What If Peter Burke Wasn't Peter Burke?

[elrhiarhodan]

I just came across this old article about USA greenlighting the production of the White Collar pilot, back in October, 2008.

"White Collar" is about the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. Neal Caffrey (Bomer), an incredibly charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis, G-Man extraordinaire Peter Stokes (DeKay). When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his long-lost love, Peter nabs him once again. "

I know that I still have a bit of trouble with the whole Diana Lancing/Diana Barrigan thing, but the thought of Peter Burke as Peter Stokes is JUST PLAIN WRONG.

And in the comments:

"I would really like to get excited for White Collar. A show with two guys teaming up and fighting bad people? That's something missing from tv for a long time.

But knowing how USA tv works after a few episodes someone will go online, read a few slash fiction, get scared and add a dumb bimbo as a female love interest and screwing the show.

Been there, done that. "

Comments

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

When I read the original pilot script, I was amazed at all the of the changes (the biggest one being how streamlined the final product is in comparison). I mean, that's still when the show was meant to take place in California, and that was bizarre, because the show just needs New York. And yeah, not only Peter's last name, but Elizabeth was "Debbie" and that threw me.

Though, fact is, if they never changed it, we'd never know the difference, and it'd be weird to think of the characters as the names they go by now.

However, the original script is awesome for when Peter to compares Neal's tracking anklet to a wedding ring. They just had to cut that, didn't they? There were several slashy remarks in it that got cut, actually, if I recall correctly.

[elrhiarhodan]

Where did you get a copy of the original pilot script? I'd kill to see it!

Thanks in advance.

Elr.

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

make that two of us would love to see the original script.

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

I had to poke around for a minute. I knew I found it on delicious, but of course I didn't bookmark it there, but on my computer's bookmarks. And that's not the computer I'm on now. Typical.

But! Here you go, in a PDF! (http://leethomson.myzen.co.uk/White_Collar_1x01_-_Pilot.pdf)

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

can't get link to work for some reason.

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

Well, it's working for me. The link itself is functional. Is your Adobe reader updated? (Or... whatever is used on Macs, if you use a Mac, I know nothing about them) With it being a PDF file. I know I try to avoid them on my other computer because my Adobe runs so slow on there.

Here's the site where I got the file from: just go down to the bottom of the page. (http://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting/us-drama/pilot-scripts/09-10-season)

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

can't get any links to work grrr.

[elrhiarhodan]

If you want to send me a PM with your email, I'll email the file to you. You may have a security feature enabled on your computer that's preventing the d/l.

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

Try right-clicking on the link, choosing 'save link as', and saving the file as a PDF. Then it'll download and you can open it with whatever PDF-reader your computer has. That's what I just did, and it worked perfectly :)

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

Burke just seems the right fit; I read stokes in article and I can't imagine Peter saying that when he is questioning suspects. And can't imagine Elizabeth as a Debbie that just does not fit; El works much better and can you imagine Stokes Premiere Events; that is wrong in so many ways; Burke premiere events sounds much better. I like that in the finale we got to see Elizabeths work place; not happy fowler showed up there but nice to see the B on the outside of building. Burke to me fits Peter much much better then stokes. Of course going off topic but always wondered did he help her start that business; and its nice to see its a success; that el doesn't struggle for business. OK off topic see get me talking about Burkes and I do that.

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

Chiming in for conversation's sake, I wrote a fic where El started her business during the course of the three years Peter was after Neal. It worked for me because it made her very proactive in that time (rather than just "dutiful wife sits around while he husband is off at work for long hours and probably often out of town" or whatever), and that makes it six or seven years later, so it wouldn't be a total stretch to see that's the business is successful now, probably with return clients for annual things and what not.

OK off topic see get me talking about Burkes and I do that.

I do that too. They're a topic I like!

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a nice story; did Peter help her start the business??? I always wonder with how much he would be makeing as a field agent if he helped her get the business rolling and sounds good where helped keep her busy while he was looking for neal; nice backstory on the couple.

[photoash.livejournal.com]

That's interesting :) I have read the original script too it does have a lot of changes. If you still need a link this evening let me know - I am pretty sure I saved it on my hd - it was a pdf.

PS - Slow day at work? :D Hope you at least have air conditioning even though it's a 'cool' 82 here today!

[suebsg9.livejournal.com]

well we got posted a link it just didn't work; I always wondered where the reviewers got stokes from thought that was odd that they called Peter that.

[elrhiarhodan]

Sort of slow day. I have a bitch of a migraine, and I stayed in for my lunch hour and surfed for White Collar in the news.

It's hot out, and still no A/C in the office. The penis-shaped fan is working very hard.

[photoash.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that you are having a migrain :( I hope it goes away soon and that the a/c gets fixed wtf they coudln't do it over the weekend?? ugh! *hugs*

[elrhiarhodan]

Unfortunately, we've been waiting for a new compressor unit for over a month...they wanted to sell us a whole new A/C...but the part's about $1200 and the new roof unit would be $9000.

So we suffer, or more accurately, I suffer. I've got the windows and the corner office. Which turns out not to be such a blessing.

I think the migraine is a hold over from yesterday's bbq debacle.

[gail19.livejournal.com]

Stokes? Nahhhh.

Any truth to the 'someone other than DeKay' was supposed to have been in the original version?