Whitewash Original Treatment - Copyright Faith Road Productions 2006

This Treatment was orginally written (completed anyway) in May of 2005

Whitewash Treatment

We begin as if we’re looking up at a solitary light piercing through the deep of a body of water. The light grows larger and larger as we begin to float our way to the top. Just as the light engulfs the screen, there’s a gasp for air! We see an eye open, and the camera pulls back to reveal Newman lying on a bed in a dimly lit room. He sits up, and turns on a lamp. Newman picks up a small notebook and begins reading it. He stops and looks blankly around the room. He glances at the clock that reads 5:45 am. As he begins to read again sunlight suddenly begins to enter the room through the window. Newman looks up and out the window as the shadows of the blinds climb up his face with the rising of the sun.

Later that morning Newman is sitting on the couch. Across from him is Private Investigator Henry Madison. Elray, the owner of the cabin that they are in, is in the kitchen getting coffee. Henry has a southern accent and makes small talk with the Elray while Newman is quiet. Finally Hank, which Henry tells them to refer to him as, asks if Newman ever says anything. Newman apologizes and says he sometimes has trouble staying focused on the conversation because his mind “drifts off to places he can’t recognize, but feels familiar.” Hank thinks that’s a little deep for him, and asks why they’ve asked him to come out of the city.

Elray begins to tell him the story of how he met Newman. One rainy night, there was a knock on his cabin door. Elray answered to find Newman, completely soaked, showing signs that he had been beaten up and a cut on his arm. “He just stared at me,” says Elray, “You could tell he was cold, confused and in pain, but he never looked like he was scared.” Elray tells Hank that he took Newman in for the night, got him some dry clothes, tended to his wound, and let him rest for the night. When Newman woke up the next morning, he couldn’t tell Elray who he was or what had happened. Elray suggested that he take Newman to the local doctor to check him out. The doctor tells Newman that he isn’t in bad shape, but that he seems to be suffering from retrograde amnesia, which may have been caused by a severe non-penetrative blow to the head.

Elray tells Hank that Newman had no ID or place to go, so he let him stay with him until he felt good enough to leave. Hank asks what it is exactly that they need. Newman speaks up and says he needs help discovering who he is and what he used to be.

Hank asks them if they have any information, or if he remembers anything. Newman then slides a library card across the coffee table. The card has a bar code, but no name. Elray says that it was in Newman’s coat pocket. Hank decides to take the case.

Next we see Hank and Newman riding in a car together. Hank is on his cell phone. As Newman is looking out of the window, we see quick flashes of streetlights passing. Suddenly Hank asks where he got his name. Newman tells him that Elray gave him the name because, “I’m no longer who I used to be.” Hank replies, “That’s clever.” Hank notices that Newman has a small black leather bible and asks if he’s a religious man. “I am now,” says Newman. Hank asks if he thinks he was before he lost his memory, and Newman says, “I’m not sure.” Hank tells Newman that he was talking to his secretary and that they couldn’t get a name or address from the number, but from the first three digits of the serial code correlate to the actual library the card comes from. Hank tells him that is the place they are headed.

The library card falls to a carpeted floor. A woman’s hand picks it up. She is dressed casually, but has a natural beauty to her. She looks down at a small card, and walks down an aisle of books. We see Newman, watching her. He looks worn-down, unshaven and his hair is much shorter. He goes to move in a little closer, but suddenly the woman reemerges with a book. Newman turns away to avoid being seen. Suddenly we hear Hank’s voice: “Does any of this look familiar?”

We see the present Newman, who replies, “It all does.” Hank walks over to the front desk and tells the librarian that he has a library card and he doesn’t know if it’s his or his wife’s, and if there is anyway they can check. The librarian gives him a look, but scans it anyway. She tells him it’s hers. Hank continues on by saying that he wants to make sure that the right address is in there database. The librarian asks what address he thinks is listed, and Hank is stopped. The librarian then asks what his wife’s name is, and when Hank can’t answer, she confiscates the card.

Hank returns to Newman and tells him he lost the card, but has a plan. Next we see Newman come around the corner and say he needs help finding a book. The librarian doesn’t see anyone else who can help, and walks off with Newman. Hank then comes from around the corner and scans the card. He quickly prints the information listed and then exits.

Newman then comes around the corner and sees the woman again. This time she is leaving with several books, and drops her library card while exiting. Newman walks over and picks it up. We see a close up of the card.

Newman looks up from the card and is back in the flashback, this time sitting in a car looking at the card. He glances into the rearview mirror and sees the woman getting out of her car. He stuffs the card into his pocket, then leans over to grab a small notebook. Suddenly there is a knock on his window. It’s the woman. He rolls the window down.

“Look buddy, I don’t know what you think you’re doing,” she says, “but it’s starting look like the cops need to be involved.” Newman tries to play it off as coincidence, but she’s not buying it. She asks what he wants, and he says nothing. She says she knows that he’s been following her for the last day and a half. He is speechless. She then tells him that she’s going inside the diner they are parked in front of and if he wants to come in and talk he can, but if he stays outside she’s calling the cops. She walks away.

We see a hand open a car door, and Newman gets in next to Hank. Hank begins to tell about the amount of info he’s got now. “I’ve got a name, address and the last 20 books she’s checked out.” Newman replies, “She?” Hank asks if he remembers a wife or daughter, and Newman says no. “I do remember a woman,” he admits, “but I don’t think we were married.” Hank asks, “Do you remember anyone named Allison Lohman?”

Next we see Newman walking up to a table where Allison, the woman from before, is sitting. She greets him by telling him she knew he’d come in. He’s quiet and apprehensive. “You’re cuter than the last one,” says Allison.

Hank hands Newman the paper. “Look at the last three books she’s checked out; kind of ironic considering the circumstances huh?”

Newman looks over at the books she has sitting on the table. They are all about amnesia. “Did you forget something?”

“You’re witty too,” she says. They continue to trade barbs. She asks what her husband thinks she’s doing this time. “Your husband thinks you’re having an affair.” She laughs and takes a sip of her coffee. “So you are.” He says. “That would make your job a lot easier wouldn’t it?” He smiles. She mentions that this is the first time he’s smiled. She continues tell him that Newman is the second PI that’s been following her. She suggests that maybe her husband has a guilty conscience. Newman asks why she has the books on amnesia. She explains that she’s an actress, and is about to do a play about a woman who is suffering from amnesia. She asks him if she looks familiar, and that she’s done some local commercials. He then tells her he does remember her. The two seem to have instant chemistry. He tells her that he still has to follow her, and she tells him she’s looking forward to it. He gives her his card, and says, “Give me a call if you feel like you’re doing anything adulterous.” She smiles at him.

Newman and Hank are looking at an office building. “This is it,” Hank says. “I guess I figured this would be a residence.” Newman sits writing in his little notebook. “Did you hear me?” Newman looks up, and apologizes. Hank asks what he’s writing, and Newman tells him bits and pieces. “If I look at them later I might be able to put them together.”

Next we see the two walking into an office lobby. They approach the receptionist and ask to see an Allison Lohman. The receptionist tells them that she does not work there. They tell her that they have a library card that has this address, and if anyone by that name has ever worked there. She picks up the phone and dials up the phone and asks someone on the other end. She asks them for their names. Hank introduces himself as a private investigator. She relays the message and hangs up. Suddenly Trevor Lastname appears, introduces himself, and escorts them to his office.

“So you knew Allison?” says Trevor as they sit down. “No, we didn’t,” replies Hank. Hank explains that they have her library card. Trevor laughs and says, “I think I know this joke. Two investigators go to return a library card.” Trevor laughs at his joke, the other two don’t. Hank explains that they are trying to find her to ask some questions. Trevor agrees.

Hank explains the situation and asks if he has ever seen Newman before. Trevor then begins to tell how he gave James Lohman, his former co-worker, a reference to Newman’s firm. Hank asks what for, and Trevor says “investigation”. “I’d used them for so many things; follow clients, employees my ex-wife! James was having some suspicions of his own, so I gave him the card.”

“He thought his wife was cheating,” says Newman. “Yeah,” replied Trevor, “And she probably wasn’t,” he pauses, “until he hired you. Got kinda sticky there didn’t it?”

We suddenly see the library card slap down onto an executive desk. Newman, in flashback form, sits down across from James. We cannot see James’ face. “What’s this crap?” snaps James. “That’s what your wife does with her time,” Newman replies. Newman’s eyes dart around the desk as James moves his hands to the card.

“For two weeks! I’ve been paying you ten times what you’re worth and this is what you bring me?” He pushes the intercom button on the phone. “Sheila! Where’s my coffee?” Newman rolls his eyes and pulls out a little notebook and reads from it. “Aside from frequent visits to the library, she stays at home all day where she gets no visitors. Then she goes to play rehearsal for about two hours.”

Sheila sets a tray with coffee, cream and sugar on the desk. We can’t see her face either. “Oh great, another play,” James moans as Sheila begins to pour lots of cream and sugar into the coffee. “Keep going honey, I don’t like to taste the coffee,” he tells her. “You know she’s actually pretty talented,” Newman quips. “Are you kidding me? Have you seen those car commercials? My wife wouldn’t know talent if it slapped her in the face. Tell me you have something else!” Newman looks down at his notebook. “Nope; after that,” Newman glances up enough to see James hand hidden groping Sheila’s buttocks. “She gets to come home to you.” With that Newman looks up as James hand comes back to rest on the mug.

“Look Mr. Lohman there’s nothing going on here. You’re wasting my time and your money.” Says Newman. “Are you quitting? You can’t quit! I’m paying you well, and all you have for me is a library card!” James yells. “Look pal, you’re wife is fine. You’re not going to find anything to justify your guilty conscience.” James grabs the card and throws it at Newman. “Get out.” Newman stuffs the card back into his coat pocket, and stands up.

“You wouldn’t happen to still know the name of the company would you,” asks Hank. Trevor opens up his desk and pulls out a business card sorter, and hands them the business card. Newman asks if Mr. Lohman still worked there, and Trevor replies that he quit almost a seven months ago. They ask why, and Trevor tells them that after he found out Allison was cheating, he went nuts and they never heard from him again. “She wasn’t cheating on him,” replies Newman. Hank looks at him surprised. “That’s ironic.” Says Trevor. “Keep digging, you’ll find out Allison wasn’t as pure as you think she was.” Newman clinches his fists and stands up and leaves. Hank thanks Trevor, and follows.

Next we see Newman sitting in the car. Hank gets in and asks what that was all about, and what is he not telling Hank. Newman says he’s starting to remember Allison and that he had an overwhelming feeling that she was truly a good person. Hank tells him to just take it easy, and that he’s sure he’s right. He then suggests they go to his old workplace. Newman glances out the window and sees a quick flash of her face. Suddenly he is sitting in a car alone at night as his old self. He brings a flask up to his mouth, drinks then reacts sourly. He shakes his head then pulls out a notebook. It reads, “9:30 pm Leaves Theater”. He glances at his watch and looks up as Allison comes walking out the back door to her car. He looks down at his notebook again. “Next up, shower and bedtime-“ suddenly Allison taps on his window. “I thought you quit?” she asks. “I did. I guess I just really want to see if he’s right.” He replies. “That was a week ago.” She says. “Then I guess I have nothing better to do.” She smiles. “I’m hungry.”

Next we see them sitting on a park bench with finished fast food bags. They trade words that border on flirting. “The show’s good.” Says Allison. “I’ve never connected with a character like this before. Wandering through life, feeling lost, incomplete memories haunting you in quick flashes. Then to discover finally that the reason she’s like she is, was only because she has running from the truth.” Newman’s gaze seems distant. Then he replies, “We’re all running from the truth.” He takes a drink from his flask. “The twist is we’re all destined to embrace it eventually. I do everyday.” She looks over at him. “I didn’t know you were so philosophical.” Allison takes his flask and takes a sip. “I’m not, I’m just a narrator, calling it like I see it.” He sits back, “which leads me to my next point. When are you going to leave this guy?” She looks down and shakes her head slightly. “Better yet, why do you stay?” says Newman. She doesn’t respond.

“You remember anything about your work,” Hank asks. “I remember I didn’t like it,” replies Newman. “We certainly get to see the underside of humanity,” Hank quips back. They walk into a small office. The reception area is cramped with one secretary behind a desk. She asks if she can help with anything, and Hank asks to speak with someone in charge. She pages into the office behind her, and tells them to enter.

They walk into the office to see Ralph Torres sitting behind a semi-cluttered desk. He is surrounded by file cabinets. He looks up, then reacts in shock. “This is absolutely rich! I was just sitting here thinking, the only way this day could get any worse would be if I were to just punch myself in the face! Guess I was wrong.” Newman gives a half smile. “I could save you the time and do it myself,” he replies. Hank l looks at Newman. “You remember this guy?” Ralph pipes in, “How could he possibly forget? Sit down you two.” They sit. “You need work don’t you? I hate to say this, but things are actually pretty slow. People just don’t seem to be getting into as much trouble anymore.”

“We’re actually here to get some information from you.” Ralph looks over at Newman. “Who’s this guy?” Hank introduces himself as a private investigator. At this Ralph begins to get upset and asks what he’s trying to pull, then begins to ramble on about how he’ll never find anything on him or his company.

“I need your help,” Newman says softly. Ralph stops. “I don’t know who I am.” Ralph smirks and sits back. “Well I ain’t known ya for the last 7 months or so, but I can tell you who you were.” Hank insists he start with his name. “Your name,” Ralph begins, “is Robert Vander. You were the best I ever seen.” As Ralph continues to talk of Newman’s exploits Newman begins to see quick flashes of memories he had kept buried for years. With each flash, Newman winces, or shakes his head, but continues to scribble them down in his notebook.

“Rob was different then most young guys that come into this biz,” says Ralph. “Most guys see the worst mankind has to offer, and they run. They can’t stand it. But you became it. You lowered yourself to its level just so you could take a swipe at it.” Newman is starting look more disconnected. “You ever hear of narcotics officers who go undercover?” They nod. “A lot of times they start taking the drug to blend in, become part of the element. But as they try to just keep the appearance of being an addict, they slowly become one. There’s no such thing as, just a little won’t hurt. It consumes you.” Newman’s eyes begin to reveal more and more hurt.

“When was the last time you saw Newman, I mean, Robert?” says Hank. Ralph stands and makes his way over to a filing cabinet. “Newman huh? Sounds like you did go into hiding.” Ralph opens the file cabinet, looks at the files, then pulls out a folder. He begins to read from it. “James Lohman that was the last case he took from me. Looks like a slam dunk from here. He thinks his wife is cheating, but Rob says she’s not; case closed.” Ralph tosses the file onto the desk, and sits back down. “But you and I both know it wasn’t.”

Newman is sitting in his car watching a house. In the second story, there is a light on in the window. He sees the silhouette of a woman. Newman glances around the street, and there is nobody out. He looks at the clock which reads 1:30 am. He shakes his head and goes for his flask when suddenly his cell phone rings. He picks it up and hears Allison on the other end.

“Robert?” she says softly. “I’m here,” he replies. “I know you are. I like that.” There is silence on the phone. “Good night Robert,” she says softly as she hangs up, and the light in the window goes out. The camera slowly zooms onto Newman sitting in the car. We hear a knocking sound on a door. The door opens and we see Newman standing there. Next we see Allison over Newman’s shoulder. They look at each other with a look of apprehension mixed with a longing for the touch of another human being. And in an instant they find themselves in each others arms, kissing passionately.

“It was the last case you took.” Says Ralph. “Then you dropped out of site.” Ralph continues by telling them that he knew what was happening but did nothing. Then he asks if James Lohman roughed him up so badly that he couldn’t remember his own name. Hank asks if he thinks James was capable of that, and Ralph tells him with that amount of money that anything is possible. Hank asks if there is an address for Mr. Lohman. Ralph looks, but only finds the office address they had already been to. Then Newman asks, “Can you tell me where I used to live?”

Allison and Newman are walking up some stairs leading to an apartment. When they get to the door, Newman stops. “If you ever need a place to get away,” he smiles, “or want to surprise me, the key is right up here.” Newman reaches up on the ledge above the door. He pulls down a key and unlocks the door.

The door swings open and Newman and Hank walk in. The place looks like a typical bachelor pad that hasn’t been occupied for several months. “Nice place,” quips Hank. “Could use some room service.” They enter and begin picking through things, even though there isn’t much to go through. Newman goes into the bedroom, while Hank starts looking through papers on his desk. As he enters, a flood of memories start to come back to him. He looks over at a picture framed of the two of them. His mind plays back the scene when the picture was taken in a restaurant. As he sits on the bed he is suddenly sitting next to Allison who is laying down reaching on the side of the bed. She sits up with a wrapped present for him. He smiles and asks what it is. She tells him to open it, and he does. It’s the picture he was just looking at framed. “It’s from our first date,” she says. “I thought our first date was in that little café by the library.” He replies. “Well, this was our first date that you paid for.” He smiles and looks down at the picture. When he looks up, the room is empty.

He looks over at the TV, and sees a video camera plugged into it. He opens the camera and sees a tape labeled “Allison”. He hits play on the camera, and we start seeing what looks like surveillance footage of Allison entering different stores, and getting into her car. Then the shots get closer and start focusing on her face and eyes. Then the shot jumps to Newman filming them at a park. He is asking her different insignificant questions. Then the sprinklers come on and she starts trying to get him to run through them with her. Finally he agrees and the scene shoots to another shot where Allison is laying asleep in bed. Newman watches, and his eyes tell us he’s yearning to be back in this moment. Allison slowly wakes, and asks him half asleep what he’s doing. Newman says some sweet words about capturing her on film, and she asks him to put down the camera and come to bed. The camera suddenly goes to blue. Newman sets down the camera and sits back. He begins to tear up.

Hank enters smiling and hold a piece of paper. He tells Newman he’s got the address to the Lohmans’ house. Hank then notices Newman’s condition and sees the picture he’s holding. Hank asks him what he remembers. Newman gets a far off look in his eye.

“Ralph was right.” The scene slowly fades to a night scene within the bedroom. There is rain quietly hitting the window next to him. “I had become what I had watched and loathed for many years.” We see Newman sitting in a chair, facing the bed Allison is sleeping in. “When she came along, it was a wakeup call, an alarm that in this cold dark world was something good, something true. I knew our relationship was wrong, maybe even doomed from the beginning, but I didn’t care. She was a breath of fresh air in a world choked with the evil that people do to each other.” The scene fades back to Newman in the present. “I wanted to shield her from the horrors of the outside world. I wanted to create for her the security she never had.” Suddenly the TV begins to play a scene of Newman filming a nice table setting in his apartment. Newman is narrating the plans he has set up for Allison, and pans to the dinner he has prepared. Then we hear the door start to open and Newman pans to see Allison entering. She is wearing an overcoat and large dark sunglasses. Newman tries to flirt with her as he moves closer. She tells him to turn of the camera, but he keeps being playful. Finally, she says,”Turn the camera off! We need to talk.” With that the tape ends. Newman looks at Hank with a little sense of urgency. “We need to go to that house.”

We see Hank and Newman sitting in a car on an empty suburban street. It’s night time. “Does this bring anything back for you?” Newman replies, “Yeah, that’s definitely it.” Hank replies, “You said he kept late hours before, so we might be here awhile. Hand me my coffee.” Newman hands him a cup, and Newman sets it down. Hank continues, “You want my opinion on all this?” Newman nods. “I think you’ve got it mostly right. You were supposed to catch this chick cheating on her husband, but instead you caught him. Hand me the cream and sugar.” Newman reaches and grabs a few packets. “In turn, you got close to her, and started something. This guy finds out, and with his money has a hit put out on you that didn’t work.” Hank begins to empty the cream and sugar into the coffee. “But the fact that you are here only proves a theory of mine.” Newman listens. “Justice comes for us all. Let me tell you a story. When I was 15, my friends and I used to go smoke dope over at my friend Kevin’s house. Then we’d get so bored we’d look for trouble. Anything, we light things on fire, go start fights, whatever. Then one day, we’re walking out and Kevin has this hammer for no real reason, and we see this van parked in front of this house. So I look at the hammer and get this crazy idea. Next thing I know, I had smashed all the windows out on the left side of this van while my buddies took care of the rest. Of course we took off. But then a few months later, we’re out again minus the hammer, and see this van. So next thing I know I’m hurling rocks into the left side of this van. So after the windows were all out, we take off.” Newman sits shaking his head smiling. “Like a month later, we’re out, but this time the van is parked inside the garage. However, the front window was nice and big, and might as well had a bull’s-eye painted on it. So we hurled a few rocks through it, when suddenly the owner comes running out, guns blazin’! We ran down the street, hopped walls and finally cut through an abandoned lot before we finally laid low.” Newman replies, “You never got caught?”

“Nope. But we never went back either.” Newman shakes his head, “where’s the justice there?” Hank smiles, “not awhile later I got my first car. That car ran great, except one thing. My driver’s side window was broken. The car I had after that, the left side windows never worked. Hell, this car I bought brand-new a few months ago.” Hank reaches down and taps the window button, but the window does not roll down. Newman laughs. “So you see Newman, justice gets us all in one way or another. And some real justice is coming for the guys who did this to you.” Newman sips his coffee. “I don’t know if that’s what I want anymore.” Newman replies. “Of course it is,” says Hank. “Hand me some more cream and sugar. I don’t like to taste the coffee.” Newman pauses for a moment. “Sometimes I think I’d rather be drinking just the cream and sugar you know, take the bitterness out all together.” Newman hands him the packets. “But then I’d miss out on the best quality of the coffee, the caffeine.”

A car passes by them and pulls into the house they’ve been watching. Hank stops with his coffee, and looks up. “He’s here, are you ready?” Newman nods. “Good, I want to give you something before we go in.” Hank reaches behind the seat and hands him a gun. Newman reacts confused, and tries to avoid it. “Look, we don’t know what’s gonna happen in there, so just take it for defense.” Newman cautiously takes the gun.

There’s a knock on the door and a man answers the door. Hank is standing in the doorway by himself. Hank introduces himself, and asks if he is James Lohman. The man says he is. Hank asks if he can ask him a few questions, and James says no it’s late and to come back tomorrow. Then Newman come around the corner and says, “Can you answer any questions about Robert Vander?” James’ eyes suddenly widen and he tries to slam the door! Hank stops it, but James has started running. Newman instantly runs after James and tackles him on the stairway inside. James rolls over and punches Newman, but as Newman falls backward, he pulls James down the stairs with him. They land at the feet of Hank who has his gun out.

Next we see Hank and Newman sitting across from James on the couch. James asks what they want. Newman tells him he wants to know what happened. James plays dumb and asks him to be more specific. Newman pulls the gun out and sets it on the coffee table. James tells them to take it easy, and begins his story. He says that Newman was right, that he was trying to set his wife up so he could divorce her and not lose anything. “Then when I found out that she really was,” he says, “It hurt. I came in and found you two together, and lost it.” Newman eyes begin to narrow. “I beat the crap out of you.” Hank looks at Newman. “You did? I don’t believe you.” Hank pulls his gun out of his pocket. James shakes his head, “All right, I walked in on you two, but you didn’t see me. So I called some big guys, and paid ‘em to rough you up.” Suddenly Newman sees flashes of himself fighting and rolling around with one person in James kitchen. We can’t see the other man’s face. “What then?” says Hank. “He was damn near dead,” says James. “So I told them to get rid of ‘em you know, toss him in the lake or something. I mean who’s gonna miss some washed private investigator anyway?” Newman says softly, “I can think of someone.” James scowls. “You think just because she played like she loved you that she really did?” James looks at Newman, “I showed her who was really in control.” Newman begins to get distant.

We see a camcorder set down, and Newman trying to touch Allison. “What’s wrong?” She walks away from him and sits down. “He knows about us,” she sobs. “He’s wants a divorce.” He walks over to her and kneels beside her. “It’s all right, I’ll take care of you now.” She sobs. “We’re done.” His face drops. “He told me that if we continued, he’d kill you.” Newman’s eyes narrow. “Really.” He removes her glasses showing bruised eyes. “And then he said he would kill me.” We hear James voice, “I laid the hammer down.” Newman slides her jacket off revealing more bruises. “I made sure she had renewed healthy fear of me.”

Suddenly Newman’s fists clinch the jacket and he lets go. Next we see his hand grab the gun off the coffee table. Newman leaps onto James and thrusts the gun into his throat while holding his head by his hair. “What happened next!” James swallows the lump in his throat and speaks, “Then she disappeared. When I didn’t find you either I figured you’d split.”

Suddenly Newman flashes back to the scene with Allison. “He’s dead.” Allison looks at Newman as if she doesn’t know him. “What?” He replies coldly, “He’s dead because I’m going to kill him.”

“Robert!” yells Hank. Newman still holds James. “Newman,” replies Newman softly, “My name is Newman.” Newman lets go and stumbles backwards eyes tearing up. “Hank we have to go.” James sits in shock. “So you aren’t going to kill me?” he says exasperated. “Sorry,” he says as he drops the gun, “we seem to have conflicting stories. Newman walks in a daze out the front door. We suddenly hear his voice.

“We’re going to beat him at his own game.” Newman says looking back at Allison. “You’re going to go home, tell him you ended it with me.” She begins to say something, but he stops her. “Trust me, this is the only way. Newman is staring down the empty suburban street. Hank runs out behind him. “Newman, what’s going on? We’ve got him! Let’s go in and finish this!” Newman shakes his head. “No, that’s not him.” Hank is confused. “How do you know?” Suddenly Newman sees quick flashes of a struggle, and an alley way surrounded by houses. “Because,” says Newman, “I killed him seven months ago.” Suddenly Newman looks down the street as a wall of rain comes down the street. It passes over Newman and continues to pour. Newman turns and sees a car parked beside him. Next we see Newman sitting in the car as the rain hits the roof top. We hear his voice. “I’ll wait out front for him to go home. You just go upstairs and lock the bedroom door.” We see headlights come from behind, and pass parking in the garage. Newman stuffs a gun in his coat pocket, and steps out into the rain. The thunder and lighting are starting to pick up. “I’ll go around the back, through the jogger’s walkway behind the houses. He’ll come home and seeing the bedroom door locked, plop down on the couch in front of the TV.” We see Newman making his way through the walkway. The thunder is growing louder, and the rain is beating down. He makes his way up the steps and through the gate into the backyard.

“Leave the sliding door open, so I’ll only have to slide the screen door open. It’ll be a nice night so he won’t think anything of it.” Newman approaches the back door, and pauses. “I’ll sneak up behind him and break his neck. Then we’ll leave him at the bottom of the stairs, and you can call the police in the morning and tell them you found them there.” Newman slides the door open quietly then softly steps into the house. The TV is on and Newman walks silently to the chair sitting in front of it. As he reaches the chair, he finds no one sitting in it. Newman freezes. “Didn’t go as planned did it?” say Hank who is now standing in the scene. Newman suddenly looks confused. “No, but how-“

We hear a toilet flush and a figure stumbles out half drunk. He is lit so we can’t make out his face, and the figure stops when he sees Newman and Hank. “Because I was there,” says Hank as he takes a step backwards into the dark. The figure steps forward revealing Hank looking different dressed as James, without the southern accent. “I am James Lohman.” Newman is floored. Then suddenly it comes back to him. He sees the sugar and cream scenes replay, only this time we sees Hank’s face where James used to be.

The scene shoots back to the flashback of Newman standing across from Hank. We hear Hank’s voice, “Let’s continue the scene shall we.”

“What the!” Hank yells! “You gotta lot nerve coming here now!” The thunder rolls and the lightning strikes. And with that Hank charges Newman. They begin to wrestle and exchange punches. Newman tosses Hank into the kitchen past Newman from the present watching the action happen. Hank slams into the counter, and grabs a kitchen knife. He starts slashing at Newman, who avoids all swipes, but one that connects with his forearm, leaving a large gash. Newman tosses himself into Hank knocking him to the ground and dislodging the knife. He begins swinging furiously connecting with Hank’s face. Hank then pitches Newman out of the kitchen and into the yard with his legs. He then kicks Newman further into the rain and mud. Newman stands watching from inside. He is watching in disbelief. Hank goes to kick Newman again, but Newman catches his leg and tosses him backward onto his back knocking the wind out of him. Newman rises to his feet, and pulls out the gun. Hank rolls over onto his side and sits up on his knees. He is now looking down the barrel of Newman’s gun. “No.” Newman yells as he watches himself fire three shots into Hank’s chest sending him backwards. Newman lowers the gun slowly and looks over Hank. Watching, Newman falls to his knees sobbing.

We see a shovel pulling up some weeds, then reveal Elray is holding the shovel. “You’re quiet today.” Newman is shoveling as well. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.” He replies. “Any of it make sense?” Newman shakes his head. “Give it time…”

Newman looks over through the rain and sees Allison standing in the back doorway. She is lit by a soft blue light. The gun slips out of Newman’s hand as he walks over to her. She has tears in her eyes, and he has nothing he can say to comfort her. He reaches and softly touches her hand. She closes her eyes. Suddenly there’s a gunshot. Her eyes shoot open, and Newman turns to see Hank holding the gun, then drop it as his consciousness fades. He turns as Allison falls into his arms. Their eyes meet as the pain exchanges between the two of them. Newman gently sets them both down as he cradles her in his arms.

“Robert,” she whispers. “Don’t speak,” he says as he starts dialing 911 on his cell phone. ”Help is coming.” She reaches up and touches his face. “Thank you.” She smiles at him as the life slowly fades from her eyes. He holds her close and begins to sob uncontrollably.

The scene fades to Newman on his knees on the patio. There is a figure behind him. “I lost it all that night. The only shred of decency I had left and the only good thing left in my world.” Hank replies, “then what did you do?” We see Newman driving in the rain. “I ran. I drove as far out of town as my adrenaline would let me.” We see Newman get out of the car and enter a forest. “I wanted it to all be over; there was nothing left of me redeemable. I had always wanted to hit the reset button on life, but this time I just wanted to turn the power off.” We see Newman standing on the edge of a high cliff, overlooking the lake. He takes off his watch, pulls out his wallet and tosses them over. He then searches his coat pockets and pulls out Allison’s library card. He looks at it and sees a flash of Allison smiling at him. He fights back the tears and whispers, “you’re coming with me.” Newman stuffs the card in his pocket, and steps over the edge. He hits the water and all we see is bubbles and thrashing currents from the movement of his arms and legs. We see a small light above and watch Newman swim to the top. He emerges with a loud gasp! The scene fades out as Newman starts looking and swimming around for land. “That’s how I came to where I am now.”

We see Newman on his knees again. “I came back to remember what I tried to forget.” Suddenly Newman is hit from behind and rolls forward. Hank steps out holding a gun. “It’s a great story,” he says sarcastically, “but let me tell you a better one. It’s the one you didn’t see.” As Newman sits up Hank backhands him with the gun. “My wonderful neighbors heard gunshots that night and called the cops. They get here and they find a husband and wife suffering from gunshot wounds, but not dead. Next time you want to kill someone, shoot them in the head.” Hank kicks Newman in the side. “I think it was pure hate and passion for revenge that spurred my speedy recovery. My former wife however lingered in a coma for months.” Newman is hunched over, “She lived,” he gasps. “Yeah, next time check a pulse too stupid.” Hank kicks him again. “Yes sir, you’ve just been a part of the most elaborate revenge schemes, well, I’ve ever seen anyway. All those people you interviewed, coaxed info from, all were paid by me to say exactly what you needed to hear. I knew even in amnesia you’re PI skills would kick in. How did I know that? Because people don’t change! They can try and run and act like somebody else for awhile, but they always come back to who they are! And tonight, you’re a murderer for real this time.” Hank cocks the gun and points it at Newman. “At least that’s what the police will find when I tell them you broke into my house thinking my actor friend was me, and killed him. Then I get to be the hero who took you down.” Newman sits up and looks at Hank. “What happened to Allison?” Hank clinches his jaw, then replies, “I killed her.” He goes to pull the trigger when Newman lunges up at him, grabbing Hank’s arm twisting it, then breaking it. Hank screams and drops the gun. Newman knocks Hank to the ground, and picks up the gun pointing it at Hank. He looks at Hank in his eyes, through his ever narrowing eyes. We hear Newman’s voice in a distance.

“What happens if I find that my life was…” Newman stops. Elray stops shoveling. “Then I’d say you have the advantage. You will have the luxury of seeing your life through different eyes, changed eyes. It will make your decision to continue away from that life even easier, because now you know that there’s something different and something greater for you out there.” Newman soaks it in, and then speaks. “I’m ready to know now.”

We see Newman looking down the gun at Hank. “James,” Newman says, “there’s a point when adaptation becomes instinct.” Suddenly Newman jumps up at Hank and quickly disarms him. He spins his arm around quickly breaks it. He then knocks Hank to the ground. Hank rolls in pain as Newman picks up the gun and aims it at Hank. Hank holds his arm in pain, and yells, “Come on! Do it right this time! Prove me right!” We see the anger and intensity build in Newman, and watch his finger slowly pull back. Then we see a quick flash of Allison touching Newman’s face. There are gunshots! The camera starts in close on the gun, then rotates as it pulls back to where we see that Newman has only fired the shots into the air. Newman looks over as a neighboring house’s windows light up. Newman squats down to eye level across from Hank.

“I was just thinking about justice,” Newman says, “And how it would almost be poetic for me to kill you here tonight. I’d have my vengeance, and you’d have yours when I’d go to jail for killing you.” They look at each other for a moment, then Newman pulls the clip out and empties the remaining round from the chamber. “But like I told you earlier, I’m not the same guy anymore.” Hank shakes his head in disgust. “The police are coming. It’ll be your word versus mine!” Newman smiles. “I know, I’m not worried.”

Ending #1

The scene fades to Newman talking to a police officer in front of a house. In the background we see Hank being led away in handcuffs. The officer tells him that the actor friend that was pretending to be Hank is in stable condition and can back his story up. The officer tells him that this happened here at this house seven months earlier. Newman asks if he knows what happened to the woman involved.

“As far as I know, she’s still resting in a coma at St. Mary’s.” Next we see Newman enter a hospital room where Allison is laying. He walks over to her, and softly touches her hand. He is speechless. Elray is standing behind him. “The doctor says she may never wake up.” Says Newman. “Well I think you’ve both been given a second chance.” Newman sits down next to her, and suddenly her eyes slowly open. “Robert,” she says softly. Newman is shocked and glances at the cross nailed to the wall over her bed. “Thank you,” she replies. He looks at the cross again. “Thank you,” he whispers. The camera slowly pulls away as the scene fades to black.

Ending #2

The officer grows looks up and says sadly. She fought for a few weeks, but slipped into a coma a passed in her sleep. Newman begins to get that distant look in his eye.

Next week see Newman standing over a gravestone in a graveyard. Elray is standing behind him a little ways. Newman looks sadly upon the stone, and then rests a rose on top. “If she had never come into my life, I would have never wanted to change.” Says Newman. “Thank you.” He then turns and walks away with Elray

Next we see Newman riding in the truck with Elray. Newman glances over at the cross hanging from the rearview mirror, skipping in and out of the sun reflected behind it. Then Newman looks out the window and looks ahead. We see the truck drive down a long winding road into the distance. Fade to Black.

Ending #3

We Newman sitting in a squad car, as officers escort Hank to another car. The scene fades to Newman telling officers his story, then fades to the front of the police station. Newman steps out of the station and is met by Elray. He gives him a hug then Newman pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket.

Next we see Newman enter a building labeled “Memory Care”. We hear the nurse’s voice say, “She was left here a few months ago, and hasn’t had any visitors since.” Newman sits in front Allison. She looks at him with a blank smile. “Do I know you?” He smiles, “You did, but a lot has happened since then.” The camera pulls away as he starts to talk to her. Fade to Black.