Holly + Clay's marriage
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Madame X
Babo2 — 17 years ago(October 15, 2008 05:10 PM)
In the first third of the film, Clay comes back from a long trip, and Holly has returned from a date with Phil Benton; the husband and wife meet in their bedroom. During their awkward exchange, she appears ready to confess her affair to him. Haltingly, she says Clay, while you were away
Clay interrupts her by saying, Darling lets not look back. Lets take it from here, huh?
This struck me as a very odd moment in the film (and in any marriage). It appears as if he knows what she is going to say. Why does he cut her off? Would any man be that eager to deny or overlook his wifes infidelity (unless he, himself was having an affair)? I dont think so. The narrative of the film does not suggest in any way that Clay has ever looked at another woman; he has merely been obsessed with his career.
Clays mother seems far more interested in Hollys (in)fidelity than Clay. Did anyone else think Clay's denial was strange or otherwise disingenuous? -
soapsudser — 17 years ago(February 24, 2009 04:30 PM)
yes i thought it was strange the way Clay cut her off.and then after thinking about it i realized that he forgave her ahead of time. my impression was that being so obsessed with his political career, Clay knew that he was ignoring Holly's emotional needs. at that very instant he wanted to create a fresh start and resume their marriage with a clean slateit was obvious he loved Holly very much. if only his mother was not there watching Holly's every move, his mother was only too anxious to interfere with their happiness ."if only" is the key phrase. remember when Holly told her adult son.when you get married "live alone" with your wifeimplying of course without a prying mother-in-law