Rewriting Jo's Scenes in ELAC, SS and NE
Well...I know I've said a lot about Jo's character over the past weeks (I've got one entry on her character in my blog and she's mentioned in almost every other one as well, I think...)...the one thing that I've been stating on a lot of forums regarding Jo's character is how poorly written her character was (at least until the latter half of NE). While lamenting on how her character had potential that now could never be seen due to the poor first impression she (Jo) made on most viewers for the first couple of episodes, my muse (I didn't even know I had one) decided to attack and has forced me to re-write all the scenes that I found her to be particularly annoying in...I will leave the comments open on this one... all I ask is that you please not flame me, I know this is probably going to be one of the crappiest things you've ever read and you're going to want ---mins of your life back, but this is just for fun!!! Oh, I'm not posting the original scenes - there will be an astrik (*) next to the things I have changed...over at the SN.tv forums there are transcripts in the Episode section of the boards...right now it's up to episode 3 of Season 2.
Just in case...there will be spoilers for Season 2 here (like you couldn't have guessed that)!!!
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Everybody Loves a Clown:
(Switch to Dean sitting down to talk to Jo.)
Dean: "How did your mom get into this stuff anyway?"
Jo: "My Dad. He was a hunter. He's dead."*
Dean: "I'm sorry."
Jo: "It was a long time ago. {Moment of hurt flashes through Jo's eyes as she averts her eyes from Dean} (beat) Sorry to hear about your dad."*
Dean: "Yeah. So, uh, I guess I've got 51 hours to waste. Maybe tonight we should uh...."
{A look passes betwen Dean and Jo and he pauses.}
Dean: "Ya know what? Nevermind."
{Jo, still standing, crosses her arms, leans back and gives Dean a questioning, yet sly look.}*
Jo: "What?"
Dean: "Nothing. Just wrong place, wrong time."
{Jo gives Dean another look. She looks like she is about to make a sarcastic retort, but seeing the sadness in Dean's eyes she thinks better of it.}*
Jo: "Really, though, I was just a kid when you're dad stopped coming, but I know he was great hunter; once he caught something's trail, it was only a matter of time."*
{Dean looks up questioningly at Jo. Jo gives him a sad, yet amused smile.}*
Jo: "At least that's what every hunter who ever met him said."*
{Moment of slightly awkward silence passes between the two. Jo then looks at the empty chair across from Dean then back at Dean - giving him an 'aren't you going to invite me to sit down' look. Dean gives her a 'do you really need my permission' look. Jo is about to sit down when the moment is broken by Sam calling Dean.}*
Sam: "Dean, come here, check this out."
(Next scene Dean, Sam and Ellen in the Roadhouse; Ellen hands them a couple of beers.)
Ellen: "You boys did a hell of a job. You're Dad would be proud."
Sam: "Thanks."
{Door opening and closing. Enter Jo carrying a small rag - looks like it would be used for washing cars.}*
Jo: "Dean! Sam!" (smiles) "Didn't know you were back? (smirks) What happened to that fab. ride you left in?"*
{Sam snorts in amusement while Dean groans.}*
{Jo walks behind the bar and gets herself a beer. After cracking it open she proceeds to sit behind the bar in the corner, between Sam and Dean.}*
Jo: So, what happened?*
{Dean looks at her and raises and eyebrow. He's about to answer when Ash walks in. Jo leaves them to talk in private and begins to busy herself cleaning at the far end of the bar.}*
(Dialoge with Ash - not changed.)
Ellen: "Hey."
{Dean and Sam stop at the door and turn around. Jo is standing behind Ellen, facing the brothers.}
Ellen: "Listen, um, if you boys need a place to stay, I got a couple beds out back."
Dean: "Thanks, but no. I, um, got something I gotta finish."
{Cut to Jo who has a slightly disappointed look in her eyes, but understanding smile on her face. Dean nods a goodbye. Brothers leave.}*
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Simon Said:
{Sam and Dean walk into the Roadhouse. Jo's back is to the door; she is serving drinks to customers. Jo turns around and a warm smile lights up her face.}*
Jo: "Dean, Sam." (She calls their name's while walking towards them.)*
Dean: "Hey..." (Sam steps in before Dean can say anymore.)*
Sam: "Where's Ash?"
Jo: (confused) "He's in his back room...wh.." (Sam leaves before she can finish her question. Suprised and even more confused Jo looks to Dean for an answer.)*
Dean: "We're kinda, uh, on a bit of a timetable."*
{Jo looks even more confused at Dean's vague answer, but quickly snaps out of it as other customers signal for her. She excuses herself and steps around Dean, who then goes off in the same direction as Sam.}*
(Next scene, Dean is drinking at the bar, Ellen is in the background and Jo has just finished shelving the last of the glasses. She collapses into a bar stool behind the bar, obviously worn out...after a few minutes of only lights buzzing, she walks over to the jukebox - "Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon starts playing. We see a slight smile on Jo's face. [She's still standing facing the jukebox, obviously she likes this music and it relaxes her.] Sitting back down, she begins to tap her fingers to the beat, before noticing the look on Dean's face)*
NOTE: I'm not going to change any of the dialogue...it wasn't actually the dialogue of this scene that bothered me so much as what I saw as the reason for the scene - Jo, once again, trying to flirt/seduce Dean. I've tried to make it so that Jo chooses this song for no other reason than that she likes it. I cut out the scene with Jo hustling that older guy as well, as I also saw this as another attempt to make Jo seem like she could handle herself on a hunt. (Firing guns while playing an arcade game does not equal being able to shoot in real life!!!) Instead, I have her working at the Roadhouse, because isn't that what she should be doing! Well, that's what she should be doing, IMHO.
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No Exit: (Note there will be no knife twirlling in any of the following scenes!!!)
(Sam and Dean enter the Roadhouse - Jo and Ellen are serious going at it.)
Jo: "I'm going!! You can't stop me!"*
Ellen: "Don't bet on that, sweetie!"
Jo: "What are you going to do - you going to chain me up in the basement?"
Ellen: "You know what, you've had worse ideas than that recently. You know what, you don't want to stay, then don't stay, go back to school!"
Jo: "I didn't belong there. I was a freak with a knife collection!"
Ellen: "Yeah, but getting youself killed on some dusty backroad, that's where you belong?!"
{Jo notices Sam and Dean; Ellen turns around.}
Ellen: "Guys' bedtime."
Sam: "Yes, ma'am."
Dean: "Yeah, we rarely drink before 10 anyways."
Jo: "Wait. I want to know they think."*
Ellen: "I don't care what they think."
{Family walks in.}
Dad: "Are you guys open?
(Jo and Ellen at the same time.)
Ellen: "YES!"
Jo: "NO!"
Dad: "We'll just check out the Arby's down the road."
{Phone rings. Jo makes no move to pick it up, she bites her lip and stares at the now closed door - frustration in her eyes. Ellen goes to pick up the phone.}*
Ellen (on phone): "Harvalle's..."
Jo (to Sam and Dean): "Three weeks ago a young girl disappears from her Philidelphia apartment." (She holds out the folder for Dean. She gives him a 'go ahead, take it' look. He looks at her then at her mom. Jo flicks her eyes back and lets out a sigh of frustration and motions for Dean to take it again; this time he does.) "And she wasn't the first, over the past 80 years six women have vanished, all from the same building, all young blondes. Only happens every decade or two so cops never eyeball the pattern. So, we're either dealing with one very old serial killer, or..."*
Dean (looking at file): "Who put this together, Ash?"
Jo: "I did it myself."
(Next scene - Dean, Sam, Jo in the apartment.)
Jo: "I'll flip you for the sofa."
Dean: "Does your mother even know you're here?"
(Jo gives Dean an annoyed, 'does it really matter look'; Dean looks straight back at her.)
Jo: "No. (Looks at Dean.) Don't worry, I got Ash covering my tail."*
Dean: "You know, you shouldn't lie to your mom. You shouldn't be here either."
Jo: "This is my case. And I'll deal with my mom. (Dean gives her a 'yeah right' look.) Look all we need to do is figure out who the spirit is, salt and burn the bones and we can go our separate ways; unless you prefer to leave now."*
Sam: "Where'd you get all that money, anyways?"
Jo: "Working...at the Roadhouse."
Dean: "Hunters don't tip that well."
(Jo gives Dean an 'how would you know' look. Dean's face darkens; Jo's does as well.)
Jo: "I didn't steal it."*
(Tense moment, broken by Dean's phone ringing.)
Dean: "Yeah."
Ellen: "Is she with you?"
Dean: "Oh, hi, Ellen."
(Jo glances up at Dean and continues to unpack her stuff...the message, I'm not going anywhere!)*
Ellen: "She left a note she's in Vegas, I don't believe it for a second."
(Dean looks at Jo, who crosses her arms and glares at him.)*
Ellen: "Dean..."
Dean: "I haven't seen her."
Ellen: "You sure about that?"
Dean: "Yeah, I'm sure."
Ellen: "Well, please, if she shows up, you'll drag her butt right back here, won't you?"
Dean: "Absolutely."
Ellen: "Okay, thanks hon."
(Dean glares at Jo, who looks steadily back at him with a 'what, it was your choice' look, which only causes Dean to scowl further; Jo's look then changes to a 'you won't regret this' look.)*
NOTE: The next scene of them discussing senarios around the table would basically be the same except Jo would not tell Dean to sit down and instead of saying that "I know what I'm doing." (and Jensen's reply) it would be done with facial acting. The only other thing I would change is that Jo would not say "Morning princess." to Dean, she would be absorbed in going over her research.
Well, that's all my drabbling done...tell me what you think...please, be kind, this is only for fun!
Just in case...there will be spoilers for Season 2 here (like you couldn't have guessed that)!!!
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Everybody Loves a Clown:
(Switch to Dean sitting down to talk to Jo.)
Dean: "How did your mom get into this stuff anyway?"
Jo: "My Dad. He was a hunter. He's dead."*
Dean: "I'm sorry."
Jo: "It was a long time ago. {Moment of hurt flashes through Jo's eyes as she averts her eyes from Dean} (beat) Sorry to hear about your dad."*
Dean: "Yeah. So, uh, I guess I've got 51 hours to waste. Maybe tonight we should uh...."
{A look passes betwen Dean and Jo and he pauses.}
Dean: "Ya know what? Nevermind."
{Jo, still standing, crosses her arms, leans back and gives Dean a questioning, yet sly look.}*
Jo: "What?"
Dean: "Nothing. Just wrong place, wrong time."
{Jo gives Dean another look. She looks like she is about to make a sarcastic retort, but seeing the sadness in Dean's eyes she thinks better of it.}*
Jo: "Really, though, I was just a kid when you're dad stopped coming, but I know he was great hunter; once he caught something's trail, it was only a matter of time."*
{Dean looks up questioningly at Jo. Jo gives him a sad, yet amused smile.}*
Jo: "At least that's what every hunter who ever met him said."*
{Moment of slightly awkward silence passes between the two. Jo then looks at the empty chair across from Dean then back at Dean - giving him an 'aren't you going to invite me to sit down' look. Dean gives her a 'do you really need my permission' look. Jo is about to sit down when the moment is broken by Sam calling Dean.}*
Sam: "Dean, come here, check this out."
(Next scene Dean, Sam and Ellen in the Roadhouse; Ellen hands them a couple of beers.)
Ellen: "You boys did a hell of a job. You're Dad would be proud."
Sam: "Thanks."
{Door opening and closing. Enter Jo carrying a small rag - looks like it would be used for washing cars.}*
Jo: "Dean! Sam!" (smiles) "Didn't know you were back? (smirks) What happened to that fab. ride you left in?"*
{Sam snorts in amusement while Dean groans.}*
{Jo walks behind the bar and gets herself a beer. After cracking it open she proceeds to sit behind the bar in the corner, between Sam and Dean.}*
Jo: So, what happened?*
{Dean looks at her and raises and eyebrow. He's about to answer when Ash walks in. Jo leaves them to talk in private and begins to busy herself cleaning at the far end of the bar.}*
(Dialoge with Ash - not changed.)
Ellen: "Hey."
{Dean and Sam stop at the door and turn around. Jo is standing behind Ellen, facing the brothers.}
Ellen: "Listen, um, if you boys need a place to stay, I got a couple beds out back."
Dean: "Thanks, but no. I, um, got something I gotta finish."
{Cut to Jo who has a slightly disappointed look in her eyes, but understanding smile on her face. Dean nods a goodbye. Brothers leave.}*
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Simon Said:
{Sam and Dean walk into the Roadhouse. Jo's back is to the door; she is serving drinks to customers. Jo turns around and a warm smile lights up her face.}*
Jo: "Dean, Sam." (She calls their name's while walking towards them.)*
Dean: "Hey..." (Sam steps in before Dean can say anymore.)*
Sam: "Where's Ash?"
Jo: (confused) "He's in his back room...wh.." (Sam leaves before she can finish her question. Suprised and even more confused Jo looks to Dean for an answer.)*
Dean: "We're kinda, uh, on a bit of a timetable."*
{Jo looks even more confused at Dean's vague answer, but quickly snaps out of it as other customers signal for her. She excuses herself and steps around Dean, who then goes off in the same direction as Sam.}*
(Next scene, Dean is drinking at the bar, Ellen is in the background and Jo has just finished shelving the last of the glasses. She collapses into a bar stool behind the bar, obviously worn out...after a few minutes of only lights buzzing, she walks over to the jukebox - "Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon starts playing. We see a slight smile on Jo's face. [She's still standing facing the jukebox, obviously she likes this music and it relaxes her.] Sitting back down, she begins to tap her fingers to the beat, before noticing the look on Dean's face)*
NOTE: I'm not going to change any of the dialogue...it wasn't actually the dialogue of this scene that bothered me so much as what I saw as the reason for the scene - Jo, once again, trying to flirt/seduce Dean. I've tried to make it so that Jo chooses this song for no other reason than that she likes it. I cut out the scene with Jo hustling that older guy as well, as I also saw this as another attempt to make Jo seem like she could handle herself on a hunt. (Firing guns while playing an arcade game does not equal being able to shoot in real life!!!) Instead, I have her working at the Roadhouse, because isn't that what she should be doing! Well, that's what she should be doing, IMHO.
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No Exit: (Note there will be no knife twirlling in any of the following scenes!!!)
(Sam and Dean enter the Roadhouse - Jo and Ellen are serious going at it.)
Jo: "I'm going!! You can't stop me!"*
Ellen: "Don't bet on that, sweetie!"
Jo: "What are you going to do - you going to chain me up in the basement?"
Ellen: "You know what, you've had worse ideas than that recently. You know what, you don't want to stay, then don't stay, go back to school!"
Jo: "I didn't belong there. I was a freak with a knife collection!"
Ellen: "Yeah, but getting youself killed on some dusty backroad, that's where you belong?!"
{Jo notices Sam and Dean; Ellen turns around.}
Ellen: "Guys' bedtime."
Sam: "Yes, ma'am."
Dean: "Yeah, we rarely drink before 10 anyways."
Jo: "Wait. I want to know they think."*
Ellen: "I don't care what they think."
{Family walks in.}
Dad: "Are you guys open?
(Jo and Ellen at the same time.)
Ellen: "YES!"
Jo: "NO!"
Dad: "We'll just check out the Arby's down the road."
{Phone rings. Jo makes no move to pick it up, she bites her lip and stares at the now closed door - frustration in her eyes. Ellen goes to pick up the phone.}*
Ellen (on phone): "Harvalle's..."
Jo (to Sam and Dean): "Three weeks ago a young girl disappears from her Philidelphia apartment." (She holds out the folder for Dean. She gives him a 'go ahead, take it' look. He looks at her then at her mom. Jo flicks her eyes back and lets out a sigh of frustration and motions for Dean to take it again; this time he does.) "And she wasn't the first, over the past 80 years six women have vanished, all from the same building, all young blondes. Only happens every decade or two so cops never eyeball the pattern. So, we're either dealing with one very old serial killer, or..."*
Dean (looking at file): "Who put this together, Ash?"
Jo: "I did it myself."
(Next scene - Dean, Sam, Jo in the apartment.)
Jo: "I'll flip you for the sofa."
Dean: "Does your mother even know you're here?"
(Jo gives Dean an annoyed, 'does it really matter look'; Dean looks straight back at her.)
Jo: "No. (Looks at Dean.) Don't worry, I got Ash covering my tail."*
Dean: "You know, you shouldn't lie to your mom. You shouldn't be here either."
Jo: "This is my case. And I'll deal with my mom. (Dean gives her a 'yeah right' look.) Look all we need to do is figure out who the spirit is, salt and burn the bones and we can go our separate ways; unless you prefer to leave now."*
Sam: "Where'd you get all that money, anyways?"
Jo: "Working...at the Roadhouse."
Dean: "Hunters don't tip that well."
(Jo gives Dean an 'how would you know' look. Dean's face darkens; Jo's does as well.)
Jo: "I didn't steal it."*
(Tense moment, broken by Dean's phone ringing.)
Dean: "Yeah."
Ellen: "Is she with you?"
Dean: "Oh, hi, Ellen."
(Jo glances up at Dean and continues to unpack her stuff...the message, I'm not going anywhere!)*
Ellen: "She left a note she's in Vegas, I don't believe it for a second."
(Dean looks at Jo, who crosses her arms and glares at him.)*
Ellen: "Dean..."
Dean: "I haven't seen her."
Ellen: "You sure about that?"
Dean: "Yeah, I'm sure."
Ellen: "Well, please, if she shows up, you'll drag her butt right back here, won't you?"
Dean: "Absolutely."
Ellen: "Okay, thanks hon."
(Dean glares at Jo, who looks steadily back at him with a 'what, it was your choice' look, which only causes Dean to scowl further; Jo's look then changes to a 'you won't regret this' look.)*
NOTE: The next scene of them discussing senarios around the table would basically be the same except Jo would not tell Dean to sit down and instead of saying that "I know what I'm doing." (and Jensen's reply) it would be done with facial acting. The only other thing I would change is that Jo would not say "Morning princess." to Dean, she would be absorbed in going over her research.
Well, that's all my drabbling done...tell me what you think...please, be kind, this is only for fun!