Barney's Version Page #21

IDENTIFIED ON SCREEN, A PATHOLOGIST RESPONDS TO REPORTERS.

PATHOLOGIST:

Our findings show that Mr. Moscovitchdied from either being severely beatenwith a blunt instrument or had fallen

from a considerable height. There

were NO gunshot wounds whatsoever.

O'HEARNE IS MOBBED BY A THRONG OF REPORTERS ON THE STREET.

O'HEARNE

Just because he didn't shoot him,

doesn't mean he didn't kill him.

This just brings us one step closerto proving the truth.

A LONG SHOT OF THE HILLSIDE WHERE THE REMAINS WERE FOUND.

REPORTER:

Police say the pathologist's findingsdon't shed any new light onto whomay have been responsible for thisdeath -

As the report continues we PULL OUT from the TV into-

INT. KITCHEN - COTTAGE - CONTINUOUS

REPORTER:

(on TV)

But at least one part of a thirtyyear mystery has finally been solved.

Where Kate is pouring them each a tea. Michael has a thick

DOCUMENT in his hands that he's looking over.

MICHAEL:

Okay, what is this regular paymentout of the company?

Kate takes the document.

KATE:

(laughs)

Oh, that. For years now, Daddy hasbeen paying some guy to make up thosefake tabloid items about Solange.

WHITE 10-23-09 126.

MICHAEL:

Why?

KATE:

I don't know. To make her feel good.

He even had them faxed from Bulgaria,

just in case she checked the number.

Daddy asked me to keep it going.

Kate drips honey into her tea. Hands it to Michael.

MICHAEL:

(smelling honey)

Is this honey still good?

KATE:

Honey doesn't go bad.

MICHAEL:

Ever?

KATE:

Ever.

MICHAEL:

Where did you hear that?

KATE:

I don't remember, but it's true.

Michael uses the honey and follows Kate out to the -

INT. DEN - COTTAGE - CONTINUOUS

Where they pass the well known sketch by Clara.

MICHAEL:

I can't believe he's leaving that toher.

KATE:

As if running out on their weddingto chase mom wasn't enough of a rub.

You know she hated that thing?

MICHAEL:

She's not gonna hate it when shefinds out how much it's worth.

They continue out to the -

INT. SUNROOM - CONTINUOUS

MOUNDS OF PAPERWORK everywhere. Michael and Kate sit. He

passes her a flagged contract from one of the paper piles.

WHITE 10-23-09 127.

While she signs the pages, Michael looks out onto the lake.

It's a picture perfect day.

MICHAEL:

What do you want to do about thecottage?

KATE:

We're never selling this cottage.

MICHAEL:

Yeah. I agree.

She finishes signing the agreement. Hands it back.

KATE:

Okay, done. What's next?

MICHAEL:

(reading)

"To my wife, Miriam Grant Panofsky,

I leave our city condo, the originalpainting by my late friend, LeoFasoli, and the adjoining plot to myown in Mount Royal cemetery where mywish is for her to buried along sideme".

(beat)

He shouldn't have included that.

It's not fair to her. She's married

to Blair.

KATE:

Only until death do them part.

Beat.

MICHAEL:

There's one last thing, but it's notrelevant anymore. He left Boogiemoney to publish any original writingsof his choosing when he should return.

KATE:

See? He always hoped Boogie wouldcome back.

MICHAEL:

That doesn't mean anything.

KATE:

Of course it does. Why would heleave Boogie money if he killed him?

WHITE 10-23-09 128.

MICHAEL:

So no one would think he did.

KATE:

Stop it. He didn't do it. Why can'tyou let go of this already?

MICHAEL:

You brought it up. I'm just sayingthat we'll never really know whathappened.

KATE:

He's our father. What else do youneed to know?

It's a touchy subject he'd rather not get into. Michael

stares out at the lake -

MICHAEL POV:

BARNEY sitting on a lawn chair by the lake.

MICHAEL:

I'm going to go down to the lake.

Michael exits.

EXT. COTTAGE - DAY

Michael walks to the lake and sits beside BARNEY.

Barney's mind is now almost completely gone. He doesn't

even react to Michael's presence.

Barney is slowly trying to peel a BANANA from the WRONG END.

MICHAEL:

Try it this way.

Michael turns the Banana over for him. Barney looks at itoddly. Turns it back over again.

Michael and Barney look out ACROSS THE LAKE where a youngfamily with two children play with a BEACH BALL in the water.

From here they look much like Barney's family did years ago.

Michael takes out a cigar from his breast pocket. Clips andlights it.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

Here, just don't tell Kate.

He exchanges the banana for the cigar. Barney is able tosmoke it just fine.

WHITE 10-23-09 129.

Michael hears a RUMBLING in the distance. He spots a WATERPLANE approaching. His eyes light up with excitement.

The plane descends toward the lake. Floating in the middleof the lake is the BEACH BALL, having gotten away from theyoung family previously.

The plane's HULL opens and SWALLOWS up water, ALONG WITH THEBEACH BALL. It pulls back up into the sky, the hull closes.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

Do you remember how much we lovedthat when we were kids?

The WATER PLANE is still in the air and has begun to swingback around.

It opens its hull and drops its water load - along with theBEACH BALL onto the side of a MOUNTAIN which we can easilyidentify as the spot where they found Boogie's remains.

Watching this, it suddenly comes together for Michael.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

Boogie... Oh my God... dad, did yousee that?

He turns to Barney who, much to his surprise, is watchingthe plane too.

Barney continues to puff on his cigar, but his thoughts, ifany, are a mystery to all.

MICHAEL (CONT'D)

I'm sorry, dad... I'm so sorry...

Michael takes his father's hand, holding it, then pressingit to his forehead just as Barney did with Izzy when he died.

KATE:

Standing on the deck, watching them. Tears in her eyes.

FADE TO:

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

Bright, green leaves on a tree moving with a gentle breeze.

A perfect blue sky behind them.

Blades of thick, green grass flutter.

The sounds of footsteps on a rocky path.

MOVING WITH MIRIAM - as she slowly walks uphill carryingfresh flowers.

WHITE 10-23-09 130.

EXT. CEMETERY - GRAVE SITE - DAY

She reaches the highest peak on the only hillside in thecemetery. A view of the entire city. Maybe the mostpicturesque spot ever.

She mutters a silent prayer before laying the flowers down.

Her eyes moist with tears, she grazes the tombstone with herfingertips, then starts back down the hill.

We remain on the hillside and move toward the grave.... theHEADSTONE READS -

BARNEY PANOFSKY:

1944 - 2010

PAN ACROSS the DOUBLE HEADSTONE - beside Barney's name iswritten -

MIRIAM GRANT PANOFSKY

THE END:

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