The Sweet Hereafter Page #14

NICOLE:

Let's go, Daddy.

EXT. COMMUNITY CENTRE -- DAY

NICOLE is in the car in front of the community centre. She

stares at SAM as he argues with MITCHELL on the steps.

NICOLE:

(voice over)

Daddy took a long time. I guess he

wanted to have a few words with you.

He must have tried to tell you that

I was lying. Then you would tell

Daddy that it didn't matter if I was

lying or not, the lawsuit is dead.

As NICOLE'S words are heard, her point of view of SAM and

MITCHELL arguing is seen.

The movement of their lips is in sync with NICOLE'S voice

over.

NICOLE (CONT'D)

(voice over)

Everyone's lawsuit is dead. Forget

it. Tell the others to forget it.

It's over. Right now, Sam, the

thing you've got to worry about is

why she lied. A kid who'd do that

to her own father is not normal,

Sam.

SAM comes down the stairs and enters the car, sitting down

at the driver's seat. NICOLE stares at him as he starts the

car.

NICOLE (CONT'D)

(voice over)

But Daddy knows who lied. He knows

who the liar is. He knows who's

normal.

SAM stares ahead, not knowing what to do next.

NICOLE (CONT'D)

(speaking to SAM)

I hope he lets us keep the computer.

SAM turns to look at NICOLE.

NICOLE (CONT'D)

I'd like an ice cream.

CUT TO:

INT. AIRPORT. -- MORNING

MITCHELL is at the baggage section of the arrival area,

waiting for his luggage.

He watches PETER, the man he met in the washroom changing

his daughter, playing with the little girl.

PETER is full of love as he swings the little girl into the

air as she laughs.

MITCHELL is caught in a daydream, smiling at the happy image

of father and daughter. ALISON approaches him.

ALISON:

Well, it was nice meeting you again,

Mr. Stephens.

MITCHELL:

Mitchell. It was nice to see you

again, Ally.

ALISON:

Alison.

MITCHELL:

Alison.

ALISON:

Say hi to Zoe.

MITCHELL:

I will.

ALISON:

I hope she gets better.

MITCHELL:

I'll tell her that.

ALISON shakes MITCHELL'S hand, and leaves.

CUT TO:

EXT. FAIRGROUND -- DAY

SAM wheels NICOLE along a path away from the same concession

stand that was seen at the beginning of the film. NICOLE is

licking an ice-cream cone. Around them, people are setting

up the bandstand.

NICOLE:

Daddy, can we come to the fair?

SAM:

Yes.

NICOLE:

How about Sunday night? That's

always the best time.

SAM:

Okay.

NICOLE looks at a team of men constructing a ride. A school

bus pulls up, and a group of children spill out. NICOLE

watches as the driver tries to form them into a group.

NICOLE:

What's going to happen to Dolores?

SAM:

I don't know.

NICOLE:

Will the police do anything to her?

SAM:

It's too late for that. She can't

drive the bus anymore. The school

board saw to that right off.

NICOLE:

She'll move away.

SAM:

There's talk of that.

NICOLE:

Someplace where no one knows her.

(beat)

Someplace strange and new.

SAM is frozen. NICOLE smiles to herself.

CUT TO:

EXT. AIRPORT. -- MORNING

At the airport, in the arrivals bay, MITCHELL waits for his

limousine.

Across the road, a hotel minibus is parked. The driver is

DOLORES. The camera settles on her face as she stares at

MITCHELL.

MITCHELL catches her gaze, and the two stare at each other.

NICOLE:

(voice over)

As you see each other, almost two

years later, I wonder if you realize

something.

MITCHELL'S limo arrives. He gets inside.

CUT TO:

INT. LIMOUSINE -- MORNING

CLOSE-UP of MITCHELL as he stares ahead, lost in thought.

NICOLE:

(voice over)

I wonder if you realize 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.

CUT TO:

EXT. GAS STATION -- DAY

BILLY watches as a crane lifts the demolished schoolbus onto

a flatbed truck.

NICOLE:

(voice over)

A town of people living in the sweet

hereafter.

CUT TO:

EXT. CAR -- AFTERNOON

NICOLE and SAM driving home from the fairground.

NICOLE:

(voice over)

Whether others defend us, protect

us, love us or hate us - they do it

to meet their own needs, not ours.

The camera leaves the car to look up at the sky.

CUT TO:

EXT. FAIRGROUND -- DUSK

Sunday night at the fairground. NICOLE is staring at the

ferris wheel. In her imagination, the swinging cars of the

slowly turning wheel are full of children. The laughter and

noise is haunting.

NICOLE smiles as she stares at this private apparition.

NICOLE:

(voice over)

This is what I learned. This is

what I found out.

CUT TO:

INT. BILLY'S HOUSE. JESSICA AND MASON'S BEDROOM. -- NIGHT

NICOLE has just finished reading a story to JESSICA and

MASON. The children are asleep. NICOLE puts the book down,

and kisses the two sleeping children on the cheek.

NICOLE gets up to leave the bedroom, leaving the door

slightly open.

Light spills in from the hallway.

The EndOctober, 1996

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