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[Master Scenes 18 - 35] A man wakes to a harsh world, with no recollection of his past. |
| INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT (NUDARU's DREAM) Nudaru hunches forward in the tub, head turning to glance at the open door. NUDARU Dayton? DAYTON(O.S.) Yes? DAYTON slides her hand over to rest in the doorway. NUDARU Just checking. Nudaru turns and lowers his head. His hair, drenched, flops forward as he does, water tumbling to rejoin with itself. The water ripples, the effect distorts Nudaru's image. He watches as the bath settles, his reflection changed. REFLECTION Nudaru's hair, shorter, his face, thin and pale. NUDARU leans forward hand rising to touch his shoulder length strands. REFLECTION mocks him, touching nothing but air. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Nudaru's eyes flicker open, and he sits up in the tub. He leans forward gawking at his reflection. As it should, his reflection gawks back. Sighing, Nudaru swirls toward the door. Dayton kicks her leg out so that it becomes visible in the doorway. Nudaru moves to face forward. In the process, his eyes sweep across a pair of SCISSORS. He takes them in his grasps, and proceeds to butcher his hair. Wet strands fall both to Nudaru's shoulders and the water surrounding him. He inspects the cut in the water. His hair only vaguely resembles the style in his dream. Nudaru's FIST pounds the water. Droplets shoot out colliding with both the wall and floor. The water settles. The REFLECTION shows NUDARU facing the door. NUDARU DAYTON? DAYTON I'm here. Dayton waves her hand in the doorway. NUDARU No. Can you come here? LIVING ROOM Dayton pulls herself up, hand SLAPPING the wall to her rear, heel SLAMMING against the ground. BATHROOM Dayton enters, feet dragging on the floor. A shadow looms over Nudaru. He looks up at Dayton standing by a few feet away. Nudaru extends the hand holding the scissors. NUDARU (Overlapping) Can you... DAYTON (Overlapping) Yeah. Dayton eliminates the space between she and Nudaru and for no reason at all, he stands. Dayton freezes. Her eyes flutter nervously up Nudaru's naked flesh to his eyes staring down at her. In the uncomfortable silence attraction tumbles through confusion. Then, both Nudaru and Dayton sink away, denying the chemistry. Nudaru taps Dayton's shoulder with the scissors' handle. The young woman takes the sheers in her possession. DAYTON Sit. Nudaru does as he is told, and Dayton positions herself on the edge of the tub. MONTAGE - NUDARU'S REOCCURRING DREAMS -- The SOUND of a PIANO. -- Light streams in through the window of a parlor. -- A distorted image of a man seated at a 'Baby Grande'. -- An elderly couple stand side by side in the center of the parlor. Smiles overtake their expressions. Their hands slide into an embrace. -- The same piano, the stool vacant. The keys continue to beat out the tune without the assistance of a minstrel. -- A luxury vehicle swerves off a country road. The vehicle topples end over end almost as if dancing to the rhythm of the piano number. -- A man's throat slashed violently. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Nudaru shoots up from the floor, hands around his neck. He pants wildly, eyes searching for an absent assailant. Dayton twitches in her sleep. Her sudden movement quickly lures Nudaru back to reality. He lurches toward the door, pausing somewhere between a crawl and crouch position. Dayton falls still, her breath returning to a calm, steady rhythm. Relieved, Nudaru slowly lowers to a seated position then shifts to lay back down. The red NUMBERS of a digital clock appear as Nudaru's head moves to the floor. The digits blaze through the darkness announcing the time. Twelve forty-five. Nudaru re-situates himself hands tucked beneath his head, body curling into the fetal position. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - LATER The clock on the night stand reads two thirty. Nudaru remains in the fetal position, eyes staring blankly ahead at Dayton's combat boots stashed in the corner. The SOUND of Dayton's breathing begins to over power the other noises in the room. Nudaru's eyes wander in the direction of the bed behind him. He rolls over and sits up. Silently he watches Dayton sleep. His eyes lock on to the slow rise and fall of the comforter. The monotonous bob hypnotizes him. His head rises and falls in unintentional imitation. Shaking himself from the trance. He pulls himself to his knees, sleep deprived eyes studying the state for which they yearn. Casually Nudaru looks away, eyes landing on the empty spot on the other side of the mattress. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - DAY Dayton's FACE, lids closed. The bedroom door CREAKS. Dayton's brows furrow. The floor SQUEAKS. The young woman blinks awake, surveying the room without lifting from the pillow. The sheets beside her are ruffled, and slightly indented. Dayton shifts, curiously extending a hand. DAYTON Warm? The young woman's eyes wander in the direction of the open bedroom door. INT. OLD BUILDING - DAY A wet brush SWEEPS across dry canvas. Nudaru paints a wall, his head rises to follow his arm, eyes attentive to every stroke. Dayton appears beside him. She takes up her own brush, and a bucket of paint. Nudaru continues diligently, gradually loosing interest in his works and gaining interest in Dayton's. Completely distracted, Nudaru turns to watch the young woman's brush. It slides up and down the wall elegantly. Nudaru's vision drifts to Dayton herself. He looks her up and down, entrapped. FLASHBACK - AN UNKNOWN ROOM A beautiful WOMAN's face partially obscured by the rays of the sun. The Woman smiles. She reaches out. Her index finger motions for someone, unseen, to come closer. BACK TO PRESENT DAY Dayton dips her brush. Her eyes shift in Nudaru's direction. She faces him, reads into his gaze, and suddenly flings paint in his direction. Nudaru jerks backward as a glob hits his chest. He smiles, dips the tip of his brush and then points it at Dayton's exposed stomach. DAYTON You better not. Nudaru continues his approach. Dayton backs against a wall, frantically she searches for an escape, before she can find one, Nudaru charges, brush swiping across the woman's abdomen with precision. PAINT flies back and forth across the room, as the two battle. Nudaru throws his BRUSH out before him imitating a fencer. Dayton copies the stance, swinging, and parrying back and forth. Nudaru knocks Dayton's brush from her hand. He grins at her, advancing. Without warning he stumbles back in the opposite direction. Dayton advances now, paint roller in hand. She holds the utensil like a spear swinging it back and forth, forcing Nudaru to jump and dodge. Dayton thrusts her weapon at Nudaru's head, he side swipes the roller, then grabs the handle wrenching both the object and Dayton forward. Dayton's body thrusts against Nudaru's. They stand before each other panting in exhaustion. Dayton's smile turns to confused longing, Nudaru's cocky confidence becomes something similar. Dayton leans closer, her eyes staring intently at Nudaru's lips. She parts her own, shuts her eyes. Nudaru dabs paint on the tip of Dayton's nose. Dayton's eyes flicker open. Nudaru grins. NUDARU I win. EXT. THE CITY STREETS - DAY Nudaru and Dayton head down the sidewalk side by side, a bag of carry out in one of each of their hands. Nudaru lifts his bag sniffing the cartons. DAYTON Hungry? Nudaru smiles and nods with enthusiasm. They approach a news stand. The alcohol billboard looms up ahead. A woman begs for change near by. Dayton's expression stiffens. BEGGAR Any spare change today, Baby Bird? Dayton jams her hand in her pocket before the question is completed. DAYTON Holding solids today? Dayton places a fist full of coins in the outstretched hand of the older woman. BEGGAR I was yesterday. Nudaru hangs back, uncomfortable with the situation. His eyes fall to the strange woman's uncovered arm. Pale limbs hold puncture wounds. The combination of purple and red flesh hint to possible infection. Dayton rummages through her bag removing a carton. She hands it off, using her free hand to cup both of the other woman's hands around the food. DAYTON Here. If you can't eat it, give it to someone who can. The woman nods, her eyes swell up with tears. BEGGAR Thank you, Baby Bird. The Beggar presses the carton to her chest, then heads off down the street away from Dayton and Nudaru. Dayton turns, toward Nudaru and waves him on. The Duo head past the news stand in silence. INSERT - THE NEWSPAPER HEADING Police Baffled as to the identity of stab victim. BACK TO SCENE A 'black and white' pulls up ahead. Dayton yanks Nudaru into a crowd waiting to cross the street. She peaks passed him to the squad car parked along their usual path. Two officers exit, and head toward a burger joint. Dayton turns away, as one glances at her. The light changes. Dayton swiftly crosses the street urging Nudaru to weave through the others. NUDARU (Referring to the Beggar) What's wrong with her? Dayton's head snaps up toward Nudaru. She puzzles over his question, slowly reattaching herself to their previous scene. DAYTON Heroin. They continue in the direction of the apartment, cutting through an intersection. NUDARU Who is she? DAYTON Once, she was my mother. (Dayton's eyes wander back to the road ahead) She got hooked when I was little. After the first time my dad blew our money at the tables. She tried rehab, but when he was killed... NUDARU I'm sorry. DAYTON Me too. Dayton and Nudaru pass a mattress store. The shop window sports a made bed. A cut out couple are taped to the mattress, their faces express total comfort. Dayton faces the window. Her eyes study Nudaru's reflection in the pane. DAYTON Did you have trouble sleeping last night? NUDARU No more than usual. DAYTON Really? Nudaru avoids Dayton's gaze. Someone POUNDS away on a PIANO in the distance, the mystery player shows little care for musical accuracy. The sound draws near as the couple continue on. NUDARU Well... I do keep having this dream... Nudaru stops in his tacks. DAYTON Yeah? Dayton keeps moving. She halts and turns abruptly upon discovering she walks alone. Nudaru remains rigid in the middle of the sidewalk. He cocks his head in the direction of the distorted symphony. Dayton approaches his side. NUDARU What is that? DAYTON What is what? NUDARU That sound? Dayton listens. She circles, placing the noise. DAYTON I think there's a music store over here somewhere. Why? Nudaru moves passed her. He clears a series of electronic stores, glancing into the windows for an indication of music. Finally he approaches a wide window with instruments decoratively placed on display. GUNNY'S MUSIC STORE arches above on the pane. Nudaru moves to the door, entering without hesitation. INT. GUNNY'S MUSIC STORE - DAY Nudaru weaves passed guitars, woodwinds, brass, drums. Dayton throws open the front door a second later. Barely able to keep up, she trails NUDARU by a few feet. A young boy BANGS away on a display instrument. Nudaru approaches him, his expression raked with a anger and disgust. Swiftly Nudaru snatches the child up and away from the keys. Dayton approaches, hands falling to her thighs, body leaning forward in an attempt to regain strength. Nudaru holds the child like a dirty diaper. Scowling at the boy he swivels toward Dayton wiggling both boy and bag in her direction. Dazed and confused, Dayton takes both off her companion's hands, watching as Nudaru immediately perches on the instrument's stool. Dayton turns toward the little kid. Both stare at one another in utter discomfort. Dayton lowers the boy to the ground and he runs off, shoes SQUEAKING on polished floor. BOY Mom. Nudaru's hands hover above the keyboard a moment. He gracefully fiddles with the keys, and then labors the familiar tune from his dreams. Gradually his formation morphs to elegance. His timing, and the melody become flawless. Nudaru shuts his eyes. His fingers dance along the Ivory as if possessed. Dayton stands by, eyes darting back and forth to her sides as customers approach marveling at Nudaru's heart felt performance. She shifts uncomfortably, arms shielding her frame. Nudaru sways. His expression becomes intense. The song winds down. The last notes echo throughout the shop, and it becomes evident that Nudaru searches for each and everyone in his memory bank. The last note fades. Nudaru opens his eyes. There is sadness in his gaze. A longing in the way his fingers remain on the keys. He drops his head, and a single applause draws him from the piano. A man, baring the store logo on his apron, steps from the crowd as it dissipates. He pulls up beside Nudaru, hand resting against the instrument's side. STORE OWNER That was great. I've never heard anyone play The way you did. Where did you learn to play like that son? Nudaru's eyes dart toward Dayton's face, a silent call for help. Dayton bites her lip, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. Looking away, Nudaru seems to contemplate the question. Finally, he faces the owner. NUDARU I don't know. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT An aerial of an old elevator rising slowly. The machinery SCREECHES painfully, then halts. The door opens, jerking as the gears struggle to carry out their duty. Dayton steps off into the hall, bags of carry out held in one hand. She turns, extending her free hand to assist Nudaru as he pushes a piano toward the apartment door. DAYTON I can't believe that old man just gave this to you. Nudaru lifts a hand to keep the stool in place, pressing forward while Dayton guides. DAYTON Of course its a piece of shit. Stopping at the entrance, Dayton recovers her key, and unlocks the door. LIVING ROOM One end of the piano wobbles through the door. Nudaru, wheels the instrument to a vacant spot against the wall. NUDARU There. Nudaru pulls the stool off the top sitting it right side up on the floor. He sits before the instrument, again playing the song from his dreams. Dayton enters closing the door behind herself. She pulls up to Nudaru's side, more observant to his stance and expression than the tune. DAYTON What is that anyway? Nudaru shrugs. DAYTON Its kind of depressing. NUDARU It is, isn't it? Nudaru plays a few more notes, the conversation a secondary action. DAYTON You know anything else? Nudaru's fingers slam down onto the keys. Dayton jumps. Nudaru absently stares at his hands. Much like in the music store he contemplates the question, then looks up in defeat. NUDARU No. I don't. I'll stop. His lowers his head. A deafening silence suffocates the room. The crinkle of the bag both interrupts and intensifies violent stillness. Nudaru's stomach growls on que. He smiles somewhat embarrassed, and Dayton offers a semi-uncomfortable giggle. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT NUDARU (Filtered) What does Bird stand for? Spread out on the floor across from one another, DAYTON and NUDARU attempt to enjoy a meal. DAYTON I don't know what you mean. NUDARU I heard that cop call you Bird, and your mother -- Dayton cringes. NUDARU -- that woman called you Baby Bird. Dayton shoves rice in her mouth. She chews, swallows and then replies. DAYTON My father was a stool. Nudaru doesn't seem to comprehend. DAYTON A stool pigeon. He used to give up information to the cops: whose selling what, where, stuff like that. Dayton stuffs in more rice. DAYTON When my mom started using, he had to take over raising me. I was around when he ran the streets. Sometimes when the cops were around, asking their questions. Dayton reaches for her cup. She lifts, sips the contents and returns the cup to the floor. DAYTON Anyway, I started giving up info after that. I thought it was cool, when I was a kid. The cops called my dad Bird, instead of Pigeon -- Bird is my last name. (Dayton shrugs) The next thing I knew they were calling me Baby Bird. (Sighing) Then my old man past. And I stopped singing. NUDARU What happened to him? Your Dad. Nudaru snatches a carton up, hand awkwardly clutching chop sticks. DAYTON The worse thing that could. A Cop. Nudaru nods and tries to eat. He struggles to use his set of chopsticks, watching Dayton woof down rice with little trouble. Dayton lowers her upturned carton, eyes falling to the other choices. She spots Nudaru in her search, his face littered with frustration. DAYTON Like this. Dayton holds her chopsticks out in Nudaru's direction. She gives him a visual, which he struggles to imitate. DAYTON No. Not like that. Just wait. Dayton places her own chopsticks upon a napkin then crawls around the indoor picnic to Nudaru's side. With both hands, she grabs Nudaru's, positioning his fingers in the proper fashion. DAYTON Like that. Try. Nudaru looses himself in the sight of the woman. His hand remains outstretched before him, but his expression shows he is no longer interested in technique. Nudaru studies, instead, Dayton's eyes, lips, her skin. Dayton looks down, somewhat irritated that her words go ignored. She parts her lips to bark a smart remark, but takes pause. DAYTON What? The chopsticks fall from Nudaru's hand, CLATTERING on the ground. Nudaru rises to his knees, hands extending toward Dayton's face. The young woman pulls away in shock. She and Nudaru linger just within each others reach. FLASHBACK - UNKNOWN ROOM - DAY A beautiful WOMAN's face partially obscured by the rays of the sun. The Woman smiles. She reaches out, her index finger motions for someone, unseen, to come closer. Her lips pucker, drawing near to the unseen companion. PRESENT DAY Nudaru's eyes search Dayton's confused expression. Again he reaches for the woman, his hands gently clasping both sides of her face to draw her into his kiss. Unlike his hands on the piano, nothing in Nudaru's actions suggest he has forgotten this sort of contact. Instead the attentive aggression in his approach suggests he has only fought the need to pursue his need. Dayton leans in, kissing back. Her hands rise to Nudaru's chest, fingers anxiously undoing his clothing. Nudaru does the same stopping only to pull his shirt over his head. The couple gradually move to the floor. Nudaru climbs atop Dayton. His mouth traces kisses along her neck. They roll over and Dayton imitates Nudaru's previous action. Nudaru closes his eyes. Low MOANS escape his lips. FLASHBACK SEQUENCE -- The beautiful Woman pins Nudaru to a wall. She grins up at him, and then leans forward to kiss his neck. -- MOANS of pleasure mix with the SQUEAKS of an aging mattress. A man's hand grasps a moving headboard. -- The Woman struggles with someone in a bathroom. A man's hand brushes her hair to one side. A razor slashes into her check. -- Hysterical LAUGHTER echoes off tile walls. The door CREAKS aside. -- The Woman falls to the floor as Nudaru struggles with another man. -- Nudaru stumbles toward the tube, he regains his footing lunges forward to retaliate. A razor slices the side of his throat. -- A man gripping a bloody razor stands before a mirror, hair hiding his face. He draws the razor up toward his chest where horizontal scars line his torso. He presses, turns to look at Nudaru on the floor. Nudaru looks up, hands wrapped around his throat, his own body racked with the same wounds. BACK TO PRESENT DAY Nudaru shoves Dayton away from his throat, bolting upright. Dayton slides over onto the floor, arms still clutching Nudaru's frame. Hyperventilating, Nudaru's hands rise to clutch his neck. Regaining his composure, to an extent, Nudaru reaches down and snatches Dayton's hand from within his pants, tossing the limb aside. The young woman sits up. DAYTON What's wrong? Nudaru turns to Dayton fighting tears. He shakes his head at her, climbs to his feet and then runs to the bathroom slamming the door behind himself. Dayton climbs to her feet chasing after him. She POUNDS on the door, and then grabs knob. The lock CLICKS. DAYTON Nudaru. No response. DAYTON Nudaru are you okay? Dayton lingers, ear pressed to the door. Receiving no answer she heads off. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Nudaru watches as the shadow of Dayton's feet retreat in the direction of her bedroom. He runs trembling fingers through his hair, then stumbles to the sink cutting on the water. Nudaru's HANDS move beneath the spray splashing cold water onto his face. He lifts slightly, gripping the bowl. REFLECTION a long haired man, face buried beneath strands, lingers in the mirror where Nudaru should be. He imitates Nudaru's position, head hung low. NUDARU runs wet fingers through his hair a second time head rising as he completes the action. REFLECTION Mimics Nudaru his fingers pushing back hair to reveal Nudaru's face. NUDARU gawks in horror. REFLECTION stares back, a sadistic smirk forming. NUDARU looks from the reflection to an empty spot beside the tub. FLASHBACK - UNKNOWN BATHROOM Nudaru on the floor clutching his throat. The fallen WOMAN drags herself toward the bedroom, moaning weekly. Their attacker stands over Nudaru. The two men are identical. BENJIROU So I guess we do 'all look alike'. BACK TO PRESENT Nudaru faces his reflection, now nothing more than his own image staring back at him. Hands clutch the porcelain bowl. His head cocks to the side curiously. Nudaru's PUPILS fully dilate. HALLWAY Nudaru makes his way down the slightly ajar bedroom door removing the belt around his waste. As he approaches the entrance he winds the belt around one wrists, and then grips the buckle with the other hand testing the leather's resistance. Stopping at the door, he peers in through the crack, the little light from the bedroom window shining on his face. BEDROOM Dayton asleep, back to the door. The door CREEKS, Nudaru's foot guiding it aside. Slowly, he approaches, lifting the belt with intent. Dayton rolls over in her sleep. Nudaru hops backward, lowering the buckle, and placing the wrapped arm back behind his waste. He waits in silence. Dayton YAWNS, but doesn't open her eyes. The corner of Nudaru's mouth twitches slightly, his free hand motioning to recapture the buckle. Dayton again adjusts, a soft glow from the window lights up her face. Nudaru's eyes land on Dayton's face. He studies her, a cruel expression fading. Nudaru's PUPILS shrink down to their usual size. The belt unwinds and slips from his wrist to the floor. Glancing around in the dark, seemingly confused, Nudaru heads back to the door, exiting the room. MONTAGE -- TIME GOING BY -- Dayton and Nudaru shop for groceries, Nudaru rides the cart like a skateboard racing a kid down the aisle. Dayton catches him, and scolds Nudaru to the amusement of the child. -- Dayton and Nudaru work in the Old Building. Nudaru hammers nails into a new window frame. Distracted by glare, he hits his finger and convulses in pain. Dayton kisses his wound. DAYTON All better. Nudaru grins sheepishly. -- Nudaru's hair longer in length. He runs his fingers through the strands, turning toward Dayton posted behind him. She looks at the shag do, scrunching up her face. Nudaru laughs, and grabs the scissors. -- Nudaru dressing. Midway through putting on his shirt, he stops to examine his scared chest. Motioning to traces one of the old wounds, Nudaru silently scolds himself, pulling his hand away and his the shirt down. Exiting, Nudaru heads down the hall. Just outside the living room entrance he spots the piano. Nudaru fights to look away. EXT. RESTAURANT - DAY Dayton, with trash bags in each hand, kicks open the back door to reveal Guy posted on the wall across from her. Dayton's eyes enlarge. She drops the bags, and whirls around attempting to flee. Guy lurches forward grabbing two handfuls of the young woman's shirt. He swings her around to the wall where he'd previously waited, tossing her against the brick work. Dayton's back scrapes the jagged structure, and she wrenches in pain. GUY Where the hell are you going? Guy snatches Dayton forward by her collar. DAYTON (Shaking her head) Nowhere. GUY Lying bitch. You got my money, Dayton? DAYTON No. Guy removes one hand from Dayton's clothing. He balls his fist and throws it in the air. Dayton's hands fly up in protest. DAYTON Not yet. I just need a little more time. A week or two. Guy's fist pauses inches from Dayton's face. He lowers his hand, and releases Dayton. The young woman's hand rises to her throat, rubbing where the fabric has left a red mark. GUY You've got until tomorrow. DAYTON Tomorrow, but I can't... GUY ...have the money by then? We'll you better, otherwise you'll be a lot less active, and there'll be one less junky begging on my streets. Guy backs up and turns like he plans to leave. Dayton sighs in relief, lowering her guard. Guy does a 180. His hand slams into the wall beside Dayton's head. Dayton curls up in a defensive position. Laughing, Guy walks off leaving Dayton alone. Dayton looks up and down the road, body trembling. She reaches out, slams the restaurant door, and then screams at the top of her lungs. EXT. THE STREETS - DAY Dayton's SCREAM ECHOES throughout the city. A TREE birds depart the branches, spooked by the sudden noise. They fly off in a panic, dashing in every direction. STREET HEAVY BREATHING. Dayton runs wildly down the sidewalk, dodging and shoving passed other pedestrians. A bottle is knocked from one's hand as she goes by. The alcohol billboard reflects in the glass, right before it shatters on the concrete. INT. DAYTON'S APARTMENT - DAY Dayton throws open the door, charging to the kitchen. Nudaru, at the piano, stares blankly at the keys seemingly unaffected by the sudden entrance. Cabinets in the other room BANG against their frames. Pots and Pans CLATTER against each other and the floor. Dayton reenters with a coffee tin. She slumps onto the couch simultaneously removing the container's lid. Nudaru remains facing the piano, oblivious to Dayton's activity, she oblivious to his lack of movement. Dayton tilts the tin, and dumps the contents. Balled bills flick out onto the table top, change bounces off the wood, rolls onto the floor, and then RATTLES to a halt. Dayton's gaze sweeps across every dollar, every loose coin. Her hands hover above the table, flattening FIVES, TENS, TWENTIES. DAYTON Shit. Dayton suddenly turns to face Nudaru. He remains in the same position. Dayton stands. NUDARU That song keeps going through my head. I keep thinking, 'maybe if I play it long enough I'll remember Something. Dayton positions herself at Nudaru's side. DAYTON Do you? NUDARU Sort of. I don't know what's real, anymore. DAYTON What do you think is real? NUDARU What do I think? (looking up at Dayton) Or what do I want? (breaking his gaze) Did I ever tell you about the dreams? DAYTON No. NUDARU I heard this song in a dream. There was a big house. A couple holding hands in a parlor, listening to this music. I think I'm playing the piano. I feel like I Am. Why else would I know how? Nudaru's fingers move toward the keys. He pulls his hands back against his chest quickly, eyes darting up toward the wall in an effort to fight instinct. NUDARU I thought the dreams were memories. Broken images, coming back to me. I was so excited. I'm not anymore. That time we... DAYTON Its... Nudaru raises his hand, silencing Dayton. NUDARU That day we got this I saw something. Something frightening. I tried to ignore it, but I can't anymore. Nudaru faces Dayton, the same hand that silenced her caresses her cheek. NUDARU I need to know what happened to me. INT. PHONE BOOTH - DAY DAYTON Nudaru. N-U-D... Dayton leans against the glass frame, her hand alternating between twirling the cord around her finger and trying to force the door open further. SIDEWALK Nudaru paces back and forth, head shifting on occasion to listen on the part of the conversation he can hear. PHONE BOOTH DAYTON Yeah. Kawasaki. Dayton searches for abandon paper in the booth with one hand, her other removes a pen from her pocket. Finding nothing, she motions with the pen as if writing. SIDEWALK Nudaru scurries in search of parchment. Sticking his hand in a trash bend just inches away, he recovers a napkin. He brushes away crumbs, removes a tomato, tosses the vegetable, and then hurries back to Dayton's side. NUDARU Here. PHONE BOOTH Dayton's face scrunches up in disapproval, before she ever so carefully takes the napkin using her thumb and forefinger. She situates herself and then presses her pen to the white material. DAYTON All right, go ahead. Yeah 283. Okay. Thanks. Dayton hangs up the phone, jots a few notes and then steps out to: SIDEWALK looking off in the distance, Dayton flops the hand with the napkin in it over in Nudaru's direction. DAYTON There's the address. Nudaru all but snatches the napkin out for Dayton's hand. NUDARU (Looking at the note) Where is this? DAYTON Uptown. NUDARU You know how to get there? DAYTON Everyone knows how to get there. Everyone, but you, I guess. NUDARU (Pointing to the Napkin) How do I get here? DAYTON I'd take a cab. NUDARU A cab. Nudaru nods, and starts off down the street. He hails a cab, stepping back as the yellow automobile pulls to the curb. Nudaru tugs the handle on rear passenger door. It opens. He puts one foot in the vehicle, turns and finds Dayton still posted beside the phone booth. Dayton stares at her feet. NUDARU What are you waiting for? DAYTON What if you have a family? NUDARU What? Nudaru steps back. He slams the cab door shut, motions for the driver to wait, and then heads over to Dayton. Swinging his arm out, he grabs hold of Dayton's tugging her against him. DAYTON I said, what if you have a family waiting? NUDARU That would be great. Dayton clinches her jaw. DAYTON Yeah. I was thinking that too, at first. Maybe someone would be looking for you, offering a reward or something. Dayton attempts a smile. DAYTON But then I thought, what if the family waiting, is like: kids, a dog, a wife. Nudaru's hand falls from Dayton's arm. His gaze drifts, and his jaw drops. He circles, then stumbles back to a stoop where he nearly collapses. NUDARU I didn't really -- Dayton stares down at the taxi, unable to look Nudaru in the face. NUDARU (Looking at Dayton) Dayton. Dayton's eyes only slightly wander in Nudaru's direction. NUDARU You make me feel, like I've never felt. DAYTON Like you don't remember feeling. NUDARU (Voice rising louder than intended) No. Dayton jumps. Pedestrians glance in the couples' direction. NUDARU I've never felt, the way you make me feel. DAYTON How can you be so sure of that, when you're not sure of anything else? The couple exchange a knowing look. NUDARU I can't go on not knowing, but regardless of how things turn out, I'm not the person I was before. Nudaru stands and this time takes hold of Dayton's hand. NUDARU Come with me? EXT. - UPTOWN - DAY A combination of modern and historical structures pass by, reflections in the cab's rear passenger window. Through the images, Nudaru peers out, eyes briefly attracted to a girl scout troupe skipping along the cobblestone walkway in a decadent city park. The cab slows and pulls to a stop in front of a three story building. A construction sight hugs its side. Men in hard hats parade about, tools in hand, too occupied by lunch or work to acknowledge the car's arrival. Nudaru opens the passenger door. He steps out onto the sidewalk glancing at the address etched on one of several stone pillars guarding the grounds. 283 sticks out boldly. The stone unaffected by rain and erosion suggest that it has been replace or recently modified. Dayton slides out, her foot hitting the street. She hands the driver a bill through the rolled down window, then walks around to stand beside her companion. DAYTON Remember anything. The cab pulls off, the engine nearly swallows Nudaru's voice as he replies. NUDARU Nothing, yet. Nudaru approaches one of the men exiting the building's front entrance. NUDARU (To Construction worker) Excuse me, do you know the people who live here? CONSTRUCTION WORKER That live here? Yeah, I knew them. Well, I knew of them. NUDARU What do you mean? CONSTRUCTION WORKER The folks were killed in a car accident about two years back. There kid survived, but got involved in some bad stuff, and lost the place. The city owns it now. Nudaru suppresses a whimper. He faces Dayton eyes shutting in an effort to control his emotions. DAYTON (To Construction worker) Bad stuff, like what? CONSTRUCTION WORKER As I hear it, drugs. The kid got addicted to heroin or something, after his parents died. Real bad stuff. Dayton glances briefly at Nudaru. He avoids her gaze, his expression gradually morphing from depression to rage and then instantly back again. NUDARU You said you knew of them. What were they like? CONSTRUCTION WORKER My wife used to say they were decent. The boy played piano, gave back to the community by mentoring. My kid took lessons. DAYTON So you never met them? CONSTRUCTION WORKER No. Sherry handled all that -- raising the kids. I put food in their bellies, and clothes on their backs. NUDARU You're speaking in past tense again. CONSTRUCTION WORKER My wife and I separated. She moved out of state, and took the kids with her. Now if you don't mind I got child support I got to pay. The Construction Worker shoves passed to the work sight, leaving Nudaru and Dayton lingering on the property. DAYTON So... (Dayton sneers) ...you want to go inside.
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