Kubrick reportedly felt this scene was unnecessary. The film ends on a note of ambiguity and unease in the toy store; showing Bill back at work grounded the fantasy too much in reality. Kubrick preferred to leave the audience suspended in that awkward, fragile moment between the couple.
Stanley Kubrick delivered his final cut to Warner Bros. just before his death in March 1999. The theatrical version (159 min) is considered his approved edit. Claims of a longer “director’s cut” are unsubstantiated. eyes wide shut deleted scenes
Nicole Kidman noted that the opening shot of her dropping her dress was based on a candid moment Kubrick saw during costume tests, which he decided to use as the film's first frame despite not being in the original script. 2. Major Script-to-Screen Omissions Kubrick reportedly felt this scene was unnecessary
According to the original script and eyewitness reports from test screenings, there was a brief scene following the Harfords' reconciliation. It showed Bill (Tom Cruise) returning to the hospital where he worked. The implication was a return to normalcy—a stark contrast to the dream-like nightmare he had just experienced. Stanley Kubrick delivered his final cut to Warner Bros
But the missing footage serves a purpose. The gaps in the narrative mirror the gaps in Bill's understanding of his wife, and the gaps in his own life. The movie is designed to make you feel like you are missing something, just as Bill feels he is missing the truth.