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# 222 <9.17> Vigil Tentative title: Redemption, Retribution and Revenge. This episode's final title, Vigil, is almost identical with the one of # 027 and 198 (The Vigil). Using old titles again seems inappropriate, in particular because the tentative title was more creative. The earliest writer's draft was very different from what the episode finally became. Here is an overview of the most striking differences (in chronological order of the respective scenes):
There is hardly an episode that can be more illogical than this one. The script is such a primitive work that almost any scene is a contradiction to another piece of dialog in this episode, let alone all the contradictions in the show's history.
The original choice for the name of Dr. Lewis was Dr. Mitchell.  This episode marks the final appearance of uncredited extra GEORGE SASAKI as Dr. Fong — this time at the Queen of the Valley Hopsital again.He was featured on various occasions in previous episodes (compare # 026, 027, 031, 032, 034, 035, 036, 037, 041, 043, 044, 048, 049, 050, 054, 091, 164, 166, 188, 199 and 220). These episodes established him as a doctor by the name Fong, who works at the Tuscany Valley (Memorial) Hospital / Queen of the Valley Hospital (# 026 and others); since he often wears scrubs, he is apparently a surgeon. His sideline job is working as a medical examiner (# 188). According to # 036, he is a member of the Chinese Fong family residing in San Francisco and the Tuscany Valley. In only one episode (# 032), GEORGE SASAKI played a different part — only in one of his two appearances in said episode. For details about the extra, compare # 026. Strange: Why should Sydney's car be registered in Danny's name?  The southern entrance of the CBS-MTM (RADFORD STUDIO CENTER) administration building is used as the entrance of Sharpe Capital Ventures. The company sign finally reveals the company name.LORIMAR's original map of this part of the studio lot is available for DFCF members in the Show – Production Office – Filming Locations – Movie Studios – Exterior Sets section. The original choice of name for Connie Johnson, Sharpe's secretary, was Mrs. Clark. In later script drafts, she was renamed Vicky Johnson before the producers became aware that the first name Connie for that rôle had already been established in # 210.  Uncredited extra ROBIN BLAKE participates again as the middle-aged blonde Tuscany Valley socialite — this episode in the waiting room at the Queen of the Valley Hospital.It is her final appearance on the show. She apparently worked for The San Francisco Globe first and later followed Richard to his radio station, KRDC. She appeared in a number of previous episodes (compare # 015, 016, 020, 021, 022, 030, 044, 049, 072, 074, 098, 104, 115, 130, 138, 144, 145, 163, 164, 166, 167, 171, 176, 187 and 196). For details about the extra, compare # 015.
 License plate number of Lance's new white 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster convertible: 2MTW473 — the same plate as on Danny's dark gray Mercedes-Benz SEC in # 219. What a prop policy!It remains a mystery why Lance's car was exchanged now although, despite his silver Mercedes-Benz SL 500 being totaled in # 213, the same picture car was introduced as his new vehicle — being the same make and model — in # 214. Early script drafts did not call for a Porsche for Lance; the script suggested that Lance and Richard be using Richard's Jaguar XJ-SC Targa in the night scenes in San Francisco.  The Oyster Bowl Bar in San Francisco is shown; it is Connie Johnson's favorite in-scene place.The filming location for the Oyster Bowl Bar is what used to be Des Regan's Irish Pub (nowadays Great American Joe's Bar & Grill) in Burbank, CA. In # 197, the interiors of the same location posed as the Roadhouse in Tuscany. The illuminated Taco Bell sign of the actual fast food place next door is visible in the background. Inconsistency: Lance meets Connie at the Oyster Bowl Bar under the false name Gerry Gray, pretending to be interested in her. But Connie should know him from previous episodes when he came to Sharpe's office. Or does Lance's muscle shirt make him look so much different from his usual appearance in a tailored suit? Strange: Why does Genele stay at the Del Oro now? What about the Agretti Residence? Since Frank was imprisoned (# 217), the Agretti Vineyards have obviously been forgotten. No word will ever be mentioned again about who now is the executor of Melissa's estate. Shame on this staff's crazy work.   Lance looks for Nick Massoud, Sharpe's chauffeur, at the Playtime, a topless dancing bar in San Francisco.The San Francisco street Lance and Richard drive along shortly before they arrive at the Playtime is actually the corner of Cahuenga Boulevard and Riverside Drive in North Hollywood, CA. In the background, a real store (Vendome Liqours) can be spotted. The close-up in front of the Playtime and the interiors of the bar are filmed at what used to be the real Playtime (nowadays called Burlesque Girls Girls Girls) on Sherman Way in North Hollywood, CA.
Original choices for the name of Anne Bowen in earlier script drafts were Anne Compton (maiden name) and Anne Mason (married name).   Mistake: In the scene with Lauren and Anne in the waiting room at the hospital, Anne's hands are in different positions on / around her coffee cup in subsequent frames (depending on the direction from where the scene is filmed). These close-ups are from various takes that were combined in the editing process.Check # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for details about this troubled filming technique.
  Mistake: In the scene with Richard and Sharpe in the hospital corridor, Richard is standing with his right shoulder turned towards Sharpe first, but he is suddenly standing directly across from Sharpe (with his left shoulder turned more towards Sharpe now) in the subsequent shot filmed from the reverse angle.Again, this is the typical mistake caused by the particular close-up filming technique — check # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for details.
  Johnny Sacco works in Haley's Garage on 34th Street in San Francisco; his shift usually starts at 6:00 AM. Later, Lance and Richard, however, are waiting for Sacco in front of a garage called Keith Cline Automotive and say that he works there. The scripts are getting worse and worse!The filming location is a real body shop on West Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank, CA — actually next to the location that is used as the Oyster Bowl Bar (see above). The entrance to the body shop is actually on North Rose Street; Lance is waiting in front of that entrance when Richard arrives, coming from West Magnolia. The body shop, which used to be Keith Cline Auomotive in real life, is nowadays called Julian's Automotive.
Nick Massoud drives a black 1979 Pontiac Firebird.   The place where Richard and Lance talk to Sacco is filmed on an alley behind the aforementioned body shop and a residential area.In the more dangerous parts of the scene when Nick Massoud tries to hit Johnny Sacco with his sports car, both SHAHRAD VOSSOUGHI and JAMES DiSTEFANO are replaced by stunt doubles. Season time frame: According to Richard's statement in night 1 of the current episode, Angela's condition has not changed in six months — she has been in the coma since 09/15/1989 (see # 207). So it must be at least around mid-March 1990, which comes rather close to the airdate of this episode. This leads to the conclusion that there must have been several unseen periods of time since # 218. These unseen days or even weeks most likely went by between # 220 and 221 and during # 221. It is very strange, however, that Danny said on day 5 of # 221 his 20th "birthday is four months away". This is in contrast to Anne and Lauren mentioning Danny was born in February (1970), which makes the season time frame a complete mystery.  Inconsistency: Danny was obviously taken to a hospital in San Francisco because there is a view of Nob Hill (Mark Hopkins Hotel) from the windows of the waiting room (a photographic projection on the sound stage).From a conversation between Lance and Richard it can be derived this is the hospital where Angela is. But in previous episodes, it was obvious that Angela was treated at the Queen of the Valley Hospital. Also # 225 will feature an establishing clip of the QVH before the scene in Angela's room. Also nurse Natalie — usually at the QVH, where she takes care of Angela — is working at the hospital where Danny is treated in the current episode. So which hospital is this?! ← Previous episode... → Next episode... |
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