|
The
opening of the drive to the airport is a shot over the hood of Ballard's new
car. We have already seen this shot earlier in the film, immediately after
Ballard’s accident.
Ballard's slow
acceptance of not simply what had happened to him, but the new potentials it
offered, is illustrated by his revisiting the previous accident in unexpected
ways. As Remington notes, he has bought a car, but it's the same car as
before. One can suppose this wasn't due to the safety features, but rather was
based on residual memories of their potently accidental encounter.
The
conversation between the two characters is punctuated with Remington leading
Ballard. For example, he says:
"You haven't told me where we're going." To which she replies,
"I haven't?"
This question suggests that he ought to have known, that she's trying to wake
memories within him of events he hasn't yet lived. It's almost as though she's
chastising him for not remembering a pre-destined encounter at the airport
parking lot.
Ballard
constantly plays with the seatbelt across his shoulder. While it had kept him
alive, it is clear at this point that he's not grateful. Unlike before, he
seems to resent the safety it provides, that it might prevent him from
experiencing some unique event, limiting his possibilities, a cold fabric
prophylactic.
We see
Remington fasten her seatbelt almost as an after thought. She too seems
indifferent to the safety feature. Eventually Ballard pulls the belt aside.
They only
briefly allude to their accident, and then through the breaking of stereotypes.
Remington is dressed in a white coat, and Ballard muses that perhaps it's not
appropriate dress, and not likely to convince people she is in mourning (which
clearly she is not). Remington snaps back:
"I'll wear a
fucking kimono if I want," leaving us in no doubt over her feelings on the matter.
Still,
Remington does not have to wait long for Ballard's lust to take hold. At a
point in the road that looks suspiciously the same as where their accident had
taken place, they have another near miss. Remington grabs at the wheel and
eases the car into the kerb. Finally giving up all pretences, convinced that
this new experience would finally push Ballard over the edge, she immediately
says:
"We're close to the airport garage." All the while smoking on a pre-coital cigarette.
To this point
Remington has been patient with Ballard, more self-aware and ready to go to the
next level. Ballard on the other had appeared to be struggling with what he was
feeling, trying to understand it but hesitating. After this new incident
however, he no longer holds back. Instead, he drives to the airport garage
where the two of them commit a frenzied sex act. |