various theories

come on guys, it';s up to you to take part in the reading of the film!

-the hero gets written out of the story by the deus-ex-machina writer midway through (the writer is seen editing his evolving novel)
-the Eurypides fable parallel (put yr trust in someone and don't look back or else...)
-alternative versions of what could have happened (repetition with variation)


etc

Brilliant dialogue when the hero chats (that gorgeous woman) up / classic trick used by people like Pinter or Lynch: note how the REFERENCE is never mentioned (i.e. the point of it all anchoring their "reality" / gameplay), they play cat and mouse games, playing along, making sure they don't actually point out what it is they're on about. It then depends upon the other person playing ball or not, in which case the illusion collapses (for ex. in that version, she doesn't recognise him (on the hotel stairs) and he's lost).

Hurrah for mind stimulating cinema!