Revision

I've been away from this blog for awhile.. but I plan to read TBWHM again this spring.

You will note that my timeline here is seriously in conflict with the one Pete published at the end. I had not read Lifehouse, or the transcript of Psychoderelict before TBWHM and making these notes.

I will leave these notes without revision - I made a lot of guesses and assumptions about events when I could not coorelate them with other chronological anchors. Because of the "unreliable narratation" nature of the storytelling - they may be typical of the disorientation that the "experiencer" of this story may feel, however it comes to be told.

Thank you Pete and all bloggers - 'tis been fun.

BABY HYMIE

b. 1980? d. 198x? (sometime before the first Method concert)
Son of Gabriel (age about 18) with his fan Angie.

RUTH STREETING

Tabloid journalist. Her star was rising in the 80's as she was tearing Ray's to shreds. Rastus and Ruth later spurred him to a brief comeback in Psychoderilict. (93).

RASTUS KNIGHT

Ray's lascivious manager. Always knowing Ray had another comeback in him.

In the mid-80s? Rastus conspired with his lover, Ruth Streeting, to force Ray back into stardom only to let him fall even harder back into obscurity. Ray's descent into madness begins with this treachery from his friend and manager with this journalist who had damaged his reputation before.

ANGIE

Angie is a fan that Gabriel impregnates (in his late teens?, about the same time as Leila's rape) She is: rather likeable, accessible, ordinary faery-blonde.

He will only learn he has a son, Hymie, after he is married to Leila.

VICTORIA

VICTORIA
c. 1972, little more than half Gabriel's age

Leila creates Victoria as a virtual subscriber to the Method in a deceit parallel to Ruth Streeting's buildup-knock down, publish all the while, trashing of Ray. Victoria is modeled after a younger Leila and has other resonances that draw Gabriel in.

c. 1988 Voyeur Gabriel falls for virtual Victoria. He gives her one of the pivotal songs from the Method. 'Only One Hymie' becomes a macabe hit. This punctures Gabrial who has recently discovered, and then lost his son, Hymie (by Angie). Young Hymie died in a car crash which Gabriel shares responsibility for.

Gabriel is so taken by Victoria that he falls 'out of life and love' with his wife, Leila. Ironic that Victoria is based on Leila.

2002 When Josh drives up in his limosine, Gabriel hopes it is Victoria coming to visit, he still loves her.

2002 (November) On the phone to Josh from New York, we hear that Josh has fallen for Victoria as well. Leila has lost both the men she loved to her creation.

METHOD

The Method -
1969 (When Leila is five... Earlier if you count Ray's contemplations)
The means of reaching perfect music for each listener by means of (mirrored, reflected) feedback from the audience in combination with the performers and other members of the audience.

Ray and Damoo have discussed this from the time the TRIO were small children. . Perhaps that is where Leila got the first idea while playing with leaves.

1971 Ray gave a lecture predicting a global grid at his Art College

1980 The Trio decides Ray was way ahead of available technology in 1971, but that they could complete his work. They decide they need a method, with a 'M' (see the TRIO)

ROSALIND NATHAN

Rosalind Nathan
b. 1958? (guess a generation younger than Ray.)
c. 1967 (from PD. she is 15 or less in the picture, half Ray's age)

A fan who introduced herself with a naked photograph. Her unique feature: 'witches teats'.

Rosalind is a fiction - the photograph of Rosalind naked on a grave is a picture of a young Ruth Streeting.

Ray (a lost, glass half full, displaced rock star) mentors fan Rosalind in the mid 80's leading up to a comeback, crash and PD. (93).

Ray tried to tutor Rosalind as an artist and lent her a song. (Like the Gabriel - Victoria liason)

Ruth Streeting created this ruse to draw Ray back into public life, but Ray figured it out and stayed a little ahead of her.

Note:I needed to read a transcripton of PD to understand this.
Note: I guess Ray never met Rosalind in person to discover this deception. He must have carried on this affair via mail or early computer dial up 'chat' systems.

PHILLIP

PHIL
b. 1962 The fifth member of GLASS, with Dotty and the TRIO.
Phil was the friend that introduced Gabriel to the Sea Scouts.

(Phil) 'played guitar very well, though not to Gabriel’s standard on piano. He was a rather ordinary boy, backward with girls, forward with off-the-cuff humour and ready wit'

DOTTY

DOTTY
b. 1963.. 1965 ? (contemporary with the TRIO)
A classic blonde doll. A school chum of Leila. Girlfriends - conspiritors and competitors. Played violin until grade 5. Performs with GLASS in a backing role.

TRILBY

TRILBY PIRELLI
AUNT TRILBY
b. 1941
Gabriel’s aunt. Eventually marries Hymie who is ten years younger.
Trilby was a good and patient surrogate mother for Gabriel. Inexpert piano player, competent teacher.“ Not a beauty, blond lanky hair, teeth protruding and not of good color”. Sometimes psychic.
(Trilby is Donnie Pirelli's sister – 'older by a good few years')

DAMOO IRANI

DAMOO IRANI
b. 1942 close in age to Ray High

A good father to Leila. Businessman, known to dress up like Eddie Cochren but looking like Elvis. Plays guitar.

1972 With Ray High, forms BBZee, A technology oriented media / production/ distribution company. The TRIO will use the facilities of BBZee often.

HYMIE

HYMIE, UNCLE HYMIE
Myrna’s younger brother. Hymie lives with Josh and can pass as Josh’s older brother.
b. 1952 d. 1979? (or sometime before 1982, only one year after being wed to Gabrial's aunt Trilby (1978? their courtship occured after the 1976 death of Morry and the young TRIO producing TRLIBY'S PIANO to bring Myrna around to acceptance of their romance)
Hymie is handsome, but in more common way then Josh, a future accountant or public official if Myrna has her way. Unimaginative.
(Is there really only ONE Hymie?)

THE TRIO

THE TRIO. Gabriel, Josh and Leila are introduced to the reader at age 5-7 In some ways the children seem to be a composite character, many things happen to the three together.

1980 (winter) the first or second winter for Ray High in his Glass House at Cleeve. At BBZee, the Trio watch a videotape of Ray's 1971 presentation at the Art College.
RAY
‘I believe we will all be connected by a global grid of computers.. '
‘I believe entertainment on this grid will be just like life. I believe that on this grid we will experience more lives than one in this lifetime. I believe this could be a fucking nightmare.'

‘I believe music is our only hope. I believe music can reflect who we really are – like a mirror. I believe that each of us has our own unique music.'

‘I believe that that music can help us open a door in the mirror. I believe we will all eventually pass through this door. I believe that on the other side all our music will make a perfect symphony. I believe that that perfect music, that Perfect Music, will reflect God.’

After some discussion, Josh concludes (for the Trio):
‘It was a premature vision. We can complete this work. But we need a method. A method with a capital ‘M’. We need a Method.’

1983 (from chapter two) the boys were 20 and Leila 18
‘We grew up.’Gabriel switches pictures again, this time the three of them are together as teenagers in 1983, posing, art students pretending to be rock stars. And formed a rock band. We became famous and powerful.’This last word Gabriel speaks with affection and irony as he enunciates every word slowly, like a spoiled gourmand enjoying the first choice from a box of very expensive chocolates.‘We married, tortured and fought each other. In the process we showed the world the real truth behind what was called (among other things) rock ‘n’ roll. Together, we worked a miracle’.

2025 or 2035
Ray notes a calander in his room shows the year 2035 but he can't quit figure out if he is 80 or 90... but he describes the couple in the next room as around 60. Leila and Josh would have been 60 and 62 in 2025... so this is a little fuzzy. 10 years fuzzy.

Near the end of the story (2035) they all appear to Ray High in his Ether. (In the asylum, or in the VOX BOX)

LEILA IRANI

LEILA IRANI
b. 1964 parents DAMOO and mom??. Muslim living in London.

1967 Leila’s mother dies and is buried in Calcutta

1969 at age 5 almost 6. Ragtag Kashmiri dress. Parsi. Muslim, motherless, she lives with dad and his mother in somewhat nicer housing than Gabriel and Josh. Leila could fly. Confidant. “fearsome and masculine” thinking – direct - as when she kisses the boys to head off trouble.

1975 The boys form a bond of confidence with Leila.

1976 Leila conceives the play "Trilby's Piano" as a means of getting widowed Myrna to accept Trilby and Hymie's romance.

1978? The TRIO, plus Phil and Dotty form a band "The Glass Household" named from an aborted title for Ray's last album.

1979 The band meets regularly at BBZee. The young teens have all matured and both boys have fallen in love with Leila. Gabrial will win her hand in marraige. (the scene with the fox)

The 80s
'GLASS' is a huge success.

In her late teens, Leila becomes somewhat a wild child and incautious. She is raped 'while flying'. Gabrial & Josh pick her up and help her mend.

Leila will ascend in the ownership and management of the Grid + BBZee.
Eventually she will be Director General of the Grid and own 49% of BBZee.

198x? Leila is given control of creative content on the grid after GLASS first sells 5 million records.

198x? Marries Gabriel.

198x? Leaves Gabriel over his bad habits, former girlfriend and infatuation with Victoria. (V for virtual)

19xx? Marries Josh (or not?)

JOSH CASS

JOSH CASS
b. 1962 parents Morry and Myrna.
Morry is a traveling salesman of hair products.
Myrna is Hymie’s older sister. They are devout Jews.

In 1969 at age 7, Josh lives upstairs from Gabriel with Morry, Myrna and Uncle Hymie. Described as having “male beauty” very attractive to both sexes when mature. Perfect features, he ages gracefully. Open, accepting, accessible.

From childhood, Josh “hears voices”: Past, present and future if you accept that at least one voice is that of Old Man Gabriel speaking through the VOX-BOX in the Ether, perhaps from the hereafter.

1980s
He is a key member of GLASS. He writes most of the lyrics for the Method.
Terribly in love with Leila, he has a mental breakdown at Gabriel and Leila's wedding. This is the first indication his voices may be symptoms of Schizophrenia.

19xx Leila goes to Josh after her marriage to Gabriel fails.

2002 Broke and cutoff by Leila, he goes to Gabriel to beg for permission and help in performing a show using the Method.

2025 ..2035 ?? Josh may be incarcerated in the same asylum Ray has been in since 2004. (He may have been in a prison hospital before transferring to the asylum)

GABRIEL PIRELLI

GABRIEL PIRELLI
b. 1962 parents DONNIE and CONNIE, entertainers. 'Lapsed christians'

Note: PT's parents were CLIFF and BETTY C&B -> D&C.

Neglected in his early years,traveling with his parent's troupe.
1967 at age 5. His parents travel extensively and leave Gabriel in the care of aunt TRILBY
1969 at age 7. Good looking boy. Shy, but strongest runner, wrestler. Loyal. Gabriel could 'hear music' so we assume he is the boy referenced in the title.
1975 at age 13. Wears a Yarmulke (from Josh) and sunglasses. A bit of attitude, ya think. Begins to study piano and progresses rapidly. A prodigy. He hears 'his' music while playing the organ at church. This improvisation may be his death mass.

1975 He is abused while in Sea Scouts, by the Mate and an older scout. Pictures will later surface on the internet.

1979 In his teens, begins drinking in earnest at 16, a rising rocker and a sex addict. As a young adult (1982?) he impregnates Angie who will bear a son, Hymie. Gabriel is unaware he has a son until after he marries Leila.

Mid 80s - Gabriel marries Leila... Leila, Gabriel, Josh and the band, GLASS, are reaching great success, but the couple is childless and the relationship is brought down by Gabriels drinking and anxieties. The Method is Leila's baby, but Gabriel secures the Grand Rights to The Method while Leila is busy with her rise to power in the business world.

1989 Gabriel is 27
Gabrial falls for Victoria as he watches her on conoles at BBZee. He shares 'victomhood' with her as he has seen her via web-cam being abused by a cousin. In an attempt to nuture and tutor Victoria, he gives her one of the pivotal songs in the Method. This voyourism and Leila's discovery of his child with Angie, will be the end of his relationship with Leila.

2002 Gabriel is petitioned by Josh to allow a Method concert on the Grid.
2004 Gabriel buys Ray's Glass house... Ray is preparing to enter the sanitarium.

2035 Gabrial is only seen in the VOX-BOX

RAY HIGHSMITH

RAY HIGHSMITH b. Acton 1945
parents JACK andROSALYND a conjurer and a singer, respectivly.
a.k.a. Spin, Spinner, Ray High.
Ray High is introduced (in 2003) as the Narrator of TBWHM for the period 2003.. 2035
1950 at age 5 is not given much attention. “the show must go on” Parents are immature and busy with each other and career more than with child rearing. He is left in the care of his incompetent grandmother who abuses him.
1962 (Spin) at 17 – An art student. Meets Harold Silverman who doesen’t like 2D things.
Spin plays in R&B and rock bands in England and becomes famous.
Note: (A lot like PT. Or a composite of mid 60s British Invasion rockers)
1967 travels to Calcutta to meet guru, BOLLO. (about when PT went to learn from Meher Baba)
1969? Describes self as a “spiritual seeker and self-immolating religious flagellant.. “
1971 at age 26, Ray High. Predicts the GRID to an indifferent art-school audience. A rock star, married with two daughters, 2yr and new. Returning to London from Scotland for the underground (Lifehouse?) concert. Ray is becoming addicted to everything - smoking, drinking, crack, “abused and an abuser.”
1972 RAY and DAMOO go into business forming BBZee studios.
1975 RAY likes pop music and thinks ABBA’s “SOS” is the best pop song he has heard. Describes successful pop music as beatific and having a place in pop nirvana.
Note: (ABBA is an anagram of BABA, 1 of 6)
1985 Lectures about the GRID again.
2004 Ray sells his house to Gabriel and moves to a mental hospital, seemingly of his own free will.
2003.. 2035.. Ray seeks his beloved In the Ether, in a mental hospital of some sort. (waiting for Gabriel or someone like him) Josh and Leila seem to reside or visit in a room across the cafeteria from Ray’s room at some time (2035)

Character bible for TBWHM

I plan to re-read the installments of TBWHM (to 18 at this time) and pick out items that relate to the biography of each character.

Can't help myself, after spending time as an intern for a filmmaking company, I do this to keep track of continuity whenever reading scripts... and this story seems to be like a narrated teleplay.

I will make one post per character, and edit them as I get more detail.
Dave S.