Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
TOTW 05/08: What do you make of the "Maybe Texas?" scene?
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: nakymaton on February 19, 2008, 12:16:34 am ---I've always thought of it as a indication of how impossible Jack and Ennis found it, to be simultaneously rural men and to be gay. "Maybe move to Denver" sounds to me like "maybe move to the Moon" - like Denver is completely foreign from their existence. Denver might be part of the West, but a city is no place for a ranch hand.
I've always found the line to be incredibly sad.
--- End quote ---
Well, that's a good point... that the Denver suggestion does seem to indicate that Jack at least perceives a disconnect between rural life and being gay. I guess it is sad.
It's interesting that with the Denver comment it does seem entirely hypothetical or rhetorical (or something like that). But, with the "maybe Texas" in the movie, there seems to be a lot of real intention there.
Brokeback_Dev:
I just think its sad that Ennis wont even consider Jack's thought and blows off the idea of moving to Texas. And he doesn't have to be so rude about it. Jack wants to be happy with Ennis and have him close to him. Moving to Texas is not such a bad idea.. I mean what does Ennis have holding him to Riverton besides his girls? Nothing. I don't understand why wont consider it. I mean he can still see the girls on visitation. They had that then.
It is interesting that Ennis is finally acknowledging his homosexuality and his love for Jack. Its like Ennis finally comes out even if it is to his gay lover. He's admitting their relationship is more than just a high altitude fuck once or twice a year even if thats all he has to give to Jack.
LauraGigs:
The Denver line is immediately followed by "and I don't give a flying fuck". Proving what we've been saying about this scene (that seems to echo the book dialogue): Jack & Ennis, given their different life experiences, just can't relate over this point. Jack is just less willing to let fear inhibit him. But the book is the book and the film is the film, and this thread is about a scene from the film...
I think their exchange by the stream is really interesting because for the first time, Jack is relatively quiet.
ENNIS You and Lureen, it's uh… normal and all?
JACK Sure.
ENNIS She don't ever suspect?
JACK [silence]
That really struck me! Maybe Jack just gave his marriage to Lureen as little conscious thought as possible(?) (echoed later in his "never given it any thought" line). As Jack & Lureen's inattention to the issues in their marriage (aka denial) may have been the main thing making it possible for their marriage to work.
But personally, my guess is that Jack wasn't being fully truthful here, because he's never wanted to add to Ennis' fears. But interestingly, more truthfulness on Jack's part may have been the better solution, like with Aguirre. (If Ennis had known that Aguirre knew, in the long run he may have felt a bit safer, since Aguirre evidently told no one.)
I love your point, BBM-Cat, that Jack's non-empathy is a big mistake. Ennis truly feels alone in his dilemma (an island indeed), the perfect setup for him to get together with Cassie in the next scene. How can Ennis refuse when the perfect cover (or at least her feet) falls right in his lap?
Great thread and great posts, everybody.
Katie77:
I think when Ennis says "Jack F***ing Twist" when he is in the river....its a reflecton to when he said it when he stood at the top of the stairs....as if he's saying "thats what started this thing again, me saying that, and sometimes I wish I had never started it up again after those four years"....
Of course he is only thinking that way because he is angry with Jack, and angry that they are no closer to getting this thing resolved than they were back then.....
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: atz75 on February 18, 2008, 10:55:24 pm ---Ennis is also aware that Jack asked "about 10 different people" where Ennis had moved following the divorce. So, I think a lot of things add up to making Ennis feel very worried about random people knowing his secret.
--- End quote ---
The funny thing is that had Ennis been less paranoid, he could just as easily have interpreted this the other way. The first nine people Jack asked had no idea where Ennis lived -- that is, they weren't paying as much attention to Ennis as he probably thought they were.
As for the "maybe Texas" scene, I've always thought this was one of two times that Jack could have handled things better. The other being when they're dismantling the camp to leave the mountain.
--- Quote from: LauraGigs on February 19, 2008, 12:56:23 am ---ENNIS You and Lureen, it's uh… normal and all?
JACK Sure.
ENNIS She don't ever suspect?
JACK [silence]
--- End quote ---
Ennis seems like he's reaching out for help. The thing is, in the film Jack doesn't just remain silent -- he shrugs and nods: yeah, it's normal. When clearly, from later scenes, it's not -- he never wants to "dance" with his wife. Jack is lying about him and Lureen in the "me neither" sense, to protect Ennis. But actually Ennis would benefit from a more honest answer. And then when Jack suggests moving to Texas, he's jumping on the opportunity to push his agenda (understandably!) but leaves Ennis' dilemma unresolved, his worries unsoothed.
--- Quote ---But personally, my guess is that Jack wasn't being fully truthful here, because he's never wanted to add to Ennis' fears. But interestingly, more truthfulness on Jack's part may have been the better solution, like with Aguirre. (If Ennis had known that Aguirre knew, in the long run he may have felt a bit safer, since Aguirre evidently told no one.)
I love your point, BBM-Cat, that Jack's non-empathy is a big mistake. Ennis truly feels alone in his dilemma (an island indeed),
--- End quote ---
Exactly.
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