Topic: Quote: The Short Leash You Keep Me On

[tpe]

When Ennis threatened Jack's life it was the homophobic Ennis speaking.  This was not the Ennis who loved his friend and would do anything for him, including quit jobs so they could be together.  Ennis never for a moment considered having sex with anyone but Jack.  He assumed it was the same with Jack. "I ain't queer." "Me neither."  But when Jack mentions Mexico in the homophobic Ennis' eyes Jack became one of the, "...boys like you."  And "..boys like you" need to be killed..."I ain't foolin."  So, in essence Ennis was saying to Jack, don't tell me all those things that happen in Mexico, because if I come to know all those things, you could end up dead.  As long as it was Jack and Ennis that was fine, it was nobody's business but theirs.  But bring in others and it is no longer a special bond between two men, Ennis suddenly becomes one in a long line of others.  That is not what he gave up everything for.  He accepted the poverty, loss of family, etc. for his special friend, but he wasn't about to be told he was nothing more to Jack than a trick.

I love the way you said it.

Thanks.

[Patriot1]

Oh, and by the way, there is the word thing again.

"Bottom line, we're around each other and this thing grabs on to us again in the wrong place, wrong time, we'll be dead."

"I got a say this to you one time, Jack f**kin' Twist.  And I ain't foolin'. What I don't know, all them things I don't know...could get you killed if I should come to know them."

[donnaread]

To me, that's where Jack came out to Ennis when he stated he'd been to Mexico and is that a problem? He wasn't saying "is that a problem I'm getting it from someone other than you" He's saying "Is that a problem that I'm gay?" My own interpretation there, though. And that's why Ennis snapped and told him he'd kill him. Because even though he himself was gay, my opinion there again, he wasn't going to admit it, nor would he allow himself to believe Jack was either.

This is a new insight for me...all along I've thought that Ennis' "You been to Mexico, Jack?" was more of a jealousy thing.  I didn't ever think of it as Ennis thinking of it as "gay".   Wonderful new insight to ponder!   
Donna

[forbiddenlovers]

Donna, yeah, that just hit me last night. I just watched it again and that hit me as another possible thing to ponder as to what exactly he meant by that statement.  I just believe more and more that he's not so much jealous as he is scared of this "thing" being more than a "thing" and the very real possibility that he realizes Jack is gay, which may bring up demons inside of him. Because I think Ennis is trying very hard to convince himself he is not gay.

[dalemidex]

I don't often find as much time as I'd like to be on this board.  And even less often do I find the time to post.  So when I read a fine thread like this, again and again I decide what I'm going to contribute after reading a post, only to scroll down and see someone else say it.  Sorry if I'm a little Johnny-come-lately here.

I agree fully that Ennis' problem with Jack was not fidelity but with identity as a homosexual.  As long as it was just this thing between them, then Ennis wasn't queer. Then he could rationalize it as such.  But if Jack was queer, then Ennis must be too.  That's the key to the "what they got in Mexico for boys like YOU" line. 

I for one don't see it as jealousy in that Ennis was just another trick to Jack if Jack were indeed seeking the companionship of a man elsewhere. 

As for Jack self-identifying as a homosexual, and coming out to his parents, well, I think Jack was fairly self aware early on.  I don't want to place tooooo much weight on the "me neither" line after Ennis says he isn't queer.  It might be that Jack was perceptive enough to know that "me neither" was the right answer to Ennis' declaration.  It might simply be that Jack wasn't comfortable saying it, or didn't fully both recognize and accept that internally he had strong desires for men.  But as time passed I think Jack was more and more clear on the inside what he really wanted. 

With the parents, well, I can just hear Jack in his typical half-bravado big-picture way talk about how someday he's gonna bring Ennis Del Mar up here and they'll finally show his daddy what this place should look like.  Not at all a sheepish "I want to bring someone special to me up here for you to meet" type of coming out.  Not in the least.  More of a "this damn dump of yours could be whipped into shape real nice, and I'm gonna show you some day when me and Ennis Del Mar come up here and finally do what you should done years ago."  Jack may not have even realized that in effect he was coming out to them.  But the Twists clearly caught on, if not right away then eventually. 

You know, as I think about this more, I'm not so convinced that this story comes from a different time and place.  There are still people out there with tortured lives and relationships because they are afraid of who they are.  That's probably a very obvious thing to say, but for some reason it seems more real to me after typing all this.  So very sad, very sad...   :'(

[tpe]

dalemidex, thank you. 

It is always a pleasure to read your thoughtful posts. 

There is no such thing as 'late' for posts like these.

And yes, this story is relevent even today.  Of course, Matthew Matthew Shepard was murdered in Wyoming the year after BBM was published in 'The New Yorker'.

[dalemidex]

dalemidex, thank you. 

It is always a pleasure to read your thoughtful posts. 

There is no such thing as 'late' for posts like these.

And yes, this story is relevent even today.  Of course, Matthew Matthew Shepard was murdered in Wyoming the year after BBM was published in 'The New Yorker'.

Thanks, tpe!  Your steadfast presence here is definitely appreciated by the likes of me.  Kind of like an old friend when I come back to this board.

Of course Matthew Shepard's death was a horrible event, but in some ways I'm glad this story came before it.  It can't be dismissed as just some hastily-constructed reactionary piece.  It was conceived before Matthew's tragic Wyoming end, and it comes out of a truth that already existed:  gay people are everywhere.

[Allan]

To me, the confrontation at the last camp-out is a "lover's quarrel."  Everything that is said is meant to hurt.  Nothing is necessarily the truth.  Jack's "short leash" comment is the perfect example.  I mentioned in another thread that Jack would really like to be conjoined with Ennis at the hip.  The reality is, the shorter the leash, the better.

The thing that us particularly sad to me is that the quarrel begins because of creature comforts.  Jack wants to be with Ennis in August, when it's warm.  He just doesn't want to freeze his ass off in November.  Allan

[keren_b]

To me, that's where Jack came out to Ennis when he stated he'd been to Mexico and is that a problem? He wasn't saying "is that a problem I'm getting it from someone other than you" He's saying "Is that a problem that I'm gay?" My own interpretation there, though. And that's why Ennis snapped and told him he'd kill him. Because even though he himself was gay, my opinion there again, he wasn't going to admit it, nor would he allow himself to believe Jack was either.

This is a new insight for me...all along I've thought that Ennis' "You been to Mexico, Jack?" was more of a jealousy thing.  I didn't ever think of it as Ennis thinking of it as "gay".   Wonderful new insight to ponder!   
Donna

I don't think there's a need to decide which is the right interpretation here. like many other scenes in BBM this scene is open for different interpretations, that's what so beautiful about it. Both interpretations look right to me and I don't think that one rules out the other. The fact the Ennis couldn't deal with the thought that Jack might actually be gay, doesn't mean that he wasn't also jealous as hell thinking that Jack had been with other men. actually, he could've used the former (his homophobia) to disguise the latter (his jealousy)...

[welshwitch]

I've been in a relationship like Ennis's with Jack - I was kept on a short leash, because the other person knew that whenever I was offered a chance to come running, I would. Like me, I think, Jack has come to resent this - as much as Ennis, now able to see how much he hasn't got, resents what he's sacrificed for Jack. and the Mexico thing may well provoke him - while he has nothing, is no-one, Jack has been in Mexico with other men.... Love can co-exist with brief bursts of absolute loathing.
And I think Ennsi is quite capable of seeing himself in two ways, one as the straight hardworking guy who doesn't want to know about "boys like you" and unable to conceive of being in the same category, but at the same time loving Jack, which to him is something out of time, out of society, part of that other world of the mountain, where he was almost someone else.

[proulxfan]

Indeed this scene is so painful to contemplate.

'...you'd kill me for needin somethin that I hardly never get.'

I don't think it was just the sexual aspect that Jack had in mind.

The dozy embrace flashback reinforces this.

Jack need someone to love him the same way he would: body and soul.

Ennis was that person, but, as I said before, time and recriminations all got in the way.

Jack wore that short leash for so long because he could not get away from that love.  'I wish I knew how to quit you': Jack didn't know how to quit Ennis.  I could try, but he could not.

 

On part of this I agree. Jack needed far more from Ennis than just sex, and thus his inability to make it on the 2-3 high altitude f**ks...
The short leash was emotional/spiritual as much as physical. He repeatedly put himself out there for Ennis emotionally. Particular examples:
The initial bluff: I swear I didn't know we were going to get into this again" followed immediately by the admission that Yes I did, couldn't get here fast enough, and the pointed question: how about you? And Ennis answers with: "uh...I don't know..." Jack insn't asking about sex here, they've already taken care of that.
 
The whole scene after Ennis's divorce, and Ennis doing his best clam impersonation. In contast with some others, I am absolutely convinced this wasn't just about sex either, though Jack did go seek it out as a palliative for his heartbreak.

And that agonized admission: "Sometimes I miss you so much, I can hardly stand it."  Answered by Ennis with silence. Again, presumably, in this scene, the physical needs have already been addressed. ( And don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to dump on our Ennis here; he expresses his love by doing and sacrificing, but Jack seems to need some verbal confirmation, that Ennis is repeatedly unable to give him.


For these reasons among others, I still have to believe that Jack was saying "Farewell, my dearest friend and my fondest hope" in his mind and heart as he watched Ennis drive away after their confrontation. And those of you who are uncomfortable with this should note that the film references Jack taking up with Randall not once, not twice, but three times, unless you believe that he really was fooling around with the ranch foreman's wife, not the ranch foreman himself, which I believe is a case of gender switching that Jack uses in deference to Ennis's homophobia. No way is Randall ever going to be able to replace Ennis in Jack's heart, (a truth of which I am sure Jack is painfully aware) but after 20 years of the short leash, and Ennis's declaration of not being able to stand this anymore, it seems clear that Jack had no choice but to pursue what other options were available to him. 
 

[keren_b]

Jack needed far more from Ennis than just sex, and thus his inability to make it on the 2-3 high altitude f**ks...
The short leash was emotional/spiritual as much as physical. He repeatedly put himself out there for Ennis emotionally. Particular examples:
The initial bluff: I swear I didn't know we were going to get into this again" followed immediately by the admission that Yes I did, couldn't get here fast enough, and the pointed question: how about you? And Ennis answers with: "uh...I don't know..." Jack insn't asking about sex here, they've already taken care of that.

I agree with you proulxfan. I think all the examples you brought demonstrate the deep feelings that Jack has for Ennis, how much he loves him, and how Ennis fails again and again to give him what he needs. In this example when Jack asks "how about you?", he actually wants to hear if Ennis had thought about him and needed him and wanted him just as much. He just admitted that he'd redlined it all the way because he couldn't wait to see Ennis and be with him again, in his heart he wants to hear the same from Ennis, but instead of that Ennis just answers with "I don't know..." and moves on to talk about his hard work.

The whole scene after Ennis's divorce, and Ennis doing his best clam impersonation. In contast with some others, I am absolutely convinced this wasn't just about sex either, though Jack did go seek it out as a palliative for his heartbreak.

It breaks my heart every time to see it - look at Jack's face when he says "I've got your note about the divorce... so here I am". He looks so happy, so hopefull, so excited. it's clear he didn't come all this way just to have sex, he trully thought that his dream about a shared life with Ennis is finally becoming a reality. Maybe Ennis didn't have a choice here because of the girls, but at least he could've told Jack that he loved him and missed him and that he wished he could be with him and that it's hard for him too... but of course, Ennis wasn't capable of that and he failed Jack again.

And that agonized admission: "Sometimes I miss you so much, I can hardly stand it."  Answered by Ennis with silence. Again, presumably, in this scene, the physical needs have already been addressed. ( And don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to dump on our Ennis here; he expresses his love by doing and sacrificing, but Jack seems to need some verbal confirmation, that Ennis is repeatedly unable to give him.

This is an example for how silence can sometimes hurt more than words. it wasn't easy for Jack to gave this admission. and of course I agree with you this is much more than physical needs here - he doesn't say "sometimes I NEED you so much", he says "sometimes I MISS you so much". missing is something of the heart. This is Jack's clearest declaration of love. I'm sure he wished Ennis would tell him that he missed him too, he needed to hear it so badly, but Ennis replied with silence. he just wasn't able to give Jack what he needed most, and it was much more than sex.

[tpe]

For these reasons among others, I still have to believe that Jack was saying "Farewell, my dearest friend and my fondest hope" in his mind and heart as he watched Ennis drive away after their confrontation. And those of you who are uncomfortable with this should note that the film references Jack taking up with Randall not once, not twice, but three times, unless you believe that he really was fooling around with the ranch foreman's wife, not the ranch foreman himself, which I believe is a case of gender switching that Jack uses in deference to Ennis's homophobia. No way is Randall ever going to be able to replace Ennis in Jack's heart, (a truth of which I am sure Jack is painfully aware) but after 20 years of the short leash, and Ennis's declaration of not being able to stand this anymore, it seems clear that Jack had no choice but to pursue what other options were available to him. 

Personally, that is my belief, whether or not Jack was actually saying farewell to Ennis at that last meeting shot.

Jake, you are perhaps in the wrong in your opinion.  Your Jack Twist was perhaps not as faithful as Ennis.  But Ennis will forever be at the dead center of his heart. 

Nothing will ever change that.

 

[FlwrChild]

For these reasons among others, I still have to believe that Jack was saying "Farewell, my dearest friend and my fondest hope" in his mind and heart as he watched Ennis drive away after their confrontation. And those of you who are uncomfortable with this should note that the film references Jack taking up with Randall not once, not twice, but three times, unless you believe that he really was fooling around with the ranch foreman's wife, not the ranch foreman himself, which I believe is a case of gender switching that Jack uses in deference to Ennis's homophobia. No way is Randall ever going to be able to replace Ennis in Jack's heart, (a truth of which I am sure Jack is painfully aware) but after 20 years of the short leash, and Ennis's declaration of not being able to stand this anymore, it seems clear that Jack had no choice but to pursue what other options were available to him. 

Personally, that is my belief, whether or not Jack was actually saying farewell to Ennis at that last meeting shot.

Jake, you are perhaps in the wrong in your opinion.  Your Jack Twist was perhaps not as faithful as Ennis.  But Ennis will forever be at the dead center of his heart. 

Nothing will ever change that.

 

Absolutely! Had he been alive, Jack would have come running when he got Ennis' postcard, whatever he might have tried to establish with Randall. "I wish I knew how to quit you" is an admission that he doesn't. And the tender way he let go of his own frustrations to come comfort Ennis just shows that Ennis will always be at the center of his heart and his world.

[tpe]

Absolutely! Had he been alive, Jack would have come running when he got Ennis' postcard, whatever he might have tried to establish with Randall. "I wish I knew how to quit you" is an admission that he doesn't. And the tender way he let go of his own frustrations to come comfort Ennis just shows that Ennis will always be at the center of his heart and his world.

Yes.  That qualification: 'I wish I knew' is like perfume to me.

It tells me much about the unspeakable power of that love over Jack.

He could try to free himself from this power. 

But it is my faith that he would never be able to do so, and he knew this even until his death.

[MississaugaRed]

Absolutely! Had he been alive, Jack would have come running when he got Ennis' postcard, whatever he might have tried to establish with Randall. "I wish I knew how to quit you" is an admission that he doesn't. And the tender way he let go of his own frustrations to come comfort Ennis just shows that Ennis will always be at the center of his heart and his world.

Yes.  That qualification: 'I wish I knew' is like perfume to me.

It tells me much about the unspeakable power of that love over Jack.

He could try to free himself from this power. 

But it is my faith that he would never be able to do so, and he knew this even until his death.

So true, Tpe, and beautifully said.  The power of love, even unto death ...

Just when you feel you "can't stand it" anymore, you discover that you can.  And short leash or no, Jack was steadfast in his commitment to Ennis.  Even a painful confrontation like this one, where harsh truths are finally brought into the open, wouldn't necessarily have put a full stop to what they shared. 

This baring of souls may have changed the complexion of their relationship slightly in the future (if they had only had one ) but if so, I like to think the changes could as easily have been for the better rather than making things worse.

[rabjr1]

this isn't on topic but, MississaguaRed, at first I thought this was the name of a great wine I had once but looked again and notice that your from a great wine country.  I like the ice wine from the area.  and some of the reds.

[welshwitch]

Yes, Jack resents the way his life has been dictated by Ennis's choices, resents the power Ennis has over him. But he loves him, and if Ennis were at any point to make a move towards a permanent future together Jack would be right there.The leash is self-forged and can't be broken.
At the end of "Persuasion" Jane Austen has her main character, who has been kept apart from the man she loves by her family's snobbery, say, "The only privilege I claim for my own sex ( it is not an enviable one, you need not covet it) is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone." That's what Jack feels for Ennis, even when he knows Ennis will never feel the same for him and hope is gone - when someone is half of your being it's impossible to tear yourself away without doing mortal damage, and Ennis is the other half of Jack. And ironically when Jack is dead  Ennis discovers that he will go on loving when Jack has ceased to exist except in his heart.

[tpe]

Yes, Jack resents the way his life has been dictated by Ennis's choices, resents the power Ennis has over him. But he loves him, and if Ennis were at any point to make a move towards a permanent future together Jack would be right there.The leash is self-forged and can't be broken.
At the end of "Persuasion" Jane Austen has her main character, who has been kept apart from the man she loves by her family's snobbery, say, "The only privilege I claim for my own sex ( it is not an enviable one, you need not covet it) is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone." That's what Jack feels for Ennis, even when he knows Ennis will never feel the same for him and hope is gone - when someone is half of your being it's impossible to tear yourself away without doing mortal damage, and Ennis is the other half of Jack. And ironically when Jack is dead  Ennis discovers that he will go on loving when Jack has ceased to exist except in his heart.

A very nice correspondence.  Thanks welshwitch for the beautiful comments.

 

[jerasjr]

The "short leash" comment infers that Jack & Ennis have had some previous conversation about their relationship...While it is possible that it happened, is it probable?  For Ennis to even admit that this relationship was the center of his life would have been against his character as I see him.  Perhaps the short leash is one that Jack imposed on himself.  While he wasn't exactly good at being restrained by that leash, neither was he exactly "bad".   Jack could have felt that this is the way that Ennis wanted things between them and tired to adhere to it, with mixed results.

[NoReins]

The "short leash" comment infers that Jack & Ennis have had some previous conversation about their relationship...While it is possible that it happened, is it probable?  For Ennis to even admit that this relationship was the center of his life would have been against his character as I see him.  Perhaps the short leash is one that Jack imposed on himself.  While he wasn't exactly good at being restrained by that leash, neither was he exactly "bad".   Jack could have felt that this is the way that Ennis wanted things between them and tired to adhere to it, with mixed results.

Good point - for there to have been a genuine "short leash", they would have to have discussed how things stood which seems unlikely given Ennis's normal inability to express his feelings. It seems much more likely that Jack imposed the short leash on himself, knowing that he would never love anyone else the way that he loved Ennis and still hoping that one day Ennis would come round to the idea of a life together.

[tpe]

I am sure that the short leash was self-imposed.  But I also think that he did this out of his great love for Ennis.

Jack probably would have been much more sexually active with other men, had it not been for the hope of one day living with Ennis.  While Ennis was there to pin his hopes on, these excursions were more of a way for Jack to let out his frustration.  But there is no doubt that Ennis himself expected this of him (as he expected this of himself) as witnessed by his comments about Mexico.

IN the final analysis, the short leash signifies Jack's willingness to drop everything just to be with Ennis.  The short leash can be viewed in a negative light as far as this scene is concerned.  But there is no question in my mind that it is first and formost a testament of Jack's great love for Ennis.

[NoReins]

How come you always manage to say it better than me, tpe?

[tpe]

How come you always manage to say it better than me, tpe?

Because you always start it.

And the first is always more important than what follows. 

[NoReins]

How come you always manage to say it better than me, tpe?

Because you always start it.

And the first is always more important than what follows. 

Aw, that's sweet - thanks :D

[tpe]

How come you always manage to say it better than me, tpe?

Because you always start it.

And the first is always more important than what follows. 

Aw, that's sweet - thanks :D

And it's true.

I tend to react more these days to the wonderful posts in this forum.  (Please don't call me reactionary...)

Thanks NoReins!

[MississaugaRed]

Yes, Jack resents the way his life has been dictated by Ennis's choices, resents the power Ennis has over him. But he loves him, and if Ennis were at any point to make a move towards a permanent future together Jack would be right there.The leash is self-forged and can't be broken.
At the end of "Persuasion" Jane Austen has her main character, who has been kept apart from the man she loves by her family's snobbery, say, "The only privilege I claim for my own sex ( it is not an enviable one, you need not covet it) is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone." That's what Jack feels for Ennis, even when he knows Ennis will never feel the same for him and hope is gone - when someone is half of your being it's impossible to tear yourself away without doing mortal damage, and Ennis is the other half of Jack. And ironically when Jack is dead  Ennis discovers that he will go on loving when Jack has ceased to exist except in his heart.

WelshWitch, that is a beautiful quote you use here to describe Jack's feeling for Ennis.  Simply lovely - and loving!  :'(

As you say, the short leash is at least in part self-forged.  Ennis could not have put any kind of restraint on Jack if Jack wasn't willing to accept it.  Which doesn't mean that it wouldn't have chafed at times.  Bonds forged in love can still be bitter sweet to bear.

I like to think that maybe Ennis did feel the same way though, even if he was afraid to acknowledge those feelings even to himself.  It's so difficult to quantify love, isn't it?  It's like the wind ... without real substance or form of it's own but you are aware of it's existence because of it's influence on the world around it. 

Maybe because Ennis held his love so tightly inside it couldn't be easily felt??  As you say, once Jack is out of his reach forever, Ennis realizes the fullness of his love.  And once he accepts that, he starts making some connections, has impact on his world (such as being able to compromise with Alma Jr. regarding her wedding, for example).

As short a leash as Jack may have felt he was on, be it of his own choosing or imposed by Ennis, after reading everything here I'm starting to think that poor Ennis was on an even shorter one.  Completely self-imposed, stopping him from reaching out for what he wanted most in life.  Whether Ennis's leash was forged in love or fear or a combination of both, it's beginning to be as real to me as the one Jack admitted to feeling.

Am I making any sense here or do you all think I'm completely off target???  (wouldn't be the first time    )

[BBBOY]

Yes, Jack resents the way his life has been dictated by Ennis's choices, resents the power Ennis has over him. But he loves him, and if Ennis were at any point to make a move towards a permanent future together Jack would be right there.The leash is self-forged and can't be broken.
At the end of "Persuasion" Jane Austen has her main character, who has been kept apart from the man she loves by her family's snobbery, say, "The only privilege I claim for my own sex ( it is not an enviable one, you need not covet it) is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone." That's what Jack feels for Ennis, even when he knows Ennis will never feel the same for him and hope is gone - when someone is half of your being it's impossible to tear yourself away without doing mortal damage, and Ennis is the other half of Jack. And ironically when Jack is dead  Ennis discovers that he will go on loving when Jack has ceased to exist except in his heart.

WelshWitch, that is a beautiful quote you use here to describe Jack's feeling for Ennis.  Simply lovely - and loving!  :'(

As you say, the short leash is at least in part self-forged.  Ennis could not have put any kind of restraint on Jack if Jack wasn't willing to accept it.  Which doesn't mean that it wouldn't have chafed at times.  Bonds forged in love can still be bitter sweet to bear.

I like to think that maybe Ennis did feel the same way though, even if he was afraid to acknowledge those feelings even to himself.  It's so difficult to quantify love, isn't it?  It's like the wind ... without real substance or form of it's own but you are aware of it's existence because of it's influence on the world around it. 

Maybe because Ennis held his love so tightly inside it couldn't be easily felt??  As you say, once Jack is out of his reach forever, Ennis realizes the fullness of his love.  And once he accepts that, he starts making some connections, has impact on his world (such as being able to compromise with Alma Jr. regarding her wedding, for example).

As short a leash as Jack may have felt he was on, be it of his own choosing or imposed by Ennis, after reading everything here I'm starting to think that poor Ennis was on an even shorter one.  Completely self-imposed, stopping him from reaching out for what he wanted most in life.  Whether Ennis's leash was forged in love or fear or a combination of both, it's beginning to be as real to me as the one Jack admitted to feeling.

Am I making any sense here or do you all think I'm completely off target???  (wouldn't be the first time    )

Wonderful observations from both of you. Thank you!

[donnaread]

I agree fully that Ennis' problem with Jack was not fidelity but with identity as a homosexual.  As long as it was just this thing between them, then Ennis wasn't queer. Then he could rationalize it as such.  But if Jack was queer, then Ennis must be too.  That's the key to the "what they got in Mexico for boys like YOU" line. 

  But as time passed I think Jack was more and more clear on the inside what he really wanted. 

No I don't think Ennis would EVER be able to admit to himself that he is homosexual.  I'm not sure WHEN Jack realized this about himself,  but his "...tell me you'll kill me for needin something I don't hardly never get!", says that at this point he is perfectly aware of his homosexuality.  To me, THIS is the statement that should have set Ennis off...Jack's admitting he needs to be with men.  Ennis' "I just can't stand this anymore, Jack!"  wasn't in the screenplay, but I am so glad Heath said it...wonder if this was his own ad-libbing or Ang's direction.  His words are just as anguished as Jack's "I wish I knew how to quit you."  God these guys are so damn good!  :'(

Donna

[Patriot1]

Ennis' "I just can't stand this anymore, Jack!"  wasn't in the screenplay, but I am so glad Heath said it...wonder if this was his own ad-libbing or Ang's direction.

You know, we as viewers forget that screenplays are revised right up to the time the director says "cut....print it"....or "cut...close the gate."  The screenplay we have was the original taken to producers years and years ago.  What we consider adlibing may not be that at all.  It may have been added to the final version of the screenplay.