"THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT"
Screenplay by
J. Mackye Gruber & Eric Bress
SHOOTING DRAFT
INT. SUNNYVALE - DOCTOR'S OFFICE - NIGHT - 2002
EVAN, 20, good-looking but with dark haunted eyes, frantically
hides himself in an unlit Doctor's office. His face and chest
are covered in blood. He holds his forehead in pain.
FLASHLIGHT BEAMS stab through the darkened corridor hunting
for him. ALARMS SOUND. GUARDS are heard shouting to each
other. Evan grabs a cardboard box and hides under a doctor's
desk. He grabs some paper and begins writing in shorthand.
EVAN
(as he writes)
If anyone finds this, then I guess
my plan didn't work and I'm already
dead...
He takes a deep breath.
EVAN
But if I can just go back to the
beginning of all this, I still might
be able to save her.
Fatigue overwhelms him, but he continues writing...
INT. BUSY HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY - 1982
TITLE: TWENTY YEARS EARLIER
ANDREA TREBORN, twenty-five, an attractive pregnant woman
strapped to a gurney, is rolled down a busy hospital corridor.
She is clearly ready to give birth, and as she flails her
arms, she knocks another patient's IV bottle into the wall.
INT. BUSY HOSPITAL - RECOVERY ROOM - SUPER 8 FOOTAGE - 1982
A tearful Andrea holds newborn EVAN in her hands.
TITLE SEQUENCE OVER SUPER-8 MONTAGE INCLUDING:
INT. BUSY HOSPITAL - RECOVERY ROOM - DAY - 1982
Smiling Andrea holds baby Evan up to the camera, then places
him in a crib.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY - 1983
A playground. Evan's father, JASON (23), puts a 1-year old
on a slide.
EXT. LENNY'S HOUSE - DAY - 1987
A birthday party for LENNY, 5, a chubby kid with only a few
friends. Evan, now 5, is gently prodded by Andrea toward
KAYLEIGH, 5, a quiet sweet-looking girl with beautiful hair.
Evan clumsily shakes her hand and she quickly leans over and
kisses his cheek.
He blushes and runs to hug his mother's leg.
END MONTAGE & TITLES.
EXT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - EARLY MORNING - 1989
In the driveway, 7-year old Evan plays with CRICKETT, a frisky
cocker spaniel puppy.
Andrea, wearing a mechanic's jumpsuit, works impatiently on
the carburetor of a Toyota Celica. Evan pets the dog as he
watches his mother work.
ANDREA
Okay, okay... what now?
Evan quickly eyes the situation and grabs the 5/16" wrench
from the toolbox.
EVAN
We're gonna be late again.
ANDREA
When did you ever care about getting
to school on time?
EVAN
We're putting up pictures for Parent's
Night.
Evan impatiently watches Andrea turn the bolt.
EVAN
Righty-tighty, lefty-lucy.
ANDREA
Thanks. Don't worry Evan, you'll
have plenty of time.
The carburetor will not set properly. She bangs on it with
the wrench.
ANDREA
(re: carb)
Darn it!
EVAN
Um... can dad come this time?
ANDREA
(getting impatient)
You know the answer to that.
EVAN
Can't he come out for one day?
ANDREA
We've been over this a hundred times.
It's too dangerous for him.
EVAN
But Lenny said that his dad's
coming... and Tommy and Kayleigh's
dad...
Andrea hands the wrench to Evan.
ANDREA
Here, Ev... Finish this up for me.
Evan beams as he climbs onto the bumper and screws the carb
back together.
Andrea, meanwhile, strips off her coveralls, revealing a
spotless nurse's uniform underneath.
EVAN
All the dads are gonna be there.
ANDREA
I get the point, kiddo. But I'm not
so bad, am I?
EVAN
No.
ANDREA
Good. Because I've been waiting to
see your art projects all week and
I'd feel terrible if all you thought
about was your father not being there.
Evan, disappointed, passes the wrench back to Andrea.
EVAN
(beat)
Done. Try it.
Andrea gets behind the wheel. She turns the ignition and the
engine roars to life. Evan wears a proud smile.
ANDREA
You're amazing, kiddo.
EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - MORNING - 1989
Andrea races through the school zone and heads for the main
doors. Evan's already got the car door open and his foot on
the ground by the time the car skids to a halt. Andrea checks
her watch.
ANDREA
Okay have a great day I love you
I'll pick you up later gotta go...
Evan blows Andrea a kiss goodbye and runs into the school.
As Andrea pulls away, MRS. BOSWELL, 35, taps the car window.
MRS. BOSWELL
Mrs. Treborn! I need to speak with
you!
ANDREA
I'm sorry, but can it wait til
tonight? I'm already late for work --
Mrs. Boswell's morbid expression stops Andrea.
MRS. BOSWELL
I think you really need to see this.
INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - MOMENTS LATER
The classroom is filled with screaming, running children.
Mrs. Boswell enters the classroom with Andrea and immediately
calls out to TOMMY, a tough seven-year old kid who swings a
whiffle bat at LENNY, now seven, a sniffling, chubby kid.
MRS. BOSWELL
TOMMY! LEAVE LENNY ALONE! DON'T MAKE
ME SEND YOU TO MR. VOYTEK'S OFFICE!
Evan is surprised to see his mother enter with Mrs. Boswell,
but continues playing with Kayleigh, now seven, a quiet,
sweet-looking girl.
Mrs. Boswell leads Andrea over to the teacher's desk.
MRS. BOSWELL
I was going to show this to the
principal, but I wanted to talk to
you first.
ANDREA
What is it?
MRS. BOSWELL
Yesterday I had all the children
draw pictures of what they wanted to
be when they grew up. Most of them
made drawings of what their parents
did, but this...
Mrs. Boswell opens the bottom drawer of her desk and pulls
out a drawing. Andrea turns to stone when she sees it.
ANDREA
I don't understand... Evan did this?
The drawing shows a child holding a bloody knife while
standing on a heap of dead bodies. It's extremely
sophisticated for a seven-year old. Some of the corpses have
been cut open and the insides are surprisingly anatomically
correct.
Andrea sees Evan playing with Lenny, harmless as a bunny,
and struggles to control her concern.
ANDREA
Thank you for showing it to me first.
I'll... I'll take care of it. Can I
have the picture?
MRS. BOSWELL
Of course. There is one more thing,
Mrs. Treborn. And I feel bad for
mentioning it...
ANDREA
What?
MRS. BOSWELL
When I asked Evan about his drawing,
well, he didn't remember doing it.
Andrea is visibly shaken now.
ANDREA
I have to go.
EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT - LATER
Andrea seems so impacted by this revelation that she cannot
even start the car.
INT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - LATER
The children hang artwork on the walls in prep for Parent's
Night. Each child has a picture of his or her family made
from colored construction paper and macaroni. Evan's picture
(no longer sophisticated) depicts his mother, Crockett and
himself on a green hill. Tommy and Kayleigh's pictures each
show two kids and a single father. And their 'mother' is
stuck to the far end of page.
Lenny beams as he pins-up his picture of an ideal nuclear
family. He looks at Tommy's picture and is confused.
LENNY
You put the mommy too far away. Mrs.
Boswell has macaroni and glue if you
wanna fix it.
TOMMY
You're such a retard!
KAYLEIGH
Mommy lives far away but she comes
and visits.
LENNY
(to Tommy)
If I'm retarded, why didn't my mommy
move away from me?
Tommy gets upset. He swipes his hand down Lenny's picture
and his macaroni "mother" crumbles to the floor. Lenny begins
to cry.
EVAN
Hey, what'd you do that for?
TOMMY
Fat little baby, crying for mommy.
Evan takes the ruined picture and leans down next to Lenny.
EVAN
Come on, Lenny. It's not that bad.
You can still see your mom a little.
Lenny, unable to stop crying, begins hyperventilating out of
control. His desperate gasps for breath are frightening.
Evan, scared, looks around for Mrs. Boswell, but cannot find
her. He reaches up to his own picture and quickly tears his
own macaroni "mother" apart and places it over Lenny's
picture. It's a nuclear family again. Lenny slowly is able
to catch his breath.
LENNY
(grateful)
Can... can... Can I have this?
EVAN
Sure. I was gonna make a new one,
anyway.
Kayleigh helps Lenny glue a new "mother" in place and she
smiles gratefully at Evan.
As Evan smiles back at Kayleigh, Mrs. Boswell calmly enters
the room in time to see Evan tacking up his butchered family
portrait. She shivers.
EXT. SUNNYVALE INSTITUTION - DAY - 1989
Gothic. Imposing. Andrea runs up the stairs.
INT. SUNNYVALE - DR. REDFIELD'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
DR. HARLON REDFIELD, 40, a handsome and extremely genial
man, scrutinizes a disturbing drawing.
DR. REDFIELD
And you say he doesn't remember any
of it?
ANDREA
(anxious)
Not according to his teacher. It
just got me thinking about Jason and
what if Evan's inherited his father's
condition?
DR. REDFIELD
Hold it, hold it, Andrea. Let's not
jump to conclusions. I'll run some
preliminary tests, see what we can
rule out.
Andrea nods and forces a thankful smile.
DR. REDFIELD
Tell you what, bring Evan here tonight
and we'll run a CAT-scan series.
EXT. SUNNYVALE INSTITUTION - NIGHT
The looming building looks even more frightening at night.
Andrea and Evan head up the stairs.
EVAN
I don't like this place, Mom. It's
creepy. Please can we go? I promise
I won't make any more bad pictures!
ANDREA
(lighthearted)
You'll be fine. Dr. Redfield just
wants to give you some tests. You'll
like him.
INT. SUNNYVALE INSTITUTION - NIGHT
Andrea leads Evan into Dr. Redfield's office. Dr. Redfield
warmly greets Evan at the door.
DR. REDFIELD
Hello, Evan. It's very nice to meet
you.
(to Andrea)
He's as handsome as his father.
EVAN
(stunned)
You know my father?
Before Dr. Redfield can answer, Andrea cuts him off.
ANDREA
That's why I wanted you to come here,
Evan. Dr. Redfield already has a
background in memory loss.
EVAN
My father has a bad memory, too?
DR. REDFIELD
(off Andrea's look)
Uh, tell you what, Evan. If it's
okay with your mother, I'd like to
run some tests. Nothing scary.
Evan raises an eyebrow at the doctor.
DR. REDFIELD
Okay, it might be a little scary...
INT. LABORATORY - MOMENTS LATER
Evan looks terrified as he lies on a medical platform as a
series of CAT-scan images are taken. In another part of the
room, a distressed Andrea speaks quietly with Dr. Redfield.
ANDREA
Just tell me that Evan doesn't have
Jason's illness...
DR. REDFIELD
Look, Andrea, I'm sure he'll test
negative for brain disorders. But
there's something else you can try
to monitor his memory.
ANDREA
Anything.
DR. REDFIELD
A journal. Just have him write down
everything he does.
ANDREA
Why? What for?
DR. REDFIELD
It could be extremely useful to jog
his memory. See if he remembers
anything new the next day. And I'll
have the test results back in a few
days.
INT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING
The next morning. Evan busily writes in his new black-marble
mead comp book:
EVAN'S DIARY
"Today Mommy is taking me to play with Kayley and Tommy. I
will mete there father and see what a real dad is like. Maybe
one day I will mete my Dad."
Andrea, meanwhile, speaks into the phone as she pours Lucky
Charms into a cereal bowl for Evan.
ANDREA
Thanks, George. I really appreciate
you watching him, he won't be any
trouble at all.
Evan puts down the journal and eats breakfast. He separates
the green clovers from the cereal and drops them to the floor
for Crockett to nibble.
EVAN
These'll bring you luck, Crockett.
ANDREA
(into phone)
Great. I'll see you soon.
Andrea hangs up the phone and walks into the next room.
INT. HOUSE - DAY
Andrea grabs the pocket book off the coffee table and heads
back into the kitchen. She drops her purse in shock when she
sees: Evan, in doorway, expressionless and holding a large
BUTCHER KNIFE by his side.
ANDREA
Evan?
Evan sees her but remains expressionless.
ANDREA
Evan? What are you doing with that
knife?
Life suddenly springs into Evan's face. He seems stunned to
find himself holding the knife and drops it.
EVAN
(scared)
What happened?
ANDREA
Honey. What were you doing with that?
EVAN
(tears welling)
I... I don't remember.
EXT. MILLER HOUSE - MORNING
Andrea, still shaken, drops Evan off at the house of GEORGE
MILLER, 35, a handsome athletic man with an infectious smile.
He approaches the car and opens the door for Evan.
MR. MILLER
Hey, Andrea.
(to Evan)
Hello little man.
Andrea writes nervously on a piece of paper as Evan gets
out.
ANDREA
Thanks a lot George. Here's my work
number in case there are any problems.
MR. MILLER
(lighthearted laughter)
Whaddaya kidding? We're going to
have a great time today, right Evan?
Andrea nods thanks and nervously drives away. Evan walks up
to Mr. Miller and momentarily reaches for his hand. Mr. Miller
flinches his hand away and chuckles at Evan.
MR. MILLER
You waiting for an invitation? The
kids are inside.
Evan appears confused for a moment at Mr. Miller's unexpected
rudeness, but walks inside.
INT. MILLER'S HOUSE - DAY
Evan enters the well-kept middle class home and sees his
classmates Kayleigh and Tommy. Kayleigh is dressed in a make-
shift Medieval gown and Tommy is also dressed in a period
costume.
KAYLEIGH
(excited to see Evan)
Evan, guess what? Dad got a new video
camera and we're all gonna be in a
movie.
TOMMY
I don't think Evan gets to be in it --
KAYLEIGH
Quit it, Tommy. Evan gets to be Robin
Hood. I'm gonna be Maid Marian, and
you're the Sheriff of Nottingham!
TOMMY
I thought I was the bad guy!
KAYLEIGH
You are, silly. He's a bad sheriff.
Mr. Miller, holding a full glass of scotch in one hand, sets
the circa-80's bulky video camera on a tripod and plugs it
into the porta-deck.
EVAN
We're really gonna be in a movie!?
MR. MILLER
That's right, Evan, and you get to
be the star.
TOMMY
I thought I was the star.
MR. MILLER
Shut up, moron. Now get in your
costume, Evan. And you have to
promise, your bestest super-duper
promise, that this will be our little
secret. Think you can do that?
Evan nods and sticks his arms straight up in the air. Mr.
Miller downs his drink and helps Evan off with his clothes.
Suddenly --
HARD CUT TO:
INT. MILLER'S HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY
Evan comes to in an unfamiliar place. The rec-room/basement.
Evan's eyes dart from the fireplace to Mr. Miller's camera
lens and finally to Kayleigh, whose ashen face trembles
slightly.
Panic spreads across Evan's face.
EVAN
Where am I? What happened? Where did
we all go?
MR. MILLER
Calm down, kid. Stand still.
Evan backs up and awkwardly scurries around the basement,
grabbing his clothes.
Panicking.
EVAN
I was just somewhere else -- how did
I get here?
MR. MILLER
Quit acting like some retard or I'll
call your mother and tell her what a
naughty little shit you've been.
EVAN
Kayleigh? What happened?
Kayleigh's eyes are unable to leave the floor. She begins
adjusting her disheveled clothing. Evan trembles.
EVAN
What's wrong with me?
Tommy silently watches from the top of the basement stairs,
absently wringing the head off one of his sister's dolls.
INT. SUNNYVALE INSTITUTION - DAY
Dr. Redfield places Evan's CAT-scan slides on the light box.
Andrea squints, unable to interpret them.
DR. REDFIELD
Well, the good news is that the
results are negative. I've found no
evidence in the way of lesions,
hemorrhaging, tumors...
ANDREA
And the bad news?
DR. REDFIELD
Unfortunately, we've got nothing to
work with. It's harder playing
detective now.
ANDREA
But you must have something to go
on?
DR. REDFIELD
If I had to guess, I'd say the
blackouts are stress related.
ANDREA
But he's seven. What kind of stress
can he have?
DR. REDFIELD
Plenty. Who knows? Maybe he's got
severe coping problems about not
having a father. Did you say the
last blackout occurred when he was
with his friend's dad.
ANDREA
Come on, I doubt the answer's that
simple.
DR. REDFIELD
You'd be surprised how often they
are.
ANDREA
Well, he has been pushing me to meet
his father, but I've been putting it
off.
DR. REDFIELD
It's worth a shot. I can arrange a
controlled meeting. A careful dose
of sedatives for Jason, some security,
you and I monitoring. Evan comes in
for a quick visit and with any luck,
no more missing father complex.
ANDREA
How soon?...
INT. ANDREA'S CAR - COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
Evan, dressed in his Sunday best, writes copiously in a
journal marked "AGE 7."
EVAN'S DIARY
"April 15. Today I get to mete my father. His name is Jason
and he is crazy. I hope he lets me call him dad."
INT. SUNNYVALE INSTITUTION - DAY
Andrea tightly grips Evan's hand as the pair follow Dr.
Redfield down a corridor. Evan's enthusiasm is dampened by
the sounds of distant screams and bloodcurdling laughter.
EVAN
Dad lives here?
DR. REDFIELD
Not in this wing, actually. No.
ANDREA
Now your father may seem sleepy to
you, but that's just because of his
medicine, okay?
EVAN
Okay.
They walk to the end of the corridor and come to a "Visitor's
Chamber".
Dr.Redfield leads Evan inside. Andrea begins to follow, but
the doctor gestures that she stay outside.
INT. SUNNYVALE - VISITOR'S CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
Evan takes a seat at a long rectangular table. His eyes are
fixated on the door on the other side of the room. Finally,
a dark figure can be seen through the opaque glass.
JASON, thirty and haggard looking, enters the room. His eyes
want to sparkle at seeing his son for the first time. But
tranquilizers have dulled the effect.
Evan's eyes fixate on the leg-restraints and handcuffs that
hinder Jason's movement. Finally Jason sits.
He smiles warmly and speaks in over-enunciated tones.
JASON
It's okay. I won't bite. You've seen
pictures of me, right?
EVAN
Uh-huh. Mom says I have your eyes
and your --
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SUNNYVALE - VISITOR'S CHAMBER - DAY
Evan "comes to" in another unfamiliar place. Rather than
seeing his father across a table, he's looking up at a
ceiling.
Blocking his view of the ceiling is Jason, whose face is now
monstrous with rage, and whose cuffed hands are wrapped around
Evan's throat, choking the life out of him.
JASON
(through clenched
teeth)
I... love... you.
Suddenly, ORDERLIES tackle Jason from both sides and wedge a
baton under his jaw to wrench him away. Andrea frantically
struggles to rescue Evan from Jason's clutches.
JASON
(panicking)
He has to die! You don't understand!
It's the only way to stop it!
Jason wrestles the baton from under his chin, hits an orderly
in the kneecap and comes for Evan with the baton!
Orderly #2 acts quickly, beating Jason with his baton. As
Jason makes another desperate grab for Evan, Orderly #2 is
forced to bash him in the skull. Down for the count.
Andrea hugs Evan, now in shock.
ANDREA
I'm sorry, Evan. I'm sorry.
And ALARM sounds and Andrea tries to cover Evan's eyes, but
through her fingers he can see a quick blur of a pool of
blood spreading from Jason's head.
FADE TO BLACK:
FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY - 1989
Dressed in black, Andrea and Evan watch Jason's casket being
lowered into the ground. Andrea's tears soak through her
veil. A few feet back, Kayleigh stands behind Evan.
PRIEST
Ashes to ashes... dust to dust.
Evan watches the coffin descend, disappearing from sight.
Kayleigh steps up to Evan and takes his hand. A moment. And
she softly whispers in Evan's ear.
KAYLEIGH
You're better off anyway.
A rumble of thunder. Evan looks up at the brooding dark
clouds.
EXT. CEMETERY - DUSK
Gray skies. Andrea drives the children home. Evan stares at
the passing tombstones that flutter by like a white picket
fence. The flickering strobe effect that intensifies into a
white blur is hypnotic.
SLOWLY DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MILLER'S HOUSE - DAY - 1995
Bright and sunny. The lawn freshly cut. A Toro lawnmower has
been carelessly left in the grass-strewn driveway.
TITLE: SIX YEARS LATER
CRANE DOWN to the window of the --
INT. MILLER'S HOUSE - BASEMENT
Evan, Kayleigh, Tommy and Lenny are now THIRTEEN. Evan exhales
cigarette smoke, taps his ash and finishes sketching a
portrait of Kayleigh in his journal.
Tommy wears a leather jacket and now has traces of peach
fuzz on his upper lip.
Kayleigh's hair is longer now, albeit stringy and unkempt.
Evan closes his journal and coolly ignites a STRIKE-ANYWHERE
MATCH with his thumb and lights Kayleigh's cigarette. Everyone
but Lenny smokes in the basement.
Tommy, now with longer hair, ransacks his father's army locker
looking for something.
EVAN
Tommy, I'm bored shitless over here.
What's up already?
TOMMY
Hold your horses, man. It's here
somewhere. I saw it when I was a
kid.
Tommy absently chucks an old Playboy toward Lenny. Kayleigh
seems uncomfortable by the sight of it.
KAYLEIGH
(to Tommy)
We should go soon. If Dad catches us
smoking down here, we're dead.
EVAN
So let's go. This place creeps me
out.
Evan claps his hands and stands up, Lenny and Kayleigh join
him. Finally, Tommy shakes an old army thermos and hears
something rattling inside.
TOMMY
I knew it had something to do with
the army.
Tommy opens the thermos, tips it over and a blockbuster (1/4
stick of dynamite) spills out. Tommy grins mischievously.
TOMMY
Let's blow the shit out of something!
EXT. HALPERNS' FOREST - DAY
Tommy leads Evan, Kayleigh and Lenny on a mission through
the woods. Everyone smokes except Lenny, yet he's the only
one who's wheezing. He pulls out an inhaler and takes a puff.
LENNY
Guys, slow up, would you?
KAYLEIGH
Evan, did I tell you? My mother said
I might be able to visit her this
summer in Orlando with her new family.
TOMMY
What did I say about mentioning that
bitch?
KAYLEIGH
(uncomfortable)
Where the hell are you taking us
anyway? Just blow something up
already.
TOMMY
Just blow something up? Are you nuts?
There's an art to mass destruction.
Would you just paint the Mona Lisa?
No. Besides, we're here already.
Now at the edge of the woods, Tommy spots:
EXT. MRS. HALPERN'S HOME - CONTINUOUS
A MAILBOX sits at the end of the driveway. It's exquisite.
An exact replica of a Colonial home it serves.
Across the street, Tommy hands the blockbuster to Lenny.
TOMMY
Here you go, buddy.
LENNY
(recoiling)
What? No frigging way, man. I'm not
touching that thing.
TOMMY
The hell you aren't. Anyone of us
does it, you'll puss out and narc
for sure.
LENNY
Ain't gonna work this time, buddy.
Look how small that fuse is! I'll
get killed.
EVAN
Not necessarily.
All eyes turn to Evan as he takes his lit cigarette, breaks
off the filter and jams the fuse into the unlit end.
EVAN
That should buy you ten minutes at
least.
LENNY
Gee, thanks friend.
EXT. MRS. HALPERN'S HOME - CONTINUOUS
Lenny paces back and forth next to the three-story mailbox,
desperately trying to appear nonchalant. He pretends to notice
his shoe's untied and bends down to tie it. From the woods,
the other kids watch anxiously.
TOMMY
Oh, for Christ's sake, just do it,
Lenny.
Finally, Lenny throws the bomb in the mailbox. Then sprints
like hell to the woods. Kayleigh shakes Lenny's inhaler and
hands it to him when he gets back.
LENNY
(taking puff)
Thanks.
Evan pats Lenny on the back.
EVAN
You got balls, man.
The four watch the mailbox in intense anticipation. Evan
smiles with the cigarette pressed tightly between his lips
and places his hands over Kayleigh's ears. She smiles back
at him and presses his hands against her head. Tommy catches
this and seems disturbed, and quickly turns back to --
The mailbox. Tick-tock... tick-tock... It's like a staring
contest...
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. HALPERNS' FOREST - DAY
Evan, running full speed, comes to in an unfamiliar place.
He instantly loses his footing and falls to the ground. Lenny,
falling on top of him.
TOMMY
Hurry! Let's go! Get him up, Evan!
Come on!
EVAN
(frantic)
What happened?? Where are we?!
Evan gets up and starts running, then realizes he's not being
followed. Kayleigh and Tommy are helping Lenny up and carrying
him. Evan realizes that Lenny's completely dazed. Evan doubles
back, grabs Lenny's arm and he and Tommy drag Lenny through
the woods as fast as they can.
KAYLEIGH
(crying)
Oh God... what did we do?
EVAN
Shit, Lenny. What's happened to you!
We've gotta get help!
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. LENNY'S HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY
Andrea's car screeches to the curb of Lenny's house. Lenny's
mother, Mrs. Kagan, frantically loads Lenny into an ambulance.
As Andrea rushes up to the ambulance, Mrs. Kagan gives her
an icy glare and slams the ambulance door in Andrea's face.
Andrea turns to Evan, now trembling on the front stoop.
ANDREA
What is it? What happened?
TOMMY
(staring menacingly
at the others)
We were just building a fort in the
woods when Lenny freaked out. One
minute he was fine, then he just
froze up. Right guys?
ANDREA
What happened, Evan? The truth.
EVAN
I don't know... I don't remember.
ANDREA
Something must've happened! What set
him off?
EVAN
I... I blacked out.
ANDREA
(building frustration)
Don't try to use your blackouts to
get out of this one!
Evan looks helpless.
ANDREA
You're not making this up, are you?
Evan shakes his head "no". Almost ashamed...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFCIE - DAY
Evan lies on a couch.
DR. REDFIELD
With every breath you exhale, you
can feel all of the tension draining
from your body like water through a
faucet. Nine, ten, and you're
completely asleep. Relaxed.
Evan breathes slowly. Deeply. Andrea watches nervously from
the far side of the room.
DR. REDFIELD
Now I want you to go back to the
time you were in the woods with Lenny.
Think of it like a movie. You can
pause, rewind, or slow down any
details you wish. Understand?
EVAN
Yes.
DR. REDFIELD
Where are you now?
EVAN
I'm standing next to Kayleigh, my
hands are over her ears.
DR. REDFIELD
Are you hurting her?
EVAN
No, protecting her.
Andrea suppresses the tiniest of proud smiles.
DR. REDFIELD
Okay. Then go a little forward in
time. What do you see now?
EVAN
I see a car.
Evan's eyes suddenly roll back in his head.
DR. REDFIELD
Yes, tell me about the car.
Evan moans and begins shaking.
DR. REDFIELD
Go on. Nothing can hurt you. Remember,
this is only a movie. You're
completely safe.
EVAN
(moaning)
I can't... the car vanishes and all
of a sudden I'm on the ground in the
woods.
DR. REDFIELD
The car doesn't vanish Evan. The
movie in your head has broken, that's
all. But now I've re-spliced it and
I want you to tell me about the car.
EVAN
It's coming... argh! I can't!
Evan moans and shakes on the couch.
DR. REDFIELD
Fight it Evan. Hurry. It's coming!
Blood begins to trickle from Evan's nose as a guttural sound
is uttered from deep within him. Dr. Redfield bolts upright
in his chair and redirects the session.
DR. REDFIELD
Okay, Evan. Listen to my voice! On
the count of ten, you're going to
wake up. Feeling refreshed and
remembering everything we talked
about.
Evan moans in agony. Andrea darts into the room.
ANDREA
What's happening to him?? Make it
stop!
Dr. Redfield waves her away and concentrates on Evan.
DR. REDFIELD
One. You're feeling more awake now.
Two, your eyes no longer feel heavy.
Andrea moves to stop the blood flowing from Evan's nose. She
lifts Evan's eyelids and sees only the whites of his eyes.
DR. REDFIELD
Five. Six. Refreshed and awake! Seven,
eight. Come on, Evan, wake up, dammit!
Evan is completely non-responsive.
ANDREA
Evan wake up, oh please wake up!
DR. REDFIELD
Nine, ten. And you're awake! Open
your eyes, dammit!
Nothing but moans and blood. Dr. Redfield frantically opens
some desk drawers until he finds smelling salts. He breaks a
small capsule under evan's mouth, pinches his bleeding nose
closed and lets Evan inhale the vapor through his mouth.
Evan lurches forward on the couch and falls off. Holding his
bloody nose.
EVAN
What happened? Did it work?
Evan deduces the answer from everyone's horrified faces.
EXT. MULTIPLEX THEATER - PARKING LOT - DUSK
Andrea drops off Evan, Kayleigh and Tommy outside the complex.
Kayleigh, looking morose, shuts the car door and Andrea drives
off. They walk through the parking lot.
TOMMY
(to Kayleigh)
Wipe that sad-assed look off your
face before you get us all busted.
You see the way Evan's mom was looking
at you?
KAYLEIGH
I'm sorry.
EVAN
Would someone just tell me already
what the hell happened in the mailbox?
On "mailbox", Tommy suddenly grabs Evan's jacket and SHOVES
him against a parked car. Tommy looks around to make sure
nobody heard anything.
TOMMY
Don't ever bring that shit up again.
Not ever. Not to me, not to Kayleigh,
or even Lenny. The stupid fuck if he
ever learns to talk again. Understand?
Evan nods, scared. Tommy gives a final shove.
TOMMY
Ever.
(re: Kayleigh)
She don't want to talk about it,
anyway. Do you Kayleigh?
Tommy's right. Kayleigh clearly doesn't.
INT. MULTIPLEX THEATER LOBBY - DUSK
Kayleigh shuffles behind Evan and Tommy as they head toward
the theatre. Evan drops back.
EVAN
Are you okay?
Kayleigh says nothing as Tommy sees the theatre playing SEVEN
and whispers.
TOMMY
There it is. Let's go.
INT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Andrea does the dishes as the TV plays a NEWSCAST in the
b.g.
ANCHOR
(on TV)
...was the grizzly aftermath of what
police officials of upstate New York
are calling a horrible act of
vandalism gone awry.
Andrea turns to the TV, blocking our view. We can only hear
the report as she watches intensely.
ANCHOR
The powerful explosion is believed
to have been caused by a small
quantity of dynamite.
Andrea's face looks haunted by the on-screen images. She
shakes her head in terror and grabs the remote.
ANCHOR
Police thus far have no leads as to
the suspects...
She clicks off the TV, trembling.
INT. MULTIPLEX THEATER - NIGHT
The movie's in progress. Evan and Kayleigh sit behind Tommy.
TOMMY
Holy shit! Look at that fat fuck!
You'd have to wipe his ass with a
forklift!
Some crowd members TURN around and give Tommy a SHUSH. Tommy
whips M&Ms at them.
TOMMY
Shut up, faggot. No one's talking to
you!
Kayleigh, repulsed, suddenly darts from the aisle and runs
out. Evan follows.
INT. LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
Evan follows her to a small alcove.
EVAN
I'm sorry Kayleigh. This was a bad
idea.
KAYLEIGH
You really don't remember anything
that happened?
Evan shakes his head "no". She looks devastated.
KAYLEIGH
You're so lucky.
She begins to cry. Evan makes sure no one's staring.
EVAN
It's going to be okay. Lenny'll be
fine. You'll see.
He reaches to comfort her. But she winces.
KAYLEIGH
Ouch.
EVAN
I'm sorry.
She pulls her sleeve up, revealing a large bruise.
KAYLEIGH
It's not your fault. Mrs. Kagan called
dad and blamed us for what happened
to Lenny.
EVAN
Damn. Your dad did this?
Kayleigh pulls back her shirt collar to show an even larger,
darker bruise.
KAYLEIGH
(looking down)
I deserve a lot worse.
EVAN
What are you talking about? What you
deserve is a better brother and
father. All they do is make you feel
like shit.
She looks into his eyes.
EVAN
You really have no clue how beautiful
you are, do you?
She searches his eyes for sincerity. And finds it. They lean
into each other for a TENDER KISS. After a moment, a ROAR
from nearby.
TOMMY (O.S.)
What the fuck are you doing??
They jerk back to see Tommy, shocked and betrayed, staring
at them from across a small crowd. By now, some teens chuckle
at Tommy.
TEEN PUNK (O.S.)
Buying popcorn, what the fuck are
you doing?
Tommy rushes through the small crowd at Evan. His hands in
fists. Suddenly a FOOT reaches out and trips Tommy. Tommy
falls to the floor and the crowd cackles at him.
Tommy slowly gets up, locks eyes with Evan. Hatred oozing.
Evan looks guilty, weakly shaking his head, it's not what
you're thinking.
Tommy suddenly lunges at the TEEN PUNK who must be at least
a foot taller than he is. Tommy lands a flurry of punches
before the Teen Punk can even defend himself, frequently
taking opportunities to eyeball Evan.
Evan, Kayleigh and even the punk's FRIENDS look on helplessly
when TWO SECURITY GUARDS SEIZE TOMMY. Tommy valiantly
struggles against them at first. But the moment he realizes
it's hopeless, he allows his body to go slack.
As Tommy is being dragged away, he turns to Evan, a sick
smile on his face. Evan and Kayleigh look back, speechless.
INT. ANDREA'S CAR - NIGHT
Andrea drives through the winding roads.
CLOSE UP
Andrea's eyes. Tormented.
REVEAL she's driving Evan and Kayleigh home. Evan's up front
and Kayleigh sits behind them. Everyone silent.
Andrea stares through the rearview mirror into Kayleigh's
eyes. Probing. Searching.
ANDREA
So how was the movie?
KAYLEIGH
Okay.
Andrea watches Kayleigh. A calculated beat.
ANDREA
Any exploding mailboxes?
Kayleigh flinches at the question. And Andrea catches it.
Evan can't help but look back at Kayleigh. Oh my god, she
knows.
KAYLEIGH
(faking poorly)
What do you mean?
Andrea pulls the car over and stops. After a moment, Kayleigh
realizes she's at her house. She exits the car in a hurry.
ANDREA
Goodnight.
Andrea stares at Evan, who keeps his eyes facing dead ahead.
She finally shifts the car into gear.
ANDREA
We're moving.
Evan says nothing.
FADE TO BLACK:
EXT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - MORNING
A "For Sale" sign is now planted on the front lawn. Andrea,
in her nurse uniform, exits the house to her car.
INT. ANDREA'S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Evan discreetly watches her leave through the window. Grabs
his coat and exits frame.
EXT. LENNY'S HOUSE - DAY
Kayleigh and Evan walk down toward the house.
EVAN
I can't believe Tommy's still pissed
at me. He knows I'm moving away,
right?
KAYLEIGH
He's been acting real strange lately.
He won't even look me in the eyes
anymore.
EVAN
Duck, here they come.
As a station wagon rolls up the street, Evan and Kayleigh
duck in nearby bushes.
KAYLEIGH
Did your mom say if Lenny was...
okay?
EVAN
He must be. They're letting him go,
right?
The station wagon finally heads into the driveway. Evan puts
on a smile and charges the car, pounding the window.
EVAN
Welcome home, Lenny!
Inside the car, Lenny jerks back in horror. Mrs. Kagan looks
angry as she rolls the window down.
MRS. KAGAN
I think your little homecoming's in
bad taste.
The smile fades from Evan's face. Kayleigh hangs back.
EVAN
Sorry?
MRS. KAGAN
(acidic)
Lenny's been through a hell of an
ordeal no thanks to you.
Evan and Kayleigh look guilty as the garage door opens up
and Mrs. Kagan continues into the garage.
INT. LENNY'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Alone, Lenny concentrates on a MODEL AIRPLANE. There is a
sudden KNOCK at the window. Lenny's head jerks around to see
Evan and Kayleigh smiling through the window.
EXT. LENNY'S WINDOW - CONTINUOUS
Evan and Kayleigh stand on the ivy-covered trellis.
EVAN
(quietly)
Welcome home. Thought you might like
some fresh air for a change.
KAYLEIGH
Hi, Lenny.
Lenny twitches ever-so-slightly.
LENNY
Is Tommy with you guys?
Evan shakes his head "no".
EVAN
It's cool.
Lenny looks back at the model airplane. Needs to think.
EXT. JUNKYARD WOODS - DAY
Evan, Lenny and Kayleigh pass a junk pile in the woods.
KAYLEIGH
(to Lenny)
So what did you do in there?
LENNY
It was awful. You can't sleep 'cause
everyone's screaming all night long.
I never want to go back.
As Evan and Kayleigh absorb this in silence, they see a column
of smoke billowing in the horizon.
KAYLEIGH
Do you see that?
Evan and Kayleigh run toward the smoke. Lenny nervously
follows behind.
They exit the woods to find:
EXT. JUNKYARD - CONTINUOUS
Tommy has stuffed a dog into a gunny sack which he douses
with lighter fluid.
Next to a campfire.
EVAN
Crockett!!
Evan and Kayleigh rush toward the trapped, helpless dog.
Tommy is ready for them. He drops the lighter fluid, picks
up a wooden plank and SWINGS! Evan ducks back at the last
minute and Tommy accidentally connects with Kayleigh's head.
Knocking her unconscious.
TOMMY
Look what you made me do!
EVAN
What's wrong with you?!
Tommy, enraged, fakes a high swing, then goes for Evan's
knee cap. BASH! Evan doubles over in pain and falls to the
ground, clutching his knee. Tommy moves to the fire, Crockett
squirming inside the bag and picks up the lighter fluid.
Evan painfully looks up from the ground and his eyes dart
from the sight of Kayleigh, unconscious, to Crockett, trapped
in the tied gunny sack.
EVAN
Kayleigh! Wake up!
No response.
TOMMY
Why don't you fucking kiss her, Prince
Charming!
Tommy squeezes the bottle hard, creating a flaming fuse from
the campfire to the fluid soaked dog.
As the flames near Crockett, Evan, seething with rage, stands
up with clenched fists and CHARGES Tommy at FULL SPEED --
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. JUNKYARD - DAY
Evan comes to in an unfamiliar place. Still in running mode.
His body contorts spastically like a fish on land, since he
is now lying face down on the ground.
Evan regains himself and sits up painfully. His face is badly
bruised and he clutches his battered ribs.
EVAN
How long was I out?
He gets no answer from Lenny, who stands in the exact same
spot. Tommy is nowhere in sight and the sound is of Kayleigh
weeping. Evan spins to face her.
EVAN
Kayleigh?! Are you okay? Where's
Crockett?
Kayleigh, her knees drawn tightly to her chest, is unable to
answer through her tears. Evan struggles to rise but he
becomes dizzy and falls back to the ground.
Evan takes a quick glance toward the gunny sack, smouldering
then moans and buries his head in his hands.
EXT. LENNY'S HOUSE - DAY
A small neighborhood CROWD has gathered to watch an ambulance
with the SUNNYVALE insignia take an entranced Lenny away.
Mrs. Kagan is about to climb in the rear when she stops and
turns to Evan.
MRS. KAGAN
(ice cold)
Do you know what you are? A monster.
Evan stands there, speechless.
EXT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - DAY
A packed U-HAUL sits in front of Evan's house. Andrea shifts
the small truck into gear and slowly pulls out.
Outside the truck, Kayleigh waves to Evan, tears spilling
shamelessly down her cheeks. Evan reaches behind his seat
and opens a large cardboard box. It is filled with past
journals. He finds the most recent journal, uncaps a pen and
writes something.
Finished he presses the journal to the window.
EVAN'S DIARY
"I'll come back for you."
Evan waves back to her, trying nonchalantly to wipe away his
own tears as she fades into the distance.
When Kayleigh disappears from sight, Andrea looks over to
see what he's written.
ANDREA
I'm sorry.
Evan returns the journal and begins writing furiously.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COLLEGE CLASSROOM - DAY - 2002
TITLE: SEVEN YEARS LATER
Evan, twenty now, continues writing in a college Blue Book.
He is older, dressed down in worn jeans, T-shirt and plaid
flannel. He closes the Blue Book with a cocky grin just as
PROFESSOR CARTER, 40, calls out to the class:
PROFESSOR CARTER
Time! Please place your blue books
on my desk before you leave.
Evan grabs his psychology textbook from under his seat, gets
up and turns in his exam.
PROFESSOR CARTER
How'd you do, Evan?
Evan flashes a confident smile.
EVAN
I'm not sure. I might have gotten
some stories mixed up. Did Pavlov
condition his dogs to lick his nuts?
PROFESSOR CARTER
(laughing)
Typical psych major. A complete wise
ass. And how's your project coming?
Still planning to change the way we
humble scientists view memory
assimilation?
EVAN
(shrugging)
Hey, I got no choice.
Professor Carter nods solemnly, obviously in the know.
EXT. COLLEGE - QUAD - DAY
Evan bikes past students.
EXT. COLLEGE - FRAT HOUSE - DAY
Evan bikes past some obnoxious GREEKS.
EXT. COLLEGE - EVAN'S DORM - DAY
Evan docks his bike and carries his knapsack inside.
INT. EVAN'S DORM - MOMENTS LATER
Evan's dorm is cluttered "double" whose walls are adorned
with head-shop posters of Gothic rock bands.
By Evan's bed is a bookshelf filled with books on amnesia,
memory loss, fugues, hypnotism and other related bands.
Evan's roommate, THUMPER, 19, is a completely punked out
Gothic boy who weighs 300 pounds. He currently hands a black
lacy dress to CRICKET, 17, a pierced Goth co-ed. She slips
the tattered dress on as Thumper wipes his post-coital self
off with a black tee-shirt.
Evan barges through the door, throwing his pscyh books on
the bed and politely looking away from the half-naked girl.
EVAN
Whoa. Smells like patchouli and...
ass.
Evan opens the window and checks out his Psych project: a
small maze has several flatworms at one end and a bowl of
cornflakes at the other.
THUMPER
Cricket, meet my well-mannered
roommate, Evan.
Cricket puts on her Doc Martens as Evan watches the worms.
CRICKET
Yeah, you're the one who fucked up
the bell-curve on my Anthropology
final. Later, Thumper.
EVAN
Nice to meet you, too.
As she leaves, Thumper takes the black T-shirt by his wallet
and throws it on Evan's bed.
THUMPER
Here, bro. Found your T-shirt.
Evan nods thanks, picks up his journal. Reads something and
smiles.
EVAN
Get dressed, Thumper, you're taking
me out for my birthday.
THUMPER
I thought you were a December baby.
EVAN
This is bigger. Seven years to the
day. No blackouts.
Thumper pulls out a bong.
THUMPER
Let's do this.
EXT. DIRTY HANK'S BAR - DAY
INT. DIRTY HANK'S BAR - CONTINUOUS
A popular watering hole. A dark rustic interior, blasting
alternative rock.
Plenty of underage students carry pitchers of beer to their
tables.
Evan and Thumper play pool against two young women. HEIDI,
beautiful, wears ripped jeans, no make up. She sinks the
eleven ball off the rail. KRISTEN coolly smokes a cigarette,
confident that she and Heidi will hold the table.
KRISTEN
So... which one of you has a pet
worm?
Thumper proudly steps forward.
THUMPER
Worms, plural.
KRISTEN
That's so gross.
Thumper steps back, points to Evan.
THUMPER
Talk to him about it, he's got the
fetish.
Heidi sinks another ball and looks up at Evan strangely.
EVAN
Actually, they're for a psych project.
A study on memory.
Heidi misses her shot and passes the cue to Evan.
HEIDI
(stifling a yawn)
Shit, better explain before all the
excitement gives me a heart attack.
Evan speaks as he knocks the one-ball in the corner pocket.
As he talks, at a table behind them, some obnoxious Greeks,
including HUNTER, SPENCER, and GWEN make fun of Thumper.
EVAN
It's an experiment with flatworms
and a maze. You take a flatworm and
run it through the maze until he's
memorized it. Then you put a new
flatworm in the maze. He's clueless.
Banging into walls, getting lost,
whatever.
THUMPER
(thoughtfully)
Like Ozzy.
Gwen giggles as Spencer throws popcorn at Thumper's head.
SPENCER
Ten bucks says he eats it off the
floor.
Thumper seems oblivious to their taunts as Evan knocks the
three-ball in the side.
EVAN
You chop up the smart flatworm and
feed it to the dumb one and presto,
the dumb one suddenly knows the maze
inside and out.
Evan walks past Heidi, putting his hand on her shoulder to
squeeze by. The hand lingers longer than necessary and Heidi
doesn't mind. He sinks another ball.
EVAN
Just by absorbing the first worm
into its cellular structure, it gets
all of the worm's memories.
THUMPER
(thoughtfully)
That's probably why Hannibal Lecter's
so smart.
A handful of popcorn hits Thumper's face. They all try to
ignore Hunter and Spencer's jeers.
HEIDI
So what's the point?
EVAN
(setting up the eight)
Maybe if I can figure out how the
memories of a simple worm function,
it'll help me understand the
complexities of the human brain.
Another barrage of popcorn hits Thumper's jacket. Although
his hand clenches on the cue. He meekly shuffles away to the
opposite side of the pool table from the cackling Greeks.
HEIDI
(intrigued)
So are you planning on becoming a
doctor or something?
Thumper casually takes the pool cue from Evan.
EVAN
No, I just don't want to lose my
mind.
As Heidi digests this, Thumper carefully lines up his shot...
The eight ball.
CRASH!!! The cue ball intentionally jumps the table, rocketing
into the pitcher of beer on the Greek's table. They're all
soaked with beer and debris.
Just as they begin to rise, Thumper smashes the cue stick on
the table, WHISTLING innocently (while now brandishing a
spear). They sit the fuck down.
Kristin, impressed, casually wraps her arm around Thumper's
waist. He smiles coolly, it's nothing.
EVAN
(to Heidi)
I think that's your game.
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
Evan and Heidi, making out, burst through the door and fall
on the bed. Evan's shirt is unbuttoned and Heidi strokes his
chest. Suddenly Heidi stops and sniffs the air.
HEIDI
Smells like sex in here.
EVAN
Thumper had a busy afternoon.
HEIDI
You're kidding. He's so... big.
Evan drunkenly crosses the room, grabs two beers from the
mini-fridge.
EVAN
Charisma and eyeliner go a long way,
I guess. Wanna beer?
Heidi takes one. Looks under the bed.
HEIDI
Most guys tuck their porn under here,
but all you have are... comp books.
EVAN
Yeah. I've been keeping journals
since I was seven.
HEIDI
(respectfully)
Wow... read something.
Evan chugs his beer and sits next to her on the bed and puts
his arm around her. Very drunk.
EVAN
No way, I'd be too embarrassed.
Heidi teasingly runs her fingers over his smooth torso.
HEIDI
Then keep drinking, worm-boy. You're
too uptight.
Evan stops short.
EVAN
Freeze! No "worm-boy". No "Mr. Worm,"
and no "Worm-Master-General!" Once
you get a nickname like that you
can't shake it. And I don't want
everyone thinking I've got tapeworms
coming out of my ass or something,
okay?
HEIDI
(laughing)
Deal. Now read me something.
Heidi hands him a book marked "AGE 13". He flips it open to
a random place and takes the beer from her hand.
EVAN
(re: her beer)
For courage.
Evan takes and finishes her beer and begins reading. As he
reads, he seems more and more on the verge of passing out.
EVAN
It's like my mind refused to believe
what it was seeing. Hearing Crockett
make those awful screams... Just
writing about it gives me the shivers.
Color drains from Evan's face as he realizes what he's
reading. He looks over at Heidi, who kisses him.
HEIDI
Come on, go on...
EVAN
It was like Tommy was possessed or
something. There was a hate in his
eyes that I couldn't really call
human.
As Evan reads, the world seems to ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLY VIBRATE
around him LIKE A TUNING FORK. His voice becomes distant and
SOUNDS ECHO around him like distant memories resurrecting
themselves...
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. JUNKYARD - DAY - 1995
Evan is THIRTEEN again. The scene begins exactly where Evan's
blackout occurred as a child. Tommy has just knocked Kayleigh
unconscious with a wooden plank, Lenny is frozen at the sight
of Crockett in the fluid-soaked gunny sack. And Evan, seething
with rage, stands up with clenched fists and CHARGES Tommy
at full speed.
Evan looks around, utterly confused by his surroundings.
EVAN
What the hell is going on?
Before an answer comes, Tommy smiles at his good fortune and
swings the plank, hitting Evan's head. Evan is sent sprawling
backwards, his forehead bleeding freely.
Tommy knocks Evan hard in the ribs with his boots. Evan
writhes in agony, his face against the ground. Lenny moves
toward the gunny sack, lifts it and tugs desperately on the
rope that traps Crockett inside.
LENNY
I can't undo the rope!
Tommy spins around and flashes an evil smile.
TOMMY
Drop it or I'll slit your mother's
throat in her sleep.
As if on cue, Lenny does exactly as he's told. His eyes begin
to glaze over.
Evan, beaten and bloody, reaches out with his last bit of
strength, grabs Tommy's foot and holds on.
EVAN
I got him, Lenny. Help Crockett!
Lenny remains frozen in place. Tommy yanks his leg back,
breaking Evan's grip.
Evan groans on the ground in a writhing heap.
Tommy's voice hitches. His eyes water from pent up
frustration.
TOMMY
Listen to me good, Evan. There's a
million other sisters in the world.
You didn't have to fuck with mine.
Tommy smiles viciously at Lenny, traumatized to watch Tommy
pick up the lighter fluid and spray a liquid fuse from the
campfire to the soaked gunny sack.
WHOOSH OF FLAMES
And Evan passes out.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT - 2002
Evan comes to with Heidi slapping him awake.
EVAN
Oh my God! No! No!
Heidi rolls her eyes.
HEIDI
Wake up, idiot. It was just a dream.
She stands and angrily puts on her jacket.
EVAN
(freaked out)
It didn't feel like a dream.
HEIDI
Maybe because they never do.
(sarcastic)
So Don Juan, you pass out on all
your dates?
Evan doesn't even hear her. After getting his bearings, he
grabs his jacket and exits, leaving her dumbfounded.
INT. EVAN'S CAR - SUNRISE
Evan drives...
EXT. LENNY'S HOUSE - DAY
Evan, exhausted, finally pulls into Lenny's driveway. Very
little has changed in the past seven years.
INT. LENNY'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
ANGLE ON LENNY
Now 20, making a model airplane. He's still overweight and
looks like his mother dresses him.
PULL BACK TO REVEAL
The room is filled with model airplanes. Hundreds of them.
A KNOCK on Lenny's bedroom door. Mrs. Kagan, grayer, fatter,
opens the door and escorts Evan inside. She glares at Evan
while pretending to be cheerful.
MRS. KAGAN
I've got a surprise for you, Lenny.
You'll never guess who's here.
Lenny looks up to see Evan, his jaw drops.
ANGLE ON EVAN
Looking around, shocked to see:
PAN ALL THE WAY AROUND THE ROOM.
Nothing has changed in the past seven years.
The same kids' toys, posters and comic books.
AS WE PAN ALL THE WAY AROUND TO LENNY
We see he's working on the model again, in his own world.
The window of opportunity for conversation has closed.
EVAN
Hey, uh, it's me. Evan.
Silence. Lenny frowns.
EVAN
What's that you're working on? A
model?
Nothing.
EVAN
Well, you look busy, so maybe I should
make this quick. I'd totally
understand if you didn't want to get
into this right now, but that day at
the junkyard, could you help me
remember what happened? Any details?
No response. Evan picks up a model airplane from the desk.
LENNY
I couldn't cut the rope.
EVAN
(containing excitement)
Yeah, good, what else do you remember?
LENNY
Drop it or I'll slit your mother's
throat in her sleep.
Evan, startled, drops the model on the desk. An epiphany.
EVAN
Jesus Christ. It really happened.
Lenny stares out the window.
EVAN
What if I can get back all my lost
memories with my journals.
With lightning speed, Lenny jumps from his desk and
unexpectedly shoves EVAN IN TO THE WALL. Squadrons of hanging
planes crash to the floor. Lenny digs his fingers into Evan's
shoulder.
LENNY
Make one peep and I swear it'll be
your last, motherfucker.
Evan is terrified. Then Lenny suddenly moves back and begins
working on the model again, his eyes a million miles away.
Evan is speechless.
The door bursts open. Mrs. Kagan looks at the smashed model
airplanes by Evan's feet. Evan ignores her accusing stare.
EVAN
Well, thanks for seeing me, man. I
shouldn't have waited so long.
When Lenny doesn't respond, Mrs. Kagan hustles Evan back
into the hallway.
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
Evan pulls a dozen journals from beneath his bed and begins
pouring over them.
Nearby, Thumper empties a can of hairspray into his Mohawk.
THUMPER
You really think he wanted to kill
you?
EVAN
All I know is that I might be able
to unblock some of my repressed
memories.
He finds something he's looking for, marks the page with a
yellow post-it note marked, BLACKOUT and sets the book in a
separate pile.
As he sets the next journal on the bed, it automatically
opens up to a place where the spine was bent. Staring up at
him is the message:
EVAN'S DIARY
"I will come back for you."
Evan looks overcome by guilt.
Later that evening:
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
Evan has now organized a pile of five journals. He selects
an entry, begins reading and suddenly closes the journal.
Fear covers his face. He holds one of his hands up and isn't
surprised to see it trembling.
He opens his journal again and reads out loud.
EVAN
(reading aloud)
The last thing I remember before the
blackout was holding my hands over
Kayleigh's ears...
(his voice slowly
fades)
I think I was more focused on her
hands on mine than the mailbox across
the street...
His own words grow reverberant, distant. Furthermore, the
walls behind him vibrate, slightly worse than before.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. MRS. HALPERN'S HOME - DAY - 1995
Evan, Kayleigh, Lenny and Tommy, all thirteen, watch the
mailbox across the street with intense anticipation.
When Evan comes to in this memory, the lit cigarette absently
drops from his mouth and nestles into the folds of his shirt,
SMOLDERING.
The mailbox... tick-tock, tick-tock... Like a staring contest.
LENNY
Maybe it went out. Should someone
check it?
TOMMY
Yeah, you do that, Lenny.
Suddenly a car appears from down the street and slowly pulls
into the driveway.
MRS. HALPERN, 24, an attractive young mother, gets out of
the car and walks to the mailbox.
Across the street, Tommy digs his fingers into the nerves of
Lenny's shoulder.
TOMMY
Make one peep and I swear it'll be
your last, motherfucker.
Tommy's words make Evan flinch. From inside the car, a BABY
begins to cry. Mrs. Halpern walks back to the car.
Evan looks on in horror and suddenly clenches his teeth in
pain and silently swipes the front of his shirt, sending the
lit cigarette to the ground. He pulls up his shirt revealing
a fresh BURN MARK on his stomach.
MRS. HALPERN
How's my sweet girl? Awww, you need
a change, don't you honey?
Mrs. Halpern picks her up and carries her to the house. As
the mother unlocks the front door to the house, the kids
break into wide smiles of relief. But wait...
The mother remembers the mail and carries the baby back to
the mailbox. Now Tommy is the only one left still smiling.
MRS. HALPERN
You want to open the door, honey?
The baby fumbles with the mailbox's door handle for a moment --
ANGLE ON KIDS' FACES
BOOM!!!
The blast is deafening. Evan, Kayleigh and Lenny watch the
results in stunned horror.
TOMMY
C'mon! Run!!
Evan and Kayleigh slowly back away in shock and begin to run
a few steps when they realize that Lenny isn't with them.
TOMMY
Lenny? Come on!
KAYLEIGH
Oh my God oh my God...
Lenny doesn't seem to hear, his eyes fixated on the crimson
road. Evan and Tommy double back and grab him. They try to
make him break out into a run, but Lenny's feet drag limply
against the ground. Both Tommy and Evan grab an arm and begin
to run with Lenny through the woods.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
Evan comes to. Lurches his body over the bed and vomits.
Sounds of squeaky bed springs fill the room. Looking sick
and pale, he lifts his shirt to see a NEW SCAR from the
cigarette burn.
EVAN
What the hell?
In the next bed, Thumper's head, wrapped in a blanket, pops
up from above a NAKED GESELA'S waist.
THUMPER
Christ, man. You wanna clean that up
before I lose my appetite here?
Evan sits upright in bed and begins writing in the margins
of the journal.
INT. DORM LOBBY - DAY
The lobby is decorated with colorful streamers, balloons,
posters and banners announcing PARENTS' WEEKEND.
Carefree STUDENTS and their parents carry shopping bags toward
the bustling elevators. Evan leans against the side of a pay
phone, holding his ear to drawn out the noise.
EVAN
Yes, hello, uh, Mrs. Kagan, this is
Evan Treborn.
(rolling eyes)
I know. I'm sorry about that. But I
really need to speak with him.
She's obviously hung up on him. Suddenly, a HAND grabs his
shoulder. It's PROFESSOR CARTER.
PROFESSOR CARTER
Whoa! Didn't mean to scare you, Evan.
Just wanted to know how the flatworms
project was coming.
EVAN
Oh, fine I guess. It's been kind of
crazy lately with my mom coming up,
so I haven't...
PROFESSOR CARTER
I know, I know. Who can think of
worms when your libido's in full
swing, right?
Evan shrugs and forces a smile.
PROFESSOR CARTER
Just don't drop the ball, okay?
EVAN
I won't let you down, Professor
Carter.
Carter waves to another student and her parents and walks
away.
INT. FANCY RESTAURANT - NIGHT
A waiter clears the dishes away from Evan and Andrea's table.
REVEAL ANDREA
Her hair now has gray streaks. As she signs for the bill,
she leans over and kisses Evan on the cheek.
EVAN
Please, mom. People will talk.
ANDREA
I can't help it. I'm just so proud
of you. You've got the highest grades
in all of your classes.
EVAN
Did Da -- Jason --- get good grades?
ANDREA
(smiling)
Please. He got straight A's without
ever touching a book. That was the
one area where his memory never failed
him.
EVAN
Ma? Did he ever say that he figured
out a way to recall a lost memory
years after he blacked it out for
the first time?
Andrea's smile fades.
ANDREA
Why do you ask?
EVAN
No, it's just weird with him being
such a brain and all, I just wondered
if he was ever able to remember stuff
he'd forgotten.
ANDREA
When he was around your age... almost
exactly your age. He said he figured
out a trick to remember the past.
Evan tries not to react.
ANDREA
I couldn't tell if they were real
memories or just phantoms. You know,
he might only have thought he actually
remembered them...
EVAN
Sure...
ANDREA
And then, just before it got so bad
that he had to be committed, he said
that he could...
EVAN
What? What could he do?
Andrea shakes her head.
ANDREA
Forget it. It's nothing. He was far
too sick by then.
Evan nods, but something gnaws beneath the surface.
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
Evan hastily hunts through his journals, tearing up the room
looking for a certain book. Thumper, lying on his bed, quietly
watches Evan with growing concern.
EVAN
(reading aloud)
I never wanted to be in the movie
anyway and it was cold so I wanted
to wear my clothes but Mr. Miller
took his shirt off --
THUMPER
What the fuck are you doing?
EVAN
Shhh! I need quiet for this.
Thumper jumps off the bed and snatches the journal away.
THUMPER
Are you stupid or what?
EVAN
What?
THUMPER
Shucks, I dunno. But maybe there's a
reason why you've repressed the one
day when some old lecher had you in
your tighty whities, dammit!
Thumper begins scanning the journal entry. A bitter laugh.
THUMPER
Yeah, man. I'd think twice about
this. You could wake up a lot more
fucked up than you are now.
He hands the journal back to Evan. Evan opens it and begins
reading it silently.
His hands begin to tremble and he slams the book shut in
defeat.
INT. EVAN'S CAR - COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Evan, looking haggard and frail, wipes the greasy hair from
his eyes and punches the accelerator. His teeth are clenched
and he hammers his fist on the dashboard.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. RIDGEWOOD DINER - EVENING
Evan pulls into a parking lot of a country diner. He eyes a
piece of paper with an address scrawled on it and gets out.
INT. RIDGEWOOD DINER - CONTINUOUS
A run-down greasy spoon. Filled with a number of TOWNIES and
TRUCKERS. The place is stale with cigarette smoke and appears
decorated in grime motif.
Evan is about to enter when he spots Kayleigh coming out of
the kitchen with a tray full of food.
Kayleigh, now twenty, looks pale and sickly thin. She bangs
her hip on the swinging door and an order of food crashes to
the floor. Her BOSS stares back in aggravation.
BOSS
Can we get through one goddamned day
without you breaking something?
Kayleigh's face turns beet red as she bends down to clean up
the order. She is humiliated and Evan leans back against a
pay phone so that she can't see him watching her.
As she brings the mess inside the kitchen, a CUSTOMER pinches
her ass. Evan closely studies her reaction to the offense.
She flinches uncomfortably but then composes a smile for the
customer. Evan backs out uncomfortably.
EXT. RIDGEWOOD DINER - NIGHT
Kayleigh struggles with the zipper of a shabby coat as she
exits. Evan steps out of the shadows. She's startled at first,
but eventually recognizes him. A smile flickers across her
face and she allows herself to be hugged.
KAYLEIGH
God, Evan! I never thought I'd see
you again. How've you been?
EVAN
Oh, comme si, comme ca, you know...
KAYLEIGH
No, Evan. I don't know. It's been a
long time. Fill me in.
EVAN
I'm going to State now. Things are
going okay. I guess. Mom's good...
Kayleigh nods and they walk down the street. She reaches
into her pocket, pulls out a pack of smokes.
EVAN
(declining)
Not since we were kids.
KAYLEIGH
I've stopped a hundred times.
EVAN
So how's Tommy?
KAYLEIGH
(takes a long drag)
They kept him in juvy for a few years.
Now he works over at Dale's Autobody.
Evan nods and scrutinizes her face with his next question.
EVAN
You still live with your dad?
Her face is betrayed by a slight tick.
KAYLEIGH
No. I emancipated myself when I was
fifteen.
EVAN
Wow. That must've taken some courage.
KAYLEIGH
Not if you remember my dad.
EVAN
Couldn't you have moved in with your
mom?
KAYLEIGH
(shaking her head)
She had a new family. Not enough
space for me. Said I should have
moved in with her when we were kids.
But... whatever.
They walk in silence for a moment.
EVAN
Actually, Kayleigh, the reason I
came back to town was to talk to
you.
KAYLEIGH
(brightening)
Me? Are you kidding? Why?
EVAN
Remember when I was a kid I had all
these blackouts?
KAYLEIGH
Of course.
EVAN
Well, lately some of the memories
have begun to come back and I'd kinda
like to talk to you about one of
them in particular. It'd be a big
help.
KAYLEIGH
Well, sure. I'll try to remember.
Shoot.
EVAN
When we were kids. Your dad was making
a movie. Robin Hood or something?
KAYLEIGH
(cold)
What do you want to know, Evan?
EVAN
It's just... did he... what happened
in the basement?
KAYLEIGH
It was a long time ago.
EVAN
I know, but...
KAYLEIGH
(cold)
Is that why you came all the way
back? To ask a lot of stupid questions
about Robin Hood?
EVAN
No, but I think something really bad
might've happened to us.
Kayleigh stops walking and crushes her cigarette.
KAYLEIGH
Is there a point to any of this?
Evan's features shift from inquisitory to tenderness. He
steps closer to Kayleigh and softly strokes her face. She
flinches at first, but remains in the same spot.
EVAN
Whatever happened, it wasn't our
fault. You know we couldn't have
stopped it.
Kayleigh begins to tremble. Tears flow.
EVAN
Look, Kayleigh. This may sound like
bullshit coming from a guy who hasn't
spoken to you in seven years...
She moves her face away from his hand.
EVAN
But you were seven years old and
there's nothing you could've done to
deserve...
Her face collapses and she turns away.
KAYLEIGH
(defeated)
Just shut up, Evan. You're wasting
your breath.
EVAN
You can't hate yourself just because
your dad's a twisted freak.
KAYLEIGH
Who are you trying to convince, Evan?!
You come all the way out here to
stir up my shit just because you had
a bad memory!? You want me to cry on
your shoulder and tell you that
everything's all better now? Well
fuck you, Evan! Nothing's gonna be
all better! Okay?! Nothing ever gets
better!
Kayleigh runs, stops and turns back to Evan.
KAYLEIGH
If I was so wonderful, Evan, why
didn't you ever call me? Why'd you
leave me here to rot?!
She turns and runs away. Evan looks sick with guilt.
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - QUAD - DAY - 2002
A few GREEKS play frisbee and talk trash. Evan, tired and
depressed, sits on the lawn nearby, fingering the new burn
scar on his belly. Contemplating...
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
Evan enters his dorm. He ignores Thumper, who sits on Evan's
bed sucking furiously from a gurgling bong. He chokes out a
message.
THUMPER
Some dude left a message for you.
Evan puts a towel under the door.
EVAN
You can smell it all the way in the
bathroom.
Evan hits "play" on the answering machine.
ANSWERING MACHINE
(male voice)
Hi, Evan, this is Professor Carter.
Just wondered why you didn't hand in
your essay this afternoon. I was a
bit concerned. Call me to schedule a
make-up.
BEEP. Thumper offers Evan a magnified frown of disapproval.
ANSWERING MACHINE
(male voice)
What did you say to my sister
motherfucker?! Last night she cried
on the phone for over an hour to me.
(enraged breathing)
She said you came and saw her last
night.
Thumper coughs accidentally, tips the bong over on Evan's
bed. Reacting quickly, he grabs a towel from under the door
and wipes off Evan's comforter.
ANSWERING MACHINE
(Tommy; cont'd)
She... she fucking killed herself
tonight. She's dead.
(beat)
And so are you.
BEEP. Evan stares dumbstruck at the machine.
THUMPER
Whoa, bad news, bro. I don't think
this is gonna come out.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
Evan, dressed in black, gets out of his car at the edge of
the cemetery. A small cluster of friends and family gather
at the grave. Evan grabs a bouquet of roses and begins walking
to the grave. When he suddenly spots Mr. Miller and Tommy.
Evan's hands tense up into fists. He becomes weak in the
knees and stops walking. After an uncomfortable moment of
standing still, he retreats to his car and watches the
ceremony from the driver's seat.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
The last of the mourners are filing away. Evan exits his car
and walks to the deserted grave. He drops the roses on the
casket and turns to make sure nobody is watching.
Evan reaches into his pocket and pulls out a sheet of paper.
He unfolds it and leaves it on her gravesite:
EVAN'S DIARY
"I'll come back for you."
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
He makes a weighty decision and gets up. He hastily hunts
through his journals, looking for a certain book.
Evan opens his journal marked "Age 7". He plops on his bed
and starts writing sideways in the margins.
EVAN (V.O.)
It's been said that a person's life
is little more than the sum of his
experiences. If that's true, then
I'm not sure I know who I am anymore.
(beat)
I definitely never knew Kayleigh.
He turns the page and begins reading the journal. As he mouths
the entry to himself, the resonance of an older man's voice
seems to REVERBERATE throughout the room and the WORLD behind
his head FAINTLY VIBRATES.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. MILLER'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY - 1989
Mr. Miller plays with his camera and the kids are excited
about playing Robin Hood in a movie.
MR. MILLER
Shut up moron. Now get in your costume
Evan.
Evan slowly nods and begins to strip out of his clothes. Mr.
Miller takes a quick peek at him.
MR. MILLER
I've got an idea. Let's go downstairs,
it'll look more like a dungeon down
there.
INT. MILLER'S BASEMENT - DAY - 1989
Mr. Miller puts the camera on a tripod in the basement.
Kayleigh and Evan sit on folding chairs in front of the
camera. Tommy stands at the top of the basement stairs,
looking down.
MR. MILLER
(to Tommy)
What did I say about keeping that
door closed, stupid?
TOMMY
But I wanna see!
MR. MILLER
You're gonna see my fist in about
two seconds unless you do what I
tell you.
Tommy sulks and closes the door. Mr. Miller lowers his voice
and speaks to Evan and Kayleigh.
MR. MILLER
Now in this part of the story, Robin
Hood just married Maid Marian and
they have to kiss and stuff like
grown-ups do.
Kayleigh giggles and covers her mouth with her hand. Evan
looks skeptical.
MR. MILLER
So take your clothes off Kayleigh.
Kayleigh stops giggling. Evan says nothing.
MR. MILLER
Come on, like when you take a bath.
Don't make a deal out of it. You
too, Evan.
Mr. Miller gets behind the lens. The room is dead silent.
MR. MILLER
Let's go.
ANGLE ON TOMMY
Who silently opens the door at the top of the basement stairs
and watches with horror.
Evan's face is flushed with rage. He walks behind Kayleigh
and cups his hands tightly around her ears. She can't hear
anything now.
EVAN
What time is it?
MR. MILLER
It's time for you to stand where the
hell I told you.
EVAN
Wrong answer, fuckbag. This is the
very moment of your reckoning. In
the next thirty seconds you're going
to open one of two doors. The first
door will forever traumatize your
own flesh and blood.
The mature speech seems completely surreal coming from a
seven-year old. Mr. Miller looks around the room as if he's
the butt of some sick joke.
MR. MILLER
(stunned disbelief)
What's happened to -- How are you
doing that?
EVAN
(voice rising)
It'll change your daughter from a
beautiful child into an empty shell
whose only concept of trust was
betrayed by her own sick pedophile
father. Ultimately, it'll lead to
her suicide. Nice work, daddy.
MR. MILLER
(hoarse whisper)
Who -- who are you?
Evan impatiently waves the question.
EVAN
Let's just say you're being closely
watched, George. Your other option
is to get your porn off the rack and
treat Kayleigh like... oh, let's say
like how a loving father treats his
daughter. Sound okay to you, Papa?
MR. MILLER
(choking)
...yes.
EVAN
Listen close then, fuckbag. You screw
up again and I swear I'll flat out
castrate you.
The impact of the last sentence isn't lost on Mr. Miller.
EVAN
One last thing.
Evan leans over to whisper in Kayleigh's ear. Kayleigh stares
at the floor, then looks up at her father and shivers.
Kayleigh looks into Evan's eyes for support. Evan nods go
on. His confidence brings a boldness to her lips.
KAYLEIGH
Don't you ever touch me again.
MR. MILLER
I -- I won't.
Kayleigh summons her own new courage.
KAYLEIGH
I'm cold. And I'm putting on my
clothes.
As he leaves to pick up her clothes, Evan grins.
EVAN
What you need to do is discipline
your son Tommy, because the kid's
one sadistic pup.
Hiding at the top of the basement stairs, Tommy recoils in
horror and picks up one of his sister's dolls and begins
twisting the head back and forth...
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SORORITY BEDROOM - MORNING - 2002
A broad smile lines Evan's face as he slowly wakes up from
his slumber. He suddenly grabs his head as if suffering from
a pounding migraine.
MONTAGE OF SWIRLING MEMORIES
Quick cuts and flashes of Evan and Kayleigh growing older --
she seems more carefree now, full of life and less self-
conscious.
EXT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - DAY - 1989
Evan pulls Kayleigh around in a little red wagon.
INT. FAMILY RESTAURANT - DAY - 1989
Evan and Kayleigh play in a tub of balls in the playroom.
EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY - 1989
Kayleigh pushes Evan on a tire swing.
INT. MULTIPLEX THEATER - NIGHT - 1995
Tommy, glaring at Evan, thrashes the Teen Punk.
EXT. JUNKYARD - DAY - 1995
Burning sack in flames.
EXT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - STREET - 1995
QUICK FLASH of the U-Haul driving away.
EXT. BUS STATION - DAY - 1995
At thirteen, Kayleigh spunkily hops off a GREYHOUND BUS and
runs into Evan's arms.
EXT. ANDREA'S NEW HOUSE - DAY - 1995
Still thirteen, Evan peddles his bike by his new house,
Kayleigh riding on the handlebars.
More memory flashes of Evan and Kayleigh throughout the teen
years, they grow up as lovers now:
EXT. LAKE - DAY - 1997
Evan and Kayleigh have romantic picnic on a rowboat.
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD - SUNRISE - 2002
Evan and Kayleigh watch the sunrise after senior prom.
BACK TO:
INT. SORORITY BEDROOM - MORNING - 2002
Finally the memory assault is over. Evan groans in pain as
blood trickles from his nose.
An arm reaches over and touches his shoulder.
KAYLEIGH (O.S.)
Honey, are you all right?
Evan whips around to see Kayleigh watching him. Not only is
Kayleigh alive, but she's a ravishing beauty. Evan lurches
back from the shock of seeing Kayleigh and falls to the floor.
She sees Evan's nose bleed and her eyes go wide.
KAYLEIGH
Oh my God, Evan. You're bleeding!
Look at you!
Evan, still stunned, can do little but stare from the floor.
EVAN
(transfixed by her)
Jesus, Kayleigh, you're...
(looks around)
Incredible.
KAYLEIGH
(purring)
Mmmm... You give good compliment.
Clean up and come back to bed.
He stands in the middle of her bedroom, surrounded by sorority
plaques and pink preppy decor.
Evan, hardly able to take his eyes off her as she hands him
a tissue. He reaches for his clothes at the foot of the bed
and comes up with a Greek-lettered fraternity sweatshirt and
brown suede jacket.
EVAN
Where... where are my clothes?
KAYLEIGH
Those are your clothes, silly.
Evan frowns with distaste, grabs a towel and heads out.
WE FOLLOW HIM INTO:
INT. SORORITY BATHROOM - MORNING
At the sink, Evan washes the blood off his face and looks at
his reflection in the mirror. A nearby shower SHUTS OFF.
EVAN
This is too amazing! Un-fucking-real!
WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
I wish I could get so excited about
a nose bleed.
Evan turns around and sees Gwen, one of the sorority brats
from the bar, exit the shower naked.
EVAN
Whoops. Sorry. My bad.
Evan blushes and turns back to the mirror through which Gwen
dries herself with a towel while staring flirtatiously back
at Evan.
EVAN
Hey, you were with those assholes
who threw popcorn at Thumper.
Evan holds his temple in pain as another memory comes to
him.
EVAN
And your name is... Gwen!
GWEN
Seriously, Evan. Lay off the blow.
She pats his ass and exits the bathroom.
EXT. COLLEGE - QUAD - DAY - 2002
Kayleigh, wearing a long skirt and tight red sweater, catches
the eye of every guy on campus. She and Evan stroll arm in
arm through the quad.
Somehow, the world seems brighter now. Even the colors seem
more vibrant when compared to the somewhat grimmer world
we've known.
MANY STUDENTS wave to Evan and call his name. He can't
remember all their names but it's kinda cool being the BMOC.
Evan takes a long look at her and becomes curious.
EVAN
Hey, uh, don't go freaking out on me
over this, but do you remember when
your dad first got his video camera?
KAYLEIGH
Well I remember he had one... but
he, like, put it away after the first
day. Why would that freak me out?
EVAN
I dunno.
(goofy smile)
Just being weird.
Kayleigh playfully sweeps her leg around to kick him on the
ass, then smiles as if a ghost must have done it.
KAYLEIGH
Such a goofus. See you tonight.
Kayleigh gives him a big unexpected kiss and walks away.
After a moment of wow, Evan runs off to class himself.
INT. DORM LOBBY - DAY
Evan inserts his last quarter into the lobby pay phone and
dials a telephone number.
EVAN
(to himself)
Come on, Mom, be there!
ANSWERING MACHINE
(Andrea's voice)
Andrea,
(Evan's voice)
Evan,
(a strange, older
man's voice)
And Chuck,
(all three)
Aren't home right now. You know what
to do.
EVAN
(off-guard)
Hi, Mom and, uh, Chuck. Just calling
to say hi and well, call me.
Evan hangs up the phone, then checks his watch. No, wrist.
At that moment, Thumper passes Evan in the lobby.
EVAN
Thumper! What time is it, man?
Thumper eyes this strange preppy kid with distaste.
THUMPER
Whasamatter? Lost your Rolex?
EVAN
Huh?
THUMPER
Fuck off, frat boy.
Thumper walks away, leaving Evan dumbfounded.
INT. COLLEGE CLASSROOM - DAY
Evan runs into the lecture hall and gets in line behind other
STUDENTS who are taking No. 2 pencils from a box on Professor
Carter's desk.
Evan hears PEOPLE he cannot see calling his name. Somehow,
it's more creepy than cool. The Professor makes a loud
announcement.
PROFESSOR CARTER
Remember, everyone! Only two weeks
until your science projects are due.
EVAN
(quietly)
I still owe you an essay from last
week. Is there any way I could get
an extension?
PROFESSOR CARTER
And you are...?
EVAN
(disappointed)
Evan Treborn.
PROFESSOR CARTER
The answer's 'no', Mr. Treborn. Now
take a seat. The exam's about to
begin.
Evan walks up the aisle and takes a seat. As he sits down,
someone puts his ARM menacingly around Evan's throat.
Evan flinches, turns around and sees Hunter, the frat guy
Thumper assaulted the other night at Dirty Hank's bar.
EVAN
Leave me alone, asshole. I didn't
lay a hand on you, okay?
Hunter bursts out laughing.
HUNTER
Evan, you're hysterical. You study
for this?
EVAN
(awkward)
We'll find out soon enough.
HUNTER
(laughing)
Me neither.
Hunter surreptitiously hands Evan a cheat-sheet to the exam.
Evan's face brightens.
EVAN
You're kidding. Are these the
answers?!
HUNTER
Damn, Evan, on the D.L.
EVAN
(holding it lower)
Thanks. Wow. Hey, I want to do
something really special for Kayleigh
tomorrow. If I said I needed some
help from you and the brothers...
HUNTER
I'd say blow me. Get the pledges to
do it.
Evan nods and smiles as exams are passed down his row.
INT. SORORITY BEDROOM - NIGHT
Evan and Kayleigh have just finished having sex. She seems
incredibly satisfied, but he looks slightly uncomfortable.
KAYLEIGH
Oh my God, that was good. Where'd
you learn all those new tricks?
EVAN
So it didn't feel... weird?
KAYLEIGH
Yeah, if you call multiple orgasms
weird.
She giggles and snuggles into him. He's grateful for her
affection, but still looks uneasy. The PHONE RINGS and he
automatically answers it.
EVAN
Yellow.
Silence on the other end. More silence.
KAYLEIGH
Fuck 'em.
As Evan hangs up, he and Kayleigh share a giggle and he
resumes snuggle position.
EVAN
What do you think it is about us
that makes us so perfect? Like,
looking back, whatever gave you the
nerve to sneak out and visit me after
I moved away?
KAYLEIGH
(laughs)
As if my dad could've stopped me
from seeing you. What's he gonna do
to me?
Evan smiles to himself. And hugs her tighter.
EVAN
You think we'll always be together?
For the first time she looks at him with concern.
KAYLEIGH
That is the plan, right? Hell or
high water?
He's in heaven, but plays it cool.
EVAN
Just making sure.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FRAT HOUSE - FRONT LAWN - DAY
The pledges of Theta Chi busily gather around Evan, their
clothes covered in dirt, food and what might be vomit.
Evan, now dressed like his usual self, bangs a wooden spoon
on a metal salad bowl that a poor THETA CHI PLEDGE wears as
a hat.
EVAN
Order, order. So all you rushes know
what you've got to do for me?
THETA CHI PLEDGE
(correcting him)
Pledges, Sir Brother Evan, Sir.
EVAN
Pledges, rushees, same difference.
Now this is a one-time deal. You do
all this for me and I'll never give
you shit again. Promise.
A buzz of excitement runs through the pledges.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FRAT HOUSE - ATTIC HALL - NIGHT
It's peaceful now. Evan covers Kayleigh's eyes with his hands
as he leads her through the attic hallways. Both are dressed
to the nines.
KAYLEIGH
I don't understand, where are you
taking me?
EVAN
You'll see.
EXT. FRAT HOUSE - ROOF - CONTINUOUS
The wooden door to the rooftop swings open, revealing Kayleigh
and Evan. Kayleigh is dazzled by what she sees:
The entire roof is decorated with fairy-lights, Chinese
lanterns and hundreds upon hundreds of candles. And elegant
romantic table for two awaits them, flanked by twelve FORMALLY
DRESSED SERVANTS (previously seen pledges) who respectfully
stare ahead with the utmost class.
Two pledges immediately pull out two chairs and stand by.
Kayleigh applauds and laughs with delight.
KAYLEIGH
I don't know what to say. It's
beautiful.
EVAN
Go on. Sit down.
As she takes a step toward the table -- FLOWER PETALS shower
down on her. She looks up to see TWO MORE PLEDGES standing
on ladders, delicately tossing pedals.
Kayleigh looks overwhelmed as she sits down.
KAYLEIGH
Why are you doing all this for me?
EVAN
Simple math. When I woke up this
morning and saw your smile... I knew
that I wanted to spend the rest of
my life with you.
Her hand reaches out to his and grabs it fiercely. Her eyes
tell him she feels the same way. A magical moment.
And they lean into each other for a kiss so enchanted it
might as well be their first ever --
Hunter bolts up the stairs, two at a time.
HUNTER
We been lookin' all over for you,
man.
SENIOR BROTHER
Someone trashed your car.
The moment's gone. Evan and Kayleigh exchange worried looks.
EXT. FRAT HOUSE - PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
Evan runs down the front lawn to his car, the Honda parked
at the bottom of the hill. His face collapses.
Evan's car has been trashed and is surrounded by broken glass.
The seats and tires have been slashed, the hood has been
mysteriously yanked off and the steering wheel sits on the
roof.
The most unnerving thing, however, is a SPIKED LEATHER DOG
COLLAR hangs off the rearview mirror.
By now a crowd has gathered. Evan runs up to people.
EVAN
(panicked)
Did you see who did this? You see
anyone?
No one will answer with anything more than a shrug.
HUNTER
Probably them Pika fuckers.
But Kayleigh knows better. She stares at the collar.
EVAN
How could he get away with this?
Right in front of the goddamn frat
house!
A SENIOR BROTHER angrily calls him from the lawn.
SENIOR BROTHER
Frat house? Hey man, would you call
your "country" a "cunt"?
Kayleigh shudders and Evan puts his arms around her.
KAYLEIGH
Don't. He's probably watching.
INT. FRAT HOUSE - EVAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Evan leads Kayleigh into his bedroom and shuts the door.
Evan can't help but look under the bed. No one. He then locks
the door, reaches into his desk and finds a tiny canister of
Pepper Spray.
KAYLEIGH
It's my fault. I should have told
you he was released a few weeks ago.
EVAN
Might'a been nice.
(re: pepper spray)
Like this is gonna do any good. Maybe
one of the frat guys has a gun.
KAYLEIGH
Please, Evan. Don't even joke. He
wouldn't hurt you. He's just trying
to scare you away from me.
EVAN
(shaking the cannister)
Yeah, right. Tell that to Crockett.
KAYLEIGH
(quietly)
It's not his fault, Evan. You knew
how bad he had it when we were kids.
EVAN
Don't give me this Oprah-book club
bad upbringing shit, because you
turned out fine.
KAYLEIGH
(quietly)
My father never laid a hand on me.
It's like the prick saved it all up
for Tommy.
Evan sits in silence for a moment, contemplating this.
Kayleigh's eyes plead for him to have compassion.
EVAN
Fine, then. We'll let campus security
deal with him.
EXT. COLLEGE QUAD - NIGHT
Kayleigh and Evan walk through the all-but-deserted campus.
Evan seems especially paranoid. In the distance, some guy
vomits loudly.
KAYLEIGH
Are you okay?
EVAN
What do you mean?
KAYLEIGH
It's just... you've been acting kinda
strange, you know?
EVAN
Like how?
KAYLEIGH
I don't know. You seem... different.
You make weird jokes. Your accents
changed. You don't even walk the
same.
EVAN
I walk differently?
KAYLEIGH
I can't put my finger on it, but
everything's a bit off. Even the
dinner tonight. It was beautiful,
but...
EVAN
I know I've been actin strange lately.
It's just that... I don't want
anything to happen to us.
The guy along the path gags loudly into the bushes. Kayleigh
and Evan instinctively avert their eyes. Suddenly, Kayleigh's
ears perk and she stops walking mid-stride.
KAYLEIGH
Wait. Something's not right. Isn't
that your jacket?
EVAN
What?
The guy, wearing Evan's brown suede jacket, suddenly springs
to his feet, revealing his face for the first time.
KAYLEIGH
Tommy.
Tommy has grown in the last seven years. He has long, greasy
hair and some tattoos. He holds a TIRE THUMPER (a short,
steel bat for truckers) menacingly in his right hand.
Evan stands frozen in fear, his hands rooted in his coat
pockets.
EVAN
Leave us alone you sick fuck!
TOMMY
Get this "us" shit. As if I was gonna
lay a hand on my own sister. You've
done nicely for yourself, Evan. Nice
friends, nice life, not to mention
you're fucking my sister. Not a bad
piece of ass if I say so myself.
KAYLEIGH
Shut up, Tommy!
TOMMY
Aw, hey now, that was a compliment.
Tommy takes a few practice swings with the tire thumper.
EVAN
What the hell are you doing?
TOMMY
It wasn't enough that the whole world
loves you, but you had to take away
the last person on earth who didn't
think I was a piece of shit.
EVAN
(suppressing panic)
No one thinks you're a piece of shit,
Tommy.
TOMMY
Right, Evan. I believe you just said
"sick fuck."
Tommy rushes Evan and bashes him with the tire thumper in
the shoulder and ribs.
Evan goes down. As Tommy prepares to bash his brains in,
Evan whips out the Pepper Spray and nails Tommy in the face.
Tommy reels back in pain, covering his eyes with this free
hand. Evan struggles to his feet and circles around Tommy,
keeping a distance as he douses Tommy with Pepper Spray.
Kayleigh screams. Tommy blindly stumbles around, madly
swinging the tire thumper. Evan charges forward in an
uncontrollable rage, rips the weapon out of Tommy's hands
and sprays a lethal dose of pepper spray into Tommy's open
mouth.
KAYLEIGH
Evan, stop! You're gonna kill him!
EVAN
He's a fucking maniac!
Evan knocks Tommy down with the tire thumper. Kayleigh screams
and tries to hold Evan back, but he easily wrestles free of
her. She runs to a blue streetlight on the quad.
EVAN
He ruined Lenny's life --
Evan kicks Tommy hard in the ribs. Kayleigh pushes a button
on the "Blue Light" lamp post and an ALARM WAILS.
EVAN
He killed Crockett --
(kicks him)
Murdered that woman and her baby!
(kicks again)
And he's trying to kill me, Kayleigh!
He's trying to fucking kill me!
Evan raises the tire thumper for a final attack and swings
down OFF CAMERA.
CRUNCH!
Evan sees what he's done and drops the weapon, horrified.
Kayleigh sees what Evan's done to her brother. And stops
cold when she sees the damage to Tommy.
Evan rushes toward her and she stumbles backwards, still
terrified by his rage, and skitters away from him in a
crablike fashion.
SIRENS come racing to the quad. Evan looks away from Tommy's
limp body.
Collapses to the ground and begins to weep.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MAVIS PENITENTIARY - DAY
A SECURITY VEHICLE pulls through the ominous metal gates of
the large state prison. The vehicle stops and Evan, along
with nine other convicts, exit in leg and hand restraints.
INT. MAVIS PENITENTIARY - DAY
Evan, now wearing his standard issue inmate uniform, enters
the General Population area of the prison. PRISONERS begin
screaming vicious taunts and catcalls at the fresh batch of
new inmates. Evan tries to keep composed and walks toward
his cell. Evan looks up to see one of the men leaning over
the second tier, KARL, a huge muscular con with tattoos of
swastikas and other Nazi symbols on his arm, blows a kiss at
Evan and winks.
INT. EVAN'S CELL - DAY
Evan enters a dimly lit cell plastered with pictures of Jesus
Christ and various Saints. Burning flames on open cans of
shoe polish serve as candles to the large shrine.
There is a stained bare mattress on the top bunk. Sitting on
the bottom bunk is CARLOS, 30s, a massive Hispanic convict
covered with faded Indian ink jail tats of Christ in agony.
Carlos stares at Evan disinterestedly as Evan makes up his
bed on the top bunk.
CARLOS
First time?
Evan nods glumly.
CARLOS
Best not bitch up. Wind up someone's
luggage that way.
EVAN
(desperate)
Can you protect me?
CARLOS
Jesus himself couldn't make me take
on the Brotherhood. When they come,
just put your mind in another place,
man. Be somewhere else.
A BUZZER SOUNDS. Carlos leaves the cell without another word.
INT. PRISON CAFETERIA - EVENING
Evan sets his tray down at a table filled with Carlos and
some other INMATES. No sooner has he sat down to eat, do
eager forks reach onto his tray and steal his food. Carlos
shrugs at Evan and offers him a roll.
INT. MAVIS VISITING CHAMBER - DAY
Andrea sits across from Evan in the visitor's chamber. Her
hair is now bottle-blonde. Four inches of Plexiglas separate
the two and they talk on monitored phones. Andrea, frazzled,
twirls an unlit cigarette.
ANDREA
...I spoke to your new lawyer about
the appeal. He's sure he can get you
off on self-defense, so if you're
patient.
EVAN
How long will I be in here?
ANDREA
I don't know. These things take time.
EVAN
How's Kayleigh doing? She all right?
Andrea's look tells him to look for hope elsewhere.
EVAN
What about my journals, Mom? Did you
bring the ones I asked for?
Andrea nods, holding up two comp books. "AGE 7" and "AGE
13".
ANDREA
I found these. The others are still
in storage.
EVAN
Damn it, Mom. I told you I need them
all!
ANDREA
Fine. You'll get them, Evan. But I
think it's far more important to
focus on your case right now.
Evan looks as if he's about to disagree with her, but he
closes his mouth and placates her.
EVAN
Sure, Mom. You're right. Just try to
tell Kayleigh I'm sorry.
And officer signals Evan and points to his watch.
ANDREA
I'm not gonna lose you, kiddo. Promise
me you'll hang on, Ev.
They look at each other and Evan slowly lowers the phone. He
hangs up, Andrea still pressing her phone to her ear.
INT. MAVIS PENITENTIARY - DAY
Evan walks closely behind Carlos through a corridor, clutching
his journals. As he passes Karl, the Neo-Nazi, Karl reaches
over and firmly grabs Evan's crotch.
Evan, totally violated, turns white with rage.
KARL
Shit on my dick or blood on my knife.
Evan stands there, stunned, unable to react when --
Another Neo-Nazi, RICK, swats Evan's journals out of his
hands and onto the floor. Life springs back into Evan as he
rushes for the journals. He and Rick grab the journals at
the same time. A minor tug of war.
EVAN
Let go! They're mine!
Rick tears them away, Evan coming up with only a few torn
pages. Evan sees the damage and goes mental.
EVAN
Motherfucker!
Evan swings at Rick and misses. INMATES CHEER! It's on! Rick
lunges for Evan, a brief and painful scuffle ensues, the
journals getting trampled. Suddenly -- The sounds of COCKED
RIFLES echo through the air. The fight stops instantly as
Rick and Evan look up to see --
ANGLE ON
OFFICER STATION. Officers aim rifles at the pair. From an
upper tier, even more officers with more rifles.
Their barrels sight directly at Evan. Rick steps away, quick
to maliciously scoop up Evan's torn journals.
KARL
We'll be comin' for you tonight,
sister.
Evan catches his breath, then looks at the remaining few
pages on the floor.
INT. EVAN'S CELL - DAY
Evan enters the cell with a few entry pages. He looks through
them. Nothing there.
Evan nods depressed, then sees the page from his "Age 7"
journal, grabs Carlos' duct tape and tapes the page over his
bed.
INT. PRISON CORRIDOR - DAY
Evan, walking toward some White Supremacists, flinches
whenever the occasional INMATE brushes against him. Evan is
completely paranoid, waiting for an inevitable attack. Karl
makes himself visible among them, holding a journal. He reads:
KARL
(from Evan's journal)
Today I found my grandfather's death
certificate. He died in a nut house,
just like my father. Mom denies it,
but she thinks I'm gonna end up the
same way...
The other Supremacists start laughing and calling "looney"
and "nut job." Evan rushes past them and they make chicken
clucks at him.
EXT. PRISON YARD - DAY
Evan and Carlos sit on BLEACHERS that overlook the other
prisoners working out.
Evan closely watches Karl and Rick who stare daggers at him
from across the yard. A SKINHEAD PASSES SOMETHING with a
white-taped handle to Karl but no officers seem to notice.
Evan slides closer to Carlos and stares at the Jesus Christ
tattoos all over Carlos' back.
EVAN
You're religious Carlos, you believe
that bit about "the Lord works in
mysterious ways?"
CARLOS
Straight up.
EVAN
Because I think he sent me to your
cell on purpose. For you to help me.
CARLOS
Shit. I knew you were crazy.
EVAN
I ain't bullshitting. Jesus speaks
to me in my dreams.
Carlos scoffs whatever.
EVAN
Pack of smokes says I can prove it
to you.
Carlos is suddenly interested.
INT. EVAN'S CELL - LATER
Evan holds a tattered journal entry in his hand and finishes
up a conversation.
Carlos looks dumbfounded.
EVAN
So when I'm out, I need you to watch
my face and hands closely.
CARLOS
You need to see the prison shrink,
man.
Their conversation stops when a convict rolls a mail cart
by, Evan looking up expectantly.
EVAN
Anything today?
CONVICT
Yep. Just not for you.
Disappointed, Evan turns back to Carlos. Holds up his journal
entry.
EVAN
Just tell me if anything weird
happens.
CARLOS
Weirder than this?
EVAN
Marks, scars, I dunno. Anything could
happen I guess.
Evan studies the page.
JOURNAL ENTRY
"On Wednesday I got in trouble for a drawing that I didn't
do. Mommy wont let me see it."
Then as he starts reading it to himself, the bars behind him
almost imperceptibly VIBRATE --
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM - DAY - 1989
Evan, seven, COMES TO in an old familiar place. WE are back
in Mrs. Boswell's first grade class. All of the children
draw colorful pictures. Evan sees some paper spindles sitting
on Mrs. Boswell's desk. As he heads over to them, Mrs. Boswell
firmly grabs his shoulders and steers him back to his own
desk.
MRS. BOSWELL
No monkey business, Evan. Sit still
and finish your drawing.
Evan, defeated, looks over at his blank piece of paper. He
smiles mischievously, and grabs some colored pencils.
MRS. BOSWELL
That's great everyone! Just imagine
anything you want to be. There are
no limits.
Soon enough, an image emerges: Evan holding a knife, stands
over a heap of several dead inmates Karl and Rick.
When done, he sneaks over to Mrs. Boswell's desk, where the
two paper spindles sit. The metal needles reach up and skewer
a number of paper notes and messages.
Evan looks over to see Mrs. Boswell holding up his drawing,
horrified.
EVAN
(musically)
Oh, Mrs. Boswelllllllll?
She looks over in time to see Evan using all of his seven-
year old strength to WHIP his hands down toward the spindles!
The moment before his palms reach them there's a brief instant
where SOUNDSCAPES COLLIDE and the world behind him VIBRATES.
AND WE'RE BACK TO:
INT. EVAN'S PRISON CELL - DAY - 2002
Evan comes to as ECHOES OF SCREAMING CHILDREN FADE. Alertness
slowly creeps back up on him as he hears:
CARLOS
Oh sweet Jesus. It's true. It's a
miracle! A miracle!
Evan looks up to see Carlos staring at him with reverence.
CARLOS
Your hands. The stigmata!
Evan looks to see two scars in the center of each palm.
EVAN
What did you see? What did it look
like?
CARLOS
(laughing)
Signs of the Lord. They just appeared
out of nowhere. I thought you were
loco!
EVAN
So you believe me?
Carlos simply stares at him, awestruck, and hands over a box
of cigarettes.
INT. KARL'S CELL - CONTINUOUS
Evan nervously approaches. A CREW of Aryans block his path.
EVAN
I want to make a deal.
The Aryans laugh, make discrete eye contact with Karl, who
grins and signals to let Evan pass.
INT. KARL'S CELL - CONTINUOUS
Karl and Rick wait expectantly as Evan nervously enters.
They say nothing, relishing the fearful silence.
EVAN
Look. I'm new to all this but I think
I get how things work. You gotta
join a gang or else end up dead meat.
They continue to stare.
EVAN
Well it sure ain't gonna fucking be
with no niggers or spics. So how do
we do this? You gotta work your way
up, and I'm the new guy.
(looking ill)
So... should I... I mean, do I suck
your dicks right now?
Karl and Rick exchange looks.
KARL
Is your blood pure?
EVAN
(angry)
I ain't no fucking kike if that's
what you mean.
Rick stands. All muscle.
RICK
Let's see what you got. And watch
the fucking teeth or you'll be leaving
without 'em.
Evan nods reluctantly and peacefully drops to his knees.
Karl and Rick lower their pants to their ankles. Evan looks
miserable, about to do the deed when -- CARLOS bulldozes
past the Aryans into the room, slamming Karl into the wall
and jamming a shank into Karl's crotch!
Rick instantly charges Carlos, but trips on the pants around
his ankles. Evan, anticipating Rick's fall, stomps Rick's
face before snatching his journals from Karl's shelf.
Evan frantically flips through them, hunting for something,
as the other WHITE SUPREMACISTS charge the cell.
EVAN
Carlos!
Carlos drops Karl's writhing body to the floor and presses
his girth against the cell door.
Evan locates an entry and concentrates on the words just as
the other supremacists force the door open -- Evan focuses
on the words. Chanting quickly.
EVAN
We took the woods behind the junkyard
just to make sure we wouldn't bump
into Tommy. We hadn't seen the smoke
yet.
WORDS from the entry begin to SHIMMER. REVERBERANT SOUNDS OF
BARKING break the sound barrier and the image of Aryans
storming the cell behind him become a FRENETIC BLUR
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. JUNKYARD WOODS - DAY - 1995
Evan, thirteen again, comes to in the woods. Evan stumbles
at first, then rights himself. He seems strangely exhilarated.
A sinister victory smile.
EVAN
Rot in hell you fucking animals.
Kayleigh and Lenny, walking by his side, do a double take.
Evan shrugs "just kidding" and looks around, getting his
bearings. He whips his hand out and stops them.
EVAN
Wait. Before we --
He suddenly notices Kayleigh who now no longer looks an
awkward and unkempt tomboy, but rather a vibrant and feminine
young girl. Whereas her clothes were loose and unflattering
before, she is now radiant and wears fashionable styles.
Evan remembers his mission and darts over to a JUNK PILE.
EVAN
We need something to cut open the
sack!
Kayleigh and Lenny stare at him, concerned for his sanity.
Evan roots through the trash until he finds something: a
razor sharp piece of metal about two feet long. Evan offers
it to Lenny.
EVAN
I want you to take this, Lenny.
Today's your day of atonement. I
know how guilty you feel about that
woman and her baby --
KAYLEIGH
Evan. Stop it. It's not the time.
EVAN
(frantic)
Now's the only time!
(to Lenny)
Today you get a chance to redeem
yourself. Start over with a clean
slate. Tabula rasa --
LENNY
What are you talking about?
KAYLEIGH
You're acting crazy!
EVAN
(desperate; to Lenny)
Please. If you've ever trusted me
before, trust me on this one.
Evan places the metal shard in Lenny's hand.
EVAN
Cut the rope.
Lenny slowly follows Evan as he bolts away.
EXT. JUNKYARD - LATER
Evan groans on the ground, writhing. Tommy's voice hitches,
eyes watering from pent up frustration.
TOMMY
Listen to me good, Evan...
EVAN
I'll do whatever you want. You don't
want me to ever see Kayleigh again,
fine. Just let Crockett go. Besides,
you kill him now and they'll stick
you in juvy for sure. And I know
you'd never leave your sister alone
with your father.
Evan's words hit home and Tommy's anger slowly dissipates. A
look of understanding passes between them. Gratitude, even.
Tommy looks at the sack and begins to untie it. Lenny comes
screaming from nowhere like a bat out of hell! With all of
the force he can muster, he jams the metal shard all the way
through Tommy's throat!
Tommy clutches his throat, gagging in blood. Evan surveys
the scene in shock:
EVAN
Oh fuck, Lenny, no!
Lenny drops to the floor, Indian style, wipes the dirt in
his hands and freezes up completely. Kayleigh wakes up and
SCREAMS when she sees blood spurt from Tommy's throat.
Meanwhile, Crockett escapes from the sack.
EVAN'S POV
Lenny, silhouetted by the sky, seems to vibrate violently as
if operating a jack-hammer.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. COLLEGE - EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT - 2002
Evan comes to in a familiar place. His original college dorm -
ONLY BACKWARDS.
EVAN
Christ. Help me.
He sits upright in bed and takes in his surroundings. When
suddenly, Evan clutches his head in severe pain.
A MONTAGE OF IMAGES ASSAULT HIM:
INT. SORORITY BEDROOM - DAY
Color memories of Kayleigh's sorority fade to BLACK and WHITE
and dissipate.
EXT. FRAT HOUSE - NIGHT - 2002
Memories of Evan's vandalized car fade to BLACK and WHITE
and dissipate.
INT. PENITENTIARY - DAY - 2002
The faces of Karl and Rick all turn grainy...
INT. COLLEGE - EVAN'S DORM - DAY - 2002
As new images of THUMPER become more BRILLIANT.
INT. SUNNYVALE - PADDED ROOM - DAY - 2005
A new image overwhelms the others: Lenny, 13, with dark,
soulless eyes wearing a straight-jacket in a padded room.
BACK TO EVAN:
INT. EVAN'S DORM - DAY - 2002
Evan's eyes roll back in his head. He shakes uncontrollably
and blood pours from his nose.
Thumper opens the door, sees Evan convulsing and jumps back
in horror. He scans the hallways for assistance.
THUMPER
Someone call 9-1-1!
INT. SUNNYVALE LABORATORY - DAY
Evan lies on an examining table undergoing another series of
CAT-scans. The machines are now state of the art and the lab
room has been redecorated.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFICE - DAY
Andrea nervously chews her fingernails as she watches Dr.
Redfield post CAT-scan results on the light box. A young
nurse pushes Evan, in a wheelchair, into the doctor's office.
EVAN
Okay, doc. What's the damage? How
much time have I got?
ANDREA
Cute, Evan.
DR. REDFIELD
It's a little complicated. I haven't
seen results exactly like these
before.
EVAN
Are you sure? Not even with my father?
Dr. Redfield and Andrea exchange looks.
DR. REDFIELD
Actually, these tests weren't
available twenty years ago.
ANDREA
So what did you find.
Dr. Redfield points to the CAT-scan slides, specifically, to
the outer lining of Evan's brain.
DR. REDFIELD
This is where we're finding most of
the hemorrhaging. The outer lining
of the cerebral cortex.
EVAN
(nonplussed)
Lemme guess. Would that be where the
memories are stored?
Dr. Redfield stares ahead. Transfixed by the slides.
DR. REDFIELD
I've never seen anything like this.
I've compared these to the ones taken
last year, and there's evidence of
severe hemorrhaging and massive neural
reconstruction.
Andrea stares at him blankly. Evan impatiently "pops wheelies"
in the wheel chair.
ANDREA
What does that mean for Evan?
EVAN
(to Andrea)
He's saying it's like forty years
worth of new memories have been jammed
in my brain since last year. Overload
city. 'Sat about the gist of it,
doc?
Dr. Redfield nods, awed by Evan's effortless interpretation.
Evan springs out of the wheelchair and stretches his legs.
EVAN
(to Andrea)
Mind if I wait in the car? The
lighting here bugs my eyes.
Andrea nods. Evan shakes Dr. Redfield's hand.
EVAN
Well, it's nice seeing you again.
But you know, people to see, things
to read...
Andrea shoots Dr. Redfield an apologetic look. Evan heads
out the door, accidentally knocking Dr. Redfield's jacket to
the floor. He shrugs apologetically and re-hangs it.
INT. SUNNYVALE CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Outside the office, Evan inspects Dr. Redfield's KEYS and
attached SECURITY CARD and smiles. Evan covertly winds himself
through the maze of corridors, careful not to be seen by the
staff.
He finally sees a wing marked "CRIMINALLY INSANE". Evan looks
around to make certain he's not being watched, then uses the
security card to open the door. He looks in every room of
the wing until he finds --
INT. SUNNYVALE - LENNY'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Evan unlocks the door and is moved by what he sees.
Lenny is strapped onto a metal bed, his arms and legs in
tight leather restraints. The dark five o'clock shadow and
his malicious grin radiate evil.
His black and haunting eyes personify hate and murderous
intent.
Lenny seems neither surprised or happy to see Evan. That is,
if he's aware of Evan's presence at all...
EVAN
Is there anything you need? Anything
I can get you?
Nothing from Lenny.
EVAN
What about the models, man? Bet I
can get you a shitload of models up
in here.
Still nothing. Not even a glance in his direction. Evan sighs
and gives up.
EVAN
Okay, Lenny. Just wanted to say "hi".
Evan turns around to leave.
LENNY
You knew the whole time, didn't you?
(Evan spins around)
When you put the blade in my hand,
you knew something big was going to
happen. Didn't you?!
EVAN
(jaw dropped)
Y... yes. I guess I did.
Lenny's eyes seethe with hate.
LENNY
Then you should be where I am. You
should be where I am.
Evan backs away, face guilt-stricken.
INT. EVAN'S DORM - DAY
Evan enters his dormroom (where everything's backwards),
reaches under his bed and is relieved to find the journal
marked "AGE 7".
EXT. COLLEGE QUAD - DAY
Evan is ignored by several Theta Chi pledges as he plops
himself by a tree and hunts through his journal to find the
entry from when he was seven and visited Jason at Sunnyvale.
JOURNAL ENTRY
"Today I get to mete my father. His name is Jason and he is
crazy. I hope he lets me call him dad."
Evan takes a calming breath and begins reading.
EVAN
(as if reciting a
mantra)
Today I get to meet my father. His
name is Jason and he is crazy...
Evan gets some strange looks, but continues. As he does, the
trees and frisbee-playing students behind him VIBRATE and
SHUDDER.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SUNNYVALE VISITOR'S CHAMBER - DAY - 1989
Seven-year old Evan comes to during the time he first met
his father, Jason.
Jason waits patiently for young Evan to finish his sentence.
JASON
Are you okay? You looked like you
were somewhere else for a second
there.
EVAN
Look, Jason, I need some fast answers
if I'm ever gonna fix what I've done.
Jason is completely thrown.
JASON
I was praying this curse would have
ended with me.
EVAN
But it didn't. And now I need info
to make things right again and you're
the only one who can give it to me.
JASON
(frustrated)
There is no "right". When you change
who people are, you destroy who they
were.
EVAN
Who's to say you can't make things
better?
Jason seems extremely upset to hear Evan say this.
JASON
You can't play God, son. It must end
with me. Just by being here, you may
be killing your mother.
EVAN
Bullshit. I'll send you a postcard
when I've made everything perfect
again.
Jason launches himself across the table, shackles and all,
and grabs hold of Evan's throat.
EVAN'S POV
As Jason looks down at us, frothing at the mouth, there's a
trick of the light where Jason's head seems to VIBRATE against
the ceiling.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. COLLEGE QUAD - DAY - 2002
Evan's hands instinctively reach for his throat, then he
realizes his surroundings. Heartbroken, he shuts the journal
and stands up shakily.
INT. RIDGEWOOD DINER - EARLY EVENING
Evan eats in the same diner where Kayleigh used to work. As
he eats, his arm sits in front of his plate, protectively.
Guarding his food.
WAITRESS
Just get out, didja?
EVAN
Huh?
WAITRESS
(re: his arm)
Nothing. Just that my brother did a
stint in the pen and he used to eat
like that.
EVAN
(defensively)
I come from a big family.
WAITRESS
Meant no offense.
EVAN
None taken. Hey, uh, does Kayleigh
Miller still work here?
WAITRESS
(confused)
Sorry. Never heard of her.
EXT. MILLER HOUSE - EVENING
Evan slowly walks up the driveway, which is now a dilapidated
mess. Garbage litters the front lawn and paint chips rot off
the sides of the house. Inside, Mr. Miller yells at someone.
MR. MILLER
Just shut the hell up already! Can't
a man get a little goddman peace in
his own home!
(Evan rings doorbell)
Oh, for Christ's sake, now what?
Mr. Miller opens the door and sees Evan.
MR. MILLER
Don't suppose you're here to sell
cookies?
In a blur, Evan grabs Mr. Miller's shirt and violently shoves
him through the house and into a wall.
EVAN
Good guess, fuckbag.
(off Miller's startled
face)
Remember me now? We had a great chat
once when I was seven.
Mr. Miller goes slack, his eyes wide with horror.
EVAN
One question, fuckbag. Where can I
find your daughter?
EXT. SEEDY HOTEL - NIGHT
Evan walks past some junkies and enters.
INT. SEEDY HOTEL - CONTINUOUS
Evan steps over some passed out bodies that litter the hallway
of an incredibly seedy motel. The kind with hourly rates. He
knocks on a door.
Kayleigh, now haggard, strung-out junkie, opens the door and
immediately the contempt for Evan grows in her eyes. She
puts out an expression of disappointment.
KAYLEIGH
Oh, I thought you were my eight
o'clock. Make it fast, I'm expecting
someone.
EVAN
Nice to see you, too. Can I come in?
She looks around, waves him in.
KAYLEIGH
If I knew you were coming I'd have
cleaned the stains off the sheets.
INT. KAYLEIGH'S SEEDY HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The room is dirty and sparse, excepting charred-bottom spoons,
yellowed cotton balls and brown-spotted squares of tin foil.
Evan doesn't hesitate to sit on the "soiled" bed.
KAYLEIGH
What do you want?
Evan can't speak. His eyes begin to water.
EVAN
I just needed to see... a friendly
face.
His sincerity touches her.
KAYLEIGH
Well, time is money, Evan. So you...
Evan reaches for his wallet and throws it on her dresser.
Kayleigh eyes the wallet. But makes no move to pick it up.
KAYLEIGH
Well, I guess I can spare ten minutes
for an old friend, right?
Tears fall freely from Evan's eyes.
KAYLEIGH
So how's tricks? Sorry, occupational
humor.
EVAN
I get it. You can drop it now.
KAYLEIGH
(angry again)
Oh, I'm sorry. Does my line of work
make you uncomfortable, precious?
EVAN
No. Just that you need to hurt me
with it. I've been where you've been.
KAYLEIGH
Ha! Where's that?
EVAN
The bottom. When you're just a piece
of meat waiting for the next attack.
Kayleigh watches Evan silently.
KAYLEIGH
What's happened to you?
EVAN
You wouldn't believe me. I mean,
people always say, "You wouldn't
believe me", but in this case, it's
not even worth trying.
KAYLEIGH
I've seen some sickening shit. I
don't blink twice anymore, especially
in your case.
EVAN
Why's that?
KAYLEIGH
Because you're... different.
EVAN
Different? How?
KAYLEIGH
Let me ask you a question. Just a
little one that's been gnawing at me
for years.
EVAN
Yeah?
KAYLEIGH
On the bridge. How did you know that
Tommy had your dog? That was no
fucking hunch.
EVAN
Do you remember when I was a kid and
I had those blackouts?
Evan continues and Kayleigh listens with a mixture of intense
interest and matched skepticism.
DISSOLVE TO LATER:
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Kayleigh finishes a plateful of food at a busy diner. She
lights up an after-dinner smoke.
KAYLEIGH
You're right, Evan, I don't believe
you.
EVAN
I never thought you would. That's
why I've never bothered to tell a
soul until now, and why I never will
again.
KAYLEIGH
I'm the only person you've told?
That's a great line. Does that make
other girls swoon? Do they actually
eat up this bullshit?
EVAN
I couldn't give a shit if you believe
me or not, and frankly I'm too tired
to prove it to you.
KAYLEIGH
Oh? There's proof now?
EVAN
(tired)
Shit. I dunno. How would I know about
the twin moles on your inner thigh?
KAYLEIGH
Anyone with fifty bucks could tell
you that.
EVAN
Then forget that. How about... you
prefer the smell of a skunk to
flowers, you hate cilantro because
for reasons unknown to you, it reminds
you of your step-sister.
Kayleigh's jaw drops.
EVAN
Oh! And when you orgasm, your toes
go numb. I'm sure your clientele
aren't privy to that one.
Kayleigh tries to conceal the surprise in her eyes.
EVAN
I just thought you should know.
KAYLEIGH
Know what?
EVAN
That I didn't leave you there to
rot.
Kayleigh flinches as if her should had been invaded, then
her eyes fill with distrust and contempt.
KAYLEIGH
There's one major hole in your story.
EVAN
Which is?
KAYLEIGH
There is no fuckin' way on this planet
or any other that I was in some
fuckin' sorority.
She opens Evan's wallet and leaves a twenty on the table.
KAYLEIGH
Sure you don't want your wallet?
EVAN
Don't think I'll need it where I'm
going.
KAYLEIGH
Off to change everyone's life again,
is that it? Maybe this time you'll
pop up in some mansion while I wind
up in Tijuana doing the donkey act.
EVAN
I'm over it. Whenever I try to help
anyone it all turns to shit.
KAYLEIGH
Well, don't give up now, Slick. You've
already done so much for me. Hell,
why don't you go back in time and
save Mrs. Halpern and her baby. Then
maybe Lenny wouldn't freak out and
ruin my family.
She gets up and puts on her coat.
KAYLEIGH
Oh, here's one! Go back when I'm
seven and fuck me in front of Daddy's
handicam, you know, straighten me
out a bit...
She tosses his wallet over her shoulder at him and leaves.
INT. EVAN'S DORM - DAY
Evan enters his familiar looking dorm and hears the familiar
sounds of Thumper having sex with another naked GOTHIC CO-
ED. On Evan's bed.
EVAN
Get out. Both of you.
THUMPER
Sorry, dude. Just figured it'd be
okay with you bein' sick and all.
Evan's temper flares and he picks up a chair and SMASHES it
against a wall above Thumper's head.
EVAN
I'm not saying it again.
Thumper and the co-ed quickly cover themselves in the blankets
and leave. Alone in the room, Evan looks under his bed and
breathes a sigh of relief to see all of his journals are
intact. He sifts through them again. He finally finds the
passage he needs. Something catches the corner of Evan's
eyes and he turns to examine it.
To the left of Thumper's Buddha statuette sits a large VOTIVE
CANDLE that bears a portrait of Jesus Christ.
EVAN
(humble)
Lord give me the strength and guidance
I need to set things right.
As he begins reading a passage to himself, SOUNDS ECHO
backward at us from another time and place. And the entire
ROOM SHIMMERS around him --
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. MRS. HALPERN'S HOUSE - DAY - 1995
Evan comes to as he, Kayleigh, Lenny and Tommy -- all thirteen --
watch Mrs. Halpern carry her baby back to the mailbox across
the street with intense anticipation. Evan suddenly comes to
life and makes himself visible, running across the street
shouting.
EVAN
Lady, stay back! Don't go near the
mailbox!
Mrs. Halpern, startled, stares at the young kid skeptically
as she absently continues toward the mailbox.
EVAN
I mean it, woman! Get the hell back!
Lenny comes running across the street to Evan's aid, and
Tommy shrugs and follows after him.
LENNY
There's a bomb in the mailbox. Get
away!
Tommy, still running, cringes to hear Lenny's stupid
confession and rolls his eyes at the situation. Evan positions
himself between Mrs. Halpern and the mailbox, frantically
waving his hand at her to stay back, because she's STILL
COMING.
TOMMY
I'll save you lady!
Tommy takes a running dive at Mrs. Halpern, perhaps a bit
too hard, and sends her and the baby to the pavement, hurt,
but no major injuries.
Seeing things are safe, Evan backs away from the mail --
BOOM!
The blast is deafening! Evan's body is hurled backwards
dramatically.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. EVAN'S DORM - DAY - 2002
Evan comes to back in his dorm, the same posters are on the
wall, the sheets are the same. Even the familiar sounds of
Thumper having sex under the covers.
EVAN
I thought I told you two to beat it.
Evan's face falls as he hears a familiar voice, but not
Thumper's.
LENNY
What? Hey, sorry, man. We wake you
up?
Evan is confused by Lenny's presence, but smiles to himself
and shakes his head "no".
EVAN
No, it's cool.
(re: Lenny's okay)
Really cool.
Evan yawns, bringing his hand to his mouth, but there's no
hand. No arm, really, either. Just two FLESHY STUMPS!
Evan bolts upright in bed and stares down at his amputations.
A FLOOD OF MEMORIES ASSAULT HIM:
We see countless and brief image flashes of Evan growing up
from the age of thirteen with NO ARMS, and requiring a
WHEELCHAIR.
INT. MULTIPLEX THEATER LOBBY - DAY - 1995
Tommy and Kayleigh load popcorn and drinks onto Evan's lap
as Lenny pushes the wheelchair.
INT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY - 1995
Evan celebrates his 14th birthday and blows out the candles.
Andrea, Kayleigh, Tommy and Lenny all clap.
EXT. CHURCH - DAY - 1995
Tommy pushes Evan to church.
INT. EVAN'S DORM - DAY - 2002
Evan screams as blood pours from his nose. Lenny is out of
bed at once to help him... as is KAYLEIGH! (Now beautiful
and natural looking).
QUICK SERIES OF FLASHES:
EXT. LAKE - DAY - 1999
Lenny and Kayleigh, as teens, sit together with Evan at the
far end of the boat.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL - DAY - 1999
Evan looks on longingly as Lenny and Kayleigh become lovers
in high school.
EXT. WOODS - NIGHT - 1999
A campfire. Evan sips from a BEER CAP as Lenny and Kayleigh
make out in plain sight with Tommy's bashful approval.
BACK TO EVAN:
INT. DORM HALLWAY - DAY - 2002
Evan's in agony as Kayleigh opens a series of dorm doors and
Lenny rushes Evan's wheelchair through. Kayleigh carries a
pair of prosthetic arms in her hands.
Evan moans and tries to rub his temple with his stump.
EVAN
Where are we going?
KAYLEIGH
We have to get you to Sunnyvale.
You're having one of your famous
hemorrhages.
EVAN
Stop! Take me back!
LENNY
Sorry, tough guy, no can do. Your
mother would kill me.
Evan launches his body forward and spills clumsily out of
the wheelchair. Lenny must halt in order not to crush Evan.
As Evan writhes about on the floor, his legs paralyzed, a
CROWD GATHERS.
Evan focuses on Lenny, but it's hard to ignore the crowd
that titters and snickers in the background.
EVAN
Take me back, Lenny!
(teeth clenched)
You owe me that much.
Kayleigh turns to face the jeering crowd.
KAYLEIGH
What are you geeks looking at? Must
be nice to be so goddamned perfect,
huh? Fucking losers.
The crowd breaks up and leaves.
EXT. COLLEGE QUAD - DAY
It's calm now. Lenny and Kayleigh push Evan's wheelchair
around the quad. Evan now wears prosthetic arms. Random PEOPLE
call out to Lenny. He's extremely popular in this world.
LENNY
'Sup, Sheila! We missed you at the
party! Don't even think I'm giving
you my lab notes either! Think I
like getting up for "eight thirty's"?
Lenny pushes Evan past Thumper and Cricket. Their conversation
stops and they stare at their feet as Evan gets wheeled by.
Evan boils to be treated as if he were non-existent.
LENNY
Hey, there's Tommy.
Evan spins around in fear. He sees Tommy, clean-cut, and
handing out flyers in front of a banner that reads "Campus
Crusade for Christ." Tommy seems good-natured now, working
hard and soliciting names for his list. He looks up as Evan
rolls along and his eyes brighten to see Evan.
TOMMY
I did what you said, man! We're
pooling our student funds with Hillel
House and we're going to have an
Awareness Dance.
EVAN
Oh goody, nothing like spinning my
chair around to a techno mix of Hava
Nagila til I puke.
Tommy frowns and exchanges glances with Lenny, who shrugs
and nods back to him.
LENNY
Uh, we should be getting to class
now.
EVAN
Forget it. What's the point of Psych
now? Tomorrow I could wake up as
some dirt farmer in Bangladesh.
Another exchanged glance. Kayleigh looks at Evan.
KAYLEIGH
Let's go for a stroll.
Evan allows Kayleigh to roll him away from the others. To
the very spot where Evan once killed Tommy.
Evan stares at his prosthetic hand which he can "magically"
will to open, close, open, close...
EVAN
So Tommy's really into this Jesus
kick, huh?
Kayleigh looks at him curiously.
KAYLEIGH
You know how spiritual he's gotten
ever since he saved Mrs. Halpern and
Katie.
EVAN
He saved Mrs. Halpern? Please, the
twisted fuck.
Kayleigh, now by a bench. Stops and sits. As she casually
uses her foot to turn his chair to face her, she pulls out a
granola bar and hands it to him.
His prosthetic hand crushes it. It crumbles to dust. She
seems more confused.
KAYLEIGH
Is something the matter?
EVAN
(re: prosthetic arms)
Yeah, I think I gotta get these fixed
or something.
She leans into him, gently feeding him her remaining bar.
EVAN
Kayleigh? Do you ever think about
"us?" I mean, wonder if it could
ever have been different between the
two of us?
KAYLEIGH
Sure, Evan, why not? You were the
first person I really ever cared
about.
EVAN
I was?
KAYLEIGH
That's why when I was little I never
went to live with my mother.
EVAN
I don't get it.
KAYLEIGH
(feeding another bite)
When my folks split, they gave me
and Tommy a choice who we wanted to
live with. I couldn't stand my dad,
but I knew if I moved to my mom's
I'd never see you again.
EVAN
I never knew that. So then you still
sometimes think of us... together?
KAYLEIGH
It's crossed my mind from time to
time.
EVAN
(hopeful)
And...?
KAYLEIGH
Well a lot of things cross my mind.
I've always been a fast thinker, Ev.
I can play out the movie of our entire
lives in under a second. Boom -- we
fall in love -- get married -- two
kids, your keen analytical insight
matched to my generous nature --
kids grow old as do we, relatively
stable relationships, matching burial
plots, the whole bit. It took a lot
longer to spit out than to imagine.
EVAN
Then you think it might have worked
out?
KAYLEIGH
Why not? But that's not how things
wound up. I'm with Lenny, Lenny's
your friend. And there it ends.
She looks into his eyes and shrugs almost apologetically.
Tears streak down Evan's face as he speaks in a pleading
tone.
EVAN
Would it make any difference if I
told you that no one could possibly
love anyone as much as I love you?
Kayleigh shakes her head sadly, then suddenly looks up. Evan
turns to see Lenny waving her over. She puts her hand on
Evan's shoulder, stands and goes to Lenny.
Evan can't take his eyes off her.
ANGLE ON
Lenny kissing Kayleigh. In painful slo-mo. Evan turns away,
utterly heartbroken.
INT. HANDICAPPED BATHROOM - DAY
CLOSE UP
Evan's stump turns on a BATHTUB FAUCET.
REVEAL:
Evan, fully clothed, lies in a bathtub that's filling with
water. Beside the tub, the wheelchair has been tipped over.
The water rises past his mouth, to his nostrils -- Evan makes
his peace and takes a final breath.
And the water spills over the side of the tub. All Evan can
do is watch it, still breathing easily through his nose.
A beat. Then the door opens.
TOMMY ENTERS. Immediately sizing up the situation.
TOMMY
You forgot to put the toaster on the
edge.
Tommy casually turns off the water, then pops open the DRAIN.
The water level lowers to Evan's mouth.
EVAN
But you, Kayleigh and Lenny like
toast. And that's really all that
matters now.
Tommy feels Evan's anguish and plops his ass on the wet floor
by the tub. He lays his head onto Evan's shoulder.
Evan bristles at first, but finally gives in to his hatred,
ultimately resting his own head against Tommy's. Taking the
comfort offered.
TOMMY
I'll get you changed. Visiting hours
are almost up.
INT. ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL - EVENING
Tommy rolls Evan through a quiet hospital corridor.
EVAN
(looking around)
What, did mom get transferred again?
Tommy frowns, confused, then rolls Evan into --
INT. ANDREA'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Evan is startled to see Andrea hooked up to several IV's, an
oxygen tank and a respirator. Several oxygen hoses connect
to a tracheotomy tube.
Tommy smiles and kisses Andrea on the cheek. She tousles his
hair in return.
Evan can hardly speak. As Tommy begins to wheel Evan's chair
closer to Andrea's bedside, Andrea utters a faint whisper.
ANDREA
Looking. Good. Kiddo.
Evan eyes her MEDICAL CLIPBOARD as he's wheeled by.
EVAN
(reading)
Lung cancer?
TOMMY
Sorry, Mrs. T. He's been out of sorts
lately.
Andrea flinches to hear this. Evan stares at her, eyes wide.
EVAN
Right... You started chain smoking
after I blew myself up.
Evan suddenly seems sick with guilt.
EVAN
There must be a way to fix this.
ANDREA
Fix?
EVAN
I just need the entry about the
blockbuster. Wait, shit, no arms. I
never even got the chance to write
it.
A flicker of recognition registers in her eyes.
ANDREA
Is Evan... different?
TOMMY
He's just going through some tough
times.
EVAN
Mom. Don't cry. I can change this.
TOMMY
I think I'll go check out the chapel.
ANDREA
You're. Acting. Like your father.
EVAN
Come on, Mom. Just 'cause Dad was my
age when he started going crazy
doesn't mean that I'm nuts.
Andrea is shocked.
ANDREA
How. Did you. Know that?
EVAN
You told me that on Parents' Weekend.
Remember? Wait, that wasn't me. Or
you.
She uses her left hand to pinch off the air to her oxygen
tube and forces herself to speak in a sick, GRAVELY manner.
ANDREA
Just. Like. Jason.
EVAN
Don't worry. I'm gonna get you out
of here.
He pushes a lever and the mechanical wheelchair rolls itself
out of the room.
Andrea forces her loudest raspy scream.
ANDREA
Stop him. Stop him. Stop him...
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT
Lenny tears through old cardboard boxes in Evan's closet.
Evan watches nearby.
LENNY
Are you sure you even packed it?
EVAN
My mom packed for me. I think she
sent everything I ever owned. So
we'll see.
Evan watches Lenny eagerly as he dumps tons of Evan's junk
on the floor. Old report cards, books, toys and photo albums
fall on the floor.
LENNY
Is this it?
Evan beams when he sees Lenny holding his old journal. AGE
7.
LENNY
What do you need it for? I don't get
you lately.
EVAN
Duly noted. Now I'm gonna ask you
for one last favor.
LENNY
What?
EVAN
Shhh. I need to concentrate on the
blockbuster if I'm gonna destroy it.
LENNY
(concerned)
Destroy it?
EVAN
If I hadn't blown my arms off, Mom
never woulda started smoking in the
first place. Now shhhh.
Lenny, utterly baffled, sits back in silence and watches
Evan begin reading his journal to himself for a beat.
ON EVAN
As new sounds ECHO BACKWARD. There's a --
SHIMMER!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING - 1989
Evan comes to in his childhood kitchen. He is only seven
years old. He coughs up Lucky Charms that have "magically"
appeared in his mouth. On a journal before him is the recently
written passage:
JOURNAL ENTRY
"Today Mommy is taking me to play with Kayley and Tommy. I
will mete there father and see what a real dad is like."
Andrea is nowhere in sight. Evan springs to his feet and
flexes his real hands triumphantly.
EVAN
Yes. Now how do I destroy the
blockbuster?
He rummages through the utensil drawer and pulls out a large
butcher knife and grabs it. He tucks it into his sock but it
won't fit. He's still debating what to do when:
ANDREA WALKS IN and is startled by the unexpected sight of
Evan holding a huge knife.
Evan sees her but remains expressionless. Andrea's face
blanches.
ANDREA
Evan? What are you doing with that
knife?
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. EVAN'S DORM - NIGHT - 2002
Evan comes to to find Lenny still staring at him. Waiting
for something big to happen.
EVAN
Well, that didn't work...
Evan flips a single page of his journal and tries again. He
reads to himself, then relaxes his head --
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. MILLER'S BASEMENT - DAY - 1989
Evan, seven again, stands in the basement dressed in his
Robin Hood costume as Mr. Miller prepares for the sex scene.
MR. MILLER
Now in this part of the story, Robin
Hood just married Maid Marian and
they have to kiss and stuff like
grown-ups do.
Kayleigh giggles. There seems to be a new glint of
intelligence in Evan's eyes as he adjusts to his new
surroundings.
EVAN
Wait! I need my belt!
Mr. Miller is puzzled, but watches Evan SKIP to the fireplace.
EVAN
(overly childlike)
Loo loo, skip to my loo. Loo loo,
skip to my loo.
Mr. Miller puts his eye back to the viewfinder as Evan quickly
finds Mr. Miller's old army thermos in the bottom drawer of
the dresser, opens it and shakes out the blockbuster.
EVAN
Loo, loo, skip to my loo.
He tries to crack it with his own hands, but his seven-year
old body is too weak.
MR. MILLER
Hey kid, don't bother with the belt.
Mr. Miller finally turns around and sees Evan banging the
blockbuster on the table. Shock registers in Mr. Miller's
eyes and he takes a step towards Evan.
EVAN
Back off, fuckbag!
Mr. Miller freezes on that, and Evan smiles at him.
EVAN
Amazing. That word never fails to
make an impression with you...
Mr. Miller takes a slow, non-threatening step toward Evan.
MR. MILLER
Easy does it, Evan! Don't be a bad
boy or I'll tell mommy you were
naughty.
EVAN
And I'll tell the Child Protective
Services about your kiddie porn
endeavors. One step closer and I'll
shove this up your ass!
Kayleigh's mouth hangs open with utter amazement at the scene.
Tommy, hiding at the top of the stairs, slowly creeps down
to get a better view.
Evan rummages in the bureau and finds the wooden "strike
anywhere" matches used at thirteen to light his cigarettes.
MR. MILLER
That's dangerous! You could blow
your hands off!
EVAN
Been there, done that.
Evan, standing near the fireplace, defiantly strikes the
match with this thumb and lowers the flame to the short fuse.
Mr. Miller charges Evan just as the fuse is lit! Mr. Miller
knocks the blockbuster from Evan's hand and it rolls towards
the other side of the room, resting peacefully against the
video camera.
Kayleigh's eyes are dazzled by the sparkling fuse and she
bends down to pick it up --
MR. MILLER/TOMMY/EVAN
Kayleigh! NOOOOOooooo!
EXT. MILLER'S HOUSE - DAY - 1989
BOOM! The blast is deafening.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SUNNYVALE - EVAN'S ROOM - DAY - 2002
Evan, twenty, wakes up with a bloody nose.
EVAN
Oh God, Kayleigh...
Evan gets a new series of QUICK IMAGES and FLASHED FACES.
INT. FAMILY COURTROOM - DAY - 1989
Evan (now seven) is institutionalized before a judge.
INT. SUNNYVALE INSTITUTION - DAY - 1989-1994
Evan (seven through twelve) GROWS UP in an institution.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFICE - DAY - 1989-1994
Evan undergoes years of therapy under Redfield's care.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. EVAN'S ROOM - SUNNYVALE - DAY - 2002
Evan lies in a room, same posters from college adorn the
walls. Blood flows freely now.
EVAN
(sobbing uncontrollably)
Kayleigh... no! You can't die again!
I won't let this happen. I won't!
Evan fights off the pain and looks under his bed for
something.
EVAN
Where are they?!
His journals are missing! He runs from the room.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFCIE - DAY
Evan runs into Dr. Redfield's office just as another patient
is leaving.
DR. REDFIELD
Hey, Evan. What's the big rush? We
don't meet for another hour.
EVAN
Where are my goddamn books?
DR. REDFIELD
Books?
EVAN
My journals! Where are they?
The doctor looks heartbroken, as if Evan has had a relapse.
DR. REDFIELD
It kills me to have to go through
this again. There are no journals.
There never were. It's part of this
fantasy world your mind created to
cope with the guilt of killing...
Evan looks stunned. Refusing to believe it.
DR. REDFIELD
Think Evan. You've invented a disease
that doesn't exist. Alternate
universes with colleges, prisons,
paraplegia...
EVAN
But I... I need those books.
DR. REDFIELD
You remind me of your father. He
always screamed for a photo album
even though he never had one.
EVAN
Photos?
Evan's eyes roll back and he collapses lifelessly to the
floor.
INT. SUNNYVALE LABORATORY - DAY
Evan lies on a platform and gets another series of CAT-scans.
INT. EVAN'S ROOM - NIGHT
Evan, no longer incapacitated, stares out the window into
the darkness. Alone.
Trapped. Hopeless.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFICE - DAY
Later that day, Dr. Redfield posts the new CAT-scan slides
on the light box and shudders when he sees the results. Andrea
looks on anxiously.
DR. REDFIELD
Jesus, no.
Andrea, biting her nails, is unable to conceal her fear.
ANDREA
No dances, just tell me.
DR. REDFIELD
(devastated)
The hemorrhaging... the neural damage
is irreparable. I'm frankly surprised
he still has use of his motor
functions.
Andrea begins to break down in tears. Evan secretly listens
in from the hallway.
His gaunt face looks deep in thought. He takes a breath and
enters the lab, making sure not to look directly at his
weeping mother.
EVAN
Hey, Mom, didja remember to bring
those goofy old home movies we used
to make?
Andrea wipes tears away, nodding in advance.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Evan sees no one is watching him in the institution corridor
as he throws his weight into the door of the doctor's office,
breaking it open.
Sporadically, severe VIBRATIONS invade Evan's environment,
threatening to distract him from his mission.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Evan enters the office and tears the file cabinets apart,
looking for something.
His nose bleeds profusely and he repeatedly wipes the blood
off his face with irritation.
Evan sees a cardboard marked TREBORN, E. Grabs it and hides
under the doctor's desk.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
FLASHLIGHT BEAMS stab through the darkened corridor hunting
for him. An ALARM SOUNDS. GUARDS are shouting.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Evan, under the doctor's desk, grabs some paper and begins
writing in shorthand.
EVAN
If anyone finds this, then I guess
my plan didn't work and I'm already
dead.
Again, the world flutters as if it were attached to a paint-
shaker. He takes a deep breath.
EVAN
But I -- I can just go back to the
beginning of all this, I might be
able to save her.
Fatigue overwhelms him, but he continues writing...
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Dr. Redfield catches up with the rest of the guards.
DR. REDFIELD
He's not in his room. Search the
grounds.
INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
The cardboard box is overturned. Evan finishes threading a
SUPER-8 film projector and turns it on. Careful not to let
any light spill against the wall, Evan projects it at the
underside of the desk.
We see familiar home movie footage from his childhood: Lenny,
5, has a birthday party. Kayleigh is there.
ANGLE ON EVAN'S EYES
Getting lost in the memory.
CHAOTIC NOISES of CHILDREN'S PARTY bleed into Evan's reality.
The world SHUDDERS UNCONTROLLABLY.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. LENNY'S BACKYARD - DAY - 1987
Evan, 5, comes to at a birthday party. He's unexpectedly
gently prodded forward by Andrea.
ANDREA
Go on, Evan. Introduce yourself.
Evan slowly approaches Kayleigh, only five. She smiles
bashfully at him. An old memory comes back to him.
KAYLEIGH (V.O.)
When my folks split, they gave me
and Tommy a choice who we wanted to
live with. I couldn't stand my dad,
but I knew if I lived with my mom,
I'd never see you again...
Evan slowly looks around the yard, taking in the reality of
this distant memory.
He even inhales the aroma of the place. Savoring the moment.
He locks eyes with Kayleigh.
ANDREA (O.S.)
He's not usually this shy.
It's time. Evan leans over to Kayleigh as if he's about to
kiss her. Then whispers in her ear:
EVAN
I hate you. If you ever come near me
again, I'll kill you and your whole
family.
Kayleigh reacts predictably. Bursting into tears and runs
into Kayleigh's mother's arms.
KAYLEIGH'S MOTHER
What did you say to her? What
happened?!
Evan ignores them. He can't take his eyes off Kayleigh.
EVAN
Goodbye.
His eyes well up.
FLASH!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. EVAN'S DORM - DAY - 2002
Evan wakes up with a bloody nose. He grabs a pillow and covers
his head with it as a flood of memories seizes him.
Lenny (looking fit) grabs a towel from atop an award-winning
flatworms project and hands it to Evan.
LENNY (O.S.)
You alright? Should I call the doctor?
Evan groans and shakes his head "no". He rides out the pain
like a seasoned pro.
When it finally subsides, he lowers the pillow and smiles
feebly.
EVAN
I'll think I'll be alright this time.
(a new hope)
I really do.
Lenny nods, still concerned.
INT. COLLEGE - INCINERATOR ROOM - LATER
Evan opens the door to a concrete room with a large furnace.
He and Lenny carry cardboard boxes.
LENNY
You sure about this?
Evan nods. They silently dump tons of journals into the fire.
Evan steps outside and returns with a box of home movies,
photo albums, old report cards, etc. In they go.
CLOSE ON
Burning journals.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CITY STREET - DAY - 2010
Evan, a suit now, walks down a city street cradling a cell
phone to his ear.
TITLE CARD: YEARS LATER
EVAN
(into phone)
Yeah, Ma. I'm running a little late
for lunch. One of my patients had a
breakdown. Anyway, order some soup
in the meantime. See ya soon.
As he clicks off, an attractive woman wearing a power suit
approaches from the other direction. Evan has to look closely,
but it's Kayleigh. A mature woman, now.
He stumbles slightly, caught off guard. As she passes, her
eyes linger on his a little longer than necessary, but there's
no recognition. Evan watches her continue past him and down
the sidewalk.
After a hesitant beat, he takes a breath, turns around and
follows her.
FADE TO BLACK.
Roll credits...
THE END
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