The Boys in the Band
During my first rewatch of The Boys in the Band since joining TJLC, I noticed a few references which made it into Sherlock. I have a small meta in mind wrt the ASIP pills, but that can follow in another post. Here, I just want to share a few quotes - though of course I know that it’s highly probable (almost certain) this has been addressed before in a meta that I missed.
To uphold the likelihood that the below quotes were intentionally referenced in BBC Sherlock, Gatiss and his husband acted in a production of the play in 2016. In this article (along with a strategically placed Sherlock ad), he expresses his views on it. (X)
The movie is a 1970 adaptation of the namesake, representationally history-making play. It is a drama set in Michael’s flat, during Harold’s birthday party, and composed of eight or nine queer men. Alan was not invited, but arrives for an unknown reason over which he is distraught. He is homophobic and - questionably - heterosexual.
Harold: What do you wanna play, Michael? The truth game? Michael: Cute, Hally. Harold: Or do you wanna play murder? You all remember that one, don’t you? Michael: Very, very cute. Donald: As I recall, they’re similar. The rules are the same in both: you kill somebody.
… Michael: Simply this: we all have to call, on the telephone, the one person we truly believe we have loved. … Michael: Now, here’s how it works: if you make the call, you get one point. If the person you’re calling answers, you get two points. If somebody else answers, you only get one point. And if nobody answers at all, you’re screwed. Donald: You’re screwed if you make the call. Harold: You’re a fool if you screw yourself. Michael: When you get the person you’ve called on the line, and you tell them who you are, you get two more points. And then, if you tell them that you love them, you get a bonus of five more points. Harold: Hateful! Michael: Therefore you can get as many as ten points and as few as one! Harold: You can get as few as none, if you know how to work it.
Sherlock Holmes revolves around games. Chance or chess, the game is (never) over. Of course, the mirror-hell phone call in TFP most closely resembles the telephone game in The Boys in the Band. Also recalled to mind is Irene “just playing the game”. Why did both Sherlol and Adblock lose the game?
Perhaps they lost because they were doing just that - playing a game. When “it’s not a game any more”, Sherlock’s back & he’s in love. But who with?
Alan: Mickey, I don’t feel well. Michael: My name is Michael. I am called Michael. You must never call anyone called Michael “Mickey”. Those of us who are named Michael get very nervous about it.
Alan: Hank, leave with me! Hank: You don’t understand, Alan; I can’t. Larry: Well if he doesn’t understand it, why don’t you explain it to him. Michael: I’ll explain it to him. Harold: I had a feeling you might. Michael: Although I doubt it will may any difference; that type refuses to understand that which they do not wish to accept. They reject certain facts.
This is a point generally illustrated by the sheer clarity with which BBC Sherlock can communicate Johnlock, only to have people deny it.
Michael: Alan, Hank and Larry are lovers; not just roommates - bedmates. Lovers. Hank: Michael.. Michael: No man has a roommate after he’s 30 years old. If they’re not lovers, they’re sisters. Larry: Hank’s the one that over thirty. Michael: You’re pushing it.
I mean, perhaps not literally factual, but I can just see Gatiss quoting this after he makes Johnlock canon lmao
Alan: Hank? Hank: Yes Alan, Larry is my lover. Alan: But you’re married. *all others start laughing* Harold: I think you said the wrong thing. Michael: Don’t you just love it, that quaint little idea: if a man is married, he’s automatically heterosexual. Alan, Hank swings both ways - but with a decided preference.
The quaint idea sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Hank and Larry end up using their calls on each other, after an initial tension. There is a dispute as to whether it “counts” when Larry tells Hank he loves him in person, rather than through the telephone. This of course would tie in with our phone=heart metaphor.
I didn’t comb through the whole movie tonight, just chose the things I remembered best. If anybody has any additions, please add to this post!
I leave you with an inverse truth:
Michael: The only place I’ve ever been happy was on the goddamn plane.
( @unfathomablespace lol..)
wow, interesting!
Yikes. Amazing.
holy shit
