Robbie, I wish I knew.
53 EXTERIOR: THE INTERSECTION OF MAIN AND ATLANTIC NIGHT.
The storm HOWLS. The drifts are deeper than ever now.
54 EXTERIOR: THE STORE WINDOW OF THE ISLAND DRUGSTORE NIGHT.
There's a mural showing winter scenes: folks sledding, skiing, and skating. Hanging in front of it on threads are bottles of vitamins. KEEP YOUR WINTER RESISTANCE UP WITH NU-U GLOW
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VITAMINS! the legend at the top of the mural says. Standing by the wall to the left is a pendulum clock reading 8:30.
SOUND: Another of those RENDING, SPLINTERING crashes. A HUGE BRANCH crashes through the show window, SHATTERING IT and pulling down the mural. Snow goes flying into the drugstore.
55 EXTERIOR: THE TOWN HALL NIGHT.
We can barely see it for the thickly falling snow.
56 INTERIOR: A CORNER OF THE TOWN HALL BASEMENT.
This is kid country. PIPPA HATCHER, HARRY ROBICHAUX, HEIDI ST. PIERRE, and FRANK BRIGHT
are already asleep. MOLLY is sitting on the side of RALPHIE'S bed. RALPHIE is pretty sleepy.
Outside, THE WIND GUSTS NOISILY. The building, although brick, CREAKS. MOLLY looks up.
RALPHIE
We won't blow away, will we? Like the house of straw and the house of twigs?
MOLLY
No, because the town hall's made of bricks, just like the third little pig's house. The storm can huff and puff all night long, and we'll still be safe.
RALPHIE
(sleepy) Is Daddy safe?
162 STEPHEN KING
MOLLY Yes. Safe as can be.
She kisses the fairy-saddle birthmark on the bridge of his nose.
RALPHIE
He won't let the bad man get out and hurt us, will he?
MOLLY Nope. I promise.
DON BEALS
(angry, yelling voice) Put me down! Stop it! Leave me alone!
MOLLY turns toward:
57 INTERIOR: THE STAIRS TO THE BASEMENT NIGHT.
SANDRA BEALS is trudging down them, carrying a kicking, squealing DON in her arms. The expression on her face suggests that she is used to such tantrums . . . too used to them, perhaps.
As she reaches the foot of the stairs, MOLLY comes hurrying to help, and DON finally succeeds in squirming free of his mother's grasp. He's tired and furious, exhibiting the sort of behavior that causes young marrieds to resolve never to have children.
MOLLY Need some help?
SANDRA BEALS (with a tired smile) No . . . he's just a little scratchy . . .
DON BEALS My daddy puts me to bed, not you!
SANDRA Donnie, honey . . .
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He kicks her. It's a child's kick, delivered by a sneaker, but it hurts.
STORM OF THE CENTURY 163
DON
(spits it) My daddy! Not you!
For a moment we see real loathing for this child on MOLLY'S face. She reaches out DON cringes away from her a little, eyes narrowing
SANDRA
Molly, no!
but MOLLY only turns him around and gives him a swat on the fanny.
MOLLY
(pleasant as pie) Go upstairs. Wait for your daddy.
DON BEALS, charming to the end, BLOWS A RASPBERRY at MOLLY, showering her with droplets of spittle. Then he scampers upstairs. The two women watch him go, SANDRA embarrassed over her son's behavior, MOLLY pulling herself back together. We should see that, good mom and day-care teacher or no, it at least crossed her mind to slap the little snothead's face for him, instead of swatting him lightly on the butt.
SANDRA
I'm sorry, Moll. I thought he might be ready. He's . . . he's used to having his dad tuck him in at night.
MOLLY
Better let him stay up I think Buster's still running around up there, too. They'll play tag for a while and then fall asleep in a corner somewhere.
During this, they walk back into the kiddie area, lowering their voices as they go.
SANDRA
As long as he didn't disturb anyone . . .
MOLLY Nah, they're out like lights.
164 STEPHEN KING
And that includes RALPHIE. MOLLY pulls the blanket up to his chin and kisses the corner of his mouth. SANDRA looks at this enviously.
SANDRA
I worry about Donnie sometimes. I love him, but I worry about him, too.
MOLLY
They go through stages, Sandy. Don may have his . . . his unlovely moments now, but in the end he'll be fine.
She's dubious, though, hoping what she says is true but not really believing it. Outside, the WIND
SCREAMS. The two women look up uneasily . . . and SANDRA gives in to a sudden urge to confide.
SANDRA
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I'm leaving Robbie in the spring. I'm taking Donnie and going back to my folks' on Deer Isle. I didn't think I'd made up my mind for sure, but ... I guess I have.
MOLLY looks at her with a combination of
