And Even Yet Another New Slideshow

the screenplay was written as an ordinary (40 min.) length TV episode but it seems as if it would have been much more effective with an 85 minute running time (for a two hour air slot)--old school feature-length.

As shot, I believe the pilot is a bit over 41 minutes. But believe it or not, at 59 pages, the script is too short to have filled a 2 hour or even a 90 minute TV slot. By comparison, the script for the '91 DS' pilot, which was intended for a 2 hour TV slot, is 119 pages.

With regard to Sarah, the script explains -

Her VOICE suddenly comes from behind him. Barnabas whirls, seeing Sarah again.

- just before today's quote:

Page 37 - Sarah: 'I don't want her to die.'

And the script explains that -

Barnabas reaches out again, emotionally torn, and' again Sarah DISSOLVES at his touch. Barnabas SHOUTS into the night.

- just before today's quote:

Page 37 - Barnabas: 'I can't help myself. The rage devours me...'

And the script also explains that -

Sarah's VOICE sounds again, now from the edge of the woods.

- right before today's quote:

Page 37 - Sarah (O.S.): 'You must stop, Barnabas...'

And additionally the script explains that -

Barnabas turns, anguished, as Sarah dissipates, drifting into the darkness like dust. Conflicted, he turns back toward the mansion, where Victoria remains framed on the balcony.

- right before today's quote -

Page 37 - Barnabas: 'I can't...'

- and the scene concludes with:

As camera CRANES UP, Barnabas reaches toward the sky, his torment etched across his face...

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO

And it's interesting how in some ways this scene is quite similar to one in the pilot for the '91 series. In that scene Vicki is in her room and brushing her hair before she turns down her bed and goes to the window. Outside, Barnabas watches and bares his fangs. But then he is startled by a child's voice calling "Barnabas... Barnabas..." He turns to look in all directions, finally spotting the figure of a girl. Astounded, he calls out "Sarah, is that you?" to which Sarah begs "You must stop, Barnabas... You must stop..." Elated by the sight of her, he begins walking toward her saying "You've come back" - however, she turns and runs from him - which prompts Barnabas to frantically run after her shouting "No! Sarah! Wait! Don't leave me! Sarah! No, Sarah! Please don't go away!" But sadly for him the child has completely vanished, and that prompts him to weepingly say "Sarah... Sarah... My sweet little sister... Come back!" He collapses to his knees and with anguished sobs pleads "Please don't hate me... Please! I cannot help myself!!" And that ends that pilot - though it was never scripted to end that pilot - but that's an entirely different story for an entirely different topic...

One thing that's quite fascinating about the way the scene is scripted for this pilot, aside from the potentially interesting special effect of Sarah dissolving, is that in this pilot the audience never does learn that Sarah is Barnabas' sister. Apparently that was being held as a big reveal for some future ep...

And once again the latest chart -

- provides a clue as to what's coming up next...

I had thought the scene just completed had a lot in common with the same scene in the 1991 series.  Many thanks for all the annotations and extra info!  If I understood you correctly, none of this scene survived in the edit of the pilot that we saw in 2005 (if that was indeed the year).

My total amnesia of what's being described continues, so again, I appreciate your carefully composed notes and vivid descriptions.

Best, G.

If I understood you correctly, none of this scene survived in the edit of the pilot that we saw in 2005 (if that was indeed the year).

Sarah was never cast, so the scene between Barnabas and Sarah was never shot.

As for screening the pilot, selected scenes were shown at the '04 Tarrytown Fest, but the full pilot wasn't first shown until the '05 LA Fest.

The script sets up the new scene (another that was never shot) with:

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. CAROLYN'S BEDROOM - COLLINWOOD - DAY

Dr. Hoffman THROWS OPEN the curtains, gray daylight spilling in, as Joe helps a still-weak Carolyn into bed. Her throat's bandaged and an array of home medical equipment (I.V., etc.) has been set up by the bed.

And it's at that point that Joe delivers today's quote:

Page 38 - Joe: 'That's it, just take it easy. (to Dr. Hoffman) You sure she's ready to fly solo?'

And notice how Julia is being referred to as "Dr. Hoffman" in the descriptions for this scene, whereas previously, except for her very first mention, she is simply "Hoffman".

The interesting thing about today's quote -

Page 38 - Carolyn: 'I was ready. (off Joe's concern) It's been two weeks. I wanted to come home.'

- is that because this scene wasn't shot, as the pilot stands there's no way to tell that two weeks have gone by since Carolyn's attack.

Also, the passage of the two weeks at this point in the pilot actually complicates something that was planned had the pilot gone to series. However, there could be a way to get around it. But more on that after the scene that comes up after this one...

The script explains that -

As Joe reacts to that, Dr. Hoffman pulls out a syringe.

- just before today's quote:

Page 38 - Dr. Hoffman: 'As long as you remember, we're not out of the woods yet.'

And notice that for the first time Julia is referred to as Dr. Hoffman when it comes to identifying her for her dialogue. Though that will be short lived because soon she'll be back to simply Hoffman. 

I like how pretty much everyone is identified by his/her first name except for Julia.  Though her billing was pretty unique in the credits of the original series: "Dr. Julia Hoffman" instead of "Dr. Hoffman" like the other early doctors in the series.  Maybe Eric Lang was credited as "Dr. Eric Lang".  I can't recall.  I try to forget as much about him as possible.   

Fascinated by this scene.  Again, I barely remember Julia having more than 10 seconds onscreen from the screening I attended (and I'm really wondering now if I simply fell asleep at some point).  From today's line, it would appear that Julia is already well ahead of everyone else in comprehending what's going on.

G.

Kelly Hu would have been a great Julia. Different to be sure but still a force to be reckoned with.

After yesterday's quote -

Page 38 - Carolyn (to Joe): 'Watch. Her dire warnings are always followed with needles.'

- the script indicates -

Hoffman leans down and injects Carolyn. As Carolyn winces...

- and that's followed by today's quote:

Page 38 - Joe: 'What is that, some sort of antirabies drug?'