Behind the Scenes - The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End (Part 18)
Excerpts from The Writer’s Tale - The Final Chapter
From Russell T. Davies to Benjamin Cook, Thursday 31 January 2008
I know what’s really preying on my mind, though, and stopping me moving onto the Christmas Special. Julie said, ‘That scene on Bad Wolf Bay isn’t working, is it?’ And she’s absolutely right. I love a good note, because it’s like someone has articulated the voice at the back of your head. That scene doesn’t work. I have always known that, from the moment I typed it out, but I don’t know how to fix it. [...] The hardest thing of all in that scene - and Billie might yet have problems with it - is getting Rose to walk away from the TARDIS in the first place. That, indeed, is the problem with the whole scene, that Rose has to act out of character to stay on Bad Wolf Bay. She’s utterly, marvellously selfish, and would push past anyone to get to her Doctor.
From Russell T. Davies to Benjamin Cook, Saturday 9 Febuary 2008
[Russell has a bad case of the chicken pox...] I’m itchy, scratchy and tired, and I still have to rewrite 4.13. And I just realized my plan to make the Bad Wolf Bay scene work - the one involving Voidstuff - won’t work, because I’d forgotten that Mickey has to be free to stay in our universe. Bollocks. Julie’s upset. She’s saying, ‘Leave Mickey in the parallel universe,’ and I’m saying, ‘Too late! We promised Noel that we’d bring him back in Torchwood Series Three.’
From Russell T. Davies to Benjamin Cook, Monday 18 February 2008
The Bad Wolf Bay scene still isn’t working, but do you know what? No one’s giving me good notes on it, when they should, so sod it. It’s slightly better now, and I’ve cut the kiss between Rose and Doctor #2, but it still sucks.
From Russell T. Davies to Benjamin Cook, Saturday 1 March 2008
I’ve rewritten Bad Wolf Bay again. Finally, I’ve got it right!
Basically, I’ve given more of the decision to Rose, put her in control, and used that control to push away the original Doctor. And the kiss is back in! Then the scene finishes as before: Rose saying, ‘No - !’, as the TARDIS fades away. Doctor #2 taking her hand, and a wide shot of the now-empty beach. Julie is happy, David is happy, phew, good. Series Four, final rewrite, done.
From Benjamin Cook to Russell T. Davies, Saturday 1 March 2008
Never mind Julie and David... are you happy with it, Russell?
From Russell T. Davies to Benjamin Cook, Saturday 1 March 2008
I am delighted. That is such a weight off my mind. Knowing it wasn’t working was driving me mad. It hung over me, during Chicken Pox Fortnight. Literally, all the time. I tell you what helped: I watched the footage of the 4.12/4.13 read-through. They filmed it for Doctor Who Confidential, then edited it together fast so that I could see it - and they had to read the first draft of 4.13, because that’s all I had written. It was so slow! I could see what worked and what didn’t, and I realized how good the kiss was, but equally that the kiss had no consequence. That’s why it wasn’t earning its place. But it’s obvious, in the end, isn’t it? The scene is about Rose choosing between two Doctors. So, on the last draft, finally, I’ve written clearly, obviously, Rose making that choice. Rose is in control.
The rushes have helped, too. When Rose is in the TARDIS with Doctor #2, Billie is looking at him with sheer lust. As only Billie can do! That, too, puts the power into Rose’s hands. The mechanics start to work...
Link to [ part one ] of the Stolen Earth/Journey’s End Behind-the-scenes posts or click the #whoBtsStolen tag, or the full episode list [ here ]
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Hi! Thank you for the facts. It's so cool that emeralds change color based on how the lights hit them!! I'm frothing at the mouth for this information.
Here are my fun bird facts: for one, most birds don't sleep in a nest year round! Supposedly, they only sleep in nests when they're protecting a clutch of eggs. Otherwise they just kinda park themselves on a branch and chill.
As well, birds have a split vocal chord that lets them make two notes at once when they sing! That's so cool in my opinion. I never realized when listening to bird songs that sometimes they hit two notes at the same time.
Final cool fact - black capped chickadees can walk upside down on certain trees?? I only know this from observation, I've watched them just hang on by their feet on the underside of their branch. They're either buff enough, small enough, or both for that to work.
Hope you enjoyed the facts! 🥰
!!! delightful facts thank you!!
They just?? Plonk?? How do they not get eaten??
Oooh!! That split vocal cord thing is SO COOL and remind me of this alien from one of my favvvv books ever. Are there like. Limits to how far apart the notes can be?
I haven't seen them doing that before, but ill keep an eye out!! Very on brand for them, we have a few dozen of them that come to my mom's backyard feeder that a really fun to watch :] chickadees were my favorite as a kid because they say their own name and I think that very silly and fun
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