Thread by @writergeekrhw

So... been thinking a lot about all the beautiful scripts out there that will never seen the light of day. The stillborn and the misbegotten. They'll never be filmed. They're just paper now. How would you like to read one?

Tell you what... I'm going to post my failed Syfy pilot Defender here, one page at a time, for the next 95 days. It's got starships and sword fights, space battles and ballroom dancing. And yes, some kissing.

NOTE: 1. I changed the title (& ship name) back to MORNINGSTAR. I only renamed it DEFENDER because of a network note & I like MORNINGSTAR better. 2. This script was work for hire & is (I think) property of UCP. But per WGA rules, I retain publishing rights. So there's that.

Here goes. Hopefully I formatted this right. #Morningstar p1

As promised. #Morningstar p2

Belated #Morningstar p3. I'll post pgs 3-6 to make up for missing the weekend. Plus 1 bonus page!

#Morningstar p4 In which Lang wakes up and faces his day.

#Morningstar p5 In which we meet Warrant Officer Eugene "Random" Chan of the Unity Scout Corps.

Last page for today. #Morningstar p6, in which Capt. Lang demonstrates his mastery of the side-eye.

#Morningstar p7. Mandatory starship porn (NOTE: At least one sequence of total starship porn is required in all space opera pilot episodes. Preferably in Act One)

Also this is the intro for MAMA GRIG, one of my favorite characters.

Hmm, that didn't thread well. Here's #Morningstar p8 again. Time to meet science officer Ulyssia "USELESS" Pol!

NOTE: Make Science Officers, Engineers & other characters that regularly deal reams of exposition funny/quirky/spunky/cranky to make the expo go down smooth. EXAMPLES: Harper on #Andromeda, Cisco on @CW_TheFlash, Kaylee on #Firefly, Abby on @NCIS_CBS, Gary on @Alphas_TV

Sherlock Holmes is, of course, the progenitor of and poster child for this trope. "I shall endeavor to explain this to you in a way that is both clear and entertaining, while veiling oh so thinly my condescending attitude. Now stand there and hold this lightning rod."

#Morningstar p9 In which Lang meets an old friend.

#Morningstar p10. In which Lang and Debussy reveal their mutual ulterior motive for taking this mission. Also... Aristis.

#Morningstar p11 In which Aristi Marine Col. Tyche Heron and her Centurion, Azrael, make a first impression

#Morningstar p12 In which we meet LAKSHMI NAGASI and HOBBES. Also, Nagasi has a vision.

#Morningstar p13 In which Chekhov's Gun appears as an actual gun.

#Morningstar p14 In which necessary exposition is disguised as conflict. #TVWriting

#Morningstar p15 Bonus page because it's short! Violence! Conflict! Chekhov's Gun returns and it's not even the final act. ACT OUT!

Missing yesterday's #Morningstar post because of the 4th, so TWO pages today. First up, p16 More fight-fight!

#Morningstar p17. Lang handles his business, then tells it like it is.

BONUS! Illustration of of the Mars colony farming domes where Lang grew up. #Morningstar

#Morningstar p18 Lang uses backstory to illustrate a point. Because hidden exposition is the best exposition. #TVWriting

#Morningstar p19 Teyo tells his side. Lang delivers some final words of wisdom. Also, meet YVAN.

Belated #Morningstar p20. Debussy knows exactly what's in Lang's bag of tricks.

And today's #Morningstar p21. Yvan and Useless get to know each other.

The people have spoken. Two pages of #Morningstar per day from now on! Here's p22. Useless is disappointed. Random records a log. (#TVWriting note: More sneaky exposition/character backstory ahead.)

#Morningstar p23. FWIW The crew recording their personal logs/journals/confessionals directly to camera was supposed to be a regular part of the show. Also BALLROOM DANCING as promised!

#Morningstar p24. More dancing! Also kissing. Kissing AND dancing.

#Morningstar p25. You thought I was kidding when I said there'd be ballroom dancing in this space opera? I never joke about dancing. (Don't worry, death is coming. Isn't it always?)

#Morningstar p26 Random kisses someone else. Because Random.

#Morningstar p27 In which the excrement meets the whirling blade. ACT OUT!

#Morningstar p28 Act out fall out. There's a mystery afoot!

#Morningstar p29 In which Lang and Spenser discuss the chain of command.

#Morningstar p30 Meet the good ship Jackalope.

#Morningstar p31 Random and Yvan discuss the nature of being a Precog in a cramped space which forces them to stand, like, really close to each other. (NOTE: I did not specifically call out the sexual tension in the action lines. But, I mean, seriously.)