Paris, Texas, 1984
The movie opens with a disheveled man, Travis, emerging out of the desert in Texas, walking into a medical clinic where he collapses. The man’s brother, Walt, and his wife, Anne are located in Los Angeles. They have been fostering Travis’ 7 year old son, Hunter, since Travis and his wife, Jane, each disappeared. Jane brought the boy to Walt and Anne to offer him a more normal life with normal parents.
The scene I chose to review is the second to last scene in the movie (see clip below.) Travis explains the reason behind all the pain and angst of the story. This film is about a family destroyed by alcoholism and domestic abuse through obsession and jealousy.
Moving forward to the scene: Travis finds Jane working in a themed room peep-show. He visits her there and attempts to talk to her, but seeing her here is just too painful. He walks out, returning to his son waiting in the car.
The next day he is back requesting to see her. The camera takes a wide shot, of him walking down a dark corridor looking for the room. Other men stumbling out of other peep-shows they glance at each other and quickly divert their eyes.
The theme of the room is supposed to be a coffee shop, but resembles more of a homey kitchen. Analogous to the location of where their marriage ended, the kitchen of their trailer.
Travis and Jane communicate through a telephone from the client lounge to a speaker on her side of a two-way mirror. Camera takes point of view shot, as he breathes deeply, hands between his knees, head down, staring at the mirror waiting for her. He is prepared to face his demons, and own what he did to her, to them, and to their son; destroying the family.
The light clicks on and Jane bounces into the room, chipper and friendly. The lighting on her side of the room is bright and cheerful, matching her mood. He is on the other side in a darkened and shadowed room. The mood is somber. Foreboding of the dark narrative about to begin. Travis asks if he can tell a long story about a couple he knows. She consents.
Aware she cannot see him, he is unable to look at her while he owns his truth. Camera stays on Travis, he stands, turning his chair away from the mirror. Face now in complete shadow, his features are barely visible. The camera pulls in tighter. His voice is rhythmic and calm. There is silence in the background, no soundtrack here except the tinny background noise from the speaker as he talks into the phone.
Establishing shot pulling back to reveal both actors. She is listening intently. Her posture is upright and head is held high, the lighting on her face looks like sunshine, her face is beaming. The camera stays on her, his voice the only sound. As he continues Jane’s face begins to change, the smile is gone, her head is starting to droop. She is beginning to slump and shrink. As his words flow through of the speaker with the occasional crackle, the pain and angst shrouds her face. Her hair now casting a shadow over the once beaming countenance. The room lighting has dimmed, the camera backs out, both actors in the frame again. A single soft and sweet flamenco guitar begins playing.
Camera pans back to Jane for a closeup. Her eyes darting as feelings begin to resurface, she starts to rock , and realizes this is her story. The camera cuts back to the shadowed Travis, tears in his eyes, face full of emotion, but the voice remains neutral. Guitar continues as the story progresses. They both relive the horror of their last night together. The night he dragged her back to the trailer after a failed attempt to runaway. The camera pulls in for tight closeup as he continues to tell the story as if it is another couple. Explaining how the woman was chained to the stove, he fell asleep listening to the wailing of his wife and baby. Camera back on Jane as she slumps further, she is deep into her memories, tears streaming. He continues to tell how he was dreaming and when he awoke his bed was on fire. Camera is focused on Jane listening, she emits a small gasp as he tells how he ran through the fire, pain evident on her face.
He continues the story, camera on Jane as she wraps her arms around herself, tears wiped away, lips quivering. The guitar gets a little louder, camera stays on Jane, Travis’ voice continues. Turning her head toward the false window her face brightening, like the dawn starting a new day. She realizes it is Travis. Camera point of view shot of Jane’s reflection in the two-way mirror. She walks to the mirror, camera tracking shot, she is pressed against the glass, desperately trying to see him through the glass. Banging on the mirror trying to peel the wall away, frantic, camera pulling back for perspective shot to full view of mirror. He admits who he is. His voice is calming, the actors reverse the lighting, the cafe room is darkened and the lounge has the only light. A desk lamp shining on Travis’ face. She sees him and the scars from his ordeal. When he comes to the end of the story. He continues and tells her about Hudson, that he is waiting for her in the hotel room 1520.
Camera transitions to final scene.
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