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ship_manifestoTitle: What Happens When it Doesn't Pass
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
yoursetcetera
Pairing: Donald Scripps/David Posner
Fandom: The History Boys
Spoilers: for both film and play versions. Liberally sprinkled with quotes from both. Assumes a general knowledge of plot.
I. The Characters and the Question of Dakin
Which kind of throws a wrench in the works for this pairing. (It's ok, we'll sort it out in a minute, keep reading.) Dakin is politely distant to Posner, obviously not wanting to encourage any of Posner's feelings toward him. He openly discusses his sexual conquests in front of Posner, although usually he is speaking to Scripps and Posner is sort of trailing along. Is Posner trailing along because his closest friend is Scripps, or because he's in love with Dakin? The answer is probably the latter, although the former obviously contributes to it. When, in the film, Dakin leaves a discussion with Scripps and Posner in order to walk with Lockwood, Posner doesn't follow him—he stays with Scripps.
For all of Dakin's efforts, however, Posner remains firmly in love with him. He serenades him in Hector's class (Scripps, at the piano, turns around and flashes a grin at Dakin). He gets Dakin to take off his pants during Hector's class. Posner lets his feelings for Dakin be known to all, and isn't ashamed of them.
Dakin and Scripps are very good friends. Of all the boys, Dakin seems to be closest to Scripps—certainly they have the largest number of scenes of just the two of them, and their friendship provides a way of revealing characters' thoughts on what is happening or what may happen. They leave no topic undiscussed, but there is one oddity: they never discuss Posner. As much as Dakin tries to pretend that he is unaffected by Posner's affections ("[It's] boring for me"), he clearly isn't. And if he were to tell any one person that, it would probably be Scripps. So why doesn't he? I don't think Scripps would stand for it, frankly. When Dakin is being rude about Irwin after their first class meeting, Scripps is the one to say "Have a heart, he is only five minutes older than we are." If he would defend the new teacher, there's no question that he would jump to the defense of one of his closest friends, and I think Dakin recognizes that.
II. Canon Evidence
In the film, the first relationship we see is the friendship of Posner and Scripps. Posner waits outside of a Catholic church, where Scripps is inside praying for good A-levels results. Scripps comes out, they exchange some banter, and bicycle off together. The entire scene is casual; one gets the impression that a similar encounter happens on a regular basis. Later in the film we see Scripps praying in a chapel before his Oxford interview; Dakin is with him then, and instead of waiting patiently like Posner, he clears his throat to hurry Scripps along. This, I think, says a lot about -- not only the characters, but the varying degrees of friendship among them. Although Scripps appears to be equally close to both Dakin and Posner, he isn't. There's something more to his friendship with Posner.
They play piano and sing together, indicating hours spent together practicing and a shared enthusiasm for music the like of which their classmates do not possess. Together they act out the ending scene of Brief Encounter, the only "ending" performed in the film or the play that involves the actors touching; they are close enough and comfortable enough with each other to not mind the fact that they're hugging another man (this is especially potent given that Posner is already out and teased relentlessly for it). At a few points, Posner calls Scripps "Scrippsy" and Scripps calls him "Poz" -- all of these, but especially the last, are sweet touches that imply a certain closeness that none of the other boys share.
Just as they started the film together, so do they end it. When the boys walk out of the empty hall in pairs, Scripps and Posner make up one of those pairs -- while this can be just a coincidence, I think the filmmakers planned it. I think they recognized that Posner and Scripps had a very lasting sort of friendship. We are shown nothing to explain why Scripps and and the other boys are friends, other than the fact that they're year-mates -- if Bennett wrote a sequel and we read that Scripps and the other boys drifted apart during university, would we be terribly surprised? Probably not, except in the case of Posner: for what is a pianist without his accompanist? To many, it's inconceivable that Scripps and Posner would ever stop being friends, for all the reasons I've just explained and probably more. And from that, it is an easy step to thinking that perhaps one day they might fall in love.
III. The Pairing
Generally the pairing is depicted from Scripps's point of view. I have two theories as to why this is the case. One, because Scripps is the journalist. In the play he's the one with the most asides. He explains things to the audience and makes little comments. He's the one most likely to write down what goes on in his life.
Speaking of which, the idea of Posner being in love with Dakin is something that each and every author has to deal with. Sometimes Posner has a revelation, sometimes he talks it out (usually with Scripps). Sometimes Posner stops caring, like he tells Irwin he hopes he will. Very often Posner goes out and finds other boys, similar to Dakin -- this is my favorite version of events, as it is at this point when Scripps's protectiveness toward Posner becomes something akin to jealousy.
Often stories center around the boys' years at university: usually Oxford, where they both go in the film -- though occasionally Cambridge, as that is where Posner goes in the play (Scripps's school isn't mentioned). If they don't take place at university, they usually take place post-university, with Posner and Scripps living together (regardless of whether they are a couple or just roommates).
Though the stories can be occasionally heart-wrenching (focused around Posner's breakdown, which is play-canon but not film-canon), for the most part they are sweet, with just the right amount of angst in the middle and a happy ending in the last paragraphs. This is part of the pairing's intrinsic appeal, in my opinion: it's feel-good without necessarily having to be fluffy.
There is always poetry. In keeping with a theme of the story, gobbits are inserted everywhere. All of the boys learn a great deal of poetry from Hector, and fic authors take notice of that.
Also, Scripps underlines things. Always. That's just how he rolls.
IV. Reasons to ship Scripps/Posner
V. Links
The community![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
drinkswithdakin has a massive Posner/Scripps tag.
In the History Boys section of the Yuletide archive, there are several other Scripps/Posner fics.
To be completely honest, I'm not aware of any other archives featuring Scripps/Posner, but if I do find any more, I will certainly edit them into the post.
Some of my personal favorites:
now for a breath i tarry and Memento Mori, bykaydeefalls
Rosalie Heights or Brief Encounter and just the ash that is left when the fire is gone, byclassics_geek (the second is my absolute favorite of all the fics dealing with Posner's breakdown)
to put away childish things, bysolvent90
Able was I, ere I saw Elba, byfiercynn
In Between Dreams, bybergann
Author:
yoursetceteraPairing: Donald Scripps/David Posner
Fandom: The History Boys
Spoilers: for both film and play versions. Liberally sprinkled with quotes from both. Assumes a general knowledge of plot.
I. The Characters and the Question of Dakin
Posner: Do you look at your life, sir?This exchange is in both the film and the play -- it's an interesting summary of Posner. Pos, with his spaniel heart -- the last of the history boys to hit puberty, in love with fellow classmate Dakin, and the butt of (Lockwood's) many jokes. It's somewhat surprising that Posner is so open with his feelings and forthright with his convictions, because he is so often mocked for them.
Irwin: I thought everyone did.
Posner: I'm a Jew. I'm small. I'm... homosexual. And I live in Sheffield. I'm fucked.
Scripps: Later I wrote it all down.Scripps is quite the opposite, friendly with everyone while not revealing very much about himself. (About the only thing he discusses at length is religion.) Between the play and the film, multiple references are made to the idea of Scripps not participating in events that are going on, instead choosing to write it all down later. Scripps is everyone's confidant. He's the go-between for Posner and Dakin, a close friend -- if not the best friend -- of them both. He also seems to be one of the only boys who accepts Posner for exactly who he is, as evidenced by the fact that Scripps is the only one with whom Posner directly discusses his infatuation with Dakin. Scripps, it seems, is the only one up the job of comforting Posner.
Scripps: Oh Poz, with your spaniel heart, it will pass.Aside from the kindness that Scripps shows Posner while he is struggling with his love for Dakin, there are several other bits of canon that lay the groundwork for Scripps/Posner writers. Before we can discuss the relationship of Scripps and Posner, we must discuss their relationships with Dakin. Posner and Dakin are (arguably) the two main characters of the story.
Posner: Yes, it's only a phase. But who says I want it to pass? But the pain. The pain.
Scripps: Hector would say it's the only education worth having.
Posner: I just wish there were marks for it.
Posner: Sir, I love Dakin.To put it nicely, Dakin is confident. To put it unkindly, Dakin is arrogant. To put it as Scripps does, Dakin is a complacent fuck. He's also handsome and intelligent, and Posner is hopelessly in love with him.
Irwin: Does Dakin know?
Posner: Yes, and doesn't think it's surprising.
Which kind of throws a wrench in the works for this pairing. (It's ok, we'll sort it out in a minute, keep reading.) Dakin is politely distant to Posner, obviously not wanting to encourage any of Posner's feelings toward him. He openly discusses his sexual conquests in front of Posner, although usually he is speaking to Scripps and Posner is sort of trailing along. Is Posner trailing along because his closest friend is Scripps, or because he's in love with Dakin? The answer is probably the latter, although the former obviously contributes to it. When, in the film, Dakin leaves a discussion with Scripps and Posner in order to walk with Lockwood, Posner doesn't follow him—he stays with Scripps.
For all of Dakin's efforts, however, Posner remains firmly in love with him. He serenades him in Hector's class (Scripps, at the piano, turns around and flashes a grin at Dakin). He gets Dakin to take off his pants during Hector's class. Posner lets his feelings for Dakin be known to all, and isn't ashamed of them.
Dakin and Scripps are very good friends. Of all the boys, Dakin seems to be closest to Scripps—certainly they have the largest number of scenes of just the two of them, and their friendship provides a way of revealing characters' thoughts on what is happening or what may happen. They leave no topic undiscussed, but there is one oddity: they never discuss Posner. As much as Dakin tries to pretend that he is unaffected by Posner's affections ("[It's] boring for me"), he clearly isn't. And if he were to tell any one person that, it would probably be Scripps. So why doesn't he? I don't think Scripps would stand for it, frankly. When Dakin is being rude about Irwin after their first class meeting, Scripps is the one to say "Have a heart, he is only five minutes older than we are." If he would defend the new teacher, there's no question that he would jump to the defense of one of his closest friends, and I think Dakin recognizes that.
II. Canon Evidence
In the film, the first relationship we see is the friendship of Posner and Scripps. Posner waits outside of a Catholic church, where Scripps is inside praying for good A-levels results. Scripps comes out, they exchange some banter, and bicycle off together. The entire scene is casual; one gets the impression that a similar encounter happens on a regular basis. Later in the film we see Scripps praying in a chapel before his Oxford interview; Dakin is with him then, and instead of waiting patiently like Posner, he clears his throat to hurry Scripps along. This, I think, says a lot about -- not only the characters, but the varying degrees of friendship among them. Although Scripps appears to be equally close to both Dakin and Posner, he isn't. There's something more to his friendship with Posner.
Posner accompanied by Scripps sings the last verse of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"Why is this stage direction significant? Posner is Jewish. But several times during the play, characters reference Posner's penchant for singing hymns. Posner's father is under the impression that it is Hector's doing, and while that may be true, I also think that it has something to do with Posner's close friendship with Scripps. Scripps is, after all, the only boy among them to have any investment in Catholicism. It would make sense for him to learn to play some hymns, and Posner learns the words to them even though there's nothing forcing him to and it would probably be easier (at home) if he hadn't.
They play piano and sing together, indicating hours spent together practicing and a shared enthusiasm for music the like of which their classmates do not possess. Together they act out the ending scene of Brief Encounter, the only "ending" performed in the film or the play that involves the actors touching; they are close enough and comfortable enough with each other to not mind the fact that they're hugging another man (this is especially potent given that Posner is already out and teased relentlessly for it). At a few points, Posner calls Scripps "Scrippsy" and Scripps calls him "Poz" -- all of these, but especially the last, are sweet touches that imply a certain closeness that none of the other boys share.
Just as they started the film together, so do they end it. When the boys walk out of the empty hall in pairs, Scripps and Posner make up one of those pairs -- while this can be just a coincidence, I think the filmmakers planned it. I think they recognized that Posner and Scripps had a very lasting sort of friendship. We are shown nothing to explain why Scripps and and the other boys are friends, other than the fact that they're year-mates -- if Bennett wrote a sequel and we read that Scripps and the other boys drifted apart during university, would we be terribly surprised? Probably not, except in the case of Posner: for what is a pianist without his accompanist? To many, it's inconceivable that Scripps and Posner would ever stop being friends, for all the reasons I've just explained and probably more. And from that, it is an easy step to thinking that perhaps one day they might fall in love.
III. The Pairing
Scripps: Love can be very irritating, Poz.Scripps/Posner is the kind of pairing that has its roots in a solid friendship, and the love bit kind of sneaks up on them (and you). It's rarely melodramatic or chaotic, instead it gradually builds, strengthening and intensifying until it finally hits a fever pitch. (And then they kiss, you guys.)
Posner: How do you know?
Generally the pairing is depicted from Scripps's point of view. I have two theories as to why this is the case. One, because Scripps is the journalist. In the play he's the one with the most asides. He explains things to the audience and makes little comments. He's the one most likely to write down what goes on in his life.
Dakin: I just wanted to say thank you [to Irwin].Two, because Posner is so forthright in his convictions that it can be almost boring at times. Posner knows what he wants, and he makes sure you know what he wants too. But Scripps? To get to Posner he has to struggle with his sexuality. He has to decide what God would have to say about all this. He has to try to figure out whether or not Posner is still hung up on Dakin. And then he has to work up enough courage to actually do something about it. It makes for a good read.
Scripps: So? Give him a subscription to The Spectator or a box of Black Magic. Just because you've got a scholarship doesn't mean you've got to give him unfettered access to your dick.
Dakin: Well how would you say thank you?
Scripps: On my knees, probably. Same as you. I shall want a full report.
Dakin: Are you jealous?
Scripps: No, not of the sex. Just... of your being up for it. Me, I'm...
Dakin: Oh, write it down.
Speaking of which, the idea of Posner being in love with Dakin is something that each and every author has to deal with. Sometimes Posner has a revelation, sometimes he talks it out (usually with Scripps). Sometimes Posner stops caring, like he tells Irwin he hopes he will. Very often Posner goes out and finds other boys, similar to Dakin -- this is my favorite version of events, as it is at this point when Scripps's protectiveness toward Posner becomes something akin to jealousy.
Often stories center around the boys' years at university: usually Oxford, where they both go in the film -- though occasionally Cambridge, as that is where Posner goes in the play (Scripps's school isn't mentioned). If they don't take place at university, they usually take place post-university, with Posner and Scripps living together (regardless of whether they are a couple or just roommates).
Though the stories can be occasionally heart-wrenching (focused around Posner's breakdown, which is play-canon but not film-canon), for the most part they are sweet, with just the right amount of angst in the middle and a happy ending in the last paragraphs. This is part of the pairing's intrinsic appeal, in my opinion: it's feel-good without necessarily having to be fluffy.
There is always poetry. In keeping with a theme of the story, gobbits are inserted everywhere. All of the boys learn a great deal of poetry from Hector, and fic authors take notice of that.
Also, Scripps underlines things. Always. That's just how he rolls.
IV. Reasons to ship Scripps/Posner
- Because Posner can't be in love with Dakin for his whole life.
- Because the only unsatisfactory part of the play is Posner post-university. Posner, more than any of them, deserves a happy ending. And Scripps can give him that.
- Because it's so damn cute. Just listening to them call each other "Poz" and "Scrippsy" is enough to melt the coldest heart.
- Because they balance each other out. Posner/Scripps works because they have such opposing personalities, but in a way that fits together. If this isn't too cheesy to forgive, they sort of complete each other.
- Because Scripps needs to break his vow of celibacy some time.
V. Links
The community
drinkswithdakin has a massive Posner/Scripps tag.In the History Boys section of the Yuletide archive, there are several other Scripps/Posner fics.
To be completely honest, I'm not aware of any other archives featuring Scripps/Posner, but if I do find any more, I will certainly edit them into the post.
Some of my personal favorites:
now for a breath i tarry and Memento Mori, by
kaydeefallsRosalie Heights or Brief Encounter and just the ash that is left when the fire is gone, by
classics_geek (the second is my absolute favorite of all the fics dealing with Posner's breakdown)to put away childish things, by
solvent90Able was I, ere I saw Elba, by
fiercynnIn Between Dreams, by
bergann
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