The Butterfly Effect Page #4

Tommy absently chucks an old Playboy toward Lenny. Kayleigh seems uncomfortable by the sight of it.

KAYLEIGH:

(to Tommy)

We should go soon. If Dad catches us smoking down here, we're dead.

EVAN:

So let's go. This place creeps me out.

Evan claps his hands and stands up, Lenny and Kayleigh join him. Finally, Tommy shakes an old army thermos and hears something rattling inside.

TOMMY:

I knew it had something to do with the army.

Tommy opens the thermos, tips it over and a blockbuster (1/4 stick of dynamite) spills out. Tommy grins mischievously.

TOMMY:

Let's blow the sh*t out of something!

EXT. HALPERNS' FOREST - DAY

Tommy leads Evan, Kayleigh and Lenny on a mission through the woods. Everyone smokes except Lenny, yet he's the only one who's wheezing. He pulls out an inhaler and takes a puff.

LENNY:

Guys, slow up, would you?

KAYLEIGH:

Evan, did I tell you? My mother said I might be able to visit her this summer in Orlando with her new family.

TOMMY:

What did I say about mentioning that b*tch?

KAYLEIGH:

(uncomfortable)

Where the hell are you taking us anyway? Just blow something up already.

TOMMY:

Just blow something up? Are you nuts? There's an art to mass destruction. Would you just paint the Mona Lisa? No. Besides, we're here already.

Now at the edge of the woods, Tommy spots:

EXT. MRS. HALPERN'S HOME - CONTINUOUS

A MAILBOX sits at the end of the driveway. It's exquisite. An exact replica of a Colonial home it serves.

Across the street, Tommy hands the blockbuster to Lenny.

TOMMY:

Here you go, buddy.

LENNY:

(recoiling)

What? No frigging way, man. I'm not touching that thing.

TOMMY:

The hell you aren't. Anyone of us does it, you'll puss out and narc for sure.

LENNY:

Ain't gonna work this time, buddy. Look how small that fuse is! I'll get killed.

EVAN:

Not necessarily.

All eyes turn to Evan as he takes his lit cigarette, breaks off the filter and jams the fuse into the unlit end.

EVAN:

That should buy you ten minutes at least.

LENNY:

Gee, thanks friend.

EXT. MRS. HALPERN'S HOME - CONTINUOUS

Lenny paces back and forth next to the three-story mailbox, desperately trying to appear nonchalant. He pretends to notice his shoe's untied and bends down to tie it. From the woods, the other kids watch anxiously.

TOMMY:

Oh, for Christ's sake, just do it, Lenny.

Finally, Lenny throws the bomb in the mailbox. Then sprints like hell to the woods. Kayleigh shakes Lenny's inhaler and hands it to him when he gets back.

LENNY:

(taking puff)

Thanks.

Evan pats Lenny on the back.

EVAN:

You got balls, man.

The four watch the mailbox in intense anticipation. Evan smiles with the cigarette pressed tightly between his lips and places his hands over Kayleigh's ears. She smiles back at him and presses his hands against her head. Tommy catches this and seems disturbed, and quickly turns back to --

The mailbox. Tick-tock...tick-tock...It's like a staring contest...

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. HALPERNS' FOREST - DAY

Evan, running full speed, comes to in an unfamiliar place. He instantly loses his footing and falls to the ground. Lenny, falling on top of him.

TOMMY:

Hurry! Let's go! Get him up, Evan! Come on!

EVAN:

(frantic)

What happened?? Where are we?!

Evan gets up and starts running, then realizes he's not being followed. Kayleigh and Tommy are helping Lenny up and carrying him. Evan realizes that Lenny's completely dazed. Evan doubles back, grabs Lenny's arm and he and Tommy drag Lenny through the woods as fast as they can.

KAYLEIGH:

(crying)

Oh God...what did we do?

EVAN:

Sh*t, Lenny. What's happened to you! We've gotta get help!

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. LENNY'S HOUSE - DRIVEWAY - DAY

Andrea's car screeches to the curb of Lenny's house. Lenny's mother, Mrs. Kagan, frantically loads Lenny into an ambulance.

As Andrea rushes up to the ambulance, Mrs. Kagan gives her an icy glare and slams the ambulance door in Andrea's face. Andrea turns to Evan, now trembling on the front stoop.

ANDREA:

What is it? What happened?

TOMMY:

(staring menacingly at the others)

We were just building a fort in the woods when Lenny freaked out. One minute he was fine, then he just froze up. Right guys?

ANDREA:

What happened, Evan? The truth.

EVAN:

I don't know... I don't remember.

ANDREA:

Something must've happened! What set him off?

EVAN:

I...I blacked out.

ANDREA:

(building frustration)

Don't try to use your blackouts to get out of this one!

Evan looks helpless.

ANDREA:

You're not making this up, are you?

Evan shakes his head "no". Almost ashamed...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. DR. REDFIELD'S OFFCIE - DAY

Evan lies on a couch.

DR. REDFIELD

With every breath you exhale, you can feel all of the tension draining from your body like water through a faucet. Nine, ten, and you're completely asleep. Relaxed.

Evan breathes slowly. Deeply. Andrea watches nervously from the far side of the room.

DR. REDFIELD

Now I want you to go back to the time you were in the woods with Lenny. Think of it like a movie. You can pause, rewind, or slow down any details you wish. Understand?

EVAN:

Yes.

DR. REDFIELD

Where are you now?

EVAN:

I'm standing next to Kayleigh, my hands are over her ears.

DR. REDFIELD

Are you hurting her?

EVAN:

No, protecting her.

Andrea suppresses the tiniest of proud smiles.

DR. REDFIELD

Okay. Then go a little forward in time. What do you see now?

EVAN:

I see a car.

Evan's eyes suddenly roll back in his head.

DR. REDFIELD

Yes, tell me about the car.

Evan moans and begins shaking.

DR. REDFIELD

Go on. Nothing can hurt you. Remember, this is only a movie. You're completely safe.

EVAN:

(moaning)

I can't...the car vanishes and all of a sudden I'm on the ground in the woods.

DR. REDFIELD

The car doesn't vanish Evan. The movie in your head has broken, that's all. But now I've respliced it and I want you to tell me about the car.

EVAN:

It's coming...argh! I can't!

Evan moans and shakes on the couch.

DR. REDFIELD

Fight it Evan. Hurry. It's coming!

Blood begins to trickle from Evan's nose as a guttural sound is uttered from deep within him. Dr. Redfield bolts upright in his chair and redirects the session.

DR. REDFIELD

Okay, Evan. Listen to my voice! On the count of ten, you're going to wake up. Feeling refreshed and remembering everything we talked about.

Evan moans in agony. Andrea darts into the room.

ANDREA:

What's happening to him?? Make it stop!

Dr. Redfield waves her away and concentrates on Evan.

DR. REDFIELD

One. You're feeling more awake now. Two, your eyes no longer feel heavy.

Andrea moves to stop the blood flowing from Evan's nose. She lifts Evan's eyelids and sees only the whites of his eyes.

DR. REDFIELD

Five. Six. Refreshed and awake! Seven, eight. Come on, Evan, wake up, dammit!

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