Memento

This film contains very strong language and some violent scenes

'So, where are you? You're in some motel room.

'You just wake up and you're in... In a motel room. There's the key.

'It feels like maybe the first time you've been there, but...

'perhaps you've been there for a week, three months, it's...

'It's kind of hard to say, I... I don't know.

'It's just an anonymous room.'

This guy. He's here already.

Lenny!

It's Leonard.

-Like I told you before.

-Did you? I must have forgot.

I guess I've already told you about my condition.

Oh, well, only every time I see you.

-My car.

-This is your car.

Oh, you're in a playful mood.

It's not good to make fun of a handicap.

Just trying to have a little fun.

ENGINE STARTS

-Roll up your window.

-Hm?

-It's broken.

-I can get that fixed for you.

So, where to, Sherlock?

I got a lead on a place.

-What the hell you wanna go there for?

-You know it?

Yeah, it's just this fucked up building. Why do you wanna go there?

Don't remember.

Looks like somebody's home.

That thing's been here for years.

What are you talking about? These tracks are only a few days old.

Tracks? What are you, Pocahontas?

Come on!

Let's take a look inside.

' "Teddy.

' "Don't believe his lies. He is the one. Kill him."

'I've finally found him. How long have I been looking?'

Find anything?

Didn't think so.

Let's go, huh? Oh, fuck this.

You're gonna pay for what you did. Beg forgiveness, and then you pay.

You don't have a clue, you freak!

Beg my wife's forgiveness before I blow your brains out.

Leonard, you don't know what's going on. You don't even know my name.

-Teddy.

-You read it off a fucking picture.

You don't know who you are.

I'm Leonard Shelby, I'm from San Francisco.

That's who you were. That's not...

what you've become.

Shut your mouth.

You want to know, Lenny? Come on.

Let's go down to the basement. Let's go, you and me together.

Then you'll know who you really are.

-No!

-GUNSHOT

'It's an anonymous room. Nothing in the drawers, but you look anyway.

'Nothing except the Gideon Bible,

'which I, of course, read religiously.

'LAUGHING: Hm...

'You know who you are and you know kind of all about yourself,

'but, just for day-to-day stuff, notes are really useful.

'Sammy Jankis had the same problem, but he really had no system.

'He wrote himself a ridiculous amount of notes,

'but he'd mix them up.

'You really do need a system if... If you're gonna make it work.'

BELL RINGS

-Hi.

-Hi.

I'm Mr Shelby from 304.

-What can I do for you, Leonard?

-Um...

-Burt.

Burt. I'm not sure, I think I may have asked you to hold my calls.

You don't know?

I'm not too good on the phone.

You said you like to look people in the eye when you talk to them.

Yeah, yeah.

You don't remember that.

I have this condition.

Condition?

It's my memory.

Amnesia?

No, it's different from that.

I have no short-term memory. I know who I am, I just...

Since my injury, I can't make new memories. Everything fades.

If we talk for too long, I'll forget how we started,

and, next time I see you, I won't remember this conversation.

I don't even know if I've met you before.

So if I seem a little strange or rude, or something, uh...

I've told you this before, haven't I?

I don't mean to mess with you, but it's so weird.

You don't remember me at all?

No.

We've talked a bunch of times.

I'm sure we have.

What's the last thing you remember?

My wife.

What's it like?

It's like waking.

It's like you just woke up.

That must suck.

It's all backwards.

Like, you got an idea what you want to do next, but you don't remember what you just did.

I mean, I'm exactly the opposite...

How long have I been staying here?

-Couple of days.

-And you're holding my calls?

Like you said.

OK, but this guy's an exception.

You know this guy?

Yeah, it's your friend, right?

What makes you think that?

I saw you together, that's all.

He's not my friend.

OK.

If he calls or shows up here, give me a call in my room, OK?

What, his name's Teddy?

Teddy, yeah.

Look, I hope my condition's not gonna be a problem for you.

Not as long as you remember to pay the bill.

Yeah. OK.

40.

This guy.

He's here already.

Lenny!

'You really need a system if you're gonna make it work.

'You kinda learn to trust your own handwriting -

'that becomes an important part of your life.

'You write yourself notes.

'Where you put them is really important.

'You need a jacket with, like, six pockets,

'particular pockets for particular things.'

'You just kinda learn to know where things go and how the system works.

'You have to be wary of other people writing stuff for you

'that is not going to make sense or is gonna lead you astray.

'I don't know, I guess people try and take advantage

'of somebody with this condition.

'If you have a piece of information which...is...vital,

'writing on your body instead of on a piece of paper can be the answer.

'It's a permanent way of keeping a note.'

PHONE RINGS

Who is this?

'Remember Sammy Jankis.'

DOOR CREAKS

Sir, you left these at your table.

Thanks.

Ah, Lincoln Street?

Go straight out on Sixth Street, east through town...

I'm just gonna write this down.

-Oh, it's easy. Go...

-Trust me, I need to write this down.

'The Discount Inn.'

'Discount Inn...

'Natalie...'

'My car...'

'Teddy.'

'John Edward Gammell.'

'This guy told me his name was Teddy.'

' "Don't believe his lies." '

Huh.

TAPS NUMBER

RINGING TONE

'Yeah?'

-Mr Gammell?

-'Lenny, is that you?'

John Gammell?

'Lenny, it's Teddy. Stay there. I'll be right over.'

OK. I'll be waiting.

"White male.

"First name, John.

"Last name G..." for Gammell.

"Drugs.

"Licence plate..."

"SG13..."

"..7IU."

It's him.

I've found you, you fuck.

You said we talked before. I don't remember that.

Yeah, but it's not amnesia.

I remember everything till my injury -

I just can't make new memories.

So I can't remember talking to you. What did we talk about?

Oh, Sammy Jankis.

I guess I tell people about Sammy to help them understand.

Sammy's story helps me understand my own situation.

Sammy wrote himself endless amounts of notes.

But he got mixed up.

I have a more graceful solution to the memory problem.

I'm disciplined and organised.

I use habit and routine to make my life possible.

Sammy had no drive, no reason to make it work.

Me?

Yeah...

I got a reason.

CAR LOCK BEEPS

' "Today, 1pm, meet Natalie for info." '

' "She has also lost someone. She will help you out of pity." '

-Natalie.

-You don't remember me.

I'm sorry, I should've explained. I have this con...

You did explain, Lenny.

Please call me Leonard. My wife called me Lenny.

-I know, you told me.

-Then I probably said I hated it.

Yeah.

Do you mind taking your glasses off? It's hard for me to...

Thanks. So, you have information for me?

Is that what your little note says?

Yeah.

Must be tough living according to a couple of scraps of paper.

Mix your laundry and grocery lists

and you'll end up eating your underwear for breakfast.

I guess that's why you have those freaky tattoos.

Yeah, it's tough. It's almost impossible.

Look, I'm sorry I don't remember you. It's nothing personal.

I do have information for you.

You gave me a licence-plate number.

Had my friend at DMV trace it.

Guess what name came up?

John Edward Gammell. John G.

Do you know him?

No. But his face on his driver's licence looked really familiar.

I think he's been in the bar, maybe.

Here's a copy of his licence, his registration, photo and all.

Are you sure you want this?

Have I told you what this man did?

Yeah.

Well, then, you shouldn't have to ask.

Even if you get revenge, you won't remember it.

You won't even know it happened.

My wife deserves vengeance.

It doesn't matter if I know about it.

Just cos there are things I don't remember

doesn't make my actions meaningless.

The world doesn't just disappear when you close your eyes, does it?

Anyway, maybe I'll take a photograph to remind myself.

Get another freaky tattoo.

Tell me about her again.

Why?

Because you like to remember her.

She was beautiful.

-To me, she was perfect.

-No.

Don't just recite the words.

Close your eyes, and remember her.

You can just feel the details.

The bits and pieces you never bothered to put into words.

And you can feel these extreme moments...

even if you don't want to.

'You put these together and you get the feel of a person.'

Enough to know how much you miss them.

'And how much you hate the person who took them away.'

I, um, I added an address in here.

It might be useful. It's an abandoned place outside of town.

Um, I guy I knew used to do bigger deals there.

It's isolated.

Sounds perfect.

Do I owe you any...?

I wasn't helping you for money.

-I'm sorry.

-It's OK. See, you have this "condition."

You still staying at the Discount Inn? Room 304?

Left it at my place.

Yeah.

-They treating you OK?

-I don't remember.

You know what we have in common?

We are both survivors.

You take care, Leonard.

' "Remember Sammy Jankis." '

I met Sammy through work. Insurance. I was an investigator.

I'd investigate claims to see which were phoney.

I had to see through people's bullshit.

It was useful experience cos now it's my life.

When I meet someone, I don't know if I've met them before.

I have to look in their eyes and try and figure them out.

'My job taught me the best way to find out what someone knew was to let them talk,

'watch the eyes and the body language.

'If someone scratches their nose, experts say it means they're lying -

'it really means they're nervous.

'People get nervous for all sorts of reasons. It's all about context.'

Yeah, I was good.

Sammy was my first real challenge.

ENGINE STARTS

Yo, Lenny! I thought you'd split for good.

-Well, things change.

-So I see.

My name's Teddy.

I guess I've told you about my condition?

Only every time I see ya.

Come on, I'll buy you lunch.

-Have I told you about Sammy Jankis?

-Mmm. Yeah.

I'm sick of hearing about the guy.

What about John G? You think he's still here?

-Who?

-Johnny G - guy you're looking for.

-That's why you haven't left town, am I right?

-Maybe.

-Leonard, you have to be very careful.

-Why?

The other day, you mentioned that

maybe somebody was trying to set you up.

Get you to kill the wrong guy.

I go on facts, not recommendations, but thank you.

Lenny, you can't trust a man's life to your little notes and pictures.

-Why not?

-Your notes could be unreliable.

-Memory's unreliable.

-Oh, please.

Really. Memory's not perfect, it's not that good. Ask the police.

Eyewitness testimony is unreliable.

The cops don't catch a killer by sitting around remembering stuff.

-They collect facts...

-That's not what I'm saying.

..make notes, draw conclusions. Facts, not memories.

That's how you investigate. I know, it's what I used to do.

Memory can change the shape of a room, the colour of a car.

And memories can be distorted.

They're an interpretation, not a record.

They're irrelevant if you have the facts.

You really want to get this guy, don't you?

He killed my wife. He took away my fucking memory.

He destroyed my ability to live.

You're living.

Only for revenge.

Well, then, we'll get the bastard.

Where are you staying?

The Discount Inn. I don't know what room, I haven't got my key.

Probably left it in your room.

RINGS BELL

Hi. I'm checked in here, but I think I've misplaced my key.

How you doing, Leonard? Probably in the room, right?

-I don't see my key.

-Oh, shit. This is the wrong room.

You're in 304 now. I'm sorry. I fucked up.

-This is not my room?

-No. Come on, let's go.

Then why is this my handwriting?

Well...this was your room, but now you're in 304.

When was I in here?

Last week. Then I rented you another room on top.

Why?

Business is slow. I told my boss about your condition and stuff,

he said try and rent him another room.

So how many rooms am I checked into in this shithole?

Just two. So far.

Well, at least you're being honest about ripping me off.

You're not going to remember anyway.

You don't have to be that honest, Burt.

Leonard. Always get a receipt.

Oh, yeah. I'll write that down.

Hey, what time is it?

Quarter to one.

Your room's...

-Natalie.

-You don't remember me.

I'd just become an investigator when I came across Sammy.

Mr Samuel R Jankis, strangest case ever.

The guy's a 58-year-old, semi-retired accountant.

He and his wife were in this car accident - nothing serious.

'But he's acting funny, he can't get a handle on what's going on.'

'The doctors find possible damage to the hippocampus, nothing conclusive.

'Sammy can't remember anything for more than a couple of minutes.

'Can't work, can't do shit. The medical bills pile up,

'his wife calls the insurance company, and I get sent in.

'It's my first big claims investigation,

'so I really check into it.

'Sammy can think just fine, but he can't make new memories.

'He can only remember things for a couple of minutes.'

'He'd watch TV but anything longer than a few minutes was too confusing,

'he couldn't remember how it began.

'He liked commercials. They were short.'

Sammy. It's time for my shot.

'The crazy part was that this guy,

'who couldn't follow the plot of Green Acres any more,

'could do the most complicated things

'as long as he learned them before the accident..'

'..and as long as he kept his mind on what he was doing.

'The doctors assure me there's a real condition -

'anterograde memory loss, or short-term memory loss.

'It's rare, but legit.'

'But every time I see him...'

'..I catch this look,

'this...slight look of recognition.

'But he says he can't remember me at all.'

Sammy, it's OK. I got it.

-Hi, Mr Shelby.

-Hi, Mrs Jankis.

'Now, I can read people, and I'm thinking "bad actor".'

So now I'm suspicious and I order more tests.

'Awake.'

'But where am I?'

'Somebody's bedroom.'

'Oh, it must be her room.'

'But who is she?'

It's only me.

Did you sleep OK?

Yeah. You?

Oh, shit. Shit.

I've got to be someplace.

It's pretty weird.

It's useful. You never write a phone number on your hand?

I... I should be able to talk to my friend today

about the licence plate.

Yeah, the licence plate.

John G's licence plate.

You have it tattooed on your thigh.

' "Natalie." '

' "She has also lost someone. She will help you out of pity." '

Mm. If it's registered in this state,

it should only take two seconds to pull up his registration.

I'll call you as soon as I talk to him.

Could we arrange a meeting now? I'm not too good on the phone.

You know, it's great that you...

Well, that you're...

helping me like this.

I'm helping you because you helped me.

So, next time you see me...

will you remember me?

-SOFTLY:

-I think you will.

SOFTLY: I'm sorry.

Lenny, before you go, could I have my shirt back, please?

ENGINE STARTS

Yo, Lenny! I thought you'd split for good.

Sammy couldn't pick up any new skills at all.

But I find something in my research.

Conditioning.

Sammy should still be able to learn through repetition.

It's how you learn to ride a bike - you get better through practice.

It's a different part of the brain from the short-term memory.

So I had the doctors test Sammy's response to conditioning.

Pick up any three objects.

That's a test?

Where were you guys when I did my CPA?

Sorry.

Ta-da(!)

-BUZZING

-Ow! What the fuck?

-It's a test, Sammy.

-Test this, you fucking quack.

'Some of the objects were electrified.

'They'd give him a small shock.

'They kept repeating the test, always with the same objects electrified.'

The point was to see if Sammy could learn to avoid

the electrified objects,

not by memory, but by instinct.

KNOCKS ON DOOR

Natalie, right? Who the fuck is Dodd?

Guess I don't have to worry about him any more.

-What the fuck have you got me into?

-Shhh. Come inside.

-Who is he?

-Calm down. OK?

It's my problem. You offered to help. It's nothing to do with your investigation.

-How did you get me into this?

-You offered to help me when you saw what he did to my face.

-How do I know he did that?

-I came straight to you afterwards.

I showed you what he did and I asked you to help me.

-Oh, and I just take your word?

-Yeah.

Something doesn't feel right.

I think someone's fucking with me,

-trying to get me to kill the wrong guy.

-Did you?

-What?

-Kill him?

-Of course not!

Hey. Sit down, OK? Sit.

This has nothing to do with you.

You helped me out and I'm grateful.

You have to burn them.

Leonard, you decided to help me. Trust your own judgment.

You can question everything, you can never know anything for sure.

There are things you know for sure.

Such as?

I know what that's gonna sound like when I knock on it. HE TAPS TABLE

I know what that's gonna feel like when I pick it up. See?

Certainties. It's the kind of memory you take for granted.

You know, I can remember so much.

The feel of the world...

and her.

She's gone.

And the present is trivia, which I scribble down as fucking notes.

Hey, come on. Try and relax. Come on.

-It's not easy for me to relax.

-Shhh. Shhh.

Come on, take your jacket off.

-SOFTLY:

-Here. Come on.

-SOFTLY:

-Hey.

Didn't think you were the type.

It's backwards.

Come here. Come here.

What about here?

Maybe it's...for when I find him.

I've lost somebody too.

I'm sorry.

His name was Jimmy.

What happened to him?

He went to meet somebody. He never came back.

Who did he go to meet?

Guy called Teddy.

What do the police think?

They don't look too hard for guys like Jimmy.

When you find this guy, this...

John G, what are you gonna do?

I'm gonna kill him.

Maybe I can help you find him.

I don't even know how long she's been gone.

It's like I've woken up in bed and she's not here...

..because she's gone to the bathroom or something.

But somehow I just...

I just know she's never gonna come back to bed.

If I could just...

reach over and touch her side of the bed...

..I would know that it was cold.

But I can't.

I know I can't have her back.

But I don't want to wake up in the morning thinking she's still here.

I lie here not knowing how long I've been alone.

So how...

How can I heal?

How am I supposed to heal if I can't...

..feel time?

"She has also lost someone. She will help you out of pity."

They kept testing Sammy for months.

Always with the same objects carrying the electrical charge.

-BUZZING

-Ow! What the fuck?

-It's a test, Sammy.

-Test this, you fucking quack!

Even with total short-term memory loss,

'Sammy should have learned to stop picking up the wrong objects.

'All the previous cases responded to conditioning,

'Sammy didn't respond at all.

'It suggested that his condition was psychological, not physical.'

We turned down his claim on the grounds

that he wasn't covered for mental illness.

His wife got stuck with the bills and I got a big promotion.

Conditioning didn't work for Sammy, so he became helpless.

But it works for me.

I live the way Sammy couldn't.

Habit and routine make my life possible.

Conditioning. Acting on instinct.

MUFFLED CRIES

SMASH

'Awake.'

'Where am I?'

'Motel room.'

Oh.

'Some anonymous motel room.'

'Nothing in the drawers, but I'll take a look anyway.

'Nothing except the Gideon Bi...

'Bible.'

KNOCKS ON DOOR

Lenny! Open up!

Just a minute.

Open the door!

MUFFLED CRIES FROM CUPBOARD

Lenny?

KNOCKING CONTINUES

Open the door!

Come on!

-Hi, Teddy.

-Finished playing with yourself?

Oh!

MUFFLED CRIES

HE SIGHS

-MUFFLED CRIES

-Oh, I get it.

-Amorous neighbours.

-What are you doing here?

You called me. You said you needed my help.

You know, I've had more rewarding friendships than this one.

Although I do get to keep telling the same jokes.

What the fuck is that?

-Who the fuck is that?

-You don't know him?

-No! Should I?

Wait a minute. Is that John G?

-I don't think so.

-You didn't write it down?

-I might have fallen asleep before I did.

-For Christ sakes!

-THUDDING

-Ask him.

What's your name? Your name?

-Dodd.

-And who did this to you?

-What?

Who did this to you?

You did.

Look, I'm not going to help you kill that guy.

No, no. Just let me think.

MUFFLED CRIES

OK, Natalie. Who's Natalie? Natalie who?

-Why?

-Maybe I know her.

Look, we gotta get him out of here.

All right, all right, all right.

He's got to have a car, right?

We take him to his car, tell him to get the fuck out of town or we'll kill him.

We can't walk him out of here tied up and bleeding.

-How the fuck did you get him up here?

-I don't know!

You don't know.

MUFFLED BANGING

Yes, I do. This is not my room. It must be his room. Great. Let's go.

No, no, no. We can't just leave him.

-Why not?

-Because the maid's gonna walk in.

She'll see him, call the cops. He can ID us.

OK. We untie him, we clean him up...

and we march him out of here with a gun in his back.

A gun. Why would I have a gun?

It must be his. I don't think they'd let someone like me carry a gun.

Fucking hope not.

Which one?

We should probably steal his car. You know, teach him a lesson.

-Shut up!

-It's all right for you, you've got a Jag.

All right, get in. I'm gonna ride with him, you follow us.

Give me your keys.

Take your own car.

So, was he scared?

Yeah, I think it was your sinister moustache.

Fuck you. Should have stolen his car.

Why? What's wrong with this one?

Nothing. You want to trade?

So what do you do now?

I'm gonna find out what the fuck that was all about.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Natalie, right? Who the fuck is Dodd?

Sammy's wife was crippled by the cost of supporting him,

and fighting the company's decision.

But it wasn't the money that got to her.

'I never said that Sammy was faking.'

Sammy, I have an idea.

'Just that his problem was mental, not physical.'

You're gonna have a pen in your pocket.

'She couldn't understand.'

-I did something wrong?

-You something wrong.

Now, we're gonna deal with it. We're gonna try a little harder.

'She looks into his eyes and sees the same person,

'and if it's not a physical problem, he should snap out of it.'

-Ellen called!

-Ellen called.

Ellen called. Ellen... Ellen can't come today!

-Ellen can't come!

-I'm so sorry! I'm sorry!

-I'm trying! I'm sorry!

-SHE SOBS

So Leonard Shelby from the insurance company gives her the seed of doubt,

just like he gave it to the doctors.

But I never said that he was faking.

I never said that.

'Hm. I don't FEEL drunk.'

DOOR OPENS

DOOR CLOSES

SOUND OF SOMEONE URINATING

TOILET FLUSHES

-KNOCKS ON DOOR

-'Hello? Housekeeping.'

-Oh, shit!

-Not right now!

-'Oh, I'm sorry.'

"Dodd. Put him onto Teddy or just get rid of him for Natalie."

'Dodd.'

'Get rid of him. Ask Natalie.'

'Teddy, Teddy...'

DIALLING TONES

RINGING

-'Yeah, leave your number, you know what to do.'

-ANSWER MACHINE BEEPS

Yeah. This is a message for Teddy.

I'm at the Mount Crest Inn on 5th Street, room six.

I need you to come over as soon as you get this. It's important.

Oh, this is Leonard. Thanks. Bye.

Phew!

Fuck.

Mrs Jankis didn't see that you can't bully someone into remembering.

The more pressure you're under, the harder it gets.

Ah. Well, then, call me back?

CAR ALARM BLARES

'OK. So what am I doing?'

'Oh, I'm chasing this guy.'

'No. He's chasing me.'

GUNSHOT

CAR ALARM BLARES

ALARM BEEPS OFF

TYRES SQUEAL

Ah! Fuck!

' "Dodd, white guy, Mount Crest Inn on 5th Street." '

'I'll get the jump on you, you fucker.'

Oh, fuck!

Sorry.

'I need a weapon.'

'This'll do.'

'Hm. I don't FEEL drunk.'

HORN BLARES

'Do I know this guy?'

'He seems to know me.'

What the fuck?

TYRES SQUEAL

-I like your car.

-Thank you.

-Where'd you get it?

-Interested in buying one?

Haven't I made a strong enough impression on you?

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself.

GUNSHOT

CAR ALARM BLARES

'OK. So what am I doing?'

PHONE RINGS

Who is this?

Ouch! Cut it out.

How can you read that again?

It's good.

Yeah, but you've read it like 1,000 times.

I enjoy it.

I thought the pleasure of a book

was in wanting to know what happens next.

Don't be a prick. I'm not reading it to annoy you. I enjoy it.

Just let me read. Please?

'Probably tried this before.'

'Probably burned truckloads of your stuff.'

'Can't remember to forget you.'

Yeah. Uh-huh.

Well, sir, that'd be in keeping with some of my own discoveries.

I was hoping for more on the drugs angle. Will you hang on a sec?

The police report mentioned the drugs found in the car

outside my house.

The car was stolen but his prints were all over it.

Friends in the department gave me a copy.

I dealt with the police a lot in my insurance job.

With my condition, it's really tough.

I can't...keep it all in mind at once.

I have to summarise the sections.

There's pages missing. I guess I've been trying to log them all.

I don't know why these are crossed out.

They weren't even looking for John G.

The stuff they found in the car

fitted what they believed had happened, so they didn't chase it up.

DOOR CLOSES

Honey?

Honey, it's late.

Everything OK?

MUFFLED CRY

HE TAPS ON DOOR

MUFFLED CRY

You OK in there?

Was it good for you?

SHE LAUGHS SOFTLY

What? Was I supposed to lock the door?

SOFTLY: No.

I'd like you to leave now.

There's something about the drugs

stashed in the car that doesn't ring true.

The police say the guy was an addict

needing money to score. It's bullshit.

He's not gonna break into places

while he's still got a stash that big.

Well, I think John G left it there. Or planted it there.

How do you know that?

Oh, shit, that's true. It fits.

So he's a dealer?

Hang on a sec.

Now we're getting somewhere.

'Discount Inn.'

Yeah, OK. Blonde's fine.

Well, that's what they say.

The Discount Inn. 304.

Leonard.

Well, what then?

We just go to bed. You wait for me to fall asleep.

You go into the bathroom and slam the door.

-Slam it?

-Yeah. Loud enough to wake me up.

-And that's it?

-That's it.

Ah...

Yeah, first, I just need you to put these things around the room.

Pretend they're your things and this is your bedroom.

-Should I wear it?

-No, no, no. Uh, just like you took it off.

I don't want you to use it. I'm sorry.

I just mean put them around the room,

as if they were your... Your things.

Whatever gets you off.

DOOR SLAMS

I can't blame the cops for not taking me seriously.

This is a difficult condition to understand. Look at Sammy Jankis.

His own wife couldn't deal with it.

I told you how she tried to get him to snap out of it.

She came to see me, I found out all kinds of shit.

'She told me about life with Sammy. How she treated him.'

Thank you for seeing me.

She'd get Sammy to hide food around the house,

then she'd stop feeding him to see

if his hunger would make him remember.

I've taken him to a parking lot and, um...

'She wasn't a cruel person. She just wanted her old Sammy back.'

You know all about Sammy and you've decided he's faking.

The company's position isn't that Sammy's faking anything,

just that his condition can't be shown to be...

I just want to know your honest opinion about Sammy.

We shouldn't talk like this while the case is still open to appeal.

I'm not appealing the decision.

Then why are you here?

Try to understand, when I look at Sammy,

I don't see some...vegetable.

I see my same old Sammy.

What do you think that's like for me,

to suspect that he might be imagining this whole problem?

That if I just could say the right thing he'd snap out of it

and go back to being normal.

If I...

If I knew that my old Sammy were truly gone...

then I could say goodbye and start loving this new Sammy.

As long as I have doubt, I can't say goodbye and move on.

What do you want from me?

I want you to forget the company you work for for 30 seconds

and tell me if you really believe that Sammy's faking his condition.

I need to know...

what you honestly believe.

I believe Sammy should be physically capable of making new memories.

Thank you.

'I thought I helped her.'

I thought she just needed an answer.

I didn't think it was important what it was,

just that she had one to believe.

A car this nice you should lock.

-Who the fuck are you?!

-Teddy, your buddy.

Prove it!

Remember Sammy? You told me about Sammy!

-Jeez!

-What the fuck are you doing in my car?

Did your sense of humour go with the memory? D'you know why you're here?

Unfinished business.

Lenny, let me inform you, your business here is very much finished.

-You're still here because of Natalie.

-Who's Natalie?

Schmuck! Whose house do you think you just walked out of?

That's right, take a look at your pictures - I bet you got one of her.

Oh, nice shot, Leibovitz(!)

You'll want to make a note. You can't trust her.

Why's that?

Because by now she's taken a look at the suit and the car

and she's figuring out ways to turn the situation to her advantage.

She's already got you staying with her for Christ sakes.

You can't go back in there.

Let me give you the name of a motel.

You're lucky I ran into you. That broad's bad news.

What do you mean "bad news"?

She's involved with drugs.

Look. See these?

This is the bar where she works. Her boyfriend's a drug dealer.

She takes orders for him, arranges meets.

He writes messages on the back of these,

then she slips him the answers when she serves him.

-Why should I care?

-Because when she gets jammed up,

she'll use you to protect herself.

From who?

Guys are gonna wanna know what happened to her boyfriend.

Guys are gonna come after her.

Somebody's got to pay, Lenny. Somebody always pays.

Maybe she'll make it you.

Oh, yeah? Well, maybe she'll make it you. Is that it?

You worried she's gonna use me against you?

-No.

-Why not?

Because she doesn't know who I am.

Why are you following me?

Maybe I wanna help.

She doesn't know anything about your investigation. OK, Einstein?

So write this down.

When she offers to help, it'll be for her own reasons.

I'm not lying. Take my pen, write this down.

Do not trust her.

There. You happy now?

-I won't be happy until you leave town.

-Why not?

You ever wonder how long you can hang around

before people start asking questions?

What sort of questions?

The sort you should be asking yourself.

-Like what?

-Like how did you get this suit, the car?

-I have money.

-From what?

My wife's death. I used to work in insurance. We were well covered.

Oh!

So in your grief you wandered into a Jaguar dealership?

You don't have a clue, do you? You don't even know who you are.

Yes, I do.

I don't have amnesia. I remember everything right up to the incident.

I am Leonard Shelby, I am from San Francisco...

That's who you WERE.

You do not know who you ARE. What you've become since...

..the incident.

You wander around playing detective.

You don't even know how long ago it was.

Let me put it this way...

Were you wearing designer suits when you sold insurance?

I didn't sell insurance, I investigated.

Right, right. You're an investigator.

Maybe you should investigate yourself.

Oh, thank you for the advice.

Look, do me a favour, don't go back in there.

Will you take the motel out of town?

It's been fun, Lenny.

"Do not trust her."

"Don't believe his lies."

Oh, fuck it, I need my own place.

STARTS ENGINE

No. She shouldn't have given me that responsibility.

I'm a claims investigator, not a doctor.

Yeah, yeah, I guess.

I've got all sorts of other considerations.

Legal responsibility, large finance...

Who is this?

LINE GOES DEAD

Write this down. Write down what happened.

Write it down. Come on, concentrate. Keep it in mind. Find a p...

What happened?

What does it look like? He beat the shit out of me.

-Who?

-"Who"?

Fuck, Leonard, Dodd! Dodd beat the shit out of me.

Why?

Because of you! Because I did what you told me to do, reason with him,

tell him about Teddy. Great fucking idea(!)

Calm down. Calm down, take it easy. You're safe. It's OK.

Come on. Just sit down. Sit down.

Here, sit down.

OK. You're OK.

I'll just get some ice for your face.

Here.

I did exactly what you told me to do.

I went to Dodd...

..and I told him that I didn't have any of Jimmy's money

or the drugs.

And that this Teddy must have taken everything.

And what did he say?

He didn't believe me.

He said if I don't have the drugs by tomorrow, he's gonna kill me.

And then he just... He just started hitting me.

Where is he?

Why?

I'll go see him.

-And?

-I'll give him some bruises of his own

and tell him to look for a guy called Teddy.

Oh, he'll kill you, Lenny.

My wife used to call me Lenny.

Yeah?

Yeah, I hated it.

Oh, this guy is so dangerous.

Let's just think of something else, OK?

No, no, no. You just tell me what he looks like.

And where I can find him. Have you got a pen?

In my purse.

He'll, um... He'll probably find YOU.

What do you mean?

I told him about your car.

Why?

He was beating the shit out of me, I had to tell him something.

Just write it all down.

Be careful.

I'll be fine.

A car this nice you should lock.

Who the fuck are you?!

PHONE RINGS

PHONE RINGS

Front desk? Burt, right. This is Mr Shelby in room 21.

Yeah, that's it, I don't want any calls.

No, none at all.

DOOR CREAKS OPEN

-What's wrong?

-Somebody's come already.

-Who?

-Calls himself Dodd.

What does he want?

To know what happened to Jimmy and his money. He thinks I took it.

Did you?

No.

-What's this all about?

-Argh!

You don't have a fucking clue, do you?

You're just blissfully ignorant.

Look, I have this condition.

I know all about your fucking condition.

I probably know more about it than you do. You don't have a fucking clue about anything else.

-What happened?

-Jimmy went to meet a guy named Teddy.

He took a lot of money with him and never came back.

Jimmy's partners think I set him up.

-I don't know if you know this Teddy or how well.

-Neither do I.

-Don't protect him!

-I'm not.

-Help me.

How?

Get rid of Dodd for me.

-What?

-Kill him. I'll pay you.

What do you think I am?

I'm not gonna kill someone for money.

What, then? Love? What would you kill for?

-You'd kill for your wife, wouldn't you?

-That's different.

Not to me, I wasn't fucking married to her!

Hey, don't talk about my wife.

I can talk about whoever the fuck I want!

I can say whatever I want and you won't remember!

I can call your wife a fucking whore and we'll still be friends.

-Calm down.

-Easy for you to say.

You can't GET scared! You don't know how, you fucking idiot!

This has nothing to do with me.

How the fuck would you know? You don't know a fucking thing!

-You can't get scared, but, hey, can you get angry?

-Yes.

You pathetic piece of shit!

I can say whatever the fuck I want

and you won't have a fucking clue, you fucking retard!

-Shut your mouth.

-You know what? I'm gonna use you.

I'm telling you now because I'll enjoy it much more

if I know that you could stop me if you weren't such a fucking freak.

Did you lose your pen? Too bad, freak.

Otherwise you could write yourself a note

about how much Natalie hates your retarded guts

and that I called your wife a fucking whore!

-Don't say another fucking word!

-About your whore of a wife?

I read about your condition, Leonard.

You know one of the causes of short-term memory loss?

Venereal disease.

Maybe your cunt of a fucking wife sucked one too many diseased cocks

and turned you into a fucking retard!

-SOFTLY:

-You sad, sad freak.

I can say whatever the fuck I want and you won't remember.

We'll still be best friends.

Or maybe even lovers.

Fuck!

I'll see you soon.

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

'Stay focused. Find a pen.

'I'm gonna write this down. I'm gonna write it down.'

'Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate.

'Keep it in mind, keep it in mind, keep it in mind.'

'I've got to find a pen. I've got to find a pen.

'Now, write this down, write this down. Exactly what happened.

'I'm gonna write down what happened. Come on! I've got to find a pen.

'Jeez! Come on, keep focused. Keep focused.

'Keep... Keep it in mind. Come on, find a pen.

'Write this note. Write down what happened. Write it down.

'Come on, concentrate. Keep it in mind. Find a...'

What happened?

What does it look like? He beat the shit out of me.

Who?

Who? Fuck, Leonard, Dodd! Dodd beat the shit out of me.

-KNOCKS ON DOOR

-'Hello?'

'It's Burt, from the front desk.'

Yeah?

I know you said you didn't want any calls, but this guy says he's a cop.

-A cop?

-Yeah.

He says you're really gonna wanna know what he has to say.

I'm not too good on the phone. I need to look people in the eye.

Well, what...?

You can... You can crash on the couch.

It's comfortable. Just have a seat.

Thanks.

So, how long do you think it's gonna take you?

Hm?

You told me you were looking for the guy who killed your wife.

Oh, it depends on if he's here in town or if he's moved on.

I have my...file here.

Can I ask you something?

If you have all that information,

why haven't the police found him for you?

-They're not looking for him.

-Why not?

-They don't think he exists.

You see, I told them what I remembered.

I was asleep. Something woke me up.

SMASHING

CLOCK TICKS

Her side of the bed was cold. She'd obviously been gone for a while.

CLATTERING

MUFFLED CRIES

MUFFLED CRY

GUNSHOT

CRASH

There had to be a second man.

Somebody hit me from behind. I remember.

It's the last thing I do remember.

Look, the police didn't believe me. If we check...

How did they explain what you do remember? The gun and stuff?

John G was clever.

He was clever.

He took the dead man's gun

and replaced it with the sap that he hit me with.

He left my gun and the getaway car, gave the police a complete package.

They found the sap with my blood on it in the dead man's hand.

And they only found my gun.

They didn't need to look for anybody else.

I was the only guy who disagreed with the facts

and I had brain damage.

The cops are not gonna believe someone in my con...

Leonard. You can stay here for a couple of days if it will help you.

Oh, thanks.

I have to go back to work, so, um, just make yourself at home.

You can watch TV or have some food.

Whatever you want, OK? Make yourself at home.

One thing.

Something to remember you by.

My name is Natalie.

Natalie...

DOOR OPENS

-What's wrong?

-Somebody's come already.

PHONE RINGS

PHONE RINGS

PHONE STOPS RINGING

PHONE RINGS

-On the house.

-Thanks.

MAN LAUGHS

My, you really do have a problem. Just like that cop said.

Hm?

Your condition.

Well, nobody's perfect.

What's the last thing...

that you do remember?

-My wife.

-That's sweet.

Dying.

I remember my wife dying.

Let me, um, get you another one. I think this one's dusty.

Why are you calling me? What do you want?

I know you're a cop. What do you want? Have I done something wrong?

I don't know, something bad, maybe.

Look, why are you asking me? I can't remember what I've done.

You wouldn't believe me anyway.

Because of my condition. You don't believe someone with this.

Nobody believed Sammy! I didn't even fucking believe Sammy!

"Ferdy's Bar."

"Come by after. Natalie."

-A beer, please.

-What do you want?

-A beer, please.

You can't waltz in dressed like that and ask for a beer.

-Is there a dress code?

-Why are you here?

I'm meeting someone called Natalie.

Well, that's me.

Yeah, we met before, right?

-Then why am I here?

-I don't know, why don't you tell me?

I don't remember. I have no short-term memory.

Oh, you're the memory guy.

How do you know about me?

My boyfriend told me about you.

Oh, yeah? Who's your boyfriend?

Jimmy Grants. Do you know him?

No.

He knows you. He told me about you.

He said you were staying at the Discount.

In fact, a cop came by earlier and was looking for you.

Said he was looking for a guy who can't remember anything,

wouldn't know how he'd got here.

I said, "I get a lot of guys like that."

Chronic alcoholism is one cause of short-term memory loss.

Are you Teddy?

No, my name's Leonard.

-Did Teddy send you?

-I don't know.

What's happened to Jimmy?

I don't know that, either. Sorry.

You don't remember anything,

where you've been or what you've just done?

I can't make new memories. Everything just fades.

Then why did you come here?

I found this in my pocket.

Your pocket?

MAN HAWKS

Bar bet. Care to contribute?

-No, thanks.

-It's for a lot of money.

Come on. Proceeds are going to charity. Help me out.

SHE HAWKS

Thank you.

-On the house.

-Thanks.

MAN AT BAR LAUGHS

It's completely fucked because nobody believes you.

It's amazing what a little brain damage will do for your credibility.

I guess it's poetic justice for not believing Sammy.

You know the truth about my condition, officer?

You don't know anything.

You feel angry, you don't know why.

You feel guilty, you have no idea why.

You could do anything and not have the faintest idea ten minutes later.

Like Sammy. What if I'd done something like Sammy?

I didn't tell you? What happened to Sammy and his wife?

She came to see me at my office.

'I thought she was trying to catch me off guard,

'so I didn't say what I really thought, but I never said he was faking,

'just that his condition was mental, not physical.

'I found out later she went home and gave Sammy his final exam.'

Sammy? It's time for my shot.

'She knew beyond a doubt that he loved her,

'so she found a way to test him.'

Sammy?

It's time for my shot.

Hm.

'She really thought she'd call his bluff.'

There you go.

'Or she just didn't want to live with the things she'd put him through.'

Sammy?

It's time for my shot.

It won't hurt.

'She went into a coma and never recovered.

'Sammy couldn't understand or explain what happened.'

Oh!

He's been in a home ever since.

'He doesn't even know his wife is dead.'

I was wrong about Sammy and I was wrong about his wife.

She wasn't interested in the money.

She needed to understand his problem.

'His brain didn't respond to conditioning, but he was no conman.

'When she looked into his eyes, she thought he could be the same person.'

'When I looked into his eyes, I thought I saw recognition.'

Now I know you fake it.

If you think you're supposed to recognise somebody, you pretend to.

'You bluff it to get a pat on the head from the doctors.'

You bluff it to seem less of a freak.

What drug dealer?

TYRES SQUEAL

-Hey, Lenny, how are you doing?

-It's private back here.

It's OK, we know each other.

How did you know I was in here?

The Jag's out front. Should've put her round back.

Why are you still here, Lenny? Plenty of tattoo parlours up north.

I guess I wanted to get something down before it slipped my mind.

-Give me the keys, I'll move it.

-It'll be OK.

-Wait out there.

-Oh, for Christ...

Give me a minute, I've got to get something for you.

'Fact six: Car licence SG13 7IU.'

Look, wait a minute, will ya?

-We've got to get you out of here.

-Why?

Come on, Leonard, how many times I gotta tell you?

-It's not safe for you to hang around here any more.

-Why not?

Because that cop's looking for you. I gotta get you a new identity,

new clothes... A different car would do for now. Put these on.

Whoa, whoa. What cop?

He's a bad cop. He's the one that checked you into the Discount Inn.

He's been calling you for days, telling you shit,

slipping envelopes under your door, shit like that.

-How do you know this?

-He told me.

He thinks it's funny. He's been laughing at you.

-You're full of shit.

-No, I'm not.

He knows you're no good on the phone so he calls.

Sometimes you don't answer,

so he slips shit under your door to scare you into answering it...

giving you a line of crap about John G being a local drug dealer.

Jimmy Grants.

-Who's Jimmy Grants?

-Leonard, Jimmy's the drug dealer.

The cop wants to know about his operation. He's got a score in mind.

-Somehow you're involved.

-How do you know him?

I'm a snitch.

He's a cop from out of town. The local boys put us together.

If he knew I was helping you, he'd fucking kill me.

So take these clothes, put them on and get the fuck out of here.

Come on, Leonard, just go.

You are full of shit.

"Come by after. Natalie."

'Ferdy's Bar.'

KNOCKS ON WINDOW

Hey, Jimmy.

I'm sorry, I, uh, thought you were somebody else.

Sorry.

That's OK.

This Jimmy Grants deals drugs out of the bar his girlfriend works in?

But he's not going to bring her along? He'll come by himself, right?

I always figured the drugs angle would be the best way to get him.

No, officer. I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

You're in the lobby? What do you look like?

I'll be right there.

Lenny!

Officer Gammell?

Yeah. Come on.

-Hey, smile.

-Oh, don't, uh... Not here.

Over here.

Is it Officer or Lieutenant Gammell?

You know what? Don't write Gammell, just Teddy.

-Why?

-I'm undercover.

This is the directions, where he's going.

-My number's on the bottom if you...

-You're not coming?

Nah, it wouldn't be appropriate.

Nice picture. I look thin.

Hey, Lenny!

Make him beg.

Teddy!

Hey, Teddy!

Teddy!

Jimmy.

-What the fuck are you doing here?

-Are you Jimmy Grants?

Expect any other Jimmys out here, memory man?

Do you remember me?

Yeah, I remember you. Where the fuck's Teddy?

Well?

Motherfuck...!

What are you doing?!

Strip.

You're making a big fucking mistake!

Strip!

My associates are not the kind of people you wanna piss off.

Don't say anything else.

I knew I couldn't trust that fuck!

Take it off.

Your pants, too.

-Why?

-I don't wanna get blood on them.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait! Did he tell you what I was bringing?

Take your fuckin' pants off!

I've got 200 grand in the car. Just take it!

-You think you can bargain with me?

-Just take the money and walk away.

-I don't want your fucking money.

-Then what?

What do you want from me?

I want my fucking life back!

-SOFTLY:

-Sammy.

'He said Sammy. How does he know about Sammy?'

Oh, fuck.

CAR PULLS UP OUTSIDE

'What have I done?'

Hey, mister! I need help!

There's a guy in here, he's hurt bad. We gotta get him to a doctor.

All right.

I don't know what happened. I've got this memory thing.

-Do I know you?

-No. Don't worry, I'm a cop.

-Is he still breathing?

-Well, I don't know. Maybe.

What the hell were you guys doing?

I don't remember, I have this condition.

I hope it's not as serious as his, cos this guy's dead.

Ow! Lenny! That shit kills!

So you remember me now, huh?

-You are a fucking cop!

-Yeah!

And I'm the guy that helped you find him.

Get up! Get up!

Lenny, you've got the wrong idea!

Who is that? He knew me.

Of course he did, he raped your wife, he fucked up your brain.

Bullshit! He's not the guy.

His name is James F Grants. John G. Check your tattoos.

-Why did he bring 200 grand?