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That you didn't die? Like the other children?
Yes. Like Bear and the Ansel twins and Sean and...
It would be strange if you didn't feel that way.
What do you want me to do for you, Mr. Stephens?
They work for the people we're trying to sue. Their job is to try to minimize damages. Our job, Nicole, is to try to maximize them. You have to think of it that way. As people doing their jobs. No good guys or bad guys. Just our side and their side.
I won't lie.
I don't want you to lie.
The truth is that it was an accident, and no one's to blame.
There's no such thing as an accident, Nicole. Not in a situation like this.
You seem very sure about that.
I'm absolutely positive.
Dolores.
Yes. Dolores...and even your mom and dad. But I'll make sure you go last.
Why?
So you can keep on getting well before you have to go and do this. It's not going to be easy, Nicole. Do you understand that?
It was snowing.
Unless the report from the National Weather Bureau for the district on January 23 goes into the record, I will object to that question.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin. By famous Hanover city; The river Weser, deep and wide, Washes its wall on the southern side; A pleasanter spot you never spied; But, when begins my ditty...
What's a ditty again?
It's like a song.
Oh.
What's vermin again?
Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, And bit the babies in the cradles, And ate the cheeses out of vats. And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles, Split open the kegs of salted sprats, Made nests inside men's Sunday hats, And even spoiled the women's chats, By drowning their speaking With shrieking and squeaking In fifty different sharps and flats...
Nicole?
Yes.
Can I sit beside you on the bus tomorrow?
Don't you usually like to sit at the back? To wave at your Dad?
I want to sit beside you tomorrow.
Okay.
Nicole?
What, Mason?
That's right.
Well, if he knew magic if he could get the kids into the mountain why couldn't he use his pipe to make the people pay him for getting rid of the rats?
Because...he wanted to them to be punished.
The people in the town?
Yes.
So he was mean?
No. Not mean. Just...very angry.
Oh.
Should I keep reading?
Okay.
That was Billy Ansel on the phone. He wants to come over to talk to us.
Did he say what about?
No.
Was he drinking? Could you tell?
Jenny, it's time for you to go to bed.
Is he coming over now? Right away?
That's what he said.
Hey, Billy! What brings you out on a night like this? C'mon in. Take a load off.
Would you like a cup of tea, Billy? There's a piece of cake left.
He thought it was cute when I called him Frankenstein. It wasn't. I feel like his monster.
Isn't it a lovely day?
What happened to summer?
Summer's over. It's fall.
And winter?
Well, winter's far behind us now.
How was it?
We had a terrible winter last year, didn't we, Sam?
So do you like your new room?
It's interesting.
Your Dad spent all his spare time in here. He wanted to make it absolutely perfect.
I feel like a princess.
Is this mine?
Yes. It's a present.
From you?
No. From Mr. Stephens. That was him on the phone just now. He was calling to see how you were.
Who's Mr. Stephens?
Maybe we shouldn't be talking about this just now, with you barely home. Aren't you hungry, honey? Want me to fix you something?
No. What's this lawyer business?
Nicole!
It's the truth.
You want a cup of tea or something?
A cup of tea would be nice. Would it be alright if I sit down for a few minutes, Mrs. Otto? I want to talk to you.
But Dolores said she saw a dog and tried to...
How long has Dolores been driving that bus, Mr. Otto? How many times has she steered clear of danger? What went wrong that morning?
I didn't ask if you wanted milk.
No. A little sugar though.
We've only got honey.
I'll...take it straight.
Good morning, Wanda. Hi, Hartley.
Hi, Dolores.
What do you think?
Well, it's certainly what you'd call interesting.
You hate it.
I didn't say that.
I could wrap it up. Protect the other kids.
I'll just strap it on the roof.
It's for the school bazaar.
Oh, it's bizarre alright. C'mon Bear. Let's get you out of here.
Away from your crazy Mom.
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.
Dolores. No one calls me 'Mrs. Driscoll'.
What do you mean by that, Dolores?
About the Ottos?
Yes. What do you mean by 'hippies'?
I mean, the way they look. Their hair and clothing...
Do they have any reputation for drugs?
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 fundraising bazaars in town , though they aren't church goers.
And they loved Bear.
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.