As part of my dissertation work I was looking at the montage that Richie sees just before he attempts suicide. Thought some of you might be interested by it. There's an interesting ABC pattern, where B is Margot stepping off the bus, C is Mordecai flying, and A is a unique scene. The three-times repetition is a very common one in literature, interesting to see it popping up in film too. Here's the breakdown of the scene bookended by Richie's external situation.

1. Richie's face after shaving one stroke.
2. Jump cut to his appearance a minute or so ago before the shave/haircut.
3. Richie's face.
4. Close up on razor as Richie extracts the blade and fingers it.
5. Richie's face.
6. Mordecai masked
7. Richie's face.
8. Mordecai unmasked.
9. Richie's face.
10. Margot stepping off the bus (B)
11. Mordecai flying (C)
12. Royal at the table from beginning of film telling children of divorce.
13. B
14. C
15. Young Richie getting picture taken (by young Margot)
16. B
17. C
18. Young Margot taking the picture in 15.
19. B
20. C
21. Young Richie/Margot sleeping in Public Archives
22. B
23. C
24. Etheline holding young Margot's cake at the party Royal spoiled.
25. B - Margot getting off the bus - this is the longest shot in the montage
26. Back to Richie and topdown shot of his arms bleeding into the sink

Bump <p>=== Leela, save me! And yourself I guess... and my banjo... and Fry!
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I think that Mordecai and Margot are connected somehow and not just in the fact that their names both began with M. But also that Margot was adopted and Mordecai is a bird and both are not really part of the family. And I think when Richie is a little boy and lets the bird go it is kind of like him accepting that they cant be together. But then Mordecai comes back just as Royal and Richie are discussing his love for her.

Nice thoughts! Hadn't considered it like that but makes a lot of sense. <p>=== Leela, save me! And yourself I guess... and my banjo... and Fry!
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