1997
Mitchell Stephens, a lawyer, arrives in a small, isolated town to represent the families of children killed in a school bus accident, hoping to secure a settlement that will bring them some measure of justice. Mitchell interviews the grieving parents and the bus driver, Dolores Driscoll, attempting to convince them to join a class-action lawsuit, while simultaneously dealing with his own estranged, drug-addicted daughter, Zoe, who frequently calls him for money. As Mitchell builds his case, he uncovers the town's hidden secrets, including an affair between Billy Ansel, a father who lost two children in the crash, and Risa Walker, the motel owner, and the complex relationship between Nicole Burnell, a survivor of the crash, and her father, Sam. During her deposition, Nicole, who is now wheelchair-bound, falsely testifies that Dolores was speeding at the time of the accident, a lie that ultimately sabotages the lawsuit and leaves the townspeople divided and without resolution. Mitchell, defeated and reflecting on his own parental failures, returns to his life, leaving the town to grapple with its grief and the lingering questions surrounding the tragedy.
Save the Cat beat sheet
A lawyer, Mitchell Stephens, arrives in a small town after a tragic school bus accident that kills several children, including those of local families.
Open full beat sheetMitchell Stephens is listed as Lawyer. A man in his mid-fifties, emotionally distant, dealing with a drug-addicted daughter. In the parsed data, Mitchell Stephens is connected to 27 scenes, 95 dialogue lines, 97 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
27 scenes / 95 dialogue linesNicole Burnell is listed as Student. Sixteen-year-old girl, survivor of the bus accident, wheelchair-bound. In the parsed data, Nicole Burnell is connected to 18 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
18 scenes / 14 dialogue linesSam Burnell is listed as Nicole's father. A carpenter, intensely proud of his daughter. In the parsed data, Sam Burnell is connected to 15 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
15 scenes / 4 dialogue linesBilly Ansel is listed as Father of Jessica and Mason. Widower, runs a gas station/repair shop. In the parsed data, Billy Ansel is connected to 12 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
12 scenes / 15 dialogue linesDolores Driscoll is listed as Bus driver. A warm, cheery woman in her forties. In the parsed data, Dolores Driscoll is connected to 11 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 17.
11 scenes / 13 dialogue linesRisa Walker is listed as Motel owner. Exhausted woman in her mid-thirties, mother of Sean. In the parsed data, Risa Walker is connected to 9 scenes, 28 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
9 scenes / 28 dialogue linesAlison Jones is listed as Friend of Zoe. Met Mitchell on a plane. In the parsed data, Alison Jones is connected to 6 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 22 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
6 scenes / 20 dialogue linesWanda Otto is listed as Mother of Bear. Adoptive mother, artistic. In the parsed data, Wanda Otto is connected to 3 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
3 scenes / 15 dialogue linesZoe Stephens is listed as Mitchell's daughter. A drug addict who frequently calls her father for money. In the parsed data, Zoe Stephens is connected to 3 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
3 scenes / 9 dialogue linesHartley Otto is listed as Father of Bear. Adoptive father, often stoned. In the parsed data, Hartley Otto is connected to 3 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
3 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAbbott is listed as Dolores's husband. Paralyzed by a stroke. In the parsed data, Abbott is connected to 3 scenes, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 17.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesWendell Walker is listed as Motel owner. Risa's husband. In the parsed data, Wendell Walker is connected to 2 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
2 scenes / 15 dialogue linesA young family sleeps in bed on a bright summer morning.
A car enters a car wash.
Mitchell Stephens listens to music inside his car while in the car wash.
Mitchell StephensZoe enters a phone booth to make a call.
Zoe StephensMitchell receives a call from Zoe while in the car wash.
Mitchell Stephens, Zoe StephensSam watches his daughter Nicole sing at a fairground rehearsal.
Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellMitchell helps a father with his toddler in an airport washroom.
Mitchell StephensMitchell tries to call the operator after getting stuck in the car wash.
Mitchell StephensSam and Nicole walk through the fairground.
Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellMitchell arrives at the motel.
Mitchell StephensMitchell meets Risa and Wendell.
Mitchell Stephens, Risa Walker, Wendell WalkerSam and Nicole watch a school bus arrive.
Nicole Burnell, Sam Burnell, Dolores DriscollMitchell interviews Risa and Wendell about the townspeople.
Mitchell Stephens, Risa Walker, Wendell WalkerMitchell takes a private call from Zoe.
Mitchell Stephens, Zoe StephensMitchell meets Alison Jones.
Mitchell Stephens, Alison JonesWanda and Hartley say goodbye to Bear as he boards the bus.
Dolores Driscoll, Wanda Otto, Hartley OttoMitchell interviews Dolores.
Mitchell Stephens, Dolores Driscoll, AbbottChildren play on the bus.
Dolores Driscoll, Billy AnselBilly talks on the phone while driving.
Risa Walker, Billy AnselMitchell and Alison continue their conversation.
Mitchell Stephens, Alison JonesMitchell visits the Ottos.
Mitchell Stephens, Wanda Otto, Hartley OttoMitchell continues his pitch to the Ottos.
Mitchell Stephens, Wanda Otto, Hartley OttoMitchell steps outside to get the agreement.
Mitchell StephensMitchell talks to Alison about his feelings.
Mitchell Stephens, Alison JonesNicole arrives to babysit.
Nicole Burnell, Billy AnselBilly leaves work.
Billy AnselBilly sneaks into the motel.
Billy AnselBilly and Risa meet in secret.
Risa Walker, Billy AnselNicole reads to the children.
Nicole BurnellRisa and Billy are in a motel room; Risa is naked and Billy is showering. They discuss their children and the upcoming school bus ride.
Risa Walker, Billy AnselNicole returns clothes belonging to Billy's deceased wife to Billy.
Nicole Burnell, Billy AnselSam picks up Nicole and questions her about the clothes.
Sam Burnell, Nicole BurnellSam and Nicole arrive home and go to the barn.
Sam Burnell, Nicole BurnellNicole rides the bus to school, reciting the Pied Piper poem.
Nicole BurnellDolores recounts the morning of the accident to Mitchell.
Dolores Driscoll, Mitchell Stephens, AbbottDolores picks up Sean at the motel.
Dolores Driscoll, Risa WalkerThe school bus crashes into the frozen pond.
Dolores Driscoll, Billy AnselMitchell tells Alison about a past medical emergency involving his daughter Zoe.
Mitchell Stephens, Alison JonesBilly and Risa argue about the accident and the lawyer.
Billy Ansel, Risa WalkerMitchell confronts Billy at the site of the damaged bus.
Mitchell Stephens, Billy AnselMitchell pressures Dolores to join the lawsuit.
Mitchell Stephens, Dolores Driscoll, AbbottNicole is discharged from the hospital.
Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellNicole sees the room Sam built for her.
Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellMitchell stares at the sleeping Alison and covers her with a blanket.
Mitchell Stephens, Alison JonesMitchell arrives at the Burnell home.
Mitchell Stephens, Sam BurnellMitchell meets with Nicole, Sam, and Mary to discuss the case.
Mitchell Stephens, Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellMitchell discusses the legal process and depositions with the family.
Mitchell Stephens, Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellFlashback to Sean Walker boarding the bus.
Dolores Driscoll, Risa WalkerDolores gives her deposition regarding the accident.
Mitchell Stephens, Dolores DriscollFlashback to the moment Sean sees his mother near the bus.
Dolores Driscoll, Risa WalkerBilly Ansel visits the Burnell home to ask them to drop the lawsuit.
Nicole Burnell, Sam Burnell, Billy AnselSam talks to Nicole about her upcoming deposition.
Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellNicole gives her deposition.
Mitchell Stephens, Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellSam and Mitchell argue after the deposition.
Mitchell Stephens, Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellMitchell waits for his luggage and encounters Alison.
Mitchell Stephens, Alison JonesSam and Nicole visit the fairground.
Nicole Burnell, Sam BurnellI've sent her to the best hospitals, she's seen all the best doctors. It doesn't matter. Two weeks later she's on the street. New York, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Toronto, L.A. The next time I hear from her, it's a phone call scamming for money. Money for school, or money for a new kind of therapist, or money for a plane ticket home. 'Oh Daddy, just let me come home...Please, Daddy, I have to see you...' But she never comes home. I'm always at the airport, but she's never there. Ten years of this, ten years of these lies, of imagining what happens if I don't send the money, of kicking down doors and dragging her out of rat-infested apartments, of explaining why that couldn't be my daughter in a porn flick someone saw...well, enough rage and helplessness, and your love turns to something else.
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...
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.
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...
Remember that time we were having the car washed and I started playing with the automatic window? How old was I, Daddy? Five or six? I got absolutely soaked, remember?
Charlene's over at the Spread Eagle every other night. Sleeps with whatever she can get her hands on. She'll go down for a pat on the head and a fistful of peanuts.
No, nothing like that. Billy's wife, Lydia, died of cancer a few years ago. He took over raising the children by himself. It was obvious how much he missed Lydia.
I'm sorry for coming over unannounced like this, Mrs. Otto, but the Walkers said you would understand. I know it's an awful time, but it's important that we talk.
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