The Butterfly Effect

INT. SUNNYVALE - DOCTOR'S OFFICE - NIGHT - 2002

EVAN, 20, good-looking but with dark haunted eyes, frantically hides himself in an unlit Doctor's office. His face and chest are covered in blood. He holds his forehead in pain.

FLASHLIGHT BEAMS stab through the darkened corridor hunting for him. ALARMS SOUND. GUARDS are heard shouting to each other. Evan grabs a cardboard box and hides under a doctor's desk. He grabs some paper and begins writing in shorthand.

EVAN:

(as he writes)

If anyone finds this, then I guess my plan didn't work and I'm already dead...

He takes a deep breath.

EVAN:

But if I can just go back to the beginning of all this, I still might be able to save her.

Fatigue overwhelms him, but he continues writing...

INT. BUSY HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY - 1982

TITLE:
TWENTY YEARS EARLIER

ANDREA TREBORN, twenty-five, an attractive pregnant woman strapped to a gurney, is rolled down a busy hospital corridor. She is clearly ready to give birth, and as she flails her arms, she knocks another patient's IV bottle into the wall.

INT. BUSY HOSPITAL - RECOVERY ROOM - SUPER 8 FOOTAGE - 1982

A tearful Andrea holds newborn EVAN in her hands.

TITLE SEQUENCE OVER SUPER-8 MONTAGE INCLUDING:

INT. BUSY HOSPITAL - RECOVERY ROOM - DAY - 1982

Smiling Andrea holds baby Evan up to the camera, then places him in a crib.

EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY - 1983

A playground. Evan's father, JASON (23), puts a 1-year old on a slide.

EXT. LENNY'S HOUSE - DAY - 1987

A birthday party for LENNY, 5, a chubby kid with only a few friends. Evan, now 5, is gently prodded by Andrea toward KAYLEIGH, 5, a quiet sweet-looking girl with beautiful hair.

Evan clumsily shakes her hand and she quickly leans over and kisses his cheek. He blushes and runs to hug his mother's leg.

END MONTAGE & TITLES.

EXT. ANDREA'S HOUSE - EARLY MORNING - 1989

In the driveway, 7-year old Evan plays with CRICKETT, a frisky cocker spaniel puppy.

Andrea, wearing a mechanic's jumpsuit, works impatiently on the carburetor of a Toyota Celica. Evan pets the dog as he watches his mother work.

ANDREA:

Okay, okay...what now?

Evan quickly eyes the situation and grabs the 5/16" wrench from the toolbox.

EVAN:

We're gonna be late again.

ANDREA:

When did you ever care about getting to school on time?

EVAN:

We're putting up pictures for Parent's Night.

Evan impatiently watches Andrea turn the bolt.

EVAN:

Righty-tighty, lefty-lucy.

ANDREA:

Thanks. Don't worry Evan, you'll have plenty of time.

The carburetor will not set properly. She bangs on it with the wrench.

ANDREA:

(re:
carb)

Darn it!

EVAN:

Um...can dad come this time?

ANDREA:

(getting impatient)

You know the answer to that.

EVAN:

Can't he come out for one day?

ANDREA:

We've been over this a hundred times. It's too dangerous for him.

EVAN:

But Lenny said that his dad's coming...and Tommy and Kayleigh's dad...

Andrea hands the wrench to Evan.

ANDREA:

Here, Ev... Finish this up for me.

Evan beams as he climbs onto the bumper and screws the carb back together. Andrea, meanwhile, strips off her coveralls, revealing a spotless nurse's uniform underneath.

EVAN:

All the dads are gonna be there.

ANDREA:

I get the point, kiddo. But I'm not so bad, am I?

EVAN:

No.

ANDREA:

Good. Because I've been waiting to see your art projects all week and I'd feel terrible if all you thought about was your father not being there.

Evan, disappointed, passes the wrench back to Andrea.

EVAN:

(beat)

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