"Yes." "Collect call from Zoe, will you accept the charges?" "Yes, I'll 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're in a car wash before!" "Make sure you've got all the windows rolled up." "Do you remember that time 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." "Oh, '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 scored, Daddy?" "That I'm calling for money?" "That I'm begging?" "God, I don't fucking believe this!" "Daddy?" "Are you listening to me, Daddy?" "Daddy!" "Yes?" "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." "Daddy!" "That was great." " Really?" "You're going to blow everyone away." "You mean it?" " Of course." "You don't sound like you're completely sure." "I am, really." "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, 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 on her life." "No sticking 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:" "Wriggle your noses and have fun." "Hello." "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, I could have some visitors." "Are 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 Lanston'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." "Whenever money does come in goes to booze." "How does the family survive?" "I don't know." "Church charity... welfare..." "food bank." "They scrape by." "And... what about Dora?" " Doreen." "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 Spreadeagle." "That's the local bar?" "Coming home drunk... and feeling trapped by his life, I guess... and blaming her for that, and..." "And?" "And... and he beat her." "He beat her?" "Yes." "You see, 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?" "Yes." "Now, of these people that you 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 Shelley 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... 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... he's about to lose his car." "Charlene" "Charlene is over at the Spreadeagle every other night." "She sleeps with whoever she can get her hands on." "She'd go down for a pat on the head and a fistful of peanuts!" "Forget the Atwaters and the Biladows, they're all inbred." "The Ottos." "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... and 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 probably smoke weed." " You don't know that!" "Have they ever been busted?" " No." "You don't know!" "That's what it is." "You don't know." "I'm sorry." "Excuse me." "Yes?" "Collect call from Zoe, will you accept the charges?" "Yes, I'll accept the charges." "Do you mind if I step outside for a moment?" "It's a private call." "Zoe?" "Where are you, darling?" "Oh, shut up!" "Yes, I am listening." " Shutyour big fat mouth." "No, of course I'm being sincere..." "I understand what you saying." "The fact that you like the doctor, I mean... it's half the battle." "Shut up." " Please." "I'm jealous of what?" " I'm smarter than you." "Smarter than me?" "Yeah, like the Ottos are smart, too!" "Did you hear what that man said?" "He said, 'Good Wendell'!" "Ring me in ten minutes." "Shut up." "Yes, sir." "Hi, I can't get any sound out of this." "Here, I'll get you another pair." " Thank you." "Here, you can have mine." "Allison O'Donnell." "I was a friend of Zoe's." "We used to go to school together." "I used to come to your house." "Yeah." " Ally." "My nickname is Ally." "Ally?" "Right, right." "How are you?" " 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." "Allison." "How's Mrs. Stevens?" "She's just fine." "We're not together anymore." "Yeah, I heard that." "But she's well." "Yeah." "And Zoe?" "How's Zoe?" "Oh, you beat me to it." "Here you go." " Thanks." "Good morning, Wanda!" "Hey, Hartley!" " Hi Dolores!" " Good morning, Dolores." "Beautiful snow we're having, eh Dolores?" "It's just a flurry, Hartley." "It's totally clear up ahead." "That's good." " Look!" "What's that you got there?" " What do you think?" "It's certainly what you'd call interesting." "You hate it." "No, no, I didn't say that." "I could wrap it up to protect the children." "I could just strap it on the roof, eh?" "There's an idea." "Come on, give me a break." "It's for the school bazaar." "Well, it's bizarre alright." "Come on Bear, lets 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." "The Ottos always waited for the bus with Bear." "They were 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?" "No, no, nothing like that." "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 fund-raising bazaars." "Though they aren't... church goers." "And they love Bear." "Oh yes." "It's like he's their little treasure." "He's such a beautiful boy." "There's a picture of him on the wall over there, just beside Abbot." "Those were all taken at the fair last year." "Abbot and me, we were judges at the pet show." "For rabbits." "Abbot used to breed 'em, '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've made a wonderful man." "Billy Ansel started honking at us, up around Upperhat 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?" "Y eah." "It... comforted him." "From what?" "From what?" "I'll get the tray." " Thank you." "Did he have any particular problems that you knew of?" "Financial pressures, run-ins with the Iaw?" "No." "No." "No, no, nothing like that." "No." "Billy's wife Lydia, God rest her... she died of cancer a few years back." "She was a wonderful woman." "A 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." "Hello." "Hey, Risa." "Can you talk?" "Yeah." "Where are you?" "I was only on my way to work." " Did you see the kids?" "Yeah, I'm waving at them right now." "What's that noise?" "It's Wendel." "He's up 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 coming over to look after the kids tonight." "She'll be there around six." "Oh Billy, that's too early." "She said she's got to be home by nine, so" "Can't you make it later?" " Well alright." "I'II be waiting in the room." "You just get over as soon as you can, okay?" "Okay." "I guess." "Alright, sexy." "Bye." " Bye" "I'm glad to hear that Zoe's alright." "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 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" " I'm going to see her now." "She's in trouble." "Yes." "You find 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. Stevens." "Would you Iike 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 and anything else that touches the shrimp I'd be grateful." "I'm not sure that's gonna leave much on the plate." "Lets just see what we get, shall we?" "Yes, sir." " Thank you." "Would you excuse me a minute?" "Mrs. Otto." "My name is Mitchell Stevens." "The Walkers told me you might be willing to talk to me." "I'm really sorry to come unannounced like this... but the Walkers said you'd understand." "I know it's an awful time, but it's 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." "Please!" "Hartley we have a guest." "What did you say your name was?" "Mitchell Stevens." "The Walkers send 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, Mrs. Otto?" "I want to talk to you." "The Walkers spoke very highly of you." "You've been retained." " Yes." "Their child died and they got a lawyer?" "It should be said that my task is to represent... the Walkers only in their anger - not their grief." "Who do 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 was minimal... a few million at most." "No, 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's 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 ten-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 being driving that bus?" "How many times has she steered clear of danger?" "What happened that morning?" "Thank you." "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." "You listen to me, Mrs. Otto... and you listen very carefully." "I do know what's best." "Believe me." "As we're seating 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 yourself... and that makes me very, very mad!" "That's why I came all the way up here." "If everybody had done their job with integrity... your son would be alive and safely at school this morning." "I promise that I will pursue and reveal who it was... did not did their job - who is responsible for this tragedy." "And then in your name, and in 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 this person to go to jail for the rest of his life." "I want..." "I want him to die there." "I don't want his money." "It's unlikely 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 the 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?" "No." "If you agree to have me represent you in the suit..." "I will require no payment until the case is won... when I will require one third of the awarded amount." "If there's no award, my services will cost absolutely nothing." "That's the standard agreement." "Do you have this agreement with you?" "Yes, I do." "It's in my car." "It 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." "No matter, two weeks later she'd be out on the street... and next time I saw her... a phone call scamming 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." "I've had ten years of this - ten years of lies... of 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 it couldn't possibly... be my daughter that they saw in a porn flick!" "Enough rage and helpless, and your love turns into something else." "What does it turn to?" "It turns into steaming piss." "Hi Nicole, they've just had supper." "Okay?" " Was it good?" "Was it good?" "Of course it was good." "I'll be back before 9, okay?" "Bye!" " Bye." "Let's go." "Have you been waiting long?" " A while." "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." "Does that mean I can't have a shower?" "No, it should be dry by now." "When's he getting back?" " After the game, I guess." "Oh, the game!" ""Hamelin town's in Brunswick, by famous Hannover 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." " Oh." ""Almost 500 years ago, to see the townsfolk suffer so... from vermin was a pity."" "What's vermin again?" "Rats." " Oh." ""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 cook's own ladies... 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 fifty different sharps and flats."" "Nicole." " Yes, Mason?" "Can I seat beside you on the bus tomorrow?" "I thought you liked to sit at the back, to wave at your dad." "I wanna sit beside you tomorrow." "Okay." " Nicole?" "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 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 wanna go." "He never does." "He'll cry." "He won't wanna let go of me." "Because he misses you." " Yes." "It's natural." "Your kids never cry." "It's probably because they know I'll be following them, behind the bus." "They can look foward to that." " Yeah." "Just like we look foward to this." " Yeah." "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?" " Yeah." "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." "I mean..." "Don't feel bad - unless you feel strange about wearing it." "No!" "No, I mean..." "I remember Mrs. Ansel wearing some of this stuff, but..." "I don't feel worried about that." " Okay." "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." "I ran through that tune you guys are working on... and 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... with shouting and laughter." "When lo... as they reached the mountainside... a wondrous portal opened wide... as if a cavern were suddely 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 Bartlet Hill Road..." "I had half my load." "Let's see... twenty - no, twenty-two kids aboard." "They'd... they'd walked 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." " Yeah." "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 "... wich 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." "He's behind the rest of his... the kids his age in school, and... he's too nervous to play sports." "Strange little guy, but... you know, you coudn't help but like him." "Morning, Dolores." " Hi, Risa." "Aren't your feet freezing?" "I guess they are." " I wanna stay with you." "Oh, 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." "I never had those mornings myself." "Not so long as I had my school bus to drive." "Not so long as I had my ki- kids." "Hanging in there Sean?" "Looking forward to school?" "Now you settle down back there." "I told you... you're walking to school if you're not careful." "You don't want that." "It's a cold day out there." "Ain't it, Bear?" "Oh Jesus." "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 that 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 laboured." "I looked across and noticed... she was sweating, and all swollen." "I grabbed her and rushed into the kitchen... and splashed some water on her face." "What had happened?" " I didn't know." "I was in a complete panic." "I guessed she'd been bitten by some insect... but there was no doctor." "The nearest hospital was 40 miles away." "She was continuing to swell up." "Clara took her in her arms and tried to breastfeed her while I dialed the hospital." "Finally we 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 hospital." "He said, "Mr Stevens... there's a good chance if you can get her here... before her throat closes." "But it's very important that you keep her calm."" "Then he asked if there was one of us... that was more relaxed with her than the other... and I said, "Yes, me," which was true enough, because... at that particular moment, Clara's eyes... were all wild fear." "And the fear was contagious." "I was a better actor, that's all." "And Zoe... loved us equally then... it's just that 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 sterilise it properly." "He explained how to perform an emergency tracheotomy." "How to cut into her throat - her windpipe - without causing her to bleed to death." "He said... there'd be be a lot of blood..." "I said I didn't think I could do it." "He said: "Mr. Stevens... if her throat closes and her breathing stops... you're gonna have to."" ""You'll have about a minute and a half, possibly two 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 hung up." "It was an unforgetable 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 know you'd be here." "Are you going to the funeral?" " I stopped by the station a while ago... and stared at the bus." "I could almost hear the kids inside." "There was a lawyer there, and he said... he's got you signed up." "Is that true?" "Something made this happen, Billy, and Mr Stevens said... he's gonna find out what." "What you're talking about was an accident." "Mr. Stevens said someone put a wrong bolt on the bus." "I serviced the bus, Risa, at the garage." "There was nothing wrong with it." "Or that the guard rail wasn't strong enough." "You believe that?" "I have to." "Why?" " Because I have to." "Well, I don't." "Is it true you gave Nicole one of Lydia's sweaters... and she was wearing it when the bus crashed?" "Yeah." "Why did you do that Billy?" "What, you think that caused the accident, Risa?" "That it brought bad luck?" "Sounds like you're looking for a witch doctor, not a lawyer." "Maybe they're the same thing." "You know what I'll miss, more than making love?" "The nights you couldn't get away from Wendell." "The nights I'd just sit in that chair for an hour... smoking a cigarette and remembering my life before." "Mind is kind." "You are so lucky." "Don't even try remembering." "You just think about getting well, Nicole, that's all." "Wait 'till you see what we've got waiting for you at home." "How do you like it, Nicole?" "The ramp?" "Yeah." "Pretty slick, eh?" "Very slick." "Do you like the color?" "It's ok." "I could paint it a different one if you'd like." "It'd be really easy to do." "I don't know about that green." "I'm not too sure about that color." "I had to widen a few doors too." "You'll see." "Hello." "Ok." " Oh, 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." "Okay." "Great, Mitch." "Right." "Bye bye." "What do you think?" " The door needs a lock." "Sure." "I'll fix that right away." "Can I come and visit you here?" "You'd better." "You can sleep with me in my bed too, okay?" "It's too high." "I'll never reach it." "I'll 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 Stevens." "That was him on the phone just now." "He was calling to find out how you were." "Who's Mr. Stevens?" " He's a lawyer." "He's our lawyer." "You and mom have a lawyer?" "Well, yes." "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?" "You want me to fix you something?" "No." "What's this lawyer business?" "He's a very kind man..." "And he knew you'd need a computer for school work." "It's even got a program on it to help you compose your songs." ""Fathers, mothers... uncles, cousins... families by tens and dozens... brothers, sisters... husbands, wives... follow the piper for their lives."" "Well Nicole." "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." "And at the same time... to make sure 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 fell sorry for me, and..." "You hate that." " What she means is..." "People can't help it, Nicole." "I mean, they see you in this wheelchair... and they're gonna 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 that you want me to do for you, Mr Stevens?" "They work for the people we're trying to sue." "See, their job is to minimise damages... and ours is to try and maximise them." "That's the way you have to think of it, Nicole." "It's 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... and that's what will go to the judge before the trial itself." "And this will be the same for everyone." "They'll be deposing the Ottos, the Walkers, Dolores, your mum and dad.." "but I'll make sure you go last." "Why?" "So you can go in getting well." "So that you're able to get up there and do this." "Because it's not going to be easy, Nicole." "You do understand that?" "When do they award the damages?" "That depends." "It could drag on for quite a while." "But we'll be there at the end, Sam." "Don't you worry." "I'm here about your children, Mr. Ansel." "My name is" " I don't wanna 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 Stevens, 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." "'Cause that's what I'm about to do." "No Mr. Ansel, I wouldn't sue you." "You leave us alone, Stevens." "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." "Now your case as an individual... will be stronger if I'm allowed to represent you together, as a group." " Case?" "The Walkers have agreed, the Ottos have agreed..." "Nicole Burnell's parents." "It's important that we iniciate 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 out here." "Listen, I know Risa and Wendell Walker." "They wouldn't hire a goddam 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. Ansel, 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, Mr Ansel?" "Because we've all lost our children." "They're dead to us." "They're killing each other in the streets." "They wander, comatose, through 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?" "Yes." "I'm calling because I've got some news for you, Daddy.." "some big news." "News?" " Don't you wanna 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." "Okay." "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." "Yes." "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 can not ask me that!" "Not anymore!" "You asked me 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 it 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 her you breathing, Daddy." "Yes, I can hear you breathing, too." "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 Stevens." "Yes, Dolores." "What is it?" "I told you that..." "I was doing 50 miles an hour when the bus went over." "And that's how I remembered it." "But how can I prove that?" "Billy Ansel will insist 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'm 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?" " No!" "Not, not!" "Dolores did not!" "Trouble... severs... so you..." "You heard what Abbot said." "Abbot said, the true jury of a person's peers is the people of her town." "Only they... the people who have know her all her life... and not twelve strangers can decide her guilt or innocence." "That's what he said, is it?" "Yeah." "Abbot 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 Lampston kids... the Hamiltons... the Prescotts... the teenage boys and girls from Bartlet Hill Road..." "Pete, Suzie..." "Laurel..." "Rick, Sean Walker..." "Nicole Burnell..." "Billy Ansel'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 might as well tell the truth, Sam... it's about this lawsuit that you've got yourselves involved with." "How doI get you to drop the damn thing?" "I don't see how that concerns you, Billy." "Well, it does concern me." "I don't know why it should." "I mean, a lot of people in this town have 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." "You 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." "I don't want a damn thing to do with it." "Okay, fine." "So stay out of it." "I tried to stay out of it, Sam." "Turns out that's not so easy... 'cause you got yourselves this lawyer, Mitchell Stevens." "So?" "Lots of folks got lawyers." "But he's the one who's gonna 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 subpoenas me and forces me... to go over all this again... then all those other lawyers are gonna line up behind him... and try and do the same thing." "That's not going to happen." "Mitch Steven's 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 a 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... and dickering over percentages." "You know if you two drop the case, then the others will come to their senses and follow you." "You're good, sensible parents, you and Mary." "People respect you." "No Billy." "We can't drop the law suit." "You know how much we need the money." "Why?" "You've got the money from..." "Dolores' insurance with the school board." "We all did." "It's not enough." "We have 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." "Because this was a community." "I'm sorry." "How is Nicole?" "She's resting in her room." "Say hello for me." "We're getting on with our lives, Billy!" "Maybe it's time you got on with yours." "Are you sleeping?" "Nicole, tomorrow Mr Stevens wants you to make your deposition... at the community center." "I 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 you were gonna build for me?" "You were gonna light it with nothing but candles." "I'll take you at about 9:30 in the morning?" "That's okay with you?" "Great." ""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."" "Now Nicole, if we can continue... on that morning, did there come a time when you left your parents' house?" "Yes." "What time in the morning was this?" "About 8:30 in the morning." "Was anyone waiting for the bus with you?" "No." "I was alone." "My sister Jenny was sick and 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." "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?" "No." "Yes!" "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 into Marlowe Road as usual." "I remember that." "I'm remembering pretty clearly." "You are?" " Yes!" "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 6... goes into the record, I will object to that question." "I will 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."" "Nicole?" "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?" "Yes." "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?" "72 miles an hour." "72 miles an hour." "You're sure of this?" " Positive." "So you believe the bus, driven by Mrs Driscoll... was traveling at 72 miles an hour at this time?" "I told you I was positive." "The speedometer was large and easy to read from were I was." "You saw the speedometer." "Yes." "Did you say anything to Mrs. Driscoll?" "No." "Why not?" "Because I was scared... and there wasn't time." "There wasn't time?" "No." "Because the bus went off the road and crashed." "You remember this." "Yes." "I do now... now that I'm telling you." "Do you have any questions, Mr Stevens?" "And why I lied, he only knew." "But from my lie, this did come true." "Those lips from what he drew his tune, were frozen as a winter moon."" "Mr Stevens." "I have no questions." "I have... 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... 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've got to worry about... is why she lied." "Any kid who'd do that to her father it's not normal, Sam." "Do you think they'll let us keep the computer?" "Well... it was nice meeting you again, Mr Stevens." "It was nice meeting you again, Ally." "Allison." " Allison." "Tell Zoe I said Hi." "I will." "I hope she gets better." "Now you watch your step, now." "Thank you very much." "Yep." "Okay." "What's that?" "Good morning." "How you're doing?" "Watch your step, now." "Good morning." "You need any help with that case?" "Okay." "Good morning." "Watch your step." "That's it." "Thank you very much." "Mind your step as you go up there, now." "Thank you." "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 realise 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.""