MovieChat Forums > The Crying Game (1993) Discussion > What was Col (the bartender) going to te...

What was Col (the bartender) going to tell Fergus? (SPOILERS)


When Col realizes that Fergus fancies Dil, he starts to tell him "Look, you should know that she is....." and then changes his mind.

When I watched this scene, knowing the forthcoming twist, I thought he was about to disclose that Dil is a man. However, after the reveal it becomes abundantly clear that the Metro is a trans bar; anybody who walks into a trans bar would likely already be fully aware that any girl in that bar (especially the manly looking ones) probably has a schlong.

So what would Col have had to tell Fergus that he shouldn't already know?

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It depends. Maybe Col noticed that Fergus somehow failed to realise that it was a trans bar? That would go well with his later saying "Who knows the secrets of a human heart?".

But I do agree (now) that it is more likely that he meant to say something else. Perhaps he intended to warn him that Dil was emotionally difficult? Or that she had just recently lost her lover - I don't remember Col knowing if Fergus knew. And seeing as how Col and Dil seemed to know each other so well, I think it would make sense for him to watch out for her. After all, he also had his opinion about Dave. Or maybe I'm interpreting too much into Col's and Dil's relationship?

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Great point about Dil's emotional difficulty. Especially with recently losing Jody that would definitely be something to warn an admirer about. If Col and Dil were close this would make sense too - he could argue that he is only watching out for his friend.

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Do you think they were close? I like to think so, especially seeing as how Fergus sent Dil to Col after she shot down Jude, which I don't think he would've done had he not perceived them as friends. Then again, maybe Fergus and I both don't see quite clear.

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Yes, I think Col was going to tell Fergus that Dil was a man. *However: I think that this was purposeful foreshadowing for the audience. As well as how we perceive the bar after the reveal. When you rewind the movie after finding out that Dil is a "he", the bar is no different but now we really understand what kind of bar it is. I think if you (the viewer) were genuinely surprised at Dil being a man, then you suddenly pick up on all the hints that were laid out during the movie and realize it's very clever. It's like how you found out who Tyler Durden really was but the hints were shown in Fight Club all along.

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are you kidding? Some trans look ten times better and more 'real' than some women;
In fact-the reality of walking into a bar where most women look too good to be true even 'over the top' should have clued him in, instead

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