It is raining heavily. The forest and the lighthouse pathway are lit up momentarily by lightning flashes. Tori is lying on the ground with her eyes closed. She slowly opens her eyes and starts to look around.
Tori: (thinking) Where am I? What's happening? [gets up] I'm trapped in a storm? How did I get here? ...and where is "here"?
Tori notices the lighthouse in the distance.
Tori: (thinking) Wait... There's the lighthouse... I'll be safe if I can make it there... I hope... Please let me make it there...
Tori lifts up her left arm to protect herself from the wind as she walks up the path. She reaches the lighthouse and sees the tornado approaching Arcadia Bay.
Tori: Holy shit.
The tornado blows up a boat, which hits the lighthouse and breaks it in two. The upper portion starts to fall on Tori.
Tori: Whoa! No!
Tori wakes up and examines her surroundings.
Tori: (thinking) Whoa! That was so real.
Mr. Jefferson: Alfred Hitchcock famously called film, "little pieces of time" but he could be talking about photography, as he likely was.
Tori: (thinking) Okay... I'm in class...
Stella's pen falls on the floor and she reaches down to pick it up.
Tori: (thinking) Everything's cool... I'm okay...
Mr. Jefferson: These pieces of time can frame us in our glory and our sorrow; from light to shadow; from color to chiaroscuro...
Taylor throws a paper ball at Kate
Mr. Jefferson: Now, can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white? Anybody? Bueller?
Victoria's phone vibrates.
Tori: (thinking) I didn't fall asleep, and... that sure didn't feel like a dream... Weird.
Victoria: Diane Arbus.
Mr. Jefferson: There you go, Victoria! Why Arbus?
Victoria: Because of her images of hopeless faces. You feel like, totally haunted by the eyes of those sad mothers and children.
Mr. Jefferson: She saw humanity as tortured, right? And frankly, it's bullshit. Shh, keep that to yourself. Seriously though, I could frame any one of you in a dark corner, and capture you in a moment of desperation. And any one of you could do that to me. Isn't that too easy? Too obvious? What if Arbus chose to capture people at the height of their beauty or innocence? She had a brilliant eye, so she could have taken another approach.
Tori looks at her entry photo.
Tori: (thinking) Look at this crap! How can I show this to Mr. Jefferson? I can hear the class laughing at me now.
Tori takes a selfie with her camera.
Mr. Jefferson: Shh, I believe Tori has taken what you kids call a "selfie"... A dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition. And Tori... has a gift. Of course, as you all know, the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation was not the first to use images for "selfie-expression." Sorry. I couldn't resist.
Bell rings.
Mr. Jefferson: And guys, don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the "Everyday Heroes" contest. I'll fly out with the winner to San Francisco where you'll be feted by the art world. It's great exposure, and it can kickstart a career in photography. So, Stella and Alyssa, get it together. Taylor, don't hide. I'm still waiting for your entry, too. And yes, Tori, I see you pretending not to see me.
Tori leaves the art class.
Tori: (thinking) Welcome to the real world...
Tori: (thinking) I need a serious timeout in the bathroom. Splash water on my face and make sure I don't look like a total loser.
While going to the bathroom Tori sees a missing person's poster on the lockers and walls.
Tori: (thinking) Emma Reese , She looks so hopeful and pretty... I wonder what happened to her...
Tori enters the bathroom.
Tori: (taking off earphones, thinking) Empty. Good. Nobody can see my meltdown. Except for me.
Tori washes her face using one of the sinks, then takes out her polaroid photo.
Tori: (looking at her photo, thinking) Just relax. Stop torturing yourself. You have "a gift".
Tori: Fuck it.
Tori tears apart her photo and drops it on the floor.
A blue butterfly flies in and lands on a bucket, behind a stall. Tori follows after.
Tori: (thinking) When a door closes, a window opens... Or, something like that. Okay girl, you don't get a photo op like this everyday...
Tori approaches the butterfly and takes a photo of it. The butterfly takes off and lands on a sink. Ryder enters the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Tori hears the sound and turns around.
Tori: (Thinking) Seriously? He is still here? Most of my friends left the town and this shithead is still here bullying kids.
Ryder: (breathing heavily) It's cool, Ryder... Don't stress... You're okay, bro. Just count to three... Don't be scared... You own this place... If I wanted, I could blow it up... You're the boss...
A girl enters.
Ryder: So what do you want?
The girl: I hope you checked the perimeter, as my step-ass would say. Now, let's talk business.
Ryder: I got nothing for you.
The girl: Wrong. You got hella cash.
Ryder: That's my family, not me.
The girl: Oh, boohoo, poor little rich kid. I know you been pumping drugs and shit to kids around here... I bet your respectable family would help me out if I went them to.
Man, I can see the headlines now—
Tori: (thinking) I know that voice, Jade? Whoa! She looks so different.
Ryder: Leave them out of this, bitch.
Jade: I can tell everybody Ryder Daniels is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself—
Ryder takes out his gun and points it at Jade. She backs up into the wall and Ryder stands in front of her, one arm against the wall and the other pointing the gun at her stomach.
Ryder: You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!
Jade: Where'd you get that? What are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!
Ryder: Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!
Jade: You are going to get in a lot more trouble for this than drugs—
Ryder: Nobody would ever even miss your "punk ass" would they?
Jade: Get that gun away from me, psycho!
Jade pushes Ryder away from her and he pulls the trigger, shooting Jade in the stomach. Tori comes out from behind the stall.
Tori: NO!
Tori stretches out her right hand. The gun and Jade fall on the ground in slow motion and everything becomes blurry. Moments later, the whole sequence is reversed and Tori finds herself in the art class again.
Jefferson's Lecture
Tori: (looking around nervously, thinking) Whoa! What the fuck...? How—how can that be? I was in the bathroom... He shot Jade... I held up my hand...and then I was back here.
Mr. Jefferson: Alfred Hitchcock famously called film "little pieces of time" but he could be talking about photography, as he likely was.
Stella's pen falls on the floor and she reaches down to pick it up.
Tori: (thinking) I already heard this lecture...
Mr. Jefferson: These pieces of time can frame us in our glory and our sorrow; from light to shadow; from color to chiaroscuro...
Taylor throws a paper ball at Kate.
Tori: (thinking) Now Kate is being hassled again... And if Victoria's phone rings... This is real.
Victoria's phone vibrates. Tori gets spooked and knocks her camera off the desk and breaks it.
Tori: (thinking) Shit! Man, I cannot believe this... Okay, if I'm crazy, I might as well go all the way... Can I actually reverse time?
Mr. Jefferson: Now can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white? Anybody? Bueller?
Victoria: Diane Arbus.
Mr. Jefferson: There you go, Victoria! Why Arbus?
Victoria: Because of her images of hopeless faces. You feel like, totally haunted by the eyes of those sad mothers and children.
Tori rewinds time with her right hand. The camera gets repaired and returns to its original place.
Tori: (looking at her hand, thinking) I did it... I actually did it! I'm a human time machine...
Mr. Jefferson: Now can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white? Anybody? Bueller?
Tori: (thinking) Tori, don't freak out. Not yet.
Victoria: Diane Arbus.
Mr. Jefferson: There you go, Victoria! Why Arbus?
Tori: (thinking) Keep it together, Tori.
Victoria: Because of her images of hopeless faces. You feel like, totally haunted by the eyes of those sad mothers and children.
Tori: (thinking) When I took my selfie, Jefferson asked me a question. If he does again, I'll know this is for real.
Mr. Jefferson: She saw humanity as tortured, right? And frankly, it's bullshit. Shh, keep that to yourself. Seriously though, I could frame any one of you in a dark corner, and capture you in a moment of desperation. And any one of you could do that to me. Isn't that too easy? Too obvious? What if Arbus chose to capture people at the height of their beauty or innocence? She had a brilliant eye, so she could have taken another approach.
Tori takes a selfie.
Mr. Jefferson: Shh, I believe Tori has taken what you kids call a "selfie"... A dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition. And Tori...has a gift.
Tori: (thinking) I know I'm not dreaming this. It's real. I can tell.
Mr. Jefferson: Of course, as you all know, the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation is not the first to use images for "selfie-expression". Sorry. I couldn't resist..
Tori: (thinking) So I can go back in time... that means Jade isn't dead yet, I can save her.
Bell rings.
Mr. Jefferson: And guys, don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the "Everyday Heroes" contest. I'll fly out with the winner to San Francisco where you'll be feted by the art world. It's great exposure, and it can kickstart a career in photography. So, Stella and Alyssa, get it together. Taylor, don't hide. I'm still waiting for your entry, too. And yes, Tori, I see you pretending not to see me.
Tori: (thinking) I need to go to the bathroom quickly.
Tori: (thinking) I hope I have enough time to get to the bathroom...please...please... I can't tell anybody...they'll think I'm crazy!
Tori: (thinking) Okay, Tori, retrace every step... [approaches the sink] I washed my face... [washes face] I shredded my photo... [tears up photo] Then the...butterfly flew in... And I took a photo...
Tori takes a photo of the butterfly. Ryder and Jade enter the bathroom.
Ryder: Leave them out of this, bitch.
Jade: I can tell everybody Ryder Daniels is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself—
Ryder pulls out his gun.
Ryder: You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!
Jade: Where'd you get that? What are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!
Tori: (thinking) Shit, it's happening again.
Ryder: Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!
Jade: You are going to get in alot more trouble for this than drugs—
Ryder: Nobody would ever even miss your "punk ass", would they?
Jade: Get that gun away from me, psycho!
Ryder kills Jade and drops his gun on the ground. He then starts to shake Jade and walk around the bathroom nervously.
Tori: (thinking) Holy shit, I can't let this happen... If I can reverse time again, I can help her.
Ryder: Oh... Shit! No, no, no, no...
Tori rewinds.
Tori looks at the fire alarm.
Tori: (thinking) I need a hammer to break it open!
Ryder: Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!
Jade: You are going to get in alot more trouble for this than drugs—
Ryder: Nobody would ever even miss your "punk ass", would they?
Tori moves a maintenance cart, grabs a hammer from the floor and breaks the fire alarm glass with it. She then starts the fire alarm. Ryder stops pointing his gun at Jade and looks behind him.
Ryder: No way...
Jade knees Ryder in the stomach or groin and pushes him to the floor.
Jade: Don't EVER touch me again, freak!
Jade exits the bathroom. Ryder picks up his gun and notices the pieces of Tori's photo on the floor.
Ryder: Another shitty day...
Ryder exits the bathroom.
Tori: (thinking) That did not happen! This cannot be real! I just saw Jade get shot and then saved her! What the fuck is going on? Do. Not. Freak. Out.
Tori exits the bathroom.
Security Guard: Hey, do you hear that fire alarm? That means you should be outside.
Tori: I had to use the bathroom...
Security Guard: Girls always use that excuse.
Tori: Excuse for what?
Security Guard: For whatever you're up to. Your face is covered in guilt.
Tori: The alarm tripped me out.
Security Guard: Then trip on out of here, missy. Or are you hiding something? Huh?
Principal Wells: Thank you Mr. Madsen, the situation is under control. There's no emergency here. Leave Miss Vega alone and please turn off that alarm, since that's your job.
Security Guard walks away.
Principal Wells: You look a little stressed out. Are you okay?
Tori: I'm...I'm just a little worried about my...future.
Principal Wells: You're sweating pinballs. Is that all you're thinking about? You can always be upfront with me, Tori. Or have you done something wrong... Is that it? Well, Tori? Talk to me.
Tori: I just saw Ryder Daniels waving a gun around...in the girls' room.
Principal Wells: Ryder Daniels. You sure?
Tori: Yes. He was in the bathroom talking to himself with a gun. I saw everything! He was babbling like crazy—
Principal Wells: Okay, slow down, slow down. So now you saw this... Without him seeing you?
Tori: I was hiding behind a stall. I have the right to be there. It's the girls' room—
Principal Wells: I know, I know. I just want to be completely clear what happened. Mr. Daniels happens to be from the town's most distinguished family. And one of Blackwell's most honored students. So it's hard for me to see him brandishing a weapon in the girls' bathroom. So what happened next?
Tori: Then...then he left. I ran out here wondering what to do. Are you going to bust him?
Principal Wells: This is a serious charge. I'll look into the matter personally. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
Tori: That's it? After what I told you—
Principal Wells: We'll continue this discussion, later, in my office. Please go outside with the rest of your class now, Miss Vega.Principal Wells: (through speakers) Would Ryder Daniels please come to the front office? Thank you.
Tori enters the Dormitories and sees the janitor Samuel.
Tori: Howdy, Samuel.
Samuel: Well, hello there.
Tori: What's up with these Emma Reese posters?
Samuel: Only she would know that, right?
Tori: Uh, I guess? It just makes the campus look sad.
Samuel: You can't color over that sunlight...
Tori: You knew Emma?
Samuel: How can you know a prism? You just stare in awe... Now I have to go paint windows.
Tori: What was she like? She must have been popular.
Samuel: Even sunlight can cast shadows. Emma did both at once, you know? She was like a battery: positive and negative.
Tori: See you later, Samuel.
Samuel: And watch your step around here, Tori... After I sweep, I paint...
John: Hey Tori! Can you give me a minute?
Tori: What's up John?
John: Could I, um, ask you a question? Would you mind letting me sketch you? I do put my sketches on Facebook, though...
Tori: I'd be honored, John. Makes me feel like a muse.
John: Funny you should say that. I was just thinking about my real muse, Emma Reese…
Tori: Hard to avoid her posters all over campus.
John: Kills me to see her sweet face used as a crime photo... She had a good heart.
Tori: So, what happened to her? There's got to be a story.
John: She just stopped coming to class. Some people say she ran away, some say she jumped off a cliff. I just hope she's okay.
Tori: Okay, why don't you start drawing me, even though I must be a step down from Emma...
John: No way! You're a...good substitute muse.
Tori sits down and strikes a pose.
John: Oh, that's a good posture. Good, good...
John shows Tori the portrait.
Tori: (smiling) Best portrait ever.
Tori's phone rings and she sees a message from Warren.
Warren: Its so comfy in the parking lot, I like counting cars. There goes a red one.
Tori: (thinking) Oh shit! I forgot I was supposed to meet Warren at the parking lot to give him his flashdrive.
Tori: It was nice John, but I really have to go now
John: Its okay, see ya around.
Tori goes to her room and takes the flashdrive.
While going to the parking lot
Zachary: Fuck this shit!
Zachary throws his football and it bounces off the ground, hitting Alyssa in the head and knocking the book out of her hands.
Alyssa: Ow! That hurt!
Tori: (thinking) Damn, I better rewind.
Tori rewinds, then warns Alyssa.
Tori: Alyssa, move your head.
Alyssa: If you insist, Tori.
The football hits the window.
Tori: (thinking) Now that's what I'm talking about! I actually helped somebody.
Tori tries to leave the dormitories but spots The security guard and Kate in her way.
Security Guard: ...you can't fool me. I know everything about this school. I cover the waterfront. So you better figure out what side you're on...
Kate: Please, leave me alone!
Tori: Hey, why don't you leave her alone?
Security Guard: Excuse us, this is official campus business—
Tori: Excuse me, you shouldn't be yelling at students. Or bullying them.
Security Guard: Hey, hey, nobody is bullying anybody. I'm doing my job.
Tori: No, you're not.
Security Guard: You're part of the problem, missy. I will remember this conversation.
Security Guard leaves.
Kate: Oh, Tori, that was great. I think you scared him for once... I have to go, but thank you. It means a lot.
Tori: Anytime, Kate.
Tori enters the parking lot and approaches Warren.
Warren: What up, Tori? How are you?
Warren tries to hug Tori, but she pulls out the flash drive and hands it to him instead.
Tori: Here's your flash. Thanks.
Warren: No problem. Check out my new wheels... (gestures to car behind him)
Tori: Cool. Very old school.
Warren: 1978, to be exact. Now we can go to the drive-in. There's one in Newberg, just sixty miles away.
Tori: You're in the wrong time, Warren. But then, so am I...
Warren: You okay?
Tori: It's been one strange fucking day.
Warren: By the way, I saw John's sketch of you online... Not bad, but I could do a much better job.
Tori: John posted it online already? That was nice...
Warren: Congrats! You're part of his online portrait posse.
Tori: Don't be jealous. I'm sure he'll ask you soon.
Warren: Oh, you're a wit, Tori.
Tori: It's the company I keep, Warren.
Warren: So did you get a chance to check out the movie booty on my flash drive?
Tori: No, I've been way too busy with class...and life.
Warren: Damn, girl, you had it like a year.
Tori: Or a week. I did browse through all the titles, drama queen.
Warren: Haha. Make sure you watch Cannibal Holocaust.
Tori: Seen it. I was more disturbed by all those emo-vampire movies in there.
Warren: Can't a sensitive high school boy love sensitive vampires too?
Tori: So you're sensitive...
Warren: Ouch... That sounds awful the way you say it.
Tori: How so?
Warren: Sensitive usually means "won't be having sex with you."
Tori: Oh, god! You need a sensitive woman to kick your ass.
Warren: If I was lucky... Speaking of hip and fast, we should cruise out in my car to an actual movie this week... But you seem distracted.
Tori: I need to talk to somebody...just to get it out of my system...
Warren: Dr. Warren Graham is in da house. I won't even prescribe you any meds... Tell me everything.
Tori: For reals, Warren, this is between you and me, not social media.
Warren: Don't insult me. Tori, go on.
Tori: I had this incredibly bizarro experience in Mr. Jefferson's class today... I mean, life-changing. Have you ever had a dream so real it was like a movie?
Ryder approaches Tori and Warren angrily.
Ryder: Tori Vega, right? You're one of the Jefferson's photo groupies...
Tori: I'm one of his students.
Ryder shoves Warren away.
Ryder: Whatthefuckever. I know you like to take pictures, especially when you're hiding out in the bathrooms.
Ryder: You best tell me what you told the Principal. Now. Answer me, bitch!
Tori: What are you talking about?
Ryder: I know you're new here, but don't even play stupid with me.
Tori: I'm not new. I've lived here for years.
Ryder: Then you should know the Danielss own this shithole.
Tori: Then you don't have to worry about me... Worry about yourself.
Ryder clenches his fists.
Ryder: Do not analyze me! I pay people for that. Worry about yourself, Tori Vega.
Tori: Take a step back, Ryder Daniels.
Ryder: Oh, man, you're telling me what to do?
Warren: Get away from her, dude.
Ryder headbutts Warren. He falls down and holds his head in pain.
Tori: Hey, leave him alone!
Tori shoves Ryder, but he turns around and holds her by the neck.
Ryder: Nobody tells me what to do. Not my parents, not the Principal, or that whore in the bathroom!
Tori: Stop that! Right now!
Tori scrapes Ryder's cheek with her fingernails and he pushes her to the ground. A beige truck drives up to the scene. Tori gets up and looks in the windshield, where the girl from the bathroom is in the driver's seat.
Jade: Tori?
Tori: Jade?
Ryder: No way. You again?
Warren jumps at Ryder and knocks him to the ground.
Tori: Warren!
Warren: Go, go! I got this!
Ryder starts punching Warren in the face. Jade opens the car door next to Tori.
Jade: Get in, Tori!
Tori gets in the car. Ryder gets up and kicks the door closed.
Ryder: Get your punk asses out of there now! Don't even try to run! Nobody messes with me! NOBODY!
Tori and Jade drive away. The Security guard runs into the parking lot.