Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum
Jack and Alma
Brown Eyes:
I'm feeling nostalgic tonight.
Bump.
:-*
Front-Ranger:
Yes, and that little wave she gives as they drive off leaving a cloud of dust... :'(
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: goadra on August 05, 2006, 05:15:18 pm ---It’s such a cold moment when Ennis walks in that morning. He looks at Alma with her tearstained face and says only, “Hey.” After being married so long, you’d think he’d notice when she’s had a sleepless night.
I can’t decide whether she says, “You know your friend could...” or “You know, your friend could...” Slightly different meaning. I think she offers because she’s supposed to...in a normal social situation. Since this obviously isn’t one, based on the kiss and spending the night out, she’s clinging to whatever shred of normalcy she can so that she doesn’t break down in front of him. I like watching the progression here of Alma chasing Ennis, asking about coffee (twice), then about the job (you’ve got responsibilities, Ennis), then finally simply looking. Nothing more to say. The wonder and hurt in her face as she sees them driving off--it’s difficult to be happy for Jack and Ennis while watching her cry.
--- End quote ---
I think much of Ennis's behavior in this scene the morning after the motel is meant to show us that Ennis can't really look Alma in the eye. Yeah, he glances at her when he first enters the apartment, but I don't think he really looks at her. And as he's running around packing he seems to deliberately avoid eye contact. It's only after Alma Jr. enters the scene and he kisses her that Ennis settles down a tiny bit and kisses Alma good bye. The tension between his glee and probably post-coital giddiness and Alma's sadness is amazingly well played in the movie. I still think that the notion of Jack coming in for breakfast or coffee is sort of hilarious. I would actually love to see how that would possibly have played out. Yes, Alma might on the surface be trying to be polite, but I think she's really trying to test Ennis and Jack here. I don't know what she thinks she would gain though. Her voice when she says "you know your friend could come in and have a cup of coffee" sounds like a challenge or there's an edge of bitterness in her tone. Alma knows exactly what the boys have been up to that night... I sort of wonder if she wants to guage their behavior a bit more with her own eyes. Throughout this interaction it's always hard for me to remember that Ennis doesn't know that Alma saw the kiss. This seems crucial. But, I always sort of forget that part of the equation here. Poor Alma... looking out the window only to learn that the first thing Jack and Ennis are going to do is go have coffee and breakfast without her (she knows without a doubt now that they're avoiding her). And worst of all they're going to a restaurant. So, Jack is a "restaurant type" after all.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: goadra on August 05, 2006, 05:15:18 pm ---It’s such a cold moment when Ennis walks in that morning. He looks at Alma with her tearstained face and says only, “Hey.” After being married so long, you’d think he’d notice when she’s had a sleepless night.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: atz75 on August 05, 2006, 05:45:43 pm ---I think much of Ennis's behavior in this scene the morning after the motel is meant to show us that Ennis can't really look Alma in the eye.
--- End quote ---
To me, he mainly seems distracted and excited. Guilt is another good possibility. But the way I've always interpreted it is, he's so caught up in being with Jack that he can't be bothered to pay much attention to Alma.
--- Quote ---I can’t decide whether she says, “You know your friend could...” or “You know, your friend could...” Slightly different meaning. I think she offers because she’s supposed to...in a normal social situation.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: atz75 on August 05, 2006, 05:45:43 pm --- Yes, Alma might on the surface be trying to be polite, but I think she's really trying to test Ennis and Jack here. I don't know what she thinks she would gain though. Her voice when she says "you know your friend could come in and have a cup of coffee" sounds like a challenge or there's an edge of bitterness in her tone.
--- End quote ---
I think of the coffee offer as a desperate grab for normalcy, not so much out of her own duty to be polite, but because she hopes somehow that if Jack came in she'd find out her suspicions were wrong, or maybe she can keep an eye on the two of them, or at least she can delay Ennis' departure, or ... something. Anything to keep things from going in the direction they're going. It's the same when she asks about his job, frantically trying anything she can to stall or prevent him from leaving.
David:
OMG that scene is just chock full of awkward moments!
Jack meeting Alma is an anxious moment for him. Trust me! Ahem, there is nothing scarier than meeting face to face the spouse of the man your sleeping with! <blush>
As for Ennis when he returns after the Motel scene? Yikes! Ennis is obviously anxious to get in and out of the apt as quickly as possible. He is still on cloud nine with Jack there. You are correct that he can barely face Alma.
Her asking about Jack coming in for Coffee is very much a test. She wants to see if the guys can look her in the face. If Jack were to come in and the three of them sit around and chat comfortably, then she might think they were actually just out drinking the night before. But the fact Jack didn't want to come in and face her was a gesture that itself spoke a thousand words.
At this point remember, Jack still thinks there is a chance Ennis will Ranch up with him.
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