Memento Page #4

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LEONARD (cont'd)

So I can't remember talking to you. What

did we talk about?

(nods)

Sammy Jankis. Yeah, I guess I tell

people about Sammy to help them

understand. Sammy's story helps me

understand my own situation.

Leonard touches the tattoo on the back of his hand.

LEONARD (cont'd)

Sammy Jankis wrote himself endless

notes. But he'd get mixed up. I've got a

more graceful solution to the memory

problem. I'm disciplined and organized.

I use habit and routine to make my life

possible. Sammy had no drive. No reason

to make it work.

Leonard can see his reflection in the mirror. He studies the

tattoo across his chest:

"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE".

LEONARD (cont'd)

Me? I gotta reason.

MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99

17.

23 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN ST. - DAY 23

Leonard parks the Jaguar, gets out, stops outside the door to

a restaurant, checking its name against a NOTE, written on a *

SMALL PAPER BAG FROM A PHARMACY. The note says: *

"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1.OOPM MEET NATALIE FOR INFO"

He sticks the note in his pocket and pulls out his Polaroid

photographs. He flips through them until he finds Natalie's.

Leonard flips the picture over. On the back are two

handwritten messages. The first one has been completely

scribbled over, the second reads:

"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"

24 INT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY 24

Leonard enters, walking slowly down the aisle, looking at all

the customers. He makes eye contact with a WOMAN (brunette,

30's) sitting alone, wearing SUNGLASSES. Her face betrays *

nothing. Leonard walks past. She sighs and grabs the back of

his jacket as he passes. Leonard spins around.

LEONARD:

Natalie.

Leonard slips into the seat opposite her. Natalie is pretty,

but has bruising around one eye, and a mark on her lip.

NATALIE:

You don't remember me.

LEONARD:

(friendly smile)

Sorry, I should have explained. You see,

I have this condition -

NATALIE:

You did explain, Lenny.

Leonard shifts uncomfortably.

LEONARD:

Please call me Leonard. My wife called me

Lenny.

NATALIE:

You told me.

Leonard raises his eyebrows, then smiles.

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99

18.

24 CONTINUED:
24

LEONARD:

Then I probably told you how much I hated

it. Could you take off your sunglasses?*

It's just hard for me - *

Natalie takes them off to reveal her bruises. *

NATALIE:

Yeah.

LEONARD:

So you have information for me?

NATALIE:

Is that what your little note says?

LEONARD:

Yes.

NATALIE:

Must be tough living life according to a

few scraps of paper. Mix up your laundry

list and your grocery list, you'll be

eating your underwear.

Natalie smiles.

NATALIE (cont'd)

But I guess that's why you got those

freaky tattoos.

Leonard is surprised.

LEONARD:

It is tough. Almost impossible. I'm sorry

I can't remember you. It's not personal.

Natalie's smile fades.

NATALIE:

I'm sorry.

She takes a BROWN ENVELOPE out of her handbag.

NATALIE (cont'd)

I do have information for you. You gave

me a license plate number? I had my

friend at the DMV trace it. Guess what name came up.

Leonard shrugs.

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99

18A.

24 CONTINUED:
(2) 24

NATALIE (cont'd)

John Edward Gamme11. John G.

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99

19.

24 CONTINUED:
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LEONARD:

You know him?

NATALIE:

No. But the photo on his license looked

familiar. I think he's been in the bar before

Natalie slides the envelope towards him, but stops short.

NATALIE (cont'd)

This is a copy of his registration,

license, photo and all. Are you sure you

want this?

LEONARD:

Have I told you what this man did?*

NATALIE:

Yes.

LEONARD:

Then you shouldn't have to ask.

NATALIE:

But even if you get your revenge, you

won't remember it. You won't even know

it's happened.

LEONARD:

(annoyed) *

So I'll take a picture, get a tattoo. *

(calms) *

The world doesn't disappear when you *

close your eyes, does it? My actions *

still have meaning, even if I can't *

remember them. My wife deserves *

vengeance, and it doesn't make any*

difference whether I know about it. *

NATALIE:

Tell me about her again.

LEONARD:

Why?

NATALIE:

Because you like to remember her. I want

to see you enjoy yourself.

LEONARD:

She was beautiful. Perfect to me -*

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99

20.

24 CONTINUED:
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NATALIE:

Don't just recite the words. Close your

eyes, remember her.

Leonard smiles and shuts his eyes.

INSERT FLASHBACK:

25 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY 25

Random images of a woman (30's, black hair, plain). Jump cuts

of details:
a smile, eating, tucking her hair behind her ear,

pulling on a pair of trousers, watching TV, shouting in

anger. Sitting on the edge of the bed in her underwear, she

TURNS as Leonard pinches her thigh.

LEONARD (V.O.)

You can only feel details. Bits and

pieces which you didn't bother to put

into words. And extreme moments you feel

even if you don't want to. Put it

together and you get the feel of the

person, enough to know how much you miss

them, and how much you hate the person

who took them away.

26 INT. CITY GRILL - DAY - 26

Leonard opens his eyes. Natalie is looking at him. She nods

and hands him the BROWN ENVELOPE.

NATALIE:

I wrote an address in there, too. Might

be useful. It's this abandoned place

outside of town. I guy I know used to use

it for his bigger deals.

LEONARD:

Deals?

NATALIE:

It's isolated.

LEONARD:

Sounds perfect? What do I owe you?

NATALIE:

I wasn't helping you for money.

LEONARD:

Sorry.

(CONTINUED)

21.

26 CONTINUED:
26

NATALIE:

It's not your fault. See, you have this

condition...

Leonard smiles. Natalie reaches into her purse and pulls out

a MOTEL ROOM KEY.

NATALIE (cont'd)

Are you still at the Discount Inn? Room*

304? You left this at my place.

Leonard pulls out a Polaroid of the Discount Inn.*

LEONARD:

The Discount Inn, yeah. *

Natalie leaves the key and gets up from the table.

NATALIE:

They treating you alright?

LEONARD:

(smiling)

Don't remember.

NATALIE:

You know what we have in common?

Leonard shrugs.

NATALIE (cont'd)

We're both survivors. Take care, Leonard.

Leonard watches Natalie leave. He sits at the table, looking

down at the BROWN ENVELOPE and the MOTEL ROOM KEY (ROOM 304).

Leonard rises, and heads to the restroom.

27 INT. RESTAURANT RESTROOM - DAY 27

Leonard flushes the urinal, then moves to the sink and starts

washing his hands. He notices a MESSAGE written on the back

of his hand:

"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"

27 CONTINUED:
27

He stares at the message for a second, thoughtful, then tries

to scrub the writing off his skin. To his surprise, it is

INDELIBLE. Leonard looks at it, quizzical, then notices some

markings on his wrists, pulling his sleeve back to get a

better look. He can read the start of a message:

"THE FACTS:
"

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99

22.

27 CONTINUED:
27

Leonard is about to roll his sleeve up further when the

restroom door opens and a MAN enters. Leonard dries his

hands, then exits the rest room.

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