At least Mead is happy in his subjugation. When Viva finally does bed Hompertz, later in the film, she is so content that she eats a poison leaf and dies. Regardless, the real interest and perplexing idea in the film is the cowboys. They are beautiful young men. Warhol twice shows homosexuality as much more important and real than heterosexual coupling.
Heterosexual sex is treated with nothing but disdain here.
An early scene between Waldron and Hompertz, after this first night together, is interesting and vibrantly real as Waldron expresses feelings and concern for the younger man who simply gazes blankly into the distance, contemplating his feelings. It is as tender and real as any moment between two lovers in any film. Another scene that accents Warhol's ideal on homosexual feeling finds Emerson, Waldron and Dallesandro engaging in a wrestling match. Warhol seems to be saying that heterosexual sex is mechanical and cold while physical interactions between men are erotic and emotional. The boys here always prefer each other's company to the company of women.