#*briefencounter

We've still got a few minutes.

"When [Lawrence of Arabia] was in production, screenwriter Michael Wilson was not paying much attention to Lawrence's sexuality. Wilson was more concerned with the theme of colonialism versus nationalism, and Lawrence's scholastic pursuits. This clearly displeased Lean, who wanted to paint more of a controversial character study, albeit on a large canvas, than Wilson had so far achieved. As far as one can judge from Wilson's notes, Lean had two overriding concerns - Lawrence's sexual make-up, and the scene that he would film in Petra. As far as the former is concerned, Wilson noted that Lean had, revealingly, compared the Lawrence-Ali relationship to Brief Encounter, his 1945 film about an unconsummated love affair starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson." - Brief Encounters: Lesbians and Gays in British Cinema 1930 – 1971 by Stephen Bourne

l imagined him getting out at Churley... giving up his ticket, walking back through the streets... letting himself in his house with his latchkey. His wife, Madeleine... would probably be in the hall to meet him. Or perhaps upstairs, not feeling very well. "Small, dark, and rather delicate." l wondered if he'd say, "l met such a nice woman at the Kardomah... We had lunch and went to the pictures." But suddenly l knew he wouldn't. l knew he wouldn't say a word. Then the first awful feeling of danger swept over me.

I felt the touch of his hand on my shoulder for a moment... and then he walked away. Away, out of my life forever.

I saw us traveling far away together. All the places I've always longed to go. I saw us leaning on the rail of a ship, looking at the sea and stars... standing on a tropical beach, in the moonlight, with the palm trees sighing above us. Then the palm trees changed into those pollarded willows by the canal, just before the level crossing. And all the silly dreams disappeared.