Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum

So why the watch?

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chowhound:
In the opening scene, after Aguirre has assigned Jack and Ennis their jobs, he tosses Ennis a watch which Ennis manages to catch. We then see Ennis putting the watch on his wrist as he leaves the trailer. After this, I can't remember any sight or allusion to this watch at all. So why the watch?

Monika:

--- Quote from: chowhound on November 23, 2008, 04:49:09 pm ---In the opening scene, after Aguirre has assigned Jack and Ennis their jobs, he tosses Ennis a watch which Ennis manages to catch. We then see Ennis putting the watch on his wrist as he leaves the trailer. After this, I can't remember any sight or allusion to this watch at all. So why the watch?

--- End quote ---
So that he´ll know when it´s noon perhaps?
(he leaves the grocery list every Friday at the bridge)
Although I can´t ever remember seeing the watch later on. Maybe he kept it in his pocket.

I think the watch also was used as a way to show that Ennis really doesn´t own anything (barely any clothes), and that Aguirre is so sure of that, that he doesn´t even have to ask Ennis if he owns a watch.

Penthesilea:

"Never enough time, never enough."

Their race against the time starts with Aguirre tossing Ennis the watch. They try to ignore the running time (hiding the watch in the pocket), they may forget about it respectively be oblivious to it, they don't see it (it's hidden) - but it's still always there, from beginning on.

Time is short for our boys. The first snow comes early, their time on the mountain is cut short.
Time is always too short, goes by always too fast on the few stolen days they have together.
In the end, time runs out for Jack and thus for their relationship.

 :(

Monika:

--- Quote from: Penthesilea on November 23, 2008, 05:22:35 pm ---"Never enough time, never enough."

Their race against the time starts with Aguirre tossing Ennis the watch. They try to ignore the running time (hiding the watch in the pocket), they may forget about it respectively be oblivious to it, they don't see it (it's hidden) - but it's still always there, from beginning on.

Time is short for our boys. The first snow comes early, their time on the mountain is cut short.
Time is always too short, goes by always too fast on the few stolen days they have together.
In the end, time runs out for Jack and thus for their relationship.

 :(

--- End quote ---
very poignant interpretation, chrissie. Thanks.

Ellemeno:
I like all the answers.  

Ennis is fitting the watch to his wrist when Jack ignores that and thrusts his hand out.  Ennis says he and Alma will be getting married in (OH God, I can't remember the month, time to watch the movie again), and Jack ignores that.  Ennis tries to stick to time ("trying to cut us out a whole month's pay", Jack ignores it for himself and Ennis too.

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