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Post by lin212 on Feb 11, 2009 19:47:45 GMT -5
First he has a way of pulling into himself when he needs to portray misery...it's a body language thing, and it makes him look lonely and alone, no matter where he is. . Great observation, diane. We see this in another terrific scene in this episode - David coming back into the Blue Moon office after his encounter with Mr. Hayes. Specifically, the bathroom scene as he washes up and looks into the mirror, his jaw is clenched and he appears to be fighting back the tears. He has hit the bottom. I could imagine him thinking "how much more can I take?" And, as only Bruce can do it, all in silence. He emotes so well. A comment on the photography in this scene. It is awesome - the tri-fold mirror is tilted slightly to capture Bruce from several angles. I can't help but try to look at all sides of his face whenever I watch this scene.
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Post by diane on Feb 11, 2009 20:55:21 GMT -5
Ok....sorry for the delay, but let's try to kick off some of this script stuff.
The script I have is actually a double bonus.....it has pages that show that the episode could have gone two different ways. Let me explain.
The first version has the episode going pretty much as shown (a few little dialogue differences, and maybe David is a little more passive aggressive) until after the restaurant meeting with Mr. Hayes.
David then goes back and has the fight with Agnes.
Next scene finds David back at his apartment, going through piles of dirty clothes until he reaches into a pants pocket and triumphantly comes up with a crumpled check.
Next scene is the scene at the office, when the furniture comes back, and he makes up with the wobblies. He DOES NOT however make up with Agnes, just rushes off promising he has something else to take care of.
Final Scene: Mr Hayes is sitting in the plane. David rushes in, looking cleaner and more pulled together than earlier at the restaurant....his frayed ends pulled together temporarily
DAVID: I owe you.
MR. HAYES: What are you doing here?
DAVID: Going to Chicago. (and then) Because of you, I reached a couple of decisions today. Right decisions. (and then) I've put the office back together. Now I'm going to help Maddie put her life back together. Without me. And David continues down the aisle looking for his seat as.....
Alex, completely taken by surprise, watches David go....and we.... CUT TO BLACK
End of Act Three
Ok, now obviously, Glenn and Kerry Ehrin decided against this scenario. But what do you think? What the heck did David mean? And how would the episode (and indeed the 4th season) have ended up had they done it this way?
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graycav56
3rd Level
I can't imagine not rewatching with you next week.
Posts: 948
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Post by graycav56 on Feb 11, 2009 21:04:49 GMT -5
Boy Diane, unlike some of the other alternatives we talked about on other episodes, I am really happy they didn't go with these changes.
This version didn't give us Dave's heart rendering speech, which would be a great loss. Also, this had a "too easy" resolution to the firm's financial difficulties. The deal made between David and Mr. Hayes made it much more personal and put more cement on the bond between the two men. They now were linked all the way around...family and financially.
The airplane deal also is confusing. He says he is going to Chicago, but then tells Mr. Hayes that he is preparing for Maddie without him....huh? Dude, if you are preparing her life without you, why go to all the trouble of getting on the plane? This little talk had NONE of the pizzaz of the one we finally got. Ah, this was lame. I am so happy it went the other way.
I don't think this would have changed the overall tone of the episode or set up the rest of season 4 any differently. I think even as it went, David went back to rebuilding the company and was still awaiting Maddie's return, on her terms.
Again..I MUCH prefer the way it was finally filmed. OK, now you can all bash me. I like it.
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Post by beesnbears on Feb 11, 2009 21:27:37 GMT -5
Whoa.......that is weird!!
I believe David meant that he was going to step aside, away from Maddie and Blue Moon. This would force Maddie back into the real world and make her come out of hiding. This way she would not be able to say everyone was trying to make decisions for her and she would be forced to either run her company or let it go under. And in some ways taking the pressure off of her, or the stress of trying to figure out their relationship.
David on the other hand, if I am reading his demeanor correctly, is po'd. He is tired of it all and is determined to make Maddie decide---does she want him or not. So, he is going to give her a little taste of her own medicine. However, what bugs me is, in this version, is he walking away from a baby that could be his? Or is he just WAITING again for Maddie to come around? ....playing the game with higher stakes?
Or.....I am completely wrong!!! ;D
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 11, 2009 21:29:13 GMT -5
Ok, now obviously, Glenn and Kerry Ehrin decided against this scenario. But what do you think? What the heck did David mean? I was rather confused...I don't know...it didn't make sense to me. I can't even picture it...you know once the mind expands, it can't go back, lol. And how would the episode (and indeed the 4th season) have ended up had they done it this way? 1. To me the episode would have been confusing and too heavy with the threat of David separating himself purposely as Maddie has: David keeps the hope of his and Maddie's love alive in this episode with his perseverance. Him completely giving up would have been over kill on the tantrums. 2. Simply...Lunar Eclipse would have happened in the 4th season .
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Post by beesnbears on Feb 11, 2009 21:31:51 GMT -5
Ok, now obviously, Glenn and Kerry Ehrin decided against this scenario. But what do you think? What the heck did David mean? And how would the episode (and indeed the 4th season) have ended up had they done it this way? Simple...Lunar Eclipse would have happened in the 4th season . LOL!! ;D I was just thinking that Walter would not have happened.
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Post by diane on Feb 11, 2009 21:34:20 GMT -5
Now...the second treatment........
All of the scenes go in the order they ended up...except the scenes in the doctor's and in the car, which aren't in the script at all......would guess that the show was running short, except for the critical bit of info Maddie reveals in the car about not knowing who the father is.
But generally, there are a lot more things in the script that are being played for laughs. While they are on the airplane luggage falls out of the overhead compartment and hits David, he and Mr. Hayes argue quite loudly and are cheered on by the other passengers. There are several gags about what movies are to be playing, and a lot of banter about Blind Date. The whole mood of the plane scene is changed.
Let me give you an example. Jen posted the dialogue to David's declaration to Mr. Hayes on a thread last night. Compare it to this one from the script:
David: Hey...do you have any idea how I feel about your daughter? Working with her every day, sitting in the office, listening to one more guy tell us his wife packed the car and drove out of his life and he wants us to find the car, and I look over and she's there. Right next to me. Makes my elbows sweat. Four billion people in the world, more than half of 'em built for comfort, and she's the one I wanna give my I.D. bracelet to.
(angrily) But is that enough? Not for Maddie. She needs time. I gotta wait for this one.
David stands up, energized, and paces hard in the open aisle, getting pissed....going after Alex again.
David (heating up): You know what I have to swallow on this one woman diet? Do you? My pride, my personality, every last piece of who I am!
He smacks the overhead luggage compartment...
David: Dammit!
It opens and several bags drop down on a passenger....David catches them, fumbling a little, and tries to wedge them back in, angrily, but they won't stay, and he loses his temper, stuffing them back in the compartment, violently, as the passengers recoil a little bit, but watch him fascinated. He slams the compartment shut one, two, three times before it latches, and then he continues
David: Maybe it's me...maybe it's me, but I don't think so. I tried to wear the white hat, went to her house in the middle of the night, heart on my damned sleeve, ready and willing to promise her the moon, and excuse me but I was intercepted by someone who had already given it to her.
(cutting a wide swath now)
David: So I waited, waited until she was ready to decide between him and me, and she finally did, or so I thought, and we had all of a month together, until one morning, I shoulda seen it coming, she was gone!
(Bangs the bathroom door with his fist)
David: GONE
A passenger comes out of the bathroom, frightened and hurries toward the back of the plane.
David: You think that was easy? You think that was a good day? So I told her I'd wait again (and then) And the next thing I know, she's pregnant!
...an ooooooooh from the crowd....
David: Pregnant! With a baby that might be mine! Sure she's confused and doesn't know who the father is and she's trying to sort through all this, but she wasn't even going to tell me. You know how that makes a man feel? So what'd I do? What'd I do? Jump on my horse, sound the bugle, go out and fight the good fight? Hell no! I sat at the ranch and waited some more, just like she ordered....I waited and waited and waited and waited!
And you know why? Cause I love her. That's why. I love her. (and then)
Marry her? I'd marry her in a minute. I've asked, Pal. SHE said no. So don't come around here looking for someone to blame. I put my cards on the table...my heart on my sleeve. Love her? Marry her? Hell....I'd drink her bathwater after eight games of racketball. But she won't even let me in the tub!
Crowd noise, urging him on.
David: I said everything I wanted to say. Except......It's over Mr. Hayes. That whole attitude is history. Like I said, I'm not the bad guy here. I'm not saying Maddie's the bad guy either. She's just got this thing about control. If she's not IN control, she loses control, and she has problems with me because I won't give it to her. But I gave it to her when she left, and now, finally...I'm taking it back. I'll wait, but I won't be "waiting'. No more moping or banging up cars or sleeping on the beach, or even, that's right, letting the business slide. You were wrong today. I wasn't giving up on Maddie, or the baby, and I won't. But I was giving up on me. No more.
No more new formula David. I'm going back to the old classic now. (and then)
It's time for Maddie to start missing me!
He stops, exhausted, and the crowd cheers loudly.
Aloex looks at David long and hard, not quite knowing what to say, and then David ...a little spent...but satisfied...straightens himself up and starts down the aisle.
He then stops to make a bad joke about the movie "Blind Date" to the other passengers.
Soooooooo...am I making a big deal about nothing here? Do you like this version? Better or worse than the one that aired? Are there things that you might have liked in the aired version that are here?
What about the mood? Do you like it being played out for an audience, or the way it aired?
Enquiring minds want to know!!!
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Post by beesnbears on Feb 11, 2009 21:49:32 GMT -5
Great googly moogly!! I LOVE how David is taking back control on his part. I would have liked to have seen it. It's time for Maddie to start missing me! I would have liked to have heard that, I think. As much as I love Maddie, she might have responded to a little reverse psychology!! And I do think that it is funny using the other passengers for comic relief. But, we would have missed THE SPEECH!! I don't know. Bruce was so good. Maybe keep the scene just between him and Mr. Hayes, but add some of the dialog in this version. ......but I was intercepted by someone who had already given it to her.Hmmmm......can anyone say double entendre........
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 11, 2009 22:01:13 GMT -5
Do you like this version? No
Better or worse than the one that aired? WorseAre there things that you might have liked in the aired version that are here? No (although I like the bathwater line)What about the mood? Doesn't capture the seriousness of the situation, down plays the anger and sincerity of David.Do you like it being played out for an audience, or the way it aired? The way it airedEnquiring minds want to know!!!
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 11, 2009 22:04:24 GMT -5
[b ]......but I was intercepted by someone who had already given it to her[/b]. Hmmmm......can anyone say double entendre........ [/quote] Totally, LOL ;D
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Post by jpen on Feb 11, 2009 22:46:42 GMT -5
Soooooooo...am I making a big deal about nothing here? Do you like this version? Better or worse than the one that aired? Are there things that you might have liked in the aired version that are here? What about the mood? Do you like it being played out for an audience, or the way it aired? Enquiring minds want to know!!! I have to say, I definitely like the aired version better. There are some good lines here--"It's time for Maddie to be missing me!"--but overall, this version dilutes the intensity of the aired version, because of the interactions with the other passengers & stage business with the luggage. The passengers' reactions are played for comedy in a situation that should be, IMO, much more serious. David is opening his heart to Mr. Hayes (who is standing in for Maddie here), articulating his feelings in a way he never has before (and never will again, unfortunately)--it should be, I think, a private moment between them. I personally think the one we saw is written so brilliantly, and Bruce plays it like a symphony. They done good. Diane: do you happen to know whether Bruce ad-libbed any of the final product? Just curious... PS. For those who are interested, the transcript of the Big Speech is on page 4 of this thread.
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Post by beesnbears on Feb 11, 2009 22:47:09 GMT -5
Just wondering? Did Bruce have any say on how the scene should be played?
Also, it is funny to me that they would use passengers as "the audience"! It's like WE are THEM! ....I would have been cheering David on for sure! LOL!!
I am kind of leaning towards liking the way it was aired better only because up to this point David's angst has built up so much that he has to eventually tell someone how the whole thing has effected him. He never thought it would be Mr. Hayes he unloaded on, but it was the right person for sure. THE SPEECH was the climax of the whole situation up until this point.
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gorky
1st Level
Posts: 72
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Post by gorky on Feb 11, 2009 22:47:54 GMT -5
So I didn't get a chance to do the whole rewatching thing with you guys last night, but I was reading through the thread today, and when I saw that diane planned on posting script excerpts, I decided I'd break the rules and offer my two cents anyway. First off, thank you so much for giving us that alternate scene, diane--I love when those of you with scripts share with the rest of us 'essed' folks. In answer to your questions (and keeping in mind that the only part of FKL I've rewatched is the Speech to End All Speeches)... It has its moments, but overall, I prefer the version that aired. Part of what makes the "real" scene so powerful is David's earnest conviction, his hurt-tinged anger--playing it for laughs just feels wrong. The sap in me likes that David says he loves Maddie not once, but twice (although "I'm crazy about her" also accomplishes the job quite nicely in the version that aired). And, for some reason, I really like "Makes my elbows sweat"--it's a very Dave-ish line. And this-- She's just got this thing about control. If she's not IN control, she loses control, and she has problems with me because I won't give it to her. But I gave it to her when she left, and now, finally...I'm taking it back.--even if it was said somewhere else in the course of season four, would've gone a long way towards making Maddie's actions seem a bit less horrible. Plus, it's always great when David offers such amazing insights--it shows that he really has been paying attention.
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Post by beesnbears on Feb 11, 2009 22:49:53 GMT -5
Jpen, you know what they say........mediocre minds........ LOL!
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Post by rose35 on Feb 11, 2009 22:50:23 GMT -5
Soooooooo...am I making a big deal about nothing here? Do you like this version? Better or worse than the one that aired? Are there things that you might have liked in the aired version that are here? What about the mood? Do you like it being played out for an audience, or the way it aired? Enquiring minds want to know!!! --------First Diane a BIG thanks so much for sharing this here with us! And OHHHHHHHH ummmmmmmm WOW,ok ,the first part you posted kinda weird and like blah and like what are you talking about David, you are going to see Maddie to tell her youre out of her life? Yeah couldnt you like call her or write her a note, but face to face is better umm no youll see her shell see you, and sparks will fly LOL hmmm but maybe theat would have worked out i always wanted David to have gone to Chicago, been able to be at Maddies parents house and just corner her in her own home, how could she have said no to him .But it wasnt played that way. Oh well. The new speech you just posted and the whole feel of the comedy aspect of it, well i didnt like the comedy part of it cause this was a serious situation, kinda downplays or upplays David's non seriousness in life dont ya think? I did love a couple added lines but mostly it wasnt the grab you by the heart kinda speech that made you the audience and well Maddies father believe this guy was a good decent guy who loved Maddie with all his heart, Bruce was amazing in this speech, yes one of the best scenes of his ever! if this was other speech when shot,well i guess we would have loved it not knowing the one that was used. But alot of people said ML had become to serious and of course that was true ,even though it was always both comedy-drama,so maybe the first speech was written that way due to that, but then they decided hey this is serious so we need to make some changes. Wish there was deleted scenes from a LE script showing M/D got back together LOL Ok i'm a dreamer what can i say!
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