you think?
TESS
Ayuh. It's a miracle it's run as long as 't 'as, with no one able to keep it dug out. Wind must have kept the exhaust pipe clear, but now it's shifted. In a way, that's good news. Means the storm's almost over.
She hands several stacked boxes of candles to JENNA and gives more to TAVIA. She takes a third stack for herself.
JENNA
Main meeting hall?
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STORM OF THE CENTURY 299
TESS
Ayuh, shoah Mike wants that ready first. There's a couple of emergency lights in there, but that isn't enough for him. Let's get as much done as we can while we can still see to do it, ladies.
60 INTERIOR: A CORRIDOR LEADING TO THE FRONT OF THE TOWN HALL.
Up ahead are URSULA GODSOE'S glassed-in office and the stairs going down to the basement. To the right is the main meeting hall, visible through the corridor windows. Through these we can see perhaps a hundred and twenty ISLANDERS, some grazing the buffet (scant provisions there by now), most sitting on benches and talking as they drink coffee.
There are chairs lining the corridor; these are used in less disastrous times by people waiting their turn to do some bit of town business licensing a car, a dog, a boat; paying property tax; checking the voter rolls; perhaps renewing a commercial fishing or clamming permit. In these are sprawled another two dozen ISLANDERS, some talking quietly, some dozing. It's the storm they're waiting on now.
TESS, TAVIA, and JENNA come hurrying along with their bounty of candles. Up ahead, HATCH comes out of URSULA'S office.
HATCH
I just caught a little bit of the latest NWS bulletin on the shortwave. They say we may see the moon tonight.
TAVIA GODSOE
That's wonderful.
Those sitting in the hall like patients in a doctor's waiting room think so, too MANY APPLAUD, waking the dozers, who look around and ask what's up.
TAVIA Where's Ursula, do you know?
HATCH
Downstairs, with Sally and the others. Sleeping, the last I saw. (pause) But not like the kids're sleeping. You know?
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TAVIA
Yes . . . but I'm sure they'll be all right. They'll wake up and be just fine.
HATCH
I hope you're right, Tavia Godsoe. Pray you're right.
He goes downstairs. The THREE WOMEN watch him with deep sympathy, then go on their way. As they reach the stairs and turn right to go into the meeting hall, JOANNA STANHOPE comes up the stairs.
JOANNA STANHOPE Can I help?
TAVIA
Go down to the kitchen and get the rest of the candles, if you want. I'm afraid we're going to lose the generator.
TAVIA, TESS, and JENNA go into the town meeting hall. JOANNA (who has gotten over the shock of her unpleasant mother-in-law's death in record time) heads down to the kitchen.
The overheads FLICKER, go out, then COME BACK ON again. The ISLANDERS sitting in the chairs along the walls of the corridor look up and MURMUR QUIETLY.
61 INTERIOR: THE KIDS' SLEEPING AREA OF THE BASEMENT NIGHT.
Except now it looks like Intensive Care in a children's hospital; this could be the aftermath of some hideous tragedy, like the shooting of all those kids in Scotland.
URSULA has drawn a cot up next to SALLY'S and sleeps, holding both her daughter's hands in both of her own. MIKE and MOLLY are with RALPHIE, and MELINDA is with PIPPA, brushing her hair back from the child's brow. The ROBICHAUXES are with HARRY, the CARVERS are with BUSTER, the BRIGHTS are with FRANK, LINDA ST. PIERRE is with HEIDI. Next to her, also alone, is SANDRA BEALS. She's got a washcloth and is gently and lovingly wiping the doughnut crumbs from around DON'S mouth. Fast asleep as they are, you'd think them heaven's smallest angels. Even DON.
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Sitting in the corner, hands clasped and PRAYING UNOBTRUSIVELY, is REV. BOB RIGGINS.
HATCH slips through the makeshift draw curtains, then stops and looks up as the LIGHTS FLICKER AGAIN. They come back, and he comes over to the KIDS and PARENTS.
HATCH (to MELINDA)
Any change?
(she shakes her head) Any change in any of them?
MELINDA
(soft, despairing)
No.
MOLLY
But their respiration is normal, reflexes are normal, and if you roll back an eyelid, their pupils react to light. All that's good.
HATCH sits next to MELINDA and looks closely into PIPPA'S face. He sees her eyelids TWITCH and MOVE.
HATCH
She's dreaming.
MIKE They all are.
MIKE and HATCH exchange a look, then HATCH glances toward SANDRA.
HATCH Where's Robbie, Sandra?
SANDRA Don't know.
"And don't care," her tone implies. She goes on wiping at DONNIE'S
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mouth. The crumbs are all gone now; she's only caressing him,