I don't think this has been discussed here, but what do you all think about Ennis being in the Greyhound station having an slice of apple pie? Was he there waiting to go on a trip or did he just come back from a trip? And why was it that Cassie couldn't get a hold of him at the ranch after leaving so many messages? Did he take the bus somewhere for a while since he wasn't at the ranch?
::) ??? ::)
Although Cassie was with a current boyfriend and didn't expect Ennis to be in there, I get the feeling that she sort of felt like Jack who had a significant other but wanted to be with Ennis instead.
I don't think this has been covered yet. What was going on in Ennis' mind before Cassie and her new boyfriend walked in the diner? He was obviously in tears...could it be that he was beginning to realize his love for Jack at this time? I'm sure he was upset over the fight that they had on the last trip, but could it be more than this?
I don't think this has been covered yet. What was going on in Ennis' mind before Cassie and her new boyfriend walked in the diner? He was obviously in tears...could it be that he was beginning to realize his love for Jack at this time? I'm sure he was upset over the fight that they had on the last trip, but could it be more than this?
I think if you look again, you'll notice the tears are there before she shows. He looks so miserable!
I didn't notice them either... :-\\ He looks miserable indeed,but I've only noticed an insightful position in him;as thinking deeply in what Cassie has just teached him and surely trying to apply this lesson to his relationship with Jack.
I guess I wonder what he was thinking. I can't imagine it being anything other than the confrontation he just had with Jack.
I also think the confrontation was weighing on his mind. I'm not sure how soon this scene is supposed to be after that, though. And in his conversation with Cassie he does his "blame" others thing ( I hate the word blame but can't think of how else to describe it) "Looks like I got the message in any case". That reminds me of the "once burned" comment he gave Alma. This scene makes me wonder what would have happened if they'd had one more meeting. He apologizes to Cassie here and then she defines things for him- it not being "fun" but love and he just has this look like some piece to the puzzle clicks in place. I'm sure he knew that he loved Jack but was maybe able to explain it to himself as loving the time he spent with Jack as opposed to defining "this thing", if that makes any sense.
It's interesting that most of us (and most of the viewers, I suspect) invariably link the preceding scene (the last confrontation) to this one. It feels so natural to make the connection, for some reason. In a way, I feel this scene to be one that brings us "back to earth" -- after the emotional intensity of the previous scene. It is middle ground or bridge between the previous scene and the nadir: when Ennis learns of Jack's death.I suppose they're linked,or we feel them like this,because they're some great steps in Ennis process to another way of seeing their relationship and the role he could play on it.Confrontation scene,by saying and hearing what was hidden during so many years,made him firstly exploit and,after,to think over the situation.And Cassie's scene,when he maybe was thinking in all this,made him reaffirming himself in how and when this situation could be changed.
I also think the confrontation was weighing on his mind. I'm not sure how soon this scene is supposed to be after that, though. And in his conversation with Cassie he does his "blame" others thing ( I hate the word blame but can't think of how else to describe it) "Looks like I got the message in any case". That reminds me of the "once burned" comment he gave Alma. This scene makes me wonder what would have happened if they'd had one more meeting. He apologizes to Cassie here and then she defines things for him- it not being "fun" but love and he just has this look like some piece to the puzzle clicks in place. I'm sure he knew that he loved Jack but was maybe able to explain it to himself as loving the time he spent with Jack as opposed to defining "this thing", if that makes any sense.
Sulking and blaming the whole world while eating pie in the station, Cassie's comment made him realize what he could have done for love, instead of just for fun.
IO do think this was the fundamental realization/meaning of this scene. It was essentially a "mirror" device, with Jack seeming to be reflected in the conversation with Cassie (lance, if you remember the "Think of it as a gift" dialogue in the gay film short we watched in Seattle, you will know what I mean...)
I haven't seen this gay film short you talk about >:D but it's clear for me that there was a mirror there; where Ennis could see Jack reflected in Cassie's image and words.I think that,meanwhile he was listening to her,he was applying her words to their situation with Jack...
Exactly -- it is as if Jack is speaking through Cassie, and we see that Ennis is brought to the realization that Jack wanted something deeper than just having a "good time."