Last Scene w/ Ennis and Jack Together

[shonuff07]

.  But ultimately, as the final confrontation makes clear (in both the story and film), these men cannot move on from each other.  They're too deeply in love and have become too emotionally intertwined. 

       
                         Scott88,
I did take note of the fact that, even though Jack revealed the truth about him needing his desires met....and that Mexico was a real possibility for a man of Jack's needs.......as much as Ennis despised the thought of Jack with another man.........and as much...." Just let me be's " and " Get the F*** off me's " as Ennis could muster......
                     he still sent for Jack, postcard and all...........and though he was ready to.....I don't think Jack would have known how to quit Ennis either.

Shonuff

[Scott88]

I totally agree, Shonuff.

All of these were Jack's attempts to ease the pain and cope with the inadequacy of only seeing Ennis a couple weeks a year.  Just think about how *little* that is over 20 years.  Jack's anguish was totally understandable, especially given his fervent desire to be with Ennis.

Jack made it clear, time and time again, of how desperately he wanted to share a life with Ennis--and how far he'd go to make it happen.  Look at the earnest talk of getting a ranch, of suggesting Ennis move to Texas (to obviously be closer to Jack), to Jack's jumping in the car and driving hundreds of miles after hearing of the divorce and naively thinking Ennis would then commit to him.

Unlike Ennis, Jack was a dreamer, a lifelong idealist.  And that's why his growing melancholy and disillusionment was so poignant.  Jack recognized the lost potential that Ennis's fears had kept them from experiencing.  And it broke his heart.

[Dal]

[....] we see such disillusionment in Jack's expression when Ennis leaves during their final fishing [trip].  The gulf between what he had yearned for--and what had actually come to pass--was monumental.

That's a great look, isn't it!  The last we see of Jack, other than E's tire-iron visualization.  

That "look" follows the "dozy embrace" flashback; as Jack watch the horse trailer drive away, he is still feeling the glow, yet thinking how little they've moved in 20 years.  Jack has some driving to do, and (my guess) he replays the fight a few times, maybe a few dozen other highlights happy and sad, drinks some more.... 39 years old; a little mid-life re-eval of every little thing maybe, with Ennis in the foreground.  By the time he gets to Lightning Flat, he's starting to try on a new set of plans in his mind, or at least recast the old ones.

I would love to see the preliminary versions (all 60+!) of the short story!  Suppose she deleted them though..... sigh.

BTW <Spiritual> -- last track on the Pat Metheny/Charlie Haden record <Beyond the Missouri Sky>: Proulx was having trouble writing the "dozy embrace" FB, taking forever, and she was listening to this track over and over (per Herself, in <Story to Screen>).   Maybe everybody was familiar with the record already, I dunno;  I got it today.  It is an 8 minute slow waltz for steel guitar and acoustic band, simple cyclical harmonic structure, quiet, comforting.  It really is the mood of that little but important bit of story.  Highly recommended  listening for "dozy embrace" enthusiasts, excepting those who have just been thru a break-up or are already on Prozac.   And stay away from the absinthe!

"What Jack remembered and craved in a way he could neither help nor understand was the time that distant summer on Brokeback when Ennis had come up behind him and pulled him close, the silent embrace satisfying some shared and sexless hunger.

"They had stood that way for a long time in front of the fire, its burning tossing ruddy chunks of light, the shadow of their bodies a single column against the rock. The minutes ticked by from the round watch in Ennis's pocket, from the sticks in the fire settling into coals. Stars bit through the wavy heat layers above the fire. Ennis's breath came slow and quiet, he hummed, rocked a little in the sparklight and Jack leaned against the steady heartbeat, the vibrations of the humming like faint electricity and, standing, he fell into sleep that was not sleep but something else drowsy and tranced until Ennis, dredging up a rusty but still useable phrase from the childhood time before his mother died, said, "Time to hit the hay, cowboy. I got a go. Come on, you're sleepin on your feet like a horse," and gave Jack a shake, a push, and went off in the darkness. Jack heard his spurs tremble as he mounted, the words "see you tomorrow," and the horse's shuddering snort, grind of hoof on stone."

--- !!!!!  Why can't I write like that?  Damn!

Dal

[ImEnnisShesJack]

You know...this scene always gets me b'c even in their frustration and bitterness and unhappiness of that confrontation, Jack slides back to that dozy embrace, that moment of intimacy.

When Ennis learns of Jack's death and phones Lureen, he instantly flashes to Jack being beaten with a tire iron...

It's like Jack was only ever the dreamer and Ennis was only ever the nay-sayer.

[shonuff07]

Jack made it clear, time and time again, of how desperately he wanted to share a life with Ennis--and how far he'd go to make it happen.  Look at the earnest talk of getting a ranch, of suggesting Ennis move to Texas (to obviously be closer to Jack), to Jack's jumping in the car and driving hundreds of miles after hearing of the divorce and naively thinking Ennis would then commit to him.

                      Scott,
I just saw it again last night.......amazing film ( I have never, ever, ever done this going back thing , really ) .
                  When they are 1st about to depart and Ennis asks Jack what he's going to do next summer...Jack mentions going to help his family out and then say something like......." But, I may come back up here...in the summer........" The look on his face is so transparently suggestive........ " if you'll come" ..." I'll come" ....." you want to Ennis? "  " just think about it,  huh Ennis? "  Jack's already gone....the shirt was already stolen, and he's achin' so bad ...u see it in his eyes as he's watching in the rearview mirror....the way life is always appreciated...... If Ennis has got my heart, I will at least have his shirt......
          He keeps trying to suggest it...directly... " we could have a little cow & calf operation... it'd be a sweet life ".....  "  I heard about the divorce and well...here I am "   " Maybe you could move away from here...say Texas..? " ....He really is trying....so hungry for his company.

[Dal]

Did anyone feel that the one line from the book (from the first day of their last week together)
"Jack broke the seal on a bottle of whiskey, took a long hot swallow, exhaled forcefully, said, 'That's one of the two things I need right now,' capped and tossed it to Ennis." needed to be in the movie?

I don't think it was critical to the film, but I certainly would have liked to have heard it.  It's a great line.

 
Sure is!  And "Gun goin' off,", and "Friend of mine had his oil changed with a horn dipstick, and that's all she wrote."  Proulx really can write dialogue that's fun and that reads with a different voice for each character.   Jack is quite the talker.  A little more so in the story than in the flick, where his liveliness can be shown (e.g. capering like a rodeo CB, yelling when Ennis shoots the elk etc).  

Still, I think the film communicated that Jack's need for Ennis (even after 20 years) was as strong as ever with his line, "Truth is...sometimes I miss you so bad I can hardly stand it."  It's one of the most emotionally honest statements in the film, from any character.  And the way Jake's voice quivers when he says it...damn.

Jake's good.  I didn't expect him to be so good, but I was floored.  

Dal

[shonuff07]

The minutes ticked by from the round watch in Ennis's pocket, from the sticks in the fire settling into coals. Stars bit through the wavy heat layers above the fire. Ennis's breath came slow and quiet, he hummed, rocked a little in the sparklight and Jack leaned against the steady heartbeat, the vibrations of the humming like faint electricity and, standing, he fell into sleep that was not sleep but something else drowsy and tranced until Ennis, dredging up a rusty but still useable phrase from the childhood time before his mother died, said, "Time to hit the hay, cowboy. I got a go. Come on, you're sleepin on your feet like a horse," and gave Jack a shake, a push, and went off in the darkness. Jack heard his spurs tremble as he mounted, the words "see you tomorrow," and the horse's shuddering snort, grind of hoof on stone."

--- !!!!!  Why can't I write like that?  Damn!

Dal

                                 
                                   and once back from the flashback........

[....] we see such disillusionment in Jack's expression when Ennis leaves during their final fishing [trip].  The gulf between what he had yearned for--and what had actually come to pass--was monumental.


That's a great look, isn't it!  The last we see of Jack.
That "look" follows the "dozy embrace" flashback; as Jack watch the horse trailer drive away, he is still feeling the glow, against the rock.

                                   Dal, that 19 year old Jack watching adoringly as Ennis is riding off from the dozy embrace is so FULL!....my heart is so in my throat & Full and pulled by the way he watches him....it's so.......I can't find the words man........And then when It comes back to the present....it is so affectively sad...IT really translates........Hurts watching it.....Just kills seeing him have no control over what continues to leave him motionless.......Ennis.

[ImEnnisShesJack]

Still, I think the film communicated that Jack's need for Ennis (even after 20 years) was as strong as ever with his line, "Truth is...sometimes I miss you so bad I can hardly stand it."  It's one of the most emotionally honest statements in the film, from any character.  And the way Jake's voice quivers when he says it...damn.

Jake's good.  I didn't expect him to be so good, but I was floored.  

Dal

This has been discussed in other areas on this forum.  I still can't believe how subtle Jake's performance really is.  Everyone's gone ga-ga over Heath's work b'c it has the more obvious work.  Jake's is actually the more difficult of the two b'c he actually has to EMOTE.  I think it would be more difficult to push out all that emotion day after day - and it was done so well.  Showing that tenderness and vulnerability in nearly every scene would be very emotionally draining.  It would be very difficult to walk around in character w/ your heart on your sleeve like that.

[mary]

Did anyone feel that the one line from the book (from the first day of their last week together)
"Jack broke the seal on a bottle of whiskey, took a long hot swallow, exhaled forcefully, said, 'That's one of the two things I need right now,' capped and tossed it to Ennis." needed to be in the movie?

I don't think it was critical to the film, but I certainly would have liked to have heard it.  It's a great line.

 

Still, I think the film communicated that Jack's need for Ennis (even after 20 years) was as strong as ever with his line, "Truth is...sometimes I miss you so bad I can hardly stand it."  It's one of the most emotionally honest statements in the film, from any character.  And the way Jake's voice quivers when he says it...damn.

Jake's good.  I didn't expect him to be so good, but I was floored.  

Dal

That scene especially  - I can completely relate to that emotion - having to pause because you know if you don't you'll just blubber and not be able to talk.  And even so your voice (and lip) quiver when you can finally talk.

[Mr. Wrong]

Quote
Still, I think the film communicated that Jack's need for Ennis (even after 20 years) was as strong as ever with his line, "Truth is...sometimes I miss you so bad I can hardly stand it."  It's one of the most emotionally honest statements in the film, from any character.  And the way Jake's voice quivers when he says it...damn.


Bet he was thinking of his  break up with Kirstin Dunst when he said that line.  maybe that's why his voice quivered.

[Ranchgal]

I am wishing that Ennis would not have had quite so much dialog before he falls down, into Jack's arms.   I think it would have been even stronger than it was if that scene could have followed the book alittle closer--without him actually saying Why don't you then, and/or leave me be.

But it is minor in the overall power of it, and I can hardly wait till the dvd comes out and I can just watch it over and over and over and............

[David]

I am wishing that Ennis would not have had quite so much dialog before he falls down, into Jack's arms.   I think it would have been even stronger than it was if that scene could have followed the book alittle closer--without him actually saying Why don't you then, and/or leave me be.

But it is minor in the overall power of it, and I can hardly wait till the dvd comes out and I can just watch it over and over and over and............

Ranchgal, I kind of agree. However, lines like "I'm nothin'.....nowhere..." really show how deeply Ennis loves Jack and how overwhelmed he is by his feelings for Jack. I think Ang was wanting to show "internal dialogue" here that he has talked about in his interviews.

[pdxbennett]

Ennis's breath came slow and quiet, he hummed, rocked a little in the sparklight and Jack leaned against the steady heartbeat, the vibrations of the humming like faint electricity and, standing, he fell into sleep that was not sleep but something else drowsy and tranced until Ennis, dredging up a rusty but still useable phrase from the childhood time before his mother died, said, "Time to hit the hay, cowboy. I got a go. Come on, you're sleepin on your feet like a horse," and gave Jack a shake, a push, and went off in the darkness. Jack heard his spurs tremble as he mounted, the words "see you tomorrow," and the horse's shuddering snort, grind of hoof on stone."

HELL yeah,  that's it!!!!  That flash back was Jack was saying good bye to Ennis.  I feel like I have been hit by a bolt of lightning!  I had always flagged on the look in Jacks's eyes not seeing the big picture.  A Symbolic good bye.  I could sob like a fool!  Jack had finally reached his point of no return and Ennis had no frigging idea!!!!!

[Sarge]

Did anyone feel that the one line from the book (from the first day of their last week together)
"

Jack broke the seal on a bottle of whiskey, took a long hot swallow, exhaled forcefully, said, 'That's one of the two things I need right now,' capped and tossed it to Ennis." needed to be in the movie?

I don't think it was critical to the film, but I certainly would have liked to have heard it.  It's a great line.

 

I was almost certain that I DID hear it in the movie only it was Ennis who said "That's one a the two things I need right now." Just after Jack tossed him the whisky bottle.

[killersmom]

Did anyone feel that the one line from the book (from the first day of their last week together)
"

Jack broke the seal on a bottle of whiskey, took a long hot swallow, exhaled forcefully, said, 'That's one of the two things I need right now,' capped and tossed it to Ennis." needed to be in the movie?

I don't think it was critical to the film, but I certainly would have liked to have heard it.  It's a great line.

 

I was almost certain that I DID hear it in the movie only it was Ennis who said "That's one a the two things I need right now." Just after Jack tossed him the whisky bottle.

Well that just gives me ANOTHER reason to go back and see it again.....as if i needed one!