The Sweet Hereafter Page #3

MITCHELL stares at WENDELL'S haunted eyes, then looks back

at RISA. He immediately knows their story.

MITCHELL:

Yes. I'm a lawyer. I realize this

is an awful time, but it's important

that we talk.

CUT TO:

EXT. FAIRGROUND -- DAY

A group of men are setting up the ferris wheel for the

country fair. SAM and NICOLE walk into the shot, eating ice

cream cones. SAM waves at someone he recognizes in the

distance.

SAM:

Let's sit down.

NICOLE nods, her mind elsewhere.

CUT TO:

EXT. FAIRGROUND -- DAY

SAM and NICOLE are sitting at an outside table, finishing

their cones.

A school bus pulls up into the fairground. NICOLE watches

as young children spill out of the bus and gather outside.

NICOLE smiles at this scene. SAM notices, turns around to

see the children, then turns back to NICOLE.

SAM:

What's so funny?

NICOLE:

Just the way Dolores gets so excited

about bringing the kids to check out

the animals. It's like the biggest

thing in her life.

ANGLE ON:

DOLORES DRISCOLL, a warm and cheery woman in her forties,

leading the young children into the large exhibition barn on

the fair site.

DOLORES:

Alright, kids. I want you all to

listen to me. Rule number one No

one is allowed to stick their

fingers into the cages. 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 some of them have won...

CUT TO:

INT. BIDE-A-WILE MOTEL -- EVENING

MITCHELL STEPHENS is having a meeting with WENDELL and RISA

WALKER in their livingroom behind the reception area.

MITCHELL has a pad of paper and is taking notes.

WENDELL:

Kyle Lambston's a drunk. Nobody

likes him. He's a nasty piece of

work.

MITCHELL:

In what way?

WENDELL:

Been drinking since high school.

F***ed himself up. Used to be smart

enough.

MITCHELL:

Any criminal record?

WENDELL:

Probably half a dozen traffic

convictions. Drunk driving. Lost

his licence. That's why he don't

work no more.

WENDELL:

Can't get off that shitty dump they

live on. What little money comes in

goes to booze.

MITCHELL:

How does the family survive?

WENDELL:

Don't know. Food banks, welfare,

church charity. They scrape by.

MITCHELL looks at RISA, who has remained silent.

MITCHELL:

What about Doreen?

RISA:

She...she was a friend of mine.

MITCHELL:

When?

RISA:

At school. She fell for Kyle just

before we graduated. Got pregnant,

and...went to live in a trailer up

on a woodlot Kyle's dad used to own.

Kyle started spending more and more

time at the Spread Eagle...

MITCHELL:

That's the local bar?

RISA:

(nodding)

...coming home drunk and I guess

feeling trapped by his life and

blaming her for that...and...

RISA hesitates.

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