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Why didn't Roy beat up Burke after he found Nathan? Why wasn't he sad?

posted 11 years ago by J_Sledge
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In the end after Burke raped Nathan, Roy and Randy find Nathan dead. I don't about you but Roy doesn't seem that upset. What I got from his face was "Oh sh!t. Better clean this up or the cops will find out." I expected Roy to hold Nathan in his arms and start screaming to Randy to go get help. And Roy knew Burke was up there with Nathan so why didn't he go ballistic and attack Burke? I haven't read the book so I'm not entirely sure about Roy's reaction to finding Nathan. Throughout the film it looked like Roy genuinely loved and cared for Nathan but that entire scene in the haunted house just made it seem like Nathan was nothing but a "fling" or whatever. I mean why would he leave Nathan in that house by himself? Why didn't he suspect Burke did anything?

Welcome to the island of misfit toys.

[–] bboyminn 8 years ago

Old post but worth answering for other who might be reading.

After the event Max tells his friends to go after Burke. That implies that Burke didn't waste anytime hanging around. He bolted from the attic and took off running.

Though in that same conversation, Burke does seem to have offered some explanation before he took off. One of Max's friends said something like, do you believe what Burke said, and Max response that he doesn't believe anything Burke says. So, there was enough time for a brief conversation.

Though not shown in the movie, I suspect Burke was on his way out the door in a panic when stopped by the others. He offers some half-assed explanation and takes off, while the others go up to see what happened to Nathan.

I suspect Burke used the Gay Panic Defense saying the Nathan had tried to put he moves on him and he had to defend himself. A very common defense back in the '70's.

A certain amount of speculation, but it seems to hold up relative to the story as presented in the movie. I'm not sure how it plays out in the books.