Hank extends a tantalizing invitation to Fuches, beckoning him to his office with the alluring prospect of bestowing Barry into his hands. Initially, Fuches harbors doubts, uninterested in burying the hatchet with Hank. However, upon glimpsing John, Fuches' resolve wavers. Sally, her gaze filled with anticipation, turns to Hank, inquiring about John's wellbeing. Hank responds with a defeated sigh, "It's not for me to decide." Consequently, Barry's fate once again hangs in the balance, prompting him to react as any heartbroken father might – by arming himself to the teeth with guns and ammunition!
What prompts Fuches to spare John's life remains a mystery. The blatant nonchalance in his stride as he exits the "gun store," as if he's merely purchased toys, mocks the gravity of the United States' administration and its lax gun laws. DA Buckner and Jim Moss have executed a complete reversal on Janice's murder, now fingering Gene as the puppet master. Gene watches in disbelief, accompanied by his agent, Tom. One can't help but feel sympathy for Gene – a man who never reached his acting potential, unloved by many, and betrayed by the only person who cared for him, who killed the woman he cherished. What crime did he commit to deserve such a fate?
Sally confides in John the truth about herself and Barry, a harsh revelation for a child to hear about his father. But such is the unbalanced moral scale when weighing an individual's deeds. She breaks down, realizing she's responsible for placing John in this predicament and acknowledging her shortcomings as a mother. John, however, relies on his innate instinct to comfort her, wrapping his arms around her in a display of childlike innocence and purity.
Hank's men swoop in, snatching Sally away from John's tearful embrace. Hank stands by Cristobal's statue, planted prominently in the entranceway lobby. Fuches insists that John be brought out alongside Sally, a demand Hank had not anticipated. Reluctantly, Hank complies, ordering his men to bring John forward when Fuches offers to walk away if his condition is met. He sweetens the deal further for Hank: "Admit you killed Cristobal, and John doesn't have to come out at all." Hank's defenses crumble as he confesses the painful truth – the murder of the man he cherished.
Fuches' clarity is astonishing, both soothing and contagious, embodying the unvarnished truth of our universe. His voice resonates like that of a man who has weathered eight years of daily brutality, pushed to the brink of death. Hank, though acknowledging his guilt, reverses course upon John's appearance, aborting their agreement. Fuches' swift retribution initiates a hail of bullets, with Fuches shielding John with his own flesh and blood. Amidst the chaos, all but Sally perish, Hank clinging to his final breaths, haunted by his atrocities as he grasps Cristobal's statue, his lifeforce ebbing away.
John dashes out to find Barry, newly arrived and aghast, enveloping him in an embrace before seeking the reassuring gaze of his mentor, Fuches. Their silent nod acknowledges an unspoken bond of mutual sacrifice and support, never forgotten. As Fuches retreats into the shadows, Barry ushers Sally and John to safety. Within the hotel room's cocoon, John sleeps peacefully, nestled between his parents.
However, Sally's resolve to distance John from Barry solidifies as Gene's story unfolds across cyberspace, urging Barry to surrender. Barry, who once prayed fervently for divine forgiveness and a celestial refuge, now views his survival as a divine redemption, a fresh start for his family. Sally, disappointed, acts on her misgivings by taking John away the following morning.
Gene isolates himself, armed, as Tom, his agent, flees the impending turmoil. Barry, seeking his family, enters the apartment unannounced, finding Tom in a state of disarray. Their conversation pivots around Barry's moral imperative to save Gene, a realization that dawns upon him too. Just as he prepares to call the police, a gunshot rings out. Gene fires twice at Barry, piercing his heart and skull, content in the knowledge that he has avenged his lover's death, the world having turned a blind eye to the truth.
An Explanation of the Barry Ending: Unraveling the Events Following the "Time Leap"
Tom places a call to the police, ushering in yet another temporal shift, albeit far less abrupt. Sally has ascended to Gene's former throne at the theater, where she now imparts her wisdom on acting. Her stage rendition of "Our Town" has captivated audiences, drawing thunderous applause that resonates through the intimate confines of the venue. Outside, a suitor approaches her, only to be swiftly dismissed before he can even articulate his invitation. The radiant smile that once adorned her face fades as she cruises home, solitary in her vehicle.
John has matured into adulthood, earning her blessing to spend a night at his friend Eric's abode. His religious upbringing casts a palpable shadow over his decisions. Reluctantly, he attends a screening of "The Mask Collector," an HBO biopic chronicling Barry's life. The narrative is a tangled web of truth and duplicity, painting Gene as the scapegoat for Janice's untimely demise. The film portrays Barry as a paragon of virtue—a dedicated veteran and devoted family man who was led astray by a malevolent acting mentor consumed by jealousy, ultimately resulting in the murder of his lover.
Gene is also depicted as Barry's killer, with the former serial predator being "interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery." Gene spends the remainder of his days behind bars, punished for the murders of Janice and Barry. The cinematic distortion of reality puzzles John, who emits a chuckle tinged with moral ambiguity.
