The Book of Henry Page #5

Guess there's always

the proverbial bus.

But...

No, I've never really given

it much thought.

Even after Christina's

mother passed away?

Nope.

Can't offer... much...

on that front. Why?

Just, you know,

your line of work.

You guys seem

to have all your ducks in a row.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

I, I can't be much help.

What's that?

Yeah, I almost forgot.

I, need you to sign off

on the talent show night

if I'm gonna take Christina.

You know how Cavalry Elementary

loves their forms.

Yeah.

Okay.

- Here.

- Great.

So, I'll pick her up tomorrow.

Okay.

Around six?

Yeah.

Witnesses are required

for guardianship papers.

So I back dated them and forged Ms.

Schwartz from up the block's signature

since she died last year.

Poor Mrs. Schwartz

from up the block.

Also, I bought

a new car for you.

There's nothing wrong

with the old car.

I know, I know,

but it's safer and it'll make

a less conspicuous getaway car.

You just need to pick it up.

The address is in my notebook.

Fine.

Mom?

Hey, honey.

What are you doing?

I was just,

finishing up on some work here.

Okay, let's get you back to bed.

You ready for tomorrow?

Big talent show.

Kind of.

What are you gonna do?

A magic trick.

A magic trick.

What's it gonna be?

It's a surprise.

Sounds exciting.

What if it doesn't work?

Well, you've prepared

for it, right?

Yeah, a lot.

Mrs. Ramirez even

let me use the art lab.

Then you shouldn't be nervous.

You've laid down the groundwork,

and when it comes the time,

just have to trust

it'll all go smoothly.

If Henry did it, there'd be nothing

to worry about. He'd be perfect.

Baby. What?

Tell me.

Sometimes I think

it should have been me.

No. How can you say that?

People would be less sad then.

Listen to me.

If anything happened to you,

I... I don't know what I'd do.

Henry was amazing.

But you...

you're just as special.

And the fact that you think

you're any less important to me

isn't just wrong it's...

it's stupendously wrong.

Okay?

Everything has

to be timed to the second.

Every movement,

every angle, every footstep.

There's no room for error.

This never happened.

You were never here.

Not even here now.

You're a ghost.

Like you.

Peter! Come on, let's move it.

It's your big night.

Hey, you're gonna play it cool

up there on stage, right?

And there's no need to panic, 'cause

panic never got anyone anywhere.

Just stay focused, stay calm

and remember your

Lamaze breathing.

Good?

Okay.

Don't be nervous.

It's gonna be great.

Peter, what are you doing?

Why would you do that?

Henry would've thought

it was funny.

Henry was 11.

He was a genius.

But he wasn't a parent, okay?

Come on.

Hey.

Hi...

Hi, I...

There you are,

all surprising, like...

I invited him.

I wanted him to see my trick.

I'm sorry,

I thought you knew.

I hope,

this is okay.

Yeah, sure. No problem.

But, I have to be

a parent volunteer tonight.

So, I have

parent volunteer things.

Okay...

I'll just...

- You okay?

- Yeah.

Yeah? You look great.

- Don't be nervous.

- I won't.

I'll be watching you.

Peter.

Good evening, parents.

The students are ready.

I am so proud of these kids.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome

to the Cavalry Elementary

School Talent Show!

You gonna step to me?

I'll kick you in the knees.

I'm the baddest,

meanest, mad dog mother

you're ever gonna see.

Blink twice, you'll miss me.

Chicks, they try to kiss me.

Suckers, they see me

and flee me

after I kick 'em in the shorts.

Get lost, dorks,

'cause you're all tidbits.

But me, I'm the shiznits.

Okay, mom, this is it.

On my three.

One, two, three.

C-A-V-A...

R-Y!

Don't panic.

No matter what, don't panic.

I'm not panicking.

This is for my sister.

A, B, C, D...

Time check.

7:
12.

Line your body up with

the rifle to reduce recoil.

Wait till he's exactly

where you need him.

Eliminate all distractions.

Sh*t.

Even trigger pressure.

Remember your training.

Smooth exhale.

Don't tense up.

Steady, mom.

Steady.

Mom, take the shot.

Do it, now!

No.

No.

You're just a child.

What the hell is going on here?

I know what you've done.

Emergency room visits.

School absences, bruises.

Calls to

Child Protective Services.

That all just got swept

under the rug by your brother.

Henry documented all of it.

And you never even knew

he was watching.

Who you think

they're gonna believe?

I don't know, Glenn.

I can afford a scandal.

How about you?

I'm gonna call my chief.

Have him bring you in.

Whatever happens to me

won't change what you are.

I will go to the FBI.

I will go to the newspapers.

I will make sure

that you never lay a hand

on that little girl again.

And I will make you answer

for what you've done.

Look at me.

Look at me!

I want you to see

who you're up against now.

That can't be right.

My God.

Hey, Stan.

Hey. It's Glenn.

Listen, I need you to...

handle somethin' for me.

You're gonna hear some...

insane, accusations,

you know, so...

I know, Glenn. We got a call.

What do you mean?

A call f-from who?

The school principal.

We heard from the district.

It's too wide, Glenn. We're

gonna have to open up a case.

And now,

introducing Peter the Great.

For my magic trick, I'm going

to make my brother reappear.

When I'm done, he's gonna

be here, right among all of us.

Please work.

You know, as a scientist

I never believed in magic.

But after that.

- Peter the Great.

- Dr. Daniels.

Will I see you soon?

I hope so.

Do you mind watching him

for a second?

Of course not.

I'll be right back, sweetie.

What happened?

Glenn Sickleman

took his life tonight.

God.

The social worker asked to see

Christina alone for a moment.

Sweetie.

In the best interest

of the minor child,

the court hereby orders

that permanent custody

be awarded to Susan Carpenter,

effective immediately.

Sometimes a good story

will remind you

of who you want to be.

Maybe that's why

there are so many.

Stories about good and evil.

Stories about the triumph

of the human spirit.

Stories about

living and dying.

And how you gotta do one

in spite of the other.

Well, this story...

it's about you and me

and my brother...

and the girl

who lived next door.

But it's not my story anymore.

It's yours.

"And one by one its petals

dropped to the ground,

"and then the leaves, and then

the bud, and then the stalk,

"until it seemed the flower

was gone, but it wasn't.

"Because the flower melted

into the soil, and made it rich

"so the whole garden could grow.

The end."

I loved it.

I loved it, too.

Thank you.

Okay, let's get you into bed.

You okay?

I'm almost finished

painting your room.

It'll be awesome.

Goodnight, Enchilada number one.

Goodnight, butterfly.

On or off?

- On.

- On.

Open or closed?

- Closed.

- Closed.

THE BOOK OF HENRY

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