In which I add a wholly unnecessary narrative spin to the satisfying, straight-forward conclusion of a classic film.

Today: David Cronenberg’s “The Fly”

After killing Brundlefly, Stathis helps Veronica into her car. He scratches at his gross beard and offers to keep her company, but, still sobbing, she declines. As Stathis leaves and Veronica watches his aging car pull away, she immediately stops crying. She turns on the radio. The Bangles’ “Manic Monday” is playing. Cut to a street view. The music blares. Her car peels out and speeds away.

Cut to Veronica entering her apartment. A single lamp glows in the far corner of the living room. As she walks through the door, we hear a loud smoker’s cough. “Ah, Vladimir!” she exclaims. Cut to a man, shrouded in shadow, sitting on Veronica’s couch, holding a bottle of vodka. As he fills two glasses, we can just barely make out his craggy, chiseled features and dark, threatening suit. In one smooth motion, Veronica pulls off her curly, brown Geena Davis hair, revealing that it was a wig. She shakes out her natural thick blonde tresses and accepts a drink from the man. “Do Svidanya,” the man declares as they clink glasses. He downs his liquor in a single gulp, then pulls a manila folder out of his suit coat and throws it down onto the coffee table. Veronica smiles and sips her drink. As the man walks out, he speaks in a Russian accent: “the money for Brundle has been wired to your account.”

After the man leaves, Veronica clicks on another lamp and picks the folder up off the table. Inside is a picture of a nerdy geek with big dweebish glasses and a dorky cowlick. The photo is pinned to a small dossier. Veronica lifts the bottom of the photo. Cut to a close up of the dossier. We see the name “Dr. Norman Valient” and a column below it that says, “Field of Research: Teleportation.” Veronica closes the folder and, sipping vodka, slowly walks over to what appears to be a closet. She opens the door and we immediately hear a low, humming drone. As she flips on a light, we see a small room full of glass terrariums, each of them abuzz with hundreds of flies. Veronica smiles and brings the photo of Dr. Valient up to her lips. We hear the faint smack of a kiss. Veronica speaks: “Pleased to meet you, Doctor Walient.” Cut to close up of Valient’s photo, with a lipstick stain across his poindexter face. Voice over (Veronica): “Pleased to meet you.” Credits roll.

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