexico--

SAILOR:

(ALARMED) Captain!

CAPTAIN:

Pardon me again . . . (TO THESAILOR) What is it,Montgomery?

SAILOR:

Something in the fog, sir! 10degrees off the port bow.

CAPTAIN:

(LOOKING) I don't seeanything.


______________________________________________________

SAILOR:

It was a flash of light -- likethe sun shining off a piece ofmetal.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

Perhaps we should go back toour cabin, Captain?

[THEY GIRLS GROAN THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT.]

CAPTAIN:

I think that's a good idea,Mrs. Spafford, just until wecan get clear of--

[SUDDENLY, AN ALARM SOUNDS -- VERY LOUD.][MUSIC: A VERY DRAMATIC STINGER PLAYS UNDER.]

SAILOR:

(CALLS OUT) Collision course! Collision course!

CAPTAIN:

Collision!? Where?! I--(SEES THE OTHER BOAT) It'sanother ship!! Evasiveaction!!

[HE BLASTS THE HORN, BUT IT IS NO GOOD. THE OTHER VESSEL -- THELOCHEARN -- SMASHES AGAINST THE VILLE DU HAVRE WITH GREAT FORCE. THERE ARE SCREAMS OF TERROR AND FRIGHT, AND GREAT CONFUSION.

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(TERRIFIED) Girls! Girls!! (ETC., AD LIB)


______________________________________________________

GIRLS:

(ALSO TERRIFIED) Mother!/ Oh,Mother!! (ETC. AD LIB)

[WATER RUSHES INTO THE BOAT.]

SAILOR:

(YELLS) She's taking on water! We're sinking!!

CAPTAIN:

(CALLS OUT) This is theCaptain. Abandon ship! Abandon ship! (CONTINUES, ADLIB)

MRS. SPAFFORD:

(CRYING, TERRIFIED) Oh, dearLord! (CALLS OUT) Girrrrls!!

GIRLS:

(SCREAMING) Motherrrrrr!!!

[AND DURING THEIR TERRIFIED SCREAM, WE HEAR A LOUD EXPLOSION. THEIRECHOED VOICES ARE SWALLOWED UP BY THE SWIRLING SEA BILLOWS . . . ANDTHEN, ALL IS QUIET . . .]

[MUSIC: RISES UP DRAMATICALLY AND TAKES US TO]

SCENE VI.[THE SPAFFORD HOME, THREE DAYS LATER. PHILIP BLISS ENTERS.]

BLISS:

(OFF; COMING ON) Horatio? Theneighbors said you'd received a


______________________________________________________

telegram! I came as soon as I-- (ON NOW, GENTLY) Horatio?

HORATIO:

(STUNNED) 12 minutes, Philip .. . The ship went down in 12minutes . . .

BLISS:

Yes, the newspapers reportedthat, but they also said thatmost of the passengers got offsafely--

HORATIO:

(ANGUISHED) Safely? (HANDSHIM THE TELEGRAM) Here . . .read it.

BLISS:

(WHISPER) Dear God . . .(READS) "Saved alone . . .Your wife."

[MUSIC: DRAMATIC, UNDER TO THE COMMERCIAL.)

HORATIO:

(BREAKS DOWN) Oh, my preciousdaughters!

[HE WEEPS AND BLISS COMFORTS HIM.] [MUSIC: TAKES US GENTLY TO]

[COMMERCIAL #2]

SCENE VII.[WHIT'S OFFICE -- BACK WITH WHIT AND LUCY.]


______________________________________________________

LUCY:

(SADLY) So, all four of theSpafford girls were lost?

WHIT:

Yes.

LUCY:

Oh . . . What did Mr. Spafforddo?

WHIT:

He sailed on the next availableship to join his wife in GreatBritain . . . And it wasduring that voyage that hereceived the inspiration forhis greatest work and testimony . . .

[IN SCENE -- THE STEAM SHIP. THERE IS A KNOCK AT A CABIN DOOR.]

STEWARD:

(OFF, KNOCKING) Mr. Spafford? Mr. Spafford?

[SPAFFORD OPENS THE DOOR.]

HORATIO:

Yes, steward?

STEWARD:

You asked me to inform you whenwe were near the site where the


______________________________________________________

Ville Du Havre went down.

HORATIO:

Thank you, steward.

STEWARD:

Yes, sir. Of course, it'snearly impossible to know theexact spot, because of shiftingcurrents. But, this is it, asnear as we can tell.

HORATIO:

Thank you . . .

WHIT:

(NARRATING) Spafford went upto the deck of the ship to seethe spot where his daughtershad drowned . . . and totalk with God.

[ON THE DECK. THE OCEAN IS MUCH LOUDER NOW.][MUSIC: UNDERSCORE, CHANGES TO MATCH SPAFFORD'S MOOD. MID-WAYTHROUGH THE MONOLOGUE, IT SHOULD CHANGE TO AN ORCHESTRAL VERSION OF"IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL."]

HORATIO:

It's so peaceful, now, Lord . .. like a gentle river . . .Even when the sea billows roll,they won't reveal the sorrow inthem . . . (SUDDENLY OVERCOMEWITH GRIEF) O, dear God! Myheart . . . my heart is soheavy! . . . I don't . . .think . . . I can bear this,


______________________________________________________

Lord! . . . My children! Myprecious children! . . . (HEWEEPS WITH DESPAIR FOR A FEWMOMENTS, THEN:) "For God . . .so loved the world . . . thatHe gave His only . . . begotten. . . Son . . ." (A BEAT) Youknow, Lord . . . You know whatI feel . . . You lost yourChild, too . . . and because ofthat, I will see my childrenagain . . . My sins are nailedto the cross -- I bear them nomore . . . O, my Jesus! Comesoon! Come soon! Or if it notbe soon . . . then give mestrength to bear the pain . . .Help me to be content withyour will . . . Teach me tosay, "It is well with my soul .. ." (A BEAT) It is well withmy soul . . . (INSPIRED)["When peace like a riverattendeth my wayWhen sorrows like sea billowsrollWhatever my lot, thou hasttaught me to say,It is well, it is well with mysoul . . ."]

[MUSIC: BRIDGES BACK TO][WHIT AND LUCY. THE MUSIC SHOULD CONTINUE GENTLY UNDER THEREMAINDER OF THE SCENE.]

LUCY:

He faced so much tragedy, andcould still write such words ofhope and faith.

WHIT:


______________________________________________________

As I said, he was an incredibleman.

LUCY:

What happened after that?

WHIT:

Horatio cabled the words backto Philip Bliss. By the timeSpafford and his wife returnedhome, Philip had composed atune to the poem. The resultis one of the best-loved hymnsof all time -- a hymn that hasinspired and helped countlessothers in times of trial anddistress to be able to say: "ItIs Well with My Soul . . ."

[MUSIC: UNDERSCORE RESOLVES. THERE IS A BEAT OF SILENCE, AND THENWE HEAR A FULL A CAPELLA CHOIR SING THE BEAUTIFUL STRAINS OF "IT ISWELL WITH MY SOUL" -- THE THREE VERSES FIRST, THEN THE CHORUS. THEHYMN'S CONCLUSION TAKES US TO . . .

. . .THE END.]

is a knock at the door.] · can't you hear my hearty baritone? lucy: i didn't know you sang! whit:...

Documents