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Wasn't Therese a little too hard on Carol near the end?

posted 8 years ago by MyMovieTVRomance
8 replies | jump to latest

Near the end, if you remember – when she went to meet with her per the request of Carol's letter – she didn't even act pleased to see Carol. And when Carol said she loved her, she said nothing. And in Carol asked if she would like to live with her, she said no. It was almost like she was punishing Carol for something.

Now, you could say that she was bitter about the time they lost from Carol staying away, but she shouldn't have been better, because she knew Carol had a good reason. And Carol wrote out a beautiful letter for her, explaining everything. So, I don't get her bitterness. If it were me, I would've been completely thrilled to see her and I would've smiled from ear to ear the whole time. But not heard – in fact, it took her a minute to even decide to go back to Carol. I thought that was rather harsh and unnecessary. Hence, I didn't like the ending as much as most of you on this board. That's one of the reasons why, because I really didn't understand or like her attitude.

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!

[–] p7_man 8 years ago

Well, at least Therese at first was bit of 'stunned' for hearing for the first time Carol say she loves her.. and Therese also did not have any time to answer 'cos the guy shouting interrupted them. Dunno about excessive hardness, I think it was just the right way the way it was.. :-) Seen the movie now five times in couple weex time <3 <3 <3

[–] achun 8 years ago

I think Therese needed to prove to herself that she could say no to Carol. She didn't trust herself to be as open with Carol about her fondness and attraction.

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[–] ju_lia5 8 years ago

Have you ever had your heart broken? Trully broken?

Therese was with what-his-face when she met Carol. She liked him enough, but wasn't in love with him. For all we know, Carol is the first person (man or woman) she was in love with. And Carol left.

Good reason or not... she left. Watch the movie again and you'll see how hurt Therese is by that.

Therese grew up in the months she and Carol were apart. She got a new job, dressed better. And now suddenly the woman she loved contacts her again. Therese is curious enough and perhaps she interested enough in Carol to attend the meeting, but she has learned to guard her heart because she doesn't want to be hurt again.

I think that is why she says no to Carol. Perhaps in part to hurt Carol and in part because she doesn't trust Carol not to change her mind again and run off once more. The scene at the end is so powerful because it let's us believe that Therese changed her mind and gives Carol another chance.

[–] lglg-74253 8 years ago

The scene at the end is so powerful because it let's us believe that Therese changed her mind and gives Carol another chance.

The way in which the expression on Therese's face slowly changes from apprehension that Carol may not be there, to the softening look in her eyes and gradual smile when she finds Carol and gazes at her is magnificent. To me there was no question that Therese had a revelation and realized how much she wanted to be with Carol.

https://68.media.tumblr.com/498d42283c6760f82dce7dc6ba9ad6a1/tumblr_ohsn42J2xo1rjac1mo1_1280.png

[–] amccarthy-49848 8 years ago

Agreed..however she did say that she never said no to anyone...and felt it was all her fault that this happened to Carol in the first place. I think the film was trying to portray her growth and change. As sad as the outcome of that was between the two. :(

[–] mcavanaugh-47228 8 years ago

I don't think Therese was too hard on Carol. After all, Carol left her in a motel in the middle of God-knows-where. She (Carol) could have explained to Therese face-to-face why she had to leave, but instead she sneaked out and left a letter. Then she wouldn't even talk to Therese on the phone. I don't blame Therese at all for being wary, and I also think it was important for Therese to say "No" to Carol -- at least at first. If someone left me the way Carol left Therese, I'd be reluctant to immediately take them up on an offer to live together, too.

[–] lglg-74253 8 years ago

Carol left her in a motel in the middle of God-knows-where.

They returned to Chicago and spent their last night together in the Drake Hotel.

She (Carol) could have explained to Therese face-to-face why she had to leave, but instead she sneaked out and left a letter.

After they've left Waterloo and on the way back to Chicago, Carol has stopped to call Abby from a telephone booth. Therese puts Carol's gun inside a trash can. As Therese walks towards Carol she overhears what Carol is saying to Abby: "earliest flight into LaGuardia is tomorrow afternoon. Oh, Abby, I don't know how to fix this." Next scene is where Therese is smoking, starts to cry, and Carol pulls over and says to her "It's not your fault Therese." You cannot say that Therese didn't know Carol was planning to return home asap. When they are back in the Drake, Therese comes out of the bathroom and you hear Carol talking to Abby on the phone: "I'm shattered. Sickened. Talk tomorrow."

Therese knows there is a separation coming which is why she prepares to sleep in her own bed but Carol tells her: "you don't have to sleep over there." The lovemaking between them that night is tender, poignant and bittersweet because they both know Carol must leave.

Carol didn't abandon Therese in "a motel in the middle of God-knows-where". She arranged for Abby to fly to Chicago and take Therese home in Carol's car.

Then she wouldn't even talk to Therese on the phone.

Carol was spied on and tape recorded by Harge's detective. Her home phone could have also been tapped. If Carol talked to Therese and Harge obtained proof of their conversation he had another piece of damning evidence to use against her in court.

[–] mcavanaugh-47228 8 years ago

Therese knows there is a separation coming which is why she prepares to sleep in her own bed but Carol tells her: "you don't have to sleep over there." The lovemaking between them that night is tender, poignant and bittersweet because they both know Carol must leave.

Carol didn't abandon Therese in "a motel in the middle of God-knows-where". She arranged for Abby to fly to Chicago and take Therese home in Carol's car.

Thanks for the clarification. I wonder, though, if Therese really understood that Carol was leaving her because when she wakes up and finds Abby sitting in the chair, she seems genuinely surprised and asks, "Is she coming back?" Why would she ask if Carol was coming back if Carol had explained her intended actions to her? A good script wouldn't cause this kind of confusion.

Also, Therese preparing to sleep in her own bed doesn't necessarily suggest that she knows a separation is coming. To me it implied the uncertainty she feels about her relationship with Carol. Cate and Rooney are both wonderful, and I loved seeing them together, but I felt Phyllis Nagy's script could have used some work.