131 EXTERIOR: REAR OF THE TOWN HALL NIGHT.
There's a small brick structure in the foreground, and the ENGINE ROAR identifies it as the generator shed. All at once the STEADY ROAR FALTERS; the engine COUGHS.
132 INTERIOR: RESUME TOWN MEETING HALL SIDE AISLE, WITH ORV AND CORA.
The lights FLICKER ON AND OFF; we see the two old folks looking up (any others that have been using the town hall's bathroom facilities, as well) through intervening shutters of darkness.
ORV Relax, Cora, it's just the gennie clearing her throat.
133 EXTERIOR: THE GENERATOR SHED NIGHT. Settles down to a STEADY ROAR again.
134 INTERIOR: RESUME MEETING HALL SIDE AISLE, WITH ORV AND CORA.
ORV
See? Bright as you could ever want!
STORM OF THE CENTURY 197
He just wants to be friendly, but she acts like he's trying to lure her onto one of those hard New England benches so he can do the dirty boogie with her. She hurries on without a word, nose higher than ever. At the end of the aisle are two doors marked with male and female icons. CORA pushes open the one with the woman on it and goes inside. ORV watches her, more bemused than offended.
ORV
(strictly to himself) Cora, friendly as ever, ayuh.
He heads back to the stairs leading to the area below.
135 INTERIOR: THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE NIGHT.
HATCH comes in from the market area, holding a tray carefully in front of him. Loaded on it are nine Styrofoam cups of coffee. He sets it down on MIKE'S desk, looking nervously at URSULA, who is sitting in MIKE'S chair with her hood back and her coat unzipped. She still looks stunned. At first, when MIKE offers her one of the cups, she doesn't seem to see it.
MIKE Go on, Urse. It'll warm you up.
URSULA I don't think I'll ever be warm again.
But she takes two of the cups and hands one to JOANNA, who is standing behind her. MIKE takes another. ROBBIE hands cups to JACK and KIRK; HATCH gives one to HENRY. When all have been passed out, there's one cup left. HATCH looks toward LINOGE.
HATCH Oh, what the hell. Want a cup?
No reply from LINOGE, who sits in his usual posture, watching.
ROBBIE
(with an edge) Don't they drink coffee on your planet, mister?
198 STEPHEN KING
MIKE
(to JOANNA) Tell me again.
JOANNA
162
I've told you half a dozen times already.
MIKE This'll be the last. Promise.
JOANNA
She said, 'I think it was the cane with the wolfs head that made me do it. I wouldn't touch it, if I were you.'
MIKE But you didn't see a cane. With or without a wolf's head.
JOANNA
No. Mike, what are we going to do?
MIKE Wait out the storm. It's all we can do.
URSULA
Molly wants to see you. She told me to tell you that. Said for you to set a guard and get back to her. Said you could have as many men as you need; none of 'em are doing much tonight, anyway.
MIKE
That's for sure, (pause) Hatch, step out here with me. Want to talk to you a minute.
They start toward the door leading into the store. MIKE hesitates and looks back at URSULA.
MIKE
You going to be all right?
URSULA
Yes.
STORM OF THE CENTURY 199 MIKE and HATCH go out. URSULA realizes LINOGE is looking at her.
URSULA What are you looking at?
LINOGE goes on looking. And smiling slightly. Then:
LINOGE
(sings) 'I'm a little teapot, short and stout. . . .'
136 INTERIOR: THE TOWN HALL LADIES' ROOM NIGHT.
ANGELA CARVER, in a soft and pretty nightgown, is at one of the basins, brushing her teeth.
From one of the CLOSED STALLS behind her, we hear THE RUSTLE OF CLOTH and the SNAP OF
HEAVY ELASTIC as CORA changes into her own nightwear.
CORA
(sings from the stall) '. . . Here is my handle, here is my spout!'
ANGELA looks in that direction, puzzled at first and then deciding to smile. She gives her teeth a final rinse, picks up her overnight bag, and leaves. As she does, CORA comes out of the stall she changed in, wearing woolly pink all the way down to the tips of her toes . . . and a nightcap on her head. Yes! She puts her own overnight bag on one of the sinks, unzips it, and brings out a tube of cream.
163
CORA
You can pick me up and pour me out . . .
137 INTERIOR: THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
The four men and two women watch LINOGE in
