Download ABC’s Revenge: Pilot Episode Script .pdf
Emily Thorne is the newest arrival in the Hamptons this summer. By all appearances, she’s a friendly and sophisticated “girl next door,” whose disarming charm and generosity allow her seamless access to the restricted circles of Hampton’s high society. But the affluent, exclusive world she’s immersed herself in is tied to a dark family history, and Emily Thorne is anything but what she seems. When Emily was just nine, her father was framed for a horrific crime by neighbors he trusted, and was sentenced to life in prison. Emily never saw her father again and spent her childhood consumed by rage, loss and betrayal. 17 years later, she has returned under an assumed identity with one endgame – REVENGE — every social overture a carefully planned chip at the foundation of her sworn enemies, until their lives come crashing down around them. Emily’s goal is unwavering, and her sharp mind is always five steps ahead. But when her past begins to catch up, her true heart may get caught in the crossfire.Emily Thorne is the newest arrival in the Hamptons this summer. By all appearances, she’s a friendly and sophisticated “girl next door,” whose disarming charm and generosity allow her seamless access to the restricted circles of Hampton’s high society. But the affluent, exclusive world she’s immersed herself in is tied to a dark family history, and Emily Thorne is anything but what she seems. When Emily was just nine, her father was framed for a horrific crime by neighbors he trusted, and was sentenced to life in prison. Emily never saw her father again and spent her childhood consumed by rage, loss and betrayal. 17 years later, she has returned under an assumed identity with one endgame – REVENGE — every social overture a carefully planned chip at the foundation of her sworn enemies, until their lives come crashing down around them. Emily’s goal is unwavering, and her sharp mind is always five steps ahead. But when her past begins to catch up, her true heart may get caught in the crossfire.
List Price: $ 0.99
Price: $ 0.99
Sudsy potboiler about beautiful people in the Hamptons,
The most interesting thing about reading the script for the pilot episode of the ABC prime time soap REVENGE is checking out the differences between what was originally scripted and what was actually put on film. Since the free Kindle version of the script includes a link to the full-length pilot, readers get a rare chance to see how a television show is made and what kinds of changes happen between the writing and the filming.
REVENGE (written by veteran Mike Kelley) is a convoluted potboiler involving an incredibly interconnected group of beautiful people spending the summer in the Hamptons. The pilot begins with a mysterious murder on the beach during a gala party at the home of reigning society “queen” Victoria Grayson. The pilot is narrated by Emily Thorne, who is engaged to Victoria’s son, Daniel. But Emily has a secret past, and an even more secret connection to the Grayson family. She’s out for revenge – on many levels – for a supposed wrong done her father ten years earlier. She has her sights on all of the people who she holds responsible for her father’s destruction, including the Graysons and their many society friends.
The pilot is gorgeously filmed, with beautiful beach locations and magnificent grand houses. The cast is too beautiful to be believed – and everyone seems amazingly young. This is no DALLAS or FALCON CREST or DYNASTY – all three series had generations of family that actually looked like they came from different generations. REVENGE casts 53-year-old Madeline Stowe in the role of family matriarch Victoria Grayson, but Stowe looks barely older than her son David (played by 23-year-old Josh Bowman). When all of these beautiful people are sipping cocktails in the setting sun they all look pretty much the same, interchangeable in their perfection. There’s not a Larry Hagman or John Forsythe in the bunch, much less a Barbara Bel Geddes or Jane Wyman. When Victoria gets all medieval on her so-called best friend Lydia (who’s been playing around with Victoria’s husband, Conrad), it just seems so tame, so pedestrian. Nothing about Madeline Stowe is intimidating! When I was reading the script I was picturing someone like Meryl Streep (in Amanda Priestly mode, of course!) — or maybe Lynda Carter.
As for the concept, it has potential. Emily (played by Emily Van Camp) will spend episode after episode going after her father’s enemies, which may or may not prove fascinating. What interested me most were the changes that were made from the script to the final pilot – some were very minor (changing the name of Emily’s former friend Ben Porter to Jack Porter, or the name of her dog from Jake to Sam). Some were more integral (such as the decision to connect Emily’s father’s arrest to a terrorist act, or to suggest that Emily herself had spent years in prison – neither were part of the original script). The script was also changed to make it clear how Emily got the money to rent her phenomenal beach house and chase after her various targets. That change, in particular, made sense.
Will I watch this when it actually begins airing? Maybe . . . I was a big fan of some of the old 1980′s prime time soaps. I’m just not convinced this particular cast has the chops to make REVENGE an addiction. We’ll see.
Was this review helpful to you?
|I’m predicting a hit series,
This script for the pilot of an upcoming tv program definitely makes me want to watch the show. The cast of characters reminds me of the old hits Dallas and Dynasty, complete with the glamor, wealth and back-stabbing. The unveiling of a mystery, with a lead character’s voice overs and flashbacks to a previous life very unlike her present, reminds me of the early days of Desperate Housewives.
The reason for the titled revenge is the destruction of a family, with the father in prison and his little girl in foster care. The little girl is now a wealthy and beautiful young woman, living under a different identity and back in the high society of the Hamptons for revenge. The perpetrators of the destruction of her young life are being slowly revealed, although their reasons are unclear,and the young woman is beginning to get revenge against them one by one.
There’s a lot of mystery,and it’s apparent that the revenge may not be sweet after all. I’m looking forward to the rest of the story.
Was this review helpful to you?
|