Scene 1



"Heath?" Jake Gyllenhaal peered into the shadows of his motor home.

"Yeah, it's me," Heath Ledger said, tossing away his cigarette as he stepped into the light coming from the open door.

"What are you doing lurking around out there?"

"Just having a smoke."

"Oh, really."

"No. I want to talk to you, but then again, I don't."

"Do you want to come in?" Jake asked.

"Yeah, I do, but I don't think I should."

"Come on. I want to have a beer, but I don't like drinking by myself."

"This is such a bad idea," Heath said. "But okay."

"Are all Australians like you?" Jake asked. "You're weird, but interesting."

"That's a fair assessment of most Aussies," Heath said, accepting a bottle of beer.

"So what don't you want to talk about?" Jake asked as he sat on the other end of the couch and let his long legs sprawl.

Heath took a healthy swallow of beer and started picking at the label on the bottle. "I'm worried about the love scene," he said.

"I've offered to rehearse with you more than once."

"I guess that's why I'm here," Heath said.

"That's great," Jake bounced up and was suddenly face to face with his co-star. "If we practice in private first, the less chance there is that we'll look like fools the first time we do it in front of the crew. Let's get that initial shock out of the way."

"Initial shock," Heath repeated. "So … you've never kissed another guy?"

Jake was silent for a moment before answering. "Sorry, I thought you were going to finish that sentence with the word *either *. Does that mean you have?"

"Have what?"

"Kissed a guy."

"Hell, no!"

Jake took a drink of his beer. "Easy, Heath. I'm not making an accusations."

"All right. So you've never kissed a man either."

"Never came up," Jake said. "Maybe if I were somebody like Willem Dafoe, Nathan Lane, or, um, Keanu Reeves, I would've have the kind of role that … you know what I mean, right?"

Heath nodded. "After I left Oz for Hollywood, the only roles I got were blonde bimbo parts, but I always got the girl."

Jake laughed suddenly. "Knight's Tale. God, you looked like Andy Gibb."

"Easy yourself, mate," Heath said. "I know who Andy Gibb was."

"Sorry, but they really did pretty you up in that one."

"Are you saying I'm not pretty naturally?" Heath paraphrased a line from his Ten Things I Hate About You role.

"Pretty?" Jake pretended to consider. "Nope. You're kinda cute, but that's not the word I'd use to describe you. Hang on; I need to fall back on eavesdropping on my sister Maggie and her friends. I'd say you've got your own look. It's unique."

"Next you'll say I've got a great personality."

Jake laughed. "No, I don't think so."

Heath gave his co-star a look of exaggerated incredulity. "So I'm weird, strange-looking and an arsehole?"

"I don't know why I love you," Jake joked.

"I'm easy to be with?" Heath asked hopefully.

"No. I'm easy to be with. You're …" Jake tilted his head. "You're different."

"Should I try to be more the same?"

"Absolutely not! Jack and Ennis are very different people and you're really making that come across. You blew me away in the footage Ang let us watch."

"That reminds me," Heath said. "That's why you love me."

"Because you're a great actor?" Jake said lightly.

"Because it's in the script," Heath answered.

"Oh yeah. I have to keep reminding myself: it's only a movie, only a movie."

Heath chuckled softly. "You're funny."

"Keeps me sane. So … you wanna take a run at that love scene, big guy?"

Heath blew out a deep breath and set down his beer. "Got any mints?" he asked.

"You're kinda funny yourself," Jake observed. "No mints. Do you think Ennis stopped to ask Jack for some …?"

Jake's last word was muffled against Heath's chin as the Australian lunged at him. Unprepared, Jake fell back against the arm of the small sofa with Heath atop him. It was several, slapstick moments before the two young actors got disentangled.

"You enthusiasm is admirable," Jake laughed, "but your aim is terrible."

Heath saw blood in Jake's mouth and was instantly contrite. "Shit! I've wounded you."

The Australian traveled the short distance to the kitchenette and moistened a paper towel. Returning to the couch, he knelt and dabbed gently at Jake's split lip. Jake raised an eyebrow, but sat quietly and let Heath assuage his sense of guilt.

"It doesn't look too bad," Heath said. "It's not like I bashed you. I don't think makeup will be too angry with us. How do you feel?"

"It's nothing," Jake said. "Happens every time I get together with Kirsten after a long absence. Let's get back on that horse."

Relieved, Heath tossed the paper towel in the trash and sat back down. He had read Proulx' novella and the script over and over until he knew Ennis inside-out. Heath had no doubt that he could inhabit the skin of the stone-cold cowboy with the river of lava just below the surface, waiting for the smallest crack to erupt. He just didn't want to scare his co-star.

"Look, mate," he said. "My character is pretty intense. I'm going to be coming at you like I want to tear you apart. Can you handle that?"

"I'm glad we see Ennis the same way," Jake nodded. "He's so tightly wound and … oppressed is the word, I guess. I see him just exploding when he finally lets go."

"Yeah, exactly."

Jake laughed. "Aren't you glad that didn't happen with cameras rolling?"

"Dear God! Prominently featured on the outtakes reel!"

Jakes laughed harder. "An Ang Lee film with bloopers!"

Both young men laughed a little louder and longer than the joke deserved, but they were bleeding off excess nervous energy. Each took another drink of beer and set down the bottles with an air of purpose. Their eyes met.

"So …" Jake said. "Sure gets lonely up here at night."

Heath rolled his eyes. "So you're playing Jack as a lame pick-up artist?"

Jake mock-slapped Heath. Heath's excellent reflexes deployed, and he grabbed Jake's wrist. Holding the other man's hand immobile, Heath fixed his gaze on Jake. For the first time, Heath let himself take a good, close up look at his co-star's handsome face.

Jake took a breath and held it, while Heath inventoried his features. The dispassionate, cataloging stare was a great move, cinematically speaking, and Jake was momentarily envious of Heath's effortless style. The close range scrutiny was making Jake a little nervous and he poured that into his characterization.

Heath's eyes traveled down the slope of Jake's aristocratic nose and lingered on the sweet curves of the sculpted upper lip. Jake unconsciously licked his lower lip and Heath brought his gaze back up. Big eyes of cracked blue crystal looked back at him, open and trusting. Heath realized he was still gripping Jake's wrist and released it abruptly.

Jake's dark brows drew down as his co-star turned away from him. What was wrong now? Each time Jake started to feel like they were on to something, Heath broke it off. It was becoming frustrating, and Jake prided himself on not letting things get to him. He saw himself as the kind of guy that took things in, pondered them, and then reacted.

"That was great," Jake said, going for positive reinforcement. "You ARE Ennis del Mar."

Heath shook his newly shorn head, as he reached into his breast pocket. As Heath was putting a cigarette between his lips and lighting it, Jake went to open the windows.

"So you're a Method actor," Jake called from the end of the short hallway.

"Sure," Heath mumbled. "Whatever."

"Me, too," Jake said. "Fuck! This window's stuck. I'd really like to get something blowing in here," he continued in an unintentional double entendre.

Heath closed his eyes for a long moment and counted to ten before he dropped his smoke in his beer bottle. Taking a deep breath, he walked the four steps to the end of the antique motor home and Jake's miniature bedroom. Jake was kneeling on the mattress, trying to wind out the louver window.

"Lemme give ya a hand with that," Heath said in a soft raspy drawl.

Jake smiled over his shoulder when he realized Heath was back in character. Moving slightly to the side, Jake made room for the other man. Heath put a knee on the mattress and grasped the offending crank. The Australian applied pressure and in two seconds the entire assembly came off in his hand.

Jake fell back against the curved wall, laughing at the expression on Heath's face. Heath tossed the handle into the hall and gave Jake a warning look.

"You laughin' at me?" Heath asked.

"I don't see anyone else here lookin' like a clown," Jake retorted.

"Cause there ain't no mirror," Heath said.

"Nope. Just a big ol' moose that don't know his own strength," Jake crowed.

"Moose? I ain't no moose. You take that back."

"Make me," Jake taunted.

This time Jake was ready when Heath tackled him. Giving way to the Aussie's full frontal assault, Jake opened his arms and caught Heath. In the same motion, Jake rolled so that he was uppermost with a knee between Heath's thighs.

"Well now," Jake said. "Lookit the big ol' moose flat on his back."

Heath surged up, flipping Jake and reversing their positions. Jake tried the same move and soon found that Heath was a far superior wrestler. No matter what Jake did, he couldn't dislodge the Australian. Accepting the fact, Jake looked up into Heath's eyes.

"Huh, I never noticed that," Jake said. "I thought your eyes were brown, but they're not really brown exactly. They're kind of amber with green flecks. And gold."

Heath shook his head. "You're crazy," he said.

"Guess some would think so," Jake said. "How 'bout you. You crazy?"

"I must be," Heath said as he leaned in.

Jake's eyes closed in anticipation, but he opened them again when nothing happened. Heath had paused a breath away from touching his lips to Jake's. Afraid Heath was going to back away again, Jake closed the infinitesimal gap between them.

*Soft, * both young men thought. Each was surprised that a man's lips didn't feel different than a woman's. When they became bolder in exploring male territory, they inevitably encountered the roughness of beard stubble, but in that first moment of THE KISS, neither felt any disturbing strangeness. In the end, lips were lips, and anyway, they were Jack and Ennis' lips.

After the first tentative touch, their eyes met and Jake smiled invitingly up at Heath. Heath's eyes bored into Jake's for a brief eternity before he pressed their lips together again. Jake opened his mouth, surprising his co-star, but Heath was quick to follow his lead. Parting his lips, Heath slid his tongue into Jake's mouth.

Leaning on one elbow, Heath curled his fingers around Jake's neck, as they cautiously explored the contours of one another's mouths. Once again, flesh proved to be just flesh, even if it was wet and male, and both actors gained more confidence. It was then that Heath learned the Yank slang *beard burn *.

"Sorry," Jake said. "I shave in the mornings."

"It's okay," Heath said. "Just kinda reminded me I was snoggin' a … Shit! Ennis sure as hell wouldn't use the term snogging, would he?"

"Where ya goin'?" Jake asked, still in character, as Heath stood up.

"Are you kidding? I need a smoke after that."

"What?" Jake followed Heath into the front of the motor home.

"I'm joking, mate," Heath said as he lit a cigarette.

"Oh. Well we're doing great," Jake said. "We are going to nail our love scene. I just wish …"

"What?" Heath blew out a stream of smoke.

Jake realized he was staring at Heath's pursed lips and dropped his eyes to the baggy corduroys the Aussie wore. "You've got a hard on!" he exclaimed in surprise.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice," Heath said.

"Not much chance of that," Jake said. "Jeez, what've you got in there? A whole salami?"

"Get stuffed, mate," Heath growled. "I'm embarrassed enough as it is."

"Why? I'm not offended. If you're that into your character, it helps me find mine."

"Glad I could help," Heath said. "So we know we can make out without spewing our lunch. I'd say we've done a fair night's work."

Jake agreed in principle, but he was reluctant for Heath to leave. "We could give it a little more," Jake said. "It's early."

Heath shook his head. "I don't think you understand, mate. If I rub against you for much longer, I'm going to make a mess of my knickers. If I was wearing any, that is."

"Seriously?"

Heath nodded, smoke veiling his eyes as he watched Jake's reaction.

"Is it like … I mean are you just easily aroused? God, I feel like such an ass asking you that. But, honestly, is it like a condition, or am I just that sexy?" Jake asked.

"Look, mate," Heath said. "I'm a man, right? Got it?"

"I can see that," Jake said. "Sorry. That wasn't a penis joke, I swear."

"I'm going back to my caravan," Heath said. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Wait. We're doing really good work here. I think we're both getting a really good feel for how Ennis and Jack would react to … you know, suddenly finding themselves going at it."

"I like that," Heath said, opening the door and flicking his cigarette into the night. "I think they would be surprised. That's something we can use."

"Let's give it a try," Jake said. "On the floor, though. We're going to be outside when we shoot the actual scene."

"Good point," Heath said, sitting down on the carpet.

Jake joined him, dragging a chenille throw off the sofa. "Okay," he said, laying down and pulling the blanket over him. "It's night and it's really, really cold. So cold we're forced to share our body heat to keep from freezing to death."

"Yeah," Heath said. "You just keep floating on down da Nile, mate. I'm planning on getting busy here."

Jake giggled and then sobered quickly. "No more bullshit," he said. "Let's do this, okay? Or do you want me to turn into a Twistcicle?"

Heath's expression went neutral, blank and hard as the stone the mountains were made of and Ennis' drawl came out of his mouth when he answered. "No, I surely don't, friend."

A shiver went down Jake's spine as Heath lay down behind him and put an arm around him. Imagining freezing temperatures, Jake nestled back against his co-star, throwing the blanket over both of them. Heath got his other arm around Jake and pulled him even closer. Jake had a bad moment when he realized what was pressing against his ass, but he conquered it and did his best to relax.

"Ennis?"

"No talkin'," Heath growled softly in Jake's ear.

Another swift little shiver coursed the length of Jake's backbone to spread through his groin in a ripple of arousal. "Hang on a sec," Jake began before he was interrupted.

Heath took hold of Jake's jaw and pulled him around until their lips could connect. Taking Jake's mouth, Heath kissed him hungrily, pouring all the passion he'd once felt for his ex-fiancιe into the caress. Jake tried desperately to get a handle on the torrent of emotions strobing through him, before coming to his senses and channeling them into his character.

Heath was a little surprised at the noise that came out of Jake, but his erection had no trouble deciding how it felt about the small, anxious moan. Heath's cock twitched eagerly, and Jake made that alluring sound again.

Letting go of Jake's jaw, Heath slid his hand down to the other man's crotch. Jake sucked in a harsh breath as Heath grabbed a handful and squeezed firmly. Before Jake could say anything, Heath captured his mouth again.

When Heath finally let Jake up for air this time, Jake was hard and wondering just how far you could take Method acting. You didn't actually have to shoot up to play a junkie, right? Then Heath's hand slid under Jake's waistband and Jake shuddered as calloused fingers skated over his taut belly.

"Jeez, Ennis," he breathed. "That feels mighty good."

Heath bit down on Jake's earlobe as he ran his fingers down the underside of Jake's shaft. Jake gasped and almost broke character, but deep down, he didn't want Heath to stop. And that's probably how Jack and Ennis felt, he thought. Scared, but wanting it. Wanting it so badly, they couldn't stop.

Jake felt his eyelids prickle and let the tears come. He wept silently for Jack and Ennis' smothered love and finally understood the point of the poignant story. Swallowing that grief, Jake turned his sobs into moans, and pushed back against Heath's hardness.

Heath shifted so his arousal rested between Jake's denim covered cheeks. He took hold of Jake's hip with one hand and Jake's hard on with the other. Drawing on his vast experience with wanking, Heath pumped his co-star's rigid shaft. Jake's head fell back against Heath's shoulder and he thrust into Heath's fist. Heath groaned in the other man's ear as Jake's firm buttocks rubbed against his erection.

"Aw damn, Ennis!" Jake cried out as Heath increased the speed of his stroke.

"Shhhhh," Heath breathed in Jake's ear.

"But I'm gonna …"

Heath's hand left Jake's hip to grasp a handful of thick dark hair. He pulled Jake's head back and covered the other man's mouth with his. In three more strokes, friction worked its reliable magic, and Jake came with a shocked gasp into Heath's mouth. Releasing Jake's spent shaft, Heath gripped both his co-star's hipbones and ground his arousal against him.

"Do it," Jake panted. "Do it, Ennis."

Heath set his teeth in the curve of Jake's shoulder and neck and nipped lightly. Jake shivered, his climax still reverberating through his body as afterglow stole over him. He was warm and wrapped in loving arms; what more could anyone ask? And how could anyone deny this peace to another?

"You okay?" Heath asked in a strained voice.

"Yeah," Jake drawled drowsily. "Anythin' I can do?"

"Pretend this ain't happenin'," Heath muttered.

"Sorry, I'm half asleep; you say somethin'?"

Heath placed his palms flat against Jake's groin and thrust powerfully. Jake clenched his jaw to keep his teeth from clicking together and let his co-star hump him through the carpet. Heath wrapped both arms around Jake and froze for a split second before collapsing with a long drawn out groan of relief.

"Hey," Jake said softly after a few minutes ticked by.

"Don't wanna talk about it," Heath said.

"Which one of you?" Jake asked.

Heath blew out a breath that stirred the fine hairs on Jake's nape. "Time to pay the piper," he said. "Or am I facing the music? Never could get the hang of clichιs."

Jake turned so he was facing Heath. "Just so you know: I'm not as comfortable with all this as I may appear. I'm dealing with it by telling myself it's all part of the Method."

"You're a Method actor?"

"I am now," Jake smiled. "Seriously though, let's not make a big deal out of this. It happened. For whatever reason, we both got way into the scene and took it to the logical conclusion. No harm, no foul, am I right?"

"This is exactly what I was afraid would happen if I came in here tonight," Heath said, reaching for his cigarettes.

"You actually thought this might happen?"

"I was pretty sure of it actually," Heath said. "I've felt an attraction between us since day one. I figured it's why they cast me; because I had such great chemistry with you."

"But … neither of us is gay," Jake pointed out.

Heath sighed again. "Would you mind if we got up now? If we stay like this, chemistry is going to come into play once more."

Jake sat up and scooted back until he was propped against the couch with his legs stretched out in front of him. He watched from under heavy lids as Heath stood and adjusted himself. Heath picked up his beer, remembered it had a cigarette butt in it, and put it back down.

"Shit," Heath said succinctly.

"There's more beer in the fridge," Jake said.

"It's not that, mate. I just hate being right about the wrong thing."

"Huh?" Jake said with an exaggerated expression of confusion.

"I told you; I knew this would happen. Sooner or later."

"I sure didn't," Jake said. "But it's not necessarily something to get bummed about."

Heath's head tipped back and he stared at the ceiling for a long moment. "I'm only bummed because I know this will force me to finally admit I'm … bisexual. God I hate that word."

Jake nodded. "There should be another word, don't you think?"

Heath's head dropped back down and he eyed Jake curiously. "You're awfully calm, mate."

"What did you expect?"

"Fists and homophobic reproach shouted at me as I'm kicked from your trailer."

Jake cocked his head to the side. "I just let you give me a hand job. It would be very pot/kettle of me to call you queer."

"You let me give you a hand job?" Heath quirked an eyebrow.

"It was a choice between that and *I let you dry hump me like a frat boy *," Jake said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Are you sure you're straight?"

"I was," Jake said. "Now I'm willing to admit that I might be queer for at least one guy."

Heath held out his hand to Jake and hauled the American to his feet. "I don't think the word queer is acceptable anymore," he said.

"Not even if you are queer?" Jake teased.

"Don't tease me," Heath said, keeping Jake's hand. "We don't have to talk about this tonight, but I'd like to see if …"

Jake stopped him with a soft kiss. "Let's see where it takes us," he said.

"You sure?" Heath asked with cautious hope.

"No matter what comes of it, it can only be good for the film," Jake said.

"You are one scary realist," Heath said.

"Yeah? That turn you on, cowboy?"

"Fuck off, dickhead," Heath said. "I'm serious."

"Well stop it right now. If we're going to even entertain the notion of taking this any further, you're going to have to lighten up. A delicate touch is what we need now."

"Okay." Heath took a deep breath. "Okay. This is scary, but it's what I want deep down."

"I'm getting a weird Twilight Zone vibe," Jake said. "A little while ago I was thinking almost exactly the same thing you just said."

"It's not really that weird, if you think about it. Why wouldn't we be thinking about the same things? We've saturated ourselves in this story."

"That's probably what's happening here," Jake said. "But let's keep our heads and use it to our advantage, if we can."

"That's it?" Heath rubbed Jake's cheek with the back of his hand. "It's just a … device?"

"I doubt it," Jake said. "But give me time to get used to the idea that you excite me more than anyone I've ever known."

Heath swallowed audibly. "One day at a time," he promised. "It's all new to me, too."

"You can hug me if you want," Jake said.

Heath shook his head. "Don't think I'd have the willpower to let go again, mate," he said with a grin.

"You wouldn't have to," Jake said. "It's not like anyone's going to walk in on us."

Heath sobered at the oblique reference to Jake and Kirsten's recent breakup. "You want me to stay?"

After several moments thought, Jake shook his head. "I guess not. You're right; we'd get up to more horseplay, no doubt, and be zombies on the set tomorrow. Let's leave it here for tonight. I'm sure Jack and Ennis would have drawn apart and brooded a bit before deciding to do it again."

"Then I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."

"Reckon ya will," Jake answered.

Heath reached for his pack again, and Jake made a face.

"You smoke a lot," Jake said.

"Marlboro Man," Heath said, striking a pose.

"Damned if you ain't," Jake smiled fondly. "Night, Ennis."

"Night, Jack," Heath said as he walked out of the circle of light.

Jake watched until his sauntering co-star was enveloped by the shadow of a parked semi-tractor trailer. Jake didn't know why it had happened, but he and Heath had connected on a level far below the conscious one. He had no idea what would come of it, but he had a very strong feeling that these would be benchmark performances for both of them. And if it were more, he would deal with that when the time came.



Optimistic, stirred, unsure and pleasantly drained, Jake lay down and tried to sleep; tomorrow was a big day. No one knew for certain what the future would bring, but his looked pretty bright, even with his eyes closed.

Read Scene 2 of 11 of Method Acting