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Gabriel's Letter

 Another song I admire in "Spider Woman" is "Gabriel's Letter," which tells a full story in a few lines.


I'm sorry to hear they've taken you away--
I'm sure you're innocent.
You're such a good man.
You must be innocent.

These are loaded lines--if the "crime" is being gay, then Molina is not innocent. Gabriel is indicating that he isn't willing to think deeply, to challenge the system.

And I'm sorry if I've never told you
How grateful I am...
For the movies, the talks, and the books--
The gifts to my wife and newborn child--
I'm truly sorry.

Now things get tense. Is Gabriel really grateful? Or was Molina being overbearing--was the relationship uncomfortable?

And finally I'm sorry for any pain I may have caused you--
I know what you wanted of me, but I'm just not that way.
What a strange thing to be sorry for--
But that's the way it is, isn't it?
I'm sorry. Simply sorry.

These evasive, watery lines raise a question: Is Gabriel telling the truth? We'll never know. The song is *better* because of the mystery. 

I can't imagine a more concise, truthful picture of Molina--a little movie about his past. We can sense the anguish underneath the restrained sentences.
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