Topic: Alma and Monroe

[chowhound]

The other day a friend asked me about Alma and Monroe. She was curious about when their relationship changed from employer/employee to something much more personal. She was also curious about how long the "personal" relationship might have been going on and whether it predated Alma's divorce. Was there even an understanding between the two of them, she wondered, so that if she were to divorce Ennis, then he, Monroe, would be happy to marry her shortly afterwards?

There's precious little information in the short story on this though the bouncy way in which the separation and divorce is told - "...and when Alma Jr. was nine and Francine seven she [Alma] said, what am I doin hangin around him, divorced Ennis and married the grocer" - always suggests to me a very upbeat Alma at this point in the story.

An earlier version of the script, however, provides a clue for a possible back story for Alma and Monroe. The scene occurs after Alma has witnessed the reunion kiss but quite how long after is unclear:

INT; GROCERY STORE; WYOMING; EARLY EVENING.

ALMA, a little older and a little less skinny, is clerking at the grocery store. As she rings up groceries, we see MONROE, now a manager, wearing a cheap tie, flirting, smiling at her. ALMA smiles back.

The customer leaves. ALMA and MONROE are alone. MONROE opens a box of Junior Mints and eats one.

                                                                 ALMA
                                         What are you smilin' 'bout?

                                                                 MONROE
                                                  (chewing, smiles even wider)
                                         Nothin'.

                                                                 ALMA
                                         Gotta be somethin'

                                                                 MONROE
                                         Just happy, I guess.

MONROE throws a Junior Mint at Alma.

                                                                 ALMA
                                                            (laughing)
                                          Stop that!

Just then, Ennis walks into the store. MONROE and ALMA immediately stop their flirting.

This, of course, doesn't make it into the final cut but nevertheless that doesn't prevent us from wondering if her relationship with Monroe was one of the reasons for Alma seeking a divorce from Ennis.

Another interrelated reason for her divorce decision dates, I believe, from the time when she became convinced that her husband and Jack were deeply involved in an affair. We know, of course, that she has witnessed the reunion kiss but it appears that it has left her with puzzlement and doubts rather than any certainty. If she was certain, why would she bother tying that note to the end of Ennis's line? It was only when she can definitely prove that no fishing had taken place on that trip even though Ennis claimed that they had "caught a bunch a browns and ate them up" that she positively knows about his relationship with "Jack Nasty".

The question is - when did this scene occur? It's impossible to say with certainty but I always like to think it's the scene when Ennis is just leaving and Alma very pointedly reminds him that he's about to leave his creel case behind.

If I'm right,  then this scene takes place in 1972 and the divorce occurs three years later in 1975. That would be about the right amount of time for Alma to get everything worked out. She may well be set on divorce but she would also need something or someone to fall back on for support. She would no doubt get child support but even so that would leave her as a single mother trying to raise two smallish children. That's why I've always suspected that Monroe is waiting in the wings when Alma initiates divorce proceedings. We don't know how long a gap there is between Alma's divorce from Ennis and her marriage to Monroe but it can't have been that long as she is already six months pregnant with his child at the Thanksgiving dinner two year later in 1977.  

[rdx]

An early script (Feb 1, 2003) says that the scene #93 two scenes before the mentioned scene #95 takes place in 1970 at a school Christmas play. Scene #94 is the scene where Jack is called a piss-ant.  Scene #96 is just an 'intermediate' with no spoken lines: "Ennis, still a ranch hand, is dehorning steers on a squally, snow-spitting day". The next scene #97 takes place in 1974 Jack looking for his parka.

Generally, if you read this early script, year of a scene isn't mentioned on every scene. On the other hand, "Story to Screenplay" mentions year on every scene. (though no scene numbers). (Sort of) conclusion: the early script mentions year only when it changes --> the mentioned scene took place in late 1970. Though the mention of the Christmas play makes the time frame indefinite... The early script has also a scene between Alma and Monroe in 1966 where Monroe delivers groceries to Alma.

Anyway, film, as a form of art, doesn't need to authenticate reality.

[jackster]

Gee-Whiz – You two are amazin’ in your study an’ analysis of the minutiae. 

First, I’d agree, it would seem there was the intention of tying the “forgettin’ something?” scene with the “you didn’t go up there to fish” scene. That is, it seems they tried to indicate that was the trip in which Alma tied the note to the line. I say this because of the brief shot when we see Alma’s contemplation after we hear Ennis going down the outside stairs. She looks up from her paper and seems to reflect for a moment, as if to say, “well, now I’ll see what happens”. We don’t actually see the referenced price tag on the creel box, which would naturally seal the deal.

Though in reality it’s difficult for me to believe that someone (Alma) would think this trap would actually work ahead of time. The simplest type of messing around in the creel box could have exposed the note and allowed Ennis to remove it, and of course, just because they actually did fish (once) doesn’t mean that they didn’t also have sex and lots of it, so it doesn’t seem like it would work as a premeditated plan. However, having discovered the undisturbed note later would certainly help substantiate the fact that they actually didn’t fish and that they were spending the time in other extracurricular activities. It would seem there’d be a dozen different more reliable ways Alma would have to also substantiate this, - example: she no doubt did Ennis’s laundry so there’d be all kinds of evidence of fishin’ (or lack of) and/or other activities during the trip.
 
I’d also agree on the divorce/remarriage plan. It would make the most sense for Alma to have a pretty certain plan for the future of herself and her daughters in place before seeking the divorce. The simple, straightforward way Annie spells it out makes it seem like it was almost a single act that took place simultaneously at the Courthouse on the same day. When we see the Thanksgiving dinner scene, it starts out anyway with a relatively even comfort level between all the players considering the circumstance. Obviously they’d all known each other for years before the divorce/remarriage and it almost seems as if the scene is meant to show that everyone is now in a more natural (or relaxed) position. Of course, this is also what Jack unfortunately interprets from the event.
 
Don’t know if this answers your question or any question. Also agree wholeheartedly with rdx, no need to authenticate reality. Both (movie+SS), speak beautifully for themselves, no instruction manual needed.