Topic: "Tent don't look right"

[christie wood]

I've looked to see if there's been a thread already about this line, but can't see one.  I've been thinking about this line recently, and the whole scene in particular.  We know by now Ennis and Jack have gotten a little friendlier, a little more familiar with each other, and this helps Ennis feel easy in Jack's company.  We also know that Jack's usually the one to start up conversations, but this time Ennis takes the lead and starts talking about the tent not looking right. 

To me, this is just an excuse for Ennis to talk to Jack, because he wants to. He feels so comfortable being in Jack's company, that I think he surprises himself with how relaxed he is. 
And the lovely little harmonica joke is just too sweet for words.  You can see Jack laughing to himself underneath his hat, enjoying this new chatty Ennis.   

Any thoughts? 

[forbiddenlovers]

Hi Christie

I'm with you on this one. I think Ennis has finally opened up to Jack and is now comfortable starting up the conversation rather than being the one who is on the receiving end of it. He's almost looking for a reason to talk to Jack, because of the comfort level he's feeling with Jack now. I think it's so cute, the joke Ennis cracks about the harmonica too. I love that part.
One thing I have been wondering about. Why are they setting up a tent? Did they move from where they were staying? I was just curious about that.

Ann

[christie wood]

Hi Christie

I'm with you on this one. I think Ennis has finally opened up to Jack and is now comfortable starting up the conversation rather than being the one who is on the receiving end of it. He's almost looking for a reason to talk to Jack, because of the comfort level he's feeling with Jack now. I think it's so cute, the joke Ennis cracks about the harmonica too. I love that part.
One thing I have been wondering about. Why are they setting up a tent? Did they move from where they were staying? I was just curious about that.

Ann

Oh Ann thanks so much for joining me here, thought I'd be on my own! 

I echo everything you say.  He's just looking for a reason to talk to Jack, so right.  Doesn't matter what the subject was, it just happened to be about the tent at that point.

They were setting up tent because they had moved from one part of the mountain to another.  You remember just after the "I think my dad was right" line from Ennis, the next scene shows them moving to another camp, sees Jack pick up a huge piece of tree and Ennis walking along side him?   They obviously had to move the sheep further along, but I'm not quite sure why.  But that's how come they were setting up tent again.

[forbiddenlovers]

Oh yeah!! you're right. I didn't realize what they were doing in that scene, that they were moving. Ok, now it makes much more sense! Thank you!!

I think after time, they grew comfortable with each other, but Ennis always seemed to hold back. I think this scene is the first time we see Ennis giving it a try to start talking. It's so fun to hash out the complexity of these scenes sometimes.

Oh, I'm always trying to jump into posts, so as long as I'm here, you'll never be alone in a topic, LOL!!

[keren_b]

They were setting up tent because they had moved from one part of the mountain to another.  You remember just after the "I think my dad was right" line from Ennis, the next scene shows them moving to another camp, sees Jack pick up a huge piece of tree and Ennis walking along side him?   They obviously had to move the sheep further along, but I'm not quite sure why.  But that's how come they were setting up tent again.

As far as I remember, the story also said that they moved to another spot at a certain point, and then the ride to the sheep became longer. Also, that piece of wood  that Jack was carrying in the river, I think that was the one that later he was leaning against in the "tent don't look right" scene.

[tpe]

Yes, I think after the scene where they tell about their childhood and family experiences, you can see Ennis opening up unmistakeably.

The perfect example is after the scene under discussion.

After reconstituting the herd as best they could after the mix-up, Eniis tells Jack (who is playing the harmonica) that 'You'd run them off again if you don't quiet down.'  And then he smiles at Jack as Jack keeps on plauing.

They have been never been more comfortable with each other on BBM as on this scene.

[aimi15]

Hi, i pretty much agree with everything thats been said in this topic. Its such a sweet scene - the little joke about the harmonica, and Jack's laughter  :D Also think it's cute how Ennis is the one sorting out the tent while Jack relaxes. After all, its Jack who is going to be using the tent while Ennis keeps the sheep company  Is this another example of Ennis looking after his boy? 

[christie wood]

They were setting up tent because they had moved from one part of the mountain to another.  You remember just after the "I think my dad was right" line from Ennis, the next scene shows them moving to another camp, sees Jack pick up a huge piece of tree and Ennis walking along side him?   They obviously had to move the sheep further along, but I'm not quite sure why.  But that's how come they were setting up tent again.

As far as I remember, the story also said that they moved to another spot at a certain point, and then the ride to the sheep became longer. Also, that piece of wood  that Jack was carrying in the river, I think that was the one that later he was leaning against in the "tent don't look right" scene.

You're so right keren it is that very same piece of wood.  Very observant.   

[christie wood]

Hi, i pretty much agree with everything thats been said in this topic. Its such a sweet scene - the little joke about the harmonica, and Jack's laughter  :D Also think it's cute how Ennis is the one sorting out the tent while Jack relaxes. After all, its Jack who is going to be using the tent while Ennis keeps the sheep company  Is this another example of Ennis looking after his boy? 

Aimi!!!!!  My sweet BBM buddie!   :D

I too think it's so cute how Ennis is sorting out the tent that he won't be sleeping in.....that had occured to me on one of my many viewings, and I thought it was on a par with the beans scenarios.....Ennis is helping Jack out and not minding it one bit, it seems.  He's quite happy for Jack to be laying around playing his harmonica (DESPITE Ennis's harmonica jokes).....because after all, we did see Jack carry that huge piece of wood  he ends up leaning on while Ennis just walked alongside him, so Ennis probably thought it only fair he did his bit in the camp.

Don't you just love Jack's sweet laughter though?   

[filazahies]

Don't you just love Jack's sweet laughter though?   

Jack's laughter is always sweet!!

[Sunflower79]

I tend to agree...it was Ennis way of trying to open up a bit and talk with Jack..I am so glad there was some humor in this movie..with the harmonica, and Jack being silly about being a bull rider and jumping in the air..so cute hehe the humor defently was needed..

[shieldmaid]

Yes, I love this scene too--it seems like there are too few scenes where we see one of them smiling broadly, and this is one of them.  Also--the scene where they shoot the elk, the "my dad said all rodeo cowboys are dumba**es" scene, and of course the scene where Ennis sends up his little thanks to heaven that Jack didn't bring his harmonica.  That lovely, sweet smile--and Jack's harmonica so often brings it on.   

[CherryCake]

Hi, i pretty much agree with everything thats been said in this topic. Its such a sweet scene - the little joke about the harmonica, and Jack's laughter  :D Also think it's cute how Ennis is the one sorting out the tent while Jack relaxes. After all, its Jack who is going to be using the tent while Ennis keeps the sheep company  Is this another example of Ennis looking after his boy? 

Aimi!!!!!  My sweet BBM buddie!   :D

I too think it's so cute how Ennis is sorting out the tent that he won't be sleeping in.....that had occured to me on one of my many viewings, and I thought it was on a par with the beans scenarios.....Ennis is helping Jack out and not minding it one bit, it seems.  He's quite happy for Jack to be laying around playing his harmonica (DESPITE Ennis's harmonica jokes).....because after all, we did see Jack carry that huge piece of wood  he ends up leaning on while Ennis just walked alongside him, so Ennis probably thought it only fair he did his bit in the camp.

Don't you just love Jack's sweet laughter though?   

AAwww... THANKS Christie for bringing this line up.. It is nice... and yes..HOW SWEET of Ennis to be setting up JACK's tent... he wants to set it up just right for Jack   :D :D :D :D

[BBBOY]

Ennis obviously feels the need take care of people. Just look at his concern for his daughters. It seems to be the only way he can express his love for those around him. My Dad was like that. He couldn't touch hold or hug us so he worked his ass off providing for us. Like Ennis, he missed the whole point.

[Jennis]

I've looked to see if there's been a thread already about this line, but can't see one.  I've been thinking about this line recently, and the whole scene in particular.  We know by now Ennis and Jack have gotten a little friendlier, a little more familiar with each other, and this helps Ennis feel easy in Jack's company.  We also know that Jack's usually the one to start up conversations, but this time Ennis takes the lead and starts talking about the tent not looking right. 

To me, this is just an excuse for Ennis to talk to Jack, because he wants to. He feels so comfortable being in Jack's company, that I think he surprises himself with how relaxed he is. 
And the lovely little harmonica joke is just too sweet for words.  You can see Jack laughing to himself underneath his hat, enjoying this new chatty Ennis.   

Any thoughts? 

Yes! I think he wanted to start a conversation with Jack just to stop him playing the harmonica
He was obviously listening to it all out of tune and wanted Jack to talk and not play.But seriously,it's a sweet little scene as we have  Ennis the constant worrier and Jack not giving a toss about the lop sided tent and he just carries on regardless relaxing with his mishapen harmonica and the lovely chuckle at the comment from Ennis about it is wonderful.

Jennis.x

[TJ]

This scene takes place before their first night in the tent. The two of them have had lots of conversations before they moved to the location, especially after Ennis opened up to Jack after they had traded jobs at the first location.

I think that by this time, while they had not been sexually intimate yet, they had become intimate as best friends.

And, while the book never says at what time the dozy embrace which satisfied a sexless hunger took place, I just believe that had already happend before they spent the first night together in the tent.

[welshwitch]

It's the Martha/Mary thing from the New Testament, the one who runs round doing practical things and misses the message, as opposed to the one who sits and listens. Here Jack's the creative one, while Ennis re-directs his feelings into practical action. He does this throughout the film, and tries to substiute deeds for emotion - it's true that many people who have problems with expressing their emotions do the same.
The harmonica scenes, and the later one where Ennis says he's giving thanks for the peace and quiet because Jack forgot the harmonica are warm and intimate and completely asexual - these are two people who like each other, share jokes, have a history to which they can refer back... this ISN'T a one-shot thing, of course, it's far more.

[christie wood]

This scene takes place before their first night in the tent. The two of them have had lots of conversations before they moved to the location, especially after Ennis opened up to Jack after they had traded jobs at the first location.

I think that by this time, while they had not been sexually intimate yet, they had become intimate as best friends.

And, while the book never says at what time the dozy embrace which satisfied a sexless hunger took place, I just believe that had already happend before they spent the first night together in the tent.

While I agree with you about how intimate they had become by this stage in terms of their friendship, i do not agree with you about the dozy embrace taking place before FNIT.  There is no way on earth Ennis would have held Jack like that, been THAT intimate with him, talked soft and low, loving and tender to him, if some kind of sexual intimacy had not taken place already.  To me, what Annie Proulx meant by the hug satisfying a sexless hunger was that, at this point in time, they just wanted to be close to each other, not rip each other's clothes off.  That dozy embrace was a lover's embrace.  An intimate coming together of two people who had shared something so deep, so meaningful, so precious that had ultimately led to love of the strongest kind.

[NoReins]

Yep, I'm with Christie on this one - the dozy embrace was definitely after not only the FNIT, but also after the second. There's no way Ennis would have held Jack like that before they got intimate, or even before that intimacy had become more than just sex.

[keren_b]

This scene takes place before their first night in the tent. The two of them have had lots of conversations before they moved to the location, especially after Ennis opened up to Jack after they had traded jobs at the first location.

I think that by this time, while they had not been sexually intimate yet, they had become intimate as best friends.

And, while the book never says at what time the dozy embrace which satisfied a sexless hunger took place, I just believe that had already happend before they spent the first night together in the tent.

While I agree with you about how intimate they had become by this stage in terms of their friendship, i do not agree with you about the dozy embrace taking place before FNIT.  There is no way on earth Ennis would have held Jack like that, been THAT intimate with him, talked soft and low, loving and tender to him, if some kind of sexual intimacy had not taken place already.  To me, what Annie Proulx meant by the hug satisfying a sexless hunger was that, at this point in time, they just wanted to be close to each other, not rip each other's clothes off.  That dozy embrace was a lover's embrace.  An intimate coming together of two people who had shared something so deep, so meaningful, so precious that had ultimately led to love of the strongest kind.

I agree with that Christie, and you've said it just beautifully.

[christie wood]

Yep, I'm with Christie on this one - the dozy embrace was definitely after not only the FNIT, but also after the second. There's no way Ennis would have held Jack like that before they got intimate, or even before that intimacy had become more than just sex.

I would love to know EXACTLY when this embrace took place, but I have to agree with you NoReins, it was most definitely after FNIT and SNIT.  Ennis was still uncomfortable around Jack after FNIT, denying his feelings, and so after the SNIT, Ennis knew how he felt about Jack, and could express himself a little better than before.  That's why this embrace must have been after their romantic encounter. 

It's so, so beautiful isn't it?   :'(

[Rønnaug]

.... We also know that Jack's usually the one to start up conversations, but this time Ennis takes the lead and starts talking about the tent not looking right. 

To me, this is just an excuse for Ennis to talk to Jack, because he wants to. He feels so comfortable being in Jack's company, that I think he surprises himself with how relaxed he is. 


Any thoughts? 

I hadn't thought of this before but it makes perfect sense thnak you for pointing it out

[TJ]

This scene takes place before their first night in the tent. The two of them have had lots of conversations before they moved to the location, especially after Ennis opened up to Jack after they had traded jobs at the first location.

I think that by this time, while they had not been sexually intimate yet, they had become intimate as best friends.

And, while the book never says at what time the dozy embrace which satisfied a sexless hunger took place, I just believe that had already happend before they spent the first night together in the tent.

While I agree with you about how intimate they had become by this stage in terms of their friendship, i do not agree with you about the dozy embrace taking place before FNIT.  There is no way on earth Ennis would have held Jack like that, been THAT intimate with him, talked soft and low, loving and tender to him, if some kind of sexual intimacy had not taken place already.  To me, what Annie Proulx meant by the hug satisfying a sexless hunger was that, at this point in time, they just wanted to be close to each other, not rip each other's clothes off.  That dozy embrace was a lover's embrace.  An intimate coming together of two people who had shared something so deep, so meaningful, so precious that had ultimately led to love of the strongest kind.

Well, if you read into what I wrote that I meant the contact had to do with sex and you are disgreeing with what you thought I posted, you are mistaken.

In a way, the "dozy embrace" was like Ennis being a parent who cared for his/her son and hugged him from behind. And since what Ennis said to Jack before he rode off on his horse was what Ennis' mother had said to him, I just say that the hug was more like a "family of choice" hug.

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.
   Later, that dozy embrace solidified in his memory as the single moment of artless, charmed happiness in their separate and difficult lives. Nothing marred it, even the knowledge that Ennis would not then embrace him face to face because he did not want to see nor feel that it was Jack he held. And maybe, he thought, they'd never got much farther than that. Let be, let be.

[boslthrman]

The thing that sticks out in this scene for me is Gyllenhaal's sing-song delivery of his answer - "She got lucky" - and then his laugh to Ledger's crack about the harmonica. Both guys are great in this film, but Gyllenhaal is really underrated, IMHO. He delivers so much.

Interesting, in one of the DVD featurettes, you catch a glimpse of them working on a take of the scene and Gyllenhaal delivers a straight line reading.

[Rønnaug]

Interesting, in one of the DVD featurettes, you catch a glimpse of them working on a take of the scene and Gyllenhaal delivers a straight line reading.

I know I am OT but what does that mean?

and I agree with you, he is highly underrated

[christie wood]

The thing that sticks out in this scene for me is Gyllenhaal's sing-song delivery of his answer - "She got lucky" - and then his laugh to Ledger's crack about the harmonica. Both guys are great in this film, but Gyllenhaal is really underrated, IMHO. He delivers so much.

Interesting, in one of the DVD featurettes, you catch a glimpse of them working on a take of the scene and Gyllenhaal delivers a straight line reading.

I'm intrigued about this "straight line reading".  Do you mean he just said it in a normal voice, with no added emphasis or anything?  Is this on the making of documentary (LOGO special)?  I love the way he says "she got lucky" in the film, I actually described it to another BBM fan as saying it in a sing-song way.  It's got lots of inflection in it.  I love Jake in this scene, love the fact he's laughing to himself underneath his hat.  I often wonder if that was part of the scene, or just Jake laughing and Ang decided to keep it in?     Just a thought.

[keren_b]

I love Jake in this scene, love the fact he's laughing to himself underneath his hat.  I often wonder if that was part of the scene, or just Jake laughing and Ang decided to keep it in?     Just a thought.

I think that Jack's laugh was right in place, whether it was planned or not. By this point he had strong feelings for Ennis, was probably already in love with him, so he was really enjoying Ennis' comments and his humour. I reccon he was thrilled hearing Ennis making a joke, it didn't happen so often. it's a moment of closeness between them, joking like that. very sweet.

[Jennis]

I'm intrigued about this "straight line reading".  Do you mean he just said it in a normal voice, with no added emphasis or anything?  Is this on the making of documentary (LOGO special)?  I love the way he says "she got lucky" in the film, I actually described it to another BBM fan as saying it in a sing-song way.  It's got lots of inflection in it.  I love Jake in this scene, love the fact he's laughing to himself underneath his hat.  I often wonder if that was part of the scene, or just Jake laughing and Ang decided to keep it in?     Just a thought.

Funny that question came up as i actually mentioned it to you a little while back,about the way Jake says it in rehearsal.Do you remember Christie? You have the dvd now so you will know what i mean.
Hugs
Jennis.x

[christie wood]

I'm intrigued about this "straight line reading".  Do you mean he just said it in a normal voice, with no added emphasis or anything?  Is this on the making of documentary (LOGO special)?  I love the way he says "she got lucky" in the film, I actually described it to another BBM fan as saying it in a sing-song way.  It's got lots of inflection in it.  I love Jake in this scene, love the fact he's laughing to himself underneath his hat.  I often wonder if that was part of the scene, or just Jake laughing and Ang decided to keep it in?     Just a thought.

Funny that question came up as i actually mentioned it to you a little while back,about the way Jake says it in rehearsal.Do you remember Christie? You have the dvd now so you will know what i mean.
Hugs
Jennis.x

Jennis, I do remember that conversation, and it all fell into place after I posted my message!  It was just I was a little stumped by 'straight line reading' - but it is kind of obvious what it means when you think about it!  So am a little embarrased now.  :-[

[christie wood]

I love Jake in this scene, love the fact he's laughing to himself underneath his hat.  I often wonder if that was part of the scene, or just Jake laughing and Ang decided to keep it in?     Just a thought.

I think that Jack's laugh was right in place, whether it was planned or not. By this point he had strong feelings for Ennis, was probably already in love with him, so he was really enjoying Ennis' comments and his humour. I reccon he was thrilled hearing Ennis making a joke, it didn't happen so often. it's a moment of closeness between them, joking like that. very sweet.

Keren-b, you are SO right.  I loved your post so much, it explained a lot in a few words.  I hadn't thought about Jake just being glad to hear Ennis crack a joke, and at his expense too.  I mean, that kind of banter between them was kind of rare up until this point (apart from the "what?" scene of course), so Jack was probably just loving hearing Ennis be that relaxed around him to want to make jokes.