Today’s one of those crazy days when I have far too much to do and far too little time to do it all—except it all seems to be getting done. I’m leaving tomorrow morning for a week and won’t be around a computer while I’m gone.
Over the past two mornings, I’ve turned a 6900-word short story into a 4900-word story. It was a far easier task than I thought it would be. The story was originally written back in 2000 and I thought it might fit an anthology with an upcoming deadline, so I took a stab at it. There was one section that took place in a dark room and I was able to lop out hundreds of words by updating to digital technology. By the end of my first pass I had cut it down by over 1000 words and after a second intensive round it was under 5000, exactly where it should have been in the first place. I’m dancing a little close to the edge with the theme, so I won’t be terribly surprised if it doesn’t get picked, but I thought I’d give it a go. Nothing ventured.
The Closer was good last night. I figured out the pepper spray implication early on, but the fun part was watching the team dance around the FBI/DHS. Also the interaction between Brenda and her boss. Have they ever had an affair? This is my first year watching the show, so I don’t know all the history.
For some reason my tape didn’t pick up The Dead Zone this week so I’ll have to set the machine to get it another time while I’m gone. No episode of Burn Notice this week or next on account of tennis.
I’m looking forward to my week-long hiatus from the computer. Lots of reading and hopefully some relaxing.
Re: Brenda & Pope’s affair
Yes, the did have an affair back in Washington DC.
From Wikipedia:
While living in Washington, D. C., Brenda was trained as an interrogator by the CIA. After joining the DCPD, she became involved with her married boss, William Pope. After refusing to leave his wife, Pope broke up with Brenda. However, he later divorced that wife to marry his next wife, Estelle. During this time, Brenda also met Fritz Howard, a FBI agent then working in D.C. who transferred to Los Angeles 3½ years before the show begins. Thus, Fritz left D.C. for LA slightly before Brenda left D.C. for Atlanta. Fritz knew about Brenda and Pope’s relationship in D.C. Next, Brenda was a Captain with the Atlanta Police Department. Brenda’s husband made false allegations which resulted in an ethics investigation while she was a member of the Atlanta Police Department. He accused her of having an affair with a younger police officer. Brenda believes that her husband did this because he was jealous of the time she dedicated to her work. They divorced soon after. After being cleared of the ethics violation, Brenda decided to seek a new job. Brenda was offered a job with Homeland Security, but decided to decline the offer so that she might head the LAPD Priority Homicide Squad. The Priority Homicide Squad handles any sensitive, high-publicity murder cases. As the Assistant Police Chief, Pope was responsible for her coming to the LAPD and is again her boss. He wanted her for the job because the squad was not providing prosecutors with cases they could win. During her first case, Brenda was told she would not be able to obtain DNA results from the LAPD for many weeks; so, she contacted associates at the FBI. Fritz noticed that the results were for Brenda and personally delivered them. Brenda and Fritz became involved and are currently engaged and living together.
THE CLOSER is one of the few tv shows I track because I dig her interrogatory methods.
Truthfully, I’m getting a little bored with all of the ‘personal issues’ as I think the job itself is drama enough. LAW & ORDER had it right for many years – let the CASE be foremost and provide the drama – but even they slipped into putting the characters tribulations at center stage.
Still.. I hope the keep THE CLOSER on the schedule for some time to come.
Sadly, we’ll have to still sit through all of those SAVING GRACE promos until they finally cancel it (which, mark my words, they will).
It’s also interesting that Sedgwick’s husband, actor Kevin Bacon, is directing some episodes and doing a heluva job.
Thanks — only two or three more episodes left in the season.