The Butterfly Effect Page #17

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 sh*t. 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 f***ing 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 sh*t 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)

Sh*t. 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 f***in' way on this planet or any other that I was in some f***in' 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 sh*t.

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. Halbern 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 f*** 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.

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