Original subtitles

I'm not what you'd call a Rhodes Scholar

I don't have much in the way of philosophy either...

but I know one thing...

In this world, you have to pay as you go.

Sometimes, all you have.

That's a lesson I thought I learned nine years ago

during what folks in these parts call the Storm of the Century...

but I was wrong.

I only started learning during the Big Blow.

I finished just last week.

I grew up in Maine...

but in a way I never really lived in Maine...

I think anyone from my part of the world would say the same.

Folks from Little Tall send their taxes to Augusta same as other folks...

and we got either a lobster or a loon on our license plates

same as other folks...

We root for the University of Maine's teams,

especially the women's basketball team,

same as other folks.

- Hey, Sonny, you forgot one. - One for the pot for good luck!

Better double it, Sonny, the weatherman says it's comin' on.

Seen 'em come in every winter, they howl in and howl out...

July always comes.

Still, they say this one's gonna be something special.

(Mike:) But we ain't the same. Out on the islands is different.

We pull together when we have to.

- We'll get through her. - Yeh, like always.

When you mind the swell, you mind the boat.

What's a Frenchman like you know?

(Mike:) And we can keep a secret when we have to...

we kept our share back in 1989.

And the people who live there keep them still.

I know. I stay in touch.

I got all my canned goods now...

You wouldn't think there was a big storm coming, would you?

I just pray we don't lose the power.

Radio says it's gonna snow a bitch.

Easy, Ferd. It's just a cap of snow.

Trouble don't cross the reach, ain't that why we live here?

Yeah... Well, if we get in trouble, we're in trouble.

(TV:) This is the storm that's caused fifteen deaths...

as it crossed the Great Plains and the Midwest...

Folks, here comes trouble...

this is a very atypical storm, almost a winter hurricane...

the sort that paralyzed the East Coast

and buried Boston back in 1976...

(Mike:) The first person to see Andre Linoge was Martha Clarendon.

He was also the last person she ever saw.

We haven't seen a storm of comparable power until now.

Will it gives us a break and stay out to sea?

Unfortunately the storm track computer says no.

Oh, my!

Look at this!

The systems will collide over Maine...

Oh, dear!

Hurricane-force winds, phenomenal amounts of snow...

add region-wide blackouts...

Oh, dear... dear!

(doorbell rings)

(TV:) We sometimes over use the phrase "Storm of the Century,"

but if these two storms converge...

the phrase will be no exaggeration.

Next we'll talk about storm preparation,

no panic here, just practicalities.

When they tell you the world's coming to an end,

they want to sell you cereal.

When they tell you not to panic, it's serious.

(doorbell rings) Oh, hold on!

I'm getting there as fast as I can!

I broke my hip last summer, and I'm slow as cold molasses.

Can I help you?

"Born in lust, turn to dust."

- I beg you pardon? - "Born in sin, come on in."

(gasps)

(Andre humming)

(sings:) "I'm a little teapot, short and stout...

here is my handle, here is my spout...

when I get all steamed up, here me shout...

just tip me over and pour me out."

(TV narrator:) ...is it the Punishments of God?

(TV:)... do it now, before it's too late.

Don't forget the bean supper next Wednesday-week, Michael...

I'll need every deacon I can lay my hands on!

I'll be there, if we can get through the next three days.

I'm sure we will, God takes care of his own.

Aren't there any pork chops? I thought you'd have pork chops.

There you go!

Ground chuck's too dear! Don't you have hamburger?

Right here! Okay folks, listen, it's a storm, that's all...

We've gotten through plenty of these before...

we'll get through plenty after, so everyone calm down!

Stop acting like mainlanders!

Don't be smart, Mike Anderson!

No, Mrs. St. Pierre, I won't be smart.

Yeah? Hold on just a second.

Hey, Mike, you got a call, it's your wife...

she's gotta little problem at the day-care center.

Uh-oh! Is she hot under the collar?

How do I know where she's hot, she's your wife!

(laughter)

Hatch, wanna take over for me?

Yo, Mike, can I borrow your whip and chair?

Better go see about that, huh, Mike?

Hey, Moll, What's up?

I got a little problem, can you come?

I got a little problem of my own, what's yours?

(kids screaming) Pippa got her head stuck!

(Pippa wails)

Pippa, can I have your bread if you're not gonna eat it?

No-ooo-oo! (kids laughing)

Pippa, honey, hold still! Annie, keep her calm.

- Pippa? What about Pippa? - Please, quiet!

The last thing I want is Alton Hatcher down on me.

Something about Pippa.

It's too late, babe... What's up?

(sighs) Pippa's got her head stuck in the stairs...

It's not serious, but...

I can't deal with a big storm and a crazed daddy all in the same day.

If Hatch comes, you be with him.

- All right, I'll be down. - What about Pippa?

She's got a little stuck-itis. Let's go see.

How upset did she sound, Mike?

About point five on the scale from one to ten. Don't worry.

This is gonna be one bad mother of a storm.

Mike and your daddy will be here and Mike will get you out.

- I'm hungry! - Can I feed her, Mrs. Anderson?

I fed a monkey once at the Bangor Fair.

I'm not a monkey, Harry!

Look you guys, I'm a monkey! Oooh-ooh!

(kids laughing)

I am not a monkey!

All right, kids, stop it. It's making Pippa sad!

Don, you stop! It's mean!

Don, you need to stop right now!

Daddy!

Pippa! Hold still, you'll yank your ears right off your head.

Pippa got her head stuck, Don won't stop bein' a monkey.

Mr. Anderson, I stopped bein' a monkey as soon as she said!

That's great, Sally! I gotta put you down, Ralphie!

Ow! Hey, why'd you do that?

For actin' smart.

I ain't afraid of you, my dad's the town manager...

he pays your salary.

Pushers get pushed, Donnie Beals...

You remember that. It's a true fact of this sad life...

Pushers get pushed.

- Honey, why'd you do this? - Heidi St. Pierre dared me.

What happened, darlin'?

It was easy goin' out, but now I can't get back in!

I think my head must be bigger on this side!

It is, but you know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna make it smaller. You know how?

No! How?

I'm gonna push your smaller button.

Then you're head'll get smaller and it'll slide out

just as easily as it slid in. Understand, Pippa?

(Hatch laughs)

I'm gonna push your button now, okay? You ready?

- Uh-huh. - Close your eyes.

Here we go... BEEP!

Okay, your head's getting smaller,

pull it out before it gets big, there you go!

(kids cheer) Thanks, boss.

- Thank you, really. - No problem.

I'm sorry if I called at a bad time...

I saw her head like that and couldn't get it out, I freaked.

You needed a break anyway.

- The smaller button, huh? - Everyone's got one.

Davey Hopewell, in transition... He avoids the press...

Stockton tries to steal the ball, but he doesn't have a chance.

It's Davey Hopewell at the top of the key,

Clock running out...

Davey Hopewell's the Celtics' only hope...

He shakes, he bakes, he...

(wind blows)

(TV:) The jetstream has taken a pattern which is very typical

for this time of year. The upper flow is stronger than usual...

(Davey:) Mrs. Clarendon? Are you okay?

Mrs. Clarendon?

(door creaks)

(sound of TV)

Mrs. Clarendon? It's Davey. Davey Hopewell?

Are you all right?

Hello? Anybody here?

(Andre:) Forget the NBA, Davey.

You'll never even play first string in high school.

You're slow...

You're a dwarf!

Why don't you come in here, I'll do you a favor...

save you a lot of grief.

No! Help! Help! Help!

Somebody killed Mrs. Clarendon!

Help, somebody, help! Mrs. Clarendon's dead! Help!

He shoots...

He scores.

Help! Please!

Help, somebody, help! Somebody, please!

Get help! Help, please!

David Hopewell!

What are you doing, running down the road

making a spectacle of yourself?

Someone killed Mrs. Clarendon!

That's nonsense, what are you talking about?

There's blood everywhere, and one of her eyes is out!

- Davey, just calm down... - It's on her cheek...!

Mrs. Kingsbury, look after him, give him some hot tea...

better yet, some whiskey if you have any.

You gonna tell Mike Anderson?

Not until I've had a look first.

There's more than one thing that a town manager can do.

You want help, Robbie Beals?

That won't be necessary, George. I'll be fine.

(Davey:) Careful, Mr. Beals. I think the guy's still inside.

(honks horn)

(swing creaks)

- Wanna come in? - Nah, I'm fine.

Hey, boss?

Thanks for seein' after my little girl.

My pleasure.

(waves crash)

(bell chimes)

(Ursula:) We haven't heard any more than you have...

Not the memorial bell, not with the winds we're having...

It'll be the siren, if it comes to that.

Two shorts, and one long, that's right.

...Mike Anderson, of course.

Those are the decisions we pay him to make, aren't they?

Yeah, I'll say hello to Peter for ya.

Thanks for calling, Betty.

Tough day, huh?

Betty Soames thinks we have access to some secret forecast.

Some kind of Jeanne Dixon psychic weather forecast?

I guess, yeah...

Urse, have most people in town seen this stuff?

If they're not blind, they have. Y'need to relax, Mike Anderson.

How's little Pippa Hatcher?

- Whoa, that was fast! - No secrets on the island!

She's fine, she got her head stuck in the stairs.

(laughter)

Her dad's in the car doin' homework for the big blow of '89.

Just like Alton and Melinda Hatcher's daughter... perfect.

People know this one's bad, Mike.

If they hear the siren, they'll come. You needn't worry.

You came to see the emergency shelter setup, didn't you?

Thought it might not be a bad idea.

We can handle 300 for 3 days, 150 for a week...

If what I'm hearin' on the radio is right, we may have to.

(TV:) When life hands you lemons we can help you make lemonade...

...Stick it to them, before they stick it to you.

Anybody here?

You may have thousands of dollars waiting for you...

Oh my God...

(TV shuts off)

- Good? - You know it is.

How's the supply closet?

Full, just like you wanted. Concentrates, mostly...

Pour the water over the powder and gag it down...

But nobody will starve.

- You do all this yourself? - Me and Pete's sister, Tavia...

"Be discreet," you said. "Don't panic anyone."

That's what I said...

So how many people know we're stocked for World War III?

Everyone.

Who are you?

"Born in sin, come on in."

You were with a whore in Boston when your mother died.

Ma was in that old nursing home they tore down last fall.

The one with the rats in the pantry, right?

She choked to death calling your name. Isn't that sweet?

But that's all right, Robbie...

She's waiting for you in hell, and she's turned cannibal...

When you get there, she's going to eat you alive...

Over and over and over again...

That's what hell is all about, Robbie... Repetition.

I think in our hearts, most of us know that.

Catch!

Oh!

(TV:) Let's check the area to be most affected by the storm...

The forecast calls for destruction tonight...

death tomorrow... and Armageddon by the weekend.

This could be the end of life as we know it.

Seems unlikely, but we can always hope.

This is Robbie Beals for Constable Anderson...

(radio:)... this is an emergency!

Come back, damn it, Anderson! We got a murder down here...

Martha Clarendon's been beaten to death...

...the man who did this is still in the house!

Come back, Anderson... Can you hear me?

He's always around when it comes to unwanted advice, where is he?

(radio:) Isn't there anybody listening on this thing?

- Anderson! - Robbie, This is Tess Marchant.

I don't want you, I want Anderson!

I can't do his job and mine as well!

He had an emergency at home. Alton went with him.

What do you mean, emergency at home...

There's an emergency right here!

There's a woman murdered...

We got a lunatic in Martha Clarendon's living room!

What's he talking about? Who's murdered?

Martha, he says.

Robbie, I'm here. Just a minute.

You folks, back off now. Gimme a little privacy.

You pay me 6,000 a year to be constable, let me do the job you pay me for.

Where are you, Robbie, come back?

Where am I? I'm at Martha Clarendon's house!

Where do you think I am?

I'm keeping the man inside at bay.

Now you get your ass down here!

Let's take another ride, all right?

You and Kat mind the store.

All right, folks, stay here and finish your shopping...

There's nothing that you can do down on Atlantic Avenue.

Snow's early.

Look at the mainland... Can't see over there no more...

It's time to get in while you can.

Can't even see the reach no more...

Time to head down to the Town Hall...

Whether you've heard the siren or not.

- Want the shotgun? - Yep, better have it.

Just make sure that safety's on, Alton Hatcher.

Well, it's about time!

- Put that thing away! - No such thing, constable...

you do your job, and I'll do mine.

Your job is real estate. Wanna at least lower it, please?

C'mon, Robbie, it's in my face, and I know it's loaded.

(opens pistol) All right, what happened?

I was driving to the Town Office...

I saw Davey Hopewell running down the street, screaming

that Martha Clarendon's dead, and that somebody killed her!

I came down here, and it's true...

she's... awful.

The one that did it is still inside?

He spoke to me.

What did he say?

He told me to get out...

He said, "You get out or I'll kill you too!" I don't know!

This isn't the time for an interrogation!

What did he look like?

I barely got a look at him.

Hatch, you stay at my left, keep the barrel of that gun

pointed toward the ground.

Leave that safety on until I tell you to take it off.

And you, you stay exactly where you are, please.

You're the constable.

I'd be careful if I was you!

Even if there is a guy, he's probably gone by now.

She ain't got but a five-foot garden fence.

(door creaks)

(TV:)... Order now, while you still have time...

Oh, my God... Oh, God. Mike, she's got no face left!

...Oh... God...

Hatch, are you gonna be all right? Hatch?

Because if you're not, I want you to hand me that 12 gauge...

...and go back out to Robbie. - I'm okay.

- Are you sure? - Aye.

(TV shuts off)

Freeze!!

Raise your hands!

Up over the chair. I wanna see them clear as day!

You got two guns pointed at you!

One of them's a scatter!

Put your hands together.

Robbie...

- What happened to Martha? - Just stand back!

This is under control!

(draws handcuffs)

If he moves, shoot him.

Aye.

If he shoots, he'll get us both.

That thing's still loaded with buckshot.

Also... he's still got the safety on.

(safety clicks)

(handcuffs lock)

But you remembered to wear gloves.

That was good.

On your feet.

(wind gusting)

Hatch, close the door.

Is that wise? This bein' a crime scene and all...

you think we should leave things the way they are?

Leave the door open...

the crime scene's gonna be under six feet of fresh powder.

Hold on!

What's your name?

Andre Linoge.

All right, let's go.

Pip, you sure you're all right?

Don Beals hurt my feelings, but they're better now.

I'm sorry I had to call you early, guys.

That's okay. The radio says they're gonna keep

the bigger kids over in Machais at least tonight.

The reach is too choppy to send them back by waterbus.

- Mommy, I'm cold - Of course you are!

You'll warm up in the car. Are there more?

No, Buster and Pip were the last.

Pippa, you had quite an adventure today, didn't you?

Yeah.

Good to see you, Melinda. Take care.

You too. 'Bye.

And thank you for being such a good helper today, Buster.

Okay.

We'll see you Monday, if the roads are open!

Wave her 'bye, Buster.

- You drive safely, Angie.'Bye. - 'Bye!

(phone rings)

Hello?

There you are, I've been trying to reach you for ten minutes.

I've been on the porch handing kids over to their parents.

I sent them home early. What's up, Katrina?

I don't want you to be scared,

but we got word there's been a murder on the island.

Martha Clarendon. Mike and Hatch just went over there.

Are you sure?

I'm not really sure about anything right now...

This place has been a madhouse all day...

They went over there and Mike wanted me to call you

just to let you know that everything's under control.

- Is it? - Yeah... Probably.

Anyway, he wanted me to call you before anyone else did.

So, if you see Melinda Hatcher...

She just left with Angie Carver, they're carpooling...

you can reach them at home in 15 minutes or so...

But you better make that 20.

There's no chance that this is a joke or a prank?

No. Robbie Beals called it in,

he doesn't exactly do humor, you know?

Yeah, I know.

He said the person who did this might still be there.

I don't know if Mike would want me to tell you that,

but I thought you had the right to know.

Molly?

I'm coming down to the store...

If Mike gets there before I do, you tell him to stay put.

- I don't think he'd... - Thanks, Kat.

Hey, Ralphie, honey! Let's go to the market and see your daddy.

- What do you say? - Daddy! Yay!

Yay! Let's get you dressed.

What, are you gonna put him in there?

Not unless you wanna get in the back seat and baby-sit.

Get in there, Mister.

Put that down!

Remember what I said, Robbie... Hell is repetition!

He talks a lot of nonsense!

I think he's crazy!

How'd he know your name? Did you tell him?

I don't know... but no sane person would hurt Martha.

I'll come to the store and help clear this up.

We're gonna have to get in touch with the State Police!

Robbie, I know this goes against your grain...

but you're going to have to let me handle this!

I am the town manager, I've got responsibilities!

So do I, and they're clearly divided in the town charter!

Ursula needs you a lot more at the Town Hall than...

I need you at the constable's. Come on, Hatch.

You're getting a little big for your britches!

The store! Yay!

"Yay" is right.

Mommy, are you feeling all right?

I'm fine, honey.

(signs creaking)

- What're we gonna do with him? - Keep your voice down!

We'll have to try and raise the State Police barracks.

Robbie was right about that much...

But what are the chances they'll take him off our hands in this?

Hatch...

When we were in the hall, I heard the TV on, did you?

At first, yeah. The weather. Then the guy must've...

But it was busted, busted all to hell and gone...

He didn't do it while we were in the hallway either...

You bust a TV picture tube, it makes a sound, like BOOF!

We would have heard it.

Must have been the radio...

(hissing)

(engine cranking)

(Hatch whistles)

- Safety off? - Yeah.

Up top.

Step out, come up on the dock.

(wind howling)

(keys jingle)

(key breaks)

Shoot!

Snapped off...

Must be the cold.

(banging on door)

Anybody in there? (bangs on door)

All right, never mind. Open it from the other side.

Want me to leave you out here alone with him?

Unless you see Superman hanging out in the alley...

Maybe we could bring him around the front?

Through the store? With everyone doing their storm shopping?

I don't think so. Go on, now.

(propeller flutters)

What happened, Beals? Is Martha really dead?

She's dead, all right.

- You haven't heard from them? - I haven't heard from them.

(boots flap)

Hatch!

- Hi, Molly. - Where's Mike, is he all right?

He's out back with the prisoner, I have to let him in.

Is he a local?

I never saw him before in my life.

What are they doin' out back?

Give me what I want and I'll go away.

What is it you want?

- Uh, Mike? - Hurry up, it's freezing!

It won't open, it's stuck!

Did you unlock it?

Of course I did.

Then whale on it! Probably ice stuck in the jamb.

(continues to bang)

Here, let me.

Anderson! You're gonna have to take him through the store.

- Hatch, come around. Alone. - Right there.

(shivering breath)

Remember what I said, Mr. Anderson...

And when the time comes, we'll talk.

Go on.

Hold up. Go ahead, Hatch.

(bell rings)

Mike wants you folks to move back on both sides...

no one in Aisle Two.

We got us a bad guy and we can't bring him in through the back

like we'd like to, so move back, give us some room.

- Why'd he kill her? - Could you move back, Pete...

Mike's been out in the snow, and his feet are pretty cold.

We'll all feel better once we get this guy locked up...

Just move back and give us a clear way up the second aisle.

Aye...

Not one wrong move, Mr. Linoge...

You mind me, now.

Mike?

Straight down the aisle. Nowhere else.

C'mon, let's go.

Peter Godsoe!

My favorite seafood wholesaler with my favorite politician.

How's the fish business? Not so good, is it?

Lucky you've got the marijuana business to fall back on.

How many bales have you got in the warehouse now? Ten?

Twenty? Forty? Be sure you got it wrapped good, Pete...

There's gonna be a hell of a surge when the tide comes high!

C'mon, move!

Kat Withers! You're lookin' well!

Why not? It's an in-office procedure, nothin' to it.

I don't suppose you've told your folks yet... or Billy.

(sobs)

Move... (click)

Or I'll move ya.

My advice would be to go ahead.

What's a little scrape between friends these days?

Ralphie...?

Mama, can I have...

Put him down!!

Or...?

- I know you! - You do?

You're Ralph Emerick Anderson.

- And I know something else... - What?

You've got a fairy saddle on your nose!

That's what my daddy calls it!

You bet. Speaking of your daddy...

Why are you wearing those?

(gasps)

Because I choose to. Go on, go see your dad.

- Get him out of here! - Ralphie! Mike!

Get him outta here!!

Don't shoot him, Daddy... He knows about the fairy saddle!

I'm not gonna shoot him if he goes where he's supposed to.

What do you know about Katrina? How do you know?!

Are you crazy?! Gat away from him!

This man's a killer!

Stay out of his way, Billy Soames...

- Stay out of mine, too. - Also, clean yourself up.

Billy...?

Leave me alone!

Before he gets too self-righteous, Katrina...

ask him how well he knows Jenna Freeman.

What do you know about my sister?

That horses aren't all she enjoys riding

when the weather's hot. Right, Billy?

Keep away from this man, all of you!

(crash outside)

I don't like the sound of that.

Move, Mr. Linoge.

Put your hands up... grab the bars.

Now, spread your legs...

Wider.

I'm gonna pat you down.

If you move, my friend Alton will save us a lot of trouble...

Don't even twitch, Mr. Linoge.

You put your filthy hands on my son...

so don't you so much as twitch.

(puts rifle down)

All right, where's your wallet?

Where's your wallet, huh?

(slap) Mike, take it easy.

He put his hands on my son... Put his face in my son's face...

Kissed my son's nose. Don't tell me to take it easy.

Where's your wallet, sir?

(bangs bars) WHERE'S YOUR WALLET?!

- Where's your bankcard... - Mike...

- Where's your blood-donor card? - Mike...!

Where's your Discount Card from Value Mart?

What sewer did you crawl through to get here? Answer me!!

Where's your wallet?! WHERE'S YOUR WALLET?!

Stop it! Stop it! Mike, what are you doing?

Take your boots off.

I'll have to let go of the bars to do that.

They lace up.

If you move, you'll never have constipation problems again!

Kick 'em off.

(boots hit floor)

- Nothing. - Put 'em over by the desk.

Step into the cell, Mr. Linoge.

Move slowly, keep your hands where I can see 'em.

(latch clatters)

(keys rattle)

You don't think it'll hold you?

Lt'll hold you.

(door bolt clicks)

I... I swear, Mike. It wouldn't budge.

(rattles handle)

Don't touch that!!

Did you check to see if he has any identification on him?

- I want you out of here. - I wanna tell you, Anderson...

Your sense of humor is entirely not funny.

I don't have the time or patience for this...

Now, you get out, or I'll throw you out!

Come Town Meeting,

we're gonna have a change in law enforcement on Little Tall.

Town Meeting's in March, this is February...

now get the hell out!

I think I handled that well, don't you?

Like a diplomat.

(sighs)

- I gotta tell Molly... - You're gonna leave me alone?

You try to raise the State Police in Machais.

- And keep away from him. - You can count on that.

Come back. Are you there? Do you read me, Machais?

We've lost contact with the mainland.

(crowd murmurs)

- Peter Godsoe, Peter? - Mike, what that fellow said...

it's the biggest crock of stuff I ever heard.

Yeah. Look, I want you to go back there with Hatch...

We're gonna watch this guy, with the buddy system.

Sure, okay, you bet.

I have to close the store. Take what you've got...

I trust you to settle up after the storm.

Right now I've got a prisoner to deal with.

Did that man really kill poor old Martha?

In time, we'll have the whole story, but not now.

Please, all of you, please, just help me do my job.

I want a few of you men to hang around for a couple minutes...

Kirk Freeman, Jack Carver...

Sonny Brautigan, Johnny Harriman, Billy...

uh, Robbie...

Machais, this is Alton Hatcher on Little Tall...

We have a police emergency here! Do you read, Machais?

(static)

Machais, this is Alton Hatcher, Channel one-nine, do you read?

They don't. You lost your good antenna off the roof.

Try the phone.

(rattles phone receiver)

Better take the truck, won't get 300 yards in the car...

Never seen it come down so hard and fast.

Billy, would you give Molly a hand with the carseat?

- Sure, Mike. - I'll take the service truck...

and get a lift when I get things squared away.

I've gotta go back to Martha's, long enough to get it secured.

Be careful.

(hangs up phone)

No? Lt was a long shot.

You don't really have a load of Panama Red

behind your lobster traps, do ya Pete?

Mommy, the island won't blow away, will it?

No, honey, of course not.

(gusty wind)

- C'mon, honey... - Mike was right...

You'd never make it in your car. Drive safe, Molly.

Thanks, Billy.

We'll be home soon.

Aww, damn!

- Hey, look at him! - What?

- What? - I, uh...

...nothing.

You been smokin' too much of what you been sellin', Pete.

Hey, shut up, Hatch.

You don't talk about what you don't understand.

Hey, Pete.

I was out of line there.

Yeah.

Way out.

What are you looking at?

Gonna be all right? I can give you a lift home.

It's the wrong direction.

I'm only six houses down as you well know.

Don't baby me.

Come on, let's get the other one.

Mike.

Do you have any idea why he came here?

Why he'd want to kill Martha?

No.

Why don't you go on home, Tess?

I'll lock up.

- Everything ok? - Reasonably ok.

I couldn't raise the State Police in Machais.

Couldn't raise anybody.

Well, that doesn't really surprise me.

All right, here's the duty roster, Hatch.

You and Peter until 8:00 pm.

Kirk and Jack 8:00 pm until midnight.

Robbie and Sonny midnight to 4:00 am...

Billy and Johnny 4:00 am until 8:00 in the morning.

After that, we'll figure something else out.

You ok with that?

- Yeah. - Yeah, fine.

All right, now. You stay alert. Both of you.

Later on we're going to have that talk you wanted, sir.

Hey, Mike.

What do we do with him if Ursula and Robbie

blow the town whistle and bring everybody in?

We can't very well put him in the Town Hall basement

with a blanket and a cup of chowder.

I don't know. Stay here with him, I guess.

Well, what if he blows away?

You want to go home, Pete?

No.

I'm so sorry, old girl.

What was that?

Tree. Robichaux's backyard from the sound.

Hope it didn't hit their porch.

Jack, do you have to go back to the store today?

Yeah.

Daddy's going to guard the bad guy

and make sure he doesn't get away in a plane.

That's right, big guy. It's a bad situation, hon.

Everybody's got to do their part.

Besides, I'll be with Kirk. It's the buddy system.

If you hear the whistle, you just take Buster and go.

Hell, go before then if you get nervous.

Bundle up, take the snowmobile.

- Are you sure? - Fact is, the earlier you go...

the better choice of beds you and Buster are apt to have.

People are headed that way already. I seen the lights.

Now you be here or there when my watch is over.

It don't matter. I'll find you.

Hey, Pete. What do you suppose this one is?

Yodeler's perch. Three letters.

Alp.

Of course it is.

This is a great program.

I'll let you try it later on if you want.

Sure.

Hop on up.

All right?

- Are you ok, Mother? - Fine.

As the flowers in May.

What about you, Jo?

I'll make it.

Ok, Tess.

...lt's getting pretty bad up there.

...Have you got her prescriptions with you?

...Sign in, everyone. We have to know who is here...

so please sign in before you go downstairs.

...What did he say? - What could he say?

Everybody down at Casco Bay knows that Peter Godsoe

wholesales nine pounds of pot for every pound of lobster.

Can't say I blame him.

Got a house full of women to support.

The question is, Robbie, how did that fellow know?

Likely in business together.

Why would a fellow want to kill a harmless old lady

like Martha Clarendon unless he's high on drugs?

You tell me that, Judge Kirby.

That doesn't explain how he could know that

Cat Withers was up in Derry for an abortion.

Woman: Are there any more blankets?

Robbie Beals, Henry Bright,

you boys think you could go downstairs

and bring up some more blankets out of the back storeroom,

or aren't you far enough along with your politicking yet?

What's the matter, Ursula?

All this a little too much for you, dear?

Isn't it about time to blow the whistle and bring them in?

Looks like enough of them have come in on their own.

The rest can ride it out just fine.

This is a bunch of foolishness as far as I'm concerned.

Do you think our grandparents got together at Town Hall

like a bunch of cavepeople scared of the lightning?

No, they used the Methodist church.

I've got a picture I could show you. The storm of '27.

I can point out your grandad in it if you want.

Looks like he's stirring a pot of soup.

Nice to know there was at least one fellow in your family

that knew how to pitch in.

Come on, Robbie.

Sign in before you go downstairs, folks.

Room enough for everybody, but we need to know who we have.

Hey, Ursula. Have you seen Mike?

No. But I'll be able to catch his car radio if he calls in.

It's not good for much else tonight anyway.

Hey, take off your coat, pitch in.

- How's it going? - We're having a ball.

- Hey, Ralphie. - Hi.

(loud crash)

(typing on computer)

Got to use the can.

You want a cold drink or a coffee there, Pete?

Peter?

Earth to Peter.

What?

I asked if you wanted a soda or a coffee.

Oh, no.

Thanks, though.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I, uh...

...was battening down for the storm all day...

I guess I'm almost asleep with my eyes open.

- Sorry. - Hang in there.

Jack Carver and Kirk Freeman should be here in 20 minutes.

(speaking quickly and quietly)

Lloyd.

Lloyd, you've got to see this.

It's going to take Godsoe's.

Lloyd.

Lloyd, it's going to take the whole dock.

Lloyd, you better get out here...

if you want to see something you ain't never going to see again.

It's a going.

Lloyd, Lloyd, get out here.

Pete?

My sainted hat.

Lloyd.

Hey Peter, are you ok? I heard...

Lloyd, where the hell are you?

Did you got to sleep or...?

- What is it? - It's Godsoe's.

Robbie, it's Godsoe's. It's gone.

- What do you mean it's gone? - The whole thing. It's gone.

- What happened? - I don't know.

Ursula, blow the whistle.

Sweet Jesus.

Out of my way.

Say, Ferd. Where's the fire?

You.

What are you looking at?

Did you make him do that somehow?

Did you make him write that note, hang himself?

Did you?

Evening sessions now?

It's sort of fun.

When they all finally fall asleep, I intend to

track down the nearest alcoholic beverage and make it disappear.

I just went out to use the can and get a fresh coffee.

He was fine back then.

Oh, God.

He... he... he was looking at him.

Like a snake looking at a bird.

What did you do to him?

Goodnight, champ.

Very good, Pippa, do you want to see?

Hey look, you guys.

Hurray.

I want to be next.

Is it your turn, Donnie?

All right.

Donnie.

- Do you want one of these? - Yeah.

Lloyd Wishman's dead.

He's dead.

Where's Mike Anderson? Lloyd killed himself.

He chopped his face right in two with an axe.

It's awful, there's blood everywhere. Where's Mike?

Hatch. Help me get him down.

I don't know as I can do that.

You can.

Let me out and I'll help you, Michael Anderson.

God, it's awful. Robbie...

Robbie... Lloyd, he...

knocked his own brains out.

And he wrote something on the side of the pumper...

Get a hold of yourself, Ferd. Get a damn grip.

Why would Lloyd cut his head in two, Robbie?

He was going to get married come spring.

Right on time, by God.

Storm or no storm...

Mike, who is that?

Peter Godsoe. I recognize the boots.

(static) Come in Mike An...

...Town Hall...

...emergency...

Ursula, say again. Say again please, and go slow.

The antenna's snapped off, I can barely pick you up.

Now what's your emergency, over?

Hatch, go see if you can raise her on the Island Services CB.

Find out what her problem is, then come right back.

Hey, you sure you're going to be ok?

He's locked up, isn't he?

Mike, do you have any idea what's going on here?

What in God's name is happening?

I'll be damned if I know.

Mike, are you there?

Can't you get him?

Wind's knocked the damned antennas over.

Ursula, this is Hatch. Do you read me? Come back.

I'm here, I read you.

Are you getting me, Alton Hatcher?

You're breaking up some, but it's better than it was before.

What's the problem?

Ferd Andrews says Lloyd Wishman has killed himself.

Oh, God.

Only it doesn't sound like any suicide I've ever heard of.

Ferd says Lloyd cut his own head open with an axe.

Robbie Beals and Henry Bright have gone over there.

To investigate, Robbie says.

And you let them go there? Come back.

There was no way to stop Robbie.

He practically shanghaied my husband. And somebody could be there.

Where's Mike? I want to talk to Mike.

Well, I'm calling from the truck.

Mike is inside with the man who...

...with the prisoner.

Well, you just have to send him down there.

Well, we've got a little bit of a situation over here.

Is Mike all right? Hatch, you come back and you tell me.

He's fine, Moll. That's a big 10-4.

I've got to go. I'll pass on the message.

This is Island Services. Out.

Oh, God.

Look, I don't know about this, Robbie.

What, you want to wait for Anderson on a night like this?

Somebody's got to take charge

and we happen to be the ones on the scene.

Now, come on.

Don't go over there.

Ursula said Lloyd Wishman's dead over at the firehouse.

Dead? What about Ferd?

Ferd's the one who found him. He said it was suicide.

I think Ursula's afraid it might be murder.

Robbie Beals took Henry Bright over there to investigate.

The road's still passable? What do you think?

With a four-wheel drive, yeah. Probably until midnight.

After that...

All right, take Kirk and go on over to the fire station.

Keep your eyes open, be careful.

Find Robbie and Henry, lock the place up and bring 'em back.

We can keep an eye on our new pal...

...can't we, Jack?

I don't know as that's such a good idea...

Maybe not, but right now it's the only idea.

Sorry, but that's the way it is.

I saw it.

What?

I thought you said to stay away.

If he grabs me, I want you to shoot him.

There's a gun right there on the desk.

There he is.

Get out of the way, Hatcher.

If you want to talk, follow us back to Town Hall.

Mike sent me. He wants you down at the Constable's.

- Henry, you too. - No.

We've got wives and children waiting for us at Town Hall.

If Michael wants either of us to take a watch later, fine.

- But right now... - Lloyd Wishman's dead.

And something's written on the side of a fire truck.

If it's a suicide note it's the weirdest one I've ever heard of.

Come on, let's go. This is no place for a discussion.

I agree, let's have our discussion at the Town Hall...

where we don't have to scream our heads off.

Peter Godsoe's dead.

- Peter Godsoe? - Yeah. Hung himself.

He also left a weird suicide note.

Mike told me to come get you, and that's what I've come to do.

Now you come on back and follow us to the store.

I don't want to hear any more sass about it.

Peter Godsoe, my God in heaven, why?

I don't know. But Ursula doesn't know anything about it.

We haven't been able to get through.

Now I can't make you pitch in and help if you don't want to.

But I can make sure when this is over

that people know that you were asked and you said no.

- I'll go, Hatch. - Thanks, Henry.

All right. Let's go if we're going.

- Did you lock up? - Of course I did.

What do you think I am, a darn fool?

Hatch?

Can you raise the Town Hall on the CB...

tell Carla and Sandy we're ok?

I'll try it again.

Ursula?

...this is Hatch. Come back.

Hey, everyone just back off and give Ursula a little space here.

If we hear anything, we'll let you know.

Move back. Go on, move back.

If you don't have anything else to do, go on downstairs

and watch the storm on the weather network.

You're weak, but I've got you, Hatch.

Talk slow and loud. Come back on.

Robbie and Henry are fine.

Just thought you might want to know that.

Is Lloyd Wishman really dead, Hatch?

Ursula, I don't have all the details on that yet.

Tell Sandy and Carla that their boys will be a while longer.

Mike wants them over at the store for a while. Come back.

Why the store? Is that man locked up?

You boys be careful.

Ursula, I can't hear you. You're breaking up.

I'll have to try it back a little bit later.

This is Island Services. Out.

Hell, I don't know what to tell her.

Let Mike tell her. That's his job.

That's what they pay him for.

Yeah.

Where is your cane?

You had a cane.

I know you do. Where is it?

Sir, how did you get to Little Tall Island?

Give me what I want, and I'll go away.

I saw that. At Martha Clarendon's house.

Did you write that?

You did, didn't you?

And just what is it you want, sir?

Andre Linoge. I take it you're French.

There are a lot of people of French descent on the island.

What happened to Peter? Did you have something to do with that?

How did you know he was running pot out of his warehouse?

Always assuming he was.

I know a lot, constable.

I know that when you were at the University of Maine...

and in danger of losing your scholarship

over a D in chemistry during your sophomore year...

you cheated on the midterm exam.

Not even your wife knows that, does she?

I don't know where you get your information...

but you are dead wrong on that one.

I'm sure that over the years you've convinced yourself

that's the truth, but right now, we both know better.

You ought to tell Ralphie sometime...

It would make a nice bedtime story, I think...

"How Daddy Got Through College."

You never cheated on an exam in college, did you, Jack?

Never went to college.

Nobody bothers you for pulling D's in high school.

They still put you in jail for assault, though.

If you get caught.

You were lucky last year.

You and Lucien Fournier and Alex Haber.

- Lucky boys. - Shut up!

That fella just rubbed you guys the wrong way, didn't he?

Had kind of a lisp, and that blond hair...

curly like a girl's hair, not to mention the way he walked.

Still, three against one...

with pool cues... Well... Hardly sporting.

I'm warnin' you, mister!

The kid lost an eye, how about that, huh?

You can go see for yourself. He lives in Lewiston.

He wears a paisley eye-patch his sister made him.

He lies awake at night, and listens to the cars

on Lisbon Street, and the live bands from

the bottle clubs, and prays to St. Andrew to bring

back the sight in his left eye. Still...

he had that swishy way of walking. And that lisp.

And you guys kind of liked the way his hair looked

all around his face like it was,

although you'd never say it to each other, wouldja?

- Kind of turned you on. - All right, that's enough!

Kind of made you wonder what it might feel like

to run your hands through it...

Shut up, mister, or I'll shut you up, I swear!

Take it easy, take it easy.

There's another bedtime story for a stormy night...

I can see you in bed with your arm around your

little boy saying, "Buster, Daddy wants to tell you

how he put the nasty queer man's eye out..."

- All, right, now that's enough! - Shut up!!

(gunshot)

Oh, my God. Are you all right?

Mike, I'm sorry, I didn't mean...

Keep a safe distance from him! Didn't I tell you that?

- Where is it... - Get off, Jack!

Is it bad?

Barely clipped the skin. Lucky.

Six inches to the left, I'm dead. He's laughing.

Here.

Mike... Mike...

Mike, no!

Will Mike's insurance cover that, Robbie?

Come on! Let's get inside!

Mike, I'm really sorry.

(bell rings)

That's Hatch.

- About what that guy said... - It's all right.

We dragged them all the way.

All right, what's goin' on here?

Robbie, I wish I knew.

We won't blow away, will we?

Like the house of straw and the house of twigs?

No, honey. The storm can huff and puff all night...

we'll still be safe down here in the basement.

- Is Daddy safe? - Yeah. Safe as can be.

He won't let the bad man get out

and hurt us, will he?

No. No, I promise.

(Donnie:) My daddy puts me to bed, not you!

Goodnight, sweetie.

Leave me alone!! Stop it!!

Leave me alone!!

Donnie, come back here...

- Hey, hey! - He's just a little scratchy...

My daddy puts me to bed - not you!

- Donnie... - My daddy, NOT YOU!!

Hey! I want you to go upstairs right now

and wait for your daddy. Now.

I'm sorry Molly, I thought he was ready...

but he's used to having his dad tuck him in.

It's fine. Probably better that he stays up.

I think Buster is still running around...

They can play tag and fall asleep somewhere.

As long as he didn't disturb anybody.

Nah, they're out like lights.

I worry about Donnie sometimes...

I love him, but I worry about him, too.

Sandy, they all go through stages...

Don may have his unlovely moments now...

but in the end, he'll be fine.

I'm gonna leave Robbie in the spring.

I'm gonna take Donnie and go back to my folks on Deer Isle.

I didn't think I'd made up my mind for sure...

but I guess I have.

Oh, Sandy...

- Going to help Billy? - Yes, ma'am.

See if there's any oatmeal on back shelf...

and tell Bllly to remember the juice...

I imagine he don't have any problem

in the juice department. Does he?

Hey, Billy? Can I talk to you?

Yeah, I guess, why not?

- Billy I just... - Is it true what he said?

Let's talk about that. Did you go up Derry

and have an abortion?

Guess that's all the talk we need.

Isn't it? Guess that says it all.

Well, don't you wanna know why?

Not particularly, no.

It was our baby, now it's dead, I guess...

Really, that's all I need to know.

All right, you asked me one, I'll ask you one.

What about Jenna Freeman?

What about Jenna Freeman?

Why do you ask about something you already

know the answer to, Kat?

Maybe to wipe that Little Minister look off your face.

Yeah, I knew!

The biggest tramp on the coast, and you chasing her

like she's on fire, and you wanna put her out!

It wasn't like that at all.

Then what was it like?

Billy, tell me.

I don't understand it, Billy. I never told you no.

Never once did I tell you no, and still...!

God, Billy, how many times a day do you itch?

What about the baby?

The one I had to hear about from a complete stranger...

and in front of half the town?

I knew who you were running with, Billy,

don't you get that?

I mean, how was I supposed to trust you to do the right thing?

I mean, how was I supposed to trust you at all?

Do you know what it's like to find out

that you're pregnant one week...

and that your boyfriend is spending afternoons

with the town pump the next?

That baby was half mine! You decided to go up to Derry...

and you murdered it, and it was half mine, Kat!

Yeah, sure! Now that it's gone, it's half yours.

- Come back Machais, come back! - Mike...

What is that supposed to mean?

It means that I'm not stupid!

I know what you would have thought

if I had come to you while you were still chasing after Jenna

"Little bitch got pregnant so I wouldn't get away."

So you've done a whole lot of my thinkin' for me too, now, huh?

You obviously haven't been doing much for yourself these days.

What about the baby? The one you that you murdered?

How much thinking did you do for our baby, Kat?

Why don't you do us both a favor...

and get out of here. Just go.

I'm really tired of listening to you.

What's he doin'?

Ohhh. You know what? Dear God...

You're unfaithful, and that's bad...

but you're a coward, and that's worse.

Too chicken to own up to the part of this

that belongs to you.

You know, I came in here because I thought maybe,

I could save us. But there's nothin' to save.

You're just a stupid kid, after all!

What're you doing, sir? You mind telling me?

She's right, you are a coward.

What the hell are you doing?

SHUT UP!

By the step... By the step, by the back step...

(kettle whistles)

- Just the way you like it... - I hope so...

- Take it... - Stop it, Linoge!

(whispers:) I'm a little teapot, short and...

(whispers) Stout!

Here is my handle, here's my spout!

- Stop it, Linoge! - Hear me shout!

Just tip me over and pour... me... out!

(heavy splashes)

(wind howling)

(clock ticks)

Ohh...

Do you want them back? They were slipping off.

No, thanks, Annie. You can keep them...

I always end up falling asleep listening to Schubert anyway.

Why don't you give Johnny a hand. Johnny?

(static)

(TV:) Without the drift factor, and zero visibility...

(TV:) Conditions in Bangor are nearly as bad...

What are they saying?

Howl and blast... followed by blast and howl.

Such conditions to continue tomorrow into tomorrow night

when finally, things are supposed to start quieting down.

Power's out from Kitterie to Millinocket.

Coastal communities are cut off, us island guys... forget it.

- Ursula, what's the matter? - I don't know...

I just gotta feelin'... a really Al bad one.

Yeah. Who doesn't? Martha Clarendon's murdered...

Lloyd Wishman kills himself...

storm of the century over us, who doesn't have a bad feeling?

I think it's more than that.

(gasps)

(screams)

(screams)

- Did you hear something? - Just the wind.

It sounded like a scream.

That's what the wind sounds like tonight, dear.

- Kat didn't come back, did she? - No, not this way.

I imagine they had things to discuss, Joanna.

My mother always used to say, "Peep not at a keyhole,

- lest you be vexed." - It sounded like a scream!

- I find that ridiculous! - Mother, shut up!

When I get these feelings, I trust them.

Over the years I've learned to trust them.

Molly, I think something's happened to Peter.

Why, has somebody come back from the store? Has Mike...?

No, nobody's come in from that end of town...

since eight o'clock... But Mike's all right.

There's nothin' psychic about that part of it...

I picked up a couple of broken transmissions on the radio...

Once it was Hatch, once, I'm sure it was Mike...

Saying what? Talking to who?

With the antennas blown down, It's impossible to tell.

Base unit to base unit, it's just voices.

I imagine they're still tryin' to raise the Staties in Machias.

So, you haven't heard from Peter, you can't know...?

Somehow, I do. I do... I know it.

(TV:) There's a state of snow emergency for Coastal Maine...

Molly, if I can get Lucien Fornier to stop fiddlin'

with that TV and take me to the constable's...

can you mind things here?

Unless the roof falls in, all it amounts to is...

seen' that everything's fine, breakfast is at seven...

we still need folks to serving and clean up after.

The work's mostly done for tonight, thank God.

People have already started goin' to bed.

Okay... Do me a favor, give a message to Mike.

Tell him to set a guard, there are plenty of men -

Have him set a guard and get back here.

Tell him his wife wants to see him.

I'll give him that message, I will.

(wind howling)

Kat?

(gasp)

Kat!? What happened?

I covered him up...

He wouldn't want people to see him like this,

so I covered him up.

- You all right, Molly Anderson? - Fine... just fine.

This is going to be one to tell your grandchildren about.

Already is.

I covered him up because I loved him...

I think it was the cane with the wolf's head

that made me do it.

I wouldn't touch it if I were you...

I loved him, and now look... I went and killed him.

(sings:) I'm a little teapot short and stout...

Here is my handle... here is my spout...

Oh, my God!

Don't you dump me in the snowbank, Lucien Fournier!

No, ma'am!

(engine sputters)

What's wrong?

Nothing. She's just being grumpy.

(engine sputters)

(Joanna:) Help! Somebody!

Help!

- Joanna, what's wrong? - Billy!

Dead! Back there! Katrina Withers killed him!

- Kat?! - She's sitting in the corner...

I think she tried to tell me

she hit him with a cane.

There's so much blood...

When I left, I think she was singing.

Are you really saying Kat Withers

killed Billy Soames? Are you sure, Joanna?

Are you sure he's dead?

She covered him with a tarp, but I'm sure...

there's so much blood...

We'd better go back and look!

I can't go back there! She's in the corner!

If you could have seen the look on her face!

Lucien, can I drive this thing?

If you take it slow...

I'll take it slow, believe me...

Joanna and I are going to drive downstreet

and talk to Mike Anderson, aren't we, Jo?

You bundle up, now.

Get a couple of guys and go to the supply shed...

and see what's what, okay?

But don't broadcast it and please... be careful.

Ursula, what's goin' on here?

I haven't a clue.

(engine starts)

(Kirk Freeman:) I've never seen anyone throw a fit like that in my life!

(Henry:) No ID of any kind?

(Mike:) No ID, no money, no wallet...

no keys, no nothin'...

No clothing tags, not even on his blue jeans.

He's just... here.

That's not all. Did he say anything to you?

Robbie, when you went to Martha's house,

did he say anything that...

that he had no business knowing about?

Robbie...

He did, didn't he?

He said something about my mother...

You don't need to know.

(Hatch:) I don't think he's human.

Neither do I.

I don't know what he is.

(Kat sings:) I'm a little teapot...

short and stout...

Here is my handle...

here is my spout.

C'mon and help me get her inside.

...hear me shout...

(Kirk:) That fit he threw... what was that all about?

Did he have a cane when you saw him?

Yessir... Had a silver wolf's head

on the top... it was covered in blood.

(Robbie:) I got the idea that's what he used, to...

Where's your cane, sir?

Where is it now? What is it you want?

Somebody's pullin' up.

We didn't take him from Martha's, did we?

He let himself be taken.

Maybe he wanted to be taken.

We could kill him.

Nobody would have to know.

Island business is island business...

always has been, always will be.

Dolores Claibore, whatever she did

with her husband during the eclipse...

Peter Godsoe and his marijuana...

We'd know.

I'm just saying... we could.

Don't tell me that idea

hasn't gone through your mind, Michael Anderson.

(Jack:) Who's there?

It's Ursula Godsoe and Joanna Stanhope...

We need to talk to Mike, something's happened.

- Ursula? - What is it, Jack?

- Please, don't look at this. - It's Peter!

- Oh, God! No! - Go get Mike!

No! Oh, God... Oh, no... No!

- Oh my God... - Ursula, I'm sorry.

Come inside... where it's warm.

I don't know as you're supposed to do that...

that's evidence or somethin'.

Katrina, have a little broth, it'll warm you up.

Ought to spike that with rat poison,

Mrs. Kingsbury... that'll warm her up all right.

(laughs)

Upton Bell, you shut up your ignorant mouth!

You're treatin' her like she saved his damn life

instead of sneakin' up behind him and bashin' his brains in!

All right, everybody out, this is not a sideshow!

- Listen, Mrs. Anderson... - Come on...

You've known her all her life...

whatever she did or didn't do,

she deserves a chance to breathe a little.

Now, folks, Molly's right. They got this in hand.

Sonny... Upton... there's nothing you can do here.

Take her down to the constable's office.

Throw her murderin' ass in jail.

Okay, Upton, that's enough!

I think they already got a fella in there...

and she doesn't look like she'll be breakin' loose...

...now does she?

Yeah, well...

Thank you, Mr. Stanhope.

Not a problem, Molly.

Have you seen my mother?

I think she's getting ready for bed.

Good.

Say there, Cora, it's just like camp, ain't it?

We should put a bedsheet up on the wall

and show cartoons!

(engine sputters)

Oh, relax, Cora...

it's only the "jenny" clearing her throat.

There, you see? Bright as you could ever want.

Really?

Cora... as friendly as ever.

Go on, Urse... It'll warm you up.

I don't think I'll ever be warm again.

Tell me again.

Told you half a dozen times already.

This'll be the last. Promise.

She said...

"I think the cane with the wolf's head made me do it.

I wouldn't touch it if I were you."

But, you didn't see a cane...

with or without a wolf's head?

No.

Mike, what are we going to do?

Wait out the storm, that's all we can do.

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 doin' much tonight, anyway.

That's true.

Hatch, can I see you outside a minute?

I just wanna talk to you.

You'll be okay?

Yes.

What're you lookin' at?

(sings:) I'm a little teapot, short and stout...

(Cora sings:) I'm a little teapot...

short and stout...

here is my handle...

here is my spout...

When I get all steamed up, then I shout...

Tip me over... and pour me out!

I'm a little teapot...

(humming)

He's totally crazy!

He's gotta be.

What did you wanna talk about, Mike?

I'm leavin' you in charge here for a while.

Mike, I wish you wouldn't do that...

Just for a while.

I wanna get these women back to the Town Hall while I can.

Then, I'll see that Molly's all right...

let her know that I am, give Ralphie a kiss...

pack every man that's useful in the truck and bring them here.

We'll guard him in groups, of threes and fours...

in fives, if that's what it takes to make you comfortable.

I won't feel comfortable 'til he's in County Jail!

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Kat Withers... I can't believe it, Mike.

Kat wouldn't hurt Billy.

Yeah, I know that, too.

Who's holding who prisoner here? Can you tell for sure?

- This is a mess. - Yeah.

You gonna be okay with Robbie?

I'll have to be, won't I?

Say "hi" to Melinda for me, if she's still up.

And tell her I'm okay. And...

give Pippa a little kiss for me.

I will.

How long you gonna be?

45 minutes, an hour at most.

I'll come back with a truckload of widebodies.

Meantime, you got Jack, Henry, Robbie, and Kirk...

Think we'll make any difference if he decides to rock 'n roll?

You think the Town Hall's any safer?

Or anywhere else on the island?

Considerin' Kat and Billy...

No.

(humming)

(Cora humming)

Oh, drat!

(creaking)

Like Dad's!

What's he doing?

Just like Dad's!

Go on, Mike... Go on, we'll be fine...

And tell your son

his friend from the market says "hi".

How do you know so much?

What the hell do you want?

Hatch!

Why don't you pair up with someone,

spend the time while I'm gone in here with him?

The others can go out in the market...

Adjust the mirrors so you can look back in.

You don't want him to get all of us at the same time, do ya?

Well, it's a plan.

Ladies, let's get back to the Town Hall...

Mike...

Peter will be all right out there, won't he?

Yeah.

When this is over we'll see to him proper like we always do.

C'mon, let's go.

(hisses)

(water dripping)

Whew! She's really out.

They're very light sleeping pills...

Any lighter, I could buy 'em over the counter.

I think it's just shock. Whatever she's done,

whatever's been done to her,

she's away from it now. It's probably best.

Sleep well, dear.

You think someone oughta sit with her?

Like a guard?

- She doesn't need a guard, Andy. - But...

She doesn't need a guard.

(TV:) What is all this?

(sobbing)

- Andy... - Jill...?

- Honey, what's wrong? - It's Cora!

Where is she... upstairs?

I... l'm so scared...

I am, too.

(Sandy:) I can't go in there!

I'm sorry, I can't take anymore.

Sandy...

(gasps)

Sandra, what is it?

- I can't... - It's all right, it's okay...

What's wrong?

Joanna, I wouldn't...! Joanna...!

Ohhh!

- Molly, help me. - Come on, Joanna...

Come on, Joanna.

Andy, can I borrow you for a minute?

Honey, you okay?

She's dead...

Urse... You okay?

Sandra, can the two of you get me some blankets,

- to wrap her? - Yeah, we can do that.

Mike... What's goin' on?

Billy Soames... You sure he's dead?

Yeah. Why?

Old Mrs. Stanhope is dead, too.

Up in the ladies' room. Shhhh!

How'd she die? Heart attack? Stroke?

Suicide.

Is Billy still out in the shed?

Seemed like the best place to put him.

We covered him up.

Andy, you and Sonny, cover up Mrs. Stanhope...

take her out, put her with Billy...

Use the back door of the meeting hall.

I don't want people seeing a corpse, if I can avoid it.

What about Jonas? Her boy?

I seen him downstairs gettin' ready to turn in.

Let's hope he does.

His wife can tell him in the morning.

- Upton Bell? - Yes, sir.

Go downstairs, find five or six men...

guys who could walk through half a mile

of deep snow without having a heart attack.

Tell 'em to come up here.

Don't say anything except I wanna talk to 'em.

- Yes, sir. - Mike...

Gin.

Where is Robbie? I want to see my Robbie.

Where are you... He said he'd be here!

I don't want to die without seeing him again.

I want someone to hold my hand before I go.

Robbie, where are you? Where are you?

I want to see my Robbie!

He said he'd be here!

Oh, Robbie, where are you?

I think my town's had enough of you.

Jack, you're winnin', as usual...

Kirk, your luck'll change in the next hand.

Mike...

Is it that man?

The one who picked up Ralphie in the market?

It is, isn't it?

Are you going to be all right?

Yeah.

That man is never going to see

the inside of a courtroom.

You know that.

Maybe you should get rid of him.

Make him have an accident...

Better get back inside before you freeze.

Come back to us.

I will.

- Hatch... Robbie's got a gun! - Robbie...

I think he's gonna shoot that guy!

Get away from there!

Put that down!

Robbie, why? Why didn't you come to me?

Robbie, DON'T!

(slam)

Why did you let me die with strangers?

Don't just stand there, help!

(bangs)

Robbie, what are you doin'?

Why did you leave me to die alone?

Robbie!

I waited for you, Robbie. I'm still waiting...

Down in hell. I'm waiting for you.

You stop...!

- Or I'll shoot! - With that?

Robbie!

I'll be waiting for you in hell, Robbie.

And when you get there, I'm going to eat your eyes...

over and over, because hell is repetition.

Born in sin... Come on in!

(screams)

(hisses)

(crashing)

What is it? What's happening?

I don't know.

(gunshots)

Hatch!!

- No, Hatch, maybe you shouldn't! - Move, Jack!

Hatch!!

What the hell is that?

Hatch!!!

What are you doing?

No!!!

Come back, Hatch! Come back!!

Give me what I want and I'll go away.

Tell them...

Give me what I want and I'll go away.

- What happened? - I don't know!

Where's Hatch?

Hatch! What happened?

What happened, Hatch? Hatch?!

We have to give him what he wants...

if we do that, then he'll go away.

He'll leave us alone. And if we don't...

If we don't...

Where did he go?

Out there.

Into the storm.

(chimes)

How are we supposed to see anything in this?

(TV:) It's easy to go along with "friends"...

who tell you that sin is all right...

Can you say "Hallelujah"?

I'd like to speak to you of the "secret sin"...

To remind you... say, "Hallelujah"...

Hallelujah...

It poisons the belly of the righteous...

God bless you... Can you say "amen"?

The selfish heart that says, "I need not share"...

I can keep it for myself and no one will ever know.

Hallelujah... amen.

...Try to ignore the canker of corruption

that begins to grow around it...

...Be sure, your sin will find you out.

All secrets will be known, Can you say, "Hallelujah"?

...behold the sting of sin, and the price of vice...

...the just end of those who would bar the door

to the wandering stranger, who comes asking for so little...

(mutters)

(Reporter:) The so-called "Storm of the Century"

is history in New England now...

They're digging out everywhere

except here... on Little Tall Island.

A little scrap of land off the coast...

home to about 400 souls...

About half the island's population

sought shelter on the mainland when it became clear

that the storm would hit hard.

But nearly all the rest...

200 men, women and children are gone...

the exceptions are more ominous and distressing.

The Coast Guard has recovered four corpses...

Two may be suicides, the others, murder victims...

Bludgeoned to death by the same object.

Baffled police are asking one question over and over.

"Where are the other residence of Little Tall Island?

Where's Michael Anderson... Little Tall's constable?

Where's Davey Hopewell?

Where's Robert Beals, the town manager?"

No one knows.

There's only been one case like this in American history.

This is how Roanoke, Virginia looked in 1587...

when everyone disappeared.

Every man, woman and child.

A single possible clue, carved on a tree...

the word "Croaton". The name of a place?

A misspelling? A language lost over the centuries?

No one knows. Police assure reporters

that a solution will be found, but they cannot deny

that hope is dimming for the missing residents.

Evidence suggests that most of the islanders

spent the first night of the storm here...

in the basement of the Town Hall.

After that, no one knows.

What really happened in Roanoke in 1587?

And what happened here on Little Tall Island in 1989?

We may never know... But I know one thing...

Davey, you're too damn short to play basketball...

(TV:)... Be sure, your sin will find you out...

...all secrets will be known.

Behold the sting of sin, and the price of vice

I ask you to behold...

...the just end of those who would bar the door

to the wandering stranger ...asking for so little.

For the wages of lust are dust!

The wages of sin are death!

Hallelujah...

Amen...

You must be branded as one of the ungrateful...

I'm sorry... we both are, aren't we, Buster?

Sorry we didn't give it to you, Mr. Linoge.

Sorry we didn't give you what you wanted.

You... must... pay.

No...

We're sorry, Mr. Linoge...

Help, Daddy!

Molly...?

Help!

We should have given you what you wanted.

Daddy!!!

(gasps)

(static)

Mike? Oh, man!

I just had the most awful dream...

This reporter on Main Street...

Talking about how everybody had gone!

Like in this little village in Virginia...

- Yeah... - No one knew where they went.

And in the dream no one knew where we went.

They're all... dreamin' it.

Do you understand?

They're all dreamin' what we dreamed.

Where could 200 people disappear to?

Especially on a little island cut off by a storm.

Into the ocean...

What?

Into the ocean. A mass suicide...

If we don't give him what he wants.

How could he?

I don't know. But I believe that he can.

What does he want, Mike?

What could he possibly want?

I'm sure we'll find out when he's ready.

Mike! Mike! I think the lighthouse is gonna go...

Never seen a storm surge like that before...

(crowd murmurs)

Folks... Now, folks!

If you go outside, stay close to the building...

Remember, we've got white-out conditions!

We'll get your mom and have us a look...

Mommy, can we please go out and see?

I wanna go see, too. Let's get your suit on...

Mike, you think she's gonna go?

I think it is!

I can't see a thing!

It's a damned white-out!

There's the light, just comin' around!

It's still there!

She's goin'... My God, she's surely goin'!

Look, Buster, the lighthouse is fallin' down!

There she goes!

Where's the lighthouse, Daddy? Is it gone?

That's right, buddy, the lighthouse is gone!

Hey, Ange, did you see it?

Hey, Angie? Angela...!

Hey, didja...? Angie!!

- Mrs. Kingsbury? - Davey?

She was just here!

- Hey, Angie! - Hey, Mommy!

That's all right, I bet she went back inside!

(calling:) Mrs. Kingsbury!

Angie!

Back inside, everyone! Back inside!

- Mike, what's wrong? - Get inside, now!

- Stick together! - My Uncle George, he's gone!

What the hell's going on?

Take the boy and your wife and get inside!

Go! Everyone, go! Get back in!

Mrs. Kingsbury! George!

George Kirby, where're you at?

- Back inside! - Michael, have you seen Angela?

Take your boy and go back in!

Do it! Now!

Bill Timmons? George?!

Everyone... Back inside!

Daddy, we left Mommy outside!

C'mon, big guy, Mama's fine...

- Buddy system, right? - Right.

Nobody gets left alone.

- Be careful, you guys. - You better believe it.

Just be a minute.

Get back in and stay warm.

- Buddy system, remember? - Okay, c'mon.

(singing:) ...short and stout...

here is my handle, here is my spout.

When I get all steamed up, then I shout,

Just tip me over and pour me out.

I hate that song.

Why?

I don't know, I just hate it.

- How's Jack Carver doin'? - Quieted down some...

A good thing the women got the kid outta there...

...before he cracked.

There ought to be a search party for Angela and them others.

If Alton Hatcher won't lead it, you could.

And if the search party doesn't come back?

What will we do? We send out another?

- Well we can't just sit here. - Sure we can...

and that's just what we're going to do.

We're going to sit here and wait out this storm.

And pardon me, Ferd. I need a coffee.

I was just thinking... We ought to do something.

Robbie...

What's wrong with Katrina Withers?

Nothing, honey, she's just a little tired.

Why don't you kids pick up a little now?

Mr. Anderson's bringing new things to play with, ok?

I'm not going to pick up.

My dad's going to give me a doughnut.

Donnie.

Don Beals, you come back here. Right now.

(whispering) Ralphie.

In here, fairy saddle boy.

That's right.

Don't be afraid.

- That's it? - Yep, it should do. Let's...

What are you doing?

Jesus.

And the disciples.

In the country of the Gadarenes. Book of Mark.

What are you saying?

They met a man...

with an unclean spirit.

That's what the Gospel says. A man...

...with demons inside him.

And he lived among the...

...tombs.

And no man could bind him.

Not even with chains.

And Jesus cast out the demons into a herd of pigs...

that ran into the ocean and drowned themselves.

But before Jesus cast the demons out...

he asked their names.

And the...

...the thing inside said:

Our name...

...is Legion.

For we are many.

That's right.

Come on, Ralphie.

Jenny's out.

- How long do you think? - Hard to tell.

Since morning, anyway, by the feel of it.

Snow probably piled up and clogged the exhaust.

All right, Sonny, you and Henry are on meat patrol.

Grab the big cuts of beef, plus the turkeys and chicken.

The best stuff's in the freezer.

- Will it still be all right? - Are you kidding me?

Let's get going. Dark is going to come early.

Stick with canned goods.

We'll come back and get the potatoes, bread...

...vegetables and milk.

Little kids have got to have milk.

Hey, Mike.

Are you going to tell them what the guy's name spells?

When we moved the blocks around.

- What good would that do? - I don't know.

God, Mike. That gave me a chill.

Me too. But for now we're going to keep that chill to ourselves.

We've got one more night to get through.

- But Mike... - Come on. Let's load up.

Angie Carver!

Billy Timmons!

(honking) Angie Carver.

Billy Timmons.

- Ferd. - What?

- Any sign? - No. Wouldn't I tell you?

Just keep blowing that thing.

Here, you watch. Let me honk.

Your eyes are better.

(continues to honk) Mrs. Kingsbury.

George. George Kirby.

I'm ok.

Go upstairs. Find your husband and your little boy.

But the kids?

- Who wants to play giant step? - I do...

Where's my mommy?

I'll just peek and see if she's upstairs, shall I?

- Or your daddy? - Yes. Please, Mrs. Beals.

- Where's Ralphie? - I just saw him.

Oh, he must have chased Donnie upstairs to get a doughnut, too.

I'll send them both down.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

I've got to find her, Molly.

You know what it's like out there, Jack.

I know she's out there.

Wandering around freezing to death...

in a whiteout 50 yards from the building.

And if you go out there, you'll be lost, too.

They'll hear the horns, same as in a fog at sea. You know that.

Yeah. I'll go spell Ferd.

- Hatch said if you go... - Alton Hatcher...

can't tell me what to do. It's my wife out there.

Just don't go past the truck. Don't go wandering, Jack.

- Where's Ralphie? - I don't know.

- Didn't he come upstairs? - He was picking up with the rest.

What are you saying? Ralphie's not down there?

- He's not with the others? - I didn't see.

- Kat started to cry... - You were supposed to watch him.

- I didn't see. - You were supposed to watch him.

Don't you yell at her.

One more trip.

Sonny, you and Henry get the bread and rolls.

Everything off the shelves.

You want to grab at least a hundred pounds of potatoes.

I'll get the milk. Come on, let's go.

I want to get back as soon as we can.

What the hell?

Oh my God, Mike.

It's Jane Kingsbury.

Ralphie?

- Did you see him? - Ralphie.

Oh God, what now?

I told you he didn't go upstairs with Donnie Beals.

But where was Ralphie when you last saw him?

Ralphie?

Mom.

I'm in here.

Hey, Mom. What's up?

What are you doing in here? You scared the life out of me.

The man was in here.

- The man? - The one Daddy arrested.

Except I don't think he's a bad man.

It's ok, honey.

Take him somewhere safe.

Jonas.

Molly.

What is it?

I don't know.

What is it?

- What the hell does he want? - Oh God.

Ralphie.

Ralphie, where did the man go?

He must have disappeared when I turned my back.

There's no door there for a guy to go out of, dumbkins.

Shut up, Don Beals.

What is this, Ralphie?

It's a present. He gave me a present.

That's why I don't think he's a bad man like on TV.

Because bad men don't give kids presents.

Let Mommy see, ok?

Don't, Molly. Don't.

It's all right, Mom. Don't be scared.

You mean you know what's inside this?

You've already looked?

Sure, we even had a game, me and Mr. Linoge.

He said that these are special.

And I should share them. 'Cause they're not only for me.

They're for everyone on the island.

I don't think I'd open that, Mrs. Anderson.

Given the dreams we all had last night.

And the possible nature of this...

...this man.

No, I suppose you wouldn't, Reverend.

But since he's had his filthy hands on my son twice...

Just old Mrs. K.

None of the others.

Where do you suppose they are?

George.

And Angie?

Bill Timmons?

How did he get her down there?

Where's the dummy? Anybody see the dummy in the store?

How did he get her down there in this?

Let it go, Sonny.

Why is this happening to us?

You're the lay reader down at the church...

always got a quote from the Good Book handy.

You must have some idea why this is happening.

Remember the story about Job? In the Bible?

Uh-huh...

Part of that story's never been written down.

After the contest for Job's soul is over

and God wins, Job falls to his knees

and says, "God, why have you done this to me?"

I worshipped you, yet you destroyed my livestock,

blighted my crops, killed my wife and children...

You gave me a hundred horrible diseases...

Because you had a bet going with the Devil?

Well, okay... but all your humble servant

wants to know is, why me?"

Job waits... and when he's convinced himself

that God's not gonna answer...

a thunderhead forms in the sky, lightning flashes...

and a voice calls down...

Job... I guess there's something about you

that pisses me off."

Does that help you?

Me, either...

Angie!! Over here!

Angie...!

Jack, get in, warm up...

No! She's out here somewhere,

now keep hittin' the horn!

Take it easy, Jack, we'll find her.

My wife is out here, she's alive,

I can feel it! Keep hittin' that horn!

Hatch! Jack! Look!

Angie...!

We've been worried about ya, Buster's worried sick.

My God, Angie... what'd he do to you?

Where did he take you?

We have to give him what he wants.

What? Honey, I can't hear you...

- Linoge? - Yes, Linoge...

We have to give him what he wants.

He brought me back so I could tell you...

We have to give him what he wants...

Do you understand?

We have to give him what he wants.

Angela...?

Oh, my God...

What does he want? Did he tell you?

He said he'd tell us tonight...

He said we're gonna have a special town meetin'...

and he'd tell us then.

He said if some folks don't want to go along...

they should remember the dreams we had last night.

They should remember what happened in Roanoke...

they should remember "Croaton", whatever that is.

Jack! Take me inside!

I'm freezing! I wanna see Buster!

Yeah, sure...

Hatch...

Any sign of Bill Timmons? Or George Kirby?

Nah. No Mrs. Kingsbury, either.

Jane Kingsbury's dead.

(wind whistling)

...So the little puppy said...

"I know where my ball must be...

That mean little boy put it in his pocket...

and took it away. But I can find it...

because my nose is..."

(singing:) I'm a little teapot, short and stout...

Sally, you shouldn't sing, this is storytime...

When I get all steamed up...

What's going on, Kat?

I don't know...

I guess they wanna sing.

(singing:) I'm a little teapot...

All right, folks...

just settle down.

Everyone take a seat.

Mike...?

- The kids were acting funny. - What do you mean?

Now I know how easy it is...

to get yanked out of the world.

I wish I didn't, but I do.

I was just standin' there...

watchin' the lighthouse... then, I was his.

It's okay, it's over.

I burned my fingers... they're red...

but they're still cold!

Angie, do you want to go someplace more private?

You can if you want to.

No, this is for everyone, everyone should hear.

What happened, Angie Carver?

We were watchin' the lighthouse fall down...

then I was flyin' backwards into the snow.

First, I thought it was a joke...

Then, I turned around, and what had me...

It wasn't a man... It wore clothes like a man

and had a man's face, but...

There was blackness where his eyes shoulda been!

And when it smiled at me...

I saw it's teeth...

I fainted. First time in my life!

When I came to... I was flying...

It sounds crazy, but it's true.

Ahead of us, as if it was leading us

or holding us up, there was a cane...

A black cane, with a... silver wolf's head.

As fast as we flew, that cane was always

ahead of us... It was the island we saw...

The storm was over, the sun was out...

But there were cops on snowmobiles everywhere...

Mainland cops, state cops and game wardens...

Newspeople, from the local stations and networks...

All of 'em, they were lookin' for us.

But we were gone. Where nobody could find us.

- Like in the dreams. - Yeah... like that...

Then we stopped... I could feel the clouds!

Not cold they way snow clouds would be...

but damp... like wet cotton.

George saw what it meant to do.

He screamed...

But that thing opened his arm and...

I was in its left...

Then what happened, Angie?

He told me he was bringin' me back...

Back through time and through the storm...

He was gonna let me live, so I could come back

and tell you... tell everybody...

We have to give him what he wants

when he comes tonight.

If we have something that Linoge wants...

why doesn't he just take it?

I don't think he can.

I think we have to give it to him.

The next thing I was sure of,

I was stumbling around in the snow...

I could hear the horn, and I thought

the lighthouse must not have blown down...

'Cause I can hear the foghorn...

I tried to go toward it...

And I saw someone come out of the snow...

I thought it was him coming to take me back...

except this time he was gonna let me drop.

But it wasn't! It was you, Jack!

Why?

Why us?

Maybe because he knows we can keep a secret.

I brought these games...

What's goin' on?

Buster?

Heidi?

Pippa...?

Ralphie, you okay?

Pip... Pip? Pip, what's wrong, honey?

Pip... what's wrong?

Honey...?

Pip...! What's wrong, honey?

What is it? What's wrong with the kids?

I don't know... but their eyes...

There's nothing there.

Pip... wake up... Wake up!

Come on, honey, wake up!

All of you... wake up!

Hey, look!

It's got a doggie head... a silver doggie head...

...how cool!

A doggie!

Yeah, look at the doggie head.

What are they looking at...?

Go get Mike.

Right now! Go get Mike!

Doggie's head! Yeah!

Why don't you see if you can get her to lay down.

That's a good idea.

Mike!

There's something wrong with the kids.

Buster? There's something wrong with Buster?

Angie, no... Maybe you shouldn't...

Buster!

Buster? What're you doing?

(sobbing)

Melinda, what is going on?

What are they looking at?

Donnie, stop!

Let me go! I wanna see the doggie head!

Stop it! Stop it!

- No, Ralphie! Let me go, let me go!

No, Ralphie!

Hey... Neat.

LET ME GO! I wanna see the doggie!!

I said NO! No!

What's going on?

Let me go... you bitch!

Pippa!

They're dead! He's killed them!!

Please God, no! Not my Sally!

Ralphie... Is he...?

- No. - Thank God.

(rushing and yelling)

Mr. Soames!

(screaming)

You're trampling him, stop!! You're killing him!

- Is he asleep? - I don't know...

Come here, baby. Come to mama.

- I need a doctor... - You'd be lucky, Beals.

The closest one's in Machais.

The wind's blowin' up a hurricane.

Where's Ferd? He has EMS training!

Ferd Andrews, where the hell are you?

- I'm here! - Get your ass over here...

take a look at my son.

C'mon... get out of his way!

That's enough! Just shut up!!

Don't tell me to shut up...

I've taken all I'm gonna take...

JUST SHUT UP!

(crowd quiets)

I don't think Don's in any immediate danger...

or Pippa, or Ralphie, or any of them.

They're not dead?

- I think he's sleepin'. - This isn't sleep...

If they were asleep, we could wake them up.

It's okay...

Then, what is it?

I don't know.

Having fun, kids?

(children cheer)

(hissing)

(engine sputtering)

Are we gonna lose the generator?

It's a miracle it's gone as long as it has...

Wind must have kept the exhaust clear...

but now it's shifted. In a way that's good...

means the storm's almost over.

Main meetin' hall?

Yeah. Mike wants that ready first.

A couple of emergency lights in there,

but that's not enough for him.

Just caught the latest NWS bulletin

on the shortwave. We might see the moon tonight.

- That's wonderful! - Aye.

- Where's Ursula? - With Sally and the others...

Sleepin', the last I saw.

Not like the kids' sleepin', you know...

They'll be all right, they'll wake up just fine.

Hope you're right. I pray you're right.

- Can I help? - You can go to the kitchen...

and get the rest of the candles.

I'm afraid we're gonna lose the generator.

- Any change? - No.

Any change in any of 'em?

Respiration's normal, reflexes are normal...

Their pupils respond to light. That's good.

- She's dreamin'. - They all are.

Where's Robbie, Sandra?

Don't know.

(howling and rattling)

(engine dies)

Wanna help get some candles?

- Honey? - Go ahead.

The radio says the storm will pretty much

be over by midnight. If Linoge intends something...

We can pretty much count on that.

Oof! Dear...

Hello, Joanna Stanhope...

Glad the old bitch is dead, aren't ya?

I did you a favor there, didn't I?

You kept a straight face...

but inside, you were dancing a jig.

I know...

I can smell it on you like musk.

(shriek)

SHHH!!!

When this fella comes, Michael...

We must give him what he wants.

I've prayed on it, and this is the guidance...

We'll listen to him, and then decide, okay?

There is a time to be stubborn, Michael...

there is also a time to let go of the reins...

And look toward the greater good...

"Pride goeth before destruction...

and an haughty spirit before the fall."

Book of Proverbs...

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things

which are Caesar's...

and unto God the things which are God's."

Book of Matthew.

Stay here, please. We've got this under control.

I know you believe that, Michael...

but not all of us are convinced.

Come in, come in, boys.

Don't do that, Constable Anderson...

Unless you want to watch this woman burn her face off.

Shall we watch it burn?

- No. - Come in, then.

Having trouble with the local witch doctor?

Here's something you can file away for later...

Assuming that there is a "later".

The Reverend Riggins has a couple of nieces...

Eleven and nine... cute little blonds.

He likes them a lot...

Quite a lot.

They run and hide when they see his car.

- In fact... - Let her down!

Unless you want to see Mrs. Stanhope's impression

of the world's biggest birthday candle...

I advise you not to speak again

until you're invited to.

Hatch! Close the door.

You don't like... knowing, do you?

Not your brand of it, no.

Perhaps you don't believe me.

I believe you, but you see only the bad...

none of the good.

By and large, Constable, the good's an illusion.

Little fables folks tell themselves

to get through their days without screaming too much.

- I don't believe that. - I know...

A good boy to the last.

You'll find yourself on the short end this time...

Your town is full of adulterers, pedophiles...

thieves, gluttons, murderers, bullies...

scoundrels and covetous morons.

I know every last one of them.

"Born in lust, turn to dust."

"Born in sin, Come on in."

What do you want, Linoge?

Everyone on those benches an hour from now.

That will do for a start.

We're going to have an unscheduled town meeting.

Nine o'clock pm, prompt.

After that... well... we'll see.

See what?

If I'm through with this town...

Or just beginning.

Nine o'clock, Constable...

You, Hatch, her, Reverend Bobby...

Town Manager Robbie...

(wind howling)

Everyone.

He's the Devil! He's the Devil!

Don't let him near me! I'll do anything,

just don't let him near me again!

Mike, what are we gonna do?

What can we do?

Listen to whatever else it is he wants...

If there's another way, I just don't see it.

- Let's tell Robbie. - What about the children?

I'll watch them... I don't want to be where he is!

- Not ever again! - Jo, no! He said everyone...

that means you, too.

We'll bring the kids, cots and all...

put 'em in the back of the meeting hall.

Yeah, that'll do.

(rings)

(chiming)

Ladies and gentlemen...

Like you, I don't know what we're waiting for...

Then why don't you sit down,

and wait like the rest of us, Robbie?

I just wanted to say, Johnnie... that I'm sure

that we can find our way through this situation...

if we stick together...

like we've always stuck together on the island.

(thump)

Davey Hopewell... Your day off from school would make

quite an English composition, wouldn't it?

Your father's a thief... Over the last six years

he's stolen $14,000 from the company he works for.

He gambles with it.

He loses.

Dad...?

I don't know who you are, mister, but you lie.

- You lie! - "Born in vice...

Say it twice." Eh, Davey?

At least twice.

Well... Johnny Harriman.

The fellow who burned down the mill in Machais.

- I never did that! - Of course you did!

Two years ago, right after they fired you.

And Kirk helped... didn't you?

After all, what are friends for?

70 men lost their jobs, but you got your payback

and that's all that matters, isn't it?

You dope, look at the trouble you got us into!

Shut up!

You boys oughta see that gay fella you beat up.

Jack, you'd get a kick out of that paisley

eye-patch he wears.

Please, just stop it!

Fella lives in one of those walk-ups...

I can give you the address...

Maybe the three of you can go

and take away the rest of his light.

What do you say, Lucien?

Wanna poke out his other eye? Finish the job?

Alex?

"Born in sin, come on in."

Robbie, why did I have to die among strangers?

You still haven't explained this.

Why did I have to die calling for you?

When all I wanted was a kiss...

Put that down!

(gun drops)

Why don't you tell these people

where you were and what you were doing

when I died, Robbie?

I think your wife would be especially interested,

- don't you? - You shut your mouth...

Sandra, don't listen... This is all lies...

Your eyes... I'm going to eat your eyes...

right out of your head!

Not to worry... he'll recuperate just fine...

In the meantime it's kind of nice to see him

cowering quietly in a corner...

wouldn't you say?

Come on now! Tell the truth!

And shame the devil!

Now we come to it, don't we?

Let me lay things out for you.

Why'd you come here? Why us?

Maybe there's just something about us

that pisses him off.

I'm here because island folk know how

to pull together when they need to.

Island folk know how to keep a secret.

That was true on Roanoke Island in 1587...

and true on Little Tall Island in 1989.

Quit dancin' around! Tell us what you want!

Your children are here... but they're not.

It's the same for me.

Because part of me is with them.

Look...

(crowd marvels)

Jack! He's got our Buster!

That's all of them.

If I drop them there...

...they die here.

You'll see it happen. They'll puff out...

Like candles in the wind.

Please don't hurt Sally, mister...

She's all I got left now that Peter's gone...

We will give you what you want

if we have it to give... I swear we will.

Won't we?

(crowd agrees)

What is it? Tell us.

I've lived a long time. Thousands of years...

But I'm not a god, nor one of the immortals.

So now you see me as I really am.

Old and sick... Dying, in fact.

By the standards of your existence,

I've long to live yet...

I'll still be walking the earth

When all but the greenest among you...

Davey Hopewell, perhaps...

Or young Don Beals... have gone to your graves.

But in terms of my own existence...

time has grown short.

You ask me what I want...

No... no...

I want someone to raise, and teach...

to whom I can pass on all I've learned

and all that I know...

who will carry on my work when I can no longer do it myself.

I want a child.

One of the eight sleeping back there.

No.

No. Never.

It doesn't matter which one...

All are just as likely in my eyes.

Give me what I want, and give it freely...

And I'll go away.

Never.

We will never give you one of our children!

Never!

- Get him! - Let go of me!

Stop him!

Grab him unless you wish me to drop the children,

and I will, I promise you, I will.

Damm it! Let go of me!

Mike, we gotta listen to him.

No, we don't!

Listening's the worst thing we can do.

Be still, Michael! Let him have his say.

Molly...?

- Molly? - I don't think we have a choice.

We have to listen.

In a matter such as this, I cannot take...

but I can punish.

I assure you. I can punish.

Give me one of the babies sleeping yonder

to raise as my own and I'll leave you in peace.

He or she will see much, and live long...

Long after the others are gone.

Give me what I want, and I'll go away.

Refuse me, and the dreams you shared last night

Will come true, the children will fall from the sky,

and the rest of you will walk into the ocean.

And when this storm ends...

they will find this island as they found Roanoke.

Empty... Deserted.

I'll give you half an hour.

Discuss it...

and then... choose.

(chatter)

(gavel bangs)

I call this meeting to order.

I think it's best if we deal with this matter

as we would any piece of town business...

That's what this is, isn't it? Town business?

Any objections?

(crowd declines)

The item on the floor... is whether or not

to give to this... this... thing

that has come among us, one of our children.

He says if we give him what he wants,

he'll go away.

He'll kill us all, including the children...

if we don't.

Have I stated that fairly?

(crowd agrees)

All right.

How say you, Little Tall, will you speak to this?

I don't see what choice we have,

if we believe he can do what he says he can do.

Do you believe him?

That's the first thing I asked myself...

I do... I do.

Roberta Coign has a good point...

How many believe Linoge is telling the truth?

That he can and will wipe out everyone

if we stand against him? A show of hands...

It's not a question of what we're going to do,

not yet... It's just a question...

I know what the question is.

Once we start down that road,

every step is easier, I know that too.

All right. I guess we believe him...

that's one issue out of the way.

Now, if there is any discussion

of the main question...

I have something I'd like to say.

That's fine, you're a taxpayer, have on.

No. He's not a man.

I didn't vote, but I agree with that...

I am your constable.

The man you elected to enforce your laws.

I saw what he did to Martha Clarendon,

Peter Godsoe...

And I've seen what he's done to our children...

So I understand as well as any of you...

the reality of what he's threatening.

But folks, we don't give our kids away to thugs,

do you understand that?

We don't give away our children!

What's the choice, then?

What do we do, Mike? What can we do?

We stand against him!

Side by side, use our will and tell him "no"!

In one voice!

We do what it says over the door we use

to come into this place...

We trust in God!

And in each other!

And then... maybe he goes away.

The way storms always do when they've blown themselves out.

"Render, therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's."

Book of Matthew. You said that to me not an hour ago!

"Get thee behind me, Satan,

for thou savorest not the things that be of God"!

Book of Mark!

Folks... If we give up a child...

One of our own...

How will we live with each other?

Even if he lets us live.

By the grace of God...

We've all got something to hide, Mike...

Or maybe you're different!

Jack, no... I'm not different...

This isn't like a test you cheated on,

or someone you hurt when you were drunk...

we're talking about a child...!

Do you understand that, Jack?

Michael...

suppose you were right about sending him away...

Suppose we gather our will in a collective "no"...

And he goes back where he came from...

You saw our children.

I don't know where he actually has them...

but I have no doubt...

that flying above the earth is a representation of it...

they can fall.

I believe that.

All he has to do is wave that cane and they fall.

How are we gonna live with ourselves if that happens?

He could be bluffing.

He's not, Michael.

And you know it. You saw it.

You speak as though he were to kill the child...

As though it were some kind of human sacrifice.

Sounds more like... an adoption to me...

And a long life as well...

If you believe him, that is.

After seeing him, I guess I do.

I don't believe this... I don't believe this!

Linoge killed Martha with his cane!

He knocked the eyes right out of her head!

And we are debating whether or not to give

this monster a child?!

We might as well give away our souls!

You wanna know the worst thing I can think of?

Suppose you're half right...

Suppose we live and they die...

How are we gonna look at each other?

How are we gonna live with each other then?

And how will we ever live with you?

(crowd murmurs)

He said half an hour, we have ten minutes left.

We can't do this!

Don't you understand that?

We cannot do this! Don't you see?

We cannot allow...

I think we've heard your side of the story.

Take a seat.

- Sonny...! - Mike...

Maybe you should do what he says.

All right... all right.

You need to think about this, folks.

You need to think about this. Very carefully.

I need to go sit with Ralphie.

What do you say, folks? What's your pleasure?

God help us, let's give him what he wants.

Give him what he wants, and send him on his way.

Even if it's Sally...

Better that she live with a bad man than die.

My God, Michael Anderson, where's your heart?

They're children!

We can't let him kill all eight children!

Anyone else...?

Don't.

Please. Please...

Ursula... please.

Hatch... Jack... Robbie, all of you...

Don't do this... Don't do this.

Don't give in to this!

This is damnation!

All right, let's restrict the vote...

Let the parents vote and the parents only!

- They're all residents... - No! That's not fair!

I raised her by myself. I've had help...

including you and your wife.

But mostly by myself.

I shouldn't have to make a decision like this all by myself...

What's a community for, if it isn't supposed to help

when something terrible happens?

When none of the choices look good?

Couldn't have said it better myself, Lin.

For God sakes, let's vote and have done!

Call the question, Robbie. Call the question!

All right, fine. But you understand this...

My son is not a part of this...

My son is not a part of this obscenity!

Yes, he is.

We have never shirked our duty, Michael.

We have taken part in all the life on this island

and we will take part in this as well.

You don't mean that, Molly...?

You can't mean that?

I do, Mike.

Well, screw this! Screw all of you!

I am taking my son and leaving!

You can't leave... we're in this together!

Let go of me!

(angry shouting)

Michael, calm down...

Okay...

I'll sit.

- Mike, are you...? - Get away from me!

- Mike... - Shut up, Hatch!

When you've had a chance to think about it,

you'll understand... you'll come around.

It's the only thing we can do!

What else? Die for a principle... every one of us?

You have to think about it.

And if it's Pippa Linoge ends up taking...

I'll tell myself she died as an infant...

It was crib death... something we couldn't help...

and Melinda and I will both believe it.

(gavel bangs)

Oyez, oyez, oyez!

The question has been called...

do we or do we not give Mr. Linoge

what he wants pursuant to his promise to leave us in peace?

How say you, Little Tall?

All those in favor signify in the usual way.

I'm Harry's father and I vote yes!

I'm his mother... so do I.

I vote yes...

- Carla and I vote yes - Yes...

We have no choice.

- No choice. - I vote yes... it's the only way.

Got to.

To lose one in life is better...

than to lose them all in death. I vote yes.

Those opposed...?

I count all in favor, save one...

The motion is carried.

Have you reached your decision?

We have. We voted in favor.

Excellent. You've made the right choice.

You've done a hard thing, my friends.

Despite what the constable told you,

it's also a good thing.

The right thing... The only thing...

Ioving, responsible people could have done

under the circumstances.

These are weirding stones.

They were old when the world was young...

and were used to decide great issues

before Atlantis sank into the African Ocean.

There are seven white stones and one black one.

You're eager for me to be gone, I know...

and I don't blame you.

Will one parent of each child come forward.

Let's finish this.

It's perfectly simple.

You each draw a stone...

Do not reveal your stone until all have been chosen...

The child whose parent draws the black stone...

comes with me.

To live long, see far, and know much.

Mrs. Robichaux? Jill... Will you start us off?

Go on, honey... do it.

Mrs. Hatcher?

I can't, Robbie. You.

Go ahead. Draw.

Ladies?

You go first, Molly.

No. You. Please.

Well, my friends, so far it's gone very well.

Now then... who has the courage to show first?

To put fear aside, and let relief take it's place?

Come come, have you not heard...

The gods punish the faint of heart?

Buster... I love you!

Show it, Sandra... let's see!

I can't, Robbie! I can't!

I know it's Donnie, I've never been lucky.

White!

Please, dear God, I beg of you...

Don't take away my Heidi.

White.

Mrs. Robichaux?

- Jill... - I can't...

I thought I could go through with it,

but I can't. I'm sorry!

(gasp)

(sobs)

Mr. Bright... Henry?

Would you favor us?

(sighs)

No! No!

No!

(stone drops)

No!

No!

Pip, Mama's comin', Mama's comin', sweetheart.

Mike!

This can't be!

You can't have my son!

I feel you grief keenly, but you agreed...

You fixed it! You fixed it somehow!

I assure you that's not so.

The game was, as you'd say... straight.

And since I believe long farewells

only add to the pain...

No! You can't do...

Ladies and gentlemen... thank you

for your attention to my needs...

I now declare this meeting at an end...

with a suggestion.

The less you say to the outside world about our arrangement,

the more happy you are apt to be.

Such matters are ultimately up to you.

With that, I'll take my new proteg�...

and leave you to your thoughts.

May they be happy ones.

(howling)

Go, go... Go!

Mike! Stop him! For God's sake, do something!

I can't!

Stop him! Don't let him take my son!

Sorry, Mrs. Anderson, but we made a deal...

You tricked us!

Perhaps you tricked yourselves!

He'll never belong to you! Never!

But he will... He'll come to love me...

He'll come to call me "Father".

No!

- I think don't you should... - Don't touch me!

Don't ever touch me ever again!

Any of you!

Ralphie!

Ralphie... Please... Bring him back!

I'll do anything... anything you want...

Bring him back...

Please! Bring him back!

Ralphie!

You and Mike haven't slept together for how long?

Five months.

The last time was the night before the big storm.

The "Storm of the Century."

When you lost your son?

Correct. When I lost my son.

And Mike blames you for that loss?

I think he's going to leave me.

You're very afraid of that, aren't you?

I think he's running out of ways to stay.

You understand what I mean by that?

Tell me again what happened to Ralphie.

We've been through this. What good would it do?

He's gone... What good can that do?

It was the second day, we were in the Town Hall...

The storm... you can't believe how bad it was.

I know, I was here.

You were here on the mainland.

It's different on the island...

everything's different on the island.

It was a mistake for any of us to go out...

especially the children.

We underestimated the storm...

Several people wandered away and were lost.

Ralphie was one of them...

Angie Carver found her way back,

but none of the others did.

Mike?

You got something to say, you better say it.

The ferry leaves in 20 minutes.

Where're you going?

Mike, don't. Don't leave.

Would it do any good to tell you

I haven't had a good night's sleep since February?

Would it do any good

to tell you we might have been wrong?

I've gotta go, Hatch.

Robbie says to tell you

the constable job's yours whenever you want it.

I'm done here. I've tried... I can't try anymore.

Molly needs you. Have you seen the way she is,

have you even looked?

You look for me, okay?

Aye.

Melinda's not doin' well either...

She takes a lot of tranquilizers.

I think she might be hooked on 'em.

That's too bad.

You got your daughter, at least.

You may not sleep so well...

but you can go into Pippa's bedroom...

and watch her sleep.

Any night you want.

Can't you?

Good luck, Hatch.

(engine starts)

(Molly:) He wandered into the white-out...

Maybe he was with Bill Timmons...

I'd like to think he wasn't alone in the end.

They must have lost their bearings completely...

and gone into the sea.

They were the two who were never found.

There's a great deal to this story

you haven't told me... Isn't there?

Until you tell someone...

it will keep festering.

It'll fester no matter what I do...

Some wounds can never be cleaned out...

I didn't understand that before... now I do.

Molly, why does your husband hate you so?

What really happened to Ralphie?

He wandered away.

People do, they get... lost.

That's what happened to Ralphie.

He was lost in the white-out. He was...

Iost in the storm.

(Mike:) Nine years ago, that was.

I just gassed up and left on the ferry.

I've never been back.

(Mike:) I had to wear sunglasses every night when the sun went down.

Every mile was a mile further from Little Tall.

Molly got the store, the house,

and a little piece of land we had.

I got the truck, and peace of mind...

what was left of it.

I wound up here, back on the water again.

Ironic, I guess. But it's different...

The Pacific doesn't have that hard glow

when the days run down to winter.

And it doesn't have the same memories.

I went back to school, got a degree in law enforcement,

another in accountancy...

Thought about a law degree, then thought again.

Started out keeping store on the coast of Maine...

wound up a federal marshall, how do you like that?

Sometimes the island seems very far away...

and Andre Linoge is just a bad dream I had...

Sometimes, when I wake up late at night...

trying not to scream...

It seems very close.

And as I said in the beginning, I keep in touch.

Melinda Hatcher died in 1990...

Iocal paper said it was a heart attack...

I don't know if there was more to it or not...

35's young for your pump to quit, but it happens.

(church bell rings)

Molly and Hatch married in May... from what I hear,

they've been good for each other.

I'm glad.

I wish them every happiness. I mean that.

(camera clicks)

Not everyone on Little Tall has been so lucky.

Jack and Angie Carver divorced...

Jack fought for custody of Buster, and lost.

He moved off the island, rented a room...

killed himself there one night...

He left what little he had to a fellow

who lost an eye in a barroom fight.

Robbie Beals rebuilt the old fish house

and hired Kirk Freeman to work there...

Kirk said Robbie's wife, Sandra, came down there

early one morning, dressed in a slicker and boots...

and told him she wanted to go for a little row.

Kirk made her put on a life preserver...

He said he didn't like the way she looked...

Like she was dreaming with her eyes open...

But what could he do? It was a mild morning...

No wind, not much swell...

and she was the boss's wife.

They found the boat, but they didn't find Sandy.

There was one strange thing...

but they didn't know what to make of it.

There were people on the island...

who maybe could've helped them a little there...

But island folks can keep a secret.

We kept our share...

And the people who live there can keep them still.

This is a cash-and-carry world. Pay as you go.

Sometimes you only have to pay a little...

Mostly, it's a lot.

Once in a while, it's all you have.

That's the lesson I thought I learned...

during the Storm of the Century...

but I was wrong.

I only started learning during the Big Blow...

I finished just last week.

(humming:) "I'm a little teapot..."

Ralphie?

Ralphie!

(hissing)

Ralphie!

(Mike:) I could have written Molly and told her...

I thought about it... even prayed about it...

When every choice hurts,

how do you tell which one's the right one?

In the end, I kept silent.

Sometimes, mostly at night when I can't sleep,

I think that was wrong.

But in daylight, I know better.

In daylight, I know better.