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INT. RATTY'S RESTAURANT - CHRIS' OFFICE - DAY
Sam is sitting at the desk in the office, navigating the
internet while Remmy stands behind him, reading over his
shoulder.
On the screen is the image that Mandy took with her cell
phone. In the picture, Rod is seen smiling like an idiot
while Remmy stands behind him, carrying sodas.
The caption on the photo reads : "REMBRANDT BROWN ALIVE?"
SAM
Wow. You do look like him.
REMBRANDT
This isn't good.
SAM
Are you kidding? The place will be
packed.
(beat)
It'll be packed by a bunch of old
people, but it'll be packed.
REMBRANDT
They'll just be coming for the
sideshow. It's like all those Elvis
sightings.
SAM
We're talking about Rembrandt
"Crying Man" Brown. He's not Elvis.
REMBRANDT
He may not be Elvis, but if this
turns into one of those internet
sensations, we could be flooded
with Cryin' Fans.
SAM
"Cryin' Fans"?
REMBRANDT
That's what they call themselves.
Sam smirks at that.
REMBRANDT (CONT'D)
You think that's funny?
SAM
It's pretty funny.
REMBRANDT
Yeah, well, I've seen situations
like this turn into an problem.
(beat)
Y'know, back in my younger days.
I'm just saying that we should be
ready for whatever happens.
Sam looks to Rembrandt with a serious expression and nods.
SAM
Okay. I know this will be a first
for us, but I have faith in our
ability to handle more than five
customers at a time.
REMBRANDT
You keep joking. We'll see how
funny it is.
Rembrandt walks out of the office. Sam looks back to the
computer screen.
SAM
Pretty damn funny.
INT. RATTY'S RESTAURANT - DAY
Rembrandt walks out of the kitchen and to the bar where Marcy
is still sitting. When she sees him, she smiles and perks up.
When he sees her, he turns in another direction.
As Rembrandt walks across the room, he runs into Nancy.
NANCY
Table four's asking for Rembrandt
Brown.
Remmy looks past Nancy, to table four. There sits a GROUP OF
JAPANESE TOURISTS. When they see Remmy, they smile and snap
pictures.
REMBRANDT
They got here fast.
NANCY
They were in the city on a museum
tour. Bussed out this morning.
(beat)
I think you should play along, you
know? They're just visiting.
JAPANESE TOURIST (V.O.)
Lyin'o Man!
Rembrandt takes a deep breath.
REMBRANDT
I'll be nice, but I'm not telling
them that I'm him.
(beat)
And I'm not lipping anyone's
starkings.
Nancy smiles. Rembrandt walks toward the table of tourists.
As he approaches the table, the tourists rush him, smiling
for pictures and screaming "Cly Rike A Man!"
EXT. RATTY'S RESTAURANT - DAY
It's a nice, quiet day outside of the restaurant.
A black SUV pulls into view and parks across the street from
the restaurant.
INT. REMBRANDT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Rembrandt walks into his apartment and hits the button on his
answering machine. The MACHINE BEEPS.
GIGGLY WOMAN (V.O.)
Oh crap, I got through! Are you
him? Are you really Rembrandt?
(beat)
Come back to us, Remmy. Please come
back.
ANOTHER BEEP.
SINGING MAN (V.O.)
(singing badly)
I was cryin' over you. So hurt I
couldn't see though all my tears! I
was aching, can't you see? How much
you mean to me? And now we're
through?
Remmy winces and presses the button on his machine again. IT
BEEPS.
WHISPER (V.O.)
Beat the system, man. Escape the
life. You don't need fame to be
happy.
That one disturbs Remmy just a bit. ANOTHER BEEP.
BRYCE (V.O.)
Hey, Max. I just wanted to thank
you again for filling in for me
today.
(beat)
Katie's doing a little better.
She's sleeping, so that's
something.
(beat)
Anyway, I should be back at work
tomorrow. Alex says he'll stay home
with her. I guess I'll see you at
work.
(beat)
Bye.
Remmy is upset by that message. It pains him to think of his
friends hurting like that.
ANOTHER BEEP. Silence.
AND ANOTHER BEEP.
MARCY (V.O.)
You really can tell me if this is
you. I won't tell. I swear.
ANOTHER BEEP
AMANDA RYNER (V.O.)
Hello, Mr. Mallory. My name is
Amanda Ryner, with the TV show,
Gozzip. I was hoping that I could
sit you down for an interview
sometime. If you're interested,
give me a call. I can make it worth
your while. My number is--
Remmy turns off the answering machine and walks to a nearby
chair. He sits down and buries his head in his hands.
After a few moments, Remmy reaches into his pocket and pulls
out his wallet. From his wallet, he removes a photograph. He
stares at this picture for a few seconds, deeply missing
those whose picture he is looking at.
ANGLE ON: THE PHOTO
It's a picture of Remmy with Quinn, Wade, and Professor
Arturo. The picture is not a color picture. It's got a
brownish tint to it, making it look older than it really is.
Remmy takes another deep, pain-filled breath and puts the
photo back in his wallet.
INT. RATTY'S RESTAURANT - DAY
Rembrandt is once again sitting at the bar, drinking a soda.
Sam is once again behind the bar.
BRYCE is standing next to Remmy, talking with the two men.
She is a woman in her 30's, looking tired and worn, though
she tries to remain upbeat.
BRYCE
Three today. I told them you
weren't working until tonight.
SAM
Three people. Hardly the mob you
were expecting.
REMBRANDT
Give it time.
SAM
(to Bryce)
He's convinced that people will
swarm us. This is the new
Graceland.
BRYCE
This doesn't mean we have to serve
those Elvis sandwiches, does it?
SAM
No.
(beat)
I wonder if Remmy Brown ever had a
favorite food. We could make a
killing on souvenirs.
REMBRANDT
I'd really rather let this die
down.
SAM
Dude, you'd make a horrible
celebrity.
Nancy sticks her head out of the kitchen.
NANCY
Bryce, phone for you.
BRYCE
Coming.
Bryce smiles to Remmy and Sam, though it's clear that she
doesn't want to know whatever this phone call is about.
She walks away from the bar, into the kitchen.
REMBRANDT
I wish there was something I could
do for her.
Sam looks like he's about to say something, but instead turns
away. He then grabs a tray of dirty dishes and heads into the
kitchen.
ANGLE ON: THE FRONT DOOR
As the door opens, two new customers walk into Ratty's. They
are:
KELLY, a woman in her early 20's. She's pretty, but far from
being a fragile little flower. She's got a little bit of an
edge to her.
And MICK, about 20 years old. Not so edgy. Very mellow
looking young man.
As the door closes behind Kelly and Mick, they stop to look
around the place. Kelly is less than impressed, but follows
Mick to the bar where they sit down.
Rembrandt notices the two youngsters as they sit down. Since
nobody else seems to be helping them, he walks behind the bar
and over to where they're sitting.
REMBRANDT (CONT'D)
If you kids are looking for
alcohol, you better have very
convincing ID's.
Kelly is about to respond, but Mick cuts her off.
MICK
We're just here for lunch, sir.
Rather than say anything, Kelly just smiles.
MICK (CONT'D)
Do you have a menu that we could
look at?
Remmy grabs two menus from behind the bar and hands them to
the youngsters.
REMBRANDT
You kids from around here?
KELLY
(smirks)
No.
MICK
We're just passing through.
REMBRANDT
Right.
(beat)
Well, you kids look over the menu
and I'll be back to take your
order.
Mick nods and smiles to Remmy as Remmy walks off.
Once Remmy is gone, Kelly turns to Mick and drops whatever
smile remains on her face.
KELLY
If he calls us "kids" one more
time, I swear...
MICK
Just take it easy. Don't get your
excessive eyeliner in a bunch.
KELLY
Whatever. Just do whatever it is
you're doing, and let's get the
hell out of this place. Rural areas
give me hives.
Sam walks out of the kitchen, and over to Remmy, who is
standing at the end of the bar.
When Kelly sees Sam, she perks up a little.
KELLY (CONT'D)
Then again, you should be thorough.
Don't want to rush things.
Mick looks over to see what Kelly is looking at. When he sees
Sam, he rolls his eyes and then turns back to the menu.
MICK
Whore.
ANGLE ON: REMMY AND SAM
Talking at the end of the bar.
SAM
She's okay. She'll be out in a few
seconds.
REMBRANDT
She shouldn't even be working
today.
SAM
She needs the money.
The kitchen door opens and Bryce walks out. She tries to
smile at Remmy, but it's obviously not a real smile.
REMBRANDT
You should go home, girl. I'll
cover for you.
BRYCE
Thanks, but I'm okay. You shouldn't
have to keep covering for me.
REMBRANDT
That's what friends do.
Bryce hugs Rembrandt.
BRYCE
I love you guys.
She pulls away and straightens out her apron. After flashing
another smile, she walks out into the restaurant to do her
job.
Remmy and Sam are left feeling helpless.
REMBRANDT
We should get back to work too.
SAM
You're working?
REMBRANDT
I am now.
Remmy walks behind the bar, to where Mick and Kelly are
sitting, still looking at their menus.
REMBRANDT (CONT'D)
You kids decide on anything yet?
MICK
We're still working that out.
KELLY
Could we get some drinks? Coke.
REMBRANDT
Yeah.
Remmy turns toward Sam.
REMBRANDT (CONT'D)
Two cokes.
Sam gets to work on the drinks. Remmy is just about to walk
away when Mick once again speaks (keeping his eyes on the
menu).
MICK
Do you have any sliders here?
Rembrandt's heart skips a beat. He turns back to Mick.
REMBRANDT
What did you say?
MICK
Sliders?
(beat)
Y'know... little hamburger things.
Kelly shakes her head, marveling at the lameness of her
brother.
REMBRANDT
You'll have to go to White Castle
for those.
Mick looks up from the menu and smiles.
MICK
It was worth a shot. We'll have two
bacon burgers, extra bacon.
REMBRANDT
How do you want them cooked?
MICK
Still moo-ing works for me.
Rembrandt nods and walks toward the kitchen. Once Remmy's
gone, Kelly looks to Mick.
KELLY
(mockingly)
"Do you have any sliders here?"
Kelly turns on her bar stool and looks out the window.
KELLY (CONT'D)
(beat)
You are so lame.
MICK
Isn't there a mailbox you could be
humping?
INT. RATTY'S RESTAURANT - KITCHEN - DAY
Rembrandt walks into the kitchen and turns to the COOKS.
REMBRANDT
I need two bacon burgers, rare,
with extra bacon.
As the cooks get to work, Remmy goes back to the kitchen door
and peeks out. He watches as Sam hands the drinks to Mick and
Kelly. It's obvious that he's suspicious of them.
Remmy backs away from the door just as Bryce walks through
it. When she sees Remmy looking out, she gets curious.
BRYCE
Something wrong?
REMBRANDT
Those kids at the bar. Ever seen
them before?
Bryce looks out at the bar and then turns to Remmy.
BRYCE
No.
(then, with a smile)
Maybe they're more fans.
REMBRANDT
I don't think so.
INT. RATTY'S RESTAURANT - DAY
Sam is behind the bar, talking on his cell phone.
SAM
You know we can do it.
(beat)
We've done it before.
(beat)
I don't care. I just... I need to.
(beat)
Will you look into it for me? Ask
around?
(beat)
Thanks.
Sam hangs up the cell phone just as Remmy walks out of the
kitchen.
Remmy stops when he notices that Mick and Kelly are gone. All
that's left where they were sitting is some money for their
food.
SAM (CONT'D)
Something wrong?
REMBRANDT
Did you see where those kids went?
SAM
Sorry. They must have slipped out
when I wasn't looking.
Remmy walks to the window and looks outside. He doesn't like
the vibe that he's getting from those people.
Bryce walks up behind Remmy. She speaks quietly to him.
BRYCE
The people at table thirteen wanted
me to offer you a hundred dollars
to sing "Cry Me A River".
Remmy turns and looks at Bryce, and then looks past her to
table thirteen. He sees a GROUP OF ELDERLY WOMEN sitting
there, looking at him. They wave coyly as he looks at them.
Bryce looks to the ground and speaks even more quietly.
BRYCE (CONT'D)
Two hundred if you sing it naked.
Remmy looks back to Bryce, who keeps her eyes on the ground.
EXT. ALLEY BEHIND RATTY'S - DAY
The back door to the restaurant opens and Remmy walks out,
carrying a bag of garbage and mumbling to himself.
REMBRANDT
I hate that song. I've always hated
that song.
(beat)
Didn't even record that song on my
world because it was so bad.
He gets to a dumpster and tosses the bag inside. As he turns
to walk back to the restaurant, he spots Mick and Kelly
standing against the wall across from Ratty's, talking
amongst themselves.
MICK
That's stupid. It's really stupid.
KELLY
Do you have any better ideas?
MICK
I have a lot of better ideas.
Remmy thinks for a moment, and then starts to walk toward
Mick and Kelly. He's planning to get answers once and for
all.
As he gets closer to the youngsters, Mick spots him and
smiles.
MICK (CONT'D)
Let's ask him.
KELLY
Really?
MICK
Yeah. It'll be fun.
(then, to Remmy)
Hey, let me ask you something.
Remmy stops near them.
REMBRANDT
I was just about to say the same
thing.
MICK
Me first, and then you can go.
'Kay?
REMBRANDT
Fine.
Mick smiles wider and proceeds to ask:
MICK
Okay, so... What if you could
travel to parallel worlds.
I mean, what if you could slide to
different dimensions? Where it's
the same year and all of that, and
you're the same person, but
everything else is different?
Remmy is not amused.
MICK (CONT'D)
Would you go?
REMBRANDT
What is this? Who are you people?
KELLY
I told you this was stupid.
MICK
(ignoring Kelly)
I'm serious. Would you go?
REMBRANDT
Look, I don't know who you kids
are, but I don't want to see you
around here again.
Remmy turns and starts to walk away.
KELLY
Anyone ever tell you that you look
a lot like that singer guy?
(beat)
Rembrandt Brown.
Remmy stops walking but doesn't turn around right away.
KELLY (CONT'D)
It's uncanny, really.
(beat)
Isn't it uncanny, Mick?
MICK
They could be twins.
Remmy turns around and walks back to Mick and Kelly, so
they're not heard by anyone else who might be around.
REMBRANDT
What are you doing here?
MICK
We're just passing through.
REMBRANDT
Enough games.
KELLY
We're not the ones playing make
believe.
Remmy is about to say something else, but stops and looks
back to the restaurant. Talking about this makes him nervous.
REMBRANDT
Not here. Not now.
KELLY
Then where?
(beat)
And when?
REMBRANDT
We'll meet at my place tonight
after my shift. The address is--
KELLY
We got it.
REMBRANDT
You "got" it? I'm not listed.
Kelly smirks and holds up Remmy's wallet.
Mick closes his eyes and shakes his head.
MICK
I apologize for my thieving slut of
a sister. We didn't come to cause
trouble.
Remmy grabs his wallet from Kelly and gives her a not-too
happy looks.
REMBRANDT
Tonight. Ten o'clock.
(then, to Mick)
You better keep an eye on her.
MICK
Yessir.
Remmy turns and walks back to the restaurant, checking his
wallet along the way to make sure that nothing was stolen.
Once Remmy's gone, Mick turns to Kelly.
MICK (CONT'D)
This is why you don't have any
friends.
Mick starts to walk out of the alley. Kelly follows.
KELLY
I have plenty of friends.
MICK
Customers don't count.
KELLY
Don't make me hurt you.
INT. RATTY'S RESTAURANT - DAY
Remmy walks out of the kitchen, into the restaurant. As he
passes the bar, Sam calls to him.
SAM
Hey, Max, you got a phone call
while you were out.
REMBRANDT
Who was it?
SAM
Some guy from TV. He wanted me to
pass along his number.
Sam hands Remmy a piece of paper which has the phone number
on it.
SAM (CONT'D)
I have to admit, man, I was wrong.
You're totally getting swamped by
Remmy fans.
Sam looks past Remmy, to the table of elderly women. When
Remmy looks back, the women wave to him.
Remmy turns back to Sam.
SAM (CONT'D)
You're a rock god.
REMBRANDT
You're funny.
Sam can't help but laugh at the humor of the situation.
REMBRANDT (CONT'D)
Rembrandt Brown was a genius, man.
Respect the dead.
Sam keeps on laughing. Eventually, Remmy joins in.
INT. REMBRANDT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Remmy walks into his apartment, closing the door behind him.
He flips on a light and walks to his answering machine. He
presses the button and walks toward the kitchen for something
to drink while he listens.
The MACHINE BEEPS.
DENISE PRATT (V.O.)
Hello? Is this really you? Is this
Rembrandt Brown?
(beat)
I've been a fan of yours for a very
long time, Mr. Brown. A very long
time.
The message ends there.
The MACHINE BEEPS again.
MARCY (V.O.)
Rembrandt? Rembrandt, it's me. I
just wanted to let you know that I
still haven't told anyone about
you. You can trust me.
(beat)
If you want to talk to me, my
number is KLondike 5-4385.
Remmy walks out of the kitchen with his drink and stands next
to the machine.
MARCY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
(long beat)
I love you.
The MACHINE BEEPS.
SAM (V.O.)
Max? Hey, it's me. I just wanted to
let you know that there was a guy
in here a couple of minutes ago. He
came in just after you left for the
night. He was asking all kinds of
questions about you.
(beat)
Anyway, we didn't tell him
anything. He seemed kinda weird, so
we just gave him your home address.
(beat)
That was a joke. Anyway, that's it.
See ya.
Remmy pushes another button on the machine.
ANSWERING MACHINE (V.O.)
Messages deleted.
Remmy looks at his watch, just as someone KNOCKS on his door.
He stares at the door for a second or two before he moves to
answer it. He's not looking forward to this meeting.
When he does open the door, he finds Mick and Kelly standing
outside. Mick smiles.
MICK
Hey.
REMBRANDT
Come in.
Mick and Kelly walk into the apartment, and Remmy closes the
door, glancing around outside as he does.
KELLY
You think we were followed or
something?
REMBRANDT
I don't know who you are. All I
know is that you shouldn't be here.
KELLY
You invited us.
REMBRANDT
You know what I mean.
(beat)
You kids have the wrong guy. I'm
not who you think I am.
KELLY
Really? We're going back to this
game again?
MICK
Maxwell Mallory. It's a clever
name. But it's not your name.
REMBRANDT
Who are you?
MICK
I'm Mick. This is my sister, Kelly.
We're like you.
REMBRANDT
Like me?
KELLY
Did you bump your head on the way
out of the vortex, grandpa?
(beat)
We're sliders.
Rembrandt hesitates before answering. He then shakes his
head.
REMBRANDT
I don't know what you're talking
about.
MICK
Maybe this will jog your memory.
Mick reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a small
device of some sort, which has a company logo on it, for a
company called "InterDime". He holds it out for Remmy to
take, which makes Kelly nervous, but she doesn't say
anything.
Remmy's eyes lock onto the device as Mick presses a button to
unlock it and reveals a countdown, currently at twenty-eight
hours and change.
REMBRANDT
My God.
Remmy takes the timer and holds it in his hands, as gently as
if it were a bubble that might pop at any moment. He stares
at the countdown.
REMBRANDT (CONT'D)
I never thought I'd see one of
these again.
MICK
(with a smile)
So, you are a slider?
(to Kelly)
We found one. I knew we'd find one.
Remmy hands the timer back to Mick.
REMBRANDT
I used to be a slider. That was a
long time ago.
MICK
But this isn't your world. You
don't belong here any more than the
two of us do.
REMBRANDT
This is my home now.
KELLY
Good luck with that.
REMBRANDT
What's that supposed to mean?
MICK
It means that no matter how you
might feel about this place, you
might not have a choice anymore.
Mick walks to the closest window and looks out.
MICK (CONT'D)
We're not the only people looking
for sliders here.
REMBRANDT
Who?
MICK
The feds.
REMBRANDT
This world doesn't have sliding
technology. How would they--
KELLY
Tell that to our parents.
REMBRANDT
What's that supposed to mean?
MICK
It means...
Mick takes a deep breath, looking down at the timer.
MICK (CONT'D)
It means that this timer hasn't
been activated in twenty-nine
years. The last people to use it
were our parents.
REMBRANDT
They missed the slide?
MICK
Yeah. At first, they thought it'd
be okay too. They thought they
could settle down and have a normal
life, even if this place wasn't
their home.
KELLY
Then the feds noticed that
something was up. When they tried
to register for passports, their
DNA raised a few flags in the
system.
(beat)
They ran like hell, for years.
MICK
But each year, the government found
out more and more about them and
who they were. Their hunt only
intensified when they realized what
they were dealing with.
REMBRANDT
Did they get caught?
Mick slips the timer back into his pocket. His eyes stay on
the ground for a few seconds before he replies to Remmy's
question.
MICK
No. They weren't caught.
It's obvious to Remmy that their parents also didn't live
happily ever after.
REMBRANDT
I'm sorry.
KELLY
Whatever. Long story short, we were
raised by some friends of theirs
and kept the timer.
MICK
It didn't even work until about six
months ago. Then it started
counting down.
KELLY
Meaning, we can finally get off
this rock.
REMBRANDT
You're really gonna leave? Just
like that?
KELLY
This isn't home. It's never been
home.
REMBRANDT
You were born here.
KELLY
Doesn't mean we shoulda been.
MICK
I've been looking for years. Trying
to find someone else like us.
You're the first one I've found.
(beat)
You can come with us.
Remmy shakes his head.
REMBRANDT
No. This might not be my Earth, but
it's my home now. I'm done with all
that.
KELLY
We're not the only ones who've been looking.
The government on thisworld's been looking
for sliders too. It's a wonder you've lasted
this long.
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