Classic Barry.
I sometimes imagine the BM-scripted version of this scene, in which the LEO dutifully squints, hitches up his dungarees, chews thoughtfully at the straw in the corner of his mug, and says, "Mountain lion? Yessir, gotta be. You go on your way, friend. We'll round up a posse and get on arfter that critter. You just go on and try live as best you can now...
EXIT LAWMAN
SUN BEGINS TO SET OVER OVER THE BRAVE BUT LONESOME FIGURE SILHOUETTED AGAINST A MOUNTAIN CRAG. HE SIGHS AND MUMBLES
BM: Oh, Suzanne...
ENTER THE REDOUBTABLE AVATAR OF JUSTICE, EYTAN. SHE TAKES OUR HERO'S HAND AND LEADS HIM DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO WHERE HIS FAMILY AND TOWNSFOLK HAVE GATHERED TO COMFORT HIM.
SWELLING STRINGS, AND FROM THE FARAWAY HILLS THE SOUNDS OF HORSES AND THE SIMMERING HOWL OF A WRONGED AND OUTRAGED MOUNTAIN LION...
SCENE.
Yes, Barry and DT. T'was the cougar done it. And so the next chapter of our take of An Innocent (but actually guilty) Man begins.
Ending, hopefully, with the conviction he so richly deserves.