I just finished reading the early draft of Fembots in Las Vegas part 1. I think there may have been an even earlier draft floating out there somewhere.
Despite my disappointment with the final product that made it on film.... I was pretty impressed with this early draft script. The basic story is the same on what appeared on the episode but this early draft script is most definitely alot different and IMO alot better.
The most obvious difference in the script was the surviving fembot from the Kill Oscar trilogy (
if you want to call it that) that escapes from the OSI vault is the Lynda Wilson fembot. In fact, neither the fembot Calahan nor the real one is in the script.
Another significant change from the script were the fembots' attack. It was more intense and more brutal in the script. I guess that's what a TV script looks like before the netwok censors butchers them.
Anyway, if anyone is interested, I'll give a more indepth review.
(09-03-2008 05:26 AM)Dolenz Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.I just finished reading the early draft of Fembots in Las Vegas part 1. I think there may have been an even earlier draft floating out there somewhere.
What is the date of yours? Mine is June 8, 1977. If yours is different we can compare.
Hi Lola, my script is dated June 2, 1977 with a PROD #47431.
Does your script have Lynda or Callahan ?
(09-03-2008 07:57 PM)Dolenz Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.Hi Lola, my script is dated June 2, 1977 with a PROD #47431.
Does your script have Lynda or Callahan ?
My script for part one has Lynda with no mention of Callahan.
Do you have Part 2? Mine is dated: June 17, 1977 with last rev. 7/7/77. Production # 47422
Lola
(09-03-2008 07:53 AM)nevs1989 Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.Please!
However, I'm goin' to wait until there is an opportunity to actually watch the two part episode before I continue reading this thread!
Quote:Okay, my script for part 2 is the same one as yours.
My script for part has Callahan instead of Lynda also.
Is your's on yellow paper?
It seems we have the same. Yes, Callahan is in part 2. I've really enjoyed reading the differences you've spotted. I've been meaning to do that myself since I got the scripts but haven't had the chance.
Lola Wrote:I've really enjoyed reading the differences you've spotted. I've been meaning to do that myself since I got the scripts
Thanks Lola, I'm glad someone is.
I would review the rest as well as do part 2 and list the significant changes but apparently there is a lack of interest based on the low reply count on this thread.
I guess Vin Diesel was right when he told me not to waste my time.
(09-04-2008 07:28 PM)Dolenz Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.I would review the rest as well as do part 2 and list the significant changes but apparently there is a lack of interest based on the low reply count on this thread.
I guess Vin Diesel was right when he told me not to waste my time.
Dolenz, just because there are not many responses does not mean that people aren't interested. I for one have yet to see Fembots in Las Vegas. (I haven't read most of this thread by the way.)
Secondly, most people to not have as an in-depth understanding or knowledge of the subject as you do. This type of study of a subject is graduate level study so to speak. I _love_ it that you are so keen on the subject. So don't give up the ship, okay? Of course, I'm the type of person that does search scholarly databases for things like bionics and the like...Passions can and often do lead to publication...And we have an excellent resource here at OBW to learn about and discuss, and share with others such information.
Besides, Masters can't just Drop Knowledge, it's called plugging along....and usually lasts a lifetime!
Please Keep up the Great work my friend, it will work out in the end.
(09-04-2008 07:48 PM)nevs1989 Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. (09-04-2008 07:28 PM)Dolenz Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.I would review the rest as well as do part 2 and list the significant changes but apparently there is a lack of interest based on the low reply count on this thread.
I guess Vin Diesel was right when he told me not to waste my time.
Dolenz, just because there are not many responses does not mean that people aren't interested. I for one have yet to see Fembots in Las Vegas. (I haven't read most of this thread by the way.)
Oh, I don't blame you at all nevs. Infact, I highly advice anyone who hasn't seen FILV to read this thread.
Quote:Secondly, most people to not have as an in-depth understanding or knowledge of the subject as you do. This type of study of a subject is graduate level study so to speak.
Thanks nevs, but I don't think too highly of myself in that department. I'm just learning things as I go along but thanks for your vote of confidence.
Quote:Besides, Masters can't just Drop Knowledge, it's called plugging along....and usually lasts a lifetime!
Thanks Mike... but like I told nevs, I'm no master. I just got this information in the mailbox two days ago when I bought the script.
However I was a bit surprised due to the fact that many fans shares the same gripes that I did with how badly Callahan's abduction/replacement was written, I thought that the information that provided on how it was originally written before the revisions would spark a discussion.
BTW, the people that worked on the Bionic Book are more qualified as masters than I'll ever be (nor do I ever try to be).. despite my disappointment in the lack of information on behind the scenes production and early story drafts sumeries.
(09-04-2008 08:02 PM)Mike Van Plew Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.Please Keep up the Great work my friend, it will work out in the end.
I don't know. I may have to consult with Vin Diesel on that one.
(09-04-2008 07:48 PM)nevs1989 Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links. (09-04-2008 07:28 PM)Dolenz Wrote: Guests cannot see links in the messages. Please register to forum by clicking here to see links.I would review the rest as well as do part 2 and list the significant changes but apparently there is a lack of interest based on the low reply count on this thread.
I guess Vin Diesel was right when he told me not to waste my time.
Dolenz, just because there are not many responses does not mean that people aren't interested.
I don't like to waste my time rereading this script several times taking notes and typing up a longwinded writeup just so the lurkers has something to read without the slightest common curtesy of a reply or what not. ....not that I'm looking for a pat on the back but geeze... total ignorance is insulting.
That's why I asked .... is anyone interested otherwise I would not have wasted my time and effort.
I'm in it for the discussion, not the ingrate lurkers.
Edited to remove the write up.
Here are the list of changes/alterations from the early draft script that didn't make it screen:
*Jaime has a longer reaction upon seeing the ALEX computer in the vault.
* The fembot in the vault was Lynda Wilson (Rudy Well's assistant from The Kill Oscar Trilogy) not Callahan.
* There's no flashback of John Housman's Dr Franklin. Instead Oscar quotes Franklin's famaous lines "Programable, Obiediant yadda yadda yadda....."
* Jaime's flashback from her fight in Callahan's apartment only emphasized her fight with Katy and when she jumps out the window, her legs sparks (in contrast to re-edit version).
* Lynda Wilson's dialog is almost word for word of the revised version of Callahan's dialog up until she is confronted by her fembot double.. Although the script mentions that Lynda is Rudy's assistant. she's clearly acting as Oscar's assistant .... which I find to be a little too far fetched..
* The fembot's eyes are pure dark grey (when deactivated) and only lights up when activated.
* The Direct Energy Weapon is called a C.P.B - Control Particle Beam.
* Fembot Lynda doesn't attack the real Lynda with knock out spray when she stalks the real Lynda in Oscar's office.. Instead the script suggests that she/it strangles or breaks the neck of the real Lynda and the assualt scene is described as being seen from the point of view from the fembot's TV monitorfembot's in an abstract manner.
* Carl Franklin scolds the Lynda fembot for killing the real Lynda. Then commands her/it to hide her body somewhere safe in Oscar's office. ( I guess Carl was feeling confident enough to know that he would succeed in his plans stealing Kyler's weapon before Lynda's corps begins to stink up Oscar's office). Yuck !
RIP Lynda - I guess you no longer have to go on that diet.
* The script fleshes out Ellen Andrew's character more than what appeared on screen. She is described as being another one of Rudy's assistant and also suggests that she was killed and replaced by a fembot some time prior to the events of this episode.
Let this be a warning to all the ladies reading this. Working for Rudy Wells can be hazzardous to your health .... especially when there's a Franklin lurking about.
* Backstage manager tells Jaime (while she was still sporting her skimpy showgirl oufit) to take Tami's place while she visits Kyler. Jaime refuses. Mangager threatens to fire her. Jaime tells him that he can't fire her because she quits.
*Jaime didn't have a dime to call Oscar at Dan Meyer's office so she bionically slaps a side of a slot machine and it spits out a shitload of dimes. Durring that scene, she befriends a drunken out on his luck casino patron.
* While Jaime is spying on Tami/fembot, she jumps on top of the elevator and rides it. (In contrast to her bionically running up and down the stairwell).
* The fight between Jaime and fembot/Tami takes place in an outside alley (in contrast to the revised final version where they fight back stage)
* Tami tosses Jaime into some garbage cans.
* Jamie takes a garbage can lid and whacks Tami's mask off.
* The rest of the fight is bare knuckle brawl in ally until Tami gets the upperhand and Jaimie runs off towards a highway.
* Jaime intentionally tricks the pursuing Tami/bot to run out in front of an incoming mac truck during the chase .
* The Fembot's assault on Neal is not shown on screen. Instead the script describes Lynda entering Kyler's penthouse holding Neil up in the air (the script didn't state whether he was unconcious or dead) and then she shakes and tosses his lifeless body like a ragdoll.
* Jaime is NOT knocked unconcious during the fembot's entrance into Kyler's penthouse. In fact she screams and pleads with Kyler to make the call to Dan Meyor himself and promises him that they'll find another way but Kyler refuses to believe the fembot's threat and Lynda/fembot breaks the glass.
* To save Kyler from capture, Oscar stands between Kyler and the fembots and then gets beat to a pulp by the Lynda fembot and eventually knocked unconcious by a blow to the head from Billie's punch... giving Kyler his chance to escape. Jaime throws the chair knocking Gina through the glass and pins Billie to the corner wall with the desk and then engages a one on one brawl with the Lyda fembot. Lynda grabs a corner post from a bookshelf and attacks Jaime with it (using it like a staff). Jaime repells and escapes to the roof.
* After the scene of the helicopter lifting off from the roof Oscar wakes up in great pain and hears Kyler's helicopter. He looks out the window with great concern when he sees the helicopter flying off into the distance with Jaime hanging from it.
* When Oscar heads to the elevator there's another tense scene as he sees the three fembots approaching him. He steps in the elevator and the doors close just in the knick of time as the fembots were about to grab him..
* The bogus US Airforce plane with the stolen Directed Energy Weapon (or the CPB as it was called in the script) piloted by the fembots almost hits the helicopter with Kyler and Jaime during their liftoff in an attempt to repell them.
* There's additional scenes of Oscar consulting with the Secretary after his narrow escape from the fembots.
* Additional dialog from Carl suggests that the senior Dr. Franklin helped orchestrate this current fembot crisis from prison up to his death two months prior. (perhaps Carl's plans was the immediate release of his father from prison upon his list of demands upon stealing the CPB weapon).
Well, some of the differences between script and episode sound like they were made for budgetary reasons, and others were made for time saving reasons. It's a lot quicker to just knock out Jaime and Oscar than play out the big scenes that were written. It's a lot cheaper to keep a fembot-piloted-airforce plane out of the scene. Too bad though, because the script does sound better - and more tense.
A lot of the differences are details only - whether a fight takes place in an alley or whatever, doesn't really matter.
Why they chose Callahan instead of Linda might have had something to do with the availability of the actress or some other prosaic concern. That one is a mystery.
Leaving the lightbulb in her head though - that's just typical of the ludicrous things that were done throughout the series. It's no better or worse.
I think that you really loved Kill Oscar, Dolenz, so you are really affronted by the changes in FILV that were made to accommodate the change of networks. As a stand-alone story, FILV works better. Kill Oscar is too long and it peters out in the most pathetic way at the end. There's a lot to recommend KO, but it's too long. FILV is tighter and has a much more thrilling end. That to me makes it better.
You can't criticize FILV for plot holes, because both series are always chock full of plot holes. Like, full to bursting! The whole series goes up in flames if you spend more than a couple of minutes thinking about it - especially The Bionic Woman's beginnings. Besides, are you talking about plot holes or continuity holes - because there's a big difference.
Put yer dukes up!