The Ending After a postcard sent to Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) is returned stating that the recipient is now deceased, all Ennis (Heath Ledger) can think about is his former lovers being beaten to death by homophobic gangs. When visiting Jacks family after his untimely demise, Ennis discovered the blood-stained shirts they both wore when they fought after their idyllic time at Brokeback Mountain got cut short. Ennis keeps the blood-stained shirts and on receiving the news of his daughters engagement, he seeks solace and comfort in them. Depressing because Ennis rebuffed Jacks attempts at having an actual relationship numerous times due to his justified fear that he would be attacked by homophobic gangs. This fear meant he sacrificed having a life with the man he loved and even refrained from seeing him as much as he should have. Its depressing that prejudice violently impeding the way of obviously positive human affection still exists in the world. A Silver-Lining? Ennis who was at first very hateful of his homosexuality was given the chance to explore his sexuality in a beautiful setting. He will forever have his memories of the time he spent with Jack, hidden away from a virulently homophobic society.