What do you think went through Esposito's mind when he sees Gomez behind the bars and looks at Morales? Does he sympathize with Morales? Does he understand him? Does he think he wasted his life? Does he feel pity? Does he think that justice has been served?
I am not sure...
He understands that the sentence was not only forever imprisonment but also forever isolation.
shareI think he understands and agrees with the sentence.
He walks away and does nothing to challenge it.
Remember, after this he goes and changes "fear" to "love" (in writing) then goes to get the woman, suggesting he is more comfortable with this outcome.
Esposito, in the scene immediately preceeding the one where Gomez takes the gun out in the lift, is witnesss to an explanation of a gross miscarriage of justice by the corrupt judge. The imprisonment of Gomez is the justice the officials didn't provide.
"The imprisonment of Gomez is the justice the officials didn't provide."
YES ! a great scene of this movie
Interesting questions in the OP and I'm not sure what I thought he might be feeling or thinking. Like many a good actor, Darin keeps something back in his expression and it's hard to read allowing the scene and his character's response to be the viewer's response.
I felt he looked appalled and was shocked. This was broken when Morales said, rather pitifully, 'life you said.' I felt sorry for Gomez because he momentarily hoped that he might be rescued and his appeals falls on deaf ears. At the same time one was reminded of what he was like earlier in the film and some of the pity fades.
Why problem make? When you no problem have, you don't want to make ...share
Gómez doesn't ask Espósito to rescue him. He begs him to tell Morales to at least talk to him.
shareI think he feels a mix, a little of all of those things except the "justice has been served".
I think he sees the price Morales is paying to keep Gomez. What would he do with that knowledge? He's retired; what does he owe the police, or the "justice system" that freed Gomez and caused Sandoval to die?
And I think he comes to see that his own life has also been a confinement, keeping him from the woman he loves, and that conclusion frees him at last to be with her.