Collect call from Zoe.
Will you accept the charges?
Yes, I will accept the charges.
Daddy? It's me.
How are you doing?
Hi. Fine.
That's great. Where are you?
What's that sound?
I'm in a car wash.
Wow! I've never talked to you when
you've been in a car wash before.
Make sure you've got
all the windows rolled up.
Remember the time that
we were in the car wash...
and I started playing
with the automatic window?
How old was I, Daddy?
Five or six?
I got absolutely soaked,
remember?
Why are you calling me, Zoe?
Why am I calling you?
You're my father.
What, I'm not supposed
to call you?
What's the matter with
wanting to talk to you, daddy?
Nothing's wrong with
trying to talk to me, Zoe.
Then what's the problem?
The problem is...
The problem is I don't know
who I'm talking to right now.
Cause you think I'm stoned, daddy?
Is that what you're thinking?
You think I've got a needle
stuck in my arm?
Are you thinking
that I've scored, Daddy,
that I'm calling you for money,
that I'm begging?
God, I don't
fucking believe this.
Are you listening to me, Daddy?
Why can't you talk to me?
Because I need to know
what state you're in, Zoe,
before I know
how to talk to you.
Come on. Let's go.
Speak a little softer
And work a little louder
And shoot less, with more care
And sing a little sweeter
And love a little longer
And soon you will be there
Here
All we have here is sky
All the sky is, is blue
All the blue is
is one more color
One more color
One more color
Now
- That was great.
- Really?
You're gonna blow everyone away.
- You mean it?
- Of course.
You don't sound like
completely sure.
I am. Really.
It was awesome.
I'm so happy, Daddy.
Let's get some ice cream, Daddy.
Operator? Can you hear me?
Yes. Go ahead, please.
I seem to be in
a strange situation.
I'm calling from my car,
and I appear to be
stuck in a car wash.
- A car wash?
- Right, yeah, a car wash.
Can you speak
a little louder please, sir?
Sorry, sir,
I'm losing you again.
Ok, here we are.
Everybody out.
Come on. Quickly, now.
Gather around.
Come on, everybody.
Come on quickly.
We haven't got all day.
Now, I want you to listen to me...
What is it?
Just the way Dolores
gets so excited with the kids.
Rule number one...
It's like the biggest thing
in her life.
Don't stick your fingers
in any of the cages.
Heidi, this applies to you.
And, Shane,
get back here, please.
I don't care how cute
some of these animals may be.
The fact is,
they don't like being here.
No matter how many ribbons
they may have won.
Rule number two...
Hey, Sam.
Hey, Nicole.
Rule number two:
No kicking, pushing,
shoving, or biting.
Rule number three:
Older kids, you look
after the younger kids.
If any of you get lost,
come here to the red lady.
I will find you.
Rule number four: Wiggle
your noses and have fun.
Is it raining outside?
No. I had an accident.
Do you have a room?
Will you be spending
more than a night?
Hard to say.
Could have some business...
You a reporter?
No, sir.
- Are you here about the accident?
- Yes.
I'm a lawyer.
I realize this is an awful time,
but it's important that we talk.
Kyle Landston's a drunk.
Nobody likes him.
He's a nasty piece of work.
In what way?
He's been drinking
since high school.
Fucked himself up.
Used to be smart enough.
Any criminal record?
Probably at least half a dozen
traffic convictions.
Drunk driving, lost his license.
That's why he don't work no more.
Can't get off that shitty dump
they live on.
Whatever money does come in
goes to booze.
How does the family survive?
I don't know.
Church charity,
welfare, food bank.
They scrape by.
What about Dora?
Dorene. She was
a friend of mine.
- When was that?
- At school.
She fell for Kyle
just before we graduated.
She got pregnant...
moved into a trailer...
up on a wood lot
Kyle's dad used to own.
Kyle started spending more
and more time at the Spread Eagle.
That's the local bar?
And coming home drunk...
and feeling trapped
by his life, I guess,
and blaming her for that and...
And?
And he beat her.
- He beat her?
- Yes!
To do this right, to actually
have a chance of winning,
of getting some money
to compensate you...
for the loss of your boy...
we need folks like you,
sensitive, loving parents
with no criminal background,
no history of trouble in the town,
do you understand?
Now, of these people
that you've told me about,
whose kids were killed...
who do you consider to be good,
upstanding neighbors,
people who will help us
in our cause?
There's the Hamiltons.
Joe and Shelly Hamilton.
Yeah, right.
Everybody knows that Joey steals
antiques from summer cottages...
and sells them
to dealers in the city.
He's been doing that for years.
That's great, Wendell.
That's exactly
what I need to know,
you see, so it won't come back
to haunt our case later on.
There's the Prescotts.
You know how much money
he owes to the bank?
He's about to lose his house,
and to loose his car.
Charlene, she...
Charlene is over at the Spread Eagle
every other night.
She sleeps with whoever
she can get her hands on.
And she'd go down
for a pat on the head...
and a fistful of peanuts.
Forget the Atwaters and the
Belledeau's. They're all inbred.
The Ottos.
Well? Tell me about the Ottos.
Wanda and Hartley.
They lost Bear.
He was their adopted son.
He was a beautiful boy.
He was Indian.
That's good.
Judges like adopted Indian boys.
Tell me more about the Ottos.
They're smart.
They've been to college.
They moved here from the city
about a dozen years ago.
- What do they do?
- Crafts.
Wanda does these
photographic things.
That's one of hers
right here on the wall.
- They only smoke weed.
- You don't know that.
- They ever been busted?
- No.
You don't know,
that's what it is.
You don't know.
I'm sorry. Excuse me.
Collect call from Zoe.
Will you accept the charges?
Yes, I'll accept the charges.
Do you mind if I step outside?
It's a private call.
I'm so sorry.
You don't know what
you're talking about!
Zoe? Where are you, darling?
Oh, shut up!
Yes, I am listening.
Shut your big, fat mouth!
No, of course I'm being sincere.
I understand what you're saying.
The fact that you like the doctor,
that's half the battle.
- Shut up! Shut up!
- Please.
I'm jealous of what?
- What am I jealous of?
- Because he's smarter than you.
Smarter than me?
The Ottos are smart?
You do hear what that man said?
He said, "Good, Wendell!"
Listen, if you ring me
in 10 minutes...
Shut up!
Yes, sir?
Oh, hi.
I can't get any sound.
- I'll get you another pair.
- Thank you.
You can have mine.
Allison O'Donnell.
I was a friend of Zoe's.
We went to school together.
I used to come to your house.
Allie. My nickname was Allie.
Allie? Right, right.
How are you?
Well, I'm just fine.
How about you?
I'm fine. I'm still
working with my father.
Right.
What does he do again?
He used to work with you.
You guys used to be partners.
How's Mrs. Stephens?
Well, she's just fine.
We're not together anymore.
- I'd heard that, but she's well?
- Yeah.
And Zoe. How's Zoe?
Oh, you beat me to it.
- Here you go.
- Thanks.
- Morning, Wanda. Hey, Hartley.
- Morning, Dolores.
Morning, Dolores.
Beautiful snow
we're having, eh, Dolores?
Just a flurry, Hartley.
It's totally clear up ahead.
- That's good.
- Look!
- What's that you got, Bear?
- What do you think?
It's... certainly what
you'd call interesting.
You hate it.
No, no, no.
I didn't say that.
I could wrap it up,
protect the children.
I could strap it on the roof.
There's an idea!
Give me a break.
It's for the school bazaar.
Well, it's bizarre, alright?
Come on, Bear,
let's get you out of here.
Go on, Bear,
away from your crazy mother.
That's right. I'll see you,
Wanda. Bye, Hartley.
- So long.
- Take care.
The Ottos always waited
for the bus with Bear.
They're the only parents
who did that...
together like that.
I guess they were
what you might call...
hippies.
What do you mean
by that, Mrs. Driscoll?
Dolores. No one ever
calls me Mrs. Driscoll.
What do you mean by that,
Dolores?
- About the Ottos?
- Yes.
What exactly do you mean
by "hippies"?
I mean the way they look.
Their hair... and clothing.
Do they have any
reputation for drugs?
Nothing like that. No. No.
The Ottos...
are what I would call...
model citizens.
They're regular
at town meetings.
They give their opinion
in a respectful way.
They help out at various...
fundraising bazaars...
though they aren't...
churchgoers.
- And they love Bear?
- Oh, yes.
It's like he's
their little treasure.
He's such a beautiful boy.
Well, there's
a picture of him...
on the wall over there
just beside Abbott.
Those were all taken
at the fair last year.
Abbott and me, we were
judges the pet show.
For rabbits?
Abbott used to breed them
till he had the stroke.
Bear won first prize.
Just look at the smile on his face.
He's one of those children who
bring out the best in people.
He would have made
a wonderful man.
Billy Ansell started honking at us
up around Upper Hat Creek.
He always started to do that
when he caught up to the bus.
He'd wave at his kids
Jessica and Mason.
They always sat in the back.
Billy loved to see
his kids in the bus.
Normally, he'd follow us
the whole distance,
past the bridge,
towards the school.
Are you saying that Billy
was driving behind the bus...
at the time of the accident?
It...
comforted him.
From what?
From what?
- I'll get the tray.
- Oh, thank you.
Did he have any particular
problems that you knew of?
Financial pressures,
run-ins with the law?
You go ahead.
Nothing like that.
No.
Billy's wife Lydia,
God rest her...
She died of cancer
a few years back.
She was a wonderful woman...
great mom...
warm, loving.
She had a beautiful voice.
She used to sing
in the church choir.
Anyway...
Billy took over raising
the kids by himself.
It was obvious how much
he missed Lydia.
- Hey, Risa.
- Hi.
Can you talk?
Where are you?
- On my way to work.
- You see the kids?
Yeah, I'm waving at them now.
What's that noise?
That's Wendell, he's up on the roof.
He thinks he's fixing a leak.
As far as I'm concerned,
he's punching a few new holes.
Hey, listen. Nicole's baby-sitting tonight.
She'll be there around 6:00.
Billy, that's too early.
Well, she said she's gotta
be home by 9:00.
Can't you make it later?
Well, all right. Well...
I'll be waiting in the room, and...
you just get over
as soon as you can, ok?
OK, I guess.
All right, sexy.
I'm glad to hear
that Zoe's all right.
- Are you still in touch?
- Not really.
The last time I saw her was
when she was at that clinic.
- That was a long time ago.
- Which one?
- Which clinic?
- I don't remember the name.
It was near a beach.
Sunny Ridge.
Yes, that was a long time ago.
So there were others?
Other clinics? Oh, sure.
Clinics, halfway houses,
treatment centers, detox units.
So when did she get better?
She didn't.
- Oh, I thought you said...
- That's why I'm going to see her now.
She's in trouble?
You find there's something
strange about this meat?
Excuse me.
Some more wine?
No, I think this meat's
a little overdone for me.
I'm sorry, Mr. Stephens.
Would you like to try the fish plate?
- What is it?
- Poached salmon.
- Do you have a cold plate?
- We do.
- Is there shrimp on it?
- Yes.
Well, if you take the shrimp off,
as well as anything else touching it,
I'd be grateful.
I'm not sure that's gonna
leave much on the plate.
Let's just see what we get,
shall we?
- Yes, sir.
- Thank you.
Will you excuse me?
Mrs. Otto?
My name is Mitchell Stephens.
The Walkers told me that
you might be willing to talk to me.
I'm really sorry to come over
unannounced like this,
but the Walkers said
that you'd understand.
I know it's an awful time,
but it is important
that we talk.
Who are you?
I'm a lawyer.
Look, I'm sorry,
you can't come in here.
Please, let me explain.
I'll only take a moment of your time.
Hartley?
We have a guest.
What did you say your name was?
Mitchell Stephens.
The Walkers sent him by.
Would you like a cup of tea
or something?
A cup of tea would be nice.
Alright if I sit down for a few minutes?
I wanna talk to you.
The Walkers spoke very highly of you.
You've been retained.
Their child died,
and they got a lawyer?
It should be set that my task
is to represent the Walkers...
only in their anger,
not their grief.
Who did they get for that?
You're angry,
aren't you, Mrs. Otto?
That's why I'm here.
To give your anger a voice.
To be your weapon
against whoever...
caused that bus
to go off the road.
Dolores?
It's my belief that Dolores was doing
exactly what she's done for years.
Besides, the school board's
insurance on Dolores was minimal,
a few million at most.
Now, the really deep pockets
are in the town...
or the company
that made the bus.
So you think someone else
caused the accident, Mr. Stevens?
Mrs. Otto, there is
no such thing as an accident.
The word doesn't mean
anything to me.
As far as I'm concerned,
somebody somewhere made
a decision to cut a corner.
Some corrupt agency
or corporation...
accounted the cost variance
between a 10-cent bolt...
and a million-dollar
out-of-court settlement.
They decided to sacrifice
a few lives for the difference.
That's what's done, Mrs. Otto.
I've seen it happen
so many times before.
But Dolores said
she hit a patch of ice...
and lost control of the bus.
Mr. Otto, how long has Dolores
been driving that bus?
How many times has she
steered clear of danger?
I mean, what happened
that morning?
Somebody calculated
ahead of time...
what it would cost
to sacrifice safety.
It's the darkest, most cynical
thing you can imagine,
but it's absolutely true.
And now, it's up to me...
to ensure moral responsibility
in this society.
So you're just the thing we need.
Isn't that what you want us
to believe, Mr. Stevens?
That you know what's best for us?
Now, you listen to me, Mrs. Otto...
and you listen very carefully.
I do know what's best,
believe me.
As we're sitting here talking,
the town...
or the school board...
or the manufacturer
of that bus...
are lining up a battery
of their own lawyers...
to negotiate with people
as grief-stricken as yourselves.
And that makes me very,
very mad.
That's why I came
all the way up here.
If everyone had done
their job with integrity,
your son would be alive and
safely in school this morning.
I promise that I will
pursue and reveal...
who it was
did not do their job...
who is responsible for this...
tragedy.
And then in your name,
the Walkers' name...
in the name of whoever
decides to join us, I will sue.
I will sue for negligence
until they bleed.
I want that person
to go to jail...
for the rest of his life.
I want him...
to die there.
I don't want his money.
It isn't likely that anyone
will go to prison, Mrs. Otto.
But he or his company
will pay in other ways,
and we must make them pay.
Not for the money or compensation
for the loss of your boy...
that can't be done.
But for the protection
of other innocent children.
You see, I'm not just here
to speak for your anger,
but for the future as well.
Are you expensive?
If you agree to have me
represent you in this suit,
I will require no payment
until the case is won,
when I will require 1/3
of the awarded amount.
If no award is made,
then my services to you...
will cost you
absolutely nothing.
That's the standard agreement.
Do you have
this agreement with you?
Yes, I do. It's in my car.
I won't be a minute.
In any case,
you should have time...
to discuss this without me
before you make a decision.
I did everything a loving father
of a drug addict...
is supposed to do.
I sent her to the best hospitals,
saw the best doctors.
Two weeks later,
she'd be out on the street.
The next time I saw her
would be a phone call for money.
Money for school, money
for some new kind of therapist,
money for a plane ticket home.
"Oh, Daddy,
please let me come home.
"I need to see you."
But she never came home.
I was always at the airport,
but she was never there.
Had 10 years of this,
Wondering what would happen
if I didn't send the money.
Kicking down doors,
dragging her out of
rat-infested apartments.
Explaining to somebody that
couldn't possibly be my daughter...
that they saw in a porn flick.
Enough rage and helplessness, and
your love turns to something else.
What does it turn to?
It turns to steaming piss.
They just had supper.
- Yeah? Was it good?
- All right, be good.
Was it good? Of course it was good.
I'll be back before 9:00, ok?
Let's go!
Have you been waiting long?
- A while.
- Billy, do you have to smoke?
Wendell can smell
if someone's been smoking.
What's all this?
Wendell put some fresh enamel
on that break in the tub.
- This means I can't have a shower?
- No. Should be dry by now.
When's he getting back?
After the game, I guess.
Oh, the game.
"The Pied Piper of Hamelin."
"Hamelin town's in Brunswick,
by famous Hanover city.
"The river Weser
deep and wide...
"washes its wall
on the southern side.
"A pleasanter spot
you never spied,
"but when begins my ditty..."
- What's a ditty again?
It's like a song.
"Almost 500 years ago,
"to see the townsfolk suffer so
from vermin was a pity."
- What's vermin again?
- Rats.
"They fought the dogs
and killed the cats...
"and bit the babies
in the cradles...
"and ate the cheeses
out of the vats...
"and licked the soup
from the cooks' own ladles.
"Split open the kegs
of salted sprats,
"made nests inside
men's Sunday hats,
"and even spoiled
the women's chats...
"by drowning their speaking
with shrieking and squeaking...
"in 50 different sharps and flats."
- Nicole?
- Yes, Mason?
Can I sit beside you
on the bus tomorrow?
Won't you sit at the back
to wave at your dad?
- I want to sit beside you tomorrow.
- Ok.
Did the Pied Piper
take the children away...
because he was mad
the town didn't pay him?
That's right.
Well, if he knew magic,
if he could get the kids
into the mountain,
why couldn't he use
his magic pipe...
to make the people pay him
for getting rid of the rats?
Because...
he wanted them to be punished.
So he was mean?
No, not mean. Just...
just very...
very angry.
- Should I keep reading?
- Yeah.
What are you thinking?
Tomorrow I'm gonna
put Sean on the bus,
and he won't want to go.
He never does.
He'll cry...
He won't want to let go of me.
Well, it's 'cause he misses you.
It's natural.
Your kids never cry.
Well, it's probably 'cause they know
I'll be following them behind the bus.
They can look forward to that.
Just like we
look forward to this.
You're leaving?
Yeah, I'd better get back.
Like I said,
Nicole has to be home by...
Good night, Billy.
Good night, Risa.
Are you sure?
It just seems kind of weird.
- Why?
- I don't know.
Listen, Nicole, I'm just gonna
take this stuff and pack it...
and give it to
the church for charity.
Don't feel bad.
Unless you feel strange
about wearing it...
No. I mean, I...
I remember Mrs. Ansell
wearing some of this stuff,
but I don't feel weird
about that.
I really liked her.
She really liked you.
I think she probably would have
given you that stuff herself...
if she hadn't outgrown it.
What do you mean, outgrown it?
I'm not sure.
Hey, I ran through that tune
you guys were working on.
I came up with
a couple of ideas.
Show it to the guys,
see what they say.
That's great. Thank you.
"There was a rustling
that seemed like a bustling...
"of merry crowds jostling
and pitching and hustling.
"Small feet were pattering,
wooden shoes clattering,
"little hands clapping,
and little tongues chattering.
"And like fowls in a farmyard
when barley is scattering,
"out came the children running.
"All the little boys and girls,
"with rosy cheeks
and flaxen curls,
"and sparkling eyes
and teeth like pearls,
"tripping and skipping,
"ran merrily after...
"the wonderful music,
the shouting and laughter."
"When, lo, as they reached
the mountainside..."
"a wondrous portal
opened wide..."
"as if a cavern
were suddenly hollowed,
"and the piper advanced
and the children followed."
"And when all were in
to the very last..."
"the door in the mountainside
shut fast."
"Did I say all?
"No. One was lame..."
"and could not dance
the whole of the way."
"And in after years,
if you would blame his sadness,
"he was used to say..."
"It's dull in our town
since my playmates left."
"I can't forget
that I'm bereft...
"of all the pleasant sights
they see,
"which the piper
also promised me."
"For he led us, he said,
to a joyous land..."
"joining the town
and just at hand..."
"where waters gushed
and fruit trees grew..."
"and flowers put forth
a fairer hue..."
"and everything
was strange and new."
By the time I reached the bottom
of Bartlett Hill Road,
I had half my load.
Let's see... 20.
No. 22 kids aboard.
They'd walk to their places
on the main road,
from the smaller lanes
and private roadways...
that run off it.
Bright little clusters
of three and four children...
like berries
waiting to be plucked.
That's the way I thought
of them sometimes.
- Like berries?
- Yup.
Like I was putting them
into my big basket,
clearing the hillside
of its children.
Anyway, my next stop was
across from the Bide-A-While,
which is owned and operated
by Risa and Wendell Walker.
Risa had walked
her son Sean across the road,
which was customary.
Sean, he has some kind of
learning disability.
Well, he's behind the rest
of the kids his age in school,
and he's too nervous
to play sports.
Strange little guy.
But, you know, you couldn't help
but like him.
Morning, Dolores.
Hi, Risa.
Aren't your feet freezing?
I guess they are.
I want to stay with you.
Sean... go on, honey. Go on.
Come on, Sean, sit next to me.
- Is he ok?
- I don't know.
- Temperature?
- No, he's not sick or anything.
Just one of those mornings,
I guess. You know?
Well, I never had
those mornings, myself.
Not so long as I had
my school bus to drive...
not so long
as I had my... kids.
You ok there, Sean?
Looking forward to school?
You settle down back there!
You'll be walking to school
if you're not careful.
Don't want that. It's
a cold day out there, eh, Bear?
Oh, Jesus.
You know, every time I go on
one of these flights to rescue Zoe,
I remember the summer
we almost lost her.
She was three years old.
It happened one morning
at this cottage we used to rent.
We were all together,
sleeping in bed.
It was a wonderful time
in our lives.
We still felt we had a future
together, the three of us.
Did you ever visit
that cottage?
I don't think so.
I remember I was...
awakened by the sound of
Zoe's breathing. It was labored.
I looked across
and noticed that...
she was sweating...
and all swollen, and I...
I grabbed her
and rushed in the kitchen...
and splashed some water
on her face.
- What happened?
- I didn't know.
I was in a complete panic.
I guess she'd been
bitten by some insect.
But there was no doctor.
The nearest hospital
was 40 miles away,
and she was continuing
to swell up...
Clara took her in her arms
and tried to breast-feed her...
while I dialed the hospital.
I finally got a doctor.
He surmised that
there was a nest...
of baby black widow spiders
in the mattress.
He said they had to be babies,
or else, with Zoe's body weight,
she'd be dead.
He said I had to rush her
to the hospital.
He said, "Mr. Stephens,
there's a good chance...
"that you won't get her here
before her throat closes.
"It's very important
that you keep her calm."
Then he asked if there was one of us
she was more relaxed with,
and I said, "Yes. Me,"
which was true enough, because...
at that particular moment,
Clara's eyes were wild with fear,
and fear was contagious.
I was a better actor,
that's all.
And Zoe...
loved us equally then.
Just as she hates us
both equally now.
Anyway, the doctor said that
I had to hold her on my lap...
and let Clara drive
to the hospital.
He asked me to bring
a small, sharp knife.
He said it had to be clean.
There was no...
time to sterilize properly.
He explained how to perform
an emergency tracheotomy...
how to cut into her throat
without her bleeding to death.
He said there would be blood, and
I said I didn't think I could do it.
He said, "Mr. Stephens..."
"If her throat closes up and
breathing stops, you're gonna have to."
"You'll have about
a minute and a half, or 2 minutes,
"and she'll probably be
unconscious when you do it."
"But if you manage to keep her
calm and relaxed..."
"and not let her little heart
beat too fast..."
"and spread
the poison around..."
"you might just
make it here first.
"Now, you get going,"
he said, and he hung up.
It was an unforgettable drive.
I was... divided into two parts.
One part was daddy, singing
a lullaby to his little girl...
and the other part was...
a surgeon with a knife,
ready to cut into her throat.
I waited for the second
Zoe's breath stopped...
to make the incision.
What happened?
What happened?
Oh, nothing.
We got to the hospital in time.
I did not have to go as far
as I was prepared to go.
But I was prepared
to go all the way.
I knew you'd be here.
- Are you going to the funeral?
- I stopped by the station a while ago and...
stared at the bus.
Almost hear the kids inside.
There was lawyer there,
who said...
he'd gotten you signed up.
Is that true?
Something made this happen.
Mr. Stevens said he'd find out...
What are you talking about?
It was an accident.
Mr. Stephens said that someone
put a wrong bolt in the bus.
I serviced the bus at the garage.
There was nothing wrong with it.
Or that the guardrail
wasn't strong enough.
You believe that?
I have to.
- Why?
- Because I have to.
I don't.
Is it true you gave Nicole
one of Lydia's sweaters...
and she was wearing it
when the bus crashed?
Why'd you do that, Billy?
You think that caused
the accident?
That it brought bad luck?
You're looking for
a witch doctor, not a lawyer.
Maybe they're the same thing.
You know what I'm gonna miss...
more than making love?
The nights you couldn't
get away from Wendell.
I'd sit in that chair
for an hour...
smoking a cigarette,
remembering my life before.
The mind is kind.
- You are so lucky.
- Don't even try to remember.
You just think about
getting well, Nicole. That's all.
You just wait till you see what
we got waiting for you at home.
How do you like it, Nicole?
- The ramp?
- It's pretty slick, eh?
- Very slick.
- You like the color?
- It's OK.
- I could use a different color, if you like.
It'd be real easy to do.
I don't know about that green.
I'm not too sure
about that color.
And I'll widen a few doors, too.
You'll see.
Hello?
Hi, Mitch.
We just brought her home.
She's doing fine.
Well, I don't know.
She hasn't seen it yet.
We haven't talked about it.
OK, great, Mitch. Right.
- What do you think?
- The door needs a lock.
Sure. I'll fix that right away.
- Can I come and visit you here?
- You better.
You can sleep with me
in my bed too, ok?
It's too high.
I'll never reach it.
I'd better get some spackle.
So... do you like your new room?
It's interesting.
Your dad spent all
his spare time in here.
He wanted it to be
absolutely perfect.
I feel like a princess.
What's that?
It is...
a present.
From you?
No. From Mr. Stephens.
That was him on the phone just now.
- He called to find out how you were.
- Who's Mr. Stephens?
- He's a lawyer. He's our lawyer.
- You and mom have a lawyer?
- He's your lawyer, too.
- My lawyer.
Why do I need a lawyer?
Maybe we shouldn't be talking about this
just now, with you barely home.
Aren't you hungry, honey?
I'll fix you something.
What's this lawyer business?
He's a very kind man.
And he knew that you'd need
a computer for doing schoolwork.
- It's even got a thing...
- Program.
...program on it to help you
compose your songs.
"Fathers, mothers..."
"uncles, cousins..."
"families by tens and dozens..."
"brothers, sisters..."
"husbands, wives..."
"followed the piper
for their lives."
I've been wanting to meet you
for a long time.
Not just because of all the good
things I've heard about you.
But because...
well, I'm the guy
who's representing you...
and your mom and dad
and several people in town.
We're trying to generate,
however meager,
some compensation...
for what you've suffered.
At the same time...
to make sure that an accident
like this never happens again.
I don't like thinking
about the accident.
I don't even
remember it happening.
Besides...
It just makes people
feel sorry for me, and...
- You hate that.
- What she means...
People can't help it.
I mean, they see you
in this wheelchair...
they're going to
feel sorry for you.
I didn't know you...
nor how promising and exciting
your life was before the accident.
But listen, even I feel sorry for you.
What is it that you want me
to do for you, Mr. Stephens?
They work for the people
that we're trying to sue.
See, their job is to
minimize damages,
and ours is to try
and maximize them.
That's the way you have
to think about it, Nicole,
as people doing their jobs.
There's no good guys
or bad guys.
There's just their side
and our side.
- I won't lie.
- I don't want you to lie.
No matter what I'm asked,
I'll tell the truth.
Of course.
I need you to tell the truth.
And I'll be right there
to advise you.
There'll be a court stenographer
who will record everything.
That's what will go
to the judge before the trial.
It'll be the same for everyone.
They'll be deposing
the Ottos, the Walkers,
Dolores, your mom and dad.
- But I'll make sure that you go last.
- Why?
So as you can
go on getting well,
so that you're able
to get up there and do this.
Because it's not going to be easy.
You do understand that?
When do they award the damages?
That depends. It could
drag on for quite a while.
We'll be there at the end,
Sam, don't you worry.
I'm here about your children,
Mr. Ansell.
- My name...
- I don't want to know your name.
I understand.
No, you don't.
Get the fuck away from the bus.
I can help you.
Not unless you can
raise the dead.
Here. You may change your mind.
Mitchell Stephens,
Esquire, tell me,
would you sue me if
I was to beat you right now?
I mean beat you so bad you'd
piss blood and couldn't walk for a month.
That's what I'm about to do.
- No, Mr. Ansell. I wouldn't sue you.
- You leave us alone, Stephens.
You leave the people
of this town alone.
- You can't help.
- You can help each other.
Several people in the town...
have agreed to let me represent
them in a negligence suit.
Your case as an individual
will be stronger...
if I'm allowed to represent you
together as a group.
Case?
The Walkers have agreed,
and the Ottos have agreed...
Nicole Burnell's parents.
It's important that we
initiate proceedings right away.
Things get covered up.
People lie.
That's why we must begin
our investigation quickly,
before the evidence disappears.
- That's what I'm doing...
- Listen.
I know Risa and Wendell Walker.
They wouldn't hire
a goddamn lawyer.
The Ottos,
they wouldn't deal with you.
We're not country bumpkins
you can put the big city hustle on.
You're angry, Mr. Ansell, and you
owe it to yourself to feel that way.
All I'm saying is...
let me direct your rage.
That's my daughter.
Or it may be the police to tell me
they've found her dead.
She's a drug addict.
Why are you telling me this?
Why am I telling you this?
Because we've all
lost our children.
They're dead to us.
They're killing each other
in the streets.
They wander, comatose...
shopping malls.
Something terrible has happened.
It's taken our children away.
It's too late.
They're gone.
Collect call from Zoe.
Will you accept the charges?
Daddy?
I'm calling because I've got
some news for you, Daddy.
- Some big news.
- News?
Don't you want to hear?
Yes, give me the news, Zoe.
You always think you know what I'm
gonna say before I say it, don't you, Daddy?
You always think you're one step
ahead of me. The lawyer.
Tell me your news, Zoe.
Ok. Yesterday,
I went to sell my blood.
That's how it is.
I'm in this fucking city,
and I'm selling my blood.
That's not news, Zoe.
No, but this is.
They wouldn't take my blood.
Do you know what that means,
Daddy? Does it register?
I tested positive.
Welcome to hard times, Daddy.
What do you want me to do, Zoe?
I'll do whatever you want.
- I need money.
- What for?
No, you cannot ask me that,
not anymore.
You asked what I wanted, not
what I wanted it for. I want money.
- Did you have a blood test?
- You don't believe me?
- You don't fucking believe me?
- Of course I believe you.
I just thought
I'd get you another test...
in case the one you got
was wrong.
I like you when you
don't believe me, Daddy.
It's better that you don't believe me,
but have to act like you do.
I can hear you breathing, Daddy.
Yes, I can hear you breathing, too.
Oh, God, I'm scared.
I love you, Zoe.
I'll soon be there.
I'll take care of you.
No matter what happens,
I'll take care of you.
- I have a question for you, Mr. Stephens.
- Yes, Dolores. What is it?
I told you that I was doing
when the bus went over.
And that's how I remembered it.
But how can I prove that?
Billy Ansell will insist that you
were doing 50 miles an hour...
just like you've done every
morning for the past 15 years.
- He knows that? Billy?
- Yes, he does.
- He said that? You talked to Billy?
- I did.
- And he told you that he'd say that...
- Mrs. Driscoll...
If Billy does not volunteer
to say so in court,
then I will subpoena him and
oblige him to testify to that effect.
But in order to do that,
you have to let me bring
a suit in your name...
charging negligent infliction
of emotional harm.
Because what is so obvious to me
and to other people...
is the magnitude, the sheer
magnitude of your suffering.
- What other people?
- Excuse me?
Who has been talking to you
about what I am feeling?
Who should care about
what I'm feeling?
Dolores, people have to know
about your suffering,
and they won't understand
until I can clear your name,
your good name,
once and for all.
Now, will you let me do this?
Will you let me do my duty?
You heard what Abbott said.
Abbott said the true jury
of a person's peers...
is the people of her town.
Only they, the people who
have known her all her life,
and not 12 strangers, can decide
her guilt or innocence.
That's what he said, is it?
Abbott understands these things.
I remember...
wrenching the steering
wheel to my left...
and slapping my foot
against the brake pedal.
I wasn't the driver anymore.
The bus was like this...
huge wave...
about to break over us.
Bear Otto.
The Landston kids.
The Hamiltons.
The Prescotts.
The teenaged boys and girls
from Bartlett Hill Road.
Pete.
Susie.
Laurel.
Rick.
Sean Walker.
Nicole Burnell.
Billy Ansell's twins...
Jessica and Mason.
All the children of my town.
Then what happened?
Hey, Billy, come on in.
Take a load off.
Would you like
a cup of tea, Billy?
There's a piece of cake for you.
No. No, thanks, Mary.
So, what brings you out tonight?
Well, I'll tell you the truth, Sam.
It's about this lawsuit that
you got yourself all involved with.
I'd like you to drop the damn thing.
That doesn't really concern you, Bill.
- Well, it does concern me.
- Don't know why it should.
I mean, there's a whole
lot of people in this town...
who got involved with lawsuits.
We're hardly unique here, Billy.
I mean, I can understand
how you feel.
How?
Well, it being so depressing and all.
That's reality.
Can't just turn this off...
because you happen to think
it's a bad idea.
- Why not?
- Because it's what we have to do.
Well, I don't want
a thing to do with it.
Ok, fine. So stay out of it.
I've tried to stay out of it.
Turns out that's not so easy.
Cause you've gone and got yourself
this lawyer, Mitchell Stephens.
So? I mean, lots of folks
got lawyers.
But he's the one
who will subpoena me, Sam.
He's gonna force me
to testify in court.
He came by the garage
this afternoon.
- Gave me that slip of paper.
- Why would he do that?
I mean, you didn't have anything
to do with the accident.
Because I was driving
behind the bus.
I saw it happen. Now if that
son of a bitch does subpoena me...
and forces me to go over
all of this again,
then all those other lawyers
are gonna line up behind him...
...and try to do the same thing.
- That's not gonna happen, Billy.
Mitch Stephens' case is small
compared to some of these guys'.
The way he told me,
all he needs is for you to say
what you saw that day...
driving behind the bus.
I know it's painful thing to do, but...
There's lawyers suing lawyers...
because some people were
stupid enough to sign on...
with more than one
of the bastards.
There's people pointing fingers
and making side deals...
dickering over percentages.
You know, if you two
drop the case,
then the others will
come to their senses.
You're good, sensible parents,
you and Mary.
People respect you.
We can't drop the lawsuit.
I mean, you know how much
we need the money.
Why? You got the money from Dolores'
insurance with the school board.
- We all did.
- That's not enough.
And for the hospital bills for Nicole.
I'll help you pay for Nicole...
if that's what you're
really talking about.
I'll even give you the money
I got for my kids.
That's what we used to do,
remember?
Help each other.
'Cause this was a community.
I'm sorry.
- How is Nicole?
- She's resting in her room.
Say hello for me.
You know, we're getting on
with our lives, Billy.
Maybe it's time you
got on with yours.
You sleepy?
Nicole, tomorrow Mr. Stephens
wants you to make...
your deposition
at the community center.
- Thought I'd take you over.
- Great.
You seem... I don't know...
distant, I guess.
Hard to talk to.
We didn't use to have
to talk a lot, did we, Daddy?
What do you mean?
I mean,
I'm a wheelchair girl now,
and it's hard to pretend
that I'm a beautiful rock star.
Remember Daddy...
that beautiful stage that
you were going to build for me?
You were gonna light it
with nothing but candles.
I'll take you about
- That's ok with you?
- Great.
"When, lo, as they reached
the mountainside,
"a wondrous portal
opened wide...
"as if a cavern was
suddenly hollowed.
"And the piper advanced,
and the children followed."
"And when all were in
to the very last..."
"the door in the mountainside
shut fast."
"Did I say all? No."
"One was lame...
"and could not dance
the whole of the way."
Now, Nicole,
if we could continue.
On that morning, did it come a time
when you left your parent's house?
And what time
in the morning was this?
About 8:30 in the morning.
Was there anyone waiting
for the bus with you?
I was alone.
My sister Jenny was sick,
and she stayed home that day.
Was there anything unusual
about the driver, Mrs. Driscoll,
or the bus
that particular morning?
Like what? I mean,
I don't remember a lot.
I object to
that form of question.
Note that, please.
- Was the bus on time?
- Yes.
And where did you sit
that particular morning?
My usual place... the first seat
on the right side.
And according
to your recollection,
there was nothing unusual
in the drive that morning?
Until the accident?
There was a brown dog that
ran across the road up there.
Dolores slowed down
so that she wouldn't hit it,
and he ran into the woods.
And then Dolores drove on...
and turned onto
the Marlowe Road as usual.
I remember that.
- I'm remembering pretty clearly.
- You are?
Note that she said
"pretty clearly", not "clearly".
What was the weather like
at this time?
It was snowing.
Unless the report from
the National Weather Bureau...
for the district
on December the sixth...
goes into the record,
I'm going to object
to that question.
I'll offer that report.
Well, then. Now that your memory
seems to be clearing...
can you tell us what else
you observed at that time?
"It's dull in our town
since my playmates left.
"I can't forget
that I'm bereft...
"of all the pleasant sights
they see,
"which the piper
also promised me."
- I was scared.
- Why were you scared?
This is before the accident, Nicole.
You understand what I'm asking?
- Yes, I understand.
- Why were you scared?
Dolores was driving too fast.
Mrs. Driscoll
was driving too fast?
What made you think that, Nicole?
The speedometer.
It was downhill there.
You could see the speedometer?
I looked.
I remember clearly now.
It seemed we were going
too fast down the hill,
and I was scared.
How fast would you say
Mrs. Driscoll was going,
to the best of your recollection?
Seventy-two miles an hour.
Seventy-two miles an hour.
You're sure of this?
Positive.
So you believe the bus
driven by Mrs. Driscoll...
was traveling at
I told you I was positive.
The speedometer was large and
easy to read from where I was.
You saw the speedometer?
Did you say anything
to Mrs. Driscoll?
No.
- Why not?
- Because I was scared.
And there wasn't time.
There wasn't time?
Because the bus went
off the road and crashed.
You remember this?
Yes.
I do now.
Now that I'm telling it.
Do you have any questions,
Mr. Stephens?
"And why I lied, he only knew.
"But from my lie,
this did come true."
"Those lips from which
he drew his tune..."
"were frozen
as a winter moon."
I have no questions.
I have no... no questions.
Thank you, Nicole.
You'd make
a great poker player, kid.
Thanks.
Let's go now, Dad.
I don't know what
she was doing in there.
She was lying.
It doesn't matter whether
she was lying or not.
The lawsuit is dead.
Everyone's lawsuit is dead.
Forget it.
Tell the others to forget it.
It is over.
Right now, Sam, the thing
you got to worry about...
is why she lied.
Now, any kid who would do that
to her father, is not normal, Sam.
Do you think he'll let us
keep the computer?
Well, it was nice meeting you
again, Mr. Stephens.
It was nice meeting you
again, Allie.
Tell Zoe I say hi.
I will.
I hope she gets better.
Now you watch your step, now.
Thank you very much.
- Hey, good morning.
- Morning.
How are you doing?
Watch your step now.
Good morning.
Need any help with that case?
Good morning.
Watch your step. That's it.
Thank you very much. Mind your step
as you go up there now.
Thank you very much. Can I help you
with your case, ma'am? No?
Ok, thank you very much.
As you see her
two years later...
I wonder if you realize something.
I wonder if you understand
that all of us...
Dolores, me,
the children who survived...
the children who didn't...
that we're all citizens
of a different town now.
A place with
its own special rules...
and its own special laws.
A town of people living
in the sweet hereafter.
Where waters gushed
and fruit trees grew...
and flowers put forth
a fairer hue.
And everything was strange...
and new.
Everything was strange and new.
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