LOOP ZERO

written by-
Aniruddh gautam

Time Loops

Written by
Lisa Hagen

:aniruddhgautam@[Link]
Lhagen@[Link]
+91- 8791610456
519-496-5596
(Note: Superimposed dates indicate what is happening in real
time. Flashbacks/forwards are in italics.)

INT. A CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY GYM – EVENING

SUPER: February 7 2015

A series of grinding, physical basketball moves are seen up

close and personal, as a varsity men’s basketball team pushes
through a vindictive scrimmage. A youthful male voice berates
them incessantly.

TOM (O.S.)
Break low. Break! Move your ass.
You’re kidding me -post up. Take
him! Take him!

As the game’s physicality turns brutal, tempers flare.

TOM (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Moving screen, c’mon! Fuck you.

TOM SANDERSON, a 23 year old, obnoxious, buff golden-boy is

dominating from the point guard position. He is revealed as
the source of the berating.

He sinks a quick series of graceful three pointers providing

an annoying play-by-play call at the same time.

TOM (CONT'D)
And a step back three. Hah! Bang!
And Sanderson side-steps -and
bucket.

Tom brings the ball down court angrily signalling a play.

TOM (CONT'D)
Motion. Motion! It’s so simple.

He disgustedly pops another three over CLARKE, a brute of a

Centre.

TOM (CONT'D)
Senior year and you still can’t
guard that Clarke?

On the return trip, Clarke drives hard and lowers his

shoulder blatantly into Tom, knocking him to the ground.

CLARKE
Nice “D”, Sanderson.
2

TOM
Coach!

The oblivious COACH, middle-aged and tired, blows the

whistle.

COACH
That’s it for today. Get out of
here. Sanderson -office...now.

Tom sneers at Coach then practices his free throws as the

others leave. Coach waits briefly then walks away in
frustration.

EXT. GYM -LATER

Tom emerges from the gym doors, and sprints across the quad
to meet BEN, 22, East Indian descent, and JILLIAN, 21 years
old and Tom’s bubbly, earthy, athletic girlfriend.

They are sitting on exterior stairs half asleep on their

knapsacks. Tom sneaks up on Jill and callously scares her.

TOM
Raaahhh!

JILLIAN
Oh crap!

She kicks Tom in the shins as Ben sleeps through it all.

TOM
Sorry I’m late. Coach kept us in.

JILLIAN
Ya, right.

TOM
(kissing Jillian)
Let’s go. Ben –you’re drooling.

Tom kicks Ben to wake him.

TOM (CONT'D)
Shake it, bro.

JANET, 22, a petite, quiet, bulldog of a woman approaches.

BEN
Hey Janet -over here.

Ben gives Janet a wrapped rose and a kiss.

3

Not to be outdone, Tom pulls some flowers out of a garden for

Jillian. Jillian laughs at this gesture.

TOM
You’re late.

JANET
I always add a half hour when I’m
meeting you.

The two couples walk hand in hand, Tom and Ben pushing their
bikes.

Tom occasionally breaks away to slide down a railing or walk

a brick wall.

TOM
What did you get on that
econometrics test? Me? 92.

BEN
I’m not telling you. It’s my
elective -who cares?

TOM
Wuss-since you were a kid, Benny.

He gets Jill to hold his bike while some passing students

wave him over. His entourage is forced to wait for him until
he’s done.

TOM (CONT'D)
I hate when they stop me for
selfies.

JANET
So extra.

TOM
What?

BEN
Hurry up, pizza joint is closing.

JILLIAN
(to Janet apologetically)
I like extroverts.
4

INT. DUMPY ON CAMPUS PIZZA JOINT -CONTINUOUS

A “Happy New Year 2015” banner and a few deflated balloons

are falling off the wall of the almost empty place. The group
is shown to a booth by a WAITRESS.

TOM
Eight drafts and a meat lovers -on
me.

JANET
I’m not drinking, Tom.

TOM
Pregnant?

Janet glares.

TOM (CONT'D)
Gimme yours. Game on Friday.
Coming?

JANET
Is that rhetorical?

BEN
Always.

TOM
I’ll save you the usual comps.

JILLIAN
I’ve got practice so no “tres” til
I get there, please.

TOM
Janny, you coming this time?

JANET
Do I have to?

TOM
Last one. Going for the 3 point
record.

JANET
Given I don’t know what that means
nor do I care, I will still come to
your final game.

TOM
(patronizing)
Good for you -your second game.
5

JANET
And have you come to any of my
concerts?

TOM
To watch screechy women and gay men
scream? Not in my lifetime.

Janet uses Tom’s nickname to bug him.

JANET
What goes around comes around,
TOMMY. I’ve got to study.

TOM
We just got here.

BEN
I’ll be back.

Tom chugs a second beer as Ben and Janet leave.

JILLIAN
Take it easy.

TOM
Let’s dine and dash. You first.

JILLIAN
Grow up.

TOM
You still good for my parent’s
dinner thing?

JILLIAN
(mock sincerity)
Yep. Can’t wait.

Tom beckons some students.

TOM
Terry, party still on?
(to Jill)
Hand me Janet’s beer.

He gulps down another beer and goes to talk to another group.

Ben returns.

BEN
He’s amped up tonight.

JILLIAN
Busy semester. Janet okay?
6

BEN
Ya, just not into it tonight.

Jillian takes four large pizza slices on her plate.

JILLIAN
I’m going to miss her next year, oh
and you guys too.

BEN
We hope to be around.

JILLIAN
I guess I’ll just have to make
little friends my own age.

BEN
What about the team?

JILLIAN
Entitled princesses.

Tom returns with 2 beers in hand.

TOM
Score! Two more soldiers ready to
die for the cause. Cheers.

He clinks his beers together.

JILLIAN
Did you steal those from Terry?

TOM
He knows me.

BEN
Oh, we all know how Tommy-boy
operates.

TOM
Who pissed in your drink?

BEN
You reap what you sow, man.

TOM
Says the lapsed Hindi.

BEN
Precisely the point.
7

TOM
(sarcastically)
My bad! Terry doesn’t mind.

BEN
Have you ever asked him?

JILLIAN
Okay, boys. Let’s just eat.

They eat and drink as Tom works the room. Ben picks off the
pepperoni.

EXT. PIZZA PLACE -LATER

As they leave the restaurant, the distant campus clock tower,

tolls eleven o’clock. A light rain is falling.

Tom is drunk, leaning on Jillian heavily.

JILL
You hardly ate.

Tom gives Jillian his backpack as he and Ben unlock their

bikes.

TOM
I’m good. Can you walk Jill back?
You sure you don’t want to go?

JILLIAN
I won’t know anyone.

TOM
Okay. Don’t wait up for me, Ben.
Heh-heh. This is going to be lit.

JILLIAN
Love ya.

Jillian reacts to Tom’s sloppy kiss. He bicycles off

recklessly, leaving the two walkers.

EXT. TWO LANE ROAD -LATER

Tom weaves down the road, giving the finger occasionally to

honking drivers.

The rain picks up and Tom pulls his hoodie up.

From Tom’s POV, the road is a mass of glaring, unfocussed

lights.
8

As he shoulder checks his next weave, he cuts into opposing

traffic. A car swerves and squeals.

Tom skids across the pavement and rolls away from a second
sliding car that comes to a stop frighteningly close to his
head.

The first car slams into a hydro pole and everything comes to
a silent halt.

Tom sits up in the middle of the wreckage scraped but

unharmed. He smiles smugly.

Abruptly, a hydro wire comes sizzling to the ground next to

him throwing him violently. He convulses wildly as the
sparking wires whip around.

Screams and yelling accompany the spectacular light show

around Tom’s writhing body.

Travelling into Tom’s brain, synapses pop and connections

short out. The surge of electricity produces a series of
garbled, surreal visions and sound effects.

Scenes from Tom’s future:

Tom and Jillian are cuddling in his college bed when she
becomes upset at him and limps off in a leg brace carrying
her gym bag.

Stylish Tom, 27 and balding, is presenting an ad campaign to

clients in a high end, boardroom.

Flashes of two different, outdoor wedding ceremonies where

Tom is marrying two different women. One wedding shows Tom at
25 marrying ROSEMARY 26 year old red-head, the other at 28
marrying an indistinguishable woman.

Tom, 24, with an indiscernible woman, moves into a upscale

home.

Tom, 23, looks into a mirror as a doctor takes bandages off

his disfigured neck, chest and cheek.

Present time:

A PARAMEDIC performs CPR on Tom at the accident scene amongst

the flashing lights of police and fire vehicles.

Future Time:

Ben and Tom, playing squash at college.

9

An unseen person defibrillated in a hospital bed with a clock

showing 11.

Tom, 27, dishevelled, passed out drunk in a dingy apartment.

The visions come to a tattered end as the scenes sputter out

of energy.

Present Time:

INT. A HOSPITAL ICU ROOM – LATER

Montage:

Tom blurs in and out of consciousness. A heart monitor beeps

steadily.

The ICU NURSE, masked and gowned, administers to Tom.

Jillian, masked, reads to Tom.

A nurse changes the IV oblivious to Tom trying to reach for

her.

INT. A HOSPITAL EXAMINATION ROOM -DAY

SUPER: – February 10 2015

Jillian wheels a despondent Tom into a private room. His head

and left side are heavily bandaged.

DOCTOR THOMSON, 55, is arranging medical instruments. He

fills out a form dating it February 10, 2015.

DOCTOR THOMSON
Ah, Tom. I want to have a look at
those burns.

TOM
Me too.

DOCTOR THOMSON
Let’s have a look here.

The doctor removes the neck, chest and cheek bandages exactly
like Tom’s vision during the accident.

Tom is noticeably shocked at the damage.

10

DOCTOR THOMSON (CONT'D)

Not too bad. You’re seeing it at
it’s worse, of course. It’s healing
nicely.

TOM
It’s pervasive.

JILLIAN
You’ll be out of here in no time.

DOCTOR THOMSON
Looking good. A nurse will be by to
dress the wounds.

The doctor leaves.

TOM
I’ve seen this before.

JILLIAN
What do you mean?

TOM
I’ve been here before.

Jill squeezes his hand but he is alternately mesmerized and

angry at his image.

TOM (CONT'D)
Jill, please get out.

Jillian hesitates.

TOM (CONT'D)
Out.

Jillian leaves.

Tom smashes his fist into the wheelchair angrily.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NEXT DAY

SUPER: February 11 2015

The wall clock reads 11 o’clock. Sleeping Tom bolts upright

wide-eyed.

Distant PA announcement: Code Blue Room 260.

Medical staff rushes with the AED and defibrillates Tom’s

roommate exactly as in his previous vision.
11

The bed curtain is pulled around the emergency quickly.

Tom looks at the clock and leans back in bed dumbfounded.

EXT. FACULTY OF ECONOMICS -NIGHT

SUPER: February 12 2015

Ben and frustrated Tom emerge from the faculty building. Tom
is bandaged on his face and on his left hand.

TOM
Get me out of this hell hole!

Tom kicks in the glass of the economics building sign.

BEN
Tom!

TOM
Run.

Ben is stunned for a moment then takes off after the running
Tom.

BEN
What the hell?

TOM
I didn’t think that-

BEN
Just power through the end of the
semester. Stay out of trouble.

TOM
I’m so far behind.

BEN
A couple more weeks... one more
game.

TOM
Pity start. Bunch of scrubs.

BEN
You’re one of those losers.

TOM
Worst scholarship ever.

BEN
Oh man, be happy where you’re at.
12

TOM
Just wanna get on with my life.

EXT. OUTDOOR BASKETBALL COURT -CONTINUOUS

They come to an outdoor, lighted basketball court and Tom

shoots one handed. He struggles.

TOM
Fucking accident. Hand is buggered.
I think I saw the future.

BEN
Huh?

TOM
I don’t know what else to call it.
I see shit. I saw my bandages
removed before they were ever
removed, and a bunch of other
stuff.

BEN
Deja vu.

TOM
Whatever. No, no it’s not. I really
lived it, in real time and then it
happens again in real life.

BEN
Your brain is mush.

TOM
Thank-you Mr. Science.

BEN
Reminds me of, in quantum physics
there’s this thing where time loops
allow for events separated by time
to affect each other.

TOM
Here we go.

BEN
Well, you said you see stuff,
asshole. It happens around black
holes where there’s negative mass
and negative energy. Two separate
events influence each other because
they are both the past and future
of each other.
13

TOM
Time travel.

BEN
Not exactly, although they’re
getting close to proving time
travel mathematically by-

TOM
Focus.

BEN
Right, but this sounds more like
Time Loops -a theory that we’re not
living linearly. So what you
describe is like living your future
and present at the same time. Kinda
like you’re straddling that world
that the rest of us can’t see.

TOM
So my whole life is happening
simultaneously. I’m flashing
forward now, and could possibly be
flashing backwards in my future.
What happens when I meet in the
middle?

BEN
I dunno. They don’t cover that.
Probably not great. The converging
negative energies would have to go
somewhere I guess-you know, like
how black holes rip stars apart.

TOM
Like I’m going to fucking explode.
Ya, right. Maybe I should pick some
winning lottery numbers, before I
“boom”.

BEN
(sardonically)
Ha ha. Listen, write everything
down. Maybe we can make sense of
it, or at the very least, some
therapist will make a ton off your
psycho memories.

A florescent overhead light, sizzles and sputters causing Tom

to touch his temple.
14

TOM
Sure, whatever. I think you’re full
of shit, but whatever. That class
just now...

BEN
Yeah, review.

TOM
God, I’m lost.

Tom shows signs of dizziness.

BEN
Your other classes okay?

Disappointed Tom shows Ben a D minus on his quiz.

TOM
I’ve never failed a test in my
life. I just want—

Tom’s eyes roll back and he collapses. His fast forwards

spins in a hazy blur of colours and electricity.

EXT. COLLEGE QUAD - DAY

Tom and Ben are in graduation robes among other seated grads
listening to a gowned PROFESSOR call up collegians. A program
held by the men declares “Spring Convocation.”

TOM
--want to move on. What a shit
show.

BEN
Shut up. Trying to graduate here.

A grad passes by wearing a medal.

TOM
Congrats on the gold medal,
Lyndsay.

BEN
(whispering to Tom)
Should have been you.

TOM
Well, that got fucked up like
everything else.
15

The speaker announces the class of 2015. A cheer goes up and

Ben and Tom throw their mortar caps into the air. The flash
forward fries out.

INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM– NIGHT

SUPERIMPOSE: FEBRUARY 13 2015

Tom opens his eyes from his gurney. The busy hospital ER
comes into view.

BEN
Hey, how are you?

TOM
(groggy)
Are we done?

BEN
I’ll buzz for a nurse.

TOM
I lost the Biz Gold Medal.

BEN
Awards aren’t till graduation.

TOM
Ya, I know.

BEN
You’re in the hospital, buddy.

Jill arrives with a bulge under her coat.

JILLIAN
Stop scaring us like this, Tom.

She kisses Tom.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
Look what I snuck in.

She opens her coat to reveal the vertical pizza box

underneath.

TOM
It happened again.

JILLIAN
What?
16

BEN
Tom is having premonitions.

JILLIAN
No such thing.

TOM
Probably not. I’m tired.

BEN
How do you explain- ?

Tom stops him with a glare.

BEN (CONT'D)
-forget it.

Jill opens the pizza box and all the pizza has slid to a
clump on one side.

BEN (CONT'D)
Ohhhh, that’s not good.

Ben takes the box to the garbage can, but Jillian dives at it
and grabs it back.

JILLIAN
Wait. I can still eat that.

Jillian digs into the pizza as a NURSE comes around the

corner and looks disapprovingly.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
(with mouth full)
Wha-?

EXT. LAKEFRONT – DAY

SUPERIMPOSE: FEBRUARY 14 2015

The healing Tom and Jill carry a knapsack to a secluded

section under a pier.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
Alright, I tried my best. How you
talked me into this...

They sit near the lake on a blanket and start their playlist
of “Arkells” songs.
17

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
We’ve got wine, PB and jam
sandwiches, watermelon and leftover
pizza.

TOM
Good thing you’re cute. Let’s start
with that wine.

They half recline on the blanket and Tom steam rolls his body
over Jillian which turns into a hug.

JILLIAN
I love you.

TOM
I know.

JILLIAN
It’s about time.

TOM
Happy Valentine’s Day.

JILLIAN
What’cha get me?

TOM
Me.

JILLIAN
Can I return it?

She holds the chilled wine bottle against Tom’s neck,

playfully. Tom swats her hand away.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
Grow up. Hey, IF you grow up, what
do you want to be?

TOM
I’m not growing up.

Jillian shoves the bottle down the back of his track pants.
Tom squirms like a worm.

TOM (CONT'D)
Oh my ‘nads! I’m going right to ‘I
don’t give a damn senility.’

JILLIAN
Already there. Love you.
18

TOM
Ya.

Tom gets the bottle out of his pants. Takes a slug.

JILLIAN
Oh, that’s appealing.

TOM
When am I going to meet your fam?

JILLIAN
When you grow up.

TOM
Ha ha. You haven’t told them about
me yet.

JILLIAN
I’m worried about my Dad’s blood
pressure.

TOM
Tell them.

Tom begins play wrestling with Jillian.

TOM (CONT'D)
Tell em.

JILLIAN
No way. You’re my dirty little
secret.

The wrestling turns into a fervent kiss. Jillian stares

intently into Tom’s eyes as if over come by emotion.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
(deadpan)
I’m starving.

She wiggles free of the hug and devours the pizza and
suddenly thinks of offering some.

Tom checks some lottery tickets on his phone disappointedly.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
Want some?

TOM
Dammit.

JILLIAN
Waste of money, lotteries.
19

An expensive yacht passes by in the setting sun.

TOM
I want a boat like that.

JILLIAN
First you need to get a job.

TOM
Yeah, that too. I’ll buy you
anything you want -a car, bling.

JILLIAN
Get the silver spoon out of your
mouth.

Tom pretends to have a spoon in his mouth.

TOM
(garbled)
Ah buy oo anything oo ant.

JILLIAN
(mimicking)
Oo need ah yob- a job.

TOM
No problem. CEO in five years.

JILLIAN
Get an interview first.

TOM
Got one- a small agency.

Tom pops the wine cork for emphasis.

JILLIAN
Get out. That’s great.

TOM
Don’t know if I want it. Pretty
bush.

Jillian is feeding Tom watermelon. She smushes it in his

face.

JILLIAN
Geez Tom, just be happy someone
wants you.

TOM
Okay, don’t do that. Man, now I
don’t even want to ask you.
20

Tom wipes his face on the blanket.

JILLIAN
What?

TOM
Forget it.

There is a long pause as Jillian waits Tom [Link]

lightening. Tom rubs his head.

Jill makes the occasional mocking face at Tom.

Lightening flares over the lake.

TOM (CONT'D)
Okay, I was going to ask if you’d
be pre-engaged to me.

He holds out a cheap ring box.

JILLIAN
Pre-engaged? What the hell is that?
For people who can’t commit? I’m
not telling anyone I’m pre-engaged.

TOM
Well, I thought it was a good
Valentine’s gift- time to think.

JILLIAN
Nearly two years!

TOM
(showing his temper)
I thought this is what you wanted.
What do you want?

Tom shows small signs of dizziness.

TOM (CONT'D)
I don’t want to be tied down yet.

JILLIAN
Tied?

TOM
Just forget it.

He angrily throws the ring into the water, reeling a little.

Jillian is shocked.

JILLIAN
Omigod. I didn’t mean-
21

Tom collapses again as lightening lights up the sky.

He vaults into another electrically-charged, fast forward.

INT. UNIVERSITY GYM -NIGHT

In a fast-forward haze, the basketball team is in a time out

during a game. There are five seconds on the clock, and Tom’s
home team is down by one point.

The same “Arkells” song is heard in the background.

TOM
Fuck off Coach. I’m last shot.I’m
always last shot.

The whistle blows and play resumes. Tom charges down the
court with the ball.

Jillian is in the stands cuddling with handsome, rebound

date, DAVID, 20, wearing a Faculty of Nursing sweatshirt and
screaming at Tom.

DAVID
Pass the ball, Sanderson. Share the
rock, asshole.

Tom angrily goes up for a dunk, is rejected, and comes down

on top of a defender.

Tom’s snaps his leg bone grotesquely and he goes down in pain
with the white bone jutting through his skin.

The buzzer sounds. The flash forward sparks out.

INT. TOM’S BEDROOM IN A STUDENT HOUSE – NIGHT

SUPER: FEBRUARY 14 2015

Tom awakens bolt upright in his sweaty bed, moaning and

holding his ankle.

He looks at his bedside cellphone showing 11 pm, jumps out of

bed fully clothed and runs out with beer in hand from his
bedroom bar fridge.

INT. BEN AND TOM’S LIVINGROOM IN SAME HOUSE –CONTINUOUS

Ben is meditating in front of a Hindu altar.

22

Tom runs in, throwing on a coat and shoes in a flurry.

BEN
(sarcastically)
Come on in. I’m not doing anything.

TOM
What the hell do you get out of
that?

BEN
(sarcastically)
I dunno. Eons of ancient knowledge.
Comfort in traditions?

Tom puts his beer on the altar. Ben quickly removes it.

TOM
Whatever. That’s that karma shit,
right?

BEN
Not exactly how we phrase it but
yes.

TOM
How can you believe that crap and
study physics too?

BEN
They’re quite compatible actually.
Cause and effect.

TOM
I asked Jill to be pre-engaged. She
said no.

BEN
I’m sorry. Is that it then?

TOM
No. I think she’s still going to my
parents. She just doesn’t want to
be pre-engaged for some stupid
reason. I think it’s my scars.

BEN
She’s not that shallow.

TOM
I threw the ring in the lake.
23

BEN
You’re an idiot. Jill must have
been livid.

TOM
I dunno. I blacked out. Saw my last
game of the year.

BEN
And...?

TOM
Not good.

BEN
So, you insult someone, you get
pissed off and then you see the
future. Seems like cause and effect
to me.

TOM
So you think I should get pissed
off more to see the future.

BEN
You’re an idiot. Be nice and get
nice back.

TOM
I’m nice.

BEN
You’re nice when you want
something.

Tom gets on a nearby laptop and pulls up a betting site.

TOM
Eat shit.

BEN
Are you keeping track of
everything?

TOM
Mostly. Some dates are messed. In
the basketball dream, I miss the
winning basket and we lose.

BEN
What are you doing?
24

TOM
I am betting $10,000 of my car
savings on us losing.

BEN
Please tell me you’re using a
fictitious name.

TOM
Yours.

BEN
No!

Ben tries to stop him but gets shoved back hard.

BEN (CONT'D)
Fuck you.

Ben stomps off. Tom hits enter and runs out, yelling back.

TOM
You’ll give me the winnings, right?

EXT. JILLIAN’S APARTMENT -LATER

Tom is knocking ferociously at Jill’s door. She answers, half

asleep.

TOM
What are you doing asleep already?

JILLIAN
I dunno-sleeping?

TOM
Let me in.

INT. JILLIAN’S APARTMENT EXT. HALLWAY -CONTINUOUS

TOM
Anyone here?

JILLIAN
No.

TOM
Okay. Jill, I’m sorry about today.
I hope we’re good.

JILLIAN
You’re apologizing.
25

TOM
Best I can.

JILLIAN
You understand why pre-engagements
suck.

TOM
No, but if you don’t want it, we
won’t do it. You’re still on for my
parents, right?

JILLIAN
You’re unbelievable. I guess so.

TOM
Okay good. Do you know any male
nurses?

JILLIAN
Um, my uncle?

TOM
Okay good.

He kisses her and looks expectantly.

JILLIAN
Oh alright, do you want a beer or
something?

EXT. TOM’S PARENTS’ UPSCALE HOUSE- DAY

SUPER: FEBRUARY 15 2015

Nervous Tom approaches the front door with truculent Jillian

a few steps behind.

TOM
Okay, we’ve got this, right?

JILLIAN
I’m here.

INT. TOM’S PARENTS’ UPSCALE HOME -CONTINUOUS

LORNA SANDERSON, Mrs Cleaver-ish 47, is in her pristine

kitchen. TOM SANDERSON SR, greying and svelte, 47, watches
television in the living room.
26

TOM
Hey Mom. Dad.

LORNA
Hello! Hello, nice to meet you.

TOM
Mom, this is Jillian. This is my
Mom, Lorna, and my Dad, Tom.

TOM SR.
Come on in. The golf game is on.
Let me pour us a Scotch, Tommy. How
do you like the new TV?

LORNA
Oh Tommy, it’s good to see you. So
good.

Lorna gives Tom a big hug and holds his hand for an extended
time.

LORNA (CONT'D)
Please sit down. Turn it down Tom.
Now Tommy has told us almost
nothing about you, Jillian. How did
you meet?

TOM
Mom.

LORNA
Okay, okay – getting food.

TOM SR.
How’s school going Tommy?

TOM
Fine, Dad.

TOM SR.
Keeping the marks up?

TOM
Yep.

TOM SR.
Do you need money?

TOM
I’m good.

TOM SR.
Here’s a couple of bucks.
27

Tom Sr peels off $200 and gives it to Tom.

TOM SR. (CONT'D)

Floor time?

TOM
Lots.

TOM SR.
Average?

TOM
25.2 points, 5 dimes.

TOM SR.
Don’t push it. We don’t need you in
the hospital again.

LORNA
I hate hospitals. Tom –kitchen.

Tom Senior leaves, watching golf over his shoulder.

TOM SR.
But they’re on the 18th...

JILLIAN
Pretty good at lying.

TOM
None of their business.

Jillian looks at one of the many family photos.

JILLIAN
This you?

TOM
Yeah, ten or so.

JILLIAN
You have a brother?

TOM
That’s Tory.

JILLIAN
You never said-

TOM
He died. Leukaemia.

The television flickers. Tom shows small signs of dizziness.

28

JILLIAN
Oh wow, I didn’t know.

TOM
I never told you.

Tom gets a purse off a shelf and takes one hundred dollars.

JILLIAN
Tom!

TOM
She won’t even notice.

JILLIAN
Oh my god.

She turns a cold shoulder to Tom as he pockets money.

LORNA (O.S.)
Okay, supper is ready.

Tom and Jill sit at the dining room table.

LORNA (CONT'D)
Sit anywhere. I hear you’re a
tennis player, Jillian.

TOM
She won regional singles.

LORNA
You must be good. Our Tory was a
nationally ranked swimmer. Tor-
Tommy, are you going to move home
after graduation?

Tom seethes then becomes dizzy.

TOM
I doubt it.

LORNA
I wish you would. That accident was
so-

TOM
I’m fine. I’ve got an interview for
a big advertising job. Then, I’ll
do anything you-

In the background, the television falters and goes black. Tom

momentarily sparks into a fast forward much like a Petit Mal.
29

EXT. GRAVE YARD -DAY

27 year old Tom and 51 year old Lorna at TOM SR’s grave
marked August 10,1958-June 3, 2019.

TOM (CONT'D)
- anything you want Mom. Do you
need money?

LORNA
What I want, money can’t buy.

Tommy and Lorna hold each other and cry. The fast forward
reverses in a electric blur.

INT. PARENT’S DININGROOM – CONTINUOUS

Tom’s parents and Jill are reviving the dazed Tom.

LORNA (CONT'D)
Tommy, snap out of it.

TOM SR.
What’s wrong?

JILLIAN
He’s been having these at school.

TOM SR.
You’re not going back.

TOM
I’m going back.

TOM SR.
We’re getting you to a doctor.

TOM
I’m seeing a doctor.

TOM SR.
You’ll see my doctor.

TOM
Don’t tell me what to do.

TOM SR.
You’re not leaving this house.

TOM
Watch me.
30

Tom storms out slamming the door behind him.

JILLIAN
I’m sorry. I’ll keep an eye on him.

Jillian follows Tom out to the car.

INT. TOM’S BEAT UP CAR -CONTINUOUS

Tom guns the car and pulls away angrily. A few hundred yards
down the road Tom stops the car next to a transformer.

He holds his head in pain.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
Are you going to keep ignoring the
blackouts?

TOM
Yes.

JILLIAN
Really.

TOM
You don’t know the half of it.

JILLIAN
Enlighten me.

TOM
I black out, I see the future.

JILLIAN
This again?

TOM
Ever since the accident-

JILLIAN
You’ve become Superman.

TOM
No, I just dream bad things,
everything goes wrong.

JILLIAN
What did you see just now?
31

TOM
My Mom crying over my Dad’s grave
saying ‘money can’t buy Dad back...
oh.

JILLIAN
Well, that’s going to happen some
day.

TOM
Money- I took her money from her
purse. It’s connected.

JILLIAN
What?

TOM
I’m sure I’m controlling this
somehow. Or maybe when I’m angry?

The transformer buzzes.

Tom rubs his eyes and is distracted.

JILLIAN
You alright?

Tom slumps and sparks into a fast forwards.

EXT. TENNIS COURT –NIGHT

Panicked Tom kneels beside a writhing Jill who is holding her

injured ankle. Tennis racquets and broken orange juice
bottles are scattered beside them.

TOM
You alright? I’m so sorry.

JILLIAN
Oh my god. I tore something.
Owww...

Tom picks up an orange juice bottle and smashes it on the

court. He reverses back to the present.

INT. TOM’S CAR -CONTINUOUS

Tom straightens up from his slump, dazed.

32

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
You okay?

TOM
I don’t know.

JILLIAN
I am driving home.

They get out of the car and exchange seats.

EXT. TO INT. CAMPUS CLOCK TOWER- NIGHT

SUPER: FEBRUARY 16 2015

Tom runs across the dark campus to the clock tower that reads
10:43. He uses a credit card to jimmy the lock of the tower.

He dashes up the stairs where Ben, Janet and Jillian are

sitting on lawn chairs by the large clock face with their
beer and pizza.

The housing around the clock is strewn with cigarette butts,

beer cans and garbage.

TOM
S’up?

JANET
Really Tom, it’s just a matter of
time before you’re late.

TOM
Buzzkill. Where’s my beer?

JANET
You shouldn’t be drinking on
medication.

TOM
Gotta wash them down. Great news!
Jill and I are not pre-engaged.

Jill shoots a disgusted look.

JANET
What?

TOM
Just kidding. Big news is I did a
shoot around with the team today.
33

JANET
A what? Never mind. I don’t care.

TOM
I’ll get limited minutes next week,
but I’ll play and slay.

Tom back hugs the aloof Jillian and they survey the campus
below.

TOM (CONT'D)
And... I had another interview
today at a big firm in the city.

BEN
Congratulations!

TOM
It handles all the big accounts.
Looks awesome.

JANET
Congratulations Tom.

Tom happily hugs Jill and surveys the view.

TOM
Best view on campus.

BEN
Cheers to that. Oh hey. More news.

JANET
I’m a professional student! I got
into law school.

TOM
Awesome. That’s great.

JILLIAN
Congratulations.

TOM
More student debt for you, Janny.

The computerized, tower clock buzzes to life.

TOM (CONT'D)
Wait for it.

They all hold their ears as the electronic chimes tolls once
for the quarter hour. They kiss their partners on cue,
Jillian less enthusiastically.
34

BEN
(seamlessly)
I’m try to get a job in town.

JANET
He’ll go back to grad school after
I’m done.

JILLIAN
Wow, lots of changes.

TOM
I am so done. Get on with life. I
know what I need to know.

JANET
You always know everything.

The computer clock buzzes in the background. Tom bites his

lip.

TOM
I just mean I’m ready to move on.
Geez, I’d kill to get that job I
interviewed for-

JILLIAN
--and leave me behind.

TOM
Oh, you know there’s no place I’d
rather be than –-

As the computer clock buzz intensifies and blows a fuse, Tom

blacks out and fast forwards.

EXT. MCDOUGALL’S SMALL OFFICE -DAY

Recent graduate Tom, 24, hungover but power-dressed, enters

unimpressive office’s glass, front door, briefcase in hand.

He has a prosthetic left arm that is barely visible.

INT. MCDOUGALL’S OFFICE -CONTINUOUS

Tom is led to a cubicle by AN EXECUTIVE, 46. Tom’s waiting

laptop has a McDougall Advertising logo on it.

TOM
-- than here. I am very happy to be
working here.
35

EXECUTIVE
Well, we’re very impressed with
your school marks and interview. I
hope you have a long career with
McDougall Advertising.

A well-dressed, twenty-six year old woman resembling Jillian

with glimmering red hair, ROSEMARY, walks authoritatively
into the cubicle and sits primly at the other desk.

EXECUTIVE (CONT'D)
Oh Rosemary, I’d like you to meet
Tom Sanderson. He’s your new
cellmate. Rosemary Anderson.

ROSEMARY
A pleasure.

EXECUTIVE
Rosemary will get you going on HR
forms. Happy to have you aboard.

Tom points to Rosemary then himself.

TOM
Anderson. Sanderson. You got ripped
off on a consonant.

Rosemary smiles weakly.

ROSEMARY
Here, fill these out.

TOM
Of course.

Combination montage and telephone voiceover:

Tom is seen working busily at desk in the fast paced office.

Next, he leads animated discussions with two co-workers.

TOM (V.O. PHONE) (CONT'D)

Hi, Rosemary? This is Tom Sanderson
with an S. How are you?

Tom works late into the night alone in the office. The date
on the office phone shows Sep. 1, 2015.

ROSEMARY (V.O. PHONE)

Just fine… Tom.
36

Tom is rushing to work, walking through busy streets,

briefcase in hand.

TOM (V.O.)
I know it is probably against
company policy, but I like to live
on the edge. Would you have dinner
with me tonight?

ROSEMARY (V.O.)
Dinner?

TOM (V.O.)
You eat, don’t you?

Tom presents a campaign in an upscale boardroom (as in his

first vision after the accident.)

ROSEMARY (V.O.)
Well, yes. Sure, we can do dinner.

In 60 year old CEO PETER MCDOUGALL’S glass-walled office, Tom

is shaking hands.

TOM (V.O.)
Great. Eight o’clock then. Do you
like flowers?

Tom and Rosemary walk hand in hand, Rosemary tittering

girlishly.

ROSEMARY (V.O.)
Yes, very much so. You’re going to
go all out, uh? Very smooth.

Tom and Rosemary play with puppy Bassett hound. Rosemary

smacks the dog on the nose and scolds him.

Tom and Rosemary are looking at a Mustang car in a showroom.

Rosemary insistently pulls Tom towards a mini van. Tom
refuses and marches back to the sports car, shaking the
SALESMAN’S hand as he buys it.

TOM (V.O.)
You know it. Go big or go home.
I’ll pick some flowers – I’ll pick
up some flowers for you. See you
shortly.

EXT. SYMPHONY HALL - NIGHT

37

Tom and Rosemary, dressed up, are walking out of a symphony

concert hand in hand. A marquee indicates February 1 2016 and
that they heard Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Tom pulls up flowers from a public garden to give to

Rosemary, but she frowns at him and he stops dejectedly.

ROSEMARY
That was glorious music.

TOM
Ya, it was pretty good.

ROSEMARY
We should go to Vienna.

TOM
Sure-why?

ROSEMARY
We could take in one of those music
tours and hear some great concerts
there.

TOM
That would be alright, I guess.

ROSEMARY
It would be so much fun. I’ll look
into it tomorrow.

They hop into Rosemary’s red car. She drives.

TOM
Have you met the new guy in our
department yet?

ROSEMARY
Not yet.

TOM
Seems like a dick.

ROSEMARY
Now Tom, everyone has value if you
give them enough time.

TOM
I guess. What time do you have?

ROSEMARY
Eleven o’clock.
38

TOM
Time for a late night snack?

ROSEMARY
Sure.

They drive on.

INT. ELEGANT RESTAURANT –LATER

Tom and Rosemary have just been served their appetizers by a

young WAITER.

ROSEMARY (CONT'D)
(overly upset)
Tommy, my calamari is all wrong.

TOM
Waiter, take this back please.

WAITER
But the kitchen is closing.

TOM
Bring us another!

Waiter retrieves plate.

ROSEMARY
(indignantly to waiter)
Thank-you.
(sugar sweet to Tom)
You’re sweet to make such a big
deal over six months.

TOM
Count each and every day.
Had Eddie assigned some one else to
fill out my HR forms, I might be
dating Brad Polanski right now.

Rosemary affects a fake, little laugh.

ROSEMARY
Polanski will have to look for
someone else.

TOM
Rosemary, I think I’m done looking.
I know it’s only been a little
while, but I am very sure about
this.
39

Tom gets down on one knee.

TOM (CONT'D)
Will you marry--

INT. TOM’S VP OFFICE -EVENING

Tom, 26 years old, is sitting in a bigger, posh office his VP

nameplate on the desk. The computer screen indicates July 15,
2017.

Another combination montage and telephone voiceover with

Rosemary on her carphone:

TOM
-- no place I’d rather be than with
you, but I’ve got a pile of work
tonight.

Flashback to Tom and Rosemary, in non-descriptive wedding

attire, kiss and cut a wedding cake.

ROSEMARY
(over phone angrily)
6 months, Tom!

Moving into a nice home. He places a photo on a table. She

corrects him and moves it somewhere else.

TOM
It’s not a biggie. 1 year
anniversaries are the biggies.
You’re cutting out. Where are you?

Both drunk, they fight in the living room and Rosemary throws
a wine bottle.

ROSEMARY
On the Wilson ramp to the freeway.

Tom back in his office on phone.

TOM
Can I take you out to dinner
tomorrow?

ROSEMARY
No! I’ve got the gym tomorrow and
you promised -Ohhhh-

Over the phone Tom hears a screech of brakes and a scream and
then the line goes dead.
40

Montage in a silent, post-trauma fog:

A MINISTER provides the service around the open grave with 25

year old Tom, Ben, Janet, and parents in attendance.

Arriving in his home, his basset hound is lying in front of

the door. Tom, in funeral suit, prods him with his foot
through the door to get him out of the way.

Alone, he clicks at the TV aimlessly.

Tom, in a white t-shirt and shorts, is lying in bed on top of

the covers late at night staring blankly.

Tom takes the morning garbage to the curb in front of his

home.

A distant clock tower chimes eleven o’clock. He picks out a

woman’s deodorant stick from the garbage can and breaks down
crying.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

SUPER: FEBRUARY 16 2015

College Tom is lying semi-conscious on the examination table,

clutching a roll of bandages and silently crying. Jillian is
holding his hand.

DOCTOR THOMSON is finishing the examination.

DOCTOR THOMSON
I’m going to up your meds a bit to
see if we can control the seizures.
Just some fine tuning.

The doctor leaves.

TOM
How long?

JILLIAN
About two hours.

Tom sits up wobbly and gives Jillian a long, terrified hug.

TOM
Jill, it was a bad one. I got a job
at some sketchy agency called
McDougall’s.
41

JILLIAN
You got a job. Well, that IS a
dream—

TOM
They’re hella bad. I think it was
you.

JILLIAN
Me?

TOM
In a car accident.

JILLIAN
I’m right here.

TOM
I think I killed you.

JILLIAN
Tom, stop it.

TOM
I’m losing it.

JILLIAN
Quit it.

TOM
You’re the constant...

Tom breaks down and cries, held up by sympathetic Jillian.

TOM (CONT'D)
I’ll try to be better. I’ll try.
This is too much....

JILLIAN
We’ve got this.

INT. A PHOTOGRAPHER’S STUDIO- DAY

SUPER: FEBRUARY 17 2015

Ben and Tom are fitted in graduation cap and gowns. Tom looks
like a bag of dirt but is bandage free.

A large, photo, wall calendar -February 2015 visible.

Tom pays the photographer with his debit card.

42

TOM
Why do I feel everyone’s got their
hand in my pocket during
graduation?

BEN
How did your second interview go?

TOM
Good-good. Man, I’m tired.

BEN
What’s up?

TOM
Nothing. I got the job actually.

BEN
This isn’t the calm reaction I
expected.

TOM
Well, it’s with a small ad agency
about three hours away.

BEN
And…?

TOM
It’s called McDougall Advertising.
That’s the place I dreamt about.

BEN
Karma.

TOM
Just go back to your fat little
Buddha.

BEN
Hindi, asshole. How far this time?

TOM
I dunno. Maybe next year?
Started good with the job, but
finished terrible. Just get to the
good stuff, right?

BEN
Like what?

TOM
Like being rich.
43

BEN
Wow.

The sound of the electronic camera shutter is heard in the

background with a PHOTOGRAPHER giving posing instructions.
Tom touches his temple.

TOM
Go chant to yourself.

BEN
Selfish prick.

Tom’s aggressive shove catches Ben off-guard and he goes

sprawling.

TOM
I am not selfish-

Tom sits and has a Petit Mal fast forward at the sound of the
next shutter click.

INT. BEN AND JANET’S LIVINGROOM - NIGHT

Older Ben, and Janet both 26, with drunk Tom visiting.

BEN
You’re still cheap.

Ben reaches for a drink and overshoots it, spilling it. Ben,
struggling to walk with a cane, goes to the kitchen to get a
cloth.

TOM
No I’m not. I gave a quarter to a
street person last week.

JANET
(indicating Ben)
Having a rough day. Neurologist
appointment tomorrow.

The scene reverses back.

INT. PHOTOGRAPHER’S STUDIO – CONTINUOUS

Tom is dazed in his chair with Ben getting off the floor to
assist him.
44

BEN
Wake up, Tom.

TOM
You okay?

BEN
Bad?

TOM
Yes

BEN
What happened?

Tom goes to tell Ben but thinks better of it.

TOM
I don’t remember.

Ben gets in Tom’s face threateningly.

BEN
And if you ever touch me again, or
Janet, or Jillian, I’ll kill you.
Understand?

Ben leaves upset.

BEN (CONT'D)
We’re on the same team, asshole.

EXT. OUTDOOR TENNIS COURT – NIGHT LATER

Tom and Jillian are scaling the tall, tennis court fence with
equipment and orange juice bottles in hand.

The courts are padlocked.

They are loud, laughing and drunk.

Tom makes it into the court but Jillian is so drunk that she
is stuck at the top.

TOM
C’mon. You can do it.

JILLIAN
I’m scared.

TOM
You need some liquid courage.
45

Tom climbs up the fence and force feeds her some orange juice
and vodka.

JILLIAN
Mmmm, good orange juice.

TOM
Oh, there’s more vodka than OJ in
there.

JILLIAN
I think I’m drinked.

TOM
C’mon, I wanna kick your ass. I’ll
catch you.

He climbs down.

TOM (CONT'D)
I’ll catch you.

She throws down her racquet and he bobbles it.

TOM (CONT'D)
I’ll catch you.

She jumps and gets caught in the fence, landing hard on one
leg. Tom does not catch her.

TOM (CONT'D)
You alright? I’m so sorry!

JILLIAN
Oh my god. I tore something.
Owww...

Jillian’s foot is at an unnatural angle.

TOM
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.I knew this
was going to happen.

Angrily, Tom smashes the vodka and orange juice bottle then
calls for help on his cell.

INT. FRAT HOUSE NIGHT -NIGHT -LATER

A loud, party is underway. Tom is drunkenly entertaining a

group in the living room while Ben is nearby.
46

Tom still wears his tennis clothes and finds a tennis ball in
the pocket that he uses to emphasize his rants.

He is standing chest to chest with a MALE DRUNK STUDENT, 21

years old.

TOM (CONT'D)
And I’ve already got a job lined up
and it’s a great, and I’m good at
basketballing and, and I have a
super power.

DRUNK
You are one ugly son of a bitch.

TOM
I’m not ugly!

DRUNK
Fucking drunk jocks.

Tom starts pushing the other student.

BEN
C’mon Tom. Let’s bounce.

TOM
This guy thinks I have a drinking
problem. Look, drink—

Tom picks up and gulps a beer.

TOM (CONT'D)
-- no problem.

Tom pours the beer on the drunk student and a nearby sound
system causing it to sizzle and smoke. Tom holds his head in
reaction to the sizzling.

The student pushes back, which develops into a full blown,

fist fight. Tom knocks the student out cold.

Tom grabs a large jug of beer to drink.

TOM (CONT'D)
I’ll show you drinking. Just watch
me drink you--

Tom collapses into another fast forward.

INT. SEEDY BAR – NIGHT

47

Older Tom, 27, is totally smashed and is talking to a

disinterested PATRON, 60 years old at the bar.

TOM (CONT'D)
-- drink you under the table any
day.

The patron leaves to another area of the bar.

TOM (CONT'D)
Another Scotch, Billy-boy.

BARTENDER BILL, 35, indicates no more drinks.

TOM (CONT'D)
Ah, c’mon. Just one.

Tom drains the dregs of his current drink, looking for

someone to talk to. He puts his head down.

OLDER BEN, 26, enters the bar relying heavily on a cane,

looking for Tom.

BEN
(to bartender)
Thanks for calling me, Bill. Let’s
get you home.

TOM
No, I’m okay, Ben. Let’s go to the
frat party.

Ben leads Tom out the door.

INT. TOM’S LUXURIOUS HOUSE-LATER

Ben helps Tom into his house. Tom pushes the basset hound off
the bed and flops down.

TOM (CONT'D)
Ben, the visions are all messed up.

Tom falls asleep.

BEN
I know buddy.

INT. TOM’S OFFICE, MCDOUGALLS -DAY

48

Hung over 27 y.o. Tom, at his desk, pushes an aspirin bottle

around with a pencil.

He grabs a flask out of the drawer for a nip and yells out
the door.

TOM
Jackie, do you have the stuff for
the Randell project?

JACKIE, a hip, disinterested 24 year old, graphic designer,

in an adjoining office.

JACKIE
(shouting)
We closed that file while you were
off.

Tom goes to her office door with a file of papers.

TOM
Without asking me?

JACKIE
They needed it. Sorry.

TOM
Who the hell decided that?

JACKIE
McDougall. Stop yelling.

Tom goes to the photocopier to copy his papers. The error

light goes off, frustrating him. He slams the photocopier lid
smashing it into pieces.

PETER MCDOUGALL, suited perfectly, peeks around the corner.

TOM
Mr. McDougall, it broke.

Tom returns to Jackie’s office.

TOM (CONT'D)
You couldn’t wait til after my
bereavement leave?

JACKIE
It happened like 6 months ago.
Look, I don’t make the decisions
around here and don’t yell at me.
I’m not your mother.
49

Tom rips his jacket off the hanger and heads out of the
office.

TOM
I have a migraine. I’m going home.

JACKIE
I told them migraine last time. And
phone me when you get to the bar
–oh, I mean home.

INT. TOM’S HOUSE -LATER

Tired and disheveled, Tom unlocks his house. He trips over

the whimpering Bassett hound on the front mat.

TOM
Dammit Bowser.

He pops some pills and gulps a drink before reclining on the

sofa. The hound rests his head sympathetically next to Tom’s
head. Tom closes his eyes in pain and nods off.

INT. FRONT DESK POLICE STATION – WEE HOURS OF MORNING

Super: FEBRUARY 18 2015

Tom resting his eyes in waiting area with pained look on

face. Ben is led in and the accompanying OFFICER wakens Tom.

TOM (CONT'D)
What? Where?

BEN
Jail. You assaulted frat boy.

TOM
Don’t tell Jillian.

BEN
About the criminal charge?

Tom signs papers at the desk and gets his phone and knapsack
back.

TOM
No more drinking.

BEN
Ya, right.
50

TOM
No, I promise. This reaches way
beyond just tonight.

BEN
How far out are you?

TOM
The first ones were kind of random
but now they’re chronological. I
think I’m about 27.

BEN
Good or bad?

TOM
All bad.

Ben is beside himself trying to explain.

BEN
Get your shit together! What you do
now...I dunno what to -your present
is your future!

TOM
Gotta pick up Jill.

Tom leaves followed by Ben.

BEN
Don’t change the subject.

INT. TOM’S ROOM -Later

Tom helps Jillian on crutches with leg brace into room. He

carries her gym bag.

TOM
Yeah, you know. I’ll visit every
weekend. It’s going to be so cool.

JILLIAN
It’s just two different worlds,
that’s all. You’ll be all working
and adulting and I’ll be here.

TOM
Which means I can buy you all sorts
of stuff. Cars -I’m going to get my
Mustang, a house...
51

Tom quickly kisses her as she contemplates his offer.

JILLIAN
That would be alright too. I love
you.

TOM
Me too.

JILLIAN
Tom, I want to get married. Not
later –sooner.

TOM
Don’t go there.

JILLIAN
This is not the response I was
hoping for.

TOM
Just a little sudden.

JILLIAN
You were the one talking pre-
engagements.

TOM
Yeah, right. I meant down the road -
in the future.

JILLIAN
It’s always the future. I don’t
want to feel like I’m selling this
to you but--

TOM
No- don’t, but--

JILLIAN
Damn it Tom, two years--
Are we just hanging out ‘til
something better comes along?

TOM
Are you really ready for this?
Don’t you want to make sure?

JILLIAN
Oh my god. You want to look around.
You’re not still fooling around are
you?
52

Jillian begins gathering her things frantically and leaves,

limping.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
It really is a crapshoot, isn’t it?
It’s just pure luck if it works.
You are so self-centred.

TOM
I am not.

Jillian returns abruptly.

JILLIAN
You know what Tom? Over time even
your indecision becomes a decision,
doesn’t it.

TOM
Look, you should stay here. I’ll
take care of you, get you to
classes.

JILLIAN
That’d be a first.

TOM
I insist. It’s all my fault.

JILLIAN
Climbing the fence or our fucked up
relationship?

TOM
Both, but ya, I saw the whole thing
at my parents.

JILLIAN
Your fucking dreams again.

TOM
Yes. I saw you fall.

JILLIAN
Self-fulfilling prophecy. I’m outta
here.

TOM
Call it whatever you want but I saw
it. Something electrical- Ben says
you can live simultaneously and
there’s the black holes and if I
meet my self the energies will
explode.
53

JILLIAN
What the fuck are you talking
about? Prove it.

Tom defiantly sticks a knife in a toaster and pushes the

lever down. He is electrocuted into a blackout and convulses
wildly on the floor.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
Oh fuck! Ben! Call 911!

(These fast forwards show signs of peaking electrical

malfunction, and sputtering out.)

EXT. HIGHWAY ON RAMP -AFTERNOON

Close up of red car with woman’s bloodied hand hanging out

shattered window.

INT. TOM’S LUXURIOUS BEDROOM

Tom staring at ceiling as before.

EXT. TOM’S NICE HOME- DAY

Tom greets an approaching MIDDLE AGED COUPLE as they approach

the front door. They shake hands and Tom heads towards his
car.

He calls back and his basset hound bounds out the door and
follows him.

A sold sign is on the front lawn.

Tom climbs in a jammed-full, beat up, old Ford Mustang. He

stacks his forlorn Basset on the back ledge of the car.

EXT. SKETCHY APARTMENT BUILDING -LATER

Tom pulls up in the packed car.

INT. TOM’S CRUMMY BACHELOR APARTMENT –CONTINUOUS

Tom brings the last box in the door and piles it with a
modest stack of possessions thrown in the single, dirty room.
54

His stocking feet stick to the floor as he walks across the

kitchen.

He turns on a tap and it sputters out brown gunk.

He gives the dog a shove off the couch and falls asleep.

INT. MCDOUGALL’S OFFICE – DAY

Tom is standing in front of PETER MCDOUGALL in his office.

The door with CEO Peter McDougall on the door.

Tom is ranting.

TOM
--I’m fine on my own. I don’t need
this agency. And there will be a
wrongful dismissal case, don’t you
worry.

PETER
We’re offering a fair severance
that I suggest you take. Get some
help---

TOM
I don’t want to hear it. You owe me
big time.

Tom slams the door on his frenzied way out.

PETER
Tom, it’s only been 3 years...

EXT. MCDOUGALL BUILDING -SAME

Tom fumbles out the front door with his box of office
possessions. He smashes the box into the back seat of his
dumpy Mustang.

EXT. DRY DOCK –DAY

Tom, in casual clothes, tapes a ‘for sale’ sign to his boat

that bears the name “Just in Time.” He hits the boat and
walks away angrily. His cell phone rings.

TOM
Hello.
55

LORNA (V.O. PHONE)

Tommy. Get home. Your father... Dad
is dead.

The malfunctioning fast forwards sputters out to a new type

of vision.

(Visions’ Turning Point: now in reverse. They look different

than the fast forwards and show previous events but from a
distance and with Tom manipulating the outcome.)

INT. MCDOUGALL’S OFFICE – DAY

Tom is standing in front of PETER MCDOUGALL in his office.

The door with CEO Peter McDougall on it is closed door.

The action is seen through the glass wall from a distance and
the voices are muffled.

PETER
We’re offering a fair severance
that I suggest you take. Get some
help---

TOM
I don’t want to hear it. You owe me
big time. A year’s wages minimum!

Tom slams the door on his frenzied way out.

(TRANSITION POINT: The next scenes include SUPERS and have

the same clear look as the college scenes indicating that
they are the new reality.)

INT. TOM’S DISMAL APARTMENT – NIGHT

SUPER: June 3 2018

27 y.o, bearded Tom is passed out drunk on the couch still in

his funeral suit with an assortment of alcohol bottles,
funeral flowers and funeral programs around him.

A persistent pounding on the door.

Tom slides off the couch, then gets his hand stuck on a
magazine. After shaking free from the magazine, he carefully
steps over the dog.
56

Wobbling Tom answers the door.

Ben 27, using a cane, looks at Tom and then the empty
bottles.

BEN
Oh, this isn’t good.

TOM
I should’ve quit drinking.

BEN
I haven’t heard from you since the
funeral. Oh man, your breath. You
should be out of this phase soon.
Visions?

TOM
Not many, but bad.

BEN
Positive thoughts. Keep trying.

Tom looks at him in disbelief.

TOM
The visions are going in reverse
now.

BEN
Backwards?

TOM
Yeah.

BEN
Not just memories?

TOM
As far as I can remember, there are
details that never happened- it’s
different.

BEN
How far back are you?

TOM
Getting fired.

BEN
Okay. That’s a week ago but a
couple of years out from when you
started the fast forwards.
57

TOM
How much time before I meet myself?

BEN
Hard to calculate, but do something
before you back up further.

TOM
I’ll quit drinking.

BEN
More than that! Either you change,
or you change your visions.

Tom stands up but is still drunk and dizzy.

TOM
I don’t feel so good.

He sits and passes out on the couch.

INT. SEEDY BAR RERUN – NIGHT

From a distance, Tom, 27, is totally smashed and is talking

to a disinterested bar PATRON, 60 years old.

TOM (CONT'D)
-- drink you under the table any
day.

The patron leaves to another area of the bar.

TOM (CONT'D)
(to self)
Another Scotch Billy Boy... no, I’m
good, never mind.

He puts his head down, passes out as the rest of the scene
fades away.

OLDER BEN, 26 enters the bar relying heavily on a cane,

looking for Tom.

BEN
(to bartender)
Thanks for calling me, Bill. Let’s
get...

The reverse melts away.

58

INT. UNIVERSITY SQUASH COURT- DAY

SUPER: February 19 2015 (date still shown but disintegrating

as college is no longer the reality)

University Ben and Tom are in a heated squash match.

TOM
-- and electricity will do it too.

BEN
Well, you dreamt you’d get a job
and you did.

TOM
I also saw breaking up with Jill
and her torn ankle. I’ve also seen
that I lose that job, and you
getting multiple sclerosis.

The game stops dead.

BEN
I get M.S?

TOM
Sorry. I don’t want to believe
those. I can’t tell what’s real
anymore.

BEN
M.S.? You think I get MS and you’re
not even trying to change? Can’t
you see the connection?

TOM
No, it’s electrical-

BEN
Try anything! Try sobering up
again.

TOM
Already quit. I’m sure it’s
electrical. The weird part is when
I’m older me, I back up in time.

BEN
Isn’t that just remembering?

TOM
No- some in-between stage where I’m
revisiting memories but they’re not
accurate.
(MORE)
59

TOM (CONT'D)
So like yesterday I re-lived a
bender in a bar but I changed the
outcome.

BEN
You’re bouncing back. How old were
you?

TOM
My ID said 27.

BEN
Give me your journal.

Tom retrieves the book from his knapsack and Ben pours over
it.

BEN (CONT'D)
Let me think. You’ve covered about
3 and half years of your future in
10 days. No look - exactly 1200
days, so 1 present day equals 10
future days. Get a date calculator
up.

Tom opens his laptop

BEN (CONT'D)
What was the date you reversed to?
Here it is -May 24. So reversed 10
days since yesterday- makes sense-
and that started on your projected
date of June 3 2018 when your Dad
dies.

Ben punches in some dates on the laptop.

BEN (CONT'D)
March that back...and forward from
here, and you get June 7 or 8th
depending on what time of day you
reversed ---that’s when you’ll meet
yourself.

TOM
June 8th is my start date for work.
That’s less than 4 months. Really?
No, that’s such crap. You don’t
really believe that.

BEN
Yah, I do and it’s freaking me out.
Will you please at least try?
60

TWO OTHER STUDENTS, 20, are waiting for the court.

TOM
Look, I’ll GRACIOUSLY give up our
court early if that makes you feel
better.

BEN
Then call Jillian.

TOM
I messed that up pretty much.

They exit the court as two students enter to play.

STUDENT ONE
Damn, I forgot a ball.

TOM
Here’s one.

STUDENT ONE
Thanks, bro.

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SQUASH COURTS -CONTINUOUS

Tom and Ben are packing up their equipment.

BEN
Figure out how to be better -
please. Figure out what makes you
happy, Tom.

TOM
Jillian does.

INT. UNIVERSITY GYM – NEXT NIGHT

SUPER: FEB 20 2015

The basketball team is in a time out during a game. There is

five seconds on the clock, and Tom’s home team is down by one
point.

The same “Arkells” song is heard in the background.

COACH
You’ve barely played, Tom.
61

TOM
Fuck off Coach. I’m last shot.I’m
always last shot.

The whistle blows and play resumes. Tom charges down the
court with the ball.

Jillian is in the stands cuddling with rebound date, DAVID,

20, wearing a Faculty of Nursing sweatshirt and screaming at
Tom.

DAVID
Pass the ball, Sanderson. Share the
rock, asshole.

Tom runs in to dunk a shot aggressively but dishes off to

Clarke at the elbow.

Clarke shoots and scores the buzzer beater. Tom comes down
and lands on a defender, rolling his ankle a bit.

The electronic scoreboard’s graphics show fireworks; loud

music and indoor pyrotechnics; a laser light show bounces off
the walls in celebration.

Tom springs to his feet realizing he is only slightly

injured, as the coach runs to him in celebration.

TOM
I’m okay, okay. How’s the other
guy?

COACH
He’s okay. We won a game!

TOM
We won. We won! Shit! My fucking
car savings.

The laser light celebrations pick up intensity and Tom

collapses, fast forwarding.

INT. TOM’S DISMAL APARTMENT- NIGHT

SUPER: – January 2 2019

Twenty-eight year old Tom is working on his flat screen

computer. A new basset hound sleeps below the desk. The
graphic on the screen says “Find Old School Chums.”

He clicks the mouse, scrolls and stares at the screen.

62

TOM (CONT'D)
Wow. There they are.

Tom goes to type and stops. He gets up agitated and checks

the fridge- two sodas and a moldy apple.

He wanders to the front door and picks up a huge stack of

mail that has built up under the mail slot.

As he looks through the stack he comments on each envelope:

TOM (CONT'D)
Shit. Shit. More shit.

He returns to the computer.

TOM (CONT'D)
Okay. Just do it.

He types with one hand and the forefinger of his prosthetic

hand.

The exchange is superimposed as he types.

TOM (S.I.) (CONT'D)

Hi Jillian. I saw your name on
“Find Old School Chums.” I know
it’s been years, but I was
wondering how you are doing? Fill
me in. Tom Sanderson

He hits send. Smiling contently, he goes to the fridge again

to look absently into it.

An email dings. He spins and rushes back.

Tom reads:

JILLIAN (S.I.)
Online and saw your message. Still
in town. Divorced for awhile.
Working in advertising -your bad
influence no doubt. Where are you?
Jillian

He gets up and gives the forlorn basset a scratch. The dog

tries to escape. He goes to type a reply.

TOM
Yes -no. I need a drink.

He turns on the tap water, looks over the discoloured liquid

and gets a soda. He types and reads.
63

TOM (S.I.) (CONT'D)

Working for McDougall’s until a few
months ago. Sorry about your
divorce. I am widowed a couple of
years. Ben and Janet are in the big
city too. Hope you are well and
let’s get together sometime.
Tom

He hits “send” with a flourish and goes to the filthy

washroom to brush his teeth with a disgusting looking
toothbrush. The hound licks something off the floor.

TOM (CONT'D)
Okay, new toothbrush tomorrow.

The hound looks up at him.

TOM (CONT'D)
Alright, some resumes too.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - MORNING

SUPER: JANUARY 10 2019

28 year old Tom and Ben are mountain biking at a slower pace
than their college days.

Ben’s speech is slurred from M.S.

TOM (CONT'D)
--going to get back into shape.

BEN
So, you’ll race me now?

They race with Tom trailing behind.

BEN (CONT'D)
You’ve met someone.

TOM
Have not.

BEN
Yes you have.

TOM
How can you possibly know that?
64

BEN
You’re shaving again. What’s her
name?

TOM
Jillian.

Ben squeals to a stop.

BEN
Jill? You gotta be kidding. Our
Jillian?

TOM
We haven’t actually met yet.

BEN
How is she?

TOM
Good, I think.

BEN
I haven’t seen her since you guys
broke up. That’s so great. Janet
stays in touch once in awhile but -
oh I gotta tell Janet!

He retrieves his cell phone from a pocket and tips off his
bike.

TOM
One thing at a time, Benny.

Tom helps Ben off the ground.

INT. TOM’S DISMAL APARTMENT -NEXT DAY

Tom is on the computer. The new basset hound is draped across

his lap. The following text messages are superimposed over
Tom’s actions.

TOM (SUPERIMPOSED)
Hi Jillian. Glad to see you’re on
this morning.

JILLIAN (S.I.)
I live on my computer. How are you?

Tom reads the answer and types.

65

TOM (S.I)
Doing okay, still looking for a
job.

Tom reads the response.

JILLIAN (S.I.)
Do you want me to put a word in for
you at our firm?

Tom reads and types.

TOM (S.I.)
Very kind, but I don’t feel
comfortable putting you on the
spot. I’ve changed.

Tom reads.

JILLIAN (S.I.)
We all change, Tom. It’s called
life.

Tom types.

TOM (S.I)
Well then I must have been doing a
lot of living. It’s been a
struggle.

He reads the response.

JILLIAN (S.I)
Think of it as a wiggle -less
daunting. Meet me at the pier where
we used to go.

He types.

TOM (S.I.)
Sure. Next week?

He reads the response.

JILLIAN (S.I.)
Right now. Meet you there in three
hours.

Tom is panicked. He types back frantically.

TOM (S.I.)
You haven’t lost your
impulsiveness.
66

He reads again.

JILLIAN (S.I.)
Don’t make me beg.

He responds typing.

TOM (S.I.)
Okay, three hours.

He hits “send” decisively. Suddenly, he panics.

TOM (CONT'D)
Oh no-no- un-send, un-send. Ah
shit.

Tom hurriedly gets ready.

He frantically digs clothes out of his wash hamper, tossing

them wildly on top of the bed and the basset hound.

He shaves, then plucks his nose hair, cuts toenails on the

sofa.

Ben knocks on the door and walks in wobbling on his cane and
surveying the flurry of toenail clippings.

BEN
You’re going to see her.

TOM
Ya.

INT. KITCHEN -LATER

Female hands pack a picnic basket of pizza, PB & J

sandwiches, and watermelon. She throws a blanket and her car
keys on top.

JILLAIN (O.S.)
Oh, the wine.

EXT. THE PIER AT THE LAKEFRONT -LATER

Tom pulls up to the deserted pier in his beat up Mustang. He

searches up and down the beach. He wanders down under the
pier.

26 y.o. JILLIAN, fit, mature, and confident, is there with

the identical picnic from five years prior.
67

JILLIAN
Hey, welcome to my restaurant. I
still can’t cook.

They hug awkwardly.

TOM
This is great. You look great. A
picnic-great.

JILLIAN
Great then.

TOM
Yeah, great.

JILLIAN
Sit down then.

TOM
Great. This is great. You haven’t
changed. I’m so glad you answered
my message. That was great.

JILLIAN
Hey, it was you. I wanted to see
how you turned out.

TOM
And?

Jillian strolls around him, checking him out.

JILLIAN
Not too bad for a dickwad. Want
some PB & J?

TOM
Wow, haven’t had this since
college.

JILLIAN
Seems like we were just there.

TOM
Thought we were so slammed then.

JILLIAN
Weighty issues. What pair of jeans
to buy, which course is easier?

TOM
Who do I marry?
68

JILLIAN
Ancient history, Tom.

TOM
Who’d you end up marrying?

JILLIAN
Oh, the first pair of pants that
walked in the door.

TOM
Nurse guy?

JILLIAN
Ya.

TOM
(mock agony)
Ohhhhh! I knew it.

JILLIAN
Bad way to pick a husband. But hey,
at least we only screwed up one
couple. And you?

TOM
Her name was Rosemary.

JILLIAN
I’m so sorry.

TOM
Thanks. It’s weird how time isn’t
important until we’ve already spent
it.

JILLIAN
How are your parents?

TOM
It’s just Mom. Dad died last year.

JILLIAN
I’m so sorry.

TOM
Yah. Our relationship wasn’t great.
That bothers me, but I can’t fix
everything.

JILLIAN
Do you still get those strange
dreams?
69

TOM
Yeah, once in awhile.

JILLIAN
Betcha didn’t see this picnic
coming.

TOM
No, this was a total surprise.

Jillian impulsively kisses Tom.

JILLIAN
Didn’t see that coming either.

TOM
Whoa, déjà vu.

JILLIAN
I’ve been planning it for days.

They kiss again and non-verbally agree that it was pretty

good.

TOM
That in the plan?

JILLIAN
Yep.

They kiss for a third time.

INT. DINING ROOM AT BEN AND JANET’S -NIGHT

SUPER: JANUARY 17 2019

Tom and Ben are readying to eat as Janet brings in a large

vase of exotic flowers to the dining room.

Ben has a few involuntary spasms.

Tom helps Janet with the vase.

JANET
The flowers are beautiful, Tom. It
doesn’t look like you yanked these
ones up from the neighbour’s.

TOM
Ha. Ha.
70

BEN
(slurred)
Thirty resumes out? We have that
many agencies in the city?

Ben shakily pours some wine and spills it. Janet wipes it up
with his napkin.

TOM
If you know of anything opening up.

Tom pulls out a chair for Janet.

JANET
Wow, grew some manners.

TOM
Just feeling good. I must’ve done
something good in my childhood to
be this lucky.

JANET
Are you paraphrasing musicals now,
Thomas?

TOM
Shit, no. Really? No.

BEN
Well, makes sense to be good now to
pay it backwards too.

JANET
What are you talking about? You
look like you’ve lost some weight,
Tom.

Ben shakily re-pours wine. Tom grabs a water pitcher and

fills his own wine glass.

TOM
Ben’s biking obsession is helping.

BEN
Recapturing youth.

JANET
And Jillian?

TOM
Like we never missed a beat. It’s
weird how your old friends lock
right into your -something.
71

JANET
Into your being. They’re part of
who you are, Tom –your fabric.
Sadly, we get credit for who you
turned out to be.

BEN
Old friends are the best friends.

JANET
To old friends.

They toast.

Tom begins a reversal.

TOM
I don’t feel good.

JANET
What’s happening?

BEN
Tom, don’t leave us. Come on buddy.
Stay with us.

JANET
He still has these?

Tom slips into a Petit Mal, jagged reversals as the

flashbacks malfunction badly.

EXT. GRAVESIDE- DAY

26 y.o. Tom and Ben stand graveside amongst mourners and

Minister as before. The grave stone reads Rosemary L.
Anderson April 23 1990-July 18 2017.

INT. RESTAURANT -EVENING

TOM
I know it’s only been a little
while, but I am very sure about
this.

Tom gets down on one knee.

TOM (CONT'D)
Will you be pre-engaged to me?

The vision fries out badly.

72

EXT. COLLEGE QUAD- DAY

Tom and Ben are in graduation robes among other seated grads.
A banner declares “Spring Convocation.”

A grad passes by wearing a medal.

TOM
Congrats on the class award,
Lyndsay.

BEN
(whispering to Tom)
Should have been you.

TOM
Well, Lyndsay worked hard for it.

An off-camera voice announces the class of 2015. A cheer goes

up and Ben and Tom throw their mortar caps into the air.

BEN
On to better things.

TOM
I’d love to go back

BEN
Huh?

TOM
My future jumps are awesome now. I
want to go back and see what
happens.

BEN
Awesome. Keep up the acts of
kindness.

TOM
I’m trying.

With diplomas in hand, Ben meets up with Janet.

Tom’s Mom meets him and gives him a hug. Tom goes to give his
father a hug but is rebuffed and receives a handshake
instead.

LORNA
Oh Tommy -Tom -we are so proud.
73

TOM SR.
Congratulations Tom. We were
expecting that gold medal, but
congratulations anyways.

LORNA
This should have been Tory’s day
too.

TOM
As kindly as I can put this Mom,
it’s my day.

LORNA
We’re lucky to have you. Love you.

TOM
I love you too, Mom, Dad.

Tom spies Jillian waiting off to the side in a quiet area.

TOM (CONT'D)
Excuse me.

Tom jogs over.

TOM (CONT'D)
Hi.

JILLIAN
Hi. I just wanted to wish you luck
before you left.

TOM
Thanks. I’m really glad you came. I
wanted to apologize-

JILLIAN
I’m sorry I put you in that
position.

TOM
All’s good. You know, I’ve
reconsidered the marriage thing and
I think it would be a really good
idea.

JILLIAN
You do?

TOM
Yeah. Marriage would be… good.
74

JILLIAN
Tom, this is a lousy marriage
proposal. I haven’t even seen you
in two months.

TOM
No, it makes perfect sense this
time.

JILLIAN
This time? What about the time
after this time?

TOM
The timing is so much better. I
start work next month-

JILLIAN
What?

TOM
Jill, you are the singularly most
important person to me. In the end,
we don’t have anything except
–except each other.

The conversation stops dead.

JILLIAN
(quietly)
No Tom, it won’t work. Stay away.
I’m sorry I came.

Jillian walks away.

Tom slumps against an outdoor vending machine that sizzles

and blinks.

He cries then passes out smiling, knowing he’s going to his

future.

TOM
Thank god ...finally...good...

A fast forward starts but malfunctions and goes abruptly goes

black.

INT. TOM’S CHILDHOOD BEDROOM- LATER

Tom’s eyes pop open. He is at home in his room that hasn’t

changed since his childhood. Lorna is cleaning up.
75

TOM (CONT'D)
Where am I?

LORNA
At home, Tommy.

TOM
Shit. Am I 24?

LORNA
All year, dear.

Tom Sr brings in a coffee.

TOM SR.
You pushed too hard, Tommy.

TOM
I need to finish my year.

TOM SR.
Tommy, the year is over. You
blacked out at graduation.

LORNA
Stay here ‘til your job starts. We
can’t lose you too.

TOM
You’re not going to- you’ll go
first. I know.

TOM SR.
Tommy, don’t talk that way.

TOM
I lost Jill.

LORNA
It hurts Tommy but you’ll find
another.

TOM
I do, but she dies.

TOM SR.
What are you talking-? Who dies?

TOM
My wife.

TOM SR.
You’re not married. What’s the
matter with you?
76

TOM
Since my accident, I know stuff.

LORNA
Oh god, what’s wrong with him?

TOM SR.
Tommy, talk some sense.

Tom gets out of bed, agitated. He is dizzy.

TOM
Stop calling me Tommy. I’m fucking
24 years old.

Lorna leaves upset.

TOM (CONT'D)
Mom! Get back here.

Tom follows her down the hallway but diverts suddenly to the
bathroom and closes the door. Outside the door the yelling
continues:

TOM SR.
Lorna. Get back here. Tommy, open
this door.

Tom hurriedly assesses what pills are in the medicine

cabinet, and opens a bottle with two pills which he downs,
scooping running water from the tap to help swallow them.

TOM
Get me back. Please take me back.

Tom Senior tries to get in the washroom but Tom blocks the
door.

TOM SR.
Just relax, Tommy. Let me in.

TOM
Get out!

Tom is desperately opening other bottles while unsuccessfully

holding the door shut.

TOM SR.
Oh god. What are you doing?

Tom Sr pushes the door open and tries to wrestle the pills
away.
77

TOM TOM SR. (CONT'D)

Nothing. I wanna go Give those...Tommy! Back
[Link] me alone. where?

An electric make-up mirror gets smashed in the shoving and

Tom inadvertently puts his wet hand in the wires getting a
shock.

Tom passes out smiling. Tom Sr phones for help.

EXT. CITY STREET -MID MORNING

SUPER: MAY 28 2019

28 year old Tom, dressed in a business suit with his

briefcase, emerges from an office building, walking and
talking on his cell phone. Prosthetic arm is concealed.

TOM (CONT'D)
Jillian, I got the job. Yeah,
Monday. Let’s celebrate. I’ll be
over in a couple of hours. Bye.
Love you.

He disconnects and he disappointedly realizes he just

pronounced his love over the phone.

TOM (CONT'D)
I love-oh, no, no. I love you on
the phone -geez!

Tom passes a jewellery store and pauses to look at rings in

the window.

INT. UPPER END STORE COUNTER -DAY

Jillian is wrapping up a transaction, paying, receiving a

receipt and small bag.

JILLIAN
Thanks so much. I love it.

She leaves.

INT. JEWELLERY STORE -LATER

Tom taps his card to pay for a purchase. He picks up a ring

box.
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TOM
Thanks for your help.

He leaves.

EXT. A STREET BASKETBALL COURT -LATER, NIGHT

Older Tom and Jillian are shooting hoops. Jill has the ball
so as not to reveal Tom’s prosthetic arm. Tom eats pizza on
the sideline bench with his business suit jacket and tie
beside him.

TOM (CONT'D)
I feel like I’m starting at the
bottom of the ladder again.

JILLIAN
Starting over but with experience.
It’s like “if I knew then what I
know now,” well, except you think
you do know.

TOM
That’s my whole life only
backwards.

JILLIAN
Aren’t you "special."

Jillian sinks a three pointer.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
Did you think I wouldn’t hear it as
much over the phone?

TOM
Hear what?

JILLIAN
You said you loved me.

TOM
Ya, I do.

JILLIAN
Check your messages.

TOM
What?

Tom punches in his code on the cell phone that indicates the
message came at 11 am. Julian mouths the recorded message.
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JILLIAN
(voice on phone)
I love you too.

They kiss for real.

JILLIAN (CONT'D)
No way I was going to say it first
this time.

TOM
Look, this is way too fast but I’ve
always loved you. Time has somehow
stood still and waited for me to
get it right this time.

Tom kneels but starts to slip into a reverse with a quick

flash of him proposing to Rosemary, in the restaurant.

Jillian kisses him and brings him back.

TOM (CONT'D)
Will you marry me —please?

JILLIAN
Yes, without a doubt.

They kiss and wipe each other’s tears. Tom slips an

engagement ring on her left finger.

TOM
I love you.

JILLIAN
It’s been a long time coming. I
love you too. Tom...

TOM
Yes?

Jillian gets down on one knee and presents a ring box.

JILLIAN
It’s 2019. We should propose to
each other. Tom Sanderson, will you
marry me?

TOM
Of course. Yes.

Jillian puts the ring on his finger and kisses his hand. They
laugh-cry, embracing.
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JILLIAN
And Tom...

TOM
Yes.

JILLIAN
I think I want to be pre-engaged
first.

TOM
You’re such a shit.

INT. TOM’S APARTMENT -NIGHT

Lying in bed with sleeping Jillian in his arms, he looks at

his new ring and smiles before falling asleep. A nearby
digital clock flips to 11 pm.

INT. PARENTS’ LIVINGROOM – NIGHT

DISINTEGRATING SUPER: May 2 2015

Frantic Tom wakes up suddenly on his parents’ sofa. His Mom

is reading and his Dad is dozing in a Lazy Boy Chair.

A mantle clock continues the eleven o’clock chime.

TOM
(confused)
What time do you have!?

Lorna jumps.

LORNA
Eleven.

TOM
Jillian.

LORNA
Who?

TOM
What time do you have?
What time do you have?

LORNA
Dad, wake up!
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TOM
What time do you have?

LORNA
(screaming)
Eleven o’clock. Eleven o’clock.

TOM
What time do you have? What time do
you have?

Tom tries to get up but is restrained by Tom Sr.

LORNA
Tommy!

TOM
What time do you have?

He eyes roll back and he passes out into an out-of-control,

electrical breakdown, tying the 11th hour symbolism together:

1) Tom takes the garbage to the curb in front of his monster

home. He picks out a woman’s deodorant stick from the garbage
can and breaks down and cries. A distant clock tower chimes
eleven.

2) Rosemary’s red car on date night

TOM (CONT'D)
What time do you have?

ROSEMARY
Eleven o’clock.

3) A flash of the 4 friends kissing in the clock tower at 11

pm with chimes.

4) Sweaty Tom in bed holding ankle looks at 11 pm on bedside

cell phone.

5) Tom watches the defibrillation of his hospital roommate at

11.

6) College Tom, Jill and Ben exit pizza place with 11 pm

tolling in distance.

Suddenly his brain fries out and is dark and silent.

INT. TOM’S PARENTS’ DINING ROOM – DAY

SUPER: May 4 2015

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An unshaven, depressed Tom is sitting at the table, still in

his housecoat under a clock that shows 11 am.

From the dark, his point of view comes into focus.

He is doing a Salvador Dali “Persistence of Time” jigsaw

puzzle catatonically. Lorna looks over his shoulder.

LORNA
Here’s a piece.

TOM
Fine.

Tom pushes away and paces aimlessly.

LORNA
You’re not going to finish?

TOM
No.

LORNA
You’re almost finished.

TOM
Can’t figure it out.

LORNA
Your lawyer called this morning. He
got the assault charge down to a
misdemeanour.

TOM
Great.

LORNA
What are you going to do with your
day?

TOM
Nothing.

Tom pours himself a Scotch.

LORNA
You shouldn’t be drinking so early.

TOM
Dad does.

Tom plops at the table vacantly.

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LORNA
Why don’t you pack for your new
job?

TOM
Not going.

LORNA
Don’t be crazy.

TOM
Think you should be saying that
around your crazy son?

LORNA
You’re not crazy. Listen. Don’t let
one break up send you spinning.

TOM
She hasn’t left me. I get her back.
I can see that she hasn’t left me.
I’ve seen Rosemary and the accident
and sick people and everything and
I don’t want to see it anymore.

Tom pushes the jigsaw puzzle to the floor unemotionally.

TOM (CONT'D)
I want back.

Tom walks to his dark bedroom and pulls the covers over
himself.

INT. TOM’S PARENTS’ GARAGE –NIGHT -LATER

Exhausted Tom stands at the garage work bench fraying the end
of a cut extension cord. He wraps a frayed wire around each
of his index fingers and dips them in a pail of water.

He smiles as he plugs it in the cord. The electrocution sends

him to the floor convulsing.

INT. PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY

Tom’s wild eyes pop open. He is in an institutional bed.

College-aged Ben and Janet are vigilantly nearby. Ben’s hand

trembles slightly as he holds Tom’s hand.

Tom realizes he hasn’t jumped to the future.

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TOM (CONT'D)
(softly)
Fuck

BEN
Hey buddy.

JANET
I’ll get the nurse.

BEN
How are you feeling?

TOM
Psych ward?

BEN
Five days.

A NURSE, 35 years old enters.

NURSE
How are you feeling Mr. Sanderson?

TOM
Alright.

NURSE
Do you know where you are?

TOM
Psych ward.

NURSE
Yes. Good.

BEN
Is he free to walk around?

NURSE
Accompanied, yes.

BEN
Thanks.

Tom gives Janet and Ben a silent hug.

TOM
Thanks. I am so tired.

BEN
How about a little exercise to get
the heart rate going?
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TOM
I don’t think so.

BEN
Come as you are. Let’s get out of
here for awhile.

TOM
No, listen. You guys have been so
good to me.

BEN
You’ve got to do something.

TOM
I’m tired.

BEN
Come on. Get dressed. Let’s bike
this out. Maybe it’s right around
the corner.

TOM
No, this is it -I have what I have
right now, and it may or may not
get better. I don’t know. I have
you guys. That’s what I have right
now, and I can appreciate that.

BEN
And you can have us on a bike -
let’s ride. You’ll feel better.

TOM
No.

JANET
Ben, you sure?

BEN
He’s fine.

Ben pulls him up.

TOM
Alright. Don’t push.

EXT. HOSPITAL -LATER

Ben unstraps two bikes from the back of his SUV as Janet
walks Tom from the hospital.
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Ben and Tom get on the bikes and ride down the driveway, Tom
struggling a bit.

EXT. TWO LANE ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION -LATER

Tom and Ben are biking towards a construction zone on top of

a hill.

Ben is leading the ride and craning his head around to talk
to Tom.

BEN
Why were you hospitalized this
time?

TOM
I guess the suicide attempt.

BEN
You attempted suicide?

TOM
I don’t know. I was trying to get
to my future.

BEN
You weren’t trying to kill
yourself?

TOM
Maybe. What does that really mean
anymore? When your life is
miserable and you know it’s going
to get worse, it hardly seems worth
staying around here.

BEN
The flashes are getting better,
aren’t they?

TOM
The distant ones, ya.

BEN
Maybe this is penance for having a
good life later on.

TOM
Fuck Ben, I don’t know what’s real,
what’s bad, and I don’t have the
energy to figure it out anymore.
(MORE)
87

TOM (CONT'D)
I know what’s coming up and I don’t
want to do it.

They reach the top of the hill. The FLAGMAN waves them to go
through. They pick up speed as they go down the steep hill.

As Ben turns to talk, they pass a front end loader.

BEN
Positive thoughts and act-

TOM
Fuck positive, Ben!

The front end loader suddenly swing’s it’s arm into the
bicyclists’ lane.

TOM (CONT'D)
Watch out!

Tom, with an athletic move, pushes Ben hard, clear of the

truck.

The front end loader clips the speeding Tom who has no time
to react.

The bucket crashes into Tom’s side, ripping his left arm off.

Tom’s rag doll body tumbles down a steep ditch. Ben runs to
help him.

The most extreme, short-circuited, reversals take Tom through

his life backwards, continually accelerating and jumbling,
recapping his life as originally presented:

Dad’s graveside

Sell yacht

Sell house

Fired

Ben MS dinner

Pills at apartment

Jackie office

Seedy bar pre fight

Rose funeral
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Rose wedding

Rose proposal

“Will you marry me” is repeated several times rapidly,

flipping between his proposals to Rosemary and Jill.

Buy yacht

Get dog 1

Buy house

Symphony date with Rosemary

At work late at night

Meet Rosemary in office for first time

REVERSE ANGLE watching from inside building at a distnace as

hungover Tom approaches front door for first day of work.

The visions come to an explosive ending just as Tom’s hand

touches the door handle. His brain goes dark.

INT. CHURCH – DAY

SUPER: SEPTEMBER 12 2019

A stunned 28 yr Tom, in a tux, stands at the altar with an

unseen, veiled bride. His left arm prosthetic is evident.

A MINISTER, 65 years old, conducts the wedding ceremony.

Bridal party concealed except for Older Ben, who leans

heavily on cane.

MINISTER
Do you Tom Alan Sanderson take this
woman to be your lawfully, wedded
wife?

Tom looks around bewildered.

TOM
Who?

The minister looks uncomfortable with Tom’s response.

MINISTER
Tom. Do you take this woman to be
your lawfully, wedded wife?
89

Tom tries to see who is behind the veil. He looks at Ben who
urges him on.

MINISTER (CONT'D)
You’re just a little nervous. Do
you?

TOM
(resigned)
I do.

Tom wide-eyes Ben questioningly.

TOM (CONT'D)
I’m not jumping time.

To the minister.

TOM (CONT'D)
I do!

The congregation laughs at his sudden enthusiasm.

MINISTER
I pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.

Tom slowly and uncertainly lifts the veil. He smiles broadly.

Relieved, he has married the 26 y.o. Jillian.

TOM
It’s Jillian! Alright!

JILLIAN
Alright?

TOM
I’m the happiest guy in the world!

They kiss. Janet smiles as maid of honour. A soloist sings

“There’s a place for us, a time and place for us,” from
“Westside Story”.

JILLIAN
I love you.

TOM
I love you, forever and ever.

They recess up the aisle to applause from the congregation.

Tom stops to hug his weepy Mom.

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They recess, Tom beaming.

TOM (CONT'D)
(whispering to Ben)
Where’s my fucking arm?

BEN
Karma damage.

Tom and Jill exit the church and greet guests as they come
down the front steps.

INT. Roadhouse - NIGHT

SUPER: –NOVEMBER 1 2019

Janet, Ben, Jillian and Tom are eating, Jill voraciously

downing pizza.

Tom’s prosthetic arm is evident. He is drinking a Sprite.

BEN (CONT'D)
Jilly, that’s your third piece of
pizza.

JANET
Ben.

JILLIAN
I’m starved. Could I get a salad
too?

TOM
She’s hungry.

BEN
She’s eating enough for two.

Jill and Tom exchange knowing glances.

JANET
You’re kidding. Really?

Janet hugs Jill. Blank Ben doesn’t understand this

conversation.

JILLIAN
We’re kind of pregnant.

JANET
That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for
you.
91

Janet and Jillian embrace again while Jillian eats pizza over
Janet’s shoulder.

BEN
Congratulations.

TOM
We need godparents, of course. Can
we trust you?

BEN
Who else?

Ben struggles to stand on two arm crutches and gives Tom a

hug.

BEN (CONT'D)
Congratulations, buddy. You did
good.

TOM
Don’t I know it.

BEN
Now I gotta whiz.

TOM
Right behind you.

Tom tenderly helps a severely disabled Ben to the washroom.

TOM (CONT'D)
Take your time.

THE END
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