by - bjblakeslee (Thu Apr 27 2006 13:53:59 )
"Strangers on a Trail"
PLOT SYNOPSIS:
New to the mountain, Jack and Ennis meet on the back trails of Brokeback Mountain and the attraction is utterly electric. Ennis complains of being "caught in his own loop" and Jack misunderstands and jokes that he' do anything to make Ennis happy. Around a campfire, Jack and Ennis pass a bottle and the discussion take a decidely dark turn when Ennis wishes he never had married. Jack suggests they swap jobs, exchange murders, criss-cross. Snow comes early and the two lovers go their separate ways - Ennis having forgotten what Jack so clearly remembers...
Ennis returns home to his wife, but she is suspicious about why he was gone fishing for two whole months and never opened his creel. Ennis leaves to buy a pack of smokes and to give himself the opportunty to get his story straight.
Jack stalks Alma and strangles her, her hands dislodging Jack's Ray-ban sunglasses which fall to the ground. Alma's last moments are double reflected in the lenses.
Ennis is horrified to learn what has happened to Alma, and even more horrified to discover he is the prime suspect.
Jack sends a postcard to Ennis saying, "Wish you were here, Jack and LUREEN. CHILDRESS, TEXAS." The huge sadness of the northern plains rolls down on Ennis as realizes his unwitting complicity in this symbolic transfer of guilt. Clearly Jack has unmet expectations and his homocidal thirst will not be slaked until Ennis lives up to his part of the bargain...
Finally, the police chief produces the Ray-bans and confronts Ennis about their ownership.
Fighting back tears, Ennis confesses: "But they're Jack's, I swear...."