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... I think I've now reached "pathetically obsessed"
The Highlander DVDs have all the scripts. ALL THE SCRIPTS, YOU GUYS. And I, like the obsessed little fangirl I am, have been reading them.
In my defense (sort of), I'm basically skimming favorite scenes to see how things changed from the shooting script to the final version. The actors ad-lib a lot and it's fun to see what bits they put in. And, also, seeing the directions to the actors is really interesting because it gives me a better idea of where the writers were headed with the characters' motivations and so forth.
Still. PATHETICALLY OBSESSED, that is me.
I also ran into something at the end of "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" where some things were switched around and it actually changes the meaning of the scene a little bit, compared to how it was originally written. Originally, Methos's "We all have mistakes to forgive" line was spoken by Duncan, and the reconciliation was a great deal more than just subtext.
The scene as written went like this:
It's interesting that the final version of the scene leaves things a little more ambiguous between them; I still think they're definitely getting there, but the emotional fallout of the Horsemen arc isn't tied up quite as neatly. It looks like the original intent with the script was to make the callbacks to Duncan and Methos's falling-out more explicit, and they toned it down a bit in the final version.
While I'm quoting things from the scripts anyway, I think I'm just gonna quote the entirety of that final, cut scene on the barge, from the series finale. Because ... just ... OH, EVERYBODY. ♥
"THE PEOPLE HE LOVES." IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE SCRIPT. ♥ ♥ ♥ I could wallow in this scene forever, I really could. I thought I couldn't possibly love it any more AND NOW I DO.
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comments.
In my defense (sort of), I'm basically skimming favorite scenes to see how things changed from the shooting script to the final version. The actors ad-lib a lot and it's fun to see what bits they put in. And, also, seeing the directions to the actors is really interesting because it gives me a better idea of where the writers were headed with the characters' motivations and so forth.
Still. PATHETICALLY OBSESSED, that is me.
I also ran into something at the end of "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" where some things were switched around and it actually changes the meaning of the scene a little bit, compared to how it was originally written. Originally, Methos's "We all have mistakes to forgive" line was spoken by Duncan, and the reconciliation was a great deal more than just subtext.
The scene as written went like this:
AMANDA
And what if he comes after you again?
MACLEOD
He won't.
AMANDA
How do you know?
MACLEOD
Because I wouldn't.
AMANDA
He's not you.
MACLEOD
And he's not that different.
MacLeod shoots a look at Methos, measuring, before continuing:
MACLEOD (CONT'D)
None of us are. We all make mistakes... and we all have mistakes to forgive.
Methos meets his eyes, lifts his glass in silent acknowledgment of the unspoken message.
MacLeod returns the toast.
The moment between the two men is broken as Amanda puts her glass down and stands.
It's interesting that the final version of the scene leaves things a little more ambiguous between them; I still think they're definitely getting there, but the emotional fallout of the Horsemen arc isn't tied up quite as neatly. It looks like the original intent with the script was to make the callbacks to Duncan and Methos's falling-out more explicit, and they toned it down a bit in the final version.
While I'm quoting things from the scripts anyway, I think I'm just gonna quote the entirety of that final, cut scene on the barge, from the series finale. Because ... just ... OH, EVERYBODY. ♥
INT. MACLEOD'S BARGE - NIGHT
Methos, Dawson and Amanda are hanging around the barge as MacLeod enters, coat on, with a magnum of champagne.
Methos looks up and moves to him.
METHOS
(re the champagne)
I'll take that.
Methos takes the champagne.
MACLEOD
Methos...
Methos holds up his hand.
METHOS
Please. No thanks are necessary.
MACLEOD
(a smile)
I was going to say that was the worst Irish accent I ever heard.
METHOS
(beat)
Next time your butt needs saving, get Lawrence Olivier.
MACLEOD
I don't have a clue about who or what you are, Methos. But you taught me that life is about change. That what you were isn't necessarily who you are.
METHOS
(deeply felt)
Thank you.
MacLeod moves to Dawson as Methos opens the champagne bottle. Amanda approaches with a glass. Methos pours.
DAWSON
(re Methos)
Was he really going to kill me?
METHOS
(overhearing, reacts)
It was a dream, okay?
DAWSON
I can't see my life without you, Mac. And the truth is, I don't want to.
MACLEOD
You're my friend, Joe. No matter what. Thanks for believing in me. Even when I haven't believed in myself. And for reminding me that I'm human.
MacLeod takes a glass of champagne from Methos. He lifts it.
MACLEOD
To you guys...
(beat)
And to Tessa... and to Richie. And Fitz... whatever world you're in...
They all raise their glasses --
AMANDA
To Duncan MacLeod.
DAWSON
Of the Clan MacLeod.
METHOS
Long may he live.
They drink... MacLeod is looking at Amanda. He turns and speaks gently to her.
MACLEOD
I love you.
AMANDA
(innocently, delighted)
Really?
MACLEOD
You make my heart glad. You always have.
She kisses him. Methos approaches to pour more champagne. Amanda turns away, just for a moment.
As Macleod looks at
MACLEOD'S POV
METHOS, AMANDA AND JOE
the people he loves.
RESUME SCENE
He turns away, and as he exits the barge, Joe begins to follow. Methos touches his arm to stop him, sensing that MacLeod needs to be alone.
METHOS
(lightening the moment)
It's good to have a moral center to the universe -- even if he can be a pain in the ass.
AMANDA
(smiling)
You know, Methos, you're not nearly the arrogant, self-absorbed jerk you were when I met you.
METHOS
Well thank you... I think.
"THE PEOPLE HE LOVES." IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE SCRIPT. ♥ ♥ ♥ I could wallow in this scene forever, I really could. I thought I couldn't possibly love it any more AND NOW I DO.
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According to Adrian and Peter, the writers had Duncan and Methos going back to their same banter-type relationship too early and both actors thought they shouldn't have worked out their problems that easily. It was Adrian and Peter who pushed them to let the characters work out their relationship more slowly and show how things were still strained in their relationship.
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... and, hello again! I was so afraid I'd scared you off from commenting, and I'm still sorry for being such a big crab at you. I do love getting your little inside details about the show, especially now that I don't have to worry about spoilers anymore. Are there any other scenes that jumped out at you as being significantly different in the scripts? I haven't done more than go through some of the season five and six scripts yet.
But that's really neat about AP and PW. One of the things that's really neat about this show is how invested in their characters the actors seem to be. I ran across this the other day, and it's amazing to me that PW still remembers the character in so much detail, and still likes to talk about Methos's motivations and background and so forth, even more than a decade after the show went off the air.
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I was looking back, and I'm not sure I did anything other than the two scenes you did, except I was looking at the outtakes and comparing it to the edited versions. It seems that I did look at the Horsemen scene when they take Cassandra and kill her people, because it was different. Also, I own Adrian's personal Endgame (the movie) script and it was really interesting. Several new versions of scenes and then still different than the end product.
Here is my post about the final scene in the series: That last scene in Highlander (http://pat-t.livejournal.com/88787.html). (made public so you can view)
Some discussion about Endgame with Endgame Part 1 (http://pat-t.livejournal.com/236498.html) and I was watching Endgame here (http://pat-t.livejournal.com/235068.html).
I couldn't find the post about CAH or FUOT mostly because I didn't do a very good job with my subject headings - ie, I'm a loser. Plus, I just did a quick run through the calender. But if you get time look at the CAH and REV outakes, plus there is an extra dvd in there with some scenes and outakes not shown in the released version.
And, of course, we know the boys ab libbed quite a bit.
As for the other, we're all entitled to the occasional crabbiness. No worries.
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I have yet to see Endgame, but from all I've heard, it looks like it's ... less awful than the other movies? *g* I'm not fussed about spoilers for it, though. Actually, I need to get around to watching the Raven eps, too!
The ad libbing is nifty; I think it gives a more relaxed, natural feeling to a lot of the scenes. Actually, with that in the back of my head, some of the shows that we're watching right now have a more stiff, staged feeling to them (Fringe comes to mind here). Of course, in HL's case it was at least partly lack of budget, so they didn't really have time or money to do a lot of takes 'til they got a perfect one, but there's also something very relaxed and organic about the way the characters relate to each other.
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You're just now figuring that out??
:P
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Just gently teasing you, but now that you mention it.....
:P
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But on the other hand, I really miss getting all the character interaction that we would've gotten in the barge scene.
On the third hand, though, they did actually film the barge scene, they just didn't use it - so having both on the DVDs is basically having my cake and eating it too. :D
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AWWWWWWWWWWWWW! <333
Oh man, and it was already one of my favorite finales ever...this just cements it ^^
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Oh man, and it was already one of my favorite finales ever...this just cements it ^^
It's one of mine, too -- I just love it more the longer I have to reflect on it, all the more so because I was halfway convinced that the end of the series was going to break my heart.
I remember how you guys didn't seem to agree with me that the show was as dark as I kept insisting it was, and I think I can see why now, because it seemed a lot darker and more depressing while I was watching it than it does now, in retrospect -- now that I know that, despite all their suffering and all the times they were at odds with each other, it ended with all of them happy and together. (Well ... the surviving ones, anyway.)
Have you seen the ten-years-later reunion episode, btw?