Ha! Jenny, you're right, I'm seeing it and I
am thrilled! I'll tell you why. I certainly don't blame any of you for being skeptical about the idea of hearing Jack say those words. Some of us have seen the movie in theatres with spectacular sound systems (i.e. Mill Valley and the Castro) and most of us never heard these words at all. It wasn't until Elle mentioned it to me that I decided to try my best to hear Jack's spoken words, the ones I've dubbed 'Jack's Sweet Plea' (in
my mind, anyway!).
I don't have headphones, so... I turned off everything in the room that could possibly be making noise,
even my computer (panic sets in) .... must have silence! Then I started the DVD at the point of beginning TS1. I actually placed my ear up to the speaker, listening carefully, until.... OH MY G-GOD!!!! He just said...
WHAT??!! I replayed it over and OVER and
over, each time reeling from the impact it was having on me. How could I have missed THAT? Well, the truth is,
anybody could miss 'that', because it
is said so quietly (and sweetly, IMO
) After my numerous times of confirming I heard what I heard (yes, with my ear pressed up to the speaker) I stepped back and watched the visuals that coincided with the two 'F*ck me's' that I heard Jack say, so that when I'm watching (hopefully in a theatre, sometime
soon,) I'll know when to listen for them.
The moment *I* heard Jack's pleas for the first time, it was late at night, and with this new 'discovery' (for me) my heart was racing, and I wanted to share it with
someone! I immediately turned my computer back on, and came to the Bean Site (well, who ELSE would care?!) and found Victoria and Roland in the chat room-- I couldn't contain myself, had to blurt out my 'news' to them, or anyone who would listen. Neither of them had heard it at that point, but promised to listen again-- I later received a PM from Victoria confirming she had, indeed heard it! As Jenny can tell you, when I brought up the subject at our dinner with Kirk recently, Julie outright scoffed at the idea, waving her hand in dismissal at my words. However, she was open-minded enough to listen to my 'story'. Possibly my reminder of her previous dismissal at the idea of 'The Hands' (as presented by me) was enough to at least bring her to saying she'd listen for the 'Pleas'. Lo, and
behold -- a PM later from Julie, telling me SHE heard it, though only once, not twice. she said she had been listening for the wrong thing,
Heard it...but only once. As with the "give' em hell," I was lizstening for the wrong thing---a loud, exclamation, involuntary. But it's quiet, clearly spoken
. She thanked me, and said she wasn't quite sure what to make of this idea, Jack using these words to Ennis.
For me, it just adds a whole new dimension to the scene. It may offer the suggestion that Jack was, indeed, more worldly than Ennis and that he has experienced this before (as we might suspect). It's the WAY he says it that makes the difference for me.... not something harsh or crude, but.... as I said... Jack's Sweet Plea(s). OH-H-H!!!! And
then... it sort of hit me-- was this
scripted?? No, we know it isn't in the screenplay.... but, did Mr. Lee or anyone else add it in? Now, here is where my imagination runs wild, friends.... when I wonder...
did those words just involuntarily come out of JAKE?! In the moment?! Okay, maybe not, but....
I get my own little thrill, first out of Jack saying this to Ennis, but secondly-- imagining Jake saying it to Heath! And, because it was said so quietly, he had to know that millions (?!) of people
would not hear it.... and yet, know that millions of people
could. Now,
that's what excites me.
For those of you willing to give it a try--- listen
just after Ennis 'enters' Jack, and you'll hear the first one... the second one comes just a few short beats later, just as we see Jack's head drop closer to the tent floor. It's just like what littleguitar said about the 'Give 'em hell' line-- once you've heard it.. it will always be there for you, enhancing your enjoyment of the scene. I have a feeling our beloved movie will be continuing to unfold and reveal itself, one sweet piece at a time, for years to come. I think of 'Brokeback Mountain' as being like the great love of our lives.... bowling us over with its initial emotional impact, capturing our hearts, but
maintaining its relationship with us by offering up revelations a little at a time that will hold our interest for years. Gotta keep those campfires burning!