The Sweet Hereafter Page #6

DOLORES:

Oh, it's bizarre alright. C'mon

Bear. Let's get you out of here.

WANDA:

Away from your crazy Mom.

DOLORES:

(voice over)

The Ottos always waited for the bus

with Bear. They were the only

parents who did that, together like

that. I guess they're what you

might call hippies.

MITCHELL:

(voice over)

What do you mean by that, Mrs.

Driscoll?

CUT TO:

INT. DOLORES'S HOUSE -- DAY

DOLORES and MITCHELL are in the modest livingroom of

DOLORES'S house. The conversation continues from the

previous voice over.

In the corner of the room sits ABBOTT, DOLORES'S husband.

ABBOTT has suffered a massive stroke, and seems to be

completely paralyzed. His presence, however, is intense and

powerful.

MITCHELL frequently looks over to ABBOTT during his

conversations with DOLORES. ABBOTT is always watching him

like a hawk, making MITCHELL uneasy.

DOLORES:

Dolores. No one calls me 'Mrs.

Driscoll'.

MITCHELL:

What do you mean by that, Dolores?

DOLORES:

About the Ottos?

MITCHELL:

Yes. What do you mean by 'hippies'?

DOLORES:

I mean, the way they look. Their

hair and clothing...

MITCHELL:

Do they have any reputation for

drugs?

DOLORES:

No, nothing like that. The Ottos

are what I'd call model citizens.

They're regular at town meetings.

They give their opinions in a

respectful way. They always help

out at various fund-raising bazaars

in town , though they aren't church

goers.

MITCHELL:

And they loved Bear.

DOLORES:

Oh yes. Like I said, they always

came out together to see him off to

school. It's like he was their

little treasure. He was such a

beautiful boy. That's a picture of

him on the wall there, behind

Abbott.

MITCHELL turns around to find the picture of BEAR.

It is right behind ABBOTT'S head, so MITCHELL has to divide

his attention between the cute PHOTOGRAPH of BEAR clutching

a prize rabbit at last year's county fair, and ABBOTT'S

glaring eyes.

ANGLE ON:

The PHOTOGRAPHS of various children with their pets. Some

have ribbons.

DOLORES (CONT'D)

(voice over)

Those are all from the fair last

year. Abbott and me were judges at

the pet show.

MITCHELL:

For rabbits?

DOLORES:

(nodding)

Abbott used to breed them 'til he

had the stroke. Bear won first

prize. Just look at the smile on

his face.

DOLORES:

He was one of those children that

bring out the best in people. He

would have been a wonderful man.

ANGLE ON:

MITCHELL as he stares at the photo of BEAR.

CUT TO:

EXT. SCHOOL BUS -- MORNING

The camera is outside the bus, looking at BEAR as he

finishes waving to his parents.

ANGLE ON:

BEAR'S P.O.V. of WANDA and HARTLEY disappearing as the bus

pulls away.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL BUS -- MORNING

The camera moves inside the crowded bus, peering at the

childrens' activity as they play with each other in the bus.

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