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    WWW.NOTALLTHERE.NET notallthere's Avatar
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    I got a stomach full of Xanax

    JACK (V.O.)
    People were always asking me, did I
    know Tyler Durden.

    FADE IN:

    INT. SOCIAL ROOM - TOP FLOOR OF HIGH RISE -- NIGHT

    TYLER has one arm around Jack's shoulder; the other hand
    holds a HANDGUN with the barrel lodged in JACK'S MOUTH.
    Tyler is sitting in Jack's lap.

    They are both sweating and disheveled, both around 30; Tyler
    is blond, handsome; and Jack, brunette, is appealing in a
    dry sort of way. Tyler looks at his watch.

    TYLER
    One minute.
    (looking out window)
    This is the beginning. We're at
    ground zero. Maybe you should say a
    few words, to mark the occasion.

    JACK
    ... i... ann....iinn.. ff....nnyin...

    JACK (V.O.)
    With a gun barrel between your teeth,
    you only speak in vowels.

    Jack tongues the barrel to the side of his mouth.

    JACK
    (still distorted)
    I can't think of anything.

    JACK (V.O.)
    With my tongue, I can feel the
    rifling in the barrel. For a second,
    I totally forgot about Tyler's whole
    controlled demolition thing and I
    wondered how clean this gun is.

    Tyler checks his watch.

    TYLER
    It's getting exciting now.

    JACK (V.O.)
    That old saying, how you always hurt
    the one you love, well, it works both
    way.

    Jack turns so that he can see down -- 31 STORIES.

    JACK (V.O.)
    We have front row seats for this
    Theater of Mass Destruction. The
    Demolitions Committee of Project
    Mayhem wrapped the foundation columns
    of ten buildings with blasting
    gelatin. In two minutes, primary
    charges will blow base charges, and
    those buildings will be reduced to
    smoldering rubble. I know this
    because Tyler knows this.

    TYLER
    Look what we've accomplised.
    (checks watch)
    Thirty seconds.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Somehow, I realize all of this -- the
    gun, the bombs, the revolution -- is
    really about Marla Singer.

    PULL BACK from Jack's face. It's pressed against TWO LARGE
    BREASTS that belong to...BOB, 45, a moose of a man. Jack is
    engulfed by Bob in an intense embrace. Bob weeps openly.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Bob had bitch tits.

    PULL BACK to wide on...

    INT. CHURCH MEETING ROOM - NIGHT

    Men are paired off, hugging, talking in emotional tones.
    Near the door, a SIGN on a stand: "REMAINING MEN TOGETHER."

    JACK (V.O.)
    This was a support group for men with
    testicular cancer. The big moosie
    slobbering all over me was Bob.

    BOB
    We're still men.

    JACK
    Yes. We're men. Men is what we are.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Six months ago, Bob's testicles were
    removed. Then hormone therapy. He
    developed bitch tits because his
    testosterone was too high and his
    body upped the estrogen. That was
    where my head fit -- into his huge,
    sweating tits that hung enormous, the
    way we think of God's as big.

    BOB
    They're gonna have to open my pec's
    again to drain the fluid.

    Bob hugs tighter; then looks with empathy into Jack's eyes.

    BOB
    Okay. You cry now.

    Jack looks at Bob.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Wait. Back up. Let me start earlier.

    INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

    Jack lies in bed, staring at the ceiling.

    JACK (V.O.)
    For six months. I could not sleep.

    INT. COPY ROOM - DAY

    Jack, sleepy, stands over a copy machine. His Starbucks cup
    sits on the lid, moving back and forth as the machine copies.

    JACK (V.O.)
    With insomnia, nothing is real.
    Everything is far away. Everything
    is a copy of a copy of a copy.

    Other people make copies, all with Starbucks cups, sipping.
    Jack picks up his cup and his copies and leaves.

    INT. JACK'S OFFICE - SAME

    Jack, sipping, stares blankly at a Starbucks bag on the
    floor, full of newspapers and FAST FOOD GARBAGE.

    JACK (V.O.)
    When deep space exploration ramps up,
    it will be corporations that name
    everything. The IBM Stellar Sphere.
    The Philip Morris Galaxy. Planet
    Starbucks.

    Jack looks up as a pudgy man, Jack's BOSS, enters, Starbucks
    cup in hand, and slides a stack of reports on Jack's desk.

    BOSS
    I'm going to need you out-of-town a
    little more this week. We've got
    some "red-flags" to cover.

    JACK (V.O.)
    It must've been Tuesday. he was
    wearing his "cornflower-blue" tie.

    JACK
    (listless management speak)
    You want me to de-prioritize my
    current reports until you advise of
    a status upgrade?

    BOSS
    You need to make these your primary
    "action items."

    JACK (V.O.)
    He was full of pep. Must've had his
    grande latte enema.

    BOSS
    Here are your flight coupons. Call
    me from the road if there are any
    snags. Your itinerary...

    Jack hides a yawn, pretends to listen.

    INT. BATHROOM - JACK'S CONDO - NIGHT

    Jack sits on the toilet, CORDLESS PHONE to his ear, flips
    through an IKEA catalog. There's a stack of old Playboy
    magazines and other catalogs nearby.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Like everyone else, I had become a
    slave to the IKEA nesting instinct.

    JACK
    (into phone)
    Yes. I'd like to order the Erika
    Pekkari slip covers.

    Jack drops the open catalog on the floor.

    MOVE IN ON CATALOG -- ON PHOTO of COFFEETABLE SET...

    JACK (V.O.)
    If I saw something like clever coffee
    table sin the shape of a yin and
    yang, I had to have it.

    PAN TO PHOTO of ARMCHAIR...

    JACK (V.O.)
    Like the Johanneshov armchair in the
    Strinne green stripe pattern...

    INT. LIVING ROOM/DINING AREA/KITCHEN

    The armchair APPEARS. PAN OVER next to armchair...

    JACK (V.O.)
    Or the Rislampa wire lamps of
    environmentally-friendly unbleached
    paper.

    The lamps APPEAR. PAN OVER to wall...

    JACK (V.O.)
    Even the Vild hall clock of
    galvanized steel, resting on the
    Klipsk shelving unit.

    The clock APPEARS as the shelving unit APPEARS on the wall.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I would flip through catalogs and
    wonder, "What kind of dining set
    defines me as a person?" We used to
    read pornography. Now it was the
    Horchow Collection.

    A dining room set APPEARS. Jack, the cordless phone still
    glued to his ear, walks INTO FRAME and continues.

    JACK
    No, I don't want Cobalt. Oh, that
    sounds nice. Apricot.

    Jack opens a cabinet, takes out a plate.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I had it all. Even the glass dishes
    with tiny bubbles and imperfections,
    proof they were crafted by the
    honest, simple, hard-working
    indigenous peoples of wherever.

    He rummages through the refrigerator. It's practically
    empty. Jack takes out a jar of mustard, opens it and uses
    a butter knife to eat it.

    INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY

    Jack, eyes puffy, face pale, sits before an INTERN, who
    studies him with bemusement.

    INTERN
    No, you can't die of insomnia.

    JACK
    Maybe I died already. Look at my
    face.

    INTERN
    You need to lighten up.

    JACK
    Can't you give me something?

    JACK (V.O.)
    Red-and-blue Tuinal, lipstick-red
    Seconals.

    INTERN
    (overlapping w/ above)
    You need healthy, natural sleep.
    Chew valerian root and get some more
    exercise.

    The Intern ushes Jack to the door. They step into the...

    INT. HALLWAY

    The Intern walks away from Jack, picks up a chart.

    JACK
    I'm in pain.

    INTERN
    (facetious)
    You want to see pain? Swing by First
    Methodist Tuesday nights. See the
    guys with testicular cancer. That's
    pain.

    The Intern moves into the other room. Jack stares after him.

    EXT. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH - NIGHT

    Jack heads for the front door.

    INT. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH MEETING ROOM - NIGHT

    Jack stares at a group of men, including Bob, who are all
    listening to a group member speak at a lectern. The SPEAKER
    has pale skin and sunken eyes -- he's clearly dying.

    SPEAKER
    I... wanted three kids. Two boys and
    a girl. Mindy wanted two girls and
    one boy. We never could agree on
    anything.

    The Speaker cracks a sad smile. Some men chuckle, happy to
    lighten the mood.

    SPEAKER
    Well, she had her first child a month
    ago, a girl, with her new husband...
    And, Thank God. I'm glad for her,
    because she deserves...

    The speaker breaks down, WEEPS UNCONTROLLABLY.

    Jack watches. A couple of the men go up to the speaker,
    comforting him, leading him away. A LEADER takes the stand.

    LEADER
    Everyone, let's thank Thomas for
    sharing himself with us.

    Jack, uncomfortable, joins EVERYONE ELSE:

    EVERYONE
    (in unison)
    Thank you, Thomas.

    LEADER
    I look around this room and I see a
    lot of courage. And it gives me
    strength. We give each other
    strength.

    Jack looks around. Many of the men are sniffling, sobbing.
    Jack squirms in his seat.

    LEADER
    It's time for the one-on-one. Let's
    follow Thomas's example and open
    ourselves.

    Everyone gets out of their chairs and begins pairing-off.
    Jack stands, uncomfortable.

    LEADER
    Can everyone find a partner?

    Bob, his chin down on his chest, starts toward Jack,
    shuffling his feet.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The big moosie, his eyes already
    shrink-wrapped in tears. Knees
    together, invisible steps.

    Bob takes Jack into an embrace.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Bob was a champion bodybuilder. You
    know that chest expansion program you
    see on TV? That was his idea.

    BOB
    ...using steroids. I was a juicer.
    Diabonol, then, Wisterol -- it's for
    racehorses, for Christsake. Now I'm
    bankrupt, divorced, my two grown kids
    won't return my calls...

    JACK (V.O.)
    Strangers with this kind of honesty
    make me go a big rubbery one.

    Bob breaks into sobbing, putting his head on Jack's shoulder
    and completely covering Jack's face. After a long beat of
    crying, Bob raises up his head, looks at Jack's NAMETAG.

    BOB
    Go ahead, Cornelius. You can cry.

    They look at each other. Slowly, Jack's eyes grow wet.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Then... something happened. I was
    lost in oblivion -- dark and silent
    and complete.

    Bob pulls Jack's head back into his chest. Jack tightens
    his arms around Bob.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I found freedom. Losing all hope was
    freedom.

    Jack pulls away from Bob. On Bob's chest, there's a WET
    MASK of Jack's face from how he looks weeping.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Babies don't sleep this well.

    INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

    Jack lies sound asleep.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I became addicted.

    INT. SMALL PROTESTANT CHURCH - NIGHT

    Jack moves into a "group hug" of sickly people, men and
    women. In view is a sign by the door "Free and Clear."

    INT. OFFICE BUILDING BASEMENT - NIGHT

    Jack stands with a weeping middle-aged WOMAN. He begins to
    cry along with her. A sign by the door: "Onward and Upward."

    JACK (V.O.)
    If I didn't say anything, people
    assumed the worst. They cried
    harder. I cried harder.

    INT. PUBLIC BUILDING CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT

    Everyone, including Jack, sits back in their seats, EYES
    CLOSED. The Leader speaks into a microphone.

    LEADER
    Tonight, we're going to open the
    green door -- the heart chakra...

    JACK (V.O.)
    I wasn't really dying, I wasn't host
    to cancer or parasites; I was the
    warm little center that the life of
    this world crowded around.

    LEADER
    ...And you open the door and you
    step inside. We're inside our
    hearts. Now, imaging your pain as a
    white ball of healing light. That's
    right, the pain itself is a ball of
    healing light.

    Jack, eyes closed, is silent...

    LEADER
    It moves over your body, healing you.
    Keep this going and step forward,
    through the back door of the room.
    Where does it lead? To your cave.
    Step forward into your cave.

    INT. CAVE - JACK'S IMAGINATION

    Jack walks along, moving through an ICE CAVERN...

    LEADER'S VOICE
    That's right. You're going deeper
    into your cave. And you're going to
    find your power animal...

    Jack comes upon a PENGUIN. The penguin looks at him, cocks
    his head to signal Jack forward.

    PENGUIN
    Slide.

    The penguin jumps onto a patch of ICE and slides away.

    EXT. STREET - NIGHT

    Jack walks out a doorway, saying goodbye to people. He
    walks down the sidewalk, shining with peace.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Every evening I died and every
    evening I was born again. Resurrected.

    CUT BACK TO:

    INT. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH MEETING ROOM - RESUMING

    Jack's still in an embrace with Bob.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Bob loved me because he thought my
    testicles were removed too. Being
    there, my face against his tits,
    ready to cry -- this was my vacation.

    MARLA SINGER enters. She has short matte black hair and
    big, dark eyes like a character from japanese animation.

    JACK (V.O.)
    And, she ruined everything.

    Marla looks around, raises a cigarette to her lips.

    MARLA
    This is cancer, right?

    Bob and Jack stare, dumbfounded.

    INT. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH MEETING ROOM - LATER

    Everyone paired-off. MOVE THROUGH ROOM... FIND JACK'S FACE
    as he stares... MOVE THROUGH ROOM... FIND MARLA'S FACE.
    She's drinking coffee, smoking a cigarette.

    JACK (V.O.)
    This ... chick ... Marla Singer ...
    did not have testicular cancer. She
    was a liar.

    INT. SMALL PROTESTANT CHURCH - NIGHT

    Marla sits with the group, smoking, listening intently while
    a member speaks. Jack spies on her.

    JACK (V.O.)
    She had no diseases at all. I had
    seen her at my melanoma Monday night
    group ...

    INT. CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL - NIGHT

    Marla sits at the end of a row, smoking. All the faces down
    the row are turned toward her, incredulous...

    JACK (V.O.)
    ... and at "Free and Clear," my blood
    parasites group Thursdays.

    Jack leans out further than the others, scornful.

    JACK (V.O.)
    -- And, again, at "Seize The Day," my
    tuberculosis Friday night.

    CUT BACK TO:

    INT. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH MEETING ROOM - ANOTHER NIGHT

    Jack watches... Marla's eyes are closed, her head on the
    shoulder of the MAN she's embraced by. She opens her eyes,
    catching Jack's stare. Jack looks away.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Marla -- the big tourist. Her lie
    reflected my lie.

    Marla rests her chin on the man's shoulder. Tears roll down
    her cheeks. She wipes at them.

    EXT. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH - NIGHT

    Marla walks out, The support group's dispersing. Jack
    exits amongst them. He spots Marla walking away.

    JACK (V.O.)
    And suddenly, I felt nothing. I
    couldn't cry. So, once again, I
    could not sleep.

    Jack stares after Marla for a long moment. He walks away.

    INT. BEDROOM - LATER

    Jack, in underwear, is cross-legged on the floor, assembling
    IKEA furniture, CORDLESS PHONE shouldered to his ear.

    JACK
    (into phone)
    No, I just can't believe that card is
    declined -- Okay, okay, let me give
    you a different card number.

    Jack gets his wallet off the floor, pulls out another card
    and, MOS over the following, he reads it into the phone.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Next group, after guided meditation,
    after we open our chakras, when it's
    time to hug, I'm going to grab that
    little bitch, Marla Singer, pin her
    arms against her sides and say...

    INT. MEETING ROOM - NIGHT - JACK'S IMAGINATION

    CLOSE ON JACK as he CLAMPS his arms around Marla.

    JACK
    Marla, you liar, you big tourist. I
    need this. Get out.

    INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

    Jack, in pajamas, stares at Home Shopping Network on his TV.

    JACK (V.O.)
    When you have insomnia, you're never
    really asleep and you're never really
    awake. I hadn't slept in four days...

    INT. SMALL PROTESTANT CHURCH - NIGHT

    Jack walks in and joins the crowd, looking around. People
    are chattering with each other.

    JACK (V.O.)
    -- But, in here, in everyone, there's
    the squint of a five-day headache.
    Yet they forced themselves to be
    positive. They never said
    "parasite;" they said "agent." They
    always talked about getting better.

    LEADER
    Okay, everyone.

    Everyone sits in chairs. Jack catches sight of Marla.

    LEADER
    To open tonight's communion, Chloe
    would like to say a few words.

    Taking the lectern is CHLOE, a pale, sickly girl whose skin
    stretches yellowish and tight over her bones. She wears a
    head bondage. She clears her throat.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Ahh, Chloe. Chloe looked the way
    Joni Mitchell's skeleton would look
    if you made it smile and walk around
    a party being extra nice to everyone.

    CHLOE
    Well, I'm still here -- but I don't
    know for how long. That's as much
    certainty as anyone can give me. but
    I've got some good news -- I no
    longer have any fear of death.

    APPLAUSE from around the room.

    CHLOE
    But... I am in a pretty lonely place.
    No one will have sex with me. I'm so
    close to the end and all I want is to
    get laid for the last time. I have
    pornographic movies in my apartment,
    and lubricants and amyl nitrate ...

    The LEADER gingerly takes control of the microphone.

    LEADER
    Thank you, Chloe. Everyone, let's
    thank Chloe.

    EVERYONE
    Thank you, Chloe.

    INT. SMALL PROTESTANT CHURCH - LATER

    LEADER
    Now, you're standing at the entrance
    to your cave. You step inside your
    cave and you walk. Keep walking.

    Jack's face, eyes closed, is motionless.

    JACK (V.O.)
    If I did have a tumor, I'd name it
    Marla. Marla...the little scratch on
    the roof of your mouth that would
    heal if only you could stop tonguing
    it, but you can't.

    LEADER
    Now, find your power animal.

    INT. CAVE - JACK'S IMAGINATION

    Jack finds Marla smoking a cigarette. Marla cocks her head,
    indicating whe wants him to --

    MARLA
    Slide.

    INT. SMALL PROTESTANT CHURCH - RESUMING

    Jack's eyes open and turn to Marla, watching her blow smoke
    rings with her eyes closed.

    INT. SMALL PROTESTANT CHURCH - LATER

    Everyone stands and mills about, pairing-off.

    LEADER
    Pick someone special to you tonight.

    Jack sees the ghastly spectre of Chloe ambling towards him.
    He tries to smile. She smiles with a twisted, dying mouth.

    CHLOE
    Hello, Mr. Tayler.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I never gave my real name at support
    groups.

    JACK
    Hi, Chloe.

    CHLOE
    We've never actually talked.

    Chloe's eyes are eerily bright with desperation. Jack, in
    a sincere attempt at levity, chokes out:

    JACK
    You look good. You ... look ... like
    a pirate.

    Chloe laughs, a little too much. Jack squeezes out a laugh.
    Then he sees Marla, off by herself. Someone heads for her.

    JACK
    Excuse me, I have to...

    Jack gives a quick nod to Chloe and darts towards Marla.
    Chloe watches him go.

    STAY ON JACK AND MARLA as Jack CLAMPS his arms around her.
    He whispers into her ear.

    JACK
    We need to talk.

    MARLA
    Sure.

    JACK
    I'm on to you. You're a faker. You
    aren't dying.

    MARLA
    What?

    JACK
    Okay, in the Sylvia Plath philosophy
    way, we're all dying. But you're not
    dying the way Chloe is dying.

    LEADER
    Tell the other person how you feel.

    JACK
    You're a tourist. I saw you at
    melanoma, tuberculosis and testicular
    cancer.

    MARLA
    And I saw you practicing this...

    JACK
    Practicing what?

    MARLA
    Telling me off. Is it going as well
    as you hoped... ?
    (reads his nametag)
    "... Mr. Taylor."

    JACK
    I'll expose you.

    MARLA
    Go ahead. I'll expose you.

    LEADER
    Share yourself completely.

    Marla puts her head down on Jack's shoulder as if she were
    crying. Jack pulls her head back up. She deadpans at him.

    JACK
    Why are you doing this?

    MARLA
    It's cheaper than a movie, and
    there's free coffee.

    JACK
    These are my groups. I was here
    first. I've been coming for a year.

    MARLA
    A year? How'd you manage that?

    JACK
    Anyone who might've noticed either
    died or recovered and never came back.

    LEADER
    Let yourself cry.

    MARLA
    Why do you do it?

    JACK
    I... I don't know. I guess... when
    people think you're dying, they
    really listen, instead...

    MARLA
    -- Instead of just waiting for their
    turn to speak.

    JACK
    Yeah.

    Brief recognition between them, broken as the Leader passes.

    LEADER
    Quietly, now. Share with each other.

    Jack waits till the Leader's out of earshot.

    JACK
    (warning)
    It becomes an addiction.

    MARLA
    Really?

    Jack sighs, then pulls back.

    JACK
    Look, I can't cry with a faker
    present.

    MARLA
    Candy-stripe a cancer ward. It's not
    my problem.

    JACK
    Please. Can't we do something... ?

    Marla starts out of the room. Jack follows her.

    LEADER
    Now, the closing prayer.

    EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

    Marla gets to the sidewalk, moving quickly along.

    JACK
    We'll split up the week. You can
    have lymphoma, tuberculosis and --

    MARLA
    You take tuberculosis. My smoking
    doesn't go over at all.

    JACK
    I think testicular cancer should be
    no contest.

    MARLA
    Well, technically, I have more of a
    right to be there than you. You
    still have your balls.

    JACK
    You're kidding.

    MARLA
    I don't know -- am I?

    Jack follow Marla into...

    INT. LAUNDROMAT - CONTINUOUS

    Marla walks with authority up to an unwatched DRYER. She
    takes out clothes, picks out jeans, pants and shirts.

    MARLA
    I'll take the parasites.

    JACK
    You can't have both parasites. You
    can take blood parasites --

    MARLA
    I want brain parasites.

    JACK
    Okay. I'll take blood parasites and
    organic brain dementia --

    MARLA
    I want that.

    JACK
    You can't have the whole brain!

    MARLA
    So far, you have four and I only have
    two!

    JACK
    Then, take blood parasites. It's
    yours. Now we each have three.

    Marla gathers the chosen garments and heads out past Jack...

    EXT. SIDEWALK - CONTINUOUS

    Jack follows, bewildered.

    JACK
    You... left half your clothes.

    HONK! Jack starts. Marla's led him into the street with
    traffic barreling down.

    Marla walks on, oblivious as CARS screech to a halt, HORNS
    BLARING. Jack dashes, following...

    INT. THRIFT STORE - CONTINUOUS

    Marla drops the pile of clothes on a counter. An old CLERK
    sifts through the clothes, begins writing on a pad.

    JACK
    You're selling those?

    Marla steps down hard on Jack's foot. He winces in pain.

    MARLA
    (for the Clerk to hear)
    Yes, I'm selling some chothes.

    The Clerk starts to ring up the assessed amounts.

    MARLA
    So, we each have three -- that's six.
    What about the seventh day? I want
    ascending bowel cancer.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The girl had done her homework.

    JACK
    I want ascending bowel cancer.

    The Clerk gives a strange look as he hands money to Marla.

    MARLA
    That's your favorite, too? Tried to
    slip it by me, eh?

    JACK
    We'll split it. You get it the first
    and third Sunday of the month.

    MARLA
    Deal.

    They shake. Jack tries to withdraw his hand; Marla holds it.

    MARLA
    Looks like this is goodbye.

    JACK
    Let's not make a big thing out of it.

    She walks to the door, pocketing money, not looking back.

    MARLA
    How's this for not making a big thing?

    Jack watches her go. A moment, then he follows after...

    EXT. SIDEWALK - CONTINUOUS

    Jack hesitates, unsure, then run/walks to catch up to her...

    JACK
    Um... Marla, should we maybe exchange
    numbers?

    MARLA
    Should we?

    JACK
    In case we want to switch nights.

    MARLA
    I suppose.

    Jack takes out a business card, writes his number on the
    back, hands it to her. She takes the pen, grabs his hand
    and writes her number on his palm. She walks into the
    street, causing more SCREECHING and HONKING. She turns,
    holds up the card.

    MARLA
    It doesn't have your name. Who are
    you? Cornelius? Mr. Taylor? Dr.
    Zaius? Any of the stupid names you
    give each night?

    Jack starts to answer, but the traffic noise is too loud.
    Marla just shakes her head, turns, and keeps moving. A BUS
    moves into view, obscuring her.

    JACK (V.O.)
    This is how I met Marla Singer.

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - DAY

    The plane touches down; the cabin BUMPS. Jack's eyes open.

    JACK (V.O.)
    You wake up at O'Hare.

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - DAY

    Jack snaps awake again, looking around, disoriented.

    JACK (V.O.)
    You wake up at SeaTac.

    EXT. HIGHWAY - DUSK

    The rear of a CRASHED CAR sticks up by the side of the road.
    Jack stands, marking on a clipboard. The SUN SETS behind.

    INT. AIRPORT - NIGHT

    Jack stands at a gate counter. An ATTENDANT smiles at him.

    ATTENDANT
    Check-in for that flight doesn't
    begin for another two hours, Sir.

    Jack looks with blearing eyes at his watch, steps away and
    looks at an overhanging CLOCK.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Pacific, Mountain, Central. Lose an
    hour, gain an hour. This is your
    life, and it's ending one minute at
    a time.

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - DAY

    Jack's eyes snap open as the plane LANDS.

    JACK (V.O.)
    You wake up at Air Harbor
    International.

    INT. AIRPORT WALKWAY

    Jack stands on a conveyor belt, briefcase at his feet. He
    watches PEOPLE MOVING PAST on the opposite conveyor.

    JACK (V.O.)
    If you wake up at a different time
    and in a different place, could you
    wake up as a different person?

    Jack misses seeing TYLER on the opposite conveyor belt.
    They pass each other.

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - IN FLIGHT - NIGHT

    Jack sits next to a BUSINESSMAN. As they have idle
    CONVERSATION, we MOVE IN ON Jack's tray. An ATTENDANT'S
    HANDS set coffee down with a small container of cream.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Everywhere I travel -- tiny life.
    Single-serving sugar, single-serving
    cream, single pat of butter.

    CUT TO:

    HANDS place a dinner tray down.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Microwave Cordon Bleu hobby kit.

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - BATHROOM - NIGHT

    Jack brushes his teeth in the MIRROR.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Shampoo/conditioner combo. Single-
    serving mouthwash, tiny bar of soap.

    Jack picks up an individual, wrapped Q-TIP, looks at it. He
    moves out of the bathroom into...

    MAIN ROOM

    Jack sits on the bed. He turns on the TV. It's tuned to
    the "Sheraton Channel," shows WAITERS serving people in a
    large BANQUET ROOM. Jack stops brushing his teeth, feels
    something on the bed, lifts it -- a small DINNER MINT.

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - IN FLIGHT - NIGHT

    Jack sits next to a frumpy WOMAN. They chat. Jack turns to
    look at his food, takes a bite. He turns back and it's...

    --a BALD MAN next to him, talking. Jack takes another bite,
    turns back and it's...

    --a BUSINESSMAN next to him. Jack takes another bite, turns
    back, and it's...

    --a BUSINESS WOMAN next to him.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The people I meet on each flight --
    they're single-serving friends.
    Between take-off and landing, we have
    our time together, but that's all we
    get.

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - LANDING

    Jack's eyes snap open.

    JACK (V.O.)
    You wake up at Logan.

    INT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

    A giant corrugated METAL DOOR opens.

    JACK (V.O.)
    On a long enough time line, the
    survival rate for everyone drops to
    zero.

    Two TECHNICIANS lead Jack to the BURNT-OUT SHELL of a
    WRECKED AUTOMOBILE. Jack sets down his briefcase, opens it
    and starts to make notes on a CLIPBOARDED FORM.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I'm a recall coordinator. My job is
    to apply the formula. It's a story
    problem.

    TECHNICIAN #1
    Here's where the infant went through
    the windshield. Three points.

    JACK (V.O.)
    A new car built by my company leaves
    somewhere traveling at 60 miles per
    hour. The rear differential locks up.

    TECHNICIAN #2
    The teenager's braces around the
    backseat ashtray would make a good
    "anti-smoking" ad.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The car crashes and burns with
    everyone trapped inside. Now: do we
    initiate a recall?

    TECHNICIAN #1
    The father must've been huge. See
    how the fat burnt into the driver's
    seat with his polyester shirt? Very
    "modern art."

    JACK (V.O.)
    Take the number of vehicles in the
    field, (A), and multiply it by the
    probable rate of failure, (B), then
    multiply the result by the average
    out-of-court settlement, (C). A
    times B times C equals X...

    CUT TO:

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - MOVING DOWN RUNWAY

    Jack is speaking to the BUSINESSWOMAN next to him.

    JACK
    If X is less than the cost of a
    recall, we don't do one.

    BUSISNESS WOMAN
    Are there a lot of these kinds of
    accidents?

    JACK
    Oh, you wouldn't believe.

    BUSINESS WOMAN
    ... Which... car company do you work
    for?

    JACK
    A major one.

    Turgid silence. Jack turns to the window. He sees a
    PELICAN get SUCKED into the TURBINE.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Every time the plane banked too
    sharply on take-off or landing, I
    prayed for a crash, or a mid-air
    collision -- anything.

    Jack's face remains bland during the following: the plane
    BUCKLES -- the cabin wobbles. People panic. Masks drop.

    JACK (V.O.)
    No more haircuts. Nothing matters,
    not even bad breath.

    The side of the plane SHEARS OFF! Screaming PASSENGERS are
    sucked out into the night air, flying past the quivering
    wind. Magazines and other objects fly everywhere.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Life insurance pays off triple if you
    die on a business trip.

    Jack remains in his same position, same bland expression.

    DING! -- the seatbelt light goes OUT. Jack SNAPS AWAKE.
    EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. Some passengers get out of their
    seats. From next to Jack, a VOICE we've heard before...

    VOICE
    There are three ways to make napalm.
    One, mix equal parts of gasoline and
    frozen orange juice...

    Jack turns to see TYLER. Without turned to Jack, Tyler
    continues:

    TYLER
    Two, equal parts gasoline and diet
    cola. Three, dissolve kitty-litter
    in gasoline until the mixture is
    thick.

    JACK
    Pardon me?

    Tyler turns to Jack.

    JACK (V.O.)
    This is how I met --

    TYLER
    Tyler Durden.

    Tyler offers his hand. Jack takes it.

    TYLER
    You know why they have oxygen masks
    on planes?

    JACK
    No, supply oxygen?

    TYLER
    Oxygen gets you high. In a
    catastrophic emergency, we're taking
    giant, panicked breaths...

    Tyler grabs a safety instruction CARD from the seatback,
    hands it to Jack.

    TYLER
    Suddenly, we become euphoic and
    docile. We accept our fate.

    Tyler points to passive faces on the drawn figures.

    TYLER
    Emergency water landing, 600 miles
    per hour. Blank faces -- calm as
    Hindu cows.

    Jack laughs.

    JACK
    What do you do, Tyler?

    TYLER
    What do you want me to do?

    JACK
    I mean -- for a living.

    TYLER
    Why? So you can say, "Oh, that's
    what you do." -- And be a smug little
    shit about it?

    Jack laughs. Tyler reaches under the seat in front of him
    and lifts a BRIEFCASE.

    TYLER
    You have a kind of sick desperation
    in your laugh.

    Jack points to his own briefcase.

    JACK
    We have the same briefcase.

    Tyler turns the top of his briefcase toward Jack.

    TYLER
    Open it.

    Jack looks at Tyler, then pops the latches and raises the
    lid to reveal quaintly-wrapped bars of SOAP.

    TYLER
    Soap -- the yardstick of civilization.
    (reaches in his pocket)
    I make and sell soap...

    Tyler hands Jack his card. "THE PAPER STREET SOAP COMPANY."

    TYLER
    If you were to add nitric acid to the
    soap-making process, one would get
    nitroglycerin. With enough soap, one
    could blow up the world, if one were
    so inclined.

    Tyler SNAPS the briefcase shut. Jack stares.

    JACK
    Tyler, you are by far the most
    interesting "single-serving" friend
    I've ever met.

    Tyler stares back. Jack, enjoying his own chance to be
    witty, leans closer to Tyler.

    JACK
    You see, when you travel, everything
    is small, self-contained--

    TYLER
    The spork. I get it. You're very
    clever.

    JACK
    Thank you.

    TYLER
    How's that working out for you?

    JACK
    What?

    TYLER
    Being clever.

    JACK
    (thrown)
    Well, uh... great.

    TYLER
    Keep it up, then. Keep it right up.

    Tyler stands, looks towards the aisle.

    TYLER
    ... As I squeeze past, do I give you
    the ass or the crotch?

    Tyler moves to the aisle, his ass toward jack, walks away...

    TYLER
    We are defined by the choices we make.

    Tyler goes to the curtain dividing First Class, slaps the
    curtain aside and sits in an empty seat. Jack watches.

    JACK (V.O.)
    How I came to live with Tyler is:
    airlines have this policy about
    vibrating luggage.

    INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA - NIGHT

    Utterly empty of baggage. No people except for Jack and a
    SECURITY TASK FORCE MAN. The Security TFM, smirking, holds
    a receiver to his ear from an official phone on the wall.

    SECURITY TFM
    (to Jack)
    Throwers don't worry about ticking.
    Modern bombs don't tick.

    JACK
    Excuse me? "Throwers?"

    SECURITY TFM
    Baggage handlers. But when a
    suitcase vibrates, the throwers have
    to call the police.

    JACK
    My suitcase was vibrating?

    SECURITY TFM
    Nine time out of ten, it's an
    electric razor. But, every once in
    a while ...
    (whispers)
    ...it's a dildo. It's airline policy
    not to imply ownership in the event
    of a dildo. We use the indefinite
    aricle: "A dildo." Never "Your
    dildo."

    Jack sees, through the window, Tyler, at the curb, throwing
    his briefcase into the back of a shiny, red CONVERTIBLE.
    Tyler leaps over the door into the driver's seat and PEELS
    OUT. jack turns away, looks at the Security TFM.

    In the background, a HARRIED MAN dashes after Tyler and the
    convertible, SCREAMING.

    JACK
    (to Security TFM)
    I had everything in that bag. My
    C.K. shirts... my D.K.N.Y. shoes...

    SECURITY TFM
    (into phone)
    Yeah, uh huh... yeah?
    (pause, still on phone)
    Oh...

    EXT. EMPTY RUNWAY

    A lone SUITCASE sits on the concrete. SECURITY PERSONNEL
    keep their distance. KABOOM! The suitcase explodes.

    INT. BAGGAGE CLAIM AREA - RESUMING

    The Security TFM, shakes his head, hangs up.

    SECURITY TFM
    I'm terribly sorry.

    The Security TFM hands Jack a claim form. Jack snatches it,
    disgusted, takes out a pen, starts filling out the form.

    SECURITY TFM
    You know the industry slang for
    "Flight Attendant?" "Air Mattress."

    INT. TAXI - MOVING - NIGHT

    Along a residential street. Jack looks ahead, sees a tall,
    grey, bland BUILDING on the corner.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Home was a condo on the fifteenth
    floor of a filing cabinet for widows
    and young professionals. The walls
    were solid concrete. A foot of
    concrete is important when your next-
    door neighbor lets her hearing aid go
    and has to watch game shows at full
    volume...

    The taxi turns a corner and Jack sees the front of the
    building. A diffuse CLOUD of SMOKE wafts away from a BLOWN-
    OUT SECTION of the fifteenth floor. FIRETRUCKS, POLICE CARS
    and a MOB are all crowded around the lobby area.

    JACK (V.O.)
    -- Or when a volcanic blast of debris
    that used to be your furniture and
    personal effects blows out your floor-
    to-ceiling windows and sails flaming
    into the night.

    EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF BUILDING

    Jack, gaping at the sight above him, absently gives the
    Cabbie money. The taxi pulls away. Jack starts toward the
    building. He pushes through the fray of people, into the...

    INT. LOBBY

    The DOORMAN sees Jack enter, gives a sad smile, shakes his
    head. Jack starts for the elevator.

    DOORMAN
    There's nothing up there.

    Jack presses the button. The Doorman moves next to him.

    DOORMAN
    You can't go into the unit. Police
    orders.

    The elevator doors open. Jack hesitates. The doors close.
    Jack heads out the lobby doors. The Doorman follows...

    EXT. CONDO BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

    Jack walks past SMOKING, CHARRED DEBRIS -- a flash of ORANGE
    from the Yang table, a CLOCK FACE from the hall clock, part
    of an arm from the GREEN ARMCHAIR. His feet CRUNCH glass.

    JACK (V.O.)
    How embarrassing.

    DOORMAN
    Do you have somebody you can call?

    Jack comes to his REFRIGERATOR lying on its side. He
    reaches down and takes a note: "MARLA --" and a phone
    number, from under a BANANA MAGNET.

    CLOSE SHOT - JACK'S STOVE

    Hissing.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The police would later tell me that
    the pilot light might have gone
    out... letting out just a little bit
    of gas.

    EXT. PAYPHONE - RESUMING

    Jack gets to a PAYPHONE. The Doorman follows, watching him.

    DOORMAN
    Lots of young people try to impress
    the world and buy too many things.

    Jack picks up the receiver, puts in a quarter. He looks at
    Marla's number a long moment.

    CLOSE SHOT - JACK'S ENTIRE CONDO - KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM

    The SOUND of the HISS...

    JACK (V.O.)
    The gas could have slowly filled the
    condo. Seventeen-hundred square feet
    with high ceilings, for days and days.

    EXT. PAYPHONE - RESUMING

    Jack replaces the receiver. He pockets Marla's number, digs
    out a small FILOFAX. He flips through the pages for phone
    numbers and addresses. Most of the pages are blank.

    DOORMAN
    Many young people feel trapped and
    desperate.

    INSERT - CLOSE ON THE BASE OF JACK'S REFRIGERATOR

    JACK (V.O.)
    Then, the refrigerator's compressor
    could have clicked on...

    Click. KABOOM! SCREEN GOES WHITE.

    EXT. PAYPHONE - RESUMING

    Jack looks at the Doorman. Tyler's BUSINESS CARD falls from
    the Filofax. Jack catches it.

    DOORMAN
    If you don't know what you want, you
    end up with a lot you don't.

    The Doorman walks away. Jack stares at Tyler's card.

    JACK (V.O.)
    If you asked me now, I couldn't tell
    you why I called him.

    Jack re-deposits the quarter, dials Tyler's number. It
    RINGS... and RINGS and RINGS. Jack sighs and hangs up the
    phone. A moment, then the phone RINGS.

    JACK
    Hello?

    TYLER'S VOICE
    Who's this?

    JACK
    Tyler?

    TYLER'S VOICE
    Who's this?

    JACK
    Uh... I'm sorry. We met on the
    plane. We had the same briefcase.
    I'm... you know, the clever guy.

    TYLER'S VOICE
    Oh, yeah.

    JACK
    I just called a second ago. There
    was no answer. I'm at a payphone.

    TYLER'S VOICE
    I star-sixty-nined you. I never pick
    up my phone. What's up?

    JACK
    Well... let me see... here's the
    thing...

    EXT. LOU'S TAVERN - NIGHT

    A small building in the middle of a concrete parking lot.

    INT. LOU'S TAVERN - SAME

    Jack and Tyler sit in the back, with a pitcher of BEER.

    JACK
    You buy furniture. You tell
    yourself: this is the last sofa I'll
    ever need. No matter what else
    happens, I've got the sofa issue
    handled. Then, the right set of
    dishes. The right dinette.

    TYLER
    This is how we fill up our lives.

    Tyler lights a cigarette.

    JACK
    I guess so.

    TYLER
    And, now it's gone.

    JACK
    All gone.

    Tyler offers cigarettes. Jack declines.

    TYLER
    Could be worse. A woman could cut
    off your penis while you're asleep
    and toss it out the window of a
    moving car.

    JACK
    There's always that.

    TYLER
    I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe
    it's a terrible tragedy.

    JACK
    ...no ...no ...

    TYLER
    I mean, you did lose a lot of nice,
    neat little shit. The trendy paper
    lamps, the Euro-trash shelving unit,
    am I right?

    Jack laughs, nods. He shakes his head, drinks.

    TYLER
    But maybe, just maybe, you've been
    delivered.

    JACK
    (toasts)
    Delivered from Swedish furniture.

    TYLER
    Delivered from armchairs in obscure
    green stripe patterns.

    JACK
    Delivered from Martha Stewart.

    TYLER
    Delivered from bullshit colors like
    "Cobalt," "Ebony," and "Fuchsia."

    They laugh together. Then, silence. They drink.

    JACK
    Insurance'll cover it.

    TYLER
    Oh, yeah, you gotta start making the
    list.

    JACK
    What list?

    TYLER
    The "now I get to go out and buy the
    exact same stuff all over again"
    list. That list.

    JACK
    I don't... think so.

    TYLER
    This time maybe get a widescreen TV.
    You'll be occupied for weeks.

    JACK
    Well, I have to file a claim...

    TYLER
    The things you own, they end up
    owning you.

    JACK
    Don't I?

    TYLER
    Do what you like.

    JACK
    (looks at watch)
    God, it's late. I should find a
    hotel...

    TYLER
    A hotel?

    JACK
    Yeah.

    TYLER
    So, you called me up, because you
    just wanted to have a drink before
    you... go find a hotel?

    JACK
    I don't follow...

    TYLER
    We're on our third pitcher of beer.
    Just ask me.

    JACK
    Huh?

    TYLER
    You called me so you could have a
    place to stay.

    JACK
    No, I...

    TYLER
    Why don't you cut the shit and ask if
    you can stay at my place?

    JACK
    Would that be a problem?

    TYLER
    Is it a problem for you to ask?

    JACK
    Can I stay at your place?

    TYLER
    Yes, you can.

    JACK
    Thank you.

    TYLER
    You're welcome. But, I want you to
    do me one favor.

    JACK
    What's that?

    TYLER
    I want you to hit me as hard as you
    can.

    JACK
    What?

    TYLER
    I want you to hit me as hard as you
    can.

    Freeze picture.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Let me tell you a little bit about
    Tyler Durden.

    EXTREME CLOSE-UP - FILM FRAME

    -- And we see it's PORNOGRAPHY.

    INT. PROJECTIONIST ROOM - THEATRE - NIGHT

    Jack, in the foreground, FACES CAMERA. In the BACKGROUND,
    Tyler sits at a bench, looking at individual FRAMES cut from
    movies. Near him, a PROJECTOR rolls film.

    JACK
    Tyler was a night person. He
    sometimes worked as a projectionist.
    A movie doesn't come in one big reel,
    it's on a few. In old theaters, two
    projectors are used, so someone has
    to change projectors at the exact
    second when one reel ends and
    another reel begins. Sometimes you
    can see two dots on screen in the
    upper right hand corner...

    Tyler points to the side of OUR FRAME and the TWO DOTS
    briefly APPEAR ONSCREEN.

    TYLER
    They're called "cigarette burns."

    JACK
    It's called a "changeover." The
    movie goes on, and nobody in the
    audience has any idea.

    TYLER
    Why would anyone want this shitty job?

    JACK
    It affords him other interesting
    opportunities.

    TYLER
    -- Like splicing single frames from
    adult movies into family films.

    JACK
    In reel three, right after the
    courageous dog and the snooty cag --
    who have celebrity voices -- eat out
    of a garbage can, there's the flash
    of Tyler's contribution...

    In the AUDIENCE, CHILDREN suddenly start squirming,
    confused, looking at each other.

    A WOMAN abruptly stops sucking her soda straw, feeling
    vaguely terrible. Her uncomfortable HUSBAND slowly leans
    back in his seat.

    Jack and Tyler watch from the projection booth window.

    TYLER
    One-forty-eighth of a second. That's
    how long it's up there.

    JACK
    No one really knows that they've seen it.
    But they did.

    TYLER
    A nice, big cock.

    JACK
    Only a hummingbird could have caught
    Tyler at work.

    INT. LARGE BANQUET HALL - NIGHT

    Tyler moves around one of many tables, setting down SOUP
    BOWLS. Jack stands in the same position, FACING CAMERA.

    JACK
    Tyler also worked as a banquet waiter
    at the luxurious Pressman Hotel.

    The GUESTS command the WAITERS with snaps of fingers.

    INT. SERVICE ELEVATOR - NIGHT

    Jack turns and WE PAN to Tyler, standing by a CART with a
    giant SOUP TUREEN. His hands are at his open fly and he's
    in position to piss into the soup.

    JACK
    He was the guerrilla terrorist of the
    food service industry.

    TYLER
    Don't watch. I can't if you watch.

    Jack waits. The SOUND of a STREAM of LIQUID is HEARD.

    TYLER
    ... Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

    JACK
    He farted on meringue; he sneezed on
    braised endive; and, with creme of
    mushroom soup, well...

    TYLER (O.S.)
    Go ahead. Say it.

    JACK
    You get the idea.

    EXT. PARKING LOT OF TAVERN - RESUMING

    Tyler and Jack come out the back door.

    JACK
    I don't know about this.

    TYLER
    I don't know, either. I want to find
    out. I've never been hit, have you?

    JACK
    No. That's a good thing, isn't it?

    TYLER
    I don't want to die without any
    scars. How much can you really know
    about yourself if you've never been
    in a fight? Come on... you're the
    only person I've ever asked.

    JACK
    Me?

    Jack stares at him.

    TYLER
    Why not you? I'm letting you go
    first. Do it.

    JACK
    This is crazy.

    TYLER
    Alright, go crazy. Let 'er rip.

    JACK
    Where do you want it? In the face?

    TYLER
    Surprise me.

    Jack swings a wide, clumsy roundhouse -- hits Tyler's
    neck -- makes a dull, flat sound.

    JACK
    Shit. Sorry. That didn't count.

    TYLER
    Like hell. That counted.

    Tyler shoots out a straight punch to Jack's chest. Jack
    falls back against a car. His eyes tear up.

    TYLER
    How do you feel?

    JACK
    Strange.

    TYLER
    But a good strange.

    JACK
    Is it?

    TYLER
    We've crossed the threshold. You
    want to call it off?

    JACK
    Call what off?

    TYLER
    The fight.

    JACK
    What fight?

    TYLER
    This fight, pussy.

    Jack swings another roundhouse that slams right under
    Tyler's ear. Tyler punches Jack in the stomach. Tyler and
    Jack move clumsily, throwing punches. They breathe heavier,
    drooling saliva and blood, growing dizzier from every impact.

    EXT. CURBSIDE - LATER

    Jack and Tyler sit on the curb, watching sparse headlights
    on the nearby freeway. Their eyes are glazed with endorphin-
    induced serenity. They look at each other, laugh. Look away.

    TYLER
    If you could fight anyone... one on
    one, whoever you wanted, who would
    you fight?

    JACK
    Anyone?

    TYLER
    Anyone.

    Jack thinks.

    JACK
    My boss, probably.
    (pause)
    Who would you fight?

    TYLER
    My dad. No question.

    A long pause as Jack studies Tyler's face.

    JACK
    Oh, yeah.
    (nodding)
    I didn't know my dad. Well, I knew
    him, till I was six. He went and
    married another woman, had more kids.
    Every six years or so he'd do it
    again -- new city, new family.

    TYLER
    He was setting up franchises. My
    father never went to college, so it
    was really important that I go.

    JACK
    I know that.

    TYLER
    After I graduated, I called him long
    distance and asked, "Now what?" He
    said, "Get a job." When I turned
    twenty-five, I called him and asked,
    "Now what?" He said, "I don't know.
    Get married."

    JACK
    Same here.

    TYLER
    A generation of men raised by women.
    I'm wondering if another woman is the
    answer we really need.

    Another pause. Jack feels his bleeding lip, smiles.

    JACK
    We should do this again sometime.

    Tyler cracks a smile, give a sidelong glance to Jack.

    EXT. PAPER STREET - NIGHT

    A street sign: "PAPER STREET." A PAPER MILL stis on one
    side, facing a lone HOUSE on the other. The rest of the
    land is grass and weeds. It's a grand, old three-story,
    long abandoned. Tyler leads Jack toward it.

    JACK
    Where's your car?

    TYLER
    What car?

    JACK (V.O.)
    I don't know how Tyler found the
    house, but he'd been there for half
    a year.

    INT. PAPER ST. HOUSE - ENTRANCE -- NIGHT

    Tyler leads Jack through the FRONT DOOR...

    JACK (V.O.)
    It looked like it was waiting to be
    torn down. Most of the windows were
    boarded up.

    INT. PAPER ST. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENT LATER

    Tyler and Jack climb CREAKY STAIRS to the 2ND FLOOR LANDING.

    JACK (V.O.)
    None of the doors locked. The stairs
    were ready to collapse. I didn't
    know if he owned it or he was
    squatting.

    Tyler opens the door to a ROOM...

    INT. ROOM - CONTINUOUS

    Jack enters, stis on the creaky BED. Dust drifts upwards.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Neither would have surprised me.

    INT. SHOWER - MORNING

    Jack turns on the water. LOUD VIBRATIONS from the walls.
    Water spits in starts.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Nothing worked. The rusty plumbing
    leaked. Turning on a light meant
    another light in the house went out.

    EXT. LOU'S TAVERN PARKING LOT - NIGHT

    All the tavern's lights are off. Tyler and Jack FIGHT.
    FIVE GUYS stand around watching.

    INT. PAPER ST. HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING

    Jack, his face showing NEW BRUISES AND CUTS, makes coffee
    with a wire-mesh strainer. Tyler shuffles in, wearing a
    flannel bathrobe. He spears pieces of bread on a fork,
    starts roasting them over a burner.

    JACK (V.O.)
    There were no neighbors. Just
    warehouses and the paper mill. The
    fart smell of steam, the hamster cage
    smell of wood chips.

    EXT. PAPER ST. HOUSE - NIGHT

    Jack sits watching as Tyler SWINGS an old GOLF CLUB --
    THWACK -- sends a golf ball soaring down the desolate street.

    JACK (V.O.)
    At night, Tyler and I were alone for
    half a mile in every direction.

    EXT. LOU'S TAVERN PARKING LOT - NIGHT

    All the lights are off. TEN GUYS YELL, standing around Jack
    and Tyler, who FIGHT. THREE CARS are parked in the lot.

    INT. BASEMENT - DAY

    Jack sits on basement stairs, watching as Tyler, knee-deep
    in water, works at an open FUSEBOX, flipping breakers in a
    certain order, showing Jack how it's done.

    JACK (V.O.)
    When it rained, we had to kill the
    power. By the end of the first
    month, I didn't care about TV. I
    didn't mind the warm, stale
    refrigerator.

    INT. READING ROOM - NIGHT

    CANDLES BURN. Tyler and Jack are seated across from each
    other on the buckled floor, reading MAGAZINES. Rain DRIPS
    from the ceiling. No furniture. THOUSANDS of MAGAZINES.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The previous occupant had been a bit
    of a shut-in.

    TYLER
    (of magazine)
    Hum.

    JACK
    What?

    TYLER
    Oh, a new riot control grenade...
    (reading)
    "...the successful combination of
    concussive, 3000 foot-candle flash-
    blasts and simultaneous high-velocity
    disbursement of...blah, blah, blah..."

    Tyler begins RIPPING the ARTICLE from his magazine.

    JACK
    ("Reader's Digest")
    "I am Joe's Lungs." It's written in
    first person. "Without me, Joe could
    not take in oxygen to feed his red
    blood cells." There's a whole
    series -- "I am Joe's Prostate."

    TYLER
    "I get cancer, and I kill Joe."

    Tyler tosses his article in a pile of other articles,
    chooses another magazine.

    JACK
    What are you reading?

    TYLER
    Soldier of Fortune. Business Week.
    New Republic.

    JACK
    Show-off.

    EXT. LOU'S TAVERN PARKING LOT - NIGHT

    All the lights are off. Jack and Tyler stand amidst FIFTEEN
    GUYS around TWO GUYS FIGHTING. The crowd YELLS MORE WILDLY
    than before. In the background are EIGHT PARKED CARS.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I should have been haggling with my
    insurance company. I should have
    been looking for a new condo...

    EXT. STREET - NIGHT

    Jack walks along. He stops, looking at a CHURCH with
    SUPPORT-GROUP-PEOPLE milling around the entrance, drinking
    coffee and sodas. Marla's there, amongst them, smoking.

    JACK (V.O.)
    .... I should have been upset about
    my nice, neat, flaming little shit.

    Jack's face shows no reaction. He continues to walk.

    JACK (V.O.)
    But I wasn't.

    INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

    Jack, in work clothes, interlocks his fingers and POPS his
    knuckles, picks up a saucepan with coffee and sips. Tyler,
    in waiter's uniform, comes to have Jack straighten his tie.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Most of the week, we were Ozzie and
    Harriet.

    Jack picks up his briefcase and walks out the door.

    JACK (V.O.)
    But, Wednesday night, ever Wednesday
    night...

    EXT. LOU'S TAVERN PARKING LOT - NIGHT

    All the lights are off. No one around, but there are at
    least TWENTY-FIVE CARS parked in the full lot.

    JACK (V.O.)
    ... we were finding something out: we
    were finding out, more and more, that
    we were not alone.

    INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

    A SLIDE SHOW progresses, run by a chipper salesman, WALTER.
    Jack sits, deadpan, with a PUFFY LIP and a BRUISED cheek.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Thursday mornings, all I could do was
    think about next week.

    Boss gives Jack a dubious look. Walter's next SLIDE: a
    COMPUTER SCREEN.

    WALTER
    The basic premise of cyber-netting
    your office is -- make things more
    efficient.

    BOSS
    Can I get the icon in cornflower blue?

    WALTER
    Absolutely.

    Walter continues, his sales pitch drowned out by Jack's V.O.:

    JACK (V.O.)
    Walter, the Microsoft account exec.
    Walter, with his smooth, soft hands.
    Maybe he was thinking about the free-
    range potluck he'd been to last
    weekend, or his church-group car-wash
    fund-raiser. Or, probably not.

    Walter moves to Jack and slaps him in the shoulder.

    WALTER
    I showed this already to my man here.
    You liked it, didn't you?

    Jack smiles. His teeth are RED with BLOOD. They GLOW
    eerily in the dim light.

    JACK (V.O.)
    You can swallow a pint of blood
    before you get sick.

    WALTER
    Jesus, I'd hate to see what happened
    to the other guy.

    Jack keeps the smile frozen on his face.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Screw Walter. His candy-ass wouldn't
    last a second Wednesday night.

    EXT. LOU'S TAVERN - NIGHT

    Out of silent darkness, HEADLIGHTS appear from all
    directions. CARS PULL UP and park in the already-packed
    lot. YOUNG MEN get out and march into the tavern...

    INT. LOU'S TAVERN - SAME

    The men, including Jack and Tyler, enter and stand against
    the back wall, waiting. The bartender, IRVINE, calls out:

    IRVINE
    Drink up people. We're closing.

    Irvine flicks on the LIGHTS. Drunken customers squint and
    get the message. They plop down money, leaving.

    JACK (V.O.)
    It was right in everyone's face.
    Tyler and I just made it visible.

    Irvine hits a button and the JUKEBOX loses power. Members
    of the waiting army begins to share secret looks. Finally,
    one buy locks the door. Two other guys close the blinds.

    JACK (V.O.)
    It was on the tip of everyone's
    tongue. Tyler and I just gave it a
    name.

    INT. TAVERN BASEMENT - SAME

    A BOMB-SHELTER. Concrete walls. One BARE BULB above, Tyler
    standing directly beneath it.

    TYLER
    Welcome to fight club.

    The guys mill around, finding partners. Everyone brims with
    eagerness, but tries to act cool. CHATTER gets LOUDER.
    Everyone spreads out, forming a circle, Tyler at center.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Every week, Tyler gave the rules that
    he and I decided.

    PEAKING CHATTER, till Tyler raises his arms and the CHATTER
    DIES. A couple of COUGHS, FEET SHUFFLING, then, SILENCE.

    TYLER
    The first rule of fight club is --
    you don't talk about fight club. The
    second rule of fight club is -- you
    don't talk about fight club. The
    third rule of fight club is -- when
    someone says "stop" or goes limp, the
    fight is over. Fourth rule is --
    only two guys to a fight. Fifth
    rule -- one fight at a time. Sixth
    rule -- no shirts, no shoes. Seventh
    rule -- fights go on as long as they
    have to. And the eighth and final
    rule -- if this is your first night
    at fight club, you have to fight.

    Tyler steps back. A short guy, RICKY, and a GOATEED MAN
    take off shirts and shoes and step to the center.

    JACK (V.O.)
    This kid, Ricky -- supply clerk --
    couldn't remember whether you ordered
    pens with blue ink or black ink ...

    The two fighters circle, then begin throwing PUNCHES...

    JACK (V.O.)
    But Ricky was a god for ten minutes
    last week when he trounced an actuary
    twice his size.

    Harder, faster PUNCHES between the two. SWEAT flies.
    SHOUTS become DEAFENING. Ricky's getting the best of
    Goateed Man, POUNDING him...

    JACK (V.O.)
    Sometimes all you could hear were
    flat, hard packing sounds over the
    yelling, or the wet choke when
    someone caught their breath and
    sprayed...

    GOATEED MAN
    (spittle-lipped)
    Ssssstop... !

    INT. OFFICE PARK RESTAURANT - DAY

    Jack, eating lunch, watches the BROKEN-NOSED WAITER with a
    GOATEE -- from the above fight -- converse with a MAITRE D'.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Even if I could tell someone they had
    a good fight, I wouldn't be talking
    to the same man.

    The Goateed Waiter approaches Jack and sets a refill soda
    down on the table. The two of them briefly make eye contact.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Who you were in fight club is not who
    you were in the rest of the world.

    INT. PHOTOCOPY ROOM - DAY

    Jack stands over a copy machine, hit by flashes of light.
    He glances over his shoulder, watches Ricky, wearing an
    apron, push a supply cart. Ricks nods at Jack.

    JACK (V.O.)
    You weren't alive anywhere like you
    were there. But fight club only
    exists in the hours between when
    fight club starts and when fight club
    ends.

    INT. JACK'S OFFICE - DAY

    Jack, playing SOLITAIRE on his computer, daubs blood from
    his mouth with a handkerchief. Boss, passing by the
    doorway, looks in at Jack, irritated.

    BOSS
    What are you getting yourself into
    every week?

    Jack keeps playing Solitaire. Boss enters, folds his arms.

    JACK (V.O.)
    After fight club, everything else in
    your life gets the volume turned
    down. You can deal with anything.

    BOSS
    Have you finished those reports?

    JACK
    (handing him reports)
    Yes.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The people who had power over you
    have less and less.

    Jack looks at Boss. Reflexively, Jack's tongue plays with
    his teeth.

    JACK (V.O.)
    By this point, I could wiggle most of
    the teeth in my jaw.

    EXT. STREET - DUSK

    Tyler and Jack walk, both smoking cigarettes.

    JACK (V.O.)
    A guy came to fight club for the
    first time, his ass was a wad of
    cookie dough. After a few weeks, he
    was carved out of wood.

    JACK
    If you could fight any celebrity?

    TYLER
    Alive or dead?

    JACK
    Doesn't matter.

    TYLER
    Hemingway. You?

    JACK
    Shatner. William Shatner.

    They reach a BUS STOP as a BUS arrives, tossing their
    cigarettes, getting on board...

    INT. BUS - DUSK

    The bus is crowded. As Tyler and Jack walk toward the back,
    Jack studies the faces of OTHER PASSENGERS...

    JACK (V.O.)
    We all started seeing things
    differently. Wherever we went.

    They hold hand grips. Jack looks up at an ADVERTISEMENT; a
    CALVIN KLEIN ad featuring a tan, bare-chested MUSCLE STUD.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I felt sorry for all the guys packing
    into gyms, trying to look like what
    Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger said
    they should.

    Tyler looks at Jack, looks at the C.K. advertisement.

    TYLER
    Self-improvement is masturbation.
    Self-destruction is the answer.

    A MAN in a suit KNOCKS Tyler's shoulder as he passes. The
    Man takes a handle, close by. Jack's pissed, staring at the
    man, who stares back.

    JACK
    (to Tyler, so the
    Man can hear)
    You could take him.

    Tyler looks to Jack, glances over his shoulder at the Man.
    Tyler casually picks a small scab off Jack's nostril.

    TYLER
    The trick is not to care.

    Tyler stares forward.

    INT. TAVERN BASEMENT - NIGHT

    Tyler HITS the floor, stomach first. HIS OPPONENT lands on
    top of him, grappling, trying for a CHOKE HOLD. The
    surrounding CROWD, Jack included, SCREAMS at them...

    Tyler and the Opponent wrestle desperately, and Tyler flips
    his attacker, gets on top, sprawling to pin him. Tyler
    turns -- starts reining PUNCHES into the Opponent's GROIN...

    CUT TO:

    Jack lands a couple of BLOWS to HIS OPPONENT'S stomach --
    brings up a left uppercut that smashes the Opponent's jaw.
    Tiny spatters of BLOOD adorn the walls, along with sweat.

    Jack catches sight of a swollen-faced Tyler, watching
    appreciatively, a smile growing slowly on his face.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Fight club wasn't about winning or
    losing. It wasn't about words.

    The Opponent recovers, throws a headlock on Jack. Jack
    snakes his arm into a counter headlock. They wrestle like
    wild animals. The crowd CHEERS maniacally.

    JACK (V.O.)
    They hysterical shouting was in
    tongues, like at a Pentecostal church.

    Onlookers kneel to stay with the fight, cheering LOUDER.
    The Opponent SMASHES Jack's head to the floor, over and over.

    JACK
    ... stop...

    JACK (V.O.)
    When the fight was over, nothing was
    solved, but nothing mattered.

    Everyone moves in as the Opponent steps away. Tyler pushes
    through the crowd. Others lift Jack up. They turn their
    attention to the floor, to a BLOOD MASK of Jack's face --
    similar to the TEAR MASK on BOB'S SHIRT.

    TYLER
    Cool.

    Jack limply shakes his Opponent's hand.

    OPPONENT
    How about next week?

    JACK
    Look at me. How about next month?

    Everyone helps Jack walk. He's sweating, bleeding, smiling.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Afterwards, we all felt saved.

    INT. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM - NIGHT

    A NURSE tends to Jack while Tyler watches.

    TYLER
    He fell down some stairs.

    The Nurse doesn't look at Tyler, just keeps tending to Jack.

    JACK
    I fell down some stairs.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Sometimes Tyler spoke for me.

    INT. PAPER ST. HOUSE - BATHROOM - MORNING

    Tyler and Jack share the cracked MIRROR. Tyler's clipping
    at his hair with blunt, ill-suited SCISSORS. Jack's
    brushing his teeth, spitting out pink foam.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Fight club became the reason to cut
    your hair short and trim your
    fingernails.

    TYLER
    Any historical figure.

    JACK
    Okay... Ghandi.

    TYLER
    Good answer.

    JACK
    You?

    TYLER
    Abe Lincoln. Big reach. Skinny guys
    fight till they're burger.

    Jack reaches in his mouth, exploring, pulls -- yanks a
    TOOTH. Jack looks at it. Tyler puts scissors down, done.

    TYLER
    Remember, even the Mona Lisa's
    falling apart.

    Jack drops the tooth in the sink with Tyler's hair.

    INT. PAPER ST. HOUSE - KITCHEN - LATE AFTERNOON

    Jack enters, buttoning his shirt. The PHONE RINGS.

    JACK
    Hello?

    INTERCUT WITH...

    INT. MARLA'S BUILDING, HALLWAY - SAME

    Marla's in the HALL, on the PAYPHONE, twisting the phone
    cord around her neck.

    MARLA
    Where have you been the last few
    weeks?

    JACK
    Marla?

    Jack looks through the archway and sees Tyler, in his gummy
    flannel bathrobe, doing sit-ups. Jack leans, cups the phone.

    JACK
    (quietly)
    How did you find me?

    MARLA
    The forwarding number. I haven't
    seen you at any support groups.

    JACK
    That's the idea -- we split them.

    MARLA
    You haven't been going to yours.

    JACK
    I found a new one.

    MARLA
    Really?

    JACK
    It's for men.

    MARLA
    Like testicular cancer?

    JACK
    Look, this is a bad time...

    MARLA
    I've been going to debtor's
    anonymous. You want to see some
    truly fucked up people?

    JACK
    I'm just on my way out...

    MARLA
    Me too. I got a stomach full of
    Xanax. I took what was left of a
    bottle. Might've been too much.

    Jack looks exasperated, turns TO LOOK INTO THE CAMERA.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Picture yourself watching Marla
    Singer throw herself around her
    crummy apartment.

    MARLA
    This isn't a for-real suicide thing.
    This is probably one of those cry-for-
    help things.

    JACK (V.O.)
    This could go on for hours.

    JACK
    So you're staying in tonight?

    MARLA
    Do you want to wait to hear me
    describe death?

    Jack puts the handset on top of the phone, still off the
    hook, walks out the back door.

    MARLA'S VOICE
    Do you want to listen and see if my
    spirit can use the telephone?

    Thru the archway: Tyler leans to look in, curious.

    INT. BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

    GRUNTS of PLEASURE and EXERTION. Glimpses of TORSOS, ASSES,
    LEGS, ARMS, BREASTS, and FEMALE HAIR, all DRENCHED in SWEAT.
    Sheets RIP. Bodies hit the FLOOR. Insane GRUNTING and
    LAUGHING. A flash of MARLA'S FACE.

    CUT TO:

    INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - SUNRISE

    Jack sits up in bed, looks around the room.

    INT. 2ND FLOOR LANDING

    Jack steps out of his room. The neighboring door is closed.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Tyler's door was closed. I'd been
    living here two months, and Tyler's
    door was never closed.

    INT. BATHROOM - SAME

    Jack stares into the TOILER, looking at SIX USED CONDOMS.

    INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

    Jack sits at the table, sips coffee, read Reader's Digest.
    He hears FOOTSTEPS approaching.

    JACK
    You're not going to believe what I
    dreamt last night.

    Marla walks in, straightening her dress, looks like she's
    been raped by a hurricane. Jack's jaw drops.

    MARLA
    I can hardly believe anything about
    last night.

    Marla goes to pour coffee. She takes a swig, GARGLES and
    SPITS it in the sink. She gives Jack a lascivious smile.

    JACK
    What are you doing here?

    MARLA
    What... ?

    JACK
    What the hell are you doing here?

    Marla stares at him a beat, then drops the cup in the sink.

    MARLA
    Fuck you.

    Marla shoves open the door to the backyard and walks out.
    Jack gets up, watches her stomp away.

    Jack turns and -- Tyler is at his shoulder, staring after
    Marla. He's in his usual sweatpants. He grins at Jack,
    then moves away, pours himself coffee. Jack, smoldering,
    slumps at the table and picks up Reader's Digest. Tyler
    puts his foot on a countertop, does stretching exercises.

    TYLER
    She's a piece of work. Get this --
    I come in here last night, the
    phone's off the hook...

    Jack pretends to read, quickly glances at Tyler. TYLER'S
    VOICE FADES...

    JACK (V.O.)
    I already knew the story before he
    told it to me.

    INT. KITCHEN - LATE AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)

    Tyler enters, gently lifts the handset and listens.

    MARLA'S VOICE
    (from handset)
    I'll tell you when I'm floating out
    of my body.

    Tyler smiles.

    JACK (V.O.)
    How could Tyler, off all people, think
    it was a bad thing that Marla Singer
    was about to die?

    INT. MARLA'S - 8TH FLOOR LANDING - LATE AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)

    Tyler, a wry smile on his face, ambles up the stiars,
    looking at the rotting walls. He reaches the top of the
    stairs and heads for Marla's room. Before he can knock,
    Marla's hand shoots out and grabs him...

    INT. MARLA'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS (FLASHBACK)

    Marla pulls Tyler inside and shuts the door. Her drugged
    eyes look him over.

    MARLA
    You got here fast.

    She staggers and sits on the bed. She slides off, along
    with the blanket and sheets, to the floor.

    MARLA
    The mattresses are all sealed in
    slippery plastic.

    She tries to focus her eyes on Tyler.

    MARLA
    Did I call you?

    Tyler studies her with cynical curiosity, looks at a DILDO
    lying atop a dresser. Marla follows his gaze.

    MARLA
    Don't worry. It's not a threat to you.

    SIRENS and vehicles SCREECHING outside can be HEARD; doors
    opening and SLAMMING; running FOOTFALLS.

    MARLA
    Oh, no! Somebody called the cops...

    She gets to her feet, grabs Tyler, pulls him out the door.

    INT. HALLWAY (FLASHBACK)

    Marla LOCKS her door, then pulls Tyler toward the STAIRCASE.
    COPS and PARAMEDICS charge up with oxygen and medical kits.
    Marla and Tyler flatten against the wall to let them pass.

    COP
    8-G! Where's 8-G?

    MARLA
    (pointing)
    End of the hall.

    The rescuers keep running.

    MARLA
    (calling after)
    The girl who lives there used to be
    a charming, lovely girl, but she's
    lost faith in herself...

    COP
    Miss Singer, let us help you! You
    have every reason to live!

    Marla yanks Tyler's arm, heading down the stairs.

    MARLA
    She's a monster! Infectious human
    waste! Good luck trying to save her!

    INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

    Tyler makes coffee. Marla slouches against the refrigerator.

    MARLA
    If I fall asleep, I'm done for.
    You're gonna have to keep me up all
    night.

    INT. KITCHEN - MORNING (RESUMING)

    Tyler chuckles, shakes his head.

    TYLER
    Unbelievable, huh?

    JACK (V.O.)
    He was obviously able to handle it.

    Tyler stands across from Jack, gets a cigarette from a pack.

    TYLER
    I mean, this girl... uh, you're not
    into her or anything... ?

    JACK
    No. Not at all.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I am Jack's Raging Bile Duct.

    Tyler lights his cigarette.

    TYLER
    You're sure?

    JACK
    Yeah, I'm sure.

    TYLER
    Good. This chick was up on the table
    with her legs in the stirrups before
    the doctor even walked in the room.
    The things that she said... I've
    never heard a woman talk like that...

    INT. TYLER'S ROOM - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

    Tyler smokes, post-coital. Marla puts her lips to his ear.

    MARLA
    (whispering)
    I want to have your abortion.

    INT. KITCHEN - MORNING (RESUMING)

    Tyler laughs, shakes his head. Jack's gripping his Reader's
    Digest just a little too tight.

    JACK (V.O.)
    How could Tyler not go for that?
    Night before last, he was splicing
    sex organs into "Little Mermaid."

    Tyler sits, studies Jack's face.

    TYLER
    You're okay with this?

    JACK
    I'm fine.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Put a gun to my head and paint the
    wall with my brains.

    Tyler smokes.

    TYLER
    She is a wild, twisted bitch. Stay
    away from that one.

    JACK
    Oh, and my pace is more librarians.

    TYLER
    Hey... don't knock librarians.

    JACK
    Marla doesn't need a lover. She
    needs a case worker.

    TYLER
    She needs an exorcist. This isn't
    love. This is sport-fucking.

    JACK (V.O.)
    She'd invaded my support groups, now
    she's invading my home.

    TYLER
    Listen... do me a favor... sit here
    a minute...

    Tyler pulls out a closer chair, motions to it. Jack puts
    down his Reader's Digest and moves to that chair.

    JACK
    What?

    TYLER
    You've gotta understand something
    about me. I have a little rule,
    okay? Don't ever talk to her about
    me. Ever. I can't stand that kind
    of shit.

    Tyler fixes Jack with a friendly, but firm stare.

    TYLER
    If you ever say anything about me or
    about what happens here in this
    house, to her or anyone -- I will
    find out. And you'll never see me
    again. Promise me.

    JACK
    Okay.

    TYLER
    Promise you won't.

    JACK
    Yes, I promise.

    TYLER
    Promise?

    JACK
    I said I promise!

    TYLER
    That was three times you promised.

    Tyler smiles, gets up and leaves. Jack sits smoldering.

    JACK (V.O.)
    If only I had wasted a couple of
    minutes and gone to watch Marla die,
    none of this would have happened.

    INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

    Jack watches TV at HIGH VOLUME. SOUNDS of SEX from upstairs.

    INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

    Jack lies calmly on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Sounds
    of THUMPS and CRASHES from beyond the wall.

    MARLA'S VOICE
    (muffled through wall)
    Miserable fucking discharge!

    JACK (V.O.)
    I could've moved to another room, one
    on the third floor -- so I wouldn't
    have heard them. But I didn't.

    INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT

    SOUNDS of RAIN. Jack flips FUSES off, then walks upstairs.

    INT. 2ND FLOOR LANDING - SAME

    Jack walks, HEARS Marla SCREAM in orgasm. He reaches the
    landing. Tyler's door is ajar. Jack peeks in...

    Marla's legs are sprawled on the bed. The door PUSHES OPEN
    WIDER -- Tyler, naked, stands CLOSE TO CAMERA.

    TYLER
    What are you doing?

    Jack steps back.

    JACK
    I... uh... just going to bed.

    Tyler scratches his head, wears a RUBBER GLOVE.

    TYLER
    You want to finish her off?

    JACK
    Uh... nah...

    Jack continues toward his room.

    INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT

    Jack brushes his teeth.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I became the calm, little center of
    the world. I was the Zen master.

    CLOSE UP - COMPUTER MONITOR

    Haiku is BEING TYPED in a trendy, italicized font.

    "Worker bees can leave
    Even drones can fly away
    The queen is their slave"

    JACK (V.O.)
    I wrote little haiku poems.

    INT. JACK'S OFFICE - DAY

    Jack's clothes are PERMANENTLY STAINED with BLOOD. He sits
    in Zen pose, cigarette in mouth, finishes typing Haiku.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I faxed them around to everyone.

    He hits "SEND," gets the "ERROR CHIME" SOUND. He presses
    this key over and over. Boss enters.

    BOSS
    Is that your blood?

    JACK
    Some of it, yes.

    Boss stares at Jack like he's from Mars.

    BOSS
    Take the rest of the day off. Come
    back tomorrow with clean clothes.
    Get yourself together.

    INT. HALLWAY - SAME

    Jack's leaving, looks like a war casualty, passing COWORKERS
    who coldly stare at him. His face is totally passive.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I got right in everyone's hostile
    little face. Yes, these are bruises
    from fighting. I'm comfortable with
    them. I am enlightened.

    EXT. PAPER STREET - SUNSET

    Jack walks toward the HOUSE.

    JACK (V.O.)
    You give up the condo life, give up
    all your flaming worldly possessions,
    go live in a dilapidated house in the
    toxic waste part of town...

    INT. TYLER'S KITCHEN - SUNSET

    Jack walks in. SOUNDS of VIOLENT SEX and a POLAROID CAMERA
    from upstairs. Pieces of PLASTER fall from the ceiling.

    JACK (V.O.)
    ... and you come home to this.

    TYLER'S VOICE
    (laughing)
    You fucking slut!!

    MARLA'S VOICE
    Thank you, sir, may I have another!
    Thank you sir, may I have another... !

    Jack rolls his eyes, takes off his pants. He runs water in
    the sink, finds a tiny bit of SOAP and scrubs at the blood
    stains. The PHONE RINGS. He answers it.

    JACK
    Yeah. Speaking.

    INTERCUT WITH...

    INT. POLICE STATION - OFFICE

    A cop, DETECTIVE STERN, refers to a file.

    DETECTIVE STERN
    This is Detective Stern with the
    arson unit. We have some new
    information about the "incident" at
    your condo.

    JACK
    Yes?

    DETECTIVE STERN
    I don't know if you're aware... your
    front door -- it seems someone
    sprayed freon into the lock, then
    tapped it with a chisel to shatter
    the cylinder.

    JACK
    No, I wasn't aware...

    JACK (V.O.)
    I am Jack's Cold Sweat.

    DETECTIVE STERN
    Does this sound strange to you?

    JACK
    Yes, sire, strange. Very strange.

    Jack starts to sweat, scrubs his pants obsessively.

    DETECTIVE STERN
    The dynamite...

    JACK
    Dynamite?

    DETECTIVE STERN
    Yes. It left a residue of ammonium
    oxalate and potassium perchloride.
    Do you know what that means?

    JACK
    What does that mean?

    DETECTIVE STERN
    It means it was homemade.

    JACK
    This is... really a shock...

    DETECTIVE STERN
    Whoever set this homemade dynamite
    could've blown out the pilot light
    days before the explosion. The gas,
    it seems, was just a detonator.

    JACK
    Who do you think could've done this?

    DETECTIVE STERN
    I'll ask the questions, son.

    TYLER
    (whispering in Jack's ear)
    Tell him...

    Jack almost leaps out his skin, startled; looks to see Tyler
    standing right next to him.

    JACK
    Huh?

    TYLER
    (overlap w/below)
    "The liberator who destroyed my
    property has re-aligned my paradigm
    of perception."

    JACK
    Shhhhhh!
    (into phone,
    overlap w/above)
    I don't know what to make of this,
    sir, I really don't...

    DETECTIVE STERN
    Do you know anyone who'd have the
    expertise or motive to do something
    like this?

    TYLER
    "I reject the basic assumptions of
    civilization, including material
    possession."

    Jack pushes Tyler away, cups the receiving.

    JACK
    (into phone)
    No. No, sir. I loved that condo.
    I loved every stick of furniture.
    The lamps, the chairs, the rugs, were
    me. The dishes were me. The plants
    were...

    JACK (V.O.)
    I'd like to thank the academy...

    DETECTIVE STERN
    Well, if any ideas come to you, give
    me a call. In the meantime, don't
    leave town. I may need to bring you
    in for questioning.

    END INTERCUT

    Jack hangs up. Tyler shrugs.

    TYLER
    Could be worse. You could be cursed
    with the three terrible Karmas. You
    could be beautiful, rich and famous.

    Jack turns away, continues to scrub his pants. Marla's
    FOOTSTEPS can be HEARD coming downstairs...

    Jack really grinds the soap against the pants, splashing
    water. He turns, sees Marla enter. Tyler is GONE. Marla
    lights a cigarette.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Except for their humping, Tyler and
    Marla were never in the same room.

    MARLA
    I got this dress at a thrift store
    for one dollar.

    JACK
    (keeps scrubbing)
    Worth every penny.

    JACK (V.O.)
    My parents pulled this exact act for
    years -- one came in, the other
    disappeared.

    Marla begins a slow, exotic dance, moving very close to
    Jack. She lifts her dress dangerously high, dancing close
    to Jack's body, almost touhcing.

    MARLA
    (seductive)
    It's a bridesmaid's dress. Someone
    loved it intensely for one day, then
    tossed it. Like a Christmas tree --
    so special, then, bam -- it's
    abandoned on the side of the road,
    tinsel still clinging to it...

    Jack becomes very aware of having no pants on, presses
    against the counter. Marla pulls her hemline further up.

    MARLA
    Like sex crime victims, underwear
    inside-out, bound with electrical
    tape.

    JACK
    (coldly)
    It suits you.

    She leans in very close to Jack's ear, whispers hoarsely:

    MARLA
    You can borrow it sometime.

    Jack takes a step away, keeps scrubbing. Marla blows smoke
    in his face. Jack takes her cigarette and throws it in the
    sink. Marla backs away, fed up, storms out, going UPSTAIRS.

    TYLER (O.S.)
    Get rid of her.

    Jack turns to see Tyler in the doorway.

    JACK
    You get rid of her.

    TYLER
    (pointing at Jack)
    Don't mention me.

    Marla's FOOTSTEPS are coming DOWNSTAIRS. Jack looks to the
    archway, then back at -- Tyler's GONE. Marla enters, shoes
    and balled up clothing under one arm, looking for something
    on the junk strewn table.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I'm six years old again, passing
    messages between my parents.

    JACK
    I, uh... think you should go now.

    Marla ignores, still searching the table, tossing things,
    pushing other things off to the floor.

    JACK
    It's time for you to leave.

    MARLA
    Don't worry, I'm leaving.

    Marla finds what she wanted, a pack of cigarettes. She
    moves up into Jack's face.

    MARLA
    You're such a nutcase, I can't even
    begin to keep up.

    JACK
    Goodbye.

    She laughs, spins on her heels. As she exits the back door,
    she sings "This Merry-Go-Round" from "Valley of the Dolls."
    Jack watches her through the kitchen window.

    TYLER (O.S.)
    Nice work.

    Jack turns. Tyler's right behind him. Through the window,
    Marla can be seen walking away. Tyler picks up the remnant
    of SOAP Jack's been using, holds it up to Jack.

    TYLER
    To make soap, first we have to render
    fat.

    Jack looks at Tyler.

    CLOSE UP - SIGN: "DANGER - BIOHAZARD."

    EXT. FENCED-IN BIOHAZARD WASTE DUMP SITE - NIGHT

    Tyler stands inside the fence. Jack's atop the fence,
    struggling to cross BARBED WIRE. He wobbles, gets over,
    snags his shirt. Jack falls, RIPPPPP. Tyler helps.

    FOOTSTEPS. A FLASHLIGHT BEAM. Tyler pulls Jack behind a
    DUMPSTER, one of DOZENS. A silhouette of a SECURITY GUARD
    moves along the perimeter, flashlight first. He walks away.

    MOVE BACK to Tyler and Jack, who emerge from hiding. Tyler
    eagerly grabs the lid of the closest dumpster.

    TYLER
    The best fat for making soap --
    because the salt balance is just
    right -- comes form human bodies...

    Tyler lifts the lid -- it CREAKS.

    JACK
    What is this place?

    TYLER
    A liposuction clinic.

    From the dumpster, Tyler pulls out an industrial-sized,
    thick plastic bag full of PINK GOO.

    TYLER
    Paydirt. From society's richest
    asses and thighs.

    TIME CUT: Tyler and Jack climb back over the fence, carrying
    BAGS of fat. One of Jack's bags RIPS, spilling the goo down
    the chain-link fench. Jack slips and slides. Tyler laughs.
    Tyler tries to scoop the running fat back into the bag.

    INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

    Jack and Tyler each stir a boiling pot.

    TYLER
    As the fat renders, the tallow floats
    to the surface. Remember the crap
    they taught you in Boy Scouts.

    JACK
    Hard to imagine you in Boy Scouts.

    TYLER
    This clear layer in glycerin. We'll
    mix it back in when we make the soap.

    Tyler sticks a spoon into a pot, lifts up a scoop of the
    glycerin layer. Then, he crabs a can, opens it.

    TYLER
    Lye -- the crucial ingredient.
    (adding lye to mix)
    Ancient peoples found their clothes
    got cleaner if they washed them at a
    certain spot in the river. Why?
    Because, human sacrifices were once
    made on the hills above this river.
    Year after year, bodies burnt. Rain
    feel. Water seeped through the wood
    ashes to become lye. The lye
    combined with the melted fat of the
    bodies, till a thick white soapy
    discharge crept into the river.

    Tyler licks his lips until they're gleaming wet. He takes
    Jack's hands and KISSES the back of it.

    TYLER
    The first soap was made from the
    ashes of heroes. Like the first
    monkeys shot into space.

    The saliva shines in the shape of the kiss. Tyler pours a
    bit of the flaked lye onto Jack's hand.

    TYLER
    Without sacrifice, without death, we
    would have nothing.

    Jack's whole body JERKS. Tyler holds tight to Jack's hand
    and arm. Tears well in Jack's eyes; his face tightens.

    TYLER
    This is a chemical burn. It will
    hurt more than you've ever been
    burned and you will have a scar.

    Jack looks -- the burn is swollen, glossy, in the shape of
    Tyler's kiss. Jack's face spasms.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Tyler's kiss was a bonfire on the
    back of my hand.

    TYLER
    Look at your hand.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Guided meditation worked for cancer,
    it could work for this.

    SHOT OF A GREEN MAPLE LEAF, GLISTENING WITH DEW. RESUME:

    Tyler looks at Jack's glazed and detached eyes.

    TYLER
    Come back to the pain. Don't shut
    this out.

    Jack, snapping back, tries to jerk his hand away. Tyler
    keeps hold of it and their arms KNOCK UTENSILS off the table.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I tried not to think of the words
    "searing" or "flesh." I imagined my
    pain as a ball of healing white light.

    SHOT OF A FOREST, IN GENTLE SPRING RAINFALL. RESUME:

    Tyler JERKS Jack's hand, getting Jack's attention...

    TYLER
    Stop it. This is your pain -- your
    burning hand. It's right here. Look
    at it.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I was going to my cave to find my
    power animal.

    SHOT OF THE INSIDE OF JACK'S FROZEN ICE CAVE. RESUME:

    Tyler JERKS Jack's hand again. Jack re-focuses on Tyler...

    TYLER
    Don't deal with this the way those
    dead people do. Deal with it the way
    a living person does.

    SHOT OF INSIDE THE ICE CAVE - ON MARLA, LYING NAKED UNDER A
    FUR COAT, TURNING HER HEAD TO LOOK TOWARDS US. RESUME:

    Jack tries to pull his hand free. Tyler won't let go.
    Jack's eyes glaze over again. Jack speaks, whiny from pain:

    JACK
    I... I think I understand. I think
    I get it...

    TYLER
    No, what you're feeling is premature
    enlightenment.

    SHOT OF A GREEN FOREST WITHOUT RAIN. RESUME:

    Tyler SLAPS Jack's face, regaining his attention...

    TYLER
    This is the greatest moment of your
    life and you're off somewhere,
    missing it.

    JACK
    No, I'm not...

    SHOT OF TREES ENGULFED BY A FOREST FIRE. RESUME:

    TYLER
    Shut up. Our fathers were our models
    for God. And, if our fathers bailed,
    what does that tell us about God?

    JACK
    I don't know...

    SHOT OF EMBERS POURING FROM THE HELLISH FOREST FIRE. RESUME:

    Tyler SLAPS Jack's face again...

    TYLER
    Listen to me. You have to consider
    the possibility that God doesn't like
    you, he never wanted you. In all
    probability, He hates you. This is
    not the worst thing that can happen...

    JACK
    It isn't... ?

    TYLER
    We don't need him...

    JACK
    We don't... ?

    SHOT OF INSIDE ICE CAVE - NAKED MARLA PULLS JACK DOWN ON TOP
    OF HER - JACK KISSES HER - CIGARETTE SMOKE COMES FROM HER
    MOUTH - JACK COUGHS. RESUME:

    Jack is a wide-eyed zombie...

    JACK
    ... Marla ... ?

    TYLER
    Fuck damnation. Fuck redemption. We
    are God's unwanted children, with no
    special place and no special
    attention, and so be it.

    Jack looks at Tyler -- they lock eyes. Jack does his best
    to stifle his spasms of pain, his body a quivering, coiled
    knot. He bolts toward the sink, but Tyler holds on.

    TYLER
    You can go to the sink and run water
    over your hand. Look at me. Or you
    can use vinegar to neutralize the
    burn, but first you have to give up.
    First, you have to know that someday,
    you are going to die. Until you know
    that, you will be useless.

    Jack spasms with a shiver of pain...

    JACK
    You ... you don't know what this
    feels like, Tyler.

    Tyler shows Jack a LYE-BURNED KISS SCAR on his own hand.
    Tears begin to drip from Jack's eyes. Tyler grabs a bottle
    of VINEGAR -- pours it over Jack's wound.

    Jack closes his eyes, holds his hand... slumps to the floor.

    TYLER
    Congratulations. You're a step
    closer to hitting bottom.

    INT. BARNEY'S - DAY

    Jack and Tyler, in trench coats, looking like deaht-warmed-
    over, wait as a BUYER fills out forms.

    There are bars of "The Paper Street Soap Company" soap on
    the counter. Jack looks like he's half-expecting to get
    arrested. His hand is BANDAGED.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Tyler sold the soap to department
    stores at twenty bucks a Ear. God
    knows what they charged. How ironic.
    We were selling rich women their own
    fat asses back to them.

    INT. JACK'S OFFICE - DAY

    Jack sits at his desk, playing a game on his computer,
    smoking a cigarette. Boss enters.

    JACK (V.O.)
    He was wearing a yellow tie. It must
    be Thursday. I didn't even wear a tie
    to work anymore.

    Boss slaps a piece of PAPER down on Jack's desk.

    BOSS
    "The first rule of fight club is you
    don't talk about fight club."

    Jack snuffs his cigarette in an ashtray, stares up stoically.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I must've left the original in the
    copy machine.

    BOSS
    "The second rule of fight club...
    Is this yours?

    JACK
    Hmm?

    BOSS
    You don't get paid to abuse the copy
    machine.

    JACK
    "Abuse" the copy machine. There's an
    image.

    BOSS
    Pretend you're me. You find this.
    What would you do?

    Jack rises slowly, walks to his door, shuts it.

    JACK
    Me? I'd be very careful who I talked
    to about this. It sounds like
    someone dangerous wrote it... someone
    who might snap at any moment,
    stalking from office to office with
    an Armalite AR-10 Carbine-gas
    semiautomatic, bitterly pumping round
    after round into colleagues and co-
    workers.

    Jack moves very close to Boss, picks up the PAPER and starts
    tearing it into pieces.

    JACK
    Might be someone you've known for
    years... somebody very close to you.
    Or, maybe you shouldn't be bringing
    me every little piece of trash you
    pick up.

    Jack puts the PAPER in his trash. Bass stares with a tinge
    of outrage, a tinge of fear. PHONE RINGS. Jack answers it.

    JACK
    Compliance and Liability.

    MARLA'S VOICE
    My tit's going to rot off.

    JACK
    Just a second.
    (to Boss; smiles)
    Could you excuse me? I need to take
    this call.

    Boss goes to the door, stares at Jack a beat, then leaves.

    JACK
    (into phone)
    What are you talking about?

    INTERCUT WITH - CLOSE UP OF MARLA...

    MARLA
    Would you do something for me? I
    need you to check and see if there's
    a lump in my breast. I can't afford
    to throw money away on a doctor.

    JACK
    I don't know ...

    MARLA
    Please.

    JACK (V.O.)
    She didn't call Tyler. I'm neutral
    in her book.

    EXT. MARLA'S HOTEL - SUNSET

    Jack walks down the sidewalk, seeing Marla take two BOXES
    from a VAN with the sign "MEALS ON WHEELS."

    INT. MARLA'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

    Marla leads Jack inside.

    JACK
    This is a sweet side of you. Picking
    these up for ...
    (reads the boxes
    "Mrs. Haniver" and... "Mrs. Raines."
    Where are they?

    MARLA
    Tragically, they're dead. I'm alive
    and I'm in poverty. You want any?

    JACK
    No, thanks.

    MARLA
    Good.

    He stares at her while she eats.

    MARLA
    What happened to your hand?

    Jack awkwardly puts his bandaged hand behind his back.

    JACK
    Nothing.

    INT. MARLA'S ROOM - NIGHT

    Marla stands facing a MIRROR with her shirt open. Jack
    stands behind her with his hand on the bottom side of her
    breast. Marla's hand guides his.

    JACK
    Where? Here?

    MARLA
    Here.

    JACK
    There?

    MARLA
    Here.

    JACK
    Here.

    MARLA
    Feel anything?

    JACK
    No.

    Jack's head is behind Marla's. They speak softer, slower.

    MARLA
    Make sure.

    JACK
    Okay. Okay, I'm sure.

    MARLA
    You feel nothing?

    JACK
    Nothing.

    Marla turns around and faces him, begins to button her shirt.

    MARLA
    Well, that's a relief. Thank you.

    JACK
    No... no problem.

    MARLA
    I wish I could return the favor.

    Jack touches his own chest, shakes his head.

    JACK
    I think everything's okay here.

    MARLA
    I could check your prostate.

    JACK
    Uh ... nah.

    MARLA
    (pause)
    Well... thanks, anyway.

    Marla leans to kiss him -- lingers for a bit longer than
    just friendly. Jack pulls away.

    JACK
    So.... are we done?

    Marla sighs.

    MARLA
    Yeah, we're done. See you around.

    EXT. HOTEL - MOMENTS LATER

    Jack emerges from the lobby. He looks up at Marla's window,
    watches her silhouette. He walks away, right into -- Big
    BOB, the moose, eating a donut and drinking orange juice.

    BOB
    Cornelius! How are you?

    JACK
    Bob. I'm okay. How are you?

    BOB
    Better than I've ever been in my life.

    JACK
    Really? Great. Still "Remaining Men
    Together?"

    An intense look of born-again fervor comes over Bob's face.

    BOB
    No. I found something new.

    JACK
    Really, what's that?

    BOB
    (quietly)
    The first rule is... you aren't
    supposed to talk about it...

    JACK
    Oh.

    BOB
    And the second rule about it is...
    you're not supposed to talk about it.
    And the third rule...

    JACK
    Bob, Bob... I'm a member.

    BOB
    You are?!

    JACK
    Look at my face.

    Bob roughly slaps Jack's shoulder.

    BOB
    That's a fucking great, man! Fucking
    great! Congratulations.

    JACK
    Yeah, both of us.

    BOB
    You know about the guy who invented
    it? I hear all kinds of things.
    Supposedly, he was born in a mental
    institution. They say he only sleeps
    one hour a night. You know about
    this guy? Tyler Durden?

    INT. BASEMENT - ELECTRONICS WKREHOUSE - NIGHT

    The CROWD SCREAMS insanely as Bob and Jack go at it in the
    circle of light. Bob's eyes are wild with glee.

    EXT. BASEMENT DOOR - ELECTRONICS WAREHOUSE - LATER

    Everyone sneaks out of this new location - we've seen none
    of these guys before - it's a new chapter. Jack and Bob
    Stagger out last, Jack being in worse shape. They both grin
    with religious serenity. Bob hugs Jack.

    BOB
    Thank you. Thank you.

    Bob relaxes the hug and Jack drops to the ground like a
    sack, completely enervated from the beating he took.

    JACK
    You're welcome.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Fight club -- this was mine and
    Tyler's gift... our gift to the world.

    INT. KITCHEN -- MORNING

    Jack has his briefcase on the table, looks at PAPERWORK.
    Tyler wanders in, carries a dirty pot to the sink. Jack
    takes out a cigarette, lights up. He offers the pack...

    TYLER
    No thanks, I quit.

    JACK
    You quit?

    TYLER
    Yeah. Where you headed?

    JACK
    Work. Going to work.

    Tyler scratches his chin absently.

    JACK
    What... ?

    TYLER
    Nothing. Do what you like.

    Tyler walks out the way he came.

    INT. JACK'S OFFICE - DAY

    Jack sits staring at his SCREEN SAVER.

    INT. BOSS'S OFFICE - DAY

    Jack steps into the open doorway, knocks on the doorframe.
    Boss looks up from his large, expensive desk.

    JACK
    We need to talk.

    BOSS
    Okay. Where to begin? With your
    constant absenteeism? With your
    unpresentable appearance? You're up
    for review...

    JACK
    I Am Jack's Complete Lack of Surprise.

    Boss sits up in his seat, becoming enraged.

    JACK
    Let's pretend. You're the Department
    of Transportation, and you discover
    that our company intentionally did
    nothing about leather seats cured in
    third world countries with chemicals
    we know cause birth defects? Brake
    linings that fail after a thousand
    miles. Fuel injectors that burn
    people alive.

    BOSS
    Just who the fuck do you think you
    are?! Get out! You're fired!

    JACK
    What about this? Keep me on payroll
    as an outside consultant. In
    exchange for my salary, I'll keep my
    mouth shut. I won't need to come to
    the office. I can do this job from
    home.

    Boss stands, moves around his desk, glaring with rage.

    BOSS
    You little fucker! I oughta...

    Jack PUNCHES HIMSELF in the nose. Blood starts to trickle.
    He punches himself in the jaw, throws himself back as if by
    the force of the punch, SLAMS against a framed picture and
    SHATTERS the glass. He falls to the floor.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I Am Jack's Smirking Revenge.

    Jack gets back to his feet.

    JACK
    Please... don't hit me again, please.
    I'm your responsibility...

    He PUNCHES himself in the stomach, then in the jaw again.
    He reels backwards, pulls down a hanging shelf, its contents
    flying. He hits the floor.

    JACK (V.O.)
    For some reason, I thought of my
    first fight -- with Tyler.

    Jack crawls toward Boss, dripping blood, grabs Boss's leg.

    JACK
    Please... give me the paychecks like
    I asked for. I won't be any trouble.
    You won't see me again.

    Jack climbs up Boss's leg while Boss tries to shake him off.
    Boss stumbles back into his desk, knocking off belongings.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Under and behind and inside
    everything this man took for granted,
    something horrible had been growing.

    Jack crawls high enough to grab Boss's belt, hoisting
    himself up. He dribbles blood an Boss's clothing, SMUDGES
    blood from his face onto the knuckles of Boss's hand.

    JACK
    Please... please...

    JACK (V.O.)
    And right then, at our most excellent
    moment together...

    Two SECURITY GUARDS enter and gape at the sight. Behind
    them stand CURIOUS WORKERS, looking in.

    JACK
    (gurgling blood)
    Please don't hit me again.

    INT. TYLER'S HOUSE - ENTRANCE FOYER - DAY

    Jack holds a CHECK in front of Tyler's face.

    JACK
    Six months advance pay. Six months!

    TYLER
    Fucking sweet.

    JACK
    Okay, and... and...

    Jack digs in his pocket, takes out a thick bundle of CARDS.

    JACK
    Forty-eight airline flight coupons.
    Plus... hold on... just a minute...

    Jack holds up a finger, going to open the front door. He
    drags an unwieldy SHOPPING CART in behind him; filled with
    his COMPUTER, PHONE, FAX and other office equipment.

    JACK
    I am now officially self-employed.

    Jack looks at the cart, then back at Tyler, proud.

    TYLER
    Good for you.

    INT. LOU'S TAVERN - BASEMENT - NIGHT

    LOUD. An enormous CROWD of guys, including Jack and Bob,
    stands around Tyler, who's in the center of the circle,
    holding up his hands to quiet them...

    TYLER
    I look around... I look around and
    see a lot of new faces.

    An enthusiastic RUMBLE from the crowd.

    TYLER
    Shut up! Which means a lot of you
    have been breaking the first two
    rules of fight club.

    A glum silence falls. Guys look at each other.

    TYLER
    I see in fight club the strongest and
    smartest men who have ever lived --
    an entire generation pumping gas and
    waiting tables; or they're slaves
    with white collars.
    (more)

    TYLER (cont)
    Advertisements have them chasing cars
    and clothes, working jobs they hate
    so they can buy shit they don't need.
    We are the middle children of
    history, with no purpose or place.
    We have no great war, or great
    depression. The great war is a
    spiritual war. The great depression
    is our lives. We were raised by
    television to believe that we'd be
    millionaires and movie gods and rock
    stars -- but we won't. And we're
    learning that fact. And we're very,
    very pissed-off.

    The crowd erupts into a DEAFENING CHORUS of agreement. Jack
    looks at the blazing excitement in the eyes of the crowd.

    TYLER
    We are the quiet young men who listen
    until it's time to decide.

    A fat, MIDDLE-AGED MAN stomps down the stairs, pushing into
    the crowd, followed by a TALL, HEFTY THUG who holds a GUM.

    TYLER
    Who are you?

    FAT MAN (LOU)
    Who am I?! There's a sign on the
    front that says "Lou's Tavern." I'm
    fucking Lou. Who the fuck are you?!

    TYLER
    Tyler Durden.

    Tyler extends his hand for a shake, but Lou SLAPS it away.

    LOU
    Who told you motherfuckers you could
    use my place?

    TYLER
    We have a deal worked out with Irvine.

    LOU
    Irvine? Irvine's at home with a
    broken collarbone.

    Everyone glances guiltily at each other.

    LOU
    He don't own this place, I do. How
    much money's he getting for this?

    TYLER
    There is no money.

    LOU
    Really?

    TYLER
    It's free to all.

    LOU
    Ain't that something?

    TYLER
    Yes, it is.

    LOU
    Look, stupid fuck, I want everyone
    outta here now!

    TYLER
    You're welcome to join our club.

    LOU
    Did you hear what I just said?!

    TYLER
    You and your friend.

    Lou SLUGS Tyler in the stomach, doubles him over.

    LOU
    You hear me now?

    Tyler gains his breath, determined. He looks up, turns his
    head, looking to Jack. Jack watches, wide-eyed.

    Tyler straightens, facing Lou.

    TYLER
    No, I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.

    Lou PUNCHES Tyler in the face. Some of the guys move
    forward, but the Thug points his gun. Jack-runs forward
    anyway -- Lou PUNCHES him in the face.

    More guys move forward, but Tyler waves them off, facing Lou.

    TYLER
    We really need to use this place.

    Lou proceeds to beat the shit out of Tyler, PUNCHING his
    face, his stomach. Tyler collapses to the floor. Lou
    starts KICKING his. Tyler bleeds from the mouth and face.

    TYLER
    That's it.... that's good. Get it
    all out. You'll feel better.

    Lou flushes red with exasperation, KICKS more. Finally,
    sweating, bewildered, Lou stops. He looks to the Thug, who
    is just as bewildered.

    Suddenly, Tyler SPRINGS UP, grabs onto Lou...

    TYLER
    Yes, I am shit and crazy, to you and
    this whole fucking world...

    Tyler's blood spatters on Lou. Lou tries to shake Tyler
    off, but Tyler BITES Lou's NECKTIE. The Thug grabs Tyler
    and pulls, the necktie tightening and strangling Lou. Lou
    slaps at Tyler's face, but recoils from the blood. Tyler
    spits and shouts through clenched teeth...

    TYLER
    You don't know where I've been.

    Tyler bear hugs Lou, pulls him to the floor. Tyler rubs his
    bloody face into Lou's face. The Thug lifts Tyler. Tyler
    clings to Lou's belt, dragging Lou as he is dragged...

    TYLER
    We need this place. We need it.
    Please let us keep it, please...

    Blood dribbles out of Tyler's mouth, spattering Lou.

    LOU
    What are you doing?!

    TYLER
    Pleeeeeease!

    LOU
    Okay! Okay, fuck it! Use the
    basement! Get off me!

    TYLER
    We need some towels, Lou. We need
    replacement light bulbs.

    LOU
    Alright, Christ! Fucking let me go!

    TYLER
    Thank you. Thank you, sir...

    LOU
    Let go of me!!

    Tyler lets go of Lou's belt. Lou scrambles away. The Thug
    drops Tyler, trying to keep clear of the blood. Lou gets to
    his feet, looks at Tyler, then at the rest of the guys. He
    and the Thug back away... slamming the door behind.

    Fight club surrounds Tyler. They help him up, move him to
    a crate. Tyler sits slumped for a long moment, his
    breathing labored... then, he sits back, crossing his legs
    and looking to the group, his demeanor businesslike.

    TYLER
    This week, each of you has a homework
    assignment. You're going to go out
    and start a fight with a total
    stranger...
    (pause, drooling blood)
    You're going to start a fight... and
    you're going to lose.

    Jack beams in appreciation.

    EXT. STREET - DAY

    Ricky trips a passing YUPPIE. The Yuppie falls.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Not as easy as it sounds. People'll
    do just about anything to avoid a
    fight.

    The Yuppies gets up, angry, and Ricky PUNCHES him...

    YUPPIE
    Hey! Wha... What the hell... what
    are you doing?! Who are you?!!

    The Yuppie backs away. Ricky follows...

    YUPPIE
    Get away from me! Keep away!
    NO... !

    Ricky TACKLES the Yuppie. The Yuppie struggles spastically.

    YUPPIE
    Who are you!? Why are you attacking
    me... ?!

    Having no recourse, the Yuppie begins trading blows.

    EXT. AUTO SHOP - DAY

    A MECHANIC WITH A BATTERED FACE uses a hose to wash the
    sidewalk. As MEN pass, he jerks the hose up and SPRAYS them.

    FIRST MAN
    Hey... hey...

    SECOND MAN
    Watch out, jackass!

    These men continue on their way.

    The Mechanic sprays a third man, a SEMINARY STUDENT, who
    looks down, stunned.

    SEMINARIAN
    You... you did that on purpose!

    The Mechanic DOUSES the Seminarian. The Seminarian grabs
    the hose, wrestling the Mechanic for it. The Mechanic
    shoves the Seminarian, who responds with a half-assed PUNCH.
    The Mechanic purposely takes it. The Seminarian starts to
    run away. The Mechanic sprints after him, PUNCHING the
    Seminarian in the back of the neck. They fight.

    INT. RECORD STORE STOCKROOM - NIGHT

    A FIST smashes a JAW. Guys CHEER. An arm snakes around a
    neck and squeezes, blood and sweat dripping. It's the
    YUPPIE and the SEMINARIAN fighting. Tyler walks around the
    perimeter of the circle.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Now nobody was the center of fight
    club except the two men fighting.
    The leader walked around in the
    crowd, out in the darkness.

    Tyler hands ENVELOPES out to the crowd.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Everyone took a homework assignment.

    EXT. STREET - LATE NIGHT

    Ricky and another FIGHT CLUBBER paste up a BILLBOARD which
    reads: "DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN USE YOUR OLD MOTOR OIL TO
    FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN! -- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY."

    INT. PAPER STREET HOUSE

    HANDS use a MARKER, writing on a FILE: "Disinformation."

    EXT. LARGE PARKING LOT - DAY

    Jack and Tyler, in work gloves, armed with TOOLS, work
    together to lift the entire METAL PLATE of EXIT SPIKES from
    the ground. They reverse it, then replace it.

    MOMENTS LATER

    Jack and Tyler walk away, each carrying a 4x4 plank of WOOD.

    JACK
    There's fight club in Delaware City.

    TYLER
    I heard. Local 15, Monday nights.

    As they pass PARKED CARS, they SWING the planks against
    front bumpers -- activating ALARMS and INFLATING AIR BAGS...

    JACK
    Local 8 just started in Penns Grove.
    And, Bob said he was at fight club in
    Newcastle last week.

    TYLER
    Newcastle? Did you start that one?

    JACK
    I thought you did.

    In the background, a CAR quickly EXITS the parking lot --
    front tires EXPLODING, wheel rims throwing sparks.

    INT. FAMILY HOUSEHOLD -- NIGHT

    FATHER, MOTHER, YOUNG DAUGHTER and SON, eat dinner, watching
    TELEVISION. Suddenly, the TV IMAGE turns to SNOW and static.

    Family members stop eating. Father picks up the REMOTE,
    points it -- all channels are SNOW.

    Father turns the TV OFF. He and his family members look at
    each other, utensils in hand, uncomfortable.

    EXT. CITY ROOFTOPS - NIGHT

    The Yuppie SWINGS a BASEBALL BAT -- DESTROYS a digital
    SATELLITE DISH. The Yuppie and the Seminarian move on,
    climbing to a neighboring rooftop. They come upon another
    DISH. The Seminarian takes the bat, takes a SWING...

    INT. PAPER STREET HOUSE

    HANDS place NEWS CLIPPINGS into a FILE: "Mischief."

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - ON GROUND - DAY

    Two AIRPLANE MAINTENANCE,MEN, with bruised faces, rip open
    a box from a PRINT SHOP. They dig up AIRPLANE SAFETY
    INSTRUCTION CARDS and begin inserting them into each
    seatback. We SEE a CARD - it shows passengers SCREAMING
    and FLAILING ABOUT IN TERROR.

    INT. BUSINESS OFFICE - NIGHT

    Huge office. Rows and rows of desks. FIGHT CLUB MEMBERS
    work: one guy moving from COMPUTER MONITOR to COMPUTER
    MONITOR, using a DRILL to drill a hole into the top of each.

    Other guys follow behind, with FUNNELS and CANS of GASOLINE,
    filling each monitor with gasoline.

    INT. PAPER STREET HOUSE

    Files and newspaper clippings are piled up. HANDS write on
    a new FILE FOLDER: "Arson."

    EXT. ROOFTOP -- DAY

    The Yuppie crumbles a loaf of stale bread into a bucket,
    stirring it with a big spoon, mixing in a BOTTLE of EX-LAX.

    Nearby, Rob throws handfuls of wet BREADCRUMBS to PIGEONS...
    HUNDREDS of PIGEONS -- a rooftop feeding-frenzy.

    EXT. CONVENIENCE STORE - NIGHT

    Tyler and Jack cross the parking lot, towards the
    convenience store. Jack wears a BACKPACK.

    TYLER
    Let me have that a minute...

    Tyler takes the BACKPACK, unzips it, searching the contents.

    JACK
    What are we doing?

    TYLER
    Homework assignment.

    JACK
    What is it?

    Tyler takes out a HANDGUN, hands the backpack back.

    TYLER
    Human Sacrifice.

    Jack turns white, staring at the gun.

    EXT. BEHIND THE CONVENIENCE STORE - MOMENTS LATER

    The BACK DOOR opens and Tyler brings the store's CLERK out
    at gunpoint, forces him to his knees. Jack follows,
    freaked. Tyler points the gun at the Clerk.

    JACK (V.O.)
    On a long enough time line, the
    survival rate for everyone drops to
    zero.

    CLERK
    Please... don't...

    TYLER
    Give me your wallet.

    The Clerk fumbles his wallet out of his pocket and Tyler
    snatches it. Tyler pulls out the DRIVER'S LICENCE.

    TYLER
    Raymond K. Hessel. 1320 SE Benning,
    apartment A. A small, cramped
    basement apartment.

    RAYMOND
    How'd you know?

    TYLER
    They give basement apartments letters
    instead of numbers. Raymond, you're
    going to die.

    Tyler rummages through the wallet.

    TYLER
    Is this a picture of Mom and Dad?

    RAYMOND
    Yesssss...

    TYLER
    Your mom and dad will have to call
    kindly doctor so-and-so to dig up
    your dental records, because there
    won't be much left of your face.

    RAYMOND
    Please, God, no...

    Raymond begins to weep, shoulders heaving.

    JACK
    Tyler...

    TYLER
    An expired community college student
    ID card. What did you used to study,
    Raymond K. Hessel?

    RAYMOND
    S-S-Stuff.

    TYLER
    "Stuff." Were the mid-terms hard?

    Tyler rams the gun barrel against Raymond's temple.

    TYLER
    I asked you what you studied.

    JACK
    Tell him!

    RAYMOND
    Biology, mostly.

    TYLER
    Why?

    RAYMOND
    I... I don't know...

    TYLER
    What did you want to be, Raymond K.
    Hessel?

    Raymond weeps and says nothing. Tyler COCKS the gun.
    Raymond GASPS.

    TYLER
    The question, Raymond, was "what did
    you want to be?"

    A beat.

    JACK
    Answer him!

    RAYMOND
    A veterinarian!

    TYLER
    Animals.

    RAYMOND
    Yeah ... animals and s-s-s ---

    TYLER
    Stuff. That means you have to get
    more schooling.

    RAYMOND
    Too much school.

    Tyler shoves Raymond's wallet back into Raymond's pocket.

    TYLER
    Would you rather be dead?

    RAYMOND
    No, please, no, God, no!

    Tyler moves the gun right between Raymond's eyes.

    RAYMOND
    NOOOOO!

    Tyler UNCOCKS the gun, lowers it.

    TYLER
    I'm keeping your license. I know
    where you live. I'm going to check
    on you. If you aren't back in school
    and on your way to being a
    veterinarian in six weeks, you will
    be dead. Get the hell out of here.

    Raymond staggers to his feet, heads down an alleyway. Jack
    and Tyler watch Raymond flee, then Tyler looks at Jack.

    JACK
    I feel sick.

    TYLER
    Imagine how he feels.

    Tyler brings the gun to his own head, pulls the trigger --
    CLICK. Empty.

    JACK
    I don't care, that was horrible.

    Tyler walks away.

    TYLER
    Tomorrow will be the most beautiful
    day of Raymond K. Hessell's life.

    Jack watches Tyler go.

    TYLER
    His breakfast will taste better than
    any meal he has ever eaten.

    Jack turns to look the direction Raymond ran. He finally
    turns back, following after Tyler.

    INT. BUSINESS OFFICE - NIGHT

    SLOW MOTION: in the deserted office, gasoline filled
    COMPUTER MONITORS begin to EXPLODE...BOOM...BOOM...BOOM... !

    EXT. CITY STREETS -- MORNING

    Luxury AUTOMOBILES are parked, splattered with BIRD SHIT.

    EXT. PAPER ST. HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAWN

    VIEWED OUT 3RD STORY WINDOW: Tyler uses a RAKE, dragging it
    across rocks and dirt. He stops a moment, rake on his
    shoulder, staring off. Then, back to work...

    TYLER
    (muttering quietly)
    ... You are not how much money you
    have in the bank. You are not the
    shoes you wear.

    Tyler's marking a large SQUARE in the weeds and rubble of
    the backyard, kicking rocks away, dragging the rake...

    TYLER
    You are not the contents of your
    wallet...

    INT. CITY BUS - NIGHT

    The DRIVER has a broken nose. The bus is empty, except for
    Jack, in the very last seat, sleepy.

    JACK (V.O.)
    He had a plan. Maybe you just didn't
    see it till it hit you between the
    eyes.
    (pause)
    But, it started to make sense... in
    a Tyler sort of way. No fear. No
    distractions. The ability to let
    that which does not matter truly
    slide.

    EXT. PAPER STREET - NIGHT

    Jack gets off the bus. As the bus pulls away, we see it
    dropped Jack off right in front of the house.

    INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

    Jack enters. Tyler, dressed in FATIGUES and splattered with
    PAINT, grabs BEERS from the refrigerator.

    JACK
    Hey.

    TYLER
    Hey.

    Jack notices ROPE and RAPPELLING TOOLS on the table. Tyler
    comes to hand Jack a bunch of beers, nod to the living room.

    TYLER
    Go on in. We're celebrating.

    INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

    Jack, bewildered, enters carrying beers. Tyler does NOT
    follow. BOB, RICKY and several other fight club guys sit in
    front at the TV, chanting not too loudly, all also dressed
    in FATIGUES and splattered with PAINT.

    RICKY
    You are not your job.

    OTHERS TOGETHER
    You are not your job.

    RICKY
    You are not how much money you have
    in the bank.

    BOB
    Shhhh, wait... they're back to it...

    Bob goes to turn up the TV. One guy, sixteen years old with
    an angelic face, ANGEL FACE, gets up to take beer from Jack.

    ANGEL FACE
    (to Jack)
    Great, thanks.

    Angel face starts distributing beer amongst his cohorts.

    BOB
    Shhhhh! Watch!

    Jack looks to the TV -- it shows a LIVE shot of the "PARKER
    MORRIS BUILDING." The building has a GIANT, GRINNING FACE
    PAINTED on it -- two BROKEN WINDOWS for EYES, with flames
    pouring out... FIRETRUCKS spray water.

    REPORTER (V.O.)
    Police Commissioner Jacobs has just
    arrived... just a second... excuse
    me, Commissioner, could you tell us
    what you think has happened?

    COMMISSIONER JACOBS, a wrinkled official, turns to camera.

    COMMISSIONER JACOBS (V.O.)
    We believe this is related to the
    recent acts of vandalism around the
    city. It's some kind of organized
    group, and we are coordinating a
    rigorous investigation.

    Jack turns, sees Tyler in the archway, watching him. Tyler
    tips his beer to toast, pulls back, out of sight.

    JACK
    What did you guys do?

    They all BURST INTO LAUGHTER. They look at Jack and shake
    their heads. Jack doesn't get it. Suddenly, the guys'
    faces turn to stone. Bob sits rigid.

    BOB
    The first rule of Project Mayhem
    is... you do not ask questions.

    Jack stares at them.

    CUT TO:

    INT. HOTEL BALLROOM - NIGHT

    A luxurious BANQUET. Commissioner Jacobs guzzles champagne.
    He rises and starts out of the room. Jack, in a WAITER'S
    UNIFORM, looks apprehensively to OTHER WAITERS: BOB...
    RICKY... ANGEL FACE -- who all give each other a look.

    INT. HALLWAY

    Jacobs saunters down an empty hall. He stops to check his
    tie in a mirror. He pushes open the door of the MEN'S
    BATHROOM -- face to face with TYLER.

    INT. BATHROOM

    Tyler GRABS Commissioner Jacobs, pulling him into the
    bathroom. He slaps a piece of tape over Jacobs' mouth. The
    OTHER "WAITERS" rush in. Jack stays back to keep the door
    shut. Tyler and the others hold Jacobs, pulling down his
    pants. Bob snaps a rubber band -- reaches to Jacob s crotch.

    TYLER
    Wrap it around the top of his hackie-
    sack.

    BOB
    Man, his balls are ice cold.

    Ricky produces a KNIFE, moves it down to Jacob's testicles.
    Jacobs is bug-eyed. Jack, red-faced, keeps his distance.

    TYLER
    You're not going to continue your
    "rigorous investigation." You will
    publicly state that there is no
    underground group. Or -- imagine,
    the rest of your life with your
    scrotum flapping empty.

    JACOBS
    (mouth taped)
    ... no... please, no...

    TYLER
    We'll send one to the New York Times
    and one to the Los Angeles Times.
    Press release style. Your nuts will
    be bicoastal. Understood? The
    people you're after are everyone you
    depend on.
    (more)

    TYLER (cont)
    We do your laundry, cook your food
    and serve you dinner. We guard you
    while you sleep. We drive your
    ambulances. Do not fuck with us.

    Ricky makes a dramatic cut with the knife, causing Jacobs to
    JUMP -- Ricky holds up the severed RUBBER BAND.

    EXT. HOTEL - LATER

    Jack, Tyler and the others file quickly out the back SERVICE
    ENTRANCE. Tyler gives Angel Face a hearty slap on the back.
    Angel Face smiles at Tyler, nods, grinning.

    Jack sees this, his eyes narrowing, stops walking.

    INT. TAVERN BASEMENT - NIGHT

    Fight club in full swing. Jack battles Angel Face, BEATING
    the shit out of him with unprecedented viciousness.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I felt like putting a bullet between
    the eyes of every Panda that wouldn't
    screw to save its species.

    The crowd shouts maniacally, save Tyler, who watches with an
    inscrutable stone face.

    Angel Face tries to speak, but Jack POUNDS too hard. Blood
    flies. The crowd begins to grow QUIETER.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I wanted to open the dump valves on
    oil tankers and smother all the
    French beaches I'd never see.

    Finally, Angel Face lies still, unconscious. Jack stops,
    stares down, numb. Jack walks away -- the crowd parts to
    let him pass. Jack scans faces... finds Tyler.

    TYLER
    Where did you go, Psycho-Boy?

    JACK
    I felt like destroying something
    beautiful.

    EXT. STREET NEAR LOU'S TAVERN - LATER

    RAINING. Tyler and Jack walk through pools of streetlight.
    A idling car HONKS. Tyler leads Jack toward it. A bruised-
    faced VALET PARKER thrown keys to Tyler, but Jack intercepts.

    VALET
    There you are, Mr. Durden. Airport
    parking, long term.

    JACK
    (motions to car)
    After you, Mr. Durden...

    TYLER
    No... after you.

    INT. STOLEN CAR

    Tyler gets in the driver's seat. Jack gets into the front
    passenger seat. Ricky and the mechanic are in back.

    EXT. STREET

    Tyler pulls the stolen car away from the curb. It has two
    bumperstickers: "RECYCLE YOUR ANIMALS" and "MAKE MINE VEAL."

    INT. STOLEN CAR - MOVING - LATER

    RAIN GUSHES down. Jack stews, silent. The car moves down
    a HIGHWAY, intermittently illuminated by oncoming headlights.

    TYLER
    Something on your mind?

    JACK
    No.

    Tyler shrugs; turns on the RADIO, ignores Jack.

    JACK
    Why wasn't I told about "Project
    Mayhem?"

    TYLER
    What should I have told you?

    JACK
    Why wasn't I involved from the
    beginning? You and I started fight
    club together.

    TYLER
    Fight club was the beginning. Now
    it's out of the basements and there's a
    name for it -- Project Mayhem.

    RICKY AND MECHANIC
    (together)
    The first rule of Project Mayhem is
    you do not ask questions.

    JACK
    This is as much mine as yours.

    TYLER
    Is this a needlepoint club? Is it
    about you and me?

    JACK
    You know what I mean.

    TYLER
    What do you want? A statement of
    purpose... ?

    JACK
    Look...

    TYLER
    Should I E-mail you? Should I put
    this on your "action item list?"

    JACK
    I want to know --

    TYLER
    What do you want to know about
    Project Mayhem?

    RICKY AND MECHANIC
    (together)
    The first rule of Project Mayhem --

    JACK
    (to Ricky and Mechanic)
    Shut up!!
    (to Tyler)
    I want to know what's going on.

    Tyler steers the car into the opposite lane, accelerates...
    Opposing HEADLIGHTS get closer fast...

    TYLER
    This does not belong to us. We are
    not the leaders. We are not special.

    JACK
    What are you doing?!

    TYLER
    We are the all-singing, all-dancing
    crap of the world. We are all part
    of the same compost heap...

    JACK
    Tyler...

    Tyler steers back into the proper lane. The other CAR flies
    past, HORN SOUNDING...

    JACK
    What the hell ... ?!

    TYLER
    You choose your level of involvement.
    I won't make decisions for you.

    JACK
    I'm not asking you to.

    TYLER
    You're asking questions that don't
    have answers. You know just as much
    about Project Mayhem as anybody else.

    JACK
    I don't think that's true.

    Tyler again steers into the oncoming lane, speeding up.
    Through the windshield: oncoming headlights -- a TRUCK.

    JACK
    Tyler... what is this... !

    Jack fights to turn the wheel, but Tyler uses both hands.

    TYLER
    What will you wish you'd done before
    you died?

    RICKY
    Paint a self-portrait.

    MECHANIC
    Build a house.

    TYLER
    (to Jack)
    And you?

    JACK
    I don't know! Nothing!

    TYLER
    If you died right now, how would you
    feel about your life?

    JACK
    I would feel nothing about my life?
    Is that what you want to hear?!

    The oncoming truck HONKS and FLASHES its LIGHTS. It moves
    to the other side of the road. Tyler steers there, too.

    TYLER
    I want to hear the truth.

    JACK
    Fuck my life. Fuck fight club. Fuck
    you and fuck Marla. I'm sick of
    this. How's that?

    TYLER
    Why do you think I blew up your condo?

    JACK
    What?

    TYLER
    Hitting bottom isn't a weekend
    retreat! It's not a seminar! You
    have to forget everything you know,
    everything you think you know --
    about life, about friendship, about
    you and me.

    Nearing impact with the oncoming truck, Tyler takes his
    hands off the wheel -- Jack keeps his grip, turns the
    wheel... the car swerves...

    The truck ROARS past, spraying water, HORN BLASTING.

    Tyler looks at Jack, his hands in the air. Jack looks at
    Tyler with dead eyes.

    JACK
    Okay, okay... fine...

    Jack takes his hands off the wheel, holds them in the air.
    Tyler studies Jack face, impressed. Tyler makes no move to
    take the wheel.

    THROUGH THR WINDSHIELD: a STALLED CAR ahead on the side of
    the road, surrounded by flares.

    Jack and Tyler's eyes stay locked as the car drifts onto the
    shoulder... heading for the stalled car. Their faces are
    illuminated by the light of the flares. Tyler smiles.

    They SMASH into the stalled car -- AIRBAGS INFLATE! The
    back of their car whips around and carries it into a ass-
    over-tea-kettle ROLL down a hill...

    JACK (V.O.)
    I'd never been in a car accident.
    This must've been what all those
    statistics felt like before I filed
    them into my reports.

    The car finally hits the bottom, lying on its roof.

    EXT. OVERTURNED CAR

    Tyler crawls from the passenger side. He walks around...
    opens the driver's side door and drags Jack out into the
    mud. Ricky and the Mechanic climb out the broken rear
    window. Tyler sits beside the stunned, wounded Jack.

    TYLER
    We just had a near-life experience.

    INT. JACK'S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

    Jack lies in bed, traumatized, eyes empty, staring at the
    ceiling. Tyler sits in a nearby chair.

    TYLER
    In the world I see -- you're stalking
    elk through the damp canyon forests
    around the ruins of Rockefeller
    Center. You will wear leather
    clothes that last you the rest of
    your life. You will climb the wrist-
    thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears
    Tower. You will see tiny figures
    pounding corn and laying-strips of
    venison on the empty car pool lane of
    the ruins of a superhighway.

    Tyler stands, gives Jack's head a pat.

    TYLER
    (leaving)
    Feel better, champ.

    INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

    Jack sits at the table, sips coffee. He's pale, dazed,
    seems broken. He hears the faint SOUND of SAWING and
    HAMMERING, unsure of where it's coming from.

    Marla walks into the kitchen and goes straight to the
    counter. Her back is to Jack as he looks at her. She pours
    ccffee and lights a cigarette. A beat of silence, then:

    MARLA
    I'll be out of your way in a sec.

    She seems to be as weak as Jack.

    JACK
    You... don't have to... leave.

    MARLA
    Whatever.

    JACK
    Really... I mean it.
    (pause)
    Have you been going to your groups?

    MARLA
    Chloe's dead.

    JACK
    When?

    MARLA
    Do you care?

    JACK
    I don't know.

    MARLA
    It was the smart move on her part.

    Marla turns to face Jack, a grim expression on her face.
    There's a BRUISE on her ARM. Jack gets up, moves closer.

    JACK
    Why are we both... caught up like
    this... with... ?

    JACK (V.O.)
    I came so close to saying Tyler's
    name, I could feel it vibrate inside
    my mouth.

    Marla looks a him, waiting.

    JACK
    I don't understand. Why does a weak
    person have to go out and find a
    strong person... to hang onto?

    MARLA
    What do you get out of it?

    Faint SOUND of SAWING and HAMMERING. Jack can't quite
    figure where it's coming from.

    JACK
    You hear that?

    MARLA
    Hear what?

    JACK
    That... sawing and hammering.

    MARLA
    Have we been talking too long? Must
    we change the subject?

    Jack turns -- through the crack of the open basement door,
    Tyler's staring at Jack from the bottom of the stairs.

    TYLER
    (harsh whisper)
    You're not talking about me, are you?

    Jack reacts, turns back to Marla.

    JACK
    (to Marla and Tyler)
    No.

    MARLA
    That day you came over to my place to
    play doctor... what was going on
    there?

    TYLER
    (still a whisper)
    What are you talking about?

    JACK
    (to Marla and Tyler)
    Nothing.

    MARLA
    Nothing? I don't think so.

    TYLER
    (whisper)
    This conversation...

    JACK
    This conversation...

    TYLER
    ... is over.

    JACK
    ... is over.

    Marla comes to touch Jack's hair. Jack closes the basement
    door. Marla sees the kiss-scar on Jack's hand, grabs his
    hand. Jack tries to pull it back, but Marla keeps a grip.

    MARLA
    What is this? Who did this?

    JACK
    ... A person.

    MARLA
    Guy or girl?

    JACK
    Why would you ask if it's a guy or a
    girl?!

    MARLA
    Why would you get bent if I asked?

    JACK
    Let go of me...
    (pulls his hand free)
    Leave me alone.

    MARLA
    You're afraid to say.

    Marla backs away, closes her eyes, struggling with
    frustration. She leaves out the back door, not looking back.

    Jack leans against the wall. After a moment, he opens the
    basement door, heads downstairs...

    INT. BASEMENT STAIRCASE

    Tyler walks upstairs, passing as Jack continues down...

    INT. BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

    Jack looks around. TRIPLE-DECKER BUNKS clutter the
    basement, as many as can fit into the space.

    JACK
    (calling upstairs)
    Tyler... ? What's this for?

    From upstairs, the SOUND of the DOORBELL.

    INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

    Jack opens the door. Ricky stands on the porch, staring
    ahead in subordinate military style. He's in black pants,
    black shirt, black shoes, holds a PAPER BAG, with an army
    surplus MATTRESS rolled-up at his feet.

    JACK
    Um... what can I do for you, Ricky?

    Tyler steps up beside Jack, looks Ricky over.

    TYLER
    You're too young. Sorry.

    JACK
    Wait a minute...

    Tyler comes back inside, shuts the door.

    JACK
    "Too young?"

    TYLER
    If the applicant is young, we tell
    him he's too young. Old, too old.
    Fat, too fat.

    JACK
    "Applicant?"

    TYLER
    If the applicant waits at the door
    for three days without food, shelter
    or encouragement, then he can enter
    and begin training.

    JACK
    "Training?" Tyler...

    EXT. PORCH - MOMENTS LATER

    Jack comes out, walks around Ricky, hands in his pockets,
    unsure. Tyler watches, nods for Jack to go ahead.

    JACK
    Uh, look. You're too... young to...
    train here. You should probably be
    on you way.

    No response from Ricky, who remains at attention. Jack goes
    back inside. Tyler closes the door.

    EXT. PORCH - NIGHT

    Ricky remains at attention. Jack bursts out with a BROOM,
    knocks the brown bag out of Ricky's hand, kicks it away.

    JACK
    Are you deaf?! I told you to leave!
    You will never get inside this house!

    EXT. PORCH - MORNING

    Ricky's still there. Tyler comes out, friendly.

    TYLER
    Look, friend, I'm sorry for the
    misunderstanding. It's not the end
    of the world. Just go away. You're
    trespassing and I will call the
    police. Nothing personal.

    EXT. PORCH - NIGHT

    Ricky, same spot. Jack bursts outside with the broom again.

    JACK
    You're never getting through this
    door, you stupid little weasel! Look
    at me when I talk to you... !

    He WHACKS Ricky in the shoulder with the broom.

    JACK
    What is your major malfunction!?

    INT. JACK'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

    At the window, Tyler sips coffee, watches this scene on the
    PORCH below.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Sooner or later, we all became what
    Tyler wanted us to be.

    EXT. PORCH - MORNING

    Ricky's there. Bob is now next to him, in black, with a
    paper bag in hand, mattress at his feet. Tyler steps out.
    Jack stays in the doorway, locking eyes on Bob. To all the
    following questions, Ricky answers "Sir!" --

    TYLER
    You have two black shirts? Two pair
    black trousers? One pair black
    boots? Two pair black socks? One
    black coat? Three hundred dollars
    personal burial money? Go inside.

    Ricky goes in. Tyler turns to Bob.

    TYLER
    You're too old. Sorry. And, you're
    too fat. Nice seeing you.

    Bob looks genuinely hurt. He picks up his mattress and
    starts away. Tyler looks at Jack and rolls his eyes. Jack
    follows Bob...

    JACK
    Bob... Bob, wait...
    (leading Bob back)
    Let me explain this to you...

    EXT. PORCH -- NIGHT

    CRICKETS CHIRP. Bob stands at at rigid attention.

    INT. 2ND FLOOR LANDING - NIGHT

    Tyler and Jack stand in bathroom doorway, watching Ricky
    finish SHAVING off all of his HAIR. Tyler comes to give the
    top of Ricky's head a sharp SLAP.

    TYLER
    A monkey, ready to be shot into
    space. A Space Monkey, ready to
    sacrifice himself for Project Mayhem.

    From here on, all those with shaved heads: "SPACE MONKEYS."

    EXT. PORCH - DAY

    Jack looks out the window. Bob stands motionless. There's
    another "applicant," a SHORT GUY, beside Bob. Ricky comes
    out the front door with the BROOM...

    RICKY
    (to Bob)
    You're too fucking old, fatty! We
    don't want your kind here!
    (to short guy)
    You're too short. Go away, stumpy!
    Go back to the circus!

    Ricky HITS them with the broom, then goes in, SLAMS THE DOOR.

    JACK (V.O.)
    So it went...

    EXT. BACKYARD - DAY

    Tyler works with a HALF DOZEN SPACE MONKEYS, preparing the
    square of backyard. They pull weeds, clear rocks; working
    with shovels, rakes, etc. They cart away WHEELBARROWS of
    rocks and carry in SACKS of FERTILIZER.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Tyler built his army.

    IN THE KITCHEN WINDOW, Jack watches...

    INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

    Jack keeps watching out the window, eats toast.

    JACK (V.O.)
    To what purpose, might one ask?
    Well, one might ask, if not for the
    first rule of Project Mayhem.

    Jack turns to look around the kitchen. THREE SPACE MONKEYS
    work -- one SCRUBBING the FLOOR, one WASHING DISHES, one
    SCRUBBING the walls. Jack walks out.

    JACK (V.O.)
    In Tyler We Trust.

    INT. JACK'S ROOM - DAY

    Jack opens his eyes, awakening to sunlight thru the window.

    JACK (V.O.)
    And, then...

    INT. UPSTAIRS LANDING - DAY

    Jack slowly pushes open the door to Tyler's room...

    JACK
    Tyler...

    The room is empty. Jack stares.

    JACK (V.O.)
    He was gone.

    INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

    Jack comes downstairs... finds DOZENS of SPACE MONKEYS.

    INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

    Jack enters. Space Monkeys render fat and make soap. They
    pinch HERBS, adding them to the mix. They add VODKA. Off
    to the side, a couple Monkeys stir a vat of RICE. On the
    wall is a big bulletin board with HUNDREDS of DRIVER's
    LICENSES; a sign above it: "HUMAN SACRIFICES."

    FRECKLED SPACE MONKEY
    "You are not a beautiful and unique
    snowflake. You are the same decaying
    organic matter as everything else.
    We are all part of the same compost
    heap."

    JACK (V.O.)
    Planet Tyler.

    Jack dips a spoon into the rice, chomps on it irritatingly.

    FRECKLED SPACE MONKEY
    "We are the all-singing, all-dancing
    crap of the world."

    Jack picks up a BOTTLE of VODKA.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I had to hug the walls, trapped
    inside this clockwork of Space
    Monkeys, cooking and working and
    sleeping in teams.

    INT. READING ROOM - NIGHT

    Jack enters, vodka in hand. TEN SPACE MONKEYS here, reading.

    JACK (V.O.)
    The house became a living thing, wet
    inside from so many people sweating
    and breathing. So many people
    moving, the house moved.

    Jack walks out.

    INT. OFFICE - DAY

    Jack enters. Angel Face reads a book, marks on a chart.
    Space Monkeys shuffle PAPERS and NEWS CLIPPINGS. Walls are
    lined with FILES, each labeled with a STREET ADDRESS, under
    SIGNS: "Mischief," "Disinformation," "Arson."

    Jack's eye lingers on "Arson." He starts flipping through
    a file. Angel Face comes to take the file from him.

    ANGEL FACE
    That wouldn't interest you.

    JACK
    Where's Tyler?

    ANGEL FACE
    The first rule of Project --

    JACK
    Right, right.

    As Angel Face replaces the file, Jack notices -- a LYE-
    BURNED KISS-SCAR on the back of Angel Face's hand.

    EXT. BACK YARD - NIGHT

    Jack takes a swig of vodka, smokes. In the BACKGROUND, a
    Space Monkey WHACKS an APPLICANT with a BROOM. It's a
    ritual; no words. Other Space Monkeys tend the garden.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I'm all alone. I Am Jack's Broken
    Heart.

    Jack drops his cigarette in the gravel, steps on it. A
    Space Monkey immediately comes to clean it up.

    JACK
    Get away from me!

    MARLA'S VOICE (O.S.)
    Who are all these people?

    Jack turns, sees Marla with an overnight bag.

    JACK
    The Paper Street Soap Company.

    MARLA
    Can I come in?

    JACK
    He's not here.

    MARLA
    What?

    JACK
    He's not here! Tyler's not here
    anymore! He's gone away!

    Marla stares at Jack, miserable. A tear runs down her
    cheek. She turns and walks away. Jack watches her go.
    There's a LOUD COMMOTION from the house, VOICES SHOUTING.
    Jack heads to the back door...

    INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

    Jack enters. Ricky crawls, bleeding from a gunshot wound to
    the LEG. Space Monkeys begin a rudimentary job of treating
    the wound. Other Space Monkeys carry in a DEAD BODY in
    BLACK CLOTHES and SKI MASK, putting it on the table.

    JACK
    What's going on?

    Space Monkeys stare at the body. The Mechanic, sweating,
    gets to his knees and pulls the ski mask off the corpse --
    it's BOB, with a gunshot wound to the HEAD.

    JACK
    Bob... oh, Christ...

    Jack pushes past a Space Monkey, stares down, stricken...

    JACK
    What... what happened... ?

    MECHANIC
    (out of breath)
    We were on assignment...

    EXT. SCULPTURE PARK - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

    A SCULPTURE adorned with a giant GLOBE on top.

    MECHANIC (V.O.)
    We were supposed to kill two birds
    with one stone:

    A SERIES of EXPLOSIONS blasts the GLOBE free. It ROLLS...

    MECHANIC (V.O.)
    A piece of corporate art...

    The GLOBE ROLLS downhill, to the street -- rolling over one
    parked LUXURY CAR after another, crunching car roofs and
    causing windows to explode...

    MECHANIC (V.O.)
    ... and trash a trendy coffee bar.

    Then, the GLOBE arrives at the lobby of a HOTEL...
    BROADSIDES a limo, RICOCHETS... ROLLS directly into the
    front of a closed ARROSTO coffee bar, SMASHING windows...
    DECIMATING coffee push-pats...

    EXT. PARK - AERIAL VIEW - (FLASHBACK CONTINUOUS)

    Bob, the Mechanic and Ricky FLEE, LAUGHING at their
    handiwork. They split up, running O.S.

    MECHANIC (V.O.)
    We had it all worked out, man. It
    went smooth... until...

    HARSH VOICE
    Police! Freeze!

    O.S. SOUNDS of GUNSHOTS and FLASHES of MUZZLE FIRE.

    INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT - (RESUMING)

    The Mechanic looks up from Bob's corpse.

    MECHANIC
    They shot Bob... they shot him in the
    head. Those fuckers...

    Jack walks away from Bob's corpse, distraught, holds his
    head, turns to look back, his eyes filling with tears.

    ANOTHER SPACE MONKEY
    We gotta do something.

    RICKY
    We got to get rid of the evidence.
    We have to get rid of this body.

    ANGEL FACE
    Bury him...

    Jack looks around in disbelief.

    JACK
    What... ?

    ANGEL FACE
    The garden. Take him there. Move,
    people. Let's do this!

    Several Space Monkeys gather around Bob's body.

    JACK
    No... !

    Space Monkeys stop. Jack gets between them and Bob, SHOVES
    a few Space Monkeys back...

    JACK
    Get your hands off him! Get off...!
    What the hell do you think you're
    doing... ? Evidence?! This is a
    man... ! You killed him!

    ANGEL FACE
    He was killed in action.

    JACK
    No! Look at you! You're... you're
    running around in ski masks,
    exploding things...

    ANGEL FACE
    He was killed serving Project Mayhem.

    RICKY
    It's what he would have wanted, sir.

    JACK
    What he wanted? Look... look at him.
    Look at him! What does he want?
    (wipes tears,
    points at Bob)
    This is a person. This is not a cog
    in your machine...

    RICKY
    But, this is Project Mayhem.

    JACK
    No, no. This is a man -- this man
    has a name...

    RICKY
    But, in Project Mayhem, we have no
    names.

    JACK
    No! Wrong! This man's name is
    Robert Paulson.

    RICKY
    Robert Paulson?

    JACK
    Robert Paulson is dead. He's dead,
    because of you...

    MECHANIC
    I understand.

    Everyone just stares at Jack.

    MECHANIC
    In death, a member of Project Mayhem
    has a name.

    JACK
    No -- !

    MECHANIC
    His name is Robert Paulson.

    RICKY
    His name is Robert Paulson!

    JACK
    No!

    ALL SPACE MONKEYS
    His name is Robert Paulson!

    JACK
    Stop that -- !

    ALL SPACE MONKEYS
    (louder)
    His name is Robert Paulson! His name
    is Robert Paulson...

    Jack backs away, surrounded, PUSHES his way out of the room.

    INT. TYLER'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

    Jack barges in, goes to the desk, rifling through drawers.
    He finds FLIGHT COUPONS, used and unused. The used coupons.
    have the flight information, including the destination
    cities. The PHONE RINGS. Jack answers it...

    JACK
    Tyler?

    DETECTIVE STERN'S VOICE
    (from phone)
    This is Detective Stern of the arson
    unit. I'd like to see you in my
    office tomorrow morning...

    Jack, in a panic, HANGS UP.

    INSERT - AN AIRPLANE TAKES OFF...

    INT. PLANE CABIN - DAY

    Jack sits stiffly in a seat.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I went to the cities on Tyler's used
    tickets stubs.

    INSERT - A SIGN: "LA GUARDIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT"

    EXT. AIRPORT - NIGHT

    Jack hurries from the terminal, runs to a TAXI ...

    JACK (V.O.)
    In every city, I branched out from
    the airport to downtown, bar-
    hopping...

    INT. TAXI - IN MOTION, MID-CITY - NIGHT

    Jack's looks out the window, intently watching buildings.

    JACK (V.0.)
    I didn't know how or why, but I could
    look at fifty different bars, and
    somehow I just knew...

    JACK
    (to driver, points)
    Here. Let me out, right here...

    INT. BAR - NIGHT

    Jack enters. He sees several MALE PATRONS with FIGHT
    BRUISES. Jack moves to the bar. The BARTENDER has a broken
    arm and swollen face.

    JACK
    I'm looking for Tyler Durden.

    BARTENDER
    Never heard of him.

    JACK
    This is an emergency. It's important
    I find him.

    BARTENDER
    I wish I could help you... sir.

    The bartender WINKS at Jack.

    INSERT - AERIAL VIEW - ATLANTA SKYLINE - NIGHT

    JACK (V.O.)
    Every city I went to...

    INSERT - AERIAL VIEW - CHICAGO SKYLINE - DAY

    JACK (V.0.)
    ...as soon as I set foot off the
    plane...

    INSERT - AERIAL VIEW - DALLAS SKYLINE - NIGHT

    JACK (V.).)
    ...I knew fight club was close.

    INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL - NIGHT

    Jack RUNS through the airport, lugging his suitcase.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Tyler was setting up franchises, all
    over the country.

    INT. DRY CLEANERS - DAY

    The PROPRIETOR, his head bandaged, is confronted by Jack.

    JACK
    I need to know where Tyler is. Can't
    you help me?

    BANDAGED PROPRIETOR
    Sir, you're disturbing the other
    patrons with your laudish behavior.

    JACK
    (pointing)
    There's no one else here.

    BANDAGED PROPRIETOR
    I'm sorry, I haven't the faintest
    idea what you're talking about.

    JACK
    Look at my face. I'm a member. I
    just need to know if you've seen
    Tyler Durden.

    BANDAGED PROPRIETOR
    I'm not disclosed to bespeak any such
    information to you, nor would I, even
    if I had said information you want,
    at this juncture be able.

    Jack looks around, incredibly frustrated.

    JACK
    You are a moron.

    BANDAGED PROPRIETOR
    I'm afraid I have to insist you leave.

    Jack gives up, shoves his way out the door.

    INT. CITY BUS - DAY

    Jack sits on the bus, looking out the window. The bus stops.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Under and behind and inside
    everything I took for granted,
    something horrible had been growing.

    OUT THE WINDOW, a CONSTRUCTION WORKER with a BROKEN NOSE
    works a jackhammer. He stops, wipes his brow.

    INT. SPORTS BAR - DAY

    TVs show football. Jack is seated with TWO BRUISED PATRONS.

    BRUISED PATRON #1
    No one's ever seen him. No one knows
    what he looks like.

    BRUISED PATRON #2
    He has facial reconstructive surgery
    every three years.

    JACK
    That's the stupidest thing I've ever
    heard.

    BRUISED PATRON #1
    Is it true about fight club in Miami?

    BRUISED PATRON 12
    Is Mr. Durden building an army?

    JACK (V.O.)
    Am I asleep... ?

    INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT

    Jack sits awake. Everyone around him is asleep.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Have I slept? I'm not sure if Tyler
    is my bad dream or if I'm Tyler's.

    EXT. MID-TOWN STREETS - DAY

    Jack steps off the sidewalk, hailing a TAXI...

    EXT. CITY ALLEY - DAY

    The alleyway's deserted. Jack heaft to rusty CELLAR DOORS.
    He opens the doors, looks around, heads down stairs...

    JACK (V.O.)
    I was living in a state of perpetual
    deja vu.

    INT. DANK BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

    Jack enters this dark basement, walks ahead in the dim
    light. The place is damp and empty. Jack stops, looks down.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Everywhere I went, I felt I had
    already been there.

    At his feet -- DRIED BLOOD on the concrete floor.

    INSERT - AERIAL VIEW - PHOENIX SKYLINE - DAY

    INT. ANOTHER BAR - DAY

    Jack walks in. The place is empty. He walks to a KITCHEN
    DOOR, opens it and peers in at... a GROUP of KITCHEN WORKERS
    solemnly stand in a circle, chanting...

    KITCHEN WORKERS
    His name is Robert Paulson. His name
    is Robert Paulson...

    MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
    (from behind Jack)
    Welcome back, sir.

    Jack whirls, startled -- facing the wounded BARTENDER, who
    wears a NECK BRACE, his nose a smashed eggplant.

    WOUNDED BARTENDER
    How have you been?

    JACK
    ... You know me?

    WOUNDED BARTENDER
    Is this a test, sir?

    JACK
    Yes... it's a test.

    WOUNDED BARTENDER
    You were in here last Thursday night.

    JACK
    What?

    WOUNDED BARTENDER
    You were standing right where you are
    now, asking how good our security is.
    It's tight as a drum.

    JACK
    Who do you think I am?

    WOUNDED BARTENDER
    Is this part of the test?

    Jack nods slowly. The Bartender holds up his hand, shows
    the KISS SCAR on the back of his hand...

    WOUNDED BARTENDER
    You're the one who did this to me.
    You're Mr. Durden, sir. Tyler Durden.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Please return your seatbacks to their
    full upright and locked position.

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

    Jack bursts inside, out of breath, runs to grab the phone,
    punches a number, doesn't bother to turn on the lamp.

    INTERCUT WITH...

    INT. MARLA'S ROOM - SAME

    Marla answers.

    MARLA
    Yeah?

    JACK
    Marla, it's me. Have we... have we
    ever had sex?

    MARLA
    What kind of stupid question is
    that?!

    JACK
    Because the answer's "yes" or because
    the answer's "no?"

    MARLA
    Is this a trick?

    JACK
    Will you just answer me, for
    Christsake?!

    MARLA
    You mean, you want to know if I think
    we were just having sex or making
    love?

    JACK
    We did make love?

    MARLA
    Is that what you're calling it?

    JACK
    Answer the question!

    MARLA
    You fuck me, then snub me. You love
    me, you hate me. You show me your
    sensitive side, then you turn into a
    total asshole! Is that a pretty
    accurate description of our
    relationship, Tyler?

    JACK (V.O.)
    We've just lost cabin pressure.

    JACK
    What did you say... ?

    MARLA
    What is wrong with you?

    JACK
    Say my name.

    MARLA
    What... ?

    JACK
    Say my name! What's my name!?

    MARLA
    Tyler Durden! Tyler Durden, you
    fucking freak. What's going on? I'm
    coming over there...

    JACK
    Marla, no, wait...

    As Marla HANGS UP. Jack stares at the receiver, dazed...

    TYLER'S VOICE
    We've got six fight clubs in Chicago
    now...

    Jack spins, dropping the phone -- TYLER sits beside him.

    TYLER
    Four in Milwaukee.

    JACK
    What's this all about, Tyler?

    TYLER
    And, we're definitely filling a void
    in the rural South.

    JACK
    Why do people think I'm you?

    TYLER
    You broke your promise. You talked
    to her about me.

    JACK
    Why do people think I'm Tyler Durden?

    TYLER
    Why did you do that?

    JACK
    Answer me, Tyler.

    TYLER
    Why do people think anything?

    JACK
    I don't know! Tell me!

    Tyler shakes his head in disgust, extremely irritated.

    TYLER
    People think that you're me, because
    you and I happen to share the same
    body.

    JACK
    What... ?

    TYLER
    Is this really news to you?

    JACK
    What are you talking about... ?

    TYLER
    Sometimes I control it, and you
    imagine yourself watching me...

    FLASHBACK - HALLWAY - NIGHT

    Commissioner Jacobs checks his tie in a mirror, goes to open
    the door of the MEN'S BATHROOM -- face to face with JACK.

    FLASHBACK - LOU'S BAR BASEMENT - NIGHT

    JACK stands surrounded by eager fight club MEMBERS, under
    the bare bulb, talking and behaving like Tyler...

    JACK
    The first rule of fight club is --
    you don't talk about fight club.

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - RESUMING

    TYLER
    And, sometimes you control it...

    FLASHBACK - EXT. PAPER STREET HOUSE - DAY

    Jack stands in the yard, VODKA in hand, yells at Marla.

    JACK
    He's not here! Tyler's not here
    anymore! He's gone away!

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - RESUMING

    TYLER
    You can see me and hear me, but no
    one else can...

    FLASHBACK - CURBSIDE - NIGHT

    JACK sits alone on the curb, watching the nearby freeway.
    He talks to someone beside him, but nobody's there.

    JACK
    Anyone?
    (thinks)
    My boss, probably.
    (pause)
    Who would you fight?

    Jack listens, looks at the empty space beside him.

    JACK
    Oh, yeah.
    (nodding)
    I didn't really know my Dad...

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - RESUMING

    TYLER
    But, when you fall asleep, I do
    things without you...

    FLASHBACK - TYLER'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

    JACK is on top of Marla, sweating, making violent love...

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - RESUMING

    TYLER
    I go places without you. Get things
    done...

    FLASHBACK - BUILDING - NIGHT

    The Parker Morris Building.

    JACK, Bob, Ricky, Angel Face and another GUY rappel down the
    side, SPRAYING PAINT. JACK is "TYLER" in demeanor,
    mannerisms, speech...

    JACK
    (shouting)
    You are not your job. You are not
    how much money you have in the bank.

    TWO WINDOWS SHATTER OUTWARD -- TWO MEN look out and yell:

    BRUISED MAN #1
    I am not my job!

    BRUISED MAN #2
    I am not how much money I have in the
    bank!

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - RESUMING

    Jack's having trouble catching his breath. Tyler stands.

    TYLER
    There! Happy? I asked for one thing
    from you... one simple promise. Now
    look what you've done!

    JACK
    This isn't possible...

    TYLER
    We're going to have to do something
    about Marla...

    JACK
    What... what are you saying?

    TYLER
    It's okay. We okay... a little
    codependent, sure, but...

    Jack shakes his head in disbelief, in denial...

    JACK
    No! This isn't true. We... we were
    around other people, together, both
    of us...

    TYLER
    You never talked to me in front of
    anyone else.

    JACK
    Wrong, wrong -- what about the car
    crash... the two guys in the backseat?

    TYLER
    What about them? They're lunatics.

    JACK
    You took me to the house.

    TYLER
    The house is rented in your name.

    JACK
    You have jobs.

    TYLER
    Night jobs -- while you were sleeping.

    JACK
    What about Marla?

    TYLER
    What about Marla?

    JACK
    She's... you... you're fucking her.

    TYLER
    Um, well... technically, no.

    Jack stands, trying to absorb, feeling ill, trying to find
    words, then -- he suddenly FAINTS to the floor, OUT COLD.

    JACK (V.O.)
    It's called a "changeover." The
    movie goes on, and nobody in the
    audience has any idea.

    INT. HOTEL ROOM - PRE-DAWN

    Jack's eyes snap open. He sits up, alone. He remembers the
    previous night... looks at himself in the mirror... looks at
    the clock -- 4:35am.

    INT. HALLWAY

    The room door SLAMS OPEN as Jack bursts out of the room,
    carrying his suitcase, SPRINTING for the STAIRWELL...

    INT. STAIRWELL

    Jack races down, three steps at a time, dragging his
    suitcase - BOOM, BOOM, BOOM - behind him...

    INT. LOBBY

    Jack hurries to the front door, his suitcase half-broken
    open, passing the front desk. A DESK CLERK calls after him.

    DESK CLERK
    Sir... sir? Are you checking out?

    JACK
    Yes.

    The clerk follows the length of the counter, waves a PAPER.

    DESK CLERK
    Please initial this list of phone
    calls.

    JACK
    Bill me!

    Jack goes out the door, freezes. He rushes back in, going
    to the desk -- snatches the bill, studies it: many NUMBERS.

    JACK
    Wait...when were these made?

    DESK CLERK
    It says right there, sir... between
    two and three-thirty this morning.

    Jack looks at the clerk, at the bill, at the clerk.

    JACK
    I need a copy of this.

    INT. AIRPLANE CABIN - IN FLIGHT - DAY

    Jack stares out the window, his face set hard.

    JACK (V.O.)
    Had I been going to bed earlier every
    night? Have I been sleeping later?
    Has Tyler been in charge longer and
    longer?

    EXT. PAPER STREET - DAY

    A TAXI halts. Jack leaps out, points to the GRUNGY CABBIE.

    JACK
    Wait here.

    INT. PAPER ST. HOUSE, LIVING ROOM/KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

    Jack walks in to find the place EMPTY and DESERTED. He
    continues on into the KITCHEN, gawks at BATHTUBS and
    CANISTERS holding vast amounts of liquid. There are HOSES,
    GAS MASKS, BEAKERS, TEST TUBES and PUMPS.

    He picks up a BOTTLE labeled "NITRIC ACID."

    INT. TYLER'S ROOM

    Jack sits by the PHONE, pulls out the HOTEL BILL, runs his
    finger up and down the list of PHONE NUMBERS...

    JACK (V.O.)
    Deja vu, all over again...

    Jack finger stops on a NUMBER. He dials, phone to his ear.

    VOICE
    (from phone)
    Eighteen-eighty-eight.

    Jack sees a file on the wall: "1888 CENTURY PARK EAST."

    JACK
    Who is this?

    VOICE
    Maintenance.

    JACK
    Listen, something is going to happen,
    something terrible...

    VOICE
    Very good, Sir.

    JACK
    Excuse me?

    VOICE
    Don't worry about us, sir. We're
    solid.

    JACK
    Now wait, there's been a mix-up.
    Everything's changed...

    VOICE
    You told me you'd say that.

    JACK
    Abort the plan.

    VOICE
    You told me you'd say that, too.

    JACK
    Did I tell you I'd call you a fascist
    dickhead?!

    VOICE
    Well, sir, you said you might.

    Jack HANGS UP, desperately dials the next number on the bill.

    DIFFERENT VOICE
    (front phone)
    Twenty-one-sixty. Maintenance.

    Jack sees a file: "2160 PICO BOULEVARD." He throws the
    phone, pocketing the bill. He grabs up all the FILES.

    EXT. MARLA'S HOTEL - SUNSET

    Jack's TAXI halts. Marla walks out of the lobby doors, sees
    Jack getting out of the cab, laden with files...

    JACK
    Marla!

    Marla makes a sharp turn, walking away. Jack follows,
    hugging the files to his chest, catching up.

    JACK
    Marla...

    MARLA
    Your whacked-out, bald freaks hit me
    with a fucking broom. I thought they
    were going to break my arm.

    JACK
    I'm sorry, I...

    MARLA
    The were burning their fingertips
    with lye. The stink was unbelievable.

    JACK
    Marla... I need to talk to you. It's
    going to take a tremendous act of
    faith on your part for you to hear me
    out.

    MARLA
    Here comes an avalanche of bullshit.

    Marla heads into a DINER. Jack follows...

    JACK
    -- A little more faith than that.

    INT. DINER - MOMENTS LATER

    Marla sits in a BOOTH. Jack sits across from her.

    MARLA
    I don't want to hear anything you've
    got to say.

    JACK
    Give me a minute, Marla, alright...
    just sixty seconds.

    MARLA
    Sixty seconds, then I'm out of here.

    JACK
    Absolutely, you have every right. I
    need you to do me a favor.

    MARLA
    I've done you enough favors.

    A WAITER with a BLACK EYE appears at the table.

    WAITER
    Sir! Anything you order is free of
    charge, sir.

    MARLA
    Why is it free of charge?

    JACK
    Because... I'm Tyler Durden.

    MARLA
    Then, I'll have the clam chowder...
    fried chicken and a baked potato with
    everything and a chocolate chiffon
    pie.

    Jack look to the pass-through WINDOW into the kitchen where
    THREE COOKS look out with STITCHES in their faces.

    JACK
    Clean food, please.

    WAITER
    In that case, sir, may I advise
    against the lady eating the clam
    chowder?

    JACK
    Thanks, no clam chowder. That's it.

    The waiter snaps to attention and leaves.

    MARLA
    You got about thirty seconds.

    JACK
    (takes a deep breath)
    I know that I've been... unwell. I
    know it's been like there's two sides
    to me.

    MARLA
    Two sides? You're Dr. Jeckle and Mr.
    Jackass.

    JACK
    I deserve that. Anyway, I've... I've
    only just realized

    MARLA
    What?

    JACK
    I mean, the depth and breadth of our
    relationship has only recently been
    illuminated for me. I know this...
    I know us hasn't been such a great
    thing for you...

    MARLA
    Whatever.
    (to waiter)
    I'll take my food to go...

    Marla's getting up to go, but Jack rises, fed up, takes her
    by the arm, putting her back in her seat.

    JACK
    Sit down! Sit down and give me my
    last fifteen seconds without opening
    your mouth!

    Marla crosses her arms. Jack collects himself.

    JACK
    I'm trying to tell you -- and this is
    where you have to trust me -- but, I
    think your life might be in real
    danger.

    MARLA
    What?

    JACK
    You have to get out of here. Leave
    as soon as possible. Go to any rural
    town, away from any major city...

    MARLA
    You are an insane person.

    JACK
    Marla...

    MARLA
    No, no, shut up! I've had enough.
    I tried, Tyler... I have tried...

    Marla's getting upset, tears coming to her eyes.

    MARLA
    There's a part of you I really like,
    but I can't do this anymore. I just
    can't. This is killing me...

    JACK
    I'm sorry, but I...

    MARLA
    What?! You're sorry? I don't
    believe that for a minute.

    Marla gets up. Jack grabs for her, but she's gone, heading
    for the door. Jack gathers his files, runs to follow...

    EXT. DINER - MOMESTS LATER

    Jack pushes out the door, files under one arm, catching up...

    JACK
    I can't explain. You wouldn't
    believe me anyway. I'm trying to
    protect you...

    Jack grabs her arm, tries to hail a TAXI, but the taxi races
    past. Marla pulls free, screaming at him...,

    MARLA
    Let go of me!

    JACK
    Do this for me, Marla. Do this for
    me, if you never do anything else...

    Jack spots a BUS idling further up the street.

    MARLA
    Leave me alone! I don't ever want to
    see you again!

    JACK
    Okay, if that's what it takes, you'll
    never have to see me again.
    (digs in his pocket)
    Here... here...

    He pulls MONEY from his pocket, holding it out.

    JACK
    Take this money, get on this bus...
    (pointing to bus)
    Get on, and I promise you, I'll never
    bother you again, if that's what you
    want. Please...

    Marla looks at Jack, numb.

    MARLA
    Tyler...

    JACK
    I'm begging you. Get on the bus.
    Get on the bus.

    Marla takes the money from Tyler, walks towards the bus. As
    they approach it, Jack shields his eyes, afraid to look...

    MARLA
    Why are you doing this?

    JACK
    I can't let myself see where you're
    going. Go wherever it takes you,
    remember... keep away from major
    cities...

    Marla stands at the doors of the bus, heartbroken, gives one
    last look at Jack.

    MARLA
    (holds up the money)
    I'm not paying this back. I consider
    it "asshole tax."

    JACK
    Yes, fine. Just, get on. Stay away
    a couple of weeks, at least.

    Jack's still covering his eyes. Marla gets on the bus.

    MARLA
    Tyler...

    Jack finally looks to her.

    MARLA
    You are the worst thing that ever
    happened to me.

    DOORS HISS SHUT. The BUS LEAVES, heading away. Jack seems
    relieved. Then, a SCREAM is HEARD from MARLA...

    Jack turns, looks... THROUGH THE BUS WINDOWS: the bus is
    filled with BALD MEN IN BLACK: Space Monkeys.

    Jack SPRINTS after the bus...

    The bus speeds away. Onboard, Space Monkeys subdue Marla.

    Jack falls to the asphalt, rolls, files-flying.

    JACK
    Son of a bitch!

    INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

    Jack RUNS to the front desk, crazed, dumps the armload of
    files on the desk in front of the DESK SERGEANT...

    JACK
    (loudly)
    I want you to arrest me. I'm the
    leader of a terrorist organization
    responsible for acts of vandalism all
    over the city. Detective Stern in
    arson knows who I am...

    INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - LATER

    Detective Stern and THREE DETECTIVES stand, staring at Jack,
    who's seated. On the table are the phone bill and files.

    JACK
    There are probably several hundred
    members in the metropolitan area.
    Chapters are sprouting in at least
    five other major cities. They're
    tightly-regimented, with many cells
    capable of operating without a
    central leader. Check this address:
    1537 Paper Street. You'll find the
    body of Robert Paulson buried in the
    garden. You'll also find numerous
    tubs used to make gallons of
    nitroglycerin. The plan, I believe,
    is to blow up these credit card
    headquarters and the TRW building.

    STERN
    Why these buildings?

    JACK
    You are not your job. You are not
    how much money you have in the bank.

    STERN
    (to other detectives)
    Keep him talking.

    Stern leaves. A beat, then, the remaining Detectives smile
    at Jack with REVERENCE.

    FLAT-TOP DETECTIVE
    I really admire what you're doing.
    You're a brave man to order this.

    JACK
    What?

    REDHEAD DETECTIVE
    You're a genius, sir.

    They grab Jack and force him on his back on the table.
    Flat-Top has a rubber band; the Bald Detective has a knife.

    BALD DETECTIVE
    You know the drill. You said if
    anyone ever tries to interfere with
    Project Mayhem, even you, we got to
    get his balls.

    Flat-Top PULLS Jack's pants completely off, tosses them
    aside. Jack SCREAMS. Flat-Top holds his legs.

    FLAT-TOP
    It's useless to fight.

    REDHEAD
    This is really a powerful gesture,
    Mr. Durden. It'll set quite an
    example.

    JACK
    No... you're making a mistake!

    FLAT-TOP
    You told us you'd say that.

    JACK
    I'm not Tyler Durden!

    BALDY
    You told us you'd say that, too.

    JACK
    Okay, I am Tyler Durden and I'm
    ordering you to abort the mission!

    FLAT-TOP
    You said you would definitely say
    that.

    BALDY
    What's our best time for a "cut and
    run?"

    FLAT-TOP
    Four minutes.

    BALDY
    Is somebody timing this?

    REDHEAD
    (looks at his watch)
    Wait till the second hand gets to the
    twelve.

    A KNOCK at the door. Flat-Top slaps a hand over Jack's
    mouth. He and Redhead block view of the table as Baldy
    opens the door a crack. Stern mutters:

    STERN
    Some of this info checks out. Let's
    go to the place on Paper Street.

    Baldy glances back at the other Detectives, leaves, closing
    the door. The two remaining Detectives continue. Jack kicks
    and screams and writhes. The Detectives wrangle him, but
    with more difficulty, now that Baldy's gone.

    REDHEAD
    (checking his watch)
    Mr. Durden, you're going to fuck up
    the time!

    Jack gets one leg free, KICKS, knocks Flat-top backwards --
    Flat-Top SLAMS the wall, falls. Redhead lets go of one of
    Jack's arms, jams his elbow into Jack's throat... cutting
    off the airway. Jack's face reddens... he's choking...

    Jack's free hand reaches, searching.. pulls Redhead's GUN
    and points it at him. Redhead backs off. Jack gets up,
    gasping for air, PISTOL-WHIPS Flat-top as he rises.

    Jack grabs one of the files off the table.

    EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY

    Jack, without pants, in BOXER SHORTS, escapes out the BACK
    DOOR. He looks at the ADDRESS on the file folder.

    EXT. STREET

    Jack SPRINTS down the middle of the street, gun in hand,
    looking like a complete madman. Cars almost hit him.

    EXT. BANK BUILDING - LATER

    Jack, sweating and panting, stops, looks... then heads
    toward the BUILDING with the address "1888."

    EXT. 1888 LOBBY

    Jack tries the door. Locked. He lifts a cast iron bench,
    runs forward -- RAMS it into the glass. The bench
    immediately recoils from the glass, SLAMS Jack's groin!
    Jack falls to his knees, doubled over, holding his package.
    Then, he rises, SHOOTS the glass...

    INT. 1888 LOBBY

    Jack pushes through the broken glass. He sprints for the
    "PARKING" door...

    INT. GROUND LEVEL - PARKING

    Jack enters, looks -- NO CARS. He bolts to the STAIRS...

    INT. TOP-LEVEL PARKING AREA - SEVENTH FLOOR

    Jack enters, heaving. Again, NO CARS. He moves from one
    SUPPORT POST to another, searching. He finally spies,
    across the garage, NINE LARGE CANISTERS, heavily-WIRED.

    Jack runs to the BOMB, frantic. He walks around it.
    There's a DIGITAL CLOCK, ticking down from "10:05"...

    Jack moves to pull the lid off one CANISTER, looks inside..

    TYLER
    Could be worse...

    Jack looks -- Tyler's seated, his back against one post.

    TYLER
    You could be standing under 37
    stories of steel and concrete with a
    150 gallons of nitroglycerin strapped
    to the support... oh, maybe it
    couldn't be...

    JACK
    (points at bomb)
    You... you can't be serious about
    this.

    TYLER
    What a ridiculous thing to say.

    JACK
    I can't let you...

    TYLER
    ...go through with this?
    What are you going to do?

    JACK
    I'm going to...

    TYLER
    ...stop me?

    JACK
    I'm not going...

    TYLER
    ...to let this happen!

    JACK
    Stop finishing...

    TYLER
    ...your sentences! They're
    our sentences. Get your mind around
    that.

    Tyler gets up walks to Jack.

    TYLER
    What are you doing running through
    the streets in your underpants? We
    both use that body.

    JACK
    Since when is Project Mayhem about
    murder?

    TYLER
    The buildings were evacuated thirty
    minutes ago. Everything's proceeding
    exactly as planned.

    JACK
    You don't know that. There could
    still be people inside.

    Tyler keeps walking around, crosses his arms.

    TYLER
    Maybe. Maybe a couple of guys with
    shaved heads couldn't synchronize
    their watches. Good riddance.

    Jack looks back to the BOMB, goes to it, wipes sweat off his
    face. He starts finger the MANY WIRES, sorting them.

    TYLER
    I wouldn't be doing that. Unless you
    know which wires, in what order...

    JACK
    If you know, I know.

    Jack holds his gun under one armpit, uses both hands to go
    through the tangle of colored wires.

    TYLER
    Or... maybe I knew you'd know, so I
    spent the whole day thinking about
    the wrong ones.

    Jack chooses one wire, GREEN, holds it in his fingers.

    JACK
    If I'm wrong, we're both dead..

    TYLER
    This is not about martyrdom.

    Jack twists the GREEN WIRE around his finger.

    JACK
    I'm pulling the green wire.

    TYLER
    Green? Did you say green?

    Tyler comes a little closer, leaning to try to get a look,
    seems genuinely concerned.

    JACK
    Yes...

    TYLER
    Don't pull the green wire. Pull
    anything but the green wire.

    JACK
    Fuck you.

    TYLER
    I'm serious. That's the wrong one.

    Jack's unsure, swallowing, pulling the wire taunt, fingers
    trembling. The SOUND of a VEHICLE is HEARD from below...

    TYLER
    Hear that? Marla's here. Just in
    the nick of time, eh?

    Jack looks to Tyler. Tyler points towards the SOUND...

    TYLER
    See for yourself.

    Jack releases the wire, walks to a RAILING, gun in hand,
    keeps an eye on Tyler. Jack looks over the railing...

    BELOW, a BUS idles. The doors open and MARLA'S dragged out,
    kicking and screaming, carried by SIX SPACE MONKEYS...

    MARLA
    You motherfuckers...

    They carry Marla into the BUILDING'S ENTRANCE.

    Jack leans against the railing, exhausted.

    TYLER
    I've got everything. The bombs. The
    army. I've got Marla.

    JACK
    Bob is dead, Tyler. The police blew
    a hole in his head. Was that part of
    your plan?

    Tyler thinks, shrugs.

    TYLER
    Bob was a grown man. In any great
    struggle, there will be casualties.
    Wouldn't that be implicit in the
    name? Project "Mayhem."

    JACK
    Fuck your struggle. I want out.

    TYLER
    You want out?

    JACK
    I quit.

    TYLER
    Not an option, for the most obvious
    of reasons. You need to get with the
    program.
    (looks at his watch)
    Seven minutes. Let's get out of here.

    Tyler's walks away. Jack looks at the gun in his hand. He
    points the gun at Tyler...

    JACK
    Tyler...

    TYLER
    (still walking away)
    What?

    JACK
    (COCKS the gun)
    Defuse the bomb.

    Tyler stops walking.

    TYLER
    Ask me nicely.

    JACK
    Defuse the bomb, please.

    TYLER
    Defuse the bomb?

    JACK
    Yes.

    Tyler strides towards the BOMB. Jack trains the gun...

    JACK
    Please.

    Tyler looks at the BOMB, reaches over to it. He grips the
    GREEN WIRE, yanks it out -- the CLOCK STOPS.

    Jack lowers his gun.

    TYLER
    I did that for you. As a gesture.
    Now, how fast can you run? There are
    ten other bombs, in ten other
    buildings in the immediate area. If
    you're going to get them all, you
    better get cracking.
    (looks at watch)
    Six minutes. Green wires, remember.
    I'll be upstairs.

    Jack's stunned. Tyler walks across the parking garage, past
    Jack, heading for the STAIRS.

    Jack aims the gun at Tyler's back, FIRES!

    Tyler ducks to one side, impossibly quick, avoiding...

    Tyler spins to face Jack.

    TYLER
    Whoa! What was that all about?

    Jack aims... FIRES!

    Tyler DODGES behind a post as the BULLET THROWS CONCRETE.

    Jack edges forward, gun held in both hands, moves around the
    post... Tyler is NOT THERE. Jack turns, takes slow steps,
    moving the gun from side to side...

    Suddenly, a FIST ENTERS FRAME -- SLUGS Jack's face.

    Jack falls. The gun goes CLATTERING across the floor...

    Jack turns, looking... Tyler's GONE. Jack looks to the gun,
    scrambles to his feet, running to pick up the gun...

    Tyler KICKS Jack in the chest, sends Jack sprawling.

    Jack rolls, holding his chest. He looks up, sees Tyler run
    into the STAIRWELL. Jack grabs the gun and follows...

    INT. STAIRWELL

    Jack smashes the door open. The stairwell's empty. Jack
    RUNS up a flight of stairs, kicks open ANOTHER DOOR...

    INT. MAIN LOBBY

    Jack steps forward, gun up... TWO INTERLOCKED HANDS SLAM
    down onto his head. Jack drops to the floor.

    Tyler backs away, laughing. Jack gets to his feet, aims his
    gun...

    TYLER
    Fire at will.

    Jack clenches his teeth, FIRING -- nothing happens to Tyler.
    Jack FIRES TWICE -- no effect. Tyler raises his arms.

    TYLER
    What did you expect?

    Jack charges. Tyler dodges, PUNCHES, knocks the gun out of
    Jack's hand. They FIGHT, trading PUNCHES, grappling, taking
    each other to the floor...

    CUT TO:

    INT. SECURITY OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

    Banks of SECURITY MONITORS sit unmanned.

    ON ONE MONITOR: Jack is seen in the lobby, on the floor,
    alone, wrestling himself. He swings his left hand up,
    punching empty air, then swings his right hand -- PUNCHING
    himself in the side of the head...

    INT. MAIN LOBBY

    Tyler and Jack fight viciously, bloodied. Tyler manages to
    get his hands around Jack's throat, starts BANGING Jack's
    head against the floor...

    SECURITY MONITOR P.O.V.

    ... Jack's got his hands around his own throat, BANGING his
    own head against the floor, over and over...

    INT. MAIN LOBBY

    Jack manages to break Tyler's grip, KICKS Tyler away.
    Tyler springs to his feet, RUNS, heading for a STAIRCASE.

    Jack gets up, breathing hard, holding his head, follows...

    ON THE STAIRS, Tyler reaches the LOFT LEVEL, above the
    lobby, disappears around a corner. Jack's right behind,
    turning the corner -- Tyler's NOT THERE.

    Jack receives a SHARP SLAP on the back of the head. He
    wheels. Tyler isn't there. A TAP on his shoulder. Jack
    turns around -- WHAM! -- Tyler PUNCHES his face. Jack falls
    against the loft railing. Tyler comes forward, SWINGS...

    SECURITY MONITOR P.O.V.

    Jack PUNCHES himself square in the nose!

    INT. MAIN LOBBY

    Jack's dazed. Tyler grabs Jack's shirt, pulls him forward,
    SWINGS HIM -- THROWS him DOWN THE STAIRS...

    Jack TUMBLES horribly down... HITS BOTTOM, striking his head
    on the floor. Jack PASSES OUT...

    FADE TO BLACK:

    INT. LARGE SOCIAL ROOM - TOP FLOOR

    CLOSE ON: Jack's head jerks back as he SNAPS AWAKE. He
    looks around, trying to focus his eyes...

    JACK'S P.O.V. -- TRACKS in the sawdust of the floor, from
    where his body was dragged across to where he is how.

    CLOSE ON: Jack tries to comprehend. He turns his head --
    TYLER'S HAND brings the GUN up, PUTS THE GUN IN JACK'S
    MOUTH. Jack freezes, looks around with his eyes...

    PULL BACK TO:

    Tyler is seated in Jack's lap. Tyler holds the gun in
    Jack's mouth, his arm around him. This huge room is being
    remodeled. Tyler and Jack are seated near floor-to-ceiling
    windows affording a spectacular view of the CITY.

    Tyler looks at his watch.

    TYLER
    One minute.

    JACK (V.O.)
    I think this is about where we came
    in.

    TYLER
    (looking out window)
    This is the beginning. We're at
    ground zero. Maybe you should say a
    few words, to mark the occasion.

    JACK
    i... ann....iinn.. ff....nnyin...

    Jack tongues the barrel to the side of his mouth.

    JACK
    (still distorted)
    I still can't think of anything.

    Tyler checks his watch.

    TYLER
    It's getting exciting now.

    Jack turns, so he can see down -- 31 STORIES.

    TYLER
    Look what we've accomplished.
    (checks watch)
    Thirty seconds.
    (looks out windows)
    Out these windows, we will view the
    economic collapse. One step closer
    to global equilibrium. I'm glad
    you're here with me.

    Tyler watches the skyline, WHISTLES at tune, waiting.

    JACK
    (distorted)
    Can't you call it off... ?

    TYLER
    It's out of our hands.
    (looks at watch)
    This is it.

    JACK
    Please...

    TYLER
    Fifteen seconds now. Can you see
    alright? 10... 9... 8....

    Tyler looks out the windows, at SURROUNDING BUILDINGS,
    excited. Jack closes his eyes, despairing.

    TYLER
    5... 4... 3... 2...

    Out the window, the SKYLINE remains unchanged. Nothing. A
    long beat. A very dark scowl comes over Tyler's face.

    Jack opens his eyes. More waiting. Tyler looks genuinely
    surprised, pissed-off.

    TYLER
    What the fuck -- ?

    JACK
    Paraffin.

    TYLER
    What?

    JACK
    (relieved)
    Paraffin. Your merry band mixed the
    nitro with paraffin. I saw it
    floating in the bomb.
    (more)

    JACK (cont)
    They must've run out of cotton and
    Epsom salt. Paraffin is iffy at best.

    Tyler rises, taking the gun from Jack's mouth, starts
    pacing. Jack rubs his sore jowls, allows himself a smile.

    TYLER
    Damn it! God-damn it...

    JACK
    Not exactly according to plan.

    TYLER
    Do we have to do everything
    ourselves?!

    Tyler stops walking, lets out a sigh of disgust. He reaches
    into his pocket, taking out a WALKIE TALKIE.

    TYLER
    (into WALKIE TALKIE)
    ... Codename Rooster. Passcode First
    Strike...

    Jack's eyes go wide.

    JACK
    NO...

    TYLER
    (into WALKIE TALKIE)
    Proceed with remote detonation.

    Jack leaps -- TACKLES Tyler. The GUN is knocked away. Jack
    STRIKES Tyler's face repeatedly with his elbow, scrambles
    off...

    Jack gets the gun, turns, pointing it. Tyler's getting to
    his feet, sees the gun, annoyed. Jack stands.

    TYLER
    Haven't we already done this?

    Jack SHOOTS TWICE. Bullets pass right thorough Tyler.
    Tyler just rolls his eyes, drops the walkie-talkie to the
    floor and STOMPS on it, CRUSHING it.

    JACK
    (pointing)
    How'd you do that?! You're a fucking
    figment of my imagination... you're
    psychogenic fugue state...

    TYLER
    Fuck that, maybe you're my
    hallucination.

    Jack falters, pointing at Tyler's feet. There's no walkie-
    talkie there. Jack looks down, sees the WALKIE-TALKIE
    CRUSHED under his own foot.

    JACK
    Oh... Christ...

    Jack holds his head, walks around, at his wit's end.

    JACK
    Why... why... why... ?

    TYLER
    Why what?

    JACK
    Why can't I get rid of you? Why
    can't I just wish you away?

    TYLER
    You need me.

    JACK
    No, no, I don't.
    (pause)
    I thank you, I really do. Thank you,
    but I don't need you anymore.

    TYLER
    Look, I can be selfish, I know that.
    (pause)
    I'm not blind to my own failings...

    JACK
    Noooo, please...

    Jack backs up against a window, numb and weary.

    TYLER
    From now on, we'll share Marla.
    We've been spending too much time
    apart...

    JACK
    ... no, no, no...

    TYLER
    No more running off without you.
    From here on out, we do it together.

    JACK
    Why are you doing this?!

    TYLER
    I'm doing this for us.

    JACK
    Please understand... I've gotten all
    I can from this, Tyler.

    TYLER
    (sullen)
    If I leave, you will be right back
    where I found you...

    JACK
    I swear on my life, I won't...

    TYLER
    You will. You know you will.

    Jack stares at Tyler, tears welling up, hangs his head. He
    looks at the gun in his hand...

    TYLER
    Can you live with that?

    Jack stares at the gun a long time... then...

    Jack brings the gun up, PUTS THE GUN IN HIS MOUTH.

    Tyler cocks his head.

    TYLER
    What are you doing?

    JACK
    What have you left for me?

    TYLER
    Why do you want to do that? Why do
    you want to put that gun in your
    mouth?

    JACK
    Not my mouth. Our mouth.

    Tyler is calm.

    TYLER
    This is interesting.

    Tyler smiles in appreciation, slowly walks forward, stands
    very close to Jack.

    TYLER
    Why are you going with this, Ikea-
    boy?

    JACK
    It's the only way to get rid of you...

    Jack COCKS the hammer on the gun.

    TYLER
    I can see you feel very strongly. I
    feel strongly too.
    (pause)
    Hey, you and me.
    (pause)
    Friends again?

    Their eyes are locked, unblinking. Long silence.

    JACK
    Do something for me.

    TYLER
    What?

    JACK
    Appreciate something.

    TYLER
    What?

    JACK
    Look at me...

    TYLER
    What?

    JACK
    My eyes are open.

    EXTREME SLOW MOTION:

    Jack's finger squeezes the trigger...

    KABLAM! -- Jack's cheeks INFLATE with gas. His eyes bulge.
    BLOOD flies out from his head. The WINDOW behind him
    SHATTERS. SMOKE wafts out of his mouth and tear ducts.

    RESUME NORMAL SPEED as the GLASS FALLS behind Jack...

    Tyler stands, in gunsmoke, eyes glazed, sniffs the air...

    TYLER
    What's that smell... ?

    Jack slumps to the floor... Tyler falls...

    Tyler hits the ground. The back of TYLER'S HEAD is BLOWN
    OPEN, revealing blood, skull and brain.

    Suddenly, a GROUP of SPACE MONKEYS burst into the room,
    moving forward to Jack. TYLER'S BODY IS GONE.

    TALL SPACE MONKEY
    Are you all right, sir... ?!

    Jack quakes, holding the side of his head; a ragged hole
    blown in his CHEEK. He's bleeding hard, but he's alive.

    JACK
    I'm okay...

    Jack looks to the Space Monkeys, trying to get his eyes to
    see. TWO SPACE MONKEYS enter with Marla. One holds a gun
    to Marla as she struggles.

    SHORT SPACE MONKEY
    Are you sure? You look terrible,
    sir! What's happened?

    JACK
    Everything's fine.

    ANOTHER SPACE MONKEY
    Sir, you look really awful! Do you
    need medical assistance?

    Jack sees Marla, tries to get to his feet, falls...

    JACK
    Bring the girl to me. The rest of
    you get out. Now!

    The Monkeys bring Marla, releasing her, saluting.

    MARLA
    What happened... ?

    JACK
    Don't ask.

    Marla crouches, takes out wadded TISSUES and tries to apply.
    them to Jack's wound. Space Monkeys are leaving, hesitantly.

    JACK
    Get to the rendezvous point. Move it!

    Jack and Marla are left alone.

    MARLA
    My God, you're shot...

    JACK
    Yes.

    Jack tries to got up. Marla helps him.

    MARLA
    Who did this to you?

    JACK
    I did, I think. But, I'm okay... I'm
    fine...

    MASSIVE EXPLOSION... the glass walls rattle...

    Jack and Marla look -- OUT THE WINDOWS: a BUILDING EXPLODES;
    collapsing upon itself. Then, ANOTHER BUILDING IMPLODES
    into a massive cloud of dust. Jack and Marla are
    silhouetted against the SKYLINE. Jack looks to Marla,
    reaches to take her hand.

    JACK
    I'm sorry... you met me at a very
    strange time in my life.

    Marla looks at him. ANOTHER BUILDING IMPLODES and COLLAPSES
    inward... and ANOTHER BUILDING... and ANOTHER...

    The FILM SLOWS, then ADVANCES ONE FRAME at a TIME -- SHOWING
    SPROCKET HOLES on the SIDES. EACH FRAME is an IMPLODING
    BUILDING -- then, ONE FRAME IS A PENIS. Then, the IMPLODING
    BUILDING again. SPEED UP the frames, LOSE the sprocket
    holes, RESUME NORMAL SPEED...

    FADE TO BLACK:

    end
    Last edited by notallthere; 05-09-02 at 05:44 PM.

  2. #2
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