Topic: "All this time you aint found anyone else to marry?"

[aintfoolin]

 Why in the world would Jack ask Ennis this question?

 Alma alluded to being concerned about Ennis bein alone so much in the Thanksgiving scene, but why would Jack feel that Ennis needed to /or would even think about re-marry? Just small talk? or something deeper? I don't have a clue.

[manhattangirl]

Jack ask him all these years after the divorce Ennis couldn't find anyone to marry.  Fair question.  What was it that kept Ennis from even finding a woman to settle down with?  I don't think Jack concern so much that Ennis had to be married, as to why Ennis wasn't married.   

[chameau]

Maybe he was questioning Ennis about their relationship?  Not so long after there is this famous quote from Jack:  The Truth is sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it to which Ennis never replied.

[aintfoolin]

Maybe he was questioning Ennis about their relationship?  Not so long after there is this famous quote from Jack:  The Truth is sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it to which Ennis never replied.

This is this what I mean when I say something deeper. Was Jack *fishing* for answeres, trying in a subtle way to get Ennis to admit something to him? if this is true, I don't think Ennis got it.

[jackster]

All this time I've wondered about this too aintfoolin. Jack surely didn't want Ennis to get remarried did he? He wanted to "marry" Ennis if he could, right? Seems a better question (though coming from Ennis) would have been, "All this time and you still ain't got divorced?"

Maybe he's proding Ennis to see if there's any other men friends in his life. But when Jack continues on about the rancher's wife, it's clear even he is still maintaining the "I ain't queer" facade from 20 years ago. Except for the "miss you so much" phrase, this has always seemed one of the most confused sections of dialog in the film. JMHO.

[manhattangirl]

Maybe he's proding Ennis to see if there's any other men friends in his life. But when Jack continues on about the rancher's wife, it's clear even he is still maintaining the "I ain't queer" facade from 20 years ago. Except for the "miss you so much" phrase, this has always seemed one of the most confused sections of dialog in the film. JMHO.

Tell me about it.  Here is where I don't know, the word "irony" comes in to play.  Anyway,  I've alway thought Jack had the perfect right to ask that question.  When Jack said "I miss you so much I can hardly stand it."   What was Ennis response?  He said nothing, as if he knew what that would lead to.  Ennis was being very careful. 

[Emzan]

Tell me about it.  Here is where I don't know, the word "irony" comes in to play.  Anyway,  I've alway thought Jack had the perfect right to ask that question.  When Jack said "I miss you so much I can hardly stand it."   What was Ennis response?  He said nothing, as if he knew what that would lead to.  Ennis was being very careful. 

Yeah he was but i think he felt the same way as Jack. If he didnt them why would he be that angry the day after when Jack told him that he had been to Mexico?

[orangetruck]

My apologies for the long winded response. I just find a lot to consider, and a lot to relate experience with.

First off, I get the feeling it's for the sake of acknowledgement on Jack's part; to show Ennis he's not giving up on him (yet); to not corner him. Jack is close to pushing Ennis away, probably has been for years. Meanwhile, it is eating Jack alive. "Sometimes I miss you so much.." is proof of the appetite of Jack's love that he can no longer satisfy with emptiness; the next day he rumbles and growls at Ennis from the inside out. It's as though Jack instinctively let's Ennis understand that he's been keeping him on a leash and yet, starving him. If only Jack knew how to snap the leash and go find proper nourishment, love, he is saying he would do so; instead, he was loyal to Ennis. He was prisoner to love.
This said, I think the night prior is a thinning prelude to the finale of their chemistry, an extended, lit fuse finally bringing ignition and POW -- but of course they explode together. This echoes many a time including first departure, divorce scene, and this final confrontation when they recoil in an embrace at the ground (nevermind how I think afterlife will reunite them after the explosion of Jack's death).
"All this time and you ain't found anyone else to marry" / All this time and you still love me the most?
"All this time and you ain't found no one else to marry" / You're still content to be stuck in limbo?

There are many double meanings, mainly aimed at Ennis' psyche and the likelihood that his transparent walls will finally crumble in the favor of his and Jack's love affair. Personally, I don't lean on the notion that Jack was insecure about Ennis' feelings towards another woman or man. Rather, he was painting a contrast between their lives off the mountain, and the love between each other, while suffocating on the fumes of red paint. - best to use *images* on Ennis.
Ennis: .. I been puttin' the blocks on this pretty little gal up in Riverton / I still haven't forgotten to act straight.
I find it beautifully bittersweet that Jack couldn't outright "hurt" or jeopardize Ennis by saying he'd been considering Randall, and had to throw in "fooling with" his wife. It hurts to know how easy it is to talk of their empty 'straight' lives than it is their own love; and these tiresome facades had been getting to Jack and the longer he was left in life to feel robbed of his true love, the shorter that fuse got. He sleeps on it, and in the morning with the mere mention of November, he is set off.
All this time and you ain't found no one else to marry..
20 years ... and you still haven't turned 10.
 :\'(

Yeah, I think Jack needed an "I love you". Ennis could have stomped the fuse out, had he been able to offer something sincere. I think that's what it boils down to ...

For now, that's my 2 cents.

[jackster]

"The Truth is sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it "

Tell me about it.  Here is where I don't know, the word "irony" comes in to play. . . . What was Ennis response?  He said nothing, as if he knew what that would lead to.  Ennis was being very careful. 

Yeah he was but i think he felt the same way as Jack. If he didn't them why would he be that angry the day after when Jack told him that he had been to Mexico?

In the earlier "unedited" script (one that was probably filmed, but not included in the film) Ennis responds to Jack here: "I know the feelin'. . . "

Obviously Ang decided to not include these four words, and to depend on Heaths facial expression here which of course leads to very interesting interpretations. An open question as to how this could change the scene and ultimately the film.

[Emzan]

In the earlier "unedited" script (one that was probably filmed, but not included in the film) Ennis responds to Jack here: "I know the feelin'. . . "

Obviously Ang decided to not include these four words, and to depend on Heaths facial expression here which of course leads to very interesting interpretations. An open question as to how this could change the scene and ultimately the film.

I would have loved to hear Ennis say that...i probably would have cried more then i already do in that scene :\'(

[myprivatejack]

I've always thought that,effectively,Jack uses this question as a way of estimating Ennis answers and making them turn into their own relationship.As Justin says very well,as a way of asking him between the lines if Ennis still feels the same for him,if there's any hope,any little it could be...Maybe it was an introduction to speak more openly and deeply about their relationship's future,that,one more time,Ennis lack of an effective answer cut off from the root.And maybe,or almost surely,it was a way to know if this hope in their future was so little than he could begin to estimate Randall's role.Even if his feelings hadn't disminished,his hopes and expectations clearly had.

[aintfoolin]

My apologies for the long winded response. I just find a lot to consider, and a lot to relate experience with.

First off, I get the feeling it's for the sake of acknowledgement on Jack's part; to show Ennis he's not giving up on him (yet); to not corner him. Jack is close to pushing Ennis away, probably has been for years. Meanwhile, it is eating Jack alive. "Sometimes I miss you so much.." is proof of the appetite of Jack's love that he can no longer satisfy with emptiness; the next day he rumbles and growls at Ennis from the inside out. It's as though Jack instinctively let's Ennis understand that he's been keeping him on a leash and yet, starving him. If only Jack knew how to snap the leash and go find proper nourishment, love, he is saying he would do so; instead, he was loyal to Ennis. He was prisoner to love.
This said, I think the night prior is a thinning prelude to the finale of their chemistry, an extended, lit fuse finally bringing ignition and POW -- but of course they explode together. This echoes many a time including first departure, divorce scene, and this final confrontation when they recoil in an embrace at the ground (nevermind how I think afterlife will reunite them after the explosion of Jack's death).
"All this time and you ain't found anyone else to marry" / All this time and you still love me the most?
"All this time and you ain't found no one else to marry" / You're still content to be stuck in limbo?

There are many double meanings, mainly aimed at Ennis' psyche and the likelihood that his transparent walls will finally crumble in the favor of his and Jack's love affair. Personally, I don't lean on the notion that Jack was insecure about Ennis' feelings towards another woman or man. Rather, he was painting a contrast between their lives off the mountain, and the love between each other, while suffocating on the fumes of red paint. - best to use *images* on Ennis.
Ennis: .. I been puttin' the blocks on this pretty little gal up in Riverton / I still haven't forgotten to act straight.
I find it beautifully bittersweet that Jack couldn't outright "hurt" or jeopardize Ennis by saying he'd been considering Randall, and had to throw in "fooling with" his wife. It hurts to know how easy it is to talk of their empty 'straight' lives than it is their own love; and these tiresome facades had been getting to Jack and the longer he was left in life to feel robbed of his true love, the shorter that fuse got. He sleeps on it, and in the morning with the mere mention of November, he is set off.
All this time and you ain't found no one else to marry..
20 years ... and you still haven't turned 10.
 :\'(

Yeah, I think Jack needed an "I love you". Ennis could have stomped the fuse out, had he been able to offer something sincere. I think that's what it boils down to ...

For now, that's my 2 cents.

Forget the apologies for long-windedness,  I can relate to the passion , believe me you   and this speaks to what I've considered about this question.

I think Jack was searching for something, perhaps that he is still the one and only in Ennis's life. He would love to know what's holding Ennis back, a woman?  Nah, women aint considered  serious competition in this love affair. Been there, done that.
 He does know the solution to his problem lies within Ennis himself a tough piece of work.  Had Ennis said he was putting the blocks to some fellow co-working cowboy, Jack would've been shatterd. Of course that was not the case, but " after all this time" , Jack is seeking confirmation for himself.

Yes, quitting Ennis has already crossed his mind, but he still has hope.There is definitly a connection between this scene and what transpires the next morning during  which as you put it " a fuse has been lit"  long time ago in Jack.The noose on the short lease is getting tighter and tighter around his neck. Yes, Ennis could've stomped out that fuse or cut the noose some slack just by uttering " I know the feelin" but that, imo opinion would not be good enough.  He needs to hear something more substantive. He  is already trying to prepare to quit,...with Randall in Childress waiting in the wings.  ( a direct threat to Ennis, though that's open to speculation...) but anyway, Jack spares himself and Ennis THAT drama and opts out for LaShawn, Randall's wife. A lie, but it achieves the desired effect, big deal, Jack is screwing around with some ranch foreman's wife.

All them things Ennis don't know can't hurt him, but it leaves Jack very vulnerable to outside influence. Randall living in close proximity, and the Mexican border close by. . I have concluded that :.. "all this time, you aint found nobody else to marry? = after all these yrs, I need to know that I'm still the one you love. Jack is desperate for answers from Ennis involving  hope, confirmation , and inspiration . With  direct, open communication lacking, Jack says it all with " Truth is, sometimes I miss you so much, I can hardly stand it" . It's Ennis he really wants in his life, It's Ennis that he really needs despite his daliances. Finally, it is  this statement, along with " I wish I knew how to quit you"  that goes to the essence of the problem between Jack and Ennis, it speaks to the tortured dilemma in which Jack finds himself. MHO.

[babytammy7]

Mmmm, I don't know well what to say about it. 

I've always seen it like Jack was testing waters with Ennis, trying to know what Ennis thought about their relationship. I mean, Jack maybe asked trying to know if Ennis was alone because he only needed Jack and no someone else in his life. Maybe Jack wanted Ennis to say that he had no need to marry again and cheat some innocent woman because he knew for sure that all he wanted is Jack, though he couldn't be with him. Or maybe Jack wanted to know if Ennis didn't need or want a cover in front of the society anymore and he was more aware of what was their relationship.
But Ennis talked about Cassie confirming once again the "Ain't queer". Then Jack had nothing to do but answer "me neither" talking about the rancher's wife. His face when he was saying the affair story to Ennis is the saddest thing I've ever seen. He's so broken not only listening Ennis answer but saying his own lie, denying one more time what he was, what Ennis was, what they were and what they have. 

Just only MHO. 

[lancecowboy]

All this time I've wondered about this too aintfoolin. Jack surely didn't want Ennis to get remarried did he? He wanted to "marry" Ennis if he could, right? Seems a better question (though coming from Ennis) would have been, "All this time and you still ain't got divorced?"

Maybe he's proding Ennis to see if there's any other men friends in his life. But when Jack continues on about the rancher's wife, it's clear even he is still maintaining the "I ain't queer" facade from 20 years ago. Except for the "miss you so much" phrase, this has always seemed one of the most confused sections of dialog in the film. JMHO.

I am glad you all got so much to say about this scene. I thought it led inevitably to the argument at the parting because the confusion that we sense is exactly the same that ran through Ennis and Jack.

I agree that Ennis should've taken this opportunity to tell Jack that there ain't no women or men that compared to him. It was what Ennis said in the hotel room in the short story. Anne Proulx and Ang Lee fought over this and Anne finally agreed that Ang's treatment here is more dramatic. It is probably why Ennis' response was deleted as well.

I think, IMHO, that the final result is more realistic and true to the spirit of the two cowboys in the story. Ennis did not grow at all as a character until the argument and breakdown, then the diner with Cassie. Jack, however, grew and matured linearly with every scene. By this scene in question, the two are as different as they had been the same in '63. It was inevitable that they had a breakup, until Ennis can transform and grow to catch up to Jack.

Back to topic, though, I think Jack was trying to see what Ennis was feeling, before re-committing his own feelings. When Ennis was non-committal, he had no choice but to play along.

I cannot expect them to act any differently, although I hope that when the time comes for me in a similar situation, I would have the wisdom to know true love and the courage to be vulnerable, and the fortune to have it returned.

[orangetruck]

Forget the apologies for long-windedness,  I can relate to the passion , believe me you   and this speaks to what I've considered about this question.

I think Jack was searching for something, perhaps that he is still the one and only in Ennis's life. He would love to know what's holding Ennis back, a woman?  Nah, women aint considered  serious competition in this love affair. Been there, done that.
 He does know the solution to his problem lies within Ennis himself a tough piece of work.  Had Ennis said he was putting the blocks to some fellow co-working cowboy, Jack would've been shatterd. Of course that was not the case, but " after all this time" , Jack is seeking confirmation for himself.

Yes, quitting Ennis has already crossed his mind, but he still has hope.There is definitly a connection between this scene and what transpires the next morning during  which as you put it " a fuse has been lit"  long time ago in Jack.The noose on the short lease is getting tighter and tighter around his neck. Yes, Ennis could've stomped out that fuse or cut the noose some slack just by uttering " I know the feelin" but that, imo opinion would not be good enough.  He needs to hear something more substantive. He  is already trying to prepare to quit,...with Randall in Childress waiting in the wings.  ( a direct threat to Ennis, though that's open to speculation...) but anyway, Jack spares himself and Ennis THAT drama and opts out for LaShawn, Randall's wife. A lie, but it achieves the desired effect, big deal, Jack is screwing around with some ranch foreman's wife.

All them things Ennis don't know can't hurt him, but it leaves Jack very vulnerable to outside influence. Randall living in close proximity, and the Mexican border close by. . I have concluded that :.. "all this time, you aint found nobody else to marry? = after all these yrs, I need to know that I'm still the one you love. Jack is desperate for answers from Ennis involving  hope, confirmation , and inspiration . With  direct, open communication lacking, Jack says it all with " Truth is, sometimes I miss you so much, I can hardly stand it" . It's Ennis he really wants in his life, It's Ennis that he really needs despite his daliances. Finally, it is  this statement, along with " I wish I knew how to quit you"  that goes to the essence of the problem between Jack and Ennis, it speaks to the tortured dilemma in which Jack finds himself. MHO.

 

Mine too.

[aintfoolin]

It could also mean that Jack was trying to get across to Ennis, the loniness he felt and the vulnerabilities he felt open to. That this half- life that Ennis and his fear had doomed  them to, was so trying on his patience. Patience, he had but look at what he was dealing with. Really, His situation, cheating on Lureen with Ennis and keeping secret, while cheating on Ennis, with Randall and definitly keeping secret. This is his life. Having to hide so much.
 I agree, it's sad that he felt he had to play along trying to find some  redeeming hope to the situation, I think he was seeking something solid from Ennis to sustain this lonely life he lived. Something to "hold him over* one more time for it was the last night they would spend together before he is forced back into another few months of lonely torture without the one he needed and loved. Perhaps the lonely vulnerable feeling he felt the last time Ennis left him to marry Alma.

Though he has loved Ennis deeply through the years he will again, be givin no choice but to make something out of nothing  with a marriage in shambles and a substitute lover to compensate until they meet again. I agree, Ennis owed Jack at least some solace by words or action following his confession " sometimes I miss you so much can hardly stand it" Something sustainable to prove to him that  he was'nt carrying the weight of this thing alone.  Ennis coming in and out of his life like this was , taking an emotional toll on him.

In the confrontation, he speaks of once having a better idea, an alternative to the parting, a dream where they could share what they had found on a permanent basis. A dream where time did'nt matter. An idea that niether him nor Ennis would have to marry women , using them as covers over their love. Jack could live with that. Problem was, Ennis , the man he loved could'nt.  2cents more.

[tpe]

Why in the world would Jack ask Ennis this question?

 Alma alluded to being concerned about Ennis bein alone so much in the Thanksgiving scene, but why would Jack feel that Ennis needed to /or would even think about re-marry? Just small talk? or something deeper? I don't have a clue.

Interesting question -- I think Jack's purpose was two-fold.

First, I think he was genuinely concerned that Ennis didn't have a cover-up (i.e., a marriage would have protected him from suspicion).

Second, I think that there was a hint of jealousy here.  It was a probing question, if you get what I mean.  I think implicit in Jack's question was the possibility of Ennis being involved with anybody else (male or female, other than Jack).

Ennis must have sensed this and answered as best he could -- but he couldn't resist turning the tables and asking Jack the same thing -- hence, you get a rather oblique admission from Jack, and an indirect hint of Randall, I think...

 

[welshwitch]

"Found anyone else to marry!" sounds to me as if a wife is still pretty much of an adjunct, someone to use as a smokescreen and indication of conformity to society's norms. This is a place where you grow up, get mattied, settle down, raise a family. NB Jack doesn't mention love or even caring.Randall found someone to marry but she's surely more of a smokescreen than someone with whom he has a deep emotional bond.

And he's kept his wife, as a cover, source of income, out of inertia, who knows why? Might be easier for him had Ennis done the same.As he is now, Ennis has no problems other than work/financial ones in getting away to meet Jack; Jack, however, has to come up with some sort of explanation whenver he leaves Lureen for a week or so, and the "seeing my parents" thing strikes me as not particularly convincing allied to the fishing trips and fishing buddy stories he evidently tells Lureen over the years.It might even be possible for Jack to think Ennis has it easier in that respect and has to make less effort to make the meetings than he does.Or maybe it's just eaier to deal with the situation if it's symmetrical.

[tpe]

"Found anyone else to marry!" sounds to me as if a wife is still pretty much of an adjunct, someone to use as a smokescreen and indication of conformity to society's norms. This is a place where you grow up, get mattied, settle down, raise a family. NB Jack doesn't mention love or even caring.Randall found someone to marry but she's surely more of a smokescreen than someone with whom he has a deep emotional bond.

And he's kept his wife, as a cover, source of income, out of inertia, who knows why? Might be easier for him had Ennis done the same.As he is now, Ennis has no problems other than work/financial ones in getting away to meet Jack; Jack, however, has to come up with some sort of explanation whenver he leaves Lureen for a week or so, and the "seeing my parents" thing strikes me as not particularly convincing allied to the fishing trips and fishing buddy stories he evidently tells Lureen over the years.It might even be possible for Jack to think Ennis has it easier in that respect and has to make less effort to make the meetings than he does.Or maybe it's just eaier to deal with the situation if it's symmetrical.

Good point.  There is something "utilitarian" about that question, no?    I like your term "adjunct". 

[lancecowboy]

"Found anyone else to marry!" sounds to me as if a wife is still pretty much of an adjunct, someone to use as a smokescreen and indication of conformity to society's norms. This is a place where you grow up, get mattied, settle down, raise a family. NB Jack doesn't mention love or even caring.Randall found someone to marry but she's surely more of a smokescreen than someone with whom he has a deep emotional bond.

And he's kept his wife, as a cover, source of income, out of inertia, who knows why? Might be easier for him had Ennis done the same.As he is now, Ennis has no problems other than work/financial ones in getting away to meet Jack; Jack, however, has to come up with some sort of explanation whenver he leaves Lureen for a week or so, and the "seeing my parents" thing strikes me as not particularly convincing allied to the fishing trips and fishing buddy stories he evidently tells Lureen over the years.It might even be possible for Jack to think Ennis has it easier in that respect and has to make less effort to make the meetings than he does.Or maybe it's just eaier to deal with the situation if it's symmetrical.

That's a very interesting point, WW. Back then in the '60s and '70s, in rural America, for sure what you said was true to some extent. And how a man does his covering up says a lot about his character, too. Look at Randall, as you mentioned, he merely married for the cover, for the money, etc, and there was definitely no love there. Look at Jack, he married at first out of love, but was battled down by the old man, until the Thanksgiving scene. His first reaching out to Ennis was after the baby was born, and the old man humiliated him even more. Ennis tried to make it work with Alma, but with Jack in the picture, there's just no way.

It's not who we love, but how we love them that says more about our character.

[aintfoolin]

So are you saying that the fact that Ennis has not re-married meant to Jack that Ennis no longer needed a *cover*? That Jack could feel relieved that there was no one else but him, that Ennis needed? Could Jack take this as some solace in this fact? What is it that Jack read into this? Thanx.

[welshwitch]

I tend to think Jack thinks Ennis does need a cover and is worried that by living alone he's exposing himself to criticism or at least comment by the locals and would be better off married to another complaisant female like Alma, though not out of love of course. . And maybe if Ennis were to marry again that would justify Jack's remaining with Lureen - after all, there is nothing in theory to stop him taking LD's offer and leaving Texas, buying some land nearer Ennis, whatever - but he doesn't.Maybe he has a repressed sense of guilt that he's done no more than get away ( with a sort-of-plausible excuse) for short periods a couple of times a year - after all, he's stayed in Texas for something like 17 or 18 years by the time he's killed.

[tpe]

I was about to say what WW just said in the last post:  the fact that Ennis had not remarried was a cause for concern for Jack (as I had also indicated in a previous post).

[lancecowboy]

I was about to say what WW just said in the last post:  the fact that Ennis had not remarried was a cause for concern for Jack (as I had also indicated in a previous post).

I don't think Jack WANTS Ennis to be married again, because he was so excited when he got divorced.

I think it was a probe to see if Ennis may be interested in the cow and calf operations. When Ennis did not say something like, "No, Jack, I have had my fill with women. It only you that I want." Jack had no opening to propose again. He felt dejected. It was obvious in his "Sometimes I miss you so much, I could hardly stand it."

Why would Jack WANT Ennis to be tied down with another wife? You and Alma, you called that a life?

[jackster]

I tend to agree with you here LC. Timewise the divorce was in '75, this scene is supposed to be '82, so we're six - seven years down the road. It would seem that's a little late to be worrying about lack of a cover story. And Jack knew (or at least suspected) Ennis wasn't likely running around with other men given his paranoia. Don't seem ta fit. Maybe he's just teasing him, and Ennis takes the bait, starts in with his story about "puttin' the blocks . . . " Could be this little success with Ennis is what made Jack feel comfortable enough to open up 'bout Lureen's deal makin' ability and his longing for Ennis.

[babytammy7]

I don't think Jack WANTS Ennis to be married again, because he was so excited when he got divorced.

I think it was a probe to see if Ennis may be interested in the cow and calf operations. When Ennis did not say something like, "No, Jack, I have had my fill with women. It only you that I want." Jack had no opening to propose again. He felt dejected. It was obvious in his "Sometimes I miss you so much, I could hardly stand it."

Why would Jack WANT Ennis to be tied down with another wife? You and Alma, you called that a life?

I tend to agree with you here LC. Timewise the divorce was in '75, this scene is supposed to be '82, so we're six - seven years down the road. It would seem that's a little late to be worrying about lack of a cover story. And Jack knew (or at least suspected) Ennis wasn't likely running around with other men given his paranoia. Don't seem ta fit. Maybe he's just teasing him, and Ennis takes the bait, starts in with his story about "puttin' the blocks . . . " Could be this little success with Ennis is what made Jack feel comfortable enough to open up 'bout Lureen's deal makin' ability and his longing for Ennis.

I agree with you both!!! 

[orangetruck]

Why would Jack WANT Ennis to be tied down with another wife? You and Alma, you called that a life?

Without the emphasis on want, it was likely a comfort to know Ennis was with Alma (or another woman). Given Jack's temptation (if you can call it that) towards Randall and other men, he could probably figure Ennis may have had the same issues as far as falling out goes. Hearing Ennis' response to the question of a woman could give Jack a better understanding of Ennis' progression into a steadier life with him..

I think Jack called that a piece of time borrowed for his life with Ennis, for he'd been running out of it.

[lancecowboy]

Without the emphasis on want, it was likely a comfort to know Ennis was with Alma (or another woman). Given Jack's temptation (if you can call it that) towards Randall and other men, he could probably figure Ennis may have had the same issues as far as falling out goes. Hearing Ennis' response to the question of a woman could give Jack a better understanding of Ennis' progression into a steadier life with him..

I think Jack called that a piece of time borrowed for his life with Ennis, for he'd been running out of it.

I think that's you project your own feelings onto Jack projecting his own feelings onto Ennis.

There is little evidence that Jack and Randall ever hooked up. Only speculation.

There is little evidence that Jack wants to break up with Ennis. In fact, there is only "I wish I knew how to quit you!" As in I can't EVER quit you.

But hey, whatever turns your crank. I doubt we'd have any decent discussion out of this. It will be another you said, you said, you said. 

[orangetruck]

I think that's you project your own feelings onto Jack projecting his own feelings onto Ennis.

There is little evidence that Jack and Randall ever hooked up. Only speculation.

There is little evidence that Jack wants to break up with Ennis. In fact, there is only "I wish I knew how to quit you!" As in I can't EVER quit you.

But hey, whatever turns your crank. I doubt we'd have any decent discussion out of this. It will be another you said, you said, you said. 

I think that I do project personal feelings here. I have been in a position very similar to Jack's here. But back on topic:

Laughter, thanks for bringing that up.
I find the smiles and chuckles out of Ennis and Jack in this scene are melancholic. One can see in Jack a desperation and in Ennis, a fidgety wavering of what's hidden inside.

I'm not hinting at a breakup, nor at the end of what either feels for the other. However, I am saying that Jack didn't necessarily WANT Ennis married to a woman. I'm saying that inside Jack a storm has been stirring, and Ennis' whereabouts with outside commitment could induce Jack to finger the elasticity of his morale and ultimately, the face value of Ennis' love for Jack and so on..

I believe, and most of this has been stated sure, Jack's hope to share a complete life with Ennis was about to terminate. But as Jack had come to know Ennis was his surface to air, his question and statement were his attempts at still breathing. -- it took everything he had, for all those years he'd been conditioned to hide his feelings. They were forced out now.

"All this time and you ain't found no one else to marry?"
How else is one crippled gay man going to ask his crippled male lover, in the 60's, to address their love affair?

[aintfoolin]

Interesting question -- I think Jack's purpose was two-fold.

First, I think he was genuinely concerned that Ennis didn't have a cover-up (i.e., a marriage would have protected him from suspicion).

Second, I think that there was a hint of jealousy here.  It was a probing question, if you get what I mean.  I think implicit in Jack's question was the possibility of Ennis being involved with anybody else (male or female, other than Jack).

Ennis must have sensed this and answered as best he could -- but he couldn't resist turning the tables and asking Jack the same thing -- hence, you get a rather oblique admission from Jack, and an indirect hint of Randall, I think...

 

 I also feel there was a bit of jeaulousy here. Jack's tone , when he asked the question, appears to put emphasis on the  amount of time that's gone by. He wants to know how Ennis was *getting by* ....romantically other than him He was'nt able to stand it and wanted to know if "anyone else was interested in him. Of course there was Cassie, but , I don't think Ennis wanted any part of marriage,to her or anyone else.  Niether did Jack on Ennis's behalf, but as in any long-term relationship, Jack knows  eyes do sometime tend to wander.  Ennis had married for cover before and Jack  Knew Ennis was vulnerable to women, but Ennis bringing another woman into this thing? Nah.  Not unless Ennis would be thinking about quitting Jack and that was'nt about to happen.In an a inconpicuous way, Perhaps Jack  was asking Ennis if after all this time, Was there someone else Ennis hooking up with?