The Butterfly Effect Page #12

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:

F*** 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, a**hole. 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:

F*** '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 sh*t 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 bee 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 f***ers.

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 "c*nt"?

Kayleigh shudders and Evan puts his arms around her.

KAYLEIGH:

Don't. He's probably watching.

INT. FRAT HOUSE - EVAN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

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