Topic: After The Divorce Scene Question

[boo_boo]

I have a question about the scene where Jack drives up to Ennis' house & Ennis is there by his truck with the girls.  Jack has just found out about Ennis' divorce.

Is Jack thinking that since Ennis got divorced that him & Ennis might live together somewhere (I can't seem to interpret Jack's head nod)?  Seems to me that Ennis thinks he's just there for the weekend but I always thought Jack was talking about more than a weekend.

How did y'all interpret it?

[Sunflower79]

I think one of the main reasons why Jack went up there when he found out about the divorce was because he thought that finally him and Ennis could be together forever. He thought they could live and ranch together. Jack was the one wtih the hopes and dreams that they could live together and all would be well. He was willing to leave everything for the chance to be with Ennis on a full time basis. Unfortnally Ennis wasn't willing to that with Jack..due to his fears and being scared about living openly with another man.

[shieldmaid]

Yes, I think that's exactly it.  According to the short story, Ennis had never called Jack before, so when he called to tell him about the divorce, Jack thought it meant they could finally be together.  To me that's never been really clear, though--why call him when he's never done it before and then reject Jack's overtures?     Poor Jack, though.

[tpe]

I guess it stems from the scene when Ennis tells Jack: '..and I've got my life here in Riverton...'  Jack then quips: 'You and Alma...thats a life.'

I think Jack thought that the chief impediment to their sharing a life together was Ennis's marriage with Alma.  Strange that he did not seem to factor in the kids into the picture.  I guess Jack did not see them as an impediment to their happiness.  It is apparent that for Ennis, proximity to his kids was just as important.  Jack would have probably let go of his kid just for Ennis.

For Jack it seems, everything was expendible in the balance of love.  This was clear from the start.

And I think in the end of the scene, Ennis did understand completely what was afoot.  In my opinion, he did see that it was not just a weekend that was in the balance...

[CrimsonSky]

 I think Jack thought Ennis's divorce meant they were both going to live happily ever after now, after all, Ennis always used Alma and the girls as one of the reasons why they couldn't be together ("I'm stuck with what I've got here" "I've got my life here in Riverton"), so with that no longer an obstacle, poor Jack must have thought "sweet life, here we come" (OMG, I'm getting all teary thinking about him driving away in tears) :\'( :\'(

I would love to know what Ennis's postcard (phone call in the book) about the divorce actually said. Was it specifically about the divorce, or was it just a PS at the end of one of the postcards they sent to arrange their meetings? If Ennis got in touch just to tell Jack he'd got divorced (the short story implies that's the case,I think, when it says later that the phone call to Lureen was the only time he'd phoned Jack's house apart from the phone call about the divorce), then it's natural Jack would jump to the conclusion that he wanted Jack to know straight away, so they could start to make plans. Poor Jack, driving 14 hours just to have all his hopes and dreams crushed :\'( :\'( :\'(

[welshwitch]

Yes, insofar as they thought about it at all, I assume they thought their children would be put into the custody of their mothers, as Ennis's were.

The scene I think isd a good example of Jack's impetuous nature and lack of understanding of Ennis's "low startle point". Clearly he wanted to go from occasional surreptitious meetings to living together - "All for love orthe world well lost", to quote Dryden's title. this was far too massive a leap for Ennis to make, so he simply shied away and took refuge in the responsibilities he builds as a barrier between them.

[donnaread]

This scene makes me just want to hold Jack and protect him.  "I got your card about the divorce...so here I am"  So much hope and happiness in his face.  And Ennis dashes his hopes.  "Damn you, Ennis!" :\'(

Donna

[LuvJackNasty]

As everyone else has said I always took that to mean that Jack thought Ennis was free and ready to have a life with him. Before he leaves Jack says "See ya next month then" so I'm guessing that Jack figured this was something big because Ennis could have waited to tell him at their next meeting. I always feel so bad for Jack here-his dreamy nature got the better of him and he must have been beyond ecstatic driving to Wyoming only to have his airplane not just shot out of the sky but blown up.

[stacp]

Yes, insofar as they thought about it at all, I assume they thought their children would be put into the custody of their mothers, as Ennis's were.

The scene I think isd a good example of Jack's impetuous nature and lack of understanding of Ennis's "low startle point". Clearly he wanted to go from occasional surreptitious meetings to living together - "All for love orthe world well lost", to quote Dryden's title. this was far too massive a leap for Ennis to make, so he simply shied away and took refuge in the responsibilities he builds as a barrier between them.

Yes, I agree.  I think Jack absolutely thought Ennis was now free and clear to have a life with him.  Jack would have dropped Lureen like a hot potato if Ennis would have said the word.  My question is:  Why did Ennis tell Jack about the divorce in the postcard and not just wait until the meeting?  Did Ennis just need to get it off his chest?  Did he want to see what Jack's reaction would be?  I don't get it.  Ennis just broke Jack's heart in two.  Maybe Ennis had no idea how Jack would react.  Any thoughts?

[welshwitch]

I hadn't thought of it, and evidently in the case of AP it's just a plot device to get Jack there. But psychologically it doesn't make sene. Ennis isn;t a great communicator and it's hard to tell what his reaction to the divorce was, but he ertainly wasn;t about to get Jack there to tell him they could set up home together. I suppose since he's not good with language he might just have sent the thing not realising what the effect would be, but that argues that he understands Jack's nature very little. Or maybe he preferred to tell Jack in advance to avoid getting into explanations and talking about emotions face to face? you know, Ennis just passing on factual information in some brief message  (like "You bet" after 4 years) and then putting it out f his mind and getting on with some tedious cow-related thing. ("Castrating claves" Who the hell says that to someone they hardly know? Ennis is a great one for factual statement.)

[Patriot1]

Well, here are my thoughts for what they are worth.  I saw this movie differently than most of you.  I saw a man who was so in love with his friend that he could hardly stand it when they were apart.

And then I saw a man who was a homophobe.  A man that met the first one while working together and over a short time became best friends.  Best friends so deeply that he allowed himself to become intimate with him, as long as they were out of sight of others and in the middle of nowhere. This was Ennis' only friend.  His love and affection for Jack was so deep that even he didn't realize that he was in love with Jack, or, wouldn't allow himself to think it. That is, until he found the shirts.  He then realized how much Jack was in love with him and how much he was in love with Jack.  And for the first time says, "I love you." [Kleenex please, anyone?]

When Ennis was divorced we saw a macho man, a man who was ready to fight at the drop of a hat, stand in an open court room and weep.  I believe he was devastated by the divorce.  He needed to tell someone. He was all alone. He was the bad guy in everyone's eyes. Why not tell his best friend, the one person he had genuine love and admiration for?  So he sends a postcard telling Jack he was divorced. We don't know what the card said but we do know Ennis was shocked to see Jack standing in his yard one day. So the card didn't call out for help in dealing with the situation.  Jack's happy demeanour tells us it wasn't that.  He didn't come to comfort Ennis.  I believe it was just Ennis needing to tell someone and having nobody but Jack to tell. And in Ennis form, he said very little, he wrote it on a post card after all. But, we do know, whatever it said it renewed Jack's hopes for their future.  But then, Jack is the dreamer. He probably read a four page letter of love and finally living together; and all on a little post card. God, how Jack did love Ennis.  And Ennis, too ignorant or to afraid to understand or admit how much he was loved...until it was too late to do anything about it.

My 2¢.

[NoReins]

I think a lot of what you say is true, Patriot1, but I still can't agree with the statement that Ennis was a homophobe - if he was a homophobe, and didn't understand or accept that what he felt for Jack was love, then there's no way that he would have initiated the reunion kiss in the way he did. He would have hugged Jack as a friend, sure, but anything else would definitely have been kept for later, behind closed doors. I think he had certain homophobic tendencies - ingrained into him by his father and probably his grandfather - but I do believe he knew/suspected he was "queer" and knew that he loved Jack, not just as a friend.

Anyway, back to the divorce scene. Is it possible that the postcard Ennis sent to Jack about the divorce was also to make plans for their next meeting? A month before would probably have been about right to make plans....and if that's the case then there's every chance that the information about the divorce was a simple PS at the end, but as you said

But then, Jack is the dreamer. He probably read a four page letter of love and finally living together; and all on a little post card

That's the real tragedy here - the one time that Jack fails to "read between the lines" when it comes to Ennis' thoughts and feelings is the time when the scope for pain and heartbreak is greatest :\'( :\'(

[welshwitch]

You are so right, Patriot 1. I've been there and done it myself. You read three words and they tell you everything you want them to, even if they don't. Jack couldn't wait to get there, I bet he redlined it all the way again, Jack is after all the eternal optimist. I also have a feeling that Ennis uses facts, details and the reat as excuses, and here his excuses are made in the concrete form of the two girls. How could he admit to any sort of feeling for Jack in fron of them? There's that bit where he pulls away from Jack's hold, because Jack is thinking of turning their embrace into a kiss, and maybe Ennis is plain terrified - he looks away even when a pickup drives past in the distance. Jack spent so much time on the mountain getting to know him, courting if you like - then he impulsively gives up and drives off without any attempt to talk to Ennis first.

It's an object lesson in the power of words to mislead and ill-considered actions to wreck a life.

[tpe]

Thanks Patriot1, NoReins, and welshwitch.  There can be disagreement as to some details, but the need to be understood and be comforted is, I think, something we all see in this scene.

From welshwitch: There's that bit where he pulls away from Jack's hold, because Jack is thinking of turning their embrace into a kiss...

These are exactly my thoughts.

[Sunflower79]

Well, here are my thoughts for what they are worth.  I saw this movie differently than most of you.  I saw a man who was so in love with his friend that he could hardly stand it when they were apart.

And then I saw a man who was a homophobe.  A man that met the first one while working together and over a short time became best friends.  Best friends so deeply that he allowed himself to become intimate with him, as long as they were out of sight of others and in the middle of nowhere. This was Ennis' only friend.  His love and affection for Jack was so deep that even he didn't realize that he was in love with Jack, or, wouldn't allow himself to think it. That is, until he found the shirts.  He then realized how much Jack was in love with him and how much he was in love with Jack.  And for the first time says, "I love you." [Kleenex please, anyone?]

When Ennis was divorced we saw a macho man, a man who was ready to fight at the drop of a hat, stand in an open court room and weep.  I believe he was devastated by the divorce.  He needed to tell someone. He was all alone. He was the bad guy in everyone's eyes. Why not tell his best friend, the one person he had genuine love and admiration for?  So he sends a postcard telling Jack he was divorced. We don't know what the card said but we do know Ennis was shocked to see Jack standing in his yard one day. So the card didn't call out for help in dealing with the situation.  Jack's happy demeanour tells us it wasn't that.  He didn't come to comfort Ennis.  I believe it was just Ennis needing to tell someone and having nobody but Jack to tell. And in Ennis form, he said very little, he wrote it on a post card after all. But, we do know, whatever it said it renewed Jack's hopes for their future.  But then, Jack is the dreamer. He probably read a four page letter of love and finally living together; and all on a little post card. God, how Jack did love Ennis.  And Ennis, too ignorant or to afraid to understand or admit how much he was loved...until it was too late to do anything about it.

My 2¢.

Very nicely stated..its so sad ..Jack wanting and hoping for a chance to be with Ennis and Ennis being afraid and scared..

[LuvJackNasty]

Well, here are my thoughts for what they are worth.  I saw this movie differently than most of you.  I saw a man who was so in love with his friend that he could hardly stand it when they were apart.

And then I saw a man who was a homophobe.  A man that met the first one while working together and over a short time became best friends.  Best friends so deeply that he allowed himself to become intimate with him, as long as they were out of sight of others and in the middle of nowhere. This was Ennis' only friend.  His love and affection for Jack was so deep that even he didn't realize that he was in love with Jack, or, wouldn't allow himself to think it. That is, until he found the shirts.  He then realized how much Jack was in love with him and how much he was in love with Jack.  And for the first time says, "I love you." [Kleenex please, anyone?]

When Ennis was divorced we saw a macho man, a man who was ready to fight at the drop of a hat, stand in an open court room and weep.  I believe he was devastated by the divorce.  He needed to tell someone. He was all alone. He was the bad guy in everyone's eyes. Why not tell his best friend, the one person he had genuine love and admiration for?  So he sends a postcard telling Jack he was divorced. We don't know what the card said but we do know Ennis was shocked to see Jack standing in his yard one day. So the card didn't call out for help in dealing with the situation.  Jack's happy demeanour tells us it wasn't that.  He didn't come to comfort Ennis.  I believe it was just Ennis needing to tell someone and having nobody but Jack to tell. And in Ennis form, he said very little, he wrote it on a post card after all. But, we do know, whatever it said it renewed Jack's hopes for their future.  But then, Jack is the dreamer. He probably read a four page letter of love and finally living together; and all on a little post card. God, how Jack did love Ennis.  And Ennis, too ignorant or to afraid to understand or admit how much he was loved...until it was too late to do anything about it.

My 2¢.

Beautifully stated!  :\'(

[edgar]

I want to second what Patriot1 said, that Ennis was in love "with his friend," and that he needed to tell "his only friend" that he was divorced. The friendship is the basis for their love.

And that's a good thing, imho.

 

[lonerider44]

Three things bug me about this movie:
1.  Believing that Ennis really did love Jack.  I can't believe that Ennis's fear and all his related hangups were so strong that they would have blocked the love if it had been as strong as it has been said it was. 
2.  I watched the shirt scene on my DVD over and over again, trying to get where you all say Ennis said (breathed, coughed, whatever) "I love you" when he was holding the shirts.  No way did I pick up on that nohow.
3.  I watched the movie in the theater seven times and never bawled.  I've watched the DVD only once at home and didn't bawl.  Why izzit that every time I think about watching it again, I bawl!!

Life makes no sense sometimes....

[welshwitch]

One of the things that bugs me about this scene is that it's so clear that Ennis is everything to Jack - friend, family, lover and in an odd sort of way almost child - someone he's taught, maybe? So every time I look at it I ask myslef why Ennis couldn't see this? Even if he didn't/couldn't do anything about it, even if he was afraid of being oberved by suspicious eyes, why didn;t he give some sign of knowing what Jack felt? You can know what someone else is feeling without feeling it yourself - now I can't worl out whether he had no idea what Jack was feeling and hence of what he was doing to him by turning him away like this.

[NoReins]

I think that Ennis did know how Jack felt - even if he maybe didn't realise quite how strong the feelings were - and I also think he felt them too. I just think that his childhood experience was always at the front of his mind, making it impossible for him to act on his feelings, except when they were completely alone together.

These days we know all about how childhood experiences can traumatise people for their whole lives but that's not something that Ennis would have realised. He was scarred for life by what his father made him see - and, no doubt, by the assumption that his father was involved in some way in Earl's murder. In the short story, does he not say something to Jack about it when they're in the motel together (which is where he tells Jack about Earl)? I don't have my copy here, but I think it's something about having no doubt about what his father would do if he was to walk through the motel room door at that moment....even when he's blissfully happy, in Jack's arms in the motel, he still can't stop thinking about how he was taught that two men being together was the worst sin imaginable.

I don't blame Ennis for the way he treated Jack at the divorce scene - I blame his father and all those who hammered their bigotry and hatred into his head as a child.

[MississaugaRed]

I think that Ennis did know how Jack felt - even if he maybe didn't realise quite how strong the feelings were - and I also think he felt them too. I just think that his childhood experience was always at the front of his mind, making it impossible for him to act on his feelings, except when they were completely alone together.

These days we know all about how childhood experiences can traumatise people for their whole lives but that's not something that Ennis would have realised. He was scarred for life by what his father made him see - and, no doubt, by the assumption that his father was involved in some way in Earl's murder. In the short story, does he not say something to Jack about it when they're in the motel together (which is where he tells Jack about Earl)? I don't have my copy here, but I think it's something about having no doubt about what his father would do if he was to walk through the motel room door at that moment....even when he's blissfully happy, in Jack's arms in the motel, he still can't stop thinking about how he was taught that two men being together was the worst sin imaginable.

I don't blame Ennis for the way he treated Jack at the divorce scene - I blame his father and all those who hammered their bigotry and hatred into his head as a child.

You're right, NoReins, re: the SS motel scene; Ennis comments of his father that "if he were alive and was to put his head in that door right now you bet he'd go get his tire iron".  Even this special moment is tainted by the fears Ennis carries thanks to his SOB of a dad.

By the time the divorce scene comes around, Ennis has no doubt been through agonies of worry and paranoia for years over being found out, all those fishing trips, never any fish caught.  As you say so well, childhood trauma stays with you, and doesn't cure itself, I guess, not without conscious effort. Even if you do have the greatest incentive in the world to take a risk and overcome your fears.

But, still .. can't help but be a little upset at Ennis at this point.  I have trouble with the suggestions I've seen here and there that Ennis couldn't have known that Jack would ride all that way to see him on impulse.  Ennis sent him that postcard.  He's known his man, what, 12 years at this point?  I have difficulty believing that he wouldn't have known Jack well enough by now not to be surprised by his visit.  He might have been a little better prepared to deal with it than he did, I think. 

But that's just MO.  I guess, alternately, if Ennis can suppress his own feelings and hide his own motivations even from himself sometimes, he could certainly have kidded himself that Jack wasn't still looking for that sweet life with him.

Oh, a'dunno!      NoReins, once again, you bring challenging ideas to the table! ( I do love your posts, Lindsay.    )

[tpe]

I think that Ennis did know how Jack felt - even if he maybe didn't realise quite how strong the feelings were - and I also think he felt them too. I just think that his childhood experience was always at the front of his mind, making it impossible for him to act on his feelings, except when they were completely alone together.

These days we know all about how childhood experiences can traumatise people for their whole lives but that's not something that Ennis would have realised. He was scarred for life by what his father made him see - and, no doubt, by the assumption that his father was involved in some way in Earl's murder. In the short story, does he not say something to Jack about it when they're in the motel together (which is where he tells Jack about Earl)? I don't have my copy here, but I think it's something about having no doubt about what his father would do if he was to walk through the motel room door at that moment....even when he's blissfully happy, in Jack's arms in the motel, he still can't stop thinking about how he was taught that two men being together was the worst sin imaginable.

I don't blame Ennis for the way he treated Jack at the divorce scene - I blame his father and all those who hammered their bigotry and hatred into his head as a child.

You're right, NoReins, re: the SS motel scene; Ennis comments of his father that "if he were alive and was to put his head in that door right now you bet he'd go get his tire iron".  Even this special moment is tainted by the fears Ennis carries thanks to his SOB of a dad.

By the time the divorce scene comes around, Ennis has no doubt been through agonies of worry and paranoia for years over being found out, all those fishing trips, never any fish caught.  As you say so well, childhood trauma stays with you, and doesn't cure itself, I guess, not without conscious effort. Even if you do have the greatest incentive in the world to take a risk and overcome your fears.

But, still .. can't help but be a little upset at Ennis at this point.  I have trouble with the suggestions I've seen here and there that Ennis couldn't have known that Jack would ride all that way to see him on impulse.  Ennis sent him that postcard.  He's known his man, what, 12 years at this point?  I have difficulty believing that he wouldn't have known Jack well enough by now not to be surprised by his visit.  He might have been a little better prepared to deal with it than he did, I think. 

But that's just MO.  I guess, alternately, if Ennis can suppress his own feelings and hide his own motivations even from himself sometimes, he could certainly have kidded himself that Jack wasn't still looking for that sweet life with him.

Oh, a'dunno!      NoReins, once again, you bring challenging ideas to the table! ( I do love your posts, Lindsay.    )

Interesting exchange here.  Thanks NoReins and MississaugaRed.  Wonderful.

 

[NoReins]

I think that Ennis did know how Jack felt - even if he maybe didn't realise quite how strong the feelings were - and I also think he felt them too. I just think that his childhood experience was always at the front of his mind, making it impossible for him to act on his feelings, except when they were completely alone together.

These days we know all about how childhood experiences can traumatise people for their whole lives but that's not something that Ennis would have realised. He was scarred for life by what his father made him see - and, no doubt, by the assumption that his father was involved in some way in Earl's murder. In the short story, does he not say something to Jack about it when they're in the motel together (which is where he tells Jack about Earl)? I don't have my copy here, but I think it's something about having no doubt about what his father would do if he was to walk through the motel room door at that moment....even when he's blissfully happy, in Jack's arms in the motel, he still can't stop thinking about how he was taught that two men being together was the worst sin imaginable.

I don't blame Ennis for the way he treated Jack at the divorce scene - I blame his father and all those who hammered their bigotry and hatred into his head as a child.

You're right, NoReins, re: the SS motel scene; Ennis comments of his father that "if he were alive and was to put his head in that door right now you bet he'd go get his tire iron".  Even this special moment is tainted by the fears Ennis carries thanks to his SOB of a dad.

By the time the divorce scene comes around, Ennis has no doubt been through agonies of worry and paranoia for years over being found out, all those fishing trips, never any fish caught.  As you say so well, childhood trauma stays with you, and doesn't cure itself, I guess, not without conscious effort. Even if you do have the greatest incentive in the world to take a risk and overcome your fears.

But, still .. can't help but be a little upset at Ennis at this point.  I have trouble with the suggestions I've seen here and there that Ennis couldn't have known that Jack would ride all that way to see him on impulse.  Ennis sent him that postcard.  He's known his man, what, 12 years at this point?  I have difficulty believing that he wouldn't have known Jack well enough by now not to be surprised by his visit.  He might have been a little better prepared to deal with it than he did, I think. 

But that's just MO.  I guess, alternately, if Ennis can suppress his own feelings and hide his own motivations even from himself sometimes, he could certainly have kidded himself that Jack wasn't still looking for that sweet life with him.

Oh, a'dunno!      NoReins, once again, you bring challenging ideas to the table! ( I do love your posts, Lindsay.    )

Ach, I'm just an Ennis gal, and I'll defend him to the death

[MississaugaRed]

Ach, I'm just an Ennis gal, and I'll defend him to the death

LOL!!

Good news really ... if we wrangle the boys together up on the mountain, we won't fight over who gets to stay in the main camp with the herder and who gets to go up with the sheep.  I'd be happy to spend time with Jack in the pup tent on the q.t., whatever it smells like! 

Seriously, we can concede, I think, that there are no villians here ... only victims.  Ennis doesn't exactly look happy with the results of his actions (inactions?) when Jack drives away, so I can't believe he was deliberately being cruel.  Just very, very scarred and very, very afraid, as you say.  "sigh".

[welshwitch]

And then I wonder what Ennis was afraid of? Being murdered like the rancher? Ennis doesn't strike me as a physical coward. Much more, I think, he's afraid of confronting the instincts that drive him to Jack and facing the reality of what he is, something that his father, presumably his paradigm of masculinity, would regard with contempt. I think Ennis hates his own nature much more than he fears violence - the prospect of being hurt/injured in a fight doesn't concern him.

[NoReins]

And then I wonder what Ennis was afraid of? Being murdered like the rancher? Ennis doesn't strike me as a physical coward. Much more, I think, he's afraid of confronting the instincts that drive him to Jack and facing the reality of what he is, something that his father, presumably his paradigm of masculinity, would regard with contempt. I think Ennis hates his own nature much more than he fears violence - the prospect of being hurt/injured in a fight doesn't concern him.

I don't it's being beaten up himself that Ennis worries about. I think he's worried that if he and Jack were to live together then something bad would happen to Jack...just like happened to Earl.

[MississaugaRed]

I don't it's being beaten up himself that Ennis worries about. I think he's worried that if he and Jack were to live together then something bad would happen to Jack...just like happened to Earl.

Good point, NoReins - Ennis would fear for Jack's life and might be as afraid of ending up alone if Jack were killed as he would be about bring killed himself.  The more years he's had Jack in his life the harder it must have been for him to deal with the possibility of something happening to him, I imagine.  He also might have worried about Jack being left to go on alone  if Ennis himself were the one to die in a bashing.

And even though Ennis might be good in a fist fight, one on one, and certainly isn't a coward when it comes to physical altercations, he's very realistic and knows if a group were to gang up on him, he'd have little chance, no matter how hard he were to fight.  Guess it's little wonder he worries about being seen out in the open with Jack at this point. 

[MississaugaRed]

I don't it's being beaten up himself that Ennis worries about. I think he's worried that if he and Jack were to live together then something bad would happen to Jack...just like happened to Earl.

Good point, NoReins - Ennis would fear for Jack's life and might be as afraid of ending up alone if Jack were killed as he would be about bring killed himself.  The more years he's had Jack in his life the harder it must have been for him to deal with the possibility of something happening to him, I imagine.  He also might have worried about Jack being left to go on alone  if Ennis himself were the one to die in a bashing.

And even though Ennis might be good in a fist fight, one on one, and certainly isn't a coward when it comes to physical altercations, he's very realistic and knows if a group were to gang up on him, he'd have little chance, no matter how hard he were to fight.  Guess it's little wonder he worries about being seen out in the open with Jack at this point. 

[NoReins]

I don't it's being beaten up himself that Ennis worries about. I think he's worried that if he and Jack were to live together then something bad would happen to Jack...just like happened to Earl.

Good point, NoReins - Ennis would fear for Jack's life and might be as afraid of ending up alone if Jack were killed as he would be about bring killed himself.  The more years he's had Jack in his life the harder it must have been for him to deal with the possibility of something happening to him, I imagine.  He also might have worried about Jack being left to go on alone  if Ennis himself were the one to die in a bashing.

And even though Ennis might be good in a fist fight, one on one, and certainly isn't a coward when it comes to physical altercations, he's very realistic and knows if a group were to gang up on him, he'd have little chance, no matter how hard he were to fight.  Guess it's little wonder he worries about being seen out in the open with Jack at this point. 

Yeah, that's exactly what I was saying I'm glad you agree with me - I was worried I was letting the thoughts that Ennis has in various fanfics take over and getting away from the "real" story

[welshwitch]

The other thought ( ignified description! ) I had was whether Ennis wa ssuch a programmed character that he could deal with Jack if their meetings were arranged and " way the hell out in the middle of nowhere" but nowhere else, andi by just arriving Jack had come on to his territory where he didn;t ( in Ennis's opinion) belong, so he couldn't cope other than becoming almost totally inarticulate and letting Jack go as quickly as possible.