BtM - 2003
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

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               INT. A HIGH SCHOOL SHOWER ROOM - DAY               The ceiling is high.  There are small windows around the               perimeter at the top of the walls.  They let in narrow bands               of light.  The are areas of extreme brightness and darkness.               There is the sound of a shower running.  Eerie echoes fill               the room.  A crowd of naked teenage boys, between 13 and 16,               stands in a circle in the center of the shower room.  They               are hooting and laughing.  They appear to be urinating on               something.  A large male teacher enters.                                   TEACHER                             (Loudly)                         Hey, now.  What's going on.  Break                         it up you boys.  Time for your next                         class.                They separate to reveal another boy, about 14, on his knees               in the center of the circle.  The boys were pissing on him.               He is very quiet, with his eyes shut.  Around his neck is a               chain with several crucifixes.                                   TEACHER (CONT'D)                             (walking toward the boy)                         Karl?  Karl?  Is that you?  What is                         it, young man?  Didn't you hear me?                          Hurry up or you will be late for                         class.                KARL doesn't move.  His eyes stay tightly shut.  His lips are               mouthing words - the same words - over and over again. "Jesus               loves me.  Jesus loves me.  Jesus loves me." The TEACHER               walks up to KARL.                                   TEACHER (CONT'D)                             (sternly)                         Karl.  Don't you hear me?  Let's                         go, boy.  Let's not be tardy.                KARL's chant of "Jesus loves me" continues throughout, and               builds in volume and intensity throughout the scene.                                   KARL                             (quietly - eyes still                              shut)                         Jesus loves me.  Jesus loves me.                          Jesus loves ...               The TEACHER leans over to shake KARL.                                   TEACHER                             (sterner)                         Karl?  Karl?  (shocked.)  Oh, my                         God! That stench!  My God it's                         piss!  Boy, you're kneeling in a                         pool of piss!                                   KARL                             (louder, building - eyes                              still tightly shut)                         Jesus loves me.  Jesus loves me.                          Jesus ...                The TEACHER, recognizing what has gone on, grabs KARL by the               hair in an attempt to pull him to his feet.  He is obviously               panicking.                                   TEACHER                             (getting out of control)                         Get up!  Get up, God Damn You!                The TEACHER violently pulls his hand away, causing KARL to               fall backwards onto the floor, and brings it to his nose -               smelling it - he smells the urine.  He is revolted.                                   KARL                             (louder and louder, eyes                              still shut)                         Jesus loves me.  JESUS LOVES ME.                          JESUS LOVES ...                                   TEACHER                             (out of control,                              frightened)                         SHUT UP, you fucking freak!  What                         is the matter with you?!  (a beat)                          Get up. Get up! DAMN YOU FUCKING                         SHIT TO HELL! GET UP.                KARL's eyes snap open.  He is shouting now.  He is looking               directly into the eyes of the teacher.  He slowly gets up.               Still staring, never blinking - still shouting his mantra               "JESUS LOVES ME!"  He approaches the TEACHER slowly.  The               TEACHER is frozen in fear/rage/helplessness.  Like a snake               and snake charmer.  KARL closes on the TEACHER until he is               inches from him.  Spittle flys from KARL's mouth as he               screams - his voice cracking at the volume - his eyes dead as               glass - and sprays the TEACHER.  The TEACHER - terror in his               eyes - backs away slowly toward the door.  KARL doesn't move,               but continues to lock his stare on the eyes of the TEACHER -               still screaming.  Finally the TEACHER reaches the door - only               then can he break the stare and escape.  The door slams shut.                KARL is alone in this dark/light place with the eerie echoes.                He still screams.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               INT.  KARL'S APARTMENT - MORNING               KARL is on the couch wrapped in a blanket.  He hasn't shaved               for quite a while.  He is staring at the TV which is on but               showing only interference and blaring white noise.  All the               shades are drawn.                The room has many, many crucifixes on the walls, with               pictures of Jesus and other religious articles either hanging               or on tables.  There is a banging on the door.  KARL acts as               if he hears nothing.  The banging continues.                                   HEADINGTON                             (shouting through the                              door)                         Karl!  Karl!  Open up!  Karl!                KARL sits up on the couch.  The blanket falls away.  He has               scratched crosses on his arms and chest.  He stares blankly               at the TV.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                         Karl, I know you're in there.  No                         one has seen you for days.  Open                         the door. Talk to me.  (a beat)                          Karl, today's her funeral.  She                         loved you.  And I thought you loved                         her.  Please come out.               KARL is motionless.  Except his eyes.  They begin to well up               with tears.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                             (quieter)                         Karl, please.  You saved her.  I                         remember.  So do you - I know you                         do. You brought her back to life.                          From the brink of a hell no one                         should be in.                The tears slowly begin to fall down KARL's cheek.  One. Then               another.  KARL's begins to silently mouth some words.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                         She would want you there.  Her                         savior. She told me, you know.                          That's what she called you.  Never                         to your face, but that was how she                         felt.  You were her world - her                         life.               The tears are coming quicker and quicker.  KARL begins to sob               uncontrollably.  Still mouthing the words.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                         You need to be there.  Just to tell                         her "Goodbye".  (a beat)  You were                         there when she died.  You know.                          You need to do this, and not just                         for her, but for you, too.               KARL has sunk to his knees - the blanket pooled around him.               The tears flowing.                                   KARL                             (just loud enough to hear)                         Not me.  Never me.  Can't do it.                          Not me.  Never me.  Can't do it.                          Not ...                                                       CUT TO:               INT.  OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR - CONTINUOUS               HEADINGTON is dressed in a dark suit - appropriate for the               funeral.  He looks at the door.  He backs up until he touches               the wall behind.  He slides down until he is seated on the               floor.  He pulls out a pack of cigarettes, extracts one, puts               it in his mouth and lights it.  He takes a deep drag.  Blows               it out in one continuous stream.                                   HEADINGTON                             (to himself)                         Oh, Karl, you sad fuck.  Nobody can                         hate you more than you hate                         yourself.                HEADINGTON takes another drag, looks at the cigarette and               rubs it out on the floor.  He rises, gives one last look at               KARL's door and walks down the hallway.                                                       CUT TO:               INT.  INSIDE KARL'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS               KARL is sitting in the middle of the floor, still crying,               still repeating the words, "Not me.  Never me.  Can't do               it.".  He is holding a length of orange extension cord.  He               is tying a noose.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               INT.  A BASEMENT - EVENING               KARL and HEADINGTON stumble down the stairs.  They are both               holding beer bottles and it is very apparent that they have               been drinking.                                   HEADINGTON                             (conspiratorially)                         ... right this way.  You are about to                         see the discovery of the ages.                                   KARL                         You're kidding, right?  I mean all                         this time travel baloney is just                         that - right?  (a beat)  C'mon.                          It's not my birthday - I know I                         didn't win anything - this is a                         joke - right?               HEADINGTON is at the bottom of the stairs.  He turns to face               KARL.                                   HEADINGTON                             (wounded)                         You hurt me, sir.  I, who has an IQ                         approaching 200, does not bullshit.                          Or is that "do not bullshit"?                KARL passes HEADINGTON at the bottom of the stairs and stands               in the center of the room.                                   KARL                         Headie - James, listen to me.  I've                         known you since Freshman year.                          You've always spouted off on these                         theories of time travel, and we've                         always laughed. You, too.  Now you                         bring me down to your "secret                         laboratory" and tell me that all                         that shit is true.               HEADINGTON walks over to a chair and sits.                                   HEADINGTON                         Yeah, I laughed.  Because I                         couldn't prove them.  But that                         doesn't mean I didn't believe in                         them.  (pause)  You know why we get                         along so well?  Two totally                         different types?  You are immersed                         in Philosophy, specifically                         Christian philosophy.  You don't                         know the difference between a                         molecule and a mackerel - a tangent                         and a tangerine.                         I, on the other hand, embrace the                         sciences - quantum physics -                         calculus - and don't know the                         difference between - oh shit, I                         don't know enough about any of that                         to even make a comparison -  but I                         love you.  We laugh at each others                         ideas, but never in a mean-spirited                         way. We know that we respect each                         other enough so that it's not a                         threat.  (a beat)  We stay out of                         each others shit, you know.  That's                         why it works.  (pause) That and                         loads of fuckin' alcohol.                HEADINGTON begins to laugh.  So does KARL.  They embrace.                                   KARL                         OK, asshole.  Show me the goods.                                   HEADINGTON                         One thing.  I gotta get your word                         that you won't reveal what I show                         you.  To anyone.  It's not                         perfected yet.  And this - no shit                         - is really big.                                   KARL                         Hey, man.  If you invented a time                         machine - and I tell - you can go                         back in time and kick my ass.  See                         that way I won't be waiting ...               HEADINGTON throws a mock punch.                                   HEADINGTON                             (exasperated)                         Why did I pick an imbecile as my                         confidante?  Are there no worthy                         sidekicks left in the world?                         (pause) Come on.                HEADINGTON leads KARL over to a steel door locked with               several padlocks.  He begins to unlock them.                                   KARL                             (in a Boris Karloff voice)                         Come into my laboratory.  Maybe you                         can get "a head" in life - or an                         arm or leg or ...                HEADINGTON unlocks the last lock, pulls the handle and swings               the door open wide.                                   KARL (CONT'D)                             (amazed)                         ... holy shit.                                                       CUT TO:               INT. HEADINGTON'S LAB - CONTINUOUS               Everything looks new and very high tech.  Equipment with               dials and computer set-ups dominate the perimeter.  In the               center of the room is a table covered with a black cloth. At               one end of the table is an ebony ball on a pedestal.  On the               other end is a pillow.                                   KARL                         Where did all this stuff come from.                          It must be worth a fortune.                                   HEADINGTON                             (patiently)                         Remember, I have a trust fund.                          Good science takes money, I'm just                         glad I have lots of it.                Suddenly there is a "pop" and about 2 feet above the pillow               another ebony ball appears.  It drops and lands safely in the               center of the pillow.   KARL looks at the ball, then at               HEADINGTON.  HEADINGTON looks at his watch.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                             (to himself, writing in a                              notebook)                         7:43 p.m.  OK.                                   KARL                             (still amazed)                         What was that?   And what are you                         writing?                HEADINGTON closes his notebook and looks up.                                   HEADINGTON                         That, my dear and disbelieving                         friend, was the result of a time                         travel experiment I will be                         performing later. As to the writing                         - I just need to remind myself of                         the arrival time.                HEADINGTON walks over to the table and beckons to KARL to               follow.  He picks up the ball and presses a small button on               its side.  It pops open to reveal a mouse.  Very much alive.                                   KARL                         I can't believe .. OK, is this a                         trick? A Siegfried and Roy thing?                                   HEADINGTON                         No, no, no.  Stick around - you can                         watch me do the front half of this                         little experiment.  When we're done                         we'll go to our favorite bar and                         drink ourselves stupid.  Some of us                         don't have that far to go.               KARL throws a mock punch.                                   HEADINGTON[CONT'D]                         You will believe, you know.  You                         may not understand, but you will                         believe.  (a beat)  Hmmmmm, I think                         we are gonna be way too excited                         tonight to sit in the bar without                         talking about this.  I know -                         Russian.                                   KARL                             (confused)                         What are you talking about?  I am                         going to help you with an                         experiment?  That mouse?  Russian?                                   HEADINGTON                             (excited)                         Yes!  First, I will finish                         convincing you by completing the                         "Captain Mousie in the Great                         Beyond" experiment.  I have to have                         sent him back - since he's here.                         And then - CODE WORDS.  In the bar,                         whenever we want to say, "Oh, shit                         - Time Travel" we have to yell out                         a Russian word.  Our code words.                                   KARL                         Pal, my head hurts already.                HEADINGTON throws his arm around KARL's shoulders and laughs.                He brings him toward the other end of the table.                                   HEADINGTON                             (singing)                         Ti - i - i - me is on my side, yes                         it is.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               EXT.  KARL'S APARTMENT BUILDING - MORNING               HEADINGTON is standing at the top of the stairs, smoking a               cigarette.  Suddenly, a thought strikes him.  A bad thought.               He quickly tosses the cigarette, turns and re-enters the               building.                                                       CUT TO:               INT.  KARL'S APARTMENT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS               HEADINGTON is running up the stairs taking two at a time.                                                       CUT TO:               INT.  OUTSIDE KARL'S DOOR - CONTINUOUS               HEADINGTON hurries to the door.                                   HEADINGTON                             (to himself)                         You bastard - no - no ...                HEADINGTON throws himself against the door - again and again.                The wood begins to splinter and break.  Finally the door pops               open.                                                       CUT TO:               INT. KARL'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS               HEADINGTON enters the apartment.  Through the gloom he can               see KARL. Hanging from a pipe in the kitchen.                                   HEADINGTON                         Oh, No!  Oh, fuck.  Oh, no.                                                       CUT TO:               INT.  KARL'S KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS               HEADINGTON rushes in.  A chair lays on it's side - he almost               trips over it.  KARL's body is slowly twisting to and fro.               HEADINGTON rights the chair, climbs on it and grabs KARL                lifting him to take the pressure off of his neck.                                   HEADINGTON                         C'mon, you fucker!  Breathe!                          Breathe!                HEADINGTON uses one hand to pull the noose from around KARL's               neck.  As he pulls it free, he loses his balance and they               fall to the floor HEADINGTON on the bottom.  He quickly               gets up, examines KARL and tries to administer CPR.               He listens to KARL's chest, checks his pulse at the neck and               holds his hand near KARL's mouth.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                         Yes!  Yes!  You're gonna make it -                         stick with me.  Stick with me.                HEADINGTON gets to his feet and looks around the kitchen -               searching.  His eyes see the phone in the living room.                                                       CUT TO:               INT. KARL'S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS               HEADINGTON races to the phone, picks it up and dials.  He               looks at the clock on the wall.                                   HEADINGTON                             (frantically)                         Hello! Hello!  (pause)  Yes, this                         is an emergency.  My friend has                         hung himself. (pause)  No, he's not                         dead.  I took him down.  I need an                         ambulance, damn it! Right now!                          (pause)  It's 24 Cambridge Street,                         apartment 516.  (pause) Glogauer,                         Karl Glogauer.  (pause)  OK.                         Thanks.  (hangs up) Oh, Jesus - Oh,                         Jesus Christ in heaven.  Don't you                         fuckin' die.                HEADINGTON looks at KARL.  He quickly crosses to him.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               INT.  AN INSTITUTIONAL LOOKING OFFICE - DAY               An older man and woman are sitting at a small conference -               going through some papers.                                   MARGE                             (looking at some papers)                         This next one - Glogauer, Karl ...                                   MR. DWIGHT                             (looking up)                         Yes, Marge.  I've read that report.                         Quite sad really.                                   MARGE                         I agree, Mr. Dwight, there are some                         things here that are not right �                         not right at all.                                   MR. DWIGHT                             (officiously)                         Well, now.  We can't be bothered                         with that.  Look right here.  A                         glowing recommendation from Brother                         Paulus.  He is a good man - I know                         him well.  If he suspected                         something, I am sure he would have                         investigated.  (a beat)  Why, you                         know, I am going to take an active                         interest in this case.  Yes, I will                         take this young boy under my wing.                          Take good care of him.  (a smile)                          Just like our good Brother Paulus.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               INT.  THE LIVING ROOM OF KARL'S APARTMENT - A WINTER'S DAY               KARL and HEADINGTON are sitting across from each other.               HEADINGTON is in an armchair, KARL is on the couch.  There is               a scar around KARL's neck.  He looks thinner, more drawn. His               eyes are flat and glassy.                                   HEADINGTON                         Karl.  Karl?               KARL gives his head a little shake and looks over at a               picture of MONICA.                                   KARL                             (sadly)                         It's really my fault, you know.                                   HEADINGTON                         What?  What are you ...  Oh.                                   KARL                         I am responsible.  (He picks up                         MONICA's picture.)  She believed in                         me.  She believed in everything I                         told her.  I just couldn't measure                         up.  I'm alone, Headie, so alone.                                   HEADINGTON                         Karl.  Listen to me.  You are not                         responsible.  No one can take                         responsibility for someone else's                         life. (a beat)  Monica made her                         choices.  For good or bad.  And                         you're not alone.               KARL focuses on HEADINGTON.  He sadly shakes his head again.               He puts his hand to his throat and pulls several chains full               of different crucifixes out of his shirt.  He cups them in               his hands and kisses them.                                   KARL                             (eyes closed)                         Jesus is my savior; Jesus is my                         protector; Jesus is my Lord.  Why                         have you forsaken me and left me to                         wallow alone in this valley of                         despair. Take me - please - into                         your sacred Heart.                KARL begins to rock back and forth on the couch - whispering               "Jesus is my savior; Jesus is my protector ... " over and over.                HEADINGTON stares at KARL.  Tears fill his eyes.  He leans               toward KARL and gently places his hand on KARL's shoulder.                                   HEADINGTON                             (softly)                         Karl.  (a beat)  You're going to do                         it again, aren't you?                KARL looks at HEADINGTON.  A slight nod.                                   KARL                             (softly)                         It's the only way.  I must see                         Jesus.  I must be cleansed.  I must                         find out where the cruelty - the                         hate filled impulse - came from.  I                         let her down, James.  You know I                         was her light.  I led her from the                         darkness and then pushed her into                         the abyss.  Me.  Me!                                   HEADINGTON                             (louder)                         NO!  You were her friend, her                         lover. But nothing more.  You                         weren't her God!                KARL begins to chant "Jesus is my savior; Jesus is my               protector; Jesus is my Lord ... " again and again - very               quietly.                                   HEADINGTON (CONT'D)                             (pleading)                         Karl, please.  Don't try to kill                         yourself again.  It would be a                         waste.  A terrible waste.  C'mon.                          You're my closest friend.                         (loudly.)  Listen to me, Damn it!                          You gotta get help.  The doctors at                         the hospital are willing to help                         you.  You just gotta try!  Please.                                   KARL                         ... is my protector;  Jesus is my                         Lord - Jesus is my savior; ...               HEADINGTON is frantic by now.  He stands.  His eyes dart               around the room, vainly looking for an answer - something.               Suddenly it comes to him.                                   HEADINGTON                             (turning to look at KARL)                         I can get you there - alive.               KARL's chant falters then stops altogether.                                   KARL                             (unsure)                         What?  What do you mean?                HEADINGTON begins to pace back and forth in front of KARL.                                   HEADINGTON                             (firmer)                         I can have you meet Jesus, if you                         really want to.  And do it alive.                                   KARL                             (more confused)                         I don't understand what you're                         talking about.                HEADINGTON stops pacing and faces KARL.                                   HEADINGTON                         Time travel, my friend.  Don't you                         remember - you saw it.  The mouse?                KARL begins shaking his head.                                   KARL                         No - no - no - no.  That was just a                         trick.  Monica made me see that.                          You were messing with my head.  She                         helped me see that.                                   HEADINGTON                         I wasn't.  (a beat)  I've done it.                          All sorts of things.  Backward                         only, but I've God Damned done it!                                   KARL                             (shaking his head)                         No - no - no - no ...                                   HEADINGTON                             (sitting next to KARL)                         Listen to me.  Very carefully.  I.                          Can. Send.  You.  Back.  Not in a                         dream - not metaphorically - and                         most definitely not a trick.  This                         is the truth.  And it's the only                         way that makes sense. (a beat) We                         can do it - today, if you want.                          What do you say?                KARL stares at HEADINGTON.  Slowly KARL nods his head.                                                       FADE TO BLACK.                                                       CUT TO:               A BLACK VOID               Whooshing sounds and crashes can be heard.                                   KARL (V.O.)                             (in a panic)                         Oh, Jesus!  Oh, God!  Oh, Jesus!                          Oh, God!  Oh, Jesus!  Oh, God!  Oh,                         Jesus! Oh, God!  Christ!  What's                         happening to me?  I'm fucked.  I'm                         finished.                          The fucking thing doesn't work.                          Oh, Jesus! Oh, God!  When will the                         bastard stop bumping?                Sounds of thumping and crashing continue, then fade.                                                       CROSSFADE TO:               EXT.  A HILLSIDE - A WARM, SUNNY DAY               There is a broken sphere shaped object near the base of the               hill.  A dark liquid is seeping out of cracks in the outer               shell.                                                       CUT TO:               INT. THE SPHERE               KARL is naked.  He curls more tightly into a ball as the               level of liquid falls, sinking into the soft yielding plastic               of the inner lining.  There is a small section housing               strange, unconventional instruments.  They make no sound and               do not move.  As the last of the liquid drips out of the               sphere, it shifts and rolls one more time.  It then lays               still in the silence.                                                       CUT TO:               KARL'S FACE - CONTINUOUS               He is wearing a swim mask and holding a rubber piece in his               mouth.  It looks very much like what a scuba diver would               wear.  His eyes are open wide in terror.                                   KARL (V.O.)                         Why did I do it?  Why did I do it?                          Why did I do it?  Why did I do it?                          Why did I do it?  Why did I do it?                         He faints.                                                       DISSOLVE TO:               EXT.  THE HILLSIDE - LATER THAT DAY               There is a loud click and the sphere opens.  The panels begin               to slide into each other.  The top half disappears into the               bottom half. Slowly, KARL's head appears and he looks around.                He gets out of the sphere and looks at it - then looks at his               surroundings again.  He seems very unsteady.  Hurt.  He               reaches into the sphere and pushes another button.               It starts another sliding sequence with the panels until               there is a pie-wedge shaped metal container left, about the               size of a very large suitcase.  KARL hides it in some               underbrush and pushes some rocks around to hide it.  Then he               begins to camouflage the area.  When he is done, he turns and               backward walks a distance away trying to survey the               effectiveness.  His trips, falls, hits his head and rolls               down the rest of the way to the bottom of the hill.  He lays               there unconscious.                                                       CUT TO:
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