INT. RACHEL'S APARTMENT. SAME NIGHT.

Rachel is sitting at the kitchen table, but stands suddenly when
her front door bursts open. It is Corey; nervous, frantic.

COREY
Tim didn't come while I was gone,
did he?

RACHEL
(irritated)
No.

COREY
(pulls out a wad of bills from
his pocket)
I'm twenty bucks short.

RACHEL
Where'd you get that?

COREY
It doesn't matter. I got it. And
I'm twenty bucks short. You got
twenty bucks?

RACHEL
Yeah, but it's for--

COREY
(interrupting)
I don't give a fuck about your
goddamn weed!

There is a short knock at the door.

COREY
Please, Rach.

RACHEL
Fine.

She gets her purse from the counter while Corey opens the door
to let TIM in. He is in his late thirties, obviously a rough
guy.

COREY
(closing the door)
Thanks for coming into town.

TIM
(taking the money from Corey)
Just don't make this a habit.

Corey nods, the irony of this statement lost on him, but Rachel
laughs.

TIM
(counting the money)
Hi Rach.

RACHEL
Hey.

TIM
(to Corey)
You're short.

RACHEL
I've got it.

Tim takes Rachel's money, notices her irritation. Then he smiles
and hands Tim his treat.

TIM
So, your girlfriend's supporting
you now. How sweet.

Corey says nothing to this, just sits down at the table and pushes
up his sleeve.

RACHEL
I told you already. I don't want
you doing that shit out here. It's
fucking gross.

COREY
Come on!

Rachel points to the bathroom door and watches
contemptuously as he obeys. None of this is lost on Tim.
Once the door shuts behind Corey, he pulls out paper bag
from his jacket pocket.

RACHEL
Oh. I...don't have the money for
that now.

TIM
(smiles)
Take it.

She shakes her head, so he forces it gently into her hand.

TIM
(continuing)
Call it a gift.

RACHEL
(flirting)
Thanks.

TIM
Unless you're looking for something
a little...stronger.

Rachel looks towards the bathroom and shudders.

RACHEL
Nah. I'm...
(embarrassed)
...afraid of needles.

TIM
Really? Why's that?

Rachel stares at the bag in her hands.

[FLASHBACK 1992] INT. - HOSPITAL ROOM.

Hazy memory of WENDY LACHANCE during her illness. We don't see Wendy's
face, just a vague image of her body, arm extended, IV drip
visible. Six-year-old Rachel stands beside the bed holding
twelve-year-old Brian's hand. The sound of their mother's
groans of pain are exaggerated in Rachel's mind,  echo even
louder as a nurse injects something into the IV. Rachel cries
out, frightened. The sound echoes and mingles along with
Wendy's cries until Brian finally covers Rachel's eyes with
his hand. The flashback ends in complete blackness and in
silence.

BACK TO SCENE

RACHEL
(can't meet Tim's eyes)
No reason.

Tim just nods, a slight smile on his face. He smells
weakness here.