Why run?
Because Bill was a hothead who ran first and thought later.
In the previous event -after the death in the mill in Chicago- Bill's habit of running seemed to have worked, keeping him out of jail and moving him to a nice place. So his habit had been reinforced. Abby was obviously conflicted about what to do, and likely would have stayed if it had just been her own decision. But Bill was so adamant about running, and so clear about wanting her to come along, that she followed his lead.
Does anyone think they stood a better chance by staying?
That's a toughie. In an urban area in this country in 2014 they likely would have been judged innocent. But justice was different in the Texas Panhandle in the early twentieth century. Today's standards don't predict very well what might have happened back then.
Back then and there, justice had more to do with how well one got along with the neighbors than it did with what a judge could be convinced of. Bill and Abby were strangers "from away" with no connections at all with anyone in the area. Given his decency, the farmer was probably regarded fondly by his neighbors. The foreman thought Bill and Abby were "a couple of con artists" (and Bill knew firsthand of his opinion), and since he had apparently lived in the area quite a while, the foreman most likely knew a lot of people there.
Also, Abby "felt" guilty (although virtually noone else knew why). It's quite a bit harder to make a good defensive case if you don't quite believe it yourself.
reply
share
matrixflower
10 years ago
A well considered response! Everything you say explains the situations with clarity and in completeness. I suspected it, but needed confirmation in another's words to confirm my vague assessment of matters.
Bill knew himself that he should leave immediately 'before anything bad happens' .... when he returned to find the farmer still in reasonable health. He had played his cards, taking the risk with Abby's feelings ..... her being the pawn in his game of chance. Which is understandable in such gruelling impoverished demeaning times of savage depression.
But he also held the responsibility of his sister as well as Abby's well being in how he behaved and should have let sleeping dogs lie, letting the farmer's health card play itself out, no matter how long that took. He already knew of the farmer's misgivings about him, the reason he first left, and knowing his return was akin to waving a red flag in the farmer's face. He knew the farmer was no fool and not to be messed with.
Bill had snookered himself with his own play of dirty pool coming around to bite him - having realised the depth of his feelings for Abby. His lack of discipline caused the 3 of them to be catapulted into a perilous and potentially miserable future for each of them.
What good is the perfectly formed and executed plan if one can't keep their head, with determined strength and endurance, when it is required. Something I would say most of we mere humans would relate to in our own lives in hindsight - hence the movie's theme being a gem in it's 'moral of the tale'.
'Oh what a web we weave....'.
Thanks for your 'excellent' response Chuck.....Cheers :)
~~~~m.f.~~~~
reply
share