On with the motley
Nov. 2nd, 2010 05:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mistletoeSo, day 2 of NaBloPoMo. I'm pleased to be at home because it is cold and windy with those horrid blustery showers that come out of nowhere and sting your face. Eeew.
Also, congratulations to the San Francisco Giants for winning the World Series in rapid time thus freeing up Thursdays. I knew the Freak could do it.
Thanks to those who dropped by yesterday who expressed an interest in the Booth posts. Here is the second one.
A BOOTH FOR ALL SEASONS
He makes this very clear.
Sanders: A death is very upsetting to a community as tight as ours.
Booth: Famous for keeping your students safe but you can’t be held responsible if a trouble student kills himself.
Sanders: We all agree that suicide is the only feasible conclusion.
Headmaster: We understand each other?
Booth: We sure as hell do. (clears throat) I’ll need a complete enrollment list including teachers, staff, students.
Sanders: That’s extremely confidential information.
Booth: Heh. You know, luckily I’m good at keeping secrets.
And he continues to deflect all attempts to patronise and threaten him. It is clear that as far as Booth is concerned, privilege does not trump the law and justice will be done however inconvenient that may be. It is also clear that he dislikes the situation, while Bones cannot see what the issue is:
Booth: I don’t…I don’t like people who think they’re better then other people.
Bones: Some people are better then other people.
Booth: Uh, you know what you said right there that is so Un-American. All men are created equal; either you believe that or you don’t.
Bones: Some people are smarter then others there’s no use being offended by the fact. What are we going to tell Nester’s parents?
Booth: We tell them that their son was found dead. We’re looking into it. Sorry for your loss and we are.
Bones: What?
Booth: Sorry for their loss. It’s sad. Try to remember that.
Bones: Uh, I’m not a sociopath.
Booth: You’re bad with people, okay. No use being offended by the fact.
Two things of interest here. First, Booth isn't really arguing about how intelligent people are, but how they are educated, the inference being the richer you are the better your opportunities for education and therefore becoming a mover and shaker. Booth has not had that opportunity and as an American he feels he deserves it.
Secondly, we are reminded of his skills in dealing with people. The body is a boy's and as such is a victim who has a family that needs to be dealt with sensitively. This aspect of Booth knowing how to deal with people and his instincts will be considered later.
Another example of Booth's need for a fairer distribution of wealth comes in The Man in the Bear. As he and Bones drive to the town she reveals she doesn't have a limit on expenses, she just puts in her receipts. Booth is appalled, having an allowance of $50 per diem. He's not jealous per se, but it must seem unfair to him. However, as a measure of the man, all he asks for is dinner. She offers breakfast. As a man of his word he is disappointed when Bones forgets and he shows how likeable he is in his reaction.
Booth: You didn’t come down for breakfast Bones.
Bones: I wasn’t hungry. Sorry you had to pay for your own meal.
Booth: I called your room there was no answer.
Bones: Why the sudden interest in my morning habits, Booth?
Booth: Look, I just thought we were going to get something to eat. You know and so I waited. My eggs got cold that’s all. Cold eggs.
This way of dealing with disappointment, of even the most minimal things, seems to be ingrained. However, he has to prove himself worthy it would seem and even a dead flashlight preventing his capture of Sherman becomes a matter of honour for him.
Angela: So did you catch the guy?
Bones: No, (she looks at Booth while talking) Booth lost him in the woods.
Booth: Whoa, wait a second. I didn’t lose him.
Bones: Well you didn’t catch him.
Angela: So you two have the night free?
Bones: Yes, we can’t do anything until I get a determination on that meat and Booth has to wait until it’s light for the guy he lost.
Booth: I didn’t lose him okay. He, uh, Tell her that my flashlight died.
Bones: She doesn’t care.
Angela: What?
Booth: Give me the phone.
Bones: It’s not safe to drive and talk on the cell phone.
Angela: Are you two fighting?
Booth: Professional pride, tell her, please tell her that.
Bones: Booth wants you to know that he lost the guy because his flashlight died.
Booth: And because he’s an Indian and he’s a park ranger and he’s very very familiar with the territory. Tell her that.
Bones: Did you hear that?
Angela: Yeah, something about Indian Territory.
Bones: Yeah, she says she understands. (to Angela) I need to know about that meat as soon as possible.
Angela: Yeah, I’ll tell Zach.
(Booth reaches for her cell phone.)
Booth: Give me the phone.(he grabs it away from her.) Hold up. (to Angela) Plus you know what it wasn’t even my flashlight okay, it was the Sheriffs flashlight and his batteries they ran out (Bones snatches her phone back) Okay!
So, Booth needs validation; Booth needs for his skills to be recognised and his perceived failings to be excused. Bones doesn't care. However, when he asks to be recognised as a member of the team by being given a card for the platform, he earns it. In return, he gave up his favourite eating place hideaway, but insisted on being left alone at the counter. Booth needs his space.
The presence of children as victims is addressed to an extent in A Boy in a Tree, but Booth's reaction to children is more clearly shown in The Boy in the Bush and will be visited again later. The surprising reaction here is Booth cares and is upset by the death of a small child. This is only natural, but in an experienced FBI agent like Booth who must have been involved in child murder many times it seems surprising. Of course we have a major bombshell still to come in The Man in The Fallout Shelter but for now it makes Booth into a more sympathetic character than Brennan who must approach the situation scientifically.
Firstly, Booth can connect with kids. He shows this by the way he fixes the boys' computer game and gets them to talk by sharing that experience. He also knows when to call in the specialist when the younger one won't respond to him but will to Bones because she has shared experience of being in foster care. We also find out that Booth has a brother.
As a post script to that episode we have how Booth responds to privilege when it involves someone he knows, namely Hodgins. While not exactly a friend, he is a colleague and, for the good of the team, Booth comes up with an excuse for him not to have to attend the donors' banquet and be exposed as the owner of the Cantilever Group.
As for children, Booth's sympathy for them is explained when we get the big reveal about Booth in season 1: he is a father. Admittedly that information came out of him by accident under the influence of anti-Valley Fever drugs, but once it is out there it can't be taken back. This is an aspect of Booth's past that we had no inkling about. He has a girlfriend, she is not the mother and judging by the phonecall he gets from his ex in Man in the Fallout Shelter he does not have a good relationship with his son's mother. Certainly, we feel sympathy with Booth several times in that episode.
Booth: (in phone) Hey Rebecca. Yeah thanks for calling. You heard what happened right?
Dr. Goodman: It seems to be some kind of a pouch.
Booth: You don’t have to see me. Sid agreed to bring him by. Don’t make me beg. Thank you.
Dr. Goodman: Everything all right?
Booth: Yeah.
No, not really. He clearly has had this sort of confrontation before and to hear a man like Booth say 'don't make me beg' is certainly unexpected. Perhaps less unexpected is Brennan's reaction:
The final consideration today is why Booth chose the job he did. Being a sniper has clearly moulded him and he is the sort who wants to do the right thing. When it comes to Howard Epps that right thing is to save his life so that justice can be served. That decision will have long term and costly consequences.
Have we learned much more about Booth's background in these episodes? Not really. But we are beginning to see more clearly a character who is sensitive, determined, stubborn, good at his job and a product of his circumstances.
Next, more on Epps and a round up of Season 1
Still raining and an evening of European football to look forward to..
Also, congratulations to the San Francisco Giants for winning the World Series in rapid time thus freeing up Thursdays. I knew the Freak could do it.
Thanks to those who dropped by yesterday who expressed an interest in the Booth posts. Here is the second one.
A BOOTH FOR ALL SEASONS
I carry with me all my things
SEASON 1 CONTINUED
Having seen Booth in his comfort zone of FBI and city we find him in a couple of places where he may feel more out of place: the woods and a Private School. In each case he reveals something further about the kind of man he is. Without making too much of his chip on the shoulder attitude, there is no doubt Booth is resentful of the privileged classes. This first becomes apparent on the way to Hanover Prep school in A Boy in a Tree where Booth is very keen to lay down the ground rules for what he expects to be a political minefield. When his ignorance is shown up by both Bones and Zach translating the school's Latin motto, he is immediately on the defensive. When the school's Headmaster and Security Chief assume that he knows his place then he really gets serious.
The assumption at this point is that Booth is the product of a working class background and as such he was not rich or able to wield the power of the educated middle classes. People in positions of power in a posh high school really make him angry and he has power now: the power of the law.
SEASON 1 CONTINUED
Having seen Booth in his comfort zone of FBI and city we find him in a couple of places where he may feel more out of place: the woods and a Private School. In each case he reveals something further about the kind of man he is. Without making too much of his chip on the shoulder attitude, there is no doubt Booth is resentful of the privileged classes. This first becomes apparent on the way to Hanover Prep school in A Boy in a Tree where Booth is very keen to lay down the ground rules for what he expects to be a political minefield. When his ignorance is shown up by both Bones and Zach translating the school's Latin motto, he is immediately on the defensive. When the school's Headmaster and Security Chief assume that he knows his place then he really gets serious.
The assumption at this point is that Booth is the product of a working class background and as such he was not rich or able to wield the power of the educated middle classes. People in positions of power in a posh high school really make him angry and he has power now: the power of the law.
He makes this very clear.
Sanders: A death is very upsetting to a community as tight as ours.
Booth: Famous for keeping your students safe but you can’t be held responsible if a trouble student kills himself.
Sanders: We all agree that suicide is the only feasible conclusion.
Headmaster: We understand each other?
Booth: We sure as hell do. (clears throat) I’ll need a complete enrollment list including teachers, staff, students.
Sanders: That’s extremely confidential information.
Booth: Heh. You know, luckily I’m good at keeping secrets.
And he continues to deflect all attempts to patronise and threaten him. It is clear that as far as Booth is concerned, privilege does not trump the law and justice will be done however inconvenient that may be. It is also clear that he dislikes the situation, while Bones cannot see what the issue is:
Booth: I don’t…I don’t like people who think they’re better then other people.
Bones: Some people are better then other people.
Booth: Uh, you know what you said right there that is so Un-American. All men are created equal; either you believe that or you don’t.
Bones: Some people are smarter then others there’s no use being offended by the fact. What are we going to tell Nester’s parents?
Booth: We tell them that their son was found dead. We’re looking into it. Sorry for your loss and we are.
Bones: What?
Booth: Sorry for their loss. It’s sad. Try to remember that.
Bones: Uh, I’m not a sociopath.
Booth: You’re bad with people, okay. No use being offended by the fact.
Two things of interest here. First, Booth isn't really arguing about how intelligent people are, but how they are educated, the inference being the richer you are the better your opportunities for education and therefore becoming a mover and shaker. Booth has not had that opportunity and as an American he feels he deserves it.
Secondly, we are reminded of his skills in dealing with people. The body is a boy's and as such is a victim who has a family that needs to be dealt with sensitively. This aspect of Booth knowing how to deal with people and his instincts will be considered later.
Another example of Booth's need for a fairer distribution of wealth comes in The Man in the Bear. As he and Bones drive to the town she reveals she doesn't have a limit on expenses, she just puts in her receipts. Booth is appalled, having an allowance of $50 per diem. He's not jealous per se, but it must seem unfair to him. However, as a measure of the man, all he asks for is dinner. She offers breakfast. As a man of his word he is disappointed when Bones forgets and he shows how likeable he is in his reaction.
Booth: You didn’t come down for breakfast Bones.
Bones: I wasn’t hungry. Sorry you had to pay for your own meal.
Booth: I called your room there was no answer.
Bones: Why the sudden interest in my morning habits, Booth?
Booth: Look, I just thought we were going to get something to eat. You know and so I waited. My eggs got cold that’s all. Cold eggs.
This way of dealing with disappointment, of even the most minimal things, seems to be ingrained. However, he has to prove himself worthy it would seem and even a dead flashlight preventing his capture of Sherman becomes a matter of honour for him.
Angela: So did you catch the guy?
Bones: No, (she looks at Booth while talking) Booth lost him in the woods.
Booth: Whoa, wait a second. I didn’t lose him.
Bones: Well you didn’t catch him.
Angela: So you two have the night free?
Bones: Yes, we can’t do anything until I get a determination on that meat and Booth has to wait until it’s light for the guy he lost.
Booth: I didn’t lose him okay. He, uh, Tell her that my flashlight died.
Bones: She doesn’t care.
Angela: What?
Booth: Give me the phone.
Bones: It’s not safe to drive and talk on the cell phone.
Angela: Are you two fighting?
Booth: Professional pride, tell her, please tell her that.
Bones: Booth wants you to know that he lost the guy because his flashlight died.
Booth: And because he’s an Indian and he’s a park ranger and he’s very very familiar with the territory. Tell her that.
Bones: Did you hear that?
Angela: Yeah, something about Indian Territory.
Bones: Yeah, she says she understands. (to Angela) I need to know about that meat as soon as possible.
Angela: Yeah, I’ll tell Zach.
(Booth reaches for her cell phone.)
Booth: Give me the phone.(he grabs it away from her.) Hold up. (to Angela) Plus you know what it wasn’t even my flashlight okay, it was the Sheriffs flashlight and his batteries they ran out (Bones snatches her phone back) Okay!
So, Booth needs validation; Booth needs for his skills to be recognised and his perceived failings to be excused. Bones doesn't care. However, when he asks to be recognised as a member of the team by being given a card for the platform, he earns it. In return, he gave up his favourite eating place hideaway, but insisted on being left alone at the counter. Booth needs his space.
The presence of children as victims is addressed to an extent in A Boy in a Tree, but Booth's reaction to children is more clearly shown in The Boy in the Bush and will be visited again later. The surprising reaction here is Booth cares and is upset by the death of a small child. This is only natural, but in an experienced FBI agent like Booth who must have been involved in child murder many times it seems surprising. Of course we have a major bombshell still to come in The Man in The Fallout Shelter but for now it makes Booth into a more sympathetic character than Brennan who must approach the situation scientifically.
Firstly, Booth can connect with kids. He shows this by the way he fixes the boys' computer game and gets them to talk by sharing that experience. He also knows when to call in the specialist when the younger one won't respond to him but will to Bones because she has shared experience of being in foster care. We also find out that Booth has a brother.
As a post script to that episode we have how Booth responds to privilege when it involves someone he knows, namely Hodgins. While not exactly a friend, he is a colleague and, for the good of the team, Booth comes up with an excuse for him not to have to attend the donors' banquet and be exposed as the owner of the Cantilever Group.
As for children, Booth's sympathy for them is explained when we get the big reveal about Booth in season 1: he is a father. Admittedly that information came out of him by accident under the influence of anti-Valley Fever drugs, but once it is out there it can't be taken back. This is an aspect of Booth's past that we had no inkling about. He has a girlfriend, she is not the mother and judging by the phonecall he gets from his ex in Man in the Fallout Shelter he does not have a good relationship with his son's mother. Certainly, we feel sympathy with Booth several times in that episode.
Booth: Wow, they’re beautiful. Yep, I have a kid too. (pulls out a picture) His name is Parker. He’s four years old. (hands picture to Goodman) His mother wouldn’t marry me so my parental rights are totally f…
Dr. Goodman: Vague?
Booth: That word's just a little more Christmasier then what I was thinking.
Dr. Goodman: He’s a fine looking boy.(hands the picture back to him.)
Booth: Yeah I get him part of Christmas Day. I get him an excellent present every year something really cool but this uh, this year…
Booth: (in phone) Hey Rebecca. Yeah thanks for calling. You heard what happened right?
Dr. Goodman: It seems to be some kind of a pouch.
Booth: You don’t have to see me. Sid agreed to bring him by. Don’t make me beg. Thank you.
Dr. Goodman: Everything all right?
Booth: Yeah.
No, not really. He clearly has had this sort of confrontation before and to hear a man like Booth say 'don't make me beg' is certainly unexpected. Perhaps less unexpected is Brennan's reaction:
Dr. Goodman: Do you suppose Lionel came up here to procure an abortion?
Angela: You know what? This isn’t a very Christmas Eve type story.
Bones: Of course it is. The whole Christ myth has been built upon the travails of an unwed mother.
Booth: Okay could we just stop bringing up the whole Christ myth thing? All right, some people believe it is more then just a myth.
Bones: Well who besides you?
Dr. Goodman: That would be me Dr. Brennan. I’m a deacon at my church.
Angela: I do, Christmas and Easter anyway.
Hodgins: Although I believe organized religion is just another political movement designed to control the masses. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love me.
Zach: Hey I’m a rationalist and purist all they way. Unless you talk to my mother, then I’m Lutheran.
Bones: (clears throat) I can understand why you would be sensitive, Booth. You have a child out of wedlock.
Angela: Sweetie.
Bones: What?
(She looks at Booth and he doesn’t look happy.)
The final consideration today is why Booth chose the job he did. Being a sniper has clearly moulded him and he is the sort who wants to do the right thing. When it comes to Howard Epps that right thing is to save his life so that justice can be served. That decision will have long term and costly consequences.
Have we learned much more about Booth's background in these episodes? Not really. But we are beginning to see more clearly a character who is sensitive, determined, stubborn, good at his job and a product of his circumstances.
Next, more on Epps and a round up of Season 1
Still raining and an evening of European football to look forward to..
