Adam Explains Script Comment by DonCoat

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Adam Explains Script Comment

POSTED BY: DONCOAT
UPDATED: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 16:41
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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 6:34 AM

As some of you may remember, I won the auction for Adam Baldwin's script for "Serenity", the pilot episode of the series.

At the time, I posted a thread here describing the script and some of Adam's handwritten comments. One comment in particular intrigued me. It was near the end of the episode, where Mal and Jayne are discussing why Jayne hadn't betrayed Mal -- "Money wasn't good enough."

The comment was unusual because it was doubly underlined and very emphatic. It read, "I like him!!"

My original interpretation was that this might have been Adam making a general remark about Jayne after having read through the very first script for the very first time. It seemed reasonable, and the comment didn't really make sense to me any other way. That is, until I talked to Adam at Flan-That-Wasn't and discovered the real story.

As you know by now, Adam showed up on Thursday night at a time when we were all feeling pretty low (though not unhopeful, since we knew that the California Browncoats were working on a backup plan). It was great to see the Hero of Canton walk into the hotel. A bit later, with Adam parked in the bar and surrounded by a sea of fellow Browncoats, I pulled off a minor miracle, managing to get in close to grab Adam's attention for a few minutes.

I explained that I'd won the script (he actually thanked me, which seemed strange since I felt like the one who should be doing the thanking) and listened as I asked about his comment. It took a moment for the scene to click, but when I repeated the exact line -- "That'll be an interesting day!" -- the light bulb went on.

The comment was, in fact, a note to himself as to how the scene should be played, or rather, how that line should be delivered. To illustrate the point, he came out with a couple alternate "readings" that the line might have been given, one sarcastic, the other very aggressive.

The note told him that those weren't the right attitude for that scene. Instead, he gave the half-joking delivery we all know so well. I think it works so much better that way, too -- Jayne shrugs off his possible betrayal but leaves an undertone of threat in the air as well. "I like him!!" was a reminder that Mal and Jayne weren't really enemies, but that there would always be tension between them.

Whether that reading was a direction from Joss, or something that Adam and Nathan worked out themselves, remains unknown. (Hey, I couldn't monopolize ALL Adam's time!) But it's a shiny little detail about the workings of the cast at an early stage of the series, and one I hope you enjoy contemplating as much as I do.

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I'm pointin' right at it!

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 6:39 AM

GED

Shiny!

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 6:53 AM

MARINA

I wouldn't want to make you type it all out again, but do you have a link to the thread where you shared his handwritten comments? I would LOVE to read them.

And I am so glad you got to chat with him, even though you had to leave so early! That's definitely 'super shiny.'

Don't make faces.

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 6:58 AM

TRISTAN

Thank you, DonCoat!
I have been waiting to read this since hearing you had talked to him about it. Very shiny insight!

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 7:02 AM

ENGINEANGEL

thanks doncoat!

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 7:14 AM

DIETCOKE

Thanks for sharing.

NY/NJ/CT Browncoats: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly_nyc

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 7:30 AM

VERSEEXPLORER

DonCoat,
Thanks so much for sharing that moment. It really does make sense.

Marina,
Here's the link to DonCoat's original post about the Serenity script. It's a great read.

http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=23124

Help Spread the Word to Non Sci-Fi Fans
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=20&t=25063&m=412141#412141

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 10:59 AM

MARINA

Thanks!

Don't make faces.

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 11:10 AM

SHINYED

Don,

Thanks for that story. Was this your first time meeting any of the cast? Did Adam Baldwin talk about Firefly/Serenity as if it's a living, breathing thing, or is it more like honoring the past? Thanks.

Firefly is all I watch......all other TV is rutting crap.

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 3:26 PM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by ShinyEd:
Don,

Thanks for that story. Was this your first time meeting any of the cast? Did Adam Baldwin talk about Firefly/Serenity as if it's a living, breathing thing, or is it more like honoring the past? Thanks.

I was at last year's (successful) Flanvention and met most of the cast. I even got to spend a fair amount of "quality time" with Morena, Alan, and Summer, and somewhat less with Ron. I only spoke briefly with Adam and Jewel last year, and even less with the others.

It's not easy to answer your other question. The few minutes I spent with Adam this year were entirely focused on the issue of my original post in this thread, and that (obviously) was about the past.

Still, it would be pretty hard to characterize the actors' attitudes as just "honoring the past" when they were mobbed by a horde of beyond-enthusiastic fans! Really, on Thursday and Friday they spent all their time getting their pic snapped with everybody they could. Maybe somebody who was able to stay for the Backup Bash got a better impression of their attitudes about the future of the franchise.

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I'm pointin' right at it!

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 3:28 PM

DONCOAT

Grr, double posted during the server problems...

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 6:56 PM

EMBERS

Wow, thanks Doncoat, that is really interesting
(and says a lot about the character)

It was great seeing you... did you ever find followmal?

visit: http://weekinwhedon.org/wiw/

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 2:25 AM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by embers:
It was great seeing you... did you ever find followmal?

Great to meet you, too! Sadly, I never did find FM. We'll have to remain virtual friends for now.

Also? Thanks, VerseExplorer, for digging up the link to my old post.

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I'm pointin' right at it!

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 3:11 AM

SHINYED

Thanks Doncoat for responding. I live in Florida and am a bit jealous of all you "west-coasters"...seems like you've had many opportunities to see the BDH's over the last few years. I've gone to several Sci-fi conventions in Florida: ie. Megacon, Supercon, Screamfest, and there have never been any Firefly/Serenity cast memebers, or even much of anything to do with it...although I did buy some great Firefly T-shirts at Supercon in November at Supercon in Hollywood, Fla.
I'm planning my conventions for 2007...I will definately travel "whereever" ( within fianancial reason) to meet these folks that have given us so much great entertainment and become a part of our lives.

Firefly is all I watch......all other TV is rutting crap.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 4:22 AM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by ShinyEd:
Thanks Doncoat for responding. I live in Florida and am a bit jealous of all you "west-coasters"...

Um... West Coasters? Did somebody move Massachusetts when I wasn't looking?

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I'm pointin' right at it!

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 5:16 AM

SIKREA

Shiny job finding out bout Adam's character.

Side note: where in Mass. you from Doncoat?

Inara: It wasn't entirely a disaster.
Mal: [lifts his shirt again] I got stabbed. Right here.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 11:29 AM

SQUISH

Hey Doncoat,
I was standing nearby when you asked him that, but couldn't hear his response. Thanks so much for posting it!

I'm still proud of myself for finding the courage to ask Adam a question about Day Break! *was very nervous* He was so very nice and happy to be there. What a BDH!

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:26 PM

DONCOAT

Live near Worcester.

Work in the 128 belt.

Got my degree in Amherst.

Also spent time up around Lowell/Groton/Dunstable.

Hmm, so where in Mass am I not from?

(Answers self: well, duh... the Cape)

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I'm pointin' right at it!

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 12:29 PM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by squish:
I'm still proud of myself for finding the courage to ask Adam a question about Day Break! *was very nervous* He was so very nice and happy to be there. What a BDH!

Good for you! They really don't bite, mostly. Glad you got at least some BDH goodness out of the weekend.

So what did he say about Daybreak?

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I'm pointin' right at it!

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 1:03 PM

SQUISH

Quote:
So what did he say about Daybreak?

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Well, I asked (or really said) that I hoped it really would come out on DVD because we needed the answers to it (especially if they don't air all the eps due to it's impending cancellation). He said he'd give us a hint to what's going on with the repeating days, he said: "Look to the metaphysical."

Not quite sure what that means other than his character must have more answers that we think at this point.

But it was just so amazing to be near him. I'm such a fangirl, it's embarrassing!

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 4:16 PM

DERANGEDMILK

Shiny! Thanks for the story and insight DonCoat!
-e

"Storms getting worse."
"We'll pass through it soon enough."

Vote for Firefly at http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/index.html

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006 4:41 PM

PHYRELIGHT

Hmm, that makes sense that Jayne likes Mal. There has always been a hint that there is a good guy underneath all the muscles, weapons, and childish behavior; i.e.- Jayne being upset that a guy took a bullet for him in "Jaynestown". Plus, I don't think that Jayne wouldn't have stuck with Mal as long as he did if there wasn't some level of friendship between them.

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"Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck."

-Joss Whedon

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