A small cream-colored pine casket, symbolized Isaac Menis' past, present, and future. The secular reform cemetery is crowded. By the coffin sitting on a few chairs are the elderly and sick and people who have trouble standing as well as Eve. She is wearing all black, weeping and screaming uncontrollably. Gideon supports her. He is wearing a gray suit and every once in a while sneaks a harsh, stabbing and accusing gaze at Michelle and Abraham who return a gaze of disgust and disrespect. Michelle and Abraham also wear dark clothes. They are standing on the other side of the casket, holding handkerchiefs and weeping silently. Behind them, stand Mickey and Wally d in dull faces, noticing the exchange of hard gazes between the couples. Wally whispers to Mickey in a happy voice
"Did you see the love between the grieving families? Even on such a rough day they don't give up?"
"Yes. I have noticed".
Sadly
"It looks so bad that I won't be surprised to hear about four new murders".
Around them stand family members, neighbors, colleague, acquaintances, friends and a lot of strangers that took part in the search and came to honor the dead and his family. The media didn't forget to arrive and TV reporters with crews are swarming around like Rottweiler dogs that smell blood and open their ugly mouth with joy. A reform Rabbi wearing modern dark clothes with long hair gathered in the back and an earring prays for the deceased soul respectively and purposefully. Some of the men start lowering the casket down into the pit that was dug especially for that cause. There is a hard feeling of the end of the road. The end of Isaac's brief life. Everybody starts crying loudly as the Rabbi ends the prayer.
"I ask that the parents throw some land on the casket. It is meant to give meaning to the biblical saying. Like God said to Adam in the Garden of Eden before he was expelled in disgrace - from ashes you came and to ashes you shall return".
Abraham holds a pinch of dirt he took from the ground of the cemetery throws it gently onto the casket and prays a silent prayer to God's ears. Gideon helps Eve to get up off her chair. She also collects some dirt from the ground, throws at the casket and her body shivers in bitter weeping. Everyone freeze on their spot in horror as Eve suddenly attacks Abraham with drawn nails as if she's gone amok:
"I hate you. Isaac died because of you! I shouldn't have left him at your house. You wanted him to die."
Mickey, Wally and Gideon quickly reach her and prevent her from attacking Abraham and move her away from him but it's too late. Abraham can't deal with it anymore and screams at Eve in a scary voice
"You're crazy! What do you want from me? Aren't you ashamed of yourself for accusing me of what happened? You begged to leave Isaac with us when you went with your girlfriends on the weekend! Isaac begged you to let him join you, right? Why didn't you take him?"
Abraham says with disgust and a small sense of rejoicing in her failure.
"I'll tell you why… You didn't want him to disturb you having fun, right?"
Mickey and Wally decide to separate the couples as quickly and as far as possible until they leave the cemetery. They place Eve and Gideon at one edge of the crowd and Abraham and Michelle on the other. A distance of about 50 meters apart. The crowd approaches one by one Eve and then Abraham to express their condolences. A channel 2 crew approach Eve's direction while a channel 1 crew approaches Abraham's direction. Unfortunately and cynically most of the crowd is trying to stick their faces into the camera. The event becomes more grotesque as the reporters of channels 1 and 2 are forced to proceed against the current of faces who want to be seen on television even in such a tragic and dull moment. The reporter for Channel 2 arrives hyperventilating and panting to a crying Eve.
"Please receive my condolences madam. Channel 2 and I sympathize. I wish you never suffer grief again".
Eve stretches out a limp hand to the reporters hand and thanks him with a broken voice. Gideon quickly smiles to the camera.
"Hello my name is Dr. Gideon and I'm Eve's spouse. I knew Isaac, a great kid that never bothered anyone."
"Eve, what do you have to say about the suspect, Joshua Solomon? Did you know that he may get the electric chair?"
"Isaac my son is gone! A kid that never bothered anyone and didn't do anyone any harm. Why was he murdered? And why would I care what happens to the suspect? That evil, that nutcase cared about my son? My Isaac? I wish he rot in hell!"
She starts crying.
"Even if that evil man dies, would it bring Isaac back to life? Of course not".
"And still Eve, how are you planning to move on with your life? Is there anything you want to say to Abraham, Isaac's father? What message do you have to give to other parents?"
Eve stutters
"Ahhh... I don't know how mothers that have gone through such a thing move on… Isaac would stay a part of my life forever".
Suddenly Gideon bursts out excited.
"I will tell you how Eve will move on with her life. She is pregnant with my baby and maybe that will bring her some joy in life. The horrible tragedy she is going through at the moment… It's not just losing Isaac; it is also because of her ex, Abraham. He is also to blame. She didn't have even one day of happiness with the idiot. He should have died and not Isaac. I'm also…"
Eve feels uncomfortable and prefers not to speak. She is looking for some peace and quiet for her soul. But, the reporter feels that something is "being cooked" and he wants to get a scoop out of her no matter what the price is. He pushes her without any consideration or mercy.
"I'm sorry Eve, but the viewers and I are curious to know what your feelings are towards your ex, Abraham? Gideon talked about his feelings towards Abraham and I know you also want to tell us something important. Now is the right time".
"Now is the right time".
He whispers in her ear with gentle voice.
"Millions of people are watching you, talk now!!"
Eve says hatefully with an accusatory tone.
"I would like to say one thing to Abraham. As far as I'm concerned you killed my Isaac".
The crowd is horrified.
"I left him in your care till I come back, but you didn't care for him like you should have".
She screams with rage.
"You let Michelle your partner take care of him? He wasn't her son, he was your son! And as if that's not enough, you went with Michelle and Isaac to the place where Joshua and his cult were living! You introduced Isaac to the singing pervert, that sick pervert Joshua. You handed Isaac over into the monster's nails."
Wally and Mickey quickly run towards Eve, horrified from hearing her screams. Eve stops and starts crying hysterically while Gideon smiles satisfied. He doesn't even support her. Wally watches Gideon closely with threatening eyes. Mickey walks in authoritative steps to the Channel 2 crew, stands in front of them and snaps at the pale TV reporter
"Don't you think you are over doing it? You think you can to do anything? Dig deep and worsen the pain of these people that just lost their son?"
He says in disgust
"Get out of here before I arrest you for inciting".
The reporter stutters with embarrassment and apologizes with hypocrisy and quickly disappears along with his crew. Wally waits to catch Gideon alone, approaches him and grabs his arm like steel vices:
"I see you enjoy watching Eve throwing mud at Abraham, have you forgotten that he lost his son as well?"
Gideon lowers his eyes down to the floor and waits for the idiot cop to go away and stop lecturing. At the same time the Channel 1 crew stands in front of Abraham and Michelle that thank the guests. Mickey notice from the corner of his eye that the crew is standing next to Abraham and worries that the mess Channel 2 did will repeat itself with channel 1. He signals to Wally
"Come with me Wally, Channel 1's crew is by Abraham and Michelle and it will be better if we were there just in case. Trouble is brewing today".
They both leave the tumult next to Eve and Gideon and arrive at the spot as the channel 1reporter asks Abraham
"Mr. Menis and Michelle Please receive my condolences and channel 1 condolence. We hope you never suffer pain again."
He says with curiosity.
"We know there is a suspect in custody by the name Joshua Solomon AKA the "singing pervert". Have you talked to him? Do you have anything you want to say to the murderer?"
Michelle says with sadness in her voice.
"We know that the police arrested him. I don't understand and don't know why he did this. Isaac never did anything to anyone. He was a sweet and mischievous boy that loved life. But that lunatic Joshua decided to play God and murdered Isaac without mercy. I don't know why…"
She adds cynically…
"Because he loves children so much and hates them even more? Maybe it's because Isaac identified him and maybe he even resisted that he was murdered?"
Everyone around is silent. Wally looks at Mickey and whispers to his ear
"Did you hear what she said? That last things? About Joshua hating children and that maybe Isaac recognized him and probably resisted him and that's why he was murdered? Do you want me to stop the broadcast? Order them to leave? "
Mickey shakes his head and holds Wally's arm
"Not yet. Give them time, I want to hear Abraham".
The Channel 1 reporter turns the microphone over to Abraham who looks very uncomfortable.
"Mr. Menis, have you spoken to the suspect? How will you carry on with your life after this tragic event you and Eve suffered?"
Abraham looks at the camera with significance and authoritativeness.
"What we have gone through so far was more than a bad dream, it's a terrifying reality".
He weeps hysterically.
"This creature, that animal - Joshua, kidnapped my child and murdered him. I don't wish my enemies what my ex Eve and I have gone through".
He hugs Michelle.
"Luckily, Michelle and our baby have been with me and supported me the entire time".
He smiles sadly.
"Yes, it's true what you heard. Michelle and I are expecting a baby soon and it's a bit of comfort for the future".
The TV director screams in the reporter's earphone demanding that he ask Abraham about Eve's accusations.
"I'm sorry Mr. Menis, but I have another question. I understand that Eve, Isaac's mother, was interviewed by a different news crew and accused you of being mean to her all the time, and much worse. She places part of the blame on you. She says that you didn't take care of Isaac as much as you should have".
"Give me that microphone".
Abraham grabs the microphone out of the reporter's hand.
"I'll show you what guilty is. She forced me to take Isaac because she went out of town and didn't want him to bother her".
He waves his hands up in the air looking very scary.
"I'm the guilty one? She lied to me that she loved me but she stole my sperm without my knowledge. She forced me to marry her by threatening that I won't see our baby! She forced me to divorce her when she met that doctor Gideon. And she blames me?"
He continues screaming hysterically.
"She ruined my life, threw me out of our home and only talked to me when she received her alimony or when she needed me to babysit Isaac. All women are exploiters, mean, evil, God will punish them!"
Everyone freezes on their spot, shocked. Wally and Mickey look at each other and at Abraham with their mouths open in amazement. Suddenly, the men who liked what he said cheer him while the women are furious and wave their fists at him.
"Way to go Abraham! You are so right; we are behind you and support you. The women are guilty of everything".
"Aren't you ashamed talking like this about Eve? We can't believe only Eve is to blame. When you get married there are two sides to the deal and you are to blame as much as she is. Lucky her for not being with you anymore".
The director screams in the reporter's earphone. With a cunning smile he asks
"Mr. Menis, you've said some harsh things about women, is that what you think about your current partner?"
Abraham understands he said things that shouldn't have been said out loud. He smiles his heartthrob smile and stutters
"No. Of course I don't think that about Michelle. She is the only one the helps and supports me. And don't forget we are having a baby together".
He pats her stomach gently.
"Our future is just beginning".
He puts his hand on his heart submissively.
"Dear viewers, I'm sorry and apologize for the hard things I have just said. I shouldn't have talked like that about Eve. I guess this hard day and my desperation have taken their toll on me. Don't judge a man in his sorrow. I regret everything I said. Eve is a wonderful woman who's going through a rough time, and I wish she won't know sorrow again in her life! To Joshua my message is…"
He bends his fingers mimicking a strangling motion and screams
"…no lawyer or judge would help you, you have to be destroyed like a poisonous snake, destroy you..."
Everyone smiles, understanding and nod their heads in agreement. Maybe as a mob listening and cheering their demagogic leader with a honey-lipped language and looking like the savior angel??? Wally smiles as well and laughs at the dull look on Mickey's face that is amazed at hearing Abraham's words. He doesn't accept them and maybe doesn't believe the apology of Abraham. Most of the people are starting to leave. Mickey and Wally stand to the side curiously examining them. They smoke the long awaited cigarette and sneak some of Mickey's flask contents down their throats. Isaac's parents and their partners are also getting ready to leave and they approach the fresh grave. Abraham and Michelle arrive there first and Eve and Gideon are waiting aside until Abraham and Michelle leave. Michelle bends over, put an orchid above the grave and gets up. Abraham starts to weep again and feels Wally and Mickey's curious gazes. He bends forward, kisses the grave and puts a lily on it, he mumbles a few words, gets up and starts walking away with Michelle. As Eve and Gideon approach the grave their paths cross. Each couple examines the other with dull and sealed eyes accompanied with disrespect and hatred. Abraham hurries and pushes Michelle to move on to their car and once in a while looks back at Eve but his gaze meets Mickey and Wally's that are looking worriedly at him and Michelle. Eve and Gideon are finishing their last moments by the grave and Gideon is hugging and walking a crying Eve away to their car. At the same time but with a total contradiction to the mood at the cemetery as if in another time zone, loud cheers and singing are heard coming out of José's shack that's decorated by balloons, paper chains and festive decorations. José's homeless friends, about fifteen of them, sit around the table laden with beer and vodka, snacks and ham sandwiches. Thomas, José's friend yells
"Everyone…I would like to raise a toast to lucky José…"
They all raise their glasses in the air
"…just yesterday he was homeless like the rest of us and now he is fifty thousand dollars rich…this is his rewards and he deserves it…"
They all scream cheers and drink from the plastic cups at once.
"But what would he do with the money?? Blow it, right?"
They all scream in assent…
"I suggest he give me the money and I'll watch it for him…I'll watch it for him in the Bahamas on the beach with a few women around me…and I promise to send him a hundred dollars each month…"
They all burst out laughing and José says
"I have something to say guys…I want the right of speech…It's a free country and I have rights…"
Everyone including José laugh out loud. His face is flushed from the booze he drank, he's barely holding on to the beer glass and his body swings from side to side like a boat on the stormy sea
"My dear esteemed friend, Thomas! I understand you want to be in the Bahamas with a few women by your side…so I suggest the money stays with me…I'll send you there and send you two hundred dollars each month for a girl. Huh, Thomas…what do you say?"
"I suggest you both get out of here to that place in the Bahamas and instead of sending each other three hundred dollars each month, send it to me…I'll be here, in the shack I'll house sit for you José…"
Says Svetlana, José's friend okingly..Everyone burst out laughing again as José barely standing on his feet screams again
"I would like to raise a toast to all my dear friends who think they know better than me what to do with my money…Cheers…Where there's money, there are friends…"
They all start singing off key about money and girls as they compete who can out drink the other and even hold entertaining drinking contests…the vodka keeps flowing and the party goes on!