Hook, Line, and Sinker

Music continues to play a number of key functions. Hannah is once again able to think of songs that suit her mood, representing the emotional catharsis achieved by her night of platonic intimacy with Fox. After Fox has helped her feel connected to her father, she is once again receptive to the emotional valence of music and inspired to reach out and find a way to bring Henry’s songs to life. Her personal growth is also reflected in the initiative she takes suggesting music for the movie, and reflects a new confidence that is growing through her deepening connection to Fox and to Westport. Hannah is no longer willing to fit into other people’s scripts as a supporting character. The scene where she approaches Brinley echoes and rewrites the bump-on-the-bus scene. Now, instead of being knocked down, Hannah is encouraged by Sergei’s interest in her ideas.

Music also symbolizes Fox’s increasing willingness to connect with Hannah. He bought a record player to try to be the kind of guy she indicated, in her early texts, would be her “type.” Just as he sang one of Henry’s shanties to her, Fox sings in the car with Hannah to show her he is willing to communicate with her and connect with her in her favorite language.

In bringing Hannah to meet his mother, Fox is reminded of the childhood scripts and expectations that were laid on him as a young man. He is still unable to consciously detach or evolve from that identity, which he believes defines him, though he makes unconscious steps. His enjoyment of a date night with Hannah, including holding hands, is at odds with his perception of himself as someone who relates to women on a purely sexual level.

Hannah refuses to accept Fox’s limiting beliefs about himself. She has seen his nurturing side and understands his woundedness. Her newfound confidence granted by her success in finding a band for Henry’s sea shanties and the opportunity to make music for the movie, convinces her not to fall for Fox’s self-perception. Instead, she wants him to see himself as she does, as worthy of love. Once again, she refuses his sexual availability and deals with him as someone she is in a relationship with, someone she is attracted to, cares about, and wants more from than just a casual hookup. Her goodnight kiss forces Fox to consider whether he is capable of offering her more.

The humorous bingo scene leavens some of the intensity of the scenes between Fox and Hannah, providing a brief release of tension. The rainstorm reflects the turbulent emotion of the characters, revealed in Hannah and Fox’s alternating points of view. Charlene is the one woman in Fox’s life whom he does have a relationship with. Her entrance serves to illustrate Fox’s backstory and reinforces how people interact with him on the level of appearance. He feels like his mother can’t see past his resemblance to his father, and it is exactly this resemblance that Fox feels restricts him from having rewarding and lasting relationships with women.