For my wife…”The Bridges of Madison County” holds a special place in her heart. I know she loves the movie, and when we go visit the actual bridges, she gets rather “lost-in-the-moment”. So when it was announced that Bridges of Madison County was coming (and debuting) at the Civic Center, my wife was super-excited…and the time is here when we’ll go see the show (which I hear is great).
So last night, I finally asked her…”What’s this whole thing about”…and she (displaying one of the many reasons why I love her for and more everyday)…got me to sound like a fool.
Here’s the conversation…with Jennifer in bold….myself in italics.
So, what’s the whole Bridges of Madison County thing about?
You tell me what you know.
I don’t know…I know there’s a woman or man named Frank….and that’s probably Clint Eastwood. Meryl Streep wouldn’t be named Frank.
Maybe you’re thinking Francesca.
Clint Eastwood’s character’s name was Francesca?
No…Meryl Streep’s was.
That makes sense.
So, who is Francesca.
I’m guessing she’s a woman…that lives in Madison County…and she likes the bridges.
She likes the bridges?
Yeah, she likes the bridges…that’s why it’s so tragic at the end.
What?
She jumps off one of the bridges at the end…that’s why the bridges are so famous.
No one jumps off a bridge (she could not have more of a face that said “What is wrong with you” at this point).
You sure? That’s why I thought that one bridge we visited was so cool…that was the one she jumped from.
No one jumps from a bridge.
Does the bridge collapse?
What?
How does she die then?
From old age…eventually.
Spoiler alert.
No…that’s not a spoiler alert…you’re ridiculous.
Oh…so then her husband dies?
No one dies…and you know that Clint Eastwood’s not her husband, right? And his name is Robert.
Wait…what?
It’s an affair…
So, then Clint Eastwood…
Robert…
Right, Robert kills the husband by throwing him off the bridge?
Seriously?
So, Robert doesn’t kill anyone?
No….he and Francesca have an affair. Her son & daughter discover letters between Robert & Francesca.
Oh, so it’s like a whole Notebook thing?
You haven’t seen The Notebook, how would you know?
I hear things.
From who?
I don’t know…people.
Okay…there’s no murder…there’s no bridge collapsing…none of that.
Then what’s it about?
Love.
Love?
Love.
Where do the bridges come into play?
All throughout…Robert’s there to take pictures of the Bridges.
Where’s the husband?
The Illinois State Fair.
Our Fair’s better.
Not the point.
I think my favorite thing to eat the Fair is…
Not talking about the Fair….stay on topic.
Sounds good.
You still think someone jumps off the bridge at the end, don’t you?
Yep.
…and that’s where it ended.
I’m excited to see Bridges of Madison County…excited to get to see it with my wife…and considering (and it’s painfully apparent)…this will all be very new to me.
AWESOME is as AWESOME does!
