Can anybody imagine how Ennis and John Twist could have co-existed on the same ranch?
Like several others I can see that, too. Co-existing. Ennis isn't confrontational unless provoked into rage and fear by remarks that he deems to touch upon his sexuality, - and he isn't assertive in my view. But he sure *does* know how to be stubborn: That *look* he gives Alma when she protests him dumping their daughters off at the store. The fact that he keeps up the "way the hell out in the back of nowhere" arrangement when Jack wants so much more for 16 long years. I can see Ennis living on that ranch and determinedly avoiding old man Twist for just as long, given that the old man doesn't provoke any confrontation on his part.
And Mr. Twist is just as stubborn. He's stubbornly mean and bitter, all set on not being the one who blinks first, all set on never seeing any silver lining. Even when looking only at what we get to know about him in the movie. He's apparently been consistently unrelenting in his refusal (for whatever reason) to support and behave with any degree of human decency towards his own son, even when that son was just a teenager.
I think his coffee cup in the one scene where we get to meet him in the film says it all. He spits into the cup in contempt while talking to Ennis. Then he holds on to the thing all the time Ennis is upstairs. He doesn't push it away, doesn't hand it to his wife to put it in the sink..... he holds on to it. It's as if he wants to remain armed and waits to see if Ennis will do or say anything when he comes back down that requires him to demonstrate his contempt once more. So yes, I can see old man Twist living on a ranch with Ennis, never backing down from showing some sort of disdain should Ennis come directly in his way, never showing recognition for the work done, armed and ready for a confrontation, but not going out of his way to take any notice of Ennis or make trouble as long as Ennis kept himself at arm's length. A ceasefire, just like Pehthesilea says.
But what a strain on Jack and his mother, living inbetween!
I think it's interesting that Jack kept mentioning bringing Ennis to Lightning Flat.
I've always thought that to be very sad. I've pictured Jack bursting and overflowing with emotions and the need to talk about Ennis and his hopes for a common future, to say Ennis's name out loud to somebody, *anybody*..... And he always had to keep silent and keep it all under wraps. But his parent's was the one place for him to let out a little steam, to not tell it all but at least to say *something*, and what a tragedy that he had noone else than his horrible father for that! (I've imagined Jack's mother and father both reading much more in his face and his tone than what he actually ever said in words, too; - hence their seemingly knowing reaction to Ennis when they finally meet him - the father so contemptful, the mother so full of understanding and affection.) Over the years, I've imagined it became a habit of Jack's to repeat himself on the subject. As his hopes died, perhaps it slowly became a kind of empty mantra that he still couldn't help repeating - not even when he was seriously considering leaving Ennis and forming a closer connection to Randall. Because I can see Ennis living on that ranch, but I just can't see Randall ever doing it, nor can I really see Jack being truly serious about moving up there with him. Granted we know next to nothing about him, but he just doesn't seem all that
used to hard work and privation, brought up too the stoic life.
