Author Topic: TOTW 06/09: What would you say to Ennis? (Read 30969 times)

LauraGigs · « **on:** August 11, 2009, 01:26:42 am »

Brokeback Mountain can be said to chronicle the life of Ennis del Mar — his thoughts, tastes, flaws, triumphs and mistakes. His journey. Most all the plot revolves around his actions, good or bad. If you got a chance to speak with him, what would you say? (Or would you just shoot the sh*t?)

You can choose any age: young Ennis, old Ennis, or any point in between.

David In Indy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2009, 04:18:24 am »

Wow! Look at him sitting there staring at me like that! Now I feel all shy....

**blush**

What would I say to Ennis? I'd say, "Even though Jack is now gone, I hope you can find happiness in your life, sweet baby. And if you ever need someone to talk to, or a shoulder to lean on here's my phone number".

I've always hoped Ennis somehow found happiness. I doubt he did. I've always hoped he found a few like-minded people to lean on when the going got rough.

Katie77 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2009, 04:58:23 am »

This is what I would say to Ennis, just before he said good-bye to Jack after their time on Brokeback.

"Dont say good-bye to Jack. Get your arse in that old truck of his, and forget about getting maried to Alma, and spend the rest of your life being happy setting up a small cow n calf operation with Jack"

Monika · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2009, 05:09:57 am »

My very first reaction would be to say "What the f**k were you thinking, Ennis?"

But before it went that far, my braind would probably kick in, and I iwould instead say "society is wrong, Ennis. I know it´s hard, but you have to do what YOU want. Screw society. You only got one life. Go and be with Jack."

Brokeback_Dev · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2009, 08:02:08 am »

I would definitely tell him to not to let Jack go when they come down from Brokeback mountain. You cant help who you love, stop being so stubborn.

gwyllion · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2009, 08:11:21 am »

When Jack says, "Tell you what... sometimes... I miss you so much I can hardly stand it," I'd smack Ennis on the head and say "Smarten up, and say something, ya dumbass!"

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2009, 09:19:36 am »

I would say, "Your father's a jerk, pay no attention to him." Maybe it would make him realize what he already knew inside.

louisev · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2009, 10:10:28 am »

Quote from: David In Indy on August 11, 2009, 04:18:24 am

Wow! Look at him sitting there staring at me like that! Now I feel all shy....

**blush**

What would I say to Ennis? I'd say, "Even though Jack is now gone, I hope you can find happiness in your life, sweet baby. And if you ever need someone to talk to, or a shoulder to lean on here's my phone number".

I've always hoped Ennis somehow found happiness. I doubt he did. I've always hoped he found a few like-minded people to lean on when the going got rough.

And send him chocolates every Valentine's day until he figures it out...! heh heh.

southendmd · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2009, 12:29:48 pm »

.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY[/youtube]

milomorris · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2009, 02:34:22 pm »

Ennis' problems, IMO, are that:

1. He's afraid of getting killed for being homosexual
2. He's a poor communicator
3. He's not a good problem-solver

1963!Ennis:

First I would tell him that being a sexual minority is not a death sentence. And I would point out that David and I have been together all this time and never had anyone threaten us. Then, I would tell him how to break the news to Alma. After that, I would tell him to tell Jack that he loves him, and ask if he could move up with LF to work on the Twist ranch.

1970s!Ennis:

"Give Jack the keys to your shack, drop the girls off with Alma, and then come back and talk to Jack."

AfterJack!Ennis:

What David said...minus the "sweet baby" stuff.

Mikaela · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2009, 03:25:04 pm »

"I love you and I wish you every possible happiness."

Well, that *is* what I most of all want to say.

And if that didn't send him running terrified for the hills, I'd continue:

"I love you, I love Jack, I love the both of you immensely. You belong together. You have a lot of support as a couple. Forget about the past and grab on to the present with everything you've got!"

LauraGigs · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2009, 04:40:24 pm »

Quote from: milomorris on August 11, 2009, 02:34:22 pm

First I would tell him that being a sexual minority is not a death sentence...

Hmm. Thing is, "sexual minority" is a pretty contemporary term...

"Condiments aisle"
"The whuh?"
"Uh, ketchup"

"Sexual minority"
"The whuh?"
"Uh, queer"

Monika · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2009, 04:44:52 pm »

Quote from: Mikaela on August 11, 2009, 03:25:04 pm

"I love you, I love Jack, I love the both of you immensely. You belong together. You have a lot of support as a couple. Forget about the past and grab on to the present with everything you've got!"

very moving.

It was interesting to read this, since today during my lunchbreak I made doodles on a paper and all of a sudden I was writing a letter to Ennis and Jack. It started with "I love you both"

Mikaela · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2009, 04:54:17 pm »

Quote from: Buffymon on August 11, 2009, 04:44:52 pm

very moving.

It was interesting to read this, since today during my lunchbreak I made doodles on a paper and all of a sudden I was writing a letter to Ennis and Jack. It started with "I love you both"

Marina · « **Reply #14 on:** August 11, 2009, 06:29:30 pm »

What a great question! I have thought about this a lot. I'd invite Ennis out for a beer, and we'd reminisce and talk about Jack, and I'd tell Ennis how much Jack loved him, and that I'm sure Jack must have known that Ennis loved him too. Also I'd tell him to not be afraid of taking chances in life, and to be happy. And if he ever needs someone to talk to or listen, he could give me a call anytime!

optom3 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2009, 08:03:33 pm »

I would tell Ennis at the time of the reunion, to grab with open arms and hands, the key which will make all his todays his tomorrows. I would explain when he gave me the whuh ! expression, that no one can make their partner happy if they are so unhappy themselves. I would ask him to relive the kiss and the pure joy he felt at that time,then tell him it could be like that always.

Shakesthecoffecan · « **Reply #16 on:** August 11, 2009, 11:21:47 pm »

I am going to give this some thought and come back. I think I have this gut feeling of what I would say, but putting it into a reality, that would require some thought.

Lumière · « **Reply #17 on:** August 12, 2009, 03:08:26 pm »

Ennis,

Deep down you know that this thing between you two is no little, trivial passing thing. You know it.

You will not have him forever. Seriously. You won't. One day you'll wake up and find that he is no longer around.
Tell him how you really feel about him. I know it is difficult to say the words, but try. Write a letter if you have to.
And if you can't do that - write him a note, with only a few words and stick it in his bag the next time you go camping together.
Do whatever you have to do. Just be sure to tell him how you feel.
Trust me, he wants to know.

Sophia · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2009, 01:30:19 pm »

I would probably say something like umhniumhn with a lot of mumble and then some more umhniumhn with a big smile

hopefully he would answer me with a umhniumhn sound, and we would understand.

Brown Eyes · « **Reply #19 on:** August 14, 2009, 03:44:16 pm »

What a wonderful thread (and question for the thread)!

I'm sitting here at work, thoroughly enjoying all these responses. I'll have to ponder some more before I submit a real answer to this question. But, for now I wanted to say that this thread reminds me of how much I love the Brokie community.

miha · « **Reply #20 on:** August 14, 2009, 11:14:22 pm »

Both of you are always with me.

SFEnnisSF · « **Reply #21 on:** August 15, 2009, 01:04:43 am »

Ennis,

I understand the hurt and fear and anger you feel. I feel these same things too. You are not alone friend.

Eric

miniangel · « **Reply #22 on:** August 18, 2009, 04:10:28 am »

I'd say, "Ennis, I've got a short story I'd like you to read. Here, I bought you some cheap glasses so you've got no excuse. Now put down that damn saddle catalogue and get stuck into this."

Marge_Innavera · « **Reply #23 on:** August 20, 2009, 01:18:30 pm »

I'd say "tell Jack that the next time he goes up to Lightning Flat, you want to go with him. You can sleep in the truck or pitch a tent in the barn, but keep an open mind."

Jeff Wrangler · « **Reply #24 on:** August 20, 2009, 02:29:23 pm »

Quote from: southendmd on August 11, 2009, 12:29:48 pm

.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY[/youtube]

Just noticed this thread, and that's exactly what I was thinking!

Front-Ranger · « **Reply #25 on:** August 20, 2009, 02:46:01 pm »

Quote from: atz75 on August 14, 2009, 03:44:16 pm

What a wonderful thread (and question for the thread)! I'm sitting here at work, thoroughly enjoying all these responses. I'll have to ponder some more before I submit a real answer to this question. But, for now I wanted to say that this thread reminds me of how much I love the Brokie community.

We love you (broke)back, friend!

Brown Eyes · « **Reply #26 on:** August 20, 2009, 02:55:15 pm »

Thanks Lee.

I've been thinking a lot about this thread, and still don't have a great answer about what I'd say to Ennis. I don't think there's any one single thing I'd say to him... I might have a variety of different things to say to him at different ages or over the course of the narrative that we're familiar with.

Many of the suggestions already mentioned here in this thread would probably be close to the things I might say to him. I'd tell him that his father was wrong, to trust himself more, to listen to Jack more, to try to find ways to be happy before it's too late. I'd definitely tell him that society is wrong... I don't know. It's a very difficult question.

SFEnnisSF · « **Reply #27 on:** August 21, 2009, 02:17:51 am »

Quote from: southendmd on August 11, 2009, 12:29:48 pm

.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY[/youtube]

I keep wanting to say this to my closeted gay Republican police officer friend, who has really been struggling with his sexuality and coming out lately... He's even more stubborn than Ennis I think, and he's built that wall of denial and separation up so high I don't know if it can ever be torn down. It's been a roller coaster... He makes me so angry sometimes because all I want is happiness for him, and I know when he says he's "happy the way it is now", I know he's #1 very niave, and #2 lying.... Arrrgh.

Shakesthecoffecan · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:07:11 pm »

I would say to him: Ennis, your debts are paid. You owe no explaination to no one. You have loved and lost and what you do with the rest of your life if up to you. You will always carry Jack in your heart, build on that.

BBM_victim · « **Reply #29 on:** May 12, 2017, 01:09:49 am »

Friends, great thread!!

I don't know what i would say to Ennis - who am I anyway? A stranger nobody listens to. I WISHED Jack had told him that line from "Love that will never grow old":

...
Lean on me, let our hearts beat in time,
Feel strength from the hands that have held you so long.
...

This line always lets me cry because it's so true

Ennis, you will always have Jack - feel strength from that, you are not alone.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #30 on:** May 14, 2017, 09:39:34 pm »

I don't think there is anything that anyone could've said to Ennis. He was so wrapped up in his desire to pass as straight, a few words from a gay person wasn't going to do anything.

BBM_victim · « **Reply #31 on:** May 15, 2017, 10:31:02 pm »

Hey CellarDweller!

"..a few words from a gay person.." - do you mean Jack by that?
I wouldn't say that Jack was some random gay person for Ennis - i think you will agree. His words to Ennis would have a greater effect than anybody else' in the world. That's why i wished he would have told him something like that...

By the way, i had another thought on this. Some days ago i was reading some other terrible stuff - about serial killers, children killers, rapists. After some time i could not have it anymore and i returned back to this forum and BBM (ok, i never really left

) and it felt SO much like home! It felt like a SAFE place, filled with so much LOVE. And you know what, i had another idea of what to tell Ennis:

=========
Brutal murder of people who are in love with someone of the same sex is a terrible thing, no doubt about that. But the world is much bigger than Riverton, Wyoming / Texas or even the United States. The world is filled with horrible things you actually don't ever want to know. You have something very special with Jack, you are the "safe heaven" for each other. In this cruel, unsafe world keep your loved ones close to you as much as you can. Stick together, share moments, protect and nurture each other - you will never know what will happen tomorrow. Pull Jack close and don't ever let him out of your sight!
=========

This is not perfect. Accept it as it is.

CellarDweller · « **Reply #32 on:** May 17, 2017, 06:14:00 pm »

Quote from: BBM_victim on May 15, 2017, 10:31:02 pm

Hey CellarDweller!

"..a few words from a gay person.." - do you mean Jack by that?

The title of the thread is what would YOU say to Ennis. I was talking about myself. A few words from a gay person (me) to Ennis wouldn't change anything, he was too entrenched in preserving the image he was projecting.

I thought I was the only one who read about serial killers.

I have the Serial Killer Encyclopedia on my bookshelf.

Sason · « **Reply #33 on:** May 20, 2017, 04:26:25 pm »

Quote from: CellarDweller on May 17, 2017, 06:14:00 pm

I have the Serial Killer Encyclopedia on my bookshelf.

Why am I not surprised....?

CellarDweller · « **Reply #34 on:** May 20, 2017, 06:01:00 pm »

quityou · « **Reply #35 on:** October 15, 2018, 11:35:59 pm »

(when the girls go back to Alma after the weekend Ennis turns Jack away, post-divorce)

"You motherfucker, yer killin him, cain't you see?! Get yer ass in that truck and- christ, Ennis, does it look like i'm done talkin? Stop bein such a pussy and get in the goddamn truck."
.... ....
"Put yer seatbelt on."
...
"Alright. Now we're gonna go get Jack back afore you make an even bigger mess a things. Shut the fuck up and lemme drive - no, i'm not gettin out a the car, i know you; you'll turn around before yer even halfway there."
.... ....
"Yeah that's what a thought. Now you think on what you done ta that man and what yer gonna say ta him when we get down ta Childress."

News:

Author Topic: TOTW 06/09: What would you say to Ennis? (Read 30969 times)

Marge_Innavera