All language subtitles for 90.Minus.in.Heaven.2015.720p.BluRay.x264-DRONES-HI

(RAIN FALLING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(DOOR OPENING, CLOSING)

(FOOTSTEPS)

(CAR DOOR OPENING)

(CAR DOOR CLOSING)

(ENGINE STARTING)

(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)

DON: I died on January 18, 1989.

I was the father of three children.

The husband of a wonderful wife.

A man with a great future.

I was 38 years old.

You coming?

Oh honey, you know.

It's not gonna stop me from asking.

I would feel so terrible
having six new students

start with a substitute teacher.

I still can't even convince
my wife to have a...

A lovely weekend with her husband.

We can sleep in, order room service...

Room service?

There probably isn't
room service, but...

Okay, then, we could,
pick up some hamburgers

and some strawberry milkshakes.

Ooh...

You're getting me. I'm listening.

Get all cozy.
Put on some Love Me Tender.

Love me tender

Love me true

Hi, Dad.

Aw...

I think we're in the Jailhouse Rock now.

How you doing? Did you sleep well?

- Uh-huh. Yeah.
- Yeah?

- I think you're heavier.
- Um, yeah.

- Did you grow again?
- Um, no.

Rain check?

IOU.

Where's your brother at, huh?

I don't know.

- You don't know?
- No.

I gotcha.

- Good morning. How you doing?
- Good.

Yeah?

All right, guys,
there's not a lot of time.

Nicole, no dogs eating
at the table, please.

Thank you, darling.

All right, guys,
there's not a lot of time.

Eat your food real quick, please.

Mom, I would love a cup of coffee.

(SCOFFS)

Now, you know, Daddy's gonna be away
for a couple of days, so...

DON: In January of 1989,

I attended a church conference
in the Trinity Pines suburb of Houston,

where the focus was on the growth
of the Union Baptist Church association.

I went because I was seriously
considering starting a new church.

We know that God is calling to us.

To tell others about heaven
and how to go there.

The gospel begins right here,
right where we are.

And it travels.

It travels to every neighborhood.

Every continent.

And the prize...

Mmm.

The prize that we shall receive

is heaven.

Amen?

ALL: Amen.

Amen.

DON: Little did I know that some
of the people listening that day

would be there to help me later on.

You know you did something
Baptist preachers almost never do.

Oh yeah, what's that?

You finished early.

(CHUCKLING)

Well, good morning, J.V.

It seems like I have
to walk to talk to you.

If you walk the walk.

I have to keep the ticker
on track since my heart attack.

How's that going, by the way?

A whole lot better, thank you.

Oh, good.

Rumor has it that you're thinking
about starting a new church?

Well, you've started
so many successful churches.

It's a roller-coaster ride,
beginning a new church.

Three steps forward, two steps back.

It's challenging.
Worthwhile, but challenging.

I believe it's time for me
to start a new congregation.

I would urge you to be certain

that this is what God
really wants you to do.

And that your family's
on board with the idea.

Sometimes what inspires you

isn't what you end up doing.

It's about finding your purpose.

Thank you.

That's it.

That's what it's all about.
Finding your purpose.

And remember it's not about you.

I appreciate that. Thank you, J.V.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

It's 10:00.

On the dime.

How are you, darling?

Grading papers. How's it going?

Good, good.

No matter where you are in the world

you always manage to call me
at 10:00 every evening.

Is it tradition or love?

(EVA CHUCKLING)

Love of tradition.

Very nice.

So, I had a good chat with J.V. Thomas
about opening a new church.

He was very encouraging.

I'd say there's a great chance that I can
actually start something this year.

That's exciting. We're behind you 100%.

I think I'm gonna have to
wrestle the twins to bed.

I don't know.

That might be the sound
of Nicole growing up.

Oh, my. She'll be
a teenager soon enough.

Well, she is ordering coffee now.

That's right.

Well, my love,
it's bedtime for all of us.

All right, darling.

Have a good night, and I miss you and
I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

I love you.

I love you.

Night, night.

Good night.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

DON: I remember that only
three weeks earlier...

I'd received a traffic ticket
for not wearing a seatbelt.

Until I received that ticket,
I'd not usually worn my seatbelt,

but after that, well, I changed my ways.

That small act would
be a crucial decision.

(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)

I believe in a great God.

I believe in Jesus, the son of God.

I believe in the Holy Spirit.

I believe in baptism.

I believe in communion.

I believe in a great God.

He's dead.

(SIREN WAILING)

(HORNS BLARING)

Don, hi.

Ooh, Donnie, you're so beautiful.

Can you hear me?

DON: State law decreed that a coroner
had to pronounce me dead,

before my body could be
removed from the wreck.

There was no need for speed
because I was dead.

EMT: I got no pulse.

We got no pulse at all. All right?

Does anyone want to call this thing?

Yeah. I got it.

EMT: Hey, we need to clean this mess up
so we can get this bridge open.

Yeah, I got 12:15 now.

According to the report,
the collision occurred at 11:45 a.m.

EMT: Well, it's 1:00 p.m.

Hey, what's going on up there?

A truck crashed into a car
and another car over there.

Multiple cars got hit.

Officer, Dick Onerecker. I'm a minister.

Is there anybody here I can pray for?

Yeah, the people in those
two cars over there.

They're shaken, but they're fine.

You can talk to them if you'd like.

What about the car up there?
The one with the tarp over it?

The man in the red Ford is deceased.

I'd like to pray for him.

Well, like I said, he's dead.

I know it sounds crazy,
but I have to pray for him.

You know, if that's what
you want to do, go ahead,

but I gotta tell you
it's an awful sight.

He's dead,
and it's a real mess under that tarp.

There's blood and glass everywhere,
and the body's all mangled.

I gotta warn you, you do what you want,
but you've never seen anybody this bad.

Try being a medic in Vietnam.

I only know God told me to pray for you.

He died instantly, there's no pulse.

God, I pray...

Yeah, that's what they
said when I got here.

...that his sins are forgiven.

We did everything we could,
but the impact probably killed him.

And that he's with you, God.

EMT: We need to get the jaws of life
ready for when the coroner gets here.

Okay.

I pray, God

that he knew you.

As father and as friend.

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God...

DON: ...to God in prayer

Oh, praise God, he's singing!

He's alive! He...

He's alive! He's... He's alive!

The man... The dead
man is singing in there!

Really?

You just set a world record
for exiting a wrecked car.

Listen to me, he's alive!
The dead man...

Look, sir...

I know a dead guy when I see him.
That man is dead.

Listen, he's alive. He was singing.

We know our business, okay?

Yeah.

He's dead.

Listen, look, look, look.

I'm gonna lay down on this bridge.

You're gonna have to run over me
if you don't go check on him.

Just do me a favor.
Just check on his pulse.

Please, just check
his pulse, that's all.

- I'll check on him.
- Come on.

Praise God!

We got a pulse!

Yes!

Come on! Let's go!

We got you.

On three, fellas.

One, two, three.

(DON GROANING)

EVA: We learned a lot about
seals today, didn't we?

- Yes.
- I guess.

So, I would like for you to please draw

your favorite underwater animal.

- Can you do that?
- Yes.

Yes?

- Come here.
- I can't. I'm teaching a class.

Come anyway. It's important.

That's good, Annie.

Mrs. Nell needs you in
the office right away.

I'll watch your class for you.

Okay, thank you.

Hi, kids.

EMT 2: We're gonna get you
to the hospital soon.

Can you tell me your name?

Now, you just stay with me.
Try to stay awake, okay?

Please, sit down.

Don's been in a wreck.

What? A wreck?

Easy.

Airway looks clear.
We need to get two large 4-IVs in.

Check in the airway.

I'm so sorry.

Thank you.

Have you heard anything?

No, nothing.

Thank you.

Let's cut that right sleeve.
Both IVs in there.

And the BP cuff's
gotta go on there, too.

Oxygen, thank you.

Mr. Piper. Mr. Piper.

We're going to do all we can
to save you, Mr. Piper.

Don has been taken to the Huntsville
Memorial Hospital just off the I-45.

WOMAN ON TELEPHONE: He's conscious.
She should probably speak to him now.

It doesn't look good.

Would you like to speak to Don?

Yes, I would.

We don't let people speak to patients
unless it's a grave situation.

All right.

Hello?

He's unable to hold the phone himself
so I'm gonna put it up to his ear.

Don? How are you?

I'm so sorry that this happened.

It's not your fault.

I just wanted to come home, Eva.

Please let me come home.

Please let me go home.

All right, thank you very much.

They're doing an assessment.

What do you mean... What is assessment?

They need to assess his injuries
and try to stabilize him.

There's a chance
that Don may move hospitals.

I'll take the twins home with me, so you
don't need to worry about the boys.

Thank you.

Hey, I'm driving you to the hospital.

No, no, that's...

You don't have to. I want to drive you.

- Thank you.
- Yeah.

DOCTOR: He's deteriorating rapidly.

I don't think he's gonna
survive the afternoon.

Put him in an ambulance
and take him to Houston.

This facility isn't equipped.

Don't you think we should
helicopter him to Hermann?

No, nobody's flying in this weather.

(SIREN WAILING)

DON: As my condition
was deteriorating rapidly,

it was decided to move me
by ambulance for the 80-mile trip

back to Houston's Hermann Hospital,

which had a much better trauma center.

Still, I kept wondering
why God had brought me back.

(GRUNTING)

Hey, you gotta do something.

You gotta... Medicine.

You gotta give me some medicine, please.

EMT: I've given you all I can.

No, you gotta give me more.

(SCREAMING)

Ma'am? My name is Eva Piper.

Has my husband Donald Piper arrived?

He's in transit and
should be here any moment.

- He's not here yet?
- No.

He'll be coming in from
over there when he does.

Don, Don, I'm here.

They're gonna take good care of you.

Listen to me, it wasn't your fault.
You're gonna make it.

- Ma'am, we've gotta go.
- You're gonna make it.

We need you to fill out
these insurance forms.

Thank you.

I know Don's date of birth.

I don't know his social security
number or his insurance company.

I don't know the amount
of the deductible.

Don's always taken care of this.

I don't have the answers to any of this.

It's okay. It's okay.
These are the easy questions for now.

All I know is that Don is supposed
to lead evening services.

He's meant to preach tonight.

They already have that covered.

I don't know any of this.

Ma'am, I filled out what
I could, but I don't...

I don't have this information.
I'll get it to you tomorrow.

That's okay.
We deal with this situation every day.

Thank you.

DON: It was heartwarming to know
that Eva had the support of our friends

and fellow church members
in her hour of need.

It's been over an hour.

I can't stand the tension
of not knowing.

I'm gonna find out what's happening.

Eva, Eva...

I need answers.

- Doctor?
- May I help you?

I'm trying to find out what's going on
with my husband, Donald Piper.

No one's been out to see you yet?

No, no one. I've heard nothing.

I'm so sorry.

I'm Tom Greider,
the orthopedic surgeon on this.

Come on and I'll show
you what's going on.

Your husband is very badly injured.

We are doing everything
we can to save him.

See this? It's not just broken,

it's shattered.

He's missing significant amounts
of bone structure, muscle and skin.

That's his right knee.

And this is where the left thigh
bone or femur should be.

Should be?

Well, he's missing
a significant amount of bone.

Four and a half inches.

Also, it seems that he
has a cracked pelvis.

But we're just gonna let
that go for the time being

'cause we have to deal
with these other injuries right away.

As you can see, only this soft tissue
at the bottom part of his leg

is connecting his whole lower
left leg to the rest of his body.

Would you like to see him?

Yes, I would.

Well, come on.

He won't respond to you.
He's heavily medicated.

We couldn't give him anything
until we'd finished our examination.

They're coming to
take him to surgery now.

(EVA SNIFFLING)

God...

God help me.

Please help us.

(SOBBING) I'm so scared.

You've always helped us.
Now please, please help us.

Please help us.

For I know the plans they have for you.

Plans to prosper you.

And to not harm you.

To give you hope and a future.

DON: Survival was going to be difficult

because heaven was so glorious.

Hi, Dad.

Okay.

Not good.

I don't know.

I don't know, Dad.

I'll see you tomorrow with the kids.

I just spoke to Don's parents.

They aren't getting here
until the day after tomorrow.

I love you, too. Bye.

The reason you haven't heard from us
is 'cause we worked on him all night.

All night?

Eleven and a half hours.

The good news is that there's no sign

of brain damage or internal injury.

We stabilized his left arm
and put his left leg in traction.

We're taking good care
of your husband, Eva.

He's gonna be okay.

Thank you, Doctor.

There are a lot of people
in the hospital chapel

praying for Don right now.

How you doing?

Okay.

I don't want you to
think about this now,

but you should consider
hiring an attorney.

DON: Enduring all that
I had to go through,

nobody put up with more than Eva.

She would rise every morning at 6:00.

Rush to work at the school and afterwards
hurry back to my bedside

where she stayed with me every night.

It was the same stressful
routine day after day for her.

GREIDER: You're seriously injured.

We've done an MRI on you and it seems
you've escaped brain damage.

I hurt more than I believe
is humanly possible.

GREIDER: We can help you manage that.

I just want relief.

I understand.

Your family's here to see you.

DON: The hardest thing to
endure was having my family,

especially my children,
seeing me in this physical state.

EVA: Don...

It's okay, boys.

Say hi to your Dad.

Nicole.

I love you, Daddy.

I love you, Dad.

Love you.

I love you, Chris, so much.

I have a Valentine's
Day dance coming up.

I'm very excited.

Although I don't know
if I have a Valentine.

Daddy will dance with you.

Two goals, Dad. That's what I got.

One bounced off the pole.

- Excuse me. It's time for some cleaning.
- Okay.

I'll see you guys soon.

Okay, bye.

All right.

Come on, guys.

Go be with your grandparents
for a minute, okay?

Be good boys.

DON: See you guys soon.

We have the best kids in the world.

Yeah, we sure do.

Hi. How y'all doing?

You okay? Joe?

Okay.

Eva, I think the kids
should come home with us.

We'll find a school for them close by.

That way you won't have to worry about
if they're being taken care of or not.

Yeah, and that way you can
focus fully on taking care of Don.

Let me talk to Don first...

I'm not sure if that's a decision
he can make right now.

Dad!

You live 250 miles away.

We won't be able to see them every day.

I know. I know it's gonna be tough,
but Don needs you now.

And we can bring the kids
back anytime you want.

It's best if I speak with Don.

- All right.
- Okay.

Hi.

How you doing today?

Mmm.

EVA: How you feeling?

My dad thinks it would be better for them
to take the kids back to Louisiana,

at least until we can
get you out of the hospital.

I don't think that's a very good idea.

I know.

But it'll be better for them.

Because that way I don't have
to keep finding people

to take them to school
and pick them up every day.

Mmm. It's not a good idea, Eva.

It's going to be impossible for me

to return to teaching school
and maintain health insurance,

spend time with you and find the energy
to take care of our children.

No.

Don...

Letting my parents take the kids
is the only sensible solution we have here.

Mmm.

EVA: I want you to agree.

I will find peace if we both agree
to let them go.

(GROANING)

I'm sending them home with my parents.

Welcome to McDonald's.
Can I take your order?

Hi, yes, we will have two cheeseburgers,

two shakes and two fries, please.

Thank you. Please go up to the window.

DON: Until it was time
for me to come home,

Eva would never sleep in our bed.

And that couch was not comfortable.

I know, 'cause I've been there.

Yes, hello, my name is Eva Piper.

I'm looking to hire an attorney.

Mrs. Pepper?

Piper.

Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Cecil Beaumont.

Pleasure.

I am your Beau.

Before we start,
can I ask you a question?

Yes.

How did you hear about me?

Billboard.
There was a sign by a drive-thru.

See there, a sign.

Something we all need in a time
of uncertainty, don't you think?

Your husband was hit by a State truck

from the prison, is that right?

- Yes.
- Cherry.

Driven by an inmate?

(CHORTLING)

Cherry.

Now, it's not illegal for them
to let an inmate drive a truck.

But it shows poor judgment on the part
of those officials at the prison

to let an untested,
inexperienced driver take control

of an 18-wheel tractor trailer.

Triple cherry, ka-ching, jackpot!

Several of my friends are concerned

that there might be
some kind of a cover-up

or that the State of Texas will try
and deny who drove the truck.

Well, your friends, are they attorneys?

- No.
- Okay.

Their legal advice is worth
what you paid for it, okay?

There might be an attempt to alter the
circumstances surrounding the accident.

I mean, that's more
likely what they'll do.

You know, they're on the hook
for a pretty big claim here.

So, I think, we can assume

a pretty stout pushback
from the State of Texas.

Do we have a case?

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

Excuse me.

9-1-8 is Tulsa, isn't it?

I'm sorry... You...

Did you just ask, "Do we have a case?"

Ma'am, I wouldn't be here
if there wasn't a case.

I am your Beau.

And "Mont," as in you have
a Mont-umental case.

That's not that good, is it?

"Mon" as in...

You have a monster case.

How about "Mont" as in...

You have a case the size of Montana.

These medical bills
are going to be astronomical,

and you probably don't have
the resources to cover that, do you?

No, we don't.

How are the children doing?

EVA'S DAD:
Who wants to say grace tonight?

Nicole said it last night. Boys?

Um...

Joe? Chris?

Chris, you go ahead. You're older.

Like 10 minutes older.

Well, then you have a head start, right?

Thank you, Father,
for the food on our table,

and please look over our dad,

and...

And for allowing me and my brother
to skip our homework tonight.

Well, this father's not going
to allow that to happen.

Oh, yes, you are.

(DON MOANING)

Can I help you?

You sounded like you were in great pain.

What are you talking about?

You cried out.

God, is this what you
brought me back for?

(NURSE CHUCKLES)
Yes, dear, you came back to me.

All right, breathe.

Deep. Deep breath.

Deeper.

(COUGHING)

Another.

(COUGHING)

All right. Let's get you ready.

For what?

Taking a breath.

You need to leave this on, all right?

That's good.

(DOOR OPENING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

Oh, God.

Please, God.

I'm Dr. Houchins.

You stopped breathing on my watch.

I won't be undefeated.

All right, let's get you
into a position to win.

All right, take a deep breath.

Don't give up now. Keep trying.

Did you hear what I said?
Do it now! Breathe! Do it!

Cough, breathe and cough. Do it!

- Do it! Breathe...
- (DON GROANING)

This is not a negotiation.
Do this right now. Breathe.

(WHEEZING)

I can't.

All right. Don't do it.

If you don't start breathing, and soon,

I'm gonna have to
resort to a ventilator.

You won't like that.

DON: What Dr. Houchins
might have lacked in bedside manners,

he made up for in sheer
bulldog determination.

He simply wanted me to breathe.
And I had stopped trying.

Don...

You gotta breathe.

Please, can you breathe? For me?

You're not even trying.

Breathe!

Breathe!

Billie.

Sarge.

- He's this way.
- How are you doing?

Well enough.

Don's just through here. He's stable.
I'm sure he'd love to see you.

BILLIE: I can't... I just can't. No.

EVA: Okay, that's okay. It's all right.
Here, come with me. Come here.

DON: I knew my mother would have the most
difficult time seeing me in this condition,

and never entered my room during
the entire stay in the hospital.

No mother would want
to see her son like that.

I've got to make this phone call, okay?
I'll be right back.

EVA: David, I don't know what to do.

His mom can't even be
in the same room with him.

She's devastated.

He's not gonna make it
unless something happens.

You and Cliff are Don's best friends.

He won't breathe.

He refuses to breathe.

You're the only other person
in the world who will make him listen.

All right, I'll be
there as quick as I can.

Probably around three hours.

Thank you.

DON: An American hero of three wars.

World War II, Korea and Vietnam,

that was my father.

Son,

I'd give anything to
trade places with you.

David, thank you for coming.

It's this way.

DON: David Gentiles was my best friend.

Like myself, he was an ordained minister

who was, by far, the most
loving human being I had ever known.

You're gonna make it.

You have to make it.
You've made it this far.

I don't know that I want to make it.

You have to.

Not for yourself,
then hold on for us, Don.

(WHEEZING)

I'm tired.

I fought all I can

and I'm ready to die.

Well, then you won't have to do a thing.

We'll do it for you.

We won't let you die.

Do you understand that, Don?

We're gonna pray all night.

I'm gonna call everybody
I know who can pray.

I want you to know that all
of us who care about you,

will be up all night in prayer for you.

We're taking over from here.

We're gonna take care of this.

He's in bad shape.

Emotionally, there's no will to live.

What is there left for us to do?

Pray.

DON: We all have talents.

David's was organizing.

He was able to rally churches
from all over the world to pray for me

simply by faxing them.

How long will my dad be like this?

Well, it's gonna take some time to heal.

All I do is press my palms together.

It's not doing anything.

It's not making my mom happier,
or my dad better.

Well, honey, you gotta keep praying.

You know what they say about faith.

You can have hope without faith,

but you can't have faith without hope.

Grandma loves you.

I love you, too.

My sweet baby,
I want you go to sleep now, okay?

I love you. I'll see you in the morning.

Eva.

Morning, Doctor.

Don has developed pneumonia
in both lungs.

If we can't do something
about his breathing,

we're gonna have to
do something else drastic.

How drastic?

The Ilizarov device stabilizes

and then at the same time,
if successful, which is a huge if,

what it does is it stretches
the bone by pulling on both ends.

See, new bone is created

by actually breaking the leg above
and below the original breaks.

We push the broken ends
closer and closer together

until they meet and then
they form a new femur.

- Will that work?
- That's just it.

I can't guarantee that it'll work.

We can't give him the kind of
breathing treatments he needs

as long he's in the prone position.

See, we have to elevate him.

And that leaves us with two choices.

One is that we amputate the leg.

And the other is that we try
this Ilizarov device,

which is called the fixator.

People take sometimes
months of counseling

before they allow this device
to be used on them.

And of course, in Don's case,
we don't have that kind of time.

But there is a chance to save the leg?

There is a chance.

May I have a moment, please?

Of course.

(BOYS LAUGHING)

I didn't realize you were home.

Brought the kids
by to pick up a few things.

It doesn't feel like a home.
There's no, "Hi, Mom."

Eva, it's gonna get better.

But how much worse?

We can't pay for anything.

This house is a mess.

He might not come home.

Will he even survive?

He might never walk again.

I'm so afraid.

It's gonna be fine.

We're gonna get through this
together as a family.

That's what families do.

(MOANING)

- (GASPING)
- Shh...

I'm here.

I'm here.

It's okay. It's okay.

It's okay.

What is that?

(GROANING)

It's a bone-growth device.

What is that?

A fixator.

Dr. Greider says it's the only chance
we have to save your leg.

Okay? Shh...

And those rods go all
the way through my leg?

- It's a new...
- And my arm?

It's a new technique.

I believe it's worth the risk.

Why did you let them do this to me?

Huh?

DON: Unfortunately,
these were the only fireworks

left in our marriage at this point.

Rodeo's over.

Fireworks are on.

DON: Eva's decision to keep my leg

was so that I could continue to enjoy
skiing and biking with the children.

I always felt bad about how
I spoke to her that day.

(DON GROANING)

(PANTING)

Try to control your breathing.

Slow it down.

You can scream if you want.

Easy.

This pain...

I know.

Almost done.

Good morning, Doctor.

How long do I have
to endure this device?

How long before I...

I know if it works?

How long before I can walk again?

A few months.

How few?

Many months. Maybe more.

You mean possibly a few years?

A year maybe. I really don't know.

And there's no guarantee that I'm gonna
be able to keep these limbs?

No guarantee.

You could develop an infection
and we'd have to amputate the leg.

So, I could endure this for months
and still end up with no leg?

I'm hoping your left
arm has a better chance.

We took bones from your right pelvis
and put them into your left forearm.

It's kinda of like taking core samples

when you're drilling
for oil, as an example.

We're going to have to move
Mr. Piper to Saint Luke's tomorrow.

Why do we have to move him?

I believe Don should
be able to stay here.

I agree.

But this is out of my hands.

I've done everything I know
to prevent this from happening.

But I can't stop it.

EVA: There's a situation
at the hospital.

Our insurance no longer
covers Don's treatment here.

Is there anything you can do?

I need answers.

BEAU: Yes, of course you do.

I'm your Beau. You at the hospital?

Yes.

Meet me in the cafeteria.

BEAU: I tried but
the administrator's right.

They're not gonna budge.

There's nothing you can
do to change things?

(BEAU SIGHS)

It's about what the hospital
can get from the insurance company.

What about our case? Our settlement.

Well, I've got good news
and I've got bad news,

but the bad news takes out the good news,
so all we're left with really is bad news.

What?

Well, in Texas, state employees
are indemnified by the State of Texas.

Okay, how does this affect us?

Well, the State, in this case, Texas,

has put a cap on all damages
that are able to be collected

in any lawsuit against the State.

And the cap is $250,000.

Now, insurance companies,
they have subrogation rights.

Which means that
they're gonna put a lien

against any kind of claim and settlement

or any funds received from a lawsuit
to cover their medical expenses.

In other words,

your insurance company
is gonna take all the money.

Don will receive nothing?

No.

You know, I had a friend one time,
he asked me,

he said, "What kind of cookies you bake

"when you don't have any money?"

I said, "I don't know, what?"

He says, "Shortbread."

Unfortunately, Don's gonna have to
bake shortbread cookies on this one.

He'd have been better off if he'd
been hit by a Budweiser truck.

And then we'd all be talking
about millions of dollars.

Partner, can I give you that card?

You show up here just to tell me this?

How we gonna do this?

We'll take him by ambulance.

You can drive your car.

DON: Even though Saint Luke's
was only five blocks away,

it was such a painful move
with the fixators on my leg and arm.

Every bump resonated through my bones.

Eva stayed strong,

tried not to cry out
as she watched me go through this.

EVA: It's not very pretty here.

It's not ideal. I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, Don.

When they picked this color blue,

it must have been a cloudy day.

Mr. Piper, Mrs. Piper,

- how you guys doing today?
- Hi there.

- Thank you.
- Good, good.

I've got some relief for you, Mr. Piper.

I'm gonna take good care of you, okay?

Let me just have that arm.

I'm gonna just hook this up for you.

And this will make
you feel a lot better.

All righty.

This is real simple, Mr. Piper.

All you need to do is,

anytime you feel you need some relief,

this will just take it all away for you.

All I need you to do is
push this little button here

and it releases medication, all right?

And just call me if you need me.

All right, Mrs. Piper?

- Thank you.
- All right, you're welcome.

(GROANING)

(DISPENSER BEEPING)

Mr. and Mrs. Piper, how you doing today?

We're fine, thank you.

Good.

And how about him?

Hey, Mr. Piper.

So, have you eaten today?

Hmm?

Did you have therapy today?

Did Dr. Greider come by?

Mmm.

Have you had a bowel movement today?

Maybe that's why you're so grumpy.

All right, I'll be back
later to check up on you.

Just let me know
if I can get you anything.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Why don't you talk?

I can't figure out
what's going on inside of you.

What happened to you?

Talk to me!

Don, answer me!

I'm sitting right here, please.

Why aren't you answering me?

Where do you go?

You're not even here anymore.

Is there something you want to tell me?

Where's my husband?

He's not here.

(SIGHS)

I miss him.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

EVA: Should I get that for you?

Should I answer that for you?

Hello?

"How's Don?"

He doesn't talk.

He lies here and he
doesn't seem to care.

Hi, Dad.

Let me call you back. Okay.

What's that?

DON: I know I should have
been grateful to be alive.

My downcast attitude was taking
its toll on everyone.

But I just felt like
something was missing

and I didn't deserve to be here.

Hi, Daddy.

Okay, kids,
it's time to get on the road.

We need to not tire out your father.

It's okay, Dad. I'm gonna take them
on the first floor to the McDonald's.

Come on. Come on, baby.

Come on.

(EVA SIGHING)

Are you okay, Mom?

Yeah.

I never would have dreamed that
a cheeseburger and fries would be so good.

I'm in love with French fries.

You're in love with French fries?

Me, too.

Do you think Dad will be
home for my birthday?

I hope so.

I know he wants to.

Grandpa makes us do our homework
before we go to the lake.

As he should.

But he doesn't help us like you do.

(GRUNTING)

Don.

I came to say good night.

You don't want to say goodnight?

I am tired of this.

You don't seem to care about anything.

You don't care that
you're back here with us.

You don't care when the children
come and visit you.

You don't want to grow old with me.

Or see the children get married.

You don't care.

You can take your pain away
with that button,

but you are causing it to everyone else.

(SOBBING)

Welcome to McDonald's.
Can I take your order?

(SCREAMING)

(SCREAMING)

(SIGHING)

Sorry, that's not on the menu.

(GROANING)

Lord...

Oh, God,

does it really have to be like this?

The pain of the injuries,

I can handle that.

Even seeing the pity
and the helplessness

in the eyes of the people
who love me and care for me,

I can get through that.

But if this is as good
as it's ever gonna get...

I don't want to be a burden.

I was just trying to get back to Alvin,
and you took me to heaven.

Why can't you take me back?

Now.

I want to go back to heaven.

My home.

My home is heaven now.

Oh, Jesus, let me come
back home, please!

Please let me come back home.

(DOOR OPENING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Well, South Park hired
me to be your interim

while you're incapacitated,

so I guess you can say
I'm out of retirement.

Can I get you a magazine?

Would you like a milkshake?

How about a hamburger?

You lost quite a bit of weight, son.

Would you like for me to read
to you from the Bible?

Or any other book, for that matter.

Really, no.

Thanks for coming.

You know, you really need
to get your act together.

Sir?

You need to get your act together.

You're not doing
a very good job right now.

I'm not sure I understand.

Besides that, you're a raging hypocrite.

(DON SCOFFS)

I don't know what you're talking...

You got all these people
out there who care so much for you

and you have no idea
how much they love you.

- I know they love me.
- Oh, really?

Yeah.

Well, you're doing a pretty poor job of

letting them know
you're aware of that fact.

I don't think you're
treating them right.

Now, they can't heal you,

but they would heal you if they could.

And if they could trade places with you,
many of them would do that.

- Yeah...
- And do anything for you without any waver.

I don't want them to do anything.

Truth is, I don't even
want them to be here.

I'd just as soon they not come.

I know it's inconvenient.
They must have better things to do.

I know that!

Why would I want anyone
to come see me like this? Huh?

It's awful!

It's not your call.

It's not about you.

You spent the better part of your life
trying to minister to other people.

Trying to be there for their needs.

And to be there for them
through difficulty and tragedy.

I've tried to.

And yet you have deprived them
of doing the same thing for you.

And that's all they
have to offer you, Don.

And you're taking
that gift away from them.

I appreciate them.

I do. I know they want to help
and I think that's very fine and all, but...

But nothing!

Now, I want you to let them in,
you hear me?

You're going to let them in

and let them help you.

I can't.

Well, if you don't feel
like you can for yourself,

what about doing it for me?

What about next time somebody
walks through that door

and wants to do something for you,
I don't care what it is,

say yes.

Let a few folks

express their love
by doing something for you.

I mean, promise me that you'll do that.

Just...

Look.

Try it for me.

You're gonna need to get better at this.

Now, this is one of the lessons
that God wants you to learn.

All right, I promise.

People are God's
hands to meet your needs

and answer your prayers.

We'll just keep looking
till it feels right.

What kind of house are we looking for?

Well...

Probably something one story,
manageable to get around in for Dad.

Is Dad gonna be a wheelchair?

Yeah. For a little while.

DON: As the medical bills were mounting,

Eva looked for a house
that we could afford,

that would accommodate my needs
once I was discharged from Saint Luke's.

Hey, hey, hey, there he is.

Got something for you.

(CHUCKLING)

Look, let me do it.
Looks like you need my help.

How are you today?

Not speaking to me again?

Okay. It's a letter.

It says, "Hi, there, we share wrenches.

"Fortunately for both of us,
our fixators are interchangeable.

"And we can borrow
tools from one another."

That's so cute. Look at that.
It's a happy face.

Who is this?

Oh, this is from Christy.

Christy is a teenage girl
that lives in the next room.

She was born with one leg
shorter than the other.

So, she had to have surgery to attach
the Ilizarov frame like yours

so that both legs
would be of normal size.

She has a fixator too?

She goes on.

"And we share something else too. Pain."

She says, "I hear you scream at night
sometimes, as you probably hear me too.

"Although our nurse says
that you don't admit to it."

(CHUCKLING)

Don't... Don't... Don't shoot me now.

I'm just the messenger, Mr. Piper.

And she goes on and says,

"You're not alone. Sincerely, Christy."

That is so sweet.

Can you get me a pen and paper please?

I can if you acknowledge me.

There you go.

I like that.

All right. I'll be right back.

That's my boy.

"Dear Christy,

"in some of my worst moments
of self-pity,

"I think of never being normal again.

"I believe that when
all of the pain is over,

"Christy, you will be
a normal young woman.

"You will play and run and do everything
a normal teen can do.

"You're doing something that positively
impacts the rest of your life.

"Keep the faith.

"Kindest, Don.

"P.S.

"If God brings you to it,
He will bring you through it."

It's not long before you go home.

This is your first step
in that direction.

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

Mmm.

My first step is wanting to vomit.

Yeah, nausea will get you every time.

Your equilibrium has changed.

You've grown used to being
in a horizontal position.

I'd like my tools back.

Hi, I'm Christy, your long-lost pen pal.

Or Hopalong Cassidy, as my friends say.

DON: Hi.

I'm Don.

How are you?

Could be worse.

How's that?

Okay, you got me.
It can't get much worse.

The endless reruns
of The Brady Bunch at 3:00 a.m.

Yeah, well, I wish
my only problem was getting

hit in the face with
a football like Marcia.

I'd take a broken nose to dance normal.

You'll dance.

Only the truest friends show up
when you have to move.

Trust me, this is a vacation.

Oh, vacation?

Yes, from my children.

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

Well, thank you.

Remember when Don's parents
gave us this painting?

Oh, yes, I remember.

I remember you tried to pawn it
off on me and then Susan and...

And the Goodwill store.

That's not true!

That is true.

And never told Don.

Is all this stuff going
to fit in the new house?

(SIGHS) I think so.

This place just
isn't gonna work for Don.

You know, with all the stairs
and him being in a wheelchair.

Plus, the new home is
closer to the church.

That will be nice.

Just came by to check on you.
See how you were doing.

You're looking good.

I hear you're gonna be
going home before long.

Anything I can do for you before I go?

That's a very fine offer. Um...

I wish I had a magazine to read.

You do, really?

I think so.

I haven't read one in a while.

Well, all right. Give me just a minute.

DON: Jay B. Perkins, a retired minister,

was a powerful father figure to me.

And I was grateful for his service
to my church while I was incapacitated.

This ought to do ya.

There you go.

- Thank you much. I'll...
- That'll keep you busy.

- I'll read them a bit later.
- Yeah.

Anything else I can do?

No, that's... That's all I need.
Thank you.

You know, when you open the door

and let somebody do
something nice for you,

turns out not to be
so hard after all, huh?

You were right, Jay B.

I thought that

relieving people of the responsibility
of having to care for me

was the right thing to do.

It wasn't.

They would heal me if they could

and since they can't do that,
they were caring for me in...

In the only way that they can.

I have denied them the...

The blessing of caring.

You've loved me enough
to tell me the truth.

I won't forget it.

And I never have.

After 34 surgeries

and nearly four months in the hospital,

Dr. Greider said I could go home.

Bye, thank you.

Dr. Greider.

Hold up a second.

Tell me something.

Just how bad was I when they
brought me in the night of the accident?

I've seen worse.

But they didn't live.

Thank you, sir.

He would become a friend
of mine from that day forward.

- Bye, Christy.
- Bye.

I want you to call me
when you get out of here.

Will do.

(CHILDREN LAUGHING EXCITEDLY)

Hi, Daddy!

Hey, Dad!

How do you like the new house?

What do you think?

Welcome home, Daddy, welcome home.

I think I'm home.

There's the kitchen.

Did you put milk in it?
I'm just gonna do this.

I know.

- Is it good?
- Mmm-hmm.

Smells good in there.

EVA: Why don't you...
We're gonna play a game.

Okay, you ready?

DON: Eva organized something
called the Don Patrol.

A group of church members
and friends who took care of me

so that she could teach
and we could keep our insurance.

The Don Patrol would arrive around 9:00
while I was still sleeping.

Good morning.

I might awake to see one of the Susans

knitting on the couch
at the end of my bed.

Or someone would be there with
a toothbrush so I could brush my teeth.

Looking good.

Often times holding the glass of juice
before I was done doing that.

Maybe even offering an electric shaver.

All right, I've never actually
used one of these before.

It's pretty simple.

- You know what, it doesn't actually work.
- (LAUGHING)

And a big lunch.

Turkey sandwich,

oatmeal cookie, pickles.

You can't pass up baby pickles.

- I'll take the apple.
- Okay.

Another friend might be
reading the newspaper,

ready to entertain me.

Yeah, whatever you need.

I'll even sing for you if you want.

Some guests would even make
themselves quite comfortable.

Hey, Butterfly.

(BARKING)

Come here.

Butterfly, no!

Butterfly, no!

Hey!

EVA: Hi, honey. Everything okay?

Uh-huh.

You sure?

Yeah.

It smells like pee in here.

I know. It was the dog.

It's okay if you can't
make it to the bathroom.

(CHUCKLING)

It was the dog.

Butterfly?

Hey, Dad.

(GRUNTING)

Come on.

You can do it.

(GROANING)

I did it.

(LAUGHING)

I did it.

I walked!

I walked.

Oh, Lord, I walked.

(SIREN WAILING)

What's going on? What's happening?

- Ma'am.
- Where's Don?

- Ma'am.
- Where's my husband?

Ma'am. I'd like for you to consider
this as a private matter.

- Private?
- Private.

- This is my house.
- Hey.

I've seen it all.

DON: Bet you haven't seen this yet.

What's going on?

DON: I, uh, got my fixator
stuck to the toilet seat.

Oh.

Happy birthday.

This is a perfect day.

God has given me children
so much better than I deserve.

How can I ever thank you
for all they mean to me?

You being alive is the gift.

Dad, will you dance with me?

Oh, sweetie, I'd like to, but...

Please, Dad.

- I don't think I can.
- Please?

I need you to help me up here.

David!

What are you doing here?

I'm in town for a discipleship weekend.

It's the excuse I use to come into
the house and spend time with you.

Thank you for your friendship.

And your relentless
commitment to prayer.

Of course, Don. How you feeling now?

In pain.

But I'm always in pain.

That's... That's not the worst
part of it for me right now.

There are things
I can't physically do anymore.

I'm not sure that God wants me
to continue at South Park.

I feel loved and needed there,

but I'm not sure it's where I should be.

What did you learn from your accident
and your recovery experience?

Letting other people inside.

Allowing others to help me.

But in the midst of
all the suffering and despondency,

David,

I've learned that heaven is real.

What do you mean by that?

I died that day.

The next moment, I stood in heaven.

Why haven't you mentioned this before?

(SIGHS)

I have two very good reasons for that.

Number one, I go around talking
about having been to heaven,

people will think I'm nuts.

Why would you think that?

- You just told me.
- Number two...

- I don't think you're nuts.
- Number two.

I don't want to go over
that experience again.

It's too personal, too special.

It's my sacred secret.

Is it possible that God
took you to heaven,

brought you back,

so that you could share
your experience with others?

Don't you realize what a powerful
encouragement you could be?

I want you to make a covenant with me.

What kind of a covenant?

It's simple.

Find someone you trust.

Share a little bit about your story
just to gauge their response.

If they think you're crazy
or you hallucinated,

I promise, I promise
you never have to talk about it again.

But if they rejoice with you

and urge you to tell them more,
I want you to take it as a sign.

A sign that God wants you to talk about
those 90 minutes you spent in heaven.

I think I can do that much.

When?

Soon.

I promise.

Very soon, right?

All right, very soon.

- Hi, honey.
- Hi, darling.

Hey, David. Glad you could make it.

Soon as in now.

DON: Honey?

Yes.

Darling, I want to tell you something.

What's that?

Remember the day
I left for the convention?

EVA: Uh-huh.

Well, that morning just plays
over and over in my head.

And you said, "I owe you."

Yes. And I do.

Well, in fact, I think I owe you.

Oh, don't I know it.

I've been waiting a long time for that.

I owe you an explanation.

Darling, would you
sit down for a second?

Please.

You know, I died in that accident.

When I woke up,

I was in heaven.

You went to heaven?

Yes.

Tell me more.

When I died,

I didn't flow through
a long dark tunnel or...

I had no sense of fading
away or coming back.

I heard no voices calling to me
or anything like that.

Simultaneous with my last recollection
of seeing the bridge,

the rain,

a light enveloped me

with a brilliance beyond earthly
comprehension or description.

In my next moment of awareness,

I was standing in heaven.

It was perfect.

And I knew right then I would have
no needs and never would again.

I didn't even think of Earth
or of those left behind.

Though I did not see Jesus face-to-face,

I did sense his presence at every turn.

And I did see people I had known.

As they surged towards me,

I knew instantly that all of them
had died during my lifetime.

Their presence seemed
absolutely natural.

It was as if God had removed
anything negative or worrisome

from my consciousness.

And I could only rejoice at being together
with these wonderful people.

Donnie, I'm so excited
you're here to join us.

DON: I saw Papa.

You know, my grandfather
that everyone called Joe.

I heard his voice and felt his embrace.

I'd been with him when he'd
suffered a heart attack at home

and had ridden with
him in the ambulance.

I'd been standing just outside
the emergency room at the hospital

when the doctor walked out and faced me.

The doctor shook his
head and said softly,

"We did everything we could."

As I walked among them,

I became aware of
the wide variety of ages.

Old and young and every age in between.

Many of them hadn't known
each other on Earth,

but each had influenced
my life in some way.

Even though they hadn't met on Earth,

they seemed to know each other now.

One person in the greeting committee
was Mike Wood, my childhood friend.

He was a popular kid
and became a hero to me

because he lived the Christian lifestyle
and often talked about it.

After high school, Mike received a full
scholarship to Louisiana State University.

When he was 19,
Mike was killed in a car wreck.

When I attended his funeral,
I wondered if I would ever stop crying.

I couldn't understand why God
had taken such a dedicated disciple.

Through the years since then,

I had never been able to forget
that pain and sense of loss.

Then I saw Barry Wilson who had been
a classmate in high school,

but later drowned in a lake.

Barry's smile radiated a happiness
I didn't know was possible.

And I saw my great-grandmother,
Hattie Mann.

As a child, I knew her only after
she had developed osteoporosis.

Her head and her shoulders
were always bent forward

giving her a sort of humped appearance.

But the beautiful thing is
she didn't carry these burdens in heaven.

Heaven was many things,

but without a doubt it was
the greatest family reunion of all.

A holy awe came over me
as I stepped forward.

I had no idea what lay ahead.

But I sensed that with each step I took,
it would grow more wondrous.

And I heard the music.

I can only describe it
as a holy swoosh of wings.

But I'd have to magnify that
thousands of times

to explain the effect
of the sound in heaven.

It was the most beautiful
and pleasant sound I'd ever heard.

I saw a bright iridescence.

I peered through the gate
yearning to see what lay beyond.

It wasn't an anxious yearning,

but a peaceful openness to experience

all of the grace and joy of heaven.

At that very moment,
I was about to realize

the yearning of every human heart.

I was in heaven, ready to go
through the pearlescent gates.

Then, just as suddenly
as I'd arrived at the gates of heaven,

I left there.

I spent a lot of time in the hospital
trying to make sense of all of this.

I was paralyzed by the notion
of not wanting to return.

I mean, why come back to this much pain?

I think now I know.

I do, too.

I believe it's time for me
to go back to church.

I believe that, too.

Have you told anyone else about this?

Yes. David.

Are you hurt that I
didn't tell you first?

No.

I feel elated to know.

Because it enables me to understand
the man to whom I'm married.

Eva...

Yes.

Eva,

no one should have to do the things
that you had to do for me.

But you did them,

faithfully, compassionately
and without hesitation.

You come closest

to really knowing how painful
this journey has been for me.

Each day

you endured it with me.

Eva,

you are my gift from God.

DON: I was so enthusiastic about
finally returning to South Park.

I hadn't been out of bed for more
than an hour at a time, and,

well, I overestimated my endurance
and suddenly felt incredibly fatigued.

Yet, the overwhelming response
from the congregation gave me

a new burst of strength.

And I knew right then that their praise
was for God's work and my healing.

It's only taken me

five months

to get from the conference
at Trinity Pines back to church.

I may be slow, but I'm faithful.

(EXHALING)

They would like for you to say
something to the congregation.

Eva, I think I made a mistake.
I don't think I can do this.

You can.

I'm not sure if I'm ready.

You are.

MAN: Let's hear it, Don.

WOMAN: Say something, Don, please.

You prayed.

I'm here.

There he is.

Hey, Don! Don!

Hey!

- You've made it.
- Yeah.

It's so good to see you.

I believe that I'm alive today
because you prayed me back to Earth.

Tell you what.
You buy me lunch, we'll call it even.

(ALL LAUGHING)

All right, it's a deal.

EVA: That's right.

I couldn't figure out how to get inside,

so I just pried open the trunk,

knocked down the back seat
and crawled in that way.

But even when I was praying with you,
I didn't know it was you.

Besides, no one lives through that.

Well, in my first
moments of consciousness,

two things stand out.

First,

- I was singing.
- (ALL CHUCKLING)

- I don't sing.
- No.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

And the second was that Dick
had climbed into the car with me

and his hand had gripped mine
and held it tight.

But the one thing that is absolutely
clear was Dick being in the car

and praying with me.

That's true. He did get
in the car and prayed with you.

But, Don, he never held your hand.

Nope.

I remember it so clearly, though.

It was one of the most vivid details.

ANITA: It didn't happen.
It was physically impossible.

There's just no physical way possible
I could have reached your right hand.

But...

But I swear, I...

ANITA: Someone was holding your hand.

But it wasn't Dick.

DON: Dick Onerecker was a real prayer
warrior before and after the accident.

He would pass away only a few years

after praying for me on that bridge.

Okay, you guys, right in here.

- Hey, darling. Darling. Darling.
- Yeah?

- I'll be right back.
- EVA: Okay.

Boy, that really hurts, doesn't it?

Yeah, it hurts very much.

Yeah, I know.

Believe me, I know.

You do?

Yeah. I had one, too.

It's horrible.

It's just horrible.

It's awful, I know that.

I wore one on my left leg for 11 months.

Nobody ever understands.

Well, they can't.

It's not something you can talk about
and have anyone understand your pain.

- I'm Don.
- I'm Mark.

Well, Mark,

you just met someone
who does understand the pain

and the discouragement
you're going through.

I don't know if I'm gonna make it.

Oh... You'll make it.

You're gonna make it. Hey.

Hey, trust me. You'll make it.

What happened?

I had a skiing accident.

You're a football player?

Yes, sir.

I'm gonna tell you something.

One day, you will walk again.

You might not be playing football,
but you'll walk.

Here's my card. Number's right there.

You can call me anytime day or night,
24 hours a day. All right?

Now, I'm gonna walk back
over there to my family.

I want you to watch me

and as you watch,
I want you to know that

one day you will walk, too.

(CHUCKLING)

You'll probably do it better than I do.

You met someone who understands.

Give me a call, all right?

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Hey, it's not about me.

DON: Before I died on that bridge,
I was unsure of what my purpose was.

Now I see it more clearly.

Ministering and sharing
the hope I found.

PIPER: Over 25 years ago,

that big truck took my
life on that old bridge.

I am not the man I used to be.

I have been beaten up,

but I'm not beaten.

I have chosen to be not bitter,

but better.

And it is a choice.

Every day of my life,
I still ask the same question

that I asked in that bed,
that hospital bed, every day.

"Oh, Lord, why?

"Why did you let me see heaven
and take it away from me?"

I believe it is so that
I could be here with you today

and tell you to your face,

God still answers prayer.

God is still in
the miracle business today.

God is able to help
us find a new normal,

and overcome tragedy and loss,
pain and suffering.

And God is building us a better place.

Heaven is real.

I may not meet you here,

this side of heaven.

So, my prayer for you today is,
if I don't meet you here,

one day I want to see you there

at the gates.

And may God help us
to be found faithful until that day.

(APPLAUSE)