Topic: The reunion Embrace

[gimmejack]

When they go upstairs to meet Alma, Jack never comes all the way into the room where she is.I think he knows that she knows.I had to laugh when he said the comment about about "smiles alot",because she definitely aint smilin! I think he knows she knows but does'nt give a damn at this point because he wants Ennis really bad right now,in more ways than one, The  look says ( " I know you know but I'm sorry he's mine at least for tonight ")  Hightails it  out.

I noticed that "look" but never really read into it...It does look like he is saying with his eyes exactly what you described..."im sorry, but this is my man" and not just for tonight...He was saying I feel sorry for you sweetie, but just don't try and stop me!

[aintfoolin]

Good to know there's other night owls out there . It's clear that Alma blames Jack for btrayal of her husband somehow, but Ennis is definitly not off the hook in this.The next morning when Ennis returns home, and announces that he and Jack are gonna go " do some fishin"Alma hurries to the window and sees Jack is still there,she panics and goes into desperate attempts to save her marriage. Following Ennis from room to room trying anything to keep him with her.Sure Ennis sees the contrast and leans towards the one he feels can complete him the most. Jack.

[aintfoolin]

Am I off topic again?

[gimmejack]

Night owl indeed...i work the graveyard shift!  We are straying a bit but its all connected.  Speaking of those desperate attempts by Alma...Didnt it seem like she wanted to say something that morning? If she had illicited a different response from Ennis with the remark about having him in for some coffee, the conversation may have taken a whole different direction.  Wouldnt that be a scene if Jack F. Twist came in for some coffee?

[NoReins]

Ha ha - I can just imagine how relaxed the conversation over coffee would have been

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

Ha ha - I can just imagine how relaxed the conversation over coffee would have been

So can I....

Alma:   So, Jack...how do you like yer coffee?

Jack:    uh cream and sugar maam.

Alma:   Here's the cream...I think you've had enough sugar!

(Sorry...I just couldn't resist! )

[CrimsonSky]

Ha ha - I can just imagine how relaxed the conversation over coffee would have been

So can I....

Alma:   So, Jack...how do you like yer coffee?

Jack:    uh cream and sugar maam.

Alma:   Here's the cream...I think you've had enough sugar!

(Sorry...I just couldn't resist! )

Someone with a smuttier mind than me might say he'd had enough cream the night before, as well  Sorry!!! :-[

Back on topic, that look Jack gives Alma, (with his tongue showing!), is definitely saying "sorry luv, you're second best here, by a long way".No wonder Alma christened him Jack Nasty! If it was anyone else but Ennis and Jack, I'd feel so sorry for Alma, (well, I do feel sorry for her,it's not her fault), but, like Ennis and Jack themselves, all I care about is them being reunited at last

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

Ha ha - I can just imagine how relaxed the conversation over coffee would have been

So can I....

Alma:   So, Jack...how do you like yer coffee?

Jack:    uh cream and sugar maam.

Alma:   Here's the cream...I think you've had enough sugar!

(Sorry...I just couldn't resist! )

Someone with a smuttier mind than me might say he'd had enough cream the night before, as well  Sorry!!! :-[

Back on topic, that look Jack gives Alma, (with his tongue showing!), is definitely saying "sorry luv, you're second best here, by a long way".No wonder Alma christened him Jack Nasty! If it was anyone else but Ennis and Jack, I'd feel so sorry for Alma, (well, I do feel sorry for her,it's not her fault), but, like Ennis and Jack themselves, all I care about is them being reunited at last

I agree.  As you said it's not Alma's fault.  Despite my sorrow for her situation I can't help but be preoccupied with Ennis and Jack finally being with each other after 4 years.

[welshwitch]

And alma has had Ennis for four years; OK, he shouldn't have married her, but being Ennis he had to do what he's promised to do, but she hasn't made him happy or contented or complete as Jack does in a few seconds, and long before they get to the motel and into bed. When Ennis sees Jack and smiles, then lepas down the stairs, Alma's history, though she doesn't know it. And there's nothing she can do - that kiss united Jack and Ennis and confirmed their love for each other.

[aintfoolin]

Remember, He"s from Texas he does'nt drink coffee! ha ha. This line always gets me.

[gimmejack]

And alma has had Ennis for four years; OK, he shouldn't have married her, but being Ennis he had to do what he's promised to do, but she hasn't made him happy or contented or complete as Jack does in a few seconds, and long before they get to the motel and into bed. When Ennis sees Jack and smiles, then lepas down the stairs, Alma's history, though she doesn't know it. And there's nothing she can do - that kiss united Jack and Ennis and confirmed their love for each other.

Im pretty sure Alma was history in Ennis heart from the mountain.  Ennis so did not want to leave and go back to her.  Ennis left his heart on Brokeback............I LEFT MY HEART ON BROKEBACK!!!

[gimmejack]

Remember, He"s from Texas he does'nt drink coffee! ha ha. This line always gets me.

I love that line too...Ennis mind was sooooooo somewhere else.  He was anticipating a whole different question and didnt even notice Almas wisecrack!!!

[ksxks]

I agree.  As you said it's not Alma's fault.  Despite my sorrow for her situation I can't help but be preoccupied with Ennis and Jack finally being with each other after 4 years.

Me, too.  I mean, it is nothing less than tragic for Alma -- and Michelle's performance is just heartbreaking.  If the movie were different, if it had been from the women's perspective or something, we would see Ennis as a complete cad and want to string him up by his whatever.  He is so indifferent to her that morning.  As to the night before, the scene in the little hallway, well he was just out of his mind and out of breath and heart racing madly with lust and ecstatic joy...  But in the morning, what a sad scene, for her; what a happy scene for him.  Plus, it's interesting how Jack is just down by the truck leaning there like the hot piece that he is, knowing Ennis is coming to him, while she is frantic.

I wonder, seriously, how it would have been if Jack had come in.  After what she had witnessed the night before, I wonder what in the world Alma would have thought she had to say to Jack or to Ennis, but she was willing to put herself through that?  Besides, I'm sure Ennis didn't want to share Jack with Alma -- didn't want her to know him.

And I wonder if Ennis did lose his job for taking off.

Anyway, those who really want to discuss this sad marriage from Alma's point of view are doing that elsewhere.  This is about Ennis and Jack...

kathy

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

...Besides, I'm sure Ennis didn't want to share Jack with Alma -- didn't want her to know him.

Kathy you brought up something that really stands out all through this scene.  Alma suggests taking him to the restaurant, Ennis quickly nixes that idea.  When Jack finally drives up does Ennis announce his arrival to Alma?  Nope!!  Hell, if Alma had been in his path he might have knocked her over on the way out!

I'm sure Ennis was an average and quiet husband for 4 years. I would even bet Alma was a priority to some point in his heart. But, as mentioned earlier, once Jack arrived Alma became history.  Ennis's heart (and lust) took over.  Logic and any emotional obligation to Alma were out the window.

[welshwitch]

Yhere's also the possibility that next morning he rushes in, grabs his stuff and rushes out becasue he knows what he's doing, can't help himself, can't think of any way to explain, just  wants to get away from what he can't handle.

[CherryCake]

Ha ha - I can just imagine how relaxed the conversation over coffee would have been

So can I....

Alma:   So, Jack...how do you like yer coffee?

Jack:    uh cream and sugar maam.

Alma:   Here's the cream...I think you've had enough sugar!

(Sorry...I just couldn't resist! )

LOL oh, my CSC, that's once scene i woulda loved to have witnessed!

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

Yhere's also the possibility that next morning he rushes in, grabs his stuff and rushes out becasue he knows what he's doing, can't help himself, can't think of any way to explain, just  wants to get away from what he can't handle.

I certainly wouldn't want to imply that Ennis didn't know what he was doing.  He knew alright. He may not have been able to help himself, but he knew what he was doing and he knew what he wanted.  Everything else be dammed for the moment.

[lamusica]

I think the most revealing part of this scene is from the short story where Annie says that when Jack and Ennis came up to the apaartment, Ennis could feel the floor shake under Jack's feet because of the excitement -- the aftermath of the reunion kiss.  They both were so excited, their whole bodies actually shook with the aftershock.  Wow! That's some powerful image, isn't it?  It's one thing to see the kiss as our boys portrayed it on the screen, but to actually feel the floor shake from their high state of nervous excitement?? That's something else!  I love it!  The only thing they could do at that point was head for the motel.  That was a given.  Later, Ennis mentions how uncontrollable his emotions are when "this thing" takes us.  IMo, this reunion kiss and its following sequence proves to Ennis that he is not in control of this emotion; he finally realizes that he is hooked.    lamusica

[tpe]

I think the most revealing part of this scene is from the short story where Annie says that when Jack and Ennis came up to the apaartment, Ennis could feel the floor shake under Jack's feet because of the excitement -- the aftermath of the reunion kiss.  They both were so excited, their whole bodies actually shook with the aftershock.  Wow! That's some powerful image, isn't it?  It's one thing to see the kiss as our boys portrayed it on the screen, but to actually feel the floor shake from their high state of nervous excitement?? That's something else!  I love it!  The only thing they could do at that point was head for the motel.  That was a given.  Later, Ennis mentions how uncontrollable his emotions are when "this thing" takes us.  IMo, this reunion kiss and its following sequence proves to Ennis that he is not in control of this emotion; he finally realizes that he is hooked.    lamusica

...his heart was still young enough not to have forgotten that fear and trembling which chastened the youth, which the man indeed held in check, but which no man quite outgrows … except as he might succeed at the earliest opportunity in going further. (Kierkegaard -- Fear and Trembling)

lamusica, thank you.  It is indeed a powerful image.

 

[ksxks]

Yhere's also the possibility that next morning he rushes in, grabs his stuff and rushes out becasue he knows what he's doing, can't help himself, can't think of any way to explain, just  wants to get away from what he can't handle.

Good point.  It's not a purposeful "indifference," but he just has no idea how to handle what he's going through and what it means to his marriage and he's just rushing to get away with Jack and that's all that's on his mind.  Can't get out of there fast enough.

kathy

[ksxks]

I think the most revealing part of this scene is from the short story where Annie says that when Jack and Ennis came up to the apaartment, Ennis could feel the floor shake under Jack's feet because of the excitement -- the aftermath of the reunion kiss.  They both were so excited, their whole bodies actually shook with the aftershock.  Wow! That's some powerful image, isn't it?  It's one thing to see the kiss as our boys portrayed it on the screen, but to actually feel the floor shake from their high state of nervous excitement?? That's something else!  I love it!  The only thing they could do at that point was head for the motel.  That was a given.  Later, Ennis mentions how uncontrollable his emotions are when "this thing" takes us.  IMo, this reunion kiss and its following sequence proves to Ennis that he is not in control of this emotion; he finally realizes that he is hooked.    lamusica

Yes, I loved that in the story!  And they played it just right in the scene in the hallway there -- the nervous excitement was palpable.  They'd look at each other and even that was too much, and both looked down at the floor, and poor Ennis when he looked over at Alma, how clear must that have been to her that he was in a highly agitated state!  "This thing" indeed.

kathy

[aintfoolin]

 I think Ennis does'nt want Alma asking to many questions about Jack . Then he'd have to explain alot more about the relationship. Alma knowing what she now knows  could really corner Ennis if she chose to .  remember Ennis does'nt know that Alma knows.But Alma knows Jack is alot more than just a ("fishing buddy" ) to her husband at this point . Could Alma have weilded some power here? I think she could"ve but is just too naive to do so. I wonder what a confrontation scene betwwen Jack and Alma would go like.Ennis's worst nightmare right?

[keren_b]

Yhere's also the possibility that next morning he rushes in, grabs his stuff and rushes out becasue he knows what he's doing, can't help himself, can't think of any way to explain, just  wants to get away from what he can't handle.

Good point.  It's not a purposeful "indifference," but he just has no idea how to handle what he's going through and what it means to his marriage and he's just rushing to get away with Jack and that's all that's on his mind.  Can't get out of there fast enough.

kathy

We have to remember that from Ennis's pov, he doesn't know how much he hurts Alma. he doesn't know she saw them kissing, as far as she's concerned (that's what he thinks) they're just two budies going on a little fishing trip, nothing to be upset about... he's not aware of the emotional turmoil she's going through. all he can think of is to get away as fast as he can and get Jack alone, all to himself, but he believes she has no idea of that. of course, you have to be blind not to notice Alma's pale face and red eyes that morning, but Ennis was definitely blinded by his passion...

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

You're right keren.  He had his mind on Jack only.  It probably never occurred to him that Alma may have saw that powerful kiss.  If he had taken one good look at her he might have noticed that she was probably up al night crying.

[NoReins]

I'm not sure Ennis would have noticed even if Alma had come right out and confronted him about the kiss. He barely hears a word she says while he rushes around packing his bag and the only time he seems to see her is right before he leaves, after Alma Jr has come into the room.

[City Slickin' Cowboy]

All this talk about the reunion scene is making it very tempting to pull out the DVD again.

[NoReins]

All this talk about the reunion scene is making it very tempting to pull out the DVD again.

I think you should give in to that temptation CSC Sadly, I'm at work so I can't

[welshwitch]

Yeah, go for it! How many times will that be?

[aintfoolin]

If Alma could have gatherd up enough courage to confront Ennis that morning ,said something ("who in the hell is this guy really and why was he kissing you like that"). IMO this would have completly thrown Ennis for a loop. But with his violent temper she was probably too afraid to.Ya can't help but feel for her.

[Rønnaug]

If Alma could have gatherd up enough courage to confront Ennis that morning ,said something ("who in the hell is this guy really and why was he kissing you like that"). IMO this would have completly thrown Ennis for a loop. But with his violent temper she was probably too afraid to.Ya can't help but feel for her.

Not sure the temper is all that is stopping her.

First of all what did she see? I am not sure ALma even had the word homosexual or gay in her... She didn't even use those words when she DID confront Ennis.

And second, Alma seems to me liek the sort of woman that don't say much at all about anything that bothers her... or pleases her for that matter.... cause she probably grew up beeing taught that womens pov isn't as important as a mans so no need to make a fuss...keep your mouth shut and, like ENnis says, if you can't fix it you gotta stand it