SPOILER ALERT!!! If you are not reading or planning to read Water for Elephants book or script, then do not read this post or the comments. We are reading Water for Elephants together and I want everyone to feel free to discuss openly. You should join us if you haven’t already!
Start at the beginning!!
Chapters 1-3, where the waterworks begin!
Chapters 4-6, lots of new characters!
Chapters 7-9, penises, dead horses and an elephant!
Chapters 10-12, Jacob is falling in love, with a girl and an animal
Chapters 13-15, Rosie the Troublemaker and Taking Care of Camel
Chapters 16-18, Rosie Speaks Polish and August Loses It
The old Jacob chapters keep getting harder and harder. Jacob is so excited about the circus, gets all gussyed up for the
family and patiently awaits them. And then we have this horrible image. A line of old people in the lobby, grandmothers and grandfathers waiting for their families to show, and all of them do, except Jacob’s. Rosemary calls and checks and they forgot. He is just crushed and starts crying, which means I start crying. And then Rosemary drops the news that her last day is tomorrow. Can nothing go right for him? She gives him some time alone in the lobby.
Flash back and we see Marlena means business. Jacob watches as she effectively moves out, all while August is outside begging her to come back to him. She stays strong and walks away, and I am really freaking proud of her. Jacob catches up to her to walk her off to a hotel.
Apparently the hotel search isn’t easy, considering it appears that an unwed couple with abusive issues is trying to secure a room, rather then just a woman who is trying to leave her husband. But once they find one, Jacob makes sure she is okay and leaves.
Jacob gets back to business when Uncle Al wants to see him. He basically lays it out, he doesn’t want to lose either one of them, doesn’t think it will work with them being apart, and basically tells Jacob he needs to “work on” Marlena so they can get them back together. Jacob refuses, but then August finally explains what is wrong with August.
He is a schizophrenic. It completely explains all of his actions and his massive mood swings. How he can go from super charming to hitting his own wife? Which apparently Uncle Al sees as perfectly okay. Jacob says no, Uncle Al threatens his job, Jacob starts to walk. Until Al brings up Walter and Camel, who he has known about him the whole time. Gives a whole spill about how he sees everyone as family, but he is also willing to sacrifice others for the good of the rest. Or essentially, he is bullying Jacob into helping because if he leaves, Walter and Camel will most likely be the “sacrifice.”
Jacob goes back to work and finally has the first confrontation with August. Which really isn’t a confrontation at all. In fact, its like nothing more the a couple of friends who had one too many and argued, not an all out brawl that ended with domestic abuse. Basically, we see the multiple personalities come out in full force. August wants to move on and be friends again. He asks Jacob where she is, but he won’t tell him and August leaves to find her. And of course, once again, all of this was in front of Rosie.
Of course, Jacob goes back to the hotel to warn Marlena that August is coming for her. After a minor run in with the clerk who obviously has already dealt with August once, Marlena insists she will not move as August already believes she is not there.
Jacob confronts her about August, and she’s says he’s always been like this although he never hit her. Basically she did not know he was this way until after they were married, but by then it was too late. There were plenty of incidents that let her know he was not above it, but she had no where else to go.
Then she asks Jacob to stay with her. And then it happens. One of the most sensual scenes I’ve read in awhile. When Marlena says “touch me” and Jacob says “let me be inside you” I died. I really hope those two lines specifically make it to the movie, cause I will melt if Rob says that. Melt, I tell you!
And then they both lay there and reveal everything to each other. Jacob finally, for the first time, tells someone what happened with his parents. Then another moment of morning sex, but it’s so loving that you can’t help but be happy for Jacob. Cause he deserves this happiness.
They finally wake up and realize the world is still out there. After finally coming to terms that they are both in love with each other, they make plans to run away. Jacob realizes they have to wait until Providence, which is where they are meeting Camel’s son. He has to stay with Uncle Al until he is sure that Walter and Camel are safe from being redlighted.
Jacob goes back to Walter and explains everything. Of course Walter is pissed because while Camel has somewhere to go, he has nowhere. That is when Jacob tells him to come with them, that they will find another circus. Walter tells him that Marlena had better be worth it.
Uncle Al begins badgering Jacob, wondering if he’s made progress on getting the two back together. Jacob puts him off as much as he can, but tells him not to push Marlena or it will all be ruined. He knows he needs to just get Uncle Al off his back till Providence.
Marlena goes on with her act, but the elephant show is cancelled due to the ass kicking Jacob gave August. But August continues to pursue Marlena hard core. The begging is ridiculous, and Uncle Al tries to squash as much as he can (following on Jacob’s word), but it’s clearly frustrating him.
Of course, Jacob and Marlena are still very much in love. They are very formal and such in front of everyone, but are doing it like bunnies whenever they can. Awww, good times. But not good times for the circus. No Rosie, no fat lady and an alcohol raid have destroyed the funds, and for the first time ever, even the performers are not getting paid. Walter is pissed, and of course, he is worried about what will happen after Providence.
Now Jacob feels terrible. He knows that he got Walter into this, and of course being the guy he is, he wants to make sure he is okay. But now there is another hitch in the whole plan. Marlena is pregnant. And Uncle Al is getting pissed. It’s been 3 weeks, and they are not back together. So Al decides he wants to do it his way. We aren’t sure what that means, but if Earl’s expression is any indication, it’s not going to be good.
Since the show is in ruins, Rosie is back on. Of course Jacob is panicked due to the fact that she’s pregnant. He goes to watch the show. But Rosie is not exactly keen on working with August anymore, so she tears out of the tent. August chases after and rips into her, Marlena follows, trying to help her. Of course Jacob starts to go after, but Blackie grabs him and all he can do is watch as August throws Marlena over his shoulder and takes off. And then, Jacob is knocked out.
