Task: Story Composition
Input (English): Fact1: God appears as kindly old man to Jerry Landers, Fact2: Landers tells wife children and religion editor of Los Angeles Times of encounters with God, Fact3: group of theologians attempt to discredit him by challenging him to answer series of written questions in Aramaic while locked in hotel room, Fact4: Jerry After decides to prove story in court of law being sued for slander by charismatic preacher, Fact5: mere establishment of reasonable doubt including merely establishing that given doubt is reasonable is not enough to guarantee defense verdict
Output (English): God George Burns appears as a kindly old man to Jerry Landers John Denver, an assistant supermarket manager. After a few failed attempts in trying to set up an interview, God tells Jerry that he has been selected to be His messenger to the modern world, much like a contemporary Moses. Timidly at first, Landers tells his wife Teri Garr, children and a religion editor of the Los Angeles Times of his encounters with God and soon becomes a national icon of comedic fodder. Jerry soon appears on television with Dinah Shore and describes the look God takes when he encounters him. The next day, after Jerry is stranded from a car breakdown, God appears as a taxi driver to take Jerry home, where they are met by a bunch of chanting religious nuts. Before he disappears, God consoles Jerry that he has the strength that comes from knowing. Skeptical at first, Landers finds his life turned upside down as a group of theologians attempt to discredit him by challenging him to answer a series of written questions in Aramaic while locked in a hotel room alone to prove God is contacting him directly. To Jerrys relief after an agonizing wait, God, working as room service, delivers food to Jerry and answers the questions. After being sued for slander by a charismatic preacher that God directed Jerry to call a phony, Jerry decides to prove his story in a court of law. Jerry argues that if Gods existence is a reasonable possibility, then He can materialize and sit in the witness chair if He so chooses. At first, God fails to appear and the judge threatens to charge Jerry with contempt for what you apparently thought was a clever stunt. Jerry argues that when everyone waited for a moment to see what would happen when he raised the mere possibility of God making a personal appearance in the courtroom, that proved that He at least deserves the benefit of the doubt, although given that a plaintiff in an American civil lawsuit needs only prove hisher case by a preponderance of the evidence in order to win, the mere establishment of reasonable doubt including merely establishing that a given doubt is reasonable is not enough to guarantee a defense verdict. Suddenly, without opening the doors, God appears and asks to be sworn in, concluding the procedure with So help me Me. If it pleases the court, and even if it doesnt please the court, Im God, your honor. God provides some miracles, first in the form of a few rather impressive card tricks for the judge. Then, to help the people believe, he leaves the stand, walks a few steps and, with everyone watching, literally disappears before their eyes. His disembodied voice then issues a parting shot: It can work. If you find it hard to believe in Me, maybe it will help to know that I believe in you. Sometime later, after hearing the ringing of a public telephone, Jerry meets up with God once again. God states hes going on a trip to spend some time with animals. Jerry expresses worry that they failed, but God compares him to Johnny Appleseed, saying he was given the best seeds and theyll take root. Jerry then says he has lost his job and that everybody thinks hes a nut, but God assures him that there are other supermarkets and that hes in good company. God had said to Jerry earlier: lose a job; save a world. God gets ready to leave and says that he will not be coming back. Jerry then asks what if he needs to talk with him. God says to him Ill tell you what, you talk. Ill listen. He then disappears. Jerry smiles as God departs.