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FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
FADE IN:
1 INT. DERELICT HOUSE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
A POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH, clasped between finger and thumb: a
crude, crime scene flash picture of a MAN'S BODY lying on a
decaying wooden floor, a BLOODY MESS where his head should
be.
The image in the photo starts to FADE as we SUPER TITLES. The
hand holding the photo suddenly FANS it in a rapid FLAPPING
motion, then holds it still. The image fades more, and again
the picture is FANNED.
As TITLES END the image fades to nothing. The hand holding
the photo FLAPS it again, then places it at the front of a
POLAROID CAMERA.
The camera SUCKS the blank picture up, then the FLASH BURSTS.
The Polaroid camera is lowered, revealing the sweaty, heavy-
breathing face of LEONARD (mid-30's). There are droplets of
blood across his face. Leonard stares, satisfied, at
something on the ground in front of him. There is WET BLOOD
on his BLUE SHIRT and BEIGE SUIT. His hand opens and catches
a HANDGUN which leaps up into his grasp.
Still staring, he crouches down and pulls a BODY off the
floor by the wet hair of its BLOODY HEAD. He slowly inserts
the barrel of the gun into the bloody mess where the mouth
should be.
Leonard FLINCHES. A DEAFENING ROAR as wet red leaps off his
face and suit and head, with a SPASM, reassembles itself
into the face of TEDDY (40's, moustache)and we-
CUT TO:
2 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Close on Leonard's eyes. He rolls them to one side, then
turns his head.
LEONARD (V.O.)
So where are you?
Leonard lifts his head. He is lying on a queen-sized bed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
You're in some motel room.
CUT TO:
3 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
A late model Jaguar bumps across some railroad tracks and
approaches a large, clearly abandoned DERELICT BUILDING.
Leonard is driving. He wears a BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT (no
blood). Next to him is TEDDY. Leonard stops the car next to a
PICKUP TRUCK sitting Outside the derelict building. Leonard
kills the engine, staring at the pickup.
LEONARD
Looks like somebody's home.
Teddy looks from Leonard to the pickup and back.
TEDDY
That thing's been here for years.
Leonard gets out of the Jaguar and moves to the pickup. He
inspects it with a methodical, practiced eye. Teddy follows.
LEONARD
I think you're wrong. These tracks aren't
more than a few days old.
Leonard opens the door of the pickup and searches the
interior. On the dirty vinyl of the passenger seat he finds
six BULLETS. Leonard picks two of them up and studies them.
He drops them onto the dashboard then SHUTS the door.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Let's take a look inside.
Leonard walks towards the house, patting his jacket pockets.
Teddy leans on the pickup, uneasy, watching Leonard.
4 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard stands in the dimly-lit, decaying former hallway. He
pulls a stack of POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS out of his pocket and
leafs through them as Teddy starts walking towards him.
Leonard finds a photo showing Teddy with a shit-eating grin
standing in front of the pickup truck. On the broad white
strip beneath the photo is handwritten:
"TEDDY GAMMELL TEL. 555 0134"
Leonard flips the photo over. On the white strip on the back,
in the same small handwriting.
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIS LIES"
"HE IS THE ONE"
"KILL HIM"
LEONARD (V.0.)
I've finally found him. How long have I
been looking?
Leonard stuffs the Polaroids back into his pocket, reaches
around to the back of his waistband and draws a HANDGUN,
keeping it out of Teddy's line of sight. Teddy enters, wary.
TEDDY
Find anything? Didn't think so, let's go,
yeah?
Leonard neither replies nor turns around. Teddy, worried,
affects a casual air, shrugging dismissively,
TEDDY (cont'd)
Fuck this.
Teddy turns and heads for the door. Leonard LEAPS on him,
pistol-whipping him furiously as he shouts:
LEONARD
YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID! YOU BEG
FORGIVENESS, THEN YOU PAY!
Teddy is down. Leonard DRAGS him back, deeper into the dark
house. Leonard is in a frenzy. He dumps Teddy at the end of
the hall and stands over him. Teddy SPITS BLOOD.
TEDDY
You don't have a clue, you freak.
Leonard crouches down and grabs Teddy by the lapels.
LEONARD
Beg my forgiveness! Beg my wife's
forgiveness before I blow your brains
out!
TEDDY
Leonard, you don't have a clue what's
going on. You don't even know my name.
LEONARD
(triumphant smile)
Teddy!
TEDDY
You read it off your fucking photo. You
don't know me, you don't even know who
you are.
LEONARD
I'm Leonard Shelby, I'm from San
Francisco and I'm -
TEDDY
(bloody grin)
That's who you were, you don't know who
you are.
LEONARD
Shut your mouth!
TEDDY
Lemme take you down in the basement and
show you what you've become.
Teddy gestures towards the basement door, in pain, but
enjoying Leonard's growing anxiety.
TEDDY (cont'd)
(intimate)
C'mon, Lenny - we'll take a look down
there together. Then you'll know. You'll
know what you really are.
Leonard glances fearfully at the door, then looks at Teddy.
He THRUSTS the barrel of his gun into Teddy's mouth and WE
ARE AT THE SHOT FROM THE END OF THE OPENING SEQUENCE. Teddy
panics, shaking his head, trying to talk around the metal,
but GAGS just as Leonard pulls the trigger. A SHOT rings out
as we -
CUT TO:
5 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard lies on the queen-sized bed. He lifts his head.
LEONARD (V.O.)
So you're in some motel room...
He gets up, surveys the room as if for the first time. He
wears BOXERS and a PLAID WORK SHIRT.
LEONARD (cont'd)
... you don't know how long you've been
there, or how you got there...
There is a room key on the dresser. The plastic tag
identifies it as the key to ROOM 21. Leonard opens drawers in
the room.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just some anonymous motel room. Won't
tell you anything. Nothing in the
drawers, but you look anyway.
He reaches for the bedside table drawer.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Nothing except the Gideon Bible.
He opens the drawer to find a Gideon Bible.
CUT TO:
6 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
E.C.U. of fingers rifling bills in a wallet. Leonard counts
out some money and hands it to the fat, sweaty middle-aged
man behind the counter. (BURT). Burt takes the money,
spotting something over Leonard's shoulder.
BURT
That guy's here already.
Burt TAPS the POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH of Teddy which is sitting
on the counter. Leonard picks up the photo and turns to see
Teddy APPROACHING the glass door of the office. Leonard
watches carefully as Teddy shambles up to the office door. A
BELL CHIIIES as Teddy enters and breaks into his shit-eating
grin. Leonard slips the photo into his pocket.
TEDDY
Lenny!
Leonard nods in apparent recognition, wary.
LEONARD
It's Leonard... like I told you before.
Teddy pretends to think hard.
TEDDY
Did you? I musta forgot. I'm Teddy.
LEONARD
(smiles)
I guess I've told you about my condition.
Teddy grins and holds the door open for Leonard.
TEDDY
Only every time I see ya!
7 EXT. DISCOUNT INN CAR PARK - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Teddy starts for a GREY SEDAN. Leonard pauses behind him.
LEONARD
My car.
Teddy glances back in surprise.
TEDDY
This is your car.
LEONARD
(shakes head)
You're in a playful mood.
Leonard holds up a Polaroid of a late model JAGUAR.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Shouldn't make fun of somebody's
handicap.
Teddy smiles and heads for the BRAND-NEW JAGUAR parked
several cars further down.
TEDDY
Just trying to have a little fun.
8 INT. CAR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard drives, Teddy admires the new car' s interior,
reaching down around the seats, exploring the car with his
hands.
TEDDY
Roll your window up, will ya?
Leonard hits his window button. A few fragments of safety
glass rise out of the door, remnants of a broken window.
LEONARD
It's broken.
Teddy looks, curious.
TEDDY
I can get that fixed for you.
Leonard shrugs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
So where are we going, Sherlock?
Leonard fishes a note out of his pocket.
LEONARD
I got a lead on a place.
Leonard checks the note, then hands it to Teddy.
TEDDY
(surprised at the note)
What the hell you want to go there for?
LEONARD
You know it?
TEDDY
Yeah, it's just this fucked-up building.
Why are we going there?
LEONARD
(smiling)
I don't remember.
9 EXT. CONTINUOUS - DERELICT BUILDING - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar crosses the railroad tracks and approaches the
DERELICT BUILDING. Leonard stops the car next to the PICKUP
TRUCK and kills the engine, staring at the pickup.
LEONARD
Looks like somebody's home.
10 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, wearing BOXERS and PLAID WORK SHIRT, takes the
GIDEON BIBLE out off the open bedside table drawer.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Nothing except the Gideon Bible.
He leafs through a couple off pages, then DROPS the Bible back
into the drawer and shuts it. He notices a MESSAGE written on
the back off his hand:
"REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"
LEONARD (cont'd)
Sammy Jankis had the same problem. He
tried writing himself notes. Lots of
notes. But he'd get confused.
Leonard licks his thumb, and rubs at the writing. To
Leonard's surprise, IT DOES NOT EVEN SMUDGE.
He notices his bare legs. There is a NOTE taped to his RIGHT
THIGH with a handwritten message:
"SHAVE"
Leonard pulls the note off, studying it carefully.
CUT TO:
11 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Close on the Polaroid of Teddy. Leonard flips it over. On the
back are the messages:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
"HE IS THE ONE"
Leonard writes another message beneath these two:
"KILL HIM"
He sticks the photo of Teddy BETWEEN HIS TEETH as he holds
his HANDGUN up and checks that it is loaded. He sticks the
GUN in the back of his waistband, the PHOTO in his jacket
pocket, slings the POLAROID CAMERA over his shoulder.
12 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard leaves room 304 and heads to the office. He pauses
just outside the glass door, breathing, psyching himself up.
13 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard enters , confident, smiling at the man behind the
desk, BURT (fat, sweaty, 40's). Burt smiles back.
BURT
Hiya.
LEONARD
I'm Mr. Shelby from 304.
BURT
What can I do for you, Leonard?
LEONARD
I'm sorry... um... ?
BURT
Burt.
LEONARD
Burt, I'm not sure, but I may have asked
you to hold my calls -
BURT
You don't know?
LEONARD
I think I may have. I'm not good on the
phone.
BURT
(nods)
You said you like to look people in the
eye when you talk to them. Don't you
remember?
LEONARD
That's the thing. I have this condition.
BURT
Condition?
LEONARD
I have no memory.
BURT
Amnesia?
LEONARD
No. It's different. I have no short-term
memory. I know who I am and all about
myself, but since my injury I can't make
any new memories. Everything fades. If we
talk for too long, I'll forget how we
started. I don't know if we've ever met
before, and the next time I see you I
won't remember this conversation. So if I
seem strange or rude, that's probably...
He notices that Burt is staring at him as if he were an
exotic insect.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I've told you this before, haven't I?
BURT
(nods)
I don't mean to mess with you. It's just
so weird. You don't remember me at all,
and we talked a bunch of times.
Leonard shrugs.
BURT (cont'd)
What's the last thing you remember?
Leonard looks through Burt, thinking.
LEONARD
My wife.
BURT
(fascinated)
What's it like?
LEONARD
Like waking. Like you always just woke
up.
BURT
That must suck. All... backwards.
Leonard raises his eyebrows in enquiry.
BURT (cont'd)
Well, like.. you gotta pretty good idea
of what you're gonna do next, but no idea
what you just did.
(chuckles)
I'm the exact opposite.
LEONARD
(focuses on Burt)
How long have I been here?
BURT
Couple days.
LEONARD
So you're holding my calls?
BURT
As requested.
Leonard reaches into his pocket and pulls out his Polaroids
LEONARD
Okay, but this guy's an exception.
Leonard places the Polaroid of Teddy on the counter in front
of Burt. Burt looks at it.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Know this guy?
BURT
Your friend, right?
LEONARD
What makes you think he's my friend?
BURT
Seen you together, that's all.
LEONARD
He's not my friend, Burt. But if he
calls, or if he turns up here, then you
give me a call in my room, okay?
BURT
Sure. But nobody else, right?
LEONARD
Just this guy.
Leonard indicates the Polaroid of Teddy.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I hope my condition won't be a problem
for you.
BURT
Not if you remember to pay your bill.
Leonard smiles and reaches into his wallet.
E.C.U. of fingers rifling bills in a wallet. Leonard counts
out some money and hands it to Burt. Burt takes the money,
spotting something over Leonard's shoulder.
BURT (cont'd)
That guy's here already.
Burt TAPS the POLAROID PHOTOGRAPH of Teddy which is sitting
on the counter. Leonard picks up the photo and turns to see
Teddy APPROACHING the glass door of the office.
CUT TO:
14 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, in boxer shorts and plaid work shirt, rips the note
from his thigh. The note says "SHAVE".
15 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 BATHROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard enters, sees a WHITE PAPER BAG on the counter by the
sink. On the bag is a handwritten message:
"SHAVE THIGH"
Leonard looks into the bag, then pulls out a can of SHAVING
FOAM, and a pack of DISPOSABLE RAZORS. He runs the hot water,
steps back and lifts his foot onto the sink. He is awkward
and uncomfortable. He notices an ICE BUCKET by the sink.
16 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard sits on the bed applying SHAVING FOAM to his thigh.
The ICE BUCKET sits on the bedside table, steaming.
Leonard starts awkwardly SHAVING his right thigh. The PHONE
RINGS and Leonard FLINCHES, NICKING his leg. He looks at the
phone, then reaches for the receiver.
17 INT. A RESTAURANT RESTROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard, in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT 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"
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 wrist, pulling his sleeve back to get a
better look. He can read the start of a message:
"THE FACTS:"
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.
18 INT. RESTAURANT - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard emerges .nto the waiting area of a crowded
restaurant. He glances around, lost, then pulls out his
Polaroids, flipping through them. Someone taps him on his
shoulder and he turns to see the smiling face of a waiter.
WAITER
Sir? You left these at your table.
Leonard looks down. The waiter hands him a BROWN ENVELOPE and
a MOTEL ROOM KEY (DISCOUNT INN, ROOM 304). On the envelope is
a handwritten message:
"FOR LEONARD, FROM NATALIE"
Leonard looks at his Polaroid photograph of the outside of
the Discount Inn motel. There is an address written beneath
it (7254 Lincoln Street).
LEONARD
Thanks. Lincoln Street?
The Waiter glances at his Polaroid.
WAITER
You wanna go east on sixth.
(points)
Just keep straight, all the way out of
town, then take a right.
19 EXT./INT. JAGUAR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard drives, consulting his Polaroid photos.
20 EXT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard, BROWN ENVELOPE in hand, finds the door to room 304.
21 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard enters, looks around as if for the first time. An
anonymous motel room, except that tacked to one wall is a
HAND-DRAWN CHART showing the layout of some streets, and
stuck to the edges of the chart are POLAROID PHOTOGRAPHS,
with ARROWS DRAWN from each photograph to a spot on the map.
Leonard inspects the photos. Some are buildings, some are
people. All have the HANDWRITTEN NOTES on the broad white strip
underneath the image.
Leonard gets Polaroids out of his pocket. The first one is of
the Discount Inn. He STICKS it onto an already-squashed lump
of blue tack at the end of an ARROW drawn from a location on
the outskirts of town.
The second photo is a blurred shot of a Brunette turning in a
doorway. The name NATALIE is written under the picture.
Leonard flips it over. On the back are two handwritten
messages. The first one has been completely scribbled over,
but the other one reads:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
Leonard nods, then sticks the photo to the chart. He steps
back looking over the Polaroids one by one: Natalie, Burt,
Discount Inn, Teddy.
Leonard sits at the desk and opens the BROWN ENVELOPE. He
takes out a photocopy of a CAR REGISTRATION and a DRIVER'S
LICENSE. Both are in the name of JOHN EDWARD GAMMELL, but
when Leonard looks at the picture on the license, he
recognizes the face. Leonard moves back to his wall chart,
finds the Polaroid of Teddy and compares it to the license
photo.
LEONARD (V.O.)
This guy told me his name was Teddy.
He turns the photo over and examines the white stop on the
back. It says only:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
Leonard smiles. He goes to the phone and dials the number on
the Polaroid. A couple of rings, then it's answered.
TEDDY
Yup?
LEONARD
Mr Gammell?
TEDDY
Lenny, is that you?
LEONARD
John Gammell?
TEDDY
Lenny, it's Teddy. Look, stay there,
okay? I'm gonna be right over.
LEONARD
I'll be waiting.
Leonard hangs up, thinking. He looks at the writing on the
back of his hand, then pulls back his sleeve to reveal the words:
"THE FACTS:"
Leonard removes his jacket, then starts pulling off his shirt.
He has WRITING TATTOOED ALL OVER HIS CHEST, STOMACH AND ARMS.
MESSAGES in different styles of writing, some CRUDE, some
ELABORATE. The messages run in all directions, some UPSIDE-
DOWN, some BACKWARDS. Leonard examines his tattoos,
methodically. From Leonard's POV, the most striking is an
upside-down tattoo on his BELLY which says:
"PHOTOGPAPH: HOUSE, CAR, FRIEND, FOE"
On one FOREARM it says:
"THE FACTS:
FACT 1. MALE
FACT 2. WHITE"
On the other FOREARM:
"FACT 3. FIRST NAME: JOHN OR JAMES
FACT 4. LASTNAME: G-------"
Leonard pulls down his trousers. On his right THIGH, crudely-
lettered:
"FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
And immediately below this, in elegant, neat lettering:
"FACT 6. CAR LICENSE NUMBER: SG13 7IU"
Leonard takes out the REGISTRATION DOCUMENT and examines it.
Holding the photo of Teddy and the registration document,
Leonard checks off his TATTOOED FACTS:
LEONARD (cont'd)
(under his breath)
White... male. First name... John. Last
name... G for Gammell. Drugs. License
plate.
(checks document against tattoo
on thigh)
SG... 13... 7... IU. It's him. It's
actually him.
Leonard looks coldly at Teddy's smiling image.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I found you, you fuck.
Leonard turns the photo face down, takes a pen and writes:
"HE IS THE ONE"
Leonard drops the pen. Thinks. He looks at his chest through
the mirror and a backwards tattoo suddenly BECOMES CLEAR:
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE"
Leonard buttons his blue shirt, then writes on the back of
Teddy's picture:
"KILL HIM"
Leonard sticks the photo of Teddy BETWEEN HIS TEETH as he
holds his HANDGUN up and checks that it is loaded. He sticks
the GUN in the back of his waistband.
22 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, in his boxers and plaid work shirt, shaving foam on
thigh, drops his disposable razor and cautiously picks up the
RINGING PHONE.
LEONARD
Who is this?
(listens)
He unbuttons his shirt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
And we spoke earlier? I don't remember
that.
(listens)
Well, yeah, but it's not amnesia. I
remember everything from before my
injury, I just can't make any new
memories.
(listens)
Leonard pulls his shirt off. There is a BANDAGE on his LEFT
ARM. He looks do at the TATTOOS ALL OVER HIS CHEST, STOMACH
AND ARMS.
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.
23 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN ST. - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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 (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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.
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.
NATALIE (cont'd)
John Edward Gamme11. John G.
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 -
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 (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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 - (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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.
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 (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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"
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:"
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.
28 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
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#
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.
30 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
LEONARD (cont'd)
I was good. Sammy was my first real
challenge.
31 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard gets out and heads to the
office.
32 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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 (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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 (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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
Shit. Wrong room.
LEONARD
What?
Burt tries to SHEPHERD Leonard out of the room.
BURT
This isn't your room. You're in 304. I
Fucked 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 fuck'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.
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 (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar speeds along.
36 EXT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard checks the restaurant name against the note. He gets
out his Polaroids, FLIPPING through them until he finds the
one of Natalie.
37 INT. THE CITY GRILL ON MAIN STREET - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
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#
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#
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 shit, 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 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.
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.
41 INT. JANKIS HOUSE FRONT HALL - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Mrs. Jankis opens the front door to Leonard. Leonard shakes
hands with Sammy, who smiles at him in apparent recognition.
LEONARD (V.0.)
The doctors assure me that there's a
real condition called Korsokoff's
syndrome; short-term memory loss, rare
but legit. But every time I see him I
catch a look of recognition. Just a
slight look, but he says he can't
remember me at all.
I can read people and I'm thinking bad
actor. Now I'm suspicious and I order
more tests.
CUT BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM:
42 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard DABS at some blood on his thigh with toilet paper.
LEONARD
His wife has to do everything. Sammy can
only do simple stuff. He couldn't pick
up any new skills at all, and that's how
I got him.
43 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up at a red light. Suddenly Teddy is
BANGING on the window.
TEDDY
Lenny! I thought you'd gone for good.
What brings you back?
Leonard looks at Teddy, sizing him up.
LEONARD
Unfinished business. What made you think
I wasn't coming back?
TEDDY
You said you were leaving town.
LEONARD
Things change.
TEDDY
So I see. It's good to see you. My name's
Teddy.
LEONARD
Guess I've told you about my condition.
TEDDY
(grins)
Only every time I see ya! Come on, I'll
buy you lunch.
44 INT. DINER - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Teddy pours ketchup all over his steak. Leonard plays with
his food.
TEDDY
Not hungry?
LEONARD
(shrugs)
It's my condition. I never know if I've
already eaten, so I always just eat small
amounts.
TEDDY
You don't have to remember to be hungry.
LEONARD
It's weird, but if you don't eat for a
while then your body stops being hungry.
You get sort of shaky but you don't
realize you haven't eaten. Have I told
you about Sammy Jankis?
TEDDY
Yeah, yeah. I heard enough about him.
Tell me about John G. You still think
he's here, right?
LEONARD
Who?
TEDDY
The guy you're looking for, Johnny G.
That's why you haven't left. Am I right?
Leonard shrugs. Teddy licks his fingers and frowns.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Leonard, you need to be very careful.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
Well, the other day you made it sound
like you thought somebody might be trying
to set you up. Get you to kill the wrong
guy.
LEONARD
Yeah, well I go on facts, not
recommendations, okay?
TEDDY
Lenny, you can't trust a man's life to
your little notes and pictures.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
Because you're relying on them alone. You
Don't remember what you've discovered or
how. Your notes might be unreliable.
LEONARD
Memory's unreliable.
Teddy snorts.
LEONARD (cont'd)
No, really. Memory's not perfect. It's
not even that good. Ask the police,
eyewitness testimony is unreliable. The
cops don't catch a killer by sitting
around remembering stuff. They collect
facts, make notes, draw conclusions.
Facts, not memories: that's how you
investigate. I know, it's what I used to
do. Memory can change the shape of a room
or the color of a car. It's an
interpretation, not a record. Memories
can be changed or distorted and they're
irrelevant if you have the facts.
TEDDY
You really want to find this guy?
LEONARD
He took away the woman I love and he took
away my memory. He destroyed everything;
my life and my ability to live.
TEDDY
You're living.
LEONARD
Just for revenge. That's what keeps me
going. It's all I have.
Teddy considers this.
TEDDY
We'll find him. Where are you staying?
Leonard reaches into his pocket and takes out a Polaroid.
LEONARD
Discount Inn. Don't know what room;
haven't got my key.
TEDDY
Probably left it in your room.
45 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard gets out and heads to the
office.
46 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard enters. 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.
47 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm shaving foam on thigh,
strides the row, talking on the phone and gesticulating with
a disposable razor.
LEONARD
So Sammy can't learn any new skills. But
I find something in my research:
Conditioning. Sammy should still be able
to learn through repetition. It's how
you learn stuff like riding a bike,
things you don't think about, you just
get better through practice. Call it
muscle memory, whatever, but it's a
completely different part of the brain
from the short-term memory. So I have
the doctors test Sammy's response to
conditioning...
48 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Sammy sits at a table. A DOCTOR sits opposite pointing out
various METAL OBJECTS sitting on the table.
DOCTOR
Just pick up any three objects.
SAMMY
(amused)
That's a test? Where were you guys when
I did my CPA?
Sammy PICKS UP an object and gestures to the Doctor for
applause. Sammy goes for a second object, but gets a SHOCK
which makes him recoil in pain. (LEONARD TO SUBSTITUTE)
SAMMY (cont'd)
Ah! What the fuck?!
Sammy looks ACCUSINGLY at the Doctor.
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Some of the objects were electrified,
They'd give him a small shock.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM
49 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
LEONARD
They kept repeating the test, always
with the same objects electrified. The
point was to see if he could learn to
avoid the electrified objects. Not by
memory, but by instinct.
50 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM: MESSY, CHEAPLY BUT ABUNDANTLY FURNISHED - MORNING (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard opens his eyes, naked in bed. He looks around,
confused. With a START, he realizes that someone else is in
the bed: a BRUNETTE with her back to him.
Leonard leans right over her to get a look at her face. It is
NATALIE. The BRUISE on her eye and the MARK on her lip are
worse than before.
She OPENS her eyes and is startled by the sight of Leonard's
hovering face.
LEONARD
Sorry. It's only me.
Leonard FLOPS down. Natalie wakes up fully and relaxes.
NATALIE
Sleep okay?
LEONARD
Yeah. You?
Natalie shrugs. She looks at her bedside clock.
NATALIE
I gotta be someplace.
She gets out of bed, wearing pajamas. Leonard swings his legs
out of the bed and realizes that he is wearing trousers and
socks. He looks at his tattoos, as if he has never seen them
before.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Pretty weird.
She is smiling at him in the mirror. Leonard smiles, shrugs.
LEONARD
Useful. You never write a phone number on
your hand?
NATALIE
(through mirror)
I should be able to talk to my friend
about the license plate today.
LEONARD
Yeah, the license plate...
NATALIE
(smiles)
John G's license plate number. You have
it tattooed on your thigh.
Natalie leaves the room. Leonard pulls down his trousers to
reveal two tattoos:
"FACT 5: DRUG DEALER"
"FACT 6: LICENSE PLATE NUMBER SG13 1NU"
Leonard runs his finger over fact 6, then pulls his trousers
up and looks around the room. He spots his suit jacket
hanging over the back of a chair. He checks the pockets,
pulls out his Polaroids, flips through them: a Jaguar, the
Discount Inn, Natalie. He flips Natalie's picture over and
looks at the back. There are two messages, but the first one
has been completely scribbled over. The other one reads:
"HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
Leonard stuffs the photos back into his pocket, grabs a white
shirt of f the chair and pulls it on. Natalie comes back in
and starts to apply her makeup.
NATALIE
If it's registered in this state it'll
just take seconds to pull up his license
and registration. I'll call when I've
spoken to him.
LEONARD
Why don't we just arrange a meeting now?
I'm not too good on the phone.
Natalie takes her eye pencil and writes a NOTE on a SMALL BAG
FROM A PHARMACY. Leonard puts his jacket on. Natalie offers
him the note. It says:
"CITY GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1.OOPM MEET NATALIE FOR INFO"
LEONARD (cont'd)
(leading)
It's great that you would... that you're
helping me like this...
NATALIE
(smiles)
I'm helping you because you helped me.
Leonard nods.
NATALIE (cont'd)
So will you remember me next time you seo
me?
Leonard shakes his head and reaches for the note. Natalie
grabs his lapel and pulls him down to her, kissing him gently
on the mouth.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I think you will.
LEONARD
(smiles)
I'm sorry.
Leonard heads for the door.
NATALIE
(amused)
Lenny, before you go, can I have my shirt
back please?
She tosses him his blue shirt. Leonard looks down at the
white shirt which he has put on. It is way too small.
51 EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar pulls up to a red light. Suddenly Teddy is banging
on the window.
TEDDY
Lenny! I thought you'd gone for good.
What brings you back?
52 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (in boxers, bandaged arm)STRIDES the room, shaving
foam on leg, razor in one hand, phone in the other.
LEONARD
They kept testing Sammy for months,
always with the same objects carrying
the electrical charge...
53 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Sammy sits across the testing table from the Doctor. Sammy
goes for a METAL OBJECT and RECOILS in pain from a SHOCK.
SAMMY
Ah! What the fuck?!
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
JUMP CUT TO:
54 INT. EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
AS BEFORE, but Sammy is DRESSED DIFFERENTLY. He goes for an
object and is SHOCKED.
SAMMY
Ah! What the fuck?!
DOCTOR
It's a test, Sammy.
SAMMY EXTENDS A TREMBLING MIDDLE FINGER.
SAMMY
Yeah? Test this you fucking quack.
Sequence of JUMP CUTS of Sammy extending his MIDDLE FINGER
and RECOILING in shock from the objects.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Even with total short-term memory loss,
Sammy should've learned to instinctively
stop picking up the wrong objects. All
previous cases of short-term memory loss
had responded to conditioning in some
way. Sammy didn't respond at all.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM
55 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
LEONARD
It was enough to suggest his condition
was psychological not physical.
We turned down his claim on the grounds
that he wasn't covered for mental
illness. Sammy's wife got stuck with the
bills and I got a promotion for
rejecting a big claim.
Leonard looks into the mirror.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Conditioning didn't work for Sammy, so
he became helpless. But it works for me.
I live the way Sammy couldn't. Habit and
Conditioning. Acting on instinct.
56 EXT./INT. NATALIE'S FRONT DOOR - DUSK (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard pulls up in his Jaguar, gets out, rings the front
doorbell. It is opened by Natalie.
LEONARD
Natalie, right?
Natalie nods, wary of Leonard's barely concealed anger.
Leonard thrusts a Polaroid photo in her face.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who the fuck is Dodd?
The photo is of a MAN who is BOUND, GAGGED, and BLOODY. On
the back of the photo:
"GET RID OF HIM, ASK NATALIE"
Natalie takes the picture and examines it.
NATALIE
Guess I don't have to worry about him
anymore.
LEONARD
(snaps)
Who is he? What have you got me into?
Natalie looks up and down the street.
NATALIE
Come inside.
57 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM: COMFORTABLE AND MESSY - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Natalie shows Leonard in.
NATALIE
Calm down. You're not into anything. It
was my problem, you offered no help. It's
got nothing to do with your
investigation.
LEONARD
That's the problem! How can I find John
G. when I don't know what's going on?!
How did you get me into this?!
NATALIE
Leonard, you offered to help when you saw
what this guy did to me.
She gestures at the BRUISING on her face.
LEONARD
How do I know he did that to you?
NATALIE
I came to you straight after he did it. I
showed you what he'd done and asked for
your help.
LEONARD
So I just take your word?
NATALIE
Yes.
LEONARD
(sighs)
Something feels wrong. I think someone's
fucking with me. Trying to get me to kill
the wrong guy.
NATALIE
Did you?
LEONARD
What?
NATALIE
Kill him.
LEONARD
Course not.
Natalie waves the Polaroid at him.
NATALIE
This has nothing to do with you. You
helped me out, and I'm grateful.
She tries to rip the picture. Leonard watches her try. The
plastic is too strong.
LEONARD
You have to burn them.
Natalie scrunches it up and throws it down. Leonard and
Natalie sit down on the couch.
NATALIE
You decided to help me. Trust yourself.
Trust your own judgment. You can
question everything, you can never know
anything for sure.
LEONARD
There are things you know for sure.
NATALIE
Such as?
LEONARD
I know the feel of the world.
(reaches forward)
I know how this wood will sound when I
knock.
(raps knuckles on coffee table)
I know how this glass will feel when I
pick it up.
(handles glass)
Certainties. You think it's knowledge,
but it's a kind of memory, a kind you
take for granted. I can remember so much.
(runs hands over objects)
I know the feel of the world,
(beat)
and I know her.
NATALIE
Your wife?
LEONARD
She's gone and the present is trivia,
which I can scribble down as notes.
Natalie stares at Leonard, thinking.
NATALIE
Relax a little, okay? Take off your
jacket.
Leonard takes his jacket off and places it on the back of the
couch, patting the pockets as he does so.
LEONARD
It's not easy to be calm when -
NATALIE
Just relax.
She reaches for his arm and unbuttons his cuff, revealing the
end of Leonard's tattoos.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You don't seem the type.
She pushes back the sleeve, trying to read the tattoo.
Leonard watches her.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Come on.
She starts to unbutton his shirt. He watches. Natalie gasps
as she opens Leonard's shirt and pulls it back over his
shoulders. She tilts her head, trying to read the different
messages.
NATALIE (cont'd)
It's backwards.
She pulls him up and turns him around in front of the mirror
to read the backwards tattoo across his chest.
"JOHN G. RAPED AND MURDERED MY WIFE".
Natalie touches the blank area of skin above Leonard's heart.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Here?
Leonard looks down at the blank patch, then at Natalie,
vulnerable, confused.
LEONARD
It's... it must be for when I've found him.
She looks at Leonard. Leonard shrugs. Natalie studies
Leonard's chest, avoiding his eyes.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I've lost somebody.
LEONARD
I'm sorry.
Natalie picks up a photograph from off a messy desk in the
corner. She shows it to Leonard. The picture shows Natalie
smiling and hugging a smirking YOUNG MAN (JIMMY). Natalie
looks up at Leonard to see his reaction.
NATALIE
His name was Jimmy.
LEONARD
What happened?
NATALIE
He went to meet somebody and didn't come
back.
LEONARD
Who did he go to meet?
Natalie studies Leonard.
NATALIE
A guy called Teddy.
Leonard does not react to the name.
LEONARD
What do the police think?
NATALIE
They don't look too hard for guys like
Jimmy.
Natalie puts the photo down. She reaches out to Leonard,
spreading her fingers over the blank part of his chest.
NATALIE (cont'd)
When you find this guy, this John G.,
what are you going to do?
LEONARD
Kill him.
NATALIE
Maybe I can help you find him. I know a
lot of people.
58 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Natalie, eyes closed, has her head on Leonard's chest. He is
shirtless, lying on top of the covers.
LEONARD
I don't even know how long she's been
gone. It's like I've woken up in bed and
she's not here because she's gone to the
bathroom or something. But somehow I just
know that she'll never come back to bed.
I lie here, not knowing how long I've
been alone. If I could just reach out and
touch her side of the bed I could know
that it was cold, but I can't. I have no
idea when she left.
Natalie's eyes are open.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I know I can't have her back, but I want
to be able to let her go. I don't want to
wake up every morning thinking she's
still here then realizing that she's not.
I want time to pass, but it won't. How
can I heal if I can't feel time?
Leonard bends his head around to see if Natalie is awake. She
closes her eyes. Leonard gingerly slides from underneath her
and moves silently out of the bedroom.
59 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard enters the dark room. He goes to the couch and picks
up his shirt and his jacket. He notices the photograph which
Natalie showed him on top of some papers on a desk in the
corner. He holds it in a shaft of light from the streetlamp
outside, studying the photo of Natalie and Jimmy.
60 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Natalie, eyes open, slides her hand over to where Leonard was
lying, feeling his residual warmth.
ii 61 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard has his Polaroid photograph of Natalie out. He takes
a pen out of his jacket, rests the photo against the wall in
a patch of light and writes on the back, underneath the
message which has been scribbled out:
"SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE. SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"
62 INT. NATALIE'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard enters, deposits his jacket and shirt, then slides
into bed next to Natalie.
63 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard lies on the bed (in boxers, bandaged arm)talking on
the phone. He wipes the excess shaving foam from his thigh,
and feels the SMOOTHNESS of the clean-shaven skin.
LEONARD
Sammy's wife was crippled by the cost of
supporting him and fighting the
company's decision - but it wasn't the
money that got to her.
64 INT. JANKIS HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Mrs. Jankis comes into the room. Sammy is seated, watching
T.V. He looks up at her with a smile. She smiles back, tense.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I never said that Sammy was faking. Just
that his problem was mental, not
physical. But she... she couldn't
understand. She looks into his eyes and
sees the same person. And if it's not a
physical problem...
Sammy's Wife starts shouting at Sammy. Sammy squirms.
LEONARD (V.0.)(CONT'D)
... he should just... snap out of it.
Sammy's Wife THROWS her drink in Sammy's face, puts her head
in her hands, SOBBING. Sammy wipes his face on his sleeve.
BACK TO LEONARD IN MOTEL ROOM:
65 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, talking on the phone, empties the white paper bag
onto the bed beside him: Two cheap BALL-POINT PENS, SCOTCH
TAPE, a pack of NEEDLES, and a FILE CARD.
LEONARD (cont'd)
So good old Leonard Shelby from the
insurance company gives her the seed of
doubt, just like he gave it to the
doctors. But I never said that Sammy was
faking. I never said that.
Leonard takes a NEEDLE out of the packet.
66 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT WITH HIGH CEILINGS AND WOODEN FLOOR - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
We move along a hallway towards a closed door. An ominous
rumbling builds.
A66 INSERT QUICK CUTS: A66
TREMBLING, SHALLOW-FOCUS EXTREME CLOSE UPS:
A glass bottle SHATTERS against black and white ceramic
tiles. A SUDDEN MOVEMENT glimpsed through a water-beaded
clear plastic shower curtain.
The shower curtain pulls TAUT across a GASPING FEMALE FACE.
Leonard's REFLECTION in a MIRROR which SHATTERS.
67 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard opens his eyes, frightened. He is lying on the bed in
his beige suit and blue shirt.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Awake.
He rolls his eyes to one side.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Where am I?
He lifts his head and surveys the room.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Motel room.
He rises from the bed, looking at the room as if for the
first time. He starts looking in the dresser drawers, finding
nothing.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Some anonymous motel room. Nothing in the
drawers, but you look anyway.
He grasps the handle of the bedside drawer.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Never anything but the Gideon...
Leonard pulls the drawer open, and pauses at what he sees.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
... Bible.
In the drawer is a Gideon Bible. Resting on top of it is a
HANDGUN.
Leonard turns, looks over the rest of the room. He moves to
the bureau and opens drawers. Empty. He goes to the closet
and OPENS it.
Inside is a BOUND and GAGGED MAN on the floor, knees against
chest. His mouth is taped up with silver electrical tape,
stained with DRIED BLOOD from his swollen nose. He looks up
at Leonard, blinking in the sudden bright light, TERRIFIED.
Leonard SHUTS the closet door, CONFUSED. The Man in the
closet starts GRUNTING and BUMPING the closet door.
There is a KNOCK at the door. Leonard looks through the
peephole.
68 INT./EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
INSERT LEONARD'S P.O.V.:
A FISH-EYE TEDDY, grinning and waving.
69 INT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard looks around, trying to think. Teddy KNOCKS harder.
The Man in the closet BUMPS and GROANS. Leonard reaches into
his pocket and pulls out some Polaroids.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just a minute!
He finds the one of Teddy, then sticks them back into his
pocket. He OPENS the door to Teddy and grins.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Teddy!
Teddy brushes past him into the room.
TEDDY
Finished playing with yourself, Lenny?
Teddy SLUMPS into a chair. Leonard tries to smile. There is a
faint GRUNTING and BUMPING from inside the closet. Teddy
notices the noise and grins.
TEDDY (cont'd)
I get it - amorous neighbors.
LEONARD
Why are you here?
TEDDY
(surprised)
You called me. You wanted my help. You
know, Lenny, I've had more rewarding
friendships than this one. Although I do
get to keep using the same jokes.
Leonard thinks, then moves to the CLOSET and OPENS the door.
Teddy looks in DISBELIEF at the Man in the closet.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Who the fuck is that?
LEONARD
You don't know him?
TEDDY
No! Should I?
Leonard shrugs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Is this John G.?
LEONARD
I don't think so.
TEDDY
Think so? You don't know? Didn't you
write it down?
LEONARD
I might have fallen asleep before I did.
Teddy shakes his head, chuckling.
TEDDY
Ask him.
Leonard crouches down and RIPS the tape from the Man's mouth.
LEONARD
What's your name?
The Man looks at Leonard, wary, says nothing. Leonard tweaks
his broken nose. The Man groans.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Your name.
MAN
Dodd.
LEONARD
Who did this to you?
DODD
(confused)
What?
LEONARD
Who did this to you?
DODD
You did.
Leonard replaces the gag and SHUTS the closet.
TEDDY
I'm not gonna help you kill this guy, if
that's what -
LEONARD
No. No, just let me think for a minute.
Leonard moves to the dresser and starts methodically emptying
his pockets. He pulls a Polaroid out of his inside jacket
pocket.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Here we go.
The Polaroid shows Dodd sitting on the bed, BOUND, GAGGED and
BLEEDING. The name Dodd is written below the picture. Leonard
flips it over. On the back it says:
"GET RID OF HIM, THEN ASK NATALIE"
Teddy looks at the photo over Leonard's shoulder.
TEDDY
Natalie? Natalie who?
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
I think I know her.
Leonard sticks his pictures in his pocket.
LEONARD
We've got to get him out of here.
TEDDY
He's got to have a car, right? We just
take him back to his car and tell him to
get the fuck out of town before we kill
him.
LEONARD
We can't just walk him out tied up and
bleeding.
TEDDY
How'd ya get him in here in the first
place?
LEONARD
I don't know.
Leonard looks around the room for inspiration.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Yes I do... this isn't my room.
Teddy looks around at the anonymous room.
LEONARD (cont'd)
It's his. He was already here. Let's just
go.
Leonard starts for the door, Teddy lays a hand on his chest.
TEDDY
Wait, we can't just leave him. The maid
finds him, calls the cops. He's seen us now
Leonard thinks.
LEONARD
Okay. We clean him up, untie him and
march him out with a gun in his back.
TEDDY
Why would I have a gun?
Leonard fishes the HANDGUN out of the bedside table drawer.
LEONARD
It must be his. I don't think they'd let
someone like me carry a gun.
TEDDY
Fucking hope not.
Leonard covers Dodd with the gun while Teddy pulls him out of
the closet. Dodd has trouble standing up straight.
70 EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Teddy exits the room, glances around, motions for Leonard and
Dodd to follow. Dodd is cleaned up and unbound, Leonard is
pressed up right behind him. The three of them descend to the
parking lot.
LEONARD
Which one?
Dodd leads them to a new LANDCRUISER. Teddy whispers in
Leonard's ear.
TEDDY
We probably ought to take his car, you
know, teach him a lesson.
LEONARD
Shut it, Teddy.
TEDDY
Easy for you to say, you've got the Jag.
LEONARD
I'll ride with him. You follow.
TEDDY
Give me your keys.
Leonard looks at him, suspicious.
LEONARD
Take your own car.
Teddy shrugs. Leonard motions Dodd into the driver's seat,
then slides into the passenger side. They pull out of the
parking lot, Teddy following in his GREY SEDAN.
71 EXT. SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY HEADING OUT OF TOWN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Landcruiser PULLS OVER and stops. The grey sedan pulls up
behind. Leonard gets out of the Landcruiser and it PULLS AWAY
at speed. Leonard walks back to Teddy's car.
72 INT. GREY SEDAN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
TEDDY
So was he scared?
LEONARD
Yeah. I think it was your sinister
mustache that got him.
Teddy leans over slightly so that he can see his reflection
in the rear view mirror. Leonard smiles. Teddy sees him.
TEDDY
Fuck you. We shoulda taken his car.
LEONARD
What's wrong with this one?
TEDDY
You like it? Let's trade.
73 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND THE MOTEL - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The grey sedan pulls up beside Leonard's Jaguar. Leonard gets
out.
TEDDY
So what are you gonna do now?
LEONARD
I'm gonna ask Natalie what the fuck that
was all about.
TEDDY
Natalie who?
Leonard ignores him and gets into his Jaguar.
74 EXT. A MODEST SINGLE-STOREY HOUSE - NATALIE'S - DUSK (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar pulls up. Leonard checks the address against the
address written on his Polaroid of Natalie, then goes to the
door and RINGS the bell. It is opened by Natalie.
LEONARD
Natalie, right?
Natalie nods, wary of Leonard's tone. Leonard THRUSTS a
Polaroid in her face.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who the fuck is Dodd?
The photo shows Dodd, BOUND, GAGGED and BLEEDING.
CUT TO:
75 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)talks on the phone as he takes
a NEEDLE and tapes it to the BALL-POINT PEN.
LEONARD
What Mrs. Jankis didn't understand was
that you can't bully someone into
remembering... the more pressure you're
under, the harder it gets.
(listens)
Then call me back.
Leonard hangs up.
76 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM BATHROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard sits on the toilet, grasping an empty VODKA BOTTLE by
the neck. He notices the bottle in his hands as if for the
first time.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Don't feel drunk.
Leonard looks up from the VODKA BOTTLE, sighs, rubs his face,
then stands up. He SNIFFS at his armpit.
He puts the empty bottle on the counter by the sink, then
wearily UNDRESSES.
Leonard, NAKED, looks in the mirror, then RUNS THE SHOWER
then steps under it, shutting the PEBBLED PLASTIC STALL DOOR.
Leonard SHOWERS. He turns the water off, then hears the DOOR
BEING UNLOCKED. Leonard freezes, standing in the SHOWER
STALL, NAKED and DRIPPING. Through the distortion of the
PEBBLED PLASTIC DOOR, Leonard sees a FIGURE enter the
bathroom and start pissing into the toilet. The distorted
Figure turns and approaches the shower stall, becoming
clearer as it gets closer, then YANKS the door open. It is
Dodd (WITHOUT INJURIES). He is SHOCKED to see the naked
Leonard. Leonard BURSTS out of the shower stall, SMASHING
Dodd against the wall.
Dodd STRUGGLES around, grabbing at the SLIPPERY, naked
Leonard. Dodd PUSHES against Leonard, SLASMMING him into the
sink.
Leonard has his arms around Dodd's neck. Leonard SMASHES
Dodd's head sideways into the wall, HARD.
Dodd SLUMPS to the floor. Leonard exhales. Dodd puts a FIST
in Leonard's crotch, then GRABS his neck as he doubles over.
Dodd uses Leonard to pull himself off the floor then PUNCHES
the side of his head and pushes him HARD, Leonard FLAILING
wildly, GRABBING THE EMPTY VODKA BOTTLE from by the sink as
he falls back into the bedroom. Dodd reaches into his INSIDE
POCKET.
77 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard STUMBLES in, naked, from the bathroom, swings around,
HITTING Dodd square in the face with the empty vodka bottle,
which does not break.
Dodd lies still on the floor, bleeding, his hand still in his
inside jacket pocket. Leonard stands above him, naked,
dripping wet, catching his breath.
There is a KNOCK at the door.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
Housekeeping.
The sound of a KEY entering the lock. Leonard LEAPS for the
door and flips the privacy latch.
LEONARD
Not just now!
Leonard listens to the maid withdraw her key. Leonard
SEARCHES Dodd, finding his GUN in his inside pocket. Leonard
examines the weapon, then starts to search the room. Leonard
finds an overnight bag at the bottom of the closet. Inside it
there are some clothes, spare ammunition, a large hunting
knife, and a roll of SILVER ELECTRICAL TAPE.
Leonard WRAPS the electrical tape around Dodd's wrists, then
across his mouth. Leonard finishes taping up Dodd, then sits
him on the edge of the bed. Leonard takes a POLAROID
PHOTOGRAPH of the bloody, taped-up Dodd.
Leonard shoves Dodd into the closet, takes out a NOTE and
consults it, then writes "DODD" on the white strip on the
front of the photograph. He flips the picture over and writes
on the strip on the back, in smaller writing:
"GET RID OF HIM, ASK NATALIE"
Leonard dresses, puts the Polaroid into the inside pocket of
his jacket. He looks again at the note. It says:
"DODD, MOUNTCREST INN ON 5TH STREET, ROOM 6"
"PUT HIM ONTO TEDDY OR JUST GET RID OF HIM FOR NATALIE"
Leonard picks the stack of Polaroids out of his outside
jacket pocket. He flips through them until he finds the one
of Teddy, then picks up the phone and dials Teddy's number.
The phone is answered:
TEDDY (O.S.)
You know what to do.
Then a BEEP. Leonard does not look like he knows what to do.
LEONARD
Ah, it's a message for Teddy...
Leonard looks at the note.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'm at the MOUNTCREST INN on 5th Street,
Room 6, and I need you to come over as
soon as you get this, it's important.
This is Leonard. Thanks. Bye.
Leonard hangs up. He looks around the room. He slips the
HANDGUN into the bedside drawer, resting it on the GIDEON
BIBLE, then swings his feet up onto the bed and lies down.
CUT TO:
78 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)crooks his neck to hold the
phone. In his hands is the PEN with the NEEDLE taped to it.
Leonard wiggles the needle, then applies more tape.
CUT TO:
79 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUEWCE#79
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)takes the NEEDLE/PEN in one
hand and picks up a CIGARETTE LIGHTER in the other.
Leonard IGNITES the lighter, then holds the needle over the flame.
He examines the NEEDLE, then holds it in the flame again.
Leonard puts down the lighter and picks up a second BALL-
POINT PEN.
80 EXT. DODD'S MOTEL - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up, FAST. Several bits of SHATTERED
SAFETY GLASS are still visible in the frame. He parks around
the back, out of sight and consults a note.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I'll get the jump on you, fucker.
Leonard RACES up the stairs to the rooms on the second floor.
He stops at Room 9, listening. The T.V. is on.
Leonard gets a CREDIT CARD out and slips it into the lock
gently, with a practiced hand. He leaves the CARD WEDGED in
the lock, then steps back from the door and KNOCKS.
Leonard watches the POINT OF LIGHT in the PEEPHOLE to Room 9.
The point of light GOES OUT. Leonard KICKS the door in,
SMASHING THE ROOM'S OCCUPANT BACK INTO THE ROOM.
Leonard stands over him, looking down. The man is
unconscious, blood on his face. Something is not right.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Is this the guy?
Leonard looks down at his NOTE. The room number given is 6.
Leonard looks at the "9" on the door, then down at the
unconscious man.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Fuck! Sorry.
Leonard reaches down, GRABS his credit card from where it
landed on the floor, and backs out of the doorway, shutting
the door on the Unconscious Man.
He MOVES QUICKLY to Room 6, slips his credit card in the lock
and knocks.
No answer, so Leonard slips inside.
81 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard flicks the light on and glances around. There is
nothing in the room except an empty VODKA BOTTLE on the
bedside table.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Need a weapon.
He grabs the empty vodka bottle, switches the light off and
slips into the bathroom.
82 INT. DODD'S MOTEL ROOM BATHROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard sits down on the toilet, holding the empty bottle by
its neck. He reaches out and adjusts the angle of the door.
His eyes are alert, he is nervous. Waiting. And waiting.
83 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (boxers, bandaged bicep), takes the second ball-point
pen and SNAPS it in two.
84 EXT. SMALL ALLEY BEHIND A ROW OF TRAILER HOMES - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard is RUNNING FURIOUSLY, arms pumping.
LEONARD (V.O.)
What the fuck am I doing?
Leonard glances to his right, and through a GAP between two
trailers he catches a glimpse of Dodd on the other side of
the trailer homes, RACING along parallel to Leonard.
LEONARD (V.O.)(CONT'D)
Chasing him!
Leonard CUTS down the next gap between trailers, heading FULL
SPEED for Dodd's side.
Dodd (without bruises)appears again at the other end of the
gap, SEES Leonard, and STARTS RUNNING TOWARDS HIM. There is a
GUN in his hand.
LEONARD (V.O.)(CONT'D)
FUCK! He's chasing me.
Leonard SKIDS to a halt and turns around. A BULLET hits the
dirt by his feet. He clears the end of the trailer and THROWS
himself over a chain link fence, dropping down on the other
side and SCRAMBLING through some bushes. He RACES full tilt
into a parking lot, looking around, desperate. He can hear a
CAR ALARM sounding. He pulls his KEYS OUT and hits the ALARM
switch. Hearing the DOUBLE BEEP as the alarm stops, he spots
the Jaguar.
The Jaguar PEELS OUT just as Dodd emerges from the trailer
park.
85 INT. JAGUAR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard is breathing hard, looking around nervously. He
starts knocking BITS OF BROKEN WINDOW GLASS out of the
driver's side window with his elbow then pulling photos and
pieces of paper out of his pockets as he drives.
Leonard finds a NOTE that gives a description of Dodd, along
with the motel and room number where Dodd is staying.
CUT TO:
86 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)has the NEEDLE/PEN in one hand
and the BROKEN PEN in the other. Leonard DIPS the needle into
the clear plastic INK RESERVOIR off the broken pen.
87 EXT. TRAILER PARK PARKING LOT - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard is in the Jaguar. Dodd (without any bruises)is
standing by the window, aiming his gun at Leonard.
DODD
I haven't made a strong enough
impression.
LEONARD
(amused)
Don't be too hard on yourself.
Dodd motions for Leonard to open the passenger side door.
Dodd gets into the passenger seat, gun on Leonard. Leonard
nods to him.
LEONARD
Seat belt.
Leonard starts to reach over his left shoulder with his right
hand as if for the seat belt. Dodd watches Leonard's right
hand.
With his left hand, Leonard opens the door. He rolls out,
SLAMMING the door in Dodd's face, and hitting the central
locking on his car keys.
Leonard TAKES OFF across the asphalt. Dodd tries the doors,
then SHOOTS at Leonard, SHATTERING the driver's side window,
triggering the CAR ALARM.
Dodd climbs through the window and takes off after him.
Leonard slips into a trailer park, TRIPPING as he DIVES into
a gap between two trailers, STUMBLING over the PLASTIC LAWN
FURNITURE and OLD BIKES which litter the narrow gap.
He picks himself up and SPRINTS into the alley behind the
trailers. He races along behind the trailers.
Leonard is RUNNING FURIOUSLY, arms pumping.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
What the fuck am I doing?
Leonard glances to his right, and through a GAP between the
two trailers he catches a glimpse of Dodd on the other side
of the trailer homes, racing along parallel to Leonard.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Chasing him!
Leonard cuts down the next gap between trailers, heading FULL
SPEED for Dodd's side.
CUT TO:
88 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard looks at the INK-COVERED NEEDLE. Leonard consults the
FILE CARD. It has a HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE:
"TATTOO: ACCESS TO DRUGS"
CUT TO:
89 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard exits room 304 of the Discount Inn carrying a
SHOPPING BAG, looking GRIM-FACED.
90 INT. JAGUAR - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard gets in, gently places the bag on the passenger seat.
91 EXT. STREET - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar speeds along.
92 EXT. PARKING LOT OVERLOOKING RESERVOIR - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard gets out of the Jaguar, carrying the shopping bag. He
climbs the chain-link fence.
93 EXT. RESERVOIR - NIGHT - SAME (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard has built a small FIRE. He reaches into the bag and
removes a small STUFFED TOY. He douses it with lighter fluid
and places it on the fire. He watches the fur blacken and the
plastic eyes melt.
Leonard reaches into the bag and pulls out a well-worn
PAPERBACK BOOK, whose cover has long-since been ripped off.
Leonard flicks through the pages.
94 INT. BEDROOM, LEONARD'S APARTMENT - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard is undressing. Leonard's Wife is in bed, reading the
well-worn paperback.
LEONARD
How can you read that again?
LEONARD'S WIFE
(without looking up)
It's good.
LEONARD
You've read it a hundred times.
LEONARD'S WIFE
I enjoy it.
LEONARD
Yeah, but the pleasure of a book is in
wanting to know what happens next -
LEONARD'S WIFE
(looks up, annoyed)
Don't be a prick. I'm not reading it to
annoy you, I enjoy it. Just let me read,
please.
95 EXT. RESERVOIR - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
He places the BOOK on the fire. He reaches into the bag,
produces a BRA and a HAIRBRUSH. He puts the bra on the fire,
then pulls some BLACK HAIR out of the hairbrush. He holds a
few strands out above the fire until they shrivel up in the
heat. He does this with a larger clump and it produces a
SMALL FLAME so he DROPS it into the fire.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Probably tried this before. Probably
burned truckloads of your stuff. Can't
remember to forget you.
He DROPS the brush onto the fire, pulls a GREEN ALARM CLOCK
out of the bag and adds it to the fire. Once the bag is
EMPTY, Leonard places it on the fire. He sits looking at the
flames.
DISSOLVE TO:
96 EXT. RESERVOIR - DAWN (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The sky has brightened. Leonard KICKS the dying embers apart. 58.
97 INT./EXT. DAWN - THE JAGUAR SPEEDS ALONG (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard looks into his rearview mirror to see a LANDCRUISER
following him. Leonard SPEEDS UP, turns right. The
Landcruiser sticks behind.
LEONARD (V.O.)
Do I know this guy?
Leonard fishes photographs out of his pocket, examining them.
The Landcruiser ACCELERATES until it is uncomfortably close.
Leonard slows, turning into a PARKING LOT. The Landcruiser
follows.
LEONARD (V.O.)
He seems to know me.
The Landcruiser PULLS ALONGSIDE the Jaguar. Leonard looks
over. Dodd (no bruises)is at the wheel. Leonard rolls down
his window.
LEONARD (V.O.)
What the fuck!
Dodd pulls out a HASNDGUN and points it at Leonard. Leonard
SLAMS on the brakes, JERKING to a halt as the Landcruiser
pulls over in front of the Jaguar.
98 EXT. TRAILER PARK PARKING LOT - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Dodd, gun in hand, gets out of the Landcruiser and
approaches.
DODD
I like your car.
LEONARD
Thanks.
DODD
Where'd you get it?
LEONARD
Interested in buying one?
DODD
I just want you to tell me how you came
by that car.
LEONARD
I forget.
Dodd points his gun at Leonard through the window.
DODD
I haven't made a strong enough impression
on you.
LEONARD
(amused)
I wouldn't be too hard on yourself.
99 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)drops the FILE CARD and
presses the INK-COVERED NEEDLE against his thigh. Leonard
pushes the ink-covered needle against his thigh, ABOUT TO
BREAK THE SKIN.
The PHONE RINGS, surprising Leonard. He watches it ring, then
reaches out with his BANDAGED arm to lift the receiver.
LEONARD
Who is this?
CUT TO:
100 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard is WOKEN by the sound of a door SHUTTING FIRMLY. He
turns his head to see a glow from under the bathroom door.
In the dim light he can see a well-worn, COVERLESS PAPERBACK
BOOK on the far bedside table. Next to it is a HAIRBRUSH and
a drinking glass half-full of water. There is a small STUFFED
TOY sitting by the pillow next to Leonard's head. Leonard's
eyes are half-closed as he slides his hand onto the other
half of the bed, feeling the residual warmth, smiling.
He props himself up on one arm, rubs his eyes and reaches
over to the SMALL, GREEN ALARM CLOCK, straining to read its
numbers in the dim light. He breathes heavily, sleepily and
shuts his eyes for a second, UTTERLY CONTENT.
LEONARD
(about to tell her something)
Honey?
The sound of the SHOWER being run. Leonard opens his eyes and
looks over to the bathroom door.
LEONARD (cont'd)
(relaxed)
Honey? It's late.
Leonard swings his legs over and sits on the edge of the bed.
Move in on Leonard's face.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Everything okay?
Leonard looks around with growing unease.
101 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
TREMBLING, SHALLOW-FOCUS EXTREME CLOSE UPS:
A glass bottle SHATTERS against a tiled floor, bath salts and
glass spreading out over the black and white tiles.
102 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard RISES from the bed, STARING at the bathroom door.
103 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
SUDDEN MOVEMENT glimpsed through a WATER-BEADED CLEAR PLASTIC
SHOWER CURTAIN. Mirror SHATTERING.
104 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard is at the bathroom door. He TAPS gently.
105 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The wet plastic shower curtain pulls TAUT across a GASPING,
THRASHING FEMALE FACE.
106 INT. MOTEL ROOM 304 - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard KNOCKS again. No answer. He KNOCKS louder, concerned.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Are you okay in there?!
Leonard GRABS the handle, THROWS OPEN THE DOOR.
107 INT. STEAM-FILLED BATHROOM ROOM 304 - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
A BLONDE WOMAN in a silk dressing gown, seated on the toilet,
looks up from SNORTING a line of cocaine off a small hand
mirror. She GIGGLES as she speaks to Leonard.
BLONDE
Was it good for you?
Leonard stands in the doorway, SHAKEN. The Blonde realizes
that Leonard is not happy.
BLONDE (cont'd)
Shit. Was I supposed to lock the door?
LEONARD
No. That would have been worse.
Leonard moves to turn off the shower.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'd like you to leave now.
108 INT. DISCOUNT INN, ROOM 304 - NIGHT - LATER (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard, fully clothed, grabs a SHOPPING BAG from the closet,
and does a quick circuit of the room, grabbing various items
(the paperback book, hairbrush, alarm clock, stuffed toy)and
STUFFING them into the bag.
109 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard comes out of Room 304, grim-faced, carrying the
shopping bag. He goes to his Jaguar and gets in.
CUT TO:
110 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - NIGHT #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)dips the NEEDLE into the ink
reservoir and PUNCTURES the skin of his thigh, talking on the
phone.
LEONARD
Well, sir, that would certainly be in
keeping with some of my own discoveries.
Yeah, I was hoping to get more on the
drugs angle. Hang on a second.
Leonard drops the needle/pen, pulls a LARGE FILE out of his
sports bag and opens it on the bed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
The police report mentioned the drugs
found in the car outside my house. The
car was stolen, but his prints were all
over it, along with some of his stuff.
And I think there's something...
(flips through pages)
Something about a syringe...
(flips pages, confused)
I've got a copy of the police report.
It has lots of information, but with my
condition, it's tough. I can't really
keep it all in mind at once.
Leonard looks at the back of the file, where he has written a
list of 'CONCLUSIONS'.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I have to keep summarizing the different
sections...
Leonard flips back to the front page. on it there is a
handwritten note: "MISSING PAGES: 14-17, 19, 23...
LEONARD (cont'd)
Yeah, and there's pages missing... I
guess I've been trying to log them all.
(listens, smiles)
The police gave me the report
themselves. I dealt with them a lot in
my insurance job, and I had friends in
the department. They must have figured
that if I saw the facts of the case,
then I would stop believing that we
needed to find John G.
Leonard flips to the back page to look at his HANDWRITTEN
CONCLUSIONS.
LEONARD (cont'd)
They weren't even looking for John G.
The stuff they found in the car just fit
in with what they believed had happened,
so they didn't chase any of it up.
111 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard pulls up in the Jaguar, checks the name against a
NOTE written on a BEER MAT, and heads into the office.
Leonard comes out of the office, gets a sports bag from the
Jaguar, then takes a Polaroid of the entrance and heads for
Room 304.
112 INT. DISCOUNT INN - ROOM 304 - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard enters the unoccupied room, flapping the Polaroid
photo. He sifts through his sports bag, pulls out a pen and
writes the motel's address on the picture.
With well-practiced, efficient movements, Leonard removes his
wall chart from the sports bag, unrolls it, sticks it to the
wall. He takes a stack of Polaroids out of the sports bag and
works through them, considering each new picture and finding
its proper place on the chart like someone playing solitaire.
LATER:
Leonard flips through the yellow pages, looking under "Escort
Services".
LATER:
Leonard is on the phone.
LEONARD
None? Okay, blonde. Yeah, blonde is fine.
Discount Inn, 304. Leonard.
LATER:
Leonard opens the door to the Blonde.
LATER:
The Blonde is looking curiously at the chart, drink in hand.
Leonard is in the chair.
BLONDE
Well, what then?
LEONARD
It's simple, you just go to the bathroom.
The Blonde turns, surprised. Leonard smiles, embarrassed.
LEONARD (cont'd)
No, you just go into the bathroom. We go
to bed, you wait till I fall asleep, then
you go into the bathroom and slam the door.
BLONDE
Slam it?
LEONARD
Just loud enough to wake me up.
BLONDE
That's it?
LEONARD
That's it.
Leonard gets up, pulls a paper shopping bag out of the closet
and hands it to the Blonde.
LEONARD (cont'd)
But, first I need you to put these things
around.
The Blonde looks confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Just pretend these things are yours, and
this is your bedroom.
The Blonde pulls a bra out of the bag.
BLONDE
Should I wear it?
LEONARD
No. Just leave the stuff lying around as
if it were yours. Like you just took it
off or something.
BLONDE
Whatever gets you off.
The Blonde pulls the hairbrush out of the bag. She moves to
brush her hair with it, but Leonard stops her.
LEONARD
No! No, don't use it, you, I mean it's...
you just have to put it where you would
if it were yours.
The Blonde sees the BLACK HAIR stuck in the brush.
113 INT. DISCOUNT INN ROOM 304 - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The lights are off. The Blonde and Leonard are lying side by
side in bed.
The Blonde checks to see that Leonard is asleep, then slips
out of bed. She grabs her purse then opens the bathroom door.
She looks back at Leonard, asleep. She moves into the
bathroom and shuts the door firmly, making a LOUD BANG.
Leonard's EYES OPEN.
114 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQCTENCE#114
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)TATTOOS HIMSELF as he talks on
the phone. So far he has tattooed:
"FACT 5."
LEONARD
The drugs stashed in the car doesn't
ring true for me.
Leonard consults his FILE CARD, which says:
"TATTOO: ACCESS TO DRUGS"
LEONARD (cont'd)
The police figure the guy was an addict
needing money to score, but I'm not
convinced. He's not gonna be breaking in
when he's still got a stash that big.
(listens)
I think John G. left it or planted it.
(listens)
Well, it was a lot for one guy's
personal use.
(listens)
How do you know that?
(listens, checks report)
Right, that's true. It fits.
(listens)
Too much for personal use, so he deals.
Leonard takes his pen and alters his FILE CARD to read:
"TATTOO: FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
Leonard picks up the NEEDLE/PEN and continues his tattoo.
115 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The CAR ALARM of the Jaguar is SOUNDING.
Leonard exits, walks to the car and gets in, switching off
the alarm.
TEDDY (O.S.)
You should lock a car as nice as this.
Teddy is in the passenger seat. Leonard, startled, GRABS him
by the throat.
LEONARD
Who the fuck are you?
TEDDY
(gasping)
Teddy. Your buddy.
LEONARD
Prove it.
TEDDY
(gasping)
Sammy. Remember Sammy. You told me about
Sammy.
Leonard lets him go.
LEONARD
What are you doing in my car?
Teddy is now wearing his big grin, rubbing his neck.
TEDDY
Sense of humour went with the memory,
huh? You know why you're still here,
don't you?
LEONARD
Unfinished business.
TEDDY
Lenny, as a buddy, let me inform you.
Your business here is very much finished.
You're still here because of Natalie.
LEONARD
Who's she?
Teddy chuckles.
TEDDY
Whose house do you think you just walked
out of?
Leonard looks at the house. Teddy motions towards Leonard's
pockets.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Take a look at your pictures, I bet you
got one of her.
Leonard pulls out his Polaroids and flips through them. He
pauses at the one of Natalie. Teddy SWIPES it out of his
hands to get a better look at the blurred image of Natalie
turning in a doorway.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Great shot, Lenny.
Teddy flips the photo over. There is nothing on the back.
Teddy hands it back to Leonard.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You wanna make a note that you can't
trust her.
LEONARD
Why's that?
TEDDY
Because she'll have taken one look at
your clothes and your car and started
thinking of ways to turn the situation to
her advantage. She's already got you
staying with her, for fuck's sake.
You can't stay with her. Let me give you
the name of a motel.
Teddy starts looking for a piece of paper.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Good thing I found you. She's bad news.
LEONARD
What do you mean "bad news"?
TEDDY
She's involved with these drug dealers.
Teddy opens the GLOVE COMPARTMENT, finding a STACK OF BEER
MATS from a local bar called FERDY'S.
TEDDY (cont'd)
See these? That's the bar where she
works. Her boyfriend's a drug dealer.
She'd take orders for him, arrange meets.
He'd write messages on these, then leave
it on the bar. She'd drop replies when
she served him drinks.
LEONARD
Why should I care?
Teddy starts writing on the BEER MAT.
TEDDY
She's gonna use you. To protect herself.
LEONARD
From who?
TEDDY
Guys who'll come after her. Guys who'll
want to know what happened to her
boyfriend. They'll want to make somebody
pay. Maybe she'll try and make it you.
LEONARD
Yeah, well maybe she'll make it you. Is
that it? You worried she'll use me
against you?
TEDDY
She couldn't.
LEONARD
Why not?
TEDDY
(grins)
She has no idea who I am.
LEONARD
Why are you following me?
TEDDY
I'm trying to help you. I knew she'd get
her claws into you. She doesn't know
anything about your investigation, so
when she offers to help you, it'll be for
her own reasons. Why would I lie? Do not
go back to her. Take out a pen, write
yourself a note, do not trust her.
Leonard takes out his pen, places the picture of Natalie face
down on the dash and writes on the white strip on the back:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
LEONARD
Happy now?
TEDDY
I won't be happy until you leave town.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
How long do you think you can hang around
here before people start asking
questions?
LEONARD
What sort of questions?
TEDDY
The sort of questions you should be
asking yourself.
LEONARD
Like what?
TEDDY
Like how'd you get this car? That suit?
LEONARD
I have money.
TEDDY
From what?
LEONARD
My wife's death. I used to work in
Insurance, we were well covered.
TEDDY
So in your grief you wandered into a
Jaguar dealership?
Leonard says nothing. Teddy laughs.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You haven't got a clue, have you? You
don't even know who you are?
LEONARD
Yes, I do. I don't have amnesia. I
remember everything about myself up until
the incident. I'm Leonard Shelby, I'm
from San Fran -
TEDDY
That's who you were, Lenny. You don't
know who you are, who you've become since
the incident. You're wandering around,
playing detective... and you don't even
know how long ago it was.
Teddy reaches out to Leonard's lapel, and gently opens his
jacket to reveal the label.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Put it this way. Were you wearing
designer suits when you sold insurance?
Leonard looks down at his suit, then back to Teddy.
LEONARD
I didn't sell -
TEDDY
I know, you investigated. Maybe you need
to apply some of your investigative
skills to yourself.
LEONARD
Yeah, well, thanks for the advice.
TEDDY
Don't go back in there. There's a motel
out of town.
Teddy hands Leonard the BEER MAT and gets out of the car.
TEDDY (cont'd)
It's been fun, Lenny.
Teddy walks off. Leonard pulls his Polaroids out of his
pocket and finds the one of Teddy. He places it on the dash,
face up, next to the one of Natalie which is still face down
on the dash. Leonard reads the message he has written on the
back of Natalie's picture:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
He flips Teddy's picture over, like a croupier turning a card
at blackjack. On the back it says:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
Leonard purses his lips in surprised frustration. He grabs
his pen and scribbles on the back of Natalie's picture,
obliterating the words:
"DON'T TRUST HER"
He flips Natalie's picture over and considers her blurred
image. He looks up at her house, then picks up the BEER MAT,
reading the address Teddy has given him.
LEONARD
Fuck it. I need my own place.
Leonard starts the engine.
116 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard pulls up in his Jaguar, checks the name of the motel
against the note written on the BEER MAT, then heads into the
office to check in.
Leonard comes out of the office, takes a Polaroid of the
front of the motel, and heads for Room 304.
117 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard (boxers, bandaged arm)talks on the phone. He presses
the NEEDLE/PEN against his thigh, working on a "D".
LEONARD
I can't blame the cops for not taking me
seriously. This is a difficult condition
for people to understand. I mean look at
Sammy Jankis. His own wife couldn't deal
with it.
(listens)
I told you about how she tried to get
him to snap out of it?
(listens)
It got much worse than that. Eventually
Sammy's wife came to see me at the
office, and I found out all kinds of
shit.
(listens)
She knew that I was the one who had
built he case for Sammy faking it.
118 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, in a CHEAP SUIT AND TIE, gets up from behind his
desk to shake hands with Mrs. Jankis. They talk, Leonard
nodding as he listens. Mrs. Jankis is crying.
LEONARD (V.O.)
She told me about life with Sammy, how
she'd treated him. It had got to the
point where she'd get Sammy to hide food
all around the house, then stop feeding
him to see if his hunger would make him
remember where he'd hidden the stuff.
She wasn't a cruel person, she just
wanted her old Sammy back.
The tearful Mrs. Jankis gives Leonard a determined look.
MRS. JANKIS
Mr. Shelby, you know all about Sammy and
you decided that he was faking -
LEONARD
Mrs. Jankis, the company's position
isn't that Sammy is "faking" anything,
just that his condition can't be shown -
MRS. JANKIS
I'm not interested in the company
position, Mr. Shelby. I want to know
your honest opinion about Sammy.
LEONARD
We shouldn't even be talking this way
while the case is still open to appeal.
MRS. JANKIS
I'm not appealing the decision.
LEONARD
Then why are you here?
MRS. JANKIS
Mr. Shelby, try and understand. When I
look into Sammy's eyes, I don't see some
vegetable, I see the same old Sammy.
What do you think it's like for me to
suspect that he's imagining this whole
problem? That if I could just say the
right thing he'd snap out of it and be
back to normal? If I knew that my old
Sammy was truly gone, then I could say
goodbye and start loving this new Sammy.
As long as I have doubt, I can't say
goodbye and move on.
LEONARD
Mrs. Jankis, what do you want from me?
MRS. JANKIS
I want you to forget the company you
work for for thirty seconds, and tell me
if you really think that Sammy is faking
his condition.
Leonard plays with his letter opener, thinking.
MRS. JANKIS (cont'd)
I need to know what you honestly
believe.
LEONARD
(looks at Mrs. Jankis)
I believe that Sammy should be
physically capable of making new
memories.
MRS. JANKIS
Thank you.
119 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
LEONARD
She seemed to leave happy. I thought I'd
helped her.
Leonard puts the NEEDLE/PEN down, and wipes blood from his new,
homemade TATTOO, which says:
"FACT 5. DRUG DEALER"
LEONARD (cont'd)
I thought she just needed some kind of
answer.
I didn't think it was important to her
what the answer was, just that she had
one to believe.
Leonard notices the BANDAGE on his LEFT ARM. He starts
fiddling with the TAPE, peeling back the corners.
CUT TO:
120 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard sifts through the papers on the desk, agitated. He
hears a car door SLAM. He looks out of the window to see
Natalie getting out of her car.
She turns and comes towards the front door. Her face is SWOLLEN
and BLEEDING.
Leonard OPENS the door for her. She RUSHES past him.
LEONARD
What happened?
Natalie, intensely AGITATED, FUMBLES with things in her purse.
NATALIE
What does it look like?!
She turns to Leonard so that he can see the full extent of
her injuries. Her eye is SWELLING UP, and her lip is SPLIT.
NATALIE (cont'd)
He beat the shit out of me.
LEONARD
Who?
NATALIE
Who?! Fuck, Leonard! Dodd! Dodd beat the
shit out of me.
Natalie FLINGS her purse to the ground in frustration. She
does not know what to do with her hands.
LEONARD
Why?
Natalie turns to him, ENRAGED.
NATALIE
Because of you, you fucking idiot!
Because I did what you told me!
Go to him, reason with him, tell him
about Teddy! Great fucking ideal
Leonard APPROACHES her, palms out.
LEONARD
Calm down.
Natalie starts to HIT Leonard. He takes her arms.
LEONARD (cont'd)
(softly)
Take it easy. You're safe now. You're
safe.
He sits her down on the couch.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Let's get some ice on your face.
LATER:
Natalie, crying softly, holds a paper towel filled with ice
cubes to her swollen cheek while Leonard gently uses a damp
paper towel to wipe the blood from her upper lip.
NATALIE
I did exactly what you told me. I went to
Dodd and I said that I didn't have
Jimmy's money, or any drugs, that this
Teddy must have taken everything.
LEONARD
And what did he say?
NATALIE
He didn't believe me. He said that if I
don't get him the money tomorrow he's
gonna kill me. Then he started hitting
me.
LEONARD
Where is he?
NATALIE
What are you gonna do?
LEONARD
I'll go see him.
NATALIE
And?
LEONARD
Give him some bruises of his own and tell
him to look for a guy called Teddy.
NATALIE
He'll kill you, Lenny.
LEONARD
(smiling)
My wife used to call me Lenny.
NATALIE
Yeah?
LEONARD
Yeah, I hated it.
NATALIE
This guy's dangerous, let's think of
something else.
Leonard takes out a piece of paper but he cannot find his
pen.
LEONARD
I'll take care of it. Just tell me what
he looks like, and where I can find him.
Do you have a pen?
Natalie gets a pen out of her purse and hands it to him.
NATALIE
He'll probably find you.
LEONARD
Me? Why would he be interested in me?
NATALIE
I told him about your car.
LEONARD
Why would you do that?
NATALIE
He was beating the crap out of me! I had
to tell him something!
Leonard hands Natalie the piece of paper and pen.
LEONARD
Just write it all down. What he looks
like, where I find him.
Natalie hands him a note. It says:
"DODD MOUNTCREST INN ON 5TH ST., ROOM 6"
"PUT HIM ON TO TEDDY OR JUST GET RID OF HIM FOR NATALIE"
Outside, a CAR ALARM starts to sound. Leonard gets up and
heads to the door, flipping through his Polaroids.
121 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The Jaguar's CAR ALARM is sounding.
Leonard exits Natalie's house, walks to his Jaguar and gets
in, silencing the alarm.
TEDDY (O.S.)
You should lock a car as nice as this.
Leonard, startled, GRABS Teddy by the throat.
CUT TO:
122 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, in boxers, bandage on arm, sits on the edge of
the bed talking on the phone.
LEONARD
No, she shouldn't have given me that
responsibility. Shit, I'm not a doctor,
I'm a claims investigator.
Leonard crooks his neck to hold the receiver between ear and
shoulder and FIDDLES with the BANDAGE ON HIS LEFT ARM,
starting to peel back the tape, t.zying to look under the
cotton pad.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I suppose, but I've got all sorts of
other considerations.
Leonard starts to REMOVE THE BANDAGE.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Legal responsibility, and large
financial...
LEONARD REMOVES THE BANDAGE FROM HIS LEFT ARM, REVEALING A
CRUDE TATTOO WHICH SAYS:
"NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE"
Leonard looks up.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Who is this?
He takes the receiver away from his ear as if the caller has
just hung up.
CUT TO:
123 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard is sitting on the coffee table, relaxed, looking at
his Polaroids. Natalie (WITHOUT BRUISES)BURSTS in through
the front door, scared.
LEONARD
What's wrong?
NATALIE
Somebody's come. Already.
LEONARD
Who?
NATALIE
Calls himself Dodd.
LEONARD
What does he want?
NATALIE
Wants to know what happened to Jimmy. And
his money. He thinks I have it. He thinks
I took it.
LEONARD
Did you?
NATALIE
No!
LEONARD
What's this all about?
Natalie looks at him bitterly.
NATALIE
You don't know, do you? You're blissfully
ignorant, aren't you?
LEONARD
I have this condition -
NATALIE
I know about your fucking condition,
Leonard! I probably know more about it
than you do! You don't have a fucking
clue about anything else!
LEONARD
What happened?
NATALIE
What happened is that Jimmy went to meet
a guy called Teddy. He took a lot of
money with him and he didn't come back.
Jimmy's partners think I set him up. I
don't know whether you know this Teddy or
how well -
Leonard is getting frustrated.
LEONARD
Neither do I.
NATALIE
Don't protect him.
LEONARD
I'm not.
NATALIE
Help me.
LEONARD
How?
NATALIE
Get rid of Dodd for me.
LEONARD
What?
NATALIE
Kill him. I'll pay you.
LEONARD
What do you think I am?! I'm not gonna
kill someone for money.
NATALIE
What then? Love? What would you kill for?
For your wife, right?
LEONARD
That's different.
NATALIE
Not to me! I wasn't fucking married to
her!
LEONARD
Don't talk about my wife.
NATALIE
I can talk about whoever the fuck I want!
You won't even remember what I say! I can
tell you that your wife was a fucking
whore and we can still be friends!
Leonard stands up.
LEONARD
Calm down.
NATALIE
That's easy for you to say! You can't get
scared, you don't remember how, you
fucking idiot!
LEONARD
Just take it easy, this isn't my fault.
NATALIE
Maybe it is! How the fuck would you
know?! You don't know a fucking thing!
You can't get scared, can you get angry?!
Leonard steps towards her.
LEONARD
Yes.
NATALIE
You pathetic piece of shit. I can say
whatever the fuck I want and you won't
have a clue, you fucking retard.
LEONARD
Shut the fuck up!
Natalie gets right in his face, grinning.
NATALIE
I'm gonna use you, you stupid fuck. I'm
telling you now because I'll enjoy it
more if I know that you could stop me if
you weren't a freak.
Leonard grabs his Polaroids and finds one of Natalie. He
reaches into his pocket for a pen, but cannot find one.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Lost your pen? That's too bad, freak.
Otherwise you could've written yourself
a little note about how much Natalie
hates your retarded guts.
Leonard moves around the room searching for a pen. Natalie
follows him, speaking into his ear.
NATALIE (cont'd)
No pens here, I'm afraid. You're never
going to know that I called you a retard,
and your wife a whore.
Leonard turns to face her, barely controlling his anger.
LEONARD
Don't say another fucking word!
NATALIE
About your whore of a wife?
Leonard slaps Natalie. She smiles, then speaks softly.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I read about your problem. You know what
one of the causes of short term memory
loss is?
Leonard fumes.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Venereal disease. Maybe your cunt of a
wife sucked one too many diseased cocks
and turned you into a retard.
Leonard turns away, body tensed, ready to snap. Natalie
reaches out to gently brush the hair above his ear with her
fingers.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You sad freak, you won't remember any of
what I've said, and we'll be best
friends, or even lovers.
Leonard spins around, BACKHANDING Natalie on the cheek.
He PUNCHES her in the mouth then pushes her to the floor. He
stands over her, furious with himself as much as her.
Natalie gets to her feet, and goes to the door. She turns to
Leonard. Her face is bloody but she smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
See you soon.
Natalie exits. Leonard watches her walk out to her car and
get in. She just sits there.
Leonard turns from the window and looks around the room. He
grabs at drawers, searching for a pen. He looks back out the
window. Natalie is still sitting in her car. Leonard is
sifting through the papers on the desk when he hears a car
door SLAM. He looks out of the window to see Natalie getting
out of her car. She turns to walk toward the house. Her face
is swollen and bloody.
Leonard opens the door for her.
LEONARD
What happened?
Natalie, intensely AGITATED, FUMBLES with things in her
purse.
NATALIE
What does it look like?
124 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY (BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE)
Leonard lies on the bed, in jeans, topless. He reaches for the
ringing phone with his left arm. As his hand reaches the
receiver Leonard reads the tattoo on his arm which says:
"NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE"
Leonard strokes the tattoo as he lets the phone ring. It
stops. Leonard goes to the door, opens it and checks the
number of the room: 21. He goes back to the phone, makes a
call.
LEONARD
Front desk? Burt, right. Well, this is
Mr. Shelby in Room 21. I don't want any
calls, none at all, got it? Thanks.
CUT TO:
125 EXT. NATALIE'S HOUSE - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard's Jaguar pulls up. Leonard and Natalie (WITHOUT
BRUISES)get out. Leonard is carrying his sports bag.
126 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Natalie leads Leonard in, self-conscious about her messy
living room.
NATALIE
You can just crash out on the couch.
You'll be comfortable.
Leonard nods and stands awkwardly.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Uh, take a seat.
Leonard smiles and sits down in a chair. Natalie clears
things off the coffee table. Leonard unzips his bag and looks
through his things, pulling out his file.
NATALIE (cont'd)
So how long you think it's gonna take
you?
Leonard raises his eyebrows.
NATALIE (cont'd)
You told me you were looking for the guy
who killed your wife.
LEONARD
(consulting file)
Depends on if he's here in town. Or if
he's moved on. See, I've got all this -
NATALIE
Can I ask you something?
Leonard nods.
NATALIE (cont'd)
If you've got all this information, how
come the police haven't found him for
you?
LEONARD
They're not looking for him.
NATALIE
Why not?
Leonard runs his finger down the list of conclusions on the
back of his file.
LEONARD
They don't think he exists.
Natalie looks confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I told them what I remembered. I was
asleep, something woke me up...
CUT TO FLASHBACK (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
127 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard opens his eyes. He slides his hand over to the empty
space on the bed beside him, feeling the sheet.
LEONARD (V.0.)
Her side of the bed was cold. She'd been
out of bed for a while.
Leonard sits up in bed, listening.
128 INT. LEONARD'S HALLWAY WITH WOODEN FLOORS AND HIGH CEILINGS NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
We move down the hail towards a closed door. Shadows and
light play across the floorboards from the gap under the
door. An ominous rumbling builds.
A128 INSERT QUICK CUTS: A128
Extreme close ups:
A glass bottle smashes against ceramic tiles. A mirror
smashes. Flesh hits tiled floor.
129 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BEDROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard takes a gun down from the top of the bedroom closet,
then quietly makes his way into the corridor.
A129 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
He KICKS the door open, revealing two figures struggling on
the floor of a BATHROOM.
Close up of a WOMAN'S FACE, wrapped in the wet clear plastic
shower curtain, STRUGGLING to breathe.
Close up of a BASEBALL CAP-COVERED HEAD turning to reveal a
face covered by a DIRTY WHITE COTTON MASK.
Close up of a GLOVED HAND drawing a PISTOL from the back of a
waistband.
A SHOT rings out and the white cotton mask is BLOWN into RED,
the Masked Man falling of f the struggling woman. Leonard
stands in the doorway, smoking gun in hand. He is HIT HARD
from behind by an UNSEEN ASSAILANT who GRABS Leonard by the
HAIR and THROWS his HEAD into the MIRROR, SHATTERING IT.
Leonard DROPS to the floor.
An extreme close up of a woman's staring eyes, seen through
water-beaded, blood-spattered clear plastic.
The EYES BLINK and we WHITE OUT.
FADE DOWN FROM WHITE TO:
130 INT. NATALIE'S LIVING ROOM - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
LEONARD (cont'd)
There had to be a second man. I was
struck from behind, I remember. It's
about the last thing I do remember. But
the police didn't believe me.
NATALIE
How did they explain what you remembered?
The gun and stuff?
LEONARD
(points at conclusions on back
of file)
John G. was clever. He took the dead
man's gun and replaced it with the sap
that he'd hit me with. He left my gun and
left the getaway car. He gave the police
a complete package. They found a sap with
my blood on it in the dead man's hand,
and they only found my gun. They didn't
need to look for anyone else. I was the
only guy who disagreed with the facts,
and I had brain damage.
Natalie watches him.
NATALIE
You can stay here for a couple of days if
it'll help.
LEONARD
Thank you.
NATALIE
I've got to get back for the evening
shift, so make yourself at home, watch
T.V., whatever. Just grab a blanket and
pillow off the bed. I never need them all
anyway.
Leonard nods. Natalie heads for the door.
LEONARD
Oh, one thing.
Natalie TURNS. Leonard snaps her picture with his Polaroid
camera. He lowers the camera and smiles.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Something to remember you by.
Natalie smiles unconvincingly, perturbed, and exits. Leonard
sits down on the couch and writes "Natalie" on the white
strip under her photo as it develops into the blurred image
of Natalie which we have seen before. He takes out his other
Polaroids, flipping through them.
LATER:
Leonard watches commercials on TV. He notices the tattoo on
his hand ("REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS"), then switches the TV off.
He starts to examine his Polaroids.
Natalie BURSTS through the door, worried.
LEONARD (cont'd)
What's wrong?
NATALIE
Somebody's come. Already.
CUT TO:
131 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
There is a KNOCK at the door. Leonard PULLS ON HIS LONG-
SLEEVED PLAID WORK SHIRT, goes to the door and opens it. Burt
is standing there.
BURT
Leonard, it's Burt from the front desk.
LEONARD
Yeah?
BURT
I know you said you didn't want any
calls...
LEONARD
That's right I did, didn't I?
BURT
Yeah, but there's a call for you from
this guy. He's a cop.
LEONARD
A cop?
BURT
And he says you're gonna wanna hear what
he's got to say.
LEONARD
(shakes head)
I'm not too good on the phone. I need to
look people in the eye when I talk to
them.
Burt shrugs, then walks off.
CUT TO:
132 INT. FERDY'S BAR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard sits at a booth looking through his Polaroids. A
DRUNK with shaky hands sits at the bar. Natalie (without
bruises)is working behind the bar. She tops up a silver
tankard with beer, brings it over and sets it in front of
Leonard, smiling.
NATALIE
On the house.
LEONARD
Thanks.
Natalie watches in fascination as Leonard drinks from the
mug. The Drunk is giggling.
NATALIE
(fascinated)
You really do have a problem. Just like
that cop said.
Leonard looks at Natalie, confused.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Your condition, I mean.
LEONARD
(shrugs)
Nobody's perfect.
Natalie leans in close, studying Leonard, looking him over.
NATALIE
What's the last thing you remember?
Leonard looks at her.
CUT TO FLASHBACK:
133 INT. LEONARD'S BATHROOM - NIGHT (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
An extreme close up, from floor level, of a woman's staring
eyes seen through water-beaded, blood-spattered clear
plastic.
The EYES BLINK.
134 INT. FERDY'S BAR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
BACK TO LEONARD IN BAR:
Leonard looks at Natalie.
LEONARD
My wife.
NATALIE
Sweet.
LEONARD
Dying.
NATALIE
What?
LEONARD
I remember my wife dying.
Natalie picks up the silver tankard from the table.
NATALIE
Let me get you a fresh glass. I think
this one was dusty.
135 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, in boxers and long-sleeved plaid work shirt, lies on
the bed, trying to ignore the RINGING PHONE. he rubs his
tattoo: "NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE". The phone goes quiet.
Leonard hears a noise, and turns to see an ENVELOPE sliding
underneath the door. He gets off the bed and picks it up. It
is addressed: "LEONARD". He opens it and removes a POLAROID.
The photo of himself, bare-chested, tattooed and grinning
maniacally, pointing to the bare area of skin above his
heart. Leonard stares at it, disturbed. Underneath the photo
is written:
"TAKE MY CALL"
The phone RINGS.
136 OMIT
137 INT. JAGUAR PARKED IN FERDY'S BAR PARKING LOT - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard sits, studying his Polaroids. A metallic howl makes
him glance up and he sees the lid of a dumpster BANG SHUT. He
puts his Polaroids in his pocket and examines the beer mat
with the message: "COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE"
138 OMIT
139 INT. FERDY'S BAR ON MAIN STREET - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard enters and sits at the bar a couple of places down
from a filthy, toothless Drunk. Natalie (without bruises)
appears in front of him. Leonard looks up at Natalie without
recognition. She eyes him coldly, staring at his clothes.
LEONARD
Beer, please.
NATALIE
(apprehensive)
What do you want?
LEONARD
A BEER, please.
NATALIE
Don't just waltz in here dressed like
that and order a beer.
Leonard looks over to the filthy Drunk, then back at Natalie.
LEONARD
There's a dress code?
NATALIE
What are you here for?
LEONARD
I'm meeting someone called Natalie.
NATALIE
Well, that's me.
LEONARD
Oh. But haven't we met before?
Natalie slowly shakes her head. Leonard is confused.
LEONARD (cont'd)
So why am I here?
NATALIE
You tell me.
LEONARD
I don't remember. See, I have no short-
term memory. It's not amnesia -
NATALIE
You're the memory guy?
LEONARD
How do you know about me?
NATALIE
My boyfriend told me about you.
LEONARD
Who's your boyfriend?
NATALIE
(beat)
Jimmy Grantz. Know him?
Leonard shrugs.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Well, it seems like Jimmy knows you. He
told me about you. Said you were staying
over at the Discount. Then, just this
evening, this cop comes in here looking
for you. Looking for a guy who couldn't
remember stuff, who'd forget how he got
here or where he was going. I told him we
get a lot of guys like that in here.
Leonard does not find this funny.
LEONARD
Chronic alcoholism ~ one cause of short
term memory loss.
NATALIE
Are you Teddy?
LEONARD
My name's Leonard.
NATALIE
Did Teddy send you?
LEONARD
I don't know.
Natalie stares at Leonard. Her look softens, becoming almost
pleading.
NATALIE
What's happened to Jimmy?
LEONARD
I don't know. I'm sorry.
NATALIE
You have no idea where you've just come
from? What you've just done?
Leonard shakes his head.
LEONARD
I can't make new memories. Everything
fades, nothing sticks. By the time we
finish this conversation I won't remember
how it started, and the next time I see
you I won't know that I've ever met you
before.
NATALIE
So why did you come here?
Leonard pulls the beer mat out of his pocket and hands it to
Natalie.
LEONARD
Found it in my pocket.
Natalie takes it, staring at it, emotional.
NATALIE
(quiet)
Your pocket.
She retreats down the bar to attend to a CUSTOMER, eyeing
Leonard suspiciously as he pulls out his Polaroids.
LATER:
Leonard hears a hocking sound and looks over to see the
filthy Drunk spitting a blob of sticky phlegm into a silver
tankard which Natalie holds across the bar. Natalie smiles.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Bar bet.
Leonard shakes his head and looks down. He hears a snort and
glances over again. The Drunk is pushing his finger against
one nostril, whilst blowing snot out the other into the
tankard. Natalie smiles again.
NATALIE (cont'd)
For a lot of money.
She approaches with the tankard.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Care to contribute?
Leonard shakes his head, disgusted. Natalie waves the tankard
in his face.
NATALIE (cont'd)
Come on, proceeds are going to charity.
Leonard drops a tidy blob of spit into the beer, shakes his
head, revolted. Natalie places the mug on the bar in front of
the stool next to Leonard's. She takes a long-handled spoon
and stirs it vigorously. Leonard grabs his Polaroids and
moves over to a booth.
Natalie brings over the tankard arid places it in front of
him, smiling.
NATALIE (cont'd)
On the house.
LEONARD
Thank-you.
Leonard raises the tankard to his lips.
CUT TO:
140 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, holding the Polaroid of himself, stares at the ringing
phone. He picks up the receiver.
LEONARD
(anxious)
What do you want?
(listens)
I know you're a cop, but what do you
want? Did I do something wrong?
(frightened)
No, but I can't remember things I do. I
don't know what I just did. Maybe I did
something wrong, did I do something
wrong?
Leonard paces.
LEONARD
I dunno - something bad. Maybe I did
something bad.
A140 EXT. ALLEYWAY BEHIND TATTOO PARLOUR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard DROPS from a WINDOW, gains his balance and HURRIES to
his Jaguar which is parked on the street by the mouth of the
alley. He slips into the car, CLOSES the door gently, starts
the engine and SPEEDS away.
B140 INT./EXT. JAGUAR PARKED OUTSIDE FERDY'S - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a round
piece of cardboard. It is a BEER MAT with the name of a local
bar: "FERDY'S". There is a message written on it:
"COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE".
Leonard looks up at the doorway of the bar, then pulls the
car around into the parking lot. Natalie is standing by a
dumpster, heaving a trash bag into it. She watches the car
pull up, unable to see the driver. Natalie casually knocks on
the passenger side window. Leonard lowers the window and
Natalie leans down.
NATALIE
(casual)
Hey, Jimmy -
Natalie stares at Leonard confused.
NATALIE (cont'd)
I'm sorry, I... I thought you were
someone else.
Natalie backs away from the car, perturbed. Just before she
disappears around the corner, she tips the lid of the
dumpster, letting it fall with a metallic howl and a BANG.
C140 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard talks on the phone, worried.
LEONARD
No, Officer, but with my condition, you
don't know anything... you feel angry,
guilty, you don't know why. You could do
something terrible and not have the
faintest idea ten minutes later. Like
Sammy. What if I've done something like
Sammy?!
(listens)
I didn't tell you? Didn't I tell you
what happened to Sammy and his wife?!
(listens)
Mrs. Jankis came to my off ice and asked
my honest opinion about Sammy's
condition.
141 INT. LEONARD'S OFFICE - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Mrs. Jankis is seated across the desk from Leonard. She gets
up to leave. Leonard just sits there.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I never said he was faking. Just that
his condition was mental, not physical.
She seemed satisfied, she just said
"thanks" and got up to leave. I found
out later that she went home and gave
Sammy his final exam.
142 INT. THE JANKIS HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Sammy watches T.V. commercials. Mrs. Jankis watches him.
MRS. JANKIS
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks up, smiling, glad to help. He goes into the
kitchen and comes back with a bottle of insulin, a syringe
and a cotton swab.
Sammy carefully prepares the injection and Mrs. Jankis offers
him her arm. (LEONARD AND LEONARD'S WIFE TO SUBSTITUTE)
LEONARD (V.O.)
She knew beyond doubt that he loved her,
so she found a way to test him.
Sammy injects the insulin, then withdraws the needle, smiles
reassuringly at his wife and goes back into the kitchen.
Mrs. Jankis watches Sammy flipping through the channels,
looking for commercials.
She sets her watch back by fifteen minutes.
MRS. JANKIS
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks up, smiling, glad to be able to help. He goes
into the kitchen and comes back with the bottle of insulin,
the syringe and a new cotton swab.
He carefully prepares the injection and Mrs. Jankis offers
him her other arm. Sammy injects the insulin, then looks up
at her and smiles.
Sammy watches T.V. Mrs. Jankis sets her watch back by fifteen
minutes.
MRS. JANKIS (cont'd)
Sammy, it's time for my shot.
Sammy looks over from the T.V., smiling, glad to be able to
help.
Mrs. Jankis offers Sammy her leg, and he gives her another
shot of insulin, smiling.
LEONARD (V.O.)
She really thought she would call his
bluff...
Mrs. Jankis sets her watch back by fifteen minutes.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
... or didn't want to live with the
things she'd put him through.
Sammy injects her in the stomach.
DISSOLVE TO:
Mrs. Jankis, unconscious in her chair. Sammy glances over from
watching T.V. commercials, wondering.
He goes to her and takes her hand, nudging her gently.
LEONARD (V.0.)(CONT'D)
She went into a coma and never
recovered.
Sammy grabs for the phone, dialing frantically.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Sammy couldn't understand or explain
what had happened.
Sammy strokes Mrs. Jankis' cheek, crying.
143 INT. CROWDED DAY ROOM OF A NURSING HOME - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Sammy sits watching other patients and nursing staff pass by.
(LEONARD TO SUBSTITUTE)He looks at each one with a fresh
look of expectant recognition.
LEONARD (V.0.)
He's been in a home ever since. He
doesn't even know his wife is dead.
144 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard strokes the tattoo on his hand.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Sammy's brain didn't respond to
conditioning, but he was no con man.
When his wife looked into his eyes she
thought he could be the same as he ever
was. When I looked into Sammy's eyes, I
thought I saw recognition. We were both
wrong.
Leonard looks into the mirror.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Now I know. You take it. If you think
you're supposed to recognize someone,
you pretend to. You bluff it to get a
pat on the head from the doctors. You
bluff it to seem less of a freak.
145 EXT. STRIP MALL - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The TYRES of the Jaguar SCREAM as the car SCREECHES to a
halt. Leonard backs the car up and stops in front of a TATTOO
PARLOR. He grabs a FILE CARD of f the dash which says:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU"
146 INT. TATTOO PARLOR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard (beige suit)enters. A TATTOOIST is sitting with a
magazine, smoking.
LEONARD
Didn't know this town had a parlor.
TATTOOIST
Every town's got a parlor.
LEONARD
I'd like this on my thigh please.
Leonard hands her a FILE CARD. She reads the card, then looks
at him. He shrugs.
147 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard unbuckles his trousers and starts to pull them down.
He STOPS when he sees his thigh, looking up at the tattooist.
LEONARD
Promise you won't call me an idiot.
He pulls down his trousers, revealing his SCABBY, homemade
tattoo. ("FACT 5: DRUG DEALER"). The tattooist looks at it.
TATTOOIST
(shaking her head)
Idiot.
148 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Extreme close-up of the tattooing needle finishing an "F".
Wider shows us Leonard sitting with his suit trousers around
his ankles in a curtained cubicle. Next to him on the floor
is his sports bag of notes and papers. The tattooist is
tattooing his thigh, Leonard is reading a file, fascinated.
The curtain is thrust open and Teddy pokes his head in.
TEDDY
Hi, Lenny.
The tattooist turns and looks up at Teddy.
TATTOOIST
It's private back here.
TEDDY
It's alright, we know each other, right,
Lenny?
The tattooist looks to Leaonard. Leonard shrugs.
LEONARD
How'd you know I was in here?
TEDDY
The Jaguar's out front. You didn't even
Bother to put it around back.
Teddy cranes his neck to see what the tattoo says, but only
"6. LI" is visible.
TEDDY (cont'd)
You should have just left town, Lenny.
There's Tattoo parlors up North.
LEONARD
Guess I wanted to get something down
before it slipped my mind.
The tattoo needle buzzes as the tattooist makes a start on
the next letter: a "C". Teddy sticks his hand through the
curtain.
TEDDY
Gimme the keys, I'll move the car.
Leonard watches Teddy.
LEONARD
It'll be alright for a minute.
Teddy shrugs. The tattooist looks up at him.
TATTOOIST
Wait out there.
Teddy goes back through the curtain. Teddy pops his head back
through the curtain.
TEDDY
Lenny, I'll be back in a minute. I've got
to get you some stuff.
149 INT.CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - MOMENTS LATER (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
The buzzing of the tattoo needle stops. Leonard looks down at
his thigh. It says:
"FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU"
150 INT. TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - MOMENTS LATER (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard exits the curtained cubicle, buckling his belt. Teddy
is waiting for him with a PLASTIC BAG. Leonard pays the
tattooist. Teddy looks at her.
TEDDY
Give us a minute, will ya?
She shrugs and heads into the back. Teddy watches her go,
then turns to Leonard, conspiratorial.
TEDDY (cont'd)
We've got to get you out of here.
LEONARD
Why?
TEDDY
Why? Come on, Leonard, we talked about
this. It's not safe f or you to be walking
around like this.
LEONARD
Why not?
TEDDY
Because that cop's looking for you. We
need to get you a change of identity.
Some new clothes and a different car
should do for now. Put these on.
Teddy offers the bag of clothes. Leonard refuses it.
LEONARD
What cop?
TEDDY
This bad cop. He checked you into the
Discount Inn. Then he's been calling you
for days, sticking envelopes under your
door, telling you shit.
LEONARD
Envelopes?
TEDDY
He knows you're no good on the phone, so
he calls you up to bullshit you.
Sometimes you stop taking his calls, so
he slips something under your door to
frighten you into answering your phone
again. He's been pretending to help you.
Feeding you a line of crap about John G.
being some local drug dealer.
LEONARD
How do you know this?
TEDDY
'Cos he fucking told me. He thinks it's
funny. He's laughing at you.
LEONARD
How do you know him?
TEDDY
(glances around)
I'm a snitch. He's a cop from out of town
looking for information. The local boys
put us in touch.
Leonard takes the plastic bag.
LEONARD
What did he want to know from you?
TEDDY
He wanted to know all, about Jimmy Grantz.
LEONARD
Who?
TEDDY
Jimmy's a drug dealer. This cop wanted to
know all about how he sets up deals, shit
like that. He's got some score in mind
and you're involved. Come on, there's no
time to argue - if he knew I was helping
you he'd find a way to kill me. Just get
these clothes on. You're gonna take my
car and get the fuck out of here.
Leonard heads back into the curtained cubicle with the
plastic bag of clothes.
151 INT. CURTAINED CUBICLE - TATTOO PARLOR - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard drops the plastic bag and takes his jacket off. He
feels something in the pocket, sticks his hand in and pulls
out a charred Polaroid photograph.
Leonard examines it, PUZZLED. All that is visible is AN ARM,
lying on a floor. Leonard reaches into the other pocket and
pulls out his POLAROIDS, flicking through them until he finds
the one of Teddy. He flips it over and checks the back:
"DON'T BELIEVE HIS LIES"
Leonard reacts with amused RELIEF.
LEONARD
(under his breath)
Sneaky fuck. "Bad Cop". Had me going.
Leonard puts his jacket back on, checks the other pockets. He
finds a BEER MAT for a local bar named FERDY'S. There is a
message written on it:
"COME BY AFTERWARDS, NATALIE"
Leonard sticks it back in his pocket. He PEEKS through the
curtains. Teddy is sitting by the door, waiting. Leonard
looks around, NOTICES a window set high in the wall above the
padded bench in the cubicle. Leonard CLIMBS on the bench,
OPENS the window and SQUEEZES himself through.
152 EXT. TATTOO PARLOUR ALLEYWAY - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard DROPS from the window, regains his balance and
hurries to his Jaguar which is parked on the street by the
mouth of the alley.
CUT TO:
153 INT. MOTEL ROOM 21 - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard, in boxers and plaid work shirt, sits hunched over
the bedside table, flipping through the file as he talks on
the phone.
LEONARD
So this Jimmy Grantz deals drugs out of
the bar where his girlfriend works. But
he'll come to the meet alone.
Leonard looks down at the FRESH TATTOO on his thigh.
"FACT 5: DRUG DEALER"
He consults a file which he has drawn from his bag.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I always figured the drugs angle would
be the best way to get him. No, officer,
I'm ready. Ready as I'll ever be.
(listens)
You're downstairs now? What do you look
like?
(listens)
I'll be right down.
Leonard hangs up the phone and pulls on a pair of scruffy
jeans. He grabs his Polaroid camera and puts it over his
shoulder.
154 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard exits and heads to the Motel office.
155 INT. DISCOUNT INN OFFICE - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
The BELL CHIMES as Leonard enters. Burt is behind the
counter. A MAN stands by the free coffee. The Man TURNS
AROUND. It is Teddy, with a big grin.
TEDDY
Lenny!
Leonard smiles cautiously, and offers his hand.
LEONARD
Officer Gammell.
156 EXT. DISCOUNT INN - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard exits the office, followed by Teddy, and looks
through his Polaroids. He finds one of a PICKUP TRUCK, spots
it in the lot, and walks over to it. He turns around and
points his camera at Teddy. Teddy grins wider. Leonard snaps
the picture.
LEONARD
Something to remember you by.
Leonard lowers the camera and takes out a pen, resting the
picture against the truck, about to write on the white strip
beneath the developing picture.
LEONARD (cont'd)
I'm sorry - is it Officer, or Lieutenant
Gammell?
Teddy coughs and looks at the picture.
TEDDY
Just Teddy. Don't write Gammell please.
Leonard raises his eyebrows.
TEDDY (cont'd)
I'm undercover. Here's directions. He'll
be heading there now.
Teddy pulls a note out of his pocket and hands it to Leonard.
LEONARD
You're not coming?
TEDDY
Wouldn't be appropriate.
Leonard climbs into the truck. Teddy taps on the window.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Leonard?
Leonard cranks it down. Teddy looks at Leonard with something
like fatherly affection.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Make him beg.
157 INT./EXT. PICKUP TRUCK ON STREET - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
The pickup truck speeds along, past strip malls and gas
stations, heading into more desolate industrialization.
158 EXT. THE DERELICT BUILDING - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
The pickup truck bumps across the railroad tracks, then pulls
up in front of the LARGE DERELICT BUILDING. Leonard gets out
of the pickup, looking around.
159 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
He heads into the house, down the DIMLY-LIT, DECAYING FORMER
HALLWAY, treading carefully on the LOOSE, ROTTEN FLOORBOARDS.
He notices a door at the end of the hallway. He opens the
door to see that it leads down to the basement.
Leonard hears a CAR APPROACHING. He slips into the kitchen
and looks out the dirty, broken front windows.
160 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
THE JAGUAR is approaching fast. It parks next to the PICKUP
TRUCK, and the driver emerges; a young man in his 30's,
smartly dressed in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT. This is JIMMY,
the young man from Natalie's photograph. He looks at the
truck then at the house.
161 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard steps back into the shadows of the crumbling kitchen.
Jimmy approaches the doorway, peering into the dark hallway.
JIMMY
Teddy?!
Jimmy steps cautiously inside. Leonard emerges from the
kitchen.
LEONARD
Jimmy?
JIMMY
What the fuck are you doing here?
LEONARD
Do you remember me?
JIMMY
(laughs)
Yeah, I remember you.
LEONARD
You Jimmy Grantz?
JIMMY
Expecting any other Jimmy's out here,
Memory Man? Where the fuck's Teddy?
Leonard comes out of the gloom, stopping in front of Jimmy,
studying his face. Leonard has a JACK HANDLE in his hand.
JIMMY (cont'd)
Well?
FLASHBACK TO:
162 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard's wife, head wrapped in a water-beaded clear plastic
shower curtain, THRASHING around, GASPING for breath.
163 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard HITS Jimmy around the head with the jack handle.
Jimmy goes down, but STRUGGLES as Leonard drags him deeper
into the dark hallway. Leonard bends over the groaning Jimmy,
frisking him, finding nothing.
JIMMY (cont'd)
You fucking retard, you can't get away
with this -
Leonard holds the jack handle above him.
LEONARD
Strip!
Jimmy starts taking off his suit.
JIMMY
You're making a big fucking mistake. My
associates are not people you want -
LEONARD
Don't say anything else.
JIMMY
I knew I couldn't trust that fuck -
LEONARD
Quiet!
Jimmy drops his shirt.
LEONARD (cont'd)
Pants, too.
JIMMY
Why?
LEONARD
I don't want blood on them.
JIMMY
(sudden fear)
Wait! Did he tell you what I was
bringing?
LEONARD
Strip!
JIMMY
Look, there's two hundred grand stashed
in the car. Just take it!
Leonard shoves Jimmy to the ground.
LEONARD
You think you can bargain with me?!
JIMMY
Take the money and walk away!
LEONARD
I don't want your fucking money!
JIMMY
What?! What do you want from me?!
Leonard looks up.
164 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY - #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard's wife, smiling.
165 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard is losing it.
LEONARD
I want my fucking life back!
Jimmy SWINGS at Leonard with a BROKEN FLOORBOARD, STRIKING
his shoulder. The jack handle goes flying. Jimmy SWINGS
again, misses. Leonard GRABS him, taking him down. The two of
them STRUGGLE on the floor. Leonard gets ON TOP of Jimmy,
CHOKING him. Jimmy tries to speak, but can only make GURGLING
noises. As Leonard watches Jimmy fight for air we:
166 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - NIGHT - #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Leonard's wife THRASHES her head from side to side,
STRUGGLING to breathe though the clear plastic shower
curtain.
BACK TO SCENE:
167 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - #BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE#
Jimmy's arms THRASH, his hands catching Leonard's face,
SCRATCHING his cheek. Leonard tips his head back and
increases his efforts. Jimmy STOPS struggling. Leonard keeps
his hands around Jimmy's throat until he is confident that he
is DEAD.
Leonard BREATHES as he stands up. He nods to himself with
satisfaction. He looks around for his POLAROID CAMERA. He
snaps a FLASH picture of Jimmy's body, and stares intently at
the POLAROID as it begins to DEVELOP.
We see the IMAGE OF THE STRANGLED JIMMY appear (IN
COLOUR)(POST)
168 INT. DAY - DERELICT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard stands above Jimmy's body, examining the picture he
has just taken, nodding to himself, catching his breath.
Leonard grabs Jimmy' s body by the legs, DRAGGING him back
towards the basement. He opens the door and BACKS down into
the DARKNESS, pulling Jimmy behind him.
169 INT. BASEMENT OF DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard BACKS DOWN the stairs, dragging Jimmy's BODY, head
BUMPING down each step. In the middle of the room, Leonard
DROPS the legs. Moving fast, Leonard pulls the BEIGE SUIT
TROUSERS from the body, REMOVES HIS OWN SCRUFFY JEANS AND
PLAID WORK SHIRT. Leonard dresses in Jimmy's BLUE SHIRT and
BEIGE SUIT. He grabs the Polaroids from his PLAID WORK SHIRT
and sticks them in his suit jacket pocket. He dumps his old
clothes onto Jimmy's body. A faint RASPING comes from Jimmy's
throat. Leonard, frightened, bends down to listen.
JIMMY
(barely and audible rasp)
Sammy... remember Sammy...
Leonard is SHOCKED. Jimmy is silent. The sound of a CAR
outside. Leonard JUMPS to his feet.
170 INT. KITCHEN, DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard looks out to see Teddy getting out of his GREY SEDAN.
Leonard leafs through his Polaroids finding the one of Teddy.
There is nothing on the back. He sticks his Polaroids back in
his pocket, pausing at the one of the STRANGLED JIMMY.
LEONARD (V.0.)
What have I done?
171 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard emerges to find Teddy trying the Jaguar's doors.
LEONARD
(distraught)
Hey! Mister! I need help!
Teddy looks up.
TEDDY
What's wrong?
LEONARD
There's a guy in here, hurt bad! We gotta
get him to a doctor!
Teddy moves towards the house. Leonard leads him in.
172 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COULOUR SEQUENCE)
Teddy follows Leonard down the darkened hall.
LEONARD
(panicked)
He might have fallen down the stairs, I
don't know, I don't know what's going on,
I'm confused. I have this memory thing -
do I know you?
TEDDY
No. Don't worry, I'm a cop. Everything'll
be okay. Is he still breathing?
LEONARD
Maybe. Maybe just.
They go down into the basement.
173 INT. BASEMENT OF DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Teddy follows Leonard down the stairs. Jimmy's body, dressed
only in boxers, lies in the middle of the floor.
TEDDY
So what were you doing here?
Teddy moves to the body and crouches down to examine it.
LEONARD
I don't know. See, I have this condition.
TEDDY
Well, I hope it's not as serious as his,
'cos this guy's dead.
Leonard CRACKS Teddy over the head with the FLOORBOARD.
TEDDY (cont'd)
FUCK, Lenny! That fucking kills!
LEONARD
Remember me again, huh?
Leonard FRISKS him, pulling out a GUN and a POLICE BADGE.
LEONARD (cont'd)
You're a cop. A fucking cop.
TEDDY
Yeah, and I helped you find the guy you
were looking for -
LEONARD
Get up.
Teddy CRAWLS to his feet, RUBBING his head.
174 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard pushes Teddy out of the basement.
TEDDY
I think you've got the wrong idea -
Leonard GRABS Teddy.
LEONARD
Who was that? He's not the guy. He knew
me.
TEDDY
Sure he did. He raped your wife and
fucked up your brain.
LEONARD
Bullshit.
TEDDY
His name's James F. Grantz, John G. Check
your tattoos.
LEONARD
So what was he bringing the two hundred
grand for?
TEDDY
What -
LEONARD
What was it for?
TEDDY
A load of amphetamine I told him I had.
LEONARD
This is a drug deal?!
TEDDY
That, and your thing.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Jimmy's your guy, Leonard. I just figured
we'd make some money on the side.
LEONARD
But how did he know me?
TEDDY
The Discount Inn, he deals out of there.
The guy at the front desk lets him know
if anybody comes snooping around. He
called Jimmy as soon as you took a
picture of that dump.
LEONARD
You're using me!
Teddy looks at him, offended.
TEDDY
No!
(beat)
You get half.
Leonard THROWS him against the wall.
LEONARD
He knew about Sammy. Why would I tell him
about Sammy?
TEDDY
(chuckles)
You tell everyone about Sammy. Everyone
who'll listen. "Remember Sammy Jankis,
remember Sammy Jankis". Great story. Gets
better every time you tell it. So you
lie to yourself to be happy. Nothing
wrong with that - we all do. Who cares if
there's a few little things you'd rather
not remember?
LEONARD
What the fuck are you talking about?
TEDDY
(theatrical shrug)
I dunno... your wife surviving the
assault... her not believing about your
condition... the doubt tearing her up
inside.., the insulin -
LEONARD
That's Sammy, not me! I told you about
Sammy -
TEDDY
Like you've told yourself. Over and over.
Conditioning yourself to believe.
"learning through repetition" -
LEONARD
Sammy let his wife kill herself! Sammy
ended up in an institution - !
TEDDY
Sammy was a con man. A faker.
LEONARD
I never said he was faking! I never said
that!
TEDDY
You exposed him for what he was: a fraud.
LEONARD
I was wrong! That's the whole point!
Sammy's wife came to me and -
TEDDY
Sammy didn't have a wife.
Leonard freezes, staring at Teddy.
TEDDY (cont'd)
It was your wife who had diabetes.
Leonard thinks.
175 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard's Wife sitting on the edge of the bed. She feels a
sharp pain, and turns to Leonard (just as we have seen
before).
LEONARD'S WIFE
Gentle.
Leonard has a syringe in his hand.
176 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard shakes his head, clearing his head of the image.
LEONARD
My wife wasn't diabetic.
TEDDY
Are you sure?
177 INT. LEONARD'S APARTMENT - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard's Wife on the edge of the bed. She feels a sharp
pain, and turns to Leonard.
LEONARD'S WIFE
Gentle.
Leonard is playfully pinching her thigh.
178 INT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard shakes his head, smiling.
LEONARD
She wasn't diabetic. You think I don't
know my own wife? What the fuck is wrong
with you?
TEDDY
(shrugs)
I guess I can only make you believe the
things you want to be true, huh? Like ol'
Jimmy down there.
LEONARD
But he's not the right guy!
TEDDY
He was to you. Come on, Lenny, you got
your revenge - just enjoy it while you
still remember.
TEDDY
(chuckles)
What difference does it make whether he
was your guy or not?
LEONARD
It makes all the difference.
TEDDY
Why? You're never going to know.
LEONARD
Yes, I will.
TEDDY
No, you won't.
LEONARD
Somehow, I'll know!
TEDDY
You won't remember!
LEONARD
When it's done, I'll know! It'll be
different!
TEDDY
I thought so too! I was sure you'd
remember. But you didn't.
Beat. Leonard looks at Teddy, questioning.
TEDDY
(off look)
You know, when we found your guy and
killed him.
(off look)
That's right, the real John G. Over a
year ago. I helped you find him. He's
already dead.
LEONARD
Why do you keep lying to me?
TEDDY
I'm not. I was the cop assigned to your
wife's death. I believed you, I thought
you deserved the chance for revenge. I
helped you find the other guy who was in
your bathroom that night. The guy who
cracked your skull and fucked your wife.
We found him and you killed him.
You didn't remember, so I helped you
start looking again, looking for the guy
you already killed.
LEONARD
So who are you saying he was?
TEDDY
Just some guy. Does it even matter who? I
stopped asking myself why a long time
ago. No reason, no conspiracy; just bad
fucking luck. A couple of junkies, too
strung out to realize that your wife
didn't live alone. When you killed him,
I've never seen you so happy - I was
convinced you'd remember. But it didn't
stick, like nothing ever sticks. Like
this won't stick.
Leonard looks at the Polaroid of himself.
TEDDY (cont'd)
That's the picture, right? I took that,
right when you did it. Look how happy you
are. Before you forgot. I wanted to see
that face again.
LEONARD
(sarcastic)
Thank you.
TEDDY
Fuck you; I gave you a reason to live and
you were more than happy to help. You lie
to yourself! You don't want the truth,
the truth is a fucking coward. So you
make up your own truth.
Look at your police file. It was complete
when I gave it to you. Who took the 12
pages out?
LEONARD
You probably.
TEDDY
No. You took them out.
LEONARD
Why would I do that?
TEDDY
To set yourself a puzzle you won't ever
solve. You know how many towns, how many
guys called James G? Or John G? Shit,
Leonard, I'm a John G.
LEONARD
Your name's Teddy.
TEDDY
(chuckles)
My mother calls me Teddy. I'm John Edward
Gammell. Cheer up, there's a lot of John
G's for us to find. All you do is moan.
I'm the one that has to live with what
you've done. I'm the one that has to put
it all together. You just wander around
playing detective. You're living a dream,
kid. A dead wife to pine for and a sense
of purpose to your life. A romantic quest
which you wouldn't end even if I wasn't
in the picture.
Leonard sticks the gun in Teddy's face.
LEONARD
I should kill you.
TEDDY
Quit it!
(brushes the gun away)
You're not a killer, Lenny. That's why
you're so good at it.
Leonard SEARCHES Teddy's pockets, still holding the gun on
Teddy. Leonard finds Teddy's CAR KEYS. He gets off Teddy and
moves towards the light.
TEDDY (cont'd)
Hey, where are you going? You know what
time it is?
Leonard stares at Teddy, mystified. Teddy grins.
TEDDY (cont'd)
It's beer o'clock. And I'm buying. Our
work here is done.
Leonard turns away, and walks out into the light.
179 EXT. DERELICT BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEOUENCE)179
Leonard, in BEIGE SUIT and BLUE SHIRT, comes out into the
daylight, THROWS Teddy's CAR KEYS into some bushes then heads
to his PICKUP TRUCK and climbs in. Teddy goes to look for his
keys in the bushes.
180 INT. PICKUP TRUCK - DAY - CONTINUOUS (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard opens the revolver and empties the bullets onto the
passenger seat. He flips through the photos until he finds
the one of the STRANGLED JIMMY.
LEONARD (V.0.)
I'm not a killer...
Leonard reaches into his sports bag, grabs a LIGHTER and
sparks a flame. Leonard holds the PHOTO in the flame until it
CATCHES LIGHT, MELTING and BLACKENING. The flames go out,
having destroyed the entire image but for an arm resting on a
floor. Leonard sticks the remnants into his jacket pocket. He
looks in the rear-view mirror at Teddy, who scrabbles around
in the bushes.
LEONARD (V.0.)(CON'T'D)
... but right now I need to be.
Teddy's GREY SEDAN is parked in front of Leonard. Leonard
looks at the sedan, then reaches into his sports bag for a
PEN and a FILE CARD. He writes on the file card:
"TATTOO: I'VE DONE IT"
Leonard looks from the card to Teddy's sedan.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Maybe I'm not finished yet. Maybe I need
to be sure that you won't ever use me
again.
Leonard rips up the file card and takes out another.
LEONARD (V.0.)(cont'd)
You're a John G.? Fine, then you can be
my John G.
Leonard writes on the file card:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE NUMBER"
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Do I lie to myself to be happy?
Leonard looks up at Teddy's sedan and copies down the license
number. The LICENSE NUMBER of Teddy's car is: SG13 7IU.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
In your case, Teddy... yes, I will.
Leonard grabs the sports bag and GETS OUT of the PICKUP
TRUCK. He goes to THE JAGUAR and OPENS the passenger door,
DUMPING his sports bag onto the seat. Teddy SEES this and
RUNS over. Leonard walks to the back of the Jaguar and holds
up his camera.
TEDDY
Hey! Hey, that's not your car!
Leonard SNAPS a Polaroid of the Jaguar.
LEONARD
It is now.
TEDDY
You can't just take it!
Leonard UNLOCKS the trunk, TURNING to Teddy as he does so.
LEONARD
Why not?
TEDDY
You just killed the guy who owned it!
Somebody'll recognize it!
Leonard pulls Teddy's EMPTY gun out of his pocket.
LEONARD
I'd rather be mistaken for a dead guy
than a murderer. I'm gonna hang on to
this.
Leonard TOSSES the GUN into the trunk. It lands on PILES OF
BANKNOTES STUFFED IN THE TRUNK. Teddy REACTS to the sight of
the money. Leonard glances at Teddy, then the money, shakes
his head, then SLAMS the trunk. Teddy jogs back to where he
was looking for his keys.
181 INT. JAGUAR - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
Leonard starts the engine. Through the rear-view mirror,
Leonard stares at Teddy's retreating form. Thinking. Leonard
PULLS OUT onto the road.
182 INT./EXT. THE ROAD BACK INTO TOWN - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
As the Jaguar cruises along, Leonard places the FILE CARD on
the dash. It says:
"TATTOO: FACT 6. CAR LICENSE: SG13 7IU"
Leonard drives, HEADING BACK INTO TOWN. He looks at his hand
on the steering wheel, reading "REMEMBER SAMMY JANKIS".
LEONARD (V.O.)
I have to believe in the world outside my
own mind. I have to believe that my
actions still have meaning, even if I
can't remember them. I have to believe
that when my eyes are closed, the world's
still there.
Leonard CLOSES HIS EYES, driving blind. Stay on Leonard, not
seeing the road ahead, hearing cars whip past.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
(rising tension)
But do I? Do I believe the world's still
there?
Move in on Leonard as cars fly past, horns BLARING.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Is it still out there?!
(beat)
Yes.
Leonard OPENS his eyes, straightening up the car, BREATHING.
His EYES DART from the STRIP MALLS to the GAS STATIONS, as if
HE IS TRYING TO ABSORB THE WHOLE TOWN IN A SINGLE VIEWING.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
We all need mirrors to remind ourselves
who we are. I'm no different.
183 EXT. STRIP MALL - DAY (COLOUR SEQUENCE)
From the bewildering BLUR of urban signage, Leonard SUDDENLY
GLIMPSES A TATTOO PARLOR in a strip mall. He SLAMS ON THE
BRAKES.
The tyres SCREAM as the car SCREECHES TO A HALT and we:
CUT TO BLACK.
LEONARD (V.O.)(cont'd)
Now... where was I?
ROLL CREDITS
END.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is Jonathan Nolan's short story
"Memento Mori", the inspiration for his brother,
Christopher Nolan's, screenplay for the film, MEMENTO:
MEMENTO MORI
by
Jonathan Nolan
What like a bullet can undeceive!"
-Herman Melville
Your wife always used to say you'd be late for your own funeral.
Remember that? Her little joke because you were such a slob-always
late, always forgetting stuff, even before the incident.
Right about now you're probably wondering if you were late for hers.
You were there, you can be sure of that. That's what the picture's
for-the one tacked to the wall by the door. It's not customary to take
pictures at a funeral, but somebody, your doctors, I guess, knew you
wouldn't remember. They had it blown up nice and big and stuck it
right there, next to the door, so you couldn't help but see it every
time you got up to find out where she was.
The guy in the picture, the one with the flowers? That's you. And what
are you doing? You're reading the headstone, trying to figure out
who's funeral you're at, same as you're reading it now, trying to
figure why someone stuck that picture next to your door. But why
bother reading something that you won't remember?
She's gone, gone for good, and you must be hurting right now, hearing
the news. Believe me, I know how you feel. You're probably a wreck.
But give it five minutes, maybe ten. Maybe you can even go a whole
half hour before you forget.
But you will forget-I guarantee it. A few more minutes and you'll be
heading for the door, looking for her all over again, breaking down
when you find the picture. How many times do you have to hear the news
before some other part of your body, other than that busted brain of
yours, starts to remember?
Never-ending grief, never-ending anger. Useless without direction.
Maybe you can't understand what's happened. Can't say I really
understand, either. Backwards amnesia. That's what the sign says. CRS
disease. Your guess is as good as mine.
Maybe you can't understand what happened to you. But you do remember
what happened to HER, don't you? The doctors don't want to talk about
it. They won't answer my questions. They don't think it's right for a
man in your condition to hear about those things. But you remember
enough, don't you? You remember his face.
This is why I'm writing to you. Futile, maybe. I don't know how many
times you'll have to read this before you listen to me. I don't even
know how long you've been locked up in this room already. Neither do
you. But your advantage in forgetting is that you'll forget to write
yourself off as a lost cause.
Sooner or later you'll want to do something about it. And when you do,
you'll just have to trust me, because I'm the only one who can help
you.
EARL OPENS ONE EYE after another to a stretch of white ceiling tiles
interrupted by a hand-printed sign taped right above his head, large
enough for him to read from the bed. An alarm clock is ringing
somewhere. He reads the sign, blinks,reads it again, then takes a look
at the room.
It's a white room, overwhelmingly white, from the walls and the
curtains to the institutional furniture and the bedspread. The alarm
clock is ringing from the white desk under the window with the white
curtains. At this point Earl probably notices that he is lying on top
of his white comforter. He is already wearing a dressing gown and
slippers.
He lies back and reads the sign taped to the ceiling again. It says,
in crude block capitals, THIS IS YOUR ROOM. THIS IS A ROOM IN A
HOSPITAL. THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE NOW.
Earl rises and takes a look around. The room is large for a
hospital-empty linoleum stretches out from the bed in three
directions. Two doors and a window. The view isn't very helpful,
either-a close of trees in the center of a carefully manicured piece
of turf that terminates in a sliver of two-lane blacktop. The trees,
except for the evergreens, are bare-early spring or late fall, one or
the other.
Every inch of the desk is covered with Post-it notes, legal pads,
neatly printed lists, psychological textbooks, framed pictures. On top
of the mess is a half-completed crossword puzzle. The alarm clock is
riding a pile of folded newspapers. Earl slaps the snooze button and
takes a cigarette from the pack taped to the sleeve of his dressing
gown. He pats the empty pockets of his pajamas for a light. He rifles
the papers on the desk, looks quickly through the drawers. Eventually
he finds a box of kitchen matches taped to the wall next to the
window. Another sign is taped just above the box. It says in loud
yellow letters, CIGARETTE? CHECK FOR LIT ONES FIRST, STUPID.
Earl laughs at the sign, lights his cigarette, and takes a long draw.
Taped to the window in front of him is another piece of looseleaf
paper headed YOUR SCHEDULE.
It charts off the hours, every hour, in blocks: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00
a.m. is labeled go BACK TO SLEEP. Earl consults the alarm clock: 8:15.
Given the light outside, it must be morning. He checks his watch:
10:30. He presses the watch to his ear and listens. He gives the watch
a wind or two and sets it to match the alarm clock.
According to the schedule, the entire block from 8:00 to 8:30 has been
labeled BRUSH YOUR TEETH. Earl laughs again and walks over to the
bathroom.
The bathroom window is open. As he flaps his arms to keep warm, he
notices the ashtray on the windowsill. A cigarette is perched on the
ashtray, burning steadily through a long finger of ash. He frowns,
extinguishes the old butt, and replaces it with the new one.
The toothbrush has already been treated to a smudge of white paste.
The tap is of the push-button variety-a dose of water with each nudge.
Earl pushes the brush into his cheek and fiddles it back and forth
while he opens the medicine cabinet. The shelves are stocked with
single-serving packages of vitamins, aspirin, antidiuretics. The
mouthwash is also single-serving, about a shot-glass-worth of blue
liquid in a sealed plastic bottle. Only the toothpaste is
regular-sized. Earl spits the paste out of his mouth and replaces it
with the mouthwash. As he lays the toothbrush next to the toothpaste,
he notices a tiny wedge of paper pinched between the glass shelf and
the steel backing of the medicine cabinet. He spits the frothy blue
fluid into the sink and nudges for some more water to rinse it down.
He closes the medicine cabinet and smiles at his reflection in the
mirror.
"Who needs half an hour to brush their teeth?"
The paper has been folded down to a minuscule size with all the
precision of a sixth-grader's love note. Earl unfolds it and smooths
it against the mirror. It reads-
IF YOU CAN STILL READ THIS, THEN YOU'RE A FUCKING COWARD.
Earl stares blankly at the paper, then reads it again. He turns it
over. On the back it reads-
P.S.: AFTER YOU'VE READ THIS, HIDE IT AGAIN.
Earl reads both sides again, then folds the note back down to its
original size and tucks it underneath the toothpaste.
Maybe then he notices the scar. It begins just beneath the ear, jagged
and thick, and disappears abruptly into his hairline. Earl turns his
head and stares out of the corner of his eye to follow the scar's
progress. He traces it with a fingertip, then looks back down at the
cigarette burning in the ashtray. A thought seizes him and he spins
out of the bathroom.
He is caught at the door to his room, one hand on the knob. Two
pictures are taped to the wall by the door. Earl's attention is caught
first by the MRI, a shiny black frame for four windows into someone's
skull. In marker, the picture is labeled YOUR BRAIN. Earl stares at
it. Concentric circles in different colors. He can make out the big
orbs of his eyes and, behind these, the twin lobes of his brain.
Smooth wrinkles, circles, semicircles. But right there in the middle
of his head, circled in marker, tunneled in from the back of his neck
like a maggot into an apricot, is something different. Deformed,
broken, but unmistakable. A dark smudge, the shape of a flower, right
there in the middle of his brain.
He bends to look at the other picture. It is a photograph of a man
holding flowers, standing over a fresh grave. The man is bent over,
reading the headstone. For a moment this looks like a hall of mirrors
or the beginnings of a sketch of infinity: the one man bent over,
looking at the smaller man, bent over, reading the headstone. Earl
looks at the picture for a long time. Maybe he begins to cry. Maybe he
just stares silently at the picture. Eventually, he makes his way back
to the bed, flops down, seals his eyes shut, tries to sleep.
The cigarette burns steadily away in the bathroom. A circuit in the
alarm clock counts down from ten, and it starts ringing again.
Earl opens one eye after another to a stretch of white ceiling tiles,
interrupted by a hand-printed sign taped right above his head, large
enough for him to read from the bed.
You can't have a normal life anymore. You must know that. How can you
have a girlfriend if you can't remember her name? Can't have kids, not
unless you want them to grow up with a dad who doesn't recognize them.
Sure as hell can't hold down a job. Not too many professions out there
that value forgetfulness. Prostitution, maybe. Politics, of course.
No. Your life is over. You're a dead man.The only thing the doctors
are hoping to do is teach you to be less of a burden to the orderlies.
And they'll probably never let you go home, wherever that would be.
So the question is not "to be or not to be," because you aren't. The
question is whether you want to do something about it. Whether revenge
matters to you.
It does to most people. For a few weeks, they plot, they scheme, they
take measures to get even. But the passage of time is all it takes to
erode that initial impulse. Time is theft, isn't that what they say?
And time eventually convinces most of us that forgiveness is a virtue.
Conveniently, cowardice and forgiveness look identical at a certain
distance. Time steals your nerve.
If time and fear aren't enough to dissuade people from their revenge,
then there's always authority, softly shaking its head and saying, We
understand, but you're the better man for letting it go. For rising
above it. For not sinking to their level. And besides, says authority,
if you try anything stupid, we'll lock you up in a little room.
But they already put you in a little room, didn't they? Only they
don't really lock it or even guard it too carefully because you're a
cripple. A corpse. A vegetable who probably wouldn't remember to eat
or take a shit if someone wasn't there to remind you.
And as for the passage of time, well, that doesn't really apply to you
anymore, does it? Just the same ten minutes, over and over again. So
how can you forgive if you can't remember to forget?
You probably were the type to let it go, weren't you? Before. But
you're not the man you used to be. Not even half. You're a fraction;
you're the ten-minute man.
Of course, weakness is strong. It's the primary impulse. You'd
probably prefer to sit in your little room and cry. Live in your
finite collection of memories, carefully polishing each one. Half a
life set behind glass and pinned to cardboard like a collection of
exotic insects. You'd like to live behind that glass, wouldn't you?
Preserved in aspic.
You'd like to but you can't, can you? You can't because of the last
addition to your collection. The last thing you remember. His face.
His face and your wife, looking to you for help.
And maybe this is where you can retire to when it's over. Your little
collection. They can lock you back up in another little room and you
can live the rest of your life in the past. But only if you've got a
little piece of paper in your hand that says you got him.
You know I'm right. You know there's a lot of work to do. It may seem
impossible, but I'm sure if we all do our part, we'll figure something
out. But you don't have much time. You've only got about ten minutes,
in fact. Then it starts all over again. So do something with the time
you've got.
EARL OPENS HIS EYES and blinks into the darkness. The alarm clock is
ringing. It says 3:20, and the moonlight streaming through the window
means it must be he early morning. Earl fumbles for the lamp, almost
knocking it over in the process. Incandescent light fills the room,
painting the metal furniture yellow, the walls yellow, the bedspread,
too. He lies back and looks up at the stretch of yellow ceiling tiles
above him, interrupted by a handwritten sign taped to the ceiling. He
reads the sign two, maybe three times, then blinks at the room around
him.
It is a bare room. Institutional, maybe. There is a desk over by the
window. The desk is bare except for the blaring alarm clock. Earl
probably notices, at this point, that he is fully clothed. He even has
his shoes on under the sheets. He extracts himself from the bed and
crosses to the desk. Nothing in the room would suggest that anyone
lived there, or ever had, except for the odd scrap of tape stuck here
and there to the wall. No pictures, no books, nothing. Through the
window, he can see a full moon shining on carefully manicured grass.
Earl slaps the snooze button on the alarm clock and stares a moment at
the two keys taped to the back of his hand. He picks at the tape while
he searches through the empty drawers. In the left pocket of his
jacket, he finds a roll of hundred-dollar bills and a letter sealed in
an envelope. He checks the rest of the main room and the bathroom.
Bits of tape, cigarette butts. Nothing else.
Earl absentmindedly plays with the lump of scar tissue on his neck and
moves back toward the bed. He lies back down and stares up at the
ceiling and the sign taped to it. The sign reads, GET UP, GET OUT
RIGHT NOW. THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO KILL YOU.
Earl closes his eyes.
They tried to teach you to make lists in grade school, remember? Back
when your day planner was the back of your hand. And if your
assignments came off in the shower, well, then they didn't get done.
No direction, they said. No discipline. So they tried to get you to
write it all down somewhere more permanent.
Of course, your grade-school teachers would be laughing their pants
wet if they could see you now. Because you've become the exact product
of their organizational lessons. Because you can't even take a piss
without consulting one of your lists.
They were right. Lists are the only way out of this mess.
Here's the truth: People, even regular people, are never just any one
person with one set of attributes. It's not that simple. We're all at
the mercy of the limbic system, clouds of electricity drifting through
the brain. Every man is broken into twenty-four-hour fractions, and
then again within those twenty-four hours. It's a daily pantomime, one
man yielding control to the next: a backstage crowded with old hacks
clamoring for their turn in the spotlight. Every week, every day. The
angry man hands the baton over to the sulking man, and in turn to the
sex addict, the introvert, the conversationalist. Every man is a mob,
a chain gang of idiots.
This is the tragedy of life. Because for a few minutes of every day,
every man becomes a genius. Moments of clarity, insight, whatever you
want to call them. The clouds part, the planets get in a neat little
line, and everything becomes obvious. I should quit smoking, maybe, or
here's how I could make a fast million, or such and such is the key to
eternal happiness. That's the miserable truth. For a few moments, the
secrets of the universe are opened to us. Life is a cheap parlor
trick.
But then the genius, the savant, has to hand over the controls to the
next guy down the pike, most likely the guy who just wants to eat
potato chips, and insight and brilliance and salvation are all
entrusted to a moron or a hedonist or a narcoleptic.
The only way out of this mess, of course, is to take steps to ensure
that you control the idiots that you become. To take your chain gang,
hand in hand, and lead them. The best way to do this is with a list.
It's like a letter you write to yourself. A master plan, drafted by
the guy who can see the light, made with steps simple enough for the
rest of the idiots to understand. Follow steps one through one
hundred. Repeat as necessary.
Your problem is a little more acute, maybe, but fundamentally the same
thing.
It's like that computer thing, the Chinese room. You remember that?
One guy sits in a little room, laying down cards with letters written
on them in a language he doesn't understand, laying them down one
letter at a time in a sequence according to someone else's
instructions. The cards are supposed to spell out a joke in Chinese.
The guy doesn't speak Chinese, of course. He just follows his
instructions.
There are some obvious differences in your situation, of course: You
broke out of the room they had you in, so the whole enterprise has to
be portable. And the guy giving the instructions-that's you, too, just
an earlier version of you. And the joke you're telling, well, it's got
a punch line. I just don't think anyone's going to find it very funny.
So that's the idea. All you have to do is follow your instructions.
Like climbing a ladder or descending a staircase. One step at a time.
Right down the list. Simple.
And the secret, of course, to any list is to keep it in a place where
you're bound to see it.
HE CAN HEAR THE BUZZING through his eyelids. Insistent. He reaches out
for the alarm clock, but he can't move his arm.
Earl opens his eyes to see a large man bent double over him. The man
looks up at him, annoyed, then resumes his work. Earl looks around
him. Too dark for a doctor's office.
Then the pain floods his brain, blocking out the other questions. He
squirms gain, trying to yank his forearm away, the one that feels
like it's burning. The arm doesn't move, but the man shoots him
another scowl. Earl adjusts himself in the chair to see over the top
of the man's head.
The noise and the pain are both coming from a gun in the man's hand-a
gun with a needle where the barrel should be. The needle is digging
into the fleshy underside of Earl's forearm, leaving a trail of puffy
letters behind it.
Earl tries to rearrange himself to get a better view, to read the
letters on his arm, but he can't. He lies back and stares at the
ceiling.
Eventually the tattoo artist turns off the noise, wipes Earl's forearm
with a piece of gauze, and wanders over to the back to dig up a
pamphlet describing how to deal with a possible infection. Maybe later
he'll tell his wife about this guy and his little note. Maybe his wife
will convince him to call the police.
Earl looks down at the arm. The letters are rising up from the skin,
weeping a little. They run from just behind the strap of Earl's watch
all the way to the inside of his elbow. Earl blinks at the message and
reads it again. It says, in careful little capitals, I RAPED AND
KILLED YOUR WIFE.
It's your birthday today, so I got you a little present. I would have
just bought you a beer, but who knows where that would have ended?
So instead, I got you a bell. I think I may have had to pawn your
watch to buy it, but what the hell did you need a watch for, anyway?
You're probably asking yourself, Why a bell? In fact, I'm guessing
you're going to be asking yourself that question every time you find
it in your pocket. Too many of these letters now. Too many for you to
dig back into every time you want to know the answer to some little
question.
It's a joke, actually. A practical joke. But think of it this way: I'm
not really laughing at you so much as with you.
I'd like to think that every time you take it out of your pocket and
wonder, Why do I have this bell? a little part of you, a little piece
of your broken brain, will remember and laugh, like I'm laughing now.
Besides, you do know the answer. It was something you learned before.
So if you think about it, you'll know.
Back in the old days, people were obsessed with the fear of being
buried alive. You remember now? Medical science not being quite what
it is today, it wasn't uncommon for people to suddenly wake up in a
casket. So rich folks had their coffins outfitted with breathing
tubes. Little tubes running up to the mud above so that if someone
woke up when they weren't supposed to, they wouldn't run out of
oxygen. Now, they must have tested this out and realized that you
could shout yourself hoarse through the tube, but it was too narrow to
carry much noise. Not enough to attract attention, at least. So a
string was run up the tube to a little bell attached to the headstone.
If a dead person came back to life, all he had to do was ring his
little bell till someone came and dug him up again.
I'm laughing now, picturing you on a bus or maybe in a fast-food
restaurant, reaching into your pocket and finding your little bell and
wondering to yourself where it came from, why you have it. Maybe
you'll even ring it.
Happy birthday, buddy.
I don't know who figured out the solution to our mutual problem, so I
don't know whether to congratulate you or me. A bit of a lifestyle
change, admittedly, but an elegant solution, nonetheless.
Look to yourself for the answer.
That sounds like something out of a Hallmark card. I don't know when
you thought it up, but my hat's off to you. Not that you know what the
hell I'm talking about. But, honestly, a real brainstorm. After all,
everybody else needs mirrors to remind themselves who they are. You're
no different.
THE LITTLE MECHANICAL VOICE PAUSES, then repeats itself. It says, "The
time is 8:00 a.m. This is a courtesy call." Earl opens his eyes and
replaces the receiver. The phone is perched on a cheap veneer
headboard that stretches behind the bed, curves to meet the corner,
and ends at the minibar. The TV is still on, blobs of flesh color
nattering away at each other. Earl lies back down and is surprised to
see himself, older now, tanned, the hair pulling away from his head
like solar flares. The mirror on the ceiling is cracked, the silver
fading increases. Earl continues to stare at himself, astonished by
what he sees. He is fully dressed, but the clothes are old, threadbare
in places.
Earl feels the familiar spot on his left wrist for his watch, but it's
gone. He looks down from the mirror to his arm. It is bare and the
skin has changed to an even tan, as if he never owned a watch in the
first place. The skin is even in color except for the solid black
arrow on the inside of Earl's wrist, pointing up his shirtsleeve. He
stares at the arrow for a moment. Perhaps he doesn't try to rub it off
anymore. He rolls up his sleeve.
The arrow points to a sentence tattooed along Earl's inner arm. Earl
reads the sentence once, maybe twice. Another arrow picks up at the
beginning of the sentence, points farther up Earl's arm, disappearing
under the rolled-up shirtsleeve. He unbuttons his shirt.
Looking down on his chest, he can make out the shapes but cannot bring
them into focus, so he looks up at the mirror above him.
The arrow leads up Earl's arm, crosses at the shoulder, and descends
onto his upper torso, terminating at a picture of a man's face that
occupies most of his chest. The face is that of a large man, balding,
with a mustache and a goatee. It is a particular face, but like a
police sketch it has a certain unreal quality.
The rest of his upper torso is covered in words, phrases, bits of
information, and instructions, all of them written backward on Earl,
forward in the mirror.
EventuallyEarl sits up, buttons his shirt, and crosses to the desk. He takes out
a pen and a piece of notepaper from the desk drawer, sits, and begins
to write.
I don't know where you'll be when you read this. I'm not even sure if
you'll bother to read this. I guess you don't need to.
It's a shame, really, that you and I will never meet. But, like the
song says, "By the time you read this note, I'll be gone."
We're so close now. That's the way it feels. So many pieces put
together, spelled out. I guess it's just a matter of time until you
find him.
Who knows what we've done to get here? Must be a hell of a story, if
only you could remember any of it. I guess it's better that you can't.
I had a thought just now. Maybe you'll find it useful.
Everybody is waiting for the end to come, but what if it already
passed us by? What if the final joke of Judgment Day was that it had
already come and gone and we were none the wiser? Apocalypse arrives
quietly; the chosen are herded off to heaven, and the rest of us, the
ones who failed the test, just keep on going, oblivious. Dead
already, wandering around long after the gods have stopped keeping
score, still optimistic about the future.
I guess if that's true, then it doesn't matter what you do. No
expectations. If you can't find him, then it doesn't matter, because
nothing matters. And if you do find him, then you can kill him without
worrying about the consequences. Because there are no consequences.
That's what I'm thinking about right now, in this scrappy little room.
Framed pictures of ships on the wall. I don't know, obviously, but if
I had to guess, I'd say we're somewhere up the coast. If you're
wondering why your left arm is five shades browner than your right, I
don't know what to tell you. I guess we must have been driving for a
while. And, no, I don't know what happened to your watch.
And all these keys: I have no idea. Not a one that I recognize. Car
keys and house keys and the little fiddly keys for padlocks. What have
we been up to?
I wonder if he'll feel stupid when you find him. Tracked down by the
ten-minute man. Assassinated by a vegetable.
I'll be gone in a moment. I'll put down the pen, close my eyes, and
then you can read this through if you want.
I just wanted you to know that I'm proud of you. No one who matters is
left to say it. No one left is going to want to.
EARL'S EYES ARE WIDE OPEN, staring through the window of the car.
Smiling eyes. Smiling through the window at the crowd gathering across
the street. The crowd gathering around the body in the doorway. The
body emptying slowly across the sidewalk and into the storm drain.
A stocky guy, facedown, eyes open. Balding head, goatee. In death, as
in police sketches, faces tend to look the same. This is definitely
somebody in particular. But really, it could be anybody.
Earl is still smiling at the body as the car pulls away from the curb.
The car? Who's to say? Maybe it's a police cruiser. Maybe it's just a
taxi.
As the car is swallowed into traffic, Earl's eyes continue to shine
out into the night, watching the body until it disappears into a
circle of concerned pedestrians. He chuckles to himself as the car
continues to make distance between him and the growing crowd.
Earl's smile fades a little. Something has occurred to him. He begins
to pat down his pockets; leisurely at first, like a man looking for
his keys, then a little more desperately. Maybe his progress is
impeded by a set of handcuffs. He begins to empty the contents of his
pockets out onto the seat next to him. Some money. A bunch of keys.
Scraps of paper.
A round metal lump rolls out of his pocket and slides across the vinyl
seat. Earl is frantic now. He hammers at the plastic divider between
him and the driver, begging the man for a pen. Perhaps the cabbie
doesn't speak much English. Perhaps the cop isn't in the habit of
talking to suspects. Either way, the divider between the man in front
and the man behind remains closed. A pen is not forthcoming.
The car hits a pothole, and Earl blinks at his reflection in the
rearview mirror. He is calm now. The driver makes another corner, and
the metal lump slides back over to rest against Earl's leg with a
little jingle. He picks it up and looks at it, curious now. It is a
little bell. A little metal bell. Inscribed on it are his name and a
set of dates. He recognizes the first one: the year in which he was
born. But the second date means nothing to him. Nothing at all.
As he turns the bell over in his hands, he notices the empty space on
his wrist where his watch used to sit. There is a little arrow there,
pointing up his arm. Earl looks at the arrow, then begins to roll up
his sleeve.
"You'd be late for your own funeral," she'd say. Remember? The more I
think about it, the more trite that seems. What kind of idiot, after
all, is in any kind of rush to get to the end of his own story?
And how would I know if I were late, anyway? I don't have a watch
anymore. I don't know what we did with it.
What the hell do you need a watch for, anyway? It was an antique.
Deadweight tugging at your wrist. Symbol of the old you. The you that
believed in time.
No. Scratch that. It's not so much that you've lost your faith in time
as that time has lost its faith in you. And who needs it, anyway? Who
wants to be one of those saps living in the safety of the future, in
the safety of the moment after the moment in which they felt something
powerful? Living in the next moment, in which they feel nothing.
Crawling down the hands of the clock, away from the people who did
unspeakable things to them. Believing the lie that time will heal all
wounds-which is just a nice way of saying that time deadens us.
But you're different. You're more perfect. Time is three things for
most people, but for you, for us, just one. A singularity. One moment.
This moment. Like you're the center of the clock, the axis on which
the hands turn. Time moves about you but never moves you. It has lost
its ability to affect you. What is it they say? That time is theft?
But not for you. Close your eyes and you can start all over again.
Conjure up that necessary emotion, fresh as roses.
Time is an absurdity. An abstraction. The only thing that matters is
this moment. This moment a million times over. You have to trust me.
If this moment is repeated enough, if you keep trying-and you have to
keep trying-eventually you will come across the next item on your
list.
End.