Memento Page #5

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28 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 28

Leonard (IN BOXERS, BANDAGED ARM) talks on the phone. He *

resumes SHAVING his thigh.

LEONARD:

I met Sammy through work.

(listens)

Insurance. I was an investigator. I'd *

investigate claims to see which ones *

were phony. *

Leonard dips the razor into the steaming ice bucket. *

LEONARD (cont'd)

I had to see through people's bullshit.

It was useful experience, because now

it's my life. When I meet someone, I

don't even know if I've met them before.

I have to look in their eyes and just

figure them out. My job taught me that

the best way to find out what someone

knew was to let them talk.

29 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE##29

Montage:
Leonard, wearing a CHEAP DARK SUIT and TIE, sitting

opposite various DIFFERENT PEOPLE in an interview situation.

LEONARD(V.0.)

Throw in the occasional "why?" but just

listen. And watch the eyes, the body *

language.

Leonard watches the people's movements carefully. We see

close-ups off fiddling hands, neck scratching, etc.

LEONARD (V.0.) (cont'd)

It's complicated. You might catch a sign

but attach the wrong meaning to it. If

someone touches their nose while they're

talking, experts will tell you it means

they're lying. It really means they're

nervous, and people get nervous for all

sorts of reasons. It's all about context.

MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99

23.

30 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 30

LEONARD (cont'd)

I was good. Sammy was my first real

challenge.

31 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY 31 *

The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard gets out and heads to the

office.

32 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY 32 *

Burt is behind the counter reading a magazine.

LEONARD:

I'm sorry, I think I'm checked in here,

But I've misplaced my key.

BURT:

(looks up)

Hi, Leonard.

Burt puts his magazine down and gets up, sighing.

BURT (cont'd)

Probably in the room.

33 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY 33 *

Burt, swinging a pass key on a chain, leads Leonard along the

GROUND FLOOR to room 21, then unlocks it.

34 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 21 - DAY 34 *

Leonard enters and SCANS the room. Burt picks his nails in

the doorway. Leonard moves to the unmade bed. There is a pile

of BLOODSTAINED TISSUES. On the bedside table is an ICE

BUCKET. Next to it is a DISPOSABLE RAZOR and a can of SHAVING

FOAM.

LEONARD:

I don't see my key.

Burt looks up. He REALIZES something.

BURT:

Sh*t. Wrong room.

LEONARD:

What?

Burt tries to SHEPHERD Leonard out of the room.

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99

24.

34 CONTINUED:
34

BURT:

This isn't your room. You're in 304. I

F***ed up.

LEONARD:

This isn't my room?

BURT:

No, let's go.

LEONARD:

Then why is this my handwriting?

Leonard picks a WHITE PAPER BAG up off the floor. Handwritten

on the side is a message:

"SHAVE THIGH"

LEONARD (cont'd)

Better tell me what the f***'s going on.

Burt looks uncomfortable.

BURT:

This was your room. You're up in 304 now.

LEONARD:

When was I in here?

BURT:

Last week. Then I rented you another one

On top of this.

LEONARD:

Why?

BURT:

Business is slow. I told my boss about

You, about your condition. He told me to

Try and rent you another room.

LEONARD:

Why didn't you clean it out? *

BURT:

(shrugs)

You're still paying for it. It's still

Your room.

Leonard shakes his head, smiling.

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99

25.

34 CONTINUED:
(2) 34

LEONARD:

So how many rooms am I checked into in

this dump?

BURT:

Just two. So far. *

Leonard walks out past Burt.

LEONARD:

Well, at least you're being honest about

cheating me.

BURT:

Yeah, well you're not gonna remember,

anyway.

LEONARD:

You don't have to be that honest, Burt.

BURT:

Leonard.

Leonard turns. Burt grins.

BURT (cont'd)

Always get a receipt.

LEONARD:

I'm gonna write that down.

Leonard fishes a piece of paper out of his pocket. There is a

message on it which he reads. It says:

"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1:00PM MEET NATALIE FOR

INFO"

Leonard looks up at Burt.

LEONARD (cont'd)

What time is it?

35 EXT. ROAD - DAY 35

The Jaguar speeds along.

36 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY 36

Leonard checks the restaurant name against the note. He gets

out his Polaroids, FLIPPING through them until he finds the

one of Natalie.

MEMENTO Blue Revisions - 8/27/99

26.

37 INT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY 37

Leonard walks through the restaurant, checking the patrons.

He makes eye contact with Natalie, but walks past her table.

She sighs and grabs the back of his jacket.

CUT TO:

38 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 38

Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm) SHAVES his thigh, talking*

on the phone.

LEONARD:

I'd just become an investigator when I

came across Sammy. Mr Samuel R. Jankis -

strangest case ever. Guy's 58, semi-

retired accountant. He and his wife had

been in this car accident... nothing too

serious, but he's acting funny - he

can't get a handle on what's going on.

39 INT. A DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY ##BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE## 39

A DOCTOR examines SAMMY'S head. SAMMY'S WIFE looks on.

LEONARD(V.O.)

The doctors find some possible damaqe to

the hippocampus, nothing conclusive. But

Sammy can't remember anything for more

than a couple minutes. He can't work,

can't do sh*t, medical bills pile up,

his wife calls the insurance company and

I get sent in.

40 INT. JANKIS HOUSE - MESSY SUBURBAN LIVING ROOM - DAY ##BLACK 40

AND WHITE SEQUENCE##

SAMMY sits smoking, smiling at Leonard (CHEAP SUIT and TIE).

LEONARD (V.0.)

My first big claims investigation - I

really check into it. Sammy can think

just fine, but he can't make any new

memories, he can only remember things

for a few minutes.

Sammy watches a commercial on T.V.

(CONTINUED)

MEMENTO Pink Revisions - 9/7/99

27.

40 CONTINUED:
40

LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)

He'd watch T.V., but anything longer than

a couple of minutes was too confusing,

he couldn't remember how it began. He

liked commercials. They were short.

*

Sammy rolls a small GLASS BOTTLE between the palms of his

hands. Mrs. Jankis rolls up her sleeve. Leonard watches as

Sammy takes a SYRINGE and pushes the needle through the

rubber of the bottle. The label is marked "INSULIN".

LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)

The crazy part was that this guy who

couldn't follow the plot of "Green

Acres" could do the most complicated

things as long as he had learned them

before the accident...

Sammy INVERTS the bottle and syringe, DRAWS the insulin into

the syringe, withdraws the needle, holds it up to check for

bubbles, TAPPING it delicately.

LEONARD (V.0.) (CONT'D)

... and as long as he kept his mind on

what he was doing.

Sammy wipes a spot on Mrs. Jankis' arm with a swab, then

gently PINCHES the skin and confidently INSERTS the needle.*

Mrs Jankis winces. *

MRS JANKIS *

Gentle. *

Sammy looks up, worried. Mrs Jankis smiles at him. Sammy pushes *

the plunger, withdraws the needle and presses the swab against *

the skin, lookinq into Mrs Jankis' eyes and smiling back. *

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