Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Why Jack Quit Ennis
dly64:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on July 14, 2006, 06:23:08 am ---Another thing I've been mulling over is whether Jack subconsciously - I don't ever think he'd do this consciously - realized that one way of managing the quitting (again, quitting for the sake of Ennis, for his love of Ennis) would be his own death; ie. whether in his pain and grief over the whole situation he got careless and tempted fate after his return to Texas and so caught the eye of the local Mr. Del Mar Senior versions. I surely don't think Jack is the type for this - but his expression as he watches Ennis drive away after the dozy flashback is deeply disconcerting for anyone who loves Jack's eternal optimism. Wouldn't it hit him all the harder once he realized that quitting seemed the only way?
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It’s interesting that you mention this point. I often felt that when Ennis left and Jack looked on … Jack knew he would never see Ennis again. How? I don’t know. It’s hard for me to believe that Jack would be careless. However, I can’t see Jack being able to “quit” Ennis, either (by “quit” I mean releasing Ennis … setting Ennis free. I don’t mean, in any way shape or form, that Jack would stop loving Ennis. That would never happen). Jack and Ennis’ psyche’s were intertwined. One was not complete without the other. The screenplay alludes to this:
“… Jack, much older now watches the pickup truck, and his other half, fade away into the distance …”
I know I get a lot of grief for referring to the short story and screenplay since the film stands on its own … which is true. However, the screenplay offers some background and motivation that can not be explicitly expressed on the screen. The above quote, IMO, is one of those instances. As is the following …
“…they hug one another, a fierce, desperate embrace – managing to torque things almost to where they had been, for what they’ve just said is no news: as always, nothing ended, nothing begun, nothing resolved.”
--- Quote ---I just can't get my head around the Randall we meet in the film ever moving to Lightning Flat. That well-groomed, smooth (I happen to heartily dislike him making the moves on someone new right in front of their wives' eyes), college-educated, not-very-mechanical man, moving up to the poverty and loneliness of the Twist Ranch to "lick it into shape", braving the condescending ways of OMT? I just can't see it. I can't see how Jack would have thought that could ever work, even. Doesn't mean Randall and Jack didn't talk about it, doesn't mean Randall can't have been entirely serious about Jack, doesn't mean they didn't have a relationship going for years, but..... no. I could much rather see Randall suggesting they move out of Childress and find work and a life together elsewhere, but then in a town somewhere. Like the short story says, perhaps if it happens to others (than Jack and Ennis) they move to Denver. A degree in Animal Husbandry still didn't mean he can't get any other sort of job, does it?
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Let’s just say that we meet Jack for the first time (at the benefit dance). Albeit, he’s not college educated. However, he is well-groomed and makes good money. His wife is educated. How would we see him? We have no idea about Randall’s background (with the exception that he is a college graduate and is “technically challenged”). For all we know, he could have grown up with humble roots. Furthermore, we can guess that the time period is the late 70’s. A ranch foreman shacked up with another guy probably wouldn’t fly … no matter where the location.
--- Quote ---I do however think that when Jack talked to his parents of this new man, the ranch neighbor he was going to bring up to the ranch, - he *was* talking of Randall and not some other person. (For one thing, the shooting script included a scene where Randall lets Jack out of his car and they are observed by some grumpy guys who don't seem to appreciate two men behaving in that particular way. This must have been filmed since those guys appear in the BBM trailer and in all probability are the ones who kill Jack in the telephone conversation "flashback". Now why it was cut in the final film - I'd say it has more to do with film pacing and Ang Lee's love of ambiguity, wanting to make the cause of Jack's death ambiguous - than any wish to indicate Jack was involved with someone else than Randall).
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OT: I always wondered how those guys would have fit in. (That’s why we need a special edition. There are a few scenes on the trailer that don’t show up in the film). BTW … where were you able to find the shooting script? I think it would be interesting to review.
--- Quote ---So. Jack was talking of Randall to his parents. And in all likelihood he came directly from his last meeting with Ennis when he did that (He was going up to see his folks then for a day or two; and I don't think he went up to his folks many times if at all without having a meet-up with Ennis at the same time). I think he mentioned Randall not because he necessarily believed in it, nor because he and Randall had made any sort of final decision about it - but because he needed to officially start "quitting" Ennis as soon as possible, while his decision held firm. To make it as much of a road of no return for himself as possible. And where better to do that than the place where he had indulged in speaking his daydreams of ranching up with Ennis out loud? Once he'd said that it was over out loud too, it would be so much more real. And no better way to say it is over than to introduce the new guy at the same time. Makes it sound that much more final.
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This is where I most strongly disagree. Jack was going to go to see his parents for a day or two before they had their row. My feeling has always been that Jack went to his parents’ because the shirts were there. That gave him the chance to be close to a part of Ennis, when he could not be with him physically (harkening back to when Jack tells Ennis that he misses him so much …. ). He was, more than likely, having an affair with Randall for awhile. IMO, Jack was seeing Randall solely out of frustration and need. I don’t see that Jack really cared that much for Randall. I know that is a controversial opinion. However, I think Jack saw Randall as a way to meet his sexual needs, not much more. (i.e. “I can’t make it on a couple of high altitude f--ks once or twice a year.”)
Jack did need the companionship of a man vs. a woman. Obviously, he could not communicate with Lureen and their sex life was high and dry. Randall could give that to him as well. However, I believe that Jack would have continued the “fishing trips” with Ennis. I am hearing people say (in this thread) that Jack wouldn’t do that to Randall or Ennis. But wasn’t that what he was already doing? Randall certainly didn’t know about Ennis and Ennis did not know about Randall. Ennis instinctually knew that Jack was hiding something from him … “What I don’t know …. All them things that I don’t know …could get you killed if I come to know them.” At that moment, Ennis was hurt and felt betrayed. However, he was unable to release Jack, as Jack was unable to release Ennis.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: dly64 on July 14, 2006, 01:49:44 pm ---I know I get a lot of grief for referring to the short story and screenplay since the film stands on its own … which is true. However, the screenplay offers some background and motivation that can not be explicitly expressed on the screen. The above quote, IMO, is one of those instances. As is the following …
“…they hug one another, a fierce, desperate embrace – managing to torque things almost to where they had been, for what they’ve just said is no news: as always, nothing ended, nothing begun, nothing resolved.”
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You are realizing, of course, that those lines in the screenplay come almost verbatim from Annie Proulx?
--- Quote ---BTW … where were you able to find the shooting script? I think it would be interesting to review.
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OMG, I would KILL for a copy of the shooting script! Ooops, sorry folks. ... ::) :laugh:
--- Quote ---My feeling has always been that Jack went to his parents’ because the shirts were there.
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With that point have to respectfully disagree, as it seems to me a bit of an overstatement. Actually, I think Jack made all those trips to Lightning Flat over the years because, regardless of his poor relationship with his father, I think he felt an admirable sense of responsibility to his parents. I never bring the texts with me to work, but I remember, in the story anyway, how Annie Proulx has Jack's mother make such a point of telling Ennis that Jack came back every summer to help out on the ranch, mowing (hay, for winter feed), and mending gates, and so forth.
I guess it's a measure of how far I've fallen from the true faith, but I've even begun to wonder whether it's possible Jack had forgotten that those shirts were stuck in the back of that closet. ...
Just wonderin' if it's possible. ... :-\
David:
It does seem doubtful that Randall would have gone up to Lightning Flat to live with Jack. Yet, if I had to listen to LaShawn cackle like that 24/7, I'd run away far and fast! LOL.
The only things we know 100% is that Jack met Randall in 1978 and he mentions Randall to his Dad 5 years later as someone he wants to move up to Lightning Flat with. So what does that imply? That Jack eventually did cave in to Randalls propositions. That perhaps Jack and Randall were both fed up with their wives?
But as his Dad said, Jack was all talk, no action. I'm guessing Jack went back to Texas, got horny and made a move on the wrong guy. A guy with friends and a tire iron. Perhaps he did say something to Randall? Maybe Randall said "No"? Thats when Jack took off looking for someone to get laid with.(just like when Ennis shot him down and he went to Mexico) We'll never know. Only Anne Proulx knows and she's not talking. :-\
Mikaela:
--- Quote ---I guess it's a measure of how far I've fallen from the true faith, but I've even begun to wonder whether it's possible Jack had forgotten that those shirts were stuck in the back of that closet. ...
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:o :o :o
Well, that would be the ultimate tragic irony!
I guess anything's possible, but..... No. No, I can't believe that. I've imagined Jack so many times, bringing those shirts out of the hidey-hole and caressing them, smelling Ennis's, holding on to them reverently just as Ennis does later on. As long as those shirts were hidden in the back of his closet, it proved Jack still loved Ennis. As long as Jack loved Ennis, he'd hold on to the shirts and keep them safe. Even if he "quit" Ennis, as discussed in this thread; - stopped seeing him, set Ennis free - he'd still safeguard the shirts for remembrance, because he still loved. I'm a romantic in this regard - I *cannot* believe anything else.
There are other things I'd like to comment on/reply to, but no time right now. Back later. :)
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: Mikaela on July 14, 2006, 02:41:43 pm ---I guess it's a measure of how far I've fallen from the true faith, but I've even begun to wonder whether it's possible Jack had forgotten that those shirts were stuck in the back of that closet. ...:o :o :o
Well, that would be the ultimate tragic irony!
I guess anything's possible, but..... No. No, I can't believe that. I've imagined Jack so many times, bringing those shirts out of the hidey-hole and caressing them, smelling Ennis's, holding on to them reverently just as Ennis does later on. As long as those shirts were hidden in the back of his closet, it proved Jack still loved Ennis. As long as Jack loved Ennis, he'd hold on to the shirts and keep them safe. Even if he "quit" Ennis, as discussed in this thread; - stopped seeing him, set Ennis free - he'd still safeguard the shirts for remembrance, because he still loved. I'm a romantic in this regard - I *cannot* believe anything else.
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It is a bit of a stretch. That's a fairly open closet, and presumably Jack is in and out of it on his visits home, using some of the few pieces of clothing that are in the closet while he's visiting his folks and doing ranch work.
I guess what is provoking in me the idea that he might have forgotten about the shirts is the thought that if Jack had truly--truly--decided to "quit" Ennis, and if those shirts were still prominent in his consciousness, it would have been logical for him to get rid of them on his final trip to Lightning Flat. This is suggesting to me the possiblity that at some time in that nearly 20 years, he stopped taking out those shirts out of the closet and "holding on to them reverently" on this trips home and eventually just plain forgot about them. :-\
All we really know is that in the end, the shirts were still there.
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