Anyone who is familiar with Kubrick knows that his films are always evolving, even while they are being made. Although he has a reputation as being a perfectionist and controlling, many of those actors who have worked with him will tell you that he was very open to a new idea. He wanted his crew , both actors and technicians alike, to be just as absorbed with the film as he was and he was never kind to anyone who showed any less enthusiasm. I've read many books on Kubrick and how he had last minute moments of inspiration that he sprung on his production team. One case being Slim Pickens riding the bomb at the end of Dr. Strangelove. The plane set had no bomb bay doors and had to be created to suit the director's vision. It's now the most iconic image of the film. I imagine the script for 2001 is probably very threadbare, especially on dialogue since it's essentially a silent film, it's story told through images and very light on expository information. I've never been frustrated by this lack of simple answers and I think it is what keeps the film fresh 56 years after its release. If you need a more focused narrative I'd suggest reading the novel, which ends with the Star Child detonating the satellites and their nuclear weapons. I prefer the ambiguity of the film as the Star Child just hovers over the Earth. No matter how many times I've watched the film that moment when it turns into the camera still gives me chills,especially when I got to see it on an Imax format. Stunning.

It's not the screenplay that is the problem, but rather the viewer.

Thanks I was puzzled by the script.

Nice one!