MovieChat Forums > The Apostle (1998) Discussion > Confusing scene, anybody else understand...

Confusing scene, anybody else understand?

posted 10 years ago by creatorof2002
2 replies | jump to latest

I could not figure out why Robert Duvall beat up Billy Bob Thorton the first time they met in this movie. Billy Bob was not being rude he seemed shy and nervous and Robert Duvall got very angry and Billy Bob only got belligerent AFTER Robert got angry at him first, it seemed to me in response to the anger.

The ONLY thing I can think of was Billy Bob asking "are these guys friends of yours?". Was that interpreted (correctly or incorrectly?) as a racist fishing for something, like are you friends with these black people? I noticed Robert's body language (damned good acting) change after that question. But he should have given the guy the benefit of the doubt maybe since he might not have been a racist.

The thing just made little sense to me.

[–] batpuller007 10 years ago

Billy Bob also said on the church porch that he didn't sit with "chiggers" (or something that rhymes with chiggers).

[–] nrangerseven 9 years ago

So Billy Bob comes in unannounced and starts hassling E.F. about his name, asks if these people were friends of his, keeps demanding to know why his name is E.F. and you think he's shy?

He then says he won't go to a church with anyone named E.F and won't sit with a bunch of N***ers. YOU THINK THAT IS SHY AND NERVOUS? YOU THINK HE'S NOT RACIST???? Come on...pay attention before you ask stupid questions.

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.