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thisbluespiritOkay, for this I need to apologise all round: incredible typecasting, mean-ness to certain ex-Spooks, cuteness, flimsy ITV-ness (but, hey, why should the BBC be the only British channel to get a fake show? :lol:) and the mangling of the prompt. (I didn't write it down, and here I am, all ready to post the show and checked it and went: "oh.") For all this, I am completely to blame*, and not ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
john_elliott who gave me the following prompt:
The time: The Regency. The place: England. The morning after her coming-out ball, the protagonist discovers that she can become invisible at will. (Okay, so I lost the 'morning after' and 'at will' bit, but... er... well, it's done now, I've worked it all out... Drat.)
*See end for notes (and excuses).
***
The Show - Synposis
4 part ITV drama, set in London, 1817.
With Cloak and Dagger proving very successful for the BBC, ITV went the 'Lost in Austen' route of finding something similar, but quirky (even casting one of the same actors). At her coming-out ball, orphaned heiress Lucy Cole turns invisible. Trying to find a way to return to her usual self, she runs into James Hayden, who seems to possess the ability to do just that.
Her protective aunt and uncle are beside themselves, her worthy suitor is bemused and getting cold feet, and her doctor cannot find a cure, although he has a warning on the subject of strange men who turn up so very conveniently as Mr Hayden.
Can Lucy work out who to trust and why she suddenly has this gift (or curse) before someone tries to make use of either her ability or her money - and before she fades away for good?
But I don't know how, or why, it happened at all."
"Well, then, I have it: your parents must have offended a bad fairy and you were cursed at your christening. There, does that not explain the whole?"
"That, sir, is very unhelpful, besides being excessively nonsensical."
"You appeared out of thin air in front of me. I think I may be forgiven if I incline towards the fantastic."
***
Lucy Cole (Felicity Jones)
I'm not a ghost! I'm quite real, and you may call in Maynard Street any time you wish if you need to prove it."
Lucy's aunt and uncle are determined to take good care of her, protect her from fortune hunters and give her the much delayed coming out she deserves. Lucy would much rather avoid London altogether and is dreading the whole season. However, she did not expect to vanish on way down to the ballroom. She is busy trying to understand what has happened to her, whether she can take control of it and who can help her (and possibly find out just what it is the men talk about when the women retire after dinner). She is torn between the warnings of her aunt, Dr Makepeace and Mr Hayden, who seems to have a better idea of what is happening than anyone else - even if he doesn't seem prepared to explain to her.
Mr Thomas Hayden (J J Feild)
"As phantasms go, I'm almost growing attached to you, but I prefer not to give away my history to those who have already crossed to the 'other side'. All those old tales agree that it is most unwise."
The stranger Lucy literally bumps into outside of the doctor's, he restores her to visibility temporarily at least. He is ready to help her, but reticent to divulge his own past and what he may or may not know about her unexpected problem. Her aunt and uncle are inclined to regard him as a fortune hunter. He may be...
Dr Horace Makepice (Toby Stephens)
It seems to me, Miss Cole, that it's a mighty coincidence you simply happen upon the one person in London who can help you - a deal too much of a coincidence, if you ask me."
When your niece is developing the troublesome habit of turning invisible, what can you do but call for a physician? Dr Makepeace is forced to admit the truth of affairs, but can do little to help. He has his suspicions of Thomas Hayden, but it is that for genuine reason, or because he has his own uses for Lucy and her new talent?
Miss Emily Hayden (Hattie Morahan)
"I will explain it all as best as I can. It is a sad tangle, indeed, and I think that you perhaps have lost the most, but you must admit, it is terribly Romantic."
Thomas's younger sister, who cannot understand why he is suddenly so keen for her to befriend Miss Cole. To try to do so that deliberately opens her up to the suspicions of the Montacutes, but, nevertheless, she tries,a nd eventually comes to hear the real story. She doesn't understand what her brother is up to, though.
James Brenton, Marquis of Holford (Rupert Penry Jones)
"All I understand is that if Miss Cole is suffering from the headache and cannot see me for what must be the fifth time in eight days, then I begin to feel my suit is unwelcome."
The Montacutes have lined up an ideal suitor for Lucy; the best way to protect her from any less honorable men whose designs are merely on her fortune. However, Brenton is not the sort to find a girl who can turn invisible in any way acceptable to his notions of propriety and Lucy's Aunt is at pains to keep everything from him, while not allowing his to be deterred. Lucy feels he's a little too boringly ideal.
Mr George Fox (Phil Davis)
He witnesses one of Lucy's vanishing acts in the street. He has his own ideas about the sort of money that could be made from such a thing and is set on finding out who she is and how he can detach her from her protective household. The way she's running about town unseen, means he might well have a chance. Or that might be a lie - and he might be working for Mr Hayden...
Mrs Maria Montacute (Julia Sawalha)
"It's not that Lucy will not see you, please understand, only that you cannot see her just now. I'm sure she will be her old self again in the morning."
Lucy's maternal aunt. She would do anything for her niece, but may have very little understanding of what Lucy actually wants. She is determined to see her safely married, if she can - and not hidden away in the country. To have her turning invisible was not part of the plan and she will do whatever she can to keep that fact a secret, retain Brenton's interest, and she fetches in Dr Makepeace.
Colonel Francis Montacute (Brian Protheroe)
He doesn't hold with girls turning invisible and insists on believing that Lucy's somehow managing to run away which leads to much awkwardness around the house to say the least. He's certainly not keen on admitting either of the Haydens, or anyone else prepared to encourage such nonsense.
Elizabeth & Arabella Charles (Rosamond Pike & Morven Christie)
Arabella and Lucy are sharing their come-out, but they have little in common and Arabella has scant patience with what she sees as Lucy's increasing efforts to upstage and spite her. Elizabeth is more sympathetic, but unable to help. It seems that Lucy is in need of a new friend, if Emily Hayden can be trusted.
Mrs Harriet Charles (Stella Gonet)
"I expect all the poor girl needs is a little less fuss and a walk out in the air!"
Elizabeth and Arabella's mother, who means well, but cannot understand what Miss Cole's difficulty is. She rightly suspects that the Montacutes have been too protective and perhaps gone too far in their kindness - but she has no hope of understanding what has happened this time. (Does she?)
The second I had the prompt I had the leads from ITV's Northanger Abbey in my head, and it was very hard to get them out again. I decided, given how many people in bonnets & breeches I'd used on Cloak and Dagger, I might as well have JJ Feild, but in the end, I gave up and did some terrible recasting here. In my defence, I'd like to refer everyone back to Fake TV Show no 2, which took me forever to cast. And if it's fantasy casting, you may as well have the actors you've got in your head. And ITV might well do this sort of thing. So there.
(And it is possible I might not have forgiven RPJ for Series 6 of Spooks yet *cough*.) Once again, I stuck as far as I could to people already in period. Even if sometimes, not exactly the right period (um, yep, Toby Stephens does not look like a doctor), but still....
No episode summaries, because there are only four and they give the whole thing away. And I think I am very tempted to write the whole thing. I think.
Edit I just added in a couple bits. I'll try not to do that too much.
john_elliott who gave me the following prompt:The time: The Regency. The place: England. The morning after her coming-out ball, the protagonist discovers that she can become invisible at will. (Okay, so I lost the 'morning after' and 'at will' bit, but... er... well, it's done now, I've worked it all out... Drat.)
*See end for notes (and excuses).
***
The Show - Synposis
4 part ITV drama, set in London, 1817.
With Cloak and Dagger proving very successful for the BBC, ITV went the 'Lost in Austen' route of finding something similar, but quirky (even casting one of the same actors). At her coming-out ball, orphaned heiress Lucy Cole turns invisible. Trying to find a way to return to her usual self, she runs into James Hayden, who seems to possess the ability to do just that.
Her protective aunt and uncle are beside themselves, her worthy suitor is bemused and getting cold feet, and her doctor cannot find a cure, although he has a warning on the subject of strange men who turn up so very conveniently as Mr Hayden.
Can Lucy work out who to trust and why she suddenly has this gift (or curse) before someone tries to make use of either her ability or her money - and before she fades away for good?
But I don't know how, or why, it happened at all."
"Well, then, I have it: your parents must have offended a bad fairy and you were cursed at your christening. There, does that not explain the whole?"
"That, sir, is very unhelpful, besides being excessively nonsensical."
"You appeared out of thin air in front of me. I think I may be forgiven if I incline towards the fantastic."
***
Lucy Cole (Felicity Jones)
I'm not a ghost! I'm quite real, and you may call in Maynard Street any time you wish if you need to prove it."
Lucy's aunt and uncle are determined to take good care of her, protect her from fortune hunters and give her the much delayed coming out she deserves. Lucy would much rather avoid London altogether and is dreading the whole season. However, she did not expect to vanish on way down to the ballroom. She is busy trying to understand what has happened to her, whether she can take control of it and who can help her (and possibly find out just what it is the men talk about when the women retire after dinner). She is torn between the warnings of her aunt, Dr Makepeace and Mr Hayden, who seems to have a better idea of what is happening than anyone else - even if he doesn't seem prepared to explain to her.
Mr Thomas Hayden (J J Feild)
"As phantasms go, I'm almost growing attached to you, but I prefer not to give away my history to those who have already crossed to the 'other side'. All those old tales agree that it is most unwise."
The stranger Lucy literally bumps into outside of the doctor's, he restores her to visibility temporarily at least. He is ready to help her, but reticent to divulge his own past and what he may or may not know about her unexpected problem. Her aunt and uncle are inclined to regard him as a fortune hunter. He may be...
Dr Horace Makepice (Toby Stephens)
It seems to me, Miss Cole, that it's a mighty coincidence you simply happen upon the one person in London who can help you - a deal too much of a coincidence, if you ask me."
When your niece is developing the troublesome habit of turning invisible, what can you do but call for a physician? Dr Makepeace is forced to admit the truth of affairs, but can do little to help. He has his suspicions of Thomas Hayden, but it is that for genuine reason, or because he has his own uses for Lucy and her new talent?
Miss Emily Hayden (Hattie Morahan)
"I will explain it all as best as I can. It is a sad tangle, indeed, and I think that you perhaps have lost the most, but you must admit, it is terribly Romantic."
Thomas's younger sister, who cannot understand why he is suddenly so keen for her to befriend Miss Cole. To try to do so that deliberately opens her up to the suspicions of the Montacutes, but, nevertheless, she tries,a nd eventually comes to hear the real story. She doesn't understand what her brother is up to, though.
James Brenton, Marquis of Holford (Rupert Penry Jones)
"All I understand is that if Miss Cole is suffering from the headache and cannot see me for what must be the fifth time in eight days, then I begin to feel my suit is unwelcome."
The Montacutes have lined up an ideal suitor for Lucy; the best way to protect her from any less honorable men whose designs are merely on her fortune. However, Brenton is not the sort to find a girl who can turn invisible in any way acceptable to his notions of propriety and Lucy's Aunt is at pains to keep everything from him, while not allowing his to be deterred. Lucy feels he's a little too boringly ideal.
Mr George Fox (Phil Davis)
He witnesses one of Lucy's vanishing acts in the street. He has his own ideas about the sort of money that could be made from such a thing and is set on finding out who she is and how he can detach her from her protective household. The way she's running about town unseen, means he might well have a chance. Or that might be a lie - and he might be working for Mr Hayden...
Mrs Maria Montacute (Julia Sawalha)
"It's not that Lucy will not see you, please understand, only that you cannot see her just now. I'm sure she will be her old self again in the morning."
Lucy's maternal aunt. She would do anything for her niece, but may have very little understanding of what Lucy actually wants. She is determined to see her safely married, if she can - and not hidden away in the country. To have her turning invisible was not part of the plan and she will do whatever she can to keep that fact a secret, retain Brenton's interest, and she fetches in Dr Makepeace.
Colonel Francis Montacute (Brian Protheroe)
He doesn't hold with girls turning invisible and insists on believing that Lucy's somehow managing to run away which leads to much awkwardness around the house to say the least. He's certainly not keen on admitting either of the Haydens, or anyone else prepared to encourage such nonsense.
Elizabeth & Arabella Charles (Rosamond Pike & Morven Christie)
Arabella and Lucy are sharing their come-out, but they have little in common and Arabella has scant patience with what she sees as Lucy's increasing efforts to upstage and spite her. Elizabeth is more sympathetic, but unable to help. It seems that Lucy is in need of a new friend, if Emily Hayden can be trusted.
Mrs Harriet Charles (Stella Gonet)
"I expect all the poor girl needs is a little less fuss and a walk out in the air!"
Elizabeth and Arabella's mother, who means well, but cannot understand what Miss Cole's difficulty is. She rightly suspects that the Montacutes have been too protective and perhaps gone too far in their kindness - but she has no hope of understanding what has happened this time. (Does she?)
The second I had the prompt I had the leads from ITV's Northanger Abbey in my head, and it was very hard to get them out again. I decided, given how many people in bonnets & breeches I'd used on Cloak and Dagger, I might as well have JJ Feild, but in the end, I gave up and did some terrible recasting here. In my defence, I'd like to refer everyone back to Fake TV Show no 2, which took me forever to cast. And if it's fantasy casting, you may as well have the actors you've got in your head. And ITV might well do this sort of thing. So there.
(And it is possible I might not have forgiven RPJ for Series 6 of Spooks yet *cough*.) Once again, I stuck as far as I could to people already in period. Even if sometimes, not exactly the right period (um, yep, Toby Stephens does not look like a doctor), but still....
No episode summaries, because there are only four and they give the whole thing away. And I think I am very tempted to write the whole thing. I think.
Edit I just added in a couple bits. I'll try not to do that too much.
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no subject
Date: 2010-03-04 11:12 pm (UTC)It occurs to me that, as showrunner, you'd have to find a way of representing the invisibility (or at least the transitions to and from it) on a restricted budget. I don't envy you that task.
(and possibly find out just what it is the men talk about when the women retire after dinner)
... with concomitant risks of bumping into servants, getting locked into areas of the house you aren't supposed to be, or spontaneously becoming visible at the most inconvenient juncture.
And I think I am very tempted to write the whole thing. I think.
Don't let me stop you thinking :-)
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 06:54 pm (UTC)I think in most cases, the viewer can see her, but everyone else acts as if they can't, with cutaways where she isn't there, and glimpses into mirrors (ditto) to emphasise the point. Possibly the occasional bit where it's entertaining to not see her, too. I think it'd be okay. (She says, ignorant of TV effects etc etc.)
Well, yes, and she finds trying to walk down a busy London street very painful.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 07:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 07:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 12:06 am (UTC)I call for a 2 episode finale special.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 06:55 pm (UTC)Heh, it's only 4 episodes in total! :lol:
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 11:34 pm (UTC)*fails to see the contradition* ;)
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 01:21 am (UTC)It sounds like a potentially interesting TV series, though.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 02:08 pm (UTC)Also, 'Press Gang' wasn't a Regency costume drama, so it lacks parallelism.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 06:57 pm (UTC)And you've not caught hold of either Cranford or Lark Rise then, yet? (Cranford was great fun. Lark Rise is good, but it depends on your views as to whether you like some actual drama in your drama. Heh.)
Edit: Whoops, I should add, because Julia Sawalha is in there, and certainly capable of being someone's aunt at least. (Aunts, can of course, be younger siblings of your parents, if that makes you feel any less old!)
no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 07:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 09:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-07 04:55 am (UTC)Heh. You know, I don't think I've ever seen Paul Reynolds play a character who wasn't somehow dodgy. (I just skimmed his IMDb listing to see if I could spot any virtuous characters; I couldn't, and on the contrary I noticed that he once played a character listed as "Shifty Driver".)
no subject
Date: 2010-03-07 09:24 am (UTC)What about when he was in Hetty Wainthrop? Wasn't he the sidekick? However, I never watched it, so I'm completely willing to believe he was the dodgy sidekick. Oh dear... "Shifty driver!"
no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 12:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 07:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 06:59 pm (UTC)And what about my WIPs? I'm mad, mad I tell you!
*cough* It's okay; I feel better now.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-05 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 09:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 10:25 am (UTC)