Barney's Version Page #20

INT. BARNEY AND MIRIAM'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Through the apartment and into the kitchen where Kate ishelping to pack. Her eyes puffy from crying.

WHITE 10-23-09 119.

Barney paces back and forth. Back and forth.

Michael walks in to grab another box. He won't even look at

his father.

BARNEY:

Michael, wait.

(beat)

I know how difficult this is for

both of you, but your mother and Iwill work through this.

MICHAEL:

Do you even understand what you didhere?

BARNEY:

Of course.

MICHAEL:

Then how could you have f***ed thisup? How? She deserved so much better,

but she still loved you, youmiserable, ungrateful prick.

BARNEY:

Watch your mouth. I'm still yourfather.

MICHAEL:

There's nothing I can do about that.

Barney SLAPS Michael.

It's so utterly shocking to both of them, that no one canmove or say a word. Michael then storms out of the house.

BACK TO:

INT. BARNEY AND MIRIAM'S APARTMENT - DEN -PRESENT DAY

CRASH -- Barney shatters a framed photo, tearing the roomapart. Kate runs in and tries to stop him, but it's hard toget past his flailing arms.

KATE:

DADDY, STOP, PLEASE, STOP!!

He finally stops. Kate is unsure what to do.

He just stares at the TELEPHONE RECEIVER in his hand.

He looks up her. His eyes filled with tears.

WHITE 10-23-09 120.

BARNEY:

I can't remember your mother's number.

FADE OUT:

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE BARNEY'S APARTMENT - MORNING

TITLE:
6 MONTHS LATER

DING. The elevator doors open revealing Solange, carryingtwo cups of coffee. She walks down the hallway to Barney'sapartment and lets herself in with a key.

INT. BARNEY AND MIRIAM'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

She enters and sets the coffees down.

SOLANGE:

(calling out)

Allo? You better be decent.

INT. WALK-IN CLOSET - BEDROOM - BARNEY'S APARTMENT - SAME

TIME:

Barney's side of the closet is filled with his clothes, while

the other that once held Miriam's wardrobe is completely bare.

Barney, in his best suit, is trying but unable to do histie. His frustration finally boils over.

BARNEY:

Goddamn it!

He sees Solange in the doorway watching him.

SOLANGE:

Here, let me do it.

She steps to him and does his tie. They say nothing. He

won't make eye contact.

SOLANGE (CONT'D)

There. As handsome as you've everbeen.

Barney double checks the knot in the mirror.

SOLANGE (CONT'D)

It's time to go.

She walks out first. He takes one last look in the mirror.

WHITE 10-23-09 121.

EXT. RITZ CARLTON HOTEL - GARDEN - DAY

Barney sitting at his table in the Ritz Garden, drinking aglass of sparkling water.

His breath is taken away when he sees -

BARNEY POV:

Miriam entering the garden. Every bit as gorgeous, elegantand graceful as she ever was.

Barney sits tight, taking advantage of every second he hasto simply watch her.

She sees him and smiles as she approaches the table.

MIRIAM:

You look great.

BARNEY:

You look fantastic.

They play through an awkward exchange of leaning in for akiss, and shaking hands before Barney just takes her intohis arms and hugs her. They sit.

MIRIAM:

You're not going to get sick on meagain, are you?

BARNEY:

Only coffee for me now. But I do

have crib notes...

(pulls out a paper)

My address and number, Kate's numbers,

Solange -- all the important stuffin case I get lost. I was actuallythinking a dog collar might be easier.

She tries to laugh, but has to fight off tears instead.

MIRIAM:

I've been doing some research.

They're always coming out with newtreatments and trials-

BARNEY:

Let's not do that whole thing. We

all know where this is going.

She nods.

MIRIAM:

We can be friends now, can't we?

WHITE 10-23-09 122.

BARNEY:

No. We can't.

MIRIAM:

I'm here for you if you'll let me.

We had a beautiful marriage, butit's over. I want you to be at peacewith that.

BARNEY:

Have I ever given up when it comesto you?

MIRIAM:

Never.

BARNEY:

So what makes you think I would startnow?

Beat.

JEAN:

Bonjour, are you ready to hear thespecials of the day?

BARNEY:

Sure.

EXT. RITZ CARLTON HOTEL - GARDEN - DAY

LATER:

CU - A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE.

Barney and Miriam each have one. They grin with anticipation.

Miriam slices through the moist, warm chocolate sponge.

Carries it past her lips and savors... Mmmm. Heaven.

She opens her eyes to see-

BARNEY'S HAND hovering above his cutlery. He can't remember

which one he is supposed to use.

Miriam hands him his fork.

BARNEY:

Thank you.

And they eat cake.

MIRIAM:

Would you excuse me? I have to usethe ladies room?

WHITE 10-23-09 123.

INT. LADIES BATHROOM - RITZ CARLTON - MOMENTS LATER

Miriam crying in a stall.

INT. RITZ CARLTON HOTEL GARDEN - MOMENTS LATER

Miriam returns from the washroom and is panicked when Barneyis missing from the table. She races over to Jean.

MIRIAM:

Jean, did you see Barney?

JEAN:

No, Madame, he paid the bill, butforgot his wallet on the table.

Jean hands her Barney's old, beat up WALLET.

A SMALL PIECE OF PAPER is sticking out of the wallet. Without

thinking why - she pulls it out. The paper old and cracked.

She carefully unfolds it-

INSERT - THE PAPER

"CANADIENS 2 BRUINS 1 IN OVERTIME. CONGRATULATIONS. MIRIAM"

It's the note she passed to him the night they first met.

He's carried this on him all these years. Seeing it literallytakes her breath away.

INT. RECEPTION HALL - RITZ CARLTON HOTEL - MOMENTS LATER

She enters the same hall where she and Barney first met.

Barney is standing there, grinning from ear to ear as ifnothing is wrong.

BARNEY:

What's wrong?

MIRIAM:

I couldn't find you, I got so scared.

BARNEY:

It's beautiful in here isn't it?

MIRIAM:

You forgot your wallet at the table.

BARNEY:

Look at you, you're practically

shaking.

MIRIAM:

I thought I lost you.

WHITE 10-23-09 124.

BARNEY:

Lost me? Hey, the kids are gone,

why don't we go home, curl up inbed, watch a movie...

Miriam c*cks her head, wondering why he said that.

MIRIAM:

The kids...?

BARNEY:

Yeah, the kids. You're the one whodropped them off at school. Are youokay?

(off her crying)

Oh my love, don't cry.

He pulls her close. She falls into his embrace, havingrealized he's forgotten they ever split up.

BARNEY (CONT'D)

Have I not loved you enough today?

She buries her face in his neck to stop from completelybreaking down.

BARNEY (CONT'D)

So what do you say? Can we play hooky?

She can't bring herself to shatter his fragile reality.

MIRIAM:

Let's get you home.

He takes her by the arm and walks her out of the lobby, ashappy as he's ever been.

FADE OUT:

TITLE CARD:
ONE YEAR LATER

CUT TO:

EXT. MOUNT ORFORD - DAY

ON TV - NEWS REPORT

OVER IMAGES of the mountain, Boogie's bones with snorkel,

flippers and goggles, and Barney:

REPORTER:

It was in a ravine on Mount Orford

that Hydro workers stumbled upon theremains of Bernard "Boogie"

(MORE)

WHITE 10-23-09 125.

REPORTER (CONT'D)

Moscovitch, who went missing overthirty years ago. His friend, BarneyPanofsky, producer of the long runningsoap "O'Malley Of The North", wasthe only suspect in the case.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes