Another possible Quad film interp.

["David S. Lifton" <dslift@erols.com>]

This is my first posting on this list.
I've been reading the various interpretations of endings for the film 
version of Quadrophenia and I feel obliged to put in my tuppence (I'm 
actually American so I don't know if it's spelled right!) into the 
debate.  Let me know what you think:
Jimmy does not jump off the cliff. He rides to the cliff with the 
intention of doing so but chickens out because he's so messed up (either 
from drugs, teen angst, class struggle, etc..)that he is incapable of 
ANY sort of action.  Every time he tried to act on something (pursuing 
Steph, his friendship with the rocker, etc...) it backfires on him.  
While riding towards the edge,  his natural self-doubt comes into play. 
What if I fail at this? he asks himself.  Is there anything more 
humiliating than trying to kill yourself and failing?  And what would 
everybody think of him then?
If Jimmy walking away from the cliffs at the end is, in fact, the ending 
(chronologically speaking), then the scooter going off the cliff is 
symbolic of his decision to give up the mod lifestyle (re:Had Enough) 
and start his life over, without the mods. 
Of course, this could all be a load.  The Who are the greatest bloody 
band of all-time without subjecting ourselves to all this.  Then again, 
they could be the best BECAUSE of that.  I don't know.  What do you 
think?  

David Lifton