Things are ramping up big time as we approach production start on Dark Matter’s third season. Although we don’t go to camera until November 18th, we’ll be kicking things off with a double-episode block shoot, so prep will start earlier – this Monday, October 31st to be precise. Veteran director Ron Murphy (who helmed Episode 106 [FIVE’s trip down memory lane], Episode 109 [FOUR’s bittersweet reunion with his former mentor, Akita], Episode 205 [undercover Android], and the explosive season 2 finale [“But First We Save The Galaxy”]) will be doing the honors on this opening block. Then, cowboy Bruce McDonald (Episode 107 [Wendy the robot], Episode 202 [“Kill Them All”], and Episode 206 [“We Should Have Seen This Coming]) takes the reins and closes out 2016 in his inimitable fine style.

I’m going to have my hands full writing, rewriting, prepping, casting, editing, etc. so I’m going to have to count on you all, again, to help out with the episode titles. Like last year, I’ll select three appropriate lines of dialogue from the episode, then have you, the fans, vote on which one become the official episode title.

In two instances, the fan-chosen episode title did not appear as a line of dialogue in the episode. In the season 2 premiere, “Welcome to Your New Home”, this scripted line is delivered by the head guard, Durand, as TWO, THREE, and FOUR step into Hyperion-8 Gen Pop in the opening tease. The dialogue was lost for time. In Episode 212, “Sometimes In Life You Don’t Get To Choose”, the line is delivered by TWO as part of an exchange with Nyx. It’s a great line in a terrific TWO/Nyx training room scene.

In the script, this scene falls between Hiro’s onscreen communication with FOUR in which the two hatch the plan for a peaceful transfer of power, and the later mess hall scene in which FOUR and SIX disagree on the future use of the Blink Drive.

INT. RAZA – TRAINING ROOM

Nyx is alone in the training room, running through a routine. TWO steps into the doorway.

TWO: Need a sparring partner?

NYX: Need? Never.

TWO walks over to one of the bo staffs.

TWO: Would you like one?

Off Nyx – TWO grabs the bo staff.

TWO: Sometimes in life, you don’t get to choose.

And she launches a furious attack. Nyx defends, then counters. They spar, equally adept, then take a breather –

TWO: He should’ve said something first. He should’ve been honest. With all of us.

NYX: He was afraid we’d try to stop him. I, more than anyone, can understand that.

TWO: Understanding it doesn’t make it any easier to accept.

NYX: You know what I have a hard time accepting? The fact that I’ve opened myself up to a complete stranger.

TWO: He may be more complicated, but the Four we know is still there.

NYX: Is he?

Nyx holds up.

NYX: I’ve been a loner most of my life. I don’t like to make attachments because, whenever I do, I end up being betrayed. (beat) You’d think I would have learned by now.

She casts her weapon aside and walks out.

What made the scene so memorable for me was the fact that second unit director and stunt coordinator John Stead had Melissa and Melanie actually spar through their dialogue. As I said – a terrific scene, but one we, unfortunately, had to lose because the episode was running long.

This season = shorter scripts!

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