She was the most beautiful woman in hollywood and her personal life mirrored the characters she played for the most part. I am glad her character got the last say in....anyone else saddened by her personal life?
He can't "hang around." What's he going to do, sit around drinking with her father and watch while she attends his disabled body? If they could leave, they'd stand a chance, but, they can't. He'd be emasculated in that town. He's already been a nobody. The thought of returning there is repugnant, even imminent death can't move him to even consider it.
Listen closely to Jagger tell the tale at the end. It's all there. All of it.