DISCUSS Script TNOT Pistoleros

[California gal]

Don't get me started!!

I read this script when I first obtained it over a year ago but except for checking on a few scenes, had not read it through until yesterday when I typed it up.

The basic action is the same but the dialogue varies throughout--often leaving out lines or altering them. Sometimes I wonder if they did it in the interest of time. If that was the case, they could have deleted the few seconds needed for Jim to buy the flowers from the old lady, because the dramatic purpose of those flowers as related in the script was not filmed (though the gesture of handing them to the senorita was charming).

It also could have been someone saying, Jim/Artie wouldn't say that.

As we know, the reunion scene was (thankfully) changed, but the death scene was also greatly altered. I have to think that that might have been due partially to cost-cutting so that so many extras were not needed, but also the violence factor. Blood spattered stairs indeed!

In the last scene where Artie is trying to free himself and the colonel, the script states that he is in a straitjacket and attempting to cut his ropes on a nail! That must have been from an earlier version that they forgot to edit.

Another plus in the script is knowing what Sanchos said from the roof in the teaser! It's in English in the script. I knew he said "azul," or blue but couldn't catch much else. Also the words of the dancer and the flower lady are in English.

[Apple]

I thought that I remembered someone saying that West gave the flowers to a prostitute? Which seemed odd. Anyway, I think that they should have had him drop them on Bernal as it said in the script...but that would have contaminated the crime scene--oh wait, that's CSI!

As for Sanchos death, that was changed for the better IMO. If he had been shot that would have left more questions, in a way. This way Jim has had his revenge, too, and Sanchos has fallen on his own weapon. To have an unseen person shoot him, well that's just really good luck on the part of Galiano, that someone knew that Sanchos would talk at that moment!

There is a part in the script that still refers to Arte's straight jacket! LOL, I don't think it would have worked. I like it the way that it was filmed.

Many times there are lines that were never spoken. If RC is the one who chose to not speak during the funeral scene, good for him! That would have ruined the whole scene, as well as the scene at the end. good choices.

[California gal]

According to the Google translator, when Sanchos says "Take the gringo in blue and hang him," the Spansih is "Tome el gringo en el azul y le cuelgan." I know I hear azul, but not sure about the other words.

And when he says "We’ll take the other one with us. Move!... Faster!..." in Spanish it's "Vamos a tomar el otro con nosotros. ¡Muévete! ... Más rápido ..."

Going to have to watch the episode again (oh the pain) and see if it matches. ;D

[Y Gal]

Ok, I'm a bit confused about Jim's movements after Artie's shot. It says Sanchos goes through the door to the street. Guests surround Artie and Jim has to fight his way through and he finally reaches the door. What door? They were both attacked on the stairs, and Artie collapses there. It says Jim runs down the stairs and lifts Artie's shoulders up. What door are they referring to?

[California gal]

I think the entire scene was changed. The only "guest" in the lobby appears to be the man over near the desk, who dives for cover when the shooting starts. Sanchos wasn't sitting IN the lobby reading a newspaper. "Artie" didn't speak any last words.

You notice, the arrangement in the final scene in Galiano's house was rearranged too. The script says Artie and the Colonel were in the basement, when obviously they were in some upstairs room.

Logistics (or finances) must have overcome artistry.

[Y Gal]

Mar 16, 2009 17:15:24 GMT -8 California gal said:

I think the entire scene was changed. The only "guest" in the lobby appears to be the man over near the desk, who dives for cover when the shooting starts. Sanchos wasn't sitting IN the lobby reading a newspaper. "Artie" didn't speak any last words.

You notice, the arrangement in the final scene in Galiano's house was rearranged too. The script says Artie and the Colonel were in the basement, when obviously they were in some upstairs room.

Logistics (or finances) must have overcome artistry.

I agree, CG. They probably didn't want to costume or pay the extras for the scene! What I don't understand is if they filmed the scene exactly per the script, Jim's movements don't make sense. I guess that's whey they revised the whole thing!

[California gal]

That could well be, that once they started laying it out the logistics didn't work. They should remember that simpler is better. The actual result is very effective.

And heck, for the reunion scene, they already had the infamous staircase to use again...

[Y Gal]

I think the exact same staircase was used in Bleak Island.

[California gal]

Another thing, in the script it says that during that first conversation between Col. Roper and Jim, just before Murray returns with Charlie's body, Roper has just returned from patrol and is dusty. I remember it being commented on elsewhere that when they are outside, Roper IS dusty--but not inside. Or at least it doesn't seem to show up inside. I think I always wondered if they didn't film that scene directly after the explosion scene, but maybe it was deliberate.

[California gal]

Something the script clarified for me--sort of. In the episode, when Jim is trying to stop the colonel, and Roper and Murray see him, Roper says something like "seems excited about something" and the pair ride on, I always thought it strange that he was ignoring the yelling rider completely. The camera angles make it appear that Jim is converging on them from the side.

But the script says that he's riding north while they are riding south, so apparently they are riding toward each other. Watching closely it does appear now that Roper is looking straight ahead as they ride on--so I guess he's not ignoring Jim completely.

[Y Gal]

Mar 16, 2009 18:54:30 GMT -8 California gal said:

Another thing, in the script it says that during that first conversation between Col. Roper and Jim, just before Murray returns with Charlie's body, Roper has just returned from patrol and is dusty. I remember it being commented on elsewhere that when they are outside, Roper IS dusty--but not inside. Or at least it doesn't seem to show up inside. I think I always wondered if they didn't film that scene directly after the explosion scene, but maybe it was deliberate.

I thought the same thing CG. Also, in that outoor scene when Charlie's body is returned, Jim's got that small hole in the seat of his pants, and his trail outfit is dusty and caked with dirt. Seems like that scene was shot after some kind of action scene for both.

[California gal]

One other small difference in the script and the episode that's interesting is that in the script, the fake Lt. Murray addresses the fake Artie as Mr. Gordon when they meet on the streets of Tehachi. In the episode, of course, Murray says "Captain Gordon," which makes more sense to me for a former private (presumably) reuniting with his former commanding officer, even if they are both fakes!

And it's the only time in the series that we learn Artie and Jim were of equal rank during the conflict.

[tyche]

But doesn't Trask address Jim as 'Major' in TNOT Cadre - unless of course Jim was a brevet Major in which case he would still receive the pay of a Captain and when the war ended he would still be known as a Captain.

[California gal]

Not Trask in Cadre. It was Dane in Death-Maker. But in every other instance in the series, Jim was referred to as a Captain, so we kind of surmised it might have been a brevet rank.

This is the only time Artie was referred to as a captain.

[tyche]

OK, my mistake. Couldn't remember which episode it was, so thanks for clarifying that.