"Untitled" by J. R. Román
"Untitled" by J. R. Román
"Untitled" by J. R. Román
by
J. R. Román
Jose Roman
731 E. Verdugo Ave.
#201
Burbank CA, 91501
Cell. (787)549-8687
[email protected]
FADE IN:
INT. BLACKNESS
RYAN (O.S.)
What…?
RYAN (O.S.)
Hey!
RYAN (O.S.)
(Panicked)
I’m st… heeeeeey! Somebody!
RYAN (O.S.)
Who’s there?
A beat.
RYAN (O.S.)
Hello?
RYAN (O.S.)
What’s going on?!
More POUNDING.
RYAN (O.S.)
What? Get me out of here! What is
this place?!
2.
RYAN (O.S.)
Jesus, what the hell’s that?
Ryan pants; the circle gets bigger and the roaring louder.
RYAN (O.S.)
Stop Pushing!
RYAN (O.S.)
Oh, my God!
MARY (O.S.)
(Simultaneously with
Ryan)
No!
MARY (O.S.)
(panting)
I can’t.
RYAN (O.S.)
Don’t push!
Mary and Ryan scream as the doctor’s hands pull Ryan out.
RYAN (O.S.)
Oh My God.
A pair of scissors enter the frame and cut the cord. We hear
the sound of a SPANKING, making the frame shake.
RYAN (O.S.)
Oooow!
RYAN (O.S.)
(Exhausted)
Oh, God.
MARY (O.S.)
Let me see my baby.
RYAN (O.S.)
(Sobbing)
I don’t want this. I don’t want
this anymore.
Ryan is picked up, and we see Dr. Altman’s face for the
first time. He is a man in his 50’s with thoughtful eyes.
DR. ALTMAN
(to Ryan)
This was your first traumatic
experience. The fear, the
confusion, the pain.
RYAN (O.S.)
I don’t wanna be here anymore. Let
me go back, please.
DR. ALTMAN
I know it’s difficult. But all you
need to do is look into your
mother’s eyes.
RYAN (O.S.)
What?
The doctor puts Ryan in his mother’s arms, but we can’t see
her face.
MARY (O.S.)
He’s so beautiful.
DR. ALTMAN
(To Ryan)
Look at her.
RYAN (O.S.)
No, let me go!
5.
MARY (O.S.)
Oh, God, my baby!
Ryan crawls down, reaches the edge of the bed, and starts
falling to the floor. He screams.
Adult RYAN falls on his back on a pale, sandy shore. The sky
is gray and dark green, draining the color out of everything
below. Ryan is dipped in a thick coat of amniotic fluid and
has part of his umbilical cord still sticking out of his
abdomen.
DR. ALTMAN
Hello, Ryan. Glad you could join
us. Found the place all right?
Ryan looks over to his right and sees Dr. Altman approaching
him.
RYAN
What?
DR. ALTMAN
I’m doctor Altman, by the way. I’m
sorry for the discomfort, but I
assure you it will be well worth it
in the end.
RYAN
In the end of what? What the hell…?
Who are you again?
6.
DR. ALTMAN
I’m Doctor Juseff Altman, your
psychologist. I know you don’t
remember much of anything but it’s
okay. You don’t need to remember
much of anything right now.
RYAN
What the hell is this place?
DR. ALTMAN
Glad you asked.
(Pause)
This is your head.
RYAN
What?
DR. ALTMAN
A wasteland of lost memories.
(pause)
What you’re experiencing right now
is a Rhebentric Regression.
RYAN
Rhebentric Regression?
DR. ALTMAN
It’s an experimental form of
hypnosis that I’ve designed. It
creates a sort of lucid dream in
which you can act freely and
control its outcome.
RYAN
Bullshit.
DR. ALTMAN
I’m afraid not.
RYAN
I don’t remember anything. Getting
here or agreeing to this.
7.
DR. ALTMAN
You remember your name, that’s a
start. It’s best for the procedure
if you remember as little as
possible. Everything will come back
to you as the procedure progresses.
RYAN
You said this is a regression. What
am I regressing to?
DR. ALTMAN
Well, that’s the hard part.
RYAN
Try me.
DR. ALTMAN
You’re reliving your top five
traumatic experiences.
DR. ALTMAN
Why, you may ask?
DR. ALTMAN
You’re going to change what went
wrong in your life, Ryan.
RYAN
Change?
DR. ALTMAN
If we change what originally went
wrong in those key memories, you’ll
change their consequences. You’ll
overcome your biggest flaws.
RYAN
I’m going back to all those awful
moments to become a better man.
8.
DR. ALTMAN
Pretty much.
Ryan runs to the water and dives in. After a few seconds,
the tide withdraws about twenty feet, uncovering Ryan as he
lies face down on the ground.
RYAN
Get me out of here, Altman! I’m
gonna sue you!
DR. ALTMAN
Ryan, you need to finish this.
RYAN
Why? Will my brain explode or
something?
DR. ALTMAN
If you don’t finish the regression,
you’ll never wake up.
RYAN
What? I…
RYAN
What’s going on! I didn’t sign up
for this!
DR. ALTMAN
Take it easy, Ryan.
RYAN
Oh, God!
DR. ALTMAN
It’s for your own good, mate.
RYAN
Altman, stop this!
DR. ALTMAN
I can’t Ryan.
RYAN
Altman! Stop th…!
9.
MARY (O.S.)
Let me see my baby.
DR. ALTMAN
Welcome back. Feeling secure and
protected. Trusting your loved ones
and feeling sure about their love
for you. This is when it all
starts.
MARY (O.S.)
He’s so beautiful.
DR. ALTMAN
Now, all you have to do is look
into your mother’s eyes.
RYAN
What?
DR. ALTMAN
Look at her, Ryan.
MARY
Hey, baby.
RYAN
Oh, my God.
10.
RYAN
She’s so… beautiful.
MARY
I love you, Ryan.
RYAN
Oh, God, I love you, mommy!
RYAN
(crying)
I love you.
MARY
I’m going to look after you.
Baby Ryan’s arm reaches out to his mother’s face, and she
kisses it. Adult Ryan continues crying with joy.
RYAN
My mommy!
RYAN
(To Dr. Altman)
That’s my mommy!
DR. ALTMAN
Goodbye, baby Ryan.
CUT TO:
GIRL 1
(Laughing)
Just kick his ass, Ryan.
GIRL 1
Punk.
RYAN
Nicky. Craig, give it back!
CRAIG
(to the hamster)
I-love-you. Yes-I-do. You’re so
furry and cu-te.
RYAN
Craig, stop it!
CRAIG
(to the hamster)
I can’t help it. I just can’t. I
have to eat you up.
Ryan starts crying. Craig takes the hamster into his hand
and puts it inside his mouth, leaving its tail sticking out.
The crowd makes a collective sound of disgust.
CRAIG
Don’t you poop in me.
RYAN
Craig, don’t, please!
Craig starts walking away from Ryan with the hamster still
in his mouth. The crowd follows him laughing.
CUT TO:
12.
When she arrives at the table, she sees the man’s face, but
we can’t.
LISA
Doctor Altman?
DR. ALTMAN
Yes.
LISA
(shaking Altman's hand)
Lisa Newman, nice to meet you.
As she shakes his hand, water drips from her arm onto the
table, getting the plates wet.
LISA
Sorry about that.
DR. ALTMAN
Oh, it’s okay.
(signaling her to sit)
Please…
They sit.
DR. ALTMAN
Would you like something to drink?
LISA
Sure, whatever you’re having, thank
you.
WAITER
Yes, sir?
13.
DR. ALTMAN
Could you bring her a glass of…
LISA
You know what? I changed my mind,
sorry. Could you get me more
napkins, please?
WAITER
Right away.
LISA
Thanks, sorry I’m late.
DR. ALTMAN
Please, no need.
LISA
I have to admit… I, uh… I barely
got any sleep after you called last
night.
DR. ALTMAN
Yes, I can imagine. I’m sorry.
LISA
I don’t know what to make of any of
this. You know?
LISA
(To the waiter)
Thanks.
(To Dr. Altman)
Does Ryan know you’re here?
DR. ALTMAN
Neither does his wife.
LISA
Smart move.
14.
DR. ALTMAN
Things are… delicate right now.
(He takes a sip of his
wine)
Lisa, what I’m about to tell you
has to stay between you and me.
Understand?
DR. ALTMAN
There’s a dispute over Ryan’s
custody.
LISA
Oh, Kate.
DR. ALTMAN
She wants to handle things…
differently.
LISA
What exactly is going on with Ryan?
CRAIG (O.S.)
Nicky, I’m gonna set you free.
RYAN
Craig, please!
Craig holds the hamster for a few seconds, and then he lets
him fall in the toilet. As Ryan starts bawling, the crowd
becomes silent.
CRAIG
Go free, little buddy.
15.
Craig flushes the hamster down the toilet and walks out of
the stall. Ryan gets down from standing on the toilet and
walks over to the stall where the backed up toilet starts
spilling water onto his feet.
MAGGIE
You just stayed here crying all
day. And you hardly trusted anybody
ever again.
MAGGIE
I’m Maggie. I’ll be your guide
through this…memory.
RYAN
What do you mean?
MAGGIE
In each memory you’ll have a guide
who’ll let you know what to do.
RYAN
Why couldn’t I save him? I thought
I could come back and change
things.
MAGGIE
Saving Nicky wasn’t the point,
Ryan. We all lose something at any
given point, and we can’t do
anything about it.
RYAN
Then what is the point?
16.
MAGGIE
To show you that you’re not angry
with the world, you’re angry at
some assholes.
MAGGIE (CONT’D)
So many people tried to love you
after this, and you just pushed
them away. They’re not Craig.
MAGGIE
Come on. You don’t have to hide
this time.
Ryan dries his tears and puts the piece of paper with the
message inside his pocket.
MAGGIE
Now, all we need to do is find you
a nice meat punching bag.
RYAN
What?
MAGGIE
Oh, come on. You didn’t think I’d
let it end like this, mate. You’re
kicking some ass today. It’s
closure time.
RYAN
You’re gonna get me killed!
MAGGIE
He’s here, come on.
RYAN
(Whispering)
No!
MAGGIE
Ryan, you listen to me carefully.
Craig is going to have a big impact
in the way you relate to people
from now on. This is one of the
most consequential moments you’ll
ever experience. Now, go in there
and get your dignity back.
Maggie drags Ryan into the classroom. Mr. Tate keeps writing
on the board and doesn’t notice them. All the students,
however, see them come in.
MAGGIE
(Whispering)
Go on.
RYAN
Craig?
RYAN
(to Craig)
You’re a asshole.
MR. TATE
Mr. Green…
RYAN
Wait!
RYAN
(To Craig)
To hell with you. It took me
twenty-two whole years to come up
with this… but there it is.
MR. TATE
(To Craig)
Mr. Smith, don’t you move one more
inch. Stay in your seat.
MR. TATE
Mr. Green, you’re way out of line
interrupti…
(To Craig)
Mr. Smith, go back to your seat!
Only Craig, Ryan and Maggie remain in the room, all covered
up to their knees in mud.
RYAN
(Whispers petrified)
Oh, no.
MAGGIE
Ryan, listen to me. You’re too
frightened right now. Your
nightmares are breaking into this
construction.
19.
RYAN
He’s coming for me.
MAGGIE
Ryan, calm down, this fantasy’s
becoming unstable.
MR. TATE
Okay, I’ve had enough of you two!
MAGGIE
Got it?
RYAN
Yeah, got it.
MR. TATE
Mr. Green! Mr. Green!
Ryan crashes into Craig and tackles him, making him fall
over a desk and then on his back on the floor. Ryan pants,
exhilarated. Some kids laugh out loud; others stay stunned.
Craig starts getting up.
Ryan runs out of Mr. Tate’s classroom like a bat out of hell
and continues running down the hallway. Three seconds later,
Craig follows. Two seconds later, the entire class follows
them along the hall.
CUT TO:
RYAN
Maggie?!?
RYAN
(Confused)
Hi.
DR. BOURKE
I’m doctor Vincent Bourke.
RYAN
Is this a…?
DR. BOURKE
No, this isn’t a memory. It’s a
blue room.
21.
RYAN
That would’ve been my second guess.
Where’s Altman?
DR. BOURKE
Dr. Altman won’t be joining us
anymore.
RYAN
What?
DR. BOURKE
Let’s say things are getting
complicated outside your head, Mr.
Green. I’ll be in charge of the
procedure from now on.
RYAN
Get me Altman now, Bourke. I won’t
do this anymore.
DR. BOURKE
We don’t have time for this, Mr.
Green.
DR. BOURKE
What are you doing here?
DR. HAUSMAN
I’m here to protect Ryan’s
interests, which you people lost
track of a long time ago.
RYAN
Who the hell are you?
Dr. Hausman walks up to Ryan and shakes his hand with a warm
smile.
22.
DR. HAUSMAN
I’m sorry, my name is Patricia
Hausman. I’m doctor Altman’s
associate. And this one over here
is Vincent Bourke. He was hired by
your cute little wife.
RYAN
My wife?
DR. HAUSMAN
Yes, this here is a shrine
dedicated to her, as you can see.
(Sarcastic)
Cute, huh? Snapshots of your
history together frozen in your
head.
DR. HAUSMAN
She put Mr. Bourke here in charge
of the regression and took Altman
out.
RYAN
Why would she do that?
DR. HAUSMAN
Yes, Vinnie, why would she do that?
DR. BOURKE
I think it’ll be best for the
procedure if we refrain from
disclosing any more information
about this subject, Mr. Green.
DR. HAUSMAN
Of course. But you can’t kick me
out, can you, Vinnie?
RYAN
(To Bourke)
What the hell’s going on? Where did
she find you?
23.
DR. HAUSMAN
She googled him under pony tail
hacks.
DR. BOURKE
Oh, that’s cute, Hausman. Is that
German for angry demented dwarf?
DR. BOURKE
Is that supposed to happen?
RYAN
What’s my wife doing out there?
DR. HAUSMAN
Don’t worry, honey, it’s just too
complicated outside your head right
now. But rest assured, I’ll get you
out of here.
DR. BOURKE
Hey, Hausman, I’m in charge here!
DR. BOURKE
Ryan, don’t worry, you’re in good
hands.
KATE (O.S.)
Ryan?
Ryan looks to his right and sees KATE NEWMAN, his future
wife, standing next to the sofa. At this point, she is 23
24.
years old. He can’t believe his eyes. With one hand she
holds a can of beer, in the other a joint.
KATE
Oh, poor baby.
RYAN
Kate?
KATE
Yeah?
RYAN
What’s going on?
KATE
What do you mean?
RYAN
I mean, what’s going on?
KATE
Oh, baby, come sit down, let’s
talk.
BRAD (O.S.)
Kate, leave that man alone, for
God’s sake.
Ryan’s friend, BRAD POWELL, 24, runs to Kate and picks her
up, putting her on his shoulder. Kate starts screaming and
laughing as she spills all her beer on the floor.
KATE
(Laughing)
Brad, don’t be an asshole!
KATE
(Still laughing)
Ooow!!!
BRAD
(To Kate)
Stop poisoning his head.
(To Ryan)
What you need, buddy, is some pity
sex…
KATE
Brad!
BRAD
(To Kate)
Silence, woman!
(To Ryan)
Now it’s all about denial. Run away
from your feelings and let your
loins guide you.
KATE
Jesus, Brad, I swear to God…
BRAD
(Imitating Kate)
You’re getting me so hot. Get me my
whip, cowboy!
Kate starts laughing, and Brad sticks his tongue into her
mouth. Then they start making out.
RYAN
(To himself)
She’s with Brad.
crack spreads from the right side of the wall to the left,
leaving a trail of dust and strips of dry paint that fall to
the floor.
RYAN
(Disgusted)
Oh, God!
Ryan starts walking away to the main door. Brad notices and
runs to him.
BRAD
Hey! Ryan! Ryan!
BRAD
I’m sorry, buddy. That was
insensitive. Look, you know what?
Screw the bitch, O.K.?
KATE
Brad!
BRAD
What? Get over her already. Man, by
now she’s probably having wild
monkey sex in some jungle out
there. You have to get her out of
your head now.
RYAN
What?
BRAD
Come, sit down. Let’s talk, come
on.
Brad and Ryan sit on the sofa when suddenly they hear
knocking on the door.
27.
BRAD
Be right back, don’t move.
Brad goes to answer the door while Kate sits by Ryan’s side.
KATE
You okay?
RYAN
I don’t know what the hell’s going
on.
At the main door Brad greets a loud crowd of three guys and
two girls.
BRAD
Hey!
KATE
You’ll do a lot better, Ryan.
RYAN
Oh, God. I got dumped! Carla
Reiner!
KATE
Let it go, Ryan! Don’t think! Here.
Kate puts her joint in Ryan’s lips, and he takes a hit. Kate
takes a hit after him. Brad takes the crowd to the sofa.
KATE
(To the crowd)
Hey!
Kate hugs and kisses everyone in the crowd. When Ryan looks
at the crowd, he notices that one of the girls is wearing an
odd MASK that covers her eyes and nose.
BRAD
Okay, everybody, this is Ryan, my
compadre.
BRAD
(To Ryan)
… this is Keith, Rob… uh… I’m sorry
dude, always forget your name.
JOHN
John.
BRAD
What?
JOHN
John!
BRAD
Sorry man, John, this is John. This
is Nina and this here is (High
pitch tone)
RYAN
Sorry?
BRAD
(High pitch tone for about five
seconds)
RYAN
Sorry?
MASKED GIRL
(To Ryan)
(High pitch tone for three seconds)
Disturbed, Ryan gets up from the sofa and starts making his
way towards the bathroom.
RYAN
Sorry, sorry.
KATE
Are you okay?
RYAN
Yeah, I’m just gonna… yeah.
MASKED GIRL
(To everybody)
(High pitch tone for two seconds)
Ryan lies against the door and closes his eyes. He stands
there for several seconds just trying to breathe and relax.
RYAN
What am I doing here?
Ryan gets out, and the first GUY in line goes in. Everybody
is loud and drunk. Brad walks to Ryan with a vodka drink in
his hand. He’s really drunk.
BRAD
Hey Ryan! Did you come out of the
bathroom just now?
RYAN
I don’t know.
30.
BRAD
I don’t believe…! We’re gonna get
through this Carla bullshit, man.
Okay? Cheer up already! Here.
Brad gives Ryan his drink, and Ryan takes a big sip.
BRAD
Hey, have you seen Kate?
RYAN
No, sorry, man.
BRAD
Oh! Hey, did you order some pizza?
RYAN
What?
BRAD
There’s a pizza guy asking for you
outside.
RYAN
What pizza guy?
BRAD
He said your name, man.
Suddenly Ryan hears the HIGH PITCH TONE again. He covers his
ears and sees the masked girl walking to him and Brad. Now
Ryan jump cuts ten seconds into the future.
DR. BOURKE
Delivery for Mr. Green.
Ryan goes to Dr. Bourke. Bourke puts one of his hands in his
pocket and starts looking for something.
DR. BOURKE
Hi, how’re you holding up?
RYAN
I’m losing it. There’s a girl in a
mask in there…
DR. BOURKE
Never mind her. And don’t talk to
her.
RYAN
Why?
DR. BOURKE
Here, take these.
RYAN
What’s this for?
DR. BOURKE
Here, put them in your pocket.
Dr. Bourke takes the index cards from Ryan’s hand and puts
them in Ryan’s pocket. Dr. Bourke pulls Ryan towards him.
DR. BOURKE
Read them when you’re in the car.
Use them for guidance.
RYAN
What car?
DR. BOURKE
Listen. You have to stand up for
Kate. Stop blaming yourself for
what happened and think of what you
need for once.
32.
DR. BOURKE
Here, take this. Take it to the
bedroom. All right? Remember what I
told you.
Dr. Bourke takes one step away from Ryan, then comes back.
DR. BOURKE
Oh, another thing. Very important,
whatever you do, don’t answer the
phone.
DR. BOURKE
Okay, it’s show time. Good luck.
RYAN
(To himself)
Pony tail hack.
Ryan goes inside the bedroom and closes the door behind him.
It’s dark. A lamp light turns on, and Ryan sees Kate sitting
on Brad’ bed. She’s been crying.
KATE
Hi.
RYAN
Hi.
He stares at her for a moment and then shakes the pizza box.
RYAN
Brought you something.
KATE
Bring it on.
33.
Ryan sits by her side on the bed. He opens the box and they
both take a slice of pizza.
KATE
Thank you, baby.
RYAN
You know? I didn’t expect you to be
like this.
KATE
What do you mean?
RYAN
I don’t know. I just pictured you
different.
She stares at him, and they both stay quiet for a little
while.
RYAN
I was starting to think…
KATE
I’ve missed you.
She hugs him while Ryan stays stunned and frozen. She then
grabs his crotch and starts kissing his neck.
KATE
You always make me feel so corny.
ANSWERING MACHINE
This is Brad. Leave a message.
(Beep)
34.
DR. HAUSMAN
(From the machine)
Ryan? Pick up. It’s Dr. Hausman.
Pick up, come on. Ryan!
KATE
Hausman?
RYAN
My therapist. Let me just…
RYAN
(into the phone)
Yeah?
DR. HAUSMAN
(from the phone)
What are you doing in there?
RYAN
(Whispering into the
phone)
Kate and I are lovers?
DR. HAUSMAN
(From the phone)
Of course. You were lovers for over
a year before Brad broke up with
her.
RYAN
(Into the phone)
Jesus Christ. What am I doing here?
RYAN
Kate?
35.
DR. HAUSMAN
(From the phone)
I don’t know if you’ve noticed so
far, but what you’re doing here has
little to do with what you want.
RYAN
(Into the phone)
What? What are you talking about.
DR. HAUSMAN
(From the phone)
Ryan, just be a man. No scripts.
DR. HAUSMAN
(From the phone)
And put your seatbelt on.
CUT TO:
Ryan sits in the back seat of Brad’s car still holding the
phone to his ear. He only hears a busy line. Brad’s driving
his car along a dark road. Kate sits half asleep in the
passenger seat without her seatbelt on. Ryan drops the phone
to the floor.
KATE
Could you pull over?
KATE
Brad, stop the car. I’m gonna be
sick.
Brad makes a sudden turn and runs over a pot hole. The car’s
violent movement makes Ryan drop the cards, and they fall
out of order all over the back seat.
KATE
Asshole.
KATE
Jesus, what’s the matter with
you?!? Stop the damn car!
RYAN
Brad?
BRAD
(To Ryan)
By the way, Carla dropped by
tonight.
Ryan looks at the cards franticly and finally finds one that
has RYAN written on it. The card reads: RYAN: REALLY? Ryan
sighs frustrated.
RYAN
Really?
BRAD
Yeah
(Pause)
She told me you’re sleeping with
Kate.
KATE
Brad, stop the car. I’m not
kidding.
37.
BRAD
No, I think this is fine. A chance
for all three of us to chat.
Ryan picks up one of the cards that reads: RYAN: YOU SHOULD
TALK, YOU HYPOCRIT.
KATE
I’m tired of your bullshit, Brad.
BRAD
Don’t talk to me.
Ryan picks up another card that reads: RYAN: YOU NEVER LOVED
HER.
KATE
You’re paranoid.
Ryan reads another card: RYAN: I’M NOT DIGNIFYING THAT WITH
AN ANSWER. YOU’RE PATHETIC, BRAD.
RYAN
Brad, it’s true.
Brad and Kate shut up. Kate passes her hands through her
hair.
KATE
(To herself)
God.
BRAD
How long?
RYAN
A year.
BRAD
Oh, shit.
38.
RYAN
I’m sorry. I never got to tell you.
I’m truly sorry.
BRAD
I’m gonna kill you. Don’t…
BRAD
(To Kate)
Why don’t you say it, Kate?
BRAD
Just say it.
BRAD
Come on. I wanna hear it from you.
KATE
I’m not talking to you.
BRAD
Come on, say it!
KATE
(Crying)
Stop it!
BRAD
Come on, goddamn it, admit it!
KATE
God! Isn’t this redeeming? I slept
with Ryan, you lunatic!
RYAN
(To himself)
Shit.
39.
KATE
Now, stop the damn car!
KATE
Shit!
BRAD
Thanks.
Ryan looks out the left window and sees a car approaching
them. Brad’s car is right at the center of an intersection.
Brad turns off the lights.
RYAN
Brad.
Brad doesn’t respond. Kate now sees the car and gets
frightened.
KATE
Shit.
KATE
Let me out!
RYAN
Quiet!
She has no more strength in her. She just bawls. Ryan puts
her seatbelt on. Then he moves to the far right of his seat
and puts his seatbelt on. The car approaching doesn’t see
them until a few yards away.
front of the left side. Brad’s car spins violently two times
and skids off the road, falling into a ditch front first.
The other car gets totaled. The road is filled with car
parts and broken glass.
DR. BOURKE
Oh, God.
DR. BOURKE
Ryan, don’t!
DR. BOURKE
Ryan, come back! Ryan! Shit.
KATE
(In a broken whisper)
Ryan…
CUT TO:
RYAN
(With difficulty)
Help!
Ryan rolls over and falls hard on the floor. He’s as heavy
as an elephant. He crawls a few feet and sees a WOMAN taking
a sip from her cup of coffee with frozen steam coming out
from it.
RYAN
(Struggling to speak)
Hausman!
He sees the front door open and keeps pulling himself with
his arms towards the entrance. With one last push with his
legs, he’s out of the coffee shop.
Ryan exits the coffee shop and sees hundreds of people and
cars frozen in time. He pulls himself through the air and
lies his body on some of the pedestrians’ heads.
Ryan pulls himself toward his double and manages to see that
the masked woman is not wearing her mask. However, his angle
doesn’t allow him to see much of her face. Ryan pulls
himself toward her.
42.
RYAN
Come on.
RYAN
Who are you?
Something strange catches his eye. Ryan sees a man among the
crowd who is walking towards him. He’s a tall man with a
strong build. Ryan keeps watching as the man stands up in
front of him. The man’s name is MICHAEL.
MICHAEL
Hi, Rat Boy.
CUT TO:
DR. BOURKE
Don’t do that again!
RYAN
What?
DR. BOURKE
Where’d you go?
RYAN
I don’t…
DR. BOURKE
You were gone, Ryan! Do you
understand? We couldn’t find you.
Things are getting pretty unstable
around here, pal.
RYAN
What do you mean?
43.
DR. BOURKE
Look out the window, man!
Ryan looks out the window and sees a huge EYE that covers
the west side of the sky. It blinks occasionally and it
glances at him and Dr. Bourke. The rest of the sky is
cracked.
RYAN
Shit.
DR. BOURKE
I gave you the flashcards, didn’t
I? You can’t just go around and do
whatever the hell you want. There
are rules here.
RYAN
Are you kidding? Rules to what?
DR. BOURKE
Ask Altman. What the hell do I
know. Listen, this is an
interactive process. You revisit a
memory and everything reacts back
to you. What happens when you
deviate from what really happened?
RYAN
I give up.
DR. BOURKE
The memory keeps reacting back to
you. It will never stop. Then it’s
not a memory anymore. It’s a
construction.
RYAN
A what?
Ryan looks out the window and sees Maggie standing at the
side of the road staring at him.
44.
DR. BOURKE
A fantasy, Ryan. Because it never
happened. A construction is
unstable. It gets tangled with your
emotions, dreams, personal
symbolisms. All that crap rips
through and takes over. You’re not
in control anymore.
DR. BOURKE
God, I hate this place!
DR. BOURKE
Once a construction takes over,
that’s it for you, brother. You’re
lost. We won’t be able to find you.
Get me?
RYAN
Sorry.
RYAN
Are you okay?
DR. BOURKE
My wife left me.
RYAN
I’m sorry. I didn’t know.
DR. BOURKE
She took the kids. My colleagues
think I’m a joke…
RYAN
You should try this after I’m done.
It’s…redeeming.
The elephant puts a leg on the car’s hood, lifting the back
of the car a bit. Dr. Bourke is terrified.
DR. BOURKE
Holy shit!
Dr. Bourke keeps honking the car’s horn. The elephant takes
its leg from the car and takes a crap. When it is done
relieving itself, the elephant moves out of the way. Dr.
Bourke sighs in relief. Then he gives Ryan a bad look like
it’s all his fault.
RYAN
I said I’m sorry.
Several minutes have gone by. Dr. Bourke stops the car in
front of a house. Ryan looks at it for a couple of seconds
and recognizes it.
RYAN
Kate’s parents’ house?
DR. BOURKE
You’re proposing to Kate tonight.
RYAN
Definite trauma.
DR. BOURKE
Look, you only have two more to go.
After that you go home. You’ll be
okay, just don’t mess around.
RYAN
Got it.
46.
DR. BOURKE
Good luck.
Ryan struggles to push the car door open. The water pressure
makes it tough. He finally opens it, and to his surprise,
only a little water from outside rushes inside. He steps
out.
Ryan closes the car door behind him. Dr. Bourke’s car drives
away. Ryan, although he is underwater, is able to walk
slowly to the house’s front door.
MRS. NEWMAN
Hi, sweetie, come in!
Ryan comes in soaking wet. Mrs. Newman hugs him, not minding
getting wet.
RYAN
Hi.
MRS. NEWMAN
Ryan, this is Uncle Charlie
(To Charlie)
This is Ryan, Kate’s boyfriend.
CHARLIE
(To Ryan)
Why are you wet?
MRS. NEWMAN
Nobody’s wet, Charlie.
47.
CHARLIE
Where’d this water come from?!?
MRS. NEWMAN
(Whispering to Ryan)
Ignore the old fart, he’s…
CHARLIE
You’re all wet too, Cynthia. Don’t
tell me I’m drunk.
MRS. NEWMAN
(To Charlie)
All right, come on.
She takes Charlie’s arm and starts taking him to the living
room.
CHARLIE
What the hell’s going on in this
place!
MRS. NEWMAN
Kate’s in (high pitch tone) room.
Go ahead.
Mrs. Newman goes to the living room and takes Charlie with
her. Ryan glares at the door to an upstairs bedroom.
Determined, he climbs the steps. After a couple of seconds,
he runs.
RYAN
(to himself)
Kate has a sister. What’s her name?
RYAN
What’s her name?
RYAN
You’re hiding her from me.
Ryan runs upstairs again, then, once again, jump cuts back
downstairs. He’s out of breath.
RYAN
Okay, okay. Come on!
RYAN
Who are you?
KAREN
Karen.
RYAN
You’re Kate’s cousin.
Karen nods.
KAREN
I was waiting for you.
RYAN
Yeah?
KAREN
Someone told me to wait for you
here.
RYAN
Who?
49.
KAREN
Mommy. She told me to tell you she
won’t be coming back. They’re not
letting her in anymore.
KAREN
She say’s we’re changing some
things. Do you wanna know a name?
RYAN
Okay, honey. I want you to do me a
favor. I want you to tell me real
slowly whose room this is. Can you
do that?
Karen nods.
KAREN
This is (high pitch tone) room.
RYAN
You don’t know any sign language,
do you?
RYAN
I know. I want you to grab that
lipstick and write it on the
mirror.
RYAN
(High pitch tone)
RYAN
(Longer high pitch tone) You gotta
be kidding me.
KAREN
(High pitch tone)
Lisa (the masked woman) enters the bedroom. Ryan covers his
ears. Lisa goes to him and smacks him on the shoulder. Ryan
hears the high pitch tone again and quickly covers Lisa’s
mouth.
RYAN
(To Karen)
What did she say?
KAREN
(To Ryan)
Ryan, I gotta talk to you.
RYAN
(To Lisa)
Sure.
KATE
Where’ve you been, sweetie?
RYAN
Right here.
KATE
Well, dinner’s ready, come on.
RYAN
Why are you hiding her from me?
KATE
What? Hiding who?
RYAN
What’s gonna happen?
KATE
Baby, come on.
RYAN
Kate, what’s going to happen?
Kate and Ryan arrive in the dining room. There are two
tables, one for adults and one for kids. MR. NEWMAN sits at
the table’s head with Mrs. Newman to his left. Ryan is
stunned to see Dr. Bourke and Dr. Hausman sitting together
on the other side of the table.
MRS. NEWMAN
Well, look who’s back.
MR. NEWMAN
We were gonna send a search party,
buddy.
Ryan doesn’t take his eyes off of YOUNGER BOURKE and YOUNGER
HAUSMAN.
RYAN
(To younger Hausman and
Bourke)
What are you doing here?
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
Pardon?
RYAN
What’s going on?
KATE
Sweetie, are you okay?
52.
MRS. NEWMAN
Ryan, this is my brother, Vincent
Bourke and his wife, Patricia
Hausman. I don’t think you’ve met.
RYAN
Are you serious?
KATE
Why don’t you sit down, baby?
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
(To Karen)
Honey, where were you?
KAREN
I did what you told me.
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
What did I tell you?
KAREN
I’m hungry.
RYAN
She was upstairs playing with (High
pitch tone) makeup.
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
(To Karen)
I told you to do that?
DR. BOURKE
Come on, baby.
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
(laughing)
I’m must be going nuts.
LISA
(High pitch tone)
53.
RYAN
(To Lisa)
You must be really funny, but I’ll
never know.
KATE
Okay, Ryan, stop it. You’re
freaking me out.
YOUNGER BOURKE
Okay, let’s start over. I’m Vincent
Bourke, Kate’s uncle.
RYAN
Nice to meet you, Bourke.
CHARLIE
Can anybody see all the damn water
in this house?
MR. NEWMAN
All right, Charlie, that’s enough.
RYAN
Excuse me.
Ryan gets up from the table and goes to Dr. Bourke. Ryan
takes Bourke’s arm and gets him to a corner out of
everybody’s sight. Ryan notices that Bourke is kind of
drunk.
RYAN
Are you drunk?
54.
DR. BOURKE
As you must understand, I’m having
trouble facing this particular
scene. So, Get off my ass.
RYAN
Hausman’s your wife?
DR. BOURKE
Ex. It didn’t work out. She wasn’t
quite… human.
RYAN
Okay, pull yourself together and
tell me what I’m supposed to do.
DR. BOURKE
You? You’re proposing to Kate in
front of her family. But what
happens next? That’s the
interesting part.
RYAN
Am I supposed to know that?
DR. BOURKE
Well, isn’t this a traumatic
experience? Come on, use your
imagination!
RYAN
Lower your voice, Jesus.
DR. BOURKE
You know what? You’re right. This
could be redeeming.
RYAN
What do you mean?
RYAN
Bourke!
DR. BOURKE
Good evening, everyone. Patricia.
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
Vincent?
DR. BOURKE
Yeah. Don’t you have something tell
me?
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
What?
DR. BOURKE
Say you’re sorry for all those
years of hell you dragged me
through.
YOUNGER BOURKE
What the hell is this?
DR. BOURKE
Shut up, you pathetic little man.
MRS. NEWMAN
Ryan, is this your guest?
RYAN
(To Bourke)
Okay, I think we’re pretty much
done here.
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
(To Dr. Bourke)
Where did you come from?
DR. BOURKE
Me? The future. I’m all that’s left
from your emotional butchering.
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
(To younger Bourke)
Is that how you feel?
56.
YOUNGER BOURKE
I don’t know what the hell he’s
talking about.
DR. BOURKE
(To younger Bourke)
Oh, but you do. Within a year
you’re getting divorced. She’s
gonna take Karen and everything
that matters to you. And right mow
you’re cheating on her with Rita,
the beauty parlor chick.
YOUNGER HAUSMAN
(To younger Bourke)
Bastard!
YOUNGER BOURKE
Son of a bitch!
DR. BOURKE
Die, you bastard! I hate you!
DR. BOURKE
Go on, Ryan. Ask her!
KATE
What?
DR. BOURKE
Go on! Do it! Do it!
RYAN
Jesus! Kate, will you marry me?
DR. BOURKE
(To Kate)
Yeah, that’s right. Go on, honey,
tell him.
KATE
Ryan… I…
DR. BOURKE
Yeah! Didn’t you see it coming?
Little sweetie pie’s gonna run off
to Europe with some jock named
Raul. This one over here has a
little trouble with commitment.
MRS. NEWMAN
Katie!
RYAN
What?
KATE
I was going to tell you.
DR. BOURKE
(To Ryan)
Yeah, halfway to Prague.
Mr. Newman and Charlie get Bourke from his younger self and
pin him down to the floor.
MR. NEWMAN
What the hell’s the matter with
you?
DR. BOURKE
Screw you, Bobby!
(To Ryan)
Anyway, you were pretty drunk that
night. So when she told you she
wouldn’t marry you, you went
insane.
DR. BOURKE
Now, what she wants you to do is to
say you’re sorry for embarrassing
her and being selfish. You hear
that?
RYAN
(To Kate)
Is this true?
KATE
You don’t wanna marry me.
The roof of the house gets sucked up into the sky, and left
in its place is a huge eye. Dr. Bourke gets free and runs to
younger Hausman. When he reaches her, he stares at her.
DR. BOURKE
I love you, baby.
Ryan looks to the floor and sees a napkin that has another
message. Ryan picks it up. It reads: TELL HER TO GO TO HELL.
THEN YOU’LL MEET ME. PUT ME IN YOUR POCKET. Ryan looks at
Lisa.
RYAN
(High pitch tone)
KATE
Baby?
RYAN
Kate.
59.
(Pause)
Go to hell.
The clouds in the sky start forming, and then the sun.
Everything is frozen in time. Ryan looks around and
recognizes the place. He’s outside the coffee shop he’d been
to before.
Ryan goes to the main entrance of the coffee shop and sees a
napkin pinned between the two glass doors. He takes it and
reads it. The napkin reads: THIS IS YOUR LAST STOP. Ryan
puts the napkin in his pocket and opens the door.
Ryan enters the coffee shop and watches everything alive for
the first time. He looks over to the table where he’d been
before and sees Lisa from the back having a cup of coffee.
LISA
Oh, God. Hey!
RYAN
Hi.
Ryan is in awe that he can hear her voice for the first
time. He stares at her, remembering her little by little.
60.
LISA
How’ve you been?
RYAN
I don’t know.
LISA
Yeah?
She takes a sip from her cup of coffee. A little BOY passes
beside the table playing with a toy plane. He doesn’t take
his eyes off Kate and Ryan.
RYAN
Are you okay? You look nervous.
LISA
No, I’m fine. I’m fine.
The kid goes to the table and pushes Lisa’s coffee off the
table, spilling it on her lap. Lisa looks at the little boy
with surprise. He gives her a harsh look. The boy’s MOTHER
comes to the table and takes his hand.
MOTHER
(To the boy)
Come on.
She also gives Lisa a harsh look and then walks to her table
with her little boy. Lisa follows them with her eyes.
LISA
Jesus.
LISA
This place…
RYAN
Lisa, I don’t think we have much
time left.
LISA
Okay.
61.
RYAN
Who are you?
LISA
What do you mean?
RYAN
In twenty seconds or less, tell me
all I need to know about you.
LISA
Okay, I’m a natural brunette. I’m a
democrat. I sometimes enjoy soft
porn.
RYAN
No, listen. I remember talking to
you right here. I remember letting
you go. And after that, I’ll never
see you again. For some reason this
moment is really… consequential.
RYAN
Are you in love with me?
LISA
I’m sorry, you lost me at
consequential.
RYAN
I think Kate’s afraid of what I
might feel for you.
LISA
And what might you feel?
RYAN
I feel something, I don’t know. I
feel… content.
LISA
Well, that’s it. I wanna have your
babies now.
62.
RYAN
Well?
LISA
I don’t know.
LISA
Well, let me go real quick to the
bathroom, and then we can keep
having this consequential
conversation.
RYAN
Sure.
RYAN
Where’s Bourke?
MICHAEL
Excuse me, sir.
RYAN
Yes?
MICHAEL
What are you doing here?
RYAN
Sorry?
MICHAEL
Don’t make me ask you twice.
RYAN
Hey, what’s your problem?
Ryan looks out the window, and there are dozens of people
standing outside, staring at him.
63.
MICHAEL
I’m sorry, sir. Let me treat you to
our special of the day. On the
house.
RYAN
This isn’t a memory.
RYAN
Bourke?!
RYAN
Bourke!
RYAN
Lisa. Let’s go.
LISA
What’s going on?
In the street, all the cars are fully stopped. The drivers
and passengers from the cars are standing outside their
vehicles with their doors opened, staring at Ryan and Lisa.
Ryan leads Lisa through the crowd on the sidewalk.
64.
RYAN
Don’t look at them.
LISA
Ryan, what’s happening?
RYAN
Somebody made me get out of my
memories so I could find you.
LISA
What are you talking about?
RYAN
Someone left these messages… Look,
this is all in my head. None of
this is real. You’re not real.
You’re a fantasy.
LISA
Ryan, wait.
RYAN
Come on.
Then he sees that the buildings, cars and people around him
are cracking as well. A man starts extending his arm, trying
to reach Lisa, and his hand turns to dust, falling in pieces
to the ground.
RYAN
Come on!
LISA
Oh, God. Ryan!
Ryan looks back at Lisa and sees that parts of her skin are
starting to crack.
65.
RYAN
Shit.
RYAN
Come on, we’re almost there!
Ryan and Lisa keep running, but her legs crumble away. Ryan
kneels in front of Lisa. A few feet away on the ground, Ryan
sees a napkin with a message written on it. It reads: NO
NEED TO RUN. Lisa keeps crumbling away.
RYAN
I’ll find you.
LISA
Ryan, don’t go…!
Lisa turns to dust and gets blown away in the wind. Ryan
stands up, and a huge pile of ruble and dust fall on him,
covering him completely.
Ryan’s arm breaks through the ruble that was covering him,
and he makes his way out. When he looks around, he sees a
blue office. Everything in it is also blue.
BLUE ALTMAN
(To blue Ryan)
So, we’ve pinned down your most
consequential bad experiences to
twenty six. Eleven occurred within
the ages of zero and five…
BLUE RYAN
Zero?
DR. ALTMAN
Birth, everybody’s first traumatic
experience.
66.
BLUE RYAN
(In his thoughts)
Hell no. Jesus Christ.
RYAN
I can hear my thoughts.
BLUE ALTMAN
We have ten more between the ages
of six and thirteen.
BLUE RYAN
(In his thoughts)
I’m damaged goods.
BLUE ALTMAN
And finally, five from the ages of
14 to twenty-seven.
BLUE RYAN
(Shoot me now)
Shoot me now.
KATE
Well, what about those that
affected him in terms of our
relationship?
BLUE RYAN
(In his thoughts)
Oh, shut up, you cow.
DR. ALTMAN
That should narrow it more. Those
should be experiences that affected
his ability to trust, share his
feelings. Past disillusions.
RYAN
(In his thoughts)
Yeah, my marriage.
BLUE ALTMAN
What do you think, Ryan?
67.
BLUE RYAN
(In his thoughts)
Shoot me.
(Out his mouth to blue
Altman)
Yeah, sounds good.
BLUE KATE
How long will the process take?
BLUE ALTMAN
To Ryan the process will seem swift
and continuous. But actually each
memory will take about a month to
complete.
BLUE RYAN
Two years?
RYAN
You gotta be kidding me.
BLUE ALTMAN
NO. If we focus on experiences that
affected you in your interpersonal
relationships, we should narrow it
down to less than ten memories.
BLUE RYAN
(In his thoughts
sarcastically)
Great.
BLUE ALTMAN
There are some risks, though. We
should discuss this before…
BLUE ALTMAN
Come in, dear.
The door opens. It’s little Maggie, Ryan’s past guide. She
is in full color, which strikes Ryan as strange.
68.
BLUE RYAN
(in his thoughts)
Run for it.
BLUE ALTMAN
(To Maggie)
What is it, honey?
MAGGIE
Mrs. Norris wants to talk to you.
BLUE ALTMAN
Tell her I’ll call her in an hour.
MAGGIE
No, she’s here, Dad. She’s melting
down right in the living room.
BLUE ALTMAN
Oh, Christ.
(To blue Ryan and Kate)
Uh, okay, please give me a minute.
Excuse me.
Blue Dr. Altman leaves the room, but Maggie stays. Blue Ryan
and Kate don’t look at each other or say a single word. Ryan
looks at Maggie and sees that she is looking back at him.
She walks toward him.
MAGGIE
You again. You’re hopeless. Come
on.
BLUE RYAN
(In his thoughts)
This is a bad idea.
Maggie walks to the door, and Ryan follows her. Ryan walks
through the door.
BLUE RYAN
(In his thoughts)
If I do this, I could see her
again.
MAGGIE
Give me the napkins, I’ll put them
back.
RYAN
You wrote them?
MAGGIE
The one who wrote you these
messages doesn’t want you to wake
up. That’s not me, Ryan.
RYAN
Who?
MAGGIE
In here.
RYAN
Where does this lead to?
MAGGIE
The person you’re looking for is in
here.
Ryan steps into the room. It’s a very dark room made out of
wood with moldy walls and a squeaky floor. On the north
wall, there’s a window that is the room’s only light source.
70.
As soon as Ryan steps into the room, Maggie slams the door
shut behind him. Ryan tries desperately to open the door,
but he’s unsuccessful. Ryan looks around.
RYAN
I know this place.
RYAN
Lisa?
Lisa gets up and runs to Ryan. When she reaches him, she
hugs him tightly.
LISA
They don’t want us here. They’re
all looking for you.
RYAN
Who?
LISA
All of them. We have to go up.
Lisa shows Ryan a written napkin. It reads: I’M THE ONLY WAY
OUT NOW. I’M IN THE ATTIC. Ryan looks at the window and sees
that he is in an old, decaying building that’s halfway sunk
in an empty ocean.
LISA
Let’s go!
MICHAEL (O.S.)
Hey, Rat Boy!
RYAN
Michael.
Ryan looks out the window and sees one of the crawlers
staring at him from behind the glass. It punches the window
and breaks the glass.
71.
LISA
Come on!
RYAN
This was my nightmare when I was a
kid. We can’t outrun them.
LISA
Keep moving!
RYAN
(To Michael)
Leave me alone!
Lisa and Ryan run into another room where snow flakes fall
from the roof. On the floor, there are about two feet of
snow. Ryan’s mother, MARY, and father are standing at the
center of the room, covered in snow. His mother smiles and
waves at Ryan.
MARY
Hi baby, want some Cocoa Puffs?
JOSH
I wanted to have you aborted, you
know?
RYAN
Run!
Ryan and Lisa run into another room. Ryan sees Kate sitting
naked on a bed. She is covering herself with a sheet.
KATE
Don’t give me that look.
Lisa and Ryan run into the attic. Ryan locks the door behind
them.
LISA
No way out.
There are loud poundings behind the door. Ryan steps back.
RYAN
Shit. There should be a message
around here. Help me look.
LISA
Ryan.
LISA
What does it say?
RYAN
I’m here because of you.
LISA
I didn’t write those messages.
RYAN
I know.
(Pause)
I did.
73.
LISA
I don’t understand.
The door knob turns, and the door opens. In walks Dr.
Altman.
DR. ALTMAN
Hello, Ryan.
RYAN
Altman?
RYAN
I’ve been here before, haven’t I?
DR. ALTMAN
This isn’t your first time here.
(pause)
You’ve been in a loop, repeating
the regression over and over.
RYAN
What?
DR. ALTMAN
You left those messages long ago to
guide yourself to Lisa. Somehow,
they got past me until now.
(pause)
You were in love with Lisa long
before you got here. You don’t want
to wake up because you want to stay
here with her. Each time we find
you, you refuse to finish the
regression, so each time we start
over again.
RYAN
How many times have I gone through
the regression?
RYAN
How many, Altman?
74.
DR. ALTMAN
Twelve times with this one.
Ryan is stunned.
DR. ALTMAN
Ryan, you’ve been asleep for six
years.
(Pause)
You have to wake up now.
RYAN
The hell I do.
DR. ALTMAN
What?
RYAN
I’ll take my chances, Altman.
DR. ALTMAN
Ryan, you’re comatose. Do you
understand? There’s a dispute over
your custody right now. And I won’t
be here forever to guide you.
RYAN
I have nothing to go back to.
DR. ALTMAN
So now what? You’ll hide in here
for the rest of your life?
RYAN
I’ll manage.
DR. ALTMAN
Can you? Each time Michael’s
becoming more real in your head.
He’ll always haunt you. You have to
confront him and come home.
RYAN
Confront him? Who is he?
75.
DR. ALTMAN
He’s your last traumatic
experience.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
Rat Boy, I’m waiting for you.
RYAN
Who is he?!
DR. ALTMAN
You know I can’t tell you that.
RYAN
Goddamn it, Altman!
DR. ALTMAN
You can’t be warned about what’s
going to happen. You have to go
into it completely vulnerable.
RYAN
Lisa?
RYAN
Let’s go, I know a way out.
DR. ALTMAN
Ryan, don’t do this.
LISA
(To Ryan)
You’re hiding.
LISA
Not ‘cause you’re afraid. It’s
because you’re ashamed.
Ryan takes a step forward towards Lisa, and the spot where
he steps caves in. His leg gets stuck beneath the floor.
76.
LISA
Ryan!
DR. ALTMAN
Give me your hand!
MICHAEL
Remember me?
Michael kicks Ryan in the stomach. Ryan can see Lisa through
the hole in the roof.
LISA
Ryan!
MICHAEL
What are you looking at?
Lisa vanishes away into thin air. Michael hits Ryan in the
face.
KATE
You’re pathetic.
MICHAEL
You wanna hit me?
MICHAEL
Jesus, Rat Boy. Just hit back.
MICHAEL
Come on.
MICHAEL
Come on, get up.
77.
KATE
Don’t look at me.
MICHAEL
What’s the matter with you?
Michael kicks Ryan in his ass, and Ryan falls on Kate’s bed.
Kate looks at him with distain. Michael stands on the bed
and starts jumping on it.
MICHAEL
I could get used to this shit.
RYAN
Who are you?
MICHAEL
That hurts my feelings. We go way
back, buddy.
KATE
(To Michael)
Hey, don’t get blood on the bed,
asshole.
MICHAEL
Shut your mouth.
Michael slaps Kate in the face. He then jumps off the bed
and walks away.
KATE
Idiot.
MICHAEL
Hey, hey! Come back here!
BRAD
Get up, Ryan.
Ryan walks inside the bedroom and sees Kate sleeping alone
and naked on the bed. There’s a bathroom off the bedroom.
Ryan can tell from the crack under the bathroom’s closed
door that the light is on. Somebody is in there taking a
shower.
KATE
Ryan?!
RYAN
Get up, honey.
79.
KATE
You’ve been following me?
RYAN
Nancy told me where to find you.
KATE
Well, this is none of Nancy’s
business.
RYAN
It’s been a week, Kate.
KATE
I was angry, okay? Look, just stop
doing that.
KATE
Damn it Ryan!
RYAN
Get dressed.
KATE
No.
The bathroom door opens and Michael comes out. Ryan looks
stunned.
RYAN
Michael?
MICHAEL
Do I know you?
(To Kate)
Who’s this?
KATE
My husband.
80.
MICHAEL
(To Ryan)
Rat Boy?
RYAN
What did you call me?
KATE
(To Michael)
God, just stop it.
MICHAEL
Someone flushed your rat down a
toilet. Powerful story. Stuck with
me.
RYAN
Glad to amuse you.
MICHAEL
No man, we talk about you with the
utmost respect. Now, relax. I’m
just messing with you.
MICHAEL
Look, I hate this angry husband
routine. It’s just macho bullshit
that’ll get you nothing. Now, you
came into my apartment uninvited. I
respect that. Why don’t we talk
like adults?
RYAN
I’m done talking. Kate, let’s go.
MICHAEL
Hey, Ryan. She left you, bro.
KATE
Michael, stay out of this.
81.
MICHAEL
Whoa, you just wait a goddamned
minute now. Last week you crashed
here without a place to stay. So
don’t give me that shit now.
KATE
Jesus, I can’t believe this is
happening.
MICHAEL
Where’re you going?
Michael grabs Ryan, pushing him to the wall and keeping him
pinned against it. Kate screams.
KATE
Michael, leave him alone! He’s
leaving! Ryan, just get out of
here!
MICHAEL
What? You wanna be a big man now?
RYAN
She’s coming with me, asshole.
KATE
Michael, don’t!
Michael kicks Ryan in his ribs, then in his face. A MAN who
was sleeping in the living room looks inside the bedroom.
MAN
What the hell’s going on?
MICHAEL
Close the damn door!
The man closes the door as Michael tells him to. Michael
drags Ryan across the bedroom into the bathroom.
82.
Michael kicks Ryan one more time. He pulls Ryan into the
bathtub and turns on the shower. Then he leaves Ryan there,
bleeding. Kate runs to Ryan in her underwear and turns off
the shower.
KATE
Jesus, Ryan. Are you okay? I’m
sorry, I’m sorry, baby.
MICHAEL (O.S.)
Get the hell out of here. Both of
you.
KATE
Baby, let’s go home, okay?
LISA
Get up, Ryan.
KATE
What the hell are you doing here?
LISA
Shut up, Kate. You’ve done enough.
KATE
(To Ryan)
Son of a bitch.
LISA
I’m your new guide, Ryan. It’s time
to go home, baby.
LISA
I’m not letting you go again. Come
on, get up.
83.
RYAN
What are you doing here?
LISA
I’m real. It’s me.
RYAN
How?
LISA
Altman.
RYAN
Lisa, I…
Ryan caresses Lisa’s face with his hand. She kisses it.
LISA
Finish this, and let’s go home.
RYAN
What do I do?
LISA
Confront that son of a bitch. Let’s
get out of here.
KATE
(To Ryan)
Get the hell out of here, he’s
gonna kill you.
(To Lisa)
And you, keep the loser. I don’t
care.
LISA
(To Ryan)
Hold on, baby.
84.
Lisa walks over to Kate and punches her in the mouth. Kate
falls on the bed.
KATE
Bitch!
LISA
I should try this sometime. Come
on.
MICHAEL
Get the hell out of here, Rat Boy.
Ryan walks up to Michael and hits him over the head with the
bottle. Michael drops to the floor. Michael throws himself
at Ryan, and they both fall to the floor.
RYAN
Let me go, Michael.
RYAN
Let’s get out of here.
MICHAEL
Son of a bitch.
85.
LISA
Ryan!
RYAN
Lisa.
NURSE (O.S.)
Ryan? Ryan? Oh god. Get a doctor in
here.
NURSE (O.S.)
Ryan, can you hear me?
Ryan extends his hand to Lisa. She extends her hand to him
as her fingers start to fall apart. Ryan falls to the floor,
gasping for air.
NURSE (O.S.)
Ryan, come back.
FADE TO BLACK:
From black, things get blurry. We see Ryan’s POV. The image
gets clearer, and Kate appears in sight.
KATE
Ryan?
RYAN
Where am I?
KATE
You made it. Welcome back, baby.
RYAN
I’m awake?
RYAN
Where’s Lisa.
KATE
Try not to speak, baby.
RYAN
Kate.
KATE
Yeah?
RYAN
Get out.
KATE
What?
RYAN
Something happened to me in there.
You wanted me to be stronger.
(pause)
And I am.
KATE
Ryan--
RYAN
I’ve seen enough of you for six
years.
KATE
Please, don’t say that.
87.
RYAN
Go.
Kate moves away from Ryan slowly and leaves the room. Ryan
gives a sigh of relief. Altman, Bourke and Hausman approach
Ryan. He gazes at them.
RYAN
(To the three doctors)
Thank you, you brought me back.
DR. HAUSMAN
Hardly, honey.
DR. BOURKE
How do you feel, buddy?
RYAN
Great.
RYAN
(To Altman)
Thank you, doc.
DR. ALTMAN
Anytime.
RYAN
Where’s Lisa?
DR. ALTMAN
Get some rest. We’ll talk about it
later.
RYAN
Where is she?
RYAN
What happened?
88.
DR. ALTMAN
She’s been like this for a year.
DR. ALTMAN
She got you back, but got lost
herself.
Ryan starts breaking down into tears. He takes her hand and
puts it to his face.
RYAN
I did this.
DR. ALTMAN
No, Ryan.
RYAN
Is she ever coming back?
DR. ALTMAN
I’m sorry.
RYAN
Don’t give me that.
DR. ALTMAN
I’ll leave you alone.
Altman walks out and lets Ryan stay with Lisa. He starts
crying.
RYAN
All I wanted was to find you. I’m
so sorry.
RYAN
Hello?
The electricity comes back again, and Ryan sees that Lisa is
not on the bed anymore. He looks everywhere for her. All of
the sudden, he realizes that he has strength in his legs. He
gets up.
RYAN
Not again.
RYAN
What the hell?
RYAN
Where am I?
RYAN
Altman?
Ryan stops.
RYAN
I’m back.
RYAN
Who are you?
90.
DR. PHILIPS
I’m Dr. Philips, Dr. Altman’s
assistant.
RYAN
I’m still in my head.
DR. PHILIPS
Oh, no. This actually happened when
we brought you back. That was eight
months ago.
RYAN
Eight months ago? I was really
awake?
DR. PHILIPS
That’s right.
RYAN
Where the hell am I now?
DR. PHILIPS
Well, you’re in Lisa’s head, sir.
RYAN
What?
DR. PHILIPS
You don’t remember anything?
RYAN
Jesus, Philips, you’re gonna give
me a brain tumor.
DR. PHILIPS
I’m sorry, we had to bring you
using a different process. This way
you’re capable of interacting with
the environment. That explains the
confusion.
RYAN
Well?
91.
DR. PHILIPS
Anyway, we’ve spent the past six
months tracking for Lisa inside her
mind.
DR. PHILIPS
Are you okay?
RYAN
Yeah, yeah, go on.
DR. PHILIPS
Well, we finally found her, sir.
Now all you have to do is bring her
back.
RYAN
Where is she?
Dr. Philips walks to a door and opens it. Outside the door,
there is a dimly lit beach. Lisa is sitting at the shore,
several yards away.
DR. PHILIPS
In her current state, she’ll only
react to people she trusts.
RYAN
Will she remember me?
DR. PHILIPS
I don’t know.
RYAN
Hi.
92.
LISA
Hello.
RYAN
Bad weather.
LISA
It’s been like this all year.
RYAN
I’m Ryan.
RYAN
Let me guess. Olga? You definitely
look like an Olga, or a Lisa.
LISA
Do I know you?
RYAN
Well, let me see. How old are you?
LISA
Twenty-one.
RYAN
Hmm. You’ll meet me in about a year
from now. At Kate’s party.
LISA
You know my sister?
RYAN
Mhhmm. I used to be married to her.
LISA
Kate’s not married.
93.
RYAN
Well, she will be in about three
years.
LISA
Right.
LISA
And what happened?
RYAN
What?
LISA
You said you used to be married to
her. What went wrong?
RYAN
It didn’t work out.
LISA
Why’s that?
RYAN
She didn’t really love me. She just
needed a pet.
LISA
That sounds like Kate all right.
She hates being alone.
RYAN
Besides, I’m in love with her
sister.
LISA
You move real fast, buddy.
RYAN
No, I’m a pussy. I always was. But
you’ll love me too.
LISA
Oh, yeah? Judging from the way
things are going right now, I’d say
you’re no psychic.
94.
RYAN
Didn’t say I was. I’m a time
traveler.
LISA
Oh yeah?
RYAN
Sort of. In the future, you’re
going to save my life. And in doing
that, you’re gonna get lost.
LISA
What do you mean?
RYAN
I’ll get myself in a loop. Reliving
bad things that happened to me over
and over. I’ll get lost. Not
wanting to come out again. Because
I’ll be too ashamed of having been
so selfish, so stupid.
RYAN (CONT’D)
And I’ll do that only because I’ll
want to go back to where I lost
you. Right in that coffee shop.
RYAN (CONT’D)
Right there--I should’ve said yes.
LISA
You’re right.
(Pause)
You should’ve said yes.
RYAN
(Softly)
Yes.
95.
Ryan moves closer to Lisa and takes her hand. The cloudy sky
cracks and starts falling apart. In the process, the sun
comes out and shines brightly.
FADE TO BLACK:
END CREDITS