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HenRY WILLIAMS (Talking to himself and walking faster as he looks at his watch.) I know! I know... If I could only stop time once in a while, life would be so much easier! The screws did it, I will have to blame it on the screws... no one will believe it. It's my damn destiny, always late... stupid clerk... no brain, no future, I tell you... it's just perfect... perfect for Esteban... CuT TO:
Once Henry enters the class room with the student he drops his books on the table while Esteban goes to sit down. Henry states to his class that something strange just happened to him, he just experienced Deja vu twice in a row.
(Dropping his books on the table.) Thanks for waiting for me... Even though, as usual, I'm late! I've got a good reason this time... ah, never mind. I didn't prepare anything for today's class, so I'm going to talk about myself...
As usual! HenRY WILLIAMS Come on! I sometime prepare my course... don't I? EsTEBAN ESTEVEZ Well...
HenRY WILLIAMS All right! Anyway... you know which books you have to read for the test, read them and we'll all be fine ...I hope... Now I need to speak about my personal experiences. About deja vu... EstEBAN ESTEVEZ Please, we're eager to hear what you have to say! HenRY WILLIAMS I'm sure you are! Well... where was I? Ah yes, deja vu... I've been experiencing it recently at an alarming rate. I don't know if it's because I'm writing a book about it, but I tell you, it has opened the doors to a series of deja vu and I'm not sure what to make of it. I was visiting a town recently and I'm certain I had been there before. I remembered every single detail, I knew what to expect around the next corner, but it was my first ever visit. So he launches into a discourse about Deja vu. HeNRY WILLIAMS (CONT'D) Apparently some Freudians believe that the Deja vu phenomenon is a about experiencing something resembling a repressed memory suddenly escaping the unconscious. The two events are not identical, they appear to be. I don't really believe that crap. From a medical and more scientific point of view, we are talking about neurochemistry, a glitch in the brain's ability to process recognition and memory. Your two eyes processing the same event but at a fraction of a second difference, making you think you have lived these events twice when in fact you didn't. The memory is not authentic. And I won't get into the two different processing centers of the brain... ah! I admit that I'm not a psychologist or a specialist of the brain and I can't comment on these theories. From the philosopher's point of view, Deja vu could be interpreted as a higher power giving you the chance to learn from your mistakes. It represents a desire to have a second chance, to set things right. It makes you go through some experiences again to see if this time you can pass the test and learn whatever it is you have to learn from your existence. EsTEBAN ESTEVEZ What would this higher power be? HenRY WILLIAMS (We see Henry lost in his thoughts while dissolving to the next scene.) God, destiny, or perhaps a higher self awareness? I'm not sure... DISSOLVE TO: Day 1. Late morning. Corridor Henry is going back to his office but on his way there he meets Elizabeth, the right hand of the dean. Elizabeth Fairwater Henry, the dean is looking everywhere for you, you should go to his office immediately. HenRY WILLIAMS What does Charles wants with me, I wonder? ElizaBETH fairwater Perhaps it is about Esteban Estevez... your biggest fan! HenRY WILLIAMS What? He came to see you, once again? EliZABETH FAIRWATER Yes, the poor kid is trying hard. He wants to do a Masters degree now... HenRY WILLIAMS (With a smile.) Can you imagine, two or three more years to endure his overzealous attitude?
Don't worry, Charles told him that his average results were not good enough. HenRY WILLIAMS He spoke to the dean? Nothing can stop him from dreaming, but that's pushing it. And now, my dear Elizabeth, I need to get back to my office. EliZABETH FAIRWATER What about the dean? HenRY WILLIAMS Oh! I almost forgot. Must be old age. EliZABETH FAIRWATER You're not that old. It's just that you're always in thinking mode, must be hard to remember anything in that sort of mind state? HenRY WILLIAMS Very funny Elizabeth. But I must admit, better blame philosophy than old age. ElizaBETH FAIRWATER Don't worry Henry, every single philosophy teacher in this college suffers from amnesia, just like you. Thankfully you have me to show you the light! HenRY WILLIAMS What would we do without you? Fall in precipices lurking around everywhere, while reciting in our heads Aristotle's wisdom? EliZABETH FAIRWATER (Laughing softly.) Huh, huh, huh.
(Ironic laugh while entering the next door.) Huh, huh, huh...
The third time, Henry will feel weird physically until he will decide to speak about it. From there the Deja vu will be a bit different and out of sync with reality. Once in the dean's office, the screen splits again for the third Deja vu. The images will be identical until suddenly Henry decides to act against the Deja vu and leaves hurriedly. The right image on the screen (the Deja vu) will show him having a normal meeting with the dean as if nothing had happened. We will hear the voices of both screens at the same time, perhaps the voices on the right (the Deja vu) could be more distant. We will have to alternate the voices so no one speaks over the other. RIGHT SCREEN (deja vu) Charles Worpington Ah, Henry, please sit down. Am I glad to see you! There's something important we need to talk about. HenRY WILLIAMS Not Esteban, I hope? chaRLES WORPINGTON Don't worry, it's not about Esteban Estevez. I trust you will deal with him in time... It's about the marketing of your new philosophy book expected to be a best-seller. HenRY WILLIAMS Of course! A best-seller you say? ChARLES WORPINGTON George is eager to get the ball rolling and is waiting after the final version. They are in a hurry to get it out there. HenRY WILLIAMS The book will be sent to George today. A best-seller you say? From the University Press? Times are changing... ChaRLES WORPINGTON Aren't they just? It's very exciting! I'll be able to get you a big raise after publication, we wouldn't want to lose you now to some better university somewhere willing to give you more money... HenRY WILLIAMS Don't worry Charles, I'm already more than comfortable, thanks to you. Though I wouldn't mind having less courses to give so I can spend more time thinking. It's my job, after all. ChaRLES WORPINGTON Say no more Henry. I'll see what I can do. Soon you'll be a free man! And you will beg for teaching more classes when you will get bored thinking your heart out. Henry WILLIAMS Thanks Charles, I'll get in contact with my assistant Marianne. She's working at correcting the last chapter right now at my home. ChARLES WORPINGTON I'll call George to let him know. Have a nice evening, alone as usual... once Marianne goes back to her husband... HenRY WILLIAMS (He closes the door very softly with a smile.) You wouldn't have it any other way, that's why I can be so prolific and contribute to philosophy and the department. Goodbye Charles!
(Happily picking up the phone to call the publisher.) Hello George? Great news...!
Ah, Henry, please sit down. Am I glad to see you! There's something important we need to talk about. HenRY WILLIAMS (Realizing he is going through a deja vu.) Weird...
Don't worry, it's not about Esteban Estevez. I trust you will deal with him in time... HenRY WILLIAMS I...
ChARLES WORPINGTON Everything's OK, Henry? HenRY WILLIAMS Wait, please... ChARLES WORPINGTON (Silent for a few seconds while we hear what's happening on the other screen.) ...how long should we stare at each other like this?
Shush, I'm having a deja vu. ChaRLES WORPINGTON ...a deja vu? Isn't that the subject of your book? You certainly do live in what you write. HenrY WILLIAMS (In a panic state.) I have lived this before! I know this meeting is about the book and I don't give a damn about it!
What are you saying? HenRY WILLIAMS George can wait as far as I'm concerned. I need to get out of the office immediately, I feel trapped in a temporal causality loop of some sort and I want to free myself. ChARLES WORPINGTON A temporal what? What are you talking about? HenRY WILLIAMS (Getting out and slamming the door.) A time loop! Charles...
(Completely taken aback from what just happened.) A time loop...? Henry's gone mad... CuT TO:
Third Deja Vu (continuing). Day 1. Late morning. corrIDOR Outside the office the Deja vu continues. Henry on the left is walking like a madman, trying to do things differently to escape the Deja vu. On the right he walks normally with a big smile at the prospect of his latest book already being considered a best-seller. No matter what Henry does on the left to escape the Deja vu, the same happens on the right. RIGHT SCREEN (deja vu) HenRY WILLIAMS (Walking normally with a big smile. Stopping for water.) What a nice day this is. I feel like singing.
(Realizing that he is going to drink water on the right, he stops halfway there, sweating. He decides to go in unpredictable directions until he decides to knock on Elizabeth's door.) This is a nightmare, I have experienced this before! Let's get back to some reality, perhaps Elizabeth can help me! That's it, Elizabeth's job is to keep us all sane. He opens Elizabeth's door, the woman we saw before. On the right she opens the door to find out about what the dean had to say. At that point the synchronicity of both screens is not exact. On the right Elizabeth drops a pen on the floor and Henry gets down to pick it up, at that moment we hear a shot and Elizabeth receives a bullet in her chest. As the dean comes out of his office to find out what is happening, he too gets shot by Esteban. RIGHT SCREEN (deja vu) EliZABETH FAIRWATER (Opening the door and calling for Henry. Happy and smiling.) Henry, how was the meeting with Charles? Was it about Mr. Estevez?
(Over the moon.) Nope! It was about my new best-seller.
(Big smile. Dropping her pen on the floor.) We are confident, aren't we? Oops...
(Bending down to pick up the pen while we hear a shot and Elizabeth receives a bullet in the chest.) Oh my God! Elizabeth! Elizabeth!
(Shooting Henry but missing as Henry turns around horrified.) This one's for you professor!
(Coming out of his office to find out what's happening.) What's going on? What's all the noise!
(Suddenly looking at the dean and shooting him too.) I might as well shoot you Worpington.
(Running into Elizabeth's office while he can.) Oh God! Oh God!
(Other students are trying to stop him, holding his arm, while Esteban finally shoots himself.) Let me go! I've had enough! Please, you don't understand!
(Knocking on Elizabeth's door.) Elizabeth! Elizabeth! You've got to help me. I'm trapped... oh no, you're opening the door...
(Surprised.) Calm down Henry, calm down. What's going on?
(Silent for a few seconds.) You don't know...
(Dropping her pen on the floor.) Oops...
(Realizing that she will get shot and pushing her right back into the office while she receives a bullet in the forehead.) Watch out!
(Shooting Henry but missing as Henry turns around horrified.) This one's for you professor!
(Coming out of his office to find out what's happening.) What's going on? What's all the noise!
(Suddenly looking at the dean and shooting him too.) I might as well shoot you Worpington.
(Running into Elizabeth's office while he can.) Oh God! Oh God!
(Other students are trying to stop him, holding his arm, while Esteban finally shoots himself.) Let me go! I've had enough! Please, you don't understand!
Henry is now outside, the screen is no longer split. He jumps in his car and the wheels are screeching. We can see in the background many police cars, ambulances and journalists. He rushes home. HenRY WILLIAMS (Having a nervous break down.) This is not happening. This can't be happening to me. Why is this happening to me? Why? Oh why? Or how.... Yeah, how can this be happening to me? I need to get into thinking mode as soon as poss... I'm already in thinking mode... figuring this out... I need to figure this out! I need to understand! I need to free myself! CuT TO:
Fourth Deja Vu. DAY 1. Late Afternoon. Henry's Office in his house Once home he is visibly shaken. Trying to forget he opens books where he hopes to find some explanation about Deja vu. HenRY WILLIAMS (Getting books, opening them and throwing them on the floor. Still neurotic.) There must be an answer somewhere in there. Someone must have experienced this before and documented it. Shame, philosophy appears to be useless at explaining this. Plato, Socraties, Saint Augustin, Joan of Arc, no, no, no!
(Sitting down at his desk.) Philosophy won't help me this time... ignorants! Just a bunch of stupid people who thought they knew everything! They know nothing! Mmh... must be a medical condition, I must be crazy... do I have any books about...
The fourth Deja vu will already show that elements of his reality are no longer quite right, people changed somehow and they do unexpected things compared with the Deja vu. His assistant is no longer his assistant, she is his wife. The screen splits again for the fourth Deja vu. While he is looking at his books on the left and finally sits down with one of them to read, on the right screen we see a woman called Marianne entering the room. LEFT SCREEN (real life) HenRY WILLIAMS (Reading a book at his desk while things happen on the right screen. He will get up and pick another book eventually.) Ah... I see...
(Once Marianne enters on the right screen, he will say:) Strange, I feel my assistant will come in any minute now...
(Reading a book at his desk.) Ah... I see...
(Entering the room.) You're here already? I was not expecting you for a few hours after what I heard on the news. As your personal assistant I would like to know if there is anything else I can do with your book before sending it to the publisher.
(Somewhere else in his mind.) Yes... of course... you do that.
I have done all the corrections and I need to get back to my husband Martin. Should I send the book to George? HenRY WILLIAMS After the shooting, George will not be expecting the book anymore. Leave it, anyway I think I need to rewrite that book now. MaRIANNE WILKINS So, nothing better than facing death to inspire you, right? HenRY WILLIAMS (Lost in his reading.) Yes... of course... you do that... don't forget to send the book to George! He's expecting it today.
(Leaving the room.) You're crazy! I'm out of here!
Marianne! Don't send the book! Marianne? Oh never mind... go and snuggle with your Martin for all I care. Why do I care? I don't care. Why should I care? I don't care. I don't... Martin Wilkins... sex... hard-core and sweaty sex... must be nice to have a life... a hot and sexual life... like if I care. Marianne! You're fired! You hear me? You're fired! And please send the damn book to George! It's going to be a best-seller for god's sake! Yeah, a damn best-seller... it's better than sex. Marianne? END OF SPLIT SCREEN At this point in real life Marianne enters the room, she is in fact his wife though he never had one, and she knows nothing about his new book. MaRIANNE williams Oh hi Baby, I didn't know you were back already. What would you like to eat tonight? Crepes, pasta... oh I know, what about a huge Shepherd's pie, just like my mother used to make them, with no onions, I know how you hate onions darling. HenRY WILLIAMS Marianne! Marianne? What are you doing here? Have you sent the book to George? MaRIANNE WIllIAMS What book? You're working on a new book darling? HenRY WILLIAMS (Uncertain about if Marianne is his wife or his assistant.) Of course I am, it's finished! You know that... or do you...
Well, you're always talking about one book or another... I wish you wouldn't. It's been two weeks now, you know. HenRY WILLIAMS Two weeks? MariANNE WILlIAMS Yes, two weeks and I can't stand it anymore. Whether you want it or not, tonight we're making love. HenRY WILLIAMS You want sex? MariANNE WIllIAMS Oh, sorry! I didn't know we could say the S word around here. Usually you can only survive hearing snuggle... making love is already too much for your poor mind. Yes darling, tonight we're having sex! HenRY WILLIAMS Who are you? MarIANNE WILliAMS What do you mean? HenRY WILLIAMS Well, what are you? My T.A.? MariANNE WIllIAMS T.A.?
HenRY WILLIAMS My teacher assistant... or are you my wife...? Yes, you are my wife, aren't you? This is confusing. MaRIANNE WILlIAMS Darling... you've been reading too much, once again you're completely lost. I know just what to do to get you back on track. I'll bake you those little cakes you're so fond of. HenRY WILLIAMS (Getting up and ready to strangle his wife.) Don't joke with me! Who are you? What are you doing here?
You've really lost it this time! I'm telling you Henry, I won't suffer this anymore, I'm tired of caring for a mad man! I will ask for a divorce pronto if you force me to! I won't stick around until they put you into a mental hospital! HenRY WILLIAMS Yeah... go back to your Martin... he must need a nice Shepherd's pie tonight... or does he prefers crepes? MaRIANNE WILliAMS (She breaks down crying.) You know about him? How did you know?
I don't know. I don't know where that came from. I'm sorry baby, I must be losing it. Unless... you're having an affair with a certain Martin Wilkins? MaRIANNE WILLIAMS So you didn't know? How... HenRY WILLIAMS (Taking her in his arms.) Don't worry Marianne. I must deserve it, I'm such a bad husband.
Well, you're usually so absorbed with your philosophy... HenRY WILLIAMS I can't believe you're my wife. I know you are, but somehow I feel that I almost let you slip away for that Martin. MaRIANNE WILLIAMS I'm sorry. HENRY WILLIAMS I just had a deja vu, very vivid, in which you were my assistant and not my wife. I tell you, this reality must exist, I was even confused when you entered the room. You were married to a certain Martin Wilkins. MaRIANNE WILLIAMS You do remember that before we got married I gave you an ultimatum? I said I loved me but if you were not to marry me I would marry Martin. HenRY WILLIAMS It was not appropriate for me to marry my assistant, but I married you anyway. In the other timeline I must have told you to marry Martin. MaRIANNE WILLIAMS You must have dreamt all that. HenRY WILLIAMS I don't think so. I have experienced many deja vu recently and they could be considered to be a consequence of time loops. We could be going back in time with the chance to change our future if we can remember, via deja vu, our mistakes. I sincerely thought you were my assistant today. What if my reality has changed somehow? MaRIANNE WILLIAMS Well, I'm sure you will write it all down in your books. Though, is this philosophy? HenRY WILLIAMS Good question. MaRIANNE WILLIAMS I'm sorry baby for Martin. HenRY WILLIAMS There are worse things... MaRIANNE WILLIAMS What can be worse than infidelity? HenRY WILLIAMS Haven't you heard the news? MariANNE WILliAMS What news? HenRY WILLIAMS The killings at the university? Yüklə 0,54 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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