The Sweet Hereafter Page #2

MITCHELL:

Yes, operator, I'm in a strange

situation. I'm calling from my car,

and I appear to be stuck in a car

wash...A car wash, yes...Is there

anyway you

could...Hello?...Hello?...

The line has died.

MITCHELL searches for an umbrella, finds one, and tries to

get out of the car without getting soaked.

ANGLE ON:

MITCHELL as he leaves the car, trying to protect himself

from the onslaught of water with his umbrella. He is

immediately soaked by a large mop. The camera watches

MITCHELL as he makes his way towards light at the end of the

wash.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR WASH. -- NIGHT

MITCHELL walks into the office of the car wash. No one is

there. There is an ominous buzz coming from another room.

MITCHELL moves towards the garage of the car wash/auto

repair establishment. He moves into a larger room, full of

discarded auto parts. The buzzing noise is coming from an

electric guitar, which has been left on, and is on the verge

of screeching feedback.

Someone was just here. They are nowhere to be seen.

MITCHELL:

Hello?

No response. MITCHELL picks up the guitar, which begins to

produce a terrifying electronic feedback.

CUT TO:

EXT. FAIRGROUND -- DAY

SAM and NICOLE wander through the fairground. Various rides

and concession stands are being set up. SAM has his arm

around NICOLE.

SAM:

That was great.

NICOLE:

Really?

SAM:

You're going to blow everyone away.

NICOLE:

You mean it?

SAM:

Of course.

NICOLE:

You don't sound like one hundred

percent absolutely sure.

SAM:

I am. Really. It was awesome.

NICOLE assesses SAM. Sensing his sincerity, she throws her

arms around him in a gesture of unabashed excitement.

NICOLE:

I'm so happy, Daddy.

CUT TO:

EXT. BIDE-A-WILE MOTEL -- DUSK

MITCHELL STEPHEN'S car pulls into the parking lot of this

run-down roadside motel. In the fading light, a magnificent

mountain range is seen in the background.

CUT TO:

INT. BIDE-A-WILE MOTEL -- EVENING

MITCHELL enters the reception area, and rings a bell on the

desk. After a few moments RISA WALKER appears. She is an

exhausted looking woman in her mid-thirties, once attractive

but very run-down. RISA stares at MITCHELL'S soaked

clothes.

MITCHELL:

Hello.

RISA:

Is it raining outside?

MITCHELL:

No, I...had an accident.

Pause. RISA stares at MITCHELL, her expression somewhere

else.

MITCHELL (CONT'D)

Do you have a room?

RISA:

Will you be spending more than a

night?

MITCHELL:

Hard to say. I might have...some

business here.

A voice is heard from the darkness beyond the desk.

WENDELL:

Are you a reporter?

MITCHELL:

No.

WENDELL WALKER, RISA'S husband, appears from the darkness.

WENDELL:

You here about the accident?

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