Blind Item #16 - Stranger Things Have Happened - A Himmmm Blind Item - Part 9

Every day and minute thereafter was like crawling through molasses.  Time dragged on.  I can barely remember much of those days even now.  Later on, I was sent papers to appear or give affidavits in over 10 legal actions; cross actions; or related filings.  My attorneys worked to quash and expunge my name and the names of my interests from every single action.  In the end I was never named nor targeted as a party in anything.  I never testified for or against anyone.  The conspiracy theories and tabloids were brutal and disgusting.  Truth is – it WAS a tragic accident.

Nothing would bring Buddy back, no matter who got blamed or how much I blamed myself.  I supported Nin, Cissy, and the family in every way possible.  And they did the same for me, never blaming me but only thanking me for they knew my loss as I did theirs.  Every time I read or heard anything about Buddy or the film? Was like ripping scabs open and poisoning me anew.  Until their Mom said she wanted me to see to it that movie was finished properly, for him.  To make it BOTH our legacies.  To do it for her, would be as close as she could get to having him back.  It was the least I could do – I fed off my pain and used it as fuel.  A very long night alone I spent out on that same beach Buddy and I had last been.  By myself, spent talking and asking for guidance and strength.  Would he have let it all go? Would he have faded away or would my big brother have dug in his heels and fought even harder?  I heard my answer in the ocean.

Much time passed and many assumed the film would never be finished.  Through months of work with the Director and other script doctors, we were able to pull it together.  The Director, plus Cissy, Nin, and all of us agreed with his Mom that it must be finished for his sake.  I made sure their wishes were carried out, going so far as threatening insurance companies.  Paramount pulled out not wanting to touch the circus surrounding it.  I cut a deal bringing in people to sign with a brotherly duo who were distributors (now disgraced) who agreed to buy it. I personally got the soundtrack finished to complete the rock theme-song in time for release.  I literally sat in the mixing chair helping that "Goth-father" to finish in the studio. Our miraculous Musical Supervisor and I went to other friends in the music business to recruit them to pitch in – and not a single one ever said "no".  Even the reluctant UK band which inspired the original comic agreed to let us use their older stuff. 

At last we finished everything.  It was a complete masterwork worthy of Buddy's legacy.  A year later after the accident, the movie finally came out.  It was released to massive success, and even the soundtrack was a hit.  It was a year that re-defined my life.  In my early 20s in this industry and I was already baptized by a horrible trial by fire.  Somehow, we all survived it.