Oh, Canada

I was not present when my father died.

I arrived a week after.

He was sick, but his death was unexpected.

He had agreed to a day-long interview

to be conducted by former students of his

in his apartments in Old Montreal.

I forget why I agreed to do this.

Tell me why I agreed to do this?

Monsieur Fife agreed to make the interview because he'’s famous

-for something to do with cinema. -Ah.

And famous people have to make interviews.

Mm-hm.

Where'’s Emma?

I'’m here.

Hey.

You look wonderful.

I certainly don'’t feel calm.

Don'’t feel calm.

Oh, cherie.

Uh, we'’re ready.

One minute.

I need her fucking here.

She'’s the only reason I agreed to do this goddamn thing.

If she'’s not there, I'’m shutting it down.

-Emma'’s here, Emma's here. -Right behind you, Leo.

You know, what I got to say, I don'’t want to say it twice.

It'’s a lot easier to say what I wanna say

if I know who I'’m talking to.

You'’re talking to Malcolm, making a movie.

No, they'’remaking a movie,

Malcolm and Diana.

-Uh-huh. -Professor Fife.

Ah.

You'’re blessed, yeah.

We'’ve arranged the place for the interview there.

Um, you look great.

Yeah, I'’ve never looked better.

You remember your fellow classmates?

Of course.

Malcolm and Diana.

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada.

Don'’t be cruel.

We'’re used to it, Em.

Uh, Diana will be behind the camera,

and this is our assistant du jour,Sloane.

I have a last name, Sloane Ambrose.

We have you right here on the X.

Um, yeah.

Perfect.

Okay, um, indicate when you'’re ready.

As discussed, we want to record your progress

from your arrival in Canada as a draft refugee

through your career as a filmmaker.

Um, we'’ve prepared a list of 25 questions.

Your career is an emblem of political filmmaking.

Ah, we'’re using the camera technique

you pioneered.

Where'’s my wife?

I'’m here.

Consider it a protégé'’s homage.

No objection.

And, also, we don'’t have to finish today.

We can continue tomorrow.

Just sit there till I finish telling everything, okay?

Yeah.

We'’ve worked up some great questions for you.

Oh, I'’m sure you have.

Rene said you wouldn'’t begin unless Emma was present.

Is it true?

Mostly true, yeah.

I might have done it, but differently.

Why?

For the record.

What record?

I don'’t know. Like giving testimony.

It'’s easier when I say it to you.

Okay, let'’s begin.

Lights, please.

Leonard Fife, December 22, 2023.

Leonard, I'’d like to begin with--

The story begins...

the night of March 30th, 1968.

Richmond, Virginia.

That'’s when the poisonous flower first bloomed.

My wife, Alicia, and I were visiting her parents'’ home.

Goodnight.

Ooh, the baby'’s restless tonight.

"There was once a velveteen rabbit.

And in the beginning, he was real splendid.

He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be.

His coat was spotted brown and white,

he had real thread whiskers,

and his ears were lined with pink sateen.

On Christmas morning..."

Oh.

Well, that was quick.

Can I listen?

Oh, I can hear him.

Hm?

Or her.

She'’ll be a girl.

And then we'’ll be the perfect family,

mom, pop, son, daughter.

I wish I could stay.

Mm.

When'’s the flight?

It'’s first thing.

Don'’t wake up, I'll take a cab.

Give my best to Stanley and Gloria.

What an unexpected couple.

Still together.

And I should be there by dinner.

Dad.

I'’m sorry, darlin'.

Leonard, join me for a personal conversation

before dinner?

Sure.

Game room. Have a snootful.

I'’ll be there in 15.

Leonard.

Come on in.

Have a seat.

Would you like an excellent cigar

made by Cuban exiles?

You know what, actually, I'’m trying to stop smoking

on account of Alicia'’s pregnancy.

But, yes.

So, I gather

this is a crucial moment in your lives.

For you and Alicia, I mean.

Yes, sir, you know, it'’s a-- uh, it'’s a big change.

- - For all of us.

It will be a long ways away from Richmond,

but, uh, you'’ll have to come visit us in Vermont sometimes.

Often.

I'’ve never been there.

Vermont.

Yeah, and we'’ll come down and visit as often as possible.

Especially when I'’m not teaching, you know,

when college is out and...

It'’s a good little college, I hear.

Goddard.

One of those, uh, progressive colleges

from Alicia'’s description.

Yes, sir.

My father has not told him

that he could stay on at UVA for another three years.

He hasn'’t told Alicia either.

Come in.

I'’ve asked my brother, Jackson, to join us.

Come on in, Jack, pull up a chair.

Ben tells me you'’re going north tomorrow.

Closed a deal on a place you bought up there.

Yeah, that'’s correct.

- - I know.

You got yourself a teaching job up there.

A long ways from your children'’s grandparents.

Does your own family still live up there?

Oh, they'’ve, uh, they'’ve moved to Maine.

That'’s a damn long ways away.

Son, let me cut to the chase.

My brother and I have been discussing a proposal,

a business arrangement we'’d like you to consider

before you make your big move north.

Beech and Nettleson have bought out

a dozen family-owned health and pharmaceutical companies.

They would like to purchase Dr. Todd'’s.

The offer is substantial.

In the millions.

That'’s a problem.

W-what'’s the problem?