Before the Fall Page #4

Really appreciate it.

You're welcome.

I got 'em.

Well, let's go.

Hey.

How are sales?

Did you have a good day?

No.

I'm hoping it picks up soon.

Anyway, I'm too happy to care.

So, did you have fun at Chuck's?

Yeah.

Kept thinking

about that guy, Lee.

I don't know what

to make of him.

What do you mean?

I mean, he's not just

like a typical loser,

he's like more complicated

than that.

Why do you feel like you have

to put him into a category?

I'm not putting him

into a category.

But he is an alcoholic and a felon, you

don't just ignore something like that.

Well, you don't have

to ignore it, but...

You don't have to define

him by it either.

I hope I'm not defined by the

worst thing that I had ever done.

Chuck's cabin was rustic.

Come on out with it.

What do you wanna say?

Do you realize that Chuck makes

less than $12,000 a year?

I haven't analyzed it that much,

well, don't you think

maybe you should?

Well, I do all right, I get by.

Have you thought about living in that

two room cabin with no running water?

I like Chuck, but he doesn't

care about earning a living.

He wants to live in the

woods away from everyone.

You know you two don't

have that much in common.

And he's not gonna turn

into someone else later.

Easy to romanticize everything

now, when you're all infatuated,

but what about

five years from now

when you can't pay the bills and

you're in a cabin with no water

and he's on a week long hike with his

buddies. Have you thought about that?

Wouldn't be like that.

It'd be just like that.

So, what are you saying?

I don't know.

I'm just saying, maybe you should

think about things like that.

Morning.

Hey.

This is a little awkward, um, you remember

when I ran into you at Chuck's cabin?

Right after that,

I, uh, find your journal.

You know, I was wondering

where I lost that.

Yeah and then I meant it to

give it back to you, but, um...

For some reason, I didn't think I should

give it back to you in front of Cathy.

I mean I didn't read or anything, so I

don't even know if it talks about her,

but I imagine since

it's a journal.

And then, I forgot I had it.

And then, when I

remembered when I had it,

then I thought that you

would think I just went...

But I didn't read it

or anything.

But I read a little bit of

it, but nothing bad, just...

You know, personal stuff.

Anyway, um, there it is.

Just some personal stuff.

Yeah, just...

It must be a guy being

too hard on himself.

I'm thinking about going

hiking, later today.

Where are you gonna go?

Up to Wolverine Ridge.

Wolverine Ridge, isn't

that past green cove?

Yeah. Yeah, I

haven't been there.

Well, I could get my car and

then I'd follow you over there.

That sounds like a plan.

Cool.

So, when did you start drinking?

I don't know...

High school, I guess...

My dad's an alcoholic.

He'd go to the office

everyday, but...

He'd get home at five,

usually passed out by seven.

Sleep for two hours.

Throw up, eat something,

get drunk again.

He was angry, mean.

Not physically,

but psychologically.

Our mother, spent her time

pretending

there wasn't a problem.

I just stayed in my room

a lot, the door shut.

Even call me recluse.

Sissy.

I never understood

the demons he was fighting.

I don't think he

understands 'em either.

I know that now, but...

When I was 13, I just hated him.

So, why do you drink?

Hell, I don't know.

Like you said, demons.

There's things about me I hate.

Things I can't understand.

It's granite.

It's all over the place up here.

How do you know that?

Studied geology before I

dropped out of college.

We should head back.

Have a good one.

You want to get

something to eat?

Where do you think about going?

I don't care...

The diner.

All right.

I'll see you there.

I gotta go.

Okay, it's all right.

I had a good time.

Hi, honey.

Hi.

He's still not here?

No.

That's unusual.

Guess he got held up somewhere.

I'm gonna go finish these,

get them delivered.

Sorry for standing you up.

What's wrong?

You okay?

Jane told me,

it isn't working out.

Why did she say that?

She came up here last night.

Why?

She didn't say.

Trying to act like my breath

had been knocked out of me.

I don't understand.

I've been sitting here all day.

Trying to convince myself

that it doesn't matter.

That it wouldn't have

worked anyway.

Couldn't believe she actually

had feelings for me.

I guess she didn't.

I just can't stop

thinking about her.

Hello, can I help you?

Yeah, my name's Lee Darcy,

I'm here to see Ben Bennett.

Is he expecting you?

No.

Well, he's in a conference right

now, but I think he'll be out soon.

You can have a seat

if you'd like to wait.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I just dropped

in on you like this.

I just really needed

someone to talk to.

I know. It's hard right now, but

in the end you'll see. All right?

Chuck's a great guy, but he's never

going to make anything of himself.

You'll just have

to keep that in mind.

I know.

I'll call you, okay?

Ben,

Lee Darcy is here to see you.

Came by to see if you could help me figure

out why Jane decided to break up with Chuck.

Guess I got my answer.

My first impressions

of you were right.

You're just another

pretentious f*ggot.

Oh, hi, Ben.

Where are they,

the criminal files?

Uh, they're under the counter.

So, what's this about?

I understand that you witnessed

an incident between Lee Darcy

and his girlfriend, Cathy?

Yes, I did.

According to the court file, you said

that Lee said he was gonna kill her

and then he pushed her.

Well, I never said

I saw him push her.

I said he must've pushed her,

because I heard them arguing,

and she fell and hit her head.

So, he must've pushed her.

Did you tell the police officer

that he said he was gonna kill her?

Yes, I said that.

Is that what you heard?

What's this about?

I thought this was over.

I'm just looking into it,

for a friend of Lee's.

Well...

Suppose I didn't

exactly hear those words...

I mean, suppose the...

Statement I gave

wasn't completely accurate.

I could get into a lot of

trouble for that, couldn't I?

Yes.

But you do recognize that Lee doesn't

remember what happened that night.

His felony conviction is based

solely on your testimony.

Would it make a difference if it

turns out I went to Lee's attorney

about it and he ignored me?

It might.

Let me guess, you're back on

the court-appointed list?

Do you remember the case you

had when you first got here?

Yeah, what was her name, Diane?

I was certain she was innocent.

That was 12 years ago.

So, what's up?

You prosecuted a guy

named Lee Darcy,

for aggravated malicious

wounding.

And Lee was charged with a felony

based on a testimony of a neighbor,

who said that Lee threatened

to kill his girlfriend.

Yeah, I remember it.

Well, there's a possibility...

That that neighbor would

recant her statement.

So, that happens all the time,

there's not really anything

to be done about that.

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