I was we could use this thread to put together everything we know about what the series would have been like. Unless that's already been done? In which case I'd appreciate a link. Thanks.

Welcome aboard psf!

I don't think that thread has been done. Of course it might be quite limited/restrictive as ... how to we truly know what the series would have been about with only hearsay evidence. No other scripts have surfaced other than the pilot script.

IIFC, Lynch stated that he wanted to leave the series open-ended by design as he felt that that was the mistake he made with Twin Peaks. He felt that 'open-ended' approach contributed to his series not getting the greenlight as studio executives were uncomfortable not knowing what their money was truly getting. I guess that's the long way of saying that if he isn't sharing where MD - The Series was going with studio execs he sure isn't going to share it with us. And quite frankly like Inland Empire he might not even know where it was going himself.

I think there were some actor interviews where they speculated as to what would develop with their characters and how they might interact with the other key characters but, again, that's just speculation.

yeah, that last bit that you wrote is what i was trying to get at with this post. Like this, that i pulled from the website

Code: Select all

...the series regular role of Laney, a mysterious homeless character who would get revealed throughout the series and come to a grande finale when the big secret is unfolded.

I was hoping we could assemble all those little bits into a compendium of everything we know.

Good idea for a thread - here's what we already have http://www.mulholland-drive.net/studies/pilot.htm:

I just remember him [Lynch] saying that it would be a series of mysteries that spun out of each other and would never have a conclusion, unlike 'Twin Peaks'. He was very upset that Laura's killer had to be named and said he would not let that happen again. John Neff (dugpa.com)

Adam and Betty would embark on the affair indicated by the sparks ignited by their first brief meeting. More intriguingly, during the first year of the show the life-paths of two female leads would cross, the noir elements of the plot absorbing Betty as she was sucked into Rita's dark world while the mystery girl herself would find redemption. And, in response to politely insistent queries, Lynch promised that when Rita's identity was finally revealed it would only open up other mysteries. Weirdsville USA: Obsessive Universe of David Lynch

Laney, the mysterious homeless character (prostitute) would get revealed throughout the series and come to a grande finale when the big secret is unfolded. renariffel.com

In an interview with Chris Rodley Lynch says that MD has become simpler as a movie (as a love story) than it was supposed to become as a series. He is grateful to ABC to have killed the project because it has given him the opportunity to change completely his point of view about the MD story. It is clear that esthetically speaking the love story is so beautiful that the remaining of the story is not necessary. - (gandalf36)

thanks bob, that was what i was looking for.

One scene filmed for the pilot but cut from the film was a phone call from Adam to Wilkins asking if he could stay at Wilkin's place for a while. Wilkins lived at Havenhurst so Adam would've been a neighbor to Betty and Rita in the series.

On a side note, I loved the chiilling look between Wilkins and his dog after the call from Adam!

somethingbad wrote:One scene filmed for the pilot but cut from the film was a phone call from Adam to Wilkins asking if he could stay at Wilkin's place for a while. Wilkins lived at Havenhurst so Adam would've been a neighbor to Betty and Rita in the series.

On a side note, I loved the chiilling look between Wilkins and his dog after the call from Adam!

I'm also pretty sure that the Wilkins character was originally intended as a struggling screenwriter. Not sure of my source for that (the pilot script?) but I'll have a dig around tomorrow and see if I can find it.

I couldn't find the source for the above.



I'm pretty sure it's right though. My memory is usually pretty good on things like that. Hopefully I'll come across it at some point.

blu wrote:I couldn't find the source for the above.



I'm pretty sure it's right though. My memory is usually pretty good on things like that. Hopefully I'll come across it at some point.

The pilot script had him as a screenwriter. The struggling part is hard to say and *may* not be correct as (1) he is working and (2) he indicates he has plenty of money.

INT. WILKINS' APARTMENT - A MOMENT LATER

Wilkins still in his pajamas, bathrobe and slippers from
morning slouches in an enormous stuffed chair and matching
ottoman, surrounded by piles of papers and coffee cups. His
Jack Russell Terrier wakes and stands at the sound of the
phone ringing on a side table next to Wilkins. Wilkins comes
out of a deep thought and picks up the receiver as he runs
his hand through strange, matted tufts of dirty blonde hair.

WILKINS
Hello. Adam. How's it going? No, it's
okay. Yeah, I'm working, but... they
wanted this script a week ago. What?
What's wrong with your house? The
poolman? Sure, you can have the couch.
No, it's no problem..it's just I
gotta ... I gotta work. Any chance you
could bring some food. No, I got plenty
of money - I just haven't gone out for
awhile. Groovy man!


WILKINS (cont'd)
Murphy and I'll be glad to see you. No,
no, no, he's got plenty of food.

I would have loved to see what the deal was with the boy, Betty met on the plane - and who apparently comes to stay at 1612 Havenhurst too

BETTY (on the phone with her granny)
[…] I sat next
to a lady who gave up her first class
seat to a boy with a broken leg. She was
so nice to me. She invited me to her
house sometime. It's in Bel Air which is
a place where people have a lot of money...

[…]

EXT. HOLLYWOOD RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY

Coming toward them on the sidewalk are two people - a middle-
aged woman and a young boy around 10 years old. The boy is
very thin and something is wrong with him as he is walking
awkwardly on crutches. As the two groups pass each other on
the sidewalk Betty is struck deeply by the boy's brilliant,
luminous blue eyes which are at once innocent and filled with
wisdom.

After they pass each other Betty turns back and sees the boy
and the woman enter 1612 Havenhurst. Betty and Rita continue
up the street.

"Betty is struck deeply by the boy's brilliant,
luminous blue eyes which are at once innocent and filled with
wisdom."

Bob, looking the scene by scene bit on the pilot page, it says:

Dan & Herb at Winkie's: This part is entirely missing in the shortened Pilot version. No Dan, no Herb, no Bum.

Could we add a note to say that this was in the pilot script and so more than likely shot with the pilot footage even if it's not included in the rough pilot floating around out there? Just to be clear on that point. Cheers.

And also could we maybe add a link in the "Kenny beats up Gene & Lorraine" section to the discussion in this thread here as it contains the pilot footage of that scene:

http://www.mulholland-drive.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=204