Richard Stoneman reveals the story behind this episode:
What was your brief for episode 3?
"There was enough room to be creative and - more importantly - to have some fun."
|
It was a long time ago, but I seem to remember it was the best kind of brief when joining someone else's show. There were three or four things that had to happen in my episode, but it was up to me how and when they happened. So I didn’t have to think of a whole new story, but there was enough room to be creative and - more importantly - to have some fun.
What were the challenges of taking on characters established by someone else?
Danny had already completed a couple of scripts when I joined so it was very clear who all the characters were. He'd painted them in such colourful detail that the normally hard job of trying to work out who you were writing about wasn’t actually there.
How did you keep the dialogue down to earth and realistic? What are the challenges of writing for ordinary blokes in a drama? Did you do any research about postmen?
I didn't need to do any research about postmen because my episode had virtually nothing to do with being a postman. The characters are people with problems at home - issues and worries and hopes and fears... and everything else we all have to deal with.
Did you know what was going to happen in episodes 4-6 when you were writing episode 3?
I knew how the next episode would start. But then the detail became a little less clear, which was fine because - in real life - no-one knows what's going to happen tomorrow. So why should TV drama be different?
Whose idea was the pub quiz setting for the big fight?
If you liked it, it was mine. If you didn't, blame the producer.
Tell us about writing that scene...
"I always loved the pub quiz in Phoenix Nights."
|
I always loved the pub quiz in Phoenix Nights. So this was an attempt to steal Peter Kay's idea. Or, if you will, a 'homage'. I also liked the scene in When Harry Met Sally, when Harry and his mate are talking about the break-up of a relationship at a baseball game (or some kind of game). The crowd keep cheering at inappropriate moments. So I thought it might be funny if the people in the pub watching the football match on TV kept cheering when the fight happened and the truth about Harry and Charlie came out. That’s another 'homage'.
The plot strands look soapy. How did you prevent it coming out like a soap?
I'm not sure what 'soapy' means. If you mean 'obvious' or 'badly done', all I could do was try not to be. Love and betrayal, done well, are always gripping.
The scenes between Harry and Charlie at the end were very affecting - could you tell us a bit about them?
I think I was cheating here. I'm terrible about writing raw emotion. Can't do it, don’t like it. But, if you make the people doing the talking a little bit drunk, you can disguise what they're saying by making them sound confused. As you watch them, you kind of get what they're trying to say. But I didn't have to write it word for word.
What do you want the audience to get from your episode?
The desire to watch the next episode.
What are you happiest about in the final product?
Given it's now been transmitted, I'm hoping I won't be asked to do one more draft.
| | |
Related LinksBest of Drama | Best of BBC |  |
|
