REVIEW, AS FILED
Two people, four seasons, one counter. I took my mother on the first evening. Third row. She had stood behind a counter for thirty years.
At the year-turn the woman's hands stop being quick. Two fingers push a saucer across. Then she turns the sign to CLOSED. She says come with me. They take the dusk boat. The camera returns to the empty counter. Nobody serves the person who comes in.
My mother squeezed my hand. Her fingers hurt mine. It is the truest thing the year has given us.
The standard version, v.11, runs four minutes shorter. The difference is not itemized.
Screening report, first evening: print struck from v.10. The reviewer's account is accurate in every particular.
v.10 superseded. Prior versions are not held.
For "come with me" read "come again." No boat appears. She remains at the counter. Final image: the counter, closed, fourth season.
Two hundred and six filings describe the earlier ending. Two hundred and six corrected filings are required. Each at the filer's expense. The original accounts are retained for training.
CORRECTED FILING
I saw it again last week. Same seat. I wept at the same minute, to the second. My throat goes a moment early now. The screening report will show it.
The line is come again. Her hands are slow. He leaves. She wipes the ring his cup has left. The cloth catches on a splinter. She pulls it free and serves the next person.
I have not seen the version I described and cannot account for having described it.
My mother asked to go again. I told her it had never ended that way. She apologized for crying.
I have booked next month. One ticket. I will keep going until the boat comes back. It is the truest thing the year has given us.
The standard version is v.12 as of this morning. The difference is not itemized.