MovieChat Forums > 'night, Mother (1987) Discussion > Could Thelma have stopped Jessie?

Could Thelma have stopped Jessie?

posted 14 years ago by ntolabs
13 replies | jump to latest

Every time I watch this movie, which has been quite a few times, I've always wondered two things. One is that I always felt that maybe Jessie told Thelma she was going to kill herself in hopes that Thelma would say one thing that would give her a reason to live, that just maybe Thelma would think of something that she had never thought of before that would give her life purpose. Secondly I wondered why Thelma didn't do something more to try to stop her. Some of the ideas I had were things like Thelma faking a heart attack or tripping and falling and pretending to have a broken bone so that Jessie would have to call for help and then Thelma would have a chance to get Jessie some help. Another thought was Thelma sneaking up behind her and knocking her out so she could then call for help. I've also wondered what maybe Thelma could have told her that would have made her change her mind about the suicide. I was just curious if anyone had any other ideas of what Thelma might could have done that possibly would have saved her.

[–] horrorfanaticgirl 14 years ago

I think Thelma thought Jessie wasn't serious until the end when she got angry and started yelling at Jessie. Besides, didn't she try to stop Jessie by talking to her all night, trying to talk her out of it or get her mind off of doing it.

I don't think Jessie was hoping Thelma would talk her out of it, I think she wanted her mom to know what to do and wanted to be as less of a burden as possible to her mom.

The patient's screaming disturbing me, performed removal of vocal chords. ~Zombie Holocaust

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MissyWalsh 13 years ago

I don't know about that night - but I always wondered why Thelma was suprised this was coming - indeed later she said to Jessie "People are going to say this is just like you."

But it is stated Jessie never leaves the house, she leaves when visitors come over, she doesn't see people, there are loads of apparent causes for concern in her life.... why the shock? Why wouldn't someone have tried to help her before that night?

[–] abbysalley 13 years ago

What I got from it, was that Thelma may have said something that night that would have stopped her, but it would only be a "quick fix". Jessie was so determined, that eventually, she would have done it, no matter what.

Maybe, most people figured that even though she wasn't social or didn't leave the house, she was coping and did the best she could. She was active; she cared for her mother and their home. She had gone through a lot in her life, from her health, divorce, runaway child ... etc. Not all people that are closed-off are suicidal; just "different". I guess, it's easier to not see things, when you don't want to face them.

[–] mydadhasnohair 12 years ago

I don't know if they had those suicide hotlines back then but nowadays you call the police or one of those numbers and they come to take those people to get help and possibly institutionalize them to help them get better. I suppose she could have called the police

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

I was thinking the same thing, that she could had easily called 911, but then we wouldn't have the same plot

[–] brittnee_slaten 11 years ago

The problem with that, Is when Thelma actually mentioned calling someone to stop Jessie. Thelma was told by Jessie that she would just do it right away before the Police or her Brother could arrive.

[–] SimplemindedSociety 11 years ago

Well, the trick is that you don't tell the suicide you intend to call for help

Even so, she may have lied her way through the mental-hospital where she would have been brought, and done it when released.

[–] TeaBunny 10 years ago

Thelma could have locked Jessie's bedroom door and closed it so no one could get in the room. I mean, anything she did would only be temporary anyway.

------------------------
"Love means never having to say you're ugly." - the Abominable Dr. Phibes

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

I don't think Thelma could have stopped Jessie.

I give my respect to those who have earned it; to everyone else, I'm civil.

[–] Sevans2020-183-680687 9 years ago

The heart of this movie is the eternal debate about whether life is worth living. I have always thought that the writer stacked the deck by giving the negative side to thoughtful, articulate Jessie and the positive side to silly, flighty Thelma. (Could that reflect the writer's position concerning the question?). As written, the character of Thelma would not have had the strength to stop Jessie. Remember that this movie is no more a documentary than "One a Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was, but rather a philosophical debate presented as a story.

[–] fiatlux-1 9 years ago

Long story short, Thelma MAY have been able to stop Jessie for a time.

But as someone who has had experience dealing with suicidal people (and had thoughts of her own), I know that no one could have stopped Jessie if she really wanted to die.

No one can ultimately stop someone....except them.

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

[–] maniuis 7 years ago

Yes, definitely. If Jessie had ONLY wanted to make her mom feel better about her suicide, she could've written a detailed letter explaing herself. She chose to have a conversation in the hope -subconciously- that her mom would be able to give her a reason to live. She failed to do so. Very sad movie. Having known people who committed suicide myself, this movie is particularly tough for me. Anyone knows of similar movies?