Notes about the script “Dark Glass”:

 (By: Brinton Callaghan)

-         This episode was originally supposed to air instead of “Go with the Flow,” and thus occurs between “Proving Grounds” and “Crossing the Rubicon.” The events in the episode are also essential to fully understand what happens to Dinobot II in “Nemesis.” A script was written but was scrapped before any production on the episode could begin. Hasbro didn’t like the darker direction the show was going in, so they asked for a lighter episode to be produced. Thus “Dark Glass” was never made, and “Go with the Flow” took its place. All we really know about “Dark Glass” is a short summary published by writer Larry Ditillio. This summary was my inspiration to write this.

-         This episode was originally written by Christy Marx who also wrote “Transmutate.” I reviewed her formatting method for writing by looking at her exact script from “Transmutate” which can be found at ( http://www.bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasontwo/). I therefore tried to use the same format design for the script so as to make it look like it really was written by her.

-         I attempted to stay as true to the outline of the episode that was released by writer Larry Ditillio as possible. The only real exception I made was near the end. Ditillio said that after Dinobot II becomes Predacon again, Megatron blasts him. I simply couldn’t find ration for Megatron doing that. He would only blast his own minions when they are intentionally being disloyal, and Megatron was smart enough to know that it wasn’t Dinobot II’s fault

-         In the script the suffixes (BM), (VM), and (RM) each refer to the character being in beast mode, vehicle mode, or robot mode respectively.

-         I figured since the voice actors are signed on to do a certain number of episodes, to maintain consistency I tried to ensure that the only characters present in the episode were those who appeared in “Go with the Flow.” Therefore I made sure not to include Silverbolt and Blackarachnia, also because they already had plenty of screen-time in the previous episode, and the following one. I also decided to not include Inferno and Quickstrike since there didn’t seem to be enough room. But, unlike “Go with the Flow,” I felt like I had to include Rampage since his power is essential to the conflict of the episode. I also included the same character role sizes, therefore giving large roles to Rattrap, Depth Charge, and Megatron, and relatively small roles to Optimus, Cheetor, Rhinox, Tarantulas, and Waspinator.

-         I timed it, and the episode lasts just about 20 minutes even, which is exactly how long the episodes are supposed to run (they are only 30 minutes if you include the opening/closing credits and commercials). Reading the whole script will actually take longer, but if you read at the rate at which the scenes would occur, it lasts 20 minutes..

-         I included some small lines or actions that are similar to ones from the episode “Go with the Flow.” Since “Go with the Flow” replaced “Dark Glass,” they may have taken some lines or actions from it, so I am doing the reverse. For example, I included Rattrap riding on Depth Charge, and I included Waspinator’s hilarious line “Waspinator, wants to renegotiate contract.”

-         I found Rattrap to be the most difficult character to write for. He can never say anything that’s completely sincere, so you have to keep coming up with analogies for him.

-         There’s no other television series or film that I feel qualified to write for. I am in no way a professional writer myself. I am just a strong fan who has loved this show for almost ten years, has watched every episode repeatedly, and feels like he has a clear understanding of the characters. But in no way should I take credit for the outline of this episode. That should go to Christy Marx. I just filled in the details.