Reading Room XVI: The Good Morning Soldiers by Madelein Lee - Third in the Carnal Interests Trilogy

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Title: The Good Morning Soldiers
Author: Madelein Lee
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Link to story: The Good Morning Soldiers

This last story in the series is during the time from Cry Wolf, to Spy Probe. And Doyle is feeling some unexpected insecurity.



From Susan Grant, to assigning them to separate jobs, to partnering them with other agents, Doyle is slowly having his fill. After Doyle's cover is blown during an op, he becomes even more suspicious. Their boss is up to something.

But then Cowley starts pairing them up again, and things seem to be going well until Doyle is shot and he's sure Cowley set it all up. After Bodie tells him that Cowley would have to have known that Doyle's cover would once again be blown, Doyle tells him everything he suspects about Cowley. It takes some talking, but finally Bodie accepts that what Doyle is telling him is true.

Unfortunately, Bodie's solution to the problem is something Doyle would never contemplate—killing Cowley.

Doyle tries to change Bodie's mind, and Bodie lets him think he has. But Doyle is being sent off to rehab and Bodie sees it as the perfect opportunity to deal with Cowley.

He's helped in that endeavor by the fact that Cowley is being watched by the KGB. So Bodie begins "courting" Cowley, going out for drinks with the man, or taking him out to dinner. Soon, he has the KGB convinced that they are having an affair. When confronted with their "evidence," Bodie agrees to help them get evidence against Cowley.

So at his next visit to Cowley's home, he opens the curtains so that the KGB can take pictures. At the same time he feeds Cowley a story about Doyle being paranoid, using everything Doyle had said to him, but pretending that he didn't believe it. He ends by saying that he thinks Doyle should be invalidated out of CI5. It's all Cowley needs to hear.

As another week goes by, Bodie continues his seduction. Finally, Cowley's defenses are down enough for him to believe Bodie when he says he wants Cowley. He ends us giving Cowley a blow job and then exposes the KGB agent who was taking pictures. Cowley shoots the man—and then Bodie shoots Cowley.

The story ends with Doyle about to be released from rehab. He hasn't thought of a way out of their dilemma. And then the phone rings.


I've always wondered if a fourth story was planned because we're left not knowing what the future holds for the lads. So my questions this time are:

1. What do you imagine happens next? Does Bodie get away with murder? Does CI5 continue?

2. What do think Doyle's reaction is going to be to Cowley's murder?

3. It's never clearly stated that Cowley is, in fact, trying to have Doyle killed. Do you think that's really something he would do in order to have what he wants?

Comments

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I haven't read these stories but as a general comment I'd say I probably won't because I do believe Cowley is an honourable man. For me, this plot line is to much of a stretch. I can't imagine Cowley lusting after any of his men or ever working against his country. Bodie sounds even worse. I know he was a merc but I don't think he was a ruthless killer. So for me, I'm keeping on my rose coloured glasses.

Thanks!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I believe Cowley to be a basically honorable man, but I can forego that opinion for the story. I do see him as ruthless, though up until now that ruthlessness has been focused for good. But since I do believe that power corrupts, it's not that big of a stretch for me to imagine Cowley focusing that ruthlessness for something he wants.

And I can see Bodie killing in order to protect Doyle. I think he would have to be more sure of the facts, but I can see him doing it.

I guess my glasses aren't as tinted. *g*

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

My question would be more fundamental: What could be the interest in watching or writing "Pros" if the watcher or writer doesn't take Cowley's honour and integrity for granted? For it's the most basic feature of the show. If Bodie and Doyle aren't Cowley's loyal agents, what are they? Just good-looking studs? What's the meaning of a partnership not involving the partners' mission, professional duty and commitment to the organization and its Head? What is left? Just a m/m love story? How boring and insignificant!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Actually, there being a question about their leader's integrity could make for some interesting scenarios, some that are not cleared up by the end of the episode. Bodie and Doyle could be loyal agents of the agency, which would probably be better, considering that power like that usually has a corrupting influence.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Just to say, I love that idea.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Thanks. And thinking about it, I suppose it could be something like in the X-Files. Is the boss on their side, the other side, or somewhere in the middle?

[jessebee.livejournal.com]

Gotta say up front that while I like the writing, these stories are not high on my list. I just can't really see this Cowley. But on to the questions:

1. Yeah, I think Bodie would get away with it, as far as the law is concerned, anyway. And CI5 does continue - nothing like having the leader murdered to bring out the "we will survive" spirit.

2. Doyle's reaction, though, is not good. Whether Bodie confesses to it or not, Doyle is going to have suspicions, because it's just all a bit too ... convenient, shall we say. It's going to put quite a strain on their relationship either way.

3. This Cowley? Yes, he would.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I'm inclined to agree with you about Doyle, though I think ultimately he'd come around.

And, yes, this Cowley I think would do just about anything to get what he wants. Canonically, I don't see him as being that ruthless, and, truthfully, I tend to think of him as being almost asexual, but I can, and do, enjoy these stories.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Okay - I said I'd read them and I'd comment, so here I am. ;-)

I was really intrigued at how this series started: a Cowley and Doyle playing a grand game of chess, with Bodie as the prize. Many things at stake, and very high stakes, indeed.

But in order for this to work (at least for me), there were a few things that had to happen. One is a Cowley who would do anything for CI5 - and if he got a little personal gratification out of it, maybe an added bonus to boot. But, sadly, that didn't happen.

His primary motivation became getting Bodie. It didn't occur to him that he'd be a KGB target, and it didn't occur to him (careless, maybe?) that indulging in this pursuit could put CI5 at risk. And that's when this stopped being plausible.

And that's kind of sad. I think there were ways of telling this story that would've kept it closer to the characters and had that wonderful ending. And I don't want to tell someone how to write their own story (and I actually think her writing style, and her Doyle, and very good), but it just didn't work for me.

About the questions:


1. What do you imagine happens next? Does Bodie get away with murder? Does CI5 continue?

Actually, I think that Bodie does get away with it. There'll be an inquest, and he'll have to be careful he doesn't screw up his story, but I think he's up to it. Not sure it matters whether CI5 continues; but I do think Bodie and Doyle continue.

Which leads to...

2. What do think Doyle's reaction is going to be to Cowley's murder?

Oh, he'll be mighty pissed - and concerned. But it's a done deal, and Bodie did it to protect him / them, so I think he'll protect Bodie in turn.

Plus I'm not sure the ending doesn't suggest that he wasn't coming around to the idea anyway. That one sentence - 'It wasn't the best plan, but short of murdering Cowley, he couldn't come up with anything else.' - can be taken as a joke or an offhanded comment, but it also can be taken as him approaching his wits' end.

3. It's never clearly stated that Cowley is, in fact, trying to have Doyle killed. Do you think that's really something he would do in order to have what he wants?

You know, that's a good question. Because it would have made Bodie's plan completely misguided... :all thinky:

I was convinced that Cowley was trying to get rid of Doyle, and that it was actually beginning to head in the direction of murder (because other things weren't working). My problem, as stated above, isn't whether that is something he'd do to get what he wants, since there's canon indications he would; it's what he wants - Bodie - and whether he'd endanger CI5 to get it. And I don't think he would.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I think it says a lot about the writing that readers, and I'm one of them, can be so sure that Cowley is trying to get Doyle killed without it actually ever being said. Part of that may be that we do think Cowley would do just about anything to get what he wants. That it's Bodie, as I've said previously I tend to see Cowley as being almost asexual, does make it a bit harder to swallow.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

First I must say how much I enjoy your summaries. They're really good. And, as before, I love this group of stories and have said so before (eg, in this review of D-Notice, which contains this story: http://discoveredinalj.livejournal.com/241458.html).

The questions:

1: Absolutely, I presumed Bodie gets away with it. The only question for me was whether Doyle realises what Bodie has done. The future of CI5 is probably the more pressing thing, because if there's no CI5, then they have lost the thing that holds them so tightly together. Eep. I hadn't thought of that.

2: In these stories, Doyle has come to hate and fear what Cowley is up to. I can see his reaction being relief and grim satisfaction. Whether he's still so relieved on realising whodunnit, I don't know. It does tie them together with an awful secret. I personally can go with them doing a *lot* to keep their secret and therefore stay both together and employed: the question for me is how much that changes them.

3: I absolutely didn't notice that, but you're right. It isn't stated. So, hmm. I think, yes, that in this series of stories, yes, he is. If not consciously plotting, then perhaps casting Doyle into God's hands: it's up to fate whether Doyle returns or doesn't. Very Biblical (David and... erm. Uriah? for example) He can pretend he sent Doyle off for a job because he was the best man for the job.

The Cowley is this is one of the more villainous Cowleys in Pros fiction, but I can think of two others where he is at least as bad. I like them all! Even in the programme, we see Cowley getting CI5 involved in things based on his own personal morals, not because they really are 'anarchy... acts of terror...' (etc, that quote in the original opening footage). I have never bought the idea that he would condone a relationship between Bodie and Doyle: it's just infeasible to me. But the idea that he himself has an interest... interesting! And I like the way they're written.

Thanks for taking these on. I have enjoyed them, and you've pointed out some things I had totally not noticed!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

The future of CI5 is probably the more pressing thing, because if there's no CI5, then they have lost the thing that holds them so tightly together. Eep. I hadn't thought of that.

I'm inclined to think that CI5 would continue. But even if it didn't, I do think that, though it's the agency that brought them together, there's more between them than just that.

I absolutely didn't notice that, but you're right. It isn't stated. So, hmm. I think, yes, that in this series of stories, yes, he is. If not consciously plotting, then perhaps casting Doyle into God's hands: it's up to fate whether Doyle returns or doesn't. Very Biblical (David and... erm. Uriah? for example) He can pretend he sent Doyle off for a job because he was the best man for the job.

Oh, wow, I hadn't that of that, but you're right. Even if somehow Cowley could convince himself that he was only sending Doyle because he's the best man for the job, he has to know that he's sending him into more danger than another agent would face.

And I don't have a problem with a somewhat villainous Cowley, maybe because, as I've stated before, I can't help but believe that the power he holds would have some corrupting influence. As you say, we see some example of that in the show, him getting the agency into situations just because he can.

No, I don't think he'd condone Bodie and Doyle's relationship, either. Not just because of the times, but because, for me, Cowley comes off as by the book when it comes to his men's behavior, and, yes, very much a man of those times.

Glad you enjoyed the summaries. That's always nice to hear!

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I'm lagging behind horribly, but I just had to say thank you for doing this - I've enjoyed your commentary/summaries and enjoyed reading the series. They'll never be my favourite fics, but they've made me think a great deal ( never a bad thing *g*).

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't go so far as to say they're my favorites, either, but I do find them intriguing. Probably because the set-up is one not greatly used. And they do make you think. How plausible is the scenario, would Bodie kill for Doyle, or vise versa?

Glad you enjoyed the commentaries and the stories. :-)