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Russell T. Davies’ Emails

Posted by on Dec 5, 2006 | 49 Comments

From: Mark
To: Russell T. Davies
CC:
Subject: New Torchwood Episode
Attachments: Ziptw_episode.zip (148 KB)

Russell,

Thanks for agreeing to check out my outline of a story for your Torchwood series. I’ve attached a zip containing the episode in Word format and plain text in case you’re one of those crazy anti-Microsoft people.

The brief summary is: an American family visiting Stonehenge accidentally discover that the circle is a portal to parallel Earths thanks to an old piece of alien technology in their camper van, one ends up kidnapped by druids, and the Torchwood group investigate. Features chase scene and heart-wrenching decision by Captain Jack at the end because I know you like that sort of thing.

Looking forward to hearing how you liked it (or not).

Regards,

Mark

From: Russell T. Davies
To: Mark
CC:
Subject: Re: New Torchwood Episode

Hi Mark

That’s really well done for a first draft. I’m still reading it now because I cannot change the font size down from 72 pixels in my copy of Word and I have to sit twelve feet from the monitor. A techy person from the BBC is coming over tomorrow to look at it.
You have managed to capture most of the personalities really well and I think we’d certainly like to explore fitting your story into the next series. There are a few changes I’d like to suggest if you don’t mind. Some of these changes will be necessary due to other upcoming stories and the surprise in store for the start of season 2 but others are just to flow with the series feel.

  • Can you expand some of the background story around the American family at the start? Try to add some unimportant, real-life sort of scenarios into their trip towards Stonehenge. Perhaps Thomas and Mike could have a lovers quarrel and then make up?
  • Although Gwen and Owen are a couple now they won’t be in the next series (don’t tell anyone ;) ). Can you rewrite their scenes as Gwen and Toshiko please. And Toshiko will only have one arm. I think it’s the left one but I’m not sure so try not to be specific. I.e. don’t let her drive or fire catapults.
  • I’m not keen on Jack’s alien contact for details on the device. We’ll be changing his name from Gamma D’Agruz to Omega B’Ahmerz unless you’ve got any objections.

There’ll be more once I get to the end of the second act.

Thanks again, RTD.

RTDRTDRTDRTDRTDRTD
From: Mark
To: Russell T. Davies
CC:
Subject: Re: Re: New Torchwood Episode
Attachments: Ziptw_episode2.zip (151 KB)

Russell,

I’ve made a few changes in the newly-attached zip but not quite as you suggested, I hope you don’t mind.

Thomas is Mike’s dad so I’m not sure a lovers’ quarrel is appropriate. However, I’ve added in some general dialogue which helps to prepare the groundwork for Mike and his twin sister Megan’s telepathy at the end of the story.

I’m surprised about Gwen and Toshiko. I know they’ve both kissed other women in the series but I didn’t think they were that way inclined as a general rule. I hope Owen is still in the series though; I know he’s funny-looking but he’s got a good character. Besides, his fighting skills are needed against the druids, of course. I assume you’ve reached that part in the story by now.

By the way – you might want to rethink the alien’s name :) – Omega B’Ahmerz sounds like "Oh Mega Bummers".

Hope to get more feedback soon,

Mark

From: Russell T. Davies
To: Mark
CC:
Subject: Re: Re: Re: New Torchwood Episode

Mark was there a virus in the Word document? My email has gone funny now.
From: Russell T. Davies
To: Mark
CC:
Subject: Re: Re: Re: New Torchwood Episode

Ignore the last email, thanks. The BBC tech guy has sorted it out. I have a new keyboard.

I understand what you’re saying about the American family but I think we could change them into a group of male friends from a top college. We then don’t have to set up the twins’ telepathy since close friends know what each other is thinking anyway. The audience will spot a setup straight away. Plus you can then keep in the quarrel and the making up afterwards. Keep it tasteful and perhaps cut away from the rocking van to the stone circle slowly.

We’ll want to move from Stonehenge to just a general circle of stones somewhere near Cardiff. It cuts down on production and will fit in better with the druids and allow us to feature their sex-based rituals. You don’t need to worry about that in your story though. I can add that in nearer the time.

Other points now:

  • Owen will still be around but he will not be able to fight very well from his wheelchair and his husband Ianto always stays close to care for him. You’ll need to come up with something new there. I’m sure you won’t disappoint.
  • I think everyone realises that Gwen and Toshiko will be drawn togther over the series because of their disappointments with people of the opposite sex. Don’t worry, it will come across totally naturally and won’t look contrived at all in the episode Gwen’s Dangerous Pink Curtains and their relationship will be fully-developed before your story.
  • Thanks for pointing out the alien name :) I’m sure there would have been conspiracy theories abound about me advancing some sort of homosexual agenda in all my TV programmes if that had got out. We’ll just have to give some more thought to that but at the moment I’m liking Menzrodz. How about you?
  • The chase of the druid cavalry by the Torchwood Range Rover is great but could be tricky to get past the producers because of costs. Can you try an alternative with a foot chase? I’ve tried to subtly develop running as a means of action and excitement in the series.

RTD.

From: Russell T. Davies
To: Mark
CC:
Subject: Re: Re: Re: New Torchwood Episode

P.S. Can you change the American college lovers into a Welsh academical rugby team? They’ll be more likely to have an interest in druid fertility cults which will be important for maintaining the realism that keeps people watching the series.

Thanks. RTD.

RTDRTDRTDRTDRTDRTD
From: Mark
To: Russell T. Davies
CC:
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Torchwood Episode

Russell,

I’ll make some changes but I’m not sure I’m too happy about this. I understand that there has to be some leeway when writing a story for an episodic serial but – as I see it – my story about an American family who visit Stonehenge, open up a parallel existence where the druids rule England and steal the girl, and who get help from Torchwood to get her back and close the portal, exploring familial telepathy along the way and including a dramatic chase across the Salisbury plains is now about a gay rugby team investigating some stones in Wales because of their interest in fertility – even though they’re all men. Huh? – and needing the Torchwood team (now consisting of a lesbian couple one of whom has a disability, a gay couple one of whom is confined to a chair, and Christ knows what else) with the aid of an alien with a humorous name to help recover their kidnapped member from the all-male druid cult in another dimension through the awesome power of running.

Are you sure I’m not missing something? End of episode group orgy? Parallel dimension makeover? Inner monologue of Captain Jack critiquing druidic fashion disasters?

Mark.

From: Russell T. Davies
To: Mark
CC:
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Torchwood Episode

Mark, that’s a fantastic idea about Jack’s inner voice! It’s the sort of characteristic that’s just perfect. The viewers will love that there’s a part of Jack that’s just like them.

Everything else: spot on!

RTD.

From: Mark
To: Russell T. Davies
CC:
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Torchwood Episode
Attachments: Ziptw_episode3.zip (159 KB)

Russell,

Final draft attached. Includes cyberman cheating on his cyberpartner subplot.

Can’t wait for your next gritty, realistic drama to hit the screens.

Mark.